Disclaimer: These characters are not mine, with the exception of Shane. I own nada, except for Shane. I don't own Hyrule, only Shane.
First and Foremost
by Cappucinno
BASELINE: A CHRISTMAS INTERLUDE
December 25, 2010—9 p.m.
The Old Apartment
Laughter filled the air of the apartment that Link and Zelda shared, happy voices mingling together to create an environment that reminded Link distinctly of family. The blonde's cobalt eyes met Zelda's own violet-blue ones and grins spread across both of their faces, though Zelda's attention was soon drawn away again by the occupants of their small and unusually cluttered kitchen. The blonde haired young man crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side, leaning casually against the doorway as he observed the scene playing out in his kitchen.
Sheik was leaning against a counter, one tanned hand stirring what looked like some of honey glaze on the stovetop. His usually serious red eyes were relaxed and there was a hint of what could only be described as fondness swimming behind them. Malon was elbow-deep in a batch of cookie dough, chattering animatedly over her shoulder to Zelda about holiday music.
Shane was fussing over the Christmas ham, arguing one-sidedly with a neutral Sheik over whether they needed cranberry relish or not—he claimed to have some allergy to honey. Ruto was guzzling water and fanning herself with a cookbook whining that, honestly, Zelda really needed to get a humidifier or something because her apart was bone-dry.
Zelda, in turn, had her hands on her hips, obscured by a pair of obnoxiously large blue oven-mitts. The blonde was sporting a quarter-sleeved white v-neck and a pair of time-worn jeans. Of course, one would hardly notice that with the fact that she was wearing a Pillsbury doughboy apron and a pair of large bunny slippers. Despite having donned her baking wear, Zelda seemed to be merely supervising the creation of Christmas dinner. A warm flush graced her cheeks as the young woman was laughed merrily at something Malon was saying.
"Okay, really, can we please just make some cranberry relish?"
"Zellie, I hate this song! Ugh, Silver Bells my ass." The redhead groaned, and no doubt she would have been gesturing her disgust in theatrical movement—as it was she only viciously set to kneading what was apparently snicker-doodle batter.
"People passing, people laughing, meeting smile after smile…" Zelda sang, joined by an enthusiastic Shane, and another loud complaint from Malon. "Oh come on, Malon. Where's your holiday spirit?"
"Okay I backed you up. Now, please can we make the relish? I swear to Nayru, I'm not even joking, honey gives me hives!"
"I've got plenty!" Malon retorted, yanking one hand from the batter and waving her arm in the air. "I just don't like this song! It's Dean Martin. Seriously, that song is made to be sang by a choir, not a soloist."
"Well, I, for one," Link cut in, draping an arm over Zelda's shoulder and setting his chin on the top of her head. "Like this version of it better."
"You are just bitter that no one liked your rendition of it last year, Malon." Sheik commented in his usual dry-tone, eliciting a dark blush from the aforementioned redhead. "To be perfectly fair though, you did have a rather dreadful cold at the time."
"Dude, Sheik, I'm not kidding. Hives, man. Hives!"
"I thought we all agreed not to talk about that!" The redhead shrieked, turning her back on her friends in order to pulverize the decidedly innocent cookie-dough. When her good graces had returned enough to allow her to lower her voice the redhead looked back over her shoulder at Sheik, her cheeks a flaming red despite the threatening set of her green eyes. "You'd better watch out, Sheik. I'm gonna get you one of these days."
"I look forward to getting acquainted with the business end of your riding crop," Sheik said nonchalantly, though Link was certain he was smirking behind his crimson scarf. "Just not as hard as you ride your horses, okay? I can't go that fast, I'm only bendy."
There was a moment of stunned silence in the kitchen, Malon's eyes having gone round as saucers and her mouth falling open in a stellar impression of a landed fish. Zelda's own vivid lavender eyes were wide and Shane had finally shut up about being allergic to honey. Link appeared to be choking on air and he hit his chest with his fist a few times to right his breathing again.
