It's not Monday yet, is it? No, it's early Saturday and I'm posting two days early! Booyah Hatake!

Anyways, Hope you enjoy :)

Part 2: The Hunter's Dance

Cass laid in the grass, partially hidden by the shadows and angles of the Manor. The cool grass was calming as she let herself drift into the feeling of wind rolling across her body. Even though it was her choice, learning to read was like running headlong into a brick wall reinforced with a tungsten, no matter what Stephanie said.

The sound of laughter alerted her to the presence of others and she straightened herself into a sitting position in time to see Jason and a boy she guessed was Bruce's 'house guest', Dick. Both boys were comfortable around the other, Jason seeming to want to impress the kid who in turn wanted to show off for Jason. The dynamic interested Cassandra, who rarely got the opportunity to observe such a relationship, usually spending time with Damian and Bruce if not with Stephanie.

It almost seemed like Cass was going to stay hidden from the boys, who were climbing into the apple tree in leaps and bounds. The smaller boy made it higher than Jason, the smile on his face gleeful as Jason grumbled loudly about the other being lighter.

Cass was almost starting to think that she was going to go undetected by the boys until she heard Dick call out, "Jay, who's that girl."

Jason searched for Cass as she sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. "Oh, that's Cassandra." There was a pause as Dick said something that Cass could not hear. "Hey, Cass, you wanna pick apples with us?"

It was not unusual for Jason to invite Cass to participate in his activities. Stephanie apparently thought it was 'cute and thoughtful', body language implying something that escaped Cass's gasp of human emotions. The fact that Dick had after hidden himself in the branches of the tree, a sign of shyness that seemed out of character from what she had been told about.

Cass stood up, not feeling like speaking loudly and knowing that her movement would indicate her intentions clear enough, and made her way to the tree. She was hoisting herself to sit on a low branch when a dark head swung just above her own.

"Hello, my name is Dick." Dick seemed suspended upside down, hand extended to shake hers as his hair hung just beyond his head. "It's nice to finally meet you Cass."

Cass smiled, Dick's open expressions lining up with what Stephanie had told her about the child better than his earlier hiding episode. "Hello, Dick…" Cass put her hand out and it was taken by Dick's small hand. The skin was rougher than she would have thought of a child having, but it also told of frequent training of some sort. "... It's nice to meet you too."

Dick cocked his head to the side, curiousity clearly expressed in his features, probably due to her unpracticed speaking pattern. Cass knew her voice was soft, a bit too soft if you asked Stephanie, and that sometimes she spent too much time thinking on how to construct sentences. Cass let a small smile come to her lips as Dick pulled himself up and moved to sit on a branch closer to her. "You're Stephanie's roommate, right? She told me that you beat Damian."

"I do live with Stephanie." Cass nodded, "Damian is easy to read, was not too hard to take out." Dick did not need to know that a few days before that sparring match Damian had upset Stephanie.

"That must mean you're really good." Dick was in awe, his face open and the smile seemed to shine.

Cass shrugged, "I guess…" Cass still was not used to be complimented on her fighting abilities. It was something so entwined to her being, like speaking for others, that it did not feel like something to have pride in.

Silence stretched for a second before Dick looked up and pulled himself up to grab an apple. The fruit was bright, the red of his skin seemed to glow as light hit it. "Do you want an apple? They're really." Dick smiled seemed to question if he had said something wrong.

Cass took the fruit with a smile that seemed to reassure the boy, as Dick smiled brightly as Jason sat on a branch just behind the boy. "I guess you win, this time kiddo."

While defeat was written on Jason's face temporarily, Dick's triumphant demeanor seemed like it was going to stay for a long while. "Told you the biggest ones were going to be on top."

"Yeah, yeah," Jason humored the boy, looking to Cass. "So, why aren't you with Steph?"

Cass shrugged in reply, "She was busy and… I got a headache." While she was getting better at reading, sometimes seeing too many words and figuring their meanings was too big of a chore.

Jason leaned back, Dick watching the conversation as he swung back to hang from his knees. "I'm sure Bruce and her are talking about boring things. That is if Damian isn't down there, then things will be way more boring."

"Damian is not here." Cass said, slightly confused on Jason's statement but letting it slide as she took a bite of the apple given to her by Dick. The fruit was sweet, maybe a bit too sweet really, but it was still good. "We started to read your book."

Jason's eyes widened. After he had learned that Cass was starting to read novels, albeit rather slowly, he had suggested Pride and Prejudice. Stephanie had laughed a little at Jason when he had suggested it, though agreed to let Cass decide herself. After learning that A Tale of Two Cities was a bit harder read, the apparent favourite book of a friend (for maybe Jason was her only one, if you consider Stephanie more of a caretaker) seemed appropriate. "How far have you gotten?"

