Zennaire’s mouth was agape as they drove through the gates of Lesley’s property. It was bad enough that they got picked up in a car that really Bruce Wayne should have been driving; however, when he saw the house, it was over.
It looked straight out of a history book on the founding fathers. It didn’t fit Gotham’s style. It was bright and clean with its mainly white paint job. They got closer to the place and Zen saw an older man open the front door; a grey mustache adorned his face with matching slicked back steely hair. Two dogs, one black the other white, that were a breed he didn’t recognize came out from within the house and waited for the car to pull around. They reminded him of a collie mixed with a ferret and maybe a greyhound? Regardless of his staggering need to study up on his dog breeds, Zen watched as the car stood pulled to a stop and the old man was at the car door where Lesley sat opening it right away.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIp8LP0HCo
“Master, I’m very pleased to see you back. May I take your coat?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zm5NWRqpF
“No thank you, Ebenezer. Would you get some stationary out for me? I need to write a few letters.”
He stood up as the dogs nipped at his hands.
“Hello! I’m happy to see you guys too.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHJi4xDVzm
They calmed down as Lesley petted them behind the ears respectfully. As Bane left the car, the dogs demanded attention from him as well. Zen exited the car and the dogs focused that attention on him. They each sniffed him but quickly were called back into the tall mansion by the old man, Ebenezer?
He stood by the car until Lesley turned to him.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0olIUWJwi
“Are you coming in?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBW8ieUX4d
“I’m allowed in?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTQk9Nc1iW
A blush creeped up Lesley’s pale skin as he looked at Zennaire.
“Of course, and other things.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCbX8uOwpv
He smirked and followed Lesley into the house.
“Can’t believe you like me even with a shaved head.”
“You have really nice bone structure..”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ85q44C3kv
He briefly paused as he thought about how it was kinda cute how bad Lesley’s compliments were; but it wasn’t hard to just move past that when he looked at that face.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX9idYwZtt
“Thanks. You do too.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNibfwLqPzL
He reached up, once again cradling Lesley’s jaw before softly kissing him.
He didn’t let the kiss get too out of his control, he didn’t want Lesley to freak out on him after all. He pulled away only to see the two dogs staring at him.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctGCJwjlCe
“We… we should get inside.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQMg2vJuGV
Lesley looked between Zennaire and his dogs before taking his hand and heading inside the house.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63ZpFWIfBl
“Did you want to formally meet them?”
“Your dogs? I already petted them…”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Of9pKelqo
Lesley gave a slight laugh before calling the dogs over.
“They’re Borosi. That’s the breed. This is Crow,” he took Zennaire’s hand and had him stroke behind the dog's ear for a second before summoning the other over, “and this is Dove. She's a total softy. Oh be careful, she likes to think she’s a lap dog.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4LpXoQpvl
Zennaire petted the solid white dog, she was soft and leaned into his hand softly whining when Lesley pulled him away.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtnNC3gmQL
“Oh hush, Dove. Have you said hi to Mr. Bane yet?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsNzkkg0bQ
The dogs bounded down the hallway where Zennaire soon heard Bane’s voice and laugh.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7McNtzKkn
“They really like him.”
“Oh, Mr. Bane? Yeah. He visits occasionally. He’s pretty nice actually. When… when he’s not trying to rebuild society.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqobxjm5C8d
Lesley looked away from Zennaire as he spoke before the butler walked up to them.
“Master, I’ve lain out your stationary as you have asked. Shall I fetch the phone as well?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3uhenhNC0
“Yes actually. I need to make some phone calls. Zennaire, feel free to go where you’d like. Oh, and if you need anything please ask Ebenezer here.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvpMkGzyxR
The butler gave a curt bow.
“Yes once I fetch the phone for the master I am at your disposal as well as Mr. Banes.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGG5VRkb9U
“Oh, ah… thanks.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRpbVb1TH2
He watched as the two of them left the entryway into a side room. He wandered throughout the mansion taking note of the large portraits of men that looked strikingly like Lesley throughout the centuries his family had lived in Gotham; it was strange however, that they weren’t family portraits.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8WZpJmPcK
There was only one of those.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhrizUfhxk
It stood at the far end of the hall. It was a huge portrait, almost life size. A man stood with his wife, a baby in her arms and a girl on the other side of the man. Everyone in the photo had startling white hair and red eyes, expect the man, he looked normal enough. He jumped as Lesley’s voice sounded from behind him.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLiAujUNGM
“Oh, you found the portraits?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfpaBCiejW
“Gah! Yeah… they’re really well made.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJP4llj9zs
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I’m not scared.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aiVi8OvxQ
Zennaire’s response came close to cutting the end of Lesley’s sentence off.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbIhR7PPz5
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQO9WcyzGJ
Lesley nodded before looking at the portrait that hung in front of them, a sad smile on his lips.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkONn87pi6L
“Were these people important Lesley?”
