It was hard to imagine life any differently than she was living it.
Zelda would wake up beside Link, in his bed, in his house. She wasn't on her giant mattress that was far superior to his. And honestly, she didn't entirely mind missing out on it in the grand scheme of things. Sure, if she sat and thought about it, she'd wistfully daydream about flopping down and pulling up the warm, fuzzy blankets she kept on the top shelf of the closet. She would certainly never think about the down feathered pillows that adorned her bed or the way she used to sink right into them.
She'd never admit it.
Out loud.
She missed her house many mornings. She missed the occasional mornings that her parents would be home. She missed knowing that they were all one unit.
Now, they were more divided than she ever thought possible. She was with Link, and her parents were both with other people, potentially separated, potentially divorced… she didn't even know. No one had told her.
With the snow still sticking to the ground, though the roads were mostly clear, and the frosty chill, Link had been taking Aryll's car, or being dropped off at work and school by Zelda, who would then leave for her own job. It was a very scheduled existence, but for now, it meant that they didn't lose their jobs, or their education. It worked, even if it wasn't particularly fun. And both of them had found that their most common argument was about the other's inability to make it to the car on time or, Goddess forbid, early.
So, on Wednesday, when Zelda didn't have to go to work or practice, she went over to Makeela's.
Zelda liked to think that she'd gotten over her entitled ways. Living with Link had definitely taken away some of the luxuries she'd taken for granted. A television, for one. She'd never known to appreciate having a television show available in a box that was not attached to a keyboard that balanced on their laps.
And space.
Everything in Link and Aryll's apartment was used to the fullest of its abilities. The kitchen was also a storage closet because the side of the fridge had a small alcove. Under the coffee table was a surge protector because that was the most convenient place to reach all the plugs. There was one spot that Zelda always had to turn sideways to get through.
Zelda loved everything about Link. His home was becoming her own second home. Everything about it was exactly what she needed. And best of all, it had Link in it.
But she was human, and she missed her large bed, comfy couch, and the open floorplan. She missed her private back yard and the garage that always had a parking spot readily available. Come the spring and summer, she'd miss the pool and the hot tub and the trampoline.
She missed her parents.
Makeela's family wasn't as well-off as Zelda's, but they weren't struggling either. They had a nice hallway right through the front door, a place to hang coats, a separate living room and den and kitchen, two bathrooms, and three bedrooms upstairs, one of which was a guest room/office.
For the most part, whenever any friends came over, they were in either Makeela's room, or the living room. Her parents were either at work until 4pm, or they'd stay in the den when they were home.
And it was a neat house. Not pristine, as Zelda's was. A visitor might even think that the home had been set up for an open house. But Makeela's was lived-in, like Link's. There were photographs all over the walls, a mess of things on the table. Mail was scattered around, Makeela's bed was unmade, there was toothpaste that spilled on the bathroom sink. It was a home.
Link's house was starting to feel that way, but it was just short of one key thing: it didn't feel like hers.
She was in Link's bed, sitting on Aryll's couch, using food they'd all pitched in for. She longed to go to college and finally have things that were hers. If she was in an apartment, that was obvious, but if she was in a dorm, she'd have her fridge, her microwave, her things.
"Am I selfish?" Zelda finally asked aloud, turning to Makeela with a questioning expression.
Makeela shrugged. "I don't think so? Are you thinking of something specific? Like, you didn't lend me your textbook before break. Or like, if I were to ask you for $100, you're already planning to turn me down?"
"Like, I'm happy, and I'm so grateful to Link and Aryll, but I want to go home, too. Is that selfish?"
"I don't think so."
Makeela spun around to look at her friend, flopping onto her stomach on the bed. "Why do you think that's selfish?"
"I don't know," Zelda admitted, tugging at her hair before putting her homework away that they'd already finished earlier. "I guess because I should just be grateful. And I am! Don't get me wrong! It's just…"
Makeela waited, clicking her heels together in the air.
