horrendousness

[onapalehorse]

From this.

"You will find strength, and peace."

He promises, with belief.

Comments

[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.

[onapalehorse]

He clicks the picture, and turns back to the screen, starting to download.

"Would you like to spend some time working with one another this afternoon, or remain devoted to this?"

[lasiurus]

"There's nothing I can do until they get back to us."

He watches Bane work all the same.

"I want to keep working with you."

[onapalehorse]

"Then go wash the writing away."

He orders.

"I shall finish here, and then join you in the workout room."

[lasiurus]

He is gone, fast and silent, back into the shower. He doesn't bother with another shirt this time.

[onapalehorse]

Bane takes about an hour, and then joins him, soft of step and quiet and patient.

"Pain today?"

He proposes.

"And the line where pleasure intersects?"

[lasiurus]

"Yeah. Pleasure needs to be part of it."

He feels good. He wants--and in one split second look up and down Bane's body it's clear he wants Bane.

"But I want you to let loose on me."

[onapalehorse]

He flies forward, grabs him up, slams him against the wall and lifts his legs up, wrapping them around his waist.

"Goodness."

[lasiurus]

As strong as Bane is, Bruce still remembers physics and leverage, and he throws a leg over Bane's shoulder and forces his whole weight against his chest to throw them both to the ground.