As soon as she handed the card over to Bruce, panic swept through her body. The idea that both John and Ba-Tom would be in the same room, possibly sitting across the table from each other sent shivers down her spine. She watched as Bruce turned the card over in his hands before excusing himself from the room. John followed after him.
"Are they going to call him?" Ella asked Selina, truly bewildered at the sudden exit of their boyfriends.
"No," Selina gave her a small smile, "they're going to check that card for finger prints most likely. Bruce doesn't trust anyone, and that trait is rubbing off on John unfortunately." With that, Selina left the library, leaving Ella alone.
Ella retreats to the room she and John share, pulling out her cell phone quickly as she closes the door behind her. She hurriedly dials Tom's number, having memorized it on the way home. It rings a few times before he picks up.
"Hello?" His voice is melodic to her, his accent's dulcet tones wash over her like water in a dream.
"Tom? It's Ella." She says, her voice shaking into the earpiece.
"Ella, thank goodness. Are you alright?" She is surprised to hear him sound so worried about her, but she can't lie to herself and say she doesn't love that about him.
"I'm fine. I have to tell you something…Right now, John and I are living with Bruce Wayne in Wayne Manor. And he's going to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. Is that ok?" She hesitates when she stops talking, nervous at his response.
"Of course, that's ok. Didn't know you had such a nice place to go home to after being here with me." He can't help but chuckle at her revelation.
"Yeah well some people like apartments and some people like multi-bedroom mansions. I'm not one of the latter. Are you sure you're ok with dinner? Don't force yourself." She says, surprised that she is trying to talk him out of it.
"I'm not forcing myself. I'm pampering myself really. Letting a billionaire buy me dinner for a night is great. And I intend to take advantage of that, so stop trying to talk me out of it. I assume Bruce will be calling me later formally?"
"Yeah, he will. I just wanted to butter you up, I guess." She winces at her choice of words.
"You're quite good at buttering up. I look forward to Bruce's call. I'll talk to you later, Ella." Tom smiles to himself.
"Bye, Tom." Ella clicks END on her phone and lays back on her bed, closing her eyes for a short nap.
Tom ends the call and puts his phone down on his nightstand as a slight rapping is heard at his apartment door. He checks the alarm clock on the end table and is surprised anyone would pay a house call this late. He raises from his bed and makes his way to the door. Just as he reaches the handle, the door opens swiftly and it bounces off of Tom's head. He stumbles back unsurely, and before he could right himself a puff of gas is shot into his face.
"So sorry, Mr. Bane but it had to be done to ensure you wouldn't be a danger to us. I'm sure you understand." Dr. Crane said as he entered Tom's apartment, peering down into his face before removing his burlap mask and grinning quite sadistically at the frightened man. "Sir, he's docile now. You may enter."
At this, Ra's as Ghul walks into the apartment, wearing a fine charcoal-colored three-piece suit and holding his walking cane curved over one arm. He looks around the apartment for a moment before looking back at the writhing and howling man on the floor.
"You've disappointed me, Bane. All these months back in Gotham and no progress whatsoever. Can you explain yourself?" All Tom can do to answer Ra's is howl loudly. Ra's turns to Crane. "Doctor, administer the antidote, please. Otherwise this entire conversation will be entirely one-sided."
Crane takes out a needle from his coat pocket and uncaps it. He then leans down over Tom and jams the needle into his arm, smashing down the plunger before pulling the needle back and out of his arm. It takes him all of about three minutes to recover from the poison gas and when he fully recovers he can't stop his breath catching in his throat.
"Yes, well, Mr. Bane as I was saying, you have been in Gotham for months now and you have yet to make any progress here whatsoever. Now as the man who gave you life again, I can't help but be a bit…disappointed. Can you explain yourself to me?" Ra's said as he paced back and forth in Tom's living room.
"Sir, I-," Tom started but Ra's cut him off.
"And might I add it would be impossibly easy to kill you now and destroy this town myself so you might want to think before you answer me." Ra's all but spewed the words from his mouth like a fire hydrant in summer.
Tom hesitates a bit and stands, touching carefully at his forehead where the door bumped into it. He opens his mouth to speak but instead of saying words his mouth just flaps opens and closes like a fish gasping for air.
"Well, let me remind you Mr. Bane, you are only here by my graces. I got you this job and this apartment. And let us not forget I gave you the air you are breathing right now, the blood that pumps through you and I will not hesitate to take them all away." Ra's stands near Dr. Crane and leans down on both hands on his cane.
Dr. Crane steps a bit closer to Tom in his slightly horrified state and leans in closely before he speaks. "What Ra's needs you to know is that you're being given an ultimatum. Either you play by his rules and start to take over Gotham the way you were told or…we kill the girl."
Tom's head shoots up and his chest visibly heaves as he tries to catch his breath. Dr. Crane smiles inwardly at himself. "That's right. Your precious Ella will be putty in my hands with one dose of gas from my mask. You do have her wrapped around your little finger, don't you? Or is it the other way around?" Dr. Crane enjoyed teasing the larger man, knowing in the back of his mind he could crush his skull with one hand but taking refuge in the thought that he was too frightened to do so.
"Don't hurt her. I'll do whatever you want…just please, don't touch her." Tom pleaded with the Mastermind and the Doctor.
The phone's shrilling ringtone broke everyone out of their reverie. Tom looks to Ra's, silently asking for permission. "Do answer that. And enjoy your dinner, Mr. Bane for it shall be the last time you see your dear Ella. Until next time." Tom turns to grab the phone and answer it, as he turns around to check on his guests he is greeted by an empty living room with his door wide open letting in the cold air.
"Hello, Tom. Bruce Wayne. I'm a friend of Ella's. How would like to come to dinner at the mansion?"
