A/N: Sorry for the massive delay. I was inspired with my other fic again, and then I made the huge mistake of actually trying to insert a tiny bit of plot into this. What was I thinking?! =P This chapter ended up giving me a ton of trouble because I knew what I wanted to happen but I was having a hard time working it in… which sort of defeats the purpose of a writing exercise, doesn't it? Anyway, I'm still not crazy about the end result but here it is anyhow. Are those storm clouds on the horizon?!

As always, a huge thank you to everyone who reviewed. You guys are beyond awesome!

Not My First Social Function

This isn't my first invitation to a straitlaced, convoluted social function meant to celebrate some academic circle or other, but it's the first time I've been talked into going for the sole purpose of messing with everyone there.

Initially I was going to go because my parents were supposed to be there, but when they informed me that they were going to be unavoidably detained I called Link in a hurry to tell him I had a free evening. But he took the opportunity to encourage me to go anyway, putting his own juvenile spin on the occasion.

"This is such a stupid idea," I breathe as we pull up to the university gala hall. It's draped in royal blue banners in honor of the guests majoring in the sciences.

"This is a great idea," he disagrees, stepping out of the car and tossing his keys to the valet.

He comes around and opens my door for me, and we're already drawing attention. I don't know what I expected; we're in a burnt orange mustang with white racing stripes, which is apparently named Epona and is the other woman in his life with whom I'll be vying for his attention.

I take a steadying breath as I step out. I'm wearing a few diamonds and a strapless black mermaid gown that fits me like a glove, but despite the elegant camouflage I'm not looking forward to mingling with my peers at all. The prestige of the institution—and the expense involved in getting here—generally makes everyone twofaced and needlessly competitive, and after a few weeks of Link's decidedly transparent company, I'm dreading all the passive aggression.

He looks me over as he helps me out of the car; he didn't really get the chance to see me when he picked me up this evening. When his eyes come back up to mine, they're smoldering, and the hunger in them leaves me incredibly warm. I can't help the flush that spreads over my cheeks.

"Shall we?" I divert breathlessly.

He puts his arm around my waist without answering and leads me up the stairs, and though it could by my imagination it feels as though his hand is hovering lower on my back than usual.

The hall is awash in crystals, soft mood lighting, and piano music, and the murmur of indistinct conversation hums pleasantly amidst the tinkling of champagne glasses and occasional glint of polite laughter. It's all so familiar, so glamorous.

So dull.

I sigh subconsciously and I feel Link gently squeeze my waist.

"Come on," he murmurs in my ear, and I can hear the smile on his voice. "We're here to have fun. Introduce me to your friends."

"I don't have any friends."

He chuckles low in his throat, and my pulse thrums excitedly. Maybe it won't be so bad.

"Your classmates, then."

I scan the room imperceptibly as we move through the crowd, stifling a frown as I register how many of them I've sat across from on unsuccessful dates. Before I can dwell on it too long, I hear my name behind me and slowly turn to acknowledge it.

"Zelda, darling," she says again, closing the distance between us. It's Ruto, a Zora woman in my Experimental Plasma Physics course who's as vain as she is brilliant, and she's got someone from the biochemistry department tethered by the arm. "So glad you could join us for our little soirée."

"Ruto," I greet her, leaning in mechanically to kiss her on both cheeks. A waiter interrupts us briefly to give Link and me champagne glasses, and then I use it to gesture at him. "This is Link."

"A pleasure," she purrs, letting her eyes wonder over him and extending her hand. I plaster an insincere smile on my face, but a vengeful voice in my head is growling possessively at her shameless flirting. It surprises me, actually. I mean, he's not really mine, is he? He takes her hand dutifully, bringing it to his mouth and miming kissing the air above it. Her eyes are still glued to him while she goes on. "You remember Professor Bandam, of course."

As dull and witless as he is handsome and egocentric. One of the few men here I didn't bother assessing as a possible candidate. "Of course. So good to see you again, Professor."

"I'm sure I would've remembered seeing you around," Ruto immediately jumps right back in. "Wherever did our little Zelda find you?"

I had just taken a sip of champagne, so Link plows ahead without me. I try not to look mortified. "I hired her as a consultant on one of my company's latest projects. We're looking into miniaturized Ancient Furnace tech to replace bomb-powered space flight."

