Withdrawl Symptons [Bane]

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There was no gradual winter season in Gotham. Like everything else in the dilapidated shell of a City, the bracing cold would suddenly rain from the sky and chill to the bone. With the turn in weather came an almost Dickensian feel, that beneath the covering of wind and ice there was a hardy people accustomed to being downtrodden by the ruling families of the forsaken City. Unfortunately there was no honest minority fighting the good fight, only a twisted criminal class scheming against one another for personal gain. At times Ra's al Ghul wondered whether Gotham was in fact the end result of capitalist progression, that there is no great dream only a horrific encompassing nightmare where the rich only continue to be rich as they turn to crime, in the process turning the poor into the pawns of the illegal enterprises. There was no innocent party to protect, only a cycle to disrupt.

Still, winters in Gotham were insignificant in comparison to that experienced in the nigh arctic conditions of the League's secret training facility in the Himalayas, a location accessible only by a treacherous path through the canyons of sleet and snow, where fires are soon snuffed out by a suffocating torrent of wind. Looking up from his desk, eyes lit by the warmth of the flames that lapped up from the slowly burning logs in the fire, Ra's felt the hairs on his wrist stand on edge with the thought of such a gripping cold. After hundreds of years of calling that Citadel of ice one of his homes, he had still grown accustomed to the temperatures, likely due to his origins in the Middle East where the sun never failed to scorch the land dry. Sitting behind his grand oak desk, his face illuminated by the glowing hue of the open laptop streaming besides him, Ra's al Ghul decided that there was little more he could do tonight and that some rest would serve his weary mind well. Though rigorous training regimes had given him the ability to operate for days at a time without being slowed by fatigue, when a bed was offered there was no point in turning it down. 

Across the desk scrawled a number of documents coupled with series of photographs, each of various sections of the City currently being transformed into the newest patient pacification wing of Arkham Asylum, the boldly named Arkham City. With each passing day the project grew ever closer to completion as Ra's now saw fit to focus on the security force which would enforce order on the other wise chaotic lives of the inmates. But that was work for the morning so without further thought he pushed his chair back from the desk and stood up, looking back out onto the tinted window of his office penthouse, out into the black abyss of the night bordered by the grotesque skyscrapers that made up the surrounding area. From this point he could make out the distant construction project surrounding East Gotham, now a vacant and desolate section of the City void of inhabitants. Where the people who once lived there now found themselves was none of his concern, there were far more pressing matters to address.

Moving out into the corridor outside of his office, he now began to walk through to the main foyer where two guards stood garbed in black suits by the elevator, standing to attention as their lord and master passed him. Ra's paid them no thought, they were doing their duty as was expected of them.

 

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A phantom. that is the thing Bane felt like he could describe it. How long had it been since he left? Days, weeks, months, years? He had cut ties with Ra's and he made a promise that he would never again be a part of the league. The Ra's that Bane saw when he left was not the same Ra's that Bane loved, he trusted, he admired. The Ra's that Bane had known was honorable.   he was an idealistic Man, Ra’s had a view of good, that Humanity could be saved that. And now. Now he had become corrupted he had become a monster a madman bent on the destruction of Gotham. He had become a terrorist He had become the very thing that at one time he and Bane had once drank wine to the destruction of. He had become madness, he had become...Chaos  

Band figured he knew what the cause of i had been. It was That Pit . The Lazerous Pit. It was a monkey's paw, a gift from the Devil. While it had given the man eternal life, it had taken away his reason and his sanity. Bane's last conversation with Ra's had to do with that. Ra's viewed all as no more than simple pawns while for Bane, People were more than just pawns. in order for there to be a society and a just society for that matter, there must people to be a part of that society.


Plus, there were good people. Even in Gotham sure for many were stupid and greedy and could not see beyond the end of their nose, but you also had those that were intelligent. Those that were leaders, though that as far as Bane were concerned mattered People like Summer and Big Mac and Slade Wilson. these people who could Rebuild the Gotham and he would be the main builder of it all.

So Bane left. Left the order and refused to come back. Yet here he was staring his old mentor, his master and his friend right in the face. He honestly didin't know how to feel. He knew better than to know that Ra's was dead...yet he found himself able only to mutter to words loud enough for Ra's to hear.

