Description: [Pre-TDKR] Talia is ecstatic when her father brings Bane back from the pit and gives him the mask, but Ra's isn't so sure about him. Talia's relationship with Bane is far different now. As she starts to see him more than just a protector, her father becomes more and more uneasy with Bane's presence.
Rating: T, violence, cursing, and for later chapters.
Couples: Talia x Bane.
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Everything around him felt foreign. This world was alien to him, he had never been in it before. All he had known was the hell of the pit he was born in, and the rage that built inside him against all of those that destroyed innocence. Ra's al Ghul was walking in front of him, inside the hideout of the League of Shadows. Everything had happened so fast. The League Of Shadows burst into the pit, killing everyone. Except him. The air around them was frigid and dry, making his throat feel scratchy. Now here he was, inside the League's main hideout, going to meet the girl he once saved. Bane wasn't sure how Talia would react. It had been so many years since he had seen her, he wouldn't even probably recognize her. The hideout was huge and dim, and there was no movement. For having so many members, the place was dead silent. Bane's heavy footsteps irked Ra's as they walked, although the leader wouldn't voice his irritation.
The only reason Ra's brought him here, was for Talia. He cherished his daughter, and wanted to give her the opportunity to thank the man who saved her as a child. Bane was the only one pulled from that hellish prison. Ra's had given him a mask, designed to keep the pain of his injuries at a minimum. As far as Ra's was concerned, he was going a long way to help this man that he didn't necessarily believe could be a part of the league of shadows anyway.
Ra's felt slightly anxious as they approached the hidden courtyard in their facility. This courtyard was only available to himself, and his daughter. Ra's wanted Talia to talk with Bane herself, and then he would decide what to do with the man afterward. It would be quite a task to explain his lack of confidence in Bane to Talia. He knew he would end up giving Talia what she wanted, she meant everything to him.
This was the first time Bane had been inside the League of shadows after Ra's gave him the mask. The huge man hadn't been very talkative since he was pulled out the the pit a few days prior. Bane felt lost, like a child. It wasn't like him to feel ignorant, but he honestly didn't know hardly anything of this world. The older gentleman turned to face Bane as they stopped in front of the courtyard doors,
"Talia is inside. When she is done with you, come back to me, and I shall decide what to do with you then. Do you understand?"
Bane stared at the man, shifting his weight slightly in Ra's intense gaze,
"I understand."
Ra's eyed him once last time before opening the door beside him, holding it open for the masked man. Bane slowly walked into the courtyard, natural light beaming down through the open section of the roof. Snow fell into the open area, blanketing the small rock garden in white powdery ice. The sound of water falling was all he could hear as he walked out onto the cobblestone pathway through the small frozen garden. Snow crunched beneath his heavy body. Bane didn't see anyone around as he paused in front of a small decorative pond. Water poured off of a higher pond, and ran down a small stacked rock pile.
"You're much bigger than I remember."
A chill ran down his spine as the sultry voice spoke to him, he turned to face the source of the voice.
The first glance would change him forever. There she stood, on the wooden patio in front of another set of doors to his left. Bane felt his heart skip a beat as he took in her appearance. Never had he felt so alive. A small smile played Talia's lips as he stared at him in silence. Her deep chestnut colored hair fell around her face in loose waves. Large brown eyes locked on his narrow icy blue ones. Talia was a woman now. A beautiful, lightly olive skinned woman, the way her lips curved in the small smile made his face feel warm.
"Talia?"
He asked, turning to completely face her. The woman stepped off the patio and casually walked up to him, her eyes locked on his face with a kind expression. Her features became even clearer as she closed the distance. Talia was so incredibly gorgeous to him now, she was nothing like he imagined. She moved with an unimaginable grace, her steps somehow silent in the snow. Bane couldn't believe this was the girl he had saved. The elegant woman looked up at him with a loving expression, her voice was so soothing as she spoke.
"Yes Bane, it's me."
Her hands found their way to his now mask-covered jaw, her thin fingers feeling the hard new feature. The strange new feature to his face didn't seem to phase her. Bane felt the urge to grab her and hug her, but he didn't want to push any boundaries. It had been too many years since they had seen each other. She was probably in her twenties at least by now. Talia sighed and slowly put her arms around his large abdomen, the side of her face pressing into his huge chest. Bane wasn't sure how to react, he didn't even know her now. The sudden embrace made his hardened heart melt. This was the same girl, but she was so different. So beautiful.
That word wouldn't leave his mind. Beautiful.
He hesitantly returned her embrace, unsure of how to handle the situation. After carefully putting his burly arms around her, he became stark still. Bane was at a loss of words, his eyes tearing up. She had made it. Talia was alive. Everything he had suffered was worth it now because he could see and hold her. She was safe. The old aches and pains seemed to fade away as her warm delicate body held his. Bane fought the tears that formed in the corners of his eyes as she held him. It was unreal. The moment felt like it lasted forever.
