A/N: Here is chapter four. Thanks to everyone for their reviews, follows, and favorites. I'm so grateful for them! Please share your thoughts on this chapter or the story in general! I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own DC Comics.


"Thank you for agreeing to speak to me," Bruce said to Ara as they entered his office. It was a large, formidable space, with a polished wooden desk and two cushioned chairs seated in front of it. Shelves of books lined the walls, and the windows let in natural light to illuminate the room. Bruce didn't quite consider it his true office; that was the cave. But it was necessary for show and Wayne Enterprises information when he had to play the businessman role.

"I didn't intend to argue," Ara told him, her gaze wandering around. Bruce noticed that about her; no matter how she tried to hide it there was a very strong sense of wonder in her, a curiosity that never dwindled. It would almost seem childlike, if there wasn't such an analytical appearance in her eyes. She was knowledgeable; Bruce understood that he couldn't let his sympathies get in the way of his interrogation.

He moved around to the opposite side of the desk and took a seat in the chair. Ara remained standing, and then Bruce realized she was waiting for an invitation. Making a gesture with his hand, Ara then took a seat in the chair, her feet not quite reaching the ground. She sat up straight, hands folded in her lap as she crossed her legs. Bruce rested his arms on the desk. "I'd like to discuss the details of my son's engagement to you."

"You seem unsettled by it," Ara noted, her expression innocent despite the secrets that he was sure she harbored.

"I don't mean to come off that way," Bruce replied, his tone not quite apologetic. "But there are things in Damian's life that I feel I am obligated to know about. Sometimes that means I go directly to those that he knows."

"Mr. Wayne," the young girl said, and if Bruce did not have such control over his poker face he would have raised his eyebrows. Her cut-to-the-chase tone of voice accompanied a dark gaze as she looked at him. There was power in the expression; confidence and understanding. "This is not about the engagement. You do not trust me, and I don't trust you. What you're asking, simply, is why I'm here and for what purpose."

Bruce raised his head slightly, watching her carefully. "I know that you're smart, Ara. And I also know that you aren't going to tell me that reason. If you do, it won't be the truth."

"You're correct," Ara replied, not at all intimidated by the man in front of her. Bruce couldn't help but wonder if it was because she had the upper hand or if she really wasn't afraid of him. She continued, "I'm sure since you are the world's greatest detective that the answer will come soon enough. If not, that is nothing I can help."

Tension in the room stretched out further. The idea that she would try to out front attack him crossed his mind, but the thought was quickly dismissed. Although Ara was just as prepared for any sudden occasion as his son, Bruce knew that she was not Damian. If anything, she was calculating and patient and that made her even more dangerous. The silence was almost deafening, and he said slowly, "I'll find out your motive. But for now, this conversation is about Damian and the engagement."

And really, she was the only person in the vicinity besides Damian that would be able to tell him anything about it. His son didn't seem willing to give out those details, and that left him to converse with the only other source. Ara regarded him for a minute, her deep blue eyes focused, and then she blinked and said, "I am willing to explain that."

A small bit of the tension evaporated. Still, from the distance between Bruce and Ara there was a strong force that told the other to not invade their space. Bruce nodded and said to her, "I don't know why Damian didn't tell me."

Ara's expression shifted into half confusion, half disbelief at Bruce's words. "There isn't a reason why he would bother to."

"As a father, I feel that there is." Bruce said. "I know both Ra's and Talia. They wouldn't just allow Damian to marry anyone, and so I understand why they would arrange a marriage. What I want to know is why it was you they picked."

Something flickered across Ara's expression; it could have been annoyance or offense. "I was not picked by anyone. I earned Damian's hand."

At that Bruce leaned forwards, "Earned?"

"Yes," Ara said, a note of pride in her voice. It quickly disappeared as she rested her arms on the armrests of the chair and asked, "In your line of work, have you ever heard of the Silent Hand?"

Bruce thought it was a joke at first, especially at the slight smirk that came onto her face. But otherwise she looked very serious, and so Bruce answered, "No, I haven't."

"It was a small assassin group," Ara explained, "led by my parents. Those exiled from their homelands, ex-criminals needing an escape, army deserters, mercenaries, and others were a part of it. The group was spread out all over the world, and left no links to anything that was done. We were small, but powerful and continued to gain more and more even after I was born. It caught the attention of Ra's Al Ghul."

The story could have been a lie, Bruce knew, but it explained Ara's obvious assassin lineage. Her facial expression was not guarded as it had been before; she was open about this topic. Bruce gave a nod for her to continue, and Ara explained, "Ra's gathered young daughters of assassins from every place he could find. To their parents he offered a deal; if their daughter married his grandson, then the two groups would merge together, making both the League of Assassins and The Silent Hand stronger. My parents accepted the offer, as did many more."

Bruce frowned slightly, "Ra's sought out those he thought could be contenders."

"Precisely," Ara agreed. "I spent my life training, always being told that I was to be engaged to Damian. It was my right. And so when we were seven years old, Ra's held a tournament to compete for his hand."

Bruce pressed his lips together, "By tournament you mean…"

"A fight to the death," Ara replied, her steely features not changing. "Or at least that was how it was for most; some made it out alive. The winner was granted the reward of being engaged to Damian."

