Chapter Ten: Real versus Imaginary

Bane froze the millisecond the words left his lips as he dropped his face to the warm curve of Helena's neck.

He listened to her breathing return to normal as he struggled with whether to speak or remain a sudden mute.

Helena shifted under his formidable body, their intimacy created a spark in them both as she shifted, and their skin kissed.

Bane opened his mouth to speak but Helena pressed her fingertips to his lips and stopped any words he might say. She shook her head, "don't say that to me," she murmured.

"Why not?" he asked as he closed his large hand around her wrist and yanked her hand away from his mouth.

"You can't mean something like that, can't feel that;" she stammered before he abruptly cut off her words by crushing his lips to hers.

"Why can't I?" he pressed and cupped her jaw with his free hand, his eyes desperately searching hers.

"You don't know me at all," Helena started and tried to squirm out from under him.

"Stop," Bane demanded softly as he captured her wrists and tried to keep her still without hurting her.

Helena knew it was futile to continue fighting and sagged underneath him. He let go of her wrists and shifted enough of his weight so she could breathe easier.

"I want to get to know you, all of you," he murmured as he brushed her hair off her forehead.

As Helena let his words wash over her, hours away Talia and her cohorts continued to stay captive in the opiate hold. Barsad found himself getting bored as he scrolled through the tv's channels.

He kept glancing at the drugged trio, he couldn't understand why he couldn't just kill them. Walk up, one shot to the head each.

Done, done, done.

Barsad blew out a sharp breath and kind of watched some fuzzy screened porn.

Hours away back at the Lang household, Helena raised her hand and pressed her palm over his heart that thudded in his broad chest.

"Will you let me get to know you?" he asked in her continued silence.

Helena nodded as strongly as she could before she cleared her throat. "Can I go get ready? Please?"

Bane pulled her hand from his chest and kissed the center of her palm as he nodded.

Helena tugged her clothes back into place before standing. "Would you mind listening for the door in case I'm not downstairs when they arrive?" she asked as she smoothed her shirt down.

"Of course," Bane said and restrained himself from following her up the stairs after she told him where he could find the laundry room and extra clothes with the plastic tags still attached.

Some time passed as they both collectively cleaned up and changed their clothes.

Helena was still upstairs when the doorbell rang.

Bane made his way to the tiled foyer and pulled the door open and saw a couple who must be Keith and Bev.

Keith took a double take when he saw Bane's massive frame fill the doorway but quickly smiled and extended his hand. "Good evening, Keith Michelson, this is my fiancé Bev Russo."

Bane observed that Keith was tall and athletic looking, dark blonde hair streaked with a few strands of grey and dazzling blue eyes. Bane shook Keith's hand and then Bev's, who was wearing a midnight blue gown with a low-cut bodice that showcased her ample chest and tiny waist.

"Hello, I'm….," Bane started before Bev cut him off with an enthusiastic albeit shrill squeal.

"You're Nico! I can't believe we're actually meeting; Keith was certain Helena had made you up to avoid his blind date set-ups," she continued and pulled him into a hug.

Bane pulled his lips into a smile as he returned Bev's warm embrace. "Yes, it's great to finally meet you, Helena speaks so highly of you two."

Keith and Bane shook hands, both men keeping their grips firm and assertive but restrained.

Bane stepped aside so that Bev and Keith could come in. Bane led Keith and Bev to the kitchen where Helena had set out an assortment of wine glasses and champagne flutes.

As Bane poured several glasses of a light, crisp chardonnay, upstairs, Helena zipped up the dress and adjusted the thin straps to lay flat against her shoulders.

Helena looked at herself in the mirror facing to the front and then turned to see her profile. She took a deep breath and smoothed her hands down the length of her gown and stood up straighter in her ridiculously tall high heels. Helena leaned close one last time to make sure there was nothing in her teeth and dabbed a little peach gloss across her lips.

She turned off the light in the bathroom and shut her bedroom door behind her as walked towards the stairs. Helena heard Keith, Bev and Bane laughing as she descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen.

The click of her heels on the slate tiles caught Bane's attention as he turned to look at her.

He felt his heart jump in his chest as Helena walked into the kitchen in the shimmery blue gown.

