Batman wandered through an abandoned cave where Killer Croc was rumored to be hiding in, preparing for a big heist. The cave seemed empty and lifeless. He heard drops of water fall to the ground and gently echo against the cave walls.

This cave certainly didn't seem significant at all.

Suddenly Batman heard a small whimper and someone say, "Father…" He narrowed his eyes and walked deeper into the cave. The small whimper became a small cry of a woman. Batman widened his eyes, imagining the tragedy of a parent possibly dying. He ran further into the cave and saw a young woman bending over an old man. He was lying down and breathing laborly. The woman was crying lightly and kept whispering, "Father, father…" At last she looked up at Batman and he saw the most beautiful face he'd ever seen. When she looked him in the eye, Batman was struck by numerous feelings, he didn't know how to react.

The woman stood up and grabbed a gun from her pocket and pointed it at Batman. "Stay away from my father!" she shrieked in tears. She pulled the trigger but Batman dodged the bullet. She continued to shoot at him and he continued to dodge. Suddenly she ran up to him and attempted to punch him, but Batman grabbed her fist. She gasped and groaned in pain, then fell to the floor. She widened his eyes and looked back at the old man. "Father!" she yelled. "No, you can't do this! I can't leave him!" Batman narrowed his eyes, and let go of her fist. She ran to the man and fell back to her knees at his side. Batman looked at her as he bent down on his knee towards the old man. The woman lightly sobbed. "He's dying. And I can't carry him any further to the Pit."

"'The Pit?'" Batman repeated and stood back on his legs to face her.

"This is my father, Ra's al Ghul. His life has been expanded for six hundred years," the

woman said. "I'm afraid this is the end of his life."

Suddenly Ra's al Ghul breathed heavily with labor and surprised his daughter. "Talia," he said sharply. Talia smiled and held his hand.

"Yes, father- I'm here," she said. He coughed weakly.

"You know what you must do," he said slowly.

"But, father, I c-can't… I'm weak from holding you up the whole journey. And the Lazarus Pit is still many footsteps away," Talia answered.

"Then you will let me die, daughter?" Ra's said. Talia squeezed his hand, but didn't respond.

"Maybe I can be of assistance," Batman said. Talia looked up at Batman hopefully. He gently took Ra's head into his arm and his legs into his other arm. He walked further down the cave with Talia following closely behind. They soon arrived to a cliff. Beneath them was a green bubbling liquid. Batman raised an eyebrow.

"Here," Talia said. "Now, hurry, we can't wait a moment!"

"You're telling me to throw him in there?" Batman asked. Talia touched his shoulder.

"Please, you must believe me! That has kept him alive for six hundred years," she said. Batman stood there for a moment, then dropped Ra's into the liquid. He watched the body get consumed by the glowing liquid. He continued to look down, waiting for something to happen.

"Nothing's happening," Batman growled. "Did you just make my murder a man?" Talia gasped.

"No, no!" she said and touched his shoulder again. "You must trust me; it just takes time." Batman narrowed his eyes and looked back at the liquid. A few moments passed. "I don't think I caught your name." Batman looked at her.

"It's quite self-explanatory," he said.

"Well you look like a man dressed as a bat," Talia said with a smile. Batman continued to stare at her. "Manbat?"

"No," Batman said. "That's actually one of the villains I faced."

"Batman?" He nodded. Talia smiled. "Well, I thank you greatly for saving my father's life, Batman." He nodded again. "Is there any way I could repay you? Are you interested in money or gold?"

"No need to repay me," Batman said. "My reward is your thanks." Talia smiled at him.

"You're quite modest," she said. Batman didn't respond. Suddenly a hand rose from the green liquid. Batman expected the same old man to come out, but instead there was a younger, handsome man. He wore no top and only green pants. He looked up at Talia and Batman, then leaped onto the ground where they stood. "Father!" Talia exclaimed happily. She ran to Ra's and hugged him. He growled and pushed her to the ground. "Father..?" Ra's frowned at her and placed one foot over her stomach. "Father, please! You're hurting me!" Talia yelled. He pressed his foot deeper into Talia's stomach as she grunted.

