Link was cold, as he lied, alone, in his bed. This was not too strange, as his home in Hatano had been, recently, losing its luster. Link use to get Bolson's company to fix it, with the ever shrinking purse of rupees he accumulated from the spoils of endless ore deposits. But, as with many others he knew, Bolson grew weary and understood his purpose was at its end.
Bolson retired not only himself but his company as well and went off to find a place to rest. Unfortunately, Bolson had served his purpose and, he soon found, there was no room in Hatano for a homosexual retiree. Those, whose houses he had built, some finished just two years before, spewed their hate like a thunderstorm and his sexuality was a conductor.
But years in the construction business had hardened Bolson and, as such, he refused to leave his home. He called in every favor and friend he had to protect him. But, they couldn't even convince the mayor to not demolish his house. Link always remembered the expression on Bolson's face when he heard the news. It was a sickly mixture of pain, surprise, and anger that faded into each other leaving nothing but fatigue and anguish.
Link had immediately offered for Bolson to stay at his place, possibly even at the fire like in the old days. He had told him, no matter what happened, he would be his friend. He lauded his contributions to the town and his beautiful designs. He told Bolson how much he meant to everyone, especially him.
Bolson was broken, though. When he turned to look at Link, his eyes passed through him. He turned his head when someone talked but it was obvious he was not listening. He just kept starring into an abyss, which no one else could see.
When he stopped reacting to the sound of Link talking to him, Link at first assumed he was still listening. He kept trying to reassure him that he would be alright. Though, Link soon became worried. Bolson had been staring into the abyss for minutes, motionless. Link was hysterical. He hated that feeling, the feeling of knowing happiness will forever be out of reach. In fact, he hated that Bolson and he had to feel this pain. He never wanted anyone to feel this type of pain.
Panicked, Link grabbed Bolson's arm. Bolson's senses returned as he blinked for the first time in a minute.
Link asked, "Are you okay? I mean, will you be okay? I mean…"
Bolson responded, with the type of calm that comes from defeat rather than pride, "I have served my purpose to the best of my ability and succeeded in all I wanted to do… Mmm, but that does not mean I am happy." Bolson then turned towards the village entrance and walked.
Link watched him, through itchy red eyes, until he could not see him any longer.
Suddenly, Link felt the cold make his feet feel hollow, which finally placed him back in the material world. Soon, the senses of his entire body returned to him. He first noticed hot streaks that had fallen down his cheeks and created sporadic lazy waterfalls on his chin. He quickly wiped them away. In a few rubs, he removed the tactile memory of Bolson and, within a few moments, the visual memory would disappear as well.
Link hated to think about Bolson because it always reminded him of Mipha. But, Link quickly thought of something else because Mipha, as a Zora, never failed to get the lazy waterfalls back to work.
When Link had finally removed the thought of Mipha from his mind, he faced a daunting decision: keep lying on the bed like a lazy cat or get socks and then lie on the bed like a lazy cat. Even though Link knew it was pathetic to laugh at ones own jokes, he still laughed at the thought of being a lazy cat. In fact, Link had become infatuated with laughing recently and would never pass up an opportunity to.
Link was just about to decide, when he heard his door softly creek open. Just a few months prior, he would have been immediately in his armor, ready to face the foe who had, no doubt, come for a fight. But now, he had lost the resolve… and he knew it was Paya.
"M-m-master Link are you, um, decent or clothed or…" Paya sweetly yet fearfully said.
"Yes, Paya. I'm fine, thank you for your help." Link said as he finally regained the strength to end his time as a lazy cat. He quickly pulled on his Trousers and headed down stairs.
"Good morning, master. I have prepared for you sustenance. Um, if sustenance was what you wanted for, uh, breakfast."
As Link came down the stairs, he couldn't help but chortle at the fact that Paya had grown so much since he had first met her and yet was still as meek as ever.
Quickly, Paya's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and she blurted out "Um, what's so funny. I… I didn't…"
"Don't worry Paya," Link routinely replied "it's just funny to see you pregnant but hear your shy voice." Link laughed and then instantly regretted what he said.
Paya's face became solid red, which she hastily covered with her hands. "LIIIIINK!" She yelled.
"Sorry, sorry" he quickly replied. Even though laughter seemed to almost be his entire life, he hated to make Paya feel uncomfortable, especially since she was a newly wed, an expecting mother, and -for some reason- taking care of his lazy butt.
