All right…finally. I keep reworking this chapter, but I'm not sure like it. Or where it's going. It's so…..contrived, but here it is…

Like Melting Ice

Heero meticulously straightened the black bow tie of his classic tuxedo for a moment. It was the third or fourth time he had tried to straighten it, and the stiff collar was already irritating the back of his neck. He loathed dress clothes. They were so constricting and frivolous. Too keep from fidgeting with his tie, Heero folded his arms and leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly. Wufei clutched his driver's cap in his hand, noting the holes in Heero's mission façade. He inwardly rolled his eyes at the mild display of weakness. Both of them were waiting for Nikita, the party was in less than an hour. Wufei glanced down at his wristwatch; he was going to give her five more minutes before he went up stairs and physically dragged her to the car. What could she possibly be doing anyway? He wondered impatiently as he glanced over at Heero.

"Yuy," Wufei called. Prussian blue eyes snapped opened and peered at him through slightly tousled bangs. Dark brows were knit into a question mark indicating that his attention had been retrieved.

"Call your woman," Wufei said with a slight smirk. Heero opened his mouth to respond, when a female's voice retorted from above.

"I am no one's woman," Nikita declared from the top of the stairs. The eyes of both pilots traveled upwards. She stood at the top of the stairs with her hands on her hips. Heero's breath caught in his throat. Even though the black satin dress technically covered her from neck to ankle---there was little left to the imagination. A haltered bodice showcased her creamy shoulders and back. Her hair tumbled down her back in curls, obscuring the view of them. The material of the dress clung dangerously to her curves, and bilateral slits revealed smooth shapely legs. Her high heeled sandals clicked on the wood of the stairs. Heero fought the very powerful urge to throw her over his should and carry her right back up the stairs and—he shook his head.

"Nice," Heero managed to say. Nikita blessed him with a smile. Wufei realized that he would have to bring everyone to the proper mindset.

"What is your name?" He quizzed Nikita.

"Nicollette Du Bois," She replied with practiced ease.

"From?"

"Riqwhir, France."

"Good and your escort?"

"Toshi Hashimoto, from Neo-Tokyo. We met in Paris," She said convincingly, "He was conducting business in one of my father's hotels." Wufei nodded. Her responses were quick and believable. He handed her a very tiny ear piece, it disappeared behind locks of hair once she put it in.

"When he gives you a signal that his task is done, say 'Schrödinger's cat is dead. This feeds straight into the unit in the car. It's always on. If you get separated from Yuy, and you're in danger—simply say--"

"Schrödinger's cat is not dead," She supplied with a warm smile, "You're such a dork!"

Wufei smiled slightly at that, and shrugged. Heero wearily eyed the both of them before speaking.

"Fitting in is imperative, and failure is not an option," He said gravely. Nikita nodded and he continued, "If I am not with you, keep all exits in sight. Do not—under any circumstance--- allow yourself to be alone with any one individual, understood?"

"Yes," She replied and was suddenly very nervous. She took a deep breath, and followed both Wufei and Heero out of the house. Nikita glanced back to see Duo beaming his most supportive—yet ridiculous grin. She had to laugh, which eased her nerves a little. Nikita blew Duo a kiss before disappearing out the front door.

The 45 minute car ride was quiet for the most part. She squeezed Heero's hand gently. Nikita looked up at him with wide, desperate eyes. The corner of his mouth turned upward---his attempt at comfort.

"Calm down," He stated evenly. Nikita nodded, but bit her lip. His expression softened, her face reminded him of a lost child when she bit her lip. However, the rest of her body betrayed her child-like visage. Wufei caught her worried eyes in the review mirror, and thought of ways to ease her nervousness—it could compromise everything. Although, telling her that could only make things worse. Then he rememberedthe small toy he'd found in the glove compartment. It was a Rubik's Cube. Solving those were almost like solving equations, he idly thought. Wufei reached into the glove compartment with one hand, and tossed it back to Nikita. She was so lost in thought she did not see it coming. Heero snatched it out of the air before it collided with Nikita's face.

"It's a Rubik's cube!" she exclaimed excitedly. The glare directed at the back of Wufei's head dissipated as soon as Nikita's face lit up. She all but snatched the toy out of Heero's hands. She began fiddling with it.

"I figured it'd help," Wufei replied—keeping his gaze on the road.

"Thanks, 'Fei," She whispered distractedly. Her finely arched eyebrows were knit in determination. The tip of her tongue peeked out of the corner of her mouth as she focused her nervous energy into solving the cube. Her anxiety faded, and Heero was relieved. It was putting him on edge unnecessarily.

"What's your fastest time?" Wufei asked as he drove.

"Are you implying that I have nothing better to do than see how fast I can solve a silly cube, Wufei?" She asked, not looking up from the cube. He chuckled.

"Absolutely."

Nikita laughed, "I never really paid much attention. Time me."

Wufei nodded, and began mentally counting. It was not long before Nikita's voice piped excitedly from behind him.

"Done!" She exclaimed. He arched an eyebrow.

