CHAPTER 8 - OAKEN'S PUB
"Elsa? Where are you, sweetheart?"
Iduna wandered restlessly through the house, eagerly searching for her precious eight-year-old daughter. The little blondie was supposed to be doing her weekly reading activities, plus some overdue homework, but she was nowhere to be found. Not in her bedroom, not in the bathroom, and not in the kitchen. Could she have developed the ability to pass through walls? Maybe.
Elsa could do anything.
"Agnarr, have you seen Elsa?" Iduna stormed into the kitchen, just in time to catch her husband savoring a dainty sandwich.
"No..." The man acknowledged the question with a weary sigh, rising from his seat and heading towards the window.
It was winter season, and the snowfall was unyielding. The unpleasant climate forced most families to stay inside, snuggled up in the warmth of their homes, and Agnarr wondered if he would find her daughter playing outside. The cold never bothered her. Quite the opposite, she thrived in the cold, almost as if it was a part of her.
"I'm going to name you Lucy!" Little Elsa flicked her hand, bringing a perfect snow doll to life. "And you're Bolt!" Another ice statue emerged out of thin air, a tiny snow dog.
Elsa hugged and merrily played with her creations, giggling and uttering the most joyful sounds. She didn't seem to care about being right in the middle of a blizzard; the courtyard appeared to be just as tempting as any other day. Her sensitive ears soon caught the creaking of the porch door, and her parents came out with heavy winter clothing. Their steps dug deep into the soft snow, slowly approaching.
"Mom! Look what I made!" Elsa perked up. "Its name is Bolt, and he is a snow doggy!"
The little girl raced over with Bolt in hand, circling her parents while humming silly, playful noises. She almost tripped over her feet, but Iduna caught her as she fell.
"Little snowflake, you should've been doing your weekly reading right now!" Iduna said, caressing her daughter's silk-like platinum blonde hair.
"Awwww! But that's so boring!" Elsa pouted.
"Her snow sculptures are becoming more detailed each time we see them," Agnarr noticed, kneeling beside Elsa and examining one of her miniature statues. "This ice is hard as steel." He poked Lucy with his finger.
Elsa beamed. "I can make them soft too, Dad! See, I can do this thing with snow and—"
"Sweetie, let's just go back inside, ok?" Iduna quivered as the winds raged stronger. "It's just so cold here... a storm might be coming as well."
"Pleeeease Mom! You know I can feel those types of things! No storm is coming..." Iduna was about to reply when Elsa's eyes widened, excited by a new idea. "Oh, I know! I can make you warm!"
"Little snowflake, please—"
But Elsa wasn't listening anymore. The girl stood up and waved her hands near the ground, a faint greenish glow emanating from her fingers, and a small spot of the snowy yard became grassy. Suddenly, twigs and branches sprouted from the earth with enchanting vitality, curling up in a way that resembled a large bird's nest. She giggled and jumped in enthusiasm while her parents gaped in awe, hardly believing what they were seeing. Lastly, sparks crackled at her fingertips, kindling a tiny purple fireball that she quickly tossed to the intertwined sprigs.
The brilliant blaze spread and grew, burning the twigs until it formed a bonfire.
"See?" She gestured towards the recent accomplishment. "I created a campfire to make you warm!" Little Elsa was so thrilled she could make something for her parents, but her grin faded when she saw both staring at her with concern. "You... didn't like it?"
"No, sweetie... we love it." Iduna glanced at the pink-purple fire, keeping her expression carefully neutral. "But we should come back home, little snowflake, please?"
Elsa looked back to the house, still disappointed. "But— "
"Little snowflake, if you finish your reading, I'll give you some of that chocolate you love so much!" Iduna cupped her face and kissed her softly on the cheek.
Elsa grinned at the proposal. Chocolate was something she loved just as much as her powers.
