Chapter Text
It had been a long week for everyone in the Wayne family. There had been a huge Arkham breakout, and criminals were out wreaking havoc. Batman or Bruce was off-world dealing with issues with the Justice league, something about some aliens trying to control a docile planet. And they went to protect them . Thus leaving his kids to protect Gotham. Everyone was lounging around in the cave, completely wiped out. Tim was snoring in his seat after being sedated by Alfred. Duke was snoring on the floor, his signal uniform half on and off . Stephanie had gone home to her mom. Dick was writing his report while Damian was stitched up by Alfred from a small bruise he got while fighting.
They were all exhausted from patrolling and from dealing with the rogues. It was a miracle they were able to get them all back to Arkham. Cass had a few scrapes on her face but she was the only one that looked not run over by a bus, her and Jason actually. But Jason as soon as they were finished left for his apartment. Things were getting easier with him, but they still threaded on thin ice when it came to him.
As they lazed around recuperating in the Batcave there was an alert saying there was someone at the Wayne Manors gates. Alfred, finishing up patching Damian, opened a tablet near him to check to see the security footage.
He was a bit confused and surprised, but his cool face didn’t move. At the manor gates was a young woman- probably in her late teens and early twenties standing there a small smile sported on her face. She was pretty, with nice tan skin. She had nice long brown hair that seemed to be curled in princess curls. Her light brown eyes were adorned by face jewels that went along with her nice makeup. She had hair clips and charms of cute characters which matched her outfit and look which consisted of a skater skirt with net tights, black boots. And a white sweater. She wore nice jewelry that complimented her look and a cute bag. She looked well put and nice.
In her hands there were what could only be seen as gifts as she struggled to push the gate bell again.
Alfred had earbuds on as he answered.
“Wayne residence, how may I help you?” He said, causing the girls eyes to widen, a twinkle in them, happy that someone answered. And in a soft voice answered.
“Um.. hello! Is C.C home? I came because she wasn’t answering my--” She stopped her excited chatter before sheepishly smiling at the camera.
“Oh-- sorry, you probably want to know my name too-- I’m Lucia, and I came to check up to make sure that C.C is alright” She said politely. The butler frowned a bit.
“C.C?” He asked, causing her face to become a bit red at that as she coughed a bit.
“Uh-- oh yeah. Sorry sir, I forgot I’m the only one that calls her that. Um, is Cass home?” She asked politely, causing the butler to tell her to wait a while as the young girl nodded in the camera.
Cass was lightly stretching and training a bit when the butler went up to her.
“Hello Lady Cassandra” he said, causing her to stop as she smiled and signed ‘hi’ to him, the butler smiled back.
“There is a guest at the gate asking for you” he said as Cass signed asking who.
“It’s a lovely young lady, she states her name is Lucia?” As soon as the name left the butler's mouth Cass’s eyes widened as she looked around frantically.
‘Phone?’ she signed to the butler who raised an eyebrow. After a couple of minutes she was able to find her phone near the batcomputer, when she turned it on, she honestly hadn’t used it since the outbreak in Arkham as the family had been communicating via communicator and she put it on silent in order to focus on the mission, and due to everything going on she had forgotten to check.
Her eyes widened as she turned to Alfred quickly signing for him to let her in and to occupy her for at least fifteen minutes as she sprinted up the stairs like her shoes were on fire.
“What’s up with Cain?” Damian asked as he went towards Dick who had looked up as soon as he saw his sister running up the stairs, raising an eyebrow.
“There seems to be someone here for Lady Cassandra-- I supposed I should let them in and get them settled” The butler said as he walked up the stairs.
Dick stared at Damian who stared back. They were curious to see who was at the door as they both dashed to get changed and hopefully be done before Cass.
As the butler opened the gate, he watched as the young female walked with ease, her smile widening as she stared at the surrounding of the manor in awe in childlike wonder.
It took her a couple of minutes before she reached the door and he had already gotten the kettle going in order to offer her tea.
When there was a knock on the door he easily opened it as the young girl smiled and greeted the butler with such politeness it took him back.
“Lady Cassandra is currently occupied but should be down any second, allow me to help” The butler offered to help her with the gifts as she shook her head politely as she walked in.
“It’s alright--- here” She smiled as she handed the butler a small gift bag, who raised an eyebrow in confusion before she smiled.
“C.C mentioned how you like tea--- so I thought a good gift would be these tea’s that I was able to acquire-- they’re pretty rare- but they are delicious and have a lot of health benefits” She smiled as he accepted the gift.
“I appreciate the gift Lady Lucia '' Lucia's face reddened at that.
“Lucia is alright really” She muttered. Alfred nodded but he wasn’t going to stop calling her that as he led her to the living room. She asked if it was alright to put the gifts on the table and he nodded as she smiled, he told her to take a seat on one of the couches as she thanked him politely.
“Allow me to get you some tea” he said, causing her to nod in thanks. He wasn’t gone for that long, only a minute but when he went back to the living room. Lucia had a frown on her face as she spoke with someone on the phone.
