AN: I saw TDKR again last night and it's even better the second time, because I realized how much I missed the first time, because I was too busy drooling over Bane's voice and muscles. And, Blake's adorable smile! I just love how Bane clutches the lapels of his jacket as he walks! Or is it his harness that holds on to? Who cares – it's adorable, even if the man is huge! But, seriously, everyone, thank you for being so awesome! I'm really glad that everyone is finding Blake utterly adorable, because that's what I was going for! But, I'll try not to make him too flirty – that can get annoying after a while. M'kay! Now, you find out who is in her apartment and Callie makes a rash decision!
III
No More Dreaming Like a Girl
Callie eyed the intruder with thinly veiled trepidation. "Why are you here?"
The man was tall, and thin, with dark eyes. He was also one of Bane's men. The man pulled something from his jacket and held it out to her; it was a phone. "This is an untraceable cell. We will call you when we need a message delivered."
Callie took the phone from the man with a pleasantly foreign accent. "Who would be tracing my phone calls anyways?"
"The cop," he answered shortly, raising his eyebrows imploringly when Callie gaped at him in shock. "Yes, we know of the cop. He has quite the crush. We would advise you not to get involved, but he's persistent."
"You've been watching me all day?" Callie choked out. "Why?"
The man cocked his head. "You met him, Calliope. He doesn't just simply let many people walk away without a tail. He needs to know you can be trusted."
She let out a shuddering breath. "Please. He has nothing to do with this. I just met him yesterday."
"It all depends on you, Calliope."
"When should I expect a call?" She asked softly, after a moment of silence.
"Soon." And then, he was gone as quietly as he came.
Callie sank to the floor. "I knew this was a fucking bad idea."
She pulled her knees against her chest as her eyes began to water. For about three years, Callie has lived in the Narrows and while it can scare the shit out of her occasionally, she never felt more terrified. She was putting herself in actual mortal danger, and she was aware of it! Callie couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks, or the sobs that struggled to break free from her throat. She bit down on her knee – not hard enough to tear flesh – and let out a raw scream. Bagheera's ears flickered as she stared down at her master from her perch on the back of the couch. Callie spotted the cat and the exposed window behind her. She lunged to her feet, stumbling to the window and pulled the curtains together, but not before flicking off the outside. Maybe someone wasn't there, or maybe someone was, but Callie didn't care. It made her feel better. She felt tired all of a sudden.
Callie took a deep breath. "Come on, Bagheera, bedtime.
The black cat darted after Callie, as they went off in the direction of Callie's bedroom.
III
Callie made a beeline straight for Stryver's desk; her heels making an ominous click against the granite floors. He barely glanced up before Callie had him by the lapels of his suit. Stryver gasped in surprise as Callie shoved her face close to his, her grey eyes blazing. "Listen closely to me, you spineless prick. Next time you decided to act like a little bitch and send me to do your work, because your balls have decided to retract, I will take care of the problem. Permanently."
Stryver narrowed his eyes as he plucked Callie's fingers from his suit. "Do be more careful, Ms. Ross, this is an Armani."
"I don't give a shit," Callie hissed, slamming her hand onto his desk, sending papers flying to the ground. "Do you think I have time to be both Daggett's and Bane's little errand girl? I have a life, you prick! You don't, except to see how far you can shove your nose up Daggett's ass all in one day! Do you like it up there? Is it lovely?"
"Quite," Stryver quipped, rising to his feet. "Now, Mr. Daggett is expecting you, Calliope."
"I know the way," Callie snapped, already stalking to Daggett's office.
She knocked on the door and a few moments later, Daggett called for her to enter. Callie was beginning to like her boss less and less as he rose to his feet, eyeing her slightly lecherously. He gestured for her to sit down.
Callie had barely settled into her chair before Daggett pounced. "My, my, Calliope, you seem to charm everyone you come into contact with…"
"Not everyone, sir," Callie stated, thinking of her early encounter with Stryver.
It would appear he read her mind. "Ah, yes, I thought I heard something. Well, it doesn't matter what Stryver thinks, now does it? Now back to more important matters. I don't know how you did it, Calliope."
"Did what," Callie asked, confused.
"Charm Bane like you did," Daggett exclaimed. "He was the one that suggested your promotion as liaison."
"…I spoke to him for like a minute," Callie told Daggett.
Daggett chuckled as he played with one of his pens. "He probably hasn't seen a female, much less a pretty one, in months!"
