I had typed up like freakin' half of this, and then the stupid school computer went and blitzed all over me, and so I had to type it AGAIN. It was not a happy moment. But I'm finished now!

Once again, I update this instead of Operation TUTOR. For those of you who are ready to skewer me with some sort of pointy object, make peace. I promise that I will update Operation TUTOR before I do another chapter of this.

I had fun with this chapter, I will not lie. And it made me hungry. But I have class soon, bummer for me!

Disclaimer: Codename: Kids Next Door does not belong to me, nor do the lyrics for "Down." Only Thatcher and Nikki, those devious kids.

I really really hope you enjoy this chapter. Love you guys! 3 Have an awesome weekend!

Love, Sadie

--

Sharp heels clicked smartly on the floor as the sound crashed through the empty silence. Nikki reached up and pulled her swinging hair out of her face and into a tight ponytail. Her icy eyes were narrowed and flicking about, looking for any sign of trouble in the white halls, but as always, there was none. Their headquarters were a fortress.

Finally she reached the predetermined room and pushed the door open, immediately spotting Thatcher sitting at the small table inside. The expression on his face was not pleasant, and for a brief moment the girl wondered if she might have done something wrong. But the idea was dismissed almost insantly; Nikki was under the impression that she could do no wrong.

"Yes?" she asked softly, closing the door behind her to retain secrecy. Thatcher had called her here on her cell phone with a cryptic message, so she had to assume that there was some degree of importance that she was previously unaware of.

He turned in his chair to face her, and his voice came out like a whip, like she was a lioness that he needed to tame. "Nikki, you must be careful!"

She was somewhat surprised by his tone, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Wasn't she always careful? "What exactly are you referring to?"

His glare was cold, as though this should have been completely obvious. "I'm talking about Wally."

"Ah." Now it was getting slightly clearer. "What did I say wrong?"

"I've told you this." Getting out of his seat, he crossed over to her and leaned in until she could feel his hot breath on her face. Each word game out sharp and jutting. "You cannot bring up his childhood, Nikki, ever. Or memories of the past, or days of old. Nothing. It is vital that he does not know or even begin to remember that he was once a member of the Kids Next Door. All he is allowed to know is that they are his enemies."

"So, the football?" She was leaning backwards, trying to get out of the range of his unquenchable rage.

He snorted. "A lie. Wally and I have never played football."

"And his file?" Nikki quirked an eyebrow at him. "Won't it surface? Each operative has a file."

"We have his." Thatcher's voice became threatening. "Do you hear me, Nikki? Ever. We create his past for him, and we do not allow him to question it."

Slowly, carefully, Nikki nodded. "Understood."

--

"I'm home," Kuki called, letting her bag drop onto the floor and sighing as the weight disappeared from her shoulder. She could hear noises in the kitchen that signaled that Abby was home, and she let out a silent prayer that the sounds meant that the girl had whipped up something for her pitifully desolate stomach.

Luckily, Abby rarely disappointed. "Come on in, Abby's got some pasta for you." The smell had wafted into the living room, and just a small whiff of it made Kuki's stomach growl hungrily.

"You're a lifesaver." Kuki dropped into the chair and dug eagerly into the plate of steaming pasta, letting the taste explode inside her mouth in the form of a creamy alfredo sauce. There were various spices hinted inside the flavor, all of which Kuki couldn't even begin to guess. Abby had magical cooking fingers, she was convinced of it. "This is amazing."

"Thanks." Abby took a seat across the table from her and began to appraise her carefully. The girl's eyes missed nothing, from the tired eyes to the crease between the brow. It made Kuki both self-conscious and grateful to have a roommate like Abby, who could read her in a single glance. "You okay, girl?"

Kuki nodded and tried to swallow the mouthful of pasta that she had shoved in during her desperate attempt to appease her stomach. "Yeah, uh, yes. Just a little tired." Her nimble fingers brushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.

Abby gave her a grin that usually meant trouble. Kuki had a love-hate relationship with that grin. "Abby knows just the thing to cheer you up. Hurry and finish."

--

An hour later, Kuki found herself dressed in what was either the most embarassing or the most artistic dress that she had ever had the honor of wearing. It was a result of Abby's creative eye when it came to fashion, and Kuki wasn't sure what she was more scared of – the way the dress wrapped around her and hugged her body like seaweed, or the fact that the dress was the color of seaweed.

Abby herself was stunning, in a black dress that clung to her curves and draped itself on her limbs like liquid fabric. Kuki was convinced that she had saved the nicer dress for herself, but Abby was absolutely firm with her and wouldn't let her take the black dress. Apparently green was good for her skin or something.

"Can I change?" Kuki asked for what might have been the millionth time. She had lost track amidst her whining.

"No." It was amazing how much patience the other girl had, for that was probably her millionth time denying Kuki of what the girl wanted most at the moment. Abby ushered her into the car and took the wheel, screeching out of the driveway with all the caution of a stunt-driver.

