Notes: One chapter to go!
Kew: I'm from the Philippines hehehe. You will have to see what happens in this chapter and the next ;) And Richard is such a genius he hacks government websites for fun just because he could...and Bruce would argue that it would show the government their security isn't good enough :P No, I don't have a facebook account. It keeps slowing down my laptop so I can't get into the site.
It was a short run back to the Batjet. Or, it was shorter than one would expect for a hidden aircraft with an enemy stronghold nearby. But Damian had counted on his visit not taking too long for the guard patrol to discover his jet. Not to mention, he'd weighed the chances of him leaving peacefully against him leaving at a dead run (the latter scored a seventy to eighty percent chance of happening considering the pains Talia took to make Damian return) and decided that his escape would be drawing attention away from the outside perimeter.
The outdoor patrols should be returning to the base now to create a tight net around the compound - they didn't know he was already past that net.
Still, the jet was close enough for its engines to be heard by the guards so he would have to be quick about starting the jet and getting airborne.
The sleek, black outline of the jet was a welcome sight after his run through the dense jungle. His remote control commanded the cockpit to open and he leaped in, quickly setting the controls for hover. The jet rose in the air. The wheels retracted. Damian moved to turn the jet in the direction he wanted when the first ninja broke through the tree cover and aimed a rifle at the jet.
He set his jaw and engaged the boosters instead. He'll adjust his heading when he's safely in the air.
Inertia shoved him into his seat as the jet shot forward. The tree canopy fell away. Damian thought he heard the dull clanking of bullets hitting the jet but none of them penetrated into the machinery beneath so he paid them no heed. He was in the air and he would soon be clear of the League of Assassin's reach.
A far-off glint drew his attention to the rear-view screen, but it was only the light of the setting sun reflecting off the compound's windows.
He felt a stabbing pain in his chest at the sight of the remote facility receding away, but he ignored that feeling in favor of clutching his stolen vial tighter. The jet purred under his hands as it steadily accelerated - back to Father, back to his dying brother whose only chance of survival lay in his hands, back...home.
He half-expected the League of Assassins to send their fighter jets after him but after several minutes of silence, he decided that Talia thought it would be a waste of effort to follow him. The ninjas at the compound were only instructed to try to detain him; a dogfight in the air might kill him. Talia has no need to kill him yet and Damian has every need to return to the Manor.
Richard, he promised to himself, if I find your corpse before I return, I will personally hunt down your ghost and shove it back into your body.
But whatever he expected to find upon his return to the BatCave, it wasn't what greeted him an hour later.
"I do not have to answer to you, West," he snarled at the speedster's face. Damian had jumped off the Batjet to find his way blocked by Richard's weakling team staring at him with accusing eyes. He would have forced his way past them when the junior Flash stepped right in his face and demanded to know where he'd been.
His explanation would be too complicated for the telling and would take minutes - minutes his brother might not have. Not to mention he was tired and he was trying to keep his emotions under control - he wouldn't care to let these junior metahumans see the hurt his mother had inflicted. Damian rolled his shoulders back and put as much presence as he could in his glare. He was a Wayne and an al Ghul. His bloodline held as much authority as the world could give one House. "Get out of my way. I need to see Richard."
"I'm not letting you near Dick." West snarled back. "You'll never hurt him again."
This was a waste of time and the speedster should know it! Damian clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth, "Move, West, or you will regret it."
"No!"
"I warned you..." The fist he drew back would have hit the junior Flash in the nose - possibly break it and let out enough blood to distract the rest of Richard's team while he ran for his brother - but a large hand caught his fist in mid-strike.
"I'm not letting you pass, either," the clone towered over him, his gaze piercing as he firmly held Damian's fist.
Damian narrowed his eyes at the clone. West must have convinced the rest of Richard's team that he was only here to hurt his brother. It was an unfounded accusation that he had deemed minor - an oversight that Richard was now paying for with every delayed minute. He convinced himself that the renewed pain in his chest came from him not dealing with his mother's abandonment and not from their accusations as he wrenched his fist away from the clone's hand and demanded, "Did West convince you of my so-called 'evil intentions'? Did our deal not have any impact on you on what I planned for Richard?"
The clone calmly folded his arms over his chest. "Our deal was for me to look after Dick. I'm doing that."
"Nice one, Conner," the archer stepped close to stand beside the speedster. "What is it that Gandalf said? 'You shall not pass!'"
Damian aimed his glare at the archer. He wasn't familiar with the quote she referenced and he promised himself to ask Richard about it later. For now, perhaps if he indicated his familial obligations they would step aside for him. "You refuse to let me see my brother?"
"Yes," it was the Atlantean who spoke. His arms were similarly crossed over his chest as he watched him warily. "On the grounds that you explain your actions."
"I do not have to explain anything to you!" Damian exploded.
"No, but you owe me an explanation." The deep voice broke through the group of teenagers and they stepped back to allow Batman to face him. "Start talking."
Damian dropped his fists and relaxed his stance. Unlike Richard's team, Batman was a challenge he didn't want to face. Father held similarly high expectations as Talia did and demanded always a good reason for impulsive actions. But also unlike Richard's team, Father was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...or so Damian hoped.
He carefully schooled his face into a calm expression and reported, "I have the antidote for Richard's poisoning."
Father made no move to indicate surprise or glee. He simply asked, "From where?"
"Mo- Talia al Ghul." Damian caught himself from referring to her as his mother. While half of his DNA came from her, his respect for her had vanished with her discarding his brother as circus trash. Richard was more worthy of his loyalty and respect than she did and Damian owed Richard for his acceptance. "I made a bargain for my brother's life."
Father continued to watch him for a second or two. Damian glanced past him and into the MedBay, hoping he could see some part of his brother but the curtains effectively hid him from sight. Disappointed but not willing to show it, Damian turned his attention back to his Father. "Richard will need the entire contents of the vial soon." He fished out the vial he'd taken. "The toxin will continue to ravage his organs until it is stopped."
Batman kept his expression calm as he took the vial and nodded. "I'll administer it directly." He gave Damian a meaningful look that plainly said, We need to talk, before he turned and walked back to the MedBay.
Richard's team stared after Batman for a moment before rounding on him, but he wasn't in the mood to pander to their demands. He'd turned back to the Batjet to assess the damage the ninjas had wrought.
"So," West broke the heavy silence left in the wake of Batman's leaving. "How sure are you this is the right antidote?"
He shrugged without facing them. "Talia assured me it is." He counted at least two holes in the jet's armor plating and many more dents. Some of the ninjas had used armor-piercing bullets - but thankfully Father had installed a secondary inner armor after the first layer. Without that second layer, Damian might have found himself bleeding on the flight home.
" 'Talia,'" the Martian spoke up, "you called her Talia. Not...Mother."
He still refused to face them, refused to let them see how much it had hurt to have his mother reject him. But he'd made his choice and he will abide by it. "We disagreed on her plans for Richard. She and I are no longer...amiable with each other."
His answer must have satisfied them for one by one, Richard's team left him until only one was left. He wasn't certain who it was until a webbed hand grasped his shoulder.
" 'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.'" The Atlantean quoted, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "I apologize for my earlier suspicions, Damian. And I am sorry you were faced with this choice. If you wish to speak, I will listen."
Damian exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. "Update me of my brother's status." And then, because the Atlantean had offered his apologies first, "Please."
"I will."