Beneath The Mask

Chapter 6: Waste Of Time

  Damian slid down the pole to the Batcave and landed nimbly in a crouch, then walked over to his uniform. He grabbed it and was about to get changed when he realised that someone was watching him. He didn't turn around, simply inspected his suit. "What?"

  "You sure you wanna do this, bro?"

  Damian turned around and narrowed his eyes at Jason. "Why are you concerned all of a sudden?"

  "I'm concerned that you might do something you might regret," Jason replied. He sighed helplessly. "Just let Bruce handle it, Damian, then you won't have to to through this whole family drama stuff. Trust me, it's a pain."

  "And how would you know?" Damian retorted. 

  Jason narrowed his eyes. "None of your business. Look, I'm trying to help you, but clearly you don't need it."

  "I never asked for your help, Todd," Damian replied bluntly. "And you're right, I don't need it."

  "Fine!" Jason threw up his hands in defeat. "You go do what you want. I'm sorry for being concerned once in my life."

  "Apology accepted." Damian walked away to a private area where he could change, hearing Jason grumbling to himself.

  Once Damian had gotten into his suit, he left the cave and hit the streets of Gotham, not bothering to take the Batmobile. He'd swing there. Yes, he knew it'd take an extra long time, but he didn't want to take a vehicle, as by the time he reached there by swinging, it'd be near the peak time of crime, and he didn't like to wait.

  Talia was bound to make a move tonight, and he was going to be there when she did. 

  Why would Talia want him back? And why target priceless artifacts in order to leave messages? Something didn't seem right, and Damian was determined to found out what. After a few minutes of swinging through the streets of Gotham, he settled on top of a tall building, where crime was bound to happen. It was a hot crime spot, so Talia would most likely strike here. And he'd be ready.

  An hour passed and nothing had happened. Damian's legs began to ache from his crouched position, and he stood away from the edge and stretched, shaking out each sore muscle. He sighed and looked out over the city, confused at to why nothing had happened yet. Supposedly this was the peek hour that most criminals striked, but apparently Mother wasn't 'most criminals'. 

  He sighed and crouched by the edge again. Why did Mother want him back? It didn't add up. They'd talked it over, settled things. He wanted to be Robin, and nothing Mother could do would change that. She'd eventually accepted that and they'd parked ways respectively. But it appears that Mother hadn't meant everything she'd said that day. Because now she was back, hunting him down. Well Damian was going to sort things out. And he would never go back with her.

  "Hey Damian."

  Damian jerked around to his feet, a batarang already in hand. Mother stood before him, arms by her side but a long sword in her hand. Her lips were curved in a small smile, and her green eyes shown in the dark. 

  Damian regained his posture, standing straight and lowering the Batarang, but kept it in hand. "Hello Mother."

  "You came looking for me?" Mother's smile widened. "How touching."

  "Get to the point Mother," Damian spat. "Why do you want me back?"

  "So you got the message. Good." Talia nodded once, her green eyes boring into Damian's emerald ones. "I need you back, Damian. I am building a new Empire. And you will be a part of it. Mother and son, head of the Empire. We will conquer Gotham and restore it to its pure form of no chaos."