Author's Note: Hello everyone! If you are a new reader, welcome! If you are returning, welcome back! This story is a sort of companion piece to my longer Never Doubt I Love that was published around this time last year. Though I do recommend reading that one first, it is not absolutely essential. While Never Doubt I Love is strongly centered around the Pipit/Link pairing, this story explores that story through Fledge's point of view, revealing his feelings for Link, revisiting some scenes in Never Doubt I Love through Fledge's eyes, following him as he meets Keet, and continuing past the ending of Never Doubt I Love as Fleet develops.

This story will be formatted differently, with chapters functioning as short vignettes (ranging from around six hundred to three thousand words) that are presented in chronological order but are not always back-to-back. I'm about halfway through (I've got ten chapters) and will update daily through completion.

Oh, by the way, this story is M rated for a reason; vulgar language, some violence, and copious amounts of explicit boy on boy action.

That's all I have to say about that. I hope you enjoy this foray into Fledge's conscious. Let's get to it.

Disclaimer: I am in no way claiming ownership over the Legend of Zelda franchise or making money with this story. No copyright infringement is intended.

"Link, I've heard enough about Pipit. We're all worried about him, and we're all excited to see him when he gets back, but in the meantime we go about our lives. He's only been gone for a few days. Now tell me if I should keep this skirt or throw it out with the rest of these."

Fledge watched as Zelda stood in front of her mirror modelling the flowery pink skirt she had just wrenched from her desperately overstocked wardrobe. She turned to face Link, who sitting on her desk atop a pile of discarded clothes.

Sighing, Link looked her over mechanically. "It fits well enough but makes you look like a little girl." He turned to Fledge unexpectedly. "What do you think, Fledge?"

Lounging on Zelda's bed beside the open window, Fledge had been more than content to lay back and watch the clouds pass as he listened to his friends banter on. In the days when their group was seven, he and Piper had passed as the quiet ones. Karane and Peatrice had left following Pipit's departure, however, and he was now expected to take up some of the conversational slack that resulted.

He blushed, looking Zelda over critically. "I don't really know about this stuff. Why do you want my opinion anyway?"

"Well, I figured you could weigh in as the group's only remaining male heterosexual. With Pipit gone you've got to be the man of the house."

Fledge could swear that he saw Zelda's eyes glace to Piper, who sat at the edge of the bed beside Link. Not wishing to bring it up in front of Link, however, he replied, "I like it. It preserves some of her innocence."

"Yeah, the little that's left," Link grunted in disapproval.

"Excuse me? I am far more innocent then you. I've never even had a boyfriend."

"Yeah, because every guy knows you're the biggest whore on Skyloft." He ducked as Zelda jokingly slapped him and then stood up. "I'm not going to sit here and take your abuse. I'm going to the bathroom."

Fledge watched Link as the other boy strode for the door, and his eyes lingered on the door for a moment after it closed. He sighed inwardly, closing his eyes to imagine Link beside him, holding him to his chest and whispering that he loved him.

Zelda's voice broke him out of his reverie. "So, do you want to talk about it?"

Looking up, startled, Fledge stuttered, "Talk about what?"

He felt the blood immediately rush to his cheeks and he glanced to Piper nervously. She shrugged and nodded to Zelda, making it clear to him that he would receive no help from her.

"I think you know what I mean."

"Look, Zelda, I –"

"Fledge, we both know already," Piper said suddenly. He turned to her, confused, and saw the laughter in her eyes as she watched him.

He stammered, "I really don't know what you're talking about. What do you already know?" Deep down inside, he knew exactly what they meant. He had seen them earlier and had known then, immediately. Still, it was difficult to say it aloud and in front of others, especially with no practice or preparation.

"Fledge, I'm not going to say it for you, but I want to hear it from you. Enough people have noticed now, and it's only a matter of time before he does too."

"Who has noticed?"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Well, Pipit asked us about it the night before he left."

"Yeah, and Karane and Peatrice asked us the day before that."

"What did they ask you?"

"Zelda sat beside him on the bed and rested her hand on his knee. "Fledge, I'm not going to say it for you," she repeated. "We both know what I'm talking about, but I want to hear you say it."

Fledge fidgeted uncomfortably, glancing between Zelda and Piper. He looked to the door, almost hoping that Link would return to buy him some time to think the situation over, but it remained stoically closed. "Zelda, I really don't think that I…"

"Well? That you what?"

He turned to Piper and she patted his arm sympathetically. "Zelda, maybe we shouldn't be pressuring him like this."

Fledge smiled gratefully, but Zelda just snorted. "Okay, if you don't want our help, then I guess I'll let you walk away from this without solving the problem."

She looked up to the ceiling innocently, and Fledge's eye twitched as he struggled to contain his annoyance. "What do you want from me, Zelda?" he shouted. "You want to hear me say it? Okay, fine, I'll say it! I have a crush on Link, alright? Are you happy now?"

He didn't give her a chance to answer, pushing her aside as he stood up and marched smartly to the door. He didn't look back as he slammed it behind him before turning and finding himself face-to-face with Link.

"Hey, Fledge. What's wrong?"

He shrugged, surprised with himself at his sudden burst of anger. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just feeling a bit weird and thought I'd better call it a night."

Link's sky blue eyes looked him over with concern, and Fledge bit his lip, fighting to keep the blood from rising to his cheeks. "Okay. I'll see you around?"

"Um… yeah, sure," Fledge muttered. He turned away but suddenly felt Link take his hand. His stomach fluttered and he turned back to Link with a shy smile.

The other boy stepped closer to him, and Fledge's breath caught in his throat. "Hey, what's really going on? Is there something you want to talk about?"

"No! It's like I said, I just don't feel very well."

Fledge looked into Link's eyes and lost himself, imagining bringing those perfect lips to his own, trailing his hands through Link's soft, wavy hair. "Okay, I hope you feel better. And just know that I'm always here to listen if you want to talk."