The chill in the night air was the kind that sinks deep into the bones. The early winter sky overhead held a slight light to the clouds that threatened the first snowfall of the year. Pausing under a street lamp, Butch sighed, his breath easily visible in the cold. "I still don't know why I have to go to this thing." He fumbled in his pocket for a pack of cigarettes, lighting one and inhaling deeply.

"Because you know just as well as I do that getting in the bosses good graces is crucial."

Butch arched an eyebrow at his partner. He knew she had a point, their track record for successful missions was down right dismal as of late. "Hell I know Cass, but this whole thing just seems kinda weird."

Cassidy shrugged, pulling Butch's leather jacket closer to her frame to ward off the cold. She should have brought her own, but nothing seemed to match her outfit, all she had to do was flash a grin of feigned innocence and his jacket was hers. "I know. The boss as been sorta off lately…I mean one minute he's pulling everyone into his office team by team to berate us, and the next he's using his connections to throw this swanky bash."

"I guess it is what it is." Butch exhaled a cloud of smoke, mingling with his breath in the chilly air he looked like a dragon. " But I could think of a million other things I would rather be doing right now."

Cassidy held back a sardonic chuckle. " Really now? Like what?"

"Well ok one. There is an Electabuzz game on, and it should be starting…" He glanced at his watch. "Right now."

"You're telling me that a baseball game is more important than rubbing elbows with the higher ups and checking out our competition?"

Dropping his cigarette to the sidewalk he crushed it out with his foot. " Hey the playoffs are right around the corner. Besides that, I'm sure you'd rather be reading some gossip magazine or some other pointless drivel like that."

"Hey now!" Poking his in the chest, Cassidy smirked. " Just because you're an illiterate simpleton doesn't mean you get to question my choice of reading material."

Smirking, Butch glanced up the street to the entrance of a grand hotel whose ballroom and bar had been rented out for the night. Several other Rockets were already entering the building. " I feel like a tool in this get up."

Cassidy rolled her eyes and shook her head as she looked Butch over. He wore a pair of khaki pants, a crimson red dress shirt and a black tie, an outfit she had picked out. " Well I'm sorry Butch, but its not exactly a jeans and tshirt sort of thing. Besides you look fine." She reached out adjusting his tie slightly. " Look at it this way, at least they have an open bar. Now come on lets go."

"Thank God" Butch muttered under his breath as Cassidy link her arm with his and practically drug him down the sidewalk.

Leaning against luxurious mahogany bar top, Butch took a long sip from his beer as he watched the scene before him unfold. Cassidy was schmoozing with Wendy across the room, he smirked as he watched her sip a martini in her short, form fitting black dress.

He spied Jessie and James, thankfully sans Meowth, chatting at a table with some grunt whose name he did not know. Suddenly it dawned on him that he didn't know the name of most of the grunts, save for two men that were lingering around the bar named Dan and Charlie.

Taking another sip from his drink, he scanned the room. Domino was talking up Tyson, laughing at what he could only assume was a joke, probably a dirty one at that. Professors Namba and Zager were seated at a table with their own respective glasses of scotch and cigars, chattering on about something that would probably bore him to the verge of tears. God this thing is a real drag.

"Are you enjoying yourself sir?"

His people watching interrupted, Butch glanced sidelong at Mondo, who had taken a seat at the bar, a bottle of Coke in his hand. The young teen was wearing a dark blue polo and khakis, and looked very out of place. "Kid, what did I tell you about calling me sir?

" Mondo set his soda down, and bowed in apology. "Sor….sorry Butch."

"Damn it….my name's Bu…oh wait. Never mind." He drained the rest of his beer, and signaled the bartender for another, before turning his attention to Mondo. He actually didn't mind the kid. Sure his tendency to want to please could be a little irritating, but he was a decent person. Sometimes Butch found himself wondering why exactly the teen was here in the first place, but who was he to question. "Nice soda kid." Butch took a rather long pull from his newly arrived beer. " You're not drinking?"

"No…si…r…Butch." The youth was quick to correct himself. " Not old enough."