“You could say that, yes. They were the one of the first people to settle Gotham you know, the McKinleys.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl91YrNiLG
Zennaire paused to think while he registered the name McKinley. It seemed familiar to him, but he just couldn’t place it. Soon however, he was refocused on Lesley who continued to talk.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuO2qTKsMw
“But please excuse me, I need to see how Mr. Bane is faring.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nUpbAQD5F
He began to walk away with Zennaire following him.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb46WN3L0UT
“I’ll come with you. I need to talk to Bane too.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s8y8enLK4
With a knowing smile playing on his lips, Lesley replied.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAflvUip6Q8
“About getting your gear back from GCPD, right? Fear Doctor?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVFrIoEOys
He narrowed his eyes at the albino man before relaxing.
“I suppose my identity isn’t really that secret anymore…”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVmFD4nqyw
“No not really. You’re going to be treated differently by lots of people now.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWlKCWBczQ
The words from Lesley had a tone of sorrow that infected even his face as he looked distantly down the hallway.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGAMIy0GLd
“You don’t seem to be treating me any different.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekCFs6FLqm
This broke the spell Lesley was under, causing him to turn towards the other man.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnaxN9uem0
“We were both in Arkham. I can’t really say either of us are model citizens…”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ036xasPicr
Zennaire had trouble believing that. The feeling he got from this man wasn’t one of destruction or even panic: it was just pain.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9UBDFDjt7
“Why were you in Arkham?”
“I killed someone, everyone said it was an accident, but that doesn’t excuse the fact it happened.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aGBAXroV6
He kept silent as Lesley paused. His waiting paying off when the other man spoke up.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHEPiwhgEu
“...and it wasn’t an accident.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKJY4VA3Em
Lesley walked towards where Bane waited, his footfalls echoing through the walls. Zennaire followed silently. He wanted to ask, to prod, but he knew better; it wasn’t his place.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH4vEbUosd
——————
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIHBAdESGu
Zennaire turned the corner behind Lesley entering the bright room. It took him no time finding the light source, the walls of this room were windows except for the one behind him.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqXFWRIdRP
Bane sat on a couch with a dog on either side of him. When he saw them he nodded at them.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5KolAfoTD
“Welcome back you two.”
“Hey Bane.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV8QMsn5N6
Lesley motioned for Zennaire to sit down before he started to speak.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJahLwRGYd
“I know you both are anxious to… return to reforming the city; however, I think it would be wise for you to say here a while.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ7EKI5ccB
Zennaire frowned and quickly replied.
“Look Lesley, I need to get my gear and head back to my father.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYqyY5rmsc
While Lesley opened his mouth, it was Bane who spoke.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JrPPMtKdB
“Zennaire, Crane is fine without you. He’s been working by himself for years. Perhaps it would be well for you to distance yourself from him.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WLN7ffio8
“You sound like my brother. I’m Crane’s partner. He’s told me that himself.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRgwvOZBex
“And he is a very good liar.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oy57eucPP
Zennaire stood up, his face red with rage, when Lesley's voice broke the silence.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRstSGu1kL
“Enough. The both of you. I don’t care about Scarecrow. He’s not here. You two are, now listen.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFqMFhSlRu
Normally, he wasn’t intimidated by a man smaller than him and with the appearance of a doe but the look in Lesley’s eyes said other things. Zennaire sat back down as Crow came and sat by Lesley’s side.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBsQpXia4b
“The city is going to be looking everywhere for you two. Bane, we’ve been through this before; Zennaire, you’re new to this. Everyone will want to search here. I could stop them, but I won’t. I have plenty of places to store you two while that’s happening.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkJGT36hP3
“How can you trust that driver and Ebenezer so much?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7T6xlzJ7G
“It’s not a matter of trusting them. They know their place. I don’t intend you to stay here forever. You can if you want, but I’m getting off track..”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn4cTDZEUO
Lesley paused and patted Crow before continuing.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJ4DRA365C
“It’ll take some time, but I can safely get you and your gear back.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb7r6MdWR3
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5PZC3PyuU
Zennaire had to think, why was Lesley so powerful? And why hadn’t he ever heard of the guy?
