Author's note: Here's the next one, thanks to all the people who wrote reviews. As always I don't own anything dark knight or DC related.
It was the dream again the thud, the stairs, the hallway, the door, and the hellish roar with the blinding light. Lena shot up in bed covered in a cold sweat just like she always did. Unlike the past times she'd been ripped out of the dream as she went to prop herself up a searing pain shot through her left arm and it collapsed under her weight causing her to gracelessly tumble from the bed. To add insult to injury or rather injury to injury Lena landed on her wounded arm grunting in pain as the bed sheet fluttered down to cover her. The first thing that registered to Lena was the sheet brushing against her cheek as she lied in a heap on the ground.
"This feels expensive…too expensive," Lena pondered for a moment until everything came crashing back.
She remembered the roof, the firefight, Bane's men, and then the Big Bad himself. As she thought of him and the pain in her arm faded to a throbbing ache the pain in her face came to the for front of her consciousness. "Holy Fuck my face hurts!" Lena's mind screamed. She slowly rolled over pressing her back into the cold hard floor. She probed her mouth using her tongue and found three loose molars as she tried to convince herself that getting up was a good idea.
Lena pulled the silk bed sheet off and rolled to her right and using the bed as support dragged herself to a standing position and surveyed the room. It was large, probably close to the size of her entire apartment, and it had an ultra-modern motif. Lena noted that there were three doors in the bedroom as she started to hobble to the closest one. She opened the door and her extremely sore jaw dropped. Lena was gazing at one of the most beautiful sights she'd ever seen. It was an enormous bathroom straight out of a designer magazine with a huge soaker tub in the middle of the room and a large walk in shower off to one side. Lena was completely enthralled with the sparkling glass and tile until she turned and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. If she'd thought her hair had been scary the other day it was on a whole new level now and that was nothing compared to her face.
"I look like a purple chipmunk," Lena thought despondently as she poked lightly at the right side of her face, "And why do things always hurt more when you look at them?"
She moved as quickly as she could pulling the plunger on the sink and turning on the cold faucet, filling the basin. After removing her hair pins and tie she dunked face first into the frigid water. The freezing water took her breath away but it also soothed her battered face and helped her to shake off the last bit of mental haze. The sink was deep enough she was able completely submerge her head and rinse off the grim of the day or days Lena wasn't sure how much time had passed. She pulled her head up unstopping the sink and ringing her hair out while the sink drained. Using her fingers to comb and smooth her hair back, which was a bitch since moving her left arm even slightly was agonizing, into its usual confines she looked into the mirror again reassessing her appearance.
"Better but these clothes have got to go," she concluded taking in the dirt and blood stained shirt.
Lena looked down at her left arm and saw that the long sleeved thermal she'd been wearing had been ripped away at the shoulder and her wound was covered by thick gaze. Lifting up the edge of the wrapping allowed a peak at the gunshot injury. It was red and angry looking but the stitching appeared small and tight with almost a professional feel to it.
She pushed away from the sink with her good arm and shuffled back into the bedroom. Lena was exhausted, probably from the blood loss, but she knew she needed to keep moving. Trying the next closest door led her into a walk in closet filled with a multitude of male clothing. Lena used a combination of her right arm and teeth to remove her old shirt.
"Not quite sure how I managed that one," she thought exhaustedly as she threw the loathsome article to the ground.
Lena grabbed the first tee shirt she found and with much cursing and struggling was able to pull it into place. She looked down at the block letters spread across her chest that read Harvard,
"I feel smarter already," Lena mumbled dryly to herself as she surveyed the closet looking for shoes and a jacket but finding neither.
Blowing out a heavy sigh she moved back into the bedroom and headed to the last door. The door opened soundlessly and she poked her head out and slowly looked around taking in a wide hallway. She stepped out onto the dark wood flooring channeling her inner ninja as she moved in what she hoped was the direction of the exit. Lena creped along like she was in a Scooby Doo cartoon until she came into a large open space that must have been the living room but could have served as a practice field for the Gotham Rouges. She was about to scope the place out more but then she spotted what looked like the front door. A satisfied smile played at her lips as she started to tip toe in that direction until she heard a cold hiss of air.
Bane had brought the girl from the rooftop to Daggett's pretentious penthouse. He had personally cleaned and sewn her wound and laid her down to recover. Her being unconscious had been advantageous to him because it gave him time to think about the events of the past few days. As he washed her blood from his hands he contemplated the fact that the shooter and the girl he'd met in the library were one and the same. Bane moved through the apartment to the living room where Barsad sat with his hands on his knees waiting for his return.
"How is she?" Barsad asked.
"I think she'll live she seems to have a lot of tenacity," Bane replied thoughtfully.
