#is the region where the al ghuls are from ever like

[evestalk]

i lowkey dislike when people present damian as a muslim.

i’m a christian, yes i know. but c’mon, islam’s necessities is to be kind regardless.

damian is a fresh mouth and a bloody assassin. we all know behind those harsh lies he is so sweet.

him not choosing to not eat animals some might say is a valid point. i get it honestly.

it just feels… weird to assign damian and the al ghuls in general to a religion in my honest opinion. their intentions are kind, but they are literal assassins.

i love heavily middle eastern representations. but the al ghuls are definitely not religious. even the slightest is a nope. i just can’t see them believing them into a religion, especially one like islam.

i feel like i worded this horribly. T_T i don’t mean to sound harsh and speak for muslims as a christian woman. i just can’t see them believing in them any religion.

[lazycats-stuff]

Ra's Al Ghul x male!reader

reader being the biological son of Bruce x ra's al ghul, the couple and the batfamily meeting their son from the future (the boy is a perfect mix of ra's and the reader) - original request

(S/N) - son's name

Summary: (Y/N) and Ra's meet their kid from the future. The batfam meets their sibling too, established relationship with Ra's and (Y/N), married couple

Warnings: fluff, (Y/N) and Ra's are in love with their son, Bruce is emotional over all of this,

Ra's and (Y/N) have been together for a long time now and (Y/N) was thinking about a lot of stuff. It wasn't anything bad or just negative in general, he was just thinking about his life. He never had any regrets about marrying Ra's.

Never has and never will have any regrets with marrying Ra's. That man treats him like royalty and as if he is the best thing that has happened to him. And sometimes it got overwhelming sometimes, getting a lot of gifts and although they did have meaning, (Y/N) didn't have any space left.

The thing he was thinking about a lot of recently was children. (Y/N) never thought that he ever want to have a child, he didn't want to bring a child into this evil world and maybe not in the League where there were assassins and just violence.

But the more he thought about it, the more it plagued his mind. Ra's noticed that something is happening with (Y/N), but he didn't want to push it. He will wait until (Y/N) comes to him and talks to him. If he doesn't, Ra's will ask him directly.

He noticed it a lot when (Y/N) started living with him at one of his numerous bases. He would get distracted and wouldn't hear him coming, although he didn't have to be on guard when living with Ra's, he often was.

Batman installed that in all of the Robins and Ra's installed it in Batman. It's a cycle.

But he often heard or sensed Ra's coming, especially when he was going for a back hug. (Y/N) would jump when he would wrap his arms around (Y/N)'s stomach and that was the first tattle sign.

Second one was he was a little bit moody and sometimes he just snapped randomly or he was just sarcastic. That's when (Y/N) would feel bad and just talk to Ra's.

But the more Ra's thought about, he thought that it would be better if he talked to his husband tonight. His husband was training with the rest of his assassins, claiming that he needed to hone his skills. Ra's liked this way of thinking.

And his people, although not really allowed to have an opinion about stuff, they liked (Y/N). They thought that he was going to be some sort snob or something, but he was the complete opposite. He was nice to all of the assassins and if he needed something, he always asked nicely.

Assassins liked him a lot and if one of them was accompanied (Y/N) somewhere as guards then they were going to lay their down life for him, despite being skilled.

Ra's walked to their bedroom, knowing that his beloved husband is in bed, probably reading his book he started a few days ago or talking to Bruce and the others over his laptop. He opened the door and smiled as he saw his husband wasn't even doing any of those things, but instead laid down with his upper body on the bed and his nether regions were covered by a towel. It was obvious that (Y/N) was in a shower.

Ra's smirked and (Y/N) sighed quietly, not even opening his eyes, hands, arms over his forehead.

" Ra's, I'm not in the mood. " (Y/N) mumbled and Ra's understood it immediately.

" Well, can you blame me for thinking it? Now, there is something I want to talk to you about. You are bothered by something and I want to help you. " Ra's said, sitting down next to (Y/N), hands cradling his face.

" I have been thinking about... " (Y/N) hesitated for the first time and Ra's was now worried for his husband. (Y/N) could always open up to him and Ra's wouldn't judge him at all.

" What's wrong habibi? " Ra's whispered and (Y/N) opened his eyes to look at Ra's.

" I have been thinking about having kids. " (Y/N) admitted, fears out in the open. Ra's has had many kids over the years and he has outlived them all. And (Y/N) remembered Talia and Damian. He didn't want his child to grow up like that. Sure, self defense is important, but still...

Ra's didn't have any reaction and that scared (Y/N). Ra's took (Y/N)'s hands into his own and gripped them.

" I didn't think about kids, but the thought of a family with you is making me happy and I didn't think you would want kids. But if that's something you want, then I will more than happy to oblige. "

" You are not saying it just to make me happy? " (Y/N) asked, voice cracking up from the emotions boiling over.

" No beloved. I mean it. " Ra's said, leaning down to kiss his husband, gently and softly, pouring reassurance into the kiss.

" We can talk more about in the morning when you are more rested. This is a serious topic. And also, we are having that mission with your family. "

(Y/N) groaned quietly as he sat up, holding onto the towel. " Yeah. I'm going to change and then go to bed. " (Y/N) said as he stood up, going to the wardrobe to get a fresh set of pajamas.

Ra's eyes followed him as he walked out of his vision. Finally, (Y/N) is now relaxed, just like he should be. His husband shouldn't have any stress.

The stupid mission was over. Thankfully. Nobody has been injured and everything they needed was recovered by them. Thank God. Ra's and (Y/N) have agreed to keep the PDA to a minimum when in the field. Nothing but a few lingering touches to make sure that the other one is okay.

" Well, this has been tiring. " (Y/N) started and everyone nodded. Everyone started to relax, just ready to go home. This entire process to get here was tiring and it took a toll on everyone involved.

" If that's all, we are going to go back to the base. " Ra's said, but Bruce tensed as he looked behind (Y/N)'s shoulders. The other reactions weren't so subtle.

(Y/N) turned around and Ra's pushed him behind him. Screw the protocol that they have set. (Y/N) and Ra's froze when they saw who it was there. It looked liked somebody took Ra's' and (Y/N)'s DNA and just put it into this kid.

The boy is a late teen and everyone could see whose kid it was, but nobody could believe it. (Y/N) and Ra's couldn't. (Y/N) felt a pull towards the boy and both the boy and (Y/N) moved closer to one another.

Ra's didn't do anything, but his hand was on the hilt of his blade. (Y/N) had no fear as he moved closer and the boy moved closer to him.

" Baba... Dad... " The boy said breathlessly and (Y/N) nearly passed out.

" Are you our son? " (Y/N) asked and Bruce nearly passed out. A grandson... Ra's eyes widened slightly as the realization sunk in.

" Yes. I came from the future, a mission gone wrong though. " The boy chuckled and (Y/N) had to wipe his eyes quickly.

" What's your name? " Ra's asked and (Y/N) observed the boy more closely. A truly perfect mix of genetics.

" (S/N). " (Y/N) looked back at his family, who were just as shocked and Bruce came forward to get a better look at his grandson.

" Hi grandpa. " (S/N) greeted Bruce and Bruce tilted his head. Jason snorted from behind.

" What went wrong on the mission? " Bruce asked, still serious.

" Hold up you, " (Y/N) said, turning his eyes back to his son. " I need some more information. "

" If this is about everyone, all of you are still alive and breathing. If that's something you are concerned about of course. " (S/N) said and (Y/N) sighed quietly.

" Okay. That's nice to know. " (Y/N) said.

" Who is your favorite uncle? " Jason asked and Dick turned his head quickly.

" Why is that your most pressing question? "

" Well, why not? I might as well know. " Jason said, shrugging his shoulders.

" I'm not allowed to say it. It will cause a big fight. " (S/N) said smirking and there was the signature Al Ghul smirk.

" Oh I can definitely see it. " (Y/N) mumbled and Ra's hummed in agreement.

" Now, I have so many questions and I don't even know where to begin. " (Y/N) admitted and Ra's was speechless. He was never speechless and honestly, there was nothing he could say. Nothing.

" I know how you feel dad. I remember when you were talking to me about this mission. " (S/N) added and Ra's and (Y/N) looked at one another.

" What? " (Y/N) asked and the boy shook his head with a soft smile. Now that is (Y/N)'s smile, a pure copy of it. It was obvious that it was something nice and happy, but it was obvious that he wouldn't tell them anything.

" Oh that's something for you both to figure it out. Now, I don't presume you can drop me off at the manor? " (S/N) said with a mischievous smile.

" Oh, he is definitely our son. " Ra's said eyes twinkling with pure amusement.

" That he is. "(Y/N) said and (S/N) turned his head to look to the side. Ra's and (Y/N) watched in interest.

" I didn't think that I would ever be here, meeting my family so young and without me. " (S/N) said that and (Y/N)'s fingers just twitched, he just wanted to hug him.

" Is it okay if I hug you? " (Y/N) asked softly and (S/N) didn't say anything as he walked closer, just wrapping himself around his father. (Y/N) hugged him tightly and (S/N) did so too. (Y/N) opened his arm to Ra's, who hugged his son too.

The batfamily watched the moment in silence.

" We have a nephew. " Jason said and Damian was shocked by the way that (S/N) looked like. A prefect copy. You can clearly see whose son he is.

" That we do. " Dick confirmed.

" And I have a grandson. " Bruce said as he brought all of his sons in a group hug. There were noises of surprise from all four of them, but Bruce didn't care. He felt a little bit sentimental now. He didn't think that he would have a grandson. He didn't even think that he would have sons too...

Oh, he is going to get emotional quickly. Everyone in this hug accepted this, knowing that Bruce needed this. It's not easy to hear that you have a grandson that came from the future. More so when you didn't think that your son thought about kids. And that kid is a pure copy of your son in law that is in older than you and your son.

But he has adjusted. And if he somehow got a grandkid... Well, that would be nice.

