6: Sometimes Iris is Linda's personal superhero. (Iris/Linda)
Prompt: Flarrow Femslash Week Day 1: Fake/Pretend Dating (Parkwest)
"What's a pretty girl like you doing here without a date?"
Linda rolled her eyes and took another sip of her water. "No thank you."
The man, one of those I-think-I'm-cool-in-this-snapback types, leaned on the bar counter and grinned. "How about I buy you a drink? No strings attached."
"I said no thank you." Linda turned pointedly away, swiveling in her seat so she was facing the dance floor. The man, however, persisted.
"You don't even have to give me a dance or nothing. Just a drink. I don't like to see you sitting here without a drink."
"I have a drink." Linda held up her water.
"What's the issue?" the man said, and, boy, if he didn't stop soon, Linda was ready to put her new stilettos to good use. "You here with someone?"
The truth—No, but I would like to be able to go alone to any bar I damn well please without being hit on by creepy-ass bros—was right on her tongue when she spotted a familiar figure walking toward the bar. Iris, decked out in a stunning maroon dress and leather jacket, caught her eye, registered, and moved closer. Without thinking, Linda seized the opportunity. And seized Iris' hand.
"In fact, I am here with someone," she said loudly, eyes perhaps a bit too wide as she stared at Iris and willed her play along, for the love of God. "I'm here with my girlfriend. So, if you don't mind, we'd like a little space."
Without another word, Linda dragged Iris further down the bar counter until they were a sufficient distance away from the bro. When Linda chanced a look down at him, he was glowering at the bartend.
"Okay—what?" Iris' mouth was still hanging open as they took their seats, staring out at the flashing lights of the dance floor.
"Sorry, had to think on my feet," Linda said. "Dude was hitting on me like you wouldn't believe."
Finally Iris broke into a laugh. "Congratulations." When Linda slapped her arm with her free hand, the laugh receded. "Sorry, sorry. I'm glad I could be of help. I don't mind one bit."
She looked back to the dance floor, the lines of her face highlighted by bursts of purple, green, blue. Linda watched her face change with each color, watched her eyes soften and her cheeks darken.
"Are you here with anyone?" Linda asked at last.
Iris shrugged deliberately, coyly.
A few more seconds. A few more heartbeats.
"That guy's gone," Linda said slowly. "We're…still holding hands."
Iris angled toward her, and her lips tugged upward at the corners. "I don't mind one bit." Her fingers tightened around Linda's. "Want to dance?"