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Talia will be the first to admit she did not take in a comatose Jason Todd out of the kindness of her heart. He was a means to an end, a way to show her Beloved that she had his best interests at heart.
But something happened that Talia had not expected, Her son, Damian, had grown attached to the boy. Damian had not even begun his training yet when Talia handed him to Jason.
Ra’s had summoned her, alone. It was on such short notice and so urgent that she did not have the time to find a guard she trusted to watch over Damian. So in her haste, she handed Damian off to Jason.
Jason had been following Talia since he was brought to the League of Assassins. Given his current state of mind, it was unclear whether he followed because of some sense of familiarity, or if he was just fascinated by the baby. Talia had overseen Jason’s training, and he would not attack unless provoked. He wouldn’t do much of anything unless provoked. But he would protect. If someone looked at her or Damian wrong, he would position himself in front of them. If Damian cried, he would reach out a hand to comfort him.
But this was the first time she had handed Damian to Jason. And she was not there to ensure nothing would happen to her son.
The meeting with her father was mainly to show those who were allied with the League who they were loyal too.
Talia was just thankful none of the blood got on her clothes.
She was gone for almost 2 hours. Two hours for anxiety to slowly seep into her gut.
She held back a sigh of relief when she saw the guard at her door was the same one she had left there. She motioned for him to move aside and remain in post. She did not hesitate as she opened the door, there were no signs she should be worried for the welfare of either boy.
The scene she saw before her, however, was not at all what she had been expecting.
Jason was cradling Damian, pacing back and forth through her room Damian head resting in the crook of his neck. The amount of people Damian would sleep around just went from 1 to 2.
Jason looked up as Talia entered the room, and deeming her not a threat, focused back on Damian. As if he was the only thing of importance.
Maybe he was.
~~~
Since that day, Jason and Damian had become close. Jason would follow Damian around like a puppy. And Damian would become anxious if Jason was not around.
Anytime she was alone with both boys, Damian would reach out for Jason to hold him. To Jason, Damian seemed to be the only glimpse of who he was before.
But as the months progressed, Ra’s continued to question Jason’s importance. Despite their best researchers and scientists, no one could understand how he was resurrected. And despite Talia pleading Jason’s case; insisting he was getting better, that Batman’s Robin was still in there. Ra’s did not care.
Ra’s wanted Jason to disappear from his sight. The way in which Jason Todd left his sight was open for interpretation.
Jason’s progress was slow, but that was to be expected, given the trauma he faced. Many at the League had scars, but the amount of scars on Jason’s body was extreme. And they were everywhere.
He had scars on his face, hands, chest, back, legs, and even his ankles. Among the most notable were the Y-incision across his chest, the scarring around his forehead where a streak of white flows from it, and the scars covering his hands.
The amount of scaring on his body was a testament to the horrors he had survived. And yet many looked at them with disgust. A small part of Talia was thankful the boy was not aware enough to understand what their looks meant. Sometimes Talia would see a new scar on Jason’s body as he trained, even she had a limit.
The only person who did not flinch from Jason’s scars was Damian. Damian would cling to Jason's hands, rest his ear over Jason’s heart, and tug at the white streak of hair whenever he was held.
The newly 4 year old boy loved him. Neither could bear being separated from the other.
Talia loved that the boys found solace in one another. Many at the League of Assassins found their connection dangerous. Both boys would protect the other at the cost of themselves.
Ra’s hated it.
~~~
“I want the boy gone, Talia.” Ra’s was sitting in his personal chamber, draped in opulent colors while he lounged in his chair.
Talia stood, facing her father with a well practiced mask of loyalty.
“And what do you mean by gone?” She knew challenging him was bold, but she had grown close to Jason, even seeing him as a second son. With each passing day Jason became more aware. He could recognize her and others. He even began to speak, forming simple sentences.
“Jason Todd was resurrected by some force we cannot identify. We can not be sure of his understanding and ability.”
“He has been getting better, Father. And he has proven himself loyal to Damian.” Talia had argued this point many times in the past week. Hoping to prove Jason was worth keeping. “Everyday, he improves. His teachers say the rate of healing is impossible.”
Ra’s raises his hand to silence her. “And yet he is still improving.”
Talia remains silent, knowing any response will not be appreciated by her Father.
“The boy needs to be dealt with, he is a burden on our operations here.” Ra’s stands and walks towards Talia. Placing a hand on her arm, leaving no room for argument.