It was cut tastefully at the bodice but left the creamy skin of her décolletage exposed. Bane trailed his eyes from the top of the gown that was lightly molded to her breasts and down to where it smoothed over her slim waist and wrapped itself around her hips.

The gown skimmed over her thighs and fell to a couple inches above her knees. Bane trailed his eyes further down her slender calves and feet that were encased in shoes with sparkling beads across the straps. The heels raised her height by almost four inches, and she moved effortlessly as she entered into the kitchen.

The overhead lights made her gown seem to glow and reflected on the small diamond earrings she was wearing. Her hair was back loosely with a few long curls that came to rest on her shoulders.

Keith saw Bane's sudden interest towards the door. He followed Bane's line of sight and saw Helena.

Keith smiled and held out his arms to Helena as she walked towards him, the light bouncing off the fabric of her gown as she allowed herself to be hugged by Keith's crushing embrace.

"Helena, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but you get more beautiful every time I see you." Keith squeezed Helena in a hug and as she turned her head to the side to rest it on Keith's chest she caught sight of Bane looking at her and Keith.

Bane was gripping his glass so hard, it threatened to shatter in his grasp. Helena saw his eyes burning with internal rage and hellfire, he set his glass down and tried to avert his gaze.

Helena locked eyes with him and continued to watch him as Keith released her and asked her about school and how she was progressing on her road to a Ph D.

Helena saw Bane's eyes lose a degree of their maniacal glow when Keith released her.

Bev gave Helena a hug as she snuggled close to Keith's side.

"It is so great to see you two, I hope your wedding is beautiful," Helena started.

Bev and Keith were having a private ceremony at the top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. Part of their wedding package included one ride each on the roller coasters on the top of the building. Helena didn't realize it was possible to have a strictly speaking, private wedding in Las Vegas.

Bev beamed at Helena and Keith.

Helena knew she would be a beautiful bride.

"As far as school," Helena started, "I'm currently studying for the boards, I think I'm pretty close to being done. I'm also still teaching at the University," Helena said.

Bane listened intently as Helena talked about her life, he was learning about her through others.

Keith put an arm around Bev and pulled her close, he kissed her forehead and turned back to Helena. "So school is going well, and it sounds like next time I see you I will be calling you doctor. So how is the love life of the young and beautiful? When am I going to go to your wedding? You've been to two of mine." Keith said in an easy tone.

Bane reached for a champagne glass and slowly filled it as he saw Helena stumble over what to say.

"Well," she said slowly, "I don't really have a lot of free time right now. I'm really involved at the University and I still have to get the next semester outlined and submit it for approval. It doesn't leave a lot of time for those kind of decisions," Helena said looking quickly over at Bane.

Keith smiled, "but it has to be on your mind, you're positively glowing. Don't you think Bev?" he continued to tease.

Helena was at a total loss of words and then she felt a hand on the small of her back and found Bane next to her, holding the glass of champagne out to her. Helena smiled up at Bane and took a quick sip off the glass.

Keith and Bev smiled at Bane as he watched Helena sip her champagne. Helena went to the counter and brought the bottle of blue label whiskey over to Keith and presented it to him as she wished him and Bev more wedding wishes.

Helena felt Bane's hand come to rest again on her lower back. He slowly traced his fingertips along the exposed skin of her back.

"So," Keith said, "how did you two meet?"

Bane drained his glass. "I work in the science department at the University, I met Helena one day by chance at the campus café," he said never taking his hand off Helena's back before pointing at Keith's nearly empty glass. "Can I get you a refill?"

"Sure," Keith said passing his glass. "I'll take something stronger."

Bane left with the glass and also refilled his own. He fought himself on his want to be next to Helena, he had to fight to physically remove his hand from her back and move away from her.

Bane still couldn't fully understand how she could cause him to compromise himself. In his whole lifetime, he had never compromised himself or felt remorse.

He was always in control, the feeling of losing control was foreign to him, he couldn't strategize because he didn't know the rules. Bane poured himself another generous shot and quickly downed it, the alcohol burning its way down his throat.

As he walked back to Helena, he noticed that she seemed more alluring as she lightly held onto her champagne flute. Bane suddenly wondered what she was thinking about.

"Would everyone like to make their way to the table?" Helena asked.

