A story for @naffeclipse, inspired by a couple of posts about a gala~
This story is technically set before the events of Naff’s Sleuth Detectives, but not canon by any means
Warning: Some sexual tension, gun shoot out and near-death experience briefly described
1. A moment of intense excitement; a shudder or shiver
2. An almost pleasurable sensation of fright
It really was a lovely night, and a lovely venue.
Placed strategically in one of the great hotels of the city, cars lining the block as chauffeurs attempted to get to the front of the building to drop off their politicians and bankers and the rich folk of the city.
All for expanding the city to build more apartments for more tenants to wear down under a heavy boot. To scrape blisters rancid and oozing in the poor, to show off their wealthy and extravaganza.
Oh dear, you were starting to get cynical.
You curled a finger around your hair, moonlight catching your grin.
Truly an excellent view from up here, perched on one of the great balconies of the hotel itself, gazing downwards at the gathering crowds. Even then, you couldn't linger. Who knows what daring scandal would carry itself all the way up here to one of the many empty rooms?
Your bare feet were tickled by the lush carpet, oriental in design. Sashaying through the room, you dragged a finger over the comforter of the bed to the dress lying on it.
It wasn't yours, but it was the nicest thing you had found digging through the luggage of the unconscious lady in the corner, a bottle of wine sitting empty on the dresser. It was easy to get her to open up and drown her sorrows in good wine (stolen from the kitchens, of course), and now you fiddled with the buttons on the back of the dress.
You pursed your lips at the heels, but forced yourself into them. Thankfully, they were a good fit.
Adjusting the gold chain you draped over bare neck, you waltzed down the hallway and into one of the elevators.
Down and down it ran, pausing as an elderly couple joined you, and then a young man, and collecting more and more as you further sank down to the ground floor.
The brass door slid open, the metal grate pulled to the side, and you were in the grand hall.
And what a sight to behold.
Gold and white lights and candles, chandeliers with sparkles of light, dripping in soft cream veils. Black, red, gold, silver, and yellow clothes confronted the viewer, a theme seeming to be set in place.
Silver and gold, silver and gold...
Everyone wishes for silver and gold.
Marbled faces against draped walls; pearls and diamonds dripping down delicate necks; a soft chorus of jazz and symphony in the background;
And you were about to crash it.
If someone hadn't caught your attention.
They had only come onto your radar recently, after they had captured and you had dazzled them like the escape artist you were. You left your compliments to them in the form of one of their police bound and gagged to a chair.
Out of all the detectives, thugs, and law enforcement sent after you, these were the most skilled and stubborn of the whole lot. Not dull, but not entirely sharp enough to where they would realize you were a lost cause.
Not that you would ever want them to, they were way too fun to tease.
Interesting how they were invited to such an event, unless they were investigating or providing extra security.
Then again, you hadn't, but if your dress and diamonds didn't say you belonged, the confident stride you bore warned off any who dared to ask. It was tempting to hope for, but practically, you couldn't afford to be ousted in such a place. Which meant, avoiding the two for now.
A familiar ray spiked face plate.
You felt self conscious for a brief moment, eyes seeing yourself clad in purple instead of the gold and silver embroidered black gown adorning your form.
You weren't there anymore.
You weren't them anymore.
Pinned between two options, and not a single mask in sight to help the excuse of an impromptu masquerade. It was dangerous to be seen with either, for various reasons.
On one hand, the detectives seeing you with him could cause trouble.
Him seeing you with the detectives would either cause a possessive tantrum for you to feel the consequences of, or worse, a confrontation.
The detectives were steadily getting closer, glimpses of yellow rays and red eyes caught through the maze of bodies. Yet, you saw hope yet.
The others had begun to dance. If both parties would see you, unaffiliated with either, with someone else on the dance floor, you could save a night from disaster. Well, dangerous disaster. You were the fun sort of disaster.
The young man from the elevator was looking rather lost a few paces away, and it was too easy to snatch his hands and pull him to the dance floor, smiling coyly as you led him into a waltz. A pat on the back for yourself there, as you maneuvered the two of you towards the edge, knowing the people will split just now~
Golden eyes grasped yours for a brief second, blazing with sudden demand for your full attention-
You whirled around, dress pooling around your ankles as the detectives stared at your face as you winked saucily and went back into the main circle of participants, pretending not to notice the three animatronics.
