"Ok," Shaw said to Reese, turning the steering wheel and guiding her car into a parking spot, "five minutes. Get in, get food, get out."

She put her car in park and turned the engine off. Shaw loved 7/11. It was convenient, cheap, and always open. As she unbuckled her seatbelt, Reese gave her a mock salute from the passenger seat. She rolled her eyes and pushed her door open, stepping out of the car, her heeled boot crunching against the loose gravel.

They had just finished a job and the diamond necklace Shaw had stolen from a high rise on the Upper East was burning a hole in her pocket. She stuck her hands into the pockets of her puffy coat, her fingers brushing against the cool stones. It had been an easy heist, they'd spent less than five minutes in the fancy apartment, and now they were celebrating with convenience store alcohol and snacks.

It was snowing lightly. Small flakes drifted from the sky, but melted as soon as they hit the ground, leaving everything wet and slippery. Shaw liked the way New York City looked in the winter. It almost seemed bigger, the tops of sky scrapers disappearing into the fog and clouds. She hated the cold.

Shaw bumped her hip into the car door, closing it with a thump, and started for the entrance to the 7/11. As always, Reese jumped ahead of her and pulled it open, the door chiming obnoxiously. He was only wearing a peacoat despite the chill. He never seemed bothered by the cold. Shaw, however, was freezing, and she tugged her beanie down over her ears as she walked inside the well-lit store.

She didn't know who they'd robbed, but she didn't really care either. Her boss just gave her an address and a picture of an item and she and Reese did the rest. It didn't matter to her that she never knew why they were taking the items, or that sometimes the items seemed more personal than expensive. Her boss paid her well, she got free tuition and housing, and she got to flex her burglary skills every week.

Sighing, Shaw looked around the store. This was not their usual 7/11, so she didn't know where anything was. Normally, they went to the one across the street from campus, but their job had taken them to the other side of the park and she wanted chips to sustain her for the drive back. She spotted the chips in the farthest aisle, across from the wall of refrigerated drinks, and started for them.

It was late, almost three in the morning, and Shaw still had some homework to finish. She loved learning, but trying to balance academics and crime was proving a bit difficult. Her late night excursions made her tired and that made it harder to study, but she was smart and her grades were good. She turned the corner into the aisle and froze.

Standing in front of the beer cooler was Root, looking disheveled and a little confused. Even from a distance, Shaw could tell that Root had been in a fight. The eye that Shaw could see was bruised, long scrapes ran parallel to Root's jaw, and her thick wool coat was muddy and salt-stained. The knee of her tight jeans was ripped and there was blood staining the hanging threads.

Shaw closed the distance between them, grabbing Root's arm and swinging her around. Root winced as Shaw's fingers dug into her bicep and a hand moved into her open jacket, wrapping around the hilt of a gun strapped to Root's side. When she saw Shaw, she grinned, breaking open a cut on her lip, and let go of the gun.

"Sameen!" Root said cheerfully, pulling a bloody napkin from her coat pocket. She pressed it to her lip. "Fancy meeting you here!"

Shaw scowled. "What happened to your face?"

"Oh." Root shrugged. "You should see the other guy. Well, guys. There were a few. I'm fine!"

Root didn't look fine. Now that Shaw could see her whole face, she was furious. Root looked like she'd taken a beating. Her other eye was black, too, and dried blood clung to her ear. Shaw was sure that if she pulled Root's clothes off, she'd see more bruise than skin. She dropped Root's arm.

"You should see a doctor," Shaw said, hands clenching at her side. "You could have a broken rib or something."

"Are you worried about me?" Root asked, a teasing smile pulling at her lips, half-hidden behind the paper napkin. "I didn't know you cared."

Shaw stepped back, clenching her teeth. "I don't. Do whatever you want. Die."

Root laughed, her head tilting as she took in Shaw's angry expression. "No need to be so defensive. I think it's sweet that you're angry for me, but I'm a big girl, Shaw. I can take care of myself."

Shaw scoffed and looked away. She didn't care about Root. She just knew that if Root died, then she'd have to find a new fuck buddy. Turning towards the wall of beer, Shaw thought about the last week.

It had only been four days since she'd let Root touch her, but their relationship had already changed a little bit. Shaw felt vulnerable and she wasn't sure if she was fine with it. Clearly, Root wouldn't kill her. They'd made a deal after all. Still, she was a killer for hire and Shaw knew that there were rich men out there who would pay good money to get their things back.

She put her hands back into her pockets and walked slowly down the aisle away from Root. After a moment, she glanced back. Root was looking at the beer in the refrigerator again. Shaw wondered if she had ever had beer before.

"Going to a party?" Shaw asked. She leaned against a glass door, feeling the cold through her coat. "Or just drinking for fun?"

Root sighed. "Fun? I guess. I'm not a big drinker. I just thought I'd have a beer and relax."

