THE DEMON'S HEIR RETURNS"
Damian vs. The League of Assassins — and His Message to Ra's al Ghul
THE LEAGUE MAKES ITS MOVE
It happened at 1:17 AM, one hour after Bruce had locked the Sandevistan away in the deepest vault of the Batcave.
Damian sensed them before the motion detectors did.
Shadows in the treeline.
Breaths hidden in the wind.
Footsteps lighter than air.
League of Assassins.
His family.
His past.
They never even made it to the mansion doors.
THE AMBUSH THAT FAILED IMMEDIATELY
Twenty assassins moved as one—silent blades, poisoned darts, dark cloaks.
They blinked—
And Damian was already behind them.
A single step.
A single breath.
A burst of Sun Breathing: Third Form — Raging Flames lit the yard, not lethal, but hot enough to melt hidden weapons and disarm every assassin in a second.
Every one of them hit the ground, gasping, wrists scorched from superheated steel.
Damian stood over them, cloak fluttering in the night wind.
Damian:
"If you wanted my attention… congratulations."
One assassin weakly tried to rise.
Damian stepped on his chest.
Damian:
"Now listen carefully.
You will deliver a message to my grandfather."
He leaned forward, eyes cold with royal authority.
Damian:
"Tell Ra's al Ghul:
I am coming home.
In two days.
Alone.
Prepare to discuss a deal—
one meant ONLY for the League of Assassins.
Not The Light.
Not any outsiders."
Every assassin froze.
They knew what that meant.
The Demon Heir was invoking his birthright.
Damian removed his foot and stepped back.
Damian:
"Now go.
Crawl back if you must.
But deliver every word."
They vanished into the forest with fear in their hearts.
DAMIAN SPEAKS TO BATMAN
Bruce was already waiting in the foyer when Damian walked inside.
He'd seen the entire battle on the Cave monitors.
Father and son locked eyes.
Batman:
"They were after the Sandevistan."
Damian:
"They never touched it.
I stopped them before they entered the property."
Bruce nodded.
Not angry.
Not lecturing—
Just… concerned.
Batman:
"What are you planning?"
Damian took a breath.
For once, no lies.
No half-truths.
Damian:
"I need to go to the League of Assassins.
Alone.
For a week—maybe more.
There's something I must do."
Bruce opened his mouth to argue—
Damian raised a hand.
Damian:
"Don't try to stop me.
I won't fight you—
but I am going."
Silence.
Bruce walked toward him.
Stood taller.
Shadow larger.
The Dark Knight in full father mode.
Batman:
"…Then return home alive.
That's not a request."
Damian blinked.
Those were not the words he expected.
Bruce wasn't forbidding him.
He wasn't grounding him.
He wasn't demanding explanations.
He was…
Trusting him.
Damian lowered his head slightly.
Damian:
"I will.
Father."
Bruce's chest tightened—but he said nothing.
Damian began packing.
THE DEMON'S HEAD RECEIVES THE MESSAGE
In the hidden stronghold of the League of Assassins…
An assassin, covered in ash burns from Sun Breathing, knelt before the throne.
Assassin:
"Master Ra's…
the Heir sends a message."
Ra's al Ghul lifted his head.
Eyes glowing with ancient amusement.
Ra's al Ghul:
"Oh?
My grandson speaks boldly again.
Tell me."
As the assassin repeated Damian's words—
Ra's began to smile.
A slow, dangerous, deeply satisfied smile.
Ra's al Ghul:
"He is coming home…
to negotiate a deal?
With me alone?"
He tapped his throne arm—excited.
Ra's al Ghul:
"…Prepare the stronghold.
All assassins will stand ready."
REACTIONS WITHIN THE LEAGUE
Lady Shiva (Damian's mother)
Her blade paused mid-cleaning.
Eyes narrowing.
Shiva:
"He returns…
on his own terms."
She smirked with cold maternal pride.
Talia al Ghul :
"My son is finally acting like the heir he was born to be."
Shiva:
Raised an eyebrow.
Shock and pride mixing dangerously.
Cheshire
Her dagger froze halfway to her boot.
Cheshire:
"The little prince is coming home?
This will be interesting…"
She licked her lips—battle hungry.
Andre Chaumont
One of the League's elite masters.
He bowed to Ra's.
Chaumont:
"That boy…
he grows too quickly.
What exactly does he bring?"
Ra's leaned back, cloak shifting like a serpent.
Ra's al Ghul:
"A deal, he says.
Which means he brings leverage."
He whispered a final thought, almost reverent.
Ra's al Ghul:
"My grandson always brings fire."