"B-But what if I read my books here?" The girl pleaded, gently tugging her mother's winter coat. "You can stay here with me! I promise I can make the fire warmer, and I can make some benches for you too—"
"Elsa dear, listen to your mother," Agnarr said with a faltering smile. "You can play after your reading, we promise."
"But I can't play with my powers inside the house!" Elsa protested. "You never let me play with them."
"Elsa, we have already talked about this. You should be careful with your powers!" Agnarr explained. "People might see them, and—"
"But I want to play with them..." Elsa looked down, posture slouched. "You never let me play..."
"Elsa, please, come back inside. I don't want to ground you!" Agnarr was about to touch her arm when she yanked off his grasp.
"No!" She cried. "I don't want to go!"
Agnarr blinked in confusion, perplexed, as Elsa's body disappeared completely. She had vanished, gone invisible, leaving both her parents alone in the raging blizzard, which now worsened, almost unnaturally. The bonfire burst into raging flames for a moment and then went out, seemingly reducing the temperature even more.
"Elsa, please, appear to us!" Iduna cried, eyes darting around the yard to find her daughter.
"Elsa! Come back to normal now!" Agnarr scolded, visibly irritated by the sudden drop of temperature. "Elsa!"
"Please, little snowflake!"
"Elsa!"
ELSA...
At the frantic call of her name, Elsa jerked awake. She quickly doubled over, retching as cold sweat ran down her neck, and a violent headache pounded her temple. The nightmares were getting worse, each dream causing a more powerful migraine that rattled her thoughts into disarray. The blonde managed the drag herself out of bed, legs wobbling with every step, but enough to shuffle her out to the bathroom. She went straight to the sink to wash her face with hot water, trying not to freeze the liquid before bringing it to her face.
What... What are these dreams?
Nightmares like those were becoming recurrent. Every now and then, Elsa dreamed about a fictitious childhood. She wasn't really sure why the made-up images flickered in her subconscious every night, but they were consistently about her parents and her powers. Powers the blonde had never possessed, different abilities, not even related to ice. She also didn't know why they caused such severe headaches, especially when she tried to recall them. All her attempts to understand this condition were frustrated, and so far, the only theory Ahtohallan had was to blame her ever-growing powers for the nightmares and memory loss.
Until now, she was the only superhero with this problem.
Shaking her head and throwing herself into bed, Elsa tried to steady the rhythm of her breathing. Focusing on pleasant memories always helped her relax; just like anger fueled her powers, happiness calmed her.
Anna...
Elsa and Anna would meet at Oaken's pub this night, and that would be her first social venture in years. She couldn't contain the anxiety, for the heroine was never really comfortable around ordinary people. Today, however, she would be going out as Elsa, an average human, instead of the Snow Queen, the all-powerful superhero.
It was about time to stop using that tight uniform every day.
"Elsa, stop!"
Anna jolted out of her dream with a hand outstretched, reaching out to stop the blonde that ruled her thoughts. In an instant, she was back in that dim alley watching the Snow Queen torture those men, cruelly, maybe even sadistically, and all that violence was justified for Anna's sake. As expected, she wasn't going to forget what happened so soon. The robbery would still haunt her mind and her dreams, just like the previous one did. It took a while for her senses to return, but relief washed over her when she saw Olaf.
Fortunately, her tiny cry didn't wake the boy.
Anna's bedroom door was slightly ajar, providing her a direct view of the living room where her best friend fell asleep, nestled on the sofa. Both had spent the rest of the previous night eagerly talking about superheroes, and Anna couldn't be more thankful for Olaf's presence. For someone that complained about loneliness, she couldn't deny her luck to have such a devoted friend like him, willing to support her without hesitation.
Rising up, she decided to quick-start her morning routine with bathroom duties, trying to be as silent as possible. Olaf deserved a proper rest, and her clumsiness wasn't going to disturb him today. Maybe she could make breakfast for him? It seemed to be a fine reward for all he went through with her.
