Work Text:
Mipha took a deep breath and tried not to cry.
Easier said than done, of course. She'd cried so much over the past two weeks that she should've run out of tears by now, but they still kept flowing like a waterfall. At this point she was starting to feel like she would drown in them.
I don't want to right now, though, she thought as she stared at her reflection. I cannot. He will be here at any moment, and I cannot bear to let him see me in tears again, or even with reddened eyes. He is suffering enough without seeing my pain so often, and I must be strong for him. I will not have him blame himself again for something that is out of his control.
Once again, Mipha breathed slowly. Deeply. As if it was an incantation to protect herself from another bout of crying. She focused her attention on what she saw in the mirror, hoping to distract herself. It'd been long enough since the last trickle of tears that her golden eyes were unblemished by evidence of the crying jag; her face shone, having been scrubbed clean. Her jewelry sparkled too: the little tiara on her forehead with its sapphire cabochon, the silver lariat with its tiny luminous stones around her neck, the slender metal belt of sorts that helped hold her dress in place.
Well. 'Dress' was a bit of a loose interpretation of the concept. Certainly Hylians would object at her calling it that. But for a Zora like her, she considered it appropriate. It was a lovely confection of shimmering, sky blue silk, with heart-shaped cups covering her small chest, and was long enough to swirl around her if she twirled. Flowy detached sleeves accompanied it, and she'd foregone her usual bangles in anticipation of the corsage Link was bringing. All in all, it was a beautiful ensemble, perfectly suited for going to their school's homecoming dance.
“Be happy,” Mipha whispered, a lump rising in her throat. “Be happy you are going with him. It is what you wanted, right?”
It was.
Oh, there was no denying it was.
She'd longed for it for months.
Yet how could she truly celebrate it, when it came under such circumstances?
The irony, Mipha mused as she left the bathroom and walked down the hall, was that this dream she'd nurtured of going to a dance with Link wouldn't be happening if he wasn't moving away in a couple more weeks. He'd pitched it, after all, as something fun to do as friends before he left. A final hurrah, he'd said as he wiped away tears of his own. She'd agreed, of course, and meant to have whatever fun she could have tonight. Still, it wasn't lost on her that the invitation wouldn't have been forthcoming if not for the awful news his father had broken to him two weeks ago.
They were moving away. Far away. Somewhere up in Deep Akkala. After over a decade of living so close to each other that they could easily walk or bike over, they were going to be ripped apart. It was that that had her crying so often. And it was that that had motivated him to ask her to the dance she'd been entertaining fantasies about when he walked into her room and told her through tears what was about to happen.
He wouldn't have asked her otherwise, of course. Mipha knew that. Link hadn't said anything to that effect, and she hadn't asked. But she knew it all the same. If he wasn't moving, he either would've stayed home, or found someone he did want to go with. He'd never spoken of having a crush on anyone at their school, but there had to be someone. There had to be. Even just in passing there had to be someone he found attractive, that he'd like to date, and she had to wonder at his not speaking of it. They told each other everything, so why not this?
Not that she would ask, of course. Mipha shuddered at the thought as she sat down in the living room. That path would only lead to pain and heartsickness when she listened to him talk about whoever it was he liked. Plus the awkwardness of having to pretend she didn't have feelings for him. Feelings that were oh so unrequited. No, better not to know. It wasn't like anything could work out now, anyway, so it didn't matter. He'd find someone else at his new school and that would be the end of it.
If she thought about that too much, though, she'd definitely cry again. So she pushed it out of her head and tapped her toes against the carpet as she waited.
She didn't have to wait long. Before another five minutes had passed, the bell had rung and she was scrambling up and to the door. Despite everything her heart raced with anticipation, and she had to stop herself from flinging it open in her excitement to see him.
It occurred to her as she turned the knob that it might be some traveling salesman instead, but luckily that fear was not to be. Link awaited her on the other side of the door, clad in a simple, sage green suit and ivory dress shirt, his pretty hair in a bun with some locks loose around his lovely face, and matching green hoops at his ears. His eyes widened as he saw her, and for an all too fleeting moment the sorrow that had hung heavy in them for the past two weeks vanished, letting her see the full beauty of his smile again. "You look beautiful."
"Th-thank you, I—so do you—I mean..." Mipha trailed off, blushing both from his compliment and her verbal stumbling. "I'm sorry, I—may I start over?"
"Of course." Link laughed softly, fondness creeping into his eyes to join the reemerged sadness. It hurt her heart to look at. "Take your time."
It was now that she noticed the small red and orange pinwheel stuck into his bun; moving closer, she reached up to touch it, making it spin a little. “What is this?”
“Oh, that's, uh...” It was Link's turn to blush, apparently. “It's supposed to be like... like a korok pinwheel, you know? Like that mask we saw at the mall, remember? I just thought it might be a fun way to kinda dress things up a little to go with you, since you always wear such nice stuff, and some people wear costumes to this thing...” He touched it, looking self-conscious. “Does it look dumb? I can take it out...”
“No, no, don't!” Mipha shook her head. “I love it, I think it suits you, it is so cute...”
His blush deepened. “Okay, I'll leave it then.”
“Good.” She smiled. “And, speaking of things I wear...” Her eyes traveled down to his empty hands, and she frowned. “Did... did you forget the corsage?”
“No, of course not!” Link shook his head. “I'm sorry, I know it looks bad, but it's in the car, I swear—I just thought it might be better to put it on after dinner, cause it might make it hard for you to eat... do you want me to go get it?”
“No, no, you are right. I can wait.” She smiled again. “It is thoughtful of you to think of me; thank you.”
“It's no problem,” Link mumbled, his cheeks still red. “Anyway, um... are you ready to go?”
Mipha grabbed her wrist bag off the table next to the door. “Now I am.”
Link bowed. “Then allow me to escort you to your chariot, my lady.”
Mipha couldn't help but giggle, even as she took his proffered arm and headed out. “Why, thank you, good sir.” She closed and locked the door, and then they proceeded to the car that waited in the driveway. “You are too kind.”
