Won't lie, I've been feeling burned out from this story which is why I'm a tad bit late.

But I'm different now, pushing through the burn out, and making sure I don't get lazy with all this momentum. I'll go into a bit more after yall finish the chapter.

Enjoy

Chapter 7: Live a little

November 4th

"DAMN IT!"

"GIVE ME A SEC HERE. THIS SHIT NEEDS ANOTHER JUICE!"

"WE DON'T GOT A SECOND."

"JUST FOCUS ON NOT GETTING US KILLED."

In the afternoon up north of Gotham, two police cars were trying to nab crooks in their own speeding car. One of the crooks pop out of the windshield, clad in a yellow and bronze suit with gauntlets being charged in a green hue before blasting out a huge vibration energy at both of the police cars' wheels, "BOOYA!"

Because of the man's action, the two police car's cruise left and right, slowly but surely losing control.

Going back inside the car, another suited man who was more clad in a black and white suit, with his mask having a slightly huge W to represent the boomerangs on his side, turned to the bronze and yellow criminal with his lip frowning, "Seriously?! Booya?! I should copyright you, you know that right?!"

"No one cares about Cyborg, trust me," he cock back his arms, allowing the blasters to automatically open from the side so he can slide off, where he began tinkering the inside with a mini flamethrower, "Plus that will distract the web head a bit anyhow."

"You sure?" The boomerang man asked when shifting left and right from bystander vehicle

"Positive," he paused momentarily, "I think."

The police cars tried stopping, but the speed they were going at ended up colliding with one another. The one behind ended up ricocheting to the street. To avoid hitting anyone, the driver swerved right as hard as possible. While he avoided the street, his car took a turn for the worse; it ended up flipping once, and twice.

But not anymore than that. Peter came in the nick of time, quickly pressing buttons on his web shooters the second he came zooming in after bouncing off his webline, and placed a huge web net in front of the car right as it was gonna hit the next block, stopping it from causing any more potential traffic problems or accidents to occur. And with the speed he kept swinging afterwards, he went to the next problem. He let go of his webline, tossing himself to a landpole for the extra swing and speed, and put himself in front of the other police car.

His bare hand stopped the car; his feet protruded to ground, breaking parts of it, and in seconds the car was stopped before it could also tussle itself into the interconnecting side of the street. Once he saw he accomplished his two goals for the day, he made sure to check both police cars; from his perspective he could see not only the car in front of him, but the one webbed up behind that they were fine.

But still, it never hurts to shout too, "HEY! ALL GOOD HERE?!"

"YEAH!"

"THANKS SPIDER-MAN!"

"SHOCKER AND BOOMARANG ARE AT IT AGAIN!"

"GOT YA! ANY TIME OFFICERS!" He again shouted back as he went back swinging to find boomerang and shocker

"Master Parker. Boomerang and shocker are passing through Otisburg as we speak," Alfred said through the communication line.

"Then I'll..!" Peter cuts corners, thrust himself high in the air so when he comes diving down the street, his next few swings will catapult him forward with the necessary speed to catch them, "Cut through newtown!"

A webline here, a webline there, each building supporting the weight of his swing as he flew across the smaller rooftops, and or passing through constructing obstacles with his agility and quickness. Nothing stops him till he has eyes on the car straight forward, "They really think they can try to escape me? This is my old block! I still know the nooks and cranny of Otisburg like I was still in my jockeys!"

Boomerang mouth agape when seeing the spider come into view, very fast, "SHIT! I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT WOULD BUY US TIME?!"

Shocker couldn't help but groan, with his mask making it sound like an echo growl. He snapped his gauntlet on, readying for a fight, "And this is why I don't plan!"

Peter landed on the hood of the car, "Hello boys! You know the drill!" Peter would flip to the rear of the boomerang side, avoiding the shocker's blast, "License and registration please! Unless your both under 16, and this would be reallllllly illegal."

"Damn it! Can you just look the other way for once spidey?!" Boomerang asked, looking into his direction for a moment.

Peter shook his head, "Not on your best days boomerang."

"DUCK!"

"Goose?!" Peter knew he could've dodge, it would've been so easy.

But he's aware of the bystanders in the streets, he's aware of the buildings and stores that shocker's gauntlet could cause damage, or get someone killed. And it didn't help that he was taking his time with this then he should.

Peter ended up taking shocker's two gauntlet blast, sending him through a truck and straight into a cafe shop, "Agh!" Breathing heavily, his vested suit took the damage with ease, but the shot itself wasn't something Peter can just simply joke about. Recovering quickly thanks to the truck, he backflips himself to cling to the cafe's back wall, right on the menus, and leapt back outside to chase the suited villains, "SORRY ABOUT THAT!"

"WE NEED TO GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE VEICHLE HERMAN!" Boomerang shouted with clear frustration.

"And to where exactly?" He looked at the mirror in front to see if the spider would come swinging, looked in both side mirrors additionally to see if he needed to shoot him, "Remember, you said you needed money fast, and I told you this wouldn't be an easy job," Shocker said nonchalantly.

"...FUCK!"

Suddenly, both heard someone landing on top of the roof, and suddenly the glass mirror by boomerang side was broken open by a stick. Boomerang was soon tossed outside, "AHHHH!" his body landed on a parked car.

"Shit!" Shocker quickly grabbed onto the wheels, moving left and right to avoid the cars in front of him. Till he turned, and then suddenly saw a police barricade, then leading to the wheels being popped, stopping the car from moving any faster, and causing it to swerve into a donut.

With the car stopped, and almost nowhere to run, Shocker again groaned and let himself relax in the passenger seat, "..So much for parole."

Before Peter reached the shocker location, he had to make sure if boomerang was ok. He was unconscious, to say the least, and on top of a vehicle, "MY CAR!" He then saw Peter standing there, his expression changing from shock to glare, "OF COURSE! IT'S ALWAYS YOU ISN'T IT?!"

