Nothing lasts forever
When that man took me from the pit, I was introduced to a new world. The man Arthur St. Germaine, was a collector of children, an entrepreneur of fine arts and culture. Along with 9 other girls, he trained us to be the best fighters we could be, both together and alone. He crafted a spear for each and every one of us after we completed our training in the darkest forests of Africa.
We were called the Golden Sun. We were hired to guard and fight for his associates and never did we fail together. But I was always his favorite. His cologne is engraved in my skin, my body, my mind forever.
"You have quite a talent, Imani. You fight with grace and a spirit I have never seen before. It's like you see yourself as your enemy and see through their eyes."
Arthur was love. That is what I told myself. That is all I knew. But that is an old life of mine. My travels had brought me to Gotham City, a world full of crime and hope. I entered my apartment seeing how quiet and clean it was. My roommate, John Blake. He was a collective man full of morals and dignity. He needed a roommate and I had contacted him before I had moved to the city officially. He's handsome, young and likes to laugh when no one else is watching. I sat my black bag on the red barstool in front of our bar which was connected to the sink.
This place was cozy and comforting during dark days. I moved over to the fridge and opened it skimming through some stuff. I had made some macaroni and cheese with steak. John was welcome to anything I made. I took out the plastic containers and set them down quietly noticing chunks of them missing from each container. I smiled, happy he took some to work with him.
My cell vibrated and I removed it from my pocket and saw it was him. I smiled and answered it.
"You like the food?" I asked putting some on a plate and placing it in the microwave.
"It was delicious. You never cease to amaze me." he said collectively. I could sense in his voice he was smiling.
"Good. I'm home alright." I told him.
"How was work?" he asked.
"Good. Only had to rough up a few men. You know it's almost like they want to start something with me." I replied and he laughed.
"Maybe they think they can take you." he said and I smirked reaching into the microwave to remove my plate.
"I guess so. Broke a few bones, but at least they're alive." I replied.
"At least we weren't called." he teased. I'm a bouncer who rotates to different clubs and bars. It's fun, at least to me. Plus I feel like am somewhat protecting the people who don't want trouble but still find it at their doorstep.
"Well I'm going to eat and get cleaned up. Good night." I replied.
"Okay. I'll be home shortly." he said and I hung up.
I ate the small portions on my plate and headed to my room. It was a bit smaller than John's but that didn't bother me. I didn't have many possessions when I moved here. I bought a queen-sized bed, a dresser for some of my clothes and a few plates and cups and silverware. John was allowed to use them too. As I continued to live with him, I bought whatever I felt I needed. Mounted above my bed's white leather headboard was my spear. It was smooth and harsh looking. Its sharp end is a vibrant white. It definitely had weight to it and could retract to fit in my purse. But on the job, I rarely ever needed it. I knew how to disarm people who carried their basic knife or even gun.
I sat my phone down on the dresser and stripped out of my uniform which was just jeans and a black shirt. I hung my coat up in my closet and got in the shower. I inhaled some feeling the water run over my soft skin. I tried to remember how dry my skin was when I was in the pit, but it's all a distant memory. Once I was clean, I exited the room and saw my phone's light just turning off. I looked at my phone to see it was a text from John.
May I come to your room tonight?
Yes, always texting but never could ask even though he knew what my answer would be. I replied and just sat my phone back down and finished getting dressed. I had a black night gown that stropped at my knees. I braided my hair into a crown around my head and just got into my bed. I wasn't very tired, but it was still nice to be in this plush bed. I sighed and rolled around like a cat just enjoying its softness. Oh this was the life. I gently scratched the side of my eye, mildly irritating myself due to the three small moles beside my eye. They were in a perfect triangle beside my left eye. Beauty marks, Arthur called them. I closed my eyes after a few minutes and just snuggled under the thermal thin sheet and comforter above me.
I loved warm things. This bed, John's skin against mine, the heat that arose between us, the sun.
It was 2 in the morning when I opened my eyes to darkness. My clock told me so. I could hear John's familiar steps even through his black shiny shoes. There's a light thud, he's put his gun down and a shifting. He's removed his police jacket. He takes a few steps into the kitchen and opens the fridge, gently though he doesn't want to wake me. But he knows I am already awake. To John, I grew up in an orphanage, a very dark and abusive one. I was adopted by a rich man and he taught me the ways of survival.
