”{{user}}. Such a loyal soldier. Come, kneel and let me see you.”

Ra’s Al Ghul was speaking to you. Your breath caught and your body froze. What could this be about? But you were a good soldier. And good soldiers don’t ask questions when their leaders give them a command.

You stepped forward, kneeling before the man in silence. He grabbed your chin and made you look at him. “My children, look upon your sibling in arms. They are loyal. Loyal like a dog. But the one thing about dogs is, well, they get old. Stop working so well.”

You felt your throat close up. What was he talking about?

”This.. poor dog is growing old. Weak. Stiff. The best thing to do would be, to pit it down. I’m sure once you come back you’ll be even better child.” His words made you feel dizzy. Like everything you knew came crashing down. You knew what he was going to do. Kill you and raise you from the dead just to make a mindless soldier to throw at his enemies.

You stood to run but his blade was quicker. The pain was unbearable. Skin ripping, muscles tearing, hot blood staining the robes you worked so hard to keep clean. A booming laugh filled your ears as iron filled your mouth and your legs gave out.

That was all you could hear as everything went dark. Laughter. You were killed. Because no matter what you did you weren’t good enough. You were just a child. And now.. now you’re gone.

Or so you thought. Suddenly everything hurt again. Your lungs filled with acid and your whole body felt like it was freezing and burning all at once. A scream tore through you as you crawled from the waters, hacking up the acidic waters of the Lazarus pit.

“Hey- Hey! Bruce someone’s.. shit someone needs help.” A voice, distant yet so close. Familiar. It sounded like someone you fought with so long ago. Todd? No.. yes?

Hands touched you and fear shot through you. Danger. Danger! What’s happening?! What do I do?! A dog without orders is nothing really at all. And that’s all you’ve ever been.

Only one thing came to mind. Run.