Title: Shaking Shimmers
By: Bridget McKennitt
Disclaimer: Charmed and company are owned by Aaron
Spelling and other companies. They are used here
without permission, and for entertainment purposes
only. No challenge or infringement upon the
copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
Author's Notes: Don't be shocked at the content of this
fic. It came from pure inspiration and, well, just
let it flow. Thank you to Eva for all the help and laughs.
This is definitely dedicated to her. Enjoy!
"One and two and three! Twirl, keep those hands up! Double time!"
Phoebe heard a TV being played really loud and decided to investigate.
Climbing up the stairs, she heard the noise coming from her room.
Opening door slightly, she couldn't believe the sight she saw. Cole was
rump shaking to a radio while...stripping down?!?
"Cole!" She pushed the door wide open and tried to stifle a giggle.
As out of character as it may seem, he looked sexy doing it. "Honey,
what are you doing?"
A blush slowly rose over his cheeks and he laughed sheepishly.
"Um, dancing?"
"Oh, I could see that. I could definitely see that. But why?" She
handed him his blue T-shirt that was on the floor.
"I thought you were out shopping with your sisters," he said,
dodging the question.
"I was but I decided to come back early. So why were you doing
what you were doing? And don't change the subject this time."
"Are you hungry? I'm hungry. Let's go out and eat." Cole ducked
past Phoebe and left the room. She shook her head. He did it again.
The couple strolled down the sidewalk, oblivious to everything
except for each other. Phoebe leaned into her beloved and sighed happily.
The food was delicious and now they were wandering aimlessly. A lady
walking towards them blinked her eyes and a smile crossed her face. She
held Cole's face with both hands and kissed both of his cheeks. "I can't
believe it! I never thought I'd meet up with you in San Francisco. How've
you been?"
Phoebe sized up the big bosom lady. Her black hair was in plaids and
all swirled on the top of her head. She wore a navy blue tailored business
suit with slacks and matching high heels. Her looks were exotic and deadly,
like a caged tiger. Phoebe wanted to tell the hussy to stay away from her
boyfriend.
Cole's reaction was of surprise. He knew who the lady was. "Kael, hi.
I've been good. You?"
"Never been better. I hardly visit the club anymore, Belthazor, but
I heard the crowds died down when you left." As if she suddenly realized
Phoebe existed, Kael turned to her. "Never met you before. Are you
Belthazor's new demoness? Careful, he's a feisty fellow."
Before she could answer, Cole covered her mouth and pulled her away.
"Good bye, Kael. See you soon."
When they were far away from the demoness, Phoebe broke away from
his grasp and faced him. "What was that all about?"
"It's complicated."
She lightly punched his arm. "You know I hate that word. Seriously,
you've been keeping a lot of secrets from me."
"That's not my fault. I've lived so long that there's no way I can
tell you everything I did."
"Well, you better start somewhere."
At the Manor, Cole sat Phoebe down on her bed. He raked his fingers
through his hair and sighed. "You wanted to know about my past, right? Well,
it's not pretty and I won't tell you everything. But it will answer your recent
questions." He inhaled and closed his eyes. "Iwasademonicstripper."
Silence filled the air and Phoebe had this horrified look on her face.
"You're joking, right?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not." He sighed and sat on the bed with her. "I
was a young lad in the early 1900s and an underling demon. I had no power
back then so whatever I was told, I had to do. One particular demoness by
the name of Eva loved to order me around. She was the one who made me
join the club..."
Club Bacchanal was the place to be. The club had a dazzling interior.
Lights flashed out on the dance floor, where swaying couples rocked to the
beat of the featured band. The darkened bar was lit by eerie red lights,
casting shadows into the farthest corners of the room. Not a place for the
polite society of New York City. In fact it wasn't a place for humans as well.
Club Bacchanal, the name meaning wild drunken orgy, was strictly
underground. Very underground.
