|SomethingOdd/Jadam| Art & Oneshot Book [SLOW UPDATES]

Cocktails and Cottontails |📖🌌|

AN: This is an exotic dancer AU prompt. It's all very PG. This was originally going to become a book but I lost motivation after chapter 1. I did not want the primary focus of this book to be sex, I wanted to capture some of the realistic struggles of the sex work industry.

Sitting in the back seat of his "pal's" truck, Adam begrudgingly listens to their antics from the back window. From what he can pick up he should be prepared to get kicked out of a club. He guesses they ran out of bars to raid. Adam looks up at the sky, shuddering as the cold air rushes past him. He jerks forward with the stop of the truck. Sighing as he climbs out of the back of the truck, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.

"Ready, Bird-Shit?"

Adam stares at them for a brief moment before shrugging. "I'm going to take a quick smoke, first. Head in without me." He watches the other three shove each other around on their way into the club as he takes out his cigarette box. He flips open the top and swiftly pulls out one of the cancer-sticks to place between his lips. He finds it's easier to not think about whatever crazy shit he's doing so he makes sure to quickly light his cig and shove both the box and lighter back into his pocket. Slumping against the hood of the truck, he takes a long drawn-out drag before exhaling.

Stomping out the butt of his cigarette, Adam shifts his focus towards the entrance of the club. He takes a brief moment to admire the arrangement of neon lights adorning the front of the club. Taking one last sharp inhale he walks into the club. Glancing around for his accomplices, he's happy to find they're nowhere near his proximity.

Adam gently pushes past a number of people with the bar in his sights. Upon reaching an empty bar stool he takes a seat, patiently waiting for the bartender to finish what she’s doing before getting her attention.

“Thanks for waiting, it really helps me out.”

Adam looks up upon being addressed. “It’s really not a problem.”

The bartender snarks some while flinging a hand towel over her shoulder. “Well, is there anything I can get you? You can call me Jaiden by the way.”

“Oh-Uhm. A dry martini, please. I’m Adam.”

She turns around to grasp a martini glass. “Nice to meet you Adam, you're a funny dude.” She comments. She pours the first ounce of vodka into the shaker and reaches under the counter to fetch the vermouth.

Feeling somewhat bashful Adam just chuckles awkwardly at the remark, looking towards the stage of dancers. He finds himself staring at one particularly as he lets out a soft breath of awe at the swing of the dancer’s hips. He trails over the dancer’s features, the black velvet bunny ears atop his head, his smooth chest, his hips, the movement of said hips, and the fluffy black cotton tail that moves with every swift movement of the dancer.

Adam swallows harshly, feeling his mouth go dry as his face heats up.

“I know he’s really good, right? I wouldn’t try to get too attached though. We get guys all the time trying to get a “private session” with him. This is a hands-off policy club so “private sessions” aren’t a thing just so you know.” Jaiden says calmly, placing his martini in front of him.

“No- That's not- I’m not gay.” Adam comes to state, his face retaining a deep shade of red at this point.

The bartender raises an eyebrow. “If you say so. His stage name is Cottontail in case you wanted to know.” Jaiden leaves to take care of the next person with that final statement.

In return, Adam’s left trying to slow down the rapid beating of his own heart.

The dancer retreats into the back of the stage, catching his breath after the performance.

“James~”

“Oh no- Rebecca I’m still sweaty don’t you dare-” James’ warning falls on deaf ears as Rebecca tackles James in a bear hug.

“That. That right there was great. Did you see how the crowd looked at you? Specifically the handsome fella sitting at the bar? You should have seen his expression.”

James gets visibly more and more ruffled with the wiggle of Rebecca’s eyebrows as he gently prys her off of him. ”I don’t need a boyfriend.”

Rebecca raises her hands defensively, still grinning playfully. “I’m just saying, look out for the guy in a red hoodie. They don’t call me the “Girlfriend Fairy” for nothing” She teases.

James just shakes his head as he attempts to clear his face of the flush he developed throughout the course of that conversation.

“Rebecca does have a point…” Tim starts as he walks up to James. “Great performance, by the way.”

“I’m not that lonely, yet.”

“You watched "Five Feet Apart" then proceeded to cry about it to your pet rats…" Tim deadpans.

James opens his mouth to say something but closes it in defeat. "That was a one time thing." He musters up.

"There was also that time-"

"No- No. I get the point, geez."

Tim raises his eyebrows and chuckles some. "Look, I can't really say much but give it a chance. You'll find someone I'm sure of it."

James sighs softly and smiles some. "Fine. Only because I know you'll somehow get Jaiden on board with your matchmaking schemes."

"What? She was already on board since day one. Oh- And when you go to get changed tell Blocko he's up next. I think he's really on his way to coming out of his shell."

"You know, if you guys would stop focusing on my love life so much you would notice Blocko has a regular."

"Is that so? It might be a good step for him." Tim points out.

James playfully shrugs as he walks towards the dressing rooms, stopping to remind Blocko he's up next. Since Rebecca was doing finishing touches on Blocko's makeup and costume, James greets her as well before retreating into one of the rooms.

Pulling off the headband and shimming out of the pair of shorts he was wearing, he gently places them in his bag as he pulls out a light blue tee and some cargo shorts.

Changing into his far more comfortable outfit he sighs gleefully. At this point in the day he usually walks towards the bar to see how Jaiden was faring and to watch the next dancer. Since he was rarely recognized with his change of clothing it was more or less safe. Worse case scenario the bouncers step in to handle things.

James wishes Blocko a final good luck before making his way into the crowd of people to which he pushes past in order to reach the bar.

"Hey Jaiden!"

Jaiden sets down the glass she was drying to greet James with a set of finger guns. James reciprocates the action with finger guns of his own. They laugh some before Jaiden remembers a certain someone she met earlier.

"James. I want you to meet someone. This is Adam." She introduces.

James turns to greet Adam when his eyes catch on the red material he's wearing. He swallows dryly, recalling who Rebecca was teasing him about as he looks up to meet the person's eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Adam."

"Oh- Nice to meet you too...James was it?"

Word Count: 1208

I quite liked how this turned out. If you have any clever AUs or prompts you'd like to see, feel free to request. Criticism is much appreciated. ( ˘ ^˘)づ