Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Chris Nolan, Batman,or the DC Comics world. All chracters, plots and story lines used that belong to them...well belongs to them. I just own my plot and my interpretation of known characters

Chapter 5: Unconventional meetings

Three years had passed since his argument with his sister. Bruce sat contemplating a dollar bill in his hand. Money was a joke. People can own as much of the paper

as they want, but all that it was at the end of the day was a fancy piece of tissue paper. Sure there are those who would disagree, but as Bruce sat in his parents…

well his master bedroom; Alfred had insisted he reside there while he was home from school, looking at a family of four smiling back at him…his family, he could not

help to be angry. Money could not bring his parents back from the dead; It could not even find Bells. It was like she had disappeared from the face of the earth. There

was a reward, Bruce would spare no cost for whoever could bring him information about his sister leading to her safe return. They traced her car to the docks. It had

been abandoned there. No sign of struggle. No sign she had ever owned the car. All DNA had been removed from the vehicle, even the plate was gone. Whoever took

her left no leads and no motive. Cassandra, Gotham's Princess, became a cold case in Gotham's archives. Money did not bring any of them back, It did however buy

Bruce a gun. His family deserved justice. He deserved justice. Rachel informed Bruce that Joe Chill was getting paroled as a plea baragin to testify against Carmine

Falcone. He was just walking away, just like that. Justice will be served whether Gotham allowed it or not. Bruce would see to it. He grabbed his suitcase and left

Wayne Manor. Looking back only once through the rear view mirror, knowing after he succeeded in what he was about to do; it would be a very long time before he

looked upon it again.

"But Sensei?" Cassandra yelled the next morning questioning David's decision on how she should respond to the Bane's challenge the day before.

"I said no, Cassandra. You will not ruin all we have worked for because your pride was wounded. Talia Al Ghul is Ra's daughter fortunately for us Ra's focus, his driving force, is our purpose as the league of Shadows. He had a daughter when you arrived, Cassandra, he was still looking for a warrior. You are his warrior; His heir set to lead his men into battle, all you have to do is take it." Her teacher yelled frustrated at her lack of restraint.

David calmed a little before continuing, "Being as it may, I had not anticipated Talia's arrival being around the same time as your debut. I thought we had time to establish your place amongst the men and with Ra's before she returned. Bane is loyal to her. You must understand this Cassandra because it is important. He is different than most and the men respect him as much as they do you. Talia is cunning; with him at her side she has made you her equal. The time will come when you and Bane will fight to secure your place as heir to the league. However that was not yesterday and it is not today, Cassandra you must be patient." David urged hoping she understood how imperative his words were.

Then he continued, "Calm yourself against silly pride. I have trained you with the unconventional for the unconventional. Bane is the unconventional. We have the high ground right now. They know not what to expect; he has not seen you fight. Plan then attack, Cassandra. Observe then execute." "That being said I will no longer be training you separately" David announced. "You will now train with the rest of the league." Cassandra's eyes shifted toward him in protest though she never spoke a word. "Ra's is interested in his new toy. Let him play. Bait them, but hold back. Just show enough to hold interest then report to me after. Do not speak to anyone. There and back, do you understand me?"

"Yes Sensei" was all she replied.

He watched her. She could feel his eyes on her. It was more annoying than she let on. She refused to even acknowledge his existence. Before training he watched, during training he watched, after training he watched. He was studying her movements. It wasn't desire she knew that look. It was curiosity intrigue even. She felt belittled. Angry, but she remembered David's words. She could not afford to be reckless though she felt he was provoking her. He was testing her patience studying what made her tick; what set her off. He was trying to find her weaknesses.

"That is it for today." Ra's voice carried through the room.

"Aye" They are replied in unison bowing low Ra's bowed back in return signaling the end of training.

Ra's training was tame compared to what she had been subjected to at the cabin. Unconventional was hardly the word to use. Ra's teaching were however just a useful. He was a skilled artist. It would be hard to follow in his footsteps. She didn't doubt she could. She was trained to do so, but there was a look in his eyes. A look that one only acquired through age: by seeing too much… doing too much. She had seen it before though she couldn't quite recall from where. It would be years until Cassandra would be able to acquire such experience: and she did not have years with Talia and Bane posing a threat to all she had trained for.

