#jdanielatlasxreaderimagine

[jb3islife]

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter XI

“Hi,” Danny replied sarcastically. Jack and Merritt gaped. Sutton stared at the woman, biting her lip. Danny glanced at Sutton as she leaned against the railing beside him.

“You met Lulu?” Dylan asked knowingly.

“I’ve met her,” Danny replied, fiddling with his gloves. “What is she doing here?”

“I’m the new Horseman!” Lulu told the group. Sutton’s breath caught in her throat as panic surged throughout her body. Danny placed a hand on her lower back in comfort, just as he always did, as Lulu cheered for herself. “Nobody? No excitement? Jack?” Jack glared at her.

“Dylan,” Merritt started as he turned toward the stairs, “tell me what’s going on here.” The group followed, Sutton brushing off Danny’s touch.

“Well, Lulu’s been on the underground scene for the last decade, and I think she has some real talent. I’d like to try her on stage to balance out the duo,” Dylan explained.

“What?” Jack gasped. “No, are you serious, man? After Henley left, you said I could get back on stage again, not someone who just showed up.” Sutton didn’t say a word about his comment.

“And I told you,” Dylan responded, slapping a hand to Jack’s shoulder, “I’d think about it, and I have, and I really need you behind the scenes with me for just a little while longer.”

“Dylan, come on,” Jack groaned. “I’ve been behind the scenes my whole life.”

“Which is a crime, might I add,” Lula piped up. “Have you seen that man’s face?” Jack gave her a look.

“As much as I appreciate the addition of some femininity to the group, over and above what Sutton and Ass-las provide,” Merritt insulted as each gave him a look, “I think the real issue is, we’ve been in this-”

“Yeah, the issue is that we have been rehearsing for months for something we don’t even know what it is,” Danny interjected.

“And you’re going to keep working until-”

“Until we work as a single organism. I know, I’ve heard you say that,” Danny responded cockily. Sutton smirked, biting her lip. She had missed Danny’s cocky remarks. “The thing is, when you say that, I think what you’re referring to is us.” He gestured toward his fellow Horsemen. “You know, not you.”

“Listen,” Dylan responded, obviously annoyed. “I’m getting my orders directly from The Eye. Okay? Then I give them to you. Now if you don’t like that, you’re welcome to go.”

“No, I’m not going anywhere,” Danny reassured everyone. “But I’m-I’m taking care of myself.” Sutton put a hand to her chest, feeling her heart ache. She knew Danny’s words were only said out of anger and annoyance. However, they still hurt. 

“Guys, can I just weigh in here, really quickly?” Lula asked. Sutton rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Cause I think I see what’s going on here. You guys are this amazing, tight-knit family unit and I’m a new person-”

“No, no, no,” Merritt told her. “We are anything but a family.” 

At Merritt’s words, Sutton’s head began to spin. Everyone was complaining about “me, me, me” and not even caring that they were still a “we.” She rubbed her temples, trying to block out Lula’s stupid story. Finally, she had enough. “Shut up!” Sutton erupted. “All of you! You’re all acting like idiots!” The group fell silent. 

Sutton looked around at the others, her chest heaving in anger. “Each of you is acting like you are the one and only solution to this mess we’re in,” Sutton told them. “We need each other to get through this, and you all know that.” The men looked at each other, nodding in agreement. Lula snorted a laugh.

“And you,” Sutton pointed at Lula. “You need to stop acting like an entitled bitch.” Lula gasped. Merritt and Jack let out a chuckle as Danny smirked admirently. “You do not get to come in here and act like my cousin was nothing to this team. You do not get to come in here and think you are going to take my spot, or Jack’s spot. Because, let me tell you, when we come back from the dead, it’s going to be ten times better than one of your “faking death” acts.” Lula stared at Sutton, mouth agape. Sutton heaved a heavy sigh, holding onto the table for support. She wasn’t sure where her anger had come from, but Sutton felt her body tell her it needed to be done. 

“Damn, Sutton,” Jack spoke after a minute.

Merritt clapped slowly. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, beautiful.” He took Sutton’s hand in his, giving it a kiss.

Danny was still slightly in shock. “I can’t believe those words came from your body.”

“You’ve made your point,” Dylan told Sutton, nodding. “Lula?”