Zelda sighed. "I miss my parents. So much. And I don't understand why, because every time I see them, they're awful to me or to Link! But still, I just want to tell my mom about our last volleyball game, and how well we did. And I want to see my dad stand in the corner of the gym because he can only come by on his lunch break. Or, I want to chose to go home to eat some days. Even if they're not there long, even if they get called back to work, I want to eat with them again and talk about school. I want to tell them the part I'm going to try for in the play next week. I want to sleep in my bed one night. Bonus points if Link can come over, but I just want my bed, and my room, and my things around me. And it makes me feel so selfish. Am I just asking for too much?"
Makeela scoffed. "Wanting your parents to be parents? Wanting to be able to visit your own house? No, you're not asking for enough, actually."
Zelda plopped her head against the desk and let out a breath. "Life would be so much easier if we were werewolves, you know?"
"No. 'Lone wolf' is the term the show is so fond of this season, remember? You'd have all the same problems, and probably no Link since Castor is a jerk and took off on Amalia."
Zelda hummed before lifting her head, a sinister grin on her face. "Looking forward to Saturday?"
"Shut up!" Makeela hissed just in time to flush bright red. "How many more times are you going to ask me that?"
"Until it sinks in that you did it! That you finally asked Pipit out! And I support you whole-heartedly. Watch and repeat: I am so glad you asked Pipit on a date," Zelda signed.
Makeela made a face. "I saw Pipit's name in there."
"Good! That's progress! How about this: What do you want to eat?"
"Zelda," Makeela said, mockingly lowering her voice into the most serious tone ever. "He has taught me words like 'thank you' and 'Makeela', 'Zelda', 'Link', 'Ilia' 'Pipit' and 'be right back'. He taught me the alphabet and how to count. I'm a signing child. I have no idea what you're saying."
"Okay," Zelda said, throwing herself onto the bed, getting comfortable. "Let me teach you some basics!"
They ran through phrases that Makeela might need to know for someone who'd be getting lunch. They both knew that Pipit wasn't going to try to have a full conversation with her, but it was her effort and attempts to learn that counted, even if the gestures were sloppy or wrong.
Zelda decided to make a stop at Hyrule Energized before returning to Link's, but as she dug through her bag, she sighed and pulled into a parking spot before grabbing her phone and calling Makeela.
"What did you forget?"
Zelda rolled her eyes. "Is my wallet on your floor near the desk? I think it fell out when I was grabbing books."
"Hang on… yep! Does this mean I get a finder's fee and can take some money?"
"Go ahead and try. I'm not carrying anything. But I need my card and my license, so can you run out with it in a bit? I'll call when I get back to your house."
"Sure!"
"Thanks."
Zelda groaned and put the car in reverse. It was just going to end up being that kind of night.
Link hopped from foot to foot in the electronics shop. Pipit watched him with disinterest. Link, as it happened, had a charley horse and was hissing as he attempted to rid himself of the painful cramp.
"Scale of 1-10?" Pipit asked after a while.
Link held up 5 fingers and proceeded to wander around. "Damn!" he muttered to himself, pressing his thumb into the spot it hurt the most and attempting to relieve it.
It didn't work.
Pipit leaned on the counter and watched Link as if he were Moonlight Howl. More than anything else though, he was grateful that it hadn't been him who'd gotten the charley horse. He smirked, content with his own task that Gabe had set for him: reassembling a flashlight.
Link intentionally banged into Pipit as he walked by, and Link heard Pipit chuckle, though he didn't react any other way as Link went back to Gabe, who'd taken over Link's task on the car in front of them.
"Bend your knees next time, hot-shot."
Link glared at his mentor. "I wasn't being a hot-shot. I was doing my job."
"Trying to impress me, or yourself, or hell, maybe you're trying to impress Zelda in your brain, but no matter what, you were showing off. You work slower and smarter. None of this speed bullshit. And you know that you need to watch how you stand when you're in the hood, especially if it's going to be a while."
"I know," Link groaned.
The pain was subsiding, and he finally felt like he could at least change the tire.
Gabe let him, but he watched with practiced scrutiny.
It wasn't until an hour later, as a new car was pulling up, that Gabe grabbed Link's arm to pull him aside. "Link, take the next appointment for me."
