AN: Not sure I'll finish this story. Depends what people think. Please Review ^.^

Rating: M for Adult Themes & Profanity

Pairing: Laura/Julian

History: M Day has not happened & Laura's backstory is edited slightly.

Plot: AU. Julian gets a surprise when his friends sneak him into a 18+ club for his 17th Birthday. Laura is a dancer there, having runaway from home. Becoming worried for her niece, Debbie contacts Logan who brings Laura to the mansion. Neither Julian nor Laura expected to see each other again, yet here they are.

How the hell was she late again!? Looking at her watch, she noticed it took an hour to catch Megan up on the minor details in her life and another fifteen minutes to make sure her cousin wasn't following her to work. As much as she liked Megan she didn't trust her not to run back to Debbie about her recent activities. She told her enough so her aunt wouldn't worry and that was it.

Rushing into the Midnight Inferno, she ignored everything else till she was inside. Looking around, Laura saw the usual high end clientele spending their hard earned money. Must be payday. She couldn't help, but curve her lips into a small closed mouth smile. They were going to make some good money tonight. Looking to the bar, she saw Chloe had already made up shop causing her smile to fade instantly. If Chloe was at the bar it meant Zeb knew she was late.

Damn-it!

How the hell was she going to be able to get out of preforming now? Ever since she started working at the club a few months ago, Zeb had one goal and that was seeing her up on stage or getting a private show. She'd been able to avoid both, but it looked like tonight was going to be difficult. Maybe he was to doped up to notice? Don't get your hopes up. A small voice in her head told her.

Sneaking over to the bar the best she could without Zeb catching her, she was hoping Chloe would be able to trade. Chloe didn't have a problem with the stage, she felt more comfortable up there then mixing drinks having been a dancer for three years now. "Hey Chlo, mind if I take over?"

A smile crept across the young blonde's face who placed down the shaker in her hand. "Thank God Laura! I've had five orders and I have no idea if I gave them a sex on the beach or a screwdriver," The raven haired girl gave a small smile at her co-worker who could drink the stuff no problem, but mixing was a completely different story. Chloe began to take down her hair, getting prepared to go on stage when suddenly they both stiffened and smiles dropped at a voice they didn't want to hear.

"Not so fast darling," Zeb. A man in his early thirties that looked more in his forties, with greasy brown hair that matched his eyes. He was about 5'9 being only slightly taller then any of the girls working. A decision he made to make him feel superior. With little muscle mass, the guy had a long crooked nose and pasty white skin that reminded Laura of the guy from Willard but more disgusting. Mixed that with his sleazy personality and she just about cringed at the thought of someone touching him willingly.

The slimy weasel came out of the back room sniffling and wiping his nose clean as two VIP clients exited the room heading over to the viewing area looking rather pleased. Zeb probably promised them a private showing to each of them for a significant amount of some form of substance or money. Anything to get himself high. She really disliked the man. "You're staying right where you are," He gave a sickening smile in Chloe's direction before looking at Laura. "As for you, you're going on stage in five…unless you're willing to work off your tardiness in other ways," His eyes wondered down her form before he grabbed her ass making his meaning more apparent.

Instinctively, Laura removed the man's hand the moment it touched her, twisting it behind his back almost breaking his wrist before slamming him against the bar. She hadn't even realized what she'd done till she heard the glassware shatter to the ground and a few people gasping in aw. Looking at Chloe, she could see shock and disbelieve painted across her face. No one did that to the boss. Ever. What had she just done? Dug yourself a hole about 6 feet deep.

Releasing Zeb, she could smell a hint of panic that he quickly masked. He turned to face the young woman with rage being the only clear emotion on his face. Shit. Laura had seen that look and knew what was coming. She was going to have to just take it. He back-handed her harder then she'd expected which made her stumble a little, having to brace her hands against the bar. It stung, but nothing more. "You don't have a choice now bitch!," The venom in his tone was unmistakable. "I want to see your ass on that stage now and you're visiting me afterwards," He sniffed again rubbing his nose with his good hand before going to check on his other employees. He held his injured wrist and hand to his torso trying not to be noticed. Not wanting to appear weak.

Watching, the poor excuse for a human being walk away from her, Laura partially threw up in her mouth. The image of what he had planned made her physically ill so much she thought she was turning green. Maybe he'd forget? "You okay?" Chloe asked distracting her from having her imagination go too far.

Looking at the older woman, she rubbed her cheek in an attempt to make it look like it hurt more then it did. She couldn't even feel the hit anymore, but she wanted to appear human. "Yeah…I don't know what came over me," It wasn't a lie, yet she knew she didn't like being touched that way. She didn't like being touched period. She hadn't expected to retaliate though and it took all she could not to rip out his throat after he struck her. Where did that come from?

