Dedicated To: user29584374

"Your hand touching mine.
This is how galaxies collide."
-Sanober Khan

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The Hero and the Villain stepped into the spacious bathroom of their joint hotel room, examining it carefully, just like they had everything else in the humongous suite.

Galaxy Girl's mouth gaped ever so slightly, because apart from the few expensive vases in Toxic's lair that she'd thrown at the villain over the years, she was not used to such luxuries. Matching stone tile lined both the floor and the walls, it had a huge double mirrored sink and a humongous vintage white bathtub. A rack lined with big fluffy white towels was mounted on the wall beside the shower, and next to that hung identical-white bathrobes. It was the huge bathtub that had caught her eye, it was surrounded by many wonderfully scented, multi colored candles. Galaxy took a step closer to get a better look. She didn't have an actual bath in her family's home, only showers.

I am definitely going to have to try that before I leave. She thought. Stepping out of the bathroom, she opened the burgundy lace curtain that was placed in the small doorway between her and Toxic's adjoining bedrooms. He was busy rummaging through his many solid silver colored suitcases. He did not travel light. The suitcases had been placed in the rooms before they had even stepped foot inside, all were his, as she hadn’t brought along any other thing  but the clothes she was wearing, and even that, Toxic had provided.

"Ahh" He said as he found the small briefcase he had been looking for, he pressed thumb against the scanner and it unlocked with a light click. He set it down on the floor and then stepped back. From inside the silver box something began to whir mechanically, the lid flipped open by itself and the invention that was inside started to assemble itself rapidly, like a giant pop up jigsaw puzzle; whirring and clicking, building itself higher and higher until one final click, and whatever it was stopped. It was shaped somewhat square, aluminum she could only guess; with several tubes and copper wires jutting out in random places. Toxic and his super-brilliant inventions. She couldn’t wait to know what this was.

"Ok, what is it?" She asked, staring at the 3 foot high mysterious mass of metallic machinery.
"I call it the Sewgo." Toxic answered with pride in his voice.
"It's an automatic wardrobe creation device, you were unconscious and I didn't have the time or the patience to shop for female attire, so I made this instead." He explained, patting the invention like a pet.

"Are you saying all of these suitcases contain inventions?" She inquired, eyes roaming the giant stack.
"Obviously." He reached into the pocket of his long brown coat, pulled out something silver and tossed it at her. "This is yours." It was her league issued communications device, basically a titanium cellphone. Galaxy Girl had all but forgotten completely about it.
"It was on the belt of your suit. I turned off the tracking device as soon as I found it, so your Peace League couldn't track you." said Toxic.

"Thanks I guess..." She shrugged slightly. "I also added my number, which after all these years you really should have had already!" He held up his own green razor thin phone before going back to work on his invention. Galaxy Girl walked to the window and gazed down onto the foreign streets of Italy. The city of Rome was quiet, she could only sight a few cars roaming the streets, and they drove past quite a while apart too. The city was really quiet.

She looked at the large clock that was hanging on the wall and then remembered the time difference. It was already 2 in the morning, Stark City would be 7 hours behind.
"Wow it's late here." She mumbled.
"Yes, nice and quiet, nobody will see us rehearsing." Said Toxic. Rehearsing, a word that sounded so strange to her coming from his mouth. Galaxy turned back around to see the weird invention of his as it began to make a high pitched whistling noise. The inside glowed green, the same shade as his radiation. He was using it to power this contraption. The whistling sputtered to a halt and a small conveyor belt folded out of the side, on it rolled out a neat stack of clothing.
"Go put this on." He requested, picking up half of the stack and placing it in her hands. Curiously, she set it down on the couch and began to sift through the items, which were all still warm from creation. She held up a pair of black leggings, a blue ruffled skirt and a black sports top.
“Great...” She grumbled through a half smirk.
"Now I have to pretend not to be impressed."

"Of course I can pick a lock, that's bad guy basics." He twiddled with the locked door later as the pair stood outside one of the designated rehearsal areas. Finally, with a click, it opened and they quickly shuffled inside. After they had changed into what Toxic had described as aerodynamically suitable clothing for dancing practice. The duo had snuck down to find this space. They crept carefully, trying as much as possible to avoid any hotel staff or patrons. Luckily, Toxic had memorized the hotel blueprints earlier, and had devised the perfect route to take.

The walls of the room were lined with mirrors all around, and the matching black flexible sneakers they wore thudded ever so quietly against the smooth and glossy hardwood when they walked to the center of it. Neither could believe what they were about to do, it seemed absolutely ridiculous. Toxic pulled a small black box out of his pocket and in his hands, it unfolded into a sleek black laptop.

"Alright, entry dance is a waltz, which we are quite lucky about; as it’s a slow dance.” He explained as the pulled something else out of his pockets, a small black tube, no bigger than a cigarette. He clicked a button on the top of it and it extended into a neat little stand for his laptop. He showed her a basic video of  waltz steps and watched with amusement as she fumbled around, trying to repeat it, tripping over her own feet with nearly every step.

