A/N: Finally! That's all I can say. This is my longest chapter ever so far.

P.S: I imagine Eleanor as Emily Blunt and Chris as Chris Hemsworth (thor hair, but regular clothes and no bleached eyebrows)

Chapter 6: Older Bloke With a Limp

I arrived at home to see my roommates Eleanor and Chris sitting on the front steps, basking in the sunlight.

Chris squinted up at me as I approached. "Well look who it is." He said as he tucked a strand of blond hair behind his ear.

Eleanor moved from leaning with her elbows on the step and her head back - to sitting upright and grinning. Her long brown locks were flowing in the breeze. She had a cup of tea beside her of course, like the English woman she was. She opened her eyes barely, just enough to see who was in front of her. She smiled as she placed her right hand over her eyes for shade. Eleanor was in a peach a summer dress, while Chris was wearing a white tank top and shorts that showed off his hairy blond leg hairs.

"Hey!" I called out as I reached them.

"And where were you, Miss Donovan?" Eleanor asked. "I got worried when you didn't come home last night." She sounded more like my mother than my roommate who I had only just met two and a half months ago.

All three of us had met on the plane ride over here - and it was pure luck that we were the only non-Moroccans in that section of the plane and happened to be sitting close to each other. Chris and I sat beside each other, while Eleanor was in front sitting beside an old woman who didn't speak, so she was always turning round to chat with us. We talked for most of the plane ride, and when we got to the airport, I was on my way to find a hotel while Chris was about to go to some bar(at least that's what he said. It wasn't until Eleanor had stopped us and said she had a place and would let us stay with her and we could split the rent if we helped her get a cab. So we got her a cab - and the rest is history I guess.

"Yeah. She thought we'd find you dead somewhere." Chris added.

She elbowed him "Oh be quiet." Then, she turned to me. "I didn't think that at all Natalie," she told me.

"That's good to know." I replied. I walked over and took a seat beside them, on what little space there was left on the step, so I was no longer blinding their eyeballs by standing right where the sun was shining. Eleanor took her cup up in her hand.

"No, really. where were you?" She asked, turning to me.

I took a deep breath and contemplated what and how much I should tell them. Or how much I wanted to tell them.

"With a friend," I replied. It wasn't a lie - just very vague.

"I thought you didn't know anyone in Morocco?" Eleanor asked, still watching me curiously.

She was right. On the way over here, I mentioned that I didn't know anyone from here and was just going for the experience. It was true...at the time.

"Well, I guess I do now." I shrugged.

"Well, excuse me?" She was smiling now. I just grinned. I knew what she was thinking and a part of me wanted her to believe that I had been reckless and hooked up with some random Moroccan hunk - even when I hadn't. Honestly, I wasn't that kind of person. I was more of a relationship kinda girl.

I got up from the steps and made my way inside.

"You didn't have a one-nightstand, did you?" I turned around to see that Eleanor had followed me inside. "Not judging if you did." She added.

I shook my head as I walked over to the kitchen table. "Uh - no. Sorry to disappoint." I unzipped by bag and began taking the things out.

"Really - then what happened?" She asked.

"It's a long story - but it's not as interesting as you might think." I continued. "The guy I met just didn't want me to be out so late at night."

"Oh..." Eleanor teased. "He didn't want you to be out late? How sweet."

"Not like that - well, he was hurt and I helped bring him back something he left behind somewhere. Then he let me stay in his place."

"Oh." Eleanor looked like she was disappointed my story wasn't any more interesting than that.

"Yeah.." I sighed. "I'm tired so I'm going back to bed. I'll see you both later then."

I left the kitchen and headed upstairs to where my room was on the left. It was small, but cozy. I had a bed, a small nightstand beside it, a dresser, a closet and a small TV. The bathroom was right across from me so that was good.

I undid my ponytail, letting my straight brown locks fall against my back. Then I took off my shirt and my teal maxi skirt. I leaped under my covers in only a tank top and my underwear. I didn't fall asleep yet. I just lay on my tummy and stared at my suitcase lying in the corner. There were still some things in there that I hadn't even unpacked yet. Just reminding of how scared I was.

How I was unready to commit to being here at all.

I came here on a whim and I was glad for the experience, but I was also scared of the unknown. Of being away my family, my friends. Scared that if I ever needed help or got kidnapped or needed money that I couldn't reach them for whatever reason. That's what freaked me out.

