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Cass was getting ready for patrol when Bruce came to her.
“Please, be back before midnight,” he said.
Cass stared at him. That was an odd request. Returning before midnight meant barely an hour of patrol when their patrols usually lasted 3-4 hours. What was going on? But Bruce didn’t elaborate. She tried to read his expression, but she only saw “concern, concern, concern” leaving Cass in the darkness. Only later did she figure out what was going on when she found the cave invaded by magic users.
“Listen, everyone,” Batman commanded, “It’s midnight, technically it’s Monday, and if we believe the threats of the creature we summoned the other day. Today is the day he will kidnap black bat. It’s our duty to prevent that.”
The magic users turned to Constantine, who sighed in response.
“Listen, batsy,” he said, stepping closer. “I know you are worried, we all are. But we are far from ready to stop him.”
“We still need to try,” he insisted.
“And we will try, I only want you to be ready, worst comes to worst.”
Batman only grunted and moved to greet Cass. He hugged her with all of his strength.
“Please, be safe,” he said. “And don’t leave the Manor today, ok?”
Cass didn’t know what to say. She knew her strengths, and magic wasn’t one of them, even if she wasn’t afraid of the King she met last week. But how to explain to Bruce without revealing that he was living rent-free in her head? That she couldn’t stop thinking of their secret, although not-so-secret meeting? In the end, she couldn’t find the right answer, so she changed and went to sleep without protest.
Meanwhile, Batman organized patrols with the magicians: one always at her door, another under her window. Room access required a password that Bruce changed every hour. Constantine reinforced the Manor’s protective spells, and Raven added more. Then, they waited.
****
Cass woke slowly, stretching like a lazy cat. She rolled out of bed and opened her curtains. It was a gloomy day in Gotham, nothing special to be honest. But then she noticed something in the sill of her window. An ice rose that remained intact despite the awful rain. She stared at the flower. It had a subtle glow that pointed to its magical nature. How did it arrive there without anybody noticing? It seemed like her the King was even more powerful than the magicians feared. Should she grab it? Throw it? But it was stunning and delicate, with petals that shimmered with dewdrops; it even had thorns. It was as if it were an actual plant cut from the garden and not a statue made of ice; maybe it was an actual plant. Cass was so curious, dying to know if it was as cold as it looked. Torn between opening the window and grabbing the flower or not. It could be dangerous, but how could she reject such a present? In the end, she did the only sensible thing. She messaged Steph.
Steph arrived in a whirl thanks to the secret door that united both their rooms. When she saw the flower, she whistled.
“Nice,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Guess you left a lasting impression.”
Cass blushed hard.
“You did!” Steph laughed. “I mean, he let you keep the cape, right?”
Steph pointed to the black fur cape that now rested on her bed. Cass liked to hide under it and observe the constellations that shone inside the cape.
“So?” insisted Steph, “What are you waiting to grab the rose?”
Cass made a sad sigh, moving her hands up and down like weighing a scale.
“Yeah, yeah,” Steph said with a dismissive gesture. “You are worried about Bruce and everything, but c’mon! It’s your opportunity to live! To have a fairytale romance with a King, opportunities like this don’t happen twice.”
Cass tilted her head to look at the rose, still on the sill, unassuming. Then she opened the window and grabbed the flower. They both stared expectantly, but nothing happened.
“Aw,” pouted Steph, “I was so sure it was a magical flower.”
She jumped to grab it, but Cass stepped back on instinct, accidentally pricking her finger with one of the flower’s thorns.
A swirl of green invaded the room, and Cass and Steph instinctively got closer to each other, holding a defensive position, ready to take in whatever was thrown at them. Then, in the blink of an eye, there was a horseless black carriage in the bedroom with two skeleton warriors on each side. Cass's eyes went wide with surprise as Steph held a laugh. One of the skeletons moved, prompting the girls to return to their defensive positions, but he simply opened the door as he bowed. Cass and Steph stared at each other; the skeletons didn’t move. After a few moments, the girls relaxed.
“Let’s get you dressed,” said Steph with a grin.
****
It only took the barrier thirty seconds to sound the alarm, but it was enough time for the carriage to leave with the two girls. Batman screamed in despair as he tried to dig a hole in the floor with his bare hands. As if he could follow the vehicle whenever he went. Constantine avoided saying, "I told you so," though his face said it all, so he left for the cave, leaving the children to comfort their heartbroken father.
****
Steph couldn’t help but gasp as the carriage arrived at a Gothic castle. It was a large and imposing structure with tall towers, bastions, an inner courtyard, diversely coloured roofs, and a myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone carvings. Flanked by both rectangular and circular towers, its exterior is decorated with geometric motifs. But Cass wasn’t paying attention to the sumptuous fortification. She was too busy watching the figure waiting for them at the doors. He was wearing a mid-leg bottle-green doublet with long sleeves, pants, and white double Monk Strap shoes.
On top of that, he wore a black outer gown decorated with intricate white silk brocade in the shape of constellations, leopard-fur lining, and a wide neckline. The open sleeves were caught with clasps, and he wore a white belt decorated with a purse. He wore his hair loose, covered with a small soft cap that he took off when he saw Cass.
The girl blushed. She had chosen her clothes carefully; she wanted something nice but also comfortable to move in, so she wore slick leather pants, paired with a Jacquemus off-the-shoulder top and a padded jacket. The accessories completed the look with delicate gold earrings, bracelets, and golden sandals. Yet when she saw the King in silk robes, she felt awfully underdressed.