Rolling his eyes, Butch chuckled. " No shit. Look at the company we keep kiddo. You think laws apply?"

Mondo remained silent, his eyes following the beer bottle in Butch's hand, to his own soda bottle on the bar top. Butch waived down the bartender. "Two shots of whiskey, top shelf. And a beer for my friend here."

"That's ok…you…you don't have to." Mondo swallowed hard.

"Live a little Mondo, its an open bar, we're not paying for any of it." Butch gave a sinister grin, as the bartender returned with the order. Eyeballing the shot glass, Mondo picked it up, giving the amber liquid a sniff. He recoiled slightly in disgust.

Grabbing the other shot glass, Butch smirked. " Ok, here we go." He clanked the small glass against Mondo's, spilling a little on his hand as he tossed it back.

Panic setting in, Mondo did the same, fight back a gag as he swallowed. He grabbed for his Coke blindly, grabbing the beer by mistake to chase down the foul taste, on furthering his urge to gag.

"That's the spirit kid!" Butch chuckled as he watched Mondo close his eyes, his balled fist in front of his mouth. He thought back to his first drink and how he had thrown up after four beers. He almost felt bad for the kid, he just needed a distraction. "Say…why are you over here hanging out with me anyways?"

Taking a deep breath, Mondo finally lowered his hand. "Well….I was going to talk to Miss Jessie…but she's kinda…well…busy."

Butch nodded, as he turned his attention back to the table he had been watching earlier. " Ah. I see. You got the hots for her or somethin' ?"

"No! It's not like that!"

"Sure, whatever you say. But you're wasting your time pining over her kid. I say you set your sights elsewhere. Like there." Butch pointed over toward Domino, who by now looked a little agitated with Tyson.

"Domino? Ew, never."

"Well take your pick. I'm sure there are plenty of girls out there who'd be interested in you kid. You've got you're head on right." Butch signaled the bartender for his third beer of the night.

"Thanks" Mondo sheepishly took the complement, and looked at the beer that had been ordered for him. He cautiously picked up the bottle and took a small sip, followed by a second longer one. It didn't taste half bad compared to the shot. " I don't really know many of the girls. I stay busy most of the time. I mean besides Miss Jessie, Domino, Wendy and Miss Cassidy….but she's…." He trailed off taking another drink.

"She's what?" Butch furrowed his brow.

"Well you two…you're an item" Mondo answered cautiously.

With a dry chuckle, Butch downed half his beer in a long drink. "Says who?"

"Everyone really."

Rubbing his chin, Butch glanced back to Cassidy and Wendy, who by now had been joined by a dejected looking Tyson. "Is that so?" Draining the rest of his beer, Butch rose to his feet, grabbing his jacket that Cassidy had returned to him upon entering the party. " C'mon kid. I need a smoke, you're coming with me."

Under the dusky light of a street lamp, Butch fished his smokes out of his pocket. Removing two, he shoved both in his mouth, lighting them before handing one over to his companion.

"No…No thanks."

"Come on kid. Live a little."

Mondo took the smoldering stick, and studied the end, before taking a small drag, coughing as he did.

"There ya go! Life's too short man. Who knows when were gonna end up in the slammer for good, or take a bullet in the back." Butch frowned as soon as the words left his mouth. Despite the heavy buzz he felt, he soon realized how sobering his words were. As he fished his phone from his pocket, he watched Mondo take another drag, coughing much less this time. He felt a small twinge of guilt, deciding to lighten the mood. " Hey I just checked the scores, the Electabuzz are winning."

"You're a baseball fan?" Mondo questioned around the cigarette. " You think they have a chance of making the playoffs?"

" Pretty good shot I think."

"Well, well….what is this? Contributing to the delinquency of minors?"

Mondo stiffened up, Butch chuckled. " Heya Cass….nice of you to join us."

"Miss Cassidy….I uhhh…" Mondo glanced down at the cigarette in his hand.

"Christ kid. It's just Cassidy, not like she's officer Jenny. Calm down."

Ruffling his hair a little Cassidy laughed. " It's fine."

