Starstruck II: Saruman's Curse

The Cocktail Lounge Pt 2 (Stripper AU)

One night, at the station, Steve was in his room. No one was at the station at the moment. Steve took out his fireman's suit and put it all on. To the song Dangerous Woman*, by Ariana Grande, Steve started dancing around the small room. He peeled of layer after layer, rolling his hips and grinding as if he were giving a lap dance. He was down to just his suspenders and fireproof g-string. He got so into it that he didn't realize someone was standing in the doorway.

Steve whirled around and turned the music off. There, standing in the doorway, was his boss, the chief. The Chief's name was God, which everyone found really weird.

"By all means, don't stop for me," said God, sounding and looking suspiciously like Morgan Freeman. "That was very good!"

Steve mumbled a thank you, too embarrassed to look his boss in the eye. His face was flushed scarlet.

"Do you perform somewhere?" asked God.

"Not yet, but I want to work at the Cocktail Lounge," said Steve. "The man I love is there."

"I wish you the best of luck," said God. "You go get yo man! After all, true love will always prevail. Just remember, gay is okay."

God clapped Steve on the shoulder and then left. Steve stared after him in bewilderment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve went to the club one day and approached Paris. Paris was in their office, lounging behind their desk with their feet up on the desk. Paris looked up at Steve.

"What do you want?" they asked.

"I want to become a stripper here," said Steve.

"I only take the best," said Paris.

"I am the best," said Steve.

"Prove it," said Paris.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimmy was in the practice studio, working out and practicing with some of his co-performers, when Paris came in with someone in tow. But not just anyone. No, no, no. Jimmy would recognize that face anywhere, for it was the same face he saw in the audience every week, watching him and only him. Paris told everyone to come watch the audition. They put on Focus*, by Ariana Grande, and Steve stared his routine. He was dressed as a fireman, the outfit looking completely authentic. He stripped down to his g-string and suspenders by the end of the dance and left Jimmy all hot and bothered.

Paris and all the dancers there clapped for him. He was so good! Paris hired him on the spot and then told him to work out with the others to get rid of some of the flab. When Paris left the room, Steve turned around and made eye contact with Jimmy. It was as if they were gravitating towards each other. It was as if...they knew each other already...somehow. Jimmy lifted a hand and caressed Steve's face. Steve batted his eyelashes at him. And from there, they knew they were meant for each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next week rolled around and Steve was a full part of the team now. Steve and Jimmy had formed a steamy relationship and nothing could tear them apart. Steve's boss, God, continued to be supportive of him and he had not seen heads or tails or Shane. Shane's wicker folding chair was no longer on the balcony of the Motor Inn.

One day, Paris came back stage and said to the group, "Alright guys listen up. There's another strip club down the street called The Sultan's Tent. The owner said some things to me the other day and I wanna kill him."

"Paris, we talked about this," said Ashley. "You can't just kill people."

"I know, I know. That's why we're going to go over there and challenge them to be our competitors at the national stripper convention," said Paris. "And then when we win, I can kill him."

Ashley glared at Paris and Paris chuckled and said, "I'm kidding. God. Anyway, who's with me?"

Everyone agreed to the plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The National Stripper convention took place in Florida. The troop was ready. They had yet to actually meet this new strip club owner, but his troop was supposedly very good. But not as good as us, thought Steve.

The very next day, the show began. The first few troops were okay. Nothing to write home about. Then it was their turn. Backstage, Steve was nervous.

"Jimmy, I'm nervous," Steve said to his boyfriend, Jimmy.

"Don't be nervous Cherry Pie. We're gonna win this thing. You'll do great up there," Jimmy punctuated this with a caress of Steve's cheek and heated kiss.

Steve knew they would do great, but he was still worried about the possibility of something going wrong.

"Don't worry babe," Jimmy said again. "Nothing's gonna go wrong. All our equipment was tested before this and everything."

Steve lined up backstage and got ready for the show.

The troop was doing a routine themed "Vintage Burlesque". The girls opened the show with a spectacular performance. Then the boys went out. And all too soon, it was Steve's turn. He was being showcased in this show. With one last check over of his costume, he sat down on the sparkling swing that would be lowered from the ceiling. Everything was set.

Slowly, the swing lowered down and Steve was blinded by the lights and deafened by the audience. As the swing was still being lowered, Steve did his spinning routine on the swing, wowing the audience with his flexibility and skill and sexiness. He was just about to perform the dangerous, world famous stripper move called the Vietnamese Twist. His legs were wrapped around the chain and he was in position. His heart was pounding and sweat dripped from his nose. The climax of the music started up and he did the move.

But right in the middle of the move, the chains of the swing snapped and Steve saw the ground rushing towards him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve woke to the sound of beeping machinery. He cracked his eyes open and was blinded by bright lights. He blinked a few times and then there were voices all around him. Once his eyes adjusted, he saw that he was in a hospital bed and his friends were all around him. Jimmy was right there by his side.

"Oh my god, Steve! We thought you'd never wake up!" said Charlie.

"Cherry Pie, baby, we were so worried about you," said Jimmy.

"Did we win?" Steve croaked out.

Everyone looked at each other and Jimmy said, "No, we didn't. We were sabotaged by that Sultan's Tent guy."

"Where is Paris?" Steve rasped.

"They went to hunt that guy down. They killed him. He was just a normal guy named Sarumon. He had a family and they killed him..." Ashley said, shaking her head.

"Just hang in there Steve," said Charlie. "You'll be okay."

The heart monitor on the wall started to speed up and nurses ran into the room. Steve's friends all backed up but Jimmy still held his hand. Steve saw the girls look at him with pity and Kevin cried into Harry's chest. Then...the monitor flat lined. Steve was gone.

The last thing he saw before his soul left his body, was the light from the monitor got brighter and consumed the entire room, sucking him, and everyone else into it and into the next world.

By: Father Parpar