The Demon Heads

Gotham was silent, the darkness swept over the city. The night had arrived, the criminals were soon to emerge. But leaping across the rooftops, clad in orange and black, was Tigress. Her target: Paula Crock.

Landing upon another roof, Tigress scanned the nearby rooftops. When she was certain that the Dark Knight was unable to stop her, she continued on her way. Landing upon a small apartment building, she climbed down the side, sliding to a stop beside a bedroom window.

With a smile, she leapt back. With a foot raised, she smashed through the window, rolling onto the ground before she came to a stop in a crouch. Her eyes watched Paula closely, the former assassin was situated on the other side of the room.

Tigress narrowed her eyes. "Hello Crock." She hissed, standing tall as she walked forward, she watched as Paula reached out for something.

"What do you want?"

Tigress chuckled darkly. "Leverage." She responded, coming to a stop when an arrow landed before her.

"Step away from her!"

Tigress turned her head to see Artemis standing in the window, bow drawn and aimed at her. "The prodigal daughter returns home. Unexpected, but not unwelcome." She said, her voice hinted at a darker agenda.

"Who are you? And what do you want?"

Tigress reached behind her, her hand sliding over the leathery cover of her katana blade. "I'm what you could've been had you realised your potential within the Shadows." She said, her voice cryptic as she pulled the katana free from its hold.

"Remove the mask."

Tigress shook her head as she stepped towards Paula. "Be careful prodigal daughter, you might not like what lies behind this mask."

"Remove now, or my arrow will do it for you."

Tigress rolled her eyes. "As you wish prodigal daughter." She replied, moving her spare hand to her face. With ease, she removed the mask.

"You're me!"

Tigress smirked a dark grin. "I told you, I'm what you could've been had you realised your potential in the shadows."

Tigress watched as Artemis lowered her bow slightly. It was the opening she need. Racing forward, she reached out, grasping the bow and pulling it towards her. With swift movements, she kneed her heroic counterpart in the chest, resulting in her dropping the bow from shook.

"Shocked, this is from training, and, well, a few years of exposure to the Lazarus Pit can do to you." Tigress said, chucking the bow to a far corner of the room. She replaced her mask, moving to stand before Paula. "My husband has need of you, and it seems that another will come along for the ride." She said, turning fast as she punched her heroic counterpart in the face.

Artemis slowly opened her eyes, she could hear voices, voices that were unfamiliar to her. She glanced to her right, her mother rested on the floor, her eyes slowly opening as well. She blinked, her gaze swept the room, trying to identify where they were.

"Artemis, where are we?" Paula asked, holding her head as she sat up.

Artemis shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know." She replied.

The doors to the chamber creaked open as several assassins entered the room. Many of them moved to surround Artemis. They pushed her out the door roughly, Paula not far behind her.

The two soon found themselves within another chamber, where Tigress stood next to another figure, that figure was Assassin. He smirked as he stepped forward, reaching out with a hand as he grabbed Artemis by the chin. "My dear archer, it is nice to see you in the green outfit again. But I must say, you look so much better in black and orange." He said, smiling a sinister smile.

Artemis narrowed her eyes. Her gaze fell upon the R on Assassins chest. She smirked. "Robin, what changed for you?" She asked, watching as Assassin smirked.

"I see no harm in telling a tale. Let me begin, it started back during the early days of The Team."

Robin dived down, sliding under Aqualad, swiping the Atlanteans legs out from under him in the process. With his signature laugh, the Boy Wonder leapt at Kid Flash. Deploying a smoke bomb, Robin raced forward, extending out a bo-staff to which he kicked the young speedsters' legs out.

Glancing over the training yard, Robin noticed Miss Martian and Superboy gaining on Artemis. With a grin, he charged forward, leaping into the fray as he kicked the young Martian to the ground before turning to face the super clone.

"Robin."

Robin stopped in his motions, turning to see the Dark Knight standing tall as he looked over the training yard. Robin blinked. "Batman." He responded, walking towards his father.

