Evening of the Replacement;

[amutantingotham]

[It's been months of planning, and it all comes down to this. This evening of murder, of leaving her own life behind and replacing Talia Al Ghul.

She's kept is all from Blake, because if this doesn't pan out, it can't be traced back to him. She'd never forgive herself if they found him.

Her bags are packed, and she's waiting for Blake to get home so that she can -- break the news. She thought about just leaving, but he deserves better than that.]

Comments

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[There are men outside their door. Blake giving orders to two cops. Opening the door, he stops-staring at her bags wide eyed.

Autumn has come to Gotham City again and he's dressed for it.]

...What's wrong?

[studieswaitressing]

Nothing's wrong.

[That's -- not true, strictly speaking. She's going to miss him, and she's nervous as hell for the events of the night that have to happen.]

I'm just -- leaving.

[And she bites her lip, smooths her hands through her hair until she's the pretty blonde girl he's seen only a handful of times.]

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[It is Bane and Talia's Gotham. Marriages happen, but they are not forever. He could argue with her and beg her to stay, he could order her to-

but somehow that wasn't covered.]

Where are you going?

[amutantingotham]

[She glances at her hands, then over to Blake. She wants to be honest with him, really, but it's just -- not going to happen. It can't.]

I think you know.

[It wasn't as if they hadn't talked about the rebellion before, about her -- going underground.]

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[blake has been burying himself in lies since then. Comforting lies as there were problems with supply trucks and food trucks.

A good portion of old town is starving. The world is falling apart-their safe little world. I bet on the right horse.

A fist curls. He's thinking of Gordon.]

...you met them.

[amutantingotham]

They need me.

[Some part of her wants him to say that he needs her too, but that would just make it harder for her to leave.]

And I can't stay here if I'm going to be helping them.

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[His hand is on his gun. He doesn't even realize it. It's such a natural gesture for him now. He hasn't shot anyone today-but people have died.

She might have seen it.

Children.

More boys. The hand relaxes in a violent gesture.]

....I could stop..

[amutantingotham]

Could you?

[She doesn't think he's ready, but more than that -- he needs to stay where he is in order for her plan to work. If he leaves, it will be all for nothing.

She shifts over to him, places her hand the one resting on the gun.]

I -- don't know if I believe that. It's okay, John. I'm not asking you to come with me.

[In fact, she's all but asking him not to.]

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[He stares at her. Genuine emotion behind a mask.]

...Don't do anything stupid for godsake. If you need people to pull you out Davis and Bertinelli have been working for the resistance-I wasn't planning on-

[He wasn't planning on letting them live.]

...You're just a kid.

[amutantingotham]

[And because she knows she needs to distance herself, knows this is the only way --]

So were the boys you let die. I'm sorry, John.

[Her fingers curl around his wrist and she leans in to kiss him once, hard

Davis and Bertinelli are safe, now, and now they're assets to watch Blake That's -- something. That's a great thing, actually.]

[everythingyoustoodfor]

[He makes a grab for her, wraps a hand around her throat and chokes the life out of her-

In his mind. In his fantasy. Instead when she pulls away he looks lost.]

...Will I ever see you again?

[amutantingotham]

That depends on how hard you're looking.

[And even that's too much of a hint. She swallows thickly and starts to gather her bags before she loses her nerve.

She'd been a little worried he might actually try to shoot her. There's a knife up her sleeve that she didn't have to use, and she's glad for that -- this way it will be clean when she has to use it later.]