Supremedalekdunn
The Dark Knight – Heir to the Demon – Prologue – Part 22
”You can come in Talia.”
”You knew I’d be coming?”
”Of course. I figured that after todays events, Bruce would have questioned you as to some of the claims made by his opponent.”
”Is it true?”
”What do you think, my child.”
”I think that you would never hold something like that from me…”
”But…”
”I know better than that. Especially considering you hid my own existence from Nyssa for almost a year.”
”That is because I know Nyssa. Just as I know you.”
”You think I’d consider attempting what Nyssa did back then?”
”It’s possible. Especially given your feelings for Bruce.”
”Do you honestly think I’d kill one of my own to help Bruce?”
”Anything’s possible. We both know how far people can be willing to go if it benefits their own agenda.”
”Is that a yes?”
”It’s what you want it to be Talia.”
”…..Why didn’t you tell me?”
”Because I couldn’t be sure.”
”In what way?”
”The natural talent was there. But not the wisdom on how to use it.”
”So you had him fight Bruce to see if his claims were true.”
”What Bruce lacks in natural talent, he far exceeds with wisdom and strategy. No son of mine would allow someone to outsmart them.”
”So you beheaded him. Didn’t you want to be sure who he was?”
”I know exactly who he was. That was the problem.”
”It’s true. Isn’t it?”
”It would seem so.”
”…..How?….How could you do that? After all you put Nyssa and I through, all because we weren’t male…..how can you just….throw aside what you’ve always wanted!?”
”Because it was when Bruce bested him that I realised the truth. Though he may not be of my blood, Bruce is the son I’ve always been looking for. The way he bested his opponents and made a mockery of the imposter….only an Al-Ghul could accomplish such a feet.”
”So it’s because of Bruce that you’ve robbed me of a sibling!?”
”I haven’t robbed you of anything. I’ve liberated you from a burden.”
”JUST WHAT SORT OF BURDEN IS THAT!?”
”Not having to obey the doctrine.”
”Purge the weak. You’d honestly go ahead with it, even if it was my life? Was Nyssa’s?”
”It’s possible. This world is dying thanks to natural selection failing us. The undeserving are flourishing, and we’re forced to endure their existence.”
”But your own flesh and blood!”
”Should know better than to doubt me.”
”Would you have killed mother had she survived the birth? Or would she have been purged since she clearly wasn't strong enough to survive childbirth.”
”Don’t you dare invoke her.”
”Or what? Will you kill me as well for being weak enough to use her?”
Without saying a word, the Demon swiftly raises his hand and slaps Talia across the face with as much force as he can muster. The slap knocks her to her knees and dazes her for a brief moment.
”Insolent child. You are better than this.”
”I don’t know. If my own brother was weak, maybe I am as well.”
”Don’t you dare speak ill of your mother.”
”Oh I would never speak ill of her. But if my brother and I are both weak, there’s only one thing that connects us.”
”Do not test my patience Talia.”
”Test it? I doubt you even have patience. You’re always so willing to cast your own allies aside at a moments notice, you can’t tell me you have patience.”
”If that were true, Bruce Wayne would have died years ago.”
”You leave him out of this.”
”Why? Had I not chosen to deal with the bastard child myself, the task would have fallen to him. Hell, the only reason he’s still alive is because you begged me to leave him unharmed.”
”I never asked for such a thing.”
”No, you didn’t. But the message could easily be read from your face. Admit it Talia, you’re not upset that I withheld the existence of a possible sibling from you, you’re just worried of what I intend to put him through for his final trials.”
”….That’s....untrue....and irrelevant.”
”Of course it is. I understand your worry my dear. No-one has ever attempted the trials necessary to be named Heir to the Demon before, and for good reason. But if Bruce has demonstrated anything these last few years. It’s that he won’t let anything overcome him. Be it Caine, Kirigi or even myself. He intends to emerge triumphant, and I look forward to seeing him succeed me when the time comes.”
”Father? What's wrong? You’re talking as though that time is sooner than you want it to be.”
”The pit and I have been one in the same for over seven hundred years. I suppose it ws only a matter of time before it couldn’t protect me any longer.”
”Father?”
”Look at my hand Talia. Notice how it shakes uncontrollably.”
”It’s just withdrawal.”
”Perhaps, but after only a couple of days? That's highly unlikely. I've experienced withdrawal from the pit but only after weeks without bathing in it.”
”What does it mean then father?”
”It's losing it’s effect on my body.”
”You mean?”
”Indeed. The pit is slowly losing it’s ability to restore me.”
”Perhaps the problem is with the pit itself. We should attempt to find more lazarus!”
”I already have.”
”I suspect I know the result…..How long do you reckon you’ve got?”
”Given how my body is only just starting to reject the pit, it’s possible that it’ll take years before the pit no longer affects me.”
”Can it be stopped?”
”Possibly. Though I’m not sure I want it to be.”
”You want to die?”
”Want is a strong word. More, I’m willing to accept my fate. But before my time comes, I must ensure my legacy lives on. Ensure the League of Assassins lives on, with you and Bruce at the helm.”
In a moment of solidarity, Talia walks up to her father and hugs him. Public displays of affection were prohibited in front of the League. But here, hidden from view, Ra’s accepts his daughter’s hug.
”Bruce has changed you.”
”And I’ve changed him. Hopefully we’ve both been changed for the better.”
