Chapter Text
The day was dimming, another sun setting in countdown to the end.
After so long underground he planned to see as many of them as he could in the time left.
There was something mysterious and beautiful about the sun. It had fascinated him as a boy, looking up and seeing its brightness flood all around him, framed by the circular stone that defined his world. He would sit and watch as it moved beyond the realm of his viewing, off to brighten other worlds, leaving him in darkness once more.
He felt that darkness now. Gone was the person who had brought a lightness back into his world. Who had stubbornly convinced him of his deservedness for more then the shadows.
It was better this way. A person with so much shining within them did not deserve to be consumed by the vengeful cleansing fire to come.
And as lonely as his coming death would be, he was glad for the peace he had known these last weeks. The memory of it would sustain him, much like in times past the remembrance of sunlight warming his face was taken by him into the darkness, long after the coldness crept in once more.
He stood, stretching his back out slowly, feeling each vertebrate as they lined up. The constant dull pain grounded him, bringing his thoughts back from the sky and smiling dimples.
'Brother'.
A voice behind him called his attention. Turning to face him, he dipped his head in acknowledgement, proud to have such a man consider him thus.
Barsad was ever loyal, ever dependable, a good heart hidden behind a rifle. At this moment though his face was tense, eyes pinched and mouth caught in a grim scowl. A departure from his usual disaffected unhurried expression.
'I have…news.'
A hesitation. It was unlike his brother to draw out conversation unnecessarily. He was a direct man, economical with his words, not given to elaboration or exaggeration - a uselessness to him.
He raised an eyebrow, cocking his head as he waiting for continuance.
Barsad shifted, his eyes darting around taking in their surroundings, and came closer, placing distance between them and outside ears.
'It is about your Robin.'
Bane felt the warmth from the sunlight drain from his skin, as though it never was.
~
Bane was stoking a small fire when they brought them in. It did little to heat the cavernous room, but the light and the routine were still welcome to him. He refrained from releasing a frustrated sigh at the interruption, and rose from his haunches to see the fuss.
The hired gun was posturing in front of him, presenting him with a stash of documents and two men, one appearing to be a police officer. He raised his eyebrows, and listened to the reason given for their presence. Nothing but a rambling of excuses, born from panic.
His eyes flicked over to see Barsad behind them, looking equally as unimpressed. The sniper tilted his head minutely, silently asking if he wanted him to just kill them all now. Bane indicated him to stand down, he would use this opportunity to demonstrate to the others his displeasure at disobedience.
He stepped forward and grabbed the still stuttering man by the throat, squeezing the air that held pleas for mercy until there was silence.
The body dropped lifelessly and he turned his attention to the two kneeling men. The police officer was looking up at him in open defiance. He was young, having the face of a boy, and a skinny body that caused his clothes to swap him. Bane starred back down at him, but the man held his gaze, no trace of fear. He admired that.
Next to him the other one, older, dressed casually, but with the bearing of authority. He was leaning inward towards the other man, his body language indicating protection.
Bane looked back over to his brother.
'Kill them.'
Suddenly the young policeman moved, flinging a small knife retrieved from his ankle, embedding Barsad in the shoulder. He grunted, but merely lowered his rifle and drew a small handgun with his uninjured arm. In those few seconds of delay the officer pushed his fellow prisoner off the small ledge into the open sewer below.
Shots rang out across the open cavern, but the swift moving water had carried the body away, dead or alive.
Bane was annoyed. Before Barsad could shoot the offending man he stepped forward and kicked him in the gut forcefully, watching as he doubled over in pain.
A glance over to Barsad confirmed that his injury was minimal, the blade having already been removed from the wound, his expression as impassive as ever.
Turning his attention back to the police officer, he hauled him to his feet by his hair.
'Who are you?'
His eyes were a clear shade of green, captivating and beautiful. The thought came from nowhere.
The glare of defiance hadn't diminished with pain, it seemed this young man was resilient. Bane was marginally impressed.
He yanked the tuff of hair tighter, soliciting a further wince of pain.
'I will ask you once more before I allow my brother to extract revenge for the pain you sought to inflict upon him.'
Calmly and in a quiet steady stone, he replied.
'Fuck you.'
Bane nodded, releasing his grip on the officer's head only to shove him backwards into the arms of one of his men.
'Take him to a room.'
As the young man was marched away, he spoke in the same angry yet calm tone.
'I won’t tell you anything.'
'So say all men, at first.'
Bane waved him off, having already turned his attention back on the small fire. He shifted through the documents in his hands, stopping to look closely at the badge. Gotham Police Department, Officer Robin John Blake.
~
She looked angry. The usual smile that graced her features on seeing him was gone, replaced by a scowl that reminded him of the haughty persona of Miranda Tate that she wore so well.
'Where is Robin Talia?'
He made no move to cross the room toward her, instead studying her as he had not allowed himself to do since the occupation began. She looked tired, eyes pinched and her face crinkled by frowning lines. She waved him over, impatience written in her gestures.
He was halfway across the room when she started speaking.
'I've heard that your dog has been poking around in matters that do not concern him.'
Before he could speak she held up her hand, cutting him off.
'I want him punished. We are at a critical stage, I will not have him causing unnecessary distractions with his disloyalty.'
'Barsad does as I command. He is loyal.'
'To you! I won’t have it - punish him Bane, or I will.'
Her voice was shrill and loud in the open room, echoing around them like a heavy thing.
Bane narrowed his eyes, ignoring her words he repeated his question.
'Where is Robin?'
She shifted her look away from him for a moment, before staring straight at him and shaking her head slightly, a defiant stance.
'You are questioning me now, my protector?'
Bane brushed off the feelings of guilt that came with that title. He added steel to his voice, forcing a firmness he had never used with her before.
'He is not in the safe location we agreed. Where did you take him?'
Her eyes darted between his own, flicking from one to the other as she considered him in silence. She stepped forward, cupping a hand to his cheek, and stoking her thumb over the tubes of his mask. Bane was thrown to a memory by the gesture.
Fingers pressed lightly up against the grate of his mask, a mirror mimicry of his own action. They explored, tracing the pattern of metal, running tentatively along the protruding tubing.
Bane wasn’t aware he had been holding his breath, almost as though he was waiting for something, some vicious action or reaction.
But when he looked down he saw the other man smile, small and genuine. A flash of his true self shining through. He exhaled, his entire body relaxing with the release of air and tension, and leant into the touch.
Looking down now he saw brown eyes instead of green, and these were shrewd, measuring. He made no effort to move or speak, refusing to be drawn in by her rare show of affection.
She gave a dramatic sigh, and in a quiet sweet voice softly spoke.
'He didn’t love you my friend, my protector. I offered him a chance to join us, to be with you, but he chose Wayne. The impotent Batman over you..'
His hand flew up and gripped her wrist, a light touch, not enough to hurt or even mark. She froze, no longer stroking at him.
Bane growled.
'Talia. Where is he?'
She scowled at him, yanking her hand hard out from his grasp. A wave of fury overrode all trace of the sweetness shown moments before.
'The place where all traitors deserve to be. Rotting away there with Bruce Wayne.'
Bane stopped. Shock, fury, guilt, and fear swarmed him. His fists clenched and unclenched, his breathing deepened, his eyes narrowed further.
He turned and walked away, unable to stand there with her for a moment longer.
She called for him to stop, he ignored her.
'You are mine! BANE!'
She shrieked the words, but he was already gone, his mind consumed with thoughts of Robin in that place.