"THANK YOU AND GOODNIGHT!"
The words were followed by an outbreak of applause that lasted for several minutes and was loud enough to deafen the patrons of the theatre an d the performers on the stage. Specifically, J. Daniel Atlas, who stood proudly in the middle of the stage with his hands in the air and an easy smirk on his face.
His last show of his first year of professional magic had just drawn to a close and as the audience drew an end to their ovation, the grand showman left the stage.
He had done a lot in the last three years. Finished school, made a career… gained a family. The thought had a soft smile growing on his face as he left the wings of the theatre and headed to the bustling depth of backstage.
"Hey watch it!" he snapped at two backstage crew who bustled by him with some of his equipment, damn near knocking it into a wall as they did so.
"Sorry Mr. Atlas," the superior of the two quickly apologised and they more carefully, continued on their way.
"You don't have to be so mean y'know."
The voice from behind him had Danny spinning around. Henley Reeves smirked at him in amusement. He was such a control freak.
"Henley," Daniel greeted his 'assistant' who was still dressed in her tiny, sparkling outfit.
"How does it feel?" Henley asked. "Finishing your first year?"
"Good," Daniel quickly answered. "It feels good."
"Just good?" Henley asked. "You certain you aren't feeling… anything… more than good?"
Daniel smirked at her, an amused glint in his easy. "Goodnight Henley."
Henley sighed slightly, though the smile remained on her face. "Night Danny."
She turned from the man and walked away, stopping by her tiny side-stage dressing room to change from her show outfit which she carefully hung up on the outside of her door. Opening up her expensive, designer leather bag, she shuffled the multiple pairs of handcuffs out the way to pull out her black slacks, white shirt and black blazer.
She quickly pulled the pieces on, sweeping her red hair out of her collar when she was done before carefully pulling on her pair of leather gloves, the tight feeling of warmth around her palms a great comfort.
Gathering her stuff back into her bag, Henley left her dressing room, heading back to the main part of back stage to grab one last thing - her robe - before she headed out.
It was at her space in side of stage that she heard it. An excited shout which had her head cocking to identify its source. It took her no time at all to spot the brown haired boy running from the back door and barrelling… straight into J. Daniel Atlas's waist.
Henley expected a shout. A 'watch-where-you're-going-kid' or something along those lines.
The smile, hair ruffle and laugh didn't even cross her mind.
She watched in mild amazement as the small boy drew his head away from its place, buried in Daniel's chest and looked up in wonder at the man. Small arms clung round Danny and seemed to never want to let go. In turn, Danny had one arm around the boy's shoulders and the other resting on the boy's hair.
The boy said something to Danny, excited and fast-paced and Danny laughed in turn, replying to the boy in a much calmer tone with a genuine smile on his face.
Not the cocky smirk that adorned it so often, Henley realised. But a real, genuine, soft and heartfelt smile on those handsome features.
The sight made Henley smile her own real, genuine smile, confused at the proceedings though she was, and feeling like she'd intruded on a private moment, Henley quickly grabbed her robe and headed to the stage door.
Even as she entered the brisk night, thankful for her warm gloves, she couldn't help but shake the feeling.
The brown-haired boy…
He seemed oddly…
Familiar.
