Story Title: Once Upon A Dance
Disclaimer: I still don't own Zelda: Twilight Princess. Also the initial idea for this fic is also not mine. Credit goes to ilias on the Shadlinkers discord.
Author's Notes: I love masquerade balls so much. A lot of that love probably stems from the ballroom scene in Labyrinth, but deep down, there's a part of me that always wanted to go to a fancy masquerade ball in a fancy dress and mask and dance the night away with all the beautiful gentlemen and ladies. And there is so much in this fic that's just pure author appeal going on.
Wolf Link's color palette is atrocious to base a masquerade outfit on. Either that or I'm terrible at designing outfits. Both can be true. The latter is very true. Special thanks to author_main for assisting me with cleaning up the design for Shad's outfit. They toned down my tendency to go over-the-top and overly-detailed and helped me get a clearer picture.
This is sort of an odd TP AU where Link hasn't been needed as the Hero, but there's still a really odd black mirror at play. Link and Shad get a bit of a personality swap from how I usually write them, which is always fun to explore and something I need to do more of.
As always, thanks for reading.
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Story Title: Once Upon A Dance
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Link wasn't supposed to be here. He didn't belong here, no matter if the royal invitation tucked in his inner vest pocket granted him permission to be here. And yet here he was, miles away from his hometown in Ordona Province and standing at the farthest gates of Hyrule Castle about to attend the Queen's masquerade ball. Link was all gussied up in the fanciest suit he had ever been laced and buttoned into. If his friends and family were here to see him now, they would laugh at how ridiculous he looked. Not that he blamed them for laughing. If it were anyone else but him going, he would have laughed at them too. Folks from their neck of the woods just didn't look right in the capital.
Him being here was a complete joke. He was no fancy-pants city boy. There was no blue blood in his veins. The last time he was ever close to royalty was when he had gotten his butt royally switched for entering the abandoned forest temple as a kid. Link was only here because he had rescued a high-ranking general's favorite horse during an official visit—Ordona Province was always visited by an official on behalf of the Queen roughly every three years, given that the province itself consisted of farms and ranches, hill folk, and a smattering of actual villages, each led by their own mayor.
The general probably thought he was showing his immense gratitude by bestowing a lowly peasant outside of Hyrule proper such a high honor, and it was indeed a high honor, but it didn't exactly feel like a thank-you to Link. Really, the general hadn't needed to repay him with anything, though rupees or some Castle Town staples would have been just fine. His family and friends had all told him to enjoy himself tonight at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the little ones had asked him to try to pocket some small treats for them. Link wanted to enjoy himself, but he doubted that he was going to feel comfortable around all these stuffy rich folk.
It was still in the early twilight hours, the sunlight a soft gold and the sky a hazy blue. Stagecoaches were still rolling in, and there was a long queue of attendees waiting their turn. Link had yet to move toward the castle. He watched the hustle and bustle around him as the lords and ladies of Castle Town, all dressed in their most intricate finery and wearing elaborate masks, convened toward the castle entrance.
Link's suit was fancy, but it wasn't as fancy and eye-straining as any of the rich folks' costumes. The boutique had thankfully listened to his pleas that they not go hog-wild and stuck to muted colors and as little frill and fuss as possible, though one of the shop owner's assistants had made a remark questioning whether or not he knew that he was going to a party at the Castle.
His coat and trousers were an odd green-dark gray color, so much so that Link had no idea which color it was supposed to be. His waistcoat was a pale gray patterned with the least amount of embroidery in the tiniest stitch possible. The bottoms of his trousers were stuffed inside a pair of knee-high brown leather boots. The fussiest part of his outfit was the large bow around his neck—Link hated how it felt, but the boutique swore to curse him if his hands so-Hylia-help-him came near the wide silk ribbon again. It was the fussiest part until the shop had found a pair of epaulets fringed with gray wolf fur to expand on the image his wolf mask had built.
Now if given the free choice, Link doubted that he would have chosen a wolf mask to wear. He probably would have gone for something much plainer that covered all of his face. But Her Majesty's guests were required to wear a special kind of mask, one that revealed their true face to their fellow party-goers while concealing their identities.
