Work Text:
“What exactly do I do with the dollar bills?”
Alex heard Lucy snicker beside her as they walked toward the bar.
“It’s not a strip club, Al. You hold them out, and the performers move around the space during their number to collect them.” Lucy stepped ahead of Alex to open the door, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “Though some of the drag queens do enjoy a tucked buck every now and then.”
Unable to school her reaction, Alex’s eyes went wide at Lucy’s comment.
“Relax, Alex,” Lucy said, guiding her friend through the open door. “It’s all in good fun. The main point of tonight is for everyone to come together in a safe space where they can be themselves and enjoy the evening.”
Alex willed her nerves to calm as she stepped into the bar and took in her surroundings. She’d gone to a few other gay bars around National City with Lucy, but they hadn’t yet made it to this one.
Ever since Alex had stumbled her way out of the closet, Lucy had designated herself as Alex’s guide in all things queer. During the previous few months, Alex had spent hours of her free time viewing, reading, and listening to anything and everything that Lucy exposed her to.
This weekend had given Lucy an opportunity to expose Alex to another first: Pride. Between the activities on campus and the events in National City Park, Alex was overwhelmed by how multi-faceted the community was, but she had also been reassured by seeing there was space for everyone.
Tonight was the final event of the weekend, the annual drag show.
The bar was steadily filling up with people, but Lucy had insisted they get there early enough to snag a table. As Alex continued to take in the space around her, she felt Lucy grab her arm and pull her deeper into the bar. Lucy claimed one of the remaining high-top tables against the wall, taking a small hop to get up onto the chair.
Alex snorted softly as she slid onto her own seat.
“Before a short joke slips out, I want you to remember who helped you get laid last weekend,” Lucy said, one eyebrow raised.
Blush coloring her cheeks, Alex snapped her mouth shut giving a slight nod.
Lucy chuckled, “I’m going to get us a couple of drinks before it gets any more crowded.”
Alex reached over, placing her hand on Lucy’s arm. “No, I’ve got it. Drinks are on me tonight.”
“I suppose you do owe me, having been your gay Alex whisperer these past couple of months.”
Rolling her eyes at Lucy’s sarcasm, Alex walked away and moved through the growing crowd toward the bar. As she stepped up to wait her turn, Alex felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out to find a text from Kara. Her sister was asking how her weekend at Pride had been going, and Alex smiled as she typed a response, still grateful at how accepting Kara had been since Alex came out to her.
A voice pulled Alex’s attention back to the bar as she hit send on her reply. “What can I get you?”
Looking up, Alex froze at the brown eyes and the hint of dimples smiling back at her. Brain attempting to reboot, Alex was unable to utter more than the non-word sounds leaking from her mouth. She watched as the dimples deepened slightly and a smirk crossed the other woman’s face.
“Been a while since I’ve rendered another woman speechless.”
Alex could feel her cheeks heat up at the bartender’s words. She dropped her gaze, trying to pull her scattered brain cells back together. Once she felt confident enough that she could string simple words together again, Alex looked up and cleared her throat, “Two beers, please.”
“Sure thing.” The smirk turned to a smile as the woman stepped away to get Alex’s drinks.
Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Alex chastised herself for becoming near-catatonic around a beautiful woman. Yeah, she was still somewhat new to this, but she could usually at least speak coherently.
As two bottles were placed in front of her, Alex reached for her wallet only for the bartender to reach out and place her hand on Alex’s arm.
“On the house. As a thank you for the confidence boost.” The words were accompanied by a blinding smile.
Alex squeaked out a “thank you” at the wink thrown her way, grabbing the bottles and hurrying back to Lucy.
Brain still lingering at the bar with the pretty brunette serving drinks, Alex didn’t realize Lucy was talking to her until a beer bottle clanked against her own gripped tightly in her hand. She looked up to see Lucy squinting at her.
“You alright, Al?”
“Oh, yeah. Uh, yeah,” Alex cleared her throat, unable to fight the small smile forming on her face. “I think the bartender was flirting with me? Maybe?”
