8809/Spider-Man: Homecoming... wait make that Robin: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming... wait make that Robin: Homecoming
Date of Scene:	15 August 2019
Location:	Interior - Wayne Manor
Synopsis:	Damian finds out his mother is in Gotham, and staying with Bruce. No blood was shed in the family reunion.
Cast of Characters:	Talia al Ghul, Robin (Wayne), Batman
Tinyplot:	Hunted Demon

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Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia has been at Wayne Manor for a little while now, though word has not spread very far amongst Bruce's cadre. Barbara Gordon and Alfred know, the former having stopped by, worried by the news, to have words with Talia that at times seemed to go well, and other times not.

For her own part, Talia has largely stayed quiet and out of the way. Remaining in just a few of the mansion's rooms, often the Library, or Bruce's room with the balcony that has a wonderful view of the grounds. Sometimes following him to his office and passing the time reading.

Today most her time has been in his room. She stands out on the balcony, the wind stirring as a storm can be seen on the horizon. Though sunny skies are overhead, that wall of dark cloud and grey beneath it is in the distance, creeping ever forward as if the impressive sight is meant to be forewarning.

Talia's hair blows about her, and whips the white blouse that she's wearing, unbuttoned and left hanging loose to reveal the white tank top tee she wears beneath it. Something about the moment feels appropriate, the woman's presence drawing the storm to Gotham.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian had been away on a mission of his. Though he was self sufficient by the age of eight, even he needed to return to home base for resupply and refueling every now and again.

  The boy entered through the batcave, dropping off spent gear and his uniform. Before sliding through the grandfather clock and up into the mansion proper. His al Ghul green eyes instinctively surveyed everything before him as he walked through, and climbed the stairs to the rooms.

  He dutifully picked up Abbadon, his kitten and perched him on his shoulder, scratching idly at his head as he walked the hall.

Batman has posed:
It is a common misconception that Batman sleeps by day and fights crime by night.

In truth, he gets by with thirty minute long microsleeps evenly spaced over twenty-four hours. Enough to keep his mind keen and his body healthy, while still being able to remain active and alert at all hours. Although his executive assistant at Wayne Enterprises would say his schedule has more open space in it than the Sahara, the truth is his life is regimented and planned out almost to the second.

At present, he stands down in a small copse of carefully-manicured trees that the balcony overlook. A grey 'Yale Athletics' tank top over his upper body, and similarly grey sweats below. He stands before a tree, giving it rather more punishment than it likely deserves. The bark has been chipped away by his bare fists, leaving only the smooth, dented wood underneath. His brow furrows beneath a loose lock of black hair, matted to his forehead by a sheen of sweat.

Pausing for a break, he wipes his hands across his face and turns to look up towards the balcony at the woman who stands there. Talia.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia al Ghul leans on the balcony railing, watching Bruce Wayne train. "The American," she says to herself, and gets the kind of small smile that she would have ruthlessly crushed from herself in those first months Bruce spent in Nanda Parbat.

But the similarity, Talia gazing down from a balcony, can't be missed by her. "Just missing my bow," she jokes to herself as she flashes that smile down to Bruce, lifting her hand to wave down to him.

The sound of footfalls in the hallway, tear Talia away from the railing. Barefoot, the legs of her dark slacks whisk against each other as she heads for the door of the bedroom. "Alfred, your taste has been impeccable on clothing but I think-" Talia says before her words cut off at the sight of Damian and Abbadon in the hall rather than Alfred. Her mouth falls open only briefly in surprise. "Son," she says softly.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     It was then that Damian had moved his gaze to Bruce's room. And the boy stopped in his tracks, his face moving from surprise to anger to covering it in the matter of a second. Damian musters a short and to the point "Mother." in return before he opens the door to his room, and setting down the cat. Memories of their last encounter over a year ago on his mind, and the...hostility they both had in that moment.

Batman has posed:
Bruce doesn't lift his hand to wave back, although the corner of his mouth does quirk into a thoughtful half-smile. After a moment he turns back towards the trees, squaring his shoulders and entering a Ma Bu stance, feet evenly spread and eyes locked on the near-splintering wood before him.

His senses are not superhuman by any stretch, and one might wonder how he managed to even hear the brief exchange in the Hall. Whatever draws him, he turns and moves with silent swiftness back towards the Manor House. He foregoes the door, instead pausing by the wall slightly to crouch before leaping directly upwards almost five feet into the air. His hands clasp one of the ornate stony window ledges, arms straining beneath the scarred flesh of his upper arms as he finds handholds in the sheer surface that do not appear to be there are first glance. He brings his feet up underneath him, pushing down against the upper frame of a lower storey window to propel himself up to the balcony. His hands clasp the concrete between the railings, his body rolling like water up and over them to land in a crouch.

"Damian," he says from the place where he now stands on the balcony, taking a step further into the room's interior. There are no other words, but the name itself is full of nuance. Things that probably should have been explained, maybe even surprise though his features would never show it.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
After that first expression, Talia al Ghul's face is composed. She doesn't seem surprised to hear Bruce from the balcony, only turning to glance briefly towards him as he approaches slowly into the room. Talia turns back to Damian, her eyes going over him. "You're really growing," she says to him quietly.

