Chapter 6
"Jason, are you sure this is wise?" Talia asked with concern written on her face. They were in the middle of traffic at the moment, their limo caught on the Bridge from the city to Bristol County. Inside were Jason, Talia, and Aya all of whom were traveling to Wayne Manor for a visit.
"Wise? Probably not." Jason said casually.
Talia did not take that well, "Child, you must learn to think! You are the Demon Head, you must be able to make wise decisions in order to achieve your goals! The culling was an acceptable start, but a single slip-up could be your end, Lazarus pit or not."
"Talia, you know that this has nothing to do with my goals." Jason replied, "This is for you and, to a lesser extent, me. You are more than aware that love is not a logical thing, otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to become my governor and not the Head."
The League of Assassins is a highly structured and well-maintained system, now more than ever since Jason's rise (and the culling). At the top stands Jason as the Demon's Head, next are Talia and Nyssa as the governors, after that stand masters like Lady Shiva and Bronze Tiger, below them are the enforcers who keep the lower members in line, even further down are the handlers (people who create shell businesses and safe havens for the League), and, finally, the assassins and initiates take up the lowest levels of the League. Anything below those positions are created when an assignment is passed down.
"Anyway, we are going there because I know you want to spend time with Damian, but you are aware that Bruce doesn't want you anywhere near him." Jason continued sullenly, "Talia, Damian has been kept from you for far too long. First by your Father and now by Bruce, you love Damian very much; you deserve your time with your little boy."
Talia sat in silence for a moment before hugging Jason to her side, "Thank you, Jason. Both you and Damian will always be my lovely children."
"Try not to fuck your other son." Jason quipped cheekily to the now flushing Talia.
At the Manor, chaos was present, well at least more than usual as all the Bat Family was present. Damian sat waiting on the stairs near the front door, Cass and Steph stood nearby watching the excited boy with amused expressions. Tim and Barbara sat in the room next to the vestibule working on backed up cases, while Dick and Alfred stood to the sides of a brooding Bruce, who if you knew him as well as they did was obviously nervous.
Bruce had very complicated feelings when it came to the current Jason. He loved the boy very much, but he was wary of him due to his connection with the League. He knew that he was emotionally repressed and if he tried to talk to Jason he would likely royally screw it up like he has in the past with the rest of his children. He wanted his Jay-lad home, but could he still trust him? He's been with the League for so long! He should have been home! The only reason he could think of for his boy not returning home would be if Ra's and by extension Talia kept him from leaving. First Damian, now Jason! What will she keep from me next?! He thought furiously from his position in his chair.
He wanted his son home. He replayed that night at the Clocktower over and over again in his head, trying to make sense of the man his son had become. He grew, by god, he grew from a wiry boy into a brick house. His eyes were not the same as they used to be. They used to be alight with indignation and a dark humor, but now they were sharper, deadly, and possessed a calmness that could not be compared with what they were before; when the pit flared its furious head, his eyes became the personification of murder. The voice that used to shout incessant curses at the lowlifes of Gotham and bark a mocking, almost cruel, laugh was now uttered with a dangerous tone. His voice spoke with an authority that was beyond his years and seemed to quell any resistance with a mere whisper. His boy had grown into a dangerous person; he reminds him, unfortunately, of Talia. Damn her…
"Master Bruce, I share your worries, but Master Jason has returned. I believe it would be best to welcome him home with a smile." Alfred suggested while patting Bruce's shoulder. The old butler had always adored Jason, despite the rough edges the boy had. Many times, Bruce would find Alfred and Jason talking as if they truly were grandfather and grandson; telling secrets and learning things from each other. The old butler may have even told Jason things even he had not known despite Alfred being his pseudo-father. Alfred may not ever admit it, but Jason would always hold a special place in his heart.
"Yeah, come on, B!" Dick agreed.