I almost choke on my drink. I knew he was going to lie, but I didn't know he was going to pick a rouse surrounding the very thing we spent years studying here! My heartrate jumps as I realize the odds of her seeing right through him have just gone up significantly. Although, technically, the premise of his imaginary project is feasible.

"Oh?" she replies, fluttering her eyes a bit. "How ambitious. How did you manage to compensate for the intense heat?"

"Sustaining a cold fusion reaction isn't as prohibitively expensive as people claim," he says, giving me a subtle wink. "But our methods are proprietary. I'm sure you understand. Besides, you don't want to bore the Professor."

Ruto blinks. "What did you say your name was, again?"

"Arnold," he answers with a smile, and I nearly laugh aloud. "Pleasure to meet you both."

We beat a hasty retreat, Link snatching a razorclaw crab puff off an hors d'oeuvres tray as we make for the other end of the hall.

"What in the world was that?" I hiss under my breath, an excited smile dancing on my features as we put some distance between us and our first victims.

"Crab puff," he says. "Surprisingly not bad, either."

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Just because I went to culinary arts school doesn't mean I can't read," he scoffs. "I wasn't about to come to your university gala without skimming a few relevant journals."

"You are so—"

"I know, I know, unbelievable," he mutters. I guess I have used that particular adjective to describe him a few times. "Just admit that you're pleased."

Something warm and feral stirs in my stomach as I consider his request. I'm suddenly feeling much more than pleased. He's as adventurous and electrifying as ever, but there's a confidence radiating off him in waves that's stealing the breath right out of my chest. He's sharing champagne and making small talk with some of the most educated minds in Hyrule, and with just a little forethought he's managed to poise himself to outmaneuver them all. He isn't just reckless—though he is reckless, and against my better judgement I find that immodestly attractive—he's smart, and he's daring, and he's gone to the trouble of arming himself for this evening just for me.

The only thing keep me from giggling over him is my own stubbornness.

I arch an eyebrow at him as I go to take another sip of champagne. "I am pleased."

"Good," he murmurs, leaning closer, and his proximity is making me dizzy. "Now try to relax. You were so tense back there I thought you were going to snap and fly across the room."

Oh, there's definitely some tension. That feral something waking in me is coiling to pounce on him like a lizalfos on a highland sheep.

"Zelda! There you are," another voice interrupts my reverie. This time it's Revali, a Rito majoring in aeronautic sciences that I haven't shared classes with in three years, but who still insists on bothering me whenever he can because apparently we're 'birds of a feather.' We aren't. "When I heard your parents weren't attending I thought we might miss out on the pleasure of your company."

"Yes, they asked me to convey their apologies," I drone. "But I've brought along someone else. Revali, this is Ferdinand."

Link pinches me through my dress, but I don't flinch.

"Hello," Link says, crossing his wrist with Revali's in the common Rito greeting. It's hard to shake a hand made of feathers. "Are you majoring in Archaeotech as well?"

"Heavens, no," the Rito laughs. "My specialty is theoretical aeronautics. I'm in the process of perfecting new lift generating techniques that will revolutionize the science as we know it, even among the Rito. But Zelda and I go way back. We've been at this university together for years. I can't say I recall seeing your face around, though. How did you two meet?"

Once again, my mouth is full of champagne. The constant sipping must be a nervous twitch.

"We met on a Molduga hunting expedition in the Gerudo region," he says happily, and I stifle an irritated sigh.

"Oh my," Revali's eyes widen in alarm. He recovers himself with a chuckle. "How barbaric."

"Well it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure," Link concedes, his eyes sparkling with laughter. "But when I saw Zelda sharpshooting that thing with bomb arrows at 100 yards, I just knew I had to find out who she was."

"Well," Revali breathes, at a loss. "Doesn't that just sound terribly exciting?"

"It's been fun catching up, Revali," I smile as I turn to drag Link away. "See you around."

He tries to sputter something else, but I've turned my back on him before he gets the chance, heading to another corner of the room with Link in tow. We're quickly running out of places to hide.

"I don't like him," Link decides as we weave through the crowd.

"Why not?" I smirk coolly. "Because he's better looking than you are?"

"I think we can definitely rule that out." I slow down in a more quiet section of the room and he steps in closer behind me, his breath feathering my ear. "And we need to lay some ground rules. Ferdinand? Really?"