"You probably shouldn't drink too much if you're taking pain meds."

"Oh." Root turned away from the drinks. "You're right." She suddenly smiled. "You know, I've heard that orgasms help ease the pain."

Shaw rolled her eyes and pushed off the glass. There was an open doorway a few feet away and she took a few meandering steps towards it. "They can help with headaches. I think your cuts and bruises require actual medical attention."

Root just shrugged and pulled the napkin from her face. She stuffed it into her coat pocket again. "It's worth a try."

"So, what was the job?" Shaw asked, changing the subject. She wanted to know more about what Root did. "Kill anyone interesting?"

"No one special," Root said, her voice light and casual. "I was getting something out of a safety deposit box."

"Yours?" Shaw asked, already knowing the answer.

Laughing, Root followed her down the aisle. "No, but that doesn't usually stop me."

"What went wrong?"

"I wrote a program to freeze the security cameras, but it glitched and they caught me. I still got what I wanted, but I had to get a little bloodier than I usually like. I need to work on the program some more. I…haven't had a lot of free time lately."

Shaw smirked and peeked into the open doorway. It was a beer cave, a small refrigerated room stacked high with boxes and crates. She stepped inside, knowing Root would follow her. She usually did.

It was weird to hear Root talk about her work. Shaw was smart enough to be cautious of her, but the image of Root she had, desperate and nervous and nerdy, didn't fit the image of an assassin. It was still hard to put the two things together.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Root asked. When Shaw turned to glare at her, she raised an eyebrow. "You asked me first."

Shaw rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to answer. I don't either."

"Ok," Root said, giving in surprisingly quickly. "I guess that's true."

Squinting suspiciously, Shaw stopped walking. She stood in the center of the room, Root between her and the exit. Through the door behind Root, Shaw could see the top of Reese's head moving through an aisle. He took forever to pick his snacks, so she had some time.

"That's it?" Shaw asked. "You aren't going to dig?"

Root shook her head, long brown hair swaying. Shaw hated to admit it, but the bruised and bloody face was pretty hot. Root looked dangerous and Shaw was into it. She took a step away from Root, not wanting to show weakness.

"I know better than to pry, Sameen," Root said, a blatant lie. "I won't push."

She shook her head, playing with the necklace in her pocket. Root glanced down at her hands and Shaw turned around to look over the boxes of beer, pretending to read brand names. Her focus was really on the girl behind her. Loud footsteps told her that Root was closing the distance between them.

"You always push," Shaw said, turning around again. She was unsurprised to see Root only a foot away. "It's kind of your thing."

"Well," Root breathed, reaching out to take the zipper of Shaw's puffy coat in her long fingers, "I'm trying a new thing."

Shaw held her breath as Root pulled the zipper down, the quick slide of the teeth loud in the tiny room. She took her hands out of her pockets and pulled the beanie from her head. The cold air hit Shaw's chest as Root opened her coat and exposed the black t-shirt she was wearing underneath. Root smiled down at her.

"All black? You should add some color to your wardrobe, Shaw. A nice red, maybe. I bet it would make your skin glow."

"I wear other colors," Shaw said, lying. She dropped the beanie on the ground. "I just bought a nice dress in white. A fancy dress."

"I haven't seen it," Root pouted. "You should take me somewhere nice and show me. Take me to the Opera or that new French restaurant near campus. I'll pay."

Shaw rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to take Root on a real date and even if she was going to, which she would never, she wouldn't let her pay. Shaw always paid. Well, she would if she ever took anyone on dates.

Root's hands moved up Shaw's coat, coming to rest on her collarbones and Shaw swallowed. Despite the new dynamic to their relationship, Shaw knew that Root was still following her lead. They hadn't tried anything too wild, they hadn't even used a strap-on yet, and Shaw was starting to want more.

Root slid her hands up to Shaw's neck until they just cupped it, her thumbs brushing over Shaw's windpipe. She wanted Root to push, to squeeze, but Root's hands kept moving up. She gripped Shaw's jaw and yanked her forward, crashing their lips together.

Root moaned as their lips slipped against each other. Root's lips tasted like blood and Shaw realized her lip had split open again. She groaned, heat pooling between her legs. Root's mouth was hot and insistent and her fingers tugged on Shaw's hair. Reaching out, Shaw took Root's waist in her hands, moving them under the leather gun holster, and pulled her close. She couldn't feel the cold air of the room anymore, only Root's warmth against her.

Shaw sunk her teeth into Root's bottom lip, swallowing her hiss of pain. She ran her tongue over the sore spot soothingly. Lazily, Root's hands trailed back down Shaw's body, coming to rest on her breasts. They squeezed, and Shaw gasped, pulling Root tighter against her.

