Tessa's POV
The second I made it down the stairs, I felt a pair of hands grab me and pull me around the corner. Before I could even gasp Henley was in front of me already talking a mile a minute. "What was that? And what is going on between you and Danny lately? And don't play dumb I noticed, hell even Jack noticed" she lectured me, barely taking a break to breathe between questions let alone answer.
"I don't know, I don't know and really even Jack's noticed?" I replied back. Henley simply nodded her head looking at me pitifully. "argh it's all so complicated" I moaned, running a hand through my hair. "As if this whole eye thing isn't stress full enough I have to add a complicated Atlas to the equation"
'Ladies and gentlemen the savoy management welcome you to tonight's special performance, The Five Horsemen Act II" I fiddled nervously with the edge of jacket, pulling it straight over and over, as I peeped out from the curtain. "Unlike traditional performances the horsemen encourage you to film, call your friends, upload, stream and tweet this show freely. Thank you the show will begin in a few minutes. The crowd was filing in, couples and groups, excitedly chatting as they made their way to their seats.
"You'll do great" came the quite voice in my ear. I jumped around at the noise, not hearing anyone sneak up. Jumping around, I came nose to nose with Danny. Great, the one person I was trying to drive out from my mind. I had to focus after all. I nodded numbly, turning my attention to the quickly filling seats.
"Don't be nervous" he tried again, hand sliding down my back. I closed my eyes, trying to block him out. Nope, that only intensified his touch, making me shiver.
"Show time lovebirds" Jack drawled slipping past us, a smirk gracing his features. I nodded, sliding my grin into place, searching for Merritt in the darkness. Spotting his signature outline, hat firmly in place, I slipped out of Danny's grasp, heading to my marker. Unfortunately this placed be between Merritt and Atlas, meaning I wouldn't escape him for long. Breathing deeply all the lights in the theatre went out.
"Arthur Tressler Presents; Jack Wilder, Henley Reeves, Merritt McKinney, Tessa Lawrence and Daniel Atlas" Each of our spotlights lighting up, each of us giving a small flash of our personalities, Jack's smirk, Henley's flirty smile, my grin, Merritt's knowing look and Danny's smug smirk. "The Five Horsemen" Lights lit up around the theatre as the audience applauded. All of us exchanging grins, Danny holding my gaze just long enough to make the butterflies burst back into full force. Danny dropped my gaze with a wink as he turned back to the audience.
"Thank you" Atlas clapped his hands together, the showman once more. "We'd like to single out a two people, a man and a woman to whom we'd like to dedicate tonight's performance", he called, raising his hand to the balcony.
"FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes and the lovely if somewhat inexperienced Interpol agent Alma Drey" Henley jeered, as they spotlights spun around to show the agents, cringing in their seats.
"Yeah Agent Rhodes has personally vowed to quote 'nail us'" Yelled Jack, his Brooklyn accent adding an edge to his voice, his posture filled with sarcasm.
"And we encourage him to do so" I added, throwing my own taunt to the agitated agents.
"If he has the brains…or the fur" mocked Merritt with a sly smile, causing some of the audience to clap and laugh.
"What is magic" Danny interrupted the crowd, drawing their attention, precisely back to where he wanted. Himself. "Our argument, nothing but targeted deception. So I want you to look, look as closely as possible, because the tricks you are about to see may not seem connected but we assure you they are. Is what follows a hundred different tricks or is it one giant illusion?" Danny spoke in a hypnotic voice, slowly edging backwards as we came to stand behind him. The lights faded to darkness as the crowd cheered and I felt a hand reach for mine, pulling me off the stage quickly. I ran with Danny as the crowd cheered, barely having enough time to grab fluffy from a stagehand before the box lit up in the middle of the now empty stage. Our cue to make our way back to the floor.
I breathed in, no longer nervous; I was fully in my element when performing. "And now for the oldest trick in the book" I called out, coming stand beside the trick box poor fluffy was about to go in. "Danny if you wouldn't mind opening the box and showing everyone that it is completely empty" Danny picked up the box twirling it and showing its emptiness. "I'm going to take sweet little fluffy here and put him inside this mystery box". Leaning down to place the bunny in the box, I saw Danny throw me a reassuring grin; even he had a soft spot for the bunny. Danny closed the lid with his trademark flourish.
"And now you will say the magic words" he stated reaching into his jacket pocket.
"Abracadabra" I played along grinning.
"And I will wave this magic wand for no reason" he joked, throwing the toy wand over his shoulder, much to audiences amusement. It even made me giggle a little. "And Fluffy has magically vanished before your eyes" he threw the box open, both of us stepping back, hands raised in mock surprise. While the audience cheered Danny and I moved closer to each to each other. Shifting our attention to Bradley, seating on the second level, camera in hand. As Danny threw him a wink I turned my focus back to our audience.
"Now we are going to debunk a few magic myths this evening. And we all know fluffy is in fact alive and well" I started, Danny moving to the box once more and carefully pulling the trick back down. "And Fluffy has miraculously appeared" I cheered leaning down to scoop the rabbit up in my arms.
"As has the mirror, which makes the box only appear as if it is empty" Danny continued, flipping the mirror to reflect the audience.
As the audience laughed and cheered. Danny bowed and threw the crowd a smirk before disappearing from the stage. I giggled and stalked forward, fluffy in my arms. I grinned when I came to the front of the stage, facing my audience. I pulled fluffy closer to my chest.
