paradisalogs | i like the chance you take

Entry tags:

i like the chance you take

Who: Cass and Steph!
What: Girl time♥
When: This weekendish
Where: Bathaus
Rating: C FOR CUTE

It was about time Steph put a little extra effort out there for Cass. She'd been all over the place lately, and it had to be hard on the girl that thought she was dead not too long ago. She'd promised a lot of fun things, but some of those fun things needed planning--like a beach day. So, for now, she'd have to improvise.

And that's why there was an assortment of fruits, candies, syrups, and sprinkles set out on the counter. Steph was trying to be quiet, taking the ice cream tubs out of the bag and sneak them into the freezer, but the paper was annoyingly loud in the quiet home.

This was supposed to be a surprise. Grr.

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"Then it's decided." She smiles and runs her fingers through Cass' hair, arms around her. Tim won't mind sharing the bed with her. She's not sure what Cass is thinking about, but she's content to have her so close.

"I missed you, when you... were gone. It was just... me, Bruce, Alfred. Which, really, is only... me and Alfred." Bruce wasn't exactly all about the nurturing thing.

"Then, just me, in Bludhaven. Made friends, but... they weren't you. But I still... saw you, all the time." It was always wishful thinking of course, and never really Steph. She holds Steph a little bit tighter, keeping her face hidden against her chest. "Not ghost, I guess. Since you... weren't really dead. You kept me strong, kept me... fighting, trying. Kept me from dying."

Steph's never really asked about what happened while she was gone--of course, once she got back to Gotham she heard bits and pieces, mostly related to all the terrible things that had happened to Tim in her absence. She didn't know how to ask everyone else what they'd been up to, because how could she even dare to?

"Cass..." She thinks the right words will come, but they don't. It breaks her heart to think about what Cass went through after she "died," and sometimes she forgets that it wasn't three years plus and some for Cass. It was recent.

They hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms back then, either.

"I'm so sorry, Cass. I never meant to put anyone through that. Especially you." Especially Tim, and especially her mother. She meant for things to turn out the way they did.

"Just glad you're- here now. Safe. Can keep you... this way." She realizes how that sounds after the fact and doesn't correct herself, not right away. It's true, she does want to keep Steph. But Steph isn't hers to keep, so finally she adds, "Alive, safe here."

Cass wanting to keep Steph isn't anything strange or new to her, so there's nothing strange about that statement. It's already been implied, as far as she's concerned. She pets Cass' hair, trying to sooth her.

"I'm happy you're here, Cass. You won't have to go through that again, not if I have any say in it. Okay?"

That kind of falls flat, for Cass. Stephanie did have a say in it now, but there had still been a week and more of her being off without even saying goodbye, letting Cass know she was safe. But that's something Cass is happy to let go, she can just assume that when Stephanie says it now she means from here on out. It's easier that way.

"I'm not... mad you disappeared." Not in Gotham and really, she's not mad about it happening here. "You did... what you had to. But from now on... please, tell me."

"Alright. It's the least I can do." She kisses the top of Cass' head, arms tightly around her. "It's good you're talking to me about this." It's not always easy for Cass, and Steph knows it.

"Don't want secrets. Don't want lies." Not big secrets and lies, anyway. Little things that will allow for everyone to go on being happy? Those are okay for Cass to tell, she thinks.

Now that it's all out of the way, all explained so Stephanie understands her reactions, Cass is able to relax and enjoy this closeness without thinking of ghosts and dying. Her desperate grip loosens to something more comfortable and less rib cracking, resting her head on Stephanie's chest instead of burying her face there.

"Just... want you happy. That's all."

Stephanie doesn't lie so much as she omits information, and she and Cass are on the same page when it comes to that. Most of the things are concerning Tim and Assassins, and there had been enough strife over that already.

"I know. Honestly, with you and Tim here, this is the happiest I've ever been here." She hadn't been miserable, but things hadn't felt this comfortable.

"Good. Will make sure... it stays like that."

She scoots up now, face level with Steph's so she can look at her and touch her cheek, brush her hair back away from her face and tuck it behind her ear.

Steph hopes it does. There are a few things Steph can see breaking this little house they have. One of them could go home, or... Tim can have a cow over this Assassin business. Both were likely.

She gently taps Cass' nose with her index finger.

It probably won't help that Cass and Ezio had a long conversation about the non-killing positions in the Assassin Order, too. Yay for keeping things from each other.

She blinks when Steph taps her nose, then smiles faintly.

"Love you too."

"Always." No doubt about that. She lifts her hands to run them though Cass' hair, laughing a little to herself because she always does this to Tim's hair, too.

It's... weird, seeing that in Stephanie. She likes being treated like Steph would treat Tim though, it lets her indulge the little hopes she knows she really needs to not indulge. She closes her eyes, leaning into Steph's touch.

A little bit of pretending is okay.

"Do you think about me... when you're with Tim?"

Does this go both ways?

Uh. She's wondering if Cass means to ask what it almost sounds like she means to ask, but Steph figures she better ask for clarification, anyway.

"What do you mean? Like, when we're out?"

"When you're this way. You thought... of him, just now." It seems like a normal thing to ask, to Cass.

"Oh, because I always play with his hair like this," she says, sliding her fingers through Cass' hair again. She can't say she ever thinks of Cass when laying the mushy affection on Tim, but she doesn't really think about much aside from him in those moments.

"Sometimes, when we lay in bed and talk, we talk about you. Good stuff, of course," she smiles, trying to communicate that Cass isn't ever too far from her thoughts.

There's a grin forming on her lips before she can stop it. Stephanie and Tim talking of her in bed? That's kind of amusing. It's not meant that way though, Cass is pretty sure of that.

Although considering some of the things that Tim's body language says when he's not paying close attention... No, they probably talk about how she's settling in, the friends she's trying to make. But now she wants specifics, so she opens her eyes before asking. Gotta interpret her right, after all.

"What stuff?"

Cass isn't wrong. Steph smirks before reaching to cover Cass' eyes with her hands. No reading her!

"That's private bedroom talk!"

Cass laughs softly and takes hold of Steph's wrists, pulling them away and then pinning them to the bed, rolling so she's on her hands and knees over Steph and holding her down. Can't escape now, Stephanie.

"Should know... if I'm part of bedroom talk. Only fair."

Cass is such a cheater. Stephanie laughs and squirms, though she's not really putting up much of a fight.

"What do you think we talk about, huh?"

She'll never quit cheating, either. She shrugs, but doesn't let Steph up.

"Wouldn't ask, if... I could guess. Tell. Or else..." She move so she can hold both of Steph's wrists with one hand, the other moving to press against her side with the threat of tickling.

Her weakness. One of them, anyway. Steph inhales sharply.

"Never. Do your worst."

Probably not the best idea to challenge someone who can tell exactly where your most ticklish spot is, Stephanie.

"My worst?" Her fingers walk up Steph's side and then over her stomach, eyes trained on her to tell where to start. "Sure that's... what you want?"

Oh, that makes her nervous. But she has a few things up her sleeve.

"I drank like two milkshakes, Cass."

Her bladder isn't exactly empty.

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