Tidal Waves

26. Duel

The stars had barely begun to disappear when they returned to the ship.

Jason was leaning casually by the mast, arms crossed, a smug grin already curling at his lips.

"Well, well," he drawled. "Look who finally came sneaking back before dawn."

Damian glared. "Spare us, Todd."

Raven shot Jason a look, trying to stifle the way her cheeks flushed. Of course, he noticed.

"Aw, don't get shy now, sorceress," he teased, pushing off the mast and circling them like a shark smelling blood. "You two disappear for hours, the whole crew's making bets on whether you fell overboard or just got too distracted stargazing. Guess I won."

Damian shoved by him. "We have more important matters to tend to right now. Are you ready for our next quest?"

Raven watched the two trail off into the captains cabin, and she begun to feel anxious as she overheard them discuss their destination.

And to her dismay, she could sense anxiety in Damian as well.

—

"She shouldn't be here," Jason said quietly as they stealthily approached the temple.

Damian glanced over at Raven, and sighed.
When they arrived, only Jason and Damian were to step foot off the ship. Captain Todd's orders.

"For once, I agree with you. But, I made a promise," Damian replied. "We stick together."

Once they arrived to the doorstep, there was no holdback from the league, or from Jason and Damian.

Raven watched the two men mercilessly slash their way through the temple. The assassins lay scattered around the halls, either beaten or dead.

"You okay?" Damian questioned, pulling Raven's attention away from the gore.

Raven nodded, and followed as the two men continued down the dimly lit corridor.

"Should be in one of these rooms," Damian noted as they rounded a corner.

"Ah, what a surprise."

The three halted as another voice chimed in from behind them. Jason and Damian glared when the man appeared from the shadows.

"I should have known it were you two," Ra's said, his curious gaze moving from one man to the other. "Although, I cannot admit that I expected the team up."

"Save your speech, old man. We're here for personal business and then we're leaving," Damian retorted.

Ra's inched closer, carefully inspecting his old heir, whom didn't flinch at the approach. He reached a hand out and lifted Damian's eyepatch. "What a pity."

"We're not leaving without what we came for," Jason offered. "And yes, that is a threat."

"And what exactly did you come for, Todd?" Ra's questioned, glaring at the other man.

"You know what I came for," Jason replied coldly, and Damian noticed a darker change in his tone.  Raven stayed to herself, not wanting to cause more conflict.

"You two get the book, I'll hold him off," Jason informed the two.

"You don't— Damian opened his mouth to object but Jason quickly cut him off, and sent him a look that gave him an uneasy feeling.

"I said go. That's an order."

"Tt," Damian sounded in defeat before turning on his heels and grabbing Raven by the hand. "Let's go."

Raven and Damian traveled down the corridor, hurriedly searching for the book. When the magical aura caught their eye, they knew it was what they came for.

"I got it," Raven assured and grabbed the book from the stand. Damian nodded in approval, and before they made it out the doorway, a gunshot echoed through the corridor.

"Shit," Damian muttered as he raced out the doorway. "I told him not to—"

"Can't let go of the past, huh?"

Jason grit his teeth at the question. "She didn't deserve it— you piece of shit!"

The gun Jason had raised again, but before he could pull the trigger, Ra's lunged forward, getting one perfect strike in with his katana.

"Always too slow,—" Ra's commented with a smug grin, retrieving the blade from his side, "—And emotional. That's why Damian was supposed to be my legacy. The perfect heir."

"Todd!" Damian shouted, his eye wide at the sight. His sword came out of its holster as soon as he started to move.

Jason felt to his knees, his trembling hand gripping at the blood soaked shirt. He met Damian's panicked gaze.

"I'm sorry," Jason spoke, staggering to the ground. "I wanted to avenge her... for both of us. He's the one... who killed her."

A chill ran down Raven's spine when she put the pieces together. No wonder Jason was so protective over Damian.

They were brothers.