Alrighty so, I know I took forever to get this up and I apologize for that. First off, this is incredibly fluffy lol and if you haven't figured it out already, my Bane is a little on the soft side but that's not to say that I wouldn't mess with him because I definitely would not :) I think this ended up so fluffy because I was feeling incredibly romantic when I wrote this. I also purposefully made it a little lighter and I'm really nervous of what you guys are going to think, so please share your thoughts! Thank you to everyone who reviews and favorites my story, it means more than you can imagine! Okay, here chapter 12!

Bane's POV

I had run from her. It was cowardly but it was necessary. I had kissed her. In that moment, it was as if Gotham didn't matter, Bruce Wayne didn't matter, Talia didn't matter. Just the feel of her lips on mine. And that made her dangerous. That is what propelled me to move away from her and run from the feelings she invoked in me. She was like a drug to me, addictive and life changing.

I had been absent from the apartment for a week now. In that time I had had meetings upon meetings with Talia that had quickly turned into screaming matches. I made good on my promise to Abigail, and against all of Talia's wishes, Bruce Wayne would not be killed after witnessing the destruction of Gotham. Talia revealed to me that she wished to release the inmates of Arkham, in an attempt to completely and utterly decimate the pockets of rebellion sprouting like weeds across the city. I was able to convince her otherwise, stating that the criminals would not take kindly to us being on their "home turf", so to say. A part of me hoped to release the inmates, only so I would have the opportunity, and the pleasure, to hunt down and kill the one they call the Joker. He had to die, his crimes against Abigail had gone unanswered for too long.

Another thing I discovered while I had been away was that spending so much energy trying to placate and please Talia had me realizing something. The more time I devote to Abigail the more insufferable Talia becomes to me. Against all odds, Abigail has wormed herself into the one place I had considered closed off to the world. My heart. After speaking with her about Bruce Wayne, which I was now positive she did not know of his alter ego, and learning of her past, I find myself wanting to know more. I want to know her inside and out, backwards and forwards.

I want her, period.

These are the things I know for sure. There is a storm coming, inevitable and unavoidable, and somehow, under my very nose, Talia has changed and morphed into someone I can no longer follow. But the most important revelation is that I want Abigail as mine, and no one elses. I want to protect her and dare I say it, love her.

It is time for me to go home.

Abby's POV

I sat at the breakfast bar, letting my fingers tap a random rhythm against the marble. Ever since our kiss, Bane had been avoiding me. He hadn't been home in almost a week! Wait, home? When had I started to refer to this place as my home? Did it even matter anymore? I let out an uneasy sigh. Max wasn't even here, Barsad had taken him again. That man was becoming way too attached to my dog. I cast a look at the fridge, trying to determine if I should make another plate of dinner for Bane, there were three saran wrapped plates just sitting in the fridge at the moment, collecting dust. I slid off of the high chair and started on the dishes.

I was hurt, I concluded as I scrubbed at a pan. I was hurt that Bane hadn't come back. I wondered if he regretted kissing me, wondered if I wasn't good enough. The anger rose inside of me, causing me to renew my scrubbing with vigor. How could he just not come home? I was worried sick, what if he was hurt? Did he even think about how I would feel? I sneered at my thoughts, I sounded like some needy little girl. I'm not needy, that's not me and I'm definitely not a little girl.

On a side note, I hadn't been able to learn anything more of Bane's past. Where he came from, why he was in Gotham. I also didn't know how to face him, after realizing that I was in love with him. Would he be able to tell just by looking at me? How could something so life changing on the inside not be noticeable on the outside? I'd never been in love with someone before and I had no idea how to handle the situation I currently found myself in.

I let the sponge sink back down into the dirty water. Then, I purposefully strode to the stereo in the living room. I rocked back on my heels as I had an internal debate on whether or not I should use it. On one hand, this was somebody's stereo and I had no right to use it. But on the other hand, I needed to get my mind off of Bane, which music would help to accomplish, and after this mess was over, people would hardly care if I had used their stereo. That is if we all aren't blown sky high. The less I see of Bane, the less faith I have in the man, I observed about myself, which only served to sour my mood even more. I turned on the stereo, messing with a few dials until I found a station that played sugary pop music. It was a guilty pleasure of mine. I nodded, satisfied as Kesha filtered through the speakers.

I continued to work on the dishes, occasionally singing along and busting a dance move. My plan worked all of ten minutes before commercials came on.

"You have got to be kidding me." I groaned to the empty apartment, loathing the idea that my unwanted thoughts were going to come back. Eventually, I succumbed to my mind.

Ever since our kiss, my body seemed to be on fire by the mere thought of Bane. I wanted nothing more for him to come striding into the apartment, pin me to the wall, and kiss me senseless all over again. The intensity of these feelings was so unfamiliar to me and it kind of scared me. I loved him and I knew I was attracted to him and I knew these feelings were perfectly normal, good even. But I couldn't help with feeling scared and dejected. If he hadn't even come home after our first kiss...I grimaced. I just wanted, needed him to touc-

My thought was abruptly cut off by the start of a song. In a few seconds, the song had my full attention. No, it's way too coincidental. I told myself. But as soon as I heard the girl's voice start, I knew. The song was untouched by the Veronica's. My mouth dropped open, forming a perfectly shaped O. As the chorus rang out, echoing through the apartment, I couldn't help moving to the music and then suddenly I was dancing around the living room, singing my heart out.

"I feel so untouched and I want you so much that I just can't resist you! It's not enough to say that I miss you!"

I almost laughed at how the lyrics captured my feelings. I was untouched because of my virginity but I want to be touched, by Bane. A lot, more than my will power can take. And I missed him because he was too chicken to come back after our kiss. I jumped up on the couch, too far gone to realize that I was acting like a rowdy teenager, and made my body move to the energetic beat.