Keith and Bev sat next to each other as Bane sat at the head of the table.

Keith showed off his new Submariner watch to Bane as Helena plated the appetizers. She brought over a tray of juicy cantaloupe that was wrapped in proscuitto and also set a small plate in front of everyone and walked back to the kitchen to soon fill those empty plates. Helena brought back a large platter and a pair of stainless-steel tongs. She laid a very long King Crab leg that she had slightly warmed onto each plate.

Helena set out a variety of accoutrements which included a homemade tartar sauce, fresh chopped chives, butter, and a bottle of red cocktail sauce sure to offend the culinary gods. Keith was the first to laugh at the King Crab leg which surpassed the width of the small plate immensely.

While everyone was picking at their crab, Helena spread out soup bowls and put on a low flame to bring the temperature up on the soup. Bev got up and started helping Helena pass the bowls.

Helena had poured a full ladle of soup into each bowl and topped each one with a spoonful of crème fraiche and toasted pine nuts. Helena took a seat at the other end of the table and for a few minutes everyone was quiet as they ate.

"So, " Keith said conversationally, "you say you met Helena at the university and that you work in the sociology department?"

Bane set down his spoon. "I did meet Helena at the university, more specifically in the coffee shop on campus and I work in the chemistry department not sociology."

"Oohh, tell me about this coffee house meeting," Bev said excitedly and set her napkin in her lap.

Bane felt the weight of Helena's eyes as he decided which way to spin the story. Helena had not said anything about their meeting, and he could custom build their history right now. Bane decided to tell Bev and Keith what he wished had been their initial meeting and past, he was going to fantasize.

"I stop at the campus coffee house every morning before I go to my office," Bane started, and Helena pressed her lips together as he continued.

"I was waiting for my usual when I saw Helena walk through the doors. I watched her order an extra hot vanilla latte. She walked near me at the other end of the counter to wait for the barista to make her drink," Bane said as he moved his empty bowl to the corner of his placemat and continued with the coffee shop chance meeting as Helena listened raptly to him talk about their nonexistent past.

"I looked over at her and saw her name badge that listed her in the Psychology department. I leaned over to her and asked her to quickly word associate with the word coffee."

Bane paused and noticed all the empty glasses. "Refills?" he asked as he stood and collected Bev's and Keith's glasses.

"Bev do you want a lemontini?" Helena asked as she stood and followed Bane to the kitchen.

"That'd be divine," Bev called to her back.

In the kitchen, Bane slowly uncapped the bottle of whiskey as he watched Helena prepare a lemontini for her and Bev. After he filled the glasses he stepped close to Helena and whispered into her ear.

Helena shivered as his breath was warm as he spoke each syllable. "Do you have anything you want to incorporate on our chance meeting, or do you trust me to paint the entire picture?" Bane asked and ran his fingertips down Helena's spine.

She closed her eyes, her hands still on the counter as she whispered back. "I want you to add some truth to the story."

Bane never moved his hand but paused at her request for truth.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked continuing to stroke her back.

"Tell me something about yourself that is true?," Helena said.

Bane picked up the glasses and walked back to the table as Helena sliced fresh lemons for the cocktails.

Bane passed Keith his glass and continued with the coffee shop scene.

"She looked at me and said 'god'. I asked her what her answer would equate to on the Wechsler Bellevue scale for measuring word associations."

Bev interrupted Bane then, "what did you say?" she called to Helena as she walked towards the table with Bev's lemontini garnished with a fresh lemon peel.

Helena smiled before answering Bev, "I asked him if he was a new professor of psychology, I hadn't seen him in the department," Helena said and walked back to check the fish baking in the oven.

Bane continued their coffee house introduction as Helena pulled square dinner plates out of the wood cabinets.

"I told her that I was actually a professor in the chemistry department but was very intrigued with a certain woman that I had not even been formally introduced to who worked in the psychology department."

Bev giggled as she sipped her lemontini, "that is bold, what did she say? I guess she didn't throw her coffee at you?" Bev asked earnestly, anxiously awaiting Bane to answer.

"No," Bane continued, "her latte wasn't ready yet, so she was unarmed. Just so she wouldn't think I was psychotic I immediately apologized. I told her that sometimes when you work in the lab too much with microscopes you struggle when talking to a beautiful woman."

