Author's note: Okay, again, sorry for the delay. It might be like this from now on. But I hope you'll like this one a lot, because I really enjoyed writing it. It'll give some insight into Desmond's mysterious past for those who've been wondering about it since "Some Light Sleuthing." Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: None of the things in this story are mine, aside from Desmond, of course.
Chapter Nine
Bonding Time
The team returned to Mount Justice, where Artemis and Desmond showered off (separately, of course) and changed into civilian clothes like their teammates. After that they settled in the living room. Kid Flash got a text message, read it, and groaned inwardly. "What is it?" asked Robin.
"My mom," Wally grimaced. "She reminded me I have homework. I keep telling her that heroes don't need to do homework, but noooo! 'You have a responsibility to your studies, Wally.' Anyway, I've got to go. Later guys." Without waiting for anyone to respond, he sped away. The team exchanged a few looks, and chuckled. Then Desmond realized something, and looked to Conner and Megan, who were watching TV.
"Guys…" he started. "We have homework, too, don't we?" The Kryptonian locked eyes with the Martian, and then they both locked eyes with the human. The three groaned in unison, and Artemis and Robin chuckled. Artemis got out of her chair.
"Well, I don't want to keep you guys from your homework," she said. "I'll get back to Star City." The team waved goodbye as Artemis walked out of the room.
"You gonna split to, Robin?" asked Conner. The boy wonder shook his head, and reclined on his own couch.
"Nah," he drew out. "I think I'll stick around. Maybe swim a few laps in the pool. Plus, if you guys need help with anything, just let me know."
"We're two years older than you," said Desmond. "Why would you know the answer to a problem if we didn't?" Robin fixed Desmond with a weird look.
"Uh, have you met me?" He asked. The two shared a laugh, and M'gann stood up, left the room, and returned shortly with their backpacks levitating behind them. She dropped Desmond's next to his chair, and floated hers and Superboy's to their couch. She clicked off the TV, and poked Superboy in the stomach to get his books out. Robin sat up, said he was going to the pool, and left his teammates to the toughest challenge they'd faced yet.
XxXxX
Two hours later, Desmond slammed his Biology book shut. Conner and Megan looked up, alarmed at the sudden outburst of noise. "What?" asked Conner irritably.
"I can't take it anymore!" Desmond exclaimed, standing up, and knocking his papers everywhere in the process. "If I need to write out the steps of the nitrogen cycle one more time, I swear to god I'll punch a hole through the TV!" M'gann and Conner exchanged a look, and M'gann walked over to Desmond.
"Hey buddy," she said calmingly. "You've had a long day. Maybe you want to lie down or something?" Desmond glared at her a moment, but it quickly turned into a grin.
"Guys," he assured them. "I'm not really angry. Just kind of annoyed, that's all. I was exaggerating, you know. But seriously though, I am done for the night." Conner shook his head.
"We've been in school one day, and you're already not doing your homework?" he asked. Desmond tossed a couch cushion at Superboy's head.
"I'll do it," he said. "In the morning, during breakfast. No biggie," He glanced at the clock on the wall, which told him it was ten thirty. "But right now, I'm going to bed. I suggest you do too." He gestured at the clock so the others would look to it, and walked out the door towards his bedroom. "Good night!" he called over his shoulder. Desmond strode to his bedroom, and pulled off his clothes. Wearing only his boxers, Desmond crawled under his bed sheets. He was asleep in less than fifteen minutes. Little did he know, he was in for a rude awakening.
XxXxX
Desmond stirred, the soft buzzing sound in his ear growing steadily louder and louder. He moved to shut off his alarm, and found he couldn't. Not only could he not turn off the alarm, he couldn't move at all. Now he was wide awake: his eyes widened to study his new surroundings. He was tied to a chair, with thick ropes surrounding his entire body. The room he was in was dimly lit by a faint yellow light hanging above him. There was a cracked mirror in one corner, and a door directly in front of him. He looked around for a captor, but couldn't see one in the lack of light.
