"So, are you going to lecture me as well?" Revali asked as his fellow Champion tended to his wounds.
"No," she replied simply.
He frowned at how short her response was. Though he feigned disinterest in his allies, he did pay close attention to them all. From what he had noticed, Mipha was often quiet; however, when the right topic came up, she was quite easy to engage in conversation. He had even noticed that she could be particularly animated. Not only could she be engaged in conversation but she could also ease others into conversation as well. Somehow, Mipha could even convince Link to speak with her.
Though he refused to acknowledge it aloud, it stung that he seemed the only person she had little care to speak with. As was her nature, she took care of his physical ailments as readily as she did everyone else's. Outside of that, she kept her interactions with him to a minimum.
He couldn't help but wonder if he had done something to offend her, though he couldn't imagine what it was that he could have done.
It was… frustrating, to say the least. Being the one at the top was quite lonely and becoming one of the Champions was the first time that he had met those who he could consider his equals. And now, perhaps the greatest spearwoman in Hyrule could barely stand to speak to him.
What could he have possibly done?
"I know it's dangerous to take a Hinox on alone," he said, hoping to stave off another awkward healing session, "but none of the soldiers were capable of handling it. And, loathe as I am to admit it, we did need their help driving the Yiga out of the city."
"You did well to help the garrison."
Unimpressed wasn't the right word and neither was apathy. It was almost as though she were speaking out of a feeling of obligation rather than a genuine desire to respond.
"..."
"..."
"..." Eventually, the silence was a bit too much for the Rito Champion to handle. "Have I done something to upset you?"
Mipha paused, her eyes finally rising from his side to meet his. He almost forgot his question when he noticed the faint bags under her eyes. It occurred to him that she had likely been awake and making use of her powers since the Yiga had been routed.
Even so, he chose not to say anything about it. At least not now, when she had no interest in speaking with him sincerely anyway. "I know you aren't the most… outspoken individual but even I can see that you avoid speaking to me."
The Zora Champion's eyes dropped back to his side. Revali almost wondered if the question itself had offended her; however, before he could try to diffuse the tension, she finally spoke. "I do not care for the way you treat my friend."
"Your friend? You don't mean that-" he almost recoiled as her eyes flashed daggers at him, "- Link."
"I do."
"..."
"I understand that you have some hard feelings about what happened at the Village but that is no excuse to treat him the way you do."
Revali bit back his instinctive response. Taking a moment to collect himself, he chose to proceed delicately. As much disdain as he felt for the boy, he was finally exchanging more than a few words with the Zora Champion, terse as they were. "I take it you two have some sort of history."
"We grew up together," she replied shortly. "My father also appointed him as my personal knight when I was named Ruta's pilot."
"I… see," he replied, doing his best to avoid angering her again. Those normally soft eyes were almost frightening when they hardened. "Your father must think highly of him, to entrust your care to him."
"He does," Mipha answered, her tone softening a bit. "Link has always worked hard to develop as a warrior and he has done much for our people. Defeating the Lynel was all the proof my father needed that he could protect me."
"He what?"
"He defeated a red-maned Lynel," she repeated, casting him a pointed glance. "Just like a Hinox, besting one is no easy feat."
"I suppose that's true." What he didn't say was that he found it difficult to believe. Not just because it was Link, but because it was Lynel. He wasn't sure that even he could down one with all of his skill.
"I understand that you may not care for him," Mipha continued, ignoring his disbelief, "and that is fine. What I will not tolerate is disrespect toward someone who has done so much for my people, my family, and myself and has been a true friend to me."
"I…" Revali closed his beak, thinking of how best to respond. Nothing that she had said really changed his opinion on Link. He had never contested that the boy didn't have skill, just that he didn't really belong among a group of elite warriors, though he supposed there was no helping it. Even if the knowledge that he had killed a Lynel was a bit hard to swallow, he was still Mipha's appointed knight. Whether he liked it or not, Link was there to stay. Even if it irked him, it fell to him to be the adult and make peace with it. If nothing else, at least it might help to improve the camaraderie between a fellow Champion and himself. "I understand."
A few more moments of awkward silence followed before Mipha retracted her hand and stood. "A bit more rest and you should be good as new."
"Thanks."
With a nod, Mipha turned away and made her way toward the entrance, where Revali finally noticed Link waiting.
"One more thing," he called out on a whim, "you should start taking care of yourself more." He then gestured to Link. "And you… make sure she actually does."
The Hylian nodded, while Mipha simply looked at him, an unreadable expression on her face. She made no attempt at a response as she turned away and left him to his thoughts.
