A/N: High school AU time!
"Sidon, please be careful!" Mipha called as she watched the child leaping in and out of the water around Link, who was lounging in a chair that he had somehow strapped to a surfboard. The Zora had expressed confusion as to how Link had managed to not only stabilize it but somehow ride the waves as well, all while drinking a soda. The sun reflected off his sunglasses, making
Zelda only rolled her eyes at her brother's antics. As quiet and blank faced as he could be, she knew he was the definition of chaos. It was honestly irritating how he seemed capable of casually disobeying fundamental laws of the universe.
However, her twin's ridiculous method of surfing wasn't her primary concern at the moment.
"Come on, Revali, it could be fun!"
"I don't see how splashing around like a child could possibly be fun, especially with feathers." The Rito crossed his wings, turning away from the shoreline resolutely.
"Then why did you come?" Zelda asked. When proposing ideas for how they could spend their break, Revali had been vehemently against a day at the beach. Yet, when the group had decided to have a day at the beach for those who were interested and another day for everyone to enjoy, Revali had still shown up. And he was being a bit more difficult than usual.
"Because both the shooting range and the gym are closed," Revali grumbled.
The Hylian turned to Mipha, who was studying Revali closely. The Zora was far better at reading those around her than Zelda, even when it came to people that Zelda spent more time around.
"Revali… are you afraid of the ocean?"
"Ha! Laughable."
Even Zelda could tell that something wasn't quite right with the response.
"Well, if you were-" Mipha said carefully, as she always did when speaking to Revali.
"I'm not."
"If you were, I would tell you there is very little reason to be scared, especially if you stay near the shore."
"I told you I'm not." Zelda frowned thoughtfully as Revali continued arguing the point. He only argued as such when he was concerned about how a fact about himself might make him appear. Otherwise, he waved off whatever rumor was circulating, letting people believe whatever.
"Mipha! Look!" Everyone turned to see Sidon leaping out of the water, doing various stunts as he flew over Link's head.
"Wow! That's amazing Sidon." The Zora watched a few more seconds before turning away when she was certain he was distracted.
"Revali, would it hel -"
"Miphaaaaa!"
The Zora in question sighed. "Excuse me for a minute." Mipha left the Rito and the Hylian alone as she waded out into the water and swam out to meet her younger brother.
"She had better not say a word," Revali muttered as he shuffled away from the shoreline.
"So, it's true?" Zelda asked quietly. She had found that, sometimes, the Rito could be a bit more agreeable if she spoke quietly, even when they were alone.
"Not being fond of the ocean isn't the same as being afraid."
"Is it true?" she asked again.
"Fine," he grunted. "I really don't like the idea of not being able to see what's below me. Plus… Rito are weak swimmers."
"I understand," Zelda murmured as she edged further into his field of view, trying to get him to look at her.
Revali scoffed, turning away sharply.
"No, really! I used to be terrified of what was under my bed." Again, Zelda tried edging around him so that she could see his face. "My father would come in and, before bed, he would look under the bed with me to make sure there weren't any monsters hiding beneath it."
Revali said nothing as he turned away again.
Zelda huffed as he refused to be receptive to her at all; however, if years of studying her brother had taught her one thing, persistence always won out. Maybe all she needed was a change of strategy.
"Would it help if I went with you?"
Revali faltered for a moment, his wings nearly falling. He stood silently for a few seconds before tensing up. "... fine. But not too deep. I don't want to be cleaning dried salt out of my feathers for weeks."
"Not too deep," Zelda agreed as she took his wing and guided him out to the water.