Chapter Text
"Father dearest, PLEASE!" Zelda begged.
"My answer is now and shall remain final, Zelda," her father frowned as he leaned back in his ornate red velvet chair. "She's an excellent asset on the team and she brings a certain je ne sais quo to my - to our - processes."
"You do realize you are a walking nightmare for everyone in Sentient Resources," Zelda groaned. "Please stop talking about her assets. It's gross."
"She is a lovely young woman and you will not speak unkindly about her. Am I understood?"
"You are impossible. This is why mother left," Zelda rolled her eyes. "Paya deserves better than being ogled by an old lech, and I will feel the shame you're incapable of."
"You do that. Tell me how it goes." Her father stroked his long white beard as he considered her. "Do you actually have anything of note to report?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Morale is low. We can't possibly meet your demands by doing the same thing we've been doing all along." Zelda replied. "Please, give me another person on the team for a couple days."
Zelda shook her head once again in disbelief as the elevator door slid open. She looked down the hall and once again wondered what the other offices that existed on the same floor did, and if they were hampered in the same ways. She hoped it was just her struggling with staffing probably because she was still a little girl to her father.
And also, it would be good to know she wasn't alone in this.
She opened the door across the landing to her little kingdom and was greeted by her second home.
Malon, Impa, Skull Kid, and Groose all waved from their various desks. It had been decided some time back that everyone would be happier with a little sunlight, and so had arranged their desks into an aisle guiding doorway to the giant plate glass opposite.
A week after the change, the blinds got stuck shut. No one wanted to change things back as a repair request would see it fixed soon enough.
Two years later, no one asked about the requests' status anymore.
As she entered, she noted Link, who sat in a dark corner of his own choosing, playing with a feather toy. Tri, Malon's cat, was attempting to decide if the game was worth the effort. Zelda smiled to herself as she tore her eyes away from the handsome man.
Paya sat near her office, and as Zelda turned left into her cave, she noticed Paya putting her phone aside.
Her second in command, Groose, held up a pair of fingers indicating he'd be available in ten minutes. Zelda nodded and tucked herself into her safe haven and began setting herself up for the day.
"Looks like that didn't go so well, boss," Groose said as Zelda leaned back in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"No," she agreed. "And further, if I ask again, he might reassign me elsewhere."
"Why would he do that?" Groose raised an eyebrow as he supported his weight on the elbow of the illicitly requisitioned guest chair.
"I don't know. If I were a suspicious type, I would assume he's trying to make me fail," Zelda growled. Groose snorted. "I'm hoping he just pushes me this hard to make me better at what I do. But it's exhausting."
"Maybe you can hang up some of those demotivational posters I keep seeing online," Groose offered. "The juxtaposition might be fun."
"Ugh. How do you have time for the internet?" Zelda groaned at the ceiling.
"Practice." Groose scratched the back of his head.
"You're here more than I am. I mean quite literally how," Zelda clarified.
"We all gotta stay sane somehow, and you still have eyes for that log at the back desk," Groose shrugged. "So relationship prospects are minimal."
"He is not a - okay, okay. I get you point," Zelda sighed and rested her chin on her hand on her desk."How is he doing?"
"Fell asleep at his desk again," Groose replied.
"You know what to do," Zelda shook her head. "Goddess, why is this where I've ended up? I'm going to die an old spinster."
"Offer still stands to change that." Groose grinned and waggled his eyebrows.
"Go wake Link up, and send Paya in," Zelda ordered in exasperation. Groose opened the door and began to execute her will. "And stop trying to date me!"
Groose closed the door behind him with a goofy grin on his face and a thumbs up. She wanted to cut off the bright red cockatoo spike not for the first time.
"You wanted to see me, ma'am?"
Paya closed the door behind her and sat in the chair opposite Zelda. She was a striking woman, though Zelda had no way of telling how old she was. Zelda had been impressed with her work when she'd joined her little team, but she quickly grew to dislike her after the initial excitement of a new employee wore off. She simply did not seem to do the work she was hired for.
And the longer Zelda sat contemplating the Sheikah before her, the longer she wondered how much of that was laziness and how much was interference.
"I did," Zelda nodded. "We've talked several times over the months and -"
"You're not firing me, are you?" Paya's eyes went wide and her lip quivered in sudden terror of losing her job.
"No," Zelda sighed. "Goddess knows I would have by now if I had a say in the matter. No, I am hoping for a different kind of conversation than we've had so far."
"S-so you aren't letting me go," Paya confirmed. Zelda nodded. "Oh thank goddess. I cannot afford for that. I'm sorry - I do everything that's asked of me and I don't want to -"
"Wait, everything that's asked of you?" Zelda tilted her head in inquiry. "You are assigned to my area, and are supposed to be reviewing works. That's not happening, so what else is being asked?"
"Oh! I thought you knew. The president gives me tasks frequently," Paya explained. "Sometimes it's taking notes during a meeting, or going to a client lunch with him, or help rearranging files."
Zelda's blood boiled. She took a sharp breath, and Paya recoiled into her chair.
