Chapter 4- Coercion

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Scaling down the outside of the multi-storey hospital building at dusk, Bruce Wayne wearing a balaclava mask, entered Commissioner Gordon's private hospital room, through the window.

Sitting by his bedside, Wayne could see Gordon was not in a good way, recovering from surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.

'We were in this together.' Gordon stated, in between laboured breaths. 'And then you were gone.'

'The Batman wasn't needed anymore.' Wayne replied in a husky whisper. 'We won.'

'Based on a lie.' Gordon accused. 'Now there is evil rising from where we tried to bury it. The Batman has to come back.' Gordon said firmly.

'What if he doesn't exist anymore.' Wayne whispered.

'He must...' Gordon replied resolutely.

'He must...' Gordon mumbled again as he lapsed into a sedated slumber.

The Batman had been put on notice.

For the second time.

xxxx

xxxx

Ebony was starting to feel like an undercover agent.

A spy.

There was a slight cool factor to it.

She had to admit, she loved her work even more now than before.

Perhaps because it was no longer about just making ends meet, making a living.

Now her life depended on it.

Literally.

Lucky for her she was good at it.

Secretly tailing businessmen, rich folk, checking up on workmen, snapping pictures of secret meetings through windows….

It was like leading a double life.

And tonight, she had just come from a high society masquerade ball with a camera hidden in her mask.

The beautiful ornate black mask adorned with beads to cleverly hide the lens, contained a small button on the stick to capture images.

It had been fun, roaming through the posh crowd wearing her mask, pretending she was a wealthy socialite, there for 'the cause'.

It had been a long time since she had worn a formal dress, especially one this elegant.

It was not often that Ebony was this dressed up, but with her makeup done, wearing long black gloves and her hair cascading in soft ringlets, she truly felt beautiful, feminine.

Like a real lady.

If only for one night.

With the cash Barsad had given her, Ebony had purchased a stunning silk black gown showcasing her curves.

Low back with cross over spaghetti straps.

Well, she needed faces for the camera.

What better way to do that, than in a head turning dress, of course?

At the same time she couldn't wait to put some real clothes on.

But the main reason she felt bare was because she was without her own beloved camera around her neck.

xxxx

Making her way through sewer tunnels holding her beautiful mask on stick, by now, she was confident about her navigation.

Gathering up the hem of her gown above the small puddles Ebony was careful of every step in her heels.

She should have brought better shoes… and a jacket, it was ice cold down here, but she had important information to relay.

Information that Bane would want to know right away.

Information that would help her stay useful, stay alive…

It was to be her second report to Barsad.

The armed guards knew her now, allowing her to pass by them, standing motionless.

But, two sets of eyes followed her every movement, the silky fabric of her long gown shimmering in the shadows, against her frame.

As the dark tunnels turned to dimly lit concrete corridors, Ebony suddenly ran into a group of men.

At such a leisurely pace and with jovial voices, it appeared this lot had the rest of the night off.

A rare occasion perhaps.

There were a handful of scantily dressed women scattered amongst the men.

Each woman seemed to be receiving much attention from multiple men.

They must be the 'entertainment' so to speak.

Ebony was unintentionally swept into a makeshift rec. room along with the crowd.

Worn leather armchairs scattered amongst old sofas and tables filled the room, with a flatscreen in one corner as men filled the room.

Fighting against the current to find the exit, she heard voices directed her way.

They seemed to be talking at her, rather than to her.

'She's new, haven't seen her before.' One to her right said, eyeing her hungrily. 'Going somewhere fancy?'

'She's cute, I want her first.' Another in front of her said as they gathered around, invading her personal space.

'That's a nice dress. I'd like to see you take it off.' One to her left said.

'What?... But…' Ebony stuttered. 'I'm here to see…' She protested.

Navigating around furniture, Ebony backed away from them until she hit a wall and could go no further.

Still clutching her mask, she raised her hands in passive defence as four men closed in around her.

'Please... I really should be going.' She said.

'You, are not going anywhere.' One smiled evilly, running the back of his fingers down the bare skin of her arm.

Hands begun touching her.

Moving over her gown…

Ebony was contemplating whether she could successfully squeeze past them or fight them off, when the chatter coming from the crowd seemed to quiet down almost instantaneously.

Heavy boots sounded.

There were cautioned looks amongst the men.

What was He doing in here?

The big boss never came in here…

He certainly did not socialize.

He always kept to himself.

The jovial atmosphere had turned tense.

Many of them had only seen him from afar, taking orders passed down through the chain of command.

Some had never been in the same room as him before.

Ebony looked around at the men.

It seemed that his reputation preceded him as all eyes were transfixed on his form.

With respect and awe.

