A/N: Here's chapter two. Disclaimer: I don't own anything but Alexis, Demetri and my fictional version of Street Fighting. Plus my plotline and Luca (who makes his appearance in this chapter). So... yeah.

And here. We. Go...

Come a little bit closer

Before we begin

Lemme tell you how I want it

And exactly what I need

I'm here for one drug

I'm only here for one thing

So come on and tell me,

Can you fly like you're free?

Cause I need to feel

Yeah, I need to say...

I must confess,

I'm addicted to this

Shove your kiss

Straight through my chest

I can't deny, I'd die without this

Make me feel like a god

Music, love and sex

Adrenalize me

I crave excess,

Turning wine into sweat

Dripping down my neck

I can't deny, I'd die without this

Make me feel like a god

Adrenaline and sex

Adrenalize - In This Moment

Prologue Part Two - The Breaking of Wings

Two years passed and Alexis taught Bane and Talia how to speak German. She also grew frightfully close to Bane. Though Demetri just told her it was probably her being grateful for him taking her in. But something in her gut told her it was so much more. Her stomach would flip and flop every time he smiled at her. Her heart leapt any time he grabbed her arm. And it was worse any time she had gotten a hold of Demetri's 'special brew'. Once Bane tried it and then gave her the bottle back, saying that he'd much rather stick with the old stuff. Alexis had laughed and continued with the days German lessons. They enjoyed the lessons and her tellings of the world outside. She also learned much about the two during her stay.

What she didn't know, however, were the effects that she had upon Bane. Every day when she smiled or laughed he watched her with a smile. Each time she fought he watched her feline grace from a dark corner, knowing how gentle she really was. Especially when it came to Talia. If she ever got hurt then Alexis was there, calming her with gentle words that felled from the very lips that spat curses to other men in foreign tongues. Every time he saw her blood shed he'd wish that he could break the man who had harmed her. Though he fought twice as much as she and had only a few times lost a fight. She never lost, there being much more on stake on her end.

One morning, during a fight with Demetri, a man had run up to her and ran a blade between two of her ribs. She yelled in pain and then kicked the man. He fell to the ground and she pressed one knee to his chest, pulling the blade free and slitting a gash across his chest. She then dragged him to his feet and slammed his head into the wall. She threw his slumped form to the group that surrounded them. She fell to her knees and Demetri caught her, Bane now by his side and watching Alexis. They rushed to the doctor and heard him grumbling about sneaks.

Alexis had barely been allowed to return with Bane. Talia had agreed to stay with Demetri until she was recovered. The two had also grown to be close friends.

Bane gently laid Alexis in Talia's cot and she hissed in pain, trying hard not to cry out. Once her muscles relaxed she was able to settle into sleep.

That night was the first night that her nightmares had returned since she entered the pit. She was able to mostly avoid screaming but her face contorted in pain with each movement that she made. Only once did she scream, causing Bane to awaken. He walked over and scooped her seemingly fragile frame into his arms. She curled close to his chest, the warmth calming her. She looked up at him, drunk from pain, and smiled.

"I knew you'd never let me fall." She whispered, obviously referring to her nightmare. That was when she noticed an old, rugged bear who was half hidden under a blanket. She reached out, her fingers brushing it's arm. "What's this?"

She heard Bane mumble under his breath that it was nothing. But she reached out and picked it up with the utmost care. "I said it was nothing."

"He's cute." She smiled and brushed the dust from his glossy black eyes. "Is he Talia's?" She asked. She was surprised when he shook his head.

"He was mine. Osito. He used to be my only friend." He reached down and dusted off the snout.

"Osito." She whispered and gently hugged the bear, looking much like a small child. Her breathing eventually calmed once more to signify her sleep. She still clutched Osito tightly, not releasing him for the duration of the night. Bane too fell asleep with Alexis on his lap, head resting on his chest.

