Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Summary- Even a well trained assassin makes mistakes in her youth.

Disclaimer- The characters of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight belong to Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, David Goyer, Bob Kane, and other associated with the creation of the world of Gotham. I do not own the characters. I merely dabble in the world.

Talia Ducard carefully removed her hairpins. She studied one, running her finger over its top, feeling the deadly point. She set it down quickly. Her fingers curled around a pen, only to release it a moment later. She'd write her father from the road, she decided. Hopefully he'd forgive her someday, but she couldn't go through with this assignment.

A knock at the door distracted the seventeen-year-old. She rose and threw open the door. A man nearly ten years her senior walked in. Talia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He gripped her side and pulled her closer.

"Arya," Talia whispered. The kissed again, and she broke it only when his hand grazed her chest. She sat on her bed. "When do we leave?"

"Soon," he cooed.

"And we'll marry?"

"Just before we leave." His smile made her smile as well.

Talia allowed him to sit beside her. He stroked her hair, tangling strands of it in his fingers. His other had caressed her side. Talia wondered how her father had been so wrong. Arya was nothing like she'd been told. He was handsome, warm, and gentle. He had treated her with respect, whispered vows of love and proposals of marriage. So different than the cruel rajah she'd expected, a man who squandered money on whores to satisfy his lust and abandoned his people for weeks at a time to indulge in some new sin.

Talia smiled at the feeling of his lips on her throat.

"You're very good," Arya whispered. Before Talia could reply, he threw her onto the bed and pinned her. She stared up at him, confused. He laughed. "Very good. I almost believed you."

"Arya," Talia whispered, "what—"

"I know," he hissed. "Whoever sent you was smart. A beautiful young woman? The perfect assassin." He held her shoulders tighter. "If you'd just slept with me, you'd be done, but your 'virtuous' act gave one of your people time to get greedy. He sold you out."

Talia stared up at the man, her mind spinning. She came to her senses when his hand moved from her shoulder to grab her thigh.

"Can't let a good thing go to waste, though. I'll kill you after I'm done."

Talia screamed. She thrashed on the bed long enough for his to discount her attempts. As Arya held her down, waiting for her to wear herself out with ineffective movement, she slammed her hand up, striking between his eyes. The blow disoriented him enough for Talia to get up. She hurried to her dresser and retrieved a hairpin. She looked at Arya with tears in her eyes.

Before she could speak, the door was forced open. Henri Ducard entered and surveyed the scene. A large man waited behind him.

"Father, he—"

Ducard looked at his daughter. "Silence." He gave Arya a glare that dared him to move. He looked at his companion. "Kamal, I will finish here. Take my daughter to the ship and get her settled in her room. Keep her out of my sight."

"Father, I—" Talia began. She reached out to touch his arm. He slapped her across the face.

"You are a disgrace," he snapped. "If you have any sense, you will leave now. When we return to Mongolia, you will intensify your training and not leave or show your face near me until I send for you." The tears on his daughter's face only hardened his gaze. "Go."

Kamal stepped forward to Talia's arm and lead her from the room. He politely pretended not to see the tears that fell.