Yeesht. Longest chapter ever. Re-wrote & re-wrote until I was at least moderately happy with it. So, yea; please review, people! I live for them hehe. & thanks to those who have reviewed & those who've mailed. Total sweethearts, you guys.

:)

XVIII.

A White Flag

There was uproar. Lily's ragged breath hitched; pressed into Bane's side, Lily knew she was safe enough as he herded her through the massive throng of mercenaries. Hastily – while they walked – Bane wiped the blood from Lily's brow with the inside of his coat, Lily's eyes jerked up to look at him, his own eyes dark and piercing. He said nothing, only shoved Lily onwards towards their destination. When they finally stopped, Lily's legs ached. Her eyes scanned the ceiling and she realised quickly that they were standing in the middle of the complex where Bane had broken Batman's back, Lily breathed deeply as her face was illuminated by the white light from the rude hole in the ceiling. She was brought back when she felt a big hand press into the small of her back;

"Keep moving. Those that are not nailed down may be swept away..."

"Where did you go?" Lily panted as Bane ushered her onwards, down a narrow corridor.

"Never mind." He answered curtly and Lily frowned deeply but said no more.

"Bane,"

Said a voice at the end of the corridor. Lily's eyes narrowed as she saw Barsad standing rigidly at the end of the line, his automatic slung carelessly over his back. His eyes grew sharp as he noticed Lily, small and unobtrusive, pressed into Bane's flank. The sharpness died and Lily was confused when she saw him sigh as though he had forgotten her; he certainly did and she realised his folly. He had forgotten about her, barricaded up in Bane's quarters while he and some others choreographed Bane's operations here in Gotham while the masked man was off gallivanting God-knows-where. Barsad's pronounced nose's nostrils flared whence he had taken in the sight of Lily; she saw his eyes hover over the hastily-wiped and now smeared blood that vandalised her brow.

As they drew up closer, Bane nodded and threw Lily aside; not overly roughly, but rough enough so Lily's shoulder banged into the damp wall with a muffled thud. Barsad ignored her and turned his attention to his leader and Bane swaggered up easily;

"Dr. Pavel?" He enquired and Lily leaned closer while dragging herself from the wall to listen.

"He's secure. The police have already begun filing in. We have to make our way to Wayne Industries now."

Bane bobbed his head and tossed a thoughtful gaze back to Lily and she saw him raise an eyebrow. Imploring him with her eyes, she silently begged him not to leave her before he had taken her to the surface. His eyes remained on her for a long moment before he shrugged and turned back to Barsad and ruled with a wave of his hand,

"Get everybody out; anybody left behind knows the penance and the forfeit if left behind."

He clapped Barsad on the shoulder stoically and Lily thought she saw Barsad tense at the big man's touch. His jaw clenched as Bane commented darkly.

"Today, we emerge to bring about Gotham's reckoning."

With a nod, Barsad turned and set off down the corridor to get on with Bane's orders. They were alone now, Lily couldn't hear a thing; her shoulder throbbed dully and she could see one of the bare light bulbs swinging lazily down the corridor casting shifts of light on them as they stood. Bane with his back to Lily, she thought he had forgotten about her until he turned slowly and appraised her for a minute; she thought he would speak but he didn't. He only watched her; it made her nervous, so she squared her shoulders and asked,

"What's the penance?" He looked at her more studied now and she added, "For your men? What's the forfeit?"

"My men would die before anybody who I didn't want to know of our plans did. Even if it means they have to take it upon themselves to silence the leak."

"You mean...they kill themselves? Commit suicide?"

Bane seemed amused with her words and he shrugged again,

"You find that the common mercenary bets and barters with their own life quite precariously."

At that, Lily eyed him hard and rose her chin a little,

"Do you?" She questioned and he fiddled with his coat before he turned and remarked,

"Do I look like a common mercenary?"

"No...No, you don't." She looked away before she said, "Why do you wear that mask?"

When she peeped back he was shifting his weight. He looked impatient to be off but he made no move to conduct Lily along as he had done before. Tilting back his head slightly, the light caught one of the metal tubes at his mouth and Lily felt a shudder run down her spine and she backed away a little.

