This has had some revision, but it could use some more.  I would 
appreciate any comments at all on this.  I mean that.  Any comments.  
Anything.  This is the story listed beside my name for the Fanfic panel 
at A-kon, and I'd like to have it up on r.a.a.c. by then.

   DISCLAIMER: I don't usually write lemons.  This is the only lemon I've 
written, and the lemon scenes are in it only because I felt they were 
necessary for the story.  I was no more explicit than I thought the story 
warranted.

   NOTE: _BIG_ note:  I am not, have never been, and will never be involved 
in the profession mentioned in this fanfic!  (It's a STORY, not an 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY!!)  Just so you know.
   Enjoy or something.




                       Desperate Measures

                               by
        
                          Joyce Meadows

   Lita is the property of that brilliant woman who writes Sailor Moon.  
Nabiki is a product of Rumiko Takahashi's glorious mind.  Matt and the 
other guy are just extras, pretty much.  Please read my disclaimer 
above.  Yes, read it again.


    "You're early," Matt said.
    "I know."  After a quick hello kiss, Lita stepped into his apartment and 
set the bowl of stir-fry on the table.  As Matt poured the drinks, she 
started spooning the noodles and vegetables onto plates.  Suddenly her 
wrist hit the side of the serving bowl, tipping it, and she cursed as 
half of the food spilled onto the carpet.
    "Hey, it's all right," said Matt, tearing off some paper towels.  
    "Sorry..."
    "What's wrong, Lita?  You don't seem like yourself."
    "Bills."  Lita's brow furrowed.  "My inheritance is almost gone."
    "You haven't found a job yet?"
    "No.  Just the little temporary ones that don't pay anywhere near 
enough."
    Matt dropped the mess into the trash can.  "Don't worry about it, 
Lita-chan."
    "Don't worry?  I'm nearly broke!  I'll lose my apartment, and--"
    "Ssshh, sshh."  Matt hugged her, his hands still greasy.  "I know 
someone who may be able to give you a job.  It pays well and doesn't take 
up much time."
    Lita looked up.  "Are you sure?"
    "I'll have to talk to her, but I'm pretty sure."
    Lita smiled and leaned her chin on his chest.  He kissed her softly, 
then released her.
    As they ate, Lita told him about her latest encounter with the 
landlady, an old woman with a voice like fingernails on a chalkboard and a 
personality to match.  She had told him about this already, and they both 
knew it, but Matt let her say the words again to calm herself.
    They cleared the table, then Lita turned the faucet on to start 
filling the sink.  Matt stepped up behind her and kissed the back of her 
neck, sending tiny electric shivers along her back.
    Lita turned to face him, and they kissed full on the mouth, tasting 
slightly of soy sauce.  She let him lead her to the bed.
    As they sat there, pressing close to each other, Lita relaxed.  Matt 
would find her a job, and everything would be all right.  Matt could make 
anything all right.  Lita loved him, loved cooking for him, loved the way 
his hair never combed straight.  His hands moved over her shoulders, and 
she forgot her money problems.
    Matt gently pushed her down, leaning over her until she was on her 
back under him.  Lita slid her hands along his back.  His lips wandered 
from her mouth to her neck, and she drew in a sudden breath.  Matt ran 
one finger along the row of buttons on her blouse, then started undoing 
the top one.
    Lita tensed. They had been dating for barely over a week, and so far had 
done nothing more than kiss.  She wasn't sure she should let him go 
further.  Taking one hand off his back, she put it over the button in 
silent protest.  Matt kissed the back of her hand, then slid the tip of his 
tongue slowly along each finger before moving her hand aside.  This time 
she let him.  After all, she reasoned, it's just the shirt.  It's not 
like we're doing..._that_.
    Then all the buttons were undone and he pushed the shirt off her 
chest.  As Matt took his own shirt off, Lita's brain screamed warnings, but 
she ignored them.  Things wouldn't go too far.
    After a few more minutes, Matt pulled away and unzipped her skirt.  
No - this shouldn't happen.  This was too far.  She reached for the zipper 
and tried to sit up.  He caught her hand and pushed her back down.  
"Lita," he whispered into her ear. She closed her eyes, feeling his warm 
breath on her skin.  "What's wrong?"
    "I just - we - I mean, we shouldn't -"
    "Why not?"  He started kissing her ear.
    "We - I - it would..."  Lita could barely breathe, much less speak.  
She didn't have much resistance left, and she knew it.  Matt kissed her 
neck again, and she sighed.  
    Lita could hear her own pulse as she lifted her hips to let him slide 
the skirt off.  Moments later, his jeans were also on the floor, and the 
rest of their clothing soon followed.
    She now lay naked under him, tilting her head back into the 
pillow, deaf to any rational though.  As Matt's body pressed onto hers, 
she realized that he, too, was competely unclothed.
    Her mind cleared just enough to recognize the warning bells.  She 
should stop this, she shouldn't be doing this, this was too far, this was 
way too far.... She tensed again.
    Matt gently reached down to her thigh.  "It's okay," he whispered, 
his lips brushing her ear.
    Then it was happening.  One more thought spoke in Lita's brain: What in 
the world am I doing?
    But it was too late for that now.  So she turned her thoughts off 
completely, her eyes closed, letting Matt do what he would.  And as he 
pounded into her, Lita began to cry. 