She never felt close enough to Root. Maybe it was the fact that they only seemed to have sex in public places, quick and clothed, but Shaw was never content with their contact. She decided that the next time they did this, they'd be in a bed, completely naked, and she'd lick Root from top to bottom.

The thought made her wet and she pulled her head away from Root, dropping it back against the stack of boxes. Her mouth hung open as she took deep breaths. She tried to focus on Root's hands and the way they moved down her stomach, but she couldn't. Her pulse was loud in her ears and she was having trouble noticing anything.

Suddenly, she felt a tug on her coat and then Root's heat was gone. Shaw jerked her head up to see Root standing in the center of the room, holding the diamond necklace up to a florescent light, trying to get a good look. Shaw cursed, watching Root carefully.

She'd let her guard down and Root had gotten the better of her. That had never happened before and suddenly all of Shaw's previous suspicions slammed back into place. She hated how impossible it was to understand Root. Shaw would kill her in a second if she tried to leave with that.

"This is nice," Root crooned, a small smile on her face, and finally lowered her hand to look at Shaw. "I guess I know why you're on this side of Central Park now." She winked. "You were buying me a gift."

"Very funny," Shaw spat through her snarl. "Give it back."

Root tried to smirk, but she was panting slightly, not entirely unaffected by their kissing. "Or what?"

"Or I'll make you."

"Ooh," Root cooed, "promise?" She held the necklace out and Shaw leaped forward to snatch it back. Root pouted, crossing her arms. "I just wanted to see what you were guarding."

"It's none of your business," Shaw snarled. She shoved the necklace back into her coat. "I'm done."

She started to walk out of the room, but Root caught her arm and held her in place with surprising strength. Shaw wanted to rip her arm away and leave, but she didn't. Instead, she turned to glare at Root.

"What?" she bit out.

Root actually looked sheepish, her wounds making her look even more pathetic. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad. I'm used to…pretending…I guess. On jobs. It almost feels normal now."

"I'm not a job."

"I know," Root sighed. She let go of Shaw's arm and pushed her hand through her hair. "I know that. I don't think of you like that. I just wanted to know. I won't do it again."

Shaw took a deep breath, her anger fading. She couldn't be too mad. Hadn't she done the same thing the second time they'd met? She'd let Root half-dressed in the middle of a party because she wouldn't give Shaw information.

Shaw threw her hands up in an exaggerated shrug. "You're infuriating."

"I know," Root laughed. She looked a little less embarrassed. "It's one of my many charms."

"It's your only charm," Shaw muttered, running a hand through her hair. She realized her beanie was still on the floor and walked back towards it.

Root let her pass without incident. "So, you like it. I knew you did. You like it when I tease you."

Shaw's eyes widened and she kept her back to Root to hide her flush. She did like it when Root teased her, but she didn't want Root to know that. She should be able to control herself. Stopping in front of the stack of boxes she had been leaning against, Shaw frowned.

Root shouldn't have been able to take the necklace from her, but Shaw had been so willing to be touched that she'd stop tracking Root's hands. They'd gotten too comfortable. She put her hand into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the necklace. If something happened to it, she didn't know what her boss would do to her. She'd never lost something before.

"How about this," Root said in a low voice from close behind her, "you tell me who your boss is and I'll get straight to it."

Shaw felt Root pulling at her jacket and let her take it off. Root tossed it onto a shorter stack of boxes. There was no way Shaw was giving up her boss that easily, not after Root's trick a minute ago. She turned around, smiling at Root. When Root smiled back, Shaw struck.

Grabbing the front of Root's jacket, Shaw threw her across the small room. She stumbled into the small stack of boxes, trying to catch herself on her hands, but they landed on Shaw's coat and Root slid forward, losing her balance. Her knees slammed into the stack with two loud thumps, and she gasped in pain.

Shaw closed the distance between them in a few quick steps, pressing her hips into Root's butt and trapping her against the box. Root was bent in half, leaning on her elbows, and Shaw placed her hands on Root's back holding her down. She was in charge now.

"You think you're tough?" Shaw growled, pushing up Root's jacket and shirt. "You don't scare me at all." She reached around Root's hips to unbutton and unzip her jeans. Slipping her hand into Root's underwear, she could feel the heat between her legs. "Tell me you're sorry for trying to trick me."

Root moaned as Shaw's fingers slipped through her wet heat. "I'm sorry."

Grinning, Shaw pulled her hand out and pulled down Root's jeans and underwear, exposing her delicate skin to the cold air. She slapped Root's ass, watching the red handprint left behind as Root gasped in pain. She hit Root again. This time, Root sounded like she enjoyed it.

"I don't think you're sorry yet," Shaw grunted. Root tried to lift herself up, but Shaw used a hand to push her down again. "Stay down."

Shaw ran her free hand between Root's legs from behind, slowly rubbing circles over Root's clit. She could feel Root trembling beneath her. Root was wet, like always, and it turned Shaw on to know that she had this much control over someone.

