25
(Normal POV: Bane)
Bane left the comfort of Alitaria's arms to lead a few of his men through Gotham's zoo. He wanted to tear it all down so he could build a storage building over it. It was a lot of ground to cover for Gotham's zoo was a main attraction like its football stadium. They entered the zoo and his men spread out.
"Any animals left alive shall be freed." he instructed. Barsad followed behind him and looked around at all the cages.
"Why free them?" he asked. Bane kept his hands on his coat while he examined certain areas.
"Because animals are like slaves to humans. Oppressed and caged. They should have the chance to survive like the rest of Gotham's pathetic humans." he explained. Barsad could not see it, but Bane was in a very good mood today. Before last night he planned to have all the animals killed. Most of the animals however were dead from bombings and from predators killing the smaller animals. As he moved he took note that Barsad left his side for a moment.
"Bane." he called and Bane stopped and turned his head to his second in command only to see him standing near a cave which belonged to the black bears. Bane moved over towards Barsad and the man pointed down at the entrance to see it had collapsed and caved in. Bane squinted a bit and moved through the bars which separated them from the cave and he entered it calmly. His eyes roamed the area.
"Hm this would make a good area for the base of the storage." he commented. "Nice work." As he was about to leave he heard a low purr sound and his eyes slowly moved towards the right of the area to see a small black bear waddling out from behind some toys that were destroyed. Bane's eyes narrowed on the bear as it made small sounds and looked around. Barsad came to Bane's side.
"The other bears must have taken shelter in the cave and it collapsed?" he asked thinking that may have happened. Bane looked around at the cave some more.
"Or they escaped and left it behind." he said. After little thought, Bane and Barsad turned and began to leave the cage. The bear watched them leave and let out a light cry of fear, lifting its paw a bit as if wanting them not to leave it behind. Bane stopped in mid step and looked towards the baby bear that was making small sounds and cries. He walked over towards the cub and with one hand slowly scooped the bear off the ground and began to move his arm up and down as if weighing the bear. It was at least nine pounds and starving obviously. It was a little boy cub as well. Bane's hard eyes scanned the bear who continued to make sounds.
"Hm a boy." Bane noted.
"He'd make a good pet for someone." Barsad said and Bane glanced at him before looking at the bear.
"Come." he replied calmly and continued to walk from the cave area. Barsad knew well enough that Bane was talking to the bear.
(Alitaria's POV)
I had been lying in bed for almost an hour now reading the Romeo and Juliet book. Since Bane was off working I took some time to merely read. It did not take me long however to finish the book and I was sad that the couple killed themselves because they could not live without one another. It was tragic somewhat, but I also felt that death would've been avoided if such thoughts on the subject had been held off a bit longer. I heard the door slowly creak open and I lifted my head and looked up to see no one enter it, but something small and furry and black. I gasped and leaned back against the bed wondering what had just come into the room. It was a little black bear. Bane suddenly walked in and looked at me before picking the small animal up.
"What is this?" I asked and watched as he moved over towards the bed and setting it down where its small paws sunk into the bed.
"I was looking around at the zoo trying to figure out how to level it all down for my new base. I found this little bear cub all alone and figured he'd be of use to you." he explained and my eyes as I watched the small cub move up to me wiggling its nubby little tail and I shook my head trying to think clearly.
"You're giving me a pet bear?" I asked and Bane nodded slowly.
"He would've died on his own if I had not taken him. Do you agree?" he asked and I slowly let my hands move around the bear cub and I pulled him close to me and he just sat in my lap and made small bear sounds as he nibbled on his own claws. Thoughts of such a small creature out in this dangerous world saddened my heart.
"I will keep him." I said softly and looked up at Bane with a smile as he caressed my cheek. He nodded.
"I am glad this pleases you. I will return to the zoo and Barsad will stay with you while you tend to the cub." he told and I nodded as he moved back towards the door.
"Thank you." I said and he nodded and left out the door. I looked down at the bear cub and smiled.
"Let us find you some food… Onyx." I replied and got off the bed and Onyx moved off the bed following me and I smiled as we left out the door of the room. Barsad had just gotten off the elevator when he saw me.
"Hey. I see you like the bear." he told and I nodded.
"I do. His name is Onyx. We need to look for food for him." I told. Barsad nodded.
"He is very small and still needs his mother's milk. We'll go by a store and pick up some stuff for him." he told and I nodded and picked the cub up and we got on the elevator. Once we were on the first floor we left the company.
"So tell me have you ever seen Shoshanna's house?" I asked. Since he had escorted her home numerous times I figured he had at least seen parts of the house. I put Onyx on the ground for a moment and he followed behind me. Barsad shook his head with a wince.
"No. She leads me to an ally and one of her family members are there waiting for us or sometimes it's just her." he explained and I nodded finding that a tad odd, but expected. Shoshanna's family didn't want the bad guys knowing where she lived.
(Author's notes)
For those who have seen most of the ice age movies that little lullaby song that plays in the back ground when peaches is born is the song that is going through my head when Onyx makes his appearance to Bane and Ali. Hope you're enjoying the story.