An uncomfortable silence quickly fell inside the Aston. All daring seemed to had faded away the moment they pulled out of Wayne manor, now driver and passenger just sat side by side alone in eerie uncertainty.
The late morning sun was low in the sky and dazzling, Marie swapped her spectacles for a pair of bulbous sunglasses to keep out the glare. But while the eyes were hidden the sad brow remained unchanged.
Occasionally Bane switched his gaze from the traffic towards Marie to try and decipher what it was she was thinking. When she walked up to Wayne Manor to tell Bruce off Bane couldn't believe his luck, but after her outburst she became reserved and brooding, just staring out of the window watching the cars go by, the exhaust fumes bellowing off into the wind.
What going on in her head. Is she still thinking about Wayne.
Bane cleared his throat, "Am I taking you straight back to the hotel?"
"If you don't mind, please." Marie nodded. She opened her window a fraction to let the cold air in. The wind booming in his ears Bane noted that her cheeks were still red.
I must admit, it was quite the performance. She must have been holding that in for some time, and that phone call was the straw that broke the camel's back. If only Wayne had been above ground to hear it.
Bane could faintly feel the envelope with his ticket tucked in his coat pocket against his chest, but with all his focus on finding Ra's and Dr Cooper the idea of attending seemed increasingly problematic. Now he thought about it he actually wanted to go and watch her perform, if nothing else he was curious to see how she makes a living telling jokes, so he reasoned.
A cough breaks the silence, "Gotta say I wasn't expecting to see you before the show."
"Yes, I could say the same of you. I trust you are ready for tonight?"
She nodded enthusiastically, "Oh yeah. I should hope so, I've been waiting for this for long enough."
"I'm looking forward to it," Bane admitted, "Although I am sorry to hear you may have lost a patron."
Marie's lip curled in veiled disgust but she shrugged it off. "I'm not crying. Nah, something tells me he'll come. And I'll rip the piss out of him properly, don't you worry about that."
Public humiliation, how diabolical. I can hardly wait.
"Its only fair. For as long as I've known him he's always been a very arrogant little fool in public."
"Yeah well I've been rather foolish myself," she sighed, "Listen its nice you offered to drive me and all, but I'm still pretty raw and I'd rather not talk about him, okay."
Bane nodded and focused on the road, as they were just turning off into the New Gotham District.
Marie switched on the radio for some background noise, flicking through the stations then settling on Jack Ryder's summary of the news. Mostly celebrity gossip, sports, traffic update and the weather. He even mentioned the fire at the abattoir, though luckily for Bane the details where left out. Then it turned to some catchy pop music which Marie turned off immediately.
"Bugger." She rubbed her temple, "Hate that song with a passion."
She then grabbed her handbag, pulled out her phone and started typing.
"Who are you texting?" Bane inquired.
"My manager. She been driving me up the wall all morning." Marie then dropped her phone back in the bag.
As Bane turned the wheel into Main Street the stitches in his arm pinched the tender skin, grimacing he switched to steering with his other hand.
At last the car finally pulled up to the steps of the Royal Hotel and Bane switched off the engine.
"We're here."
Unfastening her seat belt Marie turned giving Bane a grateful and sincere smile. "Thanks for the lift, love."
"De nada, I suppose you'll be getting back to work now."
Marie slumped back, "Um nah. You know what, I think I'm just gonna have some lunch and lounge around a bit. Maybe finish reading my book."
"The Art of War?"
"Ha. No but good memory."
"I listen." Bane lightly tapped the stirring wheel, he decided to test the waters, "I have an errand to take care of, but if you wanted I could come back and we could lounge together."
Marie's smile vanished. "You don't miss a beat, do you?"
She opened her door and slipped out, leering down over her sunglasses at Bane; who didn't know what to do.
"I just break it off with the most eligible bachelor... the prince of Gotham and you think that you can just slide in like some smooth criminal, what the hell's wrong with you?"
Bane was speechless. Had he been too forward, too brash, what could he say now if she rejected him as well?
Then Marie started giggling, her teeth and eyes practically sparkled.
"Oh the look on your face." She laughed, removing her sunglasses. "I'm just fucking with you. But with all seriousness though, I'd like that."