How long have I been here? About two and a half months since I left Michigan. I was living in a house with people I just met. It was stupid, but it was Eleanor's place and she seemed like one of those free-spirit types. Plus she was a teacher, so of course I trusted her. Chris seemed nice enough at first, but I couldn't really be sure. I promised myself if anything weird happened I would lock my door and sneak out the second floor window. That was two and a half months ago and I haven't locked my door once so I must be safe.

This had been a rewarding experience so far. The food and the sights were great and something told me that with Bane here, it was only about to get better. I would find out more about him and more about whatever he had going on in that basement. I got up and took a shower, before I eventually drifted to sleep with that thought still on my mind. Bane and his stupid basement.

A few hours later at around noon, I was awaken by soft tapping on the door.

"Knock. Knock." The person said.

"Come in," I called out, after making sure my bare ass was concealed under the sheets.

Chris slowly opened the door and stepped inside. "Hey, how are?" He whispered hoarsely, sounding like he had been sleeping as well.

"I'm good." I rubbed my eyes and smiled up at him. "You?"

"Fine, thanks." He answered."Did I wake you?"

"No, not really." I lied. "You wanted to talk?"

"Yeah...So..." He came over and squatted himself down on my bed. "What's this I hear about you dating an older bloke with a limp?"

"Did Eleanor tell you that?" I sat up immediately. "Well then one of you need to get your ears cleaned. I'm not dating anyone. I just met someone - and he definitely does NOT have a limp. He walks fine. A little slow, but -"

"But you stayed at his place, right?" Chris asked, peering up at me, his voice lower than usual. There was something about the tone of his voice, but I shrugged it off.

"Yeah...I stay in the same house as you and we're friends. Why can't I just be friends with a guy?"

"Good point. Never mind then." He replied.

I laughed, leaning back on the palms of my hands. "Anyway if you knew him, you wouldn't say that about him. He isn't just some guy." I began. "He's more than that. There's something about him and I don't even know how to explain it you." Well how could I mention that the man whose house I crashed at barely left the house, wore a strange mask on his face and had a secret basement lair. You couldn't just tell someone that without alarming them about your odd choice in friends.

"I'm not sure I'm following you." Chris finally said in confusion. "You don't like him that way, but -"

"I know it sounds odd, but I don't know." I shrugged. "I'm not in love or anything. Plus he isn't exactly someone I would date or even consider dating" I paused. "Just someone I want to get to know."

"No, I do understand." He offered. "Once I met a guy back in Sydney when I was out surfing with some mates. He was an older guy..a little off, but he was cool as hell. Worked on a farm. Anyway, when I met him I knew right away... this is the kinda guy I'd like to bend the elbow with... this is the kinda guy I'd like to get to know. After that we met up every weekend to ride waves..Not anymore though I guess." He shrugged. He did mention that he never stayed in places long, not even his hometown.

"Yeah, sorta like that." I smiled at him, musing at his awkward mix of American and Aussie slang. I guess he did sort of understand. For some reason, every time I saw Chris, I suddenly had an image in my head of him in the outback, wrestling crocodiles with his shirt off.

"Hey!" His voice brought me back to reality."Are you just smiling coz of my accent?" He accused with a grin. "I need to know."

"No - well, partially." I laughed. I did that a lot to him. "I'm sorry... but I do love accents." I replied.

{Bane's Residence - Basement}

"She won't be a distraction, will she?" Barsad walked up behind his comrade who was seated at the wooden desk in front of the bulletin board. Bane was looking at large photographs, taken discreetly be a colleague, of a man they both believed to be dead.

Bane knew he meant Natalie.

"To you or to me?" Bane asked in jest. For the most part it was a joke, but Bane also knew Barsad had been quite taken with the girl... Right from the moment he saw them staring at each other at the front of the house this morning.

Barsad laughed. "To both of us I guess." He started off. "She is pretty cute." He rested his hand flat on the table's surface.

"She's just intrigued," Bane began, still transfixed by the photos. "They're all intrigued by that they don't understand."

"How did you meet her anyway?"

"She came to me." Bane replied.

"She said you were hurt, is that true?" Barsad asked.

"Yes," Bane replied, absentmindedly. Bane put the pictures in a folder and shoved them away. He didn't want to look at them any longer.

"Damn Arab should of done his job." Barsad barked. For a moment, Bane had forgotten what they were speaking upon. "You shouldn't have been out that night." Barsad shook his head.