“Nonsense. You deserve nothing but the best.”
There it was again—that twinge of sadness in his voice. Mipha blinked rapidly, and was amazed her own voice was steady when she spoke. “An honorable knight, indeed, Sir Link.”
“I try. Oh, um...” Link paused as they got closer to the car. “Don't—don't look at the dashboard yet, okay? I want to show you the corsage myself, if that's okay.”
“Of course it is.”
Obeying his request, she averted her eyes as he led her over to the passenger seat. It was his father's car, loaned to him tonight on the condition that he wash it inside and out, which he'd done yesterday and texted her about, complaining about all the crumbs his dad left in the seats and all the bugs on the windshield. From what she could tell, though, he'd done an admirable job.
Link opened the car door for her, and closed it once she was safely inside; she continued to keep her eyes carefully averted from the dashboard. An air freshener in the shape of a blupee dangled from the rearview mirror, lending a pleasant, earthy scent to the interior, and everything she did look at looked nice and clean. Yet another difference between Link and his father—Link liked things tidy, while his father tended to be more messy. Little wonder they often didn't get along, with so much to disagree on, and the impending move was only making things worse. Frankly, it was impressive that he'd managed to swallow his pride and ask for the loan for tonight, and even more impressive that his father had agreed. Maybe he felt guilty? Hard to say.
He joined her in the car, but instead of turning the key right away Link reached for something on the dashboard, his arm brushing her shoulder. There was a moment of hesitation, and then he spoke. “Here—you can look now. This... I hope you like it...”
Mipha turned; her eyes went first to Link's face, the soft, shy expression there, and then dropped to the clear plastic flower box in his hands. Her breath caught. “Oh... Link, it's...” She clasped a hand to her mouth, the tears threatening yet again. For inside sat a delicate wristlet corsage of white carnations and delicate blue delphinium, with sheer, sparkly ribbons and green leaves complementing the beautiful blooms. “H-how... how mu—”
“Don't ask how much it cost,” Link interrupted. “It was worth it, okay? I wanted something that would match your outfit.” His gaze dropped to it. “Do you... like it?”
“Oh, Link, I love it.” She laid her hand over his, ignoring how her heart fluttered. “Thank you so much, it... it means so much to me that you would get something like this for me.”
He glanced back up at her, and for a fleeting moment she had a vision of one of them leaning in to kiss the other. Then it popped like a bubble as he simply nodded. “I'm glad.” Link cleared his throat. “So, um... you still want to go to the cafe for dinner?”
Mipha nodded. “Yes. Do you?”
“Yeah.” He held out the corsage box. “Here, hold onto this while I drive, okay?”
Mipha held it securely in her lap as Link started up the car and drove off. Her eyes kept going back down to the flowers, heart swelling with emotion at the sight of them. It really did match her dress, and was so gorgeous she felt like crying again. Especially after what he'd said about not asking what the cost was. It had to have been expensive. But... he hadn't minded. He'd happily spent his money on this lovely little thing for this one night. For her.
It isn't fair, came the thought again. And it wasn't. None of this was. Every part of this stung in some way: their coming separation, the knowledge that he wouldn't have done this for her if not for that, that it'd have gone to some other girl, that he had no idea how much this really meant to her and that she couldn't tell him. The crush she'd been nursing on him would have to remain shrouded in silence.
That would be the case either way, though, wouldn't it? Mipha reminded herself, her heart a dull ache in her chest. He cannot possibly feel the way I do. And that is... oh, how do I put it? It hurts. It truly does. But it is not unfair, it is simply bad luck. I must appreciate what I can and try not to think about the rest. I must.
Before long, the car pulled into the parking lot of Mama's Cafe. It was nothing fancy as far as restaurants went, just a casual little diner. Everyone else going out to dinner before the dance started would be picking nicer places, surely. But this one had special meaning to them, and they never got tired of coming here, no matter how often they'd been. The knowledge that this would be one of the last times she got to come here with him weighed heavy on her as they walked through the doors.
She tried to push it out of her mind, though, and focus on looking at the menu. It was hard to have an appetite, but she knew she needed to eat something. They were going there to dance, after all, and she'd need energy for that. So she did her best to find something she wanted to eat.
Link's voice broke her concentration, though, and Mipha looked up. “What was that?”
“I'm sorry.” Link frowned and glanced away. “I should've cooked something for us, I didn't think...”
“Oh no, shh...” Mipha reached over and took his hand where it rested on the worn laminated menu. “You know I have so many good memories of coming here with you, and I would not want your nice clothes to get dirty.” She gestured at his suit. “Please do not worry about it. Please. I am glad to be here.”
His gaze met hers, oddly bright. “You're sure?”
“Positive.” She squeezed his hand. “Now, let us choose something before the server comes back.”
She ended up choosing a crab omelet, while Link ordered fried eggs and rice. They ate in near-silence; nothing new, for they often were able to just comfortably enjoy each other's company during meals without much conversation. This felt more subdued than usual, though—the finality of this particular meal had to be weighing on him too, Mipha guessed.
By the time they left it was dark outside; night fell fast in autumn, after all. Streetlamps flickered under the bruise-colored skies, where stars were beginning to peek out from between wispy gray clouds. There'd been a storm yesterday, but it was clear now, even a little bit unseasonably warm. A crescent moon, milky and bright, had replaced the sun on the horizon. Mipha paused to look at it, but again Link broke her reverie, this time by touching her arm.
“Mipha?”
She turned. “Yes?”
“Do you want to wear your corsage now, or wait till we get there?” Link shuffled his feet. “I know this isn't the most special place to put it on, but...”
“Don't say that.” Mipha touched his shoulder. “You already know this is a special place to us both. So...” She drew a deep breath. “I would like to wear it now, if you don't mind.”
“Not at all.”
Link unlocked the car, and retrieved the corsage from where it sat on the passenger seat. The silver ribbons unspooled themselves as he lifted it out of the box, and sparkled in the light that poured out of the cafe windows. Mipha held out her left hand, and Link positioned the flowers on her wrist before tying the ribbons securely but gently; all she could hope for was that he didn't feel her racing pulse at his touch.
