Was gonna be another long one because I kept adding stuff and stuff. Sometimes I'm not exactly satisfied till I start seeing a chapter draft finish. And well, I still won't be satisfied unless everything is polished and the story can flow as easily as you can read it.

Chapter 3: Reminiscent

October 31st

Peter had time.

He had time to freely enjoy a session of swinging around. The ray of the sunlight basks in his every intricate movement in the air as he swung from the blocks of Miagani island and towards the bridge that leads to south Gotham.

He wheezed past cars, buses, and trucks without almost a care in the world. Applying with his swinging was also his unique acrobatics that he used on both the vehicles, the streets as he reached south Gotham, and even the peculiar buildings that differ from Miagani island. Miagani island held skyscrapers, full of both company-like buildings, but also buildings to admire how far Gotham had come when building a better city.

Yet south Gotham was a tad bit different; North Gotham had lower buildings, more close to the ground and having many ways for a normal person to travel on top of those roof's. Miagani island stands tall with not only skyscrapers, but skyscrapers of the future. South Gotham held both skyscraper buildings, one with older architecture work to it with certain buildings looking a little rugged but still stabilized, and leaning more towards the gothic past aesthetic that this part of the island is more known for.

Yet it didn't stop Peter from doing his thing; patrolling Gotham and keeping an eye full watch of the city while enjoying web swinging, 'Ah…Times like this its so therapeutic,' his hands threw out another web line, feeling it tug on the building, and the web supporting his weight kept from smacking straight to the ground, 'Just to swing without a care in the world, just for a moment,' he somersaulted off his web line to land on a building, crouching low on the tip of the edge as he look over the city he protects, 'Old Gotham has been quiet lately. Even with people in their costumes, celebrating Halloween, not much has been going on as of yet,' he took out his phone from his bag, seeing that it was only 12, 'And it's the afternoon. Should check up on Cass, maybe she took a break from training?'

Peter hands swipe through his complicated password to text Cass that was title as BalletCass!

Peter: Hey! Gonna swing by soon, want some food?

Peter changed his position on the roof, sitting down as he both kept his eyes and senses on high alert while going through his phone. Seeing as she hadn't immediately text, meant that she was busy training. So instead as he waited, he went through his social media, scrolling past various people he recognizes and doesn't, 'Ha! You go big blue! Always saving the day whenever and wherever. Huh..Interesting to see Michael have a podcast with Ted. Weirdly enough to see him and Barb having a smooth relationship. Never thought the blue beetle could sweep Barbs off her feet,' Peter would stop scrolling through his phone, looking at a particular post involving someone he used to know.

Someone that both made him frown under his mask, but somehow was happy to see that he's doing well here, 'Sometimes it only felt like yesterday we settled in our dorms together, each planning big stuff for the future. At the very least, I hope you're really happy out there Harry with owning your father's company, and gonna be married soon.'

Just before his senses alerted him of danger, Peter spotted a small batch of people taking out their guns when entering a small accessory shop, 'Oh boy…! It's Halloween guys!' Peter stand up, putting his phone back into his pocket, 'Doesn't mean you have to be total assholes and rob a simple convenient store,' Peter would hop down to street level, enter the store that lit up a small noise, notifying the buglers to his appearance, and then they pointed their guns at him, "Ah come on guys! I was gonna buy me a drink here because I'm practically dehydrated," Peter jested with his hands up.

The buglers, who had various masks that range from classic horror movies such as Texas chainsaw, Jason from Friday the thirteenth, and hero-like masks such as green arrow and especially batman himself. Peter read that most of them did not know how to handle this situation because of his sudden appearance, "..He ain't the real one right?"

"Probably not."

"His costume looks too much like the real one. Hey dude," the one that had the Jason hockey mask, switched targets to the shopkeeper, "You think he's the real deal."

"Hey I appreciate it if that gun was more focused on somewhere else then this kind man," Peter mentioned.

Gun was pointed back at Peter, "Shut it before you get led in you."

"Led?" Now everyone turn to someone Peter didn't expect to see of all days; extravagant red hair that was kept short, viridescent eyes that was just as confident as her tone of voice, small freckles that lace the bridge of her nose to her cheeks, and her stance; one hands on hip, one hand that actually had a bottle of water, and her eyebrow raised when watching everyone in front of her, "You can't be anymore original then that? We're not in the early 2000 for that type of talk."

Confidence. A blast of the past for Peter, and mouth drop for the rest with the simple brown jacket along with black shirt underneath with brown pants and black boots, "Don't just stand around spider-man, I got them distracted."

"Oh. Right," faster than anyone can react, Peter web each and everyone like he's part of western movie; shooting specific areas like their hands, legs, wrist, and body to entrap them in different places amongst the store. Some were wedged on the side that had candy bars, some were stuck further behind the redhead, and were mushed along the far right where the bootleg toys were hung. As the situation was dealt with, Peter looked to the cashier handler, who sat low on the floor before raising his head, getting at peak and a sigh of relief he was indeed safe now, "Heyo. You ok?" Peter genuinely asked.

His hands moved the sweat from his forehead when he stood up properly, "...Was really hoping today I could've avoided getting robbed, and well, got my wish."

