In Sisterhood,
We Are Stronger
Disclaimer: Gotham 4x16 helped inspire this and is set around the 4th year of Oliver being believed to be dead.
Summary: Talia Al Ghul brings forth an idea for a new path of a new kind of League.
"A bold move of you to arrange a gathering of this magnitude, sister." Remarked Nyssa Al Ghul, daughter and Heir of the Demon himself.
As she, Ta-er al-Asfer, and the 30 other women that were in the League had been given the task of wiping out a sect of Misogynists in a third world country that the sect essentially ruled over. Keeping women of all ages and the like as second class citizens while men had every advantage over them. And once the entirety of the sect had been wiped out in one fell swoop, Talia had made herself known and Nyssa knew then and there that she had been the one responsible for a task such as this. Especially given that her father had never really been one to care about the plights of women. She watched as her sister, Talia, merely smirked at her before speaking. "Bold but surprisingly easy to arrange as I figured our father would have been somewhat more of a hard sell."
"He actually viewed it as an opportunity to wipe out their brand of evil considering they were using advanced weaponry to make a profit off the suffering of others." Nyssa replied evenly.
"Wait, you guys are sisters?" Questioned Sara in slight disbelief.
Causing her girlfriend to raise an eyebrow at her. "That is what you focus on in all this?"
Sara for her part looked a little sheepish as Talia grinned in amusement. "Sorry, its just I couldn't help it."
Nyssa sighed but chose not to reprimand her Beloved at this point as she knew her sister wouldn't care. Unlike their father who did not approve of certain things. "Yes, Beloved, Talia is my sister. Though this is the first we've seen one another in years." She said with a hint of bitterness to her tone.
A tone that Sara easily heard and was concerned as Talia grimaced. "You've no idea how apologetic I am over that, sister. But at the time, I could not take you with me due to injuries I had suffered thanks to our father being displeased that I was choosing to think for myself and go on a path unrelated to him."
Something that Bruce Wayne had had a hand in as while he didn't love her, he did care for her and wanted a better life for her. This, along with other things had helped her to realize she truly was her own person and not some tool of her father's to be used for his own ends and that of the League's. It was also because of Bruce that she had found love with a woman sometime after her departure from her father and the League of Assassins. A woman known as Tabitha Galavan and she could certainly keep her on her toes thanks to her own brand of training. Nyssa gave her a look, one that spoke of whether or not she should believe what she had been told. "And I take it you wish me to speak with our father about allowing you a chance to speak with him so that you could come back?"
"To put it bluntly as one of Bruce's wards would say, 'Hell no!', sister." Scoffed the older sister and Sara couldn't help but snort in amusement.
"Then if not that, then what? As you know full well that father gave an order to kill you on sight if seen. It is only because we are sisters that I have not done as ordered just yet."
"And you would fail, Nyssa." Replied Talia with utter certainty and it annoyed Nyssa a great deal.
Something her older sister was well aware of but she wasn't here to pick a fight as that wouldn't be productive to her goals. "But as we are not here to see who is the superior warrior, I will get on with why I have brought you and yours here."
Sara would have made a quip but she knew the timing wasn't right in this case. "That would be most appreciated, sister." Nyssa told her somewhat bitingly and Talia just smiled.
"As you know, I left our father and the League when you were but a child. As I had come to realize I was more then just his tool that he could use for his purposes and that of the League's. And left I did, but not without great physical cost to my body as our father doesn't necessarily approve of those who serve him having their own thinking. Especially a woman."
"That sounds like some misogynistic shit right there." Muttered Sara with a look of distaste on her face.
"And you would be correct, young one?"
"Oh, I'm Ta-er al-Asfer." Quickly replied the Blonde as she caught on to what the other woman was hinting at.
Which had Nyssa frowning in annoyance, but not only that but at the insult towards her father. "Our father is NOT misogynistic." She stated firmly and getting a saddened look from not only her sister, but her Beloved as well.
Not even realizing that she was getting it from the other women who were present. "Oh how blind you are, little sister. Our father is in fact quite the misogynist considering he is still very much a man of his time. And his time had a view of women that is vastly outdated in the here and now."
