A.N. The newest installment is here.

Rejoice

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Chapter XIII

'Plan plan plan plan...' Betty frowned at the lack of preparation she had as she stood in front of the door to the nurses office. Or as the burly vice principle had called it. The M.A.S.H.. This was not how she wanted the start of her mission to pan out, in fact this could possibly be the absolute worst thing that could have happened. A near silent sigh escaped her lips and she let out a deep breath instead of verbalizing the chastisement running through her mind. The final thought however did. "A mere decade off the field and I blunder like this..." she muttered as she stared at the dull silver handle to the door.

Face palming would have been appropriate yet she resisted the temptation.

She had been hailed as a prodigy in the fields of espionage and strategy, Dr. Director they called her. So well could she manipulate the cards dealt that people spoke of her as being a puppet master of shadows. Hence the epithet, even if it did play on the fact that she had a doctorate. However, now she was confronted with a rookie mistake. Something that if she had caught any of her men doing the same it would be a quick visit to a three day boot camp on basics. These were the kind of mistakes that if made by a squad leader could send a platoon too their deaths. As a Director, a mistake like this would have been catastrophic. Luckily her folly had no causalities, being that she was the only one who would be affected. Yet it was still a classic example of bad leadership and decision making made by her.

With no one to blame for it but herself.

It happened, hyper-focusing. Often leading too missing small key aspects or considerations. Like the fact that this school building was much, much smaller than the MASSIVE secret underground facility she was used to working in. It had been so long since she left the complex, the fact that travel between destinations would take much less time had escaped her notice. So in other words the three and a half minutes it took her to get the the school infirmary was far less than enough time to plan for first contact with a beyond omega threat.

She had gotten ahead of herself... and she really had no idea what to do.

'Improv was always my forte.'

The thought attempted too stir up a smile that she managed too force down. She did have a certain, skill-set that had been unused for quite some time. It was a muscle that could definitely use the work out.

'This is the perfect mark for them too.'

These skills of hers had lead too her success; not entirely on their own, but a large portion could be attributed to them. They were her secret strengths. The ones that had helped her not only rocket through the ranks, they were the ones that had lead too the success in her field.

'Might as well make full use of this outfit.'

Luckily for Betty they were also her passion, she just never had the time to satisfy their needs. After all as the leader of Global Justice she was constantly busy. Between meetings, briefings, reports, audits, inspections,... the list was endless.

'Wing it?'

This time Betty did smile to herself, it had been a long time since she had put the studies to use. They may be slightly rough around the edges, they should do fine though.

'And they said all those years of theater and modern dance was a waste of time...'

As the mindset sank in so did the character. Her eyes normally wide open; perceiving everything and anything that happened in the vicinity, half lidded. Her lips usually in a set firm line of determination and professionalism, puckering up to become pouty and inviting. The stiff backed posture with shoulders square and ready to strike at a moments notice, took on a nigh imperceptible slouch as her shoulders slumped mere millimeters forwards to accentuate the full cleavage her outfit contained. Even as she took the steps to the door and her right hand reached for the handle to the entrance, her hips swayed far more than necessary causing marvelous things to happen to her backside, like a pendulum of sex appeal.

Anyone who saw this change would have marveled.

And if they happened to have been in her trade.

Anyone who saw her would think the same thing.

Black Widow.

Tara did not like the look that appeared for a split second on Naruto's face. It made him seem much older than he could possibly be, though it lasted so briefly that she should have missed it. Her crush on the blonde boy made ignoring the opportunity to observe him in such close proximity impossible, and she definitely caught the look. It wasn't a happy, sad, angry, or pained expression that showed on his face. No it was a look of exhaustion, a look of such utter and maddening tiredness that it had seemed to age Naruto's face in ways not possible.

It made her curious.

However, when she watched as Naruto removed all trace of it with a fake smile.

Something inside her broke.

She knew those smiles, as a child that had been bullied her self-defense mechanism was exactly the same. A mask, a mask to hide the pain... the sadness... the anger... a smile too show the world that everything was alright. That there was nothing wrong in the world, that nothing could bring her down. It was the ultimate form of escapism for her, she had nothing else and no one but her parents to turn to with her troubles. It helped her cope.

