Between the Devil and the Deep Sea
14.0
The Fear Has Gripped
Her head bobs some as she listens to them speak from across the kitchen table. Occasionally, Link and Zelda falter in their speech to exchange a glance, both wondering if Kūkū is indicating that she is following them, or if she is starting to nod off again. "Kūkū, are you alright?" Link asks at last. Zelda straightens in her chair.
"Fine, fine," she mumbles. "Just tired is all."
Another silent exchange between Link and Zelda. Link frowns, and he turns back to his grandmother. "You understand what we're doing, right?" He can't leave Outset without Kūkū knowing.
His grandmother nods knowingly. "You just come back in one piece," she says patting his hand across the table. Her chair scratches against the floor, and bracing herself against the table, she slowly rises, grunting some from the effort.
"Kūkū…"
The elder woman waves her grandson off as Zelda slips out onto the lānai. "I'm going to lie down for a bit," she tells him. "No worry."
Link sighs to himself, glancing around the newly cleaned kitchen. He wonders how much longer any of the other islanders can live like this, and he rubs his own tired eyes.
He meets the captain outside where she's leaning over the railing of the lānai. Her long hair is free from her usual bun today, and it spills out over her shoulders as the breeze tugs on fly-aways. She shakes her hair out as he approaches. Link bends over and rests his forearms on the railing. Closing his eyes, he lets his head rest on his fisted hands. He stiffens in surprise at first when he feels the captain's hand on his back rubbing small circles, but he soon relaxes and relishes in the touch.
"Link," she calls quietly after a while.
"'Ae?"
"I think you should call Sturgeon and Borville."
He feels his face pale.
He bolts up, and the captain withdraws her hand. "You don't think…" he starts.
Zelda's mouth is pulled tight as she thinks carefully on how to respond. Finally Zelda says, "I don't know, but she's been getting weaker and weaker lately. She's not herself."
He feels his throat tighten.
"Then I can't leave," he whispers eventually.
The captain starts at this. She blinks, shakes her head minutely, and Link can't look at her. "You can't be serious," she mutters, but he doesn't answer. Her nostrils flare, and she doesn't hesitate before sending her hand across his face.
He stumbles back, feeling the sting burning sting across his cheek.
"Don't be an idiot," she spits at him as he sinks with his back against the railing. She crosses her arms. "This is all the more reason that you need to do this, lolo." Link pinches the bridge of his nose and squeezes his eyes shut, the fire brought on his cheek still burning. The captain shifts her weight from one foot to the next as she looks out on the deep, deep, deep sea. She sways a bit between her feet before settling herself down next to him with a sigh.
She picks at a loose thread on the hem of her shirt.
The breeze picks up those loose strands of her long hair, and it tickles his skin.
"Sorry," she mumbles.
He frowns slightly. Eyes rolling across the top of their lids, Link considers for a moment if she's ever uttered that to him before. He lets it roll off his shoulders, telling her that it's fine. Honestly, he probably needed that slap.
He feels like he's been going crazy.
Zelda rests her head on his shoulder. He stiffens at the touch, feeling the hairs on his skin bristle, but he quickly relaxes. Eventually, the rays from the sun lull the captain into a comfortable, light sleep, and Link doesn't dare move away. Link rests his cheek on the top her head, intending to follow her into the dream world.
It seems like it's only been a few minutes, though Link can't be totally sure how long it's been, when he hears the patter of footsteps onto the lānai. They pause, the wood beneath them creaking from the weight. Around the corner of the house where the lānai wraps around, Link cracks his eyes open to see the wispy blonde pigtails as his sister pokes her head out. She mouths to him, "What're you doing?" and he motions for her to come over.
Aryll settles in next to him, and Link wraps and arm around her. "I'm going to be leaving the island soon… with Tetra," he tells her, quietly so as not to disturb the captain sleeping his arm.
"What?" she hisses through her teeth. "You can't leave!"
"I know," he sighs. "That's why you can't say anything about it, alright? But we'll come back soon, promise."
"And Kūkū?"
"We talked to her earlier."
They're silent until Aryll asks, "How soon?"
"Whenever Tetra's ready, I suppose," he says. "You and Kūkū are the only ones that I need to take care of, really. We'll probably go in the next few days."
"I don't understand," she whimpers.
"It's for the island. On the doctors' request," says Link. "And hopefully, when we come back with what the doctors need, we can have a cure for this whole mess.
"In the meantime, you need to promise me that you'll take care of yourself and keep an eye on Kūkū, yeah?" he says with a nudge. She bobs her head with vigor. He pulls her close and kisses the top of her head. "We can talk more later," he promises.
They spend the rest of the afternoon soaking in the sun that slips under the awning of the lānai, talking about anything and everything save for the impending trip. Eventually Zelda rouses from her nap, and they get a start on dinner. Link listens in as Aryll relates her day to their grandmother in the island tongue. He's surprised when Zelda joins in, replying only in part in Hylian. He keeps his head bowed to hide the slight smile on his lips.
He suggests going to the inn to spend time with Zelda's rowdy crew, and the captain readily agrees. On their way though, the captain tugs his sleeve and nods in the direction of Sturgeon's office. "Better safe than sorry, you know?" she tells him. Light spills from the windows of the backroom where Link is sure the doctors are burning the midnight oil.
"We'll go two days from now," she tells Sturgeon upon their entrance. Link glances around the room. It feels strange not to see the ever studious Shad sitting in the corner taking his diligent notes. The only occupant besides Zelda and himself is Sturgeon.
He gives them a crooked smile. "Link, Tetra. Can't say I was expecting any visitors so late," he greets.
"It's about Kūkū," Link says without preamble.
The smile falls from Sturgeon's face, and he regards them with quiet seriousness. "What's happened?" he asks.
"She's been tired as of late," Zelda tells the doctor. "Weak."
Link thinks back on it, and he nods. "She was having trouble putting away the dishes the other day," he admits. "You know that's not like her."
Sturgeon nods. "I will check on her first thing in the morning," he vows.
Zelda shakes her head. "She won't be up for a while," she tells him. "She's been getting up later and later every day."
Sturgeon rubs his chin as he thinks it over. "Lunch time, then," he decides, and the elder turns away to pencil it in in a notebook. The doctor sighs to himself. "It is worrisome."
Link shifts on his feet, suddenly uncomfortable.
He looks to Zelda, who meets his gaze. She gives him a tired but encouraging smile.
So I got a promotion a little over a week ago, and NOBODY told me. Like, what the fudge? So, I've been busying training for that and all that jazz. Seriously though, how does that happen? I came into work and my title had been changed to assistant manager on my time slip.
Like... ugh. At least it's money.
:S