teambatgirl | (no subject)

Her fingers move in a quiet, solemn twitch of acknowledging Batgirl. It wasn't that Black Bat did not talk but she still preferred not to. Especially when her senses were tuned to what was happening around them rather than with them.

Curling her finger she beckoned Bart to follow her, making a stay safe at Steph and then kick ass one to follow.

Bart gave a nervous grin to the other girls as he followed Black Bat away from their only way home. He didn't have a custom fitted kevlar/nomex uniform to protect him, but he was dressed in black. He was doing his best to watch Cass, shadow her, keep behind her and where he could react.

This seemed to him like a practical exam in whether or not he could fight without his powers. At least he trusted he would get out of here in one piece.

"Next time, you bring better protection." Cass said glancing at Bart making an annoyed hn noise. He had at least chosen black to wear and clothes that fit. She didn't need him giving those down here an easier chance on grabbing him. "Do you think... do you think we need the costumes still? Something someone said to me has been making me... think."

Bart smiled a little at the annoyance. He didn't have any protective gear, not the way Cass and Steph did. Even Arrowette's gear protected more than what he had managed.

"I'll keep an eye out for stuff to scavenge," he agreed, then puzzled at her words. "If you mean that they aren't much of a disguise here, I'd have to agree, but as equipment? I don't really see you moving half as comfortably in some of those ITF getups. But this isn't Gotham. Or even Keystone. The things that need fighting more often have to be faced in the light of day, not the night."

His own uniform had been sat aside with his powers. It would be foolish to wear something that flimsy to a fight without his speed to protect him. It would be strange, and possibly unnerving to see Cass in full bat-mode outside of the uniform. To him, the costume was who she was, far beyond the symbol.

She's lost her mind. She'd stayed out in the sun too long one day and now her brain was fried. That had to be the reason for why she was willing going down in Rapture when all common sense said that she ought to be far, far away.

The truth was that Steph had asked her to go and that was reason enough right there. Steph was her friend and she wasn't going to let her down by not being there for her, no matter how scared she was. Besides, if she was going to be there at all, Batgirl was like the person to be there with.

"Okay," she said, taking a breath and smiling nervously at Steph. "We ready?"

"We are so ready," Steph agrees as they head down toward the newer parts of Rapture that have just opened up. That's another problem with this place, it's all full of locked doors and no one from the island has the keys. They're playing by someone else's rules. "This is just recon, right?" She gives Cissie a reassuring smile. Even with the uniform on, she looks more like herself than Cass does in hers. "We look, we snoop, maybe we find a clue no one else has noticd."

"So, I should fight as Cassandra and not as this?" Cass asked, indicating the symbol on her chest. It was who she was even as she lived and breathed. It wasn't a tactic to scare others but a symbol of who she was, she wasn't sure about just being Cassandra. Cassandra had killed, Batgirl and Black Bat were better than that. "We need better equipment, rely too much on... peace."

Bart shook his head at her question. It wasn't what he was saying, at least not what he was trying to say. "I'm saying that people will know both sides of you, and may make decisions based on that knowledge. Black Bat doesn't have the kind of shadows to hide in we did back home. I don't really know how to say it. Words can lie, but actions don't."

It had always been easier for him because the difference between on and off duty had been whether or not he used his speed. Well, Kid Flash could afford to be more snide and sarcastic, because Bart couldn't dodge punches and bullets.

"I think you and Tim have something in common. I'm not sure the uniform is the mask most of the time. You're both more comfortable and yourself, or at least the self you want to be, when you're working."

Reassured by Steph's cheerfulness, Cissie straightened her shoulders and her smile became less anxious. They could totally do this, just a simple look-see and then back up into the sunshine.

"Right," she answered firmly. "Where do we want to start?"

"You're right, words can lie but you are also wrong actions can as well." Cass said, suddenly moving as if she was going to punch him. A quick, sudden feint of attack before she stopped just as suddenly. "Actions can lie, it is harder to do but they can lie. Do you think though that all knowledge? Knowing all my secrets would help them understand? Other people."

Cass nodded at his analysis. It was why she and Tim both worked well together. Sometimes she thought it was why Batman had sent her to help Robin out, to make him be more human even if it meant she wasn't. "This is how I repent, this is how I earn forgiveness."

Muscles twitched he made his own abortive attempt to block a punch that never landed. She'd trained him well, these months, and he knew he would at least be able to hold his own long enough to break free, without powers to help him along.

"It's polite to pretend that anything you haven't learned from the source doesn't apply. The worlds we think we know aren't always where a person is from. Like with Lex. I've seen the ruthless Luthor from home, but that's someone he's fighting not to be," Bart said. "You don't have to tell everything. You don't even have to answer every question. That choice is always going to be yours. I've put aside Kid Flash here because that person is defined by abilities that don't exist. It's a personal thing. Don't ever feel like someone else can make you change who you are without your agreement."

