A/N: 2022.04.22

Hello, all. Sorry for the delay. Life has been the definition of hectic lately. More so than usual. In case you missed it, I started a Part 3 of the "Unpack Your Heart Chronicles". I did that because Part 2 got a longer than I expected it to be and I think a part 3 was warranted.

Also, if you notice in this story, there's a slight time jump. I do plan to do stories that take place between Chapters 4 and 5 with Bruce meeting with various people about his diagnosis. Now, I have a question about that but I'll save it to the end of this chapter. Also, Chapters 6 and 7 should be up in a few minutes. Tomorrow at the latest. Thank you all so much!

And... I think you guys have waited long enough.

Why don't we see what happens when Batman comes face-to-face with Bane?

Chapter 5

Two Months Later.

The following weeks after Bruce's diagnosis didn't bring anyone relief. Despite Sally's best attempts, she couldn't find a way to successfully deal with Bruce's condition. Every avenue said the same thing: Bruce was just too old to deal with those treatments or for them to be long-term effective. Bruce also wouldn't entertain any extracurricular treatments, alien or mystical; he refused to cheat death like that. Terry knew the experience with Ra's over ten years ago still bothered him. Zaria even visited Bruce, herself, offering her help, but Bruce politely declined that as well. Though they didn't want to agree, Clark and Diana, the main proponents for such treatment, honored Bruce's wishes. The weeks since Bruce's announcement saw a lot of former Leaguers coming to see Bruce. With those visits came a lot of hurt feelings healed and hatchets buried once and for all.

Despite the sorrow, the team continued on with business as usual. Sally still held out some hope that she could find some kind of way to save Bruce. Lincoln came to town more often and spent a lot of time with Helena. Max and Tiana equally split the Oracle duties since the news of Bruce's diagnosis gave them, and Terry, a ton of new responsibilities with Wayne Enterprises. Though some investors wanted to try and get their own hand in at the top of the mountain, Terry, Max, and Tiana had their place firmly set; backed by Adeline, Basem's mother, a major investor in the company, and Mike Orsini, who's physical presence near at least one if not more of the trio at all times, solidified the fact that Terry, Max, and Tiana were the owners of Wayne Enterprises.

The magnitude of the news even had Leaguers like Warhawk and Barda calling Terry to check on him. Despite their initial misgivings toward the younger Batman, none of them imagined how he could possibly handle this. Terry wasn't entirely sure how he was preserving himself. He just knew that he had to.

While Batman was still active, Runner, Koutetsu, and Ember went on patrol more frequently and stayed out longer, even when Batman did go on patrol. The trio wanted to give Batman as many breaks as possible to continue to give him time to absorb and deal with everything going on. Between Terry's home life and hero life, he did appreciate the help, but he really was grateful when he could focus on the city and its protection.

It gave his mind a break from being perpetually concerned about Bruce.

Mike was driving Terry to the Manor one night. It was one of rare nights Terry worked at the company late, but, not so rare anymore, he decided to go the Manor before going on patrol. Max actually got used to not seeing Terry until about four in the morning. As Mike was driving, he frequently glanced at Terry via the rear-view mirror.

Terry smiled a bit. "Just ask me, Mike."

Mike exhaled. "How you doing, boss?"

"Not too good. But… the nights in costume help me out."

"What can I do? I mean… if anything"

"How about what you've been doing?" Terry smiled. "That cool with you?"

Mike chuckled a bit. "As long as it's cool with you, boss." They arrived at the Manor. "Need me to wait until morning?"

"Nah. Go home and get some sleep, Mike. You spoil me too much anyway."

"Eh," Mike shrugged. "You pay me. Like a… stupid slaggin' amount of money! Not the same thing."

Terry chuckled. "You're worth every penny." He and Mike shared a fist bump. "Get home safe, Mike."

"Watch your back out there, Terry," Mike advised.

Bruce was drinking tea in the kitchen when Terry walked in. They smiled at each other and Terry sat down at the table.

"About to head out?" Bruce asked.

"I got a few minutes," Terry smiled. "You okay?"

"More or less, the same."

Terry nodded. "Alright. I'll… I'll be back after patrol. You should be asleep when I get back."

"Should." Bruce smirked. "Probably won't be."

Terry laughed. "Diana and Helena around?"

"Talking. They've… been spending a lot of time together lately."

"That's a good thing."

Bruce set the tea down, but he and Terry noticed Bruce's hand shake a bit as he set the cup down. They looked at each other, silently.

"Bruce…" Terry started to say.