So before the boutique had even began considering colors and taking his measurements, they had led him into the owner's office, had him gaze into a black glass mirror locked away in a wardrobe, and had him pull out the mask revealed to him from the mirror. Link wasn't sure what being a wolf meant, but he was grateful that his mask was simple. It was a painted fairly realistically until it reached the nose and forehead and the color became that odd dark green-gray. There was only a bit of a design on the forehead, but Link didn't mind the strange pattern. He had no idea if the diamond shape and the teardrop swirls meant anything, but it looked nice without drawing too much attention.
Looking nice enough to blend in and not draw attention to himself was his goal for tonight. He wondered if he was supposed to enter the castle from the same entrance as the nobility and the foreign heads of state or if there was a separate entrance for the lower class. Really, if he was able to sneak away and hide in the stables, he preferred that. He always wanted to know how the Queen's horses were taken care of, and he was comfortable around horses. Link had no idea how to talk to people, especially the snooty high society and royalty. Horses, he knew what to say to horses.
Link jumped at the sudden touch on his shoulder. He looked to the right and then up to see a tall young man in an ivory owl mask smiling at him.
"My, my, you resemble a young deer more than a wolf at this moment," he said, his voice pleasant to Link's ears. With all the fuss and fanciness he was wearing, he was definitely an upper class gentlemen. Perhaps a prince. "Your first time invited to such a spectacle, I presume?"
Link stiffly nodded.
The fancy fellow wrapped his arm around Link's shoulder in a familiar manner and leaned down. Link picked up the sweet scent of his cologne. It was a struggle to keep himself from moving closer to him.
"I say, here's what you do, old boy. You see where all those fine gentlemen and ladies are queuing up? Well, if you join them and wait your turn, you'll reach the doors of the castle where a guard will take a peek at your invitation. You have brought your invitation with you? Wonderful. Keep it secret. Keep it safe. You won't be allowed to enter inside or back in without it."
His mask's carving was even more beautiful and detailed up close, as was its gold accents and flourishes. The light tan and cream-colored feathers brought together the whole image of a perched owl observing the world, and yet Link was only curious to see the man under the mask.
"Her Majesty will give a welcoming speech, then the orchestra will be cued, and the Queen will have the first dance. After that, the ball will be officially underway, and we'll all be free to dance and drink the night away," he further explained. He brushed his hand across Link's back and then walked toward the line of awaiting attendees, the low heel on his knee-high boots clacking against the stone with every step. "See you soon, Sir Wolf."
Link watched him leave, walking with grace and poise he could only pretend to have in these fancy surroundings. He had been nice enough to explain things while so many others had ignored him and walked on by. He wondered if he could tag alongside him for most of the night. No, that was asking too much. Surely the fellow had better and more important things to attend to than babysitting a lost Ordonian. Still, it would be nice to have a friendly face to talk to. Really, Link wished he had been allowed to bring a guest, but the general had some crazy belief that the young ladies of Castle Town would be clamoring to talk to him.
Link soon joined the waiting line, but he did not see the fellow anywhere ahead of him. Perhaps there really was a second line for the well-to-do.
The ballroom was truly massive. The ornate glass windows reached all the way to the ceiling. The room columns were wrapped in some sort of magical vines with cream-colored flowers. Gold baubles of varying sizes and luster floated in the air amid multiple, massive crystal chandeliers. There were small flowering trees in pots positioned around the perimeter of the ballroom. Not only were they pretty, but they produced a gentle, relaxing scent. It took away at least some of Link's nervousness.
He had such a long wait in line to get in that he had missed the Queen's welcome and dance. He wondered if he was going to catch a glimpse of her, but the crowds were thick enough off to the side that he imagined people falling over themselves trying to meet her. Link wandered around, trying to keep to the less crowded parts. He was not searching for the owl fellow, but he didn't mind finding him either.
There were multiple sections of tables made up all fancy with crystal glasses, ivory tablecloths, delicate white orchid centerpieces, and nearly everything accented in gold. Link saw a long banquet spread of various elaborate finger foods, single-bites, petite tastings that Link kind of guessed what they were made of but knew he would never be completely right. There were also servers carrying silver trays of small plates and flutes of sparkling champagne and other chilled drinks that certainly weren't milk.
He saw him, or at least he thought he had seen him. Link caught himself stepping toward the crowd and stopped. What was he thinking? That he was just going to walk up to him, possibly among his fellow aristocrats, and simply say, "Hello, remember me from before?" He didn't want to embarrass the guy, but it had to be embarrassing for some country bumpkin to show up and claim to know him.
