Disclaimer: They are all mine, mine I tell you HA HA HA HA HA! (Ok no they are 
not they all belong to DC comics but I can dream can’t I?)

Dedications: This is for everyone who reads it and likes it, thanks for taking 
the time to read this. A big mention for Marcie J, plus to my secret admirer who 
sent me a Batman Valentines Card, Who are you? - Nuke

***

Traditions
by Lee Hughes (lph112@hotmail.com)

***

“Can we talk?”

“Sure Bird Boy what’s up?”

“Its about Batgirl, I mean Cass and the way I feel about her I …”

“Look Tim we all know that you aren’t comfortable around her but sometimes 
we have to work with people that we don’t like, I mean look at Azreal and I. 
I still think that he’s a first class psycho but I still work with him when 
it’s needed. Besides Batman rarely makes you work with her on your own so 
just grin and bare it.”

Looking down at his shoes Tim stuttered slightly before continuing, “It’s 
not that, its just…”

Looking at his brothers crimson face and using his finely honed detective 
instincts Nightwing put two and two together.

“I know what this is about. Look Bro, Bruce isn’t going to replace you with 
her OK, sure she’s an excellent martial artist and operative but she doesn’t 
have your skills. Besides a wise man once hunted me down and told me that 
Batman needs a Robin, not a Batgirl a Robin, think about it.”

Jumping off of the roof Nightwing twisted through the air pleased at his own 
cleverness not knowing that he had just got two plus two to make five.

Robin watched the departing form silently contemplating his dilemma as his 
cape shimmered in the breeze. Deciding that perhaps Dick wasn’t the best 
person to ask anyway Tim quickly decided to head for the clock tower, after 
all Babs was a girl and knew how they thought didn’t she?”

After spending ten minutes bypassing the security systems Robin finally 
entered the inner sanctum of Oracle to find her sitting with two mugs of 
steaming hot chocolate waiting for him.

“I thought that you might end up here after talking to the Clueless Wonder.”

“He told you?”

“Not really I heard the tail end of the conversation, Listen I know Dick got 
the wrong idea and you’re not worried about being replaced, its got to do 
about her hasn’t it?”

“Yeah its about Cass, Its just I...”

“Listen I know how you feel about her but you don’t have to worry Cass might 
have been raised by Cain and trained to be an assassin but she can be 
trusted to do the right thing, did you know that Bruce was also trained by 
Cain? Well he was!”

“Oracle, Babs, listen I was trained by Lady Shiva so her training by Cain 
isn’t the point. Yeah she could beat me but I know techniques that flow 
naturally into my style that I have to constantly hold back.”

“Tim, I think that you’re in denial, yes she could beat you but she could 
beat Nightwing as well so don’t worry about it.”

Realising that this conversation was getting nowhere Tim stood up to leave.

“Thanks Babs!” smiling at her and letting her think she had helped Robin 
headed for the shadows and left.

As it was quiet Robin decided to have and early night and sleep once more on 
his problems.

***

The lack of activity bothered Batgirl, she wanted, no needed some action to 
take her mind off the disturbing thoughts running through her mind. Shaking 
her head she launched herself into the night, there was no time for these 
strange thoughts and emotions she only had a few weeks left till she would 
die.

Up till now she didn’t regret her decision to ask for Shiva’s help in 
regaining her skills after all it was better to be perfect for a year than 
mediocre for decades. She just wished that she’d stop thinking about what 
she might have done if she had more time. Realising that the only thing that 
she could catch that night was a cold she decided to head over to the clock 
tower.
As she entered Oracle was arguing with Nightwing.

“How could you be so dense, Tim doesn’t like her because he is scared of 
what she could do not because he is afraid Bruce will replace him with her.”

“Your wrong Babs, Tim is afraid that Bruce will replace him with Batgirl. 
Trust me, I know the feeling, I’ve been there, remember!”

Cassandra decided to step from the shadows and make her presence known.

“Tim not like?”

Glad that she was still wearing her cowl to cover her expression Batgirl 
studied the body language of the two people in front of her. Without looking 
at their faces she could see their horror at her overhearing their 
conversation. Babs quickly tried to recover the situation.

“Cass we don’t mean that he doesn’t…”

It was too late she had already vanished into the night.

Traversing the city Cassandra tried to clear her head, why didn’t Tim like 
her, she couldn’t help what she was. She knew that she made him nervous and 
look at the floor a lot but she never though that he didn’t like her. 
Needing a good work out Batgirl headed for the cave in the hope that Batman 
would be there to spar with.