Lula looked at Sutton. “I-I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I never thought about how you would feel with me joining the Horsemen.”

Sutton nodded. “I might do 75% of the feeling for this team, but you’re all required to pitch in 5% each,” Sutton joke, cracking a smile.

Lula smirked. “You got a deal, Reeves.” She stretched her hand toward Sutton, who shook it. “Much respect for showing dominance in a very clearly male-dominated group. You scared the shit out of me!”

“That was the point,” Sutton smiled, mentally patting herself on the back.

“So, does this mean we’re actually going to do something?” Merritt asked, bringing everyone back to the sole-purpose of the meeting.

“Yes,” Dylan told them. Everyone looked at each other. Danny gave Sutton a slight smile which she returned. “You’ve all heard of OCTA and their playboy CEO Owen Case. His partner Walter Mabry died about a year ago. You wanna know what all of this has been leading to?”

“Yeah,” Lula said, grabbing something off the floor.

“OCTA’s hosting a launch of the next-gen cell phone,” Dylan explained as Lula rolled out a blank blueprint. “Once these phones hit the streets, he’ll siphon the user’s information to the black market. Meaning, OCTA’s selling privacy to up their profit. So, The Eye’s decided to expose him for it. Our mission is to high-jack the show. Rehearsals over, guys. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Now it’s time to get to work.”

[jb3islife]

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter VI

The next morning, Sutton made breakfast for the boys to cure their hangovers. As the eggs cooked slowly on the stove, Sutton cut up various fruits to help speed things along. As she was cutting up her favorite hangover fruit, a vibration traveled through the countertop. Danny’s phone lit up, showing the picture of the two kissing while wrapped in a bedsheet. It was Sutton’s favorite picture of the two and always made her smile. Curious, Sutton leaned over as she made her final cut on the banana.

3:00 AM, the text message read on the screen, followed by a street address.

Sutton crinkled her eyebrows, her face clearly displaying her concern. She quickly typed the address into Google Maps. From what Sutton could see on the satellite view, it appeared to be an abandoned building..

Rustling from the couch caused Sutton to jump, her phone fumbling in her hands. Quickly swiping out of Google Maps and turning her phone face down on the countertop, Sutton turned her attention back to the eggs, mentally fighting with herself whether or not to confront Danny.

A pair of arms wrapped around her waist. “Good morning,” Danny’s sleepy voice whispered in her ear. His lips traveled down to Sutton’s neck, much like they did any morning she was up and moving before Danny.

“Morning,” Sutton said, trying her best to sound chipper and not like the noisy girlfriend she was. “How do you feel?”

Danny rubbed his head as he let go of Sutton and made his way over to his phone. Picking it up, he sat at the small dining room table. “I’m not bad. Just a small headache.” 

Sutton hummed a response, watching Danny carefully as he looked at his phone. His eyes grew large as he read the message. His signature smirk crossed his lips. Obviously, the unknown number was known fairly well to Danny. If he wasn’t going to tell her, Sutton was going to find out for herself just who this person was.

~~

The night was long. Danny claimed to be going to bed at 12:00 PM with a stomach ache. Sutton told him she would sleep on the couch so he could sleep. Danny scrunched his eyebrows at this, wondering why Sutton would deny cuddling with him. It was unlike her, especially when Danny was sick. They both laid wide awake in their separate sleeping quarters, each wondering what the other was thinking and what was going to happen in the next few hours.

Danny’s mind spun with anticipation of who may be behind The Eye and what they may want him to do. He had imagined himself leading the Horsemen far better than Dylan for over a year now. Would they accept him as such?

On the other hand, Danny couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with Sutton. She had acted strange all day, keeping her distance and not seeming affected by any affection Danny gave her. It crossed his mind many times in the last two months if Sutton knew what he was up to. The worst thoughts that crossed his mind were what Sutton would do if she ever found out Danny’s secret contacts with The Eye.

Danny shook his head, not wanting to go down that road. He looked at his phone. 1:00 AM. One more hour to keep himself wide awake and travel into the unknown.

Sutton laid on the couch, constantly tossing and turning. She had started reading a book when Danny went to bed and had finished it in two hours. Now, her brain just wracked. Who was this unknown caller? Was it another girl? Worse yet, was he trying to contact The Eye? The secrets grew in her head more and more as the night went on. 

