Two months had now passed. As Bane suspected, Danika did turn out to be a valuable asset. Through training she had become much more disciplined than she was originally. She trained almost every day for the first month, learning of the weapons, physical fighting, tactics and routes and plans she'd have to know. The last month she had become quite the good little solider. She held her ties with Barsard and newly formed with Darren, her partner for training most of the time. She had gained trust from the others. They enjoyed having Danika, they like her female presence and what she brought to the table. Her bursts of defiance had been toned down to a minimum, the usual taunts and playful remarks to the other men. But to the world, she was just like the rest of them.
This was the first night that Danika and Darren got to patrol in one of the vehicles the League had acquired from Wayne Enterprises. Every night teams of men would set out to the streets of Gotham, keeping an eye on things. There were previous rebel attacks planned and were squashed immediately. Danika and Darren walked up to the cameo tank, it was just nearly dark now. Danika was wearing Black cargo pants and her combat boots, along with a black turtle neck and leather jacket. She didn't wear her bullet proof vest too often; she felt it slowed her down if the time came for a fight. She didn't carry a gun on her as the other men did. She had her revolver on her at all times, one of the men were always with her so she knew they'd save her ass if need be. But Danika did well on her own, the sleeves of her leather jacket were cut and it allowed her to keep her sai's on her at all times and easily accessed. She did his to all her jackets, a trick of the trade.
She had kept her red Bandana on her at all times. One of the first nights she went out patrolling, one of the men gave her a red scarf that most of the men also wore. She wore that most of the time around her neck but she couldn't not have the red bandana on her. Bane had given that to her, and she found herself okay and realized she was fond of him . She knew it was so ridiculous, and never acted on it. Bane would never feel for another person. Danika also accepted that she was completely crazy to have any sort of feelings for the man. But she never let it get in the way, she had a job to do.
Darren stepped on top of the tumbler and held out a hand to help Danika climb in, as they did Danika got in the driver's seat. Darren just smiled and shook his head. "We're dead."
"Shut up, like you have a better idea of how to drive this thing than I do", Danika said as she started the engine.
They drove through the main streets as well as back streets for about 5 hours. They came across nothing unusual, everyone was too scared to try anything smart, and all the rebels had basically been killed off by now. There were rumors of Commissioner Gordon and a few old time cops banding together, but they hid out rather well.
Danika and Darren's conversation mostly consisted of Darren's past. Darren was 3 years her senior. He came from France, joined the League 3 years ago after working in a government desk job for the UN. His wife was killed during a hostage situation at the bank she worked at. Police fired at her by accident because they saw the robbers hand something to her, and assumed she was one of them. What they didn't know was that they handed her a grenade and pulled the pin out so when the police fired she released it, killing about 8 people. Darren lost all respect for the government and police forces. Then he found the League and joined.
Darren was very protective of Danika, she found it endearing. She sensed that he cared for her a little, but she knew it was only because she was the only girl in the League.
They found themselves talking about the new recruits from Black Gate.
"I think they're useless, and have no place being associated with The League", Danika stated.
"Well, they provide the sense of fear into the citizens so enough of them don't try something stupid.", Darren replied to her.
"Yeah well, I just think it's ridiculous, they're criminals, low life common criminals". Danika said ask she turned onto the main street back to City Hall, they were about to change shifts. It was nearly 11:00, which is when Darren and Danika were done for the day.
"Opposed to us who are shining examples of citizens, hmm", Darren said looking to Danika with a sarcastic smile.
"Well, at least we abide by our own code. Those men are brainless and know nothing of honor and dedication to a cause..", Danika stopped and observed the outside scene closely.
"Idiots." Danika said as she motioned Darren to look where she was. There were a group of teenagers with white spray paint tagging up the walls with a bat symbol and the words "Fight back". Darren and her exchanged a look as Danika stopped the tumbler half a block away from the scene. She opened the hatch and turned to Darren. "Just stay here. I'll deal with it" Danika said to Darren as she raised herself out of the vehicle and started walking toward the group. She stuck to the shadows of the walls to hide herself until she was right next to them.