Until she reached a safe haven where she could break down and let the tears, the fury, and the hate at the unfairness of the world out.

"So hey, seeing as you're alright I think it would be best if I headed back to class." Naruto chuckled softly as he looked down at the girl in the bed beside him. Honestly, they had been gone for quite a while now. "I'd hate for rumors to break out on my first day." a soft laugh escaped his lips at his joke, he really did not give a damn about what the children in this school thought of him. Perhaps the girl who was now staring at him inquisitively with a small grin of her own. The others however? They could all burn for all he cared.

"D-don't go..."

He cocked his head to the side at the words, maybe she was of the same mindset. "It wouldn't be good for either of us you kno-"

"Don't care."

A bit of strength behind these words. Seems that this girl was a definite go-getter when it came to things she wanted. Or perhaps it was something else. He needed to nip this in the bud before she got hurt...

More than was necessary.

With a sigh, Naruto moved slowly but surely. Cupping the young woman's face in the rough palm of his right hand, he had never really been one for personal boundaries and it was a trait that still stuck with him to this day. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him lips quivering in, fear? Anticipation? "Tara, listen."

"Yea-yes?"

"You need to stop, this whole crush thing."

Her eyes shot wide open, and tears began to form. "Wha-what d-do you mean?" so quickly everything was already beginning to crumble down into dust around her.

A deeper sigh escaped him, he had been afraid of this and while it had been entertaining at first in the long run it would only end with her getting hurt. He needed to get this point across before things got out of hand. Yes she was a beautiful young woman, and yes he would most definitely acquiesce to a request from her to rock her world and show her the stars. However, it was a no too any kind of romantic relationship. He knew. Oh yes, he knew that doing so would mortally wound this young woman's heart in a way that it would never recover.

Vivian was different, she was an adult. Chances are the older blonde woman would understand that their romp in between the sheets had been simple lust. He would of course give her the date he owed her but beyond that it would only and always be a simple though thoroughly pleasurable friends with benefits kind of thing. If push came to shove as time went on and she attempted to pursue something more he would do as he had always done...

"I'm no hero."

"You sa-saved me though!" she bolted upright as she spoke. A frown, no more of a pout formed on her lips and the crystalline eyes were beginning to shed a slow torrent of moisture now. "Of ca-course you're a he-hero!"

"Tara." taking her smaller hands into his own he gently rubbed his thumbs across the slim digits and fragile knuckles in a way meant to be soothing. "I was simply there at right time and moment," a dark chuckle escaped him as he continued "Anyone of the other people in the mall had they any common sense would have been able to-"

"NO!" she cut him off with a harsh whisper, staring into his eyes with a look of fierce determination even with the tears that gathered in the corners of her own. "NO they wouldn't! Don't say that for my sake," she roughly pulled her hands out of his and wiped at her eyes before looking back into his. "I'm not stupid Naruto..." she took a deep breath and her whole body shook slightly as she exhaled. "No one would have helped me. People let things like that happen everyday even when it's right in front of their eyes."

There was passion in her voice, and it startled him.

She had potential, a kind of potential that he had not expected to see in a person so young.

"Tar-"

"Don't..." the tears had come back, the brief glimpse she had given him was already gone. "Plea-please Naruto..."

Perhaps he had been wrong. He considered himself as an excellent judge of character, though it had failed him in the past.

Take Uchiha Sasuke for example.

He was going to regret this, but maybe he could turn it too his advantage. "Okay, listen then." her eyes focused on him with rapt attention now. "Be yourself around me," his eyes darted to her outfit before returning to hers and she blushed knowingly, "I'm not looking for what you want." light sniffles began but he quieted them by gently placing the index and middle fingers of his left hand too her lips before gently caressing her cheek with the same hand, like a cat she nuzzled into it. "But I could always use a friend."

Her eyes closed Tara nodded as she enjoyed the feeling of his calloused palm against her cheek, she was so tired right now. The events that had occurred between the fainting to this moment had drained her emotionally. "Okay." was all she managed to whisper out. She suddenly wanted to lay back down and pretend this was all a dream.

