AN: Guys I started this story in 2016 as a twelve year old because I loved Batman. I choose to rewrite this because the writing was all over the place and I'm really sorry for the confusion. Thank you to those of you who favorited this book and for enduring a four year hiatus. I really appreciate you guys. ❤️

As a little girl I remember doing things that thinking of now cause me disgust. I used to actually care what people thought of me. I remember me, as a child always trying to get people to like me. Whether it was doing everything they asked of me or just making it painstakingly clear how much I idolized them.

Now that I think about it, it must've been so cringy seeing a two year old being denied affection each time she reached for it.

The on lookers may have sympathized but they could hardly empathize with me. Especially when I was the bastard daughter Robert Queen flaunted.

I suppose that's why the way I am now. I had grown tired at trying to please everyone else. So I did what any self respecting person would do, I focused on pleasing my myself. It was one of the best decisions I had made in my almost eighteen years of living.

Perched on the stairwell based in a sketchy alley that could rival Gotham, I watch my breath condensate in the air. It was mid October and I had learned the hard way Tibetan fall was the equivalent of a stable blizzard. Even now steady amounts of snow fell around me.

I pull my gloves off with my teeth and rub them together for the uptenth time. I had been sitting her for the better part of two hours waiting on this jerk. Though it seemed like a bust and I was itching to get back into any type of warm interior I was not one to quit.

It takes about an hour and a half for the alley door to creak open and a stream of light to dimly light the alley. Three men pour out and instead of surveying the area that was supposed to be vacant they boasted about their newest haul.

"Man, the way we're dealing we'll be Donald Trump before the new year rings in."

For them to be operating in secret they are really loud and out in the open. The them in referring to is Humpty And or Dumpty. Humpty was not fat, just short and muscular with beige poked skin. Dumpty was about average height, cropped hair and had eyes that could have you out a bar and into his bed before you could tell him your name. Then there was and or, I had named him that because he just a kid. Probably not much longer than me. He did everything he was told with his head bowed and no questions asked.

"But, but what if what we're doing doesn't feel right." And or stutters while reaching up to tug his beanie further over his ears.

The way the two round on him makes me sigh, I had been on the receiving end of that cold stare before and trust me it was not something I would recommend. And or almost whimpers as he directs his gaze to his boot clad feet.

"Sorry."

"Man kid, you're so soft. We're going have to fix that soon." Humpty responds while locking the door they and come out of earlier.

"Let him run point tomorrow, eh?" Dumpty clamps And or's shoulder making the poor boy wince. "Bring some honor to his name, god know he-."

At that I can't take it anymore and I unhook the dagger from where it was strapped against my thigh. It takes a minute but with a squint and a flick of my wrist the dagger sails through the air.

"Ughh." Dumpty's gagging has Humpty turning around along with And or flicking his eyes up at him.

Dumpty's own eyes are wide as his hands fly up to cover the gash the dagger made. Dark crimson blood spills through his fingers before he falls back into the snow. And Or is the first one to move, snatching off his scarf and kneeling down beside Dumpty to try and stop the bleeding.

"Uncle Ronnie! Uncle Ronnie your going to be okay." And Or cries out while looking around the alley frantically for help.

Humpty however doesn't even spare Dumpty or apparently Ronnie another glance. Instead his hand flies to behind his back and pulls out a revolver.

"Come on out you son of a bitch and face me like a man!"

The snort that comes out of me makes his head snap to the opposite direction I'm in and the gun raises to follow his line of sight. Can't wait to see the surprise on his face when he realizes I'm not a man at all.

"Real men don't use guns." I call out to him as I finally rouse myself up from the stairs. This time his head whips directly towards me and the previous serious expression on his face fell into an amused smirk.

"Oh, sweetheart why don't you come on down before you hurt yourself."

Deciding to indulge them I slowly climb down the staircase until the only thing that separates Humpty and I are Dumpty and their nephew. And or glances up at me with wide eyes as he tries to keep his composure enough to make sure his uncle doesn't bleed out, but it's no use. Humpty is already gone and blood staining the white snow is proof enough.