"I'm fine, Terry," Bruce said, calmly. "I'm fine."

Terry didn't believe him. But nodded. He stood up, "I'll head out. But call… somebody if you or Diana or Helena need anything."

Bruce nodded.

Terry started out of the kitchen.

"Terry."

Terry stopped and turned toward Bruce.

"You're a good man."

Terry let out a silent breath. "Thanks. For the record… so are you."

Batman patrolled the skies in the Batmobile with the rest of the team scattered across the city. A call came through to the Batmobile and Batman answered, "Go ahead."

"Hey, baby," Max greeted, solemnly.

Batman looked up at the comm link. "Hey. You okay?"

"No, but Tia's busy. Still arguing with some execs. I'm taking over for the night."

"Okay. We need to do something nice for her. She's really going to the mat for us."

"No kidding."

"Kids okay?"

"Yeah," Max answered. "They're already asleep."

"Alright." Batman sighed. "I know we're working but… do you need anything?"

"No, not yet. I…" Max stopped. "Hold on a sec."

"What's up?"

"Uh… it's kinda weird."

"Oracle…" Batman said, drolly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Max replied. "Name of the game. Well… it… looks I'm getting report of a break-in a police substation. Small place, maybe about 50 officers assigned to it at the north end of the city. But the alarm only lasted a second, but, now, there's no response from the station at all. Not even from the on-site personnel."

Batman jerked his head back. "Weird. I'll check it out."

A few minutes later, while standing at the window, Bane smiled as he saw the Batmobile approach. "Ah!" he exhaled. "The young Bat. At last."

The substation was a one-floor building, not even large at all. Batman entered the substation from the roof, finding it completely quiet and all the lights were off. Immediately, all of Batman's senses went into overdrive. He shadowed through the station, carefully. He soon came across a room where a few officers were tied up and unconscious.

"Batman," Max said, "what's going on?"

"Someone knocked out the cops," Batman replied, quietly. "They're alive. But unconscious."

"Want us over there?" Runner asked.

"Not yet. I'm… gonna see if anyone can talk." Batman tapped one of the officers. "Hey. Hey, Officer…" he saw the name tag, "Sully. Sully?"

A second later, Sully groaned as he woke up. His eyes were trying to focus in the darkness but he managed to discern and recognize who was talking. "Batman?"

"What happened here?"

"I… I don't know. I… remember just… typing a report. Then… I smelled… like fresh pine? I'm not sure. The next thing I know I'm falling over and crashing to the floor. Next thing I remember is I… heard someone talking in… another language. It sounded like… like Spanish, I think."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "I'm gonna look around. Stay here and keep quiet."

Sully nodded in agreement and Batman began searching the station again. "You guys get that?" Batman whispered.

"Affirmative," Koutetsu confirmed.

"Should we head over there now?" Ember asked.

"Not yet," Batman replied. "Whoever did this might be still here and I wanna see if I can find them. Plus, don't wanna endanger the cops."

"I sent a message to Barbara," Max informed. "And Capt. Val. They've got officers nearby but are telling them to wait."

"Thanks."

"Careful, baby."

Searching for a few more minutes, Batman came to the office desk spaces in the station. He saw a large individual, wearing a heavy coat, standing at the back of the room, gazing out of the window.

"I knew you would come, Batman," Bane declared.

"Yeah," Batman said. "That happens when you assault cops."

"I've assaulted no one yet. Merely… getting your attention. I felt it imperative we become reacquainted."

Batman narrowed his eyes. "Uhhh… do I know you?"

Bane turned around, his face fully visible to Batman, "You do. Though… it has been some time since we last met. And I wasn't very talkative when you visited me."

Immediately, Batman remembered old pictures from Bruce's files.

Even more so, Batman absolutely remembered the last time he saw this man in person.

And he didn't look anything like this.

Batman's eyes widened and, confusingly, shockingly, and crossly, declared, "Bane!"

Max felt a chill go down her spine. "What…" she whispered.

"In the flesh," Bane grinned, devilishly.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Runner screamed over the comms.

"I'm on my way!" Koutetsu declared.

"Me, too!" Ember announced.

"So am I!" Runner confirmed.

Batman shook his head, trying to comprehend this. He decided to keep Bane talking until backup, hopefully, arrived. "Last time I saw you, you were a raisin in a wheelchair. And on a ventilator. What the hell's going on?"

"I seemed to have made a miraculous recovery," Bane said, making a fist.

Batman growled. "Miracles usually only happen for good people."

