"He lives." Sera had a cup of coffee in hand and she paused beside Link's desk. She sipped at it, regarding Link over the mug, and smiled. "Thought maybe you had run off to fight some bad guys." She shrugged. "That's what I told Wally, anyway."
"It's Walt!" Walt shouted from somewhere in the office.
Sera rolled her eyes and grinned.
Link, however, had his attention on his phone at the group text he had apparently been dragged into. He spent most of the morning watching the messages silently, offering no input. Though they had all moved out of the city over the last five years and were now in various locations across Hyrule, Revali had managed to convince them to come home for a couple of weeks so they could all get together. He wasn't quite sure why Revali would be around and simply assumed he was probably brought to the city for some sort of work related thing (though he never actually knew what kind of work Revali did). But Urbosa confirmed she could get some time off to come back, mentioning that she was due for a visit with her mother and Riju, and Daruk had no boxing matchings any time soon, freeing up his schedule as well.
Mipha had hardly said much throughout the text, but when she did respond, she confirmed what she had told Link earlier - that she would be moving back home to begin a residency in the city. When it was all settled that they would each be around, they tried to make plans, but still, Link did not weigh in, and Mipha was not any more present in the conversation than he was. Revali did not hesitate to vocalizing his annoyance with them in the group messaging, stating outright that they should 'get the fuck over shit.' This brought Urbosa to their defences briefly, but not without an attempt at making them both feel guilty since they hadn't all been together in quite some time.
"Trouble in paradise?" Sera inquired.
"Mipha's moving back," Link said simply.
Sera raised a brow. "Oh? Why?"
"Got a job."
"Ah." Sera smiled. "That's nice."
Link narrowed his gaze on her. "No, it's not," he said stubbornly. "She could work anywhere she wants, but she gave up all her offers to come here."
"To be with you!"
Link pulled his gaze away, fuming quietly. "It's stupid," he muttered.
"You're such a child," Sera said with a sigh. "You two need to get together and talk things out."
"I don't think so," Link said.
"Typical man." Sera rolled her eyes. She sipped her coffee, winking at him over the brim, then left him alone at his desk.
Link turned his gaze back to his phone as more messages popped up. He dismissed them, then unlocked his phone and opened a new message, selecting one of his contacts.
drinks tonight?
It took awhile for the response to come through, but when it did, he smiled.
oh, hey. im good. thanks for asking.
miss you too.
:) i guess it has been a while. how about 8?
Link found a chance to sneak out of work early and he took it without hesitation, even getting home before Aryll, though he was sure she would be home soon after him. According to her earlier text to him, she was staying after to play catch up on the one measly day she missed. Despite her apparent rebellious stage, she was still eager to be a better student than Link was. He was relieved about that. Her good grades would help - hopefully - help land her a decent scholarship and at least give her a slight chance at being able to go to college, because there was no way in hell he would be able to help her get there.
Despite everything he had done over the years, he always knew it would never be enough to get her further in life after high school. It wasn't enough that he had been able to keep a roof over her head and keep the pizza in constant supply. He wanted more for her. More than what he ever had. But the overdue bills, the unpaid mortgage - all the opened envelopes with the red warning ink across their pages reminded him that there was nothing more he could possibly do for her.
Link didn't look up when Aryll came through the door, though she greeted him cheerfully. Torn envelopes and unfolded pieces of paper were scattered across the table, and Link had his chin in his hand, staring at them. Aryll sat in the empty chair across from him and put her own chin in her hands, her head cocked to the side slightly. Her eyes moved from the bills, to her brother, and she frowned.
"Is something wrong?"
Link gathered the papers up quickly and shook his head. He leaned back in his seat and offered her a smile. "How was school?"
Aryll rolled her eyes. "Same as it is every day."
Link nodded his head once. "Cool."
"You don't have to worry," she said with a smirk. "I get much better grades than you did."
Link stood, taking the papers with him. "Good."
Aryll's lips twisted to the side. "Want to get pizza for dinner?"
"I was thinking Ramen."
Aryll slunk back against the chair. "Ramen is what poor college kids eat."
"Good practice for your future." He tossed the bills onto the counter where he hoped he could ignore them for a little longer and turned to the fridge.
"I get to go to college?"
