Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the situations all characters get in.

Service To The Test

Sitting beside Bane as they drove through the mostly empty streets of Gotham, Blake tried to appear as small and insignificant as possible. It wasn't his way to hide from things, not for a long time now, but he didn't know what to do and drawing attention to that would not be a good idea. You never showed a predator that you were afraid unless you wanted to go from being seen as a fellow predator to merely prey. Even if Bane would probably laugh at the idea that they were equal in the predatory department, Blake acknowledged as he tried to tell himself that there was no way Bane would bring the whole kissing thing up while they were surrounded by the man's mercenaries.

Unfortunately the little voice in his head kept reminding him that it would be far from the first time Bane had surprised him if he did. Like the fact that Bane had actually seemed very interesting in getting a kiss back at the house before they were interrupted, preventing Bane from answering his question about whether the man really wanted him to kiss him. And while the interruption had killed the incredibly awkward moment, which he'd very much appreciated at the time, he was now left to wonder if Bane would continue their discussion once they were alone again.

He had no fucking clue what he was going to say or do if that happened.

Technically it wouldn't even count if Bane did request that kiss. The mask meant that the man wouldn't feel it and he wouldn't be kissing skin of any sort if he really thought about it. He'd be kissing metal or leather. That wasn't something to freak out or worry about.

But then that really wasn't what he was freaking out about, Blake reminded himself, forcing himself to be honest. What worried him was whether or not Bane was developing a sexual interest in him that could come into play very shortly. They were bringing the kids a hell of a lot of food…that was a debt Bane could intend to cash in on once they were home. Or later, if there really was an attraction on the other man's part, Bane could offer to give the boys more of what they needed, maybe agree to help other orphanages in the city in exchange for sexual favors.

He'd been in the system, he'd known plenty of other guys who'd done things of a sexual nature in trade for the bare necessities, minor luxuries, or protection against others. He'd seen the price they'd paid even if they refused to acknowledge what it did to them, what it cost them. So long ago he'd decided that as determined as he was to live, that was a line he would never cross. He'd never be anyone's whore in order to survive, he'd end himself first. A quick death was better than a slow one from the inside out.

What scared him though was the knowledge that while he wouldn't cross that line to save himself…he'd cross it to save others. There was very little he wouldn't do to protect the innocents.

When you assume you make an ass of u and me, Blake reminded himself sternly. Bane had probably just been messing with his head or lacked an understanding of how humor was supposed to work. Or it had simply been curiosity on Bane's part, that made the most sense. Of course when people were curious about something, especially people like Bane who seemed to love to learn, they wanted to understand what held their interest. Bane had asked him questions about his sex life before, and idiot that he was he had tried to get it through the man's undeniably thick skull that sex was in fact a very enjoyable thing.

In other words, Blake acknowledged with a slight grimace, he might have unknowingly made his bed and would soon be expected to lie on it. He'd even told Bane that he liked big men, for fuck sakes, and the other man had seen him naked at least a couple of times.

Was this possible kiss going to be a stepping stone for Bane, a dipping the toe into the water so to speak?

For that matter, had Bane ever properly been kissed before?

It was so weird to think about someone Bane's age never having been kissed before, though come to think of it he wasn't sure how old the man was in the first place. Did Bane even know, having been locked away in a prison for most of his life? He didn't know how long Bane had had to wear a mask for either, or when he'd first been exposed to Venom.

He shouldn't want to know so badly, and Blake knew it, but thinking about it took his mind off other things and let him relax a little for the rest of the drive.

The home, when they got there, looked much the same as it always did, which was a relief though not really a surprise. It hadn't been much to look at from the outside even before Bane had taken over the city. All the money they got had gone to the boys and making sure they had what they needed, a philosophy he'd always approved of.

Once they'd pulled into the short driveway and everyone had exited the two trucks Blake turned to Bane, requesting that he be allowed to go to the side door and alert those inside as to what was going on. There was no reason to scare the hell out of the children by suddenly storming the only home they had in a war zone.

"I will come in and get you if necessary." He'd already informed Blake that he wasn't to relay where they were staying or anything the detective had learned during his stay with them. And the detective wouldn't be the only one punished if he disobeyed.

"I won't run or tell them anything. You have my word."

Seeing that they understood each other Blake walked over to the door and began a series of complicated knocks all over the door, a signal that someone from the house was there. The kids had come up with it at the start of the occupation and he'd learned it too as one of their constant visitors.

