This was not his idea.
Groose was a complete idiot for taking him here. He knew Link didn't like these places. Strip clubs were not Link's style. If he had wanted to meet a beautiful woman to get to know, he'd do it with someone he actually knew, not some harlot dancing at a pole wearing next to nothing.
And that was why Link cowered at the bar, hiding how much he enjoyed the show.
While Groose partied somewhere closer to the stage, Link dipped into his third drink of the night. Damn the discounted alcohol for some sort of holiday Link was too drunk to remember.
Lightweight Link, he giggled silently. That was funny. Why was it funny? He couldn't remember.
Life as a college student left him quite broke, and stressed for that matter. Groose had taken it upon himself to relieve Link's stress.
Too bad their ideals didn't quite match up. Though they seemed to align while Link was drunk.
The blond in question found his eyes drifting more and more toward the center of everyone else's attention as the night progressed. And as time went on, it took longer and longer for Link to realize what he was doing.
Until finally, and this was after his fifth drink (Which the bartender said something about cutting him off. Link had no objections, he could barely hold a glass), Link's attention shifted completely and he didn't pull his eyes away.
Dancing at the moment was the acclaimed (According to Groose) Sage of Sprirts. Typical stripper name, Link thought nonchalantly. Her tan skin gave her away as Gerudo. Link watched on without a care in the world.
It wasn't long before the strippers changed, the Sage of Sprirts descending down from the pole and exiting (No doubt accompanied).
And then she took the stage.
Link was more enrapt than by any time Zelda had ever walked past. Maybe it was because this gorgeous woman wore as skimpy a bra as could hold her boobs up. But Link thought it was more than that. Amid his drunkenness, he came to a conclusion that Zelda was beautiful in an innocent, naïve way. But this woman…she was beautiful in that dangerous, dominating way.
Leaning into the whispers around him, Link learned that this woman was the 'Sorceress.'
Sorceress…Sage of Sprits…ha, magic. I geddit, Link chuckled. Even if he had a voice, his volume was leagues below the intense music and chatter of the crowds.
The woman bent her back, looking in Link's direction upside-down. The blond man couldn't blink.
She winked at him.
The stripper continued on as if she'd done nothing, finishing her routine. All too soon it had ended, Link realized. He would have joined in the cry from the audience for an encore. The enchantress turned around and blew the crowd a kiss, but departed none the less.
Finally realizing what he'd been watching, Link turned in his bar stool back to face the bar proper. Maybe he's journey to sobriety was going faster than expected.
Link debated ordering another drink, but eventually decided against it in favor of thinking of the woman who'd danced for the club. Though as she did it, it felt like she was dancing for him.
Time crawled by, and it became clear that Groose and the others were too wasted to drive. The one who was going to be the driver, Tetra, ended up getting…distracted by a girl.
Grinning drunkenly, Link was glad Groose had picked a club that was open late into the morning.
Or was it early into the morning?
Link frowned, his head not able to connect thoughts that were easily connectable. Though to be fair, I doubt I could even if I was sober, Link reasoned, satisfied with the end result.
"You look deep in thought," a husky voice spoke, belonging to the woman who sat down beside him.
Link glanced at the newcomer, and then did a double-take.
Hell, he did a triple-take.
"Enjoy the show?" asked the stripper, smirking. She wore more than before, a light jacket and thin pants that were geared towards the fall weather.
Link couldn't really do much but stare, though to his credit he kept his eyes on her face. His mind churned vigorously, trying to get itself working, Idiot! You're like a hormonal teenager who doesn't know how to talk to women! Get your act together!
The blonde nodded, giving the woman a small smile.
It seemed to work enough, since her next line was, "You're cute. Now, how about a name? My name's Cia 'Sorceress' Hawthorne, but you knew that middle one already." Cue flirtatious wink.
Link reached into the pocket of his green jacket for the familiar pen. The idea of the pen was familiar, at least. Link went through pens link a college student goes through money.
Scratching into the thick napkin, Link wrote the words, 'Link Faraday.'
Cia bent over and read them through the dim light. Puzzled, she looked back up at her companion and asked, "Why write them down?"
Link was almost tempted to start signing, but he didn't want to scare her off. The prospect of a language barrier, no matter the kind, always daunted new acquaintances. Instead, he pointed at his mouth, then shook his head.
"Charades," chuckled Cia. After a moment, she guessed, "Mute?"
The blonde gave her a thumbs up.
"Aw, you poor thing," Cia murmured. Though it wasn't the pity Link was used to, it was genuine sympathy. An odd trait that Link had not been expecting. "Let's get somewhere quieter so we can have a proper conversation."
She extended a hand to Link after standing up. He accepted with a grin, enjoying the feel of her hands in his. As Cia guided him to Hylia knows where, Groose screamed from the back of the club, "MY BOY LINK!"
Crazy fool, Link mentally shook his head.
"Friend of yours?" Cia raised a white eyebrow. She cast a long glance at Groose. "Interesting hair," she commented.
Link pointed at Cia's white hair, cocked his head to the side and mouthed, 'Dyed?'
"Believe it or not, it's natural," Cia said as she led Link further into the club, inside one of the private rooms. "It's excellent with business."
When they finally reached the confines of Cia's private dressing room, she gestured for Link to sit down on the plush maroon chair.
"Oh, damn," Cia muttered. "I should have gotten some napkins for you to write on."
Link retrieved the small notebook from within the pocket that held his pen. Cia laughed, "You're the prepared one, aren't you?"
Link offered only a grin before writing (Rather messily due to lack of sobriety), 'Why me?'
Cia accepted the outstretched notebook and read the two words, "Do you mean why did I come talk to you?" She sat down lightly on the table a short distance from where Link sat.
Link nodded.
"I'm not sure myself," Cia admitted. "But there's something about you I can't put my finger on, something I like. And, you know, you're pretty hot."
The student raised his eyebrows to the point at which they vanished within his hair. For the oddest reason, that released a bout of laughter into Cia. Before long, Link joined in, figuring he had to look a little goofy.
"Yeah, I was right before. You're cute," Cia complimented, her laughter dying back down.
Link bit his lip, what was he to say to that? When a girl called a guy cute, it was in the puppy dog way and not in the way Link wanted it to be.
Making a choice, Link scratched down a sentence onto the notebook below the other words on the page. Cia waited patiently for him to finish, but time had made Link a fast writer.
Taking the small green object, she read aloud, "Do you want to go get something to eat together?"
Link blushed, his boldness taking him by surprise.
"You've got courage, don't you," purred Cia, leaning down towards Link. "I accept, but I'm not sure what is open at three in the morning."
'I've got something in mind,' Link responded, tucking his pen back into his pocket with a grin.
Author Notes: There'll be a couple more chapters to this. Maybe two, or three. I'll be writing them in-between another fanfic of mine, so it may take time.
The sudden desire to write this came from too much Hyrule Warriors (Cia is my girl), and the want to try writing a mute character. Who better than Link?
And as for Link's sudden boldness, I couldn't resist a subtle-not-so-subtle triforce of courage joke. And it was a convenient way to get them moving from point A to point B.
See you guys soon!
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