"That guy's a sleaze ball," Chloe was trying to justify Laura's action's for her. "I might have done the same in your position," They both knew it was a lie, but they played it off like it wasn't. Laura had already seen Zeb get hands on with other girls, counting Chloe, and none of them had done anything to stop it. Too afraid. That was what was expected of this job though. Laura knew that and knew she had to blend in better if she wanted to keep it.

"I better get up there," She hated the stage. Not having much practice, Chloe and a couple of the other dancers had taught her a few things over the months, but she still wasn't comfortable. It had nothing to do with nudity like with some of the girls. It had more to do with all the eyes on her. She didn't like attention, she enjoyed blending into the background, observing. Before she headed backstage, Chloe made a comment about her clothes, reminding her she would have to change. This night keeps getting worse with every second.

Just think of it as a performance. Chloe's words from practice entered her mind as she slipped off her usual clothes to put on something more "appropriate". The club, or rather Zeb, liked for their employees to wear next to nothing when on stage and Laura wasn't wearing the right undergarments for that. Next time she would be prepared with her own outfit, but for tonight she had been provided with a two piece black rubber like halter top and booty shorts that preceded to have three red stripes that reminded her of claw marks running down the right side of the top, matching the shorts.

You're acting, putting on a show for everyone else. They allowed her to keep her black fingerless riding gloves since they matched the outfit and her hair was pulled back in a bun like capacity without the tie as they placed a 1920's gangster top hat over it that she didn't think went with the outfit. It wasn't her call though. Listen to the music. Move to it and don't think about anything else. Her black, lace up the front, boots were another item she got to keep.

Lined up, backstage, Laura waited patiently for her turn. Remembering the steps wasn't hard, it was more the uncomfortable smell and sounds she could pick up from not being behind the bar. Everyone was so loud at the bar and she was so focused on drink orders, she could drown out everything else. Plus the occasional client would buy her a shot. Something any seventeen year old would be willing to take. It took her longer to get drunk then normal people so no one noticed. Not like Zeb would care anyway. Monica and Janice were in front of her so she had about six to seven minutes depending on the announcer before she was on stage. What she wouldn't do for a shot right now...or maybe twelve.

As the time eclipsed, and they came back one by one, Laura resisted the urge to take a deep breath in and out not wanting the scents to distract her more then they already were. She had heard all the cheers from Monica's and Janice's fans and it made her wonder if that's what she was going to get. Just let go. Closing her eyes, she listened as the announcer began to deliver his opening lines for her act. "For the first time ever on stage at the Midnight Inferno, I'd like to present a creature unlike any other!" Laura got her game face on and began to strut onto the stage as the lights went down to add more to the show. "For tonight only, she's come out of her cage just for you" The music began to play as the lights slowly began to turn on."Talon!"

"We're not going to get in," Josh stated as they stood outside the club with the semi big neon blue sign that read Midnight Inferno in front, hanging just a few feet off the ground from them. It was Julian Keller's 17th birthday and Santo had the idea of sneaking into an 18 plus club. Naturally, Julian and Brian were right behind him. The only other person that seemed to have a brain when it came to the subject was Kevin. Josh had no intention of sleeping in a cell or whatever they did to teenagers that tried to sneak into clubs. Not to mention if Laurie found out…

Kevin Ford was in a long sleeve shirt designed with a hood attached and a pair of black leather gloves on. The only skin showing was his face which was hard to see with his hood up. "I'm with Josh," He stated not wanting to go in for his own personal reasons. What if someone bumped into him or decided to touch him? "Even if they don't question our age, we don't know how they feel about mutants,"

"Aw come on!" Santo patted the two of them on the back causing them to move forward urging them into the line that was formed outside the club. "All Julian has to do is drop his name and they'll let us in," That had been their experience all night.

Julian rolled his eyes at his friends. Yeah, his name had gotten them a few extra perks, but that didn't mean it was going to get them into a strip club. "Not guarantying anything Santo," He walked into the line ahead of the other three, standing next to Brian. He didn't care one way or the other weather they got into the club or not. As far as birthdays went this had turned out to be a good one so far compared to his past experiences at home. That's not to say, he wasn't going to at least try, he was male after all.

As the line continued to move and they were to be the second to next ones up, a woman with jet-black hair pushed by them seemingly to not even notice Josh or Santo's appearance and caused Brain to bump shoulders with Julian. "Watch it!" A small smile curved on his lips at her voice. Fierce and determined. Not to mention she was gorgeous. Did she work in the club? Suddenly the idea of getting in became much more appealing to him. You're trying to get with Sofia. Trying being the key word. He wasn't tied down to anyone, which meant he could look all he wanted.