"Why now old man?"




 

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With the opening of the lift and the streams of light that fell through the widening of the doors, the Demon could make out the hulking figure standing before him at once, not that his voice ever carried a shred of mystery about it. Bane, another title perfectly fitted to its holder, the torment of man, in its simplest form a problem to be solved. The man was no different from his adopted name as he had seemingly done everything in his power to earn such a primal designation through his brutish attempts force himself on Gotham. Dying animals had more grace and finesse about them than this man did for he knew only destruction and violence, and abrupt careless murder at that. The League of Assassins has little use for a man who is addicted to the lust of violence, which ultimately blinds and dazes the operative to the point that they become less of a precise scalpel and more of a random hammer.


"Dogs rarely wander far from their masters, say what you will and be gone, I have more important matters to deal with than suffer your insolent presence." Turning from the figure at his door, beckoning him to enter by not signalling his guards to decapitate him. Ra's moved from the corridor to the adjoining office where he just walked from, turning the lights back on before placing himself behind the desk. His face was one of granite, a stirring of annoyance and disappointment that he found his night invaded by the unwarranted entrance of this unwanted guest though he was partially weighing up the probability of their formal meeting erupting into violence. Of course the Master held no reservations about besting the child in a one on one confrontation, it would make for a brief and some what entertaining lesson but as Bane had once rendered service to the League he would be awarded with the opportunity to explain his sudden entrance.

No seat was offered, no drink or no sign of interest. Partially this was done for psychological reasons, to destroy his expectations for the glorious fight he evidently believed he was here to have by offering no sign of confrontation. Perhaps this would only rattle his cage further. "Whatever your reason for leaving was I have forgotten it, evidently it was of no importance to me. So what is it that you want, Child? Have you come to ask for my forgiveness, that you were brash in your decision to turn your back on us for the sake of crime. Now you are nothing more than a thug with an interesting name, seeking glory and riches over the noble cause you once professed to support." Tapping his fingers on the desk, Ra's failed to hide his signs of increasing agitation, instead hoping to wrap this matter up as quickly as possible. "Venom has addled your brain, clouded your vision to what should be fought for. All that matters is the future, securing it and not our own eternal glory, which you seemed to forget."  

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Bane found himself smirking obviously there had been some form of miscommunication. Ra's had evidently not wanted to see him, and quite frankly Bane wanted nothing to do with him. But it seems as though someone else did.

"believe me my old "friend" When I uttered the words Ra's Al Ghul is dead I meant everyone of them. I only came here because one of your agents gave me a letter saying that you wished to speak to me, and gave me directions here."

Bane then tossed Ra's the tan letter that he had been given.


"It appears as though someone in a league wants us to kiss and make-up." (Note: just to be clear, this is not his hand writing.)

Bane took out a Cuban Cigar and started smoking it. He then offered Ra's one. "you want one?"

 Bane Figured that Ra's would expect him to want a fight. Bane wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction of doing such. Now was not the time. Hopefully here would be no good time, but by the seeking agitation. It would probably be coming a lot sooner than he wanted.

  "Whatever your reason for leaving was I have forgotten it, evidently it was of no importance to me. So what is it that you want, Child? Have you come to ask for my forgiveness, that you were brash in your decision to turn your back on us for the sake of crime. Now you are nothing more than a thug with an interesting name, seeking glory and riches over the noble cause you once professed to support"

"There's no way I would give you the satisfaction of begging like a child. and you are one to talk to me about crime. You who at one point tried poisoning the water supply with Scarecrow's fear gas. You whom tried bombing women and children . I have seen your vision. Your vision is of smoke, rubble, and genocide. The Ra's Al Ghul I remembered would have looked at you, and denounced you as a terrorist. That is why I left."

"Venom has addled your brain, clouded your vision to what should be fought for. All that matters is the future, securing it and not our own eternal glory, which you seemed to forget."

What future? Death? Even if you do accomplish you maddness, what is left when humanity is destoyrd and you are the only one left standing, What will you do? Will you slit your throat, or will you admire the kingdom of rubble you've created. As fo my Venom, I havein't been on Venom for months. I have conqured my addiction. You however I can see you still are reliant on the Pit.  
 

