happily ever after(?)
"HIYAAAA!" Zelda cried, throwing a comically bad roundhouse kick at the pillow dangling from their apartment's ceiling fan. Ashei and Lana sat on the living room couch, hands folded in their laps, exchanging glances of concern.
There was a poorly drawn face taped to the pillow. It was supposed to be Pipit, apparently. They didn't know why Zelda was beating up a pillow-Pipit; all they knew was that she was angry, and she'd decided to enact her righteous feminine rage in the apartments while her roomies were out.
"Sweetheart, your form is terrible." Ashei finally said, standing up to readjust Zelda and show her how to do proper punches. The advice fell on deaf ears; Zelda was not looking for fighting tips, but she let Ashei correct her anyway. The next time she kicked, the pillow flew across the room and into the kitchen, rattling the cabinets.
"I take it you and Pipit are on bad terms now." Ashei commented. Zelda was breathing heavily, one hand to her chest while she caught her breath.
"Not bad… Just awkward." She replied, sounding a lot calmer than she'd seemed just a few seconds prior.
"Why are you kicking him around then?"
"I'm just – I'm so frustrated." Zelda balled her fists up, stomping over to grab the pillow and reconnect it to the string that was hanging from the ceiling fan. "He came back a few nights ago. I wasn't prepared at all for it."
"Does he know you and Link are a thing now?" Lana asked.
Zelda turned back to frown at her. "What do you mean?"
Lana said nothing, only giving her a 'You know what I mean' look.
Zelda gritted her teeth. There was no point in denying it. "He might have… walked in on us."
"Oh, goddesses. It was bad enough that Shad had to see you two like that. I can't imagine how Pipit must have felt." Ashei said.
Zelda's mouth was wide open now.
"What? He told you about that? I –" she stopped herself, shaking her head. "You know what? I'm not even surprised."
"At least tell me you guys weren't doing it on the floor this time –"
"We weren't doing anything!" Zelda snapped, trying to rein her emotions in when she realized she sounded too harsh. "We were just… cuddling. Kissing a bit. It was right after the fire. We were upset."
Lana and Ashei nodded in understanding to that.
"That whole confrontation was the absolute last thing I needed to happen." Zelda gripped her head with a frown. "And I couldn't explain to him what we'd been through that day."
The least you could do is look a man in the eyes when you break his heart.
Those words stung. And after the shock wore off, all Zelda could think of was how badly she'd wanted to argue. It was a childish impulse, her fuming in the shower while Link lathered and rinsed her hair, conjuring up all sorts of comebacks she could have made in those moments.
Maybe no comebacks were necessary. Zelda knew she had much to learn. On how to be more transparent, and more direct, but also on how to listen – truly listen. Bad timing aside, Pipit had every right to be upset with her.
"Maybe you should explain it to him." Lana mumbled, turning to the side.
"What?" Zelda looked at her.
"Everything. It's not an excuse, but it would explain what you've been going through. What we've all been going through."
Zelda paused and thought about it. "Risky. You know how Mr. Dragmire retaliated against us. We kept it to ourselves because we didn't want anyone caught in the crossfire."
Lana bristled. "That may not be a problem anymore."
"Why not?"
"Nabooru knows."
"Knows what?" Ashei asked, walking back over to Lana and sitting next to her.
"About the fire. About what we wanted to do. I told her."
Ashei flinched, and Zelda could tell that her first instinct was to get upset. But the haunted expression on Lana's face stopped her.
"Okay." She said instead, after more careful consideration. There wasn't much reason to be mad over it. Nabooru had cut ties with Mr. Dragmire, if Agahnim's word was to be trusted. And at this point, what could any of them do? It wasn't like they had a plan after the House of Thieves had burned down. "I didn't realize you two were on speaking terms again."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures." Lana smiled weakly. "She'd been his accomplice for so long. When I heard they'd broken up, I figured she would at least consider helping us. So I paid her a visit."
"Is that the only reason you went to see her?" Zelda asked, eyebrow quirked.
Lana glowered and chose not to respond to that.
Not even two seconds later, the front doorknob was jangling, the unmistakable sound of a key being rushed into the keyhole. Zelda quickly yanked down pillow-Pipit and tossed it to the couch, where it hit Ashei square in the face.
Link rushed inside, looking frazzled. He nodded at Ashei and Lana, and even knowing they were there, stopped to give Zelda a kiss.
