Bane was perplexed by this man. A man who could very well be mistaken as animal by just appearance alone, but he knew better than to be condescending on someone who didn't choose the way they were designed. Killer Croc was a very intriguing specimen of man Bane had to admire even though some tendencies of the brute were less than ideal like the rumored cannibalism and the complete disregard of respect. It didn't lessen the curiosity of how a man like him came to be. Croc wouldn't tell his story and Bane wanted to know.
"What are you staring at, you steroid-pumping punk?" The crocodile hissed.
Bane shook his head with minor amusement, "I am merely making an observation. I never encountered a man with a condition such as yours before. It is fascinating. They call you Killer Croc, yes? What is your real name?"
Croc grunted irritably, "The name's Waylon, Waylon Jones. If you're trying to get friendly with me, Bane, think again. Am I to believe that's even your real name?"
"Unfortunately, I was never given a name. The only name I ever knew was Bane but I have made an alias or two to go by if necessary. Antonio Diego or Eduardo Dorrance are the names I use."
"I don't give a damn what you call yourself. Gotham isn't for tourists. Why don't you go back home and deal with your drug problem and leave me to deal with the Bat next week?"
That was a first for someone to speak so openly against him in such a manner but Bane let it slide. "I am merely interested as to what you need with 50 million dollars, amigo. Just a...curiosity."
Croc cackled, "Hookers, cocaine, a new car, buying a plane ticket out of this hell hole. Who knows? But it ain't your business so stop sticking your nose into places it doesn't belong or I'll bite it off, comprendo?"
Bane only watched as Croc snapped his jaws to emphasize his threat, tilting his head a little at such a primitive scare tactic. The fact that the society this man was born in forced him to become what he tried to prove he wasn't really spoke to Bane on a spiritual level, something he could relate to give his life since birth was a prisoner for something he didn't even do but his society made him as.
He drew a bit closer to Croc, taking notice he was smaller by a few inches but that was hardly an inconvenience to him in a fight. He could take on this crocodile man and win.
"If you have something to say, either say it or get out of my face!" Croc roared.
"You have an attitude problem. I suggest you learn some manners before I am forced to break you. The payaso will not take kindly to his assassins fighting one another, and it would be a waste of my time."
"You're the one who approached me and I don't back down to nobody. The only boss of me is me. Joker is just a part time gig, got it? And who are you to come into Gotham from wherever and give me orders? A waste of your time? More you're wasting mine so why don't you put your money where your mouth is and do something about it?" The scaled brute growled.
Bane eyed him before slightly cocking his head to the side, "If that is how you feel, fine then. I thought we could be allies but apparently, animals aren't as compatible as I thought."
Waylon cracked his neck and sneered. "You're one to talk, drug addict."
If looks could kill, Bane all but murdered Croc. He let the first insult slide. This time, he was angry and was more than willing to put down this animal for even stooping so low to mention it. His Venom addiction wasn't something he was proud of and his relapses being judged were not helping in his overall mood.
It was Bane who threw the first punch and when it landed across Croc's chest, he jerked back and grimaced shaking his fist in some discomfort. It was powerful enough to send Croc stumbling a few feet backwards but he wasn't expecting the man's muscle and skin to be that dense, like the equivalent of striking a wall. He managed to shrug off the brief flare of pain and calculated his opponent's weak points before the animal could strike back. The chest and backside were naturally thick, arms were dense enough to take hits but can be broken if bent at the right angle, legs were only breakable if he could get Waylon on his front which may not even work at all, but his stomach and head were vulnerable with thinner muscle structure though that wasn't saying much. His only options were to strike at the abdomen or head for any advantage which meant juking out Croc into leaving himself open for said attacks.
The beastly man took a swing at him and almost caught his shoulder but it allowed him to get a hit on the head before Waylon reeled back to protect it. This left Croc open on his left side and Bane quickly got in a punch into the gut before Croc could protect that too. Waylon winced and clutched his side but got another strike right in the jaw. Bane didn't stop his assault. If he did, he knew one wrong move could lose him the advantage he had and maybe he would never get a hit in if Croc got brutal.
Unlike most stocky hired muscle men the feuding gangs in Gotham had acquired, Bane knew not to underestimate Croc. The muscle was just muscle and that's why it was so easy to defeat them even if they put up a fight three against one as they had tried to pull just before Bane accepted the assassination of the Bat. He killed two of them with a neck snap which he relished greatly. This was not simple muscle he was dealing with here. He was dealing with a whole new different breed of animal...literally.
True to his ire, Bane miscalculated a hit to the scaly head that he thought would stun Croc long enough to readjust to strike his gut again. Instead, Waylon recovered immediately and caught his fist, bringing him close for a forehead straight into his nose which he felt break. The attack caught him off guard when he suddenly received two good hits in the face, three punches rapidly in the stomach, and then he felt two fists slam straight down onto his back when he bent over in discomfort sending him propelling into the ground hard enough for it to crack.
Another thing Bane found amazing about Croc was he was one of the few who could match his power and come close to winning if not outright subdue him briefly. He had never really encountered someone who could leave him breathless in few punches. But he wasn't about to give into defeat at the claws of someone like Waylon, not yet at least.
"Well, well, the luchador freak has fallen and I was just beginning to think you were a worthy opponent. I used to be an alligator wrestler and a sideshow boxer. You aren't the first strongman I've taken on. What made you think you could defeat me?"
Bane cracked his nose back into place and frowned at the sight of his own blood. He then gave a hardy chuckle in mockery as he glared up from his position on his knees, "Simple, you didn't finish me when you had the chance."
