Flashback: In another time, another place, another life....

[mr_bruce_wayne]

Bruce had been in the middle east for a good five years - long enough to earn a place amongst his brethren there. Once fair skin had tanned brown from the sun, and unless one looked into his bright blue eyes, few gave the man a second look as he passed among the peoples of the desert.

He had caught the eye of a certain warlord however, and the brave and strong warrior had brought much honor to the clan. because of this, the warlord had offered his only daughter to Bruce, yet Bruce had declined with as much honor as he could. He did not deserve such a prize, and claimed that his lord's thanks for all that hard work was enough thanks.

It wasn't because Bruce didn't want Talia.. it was just.. he had work to do.

Bruce was still finding himself, at the ripe old age of 25, and he still had a goal in life that had to be fulfilled. He couldn't be taking a wife (no matter how much he enjoyed her company and sought her out to speak for long hours in the garden,) until his goals were completed.

Ah.. but the Warlord was wise, and saw the attraction between the blue-eyed man and his beautiful daughter. And so, Ra's endeavored to legitimatize their marriage the good old fashioned way. He summoned Talia to his side and told her of his plan, and then sent Talia and her soon-to-be husband off in to the desert on a wild goose chase. Ra's had declared them married, and so they were. Once the relationship had been consummated, it would be binding and considered lawful in the eyes of their peoples.

That goose chase had been leading them in big winding circles through the desert, and about a week into it, tensions were running high. It was hard for Bruce to deny that a part of himself called out to Talia, and it was becoming increasingly hard for him to treat her with the respect that her culture demanded. If she were American, the whole situation might be different - but he knew better than to lay a hand on the girl, lest he face her father's wrath. He had no idea their whole mission was aimed in fact for him to breakdown and take what was already his.

Night was falling, and Bruce had spent the last little bit setting up their small cozy tent. There was barely enough room for one person, let alone two, but the small low tent was preferable in storms because it offered more shelter than a bigger and more easily pulled over tent would offer. The desert was starting to settle into night, and once he had the tent set, he went about starting them a fire so that they might share some tea.

"It will be a beautiful night." he said to Talia is perfect, flawless Arabic.

Comments

[all-for-father.livejournal.com]

"It is," she said. Talia should have been working on her English, but even after a couple of years of study it was still stilted. She hadn't believed it could be as hard as Cantonese when she started it and had been proven wrong. At least his Arabic was perfect beyond what she had ever expected of a white American.

She fixed her gaze on the sky. Not quite eighteen, Talia had little talent seducing men. All she had to go on was a female tutor hastily found for her when her father, in his wisdom, had decided on the match. She had taken all that information in stride. But she didn't didn't know exactly what moves to make. "The wind is picking up."

[mr-bruce-wayne.livejournal.com]

Bruce nodded his head, his fingers tracing over Talia's features as blue eyes looked into green. "It's tough." he then said softly, the understatement of the year.

Enfolding Talia more into his arms, he gave her a tight hug and then nuzzled his face into her hair, his lips seeking out to bestow more kisses along her shoulder. "Your father obviously loves you very much though, you are his pride." he murmured, his breath moving across her skin.