Author's Note: This chapter isn't terribly long, but I promise it'll pick up from here. It get quite…interesting? Te-he. :B

A big thanks to Sass and Jigsaw for my first reviews on this! Hope you enjoy this and future chapters. :)

Chapter Rating: PG, for mild language and slight innuendo.


CHAPTER TWO: The Dance

Heero surveyed the dance room carefully before stepping out of the hall, making sure no one would see him. He strode briskly as he exited the big corridor, but not so it would look too obvious that he was fleeing from it. Reaching the safety of his table, he pulled out a chair, seating himself with a sigh as he leaned his elbows on his knees.

His mind went a mile a minute with strategies, thinking out ways of how to approach her, his choice of words, her reaction, who would draw the first weapon, how he should kill her… this was very dangerous. Through thick locks of auburn hair, her stared at his folded hands, his palms growing sweaty with anxiety. Maybe he could wait until she strikes the next location on her list, but that would mean he would let her get away with the information she'd already assimilated. Damn. How was he going to do this?

His eyes darted up quickly at a bright glimmer of jewelry several meters away – there she was. Pouring a drink for herself delicately, she nodded politely to a thin-nosed elder woman helping herself to the finger foods beside her, seemingly trying to avoid the other woman's attempt to strike up a conversation. She backed away gracefully, nodded once again with a smile, and soon drifted over to the window that lay in the back of the room, near the corner. Not really a people person, Heero concluded.

Behind him, the music came to life with a moderate chime of a cymbal, and with that, an idea came to Heero. Standing abruptly, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves – here goes nothing. With deliberate strides Heero walked toward the girl, running the last minute plan through his head over and over. Though he made sure to take his time approaching her, he seemed to reach her side within seconds, but luckily his advance went unnoticed.

Silently, he beheld her as she gazed out the window, the snow falling softly as it dusted the rooftops of the houses below, something common in the climate-controlled colonies during holidays. The girl appeared to be in a daze, her eyes unfocused as she slowly swirled her drink, her head slightly tilted, but Heero soon noticed that the hand holding her drink trembled. The dark punch in the glass rippled wildly. Her face, however, was set in stone; it looked calm. She looked quite innocent, he thought with a frown, you never would have guessed what or who she really was. She looked normal – Something he had always had trouble with.

Shaking his head, Heero freed his mind of any uncertainty before he took a deep breath, clearing his throat and holding out his hand.

She gasped in surprise. Turning to him with suspicion in her vibrant eyes, her expression quickly softened as she recognized him, her gaze falling from his dire, unreadable eyes to his extended hand. With an amused smile she accepted, placing her dainty hand gingerly in his strong grip.

They slowly strolled over to the dance floor, hand-in-hand, and soon assumed the dance position. Languidly beginning to sway together with the rhythm, Heero sighed in silent relief; the band wasn't playing anything upbeat. If they'd been, it would have been more difficult to get her where he wanted her.

Both stayed silent, and Heero felt awkward with the way they were dancing; she was too removed, keeping space between them; this wasn't going to work if she wasn't close enough. Being as chaste as he could, he tugged her body closer to his, until he felt the curve of her body against him. She went rigid against his strong arm around her waist momentarily, caught off guard. Gradually, Heero felt her relax under his grip, and she soon moved her hand from his shoulder to the base of his neck, her head resting lightly on his opposite shoulder.

He led her in a slow, well-paced dance, taking in everything about her. The first thing that jumped out about her was the smell of cocoanut oil on her, its' scent very warm and soothing. For some reason, it reminded Heero of a warm bed. Exhaling slowly to focus more on the girl, he threw a glance in her direction, noting she wasn't paying much attention to him. She stood about five-feet tall, he assumed, but the heels of her lacy shoes gave her a generous couple of inches, allowing her to be eye level with him. Her body frame felt very slender in his arms, almost too slender, but with the weight of her body against him and the slight contour of muscles in her upper arm, Heero guessed she was lean and muscular. He also noticed that the girl was tense; she was on edge, something he could easily coincide with; she was an undercover terrorist. Slowly beginning to notice her soft, warm breath against his throat, he wondered what foundation had sponsored her and who had trained her. What could she possibly be fighting for, now that the war was over? Turning his head a fraction of an inch, he peered curiously at her through the corner of his eye, reciting what he needed to say to her in his head.

Clearing his throat again, Heero twisted his neck more to see her face, feeling her attention shift to him.

"Why are you here?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm here with family. I told you before, didn't I?"

"That's not what I meant…"

Heero's hold tightened on her, scowling inwardly at her casual tone.