Zelda watched him curiously as he rushed to grab the remote and turn the TV on.
"Guys," he said, his voice breathless and jovial, "he's been arrested. Mr. Dragmire is in custody."
»°«
The local news station was quick to report the scandal. The dean of Hyrule's oldest, most prestigious university getting arrested was not something to be taken lightly. But watching the chaos unfold on camera was not enough for the students who had done so much to expose Mr. Dragmire's wrongdoings. They all traveled to the police station themselves to set their minds at ease.
The parking lot was a mess of journalists, nosy passersby, and peeved officers. Zelda and her group were not treated any differently. The officers confirmed what had already been reported and urged everyone away. In the hustle and bustle, Link caught sight of a familiar face.
"Karane!" He yelled over the crowd, shoving through people to wrap an arm around her. She returned the friendly embrace, peeking over his shoulder to nod at Zelda, Lana, and Ashei.
"You guys saw the news, huh?" Karane asked as she pulled away from Link. She gave him an apologetic glance. "Kind of sucks. I know he was good to you."
Link's eyes were vacant as he shrugged. "You can't really trust anybody, I guess. I'm surprised to see you here."
"Well, Mr. Dragmire was guilty of many things. Now that it's all come to light, maybe I can tell you about some of it."
Link glanced back at Zelda then turned to Karane again. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan."
Shad, Pipit, and Strich all approached the group, flocking around Karane.
"Well, well, well," Shad grinned at the group before his eyes settled on Ashei. "What a pleasant surprise."
"If I'd known you'd all be here I would have suggested carpooling." Link grumbled, but he gave his friends a smile.
Zelda couldn't match Link's easygoing energy. Her arms were crossed, and her shoulders were nearly up to her ears. She pointedly kept her gaze away from Pipit and he did the same. If anyone noticed the tension radiating from them, however, they said nothing about it.
"We should all go somewhere and sit down." Ashei proposed. "Grab a bite to eat since we're downtown, and talk about – oh shit –"
Everyone followed Ashei's line of sight and saw another police car speeding up to the station. The backdoors opened and Groose, hair tousled and eyes bloodshot, was hauled out. Pipit's arm fell on top of Karane's, as if on instinct. She leaned into his touch, feeling the moment play out as if in slow motion. Groose was handcuffed, eyes darting left and right, a sneer on his face.
"I agree with Ashei." Karane said, sounding breathless. "L-Let's get out of here."
»°«
The group had settled on a Hateno pizza spot. They'd ordered several large varieties, getting their fingers greasy as they devoured every slice.
"150,000 rupees!?" Lana exclaimed, leaning forward. Everyone was smushed up in a booth. Lana, Ashei, Zelda and Link on one side; Shad, Strich, Pipit, and Karane on the other. It was, admittedly, a tight squeeze. Zelda was half in Link's lap and she could feel Pipit staring daggers at them when she wasn't looking.
Karane was divulging all the details she had surrounding Ganondorf's arrest. From her own meetups with Nabooru to what had been gathered thus far from the news reports. Nabooru's suspicions had been right. Ganondorf accepted a large sum of rupees from Groose, in exchange for clearing his name and letting Groose have a clean slate. Prior to Karane's confirmation, Zelda had a vague idea of the whole thing. Nabooru explained a bit of it when they had their run-in at his apartment. It was insane to think that Pipit and Shad had been having their own set of adventures, separate from her and Link. How many secrets had all of them kept from each other? Ashei and Lana were quick to tell Karane about their side of the story, and why they'd felt so compelled to show up to the police station. Link filled in the gaps with the stuff he and Zelda had uncovered together. Everyone on the opposite side of the booth listened with wide eyes.
"Okay, you guys definitely have us beat. Traveling across the country, going undercover, finding secret passages, getting attacked by Din's Fire?" Karane whistled, taking a long sip of her root beer.
"I kind of wish we'd shared all of this with each other sooner." Strich confessed, stirring his own beverage with his straw. His head shot up when he noticed everyone staring at him. "Not that I'm a part of the 'we,' I meant to say, for you guys, since you're all friends…"
"You are a part of the 'we.'" Karane said, tilting her head toward Strich. "Thank you for choosing me over your fear of him."