Bev clapped her hands in delight and was hanging on Bane's every word as he continued. "Her coffee was ready by then and I thought that my chance was over and was prepared to watch her leave. Instead she smiled and asked what my title was in the science department. I held out my hand then and introduced myself," Bane said, picturing the fictional introduction.

"I told her I was the new chair for the chemistry department, and she said how she was working part time in the classroom and the rest of the time was devoted to her master's thesis composition. I told her that I had transferred from New York to replace the former chair member."

Bane paused and took a sip of the strong alcohol, knowing that Helena was paying close attention to each word he uttered. Helena listened to Bane talk about their imaginary meeting in this coffee shop.

Helena turned her attention back to the empty plates and put a spoonful of rice pilaf in the middle of each plate and laid the fish filet on top of the mound of rice. As Helena poured the apricot and plum chutney in a small round dish for each plate, she listened intently as Bane continued with their fictional first conversation.

"I then asked her if she ate food." Bane said as Helena walked over with the plates. The fish perfectly cooked and splayed over the hearty grains of rice.

Bev stared at Bane, "what happened next?" she asked as she picked up her fork and slowly delved into the entrée as Bane continued.

"I told her that I also ate food and that the next night at seven, I was going to be in my perpetually reserved corner booth at Daphne's and maybe she could just also happen to be there at the same time and we could eat together," Bane said a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips at he looked down the table at Helena as she filled her fork with the rice.

Keith lifted his glass and regarded Bane over the rim of his glass. "So, a PhD in Chemistry then?" he asked.

Bane took a bite of the flaked fish and nodded back at Keith. "What was your dissertation?" Keith asked.

Helena's hand which was holding her fork froze as she thought that the rouse was up. Bane glanced briefly at Helena before directing his answer at Keith.

"The study of the formation of a tropane ring in regard to the specific alkaloids in several varying plant species," Bane said to Keith. Helena let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Bane further explained what he just said to the non-scientific community.

"Tropane is a nitrogenous organic compound, and I studied the formation of alkaloids in both atropine, cocaine and other roots," Bane said scooping up some rice soaked with the sweet chutney.

"That sounds so interesting," Bev said. "Did you get to travel for your research?" she asked pushing her plate away. Bane nodded, "yes I traveled to Europe and studied nightshade growing in Scotland. I traveled to the Eastern Slopes of the Andes to analyze the cellular structure of the Coca plant and I have been all over the United States in search of geographically specific mandrake roots."

Keith leveled his gaze at Bane. "Well, that sounds absolutely complicated. I much prefer to push paper, as long as it is in reference to earned revenue," Keith said. Helena started clearing plates and added, "I of course was fascinated with his theories in regards to Mandrake roots because DH Lawrence referred to the Mandrake as the weed of ill omen and it makes sense when you read Nico's analysis of how Lawrence might have settled on that descriptor," she added as Bev carried hers and Keith's plate to the kitchen and stacked them beside the sink.

Keith drained his glass and slapped the top of the table. "I could go for a cigar outside; would you like to join me?" Keith asked before he kissed the top of Bev's hand and walked outside with Bane.

Bev waved at them before Bane closed the sliding glass doors, "take your time. I have to cross-examine Helena on all the dirty details," she laughed as she toasted her martini glass at him. Bane cast a backwards glance at Helena as he joined Keith and took the pricey Cohiba that Keith offered him.

The two men stood on the deck and inhaled the rich, potent smoke as the rising full moon rose in the sky and watched them from above. Bane watched Helena and Linda as they sat at the table inside the house, their giggling reached his ears as well as Keith's.

"God only knows what the two of them are talking about," Keith said looking over at Bane trying to read him. Bane casually held the Cohiba as he looked out over the backyard that Helena had tirelessly tried to turn into a floral showcase. The redwood deck led down to a lush manicured lawn which was fringed with tree roses that were all blooming in varying shades of red, pink, white and purple. There were lots of woodland critter statuary deliberately placed around the base of the rose bushes and Bane also saw a redwood patio table and chair set to the other side of the deck and a well-used stainless-steel barbeque.