"It's not his fault. It's mine. I shouldn't have gone anyway." But he did and whatever made him decide to, part of him was glad he had. His encounter with those men may have been unfortunate, but meeting the girl might not have been too bad. He did enjoy what little interaction he got to have with someone besides Barsad and Aasir for a change. "They tried to steal my mask in the fight." He added in contemplation. There was only ever one mask made and he knew what the consequences would be if it was ever lost.

Bane rose and walked over to the right side of the bulletin where a picture of Talia was pinned. It reminded him of why he had to hold on. It's the slow knife, he thought...the knife that takes it's time...

"Did they know what it was?" Barsad questioned about the mask. He watched Bane pause as he was about to trail his hand over the photo.

Bane blinked, trying to erase thoughts of Talia from his mind. He turned away briskly and went back to his seat. "No - but she was thoughtful enough to return it."

"Natalie," Barsad breathed. It was half question, half statement and Bane wondered why Barsad was inclined to recite her name aloud as though he didn't already know the "she" he was referring to. Bane now sat still in the chair, his arms clenched forward on the flat surface, not really looking at anything. Barsad eased his hand off of the desk to give him the space.

"And what... she just invited herself to stay the night?" Barsad continued.

"No that was my doing," Bane replied.

"Be careful, You might not be able to get her to leave... If you want to that is?" Barsad added brazenly.

Bane's arms tensed. Now that it was just the two of them and Bane no longer had an army, Barsad was becoming much more casual in his tone. Especially when speaking of the girl. Maybe Barsad thought they were equal now. Bane wasn't sure exactly what he thought of it yet.

"She seems like a nice girl, but we do not want her in the way." Bane said immediately.

Barsad nodded in agreement. "By the way, I sent her to look for you this morning. Did she find you before she left?"

"I met her on my way up from the basement."

"Did she see anything?" He asked, running his hand nervously through a patch of his hair.

"I don't believe so." Even if she had, Bane knew she would have no idea what all of this information was for anyway.

Barsad changed the topic. "OK, so I set up a meeting with that guy about a certain someone's whereabouts."

Bane finally looked away from the wall and turned to face Barsad. "He has the information we need?" Bane's fists were now quietly trembling with a mix of anger and anticipation.

"Yes - I just need to pick up the package with the device first." Barsad told him.

"When?" Bane asked, flatly.

"We're meeting up tomorrow morning."

{Natalie's Bedroom}

Some time later, I woke up to the sound of heavy bass jazz music flooding my ears. It was lucky that we didn't live too close to anyone.

Outside was dark, but I had no idea what time it was. I strained my eyes to see what time the clock on the wall read. 5:45. I must have been really tired, I mused to myself.

The music continued. I assumed it was Eleanor having one of her artsy painting sessions.

I walked down the steps, still just in my undies. Only to reach the foot of the stairs, turn my head and see that there were people in the kitchen and dining room. Talking, laughing, drinking, eating. I turned on the balls of my feet and sprinted back up the steps.

They were have a freaking dinner party?! What the hell! I hastily changed into something more suitable. Jeans and a tank top. Bum fully covered.

Of course I wanted to confront them about about the major thing they forgot to mention to me, but they were nowhere to be found. The couch and kitchen chairs were filled with people I didn't know or care to know so I just filled myself a plate of food, grabbed a beer and found a spot on the floor hoping not to be stepped on.

It was about ten o' clock at night when I thought I saw Eleanor's brown hair, now up in a bun, bobbing out the front door.

"Eleanor!" I called out, as I got up of the floor, my legs way past numb. Plus the three extra alcoholic beverages I had were not helping.

"Hey!" A man stopped me by reaching out for my shoulder. He was white with buzzed hair and standing with a darker woman, a drink in his hand. "Me and a few others were talking about sharing a cab home later. You interested?" The man asked.

"It's OK. I live here actually." I corrected him. So not only did Chris and El have a party and not tell me, they also did not bother to mention to anyone that they had a roommate.

"Oh me too. I live just down the street," The olive-skinned woman interjected, her glassy hazel eyes lighting up.

That was not what I meant. "No, I mean I live in this house actually." I told her.

"Really? Since when?" the man scoffed in disbelief.

"What was your name again?" The woman asked, clearly tipsy, but then again, so was I.

"Natalie," I replied.

"Oh wait, I know who she is!" The woman said to the man, then turned back to me. "Are you the American teenager girl they took in?" The woman asked.

