On the third day, when Bane came again and heard Bruce say good morning in that low voice, he was no longer surprised. He merely crouched before Bruce's cell door and said,
"I don't know whether you're pretending that Amanda's torture has driven you insane, or whether this is some way for you to toy with or retaliate against her, but I'm not here to listen to that."
"Then what do you want to hear?"
"I only want to know about you, about Batman, about..." Bane's voice gradually lowered. After a long while, he finally uttered one word. "About Gotham."
"I don't know what exactly you mean."
"Long ago, I asked a colleague to recommend a good vacation destination. He told me Gotham would be a fine choice. I found that idea interesting. Perhaps the best place for criminals like us to relax is precisely a city of sin."
"So about five years ago, I took a trip along the East Coast with a rather capable colleague. Our first stop was the bustling Metropolis, and then Gotham. It felt quite good, almost like coming home."
"What was your home like?"
Bane fell silent again. After a long while, his deep, trembling voice came from beyond the door. "You're smarter than I thought, Batman."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"There is darkness in you deeper than mine, yet you are more straightforward than I am, and you wield that straightforwardness as a weapon. You have indeed exceeded my estimation of your abilities. Now I am even more interested in you."
"My honor."
"Then tell me, Batman. What was that city I saw a month ago?"
"I don't understand what you mean."
"I mean, why had the legendary Dark City disappeared in only five short years? Gotham not only had sunlight, but