Matty makes his way around the club instinctually, trying to keep the bored expression off of his face as he shakes his hips and looks for the telltale crook of a finger or flash of bills that means he's wanted somewhere.

The high from his earlier stage performance is already wearing thin, and Matty's waiting for the night to be over so he can get back to his warm bed and out of these high heeled boots which he always regrets wearing about halfway through his shift but he still puts them on every evening without fail.

Matty suppresses a sigh when a particularly greasy looking man waves him over, closing his eyes as he slips in between his splayed thighs with as much enthusiasm as he can muster. Matty's mind wanders as he moves his body sinuously, and he finds himself wishing that he'd taken today off after all.

It's not that Matty doesn't like his job, because he does. It's easy money for one, and even though Matty has to grit his teeth when some of the filthier men ask for a dance, he's allowed to turn them down if they make him feel uncomfortable.

His boss Jamie's main concern is his employee's safety and happiness, which Matty is so fucking grateful for after hearing horror stories from some of the others who had worked different clubs before ending up at Menswear.

Matty is lucky in that regard, he's never suffered through the abuse that many of his coworkers had to put up with at similar establishments, not that Matty would let anyone fuck with him anyway. He's got a bit of a temper, and if anyone gets too handsy or rough with him, he's not afraid to tell them off even though he's supposed to wait for security to back him up.

Dealing with the occasional asshole is something Matty's quickly became used to, and even though he sometimes wonders why he puts up with it, he forgets his misgivings the moment he gets up on stage.

That's Matty's favorite part of this job, he thrives off of having the spotlight directed on him as he sways back and forth to the beat of whatever song happens to be playing. He feels alive then, and wanted - desirable even, which isn't a sensation he experiences often in his day to day life.

The rest of it gets a bit tedious, but Matty has to admit that some of the men that come into the club wouldn't have to pay him to get him to sit in their lap, he's even allowed a few of them to take things further if they have the money.

It's an option that's available at the club, and they've got private rooms for just such an occasion, but Matty rarely takes anyone back there, and when he does, it's usually because he's lonely and a bit too drunk and he thinks that a good fuck will eradicate the empty feeling in his chest for a little while.

He specializes in other services too, and most people just want either his hands or his mouth since actual penetration gets very pricey, but he's not in the mood for that tonight, so he turns down the few thinly veiled requests he gets with an apologetic smile before moving on to the next table.

A grin tugs at Matty's lips when he sees Adam heading his way with a hand held up in an attempt to get Matty's attention, so he pauses his forward motion, waiting to see what his friend has to tell him, grateful for the momentary distraction.

Adam's been working at this club for ages, and because of that, he's a favorite with both the manager and the patrons. Matty can see why, he's pretty, nice, and genuinely impossible to dislike. Matty's gotten decently close with him lately, having already created a bond with the older man when he took him under his wing when he first started dancing here which continues to strength with time.

Adam takes on a lot of responsibility when Jamie isn't on the floor, keeping an eye out for trouble and stepping in when he feels like he needs to. Even though Matty hadn't thought it possible, Adam could actually be quite intimidating when he tried. He's gotten Matty out of a few situations that could have easily turned ugly, and Matty considers him family now even though they don't see each other much outside of work.

"Hey mate, everything all right?" Matty asks when Adam reaches his side, his fingers idly twisting around a lock of hair hanging down the left side of his face as he speaks.

"Yeah, Jamie just wanted me to ask if you wanted to take the rest of the night off. Business is a bit slow, so he's sending a few of us home is all."

"I've noticed," Matty nods, because the crowd is pretty dull for a Friday. People are still shelling out for lap dances and the like, but the usually bustling club isn't as full as Matty had expected it to be, which is one of the reasons why he's grown bored faster than he typically does. "I won't say no to taking off, but I don't mind staying to close up either, don't want to leave you in a bad place," Matty shrugs, leaning back against the wall with his ankles crossed over each other, relieving the pressure on his aching feet slightly.

"Don't worry about it, we've got loads of help. Only Harry and Nick agreed to leave, and you look a bit tired, thought you might appreciate a few more hours of shuteye," Adam laughs softly, ruffling Matty's hair in a teasing manner that has Matty pouting since he's sure it's fucked to hell now.

"Is it that obvious?" Matty groans, resisting the urge to rub his eyes which would ruin the makeup he so carefully applied earlier.

"Nah, probably just to me, but you've been working yourself half to death lately. I know you need the money, but you've got to take some time to yourself every now and then, maybe you should even consider a proper vacation." Adam shoots Matty a concerned look that has Matty shifting uncomfortably, mostly because he knows he's right, but he doesn't want to admit it just yet.

Adam's making it seem worse than it is though, because yes, Matty picks up a lot of shifts, but the cash he brings home is worth it. His roommate Gemma fucked off recently when she got a boyfriend, leaving Matty to pay the full rent on his own, which is doable with his income, even if it's a bit elastic, but his funds have been stretched lately due to events that are out of his control.