The door opened slightly once the signal was completed, the boy close to eighteen and as solidly built as his currently sparse diet allowed for. "John!"

His arms full of happy teenager a second later Blake hugged back and then got straight to the point. "Jordan, I need you to get Father Riley now. I've arranged for you guys to get a bunch of food for Christmas and the men behind me have it. They're the bad guys and I am being held hostage as you possibly heard. They won't hurt you, but I don't want them coming inside which means you and the other teens need to come and help. Okay?"

Arms tight around Blake's waist since he'd noticed the men standing in their driveway, Jordan tried and failed to break eye contact with the man everyone in Gotham knew now. The one responsible for everything. Bane.

"Jordan."

"Yeah. Yeah I'll go and tell them."

"Good. Lock the door behind you. Go as quick as you can."

As soon as Jordan was back inside and the door was locked behind him Blake moved to stand guard in front of it, a single sentry that remained where he was until he heard the sound of the locks being undone behind him.

And then there was Father Riley in the doorway, happy tears in his eyes. "John."

"Hey." The man gave great bear hugs, Blake thought as he hugged back just as hard. And he'd really been needing one.

But there wasn't time for a reunion and the longer they stuck around the more likely Bane was to decide they needed to leave before everything had been unloaded. So Blake only allowed himself a moments respite before drawing back, his cop face on as he turned to look at the men he'd come with.

"Bring the food up to the stoop here. Don't linger and don't touch any of the boys or it's the last thing you'll do before I introduce you to a world of hurt."

None of the men moved until Bane told them to do as ordered, the current boss of Gotham moving to stand beside Blake to oversee that end while Barsad supervised the unloading.

The priest joined Blake in standing guard as the boxes of food were brought up and set down on the stoop to be grabbed by the older boys who were too hungry and determined not to appear scared to back down from the task. Riley kept a hand on Blake's shoulder the whole time, giving it comforting squeezes as they watched over the innocents they'd been charged with.

Every once in a while his gaze shifted over to Bane, though the priest said nothing to the mercenary.

Not at all sure what the proper protocol was, but feeling like he should, Blake cleared his throat. "Father Riley, this is Bane, obviously. Bane, this is Father Riley."

He had no liking for religion or their devoted, but he was willing to be courteous to this man who meant so much to Blake. "Father Riley."

"Bane. This is most generous of you. Thank you."

"You have Detective Blake to thank for this, not I, Priest."

Nodding his head, he hadn't doubt that that was the case after all, Father Riley opted to lapse into silence, knowing that if he started asking questions of his former ward or the man who held their city hostage he was likely to arouse the latter's wrath or get John in trouble.

So all three went quiet, watching the proceedings with eagle eyes.

Once the last box had been handed over Blake forced himself to move out from under Father Riley's hand, knowing it was now time to go. "Take care of yourself and them. If I can find a way to help again I will."

So much to say and no time to say it, the priest thought, saying only that he would be praying for him and was so very glad he was still alive.

"Thanks. And Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, John." And looking over to meet Bane's eyes once more Riley didn't flinch. "I will pray that understanding and compassion for your fellow man finds you, Mr. Bane, in the coming year."

"Perhaps that's why your God sent Blake to me, Father. And now we must go."

)

Once they were back in the truck and on their way, Bane turned his attention to the man sitting quietly beside him. It had been interesting, seeing the place that his detective had once lived in. The man who'd stood watch with Blake, the priest, had seemed like a good man. He'd watched the teenage boys under his car like a protective father would, had touched Blake the same way on the shoulder. He hadn't even minded that, and normally he hated seeing anyone's hands on the detective.

"This Father Riley was good to you."

"Yeah. He and the Batman made me the man I am."

He didn't like that. "You made yourself."

"No. Or at least that's not the whole truth. Father Riley believed in me, even when I gave him plenty of shit back in the day, and the Batman made me believe that I could use the ugliness inside of me, the anger and the hate, to prevent others from becoming like us."

"You aren't like the Bat."

"I know that. He's way more kick ass and built than I am. Or was." Blake added, deliberately flexing one arm with a smirk on his face before he remembered he didn't want Bane evaluating his body. Back to topic. "It would take years of study to compete with him physically but maybe I'll ask, when he comes back here and hands your asses to you. Maybe he'll teach me now that you forced him back into business."

"Over my dead body."

"Well you keep thinking you can take over our city and it might be."

