[A/N:] The guessing game's over — bask in the revelation of the outcome of Samus Aran's less than glorious encounter with the infamous Dented Truck! :')

Bonus points for all who guessed correctly.

"Welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the Zebes High stadium! My name is Joe and it's a wonderful day for some wonderful football!"

The commentator's voice blurted out of the speakers around the stadium and Peach squealed as she dragged Zelda and Impa with her. Obviously, she led them exactly to the front row of seats on the southern side, the best vantage spot in general.
The sun stood in their backs, so they didn't need sunglasses like the people sitting across from them. Zelda felt conscious as she passed by a bunch of die-hard fans of the school's famous team who blinked at the girls owlishly. Impa only rolled her eyes, telling Peach to slow it down.

The three of them sat, fully equipped with soda and hotdogs, and waited for the game to begin. Peach practically threw herself into Zelda's lap, "I am so glad you decided to come too! It's gonna be fun, I promise!" The brunette patted her friend's head a few times and smiled at her. Sometimes, Peach's over-zealousness was so disturbing that it was cute actually.
She stood and cupped her hands over her mouth and Impa was already bracing herself for the earful they were going to get. "Show 'em how it's done, girls!" Peach screamed to her cheerleader team down on the grass and they promptly broke out some sick moves. Satisfied, she sat down next to Zelda again and crossed her arms over her chest, a smug grin on her face, "We're gonna stomp them."

There wasn't really any doubt about that, considering the Zebesians didn't have any serious rival teams around. The stadium roared and hollered when finally both teams entered the playfield. Peach jumped up, screaming her undying loyalty out to the players.
There were Anthony, James, and Lyle, followed by K.G., and Maurice. The boys did their shenanigans with the cheerleaders, lifting them up and squeezing them, and jogging a few meters to get their system going. It was a spirited atmosphere.

But, of course, the most important question was whether or not Samus Aran would play today. Zelda nibbled on her hotdog, recalling the tense minutes spent behind a bush at a time that was most certainly past curfew last night. Samus had not seemed impeded at all, but then again it had been pretty dark. She unconsciously bit her lip.

The Zebesian Hunters trotted one after the other, all with their hands raised and accepting praise from all sides of the stadium. A knot of unexpected tension formed in Zelda's gut and she ever so slightly lent forward to try and get a better look.

And then—

Her eyes widened when she spotted the unmistakable red helmet of Zebes' champion. In fact, Samus was actually wearing her full uniform and jogged out into the field. Impa beside her hummed thoughtfully but didn't comment on the scene before them. They both silently agreed to zone out Peach who practically fainted from shock, flailing.
Anthony came up to Samus' side and said something to her before they approached the other team and the two captains shook hands. The people in the stadium were positively screaming for Samus as they chanted her name and it was oddly akin to the acolytes singing prayers in the church.

Zelda was curious whether Samus would be able to play, considering everyone had assumed she was bound to a wheelchair or worse. But the common worry dissipated as she scrambled forward after receiving the pigskin and shoved herself past two players of the opposite team without any effort. Zelda watched with baited breath but she didn't fall, she didn't stumble, she didn't waver.

The inevitable fall came close to the end of the game though. There was a collective gasp rousing the crowd as Samus Aran, star player of the beloved Zebesian Hunters, lost her footing and crashed into the grass headfirst, the egg wobbling its way out of her grasp.
People stood from their seats and Zelda let her gaze wander around the stadium, taking in various expressions of horror and utter shock. Even the players seemed to stutter for a moment before someone picked up the ball and ended that play with a turnover.

Anthony was the first one at Samus' side. She rolled to lie on her back, right foot awkwardly stretched out into the air as to not let it touch the ground which would have probably result in pain. The first aiders were there in a blink, stabilizing her leg and carrying her off the field. The coaches were heatedly discussing as Mr. Lemming called a stop.
Impa clicked her tongue, "You know. That she would be fine overall doesn't really mean she's fit to hit the field right after stepping out of the hospital." She shrugged as Zelda only pursed her lips, "Can't say I'm surprised."

The game was cancelled afterwards.

The crowd was still distraught and the commotion was quickly herded out of the stadium by campus security. Peach refused to leave though, and pulled Zelda along with her to the cheerleader team still below on the grass. Impa had waved her hands and taken off with her soda, leaving the two to their own devices.
Peach was pale as a ghost, "Did you see that, Zelda? Oh god, I hope she'll be fine… I have never seen something so horrible before! How could this even…" She continued talking, but Zelda's attention was somewhere else already.

