Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[44] Sacrifice

Aleama had finally managed to come to Gotham and contacted Damian. She was sitting in the living room of Wayne Manor as she told everything she thought they should know about Mona to Damian, Bruce, Cass and Barbara.

Richard wasn't there at the moment nor was Jason and conveniently Tim wasn't at home either or else it would have been difficult to discuss with him present there. He was stuck in a state of denial and though none of them had brought the topic up in front him after that, still they could see he had reserved himself more. He intentionally avoided having any discussion with them, almost as if he feared they would bring up Mona and Nyssa again.

On the other hand, Bruce had ensured that Aleama got a proper place to stay in Gotham though he had decided to ponder carefully on the situation before taking the next step regarding Mona.

He had told Damian before as well that he couldn't risk the very sensitive agreement they had with the League of not bothering in each other's affairs. But if Aleama was right in suspecting Talia's motives and Mona's life really was in danger, then they would have to do something to save the girl because they couldn't let an innocent life be lost among the deadly games Talia played often.

And especially not when that innocent child was so closely linked to them, regardless of the fact that Tim was unwilling to accept the truth and was running away from it.

Aleama took her leave after she had answered all their questions but as she approached the main door to leave, it opened revealing Tim who had just come back home.

She froze upon seeing how exactly alike he was to Mona; the same bright blue eyes, the same innocent yet rather pale features and the same soft brown hair.

The only name she could associate with him upon seeing his and Mona's resemblance escaped her, "Red Robin?"

It was Tim's turn to freeze at her remark but then he realized she must be the person Damian had told them about earlier who had escaped the League after almost being killed.

"I'm sorry, you're mistaken," he replied coldly as he stepped in and went straight towards the staircase to go up to his room.

However, Aleama's eyes followed him because she knew that it could be no coincidence for him to be such a striking reflection of Mona. He was definitely her father, the Bat vigilante who Nyssa had kept captive.

Damian spoke up in his native tongue, "he is her father. But he hasn't yet accepted it."

She nodded in reply, turning back to Damian, "thank you for all you have done, Master Damian. I will forever be in debt to you."

He shook his head, "I did what I had to. And don't worry, Mona won't come to any harm. We will make sure of that."

Bruce's gaze had flickered towards him in a warning as if asking him not to promise anything just yet.

But Damian seemed to have made up his mind as he remarked after Aleama had left, "Father, I understand. But you haven't yet met Mona. If you had, you would know why I am troubled for her."

Bruce had not been expecting that reply as he asked, "and why exactly are you troubled?"

"She's a lot like Drake," he uttered, keeping his voice low, "self sacrificial to a fault. I can't let her walk to her death for Mother if she really is planning to use her as a pawn."

"But there's still a possibility that Aleama has had a misunderstanding," Cassandra interjected his remark, standing by her judgment that Talia felt differently towards the girl.

"Cassie is right," Barbara agreed with her, "we have to be very careful. We can't simply go there and bring Mona with us."

Damian knew they all had a valid point. If they hastily went to rescue Mona, chances were that the girl would turn on them instead. The devotion he had seen in her eyes towards Talia unnerved him a lot.