A Fair Price
by TwinEnigma
Nota Bene: Slight references to Batman Begins and ABC's Once Upon A Time.
3.
The prince worked for the old man for seven years, collecting odds and ends from all over the world, from all kinds of folk, poor and rich alike. He did not ask what the old man did with them for he knew the old man had some magic, but he wondered all the same.
At the end of seven years, the old man told him, "Dear boy, you have done all that I asked without complaint or question and you shall have what was promised you. But before you go, I have one more task for you. Make your way to the fortress. They have taken something most dear from me. It is in the tallest tower, wrapped in rags. Return it, but do not look upon it, and I shall not only give you your freedom and justice, but shall reward you most handsomely."
The prince accepted, for he respected the old man, and went at once. It was no small feat, but he was clever, and made to retrieve the item from the tower.
An old guard tried to stop him, but no sooner had the prince turned to strike him down, than he stopped in horror for he knew the old guard, who had once watched him from childhood.
"Oh my prince, what wickedness has ensnared you?" the old guard begged. "Do you not know what you take from here? It is the Great Dark One's most prized possession, a blade bearing his true name. Whoever holds it, holds power over him, for it alone has the power to kill him."
The prince at once opened the bundle of rags and found a blade. Upon it was the true name of the old man, the Demon King, and he cried out in horror at how he had been tricked into working for such evil ends.
It's a year or two before Bruce realizes what he's gotten himself into.
Ra's is generous and patient with him, at first, and keeps him away from the other students in the mountain base. He trains him personally and lets few others interact with him. It is made clear that Bruce is a favored protégé and, though it bothers him a little, he becomes used to it quickly.
Ra's is a good teacher and Bruce has a purpose now. He's being groomed to be the greatest crimefighter the world has ever seen.
But then, things begin to change.
Slowly, Ra's starts sending him out with the others: small missions at first, retrieving and relocating items and money. Then the items become people, and the deliveries are no longer threats, but violence, and he realizes that this is not the place he thought it was.
Ra's assures him they are criminals and that this is justice, but Bruce still has a nagging feeling that something isn't right.
He thinks, perhaps, that it's time for him to move on.
"It's a pity you feel that way, Bruce," Ra's says. "But, tell you what, if you do this one last little thing for me, I'll let you go with my blessing."
He parts the curtain, revealing Joe Chill on his knees, and hands Bruce his personal sword.
"Kill him and claim justice for your parents."