Prompt from anonymous: "A singer in a smoky room, the smell of wine and cheap perfume." Two star crossed lovers meet in the city of sin. (Rachel/Santana AU)

This one got away from me. I blame Santana's outfit for "Smooth Criminal" and Lea Michele's existence.

"I don't have time for this, Sam."

"This one is really good," he said, tipping his hat up to look at Santana. She was as well-dressed as always, a black fedora sitting on top of her long wavy hair, a small red feather attached to it, a bright color that matched the pocket square in her jacket. Sam could see the edge of her suspenders as she brought her hands to her waist to glare at him.

"You said that about the last one and she was shit," she said. She walked across her office, pulling the blinds on the windows up. The casino was busy, busier than usual, showgirls wandering around between their sets and keeping the men entertained.

"You have to replace her eventually," Sam muttered. "You need someone who can sing and dance and lead the girls."

"No one can replace Brittany," she replied, pressing her hand to the window. Brittany should have been down there, helping her build up business. Brittany was better with people than she would ever be.

"She's not coming back, yanno," Sam said. " Schuester made sure of that. What you have to do now is beat him, show him who's boss. And you start by stealing his customers; leave him penniless begging down the strip for handouts," he grinned. "Wait 'til he can't pay back his debts, let Tony take care of him."

"Yeah, alright. But if she's not the one," Santana warned, leaving her threat unfinished because she could (Sam knew better than to cross her.)

"So let me guess this straight: you expect me to believe that you found some great talent here? This bar probably hasn't done good business since before the Prohibition."

"Just give her a chance," Sam rolled his eyes. He pulled his coat off and hung it over the back of his seat, dropping his hat on the table in front of him. He raised his hand and signaled for a waiter. "I'll get you a glass of wine."

"No thanks," she scoffed. "They probably only got the cheap stuff in this dump. I can tell from the way it smells in here."

Sam shrugged, ordering a glass for himself. "Suit yourself."

Eventually, Santana gave in and agreed to have a glass of wine. Right about the time her drink arrived, the lights dimmed and a spotlight lit up in the center of the small stage. A man sat down at the piano silently, glasses perched on his face and no expression to speak of.

And then she came out, a small brunette who barely managed to take up any space on the stage but still somehow sucked all of the air out of the room and commanded everyone's attention.

Santana studied her quickly, taking a sip of her wine. She was beautiful, her hair slightly curled around her face, a long red dress clinging to her body in a practically indecent way. She had full lips and big brown eyes and Santana was pretty sure that she didn't even need to hear this girl sing to make her decision because if she sang only half as good as she looked…

She introduced herself as Rachel Berry and started her set with a quick tune, striding across the stage and catching the audience's attention. She spun and she danced playfully before she segued seamlessly into a collection of ballads.

At one point, she sauntered through the audience, ruffling men's hair and pulling on the ties. She knew how to work an audience, that was for sure.

Santana finished off her second glass of wine and had started on her third by the time Rachel made it to her and Sam. To her surprise, Rachel draped herself across Santana, slipping an arm around her shoulders and inside the back of her shirt. Her hands were warm and soft on her skin and Santana finished her third glass of wine quickly Rachel sang directly to her for almost an entire song, continuing to brush her fingers over the back of Santana's neck. If she had been wearing one of her ties, she would have loosened it.

She leaned down and kissed Santana's cheek before she stood back up, tipping Santana's hat off her head and playfully winking as she dropped it atop her own head and sauntered up to the stage.

It was the kind of thing that would get the two of them in a lot of trouble if they were in any place but Las Vegas and she were anyone but Santana Lopez.

She leaned over to Sam, stealing his glass of wine and taking a sip. She nodded at him firmly.

"Yeah?" he smiled.

"Yeah," Santana said. She dropped a few bills on the table as she stood. "But get her some new perfume and a better haircut first."

He wrapped an arm around Rachel's shoulders as she stepped offstage, pulling her into her dressing room quickly. His hair was slicked back off of his face and his tie was loose. He smelled like sweat and perfume that wasn't hers and she knew exactly what he had been doing.

"So?" he asked, grinning easily.

Rachel shrugged. "They're hooked."

Will nodded, pulling her closer. "And why wouldn't they be? You're a star, kid."

Rachel pulled Santana's stolen hat off and ran her fingers around the brim. "Right," she said quietly. She bit her bottom lip.

"You know what to do."

Rachel nodded.