Amends
"So you're looking for something?"
Link drew up to her side and slanted a smile in her direction.
"What's it to you?" she snorted.
"Well, I'm your friend."
"Friend?" she glared at him. "Don't push your luck."
And she stalked off with hardly another glance backward.
When they broke for camp, the night was strangely silent. She realized the problem as her eyes flickered briefly towards the unusually quiet oaf across the fire.
She folded one leg uncomfortably beneath the other.
"Hey, uh…"
She struggled as he gave her his attention. She fisted her hands in the dirt. His grin was aggravating normally, but seeing it like this – dim and forced and nothing like his irritating chirpy self – struck a chord with her as it never had.
"Look, you can't tell me you've never heard of it," she snapped defensively – because her anger was her first and last resort.
When he tilted his head quizzically, she grumbled and averted her gaze.
"The blade, idiot. What do they teach kids nowadays? The Blade of Evil's Bane was the first thing to go insane when the goddesses went mad all those years ago. You been living under a rock or something?"
Link merely let his gaze linger for several moments, before-
"I'm not a kid," he pointed out. "'M just about your age."
But his smile had returned in full force.
Again, she scoffed, before turning away, her cheek dropping against the gravel.
"Get to sleep. Don't blame me if I leave you behind in the morning because you wouldn't get off your lazy ass."
"Wouldn't dream of it!" he crowed happily.
Because it wasn't an apology, but he understood too well that it was all she knew how to give.
Author's Note: I don't intend for any of this to go all full blown awkward exposition, but my mind gets away with me when I don't notice, so be sure to catch me on it and let me know if you find fault!