He goes into his room, he never got any food, and continues getting undressed. He takes a shower and I can hear him humming even from my room. When he's done, there's only a few minutes of quiet, before I hear his footsteps nearing my door. Had he been an intruder, he would have been impaled through the wall. The doorknob jiggles a bit to let me know he's coming in. It opens and I sit up lightly to see he didn't get dressed this time. He stands in the darkness of my room naked, cock erect already. He's been thinking about this all day, I can imagine. I smile and raise my hand inviting him into my bed.
He takes my hand and smiles warmly as he crawls into bed and moving to get beneath my blankets. He sighed with relief as he felt the warmth of my body and my sheets devour him.
"Long day?" I asked gently and he nodded as he caressed my face.
"Very long." he whispered before leaning in and kissing me warmly. The scent of his body washes over me and embraces me as I embrace his body. His hands move about my body slowly, taking in every curve. He knows I am stronger than him, but I let him take control. He is not just some skinny cop. Beneath the thick jacket and pants are toned muscles and arms. I run my fingers through his damp hair and already part my legs for him. I feel his hand move between my legs to slowly feel the heat from my entrance. He touches me, his fingers dipping inside me slowly. I emit a gentle moan and he returns it. I was hoping he was happy to know I wasn't wearing any panties.
He doesn't want to waste any time though. I find it strange that he can still have energy to want me after his long shifts. John wishes he could be love, but I knew no other man's love except Arthur's. He moves on top of me and dips between my legs taking me beneath the moon's light.
I awoke to an empty bed and was not surprised. John was probably at work. I got up and moved into my closet putting on my black leather pants and a black off the shoulder shirt. Its fabric was thick like armor. I slid on my gold neck plate so no one's knife could reach my throat. I put on my gold bracelets and anklets and then my black boots. I slid on my black scarf that hid my most of my face except for my eyes. The bridge of my nose and the rest of my mouth was covered. I moved over to the mount and slid my spear off it. I clicked the silver buttoned on the side and it retract with a sharp schling. You cannot let yourself get rusty for that is how your enemies slip through your walls.
I had only my phone, check and spear with me which is all I needed. I slid the small handle of my spear into my sleeve and left the apartment. The cool air was mild today and it was good for a jog, but now was not the time. I was on my way to the bank to deposit my check. That was going to be my day. The walk into town was quiet at first but then grew loud as everyone was moving on the sidewalk. The cars on the street were at a standstill, their horns blazing creating a song of their own. As I arrived at the bank, I waited patiently in line. It was quiet today, the usual tellers were here, the office manager in the vault in the back. To even be here was an honor for me.
None of these people know what I have been through. They will never truly know how bad things can get. But right now, I was happy.
"Ma'am." A firm voice catches me and I look to see the security guard standing beside me motioning to his face. "Could you please slide that down." I wasn't offended for I did look strange in my attire. It's what a lot of us wore in Arthur's mansion. I pulled the cloth down and the man nodded his thanks and carried on with his business. When it was my turn, I told the woman I just wanted it all in checking. She smiled from behind the glass, but something catches her attention and everyone's gasping for some reason. The sound of heavy bullets in the ceiling followed by screaming makes my ear itch. In the reflection of the glass, I can see two men with guns.
"EVERYBODY ON THE FLOOR!" one of them yells. I take the time to pull the scarf back over my mouth. Everyone immediately drops to the floor and I watch the teller in front of me crouch as well. She's really pretty. Green eyes and peach skin with brunette hair pulled up in a nice bun. No hair out of place.
I noticed I was the only one standing and one of the men shoots the glass in front of me causing it shatter on the desk and the ground around my feet.
"GET ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES BITCH!" one of the men shout. I merely look to the side to see one of them approach me. Sometimes you have to end things before it begins. Just as he is behind me, I let my spear slide through my sleeve and down into my hand. I turn swiftly and watch as the white blade cuts the barrel of his gun. He's wearing a mask, but I can see the plain shock in his face. I click the button and my blade stretches into its full beauty and glory. Everyone gasps as I swiftly ram it into the man's stomach. He lets out a gurgle and I look over his shoulder to see the second man raising his gun at me. I pull the man into me and use him as a human shield to catch the bullets flying at me. Everyone is screaming and when all three of us are right in front of each other I release my human shield away once I hear the bullets stop. With both hands on my spear I ram it into the second man's chest right in the middle. He gurgles too and I push him back onto the ground with a hard and mighty grunt. Now I am standing over him removing my spear as if he were a dead animal. I spun my spear in my hand before posing it behind my back so it rested against my bottom.