It certainly didn't help that he kept holding her hand even after he was done attaching the corsage; Link studied it for a moment and then met her eyes. “It looks lovely on you,” he said quietly. “I'm glad you like it.”
“I love it,” she whispered back, her throat tight. “Thank you so much, Link.”
He nodded, as if he didn't trust his voice, and stepped aside so she could get in the car, letting go of her hand at last. Her vision blurred, but she blinked away the tears before he joined her.
Treasure this night, she told herself as they drove off. Treasure it. No matter how bittersweet.
Just treasure it, and him.
And what little time you have left together.
Reality wasn't at all like fantasy, was it?
He'd had plans for tonight. Tentative plans. Hopeful plans. Plans that had, unfortunately, been dashed to pieces by circumstances out of his control.
It was true that they might never have come to fruition anyway. True that they might've remained as mere ideas in his head, wisps of what could be were things different. He knew that.
Yet still, his mind couldn't stop lingering on all the lost possibilities. Asking Mipha to this dance not as friends, but as a date. Admitting his true feelings for her. Seeing her smile and confess that she felt the same. Kissing her at last, as he'd longed to do for ages. Sharing more kisses before the dance started, like when he put the corsage on her wrist. Had she noticed his fingers shaking as he did? He hoped not. It'd been hard to control that, despite doing his best. Her hands were just... so pretty. Those long fingers and cute little claws, the bits of webbing between them, the softness of the scales on her palm... there was no part of her where he didn't see beauty. Especially in her kind, sweet heart. Oh, how he loved her.
And in two weeks, he would leave her.
There was a constant ache nestled under his breastbone these days, borne of a heart straining under the weight of mingled love and grief. The love could flutter around inside him, making limbs and fingers tremble, could bring heat to his cheeks or quicken the pulse that thrummed inside him, could conjure tears of yearning in his eyes and weave a thickness in his throat. But it could never, ever, be allowed to dance on his tongue, to escape the lips he kept so resolutely shut against its escape. For the source of the grief was his impending exit from her daily life, and how could he burden her with the knowledge of his love in such times?
He couldn't.
It wasn't fair.
Not to her, not to either of them. None of it was fair.
A vicious irony—the news had come on the same day he was finally ready to tell her how he felt. An evening of hope so swiftly transformed into one of despair. It'd torn his heart apart in so many ways, and instantly crushed his plan to confess to Mipha. Instead, he'd broken the bad news. Broken down crying in her arms as she held him and wept her own tears. She'd been just as shattered as he was. Why wouldn't she be? They'd been inseparable for so long that this was unthinkable.
Ha.
If only his morose thoughts about it all could be literally unthinkable tonight. But no. They kept flittering into his mind like persistent gnats.
Things like—would this be the last time they went to the cafe together?
When would be the last time he got to cook for her?
This would be the only dance they'd ever go to.
He would never be able to go on a real date with her.
Never be able to kiss her.
Never be able to tell her he loved her.
On and on. On and on it went. Turning over in his head, relentless wheels grinding everything he wanted into dust. And he tried, oh he tried, to push them away and treasure these moments with her, but the pain and anxiety wouldn't let him.
All the while his growing hatred for his father—whose fault all this was—churned in his stomach like the food poisoning he'd gotten when he was twelve. Even now, when he was dancing like an idiot to a fast song to make Mipha laugh, the thoughts wouldn't leave him alone. They knocked against the back of his skull with the persistence of a creepy traveling cultist, silenced only for seconds at a time by her laughter. Those breathless giggles that cut through the noise of everyone around them somehow and increased his already rapid heart rate.
His heart continued to race even when the song ended, both from the exertion and the sight of her flushed face as she smiled at him. She spoke first, sounding as out of breath as he was. “That was... fun, but...” She gulped in air. “May we go sit down for a while?”
Link nodded, his voice temporarily out of action. Taking her hand, he weaved them through the crowd to the bleachers. Other people were sitting down too, either taking a break or having had bad luck finding a partner; he and Mipha found an empty spot on the bottom row and sat down to cool off and rest.
Where'd the time go? Link wondered as they recovered. As he stole surreptitious glances at her beautiful, heart-shaped face whenever he dared. How is it already tonight, how it is already so far into the night? Is the rest of the time going to go this quickly? I don't want it to. Please. Please, I just... it isn't enough, how could it ever be enough? Did I really take it for granted that we'd be near each other forever? Stupid. I'm so stupid.
No, no. No. I have to stop thinking about this. His eyes burned. It's making this less fun, and I hate that. I wanted this to be nothing but fun for us. Even if it's not how I imagined it. I don't want to cry again, not now, now here, I...
“... I'll be right back,” Link said, rising to his feet as abruptly as he'd spoken. How he kept his voice from wobbling he didn't know. “Have to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay. Take your time.” Her eyes probed him, as if she suspected his inner turmoil, and so Link turned away before she could read him.
The bathroom was crowded—no surprise there—but one of the stalls was empty, somehow, and he ducked into it. Link leaned back against the locked door and breathed shakily. A few tears leaked out despite his efforts to contain them, and he grabbed some toilet paper to wipe at his eyes with. It was flimsy and rough, but it would do, and he forced himself to get things under control.
When he'd finally calmed down, he flushed the sodden toilet paper and exited the stall. Ignoring everyone else, he waited for his turn at the sinks and then washed his hands and splashed water on his face. If the other guys in there suspected anything odd, he didn't care. He just did what he needed to do and left.
As he started to round the bleachers to rejoin Mipha, however, he saw something that made him freeze in place for a moment. Then, unfreezing, he backed up out of sight, heart thumping.
Mipha was there, and had moved her bag to save his spot for him... but she was no longer alone. A tall, green-scaled Zora was standing in front of her. Not just talking to her, but leaning far too close into her personal space in Link's opinion. He laughed, and the wildfire of irritation blazing in his chest flared higher. Just seeing him had lit the spark, as it had every time since he'd met the guy.
