Replies: batmanbane: Oh, stop it, you! Your reviews are absolutely so wonderful and oh-so observant. Yes, these men are part of the Moroccan gang. You'll get more of an explanation later. The chapters are going to start getting deeply intense very quickly after this, and the classification of "Romance" is going to starting showing itself. Have your paper bag ready, love! ;)

arianrhod316: Thank you, thank you! Glad to see you're still reviewing!

POV: DANVERS

Much to her surprise, the journey from the Pit to the city was a short one. Barsad and the other men discussed quietly throughout the duration, but Bane and Danvers never said so much as word to each other. When the dirt and rocks changed underneath her fit to endless stretches of sand, the attorney took note of her surroundings. The city was not the one she had looked at, but one that had not survived a somewhat recent sandstorm. Most of the buildings were completely unoccupied, save for a few. The stopped in front of a particularly large building, and the unnamed men took of towards it.

The sun beat down on their backs and sweat began collecting on the surface of everyone's skin. Even if it had been completely cool, Bane's rigid attorney would've still been perspiring. The harsh temperature was only adding to the sweat that was already present. Sand filled the doorways and archways that Danvers assumed had once been inviting and luxurious. It was the window, the top window on the farthest right of the building that pulled her attention away from the men as they disappeared like children over the mound of sand.

"What are you waiting for, Missy? You've been at that window all night. Come on, we're going to eat."
"I'll meet you guys there. Go on without me." She continued staring, eyelids fluttering when a warm breeze swept across her face. It smelled like apricots, exotic spices and sand... something she never thought she would've grown to enjoy.

Danvers was rooted to where she stood. The memory had backhanded her across the faces, leaving the similar feeling of swelling welts on her face, cheeks burning. A sensation shot through her veins, causing her to tremble from head to toe. It felt like minuscule shards of broken glass were being pushed through her veins, down the lengths of her arms and legs. Her heart was pounding in her chest, so heavily, that every pump of blood it gave caused the attorney to sway forward. By the time she steadied herself, another round would bring her back to the unevenness.

It was a coincidence. She began repeating that statement in her head, over and over again until it had become a steady chant. What had happened to her ability to cope with situations? She had spent years in front of a judge, a jury, presented with the most stressful situations, threatened by some of the most terrifying people and yet here she was... sweating as she felt the colour drain from her cheeks. Logically, she had no idea where she was. She had been given no coordinates and hotels all had a similar construction. It had been so long ago... her memory may have changed. There was no true way of knowing. It was all a huge coincidence. A huge coincidence that would remain a coincidence and nothing more.

Bane's figure separated from her side, leaving a sense of panic where he had once been. Barsad did not follow, Danvers suspected it was because he had been silently instructed to follow behind her. She was steadfast, trying to unclench her fists and stop the shaking.

"I think," Her voice cracked and she coughed, choking on the unexpected dryness of her throat. One hand was brought to her neck, where she pressed against it for a moment, soothing the irritation it had brought. The attorney took a few steps back. "I'm going to stay out here for a while. I don't think I'm ready to be out of the sun, just yet."

Somewhere, deep inside her mind, something kicked her. She stumbled into another statement, to back up her previous one. "I-I-I-I'm not going to run away, I'm not trying to. Have someone keep guard, if that makes you happy. I'm just not ready to back indoors again. I have a little more respect for imprisoned men now. If that was supposed to be a lesson, it worked."

POV: BANE

Before completely disappearing inside, Bane stopped just under the arch and turned his head only a couple inches. He drew a box with his eyes while his mind gathered a reply. His pointer and thumb hit into each other as he released a long breath. "Hunger will lure you in," he finally said to Danvers. Exhausted from the journey and all he encountered during it, barely any patience remained. If she currently preferred to stay outside, then so be it. He wasn't going to stand in her way.

The shadows swallowed Bane whole and left Barsad to tend to Danvers on his own. It didn't worry him to leave them with each other, even with Barsad knowing what he did. There wasn't any way he would be so ignorant as to share those secrets with her - not now anyway. As he walked up the stairs to reach the higher floors, a small amount of fear eventually wiggled its way free and travelled through him.

