Link wasn't sure what it was about feigning casualness that led to the feeling that everyone within his immediate vicinity was watching him, but it was doing him no favors. He knew from experience that once the novelty of his condition wore off, most people stopped paying him any mind. Even so, as he hauled the bucket full of live fish toward the lab, he couldn't shake the feeling that every person that cast him so much as a cursory glance was already making plans to inform Sir Roderick, which was a ridiculous fear to have. Even if Roderick did catch wind of what he was up to and cared in the slightest, all he would have to say was that Robbie wanted to resupply on food for the amphibian and his mentor would wave it all off as nothing more than a prank.
Regardless of knowing there was little, if anything, to be anxious about, the squire still found himself fighting off the urge to try and sneak through the halls. That would certainly have gotten him the attention he was hoping desperately to avoid.
He rolled his eyes at his antics as he finally reached the door to the lab and opened it. Honestly, even if people knew that he intended to dump the bucket into the observation tank, who would care? One way or another, she needed to be fed, and considering, from what he could see anyway, no one much cared to give her any proper attention or care, aside from Robbie and Purah. Why would the exact method by which she was fed matter?
As always, Robbie stood waiting in the lab, ever-present pen clicking repeatedly as the scientist stared into the depths of the tank silently. What was surprising was the presence of Purah, who stood off to the side, hurriedly scribbling something down on a clipboard.
Keeping a wary eye on the two, Link approached with his bucket of live fish in tow.
"Good evening," Robbie mumbled as though he was only just vaguely aware of the squire's presence. "And, how are you?"
Link didn't bother responding. He knew when someone was and was not paying attention.
The silence must have triggered something in Robbie, as he blinked, shook his head, and turned to Link, who almost retreated. There was a strange intensity and focus in his gaze, enough to pierce through his goggles and burn into the squire. "Ah, I've been waiting for you."
There was a rush of adrenaline as he wondered if the scientist knew what he was up to. Or perhaps, there was some other, worse thing the man was about to reveal. He was vaguely aware of Purah's eyes on them both from her place at one of the tables.
"The creature-" Link twinged internally at the term "-did something rather strange the other night." Without waiting for Link to express any sort of question, he signed the word "salmon."
Link stood petrified. He should have found some way to tell her not to use that sign while anyone else was around.
"I can't imagine you don't know what that means, especially since a little cursory research has shown that is a sign in Hyrulean. I also can't imagine that you, the one person allowed in this lab fluent in Hyrulean sign, wouldn't have something to do with teaching her the word. Especially since we've never seen her attempt to communicate through such means."
An unnatural silence fell over the room as Robbie's gaze continued boring through him.
"… Have you told the Captain?"
The squire shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek as he fought off the urge to show disgust at the suggestion.
"Good." Robbie stepped toward him and placed both hands on his shoulders. "You know Roderick better than I do, so I'm sure you could guess how he might react if he found out."
Link continued staring at him stiffly.
Robbie sighed, dropping his hands and turning away to stare at the tank thoughtfully. "Roderick doesn't seem to think much of you, which could be to our advantage…" The man bit his lip before turning sharply toward the squire. Pointing a finger at him firmly, he said, "I have a feeling I couldn't stop you from interacting with her even if I wanted to. So, whatever you do, be sure that neither he nor any of the other knights find out. Understood?"
Link nodded.
"Good… now what is that?"
The squire looked down at the bucket he held before lifting it up for Robbie to see. The scientist leaned down, peering into the bucket for a few seconds. From his angle, Link couldn't make out the man's expression but he had the distinct impression the man was trying to make sense of what he was hauling around.
"Are those… live?"
He nodded.
"... Well then, I suppose we'll head out for the night. As always, if you see anything worth noting…"
Link nodded, fully intending to keep whatever happened to himself. While he was sure that Robbie had an interest in her survival, he wasn't sure about the man's true motives. Maybe humane treatment was a major concern of Robbie's but until Link had solid proof, he would do what he could to protect her from even the head scientist.