"Sure."
"No, I mean the whole thing. Whatever it is, take it. I won't even hover."
Link blinked a few times, confused. "Are… are you sure?"
"I am. Now don't keep him waiting. Go."
Gabe watched Link hurry over to the man getting out of the car. He could hear Link greet him properly, that part never had him worried. Link had great people skills when he wanted to. The man hopped into the car that pulled up behind them and they drove off, leaving Link to inspect the car.
True to his word, Gabe left to check on Pipit, leaving Link alone.
An hour in, Link was hunched in the hood—knees bent—as he worked around the wires.
His hand was blistering. He'd forgotten to put his gloves on when he'd begun, and now he felt it was just worth taking the hit. He always preferred being able to work and feel everything he was doing.
The smell of oil and burning metal was strong. The owner of the car had done some damage internally, and it was fairly obvious from the second Link had opened the hood. Every now and then, Link had to cover his face and his nose with his arm just to catch a breath that wasn't suffocating with the overwhelming scents.
Link pushed his hair off his sticky forehead, careful to only use the back of his hands as he did so he didn't smear oil and lubricant all over himself. As it was, he already looked a mess, and he didn't need Zelda catching him covered in grease, oil, and sweat.
He found himself smirking. She'd like it, if only in theory.
Link took a water break, washing up in the sink a fair bit. With that, most of the mess was on his coveralls, which was their purpose anyway. When he went back, he did opt to add the gloves over his hands. And this time, he grabbed his hat off the chair, smoothing back his hair and plopping the cap on backwards so he could see just as well.
His vision narrowed until it was just him and the car. If Gabe had been hanging straight over his shoulder, he'd never have noticed.
Gabe was, in fact, watching. But he was doing so from the safe distance of the employee room, unnoticed by Link. Pipit had succeeded in reconstructing the flashlight, so Gabe had let him go home. That side of the store was calm enough.
Gabe took a deep breath as he watched Link. Gabe knew that he still hadn't decided on the early acceptance school. He knew Link worried about being able to afford the whole tuition, room, books, food, everything. The local college was a good option to save money. He could live at home, work at the shop, and the brunt of the bill was paid. But he also knew the University of Central Hyrule had everything Link had ever wanted.
Gabe watched Link, so full of talent, so full of energy. How he wanted to secretly put some money into Link's bank and just pay for him to go to school at UCH. But Link had already warned him against such an act of generosity.
"I'd never be able to repay you," Link had argued.
"You can repay me by doing well. That's enough for me."
He'd offered to pay for Pipit as well. He had no children. No spouse. He had three thriving businesses and lived in a small loft. He didn't need to hoard his money.
But no, Pipit insisted on a gap year, and Link refused any help Gabe had offered.
Stubborn boys.
Gabe wasn't one to meddle, but he'd even considered going to Aryll or Zelda to see if they could change Link's mind. He had time to work on Pipit. Half a semester off was far less than a full gap year, and he intended to remind Pipit every second that he could have been Link's roommate at UCH if they'd let him pay their tuition.
Suddenly, there was a relentless ringing noise.
He came out of the room and went to Link's side.
Link had the tip of his glove's finger in his mouth, and Gabe promptly—but lightly—hit Link in the back of the head. "Don't put that in your mouth! What are you, a child? That's oil!"
"My phone won't stop ringing!"
Gabe rolled his eyes and dug Link's phone out of the coverall's pocket.
It was Zelda.
Gabe flashed the screen at Link. "Mind if I just answer and have you call her back when you're done?"
"Yeah sure. She'll understand." He ducked back into the car, listening to Gabe's receding footsteps as he answered the phone.
Link leaned against the metal for a moment, looking around the hood. He was close… so close. Reattaching a wire, he felt a shark crack against his finger, not as bad as it could have been but hot and fast all the same. Shocked. Damn.
He pulled it back, checking to ensure that the wire was okay, when he felt Gabe's hand on his shoulder.
"Can we talk, Link?"
