Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters end up in. Everything else belongs to someone else and that's the way of it.
Don't Touch My Kid
Objectively speaking, it would have been more accurate to say that Bane had been born to be a pretty boy, rather than actually was one. As a cop Blake had honed himself over the years to take in a person's face and features quickly and reliably, breaking them down into pieces rather than just seeing the whole. It helped him remember them better, he's found, and made it easier to distinguish them from others with similar looks. Previously he'd been aware of Bane's beautiful eyes, he wasn't blind after all, but without the mask Bane's brows and lashes somehow seemed to bring them out more, making them more stunning to look at.
It was the mouth that really caught his attention in all honesty though. Blake was willing to bet what little he had in his bank account back home that before someone had scarred them Bane had possessed an overly generous pair of lips that would make any bi or gay men wish he'd blow them. Hell, straight men might wish it too under the right circumstances. And yes the badly scarred lips and the skin damage gave Bane a somewhat monstrous appearance for lack of a better word, but when you really looked…he was still a good looking man if you paid attention.
Ditch the mask permanently and moisturize the HELL out of his skin, grow even just a buzz cut's worth of hair, and Bane would be good looking man on first glance, scars and all.
And Bane was looking at him like he was sure Blake had recently suffered brain damage.
"What? Any man with a mouth like yours is going to be called pretty, Bane. I mean your overall size and bone structure butch you up, no question, but between your eyes and lips…you're pretty."
"Have you had your vision checked recently?"
"Ah…" Blake had to think about that a moment, especially since hearing Bane speak without the mask's filter messing with his voice kept throwing him off. Because damn, the man's accent was sexy as hell. All the more so because he couldn't place it. He'd always been a sucker for an alpha with a hot accent. "Yes? Or at least it hasn't been that long since I got them checked, I think. Hasn't anyone ever told you you have beautiful eyes at the very least?"
Used to hiding his emotions behind his mask, Bane's face was now bare and his disbelief very obvious. It was a nice change of pace as far as Blake was concerned.
"I'll take that look as a no. And by the way, CAN you grow hair? And scruff? Because if you're self-conscious about your skin, you wouldn't look bad with facial hair." Reaching out Blake curiously ran his fingers over the damaged skin, the differences in texture oddly fascinating. "Just don't grow a real beard. It would be a crime against nature to hide a mouth like this like that." Blake shook his head just imagining it. It was the rare man who could pull off a full beard and still be called sexy.
"I wear the mask."
"I know." Blake couldn't help but grin. "Yet another one of your terrible crimes against humanity. A huge fashion faux pas too, if nothing else."
Bane glared at him. "Put it back on."
It was damn tempting to argue, especially since he wanted to touch and hear Bane's actual voice more, but Blake also knew better than to mess with an annoyed alpha who was also in pain and feeling vulnerable.
So instead he grabbed the much hated mask off the bed and then leaned in to place it over Bane's mouth, just resisting the urge to try and kiss him first. To find out what he tasted like.
Doing up the buckles Blake put it all to rights and then decided what the hell, and stretched out on the bed on his side as well, nearly chest to chest with Bane.
"Is this all right?"
"It doesn't worry you, to be so close? We both know you thought of killing me minutes ago."
"And we both know we've both thought of killing the other numerous times. We're both alive still."
What Blake didn't and couldn't say, was that he was fairly sure that his decision to stay close had a great deal to do with a part of his brain that he very much didn't want waking up. A part of his brain that he'd kept drugged and sedated for his entire adulthood so that he didn't let his biology do his thinking for him. Like convince him that he should cuddle against his wounded and hurting alpha even though Bane wasn't actually his alpha, and wasn't going to draw any comfort from having him near, either.
He needed to get himself on some Umbra ASAP, or more likely the ingredients to make it before he was doing other stupid things like begging Bane to breed him or started doing whatever the delusional idiot told him to do just because Bane was the best example of alpha hotness he'd ever come across.
His behavior since Bane had captured him, but especially right now…
Maybe he was just that good at being in self-denial or convincing himself to view his present circumstances in the best light, but Blake had never been a glass half full sort. He was far more inclined to believe that his omega nature was just that stupid and getting stronger by the day. He felt it at times, especially the last couple days. This hormonal reaction to Bane when the man was near that urged him to behave in ways that were definitely not in his best interests.
The Umbra he'd been on for the last few years had been supplied by Bruce. They were the best money could buy, apparently, and less damaging than the street versions Blake had always been stuck with. So…perhaps better for his body equalled quicker to leave his system if he didn't keep to his injection schedule? Or Bane was just that alpha that his stupid omega body was fighting him to retake his original, more pleasing to an alpha form.