Then she felt it: that familiar feeling of being watched. Cassandra felt it every day on her walk back to David's chambers. She had not liked the feeling of being hunted. That's what it felt like being stalked. It made her feel weak…helpless. She never liked feeling that way. She felt it so much at the cabin. She made a promise to herself after one particular attack that she would never allow herself to feel that way again. Cassandra knew he did not pose any real threat to her at least at that moment. She could sense in his energy that his intent was purely subjective. It radiated off him like nuclear bomb. It was menacing, commanding and potent.

He had been following her since that night. Probably Talia's doing she was hard to read. Poised, yet strangely vacant behind her exotic eyes. People like her to a normal person would prove to be mysterious spontaneous even. People like her to Cassandra were lethal. They made a great team. People knew what to expect of Bane just standing in the room with him. It didn't take an ability to know that if Bane wanted you dead it would take little effort on his part to do so. You see what you get and what you got was a pure force of nature. Talia took a much more delicate calculating approach, and what she could not handle; she let him finish for her. Cassandra had no doubt that she could beat either separately, but together that would prove to be a bit more challenging.

She turned the corner toward the last stretch near David's room. The presence usually disappeared around that point. Yet it lingered a while longer.

David's instructions were clear, there and back, but Cassandra did not care. Bane was poking a snake in Cassandra's eyes. He knew she knew he was there. Yet, he continually did it cornering her more and more every passing day. David was making her appear weak; so passive, when she could easily take out the problem in a few moments. She learned long ago to trust David, and it had proved to be usually correct but as the days passed she started to doubt her father. Perhaps aging or one too many kicks to the head had impaired his judgments. She had fought and defeated many people twice Bane's size: did David really have so little faith in her abilities? Had she not done enough to prove her worth? Maybe the student had surpassed her Sensei. Perhaps she had to secure her own destiny, and it would start with Bane.

"Can I help you?" Cassandra asked into the air rather frankly. The familiar muffled voice filled the corridor. Bane, however,was nowhere to be found.

"That depends on the aide you possess that I would deem useful, and that…" Bane paused appearing out from his concealed location "has yet to still be determined." He was mocking her to her face. "I assume, however, your statement was not meant as an offering of your assistance so I would employ you to ask only of me what you truly wish to know."

"Ok" Cassandra stated refusing to take the bait. "Why have you been following me?"

"That's simple, You did not tell me you name." Bane responded very certain. This annoyed Cassandra and she snapped.

"Ok, I'm not dealing with this today. You are telling me you have followed me for three weeks to find out a name you've already heard by now. I don't like my time wasted… Bane Cassandra spat his name out of her mouth and though you might think it's funny to waste my time with lies excuse me if I decide to leave now and find a more suitable way to spend the rest of my afternoon."

She turned away from him and began again down the hall.

Bane came from nowhere with a quickness like she had never experienced before. He was fast for his appearance. She had underestimated him and it would probably cost Cassandra her life. No matter what she would not cry out for her father; she at least owed him that. All his hard work .Then again she'd never have the chance to. Bane could snap her neck before she even pronounced the first syllable. She tried to struggle find any way to escape. She was locked under his massive form, pinned against the cold stone wall; all his weight pressed against her. The energy that radiated off him was stronger than before. The power engulfed Cassandra and a twinge of something she hadn't felt in years resurfaced in her…Fear. She locked eyes with him to try to read him. There it was. She had offended him. There was determination and anger at a depth she had never experienced before. Perhaps had been the one poking the snake.

He lowered his face down towards the side of hers, and spoke softly more than knowing David Cain was listening expecting Cassandra's arrival any moment. The mechanical hiss sending a vibration trickling through Cassandra's body; her heart rate was quickening. He was so close. Nobody had handled her like this before.