"I can't express how happy I am to see you Bane. I never thought I would see you again after I left."
Bane felt his muscles tremble as he released her, her voice was so kind. Talia admired his face through the mask as she stared up at him. The small smile didn't leave her face as he responded,
"What I feel is indescribable Talia."
As the two began talking amongst each other, Ra's observed from an upper level window. His narrow eyes locked on them with an unwavering glare. He didn't trust this man. Bane. The man couldn't be trusted. Ra's would admit he was grateful to Bane for helping his daughter, but the man wasn't the type to cherish life. Bane looked like a monster, and was built like one. Ra's felt in his gut that this man was far more ruthless than he appeared. It had been years since he had seen Talia, it had been years since he knew what it was like to show true compassion. Care wasn't something Bane would possibly be able to understand now, this was all a lie. A false sense of comfort on his daughter's part.
It wouldn't take much to make a man raised from hell to snap and injure his beloved daughter.
Ra's felt a twinge of anger as Bane rushed forward and hugged her. Talia chuckled slightly as her feet came off the ground in his hearty embrace. Tears rolled down Bane's cold cheeks as he held her. He felt weak, allowing himself to cry, but it didn't matter wriggled her arms free and hugged his neck, putting her cheek on the side of his shaved head. Talia felt the same as she did when they were younger. His strong arms felt like the safest place in the world. The girl couldn't stop smiling as Bane held her close, his warm embrace making her feel whole again. Bane had been everything to her when she was young, and now she could finally understand how important he had been to her survival. This girl, this woman, brought out the heart inside his hardened body. Something he forgot he had.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me Bane, I could never properly appreciate what you did for me while I was a child. But now, I promise I'll be here for you now."
That fiery nature of hers made him smile inwardly, he gently set her back on the snowy path. He reached out and brushed her hair out of her face as he stood upright again, towering over her. Snowfall left tiny imperfections on their dark clothes, and daintily fell around them. It was like a dream. Bane's voice was deep and laced with admiration as he stared into her eyes,
"I never thought I would see you again. I'll go wherever you need me."
…
"Talia, You don't understand what I'm getting at. You are't listening to me."
The defiant brunette woman stood in front of her father's desk. He was standing in front of his window, head turned back to look at her. Ra's expression was deadly serious as he continued,
"Bane is a brute. He isn't going to be stealthy, he isn't the right type to be a part of the league. I can't-"
"You have no appreciation for him, he saved my life. You don't know him like I do. Giving him a chance is the least you can do. Or does my life mean nothing to you?"
As these two argued, Bane was down the hall looking down into the main room. He casually leaned against the rail overlooking the lower floor main room. New members of the league were doing basic training. It seemed rough, far more intense than he ever thought. He wasn't sure how to react when Talia told him she wanted him to be a part of the League of Shadows. It wasn't what he expected to do when he escaped the pit, but whatever she wanted, he would do. Talia was the only person in his life that meant anything. She gave him purpose. She was Bane's only real connection to the real world. He knew her father probably wouldn't want him to be here, this was a very secretive organization.
After about thirty minutes, Talia emerged from Ra's office area. A confident expression was written on her face, her eyes locked on his as she approached him. Bane stood upright as she gave him the news,
"You're to begin training tomorrow. You're only going to be a few lessons behind me, but I'm sure you can catch up."
Bane nodded in agreement,
"I see."
"I'll take you to your room."
She then turned on her heel and Bane followed her quick pace down the corridor. Ra's heard them go by his office, he clenched his jaw as he looked out the window, down the jagged cliffs of the Himalayas. He wouldn't take it easy on him. Bane was going to work just as hard, if not harder than everyone else. Bane would have to earn his trust.
…
The room wasn't much, to say the least. It was a very small space was a tiny window, and a small bedroll. Bane wasn't sure he would even fit on the tiny cot. Talia seemed to read his mind and chuckled as she turned to see his reaction to the room. The large man lifted his eyebrows,
"I suppose I'll make due."
Talia smiled and shrugged,
"I'm afraid it's all we have."
She said calmly as she then closed the distance between them, a smile plastered on her face. Talia stifled a chuckle and looked up at him,
"It's hard not smile now that I know you're safe and here with me again."
Bane's smile was evident thanks to his expressive eyes. It had been a long time since he truly smiled as well. He inhaled sharply as Talia stood up on her tip toes and gently placed a tiny kiss on the exposed part of his left cheek. She then nodded and walked passed him through the doorway, calling back to him,
"Get some rest, You'll need it."
...