Either way he was going to be fucked, and not in a good way, if he didn't get his drugs soon. There had to be an infirmary here, a well-stocked one given the-
Going still, his self-preservation instincts still thankfully somewhat present, Blake tensed up in preparation to defend when Bane's arm came up and that big hand started reaching for him.
And then he was zoning out both body and mind, Blake's lashes fluttering closed in reaction to Bane's hand cupping the back of his neck, squeezing lightly.
"It would be unwise of you to think you can use sex to wrap me around your finger. It will not work."
"I'd rather you just wrapped around me period."
The squeeze this time was harder. "Behave."
There were numerous responses that came to mind, such as suggesting that Bane needed a nap if he was feeling so cranky, but the majority of his brain was still working well enough for him to know better. So instead Blake settled for asking if the medicine was working.
"Yes."
Given what he knew about Bane's past, Blake didn't doubt that Bane most likely had a higher pain tolerance than anyone else of his acquaintance. So the pain had to have been unbearable before, for Bane to show it.
And asking for confirmation that Bane was telling the truth wouldn't do him any good, so Blake settled for closing his eyes, trusting that Bane would tell him if he needed help.
)
After about twenty minutes or so of just lying together Bane shifted away and sat up, Blake watching carefully as Bane rolled his shoulders and moving his upper body from side to side. With the mask on it was hard to get a read on how much that hurt, especially since Bane refused to meet his gaze the entire time. But at least he could move now, which had to mean that the pain was at least manageable. Of course Blake was fairly sure that he didn't want to know what Bane considerable a manageable amount of pain. But at least the man wasn't a complete idiot, stating that he was going to go visit the doctor and that Blake was to stay here.
"Wouldn't it be a good idea for me to know where I would find said doctor in the event of injury? Not to mention the fact that Kei won't be back here for another twenty minutes at least. Are you sure you want me on my own for that long? Who knows what trouble I might get into." It was laying it on a bit thick, but time was of the essence here.
The look Bane gave him, well Blake was actually a little flattered that Bane was imagining he could do that much damage in twenty minutes.
Even better he got his way, Bane ordering him to come too.
Doing his best not to look too happy about that, Blake followed along at Bane's side as they left their room and headed off towards the infirmary. Along the way he did his best to take in everything and memorize the layout for his return trip, which was no easy thing given that the whole compound had about as much personality as…someone or something without personality. He was drawing a blank for a good comparison, but he'd think of someone later and-
"What the fuck?!"
Coming to a grind halt Blake stared at Simon, who'd just come around a corner and was now all but in front of him. Simon with blood all over his face, neck, and shirt, hints of bruising already exploding over one of his cheekbones.
"Simon!"
Taking the couple steps needed to get to him, Blake had blood in his eyes as he reached out to gently take Simon's face between his hands, turning it to better catch the light as he studied the damage. Which, now that he was looking at it, suggested that a lot of this blood wasn't Simon's at all. Or at least he wasn't seeing wounds, just bruises.
"I don't think the blood is mine." Simon stated, confirming it. "I'll just be bruised a while."
"What happened to you?" Bane demanded to know. "And whose blood do you wear?"
In true Simon fashion, the boy just shrugged his shoulders, not cowed or worried in the slightest. "He came here with us…I don't remember his name. He's the one that kept bothering me. I ran into him while I was coming to you, I thought I should be early just in case, and he said something about me needing more alpha in me, and volunteering for the job. I told him I'd rather shove my dick in a blender than him, which is when he grabbed my face and tried to shove his tongue down my throat. So I bit him really hard, which was gross, but he stopped mauling me. That's when he punched me. I hit the ground, he got on top of me, and I ripped his ears partially off and broke his nose. With my head."
"That's my good boy. Just like I taught you." Pleased Simon had done so well, Blake gave Simon's head an approving caress.
Simon nodded with a touch of pride, and then turned his head to the side at the sound of someone very loudly cursing in a language Blake didn't understand, but the tone said it all. And he was willing to bet the man who was stumbling down the hallway Simon had just left, blood dripping down from various wounds, was looking for Simon. Was the one who'd hurt Simon
Both of the alpha's ears were now useless flaps of flesh now, nose definitely broken and still gushing blood. There was a gash on his forehead that Simon hadn't mentioned, but which was gushing a fair amount of blood down the man's face as well. He was obviously in a great deal of pain, and that wasn't going to change any time soon.
In fact, it was about to get a whole lot worse for him.
