Continued from here part 5

League of Assassins secret prison, 1995

As Bruce sat staring at the old man across from him locked in meditation the door swung open. Several men entered and grabbed him. He was taken up several flights of stairs and ushered into what appeared to be a throne room.

A man sat regally on an ornate chair in the center with a sword resting by his side. He stood and walked toward Bruce as a man behind him kicked him in the back of the knees. Bruce went down as the man behind him ordered, "You will kneel before the Demon's Head."

The man from the throne looked down, "Do you know who I am?"

Bruce looked up, "Ducard called you Ra's al Ghul."

Ra's nodded, "And you are Bruce Wayne, of Gotham City. The only child of Thomas and Martha Wayne, who was forced to watch them die. Afterwards you were raised by a butler named....Albert?"

Bruce gritted his teeth as he corrected, "Alfred."

Ra's gave a bit of a shrug, "Minor detail. You have been doing quite a bit of traveling alone for a boy your age, why did you seek out Ducard?"

Bruce pulled himself up to look Ra's in the eye, "He's said to be the world's best detective. I wanted to learn from him."

Ra's grinned a bit, "I see."

He sighed, "Very well, Detective. If you wish to learn, I will teach you. You will return to your cell, from this day on you will train, you will work and if I decide you're worthy I may let you live."

***

1 month later

Bruce entered the cell and more fell than laid on his mat. He then looked to Kirigi who didn't even seem winded, "How the hell do you keep up?"

He grinned a bit, "They don't make me train. I could show you a way to fight the fatigue you wish."

Bruce pulled himself up, "I thought you didn't train people."

"I don't train these people, are you one of them?"

Bruce shook his head, "Very well then."

***

The next day

Bruce sat in meditation across from Kirigi as a man stepped in. Bruce opened an eye and looked up, "New guy?"

The man shook his head, "No, Ra's has taken an interest in you. He believes I'm the best teacher he has."

Bruce sat up, "And you are?"

"David Cain."

Bruce noticed a girl near his age behind David with a stoic expression, "She have a name?"

David looked back, "This is Talia, she'll be helping train you."

***

Bruce was in a dojo looking across a mat at Talia as David stood back, "Show me what you know, rich boy."

Bruce looked incredulous, "I won't hit a girl...."

Before he finished Talia had punched him in the throat and flipped him over her shoulder. She then placed a foot on Bruce's throat, "Chivalry will only get you killed."

She stepped back as Bruce pulled himself up. David looked to him, "Now, show me."

Bruce sighed a bit then charged toward Talia. She drove a foot into his face sending him down. David gave a shrug, "We have a lot of work to do."

***

That night Bruce returned to his cell with dried blood on the corners of his mouth and quite a bit on his shirt. Kirigi looked him over, "Now my training begins."

Bruce sighed, "Whenever your ready."

***

8 months passed, Bruce spent every day much the same. Cain woke him before the dawn and trained him till dusk. Kirigi took over as soon as Bruce returned to the cell. Kirigi taught him a form of meditation that allowed him to go for extended amounts of time without sleep.

Talia seemed dismissive of Bruce at first and was even more harsh with him than Cain, but over time she softened toward him. She found his determination and drive appealing.

One night as Bruce prepared to begin his night training the cell door opened. He looked back to see Talia standing, "Come with me."

Bruce looked to Kirigi but the old man waved him off. He then turned to Talia, "Am I allowed to wander?"

"You are tonight, besides if you did attempt escape you'd freeze to death long before you found civilization."

Bruce left with her. She ushered him to the upper floors where Ra's lived when he was here. Bruce looked nervous, "Why would Ra's allow you in his private quarters."

"He is my father. Did you not know?"

Bruce shrugged a bit, "Never thought about it."

As he looked around the room he walked to a large window. He looked out on the snow covered mountain range that surrounded them. Talia spoke from behind, "My father sees greatness in you. It is the reason he allowed you to stay with the old man. He knows all about the training he's been giving you."

Bruce didn't seem surprised, "I was curious about that."

He then sighed and spoke as he turned, "Is there a reason you brought me up here?"

As he looked to Talia she dropped her shirt to the floor. His eyes went a bit wide, "What are you..."

She cut him off with a kiss. She then pulled back a bit, "Now is not the time for talk."

***

Shortly before sun rise Bruce and Talia returned to the cell. She locked the door as Bruce laid down. Kirigi gave a smug chuckle as she left, "You should be more cautious, boy."

(To be continued.)