Chapter 24 "Another New Home"
"Gotham is almost as boring as Africa."
I can hear Bane sigh from his position looming over his desk. He spends most of his time there, studying blueprints of Gotham's sewer system and stock exchange.
"I understand that our inactivity is tiring for you, but voicing your complaints out loud will not speed up time."
"I am going to go stir crazy, if I am stuck spending another month in this room smelling its dusty scent."
"As soon as Selina Kyle delivers Bruce Wayne's fingerprints we will begin our mission at the stock exchange. The sewer is almost inhabitable, so you won't have to smell the dusty scent for much longer. Although, I can't promise you the sewer will smell any better."
"Well next time you send out a list of supplies make sure you ask for scented candles."
I can hear him mumble an agreement as the papers scattered across the wooden surface of his desk catch his attention again.
-Time Skip-
The sound of running water is not what disturbs me from my slumber, I have grown used to the sounds of the sewer by now, but the sound of loud voices cause my cot to creak as a shift to observe the commotion. Under the dim lighting of the sewer, two men are dragging another towards mine and Bane's little area we have claimed.
"Why are you here?" He leaves his back turns towards them and I can easily spot the annoyance he feels, as the muscles in his arm tense. One of the idiots kicks the man lying on the ground.
"Answer him."
These two are obviously recruits from Gotham. Members of The League of Shadows aren't this incompetent.
"I was asking you."
"It's the police commissioner." Does he not know how to answer a simple question? At this admission Bane stands.
"And you brought him down here." The incredulousness in his voice is obvious, though I doubt these two can sense it. He lazily walks over to them expanding his chest and showcasing his size. The intimidation tactic works and fear consumes the men.
"We didn't know what to do. We just thought-"
"You panicked and your weakness has cost the lives of three others." Confusion sets in their faces as their eyebrows pull together and they try to dissect the meaning within Bane's words.
"No, he's alone." Before he can even comprehend his fate Bane has seized the man buy the throat and within seconds he crumples to the damp sewer floor.
"Search him, then I will kill you." Bane stands over the man as he stoops down to rifle through the commissioner's pockets. He finds a folded up paper and hands it to Bane. Catching his interest Bane turns away from the two men on the ground to unfold said paper, giving the police commissioner an open opportunity to escape. I finally remove myself from the bed as I rush to watch the Commissioner disappear into the sewer. Many men rush over to fire their guns blindly into the water.
"He's dead." This guy should learn to keep his mouth shut.
"So, show me his body."
"The water runs to any one of the outflows. We'll never find him."
Bane sticks his hand out to Barsad, who places a tracking device into his open palm. Bane gives the device to the man. Who obviously doesn't know what it is.
"Follow him."
"Follow him?" A gun fires and the man falls into the water and disappears into sewer after the commissioner.
"Well that went well." Bane only acknowledges my statement with a quick glance, before returning to his work at his desk. Barsad leans casually against the wall and, now that the entertainment has floated into the sewer, the sound of construction fills the silence once again.
"So what does the paper say? "I place my hand on his shoulder and lean over to try to read some of it myself.
"Commissioner Gordon has lied about the truth behind Harvey Dent's death."
"I knew Bruce Wayne couldn't kill anyone. What are you going to do with this information now?"
"When the time comes, I will use the letter to sway the opinion of the citizens of Gotham." I nod against him, as my arms wrap around his chest and I rest my head comfortably where his neck meets his shoulder. He leans his head against mine and we relish in the contact. Barsad clears his throat and brings us back to the present and reminding us that we can't show affection towards each other. With little privacy, moments like this are rare. Bane can't afford to look weak in front of his army. I detach myself from him and lay on my cot, looking towards Bane, and longing for the physical contact we've been denied since we've moved down here.
Author's Note: I'd like to say a special thank you to all the new followers and to SpookyMPDG for the review, I'm glad to here it's one of your favorites, you have no idea how happy this makes me. I said I would post before Summer ended. So I cut it pretty close, which if you live in Eastern Tennessee it practically feels like Fall out here, but technically it's still Summer. I promise more fluff after Bane bust opens Blackgate and they actually have some alone time. :) Your reviews are very much appreciated, but you don't have to review if you don't want to know. No pressure.