It wasn't enough to stop Bane, however it did cause a shift in his eyebrows and breathing. With his trust being tested and toyed with as of late, he was beginning to doubt those around him. But Barsad had proven to him that he was genuinely a loyal friend and brother in arms. There wasn't any need to take precautions between him and Danvers. No, not any need at all.

Pushing the thought aside, Bane focused on finding a room to call home for the night until they were ready to proceed to their final destination. He continued up the stairs, walking heavy and holding his shoulders and head like a worn out man arriving home from work. When he heard a lot of commotion coming from one side of the building, he decided to get comfortable with the opposite and more quiet side.

When Bane reached a particular floor, there was a long row of rooms, all of which appeared to be vacant. He chose the one to the far end and with the window that had caught his attention earlier. Passing the other rooms, one by one, he could see in the corner of his eye were blank and void of life. Sand had even piled in a few of them and looked completely not liveable.

Bane was a couple feet away from his chosen room, which triggered his heart to beat faster. Unsure of what he'd find inside, he slowed down his pace and took his time getting to it. He balled his hand into a tight fist, cracking several joints in the process. The tip of his boot then touched the very edge of the light that was let in. When he filled up his chest with air, he turned the corner and laid his eyes over the room.

They instantly widened and darted about the place, hitting every corner and crevice. He was confused at its condition, seeing that it had a bed with blankets, rugs on the floor, tables, a desk, lanterns and candles. It was impossible, there wasn't anyway this could have been the only room to have survived. He decided to then step inside and feel it more intimately, despite it being overwhelming.

Bane circled slowly around, running his hand over the desk and stopping beside the side table to examine the half melted candle. As he was about to touch it, the window suddenly stole his attention. He rose his head up at it and cautiously stepped towards the opening. Leaning forward, he looked down and soon spotted the attorney still outside. It was a strange feeling, as though the tables had been turned. He felt himself inside her shoes, peering down at him into the crowd some time ago.

Bane then ripped himself away when Danvers turned her head. He continued walking backwards, not taking his eyes off the window and then finally stopped. He turned his head slowly to the bed at the side of him and stared at it. It invited him to sit down and touch it, which he eventually gave into after a few seconds debate. It creaked beneath his weight, something he hadn't experienced then, but what he was used to now.

Bane's hand laid flat on the surface of the sheets, remembering the textures he knew so well before. A small moan leaked from his mask, which he held as he scanned the bed up and down. He then began rubbing it beneath his palm, the strings catching and snapping on the calluses built up at the base of his fingers. He was hypnotised by the patterns, forgetting everything else around him and succumbing to the silence and nostalgia. "I thought I would find you here," said a voice that stopped him from diving into his suppressed memories.

Startled, Bane took back his hand and turned to the doorway. There he saw Barsad standing and removing his backpack. "She's still down below and I'm keeping an eye. I wanted to bring you this." Barsad brought the bag to him and set it down at his feet. "The feast will be soon." He paused to look into his friend's eyes, hoping to connect with what it was he was searching for. "They want you there." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "They've missed you." Saying nothing else, Barsad then turned and walked out.

POV: DANVERS

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

She heaved a sigh and nodded. "I've been better. I can't even recall how many days and nights it has been since we left Gotham City. That should tell you something."

Barsad nodded, lowering his head. The attorney's eyes swept her surroundings, finding little things to occupy her mind with. She knew she wasn't entirely ready to face whatever the abandoned hotel had in store, but her attention was quickly drifting from her determination. After she had scoured the sand in front of her, her green orbs made their way up the building. Much to her surprise, that top window that she had first looked at, now framed Bane's large figure. She turned her head completely, staring.

She knew one thing. She didn't like the way looking at Bane through the window while she was down on the ground made her feel. It was like an unforeseen coldness that crept up behind her, slithering its icy arms around her, inviting her to imagine how it could've possibly felt when that tender-hearted young man spent all his nights watching her window. She didn't like it at all.

"I will return. Stay where you are." He didn't say it in a threatening way, but Danvers knew that if she decided to make a run for it, his compassion would quickly disintegrate. She lifted her head from her knees to nod, but returned to the position as soon as he was gone.

