Author's Note: Hello lovely readers! I am delving into uncharted territory with this one. It's my first smut w/a plot, so there will be chapters that are NSFW and will be demarcated accordingly. It's also a rock musical! Each chapter has a playlist that I urge you to listen to, especially if you're a fan of the alternative rock band Muse. Click the link below to listen to the songs on Spotify
Chapter One - Resistance playlist
Resistance by Muse
Hysteria by Muse
Starlight by Muse
This chapter was kindly betaed by ZeldaElmo and hyylia. TYSM, friends!
Love is our resistance. They'll keep us apart, and they won't stop breaking us down. Hold me, our lips must always be sealed. If we live our lives in fear, I'll wait a thousand years just to see you smile again… (Muse - Resistance)
Zelda sighed tiredly as she rolled over on her twin bed, the dusty pink comforter bunching up beneath her. It wasn't that Zelda opposed going out and having a good time. It was more about she and Mipha didn't always agree on what constituted 'fun'. "Mipha, I already told you I can't take a break right now. I have too much studying, and completing my thesis on the cross-pollination project I am running in the biotech lab is crucial." A very valid excuse, in Zelda's opinion.
"Your spores can wait; even you said they need time to mature." Drat! Why had Zelda told Mipha that? What else could Zelda use as an excuse?
Mipha came to sit on the edge of the bed beside Zelda; the mattress dipped ever so slightly beneath Mipha's lithe form. "Come on, Zelda. A short break won't hurt, and you deserve it. Your research on Malice addiction is ground-breaking Let's celebrate! Come out with me, please!"
Zelda was torn, but Mipha did have a point. Perhaps a short break would help Zelda recharge and refocus. The only other issue was that most of the time, Zelda was extremely uncomfortable in social situations. Put her in front of a panel of her fellow scientists, and she could talk ad nauseam for hours about her research. But ask her to make small talk; she was a complete disaster. Her tongue would turn to cotton in her mouth, and she'd stumble over her words. Anyone seeing her in a casual setting trying to string four words together would never believe she was actually a brilliant scientist.
"Fine. But I refuse to drink and need to leave no later than midnight." Zelda thinned her lips and narrowed her eyes, hoping she was giving Mipha a look that brooked no argument regarding her stipulations.
Mipha's face broke into a wide smile, and she gleefully clapped her hands, holding them up to her lips as if that would contain her excitement. "You're going to love Revali's band! They have such a fresh sound."
"Revali's band?" Zelda rolled her eyes and groaned, sitting up. "Are you kidding me? Come on, Mipha. I hate that garbage music, and you know it!"
"They aren't like those other alternative rock bands, I promise!" Mipha sat up and gave Zelda the Sundelion Girls salute, three fingers straight up, thumb and pinky meeting in the middle of the palm.
Not like the others, her left foot, Zelda sourly thought. Mipha's boyfriend was the lead singer of an alt-rock band called Hyrule Warriors, which she found to be a rather pretentious name. The band consisted of grad students, and Revali was eagerly pursuing a record label deal. The few times Zelda had to suffer in his presence, he'd talked non-stop about himself and how, without him, Hyrule Warriors would be nothing but a few no-talent nincompoops, lost without his stellar guitar solos and smooth-as-silk vocals.
The truth was that Zelda hadn't interacted with any of the band members aside from Revali, so she couldn't speak to the validity of his words. She didn't even know their names or what they looked like and had never bothered to ask. Still, knowing Revali, she had to assume he was full of shit.
Zelda's world revolved around the relative safety of her dorm and the science labs. She'd no need or desire to venture to the liberal arts side of their large campus that was filled with gregarious students who lived to socialize. Zelda was somewhat surprised Mipha hadn't pursued a performing arts degree, but Zelda supposed that being a doctor and cultivating a believable bedside manner was similar to acting.
Despite being roommates and best friends, her and Mipha's tastes in music (and men, apparently) were highly different. While Mipha enjoyed alternative rock, Zelda much-preferred pop music – something light and easy to sing along to, without all the moody, heavy guitar riffs and drums. But ever since Mipha went dancing one night with a couple of their undergraduate friends, all Zelda had heard about was the band and their captivating, charismatic lead singer (Mipha's words, not hers).
Mipha hopped off the bed to open the closet in the corner and began rummaging through Zelda's clothes. "May I borrow your turquoise crochet sweater?"
Mipha rifled through hangers, clicking them together as she hunted for that particular article of clothing. Pausing, she looked over her shoulder, brow furrowing as a thought suddenly struck her. "Unless you were planning on wearing it?"
Zelda hesitated. The sweater in question was her favorite, and Mipha was well aware of it. It was Zelda's favorite color, accenting her emerald-green eyes quite nicely, and she liked the way it fell off of one shoulder, exposing her slender collarbone. However, it was difficult to tell her friend no when she turned her amber eyes on Zelda with her patented sweet, demure look. "Sure," Zelda sighed.
