"So how's your amigo?" Marie asked, scooping sugar into her tea.
Bane watched as she daintily stirred it around, taking care not to make a sound by clicking the spoon against the cup.
Amigo? Ah yes Cooper.
"He's well, he should make a full recovery."
"That's good to hear, what happened to him, if you don't mind me asking?"
Bane shrugged, lying with relative ease, "He had a bad fall and fractured his arm."
Bane took in his new surroundings; when he asked Marie where she wanted to eat he didn't know what to expect, he might have assumed that she would chose a five star bistro in Gotham's higher district or even her original reservation, but instead he found himself sitting in a little Irish pub just around the corner from her hotel. All things considered Bane didn't mind. It was quiet and there weren't many people around to gawk at him. The shiny chestnut tables were worn and smelt like varnish, the shamrock green walls were covered with black and white photographs in vintage frames, the latest sports news was playing on the mute television above the bar. The waitress even offered a glass of water to keep the tulips fresh while they talked.
Perhaps this game Wayne has been playing has soured her taste for the high life. And to think I would have missed it if Wayne hadn't snuffed her.
Marie looked much more relaxed now, having changed out of her formal dress into something more casual. Blue shirt, long black cardigan, tight navy jeans and her signature black boots to complete the ensemble. The buckles making their soft little jingle as she tapped her feet.
Marie sipped calmly her at tea, "So how's life treating us today?"
"Good," Bane admitted, "Very good, in fact better. And yourself?"
"Oh me?" she chuckled dryly, "I've been better."
Bane mentally chastised himself, Of course her altercation would still be fresh in her memory. Probably best to change the subject.
"Still searching for that souvenir for your nephew?"
"Again good memory, but no, I haven't had time. And no Batman sightings either?"
Bane shook his head.
"Too cold for him I'd imagine."
"Or too dark. I hear he likes to skulk around in the shadows."
"Yeah. I asked the crew at work about him; one of them reckons he saw Batman once."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah,"Marie nodded, putting her cup down ready to spin her story, "He works the lighting system, Greg, anyway this happened before Christmas, he was just leaving the bar, then suddenly Batman comes flying down out of nowhere, crashes onto his Voltswagon, looks him right in the eye, then takes off down the alleyway."
Humph, Sounds like him.
"And was he certain it was the Batman?"
"I don't know, but he hasn't skip his AA meetings since." She concluded, grinning inanely.
Her enthusiasm was charming, Bane grinned back to be polite. He reached out for his coffee mug but then recoiled painfully, the stitches in his bad arm started pulling again.
Noticing this Marie reached out to him. "Are you all right?"
Bane always told himself he was use to the pain, but that did not mean it didn't sting all the same. He just kept his head high and rubbed his arm to sooth it.
"It's nothing, I cut myself this morning," he lied dismissively.
The fact she looked genuinely concerned for him was touching.
Marie winced in disgust, "Oh dear. Why'd you do that?"
"I did not do it on purpose," Bane defended, "It was unavoidable."
Before she could probe him further Marie's ring-tone went off in her handbag. Excusing herself she pulled it out to check who it was, then promptly switched it off and through it back in the bag like an bad penny. From her look of piqued annoyance Bane could guess that it wasn't her manager.
"Wayne again, trying to make amends?"
Marie didn't reply, her gaze dropped down to the table and she started cracking her knuckles, like she was trying to work out a complex paradox in her head. Then she looked up to meet his eye.
"Can I ask you something?"
He nodded.
"You sound like you know him; is he like this with all his girlfriends?"
This caught him off guard, this was no longer light banter, she needed the truth. But Bane wasn't sure how much he could give her without revealing too much about Bruce or himself. But for whatever reason, and to him it went against reason, he wanted to help her with her anguish. Maybe it was something in those big sad eyes.
He leaned forward to speak discreetly, the table groaned under his weight.
"In truth we don't socialise outside of work, we have our own lives and I try not to involve him. What I do know about him, that I can tell you, is that to him his career will always be his first concern, he has responsibilities he won't ignore, not for anyone."
"Fair enough," she granted, "I can understand that, he's a very important man, people depend on him, but does he really have no time for a relationship or does he enjoy stretching out this routine?"
"What do you mean by routine?" Bane inquired.
Marie bit her lip nervously. Then before she could explain the young waitress arrived with a plate of eggs and toast, and she tried to drop the conversation altogether.
"Forget it, it doesn't matter."
But alas, the warm aroma of buttered toast did little to dissuade Bane from the topic.
Marie grabbed a knife to cut up her toast, "So what have you been up to then, besides work?"
"Very little, this project requires a lot of attention."
"Careful," She raised a slice to her mouth, "You know all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
"Is that how Wayne's been acting?"
She didn't even get to take a bite, her lip tightened up and she eyes darkened, "What the fuck did I just say?"
Bane blinked, catching another glimpse of the same thunder that blew open the doors of Wayne Manor.
Realising what she did Marie pulled back, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap."
Bane raised his hand forgivingly, "No apologies. I know how you feel; working with him hasn't exactly been a fiesta either."
"Yeah I can imagine, but with all due respect Mr Dorrance, that's not really the same case is it?"
"But he is the same man, "he pressed, "You know, I admire you Marie. Most people wouldn't dare to call out a man like Bruce Wayne, let alone in his own home. I must admit there have been times I would have loved to have call him a - what did you say - 'feckless coward' and have done with consequences."
