A Previous Engagement.

Heero leaned further back in his chair, "What time is it?"

It was cramped inside the small van, the scent of coffee mixed with the greasy remnants of the day's meals. But they made do. They had to, this was life on a stake out.

Trowa adjusted the headphones on his ears, "About eleven thirty, it seems like everyone has chosen to be fashionably late."

The Alistaire Benefit was slated to be quite the event, with quite the guest list. The benefit named after Ben Alistaire, founder of a giant conglomerate with businesses ranging from metals to fine wine and his namesake was the social event of the season. Everyone wanted an invitation, as did the preventers. Mr. Alistaire's event should be the perfect backdrop for influential parties to meet without arousing suspicion, add the never ending flow of painfully exorbitant drink and you have an opportunity every intelligence officer could only dream of.

Still the wait was excruciating, they had been in the vehicle since noon. That had been the time the caterers and decorators had arrived to transform the home into an eye catching masterpiece, who knew preventer agents could have such a knack for party-planning. So they had needed to be in place to ensure all the microphones and video equipment had been installed and were transmitting to their location.

Initially they had planned to monitor the entire house but that plan was quickly laid to rest once they discovered just how large the house was in the interior. It was remarkably deceptive from the outside. The penthouse of a well-known, and extremely exclusive building, there was never any doubt that it was going to be immaculate and grand, twenty thousand square feet over four stories however was more than they had bargained for. So like good agents they had improvised the best they could. They installed video equipment in the common areas to keep track of the patrons' movements hopefully everyone would remain on the first floor. While both video and audio equipment were installed in a few key rooms where they were hoping the key players would congregate, namely the home office, wine cove and Mr. Alistaire's bedroom. It had to be said that their commander in chief was not too pleased about the latter, in fact she had emphatically forbade them citing it as unethical and an invasion of privacy. Somewhat ironic considering they were bugging his house but the supposition was made that a man's bedroom had special privileges that the others did not. They had to admit that she had a point after which they had agreed not to tell her.

They watched as the infamous and the wealthy sauntered into the house. Some of age, some not. Some respectable, others detestable. There were the well dressed, the under dressed and the barely dressed, there was something for everyone.

Trowa pointed to the screen in-front of them, "How old do you think they are?"

On screen was the biggest and oldest cliché imaginable, the fat guy with barely there hair in a suit that could put one lucky kid through college. And he accessorized the way all guys like himself did, with something young, beautiful and leggy, usually in pairs obviously to keep good balance. This one had a brunette on the right and a blonde on the left.

"Hm, how much money does it take to get a beautiful woman to put up with someone like that?"

Trowa snickered, his green eyes alive with mirth, "I don't know but I'll be sure to ask Relena next time I see her."

Heero threw him as menacing a glance as he could muster, he too finding the remark slightly humorous, "Last time I try to make conversation with the likes of you."

As seasoned professionals, both Trowa and Heero knew that tactics and plans always changed based on the target. Tonight's crowd was the cream of the crop of high society. To say they played by different rules would be a gross understatement. It was now one thirty in the morning, everyone who was anyone was already inside, and the party was well underway. Yet the only thing they had to show for their hard work was sore bodies.

They had since switched the feed indoors keeping a close eye on the comings and goings of the people on their A list, those being the ones with close ties to Alistaire and his group of companies. But as of yet no one had said anything beyond pass the shrimp.

Trowa craned his neck to massage a particularly sore area, "Either they're more clever than we thought or they really are here just to party."

Heero crumpled a styrofoam cup in his hand before tossing it in the trash, his impatience beginning to show outwardly, he stood and ran a hand through thick bangs. Anymore of this and he would have to resort to getting information the old fashioned way. Though if Une had been against bugging a bedroom, one could only imagine what her reaction would be to his alternative methods.

"Heero we've got an unexpected guest."

Heero leaned over Trowa's shoulder to get a better view, his expression morphing from impatience to annoyance. "I'll handle this, tell Wayne to create an opening."

"Roger that," Trowa wasn't sure if Heero heard his response, the door of the van slammed shut before he had even finished. He radioed Wayne to tell him Heero needed a way in then turned his attention back to the screen and the object of Heero's annoyance. There weren't many people on the planet that would risk annoying Heero Yuy and probably even fewer who lived to tell the tale afterward, but she had made a living of it.

Relena Peacecraft sauntered into the foyer of the expansive home shrugging out of a black duster coat. Trowa released a long whistle, leaning back in his chair to appreciate the sight before him. Red stiletto heels anchored well-toned calves, the rest of her legs hidden underneath an extremely snug leopard print dress which accentuated every curve of her body. If that wasn't a sensory overload in of itself, the dress was off the shoulder, providing the perfect prelude of neck and shoulders before one was introduced to beautifully showcased cleavage.

Trowa shook his head, "Some men just have all the luck."

As per his instructions, agent Wayne had unlocked the apartment's fire exit which led to a separate stair case at the back of the house. The resourceful agent then made sure to clear the area surrounding the door minimizing the risk of Heero being seen when he entered.

Agent Wayne was dressed in a white tuxedo with a black bow tie, as was every other waiter at the party. He approached the guest handing him a black trench coat, coupled with the white buttoned down shirt and black pants he was already wearing and his brooding tall dark and handsome appearance, he should easily blend in. He just needed one last accessory, "Drink Sir?"

Heero gave a slight nod and removed a long flute from the tray. Formalities over, he headed to the corridor next to the foyer using the unsuspecting guests as cover. He navigated the crowd with expert precision, avoiding bodies and uttering pleasantries all the while never taking his eyes off her. He was stalking her and she had no idea he was coming. He saw her smile to another woman before excusing herself, by the trajectory of her movements she was heading to the powder room, perfect.

