Work Text:
The atmosphere in the dimly lit flat was alive with the buttery tones of the guitar as they flowed through the vacuum tubes of the small amplifier in the corner. Link sat on the edge of Lasli's bed with the opalesque blue guitar shining under his hands, fluidly fingering the frets and distilling essence of song as the cool evening air came curling through the open window. The amplifier hummed along with him; its ephemeral auditory vibrance crept along the floors and walls of the flat, floating out into the common room through the open doorway.
"Sounds good," said Lasli, leaning against the frame of the doorway with a warm cup of tea and a warm smile.
Link jumped a bit, and the guitar responded with a sudden jolt of discordant noise. He muted the strings with his palm and looked up to see her standing there.
"You didn't have to stop," she chuckled, sitting down on the bed next to him and placing her teacup on the end table.
"I-I know," stuttered Link. "I just thought perhaps you might want your guitar back," he added, lifting the strap over his head and handing over the instrument.
"Oh, is it my turn?" chuckled Lasli as she took her guitar from his hands and placed the strap over her head. She ran her fingers up and down the neck a few times, then began to play a lively riff.
Link's ears perked at the sound. "Is that from the new Octoroks album?"
"Yeah!" said Lasli with a nod and a beaming smile as she continued to play through the riff. "It's from the third track. It's a little different from their previous albums, but I'm big into it," she explained.
"It's good, yeah," replied Link with a nod. "I've actually got it on vinyl," he added.
"Oh, same!" said Lasli, muting the strings of the guitar and reaching down beside the bed. She pulled out a cardboard box and lifted the lid to reveal a small collection of records. With deft fingers she flipped through until she found the one she wanted, pulling it out and holding it up proudly next to her face. "I got this at a live show about a month back."
"Really? Where did you see them?" asked Link.
"They were doing a tour of the Necluda cities and did a show in Blatchery," explained Lasli, placing the vinyl record sleeve on the end table. "I was able to catch them there. It sucks but no bands ever play shows in Kakariko. Can you believe that?"
"It's a shame," said Link with a nod. "I'm shocked you were able to get out for that during semester break."
"Yeah, well," Lasli huffed, looking off towards the window. "It was one of those situations where Nanna didn't really need to know, you know?"
"Ah," said Link, scratching his head.
"Yeah, nah, I don't think that would have gone over too well," explained Lasli. "She means well, but she worries too much."
The silence settled back into the room, and Lasli lifted the guitar strap over her head and sat the instrument gently back down on to its stand next to the bed. She took a sip of her tea and sighed, setting it back on the table and leaning back on the bed. With a yawn, she stretched out her back and limbs and sprawled out.
"Tired already?" chuckled Link.
"When am I ever not?" replied Lasli with a giggle. "Just getting comfortable. You should really try it sometime," she joked.
"Should I?"
"Absolutely," she reiterated, patting a spot on the bed with her hand to entice him to lay down.
Link took a deep breath and leant back on the bed as well, sprawling out across it next to her. He looked over at her, and she looked back at him silently for a moment. Slowly they both devolved into wide smiles, then into giggles.
"Stop making me laugh," giggled Lasli, covering her face and blushing.
"Me?" Link chuckled. "What have I done?"
"I don't even know," she laughed, rolling over to face away from him. "Maybe I've just got the giggles."
"What a terrible fate," joked Link.
"Isn't it, though?" said Lasli, rolling back over to face him.
The silence once more befell the room, punctuated only by the hauling of their breathing. Link closed his eyes and melted into the bedding, letting the stillness of the room swirl about him as he drifted. He didn't know how much time was passing — it could have been a minute, it could have been an hour — but when he opened his eyes, she was still laying there next to him, looking over him.
"Falling asleep?" she asked with a smirk.
"Not at all," said Link. "Just comfortable."
"Good," said Lasli. She sat up and grabbed a small tube of lip balm from the end table and applied it to her lips, giving them a smack. The scent of the balm was strong enough that Link was able to immediately place it.
"Mint and melon?" Link asked.
"Yeah," confirmed Lasli as she returned to her supine position next to him. "It's easily my favourite."
"It's a good one," affirmed Link.
"Want some?" offered Lasli.
"Sure," replied Link. He assumed that she would reach for the tube of lip balm on the table to offer him some.
Instead, she placed her hand on his chin. "Wha-" he sputtered, but was interrupted when her lips fell upon his own. His ears went hot and his stomach dropped like a lead weight, and his eyes fell shut as her sugary kiss seeped through his lips and into his body, striking all of his organs with lightning. Lasli held the kiss for several seconds until she too was too drunk upon it and was forced to break it.
They opened their eyes and stared into one another's. Both seemed to be equally shocked at what they'd just done.
"That was- wow," said Lasli, fanning herself gently with her hand.
"Was this your plan?" asked Link with a smile.
"It really was not. I don't know where that came from," said Lasli, pushing her hair back behind her ear. Her hands were suddenly shaking and her ears were ringing, and her face had gone nearly red as a beet. "Call it spur of the moment," she said, twirling a lock of hair around her index finger.
As quickly as the kiss's opium had walked the length of their spines, they felt it subside and give way to another feeling — a ravenous hunger, as though that moments-gone kiss was now years distant. Link ran his fingers through her silken silver hair and sighed as the hand of that hunger reached up inside of his ribs and cradled his heart with its fingers, squeezing his chest from within. He inched closer until their faces were nearly touching, eyes locked into hers.
"May I kiss you again?" he asked in a near whisper.
"I thought it was I that had kissed you," giggled Lasli. "But, yes — you may."
He closed his eyes once more, as did she. With a slow and deliberate motion, he closed the kiss once more, inviting once again the rush of electricity to strike every bone and joint in their frames.