INTRO
Normally, Agent West: secret agent extraordinaire, is totally cool under pressure. Normally. But normally he isn't in a gunfight with unknown suspects and his only capable ally has unknown motives. Also, he's slept with her. Not that he's in love with her! Right now at least.
"Hey watch it!" She yells in his ear as they topple over, the rounds barely missing them. "Be an idiot later! We need to kill them!"
He takes in her mussed hair and makeup, the long tear up the side of her crimson dress. The anxious twist of her lips and the spark of fight in her eyes. And feels his stomach drop in a way totally unrelated to the situation. Fuck. Almost literally.
Artemis smoothed back the loose waves of her blonde hair for the umpteenth time. Ra's al Ghul patted her knee reassuringly from across the limo.
"My dear, there is no need to be nervous. You need not speak, merely be aware." Tigress nodded, straightening up and patting her hidden holster for comfort.
"Yes, Great One." This one last job and he'd let her go. He tilted his head slightly at her then gestured for her to turn away.
"Ah, there is something missing. I will loan you this ornament, make certain not to lose it." The faint creak of a jewelry box opening and the Great One draped a heavy necklace around her neck, Artemis pulled her hair out of the way for him to fasten the clasp. The clasp settled cool against the back of her neck.
Rearranging her hair, the necklace rested on her breast. Taking a small mirror from her clutch, she examined the necklace. It featured a bright emerald the size of her fingerprint set in a rose gold chain and pendant sparsely studded with tiny, sparkling diamonds.
"It's lovely, Master." Slipping the mirror away, Tigress bowed her head.
Across the limo, al Ghul nodded. "As lovely as the wearer. Do take care of it, my child."
"Yes, Great One."
Agent West swirled his wine thoughtlessly, eyes scanning the room of mingling wealth. Idly he wondered if they knew about the potential danger. But then if there wasn't a threat every time a get together like this happened, West suspected the party planners would be disappointed. Most warnings didn't pan out anyway.
"Should you be drinking on the job?" Grayson slapped West's shoulder, his own glass almost empty.
"Hey, this is my first. What's that, your sixth?"
Defiantly, Grayson drained his glass. "For the record, I've done this a million times. The chances of this place getting attacked are, like, pi."
"What, infinite?" Smirking, West took a sip of wine.
"3.1415 percent, if you must know. I already did the math. Anyway, aren't you gonna get your nerd butt out there and party?"
West tilted his wine glass with a frown. "Point A, I'm working, two, shouldn't you get back to your date? And who are you calling a nerd?"
Grayson snickered, "I thought you'd complain more about the butt comment, bee tee dubs mine is better." A waiter swooped down to take the empty glass and replace it with one full of bubbly liquid.
West groaned, "where's your date? They need to get you and your drunk butt out." Turning to face the entrance, West's breath caught.
Framed in the doorway, was the person he'd know till his dying day.
Artemis smiled, nodded and tried not to drink too much champagne. This event was so boring her brain wanted to explode.
Ra's had wanted a body guard and Ubu didn't blend in well with high society. Doubtlessly, shadows were hidden throughout the building and grounds but they were not to be seen by the likes of these frivolous bores. Presumably someone was fool enough to attack him at this party, although Artemis had no idea why Ra's al Ghul wanted to attend a Lexcorp function for the leaders of North and South Rhelasia.
Hiding her grimace behind her champagne flute at yet another chatty CEO trying to butter up the Great One, she silently reminded herself to wipe the lipstick off her glass with her thumb when she lowered it. Red marks would reveal she wasn't really a socialite.
Ra's tapped his cane on the ground as he spoke, and one of the windows exploded.
Cursing under her breath, Tigress got off the defensive position she took over her master. The window had been on the other side of the room and people dressed all in black were climbing in.
"Stay and guard my exit, my Shadow!" Al Ghul shouted at her, taking the nearest exit. Tigress watched him get into his limo and leave, before turning her attention to the masked intruders.
Throwing aside the crystal champagne flute, she kicked out, tearing the false seam in her dress from her hip down. Retrieving the twin small caliber pistols from the freed thigh holster she took aim at the nearest threat only for the shot to be taken from her.
The moment Agent West heard that window break, he knew she'd be in the middle of it all. Grayson and his date were herding the frightened civilians out away from the threat. A flutter of red caught his eye and he ran towards her, drawing his automatic.
Shooting the masked trespasser approaching her, West stepped behind her. Blonde hair tickled his skin even through his jacket even as enemies drew nearer. Closing his eyes for a moment, just to feel the heat of her on his skin and smell the waft of perfume, West listened to the steady rhythm of her breathing even as she shot down enemies in their vicinity.
She had her twelve and three covered, with an exit at her nine so he covered her six. Amazingly, they worked well together. Easily reading the slight movements which substituted spoken communication like they'd been working together for years. Taking down the enemy efficiently with hardly a wasted opportunity until one of the opposition got in a lucky shot, barely missing her. She still moves back slightly to press against his back and the sound of her sharp intake of breath distracts him enough to miss his next shot.
Happy Holidays! I hope you get at least one thing on your "want" list.
I'm debating the idea of sitting on the ending for a while and editing first... hmm finish this at the end of this year or give it some time?