Chapter Text
For Duke and Stephanie it was a surprising turn of events.
For Cass, well, she knew exactly where this was going to go the second Steph had opened her mouth.
Steph had meant it as a joke, well, half as a joke. They would all be lying if they said they didn’t believe at least a part of it to be true.
“Ah yes the former batboy robins, your pride and joy, the clear favorites. We all know it.” Bruce had responded with his usual huff, a precursor to Damian’s “-tt-“. That sort of fake dismissive response must be genetic. But Cass could read beyond any huff or “-tt-“. Better than her brothers. They might have known Bruce longer but they couldn’t compete with Cass’s upbringing. She could read anybody to an almost supernatural extent. Especially when it comes to people she was close to. Plus, in his home with the family Bruce was far easier to read then she’d ever tell him he was. The questioning was clearly there. The infinitesimal hesitation in his typing pattern when Steph said it. The slightly deepened hunch of his shoulder. The pitch changed from his usual huff. All too small of changes for most people to read. Not even Dick would have caught it though he would have probably still been able to guess what Bruce was thinking.
Cass however, Cass knew.
“I don’t favor Dick and the others, do I? Do they feel like I ignore them?” to her the thought was so clear she could almost trick herself into thinking he’d said it outloud.
Steph hit hard with the punch she didn’t even know she was throwing.
“Us three, the three forgottens,” She said it with her typical Stephanie flair. Deliberately theatrical. Duke immediately joined in throwing an arm around Stephanie’s shoulder, taking a woe-is-me attitude.
“The unwanteds of the Batfamily,” he lamented. Bruce turned around in his chair to face them. Stephanie and Duke stopped in their tracks. The act was an attempt at showing he was genuine in what he was about to say. But the neutral look on Bruce’s face just read as irritation to Duke and Stephanie.
“I value all members of this operation equally,” he said. Bruce took a moment to regard each of them. He ended looking at Cass, and it quickly became clear to her the main reason he turned around. He was looking at her for confirmation. It was all in his eyes. “Is it true? Do you guys really feel that way?” Part of Cass wanted to lie. In part to spare his feelings (Bruce was far more emotional than he’d ever admit), but more selfishly so she wouldn’t have to see the look in his eyes when he was informed of the truth. However, she decided to be honest. Giving him a look that said: “well…”
Their entire silent conversation was quick and went unnoticed by Stephanie and Duke. Bruce turned back around to face his desktop. There was a straightness to Bruce’s shoulders that told Cass he was planning something. Though she had no way to guess as to what.
Of course Bruce Wayne wasn’t able to say “I love and appreciate you” outright. And, of course, he couldn’t show it in a normal way. He was Batman after all. It wasn’t until Duke, Steph, and Cass were in the foyer with Alfred that they had any clue what was going on.
“A vacation…?” Duke sounded out each syllable like it was his first time ever hearing the word. Truth be told, he was more surprised to learn that Bruce knew what a vacation was.
“Master Bruce thought a reward was in order for your recent performances,” Alfred explained. He wasn’t trying to hide that the response was coached. An actor picks and chooses when they wish to perform and Alfred saw no reason to pretend.
About a month had passed since Duke and Steph’s teasing, and while they both quickly forgot, Cass knew it never left Bruce’s mind. She was a bit saddened that his body language always indicated he didn’t wish to discuss it, but she chose to respect his wishes and never brought it up. However, in the past two weeks she knew something was coming. His posture had changed, his crow feet crinkled a bit around the three of them. He had clearly come up with a solution. While Cass, Steph, and Duke would have been happy with simple words of affirmation, Cass had been in this family long enough to know that wouldn’t be the case.
“We head out at 6 am tomorrow. You will be spending a week at Orsotan Island. The population is about 20,000. I was with Master Bruce when he closed the deal on the home in which you will be staying. Lovely place,” Alfred told them. Apparently Bruce had purchased a decently sized home just on the outskirts of the island's one major town. Everything was prepped and paid for. All they had to do was pack.
