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graysoncritic · 7 months ago

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A (Negative) Review of Tom Taylor's Nightwing Run - What Went Wrong? Bludhaven (PART 2)

Introduction Who is Dick Grayson? What Went Wrong? Dick's Characterization What Went Wrong? Barbara Gordon What Went Wrong? Bludhaven (Part 1, Part 2) What Went Wrong? Melinda Lin Grayson What Went Wrong? Bea Bennett What Went Wrong? Villains Conclusion Bibliography

Instead, Taylor readily abandons the statue just as soon as it is introduced. We don’t return to it, we don’t even use it as a set piece that can ground Bludhaven and make it feel like an actual place. It doesn’t make an appearance in any covers, nor in establishing shots. In fact, even its thematic symbolism is forgotten when Alfred’s statue is built. Such a decision is especially infuriating when one considers the fact that not only would Alfred hate having a statue in his honor, but that Alfred means absolutely nothing to the people of Bludhaven. He means something to the reader, but not the citizens of the city that Dick is meant to protect. In this, we see how once more Taylor’s online mindset interferes with his storytelling, replacing a set piece that was tied to the in-universe history of the city he was writing with fanservice.

By contrast, Humphrie’s Bludhaven is filled with specific locations that are unique to, well, Bludhaven. We have the different casinos

(Humphries, Sam. Ruthless, writer. Janson, Klaus; Campbell, Jamal, illustrator. Nightwing: Rebirth no. 37, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2018. pp. 22)

The Tiki District

(Humphries, Sam, writer. Chang, Bernard, illustrator. The Untouchable: Chapter Two: Relentless. Nightwing: Rebirth no. 36, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2018. pp. 13)

Which greatly contrasts the darkness of the docks…

(Humphries, Sam, writer. Chang, Bernard, illustrator. The Untouchable: Chapter One: Hunter. Nightwing: Rebirth no. 35, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2018. pp. 17)

And the melancholy of the sunken city

(Humphries, Sam, writer. Jimenez, Phil; Campbell, Jamal, illustrator. The Untouchable: Chapter Five:Face Off. Nightwing: Rebirth no. 39, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2018 pp. 05)

All of it is so specific that it makes Bludhaven feel alive. It gives Bludhaven an identity rather than keeping it a generic location.

Let’s take a closer look at the establishing shot of the sunken city and see how the page is laid out to emphasize the storytelling going on in the dialogue and enrich Bludhaven. There's something so visually poetic about that last panel. The intimacy between the Judge and Nightwing, the opulent throne atop a simple boat in a sunken, destroyed home.

It feels a bit like a visual metaphor for Bludhaven and corruption. Bludhaven is thriving because of the casinos, but they are also corrupt. And yet, despite their rich aesthetic, they are built on top of a tragedy, of a city that was lost and had to rebuild itself, taking advantage of a corrupt system that devastates its citizens while also being the only thing keeping them from drowning.

The lighting of the page is also so beautiful. Light coming in from above, appearing almost heavenly, and yet it makes the scene so still and lonely

During Dixon and Grayson’s runs, and during Taylor’s run, Bldhaven does not have an identity outside of Gotham and Nightwing. It is difficult to describe it without relying on those two factors. It is not impossible, of course, but those descriptions would be rather bare, relying on what one wishes Bludhaven could be rather than what is actually on the page.

In The Untouchable, however, Bludhaven can be described independent of Gotham and Nightwing. Yes, those elements are still crucial to its depiction, but rather than being all that there is to it, they serve to enhance what is already there. Dick’s interactions with people from Bludhaven further fleshes out the city while also demonstrating that they have their own lives outside of their meetings with Dick or Nightwing. Guppy, Svoboda, Lucy, Dick's clients at his gym... All of them are clear products of Bludhaven, they are affected by what happens in Bludhaven, and they interact with different parts of Bludhaven. Because they are characters with their own interiority, the reader really is able to feel the consequences of the Judge's actions.

Yet, Taylor and Redondo both refuse to pay Bludhaven any of the attention it deserves. They do not even give it the respect of making it into Gotham-light. Instead, they opt for the generic, lazy, and morally simplistic depiction that is yet more proof of just how little thought they give to anything remotely related to Dick Grayson.

