Disclaimer: As always we'll own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters find themselves in.

Now He's Dear

Not surprised that Bane had no idea who Alan Rickman was, Blake launched into a brief recap of the roles the man was most well known for, adding that the British actor had never been nominated for an Academy Award which was just one more nail in the coffin that proved that contest was fixed at least half the time. He also gave some thought to informing Bane that if Rickman had decided not to go into acting the man could have made his millions as a phone sex operator, but decided against it since he and Bane were getting along pretty good at the moment and sex seemed to make the other man nervous. Which was weird since Bane was asexual, but oh well, it was Christmas and he was in a good mood.

"Actually, one of the other movies on my list to watch has Rickman in it, and you might actually like it. Of course it might give you ideas too, but at this point in the game that probably doesn't matter. I take it you don't know the 'Die Hard' franchise?"

Bane shook his head.

"Wanna watch it with me after we're done here then? You can always ditch me if you don't like it. It has sorta terrorists and explosions." Blake added in a voice salespeople used to sell a particular feature of a product.

Bane couldn't say the idea of watching some American trash disguised as entertainment appealed to him, but the idea of remaining in Blake's company did so he nodded and accepted the other man's invitation to watch the movie with him.

"Yippee-ki-yay."

"Pardon?"

"You'll see."

The two didn't say much to the other for the rest of the decorating, Blake getting lost in the Christmas music again and Bane enjoying the other man's cheerful singing too much to interrupt him. Finally the only thing left to go on the tree was a star Blake had had to make himself because the angel topper he'd found had been way too gaudy, and Barsad had taken away the professionally made star because that was a possible weapon too in the paranoid bastard's eyes. Thus Blake had been reduced to cutting the star out of white cardboard, and while it certainly wasn't symmetrical or pretty, it would work and that was what mattered.

Unfortunately he was probably going to need to get something to stand on because the tree's top was just a little out of his reach and after his third attempt on tippy toes Blake was willing to admit that he wasn't going to-

Yelping a little as Bane's hands settled on his hips and lifted him up in the air, Blake fumbled with the star, catching it out of reflex before it could tumble to the ground. "A little warning next time!"

"Place your star."

Muttering under his breath about being manhandled, though secretly he rather liked it, Blake did as the man suggested and place the star in place, shifting it around a little until he was sure that it would stay in place for the foreseeable future. "Okay, put me down now."

Doing as asked Bane studied the tree along with Blake, noting the imperfections with the overall layout even though objectively he had to admit that the slightly shoddy workmanship in places gave the whole thing a homey sort of charm.

"We did a good job."

If Blake was pleased than he was pleased, Bane decided, nodding his agreement.

"Okay, movie time now."

Looking forward to the movie a lot less than the tree trimming Bane nonetheless didn't argue, especially since watching the movie meant sitting side by side with Blake on the man's bed in relative darkness, the television and the bedside lamp providing just enough light to illuminate their positions.

It was somewhat disturbing to Bane how in tune he was to the detective who seemed completely oblivious to him at the moment, the mercenary torn between wanting Blake to be aware of him on every level, and wanting the man to tune him out so that whatever this was between them would die from lack of stimulation. Thankfully the movie had a lot of gun play and explosions, the familiar sounds continuously drawing his attention back to the screen as Bane's survival instincts forced him to make sure that all was well and that the noise was simply from the film. The movie was also somewhat interesting, surprisingly enough, the villain intriguing him with a plan that was actually somewhat multilayered and thought out. The fact that the majority of the police were portrayed as small minded morons appealed to him too.

It was when the FBI, who appeared to be even more abrasive and stupid than the regular police, took to the air that it happened, Bane catching the movement out of the corner of his eye so that his arms were already coming up to catch Blake as the man fell into them. Keeping the other man from crashing into his legs with one arm Bane moved the other so that he could place his fingers against the detective's throat, finding the pulse there sure and steady. Just asleep then. It had been a long day for the other man after all, not to mention the blood loss and come down from the adrenaline high he must have experienced when he was attacked earlier. That Blake had remained awake this long was surprising now that he considered it. Even more surprising was the fact that he'd been so caught up in the movie that he hadn't noticed Blake waning, which was a little disconcerting, but he'd been trying to ignore the man's presence and that would have played a part as well.

While Bane thought those thoughts Blake shifted against the arm that supported him, twisting and rolling until he was on his back instead of in the belly flop position, the detective then shifting onto his side as he instinctively moved towards the warmth of Bane's body.

