Batman was surprised that the mercenary accepted the offer. When he did he saw this look of resignation, sadness, and mostly guilt. He knew all about it, and thought that is why the words sprung from his mouth before he could think. It was very unlike him, too rash, but the results to say the least were impressive.

It had been only a couple of weeks now but his seemingly new protégé, Jon Hale, had taken well to the training regime. He did not back talk, he didn't even try to fight it, he simply did as he was told, a good soldier, he could use that. Batman knew such an attitude could be used especially for where he was needed tonight.

Bruce Wayne was throwing yet another fundraiser for both his company and Gotham General. He hadn't showing his face in awhile, and he felt oddly out of place in his suit. He adjusted the tie seemingly for the twentieth time and ran his hand nervously through his hair. Gotham's finest, models, actors, politicians were all in attendance and Bruce worked the crowd as if he was born to. He grudgingly admitted to himself that he missed being himself and not having the cowl over his head most of the time.

He had a woman on his arm, some would be model. She was droning on and on about how she wanted to come to Gotham and try and get a new beginning. He was only paying half attention to her as he spotted a familiar looming figure at the edge of the crowd wearing an old ratty hoodie. That stuck out like a sore thumb for him, especially in this sort of crowd. He quietly excused himself and made his way towards him.

"Well hey there." He called out. "I haven't seen you somewhere before have I?" He had been under the cowl for so long he nearly frightened himself with how he sounded.

The figure turned and a pair of red lenses stared at him. "Why yes Señor Wayne… I think you might have."

Bane?! Why now, why now…

A meaty arm swung out and knocked him full in the chest. He fell hard onto his back, stars dancing before his eyes. He was helped to his feet by a few police in uniform. Some of them were even trying to fight Bane. A foolish act, they were tossed aside by him as if they were nothing more then puppets without a string. He brushed himself off even as a few more men came in from the back room, hefting submachine guns and pistols. There was a brief panic amongst the crowd but Bane brought his foot down, silencing them as the ground cracked beneath the force.

"Senors and Senoritas, tonight I, Bane, will be robbing you. My helpful compatriots will take your jewels, your weapons, your valuables… Anything really. Don't try to call for help, don't try to be a hero. No one here will hear you scream."

Another smash and grab operation? And by Bane? Bruce's mind began to work quickly on why they were doing this. Where was the long term gain?

His thoughts were interrupted as the crack of a gun echoed through the crowd and one of the officers fell to the ground. Bruce didn't need to know he was dead and simply stared forward as a few others wept.

"What did I say, mm? Hand everything over when my men get to you and no one will get hurt."

He complied when the goon came to collect his valuables. The watch was a fake, and his wallet didn't have any identification, just around five hundred dollars in cash. He didn't want any would be robber to know who he was and try to follow him. He doubted any hired goon would do such a thorough background check, but whoever hired them may. It was paranoia at its best but it had saved him more then once. Bruce shot an icy glare to the collector who cringed a bit under the sight.

"I didn't know you could scare someone Bruce."

He offered an easy smile. "Neither did I."

He scanned the room, frowning again. There were at least a dozen armed men patrolling, a couple of more of them were carrying around riot shields and pistols. They all seemed content taking their time, not worrying about a threat.

Damn it, Jon… Where are you?

He adjusted the grip on his suit. He took a more modern design with the famous suit presented to him. It was all black with grey tints. The white eyes through the cowl were kept, a signature he found. Batman as Bruce Wayne would be going to a ball or fundraiser tonight. So Jon took it upon himself to go on patrol using the new suit he and Bruce concocted. It was strengthened with nanites so he could take more punishment in both melee and from bullets.

It reminded him of his time when he was a child soldier with a riot shield.

He was more of a young mercenary, that's what his handlers always told him. He was picked up in the streets as a young man and he was whipped into shape. He made himself the biggest, strongest kid. Killing was all he had ever known in his short time on earth and when he moved to America he thought picking up contract killing would be easier. For a short time it was. He took out a few crooked cops in the west coat and removed a few key witnesses in central. When he moved to the east coast he heard of the Batman in Gotham City and everything changed.

He wasn't sure what happened but instead of killing a man he just wounded him, to remind them to stay down. He didn't get paid as much, but still he kept the food on the table for himself and whoever was passing through with him. He paid for other's meals, coffees and smaller things to help him feel like less of a stain on the Earth. The bank job he picked up was to be his biggest score yet and he could stop working for a couple of years at the very least.

Then the Batman stopped him and when he held out his hand to offer him. The child in him, the innocence, won through and he accepted the offer. He wanted to protect everyone he could now even if that meant picking up the mantle of the Dark Knight. The fact he was trusted in the Cave, with all of the gear and vehicles Batman used showed how much faith he put into him, a stranger.

He wasn't going to betray that faith even if he died in the attempt.

He heard chatter on the frequencies of Bane holding up the fundraiser that Bruce was attending and with a quick shot of his grappling gun he was away. He landed on the roof with a well timed roll and was soon pressed against the glass and peering down into the room below. He could see a body on the ground already and carefully he removed one of the panels. He took a moment to remember where he placed the flash pellets and he cradled them in his palm. He flexed his hand into a fist and threw them down. He followed through soon after with his eyes closed.

The sound was deafening and he heard a few muffled shouts of both the crowd and the crooks. On reflex, and memory, he struck out with a high kick and he heard a man drop to the ground. His eyes opened and most of his senses returned in record time. He charged forward and went into a flying knee, sending another man sprawling to the ground. He skidded along the floor on his knees and wrapped himself about a third before he quickly leaned back, sending him crashing down onto his head. The crook was out cold but with a quick glance he could see he was breathing. A concussion at best.

He threw both batarangs at the armed guards and ice pellets at those who were trying to bring their riot shields to bear. A memory flashed in his mind about his training in his early youth, bashing a shield against another boy like a common slave soldier. He turned that memory into anger and pressed the attack. He knocked aside a riot shield and sent a three punch combo along the man's chest and chin to send him his knees. A spinning snap kick sprawled him onto his side.

"New suit Batman?"

He turned and looked into the masked red eyed visage of Bane. He said nothing.

"My guards have fled now… Weak minded street thugs they took what they can and ran but I, Bane, never back down from a chance to break you!"

He charged forward and swung a large forearm at him. His forearm was brought up to block and he swung at his ribs. Bane grunted and quickly kneed him, sending him flying back a couple of feet. He coughed and sputtered for a moment. Even with the new suit he felt that blow and a rib go with it.

"Ha! Even with your toys you're nothing but a man."

Bane stamped forward again and laced both hands together and swung. Batman stepped about and he punched twice hard into his kidneys and he clambered onto his back. He had the cord for his Venom intake. He yanked it hard, but he couldn't loosen it. Bane's hands swung up and grabbed him hard by the shoulders and threw him to the ground. The wind was knocked out of him and the jar the already broken rib. He rolled to the side as a hand crashed down where his head was a moment before.

"We have danced this time many times before, Batman… New tricks, new moves? Worried that I would beat you so easily this time?"

Jon didn't rise to the bait as he feinted a punch high as his hand slid back, pulling out the taser that Batman outfitted him with. Bane moved his arm over to block and the punching hand suddenly gripped. With a grunt of effort he vaulted himself up onto his back again and he jammed the taser against the back of his head. The effect was immediate Bane started to shake violently and he could feel some electric tremors on his legs. Within only a few moments Bane slumped over, twitching but alive. He pocketed the device and stared along at all the wide eyes and then back to Bane. He used and nearly relied on his Venom most fights, and yet when he was slumped over defeated and without a trace of the drug used Jon felt a sigh slip from him.

He felt only pity.