Disclaimer: Do not own Bane or any TDKR related content, Kali Blake is mine.
Ok everybody. This chapter is going to be a bit long, because I haven't updated recently, and because a lot needs to happen and I don't want to break it up into separate chapters. Enjoy, and thanks for waiting!
The end had come.
Bane awoke in the dim grayness of morning, feeling Kali's warm body slumbering against his. For a while he just lay there, feeling her heart beat softly as she nuzzled against his chest, aware he was awake. After some time he carefully disentangled himself from her and went to the window. The sun glowed just over the horizon, greeting Gotham's final day.
Bane was about to return to bed, to spend just a little more time with Kali, when a light tap came at the door. Kali shot up in bed, instantly alert. Bane kept her still by holding out a single hand, and then went to the door. He cracked it just the slightest bit and found Talia waiting. He opened the door fully, letting her inside. Kali came to the doorway of the bedroom wrapped only in her blanket. She paused for the slightest of moments, then nodded at Talia silently and closed the bedroom door. Talia's face was taut with stress.
"What is it?" Bane asked quietly.
"He's back. Somehow the Bat came back." She growled.
"Impossible." Bane breathed.
"Clearly not. We must prevent him from finding the bomb. I want you to get him into City Hall. We'll kill him there, together." Talia said strongly.
Bane nodded. He was infuriated. How had the Bat escaped?
Kali was suddenly back, fully clothed.
"Shall I go out and see what he's planned?" She asked.
"Yes. Get as much information for me as you can and meet me and Bane at City Hall when you think you've heard enough." Talia said approvingly.
A few moments later and Bane was fully dressed, armor tight and ready. Kali was already heading for the door as he caught her by the arm. He pulled her tightly against him, resting his chin on top of her head. She squeezed back just as hard.
"Just a few more hours, and we will have succeeded." He breathed.
She looked up at him and smiled slightly. "Be careful. I'll see you soon." She said quietly, kissing him quickly on the jaw, before she disappeared.
Bane stood there for a long time, feeling the wave of what he had done wash over him.
Kali walked cautiously down the streets. The citizens had gotten more smart, more violent, since this all began. Even she, with all her training, could be overpowered if the mob were large enough. Everywhere she went, she heard whispers of the Bat. Nothing led to where he'd be. Then a new whisper began. That somehow the men trapped below the city had been freed, and were gathering to assault Bane and his men. He'd made it clear to everyone he was waiting at City Hall.
Suddenly Kali saw Barsad a few blocks ahead, and he was clearly looking for her. She jogged to reach him as she noticed he looked somewhat stressed, something she had not seen in the man before. He caught her arm before she could speak, warning her with a single look not to speak. They quickly moved into the trashed lobby of a hotel lounge.
"Have you heard any news?" He asked warily, looking out into the street.
"Nothing of the Bat, but I think he freed the men under the city. I've been told they're gathering to charge City Hall." Kali answered, looking around, trying to find what threat Barsad was looking for. She did not sense any danger. "Barsad, what are you-"
Kali gasped as a sharp pain shot through her neck. A moment later a sharp metallic taste hit her tongue, and an icy sensation began to shoot over her body. Kali turned slowly to Barsad as he pulled a needle free of her neck
"Why?" She asked quietly as the edges of her vision began to flicker.
"Orders." Barsad answered apologetically.
Suddenly the floor seemed to be pulled out from underneath her feet. Shaking, Kali stumbled, trying to find her footing. Barsad quickly grabbed her, and gently eased her to the floor. She was staring at him, trying to fight back the darkness that was swallowing her sight. No! This is not how this is supposed to end! Her conscious screamed. Fight it, dammit! You're stronger than this!
"Bane?" Kali gasped, her whole body trembling as she fought the toxin.
She knew this toxin. One of her trainers was an expert in poisons, and she had been forced to experience the effects of many. She had been given a deadly dose. Once she was unconscious, she would be dead within minutes.
"No. Talia. She needed Bane focused on the Bat." He said quietly.
She noticed he was pulling something out of his coat pocket, but her vision was too dim to quite make it out. Suddenly, a sharp pain hit her in the thigh. A warm sensation began to spread slowly from that spot.
"However, she did not take into consideration that I care more for Bane than I ever did her. And, I kind of like you." Barsad said, rubbing up and down her arms to keep her circulation moving. "I've given you an antidote. It will slowly kill off the toxin before it does any real damage. It's also going to convince Talia you are dead. She's going to stop here in about ten minutes to confirm you are dead. So, I need you to trust me and go to sleep."
Kali noted her vision had already slightly cleared. She looked into Barsad's eyes. She nodded. A moment later she closed her eyes and let the warmth that had spread through her pull her under.
Talia slipped into the building Barsad had marked, making sure no one saw her. After all, "Miranda" was being held captive by Bane's men. Barsad was waiting, leaning against the front desk, playing with his sniper rifle. He nodded his head in the direction of the lounge without looking up. Talia approached Kali's body, which had been placed on one of the over plush couches.
Talia placed a hand gently against the cool neck of the girl, who must have died only moments ago. She waited. No pulse. She turned back to Barsad and sighed.
"She was killed by a mob of citizens. He must not know unless it becomes imperative." She ordered firmly.
With that, she quickly departed, back to City Hall where she "Miranda" was being held hostage. Barsad waited a moment before returning to Kali's side. She would be asleep for at least a half hour more as the antidote destroyed the poison. He began working her arms and legs to get her pulse strong again, and then left a hand gun with her. This was all he could do. Bane needed him now.
