Chapter 10- Drawn To Danger

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Hours later…

Lapsing in and out of restless sleep, Ebony opened her eyes intermittently to see the shadows of late afternoon grow longer as the sun began to set.

Pinned awkwardly underneath rubble, her chest was compressed, allowing only shallow breath.

Already feeling dehydrated, Ebony conceded that she would be stuck here for some time, probably overnight.

She knew that Barsad would know where to find her using the tracking chip in her camera.

And it was likely they would know that she didn't go to the safehouse by now.

But…

After she had declined the offer, or more specifically ignored Bane's order, would Bane be mad with her?

Or offended?

She remembered Bane's words… 'you need to remain useful to me if you want to stay alive'…

Ebony had her doubts she would be of any use to anyone now.

That and the fact that she didn't feel so good…

Her core temperature was dropping along with the chill of the evening air.

Even if she made it through the night, it was likely Bane would find a reason to kill her anyway.

Either way she was good as dead.

Xxxx

As Ebony engulfed herself in dark thoughts, the sound of powerful vehicles approached.

She heard multiple men's voices, followed by rubble and debris being moved around.

Eventually, Ebony heard heavy bootsteps grew closer.

Ebony heard more rubble being shifted this time right above her.

She gasped involuntarily as she felt heavy weight lifted off her body.

Relief!

Finally, she could breathe freely.

Taking a deep inhale too quickly, she coughed and spluttered in the dusty air.

Pushing herself up with her palms onto her knees, Ebony looked down to see that she was covered in a half inch thick layer of dust from head to toe.

She felt numb all over.

Attempting to blink dirt out of her eyes, she looked up slowly to see both Barsad and the towering, masked man standing close by.

Other armed men were looking through the rubble or by the vehicles, keeping watch.

Barsad stepped closer.

'I am glad you are not dead.' He commented quietly.

It was all he said before strolling away, leaving the two of them alone.

Ebony hadn't seen Bane since she watched him break the back of the billionaire bat.

She got the feeling that he wasn't surprized to find her in her current state.

Had he come here to gloat?

Or… finish her off?

She was embarrassed at another show of weakness in his presence.

'Ms. Black.' Bane acknowledged her in a stern tone.

'You can't seem to stay out of trouble.' He stated, standing tall in his shearling lined coat.

That voice again, like no other.

A shiver went down her spine…. or perhaps she was just cold.

Bane sounded unimpressed that yet again, he had to extract her from another… 'situation'.

Ebony fought conflicting feelings of both immense gratitude and fury amongst a swirl of other emotions.

She wanted to throw her arms around him and attack him all at the same time.

She went with the latter as adrenaline coursed through her system.

The devastation of Gotham, all of this destruction, was his doing after all.

Getting to her feet all too quickly, she couldn't contain her rage.

'How could you? This is all your fault! You have destroyed the city!' Ebony growled at him on her approach, pounding his armored chest with her fists.

For a time, Bane remained silent and composed, an immovable object, allowing Ebony to release her emotions.

Eventually becoming irritated when she didn't stop her useless onslaught, Bane quickly raised his arm, grasping her firmly by the throat.

Ebony started clutching at his fingers wrapped around the delicate skin of her neck.

'How foolish you are for venturing out here when you were offered sanctuary that others would die for.' Bane glared as his voice boomed, holding her at arm's length.

In her state of flux, Ebony didn't realize how furious he was as she felt his grip tighten.

All he had to do was squeeze, and that would be the end of her.

'I should kill you just for disobeying my orders.' Bane glared at her as his fingers pressed tighter still.

Bane spoke no idle threats.

He had ended many by his hand exactly this way.

'How could I stand by and do nothing, when there are people out here that need help.' Ebony spat angrily between shallow breaths.

Bane said nothing.

Noble, but mistaken.

'I helped a little girl and her mother get out safely before this all collapsed.' She explained.

Bane's thoughts were immediately transported back to his 'home' the hell hole of a prison named The Pit, where he himself had been in a similar situation, saving a young girl from certain death, shielding her innocence from the onslaught of would-be attackers.

The girl's mother had already been killed violently.

Bane's attention shifted back to Ebony as she struggled to breathe in his grip.

So she had ended up in this predicament helping a child…

Bane released his hold on her throat.

Not expecting him to do that so abruptly, Ebony stumbled backwards, losing her footing on the rubble.

She fell with a thud to the ground.

Sprawled on the dusty rubble once more, Ebony glared up at the masked man as she took some time to catch her breath.

Pain suddenly hit Ebony like a ton of bricks.

She hadn't realized that she was hurt, but after being trapped in rubble, what did she expect?

Perhaps it was adrenaline that had kept her going until now.

Ebony clutched at her side as sharp pain engulfed her chest.

Bane watched closely as she attempted to collect herself once more.