Three animatronics in the same room.
You could still make this work.
The band slowed, couples bowing and leaving the floor as new ones joined.
The young man stammered a polite request to dance again, but you declined.
You had eyes on other prey, who were currently using the grand staircase at the end of the hall to depart to one of the side rooms. Following, you dodged the gaze of yellow eyes and slipped in after, noting the bookshelves and small office cubicles. Odd to have this room opened to the public, but couples were in here, grinning and flirting as you walked past, a few of the older ones giving you a lecherous look before they withered under a scalding side eye.
Sometimes it had payed to be known... but that was back in a far off city, those memories burned and buried.
French doors opened to the outside hall, gates opening to the hotel gardens. It wasn't the best hotel in the city for nothing-
And those detectives hadn't been hired for nothing either. You heard them before you saw them, stepping into shadow as they turned the corner, conversing in low tones. Obviously the conversation was about you, but you wanted to hear it instead of fantasize what compliments were being said.
You stepped out carefully, meeting Moon's gaze as you tapped on Sun's shoulder.
"It's rude to talk about people behind your back, detectives." Sun whirled, grabbing your arms and pinning them up against one of the hall's support beams.
"You!" he gasped, eyes widening slightly. Moon stepped forward, eyes slanted in confusion.
"Did we not get enough of a proper introduction last time, detective?" Your smile was coy. "Or do you pin up all of your acquaintances?"
Sun let go, his processor whirring a bit faster as he backed away, turning his face plate away to hide the tilt of his smile.
"You weren't invited, were you?" Moon demanded, crossing his arms.
"In spirit, though not by post card," you winked. They did really look nice, Moon's tie straight and pressed, Sun with his shoes shined and rays polished, and a small broach of red ribbon and a bell on each of their shirts. A smirk crept onto your face.
"Red looks good on both of you. Brings out your eyes detective," a finger flicked the bell, the slight jingle drawing their attention. Moon grabbed your wrist, stopping another attempt.
"Don't make me call security and have you arrested." Sun threw a sharp look at Moon.
"Moon-" Sun started to interject, then stopped, pausing for a moment.
"Would you rather she got away the moment we turned our backs?" Moon glared at Sun, who deflated with a sigh.
"No, but letting the guards take care of this might not be a... wise venture." He shot a glance at you as you smiled and winked. You knew exactly what would happen should you be passed to any less vigilant than the two detectives.
"Gentlemen, can't a lady just enjoy the night?" You broke into their discussion, a hand settling on hip as you smiled sweetly.
"You're no lady-" Moon began. A tug to his tie and his face plate hung in shocked fluster before you, daringly close.
"Oh? Then what I am, detective?" You didn't let him answer, a finger pressing against his smile. "And it better not be a nuisance, you haven't dealt with me enough to label me with that~" You let him go, but he stayed frozen in place as you brushed past him, a hand brushing over his chest. Sun started to reach for you as well, the glint of handcuffs in his hand.
"Really detective?" You sighed, sliding a leg behind his and knocked your knee into the back of his knee joint, toppling the large figure as he fell backwards. He was heavier than expected, and you nearly fell with him as you grabbed his dress shirt, pulling him close.
He had tiny freckles on his face plate, tiny blue pinpricks in his usually white eyes. His processor whirred heavily, gears clicking as you smirked.
"Save a dance for me, hm?" You dropped him, sauntering away back into the myriad of party goers, laughing as you grabbed a glass of champagne.
Retreating to a small alcove, amused observation provided entertainment as the two detectives fumbled in, Sun smoothing his dress shirt still. They seemed in distress, wildly scanning the floor and then the room.
A snicker left you, the two detectives arguing before taking an elevator, surely assuming that you would've fled to the upper levels.
In time, they would learn to interpret your thoughts and patterns, if they didn't give up the chase and give the case to a more boring personage.
You would place a million dollars betting that they would stay.
