The Wayne Gala
Cassie adjusted her dark green dress in the mirror, her reflection staring back with a mix of confidence and irritation. The dress was elegant and fit for a gala—perfect for blending into the high society event hosted by Wayne Enterprises—but the thought of Damian seeing her in his favorite color was enough to make her second-guess the mission.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered into her comm, fastening the small earpiece hidden under her hair.
"You look great," Peter said from the other end of the line, his voice warm with encouragement.
"Yeah, if 'great' means 'out of character,'" Johnny quipped. "I thought Cassie didn't do dresses."
"I don't," Cassie said sharply.
"You're undercover, not on a runway," Michelle reminded her dryly.
"Focus, everyone," Penny's voice cut in, calm and collected. "Cassie, remember, you're there to find the Hydra contact and gather intel. Damian, Roy, and Jason will handle any distractions."
Cassie sighed. "Fine, but if anyone comments on the dress, I'm breaking their nose."
"Noted," Michelle replied.
The Wayne Gala was nothing short of extravagant. Crystal chandeliers sparkled above a sea of Gotham's elite, their conversations humming like static in Cassie's ears. Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she stepped inside, scanning the crowd for any familiar faces.
It didn't take long to spot them.
Damian stood near the bar, his expression unreadable as he exchanged pleasantries with a group of businesspeople. Beside him, Jason looked about as comfortable as a cat in a bathtub, tugging at the collar of his suit while Roy teased him mercilessly.
"Roy looks like he's having fun," Penny noted through the comms.
"Jason doesn't," Ned added with a chuckle.
Cassie ignored them, her focus narrowing on Damian. He hadn't seen her yet, but his gaze swept the room every few moments, his sharp eyes missing nothing.
"Target acquired," Cassie whispered into the comm.
"Damian?" Peter asked, amused.
"No," Cassie hissed. "The Hydra contact. East corner, black suit, blue tie."
Damian's voice interrupted through the separate line she shared with him, Roy, and Jason. "You're late."
Cassie glanced at him, her lips curving into a smirk as she tilted her head. "You'll survive, Wayne."
Jason snickered through the comm. "Play nice, kids."
Cassie moved through the crowd with practiced ease, her eyes never leaving the Hydra contact. She kept her posture relaxed but poised, her movements casual enough to avoid drawing attention.
"She's good," Johnny muttered into the comms, watching from the surveillance feed.
"Too good," Michelle agreed.
"You're supposed to be helping," Cassie snapped under her breath, pausing to greet an older gentleman who had mistaken her for someone he knew.
Damian suddenly appeared at her side, his dark green tie matching her dress. "You're standing out," he said quietly, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
"And you're blending in too well," Cassie shot back, her eyes briefly meeting his.
Damian's lips twitched into the smallest of smirks. "You look... adequate."
Cassie raised an eyebrow. "Adequate? Careful, Wayne. I might take that as a compliment."
Jason's voice crackled through their shared comm. "Flirting during a mission? Really?"
"We're not flirting," Cassie and Damian said in unison.
"Sure," Roy chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
As the night went on, Cassie managed to eavesdrop on the Hydra contact, catching snippets of a conversation about shipment routes and coded messages. Damian stayed close, playing the part of the dutiful son while silently backing her up.
Bruce approached them at one point, his piercing gaze flicking between Cassie and Damian.
"Damian, aren't you going to introduce your... friend?"
Cassie extended a hand, her smile polite but firm. "Casey Graham. It's an honor, Mr. Wayne."
Bruce took her hand, his expression neutral. "The honor is mine. And what brings you to Gotham?"
"Networking," Cassie lied smoothly. "My family is in logistics. I thought this gala would be a great opportunity to make connections."
Bruce didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Enjoy the evening."
As soon as he walked away, Cassie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"That was too close," Penny said in her ear.
"Agreed," Damian muttered.
"I handled it," Cassie replied, straightening her shoulders.
"Careful," Damian warned. "My father is watching you like a hawk."
"Then I guess I'd better give him something to watch," Cassie said, smirking as she looped her arm through Damian's.
Jason groaned through the comm. "I'm going to pretend I didn't see that."
By the end of the night, Cassie had gathered enough intel to pass on to SHIELD. As she and Damian prepared to leave, they were stopped by Dick and Tim.
"Damian," Dick said, his tone suspicious. "Who's your friend?"
Cassie smiled sweetly. "Just a business contact. Nothing more."
Tim tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"Drake," Damian said sharply, "drop it."
Cassie tightened her grip on Damian's arm, her smirk widening. "Don't worry, Damian. I can handle a little interrogation."
Damian sighed, muttering under his breath, "You're impossible."
Cassie winked at him. "And you love it."
As they exited the gala, Cassie's comm crackled to life.
"You owe us snacks," Peter said.
"And a full debrief," Michelle added.
"Mission accomplished," Cassie said smugly. "Now, let's go home before Wayne starts digging too deep."
Damian's lips quirked up in a rare smile. "Agreed."
Jason's voice broke through the comm. "Next time, warn us before you drag us into another mess."
Roy laughed. "Admit it, Jay. You're proud of them."
Jason groaned. "Not the word I'd use."
"Love you too, Baba," Damian said with a smirk.
The line went silent, save for Roy's uncontrollable laughter.
A few months later
Cassie stared into the mirror, adjusting the collar of her black dress. Tonight's gala was no different from the last, and yet everything felt different. The mission was critical. Hydra's plans were growing bolder, and she needed the intel. But the challenge tonight wasn't the enemy—it was the team.
