AN: Whoops! One day late . . . sorry! I don't feel very well, so sorry if this isn't very long.
Thank you for the reviews, Izzyboopers and Moonlight Raven Grave!
Suggested soundtrack: Courtesy Call by Thousand Foot Crutch (This is the song Vaati sings)
ALSO! I see Vaati as having a French accent. Not a stereotypical one, though. I also think he looks a lot like Alexander Ferrario, who is a French model.
Chapter 7: LE DANCE
Link felt really odd in a tux. It was a light tan tux with a green bow tie. His grandmother had insisted on him getting a haircut, not that his hair was much shorter, just . . . less of what Seagull's nest must look like. Link blew air into his cheeks before letting it out, then slowly left his room and went downstairs.
"There he iiiiiis!" Granny clapped as he descended the stairs, making his face flush in embarrassment.
He REALLY didn't like being the center of attention . . .
Aryll glared at him with a weirded out expression. "Link?" she asked.
"It's me, Aryll." Link hadn't believed it either just seconds ago, looking in the bathroom mirror. He was so . . . weird looking, and his jaw was too big for his face, his ears too long and pointed, eyebrows too bushy and low on his brow. Did you know they had combs for eyebrows?
Sheesh.
Granny scurried to the fridge. "And now the finishing touch!" She pulled out a small container and pulled out a boutonniere, one small white lily with brown spots. Link grinned. "Oh, hey! Outset flowers."
"I thought that might make you happy," said Granny as she pinned it to his lapel. "There's a matching one for Zelda in a little container in the drawer on the left."
"Thanks, Granny," Link said, smiling and chuckling.
She suddenly patted his cheeks. "Ooooh, my beautiful boy's first dance!"
"Beautiful? Grandma, when Zelda gets here, do you mind calling me handsome? And yes, I shaved. With Dad's old shaving kit."
"Ooh, that's wonderful, dear. Can't believe you have peach fuzz already," Granny exclaimed. "And not a nick on you!"
"Well . . . I've been practicing!"
Granny smiled. "I see! Special night?"
Link shook his head, taking a moment to needlessly adjust his collar. "No. I just miss him, is all. His aftershave reminds me of him."
Placing a sympathetic hand on his arm, Granny smiled sadly. "He misses you, too, honey. He misses you, too."
Link's parents had never really taught him to believe in an afterlife, but apparently it was a big deal to Granny. Actually, to MOST older Hylians. It was as if the older generation was in general just more religious than the newer one. Link turned to look at the cucco clock on the wall. "Wow! I'd better meet Zelda. I'll see you later, Grandma."
Link and Zelda walked together into the already-crowded dance floor. "Royalty rules dictate," Zelda had said, "never arrive on time!" She wore a green chiffon dress that looked like a bell flower, and feathery leaves above her ears to mimic her crown.
"Wow, the decorations are awesome, Zelda!" Link commented. Garlands were hung on every wall and on the light fixtures. The whole gym had been turned into a replica of a forest temple. Tiny lights faded in and out between the leaves like fireflies.
Too bad the same couldn't be said for the band. They were . . . struggling. No one was really dancing because the band kept restarting or fumbling, or just playing a tune that wasn't dance-able.
Zelda frowned and covered her ears. "Aaaaugh! Nabooru said they were good. NABS!"
It took them only a few seconds to find Nabooru, who was dressed in harem pants and a more modest version of the Gerudo top—as per school dress code regulations. She wore gold lipstick and purple eye shadow, her hair pulled into a high ponytail by a giant golden bead.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Zelda shouted over the 'music.'
"BAND CANCELED!" Nabooru shouted back, just as irritated. "HAD TO FIND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE AUDIENCE UNTIL REPLACEMENTS ARRIVE! . . . THEY SUCK! WELL, EXCEPT FOR SHAD, THAT IS!"
At that name, Link glanced up at the platform and got a closer look. Shad was the bassist—Shad's a bassist?!—and he looked beyond bored. He sat in the back of the platform—way back, apparently not wanting to be associated with the other 'players' of the haphazard 'band.'
Link had to give them all props, though. I mean, just getting up there and playing like that.
He left Zelda to get drinks, and when he came back, he stood in front of the stage and watched the band—er, Shad.
