Lily sits at the head of a table eating alone. She watches two men walking back and forth to refill her glass of water and place various dishes in front of her. Both men have green eyes and completely shaved heads. Lily can tell them both apart because one man is clean-shaven and his brother has a five o'clock shadow. The door opens periodically and in walks Benjamin with his scarred face. He gathers together with the men whispering to one another in a different language. She swallows a small bite of chicken and tries her best to understand what they are talking about. However, she is completely unfamiliar with the words.
Lily looses track of the time focusing on the array of food on the table in front of her. There is chicken, steak, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, all types of green vegetables and it all smells fantastic. The clean-shaven man replies, "Bane will be here momentarily." She nods her head swallowing a bit of the steak. At home, her mother chastises her about manners. Make sure that you eat with your mouth closed and do not scarf down your food, Lillian. Keep your elbows off the table and do not talk with your mouth full. All of a sudden, her appetite disappears. She picks up the napkin nearby and gently wipes her face out of habit
She knows that her mother is beyond worried sick about her. Right now, the police are rifling through all of her stuff assuming that they will find some sort of clue. Lily hopes to God that they do not find her journal or her box. The one thing that will give her mother a heart attack will most definitely be "the box." The police are probably dusting for prints at her job. Little do they know that Bane is careful? More than likely, he sent in a crew to "clean up".
Suddenly, the door opens and in walks Bane. The green-eyed twins stand in place against the wall to Lily's right. They make an effort not to make any form of eye contact with him. "Sorry," he replies, "to keep you waiting. I had some last-minute business to attend to." The door shuts carefully behind him. Bane makes his way over to the chair on the other side of the table and sits down. There is no place setting for him which does not surprise Lily. He can not possibly eat while wearing that mask.
"I hope that you enjoyed," he replied, "your meal, Lily. Matthew and Mark worked very hard to prepare this for you. It is all organic and made with no genetically modified ingredients. I made sure that they were aware of your dietary restrictions."
Lily nods her head glancing down at the plate. How do the twins knew the exact type of food that she eats? Apparently, for the past few months a few of Bane's men work at the organic market downtown. It is clear that the twins look awfully familiar suddenly.
Bane replies, "They will prepare anything that you want to eat at a moments notice. All that you have to do is ask." Lily stares across the table at him in silence. He is sitting up straight with both arms crossed over his massive chest. She finishes the rest of the water in her glass not taking her eyes off of his. "I want you to feel comfortable here," he replies, "Lily. Think of this as your home away from home."
If this is her, then she can leave whenever she wants to. No need for a guard as Lily can move freely through the underground compound. However, if she makes her opinion known than he will surely go ballistic. More than likely the table in front of them will be flipped over everything on to the floor.
"Tonight," he replies, "I will be stepping out for a few hours. Until then my men are at your service. You are safe with them." He leans over to rest his elbows upon the table. Lily sinks back into her chair. Mark approaches the table with the intent to remove her plate. He realizes after a minute that Bane has his eye on him and begins to carefully step away from the table. . "Let her finish," he replies.
Lily turns to Mark and says, "Just take it. I am not hungry anymore."
Mark hesitates fearing Bane's next move. "She told you to take her plate away." If Bane's mouth could be seen in full view , she swears that he is speaking between his clenched teeth. Mark carefully lifts up the plate and silverware. He pivots walking out of view.
"Guess what I read in today's paper," Bane replied, "There is an article with your face under it." Matthew emerges with the front section of the paper placing it on the table in front of her. The headline reads where is Lily Moss? A picture of Lily hugging her mother printed on the front page. They took it a year ago at her father's 58th birthday party.
She lifts up the paper to read the first line only interrupted by Bane. "The article is full of the usual words and phrases," he explains, "Gotham's lost daughter. Lillian was born into a family of prestige and wealth." Tears gather in the corners of Lily's eyes.
One by one each tear slides down her cheek to come to rest on the paper. "You did not tell me," He replied, "that your middle name is Anne. What a lovely name" The article read that there is a reward for her return along with immunity for her captors.
"I do not need the money," he replies, "even though your family has more than enough to share. No, I have my benefactor."
The door opens a second time and in walks a man in his late fifties. He has grayish white hair and dressed like a college professor is light-colored beige khakis and a baby blue button down shirt. The man walks ten steps forward and comes to a stop. He glances around the room for a moment. When his eyes meet Bane's they widen. "Ah," Bane replies, "Lily this is an associate of mine Dr. Henry Pavel who is working very hard for me. He wanted to come down here to meet you." The man turned towards her in fear. Whatever he has seen apparently makes her experience pale in comparison.
"Say hello," Bane says, "Doctor." Out of fear the older man smiles slightly making sure not to upset Bane in any way. He says hello only to grow silent again. There is a hint of an eastern European accent in his voice. Lily smiles back wondering who this man is. More importantly, where did Bane find him but, does not dare ask. "Like you," Bane says, "he is another guest sleeping in one of the adjacent rooms next to mine."
"What is it that you need, Doctor Pavel?"
Bane returns a tad bit plan went on without a hitch. The Dark Knight appeared at the right time , acquired the tablet and was surrounded by most of Gotham's finest. However, he made his début more invigorated than earlier. His showmanship is only reminiscent of that Joker character from years past.