But he did have such a kind voice and had been quite personable, so maybe he wouldn't mind. The fellow did say that he would see him soon, so it was only polite to go over and say hello for a second. Though by go over, it was more like track him down. No, happen to pass by sounded better. Really, there was no need to make such a fuss over what was going to be a few polite words.
Link entered the chatting crowd looking for a redheaded fellow with a white top hat decorated with a black bow and a small fan of snowy owl feather. He swore he saw him, but only out of the corner of his eye. Nonetheless, Link turned and followed the possible sighting, excusing himself and weaving through the rare gap. People were cackling dramatically and grabbed him to pull him into their conversations. They kept trying to tell him a joke or solicit his opinion, but Link had neither the time nor the patience to stay.
He saw him, for the third time now. Link hurried through voluminous dresses and feathers galore. His heart beat faster, swelling in time with the rising music. Link did want to see him again. But when he arrived where he had last seen him, he was gone again and nowhere to be seen nearby. If Link didn't know better, the fellow was toying with him. It was a silly thought—he didn't even know he was looking for him. And it wasn't as if Link knew his name to call out to him whenever he was close.
The ballroom was so large, and there were so many people inside and outside in the rose garden—how did he expect to find one man among the masses? Link tottered around, just trying to get by, feeling pushed back into the throngs of party-goers. He swiveled his head around looking. He found no success, and his frustration grew. He was lost and none of these folks seemed friendly, at least not the trustworthy kind of friendly. Not like the owl fellow.
"We meet again, Sir Wolf." Link quickly circled around to find the owl fellow standing behind him. He had an amused smile on his face. "Were you stalking your prey? Was it me?"
Link's mouth hung open. "No, I...umm..."
"Nervous, aren't we?" He moved in closer to Link and looped his arm around his. "I say, follow me." It wasn't as if he had much of a choice. Link didn't really mind the lead.
He walked him over to a resting area of sorts. There were sofas, chaise lounges, and giant pillows. It seemed to be just a large plush area to rest and talk. Sheer curtains and silks hanging from the ceiling offered a small measure of privacy. Party-goers dotted the area in small groups chatting and drinking together. The two of them sat down together on a small sofa away from others. Link sat with his legs open while Shad crossed his legs.
Even with half his face covered, Link noticed that the fellow was good-looking. Seemed like a right shame to mask his face actually. Lacy cuffs, silk black bowtie, cream-colored dress shirt, his stark white outfit had many more details up close. Like the cream-colored panels running down the inner arms of his double-breasted jacket, the cream and white diamond pattern around the collar and the underside of his coat tails, the large ruffles peeking out from under his coat tails, and all the gold braiding around every edge.
Link was stuck between wanting to gawk and being too embarrassed to speak. He knew that if he said anything, his accent would give away that he was from Ordona and that he had no business being here.
"Tell me, where are you from?" the owl fellow asked.
Link felt his stomach flop. "Ordon Village."
"From the southern province?" His surprise was noticeable in his voice. Link nodded yes. "If you do not mind me asking, what brought you here?"
"I saved an important horse," Link replied. "You?"
"Graduation gift," he said. "The Duke of Grooseland's adult son and heir can now read at a third-grade level, so my services were no longer required but appreciated. Gods help the people of Grooseland."
"Congratulations...I think."
The owl fellow looked out among the dancing crowd. "I should be out there searching for a new employer, but I grow weary of playing their social games."
It was Link's turn to be surprised. "So, wait, you aren't a fancy-pants city boy?"
He laughed. A bright, robust sound. "I am a fancy-pants city boy. Just not a very wealthy one."
"That's actually a relief," Link said, relaxing his shoulders, his whole body really. "Money makes folks think they've got power over you, but it's not true. We're all cut from the same cloth."
"I know several nobles present tonight that would be aghast to hear that they aren't cut from the finest silk."
"That's what I was afraid of tonight," Link said. "Me being surrounded by all these rich types and not finding one genuine soul to talk to."
The owl fellow leaned back against the sofa and casually rested his gloved hands on his knee. "And you think that soul is me?"
Here was where he sent him away, Link was sure of it. "Well, you were nice enough to help me earlier." He looked down at his boots. "...I'll understand if you want to find someone else to talk to."
"Why in heaven's name would I wish to do that? Especially since I am the luckiest fellow here."
Link peered back up at him.