Bruce mulled the information over quietly. Putting this past Ra's was foolish; the man was sure to control every aspect of Damian's life, including his future. That left the detective to believe that Ara was telling the truth, which he believed. He'd watched her spar with his boys, and though it wasn't long she'd put up a fight. She had him convinced. "So now you are supposed to eventually marry Damian."

"Yes," she answered. "Ra's intends for us to marry and one day lead the League of Assassins."

While Bruce believed that, he also saw a reason that either she did not know or was choosing not to say. He only was sure of it because of the situation of Talia and him; Ara was also the one chosen to bear his son's children in the future. Ra's would want nothing more than perfectly able great-grandchildren, if he lived to see them; that was very likely. Based on her skills, Ara was the one right for the job in the man's eyes. Bruce narrowed his eyes slightly; he didn't know if Damian was aware of this.

"And you are to love him?" Once the question left him Bruce realized how it sounded. That was not a very logical question, but one of a concerned parent who didn't want his son being toyed with.

In response Ara looked at him strangely. "It is not about love. It's about uniting two great powers to make an extremely powerful one."

Before Bruce could reply, the door swung open. Both Ara and him looked over, where Alfred stood. His face was one of worry, and immediately the Dark Knight was on his feet. "Master Bruce, come quickly. There is something you need to see."


"I find this to be ridiculous," Damian muttered as he sat on the floor of the cave. He absently was petting Titus, who seemed to sense the boy's annoyance. Luckily the dog was a comfort to Damian, and perhaps the only thing keeping him from exploding into rage at Drake and Grayson.

If either heard him, they didn't answer. Grayson had returned to standing by the computer while Drake typed away, searching international records for Ara. They hadn't wanted to do it with Damian around, but when he'd demanded that they show him what they were doing they'd had no choice. Since then Damian had taken a seat on the floor and was glad to have the company of the only understanding living thing in the whole entire manor. He watched with scowl as they searched, not bothering to tell them that they would find no records at all.

Grayson sighed and rubbed his face, "Tim, there's nothing here. We've exhausted every source we have."

"That is almost scary when not even Batman has a record on someone," Drake mused, though he didn't look the least bit terrified. "There is always my first suggestion; we could talk to her."

Damian scoffed, "Your declining intelligence amazes me, Drake. There is nothing that she would ever want to say to you."

Drake ignored him and spun around in the chair so he could face Grayson, "It's an option."

"It's an option that I don't think will work," Grayson replied, crossing his arms. "She's not very open."

"Why should she be with you?" Damian said as he stopped petting Titus, resting his hand on the dog's back.

Grayson finally looked at him—it was the first time he had since Damian had slumped onto the floor in annoyance. Damian took in the shadows under his eyes, the slight twitch of aggravation as he tried to keep his features calm. While his father had yelled at him on quite a few occasions, Grayson had yet to lose his temper. Damian wondered how much longer that would last and when he would finally push the older man over the edge. "Exactly, Damian. She doesn't have a reason to be truthful or open. That's why I'm concerned."

Just as he was sure an argument was about to ensue once more they were interrupted by footsteps rushing down the stairs. Bruce was on the ground floor in moments, Ara trailing behind him.

All of the boys became on alert, and Damian stood quickly. "What is it, Father?"

"Hostage situation," he explained as Drake jumped out of the chair, allowing Bruce to type quickly and pull up the news feed. An elementary school showed on the screen, police surrounding the perimeter of the school. Spectators were being held back, and it was easy to identify parents who were standing by watching in terror. The bottom of the screen rolled with information about the criminals; they were demanding money for the children's lives.

Damian was heading towards the back of the cave when Bruce called, "You're staying here Damian."

He whipped around, "Father you can't be serious."

"I am," Bruce said, turning away from the screen. "If you had obeyed my orders before, I would let you come."

"But I'm Robin!" He insisted, "No one else can be!"

"Robin is benched for now," Bruce replied, "Nightwing and Red Robin will help to take down these criminals. Not to mention it's dangerous. They're targeting children and I don't want to involve you in that."

Damian grit his teeth together, balling his hands into fists. How dare his father try to keep him back. Suddenly Ara stepped forwards, "If they are focused on children, why not use their motive against them?"

Grayson stared at her, "Are you suggesting that we put children in as decoys?"

Ara gestured to herself and then to Damian, "We can lure them out from the inside and take them down easier. They will not be expecting it."

Bruce's expression was grim, and Ara persisted, her gaze level, "I know that Batman tries to save as many lives as possible. Would it be worth it to take them by surprise and save maybe one or two more children, despite the danger?"

There was silence, and Damian stood stalk still. Behind his father Grayson and Drake were watching with careful looks, not daring to interject. Damian glanced towards the screen, impatience growing. His father was going to say no, and he would be stuck here watching as others got hurt. He was Robin; he was supposed to be out on the field. As an assassin he could do even better work—

No you couldn't, Damian quickly corrected himself. That wasn't right. When his thoughts threatened to challenge his feelings again, Bruce finally spoke.

"Fine. But this is the last mission and you're benched, Damian. I mean it."