Anna tiptoed her way to the living room, and as always, Olaf was sleeping like a log. He snored so loud she could compare it to Elsa's flying sound blasts, each wheeze louder than a clap of thunder.
Elsa...
Anna's eyes widened, and her eyebrows skyrocketed when she realized what she had done. She had invited the blonde to have a drink at Oaken's. The Snow Queen, the most powerful (and beautiful) superhero to ever exist, was going to hang out with her. Tonight. In a bar.
Elsa probably doesn't even know where Oaken's is.
And they didn't even agree on a time.
But she had said yes.
"Oh my god!" She squealed on impulse. "I'm hanging out with the Snow Queen! What the fuck!"
Anna thought she heard something stir at her back and turned around instinctively, elbowing Olaf right on the nose.
"Ouch! The boy yelped. "What is all that fuss about?"
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Anna smiled nervously. "That was nothing! Awake already?"
"Yeah..." Olaf said, stifling a yawn. "I just had this awesome dream that you and the Snow Queen were dating! And she even went to my birthday party!"
Anna paled. "O-Oh, dating? Uh, don't imagine t-things! S-She would never be interested in someone like me."
Olaf shrugged. "It was still an awesome dream. Anyway, want to play Mortal Kombat? We could have pizza night at my house today."
"Actually, I have a date tonight!" Anna said, blushing as soon as the words left her mouth. "No! I mean, not a real date. I have to — Ugh, I'm going out to buy a new phone."
Olaf narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brows with lips pressed tight, watching Anna with a suspicious gaze. She really thought she had been busted. However...
"Okay!" Olaf grinned, walking past her without a care in the world.
Anna blinked a few times, exhaling a deep breath. If only Olaf knew what she was going to do.
The clock marked 6:00 pm when Olaf's mom came to pick him up.
The clock marked 7:00 pm, and Anna was standing still in her living room, waiting for something to happen.
She had spent the whole day playing videogames with Olaf, just for the sake of entertaining her mind with silly thoughts. With the boy's absence, she naturally started to overthink about her night out, maybe getting even more stressed than the interview day at Ahtohallan. Despite that, she decided to prepare herself.
The first step would be a good, vigorous shower.
One should be smelling nice in the presence of a superhuman goddess.
The second step would be clothing, informal, casual attire.
Anna opted for the return of the two braided pigtails, a pink t-shirt, and dark jeans.
It's not a date... we're just going to chat and drink some beer.
But why does she feel so nervous? Why does she keep fidgeting, rubbing her hands together, tapping her feet?
What if she doesn't go?
That could happen, but still, Anna chose to take a cab and go to Oaken's by herself. In the worst-case scenario, she would be getting drunk alone, using the alcohol to purge her mind from the recent nightmares. Snatching a lite purple jacket, wallet, and apartment keys, Anna went downstairs. She hired the cab online due to her lack of a mobile phone, and the car should be arriving shortly.
As soon as she stepped outside, she heard the sound barrier breaking in the sky, heralding the arrival of her new superhero friend.
Startled, Anna glanced up, just in time to see a blonde landing on the sidewalk like a meteor, cracking the pavement in multiple pieces.
"What the hell!" Anna screeched, pulling back when dust and debris flew towards her. "Hey! What the fuck are you — wait, what?"
Anna gaped at the sight of Elsa. She was looking at the Snow Queen, but at the same time, she wasn't. The blonde hair was now loose, platinum locks cascading like a glittering waterfall, scarcely reaching waist length. She wore a grey-white trench coat, along with a black shirt and blue jeans. Somehow, Elsa's stilettos didn't explode with her destructive landing, so she had some extra inches added in, diminishing Anna even more.
It was extremely abnormal to see Elsa in normal clothes. Her iconic uniform was already so embedded in Anna's brain that she was having trouble processing the change.
"Is... is it really you?" Anna's eyes widened, pupils dilated.
"Hi, Anna," The blonde said as if she didn't do anything out of the ordinary.
Surprisingly, Anna's awe disappeared quite quickly.
