thedemonmagnet: (hot)
Alexander Lavelle Harris ([personal profile] thedemonmagnet) wrote2009-02-14 09:28 pm

Catcratch Club Opening Night

Xander sat back in the 'backstage' area of the newly opened Catcratch clubbed, arms wrapped tightly around his knees and head buried in them. Why was he doing this? He knew he'd worried the Emcee, the guy kept making puking jokes around him. Xander almost wished he could puke, maybe he'd feel a bit better. Why had he agreed to do this? He hadn't even wanted Buffy and Wills to know about this and now he was stripping in front of a bunch of people that he could actually know this time. Of course, he knew why, he didn't want to let Helen down. It was the white knight in him, unable to not help a lady. Of course, he didn't know about her making him the main male act when there were others who had to be better. Not that he'd paid attention when the others were practicing. He'd been keeping his distance from Dick, Christmas kiss not withstanding.

He listened to the music as each person performed, getting closer and closer to his turn and the tension just kept building his shoulders. He didn't know how he was going to move, much less dance. It took everything he had to just keep breathing.

---

When the first beats of the song started, Xander closed his eyes, took a deep breath and let himself drift down to the place he'd found in Oxnard. A place that disturbed him for the fact that it even existed inside of him but was there all the same and gave him a skill he'd never thought he'd ever have to admit too. When he opened his eyes again, he felt almost like a different person. Normal!Xander had just about checked out.

While most of the other dancers had gone the costume route, Xander had decided to go the other direction. His costume were a loose pair of jeans and a loose hoodie, complete with sneakers. He moved and bent his body, just like he was expected, but the loose clothes kept his body hidden. Like he was hiding. Invisible. But then he began to tug and pulled at the clothes, exposing a bit of hip here, a flash of back there, until finally in one smooth, practiced motion, thehoodie was over his head and his jeans undone. But a t-shirt and the jeans remaining on his hips continue the tease. Somewhere in the song and movement his sneakers are off, the jeans fall down his legs unaided and t-shirt is pulled up and over. It seems almost natural, how they fall around his feet as he never stops moving. Finally, he's all uncovered except for the g-string...and the song is done. A tease from start to finish.

---

Once the song was done, Normal!Xander returned in force almost as soon as the last beat sounded. He bit his lip to stay composed as he gathered his clothes and moved off the stage. He exchanged a quick glance with Helen, saw that she seemed pleased and with a small smile to himself, moved off to find a place he could get dressed in private and then bolted as quickly as he could from the building. He'd meant to watch Helen perform, but at the moment, he couldn't think of anything besides panic. Finally, he stopped by a nearby palm tree, still in full view of the club but at least it wasn't completely obvious that's where he had come from. That is, unless they had just seen him dance. Oh god. He couldn't think about that and breath at the same time.

Why did he think this was a good idea? Why had he let Helen get this secret out of him? Oxnard was one thing. It was a matter of survival in place where he was another face in the crowd so he could get home to his girls. Here? What if Giles saw him? Or Clark? It was bad enough Spike worked with him. Why did the one thing he was good at had to be taking his clothes off? It wasn't like he even liked sex. Faith had terrified of the very word.

He sank down into the sand and just buried his head under his arms, resting against his knees. Why was he doing this? He had a blank slate to work with and this is what he did with it. He had to take a few deep breaths before he hyperventilated.

Find him before, during, or after he dances, just let me know.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-22 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know." Xander said almost immediately, looking over at her again, for some reason really wanting her to know that he didn't feel pressured into it or anything. "I mean...I know I don't have too. I'm just...I don't know. Conflicted I guess?"

He sighed and leaned back against the tree, head thunking softly as he closed his eyes. "I think I just don't want to give up on something I'm good at...no matter what I feel about it." He finally just blurted out, for lack of anything else. He felt he owed Helen that much at least. "I just wish I could either feel more confident or have enough conviction to not do it instead of this stuck in the middle."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-22 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Xander had to keep reminding himself that Clark was talking about him. He didn't think he'd ever heard himself described that way. Well yeah, he was friendly with people and he didn't mind making an idiot of himself sometimes to entertain people...but the way Clark was putting it made it seem so different. Like an almost strength. That was...weird.

Of course, all this was forgotten at Clark's last statement. Xander turned to him and visibly gapped. "I...umm...oh."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-22 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Xander had been about to protest to the part about rules in Sunnydale, because as far as he knew, there hadn't been. Places sure and his was sidekick and that was okay. Buffy was the hero, not him.

