thecat620

Prompt: Due to some really insecure, insulting people on facebook, Critic giving a poledance. Live and on camera, with anyone you want watching the show.

This is my first time doing the fillathon for the Secret Treehouse officially so I really hope people will like it and whoever's prompts I do they'll enjoy it.

~*~*~*~*~

Linkara was walking past the dance studio in the Big House when he heard some odd thumping coming from in there. He figured someone was probably doing some practicing but they were pretty clumsy. He hoped no one was getting hurt in there.

"Hello?" he tried, knocking on the door.

He didn't get a response but the music suddenly stopped which meant someone was in there at least. Curiosity getting the better of him, he opened the door to see what was going on. To his surprise, it was Critic in his tie and hat but he was wearing a black tanktop and dark blue gym shorts.

"Critic?" Linkara blinked.

"O-Oh! Linkara!" Critic blushed, trying to hide behind the pole. "W-What are you doing in here?" he asked.

"I heard some thumping and thought someone fell down. Are you okay?" Linkara asked.

"Aside from a bruise ass and ego, I'm fine," Critic grumbled.

"What are you doing?" Linkara wondered. "I never took you to be a dancer."

"I'm not but I have to get this down by Friday," Critic told him before he frowned. "Ask That Guy made a stupid remark on my Facebook about my lack of dancing skills. I made a stupid bet saying I could learn any dance and be awesome at it."

"I'm gonna guess he chose pole dancing?" Linkara replied.

"Yeah," Critic nodded before growling. "Stupid Guy! I'm never going to get this down and I'm gonna look like an idiot in front of everyone!"

Feeling bad for his boss, Linkara went up to him. "How much have you learned so far?" he wondered.

"A few of the basics," Critic admitted.

"Show me," Linkara told him.

"Excuse me?!" Critic blushed, cowering more behind the pole.

"Look, it's just me here man. I won't tell anyone about this before Friday," Linkara promised. "Show me what you got and maybe I can help."

Critic glanced at him and the boombox on the floor before letting out a sigh. "I guess I don't have much choice," Critic admitted as Linkara clapped him on the shoulder.

"That's the spirit!" he grinned before going to turn the music back on. "Let's get started!"

When the music turned on, Critic began counting the beat in his head before he began to dance. Linkara was actually pretty impressed with how good that Critic was so far. He managed to do a few of the spins on the pole without slipping up before he fell right on his ass.

"Dammit!" Critic growled as he rubbed his sore rear end.

Linkara turned off the music for the time being before going to check on his friend. "That was pretty good," he told him.

"Tell that to my butt," Critic grumbled as Linkara helped him back up.

"You're a bit shaky and you need a stronger grip with your muscles in your legs but otherwise, you just need some more confidence," Linkara explained.

Critic nodded in understanding before looking at him suspiciously. "How do you know about this stuff?" Critic wondered.

"When you live in the same place as Benzaie and see him do it while drunk, you pick a few things up," Linkara replied.

"Touche. So you really think you can help me?" Critic asked.

"Of course," Linkara smiled as he patted him on the shoulder. "If my friends are in trouble, I wanna help them any way I can." He then gave him a cheeky grin. "And seeing Guy's jaw drop to the floor will be hilarious."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Critic laughed before clapping his hands together. "Let's show that asshole who's got skills!" Before Critic hopped onto the pole to try again, Linkara grabbed his wrist.

"Before you get back on there, a little advice?" he said before looking at his legs. "You might want to shave before Friday..."

~*~*~*~

After a few days and nights of intense practice, it was time for the big show. The other residents of the Big House were gathered in the bar of the building where a decent sized stage was set up. Most of the tenants were seated near the front, with Film Brain taking a seat smack in the middle, while Guy was surprisingly near the back.

"You're not taking your seat?" Linkara asked as he walked into the room.

"Oh I will. I just want to make sure my camera can record during the show," Guy smirked. "This is gonna be so hilarious. I'll sell you a copy if you want," he offered.