Peter held up his hands, "I swear it wasn't me," he then would got to his back pocket, wanting to at least help him out with something, "Look mayb-"

"I DON'T NEED YOUR FREAKING MONEY! I'M GONNA SUE! FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT!"

If his lens could, it would shift downer to express his dumbfoundedness, 'That would mean the money I would give you would be yours… To which I was willingly going to do.'

Peter couldn't worry about that, since the guy wanted to act up like that he left the scene by jumping in the air and swinging to find the vehicle, "Hey Al, Cass is still in the cave right?"

"Yes, I can still hear her grunts with how much kicks she's throwing today. Seems that the police were able to stop Herman with someone else's help.. And you'll be surprised to see who it is."

"Huh..Weird."

He soon found Shocker being apprehended by a police officer, but upon landing, he didn't expect to find a person sitting on the vehicle, casually waiting for him, and casually waving at him. Peter was starstruck to see this person who got off the vehicle with a graceful corkscrew spin. He wore a blue domino mask that had white lenses to hide his blue eyes, black hair taken care, comb with the uttermost care and flawlessness, his suit being black and blue, with the blue part connected in tangent from his arms, shoulder to his chest that formed an eagle of sorts.

And he smiled, as the sun lit brightly behind him when walking to Peter, "Love the new duds! Is that what's making you a little slow today huh?"

Behind his mask, Peter had his mouth open, not sure what to say or do, and simply stared at the man in front of him. The man he hadn't seen in person for what felt like years but really was only a year ago, "..H-how are you even…" Can't properly form a sentence, Peter went straight to hugging him instead.

The man wasn't expecting such a powerful hug from the similar height that was Peter, "Whoa! Lay off the super strength there, and…People are watching, Peter."

So they were, and Peter didn't care. At the moment, he was glad that this person was back compared to when he last saw him.

A year ago

Peter watches as the man he aspired to be, the man who taught him so much to who he is now, the man that was the big brother that kept watch over him, the man that had his similar taste in both comedy and being true to oneself, and the man that meant so much to him.

Peter watches as this man stares, staring out the window from the manor in a wheelchair, trying to move his hands just a bit but can't. He can see the disappointment, the slight scowl he's trying to form but couldn't, the way he tries to keep his hand steady on the chair, but often falls by his side, the legs that keep shaking here and there, and the known sigh he's been doing for sometime.

Peter watches on as this man was broken compared to who he once was. He then heard someone was coming right beside him; a tall woman, skin golden ochre, eyes pure green that doesn't showcase how beautiful it was with how sorrowful she looked, and her long, curled hair reaching just about to the middle of her spine. She couldn't help but hold herself in her own arm as she too watches the man in the wheelchair, looking outside with depression written on his face, "...I'm gonna take Dick away from here. I just got word from my sister that she'll help try to..Help him."

Peter looked at her, nodding but also finding himself disappointed just as he was saddened, "It's for the best, I know. Doctors did all they can, we did all we can…" Peter's head and eyes shifted downwards, can't have the stomach to look at her or face the reality of what has happened to Dick, "Us humans still have limits on where our technology can heal, repair…Let's hope new Tamaran can help him."

The worst part of it all that everyone suffers just like Dick, in their own physical or mental way.

"Peter…" her hands touched his shoulder, "This is not your fault," Peter didn't answer back, and her hand recoiled from the black long sleeve shirt he had on. It almost felt like it pushed her away, that it had a mind of its own, "..I've been meaning to ask.. What is that you're wearing?"

Peter didn't exactly want to answer her, it wasn't important, but then she knew she would keep asking till she got an answer in the end, "...A suit I picked up from war world that replaced my old suit. It's nothing to worry about Kori."

She tilted her head, feeling her worry for her friend rising just from that statement, "The way it repulses from my touch… Almost like it had a mind of its own," then her eyes slowly widened at what it could bne, "Peter… That's not a Klyntar is it?" She asked.

"A what?" He questioned with his eyebrow raised.

"A symbiote or.. Parasite of that matter. It bonds to individuals that gives them great strength, speed, agility, but also relies on the individual to live as it can't live without a host. My people knew of them, even knew of their creator," she looked away briefly, "..They were all supposed to be eradicated because Knull, the creator, wished to bring about chaos with his army. They were long since forgotten from what I was told… But seeing as this one live.. Peter, don't treat that as an ally."

Peter sucked his teeth, knowing to trust Kori words but also… Finding it hard to believe that this symbiote wanted to hurt him, or use him to their own devices. It had been helping him, hell, it helped him with the justice league when on warworld.

So why would it want to do anything bad? It should've done it before shouldn't it? Yet it didn't, its been helping him cope with the stress of learning all that he missed in Gotham. Peter let out a sigh, ruffling his own short hair, "I'll be on guard Kori."

"No, get rid of it before it permanently bonds to you."

Peter started scowling, "Stop worrying about me Koriand'r! I'm fine ok?! I'll handle it like I'll handle everything here! So back off please!" Peter's voice raised high, clear with anger and stress that became more apparent.

And Koriand'r wanted to push the matter at hand, but she didn't, her eyes softened and felt sorry that she was even arguing with Peter. She wanted to apologize and said that she trusted Peter's judgment. Funny enough, Peter wanted to do the same. He always hated when he let his emotions get the best of him, that has him react in anger. But then they heard Dick yelling.

Screaming.

Crying out.

"AHHHHHHH! FICCKKK! GAH!"

Peter and Koriand'r ran to him, stopping him from shaking back and forth in the wheelchair. Koriand'r held him in place and Peter knelt to his level, holding his legs, "I got you Dick," the Klyntar that was bonded to Peter grabbed a needle with a syringe in it.

Peter saw the tears strolling from his eyes when injecting the needle into his vein. The complete despair, the need, the want, to not only be broken, but to not be what he is now, "NO NO NO NO….no no no…" Dick eyes slowly dropped, eyes tightened, squinting to stay awake, eventually, he gave up and fell into slumber.

All Koriand'r could do was hold him in her arms, kissing the top of his head, letting tears drop from her cheek at the prospect of seeing the human she loves like this, "... If only we were here… Why did this have to happen..? Of all times when we were busy off world.."