Towering over all others and parting the crowd of men down the centre with his mere presence alone, Bane bare chested, stalked like the Alpha male that he was, straight towards Ebony.

Ebony froze, instinctually as danger approached her.

Tiny hairs stood up on the back of her neck as a shiver ran up her spine.

She didn't know what was worse.

The four thugs practically salivating on her or one, huge, masked man stalking closer...

She couldn't quite explain it, just seeing Bane again in the flesh gave her the jitters, but the threat of danger also made her feel more alive… electric.

Not that he had ever hurt her himself.

Yet.

Every pair of eyes followed his controlled but fluid movement directly toward her.

Realizing his target, the men in close proximity around Ebony wisely dispersed.

Reaching out, Bane wrapped his hand firmly around her upper arm.

Wincing slightly, as Ebony looked down at his huge hand on her, she was about to protest when Bane addressed the crowd.

'This one belongs to me.' He announced with authority in his amplified voice, staking his claim to all present.

Pivoting, Bane headed for the exit, dragging a reluctant Ebony alongside him.

Again, gathering up the hem of her full-length gown, she had no choice but to keep up with him in her heels.

'As you were.' Bane directed the men as he departed the space, hauling the beautiful woman alongside him.

Stares followed them out of sight before the noise started up again.

Assuming that their boss was going to have a similar night to them, small smirks and knowing looks were shared amongst the men.

Only the four that had surrounded Ebony moments before, looked a little disappointed.

They just had their prize snatched away from under them.

Like taking candy from a baby.

xxxx

Continuing to manhandle Ebony through another corridor and down some stairs, the space opened with the noise of flowing water.

Passing heavily armed guards every so often, they eventually reached the covered area with the fire pit where Bane finally relinquished his firm grip on her arm.

Stepping backwards to put some space between them, Ebony cringed as she looked down to see a large imprint of where his hand had been on her bare skin.

Something about being near to him, being in this Alpha male's presence made her terrified but again, somehow, she felt more alive than she had in eight long years.

How did he know she was in there?

Perhaps there were cameras everywhere.

'You look quite the part Ms Black…' Bane said, glancing over her only briefly, '…but it was not wise to come down here dressed like that,' he scolded.

The masked man didn't sound impressed that he had been required to extract her from the crowd upstairs.

Although her well-groomed appearance posing as a wealthy socialite seemed to catch the eye of many gentlemen both attached and unattached at the charity ball, and every workman down here, it didn't seem to tempt Bane in the slightest.

'They will not touch you again.' Bane stated confidently, as a matter of fact.

Ebony nodded hesitantly, looking around for his second in command.

'Barsad is currently indisposed. You may make your report directly to me.' Bane answered her unspoken question, holding out his huge hand towards her.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something about her presence down here suddenly made everything seem less… dark.

It had been the same the last time she was here, watching him adjust his mask.

After regaining her composure and smoothing her dress and readjusting her long gloves, Ebony handed Bane her mask by the stick, with the cleverly hidden micro camera.

Turning his back to her, Bane linked the device to a heavy-duty laptop before viewing the photos she had taken.

'I came here directly from the event as I thought you would be interested to know; Bruce Wayne made another impromptu appearance.' Ebony narrated as Bane continued to view the shots of inside the ball on the screen.

'He only spoke to two people. The host, Miranda Taite, they didn't seem to get on too well, and another masked woman in black. Wayne seemed quite interested in her, or at least, the pearls around her neck. I also recall seeing that same woman, a maid at the Wayne Foundation event.' Ebony detailed as Bane viewed the relevant material, lingering on pictures of both Miranda Taite and the woman with Wayne.

'Very good, Ms. Black. But what makes you think Wayne's appearance was unplanned?' Bane asked without turning around.

'Well for one, he wasn't really dressed for the occasion and more importantly, he wasn't wearing a mask.' Ebony stated.

'Ah, but that is where you are wrong… Ms Black.' Bane replied mysteriously.

Ebony furrowed her brows. Puzzled.

Wayne clearly wasn't wearing a mask…

Bane paused in analytic thought.

Now that Wayne had been drawn out of hiding, it would not be long until the Batman would make an appearance soon, with what Bane had planned in the near future.

After a period of awkward silence where Bane continued to scrutinize details on the screen with his back towards her, Ebony wasn't sure what to do.

Not wanting to overstay her welcome, she turned on her high heels to leave, prompting the big man to speak without turning around.

'You have not utilized any of the funds deposited into your bank account, Ms. Black,' Bane stated.

How the hell did he know that?

'No.' Ebony replied simply, reluctantly turning back around.

Several thousand dollars had just popped up in her bank account recently.

