-A/N: Bonjour madames and messieurs. I have here a story that has been brewing in the back of my mind ever since I first saw The Dark Knight Rises. There's going to be some German and Russian in this story but I will have to translations written down at the end of each paragraph. Unless they are already translated in the story. Thank you for giving this story a chance. ~ Shade 3

P.S. This is actually part of a series called Angels of Gotham. There will be Bane, Joker, Bruce, and Scarecrow at the least. Each will have one thing in common. The girls were all called Angels at some point in their lives. So I hope you enjoy these stories.

In the back of my mind I can

Barely even remember when

There was nothing left to hide and

She had found her way inside then

I was forced to walk alone

Living in an empty home

All I wanted was to hide and

Try to numb the ache inside

And I'm still afraid of the lights

And a thousand voices share their

Laughter at my demise

Now if I am to survive

The infection must die

Murder the beast

That's been eating me alive

The infection must die

The Infection - Disturbed

Prologue Part One - The Fall

Her mother had committed the crime but since she was dead Alexis was being forced to serve her life sentence in the pit. And as she was lowered down she yelled profanities at the top of her lungs. She wore slacks and a tank-top, her bright honey colored hair shining in the light. She had also bribed a guard shortly before to allow her to keep her leather duster, bag and all its contents. She grabbed at one of the tiles on the wall but her rope jerked and she swung away. She calmed slightly before she hit the ground. She swore once more, this time in her native language of German. She untied the rope and looked at the dozens of hungry eyes that settled upon her. She grabbed a knife from her knee-high combat boots and skirted around them.

"Come on pretty sweetheart. We won't hurt you... much."

"Nicht überall kommen in meiner Nähe!" ((Do not come anywhere near me!)) She spat, her warning carrying through the crowd. She reached the shadows and saw a man walking towards her. Everyone kept out of his way. He stopped a foot from Alexis and she sized him up. He was tall and muscular, his eyes a dark color that Alexis couldn't really see in the dim light of the morning shadows. He couldn't have been more than nineteen or twenty. "Ich werde nicht zögern, dich zu töten."

"I am afraid that I do not speak German. Can you try English?"

"I said that I will not hesitate to kill you." To this he laughed and she lunged. He grabbed her arm as the blade cut along his cheek.

"You're fast." He pried the knife from her hand and then leaned towards her ear, whispering quietly. "Let me help you if you plan to live." He placed her knife in her hand and she thought for a minute before resheathing it and following the man to a set of stairs. He led her to a cell near the top of the rows. She called him lucky before walking off to find her own cell. But the man grabbed her arm and pulled her to the door. "These men will not hesitate to kill you."

"I was born in a hellhole in Germany and then spent a good portion of my life in a city called Gotham. I think I'll be able to handle myself here." She growled.

"You may think yourself strong. But most of these men will tear you apart. Slowly and painfully."

"Fine! Schwachkopf." She muttered the last part and the man chuckled. ((Moron.))

"I think I understood that last bit."

"You probably would." She muttered, her accent stronger when her voice was low. She noticed a small six year old girl sitting in the corner and drawing with a small stick of graphite. "Huh. I would not have figured you for a fatherly type."

"She's not exactly my daughter." He looked to the girl and she grinned as he came into sight.

"I stayed put this time Bane." He smiled.

"Good work Talia." She stood and walked over to him.

"Who's she?" She asked, pointing at Alexis. She kneeled in front of Talia and smiled.

"Hallo. Mein name ist Alexis." Talia looked confused for a second and Alexis translated it. "Hello. My name is Alexis."

"I'm Talia. Can you teach me the language you were speaking in?" She smiled.

"Of course." Talia smiled and then looked confused.

"What language is it?"

"German." Talia grinned and looked to Bane.

"Alexis is gonna teach me German!" She spoke excitedly.

"I heard. And I hope she does not mind if I join you."

"I do not mind." She watched Talia duck back to her corner and continue drawing. "Let me ask you a question Bane."

"Alright."

"If she's not your daughter than who's is she?"

"An old friend of mine. She died shortly after Talia was born." Alexis winced.

"I am sorry to hear this." She needed to change the subject, get her mind away from her own deceased mother. "How old are you?" She blurted.

"Twenty-five." He answered and then looked at her. "You?"

"Twenty-three." She mumbled. "What are you in here for?"

"A crime that my father committed. And you?"

"A crime my mother died committing. They figured I should pay for her crimes." She looked down and then slung her bag over her shoulder. She deposited it on the floor and then tugged her jacket off. Finally she kicked off her boots and laid back in a corner of the room, away from the two beds. She used the bag as a pillow and stared up at the ceiling. "Thank you." She said almost an hour later.

It took him a second to realize what she had meant. And when it finally hit him he smiled, leaning back with a book in hand. "You are most welcome miss Alexis."

