The Bitter Forces of Fate

by ClownQween'69

Jenna's been thrown into a world she could have never prepared for. Forced to live in the dark dwells of chaos and pain, disarray overwhelms her every second when she realizes she cannot abandon her terribly deep interest in her captor, Bane. And what's worse? He cannot restrain his interest in her... Bane/OC *SPOILERS* (Rated M for a reason)

12. Broken

Merry Christmas! Today was a wonderful day, and I'm happy to have been able to finish this chapter!

PLEASE NOTE, however, that this chapter contains some very mature content (we all know what that means) proceed with caution, or, if you're not at all bothered by this, then ignore this message and enjoy!

---

It had been a sleepless night for Isaac. Bitter memories of the discussion he had had with Jenna the night before had haunted him the entire night, and caused him to question the entirety of it. He laid awake in his bed in his own room, staring through the darkness with heavy, tired eyes as he tried to access how he really felt. Normally a man of rational thinking, Isaac had figured this would be simple, but it was just the opposite.

Rationally, what was there to be mad at? He wasn't in charge here; he not only understood this, but he accepted it completely, so why even care what Bane did when he wasn't amongst his men, giving orders? What the hell had he always been doing anyway?

Was it pathetic to put the entirety of the blame on Jenna? After all, how much control did she have around here anyway, and over him? None, Isaac had answered as he turned around in his bed to face the wall, desperate to fall asleep. But sleep ever came. Instead, a wave of further thoughts drifted him away from any attempt at slumber, and this only aggravated him further.

Jenna was a hostage. More-so, Jenna was Bane's hostage. He could do whatever the hell he wanted to her, plus more. So what if she was still alive and not going through some sort of real, physical torture everyday, like Isaac had been expecting. What difference did it make to him? Thing is, Isaac knew, there was something about Jenna that he had instantly liked himself. He knew that deep down she was so unlike her upbringing, unlike her parents, unlike everyone else in Gotham. Isaac had meant it when he told her she carried potential. But for Jenna to have slept with Bane? Had she been willing or had Bane forced it? Was Bane even like that? What had Isaac so upset was the fact that a new war starting; Bane and his crew had to be in a full out, tactical mode now, for plans were happening! How could Bane ever allow such a distraction?

This is what Isaac didn't like, as well not knowing the entirety of the story. Could he trust Jenna's word? How he could ever ask Bane? I can't, he thought. Did he even want to know the story? The further he accessed his thoughts, the more he realized his sudden hatred was not due to rational thoughts, but some sort of sick feeling from the heart. Feelings of this sort had been abandoned long ago when he had joined Bane's crew, where he was able to establish himself as a rational, logical man who was not to be crossed or questioned. Fine, he thought as he turned around in his bed again, predicting the time to have been around almost four in the morning. So why even have these emotions in the first place?

It all came back to the fact that he liked Jenna. He realized now that he had completely abandoned his normal demeanor when Jenna had arrived; he had been so keen on helping her, directly off the bat. He offered her cigarettes, her offered her his coat, he offered her advice and above all, he had started to offer her a friendship. Isaac groaned to himself as he rolled over onto his back to stare up at the ceiling, able to hear the TV on just outside his door. He had told her that eventually he would recite his own story to her, just because she had asked. Isaac closed his eyes and sighed. Why, why had he done that? He didn't want to tell anybody that story, let alone think about it.

So what did it come down to? Rationally, he liked Jenna. Logically, she hadn't done anything more wrong than Bane had... in fact, had she done anything wrong at all? After all, she was the one who had no control, whatsoever. Shouldn't he be angry at Bane, if anyone? But on that note, why even be mad in the first place? All his anger was coming from senseless emotions that he knew would break away once he defeated them with logic. If only it was so easy though...

In his head, he had his answer, but on a deeper level he couldn't help but to still be bothered. Finally, a little after five, Isaac couldn't take laying in bed anymore. He threw the covers off of him and instantly got out of bed before moving over to the light switch. He flicked it on, illuminating his weapon and gun filled room, the objects taking up space everywhere. He moved past the row of larger machine guns and sniper rifles back to his bed, where he proceeded with dressing in a pair of gray cargo pants and a long sleeved, black shirt.

He maneuvered down the ladder that led up to his room quietly before proceeding toward the exit door, and he couldn't help but to glance down the basement stairs before he unlocked the door and pulled it open. The air was bitingly cold, and upon glancing up at the sky, he saw the sun was rising behind a thick fog of gray clouds, and he wondered idly if it might actually start to snow early in the year. Ignoring the cold, he started over to the garage, his truck parked outside of it, and he took the keys from his pocket before climbing inside of it.

The drive to the gas station seemed to drone on longer than usual. Typically, Isaac started every other morning at the gas station, though this was the earliest he had been there in a while. He parked the car and stepped out of it before entering the tiny corner store, and he instantly started over to the drinks. His face was flat as he pulled out a bottle of his favorite iced tea, and he instantly placed his hand over the cap to open it. He took four large sips before he fastened the cap and stepped up to the counter, the woman behind it staring at him funny, but he knew it was due to his actions with the drink.

"Is this all sir?" She asked as she took the opened tea to scan it. Isaac was shaking his head as he pulled out some cash.

"No," he answered. "I need a pack of Camel filters," he specified, only to pause suddenly. "Actually, two packs."

The lady obviously thought nothing of this, but Isaac had to wonder if he had made a terrible mistake. Either way, he made himself pay before he could change his mind, and when the lady handed him his items, he flashed her a sleepy, charming grin and was out of the door.

He finished his tea on the way back to the warehouse, and as per usual he tossed the bottle out of the window when it was empty. The warehouse appeared entirely empty as he parked his truck in front of the closed the garage, and he sighed as he collected both packs of cigarettes. He tucked one away in his pocket, but he held on to the other as he marched over to the exit door. He took two steps at a time before he eased open the door, and his boots echoed loudly in the basement as he descended the stairs and started toward Jenna's door. He thinned his lips as he gently pushed open the door, and he waited a moment for his eyes to adjust. Steady, and deep breathing filled the room, and once his eyes had adjusted with aid to the dim light that flooded inside, he noticed a slender mound under the blanket on the cot. He quietly walked up to her bed, and with those same, tired eyes he stared down at her, her black hair masking her face entirely from view. A long minute later, he finally dropped the fresh box of cigarettes down on to the exposed area of the cot between her curled frame, and without any further actions he turned to head out of her room. He gently closed the door behind him, and he began to venture back upstairs, figuring this morning would be a good time to get further work done on the Challenger.

–

Jenna found herself waking for no particular reason that next morning, other than it naturally being her body's time to rise. As consciousness spread through her, Jenna groaned slightly as she moved to stretch out her legs, but as soon as she had, she heard something fall onto the concrete floor. Her brow furrowed as she stopped mid stretch, and wondering what had caused the noise, she finally forced her eyes open before glancing over the edge of the cot. At first she thought her groggy mind was playing tricks on her, and with a sigh she closed her eyes again, shutting out the blurred images as she let out a yawn. This time, when she re-opened them, she focused them on the object, and strong confusion spread through her as she stared down at a pack of cigarettes. She turned her body slightly to reach down for the pack, and she grew even more shocked when she saw it was brand new; not even the plastic wrapper had been undone. She cocked an eyebrow as she turned onto her back, wondering where it had come from, though in the back of her mind she was sure she knew. It had to have been Isaac. Who else would it be? Jenna wondered to herself.

She pushed the blankets off of her before she stepped out of the bed, the concrete floor so cold it felt as though it was burning her feet. Jenna tried to ignore this as she pulled out her bag from under the cot to find something to wear, but as soon as her fingers touched one of her new pairs of cargo pants, she instantly remembered her vow to herself. She was over everything, including Bane's operations. If Isaac had bought her the pack as a way to perhaps try and make amends, then fine, but Jenna was through wearing the uniform that represented her unhappiness. She had been so stupid in the first place to have even tried.

She pulled up a pair of black tights, put on a long sleeve, dark purple shirt and tied on her pair of Converse before she grabbed a lighter and the cigarettes to start packing them. She firmly hit the top of the box repeatedly on her palm as she made her way toward the door, and once she had, she pulled off the plastic and let it fall to the floor. She opened the door, not bothering to peek around it to see who was present in the basement, and she immediately stepped out to start toward the stairs. She saw that Bane's door was closed, but she ignored this as she started up the stairs.