Bev followed Helena into the kitchen so she could top off their martini glasses. "So, tell me," Linda asked leaning against the counter, "does he fuck as good as he looks?" she asked slyly. Helena quickly took a long drink from her glass as her mind raced for an answer that would placate Linda. She was saved from an immediate response as Linda continued.

"I mean I wish I had a professor that looked like that when I was in college," Bev said dreamily. Helena looked out at Bane where he was talking with Keith.

"Let's just say he fulfills my needs on every level," Helena said as she raised her glass to her lips, a small smile forming as she looked over at Bev.

"I'll drink to that," Bev stated draining her glass and continuing to lean on the counter as Helena assembled the custard fruit tarts for dessert.

While Helena arranged slices of kiwi fruit on the tarts, Bev continued with a litany of explicit conversations in regard to Bane's performance in bed.

"Do you guys want to come in and have dessert?" Helena called out the window. The two men came back in and sat back down at the dining room table where Helena had already placed the dessert course on their place settings. The shortbread tart held the Bavarian cream and was additionally decorated with small wedges of mandarin oranges and sliced strawberries. Helena pierced the shortbread tart with her fork and loaded the tines with custard and a slice of strawberry.

Bane caught Bev sending him a smile that he couldn't quite interpret, she then looked over at Helena and winked.

Helena wouldn't meet Bane's eyes after Bev drew attention to herself and quickly asked Keith about any promising business acquisitions he was looking into. Keith set down his fork, he was not a big dessert fan and looked towards Helena.

"Well, there are a few companies that I'm investing in on the east coast, I haven't seen a big return on investment though," he said and then added, "but it is still a little early to tell."

Keith was a high-functioning alcoholic but sometimes the booze took over and became overly aggressive.

Bev laid a hand on Keith's forearm when she sensed his growing drunken agitation.

"I am so relieved to see you're real," Keith said and chuckled as he nearly spilled his glass and continued.

"I have brought many a single prospects here for our lovely dinner hostess and she has snubbed them all for various reasons. The last guy I brought over was a new CPA to the firm, he owned his own home and was a good-looking kid. Do you know what Helena said about him after dinner? I will give you one guess," Keith said to Bane.

"Keith please let's not pick on Helena about her dating preferences after she has just prepared this wonderful meal for us," Bev pleaded.

Keith glanced over at Helena briefly before turning his attention back to Bane.

"Alright, it's getting about time for us to go. But first I want you to guess the reason she gave for rejecting the last guy," Keith said to Bane with all traces of a smile gone.

Bane narrowed his eyes before answering. "I wouldn't know what to guess having never met your successful and attractive CPA," Bane said tonelessly, his words hanging in the air. Keith smiled and settled back in the high-backed chair. "Do you remember what you said about Michael?" Keith said to Helena.

When Helena didn't answer, Keith answered for her. "Helena told me that she couldn't date him because he was involved in the financial world and she didn't associate long term happiness with people who worked with money."

Keith laughed, "I mean the financial world has given her everything she has, this house, educational opportunities. I asked her to name a single bad thing with being married to a man from the financial district and she didn't have anything to say."

Bane felt his anger surge when he saw Helena's discomfort and her near-tears state.

Keith drained Bev's glass before tapping the table in front of him. "Are you going to marry my niece or just keep fucking her?"

Bev quickly stood and tugged on Keith's upper arm. "Come on baby, you've had a bit too much to drink. You have an early conference call with the board of directors."

Keith looked over at Bev, "you're right," he said. "I have to go over my presentation." he said. "I'm sorry Helena, I don't mean to pick on you, I just don't want you to grow old by yourself that's all and I have had too much to drink." Keith said to Helena.

Bane watched Helena acknowledge Keith's apology and then Keith turned to him and shook his hand offering another casual apology.

Helena walked Keith and Bev to the door. Bane followed and waited till they wished her good night and complimented her on a wonderful meal. Keith tripped and almost fell as Bev led him to their car in the driveway.

Helena closed the front door and locked the dead bolt. "Well," she said leaning against the closed door, "I think that went well. What do you think?" she asked her words heavy with sarcasm. Her feet were hurting from the fashionable heels. She had bought them at a deep discount, but they were half a size too small and she was really noticing the size difference now.