Strich stared at her, his mouth curled in a tiny 'o.' He nodded, smiling timidly, his eyes roving over the rest of the table, wondering where their judgments lie. No one seemed in opposition, not if Karane, the one who'd truly been wronged, was so open to forgiving him. But it was Lana he looked to with a bit of desperation, the vestiges of his unrequited affection still needing her approval.
"You have a good heart, Strich." She said, obliging him. "Everything is complicated. People are complicated. Not everyone who fucks up is beyond redemption." Zelda squirmed, knowing Lana was thinking of someone else when she said that.
"I need some air." Pipit said abruptly. He'd been sitting at the open end of the booth and wasted no time standing up and heading out to the front. Karane watched him leave, worry knitted in her brow. She didn't miss the way Zelda glared at his retreating form.
"Excuse me," Zelda said, shimmying over Link to chase after him.
"Uh oh," Karane said, trying to lighten the terse mood that settled over them. "Am I sensing a lover's quarrel?"
Link leaned back against the leather seat. Everyone had seen how Zelda had been sitting on him. "Better not be."
»°«
Pipit leaned against a railing outside of the restaurant. Zelda could hear the ding-ding-ding of his finger tapping against the metal. He was angry. The same anger, perhaps, from their confrontation a few nights prior. Now that Zelda had time to process things, she was ready for him. Ready to argue. Or apologize profusely. She strode up to him from behind.
As if sensing her presence, he asked solemnly: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Zelda froze. Pipit turned around to face her.
"It all makes sense. Why you went to Gerudo Valley, why you and Link always spent so much time together. Your stability, your sense of safety, all of that had been compromised." He ran his palm over his face, his face scrunched up like he was an idiot for not somehow knowing about it all. He didn't sound angry though. He sounded sad. Profoundly sad.
"We wanted to protect you guys. Mr. Dragmire would have found a way to hurt you guys if you knew what we were up to." Zelda explained calmly.
"Let me worry about myself, Zelda." Pipit said sharply, stepping towards her. "I would have helped you. We could have –" he turned away, left the sentence unfinished.
Zelda knew what he wanted to say.
We could have worked things out.
"Pipit, it was too dangerous. We went too far, and once we realized it, it was too late. You heard about what happened just a few days ago. Mr. Dragmire was unhinged. He had his underground study burned to a crisp."
Pipit placed his hands on his hips, clearly conflicted.
"Zelda, I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."
"Don't be. We're fine now. Everything is good." That was a lie, and a bad one. Everything was not good. It wasn't all bad, but it certainly wasn't all good.
"Karane told me what Groose did to you." He blurted.
"What?"
"Her and Strich. They told us about the evidence you guys found, and how he kidnapped you."
Zelda was so shocked by the outburst that she laughed. She remembered that night. At the time she was terrified, but it paled in comparison to the stress she had felt in the months to come. Groose, while scary, was hardly a passing thought in comparison to Mr. Dragmire. He'd tied her hands with ribbons. She had to stifle another laugh. "Why tell me this now?"
He shrugged, though it seemed he had an answer for the question. "Just needed you to know, and to remind myself, that I wasn't completely left in the dark. I was hoping you'd mention it to me. But of course, you never did."
"I didn't want you to worry about me."
"But you'd let him worry about you." Pipit replied bitterly.
Zelda sighed.
Pipit stepped closer to her, their chests nearly touching as he stared down at her.
"Tell me one thing, princess." Zelda felt her stomach swoop, not liking how his voice had lowered. It felt intimate in all the wrong ways. "If you guys hadn't spent so much time together doing your little 'investigation'… do you think we would have made it?"
It was a pointless question, but Zelda owed it to Pipit to give him a proper answer.
"No, Pipit. But I do think Link and I are going to work because we gave ourselves time." It was brief but Pipit seemed to understand completely. She couldn't help adding in, "Like you and Karane."
Pipit said nothing to that. Zelda didn't know much about him and his ex-girlfriend, only that the relationship had been serious. But it was easy to piece together why it had been serious, and why their breakup had been so painful. Karane had been his dearest friend. At the end of the day, that was what mattered the most.
It was difficult for Pipit to look at Zelda and resent her for the things that had transpired now that he had a much clearer picture. If he had been in her shoes, would he have been as open about the situation, knowing the risks?
"I'm still a teensy bit mad at you." He said after a few seconds of silence. But the air between them felt a lot lighter than it had when Zelda initially stepped out of the pizza place. She smiled at Pipit, unbothered by his admission.
