Chapter Text
Jay stood on the street corner, waiting for the 12:15 to get its ass over here and take him to his next club. He worked as a go-go boy and stripper all over the city. He did a small bachelorette party, and was now headed for the only twenty-four hour queer joint in town.
It wasn’t bad work, he just had to gyrate on top of a pedestal, but he was bone tired. It had been a rough week, his rent had been raised, his ex had decided to call and be a bitch for some reason. He’d just had enough.
And then, just then, someone snuck up on him and stuck a gun in his face. Jay was so shocked, he almost didn’t hear the demand for money. He was slowly reaching for his wallet when someone knocked the robber to the ground.
It was so fast, that Jay didn’t even see it. One second he had a gun in his face, the next the robber was on the ground and a shorter man was holding the gun, like he’d always had it.
“What?” He couldn’t figure out why the bigger guy hadn’t gotten up, but then he looked at him. He seemed to be knocked out. “What? Who are you?”
“That’s not important, let’s get out of here.” The other guy had dyed blond and black hair, and large brown eyes. “Come on.”
“I have to go to my next job,” Jay said, but he followed the other man as they booked it down the street. He watched as the man he didn’t know throw the gun into a dumpster.
“Why are we running? You might have saved my life.” Jay jogged so he was next to his savior.
“I just don’t feel like explaining this to the cops. And I want to get away from that guy before he wakes up. And I can take you to your job if you want.”
“Okay. What’s your name? I’m Jay.”
“Carlos. deVil.”
That made Jay stop in his tracks for a second. “Wait. deVil, like the ex gang leader?”
He knew the story, everyone did. The deVil crime family that had been ruled by the super scary matriarch that just disappeared one day. The crime family broke apart without her, most of them disappearing. She had one son, Jay knew that. And by the looks of it, this was him.
Carlos smirked at him. “Come on. My car’s over here.” Jay decided he was in no place to refuse, and they got in the car.
“Where do you need to go?” Carlos started the car like it was no big deal. It was a nice car, classic. Jay really liked it even though he was scared.
“Scandals. But right now I feel like I’m too freaked out to dance. No matter how many dollar bills get tucked into my thong.”
“Damn. I don’t blame you. If you called the owner and said you were sick, would that be okay?”
“Then I won’t have enough money to cover rent.” Jay felt like was honestly about to cry. He had nearly been robbed, and now he was in the car of someone who was probably a criminal and definitely dangerous.
“Just call him. I can help you with rent if you want.” Carlos’s voice was soothing, as they drove slowly through the city.
“You don’t even know me. Why would you help me? Nobody else ever has.” Jay had grown up knowing that he was all he had. So what the fuck was going on now, he didn’t know.
“I kind of knew the guy who attacked you. We haven’t talked in years, but sometimes I feel like I’m responsible for how he turned out. So I feel a little like this is my fault. So, I can take you to your job, or you can call before we get there.”
Jay looked down at his hands. They were shaking, just a little. He was in no mood to shake his ass right then. “I’ll call,” he said, getting his phone out.
The conversation took less than a minute, then Jay hung up. “Can you take me home? I don’t have much in the house but I do have at least two beers. I owe you more than that, but that’s what I have.”
“I don’t drink, but thank you.” Carlos did have a small smile on his face, so Jay figured he wasn’t offended. “Let’s get you home, and I’ll give you my number. If you need help, why don’t you call me? I can probably arrange something, whatever you need.”
“Um.” Jay felt a little put on the spot. “I don’t mind that, but I’d like to know in advance what you’d like in return.” He probably wouldn’t say no, if what Carlos wanted was reasonable.
Carlos was silent for a minute. “Just go to dinner with me once a week,” he said. “Sex is off the table, I just want some company. I can go weeks without talking to anyone who isn’t a coworker. And by the way, am I even going the right direction to your house?”
Jay laughed a little, relieved. “Yeah, you are. Turn left at the next light, and it’s three blocks down.” Carlos was cute, and Jay had done more with men for less, but it was still nice. “I totally agree to that, by the way.”
“I thought you did.” That ghost of a smile played over Carlos’s face again, and before Jay knew it, he was home.
Carlos walked him up to his apartment. “Can I take a look around?” Jay nodded, and let him into the living room.
Carlos stared at the ancient couch with stuffing coming out, the mattress on the bed, and the shabby carpet. “Damn. Well, now I know how you’re living. Remember what I said, I can help.”
Jay wondered how far this went. Carlos had gone from never seeing him before to taking control of his life in about thirty minutes. “Okay. But can I get a little money to cover not working tonight?”
Carlos pulled out his wallet and gave Jay three hundred dollars right then. Jay almost swallowed his tongue. “Here you are. Now let’s exchange numbers. Tell me what’s a good night to take you out.”
"I work nearly every night, but Sunday is when I'm the most available. Thank you for this." Jay hoped this went okay. He knew nothing about this attractive son of a ruthless gang leader.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for agreeing to go out with me. I have to go, I have work in the morning. Call me when you need to.” Then Carlos was gone.
After that, Jay just collapsed on the mattress. He was exhausted, had barely eaten in two days, and he had no idea what would happen now. But he was already at rock bottom. It couldn’t get any worse.