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Art Transcends

'Art transcends cultural boundaries.' Thomas Kinkade

Since they weren't about to talk about Arthur breaking into Bane's place in front of Eames-watching him freak out over that would be entertaining, but ultimately wouldn't end well-that topic had to shelved for the time being. And since he wasn't all that interested in discussing his 'love life' with either of them Blake settled in with his cellphone to have some fun with his man instead. Not that he didn't include the other occupants in what he was doing, of course. That would have been rude. Plus he appreciated the input when it came to paraphrasing famous movie lines and texting them to Bane to irritate him.

"Frankly, My Dear, I don't give a damn." became, 'Frankly, My Dear, I think you give a damn.'

"Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore' became, 'Bane, I've got a feeling you're not in Gotham anymore.'

"You got to ask yourself one question...do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, Punk?" became, 'You got to ask yourself one question...am I gonna get lucky? Well, are ya, Bane?'

It came as no surprise that after those first three messages sent in quick succession Bane messaged him back to ask if he was drunk or had suffered brain damage earlier in the day.

'They're movie quotes, Darling.'

'I see.'

Rolling his eyes over that one Blake asked his brother and Eames if they could think of a funny or sexy way to quote Tom Hank's 'There's no crying in baseball'.

Arthur mulled it over and then shook his head. His brother the perfectionist.

Eames, being Eames, had a bunch of ideas of how to rework the quote.

"How about 'There's no crying in the bedroom'? Or 'There will be screaming in the bedroom?' Too far away from the original, isn't it? Hmm. How about-nevermind. That one would have been even worse."

Blake let him rhyme off a couple more and then dismissed the quote and moved onto another.

'I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse. Me.'

'Behave, Robin.'

Smirking over that Blake shook his head. "It's like he doesn't even know me."

"What did he say?" Arthur asked from the driver's seat, traffic slow at the moment.

"To behave. As if."

"Nice Cher." Eames observed as he looked over his shoulder with a smirk. "And, like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so!"

"Why couldn't you and I have fallen helpless in love with each other. You get my references!" Leaning forward Blake poked his brother's shoulder. "He's a keeper, this one."

Arthur snorted, then adopted a Valley Girl accent. "You see how picky I am about my shoes and they only go on my feet."

It took them a moment to put that into the movie's context and then Blake laughed while Eames did some leaning in of his own to bite Arthur's ear and point out in his sexy British accent that if Arthur had any sexual firsts left he wanted to explore...he had only to ask.

It was tempting to play the traumatized virgin or annoyed, disgusted big brother, Blake was good at both personas even if anyone who knew him would never buy the first, but his phone pinged that he had another text message.

'If you get yourself injured while I'm away there will be consequences.'

'Yeah. I'll be injured.' Blake texted back with a saucy grin.

'You try my patience.'

'Finally, a movie quote. As well as a theater quote. Two points, Phantom.'

He only added the Phantom part since Blake was pretty sure that Bane hadn't meant to quote from 'The Phantom of the Opera'.

Humming the titular song from that particular opera slash musicale Blake easily tuned out the murmured conversation Eames and Arthur were now having in the front. He had a feeling it would be for the best if he didn't know what they were talking about so quietly, especially since he wasn't getting any himself until Bane got his butt back to Gotham.

'I've made my choice.'

Staring down at the text message Blake actually felt happy butterflies take flight in his stomach. Which was not a sensation he was used to experiencing. It was more than a little mortifying, especially since he was pretty sure he was grinning at the screen like an absolute moron.

Thank God the other two were too wrapped up in each other to notice.

'It figures that you'd be on a flight to another country when you finally decide to play with me.'

'I have no intention of playing with you. I intend to have you.'

Doing a happy little butt shimmy, oh but he loved the sound of that, Blake debating asking for more explicit details. But if he knew Bane, and he was starting to, it would be pointless to try and lure the man into having anything resembling phone sex with him. Bane was a man of action, not words.

At least when it came to sex. And he was okay with that.

And since it just so happened that he had plenty of friends and honorary family in Japan, on top of speaking the language like a native, Blake turned his attention to going online and arranging for a little gift basket to be waiting for Bane when he arrived.

He hoped it would give Bane ideas.

)

It was a fourteen-hour flight to Japan from Gotham. And that on top of the thirteen-hour time difference which meant that it was once again evening rather than late morning when Bane's private plane arrived at its final destination. For that reason Bane had made the decision not to sleep during the long flight and had worked his way through the 'night' in between texts with Robin, who'd stayed up until about two in the morning Gotham time. Robin had apparently found it quite amusing to text him modified movie quotes, sex related inquiries and teases, and random comments and questions whenever Robin's mind wandered in some new direction.

