Oh my head. Wait? Is that my father?
Keeping completely still just zoning in on the two voices that she can hear silently going back and forth as she thinks back to everything that has happened in the past week only to have her mind come up blank suppressing the urge to groan just as she is about to open her eyes suddenly Talia's lips curl upwards slightly when she feels a hand gently roaming through her hair.
A hand that she instantly knew who the owner was. Instantly knew by how gentle he was being with her.
Even if he had never done anything like this with her before. But if she had her way then there would be many moments like this in their future.
Moments of her just laying in his arms. Much like she can feel her head resting down on his lap as his fingers gently roam through her hair.
So gently that it takes everything in her not to turn and smile up towards him. Instead she would just lay motionless allowing him to pamper her.
Allow him to watch over her much like she would do if the roles were reversed. Such a confusing situation for her.
Confusion that had invaded her mind so many months ago. Confusion that followed her all the way home as she studied this man.
Studied everything about him learning a great deal about this man. This great man in her opinion. A man of many mysteries.
Of many secrets that she hoped to unfold one day. To hear from his lips. But for now she would wait. She would wait and just enjoy the moment.
Just enjoy of feeling so….loved right now. Yes that was the right word. A word that makes her lips flicker upward causing a silent chuckle to be heard that makes her freeze on the spot.
" It seems that my daughter is finally awake but is not yet ready to join us. Don't mind her. She can be quite….dare i say stubborn at times."
Snapping her eyes wide open turning her head slightly to look across the room as she finds her father staring directly at her with a flicker of a smile across his face unable to keep the silent growl from escaping her lips causing her to hear another chuckle come from him not even bothering to suppress it an intense glare comes across Talia's face.
" Father."
Hearing the cold tone in her voice glancing down as he feels her slowly removing her head from his lap to sit upright right as he sees her body start to tense up as though she is about to strike in a sudden move Batman leaps up to his feet just in time to wrap his arms around Talia from behind as she lunges forward at her father.
" You bastard!"
Crossing his legs gently placing his jointed hands down on his thigh keeping still Raus watches with amusement as Talia continues to lunge forward at him only to be stopped by Batman.
" It is good to see you too."
" Bastard! You lied to me!"
Feeling herself being gently lifted up as she struggles to break free only to feel a strong pair of arms holding her firmly seeing her father only staring at her with nothing but amusement in a sudden move rearing back Talia spits over towards her father.
Raising up his hand bringing an guard that had been making their way forward to come to a drastic halt reaching into his pocket slowly Raus pulls out a handkerchief and wipes his face as a scowl comes across his face.
" Be careful child. My mercy has limits."
" I have seen the limits of your mercy! And i tell you now, I bow to no man!"
Snapping her head to glare over her shoulder at Batman seeing him glaring over in Raus's direction reaching down gently Talia lays her hands down on his own before as though he was getting the message she feels his arms slowly unwrapping from her waist causing her to feel her feet to hit the ground.
Turning back towards Raus instantly Talia's eyes widen when she sees Raus smiling over towards her.
" Indeed you have. You'll make me proud once i'm gone."
Seeing her facial features softening but only for a brief second rising up from his seat slowly Raus makes his way out of the room quickly followed by his personal guard as two set of eyes watch his every move until he is gone.
Letting out a sigh leaning back gently into his chest slowly Talia takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes.
" Thank you beloved."
Feeling his arms gently wrapping around her waist from behind feeling her lips curling upward leaning her head back slowly Talia opens her eyes to see Batman grinning over at her.
" That could have gone better."
Returning the grin turning her head back forward towards where her father had disappeared slowly Talia's facial features harden.
" Yes it could have but i find myself quite comfortable in your arms."
Feeling her only leaning back more into his touch feeling his grin widening gently Batman brings her closer to his chest.
" I could get used to this."
" Oh?"
Quickly turning in his embrace finding a flicker of a smile across his face feeling her lips curling upward reaching out gently Talia wraps her arms around the back of his neck.
" So you are considering my proposal then?"
Casually shrugging his shoulders masking his emotions to the best of his abilities despite the eyes that are baring into him as though they were staring into his own soul turning his gaze away just as he looks away suddenly Batman feels his head being turned back when he feels her hand underneath his chin.
" Are you beloved?"
Staring deep into his eyes as she sees his lips curling upward for a split second slowly a small smile comes across Talia's face.
" Good. I would hate to have to take out my anger on you."
Feeling his own lips curling up gently Batman wraps his arms around her waist as he feels her fingers starting to play with the back of his cowl.
" Maybe you still will have too."
Raising up an eyebrow leaning forward just as she sees him doing the same Talia comes to a sudden halt just before their lips touch.
" So you like it rough huh beloved? I like that."
Without giving him a chance to react instantly Talia crashes her lips to his own feeling him returning the kiss in tenfold.
" Now beloved. Tell me what have you and my father been discussing? You have me at an disadvantage."
