thoughtformed | (no subject)

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Gwen, Jack, it'll be just the two of you at the New Brew for the next few days. I'm trying the next stage of my physical therapy, and it's probably going to leave me too tired to be up during the afternoon, even wired on espresso.

On the plus side, after that I should be up for good.

In celebration of getting off crutches and braces, I'm going to go dancing, just as soon as I feel up to it. Anyone want to come with me?

[Locked to Vigilance]

Effective immediately I'm resuming my patrol routes. Batgirl, Supergirl, I'm sure neither of you would admit needing or wanting time off, but at least with me carrying my own weight you should be able to call it a night by 2 or 3 AM instead of 4 or 6. I'll be taking it easy at first, but I've been up on the rooftops on my own time a couple different times now, and it's been working pretty well.

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[And it catches her off guard a bit, the way he can tell guess what she's thinking like that. She's used to being the one who does it, it's odd coming from someone else. Still, she links her fingers with his and follows after him, staying close as they walk.]

You could. Would be good, having nicer clothes. Just in case.

Just in case.

[He's not quite teasing as he echoes it - and then they're inside, the music loud enough to drown out almost anything that could be said. But he doesn't need words to pull her towards the dance floor. He knows there's plenty he can't hide from her, can't lie to her about, but some of that he might be able to drown out.

As he starts dancing, movements as graceful as anyone else on the dance floor but a trifle more deliberate, he lets just a little of his hunger show in the way he looks at her. It's a calculated risk, but it looks, he thinks, very close to a different kind of interest, one that ought to keep her off-balance, and move things in the way he'd prefer.]

[She doesn't join his dancing right away, just stays out of the way to observe him with a hint of a grin on her lips. It quickly becomes apparent that he isn't bad at all, he moves well and gracefully.

And then things she isn't quite used to seeing from him start to sneak into his body language, things she hasn't seen since she wore Barbara's Batgirl suit. Not exactly the same, but it's close enough.

When she finally starts to dance too, it's close to him, close enough for her to speak into his ear so he'll hear her over the music.]

You're different, tonight.

I know.

[He's skirting a line, but there are ways to make it easier, being as honest and as straightforward as he can be; staying close to her as they dance so that he's harder to observe. He'll incline his head to one side, indicating the darkest corner of the dance floor, where they'd have the most space, and saying nothing about why he wants to go there. Letting her draw her own conclusions is safer than trying to trick her.]

[It quickly becomes obvious that he's up to something, but she isn't worried. It's Tim, even if it does come to a fight she isn't in any danger. It's not going to, though. His body language is far too friendly for that.

He wants her in the dark corner so she breaks away from him to go there, moving through the crowd easily without looking back to be sure he's following.]

[Once they're there, it's back to dancing, keeping a little space between them and everyone else, but every little space between one another. This time, it's his turn to lean in and whisper.]

I'd like to show you what's different.

[She watches him closely for a minute before she nods, lifting one hand up to his shoulder.]

Show, then.

[Without waiting, and to anyone but Cass, without warning, he leans in for a kiss. In order to sell this, his intentions have to be sincere, his body language needs to read that this is really what he's trying to do, and so it is.]

[She might see it coming a mile away, the decision to kiss her, but it's still a surprise. There had been hints, an almost date that she hadn't put too much thought behind actually being a date, but she isn't expecting a kiss now.

She can see there's an underlying reason for this, something he's still hiding, so when their lips touch she doesn't close her eyes all the way. They're still half open, still reading him to see what he's doing.

It's nice, kissing Tim, but she's to distracted by what he's trying to get from her to let herself enjoy it completely.]

[He won't get closer than he is now - better trust, a better moment, a better setting. When he breaks the kiss, as he breaks the kiss, his fangs extend, and he's ducking to bite at her throat with a speed Tim couldn't possibly muster - but even if he's faster than her, if she sees it coming he might not be fast enough.]

[She could stop him. She could easily have him on the ground the second she saw that change, the intention behind it, and then last of the fangs.

It would be easy to keep this from happening or from going down this road, the guilt that will follow from an attack like this, but she doesn't stop him. She lets it go on, feels his teeth break her skin and reaches for his arm to steady both of them, lips parted in a gasp. Yeah, she saw it coming, but the actual thing itself is still surprising.]

[After the initial pain, there follows a sort of euphoric lassitude as he drinks - for both of them. His hands slowly tighten on her, but very carefully, he disengages after a minute. A pint, no more than she would give by donating, enough to leave her light-headed but not enough to risk her.]

That's... probably not what you expected.

[His voice is still smooth, confident - but a little rueful. Vampire or not, he's still Tim.]

[She keeps her grip on him when he pulls away, but whether it's for balance or to keep him from running off or simply because she needs the help standing is unclear. She's a little flushed, a little out of breath, and very confused.]

Not... exactly, no. Why did you...

[She trails off there, not sure what to even call that.]

It's what I am now.

[There's a tension in his voice as he says it, something between smugness and anxiety.]

I had to drink from someone. I picked you because... there's no-one I'd rather have at my side, and no-one else who could stop me.

No one else... who wouldn't be hurt.

[All of those things alone would make her feel relieved that he'd picked her, but the combination makes it clear he really did only have one option.

Reaching up, she puts a hand on his cheek.]

What happens, now?

Now?

... Now we really do own the night. Just the two of us.

[That probably shouldn't sound as good as it does, but it's something she's wanted for so long it's very hard not to instantly like the sound of it. A dynamic duo, just like she always wanted, just... with added blood drinking, apparently.]

Will this last? Do you have to... always drink blood, now?

On this island, everything changes. But until it does or unless it does... yes. Every night.

You seem to... still have control, though. Can I trust you... not to attack people?

To not attack them? No. To not hurt them more than the minimum I need? Yes.

[Not a good enough answer. She sighs.]

Guess you're... stuck with me, then. Til this changes. Won't let you hurt anyone.

I can think of worse fates.

Yeah, me too.

[Despite feeling a little weaker than usual, her grip on him just gets stronger.]

Not a joke, Tim. No one else.

No one else.

[Echoing her seriousness.]

If this goes on more than another day, you know that means I'll have to take more.

It didn't hurt.

[It was actually the exact opposite of painful, if she's honest about it.]

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