Adair returned to the building where Bane was staying. She silently walked to his room, knocked once and waited. She heard rustling, and Bane grumbling. He must have been asleep.

"What is it?" he called out. He sounds annoyed.

"It's me," she said.

"Come in, then." He grumbled. She opened the door carefully, and stepped in. Bane is lying on the bed; he is staring at the celling. She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wood, watching him. He glanced at her, and then nods to the chair beside the bed. She goes to it, and sits with her knees up drawn up.

"What's bothering you?" he asked.

She opened her mouth, about to tell him about John Blake, but then decides against it. "Nothing, important." She says instead. He is lying on his back, not looking at her. He was tired… but there was another reason he didn't want to face her. He felt she was… distant. She usually spent the majority of her time with him, but this past week she has been disappearing, and not telling him where she went. She has barely touched him at all, and sometimes when she sees him, she just freezes and stares at him. He also sees the way she reacts to the Kangaroo court, how she can't watch when people are exiled or killed. She is weakening.

The window was open, even though it was freezing out. Bane was always warm, he was never cold. Most likely because he has his huge muscles to keep him warm. But everyone else is cold, including her. She shivers, and Bane lets out a small chuckle.

"Are you cold?"

"Mhm."

He sighs, and then makes room on the bed for one more person. He gestures for her to come over, and she stared at him at first, but she crawled in beside him, relishing the immediate warmth that comes with being next to Bane. She sighed, and fell asleep almost immediately. Her chest rose and fell delicately. Bane began thinking about how easy he could kill her right now, just a simple punch to the chest and she would be gone. But then he realised how he didn't want to kill her… for once in his life, he didn't want to kill. He's losing his touch, he decided with a shake of his head and then he rolled over and closed his eyes. But instead of falling asleep as he would have liked, there was loud banging at the door. His eyes shot open and he jumped out of bed, and stocked to the door. Being woken up at twice in the middle of the night is bloody aggravating. And whoever woke him up now has hell to pay. He reached the door and yanked the door open, only to see two of his soldiers. They jumped back, scared by Bane's sudden appearance. He stepped out and half closed the door, hiding the bed from view.

"What do you want?" he asked angrily. The soldiers quickly came forward, composing themselves.

"Sir, it's about your… uh… the girl, Adair. She was spotted talking with John Blake. She told him secrets. She must go to court!" the soldier yelled.

Bane is fast in his movements, snake like. His fist connected with the man's nose, and he heard a crunch. The man fell to the ground, and scrambled away. The other man was frozen in his spot, beyond frightened of the man standing before him.

"Who witnessed this?" Bane asked the terrified man.

"Ugh… I did." He whispered in response and then huddled, prematurely shielding himself from a blow that would never come. Bane was furious… a traitor. She's a traitor.

"How many people know?" Bane asked.

"A lot… they are waiting for her at the court," the man mumbled.

"Leave. I will bring her," Bane hissed and then shoved the man. He turned and kicked the door open, and then slammed it. Adair awoke with a start, and she sat up quickly, staring at Bane with wide eyes, like a deer in the headlights.

"Bane?" she asked quietly. But he just stood there, trembling with anger. Suddenly he lurched forward, and she scrambled away, desperately trying to get off the bed. He grabbed her leg, and she tried to kick his hand, but he yanked her so that she fell off the bed, and he dropped to his knees and pinned her to the ground.

"How could you?" he roared in her ear.

"What the hell are you talking about!?" she screamed and struggled under his gasp. Her ear hurt, as Bane's deep voice rumbled like thunder in her ear.

"You talked to him, you gave him information!" He said. Mercifully, his voice lowered but now it was almost scarier than when he was yelling.

"I did not tell him anything! I swear to you! He came to me but I told him nothing!" she cried. Bane glared at her, and then slowly stood and backed away from her. She crawled backwards, still scared of him.

"They want you down at the court. You have to go… if not, they will kill you anyway." He said. He was staring at the ground, avoiding the frightened girl's stare.

"What? Bane, please-"

"I'm sorry. You talked to Blake… I can't protect you now."