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkNkjXeTOE
“I can get my own stuff back, that’s not an issue. Though I won’t turn down a free place to stay.”
As he finished his statement, he smiled at the albino who returned it before speaking.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U5uR7h2iH
“I don’t doubt that; however, no more going to the store, park, mall, no social media, constantly changing phones…” he shifted his shoulders back and forth before stopping, “...of course, if you’re okay with that, by all means. But if you want to still be relatively free, then you’ll listen to me.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NNDhR3zgT
The smile on Lesley’s face wasn’t the soft, coy one Zennaire had grown used to seeing. This was barely a smile; it was ruthless.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg0xnolZxw
Bane sat in his chair silent as the question was posed.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4qC4oFAkU
“Alright, what do you want me to do?”
“Publically, renounce your father. Say that he used you and it wasn’t your idea.”
“What!? I’m not doing that. He didn’t use me!”
“Zennaire, it’s not hard. Just lie. The public just needs to not see you as a threat. If you can place the blame on Scarecrow, then you’re off free. Everyone knows him. It’ll be a breeze. Then just leave everything up to me.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4st03ylx86
He took a moment to think about that. Use his own dad? He’d be pissed when he found out of course, but… Zennaire was more than able to handle an angry father..
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3QDQiKADL
“Fine. But how are you going to…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8DCdu0POp
Bane nodded in agreement as he stood.
“Zennaire, Lesley is quite more capable that he appears. Let him handle it.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCWNYvaPvH
If even Bane has such faith in this guy, maybe he should listen.
“Fine…”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG53hemU4yI
At Zennaire’s acceptance, the soft smile returned to Lesley’s face.
“Okay. Let’s get this show on the road then. Ebenezer, would you drop him off at the station please?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvVhJsGBuO
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqXjjXUvZv
—————————
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYzzrHyITC
Zennaire soon found himself seated in an interrogation box down at the local GCPD.
When they had seen him so readily turn himself over, they cuffed him and tossed him in here. He could only guess they were calling in backup… The son of one of the Gallery, just walks him after he escapes? Even he’d find it suspicious…
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMC9MoP0pL
Yet here he was.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5BVPGlHlm
He watched as none other than Director Gordon and, the hero himself, Batman walked into the room, with the latter hanging back by the door.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz2RcSnVXh
Zennaire couldn’t stifle a dry chuckle as Gordon sat down.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhj67bCBS0
“What’s so funny, Crane?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkvjrbAmdj
“Nothing, sir.”
Zennaire wiped the half smile from his face as he looked at the director.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ91g64Imoq
“The Officer who escorted you in here; he said you wanted to tell us something?”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSypBNQhL8E
“Uh… yeah.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3teQYacdc
There was silence and Gordon urged Zennaire to continue with a look. He averted his eyes. There was still time for him to back out… he didn’t have to betray his father, not like this… Though the thought of seeing Lesley’s disapproving frown or worse, a sympathetic smile.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDRUIO3Ttf
“Right… I came here today, because….”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e7OuLxfUJ
He gulped, the lie was harder to tell than he thought. Was it always this hot in here?
“I wanted to… uh… it wasn’t my, my idea to go to that warehouse.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDc4vWvOzx
The sound of chair legs scraping against the concert floor echoed through the room as a deep voice spoke up from the back.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjo53jIPeL
“We know.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9ZnvNGkAn
Blue eyes met cowl as Zennaire looked at The Bat who continued.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIpR0aCkVe
“Scarecrow put you up to that. So he could get away.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q3ySs33ws
He wouldn’t do that. This was just another test from Father.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoeSMVQLTH
“Yes… I came to understand that.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOFtbQ0WrX
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDQLD7HkKi
This time Gordon spoke as Batman left the room.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKjL1y2dDJ
“Alright since you’re going to cooperate; we want Scarecrow’s bases.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBAbwPaza0
“Base.” Zennaire corrected. “He only has one.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ11ad3BBIk
“Uh sure… in return, we’ll expunge your record.”
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaGiCXx29H
Zennaire nodded. And rattled off the location of the base he had visited so many times, the one with all his gear.
The one where he was tested on his loyalty.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLDyMvhhA4
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTpgOSYJXs
The place he would now be exchanging for his freedom.
225Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLsWPVOO9V
