Thank you to everyone who left reviews saying how excited they were for me to be writing again. I honestly am grateful there's still people out there who give a shit. So, uh...yeah. Only took me a year and a bit so hopefully it was worth the wait? Enjoy?!

1st March 2009

Alice pulled at the thread on the edge of the couch, the ticking of the clock like a drill in her ear. Dr Hendrix was just…staring at her…not saying anything, not asking questions. The last two sessions had been like this, utter silence, and it was starting to drive her mad.

"Aren't you meant to be like, psycho analysing me or something?"

"This is your time Alice. We can do whatever you want."

Well she's not happy sitting in silence that's for sure.

"You know your grandmother gave us a brief history about you, about what happened. We can discuss that if you want to."

"No thank you."

"This may be hard to believe but discussing the events can make it easier to understand."

"I understand exactly what happened." Alice almost snaps. "and now I have to be in the same fucking hospital as him."

Dr Hendrix gives her a sad look. "I know it's not ideal, but it's the only place with facilities large enough for our needs after what happened."

She's referring to the Joker blowing Gotham General sky high.

"Why don't you tell me about your mother? What was she like?"

The thread finally snaps and she moves her hands to her lap. "I don't know, I don't remember."

"You were 6? Correct? Surely you must remember something about her?"

Alice tries. She tries to remember one good memory, but nothing comes to mind. So, she decides to finally be honest.

"It's like that one memory tainted everything else I remembered about her. She used to have this perfume she wore, all the time, and when I try to think about it I just remember the smell of blood."

"Has it always been like this?"

"No. I mean I always had nightmares, but nothing like this."

"Delayed post-traumatic stress." The doctor says as if it's that plain and simple. "it can happen years after the actual event, triggered by something else."

"Like what?"

"Well, I don't want to mention what happened but, a few months ago Victor Zsas did manage to escape again. It was all over the news. I can imagine that must have been extremely triggering for you."

"yeah, he does seem to have a way of slipping out of this place. Almost as if he wasn't locked up in a highly secure place." Alice mutters, not hiding the sarcasm in her tone.

"I'm not aware of the facts of his escape or what happened. But I do understand for someone who has been what you've been through It can force old memories to resurface. Especially when they are as traumatising as yours are. I can't imagine how terrifying that must be."

Alice is staring out the woman, forcing her attention on the blossoms on the tree. Anywhere other than the doctors face.

"What is it your exactly afraid of, Alice?"

Alice lay on her bed, staring at the clock on her bedside table, watching the second hand slowly tick away.

Her house is so quiet without her grandmother shuffling about or her music playing from the record player in the living room. She had come here after leaving Maggie asleep in a drunken state on her sofa and left a note saying she would come back, even though she wasn't sure how true that was.

Alice felt better in a way, like spilling her soul out to her old friends had taken this tremendous weight off her shoulders, but she didn't want to go back to the apartment where Bane had abandoned her, and because she couldn't think of anywhere else to go she went home. Even though it doesn't even feel like her home anymore.

Looking at the clock on her night stand she gets a pain in her chest. Three, two, one. Midnight. "Happy birthday to me." She mumbles sadly.

She sits up in the bed, her mind replaying the conversation in her mind she had with Maggie.

'and you want to fuck him?' She can hear Maggie's voice in her head. Repeating it over and over.

'Potentially.'

As she thinks about her answer she almost feels the urge to smother herself with her pillow. God how could she admit that? How could she think that having sex with Bane was ever a potential possibility?

So why had she come so close so many times, why had she fucking kissed him.

"Fuck." Alice mutters. "I fucking want him."

The squeak of the floorboards from the living room forces her eyes to dart between the door and the knife she had grabbed from the kitchen when she had entered the house, just in case. Alice picks it up from the nightstand as she swings her legs off the bed. It's sad that this was her life now.

She walks slowly, knife out in front her, hand gripped tightly around the handle until she sees the figure sat on her grandmother's couch, and she lets the knife drop to her side.

"Of course, it would you." Bane is staring up at her and Alice gets a sudden wave of déjà vu. "How'd you know I was here?"

"I had a feeling."

What? So, he knew her now? Knew exactly what she was thinking?

"Yeah, well, it's not as if I have anywhere else to go, Is it?"

"There's always our home."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." She blurts out. She can't hide the anger in her tone, not to him. "You left the door open, so you must've known I would have left. Or what? Was it another one of your fucking tests?"

Bane says nothing. He's looking at her, eyes burning and she feels like he's looking into her soul and she doesn't think she can bare it. Her heart is pounding against her chest as she tries to control whatever this feeling was. Hate? No, it's not that.

"You know what? You're the one that left. You told me you couldn't bear to lose me and then I gave you what you wanted and you fucking walk out and left me!"

"You didn't – "

"I DID!" She yells. The adrenaline running through her body mixed with the anger and she can't help herself. She already knows what he's going to say before he's even finished. "I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't wanted it Bane. And I know I shouldn't, I know I shouldn't want you but I fucking do. I don't even know who I am fucking anymore but I know I wanted that."

