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Language:
English
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Published:
2022-12-10
Updated:
2022-12-21
Words:
1,480
Chapters:
2/?
Comments:
20
Kudos:
188
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22
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2,675

Protector of the Green Jewel

Summary:

Bruce's quiet family night is interrupted by two unexpected guests.
Damian is an arrogant, over-confident child with too much knowledge of how to kill for someone his age. Not too rare among the League, though his bloodline is what makes him particularly unique.
Zahir is a silent, brooding shadow behind the boy. He refuses to disclose any information about himself beyond the fact that he is the child's assigned protector.
They are runaways from the League, and whether Bruce consents or not, they have claimed space in the manor. With no possibility of objection.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

Damian al Ghul, the heir of Ra’s al Ghul, silently trailed after his mother. Mother wore a sour expression on her regal, generally stoic face. She had awoken him late in the night, irregardless of the possible fatigue he would endure tomorrow. Damian had murmured questions, yet mother brushed them aside as she tugged him out of bed by the hand. Damian had felt his heart palpitate with unease. What was so urgent that questions were not allowed? Were he and his mother in danger? He lamented yet still stewed in silence as they set off down the halls.

 

Shadows danced on mother’s face from the light that warmed the dim hallways. It was pitched darkness outside, the torchlight simmering low so as to not disturb slumbering assassins.

They continued down winding corridors till they reached what Damian presumed was their destination, as indicated by mother pausing at the room entrance. They crossed the threshold of the archway, Damian squinting at the significantly brighter light that lined the walls.

 

Damian's gaze had immediately been drawn to the man thrashing on the frigid floor.

 

His hair was a deep black, and his body was toned with dense muscle. The man appeared no older than eighteen. He writhed against the numerous chains attached to his wrist and ankles that pinned him to the wall. The man stilled and whipped his eyes up to him and his mother, his gaze a glowing venomous green. Damian froze at the sight. It was the gaze that his grandfather occasionally held. In the scarce few moments he lost his patience, he would eye Damian with toxic contempt. Mother kept him relatively shielded from Ra's wrath, but ultimately they could not avoid the Demon's Head.

 

The man's stabbing glare was similar yet so very different. His eyes burned like wildfire, all savage and frightful. He let out an inhuman snarl. He reminded Damian of a cornered wild cat. 

 

Nobody else was in the room with them besides one of his mother's loyal servants, likely to ensure he didn't escape. Mother rested her hand on his shoulder and urged him forward, just beyond the man's reach. 

 

"I have acquired for you a vassal of your own. I want you to meet him before I send him away to Nanda Parbat for training."

 

Damian's mind ran through the unexpected turn of events. He recalled his 7th birthday a few months ago. He had claimed to his mother that he deserved to have his own servants, like her and grandfather. She had responded vaguely.

 

"One day."

 

Damian mainly had forgotten the conversation, far more focused on training. The thought that his mother remembered what he asked for was touching, and it filled him with a rare warmth. He looked back at his mother and gave her a bright smile. He couldn't recall the last time he was so pleased.

 

"Thank you, mother. What is his name?"

He inquired. She returned his smile.

 

"He is yours, you are free to give him whatever name you wish." Mother responded. Damian, ruminating over the possibilities, looked back to the growling man for inspiration.

 

All League members underwent training, including servants, and the man's body would clearly be suited to active duty. Perhaps a personal enforcer, or a bodyguard? Yes, that would suit him splendidly. A name formed in his mind, one that would defer to his status and place at Damian's side. After all, anybody would be grateful to serve under an Al Ghul. 

 

Damian took a step forward, at eye level with his chained underling. He addressed him sharply. 

"Your name is Zahir. It stands for protector. You will protect my name and the name of the Al Ghuls. Do not forget your duty to me."

 

The man's gaze drifted till he locked eyes with Damian, rage still visible in his glare. Mother hummed behind him.

"A powerful name, my son." She gestured to her servant, who now clutched a syringe. The servant injected the contents into Zahir without fanfare. Zahir writhed in agitation for a short moment, before sinking in place. Sedatives. 

