Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in. Thanks so much for reading, I hope that you enjoy and let me know what you think in the comments. I promise I read each and every one!
Note: I checked so I know that the first 'Old Guard' comic did not come out until about a year after this fanfic takes place, but I recently fell in love with the movie, Joe/Nicky, and needed to include Joe's epic monologue here. So yeah, this does contain a reference to a scene from the comic and movie, as well as some character info that isn't really spoilery. Also...go watch the movie if you haven't!
He's All and He's More
As Bane watched Robin and the boy work away on their Bucket Lists he couldn't help but wonder what the omega was writing and how long it would take him to come up with his own list. Or at least a version of a Bucket List that Robin wouldn't take too much issue with. An honest list...well that would be short and would not endear himself to his hopeful mate in the slightest. Well wanting Robin for a mate, which would be on the top of said list, would please him...it was the rest Bane was worried about.
Though Robin had made it clear he wanted a truthful, uncensored version, Bane was forced to remind himself. Especially if Bane wanted the same from him. So really the question was how could he present the truth in a way that would draw them closer, not further apart.
There was also the problem of timing.
At the moment Bane didn't have much time to devote to this newest task seeing as he already had to make preparations for both the meeting with Singh and Robin's visit to a specialist, and that on top of further investigation into the attempted murder of his mate. He also was having to come to terms with the possibility that Talia might have been behind everything and he needed to look into ways to ensure that she didn't try again. Unlike the other two whose words and motives couldn't necessarily be trusted where Talia was concerned, Barsad had no reason to lie to him. His loyalty unquestionable. And there was no doubt in Barsad's mind that Talia was behind this. The other man had made that clear.
So Bane would keep Robin close and work with his second to uncover the full truth, grateful beyond words that he did not have to do this alone. Though even with the work divided in two Bane couldn't help but feel that all the tasks would not get the attention they required. Which could not be allowed or tolerated. All were of vital importance, and deserved to be thought out and meticulously planned so that failure or disaster could have no chance to occur.
Bane could feel a migraine developing as he silently acknowledged that no one destroyed his plans like Robin. Especially when those plans involved his omega, which all of these did.
Kei's statement that he couldn't remember any more of his list broke the current silence and returned Bane's thoughts to the present, the rest of them looking up from their own work to glance in Kei's direction.
"Want me to read it over?"
"Sure. Can I read yours?"
In answer Robin handed his single sheet of paper over and Kei did the same.
"You won't get the first one so you can just skip over that one. I'll have to explain it to Bane later too. I just didn't want to have to write it all out. It's a relationship goal."
"Okay." Kei shrugged, his gaze turning to the sheet and presumably the first or second sentence on the sheet.
"A relationship goal?" Bane asked before he could think better of it. Or the fact that he might not want to ask that question while they had an audience since it would apply to him, obviously.
"Yeah." His Robin gave him a rueful smile. "A recent one. Father Riley asked me to check out this new comic some of the kids were reading for him to make sure it was appropriate-not really-and it had one scene where two of the main characters have been captured and some of the stooges mock Joe, the alpha character for showing concern for his companion. They ask him if the beta character is his boyfriend, like that was something he should be ashamed of. The alpha's response is epic and it became an unrealistic relationship goal for me to have someone talk or at least think of me the way Joe feels about Nicky."
For once Bane was grateful for Kei's existence, the younger alpha asking the question Bane wanted to ask, which was what this Joe had said.
The look that came over Robin's face...Bane didn't know how to describe it. Dreamy, wistful, and sad all at the same time. And then his mate began to recite words he'd apparently taken the time to memorize.
"He's not my boyfriend. This man is more to me than you can dream. He's the moon when I'm lost in darkness and warmth when I shiver in cold. And his kiss still thrills me even after millennia. His heart overflows with the kindness of which this world is not worthy of. I love this man beyond measure and reason. He's not my boyfriend. He's all and he's more."
Oh. Oh, he wanted that too.
So of course Kei had to say something to mar the moment. "That is so unrealistic."
Robin laughed in a sad, rueful way as he shrugged good-naturedly in response to that. "I did say that."
"Then why put it on your list?"
"Kei. Think about it. Are you likely to be able to check off even half of what's on your list even if we get out of here and die of old age?"
A pause for reflection, followed by a head shake. "Good point. Can I have my list back for a minute?"
"Sure." Robin handed it back. "Why?"
"I want to add that speech thing to mine too. Never happen...but we're going to be dead soon so I might as well put it on there. It will make my list longer."
This time Robin's laugh was genuine.
"You don't believe such love exists?" Bane found himself asking, genuinely curious.
"No. I know it exists. My parents had it."