“I mean who does that?” Duke exclaimed, sounding more confused than offended. “How do you just buy an island house so casually?” Stephanie stood in the doorway to Cass’s room, which was right across the hall from Duke’s. Steph didn’t have her own room in the manor. She didn’t want one. She was content with staying in one of the many guest rooms.
“I think being a billionaire helps,” she said. Duke paused. “Oh my god, are we the 1%?”
“You and me? No, we just benefit from them.” “Is that worse? Why does that feel worse?” Duke sounded panicked but he was calmly sitting on his bed folding his t-shirts. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Stephanie shrugged.
“In my experience it will torment you for the rest of your life.”
“Fantastic,” Duke said. With that being said she turned her attention to Cass. “How are you feeling about the whole thing?” Steph asked. Cass looked up at her, taking a moment before. She slightly bent her middle fingers and tapped them against her chest repeatedly.
<<Excited>>
Real translation? Overwhelmed. Even though Cass knew Steph would see right through her, she still chose that response. It wasn’t like it was a complete lie. Besides, Cass spent most of her days overwhelmed. When every small movement was a monologue to her it was hard not to be. She was used to it. She was good at it. If being overwhelmed was something you could be good at. Stephanie thought about her next words carefully. Mixing and matching and discarding before settling on:
“Do you want to go? We don’t have to–” Cass shook her head and smiled.
“No…I do…” she said. It wasn’t untrue, there was a good amount of excitement even, but she still couldn’t help but feel a little strange at the idea of a vacation like this. Stephanie looked over at Duke. If she was poking and prodding she might as well make it fair. Well, she didn’t entirely believe that, but she was a victim to her own momentum sometimes.
“How were your parents with this whole trip thing?” Stephanie asked.
“They’re actually pretty excited. They liked that I was getting to do something like this. I think they still feel bad about not being able to take me anywhere for so long. I try to tell them I’m just happy that they’re feeling better and they don't need to take me anywhere, but, well.” Duke gestured with his hands, but the gesture didn’t mean anything. A mix of emotions was on his face, joy, frustration, exasperation, peace. There were a lot of feelings that he didn’t think even had a name.
“What about your mom?” Duke asked.
“She was also pretty excited about the whole thing. With the same cautiousness that comes with knowing your kid is a vigilante, and a general suspicion of billionaires who dress up as animals and beat people up. Mainly excited though.”
Amongst the chatter Damian peeked his head out from behind his door before fully opening it.
“I see you are all preparing for father’s mission.” The three of them looked at each other. Stephanie smiled. “We’re not going on a mission, Dames,” she said. Cass caught a flash of confusion across the boy’s face.
“Of course it’s a mission,” he insisted. “Why else would he be sending you?”
“He wants to reward us since he loves us best,” Duke said. A more obvious flash this time. “Come on, Damian, I’m obviously kidding.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Damian could often be the easiest to read for anyone. A fact that seemed to be especially true when he was talking to Duke or Stephanie.
“You’re right, you didn’t,” Duke said with a playful smirk. “And you’re a smart kid so you already knew that.”
“I feel you’re being condescending.”
“Maybe I am,” Duke said with a shrug. Before Duke came along, Stephanie was the only one who could get Damian off balance in this way. Stephanie had told Cass it was just her and Duke being older siblings, but however they did it was so different from how Cass and her brothers did.
“Regardless,” Damian huffed. “You should have all your gear with you.” If you took apart the words and looked in between you could distinctly see “I love you, stay safe” sat firmly in between. Fortunately Duke, Stephanie, and Cass were all very good at picking apart Damian’s words. And of course, they all packed their gear. It was even a conscious decision on any of their parts. It was pure instinct that saw their costumes and equipment properly stored away. Taking a private Wayne jet made concealment far easier.
With Duke and Cass packed all that was left was for Steph to go home and each of them to sleep the night away. Stephanie would come back the next day and they’d reconvene with Alfred at the jet. Sleep was an easier task for Duke due to his patrols being in the morning, but anticipation kept all three of them up that night. Somehow, each of them managed to find enough sleep. All of them meeting outside the manor earlier than the intended time. Alfred was already out there, either for the sake of efficiency or because he knew they’d all be there early. He stood in his prim and proper British butler pose. Though instead of cloth draper around his arm it was…wait is that-
Oh, it was.