"Then friends," luckily she was not looking at him because the grimace on his face definitely would not fit the context of their conversation. He hated hurting his friends and this would end with her being hurt. However; if what he had briefly seen was really there, it would not be too bad...

Who was he kidding.

"It is." he whispered quietly to the now sleeping girl. Shifting on the bed he gently used his other arm to support her back as he laid her down into a comfortable sleeping position. His sensitive nose had picked up a familiar scent, gunpowder. So during this conversation he had subtly put the girl under a genjutsu to cause a deep slumber. Tucking her in he moved off the bed and into the chair beside it, eyes facing the door that lead into the room they were in.

Waiting to see what and who walked in.

It was a low ragged moan that breached the silence. Followed by a wavering voice naught but a whisper, "Wa-what hit me..." Shego opened her eyes and saw only darkness, blinded by a cloth that had been pulled over her them and tied behind her head. Her arms made to remove the blindfold but found that they could not, her wrists secured to the arms of the chair that she could by now tell she was strapped to.

A chill set upon her, her clothes had been removed, she could tell. There was no silken feel upon her skin that she experienced while wearing her cat suit.

"Ooooh goodie! You woke up, I was getting a bit worried."

A voice she couldn't quite recall invaded her ears and she twisted as best she could to track where it had come from. "Who are you!?" Shego shouted as she struggled against the bonds holding her in place, she was far stronger than the average human, mere ropes or chains would have snapped as if twine. Yet these held fast. "Where am I!?" common sense struck her with a vengeance and she attempted to fire up her plasma to melt the bonds.

Panic set in like a tidal wave crashing upon a unprotected harbor.

The cosmic powers she had received as a child did not respond to her call. A cold sweat formed on the back of her neck her despite the cool temperatures of her prison. Never before had she felt so powerless, and it tore into her like a hot knife through butter. She tried to recall the events that had occurred yet her garbled thoughts made the task far too difficult. Whatever had put her under was affecting her mind as well, her body even felt weaker than normal. Not to mention the fact that she could not use her powers which was still sending waves of terror through her. It explained why she had not been able to break the bonds, without her powers she was only slightly stronger than the average human. She was for the first time in ages.

Helpless.

"How rude," the voice chided, it seemed to come from all directions around her. "you're in no place to make demands."

Shego grimaced biting down hard on her lower lip, the pain helped bring her back to her senses. She would not cower... she would not show fear... she would not grovel.

"What did you do to me?" trying to pinpoint where the voice had come from she swiveled her head around in all directions she could manage. She just needed them to speak again and perhaps she would be able to figure out what kind of prison she was being held in. "My powers! What did you do!?" her shout reverberated throughout the room, a slight echo. Her cell was fairly large, smooth walled. Evaluating what her other current usable senses could tell her, the floor touching her bare feet was smooth and cool to the touch. Polished and with no traction, she subtly as she could pushed against it. The chair was bolted down. "Answer me!"

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk."

A breeze swept through the room she was being held and she noticed that over her bosoms and her womanhood was the silky feel of cloth... no perhaps silk, the texture felt more like that.

She recognized what the feeling was.

SHE WAS IN FUCKING LINGERIE!

She never wore silk unless it was a bathrobe.

MEANING THIS WAS NOT HER OWN!

Anger and rage filled her replacing all other emotions as the words came out as a growl, "You sicko! You dressed me up like a slut!" she struggled once more trying to break the bonds that held her, to no avail. "What are you going to do too me!?"

"Now, now." the voice taunted. Female, how had she not realized right away. The feminine lilt and silky quality it held gave no argument on the gender of the speaker. She heard nearly silent footsteps approach where she was seated, and the hostile emotions began to dissipate as the fear began to bubble up inside of her. In her current state she would not be able to defend herself. A literal sitting duck to whomever and whatever.

Those emotions however.

She would never let it show.

"My boss was wondering when you would show up, Shego."

"NARUTO! That sick fu-"

The rough sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed throughout the room and pain lanced through Shego's right cheek. A hand fisted itself into her hair and she was pulled close enough to feel the breath of the speaker brushing over her ear.