As she entered the cave she could hear the sound of a punch bag being beaten 
to a pulp. From the rhythm of the strikes she could tell that the person 
working out was not the Bat and that the person was agitated, make that very 
agitated. Removing her cowl Cassandra walked into the training area to be 
faced with a red faced Robin talking to himself as he punished the bag.

“They all think they know, they think they have me all figured out, they 
think that it was Batman’s idea not to work with her, I’m too professional 
to work with her I’ve learned from others mistakes, I can keep my distance.”

Walking into the light Cassandra Let Robin know that she was there. Stopping 
his assault on the bag Tim grinned and towelled himself off.

Schooling her face to hide her inner feelings Cassandra smiled in reply,

“Tim spar?”

Grinning and looking at the floor Tim responded,

“Sure Cass I’m all yours.” Realising what he had said he quickly stuttered, 
“T-to Spar with I mean.”

Smirking to herself Cassandra assumed a fighting stance and beckoned her 
unknowing victim onto the practice mat.

The sparring match was brutal and short and ended predictably with Tim flat 
on his back and Cassandra sitting across his chest immobilising his arms.

“Why you no like?” Cassandra punctuated her sentence with a twist of her 
hand that caused Tim to wince.

“What don’t I like?” Tim asked his face a mixture of pain and confusion.

“Me!” The look of pain and confusion had passed to Cassandra’s face as she 
let her hurt feelings show for a brief nanosecond.

Astonished Tim stammered out a muffled reply,

“I..I..don’t like you? I…”

The rest of the sentence came out unfinished as Batgirl melted into the 
shadows.

“DAMN!!”

Slowly getting to his feet Robin stared into the inky blackness into which 
she had vanished.

***

After changing back into his civilian attire, Tim tried to determine his 
best course of action. He had tried to talk to Dick and Babs but neither had 
been any use he needed to talk to some one who would understand, someone who 
understood women, someone who…. NO! Never things where bad but it wasn’t 
critical yet was it? Surely he was a last hope to be used when all other 
options had been tried twice and still failed. How could he ask him for 
advice on women, him of all people!

Shocked at even thinking things might be that bad Tim decided to hang out 
with his friends at Young Justice.

The long drive to the Young Justice headquarters gave Tim some quiet time 
to think things through. Handbrake turning in the middle of the road Tim 
changed direction and headed in the opposite direction. ‘Things are that 
desperate! I need to speak to HIM!’ thought Tim.

Entering the Titans Tower, Robin made his way towards the recreation room; 
being careful to by pass the security cameras he stealthily made his way 
towards his target. Picking the lock to his room Robin entered and settled 
into the shadows and waited.

After a few minutes Roy entered the room shouting back to someone over his 
shoulder,

“Just give me a minute to get changed into my trunks Wonder Doll and I’ll be 
right with you.”

Waiting for Roy to close the door Tim spoke, “Roy can I have a word?”

Startled at his unexpected visitor a torrent of thoughts flooded Roy’s 
brain.

“Gees Timbo, I swear you are getting’ more like the Bat every day.” Seeing 
him smile a little at the complement Roy decided that what ever was wrong 
wasn’t serious or at least life or death.

“So what can I help you with that the great Bat family can’t?”

“Well …it’s… about a girl.” Tim mumbled quietly.

“A girl! Well the Bowman of Lurv is all ears, what’s happened?”

Quickly outlining his past conversations on the subject and the disastrous 
training session in the cave, Tim waited for the archers advice.

“You asked Batboy for advice on Love , things are worse than I thought but 
they aren’t beyond repair!”

“How can you tell?”

“Well you never asked the Bat!”

Blanching at how close he had come to doing just that Tim sat 
apprehensively and listened to the much-needed advice.

***

Tim had spent a week avoiding Cass, admittedly it hadn’t been hard as she 
had been avoiding him as well. It had been a week of planning and 
preparation, Oracle and Nightwing thought he was trying to get out of 
Batgirls bad books, Batman had offered no comment and Alfred had smiled 
knowingly.

Taking Roy’s advice Tim had everything set up and put in the call over the 
general frequency.

“Oracle this is Robin, I’m over by the Cathedral things are about to get 
pretty scary I could do with backup!”

An answer quickly returned, “The nearest help is Batgirl I’m sending her 
over.”

Switching to a closed channel she contacted Batgirl, “Batgirl, Robin is in 
the middle of a potentially scary situation and needs backup, can you help?”

“NO!”

“W..What? Why not?”

“Him not like so me not like!”

“Batgirl! This is not a request this is an order go help Robin now!”

“Grouch.”

