"You're not seriously thinking of joining Ra's Al Ghul. You have no idea what they did to Damian, and he was a kid." Jason burst through my open window while I cooked my breakfast.

I was grateful that I'd actually worn pants to the kitchen.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes. He made an offer." More like a threat. It'd only been a day since I told Clark and apparently he was a blabbermouth.

Thus far I'd been visited by Tim and Alfred. Surprisingly no Bruce quite yet. I expected some sort of broody silence, but no such luck.
They'd come yesterday, each at separate times and the butler only stayed for a bit because I made some tea.

"You can't go."

"Seems the deed has already been done." I scooped out my waffles onto a plate. "He's coming to get me at the end of the month." Regardless of the fact that I don't want that. Why couldn't I just retire? Grow a garden- unlikely, I'd kill every plant I tried.

"And you didn't consult any of us before you made a deal?" Jason paced in my living room.

"Not that it's really any of your business, I'm a grown woman. Making decisions is part of the job description." At least this way it sounded like it was my choice. They were less likely to go snooping this way and get themselves killed.

It was the league of assassins who gave Slade his ruthlessness. Wintergreen might have trained him how to kill, but it was the league that honed those abilities.

Going there was the last thing I wanted to do. I didn't want to become my father any more than I already had.

"I call bullshit." He crossed his arms.

"Why would you do a thing like that?" I questioned calmly, moving my plate toward the table that already had a glass of water on it.

"Joining the league would mean killing people." Jason said it as if it were his smoking gun.

"I've killed people before. I might not have the same taste for it that Slade did..." And wasn't it strange I was talking to him about this, I'd hidden my past for so long. "Why do you care so much?"

"I don't know!" He ran a hand through his hair, he was frustrated with something, maybe himself. "Just promise me you won't go."

"The deal has already been struck Jason. You think I'm gonna be able to back out now?" Why couldn't I just tell him the truth?

"How long do you have?"

"Three weeks, technically. Unless something happens between now and then, I'll have to go." He acted like I was dying. "Relax, he's not going to force me to do anything I don't want to do. I have all the knowledge up here." I tapped my temple. "Safe and sound."

"He'll torture you."

"I'm not scared of a little pain." My mind would have to be utterly shattered before I revealed another identity, and by then, it would be useless gibberish. "Remember that this isn't my first rodeo. I hardly believe he can be that much more creative than Slade Wilson."

Merely jumbled words and phrases.

A shudder visibly ran through Jason. "Ra's Al Ghul is crafty, but he'll likely leave it to Talia."

"Ah yes. Talia." The woman disgusted me. "We'll get along swimmingly."

"How can you be so calm?" He finally made his way toward the table, dropping bodily onto the chair across from me.

"I was neglected until the age of twelve, always fighting for my father's attention. Though when I got it, it was for a punishment. He controlled every aspect of my life, when I ate, slept, trained. Yet he remained distanced, an emotionless figure. Then when I showed him how smart I was, how I could figure out secrets, he upped my training. Torture was my morning exercise, I was starved, deprived of various senses, beaten until I couldn't breathe." I fiddled with my mug. "My life has been nothing but survival. This," I gestured around me. "Is nothing but a brief reprieve. Slade didn't care about me, neither does Ra's. I can handle the League of Assassins."

Jason's jaw worked, clenching and unclenching. "You shouldn't have to."

"I'll let you in on a little secret." I leaned in. "Yes, I do. This whole thing, nothing but a bargain forced on me by Slade Wilson. He owed Ra's a life debt and now it's passing onto me and he's using you guys to do it."

Shit, I hadn't meant to say that. Why did I say it.

Maybe I was more frustrated than I gave myself credit for. I'd tried to shove away any emotion, tried to make this as easy as possible but I couldn't.

Obviously.

Jason just stared at me. "What?"

Sighing, I ran a hand over my face. "Ra's Al Ghul wants me for my ability, he will stop at nothing, given his willingness to threaten you guys. The Bats. Even his own grandson."

He swore, actually getting out of his chair to pace. "So that's the real reason, for us."

I shrugged. "It worked for Slade and it'll work for Ra's. He can do what he wants to me, I don't really care. But you, Damian, Alfred- Bruce and Tim? I can't let that stand. Though I will kill him eventually, there isn't a resurrection pit in the world that could save him from my wrath."

Jason looked at me with an unknown emotion swirling in his eyes. For the first time, I had no idea what was going on. Usually I could have a pretty good guess at what someone was thinking based off their body language, but Jason always managed to evade me. He was hard to read.

It was both irritating and intriguing.

"What?" I questioned.

"Nothing." He seemed to snap out of it. Whatever it was. "So you have a plan?"

"It might take me a minute, but I'll have one. Ra's Al Ghul shall know fear."