Bludhaven, as it exists in The Untouchable, was built on top of a corrupt foundation, and its systems are so intertwined with the rot that you can't neatly separate them. There's no easy answer to this, no solution without a victim. It adds some nice stakes to the story, creates constraints which Dick must creatively work around, and demonstrates how Nightwing’s fight is far larger than just The Judge. It illustrates how even if Dick catches this one guy, he still has so much more to do, creating a perfect comic status-quo where the hero can progress and make a difference without eliminating conflict sources for future stories.

Through the Judge, we also get to see Bludhaven’s history, and through this evolution, we also get to see just how much Humphrey cares about Bludhaven. I have yet to encounter another writer who has devoted so much care to Dick’s city. I have yet to encounter a writer who put so much effort into making this city feel alive. Gotham is beloved by many writers and fans alike, and The Untouchable showed that Bludhaven has the potential to be just as great if only it was given to a writer who cares enough to develop it.

Needless to say, Taylor is not that writer.

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Leaping into the Light Part 4. Nightwing: Rebirth. 81, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2021. pp 13)

While this may be wholesome, the truth is that by giving such a triumphant moment early on in the story, Taylor robbed his characters of any opportunity to change, and any opportunity for a well-earned pay off later. In turn, this robbed the story of its ability to engage with its themes by creating a very simple morality. Evil can be manifested in different ways and anyone is capable of it. Perhaps not all of us will be uppercase Evil, but we're all capable of the smallest acts of lowercase evil by letting our anger blind us to what is right, not helping others because we tell ourselves we have to survive, upholding unfair systems because they benefit us.

The city of Gotham does something similar. We have the evil of the rogues, but we also have the crime families, a myriad of corrupt institutions -- from the police department to the justice system to the politicians who are in the pockets of those on the top – and the ordinary citizens who have been disillusioned by the hardship they face. We have greed on a massive scale but also a small and personal one that is far more relatable, we have chaos of the Joker and we have more relatable pettiness, selfishness, apathy, and cruelty.

Some of these play a larger role than others, their influence has a wider reach, but it is the different layers that makes Gotham feel so difficult to tackle. There’s a reason why Batman's origin story works best when it's just about a mugging gone wrong, and when Joe Chill is just a simple man who fired two shots in a dark alley because he wanted a pearl necklace. There's a reason why Bruce stays in Gotham rather than trying to save the entire world all the time. Batman, after all, is not about fighting the just grander Evil, but about bringing justice to everyone, even in what may be perceived to be a small scale.

While I do not believe Batman: The Knight was perfect (and, indeed, I have a lot of problems with it and dislike Zdarsky’s current Batman run nearly as much as I dislike Taylor’s Nightwing), I do think that Zdarsky did a good job when having Ra’s Al Ghul confront Bruce on this matter.

In #09, Ra’s challenges Bruce to work on a macro scale, and Bruce explores that idea before deciding he needs to work on a more personal level.

(Zdarsky, Chip, writer. Di Giandomenico, Carmine. The Knight Part 9. Batman: The Knight. 09, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2022. pp 13)

Bruce’s world did not fall apart because of a war or an alien invasion, but that did not mean his pain is invalid. There might be far more important things than catching a mob boss who orchestrated the murder of two circus acrobats, but that doesn’t mean that their lives did not matter or that their son does not deserve to see justice. One of the beautiful things about the detective stories of Batman and of Nightwing is that they treat everyone’s trauma with equal respect. Batman and Nightwing aren’t just about catching the bad guy, they are about giving the victim a chance to heal by offering them closure.

You can also observe the dichotomy of these two evils in The Untouchable. The entire plot of The Untouchable is about the Judge using people’s desires to corrupt them, luring them into committing evil deeds. At the same time, the story does not condemn those who fell prey to the Judge’s promises. Instead, it portrays them as complex individuals, and this reaffirms the themes of corruption through desire and the necessity for forgiveness.