A warm gust blew past her, dusting her in a light layer of sand. As soon as Barsad disappeared into the archway, the doubts came. The pleasures of sitting in the sun would soon be gone. You're being ridiculous. Go inside. There's nothing to fear but fear itself. And the fear of dehydration and possible starvation.

She stretched out one leg and leaned to the side to push herself up. Once standing, she went to work brushing the sand off every surface she could. Her once ironed slacks were wrinkled and beyond dirty, but still, she attempted to clean herself up.

There were corridors all around her. They had once been painted brilliant shades of blue and orange, covered in tapestries of deep reds and purples. The hallways had probably been lined with lanterns that cast shadows that danced on whoever chose to walk by. She furrowed her brows. The feeling of nausea had crawled back into her stomach.

"Ah!"

She spun around, eyes wide. A man had turned the corner and was now walking towards her, smiling. Two others followed him, and instantly, Danvers felt as if she was being cornered. They were speaking to her in a language that she didn't understand, but since that had seemed to the theme of this journey, she was beginning to get used to it.

"I don't know what you're saying... I'm looking for Bane." She put her one hand up above her head, hoping to indicate Bane's size and translate what she wanted. Their responses were boisterous and held an enthusiasm that only further confused her. "Bane, I'm looking for him. Don't touch me."

Danvers crossed her arms over her chest for two reasons, one of which was to prevent any unwelcome glances, and the other being a simple fact; she was starting to get annoyed. Taking a deep breath in, she gained control of her irritation, reminding herself that the communication gap was a common misunderstanding, she was hungry and lashing out at these men would do her no good in the long run.

"I don't know what you're saying, but if you could just - hey, I don't think so! Take your hands off of me!" She stopped to glare at the nearest one, who had placed his hand on her shoulder. Danvers didn't pause to gather a logical string of thoughts. These men were probably well aware that she wasn't up for grabs, but the fact remained that they were grabbing at her, pulling her towards a nearby hallway.

"Thank you," she breathed, while hurrying past her saviour.

"Forgive them. They weren't trying to hurt you. They're excited." Barsad's words trailed off as he extended an arm, showing Danvers to the sand-covered staircase. He didn't give her a chance to inquire what they were excited for. "You're looking for Bane."

She hesitated at the first step, swallowing down whatever nerves she had. Danvers turned to look at him, brows laced together. "I... I just figured that staying out there was probably not the best idea... I'm dehydrated."

He gave a short nod, his brown eyes soft like those of a deer. "Bane will join us later. Come with me."

One of her fingers remained, floating as it still extended towards the staircase. Barsad had promised that she would fed and hydrated, though the attorney dithered, unsure of travelling into another portion of this unknown hotel.

Eventually, she gave into the complaints of her stomach. Almost grudgingly, she moved past Barsad, down a corridor. When the sturdy footsteps of his boots didn't follow, she paused and turned. He stood where she had left him, staring back at her, aghast.

"Is something wrong? Do you know where we're going?"

"You do."

Danvers froze, her muscles going rigid again. She had been travelling down the hallway, following a path that she felt she had been down before. When Barsad had something, it was if her fear had tried to wipe her memory clean. "Wh-what? No... No, I don't. I'm just following my nose. I can... I can smell the food."

He nodded silently, as if he had resolved to end any further discussion. There was a smile on his face as he passed her, placing the hand on the small of her back to urge her forward. He guided her through a door. The men were gathered around a large, low table in the middle of the room, already picking at the plates of food that had been arranged there. Everyone paused in their celebrating to turn and greet them. Barsad responded with a similar greeting, but much quieter than they had. Although this room had not escaped the sand entirely, it had been decorated. Ill-assorted cushions were stuffed into every corner, even lining the entirety of the room.

Barsad chose a spot near the end of the table, but left the large purple cushion at the corner for Danvers. "It's alright," he said, coaxing her closer. Danvers' nerves were going wild, like live wires that had been snipped and chopped at until they were frayed and pointing in every direction possible. Pressing her palms against her thighs to hide the shaking, she crouched down next to Barsad, and eventually rolled into a sitting position.