Time had slipped by almost too fast, but the rhythm of her daily life settled into a comfortable routine. The once strange feeling of living above Midna and Link transformed into a warm familiarity. Waking up to the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through her kitchen window, blending with the crisp spring air. The sound of Daisy's eager barking down the hall, followed by Link's tired voice attempting to silence her, his affectionate frustration making Zelda smile. Still, she learned from their other neighbours that they didn't mind the noise.

On the mornings when she was out early enough, she'd catch Link, sometimes with Daisy bounding at his side, her tail immediately wagging whenever she spotted Zelda. And with the way his eyes always lit up, and his attention fully turning to her, she was sure if he had a tail, it'd be wagging as well.

Usually, their morning interactions were brief as Zelda preferred not to probe too much into his workdays. But when he returned home one evening with parts of his clothes stained and smelling horribly, she'd blurted out a concerned question, only to be met with his indifferent response: "Got pissed on."

The revelation that he worked in veterinary medicine made sense; she hadn't expected it, but it reassured her that the bodily fluids were from an animal and not something more humanoid. She admired the way he tackled the more ugly parts that she knew came with this kind of work. And even when it left him weary, or even sore, he remained as calm and gentle as he ever was.

Midna, on the other hand, appeared more frequently, flaunting an impressive array of outfits, all dark in colour, of course. Zelda didn't expect any more colourful hues on her than necessary. But even when she was working more from home than in an office, Midna never left the front door looking any less than stunning. Each outfit seemed meticulously picked, an effortless blend of polish and comfort, as if she was always ready for a spontaneous rendezvous, even when she was merely getting groceries or on a walk with the dog. It created a comical juxtaposition with Link's, all so often, dirty work attire.

It didn't surprise Zelda in the least. After all, Midna had studied art and design, and her eye for detail was second nature. She remembered that, even for a Twili, Midna was tall, so it had always been a struggle for her to find clothes that fit comfortably when they went shopping together. This always fueled the fire inside her to change something about that. And somehow, she had always managed to pull it off—whether by sheer luck or her natural talent for making anything look good. Her mere presence could fill a room with energy even in passing, and Zelda was always drawn to it. It made her think about her own style. Having always leaned more toward comfort and practicality, Zelda, in contrast, often felt a little simple next to Midna, but in a way that fascinated her more than it bothered her.

Zelda couldn't lie; on the few days they didn't run into each other, she felt a pang of disappointment, but she had a feeling that Midna tried to make sure to integrate her into their daily life somehow. Whether with a quick chat over coffee or joining them on a walk with Daisy.

This day was no different when her doorbell rang while she was about to get ready for her day. Midna greeted her in person, something she usually preferred to do via text at this time of day. After she opened the door, Midna almost looked relieved.

"Why do you never answer?" she asked, waving her phone in Zelda's face. She stepped inside once Zelda made room for her to pass.

"I've just gotten up."

"Yeah, I can see that."

Midna gestured to her state of dress. Or lack thereof, dressed in her plush bathrobe and nightgown that was just long enough to peek out at the bottom, evident enough that she wasn't naked underneath the robe. Then Midna grabbed a few loose strands of her unkempt hair. "And considering you're still half asleep, I'll help you."

Zelda didn't want to fight Midna on that, she simply moved into her bedroom closely followed by her, her presence immediately casting a fresh wind in her home. She was about to pick up her hairbrush from her vanity, but Midna was quicker.

A slight nudge from her guided Zelda into the vanity chair, and she turned to ask Midna if she was planning on constantly leaning down for this, but Midna cupped her face and turned her back toward the mirror.

Once she felt the first light touch of Midna's fingers grazing the back of her neck when she grabbed handfuls of her hair, she allowed herself to close her eyes, leaving Midna fully to do her work.

"I always loved your hair," Midna said in a soft tone, breaking the brief moments of silence.

Zelda looked at Midna through the mirror, but she was too occupied. She never once thought anything special about her hair. It wasn't interestingly coloured and had no unique style. It was just there. But with the softness Midna spoke, she made it sound like something more.

"How so?" Zelda asked, knowing Midna would still be listening.

