horrendousness

[onapalehorse]

From this.

"You will find strength, and peace."

He promises, with belief.

Comments

[lasiurus]

He realizes then how deep his distrust--his fear--has gone, that he hesitates to even answer the question.

But chances are they're dead already.

"Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox. I was taken before they were but they're ordinary people--they might still be alive somewhere."

[onapalehorse]

"Lucius Fox came out on top of this revolution. He runs a small, fortified encampment- out of your manor, actually, heavily armed and guarded, a safe haven for your kind."

He tells him, palm dropping down, body sliding away from his- Bane is used to people who experience intense emotion very physically.

[lasiurus]

Bruce acts out, at times, but when the emotion is really powerful he goes as still and pale as the boy who had watched his parents bleed out in an alley.

He stares up at Bane, begging him silently not to be lying about it.

It's when he speaks that he finally moves, turning to face him.

"And Alfred?"

[onapalehorse]

"A name I do not know. I will have to search for him."

He murmurs, watching him closely, reaching out eventually to put both hands on his shoulders.

"Perhaps we will have Fox here and you can ask."

[lasiurus]

This time he doesn't flinch.

"Is it safe to move him here?"

[onapalehorse]

"I'm not sure. For him, certainly, for my house, perhaps not. He travels heavily armed, in the machinery you used to use, with an entourage of trained men. If he knew you were here he would probably burn us to the ground to take you."

Amused, quiet.

"I would win, but you might never forgive me for it. You do not need to fear for Lucius Fox."

[lasiurus]

Bruce nods, voice quiet.

"You know how many people have died out there. For all I know, Fox is the only person I have left."

So no. He would never forgive Bane or anyone else if Fox was harmed. But this also means he shouldn't overlook the help that has been given to him.

"...Thank you. For telling me."

[onapalehorse]

"You're welcome."

He answers, letting his shoulders go, sitting back on his knees, reluctantly.

"It would be a mistake to continue with you in this state. You are too open; we would go too far, you would regret too much. We'll simply talk."

[lasiurus]

"I can take it."

Sounding more like the man he'd been before the war. The expression in his eyes isn't so hard, or flat.

[onapalehorse]

"Yes, I know, and then tomorrow you would remember yourself and be back to trying to stab me in my sleep. I had intended to take advantage of the softness from yesterday, but this-"

Shaking his head.

"-I do not trust your consent. It would be trickery."

[lasiurus]

"I'm not out to trick you."

It doesn't occur to Bruce that there might be a different side to this.

But he settles again, legs crossed, back straight.

"Who do you have out there? In the war?"

[onapalehorse]

"I meant my tricking you."

He promises, quietly.

"I have no one."

[lasiurus]

He quiets at that, and doesn't argue.

"We can talk."

[onapalehorse]

"Alfred Pennyworth. Old man, young?"

Cocking his head.

[lasiurus]

"Old. Same age as Fox."

Which doesn't improve Alfred's chances of survival out there.

"He...he raised me."

[onapalehorse]

"After your parents died."

He's always seemed to know snippets of Bruce's life, but this is the first outright admission of it.

[lasiurus]

He looks up to meet Bane's eyes, then nods, looks away again. These little insights Bane has shouldn't unsettle him; Bruce was one of the most famous men in the world once upon a time. But hearing them from someone who seems to be completely removed from that world...it is unsettling.

"Where are you from?"

[onapalehorse]

"The trade, overseas. One of the markets in the southeast."

He confesses, seeming unperturbed by the question.

"Where we know how to live with what rattles you so badly."

[lasiurus]

"You shouldn't have to live with it either."

He sits back, resting on one hand.

"And I've been through the Asian markets before. This is...different."

[onapalehorse]

"Growing pains."

He advises, quietly.

"The demise of a culture built on decadence, premised on exploiting and coddling the weak. The beginning of a new world of chaos. The markets as they are now will change again soon; the fat at the top will find themselves toppled."

[lasiurus]

"Your world order doesn't have much room for compassion."

He's steely, Batman again, even if he's making no move to be violent.

"What you suggest would have us rolling in the mud like animals, always fighting to destroy anyone who rises out of it."

[onapalehorse]

"It's even in your metaphors. You fear mud. Mud, the cleanest thing imaginable, the ground itself and the world outside are alien, evil- do you wish to go back to living in a locked room? Or would you do just about anything for a bit of mud between your toes right now?"

Amused, eyes lighting up with a little warmth.

[lasiurus]

His mouth tightens. Touche.

"That's not the point. We evolved into creatures capable of compassion, and hope, and societies are meant to safeguard its weakest members."

Admittedly that isn't how it usually goes, but Bruce has spent far too long fighting for justice to just throw up his hands.

[onapalehorse]

"True. And this world will grow, again, into one where we are capable of knowing compassion, but as it was the weak were failed every day, in every way imaginable."

He points out.

"You, being who you were, should know this better than anyone. You put on your costume and plucked- admirably- at the worst of the sin and greed, but never really scratched the surface."

[lasiurus]

"Things were getting better."

But how helpless and small he felt most days. Even when the streets were being cleaned up by the real law enforcement; even when the Joker was locked away forever.

"The aliens made it worse; why do you defend what they caused? Slavery for everyone is better than slavery for some?"