[river-bottom-nightmare]

i love the idea of the entire batfam being hypercompetent. just like. good at stuff.

because yea, they’ve all been trained extensively by a variety of teachers and mentors and various learning experiences. they all have their skills that they’ve honed to perfection for years. but there are just some things that they’re a natural at, things that make the unique, things that give them an edge just enough to rise to the top in a world full of gods and monsters.

yes, damian’s a trained assassin, and has been since birth. yes, damian works hard to keep his skills up. but the weapons training? it comes to him almost naturally. maybe it was something passed down from both bruce and talia, both deadly fighters in their own right. maybe it has something to do with the al ghul bloodline. either way, damian is absolutely deadly with a weapon in his hand. a blade can arc through the air faster than the human eye can see when it’s in his hand. he can work horrible wonders with an unbalanced sword, and turn combat into an art with a balanced one. tiny fingers wrap around the rough handle of a whip with surety, and he can slip batarangs into his palms and up his sleeves without them ever being seen.

tim’s got one of the most analytical minds of any vigilante alive. he’s not a supergenius or anything, and he leaves the higher-order computer skills and tech to barbara. but to him, the world is a puzzle after a puzzle, and tim never fails to solve them. figuring out dick and bruce’s identities. taking apart a grapple gun and fitting the parts together to make a beartrap. knowing exactly what to say and what to do to get bruce to break and bend and let him in. catching patterns in the chemical formulas of crane’s various toxins. reading through the lies that fell from his family’s lips like raindrops from the sky. everything and everyone tim knows are made of jagged pieces, but tim figured out early on how to put them together, step back, and take a look at the bigger picture.

people say cass doesn’t have any people skills, due to the years spent in isolation, spent alone. but the reality is, she has too many. reading people has always come easy, body language is an open book to her. but what many didn’t know was that there was a big difference between reading a book and analyzing it. it’s easy to see the insecurities of each of her brothers. it’s much harder to know exactly what to do or say to let them bring down their walls for just a moment, show their affection and prove their love in the smallest but most important of ways. it’s easy to see the poison of a smirk on a reporter’s lips, to catch the probing gleam of their eyes. it’s much harder to turn the reporter around, chasing their own tail until the story they were searching for in the first place was lost. it’s easy to pinpoint teammates and other heroes’ strengths and weaknesses, to see them play out in the field and plan for them the way every bat did. it’s much harder to make the others aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, and to convince them to put aside their ego and work on bettering themselves. but cass seemed to have a knack for it.

jason may like playing up the role of the blustering, bull-headed wild card of the family.  mafia-don-from-movies meets muscled brawn. but he’s got a literary mind at the heart of it all. he’s real good at codes and decryptions, because he’s read about them before. he’s lightning fast a nygma’s riddles, because he’s poured through the books from which riddler gets his inspiration a hundred times over. life and art turn into one in his mind, and overlaying his family’s stubbornness and trust issues with novel style analyzations and character assessments that help him understand their interactions a little better. words float off the page and wind their way inside his head, and some may call him dramatic when he can’t force himself to speak so he uses quotes instead, but never say echolalia wasn’t useful.

each member of their worn out and sewn together family had their niche, their own particular area in which they excelled. but dick was brought up in a world where there was only two protecting gotham, two partners working together to keep an entire city from falling apart. jack of all trades, master of none, but better of master than one, dick always said, eyes twinkling with mischief. because sure, his acrobatic prowess was unchallenged. but he grew up on the road visiting city after city, country after country, and it gave him a head for languages. not even dick is sure how many languages and regional dialects he actually knows. his darling little smile was honed to perfection, and interrogations with him never lasted that long. you could drop him in the middle of nowhere and he’d always find his way to civilization, or you could toss him in the middle of a bustling but unfamiliar city, and he’d always make his way back.

me, aggressively chugging sparkling probiotic drinks: I JUST WANT THE BATFAM TO BE FREAKY LIL FUCKS WHO ARE JUST UNATRUALLY GOOD AT STUFF, OKAY???

tag list: @woahjaybird @birdy-bat-writes @elles-shitposts-personified @anothertimdrakestan i’m tagging both accounts bc elle it’s like you don’t even love me anymore. @subtleappreciation @screennamealreadyused @catxsnow @pricetagofficial @yesboopityboop @dangerduckjpeg @astroherogirl @iconbicon

[the-broken-truth]

Broken-Style Remix: The Red Hood & Shadow Hunter (Jason Todd & Bellatrix Todd)

Broken: So, I happened to read one of @anxiousnerdwritings's works about Jason Todd and Damian's Twin sister being a team and going against Bruce and the Bat-Family who want Damian's twin sister with them. This idea came to mind and I thought you would like it. Let the words weave and enjoy!

@anxiousnerdwritings's version: LINK

Quick Note: Bellatrix's Name is Shadow Hunter - Her Armor is like Jason's but it is more wolf-like (My personal touch) and has a bit more tech to it.

Blue eyes forced through the magnifying glasses on the face of the Eldest Wayne Heir, yet the one who cast the name aside for one that better understood her and a family that would better understand her than the Dark Knight or his gaggle of infants ever could. She sat in the darkroom - well, not entirely dark; the sparks from the tools in her hand made occasional lights that illuminated the room every now and then, plus there was the desk lamp on the workbench - shining light on the hand & forearm model and the gadget in the making that Bellatrix was working on. It was an attachment to her suit - Claws that gave a lightning discharge. She could use it to knock someone out or remove them completely with enough voltage but she won't do that - she won't live on the Al Ghul Blood, she won't be like Talia Al Ghul or the boy she once called brother.

Speaking of brothers.

"Another all-nighter?" A familiar voice called out, causing Bellatrix to turn off the tools, placed them down, and turn in her seat while lifting the goggles off her face to look at the man in the doorway with a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Yeah, I wanna make sure the claws are ready for our next patrol." Bellatrix explained as she pulled the goggles off her head and placed them on the table before getting up and walking over to Jason, who gave her the coffee cup once she was in front of him. "Thanks." She said as she took a sip.

"No problem, what are brothers for?" Jason asked with a smirk.

"Other than entering their little sister's workroom without knocking?" Bellatrix asked with a raised eyebrow.

"As your brother, I have a right to invade your privacy for the greater good." Jason said with a smirk.

"And to be nosy." Bellatrix added as she walked past him.

"And to be..." He stopped when he realized what he was gonna say, "Hey! I'm not nosy!" He yelled as he followed behind her to the kitchen where breakfast was waiting.

[Later That Night]

Shadow Huntress secured her clawed boots shut before standing to look at the modified claws before sliding them on and latching them closed. She then positioned her right hand as if she was going to strike with her claws and smiled as the light blue electric current waves ran flowed from the bottom of her forearm to the tip of her claws; the tried with her other arm and everything was perfect. She grabbed her sword in one hand and her mask in the other before heading out to see what Hood was doing.

"Anything?" Huntress asked.

"They're still moving - I think they might be hiding to the abandoned warehouse on the edge of town; you know, the one near the waterfront." Red Hood said.

"I think that's where they are heading. Look." Huntress hits some keys on the supercomputer and the cameras in that area showed the factory. "See those boats? They're new, no one has been in that district and it's the only place to do a deal uninterrupted because the cops don't patrol that area anymore." Huntress explained.

"Then, we have our place. Let's move out." Red Hood said as he placed on his helmet and Huntress did the same - both masks locked into place and the two of them were out of there.

[Gotham Rooftops]

Red Hood soared through the open spaces of the backstreets of Gothan while the Shadow Huntress ran across the roofs with the speed and prowess of a wolf on the hunt. She leaped for a high roof and used her claws to climb to the top before running and jumping to the next one while Red Hood attached his rope to another point and began to swing.

The two of them landed on the roof at the same time - a vantage point that showed the trucks driving into the warehouse and the men that stood out to keep watch; not seeing the two hunters crouching on the roof, waiting and watching.

"What do we got?" Red Hood asked. Huntress placed her fingers on the control pad of her mask's visor to activate heat-vision mode - seeing the heat signatures in the building.

"There's about 25 of them - not counting the ones that are waiting outside." Huntress explained.

"What do you think we should do about it?" Red asked.

"We take out the guys outside, then we find the generator and cut the power; under the cover of darkness, we take them out - one by one." Huntress explained.

"What if they see us or hear the noise?" Red asked.

"Then we beat the hell out of them." Huntress said as the two of them rose to their feet and jumped down.

Everything was going good until Jason decided the throw someone through the window, everyone was high alert - it was ass-kicking time.

Red Hood and Shadow Huntress were knocking thugs down left and right, showing the combos that brother and sister made together. Huntress saw one of the thugs pointing his gun at Red Hood and jumped in the way, taking the bullet in the side but she still stood. She cracked her hand in the claw formation and the lightning came to life, causing her to pounce on the thugs, knocking them out through electrical waves while Red just beat the hell out of them.

When the last thug fell, Huntress grunted as she held the bleeding hole in her side, causing Red to run to her.

"Huntress, you alright?" He asked.

"I'll be fine. Let's get out of here and we can get it patched up." Huntress said as she rose to her feet and the 2 of them jumped through the window. They scaled the wall of the roof to stop and breathe for a moment while Jason removed the bullet that got stuck and clean the wound before wrapping it. They were waiting when Huntress's Robotic Wolf Ears shot up at the sound of footsteps - 4 pairs of them, she groaned.

"They're here." Huntress groaned and just when she said that 4 Figures landed on the roof in front of them.

The Dark Knight - Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne; Bellatrix's Father.

The Latest Robin - Damian Wayne; Bellatrix's Womb Mate.

Nightwing - Dick Grayson.

Batgirl - Barbara Gordon; the Police Commissioner's Daughter.

"What the hell do you 4 want?" Red Hood said as he rose to his feet.

"We received reports about gunfire in this region, we came to investigate." Batman said to Jason, but his eyes remained on Bellatrix, who just glared at him.

"There was a Firearms Deal going on and we put a stop to it before it could have even begun." Huntress said as she rose to her feet and stood beside Red Hood; Nightwing looked over the edge and whistled.

"They put a stop to it alright - everyone is laid out." He said.

"Laid out? You killed them?" Batgirl asked.

"We're not above killing but we try not to, per Huntress's request." Red Hood said as he gestured at his sister.

"You don't kill but you partner yourself with a killer? How backward you are, Bellatrix." Damian said.

"It is no business of yours, Wayne." Huntress growled.

"You're my sister, so it is my business, and you're a Wayne too; as well as an Al Ghul." Damian countered but Bellatrix scoffed.

"I've never been an Al Ghul, that's why you and your mother cast me aside; the only one who saw any worth in me in that family was my grandfather. Just like you wiped your hands of me back then, I wiped my hands of you - you're nothing to me but a stranger I happen to share my blood with." Huntress said.

"Bellatrix, that's enough." Bruce said.