Shad was so bored he sat on a chair, playing blind with his head hanging over the back of his seat. They were playing Termina Double Trouble, the most basic line dance that everyone had done since middle school. Link could feel the eye rolls cycling through the audience like a wave. The song had a neat bass line in the chorus, though, and Shad sat up as he realized they got to that part. His fingers played easily over the frets, but he only got a few bars in before the main guitarist yelled for the entire song to stop because he got lost in the too-fast tempo. So they slowed it down. A lot. And Shad leaned back again, playing the rest of the chorus in slow-mo without even looking, heaving a sigh, again as bored as a hammer with no nails to ham.
Nabs is right, Link thought. He IS good!
"Is the punch spiked?"
Link turned his head to the left. Zelda had approached him. He handed her a drink. "Huh?"
Zelda pointed her finger in circles at her own cheek. "You look a bit red."
The burn reached the rest of his face as Link coughed. "Oh. Um, no, not spiked. I think." He glanced back at Shad, then realized that wouldn't help his case any, and then took Zelda's hand and guided her to the tables.
"Hey, now hold up!" said Zelda. "Let's finish our drinks and dance, okay?"
"Dance?" Link asked.
"Yeah." Zelda shrugged. "You know, that thing you do at dances?"
"Oh . . . okay."
Shadow looked at the gym clock and sighed. Where is he? He passed a hand through his purple locks, enjoying the stares and returning them with a sultry gaze and half smile. He felt his pocket vibrate, and pulled his phone out and to his ear. "V! Where are you!"
"Um . . . sorry. I'm right outside. I kind of got lost."
"How'd you get lost? Didn't you take a cab?"
"I can't see. It's really dark. Can you come get me?"
Shadow blinked in surprise. "Sure! I'll be right there." He pocketed his phone and went outside.
Vaati stood in the parking lot, his hair drawn over his right eye. Shadow thought about making a crack about it, but then saw the timid way his friend stood. First of all, there were lights on in the dark and therefore Vaati could see the entrance just fine. Shadow walked up to him. "What's up?"
Vaati averted his eyes. "I . . . I don't feel like dancing."
Shadow's eyebrows lowered. "Why not? What happened?" His lifted a hand.
"Well, I—" Vaati stopped when Shadow pushed his hair out of his face and back behind his ear.
"Sorry," Shadow said, smirking, "I can't take you seriously with your hair like that. You're not one to hide, Vaati."
Vaati's cheeks flushed slightly. "I can't see out of that eye anymore."
Shadow's eyes widened. "Like, at all?" He knew albinism caused visual problems for sufferers, but jeez . . . that sucked!
"No," Vaati replied unhappily. "And everyone keeps waving their hands in front of it. I thought if I covered it with hair they'd stop. Plus they say it looks funny."
"Huh? That's stupid." Sure, it looked like his right and now blind eye had no pupil at all, unlike his left eye, but Shadow thought it was . . . pretty.
Vaati shrugged. "Yeah, well, things are different in high school I guess."
Shadow put his hands on Vaati's shoulders as the shorter boy's voice began to tremble. "V, tell me what happened!"
Self consciously, Vaati pulled his hair nervously over his blind eye again.
"No, no, don't do that."
Vaati shook his head and gripped his hair tightly. "They called me a freak." He barely got the word out, a breathy whisper.
A wave of numbness washed over Shadow, his mouth dropping open in shock. His hands tightened on Vaati's shoulders, and he gave a large, feral smirk. "Well of course you are!"
"W-what?!"
Shadow put an arm on Vaati's shoulder and leaned down to level with the teen. "So am I." He pointed at their eyes. "Those other guys only wish they were as unique as us. And anyway, even if I weren't a freak, I'd rather pretend to be a freak with you than hang around those boring idiots!"
The tiniest of smiles rose on Vaati's face. "I . . . I wish you still went to my school, Shadow."
"Don't worry, I've still got your back, alright?"
"Okay." Vaati braved a smile. "I like your hair. It's really cool."
Shadow flipped it behind his shoulder playfully. "Thanks. Now come on, let's go freak out!" He wrapped an around Vaati's shoulder and guided him, now grinning, inside. "There's this horrible band going on, and we should really relieve them from their suffering."
