Twilit Days

A Zelda: Twilight Princess collection

Disclaimer: I don't own TP (except a copy of it), and I don't own Zelda.

Chapter Nine: Kids


'A riddle wrapped up in an enigma – A puzzle; difficult to solve.'


It was howling outside. The wind keened a sharp wail and rain beat furiously at the stone of their hideaway.

Link rested at the very back of the cave, rock bleeding chills through his tunic and up his spine. A fire was going before him, and occasionally he would venture a hand from beneath the blanket to stir at the flames with a stick.

All was quiet, save for the racket of the storm outside and the popping, crackling of the fire. He yawned.

A yawn answered him back. Midna stirred against his side, using one of his arms to keep the blanket from slipping off her. He could hear her jaws cracking.

"How late is it?" She queried sleepily. He was glad she was so drowsy; if she had been alert she probably would have smacked him for 'cozying up to her'. As it was she was cozying up to him, and he couldn't bring himself to mind.

"Don't know," He responded, transfixed by the flames. They cast fascinating shadows along the curves of the stone beneath them, highlighting a pebble here, casting another in shadow there. It was beautiful. "I'll take first watch if you want some sleep."

She barely managed a shrug, curling up in the nook his arm made with his side. If he weren't so comfortable he would have squirmed. "S'fine. I can stay up all night. Twili don't need sleep."

He smiled indulgently at the boasting. "Of course you don't. But, see, I can't sleep with all that noise outside, so why don't I take first watch until it's settled down? I'll wake you up when it stops, promise."

He could feel her eyes narrowing in on him; her helmet lay just barely within reach. "Are you treating me like a child? I disdain children."

"That's too bad," He commented off-handedly. The blaze was so riveting…

She squirmed again, and this time he shifted away from her. Why did she keep doing that?

"Piss off," she murmured into the blanket. She managed a blearily stern gaze. He ignored it. "Go cuddle up to your farm girl if you want kids."

He blanched. "I didn't say I wanted kids!" I…" He floundered, trying to find an appropriate comeback. When he couldn't find one quickly enough to suit her she huffed and pulled away, tugging the blanket with her.

"Hey…!"

"Find your own," She grumbled, settling herself on the other side of her helmet. Her glare was fully alert this time. "It's not my fault if your wife didn't pack an extra for you."

He looked at her in confusion. What had he done? What had he said? He didn't understand. He was very much afraid he'd never understand her.

"Sorry," He grumbled, stirring the flames again. They weren't nearly as mesmerizing now. He wondered why.


A/N: (Looks up at writing.) Have no idea where this came from, but it works.