The training was brutal. It was just as difficult as he expected after seeing the new members training. Bane did his best to make Ra's see how powerful he was, but Talia was the only thing that kept him going at times. There were many nights where he could not sleep because of the aching of his body. He and Talia only saw each other at the end of each day's training. Sometimes Talia would not have time to talk with him, other times they would sit into the late hours of the night talking together. Bane wouldn't admit it openly, never would he speak the words he truly thought of. He loved Talia.
It began with the passion to protect something fragile and innocent. While in the pit, he watched over her, as a guardian would. But now, in their little conversations, the feeling of love trickled through his mind like a poison. All through his training, he would think of seeing her face at the end of each day. Even the days in which he only saw her for a brief moment, it made all the difference. It was love. Love wasn't something Bane was familiar with, but it was quickly dominating everything about him. He trained harder, moved quicker, and attacked with more ferocity when he thought of protecting Talia. This woman was his world, she always had been. He knew she could never love him, nor be with him. Ra's had done his best to keep their time together limited. It was easy to see her father still did not trust him.
At the end of a stealth training day, Bane was sitting alone behind the main facility. The small area overlooked the gorgeous view of the mountains around them. However, snow was falling heavy today, the distant air was hazy with the small flakes. His whole body ached as he sat on a stone bench, admiring the majestic scene. It was a beauty he truly appreciated. In the pit, there was nothing. Only the slight hope at the top of the pit was pleasing to look at, some of the time.
He had learned to pick up on approaching individuals, even when they were silent. Bane felt her presence, making him feel relaxed. He didn't even need to look to know she was there. The aching in his body always seemed to subside when he was with Talia.
"You look exhausted."
She said with a coy tone, walking up beside where he was sitting. Her eyes were out on the hazy view, a puff of white air erupted from her as she breathed the frigid air. Bane looked out in front of them as well,
"Exhaustion is for the weak. You father will just have to work harder to make me collapse I suppose."
Talia looked down at him, a playful look in her eyes. Bane scooted to his left, allowing some space to his right for her to sit. The woman plopped down beside him, a sigh escaping her lips.
"You're too concerned with what my father thinks."
Bane chuckled and responded cooly,
"I am not the least bit concerned with what he thinks my dear. I do not exist to fight for him."
Talia was quiet for a few moments. His dedication was always a comfort for her. No one, not even her father, had been this dedicated to her. The brunette woman leaned to her left, resting against Bane's bulky shoulder. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Bane's gaze fell to the snowy earth in front of him, the contact made him feel soft. She brought out the gentleness inside him, even though no one around him ever saw it. This was something he would only share with her. Bane came across as a ferocious killer to the others here at the league. He didn't socialize, he wasn't here to make friends. He was here to fight. To become stronger than anyone. For her.
The girl's head was so light against him, she felt weightless. Bane turned his head slightly, looking at the top of her now messy brown hair. He wasn't sure how long he had been here. Time seemed to be absent amidst all the training. Day and night were their only gauges of time here at the League. Ra's would send the higher ranking members out on missions occasionally, so he must have a way of measuring the time. But none of that truly mattered to him. Talia was all that mattered. Her soft words broke his train of thought,
"I'm so comfortable."
Bane wasn't quite sure what she meant by that, whether it be with him, or here in her current situation at the league. He huffed and glanced back out at the icy Himalayan Mountains.
"With what exactly?"
Talia chuckled under her breath, blowing more white laced air out in front of her. She had such a charming demeanor about her, despite her fierce fighting ability. Her fighting other men had always irked him, especially when she was injured. Bane always felt the urge to beat the man who dared lay a hand on her, even while just sparring.
"With you Bane, I always have been. It feels as if no time has passed at all to my heart."
She said calmly, nuzzling slightly against him. Her last few words struck a nerve with the enormous man. He wasn't sure if she meant she loved him, or if she just meant as her protector. These sorts of things were irritating to him, since he was unable to truly decipher them, even within himself. Feelings were something he avoided inside the pit. A sudden question from the girl threw him completely off,
"Can I stay with you tonight?"
Her question was sudden, and more than unexpected. A chill ran down his spine as soon as she said it, he was silent for a few moments as he looked fully in her direction. Talia still leaned against him, not even looking up to him. Bane never stumbled over words, he always figured out what to say. This was unbelievable, why would she want to stay with him? Did she just want company? A whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed him. Her father would definitely be outraged if she did something like this, especially with him.
"Your father would strongly disapprove."
"I thought you didn't care what he thinks."
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MewMid: 2nd TDKR story, I'm super inspired. It was going to be a oneshot, but I see I have to continue it now. Ha!
Hope everyone likes it so far! Please, leave thoughts and constructive criticism! I always appreciate it and always respond.
R and R!