"It's. It's not you," Zelda said through clenched teeth. "I - sorry, need a moment. Check back in five. And send Groose in, please."
"Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am," Paya said as she stood quickly and made a quick exit.
Zelda stared at the phone on her desk and resisted the urge to call her father and chew him out directly. For now.
She was so focused on the device taunting her to pick it up that she lost track of time and only snapped out of her focus when her office door opened. Groose gave her a big grin as he stepped over top of the chair and settled down onto it.
"You couldn't wait to see me again, eh boss?" he snickered. Zelda shot him an annoyed look, and he leaned back while holding his hands up. "Whoa, so Paya's doing that bad, huh?"
"She's doing her assigned tasks perfectly," Zelda snapped. She took a deep breath and settled herself. "My father apparently has her on special assignments that keeps her very close to him."
"Ah hell," Groose ran a hand over his hair. The cockatoo crest sprang back to attention as soon as his hand passed over it. Zelda snorted in amusement at the absurdity. "So, what do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know." Zelda threw her hands up. "What can I do about it? He's my father and the owner of this little charade of a business."
"Does she know what he's up to?" Groose narrowed his eyes.
"I don't think so." Zelda turned her head to regard him. "You have an idea."
"I do. Let me call Robbie in. Dig through her computer some," Groose suggested with a frown. "If she's complicit in his little scheme, we make a plan. If she's not, maybe she can be an ally."
Zelda tapped her fingers on the desk as she turned the idea over in her head.
"Besides, we need information, not rash actions," Groose added.
"Do it." Zelda nodded. "I'll keep my hope one direction, and we'll plan when we have real information and not conjecture."
Groose nodded back.
"How are the reviews coming?" Zelda asked and sighed as she let the topic go for now.
"Slow, as always," Groose frowned. "If I didn't have to keep waking your boyfriend up-"
"Not my boyfriend," Zelda interrupted.
"Whatever. He isn't pulling his weight very well. Hasn't been most of the month." Groose shook his head. "I don't know what else to try."
"Install a coffee pot at his desk." Zelda sighed and glanced out the window into the main office and the dark corner. Link was face down against his desk. "He needs some enrichment. He doesn't do well keeping to the same pattern."
"So a meat pumpkin," Groose suggested. Zelda raised an eyebrow in confusion. "It's a thing zookeepers - you know what, nevermind. We are coming up on Ganondorf trying something soon. Maybe we could lay a bit of bait. That always gets Link back on task for a while."
"It's not sustainable, needing to hope someone turns up to cause trouble," Zelda groaned.
"It's not. Think we could sicc him on your dad?" Groose grinned slyly as he leaned back into the chair. A sharp click and Groose jolted back upright as the chair's lock disengaged itself.
"Don't tempt me. And no dying in the office. It's bad for morale," Zelda smirked at the old joke.
"The medics and paperwork might be enough to wake Link. Just a thought," Groose chuckled. "Which 'him' are you thinking anyways? Ganondorf, or Link?"
"Yes," Zelda replied, causing Groose to laugh.
"Impa is keeping at her usual pace. Nice and steady, that one," Groose added when he is able to breathe again.
"How about the new kid?"
"Skull Kid? I suspect he's functionally or completely illiterate," he sighed and shook his head.
"How did he get hired to read stories and write reviews?" Zelda was absolutely flummoxed.
"Your father is well known for his winning pics," Groose replied with a shrug. "I think those fairies that hang around him are doing the actual work. Which, we are only paying one person, and the fairies do the work of three when they decide to work at all."
"Small blessings. Alright, let's have a small pep talk at five. We can hit the goal. I know it. We just need to focus up."
"That's the spirit, boss! I should take you out to celebrate when we do," Groose grinned.
Zelda sighed and stared at the ceiling.
"I'll consider it. Maybe. If - and I do mean if - we can get everyone on task. Send Paya back in."
Paya sat across from Zelda once more. Zelda drummed her fingers on the desk between them as she worried the corner of her lip.
"I need to ask you a few questions," Zelda began. "They aren't directly about you, just things that you've been involved in."
"O-okay," Paya nodded and adjusted her glasses.
"When did the president start asking for help?"
"It was about a week after I was hired," Paya answered.
"And has he been inappropriate towards you?" Zelda raised an eyebrow.
"He's been very friendly and kind and generous," Paya said. "Though…"
"You won't be getting in any kind of trouble," Zelda said soothingly. "What are you wanting to say?"
"He says a lot of very flattering things, and even more when we go to dinner with a client." Paya blushed. "It doesn't make me feel comfortable."
"Do you know why it doesn't?" Zelda asked.
"I feel - well - kind of like a fish on display. A trophy." Paya shuddered. Her phone buzzed and she checked the screen. "Oh, he's calling me. I should take -"
"Let it ring," Zelda instructed.
"Ma'am?" Paya looked confused as the phone buzzed in her hand.
"He's trying to weasel his way into your pants," Zelda sighed. Paya looked horrified, followed by disgusted.
"He what?!" She dropped the phone. It clattered to the floor. "I - ew! - I don't. I mean. I … ew. I … I can't tell my wife about that or she'll come up here in a rage. Oh goddess really?"
