Author's notes! This story contains Blue x Red- don't like, DON'T READ!~ Simple as that. XD Not much to say other than that it revolves around all four of the Links, though primarily Blue and Red. Enjoy!~
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Chapter Seven~
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I enter the town at probably six o'clock. Since Valentine's Day is tomorrow, there are people rushing around everywhere to purchase last-minute gifts and treats for their sweethearts. All the stores have their goods on sale, eager to draw in customers.
I roam the streets of the town, glancing into shop windows and searching for what I need. It's not long before a store's display catches my attention and draws me inside. I enter the shop and make my way to the display that I'd seen from the street.
A rack of fuzzy teddy bears is just inside the window- all of the bears have dark button eyes, fluffy tan fur, and satiny red ribbons tied in bows around their necks. I pluck one of the bears off the shelf, holding it and thinking how much Red would love to pet its soft fur. And since it's on sale right now, it's only 15 Rupees.
I decide to get him the bear. I tuck it under my arm and head toward the desk to pay- on an impulse I reach out and grab a small box of different chocolates for him as well.
"Hello, young man- is this all you'd like today?" The lady at the desk asks cheerily.
"Yes, ma'am," I nod.
"All right- that'll be 20 Rupees." She nods. "Oh, would you like to add a personalized ribbon for your teddy bear? It's no charge."
"Well, what are my choices?" I glance through the box of ribbons the lady sets on the table. After a moment of debate, I settle for one that bears the message, 'Be Mine.' I thank the shopkeeper and exit the shop, storing the bear and the box of chocolates in my backpack carefully.
On my way out of the town, I stop by a flower vendor as well. I glance through the different blossoms, having a difficult time choosing one. I finally settle for a plain, perfect scarlet rose bud. It's a bit cliché, but I think Red will like it. I purchase the rose and start making my way quickly back to camp.
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"Shadow!" I call out quietly. "Where the hell are you?" A figure jumps down from above me, abandoning his tree branch of choice.
"So did you do it, Blue?" Shadow asks, still disguised as me.
"Yeah," I nod.
"Can I see it?"
I sigh and dig around in my backpack, pulling out the teddy and showing it to him. "Drop that disguise- it's creepy talking to myself."
The illusion fades as Shadow takes the bear and looks it over. "Awww!" He coos, grinning. "He's gonna go absolutely nuts! Oh, look- 'Be Mine'- Blue, I never pegged you for a romantic!"
"Shut up, Shadow." I roll my eyes, reaching for the plush. He hands it back, but eyes my backpack.
"And you got him a rose? And chocolates?"
"How the hell can you tell?"
"I just guessed," Shadow laughs. "I figured you'd go all-out for him."
"Was that an insult of some sort?" I grumble, stowing the bear away.
"Only if you wanted it to be." Shadow glances back in the direction of camp. "I don't think a lot went down since you left. You should get back over there soon, though; they might start looking for you."
"Where are you gonna go?" I inquire.
"Oh, me? I think I'll just wait in the village for y'all," Shadow shrugs. "Don't look too hard, though, cuz you'll never find me!" Before I can even tell him thanks Shadow waves and winks, melting into the shadows of the forest.
I sigh and roll my eyes, trudging back to the campsite. Shadow was right- nothing had changed. Vio is still reading his infernal book, Green is absently trying to start a fire using two dry sticks, and Red is just blankly watching Green.
Upon hearing my return, Red glances up. "Oh, hi Blue," He says meekly. The other two glance over as well.
"We were about to go look for you, Blue," Vio shoots a glare at me. "Next time you're going to go blow off steam, return earlier."
"Fine, geez," I grumble.
"But you're feeling… better?" Red pipes up.
"Yeah," I nod and glance away. "I just needed some time to cool off."
"You took an awfully long time to do nothing," Vio comments.
I shoot a glare in his direction. "Well, I figured I ought to chill out a little before coming back- it took a bit longer than expected because I'm not as calm and collected as some people."
"Then work on it," Vio shrugs in his infuriatingly neutral tone of voice, ceasing to pay any more mind to me in favor of his precious book. I contemplate throwing a rock at his head, but I catch Red's gaze and decide against it. He still looks pretty down; he's just sitting cross-legged a short way from the fire, his expression somber and slightly melancholy. It's painful to see.
"Hey, Green," I call. As he switches his attention to me from his stupid fire project, I ask, "Did y'all decide on the watch order yet?"
