Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, which are based on Christopher Nolan's TDKR.
Author's note: We are still on the tenderness train for this entry. This is a short drabble following a request about a more fatherly relationship (which certainly plays in their relationship in my headcanon) where Bane is proud of Talia's skills as she becomes a Wayne Board member sooner than expected.
X. Making You Proud
They had taken over the mining operations in Northern Tunisia but hadn't secured the site yet. They had subdued the local General who controlled it, but others had their eye on the reach mines and Bane and his Brothers had found themselves in armed conflict with various militia groups for almost a week. In truth, they could have squashed the attacks easily, but the disturbance allowed Bane to siphon more money from John Daggett, a wealthy and greedy construction mogul based in Gotham. The money was then transferred to an offshore account accessible by Talia. Unbeknownst to Daggett, he was financing the rise of Miranda Tate, shrewd businesswoman and activist.
Bane was in a tent, observing a map of the area to determine where he would position sentinels when Barsad came in, presumably to see where to send the men. His leader showed him the red pins on the map. Barsad nodded but lingered a while before leaving. The masked-man turned looked directly at him.
"I've had news from Gotham; Miranda Tate was elected to the Wayne Enterprises board," he said with a smile. So soon, Bane thought, happily surprised. He shut his eyes as acknowledgment and turned his back to his right-hand man, who left immediately. When he was sure he was alone, he let himself smile broadly. Only his eyes would reveal it, but he wanted this joy to be private. He was so proud of his Talia. She had done it; she had successfully transformed into Miranda Tate and had wormed her way into Bruce Wayne's company almost a year before the plan. She had always been strong-willed, smart and determined, even when she was a child. After all, she did what no other man had ever done – she had escaped the Pit. She was born with nothing except suffering, yet she overachieved everything, ever since he took her under his care. He remembered telling her about the outside world and how she listened to every word, and wouldn't forget any details. He recalled showing her how to make a fire, how to ration food, how to repair clothes with twigs and straw... and she learned it all so easily.
After their reunion, and during their time the League of Shadows, he had seen her blossom. He remembered, when they finally had access to books, how applied she was when he helped her study. Her skills in languages were as good as his and her acting abilities were unparalleled. Her father, the Head of the League, didn't show his pride in her. Ra's al Ghul was never able to appreciate her potential. There was never any doubt in Bane's mind that she would succeed, but he was no less proud of his little Talia and was simply astounded at how she continued to surpass even his highest expectations.
Miranda had celebrated her appointment to the Wayne board with the Wayne Enterprises CEO and other board members, including John Daggett (who promptly tried to pick her up, unsuccessfully). She had stayed for a few cocktails, hoping to see Bruce Wayne but, as was the norm these days, he did not attend.
She had won over Lucius Fox with her passionate plea for environmental technology and he had backed her up as a new voting member. After months of work, she had been able to convince Gotham's business elite that she was a successful European entrepreneur, educated at Oxford (where she had never been), who had come to America to increase her company's stake in green energy. She read everything she could about the market, studied the curriculum of business degrees and she knew more than some around the board table. No one doubted for a moment that she was who she pretended to be. She had gone back alone to her apartment after the party and had gone to bed quite satisfied with herself.
The phone woke her up at around 4:00 am. "Yes," Miranda answered, still drowsy.
At first she only heard static. "Hello?" she repeated. Finally, she heard a hiss and the metallic sound of his breathing. Talia took the receiver with both hands and pressed it closer to her ear so she could listen to him taking in air.
"You called," she stated simply.
"Yes. Congratulations are in order," he answered – his voice amplified by his breathing device.
"Yes, Miranda succeeded," she replied with glee.
"Talia succeeded... as she always does," he contradicted her.
She bit her lower lip and felt a knot in her throat. She sat on her bed and looked at Gotham through her bedroom window, wishing she could be under the African sun with him.
"You make your father proud, child," Bane told her.
"Which father do you speak of?"
"Ra's, of course."
"He's not the father I think of first when I accomplish something, because he's not the father who always believed in me, even when I was nothing. He's not the father who raised me up."
She heard him swallow on the other side of the line and her own voice was shaky with emotions.
"Are you proud of me?" she asked, her eyebrows arching high when she nervously formulated the question.
"Always," he immediately answered.