"But you are full of questions, Lily. I wear the mask to frighten my enemies; to make them fear not the man whom they battle; but the beast."

Lily's blood ran cold at the edge in his voice and she quirked an eyebrow and said, "Really?"

She nearly choked on her own terror when Bane came over towards her; towering above her, his shoulders blotted away the light from the bare light bulb and he quipped snidely; his mechanical rasp sounding even more frightening in the dim light,

"You'll find I don't lie about these things," He began while grasping Lily's slender wrist making her wince,

"The mask filters out such lies."

Lily was run off her feet trying to keep up with Bane's incredibly brisk pace. They were nearing the tunnels which were close to the surface and she began to relax when she heard the pitter-patter of the many shoes that walked along the sidewalks of Gotham and she smiled faintly. She stopped immediately when Bane caught her doing so; his eyes were searching as he watched her a moment; an eyebrow raised grandly as he peered up to see what she was smiling about; when he saw nothing of regard, Lily felt foolish , and when he looked back at her and walked on ahead with no word for her. Dourly, Lily jogged along after him for another five minutes.

"You will come with me," He dictated as they came to an abrupt stop.

Lily stared up at him as they stood at a large industrial-looking door. She nodded vaguely, more interested in what was behind the door. Lily was brought back when he placed a hand on her shoulder; she nearly buckled under the weight of that alone and looked at him;

"Today..." He looked away; seemingly unable to speak the words and Lily leaned in, raising her eyebrows to prompt him. "I want to prepare you for what you'll see."

He said and there was a bang, loud and resounding from the way they had just came. Immediately Lily's head darted round to see what it was but Bane shook her impatiently for her attention and stated frankly;

"Things will change from today. You must remember what I told you about thinking; don't make me foolish for saving you by getting yourself shot."

His voice was stern and Lily nodded slowly; "Where should I go? Should I stay with you?"

Her question was barely above a whisper and she watched him avert his eyes and look down. Another bang from down the tunnel; Lily's neck nearly snapped with the restraint it took her not to throw her inquisitive gaze down there. Instead, she watched Bane rapt for his ruling. Her eyes widened slightly when he bent down to be eye-level with her and said;

"I won't lie; today is a dangerous day. I am but one man, I can't guarantee your safety, but I've invested enough time in you. I won't let you die today. Like I said; I bought your life – I decide when it ends."

"What if the authorities get a hold of me...Won't I have to off myself like all your other men?"

At that, Bane chuckled and shook his head before sobering;

"You're not that important. And you're a citizen, not a mercenary. You're not of my militia, you're-"

"Nothing." Lily ended for him acerbically, her voice cold. "I get it. You don't have to spell it out."

His eyes were flinty as he moved in closer and rasped quietly,

"Oh, you have a role to play yet. Don't write yourself off so quickly."

He assured her and Lily saw him reach out a hand and hold it between them. Her dark eyes were locked to his big hand as he examined it wistfully before his gaze flicked up and rested on Lily's face. When she realised he was looking at her, she gaped at him; calmly and without fear for a moment and Bane said almost forlornly,

"You shouldn't look upon me with such trust." He twitched his hand away from her.

"Why?" Lily murmured as he turned away snubbing her.

It was the last straw; Lily drew herself up and took a deep breath to steady herself and eyed his turned back confidently;

"Bane?" She demanded and the pertness in her tone ordered him to look back at her – which he did, with a certain darkness in his eyes. Lily's throat contracted but she stood her ground and tried not to tremble.

Lily had no idea she could be pert up until that moment, and she regretted it seeing the ire in Bane's eyes which made her shrink as he impinged on her, painfully aware to his closeness; Lily tried to melt into the wall away from Bane and his dangerous form; he growled.

"Because, I have the potential to hurt you."

Bane reminded her. Opening her dark eyes, Lily inhaled sharply; Bane was turned away from her, grasping the handle which opened the big metal door, he hoisted it ajar and jerked his head for her to precede him; which she did with tentative steps as she gingerly picked her away inside. She stood in the middle of the room and turned round to see Bane throwing the door shut just as another loud boom resonated behind it.