"You're going to sing?"
"Or throw rotten eggs. Haven't decided yet!"
Vaati laughed.
"On second thought, let's not," Zelda was saying, glancing at the immobile dance floor.
"Maybe they should just wait for the replacement band to come in," Link said.
"No, no, I think it's amusing to watch Shad." She grinned. "Did you know he played bass?"
Link shook his head. "You think he knows about us?"
Zelda looked at him, deadpan. "How could he not? I'm the princess. I'm in a band. I need a bassist. A REAL bassist! No offense to Shadow."
It seemed Shad had had enough. He set down the bass guitar and leapt off the stage.
The band must go on. And it did . . . sort of. Without the bassist, you could barely hear the instruments over the loud talking of the audience.
Link felt a shove. He turned to Zelda. "Hey!"
"You should go talk to him," Zelda suggested.
"Why me?"
She winked at him. "I have a hunch. Go on, flirt with him or something!"
Link reddened. "What! I'm not—"
"Yeah, yeah, just get going. We've only got a few more weeks until the talent show!"
"Fine . . ." Not understanding the sudden jelly-like trait of his legs, Link bumbled his way across the floor to the red-head in the distance. As he got closer, Shad turned to a friend and Link caught sight of his glasses reflecting the myriad lights in the room. His heart beat faster. Link took a deep breath and drank from his cup, swishing the liquid in his mouth. Come on, Link, pull yourself together. What is WRONG with you?!
It was still pretty loud, and Shad had obviously not heard him say, "Hey!" So Link, much like Aryll he noted, reached out a gummy hand and tentatively tapped the young scholar on the shoulder.
Shad flashed his pretty blue eyes at him, then looked him up and down quickly. "Can I help you?"
His voice sounded deeper this close. Also, he had an accent. One of those sexy pish-posh ones . . . he wore a complicated waistcoat and puffy pants and deceptively practical dress shoes.
Link tried to find his voice, with varying degrees of success. "Uuuh, I saw you playing up there. You're good."
The boy looked away and adjusted his glasses. "Oh, that was nothing," he said in a dissatisfied way.
"Y-yeah, I can tell you can do way better. You know, if you had the band for it. I mean, that is, do you have a band?"
Shad shrugged. "Sometimes I play at the Milk Bar."
Link's jaw dropped, his eyes a little starrier than he liked. "They let you play in there?" His heart pounded against his chest. He had to be clear. "As a bassist?"
Shad inspected Link curiously. "Yes. They only let the best play there, you know."
"Uh, oh, yeah! But I mean . . . you're underage." Link blinked at him. "Aren't you?"
He gave a half smile and raised an eyebrow in response. "I wouldn't very well be in high school if I weren't, now would I? Unless I were an idiot."
Link squirmed. He hadn't meant to call Shad an idiot, that was rude . . . Shad seemed to find his discomfort amusing. Link stammered, "I didn't mean that! Uh . . . you, you're always doing those . . . y'know, smart things. You're not an idiot at all," he chuckled. Wow, smooth. Get your head in the game, me! "S-so, anyway, you play bass."
"Yes."
"I don't."
Shad nodded patiently. "A'ight."
Link swallowed the lump in his throat. "So . . . do you know about the talent show in a couple of weeks?"
"Of course."
"Are you playing in it?"
Shad bit his lower lip, a tiny wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows. "There are a few gigs I might be doing, but I dunno. Why?"
Link grinned. "Well, I'd like to watch you for one, but also . . . see . . . I'm in a band, and . . ."
Any interest Shad had in this conversation suddenly dropped off the face of the earth. He made to back off suddenly, but he looked uncertainly at Link, who was quick to say, "Wait, wait! I mean, we just need . . . we need a bassist. You've probably seen our fliers around school? The Royales?"
In his determination to keep the red-haired bassist, Link had put a hand on his arm. Shad shrugged it off easily. "Yeah."
Link thought carefully about his next words. He knew it was a long shot that someone as proficient as Shad would ever even look at their band once, let alone play for them, but he . . . he promised Zelda he'd try. "We're really passionate about what we do. We aren't just kidding around or anything, if that's what you're worried about. We'd only rehearse once a week." Okay, that was pushing it, but come on!