"Elsa! You just destroyed half of the sidewalk!" Anna scowled, gesturing towards the battered pavement. "Who is going to pay for this?"
Elsa frowned, scratching her head. "Well... I'm sorry. Sometimes it's hard to control my weight."
"Why do you guys keep destroying everything? Is this a thing for supes? Ugh!" Anna crossed her arms.
"I didn't know how we'd meet, so I thought about coming here before you could head out." The heroine shrugged. "I can pay for it later."
Anna sighed wistfully, calming herself. Ok... she didn't mean it.
"Right, no biggie... I think. Anyway, I called a cab to go to Oaken's. I had no idea how to contact or meet you, but now that you're here, we could go together?" The redhead suggested.
"A cab?" Elsa looked puzzled. Her eyes squinted for a second, brain in apparent strain, and then widened in realization. "Ohhhh, a cab, of course. I know what those are. Never used one, though." She grinned.
"You never took a cab?" Anna frowned. "Like never? Never ever? Not at least once?"
"I can fly, Anna." Elsa deadpanned.
Of course, superhuman stuff. How could I forget?
As if on cue, a nearby cab parked right in front of the girls, and Anna confirmed it was the one she called online. The driver looked a little intrigued as to why the sidewalk was demolished, but he didn't seem to care for long, gesturing for both ladies to come inside.
"We're going to Oaken's pub," Anna said while entering the vehicle, opting for the backseat.
Elsa promptly followed, claiming the seat next to the redhead. Unexpectedly, the moment her back touched the car seat, the whole vehicle sank towards the ground, squashing the car suspension as if an elephant was sitting on top of it. The driver was startled, twisting his body around searching for the heavyweight, but he merely found two charming young women.
"The fuck..." The man muttered, suspiciously turning the engines on to start the run.
"Holy shit Elsa, you're heavy." Anna stifled a giggle in amazement.
"Did you... did you just call me fat?" The Snow Queen glared fiercely at her, eyes glowing blue.
"Oh! Oh no! I didn't mean to say you're heavy, like overweight! Heh! You're not fat! You're just dense... not like stupid, I meant long! Huge? I meant tall! Yeah, you're lofty, slender, and thick — I mean, in a good way. Not a fatty thick, hmm... a superhero kind of thick! Yeah! So... that's why you're heavy! Ha!" Anna's eyes darted from side to side, forcing a nervous smile.
Elsa's grimace swiftly became a wide grin. "I'm just messing with you." She gently patted the redhead's shoulder. "I told you controlling our weight could be hard sometimes. Supe problems."
"Ah, yeah, aha... I knew that. Supe problems, for sure." Anna pulled her collar, suddenly feeling an awkward warmth.
"Kristoff is not coming? Why?" Merida asked, glaring at Flynn, who was sitting with his back turned to her.
"No. Sven is coming with us instead," Flynn explained, scouring a file cabinet and tossing some passports on top of a pile.
"That blonde toilet-headed cumsplat." Merida scowled. "Always leaving all the work to us."
"If we can't talk with Anna today," Flynn rose to his feet, sighing wearily. "He said he'll pay a visit to her apartment later in the week."
"You're with him when it comes to this Anna girl?" Merida cocked her head, looking doubtful.
"I trust Kristoff with this one." Flynn tossed an ID to Merida, and she caught it knowingly. "She is our best chance right now."
"I think we should avoid messing with anything Snow Queen related." The Scottish girl said, screwing a silencer to her handgun.
Flynn raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing with that? We are supposed to just talk with her."
"Not all superheroes are bulletproof." She snorted.
"The Snow Queen is..."
"If we go against the Snow Queen, we are as good as dead." Merida shoved her gun in a sack. "Or do you expect to kill her with your smolder? That cunt will break you like a twig."
"She is a problem..." Flynn admitted. "But hey, we got Sven."