"I don't know who you are, or why you've done this," he called out to no one. "But I'm about to pass through this chair like it's made of air. Then, I'm going to find you." Desmond was about to lower his density, when a voice from behind him spoke up.
"I wouldn't do that," it said. The speaker, a man, had an eloquent sounding voice, but it masked a deep anger. "I've rigged an explosive to the seat of your chair. If there's any change in the weight applied to it, be it more or less, the explosive will go off. So I suggest you sit tight, and let me say what I want to say." The man walked around Desmond's back, signified by the sound of footsteps. Desmond caught a quick flash of a green cloak in the mirror across from him.
"Well," said Desmond, realizing his only option was to listen to his captor. "What exactly is it you want to say?" The man walked up to Desmond's back, and rested a hand on his shoulder gently, most likely being careful not to set off the explosive by accident.
"I want to extend to you an invitation, dear boy," it said. Desmond could recognize the voice, but couldn't connect it to a face or name. But he did have memories of this voice. Bad memories. "Come with me. We'll leave this place, with a new partnership forged, and old bonds reformed." As soon as he said it, Desmond knew who he was dealing with.
"How've you been, Dad?" asked Desmond. The figure behind him, Desmond's father, laughed a hearty and deep laugh. It reeked of evil.
"So you do remember your dear, old father," the man said. "And you still acknowledge me as your father, I see. But you haven't told your new friends, I'm sure." Desmond tensed up in his chair.
"If you harm them—" he started.
"I have not touched any of your friends," the man assured him. "And I will keep it that way, no matter what choice you make." Desmond smirked.
"You know my choice," he spat. Release me, and let me get back to Mount Justice. If you're lucky, I won't tip Batman off about this little meeting." Desmond's father chuckled loudly.
"You think it matters to me whether the Dark Knight comes looking for me or not. I will evade him, as I always have. Now, why not think over my offer again?" Desmond turned his neck, and bit the hand on his shoulder. The man reeled back and hissed. Storming around Desmond, he moved to face the captive boy. "Insolent child!" he shouted, and smacked Desmond with the back off his hand. A large ring on his finger left a small gash on Desmond's cheek, but he smiled despite the blood dribbling down his face.
"You look good, dad," Desmond said, quickly blinking away a few involuntary tears. "What is it now, seven hundred and one? Two?" To any other father, this would make no sense. But to Desmond's father, it was a clever retort. But Ra's al Ghul was not impressed.
"You mock what you cannot attain," Ra's barked. "The mystical Lazarus Pit is not to be trifled with. You disgrace the name of al Ghul when you use such rude words." Desmond shuffled uncomfortably in his chair.
"I go by Marigold now," he said. "Desmond Marigold. I left 'al Ghul' with the rest of my connections to you, and that whore who gave birth to me." Ra's chuckled again.
"I do so enjoy your spite, my boy," he said, stroking his brown and white beard. "Your mother was a fine woman. And for you, if you'd chosen to join me years ago we wouldn't be in this situation. But you've wasted the last seven years of your life running away from the al Ghul family. I've missed you, son." He reached forward, moving like he wanted to embrace his captive son. Desmond spat on the ground near his father's brown shoes. Ra's al Ghul recoiled, and snarled at his son.
"Bite me," growled Desmond. He shook his chair back and forth slightly. "Now let me out of here. I've told you my answer, and I won't change it." Ra's smirked, and turned to the wall behind Desmond. He pulled a small switch from out of his pocket, and flipped it. There was the sound of metal sliding against metal, followed by footsteps. They sounded like high heels. Desmond craned his neck looking for a better view, but realized his limited mobility meant he had to wait for the new visitor to walk into his direct line of sight to find out who it was. Luckily for Desmond, the wait was short. Before him strode a girl, maybe mid twenties, with dark skin and brunette hair. She wore a green and black jumpsuit, and had a few knives strapped to her legs. Talia al Ghul, Desmond's half sister.
