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Jason had no plan and was on the run. Which was not a good place to be when running from the League of Assassins. Especially when he took Ra’s Al Ghul’s heir.
Ever since Jason had been at Nanda Parabat, he had been a protector for Damian. At first, that was all Jason was able to do. Protect.
His death and resurrection had left his brain in shatters, his body was only marginally better. Ra’s had only kept him around so he could hopefully uncover the secret of Jason’s resurrection, to replicate it himself. Jason was glad he does not have many memories from that time; he does, however, have the scars.
Talia had worked with him personally, training his mind. He was getting better, but his progress was too slow for Ra’s. Ra’s insisted that if Jason did not get better soon, he would take care of the boy himself.
Talia did not want to let that happen. Despite her best efforts, she had grown attached to Jason, and so had Damian. Damian was only five and already he adored Jason. The boy followed him around, looked for him in any room, and went to him for comfort. Talia found it sweet, Ra’s found it infuriating. And what Ra’s found infuriating, did not last long.
So Talia threw him into the Lazarus Pit. Restoring his mind and body at once. But the madness that followed was agonizing, he’d black out for hours, and come too covered in blood. Talia needed a way to control his anger, Ra’s was furious she had used the Lazarus Pit on Jason. But she managed to reason with him that Jason would be useful to the League.
But Jason and Damian had become inseparable, and Talia knew that if something happened to Jason, she would lose both her sons. But she knew they could not remain at Nanda Parabat. Her father would break them, take away their loyalty for each other and turn them into the perfect soldiers. She wanted better for them.
And so Talia Al Ghul will fight with everything she has to ensure her boys make it out alive.
~~~
Jason knew Talia was planning something, she had been acting differently. More resistant to Ra’s power, bringing all his attention to her. Because of this, Damian and Jason were able to spend more time together as brothers without worrying about Ra’s.
They loved the days where they could be boys and not soldiers. Both were in Jason’s room, Damian was drawing on the floor by Jason’s feet while Jason read a classic Talia had bought for him.
Ra’s has been trying to keep them so busy that they don’t often get to enjoy others' company. Jason had told Talia that Ra’s was doubling his effort in training them.
Jason had just finished the next chapter, stopping to look at the drawing of a tiger Damian was working on.Jason was about to ask about it, but Talia walked into the room right before Jason could ask. To the untrained eye, Talia appeared completely normal. But Jason and Damian knew their mother, something was wrong,
“Boys,” Talia said, “It’s time to go.”
Jason had been briefed by Talia about the day they would have to leave, and he knew it would be coming soon. But he didn’t expect it to be so soon.
“Go where, mama?” Damian asked. Talia hadn’t told Damian her plans then, but Jason didn’t even know what Talia’s plan to distract Ra’s was.
“Your bags are packed and in the servant's passage that leads to the stables. Get on the horse with the red string in his saddle and run.” Talia ordered. Her distress was becoming more obvious to Damian, the kid was now looking to Jason waiting to see his reaction to the circumstances.
Jason stood up, moving to pick up Damian from where he was sitting on the floor. Damian instinctually shifted to hug his arms around Jason’s neck, legs around his waist while Jason’s arm wrapped underneath his thighs, acting as a makeshift seat.
Jason rarely ever picked Damian up, Ra’s didn’t take kindly to Damian showing weakness. So, when Jason picked Damian up, paired with his mothers visible worry, caused his heart to race. Something was very wrong.
Talia moved out of the room as soon as she saw Jason had a firm hold on Damian. Jason followed her to an old servant's passage that led directly to the stables. Talia stood to the side, holding the door open for the boys, revealing their bags on the floor of the tunnel.
“I’ll distract Ra’s for as long as I can,” Talia said, “Hopefully that will give you enough time to lose their trail.”
“Thank you, Talia.” Jason said.
Talia reached out, running her hand down Jason’s cheek then turning to Damian, doing the same to him. There was a faint sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Keep each other safe.” Talia said. She removed her hand from Damian’s face. “Habibi, you know where to go.”
Jason gave Talia a curt nod, and she shut the door.
~~~
Jason kept Damian in his arms, throwing the packs over his free shoulder. The darkness paired with the steady presence of Jason calmed Damian, but the anxiety of the past few minutes was still lingering in his body.
Once they moved far enough away from the door, Damian finally found the courage to speak.
“What’s happening, Ahki?”
Jason slowed, sighing through his nose. “Talia has been waiting for the perfect moment to get us out of the League.”
Out of the League.
“But,” Damian paused to blink the tears out of his eyes, “What about mama? Where will we go?”
“Dobt worry, Habibi.” Jason said, “Talia has it all planned out. We’ll be fine.”
That last sentence was whispered, Damian couldn’t tell if he was meant to hear it or not.
