Does love really exist, or is it only an illusion meant to trap two lovers? After all, J. Daniel Atlas doesn't do the "relationship thing."
Prequel to "Love is Like a Playing Card"
Only rated "mature " for language (throughout story) and smut (chapt...
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"What is magic?" Danny asked the audience as he stood in front of a large piece of equipment, his voice and physical projection speaking to them in an echo. "Magic is deception. But deception designed to delight, to entertain, to inspire." He swallowed, glancing at Merritt and Henley. "It is about belief."
"Faith," Merritt added.
Henley smirked. "Trust."
"Without those qualities," Merritt continued, rubbing his hands together, "magic, as an art form, would no longer exist."
"But what happens if these qualities," Henley spoke, "are not used for their higher purpose? And instead they're used to cheat, lie."
"For personal gain or for greed," Danny said. "Well, then it's no longer magic."
"It's crime," Merritt confirmed.
"And so tonight, for our final act, you're gonna help us set a few things right," Henley explained to the audience.
The muffled sound of the audience cheering was heard. The magicians left out a sigh. "Showtime," Merritt told them, a smirk on his face.
~~
"Do you think they know we're alive?" Sutton asked Jack as the wind picked up. Her long red hair wrapped itself around her as she and Jack walked toward Central Park. After loading the money into Thaddeus's car, they decided it would be best to change back into their clothing they had on earlier in the day.
Jack swallowed. "I hope so. I didn't steal that money for them to think we're dead."
Sutton giggled. "I mean, really. If you think about it, they don't really know we're alive. They basically just need to have faith in us."
"That's what magic is, right?" Jack smirked, standing in front of her and walking backward. ""It is about belief. Faith. Trust.""
Sutton giggled. "You ass!"
Jack laughed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Sutton wrapped an arm around his waist. "It's not like they came up with that all on their own. I can be just as poetic as you, you know."
"Yeah, I know," Sutton smiled, pulling up the hood to her grey hoodie.
They came to a gate locking them from getting inside the park. Sutton looked up at Jack. "Nothing's ever locked," they grinned.
~~
"Daniel?" Merritt spoke as the crank of the elevator murmured.
"Yeah?" Danny said.
"Uh, as our, let's call it, year of living dangerously comes to a close, in a rare moment of vulnerability, I'd like to express a sentiment to you about our relationship."
Henley and Danny shared a smirk. "Okay," Danny replied, trying hard not to laugh.
"Well, when I first met you, I thought you were kind of a dick," Merritt blurted.