Looking at the detective who was once again smirking at him, Bane smiled behind the mask, taking the man's statement as a challenge. In fact, now that he thought about it, he liked the idea of training Blake himself. He wanted to be the one who made the other man strong. Who influenced him more than Wayne. He would show his detective real strength and just how strong he was.

Before he could make that offer he noticed that Blake seemed to be paying particular attention to a building up ahead, the expression on the younger man's face suggesting he had memories tied to the no doubt deserted structure.

"You know that building up ahead?"

"Lumière's. It was a French restaurant, really classy and pretentious despite its less than ideal locale. A friend of mine, Jerry, was the maître d there years ago. He adopted this French accent while he was there, to fit in with the ambiance he said, but I knew it was mostly to pick up women. A real lady killer, that was Jerry. He was all candlelight and romance, the women loved him. He was dating a girl he called Babs last time I talked to him at a Halloween party. He was dressed like an aristocrat, and she was a French maid in a very short skirt. I went as Neo from 'The Matrix'."

Curious about the detective and the things he had yet to learn about the other man, Bane asked how Blake had met this Jerry person.

"High school history, he was the type that could make friends with anyone without even trying. Always the center of attention, charming his way out of trouble." Blake grinned at the memories. "We had Mr. Cogsworth for World History and God, what a-he was very old school." He explained, catching himself before he called his old teacher a prick. "Obsessed with punctuality, the guy carried a pocket watch with him wherever he went. I used to think he was as tightly wound as one too. The man hardly ever smiled, and why he became a teacher was beyond me when he couldn't stand how 'uncivilized' we teenagers were. Jerry drove him nuts especially, without even trying. The two made the class very entertaining."

"Did you enjoy history?"

"It could be interesting…but the repetition got more than a little depressing after a while." Blake gave Bane a look that was meant to remind the man that they'd had this conversation already. And that he still thought it would be in the other man's best interest to start looking at what he was doing in comparison to other acts carried out by people intending to 'save' the world.

Understanding, Bane simply stared back until Blake looked away.

)

The Tavern, before the city's occupation, had been a regular cop hangout that had been known for its decent pub grub, quick service, and comfortable surroundings if you ignore the hunting trophies and the large portrait of the owner over the fireplace. Now it was abandoned, the stores and alcohol long stolen and the famous blonde waitresses, triplets, gone, and so it served as temporary HQ for those cops still above ground and fighting to retake the city they'd sworn to serve and protect. It wouldn't be for long, they constantly moved around for safety, but for now it was home.

Out of the swirling snow that followed him in as he entered through the side door, Gordon wore an expression that was part jubilation, part fear and panic. "Blake's alive! We need to go after him!"

Foley raised his eyebrows. "How do you know that?"

"One of the boys from his former home tracked us down. Apparently Blake showed up at the home he grew up at with food for them two hours ago. Bane's holding him hostage, but he somehow convinced that son of a bitch to let him bring the boys food."

"Why would Bane do that?" One of the other cop's piped up, confusion on his face. "He had to know that Blake wouldn't know anything, we moved right after, in case he was alive and they tortured him for info about our location and plans. What would Blake have to trade with?"

A volunteer said what a number of the other cops were thinking. "Maybe this guy's the Beast's type."

Silence descended.

"Look, enough of that Beast bullshit." Gordon ordered, pointing a finger in the man's direction. "He's not some animal, some hideous monster with fangs and a snout, People! You make him stronger and more feared by acting like he's more than a man. Now we need to figure out how to get Blake back now that we know for sure he's still alive!"

"How? We don't know where they are now and even if we did a direct attack wouldn't work. They're better armed, in better shape, and if Bane's keeping him close…nobody goes up against that guy and wins."

The sentiment was echoed by others in the room, the looks they were giving him saying that they thought he was old and crazy to think they'd go off on some wild goose chase that might end with them going up against Bane, especially for a mere detective.

Well fuck them, Gordon thought as he glared back at them, he'd go it alone if he had to. He owed Blake more than one debt, and he had no intention of leaving his man behind.

)

So I figured it was time to explain some references again. Chapter 10 was obviously the wolves attacking 'Belle' and being accompanied by Phillipe, the name of Belle's horse. Chapter 11 was the 'That Hurts!' scene when Belle bandages the Beast's wounds, and Chapter 12 was the mentioning of a character named Le Fou, who was Gaston's henchman and who also appeared as a snowman in the movie. There was also a line from the first song 'it's no wonder that her (his) name means…. Chapter 13 are Mrs. Potts' lines from the song 'Be Our Guest'.