Ivory Heart
By Blackjack

Pairing: -
Rating: -
Summary: -


Jealousy. It has to be.

Actually, I know it is. And I'm not simply working from conceit, either. I can read it in their minds, on their faces, in their eyes.

Every time I walk past, every time they catch me leaving his office, every time I recieve an order from him, it's their only thought.

They've always been jealous of me; of my abilities, of my skill at being an agent. But now that my relationship with the Boss has grown into something more than just that of a regular employee/employer arrangement, the wraps have been cast aside and their jealousy shines like a bitter emerald.

Such fuss over a casual thing. Imagine what they would do if he were in love with me or something ridiculous like that.

Koga is at the end of the hallway, his Ekans wound around his arm. It hisses at me, as I'm certain he would do were he not trying to mantain some degree of dignity.

I stop before him, pausing just long enough to elicit a "What do you want?" from him.

"Nothing. But I know what you want."

He growls. "Out of my way. Unlike you, I actually have Team business with the Boss."

I smirk. "But you want more, don't you?"

He shoves past me before any more words can be exchanged. I could follow him, or teleport straight to the office, but I elect not to.

"I think you have something else to say to me," he says as I stand, waiting to be dismissed.

"No sir, I've given you the full report." What could he be talking about?

He steps out from behind his desk, and I watch every move of his. Most of that is ingrained in me from years of training, but part of it is what I do around him.

A smirk. "Sabrina talked to me last night."

That bitch...Unconciously, my fists clench, and I am greatful she is elsewhere. Although with her powers, she could very well be watching. "What did she say, sir?"

"She said she discovered something interesting about you."

I shake my head. "She was reading my thoughts. She is not authorized to do that to Elites."

"When she senses that the thoughts are about me, that is different. You know that."

I close my eyes. He knows. I was hoping it had been anything else, but no...

He is uncomfortably close. My instinct would be to strike, but I cannot strike him. "Tell me something, Koga. Is it true that ninjas in your clan must take a vow of chastity?"

I cringe. "Yes sir."

"Yet you have a daughter..."

"Adopted, sir."

He nods, running a hand down my face. "You're tested daily on that vow, aren't you?"

Under his touch, my control is nearly gone. "Yes sir."

"Especially around me..."

I swallow the lump rapidly forming in my throat. "...I cannot lie to you, sir. I am very attracted to you..."

He leans in, lips brushing against the side of my face as he whispers in my ear "I've noticed. It didn't take her telling me."

"...I'm sorry, sir..."

"Don't be sorry..." I can feel his hot breath over my mouth, and I resist the urge to move the last half-inch to kiss him. "After all, it's not like it's something you can help, is it...?"

"...no sir..."

"Of course not..." Immediately, he pulls away, smirking in that way he has. "Anyway, I expect a full report on the mission to Lavender the moment you get back."

As soon as he dismisses me, I run out of his office, that smirk still in my mind.

And the hot promise, never taken, still warming my face.