Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations the characters find themselves in. Thanks so much for continuing to read and giving me feedback on my work. It's muchly appreciated and I do read every review you send me!

Note: So I couldn't decide point of view for the first scene...so I did all three...hopefully it reads okay. I tried really, really hard!

The Supreme Art

'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.' Sun Tzu

They were about twenty minutes away from landing in Heathrow Airport when Barsad's phone went off. He wasn't expecting a call but Bane's second retrieved it from his pocket and tapped on the screen to see who it was from, brows furrowing slightly as he saw the name and number on his screen. He'd gotten the cop's number in case it was needed at a later time and had programmed it into his phone for that reason. Now the man currently causing Barsad's boss so much anxiety and trouble was calling him personally instead of Bane himself. This could not bode well for him. Barsad could just feel it in his gut.

And though everyone knew that curiosity had killed the cat Barsad decided to risk it. Better to know now then have it come back to bite him in the ass at a later date. So he accepted the call.

"Mr. Blake."

Bane, who was sitting across from him on the jet, immediately looked up with a questioning look.

"Hey, Barsad. How's it going?"

"Fine. Did you wish to speak to Bane?" Who was currently ghosting the cop like a child in Barsad's opinion, not that Bane wanted to hear it. Or Barsad was stupid enough to explicitly state given the mood Bane had been in for basically the entirety of this trip.

On the other end of the phone Blake made the most dismissive sound he could. Which echoed really nicely thanks to the fact that there was a lot of tile for it to bounce off of.

"Hell no. Why would I want to talk to him? I wanted to talk to you, Handsome."

Fuck. Just fuck. What the fuck? Barsad did not know where this was going but he knew it did NOT bode well for him. He could feel the ulcers starting to form already.

Which Barsad's face must be making very clear since Bane demanded to know what was going on. Was Robin hurt? Had something else happened? Why was Robin calling Barsad instead of him?

Holding up a finger to indicate he needed a moment-Barsad eyes narrowed as he realized that he could hear the cop laughing his ass off through the phone. Because of course he was. He obviously needed more caffeine in his system to have thought the other man serious even for a moment.

"Care to let me in on the joke? Not that I can't see the punchline already."

Both figuratively and in reality once Bane got wind of this.

"The joke?" Blake made a 'hmm' sound in his throat as he pretended to think about that before answering. "I do live in Gotham. A lot of people claim that that twists a person's mind after a while. And I am semi-serious, FYI. Since Bane and I are no more I figure I'm once again single...though does that label even really apply seeing as he and I haven't had sex or gone on a real date? In my mind I've been thinking of it as him having dumped me-but there's definitely an argument against that, isn't there?"

Technically Barsad agreed, and he supposed he should be grateful Bane had stopped being wishy washy where Blake was concerned and ended the ill-fated relationship before it could cause more problems. Especially now that he'd collected enough information to have a pretty good idea what kind of problems the cop's 'John Smith' could cause in the future.

"So he ended things with you?"

"Well he's ghosting me like a tween so I'm guessing yes. And even if he hasn't, I'm not asking him out again or saying yes in the unlikely event that he asks me out. So yeah, I'm a free agent and I'm assuming you are as well?"

"Me?"

Wiggling in glee, which thankfully didn't send any water flying out of the tub because that would have been a bitch to clean up afterwards, Blake would have rubbed his hands in glee if one hadn't been occupied holding the phone up to his ear.

"I've decided my usual taste in men sucks. I'm trying new things."

"I see. One moment."

Pulling the phone away from his ear without bothering to mute the cop's ability to hear what was being said, Barsad delivered the news with as little expression as he could manage.

"Apparently Detective Blake has decided that you two are no longer involved and he's decided to ask me out instead. On a date." Barsad clarified, just in case his meaning wasn't clear.

"What?"

Logically Bane knew this was a trick. It had to be. Some ploy Robin had cooked up to anger and manipulate him with. It wasn't even a remotely intelligent plan either because there was no way Barsad would ever go along with it. Or be interested in Robin. Ever.

"That's what he said."

"You would not let him use you that way."

Silently Barsad acknowledged the truth of that statement and yet...

"I am curious as to his plan." And so saying Barsad brought the phone back up to his ear, stating that he was back again.

"Technically I didn't ask you out-but that's just semantics. So are you interested? I supposed I should ask if you're straight and not even a little bi curious?"

"You don't think it's perhaps unwise to ask me of all people to be your rebound?"