After Robbie and Purah had seen themselves out, Link found himself alone once again. The amphibian had yet to appear, which surprised him. Even though he had only been there a few days, she had started to develop a pattern of showing up as soon as they were gone. He frowned thoughtfully as he looked at where she should have been.
He wondered if something had happened until he remembered that she had no way of knowing he would be gone for two days. He felt a pang reverberate through him. Though they were still new to each other, he couldn't help but feel a bond with her, and then he had left for a couple of days with no warning. That had to have been confusing for her, at the very least.
He only hoped she would forgive him.
Figuring he would have to be the one to initiate contact this time. Wandering over to the tank, he set the bucket down then peered into the depths of the observation tank.
The poor lighting and markings of the water made it difficult to see. However, he could just make out a red form flitting about near the bottom. After a few seconds, he noticed that she was swimming in a small circle around in a tank that was far too small for her. Regardless, he couldn't help but be fascinated by her even though his view of her was largely obscured.
After a few seconds of nothing changing, he decided to try and get her attention. As excited as he was to surprise her, he figured it was better for her to have some warning. And, as selfish as it was, he did want her to know who was responsible.
And it would be easier to see her reaction if she was up where he could see.
He looked around for something he could use to get her attention, however, the only thing in his immediate area were the chains. His face twisted at the thought of using them to get her attention, even gently. He frowned, looking around for anything he could use that wouldn't be missed. Nothing stuck out to him.
And then it occurred to him.
Fumbling for his purse, the squire dug through it and pulled out a green rupee. Holding it out as far as he could, he dropped the green gem and watched as it sank toward the bottom. He lost sight of it, but he knew it must have reached her as she froze. After a moment, she broke away from her circle.
He couldn't see what exactly she was doing, but he figured she would have some idea of where it had come from, so he began waving.
His arm was growing tired when he noticed that her form was growing clearer. Then she finally broke the surface. She blinked a few times before her gaze focused on him. Tilting her head to the side, she gurgled softly.
Link, who had been about to show her what he'd brought, paused. It was the first time she had made any sort of sound around him. It hadn't even occurred to him that she might make vocal sounds. He kicked himself for not thinking about something like that, as small as it might have been.
She gurgled again, tearing him from his musings.
"Salmon."
Link smiled, holding up a single finger, hoping she would understand that he wanted her to wait a moment.
She tilted her head thoughtfully before holding up two fingers.
Link laughed silently before trying again by holding up a hand, making a stopping motion.
She humored him, though the sound she made was less than pleased.
With a grin, he gestured toward the bucket next to him.
She tilted her head yet again before returning her gaze to him.
Link pointed to his eyes, then to her, then once again to the bucket. Waiting until she was watching the bucket, Link tilted it over, sending the contents spilling into the tank. Had he not been watching closely, he would have missed her eyes widening, followed by her darting below the surface after the panicked fish.
Leaning over the tank, he watched, captivated as he watched her dart around for a moment before coming to a stop. She hung suspended in the water, completely still. She waited…
And waited…
And then she lashed out so quickly that Link almost missed it. As the Amphibian eyed her catch and was about to tear into it, the squire climbed to his feet and set to cleaning the lab. As interested as he was in her, he couldn't shake the feeling that it would be rude to watch her eat.
And, he had a job to complete by the end of the night. While no one may have noticed him hauling a bucket filled with fish in, they would certainly notice if the lab hadn't been cleaned. And, with how vain Sir Roderick happened to be, he would want an explanation as to why his armor hadn't been cleaned.
As it was, his tasks were so mindless that he found himself thinking of her once again. She had remembered the word he had taught her and had used it again as well as throwing in another sign to indicate what she wanted. She had also been receptive to a few other basic gestures as well. It was exciting, nerve-wracking, and concerning all at once.
If she was that intelligent, why didn't she use spoken language to speak with Robbie? Considering how readily she had reached out to him and then used that sign to speak to Robbie, then maybe she couldn't use their spoken language.