Staring out into the hot horizon ignoring the breeze that creeps up through the desert sending a wave of heat that strikes up against her sweat covered face keeping her arms firmly crossed over her chest staring straight ahead with nothing but a look of pure hatred across her face as the seconds tick on by Talia can't help but review the past week.
An eventful week to say the least. A week full of discoveries. All starting with him. Starting with what some could be considered to be her crush.
The very same man that could be found still sound asleep inside of her bed just behind her. A truly strong man.
A man that has continued to amaze her with every single passing second that they have spent together.
Seconds that she has longed for so long to have. So longed to feel this loved. To feel as though they were the center of someone's world.
Much like she has felt these past few days. Days where she has spent every passing second with him. Every second learning even more about him and in return giving him the same in return.
Information that has allowed them to get closer in such a quick manner. Maybe too quick for some liking but close nonetheless.
But that is not what is on her mind at this given moment. No the only word on her mind is betrayal. Not of the man behind her.
No betrayal from her own flesh and blood. Betrayal from her father. Such a deep betrayal. To fracture her trust.
All for his own personal gain and not her own. To have her beloved take his place. Not in her heart. No but in the league.
A league that she has been taught to always believe in. To always treat as a family. To follow the rules that have been laid down for centuries.
Rules that she has followed all of her life believing in her father. Believing her was doing the right thing. Believing what they were doing was the right thing to do.
But now? Now that the trust was broken maybe? Just maybe it wasn't as black and white as she saw it before.
Now some of the functions of the league that she had agreed with before didn't look so great no longer.
Maybe it was time. Time for the league to die. Die along with her father. Her father that she knew only had a couple of short hours left.
Maybe even days if he was lucky. Days that were clearly numbered. Days that were like a ticking clock to her as she ponders a decision.
The most important decision of her life. Should she stay or should she go? Should she allow the league to die along with her father or should she convince her beloved to stay here and take up the reins.
A decision that she knew would change things forever. A decision that causes her to glance back over her shoulder and back into her chambers at him seeing him still sleeping peacefully where she had left him.
A man that she has shared her bed with on so many nights. A man that she would do anything for. Much like in her heart she knew he would do the same for her.
And that made the decision so much easier.
Resting her sword down in its rightful resting place inside of the glass shelf throwing back her hood only to take off her mask covering half of her face reaching up to tug the scrunchie from her hair rearing back Talia throws back her hair allowing it to flow freely down her back before slowly without breaking her stride she makes her way over towards the Batcomputer where she can see Barbara busy at work updating a couple of files.
Or so that is what she wanted everyone to think. But she knew the truth. And the truth was in her eyes. Eyes that continue to wander over towards the training area when nobody is looking to stare at Dick while he is training.
An well kept secret that causes a flicker of a smile to come across Talia's face as she discards her gloves onto a nearby table before she silently makes her way over to stand behind Barbara's chair.
Stand behind not even being noticed before very slowly she leans down to whisper into the red head's ear.
" Enjoying the view?"
Getting the reaction she was looking for in the form of Barbara jumping up in total surprise only to turn and glare over in her direction with a smile coming across her face leaning back down slowly Talia nods in Dick's direction before she whispers out.
" If you want it to happen your going to have to be the instigator. Men can be so stubborn at times."
" Like your beloved?"
Feeling her lips curling upward with a slight nod Talia glances over her shoulder at the stone steps.
" Much like my beloved. Speaking of which has he been any trouble?"
Letting out a snort turning her gaze back forward slowly Barbara continues her work.
" We are talking about the same man aren't we? There's always trouble when it's about him."
" What did he do?"
" Well lets just say it took myself and Dick along with a strong minded Alfred to get him to return to bed.
Even with a broken back he was hellbent on going out there with you."
Nodding her head in understanding turning on her heels slowly Talia makes her way over towards the stairs unaware that Barbara is watching her retreating back.
" Wait!? What about Bain?"
Come to an halt glancing over her shoulder as she sees Barbara staring at her with questionable eyes reaching into her coat slowly Talia retracts her hand before in a sudden move she throws the concealed object over her shoulder only to watch it land directly between them.
An object that makes Barbara's eyes go as wide as saucers. Bain's mask. The assassin powerhouse's mask.
Only this mask was completely covered in blood. Completely covered in crimson where a noticeable cut can be seen through the middle of the mask.
Glancing up as she finds Talia staring at her with a stone cold look gulping her throat slowly Barbara nods her head.
" Well….that takes care of that at least."
Feeling her lips curling upward with a slight nod over to her side Talia watches Barbara turn towards where she had nodded only to watch the red head's face blushing bright red that matched her hair perfectly when her eyes find Dick shirtless taking a drink of water.
" Remember what i said Babs. i'll see you later."
Nodding her head slowly as she retrieves a nod Barbara watches Talia slowly disappear up the stairs before she turns her attention back towards the computer screen.
" By the way. Good work today. You lead me straight to him."
Unable to keep the pleased smile from coming across her face coming to a stop making sure to use the shadows as cover as she glances down to find Barbara make her way over towards Dick feeling her smile only widening emerging from her hiding space slowly Talia makes her way up the stone steps.