"16 seconds," He stated, catching her grin in the rear view. Wufei smirked slightly. He eased on the breaks, and pulled into a line of cars. Nikita's eyes widened.

"Here already?" She questioned. Both Heero and Wufei nodded affirmative. She swallowed the lump in her throat, and set down the Rubik's Cube. In character as his driver role, Wufei exited the car to open the door for Nikita. She smiled wearily up at him, accepting his extended hand. He pulled her to a standing position.

"If anything goes wrong---remember that I'm listening," He whispered. Nikita nodded, and put a smile on. Showtime.

Her false smile transformed into a real one when Heero gently took her hand. The tiny smile of reassurance he blessed her with melted all nervousness. They entered the mansion. The architecture was modeled after the an almost outdated style. It was beautiful and ornate. There were pillars, brocades, velvet drapes and hardwood floors. Plush Persian rugs were challenging to walk on in heels. The place was out of a story book, but she deliberately kept her glances surreptitious. Gawkers were easy to pick out of a crowd. There was a grand ballroom, with a hardwood dance floor. A small orchestra played a classical arrangement of a 20th century hit. The tune was familiar, but she couldn't place it. She mentally filed the melody to ask Duo about it later. The music was slow and soothing.

"Care to dance?" She asked Heero. He smiled very slightly, and led her to the dance floor. Heero placed one hand on her hip, and held her hand with his other. Both of them moved with a practiced ease and grace. His cobalt eyes pierced hers.

"You okay?" He asked. She only nodded, and they continued to dance in a comfortable silence. She finally asked.

"How long do we have to stay?"

"Till the cat's dead," He replied with a smirk. Nikita actually laughed aloud. The sound was musical and contagious. Heero's smirk grew into a smile.

"What does that even mean?" He asked. She laughed again.

"It's from this scientific theory that I remember studying. A paradox of sorts," Nikita explained. He nodded, and his eyes widened slightly. It took Nikita a moment to realize that he was looking at something behind her.

"What is it?" She questioned.

"Someone I know. She could blow my cover," He replied evenly. Her eyebrow went up, and her entire face formed a question mark. Heero did not respond to her unspoken question.

"Has she recognized you?" Nikita finally asked. Heero shook his head no, and carefully wheeled Nikita around so that his back facing the girl. She did not search through the crowd for the girl. Nikita did not want to draw any attention to Heero. She refused to jeopardize the mission. However, it was hard to ignore the way honey blonde eyebrows furrowed into a confused glare. The girl looked familiar, like she had seen her before on the news or something. She wore a pink dress with white gloves, and her honey blond hair flowed to her shoulders.

"She spotted you," Nikita warned. Heero tried not to grimace. It could complicate things. He prayed to a God that he didn't believe in to keep her from yelling his name from where she stood. She was smarter than that, he hoped.

"She's coming towards us," Nikita whispered. Heero groaned. He hated unknown unknowns. He quickly calculated the effects this could have on the mission. His rapid thoughts were abruptly interrupted, when a shrill voice called.

"May I cut in?" Relena questioned. Nikita bore no expression on her face, and gracefully parted from Heero. His hands followed her for a few inches, until they dropped numbly to his sides.

"Certainly," Nikita replied. She smiled at Heero and disappeared into the crowd. Heero's eyes followed her until he the pattern of the dance forced him to turn away. His hands were around Relena not unlike the way he held Nikita moment's before. Her scrawny form felt awkward in his grasp. She did not meld into his arms the way Nikita did. He inwardly sighed.

"What are you doing here, Relena?" Heero questioned. Relena's blue eyes flickered—he could not tell with what emotion.

"I could ask you the same…"

"Toshi," He supplied She smiled knowingly.

"I have some things to do here," He responded vaguely. Relena rolled her eyes. Even when he spoke, it was like he was silent.

"Ok, Toshi. Then who was that woman?" She questioned. Her voice stressed the name unnecessarily, and her eyebrow slowly rose before she continued, "One of your things to do?"

Heero was taken aback at her sudden haughty attitude. It was a side of Relena he had not been exposed to. He could not help the smirk that tugged at his lips.

"Maybe," He replied. Relena's face flushed with anger, and perhaps jealousy. She "humphed" audibly, but continued to dance with him.

"Relena, do not blow my cover," His plea sounded more like a demand.

"Or else what?" She questioned.

"I will kill you," He replied easily. It was the coldness of his glare that made her eyes widen. The words were not foreign to her. Relena fell silent for a few moments, and the song ended. Heero removed his hands and disappeared into the crowd. Her eyes quivered dejectedly as she watched his retreating form.

"Heero..." She whispered. Relena's eyes hardened when she noticed Nikita, and the tender way he held her hand. She noted that their fingers were intertwined, like lovers. She felt her face flush angrily at the thought. Where they lovers? There was definitely something between them. She needed to know exactly what, and why the two of them were there. She would keep a close eye on them.

---

So…what do you think? Not expecting a Relena cameo? Me either actually, but conflict makes things interesting. Review, please!

Sylver Secret