Matty doesn't blame Gemma though, in fact - he's thrilled that she's finally found someone to settle down with, and they're still as close as ever even though they don't live together anymore.

She had asked Matty numerous times if he was alright with her leaving, saying that she could stay for a bit if he needed her too, even suggesting that they search around for a cheaper flat so he wouldn't struggle with the payments, but Matty had turned her down.

He's gotten attached to his place, he's lived there for almost six years now, and honestly, downgrading would mean dealing with the area on the other side of town which is too far away from his job for Matty to be comfortable with the move, so he had assured her he would be fine, and he was - for a little while.

His nan's death which had occurred barely a month ago had drained his meager savings since he helped his mother pay for the funeral, not to mention he sends Louis money as well since he knows his mum can't always afford to give him an allowance anymore.

Things are a bit tight for all of them right now, but Matty doesn't mind pulling long hours to try and alleviate the strain. Like he said, he enjoys his job, and even if he's in a constant state of exhaustion more often than not, it's only for a little while until he catches back up with his bills and such.

"You worry too much," Matty teases, nudging Adam gently before allowing his face to break out into a wide grin, "but I think I'll take you up on that offer tonight. Doubt I'll make much more before last call anyway."

"Good, get some sleep yeah?" Adam recommends, pulling Matty in for a quick one-armed hug before releasing him so he can begin making his way back to his dressing room.

"I will," Matty promises, rolling his eyes fondly at his protective friend. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Adam waves at Matty's retreating figure until Matty turns around so he can see where he is going. He reaches the back easily without once being stopped by a customer, which is just fine with Matty, although he wouldn't mind doing another dance before he left, but people seem more interested in watching and drinking at the moment than anything else.

Matty plops down in one of the stiff chairs littering the area reserved just for the dancers, smiling at Olly, the only other person sharing the room with him before pulling a wipe out of a nearby pack and halfheartedly beginning to remove the thick layer of makeup staining his face.

He's going to have to invest in a proper wash to get it all off, especially the body glitter, but that will have to wait until he gets back to his flat. They have showers here, but Matty hates using them unless he has to, so the damp towelette will have to do for now.

Once Matty's skin is mostly clear, he retrieves a shirt from the bag he brought with him, fastening two of the buttons before deciding that's good enough, throwing a coat over the outfit to protect him from the chill he knows is waiting for him outside. Matty doesn't bother switching trousers, they're all coming off when he gets home anyway, but he does change out of his high heeled boots into a pair of sneakers, his feet thanking him for it instantly.

Matty says his goodbyes to Jamie who is at his desk near the back entrance, thanking him for the early release, to which he receives a comment similar to Adam's telling him to rest up and take care. Matty wasn't aware that everyone had caught onto his current fatigue, but he's not really surprised. He was never great at hiding his emotions, even something as simple as being tired.

And really, Matty knows it's more than that, but he doesn't like to dwell on those things. He's happy - mostly, but that doesn't mean everything is perfect.

He's still in mourning over his nan, having not had much time to properly accept the fact that she's gone, and that coupled with his longing for his family which comes and goes in waves ever since his mum and brother moved out to the country do bring Matty down occasionally, but only when he lets it.

Matty's got a good life though, he's blessed with wonderful mates, a flat of his own even if he can barely afford it, a job he does love despite its negative connotations, and he knows things could be so much worse. He's just going through a bit of a rough patch, but he'll bounce back, he always does, and until then, he's got to wait it out and find joy in the little things.

One of those is waiting to greet him the moment he gets home in the form of his dog Allen, his clawed feet ticking across the tile in the kitchen alerting Matty to his presence before the brown animal makes an appearance, his paws pushing at Matty legs when he jumps up and down excitedly, his tail wagging happily now that he's got so company once again.

"Hey boy, how was your night?" Matty coos, placing his keys on the hook by the door before crouching down and scratching behind Allen's ear, finding the spot that always has his foot thumping loudly after a few seconds. "I had a nice time, bit slow there actually, but my performance was decent I think, and I made a good amount, enough to go shopping tomorrow at least."

Matty isn't sure when he picked up this habit of talking to Allen like he's a human being instead of a dog, but as odd as it is, he isn't bothered enough by it to stop. It fills the empty air at least, and Allen is an excellent listener, so it's nice to come home and have a chat with him, even if he can't say anything back.

It's probably because Matty's a bit lonely, which is why he got Allen in the first place. After living with Gem for so long, Matty isn't used to coming home to an empty flat, and although it's not all bad, he does miss the constant company more than he thought he would.

It's all right though, because Matty isn't totally secluded. He's got loads of friends, and his dog of course, which is enough, even though with the way everyone is pairing up lately, Matty finds himself wishing he had someone pretty to snuggle up with late at night, but he hasn't had much luck in that area lately, probably because of his job.

