"That wasn't my fault." Kean spoke calmly but there was an edge to her tone. "You had your baboons kidnap us."

"Oh, but I disagree." Berkeley let out a low chuckle that grated on Robin's remaining nerve. He started working on freeing himself from the ropes. "That, much like tonight, is your fault. It's the price for your deceit."

"You pulled that trigger." Kean took a step forward. "And while that sixteen year old boy bled in my arms, you used the knife in your hands to cut my throat." She took another step. "To stop me from telling the world what you did to my mother."

"I told you that actions have consequences."

"Well, losing what you value most is the price you'll pay for everything you've done to my mother, Uncle Jim, Barbara, Dick. Gotham high society will finally see you for the monster you are and revile you for it."

"How it must burn," Berkeley sneered. "Being unable to prove I killed that whore-bitch or shot that mongrel you're friends with."

Kean inched close enough Robin could feel her fingers skim the back of his neck. A silent bid for patience. An offer of comfort and support. He found himself wanting to lean into her touch. He rejected the urge and shot her a heated glare from the corner of his eye. Not that Kean was paying him any attention.

No, her gaze remained locked on the madman standing a few inches from them.

"Oh," she said, her tone smug, "that's where you're wrong, Mr. Berkeley."

"There's no forensic evidence." Berkeley's jaw clenched. "No witnesses but you." He chuckled, long and low. "And who is going to believe you?"

"I do," Robin growled, having had enough of his postering. "And so does Batman."

And Drake, he added silently.

"Still no proof."

"My Robin thinks on his feet." Batman's gaze met Kean's. "He'll have recorded everything you've said."

"Psychopaths just can't resist bragging about their exploits." Kean's fingers again brushed his neck in that oddly comforting way. "Can they, Robin?"

Robin made a ffff sound. "Of course not."

""It'll be thrown out under Gotham Penal Code, section 632 which protects confidential communication." Berkeley looked pale, sickly. His confidence of moments before slipping as he realized his blunder. "No evidence obtained as a result of eavesdropping is admissible in any judicial, administrative, legislative, or other proceeding."

"Ah, but the exception to that rule applies when the evidence obtained can be considered objectively reasonable." Batman waved a hand towards Robin. "You volunteered the information while engaged in threatening and assaultive conduct. No court would find your statements covered by that statute. They'd see them as testament of your culpability and involvement in the kidnapping and assault of the minor in question."

"Destroy the tape." Berkeley stabbed the point of the knife at Robin's throat. "Otherwise, we're going to find out how long it takes this little birdie to bleed to death."

"Let me go, now, or I will stick that knife in your thigh, in your neck, in your gut." Cold fury throbbed in his voice. "And I will stand over you and watch as you bleed to death."

"You won't kill me, little Robin." Berkeley's hand trembled on the handle of the knife. "My daughter won't let you kill me." He looked wildly between the four of them. "She wants me alive so they can lock me in a prison cell for the rest of my life."

"What you've always failed to realize," Raya's voice was calm as a midsummer's rain, "is that at no point in time do I have to choose to save you."

Berkeley howled with rage but the batarang Batman tossed clipped him in the back of the neck before he could slash out with the knife. He dropped to the floor without making a sound, the knife sliding from his grasp, and bouncing against the toe of Robin's boot. Robin stared at it with a mixture of revulsion and hatred until he heard Batman calling out to Kean.

"Just get my father into restraints." Kean cut the rest of the ropes keeping Robin's hands behind him. "Please."

Batman gave a slight nod before he turned to stalk towards the dazed and mumbling madman. Robin bent and picked up the knife that rest by his boot. His training as an assassin urged him to use the blade to kill the man who dared to lay a hand on him.

On Kean.

Her mother.

It'd be justice, he reasoned as he slowly looked over to where Batman was finishing zip-tying his wrists together. He made to stand but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He shot a fulminating glare over his shoulder at Kean.

Not that it impressed her.

"To kill him now would be dishonorable."

Same argument he received from Father, Pennyworth, Grayson, and Drake. One he didn't believe any more now than he had when they used it.

"It is rightful justice."

"Giving him death does not give us justice, Robin."

"He deserves death," he insisted stubbornly. "He murdered your mother."

"Killing him will not bring my mother back."

"He's a monster."

"Killing him would make you a monster." Kean dropped to one knee before before. "It'd taint your father's legacy and everything he tried to teach you."

Robin felt himself wavering at those words.

"It eliminates a killer."

"Robin." Kean framed his face with her hands. "Killing one killer does not change the number of killers." Shouts came from downstairs, saving him from having to think of a reply. "Uncle Jim is here." She rose to her feet. "Batman and Double R can handle this. Let's get you to the cave so Alfred can check you over for injuries."

Robin could only nod. He allowed her to lead him from the room, oddly comforted by the feel of her hand on his back, but not understanding why.

He decided he'd figure it out tomorrow.

He wasn't looking forward to it.

A/N: Hello, all, and goodbye! This was just a mini-fic I wrote because I have always hated DCs refusal to allow Damian Wayne (Robin here) any actual growth, especially as it relates to consequences. There's potential for his character to be so much than some smart-mouth brat who thinks he's better than everyone. So, I gave him consequences here and taught him a lesson (I hope) that is intended to inspire growth (hopefully).

I just want to send a special thank you to Rookblonkorules for their lovely reviews!

If you've enjoyed this mini-fic, please fav/bookmark or kudo it! Thanks all for reading! Take care!