She pushed two fingers inside Root, using her hips to add force. Root gasped in rhythm with Shaw's movements and her hips banged against the stack of boxes. Shaw could feel how wet she was herself, but she didn't want to pull her hand off of Root's back to touch herself. She spread her hand against Root's back reveling in the feel of Root's damp skin.

She dug her nails back, making Root cry out. The bruises on Root's back were dark, they'd probably take a while to heal, and they probably hurt a lot. Shaw pressed her thumb into one and curled her fingers inside Root. She smirked as Root whimpered.

Shaw added another finger, twisting all three inside of Root. As Root moaned loudly, Shaw wondered if anyone outside the room could hear them. Glancing over her shoulder, she couldn't see any movement outside the door. It wasn't like she was going to stop fucking Root anyway.

Root lifted her head, hair pooling on her back, and Shaw grabbed it, fisting her hand into long, brown curls. She tugged Root's head even further back, making her arch her back. Shaw wished she could kiss Root, but she couldn't like this.

Shaw pulled her fingers out, grabbing Root's arm and pulling her to the floor. She straddled her, reaching down between Root's legs and rubbing her clit in tight circles. This way, she could lean forward, kiss Root, drink in her throaty moans. Root's arms wrapped around her holding her close.

Root could hardly kiss her, she was so distracted by Shaw's touch, her breath ragged as small whimpers slipped from her mouth. Pulling back, Shaw just stared down at her, at her black eyes and flushed cheeks. Root tried to look up at her, but her eyes kept squeezing shut. She was gasping and Shaw knew that she was close.

Leaning down again, Shaw pressed her lips to Root's throat. She licked sweat from Root's neck, running her tongue over hot skin. She bit into Root's shoulder, grinning as Root growled and feeling the vibrations against her own chest.

Root's hips started bucking against Shaw's and Shaw moved her hand faster, dipping her fingers inside Root to gather moisture and moving back to her clit. She lifted her head to watch Root lick her lips, mouth falling open as she panted. Her head dropped to the side.

"Say you're sorry," Shaw ordered as Root raced to her climax. She clutched Root's jaw, forcing her to look up. "Say it!"

Root sucked in air. "I'm sorry," she rasped, thoroughly distracted. "I'm sorry!"

Shaw pushed three fingers inside of Root and Root came, hips arching up into Shaw. She choked on a cry, hands slamming into the floor. Shaw didn't stop. Her fingers pumped in and out of Root as she tensed, face and neck turning red.

Finally, Root dropped back to the floor, gasping, and Shaw pulled her fingers fully out. She wiped them on Root's shirt, not caring about the mess, and lifted her leg over Root, climbing to her feet. Looking down at her handywork, she smiled.

Root looked like a mess. Her pants were around her knees and her hair was splayed out around her. She was in no position to try and steal from Shaw again. Seeing her like this made Shaw feel a little bit better. She could still be in control and Root was still at her mercy.

Root ran a shaky hand over her face and opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "Wow," she breathed. "I should trick you more often."

Shaw scowled. "No."

"I'm only joking." Root sat up and started pulling her underwear back up. "That was great though."

Shaw didn't know how to answer. She avoided conversation altogether by walking to her coat and putting it on. When she turned around again, Root was dressed and looking at Shaw expectantly.

"What?" Shaw asked, putting her hand in her pocket and double checking for the diamond necklace.

Root scratched her nose. "Do…you want me touch you?"

"Oh," Shaw shrugged, "not right now. You need to get patched up."

"Are you going to play doctor?" Root asked. She reached out to tap Shaw's nose. "I bet you'd look hot in a white coat."

Shaw smacked Root's hand away and turned on her heel to leave the room. "Just…Come on. Reese's waiting for me."

"John is here?" Root followed Shaw back into the main part of the 7/11. "Poor guy."

Shaw looked around the room and spotted Reese in the far corner. She hurried down the aisle, past the glass refrigerator doors, and out the other side. The cashier seemed unbothered, his feet propped up on the counter and a copy of Cowboys Monthly open in his lap. He glanced up at them as Shaw walked past, but didn't say anything.

"Hey," Shaw said to Reese, making him jump, "let's go."

Reese turned away from the rack of magazines he was looking at and looked past her at Root, his eyebrows raised. "Hello," he said, blushing slightly. "Nice to see you again."

"Hey, Johnny Boy," Root greeted back. "I'm riding back with you guys."

"Ok." Reese glanced between them. "That's- Ok."

Shaw glared at him and stomped away toward the exit. As she pushed open the door, she realized that she'd left her beanie in the beer hole. She scowled. Of course she did. Root was going to buy her a new one.

"So," Shaw heard Root say to Reese behind her as they walked to her car, "you know anything about beer? I think I'm going to start drinking it more. I have…a sudden thirst."