Chapter 10 – Heavy is the cost
Silence settled heavy between them.
Samus knew her answer. Samus undeniably knew her answer. But whether she could admit it was an entirely different story.
She had prided herself in her distance; her walls too high and well armoured to let even the smoothest of talkers creep in – but Zelda had made no attempt to sleaze her way through; her progress had been entirely ordinary and true of nature and Samus couldn't bear the thought of having to shut her down. Zelda's company was one she deeply regretting not allowing sooner, but to go any further than this – fleeting affection – she risked putting both of their lives on the line; never mind the entire kingdom of Hyrule. If Ridley were to find out that Zelda meant something to Samus, he would target her immediately... And Samus would not forgive herself if she allowed someone with such pure intentions to suffer because of her, regardless of the feelings she had accepted were flourishing.
Zelda's eyes were searching hers desperately, she could see the fear beginning to surface and dearly wanted to chase it away, but regardless she had to press on. Cruel to be kind, she repeated to herself, Zelda would surely thank her if she knew. Wouldn't she?
Zelda felt her body tremble; as the situation caught up with her it began to feel as though she were really pouncing on Samus when she had nowhere to run. Shame burbled in her gut and she took a step backwards, pulling her hands to herself. She had been so excited to finally have someone return her affections that she had jumped the gun, forgetting that Samus seemed completely unfamiliar with the concept herself. This had started off as a tease - even Zelda hadn't cast it a thought until the joke had escalated.
"My deepest apologies, that was... that was.. too forward, I-"
Strong strides rushed Samus forwards in a heartbeat, both hands on Zelda's cheeks to force her to keep eye contact.
"No, no, don't be upset." She whispered hurriedly, watching in dismay as tears began to well up in those gleaming cerulean eyes; they were confused and hurt, but filled with shame and uncertainty, and Samus was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Zelda hiccupped; humiliated didn't even begin to describe – feeling like she'd made Samus uncomfortable and then having the same woman comfort her felt incredibly selfish and she dreaded the idea of Samus giving her pity – but unbeknownst to her it was quite the opposite. The huntress didn't do pity, that was needless to say, but she also had no desire for meaningless displays of physical affection. If it was not raw, if it was not real, Samus wanted no part of it – and when Zelda closed that distance with words that implied what she was pursuing was far more than that, she had panicked. Samus did not know the first thing about displaying her feelings; all she knew was how to repress them, and Zelda was very quickly turning her world upside down. Her consciousness was in wreckage, and the mere fact that she would even consider herself as the type to make love was beyond her comprehension - never mind the fact that she had very well just caught herself wanting to.
"Please forgive me." She pleaded quietly, unable to bear looking at Zelda's broken expression for a moment longer. She leant forwards, a feather light press of the lips lasting only for a moment, but it was unhurried and sincere and left Zelda reeling the moment she pulled away. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. We mustn't."
Zelda whimpered softly as Samus put distance between them – shaken and trembling as the knowledge sunk in. They had kissed. No, Samus had kisser her. Something told Zelda this went far beyond physical attraction, and the breath caught in her throat.
"I... do not understand..." She began, but Samus quickly hushed her with a finger to her lips.
"Please don't ask questions. Just trust me. We mustn't. I'm sorry." Zelda winced at the abruptness of her tone; but more so as Samus released her to return to the control panel. "I'll take you home."
Zelda opened her mouth to object, but when met with Samus' hurt expression she quickly closed it.
"Alright."
The journey was silent, and the ship was unbearably hot – not to mention thick with tension. Zelda stayed at the front of the ship, knowing welforth she wouldn't be able to meet Samus' eye.
Space suddenly seemed a lot less interesting, and her body was cold. She wondered if Samus would distance herself again; if she would hide away, whisk herself up into space and mask herself behind that helmet for good. The rattling sound of armour behind her was enough to convince her that her worries were justified.
When they finally landed and the hatch hissed open, Zelda bowed her head as she passed the cockpit – unsure if she should say anything as Samus rose and followed a fair distance behind. She stopped in the doorway and cast a glance back, but was met with only the faint glow of a green visor.
"Thank you for showing me. Goodnight, Samus." She said fleetingly, tearing her eyes away as quickly as she could and made her way down onto flat ground. She decided not to ask if Samus would take her up again anytime soon.
The huntress raised a hand goodbye, quite soundless. Had she made the right decision? Zelda walked stiffly as she always did, and her pace wasn't unhurried. Samus clenched her jaw, letting the hatch fall shut before returning to the cockpit and slumping down in her chair.
The cold silence was heavier than she remembered.
Zelda, meanwhile, was simply grateful that the hallways were empty of anyone who could possibly ask her why she was in such a hurry. She was fairly sure that if she had to explain she would begin to cry, and as the situation finally sunk in she could feel hot tears welling up to cloud her vision.
She entered her – their – room, and promptly flopped onto the bed. Staring blankly at the wall, she tucked her knees up under her chin, closed her eyes tightly shut, and let out that first, shuddering breathe. She could feel her body sinking into the mattress, as though begging it to swallow her up and save the inevitable embarrassment, but the cold crept up on her and it was only a matter of time before she accepted that she would weep openly until the clutches of sleep took a hold of her.
Samus was in no better state, but holding in feelings was what the huntress did best. She rested her head in her hands, not bothering to take off the armour. What was the point, anyway? She didn't want to hear herself, and she wouldn't be sleeping.