Bane remained motionless as Ebony gingerly rose to stand, using the rubble around her for support.

'I would get up slowly if I were you.' Bane advised in a milder tone. 'It seems that you have sustained injury.'

Every move she made was painful.

Every breath hurt her chest.

Wincing softly, Ebony realized she had also hurt her ankle.

She couldn't put any weight on her right foot without immense discomfort.

Realizing Bane was still watching, she hid it as best as she could.

Now that she was out of immediate danger, Ebony realized how exhausted she really was.

'Took your time seeing you knew exactly where to find me,' she replied, admitting her knowledge of the tracking chip in her camera was how he had located her.

'I thought I would be here all night.' She said rather unappreciatively.

'I am a busy man, Ms Black.' Bane said defiantly.

'I have a whole city to rule now.' He stated proudly.

'Well why bother at all?' Ebony asked him, annoyed as she tried to appear strong.

'Bother with what exactly?' Bane asked.

'Why bother coming for me, when you have probably just killed thousands, crushed to death in the explosions. Some may even be alive and trapped like I was. Who is going to help them?' Ebony asked.

'The explosions were to isolate the city and contain the police. Anyone trapped in the rubble are mere… collateral.' Bane replied coldly.

'You however, are not.' He added.

Although she was grateful to be free of the rubble, it didn't make her feel any better about the situation.

But it seemed that he didn't want to kill her anymore.

In fact, quite the contrary.

Bane was reprimanding her for putting her own life in danger.

Again, clutching her side, Ebony scowled as she doubled over with sharp, unbearable pain.

Bane paused, observing her discomfort, before speaking.

'Look around you, Ms Black. Can you not see that you are drawn to danger, you seek it out. You would not be in your current predicament otherwise. And I, am the most dangerous man in the city.' He explained, gesturing with his hands.

Ebony didn't have the energy to be lectured right now as she wavered on her feet.

Observing how unsteady she was, Bane tensed as she cradled her side gingerly.

She was as pale as a ghost.

From the corner of her eye, Ebony envied his warm shearling lined coat.

She felt so cold…

'Lift up your shirt.' Bane ordered. 'You have fractured ribs and are going into shock.'

Ebony threw him her best evil look to back off.

'I'm not showing you anything.' She spat back, realizing that all she wanted to do was close her eyes.

No… not again. Stay awake.

'Suit yourself.' Bane replied coldly as he read her movements.

In anticipation, he stepped towards her, to bring them only an arm's length away once more.

Through heavy eyelids, Ebony watched him warily.

She thought it strange that he seemed poised, ready to move at any moment.

Was he going to try to strangle her again for her defiance?

As Bane watched Ebony, it was clear to him she wouldn't be able to argue much longer because she wouldn't be conscious much longer.

And he only had to wait a few... more... seconds...

Xxxx

As Blake never heard back from Ebony, he found himself taking time out from babysitting the commissioner, head over to her apartment.

Blake knocked on her door.

'Eb, it's me. Please come to the door. I just want to know you are okay. Then I will leave, if that's what you want.' Blake said to no one that heard.

There was no answer.

Blake knocked a few more times just in case.

Then he tried to call her cell again.

This time it went straight to voicemail.

xxxx

Carefully lifting the unconscious woman from the spacious back seat of the black SUV, Bane collected Ebony into his arms.

With her head resting heavily on his shoulder, he walked towards the entrance of a grand multi-story establishment.

There were not many around to witness this, but those who did knew that it was completely out of character for the big man.

The armed guards on duty either side of the entrance waited until Bane was well past, before they even dared to make eye contact with each other.

Roused by movement and mechanical breathing close to her ear, Ebony stirred.

She half opened her eyes to realize that she seemed to be covering some distance with… large strides.

But she wasn't the one doing the walking.

She was… being carried.

Carried by… Bane!

In any other situation, she would have started squirming and demanded that he put her down immediately, to put some distance between them, but she didn't have the energy right now and, surprisingly she was no longer in any pain.

The side of her face was cushioned by the soft collar of his shearling jacket as her head leaned against him.

She had no idea how long she had been out for, but she didn't really care right now.

Drowsy and nauseas, she lifted her head wearily to gaze up at him.

Blinking slowly, Ebony had a close-up view of the side of his mask and the strap covering his ear.

'Hiiiii.' She smiled up at him sleepily, with heavy eyelids struggling to focus.

Ebony felt like a cheap drunk at a bar and she had had waaaay too many.

'Did yooou gimme somma yourrr pain meds? Thaat's gooood stuffff.' Ebony asked with slurred speech.

Holding her securely, Bane noted how perfectly she fit in his arms.

They had never been this close before.

'Now is not the time for talking.' Bane instructed sternly as he stepped into the hotel elevator.

But Ebony wasn't listening.

She felt as high as a kite.

And for once she wasn't the least bit afraid of him.