Merida scoffed. "That colossal ball of hair? Maybe the Snow Queen could pet him— "
The girl spun around to bump into a big, behemoth of a man. Sven's hulking form was indeed hairy, obscuring most of his facial features, further accentuated by his dark skin. He exchanged a hoarse grunt towards Merida, who merely stared at him.
"Piss off, reindeer man." She waved him off.
Flynn shook his head, stifling a chuckle. "I was monitoring the taxi network, and we got a call to Anna's address. We need to go now."
Elsa was thankful the car ride was finally over. She couldn't stand to stay in that uncomfortable, cramped space. It just seemed mundane. Nonetheless, her disappointment with the cab was surpassed by her dissatisfaction with the pub. Oaken's bar resembled a fast-food restaurant, with overly colorful decoration and an enormous sign that illustrated a corny, burly man. Judging by his sideburns, mustache, and light blue eyes, he was the owner of the odd place.
"It looks undercrowded," Anna said. "That's a good thing, right? Lessens the chances of someone recognizing you. Not saying that you don't stand out, just— "
"Yeah, don't worry about it." Elsa went ahead, going through the doors without ceremony.
To her delight, the pub looked way better on the inside. The overall light was dusky, providing a charming ambiance, and the decor was old school, though not exaggerated like on the outside. There were several TVs scattered all around the vintage walls, which were either playing music videos or tuned in a local sports channel. Both girls sat at a table near the bar deck.
"C'mon, admit it. This place is pretty ugly from the outside, but when you actually come inside it, it's pretty cool, right?" Anna playfully nudged Elsa's side but ended up hurting her elbow instead.
"Yeah... I agree." Elsa said, staring off at some other tables. Her eyes seemed lost in thought, gaze lingering on groups of people or affectionate couples.
Anna realized Elsa looked stiff, maybe slightly uncomfortable. The redhead's intention with the invitation was to maybe forge a new bond, get to know the heroine more personally. Maybe they could support each other with their own problems? Yet, Anna sensed there was more than a mere volatile temperament issue with the blonde. She still felt a bit unease at Elsa's presence, even though the heroine wasn't wearing the Snow Queen's mask.
"I figured we could chat a bit after what happened yesterday, you know," Anna said. "Do you have those temper tantrums often?"
"I... I brought you something." Elsa brazenly dodged the question.
"What?" Anna was taken aback when the blonde grabbed a small box from her pocket, placing it on the top of the table. "What is it?"
"Open it."
Removing the lid, Anna found a shimmering new iPhone, the latest model in the market.
"That's... that's for me? Really?" Awww, such a cutie.
"Yes. Ahtohallan employees should have a decent phone. I made sure to have one provided for you."
"This doesn't have one of those tracking chips or something, right?" Anna chuckled.
"Of course not." Actually, it does have one.
While Anna was testing out her new phone, Elsa called a waiter. The young man promptly raced to their tables.
"Good evening, ladies! What would you like to drink?" The man asked excitedly, staring at Elsa for a bit longer than usual.
"A pint of beer! Today's gonna be good!" Anna thought about sharing a drink with Elsa, for her resistance to alcohol was tenuous at best.
"A bottle of pure vodka, please."
Anna frowned, and the waiter just stared at the blonde, blinking obtusely.
"Uhh... alright. One pint of beer for you." He pointed at Anna. "And one bottle of vodka for you?" The boy was a little bit unsure if he understood it correctly.
"Maybe you could change my order for just a glass of beer?" Anna grinned awkwardly.
The waiter nodded and waltzed to the kitchen.
Anna gawked at Elsa, and the blonde just knitted her brows. "What?"
"A bottle of vodka? We are not supposed to get that drunk, you know. Just have some fun!" Anna said incredulously.
"I said it before. The effect of alcohol on me is mitigated."
Of course, superhuman stuff. How could I forget? Again...
Anna shook her head. "Anyway, so... how are you doing after yesterday? I'm still a little bit stressed out, spooky nightmares and stuff. I had never seen anything like that before, you know? Do you deal with things like that often?"