After a few moments, Paya finally stopped blushing. "Master Link," she began, "you know I, and the rest of the Sheikah, are forever indebted to you but, I must ask, that you, um, maybe don't embarrass me, if your okay with that?"
"I will and I'm sorry but you really need to stop helping me." Paya gave an innocent expression but Link knew she wasn't going to stop helping him but Link also knew that his self-importance problem gave him a bit of a confidence boost. "Look, Paya, you are seriously the nicest person ever, PLEASE DON'T BLUSH… Thank you. Anyway, Paya, everyone in the world appreciates the ridiculous amount of stuff you do for us. But, seriously your pregnant and training to become the next Sheikah elder. I mean, to be honest, your husband, Impa, and I… in that order, should be taking care of you. You shouldn't feel obligated to take care of your husband, Impa, and me… in that order."
Uncharacteristically, Paya had been listening with not a face of meekness but of amusement. "Link, you know I enjoy this," she retorted.
Link assumed an annoyed yet sympathetic face before asking "but like, how do you enjoy a life of never ending domestic chores."
After hearing this, Paya's face had transitioned from her prior unusual satisfaction to one of aimless sadness, hidden by a thick coat of kindness. "Link… You know me, I was never much of a fighter. Despite my grandma's never ending lessons, I… I guess, I just never was meant to be an active participant in the fight against evil. Honestly… I think, this is the only way I feel useful, the only way I feel I am doing what's right."
The pieces were falling into place in Link's mind and, when the last piece was in place, he finally saw the true Paya. Everything she had ever done, from falling in love with him to cleaning the statues, was always an attempt to see some value in herself. Finally, Link couldn't take it stand the thought of it and, with a voice of silent resistance, offered, "Paya… just, just look at everyone in this town. Few of them are fighters, heck most of them have never fought a monster in their lives. But, they still find value and happiness in themselves. I mean, Paya… just, I don't know, do something for yourself. Go traveling or learn to ride horses or…"
Paya, with the kindness cover-up still standing thick, cooed "Link, thank you for… um, caring for me. But, I have a child now. You know I cannot do anything like that, anymore," as she said this she began to blink quickly and bite her lip at every pause. "I… it's so crazy. I spent my life cooped up, only to… only to" at this point, she couldn't hold back the tears as they slowly rolled down her face, "find out… I would (sob) always be cooped up."
Link offered her a hug, which she took, after a bit of hesitation. Paya cried for a few more minutes. Every second was filled with the type of despair that, instead of heaping all the pain on at once, constantly ached the heart. A type of sadness, which lasts long after the eyes have stopped gushing, long after the problem is 'solved,' the kind of pain, which never seems to go away. As is the case, the pain continued once Paya stopped crying, the pain continued through breakfast, it continued through their conversations about horses and animals, it continued when Paya had left, and it showed no sign of stoping a while afterwards.
When the pain had lessened to a point were Link could forget about it, Link suddenly thought of Mipha. He remembered how he had loved everything about Mipha. He remembered loving her jabs at his recklessness, he remembered loving her pouty expression when he use to tease her about being older than him but looking younger, and, most of all, he remembered the way she use to snore. So, many bastards had told her how unladylike it was but Link had always loved her because she was Mipha, not because she was ladylike. Even now, he still would remember the sound of her snoring when he couldn't sleep. It made him feel so safe, it made him feel so loved.
But, that was only the beginning of the things he loved about her. He had never met a person so much like him in his life. She was not only a being of eternal kindness but an excellent fighter. When he was with her, there was not a thing he wanted to do without her. When he had time, he would talk with her, eat with her, spar with her, fight side by side, and, when they were older, sleep with her. Strangely though, as much as they enjoyed sleeping together, he never missed that anywhere near as much as he missed just sitting next to her or talking to her. It wasn't as if he had not enjoyed sleeping with her because he loved it, he just missed her soul so much more.
After a few more tears and thoughts for Mipha, Link finally decided it was time. He took the light scale spear and left his home. He walked through Hatano and made his way to the dueling peaks. Link had served his purpose to the best of his ability and succeeded in destroying Ganon… But that did not mean he could be happy without Mipha.
No one ever saw Link again, after that. But, a traveler in the same area, always recalls seeing red drops in a puddle he never saw again.
Author's Note: This is one of my first fanfics and, for some reason, it turned out really depressing for some reason but, I promise, the following one shots will not be as depressing. Also, if you guys have any interest in me exploring any of the specific parts of one of my one shots or if you really want to see a sequel, I would love to make one, just ask me.