"Things certainly took an interesting turn." Barsad commented. Bane nodded agreement as he sat down on the large sectional and spread his long arms out along the back of the sofa.
"What are we to think about the little bird we've caught my friend?" Bane questioned in his raspy tone.
"I think she's one hell of a mystery. She has immense skill the shots she made were incredibly difficult. She got within inches of me just by going off my muzzle flash and your lapel is further proof of her talent." Barsad stated reluctantly impressed.
"This is all very true my friend but while she chose to kill the hangman on the platform and I suspect the man in the alley that you told me about she decided to assault my coat instead of my person." Bane pondered.
"Maybe she felt like she had no choice with the others but she was sending a message to you. After all no one will kill you with the triggerman out there waiting to flip the switch if anyone misbehaves." Barsad inferred.
Bane chuckled contentedly as he thought of their grand plan for Gotham a moment. He and Barsad sat for a few hours discussing the happenings of the city, even reminiscing a little. Barsad had just stood up to leave when they heard a thud coming form the direction of the bedrooms. Barsad moved to investigate the sound.
"Wait my friend let's see what happens," Bane ordered.
His second in command nodded and took his seat as they waited. It was just under ten minutes after they heard the thud that Lena emerged into the living room. A smile touched his lips behind the mask as he watched the young woman actually tip toeing toward the front door as if she was a teenager sneaking out of the house. He could tell that she was completely focused on her escape. He let a hissing breath out and the look on her face as she froze at the sound of his mask was comical.
As Bane watched the girl slowly turn toward him he was still surprised that this unsuspecting girl was the one he'd been looking for. She was several inches shorter than he was and she'd managed to wash her hair and change into one of Daggett's shirts. She looked utterly average in every way except for her eyes, those brutally unrelenting eyes. When she'd finally turned to face him her eyes looked surprised but still hardened with determination. The sort of determination a woman would need to lose as much blood as she had, receive the blow to the head he'd given her, and recover enough in just a few hours to attempt an escape.
"Shit, shit, shit," was the only thing that ran through Lena's mind when she heard the hissing noise.
She turned slowly in place and saw the hulking form of Bane lounging on a large couch his massive arms spread out looking perfectly at ease backlit by what Lena guessed to be a multimillion dollar view of Gotham. His sniper rested in a chair next to him with his hands on his knees. For a moment Lena contemplated bolting for the door but the impulse passed when the logical part of her brain kicked in telling her that even if she made it out of the apartment Bane would have men guarding the building, she'd be lucky if she made the lobby.
"Maintain eye contact maintain control," Lena chanted to herself as she stared down the terrorist.
"You weren't thinking about flying the coop were you little bird?" Bane asked in mock hurt.
"Nah I was just gonna pop out for some fresh air I'll be right back though, I promise," Lena replied with a forced smile.
The sniper let out a bark of laughter as he stood to go and commented, "This one has spirit I'll let you two get better acquainted." Lena's eyes followed her rival sniper as he made his way to the door. She noted the presence of two guards in the hallway when he left through the front door.
"Why don't you take a seat and as my friend suggested we can get acquainted." Bane stated.
"I prefer to stand. Why am I here?" Lena replied bluntly.
"You seem to be laboring under the misconception that was a request little bird, sit before I make you." Bane replied in a cruel tone.
Lena stared at him for a moment and an electric tension passed between them. She didn't want to appear weak but she also remembered the blow he had dealt her on the roof and decided to comply. Lena sat on the edge of the seat the sniper had just vacated her legs tensed ready to jump up and move if she needed to.
"Since you've chosen to be cooperative I will answer your question. You are here because you interest me and because your actions have inspired rebellion around the city. You will remain here as long as I choose. Any other questions Evelyn?"
Lena fidgeted at the false name and it was getting harder to maintain eye contact.
"I'm not all that interesting just your average girl in the big city." She replied dismissively.
"There's no need to be modest my dear you've shown an impressive level of skill with firearms. You've also evaded my men who are all highly trained while leaving behind interesting little taunts for me. I have a feeling you are many things little bird but average is not one of them." Bane stated his unrelenting stare bearing down on her.
Bane stood with surprising speed Lena echoing is action her nerves taut as she waited for his next move. He started moving slowly towards her and in response she took a step back. As Lena moved away from Bane's advance her leg caught the corner of the chair and she started to fall. Her stomach lurched and she closed her eye preparing for the impact that would hurt her already battered body but it never came. She felt a firm grip around her waist and opened her eyes blinking in surprise. Bane pulled her up and steadied her, his hands still in place at her hips.