 

Mother ghosted a hand across his shoulder.

"I believe it is best if you go back to sleep. I will update you on Zahir's progress. He will undergo as much training as you would like, in any field you wish. Think about it, hmm?" 

Damian nodded and allowed himself to be led back to his bedroom. He gave his mother a hug in gratitude, which she repaid earnestly before leaving him be.

 

His thoughts were still on Zahir as he felt the lull of respite. A protector of his own, like the heroes in the stories he pilfered from Grandfather's library. It was a dream come true.

Chapter 2: Are Fanfic Writers Protagonists or What?

Chapter Text

Hello my amazing readers,

 

As you can see, this is unfortunately not an update, at least in the sense that a new chapter has been uploaded. I am writing to update you all concerning my whereabouts, and slow or nonexistent updates. You have all been incredibly generous with your time, and so you deserve answers.

 

Ever since my mother split with my father in March, I have not been coping well. The separation was not on friendly terms, for in hindsight a good reason. I have struggled with diagnosed mild depression and severe anxiety since I was 11 years old. I am 18 now. Emotional health has not come to me with age, and thus I have struggled to simply finish college this year. The only way I have managed to complete the year is through a small circle of friends that made the trip to college worth it, and the incredible outpour of support from you guys, the readers. Those that commented, gave kudos, bookmarked, even just gave my fanfiction a click or tap. You are the ones that have fuelled me to keep pushing forward in my life, to motivate myself.

Your bountiful support has helped me immensely and I likely wouldn't be here to write this if I didn't have anyone patiently awaiting a new update. I don't like leaving things unfinished, after all. This of course leads us to the reason that I am posting this.

 

My mother has grown increasingly selfish and toxic in recent months. A few days ago, it boiled over. It resulted in me being verbally and physically assaulted. It resulted in me being thrown out of the house by the person that I've been told all my life is there to love and support me. Unfortunately, she gave me no opportunity to pack. I'm left with only clothes and my phone.

I have spent several months writing several of my stories, all of which have a lovely following. I estimate my current amount of work unpublished to be approximately 17,000 words. I must sadly admit that while being forced to leave my house, I was not able to obtain my laptop. My mother has pretty much taken my laptop hostage and refuses to let me retrieve it. It means that as far as I know, I will never get my laptop back, and that unpublished work will never see the light of day. It is demoralising and demotivating. It's a massive setback, and one that will take time to recover from. Alas, this isn't a pity party I'm trying to host for myself. This is me wanting to address the fantastic individuals that have kept me going with their encouraging words. You guys deserve to know what's happening, as I don't want you all in the dark.

 

I find that I'm at a crossroads. At this point, I need to get my life in order. 

 

I won't be able to guarantee updates. I am deeply sorry for that, as I know lots of you have so patiently waited. I don't want to disappoint you guys as much as possible, so I felt it best to say so.

Updates aren't impossible as I do have my phone but they won't be often. I will try to fit in writing whenever I can but I am a slow writer. I've had a large bit of progress erased, so I now have to rewrite stuff I've already written from memory on top of new stuff. I'd like to finish everything I've uploaded so I can assure that I will try my best but between my mental health and living situation I can't guarantee.

 

Thank you so very much for your patience and understanding. I know that this notification will have excited many readers. (And if you've just found this story, howdy! Good to see a new face ^-^) I'm sorry to disappoint. I hope that every single one of you beautiful people who commented, sent kudos, bookmarked, subscribed, and tapped or clicked my stories find the happiness they deserve in life. You are all special and have made an impact on somebody's life. 

 

Everlasting thanks,

LeonessaBianca

 

 

 

 

Notes:

This is just the short prologue to do some set-up, hopefully it's interesting ^-^
I'd noticed nobody had really done anything in a similar vein so I thought I'd take a shot!
Please do comment if you would like to see a continuation of this! Comments are my lifeblood.
Thank you so much for reading~