"The last time someone called me sweetheart it didn't end well for him." My gaze travels up to Humpty lifeless eyes, they're starring up at the starry sky. At least he died looking at something beautiful.

"I think your out of your depth sweet-." The glare I send him makes his swallow his words quickly but he makes up for it by getting closer to me and pushing the gun to the middle of my forehead.

"I'd rather you not do that." His lips curl up into a eerie smile that makes me want to roll my eyes. "This doesn't need to be any harder than it has to be."

"Really," he scoffs before looking down at And or. "What did I tell you kid? Never give power to little girls."

So not only was he a butthole, he was a complete misogynistic butthole. Rolling my eyes I quickly grab his wrist with my right hand and hit the gun out of his hand with my left. His eyes go wide when the gun rest comfortably in my hand and I shove the barrel of it under his chin.

"The moment you learn not to underestimate women is too late." Clicking the safety on I watch his eyes return to normal size only for his head to dart forward and collide with my mouth.

The metallic taste of copper fills my mouth and I groan more out of annoyance than pain. One of my least favorite moves because it was a pure dirty shot. Like if you're going to fight back at least do it clean. Raising my arm I wipe the blood onto my sleeve and glare at Humpty as he tries to run.

"Uncle Mike!" And or cries from where he is still pressing his scarf to Dumpty's throat even though it was useless.

Humpty never looks back to his nephew and that makes me even angrier. Without thinking I run after him growing angrier with each stride until he's an arms length away. Darting my hand out I clutch the back of his hood and yank before dropping and kicking my leg at the back of his knees making him collapse.

"He is a kid! You do not leave a kid!" My screams terrify him more than when I took his gun and it's understandable why. If there was one thing that ticked me off was abandonment and he'd just attempted to do just that.

Before he can even react I punch him clean across the face and watch as his eyes roll into the back of his head.

Ughh. Now Humpty would have to be lugged all the way back rather than walk on his own accord. Pressing my pointer and middle finger to his throat I feel for a pulse. It's there, faint but there all the same.

"You just had to run." I mutter before pressing the red circle on collar of my shirt. "Yeah, we're ready for pickup."

"Uncle Mike, Uncle Mike!" The boy cries while looking between his two unresponsive uncles. "Why would you do this?" If I honestly cared I would be hurt by the sorrow lacing his voice.

"You should thank me and or." I call out while securing Humpty's arms behind his back. "Now that they're out of the picture you can finally be in charge of your own life." I huff after knotting the rope and letting Humpty fall over into the snow.

The boy wipes at his cherry red nose while still starring at his Uncle's most likely frozen body. I wouldn't be surprised if the boy himself was frozen to that spot. He had kneeled there throughout the entire encounter I had with his other uncle.

"My name is Jesse! My name is Jesse and you just killed my uncles." His voice is raspy as he rounds on me with eyes clouded over in hurt.

Tilting my head to the side I watch as his hurt persona is overcome with anger. The way his fist ball and how he pulls himself up to his full height makes a smile stretch across my frozen face. The wind was picking up now and I'm positive the temp had dropped below twenty degrees.

"Look at you." I wave my hand over his body before rising from my squared position. "In the last two months I've studied you three I hav nerved heard you express your displeasure so much." Scoffing I shove my hands into my coat pocket and nod. "That is until I killed one of your uncles, Humpty here is still alive just knocked out.."

This gaze drifts down to Humpty almost relieved. His fist uncurl and he takes a deep breath before bringing his eyes back up to focus on me.

"They're all I've ever known." He whispers and I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Now they're dead to you. If you don't want to end up like them I suggest you leave." My voice is more bitter than the wind cutting across our faces but that doesn't stop me from trekking over Ronnie's corps and snatching the brown knitted scarf off his neck. "These men treated you like shit, they do not deserve your sympathy and you will not give it to them."

Without a word he watches as I rummage through Ronnie's pockets and pull out a wallet. The Italian leather is faded from age but that doesn't keep him from storing two thousand dollars in it. Fishing the money out and swiping the credit cards I toss the wallet to land somewhere in the vicinity of Ronnie's body.