No one fuck with a child under Robin John Blake's care.
Bolting forward on soundless feet Blake went straight at him with death in his eyes, pulling back his fist as he ran and punching it into the bastard's throat with all his strength. A move that was followed by four back to back punches to the bitch's gut, which caused the alpha to lose his balance enough that Blake could shove him back, sending his helpless prey crashing onto the ground.
Then Blake was on him, bringing both hands back and then slapping them as hard as he could over the ruins of the man's ears, smiling at the scream of pain that caused. The worst was yet to come after all, and with that in mind Blake curled his fingers into fists and turned his attention to punching the man's face into uncooked hamburger.
Doing a thorough job of it too, right up until hands slid under his armpits, the touch familiar and commanding. As was the voice.
"Stop. Now."
Instinct said to obey, but Blake's rage was a powerful thing, and never easy to control when he let it off the leash. "He hurt the boy. MY boy. Under my protection. Promised Father Reilly I'd look after him. I PROMISED."
"And he will be punished for it."
Oh. Tipping his head back Blake stared up at his alpha. "You'll punish him?"
"Yes."
Well that was all right then. His mate would cause even more damage than he could and….and had been hurt recently, so he shouldn't struggle or try to fight him on this. He needed to take care of his alpha too.
"I'll stop."
Getting off the unconscious bastard without any more protest, and studying the damage he'd done with serious satisfaction, Blake moved off to the side before turning his attention back to Simon, who was standing nearby. Barsad had arrived at some point too, hovering protectively by the boy, which he approved of.
Meeting Bane's gaze Blake asked for permission to take Simon back to his room to clean up.
"Go to my rooms and stay there till I come and get you."
"Yes, Master."
Ignoring all the eyes watching him, better that they know what happened to people who hurt kids under his protection, Blake marched over to Simon and told him to come with him, Simon falling immediately into step with him as they headed back to Bane's quarters.
They walked in silence until they were basically alone, and then Simon spoke in a low voice meant for his ears only.
"When did you have your last dose?"
Shit. Fuck. Double Fuck.
Now that bloodlust was waning a little, Blake recognized both what he'd done, thought, and the high likelihood he'd be in trouble for his actions in the very near future.
"Too long. We were on our way to the infirmary or whatever it's called when we ran into you. I was hoping to scope out the place."
"I know where it is."
"You do?"
"I got a tour of most of the place, and I made sure to memorize how to get there for you. I knew we'd have to break in there sooner or later. The locks will be easy for you. No idea if what you need is there, though. You'd be looking for the ingredients, right?"
"Which is the problem. Even if they're there I'll have to make the stuff. And after what just happened…" He needed the drugs now. "Thank you. For finding out for me." He would have given Simon's arm a squeeze or something, but he was well aware of the eyes that could be watching.
As it was they'd only taken about three more steps when they were told to stop, both of them turning to see Barsad coming towards them.
"I'm to accompany you."
The voice that slithered into Blake's mind, and whispered that he should send Barsad back to Bane to protect the alpha for him, seeing as Bane had only just recovered enough to stand and walk around, was definitely unwelcome. And loud. Ugh.
Must resist. Must resist.
Barsad's gaze went to Simon first. "I'm correct that the majority of the blood on you is actually Simic's, and that aside from your fists you are unhurt as well, Pet?"
His fists?
Bringing both hands up Blake looked them over, realizing in the process that some of the blood was actually his. Huh. Thank you, adrenaline. It was going to hurt like a bitch when that wore off.
And belatedly realizing that he was supposed to be answering Barsad's question about his injuries, Blake nodded. "He didn't touch me."
"You fight viciously."
Actually, when he was in control of himself and not surfing a wave of extreme hormones he fought as methodically and cool headed as he imagined Barsad would. But just as his omega brain was demanding that he take care of Bane, it was also making it clear that Simon was his to protect as well. He'd go Rick Grimes on the throat of any man who tried to hurt either man. Hurt Simon. That's what he'd meant to think. God, had his brain chemistry reached some precipice today?
"John taught me to fight." Simon volunteered. "Will he be able to sew his ears back on, do you think?"
"Depends if he is allowed to live or not."
"Oh." Simon appeared to mull that over. "Okay."
Barsad gave Simon an odd look, one that prompted the boy to ask him what he was thinking.
"You had no problem allowing a beta to fight your battle for you."
"John is better trained and more vicious than I am. Not to mention faster. And only an idiot gets between an enraged predator and his prey. I'd have ended up even more bloodied. I hate blood. It tastes terrible."