Kuki leaned her head on her palm. "Where are you taking me? This is kidnap and is illegal in all fifty states." Despite her moaning, she was curious as to where Abby could possibly be taking her. Knowing the adventurous girl, it probably involved either skydiving or explosions.

"Abby's not telling you, now hush." It was a quiet car ride after that, for Kuki had settled down to staring glumly out the window, and Abby had turned on her music and was dancing as much as she could for a person who needed to keep their eyes on the road. Kuki was not entirely convinced of their safety when Abby was behind the wheel.

Finally, the girl pulled into the parking lot of a small building that was dark on the outside. Kuki lifted an eyebrow at her, but the girl merely beckoned her to walk along with her. Sighing, Kuki followed her and helped her push the thick doors open.

They were immediately blasted with loud, pounding music and bright lights that seemed to whiz around the room at a furious pace. There were people everywhere, shaking it on the dancefloor with all of their hearts and souls. Kuki felt stunned as she turned to Abby and tried to shout over the music. "We used to come here! Years ago!"

"You got it!" Abby shouted back with a grin. Only a few years ago, during their early teenage years, the two had taken a liking to going out and dancing beneath the whirling lights. It was intoxicatingly fun, and a good release for stress. Kuki felt herself happily move toward the crowd, into the blindingly colorful lights and away from the dim reaches of the world outside.

She didn't recognize the song, but that didn't matter. Within minutes, the two had met up with a few old friends, and they began to dance in their own little group on the outskirts of the crowd. The stress rolled off her in waves, and Kuki was suddenly grateful to Abby for dragging her there and making sure that she was going to have a good time.

The walls, painted with glitter, reflected light across the room, and when the song ended, Kuki found herself cheering louder than anyone. The light around the room seemed to inspire a kind of happiness that, although it couldn't last forever, lifted her spirits for the time being and made her forget about everything and everyone and just let herself go.

When the beats to the next song began to play, Kuki felt a squeal release itself from her throat. "I love this song!" she said breathlessly, getting into the mood easily. Abby grinned and took a hold of her wrist and began to pull her into the middle of the crowd. "Wait, Abby- Abby, no, I don't- wait!" Kuki felt herself begin to quake as they halted in the very middle of the bodies that were swarmed around them.

"Don't think!" Abby shouted over the music. "Just dance!" Kuki felt eyes move toward them as she carefully began to dance. She longed to be like Abby, who had already broken loose and who was gaining favor with the crowd by dancing with no barriers left. Shakily, Kuki began to follow her lead, and before long, a circle had formed around the pair as they let it all out in the center of the dancefloor under the burning lights as the words began to sound.

Baby are you down, down, down, down, down,
Down, down,
Even if the sky is falling down,
Down, down

The pressure was pounding into her skull, but Kuki felt herself learn to ignore it as she lost herself in the music. Her lips moved slightly to the words, and she tried to drown herself in the meaning. She was getting down, down, down, down down. She was letting it all go.

You oughta know, tonight is the night to let it go,
Put on a show, i wanna see how you lose control

The crowd erupted into a cheer as Abby played them with her hips. She was a master at stringing them along like her own instrument, and Kuki felt the words sink into her own mind, taunting her with their harmonic meanings. Lose control.

So leave it behind 'cause we, have a night to get away,
So come on and fly with me, as we make our great escape.

This was her night to get away. Throwing herself into the middle, Kuki let her limbs finally begin to move with the music, playing against the melody with their own tantalizing movements. She was making her own escape, into this music that would take her mind away from life.

So baby don't worry, you are my only,
You won't be lonely, even if the sky is falling down,
You'll be my only, no need to worry,
Baby are you down down down down down,
Down, Down,
Baby are you down down down down down,
Down, Down,
Even if the sky is falling down

The crowd began to cheer for her as she sank to the floor and up again, and the roar was intoxicating. She was so into the beat that she didn't notice Abby smirk and melt into the crowd, leaving her alone on the dancefloor. She was a dancer, she was an artist, painting a picture of movement for the world to see. She was letting herself pour out into them as they watched her fall down like the sky.

She had almost gotten completely lost in the music when the world suddenly came slamming into her senses and she realized that Abby had left her. Violet eyes widening into a panic, she looked around wildly for the girl and felt her courage flow away from her.

Oh crap.

--

So leave it behind 'cause we, have a night to get away,
So come on and fly with me, as we make our great escape,

The song continued to play, even though the dancer had stopped moving. Wally didn't know what had triggered her panic, but he realized it when she looked around for the girl who had been dancing with her. A chuckle escaped him. The girl was shy in the face of a crowd.

He had followed her and her friend there in hopes of catching them doing something related to the Kids Next Door, but what he had gotten was so much more interesting. The girl couldn't even know how mesmerizing she was, like her limbs were made of fluid and she was simply flowing intricately to the music. It had been a pleasure to watch her.

