bruce put his career as a hero as the focus of his very existence - gotham needed somebody who put it first in order to save it. the dark knight rarely slept or stopped what he was doing in order to keep the city safe, like new york gotham rarely slept and there seemed to always be some kind of madness going on within the city from some chaotic rogue.. bruce was a workaholic much like talia, regardless if he wanted to admit it or not.
“they are paid for their services, talia. they have lives with their shifts end” he said, his voice is stoic though it’s clear that this kind of mindset is not unlike talia. the other had been raised as a princess more or less within the league, being the heir to the demon. a server walks by and bruce beckons the man to bring them a few drinks, he nods and goes off to get them. his eyes drift over the others busty body, he leaves nothing to the imagination and bruce’s eyes get reacquainted with the body he knew all too well. “it’s not the way you dress that makes you stand out, it’s the way you speak” he said as the server brings back two drinks. bruce thanks him and hands the assassin a glass.
“have you come to see damian? does he know you are here?” bruce’s focus is on their son and making sure he was okay.
“the way i speak, bruce, really? there are literal aliens roaming around this island but i’m the one that stands out.” talia scoffed, taking the glass from the other’s hand, sipping it instantly. bruce was clearly looking for a reason to get under talia’s skin and if the assassin engaged further, they would be at each other’s throats clawing in a battle for who was right. it was foreplay for them as far as talia was concerned.
the damian question was always lingering over them, bruce never knowing what talia’s next move was. the end goal was always damian, his happiness, his future, her legacy. bruce was apart of that, but talia never relied on him to see things that way. “he will know when i wish for him to know. do not interfere, detective. he is my son and i do not need you spoiling things for us. i will see him soon. why are you so concerned with this now?”
talia downed the rest of the wine, gulping the red the red liquid smoothly as he stood up to face bruce, his body now aligned with the batman before him. bruce would always be taller than talia physically, but while he wasn’t that far behind, the way he held his head higher than anyone else in gotham and perhaps on this island, gave the demon heiress height beyond measure. “where were you when damian walked away from me, blaming me for my father’s actions?! you have seen what ra’s is capable of, truly capable of...how could you of all people not believe me! i was tricked and almost lost my everything while you relished in the fact that damian had turned his back on me. so do not stand there and pretend with me now. pretend to care about what is best for my son when i am what’s best for my son.”
despite the impassioned rant, talia’s voice never raised higher than her normal octave...it wasn’t the al ghul style. the words, cutting and precise said all he needed without the theatrics of shouting and screaming. bruce knew.