"We were short-lived, but I really hope you believe me when I say that it meant something to me."
"Yeah, ditto." He replied softly. Then he leaned down and brushed his lips over her forehead. It was brief, hardly a kiss, and he didn't linger, stepping back from her. She could feel a little love, a different kind, curdling between them.
Zelda laughed again, seemingly at nothing.
"What's so funny?" Pipit cocked his head to the side.
"I thought this exchange was going to be a lot more hostile than it actually was. I was ready to argue."
"Yeah?" Pipit smirked, "What were you planning to say?"
"I don't know!" Zelda threw her arms up in the air, but the smile never left her face. "Apologize, tell you to lay off, that I never claimed to be a good person, or have my shit together, that you could hate me for the rest of your life."
"Doesn't sound like a very convincing case for you."
"Shut up," Zelda said, and they both snickered at that. It felt nice. It felt normal.
"I wish you'd come to me that day." He told her.
Strangely, Zelda knew exactly which day he was talking about.
"I was a mess. All I wanted was to rot away in my bed. I felt so bad about what happened. And I couldn't bear to look at you."
Pipit nodded, casting his gaze towards the sidewalk and kicking a stray rock on the ground. "You sounded so upset. I knew, the moment I heard your sobs, that we were over. But even if it was doomed from the moment I let you get on that carriage, I still wanted to see you afterwards. I would have held you while you cried. I would have let you be as cryptic as you wanted to be. I wouldn't have pushed you to tell me what had happened while you were with him."
Zelda's heart felt like it was being crushed by the weight of his words. If she had come to him that day, he wouldn't have pushed her to tell him what happened with her and Link, because she knew he would have been devastated to hear what they did in Ordon Springs.
"You were good to me, Pipit." She murmured, echoing words she'd already said to him before. But she needed to say them again. "I'm sorry I couldn't be half as perfect as you probably thought I was."
Pipit gave her a gentle smile and brushed his hand along her cheek. Water under the bridge, the gesture seemed to say.
"We'll be okay, princess. Just don't break Link's heart. Otherwise I'll have to kick your ass."
She laughed heartily at that, and they walked back to the restaurant together.
»°«
"You okay?" Ashei nudged Lana while she picked at some of the toppings on her pizza.
Lana nodded, though it didn't give Ashei much assurance.
"Just thinking about her." Lana admitted, fighting the urge to pull her phone out.
Ashei thought on her words for a moment.
"You mean Nabooru?" Karane asked, overhearing their exchange. Around that time, Zelda and Pipit had both come back to the booth.
"What about Nabooru?" Zelda asked, arranging herself in that awkward position where one leg was on top of the booth seat and the other leg was draped over Link.
"She sent me a text message this morning about how she went to the authorities herself and aired out all of Mr. Dragmire's dirty laundry. She mentioned Groose, and how he could also potentially be arrested for bribery. That's why we went to the station today." Karane said. There was sadness in her eyes as she said it.
"What?" Lana sat up sharply. When she'd visited Nabooru, she didn't know what to expect. Part of her didn't think the Gerudo woman would actually do anything about Mr. Dragmire. Sure, Nabooru had held her and soothed her, but she could be deceptively charming when she wanted to be. And what incentive did Nabooru have to help Lana after months of hostility?
And yet, she had done it. Without a thought. Without question.
Lana felt like she was going to burst into tears again, but there was something else that was plaguing her thoughts.
She'd asked Nabooru for any other sort of concrete evidence to bring Mr. Dragmire down. But he had covered his tracks so well. It had to be her. She was the evidence. Her testimony, her involvement. Lana had damned Nabooru by asking her to help them.
"Oh goddesses." Lana whispered, cradling her head in her hands. Ashei and Zelda had come to the same conclusion.
"She turned herself in." Zelda said grimly.
"No!" Lana banged her fist on the table. She glanced at Link, a plea in her eyes. "Link –"
He nodded, not needing to hear another word. "Yeah, let's go."
Zelda and Ashei moved out of the booth so that Lana could get out. They didn't follow, knowing that Lana needed to see Nabooru by herself.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." Link said.
"They can ride with us, take your time." Pipit said. Shad blanched, looking at how many passengers would be crammed into one car, and silently begged Link with panicked eyes to not take too long.