When he tells people he's a stripper, it's like they assume that means he can't do committed relationships, which isn't true - not at all. Matty would quite like to have a steady boyfriend, and although he doesn't want to stop working at the club anytime soon, which is what he'll probably have to do to find a bloke that would consider being with him, he also longs for someone to call his as well, and he's willing to make compromises as long as they do the same.

Matty does understand that his occupation is hard for most people to comprehend, and he doesn't blame them for not viewing him in a romantic light, even though he wishes they would. He hates when someone assumes he's a slut just because he takes his clothes off for money, and yes - he occasionally puts out as well, but Matty isn't a prostitute, not really, and just because he likes dancing and sex doesn't mean he can't stay faithful or that he doesn't desire love.

Those stereotypes are probably why most dancers end up dating each other, because they understand the dynamics of the job and they know how to handle the pressures of being with a stripper since they are one. Nick and Harry have been going strong for years and they're perfectly happy, but no one at the club has really caught Matty's eye, not since he and Olly had shared a bit of a fling which died out almost as soon as it began.

A relationship is more trouble than Matty can handle right now though, and unless Matty stumbles upon someone who's worth the effort, he's not going to bother with looking, even if his heart clenches slightly whenever he sees how happy Gem is with - fuck - Matty can't remember his name, he thinks it might be David, or when he catches Harry and Nick exchanging quick kisses before a show.

"We've got to get you another bag of food tomorrow, remind me of that," Matty sighs as he begins rummaging through his cupboards, emerging with a box of crisps that he immediately digs into, tossing one down to Allen even though he knows he's got to stop giving him human food as often as he does.

Allen barks happily while chasing the treat which has skittered under the table, his head narrowly missing one of the legs before he emerges with the crisp, immediately dropping down to all fours so he can devour it as quickly as possible.

"I probably should start walking you more too, getting a bit of pudge going there," Matty giggles, poking playfully at Allen's side as he speaks which the dog completely ignores in favor of licking his paws clean to erase any crumbs he might have missed the first time.

Leaving Allen to his task, Matty wanders into the bathroom, starting up the tap before stripping down quickly. He cleans himself up with a practiced ease, removing the sparkles that stubbornly cling to his skin as if they don't want to be doomed to wash down the drain without putting up a fight.

Once he's toweled off enough that he's not dripping all over the place, Matty heads into the bedroom, not bothering with clothes since he's not planning on going back out again. The one perk Matty's found that came with the loss of Gemma is that he can be naked whenever he pleases, which is quite often if Matty's being honest with himself, and that in itself almost makes up for the fact that he has to pay for the whole place on his own.

Matty calls for Allen before slipping under the sheets, making sure to leave space for the dog that's getting bigger by the day. The mattress shakes heavily when Allen jumps up next to Matty, his nose twitching slightly as he sniffs around, finally curling up in a ball after circling in place for a few moments.

Allen makes a huffing noise when Matty begins petting down his side, which Matty takes to mean he wants Matty to keep talking, even though it's probably just a contented animal sound, but Matty does it anyway, regaling Allen with a play by play of his evening as his eyelids get heavier and his tense muscles begin to relax.

"Got sent home early, but you know that of course. Adam and Jamie are always fretting over me, but I'm fine, just a bit knackered I guess."

Matty giggles under his breath when Allen rolls over, shoving Matty further to the side so he's got more room to stretch out, his nails flexing before they're retracted back downward, his head resting on Matty's outstretched arm in a way that Matty knows will have the limb falling asleep within minutes.

"You too huh?" Matty chuckles, stroking over Allen's fur absentmindedly as he tries to think of what else to say. "Nothing big happened tonight, just the usual lap dances, but that's fine. Got turned down by a tall one though that was pretty cute, I couldn't even touch him without him blushing, don't see people like that much in my line of work."

Allen starts snoring softly then, which Matty always thinks is adorable. He hadn't known dogs did that until he got one of his own, and even though it becomes annoying at times, the steady cadence has Matty's own urge to sleep steadily creeping up on him, so he settles himself against the pillows and allows his eyes to slip closed, resting his hand on Allen's side, timing his breaths to the rise and fall of his ribs until his mind goes blank and he finally begins to drift off.

Hi hello there I love this fic sm so here is the next chapter.

I've got a bit more pre-written for this but I'm slowing down now since my life has gotten busy again. I'm going to try and space out how often I update a bit more so I don't get stuck further down the line. The next chapter should probably be posted on Friday I think - maybe Saturday actually since I'm off then.

Thank you guys for the positive response on this so far it makes me so happy that you are enjoying this as much as I am.

Votes and comments are always lovely if you feel like leaving one.

I'm a pain in women's clothes

xo starr