Blushing noticeably, even in the dim light, Mondo dropped the half smoked stick and slunk toward the entrance. " I…I really should be heading back to the party."

Butch waved him off. "See ya round kid." He turned back to Cassidy. " You have enough of fraternizing?"

"Nah, just needed some fresh air. It's stuffy in there."

"Mm hm." He replied absentmindedly. " Hey ya know, I didn't tell you earlier, but you look nice tonight."

"Thanks." Cassidy leaned against the light pole. " You don't clean up too bad yourself."

Nodding in appreciation of her compliment, Butch took another drag from his cigarette, caught off guard when Cassidy plucked it from between her lips, bringing it to her own, taking a long drag. He smirked. " You drunk Cass?"

"Buzzed." She handed the cigarette back to him. "You?"

"Same. Ya know, Mondo was tellin' me…seems people seem to think that we…I mean you and I…are a thing."

"Is that so?" She held back a snicker.

"Apparently."

" Could you imagine?"

Dropping his cigarette to the sidewalk and crushing it out, Butch took a step closer, closing the small gap between them. " No, they must be crazy."

"Definitely" Cassidy reached a hand out, her fingertips barely tracing along the faint stubble along his jaw line. " They must be out of their minds. You know how fast rumors spread at HQ."

"Oh how I do." Butch moved even closer, filling any space the remained between them. " Wanna give them something to talk about?" His lips just about brushed hers with the last few words he spoke.

Not bothering to respond, Cassidy crushed his lips with her own in an unyielding kiss, never minding who might be near.

Caught off guard at first, Butch was quick to respond to the kiss, deepening it, and eagerly obliging when he felt her tongue brush against his lips.

Just as quick as she had initiated the kiss, Cassidy pulled away, her cheeks somewhat flushed. "Not here." she murmured. " I know just the place."

The janitors closet was cramped to say the least, but neither could complain. With Butch pinned against the wall, Cassidy kissed his neck without a care in the world. She thought for a moment to question her actions. Was it the alcohol? No, she most definitely was not drunk, though the liquid courage did wonders for her on acting on things she had been thinking on for the better part of almost a year.

His fingers toying with the hem of her short dress, Butch silently wondered what exactly his partners motives were. Sure he had asked her if they wanted to give the others something to talk about, but here in the solace of the cramped closet they were far from the view of anyone else. As she began to unbutton his shirt, he decided he no longer cared.

"Ugh, this is impossible. Why did you tie this so damn tight!?" Cassidy tried in vain to loosen Butch's tie.

" I didn't, You did." He smirked, bringing his hands up to give the knot a try, loosening it enough to get it over his head.

"Well…that was stupid."

"I coulda told you…." He trailed off as she proceeded to kiss his chest, sinking to her knees, her lips pressing against his stomach just about the waist of his pants. "…That…"

A mischievous grin graced her face as she ran her palm slowly up the front of his pants, reveling in the low groan that came from above. Slowly she undid his belt and unbuttoned his pants, repeating the motion over the front of his boxer briefs.

"Damn Cass…" Butch murmured as his head leaned back against the wall behind him. The grin on her face only grew at his response, and for a moment she thought of making a well timed quip, but she knew her mouth could be put to better use at the moment as she tortuously lowered his undergarments.

He watched nothing more to look at her in to moment, but his head seemed to be stuck to the wall, he wondered briefly if he had been dropped on his head as a baby and perhaps had some unknown metal plate that was somehow magnetically held in place by something unforeseen in the darkness. He almost chuckled at the notion, but instead reached his hand down, his fingers tangling in Cassidy's strawberry blonde hair, pressing slightly on the back of her head. "Fuck Cass…." he whispered, finally finding the power to move his head, gazing down at the top of her head. He moved his hand from her hair, his finger tips gently trailing down the side of her face to under her chin. He bit his lip as she shifted her gaze up to him. Those lavender eyes locked on him, as her motions continued was almost enough to end his night right there and then.

"St…Sto…Stop…Cass…"

Kissing softly below, and then above his belly button, Cassidy rose to her feet, kissing his lips softly. "What's the matter Hutch? Am I too much for you?" She grinned seductively.