Sutton looked at her phone. 2:00 AM. Not long after that, she heard rustling in the bedroom. Sutton could hear Danny’s feet glide against the wood floor in the night’s silence. She knew what he was doing- pulling on a dark hoodie and dark jeans, because he didn’t like walking around in sweatpants

Sutton was broken out of her trance when the bedroom door creaked open. She smirked to herself when she heard Danny whisper a curse. Her body stiffened slightly when she felt a hand brush the hair out of her face. Danny placed his hand on the side of Sutton’s face and ran a thumb along her jawline. Sutton wanted so badly to lean into his touch.

“I love you, Sutton.” Danny’s whisper was just above inaudible. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a few seconds before moving to her lips. His kiss was gentle, light as a feather. It was almost as though it were a farewell kiss.

Danny’s weight shifted and he stood. “I’m doing this for the Horsemen,” he croaked, motivating himself. He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He looked back at Sutton and left.

Sutton counted to five and sprang up. She was already dressed in her black joggers and black hoodie. Quickly, Sutton pulled on her black and gray sneakers, tying them tightly. Grabbing her phone, Sutton ran to the door and didn’t look back.

Sutton knew Danny wouldn’t be far. Google Maps said the abandoned building was 30 minutes away by walking. It was only 1:10 AM. When she opened the apartment building door to the street, Sutton looked around for Danny. Not more than 40 feet away, she noticed the familiar silhouette walking in the same direction she needed to go. Hands in pockets was Danny’s signature when he was nervous, and that was exactly what this person was doing. Sutton picked up her walking pace.

After ducking behind trash cans, standing perfectly still, and trying her hardest to not walk too fast, Sutton followed Danny into the abandoned building that read “Subway to Manhattan.” Sutton mimicked Danny’s actions as she stepped through his path, traveling down a set of stairs and through a lightly lit tunnel. Sutton slowed as she noticed Danny stop. He removed his hood and Sutton noticed he took out his ear buds.

Sutton rolled her eyes. All the sneaking around was for nothing if he couldn’t actually hear her coming.

Danny was on the move again as he traveled deeper into the abandoned subway station. Again, they traveled down a set of stairs, the artificial light vanishing slowly. Sutton followed Danny through standing water which sat between dips in the tunnel. Finally, they came to a door. Danny pushed the door open slowly and walked in, the door slamming shut behind him. 

Sutton cursed loudly, throwing her hand over her mouth. She noticed a symbol on the door which could belong to only one group- The Eye. She touched the symbol, running her fingers along every curve and angle, studying it carefully. Allowing curiosity to get the better of her, Sutton leaned against the door, hoping to hear something.

“Trust?” a voice clearly coming out of speakers from inside spoke, the words muffled. “Your leader? Your fellow Horsemen? Perhaps even us?” Sutton automatically stepped back, not caring much to try and hear Danny’s response. She shook her head, disappointed in her boyfriend’s actions. 

“You might not be a cheater,” Sutton told the air, “but you're one hell of an asshole.” She turned, quickly making her way back to the entrance.

[jb3islife]

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter V

Sutton and Danny took the long way to Jack and Merritt’s apartment building that night. The apartments were only five minutes apart, making it easy to get to one another in case of an emergency. The two walked in silence, their hands stuffed inside their sweatshirt pockets. The cookies were snug in Sutton’s backpack.

Sutton turned and began walking backwards so she could see Danny’s face in the passing street lights. “I bet you a kiss that they ordered pizza.”

Danny raised his hands to his mouth and breathed out, trying to warm them up. As he removed them, Danny’s signature smirk covered his lips. “Just a kiss? Damn, I thought by now we could play with a bit more fire.”

“And what were you thinking?” Sutton asked him, cocking her eyebrow and biting her lip.

Danny scoffed and reached out to pull Sutton to him. He pressed their bodies close together. Sutton could feel exactly what he was thinking as Danny played with a strand of her hair. “If they ordered pizza, I’ll be on top,” he stated, bringing his mouth an inch away from Sutton’s, their puffs of air mingling together. “If they ordered chinese, you’ll be on top.”

Sutton bit her lip, remembering just how much Danny enjoyed it when she was on top and in control.  The way Danny sighed when she kissed the crook of his neck from her position. The way he moaned loudly when Sutton would pick up her pace. The way his face contorted and his hips jerked wildly when Danny had reached his high. The way his eyes shined with all the love in the world as they caught their breath afterwards.

