Following their celebratory lovemaking session, Bane and Katharine relaxed comfortably and contentedly alongside one another with the bed sheet draped over their nude, satisfied forms. Having been deprived of each other for what seemed like an eternity, they felt like desert castaways who at long last had come upon a munificent oasis. For the first time in their lives they finally felt whole. They knew the road ahead would be far from easy, but they were uniform and steadfast in their resolve to do everything in their power to preserve their newfound fulfillment.
"The whole ship probably heard me," Katharine embarrassedly surmised.
"Doubtful. The walls are constructed of reinforced steel. And even if they did, none will dare mention it," he attempted to reassure her.
"I tried to control myself, but I couldn't help it," she grinned and turned her head to him. "You're an artist."
"I was hardly quiet as a mouse myself," he reciprocated her gaze.
"Part of me fears this is all just a dream I'm going to wake up from any minute."
"Even a dream could not be so magnificent," he tenderly attested and cupped her chin.
"I have dreamt of this before. And then I woke up alone and in Gotham. It was horrible."
The lingering sadness in her lovely voice caused an overwhelming sense of guilt in him and for good reason; he had been the sole reason for the pain she'd felt for the past two months. Although at the time he believed he was acting in her best interest, he now realized he never should have altogether banished her from his life as he had. The past could not be changed, but he would make it up to her in the future. Somehow he would atone for his mistakes and show her just how deeply he cherished her.
"You will never be alone again, my love. Or in Gotham, for that matter," he swore and brushed her chin with his thick thumb.
"That reminds me, where are we going after the ship docks?"
"Our current headquarters is in Budapest, though I'm not particularly keen on the idea of taking you there."
"Why's that?"
"A military installation comprised exclusively of men is no place for a lady, especially mine."
"I don't understand. Do you not trust some of your men?"
"My trust extends no farther than you and Barsad. Moreover, they may interpret your presence as an affront and view me as a hypocrite as a result."
"Now I'm really lost."
"League men are sworn to celibacy, and therein lies my dilemma."
"Celibacy? That's a pretty harsh rule, don't you think?"
"It was instituted by our late founder as a means to separate the weak from the strong."
"But you've had relations with women. Did all those little dalliances happen before you joined the League?"
"You know what they say about rules," he alluded to the familiar adage.
"How do you know the others haven't done the same?"
"I'm fairly confident the majority have engaged in the occasional fling when the opportunity presented itself, but that's quite different than entering a committed relationship."
"A committed relationship, huh? I like the sound of that," she beamed.
"As do I, but you see how it would look to the men if such a stunning specimen was introduced to their environment? It would be akin to dangling a carrot in front of a riding mule, for lack of a better idiom. As much as I detest the idea of keeping our relationship confidential I'm afraid there may be no alternative."
"Why not just lift the restriction? It's a bit ridiculous anyway if you ask me."
"I wish it were that simple."
"Why isn't it?"
"If the depth of our association was revealed, the men would almost certainly expect to be granted the freedom to cultivate their own amorous bonds, which would drastically increase security risks. All it would take to bring about our downfall is for one outsider to learn our true identities, and I must do everything in my power to ensure that does not happen. I have far too much to lose now."
"So what do we do?"
"Since it is too late to alter the flight plan, we will have to remain at headquarters for a day or two until arrangements for our journey can be made."
"You gonna sneak me in?"
"I realize that such a tactic is beneath you, but I hope you can appreciate my reasons."
"Of course I do. Don't worry about it, really. Where are we going afterwards?"
"I've been contemplating that very question, and there is one location we can find sanctuary on such short notice. It's remote, uninhabited . . ."
"The cabin?!" she giddily interrupted.
"Only if it pleases you."
"Oh, it does, I love it there! Fresh air, nature, and, last but certainly not least, glorious privacy. I can scream my head off in pure, unadulterated pleasure and no one will hear me for miles."
"My dear, to say I am eagerly anticipating that is very much an understatement."
"What about the League? Will you be able to manage it so far away from the base?"
"Presently there's nothing to manage. We've been inactive since departing Gotham and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Right now it is best to stay as far under the radar as possible."
"That's a relief. I was hardly thrilled by the idea of you criss-crossing the globe with every law enforcement agency on the planet looking for you."
"Not to fear; I won't be out of your sight anytime soon."
"Mmm, I can't wait until we get there," she remarked and snuggled into his bare, broad chest. "Home sweet home."
"That veritable shack is far from it," he derided. "Thankfully we will only be residing there until I secure a proper home."
"What's wrong with it?"
"Everything, and I will not have the woman I love living in substandard conditions. You will have a home befitting your grandeur, I shall see to it."
"Bane, the cabin is fine. Besides, I'm not exactly Jackie O over here. I don't need to live in the lap of luxury."
"You may not need to, but you are going to. I won't settle for anything less than the best for you, Katharine, because you that is what you deserve. You've struggled your entire life, but those days are over starting right now. If there is anything you desire, simply say it and it will be yours. And give no consideration to cost, my funds are inordinate."