"Your mother died when you were only three. How could you know?" Bane had read the file, knew the facts. Robin's mother had been in a hurry, late for one of the three part time jobs she worked to help support her family, and hadn't seen the car driving the wrong way done a one-way street until it was too late. Robin's father had died when he was ten, gunned down in their home. A warning to the man Robin's father had worked for that the gunmen's boss meant business.
Robin's shrug came off forced, jagged. "You know when someone's walking around without half their soul. I've always been pretty sure if I hadn't been around my dad would have ended it when my mom was killed in a car accident. He did his best for me, he did, but he was always sad and...just going through the motions. He had a hard time talking about her but when he did-you knew. What she was to him."
"You could see it in the pictures of them too. Even I could see it." Kei added.
The tender smile Robin shot Kei made Bane want to punch the younger alpha. More than was normal.
It also made him determined to recover whatever pictures of Robin's parents there were to find so that his omega would have those mementos again.
"But given that there are over six billion people in the world the odds of finding your 'other half' is pretty slim." Kei did some sort of claw like gesture with two of his fingers. Robin did it too, when he was being particularly sarcastic.
"And that's assuming you would recognize that person to begin with. In the case of the comic the two characters originally met up during the Crusades. On opposite sides. They literally killed each other multiple times before eventually becoming friends and then lovers. They have super healing abilities that make them almost immortal, btw. Hence the not staying 'dead' for long."
"That would explain why he stated that the other man's kiss still thrilled him even after a millennia. I was going to ask about that." Barsad stated, finally joining the conversation.
"Yeah. And just in case you were wondering Nicky is short for Nicolò, while Joe's first name was originally Yusuf."
Ah, that made sense then. Though his mate's pronunciation was off on the Italian's name.
"Nicolò would have fought on the side of the Catholic church." Bane stated, saying the name correctly. "His name is Italian for victorious; conqueror of the people. Yusuf is the Arabic equivalent of the Hebrew name Yosef, and the English name Joseph, so his adoption of that name makes sense."
"Seriously? That's why he went by Joe? I was so confused by that. Thanks."
Blinking in surprise, Bane accepted the thanks with a nod.
)
The cop and Kei had switched their lists again, Barsad having to work hard to ignore the urge to walk down the length of the table so that he could read over the former's shoulder. He was very curious now as to what else was on Kei's list. Like Bane he'd been listening while the two discussed guidelines and format-namely that they'd opted to leave off the few things they'd originally had on their lists that they'd managed to cross off, which mostly applied to the cop. Kei had had two things he'd accomplished, though what those two things were...he hadn't said.
"I see Tom Hardy is still on your list."
"And will be until the day I die or find someone better."
"Well at least you stipulated he'd have to be single at the time."
Blake rolled his eyes. "Of course. I'm not a homewrecker. Not even for Tom Hardy." A very long, dramatic sigh. "Though saying no...ugh."
"Fair."
That earned Kei a surprised look. "Really? Since when are other alphas your thing?"
"They aren't. But that man's mouth..."
"Yeah." Blake sighed dreamily.
Having looked up what Tom Hardy looked like-the fact that both Blake and Kei thought Bane looked like the actor had piqued his interest-Barsad totally got what they meant about the man's mouth. Which didn't stop him from wanting to bloody it at the thought of that mouth going anywhere near Kei's body.
Also he'd seen what they meant about the resemblance between the British actor and Bane, though it hadn't been obvious at first. Both men were surprisingly observant when it came to facial features, which was something he and Bane would be wise to keep in mind.
"You think it wise to discuss your interest in another alpha in my presence, Robin?"
Inwardly Barsad winced at the tone.
"Everyone's allowed a celebrity crush, Sweetie. Even Kei's got one."
"Sweetie?" Kei repeated, as flabbergasted over that as Barsad silently was.
Blake winked in Bane's direction. "In training."
Thinking to head off an argument given that there had been tension between Bane and Blake even before this line of conversation had started-and all right, he was curious-Barsad changed the conversation by asking Kei who his celebrity crush was.
"Hugh Jackman. Though I don't want to sleep with him like John wants to sleep with Tom Hardy. I'd just like to be around him for a while."
Barsad couldn't help it. He asked why.
"Because he's Hugh Jackman. He's awesome."
"He is."
Blake's matter of fact agreement did not please Bane judging by the low growling sound he made from behind his mask. Barsad wasn't exactly thrilled either, though at least Kei didn't want to sleep with this Jackman person, whoever he was.
Some Hollywood pussy he could no doubt destroy with one arm tied behind his back.
Just saying.