She smiled and dug through her bag, pulling a book out. It looked handmade and old. The title read: Jägers Herz.

"May I ask what book you are reading?" She looked up.

"Hunter's Heart. It's a romance novel that a friend of mine wrote for my eighteenth birthday." She looked out through the cell bars, let a laugh escape her lips and sat up, throwing the book in her bag and standing. She strode out the cell door before Bane could stop her and walked down the corridor.

"Stay here Talia. And lock the door." She nodded and grabbed a small, recently crafted key from her pocket. As soon as Bane left she locked the door and sat back down.

Bane found Alexis surrounded by a group of men, one standing across from her.

"I win, I get you for an evening." The man called. Alexis smirked.

"I win you give me that booze." She growled.

"Deal."

"Stop!" Bane stepped between Alexis and the behemoth that she was willing to fight.

"Step aside. I need to hit something." Alexis' voice was sharp yet still rang like a song.

"You will lose."

"Trust me. I won't. So long as he plays fair. No knives, minimal blocking and no fatal hits."

"Sounds fair enough to me little angel." He cooed, his voice now layered with a Russian accent.

"Good. Let's dance then shall we?" She pushed Bane away and sized up the large man. He swung at her and she brought up her arm to block his heavily muscled limb. She seized that second to grab his wrist and swing around, planting her bare feet into his back. He stumbled forwards and hit the wall. "I'm not even trying." She jeered.

The man turned to her and kicked at her lower abdomen as she leapt. He adjusted and swung, hitting her in the side. She crashed into Bane but quickly stood again. She ran at her opponent and lunged, crashing into his stomach and causing him to fall back.

She slammed her fist into his face, breaking a tooth and cracking his previously broken nose. "Einreichen!" She yelled. ((Submit!))

"Никогда!" He bellowed in response. She hit him once more before he threw her away from him. She hit the ground and rolled, using the momentum to stand. He stormed towards her and she stood, wiping blood away from her upper lip. She ran at him again. ((Never!))

He expected her to jump at him rather than slide between his legs. He spun around and into her fist. She felt her fingers pop, and even one crack, as she caused him to slam his face into the wall, knocking him into a nearly unconscious state. After a moment he muttered submission under his breath.

"Evil Angel!" The men around her chanted as she strode forwards. She extended her arm and helped the man stand.

"Are you alright Demetri?" She asked.

"Quite alright my little Alexis." He replied. Everyone watched in shock as they laughed off the fight. Bane walked over and helped Alexis guide Demetri over to the cell in the shadows. "How is little Anna?"

"She is safe my friend." He smiled.

"Thank you."

"No trouble. I know you worry about her. I do have this for you." She pulled a letter from her pocket and handed it to him. He smiled upon seeing his sister's handwriting. They entered the doctor's cell and the man inside looked up.

"Demetri. I see that you are back. Who did you nearly kill this time?" Demetri laughed, a hearty boom that made the room shake ever so slightly.

"It was I who had the worst end. My opponent barely has a scratch." He grinned and clapped Alexis on the shoulder.

"Not true. I know I broke a finger on that last punch. And that kick." She winced as she pulled in a deep breath. "Gave me a bruised rib or two."

"So nothing you are unused to?" She and Demetri both laughed. The doctor stared at Alexis for a moment before snapping his fingers.

"Evil Angel!" He shouted. Alexis bowed.

"In the flesh. With my nearest and dearest friend." She smirked.

"I know who he is. But you are Evil Angel, the arena angel. The only woman who managed to start at age fifteen and best the King Killer."

"I had a good teacher."

"What are you all speaking of?" Alexis looked to Bane.

"Street Fighting, caged arena style. Demetri and I were tied for the leadership when he was falsely accused of murder and thrown in here."

"How do you know it was false?" She sighed.

"Because I was with him that night. It was before a big competition and we were drunk out of our senses. Demetri defended me and said that he had walked me to my home, sober, before going home himself. Truth was we both passed out after trying to fight each other in the practice arena."

"You threw the last punch."

"And then collapsed on you." She chuckled. He leaned down and pressed his lips to the top of her head, hugging her with one arm.

"I miss all of that. Meeting with the world's best."

"Being the world's best, meeting all those big stars in Gotham and all around the world." Alexis sighed and shook her head. "I would give up everything I had just to hear the crowd and the music one last time." She mumbled, her glossy blue eyes gazing far off. She blinked and shook her head, a few of the honey-gold strands of hair falling free of their imprisonment.

"They all played your song when you went into the arena." The doctor threw in.

"I recall that. Breaking Benjamin was it not?"

"The group yes. That song was how I got my name. Do you recall that Demetri?"

"Why can't I breath Evil Angel?" The doctor tended to Demetri's wounds and then turned to Alexis. She waved her hand dismissively.

"Do not bother. I am not injured to much. Just take care of Demetri here okay?"

"Of course Ev-" She held up a hand to halt him.