Batgirl swung out into the darkness. Minutes later she came to rest on the 
roof of Gotham’s Cathedral. Looking around she found Robin crouched like one 
of the gargoyles looking out over the city.

Walking over to him she scanned the floor for trouble.

“What problem?”

Without answering Robin span in his crouched position and swept her legs 
causing her to land on the floor beside him. Looking into his eyes she could 
see a glimmer of  something.

Sitting next to her he turned to look at the city as he began.

“I need to talk to you. This isn’t easy but I was advised to tell you 
everything.

Her curiosity peaked Cassandra relaxed and showed that she was at least 
willing to listen.

“I first realised when I saw you at Babs apartment standing there next to 
Azreal, so confident, so innocent. I wondered what you where doing there. 
Then Batman announced that you where to be Batgirl and I thought what a 
perfect opportunity to get to know you to tell you. But then I was informed 
about your past and that you communicated through body language. I was 
horrified, not because you where raised and trained by Cain but you could 
read my body language, could tell what I was feeling. Out of embarrassment I 
tried to keep away, to stop you from reading my feelings. It never occurred 
to me that you might not recognise the emotion, had never experienced…I 
never meant for you to think that I didn’t like you or make you unhappy, 
what I’m trying to say is …I love you!

Turning to face her Tim couldn’t tell what she was thinking through the 
cowl. Fearing the worst he slipped from the roof and escaped on the decel 
line he had prepared.

Confused after the long speech which she hadn’t understood most of Cass 
decided to ask Babs what this Love word meant.

Back at the Clock tower Babs and Dick looked at each other slightly 
guiltily.

“Wow, I knew it would be good but telling her he loved her, I never expected 
that.”

Standing behind her wheelchair, Dick bent down and gently kissed her neck 
and whispered into her ear,

“Looks like Robin loving Batgirl is becoming a bit of a tradition.”

Turning to face him, Oracle grabbed the front of his uniform and pulled his 
face down to hers.

“One of the good ones,” she replied as she returned his kisses passion a 
thousand fold.

An urgent knocking at her window caused them to break their kiss and slowly 
separate.

Watching from her vantage point at the window Cass noted Nightwing’s body 
language and how it differed when he was around Babs. Thinking back to her 
conversation with Robin she noticed the similarities.

A small smile spread across her face, Tim liked her. Her smile grew even 
bigger Tim liked her the same way Dick liked Babs.

Opening the window with a slightly flushed face, Babs smiled at her 
successor.

“Hey, Cass”.

“Where Tim?”

Unable to resist teasing the newest member of the clan Nightwing replied,

“Why?”  Watching their smiles Cassandra realised that they where playing with 
her 
and that they knew what had been said.

“You listened, You tell, I hurt!”

Backing up in mock surrender Nightwing smiled as Oracle checked the 
computers, “He’s returned to the cave!”

A gentle breeze filled the room as Batgirl flew to the cave.

As she entered the cave she found Tim once again beating up on the punch bag 
his eyes full of tears. Removing her cowl Cassandra walked up behind him and 
tapped him on the shoulder. Spinning into her arms Cass gave the startled 
Tim a big hug. Leaning back and looking into his face she smiled and gently 
brought her hand up to his face,

“You Silly!” and with that she kissed him.

Breaking apart Cass watched as Tim’s face broke into a big smile and then 
just as quickly crumbled. Concerned Cass took a step back.

Tim his face looking truly miserable stared over her shoulder,

“Hi Steph.”

Turning quickly Batgirl could see Spoiler standing there her body screaming 
rage and vengeance.

“You said that you loved me, you two timing rat , and all the time you’ve 
been seeing HER! Well that’s it just remember I know all about you and your 
gang, Timothy Drake! How safe will you and your family be when the whole 
world knows that you are Robin!”

With that she turned and left the cave.

***

After two weeks and no announcement to the newspapers or television Tim 
began to relax and think that Steph’s outburst might have just been a spur 
of the moment thing.

Steph on the other hand was still fuming, how could she do this to her, who 
did she think she was, she ought to go over and …

Ok, Batgirl could make mincemeat out of her, she needed training but who 
could beat her who …

It had taken weeks to track her down using her own resources but finally she 
had. Here she was the implement of her revenge.

“Lady Shiva?”

“Yes.”

“I have information that I thought that you might like about the latest 
Batgirl, her real name is Cassandra Cain.”

Walking up to her Shiva struck with her famous leopard blow killing her 
instantly.

“I despise traitors, and besides her name isn’t Cain its Woosan!”


-End-

Ok I know that Shiva isn’t her mother as she has had no children but this is 
fan fic so :p   thrrrrrpppp - :)  Nuke