In another part of the NYPD police station, Officer Hilde was practicing on how to dismantle a bomb. Yesterday, it was dynamite. Now, it was a C-4. Her hands were shaking as she tried to cut the wires and Lieutenant Treize was monitoring her.
"Roses are red, violets are blue," she whispered, tensing.
"Officer Hilde, relax. Grace under pressure. Tension only spoils everything," Treize stated, while watching her.
"I'll do my best, sir." She licked her lips and tried to finish.
"Sugar is sweet and ~"
Suddenly, Enforcer Duo strode in and burst out. "HEY, HILDE! WE NEED HELP UP HERE!"
Hilde jumped and suddenly cut the wrong wire. The fake C-4 exploded and when the smoke cleared, she was shaking with rage.
Lieutenant Treize spoke over the intercom. "You botched up, Schbeker. I hate to tell you, but we're all DEAD."
"I was DISTRACTED, sir," she glared at Duo, who scooted back immediately, but not before laughing at her muck-up.
"Distractions are not to be tolerated in this field, Hilde. You have to have presence of mind. Dismantling a bomb takes up a lot of concentration. Take a break," Treize called out, shooting an angry glare Duo's way.
Hilde sighed and walked out of the practice room, only to be enveloped by Duo's bear hug.
"Hey, babe. How's your day?"
"Fine, until you showed up," she smirked.
"Maybe this will compensate for your untimely DEMISE at my hands," he laughed and kissed her.
For a while, they stood there and kissed. But Hilde managed to break away from the kiss when something nagged her at the back of her mind. Duo looked at her, surprised and disappointed that she would end the kiss so quickly.
Hilde smiled and tugged at his long braid. "You distract me, Braidy Boy, but no more! What is it you needed help with anyway?"
"Mmm. That can wait. THIS is a lot more important," Duo replied and tried to reach out for Hilde again.
She dodged and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Duo, what is it?"
"The mug shots. Apparently, detective Relena has to have the day off to get ready for her new 'assignment' and the captain wants us to replace her shift."
"Well, I do hope she fits it to a 'T'. And not for her sake, but for everyone else's."
NOT VERY FAR AWAY�
Relena gazed at her reflection critically in a nearby store window.'Not bad at all. Just too CASUAL.'
She was wearing a pair of navy blue stretch pants and a white form-fitting tank top. To complete the outfit, she wore a pair of the latest Nike running shoes and she swept her hair in a braid. Nothing like her uniform or her jeans, black jacket, and two-inch boots.
Zechs had chosen a rather athletic outfit for her and she felt uncomfortable. Young men walked by and gave her more-than-long-enough looks and she sighed. She hated it when a guy would just "check her out". It drove her nuts.
She cast the men her best death stare and then crossed 5th Avenue and entered a coffee shop. As soon as she sat down in one booth, a waitress approached her with a pen and notepad.
"What'll it be?" she asked, placing a hand on a rounded hip. Relena nearly choked, seeing how long and red the girl's nails were. 'Heh�it's a miracle she doesn't break a nail. And I thought Dorothy was weird.'
"I'll have a BLT, fries, and a double espresso. Spare the sugar," she replied. The waitress gave her one last sharp look and headed to the counter. Relena turned her head to the window, focusing her thoughts on the life going on outside.
'N.Y�the city that doesn't sleep�I love it here�'
"That's quite an appetite for a pretty thing like you. Just how do you keep your figure?" A deep, masculine voice broke her out of her reverie and she found herself staring into ocean-blue depths that could very well drown any woman.
"I burn it off through HARD WORK," she replied, slightly amused. She was not one to fall for any traps set by men.
She had seen enough.
Strangely, Relena had a hard time trying to keep a steady gaze. This man was unlike any that she had ever seen.
He had dark brown hair that looked unruly, yet soft enough for her to run her fingers through it. His eyes were deep-set, cynical, and mysterious. His thick eyebrows were level and shaped. And he had a smooth, clean-shaven face and well-sculpted cheekbones.
The shape of his nose was like that of a ship's prow, but not TOO prominent. But what drew her attention to him was the way his mouth was shaped. It may very well have been the devil himself who could create such lips. It could tempt any woman for a kiss and his mouth was so sensually formed that Relena was having a tough time trying not to stare.
"The name's Joshua Mayfield. You are?"
"Annie. Annie Whitman," she replied, remembering to use her alias. Relena felt his large hand enclose hers and all of a sudden she felt an electrical tingle run through her.
Heero couldn't help but stare at the young woman across the table. Her eyes were a startling color of aquamarine, and in a certain light, they looked like a mixture of gray and green. Her long hair, swept up in a braid, shone like spun gold. Her skin was smooth, tanned. And she had a classic Grecian nose and high cheekbones, giving her a regal bearing.
But it was her lips that captured him. Her lips were full, red. And when she smiled, there was a tiny dimple in her right cheek, as if a fairy had kissed her. For a moment, he wondered how it would feel to kiss her.
He shook his head. 'Mustn't think like that,' he scolded himself. He extended a hand and introduced himself, careful not to reveal his real name.
"The name's Joshua Mayfield. You are?"
The girl grinned.
'Rather sardonically,' he thought, bemused.
"Annie. Annie Whitman," the girl replied.
'So she has a name. It suits her,' he thought.
"It's great to meet you, Annie. You're real cute, you know."
She looked down, but not before he saw her blush.
'She must have been very flattered,' Heero thought.
'Come on! Talk to her!' a voice yelled.
"Thank you, Mr. Mayfield. You're not too bad, yourself," she replied, grinning again.
"Please, don't be too formal with me. Call me Josh," Heero said, smiling.