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There was no need for him to justify himself to this brutish thug that presumed to have such a close connection with him. If he truly knew the Master then he would know that close relationships was a thing as alien to him as the moon in the night sky that illuminated the room with its light. "There has only ever been the eternal Ra's al Ghul, from the day I swore to begin my campaign for the glory of Man to the day I'll breath my last I will forever embody the Demon. You of all people should understand the importance fear, that in the end it is the only universal component shared by every being. My actions are done to insight the fear needed to unite man as only the worst will bring out the best in people. You are a child to believe other wise, a fool lost in whimsical dreams who dares not do what is truly needed to free man from their prejudice and hate. If you left, you left because you lack resolve." By this point, Ra's had took to his feet, placing both clenched fists down upon the leather bound desk before him as he gazed up to the monster of the man before him.

When Bane walked out on the true path, an irked Ra's al Ghul merely assumed that it was down to his abuse of venom, that it had clouded his judgment. But now it would seem that the weakness of heart was a lingering problem not born from misuse of drugs but from a pitiful attempt at a clouded morality. There was nothing that annoyed him more than self righteous wrong doers who attempt to justify their behaviour under the cover of a conscience. "That will be remain will be the tempered steel of Humanity! The perfected few worthy to call this Planet home, a united brotherhood dedicated to preserving the beauty of the World rather than destroying it for personal gain. All walks of life will be welcome if they truly honour the hope of Utopia and if it takes the death of ninety nine guilty to save the one then so be it." A vein began to stand on edge on one of his temples, throbbing with the increased levels of excitement brought on by his defence of what Bane would call 'radical methods'. But radical problems deserve just as radical solutions.

Moving from behind the desk so that he could stand before the former asset, glancing up to him while managing to calm his enraged state, Ra's reverted back to his calmed dispassionate state. "Lazarus is essential to the completion of my goals, I can not continue them without it thus I am forced to use it. You on the other hand never required your steroids, yet without them I fail to see how you're any better than you're average street thug. And as you well no my League has no use for simple minded thugs, we require individuals who can think for themselves, who can adapt to any situation. We have no need for your services anymore so I suggest you leave and find an accommodating prison." Bane would make an interesting addition to the Arkham City scene, another piece to manipulate in the melting pot of crime lords.

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"There has only ever been the eternal Ra's al Ghul, from the day I swore to begin my campaign for the glory of Man to the day I'll breath my last I will forever embody the Demon. You of all people should understand the importance fear, that in the end it is the only universal component shared by every being. My actions are done to insight the fear needed to unite man as only the worst will bring out the best in people. You are a child to believe other wise, a fool lost in whimsical dreams who dares not do what is truly needed to free man from their prejudice and hate. If you left, you left because you lack resolve."

Bane found himself chuckling not just to himself but out loud.

"And what happens when that fear disappears? What happens when your dogs bite back? What happens when they see the great Ra's al Ghul bleed? Fear is only temporary. A child is afraid of the Dark, but when he grows to become a man he soon realizes that the things in the dark are no different then the things of the day. He learns to be comfortable in the dark. Sometimes he laughs at the dark.  The dogs once they grow no longer afraid of their owners, bite back."

Ra's was getting angry. Bane could see it as the man clenched his fist against his desk and the veins of his brow started to pop. If anything could be argued to be Ra's weakness, Bane figured it was over zealously sure much of it could be chalked up to the Lazarus Pit, but Bane could not help but feel that there was just a little bit more to this story. Every Spiral to madness begins somewhere. With Bruce Wayne it was the night his parents got shot in that ally, and even with Bane it was all of the years of abuse he faced in his time in prison as a child. But Where did it start with Ra's?

"That will be remain will be the tempered steel of Humanity! The perfected few worthy to call this Planet home, a united brotherhood dedicated to preserving the beauty of the World rather than destroying it for personal gain. All walks of life will be welcome if they truly honor the hope of Utopia and if it takes the death of ninety nine guilty to save the one then so be it."

"Can you honestly take a look at yourself and say you do this to protect humanity? You do this because you seek vengence. Vengeance in what I do not know, but vengeance."

He then leaned over until he was mere inches from Ra's face a grin coming over his face.

