Grace could barely breathe as she watched the prone body of the Batman lay unmoving on the floor.
Get up.
Please get up and fight back.
But he wasn't moving.
Bane had broken his back with his knee.
Even though there was no sound, she knew it must have been awful.
At the start, a small part of her was worried for Bane.
The Batman had killed Harvey Dent and all those others in such cold blood that it seemed like a given that Bane's time had run out.
But… the first hit… it barely fazed Bane.
No matter how many times Batman went for him, Bane was ready.
And he was better.
Far better than Batman.
He was calculated, like a machine.
Maybe he really was a robot.
She barely even noticed when the door opened.
It was only his silhouette that filled the frame.
Everything was blurred until he stood before her.
"Now are you afraid?"
She looked away from the screen to meet his gaze.
He was soaked to the skin.
"Is he dead?"
"He will wish he was dead soon enough."
Grace looked back to the screen as the image of Batman being lifted and carried away was shown.
How the mighty have fallen.
It made her aware of just how dangerous Bane really was.
Bane crouched down to her level.
She felt a finger on her chin.
Their eyes met through her tears.
"Do you understand now?"
Grace didn't answer.
"I do not want to hurt you like that, but do not be under the impression that you are unbreakable."
His eyes were dark and there was no mistaking his threat.
"You already broke me."
"Good." He stood to his full height. "Never question me outside of our room again."
Grace looked up at her captor. The man she once sang for. The man she was once terrified of.
The man she had almost liked once upon a time.
Bane helped her up and the pair walked back to their room in silence.
Grace didn't even realise they were back until she noticed Bane filling up a duffle bag.
"Are you going somewhere?"
Bane gave her an annoyed look before continuing.
"Answer me."
"I thought I told you never to question me."
"You said not to outside of our room, we're inside the room."
"I am going to be gone for a couple of days."
"Why?"
"To deal with our rodent infestation."
"You're going to kill Batman?"
"Why so concerned? Do not tell me you are one of his admirers?"
"Take that condescending tone out of your mouth, I respected him at the start, like everyone else in Gotham. I thought he was a hero."
"You thought he was going to save you?"
"Hope really is the thing that kills you."
"Do not be despondent, you are very much alive."
"But for how long?"
His hand reached out and Grace flinched automatically.
He paused his movements but continued until his fingers threaded into her hair.
He tilted her head up to meet his eyes.
"I will be back in a couple of days, Barsad will take care of you until I return." He took a step closer. "Behave."
She tried to nod, but his hand didn't allow her to move.
"Okay." She whispered.
Grace let out a deep breath when he let go and walked out.
As the door closed, Grace felt her feet collapse beneath her.
For the past few days she had seemingly escaped death by the skin of her teeth.
Bane had pulverised the Batman.
He could easily kill her anytime he wanted.
How could she have been this reckless with her own life?
Why was she so riled up whenever he spoke to her?
Why did she always challenge him?
Why did she think he was all talk?
Because he promised not to hurt her.
He promised Patrick he would keep her safe.
Grace's hand vibrated as she held them out before her.
The images were unclear.
She felt her breath hitch
He was right, she was finally afraid.
xxx
Barsad saw Bane's helicopter land on the screen.
"The Batman is safely locked away in Peña Duro."
"Still can't believe Billionaire Bruce Wayne was Batman." Patrick whistled.
"Found it hard to believe myself." Barsad agreed.
"What do you want me to do with the footage?"
"What did Bane say?"
"He didn't say anything, just wanted it filmed."
Barsad wasn't sure why he felt a pit in his stomach.
"Patrick, Bane set up the camera so Grace could see the Batman fall."
Patrick paused as he turned to stare at Barsad.
"She saw him breaking the Bat?"
"He wanted her to know what could happen and what he was capable of doing."
"So he used Batman to terrify her into behaving?"
"She was walking on thin ice, you saw it yourself. She needs to look after herself. Joey was only the beginning."
"So Grace knows Bruce Wayne is Batman?"
"No, there was no sound when she watched it. Only League members are allowed to know the truth."
"Well, maybe if she sees the consequences, it'll keep her safe."
Barsad frowned at Patrick's blasé reaction, he would have blown a gasket if Bane had done this in the past.
What had changed?
They walked past the medic bay.
Joey was sitting up in bed staring despondently at the ceiling. He looked awful.
