You had just been some common street rat when Ra’s had the due diligence to take you under his wing. It wasn’t as though there was anybody to miss you, and he saw a shimmer of potential, a vision to mold you to his image. The promise that he had sniffed out rained true, taking on your training with ease and power, a display of training that could put some of his most seasoned assassins to shame. The Demon’s Head felt a flicker of pride, knowing he had made the right decision to take you in, rather than let you perish, a nothing in the world.

Except, you faltered at the last step. It was almost comical how he saw a shockingly deep parallel with the Detective at that moment, a moment he often found himself thinking deeply about. A man lay knelt before you, a criminal, one that the word would do better to live without. The sword was clasped in your hand perfectly, moulded to your shape, capable of weaponising it against anyone that stood in your way. But when he had given you the order to kill this man, you had hesitated.

Hesitation wasn’t something he expected from you. Nor was it something he was going to tolerate.

“Do not make a fool out of yourself,” Ra’s ordered, the hard edge of his voice cutting as sharp as the blade in your hand. He stood beside you, tall and imposing, a monarchical figure that saved your life, transformed into something wonderful. His eyes subtly observed the way your fingers flexed. Nerves - his jaw twitched.

“After everything you have been taught, my child,” Ra’s hummed, a hand sliding across your shoulder and squeezing it. An intimidating warning veiled as a gesture of affection. “You hesitate to kill a man? To fight is to kill. It is everything you have been taught - so complete your right of passage. In doing so, you cement your place here. Your place beside me. Do not show weakness after everything I have done for you.”