As she made her way to the exit door, she pulled out the first cigarette from the pack before tucking the box in between the front of her hip and pants, but as soon as she opened the door she was immediately greeted with the harshest cold she had felt in a long time. She thinned her lips as she stepped outside, letting the door close behind her, and she hunched her shoulders as she brought up the lighter to light the cigarette she had placed in between her pink lips. Her exhale occurred in short, cold spurts as she started down the stairs, noticing the garage had been lifted up half way, and she started toward it as she took another drag. She felt slightly nervous as she approached the garage, sure that Isaac was inside, and she began to wonder if it was even him who had bestowed her with the new pack. But again, she reminded herself that anyone else at the warehouse was vastly unlikely. None of the other thugs paid her any attention, she wasn't sure if they even knew what her name was, and why on Earth would Bane find a way to get her cigarettes?

Fighting through her uncertainty, Jenna knelt down once she approached the garage, and the first thing she saw was Isaac's boots sticking out from the passenger side of the car as he leaned inside of it, doing something to the interior of the Challenger. Jenna crouched down slightly lower to move inside the garage, and once she had, Isaac instantly leaned out of the car to glance at her.

He appeared more tired than usual. His normal, sleepy-looking eyes were more accented, complete with eyelids that were droopier with dark semi-circles under his blue eyes. His hair was more unkempt than normal, and his frown appeared deeper, and more permanent. Suddenly, Jenna didn't want to talk to him at all, especially after she remembered in full all that Isaac had said to her the night before.

"Hey," Jenna finally said to break the silence. Isaac merely raised his eyebrows as he stepped out of the car, wondering why now he had even bought her the cigarettes. Suddenly, he didn't want to talk either. "Um, did you get me these cigarettes?" She tried to ask in a somewhat pleasant tone. Isaac merely nodded as he stepped up to the work bench. Jenna frowned slightly. "Well, thanks. I guess," she added.

Isaac remained silent for a moment, his mind reminding him of his sleepless night and the reasons why he had bought Jenna the cigarettes. Finally, he couldn't take the remembrance, and finally, he opened his mouth to speak as he turned to face her, but he kept his focus off of her.

"Look," he finally started. "About last night... I was angry, and I let it get the best of me."

His words surprised Jenna, but regardless, she made herself stand there, shivering due to the cold as she waited for him to go on.

"What happened with Bane... I understand that it wasn't –that it couldn't– have been entirely your fault. I guess it's no one's fault based on the circumstances."

Jenna tried to interrupt him. "Isaac, I–"

"No, you don't have to explain yourself," Isaac interrupted her. "You are Bane's prisoner... if anyone can even call you that anymore. Regardless of your title, it's Bane's decision with what he does with... or to... you."

Jenna was staring at him, and the entire time Isaac was speaking she noticed he never looked at her once. "Are you... apologizing to me?" She had to ask, and she tried to mask the relief in her voice.

"No," Isaac replied quickly, finally looking up at her. "Not entirely. I apologize for letting my anger get the best of me, that wasn't fair to you. But I don't wish to restore what we previously had."

"A... friendship?" Jenna asked. This had to be the most bizarre apology and discussion ever.

"Yeah," Isaac replied with a small laugh. "Whatever you want to call it. I like you Jenna. That I can't help. But this–" he motioned between them with his finger. "Will never grow into a friendship, and it shouldn't. Do you understand?"

"No," Jenna answered truthfully, realizing suddenly that her answer only forced the awkward moment to prolong on for even longer now. But she didn't understand. "Isaac, I–"

"Barsad," he said suddenly as he nodded slightly, his eyes sliding closed as he tried to keep his patience. "It's Barsad."

Jenna's lips parted slightly. She couldn't even call him Isaac anymore? Fine. "Barsad," she corrected, unable to feel as though this name was completely incorrect for her to say. "You can't just start to help me out, and then the next second turn your back on me. I nee-" she stopped. No, she thought. I don't need him. I just need a friend...

"I'll help you," Isaac replied. "I'll help you with Bane's tasks. I'll help you learn how to operate the weaponry I've mastered when the time comes for you to use it, and I'll help to ensure you carry out your duties as required."

"Isaa– Barsad, that's not what I meant," Jenna quickly started as she took a step closer, realizing she hadn't taken a drag from her cigarette in minutes. "Why are you going all tactical on me suddenly? Whether you have shit to do for Bane or not doesn't matter. I have a hard time believing your interest and sincerity at my parent's party, or in the car, or here in the beginning was fake. It was real, right? ...Right?"

Isaac was glaring at her. "It doesn't matter. It was a mistake. Around here, there's no time for friendship, and Bane has learned from his previous mistakes with who he recruits to join his army. He has purposely collected handfuls of Gotham's most dangerous and broken thugs to carry out his plans. Dangerous, because he needs men to serve out the most cruelest of tasks effortlessly, and broken, because now they know nothing more than to apply their pure loyalty to the man who offered them all this. There's no time for laughter, for secrets, for help from the heart, for bonding."

Jenna was frowning. "That sounds like a personal experience. And I don't buy it. All those guys up there? They're mindless. Stupid. They'd rat out Bane any time to save their own lives."

"You're wrong," Isaac said with a small, sleepy grin. "Their loyalty can't be broken, even when everything else for them has been. A countless number of them have already died to protect Bane, his plans, and his honor."

"That's a lot of loyalty for hired help," Jenna returned, trying to keep her own patience. "Isaac, you can keep your loyalty to Bane and still have room for a friendship," Jenna went on, holding her hand out for emphasis as she stepped closer to him, her cigarette completely burnt out now due to the cold, but regardless she still held onto it.

"Not to his hostage," Isaac replied. "Not to someone who could be gone tomorrow. It's pointless Jenna. Don't you think you should have more to worry about than friendship?"

"No," Jenna defended. "Because a friend is what I could really use right now in all of this. As stupid as it sounds, as childish as it sounds, I don't care. Your advice really helped me, Isaac." Even if his advice had helped her in all the wrong ways, Jenna still found herself holding on to it. "I don't know what I'm doing with anything, I need someone I can talk to."

"As I said, I'll help you with what matters. That's the duty Bane has assigned to me. I'm through with the anger toward you, and I'm over trying to figure out what's going on with you." Isaac stepped closer to her, and Jenna held her breath once he had approached, watching as he reached into his pocket. He gently grabbed her wrist a second later, and Jenna allowed him to lift her hand up to her mouth, and she placed the cigarette in between her lips, figuring that was what Isaac wanted when she saw he had drawn out a lighter. "You'll learn," Isaac assured her as he lifted up the lighter, the flame licking the end of the cigarette to bring it back to life. "Soon, you'll see, in one way or another, that there is no time for friendships or anything of the sort around here. And you'd be smart to stop perusing it. So let us end on these good terms."

Good terms? Jenna's eyebrows furrowed as she took the cigarette from her lips to exhale. "Isaac," she started again as he started to back away from her.

"Barsad," he corrected her. "Finish your smoke, then go inside, Jenna."

It was the last thing he said to her before he turned around to walk deeper into the warehouse, and in seconds time, he had disappeared around the corner. Jenna stood there with her mouth agape, completely unsure of what to make of all this. So Isaac, or Barsad, Jenna thought sourly to herself, had tried to end the start of their friendship on good terms, but Jenna couldn't figure out why. Why couldn't he be interested in her? She was interested in him. Why couldn't he help her out in the ways she needed help the most? Isaac had been the only light in the darkness for her. But now, it seemed that light had burned out, and reached the end of its short life. Now, Jenna was alone, and forced to face these dark problems alone. And what was worse? The longer she stayed here, the more and more the problems added on to each other, and grew more and more intricate. But Isaac had made himself clear, and the last thing Jenna needed was to nag him, and end up adding another problem on for herself. She shook her head sourly to herself as she threw her cigarette onto the ground, and she immediately started toward the garage door to head back inside the building.

–

Isaac's words on loyalty would not leave her head the majority of the day. "He has purposely collected handfuls of Gotham's most dangerous and broken thugs to carry out his plans. Dangerous, because he needs men to serve out the most cruelest of tasks effortlessly, and broken, because now they know nothing more than to apply their pure loyalty to the man who offered them all this." Isaac had told her. Jenna understood why Bane would need dangerous men, but broken? What did that mean?

First of all, regardless of its definition, how would Bane know that each of his henchmen were 'broken'? What did he do, background checks? Jenna thought angrily to herself. Of course fucking not. So how would he know that he was picking out 'damaged' people? Was it evident to him? Was he able to see something in their eyes that others were not? What does it matter, Jenna thought. As long as they do what he says, who cares who they were before all this.