Three Hawaiian shirts. Yellow, purple and orange. But why…surely not…
“What’s with the shirts, Alfie?” Duke asked. His eyes were focused on the yellow shirt. They all already knew the answer.
“Master Bruce has requested I get a photo of you all,” Alfred explained. “He wanted you all to be in the ‘spirit of the trip for it’.”
The three of them all looked at each other. If it weren’t for Bruce’s awkward earnestness in matters like these they would assume he was messing with them. Figuring it was really the least they could do they all agreed to the picture. The shirts had white outlined pineapples scattered across them and each hung a little loose.
They all had their luggage put away and boarded the jet.
“This is actually insane,” Duke said as he tossed his backpack onto one of the two couches. Stephanie was quick to flop down on the one across from it. “I thought movies were exaggerating with stuff like this but it’s hella nice. Plenty of room.”
Stephanie lifted her head and turned to look at Duke.
“Honestly, it almost pisses me off,” she said with a laugh. She then sat up to allow Cass to sit next to her. Both of them could sense the anxiousness of Cass.
“but it’s still a nice gesture,” Steph added.
The plane ride was smooth, as was the landing. The jet landed in an airport a fair ways away from the town. It seemed everything on the island was rather spread out. The three hour drive to where they’d be staying wasn’t too bad. By the time they got there the sun was beginning to set. It was a bit ridiculous the way the sun lit up the house perfectly from behind. Making it some shining beacon. The beach house (well more like a mansion), was far too big for just three people. “Oh, come on!” Duke explained, sticking out his arms like he was presenting the house to his companions.
“Why is this even here?”
“Flash built it,” Steph guessed.
“Air dropped,” Cass also guessed.
“Ghost mansion that appears every 100 years, lucky timing.”
“Used a very big parachute for the air drop, light fall.”
“It’s just always been here, it was here before the island, will be here till the end of time.”
“I don’t like that all of those actually feel possible,” Duke said. He was still lacking on his own bizarre encounters as a hero, but he’d heard enough stories to believe anything at that point. Shortly after setting up their stuff and picking their rooms, the three of them raided the fully stocked pantry.
They all felt a bit calmer waking up the next day. There were various shops, zero chains or brands, all mom and pop sort of places. What really caught their attention were the various signs all over the town with various rules on them. They ranged from threatening to feeling more like a joke than anything, but essential it just said:
Curfew is 10 pm, noncompliance will be met with force
There will be no making or serving anything pistachio
The Pristine Supreme is not to be talked back to
Always respond to The Pristine Supreme
No music made before 2000
Fish and other sea creatures cannot be kept as house pets
“Pristine…Supreme.” Duke sounded out each syllable, making sure it was correct. “That has to be a joke right?”
Steph just shrugged. Not with their luck. Never with their luck.
“Probably not,” she said.
“One way to find out,” Cass said before pushing open the door of the nearest store. It was a fishing and bait shop. It was cramped and narrow, but deep. Duke was admittedly amazed at how many different fishing rods and types of bait there were. They should go fishing while they’re here if they can. Duke always wanted to go fishing, but that’s not really possible in Gotham.
On the way back was an older man, wearing khaki shorts and a blue shirt that had seen many years.
“New faces! We don’t get those often,” he said as he leaned over the glass counter. Rigidness in the action, but not from age. Opening and closing his fists to stretch out his hand: comfort tactic. His voice is deeper than the one he just used. Voice for customers? Maybe. That solidified it in Cass’s mind: they definitely had a problem on their hands.
“What’s with all the signs outside if you don’t mind me asking,” Steph said.
“What signs?” he asked. His smile wavered, but never dropped. Cass knew the translation: Please don’t be talking about those signs.
“The ones all over the place with all the rules.”