Midna shrugged a lazy shoulder, then put the brush aside. Zelda felt the slightest tug on her hair as Midna straightened her back but didn't dare to move while she was working on it. She was unusually quiet for so long that Zelda almost expected her not to speak at all anymore as silence fell over the room once more. Midna's fingers, gently running through a few strands she hadn't braided yet, were the only indicator that she was even present.

"I just missed doing your hair." Midna's voice was quiet as if she didn't intend for Zelda to hear.

"Hm?"

Midna didn't respond, instead, she dropped the braid over Zelda's shoulder, letting her feel and test its tightness. Even when it had been years since Midna had worked on her hair, she still managed to get it done the same way she always had, like it was all just a muscle memory for her.

She looked back up but Midna stepped out of the mirror's frame, and Zelda turned around, coming face to face with Midna's backside as she walked straight to her wardrobe. She watched her open its doors and examine the inside.

"I doubt you came over simply to style me, what's the real reason you're here so early?"

"Early? It's nearly noon!" Midna peeked out from behind the closet, looking at her for the first time since working on her hair.

"Oh! I didn't mean to sleep in for so long."

"Then you needed it," Midna said as she pulled out some of her clothes and inspected each piece individually, folding and putting the ones away she decided didn't fit into whatever outfit she had visualised in her mind. She looked back over to Zelda, an inquiring brow raised. "What got you so tired?"

"Work."

Midna leaned over to dig through more of her clothes, her whole upper half disappearing in the wardrobe while the other half stuck out, and something in Zelda's brain mentally slapped her for even daring to stare for longer than a second. But she reminded herself that this was Midna, and because it was Midna, she most likely would tease her if she looked away instead. Not that Midna was wearing anything too revealing: a black top, fit snugly against her form and a long, black skirt, making the two parts seem like a single dress. The slit in the skirt revealed the turquoise markings on her thigh, amplifying the stark contrast of her pale skin and dark clothing.

When she looked back up Midna was facing her now, hands on her hips and her expression slightly annoyed, yet a small smile rested at the corner of her mouth.

Zelda wasn't exactly sure what she was smiling about.

"I asked if you still work in that bookstore! You're just like him; giving me half-assed answers because you're busy staring."

"I'm sorry. And yes, I do." Zelda stood up and walked to her bed, sitting down there instead so she was closer to Midna and to see what she was exactly doing in her closet. To her surprise, she didn't cause a mess. "I mainly do management on my laptop. I just lost track of time and went to bed fairly late."

"Why am I not surprised?" Midna mumbled into Zelda's wardrobe as she leaned back down, her rear even dangerously closer to her now.

"And to answer your question from before: I wanted to go shopping, but Link is busy—not that he likes shopping anyway, and you didn't answer the phone."

"What if I wasn't even here at all?"

"Then I could've gone alone without feeling bad about it." Midna dropped some clothes beside her on the bed. Zelda picked up the simple blouse, the thin material light in her hands. "Get ready, beauty queen."

Midna flicked through the rack of clothes with practised ease, her eyes scanning for something that would catch her attention. She'd been here dozens of times, but today, the thrill of shopping didn't come from finding something for herself. Only if she happened to come across something that truly caught her eye. She originally planned to get something for Link, but the idea of just pulling Zelda along almost felt criminally convenient. The boutique was quieter than she expected, a welcome change from the bustle outside, just the soft hum of overhead lights and the faint rustling of fabric filled the air. Watching Zelda shift from uncertain to curious as she picked up item after item, still hesitant but letting herself get drawn in by the possibilities, was rewarding enough. She could feel her uncertainty from across the aisle, the way she kept picking up clothes only to set them down moments later as if afraid of making the wrong choice. She didn't get it. Zelda didn't flinch when she paid for an expensive meal, but she got cold feet over a piece of clothing. Midna studied Zelda's furrowed brow as she picked up another blouse, a light purple one, edging close to pink, and she noticed the way Zelda's fingers lingered over the fabric.