"Unfortunately, misogyny as we all know hasn't died out yet." Muttered Sara and gaining nods of agreement.
"Well said, Ta-er al-Asfer. And once I gained a mind of my own thanks to a friends efforts, I realized several things. Those being that Nyssa and I's father would never see me as anything other then a tool. And that I was never truly his Heir as due to his views, only a man could take his place. Which is why ultimately, I left to pursue my own path. One that is free of a man's control."
A path that had proven to be quite rewarding if she might say so herself. "You are wrong, sister. Father himself has personally decreed me to be his Heir." Declared Nyssa with her head held high but there was a slight hint of doubt in her voice.
Talia just gave her another saddened look as she shook her head. "If only because there is no alternative for the time being thanks to a lack of sons. Take our brother, Dusan, for example, were he not born an Albino, he would be Heir but he is not. Instead, he was cast out because our father refused to see him as his own blood." And last she knew, her brother had long been making quite the living for himself in Gotham.
"We have no brother."
"Only because our father refuses to acknowledge him, little sister." Retorted Talia but it seemed Nyssa refused to believe as Sara let out a breath.
"Nyssa, I have to say, the girl has a point. Your dad is harsh, especially towards women and those of other races. I know you've seen how he is long before I came around. Hell, look at me! He barely tolerates me and if you know what to look for, you can easily tell he's against you and I being together."
And while he could be damned harsh towards those in the League and even his own children, it didn't prevent him from rewarding those who did truly well as they'd proven themselves to him in one way or another. Though of course it only went so far where the female members were concerned. Nyssa wasn't pleased with her Beloved's words, especially as she knew she was right in regards to the relationship they had. "Are you telling me this is not normal then with how he treats members of the League?"
"No, babe, its not. I can't say I'm surprised you don't recognize it considering how sheltered he's had you." Sara told her sadly and that annoyed the dark haired beauty as she felt a little on the insulted side.
But said nothing as her sister would speak up. "And that is why I've chosen to form my own League, one that is women only so that we may be free of the old ways of thinking that still pervades the world in this day and age. That is why I've brought you all here, so that I could offer an invitation to what I call… The Sisters Of The League. You would not have to kill if you didn't wish too and nor would you have to forsake your ties to the outside world. As you would be allowed to be amongst friend and family. You could even leave entirely if you wished."
More then anything, Talia knew those would be selling points for the women of her Father's League. Though she knew her sister and perhaps her apparent girlfriend would be the hardsells. But given how the Blonde was quite aware in regards to her and Nyssa's father's ways, she figured that perhaps she might not truly be a hardsell in the end. Murmurs could even be heard by the other League females who had been silent so far. "None of you have to say yes right now, but do give my offer serious consideration. As really, what do you have to lose?"
"Their lives." Nyssa retorted coolly.
"Perhaps, but considering the ways of our Father and the League, they have already lost much of that. And what I am offering, little sister, is a way to re-gain that through the unity of Sisterhood and its less restrictive ways."
Nyssa stared her sister in the eyes and she returned the favor until Nyssa broke the stare off. "Come, we are leaving."
And with that, the ladies of the League of Assassins made their leave. Though some were a little on the reluctant side however. "So, do you think it'll work?" Came the curious voice of Tabitha Galavan once the others were gone.
"I think it will for my sister may be sheltered as her Beloved put it, but she is none the less smart. She'll come to realize the truth of what has been said here today. And then, then she will seek me out." Replied Talia in utmost certainty.
"I sure hope you're right about this."
Talia looked to her for a moment and smiled. "Give it time, my love. Now, lets have some fun in changing the ways of this country so that its women will be liberated." Declared the woman with a smile as she held out a hand to her girlfriend.
Who took it with an eager smile of her own. As this was gonna be fun! If a bit bloody, but that's what showers, shared ones at that, were for!
Author's Notes: As I wrote this, I originally was gonna have it so that Sara and the other women joined but as I wrote, I realized that probably wouldn't work that well. And Nyssa no doubt would need more then her sister's or Sara's words to fully realize the truth where Ra's is concerned.