Summary: Meia has always been a kind hearted person, and that becomes her downfall when she interferes at the wrong time. Her decision has cost her freedom and she is desperate to escape…but she can't help but be drawn to her captor like a moth to a flame.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Batman or any of the DC comic characters, or Christopher Nolan characters. I only own my original characters.
Side Note: I have received a question that I need to address. In the beginning of the "Hid in the Darkness" chapter, Meia is speaking to her grandmother. This brought confusion due to the fact that Meia's grandmother is deceased. Please keep in mind that anything in italics at the beginning is either a flashback or a dream. I hinted that Meia was dreaming by adding the "one person who watched over her tender soul and hurting heart", so that would raise a flag showing that her grandmother was like her guardian angel. Meia dreamt her conversation with her grandmother though due to the trauma she just endured with Bane, she believes it were to be real. Hope that clears things up!
A Reward
Meia had enjoyed her evening with John. He always seemed to make things better even when she knew that she couldn't confide in him about what was going on in her day to day life recently. John was trying his hardest to make Meia feel safe and comfortable in his home but that never stopped Meia from looking over her shoulder when he wasn't paying her any attention. It didn't stop her from thinking about the man she had left back in her apartment. She didn't want to give John the wrong impression of her thinking that he was boring her so she plastered on her award winning smile and went along with everything he wanted to do. That's what she always did, went along with whatever anyone wanted to do. She loved to please others, to see that look of satisfaction in their eyes, to know that she was doing something right.
It amazed John at how well Meia was cooperating; perhaps that was why he was drawn to her. The fact that she went out of her way that night to make his favorite meal and dessert had shocked him. She had cleaned his kitchen with expertise and even made him a plate for later. He had fantasized many times about having a woman like Meia. She was smart, funny and she had all the qualities of a perfect housewife. Something about a woman who didn't only know how to take care of a house, but always had a hidden strength had always attracted John. He didn't know that all of Meia's tendencies stemmed from years of emotional and physical abuse. Not once while she massaged his shoulders did he think that she had been a victim of trauma.
Meia didn't mind doing these things for John; in fact she never minded doing anything for her friends. At times she found herself saying that she did it only to make them happy, to make them like her. But she would catch herself and realize that they were not her father, they would not hurt her if she didn't do as they asked. They were her friends, they truly cared about her, and it had taken her years to realize this. Even so, Meia always had that tiny voice in the back of her head that egged her on, that drove her to please her friends. She tried to ignore the voice as much as possible but as she laid down that night in the same bed as her old college love interest, it began whispering to her that she could please him more. He deserved it; he was treating her so nicely. He had opened his home to her and all she did to repay him was a lousy meal? No! He deserves better! Show him how much you really appreciate him, show him! The voice badgered Meia throughout the night and as hard as she tried to close it out by clamping her eyes shut tightly, it never faded.
When she awoke the next morning, she had small bags underneath her eyes. No sleep came to her for she was busy fighting the urge to pleasure John in a way that would deem her as filthy. All through the night she could only hear the small voice and as she lay there in the bed with her eyes looking up at the ceiling as the sun peeked through the window, she couldn't help but wonder if the constant struggle of fighting her inner self was worth it.
John was exiting the bathroom; he was fully dressed and tossing his jacket onto his arms. He looked over at her and he raised a brow. It wasn't like Meia to just lie about in bed during the morning.
"Hey, you alright?"
Her head turned to the other side to look up at him. The smallest smile graced her lips while she nodded her head and that seem to ease his worries. Slowly she sat up in the bed, the covers draped lazily about her lower body. He couldn't help but let his eyes roam about the skin that was offered to his gaze. She opted to wear nothing but a tank top and her underwear to bed. He was glad she was so comfortable around him, but sometimes he felt tempted just to run his hand across her skin...he could remember how soft her skin was he first held her in his arms years ago and as she tossed back the covers and stood to do her morning stretch, he silently cursed himself for breaking her heart and rejecting her proposal for a relationship. At times he wished he could tell her exactly how he felt about her even after his refusal to be with her. If it bothered her, she never showed it and he never wanted to remind her about the rejection he gave her.