The others in the room were quick to stand tall, watching as Robin came to a stop before the Caped Crusader. "You're being removed from active duty." Robin blinked and glanced at his comrades, all of them except Artemis glanced down.

Artemis gasped in shock; she had been kept out of the loop. She watched as Aqualad walked towards Robin. "I'm sorry Robin, but it is for your safety. We can not look out for you and succeed in the mission together."

Artemis widened her eyes; she saw the look of betrayal flicker through Robin's expression. "You all planned this, planned to betray me, to expel me from the team!" The Boy Wonder exclaimed, his fists rolled tightly as he eyed his mentor closely.

Batman narrowed his gaze. "You're no longer allowed to be Robin." The Dark Knight said.

The room fell into silence, a tense silence that could be broken with a single word. Artemis watched as Robin walked towards the Zeta Tube, stopping once to glance over his shoulder. "Next time we meet, I won't be the same." He warned, a hint of bitterness lingered in his voice. Then, he was gone.

Artemis turned to face the others. Her eyes narrowed at how they had just discarded Robin, her boyfriend to the side as if he was nothing, how his mentor had just taken away what made him unique, what gave him life. She felt hatred burn within her, her fists clenched tightly, her breathing heavy as she marched forward.

"Idiots!" Artemis cried. Marching past the group.

"What's got you mad?" Kid Flash asked, watching the angry archer closely.

Artemis turned fast, punching Wally in the face. "My boyfriend just stormed out of here after his life was taken from him, and you have the gut to ask me what's got me mad?" She yelled. She widened her eyes in horror at she said, sudden realisation dawned upon her, the secret that wasn't meant to be know had escaped her lips.

She released her fists, turning fast and racing after Robin, ignoring the shouts of her confused teammates. She bolted out of the mountain, spotting Robin in the distance, she raced after him, crying out his name as she ran to catch up to him.

"Artemis, you shouldn't have come." Robin said, stepping towards his girlfriend.

Artemis shook her head. "No, the team was wrong, and I may have said something that shouldn't have been said." She replied. "I don't belong with them, I belong at your side, wherever you go." She added.

Robin nodded as a helicopter landed nearby. A figure emerged one that Artemis recognised too well. "Baby Girl, I wasn't expecting to see you here." Sportsmaster said, coming to a stop beside Robin.

Artemis narrowed her eyes. "And why are you here?" She asked.

Sportsmaster glanced at Robin who shook his head. "He's picking me up, taking me to my mother." Robin answered, giving a small nod to Sportsmaster who turned and made his way back to the helicopter.

Artemis glanced at Robin, curious as to why Robin was heading with her father. Was this another side of Robin that she didn't about? "What do you mean mother? What else are you hiding from everyone?" She asked.

Robin sighed. "You're not the only one with ties to the Shadows Artemis, I do as well, through my mother." He replied, holding out his hand to her. "Come with me. We won't be disrespected in the Shadows; my grandfather wouldn't allow it." He added, watching Artemis closely.

Artemis eyed Robin's hand closely, she was debating many things, she could go with him, begin a new life, join what her mother had wanted her to avoid, or she could remain here, and oppose Robin on the battlefield. The very though of having to fight Robin was hard to bear. Closing her eyes, she reached out and took his hand. "I'm with you, to the end." She said.

Robin smiled, leading Artemis to the helicopter. Sportsmaster glanced back, a little taken back that his youngest daughter was going with them. He wished he could see Paula's eyes right now, seeing their little girl head back to the Shadows with her father. Artemis merely eyed him, but said nothing, remaining by Robins side for the duration of the flight.

Robin emerged from the helicopter, holding out his hand for Artemis who took it without question. The two turned to see a small part of assassins, each clad in black, standing. At the end of the row was Talia Al Ghul, daughter of Ra's Al Ghul.

"Richard, didn't your father forbid you from ever coming here?" Talia asked with slight interest, watching as Robin walked forward.