After some hasty goodbyes, Lana and Link ran to the car. Link wasted no time speeding out of the parking lot and onto the traffic-filled streets. Lana's eyes were glued to the blur of colors outside the window.
"So what's the plan? Dramatic love profession? A well-constructed case for her innocence?"
Lana shook her head. "I just need to see her."
Link nodded and continued driving.
They were ways away from the police station when Lana's stomach did a flip.
"Wait. Stop." She said suddenly.
"Can't exactly do that…" Link said, turning the wheel. "Did you change your mind?"
"I want to go somewhere else." Lana typed an address into the GPS on her phone and showed it to Link.
"Goddesses, Lana! That's on the other side of town!"
"I'll pay for gas." Lana said, waving his words off.
"I'm holding you to that." He turned, following the new route.
Nearly half an hour later, they pulled up to an apartment complex. Link gave Lana a questioning look.
"This is where she's been living since she split up with Mr. Dragmire." Lana replied.
"Ah."
They got out of the car, approaching the row of apartments. Link's eyes strayed to a sleek black car that looked out of place compared to the cheaper ones surrounding it. A tall, lean Gerudo woman was sitting atop the hood, her green eyes stuck to them like glue.
Link nodded at her politely.
"Sav'aaq." The greeting rolled from his tongue fluidly.
"Sav'aaq, young voe." She replied, her eyes flitting over to Lana. "And to you, blue rose."
Lana blushed, unsure what to make of the on-the-spot nickname she'd been given.
The Gerudo slipped off the car and stepped towards them.
"She said you would come looking for her."
"W-Who?"
"Who else?" The woman smiled. "Nabooru."
"You know her?" Lana gasped, stepping closer to the woman. Link frowned. "Where is she? We were going to go to the station, but… I have a feeling she isn't there. I can't explain it."
"Always trust your intuition." The woman said, nodding her approval. "She is not at the police station. But she will soon be gone from Castle Town."
Link stepped up, placing a hand on Lana's shoulder.
"Who are you, and why should we trust you?" He asked the woman.
"My name is Anche. I am a guard and representative of Gerudo Town."
Her name was so familiar, but Link couldn't pinpoint why. He believed she was telling the truth, but didn't like how quickly Lana was grasping to this woman for questions.
"Where is Nabooru?" Lana pressed.
Anche gave her a sad smile.
"She will be reuniting with her sisters in Gerudo Town. The crimes she confessed to the police were thorough enough for them to arrest Ganondorf. Of course, that meant she would be tried too. The officer she spoke with was generous. They have given her… a grace period. A small number of days before they issue the warrant for her arrest."
Lana mulled over what Anche had just told her. Everything was beginning to make sense.
"HOPE." She said in wonderment.
Link raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I studied it with Ashei and Zelda while you were working extra shifts. Hylian Overworld Policy Enactment."
Link nodded, familiar with the laws.
"They're going to let her go."
"You said she had a small number of days. Today is the last day, isn't it?" Lana asked.
"Yes, blue rose." Anche responded sympathetically. "She is not here, but asked me to wait here, on the off chance that you showed up."
"And what was she expecting you to do?" Link asked.
"The choice is up to her." Anche replied smoothly, nodding to Lana. "I will take you to her, if you wish to say your goodbyes."
"My – my goodbyes…" Lana took a deep breath, needing to center herself.
Link's hand was still on her shoulder, and he gave her a squeeze.
"Absolutely not." He said stubbornly. "Lana, if you want to see her, I can follow Anche's car. But I'm not going to let you drive off with her by yourself."
"What's the matter? Do you think us big, bad Gerudos mean to do your little friend harm?" Anche asked, rolling her eyes.
Link grit his teeth, not rising to the bait. "She rides with me. There and back."
Anche shrugged. "Your brother may accompany us if he wishes."
"I want to go." Lana said, staring at Anche as she said it, though the words were equally for Link.
Anche nodded and walked over to her car, signaling to Lana and Link to do the same. The pair shared a glance filled with tenderness and understanding, neither bothering to correct Anche's assumption of their relationship.
»°«
After another drive, one where Link grumbled over how much more gas was being used up and Lana promised to top off the tank, they pulled up to a relatively nice hotel. It wasn't as lavish as some of the five-stars at the heart of the city, but Lana still gaped when she peeked in the windows and saw some of the suites.
