penaduroforged:
It was a common misconception that Bane was hiding something when he wore the mask. There was no alter ego, no separate persona. He was who he was. He was Bane.
The mask was simply an extension of him. Someone he knew had once said that criminals were a superstitious and cowardly lot. Their fears manifested into a symbol, in which case for the people of Gotham, surmounted to the Batman. That was– of course– until Bane came to the city and broke it across his knee. “Bien entonces.” Both of his arms reached up to the top of his head where he unzipped the back of his mask, peeling the cover from his face. “Now you.”
“ Mi nombre es Mystique . ” Suddenly, her long dark hair faded into a vibrant red . cobalt blue ran up her pale skin to meet the edge of her forehead, passing golden eyes along the way. there she was, in her true form, staring at the man who had nothing hidden behind her mask. if she had known this, she would have bargained for something better, but nevertheless – she didn’t view it as a loss in her eyes.
“ I have to say – my party trick’s a bit better than yours . . “ a polite way of saying he didn’t have one. “ what’s the mask for ? “
“It is no trick.” He answers as simple as possible.
“It is a symbol.” He’s putting it back over his face, both of his arms raising above his head so they could clench the zipper shut and pull it close. It felt almost like a second face. “To me? It is triumph. It is the journey I have endured to be where I am today. To be the man I am today. A symbol of all I have accomplished.” He stares at her through filters of red, like the eyes of a shark. Blood in the water. He's reminded of his Mother for a moment.
“To them?” He doesn’t linger on the thought for too long. “It is a symbol of fear.”