Gildan.
Wealthy, popular son of one of Mipha's father's business associates. He'd recently transferred here from Horon High, and seemed to have taken quite the interest in Mipha, seeking her out whenever he could. She was always polite, but beyond that he knew little of her real feelings for him. If she had a crush on anyone, it was the one thing she'd never shared with him. Much as he'd never shared his own feelings with her.
Not that he wanted to hear her gush over whatever guy she was into, though. Just the thought of Mipha falling in love with someone else made him want to throw up. But that was just selfishness. He couldn't ask her to love him, especially not when he was leaving her. If this Gildan guy ended up making her happy, then he could swallow his pain and be glad for her. She deserved only the best, after all.
And honestly, it was entirely possible he was being unfair to the guy, that his own feelings for her were clouding his judgment and causing that knee-jerk irritation he felt whenever he so much as saw the guy. For Mipha's sake, he should probably make an effort to be more patient. For all that he seemed obnoxious to him, he was likely genuinely into her, and maybe she liked him back but was too shy to say something. He could certainly understand falling for Mipha, if nothing else.
It did leave him in an awkward position, though. He didn't want to eavesdrop, but he also didn't want to interrupt. So instead he hung back, trying not to listen to the bits of conversation he could hear amid the din of the dance.
Words did manage to drift back to him, though. “—one dance? Please?” Gildan. “I've been—” A nearby girl laughed, so loud it drowned out the rest of what he said.
“—am tired and need to rest some more.” Mipha. “And I do not like the idea of leaving while Link is in the bathroom.”
“—wait till he's back, if that's what you want. I don't mind.”
“—don't know if—”
“—aren't on a real date, right?” His heart clenched at the reminder. “So what's the harm if you dance with me?”
I mean... technically, we aren't on a date? Still, though. But maybe I'm overreacting cause I hate it when people are pushy like that? Ugh, I just don't know... it feels like this guy is being a jerk, but I can't help but wonder if I'm not just hating everything he does and says cause it's him and he likes Mipha. I don't want to be a jealous asshole, she doesn't belong to me or anything.
… that said, I wish he'd take no for an answer if she doesn't want to do it. Not cool.
“No, but—”
“—transferred from Horon High for you, you know,” Gildan said, sounding petulant; Link's attempt to give him the benefit of the doubt vanished. “If you don't appreciate—”
“I did not ask you to do such a thing.” Mipha's tone was as icy as the Tabantha tundra; he sighed with relief. Good. She deserved better than to be coerced into something she didn't want by someone so entitled. “You made that choice independently.”
“I did it for you, though.” He sounded so irritated that Link's shoulders tensed. “I left all my friends behind so we could see each other more. Don't you think you should at least—”
That's it.
Doing his best to look casual, Link rounded the corner of the bleachers. “Hey, sorry I took so long, there was a line in the bathroom,” he said to Mipha, trying to keep a lid on his temper. “You need me to—oh, hey, Gildan,” he added with a nod in Gildan's direction. “Sorry, didn't see you there.”
“Hmph.” Gildan looked like he didn't really believe him, but knew he couldn't say so without starting drama. “Suppose I'll leave you two alone then. By the way...” He reached out and slapped at the pinwheel in his hair. “Your toy is crooked. Trying to be a korok, little Hylian?”
Before he could reply Mipha flung herself up from the bench, her usually fluid motions now harsh and jerky. "Is that meant to impress me?" she hissed, her sharp teeth bared; Link's heart pounded at the rare, beautiful sight. "Are you so foolish that you think mistreating my best friend will somehow convince me to date you?"
"I... I..." Despite having the height advantage, Gildan seemed to shrink back in the face of Mipha's fury. "No... I mean... I..." His voice wavered with the same shock reflected in his face; clearly he hadn't thought she had it in her.
Link wasn't surprised, though. He'd seen versions of this before, on the occasions that she came to his defense instead of the other way around. And though he wished she would stand up for herself more—especially now that he was moving—he was nevertheless in awe of her in these moments.
"Either way, you have made a mistake." Frost crept back into her voice. "You will not win my heart with such behavior. Now leave us alone."
For a moment Gildan looked like he wanted to argue, anger and defeat warring in his expression. At last, though, he turned and stalked away.
They turned to each other the second he was gone; Mipha opened her mouth to speak at the same moment Link did, but somehow the words tumbled off his tongue first. “Are you okay?” Link touched her arm. “Was he bothering you?”
Mipha nodded. “Yes, I—he—for some reason Jabu only knows, he believes he is entitled to go out with me—even just to dance with me—because he chose to come to this school and leave his friends behind. Because he is—in his view, anyway—nice to me.” She shuddered. “He is horrid.”
“Yeah.” Link exhaled. The only relief he could feel now was that Mipha had stood her ground against Gildan's attempt at manipulation. She'd eventually find someone she did want to be with, that she would love, but he wanted that someone to be a good person who'd treat her right. He would always selfishly want to be with her himself, but if she was happy then he could at least try to be happy for her. “I'm sorry you had to deal with that, and that I didn't come back sooner.”
“It is okay.” Mipha rubbed one of her temples. “You said there was a line, correct?”
“Well, yeah, but...” His stomach squirmed. She wasn't going to like hearing this, but... she did deserve the truth. “I kinda... came back earlier than... but I saw you talking to him, so I hung back so I wouldn't interrupt you two.”
Mipha blinked. “Link, you did not have to—wait.” She frowned. “Why did you end up interrupting after all? Did you hear what we were talking about?”
Link nodded. “A little bit—I couldn't hear all of it cause of the noise. But I heard him getting annoyed with you, so I thought I should just come over and try to give you an out. I'm sorry.”
“Don't be.” Mipha shook her head, her eyes glistening. “You—you helped, and...” She flung her arms around him, making him gasp. “Thank you,” she whispered, her face buried in his shoulder.
“Of course.” He wrapped his arms around her, praying she wouldn't feel his heart racing and suspect his real feelings, her effect on him. “I'm just sorry I didn't do it sooner and spare you, and for listening in even though I was trying not to...”