"I don't know," Shad was saying, edging away. "I'm really busy. Lots of 'smart things,' as you said."
"THIS is a smart thing! I know it!"
But Shad was still shaking his head. "No, I'm sorry . . ."
"My name's Link. The princess is our lead singer?"
Adjusting his glasses again, Shad said, "I'm sorry, Link, I just don't have time for just any band, that's all. I already looked like an idiot up there, and I only went because I owed the guitarist a favor."
Link dropped his arms to his side with a sigh, giving up. "Aw, well can I at least have your number?" Wait, what?
Shad did a double take. "What?"
WHAT?!
Link hunched his shoulders in embarrassment. "I-I MEAN—! I'm interested in your position," he rushed, "You know, smart things, doing them! I . . . I'd really like to, you know, go on adventures, too . . . and stuff."
Shad smiled, relaxing. "Oh! You're interested in that? Say, aren't you the new kid in town?"
Also relaxing, Link smiled in relief and nodded. "Yeah. I moved in with my granny."
"Well I'll tell you what. I'll tell my supervisor that you're interested, and maybe put in a good word or two."
Link straightened. "Really?"
"Of course!" Shad put a hand on Link's shoulder. It felt like the world became a big clock tower, tolling out one o'clock. Link didn't hear the next words that came out of Shad's mouth. His vision was wavering a moment. When it finally cleared, Link stared dumbly up at Shad, having no clue how to reply to someone he hadn't heard in the first place. "Th-thanks!" he squeaked.
A knowing smile crossed Shad's features softly. What he knew, Link didn't bother to guess, just stood stock still as the scholarly boy patted his shoulder and then walked away into the crowd with a final nod and wave of his punch cup.
So dashing. Link blinked slowly and turned, finding his way back to Zelda to tell her the bad, good, sad? news.
"Okay, I can't stand it," Zelda was saying when he got there. She had a remote in her hand, and pushed several buttons. The band was suddenly drowned out by the gym's radio system, which started blaring this week's top ten. "Aaaaah, music! Sweet, blissful music!"
Link grinned, too.
"Now come on, you owe me a dance!" Zelda grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. It was four fast dances in a row, and they danced madly enough that Link forgot all about Shad. They danced with all their friends in a circle which morphed and changed shape as others joined and left it.
Then the first slow dance came on. Zelda was quick to grab Link's hand. She pulled him so they stood facing each other. She held her hands up. Link copied her, sort of. Lamely. "Uh . . . I, er, uuuuuh."
Zelda rolled her eyes shyly. "Put your hand on my waist, stupid."
Link flushed. "Oh. Okay?"
"Stop that! You're embarrassing me."
"Sorry . . ."
Eventually Zelda talked him through the pose, one hand on her waist, the other holding her hand. They did the ever-famous Twilight Two Step. Link found it simple enough, thankfully, because his mind had drifted off.
He wasn't sure why, but . . . he hadn't ever thought about it before, but Zelda looked really pretty. He found it hard to keep his eyes on her face and not look anywhere else. At all. She had her arm against his shoulder, and it seemed so light and soft. The feelings were so real he was afraid to hold her too tightly.
It felt completely and entirely uncomfortable. "Um . . ."
"Yeah?" Zelda smiled at him, her eyes sparkling.
"I . . ." Link suddenly let go and pulled away. "I'm sorry."
Confused, Zelda replied, "Why?"
"I just . . I need a break. Can we stop?"
"Wha . . . well, yeah. Here, there's some seats over there."
They left the dance floor and walked to the chairs. Link sat with his elbows on his knees, not looking at Zelda and seeming very tense. Zelda sat next to him, not just a little confused.
"What's wrong?" she asked, leaning over to him.
"Nothing," he grunted. Having her sitting this close was bugging him. Bugging him a lot.
"Well, why are you being so obtuse?"
"What does that mean?"
Zelda sighed and leaned away, crossing her arms and legs. "We're not going to spend the whole dance sitting down, are we?"
Link didn't answer right away. "I just need to . . . think a while. That's all. I don't like the slow songs. It makes me feel . . ." What was he supposed to say? Weird? Scared? ". . . stupid."
