Author's Notes: To all those who like my writing for my well-thought-out characterizations and meaningful plots, you might want to avert your eyes from this fic, and try your luck elsewhere.
Elsa woke up with a start the next morning; the first thing she became aware of was the relentless throbbing of her head. "... Ow."
A mass of auburn hair dangled from the bunk above her. "Oh, you're awake?" A bottle of water landed neatly on the bed, in between Elsa's legs, and she yelped in surprise. "Drink that first, and then you can thank me after."
"Why didn't you force me to drink water last night?" grumbled the blonde, sitting up with a grimace. "Some best friend you are."
"Hey, I tried. But you were sooo clingy for some reason. Wouldn't even let go of me when I tried to put you to bed last night. I had to lie there and cuddle with you until you dozed off before I could peel your fingers off me."
Elsa choked on her water.
"Shit – Elsa, you all right?" Anna hopped down, her eyes wide with panic, thumping the coughing woman's back.
"She'd better not be dying," groaned Cindy from the bunk across the room, "it's too early for it."
"Elsa's tougher than that." Anna continued rubbing soothing circles until Elsa's breathing calmed. "Here, aspirin for the headache."
"Thanks," she croaked.
"Don't mention it. You can go back to sleep if you're still tired. I'm heading out for some breakfast, I'm famished. Hey, Cindy – "
A hand poked out from the huddle of blankets, middle finger held aloft. Anna chuckled. "Fine. I'll go and leave you two to die in peace."
The next time Elsa opened her eyes, it was to the radiant sight of Anna holding a brown paper bag in her hands, an enticing smell emanating from it. "Breakfast in bed. I'll add it to the list of things to be grateful to Anna for."
She was feeling well enough to smile back. "My saviour. How will I ever repay you?"
"Eat up, and then we'll talk. How're you feeling?"
Elsa opened her mouth to reply, but Anna's hand was already resting on her forehead. It was blissfully cool on her skin for some reason – she was usually the one with cold hands and feet, something she attributed to poor circulation – and she sighed happily.
"No fever, but you actually feel warm," grinned the redhead. "One night of partying in Corona, and the Snow Queen is beginning to thaw out."
Elsa blushed and swatted at her laughing friend.
"You brought food," said Cindy hoarsely, padding out of bed and snatching the other brown paper bag from the table. "Can you be my new best friend?"
"Sorry, that spot's taken forever." Anna plopped down on Elsa's bed, making the mattress creak. "Right, Elsa?"
"R-right," she said, cringing when her voice came out as a squeak. Anna seemed not to notice.
"Anyway, good news, everyone!" She reached into the pocket of her cut-off jeans, pulling out three tickets. "I have tonight's entertainment here in my hand."
Cindy glanced at her. "Where'd you get those? More importantly, what kind of entertainment?"
"It's a long story. I'd just come out of a café after buying your kebabs, and then I bumped into this girl, Aurora, like literally. I dropped the kebabs and she offered to buy me new ones, and she offered me free tickets to her club. How cool is that?"
Elsa shook her head. "No clubs. No."
"You don't have to drink like a fish just because you're in the sea, Elsa."
"That's not the point... Anna." The redhead looked up. "You've only just met this girl, and you're taking free tickets from her? Don't you think there's something strange about that?"
Anna considered it for a moment. "Nope?"
"So you think it's alright to just waltz off to whatever club suggested by someone you've only just met?"
"Hey, it's not like I got engaged to her or something..."
"It could happen. It happens all the time in Disney movies," interjected Cindy.
The blonde girl pinched the bridge of her nose. "I just – ugh. I can feel that headache coming back thinking about it. Anyway, I'm not going."
Anna pouted. "Oh, come on, Elsa. We came here to have fun."
"I'm pretty sure we can have fun outside of a bar."
Cindy snorted. Elsa ignored her.
"Please?" The redhead stuck her lower lip out, making her eyes as wide and limpid as she could. It was quite a disturbing sight for anyone else but Elsa.
Elsa swallowed hard. "... Fine. Just this once. But tomorrow night, we – " What they would do tomorrow night was lost as Anna squealed with glee, springing up and flinging her arms around Elsa's neck. "I love you, Elsa!" she shrieked.