"I feel so untouched right now. Need you so much, somehow! I can't forget you! Been going crazy from the moment I meant you!" I sang, jumping from the couch to dance my way in front of the glass wall. That last part was so completely true, I had been going crazy ever sense Bane came into my life.

I let my heart slow down as the beat of the music grew less frenzied and then the song stopped completely. I felt a smile light up my face, it was nice to just let go, to not think, or worry abo-

My thoughts were cut off once more but this time, it was the slow and steady clapping of hands. I watched as my reflection in the glass tensed up and froze. My face was pulled into a grimace. I pivoted slowly on my heel, hoping, that by some sort of miracle the person behind me was Barsad and not Bane. All hopeful thoughts were crushed when I saw Bane, his eyes wickedly amused and his body leaning in the doorway. I swallowed nervously, wondering how long he had been there, how much he'd seen. I felt blush burn my chest and cheeks and I shifted from side to side, not really knowing what to say. I let my fingers snag and pull at the hem of my shirt. I kept my eyes firmly glued to the ground, shuffling from foot to foot. I gulped, walked over to the stereo and shut it off. I let my eyes slowly travel the floor, my sight rising until I meant Bane's gaze.

"You have...quite the voice, Abigail." He praised, a slight tremble of amusement in his voice. I let my mouth drop open, outraged. Did he really have the audacity to laugh at me when he hadn't come home in a week? I narrowed my eyes.

"You really have impeccable timing, don't you?" I asked iceily. I walked back to the kitchen, making an arc around Bane, because, whether I liked it or not, my nerve endings were on fire for him. I plunged my hands back into the dirty, soapy water, trying to ignore his presence. I heard him move around the counter, stopping to stand behind me. I held my breath, my hands stilled, waiting for his next move. I didn't have to wait long.

"Abigail, why are you angry with me?" I couldn't help it, I laughed. How could he not know what I was angry about? Was he emotionally handicapped?! I felt his strong hands grip my hips like so many other times, and he forcefully turned me to face him. Enraged, I was about to give him a good tongue lashing, when my eyes looked upon his face. His bare face. He leaned over me, causing me to arch against the back of the sink.

"I do not appreciate being laughed at." I heard his teeth grind together. I looked into his eyes as he leaned down further. "Answer the question." The anger came back full force. I pressed my hands to his chest and gave a harsh push.

"Alright. You wanna know why I'm so mad?" I snarled, pushing at his chest again, trying to budge him at least a centimeter. Switching tactics, I pounded my fists on his chest, which probably wasn't the smartest choice I've ever made. Finally fed up, Bane grasped both of my hands in one of his, lifted me with his other hand, spun, and then pinned me to a wall. I sagged against the wall and watched as he shook his head in confusion.

"God, you are...are...such a man!" I scowled, keeping my eyes stuck firmly to his chest. I dared a peek at his face, which was covered in blatant confusion. Before I could stop myself, I was studying his bare face. I couldn't really be blamed, I had so little chances to ogle his mask-less face. His lips were incredibly plush and pale pink and still ever so tempting. I also took the time to study his spattering of silver scars more closely. I gave a hefty sigh, my hair flipping up slightly.

"You honestly didn't think after kissing me and then storming off and not coming back for a week, that it wouldn't upset me even a little?" I questioned, desperately trying to keep the catch from my voice. "You could have been hurt and I was...well I was worried." I sniffled, the tears finally augmenting in my eyes. "Look, it's okay. I know you regret kissing me and I'm sorry I kissed you back. So, now that we got that out of the way, could you kindly move so I can go to sleep?" Which really meant, move so I can lock myself in the bathroom and cry in peace. Of course he didn't listen. He grasped my chin and lifted gently. I knew he'd see the tears in my eyes.

"No, I will not move. Little one, I do not regret kissing you, If anything I regret staying away for so long." He murmured softly to me. I loved how rich and masculine his voice was without his mask. I looked up at him, confused.

"Then why did you? You don't have to spare my feelings. Reall-" He cut me off, eyes burning.

"I don't spare anyone's feelings. If anything I am brutally honest. So when I tell you I don't regret kissing you, it' is the truth and I do not like you insinuating I am a liar." I felt the tears build again and watched through bleary eyes as he grimaced.

"Don't cry." It sounded like an order and it made me chuckle as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"So, I've been sulking for the past week for nothing?" I felt his large shoulders shrug, his attention fully on my eyes. I tried to move away from him, only to be boxed in by his arms. My breaths started to become quicker and I searched his eyes. He leaned forward and then captured my lips with his. The world stopped and it was only his lips on mine, his hands around my waist. I moaned when he hoisted my legs around his waist, intensifying our kiss. We broke apart slowly and I leaned my forehead against his chest, trying to regain the ability to breath normally. Suddenly, my feet were no longer pressed against the wall, instead I was in Bane's arms as he walked down the hallway to the bedroom. I gulped, suddenly extremely nervous. He shouldered the door open and then laid me gently on the mattress. He started to walk away but I pulled at his hand, not ready to let him go.

"Just so you know, our conversation from last week is far from finished, Bane." I narrowed my eyes ever so slightly and nodded as if my word alone made it final. Which it did. Bane chuckled and nodded.

"Of course, little one, now sleep." He made to move away again but I tightened my grip on his wrist.

"Stay with me?" I whispered. I watched his shoulders bunch up and tense. He walked closer to the bed and leaned down.

"Later, little one. Sleep, I know you're tired." And then he kissed me on the forehead and walked out of the bedroom.

I woke up that night cradled in his arms.