WARNING(S): Prevalent themes of death and murder, dubious flirting

It was supposed to be a simple mission. An easy one.

Sakura cursed under her breath, checking her watch again. Where was the target?

She knew she hadn't gotten bad information; the Scorpion was good with all of that. He was supposed to be walking into that restaurant by eight PM for his reservation. By now it was eight-ten and he still wasn't here? What had happened?!

With a huff, she leaned back against the wall. The streets were cold and mostly empty below, and even now a slight breeze rustled through and made her shiver. "What the hell am I doing, wasting my time on a night like this... I could be sitting in a tub of bubbles and a glass of champagne."

Finally, some laughter from below. Her ears perked up and she peeked out the window, only to grip her gun tighter and ready her aim, recognizing the target.

A cold barrel pressing against the back of her head made her stiffen.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," a deep voice murmured from behind. "That's my client, you see - and it would be an awful shame if I let him get assassinated."

She grit her teeth, daring to turn her head and look up at her assailant. A hooded man with a masked face and gloved hands, concealing every inch of skin, save for that around his eyes - unfortunately, it had been stained navy to match the rest of his getup.

"Of course he'd order a countermeasure, and of course it would be you," she spat with an eye-roll. "How obvious. How annoying. Get out of here, and I won't have to take you out with him."

"Oh, are you sure?" Narrowed dark eyes bore into hers.

"Quite sure."

"Well." The gun, thankfully, left her head, but it wasn't concealed. The man continued to stand over her with it pointed at her face. "It would be disappointing to have to kill you over this."

"Very," she agreed, "he's a piece of shit."

He shrugged. "Can't argue with you on that. But a job's a job - you know that."

She eyed the barrel of the gun. "How did you even know I would be here? I made sure I concealed myself."

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "The walls have ears, as they say."

With another sigh, she finally moved her gun from the windowsill and propped her other hand up on her hip. "Okay, look. Let's cut a deal. I don't want to fail a contract, and you don't either: so how about I take one shot. One."

Despite his covered face, she could feel his incredulity. "And have you kill him anyway?"

"I never said it would land." Her eyes glinted. "You complete your mission, and I get another try for another day. Problem solved."

There was a moment of silence. The old blinds rattled.

Then, he hummed in thought. "That's... a really stupid plan."

Sakura opened her mouth to retort, but he added, "Meh, I'll take it. You get one shot."

It was her turn to give him a bewildered look.

"... What? You gave me a reasonable request. Now you're acting shocked?" He gestured to the window. "Go for it."

She shook her head, before slowly raising her gun again and looking through the scope.

The door to the restaurant opposite the street jingled open, and her target came strolling out, laughing with his much younger consort.

Her eye narrowed. Her finger squeezed the trigger.

A shot rang out, and a bullet embedded itself into the top of the sign, startling those walking along the sidewalk. The young lady with her target screamed, wrapping her arms around his as he took a step away with a visible look of fear. She hated to admit the sick thrill of pleasure she felt at the sight of him rushing off with that expression.

"There you go, there's your shot," she quietly stated, moving away before people could look up. "Will you stop interfering with my work now?"

"Hm. I can't say for sure. But if we do happen to cross paths..." she stiffened as he tilted her chin up with his pistol, "... I want to do this again."

"You're... not serious," she grit out.

"Very serious." She could feel the smirk under his mask. "You amuse me. No other sniper I've ever met has done that. Mostly they either try to end me right then and there or grovel for their lives."

She swallowed, her throat bobbing along the cold metal. "You... you're even more sick than I am."

"So what? Nobody in our positions is healthy," he pointed out. "Why not be sick together?"

His eyes were searing. She had to fight the urge to raise her arms, instead setting the rifle down on the old wooden floor and folding her arms over her chest.

"Ugh... it's like he sees right through the bindings," she thought. "What the hell is this guy's problem...?"

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, he stepped away. She took a shallow breath and reached for her duffel, kneeling to pick up the rifle.

"My job here is done," he uttered, and she momentarily glanced up. "I'll try not to see you around - but if I do, I'll be eager to continue this little game of ours."

She shivered, turning away to hastily put away her gun. By the time she looked up again, the unnamed assassin was gone.

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A/N: Let me know what you thought!