"Beloved" The man stood in the darkness, smiling-the tiny half smile whose true meaning is known only between lovers-smiling knowingly and surveying his love. His reason for living. The very thought of her kept his heart beating, willed his lungs to take another breath. Inhaling-he savored the scent of her very being, one so mysterious and yet revealing, intoxicating, heady. Moonlight shone gently down on her sprawling form, concealing her flaws her scars. Scars of her tormented soul torn asunder, hurting, crying out for help. He saw that frailty in her, it struck a chord deep within him, so deep he did not or could not know where or how exactly it drew him to her. He would save her, heal her scars and reveal the hidden beauty, the beauty that once was in her younger days, now hidden beneath years of cares, worries and emotional debris. Thinking of her days of glory his blood heated, pounding in his ears. Holding himself in check, he stood, waiting wanting to savor this moment a bit longer, she looked so peaceful under the stars, near sleep-perpetually in the place between dreams and reality, denying the existence of the harshness of life and hatred yet unable to give into the dreams and fantasy she longed after, never truly resting, never truly sleeping. The semblance of peace belying the seductive beauty that came alive at night-and only at night, under the stars, was her true passion revealed. Passion he knew well a near-violent overeagerness that mirrored his own. One so enticing it drew him near to his own destruction on countless nights similar to this one. He knew every inch of her, better than he knew himself, his hands itched, eager to explore and rediscover every nook and cranny, every curve and hidden view of his lover. His passion. His heartbeat.. His Gotham. A scream pierced the night sky, the smile faded, the moment was over, he must go now his beloved was crying out for him.