She hesitates a moment, looking between the two men. Talia finally says, "I maybe should have stopped to get a greeting card or something. Though I don't figure they probably have one that quite expresses our little family dynamic adequately. Though I'd love to see their faces if we tried to explain it to them."

Talia's eyes settle on Damian. "Last time we saw each other... well, I regret how it went," she offers quietly. The same had been offered to Bruce at one point. As he was showing her the scar.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian's room is bare, having moved the four poster bed that had been there out and settled for a Japanese futon. The bed was too...plush. He preferred to sleep on the floor, even without the futon. A table holds the sword that was given to him at the conclusion of the Year of Blood, one of two gifts he received that year, the other was the identity of his father, which led him to Gotham.

  There were no televisions or game consoles or even posters on the walls. Only a painting that he painted himself, of the view from his room on Infinity Island, the side table, an incense burner and his sword. His closet was filled with clothes of course, for every occasion.

  "I'm five foot now." He comments dryly, his stature was a point of contention for himself and his myriad teammates, even his brothers.

  The boy looked over his shoulder to his father perched, and those pale green eyes pierced back. Of course, Damian bore a striking resemblance to Bruce, with only two exceptions: His eyes (like his mother's and grandfather's) and his skin tone, which had a slight olive hue (also thanks to his mother's side of the family.) Damian turned and looked up at Talia. "Why are you here?" He asked plainly, he was every bit the soldier, nay, weapon that she and Ra's had forged, only tempered by anger and drive for greatness. He removes a small brass figure from his pocket, a worn Byzantine soldier that was used when he studied war strategies with Ra's and Talia, and set it on the table next to the sword in the sacred spot in his room.

Batman has posed:
"Your mother's in danger," Bruce interjects, "A group of killers - a potential breakaway faction of the League of Assassins is the working hypothesis - tracked her to Gotham. I'll upload the brief, you can watch it yourself."

As he speaks, he fishes what looks to be a WayneTech Prometheus cell phone out of his pocket - designed to his own specifications, of course. He opens up the interface, flicking through it as he remotely accesses the Batcomputer and transfers a cache of files to Damian's own server. Should he view it later, he finds video footage of the assault on the rooftops from the perspective of Batman's cowl, followed by Talia's rescue from mid-air. The file itself suggests a longer run time, but it has been edited down at the end.

"She's here so we can help keep her safe," he continues - We, not I, "These are dangerous men. There are potential ties to a former League member I encountered several nights ago. Your mother says he's called 'Bane'."

Bruce lifts a hand to gesture at his own face. Although the swelling has gone down, he's suffered quite the beating by the look of it. Cuts and bruises, a shattered eye socket, broken nose. It all seems to be healing, but the remnants of the battle are clear as day. He pauses to upload that video, too - the short, brutal fight outside Arkham Asylum.

"May be no connection, but I'm not leaving it up to chance."

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia crosses her arms, appearing content to let Bruce give the explanation. "I wouldn't expect them to go after you unless they felt it was the only way to get to me. And I don't think they'll come to that conclusion until they've made some attempts. So my guess is, it wasn't related. But that is just a hunch," she says after Bruce tells Damian about Bane.

She looks back to Damian. "I am glad to see you," she tells him. "I was hoping to see you but Bruce mentioned you were away dealing with something."

The beautiful Eurasian woman doesn't try to hide her look of satisfaction that Damian is operating on his own in this fashion. "I'd like to be able to see you while I'm here," she tells him. No, asks, not tells.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     "Grandfather attempting something?" He asks the two, not taking out his tablet yet. The mere fact that he was still here was enough that he was at least willing to hear them out.

  It was obvious that he still held onto the memories of his time in the League, with Talia and Ra's. He couldn't hold his face from showing emotion any longer, he was pissed, at himself and at this Bane guy. "If anyone tries to lay a hand on you, I will have their head on a lance."

Batman has posed:
"That's promising," Bruce turns slightly to Talia, that half-smile teasing up the corner of his mouth once again, "If he's willing to jump straight to decapitation, that means he still likes you."

His phone deposited back in the pocket of his sweats, Bruce looks to Damian again and speaks: "I don't know if this is Ra's al Ghul's work, but then again you're aware of just how subtle he can be when he wants something." His eyes flick up to Talia for a split second, remembering a moment in Nanda Parbat a lifetime ago. Damian's lifetime ago.

"Regardless, these are top priority threats. If they're operating in Gotham and preparing to stage another attack, I want to weed them out before they get the chance. If they're on the backfoot, they won't be for long."

His next words are spoken quickly, his gaze purposefully turned away from Talia as he says them: "I've arranged a safehouse in the city for your mother to move to if we need to divert a threat away from the House. Barbara's already installing the security hardware."