"No, you look like a horse in labor, like this." He set his laptop down and began to perform a perfect waltz box step. "1-2-3" "1-2-3" He counted aloud, without pause. Toxic moved like a cat, sure of every step, gracefully around and around.
"Ok, now you." He stopped and crossed his arms expectantly. The blond moaned in annoyance and tried again. After about 5 minutes of stumbling and lots of watered down curses, she managed to achieve the simple repetitive 3 step move, her arms extended in in the air as if dancing with a ghost, around and around she went. "Ok, now let's try this..." He paused, "Together." The Villain continued awkwardly, taking off his coat and gloves. Once his aura of glowing green radiation was no longer contained, it pulsated around him.

Toxic stepped closer, both sets of not entirely human hearts pounded nervously in their chests. He took a deep breath and she could tell that he was just as nervous. Standing this close, he towered over her, it was an invasion of personal space. Their powers teased at each other, her body absorbing some of his radiation, reducing the brightness of his glow. Nervously, he bit his lip and raised his hand, bringing it closer and closer until it was just centimeters away from her waist.

Galaxy Girl held her breath and they both jumped a little when he placed his hand on her side, their powers fully canceling out. She jerked back, shuddering, her hands going immediately to her shoulders in a pose of self-preservation, rubbing furiously at the goose bumps that had appeared on her skin. He stepped back as well, his full green aura returning.

"I'm sorry." She apologized, still rubbing her shoulders. "I'm just not used to the whole..." She started to explain. "Touching other people thing?" He finished for her. "Me neither, and frankly it's freaking me out." Said a clearly shaken up bad guy. "Right?!?" She nodded, glad not to be the only one.
This particular set was the kind that didn't touch other people, except each other- and of course, only when it involved beating up the other.  "It's just... I can't... I just..." She tried and failed to explain.

"I know exactly what you mean. It's weird." He shook his arms out, as if trying to rid himself of it. "We've got to though." Toxic reminded her, a tone of regret layering his words.  "Ok how about this? I'm going to stand still and I want you to just put your hands on me, so we can adjust to it." Offered Toxic. "What?" She asked, slightly confused at his suggestion. "Just get it over with." He closed his eyes and stood completely still. "What?" She asked again, unsure if he was actually serious." Instead of answering he snatched her wrists and pressed her right hand against his face, it hit with a quiet slap, his eyes still closed. "Ok..." She gulped loudly, raising her other hand and placing in gently on the opposite side of his face.

With bated breath, she slowly began tracing his face with her hand. She ran her fingers first against the crevices of his sharp cheekbones, his forehead, the bridge of his perfectly centered nose, and then across his eyelids. The hero's heart pounded fiercely inside her chest, as that all too familiar fear of hurting people with her accursed immense strength kicked in. His eyes were still shut tightly, raven eyebrows furrowed in concentration. She trailed down his neck, and heard him suck in a breath. Next, she placed her hand over the heart he so often claimed not to have, and found it beating just as furiously as her own, which was oddly comforting to her.

It took no genius to note that the two powerful people standing in the room were terrified by the feeling of the other’s hands on their skin. Her fingertips tingled, and she knew it wasn't from his radiation. Next the girl ran her hands up and down his slim, turtleneck wearing shoulders and arms until her heart beat evened itself out. "I'm good now, you?" She spoke up, dropping her hands to her sides, his green aura firing back up the second she broke contact. "Yeah, it wasn't as bad as I had calculated." He agreed as he opened his eyes. He took another deep breath and held out his hand.

His nemesis took it, and placed hers on his shoulder as he wrapped his other arm around her waist. "1-2-3" "1-2-3" "1-2-3” He counted off as they stepped along to a very old symphony waltz that played out from the speakers of his computer. Galaxy Girl stumbled and stepped on his feet with almost every other count. Grace had always been his strong point, not hers. Hello! That wasn’t surprising, considering the fact that she was a girl who punched through walls and lifted buildings; dainty wasn’t expected to be one of her qualities.

"I can do most of the work but you've got to help me here just a little!" He cried out in exasperation a few minutes later. "Stop looking at your feet!" He jerked her chin up for what seemed like the dozenth time.  Around and around they went for hours. Toxic kept doing most of the work, and sort of dragging her along with him. When they finally stopped, it felt like the room was still spinning.

Both were exhausted and their feet hurt badly. "Crap, it's almost dawn, we've got to get back to the room!" He cried out... As quietly as they could, the not-so-dynamic duo crept back to the elevator and at last, made it back to the suite. Galaxy Girl was drained mentally and physically, and could swear that she could still hear Toxic endlessly counting off "1-2-3's" in her mind. Without even changing she flipped face first onto her soft bed and was out like a light smashed by a bat.

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A/N:
Howdy y'all.
I'm currently in the great state of texas visiting some family, but dont worry, I haven't forgotten about all you cowpokes (sorry, I may be getting way to Into this) and I will be posting 2 more chapters tommorow as well, to make up for my recent slack.
Hope you guys had a nice holiday season. Mine wasn't the best, but it has really given me motivation to make next year better for myself.

Love you all,
-QueenOfGeeks