It wasn't about the money; Midna had seen Zelda buy furniture that most people would think thrice about getting them. Was it that she didn't know how to treat herself? Worried about looking too self-indulgent? Zelda was overthinking again, and Midna found herself curious about what was going on inside her head.

Midna walked over to her side. "You like it?"

Zelda looked up, startled for a moment, as if she hadn't realised how much she was staring at the shirt. "I'm not sure if I need this."

What she needed was a kick in the ass.

"Not what I asked."

"I do like it."

"Needing and wanting are two different things, and when spoiling yourself, necessity should be the last thing on your mind." Midna grabbed the piece of clothing and dropped it into the shopping basket for her to try on later. Then she leaned down, her face in immediate close range of Zelda's, making her lean away a little. "And if you happen to need it, having it is even better."

Zelda gently pushed her face away with a small smile on her lips, she was obviously not upset by Midna's assertive behaviour.

They continued to browse the aisles in silence, spreading out further apart. Midna left the basket with Zelda, hoping that it would encourage her to add more items to the rest. As time went on she drifted more off to the men's section, reminding herself why she even went out in the first place. Truth be told, she lost sight of Zelda at some point, and out of all the places when Midna was checking out the underwear section. That would have been the time to tease her silly. And speaking of underwear, Midna found herself in front of piles of men's boxers.

She grabbed the first stack that happened to be in front of her, the material thin and soft between her fingers. She stuck a hand inside and felt the outside with the other, her hands rubbing each other through the material. It had a soft touch to it while still allowing her hands to feel the warmth of her skin. She wanted to look for something else but only one thing lingered on her mind: feeling Link up and down when he wore these.

"I suppose that's not for you?"

Midna looked to her side, where Zelda had been standing. Either she was extremely quiet or Midna was completely lost in thoughts.

"It's for Link," Midna answered, dropping the item to the rest of their collection as she spontaneously decided he needed new boxers.

Midna noticed a little more colour among their selections—reds, blues, and yellows. Deliberately ignoring the matching bras and panties Zelda had added, she turned back to keep exploring the men's section. She grabbed the basket, knowing that Zelda didn't need it anymore since she seemed to be done for now.

"You're not even picking anything for yourself," Zelda said after Midna stopped at the one place she had been hoping to find what she was looking for.

"I have more than enough."

"So how was that with 'better to have than to need'?"

"You know damn well why I dragged you along." Midna waved the pants' legs she had been holding in Zelda's face.

"How am I any different than Link about this? Earlier you said he also dislikes shopping."

"Because I know you don't hate shopping in itself. You just take ages to decide on something because you keep overthinking the simplest crap."

Zelda didn't say anything further and Midna watched from the corner of her eye how she walked toward the shirts, knowing that there was only truth in her words.

Midna let her pout to herself while she continued to look for the right pants. And it didn't take that long luckily. A beautiful pair of soft, grey sweatpants, with no strings attached. She stretched the waistband, the resistance a promising reliability. They were perfect.

"Do you often buy him clothes?" Zelda, now back at her side, watched her inspect another pair of sweatpants, comparing them to the previous ones.

"Yes, it's not hard to find stuff that fits once you know his size."

"Do you dress him as well?" Zelda quipped.

"Sometimes," Midna said as she put the pants of her choice to the rest. She leaned back down to Zelda's ear, who didn't back off this time, and said in a low voice, almost purring if she physically could, "Undressing on the other hand—"

She laughed when Zelda ducked out from beneath her and started walking to where the changing rooms were located. Not a lot managed to get under Zelda's skin, good thing Midna knew just how to do exactly that. She did not miss the way both of them reacted toward the other.

"He's a grown man, I'm sure he'll manage on his own," Zelda said when she noticed Midna following her.

"No, he won't! This fool is colourblind, and if it wasn't for me he'd walk around looking like a clown with mismatched colours."

They halted in the extra room with the several doors leading to the changing booths, and Zelda looked back at her. "He is? He works in a medical field, doesn't that hinder him?"

"Sometimes maybe, but not that much. But I don't think colour plays much of a role when he has a run-over cat in front of him."

