This chapter contains a scene from the script/movie of the Dark Knight Rises and therefore anything that you remember in the movie is not mine, everything else is added to coordinate with my character.

Another thing that is to be said, in response to the review that had been quite crude about how my character isn't actually "Kickass", I wrote this chapter. I am not promoting whatever was reviewed, I try not to pay attention to people who are rude when they comment on another's work. If you don't like it, don't read it. Constructive Criticism I accept, but anything crude or heinous, I do not. In response to the writer of the comment I say this:

Obviously you don't understand Ren's personality enough since you have made the assumption that I am attempting to make her "Badass", to not only you, but all my readers I wish to explain this misunderstanding. Ren isn't meant to be a "badass" nor is she meant to be a whiny bitch. I like to put a lot of symbolic meaning into my work and for those interested, there is a reason the story is called, "A Shadow's Heart". I named the story this because Ren is a shadow, shadows have a way of telling someone whether it is night or day, light or dark in other words. Ren is the light and dark throughout this entire fanfiction, her purpose isn't meant to be "badass", her purpose is meant to symbolize humanity. She has two sides to herself and unlike Bane has a way of connecting with others, but also disconnecting herself from them. She has emotion; she cries, she becomes happy, she becomes angry, excited, but she seldom shows it. She knows how to kill and fight because that was what she was taught to do, that doesn't make her a "badass", she doesn't want to be one. She is meant to be the balance of this story, not the action packed heroine. I apologize if that wasn't made clear and hopefully this chapter will bring in some insight.

Chapter 3: Ash

Ren stood outside the court house, nobody dare would distract her from her deep thought. She was angry, sad, and remorseful all at once and everybody knew not to disrupt her when she was this way. She had a lot of blood on her hands, she killed many people in the past, in the present and possibly more in the future. However, she wasn't one to kill without reason.

She killed murderers and rapists and thieves, she never saw the people she killed as individuals who had families and morals because they all had committed crimes in their own way. To her they all deserved to die, like her father who killed her sisters and her mother and was about to kill her. Those were memories she would never lose, they haunted her when she actually could sleep and kept her from relaxing at times when she was awake. She had seen blood and death before she turned ten, she had seen pain and punishment before she turned fifteen, and she had fallen in love with Bane when she was twenty five. She had felt every emotion known to the human race and had dealt with every sin, she had lived through physical punishment and emotional distress... She still lived through these things and received no comfort from any God, not the god, or the gods... She had no religion, no faith, or hope. It was just her. Ren.

She had dreamt of a life where she had a child and a loving husband, but she would never have a normal life. The scars never went away and neither did the memories, she would never forget them and she could never bring herself to do so.

"The people fear you as they would fear me." She heard him behind her, her eyes lifted up to look about at the people sitting around in front of the courthouse. No one was innocent, they were all like her father.

"Ren?" She didn't reply, she was lost to that monster inside her that was begging to come out and kill all of them, they all deserved to die. "Ren." His voice was much more insistent, she ripped her stone gaze from the innocents and over her shoulder to look at him.

"They got what they wanted, didn't they?" Tears threatened to spill, but she wiped them away and sniffled blaming it on the cold. He placed a hand on her shoulder and stepped forward to stand beside her.

"I killed him because they wanted it and they couldn't do it." She continued, that was her job, always her job to kill for others who couldn't complete the task themselves.

"Precisely." He raised his hand from her shoulder to grab her chin and make her face him in a stricter sense. His eyes dove into her soul as if it was out in front of her like an open book. "They got what they wanted... But did you get what you wanted?" She shook her head, he saw the tears, she thought of it as a weakness to cry, but even he had felt such dread before and he had she's such tears.

"I want them all dead. They don't deserve to live." She couldn't handle the cruel world anymore and in their raze of the city she hoped she would die with them as she knew she didn't deserve to live any longer.

"In time, my companion, in time. Patience is an important thing to have while we set forth this great task."

"He would have wanted me to be patient. He must hate me now because I can't do that Bane, I can't be patient." Ra's, was like a father to her. She could only wonder that he might be utterly disappointed now.

"No... He doesn't, he respects us all for being here in his memory. We must see to it that his work is finished."

