Open Stripper!Loki post (human AU)

[you_have_heart]

[The club is dark and the pulsing strobe lights are sure to overwhelm any who come in from the dark of the outside. There is a main stage where a lithe man twists and turns around a metallic pole, moving with the beat of the music. Surrounding the stage are patrons, some watching silently in rapt attention, other being more vocal in their appreciation of the dancer.

Should you approach the stage you will come up just as Loki sinks down to accept tips tucked into his strangely still-present thong.

Should you wait, Loki comes out into the club about 20 minutes after a platform takes him below the stage. He starts smoozing the crowd.

Comments

[you_have_heart]

"There is nothing wrong with that view." He hops off Steve's lap and collects his jacket from the table.

"If you want to keep talking I get off at 11. We could go grab a coffee."

[starspangledspandex]

He leans back in the seat, raising an eyebrow in surprise--that's it? He's surprised he hadn't tried to milk him for more blushes.

"You're the only person here that seems to think so," he tells him with a small scoff. The offer surprises him and he blinks at Loki, considering it for a moment. He's handsome, definitely. His mouth opens and closes for a moment, "Yeah, okay. Let's get coffee."

[you_have_heart]

He's quite happy with what he's earned. Besides his next set is soon.

"I'll meet you in front of the club as soon as I get out. If any of the others give you a hard time about leaving early, just tell them you have a date." With a wink he prances back over to Stark, collects a few hundred dollar bills, and disapears backstage once more.

[starspangledspandex]

"Okay, I'll meet you there," he agrees with a nod and he shoots Tony a dirty look as Loki goes to collect his payment. It's strange that he's getting a date out of this.

Is it weird to go on a date with a stripper? Probably. If he says he has a date, Tony is going to be all over figuring out who so that's not a thing that's happening. He can leave whenever he wants without an explanation. Hopefully Tony would just write it off as Steve being done with shenanigans.

[you_have_heart]

Loki dances his next set with his usual enthusiasm, making sure to make eye contact with Steve in the back of the room a few times.

He leaves the club around 11:15, most of the glitter and make up have been scrubbed off his face, though in the right light glitter can still be seen in random places. Instead of the suit he had Loki stays by the entrance, looking around for Steve.

[starspangledspandex]

He refuses anymore lap dances and silently threatens Tony with death if he sends any other strippers his way. Thankfully the man seems content with the embarrassment he's already caused.

Steve ducks his head the first time Loki meets his eyes but he is watching the man. He looks good. Very handsome. At least Tony had picked one that fit his tastes.

He stands up when it's time and excuses himself, waving off Tony's teasing to meet Loki out front. Steve still can't believe that he's going on a date with a stripper.

"Hey," he says with a small smile as he comes up to the other man. "Ready to go?"

[you_have_heart]

Loki nods and smiles.

"Yes, I am. Is there anywhere you wanted to go? There is a small shop just across the street that is open all night if you did not."

[starspangledspandex]

"No, I really didn't have anywhere in mind," Steve shakes his head and glances across the street.

"The shop is fine. I don't know the area that well."

[you_have_heart]

"Excellent. Follow me." Loki leads Steve across the street. The coffee shop is a a couple of blocks down.

"So what did you tell your teammates to get out of 'bonding time'?"

[starspangledspandex]

"Sure," he says with a smile and he follows Loki without hesitation. He doesn't rush the pace either. Steve really doesn't care how late he's up tonight.

"That it was late and I spent my required time 'bonding'," he scowls. "I think they were surprised I stayed as long as I did."

[you_have_heart]

"So what do you do exaclty?" The club had been warned of a large party coming in that night, but nothing more than that. It wasn't suspicious or anything. They hadn't booked a private party so nothing more than a courtesy call was necessary.

[starspangledspandex]

"We're... part of a military special operations team," he tells him with a small frown. It's mostly true. He wouldn't know what else to call it from the outside.

"We handle things that require a little more force and specialization."

[you_have_heart]

"Oh, sounds mysterious. I suppose you blow into town after some unexplained event, sweep some pretty thing off her feet and then leave once the problems all taken care of?"

[starspangledspandex]

Steve smiles slightly and shakes his head, "Some of that is accurate I suppose but I'm from here and I, well, don't sweep pretty women off their feet usually."

They are on a date, right?

[you_have_heart]

Loki grins at the women part. While he might have been a little awkward in the club but out here his flirting is rather charming.

The coffee shop is a small, cozy place. The barista behind the counter waves to Loki, giving him a knowing look when she spots Steve.

"What would you like?" Loki asks Steve when they approach the counter. "It's on me."

[starspangledspandex]

He feels far more at home outside of the club and he's trying to relax. Steve doesn't want to focus on what the other man does for a living. He's a person outside of his profession.

"Black for me, please," he tells her. "And a danish."

[you_have_heart]

Loki orders his own overly sweet drink that may or may not contain more sugar than caffeine, as well as a pastries. He pays for the drinks with cash and leads Steve over to a table in the corner.

"Thank you for coming with me tonight."

[starspangledspandex]

He grabs his stuff as they head for the corner and drops down into the seat across from Loki. Steve shrugs at the thank you and shakes his head, "Thanks for inviting me."

The soldier shifts, leaning forward in his seat against the table, "I was hoping you wouldn't think I was rude." Steve doesn't know how that works. Is it rude to refuse a lap dance from a stripper?

[you_have_heart]

Loki shakes his head, smiling.

"It is perfectly reasonable. I was a little shocked as I have not been turned down in a very long time, but it was no blow to my ego." He takes a sip of his drink.

[starspangledspandex]

"I can see why you haven't," Steve admits quietly and there's a bit of color on his cheeks, far more obvious here than in the club itself. "I'm glad it didn't upset you."

[you_have_heart]

"Why thank you." Loki gives him a coy smile over his mug "You are rather handsome yourself."

[starspangledspandex]

Steve smiles awkwardly and ducks his head, ugh why does he always get so flustered when someone compliments him? It's ridiculous. It's not like it's a rare occurrence either. It actually happens pretty regularly.

"Thanks, I'm glad you think so," he focuses on taking a bite of his danish. "So... what do you do when you're not working?"

[you_have_heart]

His modesty is adorable, or at least Loki thinks so. Steve's blush makes Loki's stomach do a flip. Surely he can't be the first one to tell him that. Steve isn't just good looking, he's down right drop dead gorgeous, especially that smile with those eyes...

Steve's question brings Loki out of his...revelry.

"I write mostly; take a few classes at the community college. What about you? What do you do when you're not saving the world."

[starspangledspandex]

He just remembers being the skinny asthmatic kid everyone picked last in gym class and beat the crap out of because he had an opinion. He's not used to being this incredibly handsome person still. None of this is exactly something he wants to explain to a civilian stripper.

"I've been catching up on some TV shows recently," he muses, because that is definitely the best way to say it. Sometimes he just wants to be Steve and not Captain America. A perfect stranger is a great way to do it.

"And I was taking art classes before the... organization recruited me. So I've been getting some of the kinks out sketching."

[you_have_heart]

"I imagine you don't have much time for recreation like television or art." Loki is only aware of the reappearance of Captain America in passing, but not enough to even remotely recognize that Steve was of a similar build and stature.

"If you ever need a model for practice, let me know. If you're staying in town that is." Maybe a subtle hint and a second date? Maybe just an offer? Loki's not sure himself.