Chapter 1: It takes two to tango

I'm not actually sure what this story will become but since neither of my other stories is progressing I have to try something else. I originally planned this as a ones hot but I've started to doubt that it'll be one but we'll see...

Neyla was getting ready for the ball in her hotel room. She was looking over the outfit Carmelita had brought her.

"Disgusting" she thought but put it on nonetheless. She didn't even want to look in the mirror.

Neyla had never been the one for fancy gatherings and partying, in fact this was her first time ever to get to a real fancy ball.

"I bet it's going to be boring"

She sighed heavily as a person that would've made the party much more interesting popped into her head. It was a certain raccoon thief. The tigress imagined how it would be to go to the ball together with Sly Cooper, dance a little, have fun, get a little drunk, come back to the hotel...

Neyla blushed at where her thoughts were going.

"No! Stop thinking about him like that. He's just another person you'll have to double-cross and besides he has already fallen for Old Ironsides"

"Ugh! I hate this. What is with him that makes me feel like this?" she questioned out loud.

Neyla had never felt like this about anyone and it bothered her.

"How does he do it?"

But before she could sink any father in the abyss of her mixed feelings about the raccoon, a knock came from her door.

"What now?"

"Neyla, are you ready to go?" came Carmelita's voice.

"As ready as you can be for this" she muttered to herself when walking to the door.

"Neyla!" Carmelita shouted more demanding this time.

The tigress flung the door open and glared at the vixen standing behind it. She was wearing a long, black dress that hugged her forms nicely.

"She picked these outfits on purpose. Bitch!"

"If I don't answer in ten seconds that doesn't mean you need to start shouting" Neyla said angrily.

"It could've been an emergency"

"If it had been an emergency you would've kicked the door without even bothering to knock"

"Just shut up and get going. The Contessa is waiting"

Carmelita then turned and headed for the elevator and after a moment of pondering whether take the stairs or the elevator with Carmelita, she decided to follow after the vixen. They stood before the doors waiting for the elevator to arrive. Soon there was a "ding" and the two cops stepped into the elevator.

"You should've done something to your hair" Carmelita said critically.

"Whatever" Neyla said dismissively.

"Need I remind you that we'll supposed to look like we belong there"

Neyla could practically feel Carmelita's temper rising.

"And you think we don't?" she asked quirking a brow.

"At least one of us does" Carmelita muttered.

"You're right, that dress does make you look little fat"

"What!? What did you say?" Carmelita growled.

Before Neyla could answer there was a new ding and the elevator door slid open revealing the Contessa standing in the lobby looking impatient.

"It's about time" the spider said.

Neyla noticed that she hadn't bothered changing her attire anyhow.

"I'm sorry ma'am" Carmelita immediately apologized while Neyla just rolled her eyes.

"Let's go"

The trio walked outside and straight into the cab waiting for them. No one said anything not even the driver, apparently he knew where they were going. It was menacingly hot evening and it wasn't any better in the car. They drove for about twenty minutes before the driver pulled up in front of a palace. (Yeah, it's located a little differently than in the game)

Neyla couldn't help but to admire it. She had of course studied the whole layout of the palace but to actually see it in person was completely another thing.

"WoW" she whispered.

Next to her Carmelita looked just as impressed.

"It's beautiful" the vixen whispered.

"Very" the Contessa said not even sparing a look at the palace, "Let's move"

They walked up to the large double door. The Contessa knocked and soon the door was opened by a monkey butler.

"An invitation?" he said extending his hand.

The Contessa handed the monkey three invitations and didn't even bother to stay and wait until he had confirmed them. Neyla followed her and Carmelita stood there for a brief moment and then shrugged to herself and followed after the two. Meanwhile the Contessa and Neyla had already reached the large ballroom. It was already full of other guests. There was a band on a stage, a dancefloor and a bar.

"Be alert" The Contessa said and then disappeared in the crowd.

Suddenly Carmelita appeared behind Neyla.

"Where did she go?" she asked.

"She didn't say" Neyla answered, "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Just watch for anything suspicious" Carmelita said before strolling off.

Neyla just huffed and decided to look around for starters. She circled around the ballroom ignoring the other Klaww Gang members and some occasional attempted pathetic advances. Once Neyla had returned to the point she had started she quickly looked around and saw Carmelita stand on the edge of the dance floor near the statue with the Clockwerk wings. Neyla took a moment to admire the wings but soon got bored and with nothing better to do she headed for the bar and ordered a glass of red wine. She sat down to a table with a good view over the whole room. After a long moment of sitting and sipping the wine Neyla happened to glance at the entrance where a raccoon in a tuxedo had just entered. Seeing him almost made Neyla drop her now empty glass which she was still holding.