"Yeah, the guy tends to make people's wishes come true," Peter head again turned to the red-haired woman who made sure to pay for the water bottle. Cashier kindly took it, about to give her some change, "Don't worry, you can keep it."

"Oh! Thank you Ms Watson."

She lets herself out the door, with Peter knowing there is conversation to be had with the red-haired woman known as Ms Watson, "I'll make sure to notify the police to come pack these guys up. Happy Halloween!" Peter jogged out the door of the store, went to go after Ms Watson and it didn't take long to catch up and walk beside her, "Surprise to see the superstar actor/model back in the city, let alone Old Gotham of all places."

Peter would press a button on the wrist of his custom sleeve, instantly knowing Dewolff would get a notifier of a crime dealt with. Ms Watson snorted at the comment of being called an actor/model, "Modeling? Please tiger, that's in the past. Move above and beyond to simply acting, and it's going well as all things consider to be," the step at a cross light, the pair so kids trudging along in their costume base on the likes the man who flies around in Metropolis Peter saw on his phone called superman, batman or wonderwoman, and even him, but the mask had more webbing then what he has now, "And actually, I'm shooting some stuff here."

"Really?! In Gotham of all places?"

She shrugs, "Gotta be authentic with the criminal dramas. Plus, it's gotten safer over the years so people can actually do some filming here for once. How about you?" Once asking him of his well being, she noticed that he was paying attention to the kids in the street, running past them being happy about their candy's and costume, "Pete?"

"Oh! Ah you know," Peter mimics Ms Watson action from earlier, casually shrugging his own shoulders, "Same o same o," Ms Watson quirk her eyebrow up at his direction. It couldn't just be simple as he claims it has been. Peter noticed her slight reaction, "What?"

"Just same o same o?"

"My life isn't super interested in MJ, never has been."

"Hmph," she opens her water to take a sip before they both cross the street, passing by the kids on Halloween as they run along the neighborhood. They seem to be old enough to not need parents, but it didn't stop Peter from keeping an eye out for them, "Your life always has something going on. Likeeee…" one finger taps her chin, lip puckering out a little when thinking about what she can poke at, "How are you and Cassandra?"

"Good, great even," again, Peter saw the look MJ gave him, and he groaned, "MJ I'm telling you, there isn't much else to say. We're still together, still partnering up to take care of Gotham, and I'm also trying to think about what food to get her."

"Really? Like what kind of food."

"Something spicy."

"Hm. And you're still working as a photographer?"

"Yeah, sometimes anchorman, sometimes journalist. All that jazz."

That last part simply had MJ shaking her head with how uninterested he sounded, "This can't be how old friends reconnect right?"

Peter would've retorted, but she was right and only silently mumbled out incoherent groans to that. It wasn't that Peter was terrible, it's just that he truly didn't know what he wanted to say, or why he's taking a small time out of his day to spend with the red hair actress he hadn't seeing in sometime, "...Going to some Halloween gathering fundraiser that Bruce is holding later."

"Not your scene."

"And how'd you know?" If he wasn't wearing his mask, MJ would notice his curious glance.

She snorted, "Peter, you were the type of guy that stood in one corner of the room and just watched everyone party."

"Not true!"

"Right because if it wasn't for Gwen, Harry, or I, you wouldn't showcase how good of a break dancer you are."

"Now you see, I blame that on Gwen cause she tends to push me into a lot of uncomfortable spots. For example, a drinking contest."

"Ohhhh!" her hands went to her mouth, snickering at the memory that Peter brought up, "And booze Parker knocked everyone off their asses!"

"Hey hey! Secret identity here!" he blurted out when shushing her.

"Couldn't help it, especially remembering that you won all the hearts of the gals in the room, and somehow," she bump shoulders with him, "You went straight to Gwen."

"I needed an escape route. Till this day, I never saw that amount of college girls after me like that," he said, cringing at the memory at hand.

Then suddenly, the two college friends share a laughter of memories they had back in those. This is the way it should be, a re connection of friends from a time they had when they were simply younger with only dreams and hope upon their heads.

Soon enough, MJ and him reach the building that she was living in, a little run down with a homeless guy sleeping near the place. Peter, a kind hearted person, took out a few dollars from his bag and gave it to the sleeping man, "You know, to think because you're an actress, wouldn't you be more in favor of living a bit up north? Since it's not close to blackgate prison."

"Yeah but," MJ took out her keys and went to open her door, "Old Gotham is home you know. It's the kind of place you can't see anywhere else to live in," MJ stopped mid way from the door, looking upon Peter in his costume, "...Somehow the old costume was a bit better," she said, giving a sad smile.

He titled his head, "Why so?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I knew you from that costume, help stitch it up because Gwen for the life of her couldn't do it," both share a small chuckle at the mention of their former friend, "Still never understood how you two survive together like that."

"Straight luck. She was bad at being a doctor, but was great at being a detective when I still was finding myself with this life," even beyond the suit, she can hear his tone dip just a bit talking about Gwen, "I still miss her sometimes."

"...Me too," MJ didn't want her conversation with him to end all sappy so she decided to change the topic, "..This new look gives out a vibe that I have yet to crack down on. Makes you look…Different, in a good way."

