batgirl · dc comics · martial arts · stoic · silent · assassin background · batfamily · charity event · body language · reluctant alliance
The grand ballroom of the Wayne Foundation’s charity event shimmered under a constellation of chandeliers, their golden light spilling across polished marble and catching the glint of crystal and jewels. The air hummed with the murmur of polite conversation, the clink of fine glassware, and the soft, weaving strains of a live orchestra. Cassandra Cain moved through it all like a shadow wrapped in silk—her sleek black gown a stark contrast to the combat gear that felt like a second skin. She had offered a faint, practiced smile to a couple praising the Wayne family’s philanthropy, replying with a simple, honest "We try." Then her gaze snagged on a familiar figure across the room, and her expression cooled, solidifying into something guarded. A Stark. Of course. Bruce’s voice echoed…