They were too predictable like that. And reputation preceded, of course.
A dark chuckle broke you out of thought.
A sigh left you, pasting a tight smile as you turned your head.
"No formal greeting? I'm hurt." He was dressed in a gold suit, red buttons and inner lining highlighting the blue and yellow of his inner rays as the narrow yet sharp burgundy rays branched from his face plate. He bent to grasp your hand.
You moved it out of the way.
"And not allowing me to greet you as a gentleman should greet a lady?" He tsked. "Breaking all the rules of etiquette."
"You're not a gentleman, Eclipse." You kept back an eye roll. "And you don't care for etiquette."
"When I'm around you, I do care."
You wished he would shut up.
Meeting him had never been one of your choices, rather his, especially after he made it a priority to find you after you had burned one of his client's weapon bunker.
Then you hadn't known the connection, but if you had, you would've taken greater pleasure in it.
Manipulative, backstabbing, and reminded you too much of your old life. Good with a gun too, you had the scrape mark on your side from where a bullet grazed your skin.
"Penny for your thought?"
"I take quarters only," you jabbed, straightening.
"You were thinking on a memory. About how we met? It's one of my fondest memories."
"I'm sure." It was not a fond memory. It was a week after you burned that warehouse, and you had been found at one of your favorite hiding holes, an abandoned boat on the wharf, now burning as you wrapped a doused cloth around your face, eyes teary from the smoke.
A rain of bullets still fired their fury on the cabin, but the sudden keel of the boat made you realize they had other ideas.
You snarled a curse, firing your weapon through one of the broken portholes at the goons, taking down at least four before they readjusted their fire.
You fell back behind a blockage of a bed and dresser, wondering how you could stall for time.
The boat was sinking slowly now. There was nothing for it, as you began pulling away ashen boards from the back of cabin, wrenching open a space for you to crawl through. Hot coals dropped onto your back as you left the shelter, the roof caving in mere moments after you escaped, a bonfire of red and yellow flame lighting the sky.
Blisters were already forming on your back, but you pressed on, hoping the goons thought you were still in the wreck of a cabin.
And the ship dropped, and you leapt onto the back, crouching for a moment, you glanced back through the flames.
Fire wasn't supposed to have eyes.
Blazing sickly yellow with greed and shocked delight, he had met your gaze and held it, mesmerizing you to hold still, like a wild animal caught by the headlights of a car.
He reminded you of a bruise, abusive and cruel, a reminder of a wound that you would forever feel.
Perhaps that's why he bore those colors.
The glint of silver startled you.
He raised a gun in your direction, eyes narrowing as his smile seemed to grow.
You dove to the side, feeling the sting of a bullet alert nerves that burned as you hit the water, the coldness making you freeze for a moment as you sank deeper. You kicked wildly, staying below the surface as you reached the docks the goons were under.
You were thankful it was nice and the sea was black, but you were hard pressed to not gasp as you breached the water.
Bullets raked through the water were you had been, orders shouted, and a mad laugh echoing from above.
"I've always wondered how you escaped, care to share that secret?"
"And here I was hoping you thought I had died, and gone on to bother other more important people in death."
Oh, he was struggling not to let that one get to him, the mass of people here at the gala keeping him in check.
"You're too clever for that." You could hear the growl in his chest as he came closer, his figure towering over you as his hand brushed up your arm.
You fought a shiver as it settled beneath your chin.
"I'm flattered," you began, grasping his wrist and turning your head away. "And I didn't take you for a flirt. Doesn't do your image any favors, though."
"And you're an expert on that?"
You gritted your teeth. Your smile thinned briefly. "Who's to say? I get around."
"Like this?" He gestured at the gala, his hand moving despite your attempt to ward it off.
"I'm quite the social figure, you know. Very popular with men and ladies." You pushed the hand to the side, stepping closer. "Hands off, it'd do well for both of our images to look presentable."
"And if we were not here? Alone, perhaps?" He questioned, his hands not minding your words and grasping your sides. You bit back a snarl of rage, smiling at him.
He laughed, the sound eliciting a frisson of fright, traveling up your spine.
It was a loud laugh, drawing attention as you pretended to look amused.