"Why else..? Because he was the first robin…" Peter answered before standing up and throwing the syringe away, "Joker wanted to do worse than he did to Jason… And he did, gave him a stroke bad enough for him to not be what he loves to be."

Koriand'r felt her throat tighten, just hearing the utter explanation of why her lover was put into this position only made the pit of her stomach twist. Peter wouldn't be much of use to them, only serving to hurt them both with just being in the room. He would then move out the room, seeing as there was nothing else for him to say or do, he let Kori have her time with him. And when going into the silent hallway of Wayne manor, Peter clenched his fist hard and tight.

He felt weak.

So weak.

He couldn't do a damn thing to save any of them from this torture.

And he hated that.

A second of walking, Peter thrust it through a nearby wall, revealing Cassandra behind that wall, jumping from the sound, but also from the pure fury that resided on Peter's face. And Peter couldn't help but feel more regret when he saw her look at him; the shock, to sadness, to worry, and to even fear.

Especially when she sat coily by the window, body wrapped in bandages that made her look more frail then she was supposed to be.

He hated it… But what could he do? What else could he do to fix a hole that Joker caused?

And he couldn't close it. The only thing he can do is keep the city safe without a batman at the moment.

They will keep the city safe, no matter what the cost is.

The now

Peter and Dick sat alongside a rooftop in Otisburg. He watched Dick eating a bat-like burger in hand while he held his own with his mask half way up for him to eat as well, "Mmmm.. I never understood how they can merchandise off of Bruce, and somehow make a batburger good," Dick took notice of Peter's stargaze, giving him a warm smile before shaking him by his shoulder, "You in there bud? Look a little lost right now. Is it because I might have some crumbs on my lip?"

"No…" He shook his head, "Your… Jumping, dealing with car chases, and handling my run of the mill bag guys…" Peter then looked at his own burger in his hands, having web parts designated for him unlike Dick's own bat burger, "...How?"

"Would you believe it was Kori, Komand'r, and my own luck that got me back into my own shape?" Dick query with an added jester in his tone.

"Dick, you and I both know that no matter how advanced any alien techs are, it never reaches the advance to heal part of a brain, any brain for that matter," Peter explained, "I mean… I know you were improving, but to do all this…?"

"So you can't be glad that I'm good now? Enough to come back to earth, come here to this city where I can at least help where I can?" Dick eyebrow raised when he questioned, "I get that you're suspicious, but can you leave that paranoia for Bruce? And just be glad that I'm better than how I was compared to last year?!" Dick told with a slight vexation in his tone

Peter didn't mean to get on his case, in fact, part of him was surprised with the way Dick reacted to his curiosity. With how much he could and had yap his mouth about the likes of science, technology, news, and being a crime fighter, Peter knew Dick would never become annoyed with him. It was something Peter wanted to prod, understand why he reacted like that at his justifiable paranoia.

But he also had a point, 'These are once in a lifetime things that don't just come by often. Why try to find an answer when he's fine, great actually!' Peter shook his head, taking a bite out of his burger before letting go of his paranoia. Just this once for his older, adoptive sibling, "Sorry… I didn't mean to cause any distress to you Dick."

"Hey it's fine. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that, or compared you to Bruce for that matter," Dick said, "It's not me to say something like that.. Jason would though."

Peter let out a small snort, "Still does, and he still has a huge drinking problem."

"Yet he hasn't gone gung ho on people has he?" Peter answered with a shake of a head, "Well… We did want him to stop killing right?"

"At the expense of destroying his own liver? I rather he shot someone for jaywalking than kill himself," Peter said. He noticed Dick eyebrow shrewd from the small dark humor, "Too dark?"

Dick gestured to the usage of his finger and thumb, "A bit, you sure you're not wearing that black and white suit of yours under that new suit?"

"How do you remember I had that on?" Peter wondered, "I didn't think you would remember much of my more moody days of those few months last year."

"I uh, remember a few things here and there," Dick shrugs when finshing his burger, "Kori would talk to me in my sleep, often worrying about you and the rest of the gang alot. Then when I was able to start forming my memories again, along with speaking, talking, and reading, I did my research on what I missed out," Dick suddenly found himself frowning, "...Missed quite alot."

"Yeah… It was for the best."

It went quite for a bit, the uncomfortable silence in the air wasn't hard to miss as Peter finished his own food. But soon enough, the two adoptive siblings would talk again, "How are you and Kori by the way?" Peter asked.

Dick lips form into a small grin, "Great!" just a bit more, "Amazing," and a bit more, "SPECTACULAR EVEN!"

If Peter eyes lens could which he hadn't made them, it would've narrowed at the usage of those acronyms, "You know those are mine right? Like the amazing and spectacular is something I use on a regular basis?"

"You never copyright them," Peter scoffed as he went to drink his soda. Dick would then take something out from his utility belt, a small black box where it had a ring shape with what seemed like a diamond on top of it, "I think I'm finally ready to have the gall to ask her the most important question in my life Peter."

When Peter turned to see what Dick meant by that, he didn't think it would really be the most important question, "Oh..My GOD! YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA DO IT?!" Peter gleefully shouted.

Dick chuckled, "About time. And this time I want to make sure it's right," Dick said, finding his hand rubbing the back of his neck, "We've always been off and on, but she's always been my rock when I needed her. And I do need her," Dick spoke truthly, his eyes staring at the ring that means the world to him, "Especially when she asked me not too long ago if I really love her, in a way that's forever without any excuses for us to break up briefly, before getting back together again."

"Wow… Just… Wow."

"I know," Dick would close the box and put back in his utility belt, "You think being 32 you have love all figured out. But that isn't the case, and now I have to figure out how to approach her with this."

"Oh come on dude! Just get on one knee and pop the question," Peter implored, "Kori doesn't care about it being special because she knows this is something you really wanna do."

"But it's so lameeeee," Dick wined, "I want it to be special. I mean you're telling me you would do something that basic for Cass?" Dick redirected with a question.

