I don't own The Batman comics, or anything from the related media. I just borrow some characters and play with them.

When Darkness comes

They were meeting in a wide clearing in the forest behind the city. They had made sure that no-one would search for them until the sun arose and that no-one had followed them. Both of them had their masks disguising the upper half of their faces, even though it was only the full moon that was looking down at them, bathing them in cool blue light and illuminating the glade.

Tim's left hand settled on his opponents upper arm and the right hand settled into the other man's left. He felt warm calloused fingers settle just below his shoulder-blade and he took a step closer until his thigh slipped between the legs of the other. Hot breath danced across his ear, but he resolutely held his head high and faced towards the left, knowing that his opponent was doing the same, as the breath disappeared and he could almost feel their ears brushing together. A fleeting smile quirked his lips as his heart beat in anticipation.

There was a moment of total stillness, not even a shift of air disturbing the peace, just the moonlight shining down onto the two men waiting in position.

Then, to a rhythm and a melody just the two of them seemed to hear, they began to dance. Tim following the directions and revelling in the strong hold that guided him through the steps. There were graceful long sweeps and sudden, aggressive turns and they almost never looked at each other.

Tim was almost tempted to close his eyes, to give up even the last control to the man who had him in his arms, but he knew if he did, he would be lost. So he watched the swirls of shadow and the glimpses of muscle and the almost there flashes of dark green eyes.

He relished in the warm strength holding him, in the pressure of the body against his own, sliding down or up, and disappearing in a flash.

They never once stumbled, or slipped, or halted. They just danced.

And just before the moon sank behind the crown of the trees and the first signs of dawn could appear, they came to an end, slowly coming to a halt in the middle of the clearing.

For a moment, they just breathed, the scent of the forest and their mingled sweat in the air around them. Tim held himself perfectly straight, his face, again, turned to the left as they were back in the position they had started in. He didn't move, just waited. There was hair brushing over his ear and lips caressing his neck in a kiss. The words following barely a whisper and burning themselves into his mind.

"Until next time, Baby Bird."

The warmth left and when he turned his head forward, he was alone. After waiting for a moment, letting the creeping shadows of the trees engulf him, he turned and made his way back towards the city.

"Goodbye, Jason."

The End