"Look, Mr. Daggett," Callie began, feeling very irritated with his flirting. "I know I told you that I accepted the position, but I was all shook up from the meeting and I wasn't alone when you called. I can't be the liaison, sir. I barely have time as it is with just being your courier. I have exams coming up very soon. And frankly, sir, he scares the shit out of me."
Daggett's jovial smile faltered, leaving him cold. "I'm afraid that it's too late for you, Ms. Ross. Bane knows that you've accepted; besides you've seen his hideout. His face. Do you really think that he'll – we'll – just let you leave like that?"
Callie felt a tiny flicker of fear before it was squashed by anger – that same anger that made her attack Stryver. She stood up from the chair. "How could you have done this to me, sir? I've been your employee for almost three years and this is how you treat me – by basically feeding me to the wolves! Fuck you, Daggett, I quit!"
She stormed form his office, leaving him stunned and speechless. Stryver hurriedly stood up as Callie stormed past his desk as well. He glanced back into Daggett's office and saw him pick up the phone. Stryver shook his head, muttering, "Stupid girl."
When she exited the building, all that adrenaline that she had pulsing throughout her body just deserted her, leaving her feeling sick to her stomach. Her body shook all over as she staggered to the curb. A taxi cab pulled up beside her just as her phone rang. She rattled off the address of the Classics division on campus before answering the cell, "Hello?"
"Calliope Ross?" A very familiar and a very cute voice asked.
It was amazing what this cop did to her insides. "Well, it would appear that you just can't get enough of me, Officer Blake!"
He chuckled, which made the butterflies in her stomach go crazy. "Maybe you inspire me like you did Homer?"
"I'm pretty sure that was someone else," Callie revealed, biting back a smile. "I can't write poetry for shit!"
"Well, hey, I can't read poetry for shit. We're meant to be," Blake exclaimed cheerfully, making Callie giggled. She then wanted to slap herself. She doesn't giggle. "Anyways, the reason I was calling you, uh, would you like to grab something to eat? I just got off duty and I'm starving."
Now, she really wanted to slap herself. She has to decline. "Oh, I'm sorry, John, but I'm on my way to class right now…Maybe later tonight?"
"Yeah," John asked hopefully. "Alright. Damn. I think it's too late to make any reservations for tonight…"
Callie suppressed a smile; she was pretty sure that she wasn't supposed to hear that part. "Well, I happen to be a beer and pizza kind of girl."
She could have sworn she heard of sigh of relief. "Okay. Cool. I know a place just outside the Strip. It's nice and quiet. Good beer."
Callie grinned. "I know the place. Meet you there around 8?"
"Great! See you later," Blake said excitedly.
"Bye, Officer Blake."
The cab came to a stop a few blocks down from her building; Callie gave the driver a twenty. "Keep the change, mister!"
"Hey, thanks, lady," the driver yelled after her.
III
"Okay, seriously, Cal, what is with you?" Her classmate, Kelsey, demanded.
Callie couldn't contain the smile. "Nothing, Kels!"
"Oh, whatever! It's a boy, isn't it?" Kelsey stated, smiling smugly. "Is it the cute cop?"
"How do you know about him?"
Kelsey gave her a look. "Katie, duh! Anyways, are you going out with him?"
"Yes," Callie caved, desperately wanting to feel like a normal 21 year old. "We're meeting at Halligan's for some pizza and beer."
"Seriously?" Kelsey crinkled her nose. "I know cops don't make a lot, but damn!"
"Hey, I'm excited," Callie defended John. "You should have heard him, Kels. He asked me to lunch, but obviously I couldn't because of class, so I suggest tonight instead. He was muttering to himself about how he didn't know if he could make a reservation for tonight. It was adorable! He is adorable."
"Aww," Kelsey cooed before bluntly asking, "Are you gonna sleep with him?"
"What," Callie sputtered indignantly. "Nooo!"
"Why the hell not?" Kelsey demanded, pulling to a stop. "Girl, you need to get laid! This guy is crazy about you AND attractive! Come on, take one for the team!"
"I'm walking away now," Callie warned, rolling her eyes, as she did walk away to the bus stop.
"You better get some, Calliope Anne!" Kelsey shouted after her, causing people to stare at Callie's curly haired friend.
The bus ride from campus to her apartment took fifteen agonizing minutes. Sure, it was only four thirty, but Callie had to pick the perfect outfit that made it look like she wasn't fretting over the date, which she totally was. And then, she had to do hair and makeup, which could take another hour or so. Sometimes Callie hated being a girl, but then she buys shoes and everything is alright in the world. The bus finally reached her stop and Callie almost sprinted off the damn thing, shouting her usual parting to the regulars on the bus. She remained dignified in the elevator, because there is a camera, and she continued to look calm as she walked to her apartment. But once that door was closed, Callie tossed her bag on the floor, spilling her notebook and pens, though she didn't care because she was too busy jumping up and down.