"Well…" Peter didn't have a clear answer to that, eyes directing more to the street under him then Dick. Marriage was not something he could think about or even think about it at all. It was not like he didn't wanna get married to Cassandra but it was all about timing and when he can do it.

And if he's honest, he's not sure if Cassandra would accept it the way he wants her too. Because Peter knows she'll say yes automatically, but he wants her to say yes, knowing what it means for herself and him. Yet the more Peter thinks about it, the more he feels like he's creating excuses, running away from that thought. In hindsight, only proving that he himself isn't quite ready for that territory, 'There was only one person I actually wanted to ask once upon a time.. I wonder if she would say yes?'

Peter had to stop himself from touching that territory, it seems she's been coming back in the forefront of his mind as of late. He then noticed Dick's tilt head, giving him a curious gaze, "Bro… Really?"

"Look if I were to say, one day, ask Cass to marry me then it would be simple," Peter said with a shrug, "She doesn't care about how good, big, or who will see it. She only cares if it's something I really wanna do."

"And you don't, do you?"

"I'm that obvious?"

"Heh, nooo not really. Your mask makes it hard to notice, but when you go a little quiet, gaze at something then the other person, you're in deep thought. And you seem like you aren't quite comfortable with that topic too," Dick observed.

"So I'm obvious then."

"See I'm trying not to put you down."

"Its oooookk. Cass takes up that job to not allow me to think too much anyways."

They share a chuckle at their light hearted conversation about their beautiful partners, "How's she doing? Still living in the cave?"

Peter nodded as his knees pointed up for his arms to rest on top of it,"And by vice versa, same as me. I try to make sure she goes outside instead of always sticking to the manor or clock tower."

"How often is that?" He asked when taking a drink of his own soda.

"Ermmm…" He heard Dick giving a soft sigh when he ducked his head, "Look I don't wanna push her into things she doesn't want to do yet."

"Gotta try Peter, even if she says no, a little push does always help."

"I know… That subject hasn't always been so easy for me to touch though," Peter admitted when looking at Dick, "I don't know how to do it without her saying no and that she has to always train for Gotham. The crazy part is that she just rather be batwoman, she feels there's no room for a normal life anymore."

"Too peas in a pine," Dick muttered, also snickered at the irony, "As I said, little pushes. When was the last time you took her out on a date?"

"...Few months ago, almost a year ago."

Dick looked at him, his eyebrow shifting up indicating how wide eyes he became at that response, "Dude..!

"We've been busy!"

"Not until a couple weeks ago!"

"Ok well…" Peter again looked away, again finding himself not able to argue back.

He feels like he's a terrible boyfriend of not doing enough to make sure he gives the love Cassandra deserves. He wants to respect her wishes, but at the sametime he wants to do more than just having small dates in the manor, clocktower, or being a duo together at night and very rarely, in the day as well. Dick, ever the observer, moves a little closer to sling his arms around his neck, "Hey, girls are tricky territory to crack at. Cassandra is no different."

"She kinda is."

"Ok yeah, she grew up differently than most girls. But the core of her isn't and you two have to live a little beyond all this," he gestures at the costume Peter wears, "You of all people know of this, and don't give me the you know you know thing you like to do."

"Hey-"

"Gotham is safer because of you two, and yeah there is another psycho on the loose, but look at all this," Peter looks to the borough of North Gotham they reside in, one that had people going about their day below them, no ounce of drama, homeless people or even garbage lying around, "Otisburg is way better than what it use to be."

"You got that right. Never thought my old neighborhood would get like this. Yet can't say there isn't exactly a full pro with it, even crime alley still has problems," Peter said. Vickie words still wrong to his head that it may look better, but underneath there still some problems.

"And we can't live without it. The pros and cons are always gonna be there," Dick said.

"Meaning we just got to live with them, yeah i-" Peter stopped himself, "Huh… I really do say that alot," he said with a snort.

"See? You're getting it," Dick patted his shoulders from across, "It nevers hurts to ask. The worst she can do is to say no and break up with you," Peter looked at Dick, finding it odd that he would say something like that, "What? She wouldn't do that though."

He was right though, it was very stupid for Cassandra to do something like that. And because of the obscurity, he did find himself laughing with Dick going along with it. Peter really did miss these talks, miss his older sibling being around and making sure he got his head on straight.

Hell, he's glad that he and Alfred are back in his life and hopes it stays that way, "I don't mean to spoil your reunion," the ever so english accent from Alfred came through their comms, "But someone stole a motorcycle near your vicinity."

Peter groaned when he pulled down his mask, "Now who would do that on the brink of the afternoon?!"

"It is still Gotham at heart," Dick pushed himself off the low level building, before summing the usage of jet pack allowing him to fly, "Hey take care of our scraps would ya!"

"WHAT?! I'M NOT A GARBAGE MAN!"

Yet Peter took care of it, like a garbage man.

Cassandra felt herself sweating from head to toe, keeping focus on the bar she balanced her body on. Her hands grip the bar tightly, enough to where her own veins were noticeable, her arms and shoulder tighten, her stomach doing the same when lowering her own body, slowly. Not to mention, even when focusing she had her headphones on, not for the purpose of music, but someone wanted to have a conversation with her, "And the nerve of them! It's like what's the point of me doing my job when some people want to complain about the service I provide."

"Mhm."

"I make sure to push everyone I train; do this amount of push ups, do this amount of sit ups, run this long, punch this way, kick that way! What's the point of signing up for a training program under my tutelage when you don't wanna push yourself?!" The person that was a woman on the phone ranted in frustration.

"Mhm," Cassandra didn't seem to mind this distraction, to have someone talk about her day to her as she kept herself focused on her training. She would then split her leg apart, horizontally straight , then push her forearms so she could handstand on the bar, and she would let her body descend into a full swing, going through a series of circle motions.

"I'm only hard on everyone I teach because that's the only way anyone can see improvements, it's what Bruce always taught us, endure and push forward."