"Well, no- but earlier Red said he wanted to go first, so-"
"Okay, then I'll take second," I shrug. "You and Vio can duke it out for third and fourth."
"Third," Vio cuts in.
Green sighs. "Guess I'm fourth, then. Whatever, I don't care- speaking of which, though…" He glances up to the skies. "We should probably turn in soon. Red, you ready to start your watch?"
"Uh-huh," Red nods. Everybody begins to get ready for sleep, pulling out their blankets and curling up on the grass. I, however, drag my stuff over to Red's side and sit beside him, my blanket around my shoulders.
"You doing okay, Red?" I ask, nudging him gently to make sure I've got his attention.
He glances up at me and gives me a small smile. "I've been better, but I've also been worse. How about you, Blue?" He reflects my inquiry back onto me. "You seemed… upset earlier."
"Oh, that was nothing," I deny, shrugging a little. "Just needed to clear my head a bit, that's all." I pause. "Are you cold? It gets kind of chilly when the sun goes down and the winds kick up."
"I dunno…" I reach over to his backpack and extricate his blanket, wrapping it snugly around his shoulders and leaning him against me. He giggles a bit, shutting his eyes. "Thank you, Blue." I wrap my arm around his shoulders and keep him close to me; he accepts this without pause.
We sit in comfortable silence for a while after that, watching the first few stars emerge from the darkening night sky. Red suddenly pipes up, "Hey, Blue? What's the name of that really bright star over there?"
I follow his gaze to the brightest star in the sky. "That's 'Tatiana,' Red," I answer. "It's the star that the Gerudo used to travel by before maps were made. It always points east, so they used it as a relative point to navigate from."
"How'd you know that?"
"Vio told me once," I shrug. I might not be the brains of the group, especially compared to Vio, but neither am I an idiot. "I don't remember when or why, but he did."
"I see," Red bobs his head. After a short pause, he turns his head to gaze at me with reproachful eyes. "You should really get some sleep, Blue."
"I'm not tired, Red," I shake my head, lying only a little- I could easily stay awake for both my watch and his yet.
"Blue, I want you to get some sleep," He repeats firmly. "Please- at least humor me and pretend to rest." He grins a little bit. I chuckle and roll my eyes, bumping my shoulder against his playfully.
"Fine, fine," I concede, lying down by him. He surprises me by reaching out to me and stroking my hair, then leaning down and kissing my cheek.
"Thank you for caring about me, Blue," He whispers with a slightly sad smile. "It… it means the world to me."
I smile back without a thought and take his hand from my hair, kissing his knuckles lightly. "Of course I care- I always have…" I tighten my grip on his hand and lower my voice to a barely audible whisper. "And I always will…"
He smiles wider and hugs me around the shoulders, pressing his face into my neck. I'm surprised to feel tiny drops of water; he's not sobbing, but a few tears are dripping from his eyes onto my neck.
I bring one of my arms up and stroke his hair, holding him close. "Red… why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying, Blue," He denies, sniffling a little bit. I sit up with a sigh and hold him a slight bit away, just far enough so I can clearly see the tears on his face.
"Red…" I repeat, concerned. "You can tell me…" He leans onto me, his head against my shoulder. He curls up against me, and I hastily shift positions so I can hold him in my lap. "You can tell me," I say softly again, stroking his hair and pulling him closer to me.
He buries his face in my tunic, crying silently. "I don't know why I'm crying," He admits in a tiny voice. "I just feel so… I don't know, I'm just sad!"
On any other day, I would have told him to man up and just get over it- but today is not like other days. I don't know how best to comfort him, so I just hold him close and rock him gently. "Ssh, ssh… Red, it'll get better… I promise you." I kiss his forehead gently. "I'll do everything I can to make it better."
"I know you'll try, Blue, and I'm so grateful for that," He sniffles, "but not everything can be fixed just like that…"
"But I'm going to do my best." I press my lips to his forehead again, maintaining the contact this time. "I swear to you, it'll be all right." Red doesn't answer me this time- he just cries against me.
I rub his back soothingly, trying to calm him down again but not really getting anywhere. Finally I just sigh and give in, letting my head fall against his shoulder as well. To my complete and total shock, a single tear rolls down my cheek too.
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End Chapter Seven~
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Author's Comments!
Awww, I felt so sad at the end! D: Poor, poor Red…. ;u; But Blue has a solution, and the problem's end is nigh! There are two chapters left after this one. XDD Anyways, R&R SOOOOO appreciated!~ I hope y'all liked it, and hopefully you bear with me for the last few chapters!~