'And what happens when that vengeance cannot be sated? When all is over, when everyone is dead and there is no one left to use as a scapegoat no more surrogates to use to fufill whatever revenge fantasy you have, what will you do? The truth is you will break. you will have nothing left. No more fuel to sustain the fire.


Bane found himself amused. Something like what he just said would have been something that Batman would have said.  Perhaps the Dark Knight had began to rub off on him at least. Ra's  moved from his desk to meet Bane face to face. a grin once again came over Bane's face.

"Lazarus is essential to the completion of my goals, I can not continue them without it thus I am forced to use it. You on the other hand never required your steroids, yet without them I fail to see how you're any better than you're average street thug. And as you well no my League has no use for simple minded thugs, we require individuals who can think for themselves, who can adapt to any situation. We have no need for your services anymore so I suggest you leave and find an accommodating prison."


Bane could now tell that Ra's was simply trying to push Bane's buttons. Even without Venom, Bane was well past Ra's in terms of physical strength. He was the strongest man in Gotham, but Ra's was far more agile, Still he found his former Master's accusations amusing,

"How amusing considering a one time you considered me your son and true heir to the league of assassinations , and do not forget I was on Venom long before you found me. but the difference is, Those months I cast myself into exile. When I fought my demons and broke my addiction, the day I did all of that, is the day I found myself and you know what I learned? I learned that hope is stronger than fear. The problem with Gotham is not the lack of fear, it's the lack of a true leader. The sad part is, at one time you could have been that great leader."

Bane then began to grit his teeth. " I was a fool to think that maybe I could convince you to remember what you once were, and whoever gave me this note was a fool to think we could ever make up. but Remember this. Before I left, you told me I have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to bring order to Gotham. I am willing to do whatever it takes to bring that order, even if it means I have to destroy the Lazarus pit and kill you to do it."

Bane Began to walk away. "If you think I'll be a pawn in your game, you have another thing coming my friend. You'll just have to kill me." 

 

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"We are retribution incarnate, the vengeful spirit of Man's lost opportunity made manifest with an iron fist. True justice stems from our fingers, it is through us that the World will be brought back into balance kicking and screaming as the wretched cancer that is crime will be scourged from the host." Ra's was never afraid of the dark as a child for he knew that darkness itself would never pose any threat to him as it was only an absence of light. It was what hid in the shadows that was to fear, the lurking threat out of sight but never out of mind. So with this in mind, the League of Shadows was born to become that hidden presence in the hope that through darkness light could be served. As Bane laughed to himself in a simplistic easily amused fashion, the Master could not hide his own thoughts of contempt as he wondered whether the oafish brute was taking the conversation seriously, it was after all he who approached Ra's with the poorly thought out criticism.

Having watched the Earth spin for many years, it was his observation that through the mistake that was religion a twisted morality base was born which had infested Western society, enshrining a dogmatic and subservient approach to ever lasting glory in the afterlife. Being one of the only people alive to have truly experienced death, he could say that there was no point waiting for greatness to happen for it never will: a kingdom of man would have to be forged on Earth through fire. "You could try and I welcome you to, a sword goes dull without the occasional honing." There was no saving Gotham, attempts at revival would only prolong its painful death. Batman was nothing more than a jolt of electricity animating a lifeless form, giving a false hope to the dull minded that would never impress the intellectual.

As Bane turned his back on Ra's al Ghul, it allowed him the opportunity to canvas the room for any weapons close to hand and he judged that a closed environment such as this would be perfect for a swift engagement as the larger frame of the South American would limit his movement some what. It would be foolish to believe that a hardened criminal such as Bane would be easy to defeat in a fight, as though he has limited understanding of established martial art forms his strength affords him a compromise as no doubt any foe will never hope to match his pure raw strength. If one was to dispatch him, speed and intelligence would be the most important factors. "Contrary to what your idealism might say you came here hoping for the opportunity to display your apparent strength. Venom or no, you are a carnival attraction not a warrior. Any chance to brandish and impress onlookers with your daunting mass is swooped up in an instant. An ape such as yourself has little in the way of skill but if you truly believe that you can best me in a fight then I challenge you to do so." Ra's placed his hands behind his back and locked them together so that his frame would make for a narrower target while he edged back ever slightly to allow himself room to manoeuvre. "I will break before I bend, will you be the man to do it?" The challenge was set the moment his emerald eyes clasped sight on the towering home invader.