But loyalty? Jenna thought. Why would somebody who was considered 'broken' be a stronger candidate for loyalty? Isaac made it sound as though Bane had rescued them. Yeah right, Jenna thought as she turned to lay down in her cot in her room. Bane, some sort of savior? Here to offer Gotham's worst a second chance? Bane doesn't offer second chances... Broken, like mentally? Or like somebody who has been to hell and back and has learned the hardships of life? Jenna thought back to Isaac's words again, and she closed her eyes as she analyzed and re-analyzed them. Broken, like somebody who once understood true love and deep friendship, and who's relationship had shattered, thus leaving nothing but their learned loyalty to be applied to the monster who had offered them a second chance in life, a chance to forget about all that deep emotional shit and live primarily on the surface, never to feel deeply about anything again. But did that make sense? Jenna wondered. Could that be what happened to Isaac? "...Bane has learned from his previous mistakes with who he recruits to join his army." Jenna recalled what Isaac had told her. Is that why he had failed with his previous plans, prior to Jenna's move to Gotham? Due to not yet broken, and un-loyal recruits? Could this be why Bane had chosen to keep Jenna around? ...Did he consider her to be... broken?

Before Jenna could stop herself, she was already getting out of bed and heading out of her room. Isaac's words to her had lit a new found, curious fire inside of her. Despite what she had said to herself yesterday about being over everything, suddenly she felt passionate about discovering the answers to the questions that were burning holes in her mind. But as per usual, once she heard the sound of her knocks on Bane's door, reality entered her mind, and as she stood there, hoping now that he wouldn't answer the door, she wondered exactly what she was going to say to him if he did.

As luck would have it, Jenna grew nervous at the sound of Bane's door being unlocked, and she held her breath as he opened it. He was shirtless, and clad in nothing more than a pair of black sweatpants and his bulky belt on top. He hadn't been expecting Jenna to be standing at his door, he hadn't seen her all day, but regardless, as it always was, his curiosity was instantly heightened. He said nothing as he waited for her to speak, and once her eyes were finished with roaming down and up his body, she finally released the breath she had been holding.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Jenna instantly forced herself to ask, and she waited as Bane's eyebrows rose from in between his mask.

"Because I felt that killing you would be a mistake, as I've told you before," Bane spoke in a low, quiet voice.

"Why do you keep me around then?" Jenna rephrased, Bane able to make out the burning curiosity in her eyes. Though this was more than curiosity... this was something deeper. Suddenly, Bane was at a loss for words.

"Because you possess strong determination to live," Bane replied a long moment later. "You live due to permission of your parent's death. You live solely based on your strong determination to stay alive. I've told you this–"

"Do you consider me to be broken?" Jenna interrupted, the question flying from her mouth before she could restrain it.

"Broken?" Bane repeated slowly as he narrowed his eyes and tilted his head slightly. "Broken in which way?"

"I don't know," Jenna stuttered as she glanced away, wishing now that she hadn't even come to his door. After the discussion she and Bane had ended on the previous night, she was sure he would bring it up again, and now that she thought about it, the more she realized she didn't even want an answer to her question. But before she could change her mind and start away, Bane was already speaking.

"If you mean broken in the sense of your deceased family and your twisted sense of grief over their, permitted death, then yes. But I sense that you mean something... else. Why do you ask, Jenna?"

Jenna was frowning as she stared at the floor. "Nothing," she replied. She had her answer now. "It doesn't matter."

"Ah, but it does, to you," Bane said now, knowing that something was deeply bothering her. But why did he care to figure out what it was?

"I was... I am... sad about my parent's death," Jenna switched subjects, feeling the need to defend herself in some way.

"Really," Bane went on now, his tone suggesting he was humoring her. "Because the impact of their death never seemed to upset you anymore than finding out your favorite TV program had been canceled. You got over it quickly, moved on quicker than anyone would have ever anticipated. You never shed a tear over their fate."

"Maybe none that you witnessed," Jenna tried to defend again, but her efforts were weak.

"No," Bane disagreed. "Your eyes tell the truth. Not because of what emotions they hold in them, but because of their physical attributes. Since your arrival here your eyes have never been glossed over, red, bloodshot, or swollen."

"Not everybody cries when their sad," Jenna retorted gently as she glanced up at him finally. She recalled shedding one, single tear upon witnessing her parent's death, but she had not cried any other time after. But she wasn't about to let Bane win.

"No," Bane agreed. "But they do when faced with real, profound loss, or tragedy." He was silent for a long moment, and Jenna picked up on this. His eyes had wandered away from hers, as if he was remembering something, but as soon as Jenna could wonder what he was thinking, he glanced back to her. "Did you ever experience that lump that rises and grows within your throat during and after their death?" Bane wondered now. Jenna was silent, and Bane could tell she was working out some sort of lie in her head, judging by the way she had focused her gaze on something else. "The truth, Jenna," he added more sternly.

"...No."

"Precisely. That's how I know you didn't cry, or feel intense sadness and loss. Their death, their entire relationship with you, was meaningless, and never reached your heart. So when you ask me if I consider you to be broken, the answer is a definite yes."

"Okay," Jenna said now, and Bane grew surprised at how easily she was giving up. "That's all I needed to know." She began to turn around, but once she gave Bane her back, he was instantly stopping her.

"Jenna," he spoke her name, and he waited for her to turn around. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," she lied before trying to turn around again, but she felt her heart drop to her stomach when she heard Bane step out of his room and approach her, and she sucked in a sharp breath when he placed his hand heavily on her shoulder before forcing her to turn around and face him.

"Your lies are weak and amusing," Bane said. "And unless you want to fool me, you'd better work on strengthening them. Why do you ask?"

It was evident that Bane was losing patience, and Jenna swallowed as she stared up at him. "Isaac just... mentioned something about that this morning."

"Barsad?" Bane asked, his eyebrows furrowing. "What did he say?" Deep inside, anger and a slight feeling of betrayal began to burn inside him. What had Isaac told her? Had he mentioned anything about... Talia?

"He was just telling me about the guys you pick to help you. About how they're dangerous, and... broken."

Bane instantly felt a small sense of relief. "What about it?" He pressed on, his hand still firmly fixed on her shoulder, weighing down the right side of her body.

"That their dangerous because they need to be, obviously," she rolled her eyes to herself, but she never glanced back into Bane's eyes. "And how their broken state ensures their... loyalty... to you."

Bane was still staring at her. "And why would he say this to you?" This was irrelevant, but Bane wanted to know what had brought up such a conversation.

"Because he was... breaking up with me." Jenna had no idea on how else to explain it, and she jumped when he laughed, a deep, rumbling noise escaping from deep within him, and when she glanced up she saw that he had bowed his head slightly.

"He broke up with you? I wasn't aware you two shared something special." Bane laughed again, though some sort of odd feeling had washed over him.

"It's not funny, and I didn't mean it like that," Jenna said sternly, feeling herself getting annoyed now. "He told me we couldn't be friends."

"Aww," Bane went on now. "What an extremely childish thing to say."

"I don't care," Jenna said. "He was the only one helping me with anything around here, and now, randomly, he blew me off."

"Why?" Bane mused.

"He said around here there's no time for friendship or anything of the sort," Jenna retorted, her tone suggesting that she should have her arms crossed tightly with a pout on her face as she focused on the wall. Bane was grinning.

"And, does that go back to what he told you? About everybody being broken?"

Everybody? Jenna wondered to herself, but she merely nodded at his question. "Apparently everyone around here has had their go with any sort of relationship and now their incapable of having any more." Jenna didn't realize she had verbally shared her theory on being 'broken' until it was too late, but regardless, she didn't let this realization make itself physical.

Jenna was too smart for her own good, Bane realized. Unless, Isaac had told her more than she was letting on. Bane figured he would have to ask him about that. "There are more important things to accomplish around here than puppy dog friendships, Jenna. Accept his decision, respect it, and leave him alone. That is an order."

"Whatever," Jenna said, completely in a sour mood now. "Can I go?"

"Of course," Bane said as he raised his hand from her shoulder, and he held it above her arm as she immediately turned to retreat to her room. Bane watched her go, his eyes wandering over her body and the clothes she wore upon it. His gray orbs wandered down her purple, long sleeved shirt that covered her slim back and half of her wide hips, before they looked over the tights that hugged her ass and thighs. "Jenna," he said just as she had reached her door, and when she turned around, she watched his eyes quickly roam back up her body. "You're not wearing your new attire," he pointed out. "Why?"

Jenna shrugged. "Didn't feel like it," she retorted, and without anything further to say, she stepped into her room and immediately closed the door behind her.

–

So Bane considered her to be broken. Why did this bother her so much? Jenna was contemplating this as she stepped outside the exit door. If she was broken, was this the primary reason why he kept her around? Because he knew she had failed with any sort of deep, emotional connections in any sort of way due to annoying, uncaring parents who hovered too close, thus leading him to predict her loyalties? But she wasn't loyal to him... was she?

