The Burlesque Lounge (MCU AU)

Chapter 6

Peter

"Hold on a second I can do this!" I tell Tony and Rhodey.

"And I think it's sweet that you think you can." I put my hands on my hips.

"Tell me what you are looking for." He blinks at me.

"I'm looking for someone who can do the routine." Tony starts shuffling his papers, getting ready to leave.

"Excuse me? I'm talking to you." He turns to look at me. "Just tell me what you want."

"I can't tell you! Nobody can tell you. You gotta make me believe that you belong up there. That you own that stage and that nobody's gonna take it from you. That's the way it works. You wanna show me something? Show me that." I nod.

"All right. Which number do you wanna see? I know every single one of them."

"You know every single number?"

"Which one do you wanna see?"

"Bottons." He says. I nod, remembering what the number is. I hear the music start up and turn round, letting the music guide my actions. He gave me one of the girls' routines, probably hoping I wouldn't know it and that I'd fuck up. Jokes on him, I meant it when I said I knew every routine.

"What's going on?" I hear a voice ask as I begin dancing.

I end the song in the splits, simply because the ending instruction was to strike some sort of vaguely sexy pose.

"Well, I couldn't keep my eyes off him." I smirk as I stand up, hearing Rhodey's words.

"Try harder." Tony looks back at me. "Your split threw you off because you couldn't get down fast enough."

"Come on, Tony, I'll practice til I bleed. I know I can do this, if you'll just give me a chance." I plead.

"There are better dancers." He tells me.

"You think I don't know that? I've been dancing nearly my entire life. Didn't anyone ever give you a shot in life?" He tenses. I almost backtrack.

"Fine. You got the job." I try to contain my smile as the girls erupt into cheers.

Rhodey looks at me as Tony turns to leave.

"Meet me upstairs in ten." I can't help but smile as I look at Harley.

"Sorry for the short notice, but I quit." He laughs. "And with my new raise I will be off of your couch in no time." He just smiles at me.

"Congratulations, Ossining." I have to run down and hug him. "Okay, okay, I get it. Go upstairs."

"Alright, here are your costumes for each number you'll notice they are numbered, each number corresponds with a routine, as I'm sure you may have figured out by now." I'm piled high with clothing. "No drinking hard while you're scheduled, rehearsal every day from three to six, as I'm sure you know."

~~~

~~~

"Alright everyone, good job today." I hear as people begin packing up.

"Who wants to go for pizza?" I hear one of the other guys ask. I start packing up faster so I can go with them.

"God please I'm starving." Sey replies, along with a few others with variations.

"Ooh or we could go get wings?"

"What about Chipotle?"

"Food sounds great." I say quietly, still packing up.

By the time I turn away from my mirror, everyone is gone.

I sigh and put my bag down, going back to my mirror and taking off the makeup.

"Hey." I jump and see Tony in my mirror. "Where's everyone else?"

"Oh, they went to get food. I... I wasn't hungry."

"And Harley?" He sits next to me.

"Had to leave early."

"You need a ride?"

"I can walk."

"This time in the morning? Not happening."

"I've done it before."

"Not with my knowledge. Come on, I'll take you."

I smile at him and finish taking off my makeup.

~~~

~~~

I manage to get home quickly and find Harley on the couch, looking pissed off.

"Hey, you okay?" He jumps a little and looks at me.

"Yea."

"Bullshit. I'll make dinner."

"You don't ha—"

"I'm making dinner, and you are going to talk to me. What's wrong?" He sighs and moves to the bar.

"Nate and I were supposed to go to the circus this year, but he's stuck in L.A." I perk up.

"The Avengers Circus?"

"Yea, have you been?"

"Uh, yea. You could say that." I get a brief flash memory of a red suit. "I can take you, if you want? When were you guys gonna go?"

"Next Thursday, since it's a day show. You would?"

"Yea, definitely. If it's a day show we could be back soon enough to get me back to the club for pre-show rehearsal and warmups."

"You sure?"

"Oh yea, definitely." He smiles at me. "Have you ever been?"

"No, we never had the money when I was home, and Nate is always busy." He fiddles with the ring.

"Alright, well don't worry, my treat for you dealing with me these last couple of weeks." He looks back at me.

"You sure? I heard their tickets can get expensive."

"Don't worry about it. I have my ways."

"I'm not doing anything illegal." I laugh.

"It's not illegal."

~~~

~~~

"I'm pretty sure this is illegal!" I laugh as I open the door.

"No it isn't, trust me."

"'Staff only'. Does that mean nothing to you? Can you read?"

"Come on, you said you wanted to go the circus. We are at the circus, and I'm getting you the best seat in the house."

"Peter no one is even here yet, why are we hear so early? You are breaking and entering and you're gonna get us kicked out!"

"Come on, Harls." I grab his hand. "It'll be alright, trust me." He sighs all big and heavy, before following me into the back.