)
Whoever Hugh Jackman was, Bane had every confidence that he could end the man without any effort on his part. The same went for Tom Hardy. A man he did not resemble in the least except for perhaps in eye color. It was a comparison that would have vexed him if not for the fact that apparently this Tom Hardy fellow topped multiple lists ranging from 'Sexiest Alpha Alive' to 'The Most Desired by Omegas List'. The fact that such lists existed proved his point about the degradation of Western society and its complete lack of morals...but it also meant that if HIS omega thought he looked like this other alpha than that meant Robin really did find him attractive. To the point where he might be willing to overlook some of the things he didn't like about him.
Also that his omega might require glasses. The boy as well.
"Well on the A side only two of the items on your list need to be scratched out."
Kei frowned as he asked Robin which ones.
Robin held up the paper with one hand, pointed with the other.
"Why?"
"Because I know men better than you do."
A moment's pause, Kei opening and then closing his mouth again. "Okay. Scratch them."
Taking him at his word Robin grabbed his pen and proceeded to scratch out the items on the list that apparently weren't appropriate for Barsad to see.
The question, Bane wondered, was why.
A brief glance in Barsad's direction confirmed he wasn't the only one wondering, but both knew better than to ask. At least while Robin was around to interfere. Knowing Kei the fool would think nothing of blabbing if asked.
"Don't frown. You still have a decent number of things."
"You have way more than me."
"Yes, but you don't like to travel, have adventures, or step out of your comfort zone."
"Comfort Zones get a bad rap."
Robin laughed. "I won't argue that. My point is your list is very you."
"And unachievable." Kei sighed. "I'm never going to hear John Williams conduct in person or even just go to Disney World."
"If we survive this...I promise I will make Bruce take BOTH of us to Disney World."
Kei perked up like a puppy promised a treat. "Really?"
"Really. With Fast Passes and everything. He owes me BIG."
"That's true." Kei glanced at Bane. "He is very big. I still don't get how he doesn't squash you."
Robin smacked a palm against his forehead.
Bane gave seriously thought to throwing Kei into a wall. Head first.
Oblivious as always to the danger he was in, Kei asked Robin if he thought Wayne could arrange for them to meet Idina Menzel while they were there.
"No idea. But given his looks and money I think he could manage it. And then you could cross off two things on your list. Maybe even three if I can swing John Williams. Disney did buy LucasFilm after all. Hell, I wouldn't mind meeting him either. Or Idina."
Disliking the fact that he had no idea what they were talking about-aside from Disney, which Bane knew was a billion dollar corporation with its fingers in just about every pie it could get its greedy, monopolizing hands on-Bane asked who Idina Menzel is. He could intuit what Williams did for a living.
"You don't know who Idina Menzel is?"
The way Kei said it, you'd think him not knowing was the end of the world.
"One of your singers?" Barsad asked.
"You don't-we need the internet, stat. No one should not know who she is." The boy actually made gimme motions with his hands, like a toddler.
"Yes, she's a singer. A great one. Simmer down, Kei."
"But...but..."
"Kei...Let It Go."
Bane had no idea why, but that made Kei burst out into delighted laughter, the boy's whole face lighting up in that way that took him from handsome to stunningly beautiful. Which he hated.
Especially when a quick, side glance confirmed that Barsad's eyes were a touch glazed as he stared in Kei's direction. So intently Bane wasn't sure the other man would notice if someone came barging in to assassinate them.
Troubling, that, on a number of levels.
And as if to signal more doom Bane's tablet signaled an incoming message, Bane picking the piece of equipment up and with a couple of swipes pulled up the email, which was confirmation of Robin's scheduled appointment with one of the leading experts in omega biology AND the effects of umbra on them. It had taken some added financial incentive to convince the man to keep his clinic open after hours to see them, but everyone had a price and Robin's health was priceless to Bane.
Geographically it would have made more sense to go and see Singh first, then arrange for the appointment, but Bane wanted Robin seen to as soon as possible. He also wasn't about to take his omega into not entirely safe territory if he wasn't physically up to it. He would have rather not taken Robin with him at all, but couldn't trust that Robin would be safe away from him.
"Bad news?" Barsad murmured to him, speaking in his native tongue.
"The specialist finally confirmed the appointment." Bane answered in the same language.
"You are worried he will tell you that Blake is too damaged to bear you children? Or that he will tell you Robin can and then you will have to worry that harm will come to your unborn child as well as your omega?"
Barsad knew him well, Bane mused as he stated that it was both.
"Fair enough. Should I begin making the travel arrangements?"
"Yes. And double the security detail originally planned for."
"It will be done."
"No matter how many times I tell you guys it's rude to talk in a language we can't understand you keep doing it. Such bad manners you have."
Robin.
Sighing, Bane glanced over at the man in question and only just managed to hold back a comment about how much easier it would be to keep the other man alive if he didn't keep trying to incite others to violence.
It was a very near thing.
