Castle Of Glass | B. Wayne

[24]

Talia Al Ghul had reached the League's stronghold in Gotham and was waiting for her son to show up. She had received Damian's reply and it struck her as slightly strange that he had asked to meet her there at first. Earlier, neither Damian nor Bruce had any objections to her coming directly to the manor to meet her son.

Something was surely different though she couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly. She had heard rumors of Bruce Wayne getting married but had dismissed it because she couldn't see Batman considering marriage. She had laughed off the notion, feeling that Bruce was too invested in his city to consider settling down.

But she was about to find out that her assumption had been wrong.

At last, the gates parted and Damian stepped in. Talia's emerald eyes softened to see her son who had grown taller and was almost her height by then. She remembered he had been a few inches below the last time she had come to visit.

"Salaam, Ummi," he greeted her and she stepped forward, her arms taking him into an embrace.

Talia wasn't usually very affectionate but not seeing Damian for so long had made her miss him too. She wasn't able to visit as often as she would like and Damian himself didn't want to come and stay with her at Nanda Parbat.

So for the short times that she got to see him, she would try to be as motherly toward him as she could. 

"My dear boy, it feels like by the next time I visit, you would be taller than me too," she remarked, her hands resting on his shoulders as she looked at him over, making sure that he was alright.

He didn't reply to that remark, only nodding his head in acknowledgment. He was thinking about how to break the news to her that Bruce had gotten married and he wanted her not to cause a scene about it.

"Is there something on your mind?" She asked, her eyes focusing on him observantly, "ah but sit down first. Then you can tell me the reason you asked to see me here instead."

He took his seat across from her, watching her pour out the green tea from the kettle placed on the table. She squeezed some lemon and handed him one cup, keeping the other for herself.

He knew she was waiting for him to speak first as she sipped her tea with her eyes still focused on him. So taking in a deep breath, he spoke up, "I have to tell you something."

"I can see that very well, what is it?"

"Father got married," he stated but his eyes were observing her expressions too, feeling that he had to be cautious. She didn't say anything so he resumed to mend the awkward silence between them, "it has been a few months now. I thought it would be better if I tell you beforehand and then take you home. Provided that you want to come nevertheless."

She raised an eyebrow questioningly, "married? And he didn't invite me?"

"Ummi, do you think you would have liked it if he invited you?"

She clicked her tongue slightly, a habit that had passed down to Damian as well, but then shrugged, "no. Or perhaps he was worried I would cause a scene at the wedding... I see. You're here to ensure I don't cause a scene now."

He felt called out but didn't respond to it. Talia was taking it much more calmly than he expected but then he also knew that her calmness could indicate the onset of a storm.

"Tell me about her," she spoke up, seemingly not offended but the cautious look in her eyes gave it away that she was pondering over it, "how is she like?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"She is your stepmother now, I ought to know about people close to my son," she remarked nonchalantly, "your father should have told me earlier, considering that such a big decision is bound to affect your life too. And he promised he would keep me updated on everything that is going on in your life. That was the only reason I agreed to leave you with him."

In a sense, Talia was right. She had a right to at least know about the people close to Damian; as Bruce had gotten married and Calmia was his stepmother, Talia at least had a right to know what kind of a person she was.

"She's not like an evil stepmother if that's what you wish to know. She is good to me," he replied, thinking his words over carefully, "she's also from Egypt so she understands Arabic."

"Oh... And is she part of the vigilante life you all lead?"

"No, she's not involved. She knows that Father is Batman though."

"So she's just an ordinary woman? A civilian," Talia seemed somewhat shocked as if not expecting to hear that but then nodded, "come, we have to buy a gift."

"A gift?"

"For your father and his wife," Talia stood up, "I should at least congratulate them."

Damian tried to judge what exactly was going through her head but couldn't so he asked, "Ummi, you are not angry, are you?"

"Of course not. I am a bit disappointed that I wasn't aware earlier, at least you could have told me," she beckoned him to follow her, "but there's no use dwelling on that. What I think about her isn't going to change the fact that she is Beloved's wife now."

Damian felt a bit awkward at that so he spoke up, "also maybe not call Father that when she's around."

"Why? Will she get jealous?" Talia asked but then brushed it off with a slight laugh, seeing the disapproving look on her son's face, "I know, Damian, I am not going to cause any scene. I just want to play nice this once. For your sake at least."

He didn't know how to feel about that statement, "for my sake?"

"Seems like you have gotten fond of her," she guessed and that made Damian more cautious, knowing his mother did not like to share, "I know she must be exceptional enough to convince Batman into marriage but you having a soft corner for her too is something I couldn't expect." 

"She's just a nice person," he mumbled, "that's all."

"And what's her name?" Her emerald eyes looked down into his but there was no malice in those irises as she asked in a soft tone.

"Calmia. I call her Miss Calmia," he replied.

"I see... Calmia. I would love to meet her in person," her lips turned up into a slight smile, "so after we buy their gift, you're going to take me home."

***