Bane walked over to where Helena was leaning against the door and put his hands on the door on either side of her. Helena regretted having that last drink as she looked up at Bane, in her heels she didn't have to look up quite so high.

"I think dinner was amazing, but it paled in comparison to how exquisite you look in this dress," Bane said as he leaned into Helena. "Was there any truth to what you said during dinner?" Helena asked as his lips hovered over hers.

She continued speaking, "was there any truth woven into your story or was it all fictional?" she pressed.

"I have hiked along the Eastern Slopes of the Andes," he said and teased his fingertips under the thin straps of her gown.

"How did you come to end up in the Andes?"

"There was an employment opportunity," he said vaguely.

Bane knew that Helena wanted to keep pressing him for information and was thankful when he felt his cheap burner phone buzz in his pocket.

"Why don't you go run a bath and I'll bring us some spiked coffees," he murmured as the phone buzzed a second time.

Helena shook her head. "I'm going to clean up the dishes first," she murmured.

Bane stepped aside and let her walk to the kitchen as he lingered by the door and answered Barsad's call at the start of the fourth ring.

He listened as Barsad reported that Talia and the two militants were still passed out.

Bane further frustrated Barsad when he told him to continue leading Talia on a wild goose chase until he gave him the okay to return.

Bane ended the call and walked back to the kitchen where Helena was pouring soap into the dishwasher and pushing the start button. She wiped down the counter and dried her hands.

Helena checked the locks on the doors and windows as Bane wordlessly watched her and then followed her up the stairs.

She proceeded directly to her room and kicked off her shoes, giving a sigh of relief before she turned to him.

"So, all of that talk about tripane and whatever formation you said, where did you come up with that?"

"Tropane ring formation," he said as he began to unbutton his shirt. He unzipped his slacks as he added, "mandrake roots can grow in near-darkness," he murmured.

Helena watched a peculiar expression wash over his features. She thought she could see pain, past sorrow and suffering before he buried the emotions from her sight.

Bane didn't like the idea of what Helena might've seen in his features in that vulnerable moment and rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Come here," she murmured, and he looked over as she patted the top of the bed. "Lay down and I'll rub your back," Helena added as Bane restrained his movements and casually closed the distance between them.

Helena let her eyes move over his nearly naked body as he stretched out on top of the duvet cover.

He heard her fumble with the stubborn cap on a bottle of lotion on top of the bedside table before she began to move her hands in circular motions over the bare skin of his back and upper shoulders.

"In your version of how we met, do we go to dinner together the next night?" Helena asked as she pushed the heels of her palms deep into his muscular flesh.

"Yes, you agreed to meet me at Daphne's the following night," Bane murmured.

"Tell me about our first date," Helena said dancing her fingertips down the length of his spine.

"I asked you to dinner at seven. I said I would pick you up, but you insisted on meeting me there and you arrived ten minutes early. I was already there," Bane said and added with an all-male tone. "You had on a well-fitted violet silk blouse and black skirt with uncomfortable looking shoes like you were wearing tonight."

"What happened next?" Helena asked, genuinely wanting to hear Bane's version of their fictional first date.

"We ordered a couple of cocktails and I made a few menu recommendations. You ended up ordering the chicken picata and I had my usual pesto gnocchi, we also each had Daphne's famous Caesar salad with their fresh baked baguette," Bane said as he rolled over and pulled her onto him until she was straddling him. Her supple thighs falling to either side of his hips.

Helena gasped as Bane pushed her dress up past her hips as he continued telling her about their Italian dinner date.

She temporarily pushed aside the knowledge that not only was Daphne's a real restaurant nearby, but she really liked the baguettes that they served. "During dinner I told you about my theory of reaching the students who absolutely abhor chemistry and being able to measure success by really getting through to some of the kids that cycle through the semesters. I asked you about your thesis research and then we discussed topics of a more personal nature," he growled as he tugged at her miniscule silken panties, anxious to feel her delicate intimacy.

"What kind of topics?" Helena gasped as he licked the rough pad of his thumb before moving it in slow circles on her clit.

"We talked about our goals for our futures. I asked you what you were looking for in a man," Bane said further piquing her interest as he increased the movement on her sensitive nub of pink flesh.

Helena wanted to buck her hips against him as her breath came harder. "What did I say I was looking for?"