But everything was forgotten as Spike made him turn to face him, and was so close and said he... Xander could only just blink and stare for a moment. "You...you did?" His stomach was tight and he was finding it hard to breath for a moment...
not_the_s: (Kon: Smile)

[personal profile] not_the_s 2009-02-23 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, I'm going to take a leap here and guess that someone asked you. And you said yes." Kon glanced over. "I'm betting against your better judgment." He wasn't sure he wanted to ask how Xander knew how to dance like that. Maybe he was better sticking in safer territory.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Something like that." Xander said as he kept his head ducked down. "And I don't know about judgment. I think I lost any I had a long time ago." He didn't really know what else to say. He wasn't about to let Kon know about Oxnard and it was more how someone had got an embarrassing life story out of him that ended up with him sitting here.
not_the_s: (Kon: Pink Shirt)

[personal profile] not_the_s 2009-02-23 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh. Well, I guess that's like the rest of us, then." Kon didn't say which us because he knew that Xander probably wouldn't appreciate it. Now for all he knew, Kon could be talking about the general population of the island. "Hey, if it's any consolation, I didn't think you were horrible."

He definitely did not mention that Jill had seen him.

[identity profile] smallvilled.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe a little jealous," he said quietly, running his fingers through his hair, trying not to look at Xander because if he did things would just. Spill out badly and, of course, Xander would probably make fun of him. Plus there was that thing where Clark would get afraid and run away while blushing.

"Oh," he said afterward, echoing Xander, but he wasn't sure where to go from here. He cleared his throat. "Maybe I should leave you alone," he said quietly. "You probably don't need me crowding you or anything."
devilwoman: (conversation)

[personal profile] devilwoman 2009-02-23 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, you obviously have more confidence than you think, because you got up there and did it, and that in itself takes a hell of a lot of courage," Saffron pointed out, voice gentle. A slow smile curved her lips. "And I don't think it's a bad thing to be desired. You turned on quite a few people tonight with your performance, including yours truly."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 05:43 am (UTC)(link)
To be honest, Xander wasn't really listening. He was too busy digging into the sand with his toe and trying to keep breathing at a normal steady rate. Though he did snort softly at the last. "Thanks...I guess."

That was definitely best unmentioned, because Xander would just die of embarrassment.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
Xander wasn't really in the mood to make fun of anybody. He was still genuinely surprised that no one had made fun of him yet tonight, after what he had done. "It's not that big of deal..." He said finally, softly when Clark repeated being jealous. It was just...hard to be believe he envied him, especially about this.

He felt the tension in the air between him and despite the situation, Xander didn't really know where it was coming from. Did Clark regret telling him that he liked watching Xander dance? He nodded slowly, releasing Clark if he was that anxious to leave. "If you want...though," he couldn't help adding glancing around at the still. empty night, "I wouldn't exactly use the word crowding."

[identity profile] smallvilled.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
Clark tried not to be painfully obvious about things, so when Xander missed the underlying message in his jealousy statement, he couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head. Clark was the king of understatement. Maybe this was fate's way of telling him to let sleeping dogs lie. Though, he never quite understood what that meant. Maybe he was using it wrong. "Not exactly what I meant," he murmured before standing up and brushing some sand off his ass.

He looked down at Xander, tilted his head just a little, and held out his hand. "You could come with, if you want," he said. "Go for a walk or something." He glanced up. "I think it'd be a good time for a swim." Sure, it was at night, the island was cool, but Clark liked cool water.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
He couldn't help a small smile. When Helen put it that way, it didn't sound so bad. And it meant something coming from her, to the point Xander couldn't help a blush. "Thanks..." He said softly, looking up at her again and this time not looking down. "I guess, in Oxnard I just didn't care because I didn't know anyone. It's just... something I have to get used to here." He had to get used to being desired. It was odd, but true.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
Xander hadn't even considered any other option, not after the disaster that had been the kiss after he broke up with Jill and the months of not talking. In his opinion, Clark wasn't interested and that was fine with him. It was just nice to have his friend back. So, when Clark clarified, Xander frowned. "What do you mean then?" He asked curiously.

Then he considered for a moment and stood up with Clark. "I think I could go for a walk. If you don't mind, I think I've done enough taking off my clothes for the night."
devilwoman: (small smile by shelightsupwell)

[personal profile] devilwoman 2009-02-23 07:24 am (UTC)(link)
Xander was such a combination of sexy and adorable it made Saffron kind of want to take him to her bed and then bake him cookies afterward. And really, if she hadn't already made plans to go home with someone else, she might have tried to make it happen.

"It does make things a mite different, looking into the audience and seeing a bunch of familiar faces," she agreed with a little laugh. Saffron didn't mind it, especially considering several of those in the audience on any given night would already be pretty ruttin' familiar with what she was putting on display, but she could understand how it would make things a bit strange. "But not such a bad thing to have to get used to, right?"