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"Bane Figured that Ra's would expect him to want a fight. Bane wasn't going to give the man the satisfaction of doing such."

Well maybe just this once.  Bane then took a sharp turnaround and speared him so quickly it was almost like a blur. The sheer force of the impact caused the wall and floor ahead of them to shatter the two towering warriors fell several stories each wall shattering underneath them. Bane took the biggest majority of the kinetic energy, the two finally landed on the first floor Bane fell back first but manged to get up without much of a hitch.
    In fact if anything, Bane already felt Invigorated. Yeah this was not the most ideal way to level the playing field, but it worked.
Bane's suit was in tatters. A wide almost demented smile almost came over his face. He removed what little suit there was left, revealing the typical costume that Bane would wear. He then pulled out a mask and slipped it on.

"Now things are getting real."
 

Outfit:

Mask:



Top:



Legwear:



Boots:



Gloves:



Note: Don't ask me why, but I for some reason imagine this song playing in the background while were are fighting:

 

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Death had come in many forms to Ra's al Ghul in the past beyond the bog standard creeping threat of old age. There have been times when he has used the Lazarus Pits to recover from fatal stabbings, a rare occurrence, or to survive another wise fatal gun shot wound. However over the six hundred years of using the regenative substance, he had never once used it to remedy wounds from being hit by a locomotive. The initial impact does nothing more than daze the senses, promises the body that in a split second there will be a surge of pain unlike anything the Mind could dare contemplate. Not only was the wind knocked from his lungs but the very bones shuddered and seemed to snap in a thousand places before snapping themselves back together, only to be broken again as the nerves shocked themselves back to life. The tackle was an atom bomb to the ribs, a promise of a thousand pains to come that seemed to dwarf the healing capabilities of the Pits.

For the next second, the World seemed to fall away from Ra's as the initial force of the impact left him in a mindless daze of tumbling into a painful abyss. Once they hit the floor, their tumble cushioned by concrete and what was once a wall of his office, Bane made his first mistake by putting on his war paint. No doubt he thought he'd hit harder if he wore a mask or how would anyone know who he was without it? Looking for a name for yourself was often the first grievous error any player of this dangerous game could make. Using a knee as a rest, Ra's was able to push himself back onto his feet now with the intent to keep his two feet firmly placed on the ground. The Gorilla had unleashed himself, throwing all of his strength into that attack which gave Ra's a needed albeit painful insight into how he fights.

"If you intend to kill me, don't waste time talking about it." Now Ra's thought it time that he moved into the offensive position, not waiting for Bane to finish pulling on his wrestling mask before crouching down before him, forcing his elbow into the side of one of his knees before taking a slew of jabs at the other. By starting at the base of the target, you are able to break his defensive position by crippling his lower half, weakening the legs. Of course Ra's al Ghul lacked the raw strength of Bane but his life times of expertise and animalistic agility more than made up for it. A well timed, patient and critical attack would see his enemy defeated not with a quick show of bravado but by drawing him out so that his size would make no difference. Another couple of uppercuts were launched into his thighs before Ra's rolled back out of the way of any potential counter strike. Again he made himself as streamlined as possible, a narrower target for the lumbering street brawler to reach out to thanks to his agility. Bane's punches could not be stopped but they could be redirected. Using the strength of the enemy against themselves was his greatest skill.

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Bane hated to admit it, but at this moment, Bane never felt more alive. It had been a while since Bane had gotten in a good battle. Bane took no pleasure in war, but he did take pleasure in battle. Two warriors of equal strength and skill facing each other. When Bane put on that mask, it wasn't about hitting harder, or hiding his identity or even gaining an advantage. It was about embracing his roots as a warrior.

