Bane stood in the middle of the street, looking around him. His chest felt like there was a gaping hole in it, something was missing, a hole that he filled with anger. He wouldn't let her have control over him, he couldn't, there was a plan and he had to stick to it. He inhaled deeply and slowly let it out, then looked towards the mercenaries standing around him. "Find her."

Sophia grabbed the over sized hoodie she found in one of the many lockers and pulled it over her head, then pulled her hair back into a tight bun, letting her bangs fall in front of her face. She then pulled the hood over her head and looked into a mirror. It wasn't the best disguise, but it would have to do.

She quietly opened the door she had kept locked for so long and peeked her head out, looking around before opening the door completely. She stepped out of the building, inhaling sharply at the fresh air that filled her lungs. She didn't like being indoors, she hated it. She carefully slid the door closed behind her, checking over her shoulder before walking away.

Sophia shoved her hands into the front pocket of the hoodie, keeping her head down. She passed a few people, but not a lot, they were in a rural part of Gotham, one not frequented by people often. She turned a corner and saw a group of men, surrounding a girl. One of them held her face, turning it left and right while examining a piece of paper in their hand.

"No man, it's not her." The one holding her face stated, releasing the girl. A man standing to the side with his arms crossed growled.

"We've been looking for days, how can one girl avoid so many?" He looked back down at the girl trembling on the ground before him. "No reason to let this pretty little girl go to waste, right?" He asked, a cruel smile forming on his face. The girl whimpered, trying to back away only to run into a wall. He man reached out, grabbing the girls forearm and pulling her towards him, wrapping his arms around her.

"What's wrong sweetie? We not good enough for you?" He asked, laughing loudly as he shoved the girl to the ground. Sophia walked forward her, head down and hands still in her pocket.

"Leave the girl alone." She said quietly, a threatening tone underlying in her voice. The men stopped and turned towards her.

"Look, another one." One of the men shouted. A few stepped forward, surrounding Sophia, but she didn't move, she wouldn't leave this girl to defend herself like she had to.

"I said leave her alone." Sophia said, not budging from her spot.

"And what are you going to do if I don't?" The leader stepped forward, standing in front of Sophia, he leaned in, his face inches from hers. "Why do you hide your face sweetie? You should let us see what you look like." His smile grew as he reached forward, moving to grab Sophia by the chin. She reacted quickly, her hand shooting out from the pocket of the hoodie and grabbing the man by the wrist, twisting his hand. Her other hand reached out and grabbed the man's forearm, twisting him further until her was facing away from Sophia, his face distorted in pain. Sophia was starting to feel thankful for studying the pressure points of the body when she was little. Her hands released the man as she brought her foot up and kicked the man forward, causing him to fall face first into the ground.

"Not so much fun when it's happening to you, is it?" Sophia asked, turning her head slightly to look at the men standing around her.

The leader stood, holding his nose as blood gushed out of it, she knew she had broken his nose the moment his face connected with the concrete.

"Don't just stand there! Get her!" He yelled, his voice nasally. Sophia smiled to herself, normal people weren't hard to beat, people like Bane were a bigger challenge. She remembered when she was little, her parents put her in a few karate classes because of where they lived, the shady part of Gotham. She went to enough lessons to learn a few things, but the lessons didn't continue very long, eventually, she stopped going.

Two men stepped forward, reaching out to grab Sophia's arms, she ducked, swinging one of her legs out knocking one of the men over, standing quickly, she brought the palm of her hand to connect with the nose of the other man. She watched him reach up to him nose, fall to the ground, then stop moving. She turned towards the other men who hesitated to come towards her. One stepped forward only to have his arm twisted behind him back and ultimately broken. After that, the remaining two fled, followed by their leader.

Sophia dusted her hands off on her jeans then turned to the girl who still sat on the ground, trembling in fear.

"Don't worry honey, I won't hurt you." The girl had to be out nineteen, still just a child in Sophia's opinion. The girl looked up, tears in her eyes.

"Thank you so much." She said, standing shakily.

"Get out of here, this is a bad place to be." Sophia said quietly, placing her hand on the girls shoulder. The girl nodded before she turned and ran, never looking back. Sophia sighed inwardly, she shouldn't have done that, it was stupid and dangerous. If she had been overwhelmed, they could have found out who she was, she could be back with Bane. She mentally slapped herself before continuing on her way.

Three men stood before Bane, ones face bloodied, told him everything that had happened. They were searching for the girl only to be attacked and driven off by some hooded vigilantly. Bane didn't have time for such foolish nonsense, but he guessed he needed to investigate it, he didn't need someone going around building hope for the people and helping them to take back their city. Bane turned towards four mercenaries that stood by and waved them over, indicating that they follow. "Take me to where you were attacked."

Sophia had gotten a few waters and some canned food from the store, still sneaking around avoiding whoever she could. She walked quickly back to the warehouse she now called home, setting the food items down and turning back to open the door. She swung it wide, not noticing the figures in the shadows until it was too late. The men jumped out, grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her back, forcing her to her knees. She looked up, the hood still hiding her face, and watched as the monster stepped forward slowly, taking his time.

"So you are the one who is attacking the citizens of Gotham? Punishing them for helping me?" Bane asked, stopping not far from Sophia and glaring down at her. She dared not look up, knowing her would recognize her if she did.

"Do you not know how to speak?" Bane asked, his boot coming a little closer to her, "maybe this will remind you how." Sophia felt the pain before she registered what happened. Bane's fist collided with her stomach, expelling whatever air was in her lungs. Sophia coughed, trying to gain her breath back.

"Do you expect to help the city? One mere man against a monster like me?" He asked, circling her as his men continued to hold her down. The man from earlier stepped forward, whispering into his ear.

Bane tilted his head to the side, grunting at whatever he heard. "I must apologize, I was misinformed, you are not a man, but a woman." Bane said, stepping forward so he was directly in front of her.

"I must congratulate you, it is not often that a woman of your size can take on four grown men on her own, killing one in the process." Bane squatted before her and Sophia dropped her head farther, continuing to hide her face. "But you must understand, I can't have someone going around inspiring the citizens of Gotham, that's just not possible. You must be punished for what you have done, my dear."

Bane reached forward, grabbing the hood and pulling it back, revealing the face of the young girl who knelt before him.