Chapter Text
The drive from Gotham to North Shore Beach was seven million years, or at least that is what it had felt like to Stephanie.
It had been her harshest school year with worrying about how her mom would pull through the money for college. That was if her mom was even going to support her.
Unlike Tim Wayne, her best friend since before she could remember, Stephanie had to save up for the chance of college. She was lucky enough to have a whole ride to Gotham Academy.
Sometimes jealousy would creep over her, the way Tim spent his free time “interning” at his father's company. She'd joke about how it was just grooming to take over the company.
She was expecting a string of nos, but instead, Tim laughed at agreed. This should have sent her over the edge as he somehow convinced her to summer quit her job and head up to his summer home.
Steph would have considered it thoughtful, Tim seeing his friend in distress and taking her on a three-month trip to paradise.
What Tim failed to consider was Cassandra WC. Wayne. His older sister and her eyes glared at the back of her blonde head. Steph's crush who hated her.
Tim was preoccupied with his switch even to see that Steph grew another layer of sweat. Everyone else was too.
Tim’s older brother, Jason, was a rising senior who was either nose deep in some book or being the mysterious bad boy character.
Steph remembers Bruce pulling out his children and Steph after Jason punched a kid.
The whole thing was a blur, but Jason was short-tempered. The video showed some girl stopping flirting with him as he threw the book at another student. Then there was blood.
Have they continued up the Jersey shore, Jason was reading and occasionally messing with Damian’s sketch.
Damian was the youngest out of the Wayne's, and he acted like it. Just before leaving, he was close to throwing a fit over the lack of art supplies he was allowed to bring. Yet now he was peaceful, sketching was animal.
He had made Stephanie a birthday card with a purple snow leopard. With the comment about how “ridiculously inaccurate it was.”
Steph still has it hung in her room. Along with the purple heart shelves Cass had made her.
The same Cass who wouldn't even look at her. And was probably plotting to murder her. No ordinary human texts that much.
“S, help me beat this stupid fucking level,” Tim spoke, handing her the neon blue switch.
Mr. Wayne sent back a “dad” glare that would terrify anyone, but Tim shrugged as Steph shivered.
Stephanie took the console attempting to beat the level, pushing back her feelings of something for the older girl in the back and ignoring the void that she desperately wanted a dad, one that was not in and out of jail and her life. They didn't have to be as rich as Mr. Wayne. They would just have to be there.
“Here, that was the easiest dub ever.”
“You're lucky someone is in the car” Tim rolled his eyes.
Steph raised her brows, “What would you do?”
Tim placed the game down before making a fist and fake punching the back seat.
Mr. Wayne sighed again. “Timothy, a little less violence and swearing, please.”
Tim rolled his eyes. God rolling his eyes meant that he felt something that Steph couldn't. Safe.
Horrid Mother and barely there father didn't exactly hit that bar.
“What if you behaved in front of Mr.Brown like this?” he spoke again.
Tim, Steph, and even Jason’s eyes went wide.
Bruce realized and let out a string of apologies, and I'm sorry for your loss.
He wasn't dead but to Steph? He so was.
The rest of the car ride passed in silence, and when they reached the Wayne summer home.
Steph was memorized by how huge and beautiful it was. The Blue exterior with white columns, a fucking porch, and three other cars already lined up.
Standing in front of it, Stephanie felt so so small. “Who are the other three cars?” she asked, looking at the roof that had a flat bit.
“Ours, who else?” Tim said, dragging both of their luggage out.
“The queen of England, she’s making a pit stop,” Another voice spoke. A voice she loved, Cassandra’s.
“Really?”
“No, I hate her personally,” Cass said, ruffling Steph’s hair. Her face read fondness and sadness?
“Wait, you guys have met the queen?” Steph asked, but Cassandra had already made it to the porch.
“Are you going to make me carry your bag too?” Tim pouted.
Steph rolled her eyes before nodding but taking her duffle.
“I think we would should do our grad here.”
“Our?”
“Everyone already calls us twins; why not do a joint graduation party to fuck with them?”
“An average person would suggest a joint birthday.”
“My birthday’s in a week,” Tim said, walking up the stepping and opening the door
“Mine is in a week and a half,” Steph said, holding the door for Mr.Wayne, who was struggling to carry Damian.
“So, a joint birthday party?” Tim suggested throwing his bags onto the ground.
“I'd rather di-” Steph was interrupted by Damian waking up from his fake nap.
“I already have gifts for the both of you. If you have a joint birthday, I'll have to wrap them differently.” Damian added. Before all three, Waynes nodded at that idea.
“Holiday House, for all birthdays, graduations, and even sweet sixteen.” Mr. Wayne sent a wink over.
Stephanie refused to take advantage of Mr.Wayne’s money or kindness. She doesn’t need pity.
“Ha, Grads,” Cassandra said, staring dead at Stephanie.
Then it clicked.
“Cassandra, I have your graduation gift,” Steph said, ruffling through her duffle bag.
But when she pulled out the necklace, Cassandra was gone.
“She'll get over it,” Tim said, dragging Steph to the room with the bunk bed.
Steph still frowned, looking at the necklace case.
It was the American sign symbol for “I love you.”
So fucking cheesy, but she thought Cassandra would love it. She wanted to go, but then her mom had drank herself to sleep and didn’t wake up until the night. She had no right.
+
Cassandra wanted to die; she had two new year resolutions.
One. Come out to Bruce, which was a gross sloppy crying mess of ‘don't hate me’ and ‘I think I love girls.’ and ‘I know I do.’
Bruce accepted her with open arms. Of course, he did, then he asked who the lucky girl was.
Two. Confess to said lucky girl. Stephanie Brown. Her younger brother’s best friend, who he was attached to the hip with.
She was so stupid but isn’t that what love does?
Cassandra had it all planned; at her grad party, she’d pull Stephine to the roof and give her a necklace, one with love. She'd confess, put the chain on Steph, and they'd kiss as the firework set off. Both from the kiss and the one Bruce bought.
Or Steph would think she's a total loser and run.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Jason barging in.
“Bruce is asking if you want crab or lobster.” He asked, looking down at his phone.
“Lobster.”
She could tell Jason was trying to read her.
“Cass, what's wrong?” Jason asked, inching closer.
I'm a complete lonely loser who hast confessed to my childhood crush; who did I mention is our younger brothers best friend.
“I'm trying to think of how ill tell Bruce about Tish.”
Jason sighed, “You have our support. Plus, Dick and Duke are going to be her soon.”
Hopefully, Richard will start something that Cassandra will have to resolve, and then when Bruce looks at her with fondness, she'll confess that she's going to college for dance.