As soon as Bane's hand left her face he walked off down a small hallway, the slam of the door following shortly after. Even though her stomach rumbled Alice shot to her own room and slipped under the covers. Fortunately sleep came quickly that night and she awoke the next morning to an empty apartment

Now she was alone Alice had the proper chance to search her new surroundings. She looked properly through the fridge and cupboards and was actually surprised when she found them both full of food. She grabbed an apple and took a large bite while she went to survey the rest of the apartment. She first found herself stood outside the room that he had disappeared to the night before. She rattled the door handle but it was firmly locked. She even pressed her ear against the door but there was nothing. Alice could only assume he wasn't there because surely he would have emerged by now to punish her for trying to get in.

There's another door which is open but it only contains a washer and dryer and its supplies. Alice attempts to open the front door but of course, it's locked. There isn't even a peephole so she can't look outside to see if he has left anyone to stand watch, although that probably was likely.

Alice finds more pictures around the apartment that she didn't notice the first time she was in there, most of them of a young couple. She grabs the ones she can find, even the one off the top of the fireplace which is still face down and hides them in various draws just so she's not reminded of them. The last thing she wants is to think about the people whose home this used to be. She continues to wander, looking at the different books on the shelves and the stacks of DVDs. There's a draw full of bills, addressed to a Mr Thomas Pegg. Alice's stomach starts to hurt and the rest of the apple quickly goes into the bin.

She changes into her jeans and a sweatshirt and spends the rest of the morning laundering her dirty clothe even though she's not sure if she's allowed to. Lunch is spent eating a proper meal of scrambled eggs and toast and the rest of the afternoon she goes through the dvds sorting them into ones she's watched and one's she hasn't. If she's stuck here and every day is like today she realises she may have to start watching them just to take the edge off the boredom. It's already two o'clock when she's done and she pulls a book at random off the shelf, three pages in she's already bored and puts it back, closing her eyes she chooses another random one.

Bane doesn't come back for three days and it that times she finishes the book, starts a new one and watches seven films.

Alice is nestled on the bed, knees up and a book resting on them when she hears the front door open and close. Her door is open and she glances at him as he walks past ignoring her completely. Alice lowers her eyes and continues to read, assuming that maybe if she remains quiet he'll ignore her completely.

"You have remained in the room all this time?"

No such luck. She doesn't bother to look up, she just continues to read although the words that won't seem to sink in. "No." She replies quietly and turns the page.

As he walks in she pulls her knees closer to herself and sinks further down into the bed in some attempt to make herself as small as possible. Bane is now at the end of her bed, looking her over. "You have made no attempt to escape."

"Well all the doors are locked, so are the windows and even if they were open I would fall to my death. Besides, if I get out you'll just come hunt me down like I'm a gazelle or something. Only not as adorable."

She can feel his eyes burning into her as she continues to pretend to read her book. Why can't he just leave?

"You believe I will rape you."

Alice finally raises her head just because those words from his mouth were so unexpected and very, very unnerving. "I…I don't," Alice's voice is quivering as she attempts to speak but she has no idea what to say. All she knows is that his hands are flying to her ankles, wrapping tightly around them and he's yanking her harshly down to the bottom of the bed. She doesn't scream or yell but she still battles against him as he grabs her face and forces her to sit up so it's close to his. "Be certain of this, little one. If I wanted to take you I would have, many times by now."

"You don't want me like that?" She released when she blurted it out her voice sounded too hopeful. She could see the corners of his eyes crinkle and she was certain then that he was smirking underneath his mask. "Any man would want you like that." Her heart is suddenly racing and she can feel the heat radiating from his body. Right then she felt as cold as ice and she's starting to feel sicker by the second. "But I am above man. Above their primal emotions. I find no pleasure in forcing a woman to do such a thing like some men would."

"Just find pleasure in hitting them." She shot back.

He pinched her face harder and she felt his hand wrapped around her arm as the amusement in his eyes disappeared and they returned back to a cold dead stare. As she stared at them she noticed the piercing blue that stared back and she realised she had never noticed their colour before, even though she had looked at them so many times. "Have I ever shown pleasure when I have caused you pain little one? I do not believe so."

"You just looked bored." She admitted.

"Causing pain to someone is far too easy for me. Especially when it is towards someone as weak as you are. I prefer a challenge when I fight, although that does not occur often."

"Sorry I'm not built like the hulk." She snapped back as she finally managed to pull her face out of his grip but his hand is still on her arm. "But above man? You're not a god."

"No. but perhaps you should go pray to yours to help you in your time of need."

"I don't in believe in god." She said quietly. He suddenly lets go of her and steps back, allowing Alice to push herself back to the head of the bed and even further away from him. "How can I believe in something like that when I've had so much taken from me?"

He seemed surprised by this. "So you have no faith?"

"There is nothing to have faith in."

His fingers dipped into one of his pocket and he pulled out her crucifix. "Then why did you wear this?"

