Title: The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning

Author: ElleKnowsNot

Fandom: The Dark Knight Rises

Pairing: Blake/Ella, Bruce/Selina

Rating: M, for violence

Summary: Every journey has an end. But who is to say it is truly an ending?

Author's note: So sorry for the long wait, life kinda kept my hands full. *innuendo*

Author's note#2: Title taken from Smashing Pumpkins' song of the same name, from the Batman & Robin soundtrack because every Batman movie soundtrack is worth acknowledging. And this song inspired this chapter.

Author's note#3: I chose to "end" the story here but with my luck, there will be a sequel if you guys enjoy it enough that is.

A large black aircraft hovered above the police cruisers and two bright lights shone into the bank, obscuring everyone's vision. Blake took his opportunity, grabbing the gun from his pants and whipping Bane's face, effectively unlatching two pipes from the front of his mask. He then pistol whips the mercenary at Ella's side and grabs Ella and runs out towards Gordon, who stands in awe looking at the large aircraft.

Blake releases Ella from the cuffs as the aircraft's light go out and the police rush in, unarming the mercenaries and cuffing them. Gordon comes into the bank and stands over Bane as Selina jumps down from the aircraft and strolls into the bank lobby. She stands next to Gordon looking down at Bane with a sad smile.

Bane's hands cower near his mask, but he doesn't have the strength to reconnect the air tubes. Selina raised one heeled boot and swiped against Bane's mask, effectively disconnecting all the tubes but one. As she leans down to pull out the last tube and end his life, Bruce moves in behind her and stops her hand.

"No killing," Bruce warned lowly so only Selina could hear him.

Selina rolls her eyes, stands to her full height and walks from the bank lobby, Bruce following after nodding to Gordon.

Ella peels herself from Blake's grip and walks back into the bank and stands next to Gordon. Her face falls as she watches Bane in agony writhing and mewling in pain.

"You know you don't have to watch this, you have been through enough," Gordon offered, looking at her sullen face.

"Batman doesn't believe in killing, if it was anyone else laying on the ground before me I would agree with him," Ella says before bending down and leaning over Bane. "I want to be the last thing you see before you take your last breath. I hope everything has been worth it, Bane." And with that she slams down her fist on his last connected tube.

Hissing fills the room, the sound of Bane struggling to breathe floods Ella's senses. She hates herself for unexpectedly starting to cry as his eyes roll back in his head. One final breath escapes his mouth, his chest ceases to heave and his eyes close heavily. She crawls up closer to him, laying her head down on his, her tears falling down her face and drop onto his mask.

"I'm sorry…" Ella trails off before sobbing uncontrollably. Gordon can't take seeing her like this and leans down to pick her up even as she struggles to push him off of her.

Blake sadly watches the entire time, not knowing how to react. He walks into the bank and leans down, picking up Ella easily in his arms. She relaxes in his embrace and lets him hold her. He walks back to his car, after nodding to Gordon, depositing Ella into the front passenger seat. He closes her door, before leaning on it momentarily, taking one last glance into the bank terrified that the masked man would suddenly rise again.

Blake walks around to the driver's side and as he reached the door handle, a large gloved hand ghosts over his. He doesn't turn to see who is speaking to him, he knows it is Bruce.

"You should take some time off. Clear your head. Your patience and confidence in justice has been tried, it isn't something you can easily overcome. A wise man once told me that you have to mask the pain, practice smiling in the mirror," Bruce growled lowly, not in his usual manner but firm nonetheless.

Blake gives a weak smile, trying in his tired and frustrated state to mask all of his pain.

"Work on that," Bruce states before starting to walking away, "and I'll call you sometime, I want to show you something," he finished without turning around.

Blake watches as Bruce climbs into the Bat, Selina following in behind him. He watches the aircraft lift and ascend into the snowy purple sky. He climbs in the seat, buckling in before looking to Ella. She looks beyond terrible, tear stains dry into her cheeks, she looks off into the distance, presumably at nothing.

