I don't own them (sad but true). Deeply inspired by "As time goes by".
no one can deny
So maybe he had had one too many drinks and maybe staying in Vegas had triggered off some old, familiar feeling of refuge. There were enough reasons to explain this.
No, Danny had to correct himself – which was abnormal and maybe he really should have stopped after the third Martini – it was not enough to explain this. Especially not to the one person he always had to explain himself to.
Watching the fireworks show at The Stratosphere from the loggia, he had been thinking of that one time at the Flamingo where they had- well, of course it had been bold and dangerous, but the penguins hadn't minded. Or the very first time scamming their way into a Las Vegas hotel. So young, they had been so young. And clueless, almost ruining it, almost blowing their cover, all because of the mini bar.
He had felt it, gaze settling on the neon lights, felt it with every inch of his skin, absorbing all the memories, all the queens of clubs, all the whispered Thought So Toos, he had been breathing popcorn and whiskey and chocolate (caramel, almond, nougat, cinnamon, vanilla, but not orange, never orange) and only hearing the voice agreeing and reminisce and, oh, remember that one time at-
"-Mandalay Bay where you said you wouldn't dress at all until I got you a decent suit?"
He had turned around, grinning, expecting to see a crooked smile and the slow batting of the lashes, raised eyebrows, finger resting on his lower lip...
And then he had seen Tess.
Not smiling.
Not moving.
Not saying anything, or maybe she had, but he couldn't remember.
And then she had been gone.
Behind him colourful explosions were filling the night and Danny thought of cold glass resting against smooth skin.