I notice something however on his jacket. It's small and round and I tilt my head leaning over it to see it's a camera. Someone was watching. The room is suddenly bursting with claps and cries of happiness as I look around to see everyone smiling at me happily. I retract my spear and place it back in my sleeve. My money was deposited, so it was time to head home. People wanted to talk to me, but I couldn't stay. The sounds of police sirens make me nervous.
"You must tell the police what happened here." A woman pled with her small child in her hands. Both their faces are red from crying heavily. I merely smiled and shook my head.
"Tell them what I have done and hope we get better security." I replied and turned and took off down the road. I took a short cut through the park and soon I was home immediately.
I removed my clothes and put on some jeans and a red sweater. I placed my spear back on the mount and heard the door swiftly open.
"IMANI!" John called in distress and worry. I moved out into the living room seeing him here. He looked afraid and worried.
"What's the matter?" I asked calmly, and he just looked at me shaking his head before moving up to me. He embraced me immediately.
"What were you thinking taking on two heavily armed bank robbers?" he snapped as he pulled back his hands resting on my neck. I blinked some.
"They were in my way. I just wanted to drop off my check." I replied. I could only assume the cops arrived and looked at the surveillance tapes at the bank and John saw me. He just shook his head.
"I have never seen someone do something so stupid!" he snapped, but his eyes still showed fear. He turned away placing his hands on his hips.
"The Batman does it." I replied ignoring his insult due it being said out of fear for me.
"Yeah well you aren't the batman." he said looking at me with a frown and I shrugged.
"You worship him, but are upset that I can do what he does too?" I asked confused and he shook his head.
"I don't know the Batman, I'm not concerned for his safety, I am concerned for yours." he stated and I smiled at his words.
"And I am concerned for yours as well." I replied walking up to him and gently touching his face. I leaned forward and pecked his lips. "I will not do it again." He sighed and looked down shaking his head.
"Thank you." he said before looking back up at me and kissing me a bit more passionately this time. This is what I liked for myself. My world may not have been perfect, but I hoped it lasted forever.
Normal POV
Talia had ordered Bane to do some mild recon work of Gotham while she played Miranda Tate in the city. She wanted to see the Batman in action and Bane sent a few men out to do some mild crime to get the Batman's attention, each wired with body cams. Bane was happy to oblige, he wanted to study the bat's moves and fighting styles. Even though he wasn't worried he would lose, Bane felt it would be disrespectful to now know more about his enemy. He and a few others of his men were in their hide out which was a hotel that had gone out of business. No one bothered them or thought twice about anything that was going on there. Bane let out a raspy breath as he heard a knock on his door.
"Enter." he said mechanically. His second in command, Barsad came in with a silver laptop in his hand. Barsad was Bane's most trusted man. He actually valued the opinions of the smaller mercenary.
"So I looked through the surveillance footage we collected from some of our guys. But two of them ended up dead." he informed. Bane tilted his head as he took the laptop from the other.
"The Batman does not kill unless it is necessary." Bane replied, another raspy breath escaping through his mask. Barsad nodded.
"Yes. Well these two were killed by someone else. I thought you may want to see it." he said stepping back and standing at attention in front of the door, his hands clasped together. Bane opened the laptop and was immediately shown footage of a bank being held up. The body cameras are clear and every time he clicked it bounced from one camera to the other. As he observed his men firing into the air he noticed they faced the front counter where someone in black did not follow command. From the form of the figure, he knew it was a woman. A brave woman.
Bane looked on with no interest as he watched one of the men confront the woman. He clicked the computer to the gunman approaching the woman and even though it happened fast, Bane's eyes, for once, widened in shock. He did not care about the swift move to defense and he did not care after the second man was killed. The woman stood over the dead man noticing the body camera he wore. She tilted her head slowly as she examined this and Bane repeated the head action.
'It can't be.' He thought to himself. Her face was covered just the same as hers was. He quickly paused the footage and zoomed in on the woman's face, her head still tilted. Bane's mind seemed to go into a haze as he examined the features of the woman's eyes. There were rare images in his mind that he had locked away and hers was one of them. But her eyes, soft grey eyes that looked at him and offered water to him was on this screen. Bane looked at the side of her eyes and saw the perfect triangle of beauty marks on the side. It was her. There was no question about it. No one else had those marks, Bane told himself. He was pacing slowly now. She's here in Gotham.
"Get me the bank footage. Hurry!" he said to Barsad and he nodded and left the room swiftly.
She's here, she's practically in the same world as him again and he would find her. Every fiber of his being told him to find her.
