Bats in the Pantry

Cassandra woke up with a groan, which was fine with her, since in her dream she had been screaming.

She rolled over and stared at the clock radio by her bed.  The green numbers of 4:34 A were just barely readable to her bleary eyes.  She flopped back with an aggravated growl, blinking furiously up at the ceiling.  When her mind was clear and she had the feeling back in her right arm, she sat up and yawned.  Without even bothering to put on socks, she quietly slipped out of her room.

***

And that's how Bruce Wayne found the young woman, sockless and pajama-clad, eating a bowl of cereal in the kitchen.   He leaned against the doorframe, waiting for her to notice him.  Which took all of four seconds.  

"Cassandra?"  Bruce asked after she had glanced up at him before returning to her bowl.  "Your patrol ended hours ago.  What are you doing up?"

"What are you doing up?" she countered.  Bruce cocked an eyebrow.  Cassandra smirked.  "Dumb question, I know."

It was odd to see the man before her in silk pajamas, with his hair ruffled to boot.  She always saw him in a suit, be it the Batsuit or an Armani.

Bruce didn't say anything to that last quip, instead striding forward to the island where she sat and picking up the colorful box.  "I thought Alfred banned all sugary cereal."

"I found Damian's stash," Cassandra said, slurping up another spoonful.  "Again."  Of his look, she added "He's been accusing Tim of stealing from it all week."

"Hnh."  She couldn't tell if that was a sound of disproval or amusement.  He left the island and came back with a bowl and spoon.  He didn't bother to sit down, instead standing at the opposite of her as he poured the cereal.

They ate in silence.  Cassandra didn't mind.  She poured herself a second bowl, even though she wasn't hungry any more.  

When Bruce finished his bowl, he set it off to the side and leaned against the island, folding his arms.  He appraised the young adult before him as she pushed the cereal around, willing herself to finish it.  "Want to talk about it?" he asked.

Green eyes met blue for a second before she looked down.  "Just a dream," she muttered.

Bruce said nothing, patiently waiting for her to continue.  Finally, Cassandra pushed the half-full bowl away and propped her head on her arms.  

"I just..." She tried to make sense of the dream.  "I saw you, and Tim, and Alfred and Damian and everybody.  It was...normal.  Normal patrol, normal talk, normal fighting."  She looked up at him again.  "I could see you.  But you couldn't see me, no matter how hard I tried."

Bruce's brow furrowed as she said this, and she went on.  "You weren't ignoring me.  I just didn't exist, like.  You saw through me, you couldn't hear me.  It was like I was a ghost, only I wasn't dead because I never was.  And I knew I never existed.  Does that make sense?"

Bruce said nothing, and there was silence for a few seconds before Cassandra said with a start as she remembered,  "And Barbara could walk."

There was a sigh as Bruce straightened up.  Cassandra watched him as he grabbed their bowls and took them to the sink.  When he returned, he stood in front her.

"Cass," he began softly, meeting her eyes.  "I'm sorry that I ever made you feel like that."

Cassandra opened her mouth to protest this, but he cut her off.  "I know I have, in the past.  I've done it with all of you at some point or another, but I know I've done with you, especially.  But, Cassandra?"

He placed his hands on her shoulders, and she stood up.  "I promised you, you have a family now."

Bruce Wayne wrapped his arms around his tired daughter.

"And your family will never forget you."