Before Bruce could say anything to convince them that this was a bad idea, they heard the buzzer for the front gate. Everyone seemed to get up at once to invite their guest in but were ultimately dissuaded by one wry look from the old butler. Alfred checked to see who it was before confirming that it was Jason and remotely unlocking the gate. Half a minute later a limo pulled up in front of the steps to the manor.
As soon as the driver, Aya, opened the door for Jason Bruce felt slightly light-headed. Out came Jason, who was helping Talia out, he had changed so much from the scrawny little street kid Bruce had almost been robbed by in that alley. He grew into his shoulders… Bruce thought, melancholy consuming him. While initially elated to see Jason, he now felt anger to see the woman by his side. How dare she show her face here? She better have a good explanation for being here…
Before Bruce could push his way to meet his lost son a blur passed by him. "Jay!" the blur yelled, elated. The blur turned out to be Damian, who was now firmly planted on Jason's side. "Why is Mother here?" the boy asked warily.
"I would appreciate an answer to that as well." Bruce gruffly demanded as he approached them.
Jason did not answer either of their questions, as he was currently staring up at the manor. His face did not show the expression of one who has returned to their home after a long journey, in fact, he had no expression whatsoever, only a slight melancholic sheen to his eye. "Hm…?" Finally noticing that Bruce, Damian, and Talia were looking at him Jason gave a small smile, "What was that I wasn't really listening?"
"Father and I wish to know why Mother is here," Damian repeated with a confused look.
"Ah, right…" Jason muttered, "Let's talk about that inside, there's much to do and so little time in the day."
Saying that Jason walked past them with Aya trailing a few feet behind him. Talia and Damian followed Jason after a few moments, letting Bruce take up the rear.
After climbing the stairs to the front doors Jason was met by a softly smiling Alfred, "Master Jason…" the old butler whispered, eyes clouding slightly, "…welcome home, my boy…"
Jason took in the sight of the dapper older man and gave him a sad smile, "None of that…" he murmured as he hugged Alfred tenderly.
Slowly pulling back from his once-upon-a-time Grandfather, the two shared one last smile before leading the others into the manor vestibule. As soon as they stepped through the large wooden doors the rest of the "family" leapt to the task, literally for Dick, of welcoming Jason back while eyeing Talia and Aya suspiciously.
After finishing their welcoming, Jason turned back to Alfred, "Hey, Alf, if you would, please bring some tea down to the cave. You know the kind, right?"
The aging butler shot a look over to Bruce, who nodded hesitantly, before replying, "Of course, Master Jason."
"So, now that we're down here could you please explain why they are here?" Dick asked a bit impatiently. Dick had never liked Talia; since the day he met her he had despised her. Over the years her cruel and merciless actions only cemented his hatred for her. Her family's treatment of Damian didn't help either. Dick has nothing personal against Aya, but her ties to the League certainly made her a threat, so he will treat her as such.
Jason gave Dick a sideline glace, while taking in the cave, and said, "Aya is always by my side, as she is my friend and attendant. Talia is the major reason why I am here, so do tread carefully, Dick."
Hearing this Bruce turns his cold eyes to Talia, "What is it that you want, Talia?"
If Talia was affected by Bruce's glare then she certainly didn't show it, "Jason has pointed out that I have not had much time to be with my son, so he has brought me to rectify that while he attends to a different matter." Talia said confidently.
"Absolutely not! You have no right to see Damian after what you and your Father put him through!" Bruce spoke angerly, while Dick nodded behind him.
"I have more than enough right to see my own son!" Talia responded with vehemence, "You will not deprive him of me!"
"Enough!" Jason yelled, the pit flaring fiercely behind his eyes before calming after he captured everyone's attention, "It is sad to say, but both of you are wrong."
"What?" Talia, Bruce, and Dick muttered simultaneously (much to their collective annoyance).
"Damian is an intelligent child, he may make the decision as to who he may or may not see." Jason scolded Bruce, Talia, and Dick, much to everyone's surprise and amusement, "Plus… You two don't know what it was like when Damian was growing up, do not think that Talia, who loves that boy dearly, would torture him like you seem to think she did!"