"Look around us, old boy. There's lords and ladies of the court, famed folks from lands near and far, princes and princesses aplenty, but dare I say that you are the only Ordonian in the room. The fact that you don't have multitudes of admirers clamoring for your attention tonight is a travesty and my good fortune."
Link didn't know what to say. He had expected a lot of snubbing and condescending laughter once people found out he wasn't from Hyrule proper, but to the owl fellow, it didn't matter. Seemed to be a positive aspect in his eyes.
"I've dealt with high society all my life to buy my bread. You are far more interesting to me than this whole room put together, save Her Majesty."
Him more interesting that the whole room? Link doubted that. The costumes alone were funny enough to hold a long conversation. But there really wasn't much he could say about himself. Ranch hand. Amateur swordsman. Friend to animals and children. Decent cook. Those were a few things he was, but they didn't make for a very long or interesting conversation.
The owl fellow stood up from his seat and bowed to Link while extending his black gloved hand. "May I have this dance?"
Link blinked and smiled nervously. "I don't know how." Well, not to this kind of music. He danced all right to Ordona's mountain airs and fiddle reels, but he didn't see those moves going down well to these fancy strings.
"No better time to learn," he replied.
Link had his suspicions that this wasn't going to go well, but he accepted the fellow's offer and walked arm in arm out onto the dance floor. Honestly, he just wanted to dance with him, two left feet be damned. They remained off to the side and away from the moving crowd. He showed Link how to form a box with his steps. It wasn't as hard as he thought it was going to be. One hand on each of their waists, holding each other's free hand, the two of them danced to the music mostly in rhythm at their own pace.
Link wondered if he was in some sort of dream. He had to remind himself to not let his mouth fall open. This was just...he never expected anything like this to happen tonight. Him dancing with a kind gentleman who thought he was the most interesting man in the room. If anyone had told him this was his night, he would have told them to stop lying. But here he was, hand in hand, moving gracefully around the ballroom. He wondered if it was just his feet or if his head was spinning as well.
"If there is someone else with whom you wish to dance, please enjoy yourself. ...However, may I tell you a secret?"
Link nodded yes.
Letting go of Link's hand, the fellow put his hand on his back and pulled Link in closer. There was warmth and the sweet smell of his cologne again. He whispered into Link's ear, "I'm grateful to have you all to myself because I don't know if I can let you go."
Link stopped. His mouth fell open. Heat rushed across his face and up through his ears. The beat of his heart pounded all the way up to his eardrums.
The fellow simply looked amused. "Pray tell, Sir Wolf, what ever is the matter? An owl snatched your tongue? ...No, I see it there."
One might as well had. What was he supposed to say to something like that? "Yeah, me too" didn't sound enough, even though it was what he wanted to say. He wasn't good with words. He was not charming and honey-tongued. He didn't know how to go about flirting back. If that was what the owl fellow was doing. Link wasn't really good at figuring that out either. He was pretty sure he was, though. He hoped he was.
Folks said that honesty was best, so Link said, "I don't think there's anyone else I'd rather dance with."
"Not even Her Majesty?" he asked.
"It would be quite a tale to tell back home, but no one would believe me," Link said. "Stepping on her toes is probably a crime against the kingdom anyway." He had been careful and lucky to not have stepped on the owl fellow's toes.
"How about you?" Link asked, as he took Shad's hand, covered in the softest leather, and the two of them continued dancing. "Would you rather dance with me? Or the Queen?"
"I don't believe I can turn down the offer if she asked, but the likelihood of that occurring is astronomical. No, I much prefer to dance with you."
And he proved that statement to be true. Link had concerns that someone might come along and ask to dance with the owl fellow, but no one did. It was the two of them in their own beautiful bubble of gold and ivory. The other party-goers became swatches of color in the background. The orchestra music overtook the surrounding chatter.
How lucky was Link tonight to find the one person that made this fussy shindig enjoyable for him? He really didn't know what the young man looked like or what his name was, and yet he didn't want to leave his side. He wanted to know more about him. Everything he could know. His eyes were a darker blue than his own. His mouth was upturned into a gentle smile. They danced together like practiced partners, all in thanks to the owl fellow's lead and quick lessons. But it wasn't enough. He wanted to know more.
