Undertones: Navi's Story
So what if Navi thought about our Hero along the lines of a hit Clay Aiken song…..? (Sorry, the song's been in my head and I needed to write….)
Chapter Five
What ya doin' tonight,
She watched him sharpen his blade at the blacksmith shop. She was fascinated at how focused he was as he held the blade against the spinning stone. Though a heinously sharp and evil blade, the Master Sword needed loving care from its owner. Navi sat on the nearby workbench and watched as Link applied appropriate pressure to each separate part of the blade as necessary.
She also watched how carefully he concentrated, how he stuck out his tongue as he worked, how the beads of sweat collected on his eyebrows. She noticed many things. She noticed, as he was shirtless, how muscular and toned he was. She noticed the thin layer of sweat that covered his toned chest in the small and hot workspace.
She noticed how attractive he was.
I wish I could be a fly on your wall,
Are you really alone,
She knew he was alone, he would always be alone. There would never be escaping from the solitude that was his life, even while surrounded by so many people who claimed to be family and friends…
Navi sighed heavily. She wished she could tell him what he meant to her, even when the world turned their back to him. When he cried late at night, thinking she couldn't hear, she wanted to tell him she was there. But tiny her, she could never become his comforter. She was too small, too insignificant. She was just a fairy.
Who's stealing your dreams,
Why can't I breathe you into my life, (so tell me)
What would it take to make you see that I'm alive...,
If he only knew she was alive…If ONLY he would look at her the way he looked at, say…Saria. The green forest girl was big enough for Link to see. He could look into her eyes and smile at her and see her smiling back. Navi was much too small for Link to see when she was smiling. He could tell her mood from her color. He knew her in different ways. She wanted him to know her as a real person, not just his little fairy partner. She was more than that. She had to be.
If I was invisible,
If I could just watch you in your room,
If I was invisible,
I'd make you mine tonight,
If she was invisible….she could stare at him all she wanted without him knowing. She already stared at him, but he never looked away long enough for him to not see her staring fondly, blushing a deep shade of pink.
As Navi studied him standing there, sharpening that mythical blade, covered in sweat, she realized how deep she was in. She loved that boy, no…that man.
He was a man now, she realized. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"Link," she whispered. "Do you realize how beautiful you are?"
Link stood up from where he was and ran his forearm over his forehead, taking a moment to push his bangs back. He grinned at Navi.
"It's looking good, hey?"
She jingled in response, smiling. "Yeah, it looks really sharp. When are you going to be finished?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Whenever. You want to leave now?"
She flew over to him and shrugged in return. "I'm comfortable." She caught a whiff of him. "Man, you stink. Should we head to the lake after?"
He laughed. "You know, if you weren't so tiny, I'd seriously…"
Seriously what, Link? Would you think of me differently? Finish the sentence.
He blinked and his smile fell. His eyes clouded with distraction. "Never mind, Nav. Lemme just get this done and we'll go."
Navi returned to her spot on the bench. He was hiding something from her. He had to be…
If hearts were unbreakable,
And I could just tell you where I stand,
I would be the smartest man, (Ignore it, it's Navi here.)
If I was invisible…
Wait, I already am.
The swim was exhilarating. Link had washed his tunic in the waters and it now hung over a fence post to dry. Navi was trying to dodge Link's splashing and time to time, she'd fly above his head where he couldn't reach her.
Treading water, Link grinned as Navi did loop-de-loops in the air.
"Where should we camp tonight, Nav?" he called to her. She shrugged. "I don't know. Somewhere nice and warm with good food."
She alighted on his shoulder, a part of him that was above the water.
Link laughed. "That seems to be all you think about, food."
Saw your face in the crowd,
I call out your name,
You don't hear a sound,
Navi's eyes filled with hurt. That's not all I think about, Link.
I, keep tracing your steps,
Each move that you make,
Wish I could read what goes through your mind, (oh baby)
Wish you could touch me with the colors of your life,
She felt so dead. Dead to him. Dead to the hero she admired. She adored. She…loved.
She watched him get out of the water and shake the water out of his hair, giving him a wet, shaggy look. Navi couldn't hide her blush. So handsome…
He lay on the grass under the sun to dry. She settled on his stomach and fell asleep to his rhythmic breathing.
I reach out,
But you don't even see me,
Even when I scream out,
Baby you don't hear me, (you don't hear me)
I am nothing without you,
Just a shadow passing through,
Navi awoke that night to find herself in Link's hat as he rode to Kakariko Village in panic. "What is it?" she asked, holding onto his ear.
"It's…Sheik. He's in trouble."
The fear on Link's face was enough to silence her. The Hero cared greatly for this silent Shiekah, and Navi had no idea why. Something about him seemed to intrigue the Hero. Navi shrugged it off and focused on getting to the village. Only recently had Link defeated Morpha. Now another monster was in the area? Would the carnage never cease?
Navi snuggled against Link's neck. I'll protect you, Link, even if you think you don't need it. You need it more than you know. You need me like I need you…and I wish I knew if you wanted that. Sighing, Navi kissed the Hero softly on the jawbone and smiled sadly.
There would be no end to her pain. This was almost torture, following the man she loved everywhere.
Either way, she wouldn't leave his side. She knew that much, at least. She wasn't going anywhere.
---
Lyrics to Clay Aiken's "Invisible" from Letssingit.com.