The days felt longer.

Apart from the visits from her irritating caretaker and that one time from her brother, Grace had absolutely nothing to occupy herself with aside from her own thoughts.

Sometimes she would play cards, or she would pace back and forth to tire herself out so she could sleep.

Another time she rammed the truck into the door, trying in vain to get in to budge open, but to no avail.

She spent a great deal of her day reflecting on her life, always aware of the fact that any day could be her last.

The school would notice she was missing eventually.

But most of her colleagues wouldn't even miss her presence.

She mostly kept to her office and didn't have any close friends at the school.

Or any friends outside of work.

It might have been different if she had a boyfriend. Someone who would care about her wellbeing and safety. Someone who would say 'be sure to call me when you get off the plane'.

She had dated men intermittently, but they never evolved into long-term relationships.

In the past, she had an attraction to brash, arrogant alpha-like men. Those who saw her naïveté as an opportunity.

And they always relished in the opportunity to make her feel worthless. Some even left without explanation. Leaving behind them, a sad broken heart.

She had spent many lonely nights longing for love.

She wasn't a person who believed in soul mates, but she hadn't ruled it out completely. Anything's possible.

She looked over her appearance in the mirror.

Four days now and no shower.

Her hair had become greasy and was now tied back in another French plait.

She tried to wash her body with the water from the sink, but it wasn't the same.

She heard the door open and assumed it was Barsad.

With fresh deodorant applied and her face cleaned she left the bathroom.

She was about to launch into another round of begging to be let out, when her eyes met with someone she never expected to pay her a visit.

Her heart thudded in her chest and her hands began to shake with trepidation as the masked man stood before the closed door. His intimidating stature made the room seem even smaller with his presence. He seemed utterly authoritative as he towered over her.

She didn't know what to do.

His eyes were just staring at her.

Was he waiting for her to speak?

Grace opened her mouth, but any words felt like lead on her tongue.

If it had been Barsad standing before her, she would bet her life they would be having another argument right now.

He took a deep breath and she flinched at the mechanical sound.

"Were you expecting someone else?" His voice broke the silence.

She had almost forgotten what it sounded like.

Grace could only nod.

Her breath came out in quick shallow bursts.

Oh god. What was he doing here?

xxx

Bane noticed the rigid line in her posture.

"Barsad has inferred that you have quite the temper. Yet what I see before me is a scared little mouse."

"I... I'm working on it."

She remained glued to the threshold of the bathroom.

"Is that so?" He took a step towards her.

She flinched slightly and took a deep breath.

"I know when to pick my battles." She spoke quietly.

"Why not now?" He tested her resolve.

"I'm not stupid enough to lose my temper in front of you."

Bane raised a brow at the woman.

"And why have you come to that conclusion?"

"I..." She stopped speaking.

"Go on?"

"I... can't tell what you're thinking. I can't see your face."

Bane's shoulder's tensed slightly.

"And you never will."

"That's fine. I've never been a fan of men in masks." She spoke quietly.

Bane nodded and looked away from the woman. He took in the small room and noticed there were several dents in the metal door.

Was she trying to escape?

"Perhaps you are unhappy with your accommodations?" He turned with a raised brow.

She shook her head frantically in response. She didn't want to anger him.

"I was informed you have been given your clothes, a supply of food and water. A room all to yourself." He gestured to the space. "Unless there is something else you require to make your stay more comfortable?"

She looked like she wanted to speak but couldn't muster up the nerve.

"If you want something, ask for it. I am either going to say yes or no. Speak now."

"Can I have a shower." She spoke quickly. He could see her hands shaking.

He took in the woman's appearance. Her blonde hair was tied back in a plait and looked slightly wet. She had been here for a few days. It had not crossed his mind that this could be a problem. He didn't have hair to worry about as he has shaved his head since he was given the mask.

"A shower?" He repeated.

"Please." She nodded slightly.

"And this would please you?"

"Yes. I would be very grateful."

He took in her sad eyes and felt something stir in his stomach.

xxx

Grace thought he would deny her. After all, this was the man that ordered her to be locked up in the first place.