    She woke before he did.  They had pulled the blanket over themselves  
and slept curled on their sides.  She lifted her head to look at the clock, 
then fell back onto the pillow, remembering.
    What was I thinking?  She closed her eyes, grinding her teeth.  I 
_wasn't_ thinking; that was the problem.  I should have stopped before 
the buttons, I should have said something, done something else....
    Lita turned her face into the pillow, which smelled faintly of her 
hairspray.  Well, what was done couldn't be undone.  
    Matt stirred in his sleep, tightening his arm around her.  She 
pressed closer to him, rubbing her still-puffy eyes.  She had continued 
crying long after Matt had fallen asleep.
    He is all I have now, she thought.  I've lost everything else.  I 
never thought I would do this....
    Matt stirred again and opened his eyes, then kissed Lita's bare 
shoulder.  She turned her head to smile at him.  He stroked her stomach, 
then moved his hand up toward her chest.  Lita recognized the look in his 
eyes and let him roll her onto her back.
    He's all I've got...she thought again.  I gave in once; I can't say 
'no' anymore.  Then his lips found her neck, and she closed her eyes in 
submission.


    After lunch, Lita washed the dishes while Matt made a phone call.
    "She'll be over in a little while," he said, walking into the kitchen.
    "Who?"
    "Nabiki.  She wants to meet you.  She may have a job opening."
    "Really?"  Lita pushed a lock of hair out of her face, leaving a thin 
line of soapsuds on her forehead.  "What sort of work?"
    "I'll let her explain that."  Matt leaned against the doorframe.  
"You know, I was thinking....You could move in with me.  We'd split the 
rent, and you'd be paying much less than what you're spending to have your 
own place."
    Lita blinked.  True, that would save her a lot of money.  But what 
about the Scouts?  Serena and the others often gathered at her apartment 
for ice cream, or cookies, or to watch tv.  It would be awkward to have 
them come over to Matt's.  Besides, no one else knew about...that...and 
she preferred to keep it that way.
    Matt stepped behind her and started rubbing her back.  "Well?"
    Lita shook her head, biting her lip.  "No, I think I'll keep mine for 
now."  Her voice was not entirely steady.
    "Okay, but at least take this."  Matt opened a drawer and took out a 
key.  "Here."  He dropped it into Lita's hand.
    Lita stared at the cold metal.  A key to his apartment....Her mind 
started to mull over what that might mean, but short-circuited when Matt 
started kissing her.
    They were on the bed, half undressed, when the doorbell rang.
    "Who is it?"  Matt called.
    "Tendo."
    "Come in."
    Lita reached for her shirt, but Matt stopped her.
    "She'll want to see us like this," he said, his voice slightly 
raspy.  "Trust me."  Lita's eyes widened, but she obeyed.
    A girl stepped into the room and took off her sunglasses.  "Tendo 
Nabiki," she said.  "You must be Lita."
    Nabiki walked to a chair near the bed, still looking at Lita, and 
sat.  After a quiet minute, she glanced at Matt.  "Please, Matt, 
continue.  Don't let me interrupt."
    Matt continued.
    Lita looked away, unsettled by Nabiki's flat, emotionless eyes. 
    "Hey, relax," Matt said.
    Lita closed her eyes.
  
