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Jessica took the money she had just won and walked over to sit across from Link. As their eyes met, Jessica felt a spark, and she knew she was intrigued. Link, on the other hand, immediately recognized who she was — Jessica Jones, a future member of the Defenders. She hadn't yet fallen under the control of Kilgrave, the man who would later torment her.
"Need something?" Link asked casually.
"I just won a bit of money. Thought I'd buy you a drink," Jessica replied. "Besides, you've been sitting here since we walked in, reading despite all the noise. You're obviously not waiting for anyone."
"I heard your conversation earlier. Are you asking me out?" Link questioned directly.
Jessica didn't flinch. Instead, she boldly looked him in the eye and said, "Yes, I am. But let's see where it goes."
"Alright then, I'll accept," Link responded with a grin. Truthfully, he had been thinking it was time to find someone to be with, and Jessica, with her super strength and jumping abilities, seemed like a great fit — not a full-on superhuman, but good enough. "But instead of a drink, how about I treat you to dinner?"
"Sounds good," Jessica smiled and threw a victorious look at her friend sitting nearby, as if to say she had won. But before she could revel in her triumph, Link added, "Why not invite your friend to join us?"
Jessica blinked in surprise. "You wouldn't happen to be using me as an excuse to get closer to her, would you?"
"Not at all. But it seems you're a little insecure," Link teased. "When you're out together, do most guys approach her instead of you?"
Jessica laughed wryly. "You could say that. It's pretty much how it goes."
"Well, she's your friend. Are you just going to leave her here alone?" Link asked quietly. "And besides, you might have made a few enemies earlier."
Realization dawned on Jessica. "Good point. Alright, she can come too. But I'll be keeping an eye on you!"
With that, they stood up. Jessica called out, "Trish, let's go. We're heading out for dinner."
Trish looked confused. "Why are you dragging me along? You just scored!"
Jessica leaned in and whispered, "I may have pissed some people off earlier. Plus, I need to see if this guy is really into you."
"What?" Trish seemed baffled but allowed Jessica to pull her out of the bar.
Link followed behind, having already stowed his cigarettes and book away. When they reached his car — a two-door coupe with limited backseat space — he opened the passenger door and pushed the seat forward. "So, who's sitting in the back?" he asked.
"I'm in pants, so I'll take the backseat," Jessica replied, glancing at Trish, who was wearing a skirt.
Link remained quiet as he drove, while the two women subtly sized him up from both sides. He had already familiarized himself with the area; if he suddenly showed up at the art gallery out of nowhere, it would seem suspicious, and Wilson Fisk was no fool.
Before long, they arrived at a restaurant. Link parked the car and helped both women out, displaying perfect manners. Though they hadn't made a reservation, the restaurant still had a table available since it was a mid-tier establishment.
After seating them, Link turned to the women and asked, "What would you like to drink?"
Trish Walker, a former child star turned radio host, was used to being the center of attention. With her fame, beauty, and wealth, she was usually the one men approached. Jessica, having seen this dynamic many times, suspected Link's true target was Trish.
Jessica's eyes twinkled mischievously as she spotted the most expensive drink on the menu. She immediately ordered it without hesitation.
Link's expression didn't change. He nodded to the waiter and then asked the two women to pick their meals. After ordering, the small talk began.
"Let me introduce myself," Link started. "My name is Link Lin, a Chinese-American. Lin is my surname. And you two?"
"I'm Jessica Jones, and this is my sister, Trish Walker," Jessica introduced quickly, leaning in closer to Link and giving him an exaggerated look of admiration, clearly trying to gauge his reaction.
Link couldn't help but laugh internally. She clearly thought he was targeting Trish, when, in fact, she had been the one who approached him in the first place. Still, he found her boldness and humor refreshing.
"Earlier, I overheard you talking about your job troubles. Jessica, have you had trouble finding work?"
Jessica shrugged. "Yeah, for a lot of reasons. But at least I get a few months of severance pay every time."
"What is it that you enjoy doing?" Link asked. "Sometimes finding the right job is about discovering what you're passionate about."
"I like getting to the bottom of things!" Jessica's eyes narrowed as she shifted the conversation back to Link. "What about you? What do you do?"
"Me? I'm a professional gambler," Link replied nonchalantly. "I studied psychology in college and became a cop after graduation. But I ended up pissing off a district attorney during my probation period, and when I did get my badge, I was assigned to Hell's Kitchen."
He paused dramatically before continuing, "On my first week, I got caught up in a gang war. I took down more than twenty people."
Jessica and Trish stared at him in shock. Twenty people?
"Is he serious?"
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