Peter found that statement puzzling. Almost like she was trying to say she preferred his old costume, "Oh. Well, that's uh..Nice to hear. I actually plan to use my old costume for the fundraiser, hopefully it still fits.."

"Cool."

Silence rains on them. Not one of the others knew what to say to each other. There was a clear sign of longing from one another, MJ finding her lip tugging together, and Peter at a loss of words to say anything else to her, besides simply staring at her as the sunlight glowed amongst her to showcase how beautiful she is.

There clearly was an attraction for one another, something that they had before, but can't quite go back to that attraction, nor act upon it. Simply because, they were different people now, no longer young as they were when they would have acted on those feelings. And somehow, the talk with Gwen didn't help that small longing.

That small longing of the past that they'll never be able to have.

It was then Peter heard his phone vibrate and saw none other than Cassandra texting him.

BalletCass: CHICKEN WINGS! GHOSTPEPPERS. WITH IT!

A small crackle came from his lip, and the sad smile became more noticeable upon MJ as she noticed even beyond the mask that hid his features.

He was happy with the relationship he has with Cassandra, 'he really has moved on. Not just from his feelings for me, or his relationship he had with Felicia, but Gwen as well… The girl he first loved..' Peter raised his head, and MJ quickly diminished the thought by moving the bit of her straight hair from her green eyelids, "It's great seeing you again Peter."

"Yeah," Peter threw out a web line, "You two red," and off he went, with MJ watching him swing.

Swinging away to the person she could not match, not because of their strength, and who they are. But worst of all.

Time. Time that she wasn't able to have to be with him. Because there were so many times where they couldn't validate and solidify that attraction they had for each other.

Peter drops into the clock tower, finding his girlfriend doing her usual thing in her second home; Cassandra practicing in the VR AI; she was in a pocket space, one where the VR was placed on her face, but also had wires and mechanics placed on her so it allows her to move in a stationary position.

Yet jumping around tends to cause problems. While the wire and little mechanic that tie her in place, jumping and flipping causes it to move, not breaking it, but definitely allows her to move around the room. Due to being in VR, Cassandra didn't notice a picture frame would fall behind her.

Luckily, Peter caught it swift and easy, "Might want to be careful," he whispered in her ears as he put it back where it belonged. For a second, he heard her breathe hitch from his voice, her lips grinning, and cheeks a little flush. This was the only time he can ever surprise her of his appearance, "You know how Barbs feels about you causing a mess when training in her watchtower."

A small snicker came out of her lip as she pressed a button that turned off the green hue of the VR. She took it off, letting her ebony hair let loose in freedom then the claustrophobic space it was in. She quickly gave Peter a chase kiss since his mask was off, "Food?

He pouted, "Is that all I'm good for?"

"Yes."

"Then terrible to say, but I didn't get anything."

"Lies, I can smell it in your bag."

"That's just my old costume. It sometimes gives off that scent."

Cassandra now had a fierce look against Peter's little smug look, "Give. Me. The wings."

"Make. Me," he mimicked and challenged.

And then suddenly, Cassandra tried to reach the bag behind his back. Peter quickly hopped back. Cassandra tried cutting him off, but he flipped himself on top of a library full of books. Cassandra quickly uses a couch to give her the leap needing to be on his level. Peter made it harder as he jumped up to the higher level of the clock tower, landing easily on the railing. For Cassandra, she easily jumps to one of the clock towers working mechanics, just before it could move, she pushes herself off the reach of the ledge she needed, flipping herself on top of the railing across Peter.

Peter simply watches her, a smug look still on his face against Cassandra's fierce need to get the food in his bag.

Cassandra used the chandeliers to swing over to Peter's direction. Peter would bend his back to avoid Cassandra tackle, easily recovering with a front flip, she back flips right onto the railing that Peter was on. He stood up, having his arm out and his hand behind him in a fencing mannerism, "Onguard!"

Cassandra always found it odd with the way Peter does things, but she'll never deny that it breeds new challenges on a daily basis. So she mimic him, smiling, bowing, and went into the same mannerism as he did, "ONGUARD!" She shouted compared to Peter.

"That's the spirit!" They kept their hands straight, and Cassandra went in for the grab. Peter deflected each time she tried to grab, but Cassandra simply wanted him to push the edge.

Knowing what she was doing, he jumped over head. Cassandra tried to reach the bag with her feet, but Peter swiped it away, and landed on the railing with perfect balance. The beauty about this was that neither had no problem with balancing.

So they can go crazy.

Cassandra was on the offensive. Peter dodged left and right, moved his leg out of the way so he wouldn't slip, and then poked her nose, "AH HA!" Peter now was on the offensive, trying to poke Cassandra, but she too deflected, slipped and rolled around his hands, "Let me poke ya!"

"No!" She poked his nose, a slip to the left made her miss the mark, and Peter's head went under her swipe hand, but now that swipe hand found its way to the strap of his bag. She had a grin, now the food was gonna be hers.

Then suddenly Peter would bend enough, causing Cassandra to lose her balance and relying on Peter's sticking on the railing to swing herself on the chandler, catching herself and then spinning herself in a motion to swing back to him.