This was a perfect hang out for demons. The setting was not like any
other club in the 1900s and the demons liked it like that. They set the
standards and they enjoyed being more advanced than the humans.
"Oh, Belthazor! Can you get us some drinks? And make it snappy,"
Eva ordered. She turned back to Kael and laughed.
The demon did as he was told, all the while raging beneath a stoic
facade. He hated being anyone's servant and Eva was the worst. She
practically jumped him every time she saw him and he had to allow her
because he was a low level demon.
After he got Eva and Kael their drinks, he was about to leave when Eva
called out. "Belthazor, go on the dance floor and start dancing. And when
I say dancing, I want you to make us sweat!"
Belthazor swallowed his retort and made his way in front of the band.
Morphing into his human form to lessen his embarrassment, he began
swaying to the music. A few whistles encouraged him on as he started
unbuttoning his shirt. As the shirt came off, he swung it around over his
head and threw it at a table of demonesses. They began fighting over the
material like it was gold.
Moving his legs, his body, his arms, he felt the beat go through him.
He worked his audience into a frenzy. They began dancing with him,
slipping money into his pants. Getting bolder, the females rubbed their
hands over him. It was power, a different kind of power, but power
nonetheless. He loved it.
Eva slipped another bill into his pocket as she moved her hips against
his. "Hmm. Never through you'd be so good at this, Belthazor. I want you
to entertain us whenever you have a free moment."
"So that's what I did for a couple of months. I was paid well and with
a snap of my fingers, the demonesses would obey."
Phoebe struggled with her words. "And you enjoyed women pawing
your body?"
"If it was to my advantage, yes. There were some rough customers
though."
The club owners had built Belthazor a miniature stage for him complete
with a pole. He got on the stage and began his sexy routine, finishing it off
with swinging around the pole. This time he was in his demonic form because
he wasn't ashamed of his body. Far from it. Working out six hours a day
gave him muscles and a toned body.
Someone reached up to touch him but he kicked the hand away. "Hey
Shaynie! Get your hands outta my pants!" This was the fifth time the male
demon tried that stunt and frankly he was getting tired of it.
"Cole, I--I'm shocked. I never even knew you had this whole side of you."
She rose and walked to the door. "I have to think about some things."
He covered his face with his hands and moaned. Perhaps it was better if
she had never found out. He didn't want to lose her.
"Hey, Pheebs!" Phoebe winced as she heard Piper call her name. She
had spent the last few days leaving the Manor early and coming back late
just so she could avoid her family's questions. Even now she had no answers
about Cole's sordid past. It was mind boggling to imagine him stripping in
front of a bunch of women.
"Yes, Piper?"
"Cole's been looking for you. Says when we spot you, to send you up to
your room. He said he has a surprise waiting."
She smiled weakly and climbed up the steps. Pushing the door to her
room open, she gasped as she saw her room transformed into a club scene
and Cole dressed as a construction worker. The beat of the music playing
was quick and loud and conjured up unfit thoughts.
"What's this?"
He led her inside, closed the door, and sat her down on the edge of
the bed. "Just a show of my talents. Phoebe, I'm not ashamed of what I've
done. I did what I did to survive in the Underworld. But I swear that you're
the only one I'll strip for now."
With that he moved to the rhythm as she slowly took off the hat. Then
the tool belt. Dancing lower as he bent his knees, he flashed her a smile.
Phoebe knew then that she couldn't stay mad at the man she loved.
As the song continued on, Cole had stripped off his shirt and shoes.
His hands rubbed over his belt but he didn't unbuckle it.
She bit her lip, trying to keep herself in control. He was good, damn
good and damn sexy. Finally Phoebe yelled, "Take it off!"
That was the cue Cole seemed to be waiting for as he unbuckled the
belt and pushed down his pants. He grabbed Phoebe and grinded his hips
against hers. "You like?" he asked softly.
"Oh, very," she moaned out. "Got any more talents that you haven't
showed me?"
"Just one," he said as he lowered his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
