Chapter 17
Cassie hated medical bays.
It wasn’t the pain that bothered her—she could handle that. It was the coddling.
So, when her father insisted she stay put on the Watchtower after getting patched up, Cassie did the most logical thing.
She escaped.
Bruce had just finished reviewing mission reports in the Batcave when he heard the front door open and close.
Alfred, already suspecting something, had raised an eyebrow. "I believe we have an unexpected visitor."
Bruce sighed.
"I'll handle it."
He walked through the halls, expecting to find one of his own children. Instead, he found Cassie Jordan—wrapped in one of Damian’s hoodies, barefoot, with a stitched-up arm that told him she definitely wasn’t supposed to be here.
She froze when she saw him.
"You’re not my dad," she muttered, shifting guiltily.
"No, but I will be calling him," Bruce deadpanned.
Cassie groaned.
"Come on, Bats, I just wanted to sleep in a place where I wouldn’t be smothered like a toddler."
Bruce just gave her a look.
"Did you leave the Watchtower without clearance?"
Cassie hesitated. "...No?"
Bruce sighed. "Go to bed, Cassie."
Cassie did not argue.
She booked it to Damian’s room before anyone could drag her back.
Damian had been half-asleep when Cassie practically collapsed into his bed.
"Beloved—"
"Shut up, I’m injured."
Damian immediately narrowed his eyes but let her burrow into his side. His arms wrapped around her instinctively, fingers brushing over the stitches on her arm.
"Tt. You should be resting somewhere proper."
"This is proper."
Damian huffed but didn’t argue further. He simply adjusted the blanket, pulling her closer as she nuzzled into his chest.
Somewhere in the background, Bluey was playing, and Cassie mumbled sleepily against his shirt.
"…I like this episode."
Damian sighed. "You are impossible."
But he was smiling.
And moments later, they both drifted off.
Bruce had called Hal and Carol.
They had arrived immediately.
Carol had been ready to drag Cassie back to the Watchtower—until Alfred directed them toward Damian’s room.
And what they found?
Cassie, curled into Damian’s side, his arms wrapped around her protectively, both fast asleep.
Bluey was still playing softly in the background.
Hal crossed his arms. "This is ridiculous. She literally ran away just to do this."
Carol pinched the bridge of her nose. "We raised a menace."
Bruce exhaled. "She’s fine. Let them sleep."
Hal scowled. "I still wanna yell at her."
"You can do that later, sir," Alfred said smoothly. "For now, let the children rest."
Carol sighed. "We’re never gonna win, are we?"
Bruce simply gave a knowing look.
Because really?
They all knew the answer.
Cassie always won.