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

"So you better be good," Natalie retorts teasingly. She is only vaguely aware of the significance of that one statement; she figured he was a runaway, that parents were out of the picture. Not knowing much and not saying much has been rather liberating, making things physical and less personal.

Well, maybe a little personal, if she's being honest. But that doesn't matter now. She's quiet after, sipping away and occasionally watching him or looking at the DJ or the band setting up onstage.

“I’ve been doing this since I could walk,” he scoffs. “Of course I’m good.”

And he can’t wait to get out there and prove it. In fact, watching them set up is making him feel more restless than he did before, and the music that’s already playing is lively and has his fingers tapping on the table to the beat. As it crests and the people on the floor spin, he makes an effortless decision.

“Here,” Leo says, setting down his drink and standing. “I’ll show you.” He doesn’t ask her to get up, leaving that choice to her since she looks pretty happy with just the margarita keeping her company, but heads on out to the dance floor with the others on his own. The beat is quick and easy to pick up, and without moments he’s dancing with the best of them, casting a daring glance back at Natalie as if to ask, How’s this for good dancing?

Natalie gives him the biggest eye roll she has in her, effectively hiding how appreciation for his sweet moves.

"Okay, dude," she groans, leaning over the little table to finish the rest of her drink through the curly straw, pushing her hair out of her face. The drinks don't seem to cost much but they don't give you that much either. At least the alcohol seems to be strong. She reaches for his drink and nudges her way through the crowd to hold the rest of the margarita out to her evening companion.

"You didn't need to do that, you know."

“I know,” he says smugly, downing the rest of the drink in one go. It gives a nice little rush, and has him reaching for her hand with a grin. “I wanted to. There’s not much point in coming to a place like this if you’re not gonna dance, is there?”

Which is basically him saying come on, already.

"Don't rush me," she mumbles, taking his glass and setting it on a passing tray held above the heads of the patrons.

Natalie shakes her hair out, sinking happily into that alcoholic lull that she's enjoyed for the past for months now. It's not that destructive feeling, something to numb the senses. It's just enough to loosen her locked limbs to get her to dance, to do things like ... taking his hand and tugging him closer to her.

"Well fine, if you want to sit down for a while..."

Of course, he knows by now that isn't what she means at all, but it doesn't stop him from teasing. There isn't a trace of surprise in his grin as Natalie pulls him closer. It's obvious that he's enjoying it, his hand automatically settling on her waist as if they belong there. And as much as they've danced together up to now, they might as well. They've been closer than this before, anyway.

Natalie reaches behind her to flatten one of his palms against the small of her back before she slides her hands up his arms, linking them behind his neck until he decides to take them both to go into some more complicated dance move.

In response to his question, she shakes her head, smiling slowly as she presses up against him partly because she wants to and partly because of the size of the crowd.

This is exactly where he wants to be, so they'll keep it simple for now, just enough to keep up with the crowd. It's almost funny, how close they get without being close at all - he still knows hardly anything about her, but that's alright with him. Maybe sometime later, maybe not. It's not like it'll matter, anyway. He's already stayed in this town way longer than he'd planned, and sooner or later, Leo will have to take off again. He'll miss these nights, though; having someone to go out with definitely makes it more fun.

Tonight, all that is far from his mind when she's so close, pressed against him in exactly the way he likes. Natalie has a way of distracting him that few others have discovered, and he gladly slips his arms around her waist with a grin, eyes gleaming. He knew she'd stay.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

With her back to his chest again, Natalie smiles an open-mouthed smile. She leans against him comfortably, looking up at her partner slowly, reaching around to thread her fingers through his hair, using this position to bring him closer, just so they can gently press their foreheads together. It not really an invitation to kiss. It's just to enjoy this intimacy, even in a crowd this size.

For once, there's no question on her tongue, nothing on her mind that she wants to say. She lets her actions speak for themselves.

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