"Really?" Bane was still bewildered, she nodded reassuringly, then he relaxed enough to let out a breath and start the car.
"Well first I have to see a friend at the hospital, but I will be back within an hour."
"That works for me." Marie stepped back, "Hurry back."
Bane pulled away. In the rear view mirror he saw Marie stood on the path waving him off.
Strange woman. Poco Loco.
15 minutes later Bane was looking across the street at Gotham General Hospital, he parked around the block then made his way to the front door. They slide apart automatically, inside Bane was met with a bustle of activity, nurses in blue uniforms tended to people around the waiting area, doctors rushed in and out the doors staring at their clipboards, a cleaner was mopping the floors with citrus scented disinfectant.
Bruce mentioned that there would be police on guard in the hospital, so Bane would look out for them and hopefully they would lead him to Cooper. He slipped casually pass the front desk, through the doors, then down the corridor to the staircase. Beside it was a list of floors and directions to the different wards. His first stop would be Intensive Care.
On the way down he passed an abandoned trolley with a vase of fresh tulips, and absent-mindedly took them before carrying on.
These should make me look less conspicuous. Just an ordinary man bringing a gift to a friend in pain.
It was just his luck that when passing the canteen Bane glimpsed inside and spotted a uniformed officer buying a coffee.
Bueno. I'm on the right trail.
He waited for the man to come out then followed behind from a safe distance straight into the Intensive Care ward, once inside he saw more officers in a group standing outside one of the rooms.
He must be in there.
Bane knew he would not get pass them without alerting the staff, so a direct attack was out of the question, but he was cunning. He turned back and went down the stairs. After he was done he decided to take the elevator back up to avoid the police. He got to the floor and the hallway outside was deserted.
A little fire in the Radiotherapy room should keep them occupied for a minute.
While they were distracted Bane walked in and closed the door, locking out the screeching fire alarm downstairs.
It was quiet, the blinds were drawn. The heart monitor recorded a soft rhythm of steady beats. In his cot Cooper slept almost death like. His bloody apron and latex gloves had been replaced with a thin blue gown and IV drip. His whole body was covered in bandages, all around his torso and brow, his arms were completely wrapped and one was in a full plaster cast, he looked nearly mummified. His unplastered hand was handcuffed to the bed so he wouldn't be leaving.
Bane silently knelt beside the bed. He was so close, he could kill him right there and no one could stop him. But not today, he needed him alive, for now.
He gently turned Cooper to the side, his bony back was also wrapped, slowly Bane peeled back the bandages, then fished out a small round device from his pocket and ever so carefully pushed it inside then closed the dressings back up again.
Now wherever you go, I will know where to find you.
The shadows through the blinds caught his attention. It was time he left. Through the corridors, down the stairs, pass the fire, he went completely unnoticed by the panicked staff.
He stepped out into the morning light and climbed back into the Aston.
Less than an hour since he set off Bane entered the foyer of the Royal Hotel.
With no sign of Marie, he was early, Bane took a seat in the lounge to wait. With time on his hand Bane started to take in the smaller details of his surroundings, the hotel was much more elegant from the inside. Dark green carpets with floral embellishments, polish marble pillars. Red wood and gold plated trimming around the front desk. Heavy influences from the nouveau and art Deco themes that were popular during the beginning of the last century. Though these things held no interest to Bane, it was Marie he was waiting for.
Bane had had a productive morning and was feeling very pleased with himself, now if Cooper went wondering off Bane could follow him right to the Demon and his Pit, Batman had no idea of his plans and to top it off Wayne's self righteous act of sabotage had push Marie closer to him without him knowing. He just needed to see her again before Wayne called him back to the mansion. He may not get to the show that night, so he should take the opportunity while he could.
The elevator opened and there she was. Fresh faced and smiling.
"Hello stranger."
She approach, Bane stood and extended his hand, "For you."
Marie was pleasantly surprised by Bane's gift. To see her smile and know it was because of him brought Bane immense pride.
"Oh wow, these are lovely, thank you. I wasn't expecting this."
"I just happen to see them, and I thought you'd like them."
"so what shall we do now?"
"Are you still hungry?"
"I'm famished."
"Let's go." Bane offered up his arm and together they stepped out into the city.
This has been a good day.