My muse returned!
We'll see how long she sticks around...
While she's here, do ENJOY!
...
Ianto's ears perked at the sound of something scraping along the stone floor. He looked up and cautiously crawled towards the bowl of mush they'd left him. Jones noticed the robed figure watching him intently. He sniffed at the bowl; immediately it reminded him of the slop he'd had to eat during those dreaded five years of hell. Ianto snarled, pushing the bowl away with obvious distaste. He'd rather starve; spitting at it for good measure before returning to the shadows.
Ra's had an idea and snapped his fingers to summon a servant. Slowly he stepped into the cell. Vaguely something was telling him this wasn't his brightest plan. Nothing else was working and they would never be able to build trust if he didn't at least try. The older man heard the low growling, the chains scraping along the stone floor. So far Al Kalada remained in the darkness. He sighed as he set the platter of fine meets, cheeses, and fruits on the ground before him.
When it was obvious Ianto wasn't coming forward. Ra's left the cell; deciding to wait close by, to see if he made the right call.
Jones sniffed the air; keeping his happiness internal, at the aroma of edible food. He cautiously moved forward; picking up a strip of meet and licking it before gobbling it down. The young man heard his captor's movement and looked up in alarm and fear. Ianto began to cower away from the plate before him.
"There's nothing wrong with it I assure you." Ra's intoned; startled when the young man held the platter to his chest and snarled. "No one will take it from you either." The older man promised; yet Jones still practically inhaled the food, eyeing Ra's with unguarded distrust the whole time. Ianto dropped the plate when he was done and slinked back into the darkness. No noises though; the older man supposed that was progress.
~IaHaHiM~
Ra's looked up as he heard shouting. It was growing closer; soon enough there was Nyssa being practically dragged towards him. By none other than Malcolm Merlyn; who also had a blade held to her throat. Oliver Queen followed them; arrow knocked and ready as he moved.
"We'd like an audience, if you don't mind." The older Merlyn snarled; coming to a stop before Ianto's cell.
"Release my daughter and you may speak." Ra's offered carefully. Turning to face them; he noted Ianto's crouched figure, scenting the air. Slowly, creeping forward from the shadows, as they spoke. Funny; he didn't hear the scrape of the young man's chains…
"Your precious daughter. Killed my beloved!" Malcolm spat as he shoved Nyssa away and over. Oliver's weapon still poised. "Vengeance was my right!"
She scoffed; turning her nose up. "You were always a liar Sahir. He is Al Kalada." The woman said it like the two ambushers were stupid. She was about to say more when Oliver spoke up.
"He still dies. He just comes back. Without aid of the pit. Ianto suffers actual death. No breathing, No pulse; dead. But, he revives and it's absolute hell, more painful than any of us can imagine."
"Why do you think he's so angry just after? Why he screams?"
Ra's al Ghul noted; there was a certain kind of melancholy in the words. Sahir's love for this younger man, was genuine. He sighed; the prophecy still needed to be fulfilled however. "What would you have me do? I cannot change what has been written." Ra's answered solemnly.
"If your self-entitled daughter had honored her own arrangement… We could be discussing this like men. As it stands, I don't think he's in a mindset to even fathom your offer." Malcolm replied evenly; with a sneer in Nyssa's direction. He decided to offer a compromise; anything was worth a shot at this point.
"Let us take him, you can watch us as you wish. Anyone who hasn't killed him! When he is ready or in a week, we will return. You owe me this much at least."
Ra's considered and despite their original mistrust of the man; he was right. If only because of his daughter and her transgressions. The league owed Al Sahir. "I have your word, you will honor this promise if I honor mine?"
"Father!?" Nysa squawked and Ra's actually held his sword to her.
"You will hold your tongue. It is because of you, this deal is to be made!" The much older man fairly shouted. She gulped; giving a terse nod before he lowered his weapon. Ra's turned back to Al Sahir; Queen had lowered his bow, but was still defensive in his stance. "Your word?"
"I'll do my best to use the whole week, but yes, you have my word."
"Mine and his other caregivers as well." Oliver declared; adding. "We give our word, to honor this agreement." The elder Queen stated; kneeling as did Malcolm.
Ra's turned and Ianto was literally prostrate on the stone floor; fingers clenched into its uneven texture. Obviously following his rescuers lead. "Take him, but know this. We will be watching and there will be consequences if you go back on your word." The much older man warned and Oliver with Malcolm, nodded.
They had negotiated a reprieve; for now.
...
Love all Y'alls