Mipha smiled brightly, eyes lighting up at Zelda's acquiescence. "It would look perfect on me tonight. Don't you think?" Turning back to the closet, Mipha shoved a few more hangers aside before emitting a triumphant 'a ha!' and pulled a hanger out of the closet. She tossed it carelessly onto Zelda's bed and removed her scrubs, revealing a sexy pair of white lace panties and a demi-cup bra beneath. Zelda refrained from rolling her eyes, knowing what Mipha hoped would happen tonight after the concert, and wondering how Mipha could have stood wearing that all day underneath her scrubs while walking her rounds at the school infirmary. Those types of panties had the annoying habit of riding up that Zelda hated.
Then another thought came unbidden to Zelda's mind–that perhaps Mipha had already seen Revali earlier that day–and Zelda turned her head into her pillow to hide her face and smother her laughter, thinking of her friend sacrificing comfort by wearing lingerie in the hopes of having a 'pleasurable' afternoon.
Pulling on the sweater, Mipha tugged the loose collar off of one shoulder to reveal the white lace strap of her bra. She practically glowed, the color of the sweater and the white lace a perfect contrast to her ruby-red skin. Zelda could hardly begrudge her.
"Do you think it is too much?" She studied herself in the mirror before looking at Zelda's reflection.
"You look fantastic, Mipha." But Zelda couldn't help feeling a pang of disappointment in herself that she hadn't told her friend no. Zelda sighed again as Mipha twirled in front of the mirror, studying her reflection from every angle. While Zelda wasn't that outgoing, she would try to put aside her insecurities, have a good time, and hopefully find something equally cute to wear.
—
Zelda hated Milk Bar, the venue Hyrule Warriors was playing tonight, and regretted agreeing to go with Mipha as soon as they entered the dark, hazy interior. The burly Goron attendant at the door handed them each a handful of glow bracelets and necklaces. Mipha eagerly draped hers up her arms and around her neck, and Zelda followed suit, feeling foolish. This wasn't her scene, and she immediately felt out of place in the simple white sundress Mipha had picked out for her to wear. It seemed everyone else was wearing black on black, allowing their glowing jewelry to stand out as if floating in thin air. Clearly, there was an unspoken dress code that Mipha and Zelda hadn't been made privy to. Either that, or anyone who listened to alternative rock had nothing but black hanging in their closets.
The dance floor was already crowded with students dancing to the canned punk rock music blaring over the sound system. Zelda's eardrums were practically bouncing inside her head at the jarring music, and it was all she could do to refrain from sticking her fingers in her ears. Mipha bounced beside her, getting into the spirit of things as they moved deeper into the bar, waving her arms above her head, her body gracefully moving to the music.
Black lights hung in the corners of the bar and along the ceiling, amplifying the plastic glowing jewelry they all wore. Pink and blue neon lights highlighted the bartop's edge and the liquor shelves behind it. All of which gave the scene an otherworldly glow. Looking down at herself, Zelda realized her white dress glowed a bright silvery blue in an otherwise sea of black, neon reds, yellows, and greens. She felt even more out of place.
Making their way towards the back of the room, Zelda spotted a small stage where a scrawny Rito, who looked to be a freshman, was busy setting up mics and amplifiers and hooking cords to the keyboard and guitars that already sat in stands at the edges. Standing at the front of the raised platform commanding the roadie was a strikingly beautiful Gerudo woman wearing a gold sequined halter top, stiletto sandals, and the shortest black leather cut-offs Zelda had ever seen. Her flowing red hair cascaded down her bare back, and a glimmering emerald belly button ring connected to a gold chain wrapped around her waist sparkled under the spotlight. When she pointed a red-painted fingernail at the cords on the stage and yelled at the kid to make sure to tape them down, golden bejeweled bangles jangled down her slender arm.
Mipha caught Zelda staring and sighed her own admiration. "That's Urbosa. Isn't she stunning? She's the band manager and is dating the keyboardist, Ganondorf. He and the bass guitarist, Link, write all of their music. They are incredibly talented." Zelda was only half listening as Mipha gushed and guided her to the bar. "Let's get a drink."
"Just a reminder, I'm not drinking." Zelda tore her gaze away from Urbosa and followed Mipha to the bar. Mipha ordered a Noble Pursuit for herself and a non-alcoholic version for Zelda. Students jostled around them while they waited, and Zelda pulled her arms in close to her body, holding her hands up by her face. They'd barely been there five minutes, and Zelda was already thinking up excuses she could use to leave early. Would Mipha believe it if she feigned a headache?