“But--it’s my-- no, yeah. I know, sorry about that… okay. I’ll be there in about --- give me thirty minutes, does that work?” She spoke softly to the phone and then hung up a sigh escaping her mouth as she stood up to face the butler, a sad smile on her face.
“Um.. actually thank you for everything but an emergency came up… um -- I just wanted to make sure C.C was alright-- I hadn’t heard from her in like a week and she missed out weekly meet up so I got worried.” She sheepishly said. “I have to go -- but um just tell her to text me. And um… the gifts they are labeled. Like I said I’m so sorry--- thank you for the hospitality.” She said quickly as she bowed to the butler who nodded as she headed towards the door and she was let out.
She began speed walking towards the gate, and after a couple of minutes she was out of camera range.
As soon as the camera range was gone, Cass came bounding down the stairs. She wore a nice outfit, and it seemed she took a quick shower and attempted to put on some make up, she came toppling down the stairs, the boys not too far behind her a huge smile on her face as she turned to the living room looking for someone, but her face turned to one of confusion when she found no one.
‘Lucia?’ She signed to Alfred who sighed.
“Lady Lucia had an emergency and had to go home-- but she did leave these” he pointed to the gifts on the table. “For I believe you and your family.” He said causing Cass’s shoulder so shag, disappointment clearly written on her face as she hesitantly walked towards the table. \
“Lady Lucia stated she just wanted to make sure you were alright, says she was worried due to you not communicating with her for a week” he said causing Cass to put her head down in shame as she curled up into a ball.
Dick noticed this came up.
“Damn I wanted to see who the visitor was” He said, causing Cass to sniffle which made him stop a bit concerned. Cass usually didn’t cry so he glanced at Damian who was noisily looking at the gifts and found his name on one as he grabbed it, he attempted sneakily opening it but a stare from Alfred halted him in his tracks.
“Cass, what’s wrong?” Dick asked, causing her to shake her head as she sniffled again.
“What happened, you can tell me” He asked again as she looked up, and her eyes were red and a bit puffy. She turned to Alfred who offered her a napkin that she took hesitantly.
‘Was she mad?’ She signed to the butler who shook his head.
“Lady Lucia looked calm- not mad, a bit concerned for your well being and nervous but other than that she looked calm.” The butler answered, causing Cass to frown a bit.
“May I inquire what made you upset Lady Cassandra?” He asked, causing her to shake her head as she gave both Dick and him a sad smile as she stood up and went towards the gifts, grabbing the one for Dick and herself she handed Dick his who looked at her confused.
“A gift for me?” He asked, causing her to nod as he accepted it gratefully and began to open it. He gasped a bit. It was a hand knitted blue scarf with a small circus people as designs and some perfume.
“How did--” He admired the scarf a bit as he put it on. Damian frowned as he opened his gift-- or rather gifts.
They were handmade cute name tags in the shape of his animals and gift cards for pet stores. He stared at the gift, due to his stance his sibling could tell he was grateful, but due to how he was raised he did not show it. He turned to Cass with a hard stare on his face.
“Cain I must inquire about who this Lucia is and how she was able to get these name tags” he said in such a formal tone as Cass smiled as she saw how happy her siblings were with the gifts.
“I would like to know too Cass, it’s obvious whoever Lucia is knows you, and you've told her about us.. Or else she wouldn’t have gotten us these gifts that are so us-- but it’s none of our birthdays or christmas so it’s a bit odd to be getting gifts.” Dick glanced at the pile.
“There’s even one for Jason and Bruce. Albeit Jason’s just says Jay” Dick said causing Cass to stay quiet as she opened her gift, her gift was a bit bigger than the others and a letter was attached to it, she decided to open the gift first.
She too got a nice black knit scarf, along with cute accessories for it. A pair of ballet shoes her size. And a handmade bracelet with her name on it. She smiled a bit as she saw it.
“That’s so cute” Dick said as he attempted to grab the bracelet but his hand was slapped away by Cass.
“Ouch.” Dick pouted as he looked to see Damian looking for his pets to put their name tags on them. The first one being Titus and Alfred the cat.
Cass shook her head at Dick who raised his hands in surrender as she took out the letter that had nice cursive handwriting.
-- Hey C.C,
I hope you’re doing well. I don’t know, maybe I’m being clingy? I don’t know. But I just wanted to give this to you and the gifts to your family. This letter is being written quite hastily actually. I’m planning on going to your home later today. You missed our last two meetups, and I keep calling you --- but no answer to the call or text, and I will admit I am a bit worried. Why I didn’t go earlier--- I think I just wanted to give you space, but it’s been a week, and you’ve never really gone more than three days without contacting me. And I’m afraid that I did something wrong --- did I? I don’t really remember and if I did I’m really sorry. I know I tend to be a lot to people. So I am sorry, and if you want to end it--- Um.. even if it’s sad to think about, just please let me know instead of ignoring me. Again I’m sorry--- hopefully these gifts are something that can appease you for whatever I did- and I hope your family likes them.