But now she was terrified, and her little friend had disappeared. Wally watched her edge toward the crowd, intending to lose herself in it. Finally, smugly, he made his way into the center and grabbed a hold of her tiny hand, smirking at her when her eyes widened at the sight of him.

He pulled her back into the center and began to dance, a more fire-like imitation of her moves before. While she might have been fluid, he was furious, screeching across the floor and sending the crowd whistling as he, too, lowered himself to the floor as the music pushed him down, down, down, down, down.

When she hesitated, he smirked and wiggled his fingers at her, beckoning her back to him. Slowly, she moved next to him, and he led her in a dance that was fast-paced and as upbeat as the song. The chorus sounded again, and together, he pulled her to the floor and back up again, admiring the way that her body bent with his. Her frame seemed to fit with his, like they had been dance partners in a life before.

Suddenly the tone changed and the faster part began to play. Wally knew this song, and he knew how to play the crowd. Smirking, he continued to lead Kuki in a pattern with the words of the song.

Even if the sky is falling down like she supposed to be,
She gets down low for me,
Down like her temperature, 'cause to me she zero degree.

He had her wrapped around him like a coat, even though the room itself a was hot from the perpetual movement. He took the moment of closeness to get a grip on her sides, tossing her into the air and catching her again. Her face was flushed with a breathlessness that had nothing to do with the song, and he continued on, encouraged by the way her body moved with his.

She cold, overfreeze,
I got that girl from overseas,
Now she my miss America,
now can I be her soldier please,
I'm fighting for this girl,
I'm a battlefield of love,

He sent the crowd a smart salute, laughing when they cheered him on. To them, he embodied a soldier, fighting for the girl in his arms. He could tell that she was getting into it, too, for she herself was laughing when he slid across the floor on his knees and scooped her up, his own personal victory on this battlefield of a dancefloor.

That was the breaking of their barrier, and he knew that she had let him in, now. As the chorus began to play again, he took her hand and did not let go, leading her around the floor and spinning her. She laughed as he dipped her down, down, down, down, down, only to pull her back up again and spin her around inside of his arms.

They were not a pair, they were a single unit, moving together with some kind of chemistry that Wally could not guess the origins of. She seemed to guess his movements before he made them, and responded with a kind of grace that he could not ever hope to achieve. With his commanding movements and the gentle sway of her curves, they were unexplicably connected and together, they had the crowd in an uproar.

The song ended faster than he would have liked, and at the last beat he held her frozen against him, their faces a few mere inches apart. She was breathing heavily, and he couldn't look away from her violet gaze that held his eyes to her face. Around them there was clapping and whistling, but he didn't properly hear it until she looked away from him, sending a glare at the girl that had reappeared.

Hastily, Wally let his arms drop from her waist and straightened to face the pair of girls who were now in a miniature argument. He found that even an angry Kuki was nothing to be scared of, for her fury was nothing compared the other girl's merriment. After a few seconds of Kuki berating the girl for leaving her, the conversation suddenly turned and Wally found that both pairs of eyes were suddenly on him.

"Wally," he introduced himself to the girl, whose gaze was analytical as she looked at him. Trust any girl to turn a judging eye on the guy that her friends had held any interactions with. Finally, he appeared to have passed the test, for she stuck out a hand.

"Abby Lincoln. Nice t'meetcha." Her attention returned to Kuki instantly and a smile took over her lips. "You were fantastic, girl! Abby told ya that this would be fun!"

Kuki laughed giddily, obviously still reeling from the experience. "I c-couldn't have done it without Wally, that was so scary!"

"What are you talking about?" Abby grinned. "You were a hit. And Abby bets Wally agrees, right?"

Wally started slightly as the attention was on him again. He felt caught, realizing that he couldn't deny it without lying, let along angering both girls, but that if he agreed, they might put a meaning behind it that wasn't there. He meant to make a dismissive remark, but instead, he felt himself nod. "Amazing."

The girl, Abby, began to pull Kuki away, and Wally felt himself begin to follow before remembering that he wasn't a part of their crowd. Instead, he watched them leave, and turned to leave himself. There was no evidence here. He was surprised when Kuki suddenly appeared in front of him, having evaded Abby for a few seconds.

"Thank you," she whispered, still shaking slightly. Her lips attempted a tiny smile at him, which he returned before putting a hand on her shoulder and ignoring the spark that jumped inside his skin.

Leaning down to whisper in her ear, he said softly, "It was all you."

With that, he smiled and walked away, feeling a strange lifting in his chest as he did so. He didn't dare look back, for fear of meeting her eyes and letting her find in his eyes a feeling that he denied was even there. It didn't matter that he'd had more fun tonight than he'd had in a long time. It didn't matter that, as they had danced together, he had felt a connection between them that had made every single movement together seem right.

Or, at least, it wasn't supposed to matter.

But strangely. . . it did.