Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot of the story here. Thanks so much for reading and an even bigger thank you to those who review and let me know what you think.

What Comes Next

Bane rarely turned his thoughts to the possibility of an afterlife or what awaited one after death. No God or higher being had ever answered the prayers of their believers in The Pit. The only way out until Ra's al Ghul's arrival had been death. And every day until that point had brought suffering and pain, without deliverance or peace for the 'faithful'. Once free of The Pit Bane had studied the religions of the world to better understand those who were believers and had quickly come to the conclusion that Karl Marx's beliefs on the subject closely aligned with his own. 'Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people'. It was a fairy story people told themselves to believe there was more to life than the Hell people made on Earth without any help from demons or gods.

Bane knew that the foster home Robin and the boy had met at had been run by Catholic priests. They would have pushed those beliefs onto the children they cared for. Such was always the case when religious fanatics went out into the world to do 'good works'. They sought to convert and control, targeting in particular the weak and young. Those who needed saving and were desperate enough to believe whatever lies told them if it made their lot in life better.

"Do I want to know why you're looking at me that way?"

His omega looked awake enough considering the hour, Bane observed, and they were almost back at their rooms without anyone around to overhear their conversation or interrupt them.

"Are you Catholic?"

"I have problems with organized religions. Why?"

"The priests who had guardianship over you when you were a child would have attempted to indoctrinate you."

Robin raised an eyebrow. "They're only allowed to push that so far these days. And we had good ones, for the most part. Not that it wasn't gently encouraged but these days the only times I willingly attend services are on holidays when someone else guilts or asks me to go with them." A smirk. "I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you aren't. Religious."

"No."

"Big surprise."

Bane was inclined to take that as a compliment seeing as Robin had just stated that he was intelligent enough to find fault with the various organized religions of the world. Though it didn't seem or feel like Robin thought so. More like his omega had meant it as a commentary on how Bane lived his life. And just because Robin didn't follow a particular faith didn't mean he wasn't a spiritual person.

"Worrying about Final Judgement?"

Not following, Bane asked him to explain.

"The Final Judgement. Judgement Day. Whatever you want to call it when you die and some religions believe your deeds upon this Earth are judged by a higher power and it's decided whether you go to the Good Place or the Bad Place. Death tends to brings those kinds of questions to mind."

"I don't concern myself with that."

"I want to say that's a good thing in your case...but you'd probably do a lot less harm to the world if you were worried that you'd pay for it later on in eternal misery."

Bane did not appreciate the way Robin was openly smirking at him. Or the next logical question to pose.

"You've stated reasons why you don't wish to be my mate. Do you also believe me to be bound for Hell? That I'm marked. Evil?"

Going still Robin stared over at him, those dark eyes revealing nothing as they looked into his for several moments of taunt silence before Robin shook his head. "I don't think you're evil."

Robin started walking again as he continued to speak.

"Given that Gotham's your big Endgame you know what the crime's like there. The sort of people I came up against every damn day on the job before your girl's minions took me. I've seen evil. I know the look and feel of it and you don't have it. Or I should say it's all around you but hasn't got you. Yet. You don't feed or take pleasure in the pain and destruction of others, and you genuinely don't know right from wrong."

"I understand right and wrong. I'm neither insane nor simple."

"Baby, you've lived in a world where there were no good choices your whole life. All you know is the different shades of grey and black."

There was some truth to that statement, or at least Bane could understand Robin's reasoning Bane thought as he opened up the door to their rooms and did a quick scan to insure it was still safe. He'd left the light on when they'd left and the soft glow was all he needed as Bane stated that he could understand right and wrong even if he'd had limited experience with the former during his life.

"True, but the important stuff you have to experience to understand."

Everything as it should be Bane stepped inside and then held the door open to allow his mate to follow in after him.

Naturally Robin wasn't done talking.

"I went to this dentist once, for a root canal. He told me that he understood how much pain I was in even though he'd never had one himself. I wanted to punch him in his pearly whites. Because yeah, no. He couldn't understand. A more extreme version of that would be me telling you that I understand how bad The Pit was. I mean you could tell me about it every day for the rest of my life and I still wouldn't understand. Not without having been through that myself. And even then it wouldn't be your version of The Pit I'd understand, just my own."

"According to that logic right and wrong are subjective to the person." Bane interrupted.

