He leads me to the roof of his building after telling me there is something he must share with me. I watch the city lights reflect off of his pale blonde hair. The way the ends of his hair just reach the nape of his neck, it entices me to want to run my fingers over those hairs and return to our previous activity moments ago.

I take a moment to allow my gaze to lower to where his nape meets the strong expanse of his shoulders.

__

_Is there a tension present I didn’t notice before?_ I ask myself.

I take another glance to confirm my suspicions but not before potentially noting a hint of red sneaking out from under his t-shirt.

I stop my previous devious train of thought considering his words before he led me up the narrow staircase moments ago with his hand in mine.

_“Abby, I have to talk to you about something.” I nod as I continue to place kisses along his neck, feeling the emotions that overcame me after the villain attack. _

__

_I didn’t know where he ran off to during our date and I was besides myself. I was alone as the restaurant was almost practically obliterated. Thankfully, Night was present and reprimanded the villain just before myself and all those in the restaurant almost died. I found him in the bathroom moments after being saved. I slide my hand further down his chest towards his belt. ___

_“Come on, love.” He pushed me off him and takes my hand gingerly as he led us out of his 1 bedroom apartment. _

__

__

I take note of the way his hand much larger hand is gingerly holding mine, much different from the way he usually holds me with such confidence.

We stop after a few strides onto the roof. We are alone up here, but illuminated by the surrounding lights. He drops my hand and hesitates to turn and face me.

“Holden?” I tentatively let out.

He clenches his fists and the tension in his shoulders doesn’t subside. I watch him lift his face to the sky before slowly turning, allowing his soft blue eyes meet my own.

But there is something missing.

The normal joy that usually is present when he is with me or around others is gone. I watch his biceps flex as his hands clench again, an action that would normally turn me on, having me on edge because of his current demeanor.

I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. I am at a loss for words with his nerves, something that he knows well is not something I am typically capable of.

He releases a breath before begining.

“I put you in a dangerous situation tonight, Ab. That is not something I have ever intended on doing.”

I am about to speak up in protest but one glance from him keeps me quiet. He knows me too well.

“You were caught in the crossfires again and I hate that this is always how it happens.” He starts slowly pacing back and forth on the rooftop. The lights illuminating either side of his face as he turns accentuating the sharp angle of his jaw and the tension that has built there. “You weren’t supposed to be brought into this world. They promised me you would be safe if I didn’t tell you. They promised.”

I swallow. I rub my hands along my tigh, all indecent thoughts long gone. “What are you talking about, Holden? What do you mean? You’re kinda scaring me.”

His eyes meet mine again and the feat is prominent.

“They promised, but obviously they can’t keep you safe like they said.” He stops his pacing and closes the distance between us. His hands engulf either side of my face ensuring that he can hold my gaze to his.

I feel myself shiver at his touch, both in fear and the intimate nature of the gesture.

“Do you trust me, love?” he asks. “Once I do this, there is no going back. This will change everything, but also explain so much.”

I place my shaky hands over his own, hoping my fear isn’t palpable.

_What big of a secret has he been keeping from me? What isn’t he telling me?_

“I trust you with my life, Holden. You have been my life for the last 2 years. If this isn’t something we can work through together, what isn’t?”

In that moment, he nods to himself stepping away.

In the next moment, he is shrouded in shadows amidst the various lights on the roof.

I take a step back in shock only to topple over a haphazardly placed lawn chair. My ass doesn’t meet the ground as expected but I am greeted by firm strong arms that I know better than my own.

The gaze I find looking down at me is unfamiliar behind the black, leather mask, but the blue eyes I appreciate through the shaded lenses are those I have watched crinkle at my incessant blabbering and endless conversation.

I lift a hand to trace a thumb along where the edge of his mask meets his skin. A simple gesture but one this dark man leans into in the most familiar of ways. The man places me on my feet and my hands trace down his neck and end up on his chest so I can take the rest of him in.

My gaze lingers from the dark hood that covers those blonde locks to the mask I just felt with my fingers that covers those expressive blue eyes. I follow my path over those shoulders that were tense moments ago and the biceps that were flexing in his momentary worry now covered in black shiny leather to allow him the stealth needed to galavant through the night undetected.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“Abs…”

He is so cautious in how he is addressing me, afraid to poke a beast.

My eyes return to his masked ones.

“You’re him,” I state.

“Who?” he counters. I watch a shadow of a tilt of his lips.

Every fight and every villain he has fought in the last 3 years since this hero has come to our city has come to the forefront of my mind. How many times did he risk his life? How many times has he almost died? I can’t believe he has almost died so many times.

“Who?!” I exclaim. I smack him on the chest. I know it’s no use. He’s invincible and that was probably a bug bite to him while he’s been easily thrown into a dozen concrete buildings. “What do you mean who!? You’ve almost died so many times since we have been together and you are just now telling me that this is your night job?!”

I shove him and he lets me push him back, knowing that if he wanted to he would have been a formidable wall. It infuriates me further.

“You’re mad?” The lilt of his lip no longer present. He is clenching his fists again.

“Of course! You freaking risk your life on a daily basis and never told me!” I feel my rage receding and thusly my cheeks are moist.

“I could have lost you and never know where you went or what you were gone. You almost died fighting that shark guy in the ocean last year.”

I recognize I am now sobbing as he comes to wrap his arms around me. I let him.

He takes my face I his hands again after allowing me a few moments to let it out.

“I am not leaving you, love. Know this. I am telling you now because I hate how much I have been unable to tell you. I thought you would hate me for this,” he explains.

I shake my head still in his grip.

“I love you. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I lost you and not know. That’s what I’m more upset about.” I allow a smile to grace my lips.

His letather gloved thumbs wipe my tears before sliding down my body to settle on my hips, his favorite spot.

“Who am I, love?” he inquires again, softer and with a little more cockiness that he knows I love from him.

I see the man behind the mask. I see his kindness. I see the love and genuine appreciation he provides everyone. I see the man who signs Broadway tunes in the shower despite him thinking nodbody knows he loves theater. And, ultimately, I know that he is mine, even if he is wearing a mask.

I lean forward so our lips our inches apart. I whisper my next words onto his lips before they meet and we are both swept into his shadows.

“My Night.”