He hadn't discussed that much with Talia. The notion that she may need to be moved out of the Manor for her own safety. He hadn't relished the thought of it, in truth, and if he had to bring it up then now seems like the most opportune time.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Damian's statement draws a pleased enough look from Talia. Pleased, and some warmth as well as she gazes at her son. Talia swings her head back towards Bruce as he adds his comments.

The discussion of whether Ra's could be behind the threat causes Talia al Ghul to shake her head. "No, this isn't him. The only reason I..." Talia says, and then slowly trails off as Bruce mentions how subtle Ra's al Ghul can be. Her expression is thoughtful. Doubting. Thoughtful. Would she even know if he was behind it?

Finally she shakes her head. "I am reasonably certain he is not. I would have turned to him for help, but I do not know which of my former associates are in on this. And that extends to not being sure how connected some are within the League," she says. "In any event, I would be visible enough to possibly draw notice amongst them," she says.

Damian is aware of enough of reading people to see the reluctance that Talia has at the mention of a safehouse that would take her away from the Manor if used. Though she gives a nod of her head, understanding the tactical necessity. "I will have to thank her," Talia says of Barbara. "She is also running down some account numbers I gave her that might be useful in looking for anyone after me."

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian's mind is already running on all cylinders on this issue. "It can be assumed you're safe here. Either they don't know Father's identity or they are playing a long con. But there is no advantage to allowing Batman and us time to gather together and bolster a plan."

  The youngest Wayne starts thinking about all of this. "I was working on a feint, getting information from Cobblepot on the Foot in Gotham, but I can squeeze him for any more information he has on any new contacts in town. It is a long shot, but it may turn up something fruitful."

Batman has posed:
"Good. See what you can find out. But stay clear of this Bane if he surfaces. Whoever he is, he's not to be underestimated. Observe and retreat. He's a category A threat." The classification of this new foe is not one given lightly, typically reserved for only the most dangerous and unpredictable of his rogues - the likes of the Joker and Two-Face. He nods his head curtly at Damian, satisfied with the plan of attack.

Bruce's own read of Talia is just as good, and his brow furrows slightly. His voice is his best attempt at soft, although even that comes across as taciturn and grim: "We don't have a reason to abandon the Manor yet. But just because they haven't found you here yet doesn't mean they won't. The security systems are wired directly into my personal feed - if anything happens ... "

He trails off, leaving the last words unsaid.

"I need to get back to work." He's already sacrificed several minutes of his afternoon training regimen for the conversation.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talia's green eyes study her son as he breaks down the strategic situation. "I do not reveal Bruce's identity to those who do not know it," she comments. "But there are some who remember him from the past. And there are others who know you, Damian," she says. Knowing she need not say more. He may be a target. Of surveillance, possibly of more.

Talia glances around the manor house. No doubt having some idea of its defenses. No doubt knowing there are more that she doesn't know, and probably some she doesn't even suspect. "A pair of swords would be helpful to have on hand. Just in the event of... issues. Though I do know where the fireplace pokers are at, barring that," she says, a faint grin coming to her lips at the reference to her conversation with Barbara Gordon.

Talia walks over to Bruce, leaning near to his face and brushing a little kiss to the corner of his lips. Her hand touches his arm and she looks into his eyes for a moment, sharing the kind of warmth that has only been seem between them in a few places. Nanda Parbat. Madripoor. A handful of other places, and times. "Maybe tomorrow I can join you in some of those," she tells him, before turning to let him get back to it. "Speak to you later, Damian?" she asks.

Robin (Wayne) has posed:
     Damian's working mind gave way as soon as the kiss was planted. He marched to his closet, and opened up a suit coat that he only used once so far, removing a black tactical katana.

  He unsheathed it and after a small flourish to establish its worthiness, places it back in the black nylon scabbard and offered it to Talia, hilt first. "If you wish." He added, not saying no, obviously since they were sleeping in the same house. "I have modifications to my uniform I need to make, I will be working on that in the meantime." He delivers very matter of factly to both Talia and Bruce. He had his own regimen he needed to stick to, one of which involved his meeting with the Titans again.

Batman has posed:
Bruce doesn't respond to the kiss, save to lift a hand and momentarily rest it against the small of Talia's back.

"If you like," he agrees, "Alfred can order you some gym clothes from the same shopping service he got the rest of your clothes. They've got your measurements and you seem to like their style."

When Damian produces the sword and offers it to Talia, his eyes flick to it automatically. All focus and immediate, tense attention like a coiled viper. Slowly those blue eyes shift to the woman he has both loved and hated in equal measure. He draws his hand away from her, but makes no effort to forestall or deny the weapon being handed over.

If she wanted to kill him, he reasons internally, she had ample opportunity already - even without a blade.

"I'll leave you to it. Briefing at twenty-two hundred, Damian. Patrol at twenty-three thirty. Going to make sure you've still got it."

He turns with that, both Talia and Bruce stepping out of the room to leave Damian to his preparations.

Talia al Ghul has posed:
Talias accepts the sword. She inspects it with a practiced eye, smiling at Damian's choice in the weapon.

"Thank you, son," she says softly.