Just call me please.
Love Lucia ♥️
Cass stared at the letter in disbelief as she shook her head and sighed, her shoulders sagging. She had messed up, messed up worse than she thought. She turned to Dick who had been trying to subtly see the note.
‘What flowers say I’m sorry I’m an idiot?’ She signed to her brother who stared at her confused. Cass deflated.
“Usually roses work” He said, a bit unsure, causing her to frown. “I don’t know why? Who are you getting them for?” He asked, causing Cass to spell Lucia’s name causing Dick to look at her confused.
“Cain we still do not know who she is,” Damian said with a triumphant smile on his face as he held Titus with his new name tag.
Cass stood up as she faced the three, her face a bit red as she slipped on the bracelet.
‘She’s my girlfriend’ Cass signed as she blushed a bit causing Dick and Damian to look at her a bit shocked. Alfred being the only one who seemed to compose his shock.
“Well congratulations Lady Cassandra, might I ask why we hadn’t heard of her?” he asked, causing Cass to look down before looking up.
‘I wanted to take it slow-- when it came to introduction. She’s a normal civilian, and our family isn’t the most normal’ She signed sheepishly causing the butler to nod.
“Well if that’s the case I understand, but I do suggest you text the young girl, she seemed quite worried” he lightly scolded causing her to nod.
‘I will’ she signed.
“Was she the one that made you upset?” he asked, causing her to shake her head.
‘I was actually upset at myself’ She signed. Before the butler could inquire more Dick got out of his stupor before smiling widely at Cass.
“Congratulations Cass!” he said, smiling at her as she smiled at him.
“Seems you’re making good choices in partners Cain, I approve” Damian said causing Dick to snort a bit as Cass smiled. Dick turned to her.
“Are you feeling better? Will you let me know what happened?” He asked, causing Cass’s shoulder to shag.
‘I missed our regular date night due to the whole Arkham breakout-- and we had also planned on going to see a movie this week.’ she signed and explained about how she turned her phone on silent, and hadn’t seen or forgotten about the date thus leading to Lucia thinking that Cass was second guessing going out with her. And the young girl had also thought maybe she was sick. And how she got her girlfriend to think she wanted to break up with her. And how she had spent the week making the gifts as a sorry because she thought that she did something wrong.
Dick frowned a bit.
“Is this why you asked about the flowers?” he asked, causing her to nod a bit.
“Perhaps a text telling her you’re okay and some flowers would do good” Alfred perked up causing Cass to nod.
“Yeah clear up the misunderstanding and let her know you’re okay--- if you need us to back you up on your cover story just let us know” Dick said causing Cass to smile nodding as she went to grab her gifts.
“Perhaps if possible and when you’re ready, invite her to dinner” Alfred said, causing Cass to nod as he went to do his duties as the three stood and sat in the living room looking at their gifts.
“Are you going to tell the others?” Dick asked, causing Cass to turn to him a contemplative look on her face before glancing at the gifts on the table. After a couple seconds she nodded smiling.
‘Yeah’
Dick smiled at that, he was excited for his sister as she sent a text and began to browse floral arrangements on her phone. He wanted to meet whoever Lucia was and to make sure that she was a good fit, of course Cass was more than capable of protecting herself but when it came to the matters of the heart sometimes those were the hardest things to protect yourself from.
He was also excited to see what gifts she got his brothers.
‘I texted her but if she had an emergency then she might not reply till later’ Cass signed a small smile on her face.
“It’s going to be okay, Cass” he said, causing her to nod.
“What’s gonna be okay?” Tim and Duke came out stumbling, still tired from their nap. Cass stood up smiling at them as she grabbed their gifts and tossed them to them who barely caught them.
“Thanks?” Tim muttered as he sat down on the other couch yawning as he began to unwrap the gift, Duke doing the same, but he looked more awake than him.
His was also a hand knitted scarf but aside from that he got a really nice notebook and a fountain pen. He stared at it and a book of poetry in disbelief. He didn’t really voice out his love for poetry that much and he didn’t think his siblings noticed it he glanced at Cass who once spotting the poetry book and the notebook had a warm smile on her face.
‘I only mentioned it to her once’ She signed. ‘But she remembered’ Duke looked at her, an eyebrow raised as he turned to see Dick with a fond smile on his face.
“Who?” But before his question was answered Tim gasped as he opened his gift. He too was gifted a nice knitted scarf, but he was also gifted his favorite coffee, and a puzzle.
“Where did you find these Cass?” He asked her as he held up the puzzle. “These are pretty rare” He said, causing her to look at him and shrugged.
‘Not from me’ She signed.
“Then who?” He asked, causing Cass to turn to Dick as if asking him if it was okay, all Dick did was smile.
‘My girlfriend’ she signed a jittery smile on her face. And chaos ensued.