arrays | [ open ] we'll keep dancing til we die

She's had some thoughts about him, concerning, heated thoughts because they've fooled around on the dance floor before. It's easier, not knowing much about the other person, and the mystery makes it more alluring. The partial anonymity emboldens her to the point where she feels just fine, leaning in as if to kiss him with lowered lashes, just before pulling away to dance.

His hands on her waist, plus the alcohol on her tongue, inspire her to want more, maybe hands under her skirt - but that's going a little too far, a little too fast. They should just groove for now.

Even in a club like this, Gale stands out, if only for his height. He's one of the taller people in here, and he's already gotten plenty of attention from the ladies here, whether they express it outwardly or he just so happens to "hear" it. Sometimes it's hard to stop from hearing the thoughts of those around him, but it doesn't always hurt. It's gotten him more than a few hookups since it started - nothing permanent, nothing real, nothing that matters - and he's taken full advantage of these developing powers and plans to continue. He's already found ways for them to help his family. Using them for a little fun never hurt.

He feels her attention more than he hears it for once, instinctively turning to see who it is. And, Gale realizes, she's a bombshell, with something in her eye that tells him she's here for something more than a dance or two. Maybe she'll be the one tonight, he wonders idly, offering her a faint smile as he opens his mind to listen.

I wouldn't mind dancing with you, actually. But we have more important things we need to talk about.

Her smile doesn't falter, even as her mind registers surprise. Lydia's a strong enough telepath, but putting her thoughts into the minds of others always requires just a touch of push, and the ease with which she's able to slip into Gale's mind takes her aback.

If there's one thing he's learned about Natalie while they've been at this, it's that she can be a bit of a tease when she's in the right mood for it. Apparently tonight is one of those nights, because he's ready to kiss her when she pulls away just as quickly as she'd come, and he's left watching her move instead.

Of course, he has no complaints. If they want to go there tonight, they'll get there in time. There's no rush, even if he'd like to move a little faster sometimes - and for all he knows, this might be the last night they get. For a moment, he wonders if he should mention that to her, just comment that he won't be around for much longer, but pushes the thought away. Not now. They're occupied with the music right now, and Leo doesn't want to mess that up. So instead, he settles for leading this dance, his hands dropping to her hips to help her match the rhythm properly, the sounds very different from the other clubs they've been to already.

Inclining his head, Gale doesn't even register the possibility that she may be like him. As far as he can tell, he's simply reading one girl's mind in a sea of them, with plenty close by echoing the same sort of thought - let's dance. He can sense the surprise from her, but only muses on it briefly as he approaches with a smile.

"Too busy to dance?" he asks. Best to play off what he heard as if he'd gotten the impression that she had somewhere else to be, he'd learned. That way, it doesn't come off so creepy.

She doesn't get the moves at first but, for once, she isn't totally frustrated that it's not perfect on the first try. That's the beauty of doing things like this. It shouldn't matter how skillful she is, though she has managed to keep up with him this whole time. Maybe it's partially because of those hands on her hips.

One hand slides down from his neck to settle on his shoulder, the other trailing upwards into his hair. This time, she pulls herself closer to him with enough space to kiss if he wanted to. And this time, she won't pull away.

"I told you. We have more important things to talk about." Up close, how tall he is becomes immediately apparent, and it makes it difficult for her to keep an easy eye on their surroundings. But also - the connection with his mind, something about him makes her feel tugged toward him, and it's like nothing she's felt from all the other Breakouts she's helped.

But another consciousness tugs at the corner of her brain, and without having to delve too deep, she's certain - Ultra is here. She needs to get someplace where she can look around, and try to get an idea of an exit strategy.

"But let's dance anyway." she says abruptly, grabbing his hand and pretty much trying to haul him onto the dance floor. She can buy time by blending into the crowd.

