Chapter 1: Private Dancer

WELL THE MEN COME IN THESE PLACES
AND THE MEN ARE ALL THE SAME

Duo stood silently in tight leather shorts, shorts that rode snugly on his limber, but fit frame. His hair was done in a flowing braid that rolled down past his butt and rested just behind his knees. He wore no shirt, but he laughed, he didn't need one for his profession.

YOU DONT LOOK AT THEIR FACES
AND YOU DONT ASK THEIR NAMES

Duo swirled his body expertly, allowing his body to gyrate and wrap around the cold steel pole. He ignored the cat calls and the leering suggestions that were given to him as he danced. /p

YOU DONT THINK OF THEM AS HUMAN
YOU DONT THINK OF THEM AT ALL

Duo slid down the silver pole allowing his legs to wrap around it as he allowed his long braid to fall luxuriously past him creating a chestnut coil that seemed to slink past his now seductively placed body. His amethyst eyes were clouded and seemingly filled with lust as Duo continued his act emotionlessly.

YOU KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE MONEY
KEEPING YOUR EYES ON THE WALL

Duo shimmied with an extra shake as he began striding the edges of the platform his lithe and firm body drawing out the lust and money from his spectators evident from the money now being placed in his thin shorts.

IM YOUR PRIVATE DANCER
A DANCER FOR MONEY
ILL DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO
IM YOUR PRIVATE DANCER
A DANCER FOR MONEY
AND ANY OLD MUSIC WILL DO

Duo restrained his disgust he did what he did for survival, he did it because he needed to, he did it because he had affairs to tend to and he did it because he was a predator and these men his prey.

I WANT TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS
I WANT TO LIVE OUT BY THE SEA
HAVE A HUSBAND AND SOME CHILDREN

Duo smiled sensuously as he lowered himself to the floor as he did the splits his groin bulging deliciously drawing moans from his watchers as he slid his hands over his lean and fit body.

YEAH I GUESS I WANT A FAMILY
ALL THE MEN COME IN THESE PLACES
AND THE MEN ARE ALL THE SAME

He didn't know what seedy song was playing, but he had a tune in his head that he gyrated to, that he allowed to push him as he bent over completely folding his body in half and producing for his audience a sight of a firm and pert ass.

YOU DONT LOOK AT THEIR FACES
AND YOU DONT ASK THEIR NAMES

He smiled at a customer as he lowered himself onto the customers lap holding his body just above the man's arousal never touching him, but giving the impression that he would. The man dropped a hundred dollar bill into Duo's shorts and reached out do pull the man farther down, but was disappointed as Duo vanished and repeated his seductive tease on another customer his eyes glazed, but fooling the customers.

DEUTSCHMARKS OR DOLLARS
AMERICAN EXPRESS WILL DO NICELY - THANK YOU
LET ME LOOSEN UP YOUR COLLAR
TELL ME DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE SHIMMY AGAIN

Duo rode the pole expertly his body moving in time to the music his mind blank and empty as he allowed his body to respond professionally to the cat calls he was receiving for his performance.

IM YOUR PRIVATE DANCER
A DANCER FOR MONEY
ILL DO WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO
IM YOUR PRIVATE DANCER
A DANCER FOR MONEY
AND ANY OLD MUSIC WILL DO

Duo smiled brightly as he entered the dressing room filled with other dancers getting ready for their acts. He spotted Solo already dressed in his leather pants with the velvet vest. Solo's deep brown eyes and shaggy hair and rugged looks at earned him the title of Rough Trade, but Duo had known the man since he had begun working here and knew Solo to be an old softy.

"As always Shinigami, you're the top earner." Solo smiled charmingly towards his friend. When Duo had first arrived that very fact had been point of contention for him, but he had learned a lot about Duo and knew the man earned every dollar he made.

"Aww Solo, you know if you weren't so old you'd be making at least what a nickel more." Duo laughed lightly back as he hugged his scantily clad friend. Solo was only a year older than him, but Duo used that year and between their jokes it always seemed as if Solo was three decades older.

"Whatever you long haired vixen. Tell Liam I said "Hi". And maybe me and you can do lunch sometime this week." Solo offered caressing Duo's cheek lightly. "You're a sweetheart Solo, but you know the rules and besides, I got work to do." Duo smiled softly as he turned to walk away. Solo sighed longingly as he turned towards the stage and made his way onto it and began his performance.