"Chapter...3?" Cass replied, for though she did remember most of what she read, no page break between chapters confused her. "The rude man said something mean about Elizabeth." Cass really did not like that character, he seemed rude and arrogant. Stephanie had had to explain why his state was rude, but afterwards she was vaguely reminded of Damian whose mouth sometimes spouted things she wanted to punch him for.

"His name is Darcy," Jason laughed, seeming more at the statement rather than at Cass. "He is a bit rude, but don't make any reservations about him just yet. There's a lot more book to read."

Cass kind of huffed to herself. Her inability to read written words like anyone else her age was something she would like to change, but she could not see herself not being about to read body language. The resources Bruce had provided her and Stephanie were helpful, but she knew it would never be the same if she had been taught 'normally'.

"CASS! JASON! DICK!" Stephanie's voice called out a moment later, getting closer with each name she called.

Dick was the first one to spot the blonde woman as she approached, flipping off the branch with a practiced ease and calling back out to her. "We're over here Steph!"

Stephanie made her way to the group, looking up at Jason and Cass as she returned a hug from Dick. "I see you two are sitting in a tree, Jason."

Cass tilted her head, trying to comprehend the statement as Jason's face went a tinge bit red with embarrassment. "It isn't like that at all!" He protested, going a bit too fast as he climbed down the tree. A branch hooked snagged his shirt a bit on the way down.

Stephanie had a mocking look on her face as she continued to tease Jason, Dick giggling at her side apparently understanding Stephanie's jab at the other boy. "Sure Jay." Was all she said as Jason stomped away.

"You can watch him now, you harpy." Jason called out as he went towards his house.

"What was that about?" Cass asked as she landed onto the ground. She could read people, knew just about every human expression the body had; but sometimes certain interpersonal interactions stumped her.

The older woman laughed, ruffling Cass's hair until it was swatted away. "It's nothing Cassie, just a bit of payback." Stephanie paused, "Oh, that reminds me. Alfred had made lunch and he wanted me to find you lot."

***Later that night, Secret Training Room of Steph and Cass's Apartment***

"You need to block better." Cass said as she spun behind Stephanie, grabbing her arm and pinning to her back, letting go and backing away as Stephanie tapped out.

Stephanie's face was red from exertion, breath a bit taxed as she took a drink from her water bottle. "You can counter anything I could do, my block is good enough most of the time."

Cass shook her head, trying to frame what she wanted to say so that she would not upset the other. "Not everyone is a untrained thug." She paused, Stephanie's body stance telling her that the conversation could go south at any moment, but she finished before the other could have a say in edgewise. "Tim's training is like Damian's... you would not stand a chance."

The topic of Timothy Drake had not come up in conversation since the run-in just under two weeks before. It had been skirting under everything though, even Damian showed up both in and out of costume sometimes twice a night to make sure things stayed quiet. "What is with you and Damian being obsessed with him all of a sudden?"

She had never met Tim before the other night, though she knew what had happened to him. She knew that he was still a broken part of Stephanie's emotional state, but she never thought that she would have to deal with anything like this. "He is dangerous… Unpredictable and trained by the League."

"So were you," Stephanie snapped back, wiping her face.

Cass sighed, trying to not let it known that Stephanie's comment had hurt. "Yes… But I will not kill."

Something seemed to snap in Stephanie's mind and Cass soon found herself enveloped in a tight hug. "I'm sorry Cass… It just hurts sometimes."

Cass nodded, allowing the contact as it seemed to help both her and Stephanie alike. Pulling back as Stephanie loosened her hold, Cass took a step back. "I know… And I just want to keep you safe."

Stephanie smiled, taken a breath as she allowed herself to relax. "I guess I have to accept that. One more go?"

Cass nodded, flexing her fingers as they both moved into position.

***Meanwhile, in the Court of Owls***

"The vote has been counted," The man who had called the vote just hours before said as he pulled out an envelope which contained the results. Opening the envelope, he nods. "The Court has spoken. Bruce Wayne will die."

There seems to be a cheer as a door opens and a shadowed figure walks through, kneeling before the members of the Court as he reaches the center of the room. "Talon," the figure looks up as he is addressed by the Grandmaster, "Bruce Wayne has been sentenced to death. You are to watch him and report back about his comings and goings. Stay vigilant, for he has protectors in Batman Incorporated. The Court of Owls is to remain in the shadows."

"Understood, Grandmaster." Talon speaks, voice hollow and gravelly from disuse.

"Also, Talon." Grandmaster adds before he could pick himself to leave the room. "Mr. Wayne has in his custody a child. This child is the prime candidate to replace you when your time to join the others will come. Find a way to bring the child to us, alive." The last word has infasict added, Talon straightening up slightly from the tone. "You are dismissed, Talon. Do not fail us."

"As the Court commands, so shall be done my Masters." Talon replies, straightening. Turning on his heel, he leaves the room.

Notes:

So, let me know what you think. I love Cassandra but this being the first time I have written her... I really need to know if I did well.

Next Chapter up by Tuesday (my only day off this week D: )