A/N:

I'm so happy /w all of the reviews I got for this thing! EIGHT for just one chapter!!!!!! WAHOOOOOO! Thanks soooooo much!!!!! ^________________^

Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will, right right right duh duh duh

The Carnival

Mixed Signals

To Zelda's complete annoyance and chagrin, Link caught up with her fairly quickly. She said nothing, refusing to even make eye contact with him. As was Link, he seemed not to notice. "What's your problem, Princess?" he eventually asked, grinning.


She turned her head, a scowl plastered on her face. "What's my problem?" she asked vehemently. "My problem is you, Link! For Goddesses' sake!"

"Really?" Link scratched his blonde head, appearing to ponder her statement deeply.

"Yes, really! Don't play dumb with me, Link." She eventually muttered, "If that's even possible."

Link placed a hand over his heart in mock pain. "Oh, that hurts, Princess!" he cried sarcastically. "Oh, the pain!" He slumped back, his eyes rolling back inside his head, his tongue sticking out, and his arm flailing on the side of Epona for added effect.

Link continued to act dead for a time, to Zelda's annoyance. Soon, though, an idea popped into her head. With a snicker, she placed her mare close to him and pushed him forcefully off the side of the Epona. His eyes flew open and with a rather girlish scream, fell onto the ground with a loud thump. Zelda began laughing so hard she was certain her side would split.

"I so got you!" she cried, hooting with laughter and pointing at him. Link stared at her, frowning and rubbing his side. When he didn't respond, Zelda raised an eyebrow. "Cat got your tongue, Linky poo?" she asked patronizingly. "Did Linky get a boo boo? Do you need me to kiss it for you?" She snickered.

Link stood up, silent while brushing the dirt off of his tunic. Then he walked to Zelda's side. "You shouldn't have done that," he said quietly.

She raised both eyebrows, her interest piqued. "Why, might I ask?"

"Because…" He beckoned her to lean forward with a finger, closer…closer… "Because…" he breathed, making her flush slightly. "Because then you wouldn't be on the ground right now." Before Zelda had time register that statement, she felt herself fall straight to the ground when Link pushed her. He quickly moved to her and pinned her down with his legs. Then he put is face uncomfortably close to hers, which made her cheeks burn in humiliation.

"Link!" Zelda yelled, wiggling to get free. "Let me GO!" In response, he pinned her arms down with his hands, although not enough to hurt her. "What the HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" She continued to struggle, but it was no use: Link was too strong for her. With a huff, she stopped moving and simply scowled at him, swearing inwardly.

Link grinned wickedly. "You'll only get free if you do one thing for me, Zelda," he murmured silkily.

Her blush crept to her ears. "And what is THAT? I'm not sleeping with you, Link! Goddesses, can't you take a hint - ?" she cried, embarrassed, yet slightly flattered…

He shook his head, sighing, but still smiling. "No, it's not that, Princess - I hope you know that I have a little more integrity than that to demand something like that - no, it's something much simpler, less tiring."

"What?! Spit it out!"

"I want a kiss."

Zelda felt her entire face, ears, and neck burn a bright red. She was certain that she looked like a tomato. Masking her embarrassment, she muttered, "Fine, you pervert. But only if you let me go!"

Link laughed, obviously enjoying himself. "Good," he murmured.

To Zelda's surprise, he unpinned her. She slowly sat up, eyeing him warily. "I could just run off again, you know," she said, staying still.

"I know."

"You wouldn't get your kiss."

"I know."

"Then I don't understand!" Zelda huffed, frowning. She was about to speak again when Link moved closer to her. Her mouth suddenly became clamped shut; she was unable to speak from sheer nervousness. Her breathing quickened, especially when he lifted her chin toward his face. His blue eyes had become serious, as if his proposal was more than fun and games; they bored into her, making her heart pound furiously. "What are you doing?" she breathed. Time seemed to have stopped.

He shushed her. Slowly, he leaned toward her, until after what seemed an eternity, their lips met. Zelda tried to resist, tried to give him something that couldn't even be considered a kiss…yet she found herself melting, inwardly and outwardly. She kissed him back tentatively, hesitantly. It was a sweet kiss on both sides, nothing more nor less. Then it ended.

Zelda stared at the ground for a moment, until she finally lifted her eyes to Link's face. He was grinning, as usual. "Sheesh, Princess, you look so serious. It was only a kiss!"

She was shocked. He had been so serious before…or had it been a façade? "LINK!" she shrieked, "I HATE YOU!"

Link snorted. "Liar. I thought I'd have to get us a room with the way you were kissing me -"

Zelda merely growled underneath her breath, muttering obscenities of what she'd do to Link while he slept. Eventually, both mounted their mares: Link laughing, Zelda scowling. It remained this way until they reached Clocktown at late afternoon.

* * * *

The sun was a brilliant saffron in the western sky. It was at this time that Zelda and Link finally reached their destination. They entered through the eastern entrance, for that was the section of the town where they were to be staying. Upon entering, they became immersed in crowds of bustling people who were most likely attempting to go home for the night. Children giggled while their mothers tiredly ordered them to get moving. Men stood around, smoking pipes and guffawing at jokes.

Zelda had said nothing to Link after the "incident." She was completely humiliated, not to mention confused. Had it all been a jest, or had it been serious? Could Link ever be serious about anything? She tried to dwell on other subjects, but it was no use. She couldn't remove the memory of the kiss from her mind.

It had seemed so real, so sincere. It was, truthfully, the sweetest kiss she had received, one that seemed to proclaim emotions that had never been spoken out loud. Goddesses, it was so baffling!

The sun began to set when Zelda and Link sat down at a table in the Stock Pot Inn for supper. Link attempted to make conversation, but Zelda remained silent, deep in thought and hurt by his actions. Was she nothing to him? Link eventually stopped talking and simply ate his food.

Carrying their things up the stairs to their rooms, Zelda reached her door and unlocked it with the key she had been given. She placed her things inside, looking at the surroundings. It was a cozy room: the bed was made with starched linens and a clean quilt, while a table with a warm lamp sat next to it. A rug lay underneath Zelda's feet. It wasn't exactly castle service, but she didn't mind. It was nice to be in a place where no one recognized your face and waited on you hand and foot.

"This seems like a good room," she heard Link say. She turned and went to where he stood in the doorframe. "Going to bed?" he asked.

"Yes," Zelda answered curtly. "So go away."

Link raised his eyebrows. "Touchy, touchy. No need to bite."

Anger blossomed. "No need to bite?" she whispered fiercely. "You've humiliated me, yes, humiliated me! today, and you say there's no need to bite?!" Her eyes narrowed. "Go away before I slap you, Link." With that, she slammed the door in his face. He yelped in surprise; eventually, he left her door without a word.

Zelda felt close to tears. What was wrong with her? She slid down the wall, biting her lip and scrunching her eyes closed. After a time, she calmed her swirling emotions and had a bath brought upstairs. She washed quickly; exhausted and finally clean, she lay down on her bed and slept soundlessly, not aware of how Link was hurting next door.

MWHAHAHA! How was THAT????? Man, this is the most plotless story I've ever written and I LOVE IT! WOOHOOOOO! ^____^ But of course, you guys gotta review…I might not be able to update without reviews…yes I am manipulative!! (jk) Oh, also, could you maybe possibly PLEASE review my story at FictionPress.com? There's a link to it in my bio; it's pretty good, not romantic, PLEASE OH PLEASE?????!!!! Ok, I'll shut up. YEEEEEEEHAAAW!

PS: I say nerds in a very loving way.