Story [Batman?Nolan] 'Compassion', and 'It will Destroy You' (Henri; Bruce)

Title: Compassion
Timeframe: Batman Begins
Characters: Henri, Bruce
Genre: Drama
Summary: Henri faces the end. Ficlet.
Warnings: SPOILERS for Batman Begins, angst
Beta: none
A/N: Companion fic to ?It will Destroy You?.
Disclaimer: I don?t have any claim on the world of Batman. It belongs to Christopher Nolan, and many others. I only borrow it. No money is being made from this, nor is it sought after.


He stared at me with pain and determination in his eyes. ?I won't kill you, but I don't have to save you.?

I warned you about compassion.

But I didn?t know what it would feel like. To lie here, in a racing deathbed. My deathbed. Of my own making.

Compassion. Compassion. Compassion.

The train cars clack the word in a frantic rhythm. Faster than the beat of my heart. My heart that will soon be still.

It will destroy you.

I warned the boy. I didn?t warn myself.

Gotham isn't beyond saving.

He believed it. Firmly. With the same resolve he?d had in his training.

My greatest student.

The cars are out of control. The end will not be long.

I struggle to my feet; throw my head back. Wind sweeps my clothes behind me.

Forgive me, my student. Gotham wasn?t past saving.

But I am. ?

 

Title: It will Destroy You
Timeframe: Batman Begins
Characters: Bruce, Henri
Genre: Drama
Summary: Bruce reflects on the life of his mentor. Ficlet.
Warnings: SPOILERS for Batman Begins, angst.
Beta: none
A/N: Companion fic to ?Compassion.?
Disclaimer: I don?t have any claim on the world of Batman. It belongs to Christopher Nolan and many others. I only borrow it. No money is being made from this, nor is it sought after.


Your anger gives you great power, but if you let it, it will destroy you, as it almost did me... The words repeat themselves in my head as I gaze over the wreckage of the train. Henri?no?Ra?s al Ghul?once said them to me.

I was shivering uncontrollably that night; still damp from the frigid water he?d unceremoniously dumped me into during our sword practice. He?d told me to rub my chest, and I did so as I sat by the tiny campfire. Enamored by him, seeing only a wise, highly skilled ninja, I listened intently as he told me of the wife he?d lost, and his resolve to fight corruption without mercy.

If I?d known then, what I know now... His words were far more prophetic than either of us could have foreseen. Now he lies here, buried somewhere beneath the rubble of what was necessary.

Forgive me, my teacher. I could not save both Gotham and you. ?

 

Those are so sad!! Very powerful and moving.

 

Thank you. I'm glad you liked them.

 

Now he lies here, buried somewhere beneath the rubble of what was necessary.

What a great line. Goes perfectly with the idea that Ducard failed to heed his own warning. Nice job!

 

Thank you.