Chapter 16- This Isn't Your Only Mask

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Ebony had been pacing in Bane's quarters for almost an hour when the door finally opened.

But that didn't make her any less angry.

If anything, quite the contrary.

She had more time to fuel her fury.

She stopped in her tracks as Bane stalked in.

His undeniable presence was made even more ominous by his thick shearling jacket and armored vest.

Her thoughts were flying everywhere.

She had conflicting feelings about seeing him again.

After sooo many weeks with no contact.

Bane was the one destroying the city, yet he had helped her find herself again.

Regardless, Ebony didn't let him have the first word.

'You played me,' she glared at him angrily.

'Ms Black.' Bane started casually, like he had seen her only yesterday.

'You are all worked up.' Bane observed calmly as ever as he turned to close the door and flick the lock.

'No shit, I'm worked up,' Ebony replied, recommencing her pacing in the living area.

'You played me for a fool.' She accused him.

'You had me following your orders to keep Blake alive, and now I learn that we are all going to die anyway?'

Ebony paused briefly from her pacing to look at Bane.

No wonder he made such a good leader, he knew how to bend people to his will.

'You knew this whole time!' Ebony exclaimed.

'You actually planned it this way?' She glared at him, holding her arms out.

'You knew the whole of Gotham would be flattened and we are all going to perish, and you said nothing?'

Bane remained silent and still, his eyes following her movement as he allowed Ebony to continue her rant.

'How many people even know this information?' She said, not waiting for a response.

'Screw you and your orders, I will not be manipulated any further.' Ebony continued.

'If I am going to die in fifteen days, I'll do whatever I want with the time I have left.'

Why would you give everyone 'hope', when there never was any?'

'Is that your idea of fun? Tormenting an entire city?'

'This was all just a game wasn't it, a game that you couldn't lose.' Ebony continued.

'And me… I am just a game to you too, aren't I?' Ebony asked, not expecting a reply as she kept speaking.

'A little side project away from your infinite control of Gotham.' She spat with attitude.

'Supposedly teaching me to 'live without my mask', why? To see if you can?'

'Did you think you could fix me, or did you just want to see how long it would take before I break?' Ebony said in a tone.

'I am expendable, just like everyone else in Gotham.'

Bane remained statuesque, scrutinizing Ebony's actions as she waved her arms, expressively as she moved.

'So…? Have I passed your little test before I die?' She said, stopping to glare at him, clearly upset with Bane's lack of response.

Lack of emotion…

Lack of… anything.

Well, what did she expect?

After a long period of silence, Bane finally spoke.

'Ms Black.' Bane started.

'It seems that you have changed your mind.' He said expressively.

Ebony raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.

Where the hell was he going with this?

'If I am not mistaken, it seems that you are concerned for your life. This has never been the case before,' Bane said.

He was correct of course.

Surprizingly enough, she did care.

'So what.' Ebony spat defensively, not wanting to admit that as usual, Bane was right.

'Would it make any difference?' She asked rhetorically.

Bane watched on as Ebony lowered her eyes, in thought for some time.

More silence passed.

'I think… I finally get it now.' She started more quietly.

'You are not really in charge here, are you. You're following orders too.' Ebony said turning the focus back to him.

'Barsad told me about the woman you loved once.' Ebony continued.

'You loved her for so many years without the slightest hint of affection in return.'

'That must have had some impact on you, surely. She turned you into a cold hard killer, did she?' Ebony said.

'So… perhaps you simply wanted to know what it was like to be on the flipside of the coin.' Ebony accused.

'You wanted to know what it was like in her shoes.'

'Was that your plan all along for me? Getting me to want you?' She spat.

'So you could torment me with your cold composure like she did you?' Ebony accused.

There was silence as Ebony watched Bane remove his shearling jacket, hanging it on a hook by the door.

It was the first time he had moved since entering the room.

Saying nothing, Bane quickly closed the distance between them, grabbing her by the neck.

Bane shoved her backwards to the wall.

He held her firmly enough to know that he meant business but loose enough for her to maintain breath.

'Ms Black.' Bane growled.

'Stop talking.' He demanded before she had a chance to reply.

In shock, Ebony closed her mouth.

'You are correct about one thing. The core will detonate.'

'But… you are being irrational and unreasonable in the accusations you level at me.' Bane continued.

Ebony glared at him defensively.

Despite everything, there was still something that drew her to him, deep down.

She couldn't help it.

'Well, you have won. You were right all along… okay?' Ebony started.

'For some reason that I can't explain, I am… drawn to you.' Ebony admitted angrily.

Ebony waited, looking at him for some sort of reaction, anything.

Again, there was nothing.

She had just made a huge admission and the big man didn't even twitch.

Ebony felt her eyes welling up in frustration.

Her emotions, usually hidden well away, were coming to the forefront.

'You… got me…to want you.' She said timidly.

'Does it feel good to have that type of power over someone… like she had over you?' Ebony spoke on a whisper.

'Longing… from a distance…' Her voice trailed as she tried to turn her head to look away, embarrassed that she was feeling so emotional.

Thinking back to her experiences with men, she had never found herself in a position like this before.

Wanting something so badly… that seemed just out of reach.

She wished that she didn't want the man that was leading the underground army that would turn Gotham into ashes.

A part of her still couldn't comprehend that everyone was going to die.

Including her.