He felt lighter as the realization struck him. After a lifetime of being the only one he knew who couldn't speak Hyrulean, Sheikah, Gerudo, or any other spoken language, he had finally met someone who was almost as helpless in that regard as he. It was selfish, but a part of him was grateful. For once, the pervasive loneliness he had always known was lifted from him.
And he felt so terribly guilty for it after only a second. While his childhood had been filled with hardship and loneliness, he knew that what she had been enduring now must have been worse. Even at the worst of times, he'd had family and friends to help encourage him. Who did she have? He was certain that she had a positive opinion of him. Why else would she be so quick to rise to the surface? And she was putting in an effort to speak with him.
He was lost in such thoughts, finishing caring for his mentor's equipment when a trill startled him. Quick reflexes saved the weapons and armor from scattering across the floor and becoming scuffed once again. Ensuring the equipment was safe, he turned to find the amphibian motioning for him.
Returning to the tank's side, Link crouched down so they were closer to eye level.
She swam over and reached out, gently grabbing his hand. He stiffened, causing the amphibian to pause, fear casting its shadow over her eyes. Link, who was quick to collect himself, gave her a small smile and encouraging nod.
After a few awkward seconds, she shyly brought his hand down, palm up. Reaching up with her other hand, she placed a glittering green gem in his hand. Letting go, she retreated from him.
Looking at his returned rupee thoughtfully, Link gave her a simple gesture. "Thank you."
She gurgled questioningly. Rising so her shoulders were above water and repeated the gesture.
Link shook his head, pointed to her, and said, "You're welcome."
She repeated that gesture as well. Sinking down so that only her eyes were above water, she looked at him, then the rupee, then toward the bucket. She tilted her head, warbling quietly as she appeared to be considering something.
Finally, she rose again and pointed to the bucket. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The amphibian watched as the golden-haired one disappeared from view. She could feel little more than relief as she slipped silently below the surface. Though she knew that her captors behaved in very rigid patterns, she had still feared that he would be replaced by another, far less kind land dweller. More than likely, she would be able to avoid whoever might have replaced the one with golden hair, but that would inevitably require her to give up what little time she had to safely spend up at the surface.
Besides, that had been one of the most satisfying meals she'd had in a long time. While there was nothing wrong with what she was generally fed it was so… boring. There was something innately rewarding about stalking prey and catching it herself rather than simply waiting for someone to give her a piece or two of an already dead fish.
And it had been a nice way to distract herself from her bountiful free time.
As she sank toward the bottom, she noted that there were still a number of nimbler prey darting around, trying to avoid her. It was nice to know that she would be able to hunt again later. Granted, her prison was nothing like her natural habitat, so the real thrill of hunting was still denied her. However, it was better than nothing.
She left them alone though, not finding any value in toying with them. Hunting to keep herself alive was one thing. Toying with them out of boredom was a thought that soured her stomach.
Settling at the bottom, the amphibian did her best to make herself comfortable as she curled up. Once again, she wasn't particularly tired, but there would be nothing else for her to do for a number of hours. With nothing better to do, she looked up and watched the fish above her swim around. Even years spent hunting them, she couldn't entirely anticipate their movements. So, she found herself watching them carefully, trying to learn their movement patterns.
She was largely unsuccessful, but it was amusing and eventually lulled her into a peaceful slumber.
And then a sharp tug on her chains woke her, causing her stomach to ice over. Her body reacted on its own, lashing out toward her surroundings and trying to find purchase. Unfortunately, there was nothing for her to hold onto. She tried to swim down, but her shackles prevented her from doing so. Finally, as her mind caught up, she allowed herself to be dragged up, only swimming up just enough to reduce the strain on her neck and wrists.
She barely had time to adjust to the air as she was dragged out of the water, causing black spots to dance across her vision as her lungs tried to adapt.