"Creepy capitalist amusement park?" She offers because it's so big that going through it with two is way safer. It's so ridiculous that it's a little funny, too, instead of just being underwater nightmare city.

Then she stops short from where they're creeping along and holds Cissie back. "We've got a security camera," Batgirl says and points out its faint red glow in the entrance hall again. "You want to get it or should I?"

"Cameras I can do," Cissie said with a grin. Smoothly, she reached back into her quiver and pulled out an arrow. In a graceful motion, she aimed at the camera and let the arrow fly, nodding in satisfaction when it hit the camera dead on.

"Sorry, Mr. Camera, we're being a little sneaky today. Nothing personal."

"Sorry you decided to use your powers for evil, Mr. Camera," Steph says with a grin as she creeps forward and checks for signs of life in the two halls branching out from here. She feels lighter being here with Cissie than she has by herself. "Now I do t think this is creepy cultist central, but just look out for anything...even weirder than usual down here?"

"I don't know," Cissie teased, "It'd have to be pretty weird, right? I have a high standard of weird, you know."

So far everything is quiet and that's suspicious in of itself. Not that she's arguing, really, but from everything she's heard, she would have expected something to show up about now.

Steph smiles back at her as they creep forward. Cissie is definitely an above-average sneaker, so they don't make any noise. Ahead, lights and shadows of people, all with the creepy Splicer masks.

"I... I won't." Cass said. It was a lot to take in, a lot of words. Batman had never said that, he'd always just given her a mission and a purpose. He didn't doubt she would be who she wanted, who he wanted her to be because they were of one mind about that. But it was nice to here someone telling her that she had choice. She had choice now. "Keep your guard up, don't forget to check corners."

Cass tucked herself into the shadows, using her stealth and speed to put herself at the greatest risk and also the least risk. She moved into open spaces but was always too quick and fleeting for others to get a lock on her if there were any there to try.

Bart did his best to shadow Cass, holding back when she did one of those open runs, waiting to make sure nobody reacted before following. It was those moments when they weren't together that were probably their most vulnerable. If, or more likely, when they got ambushed by the people down here, he'd be on the defensive from the get-go.

"You scout this way before?" he asked in a soft whisper, the next time they were close enough for a word or three. Not talking was safer, but hand signs only covered so much, and Bart wasn't as adept at reading body language as some.

So far nothing's jumped out at them but Cissie was sure that it's only a matter of time. It's how these things work, right? She's ready, though, and she had to admit that being out and about was kind of exhilarating. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed this sort of thing until now.

In the distance, she could see lights and something about their patterns just seemed off. She stopped and glanced at Steph. "What do you think?"

"Hmmm." It's hard to tell how many there are the way they movie in and out of the light. But they are in the way and there isn't another way around,

She glances to Cissie. "We could take them out or turn around and try another tunnel. Your call."

She listened, hearing the sound of dripping water and the rush of movement some distance away. Like someone skipping, skipping and dragging something along the floor with them. Followed by the metal thud, heavy and sure behind. She knew that sound, she wrapped her hand into Bart's shirt before pulling them into cover.

She held up her hand once, to indicate that she had been there before and then a hold sign to keep them quiet and in position. Here came daddy.

Bart felt a thrum of tension that he quickly forced into relaxation as Cass pulled him into the shadows. He dropped his center to a ready stance, tight against the wall but able to move. No need to signal his acceptance, the silent bat before him would know. He would hold back, trusting stillness and the shadows to hide him until action was needed.

Whatever it was sounded large, and any of the Rapture natives were dangerous. Bart couldn't speak, and his ability to communicate silently was limited at best. Unarmed and unarmored, the best thing he could do was hang back, and only reveal himself if there was a strategic advantage.

"In the House of Upside-Down: cellar's top floor, attic's ground. In the House of Upside-Down: laughing cries, and smile's frown. In the House of Upside-Down: found is lost, and lost-is found..." A little girl's voice sang, swinging her arm back and forth as she skipped around and ahead of her daddy. "Daddy! Daddy, let's find the angel. I can hear the angel singing, I can hear the angel. An angel fell daddy, let's find it."

The girl ran back, smiling up at her Daddy like he was everything to her before tugging on his hand childishly. "In the house of upside down..."

He moved slow and steady. He shone yellow, yellow for his little girl. She took his hand and he followed her as she sang her songs of angels. His vision solely focused on the girl for now. He would protect his little girl.