The tension Revali momentarily distracted me from is back in a flash, stoked back to life by his nearness, and I spin in his arms. But he doesn't recoil from the sudden movement, and our faces are tantalizingly close, his amused eyes burning into mine.

"I thought the idea was to make up ridiculous stories about you," I retort, admiring the blur of sparkling crystals reflecting in his gaze even as the world around me begins to tilt. "Now I'm a big game enthusiast."

"And an expert marksman licensed to use heavy ordnance."

I huff condescendingly, trying to maintain an aura of dignity. "Sometimes you drive me crazy."

"Am I driving you crazy?" he asks, his voice dropping to a sultry murmur. He's leaning in closer, and my breath turns shallow as I fixate on his mouth, slowly and invitingly drifting nearer to mine. My pulse races with anticipation and every nerve is alive, poised to burst into flames at his faintest touch. But then he steps past me without making contact and takes a sip of champagne. "Imagine that."

I blink, processing. Then my cheeks flush what I'm sure is a brilliant pink.

"You are the most unchivalrous, infuriating—"

"But you like me," he interrupts, a smile on his lips that could melt red ice.

I refuse to give him the satisfaction. "Not tonight I don't."

"That's too bad," he sighs quietly, fingering his champagne flute. "I like you quite a bit."

And he turns those burning eyes on me again, wreaking unaccountable havoc on my cardiopulmonary system.

I turn around before I can really humiliate myself, scanning the room for another victim. I know the only way I'm going to get myself out of his crosshairs is by giving him another target. A mischievous voice pipes up that maybe I don't want to get out of them, but I tell it to shut up and let me think.

My eyes settle on a mark who is at once too perfect and too horrifying to contemplate: the unmistakable figure of the man with the chocolate hair who was the reason Link and I met in the first place.

My ex, Shad.

But no. It's too ridiculous. Too risky.

Too tempting, you mean.

Shut up, voice, no!

But it's too late; she's taken over my mouth, turning it up into a smile, and I turn it on Link without thinking, letting her have control. I don't know where she's coming from, but she's feisty. And I sort of like the way it feels when she's in my head. "Ready to bring your A game?"

He seems to like it too. His answering smile is subdued but gorgeous. "Born ready."

I take his arm and set our trajectory and velocity, and he takes it from there. "Shad is the infamous ex from the night we met. The historical linguistics and archaeology major. Brown hair, glasses. Leather phone case with the dagger sticking out of it."

"Guess the redhead didn't work out," he smirks. I hadn't noticed, but he's right. He's with a different woman tonight.

"So how are we going to do this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't just walk up to him and introduce you," I roll my eyes a little. "How desperate would that look?"

"Pretty desperate," he agrees with a wry smirk, stopping his approach and smoothly maneuvering me so I'm facing him. "I hope you're not too invested in his opinion of you, though."

"It's not his opinion I care about," I scoff. "But I do have my own dignity to think of."

"Good," he says, his smirk growing, and the flicker of intent in his eyes as he takes a step forward makes my stomach flip. "Not that I mind a little competition, of course. But I hate not being the center of attention."

I take a step back to compensate, unconsciously raising a hand between us in an attempt to maintain the distance. He keeps advancing, forcing me to retreat further. Almost like he's stalking me. I bite my lip at the notion.

"I could arrange for a soapbox and a spotlight," I quip, still backing away. "That should draw some attention."

"Not the center of their attention, as I'm sure you're well aware," he rolls his eyes gently, ensnarling his fingers in mine between us. "I meant yours."

"You've got your work cut out for you, then," I lob back, unable to contain my smile. "My focus tends to shift. I get bored easily."

He tugs on my hand, slowing my progress, and traps me around the waist with his other hand, dipping down to bring his lips close to mine as I fruitlessly—and half-heartedly—try to pull away. He's smiling, too. "You let me worry about that."

I laugh aloud—only to mask my squeal—as he presses forward, as though to steal a kiss, and my back bumps another guest.

"Oh!" I yip, spinning to apologize. "I'm so sorry—"

"Zelda?" Shad's dusky eyes widen as he recognizes me, and I'm sure I look similarly surprised. Link had distracted me so thoroughly I'd actually forgotten about him. Mission accomplished, I guess. The woman he's with is locked in conversation with someone else, and doesn't bother diverting her attention when he does. Shad runs his eyes over me in a quick appraisal, and I reflexively don a more graceful deportment. "You're looking well."