[identity profile] smallvilled.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:36 am (UTC)(link)
Clark nodded. "Right," he snickered. "Of course." He slipped his hands in his back pockets. "A walk would be good," he said quietly, ignoring the other question. He was sure they'd talk about it again. Maybe. Possibly.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:37 am (UTC)(link)
That was a bit more then Xander wanted to know. He was beginning to not mind the desired part, but actions were a little far. Even the thought of it caused him to feel an invisible hand around his throat.

He shrugged slightly. "I guess not. And in all honesty, I just kind of blocked out the whole thing. I couldn't name you one person who was in the audience tonight. I guess it's just the whole, walking down the beach and wondering if the people I see know what I look like naked, kinda thing."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
They walked along in silence for a few minutes before Xander nudged Clark with his elbow. He hadn't forgotten his question. "Come on man, what did you mean? What are you jealous of?" He was starting to relax finally and he was curious.

[identity profile] fangyandgrr.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
Spike had meant the rules of morality, which Sunnydale had as much of as anywhere, though he'd personally always ignored them. But that wasn't important at the moment.

What was important was the look in Xander's eyes, making it clear he didn't believe him--but also that at least some part of him wanted to. "Oh yeah," he breathed, and then decided sod it. He closed that last bit of distance and kissed him, a surprisingly light and gentle kiss.

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
In all honestly, Xander was too shocked to reply, much less react. Heck, he swore he even stopped breathing for a second. Spike was kissing him! Kissing him.

When Spike pulled away, Xander could only gap and lick his lips in awe. "I...umm...wow." When he'd gotten up on stage that night, this had definitely not even been in the scop of what he thought might happen.
not_the_s: (Kon: Ballcap - Arms Crossed)

[personal profile] not_the_s 2009-02-23 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, come on," Kon said after a minute. "So you went up there. So did a lot of people, including Dick. It's done and over, now, and you can either curl up in your little ball of embarrassment, or you can pretend that it didn't bother you. I don't see anyone here teasing you about it, do you? Not even me and I pretty much tease everyone about everything."

[identity profile] smallvilled.livejournal.com 2009-02-23 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Clark didn't usually talk about this kind of stuff. When he did, though, that usually meant there was some sort of impending apocalypse and someone might die in battle (namely, himself). So, standing there, in the moonlight, on a island "paradise" wasn't exactly in the cards of his rolladex of scenarios in which he might say something like this.

Not to mention there was a whole thing about Xander having a penis and that being new (the attraction to him, not the fact that Xander had a penis, he clearly has had one the whole time. Clark was fairly sure of that, anyway.). Though, it probably wasn't the first time now that he thought about it, which colored the way he viewed certain friendships. Lex had always said he was repressed. Not in so many words, but that was the gist.

Clark stopped and sighed, turning so he could face Xander, and tried to find the words. 'Of them watching,' seemed to simple for something that was, to him, far more complex than anything else he'd dealt with. Well. Barring that whole alien thing he was still dealing with. This was like throwing fuel to the fire. Maybe they were right. Maybe there was something the water here. At least it was Xander, though. He could've done worse, though, right? Not to say that Xander was even the most remotely interested anymore, and Clark was fairly sure after his lamebrain farmboy actions, that ship had left the dock a while ago. For all he knew, Xander had someone new in his life. So, what would he accomplish in all this? Would this be for the better? Would he be willing to risk the friendship he'd just rekindled?

Leave to the farm boy to think himself out of it. "Of them," he said, finally. Figuring he'd do it now before he lost his nerve. He hoped that was enough for it to click in Xander's head. He crossed his arms, hugging himself a little in the cool night, and started the trek again.

"I'm thinking tomorrow I'm going to try a strawberry pie of some sort. Think there are cookbooks in the compound?" And just like that, Clark had changed the subject. He was good at that. Saving the world, putting himself in harm's way, avoiding emotionally raw conversations? That was Clark Kent in a nutshell.
devilwoman: (smile)

[personal profile] devilwoman 2009-02-23 10:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, if they do, it's a pleasant thought for them, I'd wager," Saffron assured him. "You're pretty easy on the eyes." Combine that with the fact that Xander was an absolute sweetheart, and Saffron wondered why someone hadn't snatched him up yet.

[identity profile] fangyandgrr.livejournal.com 2009-02-27 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"You think that's wow, you should see what else I can do," Spike drawled, smirking with amusement. "Just trying to prove my point."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-28 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Xander just gave him a look. "Your comparing me to Dick? And we are similar....how?" He paused. "Besides the, you know, male thing. And the stripping thing...and yeah, same question, don't listen to me."

[identity profile] scoobys-heart.livejournal.com 2009-02-28 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
It should be something that after what he'd just done, Helen could still make him blush so much. And yet, she'd also made him feel so much better.

Xander heaved a big sigh then looked up her with a smile. "Thanks. And hey aren't you supposed to go on soon?" He stood up and offered her a hand up.

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