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After finishing her patrol, Steph hurried up to get back to the Clocktower, eager to deliver Cass her gift. She found Cass hovering near one of the windows, still in full costume.
“There you are!” She called out, walking towards Cass. “Miss Paula from that Brazilian restaurant downtown wanted me to give you these. She said it’s to thank you for stopping that robbery at her shop yesterday.”
Cass blinked, unmoving for a moment. Then, she pulled her mask off, letting her short hair spread down. Steph thought it wasn’t fair that she looked so good even after spending a whole night with the cowl on. Steph wasn’t that lucky after so many hours in her Spoiler costume.
“Oh,” she said, reaching for the bag of cheese breads. “She didn’t have to.”
Steph laughed, stealing one of the snacks before handing Cass the bag. “I know, but it’s nice when the vendors do something like this after we save them. Makes you feel seen, doesn’t it?”
Steph sat down on the worn-out couch and took a bite of her stolen cheese bread. “This is so good. Did you try it?”
Cass didn’t move from her spot near the window, nor did she start eating. Steph frowned. She had never known Cass to refuse food after patrol, especially when they were eating together.
“Cass?” She called out, raising her voice. When her friend turned towards her, Steph asked, “Are you okay?”
Cass nodded, crossing the room to sit down by her side shortly after. “It’s just weird.”
Steph frowned, confused. “You mean the food? It tastes great to me.”
“No, not that. I mean… What you said. About the gifts making you feel seen.”
Cass took a moment to consider what to say next, and Steph waited it out, even though her first instinct was to question her further. She knew better than to think that would be helpful. Finally, Cass said, “I don’t like it when they see me.”
“The civilians?” Steph asked, abandoning her food in favor of turning to face Cass.
“Yes.”
“Why not?”
“They get scared,” Cass replied simply. “I make them scared.”
Steph shook her head. “You only scare the bad guys.”
Stubborn as she was, Cass ignored her easily and continued talking. “No. Not only them. I even scared Tim when we first met.”
Steph rolled her eyes. “His frontal lobe wasn’t even developed yet. It doesn’t count.”
Cass pulled on her cape, draping it over her right shoulder. The joke didn’t even make her crack a small smile. She tilted her body towards Steph, allowing the fabric of her cape to envelop her. She stared right at Steph as she said, “I scared you too.”
She wanted to deny it, to counter the ugly feelings bubbling beneath the surface of Cass’ mind, but it was pointless. Cass would know she was lying. She would know it because she read bodies better than most people read words on a page, and she would know it because Steph was no secret to her after all they’ve been through together.
Faced with her silence, Cass added, “It’s okay. I know you aren’t scared of me anymore.”
Steph smiled sadly at her friend and reached over to place a hand over her shoulder. “I was mostly envious, to be honest. You were the best fighter I had ever met, and everyone just trusted your abilities immediately, while I had to work my ass off to get a chance. It really wasn’t personal.”
Cass nodded, but the bag of food was still untouched on her lap, and Steph decided that just wouldn’t do.
“Cass, maybe people do get scared when they first lay eyes on a dark figure kicking ass in a dark alley, but it isn’t because of you. Not when it comes to those civilians. They react the same to Batman until they realize who they’re dealing with.”
Cass looked up at her, something akin to hesitant hope in her eyes, but didn’t seem entirely convinced. Steph pushed forward and told her, “Paula told me she was so relieved when she saw it was you who came to help. She said, ‘That’s the Bat who never loses’. I get how you feel, Cass. You spent your whole life hiding because of Cain. And, even now, we all hide behind masks to do our jobs, but you still deserve to be seen for who you truly are.”
Cass frowned, her eyebrows drawing together into a confused expression that made her look so much younger. “And who am I?”
Steph chuckled and reached for the package abandoned in Cass’ lap. She took one of the cheese breads out and offered it to Cass.
“A hero,” she replied.
Cass eyed the snack with a good degree of distrust but still took it. Slowly, she bit into the bread and chewed. She closed her eyes, savoring it thoroughly. “It’s really good,” she confirmed.
“I told you,” Steph celebrated, leaning back into the couch. “Now, eat up. You deserve it.”
She tossed the bag back at Cass, who caught it easily with her annoyingly perfect reflexes.
Steph snuggled against Cass’ side and rested her head on her shoulder. Cass laid her chin on top of it without a moment’s hesitation.
Cass wouldn’t say it, and Steph wouldn’t expect her to, but that was as clear a thanks as it could get.