Daddy. It wasn't the words that made Cassandra tense but the way the girl looked at him, the way the Little Sister looked at her daddy like he was everything. Like he could look after her, protect her, teach her, keep her safe... she remembered that feeling. She remembered looking at Cain like that, she remembered wanting to make angels of her own for him. She remembered the horror in their eyes as she, no bigger than the Little Sister's, killed the man that Daddy had told her to.

Holding up her hand to hold in place, she pressed her fingers to her lips to indicate silence. They were fine, they wouldn't do anything as long as no one attacked or touched the Little Sister. She should free them, she should but they had a job to do and 'Daddy' would protect the little girl.

Bart saw the tension, and put a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, even as he gave a tiny nod to say he understood. When he saw them, he understood. Dangerous, yes, but not hostile. A flash of pity for two lives twisted so obviously by this place went through him, followed by determination to do whatever he could to help.

A flick of his eyes as they passed was all he gave to indicate his wondering if they should follow. The song seemed to indicate...something. Curiosity warred with caution in him.

Cissie hesitated. Trying another tunnel was the better idea, the safer one for sure but on the other hand... if they could take the splicers out, then that'd be one less group of monsters running around.

She didn't know what to do and she knew they didn't have a lot of time to waste. If they stayed where they were, someone was going to find them.

"Let's try another one," she said finally. "I don't want to cause a ruckus if we don't have to."

She really hoped Steph would understand.

She does understand and reaches out to touch Cissie's shoulder briefly as they turn and creep back the way they came. Because positive reenforcement is seriously helpful to learning to trust your judgment, it turns out.

They're well away from them and out of earshot when Steph says in a low voice. "It's a good call."

Hearing Steph say that was exactly what Cissie needed to hear and she smiled at her gratefully. She had thought that it was the right decision but she hadn't really been sure if that was because it was or if it was her being scared and not thinking straight so getting validation from someone she trusted meant a whole lot.

"Let's see what's behind Tunnel Number 2," she said. "See what that's like."

"If this ends with us covered in slime, you're doing the laundry," Steph warns with her best mock glare. Not that there is really that much goop down here, so if you're going to get covered in something it'll probably be blood. So...hopefully none of that, please. "Want to see the creepy carousel?"

"Sure, why not?" Cissie stuck her tongue out playfully. "I'm already doing Bart's laundry - and sometimes Kon's because he's lazy and thinks I won't notice."

She glanced around just to make sure nothing was intent on creeping up on them and nodded. "Creepy carousel it is!"

Cassandra turned her head watching her gaze, she assessed their situation before moving glancing down the tunnel the pair had come down before making sure it was clear. She didn't want anything sneaking up on them if they followed father-daughter.

Indicating with her hand for Bart to follow, she nodded to the ground for him to go one way whilst she went up. Moving from above.

"I know right?" Steph grouses, like it's normal to discuss laundry woes while they come closer to the big creepy carousel. "I do me and Damian's. And Cass try to sneak her shit in all the time, no matter how many washer lessons I give her."

If anything, splitting up like that made him more wary, because he had to keep his distance from the pair ahead of them, but unable to see Black Bat as she moved in her own path. Even glancing up would probably be a mistake, because it might cue anyone sneaking up to the possibility someone was up there. Besides, he trusted that she had his back.

So he followed, in irregular movements, finding the next bit of cover he wanted before he broke. He had to be alert for anything, but if he made a mistake and got spotted, he wouldn't give away that he wasn't alone.

Maybe it would be weird to other people but as far as Cissie was concerned, it was just the sort of thing you did in between superheroing it up. It was how Young Justice had gone, at least.

"People today," Cissie shook her head in mock despair. "Why are we going to do with them?"

"I know, Cass would just walk around naked." Which, you know, isn't bad for Steph but would just be awkward for everyone else.

She goes quiet again as they come to a wider hall with a decrepit carousel in the middle that's clearly falling apart and has been the sight to a few murders judging by the blood spatters. "Well, here we are."

That was something Cissie never really got, Cass's thing about walking around without clothes. Even leaving aside the awkwardness about... things hanging out, wouldn't it get awfully cold after awhile?

"You know, I always thought carousels were supposed to be fun. Or a musical set in New England," she said as she took in the scene. "Not all murder central. People are weird down here."

She kept a sharp eye out but nothing stirred. Yet.

"Yeah without the laughing children, carousels get pretty freaky pretty fast." Gotham had more abandoned amusement parks per square mile than any other city in the country. Woo hometown pride. "Ooh watch out," Steph says and points to what looks like a relatively fresh corpse. "Dead guy."

From down the way but coming closer, the sound of faint child's singing.

"That is indeed a dead guy," Cissie said, making a face. "I'm going to guess that he didn't have a good time at all."

She heard the singing and whirled around to face the direction it was coming from. "I'm also going to guess that singing can't possibly be good news. What do you think? Do we hide?"