horrendousness

[onapalehorse]

From this.

"You will find strength, and peace."

He promises, with belief.

Comments

[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.

[onapalehorse]

"I have a reason for this. Narrate for me. 'Hello, Bruce, Tony, it's really me.'"

He starts, writing in a block print.

"Finish."

[lasiurus]

He tries to read it, but gives up and puts it off until he's reflected back at himself in the webcam. He recites for Bane, sounding considerably more relaxed than you would ever expect a slave to be.

[onapalehorse]

"No-"

Stopping him, with a smile.

"I mean, that's how I'm starting it. How would you finish your own message to them? I'll write it out for you for a photo, they still aren't allowing the camera."

[lasiurus]

He's excited, and he looks at Bane and laughs.

"Right, right. ...They're alive, I can't- what do I say now?"

He rubs a hand over his face and thinks.

"'I thought you were dead or I would have tried to find you'."

[onapalehorse]

"-find you." He finishes, quietly, as the words stretch lazily down. They're at his ribs now.

[lasiurus]

"'Be safe.'"

He's quiet, letting Bane right that.

"That should be enough."

[onapalehorse]

"Add something about yourself. Or a joke you know they'll reference."

He instructs, quietly.

[lasiurus]

"'Tony was right'."

Which could mean any one of a hundred things, but it's a joke that floats around between the three of them. Especially when Tony is wrong.

[onapalehorse]

He adds it, quietly, and pats his hip, then shifts away to get a higher resolution camera, so they'll be able to capture it all.

[lasiurus]

He moves into better lighting; the day is coming overcast and warm, so there's plenty to work with.

"Do you know what country they're in?"

[onapalehorse]

"I can't tell."

He murmurs, shaking his head.

"Which is fascinating."

[lasiurus]

"They'll find a way to tell us. Tony and Bruce. If it's a tech issue, Tony will work past it. Otherwise Bruce will send us a code, a riddle..."

He nods at the camera.

"Need me to pose?"

[onapalehorse]

"I would appreciate a smile."

He laughs.

[lasiurus]

Bruce obliges earnestly, overjoyed at learning Bruce and Tony are alive, and overwhelmed with gratitude at Bane for helping with this.

He has bruises still, from the scuffle a few days before, but he looks content even in the camera.