'I waaaannna telll yoou somethinnnn…' Ebony began, slurring her words.

'And what is that Ms Black?' Bane indulged her, holding her effortlessly as he stared straight ahead at the elevator doors.

'Youuuu are sooo bbigg annnnd scaaaary annnnd s…stttrronnng.' Ebony said, barely holding her head upright.

'Am I, Ms. Black.' Bane replied.

'Uuuuhhh huuuuh.' She said.

'Aaaand… yourrrr m..muscles are huuuggge.'

'If you say so, Ms. Black.' Bane replied.

Was she rambling deliriously or were the drugs prompting her to speak truth she wouldn't otherwise dare say?

'Annndddd…..waaannna know somethinnnn else?' Ebony asked.

'Not particularly.' Bane said coldly, stepping out of the elevator.

'I w…wouuuulld have d..died, b..but youuuu… youuuu ff..fffouuund meeee…..' Ebony slurred, stating the obvious.

'I did.' Bane confirmed.

'Yyyoouuu s…saaaved…m..me….' Ebony said, recollecting in more detail what happened.

'Indeed.' Bane replied in a slightly softer tone as he carried her down a wide hall.

'Noooo…. I… m..mean…yooouu… reeaaally… actuuuallly… savvved m..my… liiife…. f..for… rreeaaallll.'

'Yes, Ms Black.' Bane said, his patience waning.

IIII…lovvvve you.' Ebony blurted out.

Used to always being a pillar of strength and control in every situation, Bane never missed a stride.

But if anyone had been nearby, they would have heard his breath falter ever so slightly.

Bane had not expected her to say that.

A few seconds of silence passed between them before Bane spoke.

'Now, now, Ms Black. Just because I am helping you, there is no need to start throwing yourself at me.' Bane replied sternly without looking at her.

The big man continued stalking down the hall carrying Ebony in his arms.

Ebony shifted her wavering gaze from a close-up view of the intricate tubes and details of his mask to the direction they were going.

They were moving down a wide luxurious hallway.

Walking through an open door that was signed PH1, Bane strode into the suite and headed directly into the marble lined bathroom.

He halted near a large corner spa bath filled with soapy water.

A woman with dark curly hair came into view and began removing Ebony's soiled combat boots.

Although the woman took extra care unlacing her right boot, Bane felt Ebony tense a little when the shoe was removed from her swollen ankle.

Ebony was alert enough to notice that Bane seemed to handle her gently when he lowered her into the warm water, clothes and all.

Their eyes locked at close range for a few seconds as Bane eased her into the huge bath, the sleeves of his shearling jacket also became submerged for a few moments as he slowly relinquished his grip of her.

Immersed in warmth, Ebony's overly stressed system began to relax.

Bane stood back, returning to full height as he peered down at her, expressionless.

Ebony felt her whole body seem to convey a collective sigh.

'N..nottt joining meee?' Ebony asked Bane in her best slurred speech.

'S..ssuure you w..want toooo…' She added.

Unsurprizingly, Bane didn't respond as his eyes pierced hers.

Ebony's gaze shifted from him to the woman standing to his side.

'Hiiiiii.' Ebony said drowsily as the woman smiled at her.

The woman glanced at Bane quizzically, wondering exactly what powerful drug Ebony had been administered, but said nothing.

'Clean yourself up. A medic will attend shortly.' Bane ordered Ebony coldly before he turned to face the woman.

'You are responsible for her. No other is allowed access to this room.' Bane instructed the woman before pivoting and stalking out of sight.

Ebony watched Bane leave, before turning her gaze to the woman as she lowered herself to lean over the side of the bath.

Reaching into the water, the woman began fussing over her, gently helping to remove Ebony's soiled, torn and now waterlogged clothes.

The bathwater gradually became less translucent.

With a soft sponge, the woman dabbed at Ebony's dirty cheeks and forehead.

Ebony submerged her head underneath the surface to rinse her hair.

As her aching muscles relaxed further in soothing warmth, Ebony was in the clutches of sleep.

Leaning her head heavily on the side of the deep tub, she closed her eyes.

The woman gently tapped her jaw.

'Stay awake missy, I can't get you out of here by myself.' She said.

Rubbing her eyes, Ebony nodded.

Collecting herself, Ebony raised up out of the water to perch on the side of the tub.

Ebony noted that the bathwater was now a shade of murky grey.

'Let me help you stand,' the woman said, holding out a bathrobe for Ebony.

Wrapped in the soft fluffy white robe, Ebony unsteadily limped out of the bathroom and over to the huge bed with white linen, with the aid of the woman.

'Rest now.' The woman said in a soothing manner.

Gladly, Ebony thought that was an excellent idea as she slid under the soft covers and quickly succumbed to a deep sleep.

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Author's notes- Thank you for your comments, thoughts and predictions. They mean the world. Keep it up!