"You have no say over me, Bat-Boy; I don't have to listen to you." She said.

"I am your father, you need to listen to me." Bruce said.

"I may have your blood but I damn sure don't have to listen to a damn thing you have to say because I don't live with you, nor do I work with you." Huntress said.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Bellatrix, you've been hanging around Jason for too long, it's making you reckless and dangerous. I think it's time you came to live with me, with us, with your family. There is a room waiting for you at Wayne Manor and we can talk about patrols and missions once you get settled in but you need to be with us now; Todd is a bad influence on you." Bruce said.

"You're joking." She said.

"No, Father is right - you've been living with this brute for too long. You're a Wayne and an Al Ghul, it's time you started acting like one." Damian said.

"Let me tell you something: I stopped being an Al Ghul when I left that hell you called home, and I never accepted to be a Wayne. Last time I checked, my last name is Todd and I want nothing to do with you...and of you." She glared at all of them. "Let's go, Bro. I'm done with this." Huntress began to walk away with Jason at her side.

Jason was her brother.

Jason was her family.

Bellatrix was a Todd and there was nothing anyone could do it change that.

[chronicbatfictioner]

Exchanges and Compromises - Chapter 18

With Alfred in the mix, it was fairly easy for them to acquire the serum Bane seemed to have injected into him diligently every morning. The Drake Industries' laboratory quickly dissected the remnant within the syringe and discerned its contents.

And make an antidote.

"It's called Venom," Tim reported to Barbara, "a synthetic steroid that is... worse than steroid, I'd say. It doesn't make you dumb, unfortunately. But it also increased the user's strength by tenfold - not just the size of the muscles - with every use."

"I thought Bane seemed to have gotten taller since three months ago..." Barbara muttered. "So you're going through with the plan?"

"I... can't think of a better, non-lethal plan. Alfred said that the supply of syringes is depleting, and he would have a new one delivered from Santa Prisca by the end of the month - which will be in a week." Tim replied. "Plus, I have no idea of the dosage if I were to administer the Venom antidote. Still, I've heard of the rumors of the Al Ghuls using food as untraceable poisons or something like truth serum. But I'm kind of scared to think that it's actually true."

"Me, I'm not surprised. I've sent Dinah and Helena to Santa Prisca, where Bane said to have come from - to find the source and destroy it. Tim, if this thing hits the street..." she sighed.

"We're screwed nine ways to Sunday. I know. But here's the thing, Babs... you see the footage of him tampering the guys' car?"

"Yes, what about it?" Barbara asked.

"His mouth was moving. I'm not that good of a lip-reader, yet, I don't know what he's saying. But it looked to me as if he was talking on the phone or something, and I didn't see him carry a phone." Tim explained.

Barbara's expression - not Oracle, because they were in a secure channel, after all - showed that she just had the same eureka moment. "Tim, if you're right..."

"I'm sure I'm right. Everything I've read about Bane showed that he was mostly the muscle. He broke out of Peña Duro prison - which is where aunt Dinah and Helena should focus their attention - because somebody supplied him with steroids, so the reports said. I think somebody gave him venom, and he escaped. He came back like, a month later and killed all guards and throw out their bodies into the ocean. He came back, Babs. This is someone who was raised in the prison with virtually no known family outside. Where did he come back from?" Tim explained.

"That's logical... he would have to have someone to take care of him outside. Someone who has enough money to get in and out of Peña Duro, or to produce this Venom thingy, and then get Bane to trust him?" Barbara pointed out.

"Babs, trust me. When you're used to be alone, the first act of kindness shown to you would have earned the giver your trust until proven otherwise." Tim blurted out and cringed. The first person ever to show him an act of kindness was Selina, and then Barbara.

"Projecting, much?" Barbara smiled good-naturedly. "I get your point, though. Unfortunately, we haven't got any cellphone bugs in the Wayne Manor to figure out who Bane was talking to. But... I can probably help with the lip-reading part..."

"Yeah?"

"There's this kid at the library who's really good with lip-reading and body language reading. Her name is Cassandra. She isn't deaf, though, just can't talk much. I guessed that she was abused and raised in seclusion without being taught spoken language, to the point where she could understand body language better than normal language. I've been talking to her using signs and pictograms, but she's learning the language quickly. I'll see if I can get her to figure out what was said."

"Okay... is she living alone?"

"I've set her up with a friend of Harper's, Stephanie Brown. They seemed to get along alright," she smirked. "Stephanie is... kind of a talker."

"Cute, a girl who can't talk with a girl who can't stop talking." Tim deadpanned. "But let me know if it works, yeah? I'm a little more anxious with Jason's cooking than the poisoning stuff. They invited me, by the way."

"I'm sure he would," Barbara smirked again.

"What's the smirk about?" Tim demanded half-heartedly. "You, Selina, Dinah... what is it that you ladies talked about behind my back, anyway?"

"Oooh... let's just say the mamas and big sis of the crew is worried that their little kitten is growing up too fast," Barbara replied blithely.

"Baaaabs!" Tim bleated exasperatedly. "What even! We're in a mission here that is of the long-term persuasion and against someone so vile it's not even funny!"

"Tiiim...!" Barbara replied in the same tone mockingly. "I don't mind! None of us do! I mean, hey, if he swings this way, I'm sure a number of us girls would've loved to get his numbers, too! But anyway," she inhaled sharply, indicating her wanting to get back to the matter at hand. "I have no idea whatsoever of what kind of... concoction Jason is planning to use. Or what he's going to do after he arrived at his objective. But everyone's safety is our objective, yeah? And by everyone, I mean all humans there including Bane. If he seemed to be dying..."

"I'll call paramedics right away. And there's Dr Wayne, anyway." Tim reminded her.

"I've got to tell you, Tim, Dr Wayne doesn't look too good..." Barbara warned. "He looked like he's aged by twenty years in the past few months alone."

"Yeah, I've noticed. Alfred is sure that within the house, his diet is fine. But he'd often go out or overseas with Bane..." Tim agreed. "I hope it's just stress..."

"Same here. So far, though, from what I've seen, nothing in Jason's list of ingredients seemed... illegal..." Barbara commented.

"This is coming from someone who once told her dad not to mix hypertension meds with grapefruit." Tim deadpanned.

"Well that one is tried and true, and not a simple old wives' tale. I am aware that some food has an adverse reaction to medications. But really, these ingredients looked... well, like a restaurant's. Like a whole Asian region's worth of restaurants being imported directly from places through the entire continent. And we're literally dealing with someone who was taught to make candies poisonous..."

"'Not poisonous, just lethal' - so Damian told me."

"Comforting," Barbara remarked dryly. "You sure Jason said it wouldn't be harmful to others?"

"Yes, that's what he said. But he won't elaborate. Believe me, Babs, I've tried."

"Maybe it's an aphrodisiac?" Barbara suggested. Tim rolled his eyes.

"Really."

"Selina isn't invited, though. Or Vicky..." she corrected herself.

"Ew, seriously."

[kimberly-spirits13]

Right Hand Man (Loyal to the End) Pt. 4

Pairing: Damian Wayne x reader

Synopsis: You were like Talia’s daughter. The only thing was that you weren’t and instead, you had grown up in the foster care system and at a young age were taken by and personally trained by Talia. Along the way, you meet Damian and the two of you start to work side by side and eventually, after some time become closer and closer. However, when disaster in the league strikes, you face balancing an old, forgotten life as a normal child and the burden of right hand to the demon heir.

Note: I know that this is long and that there are a good number of time skips, but I didn’t want to make this into a series and just wanted it as a long fic because .... well because I can lol Also, I didn’t want to have Damian so young in this so just go with it. I’m thinking maybe early 15 or almost 16 at the most. Idk I just don’t like writing for young Dami.

Warnings: mentions of murder, blood, brief mentions of torture but not for long

Word Count: 2587

Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3

The sun shinned brightly overhead in the cloudless sky. It was a warm day, nothing unbearable however. A light breeze flew through the training ground as all seemed unusually calm. Everyone was focused on their training. You and Damian were well underway in sparring. You were on your highest guard. The ease of today was not going to throw you off your game. Trusting your instincts, you kept an eye out for anything that was off balance.

        “The only thing besides your mission and daily tasks you should be concerned with, is the safety of my son, the heir to the League. There is no true telling information on what will happen so keep on your highest guard.” You thought about Talia’s words from a few weeks ago, repeating them in your mind, “General. That is the position you have been given. That is not however your only job. Your main, most important job is to be my son’s second hand. If something were to ever happen to myself or The Demon Head, I fully expect you to stay with Damian over everything. Do not make me regret my decision in picking you off the ground of that orphanage.”

        “Is something on your mind?” Damian asked saying the last part softly enough so no one else would hear, “You’re more intense than usual today.”

        “I am fine.” You answered knocking him to the ground before he kicked you down getting the upper hand.

        “You don’t seem it General.”

        You cocked a brow before getting in position to knock him off. The sound of something flying quickly for you caught your attention though. With wide eyes, you saw an arrow. Looking around there were hundreds. Going into a more intense version of a mission mindset, you rolled over taking Damian under you, moving in time as to not be hit by the arrow.

        “Get behind me.” You demanded standing up.

        “Get behind you?” Damian was in disbelief at the look on your face.

        “That’s an order!” You quickly took the man coming for you down, stabbing him in his lower abdomen region before pulling your sword out and killing another assailant, blood splattering on your face much to Damian’s shock.

        Damian looked to where his mother and grandfather was and stopped seeing his grandfather bleeding out on the floor. You saw this too. Kicking into high gear, the words of Talia played faster and louder in your mind taking over all of your thoughts. Everyone not in proper league attire was now a target and threat. You had your route in mind and took it.

        “Fallen is the Ra’s al Ghul.” You said quietly in respect, “I stay till the end.”

        Damian had seen you fight aggressively before. It was amazing to watch. This time though, there was a sense of something that he couldn’t quite pick up. Watching you, he saw you must have planned for this countless numbers of times.

        You nodded at Talia who returned the signal before taking the bow and arrows of the man you just killed and shooting it at anyone who dared to come close, “Follow me.” You ordered

        Running in front of Damian, you took the heavier side of the arrows. You were both in your armor which wouldn’t be susceptible to arrows that easily, you just weren’t taking the chance of it failing though. Once you were out of arrows, you threw the extras at anyone who was in your way. Damian would have found that amusing if you weren’t so serious.

