After a couple of nights Damian was getting used to wearing diapers. His problem hadn't gone away but he was more relaxed than he had been in a while. He didn't have to worry about the possibility of anyone else finding out when he went to do laundry and he wasn't losing sleep over the issue. Of course the feelings of shame the infantile garment brought were a constant presence and despite there talk he constantly questioned weather Grayson's feelings toward him had changed. He knew he was loved but were his capabilities regarded in the same way as before? He tried to assure himself but the doubt nagged at the back of his mind like a plague.


He couldn't believe it! The audacity of Grayson and Drake to do this to him. The biggest Arkham breakout since Bruce died and he was stuck working the coms. Grayson didn't want him out while there was a chance the joker was around. They didn't yet know exactly who escaped only that Batgirl and Black Bat were trying to capture Killer Croc before too much damage could be unleashed, the Red Hood and Batwoman were forming a unusual alliance to take down bane, Batman was fighting Blockbuster single handedly and Damian knew he could use backup. Bluebird a lesser known vigilante had crawled out of retirement to help some of the normal patients who had left during the chaos, many of them posed a threat not to others but to themselves and it was good to have someone working to protect them. Drake's villain was of a similar caliber to Drake himself at least in Damian's opinion. How he had failed to take down killer moth already was a true display of his patheticness. Suddenly he lost visual on Batman. He tried to contact him via the com but it was to no avail. He then heard the familiar voice of Oracle coming in through the com system."Robin I can take care of the comms I think dicks in trouble". Damian didn't hesitate he rant to the r-cycle and headed toward dicks last known location". He used the tracer in the bat suit to determine Grayson was in an abandoned warehouse near the alley they had been fighting in. Had Grayson hidden himself there when he was injured? Or was this a trap? Even if it was a trap it wouldn't matter he had to rescue his brother. He cautiously entered the warehouse only to find Grayson unconscious on the floor he ran over and was relieved to find him breathing. He sent a message to oracle asking for a med evac. He heard footsteps from behind, slow, deliberate footsteps. He turned to face none other than his biological mother Talia Al Ghul.

"I'm surprised it took you so long to get out of the cave, it's almost as though they don't think you are strong enough to fight"

"I can assure you mother, if the only reason that they would hold me back is because I would be too effective at cleaning up this mess that you have created"

"who says that I created this mess, I am merely taking advantage of an opportunity"

"it seems unlikely that you would show up so soon after an Arkham breakout, what do you seek to gain from this"

"ah Damian always so blunt, I'll return the favor and get right to the point. I have come to destroy my incompetent son"

"mother I can assure you that if you attempt to engage me in combat you will meet an untimely demise".

"What happened to your father's no killing policy, perhaps it died with him?"

Said Thalia smiling. Damian didn't look around the room but he knew there must be several ninja waiting for Thalia's command, he couldn't risk a full on fight with his brother in critical condition. He had to act like he would comply with whatever this madwoman demanded. Pretending to be amenable to killing would probably please her.

"Every rule has an exception"

"I'm surprised Damian I thought you had become weak at your father's hand but it now seems that your ability to do what needs to be done is intact. Perhaps your not a lost cause after all"

"If you have come here to attempt to kill me, as so many of your Assassins have failed to do then get on with it".

"Damian I never wanted to kill you, but I couldn't have an Al Ghul running around with Batman and refusing to kill, and when I heard of your latest display of weakness I knew it was time to end you before anyone found out"

Damian froze, she couldn't possibly know what had been happening to him could she? Seeing his shock Thalia spoke up.

"I always have eyes on you dear son I know where your family goes, what they buy, and who they buy it for. But fret not we can fix it, come with me we will make you strong again" Damian felt tears threaten to drip down his eyes but he refrained. He weighed his options.

"If I go with you Grayson will be spared?"

"If you come with me Gotham will be spared, I will have the league return the escaped to arkham, and the scum that you have grown so attached to will be spared. Furthermore we will make you strong once again"

"And if I refuse?"

"You will die, batman and all of your associates will die, the league will join the madmen of arkham and the city will burn" declared thalia before leaning in and whispering so only Damian could hear "and your corpse will be stripped naked, befitted with a diaper and placed on display at nanda parbat as a warning of the weakness that comes when you align yourself with the wrong side". Damian blushed the thought of his humiliation outlasting himself was too much to bear. In the league death was supposed to be honorable, pride outlasting all. To humiliate someone after their own death would be the greatest punishment. However even that price was nothing compared to the loss of his family members and his city. He knew what he had to do to defend his family, his city, and his pride.

"In that case my choice is obvious, I shall return to the league and seek repentance for my mistakes". Damian was lead towards a league plane, he glanced back at his brothers unconscious form knowing he had made the right decision. I will make this right he vowed in his head.