There were 6 boys all looking to be about 17 or so. She laughed to herself. Foolish but admirable. 3 of the boys were spray painting the walls; the other 3 seemed to be standing guard, one to the left, one to the right, and one in the center. Obviously they didn't know enough to actually detect someone unless they were yelling, or running directly in the light.
When Danika turned the corner into the alley where the boys were at she heard them conversing.
"Come on man hurry up I thought I heard one of those tank things before".
"You're being paranoid, just a couple more minutes"
"Listen if one of those guards show up they're going to kill us in two seconds"
"There are no guards over here, we watched them drive by 30 minutes ago"
Danika stepped into sight. "Speak of the devil".
The boys all jumped and swarmed together. Typical. Danika thought to herself as she slowly walked to them. They all looked to her confused, she was just a woman. But still they were frightened.
"What exactly are you doing", Danika eyed each of them, checking to see if they had any weapons , she saw one boy fidgeting with his pockets.
"We're trying to show Gotham to fight back. That we do not have to be scared and if we all stood together"
"You'd all die together." Danika said as she addressed the boy, 3 of them had already starting shaking in their boots. The other three tried to stand their ground but she felt them all hang their heads a little lower with her comment.
"Listen you are all extremely lucky that I am the one to have found you." She said as she walked closer and stepped on a can of spray paint pushing it away with her boot.
"I am leaving you a warning, if you ever do any of this again, and I promise I will know, and I will find you, I line you all up at the top of City Hall's steps and cut each of your hands off, and let the men who escaped Black Gate kill you, and I promise my friends they do not have such the kindness to shoot you in the head and be done with it".
4 of the boys were fighting back tears, the one who was fidgeting had a hard look on his face, and the one still holding a can of spray paint dropped it.
"We just want to show Gotham that it just takes one person."
"Boy I witnessed the "One Person" go up against Bane and I watched him loose. Go home to your families before I send men to follow you all and take you and your families. Now", Danika raised her voice a bit. They all turned around and started walking away.
"You", Danika pointed to the fidgety boy. "Come here, now" The boy panicked and pulled out a gun and pointed it shaking to her. Danika simply raised her eyebrow and stepped closer to the boy.
"If you are going to aim a gun, aim it the right way." Danika grabbed the end of the gun and pressed it to her forehead. The boy continued to shake. Danika rolled her eyes and quickly kicked the boy in the shins sending him down as she twisted the gun out of his hand. He crept backwards quickly before he met the wall behind him.
"Please, please don't…" The boy said crying and panicking.
Danika knelt down to the boy and looked at him unimpressed and annoyed. "You dare pull out a gun on someone you better have the balls to fuckin use it" Danika sneered as she raised his gun to his head and met his eyes, he eyes full of fear and panic, hers were fierce and controlling. She moved the gun to the right of the boy and shot the wall. The boy screamed as he grabbed his ears, he was probably almost if not most deaf in at least his left ear.
Danika got up and walked back to the tumbler with his gun in her hand. Darren was standing out of it, she assumed he heard the gunshot and got out.
"You don't use guns", Darren said.
" Not my gun", Danika said as she held it out to Darren, he removed it from her and they both climbed into the tumbler and drove away.
"Why didn't you kill them" , Darren asked Danika.
"Their crimes weren't punishable by death." Danika said dryly.
They arrived to City Hall, Darren and Danika went their separate ways. The men nodded Danika as she walked by them. She nodded back. When she reached her door she stepped inside and made her way to Banes rooms through the common door they shared. It was just easier this way. Whenever she patrolled she returned either to Barsard or Bane to report the way things went.
She stepped inside the room and saw Bane talking to a brown haired woman who had her back to Danika. Danika stopped. Bane met her eyes.