        You ran through the hallway and then down another. Damian didn’t know where you were going but from what he was seeing, it was to the pit. Once you were down the stairs and then hall that would take you to the pit, you stopped and looked around before opening up a hidden door in the wall’s decorative moulding.

        “H-how did you-“

        “No time for questions, get in.” You hissed pulling him in by his wrist before shutting the door      

        You pulled him into another room down the long and confusing hallway maze that was built to get people lost in case they followed this far.

        “Don’t lose me al Ghul.” You commanded running into the middle of the maze before heading out of another secret passage.

        “That’s not the plan General.”

        Once entering the last room, Damian saw the jet that was in the middle of a new room that you’d come into.

        “What is this place?” He asked once you were both in the jet waiting for Talia, “And why don’t I know about it and you do?”

        There was an envelope that was a note from Talia to Bruce incase she died. It was to tell him about you and Damian. Apparently, there was something in there that would convince him that you two were legit. Though, you never asked. When it came to Talia and the birth of Damian, you didn’t ask questions.

        “Answer me Y/N!” he demanded once you didn’t answer as you were busy at the controls.

        “Do not raise your voice at me.” You said in a deep, ominous tone making him blink a few times, “Talia and I knew that one day there might be a time that the compound would be taken over or just attacked. We knew that the league depended on your survival. It was important to have a place that I could take you in case something did happen.” “If she doesn’t show in 10 minutes or we are attacked between that time, I am expected to fly to Gotham City and take you to your father.”

        “You will take me to the Batman?” He almost stated instead of asking.

        “Who else?” You remarked rolling your eyes a bit.

_______________________________________________________________________

        The ten minutes had passed and Talia was flying the jet to Gotham. No one spoke for the first half of the flight. There was too much to think about for conversation. Damian sat in the back as you and Talia took to flying the jet. Night was falling upon the oncoming city. Talia had already contacted Bruce and you were expected shortly.

        “I do not know when I will see you next.” Talia said addressing the both of you, “Stay with Bruce until I come back.”

        In a dialect Damian didn’t understand, Talia spoke to you, “General, I will send updates on occasion. You know your mission.”

        “Yes Talia.”

_______________________________________________________________________

        You and Damian entered the building behind Talia. She was in front of him while you were behind. Damian knew that this was for a reason but he knew better than to say anything. The three of you headed into an elevator and then up a few floors. Talia was determined to be there before Bruce and have the two of you hidden away. Placing you two behind the curtain you stayed silent.

        “You’ve got blood on your jawline.” Damian commented very quietly.

        You looked at him for a second before trying to rub as much of it off as possible before braiding your hair over the spot so that it wouldn’t be seen. There was no reason to cause any more concern than what there would be. The two of you exchanged glances upon hearing Bruce’s voice. You heard Talia talk about her scans and Damian. Bruce obviously didn’t know that he existed. Knowing that that would bother Damian, you placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder for a second before the curtain was pulled back.

        “This is your son, Damian and his right hand, Y/N L/N.” Talia said leaving Bruce shocked, “She is not your daughter, I found her in an orphanage when she was a small child. She is however a high general and will not leave Damian’s side.” Talia more demanded than informed the last part.

        Damian walked to his father, “The great Batman... I imagined you taller.”

        You almost rolled your eyes at that one, typical Damian.

        More discussion between Talia and Bruce took place before Damian told her goodbye a last time. She turned to you not really expecting anything but a nod. Instead you repeated what you said on the training field.

        “Fallen is the Ra’s al Ghul.” “I stay till the end.”

_______________________________________________________________________

        Bruce wasn’t much of a talker, you didn’t mind until getting into the Batmoblie. That was going to be a bit more awkward.

        “I’m taking you two back to the manor. I expect you to act civil while I’m on patrol.”

        You nodded thinking Damian might possibly do the same.

        “I’ll drive.” He instead said.

        You tried not to facepalm, instead pinching the bridge of your nose for a second.

        “No.” Batman replied.

        “I know how!” He insisted.

        “I don’t care.”

        Damian got into the front seat with you in the back. You didn’t mind sitting back there if it wasn’t for the constant glares you were getting from Bruce at times. He didn’t trust you and you didn’t blame him. Maybe giving your title and position wasn’t a great idea on Talia’s part. You just weren’t sure anymore. After the entire talk of not killing and rules in the house, you just wanted to arrive and were beyond relived when you finally did. Damian of course asked the more condescending questions once he was in the cave. You found the tech impressive whether it was small or not compared to what you thought. It was very... on brand as some might say. You also didn’t mind just having the one Butler. It made you feel better just be able to be a bit normal and do things yourself.

        Before Bruce was about to get back into the Batmobile you stopped him.

        “I have direct orders from Talia to give this to you.” You passed him the envelope.

        “Thank you.” He raised a brow, “I trust that you are loyal to your position?”

        “I am not high general anymore.” You said making Bruce pause, “Not until or if I return to the league. My only mission now is protecting Damian. Where he goes, I go. Where he stays, I stay. Where he might die, I am prepared and expected to take his place. I am loyal to that.” “It has been this way since I was brought to the league and will stay this way for the rest of our lives.”

        “I respect that.”

        When Bruce left, Alfred took you and Damian up to your rooms. Alfred said little but did reply a “Yes Master Bruce.” Into a comm that he had in his ear. The rooms were right next to each other which was nice. You suspected that was on purpose. Maybe Bruce was going to respect your position. You only had your suit to sleep in. It was a bit ... bloody though. You cursed under your breath in Arabic looking in the mirror and seeing it. That must have been what you were getting looks for besides the intense glares you were given back. You were about to wash your face even if it was just with water and hand soap, as much as that made you cringe, before a knock at your door stopped you.

        You walked to the bedroom door and opened the door revealing Alfred.

        “For tonight, I have only this set of nightclothes from Miss. Barbra Gordon, a family friend. Tomorrow I shall have new clothes for you in a suitable fashion.” He passed you the neatly folded stack of clothes, “There are toiletries in the bathroom under the faucet.”

        “Thank you. It is greatly appreciated.” You said taking the stack from him.

        “You are welcome.” He paused, “If you would prefer, I may be able to arrange a trip with Miss. Gordon and Miss. Brown. They are both heavily involved with the family.” “I have also already informed the young Master Damian that there are three others here. Master Dick, the oldest, Master Jason, and Master Tim. I expect the best behavior from all of them.”

        You knew what he meant by that which was intentional and nodded at his words.

        “That would be suitable.”

        Alfred wished you a goodnight you shut the door, before taking a shower and properly washing your face. The clothes that you were now in were very comfortable. You knew that they were second used but you were used to it. Right now, they reminded you of the nightclothes you wore when you were young and still moving from house to house. You never had proper attire until the league and then even then, that was far from normal. Only on some missions would you wear “normal clothes”.

_______________________________________________________________________

        Once you were out of the shower, you had gotten into bed. The gold necklace from your parents that Talia had let you keep was still on. You didn’t really want to take it off tonight. While Damian had you, you only really had the necklace as a kind of good luck charm no matter how cliché that might sound to some. Before you could actually get into bed, there was a knock.  You didn’t really know who to expect at this point but weren’t surprised to see Damian.

        “Damian...” You stepped aside to let him inside.

        “L/N, I must address something with you.” He said, “You kept a secret from me. Something that could have ended my life.” “Why?”

        “I gave my word I would.” You answered honestly, “Talia told me-“

        “I don’t care what my mother told you.” He raised his voice some, “You’ve known that this might happen for weeks and didn’t say a word. Grandfather could still be alive if you had said something.”

        “It was on my word, of course I wasn’t going to say anything demon.” You were upset with him now.

        “I don’t care about that! What if something had happened more? You and I both know that the league is probably in shambles right now and you did nothing!”

        “I did everything I was supposed to Damian!” You said making him step back, “What you saw was years of training. Ra’s al Ghul wouldn’t be saved by my words. He knew. Talia knew. I knew that something was wrong. When I told you to keep on your highest guard, I meant it. I said nothing because if I did we’d be in a worse situation now. I take my commands, I take them and I follow through with them. I was not the second hand of your grandfather. I am your second hand. If I was anything different, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You may question as much as you want, however do not dare question my loyalties or actions.”

        “When Talia picked me off of that floor of the orphanage, I gave her my word I’d follow through with anything she told me. I’ve been trained for the worst. I’ve been trained to die for you. So, don’t ever think that you even have any right to judge what I’m doing.” You glared at him waiting for him to speak.

        “Y/N I didn’t know-“

        “Just leave. I don’t want to continue this conversation anymore. If it is still a concern to you, we’ll talk in the morning.”

        You watched him leave and shut the door behind him before falling back onto the bed and passing out from the sudden wave of exhaustion washing over you. No one knew what tomorrow would bring. The only thing you knew was that it was coming like a train ready to run you right over if you weren’t careful.

Tag List:

@idkmanicantenglish

[incorrectbatfam]

For the vampier au: how do they each get turned?

The year is 1000 BCE. Ra’s and Talia Al Ghul rule the Persian empires as two of the first vampires in existence, existing largely in secret. They make it their goal to turn as many people over to their side as possible, whether by battle or biting. Biologically, Damian was born a vampire and they utilize some arcane magic to make him appear as a child forever, because even back then people knew that children were far better at getting their way than adults. Honed as a weapon for literally millenia, Damian Al Ghul practically becomes a cryptid in his own right. Villagers shared stories of people who saw the child and never being the same—or worse, never returning. The Al Ghuls were responsible for the most well-known vampires in history, including the famous Count Dracula.

The year is 800 BCE. At 200 years old, Damian was still considered very young for a vampire. He is sent on a mission to turn to their side a young lady who was practically viewed as a goddess by other women, and who aspired to become one of the greatest poets of all time. Talia dropped Damian off on the island of Lesbos. Faster than lightning, the child warrior swooped down and bit the legendary Sappho. Now an immortal, Sappho dedicated her eternity of free time to her passion for writing, where she composed her famous Ode To Aphrodite. Eventually she got bored of Greece, so she changed her appearance and set off exploring the greater Asian continent.

The year is 1206. Genghis Khan had conquered much of the world. Under the Mongol empire, it was as common for women to serve in army as men. One of Khan’s most distinguished fighters came from the Manchuria region. She was a mercenary for the army, a lone wolf. And though she found thrill in battle, she was lonely. And, as fate may have it, so was Sappho. They met in a village where the army was stationed and forged a tight-knit partnership. They laughed together, they fought together. And the thought of being separated was unimaginable. So when Sappho revealed herself to be a vampire, the Mongol warrior jumped at the chance to become one too. And so she was transformed with consent, and together they roamed the world in search for adventure.