Zelda shook her head, obviously not finding Midna's remark as funny as she did and headed to the changing stall farthest in the room. And Midna followed without hesitation. Once inside the relatively roomy space, Midna saw Zelda glance at her through the mirror but didn't say anything further.

"You also need help undressing?" Midna giggled.

She wholly expected Zelda to have another bashful reaction or finally tell her off, instead, she looked back over her shoulder smiling, only with the slightest flush on her face. "No. You only get to watch."

Midna didn't exactly know why, but the way she continued as if she wasn't even there, kept her rooted in place. She watched her as the silence stretched on, the only sounds in the room the rustle of clothes and the occasional soft sigh from Zelda as she tried on different outfits. Midna definitely wasn't in a rush right now, too busy stealing glances at her backside. She was content to just stand there and wait, watching the way Zelda's mind worked through the choices. It wasn't that much but every piece of clothing left some sort of impression. The purple—or pink—blouse, together with her brown hair brought a soft look. It should be simple to pair it with other light clothing pieces.

A yellow sundress she picked for the coming warmer weather, light and flowing, just reaching her knees, made her look adorable. It had some minimalistic white lines or floral designs that Midna couldn't fully make out, and while she wasn't that fond of yellow, Zelda liked it. Said that the colours reminded her of daisies, which in turn reminded her of the dog. Maybe yellow wasn't as bad as she thought. At one point when Zelda actually needed some assistance with the adjustable straps, Midna had to hold herself back not to trace the freckles on her shoulders that had joined her old ones over the years.

She had put some distance between them when Zelda tried on two similar knitted dresses. One burgundy red, the other royal blue. Both were light to the touch, good for different weather and while the red one was a little flaring out toward the bottom, the blue one was more form-fitting. The rich blue highlighted the delicate curves of Zelda's body.

Again Midna had to stand back to watch in silence, trying not to say anything, as Zelda slowly ran her hands down her hips, either to feel the texture or whatever the hell she was doing.

Zelda kept glancing between the red one lying on the stool and the blue one she was wearing, and Midna knew she was breaking her pretty head over decisions again. When she turned to look at Midna, she almost looked like she was hesitating before speaking up.

"What can he see?"

"Huh?" Midna knew who she was talking about, she just wanted Zelda to voice her thoughts.

"Link. You mentioned he's colourblind. What range of colours can he fully see?"

"Blues and yellows."

Zelda's face changed back into her usual thoughtful one and glanced over to the red dress and then into the mirror at the blue one she was wearing. She didn't say anything, but Midna knew what she was up to. Even when she clearly liked both dresses, she fell back into the habit of trying to think everything through. This more or less confirmed what Midna already suspected between her former and current partner. Unfortunately, both of them would end up orbiting around each other like binary stars until the actual collision. Those idiots needed a push.

"Reds and greens are out of his range," Midna added, affirming what Zelda might consider about the dresses.

"So the blue one?" Zelda asked, more to herself.

"Trying to look pretty for him?" Midna laughed when Zelda looked like she might have overstepped a line and waved her off. "He already thinks you do!"

"Really?" Zelda asked after a brief pause, "did he say that or did you tease that out of him?"

"He asked me what colour your eyes are. Wanted to make sure they really looked the way he saw them. This almost makes me jealous, my eyes just look like piss to him!"

"How did you figure that out?"

"Used some colourblindness simulator on a picture of me. I don't envy him. But at least he had the decency not to tell me that."

Zelda smiled as she glanced up at her eyes but turned around to change clothes and pack up. Midna knew exactly that she was trying to imagine her with piss-yellow eyes.

Zelda bought all the clothes she initially picked after all, minus the red dress. Thanks to Midna's input, she chose the blue one, but she refused to let Midna spend a single rupee on her. After their small excursion, Zelda asked her to drop her off at the local grocery store but had to be left alone as Midna remembered she had work to do, taking their newly bought clothes with her.

Luckily, her shopping trip went smoothly, and she got everything she needed. Stepping out of the store, she noticed the parked cars as her stuffed bags had already begun to show their weight.

But it was fine. It was good to stay active, and a walk would do good. She didn't need a car in this town. The fact that she didn't have a license—thanks to her overprotective father who insisted on letting her get chauffeured around—had nothing to do with it.