When he woke up he saw Alexis, still smiling with Osito resting on her lap with his head on her stomach. Gently moving the small teddy bear aside, he lifted Alexis and stood. She stirred slightly as he laid her back down but did not awaken. A light smile crossed his lips before he was out the door and heading to the cell occupied by Demetri. He found him awake with Talia across the room, reading a small book that Alexis had given her.

"Good morning." Bane called into the cell. Talia looked up, gave a quick good morning and then returned to her book. Demetri let out a chuckle and looked to Bane.

"She has been engrossed in that book for the past two hours." Bane looked to the sundial that was barely readable from their point of view. It was seven in the morning. Which meant she'd probably been using candlelight before. True to his suspicions he found a half burnt candle on the table by her side. She closed the book a moment later and looked to Bane.

"Is Alexis okay?" Concern layered her voice. Bane nodded.

"She will be fine with a couple of days to rest." Talia smiled and returned to her book as Bane left, heading back to his cell. Soon after, Demetri left to get some breakfast.

Back in Bane's cell Alexis had awakened and was currently exercising through push-ups and stretching. She didn't notice Bane watching her from the doorway. But she did notice the pain in her side whenever she moved wrong. She doubled over after a few minutes, falling to her knees and pressing her hands to the stab wound. She dropped her head and sucked a breath in through gritted teeth. Bane walked over and knelt beside her. She looked up so quickly that she hit the bottom of his jaw with the top of her head and winced. She looked at him and they both began to laugh. They stood and Alexis rubbed her head.

"Sorry about that." She laughed.

"It's quite alright my dear." She looked up at him and noticed how he was watching her. She hadn't been aware of how close he was until she looked up into his dark brown eyes.

He reached out slightly and ignored his conscience telling him to stop. His hand cupped her jaw and she leaned into him, her eyes closing as he claimed her lips with his.

Alexis' mind reeled, adrenaline pumping through her veins from the electricity of the kiss. Her heart pounded as he buried his fingers into her hair to deepen the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes, deepening the kiss. Though after a moment she turned and moved away, gasping for air as her mind struggled to work through what had happened. She turned back to see Bane behind her and immediately she felt heat in her cheeks as she blushed a bright hue of red.

"Woah." She blinked as she nearly fell. The adrenaline took a lot from her since she had lost so much blood. Bane caught her and helped her sit on the cot before he disappeared from the cell. Alexis blinked and then shook her head before laying back and relaxing.

She awoke to yells and cries from the main pit. As she rolled she saw Bane yelling at one of the men who stood in front of him, Demetri by his side. Alexis groaned and rolled from the cot before running as fast as she could and leaping over a group of men below her. She hit the ground near Bane and stood, brushing her hair back as she took in the man who Bane had been yelling at. He was tall and built tough, his muscles suggesting either heavy steroid usage or he really lifted. She recognized him and grinned, both upon knowing him and knowing that it had been steroids to cause the horrific growth that now stood before her. She knew of his unseen deformities and of his few seen ones. All thanks to the 'roids.

"Hey Cloud." He glared at her and she noticed a man hanging limp in his hands.

"Evil Angel." He growled. Alexis put on a mock pout and crossed her arms.

"Now now Cloud. Is that any way to greet a fellow competitor?" Cloud tightened his grip on the mans neck and he cried out in pain. "Put him down." Alexis now looked furious. Cloud grinned before hurling the unconscious man at her. Alexis caught him and rolled backwards, gently laying him down as she did so. She hissed in pain before running at Cloud and swinging her leg around to hit him in his side. He managed to turn and grab her before throwing her into Bane. She screamed in pain as her wound tore more. She hissed a little and stood, running at Cloud once more. She ducked under his arms and jumped onto his back. She managed to wrap her arms around his neck and squeeze until he fell to the floor in a heap. She winced and watched as Bane and Demetri dragged the man to a cell and locked the door. Bane shoved the key into his pocket and then returned to Alexis.