   
    "You'll be well taken care of," said Nabiki.  She sat across the 
table from Lita and Matt.  "New clothes, car repairs, help with the bills 
- just let me know, and I can arrange something."
    "You're taking out a pretty big cut, though," Matt said.
    "Hey, we have to make a living, too."  Nabiki shrugged.  "I don't set 
the rates."
    "But how much do you think she could bring in?"
    Nabiki rested her elbows on the table and leaned her chin into her 
hands.  "She obviously doesn't really know what she's doing, but some 
clients like that.  And she's pretty...."
    While they talked about money, Lita stared at the tabletop.  They 
were discussing her like a piece of property - but then, that was about 
what the job amounted to.  Still, it was the best offer she'd gotten.... 
She shook her head.  No!  She couldn't do this!
    "Something wrong, Lita?"  Matt took her hand.
    "Yeah.  I, um, I don't know -"
    "Don't know if you're up to it?"  Nabiki said.  "Hey, everyone's 
nervous at first.  It just takes some getting used to.  Look, it's no 
different from what you've already done with Matt here."
    Lita looked at Matt.  "Doesn't it bother you that I would be, um, doing 
this?"
    Matt shook his head.  "No.  Just as long as you don't charge _me_."
    Nabiki smirked.  "But he's the _only_ one who gets freebies, Lita."
    "How much time would I have to spend...working?"
    "Ten hours a week, minimum.  Boss's requirements.  Past that, though, 
as many hours as you want, when you want."
    "But how do I find, um...."
    "Clients?  We refer them to you.  You can also look elsewhere if you 
want, but there's no need."
    Lita looked at Matt, then back at Nabiki, searching their faces for 
any help with the decision.
    "We'll start you out slow," said Nabiki.  "It won't take you long to 
get used to it."  Her pager beeped.  Nabiki looked at the number and 
stood.  "Mind if I use your phone, Matt?"
    He nodded.  Lita stared at the placemat while Nabiki talked.
    "What time?....Yes, eight is fine.  You know, we've got a new one you 
might like."  
    Lita looked up at her, shocked.  Nabiki looked back, her mouth 
smiling beneath her still eyes.
    "Of course.  Reddish-brown hair, tall.  Young, the way you like....I 
thought so.  Okay, she'll be there."  Nabiki dropped the receiver back 
into its cradle.  "You got your first job, kid."
    Lita stood, knocking over her chair.  "But I never agreed to this!"
    "You were about to.  I've seen lots of girls like you.  I've learned 
how to read them."
    Lita slowly righted her chair.  Was I really about to say yes? she 
thought.
    "You're meeting him at the Shiro Hotel at eight.  Do you know where 
that is?"
    "No," Lita said, numb.
    "I'll drive you, then.  Meet me out front at 7:45."  Nabiki left.


    Lita picked at the arm of the chair.  "I just don't think I 
can do this," she said.
    "Why not?" asked Matt.
    "It just....I mean, it's _that_.  I'm not -"
    "'Nice girls don't turn tricks?'" Matt said.  "It's not like that.  
Nabiki's got class, and her girls do, too."
    Only then did it occur to Lita to wonder how he knew Nabiki.
    "You're not going to be standing on a streetcorner," he continued.  
"She'll set you up with nice guys.  Nabiki won't do business with sickos."
    "But I'm _your_ girlfriend, not theirs!  No matter how nice they 
are, I'm not that way!"  Lita heard her voice tremble, and stopped.
    "Lita-chan."  Matt took her hands and pulled her up.  "It's going to be 
all right.  You don't have to do it if you don't want to.  But it does 
pay very well, and you really need money."
    She didn't answer.
    Matt put two fingers under her chin and lifted her face toward him.  
"Would I let you do anything that would hurt you?"
    Lita, already close to crying, whispered, "I guess you wouldn't..."
    "Well, I _know_ I wouldn't.  Okay?  Trust me."  He looked into her 
eyes for a minute more, then pulled her closer in a hug.  "Now let's go 
to your place and pick out some clothes."