"Love you too," muttered her friend, blushing hotly and looking anywhere else but at Anna's face. Cindy smirked into her kebab.
"The Spindle," read Anna aloud. "Yep, this looks like the place."
"I don't like the look of it," whispered Elsa as they passed their tickets to the bouncer and walked in. "Something feels... off."
Cindy shrugged. "As long as they have booze, I'm happy."
"Cindy, it doesn't take much to make you happy. Your interests are limited to booze, men, and shoes, not necessarily in that order."
"Guilty as charged," she smirked, already taking a margarita from the bartender.
"I'm gonna look for Aurora," said Anna. "She said to come find her when we got here."
"Okay." Elsa eyed their surroundings; apart from them, the clientele seemed to be mostly middle-aged men, all of which were busy pretending not to ogle herself and her friends. "... I'll come with you."
"No, no, it's fine," said Anna. "I won't be long."
"You're sure?" Oh god. That old man was openly licking his lips.
"Positive. Keep Cindy company, okay?"
"She's got company already," said Elsa dryly. "Jack Daniels and Johnny Walker are next on her list."
"You're funny. I'll be right back."
"Where is she?" Elsa tapped her fingers on the table impatiently; an emcee had just announced that the show was about to begin, and Anna was nowhere to be found.
"She'll be fine. Don't worry, she's a big girl," said Cindy.
Just then, the curtains of the mini stage slid open to reveal two poles. Elsa blanched.
"Oh god."
Two young woman in fishnets and skimpy leather outfits strutted out. The blonde one threw a winning smile at the audience, hooking her elbow around the centre pole. There was a sharp intake of breath from beside Elsa.
"Sweet Lord in heaven," gasped Cindy, looking like she was about to pass out, "look at those shoes!"
Music filled the room and the girls began to dance. The redheaded girl onstage was Anna.
"Holy fuck," said Cindy, finally tearing her eyes away from the blonde woman's shoes. "Those stilettos Anna's wearing are amazing. I want to make love to those heels."
Elsa rounded on her. "Doesn't it concern you that Anna went off to find a friend and has somehow ended up onstage in fishnet stockings and a bondage fetish suit?!"
Cindy grinned. "You forgot the stilettos."
"Forget it." Elsa stood up. "I'm getting her, and we're getting the heck out of here."
Her companion seized her elbow. "Whoa there. You can't just get onstage and pull Anna off."
"Watch me."
"Watch Anna," said Cindy firmly, pulling Elsa back into her seat with surprising strength. "Who knows when you'll get a chance like this again?"
As if to accentuate her words, both girls segued into a routine involving a lot of hip-gyrating. Elsa's mouth went dry.
Finally, the music stopped and they bowed out, followed by loud and raucous applause.
"She's not half-bad for a rank amateur," commented Cindy.
Finally, Anna appeared, thankfully out of her costume. "Well, that happened," she said brightly, reaching for Elsa's glass of water and sipping.
"That happened," echoed Elsa hollowly. "Anna, do you mind explaining to me how did 'finding a friend' turn into 'impromptu pole dancing performance'?"
Cindy leaned forward on her elbows. "Oh, this is gonna be a good story."
"Well I – "
"Miss Anna?"
All three heads swivelled in the direction of the unfamiliar voice. A small, plump, middle-aged woman dressed in a sober crimson suit, flanked by two other similarly-attired women stood at Anna's elbow.
"Briar Rose – Aurora's stage name – told us about what happened, and I must say, dear, that was quite a remarkable performance from an amateur on short notice like yourself."
"Uh, thanks?"
"With a little training, you could be quite a sensation, I can promise you," chimed in another of the women. Her suit was in muted green. "If you would consider pursuing it..."
"N-no! I mean, I'm still at university, I was only helping Aurora out..." stammered Anna.
"Pity. Well, if you change your mind, dear..." The third woman, wearing a dark blue suit, placed a business card on the table. "You can give us a call, anytime."
They left. Elsa and Anna exchanged incredulous looks.
"What just happened?"
"... Damned if I know. I think I need a drink."