Meeting the day before school (before Bruce's talk)

[shahzadalghul]

 Damian walked slowly up to the address on the paper from the computer. He had to make sure he wasn’t going soft, that all this schooling wouldn’t leave him an ordinary boy. If Father wouldn’t train him till he went to school, he would have to make sure that the one person who could make Mother fear would be of help to him. He had to ask for her

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[cass_batgirl]

Cass gives a small expression that is mostly in her glittering eyes. A grin. then she's walking over to the fridge and reaching for something on to of it. When the Asian girl walks back into the room, she has a tin of catnip in her hand, which she then hands to Damian.

"Likes. Make friends." With her hands she motions for the child to open it and give Robin some.

She can see that he's got something on his mind, something he needs to ask, but rushing people is often a bad idea. And she has no need to hurry. It's kind of nice to have a visitor.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian bit his lip, wondering if he was being tested for patience. "tt," he mumbled, as he opened it, and found the catnip. He opened it in his hand, for the cat to sniff it, rub against it, lick it & finally eat it. Nepeta cataria, he know all about it.

Still, the sight of the kitten doing so brought a tiny smile to his lips, almost unable to be seen. For a second, he was almost like a child.

Then he remembers himself and stiffens up.

[cass_batgirl]

Cass watches the wordless transformation in the boy. So small. No one else would have noticed. Well, Bruce would have, but the rest, no. And the boy NEEDS it to be noticed.

The young woman leans over and pointedly pokes him in the shoulder. NOT on any pressure point but definitely enough to get his attention.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian stiffened at the touch, putting his hand up to defend himself. He hated people touching him, especially people who had the ability to hurt him. "Yes?" he hissed.

BL-Stressed, surprised, angry, defensive

[cass_batgirl]

Cass notes the boys reaction and. How to. Defuse? Maybe? Yes?

No. It's not quite. There is SOMETHING there under the surface, something that HAS to come out, even if that ends up being messy. Honesty starts with the self, and only then with others.

And people are rarely honest with themselves. Or even aware that they are being dishonest.

So Cass smiles a little more, lets her eyes dance a little more and pokes. Again.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian hissed in anger and tried to bat her hand away. "What are you doing?" he asked angrily. Why did everyone try to mock him? Was she trying to goad him into a fight? He tightened reflexively, ready to fight.

BL-Ready to attack.

[cass_batgirl]

"Learn you," is the calm reply. She drops the one hand then raises the other, going for the shoulder on that side. No, it's a feint. She pokes the boy's belly instead.

If he attacks she'll work with it. It could be cathartic for the boy. But it's not necessarily the reaction she's looking for.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian glared at her and tried to push her hand away. How dare she mistreat him as if he was some common servant? Forgetting how much better she was, he moved to push her back.

[cass_batgirl]

The only indication of anything is that Cass' eyes light up with interest. Then she has his wrist and is pulling him, easily over balancing the boy. But she lets go so that he can catch himself before he does a face plant on the hard wood.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian had been subjected to humiliation before, but landing in Cain's boney lap was nothing like he had ever imagined. "Stop this!" he commanded, throwing himself away from her. He pushed the chair between them. What if...what if Mother had gotten to her and Damian was...no longer needed? She had been a League Assassin, she could have had everyone fooled. He needed a weapon...

[cass_batgirl]

She raises an eyebrow at him calmly. "You said teach," Cass reminds him. "Not teach if not know."

Understanding Damian's attitude and reactions is just as important as his fighting ability. She remembers what he'd been told about him, about his destiny. But honestly, she would very much like to get him FAR away from that. Bruce and the rest will be very good for him if the boy doesn't let his ego get in the way.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian launched himself at Cain. If she wanted to see his abilities, she would see them. He was quite aware she was better than him, but he was a Wayne and an Al Ghul, he could put up a valiant attempt and land a few blows.

BL-Resolved

[cass_batgirl]

Cass nods to her self just before he moves. Of course she can see it. That's why she's no longer seated on the floor when the boy gets to the spot. She has no desire to injury Damian, though it's very probable that the boy doesn't share her feelings.

So she's moving, dodging the attacks, making a point of simply not being where the child attacks.

Yes she is learning his level of fighting skill, but that's really a secondary thing. She needs to learn HIM, how he thinks. It's not something that can be put into words, even if Damian had been inclined to do so. And the current Robin's body language is very honest. She can work with this.

[shahzadalghul]

Damian had made perfect attacks against Cain. The problem was she never seemed to be there when he attacked. "I'm not playing games," he snapped, before slamming into a wall. She had been there a half second before.