Her earpiece buzzed to life, and Peter's voice filled the silence. "Cassie, are you sure you're okay with this? Another gala, another round of Wayne's suspicious looks?"
Cassie rolled her eyes, grabbing her clutch. "I'll be fine. I've got this."
Peter chuckled. "Keep your cool."
"Cool is my middle name," she muttered. "Now, stop being so dramatic and keep the comms clear."
Damian was already waiting in the limo, his dark suit looking like it had been custom-tailored just for him. He had insisted on attending with her again tonight, despite all the obvious risks.
"I thought we agreed," Cassie said, stepping into the vehicle and taking her seat across from him. "You stay back this time."
Damian gave her a pointed look. "I'm not letting you walk into that gala without me again, Cassie. You know how close my father is to figuring out everything." His voice was firm, resolute.
"I'm fine," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I've got this. Focus on watching my back, not babysitting me."
Damian's eyes softened for a moment before the usual indifference returned. "Fine. But I will not be far from you."
She smiled at him, appreciating the gesture despite the annoyance in her tone. "You never are."
The Wayne Gala was, as usual, a spectacle. Chandeliers bathed the grand ballroom in a warm, golden glow, and Gotham's elite mingled, their voices an unintelligible murmur as waiters in tuxedos carried trays of hors d'oeuvres.
Cassie kept her head high as she entered, her dark dress flowing gracefully behind her. She caught sight of Damian just across the room—standing by the edge of the ballroom, surveying the guests with cold, calculating eyes.
Peter's voice buzzed in her earpiece. "Remember, the target's on the second floor tonight. You need to make contact and get that file. We're counting on you."
Cassie nodded, her lips tightening in focus. But even through the comms, she couldn't ignore the heat in her chest when she saw Damian's gaze follow her every movement.
"Just keep a safe distance, Damian," she muttered under her breath.
Damian was already moving, his eyes locked onto her like a hawk's. She knew he wouldn't back down.
It wasn't long before the Hydra operative appeared, stepping out of the shadows in a sleek black suit, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he surveyed the room. Cassie quickly moved toward the stairs, aware of the target's trajectory. As she passed Damian, he whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "Stay focused. I'm watching."
She shot him a glance. "I know."
As she neared the target, she felt a sense of unease building at the back of her mind. She had done this before—sneak around, gather intel, escape unnoticed. But tonight, something was different. The way Bruce and his sons were acting, the looks they were giving her—they knew something.
Cassie moved quickly, intercepting the Hydra contact as he turned into a private hallway. Her presence was enough to throw him off guard for a moment, and she seized the opportunity. "We need to talk," she said, her voice low and smooth, slipping into the practiced tone she used for these types of exchanges.
Meanwhile, Jason and Roy stood near the drink table, scanning the crowd. Jason's eyes narrowed when he caught sight of Cassie slipping past the crowd with the target.
"Do you think she's doing what I think she's doing?" Jason muttered.
Roy snorted. "Of course she is."
Jason turned his attention to his pseudo son, whose gaze never left Cassie. "I don't think I've seen him this... protective in a long time."
Roy smirked. "Maybe Cassie's the one who's got him wrapped around her finger."
Jason grunted. "I should've known better than to let this happen."
As Cassie led the Hydra contact into a private room, she quickly got to the point. "You know who I am, and you know why I'm here. Hydra is already making moves, and you're the next step in their plan."
The operative smirked. "You really think you can stop us?" He gestured to a folder on the table. "I've got more than you think."
Cassie reached forward, brushing the papers aside and grabbing the one at the top. She'd seen enough.
"Got it," she muttered into her comm. "I'm on my way out."
But as she turned to leave, her heart dropped.
Standing in the doorway was Bruce Wayne himself, his piercing gaze locked on her with a mix of suspicion and recognition.
"I think you've been looking for this," Bruce said, holding up the folder she'd just taken from the table.
Cassie's stomach twisted. She was caught. But before she could respond, Damian's voice crackled through her earpiece.
"Cassie, get out of there. Now."
Cassie didn't hesitate. "You stay here. I'll handle it." She tried to pass Bruce, but he blocked her path with a hand on her shoulder.
"Not so fast," Bruce said, his voice firm but calm. "Who are you really working for?"
Cassie's pulse quickened, but she kept her cool. "You're too smart for your own good, Bruce Wayne."
Damian burst into the room at that moment, his body a shield between her and Bruce. His eyes flashed dangerously, and the tension in the room thickened.
"I told you to stay away from her," Damian said coldly, his stance protective.
Bruce's brow furrowed as he looked at his son. "Damian, get out of the way. This is bigger than you realize."
Jason appeared in the doorway, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. "You're all going to need to step back. Now."
Bruce's eyes flickered between his sons and Cassie. For a moment, Cassie thought he might see through the ruse. But then he sighed, the weight of his suspicion still heavy on the air.
"I'm not finished with this," Bruce muttered, lowering the folder. "But tonight is not the night."
Damian took a step toward him, his posture still rigid, but there was a flicker of regret in his eyes. "We're done here, Father. For tonight."
Bruce exchanged a brief glance with Dick, who stood in the hallway, but said nothing else as they both left.
Once the door clicked shut, Cassie breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Damian, who didn't meet her gaze at first.
"You were too close," Damian said softly, his voice tinged with something that might have been concern—or maybe fear.
Cassie smiled faintly. "I had it handled."
"You're never handling something like this this alone again," Damian said, his words firm, but not unkind.
Cassie felt her heart skip a beat. "Noted, Wayne."