Lucy, for example, is not vilified for betraying Dick. She did the Judge’s bidding, but she is not a bad person. She is still Dick’s friend and cares deeply for him. And yet, her choices are not portrayed as excusable. The comic perfectly balanced having Lucy not be a bad guy for what she did while also making it clear that she was still in the wrong for accepting the Judge’s offer. She is not Evil but she made an evil choice and she needs to be held accountable for that.

This plays into the idea that to Dick, people are not naturally Good nor naturally Evil. They just are who they are, they have the potential for both, and it's their choices that dictate their nature.

(Humphries, Sam, writer. Chang, Bernard, illustrator. The Untouchable: Chapter Six: Deep Dive. Nightwing: Rebirth no. 40, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2018. pp. 18)

And as mentioned previously, Grayson also played with such ideas when she introduced the character of Sophia into the story.

Taylor flirts with similar ideas without ever committing to them. His Bludhaven supposedly has corrupt institutions, big men on top who oppress others in order to stay rich, but to lay every wrong and every sin in the city at Blockbuster’s feet is morally simplistic. It's flattening. Immature. It's, frankly, boring. It just doesn't work on a narrative level. Most importantly, it makes Nightwing's presence superfluous.

Once more, I must emphasize that I do not believe that one must incorporate a social commentary in the themes of one’s story. However, as Taylor's narrative seems to signal he wants to discuss these matters, I think it is only fair to point out how his actual writing is uninterested in examining the complications inherited in these subjects. Taylor wants those big, meaningful moments that claim to say something thematically important, yet he creates easy-to-take down strawman villains who can take the blame for everything while wrapping them in the trappings of social commentary.

Nothing in Taylor's supporting characters, conflicts, villains, or city were created to challenge Dick in any way. Part of the reason why you can feel Bruce's genuine love for Gotham is that that city is always challenging him, always giving him a reason to give up, but Bruce never does. Again and again, Gotham shows itself as a place that perhaps should not be saved, that is too rotten, literally cursed to bring out the worst of humanity. It would be easier to burn the whole thing down and start new.

But Bruce doesn’t do that. He still sees something in Gotham worth saving. No matter what he uncovers, Bruce won’t give up, and that makes us, the readers, root for Batman and root for Gotham.

Bludhaven should challenge Dick in a similar way. But in this run, it doesn't. Dick's assertion that the citizens of Bludhaven are good and there are only a few bad apples ruining it for everyone is never challenged. Dick is never asked to question his beliefs. When he decided that the solution to one of Bludhaven's biggest problems (homelessness) was just to create a shelter, Dick is never challenged for his savior mentality, he never faces push back from those above him or below, is never paralyzed by bureaucracy, never has to deal setbacks that force him to re-strategize. He's just... Proved right. And everything goes on smoothly.

Taylor’s approach gives Dick no room to grow and no room to stand his ground. I can’t help but think how much more powerful Dick’s own belief in Bludhaven and its people would have been if, during that earlier scene when the tent city was in flames, no one came to help. Nightwing and Robin would have had to save everyone on their own, and Dick would be faced with the difficult to swallow possibility that maybe he’s wrong. Maybe the people of Bludhaven are too disillusioned to do good. Maybe Babs and Tim, both characters who are known for being pragmatic, would even tell him so. But he refuses to accept that. As he looks upon the octopus statue, Dick affirms the resilience of the city and how it does not need to come at the cost of kindness. Bludhaven is worth saving, its people are worth saving, and Dick will continue to believe in them, even though he was just given a reason not to.

Again, I must emphasize that it is fine if a person is not interested in writing a story about this. Not every superhero story needs to explore these real-world, complex themes. One of my personal favorite Batman stories (and one I believe should be required reading for any Batman fan) is Murderer/Fugitive. While there are certainly themes of forging of identity, the story is far more concerned with what the forging of one’s identity means in the specific context of Batman rather than that of the real world. That is not to say you couldn't do an analysis on identity about Murderer/Fugitive, but the work as a whole serves more as a commentary on Batman, and it is in conversation with the popular idea that "Bruce Wayne is the mask that Batman wears."