Teenager girl? I was twenty frickin two years old. Chris was only six years older than I was. Were they really acting like I was some charity case? Nobody took me in. I was invited here - same as Chris was.

"No one took me in." I shouted, angrily.

The couple just looked back and forth at each other.

Just then, a slightly off-balance Chris came up from the basement, his short blond tresses swaying by his chin. Some blond girl in a short dress was on his arm. She frowned when he stopped.

"Oh...hey Nat." Chris said.

"Really?" I asked, turning towards him, assuming he had heard.

"Come on. It was just a joke." He said.

"Sure it was." I said, biting my lip. "I'm leaving," I told him. I wasn't really leaving, I was just being dramatic when I was really going to sit out in the shed.

"Don't be like that." he shrugged out from underneath the blond's arm and began following me.

"What else do you two say behind my back, huh?" I exclaimed.

"No one was talking behind your back. They were kidding."

I was almost completely out the door, when he grabbed me by the arm. I turned around to yell at him, but instead just fell under his hard gaze. Then I noticed his latest conquest standing behind him looking drunk and confused. My eyes drifted down to her bare pink painted toes.

I turned back to Chris. "Your friend is waiting." He reluctantly let go of my arm just as I yanked it away.

That was weird, I noted as I walked out past the garden. We had never had a moment like that before. We barely talked about things didn't revolve around who was doing the shopping or what good protein options him and Eleanor thought of for dinner or what sight I should visit when I get the time. Come to think of it, he has never randomly decided to chat with me for no reason, like earlier when he came to my room.

I continued walking till I got to the shed. I wondered what Bane was doing at this moment...or what Barsad was. I may not have known much about Bane, but at least he never treated me like I was inferior just because of my age. Like he needed to educate me.

He actually saw...whatever he did see in me. Not like I needed to be perfected by knowing about arts and music...or politics... or how to make Ma'amoul because this lovely Moroccan woman from class taught him how to make it.

I sighed. So this is what the rest of my night would look like. Me - sitting alone in a dirty shed with a dusty bottom. I probably should have brought my flip flops because my feet were now covered in dirt.

I turned my head toward the sound of the shed being tugged open. It was Eleanor.

"Chris told me you were upset. Said that you hate us." she said as she came inside, leaving the door open so we wouldn't be in complete darkness.

"Did he now?" I asked, stubbornly.

She came over and took a seat beside me. I felt bad for having her get her green peplum dress dirty for me. "Look, they probably just misinterpreted." She said looking at me.

"I was probably a little tipsy when I snapped anyway." I replied, solemnly. That and just tired. I was just tired of not being enough for people. I guess I sort of expected them to automatically be saying bad things about me. I could never keep friends for a long period of time anyway. Every one usually just left. Truth was, if I had never met Chris or Eleanor, I would probably be alone in some cheap hotel or probably even at home. There is no way I would have lasted this long in a foreign country if I was all alone.

"So... I said, looking up."Why didn't either of you tell me about the stupid party, then?" I asked.

"You didn't know?" She asked, seemingly in disbelief.

"No I didn't." I said loudly.

"Well we just planned it the day before. Anyway, I told Chris to tell you."

"And did you think he would?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Right..." Eleanor shook her head. "The same man who forgets and leaves the stove on when he goes out for a bike ride." She slapped her palm to her forehead. "So sorry."

"It's fine now." I told her.

Neither of us said anything for a couple of seconds.

"Tomorrow if you want, we can to the shops...get some cool stuff...some clothes." She offered with a smile. "By the way, this is NOT me trying to win you over, I'm saying this as your friend...we are friends right?"

"Yeah of course." I nodded. I wanted us to be more than just roommates who occasionally spoke to each other whenever we entered and left the house. I wanted to be as close to her as Chris was. We all met the same way, so there was no reason for me to feel the need to exclude myself as much as I did."Tomorrow..." I began. I didn't exactly have plans, but I knew I wanted to see Bane again. I just didn't know how to make that happen.

Who was he and why was he in Morocco living in that big empty house? I planned to go back there. I know I wanted to, I just didn't know when.

"Yeah, tomorrow's fine," I told her.

A/N: This took a long ass time. Sorry about that people. I had to rewrite this a billion times because I wasn't feeling it. I would basically put off writing it because the chapter didn't interest me. It wasn't until I deleted the bull-crap and fixed the plot and added better dialogue that I was able to finish it. I'm happy with it now. So stay tuned.

Thanks for staying with me. Also thanks for all the reviews and support so far.