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Ever stood by the window from Coe’s office, watching down over the street below as traffic passed by. Below him the others were spread out through the garage bay. Some were working still, trying to keep up with their shift before they headed out for the night.
The others had slowly sauntered in over the last hour, surprising Coe. He had watched them all curiously, returning their greetings even though his look was suspicious as they ranged about the bay as if they had nowhere better to be. Especially when Malachi came in with Nico, all long and lean and more deadly than the room combined, dressed all in black with a patch on his sleeve. It was a lopsided hourglass of sorts with some other small symbols around it within a circle.
It was that symbol that Jericho had considered for a long time before he made his announcement to the room.
“Freckles is on his way to get me and we’re heading out for the night. Make sure you shut everything down and don’t use this place for whatever party you’re planning.”
“Course not,” Nico said with a grin. “We would use the dorm next door.”
“But we’re not,” Shiloh said, giving Nico and Malachi a look. Malachi held up both pale hands in surrender as if he had said anything. “We’re going out and I promise I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of before we go.”
Coe nodded, glancing between Shiloh and Ever who was standing a few steps down on the metal staircase that led to Jericho’s office. “I trust you two to make sure things are taken care of before you go. Thanks.”
There was a honk outside, a quick burst that they all knew came from a car worth more than most of the building. Atticus might not be interested in the family business, but he definitely lived to Mulvaney standards.
The moment that the standard metal door next to the massive closed bay doors closed behind Coe, Shiloh turned to look up at Ever. “You’re on.”
Ever hurried up the stairs, racing for the window. They all stood perfectly still, almost holding their breath and waiting.
“They’re gone,” Ever called from the office, not yet coming down the stairs.
Arsen reached up and tugged so that the hood of the car he was working on slammed shut with a metallic ring.
“Turn it all the way up,” he called back, wiping his hands on a rag as he glanced around at the others and gave a nod.
Just as the first strains came through the speaker, Ever appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Whatcha gonna say?”
“Sit back and relax man,” Malachi called back as he moved to the bottom of the stairs, holding his arms out as the others sang their parts.
“I got time but it’s not for you, bro? Don’t you realize what I’m saying?”
Ever slid down the railing and into Malachi’s arms. He spun like a ballerina, all grace and fluidity despite the skin tight black leather pants and long almost tunic tank he wore and set Ever down easily on his feet.
Never once did anyone break the rhythm, singing in harmony with one another and their Korean fairly passable. With all the practice they’d put into it, as well as the choreography at Malachi’s studio, they should be at least passable.
By the time the chorus hit, they were circling the car that Arsen had been working on, facing one another.
Shiloh’s voice was bright and sweet as he sang. “느껴봐라 이게 우리 소리야. Come on everybody!”
“Slow it down, make it bouncy,” Seven sang as they all arched back with each pop of their chest, moving in unison.
The words came easily and while not all of them moved as gracefully and on point as Malachi, they were not going to let him show them up.
“고갤 저어 Bounce bounce. 하늘 위로 Fly fly.” Seven never sang but for this song, for tonight, he would and put his all into the rich deep tones.
Ever nearly ruined things, unable to help from laughing as Malachi was suddenly standing on top of the car Arsen had been working on, his hips rolling with his lines in the song.
“출신 위치 나이 종교 나라까지
허물없이 전부 It doesn't matter…”
He took a breath, they all did.
The music died.
Everyone froze before turning as one to look towards the door.
Jericho stood just to one side of the door he had recently exited, the breaker box flipped open and the breaker to his office flipped under his fingers. In his other hand was a satchel he had sat by the door earlier and obviously forgotten.
“Get down.”
Malachi stepped off the car like walking down a path and landed with one leg out, a hand on the ground before him to maintain his balance. Nico giggled.
“Superhero pose,” he whispered, causing the others to giggle, too nervous to do anything else as they all stood perfectly still.
“Why are you singing Ateez and since when do any of you speak Korean?”
“How long was he standing there,” Seven muttered.
“Why does he know Ateez?”
Everyone’s heads turned to look at Lake and the back to Coe.
“Noah got you tickets?” He ignored all their other questions, Coe’s dark gaze skipping from one to the next where they were circling the car.
“Arlo did, so I would say Calliope,” Levi admitted.
Coe nodded. “Don’t embarrass me,” he said, heading out the door, letting it slam behind him.
They were silent for a long time before Ever cleared his throat. “Jericho is going to the Ateez concert?”
“That’s not the weird part,” Malachi said, his expression screwed up and so confused. He took the world one step at a time, never letting it confound him. That look was almost as bad to the others as what he was obviously thinking about.
“What’s weirder than that?”
“Atticus is going with him,” Malachi said.
“Freckles is going to see Ateez?” Seven looked at Levi, who shrugged before murmuring. “Maybe he’s just driving him?”
Arsen nudged Ever. “Call Arlo and have him find out where they’re sitting. I need to see this.”
Ever was already typing on Arsen’s phone that had been laying right there.
“Do you think he’s wearing a suit?”
“I don’t think he was,” Ever said. “But I only caught a glimpse of him through the window.”
“I just hope he dances so I can get video of that?” Levi said, clearing some space on his phone. Just in case.
“Of what? A guy with no rhythm?” Malachi asked with a shudder.
Levi smirked. “Of Atticus Mulvaney with no rhythm.”
“You can’t sell it to a tabloid,” Arsen warned, giving him a look.
Levi snorted. “Of course not. I would never do that. I will though sell it to Adam so he can send it out as a Christmas video card,” he pointed out, giving Arsen a shove. “Go change. I’ve got money to make on this concert.