"They are. Another craptastic fact of life. I've stolen, just for instance, when I was a kid. I knew it was wrong but not so wrong I wouldn't do it to feed myself. Everyone's lines are different, based on their life experiences and how they were molded by the world." Grasping the hem of his shirt Robin pulled it up and over his head, momentarily disappearing from view. "What I'm saying is that to me you're a fanatic. One of those terrorists who wants to remake the world because they believe their version will be so much better than everyone else's. That you're saving the world from itself." A tellingly long sigh. "There's a reason 'The way to Hell is paved with good intentions' is used so often to describe mankind's behavior."

"You would wish the world to remain as it is?"

Tossing the shirt onto the top of the dresser Robin came over to him, pressing us against Bane so that they were chest to chest, breath mingling together.

"Nothing can be perfect, Bane. And no one can be. People who need things to be perfect to be happy...well they very rarely lead happy lives. Same for the control freaks. And using fear and violence to make people do what you want, even for their own 'benefit'...it's a temporary fix at best. You could force me to marry you. Be your mate. But you want me willing. It's the same thing."

"Those are two very different things."

"It's the same thing." Robin patted his chest condescendingly before walking away to stand by the nearest wall, bracing one hand on it while the other went to work removing his footwear.

"How is it the same?"

Another loud sigh from Robin.

"You guys want to control the world by eliminating all the 'negative' influences of the world and the 'bad' people you think are responsible for making the world a bad place. Abusive spouses are the same way. They do their best to control every aspect of their significant other's life so that their spouse and their lives together fits their ideal. And when that spouse doesn't toe the line violence and intimidation are used to keep them in line for 'their own good'. And if the abuser breaks their abused spouse will then all the better because that seriously ups the odds that the spouse will behave and their life together will be what the abuser wants. Emphasis on what the abuser wants. Not the spouse. Not the children they might have together either. Because the abuser knows best. What he or she wants is always right for them and the people under their control."

A pause for emphasis.

"You don't want me broken, Bane. You know that there's no happiness, no honor in a mating built on fear and violence. That's not a family. That's not happiness. That's not LIVING. And I'd rather die young on my feet than live a long life broken and on my knees. So would you. You would rather die than be broken by this world, wouldn't you? So how is it right in your head to do that to others?"

A thousand responses to that came to Bane's mind, this was far from his first time debating the goals of the League and his leader...but never had someone phrased it like that. Had put it like that so that he was faced with not the grand scope of the world...but just himself and his imagined family. Before there'd been only Talia, and the world the League wished to make was very much her dream. What she wanted. But not what his mate wanted. Not the world Robin wanted their children to grow up in.

Lost in the thoughts and arguments Bane actually jolted when he felt a hand slide into his, giving it a squeeze.

Blinking Bane stared into Robin's eyes.

"This isn't the time for this argument, is it? You just lost a friend and...let's call it a day. Tomorrow-today is going to suck enough as it is. Let's get some sleep and we'll fight later, okay?"

"You're too soft."

"I know. That's always been my problem."

Something about the way Robin said that suggested it was another one of his movie or television quotes, but Bane couldn't be bothered to care or ask. He was just...exhausted. Physically and mentally, for no reason he wanted to think about or consider too closely right then. So he nodded and told Robin to go to bed. He'd undress and join him in a minute.

"Okay."

Another hand squeeze and then Robin let go to walk over to the bed to take his usual side after removing his pants and leaving them on the floor on his side. Bane couldn't be bothered to scold him for that as he mechanically removed his own clothing and footwear before walking over to the bed, standing there looking down at his omega as he removed his mask and then set it on his table. Turned off the lamp.

Then he joined Robin in their bed, pulling his omega into his arms in the darkness.

Robin let him, holding him in turn.

"You never did tell me what azizi means." Robin murmured to him, his voice suggesting he was already half asleep again.

"Precious. It means 'precious'."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Huh. I did not see that one coming."

Chuckling, and not sure why, Bane told his bird to go to sleep.

"Kay."

)

Bane slept little and fitfully. He was used to functioning on little to no sleep so it didn't show as he went about his duties and pushed aside all thoughts of what had kept him up the night before. There was much to do as Talia's father would be arriving at the compound that afternoon to pay his respects to Hitachi and be present at his cremation. His leader would also take some of the man's ashes back to join those of other fallen members of the League.