"We could leave, if you wanted to. Leave for a while, just you and me. No Gotham. No badge. No…" Blake looks to the bank lobby as a few police officers lay a white sheet over Bane's large body. "No danger."

Ella nods, rubbing at her wrists, raw emblazoned flesh sensitive to the touch. "I've heard Florence is nice this type of year. Or we could go to Metropolis, seems very boring. We need boring these days." She gives him a weak smile, one even she doesn't believe.

"I'm almost positive Metropolis isn't gonna be your cup of tea. But Florence does sound nice. Do you speak any Italian?" Blake asks, turning his key in the ignition.

"Not one word. Well, one word actually. Grazie. So I could thank waiters when they bring me a Fernet Branca." She lets out a small laugh, startling herself.

"Grat-zee-eh. Now we both know Italian. We'll hit the house, pack only the essentials and escape for as long as we want. Deal?" Blake finishes, putting his hand out for Ella to shake.

Ella reaches her hand over, clasping it with Blake's. She doesn't leave his hand, instead uses it to pull Blake forward to her so she can kiss him, languid and passionate.

"Deal." Ella says, before buckling herself in.

Blake and Ella spend three months in Florence, learning a bit more Italian and sightseeing. Blake buys a Vespa and they ride around town going to museums and enjoying food and espressos at every café they can find. Only when Blake gets a call, do they pack up and leave.

They get to Wayne Manor, Alfred answers the door for them after a few moments. "Master Wayne is waiting for you in the library. Right this way." Ella smiles ear to ear, marveling at the high ceilings and ornate statues lining the halls. They reach the library after what seems like ages, Bruce and Selina waiting for them.

Bruce is seated at a desk, his feet up on the desk and a book over his lap. Selina is sitting on the window sill, book across her outstretched legs.

"Domesticity suits you, Bruce." Blake snorts, getting Bruce's attention.

"Reading is fundamental, at least that's what they tell us all in school, right? But I personally believe reading is boring. I much rather enjoy adventure in the field, rather than in between the pages." Bruce smiles as he lays his book on the desk and rises to greet his guests, putting his hand out for Ella to shake. "Bruce Wayne, nice to meet you, Ella." He finished, he can almost hear Selina rolling her eyes.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Wayne." Ella shakes his hand lightly and can't stop the giggles when Bruce raises her small hand up to his lips and winks at Blake.

"Please, call me Bruce, and the pleasure is all mine."

Selina decides to stop the schmooze fest and tosses her book to the nearby couch before sauntering over to the group. "Don't mind Bruce, he tends to lay on the charm pretty thick sometimes. Blake, nice to see you." She looks from Blake to Ella, uncertainty painting her eyes. "Ella. Nice to see you again…under much better circumstances." The last part no higher than a whisper.

"Nice to see you again too, Selina," Ella says, nonchalantly placing her hand into Blake's, feeling unsure about the motives of the Catwoman.

Noting the tension in the room, Blake speaks up. "So, Bruce, you have something to show me…?"

"Right. Yeah. Selina will you show Ella where she and Blake will be staying?" Bruce smiled at Selina, and his teeth actually glistened.

"Of course. You're gonna love the room, kid. It's got a huge walk-in closet and a Jacuzzi in the bathroom. Fit for a princess. So let's give these boys they're alone time." Selina walks ahead of her, Ella's confused face not going unnoticed.

"O…kay," Ella says, walking quickly behind Selina to catch up.

When Ella's footsteps are out of earshot, Bruce walks over to the piano in the corner of the room and presses a few keys on it before the bookcase moves to the side and he walks into the darkness, Blake following hesitantly.

He follows Bruce into what looks like an underground cave, just as he thinks Bruce is going to walk straight into the water, a pathway rises and Bruce climbs steps onto a high platform. The Batsuit rises out of the platform next to Bruce and he smiles as he turns to looked at the cop.

A flurry of bats fly past Blake and he ducks momentarily before he realizes the bats aren't a danger to him. He walks towards Bruce and the platform as a second case rises from the platform and all Blake can do is smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.