Jason then diverted his attention to Damian, "Dami, come here."
"Yes, brother…?" Damian asked nervously. He may never vocally confirm it, but he loved his Mother and Father deeply; seeing them at each other's throats hurts him. I also slightly scared him that Jason had such a hold over both of them; to be able to silence and scold them like this. It seems that his time apart from his brother has yielded some surprising results.
"Damian, you are the one who decides who you want in your life. Do not allow anyone to tell you otherwise. You are your own master, no matter what Ra's taught you, understand?"
"…but, what about- "
Before Damian could continue Bruce cut in, "Jason! Do not tell me how to raise my son!"
"Oh, because you've never screwed up raising a kid, right?" Jason snarked, bitingly. That one seemed to cut Bruce like a knife, as evidence of the man's mouth clicking audibly shut in fury. "Now Dami, do you wish for me to be in your life?"
"Of course! "Damian vehemently replied.
"Do you wish for Bruce to be in your life?"
"Absolutely," Damian said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Ok, now be completely honest with me, little one. Do you wish to at least be in contact with our Mother?" Jason said with his voice as serious as possible.
At first, it seemed like Damian would not answer, but it became apparent that he was only whispering to Jason. "… do… that…" the boy whispered out to his brother.
"Say it so they can hear you, Dami. I am not the one you need to tell." Jason coaxed, his tone light but still authoritative.
The boy looked up at his parents and said "I do wish that…" with a pleading look on his face.
"Thank you, Dami." Jason affectionately said while he ruffled Damian's hair. He then sent a glance to both Talia and Bruce, "Come here." They didn't move, at first, but as Jason continued to stare at them Talia walked over with Bruce just behind her.
As they reached their child, they glared at each other. One glare filled with thoughts of the lies the other had subjected him to. The other glare was packed with a confusing mess of longing, fury, and hope. The longing was for a life where she could be with those she loved, the fury is against the man who seems dead-set on making that life impossible, and the hope was for the dream she wished would come to fruition.
The two glares softened when they turned to their sons, one of blood and the other of relation. "Don't screw this up." The larger one said with a tone that brokered no resistance.
"Damian." Bruce said, his voice thick with reluctance, "Look at me."
"Yes, Father…?" Damian responded, his eyes still pleaded for what he desired, but were quickly being overcome with resignation.
Bruce didn't speak, at first. There was a war waging in his mind, one side fought for the safety of his child; the other fought for his son's happiness. He thought about what his father would have done in this situation. Would he even allowed for such a situation to happen in the first place? The war waged hard, but the winner was decided when he saw his son's eyes. "You may stay in contact with your mother, as long as it is safe."
Both Damian and Talia clearly didn't expect that answer, since both their heads snapped to look at him. "Truly, Father?!" Damian squeaked excitedly.
Bruce looked at the dark-haired beauty beside him for a moment before replying to Damian, "Yes…"
A few more minutes past with Bruce and Talia discussing the arrangements and limitations of the contact before the came to a resolution. "Is this enough, Talia…?" Bruce asked in a tired tone.
"Yes, Beloved, this is sufficient," Talia responded with a satisfied voice.
With that resolved, Alfred chimed in, "Well, while this is a lovely occasion, I wish to know why else you are here, Master Jason. You did say that arranging contact between Miss al Ghul and Master Damian was your 'major objective'. What are the other reasons why you are here?"
"Oh, you're right, Alf. I nearly forgot why I came here!" Jason exclaimed light-heartedly. He then stood and approached Cass, who was perched on a chair by the bat-computer. "Cass, my dear sister!" Jason said sweetly.
Cass responded with a sweet smile of her own, "Yes, brother dearest?" Her response baffled a few of the family but was ultimately seen as adorable.
"I challenge you to a duel." And like that, the sweet atmosphere was shattered and replaced by something truly sinister.