"I'm sure you have more money at the house but here." He looks confused as I slap the folded Billie into his gloved hands. "Makes it look like a robbery gone wrong." The hum of a car makes both our heads turn to the end of the alley where a car pulls to a stop. "When you get home put peroxide on your clothes to get the blood out then wash them. The cops will come around soon, just say you all left at the same time but your uncles told you to go ahead bed they had grownup things to do."

He nods just as the car doors open and a large man climbs out. He wears a black trench coat and a matching beanie over his head. He doesn't say anything to either of us as he approaches a still unconscious Humpty and heaves him over his shoulder with a muffled groan.

"You should go, now." I say pointedly before I back up and stare down at Ronnie.

His skin is turning blue and his lifeless grey eyes are freezing over. It was a sight to see, especially when you've never seen it before. It's why when I look up to find Jesse's starring at his Uncle's lifeless body.

"Jesse, go." I repeat, icier than the last time.

He nods harshly before giving one last look to the car Humpty is being stuffed in and then to Dumpty's body. With a regard breath he gives me one last nod and turns on his heels.

"You're letting him go?"

Joe's raspy voice has me sigh as I watch Jesse walk off into the night. The fresh snow covers his tracks and it doesn't take long for the police sirens to follow.

Turning on my heels I head to the car where he is waiting for me and nod. "Yeah, you don't get to chose what family you're born in." I climb into the car and fidget with the heat after slamming the door closed. "Besides he wasn't here when I showed up."

Facing John I watch as his face morphs into understanding before he turns the car on drives in the opposite direction of the alley. The drive is much longer than it usually feels and I'm sure it only feels like that because of what awaits me for me upon return.

It takes around an hour to drive to the airstrip and about six hours in the air. By the time we landed it was five a.m. and I was dog tired. Humpty was taken by Joe to wherever he was needed and I told the watchman I was going to sleep until the evening.

And that's exactly what I did, for twelve solid hours I slept. It was only with the blaring of my alarm clock that I roused myself from the bed and into the shower.

The cool water woke me right up and prepared me for the rest of the evening. Making sure I washed all the sweat off my body I stood still for a moment watching the water circle down the drain. It takes a moment for me to realize if I didn't want to be late I needed to get out the shower.

Cutting the shower off I step out of it a grab the blue towel laying on the toilet before toweling off. Once I'm all dried off I wrap the towel around me before leaving the bathroom and head to the mirror tucked into the corner of my room.

The girl starring back at me through the mirror is someone I hardly recognize now. With kinky black hair in desperate need of a trim and green eyes that are set into almond skin I look like a fictional character. It was the main reason I was bullied, too dark to be mixed, there was no way I was Robert Queen's daughter. No black person could have green eyes so there was no way I was a Queen, they had to be fake. The biggest insecurity of my childhood.

Shaking my head I let go of my reminiscence and focus on the problem at hand. The party downstairs that requires my attendance.

I let the towel drop and slip on the underwear that was laid out on the bed. It's hardly anything special and it was why I had selected it. Plain, comfy, old underwear meant I would have no desire for anyone to rip my clothes off to get a view of it. Not a foolproof plan but it was all I could muster up the courage to care about.

The garment bag that hangs on the back of my door only invokes a hatred filled glare from me. I didn't even get the god forsaken dress. I hadn't even had peaked a look at it since it was delivered to my room over a week ago. I knew what content the bag holds, a skimpy dressed designed to attract attention to my assets rather than the weapons I concealed.

Gritting my teeth I snatch the hanger down and throw it on my bed so I can unzip it. As soon as light illuminates the gown my jaw drops. It's not nearly as skimpy as the previous ones had been but that isn't what shocks me, what shocks me is the color of the gown.

The emerald green I had just finished expressing my distaste for was the exact same color of the satin fabric of the dress. But it wasn't just the color that is surprising but rather what it signifies. He was making it clear know, no one would be able to deny it.

Slipping into the dress I twist to zip it up myself. I had learned the hard way that just because people help you get ready does not mean they help you look good. So now when it came to getting ready I did it all myself.