"No thanks," Linkara frowned, "And I think Critic is going to do great."

Guy rolled his eyes before returning his attention to his camera. "If you honestly believe that, you're as dumb as my brother," Guy snarked.

As much as Linkara would've liked to have punched Guy's lights out, a bottle cap to the back of the head distracted him. Linkara looked to see where it came from before he saw Critic nervously motioning for him to come backstage. Linkara ran over to the curtain before being pulled behind it.

"I can't do this!" Critic whispered.

"Critic you've been practicing so hard! You can't give up now!" Linkara reasoned.

"I know but it's weird when everyone else is out there," Critic admitted. "It was better when it was just you."

Linkara bit his lip; poor Critic was so scared and telling him about Guy's camera would probably cause him to crack. It was time for one of his rousing speeches. "Look, I know you can do it. I've seen you improve so much within a week," he told him.

"But what if I fall on my ass in front of everyone?" Critic asked.

"The beauty about this type of dance? You can improvise anything from even the slightest mistake," Linkara assured him. "I believe in you man."

Critic swallowed before nodding. He wasn't going to give up when he's gotten this far. "You're right. I'm gonna go out there and shake my moneymaker!" he told him.

Linkara rolled his eyes at the crude description but he was proud of his friend for being more confident in himself. "That's the spirit! Now go get 'em!" he grinned as he moved Critic to the side of the stage.

He soon returned to his place in the audience and signaled Todd to start the music. Todd pressed the button on the sound equipment as the music began to blare through the room. The curtains soon opened to reveal Critic already holding onto his pole, tapping his foot to the time of the music. He started with some basic moves like spinning around and grinding onto the pole which got a few excited hollers before moving onto the more intricate moves.

Linkara turned and smirked as Guy's smug face began to form into a look of shock. He shouldn't have doubted his twin like that. He was very impressed that Critic was able to climb up the pole and hold himself by his legs like that. Film Brain had a very prominent blush on his face as he fumbled for some singles to give to Critic.

Critic grinned as he moved onto the big finish with his big spin. He slid down the pole with his leg wrapped around it before landing provocatively on ground. He grinned broadly as the audience applauded and cheered.

"Bravo Critic! Bravo!" Film Brain cheered as he clapped wildly.

"Not bad for a beginner," Spoony noted.

"I am SO adding him to my act!" Benzaie grinned as he scribbled down some ideas for a double act they could do together. "I should get his measurements for a costume..."

"That's worth a few bucks," Chick shrugged as she gave Critic five dollars. "Nice touch shaving your legs," she added.

"T-Thanks," Critic panted as he given a few more bucks as a few residents passed by him, offering their praise as well. He was so relieved he got it right and showed Guy up. And speak of the devil, Guy was the last one to come up to him. "Well? I'm waiting," Critic smirked.

"You...were actually pretty good," Guy grumbled as he fished out his wallet. He pulled out a fifty dollar bill and growled as Critic snatched it up.

"Thank you very much," he grinned as he hopped off the stages and went over to Linkara by the door. "I totally nailed it!" he smiled.

"I knew you could do it," Linkara replied as he grinned. "You kicked serious ass up there. I'm proud of you man."

"Thanks," Critic nodded as he counted out his money. When he finished, he pulled some of it out and pocketed the rest. "For you," he told him as he handed it to his hatted friend.

"Really? But Critic, you earned this money," Linkara tried to reason.

"I wouldn't have gotten this far without you so...just take it please?" he asked.

Linkara hesitated but took the money and pocketed it. "That's really nice of you. Thanks man," Linkara smiled.

"Don't sweat it. The cool fifty I got from Guy is more than enough," he grinned before kissing the bill. "This is going right into my booze fund," he giggled as he ran off.

"Well, you earned it man," Linkara replied, turning to smirk at an increasingly furious Guy. "I told you he could do it."