Lena went ridged at his touch and their close proximity. Her hands were rested on his muscular arms and she was able to see the intricate tubing of the mask that had come to symbolize terror and chaos in New Gotham. Lena wasn't sure if it was the methodical hiss or the unrelenting gaze of his dark eyes but she felt compelled to reach out and touch the mask. She lifted her hand slowly but when she was only inches from touching it there was a knock at the door which is what Lena need to break the trance she'd been in.
She stepped back dropping her eyes to the floor and released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as Bane called out, "Enter." The sniper came back into the penthouse taking in the scene with raised eye brows as if to say I didn't think you'd get that acquainted.
"You're needed at city hall sir." He said curtly.
"Thank you Barsad I'll be right out." Bane replied turning his attention back to Lena. "This apartment is at your disposal, if you try to escape you will fail." He stated and turned abruptly exiting with Barsad. Lena was left standing alone still unsettled by the suddenness of the day's events.
"What the fuck was that about?" she thought bewildered. "He threatens me, then chats with me, stops me from falling, and to top all the weirdness off he holds me. What is his angle?" Lena puzzled as she paced around the spacious living room.
She came to the conclusion that he was just attempting unnerve her so she did her best to put it out of her mind as she started to explore the ridiculously extravagant penthouse. Lena moved toward the wall of glass that entirely took up one wall of the living room and slide open the door leading to the huge balcony. She tentative stepped out onto the cold cement. The dusting snow on the frigid ground bit at Lena's feet as she attempted to walk outside. She stepped back inside closing the door and hurried to the large plush rug in the living room rubbing the warmth back into her feet.
"You may have won this round weather but I'll beat you next time," she declared cursing her lack of footwear.
Lena ambled around the apartment looking for shoes and trying to formulate a plan of escape. She came across a few more bedrooms and two doors that were locked. When Lena had searched the entire penthouse and was unable to find a single pair of shoes her suspicions that Bane was attempting to deter her from escaping were confirmed.
It hadn't taken long to search the large apartment and Lena soon found herself back in the living room pacing the smooth hard wood flooring. She stood looking out at the balcony contemplating her next move. When an obstacle arose Lena relished over coming it and right now she wanted to go outside and take a look around. She scanned the living room again and an idea popped into her mind. Lena walked over to the couch Bane had been sprawled across, trying extremely hard not to think of the titanic man, and picked up one of the accent pillows. Holding it between her knees she pulled the zipper.
Once it was open she dropped it to the floor and stuck her foot into the soft down feathers zipping it tight to leg. After she'd repeated her actions with the other foot she looked at herself.
"Well I look ridiculous," Lena sighed as she stood and took a few tentative steps the down feathers felt surprisingly pleasant.
She took big awkward steps towards the balcony the pillows shifting up and down as she moved. Lena stepped out into the cold air the frigid wind biting into her uncovered arms. She scoped the open area noting a large gas fire pit as she moved towards the balcony railing. As Lena leaned out over the edge of the balcony she took in the expansive city far below. She had always felt that the higher up she went the smaller her problems seemed but even though she was about as high up as she could get in New Gotham the penthouse was a cage not a perch and her problems seemed larger than they had since the bridges were blown. Lena looked down and saw that about twenty feet down there was another balcony.
"That could come in handy," Lena thought as she turned and headed back inside, the gears in her mind grinding away as she went in search of something to eat.
He walked with Barsad to the elevator contemplating what had just transpired between him and his little captive. He had intended to just unnerve her a bit, see what her reaction would be and he hadn't been disappointed. Her response to his sudden movement had pleased him she had good instincts but then she'd tripped. He wasn't sure why he'd caught her but he had and the interaction had unsettled him. He could still feel her small waist and the ghost of her hands on his arms,
"And she had been reaching out to touch the mask. I wonder what would have happened if Barsad hadn't knocked," Bane pondered until he realized Barsad had been talking to him. "I'm sorry old friend what were you saying?"
"I was saying that Talia is waiting for you at city hall sir. That girl seemed to make an impression on you." Barsad commented with a smirk.
They had reached the lobby and were headed towards the entrance. Bane mentally chastised himself for letting the girl distract him again but at the mention of Talia's name he mind cleared of all thoughts but her.
"Yes, Barsad she is an interesting distraction but a distraction none the less and we must all stay vigilant as the fire rises to cleanse this city." Barsad nodded in agreement as they walked out of the building and across the street to where the motorcycles were parked.
As he mounted the bike he glanced back at the building and for a fleeting moment he thought he saw a figure far up on Daggett's balcony. He shook his head in astonishment chuckling softly as he kicked over the engine reminding himself again that she was a distraction. As he angled the motorcycle onto the road his mind returned to Talia, his Talia and he headed off to be with her.
There it is folks hope you enjoyed it as always please review.