Meia never forgot how John rejected her. She was reminded by it every time she saw his face. Anger boiled inside of her but she had years of practicing how to smile through anything, how to put on a calm face. She never forgave him and the little voice inside of her head told her to cut him off, that he was just like her father; he only wanted to cause her harm while at the same time telling her that she deserved it, that she could have done better.
Walking by him and straight into the bathroom, she closed the door behind her and went to the bag she had left in there last night. Digging through it she pulled out her toiletries and underclothes for the day. She stripped down and stepped into the shower, turning on the water. She adjusted the settings to make the water nearly scalding hot. Meia always took these types of showers when she needed to clear her mind. Her eyes closed as she let the water run over her flesh. As she began to lather her body she couldn't help but be reminded of the masked man that had visited her last night. What did he want with her? Was he planning to kill her? It didn't matter to Meia; she knew as long as she did what he asked, that he would not harm her. That's right, he won't hurt you like the rest Meia…you just have to show him that you want to please him. He won't hurt you. The sound of the small voice in her head made her scrub her skin profusely, as if she was seeing dirt that was not there, but it was always there to her. She could see her father's marks still embedded into her flesh. His scent was always in her skin and so she began to cry soft tears as she began to scrub her skin raw, until her skin was aching from the mere touch and the water caused her to shudder in mild pain.
John had left by the time Meia stepped out of the bathroom. She was dressed in her usual casual attire of faded denim jeans and a buttoned blouse that stopped right above her navel. With her bag packed and her feet in her comfortable sneakers, she began the walk to her own apartment complex. She could have caught the bus back but she thought it was best to walk. The wind was blowing but not harsh enough to make her shiver so she was able to focus more on the thoughts circulating her mind than trying to hug her body warm. As she walked down the street, the feeling of dread danced at the pit of her stomach. Was he really going to be there waiting for her? Perhaps he would simply forget her and go about his business, whatever that was. But she knew that deep down; he would be there in her small apartment where his enormous presence made the place even tinier. As Meia walked down the side of the street she noticed that along with her dread was the creeping feeling of anticipation. She wanted to see this man, she hoped that he was there waiting for her. She pictured him sitting in the middle of her couch with his arms outstretched over the back of the chair and his head back. Perhaps his eyes would be closed to show that he was patiently waiting her arrival or possibly they would be on the clock that was on the wall, counting down the minutes she had left before it was noon.
The thought of being late frightened Meia and her strides picked up quickly, she didn't understand why at the moment but that little voice in the back of her head was telling her that she did not want to displease him, that same little voice was growing bigger and bigger these days. With her quickened pace it didn't take her as long as she thought it would to make it her apartment complex and with her place on the first floor, she placed her key into her lock with exactly two minutes to spare. Her head was lowered as she stepped inside of the warmth of her apartment. She didn't have to look up to know that he was there, she could hear is hollow breathing echoing throughout the apartment.
"Ah, you have arrived."
His voice penetrated the silence that she had been savoring and she quickly shut the door behind her, locking it out of habit. The last thing she wanted was a neighbor to walk by and spot the ghastly looking man on her couch. He was sitting just as she had pictured him on her walk home, his legs were parted wide and he took on the relax appearance as he laid his head back against the couch. He only lifted it when he noticed that she had not moved from her place by the door. A smile formed across his lips, one she could not see but she could tell that he was amused by her fear. He rose with a satisfied grunt as if he had just awakened from a peaceful nap and strode over casually to her. Her breath was caught in her throat and she could feel her palms becoming clammy. Meia slipped her tongue across her lips, they had become so dry in just that moment and she wanted to drop her gaze but he wouldn't let her. He gripped her chin but not in his usual rough manner, it was a gentle touch that made her eyes shoot up to look into his gaze. He could see her confusion, the mixed emotions she was feeling. There was hatred for the control he had over her yet the smallest glint of glee that he needed her.
"You listened to me…I think you deserve a reward."