"Why? Or are you referring to the whole 'bros before hos' slash 'no dating your buddy's ex' rule? Because that really doesn't apply since we never dated. Or fucked. And he ghosted me, so obviously he's not interested and therefore shouldn't give a flying fuck if we hooked up. Am I right?"

Studying Bane's face Barsad asked the cop if he'd like to ask Bane about that. Because Barsad was pretty fucking sure Bane would have many things to say about this subject.

"If I wanted to talk to him don't you think I'd have called the big baby?"

Barsad couldn't stop his lips from twitching.

"What's he saying?" Bane demanded to know, furious that he couldn't hear what Robin was possibly saying about him. Though it was better that they talking about him and not...other things. Who knew better than him just how provocative Robin could be on the phone? Was he even now plotting as to how to best seduce Barsad? Unacceptable. "Give me the phone."

"He doesn't want to talk to you."

"Give me the phone."

"Just put me on speaker." Blake suggested, glad that neither man could see how he was grinning like the cat that got the cream. Or Yue at the moment, since he was using his free hand to scratch the cat's head since Yue had wandered within range. It amused him to think that the purring might carry enough that the two men listening in would think it was him.

Hanging up seemed the wisest move, but since that would only delay the inevitable Barsad pulled the phone away from his ear and then put the phone on speaker, upped the sound, and then set it down in the middle of the table situated between himself and Bane.

"You're on speaker."

"Hi, Bane!"

"What is the meaning of this, Robin?"

"Meaning of what? And I thought you weren't talking to me."

Making his voice as cold and deadly as he could Bane stated that he would not tolerate Robin attempting to seduce Barsad into a relationship with him.

"So I can just sleep with him then?"

A snort of amusement escaped Barsad's lips against his will. He couldn't help it. Bane's face...

"You will not touch him!"

"Right...because he's your assistant, your bestie, or because you're already sleeping with him? Because if it's the last one that's something you should have made clear before."

"We're not sleeping together. And you and I already had this conversation. You are to cease calling him immediately."

"Why? I can't matter to you, so why should you care if I give him what you clearly don't want."

"You'll do as I say."

"Baby...I didn't do what you told me too when the possibility of you fucking my brains out was on the table. Why the fuck would I start obeying you now? Especially since there's nothing to lose and everything to gain from not listening to you."

A well-reasoned argument, Barsad silently acknowledged while Bane glared at the phone like he had the ability to make it spontaneously burst into flame. Of course neither man seemed to care what he had to say on the subject, but Barsad was okay with that. For now he was content to listen to the two idiots to get a better handle on just what he was dealing with here.

Unfortunately his observing didn't go unnoticed, Bane looking up to meet Barsad's gaze, eyes narrowing.

"Tell him you do not want him."

"I doubt that will stop him." The cop was known throughout Gotham for his tenacity.

"Just to be clear...are you only cockblocking me where Handsome's concerned or in general? There aren't a lot of guys in Gotham who could take you on without serious injury. It will be a little while before I'm well enough to beat the fact that I'm not yours into your excellent ass."

The idea of HIS cop calling Barsad handsome was unacceptable. Actually hearing it made Bane actively have to bite back a growl of possessive fury. And why wasn't Barsad rejecting Robin's advances outright? Was he in fact interested in Robin? Had he made some overture during that meeting in Bane's office? Was this why Barsad had pointed out the reasons why Bane's relationship with Robin was a bad idea?

"He's so quiet. Did I make his head explode?" The not being able to see Bane's face was definitely a problem at the moment. The goal was to poke the bear enough that Bane came out of hibernation enough to at least speak to him and end their sorta relationship properly. He didn't want to fuck up Barsad's life, job, or friendship with Bane. Barsad was an innocent bystander.

"His head's still intact."

"Good. Brain matter's a bitch to get out of clothing. And fine, I'll stop hitting on your boy, Bane. No need to freak out. I'll go out to a bar and hit on other hot guys instead. Later."

And with that Blake hung up.

)

The silence in the plane was deafening. Bane was fairly sure that if something were to drop on the plush carpeting beneath their feet he would hear it. Or perhaps not since his full attention, every atom of his being was focused on Barsad, who was in the process of returning his phone to his pocket. His second's face revealed nothing, which came as no surprise. The younger man was too well trained to give anything away. Though he had snorted in response to Robin's one comment. And Bane had distinctly heard amusement in Barsad's voice on two separate occasions during that call.