“I want Jason dealt with tonight.”
~~~
For the first time in a long time, Talia did not know what to do.
Despite her best efforts, Talia had grown fond of the boy. She could not imagine disposing of him like he meant nothing to her. Damian would never forgive her, Talia wasn’t sure she could even forgive herself.
There was one option left. It would be dangerous, she would put her life and Damian's life in danger, but it would keep Jason alive.
Talia moved silently towards Jason and Damian's room. She needed to explain to her boys what was about to happen, and hope that they would all survive.
Both Jason and Damian sat upright when the door opened, Jason holding up a long curved knife in a defensive position. As their eyes adjusted to the lack of light, the boys relaxed.
“Mama, what’s wrong?” Damian sat up fully, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists, hair sticking up in every direction. Jason moved so his legs sat off the bed, knife still in his hand.
Talia moved through the room, walking to Jason’s bed and kneeling in front of him. Bringing her hand to cradle his face. “Jason, I am so sorry for what I must do. But if you wish to live, you must follow me.”
Jason looked at her, confusion evident as he tried to piece her words together. Damian, ever the protector of his brother, leaps out of bed.
“What do you mean? Leave Jason alone.” Even though he hides it well her son is scared. In the safety of their room Damian allows himself to be a child. And right now he is scared.
“Oh, Habibi.” Talia reaches out for Damian, running a hand through his hair. Jason moves when he hears Damian’s distress. Wrapping an arm around the little boy as he settles into Jason’s lap. “Your grandfather is upset at Jason’s apparent lack of progress, insisting I dispose of your brother.” Talia takes a breath, allowing Damian to process what she said. “I have no intention of letting that happen. Which is why we need to leave, now.”
Talia leads the way, moving through the halls with both buys following her. Dread pooled in her stomach, she didn’t want to do this, but Ra’s forced her hand.
She finally sees the door she needed, a faint green glow appearing under the door. Damian lets out a small gasp as the door opens. Anyone who spent time with the League would recognize the neon green glow coming from the large pool.
“Mama…” Damian whispers. He knows what this means, the consequences that will follow. Talia hates that her son, who is so young, is able to comprehend the trouble they will be in for this.
Talia turns to Jason, holding out her arms to take Damian from him. Jason reluctantly hands him over, looking at Talia confused. He doesn’t know what the green means, but he will soon.
“Habibi, I need you to close your eyes and put your hands over your ears.” Talia presses a light kiss to Damian’s hairline before turning to Jason. She steals herself for what they all are about to experience. “Jason, get in.”
Jason tilts his head, looking between her and the Lazarus pit. He breathes in a deep breath and walks forward. Submerging himself in the glowing waters.
Talia forces her eyes to stay focused on Jason as Damian's tears soak her shoulder.
~~~
Pain.
His senses are overwhelmed. Rage blinding him as liquid fills his lungs but doesn’t drown him. Every bone in his body feels like it's being broken and reset as green floods his vision. Memories fly by, all of his mind being repaired in one foul swoop.
He vaguely registers the feeling of the ground. The liquid is no longer surrounding him, but the rage is still there. He’s heaving, breaths coming out like breathing is a burden. Like he’s not supposed to be alive.
“Jason, look at me.”
That voice, sweet and maternal, but with a confidence that speaks to her power. He opens his eyes, looking up to see Talia Al Ghul holding a small child. Once his eyes lock with hers, the young boy starts squirming, reaching out his arms for Jason.
He remembered everything. Waking up in his own coffin, digging out of the wet ground, the hospital, the streets, and finally Talia bringing him to Nanda Parbat. The boy is Damian Al Ghul, the biological son of Talia Al Ghul and Bruce Wayne.
Jason reciprocates the contact, moving to hold the boy close to him, using his free hand to wipe the tears from Damian’s face. He looks up to him through wet lashes, cheeks puffy and red from crying.
Damian leans closer, burying his face into Jason’s neck. He could barely hear Damian murmuring “Ahki” over and over. Holding onto his neck so tightly Jason thought it may break.
“Jason we need to leave, Ra’s will soon know what happened here tonight and I still have to finish this plan.”
“Where’s Bruce?” Jason demands. He adjusts his hold on Damian, making sure he doesn’t slip as Jason stands up. The world is smaller than he remembers.
“Jason, I will explain all, but not here.” Talia levels him a stare that is reminiscent of a mother scolding her child. Jason felt obligated to agree.