Jenna sighed as she lit up a cigarette. She had only tried to run away once, and though her efforts had failed miserably, she remembered that she did not have the intentions of informing anybody about Bane or his whereabouts. She had just wanted to get away from him. Now, even though she didn't want to or like it, she followed his commands like a dog, and she had even proven her loyalty on her own due to not trusting Karly. She had informed Bane of Karly's simple act of switching rooms, and had even talked to him about why she didn't trust the red-head. Whether he believed her or not or wanted to hear more about it didn't matter; what mattered was that Jenna had wanted to inform him. If that didn't scream loyal, she didn't know what did.

Well fuck, she thought to herself as she finally turned to start down the four steps. In just a mere week, how could she already be considered loyal to Bane? Just because she was 'broken' didn't mean she was destined to naturally be loyal. Bane wasn't giving her a second chance in life, and he most certainly was not offering her a better life than the one she had before... was he?

Fuck no, she thought slowly to herself as she shook her head, lifting the cigarette to her lips for another drag. She was positive that Isaac had been merely trying to make a point in order for Jenna to leave him alone, but she couldn't help but to hold on to his words, and smother them with her intense wonder and questions. Upon glancing up, she saw that Isaac was marching over in her direction, and her heart began to race slightly as she wondered if she was still allowed to at least talk to him.

"Hey," she said before she could come to a decision just as he started past her, and she turned to face him when he continued on toward the exit door. "Where are you going?" she asked casually.

"Bane needs to see me," he replied in a flat tone, though his tone was free of an anger or annoyance. Jenna watched him go for a moment, figuring a flat tone was better than no answer at all.

Isaac pulled open the door and immediately stepped inside to start down the stairs. He saw that Bane's door was open, and just when he approached it he left three loud knocks on the frame.

"You wanted to see me?" He asked, his eyes focused on Bane as he turned away from his desk.

"Jenna brought up something interesting earlier today," Bane began as he stepped closer to his right hand man. "About everybody being dangerous and... broken? She said you mentioned it."

"Yes, I did," Isaac replied, the truth evident in his voice, just as Bane knew it would be. Isaac never lied to him. Bane respected this, and in turn, Bane never lied to Isaac. There was no need to with him.

"She explained that you broke up with her," Bane went on in an amused tone, and he watched a sly grin appear on Isaac's lips as he ducked his head to shake it. "Which is when this discussion came to life. I want to know what you told her."

"She would say that, wouldn't she?" Isaac replied first as he struggled to remove the grin from his face, but when he glanced up at Bane he saw he was grinning slightly as well. "Not break up as much as increase my distance with her."

"Which I think was a necessary thing to do," Bane agreed.

"I told her around here there is no time for friendship, especially not now with what we have in store for Gotham. Then I just I explained everybody's dangerous and broken state... nobody in... specific... though..." he trailed off. "But I just said it... I didn't think she'd run with that idea. But that's all I said. Nothing more."

Bane was staring directly into Isaac's eyes while Isaac stood tall and stared back. "No discussion of... of Talia... was brought up, correct?"

"Correct," Isaac assured, although he realized now that perhaps his words had alluded to not only his own past, but Bane's as well. "She never came up, and I would never bring that topic up. I was just trying to end things on... good terms."

"Good terms," Bane repeated as he turned to step up to his TV again, and Isaac watched as he turned it on, the screen filling up with small, square and rectangle images that the cameras all around the building were currently picking up. Isaac's eyes wandered over the still image of Jenna's room before he raised them to stare at the garage outside, and in unison, his eyes fell onto Jenna just as Bane's did. "Why?" He asked finally as he watched Jenna stand awkwardly in the middle of the building and garage, smoking.

Isaac shrugged. "I just felt like it was the right thing to do," he explained.

"Why even end the friendship?" Bane mused now, his eyes still focused on her. "After all, with all the terrible, terrible things she is going through, perhaps she could use one."

Bane's voice carried amusement and sarcasm, but Isaac had to wonder if he was being sincere. He cleared his throat. "I don't want to be," he replied, ignoring the fact that Jenna had nearly said that same thing to him hours prior. Had she told Bane everything? If she had, then why? "She's just a hostage... or part of the crew, I don't know. But I don't have time to sit and chat and learn about her. I don't want to. She's... shallow," Isaac added, though the odd pang that went through his heart made him wonder for a split second if he really believed this or not. "I have more important things to do, and more important people to talk to."

Bane was nodding. "I can respect this, and as I've said I consider it to be a smart decision. Jenna is tough... brave... even if she doesn't primarily exude it. She'll be fine on her own. This may be... good for her..." Bane trailed off for a moment, and once he realized he had grown completely silent, he quickly spoke up. "Thank you, Barsad."

Bane glanced at him from over his shoulder quickly before he faced forward again, and Isaac nodded with a small grin before he understood his cue to leave, and Bane listened as he headed up the stairs. He kept his eyes focused on the screen, and he watched now as Isaac made his way back toward the garage. He watched Jenna turn to watch him approach, but it seemed as though she said nothing to him as he moved past her toward the garage. Bane narrowed his eyes on her, and he watched now as she tossed her cigarette down before starting back over to the stairs. Why had Jenna taken Isaac's words so deep to heart? And why did it bother her so much that she had to know if Bane considered her to be broken? What did it matter? For some reason or another, it was bothering Bane, and the fact that he was even bothered with it in the first place, bothered even more...

The sun had started to set outside, and as Jenna made her way inside she tried to distract her mind with trying to think back on at least one productive thing she had done all day. Sitting alone in her room all day was starting to take a toll on her, and she realized this finally when she noticed how desperate she was to talk to someone, even if that person was Bane. But her distraction only lasted for so long, and her mind instantly reverted back to her previous thoughts. She didn't get far with them, however, when she noticed how dark the basement was. She paused at the top of the stairs and stared into the darkness, able to hear a faint dripping noise somewhere within the distance. Why was it so dark? Who had turned off the lights?

She swallowed before taking her first step down the stairs, and she placed her hand flat against the wall for aided guidance. Her eyes adjusted to the dark quickly, and she was able to see the light flooding out from the bottom of her closed door. She was prepared to start toward it, but she paused once she reached the bottom of the stairs. Was she really prepared to sit in her room for more hours on end? All she would do was lay in her cot, and her mind would be free to try to interpret everything she didn't want to talk about. She couldn't go talk to Isaac, he had made it perfectly clear that he was not her go-to man for boredom anymore, and like hell Jenna could try socializing with any of the other thugs around the warehouse. So who did that leave?

Jenna bit her lip. Did she really want to go try to strike up some casual conversation with Bane, just as a way to distract her from everything she didn't want to think about? Would that even be possible? Every time she knocked on his door, Bane always practiced great patience with her. Would he now? Would he even allow it? Jenna was desperate, and she wanted to try.

As she made her way toward his door, she tried to think of what she could say. The closer she got, however, the more she had to question herself. What was she doing, trying to hang out with Bane. It had to be the most absurd idea she had ever come up with. Why would she want to spend time with Bane anyway? Well... shit. Jenna could think of at least one reason why...

Once her final questioning was over, she realized she had finally approached his door. She stopped in front of it, seriously debating with herself if she wanted to go through with it or not. She was sick of being alone, but at what cost? What if Bane brought up her cell phone again? What if he was mean?

Oh for God fucking sakes, Jenna thought sourly to herself as she reached out to knock on his door quickly. Mean, really? Of course he'll be mean you retard. Jenna was shaking her head to herself, feeling furiously annoyed with herself suddenly. The deed was done, however, and she had already knocked, but when Bane finally answered she hadn't meant to take out her bad mood on him.

"Jenna?" He asked as he peered down at her, and when she lifted her eyes up she saw he was still shirtless, and still wearing that belt and the sweats. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this... surprise?" He growled. "Did Barsad upset you again?"

"Fuck you," Jenna instantly spat, only to realize quickly what she had said when Bane straightened his posture. "He didn't upset me again. He... never did in the first place."

"I considered you to be a wonderful liar in the beginning, but now..." Bane started. "Your lies are weak. What do you want?"

Jenna sighed, figuring she'd better just come out with the truth. What was the worst he would do? Slam the door in her face? "I-I'm... bored," she finally confessed.

"Bored?" Bane repeated, humor laced thickly throughout his metallic voice. He watched Jenna nod hopelessly as she reverted her gaze away. "And... what do you want me to do about it?"

Again, Jenna just simply shrugged while Bane shifted his weight to his left side.

"So, you, uninterested in everything suddenly, reach a breaking point and wander to my door, hoping for me to... entertain you? Is this correct?"

"Not entertain as much as just... talk."

