Chapter 5 – What makes you think I need protection?
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Ebony continued her work as usual, but she couldn't get Bane off her mind.
Or more specifically, his cryptic message out of her head.
What exactly had he meant about her and… a mask?...
She had been thrown by that.
She had been pondering over it for a few days now.
Ebony knew Bane was intelligent.
Stronger than most, but also smarter than most.
Worldly.
Could he see something about her that she couldn't…?
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Sitting on her sofa, Ebony's curious thoughts were distracted by headlines on the flatscreen.
There was a large police presence outside the front of the stock exchange this afternoon.
The coverage of it on the news was on every channel.
Ebony gasped when she saw Bane and his men were at the centre of it.
Footage from security cameras showed him swinging a red helmet around like it was a dangerous object.
They replayed it in slow motion.
In his hands, anything could be lethal.
Ebony hoped that perhaps Bane and his men would steal a few priceless objects or hit a few banks and be gone from Gotham.
But she had a sinking feeling with all the preparations she had seen in the sewers that Bane had something much more significant in store and this was merely the beginning.
Reporters on the live stream channel raised their voices as they saw a dark caped crusader…
What…?
The Batman had returned!?
A Miracle!
At first, Ebony was ecstatic.
The city would be safe again with Batman watching over them.
But…
It could also mean that he came back for a reason.
He was needed.
More than ever.
Things were getting dangerous.
Ebony's excitement turned to worry once more.
Her thoughts also turned to Blake, it was likely he was in the thick of it too.
But why were they tailing the Batman?
They had it all wrong.
Bane was the one they wanted.
From that moment on, her eyes were fixed to the screen, getting any glimpse of the Batman she possibly could.
It seemed that the police had him cornered for a moment… but no, he got away, riding his strange motorcycle up a ramp.
The police envoy continued their chase, it seemed they had him cornered for sure this time, down an alley.
But again, he got away, this time in a high tech type of aircraft.
Batman is so cool.
It was almost hard to believe that the broken, crippled looking man that she had spotted on the darkened balcony was the caped crusader.
Annoyed that she had missed the chance of being the first to snap the resurrected Batman, Ebony slapped her hands in her lap in disappointment.
xxxx
Relaxing on the sofa after dinner, Ebony heard a commotion going on outside her door in the hallway.
More than normal anyway.
She unlocked her door and peeked outside into the corridor.
It didn't help that the globe in the hallway flickered intermittently.
It seemed a group of youths were trying to kick in the door of her elderly neighbour down the hall, yelling at Mrs Whittaker through the peep hole.
As the majority of the city's police force was distracted chasing the Batman, this lot probably thought they could get away with just about anything.
Thinking nothing of it, standing in her own doorway, Ebony yelled at the group to leave it well alone.
'Why don't you pick on someone your own size.' She leered at them.
Apparently, this was unacceptable to the group who immediately shifted their focus to Ebony instead.
Ebony told them that the cops had already been called, but this wasn't enough to put them off.
Realizing that they were honing in on her rather quickly, Ebony retreated to close her apartment door.
But, one of them jammed their foot in the door before she could shut it fully.
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Stalking towards the pair on the high-rise rooftop as gunfire from his men forced them to retreat, with hands hooked into his armoured vest, Bane watched Selina Kyle and the Batman jump over the ledge of the building to the aircraft waiting below.
Bane watched the high tech craft fly off into the night.
That man bat had a lot of fancy toys indeed.
Although he had escaped for now, they would meet again.
Soon.
And he would be broken.
That fancy black suit was nothing more than false security.
Just like the mask hiding his identity.
Neither would protect him from Bane.
xxxx
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As Ebony attempted to hold the three thugs out of her apartment, she could feel her footing slipping.
Eventually as she was outnumbered, they pushed their way in.
One slammed her up against the wall, choking her.
'Got any cash, bitch?' A guy with a black bandana covering his nose and mouth spoke, his face only inches away from hers.
Ebony shook her head.
She just had canned soup for dinner.
They wouldn't find much here.
'Next time, you will keep your nose out of our fucking business.' Bandana man said.
Pinned to the wall, Ebony watched the other two ransack her living area, pushing over the old tv, smashing a lamp and throwing the cushions of the sofa around, checking for hidden treasure.
'There's nothing here.' One said, annoyed.