He caught her, and flipped herself where her legs around his chest as her hands grip the bag on his back, "Mine. Give me food."

"What's the magic word?"

Suddenly before Cassandra could either do something or say something, a chandelier fell and broke into pieces, making the pair turn and look at the unfortunate incident, "...We're so screwed," Peter said with Cassandra nodding beside him, shuddering a bit at the thought of what Barbara would do when she comes back to the clock tower.

Peter and Cassandra would leap on the ground to inspect the damage, both ruling it out that it was purely broken in pieces, and they'll have to replace it, "Order one online."

"I do hope they even have it," scratching the base of his ruffle, long hair that his mask often still messes up from time to time. He let her dig in his bag for the food just as they went to the nearby couch, but then he found her poking his side when she also took an old red and blue costume with a mask that was connected to the suit.

The costume MJ knew him for beyond what he has now.

Cassandra eyebrows cocked curiously as to why he had it on him, "Oh i'm gonna be wearing that to the party later."

"...Still looks small," she commented. She put aside the bag of hot wings on the table and put the costume in front of Peter to emphasize how big Peter has gotten over the years.

"I think I still make it work," he took off his shoe, pants, and vested costume to reveal a simple shirt and shorts he had on underneath. Once putting the old costume on, from toe to head, Peter tested out; moving around Cassandra, stretching and even added a front flip, "Yep! Still fits!"

Then a sudden tear happened, one that got Cassandra to laugh out loud; it was loud, hysterical, and can be heard as obnoxious. But it was how Cassandra laughed and Peter never mind it when he found a way to make her laugh like that, "...Please don't tell me it's where I think it's at?" Peter spoke, slouching and deadpanning at the mere feeling where his suit ripped.

Turning his head, he can tell exactly where Cassandra was looking at, and that was his butt, "I won't say."

Peter sighs, his luck just can't be it sometimes. Back flipping to sit on the couch where Cassandra was already stuffing herself with hot wings, she would kiss his cheek to remove his grouchy feature, "I'll wear mine too."

"The old one?" She nodded enthusiastically while having her hands clap together behind her. Peter then suddenly had a fixed expression, "I have to sew that up too don't I?" She again nodded, and Peter again sighs, "The things I do for love," he too started eating some hot wings, and unlike Cassandra who ate it without a care of the world, Peter had to drink a bottle of milk that was in his bag to lessen the heat, "God! How can you ever handle this stuff?!"

Cassandra simply grinned, "Train in the art. Of eating!"

"Har har har.. You're not funny, Miss Cain, especially when you think you'll have me fixing your cowl of yours. That is forever gone."

"Dick's mask!"

"Huh.. Touche. By the way, Mary Jane is back in town," he mentioned as he went back to eating.

Cassandra briefly found herself a bit bug eyed at hearing her come back to town, "How is she?"

Again, drinking the milk was the key thing to survive the heat of the chicken, worse than fighting a super villain running amok, "Great, it seems at least," he caught her eye sight telling him, speaking to him without word of mouth, that there had to be more than that.

It's never that simple as Peter would say or want to believe in, "Ok so she is mostly here for filming her new movie or tv show. Haven't exactly kept much track of what she's been doing in Hollywood besides sometimes scrolling on Instagram."

"She could be here for you," she said plainly as she finished up her portion of the hot wings, "Just you. Nothing else," She said pessimistically.

Peter eyebrows knitted together at her statement, the tone sounded more envious then she wanted to let on, "I doubt that Cass. Mary Jane and I hadn't talked or seen each other in about two years. And you know why she came back to Gotham the last time she was here."

She did, and now she regretted feeling a bit envious towards his friend, "May."

"Exactly. Plus, she is my friend, probably the only few normal friends I even have that are alive actually," Cassandra didn't like where this was going, that Peter would drift to every now and again, "And if she wanted to see me, then there shouldn't be a problem for that."

She already misses their play fight from earlier, the warm feeling of his smile and how he held her instead of now feeling how distant he's becoming. She quickly grabbed his hand, held on to it, consoled him, and kept her eyes fixated on him as she felt her brow lower, "Sorry."

Now he too felt bad, he didn't exactly want to be cold there. But it did unnerve him a bit that Cassandra felt that way about Mary Jane, "Look I know she rubbed you the wrong way when you last talked with her. Hell, Felicia did the same in her own way. But me and Mary Jane? We don't have those feelings anymore. Maybe, if things didn't get in the way, we probably would be together. Yet it never happened," he squeezed her hands, just a bit, "We did instead."

A light tint on her cheeks occurred, the way he always says those things about her, about us, it still had ways to make her heart race. She went to hug him, wanting to show how sorry she was to even felt that way "Sorry."

"Hey no worries," he gently rubbed her back and kissed her forehead, "I'm just glad I can avoid eating hot wings for the time being."

She glowered, looking up at him, "Finish it! NOW!"

"Make. Me."

And there it was, the same thing as earlier, the same feeling of challenge, and warmth. The kind of thing that keeps reminding her that Peter, with all that he's been through with other women, no matter how small, has eyes only for her. She hopes nothing else would break.