"Talk," Bane repeated flatly, and he sighed. "What do you want to talk about, Jenna?"

Jenna shrugged again, but she finally lifted her eyes to look into his own. "Anything."

"Anything?" Bane boasted loudly, causing Jenna to flinch as she wondered if that was the wrong thing entirely to say. "Alright... let's discuss how incredibly anxious you became last night when I asked you about-"

"No," Jenna interrupted before she could stop herself. "I told you, I threw it away at the diner." She knew him to be talking about the cell phone. Hating how quiet Bane became, she shifted her weight as she glanced away. "I... I don't want to talk about that."

"But you said anything," Bane reminded her, wondering why he was even going along with this in the first place. Didn't he have anything important to do?

"I didn't mean stuff like that."

"Then what did you mean, Jenna?" Bane retorted, and Jenna could tell he was starting to lose his patience. Clearly, bothering him had been a terrible idea.

"Just... never mind," she finally said as she waved her hand in his direction, and she started to back away. "I just get tired of sitting in that room all fucking day. Sorry to have bothered you, Sir."

Bane watched her go for a moment, his eyes wandering over her body again while he tried to excuse her tone. "Jenna," he called, and he waited for her to turn around. Once she did, she watched his eyes wander back up her body slowly. "You never offered me a straight answer. Why have you gone back to wearing those clothes?"

Jenna shrugged. "I didn't feel like wearing all that stuff today. I told you."

"No," Bane said as he stepped out of his room now, and Jenna's body stiffened slightly as he slowly approached her. "You lied to me. You were so determined to prove a point the day you came back with them. What happened? The point was proven and then disregarded?" He finally approached her, and Jenna stared up at him while he glared down at her. "You know," he went on again a moment later. "That attire represented your place around here. It matched the rest of us. If you go back to wearing this-" he reached out to take a hold of her shirt in between his thumb and middle finger, and his gaze dropped down to his hand the same time Jenna's did. "You'll go back to being treated how you previously were."

"Like a child?" Jenna retorted as she lifted her eyes to stare up at him, and she waited until he glanced back up at her. "I didn't realize that it stopped," she added in a mumble. She gasped a short second later when Bane suddenly clenched his hand into a fist around the area of her shirt he was grabbing, and he pulled her closer to himself.

"Then perhaps you aren't very perceptive," Bane accused, his arm muscles tensed as he glared into her eyes. Jenna was frowning.

"I'm perceptive," she defended weakly, and Bane watched her eyes wander away from his.

"If you were perceptive you would have noticed that you have been being treated differently lately."

Jenna rolled her eyes, more defensive words ready to blow out of her mouth, but she held them back as she bit down on her tongue. Bane watched her intently, waiting for her to speak, anticipating her bratty tone as she tried to tell him off, but surprisingly, these words never came. Although he and Barsad enjoyed the occasional childish joke with her, Bane had not been kidding when he pointed out that she had been being treated differently. It appeared as though Jenna was correcting her ways, for he noticed she was improving with holding herself back when it was unnecessary to speak. This impressed him now, and Jenna glanced back up to him when he slowly let go of her shirt.

"You may come into my room to talk," Bane said suddenly, and he watched Jenna's eyes not only widen, but lighten up slightly, as well. "Perhaps you could entertain me."

As he turned to start away, his words caused a bone-chilling shock to run up Jenna's spine, but she tried to ignore this as she followed him toward his room. He stopped at the door and allowed her to walk inside ahead of him, and with a racing heart Jenna took in a deep breath as she turned around in just enough time to watch Bane slowly close his door. She watched as he stepped over to his desk before slowly sitting down at it, and he immediately picked up a red pen once he had. She took a step back, and once her legs hit his bed, she wondered if he would grow upset if she was to sit on it. She decided she might as well press her luck further, so without a second thought she hopped onto his stiff mattress, and let her legs hang over the edge. She glanced back over to Bane, and her eyes instantly fell onto the frightening scar that stretched and branched all the way down his spine. Her eyes slowly followed it down before they rested on his belt, the hard material covering the entire bottom portion of his back.

"Well," Bane finally said a few moments later, and Jenna listened to the noise of his pen as he circled something over and over again. "Entertain me."

"That belt," Jenna finally said as she lifted her eyes to the back of his head. "Why do you always wear it?"

Bane circled something again, and Jenna listened as he wrote something down quickly immediately after. "Posture," he said simply. Jenna's eyebrows furrowed as her eyes dropped back down to the belt.

"Posture," she repeated somewhat flatly. What a terrible answer. "Does it have something to do with that scar on your back?"

"Perhaps," Bane answered, and he grinned slightly when Jenna sighed.

"These are God awful answers," she accused.

"Why all the curiosity toward me suddenly?" Bane retorted back, and he waited for a moment in silence.

"I... don't know," Jenna finally answered, and as Bane circled something again she listened to him chuckle.

"That, is a 'God awful answer'," he replied, and Jenna couldn't help but to roll her eyes again.

"I've always wondered about that... the scar, I mean," she said. "Where did it come from?"

"Knives, scissors, scalpels... and anything else the... doctors used."

"Doctors?" Jenna pressed on further. "What doctors?"

Bane grinned again slightly as he shook his head, but suddenly he wondered if inviting Jenna in here, or at least letting her ask these questions, was a bad idea after all. "Forget about it," he said. "It's not important." He could practically feel Jenna's disappointment radiating from her, and he had to wonder for a moment why he had volunteered so much information in the first place. Maybe because she was one of the first people to have had the courage to even ask him about it.

The room grew silent for another few moments while Bane continued to circle certain key areas on a large map of Gotham. He could sense Jenna sitting behind him, on his bed, and although they had grown silent, he found himself enjoying it. He wasn't sure what had come over him to invite her into his room, but he'd be lying to himself if he denied enjoying her silent company. While this was unnerving, it was also... comforting? It's fine, he thought to himself just when he felt himself getting upset over the fact. It wasn't like he had to admit this to anybody.

But as soon as Bane really began to enjoy the silence, Jenna spoke up again. "What's your real name?" She knew Bane to be thinking how childish she was with asking all her useless questions, and she felt like a child herself, but she couldn't help it. These were questions that she had always wondered about him, but never had the courage or time to ask. Now, after she had managed to get an invitation into his room, and not sit alone by herself, she wanted to use this time to her advantage.

"...Bane," he finally repeated, pausing from his work to slowly move his eyes to the left, and just barely he could see her staring at him from his peripheral vision.

"No, like... you're real name."

"I told you," Bane said as he glanced back down to the map. "It's Bane. Nothing more, nothing less. Do these inquiries have a point, Jenna?"

"No."

"Then please refrain from asking useless questions."

"What am I supposed to do then?" Jenna asked back, a sour tone laced lightly through her voice.

"Enjoy not being alone."

"Sitting in silence isn't what I had in mind," Jenna went on. "I could have gone and done that with Isaac..."

"If you don't like it, then you have my permission to go back to your room, and sit alone in the dark. And if you recall, I ordered you to leave Barsad alone."

He knew Jenna to be pouting, but he ignored this and pulled out a piece of paper he had been previously writing on from underneath the map, and Jenna listened to him scribble down something onto it. She straightened her back, trying to inconspicuously look over his shoulder and onto the desk, but when the bed moaned slightly under her weight, she immediately slouched her back again. "What are you working on?"

Bane sighed. "Nothing of your concern."

Jesus Christ then, Jenna thought sourly to herself as she glanced away from him. Why had she even bothered to try and weasel her way in here? Had it even been worth it? So far, her heart had not ceased it racing, and she felt herself getting more and more nervous the longer she sat there. She wasn't sure if this was better than being alone, but for some reason or another, her body would not allow her to stand up and leave.

So she remained sitting in his bed in the nearly pure silence, listening to Bane scrawl on the paper with his red pen while simultaneously listening to his slow and steady breathing through his mask. His breathing was admittedly soothing, and as it filled the room, she found herself closing her eyes. She moved her hands from her lap and slowly slid them onto the wrinkly blankets over the bed, and she allowed her mind to roam. She found it amazing that Bane had actually invited her into his room for nearly no reason at all, and she continued to find his patience absolutely astonishing. Although he hadn't given her any real or straight answers to her childish questions, he barely had sounded annoyed, and regardless, he had still provided her with some answer. Rather than bluntly telling her to shut her mouth, he had diverted the conversation and the questions to the point of shushing Jenna into silence. Oddly enough, she found herself fine with this now, and the more she thought about it. Granted she was sitting in silence, she wasn't alone, even if it was Bane accompanying her. Plus, she was in a new room, that was a plus.