Batman ran to Ra's and tackled him down. They landed with Batman on top, his hands and feet locking Ra's down. They grunted as Ra's tried to escape and as Batman struggled to keep him down. Talia slowly got up. "Not exactly what Talia deserves after taking you all this way to save your life," Batman said who gasps. Ra's growled as an answer.

"Please, Batman. Don't hurt him," Talia said. She ran to them and bent down, then slapped Ra's' face. "Snap out of it, father!" Ra's' eyes closed, then opened. Batman loosened his grip, then stood up. Ra's followed, rubbing his head.

"Would you like to explain to me what just happened?" Batman demanded.

"The Lazarus Pit has kept him alive for centuries, but there is a price," Talia said sadly. Ra's finally looked up at both of them.

"I apologize," he said with a sad smile. "But I'm most delighted to see your beautiful face again, daughter," Ra's said. He looked at Batman. "And who is this?"

"This is Batman," Talia said and walked to Batman and stood close to him. "He was the one who saved your life." Ra's smiled.

"Yes," he said. "I remember you. And I remember how strong you were to fight my daughter and myself."

"Thank you, sir," Batman said.

"He's wonderful, father," Talia said to Ra's. She looked up at Batman. "I offered gold or money, but he declined."

"That's not something you see very often," Ra's said, seeming surprised.

"He's extraordinary," Talia said with a bright smile. Ra's and Talia looked at each other for a long moment. It seemed unnecessary to stare at someone for so long. But a moment later, Ra's spoke.

"Noble Batman," he said. "You are brave and strong and you also seem very loving to have saved my life, not knowing who I was."

"I'm sure anyone would save a life if they had the opportunity," Batman said, keeping his voice with no emotion.

"But you, Batman, are different," Ra's said. "I sense something that you would risk everything you had to save a life." Batman narrowed his eyes. "You see, these Lazarus Pits won't be around forever, and neither will I."

"Father, don't talk like that," Talia said, not moving a step away from Batman.

"And I will need someone to take my place as leader," Ra's continued. "And I can also sense a wise mind behind that mask." Batman didn't move one muscle. He continued to stare at Ra's, wondering what he was saying. "Batman, you have proven yourself worthy, and luckily my daughter as found a love interest in you." Batman widened his eyes and looked down at Talia. She smiled warmly and wrapped her arms around his right arm.

"I'm sorry, Ra's, but I can't possibly marry a woman I've known for the last few minutes. And I can't possibly take your place as leader," Batman said. "It just won't happen." Batman felt Talia's grip loosen on his arm. Ra's narrowed his eyes and inhaled.

"Then if you are not with me, you are against me!" he yelled, then ran to Batman and punched his stomach. Batman grunted and was thrown across the cave. He groaned as he struggled to stand up. Ra's ran to Batman and lifted him off the floor, grabbing him by the collar of his suit. Batman grunted and struggled to get out.

"Father!" Talia yelled suddenly. "Please don't harm him!"

"He rejected you and the throne!" Ra's said to Talia.

"That doesn't mean I am to reject him," she replied. Ra's turned his head to look back at his daughter. Suddenly Batman kneed Ra's' stomach. Ra's groaned and fell to the floor as Batman ran further away from Ra's.

Ra's growled and ran after Batman. He tackled Batman and stood on top of him. Ra's attempted to step on Batman's face, but Batman grabbed Ra's foot, struggling to keep it away. "Worthy indeed!" Ra's yelled, as if continuing something he said before. "You'd make a wonderful heir if you weren't so idiotic!"

"He is not idiotic!" Talia yelled. She ran up to Ra's and pushed him off Batman. Ra's fell to the floor but rose quickly. Batman stood up and ran to Ra's. He punched Ra's' stomach, then his face. He fell to the floor, groaning. Batman ran to Talia and grabbed her wrist, then ran out of the cave. "Where are you taking me?" Talia demanded. Batman ran to the side of the cave and the batmobile drove up to them. The hood of the car opened and they jumped in.

"Far away," he answered and turned the engine on.