((OMG OKAY

you hunting? Because it isn't an animal. Not judging by your preparation."

A pointed look at the blade strapped to the strange man's side.

𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. Such a charged word for the Shadow, that the question was nearly out of his mouth before he stopped it.

"Really? What's your r-"

That wasn't the right question to ask. Not anymore.

"What's your reason?" He spoke, instead. "To be hunting this late in the night. Better question, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 are

frowning.

"I can't really tell, considering how bundled up you are."

A moment's silence, and then the Shadow sighed.

"Alright, let's just put it down to a deal. I'll tell you my name if you tell me what you're doing out here tonight. With weapons, no less."

The figure clicked its tongue in obvious disapproval at the other's tone.

"Not like that. Not like a teenager whose snacks got eaten."

The Shadow knew exactly how such a teenager sounded like. Come to think of it...

"Unless you 𝘢𝘳𝘦 one?"

The purple glow of its "eyes" diminished, as if it were

"To point a blade at me without even inquiring my name."

But, this one wasn't as easy to fool. His gaze had a kind of perception that the other had lacked.

In that case...

"...𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦."

With the word spoken, something shifted, a dark, shadowy miasma trailing tendrils, forming a featureless, colourless man of shadow.

"How rude," he spoke.

In a room, far away from the alley of this developing confrontation, the Monarch smiled.

Clearly, his attempt at reconnaissance had fallen through. And to think that he had sent one of his best...

Such a thing had happened once before, with the scatterbrained Wayne boy, for instance.

((got carried awayyyyy

[ @talonclaws.bsky.social ]

any true trouble, they had affixed themselves to a sole figure. Harmless, but eccentric. Movements sharp and light like a phantom's. A mask concealing its features.

Something to take interest in.

The Shadow followed in its wake, darkness upon darkness, a silent spy upon this stranger.

The basic law of life: you were never alone. Not even in the deepest depths of the night. For the city never slept. No matter the hour, there were always a pair of eyes directed outwards.

Especially, the eyes that were in the service of the master of shadows.

Tonight, perhaps due to the lack of

There's still a little dusting of snow...perhaps...Tank?

Hm, yes. That would do nicely. It's just me here, after all.