TLV 8 - video

[bodilesswarrior]

[Private to Iris]

[It's a rare thing, for Barbara to look shy. Rarer still for her to make false starts, even if they're barely perceptible. Finally, she settles on something completely off the topic at hand.]

Think you could teach me that hypnotism trick?

[Private separately to Steph, Chris, and Rex]

How are you doing?

[Private to Cass]

[There would be absolutely no point in hiding the excitement in her smile.]

Could you come see me?

Comments

[hellofist]

[Barbara isn't the only one who feels better now, just from this. It doesn't matter what it is, anything can be fixed just by being with Barbara.]

I'm fine. Stayed with Arthur, mostly. He got blind. [Wait hang on.] Um, blinded.

[Finally she pulls back, reaching out to touch Barbara's hair.]

Kind of late, for birthday presents.

[bodilesswarrior]

[A faint frown, gently concerned.]

Well, it's good he had you.

[And soon enough she's grinning again.]

Well, that's what makes it a surprise.

[hellofist]

[It's easy to smile back when she sees that look on Barbara's face.]

Should I... close eyes, then?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara pulls back reluctantly, wheeling backwards to her desk. Her smile doesn't fade.] You could, but I think you'll need them to sign.

[hellofist]

[Cass' smile does fade, mostly because that's not exactly on the list of things she expected to hear today.]

Sign?

[bodilesswarrior]

Uh-huh.

[Barbara doesn't have to look, when she reaches back to her desk. The papers haven't moved since she got them.

When she holds them up, her smile falters a little, old insecurities fluttering in her chest, but she bats them away.]

Authentic Gotham adoption papers.

[hellofist]

[Well. That's almost out of left field completely, it would have been if she didn't clearly remember the talk they had about it. It's still something she wants, desperately, and it probably shows when she rushes forward to hug Barbara tightly again.]

You did it!

[bodilesswarrior]

[A warm, delighted laugh bubbles from Barbara's lips as she throws her arms around Cass.]

Yeah, asked the Admiral for 'em.

[hellofist]

[Abruptly she pulls back but she keeps her hands on Barbara's shoulders as she scans the desktop for a pen.]

Might need help, with full name. Only know... the Cass part.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara nods, pointing to a black pen next to the keyboard.]

I can guide your hand.

[hellofist]

[She snatches the pen up and motions for Barbara to put the papers down.]

Show me where.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara lays them on the desk, and trails her finger down to the bottom of the page.]

There, right on the line.

[hellofist]

[She writes out a quick, shaky Cass and even starts on the next A, but then she starts to frown. This shouldn't really be this hard, she should know what comes next, but she just... can't remember. Finally she looks to Barbara.]

What's... after this A?

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her smile is gently understanding, and no less delighted.]

S. [She draws it in front of Cass, finger curving slowly in the air.]

[hellofist]

[And this, this right here? This is why Barbara is the only person Cass could ever want as her mother.

Together they get through the rest of her name with Cass growing more and more confident and then finally, it's time to turn the pen over to Barbara.]

Your turn.

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara takes it, beaming proudly as she gives Cass's shoulder a quick, gentle squeeze with her other hand.

She almost rushes through it, gets it done as quickly as she can, but no - she wants to savour this moment. So she writes slowly, carefully; just as she did the last time she signed papers like this.

And when she's done, her eyes are burning.]

There.

[hellofist]

[Once her hand isn't on the pen anymore, Cass throws her arms around Barbara again and hugs her tightly.

She can talk about having a mother without having to be ashamed, now. The little piece of paper doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of things, Cass doesn't even really know what it says, but she knows symbols. She knows it stands for something she'll never be able to replicate, something she'll never be able to replace.

She has a mother, now. A real one. She turns her face into Barbara's neck and tries to blink back her own tears.]

I love you.