When they reached the bouncer, the man gave them a disbelieving look before asking for their IDs. Julian pulled his out first and handed it to the man to examine. The man's eyes suddenly looked like they were going to pop out of his head when he read the word Keller. "Yep, and I don't think you want us to cause a scene" Julian told the man with a grin on his face as he gestured slightly to the giant pile of rock standing a foot behind him. The man, quickly calculating his options, took out his black marker attempting to label them with Xs on both hands to show they were under the legal drinking age before asking for the cover fee.

Once inside, the group of five walked down the dark hallway lined with blue strobe lights on the floor moving slower then others around them as they tried to take it all in. They had gotten in. They had actually gotten in. "Alright dude!" Santo just about yelled becoming super excited. "Happy Birthday man!"

The electric-blue eyed mutant couldn't help but give a small chuckle at his friend. "Thanks" With that, Santo was off to explore on his own. Julian shook his head at this, knowing his friend was beyond ridiculous. When the other four reached the main room, all their mouths dropped at all the hot sexy women around. It was a dream, it had to be.

The boys caught sight of three women started dancing in sync on the smaller individual platforms surrounded by men ogling them as they moved on the poles provided. Julian had no idea a woman could climb that high, holding their legs out straight as they held onto the pole without being a mutant, but they did so beautifully. "Damn! That is….wow," Brian and Josh nodded beside him as they watched one of them wrap her legs around the pole and slide down with ease while keeping beat to the song.

Kevin stood beside them, trying to look at anything, but the women wearing hardly anything. He wasn't use to this and felt very uncomfortable. All it took was one wrong move for there to be an accident. "Guys…I think I'm gonna head back to the mansion," They turned to look at their fellow mutant with questionary eyes.

"The birthday boy hasn't even gotten his lap dance yet," Brain joked resulting in a light punch to the shoulder from Julian. "Ah! Learn to take a joke man," Brian rubbed it pretending it hurt more then it did as they both smiled at each other.

Josh, not really wanting to be there himself, stepped up to make it less awkward for Kevin seeing his eagerness to leave. "I'll head back with you," Brian and Julian both looked at Josh wondering why he'd pass on an opportunity like this. "It's getting late, and if Laurie finds out bout this, my ass is gonna be in a sling," Josh and Kevin said their goodbyes to the other two, wishing Julian a happy birthday again before leaving Julian and Brian to figure out what they were suppose to do next.

They scanned the area for Santo and easily spotted him standing at the bar trying to hit on the blonde bartender. Everyone in the club seemed to be avoiding their friend, which wasn't surprising to Julian. Santo often scared humans with his appearance. Little did they know, he was like a harmless kitten when it came to him being violent. "Is this rock head giving you a hard time miss?" Julian asked, his tone joking.

The blonde smiled, giving a light laugh, as Santo threw his hands up. "I wasn't doin anything," Brian and Julian both laughed, before pulling up a stool.

"What can I get you?" Chloe asked finding these three to be rather refreshing compared to the usual clientele the club attracted. She was probably one of the few people in the place that didn't have a problem with mutants, her nephew being one. Not wanting to push their luck, they all ordered regular sodas. "You guys are new to this scene uh?" She asked knowing the truth just by their demeanor.

When asked, the boys tried to pull it off like they weren't, but once it was clear she wasn't buying it, Julian spoke up. "is it that obvious?"

Chloe gave a small laugh at them again. They seemed so disappointed. "Yeah, but it's always someone's first time," She said trying to make them feel better. They looked a little young to be in there, but she remembered what it was like to be a teenager pushing the limits. Besides, she was a bartender/dancer, not a bouncer. "You guys came on a good night, we have performances every Friday and tonight is one of my friend's first time up there," Granted, Laura didn't want to be up there, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to do amazingly. The girl had moves weather she wanted to admit it or not. "She should be up in a couple minutes after Janice is done," She gestured to the main stage behind the smaller three.

All three of them turned to look at what she was talking about and it was then, they realized the woman on the big stage wasn't necessarily stripping the way the others were. She was moving to the music giving more of a show. Teasing them more. "This place is awesome!" Santo said high fiving Brain as Julian smiled to himself drinking some of his mountain dew. They watched, pleased with their idea to come.

As the performance and song ended, they joined in the cheers and yells as the woman known as Janice walked off stage into the crowd of men to mingle with them more. The cheers died down as the announcer stepped out to announce the next dancer. This was suppose to be the bartender's friend which caused them to pay closer attention.

"For the first time ever on stage at the Midnight Inferno, I'd like to present a creature unlike any other!" Julian moved slightly on his stool taking another sip of his drink as he focused on the stage seeing a figure step out suddenly become concealed by darkness around them. They definitely knew how to keep a guy in suspense. " For tonight only, she's come out of her cage just for you" The music began to play as the lights started to turn on and as they did Julian just about sprayed his drink everywhere. "Talon!"