Mal laughed, high and light "Dancing Mon Cher, you have to have danced with all of us" it was worse than he'd ever imagined. The three descended on him, a predatory glint in their eyes, "Oh no, I don't dance" he backed up so much he bumped into Robert.
"Sorry man we all had to do" he pushed Arthur forwards into the others hold, ignoring his litany of 'No seriously guys!' and 'I'm not kidding!' they dragged him forward onto the dance floor.
"Lou!" Ari called out to the band, who were just packing up "We need to initiate Arthur, give us a tune would you?" The large man behind the piano, gave a thumbs up
"You got little lady" the band stopped unpacking, and in lightning speed were playing an upbeat jazzy song that sped through Arthur's veins. Ari was first it seemed, she pulled him into the center of the dance floor and started spinning with him, Arthur tried desperately to remember his steps as he spun her out and in. For the most part he managed to keep up with Ariadne's fast pace, the music easing the tension and insecurity out of him, until he was smiling happily. Mid way through the second song, Rob cut in and Ariadne moved to dance with Mal, as he began to move with Rob he saw out of the corner of his, eye Maggie dancing with Dom. The couples moved around the dance floor, Rob led the two of them since Arthur still hadn't found his dancing feet.
It moved on like that, Arthur dancing a Charleston with Maggie, a foxtrot with Mal and a less than smooth dance around the floor with Dom, he felt light and happy as he moved with each of his partners. At one point Yusuf emerged and since there was an odd number Rob bailed out to clear away and clap at the side. Midway through his dance with Yusuf as he was about to pass him on to an eager looking Ariadne when Mal's voice called out "Eames! Stop staring like a creeper and come join us in Arthur's initiation!"
Arthur looked up to see Eames on the balcony to the side of the stage – Jesus how big was this place! – Watching them with a fond expression on his face, he shook his head.
"I'll join you in a little while, I'm just finishing off something's"
Mal tutted him and moved to dance with Arthur again "That means never" she clarified. Honestly, Arthur was a little bit disappointed, there'd been some part of him that might have been looking forward to a dance with Eames. Eventually the others got tired started to vacate the dance floor, the band packed up and left, Ariadne said her goodbyes claiming she walked home as her house was just across the street, she didn't refuse however when a sheepish Yusuf asked to walk her home, y'know, 'just to be safe'. Mag's just sort of disappeared and Dom and Mal also left, Mal giving him a kiss on the cheek like she always did and Dom a firm handshake and as a welcome to the family of sorts.
Eventually only he and Rob were left, as Rob explained they didn't hire cleaners so they had a rota, which roughly translated to whoever was sober enough at the end of the night to do it. They spent a few minutes cleaning but after a few badly hidden yawns from Rob, Arthur said he would clear the rest.
"It's fine" he assured Rob for the fifth time "Seriously go home, you look exhausted"
"I just feel bad sticking you with this on your first day. But…" Arthur waved him off
"Go home Rob" the other man gave him a grateful smile as he grabbed his coat off the coat rack and made his way out, offering Arthur a friendly goodbye as he left. Arthur sighed, rolling his shoulders and picking up the broom next to him, he continued to sweep across the Emporiums giant floor. When he thought about it, he probably should've be more worried about the fact he was pretty sure he was now in love with this new world he'd found himself in, considering he could probably end up in a cell next to Alex because of it, but he couldn't find it in his heart to care. He was tired and achy, but this had still been, hands down on of the best days of his life, the fact he was sort of wanted now by a giant crime lord with machine gun violin cases, drifted to the back of his mind as he rthymically swept across the floor, humming lightly to himself.
"Your still here love?" Arthur jumped slightly as Eames' voice startled him. The older man stood at the edge of the dance floor, hands in those ridiculous tweed pockets, hair disheveled and looking far more handsome than someone at three in the morning should've. He strode over to Arthur who realized he was still clutching the broom to his chest, he relaxed as Eames stopped in front of him, an amused smile tugging at his lips "Again, your still here love?" Arthur blinked, surprised
"Oh yeah, um Rob looked like he was about to fall over so I said I'd take care of the cleaning" something unreadable crossed Eames' face
"That was good of you" the air around them grew a little heavy, and Arthur suddenly found it a little difficult to breath, caught in Eames' gaze. He coughed and looked away, furiously sweeping.
"Yeah well It's the least I could do, your clearly a tyrant working us so hard" he teased, behind him he heard Eames chuckle
"So it seems you almost got yourself initiated" Arthur frowned, turning back to Eames
"Almost?" a hint of self-consciousness became visible behind that charming bravado
"You haven't danced with me yet darling" Arthur blushed, remembering his words on the dance floor 'I'd dance with you all night if I could'. Ok so maybe meeting Eames eyes hadn't been the best plan, he felt like a teenager at his school dances all over again
"You don't have to do that" he muttered, Eames took a step forward, putting an arm around Arthur's waist and drawing him closer to his chest, until he had to tilt his head slightly to meet Eames' eyes.
"Nonsense" Eames breathed, "the rules state you have to dance with everyone pet" he linked his other hand with Arthurs and brought them up, Arthur almost automatically put his free hand on Eames' shoulder.
"We haven't got any music" he pointed out
"We have you pet, the tune you were humming" he clarified at Arthur's confused sound "Why don't you just keep up that"
"It's not really music Eames"
"It's enough" the other man assured him, so Arthur hummed the lullaby Mal had taught him from her home, she claimed it was the one her mother used to sing to her to get her to sleep, on nights when the nightmares haunted him she would be there to soothe him with it. Eames started to move them around, they danced slowly so Arthur never struggled with the steps, it was so calming after the previous fast pace dancing, eventually they moved closer, so whenever Arthur breathed his chest touched Eames.
"How are you coping love?" the other man asked, Arthur chuckled and looked up at him
"I can't hum if you ask questions" Eames smiled slightly
"I'd much rather hear your lovely voice, though your humming is enchanting" Arthur laughed happily muttering liar under his breath.
"Just want to make sure your not overwhelmed love" Arthur sighed
"I should be" he knew that "but so far I'm fine, this has actually been a great day, creepy guys earlier aside" he felt the grip on his hip tighten slightly.
"No ones going to hurt you Arthur" the hand rubbed soothing circles on his hip "I promise you" the sincerity and assurance in Eames' voice blew away any lingering doubt.
"I know" he whispered, they continued to move around the floor, swaying gently. Arthur's head eventually came to rest on Eames' shoulder as they danced ever closer, Arthur renewing his humming. "This is insane though" he knew Eames got that he was talking about more than his situation.
"I know love"
"I mean" he breathed against Eames' jacket "We don't even really know each other" Eames breathed out deeply, humming in confirmation.
"Sometimes these things don't make sense, I tend not to question" he summarized
"And that gets you by does it?" Arthur murmured in response, Eames chuckled, a thing Arthur felt deep in his chest.
"Why yes darling it does" Arthur huffed in disbelief, Eames stopped them for a moment, tilting Arthur's face up with his thumb
"Arthur" he breathed, he leaned forward until his lips brushed Arthur's forehead in the lightest caress, Arthur sighed contentedly. Eames leaned back and Arthur laid his head again on his shoulder, they stayed like that for a long time, just moving together, Arthur humming as they swayed across the dance floor.
Ha it's finally up! Sorry for the teasing! I did think about putting in a kiss but I liked the innocence of it, just a little bit more teasing promise!