horrendousness

[onapalehorse]

From this.

"You will find strength, and peace."

He promises, with belief.

Comments

[onapalehorse]

"Would you like access to the library?"

He proposes.

"After a little physical training. A friendly spar."

[lasiurus]

"Yeah."

He smiles faintly and stands. In all likelihood this will hurt. Certainly it will hurt him more than it will Bane, but he rarely got to practice in the last home.

[onapalehorse]

"Do you remember frog and crane?"

He asks. An old League game, where the more experienced partner must keep their feet firmly planted on the ground while the trainee flies at them from the front. If their feet shift, they lose.

[lasiurus]

Bruce stares at him in bewilderment. He knows not every member of the League died, or dispersed when Ra's died. But he's figured if any other member found him, they would kill him.

Or take him captive.

"...Is that what this is about? Ra's al Ghul?"

[onapalehorse]

"That pompous waste? No."

Quirking his fingers quickly, beckoning.

"This is just you and I. Come on."

[lasiurus]

He steps forward, but the wariness is back, drawn (as Bane had said) like a shield.

"You're from the League of Shadows."

[onapalehorse]

"As a slave, I belonged to one of them."

He corrects, stepping away as well.

"Perhaps we will not spar today. The library is not far."

[lasiurus]

It's probably a good idea. Bruce is wired up again, liable to lash out and end up just like he had yesterday. It's frustrating though, that Bane knew this would happen.

He clenches and then relaxes a hand, takes a slow breath.

"I didn't know they kept slaves. There weren't any when I was there."

[onapalehorse]

"They did not, as a rule. She was asked to kill me or leave."

He admits, heading for the door.

"That is the kind of bond I wish you to learn."

[lasiurus]

Bruce's expression softens, and he turns to follow.

"The League had a thing for brutal ultimatums. How did you two get out?"

Or had they two escaped at all? Bane had said that she was dead.

[onapalehorse]

"The old man loved her."

Letting him deliberately misinterpret that.

"Even so. We walked out onto the sand, and never saw him again."

[lasiurus]

"I'm glad he let you go."

Also surprised. Bruce had to literally burn the house down to get out of it. The shock, though, is why he asks something he normally has too much empathy to ask.

"...What happened to her?"

[onapalehorse]

"A car accident."

Of sorts. He moves ahead of him fast, every line of him inviting Bruce not to pry further.

[lasiurus]

He knows how he would react (does react) when people pry about Rachel, so he doesn't say another word about it.

Besides, he has something to keep his attention now, while he waits for news about Alfred. About anyone out there.

"Any recommendations?"

[onapalehorse]

"I like all of them, or I wouldn't keep them."

Shutting the door sharply behind him, he hurries to go.

[lasiurus]

Bruce almost lets him go.

"Bane."

He knows he isn't owed an answer, but he asks anyway. Just like he will keep asking if he doesn't get an answer.

"Are any of them alive? Those like me? The Avengers?"

[onapalehorse]

Nothing. The door just locks behind him, trapping Bruce in with all the books, and silence.

[lasiurus]

Alone, he tries to read. He tries every book on one of the shelves, and he has to tip his hat to Bane's taste. But now that he knows Fox is alive, and Alfred might be, it's begun to sink in. The vastness of the world, and the many ways it's fucked.

He turns a page, has to rub his eyes. Wonders if they've killed Banner. He was supposed to be invincible, but there are rumours of something else. Something capable of impossible things, perhaps even of killing the Hulk.

He sets the book aside, does push ups until his arms are burning.

[onapalehorse]

Eventually, Bane seems to compose himself to come to collect him (though how much of this is calculation is impossible to say.)

"You haven't eaten since you arrived."

He remarks, from the doorway, a little chagrined.

"Come with me. Bring a few books if you like, we are going to your room."

[lasiurus]

Bruce is sweating lightly, and feels little different for it. It had taken out some of the frustration and rage he feels toward the entire damn world, but he's still helpless here.

He gathers the two books he'd been reading, and follows Bane. Not a word of complaint.

[onapalehorse]

"I will come to collect you in the morning. Tomorrow will be a test that will make you wonder if you can survive. But we will do it out in the grass, I promise."

He warns him, quietly, putting a hand on his back to guide him to the stair.

[lasiurus]

He jerks slightly--he's got those welts on his back--but doesn't seem to resent Bane for it. But he also doesn't do well with being touched when he's not sure what's coming at him next.

"Can you tell me the details of the test?"

[onapalehorse]

"We will cause sensations you can neither escape nor ignore, and you will suffer them for me."

He promises, quietly.

"I will test what else in you he damaged, with his perversity."

[lasiurus]

He looks up at him stonily. For once, he wants to argue that he isn't damaged. But he'd flaunted his flaws when he'd been 'Prince of Gotham'; compared to his mind now, he had been the epitome of sanity then.

Besides, he can ignore a hell of a lot. He nods, and leans against the wall.

"I understand we can't get Fox yet. But if you find Alfred, if you can't get him here right off, just- tell him I'm all right. Please."

[onapalehorse]

"We're looking."

He promises, softening finally, nodding at him to get into his bedroom.

"I swear to you."