A Heavenly Nightmare

Chapter 3: Embrace

Once again, don't own anyone except Malak.

He felt the tingle in his spine right before Bruce Wayne made his way to the catwalk. Selena Kyle had brought him to his demise, he just didn't know it yet.

He thought he saw her flash into this world for a split second at the edge of the car walk. Her image phased in and out like a bad connection...

Wayne had a few good hits, Bane would admit. He remembered when he saw Wayne as a young, hate filled boy trying to find the tools to avenge his parent's death. Honorable, but misguided.

His tricks, pathetic evading and his battle worn body failed him in the end. Bane was born in the darkness, had stared Death in her lovely face and had no fear. As he turned away from beating in Wayne's skull, he almost froze.

She was here...The Angel herself, almost ethereal. Yet, no one seemed to see her. Her hood was down for once... her elegant frame was stunning for a woman her age—However old she was.

As he mused about the use of breaking into Wayne Enterprise's secret R and D department for the takedown of Gotham, he was surprised to see Wayne get back up with such staggering vigor.

"He is risen Bane." Her voice almost purred. "Finish. Him." Her voice turned cold.

"Ah yes," he stopped his attack in a single grapple, picked him up over his head. "I wondered what would break first." Bruce Wayne slam down onto Bane's powerful knee, the shatter of his spine echoed in a sickening crack throughout the underground vault.

As all the men left, Bane waited for her.

"You are almost ready for your time in this world."

"I am ready for it. It's been long enough." She smiled as her fingers ghosted his mask.

"Are you?"

"As long as I get to gaze upon her face one last time before I leave this plane, I will be complete."

——

Five long, grueling months staggered by. The time was nigh for the reactor core to explode and Gotham will be reduced to ashes. Just as Ghul wanted. He almost growled at the name as he stared into the wrecked streets of Gotham from a pavilion balcony.

'No...' he sighed. 'Just like she wanted. This is her dream. Her wishes.'

"Are you so sure?" Her voice beckoned from the darkness.

"Yes my Lady." She took form in the room as he turned to her. "This is what she—"

"But you help her because you feel you still owe this child?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Hell if he hadn't been asking himself that.

"I don't know."

"Because a soldier of war..." she faded out. "Will never know peace."

--

Her words haunted him. He would follow through with his commitment with Talia's wishes. It was expected but... he would die. She would live, just like before...Is that the peace he needs? Who would protect her then?

"What will happen after this...?" He stood before Talia. This was a stupid idea.

"What do you mean? Do you have doubts—"

"Not at all Talia. Who will protect you after—"

"What?" Her curt voice threw him off. "Who will protect me? I am more than capable of protecting myself—"

Something—or someone—took over his body as he attacked her. It was to test her abilities but the longer he went on, something took over and the attacks became more sinister in nature. When she was submitted, he let her go unsympathetically, and stared unemotionally at her on the floor.

"What was that?!" She gasped and coughed.

"You are not ready for the world as you so surmised." He couldn't look at her as he walked away.