“Oh, that’s just Jakob,” the man explained. “He got into a little accident that gave him some new…abilities. He liked playing supervillain."
The three of them all shared a look. Steph put her hands on her hips and sighed. Of course this is happening. Not even a full day in.
“Really?” she asked. “It’s not a problem?”
The man stiffened a bit.
“No, no problem at all. You all enjoy yourselves. Are you looking to fish or rent a kayak? Paddle board maybe?” Before Steph or Duke could decline–
“Paddleboards would be nice,” Cass said. They both looked at her a bit dumbfounded. She gave them a look right back. There was some sort of plan here but they couldn’t be sure what exactly to expect.
“Great! Follow me outside,” the man said, immediately brightening up. The three didn’t have time to see it before entering the shop but if they’d walked a few more steps from it they would have seen a yard filled with kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes. Before Steph and Duke could even process this they found themselves walking to the beach with a large borrowed cart holding three paddle boards and paddles.
“Not that I don’t want to go paddleboarding,” Duke said. “But shouldn’t we have focused on asking questions.”
“Wanna see something,” Cass told them. “Reconnaissance.”
As they got closer to the beach they realized it was completely empty. No one in sight aside from a lifeguard watching a small cornered off area. Lining the beach were, quite frankly, an absurd amount of signs. ‘Pristine Supreme Only.’
“Thought so,” Cass said, looking proud of herself for a moment.
“I just can’t get over the name,” Duke said. “I mean, I know there are some ridiculous names out there. Signal isn’t even that great to be honest, but this is actually ridiculous.”
If it weren’t for how ominous everything was, Duke would assume this was all done by some child. Maybe it was. He still didn’t know what “abilities” this guy had.
“He wasn’t going to tell us what we’re dealing with. We’ll only get that by provoking it,” Cass said. She pointed out at the cornered off ocean. “We’ll start there, then jump over the rope. Make a big show of it. Won’t attack at first. Not this level of narcissist.”
“Wants more people to grovel at his feet, makes sense,” Steph agreed. “But you also want to go paddleboarding, don’t you.”
Cass grinned.
“I would also like to go paddleboarding.”
The lifeguard on duty was an older teen who looked extremely bored while scrolling on his phone. When he caught sight of the three he looked confused more than anything.
“You’re here…to use the beach?” He said it like he was giving them the opportunity to change their mind. The arch of his back, the squint of his eyes that kept glancing away around, the way he tapped his foot on the step below him and drummed his finger on his leg. He was irritated and on edge.
“That was the goal, yes,” Steph said. It came off meaner than she intended. No matter where you were you could never shake off being a Gothamite after all.
“Um, well, okay…Just stay in the ropes and we won’t have a problem.”
“And if we do go over the ropes?” Duke pushed. The boy made a face. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. He repeated this action 2 more times before settling on: “Your funeral.”
The boy leaned back in his chair, taking out his phone again.
Please, for the love of god, just let me be. Cass figured his thoughts were something along those lines.
“C’mon let’s go.” Cass began walking off to the beach with Steph and Duke close behind.
The water was freezing, but after being in the hot sun and with the weird day they were having, it was beyond refreshing. Duke soaked in the brief downtime they got. For a moment he could pretend he was just a normal teen, and it’d been so long since he felt he could last do that.
It quickly became clear the lifeguard was more for the sake of having one than anything else. He paid no mind to Duke and Stephanie almost drowning each other in a splash fight and there was not a peep from him as Cass wiped Duke and Steph off their boards during their paddle duel. All the fun allowing them to inch closer and closer to the roped barrier.
“Hey!” Steph called, making a big show of it. “I think we should go further in, more waves and all.”
“Yeah, I think that’s a great idea,” Duke yelled with somehow even less subtlety. “Let’s just jump over–”
A piercing whistle cut them off. The lifeguard had run into the water and was yelling at them to turn around and come back. He gestured frantically in a way that made Duke feel a little bad for causing him trouble, but not enough to deviate from their archaic plan. The three of them easily maneuvered over the rope and waited for the inevitable.
It took 5 seconds for them all to go blind.