Link stared into the fridge longer than necessary. His first instinct was to grab a beer, but he was supposed to be going to the bar in a couple hours. "Not likely."
Aryll bit her thumb nail for a moment. "That's okay," she said. "I can just work with you on the ranch. I like the animals." She paused in thought for a moment. "I could be a vet."
"Not without a college degree," Link commented, still staring into the fridge.
"Right." She pinched her lips together. "That's okay. Why spend money on school when I can just go right to work?"
"You want to shovel shit for a living?"
"Well, when you put it that way." Aryll sighed. She stood up, hesitating as she tried to think of another conversation to have with her brother. "I heard Mipha is home."
"Hm. Yeah."
"You never told me. Are you guys going to get together?"
Link shrugged. "Probably not."
Aryll frowned. "Your face is going to freeze, Moron."
Link grabbed a beer anyway and straightened, closing the door. "We could only hope."
Aryll watched as her brother opened it and leaned against the counter. A dozen or so empties were scattered through the kitchen and living room, not yet disposed of. She sighed. "Okay. Well. I have to get started on my homework. I'll come out and make Ramen later."
Link lifted his beer towards her. "Have fun. I'm going out."
Aryll was not surprised by this, and her frown deepened. She had hoped after their day off together, things would be different, but she saw now that that was a foolish wish. Nothing would change. Certainly not overnight.
"Alright," she said simply, her lips twisting to the side. "See ya later." She turned and made her way into her bedroom, pulling out her phone and falling backwards onto her bed. She tapped on the awaiting text message from Mipha.
idk, she had said in response to Aryll's request that she come over. i dont think its a good idea.
Aryll typed back. he wont be home. hes going out.
out? came Mipha's reply.
hes hardly ever home. he goes to the bar a lot.
what do u do?
eat ramen.
ill bring pizza.
Aryll smiled. She was glad that, despite the strained relationship between Mipha and Link, Mipha still talked to her, even looked out for her. And she missed Mipha. She missed all of them.
It was earlier then eight when Link got to the bar. After Aryll had disappeared into her room, Link felt overwhelmingly alone, and he couldn't stand to be in the house a second longer than necessary. He found comfort in Kit's bar, in his usual seat in the corner, watching as Kit busied himself with his patrons while occasionally stopping by to chat casually with Link. It was promptly eight when his guest arrived, punctual as she had always been, and this brought a smile to his face as she slid into the empty seat beside him.
"You know, I can't exactly be seen getting drunk at a bar." Zelda said.
Link glanced over at her and grinned. She was wearing a pair of jeans with rips at the knee that she likely bought like that. A loose, plaid shirt hung over her delicate frame, and her blonde hair was in a ponytail which was pulled through a snapback and pulled low over her forehead, as if in an attempt to cover part of her face and keep her from being recognized.
"That's cute," he said. "Is that the new royal fashion?"
"Shut up," she muttered.
"You didn't have to come out," he said with a shrug, and he took a sip of his beer.
"I kinda did," she said. She nodded her head in greeting when Kit met her gaze. "It's not like you have any other friends around to drink with."
"I don't need friends to drink," Link said. "In fact, I am proficient at drinking alone."
"Well, well, well," Kit said as he approached their corner of the bar. He slid a beer over to Zelda. "Slumming it with the rest of us, Your Highness?"
"Hello, Kit," Zelda said with a sigh.
"It's been a while," he said with a grin. "Last time you came by, you were still just a wee little princess."
"I didn't miss you," she said dryly.
"Oh, come on, yes you did." He took Link's empty glass and replaced it. "How's life as the supreme ruler?"
"Am I a Marvel villain, now?"
Kit rolled his eyes and left them alone to tend to other patrons.
"What do you see in that guy?" she said.
Link shrugged. "He gives me beer."
"Sounds like a pretty solid friendship," Zelda said with a nod.
"I think so."
"So, is this what we're doing tonight?" she asked. "Getting trashed?"
"Isn't it what we do best?"
Zelda smiled. "It's been a long time since I sat here getting drunk with you."
"Good times."
"It's dangerous," she said.
Link regarded her at the corner of his eye. "I live for danger."
She smiled down at her beer. Before she could speak, Kit returned to them.
"So," he started. "Is this going to be one of those nights where I call you a cab and send you on your way?"