The rumors of the police had reached Bane just as he reached City Hall. He sent his men to gather all of his followers, for one last glorious fight before the city burned to ash. Talia had resumed her roll as Miranda, and stood back with two guards, watching as his followers gathered. The Bat would come, and he would be ready.
Now, his eyes searched the crowds and street beyond for Kali, who would surely have heard the news by now. Barsad, who Talia had sent on a similar mission to Kali's, appeared through the crowd and came to his side, looking around approvingly.
"Have you seen her while you were out?" Bane asked curiously.
"I saw her once. She's probably on her way here now, she was farther out than I was." Barsad replied.
A moment later and the first spotting was made. A wave of men in uniform slowly made their way to them. A last glorious spilling of blood. Bane continued to look for Kali, hoping she would arrive before chaos broke loose. He waited until the very last moment, as the police got closer and closer. Then, he turned his attention to the mob.
"Kill them all."
Kali awoke slowly. Everything was warm, and sleep tried its hardest to drag her back down. She knew she needed to be awake now. She forced herself to sit up, feeling very stiff. Something clattered to the floor beside her. She looked down, blinking away the blur of sleep. A gun lay on the carpet beside her. Kali looked around rapidly, remembering everything. She quickly got up, checking the gun. Fully loaded. If she got the chance, she was going to have to remember to punch Barsad in the face.
She made her way down the streets toward City Hall, all too alarmed at how quiet it seemed. She didn't see anyone. Then, it reached her ears. The vibrations from a lot of gunfire. And soon she could hear it. She began to run, until she could see the mob ahead. A huge mass of flailing limbs and gunfire. Then she felt her heart stop for a moment. Bane was fighting the Bat. And, he was losing. The Bat had done something to his mask.
Kali knew getting to Bane would not be easy. The crowd was huge and thick and violent. Kali jumped right in, fighting her way left and right. However, the crowd kept dragging her away from Bane, away from where she needed to be. She was frustrated, furious, that she could not reach him. Then, suddenly, she felt pain.
She stopped her fighting and just stood there, trying to understand what had happened. She turned slowly. An inmate had grabbed her gun without her noticing. He held it, grinning ear to ear, as it remained pointed at her. His grin quickly disappeared when he realized who he'd shot. Kali had the gun from him and had snapped his neck in a second. She looked down at herself. Blood was slowly trickling out from under her shirt, yet she oddly did not feel much more than a sting. Three, to be exact. She wouldn't concern herself with that now. She turned back to City Hall, and felt dismay fill her.
Talia and Barsad were quickly leaving, heading to the armored car that waited. Bane was not with her. Was he finishing off the Bat himself? That couldn't be. Talia wanted Bruce Wayne dead more than anything else. Something was wrong. Kali made a few steps before she saw Barsad get shot down. Talia drove off without a second glance.
Kali finally found a hole and ran through it, stumbling at the base of the steps up into the building. She found Barsad. He'd only been hit once in the shoulder, the rest of the shots had been stopped by his vest. She carefully turned him onto his side to help him breath better, and looked up in time to see Selina Kyle on the Bat's bike. And she was shooting a missile into the building. Kali found herself unable to move as a few minutes later, after no explosion, the Bat and Selina came running out of the building. It could only mean one thing...
"No." Kali gasped.
She stumbled up the stairs, trying to ignore the fact her feet were not cooperating as much as they should be. She found she could hardly stand as she made her way through the broken glass doorway.
Bane was on his back, staring at the ceiling. He did not feel pain, thanks to his mask. Yet he knew there was no getting up from this. His ribs were undoubtedly shattered, and his back was more than likely broken. That was probably why he couldn't get up. He listened, waited. There was no way the Bat could stop the bomb in time. There was only minutes left. He closed his eyes, sighing. Where was Kali? Lost somewhere out in the fight? Had she tried to escape at the last moment? He would never know.
"Bane!"
He moved his head carefully to the side. Kali was running towards him. She looked hurt. Bane's thoughts were beginning to scramble. She dropped to her knees beside him, hands trembling as she reached out to him, not sure if she should touch him or not. He reached a hand out, clasping hers gently.
"It's over, my dear. In mere moments the city will be wiped away." He said with a smile.
"I don't care about the city anymore, Bane. I just... I thought you'd left me." She said, fighting back tears.
"Never. We'll go together." Bane breathed. He felt breathing was suddenly a struggle.
Kali cringed suddenly, hunching forward. Bane noticed blood was steadily making its way down her body. She carefully peeled up her black shirt to reveal three exit wounds over her torso. They were deadly. Not that it mattered now.
"It doesn't even hurt as much as I thought it would." She said with a slight laugh.
"It's because it more than likely hit your abdominal aorta. There's not enough blood in your veins to feed your nerves." Bane answered bluntly.
Kali let out a laugh, not sure why, but it felt good. She was feeling odd however, and decided that lying down was best at this point. She carefully lowered herself onto her side next to Bane, taking his hand into hers. He gently reached up to stroke her face.
"If things could be different, I would have married you." He said quietly.
A tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled.
"I would have liked that." She replied.
Bane could feel how cold she was already. How dim her eyes were getting. She may not make it tot he end, but that was ok with him. He wouldn't keep her waiting long, on the other side, wherever they were going.
"Bane..." She breathed, her voice suddenly gone from her. She moved in slightly closer, just enough so he could hear her whisper, "Never let me go."
"Never." Bane replied, managing to pull her tight against him. She clung to him, her body beginning to shake. "I love you." She whispered.
"I love you." Bane responded. Her felt her heart shudder, then stop. Her breath caressed his face one last time as those gorgeous green eyes shut.
Bane sobbed and held her, waiting for the fire to come, to take him to her, wherever she was waiting.
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