Chapter 12- The Invitation

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Sitting in the comfortable armchair by the window, Ebony gazed out the floor to ceiling views from the safety of the penthouse.

She watched the sun slowly sink into the skyline.

Ebony sighed as she glanced down at her plastered ankle resting on the plush footstool.

Another few weeks…

She couldn't wait to get that thing off and be able to walk freely again.

She had to go back to look for her camera and she was stuck here until then.

For now, she was a prisoner and her view was of occupied Gotham.

The whole city was one large prison.

As she watched a few people scurry around the streets below, she heard the door of the suite open and close.

The sound of mechanical breathing grew closer.

Remaining still, Ebony tensed her grip of the chair's leather bound armrest.

Without looking at each other, Bane joined her in staring out the window, standing tall with his hands clasped behind his back.

A full month had passed since his last visit.

Not that she was counting…

For a time, they both remained silent, absorbing each other's presence after the extended absence.

Eventually, Bane spoke.

'You look to be on the mend, Ms Black.' Bane stated, as they both avoided eye contact by maintaining their gaze of the outside.

Ebony nodded.

'I am.' She replied calmly.

'Although you refused my order, I was not going to let you to die, Ms Black.' Bane started.

'It is not yet your time. I have further use for you.' He explained.

Ebony didn't quite know what to make of that one, except that it gave her about as much reassurance as an ice cream in full sun.

Perhaps he enjoyed her standing up to him, challenging him, talking back to him.

It was evident that it was not something that he experienced often.

Ebony's gaze flicked over to Bane before quickly returning to the view of the outside.

Bane sensed that she was hesitant to speak.

'Are… are you really going to use the bomb, on the city?' She asked, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.

'That remains to be seen, Ms Black.' Bane replied.

Ebony knew he wouldn't give away more if she pressed him.

More silence passed.

More staring out the window.

'Tell me… about Detective Blake, Ms. Black. You know him rather well, I believe?' Bane enquired, without looking at her.

'Detective' Blake? Really…? Well that was news to her.

It seemed he was doing quite well for himself.

Not only was he making friends in high places, but he had also been promoted.

But… why would Bane want to know about Blake?

'You mean John Blake?' Ebony confirmed.

'He is a good man but he hasn't had it easy. He was raised in the home for boys and then joined the police force.' She continued.

'Has… something happened to him?' Ebony asked hesitantly.

'It seems as though the Detective is one of the very few that escaped our entrapment.' Bane said.

'He did? So he is alive then!' Ebony said enthusiastically.

That was a revelation indeed.

'Barsad spotted him from afar with his rifle scope attempting to communicate with the officers confined underground.' Bane started.

'Barsad could have shot him on site, but knowing your connection, wisely he reported it to me first.'

Ebony's eyes widened.

Although not entirely safe, Ebony was relieved to know that Blake was alive.

'The Detective is becoming troublesome and should be disposed of.' Bane added.

'No, no, no. Please don't kill him.' Ebony said.

'You care about this man.' Bane observed with interest.

Ebony nodded.

There is no point denying it. He seems to know everything.

'Yes, of course I care about him. I would hate for something to happen to him. The world needs more people like him.'

'This Detective means a lot to you, Ms Black.' Bane said.

Ebony remained silent for a while.

'Yes, we bonded over shared theories of the Batman and the fact that we are both orphans.' Ebony answered.

'But he is not… mine.' She backtracked.

'Were you not in a relationship with this man, Ms. Black?' Bane pressed her.

'I was seeing him for a while, but I wouldn't say it was serious, we weren'ta... couple.' Ebony explained.

'Anyway, it's over now.' She added.

'Are you sure that he knows that Ms Black?' Bane asked.

'Detective Blake has been seen outside your apartment several times in the past few weeks.' He added.

Well that sorta made sense, her phone had been damaged so there was no way of contacting her.

'Yes, he knows.' Ebony replied.

'He is probably just worried that he hasn't heard from me since the explosions.' Ebony tried to downplay the insinuation.

It seemed Bane had his sights set on Blake.

Was he planning on killing him?