"I heard that donors often fare worse than the people that receive the organs." Patrick had a gleeful look on his face.
"How much did you get for the kidney?"
"He's B- so I managed $14 grand for it."
"Do you know who bought it?"
"One of the Maroni's, a nephew, I think. They hid themselves behind a mountain of security walls, but I found them anyway. They use the same program as the Falcones."
"I can see why they hired you."
"They paid me well and I didn't have to get my hands dirty."
"We don't pay and you've already killed someone."
Patrick stopped walking to look at Barsad.
"You were going to kill me."
"And you should count yourself lucky that Bane gave you a chance to become a League member."
"I'm just lucky your boss has a hard spot for my sister."
Barsad tilted his head.
"Don't you mean soft spot."
"I wish I did." Patrick shivered.
"Patrick… Bane…he hates rape." He spoke carefully.
If looks could kill, Barsad would be dead.
"Are you seriously talking to me about this?"
"I'm just telling you, Bane isn't what you think he is."
"Could've fooled me." He scoffed.
"He would never force a woman into bed."
"So you're calling Grace a slut?"
"What no! I'm just saying that he's not a rapist."
"You keep talking-up your boss, but it isn't going to change the fact that he bargained my life for Grace's body and keeps her locked away in his room. He's no better than the men in Blackgate." Barsad actually couldn't retort Patrick's speech. He made some fair points. "Don't try and defend him in front of me again."
Patrick strode away to his station.
Barsad saw Bane enter the hub.
He was alone.
Several of the other members that accompanied him to Santa Prisca weren't in sight, they must have headed straight for their rooms.
His stomach churned as he headed over to Bane.
He stood behind his leader, someone he admired and looked up to, and felt nervous.
Bane seemed to know Barsad was there without pausing in his movements as he walked through the tunnels.
"Something on your mind?"
"You need to tell Patrick that you're not raping Grace."
Bane stopped walking to look back at Barsad.
"Why?"
"He doesn't know you the way I do. I know you find rape abhorrent."
"I do."
"So either you and Grace are having consensual sex or…"
"Or?"
"Or you've been lying to us all in order to torture Patrick."
Bane didn't answer.
"Do you have Lacey Towers prepared?"
"Yes?" Barsad couldn't hide his confusion at the conversation change.
"Good, make sure myself and Miss Fitzgerald will be comfortable during our stay."
Bane moved to leave.
"You haven't answered my question."
"I know."
Barsad watched on as Bane walked around the corner.
Bane would normally kill anyone that called him a rapist.
Or kill anyone who questioned him.
What was going on?
Grace had been like a ghost the last few days. She barely ate any of the food and seemed to just want to sleep all day and night.
He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling.
He knew Grace wasn't her normal self. He couldn't let Patrick see her when she was like that. He would blow a gasket if he saw how thin she'd gotten. Maybe it was time to sneak her some chocolate. She asked for that once.
He made his way to check in with Fitzgerald.
"You ready for Sunday?"
"Ready to get out of here? You bet. Why did Bane choose the football game? Feel sorry for the players, I actually have a couple of their jerseys."
"It's where the entire city will be watching and where the world will find out about Ras al Ghul's great mission."
"I still don't get why you follow this guy, he sounds crazy."
Barsad clenched his jaw.
"A little advice?"
"Sure, lay it on me."
"Keep your thoughts and opinions, concerning Al Ghul, to yourself."
"Is it like Beetlejuice? I can't say his name three times or he'll appear?" Patrick laughed.
"You wanted to join the league, you have to respect it and the man who made it what it is today."
"I do respect it. You guys are fucking lethal. What I don't get is the fact that we go through all this work just to die in a mass suicide."
"It was his plan."
"Yeah, it was his plan. And then he was killed by Batman and his prissy daughter now wants revenge." Patrick mumbled.
Barsad had warned him too many times to keep his mouth shut. One day, his mouth was going to get him killed.
"Just be ready when all hell breaks loose."
xxx
Grace stared at her hand.
27.
How many days had it been?
There had been three bottles of vitamin D tablets.
Each contained 30 tablets.
She was down to 27 tablets.
Two months. That's how long they've kept her here.
The food Barsad left her was cold and starting to grow rancid. He had tried to speak with her. Asked her how she was holding up.