"Follow me." He commanded and swept past her, Lily complied and fell into a jog behind him.

They passed an army of men as they made their way up; Lily's mouth was hung open like a yokel as she beheld the sheer force of Bane's militia; it seemed that there was even more men down here than Lily had first thought. Of course, whatever Bane was planning was not a one-man job, but nevertheless; it was impressive...and terrifying. Every man they passed, she and Bane, there was a reverent nod to Bane and a strange sort of leer for her. Lily shivered and broadened her own gait to keep up with Bane; he looked down at her passively as she did this and said nothing. His steps stopped when they reached what Lily was very aware was a stretch of the Gotham subway and she frowned as she peered about; Bane looked at her and said,

"What is it?" His powerful fists were balled at his chest, pulling at his black cargo body warmer.

"This is Gotham Lower..."

She explained and bowed her head. Tears filled Lily's eyes but she quickly blinked them away and looked up at Bane. If he saw the tears in her eyes he didn't say and nothing in his foreign countenance would have told Lily otherwise so she allowed him to drop it and watched the mercs take point at each entrance and then form a parameter around the area. Bane led Lily towards a shallow flight of stairs which fed into Gotham's lower east side and she nearly wept to see the sun burning down; casting yellow hues on the world outside. She grinned broadly – not caring about the shadows under her eyes, nor the dirt and blood on her face.

Sitting inside the weird contraption Bane and his men had stolen from the Wayne armoury, Lily felt a little flutter in her chest; she was so scared, so petrified of what was going to happen today. Her eyes always returned to Bane seated in the front of the strange car-thing. He sat just like he stood; with a straight back, always needing something to rest his gigantean arms on; he sat with them folded highly on his chest, his dark eyes narrowed on the road as they drove through Gotham; ignoring the eyes which were set on them as they filed on past.

They pulled up outside of Wayne Industries; a platoon of Bane's force was already there. Lily watched from the confines of the car, Barsad wave a hand at Bane and acknowledged him with a curt nod before he returned to rallying his men and keeping the gawping masses back.

"Where are all the cops?" Lily murmured to herself.

Nobody answered her. She turned her attention to the two men in the front of the car and heard Bane say softly – well, as softly as his mask would permit.

"Take her to the safe house. We'll be but an hour, meet us at the rendezvous point."

"Sure, boss." The man replied and Bane nodded and started to get out of the car.

"No, wait." Lily called after him and gripped the back of his seat.

She saw him glance back at her mildly annoyed and she shirked inwardly. She had nothing to say, and with that let go of his seat and shook her head and uttered faintly,

"Sorry...It's nothing."

She leaned back in her seat and watched him get out of the vehicle smoothly, her mind racing. Lily observed him from the tinted window, Bane stroll up to Barsad and, his hands still pulling at the neck of his body warmer. Barsad said something inaudible and Bane nodded his response and led them inside the huge building and out of sight. Lily sighed as the car started up again and sped off down the road.

Lily gasped as the cold water splashed her face. She closed her eyes and allowed the droplets to ripple down her cheeks, her eyelids, her neck; she breathed in and felt warm tears mingle with the ice-cold water. There was a loud bang at the door and Lily turned; there was silence and she called,

"What is it?"

"Hurry it along, kid."

Came the reply and Lily nodded to herself in the mirror.

"Sure, won't be a minute." She said dourly and blinked at her own reflection.

Staring at herself, Lily felt sick; her skin was grey, sickly, her cheeks were positively hallowed. Her eyes were sunken, red-rimmed laced with purple eye-bags. Her hair was a matted mess of curls and she lamented that she couldn't wash the ugly mess of tangles. Lily stood small before the sink and mirror, eyeing her own countenance she took a breath and resolved to steady herself and calm down. Everything will be fine she told herself and grabbed the flimsy little cardigan the driver, Michael, had looked out for her.