She opened her eyes and stared ahead at his dresser. All of the drawers were closed, but on top various pieces of paper covered the surface. On top of the paper laid small, unopened packages of syringe needles, and Jenna thought back to the time she had seen Bane injecting himself with them. What exactly were they, again?

Some sort of hand gun lay on the surface as well, next to the needles, along with a folded shirt, that long, leather, fingerless glove and arm band, and some sort of unplugged machine type object in the shape of a rectangular box. Her eyes wandered away from this, over Bane, up to the blank TV, and eventually she glanced over her shoulder to the other side of the bed, where stacks of different colored boxes sat. She wondered vaguely what was in them before her attention was reverted away when Bane let out a sigh. She quickly glanced back over to him, and after watching him vigorously cross something out, she closed her eyes when his regular breathing patterns returned.

She closed her eyes again a moment later, listening, and she couldn't stop herself from allowing herself to lean back. Once her back touched the surface of the bed, she rested her head down, and she let out a sigh of her own as she let her body relax completely, figuring suddenly that she should allow herself to have this; her cot was starting to screw up her back and neck. At least thirty seconds on a real bed –even if that bed's mattress was stiff as hell– made all the difference right now.

Hearing her actions, Bane slowly looked away from the paper and map, and he turned to glance over his shoulder. His eyes fell on Jenna's still frame as she lay on his bed, her legs bent at the knee at the edge of the bed, her shins hanging off the edge and her feet a good foot above the floor, and his eyes wandered back up her body. It was in his character to want to tell her to get up and just up and leave, but the words halted at the tip of his tongue, and the longer he stared at her chest moving up and down as she peacefully breathed, the easier it became to just stay quiet. She's probably getting even more bored... and tired, Bane thought to himself. She'll want to leave soon. This thought satisfied him, so he turned to glance back down to the map. Besides, why should her presence even be bothering him in the first place? She had stopped with her absurd questions, and she had understood his generous hint to be quiet. So what if she was just laying down in his bed? It wasn't like she was even laying down the correct way. Her cot was probably the most uncomfortable thing to her, perhaps he should let her lay there for a while...

Bane closed his eyes and sighed. Really? He thought sourly to himself. The fuck did he care if the cot he had so graciously bestowed her was uncomfortable. He had given her a bed, something to sleep on other than the floor. She had to at least be grateful for that, especially when a lot of his men slept on the floors themselves. She never complained about it out loud to him, however... that was a good thing. He went back to his previous thoughts. She wasn't bothering him, so he figured he should let any miniscule, bothersome issue go.

He heard Jenna yawn a moment later, and he couldn't help but to glance over his shoulder again. He watched her arch her back slightly as she fought to keep her arms still at her side, but upon glancing at them he saw that they had stiffened as she finished her yawn. When he glanced back to her face, he saw her eyes were still closed, and he stared at her for a moment, memories of how soft her skin had felt forming in his mind. He allowed himself to think about this for a moment before he finally forced himself to turn back to his work. His important work. Jenna, to say the least, was not important...

Jenna had heard Bane turn this time, his chair squeaking slightly, but she forced herself to keep her eyes closed. She knew him to be looking at her, she could feel the intensity of his glare, but she knew it wasn't an angry glare. Bane was more than likely peeved she was laying in his bed, or still in his room for that matter, but when she heard him turn around a short moment later she knew it wasn't a big deal. She felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier the longer she rested, but she forced her eyes open when she heard Bane's chair squeak again. She hadn't meant to glance at him, but it had been an instant reaction, and once her eyes fell on his shirtless frame she immediately wished she hadn't looked at all. She listened as Bane let out a near silent yawn as well, wondering for a short second how far his mask allowed his jaw to drop, but when he lifted his arms high above his head, her mind went blank. The muscles lacing his entire arms and back flexed to their near fullest, his hands clutched in tight fists, and her eyes wandered all over that was exposed as he performed the action. Her heart had started race as a tickling sensation started down below, and instantly growing frustrated at this she forced herself to look away. But as usual, her body betrayed her mind, and she found herself instantly glancing back at him. He finished the long yawn, and she watched his muscles slowly relax as he brought his arms back down. As she continued to stare at him, she began to grow frustrated when that tickling sensation ceased to go away. Why was she so attracted to him? When had the element of fear been replaced by wonder, and arousal? Why had that even happened in the first place? Maybe Bane was right. Maybe she was broken...

Her eyes wandered up his spinal scar again and rested on the back of his mask, a million questions going through her mind again. A new one formed in her head a second later, however, and it caused her to furrow her brow as she stared at him with suddenly exhausted eyes. She was beginning to understand why Bane refused to kill her, but why had he even chosen her in the first place?

"Can I ask you a question?" Jenna's low and tired voice broke through the silence, taking Bane by slight surprise, but he remained calm as he flipped over his piece of paper.

"You just did," he replied, and he knew Jenna to be rolling her eyes.

"No, seriously," she went on. "Can I?"

"There's your second one," Bane went on calmly. Jenna sighed. "I know you to have millions of questions running through your mind right now. You may pick one, and then you may ask no more."

Hmm, Jenna thought to herself. "I want a straight, real answer though. The truth," she added firmly.

"Yes ma'am," Bane replied, unaware that his word choice had sent Jenna into a near frenzy. She clutched the blankets on either side of her as that tickling sensation grew even stronger and moved further down, and she couldn't stop her jaw from falling open slightly. Her eyes widened and brightened as she stared at him, her mind going lightheaded, and suddenly she couldn't remember anything she wanted to ask him. "Fire away," Bane prompted on a moment later as he looked back over to the map, and he continuously clicked the button on top of the pen over and over again as he waited.

Jenna was silent as she tried to decide what question to ask. What, exactly, in plain English, was that mask for? Why couldn't it come off? Did he want it to come off? Why had doctors operated on his back? Where did he really come from? With whatever was in those syringe needles, how did it work, and how often did he have to inject himself? Shit, that would be two questions... Why had he chosen her? Which question was the most important to ask? Which one was she most curious about?

"Why did you..." Jenna began strongly, only to immediately trail off. She continued to listen to him click the pen as he held perfectly still, waiting and breathing deeply suddenly, and she found herself unable to take her eyes off of him. That tickling sensation picked up strong again when she thought back to to his words... "yes ma'am"... Jenna blinked. "Are you almost done?"

The question flew out of her mouth before she could stop it, and now that it had been said, there was no taking it back. Her eyes had widened as she stared at him, her breathing growing exasperated and heavy, and she loosened her clutch on the blankets, feeling her body go weak and slightly numb. Had she really just asked that? Oh fuck...

Bane had glanced up from the papers with only his eyes to stare at the wall due to her question. It had taken him by immense surprise, and he couldn't help but to show it. The clicking had ceased, and his breathing became slow and barely audible. The room was deathly silent. "...why?" He finally asked.

What the hell did she say now? It was clear to her now why she had asked that question... her body was starting to lose all control and it had forced her into hinting to him to cease his work and go to her. Jenna's lips tingled as she searched for the right words. What did she say? Did she try to ask a different question? Did she tell him to forget about it? Did she just get up and leave out of shame and embarrassment? Or... did she just tell him the truth? What was the truth, exactly?

"Because... because... I-" she was stuttering like mad, and Bane licked his lips as he waited, his patience running out quicker than he could have ever expected. He was waiting for her to give him some absurd, but truthful answer, like she wanted him to finish so they could talk again, or so she could ask him more questions, but deep down, he was positive she had something else in mind entirely. Would she admit it though? If not, what would Bane do? What would he say? "...I want you to... come over here."

Her words cut through the thickest tension like the sharpest knife, slowly and cleanly. So Bane had been correct, but he hadn't been entirely prepared for her to so bluntly speak the truth. Her words told him everything he needed to know, even though her answer was left to many interpretations. But given what had happened just a night ago, Bane knew exactly what she meant.

He closed his eyes when he felt blood rush downward, and his lips parted as he fought through the lightheaded feeling that had creeped up on him. Jenna felt even more lightheaded at the moment as she anticipated for him to act out on her words. What would he do? Would he ignore her? Would he come over? What would he do if he did? Hurt her? Kick her out? Or actually do what deep, deep down she was hoping he would? Jenna swallowed as she waited.

Bane was thinking deeply, but quickly. His body wanted to, but his mind was mainly against it. But had that night really been that bad? Had giving in to their desires really been the end of his world? He had never done anything like that before in his life, and early in his life he had given up on any thought about it completely. But once it had actually happened? Unfortunately, it was indescribable, and it had left his body aching for it again. He would never admit it though, and he had told himself over and over again it was a one time ordeal. But now, he was facing a tough decision. Did he go through with it again? What would happen after? What would it change, and how would it skew things that had already been changed after the first time they had?