The chains attached to her wrist were pulled tight as she tried to get her legs under her, preventing her from finding her balance. As she struggled, a hand with a metal shell gripped her chin and wrenched her head upward. The amphibian's blood chilled as her eyes centered on the land dweller glaring down at her angrily. It wasn't the expression so much as the shapes and colors she saw. She knew from experience that they set him apart from the others. Above them. They were the same colors and shapes displayed by the one she had killed.
He glowered at her, giving her time to take everything in. It was a struggle to not give in to her instincts and try to bite his hand. As much as his grip hurt, the last time she had fought back had resulted in her few comforts being stripped away.
While there was only one small thing left to lose, she was very hesitant to lose it.
So, she closed her eyes, hoping only to endure.
This displeased the land dweller, as he yelled something and shook her, eliciting a small shriek of pain from the amphibian. Her eyes snapped open, looking at him wide-eyed. She didn't know what he wanted or what she had done to upset him. All she could be certain of was that she was supposed to watch.
He closed the distance between them, his face so close she could feel his breath. Instinctively, she tried to retreat, but her restraints and his grip held her in place. He growled something incomprehensible, his spittle flecking her face.
Another shout caused the amphibian to flinch. Eyes darting to the side, she noticed the land dweller that hid his eyes storming toward them.
Had she upset him too?
The white-haired one continued shouting, however, he wasn't looking at her. His gaze was locked on the one holding her.
The grip on her jaw didn't loosen as the two argued above her. After what felt like an eternity, the hand released her. Though she hadn't managed to get her feet under her earlier, the chains prevented her from falling to the floor. It hurt, but she stayed silent.
Slowly, the two land-dwellers retreated and, once they were a safe distance away, the restraints were loosened. The amphibian sank to the floor, where she lay silently and demurely. She longed to retreat to the water, but she was worried that any movement would draw attention to herself. So, she lay in a cold puddle of water on a stone floor. The amphibian felt a burning in her eyes and a lump in her throat as she lay, feeling horribly vulnerable and exposed in a school of sharks.
But she pushed it down. She was terrified that if she showed her emotions, it would result in something worse than shouting in her face.
Finally, the white-haired one and the one that accosted her left, followed by most of the rest of the land dwellers. Even so, she waited a while.
It wasn't until the others had fully returned to the midst of their work that the amphibian finally crawled back to the water. Falling in, she sank as fast as she could and, upon reaching the bottom, she retreated to a corner and curled up.
Even though she felt far from safe, she could no longer fight the lump in her throat or the burning in her eyes.
After moments like this, it was hard to believe she might ever be free again.
Link grimaced, setting his pen down and rubbing the back of his head in dissatisfaction. The list of names that he had created on his own was short and disappointing. And the fact that names like Malon had made it on was nothing short of mortifying. He was once again grateful to have a roommate whose nose wrinkled at the idea of digging through his belongings. At least, he'd be able to keep it to himself.
After the sharp burning in his cheeks subsided and he regained his composure, he took a deep breath and analyzed the list again. Link forced himself to read through the entire list, trying to remain objective as he considered each name.
Upon finishing, Link promptly tore the sheet of parchment up, then swept the scraps into his waste bin.
"Everything okay?" Impa called.
Without much thought, Link rapped his knuckles against his desk twice in quick succession. He didn't even hear Impa's response as he pulled the pile of books he had picked up the day before. As limited as his knowledge of names was, he figured it would be wise to see what he could find in books.
Reading wasn't terribly interesting to him, but he had no qualms when a good enough reason appeared. And naming the amphibian was ample reason for him to devote at least a few hours to study.
Readying a new sheet of parchment, Link cracked open the first book in the stack and began perusing its contents. Whenever he'd find a name that caught his interest, he would record it on his new list, intending to research its meaning when he was done.
It was tedious, to say the least, and bore very little fruit. The vast majority of the names he came across were distinctly human. That wasn't to say human names were inherently lacking, but they didn't reflect the amphibian's exotic nature. The only ones that sounded closer to what he was looking for were those belonging to apocryphal figures. Unfortunately, while more exotic, they still didn't feel right when he mouthed them, trying to get a feel for how they might sound when used.