“What? Really?” Lucy twisted in her seat to get a look toward the bar.
Alex glanced up only to make eye contact with the aforementioned bartender before she looked away to help another patron.
Spinning back around, Lucy grinned. “Damn, Alex. She’s hot.”
Eyes dropping to the table between them, Alex could feel a blush working its way across her cheeks. A foot softly nudged her shin, pulling her eyes back up to meet Lucy’s. The teasing she had expected to see there was replaced with a softness.
“What’s her name?”
Alex sighed, “I don’t know.”
“Night’s still young,” Lucy smirked, raising her beer to her lips to take a drink.
Before Alex could give too much thought to the meaning behind the comment, the drag queen hosting the evening’s event stepped onto the bar’s small, makeshift stage.
As the show rundown was explained and the first performer stepped on stage, Alex’s eyes kept wandering toward the bar, watching as the bartender served drinks or leaned against the bartop to watch the performance.
Partway through the opening number, Alex’s attention was fully focused on the stage and the queen lip-syncing in a stunning ball gown as the bartender was momentarily forgotten.
It only took a few more performances before Alex was singing along and holding her dollars in the air.
When the host announced a short break, Alex turned back toward the table, grinning at Lucy.
“Having fun?” Lucy asked, her own grin filling her face.
“I am,” Alex nodded. “Thank you.”
Alex glanced around, taking in the crowd full of a variety of people that made up the community, her community, gathered together to have fun and celebrate.
Having momentarily forgotten about the beautiful brunette, Alex’s eyes slid to the bar. Disappointment filled her chest as she found a different person tending to customers. As she scanned the crowd, hoping to find a glimpse of the other woman, a familiar voice from her other side had Alex whipping her head around.
“I was wondering where the pretty, speechless lady from the bar ended up.”
Brown eyes and dimples were now in full force, and Alex had to fight the urge to reach up and lightly poke the cheek dents.
A throat cleared. “Hey, I’m Lucy.”
Alex glanced at her friend to find Lucy smiling back with a pointed look in her eye.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Maggie,” the bartender responded before looking expectantly at Alex.
Two pairs of eyes watching and waiting, Alex stared back, mouth open but lacking words or sounds.
The sound of Lucy snickering interrupted the silence before Maggie spoke, “Damn, twice in one night. I’m starting to think I’ve discovered a new superpower.”
“Alex!” The word finally burst from her mouth before Alex added in a quieter tone, “My name is Alex.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Alex. Though I think pretty lady still suits you well,” Maggie smirked before motioning toward the rack of vials she’d set on the table. “Can I interest either of you in a shot?”
Thoughts stuck on Maggie calling her pretty twice in a matter of minutes, Alex glanced dumbly between Lucy and Maggie.
“Ooo, yes please,” Lucy grinned, pulling a few dollars from her stack of ones and handing them to Maggie.
Maggie took the bills and pulled two vials from the rack, handing one to Lucy and the other to Alex.
“Cheers!” Lucy raised her vial in the air before throwing it back and handing the now-empty vial back to Maggie.
Alex, being slightly more reserved than Lucy, tipped her head back, letting the shot slide down her throat.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, holding the vial out.
Alex watched as Maggie’s eyes scanned her face before she smiled softly and took the vial from Alex. “My pleasure.”
Picking up the rack of shots, Maggie glanced at Lucy before meeting Alex's gaze. “Come find me at the bar if you need anything more to drink.”
And with that, she was gone, making her way through the tables and crowd. Alex’s eyes followed the brunette until Lucy slapping her arm pulled her focus back.
“Ow! What was that for?” Alex asked, rubbing at the lingering sting.
“I don’t know about earlier, but Maggie was definitely flirting with you just now.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Alex looked away, feeling a thrill at Lucy’s words but also attempting to tamp down her hope.
Lucy stared at Alex for a beat before crossing her arms on the table and leaning forward. “I know you’re still somewhat new to this whole ladies lovin’ ladies situation, but generally, when one gay lady flirts with another gay lady, it means she likes her.”