"Uh . . . okay. We'll just dance the fast ones, then." Zelda tried to mask her disappointment.
"I'm sorry."
"Will you shut up? It's not your fault!"
Yeah it is.
"Besides, we came here to spend time together, so come on! Fast song just came on, so move your butt!" She reached for his hand as he stood up, but he pulled his away before she could and walked ahead, leaving Zelda to follow after him, befuddled.
A huge squeak interrupted the music overhead, and everyone looked around with understandably annoyed remarks. Somebody was climbing onto the stage, a boy with purple hair and a dark tux.
"Shadow?" Zelda watched Shadow turn to the crowd with a big grin.
"Sup homies!" He spoke into a mic. "For those that don't know me . . ." he paused for effect, and most of the audience chuckled. Everybody knew him. Everybody. "Haha, anyway, I thought I'd rev up some excitement for tonight. We got a great talent show coming up, and my band REALLY needs a bassist! So to wet your appetites, I thought I'd give you all a taste of what you'll be getting. If my main guitar bro and my vocalist bro would kindly join me on the stage?"
What are you doing, Shadow? Zelda thought, but she grinned and walked to the stage.
Shadow met her at the edge. "Hey, dude, do you mind if I steal the mic from ya for one song?"
"Sure," Zelda replied, shrugging.
"Thanks. You're a prince." He backed to the center of the stage. Link had climbed onto the stage, surprisingly cheerful about the impromptu performance, and pulled the second guitar strap over his shoulder. Shadow addressed the crowd. "And just for today, we've got a very special guest from Hyrule Academy! Give it up for Vaati!"
Hopeful claps and whoops filled the air as Shadow helped a silver-haired boy in an equally silver tux onto the stage. Zelda was quick to notice he had red eyes like Shadow, though one was slightly different than the other, and he was pale. Vaati stood close to Shadow while being handed his own mic, holding it tightly, forcing a small smile onto his face, hanging his head slightly, bashful.
"Sorry for the lack of bass!" Shadow yelled before putting his mic back on its stand and starting immediately with a riff to establish the key of the first song. It was so quick and fluttery it had the crowd in fits already. Shadow waited for them to quiet slightly, then glanced over at Vaati. He said something away from the mic, which made Vaati get a little more excited, and then they both began accapella:
"Hey-O!
Here comes a danger up in this club,
When we get started then we ain't gonna stop,
we gonna turn it up 'til it gets too hot."
Link joined with the guitar, playing the bass chords as they repeated the intro. Vaati slowly melted into his part, starting to tap his foot, a real smile breaking onto his lips as he stopped looking to Shadow for support and sang out over the crowd:
"Everybody sing
Hey-O!
Tell 'em turn it up til they can't no more,
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning,
a courtesy call."
Vaati held the mic in front of his face and screamed into it.
"HEEEEEEEEEEY-OOOO!"
His voice had that perfect scratchy quality needed for screaming metal. Then Shadow joined in with more complicated chords, and the entire gym began to jump up and down in time, yelling loudly. Shadow slammed the strings of his guitar like he was a demon. Link was completely drawn into the music, head banging with eyes scrunched shut. Zelda raised her hands into the air and screamed, pointing into the air.
When the song ended, the applause was deafening. Vaati gave several bashful bows before getting off the stage and helping Zelda onto it instead. He was soon surrounded by admirers and his face turned a cherry red. Shadow gave Zelda an equally hearty welcome and she took her place. Midna also appeared, miffed. "Hey! You guys planned this without me? What the hay balls. Nobody told me!"
"Sorry, gal, that song didn't need any drums, but we do now. Play for us pleeeeease?"
"Oh fine, you big baby." She high-fived Shadow and Link and took her place on the drumset.
Link and Shadow played the intro, and Midna put in the beat. Then Zelda began to sing, Shadow as backing vocals:
"I'm on the train that's pullin' the sick and twisteeeeed-WAAAAOW!"
All the band members turned to their left. The cause of their surprise was the deep, vibrating bass notes that had haphazardly joined their song. While they'd been busy, Shad had gotten onto the stage and opted to take position as bass guitarist. Obviously he knew the song. He smirked at the others' expressions. Shadow and Zelda grinned and recovered quickly, jumping right back into the song, grins doubled. Midna hadn't even blinked, as disciplined as she was . . . it helped she'd seen Shad get on stage. She only acknowledged him with a nod of approval. Link, however, stood staring at Shad, his own hands slack on his guitar. Shad noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Hero, you're holding up the band. Come on, now!"