But she never responded. There was no point.
How could someone possibly think she was okay after all she had been through.
All they had put her through.
She was broken.
Like the Batman.
Tremors rattled her hands.
She tried to settle herself. To remember the breathing technique.
It wasn't working.
She tried to hum.
It had been too long since she sang anything.
Singing was the one thing that she loved once upon a time. One of the few things that people knew her for besides her criminal brother. The school often had her lead the carol service at Christmas.
She had probably been replaced.
How was she going to get her life back? What if they had already declared her dead?
What would her obituary even say?
'Grace Fitzgerald. Failed musician, unmarried and no notable achievements."
The pills bounced in her palm and began to drop one by one to the floor.
Her hair was a mess.
Her nails had been bitten to the quick.
Take a deep breath. In and out.
She wanted out.
She needed to calm down.
Why were her hands shaking so much?
Why couldn't she breathe in?
Batman wasn't coming to save her.
No one was.
The walls were getting further away.
The ground was getting nearer.
Static.
Cold.
Darkness closing in.
Muffled shouting.
Echoes fading away.
Pitch black.
xxx
Barsad was out of line.
He knew who Bane was. One of the few people that knew about Bane's real relationship with Talia.
He would never subject a woman to what Talia's mother endured. Nor would he allow his men to force a woman either. He knew about some of their proclivities for prostitutes and strip clubs, never partook in any himself. He would rather live as a celibate than pay for a woman's affections.
But Barsad asking him to reveal to Patrick and the others he wasn't sleeping with Grace would cause more trouble than it would solve. Grace is considered untouchable as his bed mate. After Joey's punishment, most of the men barely speak her name anymore.
Having her live with him keeps her safe.
When Gotham falls, she will be in even more danger. He will keep her close and ensure she is safe.
Bane was exhausted after caging the Bat.
Now the billionaire will understand true suffering.
Bruce had even asked about Grace.
"What did you do with the teacher?"
"What teacher?"
"Grace Fitzgerald. I know her brother works for you. I saw him in the sewer. The police think their disappearances are related."
"For once, their assumptions are correct."
"Where is she?"
"She is perfectly safe and waiting eagerly for my return."
He hoped Mr Wayne was wallowing in his misery.
It pales in comparison to what Bane's suffered for all those years.
Bane reached his door and knocked.
Nothing.
He knocked again.
Why will she not respond?
He was doing her a courtesy by knocking on his own bloody door.
"Grace!" He shouted, finally done waiting.
The door was unlocked and Bane felt his anger dissipate when he spotted a slumped over Grace.
Her chest rose and fell in slow shallow breaths.
Bane crouched down to her level.
"Grace?" He tapped her shoulder.
She didn't wake up.
He checked her over.
Her pulse was weak, her lips were dry and her cheekbones were even more prominent.
There was food beside her, but it was untouched.
"Grace!" He tried again. When she didn't respond, he began to rub her sternum with his knuckle.
He knew it was painful, but he was happy when she woke up with a jolt.
"W-what?" She groaned in pain. "Wha' happened?"
"You fainted." Bane helped her sit up. "Are you okay?"
"Ugh, my chest hurts." She rubbed her sternum.
"You may have a bruise there in a few hours."
"Why?"
"It is how I woke you up." Bane explained.
With a sigh she flopped back into his arms.
"You left me alone. Again."
"I am back now."
"I want to go home." She whispered.
"I know." Bane helped her stand.
"I can't think straight." She hiccoughed. "I've been here two months and three days." She choked out a cry.
Bane paused his movements.
"How do you know that, my dear?"
"The fucking vitamin D tablets." She gestured to the loose tablets on the floor. She must have been taking one when she fainted.
"I do not understand."
"You gave me three bottles and each one has thirty tablets. Two bottles are gone and I counted out the rest." She began breathing harshly through her tears.
"Grace, I need you to breathe."
"I've been gone too long. My parents probably think I'm dead."
"You need to calm down."
"They're the only people that care about me. I don't have a boyfriend, I have no real friends. The only place that probably noticed I was missing is the pizza place."
She was hyperventilating. Bane knew she was going to pass out again.
Before he could think of a better solution, he picked her up and carried her out of their room.
They passed the curious stares of other League members as she sobbed in his arms.
"No! Put me down!" She screamed.