Alice stared at it as it glittered in his hand and she wondered why on earth he had it on him. "It was my mothers." It felt so wrong telling him something so personal. "It's the only thing I have of hers. I don't wear it for religious reasons, only sentimental ones."

"You do not believe in a higher power?"

"No. But you obviously believe yourself to be one."

He chuckled. She decided then that sound shouldn't be allowed to come out of him. "Perhaps I am. What makes you think I'm not? I am stronger, faster, more intelligent than you are,"

"And that gives you power over me?" She hissed back, not allowing him to finish. "Because you're stronger, faster, more intelligent? You're obviously older than I am and you've been around longer. I'm only twenty four and I've never been outside Gotham. I won't apologize for…for being average! Just because you see yourself as above human, that doesn't make you…a god, or a higher power. From the things I've seen you've done I've only seen a monster. If you were anything I would say you're more like a demon than a god."

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Bane replied coldly and the tension seemed to rise even higher. She was expecting more but he only looked her over once more before finally leaving her alone.


Alice didn't see him at all the next day or the one following and she was rather glad to be deprived of his company. Three more days past until the front door finally opened, but this time it was a woman carrying a large brown paper bag. She walked slowly to the kitchen, her eyes locked on Alice's as her footsteps echoed against the wooden floor. Alice was just trying to figure out where she had seen her before. "Food for you." The woman informed her as she set the bag down on the counter. "I see you've tidied."

Alice had spent all of yesterday dusting and scrubbing just so she had something to do.

"Yeah, I did." Alice finally responded as she stood up from the couch, crossing her arms across her chest. "You're…you're Miranda Tate, right?"

The woman smiled and lowered her eyes. "That is the name you know me by, yes. And you are Alice."

"Yes."

"After the book?" she asked ever so nicely.

"I don't think so. I like to pretend my parents were big Alice Cooper fans. Makes for a better story."

Miranda smiled again. "It does. Humorous even when in a situation like this. I can see why Bane wants you around." Somehow, that didn't make Alice feel better. "You are probably wondering where Bane is." Miranda or whatever she was called added.

"Not really. I just want to know how long I get to be away from him."

Her smile quickly disappeared and her eyes drifted over to Alice's mouth "If you behave yourself he will not hurt you." The cut had started to heal and the bruise had turned yellow, but it was still obvious and suddenly Alice felt very conscious standing near someone like her.

"Bane hit me for talking back." Alice informed her.

Miranda's eyebrow quirked up. "Is that all? I've seen him kill more useful people for less. He must like you."

"I wish he didn't."

"If he didn't you would most certainly be dead by now. You're safer in here anyway."

"Well I don't want to be locked up in here."

"Trust me. You do."

Alice watched her as she started to empty the bag. "Why are you here? Delivering my groceries?" Alice asked.

"I wanted to see who Bane decided should have the privilege of living with him."

"Are you…his girlfriend?" The idea of Bane having a girlfriend was so absurd Alice almost laughed; thankfully she managed to keep it held back. Miranda did chuckle. It sounded lovely coming from her lips, her accent making it role around her tongue but considering the situation it made Alice's stomach turn. "Oh no. Nothing like that. He's my oldest, my dearest friend. I love him like a father."

Alice couldn't imagine anyone loving him in any way, or him reciprocating that feeling.

"I see you have attempted to escape." Miranda glanced to the door and the scratches that surrounded the lock. "When he sees that it will upset him."

Upsetting him was the last thing Alice cared about.

"But I must be going." She finally declared as she started to walk towards the door. "Perhaps you shouldn't try to leave again, it won't end well for you."


Alice was in a dark room but she could hear it. It echoed around her and sent a chill down her spine as she covered her ears and forced her eyes shut. She could smell blood. Alice shot up and rubbed her eyes, forcing them to open so she could peer into the dark room. The only light was coming from the streetlamps outside, attempting to break through the small cracks in the curtains.

"Are you awake – little one?"

She should have felt terrified but she was too tired to even try and feel it. Alice wondered if he would leave if she didn't answer but of course he had obviously felt her move when she awoke. Alice reached over and turned the lamp on allowing a dim light to flood the room. Bane was sat at the end of the bed hunched over, his breathing had a slight wheezing quality to it and Alice felt the corner of her mouth twitch, she immediately shook it off.

"I need you – now." He told her, not turning to look at her or moving from his spot.

Alice obeyed, climbing out from under the covers and walking slowly towards him. The first thing her eyes shot to was the blood all over his torso and spread across his arms. His mask was askew and four of the little spider legs loose from their fittings. His breathing was laboured, the pain obvious from the way he held himself. For a moment a thought flashed through her mind. How easy would it be to kill him while he was like this? But deep down she knew even in this state he would still be able to snap her like a twig before she even managed to hurt him in the slightest.