Zelda scanned the various vehicles parked in the store's parking lot as she walked past; mostly family cars, sedans similar to Midna's—except in brighter colours, a few SUVs, and even a convertible with its roof down, showing the trust the people here had in their community. But at the end of the lot, a pick-up truck caught her eye.

A blue one, dried mud caked most of its underside, and a few edges were adorned with visible rust. She stood in front of it and had a hunch who the owner might be. A whistle broke her out of her thoughts, one that sounded more intended for recalling a dog, still, she instinctively turned to the source.

It was, in fact, Link, carrying a big box on his shoulder, just stepping out of the post office next to the grocery store. She waited for him to close the distance before greeting him.

"Hello, to you too."

"Sorry, didn't mean to catcall. Just didn't want to yell."

She really did not mind.

"Appreciate it, but you really should mind it from others," he said, climbing into the truck bed to secure the box.

"What?"

His head popped out from behind the roof, a slight smile etched onto his lips.

"Didn't mean to say that out loud?"

Zelda remained silent, mentally cursing the slip-up, while he chuckled. A slight warmth crept up her neck, not from embarrassment, but from the casualness of his teasing. She made sure not to admit out loud how much she actually enjoyed it. She then watched him jump off his truck, his boots crunching against the pavement, before he gave the chipped door a satisfied pat and gestured to the bags she was carrying.

"Need a ride?"

She hesitated momentarily, knowing she should say no, but her answer would make little difference. When she would arrive home, he would simply wait for her there, probably still with that damned smile, and then he would carry her bags whether she asked for it or not. Either was a triumph for him.

"If you insist."

"Insist, she says," he mumbled and opened the passenger door, letting her leave her groceries on the ground as he helped her into the seat. She deliberately ignored his hand on her butt, as he really was just helping her. An impudent thought almost expected him to pat it the same way he did to the car.

"I doubt you'd let me walk home while you drive."

The seat was softer than Zelda expected, and despite the rough exterior, the dashboard and console looked intact. Apart from the hay scattered on the floor, he kept it as tidy as he could. However, the air freshener hanging from the mirror barely masked the scent of stable and animals. She couldn't pinpoint which animal, but it wasn't unpleasant—she used to own a horse throughout her childhood, so the stable smell was almost nostalgic.

Link placed her grocery bags by her boots, the foot space roomy enough for her to secure them between her feet. After ensuring she was comfortable, he was about to close the door but paused for one last thing.

"Maybe I'd drive next to you and honk. It's better than whistling."

The door shut before Zelda could say anything. She turned, watching as he walked behind his car, tossed the cover over the back, and circled around to the driver's side. He was silent when he got in as if he didn't say anything at all.

As Link fumbled to start the car, Zelda couldn't help but wonder how he managed to get by with such a wreck of a truck. It was almost endearing, in a way. She wasn't into cars, so she couldn't tell whether the sputtering noise it made was a sign of trouble or just the way it sounded. Once the engine finally caught, they rolled out of the lot. His movements were careful as he steered into the afternoon traffic, mindful of the extra weight in the car and the second person sitting beside him with full bags.

"Sorry 'bout the dirt, by the way. Had a goat in here."

"A goat?"

"Yah."

"Inside?"

"Well, Midna would kill me if I'd leave her in the back."

Zelda stifled a laugh, knowing Midna would probably kill her as well if she heard.

Traffic was sluggish due to all the people driving home from work, and Zelda thought she actually might have been home faster than Link with this tempo, but she didn't mind sitting next to him in silence. She looked out of the window while she listened to the distant hum of the traffic, the occasional honk of a car somewhere, and Link's tapping on the steering wheel.

"My offer still stands."

She looked back at him, though his attention stayed on the road.

"What offer?"

"You walk and I honk at ya."

"At this pace, I'd be gone before you even cross this intersection."

He grunted and still refused to look at her as he fell silent. Zelda quietly chuckled to herself, then turned her attention back to the window. A few vehicles managed to clear the crossing before the traffic light turned red again. A thought popped into her head, and she turned back to Link.