"Why not?" Zelda said. "I came here to drink, and I'm gonna do it right." She lifted her bottle at Kit in toast, then quickly finished it and set it on the counter, tapping with her fingers.
Kit grinned. "I don't get it," he said. "What sad life does the queen of Hyrule have to drink away?"
"Beer," she said simply. When Kit returned with her drink, she continued. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes," Kit said frankly. "Yes, I would. I am the bartender, afterall. I'm a cheap therapist for you sad sacks." He cleaned a glass absentmindedly. "I know all Link's problems."
"I'm sure you don't know them all," Zelda said. She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"Oh, I sense secrets," he said, leaning in closer to them. "Spill."
"There are no secrets," Link said in an annoyed tone.
Kit frowned. "But I wanna know," he whined.
"There's not enough alcohol in the world," Zelda said.
Kit straightened and grinned. "Challenge accepted." He moved across the bar, tending to a couple more patrons, and returned shortly after with four more bottles of beer. "Drink up!"
Zelda narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, that's what we came to do," she said.
As the night wore on, Kit continued to provide the beer, and from time to time, he brought over three shots, and the three of them toasted to whatever ridiculous ideas came to mind before taking their respected shots.
"Yer not a very good bahtendah," Zelda said as she almost slammed the shot glass down onto the counter. "Drinkin' ya own s-s-supply."
"Hey," Kit said, pointing a finger at her. "That's how the best bartenders do it."
Zelda snorted, then broke out into laughter.
"How you think 'e stays in… in, uh, in store?" Link asked.
"In business?" Kit said with a raised brow.
Link pointed at him. "Aye. Yeah. This guy's got it."
Kit rolled his eyes. "So, do I get secrets, now?" Kit said, leaning in eagerly.
Zelda sighed and nodded. "Ahright," she said. "I'll tell ya."
"This better be good," Kit said.
Link nodded. "So good."
Zelda put her palm down on the table. "Onccce upon a time." She paused to burp, then giggled. Her expression turned serious after a moment and she continued. "There was a beautiful Goddess -"
"I don't want the PBS special," Kit said. "Get to the good stuff."
"But," Zelda started with a frown. "You gotta understand the back story!"
Kit sighed. "Fine. Hit me."
"The Goddess Hylia," Zelda continued. She lowered her voice for a moment. "She was so pretty." She hiccuped, then continued. "She had to like, you know, you know Hylia, right? She had to save the world."
Kit nodded. "Uh huh, yup. Hylia and her Chosen Hero. A classic love story."
Zelda giggled. "It'ss true," she said. "They so wanna bang."
"I'm sure they did," Kit said. "Thrilling."
"But," Zelda said, holding a finger in the air. "Like. We." Her finger moved to gesture between her and Link. "We're like. Them. You know?" She pointed to her chest. "I am, like, a descendant of Hylia. Her power is, like, inside of me. She is in me."
"That's what she said," Kit said with a grin.
Zelda pointed to her head. "No, for real. She's like. Totally in there." She then pointed at Link's head. "And like, the spirit of her lover boy, is in there." She moved her finger to poke at Link's nose. Link rolled his eyes at her, but said nothing.
"That sounds pretty gay," Kit said. "He's inside you right now, isn't he, Link?"
"You're stupid," Zelda hissed at Kit. "They're totally in love with each other."
Kit raised a brow. "They are? Or you two are?"
Zelda snorted and rolled her eyes. "Goddess, no, Kit. Duh. Ew. Ugh."
"I'm flattered," Link said. "That's the kindest thing she's ever said about me."
"So, what?" Kit continued. "What's the secret?"
Zelda shrugged. "They love each other. And sometimes." She paused.
"Sometimes you feel warm and fuzzy for Link?" Kit grinned.
"Link smells," Zelda said, crossing her arms. She leaned in closer to Kit. "He has cooties."
"With all due respect, Your Highness," Kit said. "You are a complete child."
Zelda grinned.
"So, you come here to drink and silence your love for each other?"
Zelda raised her empty beer bottle at kit. "I feel warm and fuzzy. Make it stop."
Link put his head down on the counter. It felt cool against his skin. "Me too."
Kit shook his head. "You guys are so weird." But he turned to fetch them more beer. When he returned, he leaned against the counter, patting Link's head for a moment. "Silence those demons, you two crazy kids."