There was a seed of doubt rolling around in the back of his head, looking to plant itself firmly into his thoughts. It managed to find itself a small patch. Did the owl fellow want to know more about him? He was smart. He probably already figured out a lot about Link just from hearing he was from the southern province. Wouldn't take much to piece two and two together of what he was like. Surely whatever amusement he felt at the country bumpkin at Her Majesty's ball was going to pass soon enough. He was going to get bored of him. No matter what his playful words had said.
Link tried to not let his thoughts show on his face. But he couldn't help but wonder if goodbye was right around the corner. He held onto the fellow's waist and hand a little tighter.
-o-
They stepped out into the rose garden for a respite from all the dancing in the ballroom. The night air was sweet and cool. It was brisk and refreshing on his warm skin. Watching over the pairs and trios of party-goers was a bright full moon. White twinkling lights hovered like fairies around a large water fountain and throughout the garden. The tiny magical lights provided additional illumination while keeping out of people's way.
The roses were in bloom. There were different varieties and colors everywhere, all grouped and planted accordingly by the royal gardeners, Link was certain. Dark pink ones grew up and around lattice trellises that lined the walking paths. Small, perfectly-shaped hedgerows bordered the rose bushes, which stood a head taller than the owl fellow. There were other planters and beds filled with bee and butterfly-friendly flowers throughout the garden. Link wondered if the castle had its own beehives.
The two of them wandered a ways into the rose maze. Link heard the tinkling chime of some fairy lights following them. He guessed they also served a purpose of keeping track of guests outside. Out here in civilized nature, Link felt a bit more at ease. He preferred his wild woods and open fields, but any fresh air and greenery was better than being cooped up in the ballroom all night.
The owl fellow cupped a rose gently and rubbed his thumb across a pale pink petal. "Would it be all right with you if I broke the rules and asked for your name, Sir Wolf?"
Link didn't see why not. All this secrecy was getting on his nerves anyway. "Link."
He smiled. "Ah, a heroic wolf."
Link tilted his head down to try to hide his embarrassed smile. "Yeah, like the Hero." It wasn't that he didn't like his name. Link just felt like there was a lot of weight to having the same name as the Legendary Hero. People either scoffed at or expected too much out of him. Sometimes both.
"Perhaps it means you are destined for great things."
"I don't know about that," Link said, shaking his head. Yea, he was strong, strong enough to toss a charging goat, but he couldn't, like, take down a dragon. "What about you?"
"Shad," he said dryly. "Like the fish."
Link tried to squash a laugh, but a snort slipped out anyway. Shad didn't seem insulted, but Link felt bad all the same. "I'm not laughing at your name. I'm laughing at the way you said it."
"It's a family tradition," Shad explained. "Not that we've had to fish for a living in five generations."
"I like to fish," Link said brightly.
"Looking to reel me in then?" Shad said.
Link looked down to hide his face. Shad knew just the right thing to say to tie his tongue into knots. He could say yes. He might even catch the owl fellow off-guard. But Link wasn't as bold.
Shad laughed. Whatever the circumstances, Link liked the sound of his laugh. "You're so adorable," he said.
Link ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not used to folks being so friendly toward me."
"Oh, really? I figured you'd be quite popular back home."
"Not in that way," Link said. "There's hardly any of us around the same age, and we all grew up like family, so we're all green at flirting and whatnot."
"Would you like my expert opinion?" Shad offered.
Link grinned. "Sure, Mr. Expert."
"You've done a marvelous job on me tonight."
Link couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. "I wasn't aware I was doing anything."
"Exactly!" Shad said, his arms opened wide. "You're a natural, old boy."
Ah, yes, worrying about tripping over his own feet and words clearly made him an Ordonian Casanova. "Are you always like this with everyone?"
"Only with those I think are extraordinary and I'd like to know more about."
"Yea, sure," Link said, his tone rife with skepticism. Okay, he was cute, but Shad couldn't be that awestruck on him. After so much flattery and flirting Link was having trouble taking the owl fellow seriously. He wanted a bit more honesty, a bit more of that genuine soul.
"It is the truth," Shad said, hearing his doubt. "Do you wish to know more about me? Ask away. For you, I am an open book."
Link reached up on the tip of his toes and flicked Shad's tophat. "Who are you really?"
Shad quickly caught his hat as it tumbled off his head and held it over his heart. "Professionally, I am scholar interested in preserving Hyrule's history and sacred places. However, since I was not born of nobility, I take on other assignments to survive and fund my research expeditions. I hope to garner enough favor to have a patron to fund my work one day, but the likelihood of that might be the same as dancing with Her Majesty tonight."