The year is 1775. The two girls had heard of this supposed New World and the colonies Britain established. They wanted to see it for themselves. Changing their names and appearances to something more Anglican, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain boarded a ship set for what would become modern-day New Jersey. Immediately they found a stark lack of immortals there and they didn’t want to be the only ones, so they set off on a biting spree, turning men, women, children, and even a few farm animals (two dogs, a cat, a cow, and a turkey) without care. One of these victims was an elderly English nobleman named Alfred Pennyworth. Cassandra took the animals under her wing, while Stephanie felt bad for Alfred because he seemed to have nobody around. So the girls “adopted” Alfred as their grandfather so he wouldn’t be lonely either. 

The year is 1871. Haly’s Circus was the most popular traveling show during Europe’s Industrial Age. Disguised as mother and child laborers working behind the scenes, Damian and Talia were on the lookout for new potential soldiers. And who would make a more perfect killer than the swift, agile Flying Graysons? Talia tried persuading John and Mary nicely, using Damian’s adorable boyish face, and they did give in. At least, at first. But within a few months of John, Mary, and Richard being turned, the parents changed their mind. They wanted nothing to do with Ra’s Al Ghul’s agenda and threatened to expose the vampires to the world. Talia had no choice but to get rid of them. She paid a lower-level mortal criminal to rig the ropes and douse the trapezes in holy water, which would lead to the downfall of John and Mary. The press reported it as a tragic accident. Alfred, who was at the circus during his holiday when it happened, couldn’t help but notice the burn marks on their hands. He chalked it up to coincidence or a prior unrelated injury in the end

The year is 1920. All that the grieving Richard Grayson wanted was to get away from the ghost of his past. He traveled to America, settling in the subpar city of Gotham, New Jersey. As much as he wanted to drink his troubles away, it was just his luck that he arrived at the beginning of Prohibition. His apartment was near a speakeasy, though, so he frequented that. The underground bar itself was owned by mob boss Jason Todd, who was notorious for brandishing guns and picking drunken fights—and winning all of them. But his streak would end when he had one too many glasses of moonshine and challenged an unwilling Richard Grayson to a fistfight. “What, you gonna back out, ya little dick?” Jason taunted. The former Flying Grayson himself wasn’t in the most sober state ever, so after some convincing and people placing betting money on the table, they took up the challenge. It was the roughest fight that bar had ever seen, and in a final act of self-defense, Richard bit Jason. (Granted, it wasn’t in the neck, but a bite was a bite). Jason becoming vampire wasn’t the worst consequence. No, it the older one being stuck with a terrible nickname: Dick.

The year was 1965. One of Ra’s fortune tellers predicted an influx of young soldiers arriving in Vietnam before war was even declared, and Ra’s sent his grandson to a rural village in the country undercover to find more recruits as the League of Assassins’ influence was diminishing. The environment of thick, bushy jungles worked in Damian’s favor as he was able to hide and strike on French and U.S. soldiers. He even managed to turn all but two members of a New Jersey infantry. Later on, the government reported one of the drafted soldiers, Duke Thomas, as missing, but in reality the young man went into hiding with two other vampire soldiers on his squad. And it was a reasonable move—mass media was on the rise and the last thing anyone needed was vampires being exposed as real to the public. Not only that, but Duke displayed abilities that the other two didn’t have, likely attributed to the combined effects of vampire magic and chemical agents like Napalm used at the time, and neither General Grayson nor Lieutenant Todd knew what to make of it.

The year was 1999. A teenage Tim Drake was out on a late-night grocery run to get more supplies, because 2000 was in just a few months and everyone was preparing for the supposed end of the world. He made the grave mistake of taking a shortcut through Crime Alley in an effort to get home on time, and was bitten in the leg by a “homeless” kid who seemed to appear out of nowhere before scurrying off. He didn’t experience anything strange for the next few years. He got plenty of sunburns, but he burned easily even before the incident. He kept his bedroom dark and stayed awake all night, but so did a lot of teenagers during that grunge/post-punk era. Silver felt weird, which he brushed off as an allergy. He avoided churches but that was because religion was never his thing. He craved red meat and avoided garlic, but hey, people had their likes and dislikes. It wasn’t until about five years later, when Tim realized he hadn’t aged a day, that he considered doing some research. 

The year was 2019. Bruce Wayne was at one of his famous Wayne Enterprises gala on New Year’s when he met a stunningly beautiful woman named Talia. She slipped a little something into his drink when he wasn’t looking. Bruce couldn’t remember what happened after that, only waking up with a killer hangover and strange hickey on his neck. He had been Batman for a while now, and when he started experiencing unexplainable things he sought the help of the magician Zatanna, who found out that somebody turned him into a vampire. If he wasn’t brooding before, he definitely was now, and it didn’t help that the butler was a smartass. Alfred revealed to Bruce that he had been a vampire the whole time, looking over the Wayne family since Thomas’s father’s father, because the wealthy Waynes made easy targets for the supernatural. In an attempt to make Bruce feel less alone, Alfred invited Stephanie and Cassandra over for dinner (“Alfred, great to see you again! It’s been, like, a hundred years!”). It was over dinner that Bruce asked questions and the older vampires told their stories, and Alfred offhandedly mentioned something about Haly’s Circus that caught Bruce’s attention. Fresh burn marks from touching a trapeze? Something didn’t seem right. Though the case was over a century old, Bruce did some searching on the Batcomputer and found too many discrepancies in the Flying Grayson case for it to be just a regular accident. With Stephanie and Cassandra’s help, Bruce traced the parents’ deaths back to the League of Assassins. But one new questioned surfaced after all this: what happened to Richard? That question would be answered a few weeks later when Bruce dug up another cold case: a file about an MIA Vietnam War soldier from Gotham, Duke Thomas. He tracked down Duke’s whereabouts, and it turned out he was hiding from the League of Assassins with two other missing people from history: the circus performer Richard Grayson and mobster Jason Todd. Bruce offered him the best damn thing in their eyes: sanctuary. He took all three of them under his bat wing and they joined his immortal crusade against Gotham crime. Some time later, Talia introduced Damian to Bruce under the guise that Damian was Bruce’s son, citing the night she met Bruce at the party. Damian only agreed to Talia’s infiltration plan because he was sick of how Ra’s treated him, like an object rather than a being. So although the paternity test came out negative, Bruce still insisted that Damian was his son and kept him. As for Tim Drake? His story is pretty much the same: deducing Batman and Nightwing’s identities and demanding to join them—classic Timmers move

[huilian]

In The Coldest Time of Year

AO3 Characters: Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson, Stephanie Brown

Summary: why is it so hot down here? However, even though he is overheating from the warmth of this version of the Robin suit, his toes still manage to be freezing inside his boots. How is that possible? He is overheating already, but his toes are freezing. Why anyone would voluntarily live in a region that has winter baffles Damian

A/N: Happy new year, people! Have some Damian in his first winter! Let's just ignore the canon timeline and let me have this, okay? (and maybe this fic is for me to process also living in winter for the first time ever. But what's a little projecting issues to fic between friends?)title from chant (hadestown)

*

Damian toes the half-melted snow with his boots again. He knows that his boots are water-proof and are insulated to stave off the cold, but he somehow could still feel the wet, cold slush seeping into his shoes anyway. He knows it is irrational. Robin’s gear is one of the best, if not the best, in the world. There is no chance that the cold, half-melted snow could get into his boots. But he still feels it.

He tries to stay up on the rooftops tonight, even as far as not jumping into fights he normally would be ecstatic to jump into, but even the rooftops are not safe from the half-melted, dirty slush of Gotham. Gotham’s slush is dirty even on the rooftops. Nowhere is safe.

It didn’t help that yesterday night was snowing and freezing cold, but tonight is warm. Well, warm for Gotham’s standard, anyway. It is above freezing, so it’s warm. That’s the standard for Gotham. But it meant that some of the snow from yesterday melted, but enough is left to mix with the melted snow and the dirt and grime of Gotham to create a truly disgusting concoction. It also meant that Damian had overdressed for the night, choosing to wear the warmest version of his Robin suit, the one that is designed for freezing conditions. He was freezing yesterday because he didn’t expect the weather to be that cold, but today he is overheating because the weather manages to change so drastically over the course of one night. Truly, Gotham winter is a fickle beast. Damian resolves to check the weather just before leaving for patrol every night. It would not do to be freezing one night and boiling the next night.

However, even though he is overheating from the warmth of this version of the Robin suit, his toes still manage to be freezing inside his boots. How is that possible? He is overheating already, but his toes are freezing. Why anyone would voluntarily live in a region that has winter baffles Damian.

(Technically, he also voluntarily lives here. But his father lives, lived , here, so it’s not like Damian is the one who chooses the area.)

“Tt.” That is really the only thing Damian can do to respond. He cannot pretend that he is not overheating, because he is, and he also cannot pretend that this situation is not affecting him. How is it that he is overheating in Gotham’s winter? Damian was raised in a desert. He should not be overheating in Gotham’s winter, no matter what he wears!

His toes, on the other hand, are still freezing. Why is his body betraying him like this. He was trained to withstand the most extreme of situations, but this is what got him? An overly warm suit and half-melted snow?

“Come on, Robin.” Grayson nods at him. “Let’s finish up this patrol and then we can go back.”

“I’m fine, Batman.”

A snort. Damian supposes he deserves it. That sentence could not fool even the most foolish of children. He, Damian al-Ghul Wayne, Robin, is not fine.

“Come on. Just a couple of streets left now.” With that, Grayson grapples to the next building and promptly lands on a puddle of slush. Damian winces. Grayson does not seem to think anything is amiss. Damian sighs. On with it then. It doesn’t matter that the slush is going to feel like it’s seeping into every single seam of his boots. Batman went, and so Robin has to go too.

Grayson truly does not care about the dirty, filthy, disgusting puddles as he flew above Gotham. Mayhaps Bludhaven was even worse. Damian had heard stories about the filthiness of Bludhaven. If the slush at Gotham is already this dirty, then Damian shudders to think about the slush at Bludhaven.

Then suddenly, Batman stops.