“Shh. It's okay.” Mipha pulled back, though not very far, and his breath caught at the sight of her beautiful face so close to his. He was just barely taller than she was, a fact he often felt self-conscious about and that right now made their proximity all the more affecting. “You helped, and I do not blame you for not wanting to interrupt if you thought there was something between us. I had been hoping to deal with him by pretending not to realize his interest in me, but clearly the problem could not be ignored.” She sighed.
“I didn't know.” Link sighed too. “I'm sorry.”
“No, you...” An odd look came into her eyes. “You could not have known, for I did not want to speak of it... just thinking about him made me uncomfortable, and I did not want to spoil what time we have left by venting about him.”
“Well, as long as I didn't do anything to make you feel like you couldn't talk to me about it.” Link ran a hand over his face. “I didn't, right?”
“No, of course not.” Mipha frowned. “I am sorry, I truly am.”
“It's okay. Don't worry about it.” He reached up and gingerly touched his hair. “He didn't break this thing, did he? I'm not standing here looking like an idiot with a broken pinwheel in my hair, am I?”
“No, it is intact. And you never look like an idiot.” Now she smiled, if only a little. “Here, let me adjust it...”
Without waiting for an answer, she leaned even closer so she could fix the pinwheel's position; Link had to force himself to breathe. “Th-thanks,” he managed, heart banging against his ribs.
“Of course.” She moved back—though not far enough for his body to stop reacting to her closeness—and inspected him with a broader smile. “It is not perfect, but I did what I could, considering our dancing did mess up your hair a bit.”
“That's fine.” He shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “Anyway, do you want something to drink? I can go get some punch or water for you.”
“No.” Mipha shook her head. “Let us go together—I would not like for Gildan to approach either of us while we are separated.”
“Yeah, good point.” He shuddered.
They walked hand in hand to the punch bowl; Link scanned the crowd, looking for Gildan, but he was nowhere to be seen. Once they had their drinks they moved away to sip them, standing there in silence and watching other couples dance. Watching other couples flirt. A heavy sorrow settled over him again, his heart aching with love and need for Mipha. She was the one, the only one he wanted; he'd never pictured himself with anyone else. Try as he might, he couldn't rid himself of wistful imaginings of a future with her.
His dad thought it was stupid, of course. Said that at sixteen he didn't know what he wanted and this was just infatuation, not love. A phase.
But he was wrong. He didn't know what this felt like for him. Both because they were different people, and because he refused to listen to Link's attempts to explain it.
To be fair, it's kinda hard to put in words. Link swallowed down the last of the suddenly bitter punch. Goddess knows I've tried, but... how do you verbally express something you've felt in your heart for who knows how long? A feeling that kinda goes beyond words? Saying that I love her and want to spend my life with her seems like the tip of the iceberg. It's... ugh. I can't even find the words to express it in my own head. Probably cause I'm so stupid. But still.
“Link?”
He turned. Mipha had an empty plastic cup in her hand and a shy look on her face. “Would... would you like to dance?”
Link nodded. “Yeah, sure.” The song currently playing was coming to an end, so she probably meant for them to dance to whatever the next one was. “Just let me...” He took her cup and tossed it into the nearby trash bin along with his. “Okay, let's go.”
They made their way back to the dance floor right as the song ended; to his alarm, the one that started up after it was a slow one. His eyes met hers as he tried to contain his panic, trying to think of something to say. Mipha just silently nodded, though, her expression unreadable, and moved closer to him.
How could he refuse that? Link slipped one arm around her waist, clasping her hand as she laid her other one on his arm, and they began to dance.
It was a paradox—holding her like this, slow dancing with her, felt so right, and yet that was what made it feel wrong. She didn't know how he felt, and didn't feel the same way. So wasn't he taking advantage of this? Didn't it make him as shitty as Gildan? Yet the alternative was hurting her feelings by shying away and refusing. Not a good situation from any angle.
Link couldn't help but enjoy it, though, to his shame. Her tail was swaying behind her, her breath warm on his skin, and his heart beat so hard he could barely get any air in. She smelled of lotuses, her scales like silk, and he could feel the webbing between her fingers as they held hands. Love welled up in him like blood from a cut; if she looked at him now, fixed him with those gorgeous golden eyes, he'd be lost and blurt it out. So Link closed his eyes and leaned his head against hers. Buying himself some time.
The one thing he would never have enough of with her.
Together they trailed out of the gym; Mipha reached for Link's hand at the same moment he reached for hers. In silence they held onto each other, following the stream of students heading to the parking lot. A buzzing filled her head, drowning out the laughter and shouts from everyone else. It all faded away into a sort of white noise, and seemed as distant as the sun. Normally, she'd be exhausted from such an event. And she did feel a bit tired, she had to admit.
But more than that, she didn't want this night to end.
Link opened her door for her, lingering for a moment as if to say something, and then headed to the driver's side. Mipha bowed her head, trying not to cry. How had it gone by so fast? It wasn't fair. Why did the same amount of time in class drag on, but a fun night with him flew by? Why? No matter how sore her legs were from dancing, she'd still rather be doing that than sitting here in the car, about to go home.
On the verge of burying her face in her hands and crying—despite her resolution against it—it took Mipha a moment to realize that Link was in the car too. Curious, she glanced over. He was staring at the windshield, not seeming to see it, the car keys in his hand. As she watched him, he inhaled and then exhaled, his breathing shaky. She opened her mouth to ask if he was alright, but he spoke first.
“I don't want to go home yet.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the steering wheel, the fingers of his other hand digging into it so hard his knuckles were almost as white as her scales. “Dad didn't give me a curfew anyway, he just said not to stay out too late. So...” Link turned to her, his eyes brittle and bright. “Do you... want to go somewhere? Get something to eat and hang out for a while?”
Mipha nodded. “Father said... he said much the same thing. That he...” She swallowed down the lump in her throat. “That he trusts you to take good care of me.” Something in her felt about to break, as it had when her father had said that. It was true, after all. Link had always taken good care of her. Always. “Where do you—where do you want to go?”