Ra's al Ghul had not mentioned Robin in the transmission Bane had received from him that morning, and whether he would want to see or speak with the omega was a question Bane didn't know the answer to. And very much wished he did.

With his permission Barsad had escorted Kei to Bane's personal rooms that morning and the boy was spending the day with Robin. The useless alpha would keep Robin occupied and out of the way until the funeral, which was for the best. So to speak. The lingering effects of his omega's heat and the fact that Robin had yet to accept his courtship weighed on Bane. Irritated him, like splinters he couldn't remove. The alpha part of his nature not just wanted but needed Robin with him, while logically he knew that time apart was for the best. At least for now. Until his thoughts were more orderly and at peace.

Turning his head to ask his second a question not remotely related to any of the questions he would have liked to pose to him Bane went still, sensing Talia's approach. Her eyes on him.

The way Barsad tensed up in reaction to her was something Bane would think about later, for now he turned around to face Talia and started towards her, Barsad doing the same while keeping a step behind Bane.

"My friend. My father will be here in an hour."

"Yes."

"All the funeral preparations have been completed?"

"Yes. We're only waiting for your father to arrive to begin." Which reminded him that he should return to his rooms as soon as possible to again go over the rules of behavior with Robin. Given the occasion Bane was reasonably confident that his little bird would behave himself...but better to be safe than sorry.

"And where is Hitachi's...son? I wish to pay my respects privately."

Again Bane sensed Barsad tense up unnecessarily behind him.

"He is in my rooms with my omega. If you wish to see him I'd be pleased to take you to him now."

"I would hate to take you from your duties, My Friend. And he is not in your rooms. Neither of them are. I checked there first."

Glancing over his shoulder Bane gave Barsad a questioning look.

"One minute."

Moving a short distance away Barsad pulled out his phone and used it to call the actual guards assigned to watch over Bane's mate since it wasn't like Kei was competent enough to do it even on a good day.

But where was Robin? Surely the idiot hadn't decided to try and flee with the boy now that Hitachi was dead. Robin could be reckless and overconfident at times, but he wasn't stupid. Or at least not the level of stupidity that would have them attempt to flee into the desert without the provisions or knowledge to survive in the harsh climate. Not that either of them possessed the skills to get out of the compound so really it was a mote-

"They're in the kitchen." Barsad announced, interrupting Bane's inner thoughts.

"The kitchen? Why?" Lunch had been served well over an hour ago.

"Apparently they went there to make and eat their own lunch and then volunteered to do dishes to pass the time until the funeral. Your omega thought the distraction would be good for Kei."

Well at least the boy was being useful for once.

"Do you want me to tell the guards to bring them to us?"

"No need. The kitchens aren't far from here." Talia responded before Bane could voice an opinion, her long hair flying out to almost brush over Bane's face as she turned and headed in that direction, Bane immediately following after her. Barsad at his heels.

The walk to the kitchen was done in silence, the three of them entering to the sound of Kei's voice raised in haunting song.

For the first time Bane actually recognized the song being sung, the lyrics immediately recognizable as the story of 'Danny Boy' echoed in the mostly dead quiet room. The others in the room save for Robin were just standing at their various posts, staring at the boy like he was a being from another world. Bane actually saw tears in the eyes of two of his people.

Robin was washing dishes while listening, Kei taking each plate handed to him and drying it without showing any awareness of his audience or the fact that there were three additional people in the room with them.

The guards weren't paying them any attention either.

But at least one person was paying attention as Robin handed over his latest plate and then reached for a towel to dry off his hands while looking in Bane's direction. His omega gave him a little wave and then he turned to put a hand over Kei's mouth, cutting the alpha off.

The alpha glared down at Robin.

"We have company."

Responded to that statement the other occupants in the room looked around, Robin's guards losing all color in their faces as they realized that they'd been caught completely unaware. As well they should. Bane would see to it that the men were severely punished for their failure. If they'd meant to cause Robin harm his omega would be dead already.

"Oh. Is it time for the funeral?"

"I've come to offer you my personal condolences for the death of your father." Talia informed him as she walked further into the room, her attention split between Kei and Robin.

Kei's brows furrowed in what looked like confusion before smoothing out, his face becoming expressionless as he inclined his head in acknowledgement of her words.

"Thank you. It's for the best. He was in pain."

"True. Though now you're all alone, aren't you?"