"Osu," Cassandra then stops her motion at the tip top, piking up as she then turns the other way and swings in reverse.

"Exactly! But enough about me, I hate that I always find myself talking about me more than you Cass!"

Cassandra would use her motion of swing to launch in the air, tucking and flipping backwards, before catching not only the bar, but also her headphones that slipped out of her hands. She would again stop, piking up with one hand as she slipped her headphones back on, "Don't mind Stephanie."

"I do though. Saw on the news what happened a few days ago in Gotham, and that there's been a spree of people dying over there. Why haven't you told me?"

Cassandra found herself sighing, knowing this particular topic was gonna come up eventually. She springs her arms, letting her own body go in the air briefly, so she could then bend her body where the inner part of her lower legs caught the bar. She would then sit up, adjusting herself where she was now sitting on top of the bar, "Been busy."

"Heard it the first time, but I understand. Just don't keep me out of the loop cause then I'll have to go to Barbara. And she'll definitely tell me! I'll make her squeal it out of her!" Cassandra giggled. If there's one thing she can say when talking to Stephanie is that she's a very stubborn kind of person when it comes to the people she cares about. Try to push her away and she'll keep running forward to do something good for her friends and family, "Also, I need to know, you and Peter?"

"Yes?"

"Using protection right?"

Cassandra felt her cheeks tint, "STEPH!" Even more hilarious was Alfred coming back into the cave just in time to not only see her reaction, but also hear her shout.

She would again have her tie into a ponytail, so her embarrassment was clear as day for Alfred to see, "Stop teasing her, Stephanie."

"IS THAT ALFRED?! TELL HIM I SAY HI AND I MISS HIM DEARLY."

"No."

"What?! Why because I'm asking the important questions?! I'm just making sure my best friend doesn't end up like me! Plus, the first time you bang each other was without any protection!"

She pouted even when embarrassed, "Wasn't our fault!"

"Still! Looking out for my best girlfriend!"

She sighed and shook her head. However annoying her friend Stephanie can be, she won't admit outwardly about this idea appeasing her mind, allowing her to smile at the brief thought, 'A child…With Peter…' It wasn't bad, she can picture it all relatively easily.

He being over protective.

She having trouble on how to hold a baby.

He sleeping with them in their arms.

She making sure they get the food in their stomach.

He always being there for them no matter what.

And she loving their every existence.

But sadly, she's not sure she can have it with her circumstance, 'Gotham's protection first.'

"Hellllllllo! Are you even listening?"

"Yes."

"Then what I said?"

"Tim, he's finishing up…With college."

"Oh…Well yeah he is! Did I ever tell you how happy it is to see him do all this? How proud it makes me to see him genuinely succeeding? He…Really deserves it, you know?"

"Yeah..He does. How.. is he?"

"...Physically or mentally?" Stephanie asked, with the tone of uncertainty being clear.

"Both."

Stephanie gave a little sigh through Cassandra's headphones, "...Physically, he's doing fine. Even without one eye, one arm, and one leg, he's able to still do a lot of the things he used to do thanks to Peter's help. Mentally though..? He still has nightmares of what Joker did to him, still doesn't want to talk about it even when I know, sometimes he gets lost in deep thoughts, sometimes I feel he isn't there…Sometimes I think, can he even look at me? Can anyone look at me anyhow?"

"I can," Cassandra answered, "No matter what… You're still you."

"Yeah… I know… But not everyone likes staring at a partial two face look alike."

Cassandra found herself sadden at how Stephanie called herself, how negative she is on herself just like how Tim is. She wishes she can do something, anything that makes her simply change her mind on her appearance. But how can she? At the very least she can hide her scars from the years of fighting and especially to what Joker did on her back.

Tim and Stephanie can't hide what Joker did to them, "Oh shit! It's almost 3! I gotta go pick up Tim! He's sooo gonna kill me! We'll talk soon Cass!"

"Ok by-" Stephanie cut off before Cassandra could properly say bye. Rushing or not, Cassandra thinks Stephanie wanted to end the conversation.

Even if it was a terrible way to go about it, "I presume your conversation with Ms Brown didn't go the way as planned?" Alfred asks, having both water in hand, a towel in one arm and his warm tea for himself. Cassandra nodded. She fell back, hands catching the bar so she could flip off the bar. She landed with ease in front of Alfred, "Smashing as always,"

Cassandra bows before taking the water bottle and towel from him, "Thanks. And no," she drinks it before continuing it, "...Doing well, and not."

"Which means you yourself don't know what to do, how to make either of them feel better," Cassandra would nodded, "As much as I wish I have all the answers that will help, these are one of those times where I'm not as useful as I want to be," he then took a sip of his tea, "..Just keep doing what you always do, be loyal to the people in your circle."

Again she nodded, letting her back lean on the walls the cave had as she used the towel to wipe some sweat off her, "Don't want them to suffer," she looked away from Alfred when mentioning her feelings on the subject at hand, "They're not here. Shouldn't have too… Suffer anymore."

"In an easier world, that should be the case right? But for people like us? It won't ever be as simple as we want them to be," Alfred said.

"Endure and push forward. Why…Is that hard?"

Alfred shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe because that's our job, the hardest job as a human bean to get done. And whether we like it or not, alone or not, we have to go through it to see what can be better than the position we are in now," Cassandra hummed, agreeing to his speech before she drank her water again. Yet something made Alfred eyebrow raised, a curious thought crossed his mind, "When was the last time you practiced your ballet?"

"Err…" Cassandra found herself scratching her cheeks, "A while."

"Meaning a long time?" Cassandra's head dipped when she put the towel on her neck, still avoiding eye contact before looking at Alfred with bashfulness, "More than a year then."

"Just a year. Need to be… The bat. Gotham needs that," Cassandra said, not ashamed that she will always use that statement for the reason why she gives up certain aspects of her life.

Alfred let out a soft sigh, "You are not Bruce Miss Cain, just remember that," he made sure to fix the front of her hair, knowing she doesn't like the strands brushing against her eyelids, "As much as the body and mind needs sharpening, so does the spirit."

"YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The butler and the bat saw Peter swing through the river side entrance of the batcave, with none other than Dick towing his back, "WOOOO!"

"Ok ok ok. You had your adrenaline rush for the day now please, kindly step off from the vehicle," Peter quipped when taking off his mask.

Cassandra's mood was lifted seeing the slightly annoyed expression on Peter's face, and the bombasticness of seeing Dick walking, hoping, and smiling brightly, "Hey it's always a hell of time when I get a free swing on the spidey fair."

"Everybody gets one," he pointed with one finger, "One."

"That is a bold fa-"

"DICK!" Cassandra immediately jumped on Dick's back, bear hugging from behind.

"Holy!" He made sure to keep his balance at the sudden force from Cassandra's bear hug. He turned his neck to see her, "That can't be the young Cass I know! I remember she had way more shorter hair!"

She giggled, hopping off her so she could give Dick a proper hug, "Miss you soooooo much!"

"Probably miss you more," he said when hugging her back.

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Oh yeah!"

"Nope!"

"You're not winning this Dick," Peter commented.

Dick pouted at Peter, "No fair! You let me lose."

"Well this cave has gotten lively," Alfred made sure to make his presence known, giving a slight shock of not seeing him as he was focused on Cassandra, "Makes me feel a little bit nostalgic." Cassandra let go of Dick so he can give the meanest hug to Alfred, both just like Peter and unlike Peter, he did so but lifting Alfred in the air, "Dear lord have mercy… You three are gonna put me in a coma from these hugs."

Dick ended up chuckling as he put Alfred down, "It's only because we miss you is all," Dick took a look around the area of the batcave, "Can safely say somethings hasn't changed, but man… It feels good to be back here in the old cave."

While Peter enjoys Dick taking in the environment he knew so well since he was but a kid, he felt his ribs being poke by none other than Cassandra, "Hm?" Looking at her, he was surprised to see her kiss his lips. It was quick, a little sweaty from both, but sweet all together. "That was nice, as always," Cassandra giggled, "Hey," he held her hands, "How about we go out somewhere?"

Cassandra's smile fell, shaking her head, "Training."

"Come onnn.. Enough training, let's go out, on a date, real date instead of stay on dates," Peter beseech. Cassandra wanted to deny again, instead she went quiet, and in a sense hesitated to look at Peter properly and rather look at the metallic ground they stood on. Peter frowned, both hating her becoming uncomfortable and denying her request, "Look…" his thumbs gently rubbed the back of her hand, "I don't ask because I know how you feel about it, especially when we should keep focus."

Problem for Cassandra in these moments was that it is never the eye contact that bothers, it's everything she can see from a person's body language. And it was worse for Peter because she saw everything; happiness, wanting more, wanting to do things, wanting to be the perfect boyfriend, not wanting to make a mistake, and certainly not wanting to push uncomfortable stuff onto her.

It's the very reason why there's just a portion in the relationship she doesn't wanna push forward. Not because of him, no it's because of herself, ""I know we've got a killer to catch, but I want us to.." He paused, letting his shoulder shrug, "..Maybe get a little break, an actual break that involves us doing something. Like living a little you know? I don't think we have done anything for… A long while."

'Not since…Getting rid of the..symbiote,' Cassandra almost wanted to say out loud.

And Cassandra hasn't heard Peter push this much in sometime, was it because Dick was here? Or the bit she heard from his talk with Alfred yesterday? Or even the conversations with Jason? What spurred all this on all of a sudden? "I.."

"She would love too," Alfred came in, answering for her.

Cassandra looked at Alfred with bewilderment, "Alfred!"

He held a smug expression for his own doing, to which Dick had to hold back a snicker, "One day of being Cassandra and Peter wouldn't hurt."

"And plus," Dick had his arms on Alfred's shoulder, "I'm here! So why not take a break and let me take over. You two deserve a bit of rest anyhow."

"But-"

"No buts Miss Cain. Please," he wagged his fingers while switching his smugness into a warm smile, "Enjoy yourselves."

Hearing both people tell her to enjoy herself, telling her that she is allowed to enjoy herself, seemed unreal to Cassandra. She knows more people had told her this, she has done it before, but with everything that had happen to push her being batwomen, it told her that she needed to prioritize that.

And every step of the way, Peter was there, no if's or buts. She knows there were moments that Peter wanted to do more, be more, sometimes she tried to push it herself like quitting his job for something he genuinely wanted to do. But it was hard for the reverse

Yet… Having the likes of Alfred and Dick change it just enough. She looked at Peter, with more confidence and a proper smile, "Where too?"

Peter did the same, making her world brighter like always.

Selina was right in the fact that Peter would really only dress up for Cassandra. She herself, found it fascinating of the many clothes he tried to find to be appropriated for a date.

Cassandra simply watched as she herself wore something rather simple; a jacket, long sleeve shirt under it, stretchable trousers, and boots. She also decided to wear a yellow beanie hat with a bat symbol on it.

She kept her hair in the ponytail, just in case she needed to suit up. Speaking of suiting up, she had her own bag that contained the interwoven armor suit, just in case.

Meanwhile, Peter still was being indecisive of what to wear. As much as she loves seeing his bumble self, nervousness, and trying to make sure he doesn't wear anything doll. She would get up from her bed head and choose for him.

A coat.

A regular shirt.

Regular pants.

And regular shoes.

Nothing extraordinary, and nothing that made him stand out. She liked it like that anyhow, it was him and not someone else. Peter would try to sway her judgment, asking her if she was sure.

Easily, she shut him up with a kiss.

Now dressed up, Peter didn't forget to have part of his costume underneath to help with the clothes, the pants and shoes were in his own bag too. Alfred would request to drive them, to which they couldn't deny.

Peter made sure to tell him where to go in the old fashion Rolls Royce silver wraith. Somehow, its pure black and silvery bulky look was taken in great care with how easily it still runs. Peter wonders how Alfred kept this thing alive since it was made in the mid 20th century.

