Sheik never quite knew what to say, wasn't sure how to form the right sentences that were needed in situations like this; so he usually stayed quiet. And if he didn't then his responses always came off as quite aloof, as if he'd never cared in the first place. Which wasn't the case, he always carefully considered what he wanted to convey. He was just missing the right words.
He liked to blame it on his upbringing, on the early burden that was placed on his young shoulders. A prophecy he was expected to live up to. Some were genuinely rooting for him, but most of his peers started to turn away from him over time, isolating him. Almost shunning him. Maybe out of jealousy, if he had to guess. But there was nothing to be jealous of, he despised this burden and all it entailed. He rarely had time for himself or to do anything he'd liked, his days were usually filled with training of various kinds - be it the use of magic or how to master the art of fighting. If he was to be the guide to the legendary Hero of Time then he had to live up to the title he would hold himself. His guide. And, of course, he knew that all of these preparations were necessary, that the days he spent sweating and almost crumbling down to the floor from sheer exhaustion weren't wasted - well needed in fact. But that didn't make him despise it any less. Why him?
So naturally he didn't have that many occasions to socialize and the few occasions that he had were spent with someone who very rarely even showed emotions at all, his mentor and teacher Impa. Not that she was a cold-hearted person, far from it actually. But she kept the range of emotions she'd let show very narrow.
A warrior will never let their emotions guide them.
He remembered those words only too well. They had served him as both a blessing and a curse, for he knew how to keep a level head in every situation yet didn't know how to deal with the many feelings he harbored deep inside. It was almost infuriating. Here he was, already a young adult but unable to form meaningful bonds in his life because he just didn't know how to. Because nobody ever showed him.
He was an outsider.
Sheik sighed, his shoulders slumping down. Here he was once again, running from those emotions he struggled so much to handle. Perched down on top of his late mentors' roof, a place he had often sought out when he needed solitude and somewhere to just think, clear his head. Nobody had ever found him here, except for Lady Impa. But even she mostly let the boy be when he was in one of these moods.
He had his eyes closed and enjoyed the cool breeze of the night playing with his hair, tugging at lose strands and whipping them along. He had removed his head wrappings a while ago so the wind combed through all of it, something he thought felt kind of nice. Of course he shouldn't have left, now that he thought about it. It wasn't even a big deal after all, but he had been troubled and fighting with his feelings for the last few weeks now and he supposed that it just came to a boiling point. To tipping over. And it wasn't anyone's fault, either. If anyone really was to blame it would've been himself, since this was his issue and not anyone else's.
Yet here he was, hidden away on this roof in the middle of the night. Hiding from the hero, his friend - Link had called him that on numerous occasions. But how could he even call him that when he ran away from the prospect of a conversation with him? It felt fake. But he couldn't bring himself to return, didn't want to step foot back inside the tavern they had chosen to stay in for the night and face Link. And most of all he didn't want to explain his reasons. Because the more he thought about them, the more ridiculous they became to him.
So what if the barmaid had smiled at Link just a little too much and just a little too long during various occasions this evening. So what? The hero didn't have to hide with the way he looked. And besides, that was far from the first occasion that someone had leered at him on their journey. Link always responded with a kind but curt smile before he went back to whatever he had been doing before. He was just like that. Someone who was genuinely kind to everyone he encountered; unless they gave him a reason not to. And so far that was all that had ever happened, someone would smile at Link and come on to him, he would engage them for a short moment and that would be it. He never followed up on any of it. Something that puzzled the Sheikah; but maybe Link was just set on accomplishing their quest and finally ridding Hyrule of the Demon King Ganondorf. Sheik could picture him to be just that kind of person. Dutiful, kind and brave. The Goddesses truly had chosen well.
The soft thudding of boots that was suddenly right beside him ripped Sheik from his thoughts rather violently and in an instant. How hadn't he noticed someone approaching until it was way too late?
"Are you alright?", Sheiks head snapped in the direction of the familiar voice, the insides of his stomach twisting around in a rising surge of anxiety. Here he was, and the first thing he inquired about was the Sheikahs well-being. Not a question about why he had left the tavern rather abruptly. He almost wanted to scoff.
Should he lie? Make up some excuse? Again? The alternative was to be honest and trying to explain his inner turmoils but he wasn't sure he could do that. Or that it'd be well received. So he once again went with the former option, the reliable one.