"If I come over there..." he began slowly, purposely prolonging the moment. "What do you expect would happen?"

Such an unfair question. How was Jenna supposed to answer that? She was not about to let herself answer bluntly, but she was starting to fear if she didn't Bane would kick her out, and right now her body would not be having that. She was craving him suddenly, harder than ever, and she had a difficult time thinking about or desiring anything else at that moment. "I don't know," Jenna finally answered, and once she heard him slowly and quietly sigh, she immediately went on. "Whatever... you want."

"Whatever I want," Bane replied in a low growl, and he listened to Jenna's body squirm slightly on his bed. He grinned suddenly, unable to help it. He was the master at mind over body... why was he allowing his body to betray him? What made Jenna so special? "I don't know if that is such a good idea... for you."

"Why not?" Jenna breathed, feeling as though she had entered the twilight zone. It felt as though her speech was slowed, her words drawn out, while her actions lagged in time. The seconds ticked by slower than ever, seconds feeling like minutes and minutes like hours as she waited, and she continued to stare at his still frame while he stared blankly at the wall. Finally, Bane blinked, and he turned to glance over his shoulder at her, a strong shock running throughout her body and stinging her heart.

"Because what I may be... desiring... may not end well for you."

His words were terrifying, but they seemed to only turn Jenna on more. "I'm willing to find out," she finally replied, completely unsure where this sleepy, sexy, confident tone was coming from. Bane chuckled slowly as he shook his head, and Jenna's breath hitched in her throat as she watched him slowly stand up and take a step toward her.

"If you were smart," Bane began, "you would stand, and exit this room... right now." He continued to slowly approach her, and he watched her breathing become more and more shallow as her eyes followed his movements. Suddenly, she was unsure if Bane was desiring the same thing she was, and suddenly she felt completely vulnerable laying on her back. Once he approached the bed and was standing in front of her, he shook his head slowly to himself. "But you're not going to do that, are you Jenna?"

Jenna swallowed, unable to stop herself from speaking the words her body wanted to say. "No," she agreed. "Does that make me stupid, or brave?"

"A little bit of both," Bane answered as he stepped even closer to her, and at that moment, as he hovered over her slightly, he knew his body had won. His desires had overtaken his rational thinking, and they were holding them for ransom until he complied with what his body wanted. "You know, I really detest these clothes you're wearing."

Jenna could feel how wet she had become, and she easily held his eye contact, her desires at an all time high now. "Then why don't you take them off?"

"Oh, I'll do better than that, darling."

Jenna gasped at his words, feeling herself nearly ready to come just at the sound of his voice and word choice, but as soon as he had spoken, he reached out suddenly to grab the material covering her shoulders, and he yanked her up before he pulled his hands in opposite directions, tearing her purple shirt completely in half and exposing her red bra. His eyes instantly fell down to her breasts as Jenna let out another breath, the cold stinging her newly exposed skin, but she let Bane finish ripping her shirt completely until he was tossing it behind him onto the concrete floor. The room was spinning as Jenna struggled to keep herself sitting up, and this time around she found that she was not angry at Bane destroying yet another article of clothing. This time around, she found herself desperate to be out of them, even if that meant she'd never be able to wear them again.

She stood up suddenly and immediately stepped over to him, and as soon as she had approached him, she reached out to rake her nails down his chest as hard as she could. Faint, red lines instantly appeared on his chest, and although she knew this didn't hurt him in the slightest, she enjoyed doing it, and based on the way Bane let out a small sigh, she knew he had to enjoy it slightly too. He reached out and caught her wide hips in between his hands, and he squeezed on them, worsening the bruises that were already there, and Jenna flinched as she let out a gasp. Regardless, Bane continued to squeeze on them as he stared down fiercely at her pained expression, and just to add to the pain factor, he curled his fingers a little more before digging his own fingernails into her skin. Jenna let out a pained noise as she closed her eyes even tighter, fighting through the pain, but just before Bane could cause her to bleed, he moved his hands onto her tights before he pulled these apart as well.

"From now on," he began as he finished ripping the article from her body, and his eyes roamed over her black underwear before they quickly moved back up her body and onto her face. "You wear the standard uniform around here. If you fail to comply... there will be severe consequences."

Again, these words should have been absolutely terrifying, but they turned Jenna on even more, if that were even possible. As the pain started to fade from her body, she unclenched her eyes, but still kept them closed as her body swayed slightly closer to him. Bane understood she had taken his words to have a completely different meaning, but at the moment he didn't care. He placed his hands on her shoulders before he shoved her downward, and once she fell to her knees she immediately glanced up at him with wide, annoyed eyes.

"Take the boots off," he commanded, his fingertips still resting on her shoulders. Jenna stared at him for another few seconds before she swallowed and glanced down to his boots. The bottom of his cargo pants were tucked into the top of the boots, and her eyes roamed down to stare at the laces tied tightly on his right foot. She reached out quickly to start undoing them, and once they had been undone, Bane stepped out of the boot and waited for Jenna to proceed onto the other.

Once his boots were off, Jenna glanced back up to his face, and she stared into his eyes as she slowly rose from the ground. "Am I pressing my luck if I tell you to take my shoes off?" She bravely asked, watching wrinkles appear on the sides of Bane's eyes as he grinned slightly from beneath the mask, and he nodded. If there was one thing Bane did enjoy about these situations, it was how Jenna's confidence seemed to skyrocket.

Jenna was frowning. "Well I'm not your subject," she went on, a sour tone to her voice now. "Do something like that again and I'm out of here."

Bane laughed deeply, and he enjoyed the way Jenna's body tensed when he reached out to gently place his hands on the upper half of her arms. "You won't leave," Bane assured, able to easily see through her lie. "Besides," he went on, squeezing her arms now, applying more and more pressure with each passing second, and once he knew himself to be hurting Jenna, he grinned again. "You should always bow in the presence of greatness."

Jenna's lips parted, but as soon as they had Bane immediately turned her around and slammed her against the wall. Memories of their previous time were running through his mind, haunting and teasing him, but this time around, he wasn't entirely new to it anymore. Without hesitation, he let go of her arms and instantly took a hold of either side of her bra from the back. Jenna instantly made a noise of protest, her hands reaching over and behind her to take a hold of Bane's arms to dig her nails into, but it was already too late. She felt her bra fall free from her body, and after Bane had forced her to turn around and face him, her eyes flickered over to her bra as Bane carelessly dropped it to the floor. When her eyes returned to his, he saw that she appeared to be on the verge of great ferocity.

Suddenly, all Jenna wanted to do was get him back, but she knew this was a near impossible task. Her eyes dropped down to his belt without warning, and a daring idea formed in her mind. All she wanted now was to take the belt off, not only for her sake, but because she knew if she could manage to take it off, it would bother Bane severely. Perhaps it was a horrible idea, but at the moment Jenna didn't care. She wanted to prove to Bane that she wasn't just some mindless puppet. She was just as much a part of this as he was, regardless in which way. She studied it for a fast moment, her eyes wandering all over the belt, and she noticed three main straps and buckles that more than likely tightened to hold the belt on him. Without warning, she suddenly reached out to begin unfastening the buckle in front, and once she had this undone she immediately proceeded onto the buckle at his left. Her actions alarmed Bane, but regardless, his body would not allow him to do anything about it as she worked. He stared down at her face, molded into an expression of determination, and the only action his body would allow him to do was press her even harder against the wall. The wall was cold and uncomfortable against her body, but Jenna fought through it, and once her shaking fingers had managed to undo the left buckle, she instantly moved onto the right.

Just when Bane felt the entire belt become incredibly loose on his hips, he immediately dragged Jenna away from the wall and spun her around toward the bed. But as soon as he had, he felt the belt fall to his feet, and he paused, lowering his head and his gaze to glare at her smirking face.

"What? You think taking that off is an accomplishment?"

"I know it is," Jenna retorted sternly, that smirk never leaving her face. She could see it in his eyes. That belt was something he rarely took off, and she knew she had to have been the first person in history to have ever undone it for him. Bane let out a low and steady growl as he stepped out of it, and he closed his eyes when he felt Jenna run her fingertips down his fully exposed stomach. She stared at it, watching her hands move down the muscles, immensely enjoying the feel of them, and once she reached the top of his pants, she paused for a moment, hesitating. Bane had closed his eyes, but when he felt Jenna stop he snapped his eyes open to glare at her.

"Well don't stop now," he said at a higher volume. "You were on such a roll."

