A/N: Okay. Here it is. Alexis' return to Gotham and her reunion with Alfred at the least (since Bruce isn't back yet). It's shorter than I had hoped but I needed to move on to the real story. ~ Shade 3
P.S.: I own nothing but my OCs and my version of Street Fighting. Please enjoy, my friends.
Cry, little sister - Thou shall not fall
Come, come to your brother - Thou shall not die
Unchain me, sister - Thou shall not fear
Love is with your brother - Thou shall not kill
Blue masquerade, strangers look on
When will they learn this loneliness?
Temptation heat beats like a drum
Deep in your veins, I will not lie
Cry, little sister - Thou shall not fall
Come, come to your brother - Thou shall not die
Unchain me, sister - Thou shall not fear
Love is with your brother - Thou shall not kill
Cry Little Sister - Seasons After
Prologue Part Three - The Rise
Two more years came and went, Alexis having gone right back to fighting. Though the crowd stayed farther back to allow any attackers to be seen before they reached the fighters. Commonly it was Alexis and Demetri, keeping in shape and ready for the day they might escape the Pit. Alexis herself had attempted the climb three times more before giving up to train more. Demetri, on the other hand, continued his attempts. Everyone envied Alexis and Demetri for their playful and unbreakable nature. But it was beginning to rub off on many of the inmates. Many of them were growing slightly nicer to the duo each day. Yet they still avoided the self-proclaimed 'king'. All but his lover and her friend that was. Word had managed to spread of Bane and Alexis. Many of them saying the Evil Angel truly did love the Demon of Hell.
Alexis had rolled her eyes at the rumors but silently enjoyed the title. She didn't care that others stared when she had kissed Bane after an arena fight that had left her with a black eye. She never cared that some men fought her less for fear of what Bane would do to them. Demetri suggested a duel one evening and Bane agreed, along with Alexis. They were to duel each other at noon.
A sizable crowd had gathered, many betting on Bane. But the majority bet that Alexis would win.
After half an hour of swinging fists and spattered blood, the two called a draw. Neither was able to best the other. After that day no one was afraid to hurt Alexis, knowing that she could handle herself.
She continued to bet her same wager. Anything they had for one thing from her. She did this so as to force herself to her limits to win. She never lost a fight and soon gained a title beside her other two.
'Queen of the Arena' they called her. Every single time she stepped onto the flat land in the middle of the Pit, the sundial being moved for the duration of the fight, she felt the ground vibrate as the people chanted her many names. Most still called her Evil Angel. And she wore that name with pride. People from a nearby city would often hear the chants. Though from that distance they were illegible. Many of the guards watched the fights. On one occasion Alexis managed to send a bribe up to them to send down a radio. Oftentimes they would turn the radio up with the music at full blast to back the fight. One time they timed it perfectly and Evil Angel played during a fight.
Alexis had reveled in the sound of the music and the crowd blending perfectly once more. The fight had ended shortly before the song had and Bane had walked into the center of the arena, a smile stretched across his lips.
"Is this what you wanted?" He had asked.
"Almost." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. His fingers wound through her hair and she smiled under his lips.
They had stepped away as the song ended, a good part of the crowd cheering.
Alexis and Demetri helped Bane teach Talia and Luca how to fight as well. And before the end of the first year they were almost as good as the trio. Talia had taken up a permanent residence with Demetri and Alexis acquired her old cot. She wasn't ashamed to admit (to the small group) that she kept Osito with her each night. Less than a year prior Bane had pulled her cot over to join his. Upon her request that is.
Alexis lay awake one night, laying with her side pressed to Bane's warm chest. Osito lay on her other side and she watched the ceiling. She focused on how the attitudes of two people had changed that of dozens of men. Though they still bickered amongst each other they were almost always kind and generous whenever Demetri or Alexis were around. Though that all changed when they learned who Talia really was.
Alexis had heard the name Ra's al Ghul before. But she never knew that he had a daughter. Let alone that daughter was Talia.
As it turned out many of the men had a bone to pick with Ra's and decided to go after Talia. So Alexis had packed a small bag of Talia's few things and then looked to Bane.
