Who? R/J (Assassin adjacent w/rando manga character cameo)

AU. M for a few naughty words.

Agent J - Part I

I'm gonna break the cycle
I'm gonna shake up the system
I'm gonna destroy my ego
I'm gonna close my body now

I think I'll find another way
There's so much more to know
I guess I'll die another day
It's not my time to go…

- Madonna, Die Another Day

Having bodyguards since she was very young, they blended into the background of Rei Hino's sheltered life. Then, during her senior year of high school, a younger man was assigned to her contingent. As her politician father rarely communicated with her, she was unsure the cause for the personnel change and probably would never know the reason. Given the revolving amount of people in her life, Rei remained distantly polite.

"Call me Agent J," he told her, a toothpick tucked casually in the corner of his firm mouth.

She glanced up from her iPhone, tucked a strand of silky black hair behind her ear, and put on her headphones, effectively blocking out the rest of the world.

# # #

Weeks went by, but she felt his stare, always following her. Were his actions part of his job? Or was there genuine interest behind the gaze? While a sexually experienced Rei had already been through an 'older man' phase, something caused her to hesitate when considering the blonde haired Agent J. He was deceptively relaxed, appearing casual, but she knew better.

# # #

One uninspiring day in late fall when the last of the leaves had fallen from the trees, they started a conversation. He saw a number of college applications spread out across the back of the town car and commented, "Ah – Brown, my alma mater."

Having always pictured him entering the armed services straight out of some backwater Louisiana parish, she was unsure how he attended the elite school and was more intrigued than ever.

Removing her ubiquitous ear buds, she asked, "Really, what did you study?"

# # #

It was nearing her graduation in the spring. She had been accepted to NYU and was looking forward to a summer abroad. With AP exams behind her, Rei felt completely free. Linking her elegant arm through Agent J's muscular one, she waltzed them out of the guarded penthouse and onto the bustling street. Unsure how or where her intended seduction would play out, she planned to take Agent J to the nearest hotel bar and get things started with a healthy dose of liquid courage.

Pulling a pack of Lucky Strikes from her bag, she offered one to her protector, who shook his head and said, "You shouldn't smoke those. They are bad for you."

"What are you going to do about?" Lowering her voice and her lashes, she asked, "Punish me?"

The air around them crackled with unspent tension. Whatever response he might have given was interrupted when tires screeched and a vehicle stopped short in front of them. In slow motion, Rei watched Agent J step in front of her, throw his arm out and bodily place himself between her and whoever was in the van, but to no avail – something was placed roughly over her head and she was knocked out and thrown into the back of the nondescript auto.

# # #

Hearing raised voices arguing, Rei groggily came awake.

"I told you – it's too early. Our orders were that we would wait until the Senator's campaign for reelection was announced."

Although her head was pounding, she recognized Agent J's voice…oddly distorted over a loudspeaker.

"Our orders changed, Jack."

His name – Rei had never known it. In all the months they had known each other, he would never tell her. And here, bound and gagged, she heard another level of intimacy in the foreign woman speaking to Agent J…Jack. With some difficulty, Rei swallowed bitterly.

"Iron Mouse." Even though the connection wasn't clear, Rei heard the dangerous warning tone in his voice.

Sitting close by, the accented voice answered playfully, "Yes, love?"

"This was always intended as a kidnapping. Why wasn't I included?"

The woman giggled and answered, "Silly - you would spoil the fun!"

"What are you planning?" There was no amusement in Jack's response.

"Oh, don't be like that," the woman pouted. "You must have noticed, Jack, she's incredibly beautiful – those are the most fun to play with!"

Rei had a distinct feeling this 'fun' was not something to look forward to. Uncomfortably bound, she moved her body and attracted the attention of the woman near her. Informing Jack of the development, the woman narrated, "Looks like our precious Hino has decided to become conscious again."

"You won't touch her."

"Tsk, tsk, I don't like your tone, Jack. Why, are you going to come over here and stop me?"

"I will if you tell me your location."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you? Too bad." The woman's tone changed abruptly and Rei tensed, preparing herself for the worst.

The Senator's daughter heard the unknown woman move towards her. Surprisingly, her captor removed the cover on her face. Rei blinked rapidly in the light, and, after adjusting to the change, was surprised at the person in front of her. Tiny, delicate, with hair tied up in pale blonde pigtails, this 'Iron Mouse' looked completely harmless. Clothed in nothing more than some sort of ridiculous combination of lingerie and bondage gear, Rei wondered where Jack had run across her and what their relationship was.

"What, honey? Who were you expecting?"

Jack interrupted, "What's going on? Rei – can you hear me – don't listen to anything she says! I'm going to find—"

Iron Mouse walked over and picked up the handset, slamming it down and cutting off Jack's voice. Rei's heart surged at his declaration. The short woman, seeing the naked optimism on Rei's face, asked, "What? You think he's going to come over like some cunting knight in fucking armor?"

Rei, still gagged, shook her head.

"I have news for you, girlie – that man has been playing you and your father from the beginning. This was all a set up. You are nothing more than a pawn in a much larger game."

Rei thought about their conversations, the small gestures, the intimate looks and knew – on some innate level – there had to be more to the mysterious Agent J. All she had to do was stay alive until he could find her. Rei's eyes took in her surroundings, searching for clues to her location. It was a loft, and an expensive one – they had to still be in the city. Looking down, Rei realized she was sitting on a large and industrial plastic sheet. Her already parched throat constricted.

Seeing her captive's reaction, Iron Mouse giggled and explained, "Sometimes I make a mess."

AN: So. Much. Potential… So do not have time right now. I am working on the second part, apologies for the awkward break.

Also, is it weird if I picture Iron Mouse as Lady Gaga from the Paparazzi video?