"I think i need to clean up first" Nalya, looking at the dried, flaking blood on her hands. She had no doubt there was probably a lot more on her face.

"You are quite the mess" grinned Bane "there's a leak of a main tap where you can wash yourself, privately, follow me"

They walked in silence, Bane in front, there was an awkward tension. Last night's unexpected troubles had brought them physically closer but emotionally it was fragile. Nalya did not know how to act around Bane, where they friends now? technically he had saved her so they had to be something. And Bane was being so jokey, friendly, he was smiling, he eyes seemed to twinkle. He looked happy- maybe he'd just finally accepted her as someone he was going to have to put up with?

"There it is, just clean yourself quickly"

"Are you going to turn around then?"

"Turning, turning, what do you take me for woman?!"

Before Nalya could reply, a loud noise rang out "Hey you! finally found you.." 3 large men approached her and Bane, she didn't recognise any of them, although one looked strangely familiar...

Nalya was stood behind Bane already and suddenly the men surrounded him, Bane angled his body in a position to protect her. "Listen the bitch killed my brother, i don't want to fight you, it has nothing to do with you, i just want to teach her a lesson, you can have whatever's left of her, probably an ear or an arm" he laughed loudly and forcefully, a sound that didn't sound natural.

"No."

Nalya could hear her heart pounding in her ears, her skin felt hot. Bane was protecting her yet again.

"Bane what exactly are you doing here? She's no-one, she's got nothing to do with you"

Bane felt a surge of mixed emotions, she's not no-one, she's...he felt a small hand on his arm. Nalya.

"Bane, he's right, this isn't your fight, it's mine" Nalya took a deep breath "thank you for all you've done for me, but i can't let you drag yourself into this"

She took a step forwards and left the security of Bane's hulking body, she suddenly felt very vulnerable whatever's going to happen is meant to happen she tried to reassure herself but she knew she was going to her death it's got nothing to do with Bane no point him getting hurt too

She felt the air in her lungs leave her as she was suddenly, aggressively pushed back

"I said, no"

Laying on the floor, a winded Nalya looked up at Bane "If your brother couldn't control his urges the woman had the right to protect herself, now leave"

there he is being a hero yet again..so honourable...but did he have to use so much force? she grimaced at the pain in her chest

One of them men charged at Bane, yelling incoherently. Bane stood still and grabbed the man's head, easily cracking his neck to the side. He then proceeded to methodically kill each of the men, considering his unnatural strength it was hard for any of them to fight back, surprisingly agile thought Nalya she didn't move off the floor, there wasn't much she could do apart from get in his way, she didn't want to watch but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene, he was unstoppable. It suddenly went quiet.

They stood in silence for a few moments, not sure how to react, what to do. Absorbing the situation. The bodies lay on the ground, crushed, bleeding, broken.

"You saved me, again"

"I guess i did"

It was quiet again

Nalya walked up closer "Bane..I..."

He was dripping in blood, Bane moved under the leak in the pipe letting the blood wash away, he closed his eyes until he heard a choked sobbing

"Bane, i thought ... i...you " she moved under the leak, her tears mixing with the water, all her emotions bubbled up the surface and she couldn't stop the tears, a mix of guilt, relief, shock and confusion

"You're not making any sense" Bane said as she sunk to the ground

"You've killed for me Bane, i didn't deserve to live! and look at all these men, dead because of me, and you could have killed yourself!"

Bane sat down next to her "No Nalya, they're dead because of me"

"I killed them, not you...and they were barely a match for me now were they"

He put an arm around her as she slowly cried and the water washed away the blood that clung to their bodies. Bane looked at the woman he was comforting? he was exhausted and pushed back the angry thoughts in his mind, it's not time to think about those now. He held Nalya tight and let the water and tears release the pent up pain.