Damian Wayne was in the worst mood he had been in, in a very long time. For once though, it wasn't Tim's fault, not it was the woman who was now in front of him. His hands and feet were bound in front of him, and a gag had been put over his mouth. He had been giving his kidnapper a hard time.
Talia Al Ghul knelt down in front of her son and reached out, pulling the piece of cloth down. "Are you going to behave now Damian?"
"Tell me what you have done with Pennyworth, Mother." Damian immediately demanded. Talia put her hand on his cheek caressing it. "I do not understand why you are doing this."
"I want you to come home Damian." She said, "They are ruining everything that we had achieved with you. I allowed you to run around playing hero, but now it's time to get back to your destiny."
"I wish to stay with Father." Damian told her.
"You aren't even with him, he leaves more than he remains in this city. You are with that…"
"Richard takes good care of me." Damian said, a scowl appearing on his face as he heard his mother scoff and saw her roll her eyes. "I know you do not like Richard."
"He is not worthy of your father's name. Of your father's care. He's a disgrace." Talia said as she stood up and moved away. "The butler is safe."
"Why did you take him?" Damian asked, trying to loosen the binding around his wrists. "He has done nothing."
"Because I know what Alfred Pennyworth is capable of, my son. You will only hurt yourself if you continue to do that." She said, motioning toward his struggle. Talia moved away from him and to a bag. "We will be leaving shortly. Those won't be necessary when we do."
"Mother, I want to stay here." Damian repeated. "I wish to stay with Father, Richard, and the others." Talia walked over and lifted Damian to his feet. "That isn't my destiny anymore."
"This is why you were made Damian."
"Richard says I can choose my own. That I can be who I want to be, nobody else can make me be something I don't want to be" he said. He felt a sting to his cheek as he fell back, losing balance due to his still bound ankles. Pain seared up his back as he landed on his tailbone.
"Grayson, is not your family. He is not your mother or father or brother. He is simply someone who stands in your way. You are going to be great Damian." Talia said and moved back toward him. Damian moved away, using his feet the best he could. She grabbed his hands and pulled him back towards her. "There will be no more talk of Grayson."
"He will come for me, Mother. You will regret…" He was cut off as she pulled the gag back over his mouth. He continued to try and yell through the gag, all muffled and made into nonsense. Talia grabbed him by the wrist and moved him into a smaller room, locking it.
Damian kicked the door as hard as he could with his bare feet, continuing to yell in his anger and frustration. "My boy, that will do you no good, You will only tire yourself out." The boy turned to see Alfred Pennyworth only a few feet away from him.
The tension in his body left him as he moved toward the elderly man who reached up and pulled the gag down. "Did they harm you?"
"No Master Damian, I am unharmed. I suspect it was not their intention to ever do so. I was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time." Alfred told him. "Now. Let us see if we can get you free. Your brothers may very well need your help when they arrive."
"If they show up." He said with doubt laced in his voice.
"Master Damian." Alfred said to get the boy to look at him. "If your mother casted that doubt in you, then she underestimates your brothers." He continued. "I assure you, we will be retrieved." Seeing the doubt in Damians eyes, he continued. "Master Dick will always come for us."
Damian looked up at him as Alfred pulled at the tape, despite his hands being in the same situation. "We will get you free, and when the time is right Master Damian, we will escape." the boy nodded in response, still not saying much.
It took a few minutes, but Damian shook his wrists as they were freed before he started pulling at the tape around ankles. Once he had completely freed himself he moved to Alfred and began assisting him. His head turned toward the door as he heard several people go by, causing him to hurry more. As he pulled the last of the tape off Alfred he moved away and his eyes scanned the small room.
"I will be fine Master Damian, you do what you need to do to escape."
"I won't leave you Pennyworth"
"I promise you boy, I will be right behind you."