”That remains to be seen.”
The Dark Knight – Heir to the Demon – Prologue – Part 22
”You can come in Talia.”
”You knew I’d be coming?”
”Of course. I figured that after todays events, Bruce would have questioned you as to some of the claims made by his opponent.”
”Is it true?”
”What do you think, my child.”
”I think that you would never hold something like that from me…”
”But…”
”I know better than that. Especially considering you hid my own existence from Nyssa for almost a year.”
”That is because I know Nyssa. Just as I know you.”
”You think I’d consider attempting what Nyssa did back then?”
”It’s possible. Especially given your feelings for Bruce.”
”Do you honestly think I’d kill one of my own to help Bruce?”
”Anything’s possible. We both know how far people can be willing to go if it benefits their own agenda.”
”Is that a yes?”
”It’s what you want it to be Talia.”
”…..Why didn’t you tell me?”
”Because I couldn’t be sure.”
”In what way?”
”The natural talent was there. But not the wisdom on how to use it.”
”So you had him fight Bruce to see if his claims were true.”
”What Bruce lacks in natural talent, he far exceeds with wisdom and strategy. No son of mine would allow someone to outsmart them.”
”So you beheaded him. Didn’t you want to be sure who he was?”
”I know exactly who he was. That was the problem.”
”It’s true. Isn’t it?”
”It would seem so.”
”…..How?….How could you do that? After all you put Nyssa and I through, all because we weren’t male…..how can you just….throw aside what you’ve always wanted!?”
”Because it was when Bruce bested him that I realised the truth. Though he may not be of my blood, Bruce is the son I’ve always been looking for. The way he bested his opponents and made a mockery of the imposter….only an Al-Ghul could accomplish such a feet.”
”So it’s because of Bruce that you’ve robbed me of a sibling!?”
”I haven’t robbed you of anything. I’ve liberated you from a burden.”
”JUST WHAT SORT OF BURDEN IS THAT!?”
”Not having to obey the doctrine.”
”Purge the weak. You’d honestly go ahead with it, even if it was my life? Was Nyssa’s?”
”It’s possible. This world is dying thanks to natural selection failing us. The undeserving are flourishing, and we’re forced to endure their existence.”
”But your own flesh and blood!”
”Should know better than to doubt me.”
”Would you have killed mother had she survived the birth? Or would she have been purged since she clearly wasn't strong enough to survive childbirth.”
”Don’t you dare invoke her.”
”Or what? Will you kill me as well for being weak enough to use her?”
Without saying a word, the Demon swiftly raises his hand and slaps Talia across the face with as much force as he can muster. The slap knocks her to her knees and dazes her for a brief moment.
”Insolent child. You are better than this.”
”I don’t know. If my own brother was weak, maybe I am as well.”
”Don’t you dare speak ill of your mother.”
”Oh I would never speak ill of her. But if my brother and I are both weak, there’s only one thing that connects us.”
”Do not test my patience Talia.”
”Test it? I doubt you even have patience. You’re always so willing to cast your own allies aside at a moments notice, you can’t tell me you have patience.”
”If that were true, Bruce Wayne would have died years ago.”
”You leave him out of this.”
”Why? Had I not chosen to deal with the bastard child myself, the task would have fallen to him. Hell, the only reason he’s still alive is because you begged me to leave him unharmed.”
”I never asked for such a thing.”
”No, you didn’t. But the message could easily be read from your face. Admit it Talia, you’re not upset that I withheld the existence of a possible sibling from you, you’re just worried of what I intend to put him through for his final trials.”
”….That’s....untrue....and irrelevant.”
”Of course it is. I understand your worry my dear. No-one has ever attempted the trials necessary to be named Heir to the Demon before, and for good reason. But if Bruce has demonstrated anything these last few years. It’s that he won’t let anything overcome him. Be it Caine, Kirigi or even myself. He intends to emerge triumphant, and I look forward to seeing him succeed me when the time comes.”
”Father? What's wrong? You’re talking as though that time is sooner than you want it to be.”
”The pit and I have been one in the same for over seven hundred years. I suppose it ws only a matter of time before it couldn’t protect me any longer.”
”Father?”
”Look at my hand Talia. Notice how it shakes uncontrollably.”
”It’s just withdrawal.”
”Perhaps, but after only a couple of days? That's highly unlikely. I've experienced withdrawal from the pit but only after weeks without bathing in it.”
”What does it mean then father?”
”It's losing it’s effect on my body.”
”You mean?”
”Indeed. The pit is slowly losing it’s ability to restore me.”
”Perhaps the problem is with the pit itself. We should attempt to find more lazarus!”
”I already have.”
”I suspect I know the result…..How long do you reckon you’ve got?”
”Given how my body is only just starting to reject the pit, it’s possible that it’ll take years before the pit no longer affects me.”
”Can it be stopped?”
”Possibly. Though I’m not sure I want it to be.”
”You want to die?”
”Want is a strong word. More, I’m willing to accept my fate. But before my time comes, I must ensure my legacy lives on. Ensure the League of Assassins lives on, with you and Bruce at the helm.”
In a moment of solidarity, Talia walks up to her father and hugs him. Public displays of affection were prohibited in front of the League. But here, hidden from view, Ra’s accepts his daughter’s hug.
”Bruce has changed you.”
”And I’ve changed him. Hopefully we’ve both been changed for the better.”
”That remains to be seen.”