“Robin? Go back to the Bunker. I’ll finish up the rest of the patrol on my own,” Grayson said. He is standing in a way that Damian now knows is to cover whatever horrific scene is in front of him. As if Damian had not seen horrific scenes before.

Normally Damian would pester and argue with him, and sometimes Batman even relented. Tonight though, Damian is not looking forward to spending more time in the very, very, warm suit while simultaneously freezing his toes. So he just says, “Come on, Batman. You know I can handle it.”

It is a token protest. Damian was not as condescending as he could be, and also not pushing as hard as he could have. Both he and Grayson know that. So Grayson just gives him another snort and pushes him towards the direction of the Bunker. After another grumble, Damian goes without further protest. He really cannot wait to peel the suit off and put his feet in warm, fuzzy socks that Pennyworth somehow acquired for him.

(He is not complaining. Those socks are very comfortable, especially during Gotham’s winter.)

Damian takes a different route to go back to the Bunker, hoping to avoid the disgusting slush on top of the buildings. He really shouldn’t have bothered. Every single building on Gotham has those filthy things on top of them.  But at least this time he can swerve around the worst of it, instead of trudging head-on towards it like Grayson did.

“Robin!” He hears Batgirl calls out. “Where is Batman? Why are you alone?”

As he looks back towards the source of the voice, he notices that Brown also trudges heads-on towards the disgusting slush like Grayson did. Why are they like this? Those things are disgusting. Even if they could not feel it seeping through their boots’ seams, surely they must know that trudging head-on towards it would cause the puddle to splash. And who knows what are inside those puddles. This is Gotham. Even fresh snow could not be trusted to not have some truly disgusting things inside of it, much less days old snow that is already mixed with all the filth of Gotham.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, Batgirl.”

“Of course you don’t, you little brat.” Brown has managed to catch up with him, purely by virtue of disregarding whatever it is she is stepping into. That is the only reason she manages to even touch his head, in an attempt to smack him. The only reason. “So? Why are you alone?”

“I thought I’ve made it clear that I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“Yeah, you did. You just have to tell me everything .” Brown smiled a truly mischevious smile. Damian does not want to be on the receiving end of that smile. He remembered perfectly well what happened to people (Drake) on the receiving end of that smile. “I’ll ask you again, Robin. Why are you alone?”

“Tt. Batman wanted to do a case alone. He sent me back to the Bunker.”

Brown looked at him with understanding in her eyes. Sometimes Damian forgot that she used to be a Robin too, as brief as her time was. “Yeah, they do that sometimes. That’s not all there is, though, is it Robin?”

Damn it. Sometimes Damian forgot that she used to be a Robin too. That means Brown also got all the training every Robin got, including deduction and also, lying. Grayson might well send her here to make sure Damian went back to the Bunker.

(Not that Damian particularly wants to go somewhere else alone. Right now he just wants to get out of this suit.)

Damian looks at her. She looks back.

“I’m overheating in this suit and I can’t feel my toes,” Damian finally confesses.

“Wait, you’re overheating and freezing at the same time?” Brown frowns. “That makes no sense.”

Damian gestures with his arms. “That is exactly what I am thinking. How can I overheat and freeze at the same time? Winter is stupid!”

“Let me get this right. You’re overheating and freezing at the same time? In all parts of your body? Buddy, this might be a conversation you want to have with Batman instead of me.”

“What? No!” Damian grimaces. “I know perfectly well about the human reproductive system, thank you, Batgirl. I wore the warmest suit today but it’s not cold enough for it so I’m now overheating in my suit!” Damian can feel himself gesturing excessively, but he finds that he does not care. “But my toes are freezing because this disgusting slush is everywhere!”

Unlike Batman, Batgirl does not have the mystique that disallows her from laughing while wearing the suit. Brown exploits that very much now. The ring of her laughter can be heard blocks away.

“Stop laughing, Batgirl! It’s not funny!”

“It’s -hnnn- very - pfft- funny!” Brown manages to choke out between her bouts of laughter. “The high and mighty Robin, defeated by his own suit!”

“Stop it!” Damian hisses out. Brown does not stop.

After she finally stops laughing, this is what she says. “Have you never thought about doubling your socks? I’m sure you have more than enough socks to do that, Robin.”

“Doubling. My socks.”

“Yeah. Wear two socks at once. It’ll keep your toes warm, and if you decide it’s too hot after you start moving on patrol, you can always take one of them off. Layering, Robin. Don’t tell me you don’t know that?”

“Tt. Of course I know it, Batgirl.”

“Sure. That’s why you didn’t do it now.”

“Tt.”

They stayed there for a few moments. If the rooftop was not full of slush, Damian would have sat down there and he knew Brown would have too. It was nice to see that even Brown would not just sit down on the disgusting thing that is slush.

“Robin?”

“Yes, Batgirl?”

“In all seriousness, though, layering is the way to dress for winter. Because if you get too warm in the day, or night, I guess, you can always take it off. And..,” Brown stops here for a second and then shrugs. “ Well, I guess you don’t have to worry about that one.”

“What is it?”

Brown sighs. “It’s cheaper to buy thin socks and layer them up rather than, let’s say, buy a thick, high-quality wool one.” She shrugs again. “Like I said, you don’t have to worry about this one.”

Oh yeah. Damian forgets that Brown does not have the kind of funds and resources that the rest of the family has. But she is working with Gordon, and Gordon has her own funds, right?

Brown must have somehow known what Damian is thinking because she ruffles his hair. “Don’t worry about it, kiddo. Come on, let’s get you back to the Bunker. Wouldn’t want to risk Batman’s wrath, would we?”

“Tt. Race you there.” As soon as he said that, Damian ran, disregarding his freezing toes to take the most effective route. The prospect of beating Brown, and also that they are only a few blocks away from the Bunker, defeats his dislike of the still disgusting puddle.

“Hey! You little brat!” Damian can hear Brown shouts from behind him, as he most definitely is leading the race.

(Damian does wear double socks for the next patrol, and he checks the temperature before going out to patrol.)

[raywritesthings]

In the Dead of Night 3/9

My Writing Fandom: Arrow Characters: Laurel Lance, Dinah Lance, Sara Lance, Ra’s al Ghul, Nyssa al Ghul Pairing: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen (Eventual) Summary: Oliver Queen returns to Starling City after five years away, three years after Sara Lance was found and rescued by her mother. More troubling to him is Laurel’s abrupt and unexplained absence from the city for the same length of time that her sister’s been home. Three years into the past, Dinah Lance makes a terrible choice. *Can be read on my AO3 or FFN (links to both accounts are in bio)*

Three years ago 

Dinah hadn’t been able to stay in Starling. How could she have, when her grief was one of a far different kind to what the rest of her family was experiencing? The grief of the guilty. Remorse.

It had been impossible to keep looking Quentin in the eye. And Laurel, that had been out of the question. Her eldest had the same quick temper of her father, and Dinah had been convinced if she stayed, she would have confessed, and then Laurel would have shut her out of her life anyway. So she had left on her own terms.

And not just to get away.

While Quentin had thrown himself into his police work, Dinah had gotten to work of a different kind.

She had taken sabbatical and dedicated her time to research of the North China Sea region. Working out of a little apartment in Central City, she had read up on currents, the islands both large and small, and common comings and goings in the area.

She refused to believe Sara was dead, not until she had turned over every rock on this Earth. Because if she was dead, if she had been the one to send her little baby to a watery grave — no, she couldn’t think that. Not yet.

Now in her second year of research, she began to travel with multiple language dictionaries and every recent photo of Sara she owned. Everywhere she went, she asked. Left copies of Sara’s picture. Left her number, to call in case there was any sign or sighting.

Four months in, she had her first breakthrough.

“There was a girl on the boat that came in for supplies. American blonde. On a big boat.”

“What kind of boat? Did it have a name?”

“English. Like the...the shipping company. Or rain forest.”

“Amazon? It was called Amazon?”

“Yes, I think so. They were here for food and fresh water. Big boat.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

She traveled up and down the coastline and out to some of the bigger islands asking for any news of the Amazon. Nothing turned up.

Just as Dinah was starting to become discouraged, a report came in of a shipwreck making the waters potentially treacherous. The ship’s name was Amazo.

Dinah traveled to where most of the debris had washed up and into the village beyond. Someone must have survived, whether Sara or someone who could tell her more.

She went door to door, knocking and asking. “Please, I am looking for my daughter. I believe she was in a shipwreck near here. The Amazo?”

One woman who had answered her door eyed her warily. “Let me see the photo.”

Dinah handed it over eagerly, trying not to worry as the woman’s brow creased.

“Yes, I have seen this girl.”

Her heart leapt. “Oh, thank you! Where? Did she wash up with the wreckage?”

“I was collecting driftwood when I spotted her along the coast. But—” the woman looked around cautiously and continued in a much lower tone “—the Demon’s Heir was with her. She carried her away.”

“The Demon’s Heir? What is that?”

“Part of the League that controls the mountain range. We provide them food and goods for their protection and amnesty.”

“And they have Sara? Where can I find them?”

“You must go into the mountains and seek them out. They will find you there.” The woman reached out and caught her sleeve. “But, few who go there ever return. And when they do, they are changed.”

“Then I must go,” Dinah insisted. “She’s my daughter. Thank you for the information.”

Dinah climbed into the Himalayas, looking and looking for some sign of life. At night she was forced to find some type of shelter and parcel out the minimal food supplies she had packed on her person. On the third day, she felt she had been walking for miles when a black-clothed figure suddenly jumped from atop a rock into her path, a sword drawn and pointed at her. Dinah gasped, holding up both hands in a gesture of peace. Was she about to be robbed?

“You are a Westerner,” said a male voice from behind his mask and hood.

“American, yes.”

“Why have you come to Nanda Parbat? You have trespassed on the land of the Demon Head.”

Demon Head for a Demon Heir. It looked as though she was in the right place.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve come looking for my daughter. She was in a shipwreck that washed up near here.” She risked placing her hands together in a begging gesture. “Please, if she’s here, I have to see her.”

“You would request an audience with the Demon Head?”

“I would.”

There was a pause as the man considered her. Dinah held his gaze, unwavering. Then his sword lowered.

“You will follow me.”

Dinah was led further into the mountains, more and more people beginning to appear as they walked, similarly dressed to her guide. At last they rounded a corner and came upon a fortress cut into the rock. There were more of these masked and hooded figures than she could hope to count, and Dinah swallowed once before squaring her shoulders and following into the earthen caverns.