Once the dress was zipped I self consciously run my palms over the dress, particularly focusing on how fitted the dress was around my midsection. While it wasn't uncomfortable it was tight and I suppose it was made that way because I almost always slouched during these gatherings.

This gathering was all about appearance, we had to look the part and the part was to look better than them. So quickly pinning my hair into a bun I pick out little trundles to hang down in curls. When I focus back on the mirror purple eyes stare back at me. This was how the league saw me, violet eyes of violence.

Every now and then the league likes to host what they call a peace summit. They invite the other societies that we have fought for years and everyone pretends mending bonds is in the best interest of everyone. The gag is though, it is all for show. The second the league has what it wants, ties are cut and attacks are launched. During my time in the league I had only been to six of these thing, four of which erupted in brawls not four hours in.

Descending the stairs I keep my eyes trained on the individual whose faces are unfamiliar to me. Attending these peace summits meant being prepared and the ones who are unknown to you pose the most threat. The only identifying mark among these individuals was a blue sash tied around the men's waist and a blue ribbon either tied into the women's hair or around her wrist.

In the untrained eye it would be seen as them going out of their way to make sure they pose no threat, but that is not true. In fact, it is the complete opposite. By them making sure to mark their people for us to see they also created the opportunity for them to hide their people within. Which is why the moment my foot moves from the carpeted steps to the marble floor I'm ambushed.

"Jade!"

"It's really her!"

"I told you guys she would be here!"

"I don't think that's her." The boy is quizzical as he looks me up and down through squinted eyes hidden behind thick glasses. "She looks completely different."

A smile tugs at my lips but I keep them in a thine line as a glance down at the children huddled in front of me. Three boys and four girls, but upon first glance it looked like there were only six of them. The camouflaged one was the littlest of the bunch and was hidden towards the back of the group. From my view I can see her standing on the tips of her toes trying to get a peak.

Grabbing at the fabric of the skirt of my dress I squat down and usher the kids closer making sure I can make eye contact with the little chameleon.

"The best assassins are the ones who can adapt to their surroundings." I whisper like I was sharing a secret. "Would I got in here if I were wearing my training pants and sleeveless shirt?"

The wide eyes and ohs that follow are almost pure innocence. They nod agreeing while turning to each other. Weaving my hand through their huddle I make contact with the girl and the others part willingly.

"Take the little chameleon here, had any of you been in trouble she could go for help because to an unsuspecting eyes she was never there." The pale girl smiles as she stands a little taller. "You could take note from her," I wink.

The rest of the group zone in on the girl and you can see it in their eyes that they hold her in a completely new light. The nonstop chattering only supports my assumption.

"You six should not be here." The gruff voice has us only straining to look up at the tall man. He wears a disapproving frown as his eye roams over the children. "You need to return to your bunks."

Not needing to be told by him twice the kids speed out of the room, darting between the legs of servers on their way out. That in itself is hilarious because of the yelps the servers produce when their set off balance.

"You should not encourage them."

Rolling my eyes I rise from my squat to stand head to chest with him. "Slade, why is it that no matter how happy I am you come out the blue to reprimand me?" My voice is tight as we move through the people mingling on the floor.

"It is because you always need to be reprimanded," he counters.

Gritting my teeth I choose not to acknowledge that because I know it wasn't true. Slade like most people in the league disliked me, which had been apparent since he first met me. In the short time I'd been in the league, compared to him, I'd tried to mend the relationship that I hadn't even severed. However, Slade still hardly gave me the time of day and being who I was I no longer cared.

The only problem with our whole situation is that he was the best assassin and I was the favorite assassin. That meant we were supposed to be civil with one another not only for fellow assassins but also for publicity reasons. The two of us hating each other was the equivalent of a house being divided. So for appearance sakes we tried to present an United front.

"Slade, I do not want to fight with you tonight." I gaze up at his eye and the eyepatch that covers his left eye. "But do not egg me on," I warn before grabbing a flute of champagne off a passing server's tray.