And just because one wishes to engage with themes of class and economic inequality, it does mean one needs to tackle it directly. Again I must bring up the modern masterpiece that is Scott Snyder’s Court of Owls. That story beautifully uses the fantastical and noire elements of the Court and the creation of the Talons to engage with themes of wealth inequality and to explore Bruce’s complex relationship with Gotham. The secret cult, of superhuman assassins, and the murder mystery element provide enough distance between the real world issues and the story itself that Snyder has the creative freedom to play with his characters and narrative while the specificity allows him to dig deeper than he ever could should he have decided on going for a broad approach.

Taylor tries to ground his themes by using real-world issues, but he refuses to engage with what those real-world issues look like in, well, the real-world. He deals with them in the context of his morally simplified, perfect little society. As Braxis perfectly pointed out “When Dick starts a charity to help the homeless he never actually explains how that will be done, what causes homelessness, or what the homeless are asking for support.” (Braxi, Steve, “On Superman, Shootings, and the Reality of Superheroes” Comics Bookcase, September 2021)

Taylor’s Bludhaven demonstrates a frustratingly simplistic view on morality that prevents the story from engaging with these issues with the care they deserve. By not fleshing out the city, by denying Dick’s interactions with other characters, Taylor creates a world of simple morals. This means that rather than engaging with the progressive ideology he claims to care about he is simply creating the appearance of social commentary and rich themes. This demonstrates that he’s not actually interested in the work required to make that work, only the prestige that comes from it.

#nightwing #dick grayson #anti tom taylor #bludhaven

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mischiefmanaged71 · 2 years ago

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A Matter of Trust

Summary: Tom Bennett is a British Intelligence spy setting sail for France. His plans take a detour when introduced to the partner in his latest assignment.

A/N: My inbox is open to comments, requests

Pairing: Tom Bennett x fem! reader. Spy AU set during WW2, forced proximity, rivals to lovers

Tom Bennett Masterlist

Danger was a constant fellow in the line of work he was in. Trading secrets and listening in on conversations was a headliner for the role, among other unsettling tasks that arrived with the problems at hand.

Foot soldiers were said to be the key asset to victories in war times. Many would suggest the work behind the scenes is of far greater advantage. The individuals within the war rooms, the ears listening and meddling with plots.

Tom had worked his way into one of the most divisive lines of work of the current times, in that-- being caught by the wrong sort could end mortally. The current state of England was left in the hands of its government, Generals and officials working to ensure the country’s security. Tom's role in all of this was to aid their allies in relations, including espionage and security. Right now, he was awaiting a meeting with the handler of his current mission in France.

He arrived at the front of the antique store as instructed.

“Lovely weather, isn’t it?” the attendee asked, meeting his eyes.

“Yes, but I always carry an umbrella.” Tom replied, watching as the man tipped his head and escorted him to the backroom.

The door shut behind him, revealing a private room. The green wallpaper and dark mahogany furniture made for an alluring aesthetic. A round table was situated in the centre, dim lights from the overhanging chandeliers illuminating the room. The company looked up at his arrival, halting their conversation.

An older man sat at the table, and a woman sat opposite him. Another person sat to the side at a study desk, although they were mainly concealed by the shadows of which the lights could not reach.

“Welcome to France, Mr Bennett.” the man stated, twirling a pen in his hand.

He nodded, “You must be the handler."

“You may call me Perseus. This is Andromeda, my associate. We prefer to keep this as anonymous as possible on our end.”

Tom nodded his head in greeting, turning to address the second part of interest. “My superior informed me of another.”

“Ah, yes.” Perseus turned to the back of the room, “That would be your part, Madame.”

Heels clicked against the flooring, the woman approaching until she was in the light and Tom had to pause. Her sharp features and beauty stunned his senses for a moment as he caught himself staring at the woman.

The woman introduced herself, extending a hand outward. He glanced down before accepting it. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Her accent was unidentifiable. It could’ve been a mixture of a local British accent, or perhaps with a hint of something closer to Western Europe. Tom couldn’t tell, but he knew she certainly spoke more than English.

“The pleasure is mine.” Tom fixed his stare on her, a smirk lining his lips. They now stood with but a foot between them, allowing her to glean upon his features in the warm light of the room.