'You have been compensated generously for your work, yet you do not want it? Are you not in need of food? Or have overdue bills to pay?' Bane enquired, knowingly, turning to face her.

Had someone been snooping in her apartment whilst she wasn't there?

Probably.

Ebony replied honestly.

'Right now, I am doing what you want because you have given me no choice. If I don't remain silent or do what you say, I will put myself and others in jeopardy. That is manipulation, coercion. But, if I accept payment from you, that is a mutual transaction, and I really am part of all of… this. Whatever this… is.' Ebony said, gesturing with her arms.

Bane's gaze pierced hers.

Looking away first, Ebony hesitated before speaking.

The heavy curtain that had separated Bane's stretcher from the fire pit and bench area was now drawn back to one side, giving her a good view of where he slept.

'This isn't exactly The Ritz either. If you have so much money to throw around, why do you live like this? Down here?' Ebony asked, walking around the fire pit to examine what was Bane's simple living quarters.

'At least afford yourself a decent bed. Plus, it is freezing down here.' She added rubbing her arms and stepping towards the fire pit as she tried to hold back a shiver unsuccessfully.

Bane's eyes lingered on her bare shoulders as tiny goosebumps prickled her pale skin.

'You are quite mistaken Ms. Black. Compared to where I am from, this is luxury.' Bane replied, before continuing.

'Besides, it is only a temporary arrangement. Change is coming.' He said ominously.

Bane stalked around the firepit towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.

'Is there anything else I can coerce you into doing before you leave, Ms Black?' He asked, stepping close, looking down on her over his mask, his barrel of a chest only inches away.

'Perhaps I interrupted your willing participation in the… 'activities' occurring upstairs…' Bane commented suggestively in his amplified voice.

Pursing her lips, Ebony held her ground.

She wasn't going to acknowledge that smart remark with an answer, but he was making her very conscious that she was in a slinky low back dress.

It wouldn't take much for him to… rip it right off…

Wait a minute…

He is only trying to intimidate you.

Bane didn't seem to have the same tendencies towards women as other men.

He seemed much more focussed.

Disciplined.

But it was clear he found entertainment in making her feel... uncomfortable.

It was all simply a demonstration of his great power.

As leader of an underground army.

And… making her regret wearing this little number down here.

Who knew what Bane wanted other than…

Total domination.

He was merely testing her nerve.

She would make him regret it.

Refusing to give in to his intimidation, Ebony stood firm, holding his gaze.

Again, she had a close-up view of his mask, tubes precisely fitted and adjusted to allow optimum uptake of inhalant.

Again, she had the urge to touch his mask.

Ignoring his suggestive comment, Ebony changed the subject.

'What do you look like under there?' She asked boldly, raising a hand as if to touch the tubes, but didn't.

If he was going to try to intimidate her, she would do the same to him.

She wasn't going to cower away like he might have expected.

Bane didn't move or flinch.

Like he was challenging her to actually do it.

Perhaps he wanted her to do it.

To touch him.

'Would you really like to know… Ms Black?' Bane asked in an undertone, threateningly enough that it gave Ebony a chill down her spine.

Suggesting that if she knew what he looked like, like he would have to kill her, without actually saying it.

'Perhaps.' Ebony answered casually, intentionally not reacting to his tone as they continued to size each other up.

'And why is it so important that you would like to know.' Bane pressed her.

'Well, it is a curious thing to look upon someone, but not be able to see their whole face.' Ebony answered honestly. 'It is sort of like knowing someone, without ever knowing all of them.' She added.

'Do you… ever take it off?' She asked boldly.

If Bane had any sensitivities or weakness at all, surely it was this.

'Why yes indeed, for short periods of time, for… obvious reasons of course.' Bane answered mildly, continuing.

'I remove my mask for basic necessities. Grooming, consumption of food….' He elaborated, pausing before moving even closer.

'…but… the real question is… do you?' Bane said slowly, stressing the last two words.

He was so close; Ebony could feel his gentle exhale through the mask on her face.

'Do I… what?' Ebony asked.

'Do you ever take off your mask, Ms Black?' Bane asked, again in an undertone, as if a challenge of some kind.

Ebony looked at Bane blankly.

What on earth?

She had just come from a masquerade party and had been wearing a mask all night, but she had handed it back...

Ebony broke their tense stare to glance over to the beautiful mask that was now sitting on the bench amongst weapons and tech equipment.

Surely she didn't need to point that out to Bane…

Before Ebony had a chance to open her mouth, Bane spoke.

'You may go Ms. Black, you are no longer required… for now.'

Stepping backwards, Bane turned away from her to once again stand by the bench, dismissing her presence and anything she was about to say along with it.

Wisely, Ebony decided that was more than enough excitement for one night and took her leave, departing hastily…