Fuck. Alice wants the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She said it. She hadn't meant for the words to spill out that easily but they had and it was like they were sucking the air out of the room. She can't take this anymore. This game of cat and mouse, his constant switching between cold and boiling hot.

"Just – go, ok? Leave me alone. Please?"

She can see his fist clench, eyes burning but he doesn't move, and as she escapes to her bedroom not being able to stand to look at him a second longer she thinks maybe he's listened to her.

As always, she's wrong.

She wants to scream as she hears him behind her, in her bedroom where this whole fucking mess began. But she can't find her voice.

"So what do you want little one? Gentle touches from me, sweet words maybe? Delicate kisses? Because if that's what you want I can't give that to you."

She hears the sadness in his tone. God is that what he's afraid of?

What was she afraid of?

She knows Bane will never move first, in some strange way she knows he's almost too afraid to. Alice breathes in deeply as she contemplates what she's about to do. She unzips her jacket and removes it from her torso, her arms bearing goose bumps as the cold night air hits her. She lets it drop to the floor as she turns to face him. She's standing on top of the building and she's ready to jump off, regardless of how it goes.

"I don't need sweet words." She says as she starts to undo her trousers and she's sure she can see Bane's breath catch in his chest. "I don't need you to be gentle, or delicate." Alice knows she should feel terrified, but the adrenaline coursing through her is forcing her heart to race, it makes her feel braver. "I just need you to show me how much you want me."

As the words leave her mouth she's certain she's made a mistake. He's not moving or speaking but she can almost feel the tension in the room thicken as she pulls her top over her head. "Have you suddenly decided that you don't want me?"

With every word, Bane can feel the arousal within him growing. He wasn't sure why this was happening or why she had suddenly become so bold, but she was telling him plain as day that she wanted this. She wasn't drunk, or scared, and for a moment he didn't feel like a monster as she looked at him. She's not looking at him like he's a monster.

"Take it off." She commands in the gentlest way. For a moment he doesn't, unsure of how to go about this. But he feels his hands come up and start to unzip his jacket as if he wasn't controlling them, and then her lips move again. "Everything."

Her words make his heart beat faster. He removes the mask, casting it aside on the bedside table and he sees her lick her lips in anticipation. She's waiting for him to move, waiting for him to take control which he sorely wants to do. For a moment, he watches her as he removes his jacket, she shirt and starts to unbuckle his trousers. She's removed her trousers now too and is standing before him in her underwear, but still, there's no hint of fear.

"What are you waiting for Bane?"

Absolutely nothing. He moves up to her, bringing a hand to her throat, but she doesn't flinch as he moves his fingers across her skin. He had thought about that kiss ever since it had happened, and how had hadn't reciprocated. Even thought it was ever so fleeting he remembers the feel and warmth of her lips, the tenderness and longing, but she doesn't want delicate, so his presses his mouth hard against hers and it seems to engulf his senses. Only this time it's so much better. When he hears, the moan escape her throat he kisses her harder, leaning down slightly he grabs her by the back of her thighs, picking her up she gives a slight yelp.

"Fuck I forget how strong you are sometimes." She breathes out, teeth grazing her bottom lip. He wants to laugh, but he's too focused on his cock pressed against her.

"Do you like it?" He asks as he steps towards the bed and lays her down, pressing his weight and himself against her as he climbs on top of her.

"Yes." She breathes out, a moan escaping her as he moves his hips against hers.

He moves down and brings his lips against her neck and collarbone, hearing her breath stall and her heart thud against her chest as his lips kiss her there. Although she said she doesn't need him to be gentle he's trying his best to be. He doesn't want to hurt her or ruin this by causing any more marks against her flawless flesh but as she bucks her hips and he clenches the bed with his fist he fears that might happen.

"So impatient." He teases as he pulls the cup of her bra down and takes a nipple in his mouth and he hears a delightful shudder flow from her mouth. He's never tasted anything as sweet as her skin. "Very well."

He stands from the bed and grabs her legs causing yelp as he drags her towards him. Her breathing is erratic as he frees himself from his trousers. He sees her watching, her head falling back and a small fuck escaping her lips as she lifts her hips to pull her underwear off. Bane helps her with disposing of them to the floor.

Bane wants to ask her again, hear it one more time before he does what he's desired for so long. He's almost afraid to in case she has changed her mind.

As he pushes himself inside her he feels her body clench and watches her shudder. He feels his breath steady as he allows himself a few moments to compose himself. Alice is watching him, waiting. It's an odd feeling for him to have someone looks at him with so much longing and wanting and to be able to reciprocate. As he moves inside her she lets out another moan, deeper and harder. "Fuck."

He's gripping her hips, trying his best not to do it too hard as he moves inside of her but he can't seem to help it, can't help the erratic movement of his hips as he feels the pleasure flow through him, even the twinge down his spine couldn't possibly ruin this for him.

God this was happening, this was actually happening. Alice can feel it building up inside of her, and she's trying her best to fight the over whelming sensation she must come right there and then and make this feeling last as long as she can. It's not how she excepted, but then against none of this was. She can feel his hands tightening on her but the feeling of his cock moving inside her forces any trace of pain his hands are causing to disappear. But she can't help it, the noises escaping her seem to make him move faster, harder, he's on top of her now, his weight pushing her into the bed and she wraps her arms around him, fingers digging at his back as she buries her face into his neck to stop the screams of pleasure.