"Alexis?"

"I'm fine. Check on him." She gestured to the man who Cloud had been trying to kill. Bane walked over with Alexis beside him and she knelt down, checking his pulse. As her cold hand met his warm skin he jolted to awareness. "It's alright. I won't hurt you."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Alexis." She spoke softly to try and calm him down. "What's yours?"

"Luca." He managed to say.

"Luca. Cloud can't hurt you anymore. He's been locked away." Luca looked around before noticing Cloud yelling to be let out. He then looked to Alexis once more.

"Thank you. You truly are an angel." Alexis chuckled.

"Evil Angel yes. But a pure angel? No."

"Like the Street Fighter?"

"In the flesh." Luca smiled and then stood. He was just a little shorter than Alexis.

"It's an honor to meet you miss." Alexis smiled.

"Well you're a sweetheart aren't you?" He shrugged. "Which brings me to wonder why you were sent down here."

"I stole a necklace. And there are very powerful people who hate my guts." Alexis looked him over.

"Well you'd better stick with us my friend. The Pit is not a kind place. Believe me. Two years has taught me this. And Bane here has lived in this hellhole for his whole life." She paused. "I do not think that the cell beside Demetri is occupied. Is it?"

"No. It is not." Demetri had appeared behind Alexis and held out his hand, the small key resting in his large palm. "Here you are." Luca took the key, obviously terrified of the man behind Alexis.

"So long as you harm none of us I swear that Demetri will not harm you." Alexis walked with Luca and Bane towards the cells and pointed out which was his.

"Alexis!" Alexis spun around to see Talia running up to her. She swept her up and placed her on her shoulders. "Who's this?" She asked, looking down at the boy.

"His name is Luca. And he'll be joining our little group door training. He needs it if he wants to live."

"You have a child?"

"She is not mine. Nor is she Bane's." Luca watched Talia and then looked to Alexis. "Though I treat her as if she were my own blood."

"I see." He then disappeared into his cell with a quick and frightened thanks.

"He is very jumpy is he not?"

"It will take him time to come to terms with the fact that he is trapped down here." Alexis set Talia on the floor and then looked towards the opening of the pit.

"What are you thinking Alexis?" She smiled and looked down at the little girl.

"I was thinking of trying the climb."

"But your injury?"

"I know. It was only a thought. Perhaps when I am healed."

Three months passed and Alexis was steadily able to exercise more and more. Finally the pain vanished, leaving only a small scar to remind her of Pena Dura. A month after she had been stabbed the man's body had been found. His wound had been infected and the infection reached his heart. His body was sent up to be properly buried.

That was also the day Alexis tried the climb.

She tied the rope tightly around her waist and then began to scale the wall, cries of 'Deshi Basara' echoing up towards her. To her it felt as if their voices were propelling her forwards and encouraging her to succeed. She finally pulled herself up onto a small ledge and stood at the edge, looking to the block that stood ahead of her, a good eight foot gap between the two. She took a deep breath and ran forwards. The prison fell silent as her feet left the one block. She could hear the collective breath as her fingers brushed the other and then caught midway up. Cheers and shouts broke out before she swore and tried to reach up. Instead, the small stone she had a hold on came loose and she fell, causing a few sighs and whispers to pass through the crowd. Booming laughter came from Cloud as Alexis was lowered to the ground. There she met Bane and Demetri. But she pushed past them and went straight to the cells.

"Alexis?" Luca asked as she sat inside of her cell.

"What?"

"You did good. You almost made it."

"But I didn't." She almost whispered.

"And you think Talia will take it to mean that she can't escape?"

"Exactly. And I really want to help her get out of here." She hung her head. "She doesn't deserve to be trapped here."

A/N: Thanks for reading. The final part of the prologue will be up next. And then we hit Gotham. A couple fillers where she meets Scarecrow and The Joker. And then it's back to Bane. ~ Shade 3