“Well, I dunno about you, but I could go for some dessert.” Link wiped at his eyes and tried to smile. “There's gotta be a drive-through open, and then we could go to a park or something and eat it.” He paused and then laughed, his cute Hylian nose wrinkling a little. “I'm not eating in here after all that work I put into cleaning it.”
“I do not blame you.” Mipha managed a laugh. “Very well, let us go. Dessert sounds good to me too.”
They managed to find an open restaurant with a drive-through a few blocks down, and ordered a few raspberry and cream cheese hand pies and some hot decaf coffee. There was a small park at about the midway point between their houses, so Link drove there and parked close to the picnic tables.
The stars were out by now—slightly more visible here, but not much—and the night had cooled. This park had long been their favorite as children, and they still sometimes came here after school to study and do homework. Especially because there was a little stream running through it where she could dip her toes while he quizzed her on stuff. But they'd never been here at night before, at least not like this, when there was no one else around.
It should've been lonely. And in a way, it was. Lonely and dark and slightly eerie. Empty swings swayed in the breeze, and what looked like a raccoon raced away into the dark, eyes gleaming in the gloom. Whippoorwills wept in the trees, and somewhere an owl hooted, harmonizing with the season's last crickets. Discarded trash rolled across the sidewalk under a streetlamp, along with fallen leaves in rich shades of scarlet and orange, blending the natural and the artificial in a surreal landscape.
Any other time, she might've found it off-putting. Not now, though. Instead, there was a strange beauty to it. Like a space in time set aside just for the two of them. Mipha offered silent thanks to both their fathers for allowing them to have this.
She carried the coffee to the table, while Link carried the bag of pies. A chilly breeze whipped up, stronger than the last few, and she shivered. The unseasonable warmth from earlier was long gone, and her dress wasn't doing anything to protect her from the cold. She clamped her jaw shut, but not fast enough to stop her teeth from chattering a little.
“Mipha?” Link touched her shoulder. “I'm sorry, I didn't realize how cold it was... you want to go eat in the car? I care more about you being warm enough than any mess.”
“No, no, I am fine,” she lied. “Truly. I do not want to risk spilling anything and ruining your hard work.”
“Mipha, I said I don't—”
“It is fine,” she repeated. “Please do not worry about me.”
“Hey, somebody has to if you won't worry about yourself.” It should've sounded harsh, but the obvious concern on his face, in his voice, softened it. To the point where she wanted to cry again just looking at him. What was she to do without someone so sweet at her side to look out for her like this? A fresh crack formed in her aching heart. “If you're gonna be stubborn about eating out here, then at least take my jacket. Please?”
A jolt went through her that had nothing to do with the cold; Mipha nodded, feeling distant from her own body all of a sudden. “Alright. Thank you...”
“Of course.” Link set down the bag of pies, and then shed his jacket and held it out. She turned around so he could help her get her arms into it—to her surprise it stretched enough to fit her arm fins—and then turned back to face him. “Does that help?”
“Yes.” It was so warm, and not just from the fabric. The heat of his body clung to it, and she could faintly smell him too. “Is—is it really okay, though?” She lifted her arms, inspecting them. “My fins won't stretch this out too much?”
“I don't think so.” Link shrugged. “And even if they do, I don't care. Like I said, I'd rather you be warm enough.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Link nodded and smiled, and then together they climbed up onto the table, their feet resting on the bench. She expected him to reach for a pie, but instead he plucked the pinwheel out of his hair and planted it in a knothole on the table's surface before rolling his sleeves up to his elbows and letting his long hair down around his face. After being in that bun it was more than a little messy, but that just made it look even prettier, and her fingers itched with the urge to comb through it. Not to make it neater, but simply to touch it. Touch him.
Mipha found herself momentarily distracted, though, by the sight of the bracelet on his wrist. She'd woven it out of a palm leaf over the summer, during their stay at her family's beach house in Lurelin, and gifted it to him one beautiful day. Unable to resist, she reached out and touched it, her heart fluttering at the brief feel of his skin. “You... wore this tonight...”
“Yeah, of course.” Link's brow knit. “I wear it every day, you know that.”
“I—yes, I do, but...” She glanced down at it again, and then back at his face. Part of her wanted to just stare at how lovely he looked right now, while the other part wanted to cry at how much he valued such a small gift. “It just... makes me so happy, you know? To know you liked it so much.”
“I love it.” Something flickered in his eyes. “I'm gonna wear it till it wears out. Which I hope it won't.”
“I'll make you another when it does.” Mipha did her best to smile. “But, ah, aren't you cold now?” She gestured at his bare arms.
“Nah.” He smiled and took a sip of coffee. “I'm good. I'm warmer than you are, remember?”
“I—I know, I just...you gave me your jacket, and... well, I simply do not want you to get sick, so...”
“I won't.” Link took her hand and squeezed it. “I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.”
Mipha frowned. “If... if you insist...”
He raised an eyebrow over the pie he'd just bitten into, but waited till he'd finished chewing to talk. “I know that look. You're still worried, but you're trying not to. Right?”
“Oh, you...” She would've covered her face, but she'd just taken a pie from the bag herself. “Are impossible...”
“Hey, I know what that means too! It means I'm right!” He laughed. “Aren't I?”
“Yes.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh, and he covered his mouth as he laughed again, presumably to avoid spraying pie on her. “No one knows me like you do, I'm afraid.”
“Which is an honor I'm proud to lay claim to.” Link did his best impression of a bow. Not easy, considering their positions, but he managed it well enough. “I would not be your loyal knight if I did not value your friendship.”
“As I value yours.” Mipha took a sip of coffee, trying to blink back the tears that suddenly threatened. “In—in any case, you promise that you are warm enough?”
“Yeah.” Link polished off the pie and reached into the bag for another. “If anything, I was still a little overheated from all the dancing in the crowded gym, so don't feel bad, okay? The air feels nice right now.”
“Oh, okay, then...” Her heart eased a little at that. It was still going faster than normal thanks to how he looked right now—and so close to her too—but at least she could feel better about him going without a jacket.
