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Cassandra had been taking ballet classes for a year or so, due to Bruce’s insistence that she find a hobby she enjoyed, and she had been enjoying it immensely. Dancing came to her as naturally as breathing, the movements of each step flowing through her body like water.
She liked her classmates too. Though she was quiet and rarely spoke, they all seemed to like her, and they never made her feel left out. It was weird, having friends who didn’t know she was Batgirl. It was weird having friends at all.
Cass liked them, though. They were her friends. They were kind to her.
There was one small problem, though.
They also liked her dad.
A little too much.
The first time Cass had noticed it, Bruce had been helping the girls backstage during one of their performances, handing out bottled water for anyone who had forgotten to bring their own. Priscilla, who had once knocked a guy out clean for trying to sneak into the girls dressing room, had coyly asked Bruce to open the water for her, since she was far too weak to do it herself.
Cass made a bit of a face, but thankfully Priscilla didn’t notice.
Priscilla chatted with Bruce until they had to go back on stage, and Priscilla held the bottle of water like it was the most special thing she had ever touched.
A lot of her friends seemed to be looking for reasons to be close to Bruce. Annabelle would ask for his help braiding her hair for a performance, since she didn’t have any parents to help her get ready. It made Cass feel a bit jealous, but she decided to not say anything, since Annabelle really did need the help with her hair.
In the time before shows, Julienne, who had taken up ballet as a hobby, but dreamed of becoming a lawyer, would ask Bruce about his own job, including the fund he managed to incentivise more students in Gotham to choose Law as a degree. Cass had tried not to let it bother her, even as Julienne looked at Bruce like he was the most brilliant man in the world.
Bruce wasn’t brilliant. He was just a man. Cass didn’t get it.
The most obvious one had been Violette. After a show, Bruce had been asked to present Violette, who had been the principal ballerina, with a bouquet of roses. Violette went bright red under the stage lights, and stammered through a thank you while looking at Bruce with an expression so love struck even Bruce noticed. Not that he commented on it.
At least Faith wasn’t fawning over Bruce like her sister. In fact, Faith was the only girl who didn’t seem infatuated by Bruce.
For Cass’ next performance, Bruce planned to attend with Selina. Cass had hoped that these… odd crushes her peers had would be dissuaded when they realised how serious his relationship with Selina was.
However, as they entered the changing rooms, the very first thing Faith said was, “Cass, your dad’s girlfriend is so pretty.”
“She is!” Priscilla said. “I don’t know if I want to kiss her or be her.”
“Those heels! I have no idea how she walks in them, but they looked amazing on her,” Annabelle added. “Your dad is so lucky.”
Who knew so many of her friends liked girls too? Maybe Cass had a little more in common with them than she thought…