The bartender, a tall, robust man wearing a spiked dog collar and sporting a bright red mohawk, handed Mipha her drinks with a big smile, revealing small white teeth that glowed blue in the blacklight. Mipha returned his smile with one of her own before shouldering her way past the crush of students approaching the bar, handing one of the drinks to Zelda.
"No alcohol." Mipha smiled at her before continuing through the crowd of clubbers on the dance floor. "Urbosa!" Mipha waved her hand as she sipped her drink. Zelda trailed after her friend, trying to loosen up by tasting her beverage. It was sweet, fruity with a hint of sourness, and didn't taste much different from the alcoholic version she'd tried before.
"Mipha! Revali said you'd be here." Urbosa greeted Mipha warmly, pulling her in for a hug before turning her amber eyes, highlighted with thick mascara and glittering teal eyeshadow, to Zelda and extending her hand. "Hi, I'm Urbosa. I manage this crazy crew."
"Zelda. Nice to meet you." Urbosa's handshake was cool and firm. "Mipha has spoken highly of Hyrule Warriors."
The corners of Urbosa's lips curled, and she harumphed. "Oh, we both know she's biased, but I appreciate the kind words. Regardless, they are a talented bunch. And I'm not just saying that because my boyfriend is part of the band." She pointed to a spot near the front of the stage. "This will be a great place to watch the show."
Suddenly, a loud clatter from the stage drew Urbosa's attention away. The Rito had tripped over one of the untaped cords snaking across the stage and dropped a mic stand, which was rolling toward the edge. He scurried after it, catching it before it rolled off the edge.
"For Hylia's sake, Tulin! Get those cords taped down ASAP! I do not want to hear Revali's lip if he stumbles tonight. Excuse me, ladies."
Urbosa resumed micro-managing Tulin, who clearly needed the guidance, as Mipha held the back of her hand up to her mouth and leaned in to whisper to Zelda. "Tulin is Revali's nephew, and he's very clumsy."
Zelda and Mipha found places in the spot Urbosa had pointed out to them. The dance floor filled up, and their fellow students soon surrounded them on three sides. As Zelda sipped her drink, her eyes drifted above, noting the catwalk above their heads where spotlights and several colored Leko lights hung.
All the while, Tulin was hurriedly taping down the cords leading to the amps, mics, and instruments. He ran off-stage, returning with a large stool he set behind a glittery red drum kit with orange and yellow flames running along the drums' shells sitting upstage center. An erupting Death Mountain was pictured on the black skin of the bass drum.
"This is some set-up." She looked over at Mipha, who nodded her head in agreement.
"Well, you've heard Revali when you've hung out with us. They're going on a week-long local tour soon, visiting nearby cities. Urbosa has already scheduled them for a major tour throughout the country and neighboring countries when they graduate. She's even secured a few music producers to scout their shows." Mipha sighed, and her brow furrowed. "It'll be difficult once Revali goes on tour, what with me not knowing exactly where my doctoral residency will be yet."
"Hey!' Zelda rubbed Mipha's back reassuringly, pulling her in for a side hug. Mipha had really fallen hard for Revali, and despite how he acted, Zelda was pretty sure he cared for Mipha just as much. She'd seen how he looked at Mipha when he thought no one was looking. "It will work out. Despite what a blowhard he is, it's clear that Revali really cares about you."
Mipha smiled at her, her eyes brightening, and she nodded. As the lights dimmed, Mipha perked back up, and the air buzzed with the excitement of the crowd. People started cheering when the hiss of a fog machine turned on, and smoke began billowing across the stage floor. Urbosa waved Tulin off to the wings as the stage and dance floor went completely dark. If not for the glow jewelry everyone was wearing, it would've been pitch black in the room. Zelda had to admit she was starting to get caught up in the anticipation, especially after hearing about the band practically non-stop from Mipha for weeks now.
Multi-colored lights hanging from scaffolding above the audience flickered on and began sweeping everywhere over the stage, lighting up the fog and silhouetting the four band members who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
Revali was spot-lighted, front and center, dreadlocks draped around his shoulders that he tossed behind him for effect when he was sure all eyes were upon him. A diminutive Hylian bass guitarist standing behind him immediately began playing a fast-paced opening on a cleverly shaped guitar painted to look like an ancient Hylian shield. His head bobbed to the beat, but he kept it bowed, looking down at his black combat boots so his thick shoulder-length, hot-pink-streaked blond hair fluttered like curtains covering his face.
He had a tattoo of a gold cuff with an oval amethyst gem around his right wrist that caught Zelda's eye when he changed a chord, and a tattoo sleeve of Farosh coiled around his left arm to disappear beneath his black tank top collar.
