I do not own Bane or anything TDKR related. I do own Kali Blake.

After some time exploring the caves, Bane decided to head back. However, when he returned the girl was not by the fire, though her clothes were. He moved cautiously out towards the entrance of the cave. She sat near the edge, curled up tight in the blanket, looking out over the forest. It had stopped snowing, and the moon was somewhere behind them, casting its light over everything.
"Sorry I wandered off. I just wanted some fresh air." She said without looking at him.
He looked out upon the landscape and sighed quietly. There was only a very slight breeze. It felt good against his face.
"It is quite beautiful." He said quietly.
She nodded. Her eyes traveled slowly around, and it was only then that he noticed she'd been crying. Curiosity got the better of him.
"Where are you from?" He asked.
"Callicoon. It's in New York, but not the city. It's way out in the country, by the Delaware. Just nice, quiet country." She replied, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Is anyone waiting for you?" He asked before he could stop himself.
She was quiet for a long time. Then, "No. My parents died when I was very young. I lived in an orphanage for most of my life. Then they just gave me some money and kicked me out when I turned 18. I was helping an old woman, a widow, around her farm. In return I got to live in her guest house. All I have is my dog. He's probably miserable right now." She said.
He sat down, giving her space of course, and hung his legs over the edge. They were quiet for a while.
"I don't even know your name." She stated quietly, looking over at him.
He sighed. Was there any harm in telling her? Yes. She could give him away, she could be a threat. She could hurt you. His conscious hissed at him. He ignored that sneering voice.
"Bane." He said quietly.
"Bane." She replied, and he found he liked the way she said his name. Not in terror, not calling him like a dog. It was more... friendly?
Not long after she shuddered, and got up. She took a few steps and paused.
"Who are you hiding from?" She questioned.
"Just some dangerous people that I angered, that's all." He replied quickly.
She waited a moment, then walked back to the fire. Bane sighed heavily. Who was he hiding from? He did not hide. And yet there was the voice again. EVERYONE.

Bane came back to the fire to find Kali shaking the clothing and bandages, and flipping them to dry on both sides. Her wounds looked slightly better, but the feverish redness was still there. She drank a few heavy gulps of water, and sat back against the wall. She was looking at him, trying not to make it obvious. She was looking at the mask again, curiosity in her eyes. He could tell she wanted to ask, though he wished she wouldn't. It was a reminder, always, that he'd lived in hell, had suffered dearly, for a girl who loved him as an "old friend". That term dug into him deeply, right down to his rotted soul. Was that all he was, after everything they'd endured together? He sighed, again, louder then he'd meant, and it caught her attention. Yet she did not speak. He was grateful for the silence, yet talking made him less on edge. Trivial things amused him that way. Yet as he tried to think of something to say, he noticed something strange as the girl stretched her arms over her head. It sent a chill down his spine as he realized what it was. How had he not noticed it before?
He lunged to his feet, and the fear and dread in her eyes as he approached cut into him. He stopped, and slowly crouched down to her level as she clutched the blanket around herself. But now he saw something else too. She was not just afraid of him, but she was also ready to fight him with everything she had. That would explain the restraint marks on her ankles and wrists, and around her mouth where they must've tied a rag to keep her quiet. But that did not concern him so much as the mark he'd seen on her arm.
"I promise you, that is the last thing on my mind. I'd like to look at that wound on your arm though." He said gently, holding a hand out to her.
It took a few long moments, where her eyes darted from his face to his outstretched hand. Then, shaking slightly, she moved towards him, placing her wrist in his hand. He carefully turned her arm over, and cursed slightly. It was a nasty puncture wound, and was already swollen with puss.
"How'd you get this?" He asked.
Before she could answer he had taken out his knife and cut through the swollen skin. She groaned and looked away, but did not pull away from him. He carefully made a few more cuts, and put pressure around it until it was thoroughly drained. He grabbed his canteen and poured water over it carefully. This would kill her much sooner if it was not tended to.
"They had nailed the windows shut. I was trying to open it when they caught me, so I just broke it and jumped, but one of the loose nails caught me." She explained quietly, pain clear in her voice.
He went over and checked each bandage, picking the most dry one. He carefully wrapped the wound, and tied it tightly.
"That's bad isn't it?" She asked him and he finished the knot.
"Quite. I wish you'd told me about that earlier." He responded.
She made a face, and he nearly laughed. It was like the face a dog made when it was being scolded. He paused, and then moved away from her, sitting back down in his own spot. This girl was making him soft, and he didn't like it at all. She seemed to notice his irritation, and spoke no more. She checked her clothing after a while, and deeming it dry, disappeared for a short while and came back clothed and bandaged. She then curled back up under the blanket, facing away from him, and soon was asleep.

"All he does is remind me of that hell he came from. Where you lived, where your mother died. I don't want to look at him anymore." A voice snarled.
Talia stood there quietly, listening to her father carry on. She bit her lip, a sign she wanted to speak but knew better. Bane watched from the shadows.
"He saved my life, father. Without him, things worse than you can imagine would have happened to me." She spoke quietly.
"Have I not repayed him greatly?!" He roared back at her. "I rescued him from that hole, gave him the mask, trained him. Is that not enough?!"
Talia stared at him, fighting the urge to scream back at him.
"He will leave willingly, or by force. Either way, he is excommunicated from the League of Shadows, from my house, and from you." Her father said sharply.
Bane watched her, waiting for her to respond. Anything... Yet she remained silent as he stormed away. She sighed, and then left herself. No remorse. No defense. Bane remained frozen for some time, before he got his things and left before they came to throw him out. He had that much dignity anyways. He never looked back, only felt the hollow hole in his chest where he imagined his heart would be. It was cold outside.

Reviews please!