When morning wound around, Pikachu was the first to realise something was wrong. On Sunday mornings Samus would always show up at 5am on the dot to pick him up and take him out on their weekly trip, but by now it was 11am and the blonde was nowhere to be seen.
Dainty paws scampered through hallways and courts out into the docking yard – surprised to see Samus' ship still planted firmly on the ground.
Where on Earth must she be?
He hopped effortlessly up to the hatch and pawed at the door vigorously, but received no response.
"Pikaaaa!" He cried out, hoping to catch her attention; perhaps she had overslept? No. Samus never slept in.
"Chuuuuu!" He cried again, this time with worry. What if Samus had injured herself in the ship without anybody knowing?!
Ears flattened against his head, he scrambled onto the ship and slip ungracefully down the windshield onto the bonnet – mushing his face and paws against the glass to try and get a look inside.
His spirits sank when he saw her doubled over the ship's control panel, staring blankly ahead of her with an unlit visor, and he pawed the window hopefully. She stirred for a moment, but promptly collapsed her head back onto her folded arms.
He had to fetch someone.
Reluctantly he abandoned the ship to scurry back inside. But who to find?!
He knew Samus was close to very few people. Fox was one, but his Arwing was nowhere to be seen. Captain Falcon was another, but he was mid battle and struggled to communicate with the small Pokémon. Peach... Of course, Peach!
Off like a rocket he tore through the hallways, only to bump into the Princess who was stood at the door blocking her from Zelda.
"Goodness me, Pikachu!" She gasped, helping the off-balance Pokémon to his feet and rubbed him affectionately behind the ear. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
He chirped anxiously, taking the edge of her dress between his teeth and tugging it in the direction of the docking yard – earning a conflicted frown.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart, but I need to get to Zelda right now. Nobody has seen her since last night, after she and-"
The two locked eyes in silence, and Pikachu's ears pressed back against his head once more.
"After she and Samus left together."
A worried squeak escaped Pikachu, and he curled his tail about himself.
"Pika.." He cheeped quietly, and Peach nodded without the need for translation. Something had happened; she could sense it. If she could get to Zelda, chances are that she could get Pikachu some answers as well.
"Zelda, honey?" She called quietly, knocking on the door for what must have been the twelfth time. "You can't hide in there forever. We want to help you?"
At last a hoarse voice replied through the door, and Peach sighed in relief that at least she had gauged a response.
"We..?"
Pikachu chirped hopefully, and there was a long pause before the door cracked open. Peach winced; Zelda's pale face peered through the gap, with bloodshot eyes and a sour expression.
"Can I help you?"
Pikachu winced this time, shrinking back onto his hind legs. She looked to be in as bad of a state as Samus had as far as he could tell, and he looked up at Peach for assistance.
"I won't sugar coat, sweetheart... What happened with Samus last night?" She asked, voice softer and more motherly than it tended to be when they spent time together. This wasn't the first time she'd seen Zelda troubled over Samus – in fact, ever since her first arrival Zelda had occasionally worried over Samus' wellbeing; be it simply that she was never present, or how she'd disappear after extraordinary brutal battles.
Zelda's face contorted, and she opened her mouth to object, but instead she pushed the door towards closing – but Peach had already taken the initiate to put her foot in its way.
"I wish not to talk about it." She answered abruptly, trying to cut it short, but the Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom was reknown for being an unstoppable force when she wanted something.
"Zelda, you know I think you're wonderful, but please don't be like this. I know you, and you'll bottle it down until you explode. You don't have to hide and prove you're some immovable goddess, you're hurting and we want to help you."
Pikachu stared up at her with wide eyes; this was a Peach he saw very little of. Behind her smiles and her twirls Peach was more of a woman than most he had ever seen – both in this dimension and his own – and it was a strength not often seen on the battle field; a strength often perceived as a weakness by the foolish.
Someone who could solve a battle with words rather than actions was someone to be reckoned with.
Zelda opened the door.
"... I do not know what happened." Zelda answered meekly, and she wasn't lying, as Peach closed the door behind them and settled next to Pikachu on the bed that would have belonged to Samus.
She recollected the events of the night, fumbling over certain details, and Peach felt her heart sink every time Zelda's steady words quivered. Zelda seemed completely spaced out as she spoke, and Peach could only assume she was reliving it in her head as vividly as it had been burned in.
'And then we... She kissed me.' Had stuck out to Peach in particular. She knew Samus – She's known Samus since that first day, and this meant something big. But as Zelda repeated her words, suspicions began to arise. She'd done her research on everyone – that was how she'd gotten where she was in the social rankings, after all – and Samus lived a dangerous life, but that didn't mean that she didn't have feelings, and Samus was smart. She knew how to protect, and she knew how to avoid bad situations a lot of the time. The way she spoke sounded like a precaution.
She looked down at Pikachu, who's expression was unreadable. He was fidgeting; eyes squinted like he was deep in nervous thoughts, brewing. He knew Samus best of all, and must be onto something she couldn't understand.
"Pikachu," She said suddenly, catching him off guard, "I need you to get Sammy into the East corridor at 7pm. Can you do that for me?"
If she didn't know any better, she'd say that was a grin with his promising salute.
"Pika!"
A/N: To all of you predicting mature content this early on... Gotcha! But I think you'll enjoy what I have in store for the next chapter veeeery much! ;)
Thank you all for the lovely feedback! It makes me so happy to see the different responses.
Also, to the one person who's giving me a lot of NSFW suggestions, I'm afraid there won't be anything really hardcore in this fic and I already have everything planned out - but I do appreciate your enthusiasm