They ate quietly after that, the rustling of the paper bag joining the soundscape of birds and insects, flowing water and wind in the trees. There was a serenity to it all that Mipha knew, with regret, that she'd better appreciate if not for the underlying anxiety that plagued so much of her waking life these days. Feeling—knowing—that her time with Link was so limited had cast a pall on everything. It isn't fair. That thought, an echo without end. And all around her the world ground on, as if it didn't feel like it was ending for her.
Which was a dramatic teenager way of looking at it. She knew that. Even if no one said it to her, she knew it. Yet how could she feel otherwise? It really was one of the worst things that had ever happened to her, she was allowed to mourn and grieve and cry. To rage and scream, even if internally, at the unfairness of it.
At least her father understood. He had never once in her life dismissed her feelings, no matter how silly, and offered her nothing but compassion and love. This was no different. When she'd told him the news through her sobs, he'd cradled her like he had when she was small and let her cry. Just cry. No admonishment that she was overreacting had come. Lord Jabu-Jabu had blessed her with the best of fathers, and she refused to let herself take him for granted.
It took a while, but eventually the time came when all the pies had been eaten down to the last crumb, paper sleeves stuffed into the greasy bag, cooling coffee all but gone. A thin layer of sugar sparkled in the light, on the table and on her legs; Mipha brushed it off herself onto the ground. In a way, it almost looked like frost. Or little stars. She took a moment to stare up at the real ones. Inverting what she saw on the ground, they resembled specks of sugar, as if a cosmic baker had spilled their bag on the floor. A conversation they'd had over the summer drifted back: the two of them, lying in the backyard of her father's Lurelin house, deciding what constellations they'd be.
Link hadn't known what would suit him.
But he had known that he wanted it to be close to hers.
So they could still talk to each other.
Mipha closed her eyes. The milk from her coffee felt like it was curdling in her stomach. Why did so many happy memories have to be tinged with bitterness these days? Why? Was this how it was going to be from now on? Every treasured memory stained with sorrow? Where was she supposed to find comfort?
So many questions borne of anguish.
And as she struggled to keep herself from breaking down in the face of them, Link chose that moment to slip an arm around her and lean his head against hers. His other hand found hers, squeezing her fingers, and Mipha nearly crumbled. She sagged, but he held her steady, his breathing sounding like sighs. It was as if he knew what she was thinking; maybe he did. They knew each other intimately by now, after all. Years of dedicated friendship had forged a bond like none other. Unbreakable.
At least, she hoped so.
Once she'd gained control of herself, Mipha opened her eyes. They locked onto Link's, and for a moment she forgot how to breathe, before mentally shaking herself out of it. He gazed back at her with knowing concern, and his voice was barely audible when he spoke. “You okay?”
Mipha nodded, aware it was a half-lie. Right now it didn't feel like anything would ever be okay again, but she had come through this latest moment of anguish without crying, so that was good. “Yes.”
“... Okay.” He could tell. Of course he could tell. “Should we get in the car, then? We don't have to go home, but it'll be warmer in there and we can drive around a little.”
Just the mention of going home made her heart seize up, but Mipha nodded again, feeling like one of those sports bobble-heads Link's father collected. “Yes, that sounds good... oh, wait,” she added as Link started to turn away; he gave her a confused look. “You have something... just there...”
Grabbing one of the napkins, she wiped what looked like a spot of raspberry filling from the corner of his mouth; his warm breath ghosted over her face, and she shivered. All the more so when their eyes met. The napkin slipped from her shaking fingers, and all of a sudden she found herself touching his face with her bare hand. His smooth, soft cheek. So close to that tantalizing mouth. Nayru preserve her, he was beautiful.
His arm was still around her. If it wasn't her imagination, his hand shook too where it rested on her back. No. Likely the cold. He'd given her his jacket, after all, and rolled up his sleeves. That was the simplest and thus most likely explanation.
Although it didn't explain why he was looking at her like this. Or why he seemed to be tilting himself towards her, as she leaned towards him. Nor did it explain why those jewel-like, long-lashed eyes seemed to be growing heavy-lidded. Link lifted his other hand to touch her cheek, a mirror of the pose she was frozen in.
And then they kissed.
It happened before she could think about it, her own eyes drifting shut as their lips met. What little hesitation there was soon melted away into a soft, tender kiss, full of yearning and affection. Link's hand trembled where he cupped her cheek, and he drew her in, pulling her closer. Or maybe she moved of her own accord; it was hard to tell. All she knew was the need to be nearer to him, an instinct more than a thought as his lips moving over hers swept her mind into a sweet oblivion. Mipha hummed into the kiss, slipping her arms around him to hold him. A little moan came from him, and he shivered in her embrace. She could barely think, but in the deeper recesses of her mind it was dawning on her: Link was enjoying kissing her. It barely seemed real, and yet here they were, clinging to each other atop a picnic table. Kissing each other with mounting need. His tongue slipping into her mouth brought with it the taste of raspberries, like a remnant of summer. Sweet, like this moment.
But also fleeting. Much sooner than she would've liked, Link broke off the kiss, pulling back with a gasp. He stared at her, wide-eyed and breathing hard, and she couldn't begin to decipher the expression on his face. There was an element of horror there, but that was only part of it, not the full picture. Heart pounding, Mipha tried to catch her own breath enough to ask him what was wrong.
He spoke before she could, though. “No... no... oh no, no, I...” Voice cracking, Link turned away from her and buried his face in his hands. “I'm so stupid... I'm so stupid...”
“... What?” For the second time that night, Mipha felt like she was having an out of body experience. “What... do you mean...”
“I—I wasn't supposed to...” A muffled sob escaped him. “I swore I wasn't going to do anything like that... I wasn't going to say or do anything that... it isn't fair to you, it's...” His shoulders shook. “I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... this wasn't supposed to happen...”
“Why?” Cold numbness spread through her, replacing the heat of his kiss, his embrace. “Why would you... not want to... I do not understand...”