Artemis glanced at her father, who seemed to be somewhat confused as well. She wondered, what was going on here, and why did Robin seem so at ease, as if he knew they wouldn't attack him or Artemis.

"I could care less about father right now, he took away my life, removed from my job." Robin replied, removing his mask and dropping the cape off. An assassin was quick to gather the things, backing away as Richard walked forward.

Artemis followed cautiously, her eyes sweeping the rows of assassins that stood, observing the meeting. Richard glanced at Artemis, smiling a he waved for her to come to his side. She did as he wanted, watching as Talia seemed to stare at her.

"It seems we have much to discuss, come, we shall talk in my chamber. Sportsmaster, remain here until we are finished." Talia said, waving for both Artemis and Richard to follow her.

Artemis watched as Richard sat before Talia. She remained cautious, keeping an eye out for anyone that might get the jump on either of them. Talia seemed to notice this caution. "Do not be cautious Artemis, no one will bother us here." She said.

"Now, tell me, what has caused you to come here?" Talia questioned, watching as Richard closed his eyes.

"I wish to join the Shadows, to be with a family that would care for me, respect me for who I am, and not what I should be." Richard replied, watching as Talia glanced at Artemis.

"And what of Artemis, does she share this same desire, or does she seek something else?"

Artemis glanced at Richard. Her boyfriend gave her a small nod, encouraging her to answer. She took a deep breath. "I wish to remain by Richard's side, I was, not entirely happy with the League, or the team's decisions myself, having been kept out of the loop." She responded.

Talia nodded as she placed a hand on Richard's shoulder. "Then come my son, there is much to do, and much to be done. But I have a feeling that the two of you are more then it seems, do you wish to disclose this information with me?"

Richard glanced at Artemis who shrugged, the league and the team knew, it didn't matter if Richard's mother knew as well. "We're dating." Richard said, watching as Talia smiled.

"You picked a good woman Richard, strong and well minded. Not one to back down from a fight either." Talia replied, her smile growing larger. "And I suspect Sportsmaster may want to train you himself." She added.

Artemis widened her eyes, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes, which Talia noticed.

"Which will not happen, I do not tolerate his style of training, nor does my father, hence why he has been removed from teaching." Talia went on, removing her fears.

The years passed, Richard and Artemis grew closer together till they become one, Ra's Al Ghul himself watched as the two were married, a deadly team at his command, but family as well. He was personally intrigued by the name Artemis had chosen, the identity of Tigress, he was somewhat shocked to discover that Richard retained the identity of Robin.

The explanation was that the world should see that no matter how heroic you are, you would either die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain. An explanation that Ra's himself was fascinated by.

The days of peace didn't last, for Richard had gathered a loyal following of assassins, to whom, they all foresaw a change coming, one that would result in a new League of Shadows. Ra's was unprepared when his grandson betrayed him, stabbing him in the back and stealing the secrets of the Lazarus Pit for himself and his wife.

Talia was equally shocked when her time came, she had managed to warn Sportsmaster who managed to deliver a message to Jade before he met an untimely end at the hands of Tigress, who admittedly, enjoyed ending her father's life a bit too much.

When the heroes discovered what had happened, Robin had already moved out, heroes vanished, only to be found days later with a robin's feather. A warning, a message of revenge.

In the final encounter, in Gotham, was where the team, Jade and other surviving heroes fought. Paula aided from the Batcave, providing aid to Alfred and tending to the injured. They hadn't expected Tigress and Robin to arrive at the cave. In the final encounter, where Batman and Jade worked together to fight the fallen heroes, did they learn of the fate of Ra's Al Ghul, the fate that awaited them.

Artemis was horrified, as was Paula. Assassin merely chuckled as he stood next to his wife. "We are The Demon Heads, leaders of the New Shadows, and the time for change has come." Assassin declared.

Tigress smirked as a hulking figure entered the room, Eradicator had arrived, the dawn of The Devastator's arrival was drawing near.

You might be able to guess which Grey Knight's origin is next. The origin for Assassin and Tigress was fun to create as well.