A smile slowly broke out on Link's face, and he returned to his spot and started playing the rest of Freak Like Me by Halestorm.
Turns out they found their bassist.
"Heeeeeeeeee-yooooooo!" Shadow sang, walking next to Vaati on their walk to Shadow's house after the dance. He had his arm around the shorter teen, and Vaati held it happily, laughing along. "Freak like MEEEEEEEEEEE!"
They walked up the driveway and sat out on the porch, not wanting to go inside just yet. Their laughter died down, and Shadow looked up at the stars. Vaati, however, was busy looking next to him.
"I had a really good time tonight, Shadow," Vaati said, ducking his head shyly.
"I did, too, V! We should hang out more often."
"Yeah, about that . . ."
"Hm?" Shadow looked away from the sky to regard his friend with a soft smile.
Vaati was gripping the steps with white-knuckled fingers. "Shadow . . . You're a really nice person."
"Aw, come on, V!" Shadow tapped his shoulder lightly.
"I went to the doctor today."
Shadow became serious and put a hand on Vaati's back. "Yeah?"
"Yeah . . . we're hoping my other eye is stronger, but . . . I might not be able to see anything in three years."
"Holy cow." Shadow hugged him. "That's horrible, V. I'm so sorry."
Vaati wiped his eyes and chuckled resignedly. "Y-yeah. I really hate . . . I don't like having one eye, one that can barely see as it is, but that's better than . . . nothing."
"Is there anything I can do to make it easier? I know that sounds really dumb, but jeez Vaati, your eyesight."
"Actually," interrupted Vaati. "There is something."
"Anything. You name it."
Vaati turned his head slightly toward Shadow. "Well . . . I may not be able to see anything soon, and I'd really like to see your face. Up close. So I won't forget it? Like really close because . . . my eye is really bad."
Grinning, Shadow bumped his forehead against Vaati's. "How's this?"
Vaati smiled up at him. "That's fine."
Shadow then pushed their noses together. "How about this?"
Vaati giggled. Then Shadow let go and let Vaati gaze over every corner of his face, less than an inch away. "Wow . . ." Vaati said, admiring each long eyelash, each line, even the pores and the specific way his eyebrows grew in a bushy but defined angle. He moved Shadow's face to every side, inspected his nose, his ears, his lips and cheeks, pressed the lines out of his forehead, and gazed into his eyes. His eyes. Vaati kept returning to Shadow's eyes, staring into each of them for long periods of time. Shadow didn't complain even a little as Vaati took his time. He trailed a finger down Shadow's nose, and then paused it on his lips. They were so perfect, and soon he may be unable to see them. That perfect alabaster skin and those gorgeous expressions. The way Shadow could make him smile with only a glance, make him laugh with a simple wag of his eyebrows. He may never get to see Shadow's face like this again. Or see him at all. Any of him. He could feel Shadow's breath on his face. "Shadow . . ." His hand slid back behind Shadow's head and he pulled, closing the distance between them.
Shadow pushed him away. "Wait! Vaati?"
They scooted away from each other. "I'm sorry," Vaati uttered quickly.
"It's okay," Shadow replied, still obviously shocked. "It's okay, Vaati, it's really okay." He paused to regain his wits, then said in a gentle voice, "I don't feel the same way."
Vaati bit his lower lip. "Thank you for telling me," he answered quietly.
Shadow scooted over and put a hand on his knee. "I'm really sorry—"
"It's okay." Vaati wrung his hands. Shadow tried to look into his face, obviously upset that Vaati was suddenly so unhappy, and upset there wasn't anything he could do except lie about it, and obviously that was not an option. Vaati forced himself to look at Shadow and smile. "But we can still be friends, right?"
Shadow grinned in relief. "Of course! I'm so glad to know you, Vaati." He wrapped his arms around Vaati and held him tightly. "And I wish . . ." He struggled.
"Don't say it."
"Okay. I won't." He waited a moment, then with a smirk, he bit Vaati's ear.