More silence followed.

Thinking back to what she saw Bane do to the Batman, Bruce Wayne, images flashed in her mind of Bane doing something similar to Blake.

He didn't deserve that.

She really would do anything to spare Blake from a similar fate.

'Please don't hurt him.' She said again, quietly.

More silence followed as Bane remained motionless, staring out the window.

He seemed to be in contemplation.

Perhaps Bane was deciding Blake's fate right now.

Ebony thought back to everything that Marissa had said about Bane and his 'interest' in her.

If any of it was true, perhaps she could use it to her advantage.

Spurred on by all of Marissa's comments and encouragement, Ebony slowly raised herself from the chair, limping closer in her plaster bound ankle to Bane's side.

Hesitantly, she gently placed her hand on Bane's muscular upper arm.

Bane did not move but turned his head to look her dead in the eye.

It seemed her thoughts were conflicting with one another as she struggled to hold his gaze.

Ebony could practically feel taught muscle rippling beneath her touch.

'Why don't you…stay here… with me… tonight.' Ebony whispered timidly.

'It would be a demonstration of my gratitude. All I ask I return is that you don't hurt Blake.'

Bane paused, peering down at her hand on his arm like it was a foreign object.

Sensing hostility, Ebony tentatively retracted her touch.

'Are you… inviting me into your bed, Ms Black?' Bane asked curiously, turning to face her.

'Are you offering yourself to me in return for your Detective's life?' Bane questioned.

Ebony sensed that the tension between them had gone up a notch.

'Yes. If that is… what you want.' Ebony replied awkwardly.

Apart from regular mechanical breathing, silence followed for some time before Bane spoke.

'If I had wanted a concubine, Ms Black, it would certainly not be you.' Bane said firmly.

'You are nowhere near obedient enough.' He added expressively.

However, Ebony wasn't done yet.

'But… it's like you said…' She started.

'I…chose… you.'

As soon as she had said it, regret sank to her stomach for saying the words out loud.

Bane's eyes narrowed.

'Do not patronize me, with my own words Ms Black. I am well aware that you do not believe that.' Bane warned coldly.

'You think you can bend me to your will with a forced offer of affection?' Bane accused.

'Seduction is a form of manipulation. Do you think that you are the first woman to tempt me to get what they want, Ms Black?' Bane said.

Ebony remained silent.

She seemed to have insulted him and didn't want to open her mouth to make it any worse.

'I am not one of those men to fall prey so easily.' Bane said proudly looking down on her from over his mask.

Ebony, not knowing how to respond, took a small awkward step backwards.

Removing himself from her presence, Bane stalked out of the room.

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Stubborn as she was, Ebony wasn't going to give up that easily.

Blake's life was at stake.

But...

Ebony waited.

Another three weeks.

Waited until she had successfully begged the medic to agree that it was time to cut the plaster cast off her ankle.

Finally.

Gently rotating her newly freed foot, Ebony was glad to be free of the cumbersome accessory restraining her to this room, this building.

The plaster had been replaced with a thick supportive skin colored bandage.

Finally she had much more mobility.

Ebony had been waiting for this day.

The day she could walk out and leave the hotel, find her camera and go back home.

Regain her independence.

But…

Now she had a more important and pressing concern.

Convincing Bane not to kill Blake.

Bane had not graced her with his presence again since her offer.

It was almost like he knew that she would eventually come to him.

Seek him out.

Play his game.

Ebony had no way of knowing if Bane or Barsad had already killed Blake, but her gut told her that Bane was keeping him alive, for her benefit.

Or maybe really for his…

Perhaps for the mere fact that it was something he could hold over her.

Either way, Ebony hadn't given up on persuading Bane to keep him alive.

Perhaps it had been the plaster cast that put Bane off after all.

Not that attractive really.

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That very same day, Ebony questioned Marissa on where Bane resided in the hotel.

Having completely abandoned trying to explain to Marissa that she wasn't an escort, a sex worker, hooker, or however else she tried to describe it, Ebony decided she would play the card she had been delt to her advantage.