“Deal,” Sutton panted, looking up at Danny through her eyelashes and biting her lip once more for good measure. Danny groaned as Sutton pushed her hips to his, pulling the illusionist into a deep kiss.

“Are you kidding me right now?” Jack’s voice yelled from ten yards away.

Sutton and Danny parted, the two laughing as Danny rested his forehead against Sutton’s.

“Next it’s going to be sex on our doorstep!” Merritt added.

“Do we really need to do this?” Danny asked, pulling Sutton close against him once more as he kissed her forehead.

Sutton hummed her reply, giving Danny a quick peck on the lips. “Play nice and maybe we can leave early,” she winked. Danny groaned loudly as Sutton dragged him by the hand to the awaiting pick-pocket and mentalist.

~~

The four friends were settled in the living room watching a murder mystery, chinese containers in hand. On the side table which sat in the middle of the room sat a platter full of cream cheese wontons. Three beers and one wine cooler boxed in the food on all four corners. This was often what their Friday nights looked like anymore. It had become a great stress reliever to just sit with friends and enjoy each other’s company. 

Merritt and Jack occupied one couch. After eating, Jack always lied on the floor and complained about eating too much. Danny and Sutton occupied the other couch. Danny sat while Sutton lounged, her feet set atop Danny’s lap.

Just as the detectives in the movie found a third clue, all four of the Horsemen’s phones went off. As they read the group message, they all let out a heavy sigh.

“‘It’s soon showtime’?” Merritt read from his phone screen, shaking his head.

“How stupid does he think we are?” Danny blurted, receiving a hit on the arm from Sutton. “What? He has used the word ‘soon’ in every so-called “update” he has given us!”

“Danny’s not wrong,” Jack confirmed. “Dylan’s “soon” is like our “eternity,” if I’m being honest.” Merritt nodded in agreement.

Sutton sighed as she sat up from her lying position. She never liked to go against Dylan, or anyone for that matter, but the boys were right. He had been telling them “soon” since before Henley left. Now, Sutton was wondering if “soon” was even worth sticking around for.

“Sutton?” Danny called to her, giving her a light nudge.

Sutton shook herself out of her thoughts. “Sorry. No, you guys are right, as disgusting as that feels on my tongue.” The boys groaned and rolled their eyes. “I feel almost as though Dylan is playing games with us now, just toying us to see who will stick it out.”

“Damn, girl,” Merritt laughed. “You really are beginning to sound like Ass-las.”

“And this is a bad thing because…?” Danny smirked, pulling Sutton close to him. Sutton let out a giggle as the illusionist kissed the top of her head.

“I just feel like Dylan, or The Eye, is testing us,” Sutton explained. “Henley left for her own reasons, but maybe they are trying to see who leaves next. Kind of like ���survival of the fittest,” in a way.”

“Well, it was nice knowing you, Merritt,” Jack confirmed, hitting the mentalist on the arm. “The first to die is always the oldest.”

“What, me?” Merritt yelled. “What about Sutton? She’s the girl!”

“Oh, you did not just say that!” Sutton growled, standing up and pushing her sleeves up her arms. Merritt gulped.

“Oh, this is going to be good!” Danny laughed, thoroughly enjoying his girlfriend sizing up her older partner.

“Hold on!” Jack shouted, standing up and getting in between the two. “I need popcorn first!” He ran to the kitchen.

Merritt gaped at Jack. “You all just want me to die, don’t you?”

“You did this to yourself,” Danny laughed as Jack sat beside him with a bag of white cheddar popcorn.

“Bring it on, old man!” Sutton instigated, putting up her fists and bouncing around like a boxer. Jack let out a whistle, making a comment about her ass to Danny, who shook his head, laughing.

“Alright,” Merritt stood, brushing off his hands and fixing his fedora. “I just have one request.”

Sutton put down her fists and stopped her movements. “What’s that?”

“That this be,” Merritt stated, a twinkle in his eye as his lips pulled into a grin, “a tickle battle!” He lunged for Sutton, pushing her onto the couch. His hands flew over her abdomen, making her squeal in laughter. Danny and Jack quickly joined in, not missing their opportunity to annoy Sutton.