"YOU will NOT!"the woman hissed, insanity lacing her tone as Shego's hair was tugged until her neck was painfully forced into a position where she would be looking skyward. "Let me repeat that so you understand, NOT speak badly of Naruto in my presence!" the feeling of cold steel made itself known, laying ever so gently against her throat. "He has done so much for this world, and every time he makes a sacrifice..." she felt with every word the blade against her skin press deeper, slicing through the flesh ever so gently that it sent electric shocks throughout her body. "It just digs itself into a deeper hole."

Shego wanted to gulp, whoever this person was held Naruto in the highest esteem. Add to this fact that she was quite literally helpless, made the idea of messing or insulting this person, worse yet... Naruto himself foolhardy if not suicidal. With the razor sharp steel digging into her skin, any deep breaths could put her in a life threatening situation but she needed air to survive. The seconds felt like hours and she gasped raggendly as the hold on her head vanished and the blade was removed.

The cold sweat from earlier had progressed into full fledged fear and it was beginning to show. Barely but it was becoming apparent. A knife wielding maniac with from what she could tell was an extreme amount of fanaticism when it came to the man she wanted to do horrible horrible things to was something that was very much on the top of her do not fuck with list.

"Now you may be wondering..."

Shego's head turned following the voice once more, the manic tone having vanished and being replaced with congeniality. Craning her neck as the steps made their way behind her. Her eyes slammed shut as the blindfold was roughly removed, the bright lights of the room blinding her. Taking in what she could see of her surroundings for the first time she saw that the entire room was made of mirrors, each wall from floor to ceiling. Even the ceiling and floor themselves glass. How it was illuminated she could not tell, but the light was harsh and overpowering. Her eyes were still having troubles adjusting.

"What I'm going to do to you."

Shego refused to speak instead opting too glare at where she assumed the woman was as her eyes continued to work on getting used to the bright light.

However, it did not help as whoever had been in the room mere seconds before had disappeared from view. The only sign of her entrance being that Shego now knew where the door to her prison was located. Directly in front of her, however once the door closed it was nigh impossible to tell where it had been seeing as how the entire room looked entirely identical.

She glanced around hoping to find some way out. 'I have no idea how they turned off my plasma!' her eyes having finally adjusted to the harsh lighting she looked down and bit hard on her lower lip. The outfit... no pieces of cloth, she was wearing disgusted her. She would not be caught dead in this. Unless she was being paid an extraordinarily high fee and even then it would be fifty fifty.

She hated thongs and strapless bras, with the fairly physical work and all the fighting she always did they were the least comfortable kinds of undergarments. That and she did not find them comfortable, the thongs because they rode up painfully at times, especially during work. These kind of bras because as well endowed woman they offered little if no support.

Normally she would go with just a custom made sports bra on beneath her cat suit.

Her thoughts were interrupted once the voice again filled the room.

"I think a little punishment will quiet your tongue."

'They wouldn't dare!'

"I know what you're thinking..." the voice singsonged "And yes I would!" a nearly demented cackle followed. Soon after Shego heard a noise that she would normally identify with the sound of rain... no not rain... a very light misting. Similar to the sound of fire sprinklers! Her skin instantly began to shiver as droplets started to form on her nearly naked torso, clinging to her in a sheen of liquid ice... why was this water so cold? She struggled against the bonds holding her in place. "It's NOT gooooo-ing toooooo braaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeee-ak!"

"YOU'RE GONNA DROWN ME!?"

Terror.

Pure unadulterated terror.

"Of... Course... Not."

Relief.

"I'm going to freeze you."

Panic set in now along with the terror that had returned in full force. The room was suddenly and rapidly getting cooler, already she could feel the thin layer of moisture on her body beginning to solidify and freeze to her skin. For the first time in many years she allowed some tears to fall, though it was for naught as she felt them slow to a crawl as the cooling air in the room kept them from making them past her cheeks.

"Too bad you're stuck to that chair... You'd make a beautiful statue."

A.N. Not going to apologize foe the delay of this release. Real life than something I don't get paid for. Sorry if that hurts any of your feelings but it's how it works.

See ya next time.