Surprisingly, I was the first awake this morning. Although, I can't really move because I'm currently trapped under Bane's gigantic arm, which is draped across my waist. I try moving it, but he just brings me closer to him. Even in his sleep Bane is still stubborn. After a few more attempts I give up. Going back to sleep isn't an option. The sun is shining, though you can't quite tell because the curtains are too thick. I think this is the first time I've ever had a chance to be lazy and I embrace it.
It's hard for my mind to register that I'm no longer in the League, but in India with a man I met a few months ago. Once Bane releases me I'll write her a letter. I keep expecting to here the gong sound throughout the day, but it never happens. I don't regret my decision. Being here with Bane is the most exciting thing that's happened to me in a long time. I have strange feelings for him that I can't easily ignore and they've only gotten stronger as we've traveled. I don't know what the feelings are, but I don't mind them. I would still like to know what they mean.
Today we go meet the doctor Bane has found. I'm slightly nervous that something could go wrong, but we should be okay. Bane's rather intelligent and has probably thought out a plan for every situation. I lightly trace circles on his. I hear Bane mumble something and he turns over. I take the opportunity and leap out of bed. Now that I'm up, I grab some paper and a pen out of the dresser and sit at the table. Bane looks at me groggily before he gets out of bed and walks into the bathroom. I write a page about where we are, our journey, and our plans. Bane walks out of the bathroom and grabs something to eat. Joining me at the table, he glances at the letter.
"Would you like to say anything to Talia?"
"Tell her we will come back for her once it is safe to do so and that I wish her good health. You need to get dressed," he says, taking off his mask. I seal the envelope and get up to pick out a green and gold sira and matching juttis. I place my pajamas back in the drawer and put on my sira and blouse, before turning to see that Bane already has his mask back on and is staring at me with an unnameable emotion in his eyes. He looks away quickly, as if he was caught doing something he wasn't supposed to be, and throws his empty can in the trash while I grab the letter.
Once we're in the hallway he locks the door and places the key in his pants pocket. He's practically wearing the same thing as yesterday, but today his pants are tan instead of black. We walk down the stairs and stop in the foyer. I walk up to the man sitting at a desk.
"Do you have a stamp I can use?" The older man points at a roll of them on the counter. Bane starts to dig in his pocket for some change to pay for it.
"It's on the house for the lovely young lady." I look at him skeptically and Bane glares at him. He grins at the both of us and goes back to what he was doing before I interrupted. I rip a stamp off the roll and stick it on the designated spot on the envelope. The early morning sun outside momentarily blinds me. We pass several people and booths lining the street. The booths hold a variety of merchandise, from clothes to food and magazines. It's not a long walk from our new home to the university and we arrive in around twenty minutes. The university is a big stone and brick building with the name written in gold letters above the doors. Students are roaming around everywhere, though they're to enveloped in their own personal lives to notice us. Which is not a bother, the less attention there is the better off we are.
When we're inside the large building we walk towards the stairs and up to the second floor science department. We maneuver down a long white hallway, with doors lined on both sides, and stop at one that has a plaque with the name Pradyut Ghosh. The doors' window is blocked by a piece of paper with words written in Bengali on it. Bane knocks on the door and after a few seconds I hear a faint 'come in'. We enter the room, wait, scratch that, we enter the lab and a man, who I assume is Professor Ghosh, is bent over a table staring into a microscope.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, Professor. I am in need of some assistance and you seem to fit the criteria," Bane says in fluent Bengali.
"And what would this assistance be?" the professor says finally looking up from his microscope. The man looks to be around his late thirties to mid-forties. He has a mustache like most of the men, and some women, I've seen here so far. His hair is obviously starting to bald, though he doesn't seem to mind. Not that I have anything against bald men. Bane's bald and he's still quite attractive. Wait! When did I start finding Bane and all his baldness attractive. I quickly push those thoughts away to deal with later and focus on the conversation before me.
Bane raises his hand and holds out the vial for the doctor to see, "I need you to replicate this, not only in this form, but also in a form that I can inject straight into my blood stream."
"What is it?"
"It is an inhalant that, when injected into my mask, relieves my constant pain. I only have a few vials left and I need as many as you can make me and as soon as possible," he replies while pulling the fabric off of his face and revealing the intricate metal workings that make up his mask.
"And why should I do this?"
"I'm sure you value your life and I would hate to have to stain my new shirt, but once you have succeeded I will pay you. You mustn't tell anyone of our arrangement," Bane says while walking forward to tower above the scared professor.
The doctor nods his head not needing any more persuasion, "Fine, I will do it."
"I wish you luck doctor. Do not fail me. I will be back in a week."
Bane hands the vial to him and we turn and leave the room. The walk back from the university doesn't take quite as long as the walk there.
"That went well," I say sitting at the table.
"Indeed, it did."
Author's Note: As soon as Bane gets the serum that will let him go without his mask and they get their new 'job', I promise the Bane/Serenity romance/fluff will pick up. I might even do a section in Bane's point of view, just so the reason of his sudden interest in non-friendship actions will make sense. I know the past few chapters have been kind of dull and I guess they're what you would call filler chapters, but I promise more action in the future.
I know that Ra's, if this were a real life scenario, probably wouldn't allow Talia to receive letters from an ex-member of the League, but I think the fact that he basically raised Serenity would have made him more lenient in this situation. Plus, Talia has to be distraught of the loss of her protector and friend, including her new friend, and maybe receiving these letters might let her feel some sort of comfort.