She was dressed in some new clothes; battered combat trousers with a thin white tank top and a little peach-coloured cardigan to throw over her slight shoulders. She had discarded her ruined sneakers for a pair of boots which Michael had also found for her to wear. With one final look at herself, Lily nodded and left.

"Michael?" Lily began as they got back into the car.

"What?" He asked shortly;

He was a bald man, with a big nose and stubble all over his chin and cheeks. He was gruff and surely as far as Lily could make out, she kept her eyes on her hands as she said,

"What is it Bane is doing? What has he got planned for Gotham?"

The driver peered over at her from the other side of the car and scoffed,

"What, you really don't know?"

Lily shook her head.

"No...Nobody's told me anything. I don't even know what date it is, never mind what Bane's planning..."

"He's going to revolutionise Gotham."

Yes, but what does that mean? Lily snapped inside her own head and sighed.

"Mayor Garcia?"

Lily's eyes were drawn to the little screen before them, mounted on the dashboard; a little television screen and Lily saw the Mayor of Gotham, Anthony Garcia, turn back to the cameras and hold up his hands as though he would be taking absolutely no questions. Lily's brow furrowed and she waved a hand and said,

"Could you turn this up?"

Michael nodded and turned it up,

"Mayor Garcia?!" Vikki Vale, a reporter, hollered and questioned the dark-haired mayor,

"We're seeing thousands of police heading down into the sewers, Mr Mayor. Literally thousands-"

Lily's chest tightened; a police force. Then she recalled the banging in the sewers just before she and Bane had left through that big industrial-looking door and her heart sank.

"It's a training exercise, that's all." The Mayor nodded with finality and a smile and waved a hand,

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I have tickets to watch our boys thrash Rapid City – that'll be all."

Lily's eyes widened as she turned an eye on Michael and then her attention was drawn to what route they were taking; she could see thousands of people; all donned in yellow.

Jerseys.

"Where are we going?" Lily quibbled, her panic rising.

"To the big game, kid."

Michael responded with a callous grin that nearly made Lily retch.

Their arrival was surprisingly inconspicuous. Lily breathed a thankful sigh and dared to hope that Bane wouldn't be here. Her hope was in vain; he swaggered up to Lily and Michael brazenly enough; a foot and a half taller than the tallest man in his militia with his brown sheepskin trench coat thrown over his armoured vest. He was holding onto it languidly, his mask glinting and winking in the soft sunlight until he entered the long tube which led into the stadium.

"You look much recovered," He commented to Lily as he passed her.

Lily nodded and said nothing and saw Barsad trailing behind Bane; a man was in his grasp. He was a dowdy man with a flop sweat and trembling knees. His sallow skin was sleek and his greying hair clung desperately to his glistening forehead as Barsad threw him to the floor in an undignified fashion. Lily glowered at him for this treatment but all the same, said nothing and watched as Bane leant up against the wall.

They all listened from the shroud of the tunnel; a young boy sing 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. Lily's chest heaved up and down in her anxiety and she moseyed over to Barsad and hissed,

"What's going on? What are we doing here?!"

"I'm sorry that I forgot about you, souris."

He replied randomly and Lily shook her head and waved it away,

"I don't care about that right now. Who is he?" She said nodding at the man on the ground,

"Dr. Pavel. He just made a bomb that'll level Gotham in six seconds flat." He said in such a mild tone that Lily thought she had misheard him for a second. Realisation dawned on her like a wave of boiling water as Barsad leaned closer and whispered quietly,

"...You may want to look away soon, sourise-"

"That's a lovely, lovely voice."

Bane remarked of the boy's singing making Barsad and Lily turn to look at him. His eyes were dark as he eyed them both; Barsad shifted uncomfortably whilst Lily stepped forward and demanded,

"You...You can't be serious? You're not going to blow Gotham up!"

She yipped as Barsad dragged her back away from him and held her away. Lily wriggled in his grasp and shook her head staunchly,

"No, wait, Bane...Please!"

Disregarding her utterly, Bane held out a hand and Barsad nodded for one of his men to hand the big man a device. Lily battled against Barsad's strong arms and looked on despairingly as Bane exclaimed in a chipper voice,

"Let the games begin!"