This made Meia's eyebrows shoot up with a surprised look though her eyes began to narrow in suspicion. What could this man possibly reward her with? A slap to the face? Nevertheless she was curious…she had never gotten a reward for listening, just a few for doing her job and succeeding in her line of work. She parted her lips to talk but nothing came out, clearing her throat she found her voice though it was softer than she would have liked it to be.
"And what exactly can you reward me with?"
A small noise escapes his lips, one that she concludes as a laugh. He found her amusing, she didn't know if it angered her more that she could make him laugh or the fact that she enjoyed getting him to do so. Inwardly she cursed herself for having these strange emotions running through her.
"I take it that you are woman that has not seen the finer things in life, Meia. Your good behavior deserves to be rewarded with a taste of luxury."
If he didn't have her full attention before he did now as he watched those ebony orbs spark with curiosity. She wanted to know what he was talking about, no man had ever given her anything and this was new to her. Was it a gift? Perhaps it was some type of jewelry, even though she rarely wore any except for the string of pearls that she inherited from her grandmother but she never had the proper chance to wear them. Her thoughts lingered in her mind as he let go of her chin and stepped back, instinctively she stepped forward which drew a chuckle from him. She was already becoming attached to him and she was not fully aware of the situation that was unfolding. Meia ignored his soft chuckle, chalking it up to the fact that he had not told her what exactly he had gotten her.
"A taste?"
"Yes, my little Meia. A taste of luxury."
Bane watched as she tilted her head to the side in curiosity. She was trying not to be rude or show any signs of impatience, she wanted to keep him pleased with her. The deep crinkles in the side of his eyes gave her the indication that he was smiling, but she did not try to figure out what about. She had no clue how she was reacting to him for she didn't know how else to react. This man was going to reward her with a gift, not just any gift but one of luxury and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. Her eyes watched him as placed a hand around her shoulders, engulfing him underneath his arm. She didn't fight the urge to lay her head on his side and take in his scent. It wasn't what she was expecting, she thought she would smell the sewer on his body but instead he had the scent of a freshly bathed man with a hint of musk. It was intoxicating to her senses and she slowly found herself closing her eyes until the rumble of her chest snapped her out of her daze. It was the same feeling as before, her brain was being smothered and she was losing all sense of logic.
"I fear that I am not the taste I was speaking of, Ms. Williams. Come, we have much to prepare for."
"Is she the one? My beloved I didn't expect her to be so breathtaking."
Meia had been left alone for quite a few minutes in a large corridor of a grand home. While others may have dropped their jaws in awe, Meia was never the one to gawk at the rich like they were unknown species. She never had the opportunity to have the finer things in life and where she thought it would lovely accommodations, she never felt the urge to grasp these things. The simple life was stressful enough for her, why engage in the life of riches when she could barely survive in the life of mediocrity? This being said, she still could not help but let her fingers brush against the beautiful flowers that were placed perfectly in the middle of a round table that was seen when entering the large home.
The sound of a female voice that was heavily accented made her look up to where it was coming from. She knew she had heard it before but she couldn't place the voice with the face until she saw the woman approaching her with such elegance and a gracious smile that Meia found herself smiling back. Behind her walked Bane with his slow yet deliberate steps, his eyes were trained on Meia who looked up at him once before diverting her gaze to the slender woman who was now standing in front of her.
As Talia stood there and observed Meia, she did the same to her. She took in her dark hair that she had pulled from her face and the glint of approval yet softness in her eyes that made Meia relax around her. She seemed friendly…at least in Meia's opinion. So why did she know a brute like Bane? The question must have been all over Meia's face for Talia's smile widened slightly as she extended her hand back towards Bane who was now directly behind her.
"Bane is my dearest friend and I think of him as my protector. I know that it may be an unusual combination, but friendships blossom in the strangest ways, don't you agree?"
Meia never thought of it that way but now that Talia mentioned it, it was true that the oddest combination made the best of friends so she nodded her head in complete agreement.
"I never really thought of it from that point of view."
"Many do not, but our closest friends are always the oddest ones. My, you must think I have no proper home training or manners. I call you breathtaking and don't even ask you of your name."