It came as no surprise to Bane that the later the hour, the more twisted his bird's mind became.

Feeling his age, he was not a young man anymore and hated the reminder, Bane was more than ready to sleep by the time they arrived at the hotel he'd booked for his stay in the busy, overly crowded city.

As per usual the manager himself came out to welcome Bane to the hotel, the small, nervous man assuring him that everything was in order for his stay with deep bows and honorifics.

Thanking him Bane was about to state his intentions to head straight up to his suite when the man spoke up first, his fingers fluttering around like birds at his waist. Nerves.

"A gift basket arrived for you four hours ago, Bane san. We were asked to put it in your room for you, but I thought perhaps you would wish to inspect it first. I took the liberty of having it scanned and nothing concerning was detected. There was a card attached as well for you."

That the man had known better than to have the basket taken up was one of the reasons Bane frequented this particular hotel in the first place. And given that this trip had not been advertised Bane could think of very few people with the knowledge and resources to find out where he was going, much less staying. To his way of thinking the only logical suspects were Saito, Robin, or the al Ghuls.

"Show me."

A bow and then the man turned and motioned for them to follow him into the hotel's main lobby, Bane and Barsad staying close behind him. The porters would see to their luggage under the supervision of one of Bane's men while his second bodyguard watched their backs as they traveled through the lushly decorated lobby which was quiet, for the most part, and was another mark in its favor.

Arriving at the front desk the manager briefly excused himself, bowed, then hurried around the desk to retrieve the item in question.

"My money's on your cop." Barsad murmured as they waited, Bane's second facing the opposite direction as he scanned for possible threats.

Bane inclined his head while quietly stating his agreement.

They didn't have long to wait before the manager came back into view, the basket in his hands covered in black cellophane that kept whatever was inside from being seen.

The thin, curling ribbon tied around the top was silver with no sign of the card mentioned, Bane noted.

Mentally eliminating Saito as a possible sender Bane watched as the manager set the basket on the desk with exaggerated care and then revealed that he'd tucked the card into his suit pocket, pulling it out with a flourish once his hands were free. He held the card out to Bane.

Inclining his head Bane accepted the card, flipping up the top to read the simple message written in both English and Japanese.

'For Bane's eyes only. Robin'

Closing the card Bane shoved it into his own pocket and then stepped forward to lift the gift basket from the desk. It wasn't heavy was Bane's first observation, his thoughts turning to the question of just what was inside that Robin wouldn't want others to see. Or more likely thought Bane wouldn't want others to see given that Robin could be more than a little shameless. And while it wasn't beyond the realm of possibilities that someone was using Robin's name for their own advantage, Bane didn't think so.

Thanking the manager for his assistance Bane waited for Barsad to be given their room keys and floor number and then off they went towards the elevator, Bane experimentally tipping the basket around to try and get some clue as to what was inside. No such luck. Whoever had packed it had done well in that regard.

And just who had Robin entrusted to put the contents of the basket together, if the contents were something private? A friend, family member, or someone in their employ, perhaps?

He was still mulling over the possibilities when they arrived at his suite, Bane waiting patiently as the luggage was brought in and the rooms searched and scanned for listening devices. That and more harmful 'gifts' his enemies might arrange for him. The basket was scanned as well, just to be on the safe side, but nothing within it set off any alarms.

Once that was done Barsad sent the guards to their posts and then asked if Bane required anything else before he turned in.

"No. I'll see you for breakfast tomorrow."

Inclining his head Barsad's eyes lingered on the gift basket for a moment and then Bane's second turned on his heels and headed for his assigned room. Wise choice.

Retreating into his own suite Bane walked over to the bedside table to turn on a lamp and then sat on the side of the western style bed. In truth he would have preferred a futon, which would have been better for his back, but that would have required booking one of the hotel's authentic Japanese rooms. And real walls stopped bullets more efficiently than paper ones.

Setting the gift basket on his lap Bane studied it for a minute or so longer, drawing it out, and then his fingers went to work untying the ribbon with more care and focus than the task actually required.

Thankfully whoever had tied it hadn't opted to make it more complicated than it needed to be, leaving the ribbon just loose enough that scissors weren't required to finish the job as Bane removed the plastic tie and then tossed it onto the bedspread. That done Bane pushed back the cellophane with both hands and got his first look at his latest present from Robin.

Oh but Robin was going to pay for this when he returned to Gotham.

Coiled up inside the simple wicker basket was rope. black, cotton and silk blend rope, to be precise. The sort of rope used to perform shibari or, more likely given its sender, kinbaku. Rope that was meant, ideally, to be used in a sexual setting. This particular type wouldn't mark up the skin for long but would still serve the purpose of tying Robin up in ways that would put his cop on display for him in any number of erotic positions and poses. It would also put him as Bane's mercy.

