Don't Fear the Reaper

21) Damian Has a Death Wish

Dick let out a long exhale as he ran his hands over his face. "Are we sure that-"

Tim didn't let him finish. "Yes. Satellite images confirmed that Slade, Lady Shiva, and Dusan have all left the island. We can tell that there is still a bare bones crew at the base, but this is our only real chance to get a look at the place without it turning into a massive fight."

Dick looked around at the others and tried to read their expressions. "We have no proof that Bruce is being held there. For all we know, they aren't even involved in his disappearance or the assassination attempt."

Damian crossed his arms. "Dusan is angry about not being in line to take over for my grandfather. He has the motive."

Babs nodded. "If their goal is to over throw Ra's, then it makes sense to get Bruce out of the way. He was hand selected to take over years ago— that must piss Dusan off since not only does B not want it, but he isn't even related to Ra's."

"But then why is he still alive?" Dick questioned. "All three of them have reasons to take B out, but why hold him captive?"

The room was quiet because no one had a good answer... except one person.

"It's a trap," Nico said, speaking up for the first time since their meeting began.

"What?"

Nico let out a sigh, looking like he hated the situation he was currently in. "Bruce was offered to take over, but he isn't the heir. Killing Bruce wouldn't give them any more claim to the League of Assassins."

"But killing me would," Damian finished, the realization coming over him.

Nico nodded. "They had to have known that you knew about them, so they made sure to be seen leaving the island. They want you to go in so that you can be ambushed."

"So Bruce isn't actually there?" Steph said, looking both worried and confused.

Nico shrugged. "He could be, but it doesn't matter if he is. Believing he might be is enough reason for you all to check it out and get yourselves killed."

"Tt- we wouldn't-"

Nico cut off Damian. "You would. The others have a chance of making it out alive, but they would make sure to kill you. You're the only heir— the only one that truly stands in their way after Ra's. Every assassin on that base probably had orders to kill you at any cost."

"And you?" Kate said, eyeing the teen hesitantly.

Nico met her gaze, his face unchanged. "I am here to keep him alive."

Kate didn't seem sold. "But if Talia hadn't given you this assignment, would you have followed Slade, Shiva, and Dusan— or even considered it for a moment?"

Without hesitation, Nico said, "No. I wouldn't have considered it, nor would it have been offered to me. They would never have tried to gain my allegiance."

"Too loyal to Talia and Ra's?" Luke Fox asked with a raised eyebrow. Having met Nico for the first time that day, he was less trusting than the others who had been around him those last few weeks. "Allegence to one group of bad people over another still isn't the most dependable thing."

Nico eyed him for a moment, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Allegiance would mean I follow them or their cause, which I don't."

"So you don't kill for them?" Luke challenged.

Nico narrowed his eyes at the man. "I have killed for people and their causes before. What I do now is different. The names they give me are not part of an agenda."