“Are you trying to flirt with me?” she whispered, crossing her arms.

He met her unimpressed gaze, noting the slight tug at her lips. “Is it working?”

“Probably not in the way you intended.”

“This mission is of most importance for us all. We have gathered intelligence of potential alliances between Allied officials and ambassadors with German contacts.” she informed them. “You’re here to investigate and report back your findings.”

She was quick and curt with her responses, lighting a fire in Tom’s vigour as he found himself turning away from the discussion to hear more. The woman, Andromeda, brought their attention back.

“Easy enough.” Tom said.

“This must be done with the uttermost discretion. Its expected of you.” Perseus remarked. “The both of you.”

“Both?” Tom asked, glancing down at the woman. She wore an unbothered look with her arms crossed.

“You’ll be working alongside Ms Y/L/N. She has the most expertise with relations and German history. Your skills will ensure the both of you get out of this intact.”

“I work alone.”

A scoff sounded from his side. “Now, you don’t.”

“Having another person is a liability-”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You can hardly make that assumption.”

“Fine.” he stated, his hands slipping into his pockets. “But, I can say I don’t need distractions.”

“I could say the same about you, Bennett. Has anyone tell you you’re loud and opinionated?” she snided.

“You’ve heard me, then.” he retorted.

“How is your French? Or German?” she rebutted, “You can’t expect to get through this with only speaking English?”

“Believe me, I won’t need to use words to get answers.”

Andromeda’s voice intercepted the next rebuttal. “You both need to work together on this civilly, alright?”

“We understand it may not be convenient for anyone, but ensuring your compliance is necessary. Both of your superiors assured you were the best for the job, and we need that for this to work.”

A silence fell on the room as they glanced from Perseus to each other. Y/N sighed, relenting and allowing her annoyance to dissipate.

“As long as he cooperates.” she waved a hand, shrugging her shoulders indifferently.

Tom swallowed the tension in his throat, “Great.”

Perseus nodded, satisfied while Andromeda wringed her hands anxiously.

A hand reached up to pat his shoulder, “You’ll get used to it.”

“What?”

“Disappointment.” her voice teased.

***

Almost two weeks had passed since the beginning of their partnership. They slowly grew on each other with time, considering how much of it was spent together...in close quarters. The company assigned them under the cover of a couple spending their getaway together in France. The first night, they were shipped off to a hotel in the city- an extravagent hotel to suit the cover, including all of the appropriate clothes for the guise.

Although, there was the initial issue of the singular bed. It was a king size, large enough for her to spread out and still not touch him, but it was the principal--the idea of sharing close proximity to him. Specifically, this man. The one with the smirk, the flirtatious remarks, and the constant teasing. She had to catch herself on multiple occasions from reacting as she blushed under his gaze. There was something different about Tom Bennett that caused this visceral reaction in her. It was both aggravating and exhilarating at the same time.

Much of the job they had was watching and waiting for things to develop. That evening, they had a meeting to intercept. However, it quickly turned into a gun fight when they were spotted. Learning to work with someone also meant learning of their tells and traits. The pair were swift in retaliating with their defensive training kicking in.

Tom had been preoccupied with gunfire from the front to notice the approaching gunman at his side. Although Y/N had. She shoved him to the side, ducking below cover, not before she was hit by the bullet. She hadn’t initially noticed the wound until a moment passed. Then the pain rang through, and she was grasping her shoulder between painful gasps.

Confusion had laced Tom’s being as he ducked next to Y/N, unaware of her wound until he heard her groan. A fury had lit in his eyes as he darted to the assailants surrounding them, curses laced from his tongue.

“You’re okay. You’re gonna be okay.” he repeated, placing pressure on her shoulder. She nodded and blinked tiredly, feeling dizzy from the blood loss.

His objective was to get them out of there. To get her to safety. The mission wasn’t more important than her life, so he made a path for them. His eyes locked onto the gas tank behind the group, firing without delay. The explosion rocked the ground, flames licking the ground and providing the exact distraction they needed to escape.