"Little one, I could care less with what you want." His voice is flat like it usually is but for some reason it stirs something inside of me more. "Especially when the youth are such flickering things."

And there it was, one of the first jabs about my age for the night. Drowning the contents of the champagne I glare through narrowed eyes at his smirking face. While Slade was at least twenty years my senior he was also fairly attractive, something which paled in comparison to that attitude he exalted.

"When you first arrived I just knew you wouldn't last the night." His tone is chiding and it makes my hand tighten around the champagne flute.

"Yet I am still here and I am not leaving any time soon," I spit.

Slade smiles as he leans down so he's hovering directly above my face. I'd notice he found enjoyment in getting a rise out of me and as much as I tried, I just couldn't refrain from it. So when his hand reaches out to grab my chin, I quickly grab the dagger strapped to my thigh and hold it between us with the blade positioned over the middle of his abdomen.

"Would be a shame to spill blood at a peace summit." Without warning his takes the glass out of my hand and sets it on a tray before grabbing me by my waist and maneuvering us to the dance floor. "Let's at least try to be inconspicuous."

My dagger still is sandwiched between us but now a blunt object is poking my lower back. My face twitches in annoyance but his mirrors the epitome of amusement.

"A gun," I question while he effortlessly engages in a waltz.

He shrugs before focusing on something behind me. "You drew first."

"You don't respect me." I hiss through clenched teeth.

"Respect is earned and just because the Demon's Head holds you in such high regards, it does nothing for my opinion of you." His eyes dart down to me from whatever he was focused on, hard and cold. "That is something you will have to accomplish all on your own."

Opening my mouth to question him I'm immediately halted by the parting of the other dancers by the guy who comes to stand in front of Slade and I. His hooded eyes are filled with anger as he looks between Slade and I. He takes a deep breath before running a hand through his unkempt brown hair.

"Slade, Jade," he acknowledges with a tight voice.

Looking up at Slade I hesitantly nod and we move back from each other, successfully returning our weapons to their hiding spot without being seen. Taking a step towards Danny I press a kiss to his check before standing at his side so Slade is facing the both of us.

"Daniel, nice to see you again." Slade's voice is a model of diplomacy that I had never received, but there is also an underlying intention with his voice that I can't decipher.

Danny nods before holding his hand out. "I wanted to thank you for keeping Jade company, while I wasn't here." His emphasis on wasn't is clear and the way Slade grasp his hand while smiling at me he picked up on it.

"Yes, of course." He drops Danny's hand to hold his wrist up to his face before pushing back his sleeve to reveal a black watch. "Seeing at the even started close to an hour ago and you hadn't shown up to accompany her." He lowers his arm and the smile on his face drops. "More important matter to attend I assume?"

It slips out of him before I can plead with him silently to not. It was mostly the same with the two of them, Danny feeling the need to make himself into a bigger man in Slade's presence, and Slade's need to crush whatever kind of standing Danny had. Only the later one was successful mainly because Danny like myself was a novice when it came to weighing seniority with Slade.

So, as odd as it may seem with how a lot of my interactions go with Slade, I usually played mediator. But it was too late now, now I would just have to watch it go down and hope it wasn't too disruptive.

Danny's jaw tightens and his arm darts out to wind around my waist. "Nothing that prevented me from being here now."

Holding back the scoff that was climbing it's way on my throat, I choose to focus on the faint remains of what looked to be like a red kiss mark. It's hidden beneath the collar of his white dress shirt collar and if one knew it wouldn't know where to look they'd never find it. But that wasn't me, I knew after a year of dating Danny that his neck was where she liked to leave her claim. Just where I could see it, along with Slade.

From what I knew he was the only one who was aware of Danny's outsteppings. He never said it but we both knew the other knew. The only difference is I refused to acknowledge it and he makes sure Danny knows that he knows. Which is what he was doing now.

"I see." Slade nods before locking his eyes on me. "Have you seen your girlfriend's dress?" And just like that I won't to kill Slade more than I have ever wanted to in the years I've known him.

Danny's head snaps to me and his eyes roam over my form before darting back to my eyes. For brown eyes to get that black I would have said it could only happen if they were possessed. That wasn't the case with Danny, he was just furious.