She spotted Falco at the entrance into the stadium where they had brought Samus to. He stood there with his arms crossed, a stern expression on his face, and scared anyone who tried to enter away with his impressive glower.
Zelda gently pried Peach's hand from her wrist and watched her take off towards her cheerleaders without throwing a look back. She smiled crookedly at her friend's thirst for information and went over to Falco.

He saw her, and his expression didn't change, "Hi." Zelda nodded, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious. She knew Falco could be intimidating but he was actually a good guy. They worked together sometimes as TAs in the nurse's office which was why she was one of the few people who didn't flinch whenever Falco turned his attention on them.
"Hi, Falco." Zelda glanced towards the hallway behind him, "That was a terrible spill. Did Samus say anything?" He shook his head with a grunt, "No. She just stared ahead with a face of stone." He shrugged, "Exactly how I suspected she would."

Zelda actually chuckled as she pictured Samus frowning at her leg like it had somehow offended her. She wrenched her hands behind her back, wondering why she was kind of nervous all of a sudden, "Is there anything I can do?"

Falco glanced at her after driving away two concerned fans. He seemed to contemplate for a moment before saying, "Well, Ms. Balder wanted me to help her checking up on Samus, but someone needs to stand guard here and make sure the crazed fans don't get inside," he gestured at the entrance behind him. "I doubt someone as tiny as you could scare the very devoted away, so I guess I'll have to stay here."
Zelda knew where this was going, and the thought of actually assisting Ms. Balder in taking care of Samus was a little dizzying for her. "Maybe you go ahead and help Ms. Balder with everything."

Zelda felt something drop in her stomach but she quickly put on a small smile and lightly punched Falco on the arm. He didn't even budge. "Alright, that's something a tiny person like me can manage." He smiled at her and nodded encouragingly.

Then he let her pass and Zelda allowed herself a giggle when she heard the protests from a bunch of other kids wanting to see how Samus was doing. Falco handled them expertly.

The hallway was familiar to her. Peach had taken her here more times than she could count whenever the blonde wanted to have Zelda watch her at cheerleader practice with the other girls. It led straight to the outside of the stadium, but there was a door inside that directed Zelda to a few empty offices.

She passed by the janitor who looked quite distressed — no doubt being under distress at the current moment — and soon after reached the nurse's office. She stood before it for a moment, gathering her thoughts.
Zelda exhaled, she was anxious and she had no idea why. Her situation sunk in and it was certainly something to be remembered, but it didn't seem so terrifying that her hands should have shaken like they did.

She balled a fist and knocked quietly on the door and entered when she was told to do so. Her heart started beating faster which each inch she opened and when her gaze landed upon Samus Aran half sitting, half lying on the bed across the room, her breath caught.

Crystal blue eyes were staring back at her.

Zelda could feel the tips of her ears burning and she quickly scanned the room for Ms. Balder, who was just turning around to greet her with a smile, "Zelda, good to see you!" She approached her, thankfully giving Zelda an excuse to look at anything else but those eyes.
Ms. Balder beckoned her into the room with a hand on her shoulder, "I'm surprised to see you, actually. It's Falco's shift today." Zelda nodded and tried hard not to stutter as she was ushered towards Samus still lying on the bed.

"Yes, I talked to him just before. I thought I could make myself useful." Ms. Balder smiled widely at her, "Thanks, Zelda. That would actually be much appreciated." She turned around, her long dark hair swinging after her in a waterfall of curls.
"So, it seems Samus here has a sprained ankle," she threw a pointed look over her glasses and to the quarterback, who in turn pointedly avoided eye contact, "and she didn't tell anybody about it."

Zelda hummed in understanding and chanced a quick look at Samus; she was still frowning. "I'll get an ankle brace for her, would you…" she wiggled her finger at Samus and Zelda nodded a few times. Then she was gone, leaving the two girls alone in the room.
There was a pause in which Zelda fidgeted uncomfortably around the bed. Oh-kay, maybe I should start with introductions? Yes, that sounds like a decent idea… She managed a smile and held out her hand, "I'm Zelda, by the way."

Samus just pulled up an eyebrow at her, "I know. And weren't you gonna… do whatever?" She gestured at her leg much in the same manner that Ms. Balder did just moments ago. The gruff remark put a hot blush on Zelda's cheeks and she stammered out a confirmation before sitting down on the stool next to the bed.
She raised her hands but stopped before actually touching Samus' leg. She was so acutely aware of the blonde's watchful gaze on her that she felt like trembling again. Zelda started, "I-I'm gonna have to…" and looked over to Samus — only to find her staring back intently.

