A/N: Written because I have the ABBA song, Dancing Queen, stuck in my head. Set kind of in the timeframe of Without You. I don't own Dancing Queen, RENT, or the Cat Scratch Club. Sorry.
The streets buzz with Friday's late night club traffic.
Cars and men swarm around the entrance of the Cat Scratch club, dying to get in and get a glimpse of the infamous Mimi Marquez.
Backstage, the said Mimi Marquez was touching up her eyeliner.
She yawned, her bright white teeth seemingly glowing in the dim light.
Today had been a long day, getting up at the crack of dawn. Then to the hospital, to visit her best friend, Angel.
Next, to check up on Roger, she could never get him out of her mind. Running a few errands, meeting the man for a brief passing of substance, and then home to get ready for work.
Now that she was here, Mimi was exhausted. The last thing that she wanted to do right now was get up in front of a huge crowd of people and dance.
But she had no choice.
She needed the money, now more than ever, especially with Angel's failing health. A person couldn't only live on a box of cereal and carton of orange juice a week, you know.
A blond dancer, Alana…that was her name, walked past and tapped Mimi on the shoulder. The latino sighed and flashed an alluring smile in the mirror before standing up from her chair.
Show time, she thought before walking away.
Right before she went onstage, Mimi took a deep breath and collected her thoughts.
As always, butterflies were in her stomach. Worry that she wouldn't be good enough to please. Mimi peered out from behind the curtain and saw a sea of faces. Waiting for something. Something important to them.
The lights flashed and the music blared even louder, signaling her cue.
Mimi sauntered out on the balcony above the stage and the crowd below her cheered. Getting to the railing she stopped and twirled.
A few wolf whistles were heard from the mass of people. She knew what the people were waiting for in that instant. They wanted her. They loved her.
Mimi moved, feeling the same sense of calm come over her as it did every night. The music became less blaring and the lights dimmed in her vision.
She was really getting into it now.
Twisting and twirling, swaying to the music, sashaying, swinging her hips just so, Mimi knew she was where she belonged.
When she was like this, she could make these men, and the occasional women, do whatever she wanted them to do.
She was armed and powerful.
Mimi danced and made her way over to a group of rowdy men. She relieved them of their cash and liquor and walked back to the center of the stage.
The crowds roared and Mimi smiled a dazzling smile at them.
This is where she belonged.
And she loved every second of it.
A/N: I made a lot of changes to this, and I hope you like this version as well.