"It was getting too crowded, I needed some fresh air," it wasn't even completely made up - the tavern had been getting fuller by the minute with people stopping by for a drink or more after the days work was done. That alone made for a crowd. And Link surely must've been aware of his aversion to larger crowds of people. There was just too much going on and to keep track of, and he rather avoided that.
"Up on a roof?", Link approached further until he was right beside the warrior and slowly eased himself down to sit. He turned to face Sheik and folded his hands in his lap, raising one eyebrow ever so slightly.
When Sheik didn't respond after some moments had passed, the hero sighed, tilting his head upwards so he was looking at the almost black night-sky. "Please, Sheik. I'm not blind."
And in moments like this he wanted to curse the Goddesses for making Link so perceptive, but he wouldn't entertain his probing and prodding. He wasn't in the right mind to tolerate it for long and was afraid he'd let up his guard too much, would reveal something he didn't want to. Not yet, maybe not ever. Maybe this secret would vanish just like he would after Ganondorf was dealt with; he was convinced that Link could and would defeat the Evil King. And then he could just slip back into the shadows from where he came from, letting the hero and the princess manage the aftermath until he was called upon again.
"As I said, it was getting too crowded," for now he just needed Link to quit his questioning so he could recompose himself. He glanced over to the other man, noticing the mildly annoyed look on his face. And he still didn't face him. Was Link upset by his behavior? Couldn't he just leave a stuffed tavern if he so pleased? He didn't need to explain himself, shouldn't at least.
The hero turned his head at last, regarding Sheik with a mixture of annoyance and anger - if he had to guess. Which just confused him in return. Link certainly seemed to be angry. The Sheikahs eyebrows drew together in confusion, searching the others face for another clue.
Link softly shook his head, turning his gaze away so he was looking at the streets below them that were still traversed by the occasional villager or guard on duty.
"You should stop bottling up your issues," he mused, still not facing the other man.
"What?"
"What I said. Don't do that."
"I'm not 'bottling up' issues," Sheik scoffed audibly. The nerve! Who did Link even think that he was? He had no business to intrude on his personal struggles like that and surely couldn't just decide for him to stop doing something. He turned away from the hero, setting his gaze on the ever-turning windmill that was nestled at the far end of Kakariko Village, right before the graveyard that started to spread out just behind it. And at the end of that, he grimly remembered, laid the Shadow Temple. A place of such unspeakable horror that there were no written records of it remaining; if any had ever existed. It's mere existence was kept under lock and key, no words were ever spoken about it. It was only ever mentioned to him because it might become of importance in his role as the hero's guide, but even then only in passing whispers.
"I'm not saying an eyeless Dodongo could see that but well." and the way his eyes ever so slightly crinkled when he truly thought something was funny or smiled stabbed at his heart.
It became quiet around the two again, the only sounds accompanying them being the ever-steady turning of the windmills wheel and the distant laughter of people streaming out from the tavern that wasn't too far by.
Why did he have to be so persistent now? Couldn't he have picked any other day?
"Talk to me, Sheik," Links voice started to carry an air of concern again, the anger from before all but gone. And it made hos gut wrench.
"There's nothing to talk about," he tried again, trying to keep his voice level.
Link sighed and slowly shifted his body over to the side so he was sitting directly beside his friend. "You're lying", he kept his tone non-accusatory and inched a little bit closer so he could lean his head against Sheiks shoulder, something he had often done before when they were sitting next to each other at a campfire; he had even fallen asleep like that a few times. This time, however, he felt the other jolt slightly. He just didn't understand what was wrong with him and why he didn't want to accept any help. Surely he must have been aware that Link genuinely cared for him.
He started to consider dropping the issue for the moment when Sheiks response caught him off-guard, "I'm not supposed to feel anything."
"What do you mean?"
"A warrior does not let emotions cloud their mind, that's what I was taught."
"That's good advice for battle, but not everything else. By that standard I wouldn't be a warrior," he peered over at Sheik who still had his head turned away. Should he keep pressing the issue or was it best to just sit here in silence, hoping that his friend would some time open up on his own. He just couldn't help but feel worried about him, unsure of what to do to help him or how to best approach the issue. He wasn't great with words.
A few more moments passed by, the hooting of an owl being carried by the wind from somewhere off in the distance.