'Check the bedroom for jewellery.' Bandana man said.
The other two went out of sight.
Ebony heard more things being thrown around.
'I don't have anything you can sell,' Ebony spat.
'Well, you'll do then. We'll all have a turn with you before we leave.' Bandana man threatened.
'I think I will pass thanks, guys that intimidate little old ladies aren't really my type.' Ebony spat.
Undeterred, Bandana man shoved her tighter to the wall, pressing his body up against hers, forcing his knee between her thighs.
Bandana man rubbed his crotch up against her thigh.
They were interrupted when one of the others walked out of the bedroom holding Ebony's camera.
'I'm sure we can get something for this.' One wearing a black cap said.
Ebony's eyes widened.
Not the camera. Anything but the camera…
Ebony didn't quite know what happened next, but a switch flipped in her head, taking her adrenaline up a gear.
Kicking Bandana man in the balls as he was distracted, Ebony stormed over to cap guy intending to take back her camera.
Cap guy evaded her, so Ebony threw her shoulder into his stomach in a tackle, forcing him backwards.
He didn't see that one coming.
As they both tumbled over the sofa, Ebony caught her camera before it made any impact with the ground.
Perhaps all those years of her dad watching the wrestling had helped somewhat.
'No one touches my camera,' Ebony growled with a wild glint in her eye as she watched Bandana man attempt to stand and Cap guy shake off his dazed state.
A third stepped out of the kitchen holding a heavy crystal vase before Ebony noticed, to see his friends on the floor.
Retaliating he smacked Ebony in the head with the vase.
Ebony swivelled and dropped to her knees with the impact.
Although dazed momentarily, Ebony retaliated quickly, raising herself throwing her free hand his way in the form of punches, two making contact, whilst he dodged the third, Ebony's fist made contact with the wall instead, breaking her skin, drawing blood.
'Let's go, this bitch is psycho.' She heard Bandana man say as they dragged themselves out.
Obviously, they didn't anticipate a girl actually fighting back.
Amateurs…
'Looks like it will just be you and your hand tonight.' Ebony yelled at Bandana man as she slammed the door shut behind them.
Leaning on the wall as her breathing stabilized, Ebony looked down to see red down the front of her shirt.
She didn't realize she was bleeding… considerably.
Perhaps all the blood had deterred the group from any other intentions they had for her.
Raising a hand to her face, Ebony realised it was coming from her forehead.
Although the cut seemed small, seeing all the blood made her feel nauseas.
Dizzy, she stumbled her way into the bedroom, clutching her camera.
It was all she could do to make it to her bed before she felt the strong urge to close her eyes.
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xxxx
Hours later…
Ebony woke with a start.
She was still sprawled unceremoniously across her bed where she had collapsed on the quilt.
At least she had made it to the bed before she had passed out, but what about…
Patting the mattress beside her, she found her camera next to her.
She still had it… phew.
Her head was throbbing with pain, exploding from the inside.
Raising a hand to her forehead, she felt something covering the cut.
A dressing.
That's strange. She didn't remember doing that.
She felt around some more.
Gauze… fastened with tape on the top corner of her forehead… dried blood on her eyebrow… and down her cheek.
Looking down, she saw blood on her shirt.
And… she was covered with a blanket.
She definitely didn't do that. Did the cops come?
Crime was so rampant in this area; they often didn't bother showing up unless there had been a murder.
Could Blake be here?
Groaning whilst rising unsteadily to lean on her elbow, Ebony tried hard to focus.
She blinked a few times, now also noticing a gauze bandage stained with blood covering her battered knuckles.
Finally focussing more clearly, she tensed and inhaled sharply simultaneously as she saw a figure masked in shadow residing in her armchair in the corner of the room.
'Who's there….? Blake…? Is that you?' Ebony asked cautiously as she cradled her head.
'No… I am not your… boyfriend,' the figure replied quietly.
She knew that accented voice, softly spoken…
'Barsad…! What the fuck…? How long have you been there?' She exclaimed.
'Long enough.' Barsad said.
Did she forget to lock the door after the raid?
'Don't you knock?' Ebony said, annoyed.
'I did. You didn't answer.' Barsad replied simply. 'There is some aspirin on the bedside.'
Ebony looked over to see two small pills and a glass of water.