They were stopped in one corridor by a young woman with dark hair and eyes. She spoke to Dinah’s guide in Arabic and eyed Dinah suspiciously for a few moments. Then she turned and left them for some time.

When she returned, it was in English that she spoke.

“My father, Ra’s al Ghul, the Demon Head, and leader of the League of Assassins, accepts your request for an audience.”

Assassins? Dinah barely held back a gasp of surprise. Why would assassins have taken her daughter?

Dinah entered the chamber beyond the corridor nevertheless. It was a high-ceilinged room with gated off exits. Several of the masked and hooded people stood to each side, and at the front was a dais lined with candles. On the dais stood a man in a robe adorned in a way the others weren’t. The young woman stood to his side in front of the dais, and he radiated power and intimidation.

“Welcome to Nanda Parbat. I am Ra’s al Ghul, head of the League of Assassins. What is your name?”

“Dinah Lance,” she said, willing her voice not to shake so badly. “Please, I was told your daughter found a young girl. I believe she’s my Sara.”

Ra’s al Ghul considered her words. “You have journeyed here to determine if that is true?”

“Yes.”

He looked to his daughter. “Nyssa, fetch the girl.”

She gave a short bow and left the chamber.

“I assume you have a request should the girl be your daughter.”

“Yes,” Dinah repeated. “I’ve been looking for her for two years. There was a boating accident, and we thought we’d lost her. But I couldn’t give up. I want to bring her home.”

There were two sets of footsteps and a gasp. Then a voice she couldn’t possibly mistake. “Mom?”

Her heart swelled as she turned to see her daughter standing there just behind the young woman. “Sara!”

They rushed to each other, and there was no describing the feeling of holding her in her arms. She was real. She was alive.

“Oh, my baby! I knew you were still out there. I knew you had to be.”

Sara was clutching at her like she was afraid it would all be ripped away if she didn’t hang on tightly enough, and she could feel tears soaking through to her shoulder. “Mom, mom.”

There was a throat cleared somewhere in the room, and Dinah looked back up to the dais. She quickly wiped at her eyes.

“Thank you for saving my daughter. I don’t know how to describe what this means to me. For two years, all I’ve wanted is to find her and bring her home.”

“But your celebration is too soon,” Ra’s al Ghul replied. “I have allowed you to see your daughter, as I believe that to be a mother’s right. However, the League is not a hospital nor a charity, Dinah Lance. I have expended food, supplies, and the skills of my assassins to bring your daughter back from the brink of death.”

At the mention again of assassins, she felt Sara tense in her hold, and it was hard not to do the same. “I would be happy to repay you. Name your price.” There was no cost too steep to have Sara safe and sound at home.

“There is no currency that could repay your daughter’s debt to me. I instructed Nyssa to keep and heal her in the expectation that she would serve me well. The price for your daughter’s freedom must equal that. A life for a life.”

Dinah exchanged a horrified look with Sara. “You mean, you want her to become an assassin?”

“Her, or another to take her place,” he stated. “I do not make this offer often, but your determination has earned a measure of respect.”

Sara could not stay here. She would not let her sweet, innocent girl be turned into some killing machine. Dinah swallowed once and moved her daughter behind her. “Then I will stay, if it lets Sara go free.”

“Mom, no!”

Almost immediately, Ra’s al Ghul’s face split into an awful grin as he laughed. “You would have to think me a fool to believe that an equal trade. You are twice her age, if not older, and untrained. It would be a waste inducting you into my League.”

“You said a life for a life!” How could he expect her to give someone else over to them?

“To take her place, yes. Someone of her equal. Unless you can provide such a substitute, then she will remain to be inducted into the League.”

He nodded to two of the masked figures, who stepped forward and each took one of Sara’s arms, starting to pull her away.

“No, please!” Sara cried out.

“She’s my daughter! You can’t just take her from me!”

“That is up to you. What are you willing to sacrifice, Dinah Lance?” He demanded. Beside him, his daughter kept her eyes on the stone floor. “If the answer is nothing, then leave this place.”

What had started like a dream was becoming a nightmare. Her little baby, she couldn’t lose her again. Not when it had been all her fault the first time. She would do anything, give anything.

“Wait!” Dinah cried, lunging forward to take hold of Sara’s hands. Everything seemed to freeze in that moment.

Sara was her choice. Sara would always be her choice. She saw so much of herself in her; her reckless abandon, her youthful belief in love. Mothers weren’t supposed to have a favorite, but hadn’t she already proved that just wasn’t the case with her?

And with that thought, she turned to face the Demon Head once more. “I- I have another daughter.”

“Mom?” Sara’s voice betrayed her shock and disbelief, and Dinah couldn’t bring herself to look at her.

Ra’s al Ghul tilted his head. “You are offering your daughter...for your daughter?”

Dinah swallowed once. “Yes.”

“Mom!”

“Her name is Laurel. Dinah Laurel Lance. She’s older than Sara by two years, more mature. And my ex-husband had her in self-defense classes from the time she was little. She took them seriously. She knows more about fighting than Sara.”

“Mom, no, this is crazy,” Sara said.

“No, crazy would be me leaving you here after I have spent the last two years searching for you,” Dinah replied sharply. “I let you get on that boat, and that was my mistake. I can’t let you go twice, I just can’t. But your sister...if she hadn’t befriended Oliver, if she hadn’t brought him into our lives, none of this would have happened. There would have been no boat,” she reasoned. Hadn’t Quentin warned Laurel time and again that Oliver was no good? That she shouldn’t have been involved with him? Sara had only been acting out. It had been a silly schoolgirl crush, one that wouldn’t have developed if she hadn’t been around him so much because of her sister.

“But Laurel—”

“Is your older sister and is supposed to protect you. Remember all the times you two used to play, and she’d be a police officer working to keep you safe?” Dinah let go of Sara’s hands to place her own on her daughter’s shoulders. “Laurel has known her whole life she was responsible for you.”

“Then this is your offer?” Ra’s al Ghul asked.

Her daughters. It came down to that. They were both her daughters. Sara was her baby and still loved her. She could save her. Laurel, she had had to leave already, and Laurel would never love her again if she knew the truth about the boat. Either way, their family was broken, but if it was Sara back, then maybe she could live with herself. Maybe she could forgive herself the mistake she’d made.

Dinah stared at Sara for a long moment, willing her to understand that this was the only way. Sara’s eyes were wide, but she remained silent.

Dinah closed her own eyes and stated a clear, “Yes.”

---

Laurel woke as a black cloth was lifted from her head, and immediately she began to struggle. She remembered coming home to her darkened apartment, feeling hands close over her mouth, kicking out and reaching desperately for the drawer with her gun before darkness had engulfed her.

There were still people holding her arms here, in this new place. She caught impressions of it in panicked, darting looks. Candles, stone walls, a line of people dressed all in black and with covered faces.

“What—”

“Don’t hurt her!” A voice she’d given up on hearing ever again shouted. “Laurel, honey, don’t struggle.”

Laurel turned her head to the side and felt the breath leave her.

“Mom?” Her eyes drifted past the mother she hadn’t seen in two years and fixed instead on something even more astonishing. “Sara?”

Her sister stood there, flesh and blood, her hair a ragged mess and tears in her eyes. Her voice was a ragged whisper. “I’m sorry.”

Sara was alive. She’d survived the Gambit. But then—

Laurel looked around at the room of unfamiliar people. “Wh- where’s Oliver?”

Sara swallowed once. “He’s dead. Everyone else didn’t make it.”

It felt as though she’d been hit with the news all over again. Oliver was dead. Had been for two years. She already knew that, and yet seeing Sara was bringing all of those emotions and memories rushing to the surface.

“Touching as reunions are, this matter has already taken enough of my time,” a man spoke, and Laurel noticed him for the first time. He wore a dark-colored robe that was different from the uniform almost everyone else was in. A younger woman stood at his side in dark red and black. “Dinah Lance, the elder.”

Her mother stepped up to the raised dias he was on. Another woman in jewels and heavy makeup emerged to hand the man an intricately designed knife. He took the knife and her mother’s hand.

“Hey!” Laurel tried to wrench her arms free, but the men on either side of her held fast while she watched her mother’s palm be cut open.

Her mom gasped, but took her hand and pressed it to the scroll of paper the woman presented her. It left behind a red stain.

“Bring the younger,” the man at the front of the room commanded.

Laurel dug her heels in as she was dragged forward. “No, no! What is this place? What is happening?”

“It’s alright, Laurel, please,” her mom begged. “You have to do this. For Sara.”

“Sara?” She craned her neck around to look at her sister, whose shame-filled gaze was on the floor.

“Your sister was found by my daughter and brought here. She was to serve me in exchange for her life,” the man explained. “But your mother journeyed here to Nanda Parbat and interceded. She has offered you to me in her place.”

“She- what?”

Her mother looked at her with pleading eyes. “It was the only way. Sara nearly died and was assaulted by the men who first found her, Laurel. She needs to come home.”

It took her a few tries to find her voice. “And I’m supposed to stay here with- with these people? You can’t just use me like that.”

“It is her right as the mother to decide what is to be done,” the man proclaimed. “And she has chosen to relinquish her rights over you to me, Ra’s al Ghul.”

The woman with the knife came forward and took Laurel’s arm with a surprisingly strong grip. Before she could react, the woman sliced her palm, causing her to cry out at the sharp pain. Her hand was then forced to press against the scroll beside the mark her mother had made.

“It is done,” said Ra’s al Ghul. “Let me make myself clear. Should you return to undo the deal we have made, I will take great pleasure in killing first your daughter, and then the rest of your family and home. Should your daughter fail to serve me through any means, even by the purposeful forfeiture of her life, your family and home will be destroyed. Starling City will suffer the wrath of the entire League of Assassins if you attempt to cross me.”

“I understand,” her mother said, only the slightest tremble in her voice. She turned away without even meeting Laurel’s eyes and walked down to where Sara stood. Sara, who was watching with horror-filled eyes.

“Wait,” her sister said. “Wait, this isn’t right—”

“We’re going home, Sara, quickly.”

Her mother took her sister’s arm and began pulling her from the room.

The woman with the knife took a cloth strip and bound it tightly over Laurel’s cut, then retreated with a deferential nod to Ra’s. He barked an order in some other language, and Laurel felt the men holding her start to drag her away.

“Let me go! This is crazy! Sara! Mom! Mom!”

