Chapter 63: A Dangerous Proposition

Chapter 63: A Dangerous Proposition

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"If we were normal, we might not be alive today. And that, my friend, is what gives us the edge we need."

- Shishio Makoto, (Rurouni Kenshin)

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<(Bruce Wayne POV)>

"I admit I did not expect your father to attempt something like taking over my body." I was lying, I completely expected something like that from him although the forcibly making me a servant or a so-called 'shade' was a surprise. "But, I don't understand why 'you' are telling me this. Did you suddenly get a flash of conscience in you or maybe did you start believing in the concept of karma?" I joked.

Talia Al Ghul was as dangerous as her father, actually, in some areas, she was even more dangerous. She could do anything to get what she wanted and was an extreme expert in manipulation, even manipulating the original Batman to a certain extent. She had inherited her manipulation and leadership skills from her father but by combining them with her womanly charms, she could use them much better than the centuries-old old man.

"No, I don't hate what I do. I am very proud of what I am capable of and of the skills I possess... But my skillset isn't the most important thing in my current life, my family is..., my sister is. And from what I have seen till now, it looks like my sister is infatuated with you, she thinks that she is in love.

She doesn't seem to remember that us... demons can't love. That's why we are what we are, we do what we do. But, one thing I do know is that if my father... the Demon's Head tries to enslave you or take over your body, she will most definitely try to save you, something that will cosh Nyssa her life. Because my father isn't known for being forgiving, even if it is to his own daughters. I don't want to see my sister burning on a stake on grounds of betrayal." Talia completed as she coldly looked at my face, driving home the point that whatever she was telling me was only to help her sister and not to help me.

"I see. So I guess you want me to run away from here in the hopes that Nyssa won't have to do something stupid to save me, thus in return saving her from your father's possible wrath?"

"I am glad we are on the same page." She shrugged.

I don't know if she was lying or not since regretfully I never learned any lie detection skills but judging from her body language, her words most probably seemed genuine. So, I chose to believe her for now even though she could have easily faked her emotions and body language with her years of training.

"Your father has borne the burden of being the balance keeper of the world for far too long. He has worked too hard. He has lost too much and slowly because of that he has changed, corrupted into something else... There is no more of your father in him, now there is only Ra's Al Ghul. So, give your father the rest he deserves. Free him from his duty, this curse of a life, and just be yourself. That would be the happy ending for all of us, I promise." I whispered with a small smile as I saw Talia's eyes slightly enlarging as she realized the gravity of my words.

Even though Talia pretended not to understand, she knew somewhat that I was mostly bullshitting to get her to oppose her father, to force her to 'change camps' but she still chose not to run away or declare me a traitor. She just stared at me with a powerless expression. Her cold eyes despite having a hint of redness and tears in them were glittering with resolution.

I knew those eyes. I had once seen them on myself during Joe Chill's trial. They spoke volumes of the love, anger, hatred, and fear hidden in them yet what they screamed the most was determination, not determination to do what was right or what she wanted but to do what needed to be done.

"My sister doesn't need to know this right now, she is too weak... I'll be the one to end my father when the time comes. She should hate and despise me if she wants but not herself for taking the life of her own family." Talia whispered resolutely.

'She thinks too highly of her little sister's love for her father. But still, this entire situation strangely seems familiar somehow. The bigger sibling who is a ninja ready to spill the blood of family while shouldering all the burden and hate to protect the younger one.' I thought to myself as I started to ponder the most efficient way to break apart the League of Assassins brick by brick.

But still, I have to say that fate works in mysterious ways. I am currently dating the younger sister, yet the elder sister who is supposed to be one of the best manipulators got ready to betray and kill her father for me just after after meeting me once.

'I wonder if I secretly possess Johan Liebert's talents inside me or maybe I actually do have some sort of protagonist halo where I can convince people of stuff by my 'talk no jutsu'. Well, whatever it is, I am just happy that I don't have to do all this alone. Taking over an assassin organization is no small job after all.'

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/God_Doom