"As much as I appreciate your generosity, fancy things attract attention, which is something we definitely don't need."
"That is easily remedied; all we require is a secluded setting which, fortunately, Europe is full of."
"As much as I like the thought of living in Europe, maybe we should go someplace less chummy with America, like the Middle East or something."
"I have toured that region extensively, and one of the things I learned is that it is a less than ideal setting for non-Islamic women."
"Well, it doesn't really matter where we live because as long as you're there it'll be home," she affirmed.
"Of course I feel the same way, but I cannot be swayed on the issue. You will have the finest home because you are the finest woman to ever walk this earth."
"Keep it up and you're gonna give me a big head."
"I speak only the truth."
"Seriously though, I'm not perfect. Far from it, actually."
"You're perfect to me. You're perfect for me."
"That's good enough for me," she grinned.
"Thank you," he whispered as he held her close.
"For what?"
"For being here, for forgiving me, for loving me."
"You never have to thank me for loving you," she raised her head and looked into his eyes. "Never."
"But I do, Katharine. I realize how hard it must have been for you to come to terms with my past.
"We all make mistakes, and you've already paid for yours in spades. Our pasts are just that, to me they're irrelevant now. We can't change what's already happened, all we can do is try to our best to make our futures better."
"I couldn't have said it better myself."
"Yeah, you could have, but thanks anyway," she flashed the gorgeous smile he'd yearned to behold for so long.
"As much as I would enjoy making love to you for the rest of the night, I suppose it would be prudent to get some sleep. We have a long flight ahead of us tomorrow, and you might find it difficult to sleep on the plane."
"Yeah, you're probably right," she agreed amidst a yawn.
Predictably, the lovers' resolve did not last long; within two minutes their bodies were again joined together in carnal ecstasy.
Morning came quickly for the happy couple, who had spent the better part of the previous night engaging in pleasures of the flesh rather than slumbering, which was just as well, for they considered fatigue a small price to pay for their splendorous reunion. At seven o'clock they, along with Barsad, Malik, and Dr. Suresh, discreetly disembarked from the freighter, with Bane sans-mask for obvious reasons, and were met by the League's standard mode of travel: a convoy of shiny, black SUVs with requisite fully-tinted windows. He and Katharine boarded the first, and the others took the second.
On a decidedly sourer note, the fanatical detective had to be moved as well, but Bane had implicitly tasked two of his subordinates to deal with their newest prisoner only after he and Katharine had departed the dock. The reason for this was simple: he did not want the sight of her infernal captor to upset her. As for Marcus, he and the rest of the team that had rescued Katharine from Will's suburban home turned dungeon had stayed behind in Gotham where they were assigned.
Having removed his shroud in favor of the intravenous drip, Bane donned a plain black baseball cap and dark sunglasses in order to maintain at least some semblance of a disguise. To complete his masquerade he'd even traded his usual militaristic garb with civilian attire, namely a black track suit. He'd only ever utilized it for outdoor workout sessions and thus felt slightly awkward wearing it amongst his comrades, who had only ever seen him in his trademark bulletproof vest and cargo pants. He may have looked bizarre, but his beloved traveling companion was anything but. Clad in a white V-neck tee and dark wash jeans, her appearance was simple yet breathtaking. Even without a speck of makeup and an obvious case of bedhead, she was a vision of loveliness.
Katharine had never seen Bane in ordinary clothing before; truth be told he almost looked like a different person. As much as she relished seeing his handsome face unobstructed, she was more concerned with his physical comfort, for she knew that the liquefied painkiller was not as effective as the gaseous form the mask supplied.
"How are you feeling?" she asked him shortly after the Ranger Rover took off.
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Indeed. Don't worry your pretty little head for a second over me."
"How long until we get to the airfield?"
"An hour, give or take."
"You're going to put it back on for the flight, right?"
"I am, but until then I'd like to make the most of our time if you would do me the honor," he suggested while softly stroking her face.
"I'd love to, but what about the driver?"
"What about him?"
"He's bound to see us."
"And?"
"Well, you said you wanted to keep me a secret for the time being."
"The driver is oblivious to our identities, to him we are nothing more than anonymous passengers."
"You really do think of everything, don't you?" she smiled brightly and brought her mouth to his.
Of all her man's striking features, she wagered his lips to be her favorite. His eyes were divine, his physique celestial, but she could experience those parts of him anytime. His luscious lips, however, were a rare treat she savored each and every time she was blessed with their liberation. As always, she found his mouth utterly delicious.
The way they were carrying must have made them look like a pair of hormonal adolescents, but they couldn't have cared less about the chauffeur's opinion. Indifferent to the man's presence, they became lost in one another for the duration of the drive. In fact, it was not until their arrival at the airstrip that their unabashed display of affection concluded.
The League had airbases all over the world, and the eastern coast of Canada was no exception. The structures were surprisingly easy to obtain; all it took was a liberal sum of money and an acquisitive landowner and voilà: you had your very own private runway at your disposal.