Far from the scene, Tom held her close to his side as they made their way back to the private hotel room. Arriving at the lobby, she stopped him with a hand grasping his shirt. “Wait.”

”What are you doing?” Tom brushed her elbow.

“I need to hide the blood. We can't blow our cover." She pulled her jacket closed and tucked herself back into his side.

They managed all the way through the lobby until they reached the elevator where they could breathe. Y/N shut her eyes, feeling her blood pressure dropping with the haze in her mind.

Tom watched her pallor grow worse over time, applying pressure over her hand to ease the pain from the blood. “You’re gonna be fine. Stay with me."

She sighed, trusting him to get her there as he swung their door open. He led her through the room slowly,

“I need to sit down.” she exhaled, feeling spots dance in her vision. He held her up without trouble, carefully moving her to the bed. Feeling the comfort of the mattress beneath her hands, she allowed herself to fall against the headboard.

“Don’t go to sleep.” he met her eyes, instructing her to follow his order. “You need to stay awake.”

“I’ll try, but I can’t promise...anything.” she breathed, watching as his tall figure wandered to grab the first aid kit.

“And you’ve done this before?” she murmured as he sat on the bed, next to her legs.

“A few times. On my myself.”

The sound of him unwrapping the packaging reached her ears as her eyes fell closed. A hand brushed her face, urging her back to wakefulness.

“Keep your eyes open, alright?” he spoke softly, “On me.”

Her heart picked up at that as she nodded compliantly. Y/N’s breaths came out shuddery as she felt the aching pain with each movement. She moved forward slightly, allowing Tom to remove the soaked button down shirt. All that remained was her singlet as he pushed it to the side, getting a clear view of the fresh wound. He checked for an exit wound, confirming the bullet wasn’t present before continuing.

Tom’s face was strained with focus, but she could tell there was anger behind his demeanour. “Are you angry with me?”

Tom glanced at her, moving back to her shoulder. “No.”

“Something’s wrong.” she retorted, “You’re quiet.”

“I’m focused. Unless you want crooked stitches and an ugly scar.” he quickly replied.

She softened up as Tom gently cleaned the wound. “You’re actually good at this.”

“Thanks for the compliment.” he raised his eyebrows, a slight ease in his face. A comfortable silence filled the space before he spoke again.

“You shouldn’t have gotten in the way.”

“I pushed you out of the way of a bullet.” she countered.

“And you got hurt.” Tom stated, holding her gaze with an unwavering stare. “And you expect me to just be okay with it?” he hummed in question.

Y/N blinked at him, unsure of how to respond. “I saved your life. It’s worth it then.”

“And the pain? Is that worth it?” his blue eyes bearing into her own.

“This is-this will pass.” she tilted her head, relaxing against the pillow as his hands wandered away. A haze rushed through her mind as it was just them there together. He sighed, unsure of what to make of this woman and her effect on him. She felt the adrenaline wearing off and the tiredness seeping in.

“Don’t do that.”, she grasped his hand.

“What?”, he tiredly asked.

“Don’t blame yourself for something that isn’t your fault.” she shook her head.

“I’m supposed to protect you--Us.” he corrected.

“I know you would’ve done the same for me. It wasn’t a question in my mind. I just did it.”

“Why?” he whispered, almost as if he couldn’t believe it.

She paused, her heart skipping a beat as he seemingly grew closer. His words brushing against her cheeks, Tom leaning over her. “We’re supposed to look out for each other. Aren’t we?”

“I don’t know a lot of people who’d take a bullet for me.” he admitted.

“You should invest in some new friends.” she chided, feeling slightly better.

“I think I’ll stick around with you for a bit.” he replied, rising a chuckle from the woman. The mood settled until Y/N found herself absorbed in studying Tom’s features. She flickered from his slightly tussled hair to the faint smudge of oil on his neck she hadn’t noticed before. For a moment, she was sure he was leaning in, his eyes glancing down to her lips just as she had done. All of a sudden, he had stopped and feigned to brush the hair from her neck.

“Rest now. You’ll need it.”

And he rose from the bed, leaving her to recover from her wound and the confusion laced in her mind at his perplexing actions.