"It's beautiful." He bites out while never looking away from me. Pasting a smile on his face he turns to Slade before squeezing my waist a little too hard to be considered affectionate. "Now, if you'd excuse us."

Without another word from either me or Slade Danny leads us over to where the tables are. Weaving through the tables covered with white cloths it takes us far longer than necessary to find the tables with our name cards in it. It's close to the platform housing a long table, it was for the head of the two groups declaring peace.

Danny doesn't hesitate to plop down at the table and grabs the bottle of wine chilling in a bucket. He doesn't even attempt to pull out my chair for me like most men do for the woman they're accompanying. So I do what I've learned over the course of twelve years, no one is going to take car of you like you.

Pulling out my own chair I sit next to Danny and watch silently as everyone flees the dance floor to be seated. The summit's dinner was getting ready to start, which would be followed by speeches and ended with what the two are exchanging to keep the peace. It was a long and eventful night ahead of me.

Turning my head to the side I watch as Danny drowns the wine he'd poured. It's gone the minute it touches his tongue and it's followed by a belch that have the surrounding tables turning to look at us in disgust.

"Danny, please." My voice is hardly above a whisper because I was trying to save us both the embarrassment.

"Jade-." Whatever sinister remark he had prepared is cut short by the ringing of a bell and the loud sound of heavy doors being pulled open.

All of our gazes are drawn to the figures coming through the doors. The first is an average sized man with black hair styled in a pompadour. After him is an old man, who's bald and has a slight slouched posture, but despite that he can kick all of our behinds. Followed by him are two women who could easily be classified as the most beautiful women in the room. The first woman has a creamy peach complexion with short black hair that resembles a pixie cut. The other looks far more seductive than one would try to be at a peace summit. She's beautiful, tanned complexion, long toned legs that are constantly on display with her dress, long brown hair, his chiseled cheekbones, perfect eyebrows, and lips that are always coated in red.

The same red that is constantly on Danny's neck and God knows what else. Without glancing over to my right I know he's starring at her with hooded eyes and his lip between his teeth. Watching the group as they move to the table along the platform. Her eyes immediately focus on us and a smile that holds no warmth takes place on her face.

She knew what she was doing. She made sure to let me know she'd locked her eyes on Danny. So swallowing the hurt I focus back on the door and watch as two men enter. The tall one is dressed wears a emerald ensemble that matches my gown and it isn't easy to ignore the hushed whispers of the others when they notice. Beside him is a man a little shorter, more rounded and wears glasses. The two give diplomatic waves before moving to join the others at the table.

The taller one stops before he's to his seat and surveys the crowd. Balling my fist up I silently plead with whatever god is listening that he won't find what he's looking for, but he does. The smile that morphs on his face only last as long as it takes me to shake my head and mouth no.

He's taken aback and I can tell he is upset that I refused him but he couldn't come to the table. Not now and especially not with how Danny was acting. So the only logical option was for me to keep the two separated to the best of my abilities.

The dinner drags on far longer than it feels it should but eventually the plates are cleared and the floor is filled with mingling patrons. Danny and I still remain at our table, neither of us wanted to go and talk pleasantries. Besides he'd had more than his fair share of wine and at this moment the only thing keeping him up was the chair he was sitting in. So I stayed to make sure he didn't get himself into any trouble.

I kept occupied by drawing on the white table cloth with a pen I'd picketed out of some guys pocket. I drew the same thing over and over: منقذ القتلة. I was trying to improve my Arabic and while I was a natural and speaking the language I wasn't as good as writing in its script. Manqidh alqatala, was how it was written in English and it translated to, Savior of killers. Or as most called me, The Savior Assassin.

A name I took pride in and tried to uphold it's reputation. The truth is it isn't as easy as one would think, especially not at seventeen years old. Or even fifteen years when I acquired it.

"Daniel, it is lovely to see you here." Her sultry voice does little to make me look up at her. Instead I do everything in my power to keep my gaze locked on my script.