The corners of her eyes crinkled and for a second Zelda didn't know what to make of it, when Samus exhaled, then quipped, "I don't bite." She was so stunned that she couldn't even manage to formulate a reply, so the first thing that came to mind was immediately spluttered out and didn't sound at all like something Zelda would normally say.

"So you're a vegetarian?" Samus seemed really taken aback by that answer. Her eyes widened and she blinked at Zelda owlishly. There was another beat and the brunette wished to disappear into the ground, Really, Zelda? 'You're a vegetarian?' Come on, that sounds like something Link might say!

But, against all odds, Samus didn't call for Ms. Balder to remove her from out of Zelda's care, nor did she tell her off and flip her the bird. Instead, Samus came back with a similarly nerdy reply, "I like chicken."

The awkward pause following after was expected, but what Zelda didn't expect was for the pause to not be awkward at all. The two of them looked at each other before Samus placatingly gestured towards her leg, "Go ahead, it's fine."
Zelda nodded, the coiled tension in her gut finally subsiding. She pulled Samus' high sock down and off her foot and then pushed her pants upwards and over her knee. Samus tensed but didn't say anything.

In just this moment, Ms. Balder came back into the office, a small box with an AirCast logo in her arm. She smiled warmly, "So, how's it going?" Zelda carefully palpated Samus' leg, "She's tough as nails." Both girls jumped a bit when the blonde hissed in pain and deadpanned, "Yea not really, I guess." They shared a real smile this time and Zelda felt her insides lift. She took the time to examine Samus a bit closer.

Blonde bangs framed her face and she was remarkably pretty to be honest. There was a tiny beauty mark on the corner of her mouth that drew Zelda's attention. She caught herself staring a bit longer than was probably appropriate and she colored slightly, but luckily for her, none of the other two noticed anything.
Ms. Balder simply hummed in agreement and gave the brace over to Zelda, "I don't need to tell you how to fasten that thing. You're doing great, Zelda." The brunette actually sunk a little into herself at the compliment because it was in front of Samus, but accepted the praise with a timid "thanks."

The woman quickly threw a glance at her wrist watch and then sighed ruefully, "Will you two be alright? I need to talk to Mr. Lemming, he asked me to stop by his office." Samus beat Zelda to the punch, "Yes, no worries."
Ms. Balder beamed and gave the girls a thumbs up, "Awesome. Zelda will let you know how to handle the cast." Then she grabbed her purse and left without further ado, briskly walking down the corridor so the click of her heels could be heard for a few more moments before fading out.

Zelda dutifully secured the cast, feeling rather bold, "Why didn't you tell anyone about it? It's a miracle you're not wrapped up in bandages as it is, and not being able to walk for a few weeks is not a shame. Quite the opposite," she chuckled then, "it's a bit expected when someone's in your line of work." Zelda looked up when Samus didn't reply and found the blonde eyeing her oddly. Her fingers stopped doing whatever they had been doing and she suddenly held her breath.

For a moment, she thought Samus would only laugh in her face and tell her that she had not idea what she was even talking about. So it came as an even bigger surprise when Samus just shrugged and said, "I guess that's right." Zelda blinked once and watched, a little uncertain, as the star quarterback reclined back into the pillow and mumbled, "Still sucks."

Zelda promptly broke out into a wide smile at the stubborn comment. Maybe I'm ridiculous… but she's actually so… normal. Samus looked back at her and then averted her gaze somewhat uncomfortably. Zelda smothered a giggle with biting her lip.

After the brace was set in place and Samus stopped glowering at the offending piece of hard plastic, Zelda carefully helped her stand and adjust to the new sensation. She was about to fetch a crutch for her when Samus just shook her head and raised a hand, "No. I don't need that."
Not fully convinced, she pursed her lips but in the end complied with the quarterback's wishes. Sure, she's got too much pride for a crutch. It was understandable, if a little irresponsible. Samus was wobbling towards the door before she halted and turned around.

She looked straight at Zelda and once again, the brunette held her breath as those eyes found hers. Samus held out her hand, "I'm Samus, by the way." Zelda was so struck at the gesture that she didn't even notice the reversal of their roles in this exact moment.

She just went up to the blonde girl and shook her hand, warm palms touching, smiling, "I know."

[A/N:] Aw, how cute. I did my best staying in character for Samus, but sometimes I feel she's hard to write. On the other hand; you can't be stoic all the time, amirite? :-D