He cut through the crowd, taking a roundabout route. He could already tell it would be a while before she got there, she had already stopped twice to chat. Beside the archway which led to the bathroom stood a large decorative vase, it was almost his height. For whatever reason, the host was fond of the structures, there were several around the room. Maybe they were there as conversation pieces, but for him it made for a perfect hiding place. And so he waited, sipping his champagne as he watched her approach. The sway of her hips was mesmerizing, ever so often she would have to tug on the sides of the fabric as it rode up her body as she walked. She was close now, he could hear her voice as yet another person asked for her attention but he couldn't move, not yet. Idle chat over, she continued her slow strut, collision imminent. She had barely rounded the corner by the vase when his hand shot out, grabbing her by the elbow. His arm automatically retracted to where she was pressed to his side, "What are you doing here?"

Blue eyes glimmered innocently up at him, "I was invited,"

He continued to walk down the corridor, his captive in hand, "You're not scheduled to be here."

"Maybe it was a late invitation."

She was being coy and he knew it. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't be so easily ruffled by her evasiveness, but these weren't normal circumstances. He rounded two more corridors before halting his stride. Fairly confident they were out of sight he shoved her against the wall, encroaching on as much of her personal space as possible. His eyes followed the line from her eyes, down her nose and into her breasts. "I know your schedule better than anyone, you're not supposed to be here."

She licked her lips bringing his attention to the extremely red pout, "Let's play a game where you tell me why you're here and I tell you why I'm here."

"Don't play games with me Relena."

She cooed, running her hand down the length of his coat, "I thought you liked it when we played games."

"Relena," His voice came out in a whispered growl, either he was really upset or this dress was really getting to him, either way she felt powerful. "Who invited you?"

With a seductive smile plastered on her face she tugged the collar on his coat, "It depends on who I'm talking to. If I'm speaking to a preventer agent I'm not obligated to tell you anything but," She leaned in closer to him so her lips brushed his chin as she spoke, "If I'm speaking to the man I share my bed with, I'll tell you anything you want to know."

A faint smile appeared on Heero's lips, if she wanted to play hard ball, he was game. He placed his hand on her neck straightening her posture so they were now looking each other in the eye, "You'll tell me what I want to know now, or the man you share a bed with will make you pay for it later."

As soon as the words left his mouth her legs started to squirm beneath her, "You know, you can't threaten me with something I'm sure to enjoy, it doesn't help your case."

His free hand clenched beside him, while the other caressed the soft skin of her neck. He was losing this battle in more ways than one. As it stood he had two options, go back to the van and let her be or stay and endure this slow torture.

He took a step back, retreating from her, "Tell me…"

She didn't give him time to finish, "Or what you'll arrest me?" It must have been the leopard print because she was definitely feeling frisky and she had no problem letting him know it. "Will you frisk me before or after you put on the handcuffs?"

Battle officially lost. He grabbed her and pulled her into the room closest to them. Before the door had even closed fully they were clawing at each other, hair, chest, legs and ass, both panting heavily as they tried to catch their breath. He backed her up against the door, his hands burning a trail up her legs to her hips while her hands tangled in his hair. Her breath caught in her throat when she felt his finger enter her. He tore his mouth from hers and leaned into her neck, "Tell me who invited you."

She wrapped one leg around his waist and pulled their bodies closer, her hands freed his shirt from his waist allowing her access to the toned muscles beneath. She was writhing beneath him as he moved in and out of her, enjoying his assault.

He growled deep in his throat, this night was going to be the death of him. He wanted to know why she was here, but he also wanted to punish her for giving him a hard time. A wise man once said, before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Surely he already had one foot inside. It was killing him not to take this further, the scent and feel of her around him was intoxicating, arousing him, painfully.

Not getting any response, he withdrew, his fingers slick with the essence of her. She whimpered and he couldn't help but smile in victory. "I'm waiting."

She groaned loudly, she both loved him and hated him in this moment, "Brinley."

She was rewarded for her corporation, he stroked into her again, this time with two fingers while his thumb rubbed her most sensitive area. Her head rolled forward onto his shoulder, her hands dug into him for support. He pulled her hair forcing her head up, he attacked her mouth with the same passion as he was providing underneath her dress. Her hips rocked against him, moving with every thrust of his hand, aching for him to be deeper. She could feel the tension mounting, rising from a slow simmer to the boiling point. She grabbed his hand in a silent plea for him not to stop.

His free hand pushed her head back once more, "Why did he invite you."

Why the hell he was still asking these questions was beyond her, but she didn't have the strength to fight, her voice was barely audible as she struggled for breath, "Something about needing funding for a new project, he didn't give me details, said I'd find out when I got here."

Mission complete. Using the door as leverage he pushed back from her and watched in wicked amusement as she groaned and whimpered in agony. He took in his handiwork. She stood with her eyes closed, her dress hiked up to her hips and her hair disheveled. Her breath was still ragged when she spoke, "You can't leave me like this."

"Tell them you have to leave, I don't want you here."

She opened her eyes slowly, "What's in it for me?"

He walked back to her and righted her dress before kissing her lightly, "I promise to finish what I started."

Trowa looked up from the console in time to see Heero reenter the van. "Looks like whatever you said worked, seems she's leaving."

Draping his coat over the chair, Heero sat and watched the screen for further confirmation. She was now wearing the duster coat, making what appeared to be her last round. He didn't relax fully until he saw her finally leave the house and get into the back of her car. "I didn't have to say much, I think she just remembered a previous engagement."

End.