Zelda jolted awake the next morning, her alarm demanding she wake up. She ran a hand slowly through her hair, trying to remember what she had going today. She remembered Ike's party invite and groaned slightly, also recalling falling asleep before texting him back. She grabbed her phone, silenced her alarm, and looked at his last message. "...'my princess..'". It made her smile in a way nothing else could.
The day eased along as if it were poured through molasses. Every minute took an hour, every meeting a lifetime. Finally Zelda heard a nervous throat clearing and looked up from a file. "Yes Shulk?" she asked and the young man gave her a shy smile.
"Someone sent you this," he held out a rose, a notecard dangling from a ribbon. Raising an eyebrow, Zelda held out a hand for the rose and Shulk handed it over. A beautiful soft pink rose, the very tips fading white like snow. It was her favorite, a genetic oddity that was hard to find. She checked the card, a smile on her lips for the first time all day.
'A rose for you, my princess'. Zelda bit her lower lip, completely oblivious to Link coming around her desk to read the card.
"Who the hell calls you princess?" he asked, pulling Zelda from her thoughts. "Better question: who knows you well enough to know those are your favorite roses and calls you princess?" Zelda turned to him, a smile as big as the sunrise on her face and he shook his head. "Ike," he said and the blush that crawled up her cheeks made him chuckle. "Really Zelda?"
"Oh don't you dare," Zelda fired back before he could judge her. She held up a finger, "Malon," she held up another, "Midna," another, "Ilia-"
"Enough," he said, knocking her hand down. Zelda checked her watch, almost leaping from her chair to see that it was five o'clock. "Goron benefit!" Link called and she smiled at him as she moved to the elevator.
"I won't forget," she promised as he followed her. She could feel his eyes on her as she excitedly pressed the button, willing the elevator to her quicker.
"Zelda," he he turned her to face him, "are you seriously in love with this guy?"
"I don't know..." she answered and the doors opened. She floated inside, fingers wrapped around her rose tightly. "I feel like he understands me and he doesn't judge me, he always makes me smile, he's smart, goddesses Link he's gorgeous..." she trailed off, noticing Link's goofy grin. "What?"
"Ike and Zelda sitting in a tree," he sang out the old childhood rhyme and she shoved him lightly. "Have you spent any time with him outside of the bar?"
"I talked to him on the phone last night and I think he was going to invite me to a party tonight but the benefit-"
"Which starts at seven sharp," Link reminded sternly and Zelda sighed dramatically.
"I won't forget I promise," she said and Link smiled.
"I hope he's a good guy Zelda, you deserve one."
Zelda stepped into the bar, smile faltering at the sight of Samus behind the counter. "Hiya," she smiled, "what can I getcha?"
"Ike's not here?" Zelda asked and Samus shook her head.
"Nope, it's his birthday so he took today off. It's a shame," she twirled slowly, her dark blue skin tight jumpsuit making Zelda scowl, "wore it just for him. Anyway if you needed something you can try calling him but don't expect much. He made it sound like he was gonna be busy all day." Zelda nodded and pulled out her phone, internally groaning. His birthday? How could she have missed that? She dialed as she walked out of the bar, listening to it ring and ring before his voicemail picked up.
"Hey this is Ike, leave a message," followed by a beep.
"Hey it's me," she said softly, "uh I've got the benefit tonight but I'd like to talk when you get a chance. Call me I guess..." she hung up, eyes falling to her perfect rose in her hand.