“Because I'm leaving.” Link sighed and wiped at his eyes. “This is the last thing I should be doing before I move away. It's not fair to you.”
“Why... is it not fair to me? What are you saying?” Somewhere—somewhere far away—a suspicion floated. Despite that hurt and the sting of apparent rejection tried to tug it down into the depths of her self-doubt, it stayed at the surface. “Link, I...”
Link regarded her with those tear-filled eyes for several long seconds. No words were spoken; even the creatures of the evening had gone quiet for now. Then he sighed again. “I... didn't want to tell you this because I'm moving, but... I guess I can't hide it any longer.” His fingers found her hand again, and she didn't resist. “Mipha, I...” He took a deep breath. “I love you.”
Time stilled. So did Mipha's heart, just for the barest second, before beginning to beat again like a wild thing trapped in a cage. The knowledge of how to breathe flickered out of her mind, but then returned as she stared at him with an open mouth and no shortage of shock. “You... you...” She struggled to find the words. “You do?”
Link nodded. “You don't have to love me back, of course,” he whispered. “I just... it's how I feel, and... I didn't want to dump it on you before leaving, but then...” He gestured at the two of them and let out a brittle laugh. “This happened, and... I thought if I kept hiding it you'd feel like I was rejecting you and I don't want to hurt you, I just...” Link buried his face in his hands again. “I'm sorry... I really am stupid, I'm sorry...”
“No... no, do not be sorry, you...” A dreamlike quality had settled over everything in the wake of his confession, yet paradoxically it was like a veil being lifted. A new reality was staring her in the face, and she couldn't help but embrace it. “You are not stupid, and I...” Mipha sucked in a shaky breath. “I love you too.”
As she said it, she knew it was true—this was no crush, as she'd believed till now. Hearing him voice his feelings had nudged hers the rest of the way into the light, letting her see them for what they really were. Maybe she'd been afraid of their true nature? Not anymore.
Link went still, his breath audibly halting; Mipha took hold of his hands and gently pulled them down. He looked stunned, yet hopeful, and she nodded. “I love you,” she said again, her voice hitching as she touched his tear-streaked cheek. “And I am... so happy you love me too...”
“But... but it...” His lower lip trembled, his face on the verge of crumpling again. “It doesn't change anything... I'm still going to be moving away in two weeks. That's not...” His voice broke. “It's not enough time...”
He shattered, burying his face in her shoulder as he wept. Unable to bear it, Mipha broke too. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly as they cried together, the joy of knowing their feelings were requited irreversibly stained by the reality of his impending move. What should've been a beautiful moment had been twisted by grief.
So unfair.
“I don't want to go.” Link shuddered. “I don't. I just want to stay here, with you. I just want to be with you.” He lifted his head and stroked her cheek with trembling fingers. “It won't... it can't ever be home without you there. You've been a part of my life for too long, and I love you so much... I...”
“Is that why you asked me to go to the dance tonight?” Mipha leaned into his touch. Savored it. “The real reason, I mean?”
Link nodded. “That's what I was going to do the night I found out,” he said in a choked voice. “I was practicing what to say to you when my dad came in, how I'd ask you to go with me and tell you how I really feel about you. But after he told me that, I couldn't... I didn't think it was fair to you.” A tear slid down his face. “I still don't... I...”
“Shh.” She touched her forehead to his. “I... I am glad I know, I...” Mipha squeezed his other hand, the one she still held. “I have falsely believed that it was a mere crush I felt, until you made me realize just now that I was wrong. That it is love I feel for you.”
“Yeah, that's what I thought too—that I just had a crush on you. But then you gave me this, and...” Link's gaze fell to the bracelet; Mipha's heart jolted. No wonder it was so special to him... “I don't know how to explain it, I just... when you looked up at me after tying it on, I suddenly knew that I loved you.” His eyes seemed to glisten, even as a crooked smile curved his lips. “I'm still not sure of when I fell for you, but when I figure it out I'll tell you.”
“I am not sure of when I fell for you either; I shall have to let you know as well.” Mipha smiled back for a moment before growing serious. “Link, listen, I... there must be something we can do. Perhaps my father can offer yours a job here, or—or you could come and stay with us, or... oh, I can hardly think right now, but there must be something. There must. I refuse to give up on being happy with you.”
“I don't want to either. Trust me, I really don't.” Link breathed slowly, deeply. “Do you... do you really think your father could help? That he would want to?”
“Yes. Of this I have no doubt.” She stroked his hair, heard him sigh. He'd always liked that, just as she liked having her tail stroked. “Father loves you like a son, and he wants both of us to be happy. I cannot imagine him being opposed to helping you. Helping us.”
“I hope you're right.” He swallowed audibly. “I really don't want to leave you, I...”
“I know.” Mipha kissed his forehead. “Here, I have an idea. Stay over tonight, and we will speak to him in the morning about what can be done.”
“Stay... over?” Pink blossomed in his cheeks, and heat blazed in Mipha's face to match.
“Not like that!” She made herself laugh in an attempt to defuse the awkwardness, even as her heart fluttered at the thought of sharing a bed with him like they did when they were little. “In a guest room, of course!”
“Right, yeah.” Link managed a laugh of his own, dissipating the tension. “Yeah... yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” He sighed. “Thank you, Mipha... I'm sorry for upsetting you before.”
“It is quite alright.” The smile that curved her lips was small, but felt more genuine than any of the ones she'd forced over the past couple weeks. And even better, the matching one on Link's face reached his eyes for a fleetingly beautiful moment. “Let us go, then; we can sort things out in the morning after a good night's rest.”
“You want to go home now?” Link tilted his head. “Or drive around a little first?”
“I am not ready to go to bed just yet,” she admitted. “So if you do not mind?”
He shook his head. “Not at all, but...” Shyness crept over him. “Could we... kiss some more tonight too?”
Mipha smiled, her heart feeling ready to burst. “Of course.” She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his, and had the delight of seeing his eyes light up with love and joy.
And for the first time in two weeks, she felt the spark of irrepressible hope inside her.