A boy emerges from the darkness to walk beside Bane. It is tough for the kid to stay in step with Bane but, he is somehow able to. Absently, he removes the leather jacket passing it to the boy along with the cumbersome red helmet.
The men are in high spirits now. Each one whispers to one another about phase two. Barsad is right by Bane's side brandishing a high power rifle with a smirk upon his face. At one time, he recalls being just a boy like the one who carries Bane's things. On the streets of Eastern Europe, Barsad stood rail thin peddling for food and money. It was Bane who took him in molding and shaping the young man. In some instances, Barsad served as a lover, bringing him to release on more than one occasion. Upon Lily's arrival, he kept his distance. This woman held a place that only he could supplement. Even so Bane needs him, of that he is aware.
The stairs are a bit more laborious to climb. Bane needs to rest for a few more hours. More importantly, he needs to see Lily. Once, he reaches the platform a number of men approach to give him an update. They speak to one after the other in full detail recounting the little that needs completion. Bane waves them away turning to enter a short narrow hallway. Men line up with their backs against the walls ready in place.
He imagines Lily sleeping in his bed curled up with her body hidden under a sheet and many comforters. Benjamin stands at the door and abruptly grabs hold of the knob turning quickly. The door opens with a creak startling Gael who jumps up and swiftly exit's the room. Bane walks in as though nothing happened. His steps tread lightly across the floor. The door shuts behind him but, he fails to notice.
Lily is asleep lying in his bed with the covers pulled up nearly to her neck. Bane stands over his desk unloading a hand gun. The half empty clip is hidden within a drawer. His work shirt unbuttoned and folded neatly into a square. It does not take long for him to unbuckle the vest, pulling it over his head, followed by the white crew neck worn under it. The vest is lain on top of the vest carefully. He kicks the boots off his feet with little effort and proceeds to unbuckle his pants, allowing them to fall to the floor. Bane takes the time to fold them as well placing them under the pile.
By this time, Lily is awake staring at him. "Did you sleep well," he asks, "I can imagine you did after such a large meal." She remains quiet slowly sitting up. Her arms wrap around her legs hugging them . "My men," he said, "seem to enjoy your presence. The amount of angst that permeated every corridor has dissipated. No man can truly exist without a woman. I learned this lesson. The hard way."
He turns toward her with a relaxed demeanor. "Your parents are very over protective of you," he says, "particularly your mother. No one is ever good enough for her little Lillian. Not even Richard Parks." Lily feels her heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly at the sound of his name. The moment her mother saw him, her lips remained in a permanent line. Who the hell told him about Richard? "Most women," Bane continues, "your age have had their fair share of men but, not you…..Lily." She is aware of his naked body glimpsing the solid length of his thick, uncut cock. It is hard to not to notice but, Lily manages to keep eye contact.
"It is funny that you come from such a traditional household," he replies, "even if your sister's legs remained open to whomever, wherever." Lily feels the crimson hue creeping up to her face spreading like a rose blooming. "That's not true….I," she says as she tries to defend herself . Underneath, the mask Bane has a smile across his face. His eyes crinkle at the edges. "You are a delicate little flower," he replies with a slight laugh. There is nothing else for her to say.
"There is no need," he replies, "for embarrassment. I admire your patience and self-worth. Such traits are hard to find. No need to hide them like some sort of secret, Lily." He walks over to the bed and sits down at the edge. Lily pulls her legs to her chest and hugs them.
His posture slouched over at first staring down at the floor. She glimpses the scar that stretches from the nape of his neck down the length of his spine coming to rest above his tailbone. "Beautiful work," he replies, "the doctor did to save me. There was so much blood that it is a wonder I am not deceased."
"Modern medicine," he replied, "did not reach the depths of Arkham. I was so disoriented that I agreed to anything to take the pain away. What I was left with gave me a shield of some sort. The fact that I survived such a brutal attack made those same men who left me for dead, filled with fear. The doctor was the only person to see what had become of me. Word spread around that I resembled some sort of demon." Bane paused for a moment and sat up straighter.
"The men assumed that by destroying my face that they would cripple me in some way. Truthfully, that loss only made me more vengeful." Lily shuddered at the thought of what that statement meant. "I wore bandages only face until," he replied, "I left the pit."
"Why were you attacked," she replied. Bane turned to look at her with a sad look in his eyes. He could not bring himself to explain the truth. It tugged at the tiny strings within his heart. Lily struggles to understand this show of emotion, so much so that the shield she put up lowered slightly.
A memory of a woman full with child being lowered slowly into the darkness burned in his mind. He did what he could to keep his distance but, never stopped watching. After, the woman gave birth, he recalls the soft sound of the baby crying echoed. The wolves gathering at all corners around her cell. They watch as the baby grew. Bane remembers thinking how smart it was for the child's mother to shave her daughter's one can tell that the child is female.
One mistake of leaving the cell door unlocked is all it took for the beasts to break in. When they did, Bane jumped at the chance to grab the child. His act of selflessness sparked the fire of angst that only seemed to grow. The older the girl grew, the more aware the others became….
To be continued.
Thank you for your feedback.
I apologize for the wait but, thank you all for being patient and reading my fan fic.
I do not own and rights to Bane, Barsad, Batman or any character from TDKR depicted in this work of fan fiction.
Just Lily and the soldiers that I named.
Your feedback is more than welcome.
Chapter 3 is on the way.
:)