"Demetri. You take Talia to the surface."
"I can't make the jump. You will have to."
"Nein! I am staying here." Bane shook his head and handed her the bag that belonged to her. Her coat was stuffed into it. ((No!))
"Go. We have nothing left to lose. You have a life on the surface." She hugged Bane, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Sie haben mich." She cried. He hugged back and then stepped away and kissed her quickly. ((You have me.))
"That is why I must let you go. Goodbye Alexis." Her eyes were red as she grabbed her bag.
"Goodbye Bane." She and Talia began to run, Bane, Luca and Demetri with them. When the reached the wall Bane handed Alexis something soft. She looked down to see Osito.
"Don't look back." He whispered to her. She nodded and gently tied the bear to her belt. She climbed after Talia, shoving her small bag into her backpack. Talia was slightly faster than her, the twelve year old quickly reaching the ledge where many men, and Alexis, had fallen. Yet without the safety of the rope there would be no next try. Talia leaped and grabbed the ledge, pulling herself up and then continuing on. Alexis looked down to see Bane watching her. She took a small step back and ran. She leaped and barely caught the edge, the jolt knocking Osito from her belt.
With her free hand Alexis barely grabbed the bear's arm and then hugged him tight as she pulled herself onto the ledge. She looked down but saw no sign of Bane, Demetri or Luca. Only a man holding a bloody knife. A sole tear fell as she continued to climb, finally pulling herself into the sunlight. She gave Talia her bag and they ran as fast as they could. They didn't stop until late at night, tears staining both of their faces.
They were found the next morning by Talia's father. He thanked Alexis and told her that if ever she needed anything then the doors of the League of Shadows were always open.
"Just make sure she stays safe. Three brave men sacrificed themselves for her safety." She brushed a little of Talia's hair from her face and then walked away, not knowing that Talia looked back and told her father to search for the three.
Alexis made her way back to Gotham, where she heard the news for the first time in four years, having ignored it every time it was on the radio.
"And the world still mourns the loss of Alexis Aufstieg. More commonly known as the 'Evil Angel'. Four years ago today the Street Fighting legend vanished. Sadly, many presume that she is dead. In her honor the mayor will be opening a new arena for Street Fighters. The event will occur at noon today at the edge of the city."
Alexis began to run, having two hours to get to the new arena. She crossed a deserted street without looking and nearly got hit by a fancy car with an elderly driver. She ran over to the window and apologized quickly. She suddenly realized it was Alfred. Bruce Wayne's butler.
"Can you help me get to the new Street Fighter arena?"
"Why don't you hop in? I'm heading there."
"Thank you. It is very important that I be there."
"And why is that?"
"Well Alfred. I hear it is terribly rude to miss your own party." She stated.
"Alexis?" His jaw dropped.
"That's me." She smiled.
"Everyone thought you were dead." He reached over and hugged her. She returned the hug and grinned.
"No. Just wrongfully imprisoned." She looked out the window and saw the large arena just over the horizon. She gasped and her hand covered her mouth as she saw the image of her standing over her first victory. She held a fist in the air and had blood spattered clothing on. The car stopped and she stepped out with Alfred, realizing that her new jeans and tank top would stick out like a sore thumb. But that was her. The sore thumb. Alfred allowed her to leave her bag in the trunk of the car, Osito tucked safely inside. She had thanked him and joined him in a walk up to where the V.I.P.s sat. Alexis sat in the grass due to lack of seating and watched the mayor step up to the podium. Alexis listened to his kind words and stood after he finished.
"She isn't dead you know." She called, causing the mayor to turn towards her.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because the dead do not speak or walk like I do." She walked up and the mayor's jaw dropped. He looked from her to the picture and then back to her. She held her head high, though her eyes showed her exhaustion. She was told to step up to the podium and so she did. She told of what happened, leaving out her time in the Pit itself. She only told of how she, Demetri, Luca and Bane were all wrongfully imprisoned. Though she did not give names. Then she continued to say that she did not recall the location of the Pit due to her weariness and soon after collapsed on the stage. Alfred had taken her back to his home so that she could rest and relax.
She never fully recovered from the Pit. Though she never really wanted to...