Chapter 8: Rage

Talia's head rested on Bane's chest, her silk hair fluttered around his muscular pectorals and strong bicep that wrapped around her shoulder. Her fingers tentatively tracing patterns on his torso as she listened to his shallow heavy breathing beneath the mask. His eyes were closed as he attempted to at least breath in her scent, he could barely smell anything aside from metal and gaseous medicine.

"Bane..."

"Hmm?"

"It's Ren, she needs to go." Bane's eyes flashed open, it was a shock to hear her say such things. He knew Talia and Ren had a close relationship and in these past few months being around Ren, he understood exactly why.

"What do you mean? She is useful, she knows technology extremely well, interrogation, and proves to be a worthy assistant." He tried not to sound argumentative, the last thing he wanted was for Talia to leave him.

"You want me to love you, don't you?"

"You do." He felt ashamed that he would question Talia, was he questioning her?

"Then I need her dead, she foils our plans, she cheats and lies... Kill her Bane, we no longer need her to ruin our lives." Bane took a deep breath, his chest rising as he did. He was hesitant to give reply, she decided to push him a little further. "Bane..." Her voice shone with admiration and love, she sat up to stare at him, placing a hand on his mask the thin white covers held tightly to her chest. "What about our family? Our love? Don't you want to leave this place and get married? Have kids?"

"With you." He replied, she smiled and leaned forward to kiss his bald head.

"Then you must kill her, she doesn't do any good for us."

"At least let me prove-"

"No, kill her Bane." Talia's voice was much more firm, Bane nodded and Talia returned her head to his chest. She giggled slightly and snuggled further into him.

"I was worried you didn't love me anymore." Bane's heart dropped, he was between himself. Ren or Talia? He had no choice in the matter. Talia.

Ren exited the elevator, it was mid day when she finally returned from her duties. She was exhausted having not slept most of the night. All she wanted at this moment was to meditate, train, or perhaps go jogging. Anything to pass the time for her and keep herself relaxed, she walked into her room changing from her previous clothes into a comfortable baggy grey shirt and black shorts.

Earlier this morning her and Barsad had to dispose of the dead body, then they had to go find those coordinates, which turned out to be a laundry mat. Barsad insisted that they investigate, but Ren immediately suggested keeping an eye on it. She wasn't skeptical that the coordinates that man gave were true, but she was skeptical that the mercenaries were able enough to just strike a straight forward assault, it needed a plan.

She exited her room and walked silently to the kitchen, she assumed Bane was either out or taking a nap, but she could assume much after what happened the day before. She grabbed an apple from the fruit basket in the kitchen and took to eating that for lunch. When she was finished she went back into her room and laid down on the bed staring up at the ceiling.

She could go jogging, but for some reason Ren was completely opposite of herself at the moment and felt like doing nothing instead. She placed her hand on her wound and felt over the stitches to make sure they were alright. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, a nap would be quite nice. She was half asleep when she heard a loud noise erupt from the living room. She stood up with a slight wince and stepped out calmly to go inspect the problem.

It was Bane and he had taken to kicking a foot the suze of her head at the nearest article of furniture, the wooden table he hit has broken and its contents now scattered across the floor.

"Bane?" His fists clenched and he looked over his shoulder at her with dark eyes.

"Where have you been?"

"I was attending business in terms of what had occurred last night." Professional, she had to remain professional and stoic and strong.

"You didn't think to report to me?"

"No, I didn't." His eyes keened in on her and he growled, crouching down to lift the bottom of the couch and flip it over as though it was cardboard. His breathing was raged and heavier through the mask.

"Why not? I am your superior."

"I did what I thought was correct, you may be my superior, but that does not make me your inferior."

"So you are suggesting you are my equal?" It was as if the tone of his voice was mocking her, she stepped forward. He used to always think of her as his equal, it went unsaid, but he gave hints to her at times that carried more respect for her than he had anyone else who worked with him, not including Talia, of course.

"I am suggesting that we work for the same cause, there are no ranks between us."

"Respect and trust are part of that cause Ren. You have lied to me lately and I will have none of it."

"I have not lied, I have not betrayed anyone." She crossed her arms. "Where is this coming from?" Bane averted his gaze for a moment, but it wasn't a show of weakness, instead of confusion.

"That in itself is a lie Ren." Ren looked over to the owner of the voice and her breath caught, how had she not noticed Talia enter the room? She chastised herself for getting sloppy for only a moment before realizing that Talia was carrying her blades.

"Where did you-"

"I should be asking you the same question. You stole these blades from my father, just like you stole my heritage, they rightfully belong to me."

"Your father gave them to me because he knew you weren't ready." Ren retorted, she could feel a wetness at the corner of her eyes, but pushed it away.

"Not ready?! So he gives them to you, the false daughter that he never truly wanted." Ren shook her head, Talia would never know how Ra's truly care for her.

"Talia, don't do this... Don't... Please."

"He thought you were worthy? Look at you now, begging to me... It's pathetic."

"You were supposed to be like a sister to me, think of how he would be ashamed to call you his daughter now." Ren dodged Talia's first strike, Bane merely watched from afar. He could have done anything, he could have intervened, but he didn't. Their system of justice to all of Gotham had now been clouded with corruption. Talia had gone mad with power and rage and jealousy, Ren ducked behind a lamp as Talia swung the blades at her again.

"You are not even his own flesh and blood."

"That is why he accepted me more than you." Talia swung the blades, this time much swifter and stronger, Ren ducked and vaulted over the fallen couch to rush around and casually fall into the button of the elevator. Talia was too lost in her anger to notice and Ren glanced over her shoulder at her as Talia jabbed the blade into the wall in Ren's place. Ren fell into a crouch and swung her legs around to trip Talia over. "Because he saw too much of himself." The elevator doors opened and Ren ran into them, they began to close... This time slower than usual and the last thing Ren saw was Bane's eyes staring into hers. They contained pain and forgiveness, Bane was a lost soul and Talia was his master.