Got Your Back, Always

III.XXXIV

Bruce comes back to Gotham, and sees the city rebuilding. He stands over the torn painting in the Manor, as Dick walks in.

"Not exactly the welcoming home I had planned for you."

"I'm lucky to have a home at all. A lot of people had it much worse."

"Do me a favor. Next time you decide to leave town, don't."

"You did what I asked you to do. You saved Gotham City."

Dick chuckled, "I had help."

"The Titans?"

"And Barbara."

"You succeeded where I failed."

"I failed too, Bruce. But I got a second chance."

Jason walks in.

Bruce is sitting on the bed, after just having talked with Jason. Cassie gently knocks on the door.

"Hey."

Bruce nods at her, "I heard he got to you, despite my best wishess."

"The Joker getting his last laugh in with me was inevitable. But that's ok, his... so called lover helped me out. So I'm ok."

"You should never have to be ok, you should be never been out there to begin with."

"I'm not 13. I'm not going to get my leg split in two again because I stupidly try and go against someone twice my size, without assessing their weak points beforehand."

Bruce chuckled, "That's not why I never let you back out in the field."

Her brows furrowed, "No? Then what was?"

"Your time in the woods with the wolves."

"I don't understand. I always thought I had failed that test, considering I never even touched them."

"No because you didn't need to. The wolves should have been scared, they are meant to match the person's fear and react accordingly. But with you they didn't, because there was no fear to match. You were calm, no heart racing, nothing."

She nodded, "Right. I've never been scared of wolves so I had no reason to be."

"One of their pups had gotten trapped in, and was screaming out in pain. You heard and you followed, even though the wolves were barking and howling at you. You just spoke to them, completely calm and just said you wanted to help. And you did. Once that pup was free they all ran off."

"Ya, that's what made me think I had failed."

"Do you remember why you attacked that man causing him to break your leg?"

"He... he was going to go after Gray while he was down. I couldn't have that."

"You have always had more love in you, than you have ever had anger. At the time that was a liability, so I had Alfred training you instead, where you were not a liability. I didn't realize at the time how much strength you actually held."

She shrugged, "It's alright. I'm ok with how things turned out. Little rocky, little bumpy, but nothing worth it is ever easy, right?"

Bruce smiled at her.

Kory starts to pace, "He said ten o'clock. He did say ten, right?"

"He said ten," Conner nods.

Rachel says, "He'll get here. Eventually. He always does."

"Don't worry, he had a quick errand to run," Cassie chuckled.

He pulls up to the hangar, in an RV.

"Hey, did someone order a bus?" Gar turns around.

The horn honks, several times, and pulls up to them. Dick and Donna get out.

Rachel walks towards them, "Hey, Dick, uh, what is that?"

"That's an RV. I figured it would be way more fun than taking Bruce's jet."

Kory groans, "Why would that be more fun?"

"Road trip!" Gar smiles and hops in.

Cassie laughed.

"Right, 'cause who would want to fly in the Batjet?" Rachel asks.

"Exactly."

They start to pack their things into it, when Blackfire pulls up in her jeep. Kory and Conner say their goodbyes.

Dick pulls Cassie into his side and places a quick kiss on her lips.

"Mmm, are you ready for constant complaining and shouting at one another?" She smiled.

"Can't wait."

"I'm going to go say bye to Donna really quick."

He nods, and she walks toward her best friend.

"Finally!" Donna chuckles.

Cassie does too, "Oh shut up. I'm going to miss you."

"You better. I'll send you a postcard and I'll give Dawn this." She holds up the letter Cassie had written her.

"Thank you. And seriously if you ever need a place to crash, just say the word."

"I will," she pulls her into a tight hug, "I love you."

"Mmm, I love you too."

"I got a great idea," Dick says. "Let's get the hell out of Gotham."

Cassie chuckled and watched the kids pile in.

Kory gives Donna a hug, "Love you too."

Tim waves goodbye as Cassie and Kory finish putting their bags into the RV.

Dick grabs the last backpack, "You coming?"

"Are you serious?"

"The question is, are you? You got some nice moves, but you need proper training, if you're up for it."

Tim smiles and laughs, Donna gently shoves him toward the RV.

"Right. Destination San Francisco. Fourty-four hours."

"Forty-four hours?" Kory groans.

Cassie laughs.

"Yeah, I know."

"Okay, fine. But I get to DJ."

"But first, one more stop."

"Okay."

Dick grabs Cassie's hand as they pull out of the hangar.

They go by Arkham Asylum, where Rachel gives Crane a little present to keep him busy.

"Alright, everyone good? Anyone have any music requests? Kory's Dj!" Cassie chuckles and turns around to check on them.

"Alright, let's finally get the hell out of Gotham!" Dick says, and gets onto the highway. 

The Titans aren't sure what's next for them. Cassie and Dick aren't entirely sure what's next for them either. But they are always in this together.