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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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."
He tries to take Bane at his word. If he doesn't, all he has is despair. So he nods with a small smile, and steps inside to try to sleep.
Mostly he'll spend the night reading, exercising. Once he thinks he might actually cry, but he doesn't. He hasn't in nearly thirty years now. He showers instead and falls asleep after midnight.
Bruce is normally so quiet, but this gets snarls, adrenaline giving him strength that is beyond him...but still far beneath Bane. He manages to maneuver his face enough that he can breathe, and that's about it.
A zip tie yanks tight about his wrists, then another locks his elbows together and back, and Bane lifts him from the bed in the darkness, heaving him unceremoniously over one shoulder, holding his legs under one arm and carrying him up, out, towards the stairs.
Bruce doesn't kick; he doesn't want to be dropped on his head, nor does he think he stands a chance with his hands tied anyway.
He just lets Bane carry him, and hates himself for being so far from what he used to be. This is a test, and by his own scoring he's already failed it. He failed the second Bane got in the room.
He admits, with a metallic snort, and then the conversation will have to be cut short. He drops him down onto his feet in front of the door, and puts an arm about him, holding him against his chest.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 03:05 am (UTC)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?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:09 am (UTC)Of sorts. He moves ahead of him fast, every line of him inviting Bruce not to pry further.
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:11 am (UTC)Besides, he has something to keep his attention now, while he waits for news about Alfred. About anyone out there.
"Any recommendations?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:13 am (UTC)Shutting the door sharply behind him, he hurries to go.
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:16 am (UTC)"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?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 03:32 am (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 03:36 am (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:38 am (UTC)He gathers the two books he'd been reading, and follows Bane. Not a word of complaint.
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:40 am (UTC)He warns him, quietly, putting a hand on his back to guide him to the stair.
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:41 am (UTC)"Can you tell me the details of the test?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:45 am (UTC)He promises, quietly.
"I will test what else in you he damaged, with his perversity."
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:49 am (UTC)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."
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:51 am (UTC)He promises, softening finally, nodding at him to get into his bedroom.
"I swear to you."
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:53 am (UTC)Mostly he'll spend the night reading, exercising. Once he thinks he might actually cry, but he doesn't. He hasn't in nearly thirty years now. He showers instead and falls asleep after midnight.
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Date: 2012-08-21 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 04:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-21 04:08 am (UTC)The whole abduction takes less than five seconds.
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:10 am (UTC)He just lets Bane carry him, and hates himself for being so far from what he used to be. This is a test, and by his own scoring he's already failed it. He failed the second Bane got in the room.
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:12 am (UTC)He checks, rasping, as they reach the bottom floor.
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:14 am (UTC)He can't speak up much with his stomach pressed against Bane's shoulder. He has to stop, gasp, start again.
"...Finished Midnight's Children."
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:18 am (UTC)He admits, and that is an interesting enough conversation that he lifts him up a little, so he can hear better.
"I preferred the Satanic Verses, which is in the library a well, if you enjoyed his prose. Do you know anything about the author?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:22 am (UTC)"A bit. I read his short stories my first year of college. What did you find out about him from meeting him?"
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:25 am (UTC)He admits, with a metallic snort, and then the conversation will have to be cut short. He drops him down onto his feet in front of the door, and puts an arm about him, holding him against his chest.
"Breathe."
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Date: 2012-08-21 04:28 am (UTC)He looks up at him defiantly as he breathes, in and out, slow. His shoulders flex, trying to get comfortable.
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September 2012
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