***

Tom waited for her in the living room as she got dressed, fiddling with his fingers aimlessly. He paused when the door opened, but suddenly Tom felt he should’ve been sat as he froze up. Y/N wore an extravagant emerald ballgown, crossing the room unaware of his stunned expression.

“I’m ready now.”

Her hair was styled down, working along with the dress to conceal her shoulder.

“Yeah.” Tom nodded, shifting on his feet. “Shall we?”

The entire ride in the taxi was silent until they reached the venue and he opened the door for her. She smiled gratefully, accepting the hand. It was a fair walk between there and the entrance to the Mansion.

The latest target was Lord Dupont, a suspected Nazi sympathiser sharing intelligence with the German military. It was imperative that the pair found evidence of the association to report back to their superiors. Tonight would be one of the most definitive of the mission after almost four weeks.

“Scout for Lord Dupont. Note anyone who he speaks to.” she recited their instructions.

“Got it.” he agreed, stepping up to the ballroom where the majority of the chatter and music came from. It was a grand room with high ceilings and chandeliers illuminating the space. Servers peaked through the sea of ballgowns and dancing couples.

“I didn’t know there’d be dancing.”

Y/N turned to him, “It’s a Ball. Why wouldn’t there be dancing?”

“Well, I haven’t been to my share as you probably have, princess.”

“You’ll follow my lead, then.” she mused, slipping her hand into his as they melded into the crowd. Her hands found placement on his shoulder, Tom placing his hand at her waist. He was unsettled for once as he flitted to glance at his feet. “One. Two. Three...”

They circled around, eventually finding a rhythm amongst the other dancers. “Where’d you learn all this?”

“Etiquette?” she asked, receiving a nod from him. “Where I grew up, these kind of parties were frequent.”

He met her eyes, “Where was that?”

She huffed a quiet laugh, tilting her head up at him. “You can’t figure that out, can you?”

“I’ve tried.” he admitted.

“I’ll leave that for another time. Focus on your foot placement, now.”

They moved in a smooth rhythm for a few more minutes, entangled in each other’s hold. He had grown more confident with each stride, falling to stare into her eyes. His blue orbs evoked this intensity and emotion that she found herself falling into.

“I can’t concentrate, when you look at me like that.” she whispered as they danced around the room.

“Maybe you should be concentrating on me instead.” His words reached her ears and she felt a shiver run along her exposed skin. She found herself drifting closer, enamoured with tracing the features of his face and falling to his lips--

Y/N blinked from the daze, her breath hitting his chest as she looked over his shoulder.

“He’s talking to the Ambassador now.” she traced the men from across the room while they continued to dance. She swallowed, feeling Tom’s hand tighten at her waist.

“I can’t tell what’s going on from here, but I suspect it can’t be anything good.” Y/N continued before sensing Tom’s silence.

She met his gaze again, noting how he stared at her. Entranced and lost in his thoughts. Her heart raced into her throat at the way in which he studied her carefully. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Bennett?”

He blinked at her, “I heard you.”

Tom slid his hand to her back as he ushered them off the dance floor. His hand found her’s, guiding her down a lonely corridor under the pretence of a private moment with his love.

They wandered the corridor, glancing around the large entry hall and the parallel staircases. The pair moved stealthily through the mansion, making their way to the second floor. “What now?” Tom glanced between the many doors on the level, glancing upward to the floors above.

“Well, we’ve got to start somewhere.” she shrugged, “From my knowledge, his private office probably wouldn’t be on the second floor to which any guests could find themselves.”

He fell silent, allowing her to tug him up another level as they continued to look around. After what was probably ten minutes, they found what appeared to be the Lord’s private study with the library attached and the plethora of expensive attachments. The decorative weaponry and swords were privy to this deduction all the same.

They split up, riffling through the papers on the desk, any books or maps spread out for evidence of the supposed plans. It had drawn to an uncomfortable silence as she drew her gaze to watch Tom. His side profile was clear to her in the low light of the moon, the strong lines of his face and the curve of his lips.