They sat in silence.
In the end it was Link who took up the conversation again, slowly getting frustrated with Sheiks continued stubbornness and his game of avoidance, "I just want to help you, because I care about you.". And it was the truth; the countless weeks they had spent together had forged a strong bond between them, of trust and care. They were able to rely on each other, were able to depend on the other in dangerous situations that could all too often spell life or death. Most of all Link considered him his friend, he truly liked the young Sheikah and enjoyed his company. The thought that he couldn't have asked for a better guide had also crossed his mind more than once.
Sheik sighed, letting his head drop down until he was staring at his legs that were tucked away in a more or less comfortable cross-legged position. He still avoided looking at Link, didn't want him to see the turmoil raging behind his eyes, "There's nothing you can help me with."
"So there is a problem."
The Sheikah inwardly cursed himself; this evening got him worked up enough that he indirectly affirmed Links suspicions.
"Just drop it," he almost hissed. The young warrior quickly tried to get up from his spot, the conversation now dead in his eyes, but was halted by Links hand that was tightly gripping his wrist, not letting him get up. His eyes were met with a furious look from the hero who was now also standing upright in front of Sheik.
"Just talk to me, for Dins sake!", the hero snapped angrily.
The hold on the Sheikahs wrist didn't let up, as if an iron fist had clenched around it. He wasn't so sure that he was getting out of it now, Link seemed to be actually mad at him and didn't appear to consider letting him go any time soon. "Since you seem to be so keen on knowing what my issue is - it's you."
The hero blinked at him in obvious confusion before a taint of hurt spread over his face.
"What?"
Links grip loosened, a mixture of hurt and shock painted all over his features.
"Can I go now?", which was really the last thing he wanted to do. But he couldn't stand the look on his face.
"No."
"What?"
"I want an explanation," the hero's eyebrows furrowed together and he fixed his friend with an intense glare. Was this one of his stupid games again? Was he trying to avoid the obvious issue again? It made him furious.
And Sheik cracked, quicker than he had actually anticipated that he would. If there was one thing he couldn't stand then it was the look of hurt and almost betrayal that was staring back at him from Links cerulean eyes right now. He hadn't wanted to hurt him with his words, he only wanted him to get off his back for tonight. And now he had actually upset him. Some kind of friend he was.
"I'm jealous."
"Of what?"
Sheik scoffed, "Don't you see how other people look at you?". He pulled his hand free from Link and crossed his arms in front of his chest, taking an audible inhale. "The barmaid, the cucco lady; hell, pretty much everyone we've come across who has one functioning eye in their skull," his voice was rising several pitches, now laced with a twinge of anger that had started to flare up in his chest. But just as quickly as all these words had left his lips he already regretted him; he'd said too much.
"Forget it," the Sheikah finally snapped, wrenching his wrist free at last. He wanted to disappear for a while, wanted to sink down well below the earth and not show his face again for a while. He hadn't planned to say that much, he was just happy that he hadn't said even more. What he already admitted to was bad enough.
Instead of being able to finally leave the scene, the young hero reached for Sheik once again, gripping his upper arm almost painfully. The Sheikah jerked his shoulder back, attempting to break free of him but met with solid resistance; he stumbled and avoided tripping - if only barely. He shot a furious glare at the hero, still straining against his hold. Why couldn't he just let him be?
As a small grin suddenly broke out on Links face, his previous expression of anger melted away into an incredulous stare. Had he missed something? What could possibly be so funny right now?
The young hero almost wanted to laugh but stopped himself just in time, he was sure Sheik wouldn't take a sudden fit of laughter very well right now. Yet he still couldn't believe how oblivious his friend had been the whole time, or maybe he had been too subtle? The more he thought about it, the more unsure he got. Then again, he could've also just mustered up the courage to talk to Sheik about it. Yet both of them seemed to prefer dancing around the issue.
Link raised his free hand and reached out until he was grasping the Sheikahs cowl in his hand, slowly but steadily tugging it down; Sheik on the other hand was too perplexed to react. He was rooted in place. Once the obstructing piece of cloth was finally removed from Sheiks face, now hanging around his neck, Link took a few more steps forward and closed the remaining distance between them. His eyes searched Sheiks for a long moment and, seemingly satisfied with what he had found there, he smiled.
The hero then leaned forward, softly brushing his lips against Sheiks.