Alice didn't wait to be told what to do. She kneeled in front of him and brought her hands up to twist one of the little legs back into its hole. He was watching her closely, probably expecting her to rip the rest out instead of putting them back in. She was trying not to look at his eyes only concentrating on the mouth piece. She could still feel his eyes burning into her and her own couldn't help but flicker to his. The usual darkness and cold was gone, replaced by pain and curiosity. She felt sorry for him for a brief second, for the constant pain that must plague him. She had figured out long ago the mask was obviously for pain relief. She had seen the scars that trailed down the back of his neck and wondered if they carried all the way down. When she felt something drip against her leg she looked down to see the bright red. The pity she felt disappeared.

Her hand moved to the second one when she stopped suddenly. "What would happen if I didn't fix it? Would you die?"

"Would you – want that?"

She wanted to say yes, she wanted to say it a thousand times. Instead she remained silent.

"I would be in pain – little one – more so than I am now."

"But you wouldn't die?"

"Why would I inform you – if that were to happen – when you could use it against me?"

She guessed he had a point but Alice still leaned back further away from him. "Why can't you fix it?"

"My fingers are too large for such intricate fixings."

Alice stayed back, watching his chest rise and fall, the pain never leaving his eyes as he waited for her to do something.

"What exactly does it do?"

"Fix it – and perhaps I will explain."

Huffing slightly she finally raised her hand to the second loose fitting. As soon as the last one was placed there was hiss from his mask and his eyes flickered shut as relief washed over him. This time she leaned up so she could reach the back of his mask, fixing it so it now sat straight upon his face. Her face was so close to his that she held her breath and for a second her eyes met his curious ones. She kneeled back down, watching him with morbid interest as he straightened his back and wiped blood from his brow with the back of his hand.

"I thank you, little one."

"Is that someone else's blood on you?" She asked quietly, already knowing the answer and feeling stupid for asking it.

Bane looked down at her with amusement. "It is a mixture of others as well as my own, yes. Does it bother you?"

"Yes." She answered, trying to make it sound as cold as possible.

He laughed. "Would it make you feel better to know I was in tremendous pain just now?"

"Yes."

Again he let out another hollow laugh. "And you are probably waiting for me to tell you about my mask."

She remained silent, knowing exactly what was coming next.

"Well I will not. You will have to earn that information."

"Didn't I just earn it?"

Bane stood now, unstrapping the vest from his body and letting it drop to the floor. She could see the cuts on his body, his arms. They weren't deep. So that had to mean the blood that was thick and heavy on his skin obviously wasn't his own. "No. you did not." He remained stood there, staring down at her. All she could do was stare back.

Eventually he walked past her and for a brief moment she was hoping he would leave. When she heard the hiss of the shower she moved and sat on the edge of the bed, taking his place. He had left the door wide open and she could see the rest of his clothes discarded on the floor, specks of blood now on the tiled white floor. Suddenly she remembered the blood and looked down, watching as it trailed down her leg and wondering if that drop was his or someone else's. She started to feel sick. She decided she couldn't wait until he finished to get this damn blood off her. Walking slowly to the bathroom she glanced towards the show. He was turned away room her, both hands pressed against the wall as he dipped his head and let the water trail over his skull and down his back. Her suspicions had been right; the jagged scar ran all the way down his spine. Alice felt a stirring in her stomach as she tore her eyes away and quickly grabbed some tissue to clean away the blood. Once she was done and had discarded it she turned to leave and was met with him staring at her. She suddenly felt cold and ducked her head as she ran out, climbing into the bed and hiding under the covers. She was just thankful she had only seen his torso.

Alice wanted to fall back to sleep so badly that as soon as her head touched the pillow she squeezed her eyes shut. Instead she found herself listening as the shower shut off and his wet feet touched the tiled floor.

She hoped he would leave again like he did the other night. She didn't know if she could stand him being near her after knowing that he most likely killed people only a few hours ago. When she heard the mechanical breathing in the room she felt her stomach tighten. 'Please leave. Please leave' she prayed to no one.

The bed dipped next to her and she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. She was certain that he was leaning next to her. The sound of his breathing was too close to have just been simply lying next to her. After what seemed like an eternity she felt him role away from her and soon enough his breathing seemed to be deeper, more even, that's when she slowly climbed out of the bed and grabbed the pillow she had been using.

"Where are you going?" The sudden sound of his voice shocked her and she clutched the pillow to her chest.

"To sleep outside. On the couch."

"You will remain here. Lie down."

"But – you're here. Can't you sleep in your room?"

"My room does not have a bed little one and tonight I wish to sleep in one."

"Why do I need to be here then? You can have the bed, I don't care." That was a lie. She also knew that not being able to lie next to him made her seem weak but how was she meant to sleep next to someone she loathed so much?

"In case you attempt anything stupid."

Alice held back the scream and all the words she wanted to call him as she placed the pillow back. She climbed under the covers again when she noticed he was on top of them, at least there would be that barrier between the two of them. She remained at the edge of the bed and as far away from him as she could get.

All she wanted was to be blissfully unaware the she was lying in the same bed as him just so she could fall back to sleep. Perhaps even that was too much to ask for.


A/N: Once again thank you all. And I know my spelling and grammar is...urgh, it's atrocious. I do proofread but I always seem to notice everyone's mistakes apart from my own. So once again, I apologize.