Anche guided them through the lobby, up to the fifth floor of the hotel. It felt like they walked down the lengthy hallway for hours before Anche stopped in front of one of the doors and knocked. The knock was clearly symbolic. Three rapid taps, then one, then two more, all spaced out in a strange rhythm.
There was some shuffling on the other side of the door, then it slowly creaked open. The unmistakable yellow hue of Nabooru's eyes peeked out to look at them. They melted like butter at the sight of Lana.
"Link. Long time no see." She said, briefly acknowledging his existence.
He waved, knowing she had zero interest in seeing him. "Hey."
Her eyes settled on Lana. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes please." Lana said, hoping she didn't sound too desperate, but knowing she probably did.
Nabooru nudged the door open a bit further. She was decent, but barely. A bit more put together than she had been when Lana had seen her at the apartment. Her ponytail was slicked back, her red hair silky smooth. Her lips were sultry red. She didn't seem to be wearing much, only a crimson robe that covered the essentials – and little else.
"Sorry. When I asked Anche to wait outside my apartment, I was really only expecting…" Nabooru gestured awkwardly to Lana, whose face was tomato red.
Link scoffed, unoffended and trying not to smile between the two of them. He respectfully kept his eyes away from Nabooru's body.
"I'll be in the lobby whenever you're ready, Lana. Take…" He choked back a laugh. "…take your time."
Lana glowered at him as he and Anche walked away, then followed Nabooru into her room. The young Gerudo woman sat down on her bed, staring at Lana expectantly.
Lana approached her nervously, trying to hide the tremble of her hands.
"You knew you would be arrested once you went to the police." Lana said.
"Yes." Nabooru replied.
Lana stared at the floral walls of the suite, at the perfectly fluffed pillows, at the half-drunk glass of wine on the counter, at the TV, at every possible thing in the room except for the sensuous woman before her.
"But they're going to give you a chance to leave. Gerudo laws will protect you."
"They will."
Lana bit down on her bottom lip, hard. She cracked, looking up at Nabooru. "Why didn't you try to contact me afterwards? Were you just going to pack up all your things and leave without saying goodbye?"
"I wasn't sure if you still hated me or not."
"I don't hate you. I never hated you." Lana said.
"Doesn't matter. You wanted nothing to do with me. And you only came back to me because you needed something, not because you missed me."
"I may have needed something, but I did miss you."
Nabooru smiled, but Lana could see the fear in her eyes. Still, she leaned back on the bed, and in doing so, Lana could tell how loose her robe was. It fluttered to the sides, the outline of her breasts all too visible against the fabric. She forced her gaze elsewhere.
"How did you know I would come looking for you at your apartment?" Lana asked.
"I didn't." Nabooru replied, "It was wishful thinking."
"You should have just called."
"Should've, could've, would've." Nabooru brushed her words aside. She toyed with the string of her robe; her intentions clear. "Come here, Lana."
Lana shivered but obeyed. She approached Nabooru slowly, trepidation in every step. But Nabooru found her movements seductive. Hypnotic. To her, Lana had always been the ultimate tease. So sweet and innocent. Someone she could never have or deserve. She watched, an ache in her lower belly, as Lana inched her way over. Her breath nearly stopped when Lana crawled onto the bed directly over Nabooru, caging her with her arms.
"Do you really not hate me?" Nabooru asked, reaching out a manicured finger to trace a line from Lana's cheek down to her collarbone.
Lana felt like her mouth was too dry to speak, so she simply nodded.
"If today is the last day I get to see your pretty face, I want to say goodbye in a special way. Is that okay with you?"
Lana nodded again, and Nabooru wasted no time, wrapping an arm around Lana's waist, pulling her down for a kiss.
Lana felt like her entire body had been set ablaze. She was no longer a person, only a medley of sensation, every caress of Nabooru's soft hands leaving her needy for more.
The kiss was deep and slow, Nabooru's tongue dipping into Lana's mouth patiently, as if they had all the time in the world. Lana felt herself relax, collapsing on top of Nabooru, pressing their bodies firmly together. She pulled away with a gasp when she realized Nabooru had untied her robe, leaving her bare chest exposed.
Wandering hands snaked their way under Lana's shirt but didn't stray too far without verbal approval.
"Take it off," Lana whispered.
Nabooru did as she asked, smiling when she realized Lana wasn't wearing a bra.
"The prettiest," she said, cupping Lana gently.
