IV

"Smile, Daughter. Your beloved is almost here."

Talia heard her father announce from the head of the table. He was to her left, while the seat to her right was intended for Lukas, her soon-to-arrive beloved.

Like everything her father did, even of the simplest of things, it was a strategy. The table they were sitting at, the placing of the seats. It was all a tactic in his grand formula for securing his legacy. The shared space was meant to inspire familial feelings. Him the patriarch, her the daughter, and Lukas the son. There was even a side that had no chair. Probably meant for a future member of the family, a child, Talia thought. As if to give credence to that theory, there was the position of Lukas. No doubt from where he was seated he would be able to see down her dress, catching glimpses that her father doubtlessly hoped would endear her to him.

"Of course, Father," she replied, forcing herself to show a cheerful smile. The first one she's shown since she's returned to Infinity Island. It was fortunate she did too, because Ubu, her father's assistant, had just arrived with Lukas.

He was still wearing the same garbs—though her father got him to change them to black—but the hood and mask were down. His face was visible for the first time. He was handsome, in a primal way. His face was strong and his dark-brown hair was long, reaching to his shoulders, even with some of it in a ponytail; his beard was neatly groomed, yet it was his eyes that held you. They didn't glow like when she first saw them. Now they were like her father's, like Bruce's; hard and resolute.

"Ra's, Talia" Lukas greeted tersely, taking his seat and beginning the meal.

It was quiet for a while. Not exactly awkward, but not natural either. Talia herself stayed connected to her plate. That is, until her father spoke.

"We must introduce you to the men," he said, taking a bite out of the steak dinner they were eating, "They'll want to know who is going to lead them. I was planning on having you take some missions, rotating the members every time you return. Give them a chance to see your capabilities. What do you think?"

"Sure," Her new beloved replied noncommittally between his swallows, seeming more interested in the food.

Or maybe he can tell that Father doesn't ask for things, she reasoned.

"We also need to complete your marriage to Talia. When do you prefer it done?"

She felt, more than noticed, that he stopped eating for the first time since he came in. His focus was on her. His silence couldn't have been more than a couple of seconds, but to her, it was longer.

"After I complete the missions. I don't want the men thinking I lead them only because I'm her husband. They need to have no doubts in my leadership."

She was thankful for his forethought. She needed time to come to terms with her sudden change of fate, and having the men think she was using them to reward her consort wouldn't help.

Returning to her meal, it surprised her when before her father could say anything else; Lukas asked her if his decision was ok with her. She gave him a brief doubtful glance, replied it was, and tried to go back to her food, but kept being brought into the conversations.

When her father was discussing what missions to assign him and who to take, Lukas asked for her advice. When they were talking about how to manage the League, he asked for her input. When asking about the League's training, she was again a consultant. She didn't know what he was attempting—maybe trying to drive a wedge between them—but her father didn't seem to take offense, so she didn't either.

Though, he seems to be trying to do... something.

The dinner finally came to a close when Ubu came in to inform her father of some matter or another. Taking the opportunity, her father told her to show Lukas to his room, though not without discreetly signaling to her with his eyes that that wasn't all she was tasked with doing.

"Come on, Beloved," She breathed with an inviting smile and rose, gesturing for him to follow her while she sashayed her way to the hallway.

Lukas's room wasn't far, but Talia took the long way to get his blood boiling, hiding it as a tour. And, with the way his presence was looming over her, she would say it was working.

At least he's handsome, she thought wryly.

"Here is your room," She revealed, showing a room filled with every comfort possible, from television to books to exercise equipment, "If you need anything, my room is right next door," she then paused and, looking into his still indecipherable eyes, showed a coy grin, brushed her fingers in a circle against his large arms and chest, and proposed, "But if you prefer, I can be closer."

He didn't speak, so she took it as approval and leaned into him. She first kissed his lips. They were warm and tinged with the slight taste of salt from the surrounding ocean, and she wasn't able to stop the smile that grew because of the way his beard tickled her. She pulled him in closer, but with his strength, it was more like she pulled her body further into his.

Her kisses gradually went lower. From his lips to his neck, she descended in height, loosening his robe whenever it prevented her from reaching his skin. Her lips had just reached his abs when he stopped her.

Grabbing her arms and holding her at arm's length, he asked, "I can already tell why Ra's wanted this, but why did you agree?"

Talia tried to move closer to him, but after a moment resigned herself to being caught, he was even stronger than she realized.

"We are to be married, Beloved. Eventually, we will make love. Why not now? Don't you want me? To feel my body pressed under yours? To feel my warmth?"

Her sultry comment was met with his stern face, "Did he tell you how much I hate liars or are you trying to get a demonstration?"

"I," she stopped, deciding the man would probably find out anyway, "My previous beloved rejected me. He didn't like how my father operated. I just- I just need to know I can be wanted… loved."

He pushed her away to the opposite wall from his door. Hurting her more mentally than he ever could physically. But then he stalked up to her, taking away her breath and encompassing her being with his own.

He kissed her, more roughly than her own, and pushed her further into the wall, forcing her to wrap her legs around him. They continued to kiss for who knows how long, but enough time that she couldn't breathe anymore, and her cheeks flushed. The warmth of her body, and his pressed against her, were like fire. She was just about to tear apart both of their clothes when he dropped her. Shocking her so much she couldn't stop the fall.

When she was about to stand up and ask what was wrong, he kneeled and whispered in her ear, "Now you know."

And before she could realize what happened, he was in his room; leaving her flustered and alone in the hallway.