Chapter 9. I'm still Here

"And what, do you think you'd ever say? I won't listen anyway. You don't know me and I'll never be what you want me to be".
-The Goo Goo Dolls, "I'm Still Here"

No one had ever really had faith in him before. Even as a human, Bernard was called all the things Talia referred to him as when they visited the League. But now he wasn't sure what she thought of him. He felt worthless as a human and for the longest time as a wolf too. But now, his victory over the werebear changed his perspective.

As a human, Bernard Newton had been the younger son of a prominent Gotham City banker. Growing up, he wanted for nothing and as a result he was quite spoiled. When his father died, Bernard and his older brother Howard split the fortune their father left them with, but Howard got their father's business. Feeling angered and cheated, Bernard began his downward spiral.

He began a life full of drinking and gambling. He lost his small fortune and was considered a scoundrel by the people of Gotham. He was also poor at paying off his gambling debts and that was what all led up to this…

One night when returning home to his apartment, he was targeted and attacked by a group of thugs he owed money to. Bernard was dragged into a nearby street and beaten nearly to death. It was in this state, his being a broken and bloody heap, that Bane, Barsad, and Reanna found him. Barsad asked Bane to mark him, believing the boy deserved a second chance. Bane was hesitant, but fulfilled his Beta's request. When Bernard woke again, Bane explained what exactly had happened and Bernard simply accepted his newly made lycanthropy.

But his adjustment into this new life wasn't easy…

Bernard was a difficult case. Bane failed to keep him in the tunnels on his first full moon. With Barsad's help, he was able to get the youngster to hunt and kill a thief. When Bernard shifted back to his human form, he vowed never again to eat humans. As for the group that left him for dead, Bernard got his revenge on them by seriously injuring each member. But he never killed or ate them. Bane had been proud of him for that, for surely it was a sign of improvement.

Talia wasn't as easy to impress. She blamed him, and for a short time, Reanna for Barsad's death. But she understood Reanna was only a child, so she turned her anger primarily to Bernard, especially when, with his last breath, Barsad named him his successor and was therefore the new Beta. But now Talia had a reason to shut up. He beat a nearly full grown werebear and was still alive to tell about it!

Hey. Speak of the devil, it was Callie! What'd she want?
Oh, well this is a surprise. Didn't know we had a mental link.
As long as you've met another lycanthrope, you have a link to them.
What do you want?
Just to chat.

Ah…nothing like a conversation between rivals that were now becoming allies. Interested now, he replied.

About?
Just the other day. How'd you know I wouldn't be able to get you off my back?
To be honest, I actually didn't know. Bernard confessed, I was actually just trying to wear you out.
I see…
Yeah, ever heard the phrase don't let a bear chase you down a hill?

She caught on faster than he thought she would.

Shut up…
Sorry, I couldn't resist. Man if it had been a hill though…you would've been so screwed. Hey why does that happen anyway?
Why do we go rolling?
Yeah or as I like to call it snow balling.
It's our weight. Not saying I'm fat or anything…but it's because we're so focused on the chase that we forget that going downhill will send us rolling.
I'll tell you what though, you scared the crap out of me back there. I mean seriously, are they all lycanthropes in the League?
Yep. All of the most important members are anyway. The two you met up front, they're also lycans.
What kind?
Well King, the shorter one, he's a wereleopard. The taller one, Raiden, he's a wererat.
Damn! Tekken reference?
Bernard heard her laugh. His real name's Demetrius, but yes, King did take the name from the Tekken game.
Ah, knew it. So…I don't get it. If he's got all kinds of lycans working for him, how does he control them?
I would tell you, but it's a major secret.
We're gonna be allies, Callie. You can tell me.
I can't, Bernard. I'm sorry.
Just tell me one thing. Not everything, but just one thing.
Fine…it's called the Giru.
A Giru?
You said one thing, I'll not say anything else. I'm shocked you don't know what it is and you being a werewolf.
Bane might know.
But Bane's not there is he?
Callie, please…Just trust me. What is a Giru?
It's the thing that Ra's uses to control us. I will say nothing else, so don't ask. I've already said too much.
But Callie-

The connection cut. Bernard cursed and let out a soft growl. Who or what was a Giru? How did it control the new League? None of it made any sense. Bernard could only hope Bane knew. With a little whine, he left his room to go find Talia, as he knew she'd be interested to know all of this…

A/N: Dudes, I'm a little mad at myself. I keep using songs from the same artist over and over again. It's so irritating! Probably gonna look at more music tonight. But anyway, sorry about the short chapter. I wanted to give you guys a look at this character so you kinda know where he comes from and why he is like he is. I'll see you guys next chapter, don't forget to review!