CHAPTER X
White Knight was clearly livid. His eyes were wide and his teeth were bared. He turned his attention away from Robin and I and lowered his gun, saying angrily, "This isn't your place! You're supposed to be handling..." He stopped and looked at us, catching himself before he revealed their plan. He finished, "Your side of the deal!" Bane huffed, saying disdainfully, "White Knight, you simply don't understand. I have my own army. And I am a leader. And leaders don't sit back and let his soldiers handle it all. He goes out onto the battlefield to increase morale and offer his fighting spirit." White Knight gestured towards himself with his gun, shouting, "BUT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MINE! MY JOB!" Bane chuckled and said, "You sound like a child now, White Knight!" White Knight's face flushed, and he finally burst, "YOU #$% ING INSOLENT *%#!" Bane simply raised an eyebrow underneath his mask in response. For a few seconds, it was just the disciples with their guns trained on Robin and I with Bane and a heavily breathing White Knight on either side of them. It was all quiet.
The silence was unceremoniously broken by the sudden laughter of Robin, which was amplified by the acoustics in the bank. He kept laughing, doubling over. White Knight and Bane both quickly looked his way. White Knight said, "WHAT?!" Amid waves of mirthful laughter, Robin said, "One minute. Just give me a…" This was interrupted by even more laughter, and it was several more seconds before he recovered. White Knight had calmed down considerably since Robin had started, and it seemed all of the people in the lobby, the hostages and myself included, were waiting for Robin to state what had caused his laughing episode. There were even a couple of disciples checking their watches. Robin ended, and he said, "Now that…that is exactly how I imagine internet fights…in a bizarre way." One disciple stirred and said, "Wait, we're all prepared to shoot you in the face, and that's what you focus on." Robin nodded, crossing his arms as if he were right in his comfort zone. I was surprised as well, but Bane laughed and said, "What a remarkable young man. It's a shame he'll have to be taken care of." "That's not for you or me to decide, and you know it," said White Knight softly. Bane shrugged and said, "Whatever you say." White Knight was still aggravated.
Bane turned again to Robin and I, and he said, "As for you, the 'side of the deal' White Knight mentioned won't be foolishly revealed. We're more careful than that." "I figured," I said flatly. I added quietly, "Get behind me, Robin." He looked at me indignantly, saying, "What? Come on, I can handle thi…" "No, you can't!" I said, "This is worse than anything you've been up against. I told you to stay back when I said so, and you agreed. Now I'm saying to stay back!" Robin began, "But…" He lowered his head, and as he passed behind me, he gently squeezed my arm, as if to say, don't leave me behind. I gave him a look that said, I won't; not ever. I looked toward Bane and assumed a defensive stance. Bane simply clasped his hands behind his back, surveying me. "Stay out of my way, White Knight," he said, "I mean it." White Knight was about to protest when he got a call. He answered it. The side of the conversation we heard was, "What?...Yeah, we're experiencing conflict, but only because your Mexican friend here apparently doesn't like following…" He paused for a long time, and eventually looked down at the floor, continuing, "Alright…fine…fine, I'll let him." Seemingly begrudged, he hung up, and, turning away, he said, "All right, Bane, today's your lucky day. You get Batman. The disciples and I got what we came for, anyway." At that moment, several vans pulled up in front of the bank.
They opened up to reveal many more disciples, who were carrying several duffel bags, presumably full of cash. They had hit a different bank than the one we were in. As the rest of the disciples and White Knight piled in, White Knight turned to me and said, "Have fun." They sped off, leaving me with Bane. He closed the doors of the bank, locking them and wrenching the locks. He scanned the room, looking at each of the hostages in turn. He said, "All of you! I would retreat if I were you. This could get messy." "I'll drop you cold before it ever comes to that," I said. "Could you really?" said Bane. He turned to a stone pillar and grabbed it, yanking out a large chunk of solid marble. He wound up like a pitcher and tossed the rock at me like it was a baseball. I dove out of the way as the rock whizzed over my head, striking the counter behind me and embedding itself. If it had hit me, then I'm sure my head would at least get crushed. "Do you see how different we are now, Batman?" said Bane. "Differences can be advantages," I said. "In that case," said Bane, "the advantage is all MINE!" At that moment, he charged me.
I successfully jumped just before he hit me, vaulting over him using his back. He quickly stopped. I rapidly looked around the room to find Robin. I saw him behind the counter. He was safer than if he was with me, at least. Bane laughed loudly, and the sound echoed around the spacious lobby for several seconds. Eventually, he turned back around towards me and said, "I see now! This is a toro lucha, a bull fight, with you as the ornately clad, graceful matador, and I," he pounded his chest, "as the mighty bull you must stay!" I shrugged, still in my defensive position, saying, "Not quite what I was thinking, but whatever." Laughing yet again, Bane said, "Ah, I see you, as you Americans say, 'go with the flow'! An admirable quality! Any warrior who can quickly adjust on the battlefield to any scenario is one worthy of respect of the highest order. That is, of course, if he survives in the end. Otherwise he was an inexperienced fool. Let us both see which you are." He ran towards me with his fist raised high. I dodged it, ducking and delivering a quick punch to his kidneys. I cringed on impact. The muscles in his sides were so well-built and tightly packed that I might as well have been punching a brick wall.