"It can't be..."

The raccoon noticed her looking at him and smiled. He started to make his way towards Neyla's table. She looked at him the whole time until he was just in front of her.

"Constable Neyla, you look lovely this evening" he said in a suave voice, wearing a charming smile.

"Do I know you" she asked a little shyly, blushing lightly. There was something about this stranger.

"I used to chase after you back in Paris" the raccoon replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Paris...? Sly Cooper? What are you doing here?" Neyla asked already knowing the answer.

"Well, duh... what do you think Sly Cooper's doing here?" she mentally facepalmed.

"Oh, I just heard about this this fancy ball and thought that I might find you here" he replied.

It wasn't the truth and Neyla knew it but she still couldn't help the little happy feeling from spreading inside her.

"Did you now?" she asked quirking a brow, "And the Clockwerk wings had no impact on your decision?"

"What? Clockwerk wings? Here? Bentley said nothing about them" Sly answered smirking.

Neyla smiled in response.

Then a tango started playing and Sly's smirk widened.

"Shall we?" he asked extending his hand for her.

Neyla's smile widened as she took his hand and let the raccoon lead her to the dancefloor. All the while there was a small part of her brain that chastised her for behaving like a schoolgirl with a crush.

"He makes it so hard not to" Neyla said back as she positioned herself correctly for a tango.

They began with a basic forward steps and slowly started adding spins, stomps and a graceful dip every now and then. As they danced Sly and Neyla never broke their eye contact and as she gazed at Sly's chocolate brown eyes she couldn't help but to think how handsome Sly really was. All she wanted to do was to close the small distance between them and kiss him square on the lips. But alas the tango was nearing it's end and Sly finished it with the most graceful of dips.

The crowd exploded into applause and Sly and Neyla remained in the same position. Suddenly Sly moved forwards and pressed his lips against hers in a brief kiss. Neyla was so surprised that she was unable to do anything but to stare at Sly with a slightly dreamy smile. She had butterflies in her stomach and her heart was beating like crazy. Finally Sly lifted them up and lead back to their table. Meanwhile Neyla had recovered and was now thinking.

"He kissed you! You! YOU!" she shouted mentally, "But... why? He can't like me, can he? He has a thing for Carmelita"

"Neyla?"

"Speak of the Devil..." the tigress thought bitterly.

She turned to look at Carmelita.

"Yes?"

"I just couldn't help but to notice your dance. Your friend here is quite the accomplished dancer" Carmelita said in an odd tone.

"Wait... is she.. flirting!?" Neyla thought incredulously.

"I tried to make him look good"

Sly chuckled.

"Please, Neyla. His skills far surpass yours" Carmelita said a little disdainfully.

"Bitch!"

"Perhaps we could dance later Mr...?" she suggested.

"That's it then" Neyla thought bitterly, "He's gonna run back to Carmelita"

She felt like she was going to cry but what Sly said next stopped her:

"As lovely as that sounds I'm afraid that I cannot leave my date"

Neyla noticed that Sly didn't use the charming tone he used to with the vixen. Now it was just polite but not anyhow charming.

Carmelita looked dumbfounded but before she could say anything Neyla cut in: "Was that all?"

Carmelita cast a dirty look at the tigress but said nothing and left. As soon as Carmelita had disappeared into the crowd Neyla threw herself at Sly and hugged him.

"Thank you" she whispered.

"What? Did you think I'd leave you just like that?" Sly asked.

"I... I wasn't sure" Neyla said looking away.

"Are you now?" Sly asked as he turned Neyla's face to face his.

"I am" she answered and pulled Sly closer to a kiss.

Sly was only little surprised that Neyla had kissed him and soon returned her affection. Neyla loved the feeling of Sly's lips on hers and she didn't want it to end but suddenly Sly broke the kiss and seemed to listen to something.

"What is it?" Neyla asked.

"I need to go" he answered, "I have some work to do"

"Do you have to?"

"Unfortunately, yes. But don't worry I'll come to see you later"

Then he pressed a quick kiss on her cheek and disappeared into the crowd. Neyla was about to sit back down but...

"Neyla, a word"

Ok, I have decided that this won't be a oneshot and this might actually become a longer story. Review and stuff...