"Who sent you?"

She was silent for a moment.

"My uncle brought me here, if that's what you mean."

He clenched his teeth; she's a good actor. Heero questioned her again, this time with his lips next to her jeweled ear.

"Who are you working for? What organization is sponsoring your attacks?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. I saw everything that happened back in that hallway."

"What happened? What did you see?"

The girl's voice never wavered in her response – she knew exactly what to say. Her tone, however, showed an enjoyment of dancing around the subject matter, and through gritted teeth Heero tried to keep his patience.

"I know where both bodies are hidden. I know what computer you got your information from. You're not leaving this party alive."

That's when Heero felt the girl's body stiffen; He'd hit a button. She didn't react like he'd hoped though, he was expecting her to draw a concealed weapon or run out of the room so he could chase after her and complete his mission. Much to his dismay, she stood silently, still swaying with him in their dance, but her nails dug into his shoulder uncomfortably. She then drew her head back slowly, turning to look him in the eyes.

Heero blinked in surprise. Her piercing eyes narrowed, burning into him with a look of contempt, but at the same time, it almost looked as if she was amused. With an unusual sigh she shut her eyes, and soon closed the space between. Gently placing a kiss on his cheek, she then moved to his ear with the promise of death on her lips.

"I'm goin' to have to kill you. I'm sorry."

His jaw almost dropped.

"What?"

"And I was starting to like you, too. Damn…"

She said nothing after that, but just danced at a leisurely pace with Heero, leaving him in a dumfounded stupor. She's going to kill him? What? Usually those words are spoken when the roles are reversed; he'd be the assassin, he'd promise death. But this, this was completely different. This meant that he had to figure out a way to kill her, before she has a chance to finish him.

Everyone around the dancing couple began to clap, signaling that this dance was over. The girl pulled away gently from Heero's arms, but did not flee. Good, now was the time to formulate a plan—

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please? Thank you."

The host was speaking. Heero glanced over at his former dance partner, seeing her stand silently in wait of the host's speech, hands together in front of her politely. He turned back to the speaker.

"Though I wish it wouldn't, our ballet will be ending at approximately one a.m. tonight. It's been such a pleasure hosting a grand ball filled with wonderful guests, and I ask all of you join me in the final waltz of the party. Shall we?"

The man was answered with a mild cheer from his polite party-goers, and with a considerate bow, he joined the people on the dance floor, wife on arm.

Shit. This was not good, he won't have any time to complete his mission, and he even may lose the target if she declines and leaves. Heero needed a new plan, and quick.

With an anxious extended arm toward the girl, Heero offered another dance to her.

She first arched an eyebrow, as if confused, but then curiously acknowledged by taking his hand, unsure of just what he was planning.

Taking the lead, Heero watched her follow suit and then spin in his high, out stretched hand, her bright, lime eyes always connecting with his cobalt ones. She side-stepped twice with him, turned and then spun again, the arc of her back now on his chest. After completing the spin, Heero placed his hand in hers while the other found the curve of her hip, her hand trailing his to cover it. He lead her in a small circle, stopped, and then repeated a dance step done earlier. Pulling her close to his body, Heero tensed when he felt the girls' body press into his chest, her cheek pressing against his in an almost intimate manner, causing suspicion to rise in the Gundam soldier rapidly.

Heero's eyes narrowed; what is she doing?

Trying to ignore her advances, he spun her again, performed another dance step, and proceeded to dip her. With his arm holding her securely, he ran his other hand down the length of her body to catch her knee, suddenly stopped at a large L-shaped object bound to her upper thigh.

A gun…?

Heero glanced down to where his hand was and then to the girl, who was now smiling cynically at him. He instantly responded with a cold scowl, lifting her back up, a three-step maneuver following it. Feeling he should show his little 'secret' too, Heero took the hand holding hers and brought it to the base of his spine, where his gun was nestled securely. He watched with satisfaction as her half-lidded eyes grew wide at the moment her nimble fingers found it, her head turning sharply to look at him. She searched his intense, blue eyes carefully, the mixed emotions of fear and ire in her own, and suddenly tried to jerk away from Heero's gentle hold on her. He held tight though; he was not going to let his target escape now that she knew he was armed. Pulling her back to him at her second attempt, Heero quickly closed the space between their faces, stopping only when he felt the soft skin of her cheek on his lips before he whispered:

"Do NOT make a scene. I'll kill you."

He felt the warmth of her cheek increase at his seductive yet deadly closeness. Heero then felt her breathe out something in response.

"What happens now?"

Heero had to think for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

"When the dance is over…we finish this."