The club music hardly trickled through the soundproof room, yet the bass still pulsed through the floor like a heartbeat, vibrating up through Harry's worn black converse.
The entryman squinted from Harry's ID back up to Harry's face doubtfully. "You're really 18? You look 14."
Harry smirked and rolled his eyes, swallowing his offense and trying to act gleeful. "That's what they all say! Looking young has its fun. I may be short, but I'm not short in partners, if you know what I mean." Harry winked. The man didn't look impressed at his pun. In fact, he didn't look impressed at all.
Harry itched to get past the entry door into the club and he was failing to brainstorm ways to convince the man of his false age. Harry had worked hard on that ID and dressing in a way that, he hoped, looked presentable. Black skinny jeans and a fishnet top under a leather jacket was suitable for a gay club, right?
The door to outside puzzed and opened. A man walked in, bringing the smell of the warm London night air to the small stale room. "Hey, Jim! Busy tonight?" he greeted the doorman by name, pushing past Harry as if he wasn't even there. He slid over his membership card and cash across the counter. An obvious regular.
"Well, it is a Friday, don't know what I expected. But yeah, it's packed! I need my first drink within the hour."
Harry was about to interrupt the conversation and protest at this rude treatment when the man looked down at Harry as if he had just noticed him. "Hey there, haven't seen you before!" He practically beamed at Harry, and Harry felt his heart flutter. all forgiven. The man was probably in his fifties, but he had the most amazing blue eyes that Harry had ever seen.
"I-I'm new, actually," Harry faltered. He let his gaze drop, which was a mistake, because now he was staring at a large bulge hardly obscured in tight fitting leather pants. He could feel blood rushing to his face. How was he supposed to convince the doorman he was of age if he was acting like a blushing virgin?
"You must have just turned 18, huh? Don't worry, I'll show you around. It can be overwhelming at first, but this club is one of the best gay clubs in London. You just need to relax and let it take you in." The man laid a hand on his shoulder and guided him through the doors into the white light before he could even quite comprehend his luck at getting by the entryman.
Harry was so taken with the view that he momentarily forgot the man by his side or the hand on his shoulder. There was a dance floor lit up in rotating neon colors, pulsing to the beat of the music. There was a pole with a dancer on it on a stage, and people all around dancing to the music. There was no end to glitter and leather and latex and rainbows.
The man steered him away from the dance floor and over to a bar across the room. The music wasn't so loud and the lighting was slightly warmer. The man seated himself on one of the spinning stools and motioned for Harry to do the same,
He greeted the bartender by name and gave his order, then turned to Harry. "What would you like? This one's on me."
"Oh, uh," Harry stuttered, "I-I'll have what he's having." He didn't even hear what the man had ordered.
"Good choice," the man winked. "I'm Jack, by the way."
"I'm H-Carl." Geez, he almost forgot to say the name on his ID!
"Here you go, lads." The bartender slid their drinks over the counter. Harry took a sip. It was a bit strong, but good. He didn't have enough experience with alcohol to tell what was in it, but he recognized the coke.
"You really go for the young ones, don't you, Jack?"
Harry almost choked on his drink as his eyes shot up to the bartender. The man was resting his chin on his elbow across the counter, casting a charmed look in Jack's direction. His glittering black shirt was low cut. He had hair pulled back in a ponytail, and he was definitely wearing some sort of purple eyeshadow.
Harry had never seen a man dress like that, but decided right then and there that it was hot.
"Come on, don't tease me like that, you'll scare the poor kid! He just turned 18."
The bartender regarded Harry now. "Is that right? Well, the next one is free then. Courtesy of your birthday!"
Harry's eyes lit up. The night was turning out better than expected. He was even getting a birthday present, even if it was a fake birthday! He swallowed a rather large mouthful of his drink in anticipation of his next one.
Jack chuckled. "Easy there, Carl! Maybe before your next one you want to try out the dance floor? I always find dancing more fun after a drink anyway."
Harry nodded. "Yes, that would be fun. I haven't danced much and I don't know if I'm any good." He took another sip. He had a feeling that by the end of the drink he wouldn't care if he was good or not. He was already feeling a bit buzzed.
"It's okay to be shy. It's rather cute, actually. And anyway, I bet you could move seductively if you wanted to. If not, I can show you how."
Jack had a playful smile on his lips but his eyes were serious. Harry could feel his face heat up in a blush. He cocked a smile and tried to flirt over the rim of his cup, aware that he probably only succeeded in looking stupid. "Well, we'll see, won't we?" He was feeling the effect of alcohol already, and it was pretty glorious.
He quickly drained the last of his drink and stood up. He swayed a bit on his feet, but steadied himself right away.