~~~
Jason and Damian had been hiding in a small town about 200 miles from Nanda Parbat. Jason had run the horse ragged to get to where they are, and traded him in before walking to the next town in the dead of night. Not before Jason snuck back into the stable so Damian could bid the horse farewell. From there they moved through three more cities, before reaching their final destination.
They had to wait for Talia. And they had been, but she was a day late. Which may not seem like much, but when Ra’s Al Ghul was involved everything had higher stakes. And Talia was not one to be late.
Jason was getting antsy, and that was rubbing off on Damian. Soon Jason would have to run out and grab more food. He just hoped that Talia got here before that had to happen.
Jason tried to keep Damian distracted, but the kid was getting nervous. They were currently hiding in an abandoned floor of a mostly condemned building.
The sound of the breach alarm had Jason up and aiming a gun at the door.
“Damian.” Jason whispered, but Damian was already up and behind Jason, pulling a knife from Jason's belt and slid it up his sleeve. If Ra’s assassins were here then they would take Damian alive. He was still young enough that he wouldn’t be hard to brainwash.
The sound of the door code filled the quiet room. Even though Talia was the only one who should have the code, Jason couldn’t be sure she hadn’t been compromised. Jason stayed in position, shifting so Damian was better covered by frame.
Talia appearing through the door only marginally eased his anxiety. But he still had to make sure.
“You can put the gun down Jason,” Talia says, walking through the door, “It’s just me”
Still not good, keeping the gun where it is Jason calls out the code they had come up with to ensure neither had been compromised.
“To be, or not to be; that is the question.” Many knew the phrase, but the rest of the speech was not as common.
“Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer.” Talia responds, wasting no time, “Would you like for me to continue or do you want to stop pointing a gun at me?”
Her raised eyebrow at the question wiped away any doubt she had been compromised. He lowered his gun, shoving it in the waistband of his pants, he could feel Damian putting the knife he nicked back in his belt.
“I don’t know Talia, I’ll never pass up the opportunity to listen to Shakespeare.” Talia rolled her eyes at Jason’s antics. Damian, however, was unfazed and pushed past Jason to get to Talia.
Talia crouched down to catch Damian as he ran towards her. Wrapping her arms around his middle as he reached around her neck. Talia looked up, motioning with her free hand for Jason to move forward. When he reached Talia and Damian, she grabbed his hand, pulling him down with them.
“Thank you, Habibi.” Talia said. She was holding his chin so he couldn’t move away from her as she said it. “ Thank you for keeping him safe.”
Jason swallowed back a sob as Damian pulled him into their hug.
Jason had no plan and was on the run. Which was not a good place to be when running from the League of Assassins. Especially when he took Ra’s Al Ghul’s heir.
Ever since Jason had been at Nanda Parabat, he had been a protector for Damian. At first, that was all Jason was able to do. Protect.
His death and resurrection had left his brain in shatters, his body was only marginally better. Ra’s had only kept him around so he could hopefully uncover the secret of Jason’s resurrection, to replicate it himself. Jason was glad he does not have many memories from that time; he does, however, have the scars.
Talia had worked with him personally, training his mind. He was getting better, but his progress was too slow for Ra’s. Ra’s insisted that if Jason did not get better soon, he would take care of the boy himself.
Talia did not want to let that happen. Despite her best efforts, she had grown attached to Jason, and so had Damian. Damian was only five and already he adored Jason. The boy followed him around, looked for him in any room, and went to him for comfort. Talia found it sweet, Ra’s found it infuriating. And what Ra’s found infuriating, did not last long.
So Talia threw him into the Lazarus Pit. Restoring his mind and body at once. But the madness that followed was agonizing, he’d black out for hours, and come too covered in blood. Talia needed a way to control his anger, Ra’s was furious she had used the Lazarus Pit on Jason. But she managed to reason with him that Jason would be useful to the League.
But Jason and Damian had become inseparable, and Talia knew that if something happened to Jason, she would lose both her sons. But she knew they could not remain at Nanda Parabat. Her father would break them, take away their loyalty for each other and turn them into the perfect soldiers. She wanted better for them.
And so Talia Al Ghul will fight with everything she has to ensure her boys make it out alive.
~~~
Jason knew Talia was planning something, she had been acting differently. More resistant to Ra’s power, bringing all his attention to her. Because of this, Damian and Jason were able to spend more time together as brothers without worrying about Ra’s.
They loved the days where they could be boys and not soldiers. Both were in Jason’s room, Damian was drawing on the floor by Jason’s feet while Jason read a classic Talia had bought for him.
Ra’s has been trying to keep them so busy that they don’t often get to enjoy others' company. Jason had told Talia that Ra’s was doubling his effort in training them.
Jason had just finished the next chapter, stopping to look at the drawing of a tiger Damian was working on.Jason was about to ask about it, but Talia walked into the room right before Jason could ask. To the untrained eye, Talia appeared completely normal. But Jason and Damian knew their mother, something was wrong,
“Boys,” Talia said, “It’s time to go.”