As much as Bane would have liked to have coordinated a separate plane for him and Katharine, his sagaciousness ultimately won out over his romantic zeal. The loathsome lawman and his guards would be traveling on a separate plane in order to spare Katharine the distress of laying eyes on the man who had so ruthlessly tormented her. Flying two unauthorized aircraft into heavily monitored airspace was risky enough; adding a third would truly be pressing their luck. Naturally the League's planes were furnished with state of the art anti-radar equipment, yet as good as their machinery was, the Hungarian government's was most likely better.
While walking to the awaiting plane, Bane and Barsad exchanged eye contact for the briefest of moments. Knowing his lieutenant like the back of his hand, Bane was able to read his face instantly, and what he saw was an unmistakable expression of approval. Normally he would have resented anyone having such insight into his state of mind, but he could hardly scorn Barsad for it, as the American had fought long and hard to get his mentor to come to his senses regarding Katharine and thus undoubtedly viewed their reunion as a personal victory of his own.
Once onboard, Bane and Katharine seated themselves at the front while the other three opted for the rear, giving the couple adequate breathing room.
"I have several books if you'd like to read," Bane offered.
"Is that your not-so-subtle way of saying you don't want to talk to me with all your buddies watching?" she teased.
"Not at all, I just want you to be as stimulated as possible."
"Oh, really?" she smirked.
"Circumstances permitting, of course," he amended.
"Well, Barsad knows, and I'm sure the doctor does too. Who's the other guy?"
"That is Malik, and to my knowledge he is none the wiser."
"He looks so young," she observed.
"At twenty-one he is our youngest member, but what he lacks in age he makes up for with loyalty."
"Did you recruit him?"
"'Recruit' isn't the right world; 'sponsored' would be a more accurate description. After his parents were killed during the Iraqi conflict, he was reduced to the life of a vagabond, resorted to thievery to survive. One day he was discovered stealing from an especially deplorable tycoon whose lackeys did not take too kindly to his boldness. They were preparing to execute him when I came upon them."
"What happened?"
"I, too, was employed by the aforementioned tycoon. And as regrettable as I find my former affiliation with him, it did allow me to intervene on the boy's behalf."
"You saved his life?"
"The way you say it makes me sound magnanimous."
"Did you save him so you could conscript him?"
"No," he answered honestly.
"Why did you save him?"
"I related to his plight. I didn't believe he deserved to die for taking something so trivial from a man with enough money to live countless lifetimes."
"Then magnanimous is exactly what you were."
"I fear you esteem me too highly."
"I don't; I think I esteem you just right."
"Has anyone ever told you how amazing you are?"
"Only one person. He's big, brilliant, and absurdly sexy."
"How I love you," he professed.
"I love you. I hope you never get tired of hearing it because I'm gonna be saying it an awful lot."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"I want to kiss you so bad," she stared at him longingly.
Bane had always prided himself on his rigid sense of self-discipline, but apparently that trait was a thing of the past, as it completely disappeared whenever he was in her presence. Ever the opportunist, he grabbed one of the books in his bag and inconspicuously dropped it onto the floor. Evidently, he was a proficient actor, for even Katharine seemed unaware of his purpose.
As soon as she leaned down to recover the worn paperback he lowered his head and eagerly yet gently met her lips with his own. They basked in the sensation of their pining mouths intertwined in sheer bliss, of their desirous tongues fervently caressing one another. They could have stayed that way indefinitely had they been the only passengers but because they weren't they knew their delight was momentary. After about fifteen seconds their furtive act came to an end. With his love's mouth off-limits for the next ten hours, Bane reapplied his mask. As their conversation continued, he couldn't help but notice her frequent yawning.
"You're tired. You should lean back, try to get some rest," he recommended.
"Are you going to?"
"I never sleep while in flight."
"Why?"
"If the pilot and the copilot die, I'll have to fly the plane."
"Yeah, that's real plausible. I don't want to sleep if you're not going to."
"Nonsense, there's no reason for you to stay awake on my account. Besides, I am perfectly content just being near you."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"All right," she yielded with another yawn and turned onto the side facing him.
He then retrieved a blanket and pillow from the overhead compartment and proceeded to drape it over her in a most gentlemanly fashion. Once she was covered up, he turned off the lights above their seats.
Realizing the others would not be able to see what she was doing from such a distance, Katharine rested a hand on his leg. Always receptive to her touch, he responded in kind by placing his hand atop hers and delicately rubbed her fingers.
"I can't wait until we land," she murmured.
"Neither can I," he echoed her sentiment and lovingly watched her as she drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note: Well, there's the prologue. And I got it up earlier than expected thanks to all your great feedback; I guess your enthusiasm was contagious. It's kind of short, I know. I was planning to include their arrival at the League's headquarters, but I was so eager to get it posted for you guys that I decided to save that part for later. The first official chapter will feature that as well as Bane and Katharine's return to their love nest. Hope you all enjoyed the introduction, and please share your opinions on it if you would be so kind :)