Bane had to admit he found himself a bit amused when Ra's actually staggered in an getting up. Ra's was like the boogieman, few ever saw him (at least with full awareness of whom he really was,) but the legends of him made him out to almost be a god or a demon, and here Bane was taking Ra's on mono on mono and actually standing toe to toe with him.
As Ra’s dug his elbow into one of his knees, Bane felt the shockwave of pain, but he didn’t so much as flinch. Bane had a very weird quirk in the sense that Bane honestly enjoyed physical pain. It got his adrenaline going and made him that much more invigorated giving an unsorted unending loo[ like a wild beast where the more you try to weaken it, the more you just make it stronger. Bane was also no fool he had spent months training to toughen himself to ignore the pain and show no weakness especially when it came to the weak points such as the legs. He also was aware of what Ra’s was trying to do. Ra’s had taught him to always use your opponent’s strength against him. Any punch that Bane would attempt to throw, Ra’s would just counter and redirect the momentum back at him....So Bane would just give Ra’s something that could not be countered.
As soon as Ra’s finished his attack Bane put Ra’s into a choke-hold before Throwing Ra’s as hard as he could to the other side of the room. Bane then locked his eyes on the man not keeping them off him or his movements..

“Come on Ra’s,” Bane thought to himself. “I may have strengthened my legs, but my face is still like any other man’s. Remember what you taught me. A warrior can’t fight if he can’t breathe.”

None of this was said out loud. instead Bane Simple laughed and said.

 “You know your right I would make a good carnival attraction, and for my first act, I just made the great Ra’s Al Ghul stumble like a drunken lunatic.”

Bane was careful to be on guard while saying this.

[Deleted]

When thrown against the wall, the blow was cushioned some what by Ra's' ability to rebound off of the dry wall and back into a hunkered position. Unlike Bane, the Master had no sense of arrogance when it came to feats of prowess for he knew his worth and decided that anyone who had to proclaim their skill to the world was truly lacking in any actual power. So he would fight accordingly, taking none of the glory that his opponent evidently sought to claim, to place his name over the honour of defeating the great Demon himself. A slew of lifetimes lived had taught the dogged Master of the true worth of victory and at most it was a bitter sweet taste, a hushed promise made to bestow the sensation of life everlasting but the immortal man knew that this was not so. Bane was nothing more than Ozymandias, the King of Kings soon to be dust in the wind, a murmur in the sea of history.

From his stepped crouched position, the older warrior allowed a few seconds to pass before making his next move, waiting in silence for the towering foe to move closer for his next attack. To conceal your true strength, to hold it in reserve and hold the winning cards back until the pot is at its largest is the true path to victory. "You're not in a God forsaken Prison now fighting for scraps now, Child. You must be more than a brawler." With little effort he sprung from the ball he was in, lunging up with an uncanny level of speed courtesy of the Lazarus running deep through his veins. Stepping upon Bane's knee, he was able to jump up to the height necessary to level a punch to the Beast's throat before dropping down as like a stone between his legs where yet another couple of hits were forced into his thighs. Speed was the key, being faster than your opponent so that all their raw ferocity was wasted in a wild scramble to return hits.

"There is no doubting that you have skill but you forget that I am the Master and you were born for a life in chains. That thirst for domination will only lead to your downfall." If these words forced him into a blind rage then all the better as a raging bull can always be dispatched by the well place stabs of the matador. But what he said was at least in his eyes the truth. Six hundred years ago, Ra's broke free from the shackles that held him down and that was by rejecting the blindness of a morality which only ensures subservience to the wealthy and those of ascribed positions. Structure is everything in life, but only when it is based on strength.

[Deleted]

Ra's was truly a full if he really believed that Bane was as arrogant as he was showing off. There was also the possibility that this meant that Bane was egging him on. At leas that was what the man thought until Ra's punched him in the throat. Bane was knocked out of breath and found himself falling Backwards. The Bruiting Giant however was able to recover from the blow...But just barely.

"Well..." Bane said in the middle of some hacking fits. "It's nice to know that you haven't forgotten everything that you taught me."

Bane pulled ou a Large Bowie knife and put himself in a defense position. He was not the best, when it came to a full fledged sword, but if the knife he held was large enough, he could compete with anyone with a sword even someone as masterful as Ra's. Still Ra's had now succeeded in putting Bane on the defensive. Meaning Bane would have to be vigilant and wait for the right moment to strike.