"I'm already used to it," Elsa admitted. "I even stopped another robbery right after leaving your place."
Anna swallowed. "Did you... did you— "
"Don't worry. I didn't kill anyone." Elsa reassured. "I only broke a guy's leg. I think he will be able to walk again."
That's it! We should definitely not talk about crime-fighting. Anna thought, feeling nauseous by imagining the scene.
"That's just... Ugh. Besides being a superhero, what do you like to do?" She tried.
The question was followed by silence. Once again, Elsa appeared to go distant, ice-blue eyes seeking an answer in the bordering tables. There was something so compelling about her person, distinctive in every possible way.
"You don't go out often?" Anna caught the blonde's attention back.
"I don't think I do. Not in this sense." Elsa said, gaze boring into Anna's teal eyes. "I never thought I could fit in with common people. Hangout with friends, go to parties, date, all those things. But part of me wished to have done some of that."
That's why she keeps observing the people around her?
"But Elsa, you're still young! At least you look young. You don't have any type of immortality or permanent youth power, do you?"
"No, I don't." Elsa chuckled.
"So, what's the problem? You could still do all those things! Live a normal life!"
Elsa smiled weakly at the redhead's optimism. Could I really do that, Anna? After all the horrible things I've done?
Could she start over?
"Here are your drinks, girls!" The waiter returned, putting an ice-cold glass of beer near Anna and an Absolut Vodka bottle near Elsa.
The Snow Queen didn't waste time. Her thumb made short work with popping off the cork, and she went for the dainty sip, not even bothering to use a glass. "I think it might be too late for me now, Anna. I don't even remember the last time I did something like this. Maybe I never even did."
"Is it because of your powers?" Anna felt genuinely sorry for Elsa, maybe because her loneliness also hit too close to home.
"I've already built a public image of myself to others. I'll most likely have to bear this superhero duty for the rest of my life."
"But... what about your friends? Your family? You could hang out with them." Anna asked, and Elsa shook her head.
"I don't have any. Even in my childhood, I can't recall playing with any other kids of my age." Elsa proceeded to take a huge sip of her vodka and frowned. "Not cold enough..."
Anna observed as Elsa feebly waved a hand over her bottle, and three ice cubes came into existence inside the liquid.
"Woah, your powers are handy," Anna said, fascinated.
"They can cool some drinks, that's for sure," Elsa smirked, sending a small, almost non-existent, surge of ice magic towards Anna's beer. The glass fogged up with the cold.
"Awesome!" Anna mumbled, promptly drinking some of it, but as she swallowed, her eyes widened. "When that ice melts, what kind of water are we drinking? I mean, it's water made with your powers! Does this mean we'd be drinking a part of you? I wonder how clean that water is, compared to others."
Elsa had to bite a smile back, raising a curious eyebrow.
Anna was surely unique.
Elsa progressively lost the notion of time while chatting with Anna, for the girl definitely knew how to dominate a conversation. To say her rambles were amusing would be a considerable understatement, and Elsa learned so much about Anna's recent activities that she found herself to be kind of bland. The emptier the redhead's glass became, the more intimate she started to get.
"Soooooo, do you live by yourself as well?" Anna slurred, glass now empty and signs of drunkness all over her.
"Yes. I have a penthouse apartment in Corapi. It's a pretty good neighborhood." Elsa also slammed the lasts drops of her vodka, though still pretty much sober.
Damn! Beautiful and rich at the same time? The world is so unfair...
"Erhm... thank you?" Elsa blushed hard, freckles twinkling red.
"What? Did I say that out loud?" Anna covered her face, thinking about a way to course-correct. "Well, you're a superhero, so you are always looking good, right?" She chortled at her own pun. "I bet most men are lining up to know you."
"I don't pay much attention to that." Elsa pressed her glossy lips.