She isn't half bad, though he's aware it's not all her doing. His hands don't stop moving, keeping in time with the music and making sure neither of them lose the flow of it. It gets decidedly close and... well, intimate sometimes, but that's Latin dancing for you. That's why it's so easy to close that space when Natalie comes toward him, helped out by the crowd that's growing around them. Her lips are welcoming and soft and they taste like alcohol, but then, he probably does, too. It's nothing the two of them aren't used to, though, and besides - Leo's always liked how loose it makes them. It helps open them up to the possibilities of what could be, with this psuedo-anonymous not-dates of theirs. It's always an adventure with her, and that's exactly what he likes about it.

Natalie's life outside of this seems to be falling apart but at least she can feel good without constantly wandering through a thick fog. She's certain that he won't like her outside of this bubble so she is, at least, happy for what they have now.

The haze she is in is pleasant, aided by his lips on hers, tasting of sugar, salt, and alcohol. Not fully making out with him just yet, she presses her forehead against his, eyes heavy-lidded as she keeps moving, making sure she's still in time with the music.

There's nothing wrong with a few drinks and a dance partner, Leo would say. They've all got problems to run from, and that's why they're here in the first place - to forget, to let go, to move on, even for just a little while. It's why he's never stayed in one place for very long before, and why he's starting to feel like he's overstayed his welcome in this town, even if Natalie seems to enjoy his company.

Either way, he'll make this a good night. They don't need a heated makeout session like when they first met to have a good time. The drinks and the music and each other's company is enough, at least for Leo, though he can't deny that the look in her eyes is intriguing. Maybe they'll explore that later, he thinks with a smile, but dancing is good enough for now. There are others on the dance floor who don't share his opinion, already getting bold as the music rises to a crescendo, and he casually steers them away from those couples as much as he can when most of his focus is on her and the way they move together. It's funny, how they've always done well as a pair when it comes to dancing. He'll miss that.

She likes being in his arms like this, moving like a single unit. It's easy for her to fall into this, letting the music guide her.

The other couples remain in her periphery, and it makes her feel even warmer than she is already. Who is this guy, really, and why is it so easy for her to be around him?

There's enough room for her to pull away slightly, taking his hands as an invitation to lead her.

Eyes narrowing, his immediate thought is to wonder if she's like him - after all, he can't be the only one, right? So even as she pulls him to the dance floor, he ventures to ask, You can hear me?

"Why the change of heart?" he asks aloud, sinking into the routine of the dancing with some unknown girl in a random bar. The rhythm is easy to match, but she seemed determined to get him out of here, and not for the same reason as most of the other girls that drag him off somewhere.

And lead he does, spinning her once and taking her through a whirlwind of steps that keep them close and in time with the music. Maybe he's pushing it a little, for all the drinks they've had by now, but a little extra swaying never hurt anyone, and they're still on their feet, besides. The moves are quick and easy, but fun, and really, what else matters? It's weird sometimes, how easily they come together for things like this, but he tries not to think about it too hard, attributing it to the drinks instead of anything too awkward. It's better for the both of them that way - neither of them get attached, because it's only a few drinks and a few dances, nothing more (sometimes a bit of making out, but that's also from the drinks, he'd say) - and by the end of the song, they can both leave satisfied but without any strings tying them down. They've been pretty clear from the start that that's what they need, and that's how they've stayed. That way, they can carry on with their lives, such as they are, without having any extra stress on their minds.

Natalie actually laughs when he takes her through a few spins, her hair whipping around. When she ends up right in his arms once more. All good things have to come to and end, but right now, she'll take advantage of this moment and this closeness, starting with kissing him again, her hands still wrapped around his and giving them a squeeze. Her feet are still and the room might as well not be there because she doesn't notice anything else.

She has to lift her feet a bit because he's so tall, but now that they're among the throng she's a little less worried about being immediately spotted. She tilts her head back so she can look at him, but also so he can see the fact that her mouth isn't moving.

Yes, I can hear you. And you can hear me. And the change of heart is because Ultra is on its way and you don't want them to catch you. Did you think you were the only person this has happened to?

Aloud, she remarks conversationally, "Wanna get out of here?"

