#It's her culture it's her legacy it's her birthright. Not David's not Bruce's not whatever white boy of the month dc throws at Shiva

[aingeal98]

Any story where Cass learns to be more like Shiva and less like David Cain is a good one to me. Cain took Shivas abilities and bastardised them, twisted a child into a murderer which left her feeling guilty for the blood on her hands and her gift for violence for years. And the batfam helped Cass realise that she wasn't doomed to be evil just because she enjoyed violence, that in the right context she can do good, can BE good.

But it's always limited. Always as gentle as possible (Cass, not Bruce). Always restrained and controlled and with the executioners axe hanging over her head, waiting for the second she goes too far. She can imitiate them, do good work the way they do, but in her eyes she will never truly be fully like them.

Enter Shiva. Who understands Cass in a way no one else can. Cass's ability to read body language, her talent with martial arts. David Cain pushed them to extremes but the gifts originated with Shiva. Cass will never share her birth mother's comfort with death or her detachment from the world around her but she can reach her in other ways. Connect with her, talk to her as an equal and peer the way no one else is for them. And she can learn from Shiva too, not just skills but philosophy. How to live with all the different contradictions that make up your personality. How to reconcile your love of violence with your desire to help people. How to be unafraid of what you are capable of, to let go and enjoy it because it is not evil, it is simply you.

Shiva will never be a mother or a mentor or even a trustworthy ally. She doesn't want to be and she doesn't need to be. Cass has all of those things already. Her connection with Shiva is based off something different, and it works for them even if no one else understands it.