Though hesitant, she gently touched his hand resting on the gear shift to get his attention.

He finally looked back at her and Zelda's breath got stuck in her throat when he in return took hold of her hand. His was surprisingly warm and soft, his thumb slowly circling the back of hers. But she guessed Midna wouldn't let him touch her if his hands were rough and calloused.

"You good?" His voice was gentle as if he could tell something was on her mind, waiting for her response.

Nodding, she still hesitated, not wanting to lose the physical contact.

"Midna mentioned you are colourblind."

"Oh." Unfortunately, just as she feared, he let go of her hand. "What 'bout it?"

Zelda rested her hands in her lap, rubbing the spot where his thumb left an invisible mark.

"I was just wondering how you handle traffic lights. If I understand correctly, the lights should look the same to you."

"Top means stop, bottom means go," he said with a shrug.

"You never had any troubles?"

"Once. Wasn't paying nuff attention and didn't see the traffic lights. Ran a red light. Street was empty, so everything was fine, but Midna tore me a new one for that."

"You actually told her?"

"She was in the car with me."

"Should I be scared now?"

"Fuck you, it only happened once, years ago. I'm careful now." His tone was lighthearted and he didn't appear all too bothered.

He fell silent again, and Zelda still felt a little bad about the teasing. She didn't know why, but something inside her urged her to reach up. Reassurance, perhaps? Her hand cupped his jaw, and her thumb gently stroked his cheek as she murmured an apology. His head stayed still, unmoving under her touch. He didn't speak or move, but his eyes flicked toward her occasionally, until they settled fully on her face. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't exactly easy either. Zelda didn't mind, but the gleam in his eyes remained unreadable to her.

She briefly glanced out the windshield, then back to him. Nudging his attention forward again before retreating her hand.

"It turned green."

He still didn't say anything.

The brief calm between them, as Link searched for a parking spot, felt almost strange, and Zelda wondered if she should break the silence. She decided against it. Maybe he simply needed a moment.

Surprisingly, Link found a free spot near the entrance, with just enough room to exit the car comfortably. But as Link helped her out of the car, she felt a sudden shift in the air. She adjusted her purse, then felt—something. A pressure on her butt, barely noticeable at first. She brushed it off, thinking it was nothing, until she felt it again, firmer this time. Just before she could turn, she felt Link tug at her belt loop, pulling her toward him just slightly. And when Zelda glanced back, she met his eyes, catching an intensity behind them.

"What are you doing?"

When he let go, she turned fully around to find him holding up a stem of hay. She didn't miss the ghost of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

Zelda's heart pounded, and she was afraid he might actually hear it. Here she thought he was being broody earlier, but it seemed he was quite enjoying himself after all.

"And I thought you were fully going in now."

"You almost sound bummed," he murmured, his smile growing.

She didn't say anything else, grabbing the hay from his hand to discard it, then walked to the entrance before he could catch a glimpse of her own forming smile, but Link was already close behind when she opened the door. Inside, he paused to check the mail, skimming through the few letters he pulled out as Zelda waited. He looked up at her, then gestured up the stairs.

As she moved toward them, she heard a rustle of paper, followed by a quick swat to her bottom.

Her head snapped back to him, but by the time she turned, Link was already too preoccupied with the letters in his hands. Zelda didn't know why, but she chose not to say anything, letting him have his little win for now.

At Zelda's request, they went to her place first so she could put her groceries away. She preferred to do it on her own so Link was shooed off into her living room. It had looked emptier when he first came to set up her new bookshelf—and a few other shelves, while he was at it. They gradually filled up more each time he came to visit: books, everyday clutter or trinkets, and some small plants. He wouldn't call it messy, but it certainly wasn't neat. It looked lived-in.

His fingers brushed over the spines of a few books, some were worn at the edges, others pristine. From nonfiction and fantasy to romance and textbooks. While he checked the shelf, his gaze landed on a framed picture; a large man, in front of a huge house—probably a mansion even—in a tailored suit, his dense beard as impressive as his presence. Beside him stood a tiny girl in a fine dress, her hand so small she barely could wrap it around his finger. Link assumed this was Zelda with her father. He'd never seen her father in person, only heard his deep, muted voice through the phone whenever Zelda talked to him, and he looked as imposing as he sounded. She also rarely talked about him, but from what Link could make out from it, she still loved her father, even when she often seemed frustrated with him.

