Levi woke to the distant sound of water running.
Turning in the bed he found his pants were removed and his shirt was unbuttoned. Sitting up slightly and looking around the area, he found his clothing were folded neatly on the couch.
He felt an odd sense of pleasure at seeing his items properly cared for.
Sighing, he threw the covers away from him and padded towards his items. Sitting on the couch, he moved toward his pants looking for his wallet. He could still tip the brat, even if things didn't go exactly as expected. He must have fallen asleep, running a hand down his face he felt a strong headache coming on. Whether it was from the crying due to the emotional mind fuck, or the alcohol, Levi didn't know nor did he care.
The second door opened and Levi froze in his pursuit, the wallet momentarily forgotten as the man returned to the room with a tray holding a pot and cookies. Smiling warmly at Levi, he sat the items down on the pedestal next to the stripper pole. Sitting on his knees, he began to pour Levi a cup.
"Sorry, I don't drink coffee. Tea is all I have on hand, really. But I figured, why not." He replied shrugging, blowing on the tea's surface creating small ripples in its wake, he handed Levi the cup.
Eyes glued to the carpet, Levi muttered a thanks and took the cup. Careful to hold it by the rim and not the handle, Levi sipped quietly.
The younger narrowed his eyes in thought as he watched Levi sip, but instead of commenting on the odd way he chose to hold the cup, took a cookie and began chewing on it.
"Why does this place serve weird ass things, like cookies?"
The brunet snorted, and quickly covered his mouth with his hand as he laughed.
"Cookies are awesome! They provide a sense of comfort, you know? Like when you were young and your mom gave you comfort good after a long shitty day. An innocent item in a lion's den such as this? This place can really get intimidating. But the point of it here, at least I like to think, is to find yourself and express yourself freely without judgement. The world is hard enough as it is, and people need somewhere to retreat to. A sanctuary. A place to live openly, if even for a night. So, this cookie? It's a peace offering disguised as a symbolic comfort."
Levi felt his mouth twitch at the honest if not slightly silly confession. He leaned over and took a cookie, turning it slightly and feeling the weight of it in his hand, he took a bite. Holding the piece in his mouth for a moment he felt the younger man's eyes on him excitedly waiting for a reaction.
Levi nodded and brought the cookie to his lips taking another bite, "They are good."
Pleased, the younger man nodded and finished off his cookie. "Thanks! Their home made."
Levi's eyebrow rose with interest.
Grinning sheepishly, the brunet rubbed the back of his neck. "It's my mom's recipe."
"Do you supply the whole building?"
Chucking slightly the young man eyed Levi. "No, the outside ones may contain a bit of a – special mix? Like special brownies, it helps to take the edge off. Mine are pure."
Levi scoffed at the choice of words suddenly growing irritated. Pure? This place was for tricks and trades, this wasn't real. The fucking brat was being paid for a service. He didn't want him. He was paid to fuck him. To give him pleasure. This wasn't real.
This ISN'T real! His mind screamed and he promptly dropped the cup onto the tray.
"Hey, don't do that." The younger man crawled over to Levi and wedged himself in between his legs. Pulling himself up, his hands cupped Levi's ass and he leaned into the raven's face, forcing Levi to retreat into the couch. "Judge the place, don't, whatever. That's up to you. But don't retreat back into your mind." Bringing Levi's hand into his own, he kissed his knuckles and looked into Levi's eyes. "Don't leave me out here without you."
Levi swallowed and felt his face heat. He had felt vulnerable before, but now he was just getting annoyed at how the little shit was manipulating his emotions and pulling at the strings of his heart.
This isn't real. He doesn't care about me. Fuck, he doesn't even know how pathetic I am.
Wrenching his hand out of other's grasp, he met the ocean eyes with a challenge and his voice dripped with venom. "Tell all your customers that?!"
Appraising him wearily, the younger man sat on the balls of his feet and he slowly dragged his hands to rest near Levi's knees.
"No" he whispered, sighing softly. He stood and lifted himself onto the pedestal and moved in circles around the pole, his hand caressing the cool metal. "I started working here when my mom got sick. She didn't want me to quit school, but with my dad gone, someone had to pay the bills. I worked a couple of jobs, but knew I had to make money fast, so I got my bartending license, got experience. Someone introduced me to this place. That's how I ended up here. Once you get used to the environment, it's not so bad. The pay is actually really good and I got to quit one of my other jobs. And for the record, I'm not a stripper. I'm a fucking bartender." Jumping off the platform, the pilot sat back onto it Indian style, leaning his back against the pole he eyed Levi steady; unafraid.
Levi's eyes narrowed. "Am I supposed to buy this shit?"
"I have no reason to lie to you" the other shrugged, looking harmless. Waving his hand around the room he continued. "The rabbit hole, this area, that's different. The workers volunteer themselves willingly to clients, or they're chosen, selected at random and whatever happens, happens. It's all done with consent. I go from the first room with the standard stripping to the club room, making drinks and such. Sometimes I act as a waiter if someone called in sick, or need to escort a group around. Sometimes I go into the cages and just dance in them, there's no harm in it. I never come into these happy ending rooms. Until now that is."
Resting his elbows on his knees, he leaned closer to Levi meeting his gaze intently. "I volunteered for your room."
Levi wished he had something to hold onto, something to fiddle with in his hands to take some of the nervousness away. He met the other's eyes head on and his pulse quickened. "Why?"
"Because I noticed you when you walked in and it… I don't know, awakened me, and I just knew… I just felt, I don't know, drawn to you. I wanted to meet you. I wanted to talk to you, I just wanted a chance…I just wanted to get to know you better. And yea, ok, this isn't the most romantic place but…" struggling with the words the younger man's eyes flickered around the room and landed back onto Levi's own. His green eyes shown brilliantly with purpose and held such a tenderness that made Levi gulp and look away as the last words were spoken. "I want to be with you."
Levi wanted the earth to open him up and swallow him whole. The earnest statement would have prompted tears from his eyes if he didn't already feel numb inside. This was too much. This was too surreal. In what universe…what kind of sick cosmic joke is this? To believe he was special? To be noticed? To be wanted by him?
Shaking his head Levi waved his hands in dismissal and stood. "Sorry kid, this is getting way too much for me. Too…" Levi trailed off putting his pants back on, turning to give the brunet his back.
He still felt eyes on him. This was too real. Too fucking weird. If he didn't fall asleep they would have fucked and Levi would have gotten him out of his system and then that would have been it. Done. The next day they would have gone back to their lives like nothing happened and Levi would have masturbated to the memories of this night for the rest of his life.
Instead, he was getting attached to the little shit head and felt the need to run from the room screaming obscenities, ignoring the pain in his chest as his heart grew in size.