"I am, thank you," I answer mechanically. Link's hand is still around my waist, and the hand holding my champagne glass is on his shoulder, making us look a little tangled in each other. "Link, this is Shad."

"Pleased to meet you." He untangles himself from me to reach out and shake his hand. "It's always nice to meet one of Zelda's colleagues."

"Um," he shrugs, taking a slow blink. "We're not so much colleagues as acquaintances. We aren't in any of the same programs."

"Ah," Link nods. "That makes more sense."

I have no idea where he's going with this, but the displeased glimmer in Shad's eyes suggests it's working. His brow pinches together briefly as he takes the bait. "Does it?"

Link makes an affirmative sound in his throat as he takes a sip of champagne. "You just don't look like much of a scientist."

Oh dear.

Shad arches a cynical eyebrow, but Link pretends to be oblivious. "So, what are you majoring in?"

"Historical linguistics and archaeology," he mutters. But he's sharp, and is quick to bat it back. "And you? I haven't seen you at Lanayru, but you must be studying somewhere. What are you pursuing?"

Link chuckles quietly, sparing me a quick glance. "No, actually. As soon as I got my degree I spent a few years apprenticing abroad, and then came back to make something of myself. I had too much I wanted to accomplish to spend the rest of my 20s stuck in a university."

"An entrepreneur?" he smirks crookedly, turning his eyes on me. "Not your usual fare, Zelda."

"No," I smile. I know he meant it to be an insult, but I feel a soft swell of pride at the label. It makes it all the more remarkable that he's been so successful. "He certainly isn't."

"Thank the gods," Link chimes in. "You should hear about some of the pompous bores her parents have tried to saddle her with."

Shad's eyes narrow in spite of himself, and I'm trapped between horror and amusement. "Have they indeed?"

His date turns then, looks at both of us, and then hands Shad her empty champagne glass and says, "Get me another drink."

He takes it slowly, looking Link over again before he turns.

I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get to see how that would turn out, but maybe it's for the best.

"Well, well," she says, her lips curling into a knowing smirk beneath her raven eyes. "I didn't expect to find you here."

"I could say the same," he returns, putting his arm around my waist reassuringly as he goes to introduce me. "Zelda, this is Ashei. Smart as a whip, total gold-digger. Has that sort of dark temptress thing going on."

"Nice to meet you," I smile.

Ashei nods obliquely at me. "Don't worry about protecting Shad, Link. He knows this isn't serious. Besides, he's an heir. He didn't have to earn it himself, so he has no qualms about spending it on his arm candy. What are you doing here?"

"Also arm candy," he smirks. "Zelda's a genius archaeotechnology student, and I convinced her to come so we could mess with everyone."

"Classic Link," she mutters, passing me a sympathetic glance. "How's the Domain?"

"Not bad, though I guess I have been neglecting her a bit."

Her eyes drift to me, and there's a glimmer to intrigue in them that makes me feel unusually self-conscious. "You don't say," she murmurs.

Someone taps me on the shoulder, and as I turn to acknowledge it I can't help but gasp.

"Midna!" I exclaim quietly, reflexively throwing my arms around her. She giggles, returning the gesture, until I remember myself and pry myself away. I manage to keep my squealed inquiries hushed, but I can't keep my excitement from shining through. "What are you doing here?! When did you get back?"

"Just this week," Midna replies, her answering smile assuring me that she's just as happy to see me, even if she doesn't act quite as juvenile.

Midna, being a Twili, isn't one for the false flattery and one-upmanship common among Lanayru students, so naturally we hit it off. She's one of the few Twili who have ever made an effort to enroll, and she's brilliant. She spent the last four years on an extended tour abroad to different colleges, included several back in the Twilight, so we've only kept in touch via email. She's something of an ambassador between the realms.

She pulls me away a few steps so we can talk without being overheard; Link looks as though he was about to turn after us, but Ashei stopped him with a touch on the arm and is saying something that makes him hesitate. "It was very educational and super great, blah blah blah. Who's that you're with?"

"Link," I answer with a laugh, my smile growing more private as I look his way. "He's not a student; he owns this upscale restaurant in town, Zora's Domain. It's not new, but it probably opened after you left."