Steph opted for a more utilitarian look to avoid outshining her friend, wearing simple white Kaia Carpenters pants with a long cut, a high-rise waist, closed with a sleek metallic snap, a polo sweater, and a leather jacket. Combat boots and Marni gold-plated earrings completed the look. Both hid several weapons just in case, too. Either hiding under their clothes or disguised as jewels. Cass's golden bracelet concealed a taser, and Steph’s earrings had a wire lining.
The King walked to them, followed by a Knight in purple armor. He didn’t talk, but he seemed disturbed. The King made a dismissive gesture and opened the door, offering his hand to Cass to help her down the carriage’s stairs. The King smiled widely at her, and Cass smiled back. But before any of them could say anything, a voice interrupted them.
“Wait for me!” Yelled Steph, jumping down from the carriage. The King frowned.
“I remember you,” he said with a tight voice.
“Glad you do,” said Steph with a big grin. “I’m afraid I didn’t introduce myself the last time. I’m Cass’s sister, Steph.”
Steph stretched her hand and offered it for him to shake. He took a moment before accepting.
“I’m happy you are here, Miss Steph. I had a selection of ladies in waiting ready, but I’m sure my fiancé will be happier with her own sister here. I will make sure to prepare your rooms next to hers.”
The girls shared a look, then looked at the King, and then looked at each other again. Cass pointed a long finger into the King’s chest. She put on her scariest face.
“Listen.”
****
The rest of the day was spent looking for Cass and Steph, or ways to bring the girls back. The hours dragged slowly, each ring of the bell sinking Bruce deeper in his self-loathing and hate. Even if he wanted to be mad at Steph, because she had started all of this, the truth was that this was his failure as a father. And then, when the clock struck 10:30, the miracle happened. There was a swirl of green, and the same horseless carriage with the same skeleton soldiers showed up in the Manor’s garden. Once again, one of the skeletons moved and opened the door. The first person to come out was the King, wearing the same mismatched clothes as the last time they met, but instead of a dull, annoyed face, he was smiling. Behind him, Cass was the first one to come out, graciously accepting his helping hand. She was wearing a black dress that Bruce was sure wasn’t hers, but he didn’t care; his little princess was back. Behind Cass, Steph showed up, accepting the hand as well, then jumped down instead of walking the steps.
“Thanks, buddy,” she said with a grin.
The King didn’t roll his eyes, but you could feel he wanted to. Instead, he linked his arm to Cass, only to be pushed by Bruce, who rushed to hug his daughter. He trapped Steph in the hug, too.
“I know this is your fault, and we will talk, but I’m happy you are back.”
“Calm down, old man,” she said, freeing herself from him. “And say hello to your son-in-law.”
Bruce froze. Muscles tensing as the words “son-in-law” echoed in his mind again and again. He gritted his teeth, doing his best not to scream in front of the children.
“I think I need more information,” Batman said with a low voice filled with venom.
Constantine rushed to his side along with Raven, both vowed to the King.
“We might want to bring the conversation inside,” Constantine proposed with a ragged breath.
“Yes, let’s go inside,” Batman agreed. <
> he thought.
They all walked inside. Alfred came to greet them.
“I took the liberty to prepare the study in the west wing, Master Bruce.”
Bruce nodded.
“Good idea, Alfred, thank you.”
“May I take your cape, your highness?” Alfred offered as he grabbed Steph and Cass’s coats.
“No, thank you. I don’t plan to stay for long.”
“As you wish.”
Cass linked her arm to his.
“Come,” she said, guiding him around the manor.
Once in the private dining hall, Cass and the King sat in the love seat, and Steph sat in the sofa’s arm. None of them showed any discomfort or fear of the King. Instead, they both sat in a very relaxed posture. Bruce sat in a wingback chair in front of them, Raven next to him on a recliner. Constantine remained up.
Bruce wasn’t as good as Cass at reading people, but he knew that they wouldn’t hide it from him if they were in danger. He was sure of that. None of them said a word, carefully observing each other until Alfred came with tea and cookies for everybody. The King served Cass, who happily accepted. Alfred served everybody else. After a few moments, the King spoke.
“Greetings, Bruce Thomas, “Batman” Wayne, hero of Gotham and knight of justice,” he started, making the aforementioned spit his tea. “I, Daniel James Phantom, High King of the Infinite Realms, first of my name and guardian of balance, present myself not as a King, but as a man in love. To announce to you my intentions to court your daughter. The magnificent Lady Cassandra “Black Bat” Cain-Wayne.”
Constantine put a hand on Batman’s shoulders, and Raven put another on his knee.
“My Lady Cassandra has informed me of the differences in our cultures, and I decided to honor hers with a traditional courtship,” the King continued, ignoring Bruce’s knee-jerk reaction or Steph's giggles. “And as such, we will go on 'dates', I will bring her back home at 10:30 sharp, and will not take her on long trips without prior approval. I will also refrain from any more kidnappings and will allow Miss Steph to accompany us as a chaperone until the day my Lady Cassandra decides she wishes to marry me or end the courtship.”
“Well said,” Steph said, clapping his back. The King took a deep breath but didn’t react in any other way. Cass smiled and put her hand on his. He smiled back at her.
Constantine put both hands on Batman’s shoulders, but keeping him seated was getting harder and harder. Having said his piece, the King sat, nodded his head to Bruce in respect, and kissed Cass’s hand.
“See you tomorrow,” he said.
“See you tomorrow,” she said.
“Leave already, lover boy,” Constantine complained as Bruce started to convulse.
The King left before he could hear Bruce scream, “Over my dead body,” or Steph’s barked laughs.