Since he was back he'll make sure to do so when he has the time.

Alfred drove them to Migani island by the Upper East side, up north from the Fashion district. He would park near a Gotham theater that held classical storytelling with the usage of ballet. Cassandra was surprised that of all places, Peter wanted her to take her here.

He asked if it was ok?

How could she deny it? Her heart warms, irked at seeing the posters of people posing, the monitors inside the building showcasing previews of the plays, and the overall need to see it.

How could she deny something she loves, something she still wants to do, and truly be a part of?

Cassandra's answer was an easy yes. It was ok to be here.

Peter opened the door for her, holding her hand as she made it out the car. Alfred told them to enjoy their date, to which they will with all their hearts.

Peter pays for the ticket, in fact it seems like Peter had all this plan out since they were able to make it on time to see a ballet play. Cassandra chooses L'Oiseau de feu, or The Firebird translated in english. They went to the theater and found their seats on the top row.

Cassandra wanted the bird's eye view of the play, wanted to see it all and not miss a thing.

Soon, the play starts, and while Peter wouldn't enjoy as much as Cassandra, he took in pleasure at seeing her awestruck expressions when watching every ballet movement.

The music encompassed much of their movements, along with the lighting and costume designs that were integrated for story purposes. It was about a prince who after defeating an evil villain, was given a feather from a fire bird after sparing its life. He would thus then recall the fire bird to help him fully stop the villain by putting him and his allies to sleep, and destroying the very egg that held its soul.

Each lateral movement, each contra lateral movement, held deep meanings that Cassandra could see. The fear and yet courageous heart of the hero. The power, the rarity that the fire bird was. The dark, malicious, greed the villain possessed. And the love the hero found in his darkest time, that helped him fight for a chance to live on to flourish in blissfulness that was love.

Cassandra saw it all, understood it all that it brought a trickle of tears, a present beam on her face as she gave a standing ovation for the ballet once it was finished.

In the end, she couldn't help but look at the man beside her, the man who would do anything for her, and the man she's a lot in this play. While he was busy clapping like the rest of the audience, she couldn't help but be grateful to be reminded of who she was beside him.

And no matter what, she doesn't want to lose him, and if so, she will do anything to keep him by her side, by her family side.

Because she loves him, with all her heart.

Night hasn't completely reached Gotham yet. Peter and Cassandra were simply taking their time to be normal.

To them? It was refreshing. Sometimes because of the amount of things they've done as spider-man and batwomen, uneventful things could remain uneventful.

But not to them, no instead, they were walking around Gotham.

Holding hands.

Taking the bus.

Eating food.

Taking the crowded train.

Indulging in eating some ice cream even if it's getting colder.

And walking through a park, Robinson park that lay in the center of Migani island.

Cassandra was still enthralled in the ballet play she saw when eating her chocolate ice cream, "I forgot..How good it is..! To watch them… Watch them all Movee… Like that!"

Peter chuckled, through the evening, he loved seeing the happy expression that was plaster all over her face. It been sometime since he seeing her like that, not because of him or the family she interacts with, but an actual clear happiness when living amongst the people of Gotham, "I'm so glad you enjoyed it, but be careful with eatin-" Cassandra groan the second she chomp on her chocolate ice cream. Holding her head and having her eyes shut was a clear indication of one thing, "And so we found out folks! That Cassandra Cain can handle the heat, but not the cold!" Peter said, using his cherry vanilla like it was a microphone.

She pouted and glared at him, "Help meeee!" she mewled.

"Hmmm…" With the tap of his fingers on his chin, and a light bulb that fuse right on top of his head, Peter would do such thing, "With me knowing alot about biology, a contact with another heat source could li-"

Peter was cut off by Cassandra kissing him. Because it was Gotham no one paid attention to the young people making out, even if some did, they were simply happy at seeing a couple like that share a moment with one another. Once they departed, Cassandra again groaned, "Still thereeee!"

Peter encircled his arms to pull her close to him as they continued to walk, "You're gonna have to live with it for a bit."

Sooner than later, they each finish their ice creams, also eating the cone itself. They ended up stopping right by where Robinson park had a pond. It had some onlookers in boats, and also had some animal life like ducks and fishes in those ponds, "Can I say something to you?" Peter asked, moving his arms to the railing near them.

"Always," hating when he does subtle stuff like that, Cassandra mimics Peter, but keeps herself close to him where her arms and body were touching his.

Peter ponders his own thoughts just a bit more before saying what's on his mind, "Lately, these past few days, I've been thinking about my life. Simultaneously, it led to you too. We've been… Very busy with Gotham for the past year. A Lot has happened even before that made us focus more on Gotham than ourselves; for me it was losing Gwen and May since they're the ones that kept me grounded.. Kept me on the path to finish college and be a great scientist, a great engineer that the likes of billionaire cooperation would want in their hands. When they passed, I stopped doing those things," Peter clutching both of his hands, letting out a small sigh at how tough it was always is bringing those two up.

Cassandra knows this, which is why she wraps one of her arms around his, comforting him. He briefly looked at her, seeing her nodding for him to continue on, so he did, "I prioritize being spider-man more than Peter Parker, I sought Bruce, Alfred, Selina, Barbara, Dick, Jason, Tim, Steph, and you as the people I can talk to, the people who I could see as my own adopted family. Even if it's a little weird with you and I dating."

Cassandra giggled, letting Peter smile up little more than him being gloomy, "Not weird. Both of us never… Saw each other… Like the rest of… The family."

"And how pray tell you know that?" Peter gave an eyebrow raise with his question.

"Simple. Bat," she pointed to herself, "And spider," she pointed to his chest, the chest that his vested upper body costume underneath the rest of his other clothes.

Peter eyeroll at the obvious. His eyes look back at the pond, watching the ducks moving in the water with their family, "All right then, keep your secrets. But anyhow, all of them including you told me about having to keep Peter alive then just being spider-man. Yet how could I do that? All the people I love… All the people I knew, grew up with, or simply were normal, weren't around anymore. Each one of them steadily disappears from my life, either it being my fault or not my fault. I couldn't cope with that, still have a hard time coping with that," he then shook his head, "But I've been through this perpetual cycle before, one where the balance of my life often gets shaken by something, anything. I wanna find my balance again," he then looks at his girlfriend, "I think you should too."