A hard-working young man trying to get by, with higher aspirations, Link respected that. More than a shameless flirt.
"I can't imagine my life being dependent on their money," Link said, idly meandering on through the rose maze with Shad a step behind. "I do what I feel like doing. If I want to fish, I fish. If I want to ride across Hyrule Field, I ride. I have savings, but my living doesn't rely on rupees."
"I can't say I'm not envious of your unconstrained life. I feel that so much of my time is wasted on the wrong task, simply because rent is due or that I should eat once every three days."
Link stopped and circled around. "Come to my village. We'll make sure you're fed." Every visitor to Ordon Village left well-rested, with a full stomach, and lunch for the road. Showing Shad his province's hospitality was just common courtesy, and not just an excuse to pencil in a date to spend more time together.
"Inviting me over to your home already? My, you Ordonians are so forward," Shad said, holding his hand up to his cheek and pretending to be bashful at some mildly scandalous behavior.
"Whatever you think I meant, it's not," Link said, playfully shoving Shad off balance. The fairy lights fluttered down to help, but Shad was already back on his feet. "You're still welcome to visit."
"It would be my pleasure," Shad said. "My, I haven't been to the southern province in more than a decade."
"Nothing's changed, I'm sure," Link said. Sometimes a new baby was born, things broke down, things got fixed, but overall everything was the same as it always was.
"Well, something is new," Shad said, and Link looked quizzically up at him. "You're there."
Link didn't know if he could handle him being this flirty and cute and making him all embarrassed but happy around him. He was pretty sure this wasn't an act either, and he really did like him. Not that Shad had been anything but obvious about it throughout the night. Might as well ask if the goat bleats. This wasn't fair! How could this guy be so charming and he so dumbstruck at every flirty thing he said? Link just felt so goofy-headed, like some excited puppy following around the one fellow giving him attention.
Shad checked his pocket watch."It's nearly midnight," he said, storing it away.
"What happens at midnight?" Link asked.
"The masquerade is over."
Already? But it had just began five, no, six hours ago. Had time gone by that quickly? A little twirl around the ballroom, and the night was gone. It was still early. For night owls. The moon hung big and bright above, casting a silver-blue light on the maze grounds. It was plenty of light for the stagecoaches to ride out late. Not that Link had any say in when the party should end.
"I feel like we hardly had any time together," Link said, moving in closer to Shad. He wondered how close was too close and if such a line existed.
"Was the only company you sought tonight simply to chase away boredom?" Shad asked, taking hold of Link's hand.
Really, he didn't expect to catch anyone's attention. He definitely didn't expect to meet someone like Shad. "I never thought anything else was on the table tonight."
"It can be on the table," Shad said and then much more suggestively, added, "Or anywhere else you want."
Link exhaled a snort of air. "You're terrible," he said, with a smile. He tilted up to meet Shad halfway as he leaned down. Shad moved his free hand to Link's back for support.
"And you're a tease," Shad quickly said before their lips met. The masks made kissing a bit awkward to accomplish, but they managed. The thought to remove their masks first never occurred to either of them—their thoughts were consumed by the idea and then act of kissing the wonderful man they had met. They hoped the act of which would slow time down and grant them more time together.
Link felt his mask give way. He reached up to hold it in place but all he felt was a bouquet of flowers covering his face. He let go and cream-colored petals cascaded to the ground. He looked over at Shad and the same was happening to him.
They heard shocked screams and peals of uproarious laughter in the distance. Some people must have been having a good time with someone they never expected. Link supposed some people couldn't handle complete honesty. Himself, he was glad to take off the masks.
Neither of one of them had said anything once the grand reveal occurred. Shad cupped Link's cheek, and Link nuzzled up against the soft black leather and laid a hand over Shad's.
"You're even more handsome than I hoped," Shad said, his voice breathless with awe. "My apologies for any disappointment I've caused by not offering the same."
"Shut up. You know you're handsome." Link raised up onto his tiptoes, threw his arms around Shad's neck, and drew him down for another kiss, this time unobstructed. This time, less chaste.
"Would you like to move the after-party to my place?" Shad suggested.
"My, you Castle Town folk are so forward," Link said, hand on his cheek, mirroring Shad's response. His impression of his accent, however, was terrible. Shad took it in stride, laughing as he looped arms with Link and made their way back to the rose garden's entrance.