Robin had included an instruction manual in case he needed the lessons.

There was also a bottle of massage oil, a special cream Bane recognized as being designed to ease and numb the ache of 'sensitive' muscles after overuse, two types of lube, and something called Pocky?

Tossing that last item back into the basket, it had obviously been thrown in as a joke, Bane focused his concentration on the rest of the items he'd been gifted, very much aware of the roles they would play in his dreams. Provided that he was able to fall asleep any time soon.

Oh yes, Robin was going to pay for this when he saw his cop next.

)

Blake had often thought that it was amusing, the way his family tree had grown ethnicity wise. Originally his Grandfather and the Grandpa he'd never met had planned to adopt two children. One Japanese like Grandfather and the other Caucasian like Grandfather's husband. They'd ended up with three kids, two sisters and then Blake's father, but life never went the way you planned and the more the merrier. The point was that the eldest, Aunt Maya, had never been a kid person and she and Uncle Mark had passed on the whole breeding thing. Which had probably been for the best. And then you had his Aunt Charlotte, who had married a fellow doctor of Japanese descent and they had two kids who were half white, half Japanese. They'd also adopted a second son, Simon, who was a one man melting pot of ethnicities. Then you had his family. A Japanese dad who'd had a Caucasian wife before she'd done the stupid and ended the marriage, and said dad had then adopted him and Arthur, who most people thought were half and half too...only he and Arthur had no idea what kind of background their actual bio sperm donor had had. But anyway, the point was that their family was the perfect mix of their grandfathers' ethnicities and this with the majority of them being adopted or related by marriage.

Life will find a way.

And he really needed to stop thinking in movie quotes.

"Penny for your thoughts, Cous?"

"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth." Okay. No more movie quotes after that one.

"Wow. They're that perverted, huh?" Wiggling her eyebrows suggestively Blake's twenty-two-year-old cousin Evie gave him a teasing elbow to the ribs. "Just what are you and that human mountain getting up to?"

"Human mountain?"

"Well he is friggin huge. I mean not 'Game of Thrones' Mountain huge...but still pretty damn big. At least in pictures and on the news."

It was tempting to make a joke or at least a comment about Bane and his size...but Blake forced the words to remain trapped in his throat. It would not end well for him given who else was walking with them.

Grandfather had arranged this little family get together and would make his disapproval very apparent, as would Aunt Charlotte, if he went there. His father and Arthur would also have something to say about his juvenile behavior, especially when cousin Tai got grossed out by it. Lastly Simon wouldn't care and Eames was focused on being on his best behavior, which meant he wouldn't appreciate not being able to join Blake and Evie in acting like immature teenagers.

Man it was hard being an adult sometimes.

"That big, huh?"

Okay, he was only human. "Haven't seen it yet. Fingers crossed."

"Robin. Eve."

Straightening up, literally, Blake shared a look with Evie as they turned around and spoke in perfect unison.

"Apologies, Grandfather."

A curt nod signaled their grandfather's acceptance of their apology.

Lapsing into silence as they continued on their way, Blake turned his thoughts to his stomach, which was very empty at the moment since he'd barely eaten anything at lunch. When one was facing a nine course dinner with family, and a grandfather who would be most displeased if he didn't clear his plate, one was wise to go on an empty stomach. Especially since he freaking loved A Taste of China's Peking duck and orange beef.

"Did you guys hear that?"

Having no idea what Simon was talking about Blake shook his head, Evie doing the same. From behind them Blake's dad and brother both said no, while Grandfather asked Simon what he'd heard.

"Probably nothing."

"Your hearing is most acute." Aunt Charlotte reminded her son. "What did you-"

A scream rent the air.

"That."

Curses and exclamations all around, then the sound of pounding feet as Blake and his family all took off running in the direction of that scream and the other screams that were now splitting the air along with multiple people yelling, the sound of breaking glass, and car accidents now in progress out of sight.

Rounding a corner street Blake's eyes quickly darted around to take it all in with cop speed.

Large crowds of people, many of whom were wearing either Gotham Knight jerseys or Boston Colonial's. Large, rioting crowds who were either fighting with each other or destroying other people's property to express their frustration and rage. Considerable damage was being done to cars, storefronts, and the outside of the nearby football stadium.

"Shit. Guess the game went the way it usually does." Pulling out his phone Blake's father started to call it in. "So much for dinner."

"Just another day in Gotham City." Simon stated with a shrug. "What ya gonna do."

Blake grinned. "Kick some serious ass."

His father cleared his throat.

"And do my civic duty, of course. Let's go rescue and arrest a bunch of people!"