Title: It's Like That

Author: ElleKnowsNot

Fandom: The Dark Knight Rises

Pairing: None this chapter…sorry babies.

Rating: T for language?

Summary: John and Ella have a domestic squabble concerning Ella's latest foiled adventure.

Author's note: A teeny tiny piece of me is mad that it took me so long to write this.

The entire drive back to the mansion is filled with anxiety and arousal. Anxious to see how John will react now that it is after 10 o'clock at night. Aroused, because well…of course. She parks the car in the garage, grabbing her bag and lets herself in the house and makes it to the steps leading upstairs before she hears angry footsteps approaching.

"Where the hell have you been?" She hears his voice before turning around to peek at him. He takes in the sight of her. She has a slight limp, that she may or may not be exaggerating, and she clutches her stomach and winces. "Oh my god, what's happened to you? I knew I shouldn't have let you go out alone." He grabs her and brings her closer to him before she can even answer him.

The way he holds her reminds her how much she enjoyed being in Tom's arms tonight and she closes her eyes and imagines thick strong arms are around her and she wraps her arms around John shaking herself out of her reverie when she realizes this isn't the man she just made love to.

Emotion sweeps over her and she begins to sob lightly on John's shoulder. Part of her is crying that she cheated on the only man to ever love her. The other part is crying because even in this moment of comfort all she can think about how comfortable and safe she felt in another man's arms. John pulls away slightly to look into her eyes and wipe away her tears.

"What happened to you?" He asks more nicely this time around while she composes herself. Bruce and Selina walk into the hallway from the library at the sound of the commotion.

"I was taking photos of the construction happening at the docks on the East End." She began, John ushering her into the library to sit down as he sits next to her while Bruce perches on the desk and Selina leans on a nearby bookshelf. "And then I see this group of guys coming at me…I guess they didn't like me photographing them…and they rushed at me."

Alfred walks into the library holding a tray of tea and hands a steaming cup to Ella who smiles in appreciation. "One knocked me down and I kicked him in the groin before he stomped down on my leg. Another one of them took the tripod and jabbed me in the stomach. And if it wasn't for Tom, I'd surely have been raped or worse." She sipped her tea, realizing her slip mid-sip.

"Tom?" John asked, tilting his head which made him resemble a confused puppy.

"He saved my life. He came out of nowhere and just chased them off. I passed out in the dirt soon after. He took me to the hospital to get checked out and stayed with me until I was released." She winces internally for lying to John but she felt that the amount of truth to her words outweighed the lies.

"He sounds like quite the hero, doesn't he?" John's sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed by Ella.

"You seem like you didn't want me to have a hero unless it was you, John. You've been waiting to say 'I told you so' since I got back, haven't you?" Ella seethes.

"It's not like that at all, I just-" John starts but Ella cuts him off.

"What is it like then, John?" She all but shouts at him, her eyes lit with flaming anger.

"I just wish you would have listened to me. I know the danger that's out there. I wish I would have gone with you. Not let you go out there by yourself." John turns soft eyes on Ella.

"I just wish you understood how important it is to have my own…hobbies. You, Bruce and Selina all have the city of Gotham to protect. I'm no vigilante by any means. So while you're out doing what you love, why can't I do the same?" Ella pleads with him, partly pissed-off but mostly just plain tired.

"Do you love putting yourself in danger? Because that's what it seems like." John will not let this argument falter without making sure his opinions are loud and clear.

Ella reaches her boiling point and stands up in front of John before Bruce steps in. "Alright, let's not go overboard here." He says, his arms going out into the space between Ella and John. He turns to Ella.

"John cares about your well-being far more than his own. He doesn't want anything to happen to you and I think he is making that very clear, however it seems to come off as overprotective but he is trying. And John," Bruce turns to John now, "I'd like to point out that Ella is a very strong independent woman, just like Selina." He winks at Selina then turns back to John.

"And just like Selina, she is stubborn as a mule and it will take a lot to make her believe she is wrong on anything. So stop while you're ahead." Bruce finishes, looking between the two.

"Well said, Bruce. I'm sure there was a compliment in there somewhere." Selina rolls her eyes, but smiles at Bruce. "I have a suggestion though, if you care to listen."

All eyes turn to Selina, anxious to hear what she has to say.

"If John is up to it, I say we thank Ella's hero in person. Invite him to dinner and make sure it is insanely obvious that John is the only one Ella wants and that as sweet as it was to save her, she has so obligation to him at all. Providing we can find him." Selina scratches her head, looking away.

Ella pulls out the business card Tom gave her. "Will this help?"