"Let's stay home" | Quarantine AU

Chapter 4 - "Bane"

A/N: I'm not too happy with this chapter a whole but since its aim was to introduce Bane, let's focus on that. It also has a little bit of Alfie which never hurts right? The pic above is how I imagine Bane in this.

Emma had been typing quickly away on her computer when a sudden bip was heard making her jump in surprise. She had been immersed in the article she was writing, her words coming to her with ease when the notification arrived causing her to be mildly annoyed at whatever it was that had disrupted her concentration. However, her frown immediately was turned upside down when she noticed that the bip had been for an incoming video call.

"Babe, hello!" She beamed when Bane's face appeared on the screen. He was stuck somewhere on the other side of the world so he couldn't come and be quarantined with them.

"Hi Emma, how are you?" He smiled at her warm welcome

"I can't believe you couldn't make it. I certainly could have used some help here." She pouted visibly for him to see, arousing a round of indignified sounds from her three roommates and a small laugh from Bane.

"I've tried to find a flight to come to you but the general hysteria prevented me from finding a seat." He explained again even though she was already aware of that given that he had called her the day before to say so.

"Well, that sucks. I miss you, babe." She was pretty outspoken about her adoration for him, she always had been so the comment didn't come as a surprise for Bane but it did quite upset the other men.

"I'm sorry since when do you have a boyfriend?" Alfie's voice made her look up from the screen. She had kind of tuned them out and had been entirely focused on Bane.

"I don't have a boyfriend Alfie, are you losing your mind?" Since it was normal for her to address Bane in that way, she didn't really understand where Alfie was coming from. If he was upset by the term of endearment she used for Bane now, he was even more upset for the tone she seemed to reserve only for him. Why hadn't he noticed until now?

"You called him babe." He simply said.

"Look at him, he's an absolute babe, is he not?" She deadpanned pointing to Bane's face on the screen who looked totally unbothered by this conversation. Other than the fact that yes, he was a sweetheart, Emma had to call him that way. It was close to his real name but it didn't raise any suspicion which is what he wanted. Alfie didn't need to know that though. The expression he was sporting at the moment, confused but also deeply offended, was amusing Emma to no end. To be fair, she had a different way to address every person she knew. It was personal and it was deeply related to the person and to the kind of relationship she had with them. When it comes to Alfie, she always seems to be fed up with him or able to give him only sarcastic and matter-of-fact answers. It wasn't because she could hardly stand the guy, that's just how their relationship was. She thought it was pretty obvious given that if she really couldn't stand him she wouldn't be engaging him in any way. Apparently, Alfie hadn't caught on that.

A grunt was the only thing that left his mouth, not willing to show his cards or his emotions and let her know just how much it was bothering him. That wasn't a conversation to have in front of three strangers. So he just got up and left her to it.

"You should go easier on him. The poor lad looked absolutely crushed." Bane amused voice brought her attention back to the screen.

"Trust me, it had never transpired until now that he'd like to be called babe. I honestly thought he hated any kind of sweet term of endearment." Emma explained honestly to Bane. Besides, she and Alfie were just friends. Friends that bickered and picked on each other quite a lot at that too. She was honestly fine with the way their relationship was but maybe she should try and be sweeter with him. It wasn't like she would have a hard time in doing that because he was an absolute babe too. He didn't need to know that though.

"How are you holding up?" He asked changing the subject.

"I try and stay positive you know, but the truth is... I'm scared babe. Things don't seem to be getting better anytime soon." Her voice trembled as she shared her current state of mind with him.

"It's only human to be scared Emma, there's nothing wrong with it."

"I know it is but it also feels kinda stupid. What good does it make that I'm scared? I'm in the comfort of this home with people that I like and I get along with and above all, I'm healthy. What am I scared of? People are dying out there and here I am shitting myself over nothing."

"This whole situation is something completely new for everyone. It's okay to be scared. Whatever you're feeling, it's always legitimate. Don't fight it. Embrace it, talk it through with someone, don't keep it all bottled up Em, okay?" How does he always know what to say would always be a mystery for Emma but she's deeply grateful for it and for having him in her life.

"You're not scared though, are you?" She asked to prove her point and because she was genuinely curious too.

"Well, in a way yes." well, that was new.

"Why? You can't be infected by this virus, right?" Emma asked now worried of the possibility of him getting sick. He was the only one she didn't have to be worried about.

"I guess not but I'm not scared for myself," Bane confessed looking at the screen. When he didn't hear Emma's reply but saw her tilting her head to the side, he understood she was waiting for him to explain himself further, " I'm scared for you actually."

Cooing at this, Emma couldn't help but hold her face in her hands in the same way as if she was looking at a photo of a cute puppy.

"Aw babe, I'm already emotional do you want to make me cry?" She joked fanning her face as if to dry the tears that were about to spill. But in fact, she was on the verge of crying. It's not even been a week of confinement and here she was already feeling emotional and overwhelmed by everything.

"Didn't you tell me once that you don't ever cry?" Bane joked recalling that time they went to the cinema together to watch a pretty dramatic film and him being surprised at the fact that Emma didn't shed a tear.

"These are special times, alright? Give me a break." She recalled that night perfectly. She didn't mention to him though that when she was in her premenstrual phase she would be more emotional and prone to tears than usual. He didn't have to know that though. Bane simply laughed at this, not minding one bit this side of her.

"I really miss you, babe, I wish you were here." She confessed shyly. Emma wasn't one to get all mushy and cheesy but knowing that he was all the way somewhere in Asia made her worry only grow. Her relationship with the man had increasingly grown over the years they had known each other and they became very close.

"These are strange times indeed. You're never this sweet." The smirk on his face made him look so adorable that even though she tried Emma couldn't be really angry at him.

"Okay, see? Now I regret everything. Let's forget I even said anything, alright?" She tried to play it cool. Bane simply smiled at her antics.

"There's no need, I quite like this new side of yours. A man needs to be smothered with nice words every once in a while. Besides, I miss you too."He conceded making her cheeks tint in the faintest of red," I'll try my best to find a way to come. Until then, I'm afraid video calls will have to suffice. "

" I don't want you to put yourself at risk. It's okay, chatting like this is fine. Better than you in a hospital bed." She tried to joke about it but she was dead serious. She could live with only seeing him through a screen but not if he was recovered somewhere.

"You forget who I am, Emma. Now, I'm sorry but I have to go. I'll be in touch." He said cryptically, ending the call before she could say anything.

Well, at least he's fine. She thought of trying to see the brighter side of this situation. And he hinted at the possibility of coming home to her. That certainly was good news. However, seeing as Alfie had reacted at the mere sight of him, Emma was suddenly worried at the increase of the testosterone level if Bane really was to join them. Oh well, the only problem would be Alfie. He'll just have to deal with it, Emma concluded.