#there’s more to say on Peter David’s approach to religion and prejudice in this YJ issue but I like this particular scene

[alvindraperzzz]

I want to point out a scene I really love from Young Justice #43. Not only is it a really good scene, I think it shows how much Cassie grew up over the course of Young Justice.

Ellen, a classmate of Cissie’s, just lost her parents in a bombing. She left the school, and everyone is worried she might attempt suicide. In the middle of telling Cassie about Ellen, Cissie and Traya are jumped by their racist classmates.

Superboy breaks the sound barrier going to protect them, but unexpectedly, Cassie is not right on his heels. Her best friend and the girl who is basically a younger sister to the entire team are in trouble, but she doesn’t go barging in as redundant backup. Cassie trusts Superboy to handle it. While he saves Cissie and Traya, Cassie handles an equally pressing matter.

She doesn’t crowd Ellen, or yank her off the ledge to “get her to safety”. She approaches carefully, calling out to Ellen so she doesn’t startle her. She talks to her, giving standard reassurances at first but quickly realizing the situation is not what she thought and adjusting accordingly.

Cassie is quiet. She patiently listens as Ellen pours her heart out, offering only quiet acknowledgement of Ellen’s feelings, until Ellen directly addresses her.

I could never picture Cassie from the first arc of YJ doing this, let alone the Cassie from her first appearances in Wonder Woman. Early Cassie is brash and loud, constantly rushing into things fists first. She is absolutely sincere, but she lacks the finesse to handle delicate situations. I wouldn’t even expect her to go find Ellen — she would have been right on Kon’s heels to go save Cissie and Traya. Instead she splits duties, trusting Kon to handle things while handling a potentially delicate matter herself with empathy and grace. It demonstrates trust, teamwork, and emotional maturity. We also get a really touching conversation out of it.

Idk, I just really like this scene.

(Come to think of it, this is exactly how Cassie approaches Tim in Red Robin shut up I’m not crying you’re crying)