"Talia, I could say the same." He pauses and I can hear the humph he makes as I imagine him checking her out. "Especially from where I am sitting."

She lets out an airy laugh that sounds too fake to be real. It last only a moment before her hand lands on the table and her nails rapt against it in a rhythmic motion. "Jade, I see you are not looking as like a million bills as the rest of us." Her snide remarks are usually meet with some of my own but at this point I'm just tired.

"It's a million buck." I look up from the table and lay the pen down before locking eyes with the man behind her. "The term is a looks like a million bucks. Demon's head." Bowing my head I acknowledge the man behind Talia invoking everyone else to do the same.

"My lovely Jade, walk with me will you?" Rising my head I look at his outstretched hand and then to Danny's who refuses to look at me.

"Of course." Grabbing his hand I rise from my seat and let my arm be wound through his, leaving Danny and Talia behind us.

"You do look lovely. The dress fits alright?"

Subconsciously rubbing the fabric that rest over my stomach I nod. "It's beautiful, but it was unexpected." His head turns towards me and his eyebrow raises quizzically. "The dress," I pause not knowing how to phrase it and our steps halt.

"Jade, I thought I had made it clear." He starts clearly before placing his hand on top of mine where it was not nestled in the crook of his elbow. "You are to inherit everything. I will give it to you." His face is a serious as he watches my face closely. "When you, yourself accept that everyone else will too."

I nod and he continues our walk across the floor. The path is clear mainly because one look at Ra's had them darting out his way. It only took us a moment end up in front of the man who'd walked in with Ra's earlier and had introduced himself as Watiki. He's talking in hushed whispers with two men who had blue sashes tied around their waist. Upon seeing Ra's and I arriving they go quiet and Watiki turns his attention on us.

"Ah, Ra's have you brought another daughter to be introduced?" His accent is one I can't place but his tone is one I know very well, false enjoyment.

Ra's shakes his head as his own hand moves to rest on my upper back. "Unfortunately not, but she is being groomed to take over the league." There's a smile on his face that usually follows that sentence but this time it doesn't appear.

"Take over?" Watiki's eyes widen as he looks from me to Ra's. "She is so young, you are not sick are you?" His voice sounds like he's genuinely concerned but his face remains neutral.

These were the people you need to pay special attention to. They had mastered the art of controlling their facial expressions so they didn't outwardly show what they were thinking. That means you had to be ready for anything and anticipate their next move.

Ra's final lets a smile crawl onto his face but it is not a happy one, instead the one that rest on his lips is sadistic. "My lovely Jade here was fifteen when she rescued our men from an enemy who infiltrated our grounds." A low chuckle creeps out of his throat and I can feel my hand itching to where my dagger was strapped to my thigh. "Imagine that, enemies infiltrating my grounds, grounds that had just recently been opened to my allies. The first time in centuries something like that had happened."

Watiki narrows his own eyes as his hands clasp behind his back. "Are you accusing me of something, old friend?" His tone takes on a threatening one and I automatically place myself between the two.

"Of course not, it was only an observation. Jade you were ready to return to your room were you not?" The shift of conversation happens so quickly that I don't notice Ra's had pulled me back to his side and taken my place in front of Watiki. "I think it best for you to go on."

"But, who is going to protect-."

"Now Jade." His voice is stern as he keeps his eyes trained on Watiki.

"Yes Demon's Head." I echo while bowing my head.

While I didn't doubt that the Demon's Head couldn't handle himself it was still my duty to the league to protect him. For him to refuse that it meant he held my safety above his own and for anyone else to learn that was a dangerous things.

But against my better judgment I do what was asked of me and excuse myself from the summit. The walk to my room is long but calming and it's especially welcomed after the night I've had. It gives me the time to do what I'd been avoiding for so long, reflection.

Reflect on my relationship with Danny, was it worth it? Was still claiming him as my significant other worth the humiliation that I went through every time he choose Talia over me?

Reflect on what Slade had said. "It is something you will have to accomplish all on your own."He was right I couldn't let Ra's force me onto the entire league, especially when so many people of authority didn't approve. I would have to fight, like I had been for the past couple of years.