But just from them moving and bouncing around, she got a laugh at Peter's old suit ripping even more.

Time tick and tick, moving forward and not slowing down. Cassandra and Peter had departed from the clock tower; one decided to keep the patrol before going to the fundraiser, while the other had already met up with Selina.

Yet, she didn't expect to be sitting down on a bedhead, scowling at the mirror in front of her, petting a cat on her lap as the more older adult behind her was braiding her hair, "Stop being grouchy," Selina voice, "This may be where the rich goes to yap about who would outbid the other, but I'm not having you look like that," Cassandra hates when Selina gets like this, wanting to have her standout then she already is.

She of all people is standing out with a vintage violet and ebony cat costume, one that covers her body in violet, yet the legging and her hands were covered in black. Oddly enough, Cassandra knew the gloves in her hand can poke out claws, though she doesn't know how she could do it. She never exactly saw this costume before, but she knows that this was something she used to wear in the past.

One that involved her with the batman.

Meanwhile, Peter manage to sew up her old costume before they departed; it was less advance, had less dense materials because of years of being used up to the point it was no longer in use, he couldn't get the cape to be as long as it was in time so it stop shortly by her upper back, and some pieces that did had armor stood out more with scratches as well as having wear and tear, and her bat symbol was the one to suffer the most.

It barely was there in the first place, only the tip of the head, pieces of the yellow and black wing can be made out as a bat costume. And like she said she was gonna wear, she wore a half domino mask instead of a bat cowl. She thought she looked fine as before she came to Selina's home. Now she had some makeup on, lipstick, and getting her hair done like she was a doll, "How long?" she mauled shortly.

"In a minuteeeee! Be patient firecracker," Selina knew she could do more with her hair, but she resided in simply braiding her hair in a vertical fashion, almost like she was that one Disney princess Rapunzel.

Except she kept her hair shorter than hers.

"And done!" Cassandra would quickly stand up, putting the cat down gently, and headed out the apartment, "God damn it girl! Wait for me! I still have to get my-," Cassandra didn't hear as she already was at the door, allowing the older woman to groan.

Selina didn't even get time to at least pet her few cat's before they left the apartment building. She only could simply get her purse she wrapped around behind her and car keys. Cassandra was first to enter the car while Selina was the second, "You do know you look like a proper woman now right?" Cassandra held her scowl, put on the seat belt, and arm-cross, "Beautiful that can have the looks to wipe most men off their feet," she still didn't answer once the older adult started the car, "Plus Peter probably would take you away from the place for a little roof-"

"Selina!" Cassandra perished whatever Selina was going to say next, causing her to laugh as she started to drive.

Just like her job, Selina resided in the east end, a place she didn't want to escape from just as her own man didn't want to. Feeling as if it was still their responsibility to look after the borough that had played into transforming them to who they are now.

Cassandra couldn't help herself to stare out the window as they passed by blocks and blocks of the east end. She was keeping a watchful eye of the streets even if she didn't have her primary costume on, "Anything I should be worried about today? Guns? Violence? Super power folks?"

"Anything."

"Ok so I'm going in as dark as you. Neat."

The car ride was quite silent when they passed the bridge leading into Miagani island. Every now and again, Cassandra would move around in her seat, tried distracting herself by cracking her knuckles and fingers, or kept her eyes in the boroughs they passed by.

"I'm assuming Peter would be late?" Selina said, having her hand by her cheek when waiting for the stop light to change to green.

She checked her phone that was snapped in her utility belt, "No. He's there."

"And what's got you nervous?" Cassandra gave Selina a perplexed gaze. She didn't feel nervous, nervousness involves the body heart rising, slight tremble in body, and even a bit of stuttering in tone. She felt calm, focused, nothing was making her nervous, "Is it because you have to be around people you don't very much like to be around?"

Her perplexed expression changed, enough so where it was one of realization. She almost forgot that these are one of the few things Cassandra doesn't like doing. She decided to take part in this socializing routine just to be able to catch this killer today, "...How does Batman… Do it?"

Green light took over, and Selina kept driving to the Fashion district, "That fire cracker, is not something anyone can just learn. You have to hide your true self from the world so that way you can keep up an image. You'll have to fake it to make it look so real, and you don't exactly have that talent," her shamrock-like eyes turn to Cassandra, "You can't turn yourself off when in costume then out of costume."

"Yet… he did. Peter does it."

"You're telling me you want to be like them? More than being yourself?" Selina wondered with an eyebrow arch, "You're a firecracker for a reason; light a fuse and you can explode to whatever emotions that's on the surface. You don't fake it, you embrace it better than most who dallies in costume crime fighting for a living."

Cassandra felt her hand cup her chin, pondering the question today that had a similar outcome of the last question from a few weeks ago, 'They understand though. To deviate the mask from their real selves. But… I don't have one, an identity other than being the bat. And at the same time, they were able to do so much in and out of costume, but what can I do besides fight?' Cassandra asked herself.

'Who am I beyond the bat…? Beyond the daughter of Shiva…? Beyond the daughter of David Cain…?' she then looked at her hands, gripping it, 'Who am I beyond being a weapon…? A weapon that somehow…Is more emotional than stable?'

