"Sophie, what are you looking at?" Parker asked, not being able to miss the smile on Sophie's face as she looked at her phone.
"Hardison, how do I put a picture from my phone on the screen?" Sophie asked, gesturing at her phone.
"I have taught ya'll how to do this so, so many times. It's like my words go in one ear and out the other," Harison rambled. Sophie just handed him her phone, Hardison pulling up what Sophie was trying to get on screen. Hardison, Parker, and Sophie all stared at the screen, Ale's picture appearing on the TV.
"Wow. She looks…amazing," Hardison whistled, Parker shooting him a glare. She wasn't sure why his comment made her upset, but it had. But she did have to admit, Ale looked beautiful. There were two pictures, one of Ale from the front, and one from the back.
"Doesn't she? And so much older, too. I swear, that girl becomes a better grifter by the minute. She could be sixteen or thirty years old," Sophie smiled.
"Why is she so dressed up?" Parker asked, Sophie getting even more excited.
"Quinn is taking her dancing," Sophie sang. Parker didn't know why Sophie was so excited, considering it was dancing and Sophie wasn't the one going, but she couldn't help but get excited too.
"They are going to have sex!" Parker yelled, since she found out recently that that's what people who liked each other did. Hardison's eyes widened, Sophie looking at Parker with a shocked expression.
"I was watching TV," Parker started, about to explain herself.
"Don't go any further, Mama," Hardison said, Sophie laughing.
"You don't say things like that, Parker. But I do think they will have a lovely evening," Sophie smiled, the door to the suite opening, Nate and Eliot coming through the door, Eliot having an ice pack on his eye.
"Who is going to have a lovely evening?" Nate asked, sitting on the edge of Sophie's chair. He looked up at the screen, a little shocked at what he saw. Ale looked…so grown up. He knew it was stupid, but in all of the time he had spent with her, Ale seemed so young. So innocent—so broken.
"Ale and Quinn. Quinn is taking her dancing," Parker said, not noticing the tension in the room as Eliot looked at the screen.
When Eliot had first looked at the screen he refused to believe his eyes. Ale looked…gorgeous, for lack of a better word. He was breathless. Then he realized that he was ogling over Ale, and that there was a reason she was so dressed up.
Quinn was taking her out dancing.
He figured that it wasn't a date, but still, Quinn got to be with her, close to her, when she looked so goddamn beautiful.
Eliot immediately stormed into his room, not wanting to hear the team talk about what a great thing it was that Ale was getting out more. If it was up to him, they would be at home, sipping on some beers and watching the hockey game.
That's what they did together, and he missed it. He missed Ale.
Ale and Quinn took the subway to Quinn's dance club, Quinn keeping his hand in Ale's the whole time. People were staring, she noticed, but she didn't exactly care. She knew that the dress drew attention. She had to wear it across town when she was late for the dance competition, a large flower in her hair and fishnets adorning her legs.
The stares this time were different. They were looking at both Ale and Quinn, as a couple, and they were smiling.
Ale didn't mind it one bit.
When they got to the center of town Quinn led Ale to a small looking bar, the inside actually being pretty big. There was dance floor in the middle of a bunch of booths, the room dimly lit, the main focus of the place being the crowded dance floor. The music had a strong Latin beat, Ale smiling as people said hello to Quinn. He smiled back, leaving his jacket with the bartender.
He and Ale danced close all night, never taking a break. Other couples watched them mesmerized with their dancing.
Ale was quite impressed with Quinn. He was a strong leader and gave Ale plenty of support to do dips and kicks. He even threw in some lifts. Ale loved dancing with Quinn. It was so…fun.
"How am I doing, Miss Ale?" Quinn asked, Ale laughing at the name that the kids at the studio call her.
"Not too shabby," she smiled, having to whisper in his ear so that he could hear her.
"Would you like something to drink?" Quinn asked, Ale nodding. He led her to the bar, helping her slide onto one of the stools. All of the men at the bar looked at her as she talked with Quinn, but she pushed the fact out of her mind.
Quinn could tell that people were watching Ale. She was beautiful, and she was an amazing dancer. He didn't like their eyes on her, though, and he made sure to stay close to her all night, keeping a hand on her waist or arm as much as possible.
Ale could tell that Quinn was a little nervous about the other people in the bar, but she felt safe with him there.
"Excuse me, but would you like to dance?" a man asked, Ale smiling. She looked at Quinn, him shrugging.
"If you want to you can. I'll be right here if you need me," Quinn smiled, Ale taking the man's hand.
Quinn watched as Ale and the man danced, Ale looking pretty happy. Quinn then noticed the guy getting a little handsy, Ale not looking as happy. Quinn had had just about enough when the guy grabbed Ale's butt, Ale pushing him away. When he pulled Ale in and kissed her, Quinn's blood was pumping.
He stormed over to Ale and the guy, pulling him off of her.
"You don't kiss a girl unless she wants to kiss you, you jerk!" Ale yelled, the guy smiling.
"You were asking for it, mamacita," the guy said lowly. Quinn then punched him, grabbing Ale's hand. Quinn grabbed his jacket from the bartender, leading Ale out of the dance place.
"I am so, so sorry," Quinn said, looking down at Ale. He figured she would be upset, especially because Buchamp's men pressed themselves on her.
She was smiling, though, and looked like she wanted to laugh.
"You don't have to be sorry. That perv does," Ale said, wrapping her arm around Quinn's. "Besides, I had a really, really fun night."
Quinn looked down at Ale, the smile still on her face as she looked up at him. He loved the way her eyes lit up and how easy going she was.
"I could use a drink," Quinn sighed, looking down at Ale.
"I thought you didn't drink on the job," Ale said, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I don't think this is a job anymore," Quinn whispered back, Ale widening her eyes just slightly.
Quinn smiled, glad that Ale rose on her toes to meet his lips as he leaned in to kiss her.