Duo quickly changed into a casual pair of black jeans and white t-shirt. Pulling out a gold chain with his favorite gold cross he put it on as he always did and undid his hair and re-braided it with efficient ease from years of practice. Putting his costume n his duffel bag Duo waved good bye to the other guys and walked out into the cool night air towards his small inexpensive black Saturn.

Turning on his music as he drove Duo began cleaning his mind of the filth of his job created. He didn't think he was better than them, but he didn't want to go home with that stuff on his mind either, that's how the job got to a guy he reminded himself. His radio blasted some easy going music as he began to toss his memories in his mental trash can. Slowly he turned onto his street and drove in the parking complex for his apartment.

Stepping out from his car Duo hummed lightly to himself as he gathered his belongings from the passenger's seat and made his way towards the elevator. It was late, probably about two o'clock in the morning, but he knew Liam would be up waiting for him as he always did, it had become for them a ritual. Duo smiled he was lucky to have someone like Liam in his life, he knew he didn't deserve him, but duo took whatever blessings he was given and cherished them for as long as he could.

Finally reaching his apartment Duo fumbled with his keys and just as he found them the door opened slowly. A kid about three feet two inches stood in the doorway long red hair the color of the sun cascading to the young boy's shoulders whispered along the boy's ears. The boy's brilliant amethyst eyes watched Duo closely as if ensuring that the man before him was real. The boy seemed wiser than his five years although his pajamas covered in trains and clouds betrayed him.

"Hey Dad." The kid said brightly as he watched his father pick up his bags. "Liam you should be asleep." Duo said in a serious tone although this was their ritual for every night he worked. "And you supposed to be doing homework." Liam responded on cue. Duo smiled brightly as he picked up his son with his bags on his arms as he walked into his apartment. "How was work daddy?" Liam asked as he was set down on the counter near the kitchen sink.

"What, oh waiting tables is always a bore." Duo said casually with a wry smile. He never lied to his son, he just happened to restrain certain truths.

"Can we go to the park tomorrow?" Liam asked innocently his purple eyes watching as his dad prepared for him his usual chocolate milk. "Well if when I pick you up from school tomorrow your teacher says you have been behaving well we will see." Duo answered as he began stirring in the Nestle's chocolate mix into a glass Borden's milk.

"I've been real good at school dad, tomorrow when you pick me up my teacher can show you my drawing, it got put in the hall it was so good." Liam said proudly. Duo turned around a huge grin plastered on his face as he picked up his son and spun him around the kitchen closely. "IS that the surprise you were telling me about earlier?" Duo laughed as he hugged his son. Liam nodded in his father's shoulders as he hugged the man that always seemed to be at all of his school functions and always seemed to be happy for him and his accomplishments.

"Well then it seems we may have to stop at an ice cream parlor to." Duo smiled as he handed his son the glass of chocolate milk. Liam smiled brightly before he began sipping on the small glass of chocolate milk. He watched as his father prepared himself a plate of food from last night's leftover Chinese food and then giggled when his father huffed at finding no more Chinese food in the refrigerator.

Suddenly Liam heard a gasp as his father pulled out a plate with Chinese food neatly arranged and covered with a top from one of the pots in the cupboard. "Liam did you prepare me a plate?" Duo asked with a smile. Liam nodded vigorously as he watched his father place the plate in the microwave after removing the top. Liam always made Duo a plate, but Duo never let it go by without showing his appreciation for his thoughtful son.

"I love you so much Liam." Duo said as he hugged his five year old son. Liam hugged him back and jumped off the counter with a graceful hop. "I love you too daddy, but I got school tomorrow I got to go to sleep now." Liam said in a matter-of-fact tone that brooked no argument. Duo laughed as he follow his son into his son's bedroom. Liam climbed into his bed and pulled back the cover with the paintbrushes and pails of different paint colors. Duo kissed his son's forehead as he pulled the covers up to Liam's chest.

Turning to walk away duo closed the door leaving it slightly open so that the bathroom light would shine through and keep the monsters at bay. Duo smiled at the thought as he went and got his food from the microwave and sat down at the table and allowed his mind to relax completely. He would start doing school work after his shower and then after an hour's long nap he'd get Liam and take him to school. Then he'd head off to class and pick Liam up after classes.

He'd go home with the boy and help Liam with his homework before spending some relaxation time with his red headed son. He smiled, he hated his job, but it paid for his apartment and put food on the table for Liam. Simply for the fact that it allowed him to spend time with his son was enough for Duo. He was a night dancer so he could be a day father to his son. He had no regrets about his job and he knew that he would do it over again if he had the choice, Liam was a bright light in his world and Duo knew that Liam's light was worth any amount of trouble he would have to endure.