"Brother!" she exclaimed, rushing to hug Desmond.
"Do not touch him, Talia my dear," warned Ra's. "Touching him could set off an explosion that may kill us all. Proceed accordingly." With that, Desmond and Talia's father strode out of the same doorway that Talia had entered from. With the flick of a switch, the large metal door shut again. Talia leaned forward and kissed him once on each cheek. Desmond smiled warmly at his half sister's presence. Though he hated his father with a passion akin to Lex Luthor's hatred for the Man of Steel, Desmond was always attached to his sister, despite the age difference, and her occasional choice of morality.
"Desmond, it has been too long," she said. "How are you? Father has told me about your involvement with some new team. Of heroes, yes? Oh, I think it's wonderful!" Desmond shook his head quickly.
"Talia, now's not the time for this," Desmond said, trying to make her focus on the situation. "I need you to make father let me out of here. And then I need to warn my team." Talia bit her lip, looking conflicted.
"Desmond," she started slowly. "You know I can do no such thing. Father wouldn't hesitate to kill us both if I did. And after that, he would send his League of Shadows after the rest of your team. He'll let you go when he's ready." There was a moment of silence between the two, as Desmond realized she was right. Desmond so wished he could just phase out of the chair, but Ra's had said the slightest change in weight would set off the bomb. Desmond wouldn't have enough time to lower his density to the point where he was past injury before the bomb went off. Plus, he had Talia to think about. Suddenly she spoke up again. "Maybe… maybe you should join father." Desmond's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"WHAT?!" he demanded of her. "Talia, you sound like a lunatic! Why would I ever, ever, join that madman? He wants to wipe out the JLA. I could never get behind him with a plan like that. And he abandoned me when I was little, lest you forget." Talia seemed deep in thought.
"Your powers…" she mused. "They're not from father, or your mother. And father does not have the ability to grant power on others. What you have is unique, and it would be beneficial for father to have you on his side. You could have a position among his shadows; a high ranking. And you would finally reconcile with our father. Oh, how I want us to be a real family." Desmond sneered at the idea.
"Talia, I love you," he said. "And I trust you with my life. But I know father is putting you up to this. And no matter what choice I make here, we'll never be a real family. That man outside may have helped conceive me, but he's not my father. And he never will be, as far as I'm concerned. Now tell him I'm done here. I've made my decision. I'm staying with Young Justice." Talia stared at Desmond, and he watched a single tear roll down her cheek. She sniffed, and stood up.
"If you are certain," she said quietly. "Who am I to stop you? I will have father release you now." She walked away solemnly, and wrapped her knuckles on the wall. Desmond heard it slide open, heard Talia walk out, and heard it slide shut again. Desmond rocked back and forth slightly.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Get me out of here!" Suddenly there was a sounds like someone letting air out of a balloon, and a gas the color of vomit started filling up the room. Desmond coughed and coughed, then tried to stop breathing. But he eventually had to inhale, and the moment he did so, he began feeling light headed. Soon his vision was getting fuzzy. In a matter of seconds, he'd blacked out.
XxXxX
Desmond awoke with a start. He jumped up, his fists ready to strike the first person who came near him. Then he realized where he was: back in his room at Mount Justice. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the clock. It was seven in the morning. He listened closely, and could hear the footsteps of Superboy as he hurried to be ready for school. Desmond relaxed, and moved to his wardrobe to get some clothes for school. He pulled on a shirt advertising the Metropolis Sharks (Desmond's favorite football team) and a pair of jeans. He went to leave his room, and just before shutting off the light, muttered to himself, "Good seeing you, dad."
So, that one was slightly more serious than the others. I bet you didn't see that coming, though. Ra's al Ghul being Desmond's father? Yeah, it happened. Hey, when you're alive for over 700 years, you tend to "get around," if you know what I mean. Please continue reading, and thanks for your patients.
