The Guild of the Forsaken

CHAPTER 18 - Experience Is a Brutal Teacher

!TW' Brief mention of torture!

Just A Gigolo/ I Ain't Got Nobody - Louis Prima

September 13th 2024

GOTHAM CITY

It was the evening when they began to formulate their plans.

And as is most often the case, everyone has their own opinion, which of course they are entitled to, but there is only so much shouting that one can take. Some people seem to like the sound of their voice too much, and others are simply just loud.

Outside voices are brought inside, much to a mutual distaste, despite everyone being guilty of it. If Alfred had stuffed his ears with earbuds to block out the unsightly noise, well no one need know.

"You are not going," the boisterous voice of Bruce Wayne announced as he tried to quieten down his sons who are currently involved in their own debate. The sound of Bruce's voice momentarily halts the heated row.

Jade green meets sky blue in a clashing of glares, both men too stubborn to stand down first.

"Father, I am going to Greece," Damian's unwavering voice cuts through the momentary silence.

Before Bruce can respond Jason Todd speaks up, "Like fuck you are Demon Spawn, that fucking crazy lady has an interest in you, which is reason number one of a thousand why you shouldn't go."

Damian scoffs while Dick and Tim nod along at Jason's words.

"Tt, and what do you think I am; some helpless damsel?" Damian seethes at Jason who is levelling Damian with his own narrowed eyes.

Jason shakes his head, "no what I fucking think is that she just broke out of somewhere that we were explicitly told she could not. And for some reason she has taken an interest in you."

"What Jason is trying to say is that she is a highly dangerous individual who has basically shown a liking towards you, and is trying to get you to follow her to another country. Whatever she wants cannot be good, we just want you to be safe," Dick says softy as he takes a hesitant step in Damian's direction.

Clenching and unclenching his fists Damian crosses his arms over his chest muscles flexing under his black turtleneck, "Tt, this is why I should go, she wants me. If I don't go, she most likely will not interact with you and leave. Then we lose our only lead."

Dick shakes his head and sighs, "Look Damian is partially correct she is more likely to show her face if he is there. But we don't even know where to start looking, and she could just want to kill you and we don't want to risk that."

The truth in his words settles in the minds of those in the room.

Bruce sighs and rubs his temples. In his mind he doesn't want send his son straight into the arms of Marinette, but him being potential bait may be the only way to apprehend her.

"God! Who do you think she is?" Jason exclaims as he points to a mugshot of Marinette where she is gleefully smiling at the camera, "she broke out of fucking Ravenhold. How in gods name do you think we will catch her?"

Jason raises another point the Bat clan needed to consider. How would they catch her? She had proven she could escape a place that may as well have been specifically designed to hold her.

Bruce did not know her powers well enough to have a contingency plan like he possesses for everyone else.

She was volatile and they had no means to control her.

Damian scoffs loudly, "I have faced worse than that arrogant harlot. Besides from the way she acted I doubt she would kill me. In addition I would like to see her try and lay a hand on me," Jason rolls his eyes and throws his hands in the air in a gesture that wildly claims his exasperation at the whole affair.