He hadn't intended on stopping just yet, but this is more than okay with him. His response is slow in coming while he shakes off the surprise, but once he does, he's eager to keep it going, happily pulling her closer and sliding his arms around her waist. The room and other dancers around them fade into the background, meaning nothing when he could be wrapped up in a pretty girl instead, running his tongue over her lip to draw her out a little more. This is what he's loved about doing this - the spontaneity of never knowing when it'll go from a dance to something more, the adventure of wondering where they'll be going next. It's why he's stayed as long as he has - how often, really, do you run into someone like that? As many as cities as Leo's gone through, this girl is the first.

This is way more fun than the way she used to go clubbing, detached and merely floating through the crowd with her head in a daze.

Sure, she's got some alcohol on her tongue, but she's mostly clear-minded, focused on kissing him, opening herself up to him. Not ... in a very personal way, no, but it does feel more intimate than mere hookups. Somewhat keeping with the rhythm, her hips sway gently with the music, but her hands are already in his hair, gently running her fingers through it.

It doesn't have to be personal to be fun, and fun is good enough for him. The alcohol helps them along, of course, but there doesn't need to be a ton of it for that - Leo himself is good at finding ways to get people to relax, even Natalie here. Besides that, he still doesn't know the first thing about her when it comes to normal life - though he could probably make a good estimate of her favorite color, judging solely from her wardrobe - but it's for the best. They had a silent agreement on that account, but it doesn't stop them from learning what they both like here on the dance floor, or in a private corner where they can get a little closer. So of course, when Leo feels her hands wander, he lets out a soft sound of approval and rolls into her touch. And that is enough of an invitation for him to slip his hands under her shirt, flattening over her skin.

Dancing is a little difficult to focus on when you're in the middle of a telepathic conversation like this, but Gale manages to keep swaying to the music regardless.

No, he replies, the scoff clear even in his thoughts. I knew there had to be others, I just didn't know where. And I've never heard of Ultra.

It's easy to guess why they would want to catch him, though, even if the intentions for doing so remain cloudy. Gale is not a big fan of having his freedom taken away, however, and it sounds like that's what they're out to do.

"Okay," he says. "What did you have in mind?"

It's not too difficult for Lydia, but she's been at this longer.

"We need to leave." she says, "And before we can get far away enough we need to get out of this building." It's the reason she's slowly drawing him to the edge of the floor.

Seizing his hand, she starts to tug him through the throng. Ultra is dedicated to finding us and capturing us. They either turn us against each other or take away our powers completely.

Even with his hands lifting her shirt ever so slightly, she doesn't feel so exposed, since a short skirt and leggings has become her clubwear uniform, sort of. Even with the other bodies on the dance floor, she still shivers when she moves closer, pressing herself against him because that - she likes a lot.

Playfully, she pulls back some to brush her lips over his just before she turns around in his arms so she can actually get a little more dancing in before they eventually fall into their usual kissing in a dark corner routine. She keeps her arms over her head and bounces to the beat.

Now that, he likes, and he's almost ready to take off with her at this point. She turns while he's still debating if another song is worth waiting for, answering his question for him. He still likes the way she moves, though, so he keeps his hands on his hips to continue loosely guiding her in this style of dance. No one else on the floor is paying either of them any attention, so being judged isn't a problem, but after what his mother had taught him as a kid, Leo likes to see it done right. And Natalie, he's learned, is a bit of a perfectionist, herself, so he won't let her down.

He follows without protest, but not without a healthy dose of suspicion. How do I know you're not just like them?

How can Gale really trust her, even if she is like him? Why would anyone catch and turn them against each other? And for that matter, how could anyone take away their powers?

It's only been a minute or two, and already he's full of questions.

She just likes his hands on her, whether they're dancing or doing something else. At the moment, she can't decide which of the two she would rather so now, but she's pleased that he'll follow her lead. He's supposedly the expert in this, so she'll take his hands again, giving them a squeeze of encouragement to whirl her around for another go.

And he'll gladly take that invitation for what it is, pulling her around into another spin as soon as the music calls for it. He's not the only one on the floor to do it, either, but they always know when to allow just enough room for that kind of thing here. It's another reason why he likes it so much, aside from the owners not caring that he's underage. The music calms a little after that, falling into a comfortable rhythm to let them all catch their breath before it starts to fade.

[ open ] we'll keep dancing til we die

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