    Nabiki drove up at 7:44.  Lita had stepped outside alone to wait, 
wearing the outfit Matt had chosen for her.
    "You're punctual," said Nabiki.  "Good."
    Lita fumbled with the seatbelt, fastened it.  She twisted the handle 
of her purse as she sat stiffly in the bucket seat.
    "How are you feeling?"
    Low.  Dirty.  Cheap.  Afraid.  "Fine."
    "This guy's gentle.  He likes to be the first to 'train' new ones."  
Nabiki glanced over at Lita.  "I used to give the girls training 
speeches, but they never helped as much as actually learning from a 
customer."
    Nabiki parked in front of the Shiro, ignoring the valet.  "Bad 
drivers, these," she said to Lita.  "They always scratch the cars."
    It was hard to breathe standing next to Nabiki in the glass 
elevator.  Lita twisted the hem of her blouse between two fingers.
    As the elevators clicked to a stop on the third floor, Nabiki made a 
final check of Lita.  "Fluff your hair out a bit more, " she instructed.  
The strands tickled Lita's face, unfamiliar out of their usual ponytail.
    Door 319 opened after one knock.  "Evening, Miss Tendo."  The man let 
his hand slide off the knob and wave to indicate the room.  "Come in, come 
in.  Can I get you a drink?"  Lita felt his eyes like caterpillars on 
her as she stepped past.  
    "Nothing for me, but Lita will have a Scotch."
    "No, I don't-" Lita started. 
    Nabiki elbowed her.  "Take it," she whispered.  "It'll help."
    Lita sipped, burning her throat, as Nabiki and the man briefly 
discussed payment. 
    "Call me when you're done," Nabiki said.  She said something more to 
the man and left.
    Then Lita was alone in a hotel room, a cup of alcohol in her hand, 
with a man who had to be at least thirty.
    "Come here, sweetie," he said, sitting down on the bed.  Lita stepped 
over and sat down beside him, letting him take her drink and set it on 
the nightstand.  She put her hands down flat on the bedspread.
    "Tendo tells me you're new."  He ran a finger under her ear and down 
along her neck.  Lita nodded mechanically.  "Well, let's see what I can 
teach you."
    Lita closed her eyes as his face approached her blouse.  Tuggings on 
the fabric told her he was unbuttoning it.  With his teeth? she 
wondered.  Then his hands touched her.  Lita wanted to scream, to run, 
but couldn't.  I have to stay, she thought.  It'll be okay.  But her 
thoughts did nothing to calm her.  She just wanted to be away, gone, out 
of this whole mess, away from the sick feeling in her chest, away from the 
ice running up her spine.  Just as it seemed the anger and confusion 
would make her crack, she separated.
    Her body sat on the bed being fondled by the man, while the mind 
wandered away, through old streets remembered from somewhere, past dusty 
grass prying up through sidewalk cracks, beside empty buildings.
    As her body responded to the man's activity, Lita looked up at old 
windows, throwing rocks with the other kids.  Glass broke.


    A couple of hours later, the body dressed, collected money, and went 
down to the lobby to call Nabiki.  The mind joined it as she hung up, and 
suddenly Lita was sick.  She made it into the bathroom in time to hit the 
rim of a toilet.  She threw up a second time, eyes watering, then sucked 
in deep, ragged breaths.  Lita spit.  Slowly she stood and rinsed her 
mouth out at the sink.  Must have been the Scotch, she thought, wiping 
her face with paper towels.  The Scotch.


    "How'd it go?"  Nabiki asked.
    "Fine."  Lita counted the money, did the math, and handed some bills 
to Tendo.
    "Good girl."  Nabiki swerved a little to avoid a drifting truck.  "I 
have another job tomorrow night, if you want it."
    Pieces of glass fell around the children as they laughed and 
reached for more stones.
    "Sure," the body said.





-joyce, Disciple of Kasumi
asking for C&C