Groose licked his hand to restyle his hair-do, knowing the wind surely already frizzed it in ways that ruined the perfect way it curled upwards.
It was the only drawback to flying around, the meticulous maintenance and upkeep of his hair.
"Just cut it off," he heard behind him, Link landing his Loftwing and stepping off.
"Over my dead body," Groose said, resting his elbows on his knees and looking to Link behind him.
"Can I have that in writing?" Link asked rhetorically, his Loftwing flying off as he approached Groose. "You get a nice comfortable rock and I have to sit on the ground?"
"Finders keepers," Groose argued as Link sat down in front of him, even though he knew Link was being sarcastic. "I got here first. I get dibs."
"Did you find anything?" Link asked.
"Aside from some odd geography, no, nothing in the slightest," Groose replied. "You?"
Link sighed. He shook his head 'no'.
"They've taken a great deal of care to hide themselves from us," Link said. "Searching from the sky is hopeless. Unless they were truly dumb and had the Triforce out in the open like we used to, we're not going to find them from above. They're too smart."
"True," Groose said with a couple nods. "Actually, I didn't find anything abnormal but I was thinking…they probably don't have Loftwings."
"So?" Link asked.
"So they might be closer to the Sealed Temple than we think," Groose reasoned. "Sure they may have traveled far to take the Triforce, but to hide it so quickly afterwards…if they were journeying far, no matter how they're transporting it, we would have seen its light."
"You think we should check the beaches first?" Link asked.
Groose nodded.
"I think it's likely," he added. "I also think it's very possible they may be hiding underground. The only other structures I saw were either our own or temples. I gather that going through those again isn't on any wish list of yours."
"No, but we'll add them to the list of things to check out," Link said. "If we are going to start inwards and gradually search farther out maybe we make sure they're not at the Skyview Temple or the Ancient Cistern, then we can search along the Southern beaches."
"Also we have to keep in mind that whatever entrance they may have may be intended to not be found," said Groose. "Searching these places, we have to be extra careful not to gloss over anything."
Link nodded.
"Sounds like a plan. We can start tomorrow morning. Until then, however, I'm exhausted."
Link stood up to make camp, Groose shifting to more casual conversation.
"So how was the goodbye?" Groose asked. "Your usual tragic-romance variety or did you two finally settle for a normal one."
"We are not tragic," Link argued. "Besides there…wasn't one…a goodbye, I mean."
"Bring on the melodrama," Groose mumbled.
"Zelda and I are a normal couple most of the time, Groose."
"Sure, sure," Groose said, not believing it.
"Why no goodbye?" Groose asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
Link sighed.
"She doesn't want to talk to me."
"Yes, she does," Groose stated simply.
Link shook his head.
"I messed up," Link said. "I know you heard. I got scared and I kept something to myself, something she should have known. I completely understand where her anger is coming from. I wouldn't want to talk to me either."
"Look, I'm not going to give relationship advice when I have way less experience, but…"
"But you will anyway," Link said, Groose giving him a glare.
"I'm only trying to help," he said.
Link exhaled a sigh before gesturing with his hand for him to continue.
"But…" Link prompted.
"But," Groose started again. "Your and Zelda's relationship is based a lot on actions. I'm not saying you guys don't communicate, but the way you show your love is primarily through the ways it was built, chivalry, displays of affection, touches, tangible things you can depend on. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, I'm more than happy that you two have each other to depend on after everything. But when it comes to talking things out, sometimes you fall short."
"Groose, Zelda and I wouldn't have gotten married if we hadn't been able to communicate. Of course we talk to each other."
"Sure, but that's why I said sometimes," Groose continued. "It's just when it comes to situations like this that need words that don't come easily, you two just wait instead for the other to perform some grand gesture, like, oh I don't know, coming back with the Triforce safe and secure?"
"Do you not want the Triforce safe and secure?" Link retorted.
"Yes, but why not go to Zelda and talk out your problems first."
"It's like I said," Link said. "Until I get the Triforce back, she doesn't want to talk to me. And even if you'd disagree or I'm wrong, then Zelda and I would spend the whole time worrying. I'd rather be out here, looking for the Triforce, doing something so that this blows over and we can all just…"
"Live our lives?" Groose suggested.
"Yeah," Link replied. "I just need to get the Triforce back, then everything will go back to normal."
"I wouldn't be so sure about normal."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Aside from the fact that she now sees you as a liar and a hypocrite."
"Thanks."
"You two are going to have a child. Everything is going to change."
Link's eyes flitted downwards.
"Groose…what if…what if she doesn't…doesn't want me to…"
Link couldn't even bring himself to say it.
"That's not possible, Link," Groose assured him, somehow knowing exactly what he was referring to.
"I can't lose her, Groose…I just can't," Link said. "I have to fix this so she'll…"
"If you finish that sentence with 'love me' I swear to Hylia herself I'll push you off a cliff."
Link's nose gave way to a sniffle.
"That's not necessary."
Morning breached calmly, the sun rising with no hesitance upon Hyrule and whisking away the starry night.
Groose had woken up early, and soon realized that as long as they were out here looking for the Triforce, he would have to be the one to wake the sleepy head Link.
Great.
He was much less gentle than someone like Zelda, who might brush his cheek or employ her soft lips, which probably wouldn't coax him to awaken in the slightest.
After standing over him, studying his sleeping frame with hands on his hips, Groose decided on kicking him. It took three for Link to grumble something incoherent, and another for him to sit up saying,
"Okay, I'm up," with his messy bedhead.
"I need you to call your Loftwing so I can mount the rest of the provisions before we head to the Ancient Cistern."
"Mm."
"Now," Groose commanded.
"We're the same rank," Link argued.
"I don't care," Groose said, Link putting his fingers to his mouth and whistling.
The Loftwing soon landed next to Groose's, ready and waiting to assist.
"There," Link said as he stood up, rolling up his blanket and tossing it on the pile of things Groose hadn't packed yet.
Link sat down on the rock, massaging and rubbing his face to wake himself up. He needed to be more than alert if they were going to look in every nook and cranny for the Triforce, for some secret entrance to the Sheikah's hideout, or anything else that would clue them.
"Here," Link heard Groose say before a light edge patted his cheek and then landed on his lap.
"What's this?" Link asked, picking up a thick piece of white paper. Groose crossed his arms.
"I brought a whole bunch so I could send letters to Orielle," Groose said. "You should write one to Zelda."
"Groose, I told you last night she doesn't—"
"Upbupup," Groose interrupted. "I don't need to hear the sob story again. I see it as a win-win-win situation. You get practice with your words and Zelda worries less because of it."
"How do you win?" Link asked.
"Less melodrama to deal with," Groose said, Link leveling him with a glare.
But he broke the glare and sighed, pulling out a pencil and hovering it over the paper in thought.
He felt Groose looking over his shoulder, which is why he turned on the rock he sat so that Groose couldn't see. Groose walked away with a smirk.
'Zel,
I love you
-Link'