We both turned after we reached opposite sides of the lobby, facing each other. "You know what?" I said, "I think this is more like jousting." I was pretending that my hand didn't hurt. But apparently my face or something else showed Bane otherwise. "You see?" said Bane proudly, "The very muscles of my body are enough to stay your hand!" "I don't just have hands," I said, pulling two very special gadgets out of my belt. They were two specially-built batarangs. I threw them both, and when they were within a foot of hitting his chest, Bane caught them both. I ran towards him simultaneously. "Is this really all you have to offer?" asked Bane mockingly, "Really, I expected more." "Did you take high school science?" I asked. "Yes," said Bane, puzzled. "Well, then you'll remember that metal is an excellent conductor," I said. At the moment those words exited my lips, the batarangs crackled to life in Bane's armored hands. The metal gauntlets he wore didn't help him. Too late he realized what I meant. The electric current produced by the batarangs was enough to bring Bane to his knees, where I was able to deliver a blow to his face. This time, his head went to the side with the force of the punch. I knew I couldn't stay close to him for too long, however. So I had to get away as fast as possible. As Bane was recovering, I jumped well out of his way.
Groaning, Bane slowly rose to his feet, rubbing the side of his face. He growled, saying, "I see you're not one to jest with! I believed this would be like swatting a fly. Apparently not. It would seem it will take more of my strength." My eyes widened at the realization that he'd only been toying with me. He swung his arms wide and swiftly brought his hands together, producing a thunderous sound. I grit my teeth, knowing I might not make it out here. I was so focused on taking down Bane at this point that I didn't know whether or not Robin was still there. He was still behind the counter, a detail I wasn't aware of. Bane stomped in front of himself, cracking the floor. I was nervous. I tried to hide it, and I guess I did it well, because Bane said, "So, not intimidated? Impressive. Most would quake at the sight of my power. But you are a warrior indeed. This will be even more fun than I thought." "We'll see," I said. Bane said no more, but instead strode towards me, seemingly unready for combat. I stayed where I was. Bane, walking towards me, said, "I think now, with all of our stops pulled, this will be the finale." I didn't respond. I was honestly more scared than ever as Bane approached me. I felt like death was hovering over me.
Bane was four feet from me now, and I took in for the first time in full his size. He was only about half a foot taller than me, but he was built like an ironclad. He had a regal air about him that seemed to be a veil behind which lied savagery and malice. Finally, he was right in front of me. Quickly, almost before I could jump out of the way, he threw a punch towards the ground. Fortunately, however, I did get out of the way, and Bane once again cracked the ground. His fist was momentarily stuck in the small crater he'd made. But all he had to do was extend his fingers. The stone gave way like snow with the force. He shook out his hand, saying, "Now, that actually stung a bit." Now I was terrified. I couldn't see a way out. Bane ran towards me, kicking forwards. I barely had time to move, and even then he struck my hand with his foot. I could feel it break. I yelled in pain. I was momentarily incapacitated, and Bane used the opportunity to take another swing at me. I tried to move, but his fist clipped my nose. That broke too, and blood flowed freely. I groaned this time, trying to stay alert.
Bane said, "Ah, the matador weakens. This is almost boring." I retreated to the opposite side of the room, trying to buy myself time. I ran underneath a balcony, firing a grappling hook, which caught the railing and pulled me up. I sat down hard behind the railing, looking over my shoulder at Bane below me. He simply stood there, staring up at me. "Take your time!" shouted Bane up to me, "I'm not in a rush! Come down when you want! I'll be waiting." I decided now was the time to push my luck. It was foolish. I see that now. The decision I made changed my life. I took two explosive batarangs from my belt, holding them both in one hand. I breathed deeply, thinking twice about what I was about to do. And I still went forward with it. I stood up, throwing one batarang at a pillar on Bane's left side and the other at the pillar to his right. Just as they were about to explode, I fired another grappling hook, which stuck in the ceiling and allowed me to swing down towards Bane. I planned to kick him in the face, hoping the shrapnel from the pillars would be enough to distract him.
I swung down, and I glanced over at the last second, seeing Robin, who was looking out from behind the counter. I realized the consequences this might yield in a matter of half a second, and then the batarangs detonated. I tried to kick Bane, but he grabbed my leg. He swung me towards a pillar. My eyes widened. My back struck the pillar. I felt terrible pain as I heard Robin yell in anguish. I landed hard on the ground. And darkness swallowed my vision.