"Andddd we're here," Cassandra looked up, seeing that just across the street was people in dazzling costume outfits inspired by many other heroes from outside Gotham, and also can see many more inside the building that held the fundraiser, "Enough ruminating in your thoughts! Let's show them how we roll."

Cassandra let out a soft groan as she found herself out of Selina's car when walking up to the building. The beauty about their costume is that not much of anyone can recognize who it is. It makes it more fun with the mystery being held by the mask everyone wears.

Yet Cassandra and only a few others here can see through those costumes. That in the end, no matter how rich they are, how high they are, everyone wears a mask to hide who they really are.

And Cassandra feels like she's the only one who isn't wearing a mask of her own.

And with the bit of spotlight being on her and Selina, she found herself cowering just a bit in the attention. Because she has nothing to hide, but she can see everyone has something to hide. Their posture, their eyes, their mannerism, the way they drink champagne, the way they talk, it all screams at her.

Everyone has something to hide.

Selina didn't shy away from the attention, greeting a few people while Cassandra simply waved when Selina tried to introduce her. Yet Cassandra often finds herself distracting herself, focusing on the mission, watching people and their movement who can be a potential threat. Sometimes she moves just a bit away from Selina to observe more of the crowd.

Sometimes it was from a top advantage from the stairs that also connects to the basement that houses the drinks and food. Sometimes it was back to the first floor, taking note of the things Bruce was selling; nothing bat related, but antiques from a bygone time he bought for various reasons.

She even noticed Peter in a suit that she can tell looked really bad in shape because of the amount of tears they caused. It helped her lighten up and ignore the fact that she stood awkwardly watching him for a bit.

Beyond being quite awkward in large crowds, Cassandra didn't know these people to socialize, or matter of fact, Cassandra never exactly developed that type of skill set compared to the rest of her family.

And the problem was when concentrating on potential targets, everyone has something to hide. It also means there can be a number of people ready to jump at the chance to murder. She would soon return to Selina, already having a champagne in hand and taking a nice sip of it, "..You know now taking a look at you," Selina's voice brought her back to reality for a moment since she had doesn't have the attention of others at the moment, "That suit does not fit you, at all."

Cassandra found herself shrugging, "Grew. Pounds and height," somehow, just talking to her made her feel a bit more comfortable when being surrounded by so many people here. Like it always seems to do, "Should see Peter," she gestured her head to the direction he was in.

That they do. Old spandex costume with a mask on that didn't seem to have any lens on when recording an interview that his news partner Vickie, "Dear lord," Selina mouth moved to her lip when giggling, "He looks like a goof in that old getup."

Hearing what she meant by that, Cassandra too found herself hollering lightly at the sight of Peter. It didn't help that she could clearly see more places where he had to sew since unfortunately, the costume had been outgrown then he assumed, "Told him looks small."

"Add that with his spider prowess and the guy's muscles could just rip through that with ease. Did I ever tell you to choose a good one to date?"

A light blush circulated in her cheeks when she stared at Peter from afar. Even when she nodded to what Selina mentioned, she felt a nostalgic wave come at her just a bit when seeing him in that costume.

She remembers their first meeting almost like it was yesterday.

9 years ago

She watched him from afar, fighting criminals, knowing when to hit, and knowing when to dodge.

It was utter beauty in Cassandra's eyes, something she never saw anyone move like how he did.

That red, that blue, those huge white eyes, he stood out from the night, but it also painted him a target by the villains that just kept coming.

She couldn't stand and watch, and help in his fight.

"You're a new one! Don't suppose you're related to Batman?"

"Yes."

They fought them, hurt them, both body's moved in sync as if they've been partners for years.

Side by side, back to back, the bat and the spider, "Oh. Well I'm not surprised he got another soldier on the battlefield. After all, Gotham is no man's land."

And he was quite talkative, especially back then. But it was a change of pace for me. To have someone like him? Talk so much in battle, and to see the enemies getting confused too by his every word.

But interestingly enough? He was kind of… Scared? So when they won, she asked him, "Scared?"

"Huh?"

Cassandra remembers pointing to him, right on his chest where his little spider was scratched off by one of his villains, "Scared?"

"You… asking me if I'm scared?" she nodded, and for that moment, his body took a step back. Hand rub on top of his head; he was bewildered, surprised, and Cassandra found it fascinating on the extreme level of emotion he was producing just from the simple steps, "...No one knows that. Only batman does… How?"

"Body…" She gestured every point of the points in his body; arm, shoulder, chest, legs, and then a tap of his forehead, "...I see…." Not being able to form the sentences correctly, and beginning to get frustrated.

Cassandra then points to her eyes, then towards his white lens.

Present

'I see him. I see all of him, and I'm one of the few that can see him. What he really is. What he can really be.'

"Why is Peter wearing that costume?" shiver ran down Cassandra's body, knocking her out of the reminiscent moment she had of the past. That voice, she knew that voice too well. The voice she had been avoiding for sometime, a year in fact, a voice that used to strike fear in people, and a voice that no matter how he can fake it, she knows who he is.