"Yeah, yeah, right." Anna rolled her eyes ironically. "You could get any man you wanted."
"I don't think I— "
"You have fan clubs! Imagine the horde of nerds that would kill to have a chance for a date with you." Anna talked way too fast, leaning forward. "Have you ever thought about streaming? Or using Twitter? Dating celebrities?"
The blonde flushed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Anna, I don't—"
"No man would ever turn you down! What about a supe boyfriend? Or a famous actor? What about—"
"I prefer girls." Elsa blurted.
"Oh..." Anna opened her mouth to elaborate, suddenly feeling guilty, and then closed it, biting down a tiny gasp.
Elsa averted her gaze sheepishly, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. The personal revelation might just as well have purified the drunkness from Anna's brain completely. She should've been pleased to know the Snow Queen shared the same preferences as her, though the discovery just made her more scared. The foolish fantasy of going out on a date wasn't so far fetched now.
Gladly, someone came to interrupt the uncomfortable situation.
Two men and a couple neared their table with curiosity, albeit with the sort of wariness expected from someone approaching a fire. The mere initial impression of them was enough to discern that something was off. Their movements were erratic, posture lopsided, flashing smirks, and giggling without reason. A man laboriously dragged a chair from the adjacent table, flopping down to keep his knees from wobbling.
The man stared at Elsa for an interminable minute, incapable of hiding the trace of booze from his breath.
"Holy shit! You're just like the Snow Queen!" He finally shouted, drawing the attention of the whole pub. "If you had a braid, I would say you were her twin sister or something! Even the hair color is the same!"
Elsa didn't say a single word. She just stared at him, blankly, emotionless. Anna's stomach churned, the anxiety bubbling and boiling at the edges of her mind.
"You girls can drink!" The other man bent closer, pointing to the empty vodka bottle next to Elsa.
"We're going to a party right down the block. You girls could join my boys here." The third man jumped in, the one who was accompanied by a woman.
Anna soon realized, even in her drunken state, that the single guys wanted to even out the couples in the group.
"It's gonna be fun!"
"C'mon girls, don't chicken out!"
"You can trust us. We are the real deal!"
The constant shouting hammered Anna's brain, punishing her inebriated mind. She raised a protesting hand, striving to cease the jeering.
"Sorry guys, we were not thinking about partying today. Maybe some other time?" Anna said, fighting against the dizziness and stress building up.
"Aw, are you rejecting me?" The man closed their distance gap, smelly breath assaulting the redhead's face. "You're never gonna find a man as fine as me!"
Elsa sprang from her seat, placing herself between the two. The man recoiled, requiring a moment to lift his chin, to straighten his back, to gather the courage to look up at her, defiantly.
"She doesn't want to go to the party." Elsa hissed. "If you excuse us, we'd like to be left alone."
"Ohhh, we're sorry about that!" The other man sneered. "Are we too close?" As to provoke Elsa further, he leaned in, almost headbutting her.
The Snow Queen took a deep breath, slowly exhaling. She was this close to snapping the man's mouth shut. It irritated her to the core to see how superior he believed himself to be.
"You two are way too fine to be left alone," The man next to Anna brushed her hair slightly, and she jerked back with a squeal. "We're good guys, I promise you!"
"As my pal said, Ice Queen wannabe, we can't let two beautiful ladies like yourself alone— "
"I said — we would like to be left alone. Please." Elsa closed her eyes to avoid them glowing blue.
"We don't want any trouble," Anna said, more to Elsa than to the men.
How dare they? Elsa thought. She was having an exceptional time with Anna. Why is she always a target for pestering? Couldn't she just be left alone for once? She promised to maintain control for Anna; she had to restrain herself.
"Please, we appreciate the invitation, but we are not interested in it." Elsa delivered it as gently as she could, though her lips twitched at every syllable. "I'm sorry if I was rude before. We don't want any trouble."
The man laughed hysterically at her, spluttering saliva all over her collarbone. "We're no trouble, girl! Please trust us!"
