"But even though I've been lost all the time, I got hooks in my sides that you left there." –Homesick, Radical Face

Talia's helicopter landed on the small tarmac just as a plane left three boys behind. She narrowed her eyes, a prickle on the back of her neck telling her these were more Batboys and, even though her son was among them, now was not the time.

"Get out there and make sure they don't cause any complications. Do not initiate a fight, but you may engage if necessary. Only the two elders, though; leave my son out of it."

The three guards scurried out of the chopper, and Talia was content to sit there and wait it out, rubbing the base of Jason's scalp soothingly.

But then, Jason did something he had never done in her presence before. He moved away from her and touched the window, looking out towards his brothers.

Nightwing saw, even though the guards were blocking his way. "Jay!" he yelled, and tried to push past one of the other men. The guard took Nightwing's arm and twisted it behind his back. He started to fight back when Talia interrupted.

"Stop!" she ordered, and the guard immediately released his hold. Red Robin exhaled audibly, while Nightwing rubbed his shoulder. Talia took Jason's hand in her own and walked towards the other boys. Damian tried not to fidget. "You boys have come a long way but you must turn back. This exchange will only harm Jason further." Jason remained impassive by her side.

"We're not here to stop you-" Nightwing started.

"Though we probably should be," Red Robin mumbled, earning him a pointed glare.

Nightwing continued. "We get that Jason . . . chose you." He swallowed thickly, the sentence harder to say than he anticipated. "We respect that this is his wish. But, your father is not going to give up the Pit just like that; you're going to need help if you don't want Jason to get hurt."

Talia contemplated the vigilante's words. "Jason chose me because I cared for him while he was here. I did not save my love for guilt and remorse once he was gone."

Red Robin couldn't help it. "You love him?" he blurted.

Talia glared at him and then looked gently on Jason, who she knew was listening despite his outward appearance. "It is . . . hard not to," she conceded.

To his credit, Nightwing tried really hard not to laugh, but a couple of chuckles came out anyway. "I'm sorry," he wheezed out immediately after. "It's just that I usually think the exact opposite."

Talia kept the snarl off of her face, but it still infused her tone. "Yes, a fiercely loyal companion, brilliant planner, tragic victim, and unconquered survivor. I can see why you all find it difficult to act civil."

"Look, when it comes to Jason, we are all a little at fault," Tim said. "We haven't come here to fight you, with words or otherwise. Contrary to how it seems now, we're here to help."

"Good," Ra's said, stepping out of the black car they all failed to notice. Five assassins followed him. "My daughter and her little pet are going to need all the help they can obtain."

Everyone fanned out and took a fighting stance except for Talia, who held a defensive position in front of Jason. Nightwing rolled his shoulder once to make sure it was still up to par and took a look at the number they had. Unfortunately, knowing their place, the guards with Talia joined the assassins with Ra's. That made it eight versus four, five if they counted Jason, which Dick didn't.

Nightwing counted again and tilted his head to one side. "How did all six of you fit in that car? Doesn't cramming mess with your style?"

"You're not helping, Nightwing," Robin growled from his position a few feet to the left.

Ra's paid no attention to them. "I am not unreasonable, Talia," he said, an edge apparent in his voice. "Stop this nonsense and leave him to the Detective."

"The Detective scorns Jason. Surely you do not want him to suffer as a prisoner of his own mind?"

"He will not use the Pit a second time. I don't care about your feelings towards either of them. Do you not remember the sociopath that came out of those waters?" Ra's was agitated, but focused on his daughter; Nightwing took this opportunity to move forward a bit, closer to the henchmen. His brothers did the same.

Surprisingly, it was one of Talia's guards that had moved to the other side who initiated the fight, grabbing a nearby assassin from behind and snapping his neck. Red Robin's eyes widened; he wasn't prepared for it to escalate quite that far. Using the dead body as armor, he evaded attacks from another assassin, and then tossed the body on top of the attacker. Two men rushed Talia but Robin jumped on one, knocking the wind out of him as he fell onto the concrete. The second made it to Talia before she swept her leg underneath him and he also fell. She kicked a blade he had produced out of his jacket, causing it to skid away from him, and then knocked him out with a precise kick to the skull.

Talia looked over to the others. Her son was engaging the attacker he had bowled over, dodging swipes of a small blade. Suddenly, Robin jumped up, knocking the man's hand in the process. The knife was then grabbed out of the air by Damian, who landed in a crouched position and drove the blade into the man's thigh. He screamed in pain and fell once again, clutching at his leg. Talia smirked and turned to where Jason had been standing.

Ra's was now standing behind him, sword held against Jason's neck.