SWAN SONG / damian wayne

THIRTY, MAMA KNOWS BEST

"SOMEONE SAYS THEY'RE here to see you, Miss Odile." She'd been a regular visitor to the Wayne Foundation building in the past few weeks. Everyone was already used to her presence.

She offered the staff who'd alerted her a quick smile and headed out to the lobby. And then Odile stopped in her tracks.

Even disguised, she could recognise the woman immediately. Her expression morphed into one of seriousness as she glanced around the area. No. She wouldn't dare. Not here.

And Odile could guess why Talia al Ghul had decided to pay her a visit in the heart of enemy territory.

Talia raised her head, her expression just visible from behind the large hat she wore. An unimpressed, unamused arched brow.

Odile strolled over to where the woman had sat, placing herself on the opposite side. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call Bruce right now and get you thrown into a cell."

"Because you can't," Talia replied with a shrug. "And if you'd wanted to come after me, you'd have done so a long time ago, Yu Lan."

"My name is not Yu Lan." Odile's voice was cut enough to cut through glass. "And the only reason I didn't come after you is because your father is already dead. You ought to consider yourself fortunate."

"Not, because I am Damian's mother?" Talia asked, shrugging. "Not that you'd succeed in hunting me down, of course. It would have ended with your head on a pyke."

"I'm not sure about that," Odile replied coolly. "You underestimate me. And you test my patience. Why are you here?"

"I've been keeping an eye on you. And my son."

"And?"

"He's not for you, girl."

"You are not the one who can decide that. Leave the property now, Talia. Before I make you."

"You don't want to make a scene," a lackadaisical smile emerged on Talia's face. "Why not go and take a walk with me? You can choose where to go. Just a conversation. If you are romantically involved with my son, we ought to share a few words sooner or later."

"Are you planning on capturing me? Kidnapping me? Or would you kill me directly? You think Damian would forgive you if that happened? Remiel?"

"Damian may have turned to the other side... but he is still my son. I will look out for him. As for Remiel... she is an issue I shall handle another day."

Odile made a mental reminder to alert Remiel to potential threats from the League. If she got out of this situation alive.

But surely, the security cameras in here... Surely someone must have noticed Talia's presence by now. But just in case...

"Fine." Odile gritted her teeth. "Come with me. Let's chat."

They did not go on the walk like Talia had asked. Instead, Odile brought her to a nearby cafe, ordering a cup of coffee for herself before sitting down at the table with Talia. The woman snorted. "None for me?"

Mildly, she replied, "Get your own drink."

"And here I thought you were a charitable young woman."

"Not to people like you."

Talia looked curious now. "I thought you'd be angrier than this, really. Even the worst of us remember grudges. Especially blood debts. And yet you are entangled with the son of your enemy. And you never came after me."

"He's more than just your son." Odile took a sip of her coffee. Scalding hot. Maybe she'd have a chance to throw it in Talia's face.

"Perhaps. But you never came after me. Because of him?"