The pills could have been anything, but she didn't care right now as she threw them into her mouth with a gulp of water.
'You didn't report. Bane sent me to check on you.'
'Did he now? Nice to know he cares.' Ebony said sarcastically.
'It is not wise make fun of him. I have seen Bane kill men for much less…' Barsad cautioned, pausing briefly.
'But… for some reason he chose to spare you. That in itself is a rare occurrence.' He explained.
Does that mean he won't kill me after all?
Ebony shrugged her shoulders, pretending like she didn't care.
'I don't know him as well as you, but it is clear he values competence and I am good at what I do. That is why I am still alive.' Ebony spat arrogantly.
Good was actually an understatement.
'That is not the only reason. Bane spared your life because he…' Barsad held a long pause.
'Because he what?' Ebony asked.
It seemed as though Barsad was still contemplating this very fact himself.
'Bane sees… something in you.' Barsad replied.
Ebony raised an eyebrow sceptically.
Whatever that means…
Barsad continued, changing the subject.
'A word of advice. Bane will soon take charge of this entire city…'
So he is planning something big…
'To do what?' Ebony pressed.
'You are fortunate to be in the position you are in. To ally yourself with The League…' He said, ignorning her question.
'…If you take the opportunity to do so.' He said cryptically. '…the closer you are, the safer you will be.'
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
Besides, she didn't want to feel safe.
Safe was boring.
'I find that very hard to believe...' Ebony said in a tone, '…and coming from the man who cut me the first time we met. Not the best way to forge trust you know. If you think I am taking advice from you, you have another thing coming.' Ebony sneered.
Not offended in the least, Barsad formed a small smile, thinking back to that night underground.
'As I recall, you needed some… motivation to comply.' He replied, unapologetically.
Ebony let out a scoff in reply.
'What happened in here?' Barsad asked surveying the state of the humble bedroom.
'A group was ransacking apartments looking for anything of value… They needed some… motivation to leave.' Ebony said, mocking Barsards words in his accent.
'Plus, I wouldn't let them take my camera.' She added.
'I have seen you put up a fight for your camera.' Barsad admitted admirably, thinking back to the altercation when they first met.
'The memory card is on the table over there,' Ebony said, glancing towards her dressing table.
She would have got up to get it herself if she was sure she could stand up right now.
Raising himself from the armchair, Barsad collected the card, depositing it in one of his many pockets, leaving her a replacement.
'I must warn you, the situation in Gotham is going to get much worse. If you want The League's protection, all you need do is ask.'
'What makes you think I need protection?' Ebony smiled sarcastically, as she felt the dried blood on her cheek begin to crack.
Saying nothing, Barsad shot her an unimpressed look.
'I get by just fine by myself.' Ebony dismissed the notion more seriously.
Barsad shook his head.
Ebony couldn't stand the thought of relying on anyone for help.
Especially Bane.
It was also part of the reason why she never moved in with Blake.
She liked her independence.
Being self-sufficient.
Even though she had done it tough, Ebony was apprehensive to relinquish those familiar things after eight years of living alone.
'I suspect that you may change your mind when you see the future state of affairs.' Barsad replied.
Acting tough, Ebony rolled her eyes.
'Just out of interest, what does Bane expect in return for this… protection.' Ebony asked, almost sarcastically.
Barsad shrugged.
'That is not for me to say, but your absolute loyalty to The League for a start.' He replied.
'Get yourself cleaned up. Bane has requested your presence.' Barsad added.
'Can't I just make my report to you?' Ebony said wearily, not wanting to get out of bed.
For some reason, she really didn't want Bane to see her like this.
Injured and weak, when he was always a model of strength and control.
And especially after his strange comment about her… 'mask'.
'No.' Barsad replied.
'Fine, I will come first thing tomorrow.' Ebony replied.
'He wants to see you now. I am not to return without you. I will wait in the living room.' Barsad insisted politely, heading through the doorway and stepping out of sight.
Ebony groaned loudly as she unwillingly raised herself from the bed as her head throbbed uncontrollably.
It was the middle of the night, but she knew refusing Bane anything would not be wise.
If she didn't comply, next time she woke up it could be Bane sitting in her armchair and she definitely didn't want that.
She was sore all over, but she reminded herself she liked pain, remember?
It was taking orders that she didn't like so much…