He was certainly one of the most beautiful men she had seen. His voice and words had more of an effect on her than she had wanted to admit, favouring to save her dignity over the rush that came over her. The stutter in her heart at the suit he wore was another indication of these feelings, not to mention the swell in her chest each time he laid those gorgeous blue eyes on her. The way in which he glossed his eyes over her with care, taking in her features--taking in her. It was consuming.

He turned his head, wandering to her and Y/N shook herself from the daze. “Anything?”

She shook her head, “Nothing yet.” placing the book back into its place. She wandered over to his side, glancing at the map on the wall before doing a double take. “I don’t believe its what we think.”

“What are you thinking?”

Her fingers traced the pins on the wall. “If I was trying to win a war, I would break down my enemies one at a time. Weaken their defences and they are easier for the taking.” she glanced up at Tom, returning to the desk. He followed and watched as she pulled out the drawers, before one of them halted under her grip. She jimmied the drawer again and Tom raised a hand, situating himself in her place. His hands moved fluidly, using a pair of scissors to jimmy the lock and the drawer gave. Y/N wore an impressed look before they rummaged through the contents. A file that they scattered on the desk. Tom’s tall frame stood over her, his body heat sending rushes against her body. Her heart sped up at the images, the series of monstrous weaponry and tanks able to barrage an entire house. According to the documents, Germany had enormous numbers and more coming.

“If they get in, they can run through France’s defences and take the city.” fear evident in her whispered voice.

“We’ve got to get these to Britain.”

She nodded, accepting the papers from him and rolling them up. His eyebrows raised, wondering where she was going to put them when she raised her skirt and deposited the papers in the slip of her leg garter. At least there was one use for it. Tom thought his heart would implode as they slipped from the room. They kept close, not expecting much else except to slip out when footsteps thumped closer to their spot.

Her hand gripped Tom’s, bringing his blue eyes to her fearful ones. “We need to warn the French government first. They have no idea what’s waiting for them.”

“Alright. Once we get out of here, we go to the State Assembly.”

She turned to him wide eyed until he pushed her down an empty corridor and against the wall. Tom pressed himself close to her, his warm breath brushing against her face. “What are you doing?” she exhaled breathily, the feeling of his touch tentative on her skin.

“Improvising.” he hushed her, pressing his lips to her’s. It was intoxicating and all consuming, the effects of his touch. His lips were more soft than she imagined, melding impossibly perfect to suit her’s. She breathed him in, a shuddery wave filtering over her mind as she lost all sense of logic. Everything was overwhelming. The feeling of the hand clenching her waist, or the one brushing the hair from her neck as he caressed it gently. His nose pressed into her cheek and . She cupped the side of his face with her left hand, tracing the sharp line of his jaw until she could tug on the back of his hair at the base of his neck.

The footsteps passed by and they were none the wiser to the pair’s presence. When they broke apart, she felt her chest rise and fall with shuddery breaths as she finally remembered to breathe. It was something she had noticed to be evident more often when in Tom’s presence. He had that effect on her from the moment they met, it was just something she refused to accept.

Her eyelids fell shut as Tom’s traced her jawline delicately. His eyes bore more than she was expecting, something darker as they read more grey than blue.

“Stop looking at me like that.”

“What?” his voice teased.

“You know exactly what you’re doing, Tom.” she whispered, eyes tracing his lips up to his eyes.

“It’s Tom, now is it?” he chuckled, and she chased the sound.

“We should probably leave before we get caught.”

Tom’s lips turned upward as if he wanted to continue, but fell at the importance of their mission. He nodded, lacing their hands as he pulled them to safety. The better part of a few days had changed his life significantly and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to go back.

Even with the impending danger of it all, he wouldn’t trade this for any of it. If he had stayed behind in England, he’d be sent off to fight some place else anyway. At least here he had some control over where he went. Here, he had found her and something had taken over. Some part of him understood, he had fallen from the moment he laid eyes on her.

Trust was a matter of devotion and care that he had trouble with all his life. Vulnerability wasn’t a token he was familiar with as he held his heart close to his chest. In a matter of days, this woman had worn down at least part of his defences, but time would tell how far it could go.