He walked over to the coffee table and noticed an open laptop, shut off but still plugged into its charging cable, which ran along the couch to an outlet under the side table. On the table itself a lamp and a book. Link's mother would smack him straight on the fingers for even thinking of picking that up, but he still did it. It was a thick book with a dark cover depicting a mystical lake shimmering under the light of the full moon. In the centre, waist-deep in the water, stood a Zora with shimmering scales. Cradled against his chest was a human woman, her body draped in a sheer, clinging dress that left little to the imagination. In sleek, water-like script, the title "Waves of Desire" flowed across the bottom.

It looked like one of those books Link sometimes found Midna reading, the dubious plots kind of books.

The edges of the pages had seen better days, with little dog-eared corners. Link sat down in the armchair, getting comfortable when he decided to open the book to one of them.

He could feel her pulse quicken as his hand traced the delicate curve of her back, pressing just enough to make her shiver. She tilted her head back, her lips parted, inviting him closer. His lips cool against her skin as his mouth brushed the side of her neck, his fingers moved lower, exploring her hip. She whimpered softly, a sound that sent a thrill through him. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the sensations, as his fingers continued their descent over the swell of her thigh. As his touch grew bolder, she moaned, her body arching toward him, silently encouraging him to take what he desired. His hand slid down, cupping her buttock, squeezing gently before tracing the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. She trembled, her breath catching in her throat, as his fingers ventured closer to the core of her desire—

Zelda pulled the book out of his hands, replacing it with the letters he accidentally left in the kitchen. Her spicy book found its place back on the side table, but this time he didn't dare to touch it again.

"Right at the good part," he mumbled, though loud enough for her to hear him pretend disappointment. He turned to look at her, but she was already leaving the room, not giving him the attention he hoped for.

"Come on."

"Yes, ma'am."

He already pushed his luck today, even though her reaction would have been worth it.

Link followed her to the front door, where she was waiting, hands on her hips. She'd swapped her boots for her fluffy slippers she always wore when she visited them. She rolled her eyes when he approached as if she somehow knew what he had been thinking. But he still saw the faintest hint of a smile on her lips.

"Don't worry 'bout it, Midna reads stuff way worse."

"Oh, I know," Zelda said, opening the door. "She gave it to me."

Together they left, descending one floor in silence. As they reached the front door, he could hear the sound of Daisy's paws skittering against the floor on the other side. When he opened it, she greeted them, Zelda first who happily returned the affection.

"I'm in the bedroom!" He heard Midna call out.

"I'm not alone."

"I know! I don't want your ass, I just want Zelda."

Zelda gave him an apologetic look before she went to Midna while he went into the living room, leaving his boots at the door and the letters on the side table as they were all for Midna anyway. He plopped down on the lounge of the sofa and Daisy stood at the side with a wagging tail, she brought her plush rabbit over and almost dropped it on his face. He picked it up, his hands immediately feeling the squishy wet fuzz. The second eye was missing now too, mirroring the missing ears. If Link hadn't bought her the toy, he could have never guessed what it used to be. It now looked like a blind otter or a seal with feet.

He couldn't make out what the women were talking about in the other room, or what they were doing. When he threw the rabbit aside, and Daisy scurried after it, the clattering of her nails on the floor distracted him from the conversation anyway. She shook it around once she got it and then brought it back to him. This time he didn't touch anymore, leaving it to soak up his shirt. Midna and Zelda entered shortly after and sat down as well, with Midna rather taking the armchair to stay away from Daisy's potential slobber rabbit attack. The dog immediately shifted her attention from Link to Zelda instead, being more gentle with her. No accidental scratching, drooling all over her pants, or hitting her in the face with a saliva-drenched toy. Just acted like a giant lapdog that desperately needed kisses and ear rubs. And she got all that. Lucky dog.

