Neal's POV
Twenty minutes later found him in a safe house. It was sparse but nice considering who owned it.
Ra's shared a whiskey with him and they sat in chairs opposite of each other. Neal kept his shoulder pressed into his side.
Despite it being months since he returned from the dead it still pained him. Like his shoulder it would be an injury that would pain him for the rest of his life.
Ra's inquired as they sipped the whiskey, "Why did you leave Gotham, Richard? You had a good life there."
Neal sat back swirling the golden drink in the glass. He replied tiredly, "I wasn't making a difference there. Being a vigilante just wasn't enough. I got an offer to do things that I couldn't pass up."
"What was that?"
Neal's hands shook slightly as he replied, "A chance to do good in the world."
"The CIA," it wasn't a question.
He nodded. The CIA was where he went. It slowly ate away at his soul to the point where he broke.
Even if he wasn't shot twice and suffering from nerve damage he didn't think he would have gone back. All his criminal activities were nonviolent. He couldn't even look at a gun without flashbacks.
Ra's sighed, "Where," when his head snapped up, "You have been hurt, Richard. It doesn't take a genius to see that. So, where?"
Neal sighed running a hand through his hair, "Twice actually. Tell me you didn't give the CIA any of the Lazarus Pit water. Did you?"
Ra's gave him fierce grin that sent shivers down his spine. He said, "An answer for an answer."
Neal didn't answer. He knew better than anymore conning Ra's wasn't possible. Those that tried ended up dead from mysterious circumstances.
He answered taking a long sip of his whiskey, "The worst one was just above my heart. I died that night. Killed by a man who I worked with on several times. I stole something to keep it from getting in the wrong hands. They brought me back. I did my duty and stopped them as much as I could. Then they tried to remake what I stole and destroyed the first time. I went back in tried to destroy and was shot in the gut. It should have been fatal. Yet a few months ago I woke up in a CIA hospital in New York."
With surprising speed Ra's had him pinned to his chair. One hand keeping him there the other pulling down the collar of his shirt. Just above his heart was a familiar scar.
Ra's tapped it as he said, "If they used the Pit water on you there wouldn't be a scar. Nor would you have nerve damage."
Neal froze. If there was anyone knew then it was Ra's. His consolation that there wasn't the risk of insanity that came with the Pit.
Ra's slowly moved back as he said, "You are lucky to be alive, Richard."
Neal ran a hand through his hair as he said, "I thought I was going to die the second time. Surprisingly I was okay with it. Then I woke up again. I couldn't go back with them. So I ran. Funny how a vigilante turns criminal."
Ra's lips twitched in amusement. Both Ra's and Slade had told him he would be good on the other side of their world. Richard never believed it until his life as Neal came along.
Ra's moved back to his own seat before he said, "You should leave the city in the morning. For tonight you will be safe here. I suggest heading to Germany next. There are things that might be of interest to you. There is a bed in the other room. Finish your whiskey and get some rest."
"Why help me?"
"You are trying to find yourself. Every person in this world goes through it. I will not hinder you as long as you do not hinder me," came the cold reply.
That was better than what he hoped for. A moment later he was hit in the face with a hard pillow. It seemed the other wasn't kidding.
At least he wouldn't be looking over his shoulder that night. He didn't trust Ra's much but the other wouldn't kill him in his sleep. There was too much respect between them for that.
The next morning came all too quickly for Neal. Despite his tiredness he was ready to go by the time Ra's came. No words were exchanged between them. Just a knowing look when he decided he would go to Germany.
Bruce's POV
He was shaken awake by Alfred at two in the afternoon. He didn't have a meeting at Wayne Enterprises. What did his friend want?
Alfred said, "Ra's Al Ghul is on the phone. He is asking for you, Master Bruce."
All weariness left him immediately as he sat up. Ra's didn't make contact for fickle reasons.
He changed into clean clothes and made his way down to the cave. Damian was already down there sitting in the chair next to his. The put off look he was giving the screen said it all. Ra's was not there to speak to Damian.
He turned to face the screen and growled, "What do you want Ra's? You are not one for social calls."
Ra's face was the same as it always was. This time however there was a knowing smirk on his face. Whatever he wanted it most likely spelled trouble.
Ra's answered in his calm low tones, "Detective I come bearing news. Normally I would not interfere in such matters but he came upon my radar. One of your boys to be exact."
That had better not be Jason again. Jason had caused nothing but trouble since Richard ran off. They had searched high and low for the missing member but no sign of him.
As they closed ranks so not to lose another Jason got it in his head to try and draw Richard out through trouble. It didn't work.
Every time they got a tip on Richard's possible location they went out in full force. Not once did any lead pan out. In all ways that counted his oldest son had disappeared.
Ra's said breaking through his thoughts, "If you are thinking of young Todd, I can say truthfully it wasn't him this time. Instead I ran across young Grayson."
That had Damian sitting up stiffly in his chair. Bruce stood straighter his surprise evident.
Richard was seen? Where? How did he get on Ra's radar?
He had many but first he had to know where. He asked trying to keep his tone neutral, "Where is he, Ra's?"
"Europe, Dective. He is in Europe."
