"Shadow?"
The violet-masked turtle smiled when she felt a presence behind her…
"I didn't think you'd show up…" She admitted as he wrapped an arm around her waist.
They'd been meeting like this for at least two months, though there were days they couldn't get together because of bouts of crime.
Lily was finally retreating from her shell enough to even help him, but they both soon agreed it would be safest if she didn't.
They both had powerful enemies, and there was no need to show they knew each other intimately.
He settled on the edge, her sitting between his legs, as they watched the beautiful city lights…
"…Shadow?"
"Yeah, Lily?"
"…When can I see your face?"
She felt him tense, but tried to soothe him…
"Don't worry…You don't have to show me…"
"…I want to…It's just…You KNOW it's dangerous."
"I know…"
She looked up at the still-masked superhero, blue eyes wide and almost pleading.
"But…why can't we just take a chance?"
A moment of silence, contemplation, and slowly, he shifted so they were farther from the edge.
Curious as a kitten, the violet-masked she-turtle turned in his hold enough to face him.
Realizing he wouldn't move his arms from her shell, the blue-eyed girl hesitantly brought up her hands…
Catching the edges of his mask in her fingers, she kept her eyes locked with his…
If he wanted her to, she'd stop.
No questions asked.
She knew what it was like to have something ripped away from you like that…
When he didn't pull away, she carefully pulled that cloth off…
He had beautiful brown eyes, tinted green and blue, and his sandy dirty-blond hair was a bit shaggy.
He had an almost rough face, with faint scars on his cheeks and over his eye.
Shadow pulled back as her fingers came up, touching his face carefully…
"Shadow?"
"I'm sorry…"
He tried to relax, he really did…
But he felt naked without his mask…
Vulnerable…
An idea formed in his mind, and he carefully took hold of the tails of her own mask.
Obviously startled by the sudden pressure, she almost jumped.
He soothed her, his free hand caressing her arm and side and neck…
"I took off my mask for you…why not?"
She really thought about it, and then relaxed as his fingers worked on the knot.
The fabric fell away, a gentle touch to the skin as the loosened cloth hung around her neck.
One hand carefully cradled her face, and he looked at her so intently she wondered what he was looking for…
"…You're eyes are so deep…" He murmured, moving closer…
Their lips were almost touching, she could almost taste his breath…
Suddenly, they were connected, and this strange feeling rose up in her.
Lily took hold of his arms, his shoulders, wound her arms around his neck…
Tried to pull herself closer, the kiss deepening…
As it became shallower, she realized he was fiddling with something around her neck.
Once done, he pulled back, smiling.
A bit confused, she looked down…
A bright violet bow, tied from her mask, was around her neck.
"Shadow…?"
"You're my little present…"
A gentle brush of the lips, smiles spreading across their faces…
"And I love you…"
"Love you, too…"
'More than you know…'