Marie seemed to grow, incredibly flattered the beauty mark above her lip started to twitch, "Really?"
Bane nodded.
"Well if you liked that I got a list I've been working on since last Tuesday," she joked, but again became sombre, "Oh Bruce, There must be a reason he's this way, so reclusive. Maybe he's in the closet."
Bane's eyes nearly popped out their sockets, "Que?"
"It was just a thought, I mean he's handsome, charming, dresses smartly, surrounds himself with women who fall at his feet only to step over them."
Bane covered his mouth, struggling to contain his amusement but it was too much, he had to laugh and he did deep and heartily. The idea that someone could draw such a conclusion so far from the truth was nothing short of hysterical.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. Its just, I not sure about that, but you have a point, the man does have his secrets."
"Don't we all." muttered Marie dripping her toast in the bright orange yolk. "Speaking of secrets, how long have you been married?"
Bane spurted, almost choking on his coffee. "Que?"
Snickering impishly Marie passed him a napkin to dry himself off. "Just checking. You can never tell with some people. Being serious though do you have anyone special, girlfriend, significant other?"
Dabbing his face Bane slowly shook his head, "No. I don't have much contact with women."
"Really? We're about half the population."
He shrugged, "I had a very sheltered life. And my work requires me to move around, so I don't have time to look."
Arguably that wasn't a lie but to him it was certainly an understatement. Looking back at his life Bane wondered exactly how much he could claim to know of the fairer sex?
First there was his mother; poor and sickly, she perished in Pena Duro back when Bane was still very young, he could remember watching her, as a child, being lead out in a shroud and then thrown over the cliffs of Punto De Tiburon for the sharks, leaving him alone with neither hope or a name, just the lasting image of her face, life drained away by the prison walls. As he got older and learnt how to read he found the odd book that mentioned women but not in great detail. Sometimes he would hear stories from the other inmates, some lamented the women they would never see again, others cursed them for getting them locked away, and some would snigger and jeer about what they would do if they ever had a woman alone in their cell, things Bane could never repeat in good taste. It made him relieved that his poor mother died not having to endure such depravity.
And then there was Talia, the daughter of the Demon, his former betrothed. The memory of her alone made his blood boil. It reminded him of Ra's and the promises he made to give him not only an empire to rule but an empress to rule beside him. That was until he disowned Bane, and Talia dared to call him unworthy. A mere distraction. Second best.
Looking at her now Bane swore he could see something of Talia inside Marie. Both were beautiful, passionate and shown to have a fierce temper, but unlike Talia there was also humility, kindness and a playful nature, something a princess with inherited power didn't have.
No, Marie could never be like Talia, and he liked that.
"So you never had a chance to meet someone?" she asked.
Bane groaned rubbing his chin, "I did once, years ago, but it didn't last."
"Because of your career?"
"Because she loved someone else," he replied flatly.
"Aw, I'm sorry," Marie offered sympathetically.
"Don't be. Looking back now it never would have worked, we were not good together."
"Oh well, it happens. But like they say, There's plenty of fish in the sea. We just keep finding the crabs."
Bane chuckled, "Do you always crack jokes in serious conversation?"
She shrugged coyly, "It's a reflex."
"I must say... it does not feel so bad to laugh."
"Yeah. Inspiring laughter ain't too bad either." she raised her cup in salute, in turn Bane raised his own to clink them together.
They carried on talking over anything and nothing, but their cups soon emptied and while Bane still hadn't heard back from Bird, or Bruce, and it was still hours before Marie's show they both agreed it was time for them to leave. After Bane paid the waitress he and Marie walked out together and headed back to the hotel. For the second time they stood atop the steps looking up at the gold plated doorway.
"Thanks again for the drinks and thanks for the company, I um, I really appreciate it."
"De nada. Until to tonight, yes?" Bane asked holding out his hand, but Marie shook her head, looked at him like he made a strange, alien gesture.
"Oh no sir, after today I think you deserve a hug. Come here."
Bane froze to the spot.
A hug?
hugs were not something he was familiar with. In his experience the only time you'd want to get you arms around someone is when you want to stick a shank in them.
This falter gave Marie the chance to get in close enough to stretch out and wrap her arms up around his giant frame. Gingerly Bane quickly learns to lean down, giving Marie a better grip and a place to rest her head, right next his. As she squeezes him firmly Bane starts to get the idea, following her lead, he reaches out his own callous hands to rest on either side of her petite waist.
They stayed fixed together for a moment that to Bane seemed to go on forever. Then Marie loosens her grip not to let go but to look up deep into his bewildered eyes.
She leans up to place a soft kiss on his cheek, that brings him back to reality. Wasting no time he comes down and catches Marie on the lips.
Her lips are soft and taste like sweet tea. Bane pulls her in closer, savouring the moment. Marie pushes up onto her tiptoes, tightening her grip, one hand slides up to caress his head and gently brushes against the implant in the base of Bane's skull.
"Urgh, get a room."
Suddenly Bane breaks away, he twists around seeing the stranger who interrupted them. The man, a guest of the hotel, slowly started to back away, shrinking under Bane's vengeful scowl.
Marie cleared her throat bringing back Bane's attention. "You know, If you're interested," She breathed, getting a bold look in her eye. "I have a room."
Ay Dios Mio
"Si', very interested."