Waylon's smirk faded when Bane immediately whipped his leg around to trip the crocodile man and he took the opportunity to jump on Croc when he fell on his back. Punching his head a few times, Bane knelt over him with blood on his fists and a very dark yearning to tame this beast.
"I am your superior. I am your bane!" He yelled as he punched Croc once more.
Then the teeth of the crocodile snapped at him. He had to move his arm away quickly which allowed Croc enough room to leap back to his feet. Those jaws were strong and he doubted Croc had a harmless bite in mind if he caught him. It was worth the acknowledgement for further encounters to try and nullify the use of those jaws if he wanted to win the fight faster. If he got caught by them, there was going to be a lot of pain and blood. Whether Croc had the same lockjaw ability as normal crocodiles was unknown but he kind of didn't want to find out this way.
It seemed Waylon had no need to speak when his snapping jaws said a lot for him, and his silence made Bane thankful he could focus more on avoiding being bit than getting stuck in useless banter. He tried to throw a punch to Croc's side but he was nicked by the sharp teeth in the hand which he shook with a hiss of pain. Blood was leaking fast from the small wound as predicted, almost covering his whole hand in seconds. Thank God Croc wasn't venomous.
Debating his options, he knew he needed to subdue Waylon's head or he couldn't win. There was only one way to do it and if he messed up, he would get a bite to the face. All or nothing, he decided to take the chance and lunged forward. Croc didn't expect him to do that and he had an open window to ram into him, knocking him back onto the ground. This time, he acted quickly and pushed Croc's face down and use his remaining hand to hold one arm while he repositioned to lean over the man's back to use his leg to pin the other arm.
He could feel Croc angrily twisting his lower half trying to get out of this body lock Bane managed to do but to no avail. Bane huffed harshly waiting for Waylon to give up, his adrenaline levels high and he realized he did the entire fight without his Venom. He was so distracted by Waylon and the banter that he never got around to activating it. He impressed himself.
"Give up, monstruo! I have bested you! Say you give up en seguida!"
Croc snarled but the pressure on his head began to feel like his skull was about to break. With a hiss, he caved. "Fine! You win! But don't think I won't find you for a rematch!"
Bane kept him pinned but readjusted to hold both his arms and straddled his abdomen. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Waylon."
Croc seemed to calm down and perk up at the sound of his real name, something that was not lost on Bane. He could hear the strong lungs beneath the layers of muscle and bone become more pronounced in silence between them. He expected Waylon to put up more of a fight with a given window after defeat like most enemies did but the latter seemed content even after failing.
"Most people would leave by now, leave in fear or disgust of my appearance. Or if they beat me like you somehow did, they would try to kill me or leave me worse off than this. Why are you still here?"
The question stabbed at Bane for he couldn't really say why. Maybe he wanted to study his opponent more or maybe there was something about Waylon, despite the aggressive nature and attitude problem, he felt at peace with. He held no ill will towards this man even after he vented his frustration on him.
"Would you believe I find you fascinating? I would like to understand someone as unpredictable and strong as you. You are intriguing as an enemy and I want to get to know you better," Bane softly spoke, letting go of Croc's arms and slowly standing up over the man.
Croc got to his feet and brushed off some dirt from his shoulders with a smirk. "Save the flattery, I ain't gay."
That kind of threw Bane off and he awkwardly frowned, "Qué-no, no, no, eso no es lo que...I mean...that you are, uh...cuál es la palabra...unique. I have never fought someone like you before and you are impressive. I-"
Waylon grinned widely, "I'm just pulling you tail, Bane, I know what you mean, but I stand true to what I said. I want a rematch one day. I hope you don't disappoint because I really want to see what else you can do. But then again from your compliment, I seem to be the best you ever had so of course you'll come and find me, won't you?"
Bane drummed his fingers from his uninjured hand on his chest and tucked his bleeding hand in the crook of his arm with little to no subtleness. He had not expected Croc to be so responsive to something he didn't intend to say but he felt his face warming at the tension he unwittingly created for himself. At the same time, he found that he wasn't against the idea surprisingly which either said something about him or Croc completely played him against his own pride.
"I...I will-yes, I mean...you are a worthy opponent. I have great respect for a man who can hold his own against me. I sense that this will be, as the businessmen in America say, the start of a beautiful partnership."
"Oh, I think you want something more than that deep down. You just mind your territory and I'll stay out of yours. And who knows, once this Christmas hunt is over, I just might have need of some company to play with once the Bat is out of the way," Croc purred.
Bane felt more heat rise to his cheeks and he was thankful he had his mask on. This conversation was veering way off from what it was intended to be.
"First to kill the Bat gets to pick the time and place for our reunion."
The mercenary all but jumped at the offer. "Done."
He heard Croc chuckle as the latter walked away much to his sudden embarrassment. "Careful Bane, you wouldn't want people to think you're desperate."
And once again, Bane frowned at the implication and his weakness in letting such a thing happen. He debated whether next time he should kill the man or break his arms for this thankfully contained humiliation. Still, there was hope that maybe they could get along...or do more.
As he made his own leave, he struggled to get past the fact that in a way, Croc won this round. Bane won the fight but Croc was winning the war mentally. He planned on meeting the crocodile man again and indulging that rematch he so wanted but he also intended to be the victor in every aspect come what may. This rivalry would be his.
AN: Ship-teasing Bane x Killer Croc is always funny because Bane is obsessed with Croc in most media, I can't help but believe Bane may have a crush on him. I'm not joking either. In practically all media regarding their rivalry, it's Bane who's incredibly persistent on being Croc's enemy. Initially, it was because he wanted to prove who was stronger but now? Well, tension is best left unspoken in a sane man. Of course, Croc's going to call him out on it, perhaps a bit amused at the whole eagerness Bane sets himself up with.