Archive of Our Own ^beta

pov

Cassandra Cain wasn't fond of social events and her family was well aware of that, yet every once in a while she had to make a public appearance.
Hence why she was currently at a press conference.

She sat in the far corner on one of the many chairs prepared for the occasion, snack in Hand, as she observed the scene ahead of her.

It was a press conference centered around another charity case Wayne foundation was funding, a prelude that would eventually conclude with a Gala where Bruce's 'Brucie Wayne' persona would come to shine, as he persuades the socialites into donating.



With the focus going to research on helping people with learning disabilities, Cass understood why B was so persistent on bringing her. He wanted her involved in the discussion and Cassandra appreciated it. Really she did.
It was Bruces little way of showing he valued her opinion. But nonetheless that was Batman she was talking about— the greatest detective out there, and if there was one thing he never did, it was miss a detail.
So really, it was unnecessary and she wanted to leave.

As time stretched on into what felt like forever Cassandra found herself on the roof. The conference was far from over yet a few reporters skipped over Bruce, interviewing her instead. And she didn't exactly mind but the questions they were asking or more like the topics they tried to initiate were getting inappropriate and deeply personal.

Cass could entertain them all day. Answering everything from what her favorite colour was to how she felt living in the Wayne manor. But there were lines, clear lines and social boundaries you just didn't cross. Her past being one of them.

And they knew it.
Still they tried their luck. Stupid. She knows. But reporters were still researchers. Prompt to investigate any and every spark that might ingite into a flame as they dug deeper. Something to hold their readers as they bathed in the flame of their discovery. And well Brucie Wayne tended to provide just that. —Something momentary. Ridiculous but efficient. Even so, Cass didn't want that. Cass opening up and speaking more does not equal her wanting her privacy invaded by petty reporters. So she eventually slipped out and found herself on the roof.

Her eyes fell upon the horizon. Sky still a clear blue that reminded her so much of her fathers deep eyes. Stretching her hand Cassandra shielded her eyes from the sun. It was at its highest point radiating a warmth that was quiet rare in Gotham. Pulling her legs against herself she rested her head on them and closed her eyes.

It was peaceful and quiet but that wasn't for long.

"Orphan"

Barbs. It was still noon so Duke was out and Duke usually never ask for backup, which meant he was in serious trouble.

"O?" She called out.

"I know you're at that press conference but Duke needs backup and you're closest— beside B and well y'know..." Barbara tried to reason. "Copy, I'm on my way" was all she said before heading for the fire escape.



---


Dust, cardboard and fuel filled his nose as Signal made his way through the warehouse in its decrepit state.

Applying pressure to the carotid arteries, the daytime vigilante cut off the blood flow to the goons brain, causing him to fall unconscious. Not wasting time he turned and executed the same motion on the next goon.

It was simple, really. A reconnaissance mission our daytime hero should use to gather information to help shut down another drug ring, that was initiated by the mob.
It wasn't anything Duke was unfamiliar with but as he paced the place, searching for anything remotely useful, evading the goons stalking the warehouse, his gaze fell upon a closed-off section.

At the back of the warehouse to the far right was a door.
To be honest it didn't look special. Probably wasn't.
He could've overlooked it but something gnawed at him to not. —beside he watched too many movies to not listen to his gut.



Shutting the door behind him the voices turned into low grumbles as Duke paced around the room.
As he reckoned, it was a storage room.

With an absurd large amount of paperwork.
Nevertheless he skimmed through pages until something caught his eye.





Human trafficking rings.


What.
That wasn’t right. They've been following this for weeks. Black Mask was– is suppose to be sending his goons to an illegal arms dealing two days from now.
Duke looked back at the letters, carefully working through the paragraphs making sure to not miss a thing.
Black Mask was getting a hefty sum for supplying children of all ages that wouldn't be missed. Meaning anything from runaways, orphans to fosters. 

And they were meeting at the east side of the city.

Signal was at the east side of the city.

Shit. He needed to get to Gothams waterfront.

Bolting out of the room, Duke used the light around him to coat himself invisible.