"Down here you can call me Alexis." He nodded and Alexis grinned, looking towards Demetri. "Ich gewinne trotzdem das Recht Alkohol?" ((I still win the alcohol right?))

"Конечно, маленький ангел. Вы найдете его в задней части моей камере." She thanked him and then left, easily identifying his cell as one that no one would go anywhere near. She grabbed two of the crates and Bane helped her carry it to a small empty cell beside his. She found a dusty key and locked the door. They returned to Bane's cell to find Talia fast asleep on the smaller of the two cots. ((Of course my little angel. You will find it in the back of my cell.))

"If you wish then I could get you a cot." She shook her head and looked up at the evening light. The cells inhabitants were beginning to settle.

"Nein. I shall be fine. It would only take up precious room." ((No.)) She walked over to her place on the floor, a single bottle of the booze in hand. She sat down and cracked it open. Upon taking a sip she let out a soft,near purring sound. "Mmm. Demetri sure knows how to brew some good stuff." She held it out towards Bane. "Wanna try some?" He politely declined and Alexis shrugged before gulping down the rest of the searing liquid. She smiled slightly and set it beside her, her head landing on her makeshift pillow. Before she could fall asleep she heard the light chattering of teeth. She sat up and saw Talia shivering. Grabbing her duster, Alexis walked over and laid it over Talia. As soon as she stopped shivering Alexis returned to her bed, falling into a peaceful slumber.

She awoke a few hours later to see Talia holding her coat in one hand. "Ja?" She asked. ((Yes?))

"I can't sleep." The little girl whispered. Alexis sighed and gestured for her to lay beside her. Talia smiled and curled up against her side, tugging the coat close to her shivering frame. Alexis wrapped one arm around her and closed her eyes. "Alexis?"

"Yes Talia?" She looked down at the girl in the dim light of the midnight moon.

"Do you think anyone will ever leave?" Alexis smiled.

"I think that someone will. And that person has to be the strongest yet the most lithe. And they have to be brave." Talia seemed in thought for a few moments.

"Someone like you?"

"No Talia. I think that if anyone escapes it will be you." She hugged tight to Alexis.

"I don't want to leave. I'm afraid of what will await me." Alexis sat up and pulled Talia into her lap before grabbing a candle and lighting it. She turned to where the light wouldn't bother Bane. She then reached into her bag and pulled out a medium sized leather-bound book filled with various drawings and pictures. She opened it to a middle section and Talia looked at the picture.

"Outside is a world filled with new things and delicious foods. If y- When you escape you should try lasagna. I loved it." Talia ran her fingers over the picture. "This is Gotham. The place I've called home for the past eleven years."

"Wow." She whispered as she turned the page, showing a beaten and bloodied Alexis. "What's this from?"

"That was a picture a reporter took of my first fight. It was against Demetri. I beat him easily. Less than a year later I took on King Killer and won."

"You fight for money?"

"It's a living. And it helps relieve stress." Talia heard a proud tone in Alexis's voice. She loved what she did.

"You like fighting?"

"Let's just say I've had a lot of stress over the course of my lifetime. When I was little I poured it into my training. I had never felt so alive then in that moment when the adrenaline pumped through my veins. It was a breath of a different life. One that was not yet mine." She paused for a moment. "So I ran away. Found myself in Gotham where I met a kid named Bruce Wayne. He must have been around eighteen. Nine years older than me."

"Who are they?" Talia had flipped ahead to a picture of Alexis and the board members of Wayne Enterprise. As well as Bruce himself standing behind Alexis. It was the year that Chill had been shot.

"They were my sponsors. I'm not sure what the technical implications are. I was told to stand there and look pretty while being able to take down men at least twice my size." Alexis flipped to a page near the end that showed Demetri, Bruce, Alfred and her all standing in front of Wayne manor. "This was the last time I saw Bruce. It was just before Chill got shot."

"Chill?"

"The man who murdered Bruce Wayne's parents." Alexis nearly growled the words. But she restrained herself just enough. She sighed and put the book away. "Back to our matter from before. You should escape. A child should not be condemned to a life down here."

"But I'm still afraid." Alexis smiled.

"I was afraid when I first stepped into the ring against Demetri. And then again when I faced King Killer. But I went through with it. And I have never regretted it."

"Would you come with me?" She asked.

"I will try." She promised. Talia smiled and yawned before curling against Alexis once more as she lay down.

"Do you think Bane will come?"

"Perhaps." She heard Talia yawn as she blew out the candle.

"Alexis?" She hummed in response. "Thank you for letting me sleep here."

"You're welcome." She mumbled before Talia fell asleep. Alexis just lay there listening to the prison sounds. She heard Demetri's booming laugh echoing from one of the other cells. She smiled before allowing the familiar sound to lull her to sleep.

A/N: Thank you for reading this my friends. I do hope that you enjoy it. ~ Shade 3