Gotham Airport — Reunion Under Fire
Batman landed behind them, cape billowing through the fog.
Not hostile.
Not confused.
Just… alert.
"Damian," he said calmly.
Not a question.
Acknowledgment.
Damian nodded back.
"Father."
Talia stepped slightly aside, letting them face each other directly.
"You weren't supposed to come out tonight," Batman said.
"I didn't want you near any Court movements until we confirmed their numbers."
Damian shrugged lightly.
"I came because you were in danger."
Batman's lips tightened — not in anger —
but in a father's quiet frustration at a child risking himself.
Before he could respond—
THUMP.
A shift in air.
A silent drop.
Batman didn't even need to turn.
"Talon," Damian muttered.
The undead assassin came down with bone claws extended, aiming for Batman's neck.
Batman moved—
—but Damian was faster.
Transparent World Activates
Damian inhaled.
Time slowed.
The Talon's heartbeat appeared in his vision.
Every ligament, tendon, and intention mapped out like a diagram.
He moved.
A flash of solar energy.
A step that blurred.
A strike that ignited the air.
Sun Breathing — First Form: Solar Refrain.
A shockwave of heated force slammed the Talon off course.
The creature smashed into a wall, cracks spreading like spiderwebs.
Batman blinked once.
Not in surprise—
—but in calculation.
"He's stronger," Batman murmured softly.
"Much stronger than before."
Talia smirked proudly.
"He trained without rest for years.
The League could no longer keep up with him."
Damian gripped his Nichirin Blade, its surface glowing faintly.
"He's not done."
The Talon Regenerates — Furious
The undead creature rose, body twisting grotesquely as molten bone fused back together.
It screeched.
A sound only something half-dead could make.
Batman stepped forward to intercept—
But Damian held out an arm.
"Father.
Please.
Let me."
Batman didn't argue.
"…Go."
Damian Ends It in a Single Move
The Talon lunged.
Damian vanished.
A streak of fire arced through the alley.
A single slash of pure solar heat cut through the fog.
The Talon froze mid-attack.
Cracked.
Glowed.
Then dissolved into nothing but glowing embers.
Permanently dead.
Talia smiled faintly.
"He's surpassed most of the League."
Batman didn't look away from Damian.
"…Surpassed almost all of us."
Damian sheathed the blade, the fire dimming.
"I didn't want that thing getting near you," he said quietly.
Batman placed a hand on his shoulder —
brief, firm, fatherly.
"I know."
Nightwing and Batgirl Arrive — and Witness Damian's Power
The Rooftops Shake
The alley was still glowing faintly from the Talon's disintegration when two shadows landed hard on the fire escape above.
Nightwing, twirling his escrima sticks.
Batgirl, scanning the area with sharp eyes.
Nightwing looked down and froze.
"Oh…
you have GOT to be kidding me."
Batgirl landed beside him and her jaw nearly dropped.
"Bruce…?"
She blinked.
"Is that—?"
Batman didn't turn around.
"Yes.
Damian."
Nightwing's eyebrow shot up so hard it almost flew off his face.
"The Damian?
Your son Damian?
The one who could incinerate half the Court by himself?"
"…Yes."
Nightwing stared at Damian like he was a dragon that suddenly learned to speak English.
Batgirl, on the other hand, stepped forward cautiously.
"Damian Wayne," she said carefully.
"I've heard a lot about you."
Damian crossed his arms.
"I've heard some… questionable things about you too."
Nightwing snorted.
"He's your kid, all right."
Batman shot Nightwing a look.
Nightwing Drops Down First
Nightwing flipped off the ledge and landed between Batman and Damian, hands raised like a referee.
"So let me get this straight," he said loudly, gesturing dramatically.
"You disappear.
Reappear as a legendary assassin.
Burn Talons to ash.
And then stroll into Gotham without calling?"
Damian raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't have your number."
Nightwing gasped theatrically.
"Bruce.
Your son is witty.
I like him already."
Batman rubbed his forehead.
Batgirl's Turn
Batgirl landed beside them.
Her eyes swept the alley — the melted metal, the scorch marks, the ash of the Talon.
She looked at Damian with newfound caution.
"You killed a Talon," she said quietly.
Damian nodded.
"They attacked first."
Batgirl's tone softened.
"That's not criticism.
Just… the Bat-family rarely gets to see a Talon die permanently."
Nightwing tapped the ash with his boot.
"…So this is what permanent looks like.
Dang."
Damian shrugged.
"It's not hard if you know where to cut."
Nightwing and Batgirl exchanged a look that said:
Yep.
Batman's kid.
No question.
Batman Breaks the Tension
"Enough."
The father voice.
Everyone straightened.
"We have bigger concerns," Batman said, turning toward them.
"The Court is escalating.
They know Damian is in the city.
They will not stop."
Nightwing crossed his arms.
"So what's the plan, big guy?"
Batman looked at Damian.
"We protect him."
Damian blinked.
"…Father?"
Batman placed a hand on Damian's shoulder — a silent but powerful gesture.
"You came back to me.
I'm not letting anyone take you."
Talia watched from the shadows, a faint smile touching her lips.
"Perhaps," she murmured to herself,
"he truly is safer with his father."
Nightwing Claps His Hands
"Well," he said brightly,
"family reunion aside—
we should probably move.
Court kill squads tend to bring friends."
Batgirl nodded.
"And bigger Talons."
Damian's hand brushed the hilt of his Nichirin blade.
"Let them come."
Nightwing whispered to Batgirl:
Yep. Definitely Bruce's kid.