"No!"

Lily screamed but her wails were drowned out by the magnitude of the explosion that erupted at the touch of Bane's finger. She fell to her knees, Barsad's body covering hers as the whole ground shook. Lily gaped up and beheld Bane's silhouette against the glare of the mouth of the tunnel's opening and she felt fear grip her belly like never before. She snarled and managed to throw off Barsad's arms as she fell forwards and watched horrified as the whole stadium's pitch was levelled, falling away like crumbling shortbread.

"Oh, God..." She breathed as she heard more and more blasts in the distance.

The screams were insatiable as Bane signalled for his men to disperse through the crowds of match-goers through a walkie. Lily felt Barsad get up and grip Dr. Pavel roughly by the scuff of his neck and drag him through the tunnel's opening. She watched dumbly, frozen by fear; all the mercenaries mill past her; she saw Bane's eyes stop on her and stare.

"You...sick, evil..."

She rasped through gritted teeth; shaken to her core at the vile thing he had just done.

"Why?! Why did you do that?!" She shrieked getting to her feet unsteadily and Bane shrugged languidly, infuriatingly indifferent to her rage,

"All will become clear in time-"

"No!" She barked, "You tell me now, you murderous bastard!"

Her outburst was quickly, rapidly stemmed when she felt a hand nail her to the wall. She gasped and spluttered as she felt Bane's iron grip around her throat; he remained perfectly still, waiting for her to stop struggling. When she eventually stopped wriggling, Lily realised that he barely had a hand around her neck, rather his thumb and forefinger hooked round her throat pinning her to the wall. Their eyes locked as she breathed heavily, tears brimming in her eyes;

It was deathly quiet between them; the air was heavy and thick with the atrocity he had just committed and Lily felt herself ready to heave at the madness of it all. She closed her eyes to his fury and he felt her soft delicate throat contract.

"I raised you from nothing."

Bane uttered in the darkness. Lily felt her breath shudder as she opened her eyes; they followed his free hand as it traced a scolding palm down the bare flesh of her arm – her cardigan dangled from it askew as ever. She closed her eyes again and swayed at his commanding and powerful touch.

"Soon you will have to repay me."

He stated calmly and leaned in,

"You do not have to reveal yourself here and now. But know; once the people begin to identify you with me, you will become untouchable. I will never see harm come to you, Lily. Not while I revolutionise Gotham."

She didn't even notice that his grip had slackened to a near caress, his hand rested intimately and affectionately on her throat and jaw. Her breath caught as she realised her feet were back on the solid ground too; her eyes found his again and she swallowed a lump;

"Stay back here; the light is still a little too bright for you to bear."

"Bane..." She managed but they were both distracted by Barsad who stood eyeing them both.

"When the world begins it's turning...you'll find your true nature."

Without another look at her, he was gone. Following Barsad through the opening and out onto the pitch. Lily barely heard Bane's liberation speech, but rather turned her back to the light and sank down onto her bottom and rocked back and forth in the shadows of the tunnel. Her chest felt sore; tight with panic and adrenalin, Bane's hand print was still hot on her throat, and she grasped it and turned her head to one side. What did she feel for the man they called Bane? Lust? Fear? Disgust? Most definitely, for when she felt the hardness of his fingers graze her skin ever-so tenderly she felt overwhelmed by his sheer masculinity, of his assuredness.

All he had to do was command obedience and subjection from her and she would melt beneath his subtle and effective advances. Her breath caught once more; Goddamnit, if she wasn't already falling deeper and deeper into his darkness as it is.

Like the tiny, dark, inconsequential thing that she was, Lillian exhaled a sigh and slipped away from the scene of Bane's mass murder, his cool-almost-promise; the site where her sanity died; for she felt an attraction to the man who had just mutilated her own moral compass. Hating herself more and more with each wandering step, Lily sighed exhausted.

If Bane called upon the fierce, animalistic urge her body now-realising it wept for him; she resented her own form for its inability to even withstand that call. She hated her own mind moreover however because she wondered – against her own good judgement – when he would bode her.