"Oracle I need backup. It's not a drug dealing, Black Mask's supplyin' someone with kids. He's targetin' Metas...— from what i could gather, the buyer's an offshore traffiker out of Corto Maltese. He's been moving shipments through Gothams docks, masking them as drug dealings." Signal whispered into his comms, voice steady.

"Shit, Oracle can you hear me ? I—"

"Copy. Sorry, I was mute. I'm sending Orphan"

"Roger"


Back up was on the way but either way Siganl needed to move and that quickly. Gotham may be known as a crime ridden city but over the last few years it has somewhat gotten better and he wasn't about to let that good wash away by casually losing a few lives.

Fortunately our vigilante was at the right place at the right time. None of the goons were aware of his presence and Signal used that to his advantage.

The port thankfully wasn't overcrowded with guards, probably to not address to much unwanted attention even so it was incredible inconvenient. Duke needed to find container: ACMU 246801 2

It was the one deporting the kids in less than 160 minutes.
Signal was running out of time. He needed a plan and that quick.

Gathering his current information Duke summarised what he had;
. a human trafficking ring at the waterfront of Gotham
. supplied kids by Black Mask with a buyer from overseas
. a container holding approx. 19 children (give or take) and less than 3 hours

Great. Just amazing.
Signal needed to get these kids out and make sure to drop of BM at Arkham.
He could do that ( also Orphan is on her way).
And as such he moved through the port not wasting time.



Container ACMU 246801 2 was found amidst the pool of steel boxes, its red paint mottled with rust, a reflection of blood long dried. Lives taken from people deemed undeserving of ever looking for.

Signal crouched low behind a neighboring container, his breath steady, his body still. Six guards milled around the perimeter, their movements practiced, predatory. He could take them—he knew that—but not yet. Not until he was sure.

Duke activated his powers, letting the world shift. His photokinetic vision drew him backward through the threads of light—snapping images of the past, ghost after ghost etched into the air. He rewound time like film, watching as the container’s doors yawned open, watching as children were herded inside, their faces pale, frightened and even resigned.


He counted.

One.
Five.
Twelve.

The number rose with every heartbeat until the final figure was shoved in and the doors slammed shut like a coffin lid.

Twenty-one.

Twenty-one lives stolen. His jaw tightened, anger palpable in not just Dukes expression but his clenched fist.
Duke turned his abilities off. The present rushed back in—the guards, the cranes, the stench of the docks and-

"Aah!" He flinched back. "Orphan" Signal called out as he took a second to collect himself again. "You were briefed on the situation correct?" Cass gave a slight nod and Duke went on explaining what he'd figured out up untill that point.





In theory their plan was relatively simple however executing it, brought its own set of challenges.
Orphan and Signal both stuck to the plan, silently taking down guards as they sneaked their way into the container. But low and behold it was empty.

"That can't be right" Signal gasped. "They've gotta be here.... somewhere"
Shutting the door Orphan followed the Signal. Eyes ever as sharp she scanned the insides.
The bit of light Duke was illuminating was enough for her to make out the graffiti scrawled across its sides. She approached slowly, gloved fingers brushing the cold rusted steel.

Cass couldnt pinpoint why but something told her the kids were still there.

"Orphan look"

She heard Signal call out. There was a secret entrance under a rubble of cardboard, clearly leading underground. They entered, taking the ladder down, which led them into a corridor.

"O, we're in. Can you check if there're eyes on us ?"

"Already on it" they heard her call through the comms. "You guys are clear,- for now that is. It goes two floors down and....oh" Oracle paused.

"Oracle?" Ask Cassandra "No, it's nothing, I" She started carefully stretching the word "thought with majority of the guards positioned on the second floor that the kids would also be. But they aren't. —Take a left turn at the next intersection. It's the second door on your right"

The two vigilantes stuck relatively close to another, scanning the area as they silently stalked towards their destination.
Hearing nothing but the low humm of the ventilation above them, they soon found themselves in front of the door they'd been looking for. Stepping aside, Signal followed her lead and made a quick assessment of the door before unlocking it.

