Shades of Gray (Part One)

Sylar and Elle, two completely different- yet similar- people, very rarely get along. But when their relationship is put to the test in various assignments, they connect on a level neither can describe. Elle, a young, adventurous, flirty, and dangerous woman is willing to take many risks to impress her father. While Sylar, a dark, mysterious, and terribly evil man, only works for the company in order to covet the abilities of others. Recently, they were sent on an assignment as partners, and had to travel to a crowded city in Mexico.

"I don't understand why we can't just go to a hotel," says Sylar, who is covered in sweat and dirt.

"We don't have the money. Neither does the company," responds Elle, who is busy reading a map. "Why does this stupid map have to be in Spanish?"

Sylar rolls his eyes and sits on an old bench, despite Elle's insistence to keep moving.

"What're you doing? We need to get to the motel. It's only a few miles from here," Elle insists.

Sylar crosses his legs and smiles sarcastically up at Elle. "Well, darling. Why don't you just show me where we're heading?"

Elle sits down next to him and angrily folds up the map. She stares at the ground as Sylar picks up the map, which is sitting next to her. "I know where this is..." He laughs. "How could you not know where this is?"

"Shut up," she groans.

Sylar stands back up and grabs her by the hair, causing her to let out a little screech. She rips it back out of his hand and squints at him furiously, then stands up. "I hate you."

Sylar and Elle continue on to the motel, and decide to stop for a quick meal at a small taco shop. They sit and look at each other awkwardly, until their food arrives. Elle downs four tacos, and they keep walking.

"You have quite an appetite for such a small girl..." Sylar says as he watches her feet stir up the dirt.

"And you have quite a small appetite for such a large boy," Elle says sarcastically.

Sylar smiles and looks up. "You've got to be kidding."

"What?" She looks ahead. "Where are we?"

He throws the map to the ground and frowns. "This is our motel."

They walk in and get a room, and Elle requests only one bed, though Sylar yells at her not to. They go to the torn up and bug-infested room, and Elle throws herself onto the creaky bed. Sylar slowly walks in, watching the ants crawl up the peeling wallpaper.

"I can't stay here," he scowls.

Elle smiles and throws a pillow to the ground. "You know, I never saw you as being the kind of guy that's afraid of bugs."

He walks over, angrily and lays down as far away from Elle as he can get. He kicks of his dirty shoes and closes his eyes without saying a word. Elle lays down smiling and looks curiously at the cracked ceiling...