Sheik looked calm as ever as he glanced around the kitchen, one brow raised in a daring manner. "…Did I say something wrong?" The red-eyed man asked, though in Link's opinion he knew full well why they were all shocked. After a moment noise slowly began to trickle back into the atmosphere.
"No, we just ah…" Shane trailed off awkwardly.
"Ooh, I like the Rosemary Clooney version!" Malon chimed in, her own nervous laughter filling the air. There was another awkwardly pause, but Zelda looked at Malon in an indulgent manner, having already recovered from Sheik's unexpected in-your-endo. "You know, Silver Bells?"
"Hmm, she's not half-bad is she?" Zelda commented offhandedly, leaning absentmindedly into Link's chest and curling an arm around his waist. "Oh, Sheik, can you take the ham out? I think there's already honey-glaze on it."
"Shane, get me more water!"
A few hours later found Link and Zelda sprawled out on top of their shared bed, the warm glow of firelight petering under the crack of their bedroom door. Link was laying on his side, handsome features slackened and the barest of smiles curling at his thin lips. His unruly locks of blonde hair fell over his forehead, a few strands just barely grazing his shut eyelids.
In the background "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", the Judy Garland version, was still playing. Someone must have forgotten to turn the iPod off.
Zelda brushed a hesitant hand over the home-made red knit sweater that Malon had made for him and a tender smile tugged at her own lips. Link had a way with making himself adored. Her hair fanned out around her in an imitation of a halo as she edged herself closer to her best friend. She sighed contently as she tucked her face into Link's chest and his arms wrapped instinctively around her smaller frame. Even in his sleep he seemed to be able to read Zelda's mind. Zelda's smile softened slightly and she curled herself up against Link, sighing peacefully.
Slowly, and ever so delicately, she pressed a tender kiss to Link's lips, fingertips grazing the handsome curve of his cheek. "Merry Christmas," Zelda breathed against his lips as she drew her hand down past his jawline and to its resting place atop his chest. She sighed at the warmth and rush of comfort that bubbled up within her and allowed her eyes to slide close and her mind to wander off into the peaceful depths of slumber.
Link's lips formed a complete smile and his arms tightened around the sleeping young woman. His cobalt eyes opened sleepily as he kissed the young woman's forehead in a chaste gesture.
"Merry Christmas, Zel."
Outside the music shut off and a red-eyed young man stepped guiltily away from the bedroom door. He shut it gently with the toe of his boot and moved slowly across the small living room. There was a distinct sadness in his aged eyes as Sheik sat down heavily upon the arm of the sofa. A slight shifting noise caught his attention and he turned to the head of red hair that had popped out from the bundle of blankets. Sheik sighed as his eyes met a pair of tear-stained green ones and his hand smoothed Malon's hair back in a comforting motion.
"We can never get what we want, can we?" Malon's voice was a hoarse whisper and the smile that curled on her lips was a bitter one, filled with the sorrow of a hundred loveless lives. Somehow she knew instinctively that Sheik was no different from herself in terms of unreturned feelings. "They can only belong to each other, even if it means they'll be miserable. Don't we matter? Why do they have to keep dragging us back? I'm so sick of it. Why bother if we can't even get a chance to be happy?"
"Fate is a cruel mistress to us all," Sheik responded, failing to mask the bitterness in his voice. There was another still moment in the apartment and the fire crackled loudly in the background. Someone sighed and the fire was put out, throwing the room into shadows, with only the embers for light. "We can only hope that things will be different."
"...Sheik?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"...Merry Christmas, Malon."
"You too, Sheik."
A/N: I'm almost, but not quite done, with the next chapter. Sorry for the long wait, but this next chapter is an important one and it's one I'd like to make as perfect as possible, since it'll be setting the stage for the remainder of our story. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy this brief little interlude, and I apologize for making you wait so long only to supply with you another flashback.
As always, I'd love it if you guys reviewed, as it gives me inspiration to keep going.
Also, do you guys still want to see flashbacks? I was going to put one in every chapter, but if you would all rather just see what's happening in present in the story, just let me know. Your feedback will be very appreciated.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
-Cappucinno