As figured, Twenty-one children were huddled up in the room, each of them having on distinct expressions, stretching from fear to dejected.

It was a pitiful sight neither of the vigilantes dared to address. Instead, they made their intentions known. They were there to help. And the kids believed them as well established Gotham vigilantes. Yet that didn't keep the older ones from staying wary.

With the Signal at the front and Orphan at the very back, the group marched back to the entrance. The way back wasn't as quiet, being filled with Signals reassuring words aswell as the occasional soothing commentary from Orphan. Eventually though, the group found themselves back up in the container.

"You four" Signal gestured to the oldest of the kids "If anything happens we want you to take the kids and run —GCPD's already on their way, so just get out of here. Understood?"

"Wh- whath abouth you too? We c-canth leave you... " stammered one of the older boys.
A soft sigh escaped Orphan’s lips. She knew that struggle — the battle between mind and mouth, when the words in your head twist and falter on their way out.
She knew the sting of judgment, the looks that said different when all you wanted was to be understood.
And this boy bore that same burden. A speech impediment. Just like her.

"It's okay" she reached out her hand to pat his head "We fight" she concluded honestly.

Though the moment was sweet, they had to move. They were still on enemy base and Black Mask would notice anytime soon that the kids were missing.

"Oracle, the GCPD?" Orphan asked

"They're on their way. ETA is 20 minutes—" filtered through the conms "Bad news, Mask's crew is already here. Half a dozen armed men. No visual on the men himself though."

"I see"

"Be careful you too" it was a warning, laced in worry. Oracle was very much aware of how capable they are. Trained by assassins and vigilantes alike, both Signal and Orphan were seasoned beyond their years. But that didn't make them invincible. This line of work was dangerous. One fatal blow, one accident, and you may become a shell of who you were.

For better or worse; She was the living proof of that fact.



At the end of the day they were still bats and bats just had a tendency to put themselves in harms way in the name of protecting others.
If anything, the warning was to reassure herself.

"Always" Signal and Orphan offered in unison.

Turning the communicators off Oracle decides to sit back and survey the mission.






Duke wouldnt say they were screwed. But the situation wasnt exactly convenient either.

Outside the container were six armed men waiting for them. In theory they could easily take them down. But there were Twenty-one scared children behind them that could easily be captured again without a proper way out.

They needed a plan and fortunately Cassandra had one.



“The Signal, to what do I owe the pleasure?” was heard as the container doors yawned open.
Duke came out, completely opening the door to his left. As he had guessed the goons stood on the left side of the Container.

Raising his firearm one of them spoke up "Stay were you are"
Signal slowed his pace as pairs of eyes watched him warily. It was a quiet but fleeting moment. The wind danced through the leaves as Seagulls cut through the air. Eventually enough a voice boomed from behind them.


"How dare someone like you give out my orders" the voice dripping with distaste approached from behind "You do what I want" a gun shot was heard "understood?" The men turned to face the others, agreeing. "Excellent."

"Now the Signal" he redirected his attention to Duke " I'd love to stay and chat but I've got somewhere to be. Needless to say I can't exactly leave 'cause you've got something that belongs to me"

"They don't"

"Well, funny thing because I do keep my things labeled" the man shot Duke a look "if you haven't noticed"
The meaning of the sentence dawned on Dukes as his eyes narrowed "you what"

"I just prefer a tidy process,- labeling makes it so much easier for all parties involved, dont'cha think?"

Walking up and punching him in the face seemed increasingly reasonable with every word that left his mouth but Duke couldn't. He wouldn't. His part in the plan was to waste as much time as possible giving Orphan a head start to get the kids to safety. He wouldnt let it fall apart because he, a trained vigilante, couldn't contain his emotions.






"You wait here for GCPD"

When Signal left, they had used the opened door as cover to flee. Eventually they did find themselves at the ports boarder and Orphan was ready to go back up to Duke.
The kids weren't thrilled about being left alone. They had just escaped captivity and the only safe space they knew were Orphan and the Signal, with the latter already gone.— skepticism was written over their faces and Cass sighed, crouching down. "Don't be scared"

"But I am!" One of the younger girls called out. "Someone is always watching so don't be." She said patting the girls head. "I promise" Orphan held out her pinky which she reciprocated hesitantly.