However, her attention was drawn away from further studying the bassist when Revali flamboyantly swung his guitar around and began to play a building guitar riff. The drummer, a striking Goron with golden skin that shimmered beneath the spotlights, added a steady, powerful drumbeat, and the keyboardist was a tall, handsome Gerudo with a massive amount of russet hair pulled back in a loose ponytail that fell to the middle of his back. His long fingers danced across the keys of his electric keyboard as Revali leaned into the mic, mouth practically making love to it as he began to sing.
'It's bugging me…. grating me….and twisting me around….
Yeah, I'm endlessly….caving in….and turning inside out….'(1)
His voice was low and throaty, but he had an ego the size of Lake Hylia, and the few times Zelda had seen him, he hadn't been shy about showing off his perfect falsetto. It wasn't long before the opening song allowed him to flip into his smooth, high voice. On the bridges and chorus, the other three members–Zelda couldn't remember what Mipha had said their names were– leaned into their mics and sang in harmony with Revali.
''Cause I want it now….I want it now….Give me your heart and soul….
And I'm breaking out….I'm breaking out….Last chance to lose control….'(1a)
After the last bridge, Zelda had to admit Revali played a pretty impressive guitar solo, and the bassist never missed a beat, either. Their fingers flew over their guitar strings so quickly that they were a blur of motion. She'd never seen anybody play guitars like that. As the song drew to a close, the crowd erupted into applause, and Mipha jumped up and down beside Zelda, cupping her mouth and screaming up at Revali. He looked down his long nose at her, dark brown eyes bright, and gave her a smile.
"Thanks for that, fellow CHUCs. We're happy to be here tonight. We've been working on this next song, 'Starlight'(2); we think you'll like it." He pulled back, whipping his head about, dreadlocks flying behind him, and the beads hooked in the braids clicked softly as he turned his back on the audience to wave his arm above his head, signaling the drummer. "Hit it, Daruk!"
Daruk looked over at the bassist, who finally lifted his head from where he'd been studying the floor. As he tossed his hair out of his eyes, Zelda's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat. The bassist's stunning turquoise blue eyes, accented by long, dark eyelashes and smudged kohl eyeliner, seemed to pierce through her as they locked on her. She stared unblinking up at him, even after he tore his gaze away to nod at Daruk, and they began to play.
Now that she had a face to go with the long, nimble fingers that danced so effortlessly on the bass guitar, watching him play sent not-so-nice thoughts of what else those fingers might be good at running like wildfire through Zelda's brain. She sipped her virgin Noble Pursuit, feeling the drink warming quickly in her hand. Was it her imagination, or had they turned the air off? It was suddenly stifling hot in the bar. She wished she'd allowed herself something stronger to drink, but she hadn't expected this unexpected rush of attraction. Mipha could've warned her that Revali's bandmate was smoking hot.
It'd been over a year since Zelda had broken up with her boyfriend, Pipit, and ever since then, her focus had been solely on her research, with no room for romantic–let alone sexual–thoughts. But the blond god on the stage had her blood racing, sending thoughts of her research project scattering like leaves on the wind. Maybe that break Mipha talked her into had been overdue, as her reaction to the bassist was highly illogical. What had their last song been about? Wanting it now? Zelda had never understood words more than at that very moment.
Revali was holding the mic stand like an anchor, gracefully twirling around it, crooning into it, but Zelda had no idea what he was saying. She stared at the bassist, waiting for the chorus to start so he would start singing again. It took forever, as apparently (and much to her disappointment), this was a Revali vocal solo. Finally, halfway through, the bassist leaned into his mic, puckering his full shiny pink lips to 'ooo' and 'ahhh' warm backup vocals. Was he wearing lip gloss? And if so, she wondered if it was flavored. Wildberry would taste nice, or apple. He looked like someone who would prefer fruity flavors. What was wrong with her? Why did it even matter? She was just another shadow in a sea of faceless spectators. Regardless, she couldn't stop staring at him.
Mipha clutched Zelda's arm, squeezing it tightly as she gazed up at Revali with shining amber eyes. "Isn't he dreamy?"
"Yes." Zelda feigned agreement, but she couldn't care less about Revali. Her attention was solely fixated on the bassist. How had she never noticed this man walking around campus before today? His eyes seemed to glow like two burning coals of blue, and she yearned for his gaze to be on her instead of the sticky stage floor. The crowds' energy and the drunk students dancing around her didn't matter; she was completely transfixed. "Who's that again?"
"Whos' what…." Mipha began but then followed Zelda's gaze and understood her fascination. "Oh...oh! That's Link."
Link. Zelda would have to eat her words earlier about alternative music being garbage. Hyrule Warriors had just recruited a new fan.
End author's notes: I would love it if you would comment and let me know how I am doing. Feel free to follow me on Tumblr - Mistress Lrigar for updates and more!
1 and 1a - Hysteria by Muse
2 - Starlight by Muse