"Hey!" He heard the tell-tale sound of Patrick yelling as he ran to catch up to Bane. He gave a nod to two members who quickly intercepted Patrick before he could follow them. "Where the fuck are you taking her?" Patrick yelled.
Bane ignored him in favour of getting to his intended destination.
He pushed open a door and the sound of rushing water met their ears.
Grace immediately started to panic. He looked down and saw her eyes were closed.
"Grace." He tried to calm her down.
"Where are you taking me!" She sobbed.
"Open your eyes."
She squeezed them shut tighter.
"Grace, please." He whispered.
xxx
With a deep breath, she opened her eyes.
Stars, the moon and Gotham City Bridge were in her line of sight.
"What?" She didn't want to blink in case they went away.
"I would have waited until the morning, but I could not in good conscience watch you suffer like that."
She could barely hear him.
The water flowing past her and the harsh wind was like an electric shock to her system.
Her eyes took in everything around her.
The reflection in the water, the faint car horns in the distance.
A part of her wanted to scream, or jump into the river and swim away.
But the hulking presence at her back would catch her before she moved a muscle.
His hand settled on her wrist. She flinched at the touch. She wanted to smack herself when she felt him put her in a jacket.
"You are cold." He explained and buttoned up the jacket for her. Her fingers had gone numb and probably wouldn't be much use if she tried herself.
"Why did you bring me out here?"
"I have already told you."
She thought back to their conversation. It was a lot of yelling and screaming.
He didn't want Grace to suffer.
"You never cared about me before."
"That is not true, Grace."
Grace turned to meet his gaze. She wanted to scoff, but there was something in his eyes that was sincere.
"Why now?"
"Because you needed it."
Grace took a deep breath. Her hair danced in front of her face as the wind blew.
"You watched me suffer for weeks. You broke Batman in front of me and then left me alone in your room." She sniffed. He didn't respond.
Grace allowed herself to breathe.
Her heartbeat slowed and allowed herself to feel the breeze on her face.
Her eyes focused on the water. The moon's reflection rippled and became settled with each deep breath.
"How long can I stay out here?"
"You may stay as long as you like." He spoke softly.
She gave him a grateful nod.
The edge of the railing met her chest.
An intrusive thought entered her head.
Jump.
Do it now!
Shut up.
You'll break every bone in your body.
The image of a broken Batman entered her mind.
Bane standing over his body like a proud gladiator after killing his opponent.
Her mind kept fighting with itself.
You'll die if you jump.
Who cares?
He'll kill Patrick if you jump.
The thoughts kept bouncing back and forth.
Her breathing became harsh and ragged.
It was only when she felt him against her back that she calmed slightly.
"Breathe, Grace." He rubbed her arms.
She did as asked and took a deep breath in and out.
It helped.
She managed to steady her vision and unclench her fists.
All sounds around her faded away. All she could hear was the faint mechanical breathing of her captor.
"Did you kill Batman?"
"He is still alive."
"I don't know if I believe you."
"You can believe what you like. I would not give the Bat the satisfaction. There is more power in keeping your enemies alive, than watching them die with dignity. The Bat deserves what happened to him. He will only die when I think he has suffered enough."
"Your keeping him alive? That's barbaric. Is he even able to walk?"
"He will in time." Bane's hands continued to rub up and down her arms. "If you knew who he really was, you would agree with my actions."
"You should know better than to assume anything about me."
The door opening behind them made Grace flinch.
She felt Bane turn slightly.
"We are perfectly alright. Return to the hub." Bane dismissed him.
Grace turned her head to see Barsad watching the pair standing close together.
He looked like he wanted to speak, but just gave them a nod and left.
Grace let out another breath and met Bane's eyes.
"He was probably just worried about me."
"It is not his job to worry."
Grace sighed and slumped back against his frame.
"What time is it?"
"One o'clock in the morning." His hands continued to rub her arms.
"I thought it was the afternoon." She had lost all sense of time.
"You are exhausted." He whispered. "Perhaps we should return."
Grace panicked and gripped onto the railing for dear life.
"Let me stay. I don't know when I'll get to see the sky again."
"I will bring you back during the day. Then you can see the sun."
It was freezing and growing windier with each passing second.
He was right, she needed to go back inside.
She took one more look at the moon and allowed Bane to walk her back into the sewers.