But, her feelings were undeniable.

Perhaps even heightened because of the situation.

'Ebony Schwarz…' Bane snapped, lowering his masked face to hers.

Ebony's eyes shot back to his as she was surprized to hear him say her name.

Her real name.

If he didn't already have her full attention, he certainly had it now.

Bane hadn't spoken her name since the first night they met so many months ago.

'You are gravely mistaken.' Bane growled.

'I may show little emotion on the outside, but that does not mean I do not… feel.' Bane paused.

Gazing down at her from over the tubes of his mask, their eyes locked, unblinking.

Ebony sensed that whatever Bane was about to say, it wasn't easy for him to declare.

To say the words… out loud.

There was a long pause in which only their heated breath broke the silence.

Their eyes remained transfixed on each other.

Finally, Bane spoke in an undertone.

'I have wanted you ever since the night I saw you in that black dress.' Bane admitted point blank.

'Every moment in your presence since then, has only served to intensify my desire.' He said.

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Bane gave Ebony a moment to process what he had told her, watching her closely.

As he slowly removed his fingers from around her neck, Ebony's jaw dropped.

She moved her mouth, but no sound came out.

For the first time ever, she was completely… speechless.

Blinking the tears from her eyes, Ebony was glad she was leaning up against a wall for support.

She searched his eyes for some time suspiciously, wondering if this was another game.

A trick…?

No.

Bane was being completely sincere.

Seconds ticked past like hours as Ebony absorbed this revelation.

'B… but… you never told me… 'She started, taken back.

'You… gave me no sign…' Ebony spoke quietly, in a milder tone.

'Didn't I… Ms Black?' Bane questioned suggestively.

Ebony lowered her gaze as she thought back to all the moments they had been in each other's presence…

The time underground when he had extracted her from the crowd of men… 'This one belongs to me.'

The time when he had pressed her for information about the intruders in her apartment… 'Who did this?'

After she had accidently fell asleep on his stretcher… 'Do you think that I let just anyone reside in my personal quarters?'

And just after Bane had broken the back of the billionaire bat down in the sewers… 'I am claiming what is mine.'

Or the time when he had found her under the rubble… 'You were offered sanctuary that others would die for.'

And carried her to the bath… 'Clean yourself up, a medic will attend shortly.'

Or when he had checked on her the following day… 'Do you have everything you require?'

And the night he had been wounded and stitched himself up… 'I would like your company tonight.'

Ebony finally realized that this whole time, that was him, reaching out to her in his own subtle way.

Telling her that she meant something to him.

Showing her that he was looking out for her.

She had just failed to see it over all the noise.

Over the allure of danger.

In her defence, Bane had also maintained his threat of death.

But perhaps in her case at least, it was to keep her in line.

Mostly…

So Barsad and Marissa had been right, all this time.

Well kudos to them.

Bane was no ordinary man after all, and they both knew it.

Interrupting Ebony's thoughts, Bane spoke.

'When you have lived a life such as mine, you become extremely efficient at displaying strength and concealing weakness.' He explained.

Ebony nodded slowly as she watched him unclip his armored vest at the waist.

Lifting it over his head, his well-worn long sleeve thermal top remained.

So, Bane saw his desire for her as weakness not to be on public display.

She could understand that.

She never wanted the horrific loss of her parents that left an empty black hole inside her to be evident to anyone either.

She didn't want pity.

Instead, she transmitted a front of strength also.

Perhaps that is how he recognized it in her, so easily.

They were similar, in that way.

Finally, all the cards were on the table.

'I am nothing like the woman you spoke of. You would be wise never to compare me to her again.' Bane said, warning evident in his tone.

Ebony looked at Bane in silent contemplation for some time.

She was no longer scared of him, but she was remorseful.

'I am… sorry.' She said gently, sincerely.

Ebony didn't usually apologize to anyone, that was a sign of weakness.

But, for some reason she felt compelled to do it now.

Perhaps after that raw admission, she owed him that much.

'I understand now...' Ebony continued, raising her hand to the device on his face as she stepped closer.

'This… is not your only mask.' She said, lightly running her fingers over the steel tubes.

'I just wish… I had realized sooner.' She whispered.

Ebony gently trailed her fingertips from Bane's mask, down the exposed skin of his neck to place her palm onto his warm chest.

She noticed his gaze soften a little at her touch.

'I accept your apology, Ms Black,' Bane said quietly, placing his palm on the curve of her waist.

Ebony felt Bane slide his arm around the small of her back, pulling her firmly to his front.

Lowering his mask to the side of her face, Bane inhaled deeply, taking in her sweet scent.

It was evident to her now, how much he had always wanted her.

They needed each other more than anything else mattered in this moment.

Perhaps certain death was a powerful aphrodisiac.

Not that she hadn't wanted him for a while now too.

Taking her weight, Bane lifted Ebony to be eye level with him.

Instinctively Ebony wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his formidable trunk of a waist.

Moving swiftly, Bane carried her from the living space, into the bedroom.

This time, they definitely weren't going there just to sleep…

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Authors notes: Dear readers, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Apologies for the delay in posting. One of my fur babies is very old and unwell and I have been coming to terms with not having him for much longer. Looking after him has been taking up a lot of my time and haven't had as much headspace to write.

Regardless, I'll try to complete/post the next chapter as soon as I am happy with it.

DP xx