"I love some redheads..." The man went towards Anna again, but she snuggled herself behind Elsa, instinctively interlocking hands with the taller girl.
"Aww, don't tell me you're a dyke! Such a waste!" He scowled, eyes hazed by the drunkness.
"So it's true, blondie? You're a fucking lesbian?" The man in front of Elsa spat, disappointed. "Maybe it's because you never knew a real man like me..."
He was about to slap Elsa's rear when she seized his wrist, imposing her height and bulk down on him. The man gasped, looking up at her wide-eyed.
"Leave us." The Snow Queen grimaced.
The man scowled, flailing against her firm grip. The couple and his friend stopped grinning instantly, taking a few steps back. The whole bar was now drawn to the sudden commotion, whispering, gossiping, fishing phone cameras out of their pockets.
"Elsa, calm down. It's all fine." Anna said, calmly, soothingly, like a lullaby putting the demon to sleep.
Anna couldn't allow herself to have another breakdown. She was perchance the sole salvation that man had right now. The more pressure the Snow Queen applied to the man's wrist, the lower he ducked, knees buckling against the force. He resorted to his free arm to push her multiple times, but it was like shoving an impregnable wall.
"Let me go!" He cried.
"Elsa! Please, release him." Anna pleaded, voice peaceful like a silken caress.
The Snow Queen let the words sink in, subduing herself to their influence. She treasured her friendship with Anna much more than teaching these drunken idiots a lesson. Grudgingly, she loosened her grip.
"Fuck!" The man whimpered, clutching his hand in pain. "You almost broke my wrist!"
Elsa sighed, turning around to face Anna with an open posture, head held high, waiting for whatever would be her judgment. To her profound relief, Anna was smiling, teal eyes shining with fond pride.
"You did the right thing," Anna said, looking at Elsa through her lashes and tucking a small strand of red hair behind her ear.
Elsa's superhero senses rarely betrayed her. Even though she was momentarily enchanted by Anna, she couldn't neglect the movement she felt behind her back. Part of her didn't want to turn around. She craved to stare at Anna some more, swim in those teal eyes, appreciate the constellations of freckles in her body.
"You fucking slut!"
Was the last thing Elsa heard before the man's fist struck her nose.
She scarcely blinked, more perplexed than annoyed. To the Snow Queen, the force tickled the tip of her nose. As for the man, his knuckles expected to hit bone and flesh, but instead, struck iron coated with skin.
Anna gasped, bringing a hand over her mouth when she heard the sickening crunch. The man fell to his knees, crying as he clung to his broken hand. Even Elsa seemed bewildered, for she didn't even have to move to cause that injury. The couple rushed to aid the poor fellow, now apparently crippled. His friend, however, couldn't help but do something stupid.
"Don't mess with my buddy, you cunt!"
"Wait— " Elsa tried to warn him.
The man smashed the vodka bottle — which was luckily empty — right on top of her skull, sending shards of glass flying through the air. At this point, the whole pub was staring at them, curiosity turning into astonishment, for Elsa didn't budge an inch. The blonde simply facepalmed, and the room went silent, except for the man's sobs, coming from a small cut in his forearm.
"Holy cow, that place is ugly as fuck." Merida said, and Sven grunted affirmatively.
"That's Oaken's pub," Flynn stated. "She's in there."
"Park over there." Merida pointed to a secluded corner, edging the restaurant.
Flynn agreed, skirting the street until the black sedan was in place.
"So, are we going to— "
Flynn never finished his sentence. His eyes were glued to Oaken's pub, for he couldn't mistake the sound of glass breaking. The distinct noise of a tumult, disorder, bustling with activity. He also didn't expect to see a tall, blonde, beautiful young woman exiting the restaurant while jerking up a full-grown man by the straps of his jeans, intensifying a painful wedgie.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hey guys, please, let me know how I'm doing with the writing and the story. Comments are appreciated.