He and Ashei are looking at me, too, and she's smiling. I'm sure they're talking about me, I'm just not sure what to make of it.

"He seems nice," Midna says, eyeing him, and then turns her crimson gaze on me. "I'm glad you're having some fun for a change. Just don't let him get too attached."

"Attached?" I smirk, furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know," she shrugs. "Your parents will never go for him. I know you won't let yourself get in too deep, but he might. You can have fun together, just make sure you set boundaries."

"Oh," I mutter, sipping my champagne absently as the gears in my head start to spin furiously. "Yeah, of course. We have boundaries."

"You're too practical not to," she concedes.

Boundaries. We have boundaries. Don't we? I mean we haven't gotten together that many times. I spent the night at his house but that was just because we fell asleep in front of the TV and it was raining. He knows that. He knows this can't progress into a real relationship. Right? I mean, it can't. Can it?

The thought weighs on me heavier than I dare admit to her, or even to myself.

Finally Ashei lets Link go and wanders back towards Shad, and Link comes back to me.

"Link, this is Midna," I introduce him. I'm too happy for the distraction, and I fight off a frown as I realize it. "We've been friends for years."

"Friends?" he says, his eyebrows shooting up. "That's a pleasant surprise. Nice to meet you."

"Same," she smirks, passing me a wink.

Midna talks with us for a while, recounting the places she's been and grilling Link—not so much that he's uncomfortable, but enough so he knows he'll have to pay for it if he doesn't treat me like a goddess, which amuses him. Afterwards, she spends a couple hour choosing targets with us and helping us create ridiculous stories to confound them with, and he starts this trend of tracing my bare spine with his fingertips whenever I'm about to say something, which is so tantalizing and fiery on my skin that it usually renders me speechless and it's beyond infuriating.

Eventually Midna decides her obligatory attendance has been fulfilled and heads home, leaving the two of us to fend for ourselves. We don't carry on once she's left, as we're both a little tired of it and it's getting harder to keep track of all the lies we've told and to whom. But there's lots of food and drink to be had, and the setting is beautiful, so we stay for a while.

"I like Midna," he says as we stand near one of the grand bay windows, surrounded by twinkling lights. "She's sharp."

"She's great," I agree. He's watching me sidelong,

"What were you two talking about?"

I feel the familiar, unpleasant weight on my chest at the mention of it and decide a counterargument is in order. "What were you and Ashei talking about?"

"I asked you first."

"I asked you second."

He laughs quietly, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

"Well," I sigh, dropping it so he won't pursue it further. "We've survived the evening, thanks to you. Do you want to go?"

"If you want," he allows, and we enter a shallow strain of silence. He's staring at me again, and I'm not sure what to do with myself.

"It's been a long night," I finally reason, but his expression is so fixed I'm not sure he heard me.

"I did tease you a lot," he admits after a moment, his lip quirking up.

I roll my eyes. "When you said you wanted to come here to mess with everyone, I didn't think you were including me."

"I don't think I specified."

"You're so impossible," I laugh exasperatedly, too tired to manage much else.

He faces me then, gently trailing his fingers up my jaw and tilting my chin up so his eyes can lock with mine, burning that deep, hazy azure in the dim light. "I think I've teased you enough for one night."

His eyes flick to my mouth and I subconsciously wet my lips, letting my eyelids grow heavy as he closes the little distance left between us. He finally presses his lips to mine, and the resolution of it is glorious. I half expect every tiny lightbulb suspended around us to explode in a shower of sparks. He experiments, tasting me in new ways, and I reciprocate without thinking, mimicking his movements and pressing myself flush against him.

But even as I run my fingers across his scalp and let my hands fist in his hair, and I feel his hands wandering over me, a nagging voice in the back of my mind is reciting Midna's advice.

Make sure you set boundaries.

His kisses are turning more urgent, deepening, and the sound of him panting is sending fire through me.

I know you won't let yourself get in too deep.

He kisses the corner of my mouth, the edge of my jaw, and gently gnaws the side of my neck, and maybe it's the champagne, maybe I'm just being stupid, but I can't get enough of the way it feels when he's touching me like this and I keep telling the voice to just shut up. I hold him as close as I can, tipping my head back with a sigh. But the voice is still there.

Just don't let him get too attached.

I keep my eyes shut tight, and he whispers my name in his sweet voice, and suddenly I know that the voice is not going to go away.