Though the results were far from encouraging, he persevered. He couldn't think of any other alternatives and he wasn't sure how to ask for help without sharing more about the situation than he should.
"..."
Link's ears pricked slightly as though they had noticed something he had not; however, he paid them little mind. He doubled down on the books before him.
"Link!"
The Hylian's head snapped up at Impa's sharp call. Turning around, her silhouette stretched across the curtains he had hung over his space. Using his list as a bookmark, the squire closed his book and turned around. Poking his head out, he looked up at Impa.
"I get that… whatever you're doing is important, but were you planning to cook?"
Link stared at her uncomprehendingly. With a sigh, she pointed toward their window. Looking outside, Link realized with a jolt that it was far later in the day than he had thought.
"I can go downstairs if you're busy, but I figured I should ask."
Nearly tumbling through his curtain, the Hylian leapt to his feet and rushed to the kitchen. Within seconds, the sounds of utensils whirring around filled the air as ingredients seemingly appeared even as Link was adjusting his meal plan for that night. He had intended something a little more complex that night but with how late it was getting, it was no longer an option.
He would just have to make do.
"Everything all right up here?"
Link, in the midst of chopping, didn't even pause as he looked over to see Telma standing in their doorway.
"We're fine," Impa replied, looking massively unimpressed. "Link just lost track of time."
The older woman chuckled. "I'm glad that's all it is. Really though, if time is an issue, you both should come downstairs and eat."
"We'll be…" Impa began to trail off as the tavern owner set her hands on her hips and raised a stern brow "... fine?" she finished uncertainly.
Link merely grimaced as Telma's gaze landed on him, his hands too busy to say anything.
"Are you suggesting there's something wrong with my food?"
He shook his head quickly, almost desperately. He knew that few things were more insulting than to speak ill of a tavern owner's food. At least, when the establishment was as reputable as Telma's. Looking over to Impa, Link begged her silently with his eyes.
"He's concerned about waste," Impa explained, sounding only moderately more sure of herself.
The older woman said nothing as she crossed the room and leaned over the counter, closely inspecting Link's work. With a satisfied nod, she gathered up the prepped ingredients and made her way to the door. "Come on," she said over her shoulder. "If you're worried about waste, I can find a use for these. If you're worried about running into some of your friends from the lab, remember it's too early in the day. And if you're worried about cost, you pay for housing and you've helped with meal prep."
Link was tempted to try and remind her that the Hyrulean army paid for their lodging, but stopped himself. Pedantry likely wouldn't help him in this situation.
Knowing that there was no way they would be escaping, the two followed after Telma.
"You both are already responsible for far more than kids your age should be," the tavern owner lectured. "I appreciate that you both are self-sufficient, but it wouldn't hurt to let someone help you out every once in a while. And no," she said, giving Link a pointed look over her shoulder, "eating at Rusl's doesn't count. I know he works you hard for it."
The squire did his best to look suitably chastened as they descended the stairs.
Telma's was surprisingly busy given the hour; however, that didn't stop the woman who owned it from pointing out a table near the counter. Link and Impa shuffled over as Telma busied herself seeing to her patrons and calling orders back to her cooks. The squire straightened in his seat, trying to see into the kitchen, but he was too short. With a sigh, he settled back and finally looked over to his companion who was sagging in her seat, staring at the tabletop forlornly.
Link frowned. He didn't remember her looking so down a few minutes ago. Had she been setting aside her own feelings to make sure he was okay? But that didn't quite make sense to him. Had he been so wrapped up in his own thoughts and concerns that he hadn't noticed his friend was in distress? Or had Telma somehow gotten to her?
There was only one way to know.
Reaching out, he gently took hold of her arm.
The Sheikah looked over at him with glassy eyes. "... I'm so hungry."
A pregnant pause filled the air between them as Link simply stared.
And then his stomach rumbled.
Sending one last look at the kitchen, he said, "I hope they get here soon."