"And then after?"

"We die. It's simple, Ren. We succeed and we die." They didn't continue after that, he released her chin and they turned to look back down at the stairs leading up to the courthouse.

"Where is Talia?"

"Safe. She has the detonator now." Talia hadn't done much other than keep up a facade and find generous donations for the project that went into the nuclear reactor. She hadn't stopped by since last week and she knew it ha a great affect on how Bane had been behaving lately.

"I would like to see her, it's been a week." They had felt that unspoken hatred for one another, Talia and her, but she continued to trust that Talia was her sister by heart and not blood and it would remain that way. He made a noise in response, his noises were distinct and she had been in his company long enough to know which one was which. She knew that noise meant distance and she knew it was because he missed Talia to. His greatest downfall would always be that he loved her, but she never loved him. Just how Ren loved him, but he would never notice, he would never see it and it was her greatest downfall.

"I do not think it would be safe." He was using it as an excuse, she knew something had happened between them, an understanding of sorts. It was the day that Bane had asked her about death, she had succumbed to the idea that she would spend her final days in Gotham, but Bane had something else on his mind when he had asked her.

"What does she have to hide from?"

"The rebels, those that retaliate against our cause. We cannot risk them finding out." She didn't say anything after that knowing any further refutation would lead to anger on his part. She looked away and simply stared down at the concrete pavement of the steps. "Ren."

"Yes." She immediately replied, he sighed, a heavy sigh growing up from his chest and out to a loud exhale.

"I want you to go around the city and track down these rebels." It was a command she knew to obey, it was that type of command in which she would do anything to fulfill and every time dream of him kissing her as a gift to her success. "When you have found anything valuable, I want you to come to me. Understood?"

"Yes, understood." She didn't know why he suddenly had a task for her, but she wasn't going to go against it. When he gave an order it was official and she had learned that from experience. She meant to continue down the stairs to their vehicle that would drive them about, but he had stopped her.

"I haven't dismissed you." She stood up taller and carefully went back to her stance at his side, she didn't look at him confused as to what else he might want.

"The other day when I asked you about death, you answered truthfully, correct?"

"Correct." She croaked out, he was so random at times, she never would understand him entirely.

"And you answered that you would tell me everything before you might die?"

"Yes... And that remains true." She didn't think he would have asked this out of random, he had been planning to ask her, but hadn't found a correct time.

"I told you not to tell me anything, but now I am curious that if I told you to tell me everything now." He turned to her, she was confused, she had never felt so intimate with conversation as this. They only talked about business or training, but never things like this. "Would you be afraid?" Ren gulped and shook her head.

"No, but the fear will come as someone had told me once before, it always does and when it does...

...

...

...

I will be ready for it."

Three individuals hooded under the sunlight of the blue sky, treading down a cratered dirt road a passengers of a jeep driven by European Militia. She was one of them, her face hiding beneath the black sack that had been forcefully placed over her head. Their destination was just ahead, an airstrip overlooking a grey city rocked by artillery fire. A CIA Operative with several men of Special Forces surrounded him and stood in front of a small commuter plane. The man watched the Land Cruiser pull up, the Mercenaries jump out of the vehicle. The Driver exits the vehicle shoving a familiar doctor in front of the man.

"Dr. Pavel, I'm CIA." He introduced himself, he refrained from saying his name for security reasons. Dr. Pavel nodded nervously. The man hands the Driver a briefcase, containing a large sum of money.

"He wasn't alone." The driver states plainly, the man looks confused at the three hooded characters. He immediately shot his gaze back to Dr. Pavel, hands on his hips.

"You don't get to bring friends."

"They are not my friends." Dr. Pavel replies shakily, his hands still bound, he looks back at the three. Ren cocks her head to one side. She never understood what made him so afraid and then that made her think of Bane. The man on his knees just beside her in the same position. She had seen Bane before, but aside from the time he had tested her strength in the league of shadows, she had made no contact with the man before. Talia wanted her to come along and she did, to Bane she was most likely just another Mercenary, unnecessary to the cause. She wanted to prove him otherwise, she had watched him from afar and had uncovered the fact that she had a growing crush on the man. She needed to be strong when he was around and gain his respect.

