An Assassin's Guide to Family

Chapter 51: Present

—————Damian's POV: —————

One thing I knew of these people was that not one of them was sneaky in any way. All night I could hear them clamoring about as they snuck out to do whatever they do at night, I assume based on Batman's previous company that they were the robins of the past.

It didn't matter to me now though, currently, I'd found out something else about these people. Because of their late-night expeditions, they were in fact not morning people. Such a surprise right? Weaklings really. Orca and I were always up when we were supposed to be no matter how late the mission.

It was 4:00 am right now, I'd raided their pantry and made a bowl of cereal. So now I ate in front of the tv. I switched through the channels as the various voices tries to lure me into watching their show but I cut them off with no mind. The light from the tv was bright in the pitch-black room, I'd not turned on the lights because I didn't need them.

"My little- today we'll be showing- do you want a better wife?-" I groaned before I found the news channel, I would've turned it off but an image caught my eye. I slowly lowered the remote to my side as I picked up the bowl of cereal from in front of me, placing a spoonful of the sugary food in my mouth.

Deathstroke's headshot sat beside a woman with papers in front of her. "-prolific assassin Deathstroke has been seen once more. In an event captured on tape last night, we find him killing a local official who'd been rumored to have killed a child. Deathstroke also seems to have found a blue companion as found on footage, and here at Gotham news we managed to get an exclusive image just for you." I paused, my eyes narrowing at the screen. The woman was covered by the image of the person in an instant and I swear my bowl of cereal almost spilled.

On the screen sat Orca, looking at the screen. She had a new mask on, but the light just happened to catch her sea-green eyes perfectly. She looked up at the camera as if she were watching me. Immediately a pain erupted from my chest. I placed my hand over my heart as I kept my eyes trained on the screen.

I quickly paused the screen on Orca. Her mask glinted in the lighting, her whole costume was different. A thick and heavy-looking trenchcoat fell down to her knees, underneath was a black shirt and some dark brown cargo pants.

I felt my brows furrow as my hunger abated.

She'd betrayed us?

A dark ache filled my heart as I felt my mouth go dry. I didn't know how to process this.

Then I saw her hands.

I hadn't looked much before because they were blurry but I could see their figure now that I paid attention. Her left hand was laid flat, her palm up to the sky, and her other hand was put in the position of a thumbs up placed on her palm, if I looked properly at the direction the blur went in, she was in the middle of raising her hands up.

Help.

I briefly remembered my mother teaching me ASL, so my knowledge was good enough to lie to the cops if I ever got caught. She was signaling for help. So she wasn't betraying us.

Relief flooded into me as I blinked, a wet feeling appearing on my face. I quickly wiped it off.

I turned to the hallway as I heard a small noise. I looked over to see Drake, a laptop in hand and a horrible blue light painting his features.

"Drake." I called out. He stopped and turned to me, irritancy clear on his features.

"What do you want demon spawn?" He asked, clutching his computer closer as if I were going to throw a throwing knife at it. Not that he'd be able to dodge it of course.

"You may have been right."I said quickly, his irratance lessened.

"About you being a demon?"He asked with a slight edge. I ignored it out of the graciousness of my heart and for the fact that I needed him to help Orca.

"No." I said sternly. "Orca may want to come back." I pointed to the tv, he turned to look and his eyes widened.

"Deathstroke?" I nodded.

"I think he's taken your sister hostage." he walked over and took a seat next to me. He looked over the image with a solemn expression.

"The white streaks... did you guys revive her...like...like you did with Jason?" he asked cautiously as if the words might invoke a curse.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I'm not sure, but if so, don't sound so upset about it. At least she's here." I said sharply, watching him quickly look a bit regretful for even asking. I sighed before shaking my head. "I'd only first seen her a year ago, I know she joined a few years ago so I would have no access to the knowledge unless mother told me."

Drake nodded, turning back to the screen. He examined it quickly. "She's signing help," he mumbled quietly. "She was okay with the league of assassins right?" He asked. 

I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Of course she was. Mother never forced her to stay." I replied. I turned back to the tv. "Orca wouldn't join sides with Deathstroke, he must've made her somehow, but I don't know how. She never said anything if there was an issue."

We fell silent for a moment as we watched.

"I guess we know where she is now. So let's change the mission, let's find what's keeping her with Deathstroke, and then get her back." I nodded, a small smile and a flare of confidence building up in my chest.

"Let's get Orca back, where she belongs," I said quietly.

Drake nodded, standing up quickly. He turned to me before beginning to leave. He stopped before leaving and turned to me with an exasperated look. "Come on demon spawn, you were wrong about something you know?" I raised an eyebrow as I watched him. "Percy's not just our sister, she's your too, so let's go get her back." Determination flared vibrantly now as I quickly nodded, not bothering to pick up my cereal as we headed for the bat cave.

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