To say that magic was as individual as its user was correct. Like a fingerprint or signature, each variation of properties could not be mirrored. Traits passed between families, through race and the spanning of ages, made for only the most minimal of similarities
But he could feel her—her magic a diluted variant of that which his body produced.
He had not been with a like being, in almost ever, and to yield to the relation between them was a wonderfully enervating thing.
"Oh, be still my beating heart," Sheik said flatly "another one of those."
Her finger tracing a direct way, the sprightly Twili gave Sheik a brief of areas he and she had not yet visited, in order of importance—the treasury, where stayed no less than three aeralfos, being their highest concern. Like most species of dragon, they were collectors and in their mess of trinkets and baubles was a second hookshot.
"You must have known this outcome, Sheikah." Midna teased, re-rolling the map. Once Link had returned, she would give it to him, for safekeeping.
"Of course. I just chose a higher path—ignorance." Sheik looked to where his friend had gone, to wash his face, willing him to hurry faster. Each minute, alone, with that disagreeable girl, emboldened her. Headstrong, she would be candid in her accusations and suppositions and, of these talks, he wanted little.
Living or not, no single being could be held accountable for things done erroneously, in the past. Therefore, a mantle of blamehad been heft upon Sheik's shoulders and there it would likely stay, until his passing. Or a more suitable scapegoat was found.
"You wish you had followed ula esta Kona. "
The air seemed to, suddenly, thin and Sheik with it, as if he had been pulled taut between two conflicting poles.
"No. I do not. My inability to levitate makes me regret nothing." at a loss, Sheik addressed only the most superficial slant of Midna's statement of opinion. Missing were the words to give sense unto how wrong wrong wrong barrellinginto such delicate subject matter, at full-tilt, could become.
Zant had more tact.
"We're much more prosperous than you care to admit, Sunshine. Where you've all dwindle and died, we have not." Midna was very proud, of her home. To her, even Hyrule, at it's most illustrious, was but a shadow cast upon the dark of her banishment. The palatial estates of her home, made beautiful by the half-light of everlasting early evening, were without parallel. And to see many stars and aurorae, always, would be of greater value than all the warmth and vitality the worlds of man could offer.
"I will not disagree with that, Midna, but your luck was bought with blood. And not just my own. What would Zelda say, if she knew?" nothing he cared to revive, Sheik was reminded of when he'd had a name. When his love, for a long-ago princess and her guardsman, had him forsake his claims.
Leaving his people at a divide, an ultimatum at hand.
"She does. And she thinks no less of me. I am not my ula esta, I am myself. She knows I am Midna, daughter of Lyra, of the royal house of Twilight. Not Kona. " she spoke every word with care and caution, giving Sheik few chances at misinterpretation.
"If you wish for me to see you as such, grant me the same courtesy. Forget, for now, what you've been taught. See me as Sheik, as our cooperation would do us well. You may resume hating me when it will not hinder our questing."
They sat, together. Not uncomfortably.
"Fine. Atbaur." Midna curled her toes, feeling the grass between them. She could be open-minded, she supposed. For Link.
But, oh, how her ancestors would be spinning in their graves.
"Atbaur. Ah," Sheik and Midna shook hands, to make certain their agreement "good. I was beginning to think you unable to express anything but anger."
"What?" she was nowhere near Sheik's abilities, in judging character, but she could do well enough. Though he was covered, she knew to read the subtlety of a face and each of its parts, as their was no surer standard of confidence. And she knew the body was not to be forgotten—posture often betrayed dishonesty—but Sheik held himself high.
Not exclusively through sight, there were little ways to, figuratively, unmask a Sheikah. Though those she were skills she had never cared to sharpen.
"I kid. You take the bait far too easily, little fish. You have a good heart, this I know."
Regardless.
Watching him—maybe she liked him, more than she had first thought.
Giving him, the strange boy who was more spirit than actual substance, her trust would not be difficult.
"Hey, you two, stop bickering. Let's go" Link re-entered, drying his face with his hat. He hadn't done a very good job of cleaning himself, his hair still purple and sticky from the fruit Midna had crushed onto him.
"We weren't!" Midna and Sheik, both, replied, looking very guilty.
Something had happened, between the two, but Link wasn't quite sure what. But the tension was less and that was to be marvelled at.
"Whatever. How about we play the quiet game? I could hear you two a mile away." Link pocketed the map and, upon Midna's asking, headed north-west.
"What's that?" Midna asked, flitting about Link, not adamant in ensuring Sheik remained excluded. His company was better than none and silence was not entertainment. She was doubtful of what fun, if any, could be had, at her Hylian's suggestion.
"Ha! you've already lost, Twili!"
Link's whole body heaved a sigh. Which was worse, he wondered—a Sheikah and Twili bent on bloodletting or, the same two, on pleasant terms. Midna rarely went a handful of minutes without speaking and, since he had warmed to him, neither had Sheik. And it would, without a doubt, worsen.
"And so have you, Sheik." Link clarified, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
A/N- The strange words I've had Midna/Sheik say are my ( very shitty ) attempt at Twili-speak ( which is ( in my head ) basically the same as Sheikah ). Roughly translated--
ula esta = great grandmother.
atbaur = truce.
You'll find out who Kona is ( for those who don't know ), soon enough.
Midna's line( fathers are irrelevant ) )-- Kona Astra Lyra Midna
Ah, and don't expect any updates for a while. Like I said, out of town the 9th and 10th. And I'm just damned lazy.