She was taken down a series of twisting passages all identical to each other, and even if her head had been completely clear she would have been hopelessly lost within minutes. Laurel was thrown into a room and hit the stone floor hard. By the time she’d scrambled back to her feet, the door had slammed and locked. She started pounding on the heavy wood anyway.

“No! Let me out of here! You can’t do this! Mom! Sara!”

There was no answer. 

Laurel turned and spotted a window in the far wall. She raced to it, only to find that it let out on a steep, rocky drop she could never hope to descend alive.

She slid down until her knees hit the floor again and sobbed against the stone windowsill. Her whole body shook with her cries.

[bat-losers-inc]

Place of Ruins

Summary: Tim Drake is much changed from the boy that Ra's al Ghul remembers him to be and Ra's likes to believe that he played a large role in his creation, for better or worse. Or: Ra's uses the death and resurrection of Damian Wayne as an ruse to tempt Tim again. Tim has other plans. // Set four years after Collisions in the Dark.

Warnings: SPOILERS FOR “COLLISIONS IN THE DARK”, power dynamics, unrequited lust, non-consensual kissing.

Pairings: Tim Drake/Jason Todd, Tim Drake/Ra’s al Ghul, Tim Drake & Nyssa Al Ghul

Notes: Just something I couldn't get out of my head. The idea that Ra's and Tim would meet again but this time without the power imbalance of the previous fic. Now they're almost equals, but their mind games with each other still continue.

        ____________________________________________________________

Taklamakan Desert

18 mi South of Hotan, Xinjiang

__________

Ra’s waited a good distance from the cave’s mouth in patient silence, content to make his presence known only at the right moment. Better to let his prey come out on his own than try flushing him out with force and risk losing him in the dark tunnels that twisted and forked inside the caves of this region. Ra’s had learned that lesson the hard way the first time and it had cost him nearly everything.

Besides, he very much doubted that his prey would be caught unaware. If he’d risk coming to this place, practically on the back door of the Demon Head’s domain, without anticipating the risk of discovery then he was not the boy Ra’s remembered him to be. Ra’s almost would have been angry at such a brazen move if it hadn’t killed two of his birds with one stone.

Ah, speaking of birds…

Ra’s stepped down from the dry craggy perch that had served as his observation point as two figures— a man and woman—  emerged from the cave’s mouth and into the sweeping desert dunes: dyed a dark blue as the sun slipped below the jagged rock face that towered high above them.

His second daughter Nyssa was much the same as he remembered her; bellicose and as severe in personality as she was in dress with her loose tunic, pants, and long spear rested across her muscled shoulder blades. Since his previous run in with her, she’d continued to evade his attempts to root her out and finish her off for good. Despite how much Ra’s wished to put a sword in her, instead he held back— contenting himself for now with the knowledge of learning her most recent hideout— and focused his attention on the more important prize standing beside her.

Four years had changed Timothy from a eighteen year old boy into a man of twenty two and as far as Ra’s could see it had only enhanced every quality that he’d first found enthralling about him. The day or more of wandering the edges of the Taklamakan desert in search of Nyssa had tanned his skin to a light copper that highlighted the outlines of his muscled arms— a feature of Tim’s that Ra’s had never before appreciated.

He couldn’t stand by a moment longer.

Tim turned sharply at the sound of his footsteps, hand jumping to the dagger handle that rested against his hip. A Uyghur knife. Ra’s noted the locally crafted weapon with interest for he’d never known Tim to fight with a blade in all his years of closely following the boy. Was this a new development with his young detective? He couldn’t deny the temptation to provoke him to a fight, if only to see how he handled the blade and relish in how easy it would be to overpower him.

But Timothy held back and even threw out an arm against Nyssa as she swung her spear around with a hissed curse and the intention of stepping in front of him. His detective fixed Ra’s with his eyes, pale blue beneath the dark headscarf that blocked the ever-whirling sands.

“Ra’s.”

Ra’s smiled. “Hello, Timothy,” His gaze flickered over his daughter half heartedly. “Nyssa.”

Tim half turned to Nyssa, unwilling to pull his full gaze away from Ra’s. Smart boy.

“You can go. I’ll handle him.”

Ra’s smile widened. Oh? You’re going to handle me, are you?

Nyssa seemed to be debating if she cared enough to argue this point. Ra’s decided to help her with her decision. “Yes, run along, Nyssa. Perhaps Timothy will buy you enough time to flee with you life.”

Nyssa growled at that, her grip shifting on her spear, but in the end she retreated back into the depths of the cave mouth with a respectful nod over her shoulder to Tim.  

Tim watched her go, but Ra’s quickly put at end to that. He struck out as Tim’s back was turned, grasping him by the chin and twisted him around harshly into an equally bruising kiss. It lasted no more than the briefest of moments as the younger boy’s hands came up immediately and shoved him off. But like a starved man Ra’s pressed his attack. Tim had barely retreated back a step before Ra’s caught him by the back of the neck and yanked him forward until he stood chest to chest with him, interlocking his fingers at the base of his head to keep him there. Tim gripped one of his wrists and arched his head away from Ra’s questing lips.

“Let go,” Tim snarled. Ra’s chuckled at the hostility radiating off the boy like heat and chose to ignore it like the useless show it was.

“Ah-ah,” Ra’s pushed Tim’s head back to face forward with the heel of one hand. “I want to see you. Don’t you want to see me, Timothy? After all, it’s been so long.”

He yanked Tim’s headscarf down around his neck. “Now, that’s better.”

Tim spat in his face. Ra’s blinked once, his anger flashing as he felt the saliva slide down his cheek. Still he checked his emotions… after all it wouldn’t serve to let his anger get the better of him when he had his prize in hand. He used Tim’s scarf to wipe up the mess and rewarded the boy’s slight with a heated kiss that had him twisting to break free by the time he pulled away.

“Stop,” Tim hissed.

“Make me,” Ra’s breathed against his cheek. “Or do you even want me to? Coming here without that stupid little shit you call a boyfriend to defend your honor. You’re practically begging for it, aren’t you, Beloved?”

Fire lanced up Ra’s body as Tim reached across his body and pulled his knife, slashing him backhanded across his midsection before flipping the knife and coming back with a downward arc to his legs that Ra’s only narrowly retreated from. He pressed a hand to his bleeding torso, breathing heavy as he glared back at the younger man for the move was iconically in the style of the Red Hood.

“You little bitch.”

The wound wasn’t deep, just enough to make a point.

“I don’t need Jason to defend me. I can do that just fine by myself. ” said Tim, wiping the blade off on his pant leg before resheathing it. “So, please tell me again how I’m ‘begging for it’, and see what the next thing I cut is.”

Ra’s dropped his hand and followed after him as he turned and made his way up the dunes, back the way he’d come. The dune buggy he’d used to travel to the caves from the main highway was parked a quarter of a mile off where the dunes gave way to the rugged mountainous landscape around Hotan. Ra’s stared at his back as they walked that distance— the loose shoulder and casual stride— not a trace of tension in his form. Four years of being hunted had made the boy fearless in the defense of his person. Ra’s would give him that. Gone was the boy that hid behind Batman’s cape when the full power of the league and all it’s assassins were thrown at him.

“When did he teach you to use a blade? I’ve never seen you fight with one before.”

Tim stopped and glanced over his shoulder, his dark hair blowing against his face in the strong winds. “That’s because you’ve never gotten close enough for me to need it. Dip yourself in your lazarus pit all you want, a few years of youthfulness still won’t make you strong enough to overtake me.”

Ra’s repeated attacks against him, Jason’s murder, the psychological manipulations… all of it had only served to hone him like a fine blade and now he was ready to cut back. Ra’s was as much his creator as Batman was.

Ra’s smiled. “Never say never, my dear. The day may come when you or some other member of your family needs my assistance, and trust me when I say that I’ll take as much as I can get from your indebtedness. Each year you spend evading me racks up quite a lot of interest to collect on. It might be in your best interest to make a few minor repayments while you can… two nights a year— or even just one… I’m open to negotiating. And poor little Jason never has to know.”

Tim walked back towards him, eying him critically. “And I suppose sending the Heretic to murder Damian was your way of setting up the board for these ‘negotiations’, wasn’t it?”

Ra’s frowned with mock sorrow. “The poor boy, to be cut down so young. I hear that Bruce is devastated… that he’d do anything to bring back his son.”

Tim’s eyes were icy. “You’re a snake. Bruce won’t ever ask you for help after what you’ve done to me… what you’ve done to this family. And for the record, I’m not here to ask you either.”

“Then why, dear Detective, are you here?”

“Because I owe Damian a debt for what he did for me all those years ago. Because my fucked up history with you means that I’m the only one who can make this trip with a modicum of assured safety— if only because of what you want from me. And because you’re not the only person I know with access to a Lazarus pit.”

“Nyssa,” growled Ra’s, turning sharply to look back towards the caves.

Tim stepped up behind Ra’s’ shoulder. Ra’s could practically hear the smile behind his words. “I think I gave her enough time to flee, don’t you? And with the comm link I passed off to her, I have a feeling that by the time you track her down again, we’ll already have Damian back with us. Once again, Ra’s. You lose.”

Ra’s laughed. “Yes, maybe so, but you’re wrong about one thing, Detective. Safe isn’t a word I’d use to describe our interactions, especially when you’re this close to me and so very far from home. I know what you like, no matter how much you try to deny it, and it’s something that Jason Todd can never give you. You’ll never be truly satisfied with a man who gives into you so easily.”

“Maybe, but just because I want something, doesn’t mean it’s good for me.”

“I’m not in the business of being good for you. And like the snake that I am, I’ll always be around to tempt you.”

Tim stared off across the dark dunes and let the silence stretch between them for awhile. Finally he spoke.

“I know something about you as well, Ra’s. You’ve always loved the hunt far more than you’ve ever loved keeping me. If I didn’t fight you, I’d be boring. I’d be just like all the rest. You don’t want a successor to you empire. You want a worthy opponent. And it’s for that exact reason that I know you’re going to let me leave here tonight.”

“Mmm. You do make an extraordinary opponent, Timothy.”

Tim pulled his headscarf back over his face. “Until the next round, Ra’s.”  

Ra’s stood and watched him as he climbed in his vehicle and disappeared into the distance. Yes, he thought to himself with an eager yearning he couldn’t put into words, until the next round. I’ve got my eye on the prize.