"Bagheera, baby, Mama's got a hot date!" Callie exclaimed as her cat ran away in fright.
Callie danced her way to her bedroom, twirling and shaking her ass all the way. Her good mood was shortly lived when Bane's phone began to buzz on her nightstand; she crossed the room and picked it up. The screen glowed green as it displayed 'Unknown Caller' on the screen. She ignored it. Callie really should be worrying about the fact that she just ignored Bane, but she was really excited about this date. And when she was this excited and dancing like a crazy person, she needed her shameful music, Nicki Minaj.
Moving her body to the beat, Callie began to pick her outfit: strategically ripped skinnies, a vivid plum sweater that slightly hung off her shoulder, and brown gladiator sandal with metallic embellishments. Nodding at the articles on her bed, Callie down to bare skin and pulled out the big guns: sexy underwear. Sure, she wasn't going to sleep with Blake, but every girl wears them anyway just to feel sexy. Besides, the sex could happen. Selecting a black strapless, lacy bra and matching bikini style panties, Callie pulled them on and went into the bathroom to do her hair and makeup.
Callie was just putting the final touches on her eyes when she heard her father's old piano begin to play. Slowly, she capped her mascara, placed it down and grabbed her short, black robe that hung behind the door. Just before she left her room, she snatched up her old bat from softball and went into the living room, silently. Her eyes widened dramatically when she spotted a huge, hulking figure at the piano; Bagheera gazed up at him from beside him on the bench with loving, green eyes. The little traitor.
She could tell when he realized she was there, his shoulder tensed just briefly, but he continued to play flawlessly. "Do you play, Ms. Ross?"
"No, it was my father's," Callie told him, tonelessly. "I never had the knack for it."
Bane nodded as if he understood, finishing up the remaining notes of the ballad passionately. She remained at the beginning of the hallway, the bat clutched in her right hand, as Bane pushed back from the piano. The bench groaned under his weight, but it remained whole. Callie wasn't aware that she had been holding her breath until he faced her, his intelligent eyes meeting her wary eyes. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he spied the bat in her hand. "Are you going to use that on me, Ms. Ross? For your health, I would strongly advise against it."
The bat clanged when it hit the ground; Bagheera hissed at the sound. Bane's monstrous hand scratched behind Bagheera's dainty ear, making the cat purr loudly and contentedly as she closed her eyes.
Callie cleared her throat slightly, realizing that she was alone with Bane. In a robe. She felt her skin erupt with goose bumps. "Why are you here?"
Bane stepped closer, his boots thudding against the hardwood. "I got a call from Daggett earlier, telling me the most curious thing: you were very mouthy and quit. Now, that cannot be the same shy Calliope that I met the other day, could it?"
Callie couldn't understand how he could be so huge and menacing while speaking so jovially! She crossed her arms over her chest, as she stared over his shoulder. "Yes, I quit. There were some scheduling, uh, conflicts that were an issue."
He cocked his head "Scheduling conflicts, you say?"
"Yes," Callie squeaked, as he stalked slowly. "I'm a student at the University and, um, I have exams coming up soon. I need to focus on studying."
"And what are you studying, little one," Bane asked, circling her. He was close enough that she could feel his body heat and hear his mechanical breathing. It sent shivers down her spine
"Classical Archaeology," Callie forced out; body trembling. She suddenly felt very warm.
Bane paused briefly, as if surprised, before resuming his circling. "What a unique area to study."
"I find Ancient Rome and Greece fascinating," Callie explained, meekly.
Bane stopped behind her, his chest brushed against her shoulder blades every time he breathed. "Do not ignore my calls again, little one. It will not end well for you. Understood?"
"Yes," Callie breathed, dizzily. His heat and pure masculine scent was making her woozy.
"Good," Bane grunted, making his way to the window. "Expect a call in the morning, Calliope."
Bane was gone.
II
AN: Alright! There you go, peeps! So, I'm extremely nervous about what you think of their meeting. I think I did a decent job in keeping him in character. I could definitely see him invading personal space. And, see him play the piano, lol! Anyways. So, Callie goes from raging bitch to a freakin' girl to scared, yet turned on. Yeah, she doesn't realize that she was turned on by his big, strong presence, but she will later! ;) Hahaha. So, next chapter is her date with Blake, she goes back down in the lair for a mission, and sees someone that she wasn't supposed to! Who could it be? And, what's her mission?