Thank goodness no one knew who you were. They would assume it was some poor girl who had tried her luck with Eclipse, the untouchable mafia boss.
He was touchable, able to kill even.
But it didn't serve you for the time being and the last thing you wanted was to burn down the city to bury his ashes in.
Patience was your friend.
But so was stubbornness. You tapped his hands, shooting him a look. His laugh subsided, hands retreating. One even reached up to wipe away an imaginary tear.
"I can't decide whether that endears you or makes you even more attractive," his voice lowered as he smiled at you. "I love a woman that can kill."
"Too bad you'll never see me do it. Vigilantes aren't exactly known for their killing sprees."
"Then join me and become known for that, the killer of the Eclipse mafia. You're capable of it." His voice dropped to a whisper. His face plate lowered to press a pseudo kiss to your cheek, drawing away before you could act.
"I'll let you get back to dancing. You know where to find me."
He was gone before you could even retort.
A hand shakily brushed cheek, shock, fury and a feeling that bubbled up giddily in your chest. You wrestled it away, scrubbing your cheek as you joined the main group of people.
It proved to yourself how shaken up you were, because you didn't see the yellow animatronic before he pulled you into his arms, spinning you onto the dance floor.
You laughed once you saw who it was, refusing to let him known how much he had scared you.
"Detective, I thought you left. Got tired of me?"
"You asked me to save you a dance. I aim to please," he answered, pulling you into a tango. The band increased their tempo, a voice singing out into the crowd as you grinned.
"My my, how courteous. I'll pretend it was because you can't live without me." The detective seemed to groan in dismay.
"Is this going to be a regular thing?"
"Only if you can catch me regular."
"Depends on how much you make me up my game," you whispered, using a step to whisper to the side of his head.
You were starting to love that sound of his machinery letting out air as it began to overwork itself.
"Is Detective Moon sulking?" You asked, turning the conversation as Sun pulled you into a back embrace, your arms spread to meet his hands as his face plate dropped to your shoulder.
"So sulking. It is because I only asked you for a dance?" Sun stayed silent. You chose not to comment, moving with him to move back into a standard cross step.
"Were you really invited?" Sun asked.
"Detective, really, I'm starting to get offended," he twirled you "but if you must known, and if I'm honest for only a brief amount of time, then I was self-invited. And really, I think the party is all the better for it."
Sun snorted, his smile becoming more relaxed.
"There we are, that's much better," you stepped back, drawing him with you. "It's nice knowing someone at such a large event, hm?"
"I thought you said we were acquaintances?" Sun's smile turned sly as you stumbled for a moment, a grin breaking your look of concentration.
"Detective, what that sass I heard?" A laugh bubbled out, the animatronic dipping you as you fought to recompose yourself.
"Only when I'm off the clock."
That feeling was bubbling up again, trying to make your smile loose and your eyes brighten.
How you already adored the detectives was beyond you, but you were happy to not let it make sense. Your hands circled his neck as the tango finished.
"Very smooth Detective." His hands grasped your own, holding them as you spun to a stop.
For a moment you allowed yourself to memorize his face, committing it to memory, before pulling away, feeling another shudder, this time of delight, raise goosebumps along your arms.
You straightened his jacket, smoothing it as you smiled.
"You have fulfilled your obligation, Detective. I wish you well, but I must be off."
Before he could reach once again for you, you had already slipped off, taking the stairs this time instead of the elevator.
The fire escape was too obvious, and you did see Moon leaning over the side in one of the opened rooms, searching below as you sauntered past.
In your room, the lady was still slumbering peacefully, only stirring for a moment when you draped a blanket over her.
The dress came off, and your regular attire fitted.
But you did keep the jewelry.
Before you prepared to depart, glancing outside to see people still entering the hotel, you paused before the mirror.
It was easy enough to knot the two ribbons together, and even easier to tie a lovely bow in your hair, the two bells tinkling softly as you turned your head from side to side.
You brushed a finger against the ribbon, a smile, this time loopy and genuine, greeting you in the mirror, dimples showing softly. A sigh was all the answer it got, and the only thing to show that you had been there was the open window.