Catching onto what the man wanted Bane brought Blake's body closer, rearranging the detective to suit him so that Blake's head was resting against his shoulder, the rest of the other man's body settled back against him with Bane's arms holding him in place.

On a sound of pleasure Blake nuzzled his cheek against the warmth of Bane's thin shirt, his arms coming up to wrap around his captor's neck as he snuggled in close, fast asleep and sinking deeper into oblivion as the seconds ticked away into minutes.

It was when Bane was about to return Blake to his side of the bed that it happened, the slight change in his hold on Blake causing the detective to burrow closer, his voice only just above a whisper as he said Bane's name, telling the man in question that he knew exactly who held him.

All thoughts of turning Blake loose ended then and there, the noise provided by the still running movie going unnoticed as Bane's eyes closed and his face shifted into content lines as he concentrated solely on the man he cradled so gently in his arms. Who wanted to be held by him.

And so they remained long after the credits rolled out.

)

When he woke up the next morning Blake couldn't remember falling asleep or how he'd come to be tucked in so thoroughly since he for sure hadn't done that. The logical explanation was that he'd nodded off during the movie and Bane had tucked him in, which was embarrassing as hell to think about and so he pointedly didn't. He wasn't going to bring it up, and if God was feeling merciful Bane wouldn't mention it either. Instead he would concentrate on getting ready for the day and doing as much baking as possible since Bane had promised to let him send food to the boys' home. Yup, that was him game plan and he was sticking to it!

Under normal circumstances he would have just provided them with the ingredients so that the boys could make the cookies and such themselves, that was something they'd always done at Christmas time, but the electricity hadn't been reliable since Bane had taken over the city and he figured it was more important that the boys get the treats than have them make the cookies only to find they couldn't bake them because the stoves weren't working.

Once he'd showered and dressed Blake headed downstairs and into the kitchen, going straight for the fridge as he muttered to himself about how hungry he was.

"Hear that, he's hungry. Stroke the fire, break out the silver, wake the china."

"Your sarcasm is so appreciated, Barsad, thank you."

Toasting Blake with his coffee cup Barsad took a sip as he leaned back against the counter, not bothering to comment as he simply smirked around the rim.

"Keep that up and your Christmas dinner will consist of water and crusts of bread." Having retrieved the milk from the fridge Blake went about making himself some cereal, ignoring the way Barsad was watching him since the man was apparently all talked out already. Or just wasn't a morning person, this was the earliest they'd ever been around each other before.

Obviously thinking the same, Barsad asked why he was up so early five minutes later, his coffee finished.

"I have a lot of baking to do. None of which is for you." Blake added, smiling nastily since he was well aware of the fact that Barsad had been gorging himself on his baking more than anyone else in the house. "I got Bane's permission to send food to St. Swithins."

"I know. I'm to arrange for a truck to come here at four to pick it all up. He's going with you to drop it off since you seem to find trouble so easily." Or that was the excuse his leader had given, Barsad wasn't sure he believed it. There had been something different about Bane this morning, something had changed. The way Bane had said the detective's name had given him a pretty good idea who was responsible for whatever had put that strange look in Bane's eyes, but he hadn't figured out the details yet.

"I only have until four?" Making a sound of panic Blake immediately applied himself to finishing his cereal as fast as he could, Barsad not trying to continue the conversation least the detective choke on a mouthful. Bane was supposed to be away for the day, Barsad mused, but he wasn't about to risk the man coming back suddenly to find him giving the detective mouth to mouth resuscitation.

That would not end well for him.

Unaware of Barsad's amusement or what thoughts had caused it, Blake chugged down the last of his juice and then hurried to place his cup, spoon and bowl in the dishwasher. That completed he pulled a pad of paper and retrieved a pen, ready to go. "Okay, so what are my limitations for what I can take?"

Resigned to the fact that he was babysitter and supervisor for the day Barsad pulled out a couple pieces of paper out of his own pocket and handed it over, informing the detective that that was what he was going to be allowed to take to the boys' home in terms of their general food supply. What he wanted to do baked goods wise was up to him since those supplies weren't that important if they ran out. They were mercenaries after all, and they controlled Gotham's food supply anyway.

Jaw dropping as he read down the list Blake couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that they were willing to give him this much stuff. He'd thought he'd have to bribe and plead his case to get half of this. And it was in Barsad's handwriting, so the man knew what he was being given. "Does Bane know you're giving me so much?"

Bane had put him in charge of this, was Barsad's cool response, so the final decision was his. And since the majority of the boys at the home were in their early to late teens they would need plenty of food and he saw no reason to deprive them of it.

