After the somewhat tense breakfast, Ravio had to leave to see to some of his business in this realm leaving the chain without really much idea of what to do next.
"Well, there's a game room on the second floor over there, Winona pointed. And that was all the prompting that Wind and Wild needed.
Damn! You're really fast… Are you suuure you haven't played this before?" Winona laughed as the puck slid past her defenses for the umpteenth time. Legend only grinned.
"No, but I like this game. Again?" He asked. He grinned wider and got into a ready stance as she fished the puck out of it slot and set it back onto the air hockey table.
Four and Wind were watching the duo with rapt attention, both waiting their turns to play and enjoying the show in the meantime. Wars and Hyrule had discovered a very different game nearby and were both laughing and winded trying to keep up with the fancy footwork demanded by DDR. Hyrule was enamored with the blue-haired girl on the screen and was trying his hardest to keep up with her. Wars thought that she looked a lot like Lana, someone he knew long ago and was stung with a faint pang of …. something as he played.
Wild had discovered the virtues of Space Invader Galactica! And was currently focused on beating the mysterious AAA's high score. He was getting closer with every round(and seemed to be under the impression that yelling made his guns more powerful.).
Time, Sky, and Twilight were comfortably lounging in the home theater in a nearby space now on the second movie in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy Marathon and about halfway through their third family-sized bag of Doritos.
All in all, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Suddenly a soft cough came from the entrance to the game room. Winona looked up (losing yet another round to Legend in the process) to see Danielle standing in the doorway on crutches. She wore an orange floral sundress that showed her casted leg and many bandages and bruises from the night before. She beamed as her pixie-haired friend abandoned her game and ran to her. Four seeing an opening jumped into her spot to battle the vet much to Wind's protests.
"Hey Girly.." She rasped in a quiet relieved voice as Winona held the smaller woman in a gentle squeeze.
"Hey back! Oh I'm so glad you're ok! I was worried.. So much weirdness has happened-" She held her friend close.
"Clearly.." Dani laughed looking around the room at the group of strange men at their various activities.
Just then Valda appeared behind Dani and smiled at the girls. At first, Winona seemed to hesitate, but then stepped forward to her and wrapped her in an embrace. Valda grinned down at her and pulled the girl into a big bear hug.
"Valda.." she said muffled into the woman's embrace and looked up at the woman without further words, tears streaked down her face.
"Min skat…" Valda murmured and kissed the top of Winona's head rocking her back and forth as though she were a child. "We should go somewhere to talk.."
Winona wiped her eyes and laughed "Yes…Please."
Danielle made her way over to the air-hockey table and tapped Legend on the shoulder causing him to miss a shot that ricocheted back and went into his own slot. Four gave a whoop of delight. The Vet turned with a look of irritation towards the woman that melted away when he saw who it was.
"Hey." She said with a small, embarrassed smile. He looked at her quizzically. "I wanted to thank you for last night. You saved my life.."
"Uh.. You're welcome." He mumbled, like the dork he was. "Its.. um, yeah. Welcome."
She laughed, a sound like whiskey and lace, and wrinkled her nose at him. "Also.. I'm sorry I hit you with my guitar."
"Y-you didn't hit me."
She laughed again. "Oh. Well... I was certainly trying to.. I'm sorry I Tried to hit you with my guitar."
"No problem.." Legend said looking at his feet, a slight blush dusting his cheeks.
He was rescued from his awkwardness by Warriors who, upon noticing the woman in the room, had abandoned the DDR game. He walked up and introduced himself. He knelt deeply and kissed her hand which elicited a giggle from the woman.
"Shall I escort you to the couch to rest?" He asked nodding with his nose to her crutches.
"That would be lovely, thank you." She smiled and followed him away.
Four snickered causing Legend to turn around. "You're not great with girls, huh?" He grinned.
Legend made a face at him. "What? That's not true.. I've even had girlfriends…"
"Oh?" Now Wind was chiming in with the teasing. "How many?"
"Three." Legend said with a miffed tone.
"Oh, yeah. Trees don't count.." Four said, smirking.
"Only ONE was a tree!" Legend snapped causing his friends to laugh harder.
"Ok…" said Four, trying a different approach. "Lemme rephrase that. You've never kissed a girl." It wasn't a question. It was a challenge. His eyes pinwheeled with a mischief of colors.
"I-…" Legend sputtered. "You know what? Fine! No. Happy? Have you?" He shoved his striker into Wind's hand and stomped away without waiting for an answer.
"I…think you may have really struck a nerve." Wind said watching him go.
"Yeah…" Said Four a little perturbed. "I actually feel pretty bad."
"So…. Have you?" Wind pushed.
"Huh?" Four turned back to his young friend in surprise seeming to have forgotten the original conversation.
"Kissed a girl?" Wind asked earnestly.
"Oh. Yeah! A few times.. Admittedly not a lot. You?"
Wind blushed. "Family doesn't count, does it?"
Four laughed, "No."