Before the mask is fitted on to Bane, Talia requests a few minutes of privacy with her friend. She sits on the edge of his bed, her fingers rubbing the back of his hand. There is a needle in his arm, feeding him morphine.
"The mask will allow you to move around again," she is telling him. "You'll be able to train with me." The information is more for her own benefit than for Bane's. "You won't be in pain with it on."
The mask itself is almost for Talia's benefit rather than Bane's. If not for Talia, Bane would not care whether he lived or died. It is only for her sake that he accepts the drugs.
Talia looks at him again, feeling tears prick her eyes. This will be the last time she sees his face free of pain.
His hair has already been shorn off in anticipation of the mask, and skin grafts have repaired his torn features. He looks now almost the same as he had in the Pit. His blue eyes are focused on her, penetrating all of her barriers with his gaze.
She swallows, squeezing his hand. "My friend…"
"Talia," he says softly. She tries to memorize the sound of his voice. After the mask is on, it will never be the same again. "It's all right."
She blinks hard to keep the tears at bay. "It's not. I should have found him faster, come back for you sooner…"
"There was nothing you could have done, little dove." His old name for her. She smiles at it.
"I'm not very little anymore, Bane," She tells him.
His lips twitch in amusement. "You are always little," he tells her. And it is true. He towers over her when he's standing, overshadowing her with his bulk.
She reaches out, touching his cheek. She cannot forget that this will be the last time. It rings like a mantra in her head. Never again, never again, never again…
Her heart gives a sudden clench, and she shifts her position, moving further onto the bed. With barely a second's hesitation, she leans against Bane's wide chest, hugging him. His arms wrap around her carefully, holding her close.
"It's almost time," he murmurs. Talia nods. The doctors wanted to get the mask on as soon as possible. She moves her hands to his shoulders and lifts her head from his chest, staring into his eyes.
Never again.
She presses her lips to his, softly. For a long minute, they rest together like that, cherishing the moment that would never come again.
And then the doctors return, and Bane is fitted with the mask as Talia watches.
The next time she hears his voice, it is mechanical, breath hissing and tones distorted.
She touches the metal tubes delicately, looking into his eyes. He stares back at her, and more words are shared in their gaze that could ever be said.
Faces do not matter, she decides. They are together. And together, they will live.