"Meia, Meia Williams."
"Meia…what a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I am known by Miranda Tate here in Gotham…but my close friends call me Talia…I would like for you to do the same."
Meia was taken aback by her request since she just met this woman. Why would she request for her to call her by a personal name that only few called her? She wasn't one to hold back from her questions, and so she opened her mouth to voice her concern but she was stopped by the woman with the thick accent.
"I ask that you do this, because I have the strong feeling that we will become close friends, Meia."
Meia simply nodded to this and gave her a warm smile that Talia happily returned. Her eyes only went to Bane for a moment as if to say this is my reward, making a female friend? He merely chuckled at her gaze and placed his large hand on the shoulder of Talia's with such gentleness that Meia had to blink twice to make sure the same man standing there was the same one who had choked the breath out of her and left her neck bruised. That thought made her hand trail up to her visible neck, she had forgotten about the marks there and she began to wonder as her fingertips caressed the bruised skin, if John had noticed it the night before and if he did, why hadn't he asked her about it?
"Perhaps you should show her what you have for her, my dear."
"Of course, come Meia. Let me show you something that I assure you that you will adore."
Meia couldn't do more than nod her head at the moment when Talia turned her attention back to her. She was becoming absorbed in her emotions as she clutched softly at her neck where the bruises resided. Tears were forming in her eyes yet not from the pain of the welts but from the pain of thinking that she will never have anyone that will not harm her, that everywhere she went someone would want to cause her some sort of pain, it was something she would have to accept.
"My beloved you have already caused bodily harm to my guest? Where are your manners?" Talia chided Bane as she took ahold of Meia's arm and lowered it from her neck so she could get a closer look at the bruises he had given to her. He said nothing to this comment as he stood back and watched. Talia turned her head to give him a coy grin that only he could see as if they were sharing a secret.
"You always did have a rough way of handling things. Come Meia, let us leave him here while we freshen you up."
Without waiting for a reply from Meia, Talia took a hold of her hand and gave her it a tight squeeze of understanding as she led her to the staircases of the grand home.
"I don't want to sound rude or ungrateful but what exactly am I getting freshened up for?"
"Oh, didn't my beloved tell you? You are going to a ball, isn't that every woman's dream as a child? To be the Belle of the ball and where the best clothing that money can buy and waltz the evening away with their prince charming?"
"Bane…is supposed to be my prince charming?" Meia said in such a bewildered voice that Talia couldn't help but toss her head back let a heartfelt laugh escape her mouth. As they reached the top of the steps Talia turned her body to face Meia and she took her all in. She observed that this woman had curves in the right places and a body to turn heads. She saw that her face was round and shone with innocence, something she knew that would not last long; she was a beautiful woman who had unfortunately encountered the Devil.
"No darling, he is not your prince, think of him as your Beast instead."
"My…don't you look gorgeous…ah this reminds me of the night I met your grandfather. He was such a handsome man and I was a young woman looking for a good time. My father was holding a banquet and your grandfather was there. He used to say that he felt my beautiful presence before he saw my angelic face."
Meia was standing in front of the mirror observing herself while her grandmother told the same story she loved to hear since she was ten. A smile broke out across her lips as she stared at herself in front of the mirror. Meia was adorned in a floor length ball gown that was sleeveless yet the top was decorated beautifully in diamond rhinestones. The top of the dress reminded her of a corset the way it dipped between the valleys of her breasts and hugged her waist tightly while the bottom of the gown flowed out yet it clung to her frame just enough to show her curves and to highlight her round backside. On her bare arms she had a shawl that hang loosely against her caramel skin. Out of the corner of her eye she could see her grandmother sitting on the edge of the bed that was in the room that Talia had declared as Meia's. She was about to open her mouth and speak when her eyes darted over the doorway that had just been filled with a large frame of a man and the image of her grandmother disappeared from her view.