Phone secured Barsad looked up to hold his gaze. "I'm not having an affair with the cop. Nor do I intend to in the future. My loyalty is to you."

"And if you were not my second in command?" Bane was well aware that Barsad was gay. Robin was not Barsad's normal type though.

"He strikes me as the type who will always be more trouble than he's worth."

A moment for those words to hang in the air, then Barsad said what needed to be said.

"You need to end it. Definitively. Dragging this out only makes it worse."

"I will decide what I will or will not do."

"Yes. But you aren't alone in this. And the cop is used to leading his personal operations."

"He does not control this operation."

"Are you so sure of that? What do you think the point of that conversation was, if not to make it clear to you that you can't control him? That by abandoning him you've freed him to do as he likes."

"Abandoned?"

"From his point of view he was hurt, made vulnerable, and you know someone who means him harm is now in Gotham. You made no effort to see to his safety or check in on him. Such behavior does not install loyalty. Or fealty."

Bane could not argue with those statements. He had in fact made the conscious decision to take a step back from Robin in order to gain clarity where their relationship was concerned. Had done so knowing that now was not the best time to do so.

Robin was a force of nature. One did not control nature. To attempt to do so was a lesson in futility.

And knowing it was a stupid question Bane found him posing it anyway.

"Is that what you would do? In my place."

Rather than the quick response Bane had expected Barsad was quiet for long enough that it was notable. And when Barsad did answer, his tone was quietly arresting.

"Some people are worth risking everything for. Some are not. He means nothing to me...he means something to you. I can't tell you what he's worth risking. Only you can."

"You did not say that before, when I asked your opinion."

"Your face and eyes revealed much towards the end of that phone conversation."

Damn.

"Move quickly either way. Time is not on your side."

)

After drying off and getting dressed again Blake reluctantly used the crutch he'd been given to help alleviate the strain on his knee. Which was still swollen and achy and annoying the fuck out of him. Though the bite was still what pissed him off the most, injury wise. So much. Four different 'friends' had thought it the height of hilarity to send him movie or TV clips of someone being bitten and having a 'funny' response to that. Asseholes. He might just find a 'fun' use for the crutch later, using it as a club to whack some sense into people.

Why did he have to have the knee injury on the opposite side as the formerly dislocated shoulder? If it had been same side he'd have a built in excuse not to use the crutch. Not to mention sleeping on his side would be possible.

Okay...he was feeling both cranky and...empty after the way that phone call had ended. It hadn't gone the way he'd wanted it to. Or it had, but...not. Emotions and relationships were too fucking complicated. He needed to start avoiding both more. Or at least using his brain more when it came to the guys he was dating. Maybe he really did need to change his type.

Hobbling into the main hallway Blake raised an eyebrow to find his twin lounging against the opposing wall. Waiting for him.

"On guard duty to make sure I use the crutch and sling?" He might have argued somewhat vehemently against both aids over the last couple of days.

"No. Grandfather would know if you didn't use either."

He would. The man had the power. Blake sincerely hoped to be as badass and all knowing as his grandfather when he got to be the older man's age. Provided he lived that long. Many were of the opinion that that might be wishful thinking on his part.

"Long Bai is dead. His body was found three hours ago. Throat slit. Signs of torture. Expertly done."

The fact that Roman did like his sharps was the first thought to cross Blake's mind. A thought followed by a whole lot of mental cursing since the fact that torture had been needed did not bode well for them. Not that the old bastard's son wasn't the sort to torture for shits and giggles potentially. Bai wouldn't have posed much of a challenge, information wise. The little shit would have spilled plenty for a hundred bucks. The man had a drug problem and was perpetually out of money since he'd gotten out of jail a couple years ago. The things Bai wouldn't have been willing to talk about, or at least tell the truth about...well those were all family secrets he would have been afraid to reveal because his much more dangerous relatives might still be in prison, but that didn't mean they couldn't get to him for being disloyal. He'd only been seventeen years old when the syndicate had collapsed, a small fish in a very big net full of worthy game. He'd gotten off lightly considering the evidence against him.

Long Bai had been a low level, average intelligence thug. A glorified delivery boy, really, from what Blake remembered. Whispers had it that he wouldn't have gotten that far in the syndicate if he hadn't been a distant cousin of the major players. Blake had only seen the twit in passing, they'd never spoken that he recalled. But the bastard did know of their existence. But to what degree?

"Fuck."

"Exactly."