But suddenly he stops and she thinks she's going to pass out. It hasn't happened yet, she can feel her insides burning with the desire to, but Bane is looking down at her, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. "I want to hear you." He says earnestly. "Don't silence yourself."

Fuck. She can't seem to speak through her ragged breathing and only nods. Bane starts to move again, eyes fixed on her and she can't help the shudder that comes from her throat, her eyes flickering shut as he picks up the pace again, but she knows he's watching every move she makes. It's almost his driving force behind it.

"Bane – I – I'm going to – "

She can't get the words out as she feels it, hitting her so suddenly, her body almost shaking with pleasure as she feels the orgasm come to completion. She's not even sure if Bane did as he slows down, a few last thrust before he steadies himself over her.

"you didn't – Did you?" She says between heavy breaths.

"it doesn't matter." He says it like he's disappointed her.

Alice pushes herself up, pulling herself away from him for a second and he think he's done something to upset her, but her words surprise him.

"Lay down."

"Little one – "

"lay down." She says it sterner this time and he can't not oblige. As soon as his back touches the bed she's on top of him, straddling his waist, her hands roaming up his torso.

"tell me what I can do."

"The venom numbs me. It makes some sensations, less dominant." He almost feels ashamed to say that.

"I guess we'll just have to work a bit harder then." She says with a small smirk.

Bane had never thought she would want to please him so much. He wasn't concerned about his own pleasure, only hers, and seeing her come just a few moments earlier was all the satisfaction he had needed. But there she was now, slowly moving herself down on top of him and he can't help but grip her hips as he feels the pressure around his cock. The Venom must be losing its affect, and for once he's more than happy to feel something, especially if it's this.

She gives a little sigh as she steadies herself pushing the hair back from her face and biting her lower lip as she starts to rock steadily. This was so much different than it had been with Talia. That was bent over a desk in her study, he couldn't even see her face, only hears the moans as she came to completion and then thanked him for it. But here he was with someone who wanted to please him, look at him, touch him, even kiss him. In that moment, he didn't feel like a monster.

She's moving faster now, harder and he can feel the sensation building in his pelvis as he grips onto her.

"is this ok?" she asks through panted breath, and he responded by thrusting his hips up and forcing a gasp from her.

He's allowing himself to feel it now as his hands grab her hips, forcing her to move faster, her hands are gripping his shoulders as she leans into him.

But he sits up, his hands moving to her back to hold her closer, pulling her tightly against him as she keeps moving.

Bane can feel it, deep within he can feel the sensation building, his breathing harder and faster as she keeps moving. It's all overwhelming, the feeling in his chest as he pulls he tighter, how she feels tight and warm around him. But it's her mouth on his which forces him to finally come, his hands gripping her tight enough to leave bruises as he comes inside her and she lets out another satisfying moan against his mouth.

Then suddenly, it's all over.

Alice tries to steady her breathing as she comes down from the high of it. Bane is still holding onto her, his grip lessed but she can already feel the bruises forming. She forces herself up off him, embarrassment from her boldness overwhelming her.

She picks her underwear from the floor, quickly pulling them on and fixing her bra. Bane has now moved from the bed and he's fixing himself to but she can't help but think he can't bear to look at her as she picks her top up from the floor and take a seat on her bed as she pulls it on. When she finally forces herself to look at him he's looking down at her, his breathing slightly heavy. Then he does something she doesn't except, kneeling on one knee in front of her, a hand squeezing her thigh, his thumb running along an old playground scar.

"Did I hurt you?"

It's strange to see his face this way, with such sincerity it makes her want to kiss him again. Alice was sure she had finally gone full blown crazy.

"No. Not at all, it was…. I liked it."

That was a lie. She had fucking loved it. Alice had expected Bane to be intentionally rough, to pin her down into the bed and basically fuck her senseless. Which in a way, he had, but it had been so much different than what she had expected, but in a way, it had made it better.

"Did you…Did you not like it?

"I did." She sees a tug at the corner of his mouth that almost moves into a smile and she feels that pull in her chest again. It was like she was starting to see his human side. "But next time, I plan on tasting more of you."

Next time? Fuck. His words force a heat between her already trembling legs. What in the hell was happening.

"You do realise this means you're mine now. Don't you?" There was no threat in his tone, if this had been any other situation, or with any other person you could even consider it romantic. "And I'm yours." He adds after the silence, his eyes focused on her, waiting for an answer.

"I – " Alice didn't know if it was the fact she was coming off the high of her orgasm or if she was just losing her mind she knew it wasn't hate she felt for the man knelt in front of her. She was willing to admit she wanted Bane, but she wasn't ready to admit anything else, not yet.

"I do."

*Hides in the corner* I hate writing sex scenes as I feel like i'm terrible at them. Be gentle. And i've already started working on the next chapter. As I said previously, I plan on finishing this even if it kills me, and I have a feeling...it might ;)