The smile on her face quickly faded as she turned around to see him walking towards her. She felt as if she couldn't breathe properly as he now loomed over her, his massive size making her look smaller than she truly was. She stood still as his eyes roamed about her body taking in each aspect of frame. She expected to see lust but instead she saw appreciation and was rewarded a nod of his head that made her smile for a reason she couldn't understand.
"You look lovely, Ms. Williams. Though with your hair drawn back from your face, your neck looks bare."
The smile she had faltered for a moment but she did not hesitate to turn around, curious as to what he was doing. Instinctively, she closed her eyes, preparing herself for roaming hands or a blow to the back of the head. She received neither and instead she felt the light tickle of coolness against her skin. Curiosity consumed her and she opened her eyes to see his reflection in the mirror behind hers. Her gaze lowered when she caught something glistening around her neck. There laid a chandelier necklace bestowed in diamonds. She was speechless as her hands ran across the luxurious jewelry. His arms rested on her shoulders as he turned her around to face him.
"Why are you doing this?"
Her voice was so soft, she was almost afraid of what his response would be. He demanded her to come home and now he was rewarding her with diamonds and luxury attire that was fit for a queen. Meia was confused and she wanted answers, even though the small voice in the back of her head told her that it didn't matter, he was treating her well just because she listened...as long as she listened.
Bane grew tired of watching her speak to herself inwardly and he wanted all of her attention focused on him. He pressed his thumb against the front of her chin and curled his index finger underneath so that he lifted her head. Her ebony eyes looked into his and she felt her heart flutter in anticipation and fear. His face was close to her own, she could feel his warm breath tickling against the flesh of her lips and in that moment she wondered what his lips were like underneath that mask that he hid behind.
"I admire having my woman at her best when she is about to be sent out to acquire knowledge for me. I do not tolerate incompetence nor do I appreciate a woman that is lacking in appearance. Therefore, you shall be clothed in the finest attire when you are in the public eye."
Everything that left his mouth after 'my woman' did not register with Meia. She was stuck on those two words. First anger filled her body and made her shiver. How dare he think he could claim her as if she was a simple prostitute that he picked up off the street and cleaned up so that he could call her his whore. She belonged to no one and she preferred to keep it that way. So why was that small voice in the back of her head telling her she should be happy, that she had pleased him enough already that he thought of her as his and only his? Why was it that while she shook with anger her eyes were filled with excitement?
Bane could see the inner turmoil inside of her, she was fighting herself. He watched her intently as she struggled with herself. She paid him no mind as if he was not even in the same room with her. He let her mull over his words even though he knew the two she was focused on. The seed was sprouting quicker than he expected, perhaps he should look into her records…perhaps something in there would lead him to understand why she craved for approval. No matter the reason, he would use it to his advantage as he molded her into his perfect doll.
"Have you nothing to say to me?"
The sound of his voice drew Meia out of her train of thought and she realized that she had left him standing there talking to himself. She couldn't pick up on any annoyance in his voice but more of a mock amusement that caused her face to flush in embarrassment.
"I'm not yours."
His brow rose at her words and she could see the clouds of angers forming in his eyes. She was disagreeing with him, being difficult against her better judgment of staying silent and simply nodding her head. But she couldn't no matter how much the voice was screaming at her to behave; she couldn't stand here and let this man control her.
"Hm." It was all he said before he stepped back to take her entire frame into his eyes. She stood still as she watched him move from in front of her only to circle her slowly. Meia's hands bawled up into fists as she waited for a blow to come.
"Now is not the time to fear, Meia. You look far too delectable to damage this evening." He was now behind her, his breath on tickling the back of her neck as his hands slowly caressed her shoulders, causing her shawl to fall from them. His grip tightened on her bare skin until he received a soft cry of pain from her lips.
"When you return, I will make it perfectly clear to you that you belong to me."
Author's Note: Okay, so I know I said the fun will begin in this chapter. I lied, it's the next one! I'm pretty happy how this chapter turned out and I hope that you all will be too! Review please, you guys have NO idea how much your reviews meant to me! I hope I'm doing a good job with Bane, I want him to be soft at times to make Meia open up to him a bit and feel comfortable but I don't want him to lose his ruthlessness.
