horrendousness

[onapalehorse]

From this.

"You will find strength, and peace."

He promises, with belief.

Comments

[lasiurus]

"I never sleep much."

In case Bane is hoping that Bruce's circadian rhythm will even out.

But today, he will. He's exhausted from the crash his mind took a few moments earlier, from the orgasms, from a week running on minimal sleep. He's half-dozing by the time they get to his room.

[onapalehorse]

He skips the mean, in that case, settles him down into the bed, and tucks blankets over him.

This time, there's no need to lock the door.

[lasiurus]

He wakes the next day, shortly after dawn. He showers and changes, and goes out to find Bane.

[onapalehorse]

Bane is in the study, sorting through more information. He nods when Bruce comes in, at the second computer. More information, detailed records of Bruce and Tony's captivity records, the correspondences with this Meg character.

A maid brings in a tray with poached eggs, bacon, toast, and fried tomatoes.

[lasiurus]

Bruce chews a strip of bacon as he reviews everything they know currently. Which isn't much, except that Meg claims to know where Tony is; she ignores questions about Banner.

He looks up at Bane finally.

"What do you think? We find her, we find them?"

[onapalehorse]

"I'm demanding proof first. I have a hard time believing they would be separated. That anyone could force Banner to release his hold-"

Gesturing at a print out, now tacked up to the sill. A closer shot of Bruce carrying Tony during his rescue, white faced and ferocious, smeared with Tony's blood.

[lasiurus]

Bruce looks at it, his expression taking on some of that hollowness again.

"Do you think Tony's really alive? For him to survive that...we don't have the medical care he'd need anymore."

Meg won't offer proof immediately. She'll wait for word from Lucifer, because she has to. And when he gives the green light to send proof, he demands that they do it with a group photo. Tony, Bruce, and the demon, all acting like best friends at Mardi Gras.

[onapalehorse]

"Bruce."

He says, the moment the email arrives. Banner can't quite make himself smile convincingly for the photo, looks red faced and a tiny bit miserable behind the curl of his mouth. But he is alive.

"This looks current."

[lasiurus]

"No idea who the real master is, huh?"

Frowning, motioning with a pen at the spunky, darkhaired woman standing between them.

"Will they let us talk to Bruce directly?"

[onapalehorse]

"They say they want to buy a night with you, that he'll be there."

He admits, shaking his head.

"I don't want to risk that. But if you felt able to negotiate terms, we could approach it cautiously."

[lasiurus]

"Not until we know more about them. I don't want to end up abducted by them."

He can't stop looking at the picture.

"What do they know about us so far? ...Assuming they didn't enhance my picture to see the dirty details."

Finally looking at Bane with a small smile.

[onapalehorse]

"That I'm a private owner, recently come into possession of you, with a desire to show you off, and that I'm trading tidbits of information about your family for good behaviour. Heavily implied to be sexual favours."

He explains, reaching out without thinking and scratching a hand through his hair.

"Plausible, since most would not be able to subdue you."

[lasiurus]

"Just tell me when and where to jump in."

He tilts his head, enjoying the touch. No one is really familiar enough with Bruce to just touch him, and the novelty makes it better.

"What are they being used for?"

[onapalehorse]

"Go get me a pen. And eat your breakfast."

He tells him, giving him a nudge in the temple with the heel of his hand to move him.

"Truthfully, it looks like he just enjoys the power of controlling them."

[lasiurus]

He rummages, gets him more paper too, and sets them on the table by the computer. He even starts eating--being reminded to do that is still such a familiar breakfast ritual.

"Well, good. If we offer him something better, he might let them go."

[onapalehorse]

"Once we understand who he is, we can begin to bargain, but before then it would be too much of a risk."

Shaking his head.

[lasiurus]

He nods, chewing on the desire to just rush in and fight. Bane is good. Bane is, if he's honest, better, and his only option now is to yield to that.

"You were up all night doing this?"

[onapalehorse]

"I am like you."

He reminds him, softly. A night is nothing.

"News on Pennyworth is on that computer. Last known location, Naples, apparently."

[lasiurus]

He scrambles, fumbles to look it all over. Naples. It was recent, he might still be there.

"Bane-"

[onapalehorse]

"It's a free city. No one could own him there."

Glancing over at him.

"But there is no getting to him, either, not without getting on a plane."

[lasiurus]

Which means Alfred got out. Which changes everything, because dragging Alfred back here, where he might be killed or sold off again....

He focuses on his food while he clears his head.

"I can't bring him here."

[onapalehorse]

"I'll see if I can find a way to contact him personally."

He promises, but back to Banner for the moment.

[lasiurus]

"Thank you."

When rested, Bruce is much more self-contained. He finishes breakfast, takes the plates to the kitchen. Strokes fingers over Bane's scalp as he takes his seat again.

"I need to talk to him. To Bruce. They'll figure out a way to get a message through if they're being held captive, or if they need help. We can get details about whoever has them."

[onapalehorse]

"He's not sure you're still alive. So."

Felt tipped marker off the desk.

"Shirt off."

[lasiurus]

"I have a hunch that sooner or later I'm going to just stop getting dressed altogether."

He pulls off his shirt and kneels facing Bane.