Nightwing: Legacy

Chapter 9.2

Thomas and Damian Wayne sat in the former's room. Damian was sitting in the desk chair, the other man leaning against the back of the couch. They both wore the undergarments of their suits.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Damian? Chances are one of us won't be making it out of this alive."

Damian looked at Thomas, who began pacing, his scarred arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm sure, Thomas. It'll be like... like I can finally make up for everything I've done."

Thomas nodded, "are we okay? I don't wanna end this on bad terms. I can't risk losing more family that I'm not right with. I didn't get that chance with dad."

"Dad's dead?"

Thomas paused, hearing Damian's broken voice, "I... I thought you knew. I found Deathstroke here, standing over Alfred and Dad. He killed them," Thomas said, his arms crossed

Damain's voice trembled as he stood up, a new fire in his watery eyes, "and where is he now?"

"In the pits of hell."

"Then we should send him some company."

They now stood in the armory of the Cave. Thomas swallowed, "why do we even have to switch places?"

"Because," Damian answered, "you're a better fighter than me. I can hold him off if he expects me, but if you can get the jump on him we'll win. He won't expect his own grandson to kill him."

Thomas sighed, handing Damian a few things, going over the plan, "then, this device will share our locations. These are your weapons. And the code phrase to spring the trap: The light prevails."

"Got it."

"Good luck, Dami. I hope this goes our way."

"It will," Damian nodded, looking away from the red suit on a mannequin in one of the lockers.

Thomas smiled smally, not sharing Damian's confidence.

"And Thomas?"

"Yeah?"

"Whatever happens, I forgive you. What happened two years ago, I understand why it happened. And I forgive you. I hope you can forgive me. All I ever wanted was to be your brother."

Thomas held out his hand, and Damian took it. They held each other's forearms, like ancient Romans. Thomas nodded in respect, "you always were."

***

In between the Gotham buildings, there was a wide trench in the ground. A concrete jungle, leading onto gray stones, a river running through the middle.

A hooded figure crawled onto the sandy riverbank, gasping for air. His clothes were wet, and he was sprawled on his back trying to catch for air.

Damian slowly stood up, throwing the mask covering his mouth to the ground.

He stood back, breathing the fresh air. Slowly he recovered from his lack of oxygen, stepping forward as he slowly removed the hood. And it wasn't Damian Wayne under the hood. It was Thomas.

***

Barbara Gordon lifted up a vial of clear liquid, sitting at the table in Panessa Studios.

"It just finished," Barb said, looking over at Tim Drake.

"Does it check out?" He asked.

Barbara looked at a computer monitor, running a simulation, "testing against the sample Talia sent us..."