She blinked when he nodded.

"Very well." He moved to the door and to her shock, held it open for her. "Bring what you need."

She snapped out of her shock and moved quickly to her suitcase and grabbed a towel, a small bright coloured bag and slipped on her flip flops.

She hesitated before stepping out of the room.

"Follow me and do not wander off."

With a nod she followed the huge man down the corridor.

His steps thudded in his heavy boots as her flip flops squeaked slightly. She tried to slow her steps to lessen the noise.

She didn't know what kind of set up they had, and she knew all about the dangers of how unsanitary showers could be. She didn't want to catch a fungus or something.

They didn't speak as they walked. He didn't seem like the sort of man who enjoyed small talk. She was tempted to ask him his name. Just to put one to his…face.

The mask surrounded his entire head. She hadn't been able to see it this close when she was brought here. It looked uncomfortable.

"Something on your mind?" The man kept walking.

"N-no I just… it's nothing." She lowered her head, watching her feet as they walked.

"No matter, here we are." He gestured to an open doorway, just a hanging curtain separated the room and the hall. She walked in first and almost dropped her stuff in shock.

Suddenly faced with half a dozen bare arses, she shrieked and swiftly turned to exit. Her efforts were halted when she crashed into an unmovable body.

She met his eyes again. She couldn't read him. Surely, he didn't expect her to shower alongside the men?

His gaze moved over her head and to the men now staring at the commotion at the entrance.

"Everyone out. Now!" He left no room for argument.

The men hastily gathered their clothing and covered their bodies as best they could.

The pair moved further into the room once it was cleared.

"You have ten minutes, use them wisely."

She was worried that he was going to stay to keep an eye on her.

She couldn't exactly run anywhere in a pair of flip flops.

Her anxiety was eased when he turned and exited through the curtain.

She took a deep breath once she was alone.

This room seemed to have once been a place for sewer workers to decontaminate after- well she didn't want to think about that right now.

It was dark and damp and full of steam.

Does that mean they have hot water?

With that thought she stripped quickly and hung up her wash bag and towel.

Once she stepped into the stream, she couldn't repress the moan that escaped her.

It was an amazing feeling finally getting to wash off the grime and sweat after God knows how many days.

Once her hair and body were cleaned, she took the time to just stand there underneath the spray.

Allowing warmth to spread through her body.

She would never take a hot shower for granted again.

"Your time is almost up." The voice outside called.

As quick as she could she dried her body and redressed. While she was in the process of wringing out her hair, the curtain was quickly swept aside to reveal the man again.

For a moment they both stood still. Just staring at one another.

"Time to go back, my dear."

She nodded and gathered her stuff, leaving her hair down to air dry. She wasn't going to ask if they had a hair dryer.

They walked along the corridor in silence. Only her squeaky flip flops sounded.

"Here we are." They were back at her door.

"Thank you." She whispered before she walked through.

xxx

He nodded. He wasn't sure if she was thanking him for the shower or the escort to her room.

"Until next time." He tilted his head and shut the door.

Bane walked back into the central hub of their operation.

He did his best to get back to work. But every time he allowed his mind to drift back to the breathy moans she released during her shower, he found his curiosity growing.

He had read everything there was to know about the woman when his IT team traced her phone. But knowing her date of birth and place of work wasn't at the core of who she was.

She came across as timid around his presence, but according to Barsad and Bartov, she had a temper.

Bartov had proudly revealed the bite mark she left on his hand while he was subduing her when she was kidnapped.

The fact that she was brash enough to insult Barsad to his face, in a language barely spoken nowadays, also spoke to her character.

He was almost tempted to strike up a conversation with her with his basic grasp of Irish, just to see her reaction.

Maybe later.

He stuck to his corner gathering fresh gauze to wrap his hand. A nasty old injury that needed to be supported with a wrist brace.

While putting the straps back into place he looked up to see Barsad patrolling the work being completed. He was keeping a close eye on Fitzgerald.