~~~
Ra’s had been livid when he found out Talia’s plan, but by then they were halfway across the world. Talia remained away from Ra’s while he threw a fit. Keeping both boys safe.
Talia was impressed, Jason was a quick learner, training with her and Damian. Someday he’d become better than her. She just needed him to live that long.
Jason tried, he needed to be the best. If Ra’s doubted him, he would not hesitate to kill Jason. Or do something worse. All that matters is that in order for Jason to stay with his brother, he needs to be better.
“Ahki,”
Jason jumped, “Fuck, kid.” He ran a hand down his face, “told ya’ not to fuckin’ scare me like that.”
Damian let out a snicker, his hands full of art supplies. “I asked multiple times for you to paint with me.”
Jason huffed out a laugh at the kid. He was so aggressive in his affection, and Jason knew better than to keep the little price waiting.
~~~
It was a year before Talia felt safe enough to move them back to Nanda Parbat. Ra’s was still upset at Talia and Jason, but he was no longer murderous.
Their return was not warm, but it wasn’t immediately met with an assassination attempt on Jason or Talia. Damian was thrust into rigorous training, keeping him from Jason and Talia. Talia was being sent all over the world on Ra’s whim. And Jason was training to be Ra’s best soldier.
He had a new plan. Talia had told him about the state of Gotham. What Batman had done, or more accurately, hasn’t done.
The news of Gotham only serves to spur his motivation. He needs to prove to everyone he is so much more than just a dead bird. And so he trains, constantly having to be better. Jason needs to prove his worth to Ra’s so that he can remain with Damian.
Ra’s tries his best to keep them apart, but the two brothers have become dependent on each other. They cannot stand to be apart for too long.
Ra’s does not like the deceit that went into keeping Jason Todd around, but most of his murderous intent from his last dip in the Lazarus Pit has worn off. Talia tries her best to keep Ra’s focus off her sons, but there is only so much she can do against Pit Madness. And when one has been exposed to it for as long as her father, unknown variables become a lot more likely.
Talia was back at Nanda Parbat for a few days in between missions. Ra’s knew if she was gone for too long, many others would notice and question his daughter’s power. Because of this, Talia knew that Ra’s would need to bathe in the Pits in the coming years, hopefully that would give her enough time to keep her family safe.
~~~
Jason Todd had remained at the League of Assassins for years, moving through the ranks, much to Ra’s disappointment. And while the boys never interacted in the presence of others. They would ensure they got to be together whenever they could find the time.
Talia would sometimes forge missions so they could all be together again. Spend time being a family, as absurd as that sounds.
It always pleased Talia to see her boys, who had become so mature and hardened by their time training, act like boys. These little vacations they got gave them all the chance to catch up on who they were. They all deserve the break.
They had all sat on the couch, watching a movie Jason had said he was looking forward to. Damian had fallen asleep on Jason's lap, he didn’t even last 30 minutes into the movie. Jason shifted, clearing his throat in a way that meant he had something he wanted to tell Talia.
“T?” he whispered so he wouldn’t wake Damian resting in his lap.
“Yes, ibni?” Talia loved calling Jason that, my son, the blush that crept up Jason’s neck onto his cheeks was her favorite thing to witness. Jason takes a steading breath, rubbing a hand down his face.
“T, I need to go to Gotham.” Jason rushes the words out, “I need to do something.”
Now it’s Talia’s turn to take a breath, she knows Jason doesn’t take leaving them lightly. He’s terrified of abandonment, and in turn, terrified he’ll abandon someone else.
“Do you think that going back to Gotham is right?”
Jason stares at her for a moment, swallowing back his immediate defensive rebuttal. “Yeah, T. Yeah I do.”
Talia smiles at him, “Then he will understand.” Jason looks down at the young boy in his lap. A young boy forced by his circumstances to grow up too soon.
Jason stares forward blinking rapidly to keep tears from running down his face. “But what if I never see him again, T. What if I abandon him and he hates me for it.”
Her poor boy never got the chance to process the trauma he gained in his early childhood, she had suspicions that Jason’s mental age did not line up with his physical age.
“Jason,” she sighs, “soon there will be a time where I will not be enough to protect Damian from Ra’s.” Jason looks up to her, surprise lights up behind his eyes.
“Ibni, when that time comes, Damian will only be safe with one person.” She can see it, he has already figured out who she is talking about. “And when I send Damian to Gotham, I won't be able to protect him, But you will.”
“I’ll always protect him, T. I promise.”