Link set the wire down and immediately pulled his glove off, inspecting his finger. "Sure. But the wire looks okay, so if it's about that spark—"
"It's about Zelda. Come into the back, I need to have a talk with you."
Link made a face and grabbed the wet towel from the sink, peeling off his layers and wiping the sweat and grime off him before stepping out of the messy jumpsuit to sit on the couch, ready for a break anyway.
When Gabe made that face, Link grimaced in response.
"She's not pregnant or anything, so this can't be about safety or anything again. I don't have a ring in my pocket you accidently found. So what did I do wrong? Did she say something?"
Gabe nodded, more to himself than to Link, and pulled the seat across out. "Just… I need you to take a deep breath so I know you can."
"What happened? Is it Aryll? Is Aryll okay? Or Zelda? Are they okay?"
Gabe nodded again, though this time was clearly to Link. "They're okay. But Zelda did get hurt."
Link's eyes bugged out and he leaned forward a bit. "What did she say? Is she home? Do you mind if I leave early?"
"Link," Gabe said, more cautious, more careful. He rested his hand on Link's knee. "She got into a car accident. She's in the hospital. Breathe through that before I continue."
Breathe?
There was no more air in the room.
Hurt.
Zelda was hurt. In a car accident.
A car accident.
"She's alive," Gabe stressed, watching panic play out across Link's features. "She's not Mikau, Link. This didn't kill her. It wasn't that bad."
"How bad?" he croaked out. He tried to rest his hands under his chin, but everything was shaking too much. He couldn't use his arms to pick up the towel he'd dropped.
"They didn't tell me much, but—"
"They?"
Gabe stopped himself and nodded. "The doctors called. She doesn't have her license on her, so they were calling numbers in her phone. Makeela didn't answer, and you were the next one."
Color drained from Link's face, and the room spun rapidly. It felt like every body part had sunk down to his stomach and he wanted nothing more than to throw it all up. His pulse was rapid and hard, hitting his skin as it throbbed.
"Why can't she just tell them her name?" he asked carefully.
Gabe tightened his grip on Link's bouncing knee. "She's not conscious."
Link pushed Gabe's hand off and stumbled over to the cabinet. It looked like Link was in an earthquake, his hand couldn't stop shaking the metal, and then the rough clanging of his keys jingled aggressively.
"What hospital?"
Gabe took Link's hand and pried the keys away from his fingers. "Mipha's Grace. But you're not driving. I'll take you."
Gabe pulled Link back when he tried to walk.
Link's lip was trembling, and his eyes were narrowed in an attempt to stop himself from shedding a tear.
"It's not Mikau, Link. She's not dead."
"She's unconscious."
"We don't know anything. We don't know why. Maybe they sedated her. Don't go into this looking for ways she could die. She's not Mikau. Say it back."
"Can we go?"
"Link…"
"Fuck, Gabe! She's not Mikau! Let's go!"
"Good. Get in the truck."
A/N: I have been dying to do this since the second I figured out Link's backstory. I even originally had this happening really early on in this fic! I'm glad I waited! Also, I'm almost done with work, so you have to wait just a few more days to resolve this cliffhanger, and then I can post more regularly again! Plus, I am 10 koroks away from 100% on AOC, so I'll be SO free it'll be crazy. Maybe I'll even post a chapter two days in a row soon! The thought makes me swoon.
Reviews: Oracle of Hylia: Hahahahah I never really expected it, so I was pleasantly surprised! And our girl made her move! Overshadowed a bit by this ending, but she did it! ElenaGilbert24: Yeah, I really needed to stop writing to catch up with everything, but I am finally almost ready to focus on all these fics again! And HW was really good! I loved it! And I'm so sorry, but this chapter is the cost of having so many fluff chapters! Got to add the angst in there too! DK21 XcL: Hahahahahaha! If you've never had one fall on your head before, then let me tell you, those things are WEAPONS! Lol! (but really, it's just a fake cover and it's 100% a spellbook don't tell anyone) Scarlet Curls: Oh how the tides have turned! Zelink is 100% ready to pay Pipkeela (?) back!
