CHAPTER NINE: A DANCE

*All Dolled-Up in Straps by The National

They were dropped off a block away from the address, where cars were already lined up and parked for the event. Diego led them over a stone railing and towards another parked car, they were so close to the entrance. They all crouched against it, waiting for him to make a move.

"What's the plan?" Lila whispered, looking around with worried eyes.

"We infiltrate, we identify, we extract. Double time." Diego whispered back.

"What the hell's he talking about?"

Lotus nodded, "That's what I'm wondering."

"Find the old man and get out fast." Five said.

Diego turned with furrowed brows, "That's what I said. On me."

He crouched to the next parked car, Lotus knelt behind Five who waited for Lila to move along. "Go ahead."

Five shifted on his feet, "Cut the crap."

"What, I can't be polite?"

"My dimwitted brother might buy your bullshit, but I don't trust you for a second."

Lila cocked her head to the side, "O ye of little faith."

"Stick it up your ass."

Lotus choked on her own spit, coughing wildly as they both turned and watched. She gave them a thumbs up, rushing towards Diego. Moments after the other two joined them, they ran across the opening to a back door. The room was filled with people, and mariachi music echoed as people mingled. A man gave them a polite nod and offered a tray of drinks, Five was the only one who took one. He sipped it as they followed Diego, offering her a taste. "I don't drink." She said.

"Oh, yeah." He nodded, "I forgot you've never had a real drink."

Lotus snorted, "There's a lot of stuff I haven't tried."

They paused in the middle of the room, underneath an archway. Diego gazed around, "I don't see Dad around anywhere."

"Just keep an eye out for the Majestic Twelve." Five told them, "I got the upstairs. Diego, try not to do anything too stupid."

She watched as Five snuck towards the staircase, she trailed after him, managing to grasp the back of his blazer before he took the first step. "What?" He asked her, brows furrowed.

A new song seeped through the house, slow and unnerving all at once. Lotus glanced back, spotting Lila and Diego dancing amongst the wealthy. She turned to meet Five's gaze, "Dance?"

The face he made was quite funny, a mix of are you kidding me? We're in the middle of saving the world and I don't dance, who do you think I am?

"A few minutes of normalcy. Not that us doing that is normal, but it would be fun." She shrugged, "Can't saving the world wait a minute?"

"This is very unlike you."

Lotus crinkled her nose, "Then tell me what I'm like, but out there."

A smile formed on her face as he slowly made his way towards her. It was a grin by the time they were engulfed by dancers, twirling and chatting as they moved about. His hands found her waist and her arms around his neck, "I will be honest. I don't know how to dance."

He pursed his lips, "You wanted to dance but you don't know how?"

She shrugged, "I've never had anyone to dance with."

"We were forced to take classes." Five shrugged, "I never understood the old man."

Lotus pursed her lips, "I've never met the man, but, he seems... intense."

"Yeah." He mumbled, "I think he meant well, though. Even after everything he did."

"That doesn't sound like you."

A brow raised, "How?"

He reached up and slipped her hand into his, moving it to the side. One hand still gripped her waist as they swayed to the new song, he pulled her closer and rested his head against hers.

"I don't know." She snorted, "You're always out threatening people."

"I don't do that."

Lotus rolled her eyes, even if he couldn't see it with his eyes now closed, she knew he somehow figured her reaction.

"This is nice." She whispered, they slowly circled around their spot. "It feels like nothing's wrong. That the world isn't gonna end."

"I feel like the world is always ending."

"Ever since I met you it seems it is."

His grip on her hand tightened, "I know. I should go upstairs and check it out."

Lotus held him in place, "At least finish this song."

"Why?"

Her head shifted up and flickered to the side, Five followed her gaze as it landed on a teenage boy. He seemed to be eyeing her, Lotus shifted uncomfortably under the strangers gaze.

"Well." Five muttered, twirling her out, and swinging her back in close. "Someone has an admirer."

"Whatever."

He chuckled, "And if he is still staring at you by the time the songs done, which is any second, I will shove that glass he's holding so far down his throat he'll be—"

"Okay." She rolled her eyes as the song faded, "I get your point. The whole world gets your point."

Five nodded, stepping away and bowing dramatically. "Now I must go save the world."

"And go you must."

He gave a wink before making a beeline towards the staircase, she turned and watched as he disappeared to the next level. Lotus took a deep breath, her hand and waist still feeling the ghost of his touch.

She didn't notice the music had completely stopped until a new, much louder, upbeat song started to play. Diego brushed by her, heading deeper into the large home. Lotus turned to see Lila, but her teal dress vanished in the crowded room of dancers.

Lotus stood awkwardly, glancing between the doorway where Lila left and Diego standing across the house in conversation with a woman who looked a lot like Grace. She frowned, Lotus hadn't known her long, but felt a ping of sadness with missing the woman.

"How do you do?"

She blinked, turning to see the boy from earlier. Dark curls covered his eyes, a wide smile on his face. "What?"

"How are you?" His accent was thick, definitely from around here. "Are you alright? There's a bruise—"

"I'm fine." Lotus took another look around, she spotted Diego sneaking up the staircase just as Five had done.

"I'm James. And you—"

Her eyes widened, for a moment she had forgotten why they were here. "I've got to go." She told him, dashing for the stairs. "I'm sorry."

She left the boy standing amongst the crowd, rushing upstairs to help a family who always were on the verge of getting killed. Lotus wondered if that part of it would ever end, but dived in to help Diego and Five despite the thought.