"Now we've all heard of pulling the rabbit out of the hat" I started as the audience began to quieten. "But has anyone heard of pulling a hat out of a rabbit?" I lifted fluffy up in front of my chest, pouring all my concentration into the illusion as I flipped fluffy into a top hat. The audience clapped and cheered, as I took my bow, careful of how I held the hat, before skipping off stage.
Once I reached the wings I left out a breath, noticing Danny was waiting for me. Dropping the illusion I snuggled fluffy to my chest. "You were great!" I exclaimed while patting his fluffy ears.
"I know" smirked Danny, leaning against one of the walls.
"I was talking to the rabbit" I giggled as his smug look fell. "But you weren't bad either" I added.
"The crowd loves your illusions" he continued, throwing an arm around my waist as we continued further backstage. I blushed, hoping the darkness would hide it.
"I have a feeling their going to like the next one better" I laughed, leaning into his side. We stopped when we reached Henley and Jack, joining them to watch Merritt's mass hypnosis for a minute.
I sighed, looking down at the cute bunny in my arms. "He'll be fine" Danny whispered into my hair, half hugging me.
"I know" I nodded, pushing a stray curl behind my ear. " I just want to make sure he goes to a good home, not just any stage hand who thinks they want a souvenir of the horsemen" I muttered, turning to look at him. He nodded, his brow scrunched in thought.
"Come on" he grabbed my hand suddenly, pulling me through the backstage to one of the doors. I allowed myself to be half pulled, running with heels and a bunny slows you down.
"Where are we going" I whispered as he pulled me down a corridor to another set of doors. He grinned back at me before motioning for me to be quiet as he pulled one door open. Moving next to him I saw it was a door into the audience.
"Pick someone" he whispered, motioning to the darkened audience who had yet to notice us.
"What?" I half whispered, half yelled back.
"Pick someone you think is an animal lover. Someone who would love a rabbit. Find Fluffy a good home" he motioned to all the full seats. I bit my lip and scanned the audience, wishing I had Merritt's talent as I searched for Fluffy's new owner.
"There I whispered, pointing to a mother with two children on the end of a row. Danny smiled and nodded, nudging me to go. I hugged fluffy to my chest, giving him one last kiss before I made my way to the small family. They didn't notice me until I crouched down next them, tapping the mother on the shoulder.
"You're our lucky winners" I exclaimed to the children, "Do you think you guys could take care of Fluffy here for me. He's in need of a new home. "I motioned to the rabbit in my arms. The kids, grinned, reaching out to pet him, before turning to their mother, laying on the puppy dog eyes. "Please" they chanted, the surprised mother simply nodded, and before I knew it fluffy was out of my arms, huddled, with his new owners already gushing over him. "Thanks" I whispered to the mother before dashing back to the doors. Danny pulled it further open so I could slip in next to him.
"Better than being a souvenir?" he asked, still watching the family and their latest addition.
"Much better. Thank you" I whispered, squeezing his arm as I leaned up to kiss his cheek. As I pulled away Danny spun around to face me. Suddenly I noticed how close we were in this small space. How good he looked in those suits. He was so close I could feel his breath in my hair. We stared at each other, our eyes flicking over each other's faces, before Danny slowly started to lean in. He stepped forward, putting even less distance between us. His hand reaching up into my curls, causing me to tilt my head up to his. Slowly moving closer I held my breath, watching him smile slightly. Just as I closed my eyes I felt a hand drop onto my shoulder.
"Ten minute warning" a stage hand exclaimed as he darted past, snapping us out of it. We smiled nervously at each other. "Perfect timing" he muttered, closing his eyes in frustration.
"Come on" I giggled, reaching for his hand. "the show waits for no man" I added, pulling him behind me back down the corridor, just as Henley came off the stage, grinning at Jack as he started to make his way on. She stopped when she came near us, her eyes instantly snapping to our joined hands. She threw a look at me, eyes wide in excitement, as we walked past her to props. I grinned back at her over my shoulder. "Details" she mouthed to me, I grinned, mouthing "Later" back.
Standing side stage I watched as Danny made hundreds of bubbles levitate in the air above the stage.
"Got anything you want to tell me sweetheart?" Merritt leaned over my shoulder, "Or too busy watching Mr Control freak work his magic?" he taunted, chuckling at his own witty remarks. I glared back at him before returning my gaze to the stage waiting for Danny's signal.
Merritt simply stood back watching me. It was comforting to have Merritt around, as much as a pain in the ass he could be I always found his presence reassuring. "For the record" he added leaning closer, "I told you so" his voice smug. I simply rolled my eyes and smiled, too busy with my conversation with Merritt I almost missed Danny's signalling for me. Right when I needed to come on he made all the bubbles simultaneously disappear, causing the audience to applaud once more.
Quickly I made my way on stage, ending up diagonally across from Danny as he appeared to create a large shimmering bubble form his bare hands. I nodded minutely, focusing on keeping the illusion of the bubble up. This trick took a lot of effort, if we got distracted for even a second I could fall two stories to the floor. Danny smiled reassuringly and I began my run up, as I reached Danny he appeared to throw the bubble over me.
Floating above the audience, spinning and posing I began to get nervous as I neared the theatre's extravagant chandelier. What if Danny hadn't made it in time? I tried to find him below, but the spinning made it hard to focus. The bubble came too close to the chandelier and before I was ready it burst with a loud 'pop'. I screamed as I fell before landing in a pair of strong arms. "I've got you" came Danny's voice near my ear. I grinned up at him as the audience clapped and cheered, rising from their seats. Laughing and smiling we turned to the audience waving as they continued to applaud.