"She got the other eye now. I'm not sure if she ate it, because I couldn't find it anywhere," Midna said when she looked at the toy on top of him.

"I hope not. Don't want to check her and operate for something so tiny that she could just shit out."

Zelda took the toy, the wrinkles of a frown appearing on her forehead right after she touched it.

"Did it happen before?"

"Yes."

She gave the toy back to Daisy, who walked off, dropped it, and lay down on the cool floor. Her already low energy had already run out.

After making coffee, Midna chose to sit between Zelda and him, now that Daisy was gone. He flipped over, hugging a pillow to rest his eyes while they watched TV. Link only half-listened to their conversation about laundry and colour washing, not that he could get it, even if he wanted to. He felt Midna's hand on his back, first just its weight as she rested her hand on him, then her slow petting. Link wasn't sure if she was doing it intentionally or mindlessly while she talked, but he wasn't about to interrupt her. Sometimes when she caught herself being overly sweet to him for no reason she'd stop whatever she was doing, just out of principle. His attention was barely present now, his head sinking deeper into the pillow with every soft pressure of Midna's soothing hand.

Link didn't even realise that he fell asleep until he awoke to a silent room and, from what he could make out from his position, a dark sky outside, the only light he saw was from the floor lamp in the corner. He still felt Midna's hand on his back, now further up, under his shirt, and he could feel the familiar pressure between his legs as she caressed him. He didn't exactly know when it started, but it was there now; his body's involuntary reaction, straining against the fabric of his pants and the couch.

Link turned his head to check what she was up to, just to be met with Zelda next to him and no sign of Midna, her focus on her phone.

He couldn't move. Suddenly he was feeling warmer again, just like when she touched his face earlier. A simple gesture that he could still feel scorched on his skin. Now with her hand on his back and her fingers doing their rounds on his skin, it started all over again. She didn't apply too much pressure like Midna did, and her nails felt only the slightest bit longer than hers. He was surprised she didn't pull away from the burn. Well, of course, she didn't. She didn't even notice it. It was only his fucking reaction. He tried to think of something else, anything else, but his body had already reacted, betraying him.

Lying on his front became terribly uncomfortable, so he shifted slightly, trying to find some relief, but every tiny movement only made it worse.

"Oh, I didn't mean to wake you." Zelda finally pulled her hand away, her voice gentle.

Link didn't say anything, maybe he was still half-asleep, but he didn't even know what to say. Say it was all good? Ask her to keep going? All he knew was that Midna would probably laugh at his sorry ass.

Zelda spoke up again, "Midna told me to do that because you like that."

He turned his head away again, couldn't bear to look her in the eye in this state.

"Of course she did." And of course, she was right. She knew damn well he did.

"I'm sorry."

Her voice was quiet as if she didn't intend for him to hear that slightly amused tone in there. Then he felt her rubbing his ear briefly, her skin cooler than the heat that rose into his ears. Midna mentioned that he was easy to read when he was flustered, so he knew that Zelda definitely noticed.

He hummed into the pillow to let her know that he heard her, but still refused to move. Her hand found his back again, probably in apology. Link thanked the goddesses when he heard the front door open and then the recognisable clacking of Daisy's nails on the floor as she came trotting into the room. Zelda was finally distracted when she greeted the dog, but he didn't hear Midna follow straight away. He heard her clatter in the other rooms as she moved about; first, the bathroom door, being met with the washing machine's louder spin cycle, then cupboards in the kitchen. He would help with whatever she was doing, but not with a hard-on.

Just a short moment later the big light in the living room lit up the whole room. At that Link finally looked back. Midna looked at him with a knowing smile, then to Zelda, who looked up from rubbing Daisy's temples.

"Your clothes aren't done yet, do you wanna stay for dinner then?" Midna asked.

Zelda nodded. "Do you need help?"

"Sure, but only because you asked so nicely."

When Zelda stood up and went to the kitchen, Midna stayed behind, giving him a pointed look. He finally turned over where he lay and she looked him up and down, then smirked.

"Take a shower, big guy," she said before leaving to join Zelda. Fucking witch.