"All you." Lana replied, letting her own hands explore as she leaned down to give Nabooru another kiss. It was confounding, how all at once she felt so frazzled, in a state of disbelief that this was even happening. She'd imagined what it would be like to be one of Nabooru's lovers. Whether a night with her would be just that – a night. Or one of many. Yet at the same time, Lana had never felt more comfortable. This woman had given up her future, everything she had worked for over the past four years. Without question. All because Lana asked.
They took their time with each other, peeling their clothes away into an organized heap on the bedroom floor.
Nabooru's fingers, slender and experienced, found their way to Lana's sweet spot with ease. She yelped, leaning into the touch, happily rolling over when Nabooru pushed her down into the covers. Nabooru smiled and kissed her cheek before backing away to do a more thorough examination of her naked body. Lana studied the expression on her face carefully, feeling a brief wash of insecurity.
"Is something wrong?" Lana asked, finding it difficult to piece together what Nabooru was feeling. The Gerudo woman stared down at her, eyes sparkling like golden rupees, her full bottom lip snagged beneath her teeth.
"What could be wrong? You're perfect." Nabooru replied, rolling her wrists around a couple of times before grasping Lana's hips. Lana felt the light tremble in her hands, and it occurred to her that Nabooru was nervous. The thought was so unfathomable to her that she had to stop and question her biases. Nabooru was human. She had a heart. A good, kind heart. And now, Lana felt guilty for always thinking so lowly of her. This meant something to Nabooru beyond one final day of fun before she had to leave for good. That thought was simultaneously flattering and devastating.
But all those thoughts vanished when Nabooru dipped her head between Lana's thighs, working her tongue and fingers carefully. It didn't take long for Lana to come undone, writhing and screaming and cursing at how good it felt. She'd never experienced those feelings at the hands of someone else. And she was certain her body would never want anyone else's hands, or mouth, other than Nabooru's.
Nabooru wrapped Lana's limp body into her arms, pulling her closer and slotting their legs together.
"I am stupidly, hopelessly in love with you." Nabooru told her, knotting her fingers into Lana's hair as she grinded against her.
Lana whimpered, lost in the feel of Nabooru's softness, and the heat building between her thighs. It was too much. Those words fell on her heart like an anvil. She almost wasn't sure if she'd heard them correctly.
Nabooru's eyes were squeezed shut as she rode the highs of her pleasure.
"You don't have to believe that, but it's true."
"I-I believe it," Lana replied, pressing her forehead to Nabooru's.
Nabooru opened her eyes.
"Then say it back. You don't have to mean it."
"I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you." Lana said it like a mantra, like a promise. She said it again and again until Nabooru understood that she meant it.
Then Nabooru's back arched as she felt that final rush of ecstasy and with a cry, they fell back onto the comforter, legs still wrapped around each other, mouths busy.
»°«
Link finished up a text to Zelda when Lana emerged from the elevator. She looked virtually the same as she had when they'd gotten to the hotel over an hour ago. Her hair was perfectly groomed, her clothes all arranged properly on her body. But the fresh scent of body wash lingered on her, like she had just walked out of the shower. And he could see a hint of a bruise along her neck, partially covered by her top. He shook his head.
"You were up there for a long time." He commented.
"We had a lot to talk about."
"I have a feeling you guys didn't do a lot of talking."
"Okay, can we not talk about it?" She pulled out her credit card. "Let's just go get you some gas."
They pulled up to a station only a few minutes from where Nabooru was staying. While Lana slid her card into the machine, she stared at the building longingly. Her mouth was a tight line, as if she were trying to keep it steady. But Link saw the way it quivered.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yes," she said.
Link opened the car door and stepped out, positioning himself so that he was in front of Lana.
"You're not a good liar." He said, pulling her close. Lana fell apart immediately.
"She told me she loves me," Lana said between choked sobs. "She loves me and she's leaving and I'm never going to see her again. I never – what we did – it was my first –"
"Shh," Link said, rubbing soothing circles over her back. "Breathe."
She listened, inhaling and exhaling, mimicking the rhythm Link was setting for her.
"It isn't fair. None of it is fair. He's behind bars, and she wants nothing to do with him. But she still isn't mine." Lana said.
Link pulled away from Lana, brushing a few of her tears away before moving to pull out the pump nozzle and place it into the holder.
"Just because you guys said your goodbyes doesn't mean you'll never see her again, Lana. Goodbye doesn't have to mean forever."