"Apologies. I wasn't aware you were busy." Danika said as she turned her back to walk out of the room.
"Danika, wait, Someone I want you to meet." She heard Bane's voice fill her ears as her back was turned to him she closed her eyes for a moment hearing her name come out of his mouth. She turned around as the woman turned around.
"Miranda Tate?", Danika said confused. Did Bane take her hostage or something ? She wondered.
"Yes, Ms. Doe, you know me as Miranda Tate, but I am also known as Talia. Talia alGhul." The woman spoke as she stayed in front of Bane, and with that realization flooded Danika's mind.
Bitch. Danika spoke to herself. Danika shifted her eyes between Talia and Bane. She looked as Bane looked toward Talia. There was softness in his eyes she had never seen before. Anger started at Danika's feet and slowly crept up her body.
"So you're the double agent I've heard of. Nice to meet you", Danika said as she sarcastically nodded her head down to Talia. Talia remained smiling, something evil behind her smile although it came across as sincere. It was enough to make Danika's stomach churn inside.
"The pleasure is all mine", Talia said in an accent that Danika tried to place but she couldn't.
"I'm sure", Danika said without hesitation. She felt that maybe that wasn't the best thing to say, but whatever.
Talia smiled as she laughed a silent laugh to herself. "Bane has told me much of you, and your sharp tongue, he was right. It is nice to see a fellow woman in the League. We must stand together Danika we are the strongest of women. "
"Ms. Tate, oh excuse me Ms. Ghul let me stop you there, I graciously accept your compliment but I assure you there is no comparison between you and I. I have nowhere near the strength and beauty as you do, I could never do what you have done for The League, sneak and pry and claw your way into people's lives just to use them.", Danika stated. She all but felt Banes eyes switch to her as if to strike her dead where she stood. But she was not about to allow someone she had just met to patronize her in this way.
Talia nodded and said nothing further. Danika continued her stare into Bane's eyes. "Patrolling went fine. A few kids tagging the walls, but I scared them. We won't be seeing anymore bats on the sides of buildings, I'm sure. Permission to leave, Sir?" Danika said not leaving his eyes for a moment.
Bane's mask hissed as he left out a breath. His eyes left hers first and looked to Talia. "Granted" Bane said without looking at Danika. This angered Danika even more. "Find Barsard, send him to me." He added as Danika looked down, Bane caught the movement out of the corner of his eye.
"Right away", Danika said as she left the room. She found Barsard standing outside city hall.
"Master would like to see you." Danika said as she stood outside next to Barsard.
Barsard smiled and shook his head letting out a small laugh. " I see you've met Talia. By the way that shade of green does nothing for you Danika."
Danika looked at him, eyes narrowed. "I'm not talking to you anymore."
Barsard laughed. "Who else will you talk to? That boy who does all but drool when you're in the room?"
Danika motioned for Barsard to walk with her toward Bane's room. They started climbing the stairs. "You remember when I told you of Bane and The Pit. The child, and the protector?", Barsard said to Danika.
"Mhm", She looked to him almost tripping up a step.
"She was the child. He, her protector." Barsard explained to her.
Danika's eyes squinted as she then put the whole puzzle together. "She's the reason he has to wear the mask."
"She's the reason he is out of The Pit." Barsard corrected her.
"Yeah well", Danika shrugged.
"Danika, I have warned you before. You mustn't let Bane see this of you. Jealousy, feelings of admiration toward him. He will only use it to get rid of you." Barsard said to her.
"Why? I don't get it. So what? Centuries ago, Spartans encouraged their solders to sleep with each other so they'd feel more inclined to protect one another.", Danika said quickly to reply.
"Look how well that worked out", Barsard as they reached the floor to Bane's door.
Danika sighed, she nodded to Barsard and started walking away. Barsard asked her "Where are you going".
"To the roof, I don't want to be in the room while she's in the next one.", Danika turned and kept walking.