One final look later and Orphan saluted the kids.






Cassandra's eyes widened.
Signal had been shot.

Her little brother had been shot.


Calculating her next move, Orphan lunged forward using enough momentum to knock the goon unconscious and tie him down. She then swiftly turned, finding herself beside Duke, who'd positioned himself against a container.

"Much Blood loss?"

"Am good. Y' should go after the goons. The leaders in navy, is the buyer from overseas. He has a helicopter waiting for him, a kilometer from here"

"Pistol shot you. You not okay" argued Cass. And logically speaking she knew she was being dramatic. Absurd even.
They were on shift and even if Duke had been shot, the GCPD and an ambulance were on their way. If worst came to worst she'd steal some supplies out of the Ambulance.
He'd be fine.
Yet in spite of that fact, she was well aware of, Cass really couldn't help but worry. She loved her family and among them, Duke had become one of the people, she'd grown closest to. With his tenacious way and beaming smile, he'd managed to carve himself a place in her heart. And Cassandra wasn’t delighted by the idea of a hallow chest, where she knew, she'd never see the person that left that hole again.

" 'm putting pressure on the wound" he rasped " 'sides the bullet only lightly grazed me. I'll live, so go" he insisted and she felt conflicted. Cassandra had certain responsibilities that came with the cape, one of them being her shifting priorities.
As a sister she wanted to stay and help to the best of her abilities but as a vigilante she needed to move.

In the end, the latter was chosen. Not by her but Duke. He had made his decision and he was really persuasive, so Cass gave a slight nod and left.

A groan left Signals lips when Orphan disappeared from his field of vision. He might have reasoned that he was fine earlier but a bullet still shot him. And perhaps it didn’t just 'lightly graze him'.
Needless to say that wouldn't be a long term problem. In the midst of all the chaos he almost forgot the advance healing factor that his meta abilities granted him.

Now fully healed, he needed to make sure the kids were safe. Help should already be there but it never hurt to be certain.




It took a minute but Signal checked on the kids simultaneously avoiding the GCPD. —he coated himself invisible again, which did leave a little strain.
Orphan also found her way back with the goons taken care of.

What Orphan didn't account for was Duke accompanying her to the Gala after his shift. Or well this mission. It wasn't a bizarre sight to hang out with one another after a shift but Duke had been injured and Cass truly believed he should rest.

But you know he is really persuasive.
So here they were, surrounded by reporters and socialites who hid their intentions behind forced laughter and biting remarks. — Well as previously established, Cassandra really didn't want to be at the event so she slipped back out onto the rooftop.

The silence was grounding in a way that let her relax as she felt the wind sway through her hair.


"Got room for one more?" echoed from behind her.
Cass would recognize that voice anywhere— she pat the seat beside her gesturing for him to sit.

"Are you okay?"

Duke gave a sheepish grin "am good ...promise"

"Hn" even without her abilities, Cassandra knew he wasn't exactly telling her the truth but let it go nonetheless.

Closing the gap between them, Cass gave Duke a quick once over before shoving his head unto her shoulder. It was a swift motion that caused Duke to stiffen. He knew Cass loved to show her affectation through small gestures, including physical contact like head pats or in this scenario, a supporting shoulder. It might have been sudden but it was welcomed. And he eventually relaxed onto her shoulder.
Minutes stretched on and they found themselves in comfortable silence untill light snoring filled the air.

"Duke? ....oh"

He fell asleep.


Well the Gala was still going for a good while and Cass wasn't about to wake him. Not when his exhausted expression turned so peaceful. Not when all his baggage seemed to slip right off when he dozed of. A half smile ghosted her lips as she found herself laying her head on top of his, observing the sunset.

"Barbs can you tell Bruce?"

"Of course, get some rest— you won't be needed for the rest of the evening"

"Thanks "

Cassandra Cain really did not like Galas but this didn't seem half as bad.