"Sometimes it does."
"Trust me," Link closed his eyes. "I know. Nabooru is leaving because she loves you, but also because she loves HU and knows that this is the price she has to pay for what was done. We're all grateful for that. But it doesn't mean her future is unsalvageable. Who knows? In a few years, she might even be able to come back."
"What if she doesn't want me in a few years?"
Link snorted. "She will. And if you're that worried about it, you could always fly to Gerudo Desert. The customs process is nowhere near as hard for a woman as it is for a man."
"Are you going to pay for my ticket?" Lana asked.
"Ha ha. We'll figure it out."
Lana smiled to herself, walking over to the passenger side.
"We?" She couldn't help asking.
"Yes, we. Nabooru isn't the only person who loves you." Link told her as he slid into the driver's seat. His gaze was soft and earnest. "I know you have Zelda and Ashei for your 'girl talk', and maybe you don't need me too. But you have me. And you can come to me the same way you come to them. Always."
»°«
Link slipped into the apartment, greeted by a scowling Shad sitting on the couch.
"Where have you been?" He pointed at Link accusatorily. "Do you how much of a nightmare it is to try and cram six people into one car? I could barely breathe!"
"You're acting like you were sitting in the middle seat, which you weren't." Pipit said, coming out of his bedroom. "You were on the edge, and Ashei was right next to you. Didn't hear many complaints happening in that moment."
Link couldn't bite back the laugh that escaped his mouth even if he tried. Pipit looked up at him, and there was a flash of something there.
Shad scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Hope you didn't empty out your tank spending the whole afternoon as Lana's personal chauffeur." He said in a spiteful tone that made it crystal clear that was exactly what he was hoping had happened. He stood up and walked to their room, slamming the door.
Link watched Pipit walk over to sit down on the couch.
He turned and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a couple of sodas. Carbonated purple chu. Link snickered, thinking back to the monotonous hours spent scrubbing the walls with people he had not anticipated would come to matter so much to him. Using a butter knife, he popped the cap off both bottles and slid one over to Pipit wordlessly, coming around to sit next to him.
Link took a long sip of his drink, closing his eyes to savor the taste.
"For what it's worth, I thought you guys had broken up, when she came to see me in Ordon." Link offered. It was a flimsy reassurance, and maybe not even reassurance at all. Ever since their reunion, Pipit had been hard to read, but it seemed like he and Zelda had made amends today at the pizza place. Link and Pipit had years of friendship under their belt. He wanted them to also be on good terms.
"Don't worry," Pipit snorted, "It was doomed before then."
Link looked over at Pipit, trying to get a read on his friend's face.
When Pipit returned his gaze, he laughed.
"I'm serious, man. No hard feelings."
"But there are feelings." Link hazarded, because nothing could ever be that easy.
Pipit shrugged, seemingly uncomfortable by that statement.
"She was my girlfriend, Link. How could there not be?" He swished his bottle around lightly, watching the soda fizz. "And for all the time I've known you, there's never been a woman you seemed to actually care for, other than your sister. And your mom. May her soul rest." He added that last part quietly, and Link felt that dull ache that had been simmering in his stomach flare up at the mention.
Link nodded a brief acknowledgement to that.
"Pipit, you and I, well…" Link paused, not sure of what he was trying to say.
Pipit shook his head, recognizing the beginning of his words as some variation of 'You're one of my best friends and our friendship means a lot to me,' and waved him off.
"I know, man. I know." Pipit took another long sip and set his soda on the table. "But it's okay. Really, it is. You've got that brooding, mysterious aura about you that the ladies go crazy over. I never stood a chance."
"Shut up." Link grinned.
"And those pearly whites? Please stop." Pipit feigned a swoon and Link gave him a shove that was both rough and playful.
"And," Pipit said, his tone quickly changing once more, "You love her. I couldn't stand in the way of that, even if I wanted to."
Link didn't argue. He simply straightened up and took one final swig of his soda. He looked at Pipit, his eyes solemn, his voice earnest, and said, "Thank you."
Hey guys, I have Fortnite brainrot. But I maxed out this season, so now I'm here to update my fic. Also… I love you guys so much. ONE MORE CHAPTER. Then an epilogue maybe? We are so close, but so far. And I cannot trust myself for a reliable timeline. Depression is kicking my ass. But you all deserve the world and I'm ready to finish this!