 

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Unlike his opponent, Ra's was not known to carry a weapon by his side at all times or at least a knife stashed down his boot. The reason for this is that often he would be carrying his cane which had a hidden short sword stored within the wood yet that was still in the original office where the fight began. For now he would have to make do without a blade, a shame for though his martial prowess was something feared by all in the shadowy world of his work; his true fighting gift came in the form of swordplay. A tempered edge of metal was nothing more than an extension of your own body, another arm and you can not drop your own arm. The very fact that Bane saw the need to resort to a weapon showed Ra's that his bravado was only a paper thin shield, an empty deterrent.

With step work a dancer would be envious off, Ra's moved himself over to a collapsed curtain by the wall that had been knocked down where they entered the room. Bending down quickly he tore off a thick strip of the material and wrapped it around one of his hands yet left a good foot of it hanging so he could grab it with his other. If he was precise enough it could be used to disarm if he was allowed to get close enough. "A man should never rely on a piece of equipment to win his wars. Hide behind it if you will, wretched Dog." By standing side on towards Bane, Ra's made himself a narrower target to hit.

[Deleted]

Bane let out a hardy laugh.  "Ah but who said this was for you?" Band began cutting the palm of his hand. Not enough to kill him obviously, but enough to make him bleed. When he bleed, Bane's adrenaline shot up giving him almost this sort of blood rage. The rush was not quite as strong as some of the venom rushes , but enough to give him the same unstoppable rush. Bane then grabbed Ra's by the throat and refused to let up Bane then released a barrage bone breaking punches at Ra's kneecaps. Each punch holding so much force that the sound of the impact could be heard from a mile away

"Funny thing is, Break the kneecaps and a man can fall, and a man who can't walk can't fight. he becomes week and useless. Tell me Ra's. If you could make a god bleed, what else is there to fear from him?"

Bane then gave a massive headbutt knocking his foe to the ground. Ra's wasn't down and out, and Bane didn't care.  he made his point. He was not afraid of Ra's he didn't care what he threw at him. Bane wasn't afraid of him. Not now, not ever. Now it was ra's turn to finish this. Whether he unleashed his wrath on Bane or fainting from exhaustion. Bane didn't care which. He made his point.

"come on get up!" Bane taunted. "GET UP!!!"

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A punch from a Gorilla probably doesn't have as much fury in its as the fists of Bane and Ra's felt every one of them break off his body, only sweetening the potential release that  Lazarus will soon grant his wounded form. Yet for now he would have to summon enough strength to see off his would be attacker, to end this dance once and for all. Falling to the floor was a welcoming reprieve from the beating, a fatal flaw on the part of Bane to give him an opportunity to catch his breath, no doubt thanks to his arrogant belief that he could take on the Demon at his best. "Your lack of fear is a testament to your lack of vision. What is left to fear about a man who has proven himself blind? You may have brought me to blood, come to me when you have conquered death!" Visions of a God scorned by Man's lust and hate striking back against his wayward children flash through his mind from the pages of various faith books. A God that bleeds is no God but a deity can be insulted or ignored which is tender mount to physical pain and often such a disregard for worship is repaid with a swift and encompassing vengeance. Just ask the Pharaohs in Exodus or the sinful in Genesis. A wronged God is a wrathful lord.

Ra's al Ghul is many things but a God is not one of them for he understands the weakness of his body and the pitfalls of his mind. A God has no such limit on their power for they are omnipotent yet Ra's was as close to a God made incarnate as could be Humanly possible. He had devoted followers and he promised to lead them on a righteous campaign and wickedness though six hundred years of a life and death cycle had only taught him that either there is no higher power to answer the questions and concerns of Man or that they don't care. Religion has only served to stop the oppressed from rising up and killing the wealthy, it is a form of social coercion to cull the minds of men or so the Old Man had come to believe. It would only be a matter of time until he founded his own Heaven from the ashes of the old Earth.

It took him a few moments to crawl back up on his feet, to stand tall after such a beating but it wasn't the first time he had experienced such pain but after years of besting any challenger to come his way, the sensation of pain was as alien to him as petty morals. "This is over." Moving into an attack position, Ra's managed to grab his hulking arm in such a way that he was able to twist it around with the line of cloth in his hands, holding it down with all of the strength left in his arms. And so he contorted his attackers arm, using his own rage against him until he heard the bone beneath the flesh snap under pressure as he forced his open palm into his elbow.