"Hey!"
Shadow giggled.
Vaati reached for him with claw hands, shoving them into Shadow's belly. Shadow cried out as he fell over and Vaati tickled him mercilessly.
"Vaati, Vaati!" Shadow begged, and Vaati paused. "It isn't that I don't like you," Shadow said. "I'm only fourteen. I don't think I'm ready to start dating, you know? It freaks me out, dude, honestly, all that mushy gushy stuff. It sort of scares me. I can't believe you're already thinking about it."
Oh I'm not just thinking about it, Vaati smirked to himself. He hadn't been "just thinking about it" for a couple years. "Thanks, Shadow. That's good to know. I'll wait for you, but only after I've tickled you to death!"
"ACK!"
As Link and Zelda waited outside for the limo, Link felt he had to say something. "I'm sorry I flaked out."
"Hm?" Zelda broke out of whatever thoughts she'd been having. "Yeah, what was that about? You won't even hold my hand."
Link blushed. "I dunno what came over me. I just . . . suddenly got really uncomfortable." That wasn't entirely true. He wasn't "uncomfortable," per se, in fact upon looking back, it had actually felt rather nice. The bad part was that it was Zelda, not that she was bad or . . . or unattractive or anything, just . . . she was his friend. It's not like he'd ever had those feelings before. So why now all of a sudden?
The limo pulled up to the curb in front of them. "Well are you fine now?" Zelda asked.
Link didn't reply.
Zelda sighed and climbed into the limo, a frustrated look on her face. She sat grumpily on one side of the limo, and Link sat morosely on the other side. As the limo started off, Link decided there was nothing else for it, and opened his mouth. "I think I have a crush on you."
Zelda stared blankly at him for a moment. Then blinked and shook her head. "Wait, what?"
Link shrugged, with a tiny smile. It didn't feel so bad saying it out loud. "You're really beautiful tonight, that's all." He scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "I guess it was just, you know, unexpected. Not that you're ugly every other day!" he added hurriedly. "Something was different tonight."
Zelda's face became suddenly emotional, but at first she said nothing.
"What's wrong?" Link asked honestly. "Should I have kept quiet?"
Zelda's eyes glassed over, then she wiped the wetness out of them and said, "No. There's . . . something I need to tell you. About me." She took his hand in both of hers. "But not in here. When we get home. Okay?"
"Okay . . ."
"You're a guy?" Link asked dumbly. His eyes glanced over her well-fitted dress, restarting the butterflies in his stomach. He took a step back and laughed, unable to help himself. "No you're not."
Zelda heaved a sigh, but there was no mockery or malice in Link's laugh. It was actually kind of cute how mind blown he was. "Yes, I know I don't look like it, but . . . I've felt this way my entire life. I've always dreaded, you know, boys looking at me the way you are right now."
Link flushed and averted his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It's not actually as bad, since you're actually into guys and all."
"What?!" Link's head shot up. "What do you mean I'm into—"
Zelda was smirking at him knowingly.
"—into, ah," he again scratched his head sheepishly. "I guess I am. How can I be into both?"
"Well, why not?"
"But I don't want to have a boyfriend AND a girlfriend."
"Well that's okay, it's not like I want to have a boyfriend or girlfriend or, well, I don't even know! The point is . . . I wouldn't worry about it. Lots of people are attracted to more than one person, you know, but they still only marry one other person, so if that's your thing, then . . . I say see what happens."
". . . You really think so?"
"Yeah." She waggled her eyebrows. "Maybe take that Shad guy out on a date."
Now Link blushed furiously. "Oooooh, I dunnooooooo."
"If you don't ask him, I will do it for you."
"What! No, I can do it myself!"
Zelda laughed at his offended expression.
"That just seems so weird to me, dating a . . . a guy."
"Does it feel alright?"
Link grinned. "Yeah, yeah, it kinda does."
"Well there ya go! Just . . . don't get all weird on me, okay? I'm not a lady, don't go all gaga on the junk in my trunk." She made a general gesture toward her whole body.
Link coughed. "Yeah, I won't. Or, I'll try, anyway. You ARE really pretty for a . . ." his mouth quirked, "a guy." He burst into laughing, and this time Zelda joined him.