“Thanks, Luce,” Alex deadpanned. She crossed her own arms on the table, trying to keep her insecurities in check as she added, “Her job is customer service, and she works for tips. I’m sure she flirts with everyone.”
Lucy started to argue, but the host stepping back onto the stage interrupted her. She squinted at Alex and grumbled, “Agree to disagree. For now.”
Alex tried her best to focus on the drag queens and kings that took the stage, but throughout the performances, Alex had a war waging within herself. The logical part of her brain kept insisting that Maggie was only being nice and treating Alex the way she would any other patron. But the raw want in her gut was urging Alex to take a chance and ask Maggie out on a date. She’d only allowed herself a few quick glances toward the bar, not wanting to be creepy or get caught staring.
When the host took the stage and explained that there had been a change to the lineup and they needed to take a quick break, Alex had built up her courage and convinced herself to go for it and ask out Maggie. If Maggie said no, Alex would be comforted by the fact that she had at least taken a shot. And would probably never step foot into this bar ever again.
Standing with determination, Alex took a step toward the bar but paused when she realized Maggie was no longer there. Glancing around the room to see if she could catch a glimpse of the other woman walking around selling shots again, Alex felt disappointment creep into her chest when Maggie was nowhere to be found among the crowd. Alex slumped back into her seat, eyes on the table in front of her.
“What’s the matter?” Lucy asked, brows furrowed as she took in Alex’s sudden change in mood.
“Nothing,” Alex answered hastily, looking up and forcing a smile onto her face. “I think I could use another drink. You want one?”
“Sure,” Lucy said, the look she was giving Alex obvious she wasn’t entirely convinced by the act.
Making her way to the bar, Alex felt zapped of energy as the adrenaline she’d built up at the idea of approaching Maggie seeped out of her body now that she’d missed her chance. Alex stood at the bar, waiting for the bartender that had taken Maggie’s place to finish filling other orders.
Continuing to chastise herself, Alex picked at the bartop, her back to the stage even as the host came out and announced the next performance. She barely registered the song's opening guitar riffs, but the current bartender's cheering piqued Alex’s curiosity.
Alex turned and froze. The current performer wasn’t decked out in a sequin dress but instead wore black joggers, a fitted black tee, and a backward snapback. It wasn’t just the outfit that had Alex freezing, but also the person wearing it.
“Maggie?” Alex muttered to herself.
She watched as the other woman strutted around the stage, lip-syncing to the words flowing from the speakers. She watched as Maggie stepped to the side, but continued to move to the music as another performer came on stage during a rap portion of the song. She watched as Maggie’s eyes found her and held her gaze as she stepped off of the stage and moved toward the bar.
Toward her .
Maggie continued to lip sync as she wove through the crowd, still moving to the music, eyes glued to Alex.
“Live life fast, I don't know how to slow down
Wanna get high, I don't know how to come down”
When she reached Alex, Maggie slowly pushed her backward, placing her hands against the bar on either side of Alex.
“Help me now, I'm runnin' on empty
And I don't wanna be a memory”
At the end of those lyrics, Maggie used the bar as leverage to push up and press her lips to Alex’s.
Cheering and hollering surrounded them. Alex froze at the feeling of Maggie kissing her. When she realized the other woman was beginning to pull away, Alex’s hands grabbed her waist and she leaned forward, pressing her own kiss to Maggie’s lips. Alex felt a smile spread across Maggie’s face before she lost herself in the moment, and Maggie began kissing her back.
When they finally pulled apart, Alex could only stare at Maggie. At this woman she’d only met a few hours ago but that she already wanted to know everything about. This woman that she wanted to spend more time with.
“Wow,” Alex breathed out.
“Sorry,” Maggie apologized, though the look she was giving Alex portrayed anything but an apology. “I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
“Willyougooutwithme?” The words fell from Alex’s mouth before her brain could attempt to make them decipherable.
Maggie laughed, “Yes, Alex, I would love to go out with you.”
As a grin spread across Alex’s face, Maggie slid a hand to the back of her neck and pulled her forward. Noses brushing, Maggie softly spoke, “I'm glad my superpowers didn’t work that time.”