She knew that Marissa was the only one allowed into Bane's quarters to clean, apart from Barsad.

She had to up the stakes for Blake's life.

'I'd like to see Bane.' Ebony started.

'I think I am recovered enough to pay him a visit tonight.' Ebony said casually from the armchair as Marissa fussed around making the bed.

Marissa stopped dead in her tracks.

'Ohhh, really? How wonderful!' Marissa exclaimed.

'I am sure Bane will be so pleased to have you back!'

Ebony just rolled her eyes to herself.

'Where can I find him?' Ebony asked.

Marissa proceeded to tell Ebony directions to Bane's room and that he resided on a much lower floor as he preferred more simple accommodation.

After having a friendly argument about what Ebony should wear tonight, Marissa finally conceded defeat as Ebony insisted she had it covered.

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Exiting the elevator around midnight, many floors below her own, Ebony was barefoot.

Clothed in her white fluffy robe, she nervously walked down the hall in the direction of two armed guards standing watch outside a door.

The door to his room.

Well, if there are guards outside his room he must be here.

Recognizing Ebony's face from the underground, and seeing what she was wearing, the guards eyed her thoughtfully before opening the door.

One of them slung his weapon, freeing his hands to pat her down but the other guard wisely shook his head, raising his hand.

No one touches Bane's woman if he wanted to keep all appendages intact.

The men allowed her entry, closing the door behind her.

In the dim light coming from outside the window, Ebony could see that it was much more simply furnished than the floor that she was staying on.

Making out a small living area, Ebony cautiously moved towards the bedroom.

Her heart was beating fast.

She could hear mechanical breathing.

So he even wears the mask when he sleeps.

Peering through the dim light shining through the partially open curtains, Ebony made out Bane lying on his back.

He was bare chested, with the quilt covering his lower half.

But… was he asleep?

Ebony did not get further than two steps inside the small bedroom before she heard Bane's voice.

'Ms. Black.' Bane said with a mix of surprize and annoyance in his tone.

Ebony froze.

Was he surprized that she was actually here or was he annoyed that she waited so long?

Silence followed before Bane spoke.

'It appears that you have exited the elevator on the wrong floor.' He scrutinized expressively.

Ebony remained silent but took a step closer.

'You can't seem to stay away from my bed,' Bane mocked coldly.

Ebony knew he was referring to her falling asleep on his stretcher in the sewers.

Okay she deserved that one…

'I have warned you already, you will not succeed in getting what you want through sexual favors.' He spoke sternly.

'Well… I don't give up that easily.' Ebony replied stubbornly, again moving closer to the bed.

She was here already, there was no turning back now…

Standing in front of him, boldly loosening the waist tie, Ebony dropped her soft white robe to the floor to reveal she was wearing nothing except a black bra and low-cut briefs…

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Surely, he would accept.

Agree to spare Blake's life.

Bane remained still and silent as Ebony felt time stand still.

Their gaze remained locked, as if Bane was unwilling to run his eyes down her form.

Ebony wondered what Bane was thinking.

It was not often she propositioned a man like this in an intimate way.

In fact, it was never.

Ebony was used to having the upper hand on every occasion, the guy always being keen, and she was the one with the power, the final say.

Yay or nay.

But this time was different.

She was the one who was on offer, waiting for acceptance.

Standing near his bedside, half naked, Ebony waited for Bane to respond.

But she wasn't going to wait forever.

Was he enjoying this?

Placing one foot behind the other, she took a small step back from the bed.

Ebony started to wish that she hadn't come at all.

Goosebumps began to form on her bare skin in the cold, unheated air.

She was starting to feel embarrassed, cheap.

Picking up her robe, Ebony took another step back.

What was she thinking coming here?

With doubt growing with every second of silence, she was beginning to think she had her answer.

'I…I am sorry to have disturbed you… I will g… go now.' Ebony stammered, embarrassed.

'No.' Bane replied firmly.

Ebony froze in her tracks.

'You will do no such thing.' He said.

Ebony watched Bane draw back the quilt in the dim light, allowing her into the warmth of his bed…