She turn to see a taller man beside her and Selina; he had perfect posture, strong in stature and strong in embodiment, chin big with a dimple in the middle, jet black hair that he kept swept back thanks to gel, oceanic eyes that more resemble steel then soft, a small smile at the present of seeing Peter in his old costume, yet he himself only wore a black and white suit with a little bow tied in the uppermost of his suit.

A frown came upon Cassandra, 'He still wears this as his costume,' she sadly thought to herself.

"Fuck Bruce!" She slapped his arm from the shock of his sudden appearance between her and Cassandra, "Do you still have to do that?"

"Do what?" He sipped a glass of what didn't smell like alcohol but ginger instead.

She glared at him, "You freaking know what. Someday you'll give me a heart attack," she spoke before again drinking on her own campaign.

"You'll still be perfect and healthy, no matter what age you'll be."

Cassandra heard her groan, "Drop the playboy act, you're not fooling me with that sweet talk. And it's not like Peter ever wears anything to dress to impress, unless it's for firecracker that is."

His blue eyes shifted to Cassandra, still holding his small smile countering her frown as they eyes interlock with one another, "Cassandra, it's been sometime. How are you?"

She then broke her gaze from him, just seeing him brought back memories she tried keeping locked in her head.

But it came to the surface.

A year ago

The sun bled bright in the sky looking over Gotham. But even when the morning was bright, the city was burning, buildings were on fire, and two people we're fighting amongst a burning rooftop.

Batman and Batgirl, going at it with one another. Neither holding back on the other, to the point one of their lives were at stake at this moment, "GOTHAM NEEDS TO BE PURGE! THE AL GHUL'S WERE RIGHT! THERE'S NO SAVING THIS CITY!" catching her fist just as she did, batman headbutted her with the half cowl barley hanging on just as batgirl's own was in the same condition, " IF I HAD KILLED JOKER YEARS AGO HE WOULDN'T HAVE HURT YOU OR ANYONE I CARE," batgirl didn't back down, going for quick succession of strikes, landing some, but not landing enough to do damage as he took advantage of each time she missed.

Hitting her head, body, and legs with ease as if he wasn't tired as she was. Cassandra found herself on the floor, having a hard time staying conscious from the amount of pain she felt, from the amount fogginess her brain felt, "HE WOULDN'T HAVE KILLED SO MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING LUCIUS AND HIS FAMILY! AND THAT GOES TO EVERY OTHER PERSON WHO HELD A GUN ON AN INNOCENT. I COULD'VE SAVED SO MANY LIVES IF I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO PULL THE TRIGGER CASSANDRA!"

She would pick herself up, slowly but surely. Batman didn't want let that happen; running to her for a full on knee. She rolled horizontally, avoiding the flying strike, "YOU CAN'T…." her teeth grind, ignoring the pain, ignoring the desire to sleep, to give up, but she won't. Not for the city, not for the symbol, and not for him, "..GIVE UP!"

She ran at him, tackling him off the roof and right onto a top of the car. Batman grunted in pain from taking on the full damage of the fall and landing roughly on the car. While batgirl took less of the damage, she couldn't stay down with the moment present, and stood up, pounding her fist into him.

Once, twice, and threes times before batman caught it and push her off.

Now they were on the empty streets of Gotham. Batman got off from the car, using it as a way stand up, batgirl was barley standing, almost crouching,"...There's no saving me Cassandra…. If Peter won't fight me…" he coughed up blood as he walked into the middle of the road where batgirl was, "...if Jason refuses to follow me, if Dick can't… fight me, and if Tim ran away to… avoid fighting me, then you'll have to."

"...I know…" she got into her fighting stances, "Why I'm here….. I… Won't let you…Give up…! I WON'T!"

She roared, releasing a battle cry, rushing to him as he awaited for her to fight on, like she always does.

Present day

She breathes in and out, washing away that day from her head before she answers the batman, "Fine. You?" She calmly said.

"Terrific," the corner of her basil eyes looked to Bruce, just when his eyes skidded away from hers, "Couldn't be any better."

She felt her eyes wanting to squint, but she didn't let it, 'Lies,' after a whole year of dancing around each other, to now having little more of a conversation, Cassandra hated that. Selina was right, and now, she knows that Bruce is faking.

He still isn't alright, he's hiding everything he's feeling. Sure, his body says otherwise, that he has nothing to hide. But the flicker in tone, the way he drifted his gaze to look back at Peter, and the way he's trying to be relaxed in posture but ever so slightly, his hand clutches the grip of his glass.

Bruce is far from terrific and there's a bit of uncomfortableness in him. Whether it was being here, that it was nighttime and he isn't out there anymore, or probably something else entirely. Cassandra doesn't know, only that he isn't terrific. Who knows how he's really feeling inside. He can hide it from most people, but not her. She can see through the lies no matter how much he tries to hide it. Or maybe, this was his way of telling her that he's a work in progress, that he's still trying to find time out of that dark hole he was put into.

And it bothers her that she doesn't know which is why this was one of the few reasons she distances herself from the batman. As much as she wants to help him in however way she can, she actually doesn't know how too.

How do you fix a broken man that lost his code? His honor? And shattered his family to pieces?