Bane grabbed her before she could react. He dragged her out of the room, she was kicking and screaming. Bane felt every cry like a sharp knife in his heart… but they demanded her. How could he refuse? He couldn't… but he does not want to lose her… can he sit by and watch while she dies a horrific death? No… no he could never do that. But he may not have a choice. And because she has been disappearing, she could be talking to Blake the whole time. She could be sleeping with him… he doesn't know.

He dragged her to the Kangaroo court, where the Scarecrow was waiting. He was not completely sane. As Bane entered with the screaming girl, he smiled broadly. The other men gathered and chanted, chanted "death, death!" Even though it was still very late at night.

Bane reached the middle of the floor, and let Adair drop from his grasp. He then retreated back to his chair, hidden in the shadows. He sat down… and in ten minutes, her fate was decided. Death.

His throat tightened and his eyes began roaming the room, searching for something to distract him… but instead his eyes landed on Adair. She glared at him, her eyes angry and unforgiving, but at the same time, sad and scared.

In one minute, Bane decided he would save Adair. She would not die today. She will not die any day as long as he lives. He doesn't know what she has been doing, but Adair has had ample opportunity to run away, to leave him and never return. But she hasn't. Even if she was weakening, she would never betray him. She would run, yes, but never betray him.

But, before he could get to her, Scarecrow had walked down to Adair, and then sprayed something in her face. She screamed and fell over. Bane rose and walked over to them, grabbing Scarecrow and dragging him away from Adair.

"What did you do?"

"Oh, I was working on a new toxin! It's quite brilliant, and I think it will kill in less than ten minutes! I am still testing it, but I thought she would be the perfect test subject-"

But he was caught off by Bane making him walk out of the large room. He made it seem normal, like he just needed to talk to Scarecrow. But once they were out, Bane threw him to the ground and pinned him under his boot.

"Antidote. Now," Bane hissed.

"What? No, I won't-"

Bane pressed harder on his neck and Scarecrow coughed and sputtered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a needle, holding it up for Bane. Bane grabbed it, and then gave Scarecrow a final kick in the neck. He slipped the needle into his pocket, and then clutched the lapels of his jacket and strode back into the huge ballroom. Most of the men had wandered off, but others were surrounding Adair. She was screaming and kicking at the men… she must be losing her mind. Bane shoved his way through, and then grabbed Adair by the hair and began dragging her away. It hurt him to pull her so harshly, but he had to. The men had to believe he was going to kill her.

He dragged her out of the room, and then he swooped down and picked her up. He carried her quickly to a deserted room. He laid Adair on the ground, and then plunged the needle in her arm. He pulled it out when it was empty, and he waited. Adair stopped screaming and convulsing, and was instead completely still. Her eyes were closed, and Bane checked to see if she had a pulse… and she didn't. Anger boiled up in him, and suddenly he plunged his fist down on her chest.

"Wake up! Please…" he said. He lowered his head and his hands dropped to his knees. Sadness washed over him like a wave over sand. She's dead. How could he have allowed that?

He stood, making his way to the door when suddenly he heard moaning. He turned around immediately, and he saw Adair turn, and then her eyes opened. He walked over to her, his own eyes wide open in surprise.

"What happened?" she asked. Her voice was quiet and weak.

"You were dead, my dear. I think I saved you." He said, and walked over to her, reaching down to help her up. She took his hand, and he carefully pulled her up.

"Listen to me. They think you're dead, and they want you dead. You need to hide… you need to… to leave." Bane said. He didn't want to admit this, but now he knew there was nothing else he could do.

"Leave? No, I won't-"

"Please. For me. Find someone… hide. Disappear." He said softly. Adair let a single tear slide out of her eye and then she nodded. She grabbed him, and kissed him. The metal reopened the cut on her lip, but she didn't care. She pulled away, letting her forehead rest on his mask. Bane leaned down, closing his eyes and letting his mask rest on her head.

He heard people walk past the door, and he pushed Adair away and towards the window. She went to the windowsill and ducked out, looking back at Bane, swallowing tears. Bane nodded, and then looked at the floor, hiding his emotion, as he always does. He heard the swish of air as she disappeared into the cold night air.

"Goodbye… my love."

Hello :) So, I am leaving for a week so I am trying to finish up or at least have the majority of it done :P I am also seeing Batman again tomorrow, so I may have new inspiration! Anyway, please leave a review!