"If it weren't for the fact that you'd see it as a punishment I'd kiss you for this."

"I'd shoot you."

"Well that seems a little harsh."

"I stand by my statement."

"Okay. Extra cookies for you it is."

Agreeing that that was a much better alternative Barsad suggested that Blake get going on the baking since he would see to it that the rest of the food was packed up and ready for transportation when Bane arrived with the truck to pick them and everything else up.

"Roger that."

)

As promised Bane returned to the estate ten minutes before four, heading directly for the kitchen with four men he'd chosen to aid in the transportation of the supplies to Blake's former home. He heard one man groan a little under in appreciation as they approached their destination, the smells that were reaching their noses enough to make anyone's mouth water. Even his. But more than the Christmas treats it was Blake Bane most wanted to see, butterflies erupting in his stomach when he entered the kitchen and the detective turned around to greet him, chocolate streaking the skin dangerously close to the man's lips.

Hastily swallowing the piece of chocolate haystack he'd been eating, Barsad immediately sprang into action so to speak, walking over to Bane to suggest that he take the men to the large freezer in the garage and start loading the items he'd earmarked into the truck. Blake was almost done here.

"Go."

Loathe though they were to leave the sweet smelling kitchen, especially empty handed, none of the men had missed the change in their leader's body language when he'd seen the chocolate covered Gotham cop, who'd looked happy to see Bane but had given them the cool eyed stare that said government dog to their knowing eyes. So the rumors were true, they thought to themselves, which meant it was in their best interests to stay as far away from their leader's man as possible.

Having not missed the looks the men were giving Bane's back, or the way Bane had looked at Blake for one fleeting moment before he'd hidden his thoughts away, Barsad paused only long enough to see that the latter had gone completely over Blake's head before leaving the room with the men at his heels.

Bane had finally found someone who interested him sexually and possibly romantically, Barsad thought to himself as they walked down the hallway, proving that The Pit had not killed those drives as they'd all suspected for so long. That the man would feel such desires for a cop of all people, one of the enemy…well at this point Barsad was willing to just be thankful Bane had never felt those things for Talia.

That would have spelled Bane's doom long ago.

Unaware of the thoughts running through his men's heads Bane waited until they were gone and the door closed behind them before he took off his gloves, shoving them into the pockets of his coat. That done he approached Blake, ordering the man to remain still as he reached out and ran his thumb across the stained skin, noting the slight dilation of Blake's eyes at his touch, the way the man's lips opened a little in reaction to the caress.

"Thanks." Aware on some level that that had come out a lot huskier than normal, Blake cleared his throat. "Baking is a messy business, especially when I'm doing it."

"So I see." There were quite a few messes and stacks of dirty bowls and cooking equipment littered all over the counter space, and that was with the dishwasher running in the background.

"Yeah, my Home Ec teacher would not be pleased with me right now." Seeing Bane's look of interest Blake grinned at him impishly. "After one of her cooking classes she'd go around to all the stations to make sure that everything was spick and span. She didn't miss anything either, I can't tell you how many times she'd point something out and very Britishly state 'Heaven sakes, is that a spot? Clean it up!' to whoever was working there."

Nodding his understanding Bane asked how much more time Blake required to finish what he was doing.

"Actually I'm pretty much done here. Everything else is for you and Barsad and whoever else keeps pinching my Christmas cookies when I'm not around." Pause. "I really appreciate you letting me do this. When Barsad told me how much he was going to let me give them I could have kissed him. He said he'd shoot me if I tried." Blake added with a grin, thinking to distill some of the tension that seemed to be flooding the room.

"You were going to kiss him?"

"It's an expression, Bane. I would have said the same to you if you'd been here." Damn, how could he have forgotten Bane's delusions when it came to his supposed interest in Barsad? Stupid, tired brain!

"You are offering to kiss me?"

What? Huh? Oh Shit!

"Well I can't exactly kiss you, Bane, seeing as you never take that mask on. And I don't think you'd appreciate me blowing you a raspberry, though I'm willing to do that."

Ignoring the offer Bane asked why he could not be kissed despite the mask.

"Because you wouldn't feel it. I mean what would be the point otherwise? And why would you want a kiss anyway? Shouldn't you be threatening to shoot me too?"

"Barsad would not have shot you." Though he might have shot Barsad had such a thing occurred between his detective and his second in command. He would have possibly regretted the action in the future, Bane acknowledged silently, though that would depend on a number of variables.

"Well I hope he wouldn't shoot me for such a stupid reason but that's not the point."

"What is the point then?"

"You…you really want me to kiss you to say thanks? Seriously?"