"Peter…"

He guided his free hands to her's, "I know, Gotham first. But shouldn't you matter too?"

Cassandra didn't have a clear response to that, how could she when she truly feels like she doesn't matter.

Batwoman matters more.

She always wonders how people like Bruce and Peter could do both, and she sees Peter a lot of the time struggle to handle both. Sometimes like these days where one is more focused than the other. As much as she wants to be, she isn't Peter, she doesn't have a proper life outside of being the bat.

She was trained to be a killer, and when that didn't take, she became something better than that thanks to Bruce and his family. She even learns to love thanks to the man beside her. But how could she live in two worlds when she never had one to begin with? She never quite got that, and asking Selina the other day didn't give her the answer she needed.

Instead, she asked why she should be like them when she should be more of herself? 'Yet who am I, without the bat?' She asked herself, finding herself lost in her own thought that her eye contact with Peter was lost.

That is till he moved a strand of her long hair away from eyelid. The little gesture brought back her attention to him, "Once upon time, I knew a younger women who wanted to do ballet, be on the stage like the dancers she watches day and day out," Cassandra snorted, knowing exactly who he is talking about, "Sure, she never exactly was the social type, not because she didn't want to be, but it was simply hard when she didn't know a lot of the words to convey through word of mouth."

"Where is this going?" She asked, wanting him to stop tip-toeing with what he wanted to say.

"The way you enjoyed the ballet today, the way you were on the edge of your seat, the way how happy you were, and the way it brought you into tears, you should pursue ballet again Cass."

"I can't."

Peter sighs, his head lowering to his shoulders for a second before he lifts it up, "It's not fair that I get told to balance both my life, but you don't want to either. Even when you can be so extraordinary to things you love doing," Peter said, annoyed at the same answer she keeps saying. Cassandra went quiet, she wanted to break away from Peter, but then that meant running away.

And Cassandra doesn't run away from problems, no matter how uncomfortable it can get for her, "You love ballet, you love drawing, you're excellent at both! And you can be someone who takes the world by storm Cass! Why?" his eyebrow shrewd, "Why do you always say I can't?"

"You know why," she said, frowning.

"...And what if you quit?" her eyes widened at his next statement, "What if I endure all that burden, protect the city alone? Woul-"

"No!" She fiercely glared, "Gotham needs the bat!"

"But it has me!"

"And you need me!"

"But I want you to live!"

"I am alive!"

"NO YOUR NOT CASS!" Peter now shouted. He hated doing this, but since it was now in the air, he couldn't back down.

"WHY DO YOU CARE?!"

Peter felt offended at that question, "WHY?! YOU DON'T WANT ME TO CARE?!"

"I'M HERE!" she pointed to herself as she now let herself go from Peter, "LIVING!" she gestures to all around her, "BREATHING!" she breaths in and out, only serving to make her look more irritated, "THIS! ALL THIS!" she gestures to the clothing she wore, "DOESN'T MATTER! THIS ONLY DOES!" She then pointed at the bat symbol on her yellow beanie.

"...So…" Peter backed away from Cassandra little, having his hands in his pocket. Neither was caring about the people looking at them as they were shouting at each other, "What? You wanna die Cassandra? Is that what your… Saying?"

Cassandra felt a shock go into her system, her hand wanting to reach out to Peter, to bring back the joy they had just a moment ago. Only now, she felt cold, not because of the ice cream, not because of winter coming, no she was just… Cold.

Cold and alone, because the truth of his words hurt her. And she saw Peter was hurt too, more hurt then she was. He couldn't even look at her properly, and it was more than that, she saw that he couldn't stand her. The idea that she's only living to die, nothing else and nothing more.

It isn't quite true, but what's there is the fact she is like her mother. Wanting a challenge, a real challenge, even if it means life or death. That's what she wants, what she craves, the thing that can make her feel alive most of all.

She felt guilty in a twisted sense that she would want to endure what Joker did to her, because it tested her life in the end. The worst part of it all? How could she tell Peter that? How could she admit that she's only growing into her mother? That no matter what little hobbies she has, what little hobbies brought her love, and even if she has someone she dearly loves with all her heart.

How could she admit to the fact that she's hypocritical of being alive? But she can be if she were given a challenge for her life.

Peter's phone rang from his pocket, stopping him from whatever he was going to say as he looked to who was calling. Cassandra took note at his eyebrow raise, "Who?"

"Bruce," he said shortly before picking it up, "Hey," he turned his back away from Cassandra, having one arm crossed and the other on top of it.

"We found him. Get to the batcave now."

Bruce quickly hung up and Peter could only scoff at his luck. His neck turns to Cassandra with his expression changing to poker face. She knew what time it was and he didn't need to say it.

It meant putting their conversation on hold, cause there were more important things to worry about then their relationship.

End of I

Dramaaaaaaaaaaa! And you think I wouldn't do that with how cute they are together? Well ladies and gents, that's relationship for you. No matter how good, or sweet it can be shown, there's always something lurking behind closed doors.

But hey! Dick is here! Don't let his buns fool you! Keep them focus on what he's gonna go through in the story. Also, how many of y'all notice the few references I put in here. Not alot! But its look and you'll miss it type of thing.

Soooooo as mentioned earlier, dealing with a burn out. Power through it to get this chapter out. As most of y'all probably don't know, this is the end of part 1 of the story. I'll go back and edit the display of what part each chapter will represent down the road, but at the moment, I'm focusing on finishing this story.

A bit of bad news but the weekly post won't be happening for some time. I gotta finish laying out what part 2 will look like since i did alot of changes to part 1 that makes part 2 hard to illustrate at the moment. So once I outline part 2 and publish chapter 8, it'll be back to your schedule weekly updates.

Till then, see ya whenever, but not forever.