"Or for rulers," Bane replied.

"Run that by me again?"

"Let me explain it this way. You're done. This is the only time I will warn you. I've come to claim Gotham, to be its rightful ruler. You will leave and never return."

Batman glared at him. "That's not gonna happen."

Bane smiled. "I thought you might object. Which, to be completely honest with you, Young Bat… very much works for me." He suddenly threw a desk at Batman.

Batman backflipped, dodging the desk. Bane slipped his mask on, a slight variant of the first version of his mask. The mask was black with a white face and red eyes with no mouth opening. Far different from all of the files Batman had seen from Bruce. Bane removed his coat, also revealing a far more tactical outfit than his previous costume, as well; he even wore combat gloves that covered his entire hands. Batman didn't see any tubes, connected to Bane's use of Venom, but he did see a series of blocks along the arms of Bane's clothing and could make out a glowing green liquid within them.

'Damn,' Batman gritted his teeth. 'Venom!'

Batman growled and decided to throw caution to the wind. He jumped at Bane, but Bane managed to swat him out of the air. Batman threw the batarang he had hidden that managed to slice Bane's upper shoulder.

Bane noted the cut but chuckled. "Impressive."

Batman rushed at Bane again and they fought each other. Batman threw everything he had, honestly just testing Bane's strength. So far, Batman wasn't disappointed; Bane was as tough as Bruce always claimed he was, and that was very unnerving. Bane was thoroughly impressed with Batman's skills; he could see the old Batman in this new Batman, but Bane could also see this Batman had his own style and his own tactics. A new style mixed in with the old ways. This only increased Bane's respect for him. They fought for another minute until Bane shoved Batman away.

Batman was going to run at Bane.

But Bane held his hand out, causing Batman to stop. "You are quite the amazing individual, Batman."

Batman stood, cautiously. He was still awaiting an attack.

"You're so far proving worthy of that insignia on your chest. But we'll see if you can keep it."

"Guess we will," Batman growled.

"Indeed. You will be tested… by us."

Batman narrowed his eyes, 'Us?'

"Oh, please, tell me he didn't just say 'us'!" Max pleaded.

"Soon, you will know us," Bane continued. "We… are the Scourge."

'He said 'us',' Batman thought. 'He said 'we'! Oh, crap, I hate it when the bad guys use those words!'

"Before I'm finished, you will scream my name. And what I could not do to your predecessor, I will do to you."

"Which is?"

"Break you."

Batman scoffed. "Good luck with that."

Batman leapt up at Bane and kicked him in the face. Bane punched him back, launching Batman through a wall. Batman pushed himself up and saw Bane rushing at him. Batman dodged but kicked Bane in the back of the knees, stunning him for a second. Batman punched Bane across the face. Bane immediately reacted with a punch to Batman's gut. Batman backed up, letting the pain pass over him. He looked to see Bane rubbing his jaw.

"Not bad, Young Bat," Bane complimented. "I wanted to test if you were worthy of the mantle. So far… I'm amazed. You honor the legacy admirably."

"Gee," Batman replied. "Thanks?"

"You're strong. But I guarantee you, it's not enough."

"Really? Hm. We'll see about that."

"We will, indeed. Estoy listo."

"What?" Batman asked.

Suddenly, a section of the wall and ceiling behind Bane exploded apart. Batman covered his face until he looked back and saw a military-type car flying in and lowering behind Bane with its headlights shining in Batman's face.

"Prepare yourself, Batman," Bane advised. "Get stronger. Soon… we will have a true battle. And on that day… only one of us will walk away."

Bane turned and approached the car, as it turned to open the door to allow Bane to get in. Batman caught a glimpse of a woman's face inside the car. He got to his feet and hurried after the car, but the car turned with the rear facing Batman. The afterburners triggered, throwing Batman back. Batman recovered and approached the hole in the wall and watched the car, but the car activated a cloaking device, disappearing in the sky as it flew away.

Staring at the direction the car disappeared, Batman groaned and exhaled, worriedly. "Damn."

A/N: How was that for a reintroduction?!

For anyone wondering, Bane's suit is a mix of his standard comic attire and his attire from The Dark Knight Rises.

As to the question I mentioned earlier, for the stories about Bruce meeting with others about his diagnosis, would you all like to see that in "Chronicles Part 3" or its own separate collection? I'll make the ultimate decision, but I'm curious to what everyone thinks. I'll admit to thinking about making a separate collection. But, give me your thoughts.

Alright, Bane is back! What comes next? Stay tuned! Until next time!