"Don't worry, no charge for them." The driver said, starting to walk his way back to the jeep.

"Why would I want them?" The man calls back, the driver stops at the car door and looks up at the man.

"They were trying to grab your prize." He smiled, opening the jeep door. "They work for the mercenary. The masked man." He finished before disappearing into the jeep.

"Bane?" The man asked distantly with hidden excitement to Pavel and the jittery man nodded hesitantly. The man turned to his Special Forces Men felt proud of himself, he gestured to the three and Dr. Pavel. "Let's go. Get 'em on board - I'll call it in." He said as he climbed up the steps onto the commuter plane. It wasn't long before Ren and the two others, Bane and Abal, were brought onto the plane. Bane had previously instructed that when his men were caught, which he knew would be of random that they shouldn't say a word and they shouldn't struggle. The commuter plane struggled over snow-capped mountains and grassy plains. When it had risen to a certain point of the air space, it hovered in place for what felt like forever before some communication was set about.

Abal the man to her left on his knees snapped his fingers three times to signal that they were close. The plane that Bane had bought out was meant to come and fly over this plane, there was a full plan, but Ren was unsure how it would work out. She just so happened to be one of the mercenaries that had been pulled from the group out of random to participate in this mission.

The man that Ren had now out of amusement given the name, Bob, had grabbed Abal by the head and slammed him down onto the floor of the aircraft.

"What are you doing in the middle of my operation?" He asked forcefully, Ren heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked. She was more afraid that Bane may get hurt, she wasn't sure if she could handle that. Abal said nothing. "The flight plan I just filed with the Agency lists me, my men, and Dr. Pavel here. But only one of you." He stepped back towards the cargo door and opened it. Two of the Special Forces soldiers grab Abal and put his head out of the plane. "FIRST ONE TO TALK GETS TO STAY ON MY AIRCRAFT!" He yells over the loud howling of the wind. "SO...WHO PAID YOU TO GRAB DR. PAVEL?!" Abal remained silent, Bob fired out the open door and the Special Forces yank Abal back in, he was hit upside the head to be force quiet. "HE DIDN'T FLY SO GOOD! WHO WANTS TO TRY NEXT?!" The Soldiers grabbed Ren and she was yet again in the same position as Abal before her. Her fists clenched and she remained silent as Bob continued his rant. "TELL ME ABOUT BANE! WHY DOES HE WEAR THE MASK?!" Ren said nothing and wondered if they had any knowledge of her being a woman. Bob pressed the gun to the Ren's hood much more forcefully, she bit her bottom lip. "LOT OF LOYALTY FOR A HIRED GUN!"

"Or maybe they are wondering why someone would shoot a man before throwing him out of an airplane." Bane says, Ren was yanked back in and thrown onto the floor. He shut the cargo door and looked over at the third man... Bane, he hadn't known this entire time. Did he know Ren was under that hood? She slowly lowered her hands down her back and rose her knees towards her chest, waiting for the perfect moment to jump the cuffs and attack. Bob grabs the hood on Bane with a tight grip.

"Wiseguy, huh? At least you can talk. Who are you?"

"We are nothing. We are the dirt beneath your feet. And no one cared who I was until I put on the mask..." Bob pulled the hood off his head, revealing a dark mask with a breathing apparatus. The eyes of Bane were cold, Ren wish she could have seen them. "Who we are does not matter. What matters is our plan." Bob poked once at the mask with fascination

"If I pull this off, will you die?"

"It would be extremely painful." He nodded, sense of pride overwhelming him.

"You're a big guy-"

"For you." Bane added, Ren pulled the handcuffs under her feet and slowly put her hands to her chest. They were too focused on Bane to notice her.

"Was being caught part of your plan?"

"Of course. Dr. Pavel refused our offer in favor of yours. We had to know what he told you about us."

"Nothing! I said nothing!" Dr. Pavel shrieked out, he stared wide eyes at pain with utter fear.

"Why not just ask him?"

"He would not have told us."

"You have methods." Bob stated plainly, glancing over at Pavel before looking to Bane again.

"Him, I need healthy. You present no such problem." Just then a loud hum erupted around the tiny plane, an even larger one dwarfing it in size hovered above it. Bob was too caught up in his success, one of the soldiers looked out the window at the plane.

