---
Location: Gotham – An Abandoned Warehouse
The air inside the warehouse was thick with the scent of blood. Not fresh—but old, soaked into the rotting wood and rusting metal of the long-abandoned structure. Avon stood in the center, golden-red eyes scanning the dark corners where rats and insects scurried away from his presence.
He had eliminated the vampire nest beneath the city, but Gotham had more monsters than just the supernatural.
His ears twitched. A heartbeat.
Then came a familiar scent—one wrapped in leather, shadow, and a hint of controlled aggression.
Batman.
Avon's lips curled into a sharp grin. "Took you long enough, Bat."
A figure emerged from the darkness, moving with impossible silence. But Avon didn't need sound—he could smell emotions like a wolf tracking prey.
Batman's emotions? Irritation. Caution. Calculation. But underneath it, buried deep, a flicker of amusement.
Interesting.
"You're sloppy," Batman said.
Avon chuckled. "Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Batman's silence stretched for a moment. Then—just barely—his lips tugged upward at the corner.
A smirk.
Avon's grin widened. "Hah. You do have a sense of humor."
Batman didn't react verbally, but his scent shifted—a brief flash of mild annoyance before settling back into unreadable stoicism.
Avon crossed his arms. "What's this about, Bat? You here to growl at me some more?"
Batman took a step forward, boots barely making a sound on the cracked concrete. "You're making yourself known in Gotham."
"And?"
"You're a variable I don't control."
Avon's grin turned sharp, canines flashing. "That's the problem, isn't it?"
Batman exhaled slowly, a sign Avon recognized—measured patience.
The Bat wanted to contain him.
Avon stepped forward, muscles coiled, his presence looming despite Batman's own intimidating stance. "You're not going to cage me."
Batman's jaw tightened. But Avon smelled something else now—not fear. Not anger.
Respect.
That was new.
Then—Batman's scent shifted again. His mind was elsewhere.
Something was happening.
"…You're distracted," Avon said.
Batman's eyes narrowed. "There's been a breach at Arkham."
Avon snorted. "Typical Gotham."
Then he paused. Something about Batman's emotions had changed. A flicker of something deeper beneath his usual control.
"…It's not just any breakout, is it?" Avon asked.
Batman's voice was low, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
"Bane."
---
Location: Arkham Asylum – The Wreckage
The scene was chaos. The walls of Arkham's maximum-security wing had been blown apart, leaving only twisted metal and rubble. Security alarms blared in the distance, but the guards were down—some unconscious, some worse.
And in the middle of it all stood Bane.
Towering at nearly eight feet tall, his body bulged with muscle, enhanced by the Venom coursing through his veins. His red eyes gleamed beneath his black mask as he lifted a struggling guard off the ground.
"I told them," Bane rumbled, his deep voice carrying through the ruins. "No prison can hold me forever."
The guard gasped, struggling against the iron grip—then, suddenly, Bane froze.
A growl echoed through the broken walls.
A new predator had arrived.
Bane turned just in time to see Avon emerge from the shadows, golden-red eyes burning in the darkness.
A slow, toothy grin spread across the werewolf's face. "Well, well. The infamous Bane."
Bane dropped the guard unceremoniously. His muscles flexed, and the tubes on his back pulsed as he adjusted his stance. "Who are you supposed to be?"
Avon cracked his knuckles, his aura flickering to life—a deep, crimson energy forming the shape of a howling wolf around him.
"I'm the one who's gonna break you."
Bane laughed, the sound deep and menacing. "They say that about me."
Then he charged.
---
The Battle of Beasts
Bane swung first—a monstrous punch that could shatter concrete. But Avon sidestepped, moving with a speed that defied his size. He retaliated with a clawed strike, raking across Bane's chest.
Sparks flew as his claws scraped against reinforced armor.
Bane retaliated instantly, grabbing Avon by the arm and hurling him through a wall.
The impact sent dust and debris flying, but before the smoke could settle, Avon was already on his feet. His healing factor surged, muscles tightening, his aura growing fiercer.
Bane cracked his neck. "You're fast."
Avon wiped blood from his lip and grinned. "And you're slow."
Bane roared and lunged again, swinging wildly. Avon dodged with inhuman reflexes, his movements fluid like a predator toying with its prey.
Then—Avon went on the offensive.
His claws slashed, his fists struck like hammers, and his legs coiled with explosive power. Every strike was precise, brutal, and relentless.
Bane tried to counter, but Avon was too fast. His attacks cut through the gaps in the armor, landing blow after blow.
Bane stumbled back, growling in frustration. His hand shot toward the control panel on his gauntlet, ready to pump more Venom into his bloodstream.
Avon saw it.
He reacted before Bane could.
With a single mighty leap, Avon crashed into Bane, forcing his arm away and sinking his fangs into the Venom tubes on Bane's neck.
The effect was immediate.
Venom gushed from the broken tubes, spilling across the ground. Bane's muscles spasmed, his strength failing as the chemical left his system.
Avon pulled back, spitting the foul taste onto the floor. "Hah. Didn't even need a cape to take you down."
Bane collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. His body shrank slightly, his unnatural power fading.
That's when Batman landed behind them, his cape billowing.
Avon looked over his shoulder. "You're late."
Batman glanced at Bane, then back at Avon.
Then—just barely—he smirked.
Avon sniffed the air, grinning. "That smirk smells like approval."
Batman's expression neutralized immediately. "No, it doesn't."
Avon laughed.
---
Aftermath – The Silent Agreement
As the police arrived, Batman turned to Avon. "You made a mess."
Avon shrugged. "Fixed your problem."
Batman was silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he spoke:
"…I'll allow it."
Avon's grin widened. "That Bat-speak for 'thank you'?"
Batman didn't answer.
But Avon could smell it.
Batman approved.
For now.
---
To Be Continued....