The new hire was working away.

Fitzgerald was kept on a tight leash after the incident that led to his sister's capture. Three of his bunkmates were loyal followers and worked closely with him on the IT team.

Bane also had the forethought to bug the desk he was working on. Just as an extra precaution.

A new figure emerged from a stairwell and sauntered over to Fitzgerald. The man leant over to whisper in his ear.

"Hey Fitzy, I heard Bane paid a visit to your sister. Apparently, he got her nice and wet."

The man spoke freely and without worry.

Bane was certainly not impressed by the crude insinuation.

"Kicked out the whole surveillance team from the showers to have some alone time with her apparently."

Fitzgerald sat rigidly. Bane could see his hand clenched around the can he'd been drinking.

"You could hear her moaning from down the corridor I heard."

The small man laughed quietly at Fitzgerald's seething anger. He was trying not to act out.

Bane slowly made his way over the station.

"Is that so?"

The man straightened as Bane appeared from behind.

"N-no of course not. We were only messing, right Fitz? No harm done." The man tried to back away, but Bane caught him around the neck.

"What is your name?"

"Joey, sir." He choked out.

"Well Joey, I wonder how many people will hear this?"

"Wha-" His voice rang out with a yelp as Bane quickly thrust his fist against the man's side.

With that, Bane dropped him at his feet.

"Speak of me in that manner again, and I won't just bruise your kidney. I'll remove it."

He didn't bother to wait for a response. The man was shoved away to go lick his wounds.

Barsad walked over to him.

"What happened here?" He looked over at Joey. "What's up with him?"

"Nothing to be concerned about, Barsad." He gave him a look to drop any further questions. Barsad caught on quick. "I think Mr Fitzgerald has earned a break. Take him to the cafeteria."

"Okay."

"Bring the sister too." He added.

"You're finally letting her out?" Barsad questioned.

"I have already allowed her to leave the room. Miss Fitzgerald requested a shower earlier and I brought her there this morning." At that, Patrick's eyes turned to Bane.

Perhaps he did believe that Joey had been messing with him.

"Right. You stay there, Fitz and I'll be back with your sister."

Barsad left and Bane's eyes roved over Patrick's stiff posture.

The blond man seethed in his seat. The can in his hand was slowly being crushed in his grip.

"Something you wish to say?" Bane asked.

"You promised to keep her safe." He gritted out.

"I have not laid a hand on her. She is safe." Bane said slowly.

"I'll be the judge of that."

"Your sister will confirm what happened this morning. You have nothing to fear in regard to her virtue."

"I'll know if she's lying."

He turned as Barsad returned with the jumpy guest. She froze at the sight of him again.

"Grace? Are you okay?" Her brother leapt out of his chair and checked her over.

"I'm fine, Patrick." She stopped his fussing.

Patrick's eyes turned dark.

"What happened in the showers this morning?"

Bane was impressed by how easily they shifted to Irish.

"Nothing. The man with the mask escorted me and stood outside the whole time." She quickly glanced at Bane as she spoke.

"Hey! I told you to stop doing that." Barsad spoke.

"Are you sure, Grace?" He asked in English.

"I'm fine. Are you okay? You seem on edge."

"I-I was just anxious to see you. Come on, let's go eat."

The trio turned and left the room.

Patrick was practically shielding his sister from everyone's gaze in the hub.

Bane wasn't offended that the brother didn't trust his word. He understood being protective of one's family.

And it was probably Patrick's only redeeming quality.

Bane knew he was a selfish person that would walk over anyone for a payoff. He saw that when he sold out Almani.

But when it came to Grace, it was a different story.

Bane looked over the work Patrick turned in.

Alone he could accomplish in a day what the other three technicians would manage in a week.

Bane needed to gain his loyalty. He was speeding up their operation which was good news for the league and bad news for Gotham.

He knew that Patrick wanted Gotham to burn, but he wanted to save his sister from the flames.

But Bane wouldn't spare anyone.

Not even Grace Fitzgerald.

He had his orders to follow.