"You're reputation precedes you "One who is all". I prefer Cassandra. You are not ready to sit on such a high pedestal though they find reason to place you on it anyway. I do not jest or lie and the implications that I did either would normally be enough cause for me to end this puny reality you call existence. However, Cassandra you are not normal. You interest me and not for your reputation which considering the position you are currently in is as disputable as the notion that you are fit to be Ra's al Ghul's heir. I never said I did not know your name. I, Cassandra, meerily informed you that you had not told me your name: quite a rude gesture considering that I found cause to tell you mine. Only to be succeeded by your turning your back on me after insulting my credibility without even allowing me the proper respect of a bow before taking your leave."

Cassandra tried to will him off of her. Nothing happened. He did not even budge.

"Ah Yes, I've heard of your ability, you will find it will not work on me. It will take a lot more than parlor tricks to beat me, girl. Your pride and anger are your biggest enemies. You will defeat yourself before I even have a chance to embarrass you and your so called Sensei in front of Ra's al Ghul and the rest of the league." Bane taunted brows furrowed eyes dark, deep… menacing.

Cassandra had heard enough. She dropped all her weight. Bane hadn't expected it and Cassandra instinctively sent a low swipe of her leg to knock him off his feet. Cassandra hopped up to her feet as did Bane almost in sync. He was surprisingly agile as well. Maybe it wasn't as easy as Cassandra had thought it was going to be. Both stared each other down waiting to respond if either one struck first.

Footsteps invaded the silence and tension they had built between them temporarily melting it away as quick as it was created. They were trained to recognize each other's footsteps. It was a way to distinguish between brother or enemy in the event that their headquarters were ambushed. These particular footsteps were distinctly Ra's al Ghul's.

He rounded the corner just as they straightened up. They bowed low in unison. All evidence of the exchange that was about to happen erased except the tension that lingered over their heads. Ra's sensed it.

"Is everything ok Cassandra?" Ra's did not trust or care for Bane. He could not prevent Talia from the connection she already had for him, and he dare not force her to choose between them for fear she might choose Bane. Talia looked so much like her mother. He would see her happy in whatever way she saw fit. Cassandra was his however; His weapon. Bane could not be trusted especially around Cassandra. He didn't know much about bane him only being in and out as Talia saw fit to travel, but what he had come to find that in most cases Bane was internal, systematic even. If he was taking an interest in Cassandra it was for a reason and it threatened everything they had accomplished in 19 years.

"Everything is fine, Master." Cassandra assured hoping she sounded more convincing than she felt. "We were just having a friendly chat."

Ra's did not seem convinced but pressed on anyway. "Good, good I'm glad there's no bad blood between you two. You didn't have the best introduction I dare say." It was Bane's time to respond.

"My sentiments exactly" Bane replied. I thought me and young Cassandra here should try to resolve any misunderstandings that may have occurred between us. They tend to have a way of creating unnecessary conflicts . I think we now have a clear understanding of each other. Wouldn't you agree, Cassandra?" Bane was staring her down again.

She met his eyes as if meeting his challenge. "Crystal" She replied shortly.

"Well that is that then, on to other business. There is much to be done. If you are finished here Cassandra I was wondering if you have a moment. I want to sit down with you and David to discuss something of a very urgent nature. Shall we?" Ra's gestured in the direction of David's chambers. Cassandra's heart sank and her stomach turned. She was in so much trouble. Perhaps, David would not notice she was more than 20 minutes late.

"Sure, David is expecting me any moment anyway. Good day Bane. It was… Cassandra paused struggling to find the right word to fit what had just occurred…Educational." She finished turning towards Bane. Secretly glad Ra's had shown up when he did. Bane and Cassandra bowed low to each other; the gesture forced in respect of Ra's al Ghul's presence.

"That it was indeed, we must do it again very soon. Until next time, Cassandra." Bane replied his eyes never left hers; both silently promising the other: They were far from finished.

I know chapters 4 and 5 came quick behind each other. I didn't feel i had enough Bane in the prior chapter. This is considerable shorter than my normal chapters but I think it has enough to set up a few thing I want to touch on in the future with out dragging the chapter on and on. Hopefully you like it. More Bane to come. Please review.