Pinning her between the wall and his body, Butch pushed her dress up to her waist, pressing his hips against hers hard. His hands pinning hers against the wall above her head as he leaned in and whispered hotly in her ear. " Call me whatever you want right now, but I guarantee you you'll remember my name when I'm done with you."

Leaning forward, Cassidy kissed him hard, and as he let go of her hands, she was quick to move to take down her panties, though he was quicker, pushing her hands out of the way and finishing the job for her. As she step out of them, she broke the kiss. "We…really shouldn't be doing this…rules and all, ya know."

Butch pressed his forehead to hers, kissing her chastely. His hands moved to the back of her thighs, lifting her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he pressed his hips to hers again, pinning her firmly against the wall. " No…No we shouldn't…rules." he mumbled.

Moaning softly as he pressed against her, Cassidy kissed along his jaw, up to her ear. " Fuck the rules."

That was all the answer he needed as he shifted slightly, entering her in one swift motion.

Cassidy gasped slightly, her head leaned back against the wall, Butch moved slowly as he peppered her throat with kisses, her arms coming to rest around his neck.

Butch concentrated on his own rhythmic movements, listening to the soft moaning coming from his partner he sped up his pace slightly, in doing so he knocked something over. Judging by the slight dampness of his socks in was a mop bucket. It didn't matter.

Letting her hands rest on his shoulders, Cassidy kissed him greedily, even as he tried to break away she was unrelenting, until her need for air became to great, she pressed her forehead against the side of his face. "Harder Butch…" she whispered breathlessly in his ear.

Upon hearing his name fall from her lips, Butch obliged and then some. He was close, and he desperately wanted her to join him or beat him to the finish. He felt her grip his shoulders tighter, her hips pressing back against him with every thrust.

Tightening an arm around his neck, Cassidy let her other hand rest on his shoulder, her fingers griping his shirt. Though Butch's thrusts had become completely erratic she felt herself teetering dangerously on the edge. A few thrusts more and she took the plunge, her back arched against the wall, her fingers digging into his shoulder. " Oh…Butch…fuck…"

He felt her closing in on him, and that was all it took. He moaned her name through clenched teeth as he pressed hard against her, joining her in the finish. He rocked against her still, kissing her messily despite his body urging him to catch his breath.

"Goddamn" he murmured as he broke away from her lips, letting his forehead rest against hers.

"Mm hm."

Slowly Butch released his grip on the back of her thighs, gently lowering her to her feet, though her arms remained around his neck.

Cassidy kissed him softly again before letting go of him. "We really should get back to the party."

Buttoning his shirt back up, Butch nodded in agreement. " Yeah. You wanna go out first, or should I?"

"You can, I probably should at least attempt to fix my hair."

Chuckling, Butch glanced down at a pair of lacy black panties on the floor. " You might need these though." As he stooped to retrieve them, he realized they were soaked from the bucket he had knocked over. " On second thought, maybe not. Sorry."

"Damn it Butch. I really don't want to go commando the rest of the night."

Hiding the underwear behind a box of cleaning solution he shrugged. " Them's the breaks my dear."

Cassidy flipped him off with a grin. "Just go would ya?"

Leaning in for one last quick kiss, Butch quickly made his way into the hallway shutting the door and promptly running into someone.

"Woah, watch it would ya!"

"Sorry." Butch stared dumbfound at Domino. "Did you know that's not the bathroom?"

The blonde arched an eyebrow, noticing his misbuttoned shirt. " Really? Well that's good to know."

"Yeah." Butch sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. " It's down the hall if that's what you're looking for. Anyways…Gotta get back to the party, told Cass I'd only be a minute."With that he took off down the hall, leaving Domino alone.

Hearing the exchange from inside the closet, Cassidy waited a few moments until she figured the coast was clear before exiting.

Stepping into the hall way she was met by a befuddled looking Domino. Shit. "Oh hey…crazy thing…did you know this isn't the bathroom? Anyways…don't want to keep Wendy waiting, told her I was just running to the little girls room. See ya!" With the she hurried back to the party, all the while silently cursing herself for being so stupid.