It didn't help, in the small seconds that passed by as they stood next to one another, Bruce wanted to say something. But he only found himself watching everyone that came to support him and his fundraiser. He couldn't help it, just as the younger bat was doing the same thing. Even when they haven't talked for sometime, they work as if nothing ever happened to separate them.

Selina eye roll, seeing as neither the younger or older bat was making any progress to at least communicate with one another, she had to pick up the pieces, "Your tush looks like it got bigger there Peter!~" She holler out rather loudly, poking fun as his butt still had a whole that wasn't properly sewed up.

Calling out his name almost made him jump, keeping the camera steady while still recording the interview Vickie was having. He did send out a quick glare at Selina, but in hindsight, it made each of them smirk in their own way; Selina with a devious demeanor, Bruce smile lifted up a bit more in amusement, and Cassandra shaking her head as she couldn't help but find situation comical at best that Selina still finds time to tease Peter, even in public.

Vickie also found it funny, yet somehow kept her interview professional.

"Come on, leave the poor kid alone," Bruce place his arms Selina, allowing her to snuggle herself just little close to her husband, "Think he's been through enough of your constant torture."

"Oh please! The kid got worse from so many other women! Namely my copycat. So glad you kicked her to retirement," she said to Cassandra, pinching her cheek just a bit across from Bruce.

'Not exactly how it went down… And I think she's still out there causing more bad luck,' Cassandra thought to herself about the famed ex that caused bad luck between her and Peter in the past, mostly Peter.

In her own thoughts, she almost didn't notice Peter taking a picture of three people. The only thing she could do was slap Selina away from her cheek, but it was already too late, "That is definitely gonna be a keeper."

Cassandra lightly scowls at Peter, "Delete it."

"But you look so cute here," she tried reaching for it, but instead Peter had by his waist, "Mr Wayne! Misses Wayne! Always pleasure seeing you together," he greeted politely, "But also it's not a pleasure you still find time to comment on my tush, Misses Wayne."

"Hey I'm just pointing out what the firecracker here doesn't say."

"Selina!" Cassandra should not be enduring this from two people at once, but she is.

"How's the search going?" Bruce's demeanor didn't alter, but his tone voice became a bit deeper, serious, just as his eyes were when watching Peter and Cassandra.

Peter's expression became poker face, a flip of a switch occurred as he knew what Bruce was talking about, "Dry. We know the pattern is similar to how Julian operates. Maybe the person is influenced by him? Perhaps it's a long lost son that now is coming to the surface. Either way, it's a hunch that he'll show up here."

"Hmm.." Bruce hand cupped his hair free chin. Cassandra saw his detective side getting into gear.

Somehow, Peter was still a slave to thinking he and Bruce are still partners out there that he facepalmed, since he took notice of the glare Selina was giving him, "Right… My bad," his poker expression was lifted and now he had one apology.

"For?" Bruce felt the palm of his hands being tapped, and he looked at Selina who simply shook her head. He felt himself sigh, "Right," and then he turned back to the pair, "Not important. I'm glad to see you both here. I heard you've gotten a promotion in the gazette Peter."

"Eh," he shrugs, "I'm still coming in late because people want to go all crazy and surf trains after robbing a bank in the morning."

"Right, but the city has never been anymore cleaner," he raises both glasses he just got from a waiter who passed by, "Thanks to you both."

"You know I don't drink Bruce."

"Hm," he took a sniff in it before smirking, "Its ginger, just like how we usually do on nights like this."

Peter eyeroll, taking the glass and trusting Bruce words as he took a drink. He was surprised at the fact it was ginger, 'How does he know from simply picking it without looking?' he asked only to himself since he knew he wouldn't get the answer.

"Ugh! Ok ok! You got to meet them, and now mister, you have some people to meet," Selina would drag Bruce away, with him almost not being able to wave by to them.

Peter watches as the misses Wayne drag mister Wayne to a couple of people he had to talk to. Cassandra soon saw the noticeable thin line on Peter's lip. She can tell something was bothering him from the conversation, "How is that… I'm still a slave when near him?" Peter would turn his head back to Cassandra, her eyebrow raising at the question, "I still… Well… Whenever he talks in that tone, I still feel like I'm his partner again, working alongside him when Jason wasn't around... Before Tim showed up," she saw his form slouch just a bit, "Selina mentioned beforehand that I shouldn't bring up our other job. Blew that one."

She moved out his waist, cupping his hands since the camera was dangling around his neck and he had a glass of ginger in one hand, "Not your fault. Remember, mission."

Reminding him what he had to make sure of at this moment made him focus, less somber, and had his back straight instead of slouching, "Right. Spider senses on high alert, and just so you know," he then moves closer to her ears, holding and for a brief second dancing just a bit to the sound of piano playing, "Your costume is on the roof from across the street."

And she smiled, knowing full well that he was giving her the option to let him do the heavy lifting here in the fundraiser. A factor she loved when it was the two of them at work.

Expect the next chapter to have more action going on. Moments like these I tend to get lost in these character interactions since the characters are already familiarized with each other, but the readers aren't. It's challenging to tell this type of story but it does get a few things running and other things are left up to you all interpretations.

So! See ya guys whenever!