"Sir?" Bob laughed and shook his head. "Congratulations, you got yourselves caught. What's the next step of your master plan?" Bane's eyebrows furrowed, Ren turned her body to lay flat back and reached up, slowly lifting the hood from her head.

"Crashing this plane..." Bane replied, there was a sudden turbulence on the plane. Ren hauled her body up and swiped her feet under her to catch herself. The hood falling beside her, she took a moment to calm herself. Bane stood up slowly, standing tall over the mane Ren had named Bob. "With no survivors." He finished, he grabbed Bob by the neck and cracked it, throwing him into another soldier.

Ren grabbed a soldier's handgun from behind while he was occupied and shot him in the head along with the other. Two men hooked up to cables fell to hang on either side of the plane, they aimed their guns and shot through the windows, the other two attached grapples to the wings of the plane. Hoists started to pull the tail of the commuter plane, it was lifted upside down in an unnatural manner. Ren fell and slid down towards the nose, Bane catching her and throwing her into the seat beside him.

"You shouldn't be here." He grumbled at her, the end of the plane that was on the upside exploded to reveal several mercenaries who began to shoot at the remaining special forces soldiers. Dr. Pavel who had been strapped in, pushed against the seat in front of him - the plane vibrated, it started to tear itself apart. The men climbed the tail of the smaller plane as it dangled helplessly above the mountains. Its wings shear off. Bane broke his handcuffs as if they were plastic, then dropped down the cabin, somersaulting gracefully and using his arms to stop himself halfway down in the seats by Dr. Pavel. Ren turned her body around and watched from afar with astonishment, why was he angry with her? She had only been doing her Job. A body bag was lowered into the cabin. Bane laid it on the seat backs next to Dr. Pavel and unzipped it to reveal a body the same age and build as Dr. Pavel. Bane ripped Dr. Pavel's sleeve, he carefully pulled out a length of surgical tubing, he pushed a needle into Dr. Pavel's arm and ran the tube to the body's arm. Dr. Pavel watched, horrified, as Bane started compressions on the body's chest, drawing Dr. Pavel's blood across the tube and into the body. Ren's eyes widened and she suddenly knew exactly what he was doing, she flipped over in the seat and looked to her right to find Abal sitting on the seat adjacent from her, staring up into the open end of the plane. They were laying lateral due to the plane's position, Bane came climbing back up taking the seat beside her. A single hook came down that was to take them up from the already destroyed plane. Abal reached up for it as another mercenary who had came in from the window strapped Dr. Pavel to him down below. He yanked on the cable to secure it, Bane placed his hand on Abal's shoulder, Abal looked at him with his sparkling eyes.

"One of us needs to stay behind." Bane explained, Abal continued to look at him with admiration and he nodded.

"Have we started the fire?"

"The fire will rise." Abal laid back in the seat at this exclamation and closed his eyes. Bane grabbed Ren from her seat with a fierce hip and wrapped that cable around both of them. His body was pressed hard against hers as his arms embraced her as a secondary security to the cable. He looked down into her eyes, he was irritated with her, but she could not understand why. Everything seemed to be still for a moment and her heart thundered with a longing that had just been newly rekindled upon his seeing his gaze directly on her.

"Are you afraid?" He asked her softly, she took a deep breath before shaking her head. "Good... The Fear shall come later." It was so sudden that Ren felt herself clutch herself tighter to Bane. The smaller plane suddenly dropped and the only ones left hanging had secured themselves to the cable, Dr. Pavel included. Breathlessly she opened her eyes, she felt a blush paint onto her cheeks and she looked up at Bane, who was staring at her with a stern gaze.

"Why didn't you just let me die? I know me being on that plane had nearly ruined your plan."

"You hadn't ruined it and if I had let you die, Talia would never forgive me... She loves you as if you were her sister." Ren didn't reply. Of course. He wouldn't saved her for any other reason than Talia. The only reason he did any of this was for Talia. That was when the jealousy festered within her. That was when she began to hate herself more for loving a man who had given his heart to another woman, a friend, a sibling at heart. Ren looked away at the grasslands below and she sighed... That was all she did.