Jason had been briefed by Talia about the day they would have to leave, and he knew it would be coming soon. But he didn’t expect it to be so soon.
“Go where, mama?” Damian asked. Talia hadn’t told Damian her plans then, but Jason didn’t even know what Talia’s plan to distract Ra’s was.
“Your bags are packed and in the servant's passage that leads to the stables. Get on the horse with the red string in his saddle and run.” Talia ordered. Her distress was becoming more obvious to Damian, the kid was now looking to Jason waiting to see his reaction to the circumstances.
Jason stood up, moving to pick up Damian from where he was sitting on the floor. Damian instinctually shifted to hug his arms around Jason’s neck, legs around his waist while Jason’s arm wrapped underneath his thighs, acting as a makeshift seat.
Jason rarely ever picked Damian up, Ra’s didn’t take kindly to Damian showing weakness. So, when Jason picked Damian up, paired with his mothers visible worry, caused his heart to race. Something was very wrong.
Talia moved out of the room as soon as she saw Jason had a firm hold on Damian. Jason followed her to an old servant's passage that led directly to the stables. Talia stood to the side, holding the door open for the boys, revealing their bags on the floor of the tunnel.
“I’ll distract Ra’s for as long as I can,” Talia said, “Hopefully that will give you enough time to lose their trail.”
“Thank you, Talia.” Jason said.
Talia reached out, running her hand down Jason’s cheek then turning to Damian, doing the same to him. There was a faint sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Keep each other safe.” Talia said. She removed her hand from Damian’s face. “Habibi, you know where to go.”
Jason gave Talia a curt nod, and she shut the door.
~~~
Jason kept Damian in his arms, throwing the packs over his free shoulder. The darkness paired with the steady presence of Jason calmed Damian, but the anxiety of the past few minutes was still lingering in his body.
Once they moved far enough away from the door, Damian finally found the courage to speak.
“What’s happening, Ahki?”
Jason slowed, sighing through his nose. “Talia has been waiting for the perfect moment to get us out of the League.”
Out of the League.
“But,” Damian paused to blink the tears out of his eyes, “What about mama? Where will we go?”
“Dobt worry, Habibi.” Jason said, “Talia has it all planned out. We’ll be fine.”
That last sentence was whispered, Damian couldn’t tell if he was meant to hear it or not.
~~~
Jason and Damian had been hiding in a small town about 200 miles from Nanda Parbat. Jason had run the horse ragged to get to where they are, and traded him in before walking to the next town in the dead of night. Not before Jason snuck back into the stable so Damian could bid the horse farewell. From there they moved through three more cities, before reaching their final destination.
They had to wait for Talia. And they had been, but she was a day late. Which may not seem like much, but when Ra’s Al Ghul was involved everything had higher stakes. And Talia was not one to be late.
Jason was getting antsy, and that was rubbing off on Damian. Soon Jason would have to run out and grab more food. He just hoped that Talia got here before that had to happen.
Jason tried to keep Damian distracted, but the kid was getting nervous. They were currently hiding in an abandoned floor of a mostly condemned building.
The sound of the breach alarm had Jason up and aiming a gun at the door.
“Damian.” Jason whispered, but Damian was already up and behind Jason, pulling a knife from Jason's belt and slid it up his sleeve. If Ra’s assassins were here then they would take Damian alive. He was still young enough that he wouldn’t be hard to brainwash.
The sound of the door code filled the quiet room. Even though Talia was the only one who should have the code, Jason couldn’t be sure she hadn’t been compromised. Jason stayed in position, shifting so Damian was better covered by frame.
Talia appearing through the door only marginally eased his anxiety. But he still had to make sure.
“You can put the gun down Jason,” Talia says, walking through the door, “It’s just me”
Still not good, keeping the gun where it is Jason calls out the code they had come up with to ensure neither had been compromised.
“To be, or not to be; that is the question.” Many knew the phrase, but the rest of the speech was not as common.
“Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer.” Talia responds, wasting no time, “Would you like for me to continue or do you want to stop pointing a gun at me?”
Her raised eyebrow at the question wiped away any doubt she had been compromised. He lowered his gun, shoving it in the waistband of his pants, he could feel Damian putting the knife he nicked back in his belt.
“I don’t know Talia, I’ll never pass up the opportunity to listen to Shakespeare.” Talia rolled her eyes at Jason’s antics. Damian, however, was unfazed and pushed past Jason to get to Talia.
Talia crouched down to catch Damian as he ran towards her. Wrapping her arms around his middle as he reached around her neck. Talia looked up, motioning with her free hand for Jason to move forward. When he reached Talia and Damian, she grabbed his hand, pulling him down with them.
“Thank you, Habibi.” Talia said. She was holding his chin so he couldn’t move away from her as she said it. “ Thank you for keeping him safe.”
Jason swallowed back a sob as Damian pulled him into their hug.