Jenna frowned, cursing to him in her head. From beneath her closed lips, she clenched her jaw tightly as she absentmindedly began to pull the sweat pants down. Quickly, Bane grew impatient with her slow and suddenly nervous actions, so he reached down to finish the deed himself, and as he did, Jenna instantly began to take her own underwear off as she struggled to get out of her shoes, not ready for Bane to destroy either one of them.

Just as she had kicked her shoes away from herself and tossed her underwear behind her, Bane grabbed her arm, and she jumped as he pulled her toward him just as he got on his bed to lay down on his back. Any rational thoughts had left her completely, as well as self control, and before Jenna could stop herself she climbed on top of his naked body, straddling him. Bane was staring up at her, and when his eyes met hers, he knew she was thinking the same thing she was. Why were they being so much more... calmer, and gentler this time around?

Jenna removed her gaze from him and allowed her eyes to wander down his chest and over his stomach. But once her eyes reached his hips, she paused. She had only even seen his hips once, but the majority of them had been covered by sweat pants. Now, completely bared, she couldn't take her eyes off of them. Thick bones protruded upward, leading down to his muscular thighs, and Bane watched her lick her lips as she stared, her eyes slowly roaming downward. He couldn't help but to grin, his eyes sliding closed, but as soon as they had, he suddenly felt Jenna lift her body before she slowly lowered herself back on top of him. She let out a low, delicious moan as she continued to lower herself, feeling Bane fill her up more and more, and once he had entered her as far as her body would allow, slight pain spreading through her pelvis, Bane's own lips parted while Jenna slid her own eyes closed, slowly. She bit her lip as she slowly started raise her body back up, and Bane lowered his eyes to her thighs, and he watched the muscles there tense as she held herself up with ease. He reached out, and his finger tips slowly traveled up her legs, sending shocks up her legs that tickled her lower back. Jenna groaned again, the pleasurable feeling strong and inviting, but once Bane realized how rather gentle and calm they were still being, he dug his nails into her skin before he suddenly slammed his hands down onto her hips. Jenna's eyes shot open, and she let out a gasp when he forced her back down onto him, hard. Her face distorted into a look of pain as a mix of pain and pleasure flowed throughout her just as Bane had lifted his gaze back up to stare at her, and when he began to speak, Jenna forced her eyes open.

"You wanted this," he reminded her slowly in a slight grumble, his glare heavy and intent. "Don't back down because it hurts."

Jenna swallowed, but his words sent not only annoyance, but determination throughout her. She hardened her glare before she slowly started to raise her body off of him again, determined to prove to him that he wanted this just as badly as she did as his fingertips slid from her body. Never breaking away from his dark eyes, once only the tip of him was inside of her, she began to move her hips in slow, tight circles. Bane's body relaxed, and she watched, amused, as he lowered his head to rest on the pillow, emitting a prolonged sigh as he did so. She couldn't help but to grin deviously as she continued with the movement, the feeling wonderful for her, but torturous for Bane. Jenna may have the power of pleasure and teasing, he knew, but he had the advantage of inflicting pure pain if she didn't do what he wanted. As Jenna continued to move in circles, Bane finally lifted his head, and he placed his hands back onto her wide hips before he slammed her down onto him again. Jenna let out a pained grunt, piercing pain spreading throughout her body again while Bane sighed, the action spreading pleasure throughout him.

"This can either be gratifying to you, as well, or it can turn into a nightmare," Bane threatened when Jenna opened her eyes. "Do not tease me."

Jenna grit her teeth as the pain started to fade, and she held his eye contact. "Fuck you."

"You're attempting to," Bane answered. "But you are currently failing."

Jenna's lips parted at his words, and she was unsure of whether to laugh or cry. But a short second later, a small snort of laughter escaped from her as an unwanted grin spread onto her lips. So Bane had humor... who knew?

"Fine," she finally purred. "But you asked for it." She leaned over suddenly, Bane's dick never exiting her, and he waited as she leaned in closer to him. He could feel her breasts against his chest, and Jenna's grin widened when he let out a small groan when she started to raise her hips up and down quickly with ease. His eyes closed as he leaned his head back against the pillow again, and as soon as he had, he felt Jenna's lips on him. Starting from his collarbone, she slowly licked her way up to where his ears sat behind his mask, and Jenna felt his body tense. Grinning still, she began to move her hips back and forward, hard and fast, before she clamped her teeth down on his neck. Bane's hands found her body again, and Jenna groaned when he squeezed on her hips, aiding her movements to become even faster while he began to slowly lift his own hips up and down. Jenna released her grip from his neck to rest her head against the curve where his shoulder met his neck, and she let out a loud moan. Bane could feel her hot breath against his skin, and this drove him to squeeze on her hips even harder and force her movements to become even faster while he quickened his own.

Eventually, Jenna was full-on panting over him as she moved her hips back and forth as fast as she could. His arms stretched out as far as they could go as he kept his hold on her, Jenna could feel his fingertips digging into the sides of her ass as she continued to fuck him, her eyes closed tightly, her breath exiting in short, exasperated spurts. Nothing but concentrated pleasure filled her entire body, and she felt as if she were floating as she continued on. As he rested his head on the pillow, Bane's eyes remained closed while he enjoyed the feel of Jenna's wet and tight pussy moving back forth on him while he moved in and out of her, and his lips parted as he felt his finish approaching. Jenna clutched the blanket on either side of her as she felt her own approaching, and when Bane squeezed on her ass even harder, she groaned loudly before she made herself move even faster on him. His bed barely made a sound as she continued, and once a warm feeling started to spread throughout her pelvis region, her body tensed before she began to come. She cried out as her orgasm took a strong hold of her, a tingling feeling spreading throughout her body, and as soon as this happened Bane felt himself finish as well. He absentmindedly squeezed on her ass nearly as hard as he could, and his body slowly began to cease movement as he emptied himself into her.

Once it was over, Jenna's body felt completely numb. She struggled to catch her breath as she listened to Bane's heavy breathing as well, and as she started to loosen her grip on the blankets, Bane started to slowly loosen his grip on her. She barely felt his calloused fingertips sliding slowly from her body, but once she heard his hands hit the bed on either side of them, she finally pulled herself off of him before rolling over to lay next to him on the bed. Bane's eyes were closed, but he could hear and feel what she did, but at the moment, much to his dismay, his own body had begun to feel numb, and he was much too tired to do anything about it. Two minutes, he told himself. Two minutes until I force her to leave...

Laying on her side, her head barely resting on the edge of Bane's pillow, she opened her eyes while she moved her leg over to shield her sensitive area, and she moved her arm up to hide what was exposed of her breast. She started up at Bane, watching his chest move up and down for a minute before she moved her eyes back onto the profile of his face. She started at the valves on the mask, the dim lighting reflecting off of them, and new thoughts began to haunt her mind. She found it unbelievable how easily sex the second time around had been initiated, though at the same time, she realized that she had completely abandoned the original, real question she had wanted to ask him.

"Bane?" Her frail voice cut through the silence, and Bane couldn't help but to open his eyes. Had he ever heard her speak his name like that before? He waited silently for her to go on, and once Jenna figured she had his attention, she did. "Can I ask you what I originally wanted to before?"

A moment passed before he finally answered her. "I suppose."

"Why did you choose me... to take?" She forced herself to ask, hating how obvious her curiosity was. The room fell silent again as she waited for an answer, and as the time went by, she began to fear that she would not receive one.

"Because you were an idol to the city's reconstruction. You were the daughter of Gotham's new heroes, and Gotham's finest piece of gossip. Surely, taking and killing you would send the message I wanted to them receive, loud and clear, and force them to undergo step one of my... plan."

His words sent chills throughout her, but she realized quickly that had merely been his plan in the beginning. He hadn't killed her, therefore Gotham never received the message, and the first step of his plan had failed. Did he realize that? "So," Jenna began again slowly, hoping not to upset him with a another, curious question. He had referred to her as being some very interesting things. She wondered what he thought of her to to be now, exactly. "What am I now?"

"Annoying," Bane answered in a sigh as he slowly began to sit up. "And yes, that is your cue to leave."

Jenna surprised him by giving in easily. "Okay," she replied evenly, and Bane listened to her get off of his bed. She appeared in front of him a few seconds later, and he watched her pick up her underwear before sliding them on. His eyes roamed over her body as she went about collecting her clothes, but once she had used the mound of them to shield the front of her body, he became uninterested in her actions, and he glanced away before bending down to pick up his own clothes. Jenna said nothing as she reached out to slowly open the door, but after she had peered outside to make sure the basement was clear, she stole a quick glance at Bane before leaving. A shock ran up her spine and stung her heart, however, when her eyes had met his, for he had been looking at her again, and in a small fit of panic, she quickly stepped out of his room and instantly scurried to her own room, not bothering to close his door behind her.

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