Title: Immortal

Author: ElleKnowsNot

Fandom: The Dark Knight Rises

Pairing: Blake/Ella

Rating: T

Summary: Life at Wayne Manor for Bruce, Selina, Blake and Ella after Bane's defeat. But what happens the masked man is brought back by the immortal Ra's al Ghul?

Author's note: This is the sequel to my story Plaything. If you have not yet read that, I suggest you start there and then continue here.

Author's note#2: Dedicated to my hand holder aopio, she reads all my chapters and gives her notes. I usually get pleading texts from her to finish my stories asap so you can all go thank her and go read her Warrior fan fiction. Yay Tom Hardy!

Author's note#3: Shamelessly stolen plot points from Batman: Under The Red Hood because I can as long as I say the characters do not belong to me. Ha. Take that, Warner Bros.

His weathered skin creases with the signs of aging. His frail form slowly makes it way to the pit's edge. He descends into the water bubbling around him, arid smoke rising from it's murky surface. He is under completely for what seems like ages before emerging from the water gasping for air.

His firm tanned skin no longer creases with wrinkles. His form is no longer frail, but strong and muscular. He is young again. The Lazarus Pit yet again transforms him from an old man to middle-aged yet spry gentleman.

He is stretching his muscles and punching in the air at nothing when one of his men comes to him. "Sir, we have news from Gotham. From Dr. Crane," the guard stands and waits for Ra's to acknowledge him. Ra's turns around and nods for him to continue speaking.

"It appears Bane is dead, sir. Killed today with the help of the Batman and a mysterious woman. Catwoman, I believe Crane called her. They are bringing the body here. I hope this will suit you, sir," the man waits until Ra's nods and walks away peacefully after nodding to his mentor.

'Bane…' Ra's thinks to himself. He hasn't put any thought into the masked man for a very long time. He also hasn't thought of Gotham in ages, giving up on the idea of saving Gotham from itself.

Within two days, Bane's lifeless corpse is brought to Ra's al Ghul. Ra's has his surgeons remove Bane's mask from his face, also removing all tubing and venom inhibitors from his body. Facial reconstruction is made to his face to remove nose and mouth scars. Extensive corrective surgery also removes the large scar trailing down his spine. His body was then wrapped in tight bandaging from head to toe, resembling a mummy from ancient Egypt.

His body was lowered into the pit, only under the supervision of Ra's and a handful of his mercenaries. The pit begins to bubble and splash after a few moments. A hand raises out of the water near the pit's edge. It takes hold of the stony ground.

The mummified body soon follows the hand onto the small cliff. Once the body is clear of the water, loud gasps are echoing loudly in the cavern. Hands claw at the bandaging on the face until it is completely exposed.

Bane is alive.

Grey eyes adjust to the dim light of the cavern. But something is missing. His breathing isn't labored. No metal hissing accompanies his gasps. Still bandaged hands claw at his face and mouth. No mask covers his face. He rips off the bandages of his hands, touching his lips and nose for the first time in years. His eyes scan the room at faces he does not recognize.

"Where am I? Who has brought me here?" He pauses, an unfamiliar voice escaping his lips.

"I have." An instant chill is sent down Bane's spine. There is a voice he recognizes.

"Ra's…" Bane says, barely above a whisper as the leader of the League of Shadows moves closer to him from the shadows.

"When I heard of your failure in Gotham, of your death…I was disappointed to say the least." Ra's began, kneeling next to Bane where he sat at the water's edge. "But I want to give you a second chance to prove yourself a worthy member of the League of Shadows." He laid a hand on Bane's shoulder.

"I welcome the challenge, my master." Bane smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges.

Months later in Gotham…

"I still can't believe you're…the Batman." Ella shouted across the cave to Bruce as he sat at his computer hub.

"I still can't believe John never told you before a couple months ago." Bruce chuckles, looking up from his work.

"Well, he's been pretty busy since we got back from Italy. Always in the middle of something..." Ella trailed off as she walks to the steps leading to the platform where Bruce sat. "So…can I see it?"

Bruce smiles, getting up and walks to the edge of the platform after hitting a few keystrokes. The Batsuit rises from the ground in front of Ella, her eyes widening at the sight.

The case that holds the Batsuit slowly opens and Ella reaches a hand to touch the cowl, only to draw back when she is mere centimeters away from it. She sighs and folds her arms in front of her.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asks the normally jubilant young woman.

"Nothing, I just…I had a moment of clarity maybe." She gives a weak smile and steps away from the case. "I'm gonna head back upstairs. You want anything?"

"No, I'm fine." Bruce shifts on his feet uncomfortably. "You sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I'll see you later." She gives him a quick squeeze on his bicep and walks out of the cave. Bruce looks after her until she is out of sight before returning to the computers.

On her silent walk back to the main house, she can't help but remember the day Bane died. If it hadn't been for Bruce and Selina, she and Blake would have been goners for sure. And if she hadn't left Blake for Blake, none of this would have happened in the first place.

She makes it back to the main house and stops in the kitchen. Alfred is there making tea and notices her leaning against the doorframe.

"You look like you could use a cup, my dear." Alfred says softly with a smile.

"You're a mind reader, Alfred, I swear." Ella gives a weak smile and sits down at the table.

"Not exactly, I'm afraid. Just very good at reading people. And I can tell that you are missing Master Blake immensely." Alfred sit's a hot cup in front of her.

"I really miss him, Alfred. I almost wish he had remained a detective. Now that I know he's a vigilante like Bruce…like Selina even…it scares me. And it also makes me realize how lonely I am." Ella takes a long sip of tea, savoring the chamomile and honey.

"I think you need something to occupy your time. Reading. Writing. Photography. Going into the city, maybe. Something that is yours and yours alone." Alfred sips his own tea peacefully.

"I think you're right. I do miss the city. It's been so long since I've walked the streets of Gotham. Simple pleasure, ya know? I could photograph the city's landscapes." She perked up a bit while finishing her tea.

"Well then, it's settled. I'll fetch Master Wayne's best camera equipment and get one of the cars set up for you and tomorrow you can start on your new hobby." Alfred smiled, rising from the table and gathering both teacups.

Ella gets up to leave the kitchen, pausing at the doorway. "Thank you, Alfred. This means a lot."

"You're very welcome, my dear." Alfred smiles warmly before turning to wash their dishes.

Ella walks to the bedroom that she and Blake share. She changes into pajamas and gets to sleep rather quickly. She is only awoken momentarily when the bed dips as Blake climbs into bed next to her. She peeks at the bedside clock that reads 3:09AM.

"Long night." She says, sleep and annoyance flavoring her speech.

"Yeah, Selina was showing me some of the areas she and Bruce see the most gang activity in." Blake sighed as Ella allowed him to wrap his arms around her.

"Right…" Ella trails off before speaking again. "Tomorrow, I'm going into the city to take some photos. Alfred suggested I take up a hobby since I'm the only one not patrolling the streets into the wee hours of the morning."

Blake chuckles as he wraps himself around Ella. "I always loved your photos. They're captivating. Especially the ones you've taken of me."

Ella can't help but smile as she turns around in Blake's arms. "Are you trying to seduce, Mr. Blake?"

"Depends. Is it working?" He says, pulling her closer to him.

"Without a doubt." Ella fists a handful of Blake's hair and crushes her lips to his. She rolls so that she is on top of Blake, showing him that not only vigilantes have the element of surprise.