"I think that answers the biggest question I had," Zelda nodded. Paya looked at her in confusion. "I didn't think you were a willing participant to his advances. But not even being an aware participant means I can start making plans."
Paya's phone started buzzing again. She looked down at it and grimaced. She pushed her glasses more firmly onto her nose as she looked back up.
"What should I do?" Paya looked terrified, and Zelda wanted to pull her into a comforting hug.
"Ignore him for now. We'll talk more on it a bit later. I'll be making a plan to resolve this. Right now, I just need you at your desk doing your normal job - the one my fa- the president -has been interfering with. I'll cover for you. Set an away message that you are busy," Zelda instructed.
"Okay." Paya groaned. "I can't believe I didn't see it for what it was."
"It's not your fault." She gave her a comforting tight smile. "Some people don't learn how to behave themself."
"Thank you." Paya frowned. "And thank you for letting me know."
"Of course. If you need anything, please let me know. I'll be giving the team a little pep talk at the end of the day, and hopefully you can focus a little better on the reviews we need to get done up."
"Please, take a seat," Zelda offered.
Link nodded and sat in the chair opposite her. He immediately unlocked the back and leaned back as he hooked a knee on the arm of the chair and a foot behind one of the armatures making up a leg. The chair squeaked as he rocked it back and forth with his toe.
Anyone else doing the same would annoy the hook shot out of her, and she knew it.
She set the thought aside and picked up a paper with several metrics on it. A brief glance confirmed what she had read previously. She looked back across the table at him.
And his slouched shoulders. And gentle expression. And dreamy eyes. And pouty lips. And cozy sweater overtop tone - she cleared her throat and looked back at the page.
"Would you care for any water or coffee?" She glanced up to see him shaking his head. And mouthing the word 'no' with those pretty bow-shaped lips. "Alright. I just wanted to go over some of the numbers we have for you. It's looking like your reading has taken a bit of a dive. Do you happen to have any thoughts on what's going on?"
Someone knocked on the door as soon as he opened his mouth, and entered before she could respond.
"Hey, boss," Groose poked his head in. "Malon discovered a hand in the restroom begging for paper."
"Again?" Zelda sighed and rubbed her nose. "That's the third time this month. Why does it keep coming back?"
"Dunno," Groose shrugged. "Want me to chase it off again?"
"No. Give it the paper and see what happens." Zelda shook her head in disbelief at Link. "Maybe write a note on it asking why it keeps coming by."
"Yeah, I'll do that," Groose grinned. "So I'm allowed in the women's privvy then?"
"Get out of my office," Zelda gestured as he closed the door. "I'm sorry about that."
Link shook his head and raised his hand slightly to indicate no offense was taken.
"Well, that would probably lead to part of the decrease. Disruptions can be so debilitating to getting the task done," Zelda continued. Link nodded. "So, how about we brainstorm some strategies to overcome that."
Link grunted in assent.
"I'm thinking maybe some soothing music, maybe tea…" Zelda raised a finger with each point. Link held his hands close to his core an played a high set of notes on an air guitar. Zelda giggled. "That might be a little more than soothing. But maybe that'll work for you. How about-"
Another knock at the door. Zelda sighed again.
"Come in," she stated to the closed door. Skull Kid sidled in with it only partway opened. "What can I do for you?"
One of the fairies - Zelda could never keep which one was which straight - fluttered near their ear as the other nudged them forward.
"Well, see. We - I mean I - was hoping we could do a little group bonding soon. Like … like … ah nevermind."
"No, please. What is your idea?" Zelda asked sweetly.
"Promise you won't laugh?" Skull Kid's lower… jaw, probably… trembled.
"I promise," Zelda smiled.
"Maybe we could make masks and wear them," Skull Kid said earnestly. "I've always wanted to wear masks. I had this really neat idea for everyone, too."
"That sounds like a marvelous idea." Zelda grinned. "Can your shoot me an email about it? I'm liable to forget with how crazy it gets around here."
The fairies flew around Skull Kid's head as they conferred quietly. She thought she heard them define what marvelous meant as part of it.
"Yes, we - I can do that!" Skull Kid nodded. "I'll get it to you in a couple minutes!"
"You don't need to rush - and he's gone." Zelda shook her head again as the door clicked shut behind him. "Odd request."
Link bobbed his head back and forth and gave all indications he's heard stranger.
"Where were we… ah yes, the pit of despair," Zelda said brightly. Link chuckled. Her door opened again, and Groose poked his head in again. He had a handprint on his face.
"What happened to you?" Zelda blinked.
"Forgot to knock first," Groose shrugged. "Paper delivered. We got a manuscript back."
"Th-the hand is a writer?" Zelda stared at him in shock.
"So it would seem," Groose replied. "Anyways, I'll put that on Impa's stack for tomorrow. I'm bringing in a machine tomorrow."
"No you are not!" Zelda shouted as he started to close the door.
"Wasn't asking. Talk later!" The door clicked shut.
Zelda leaned back in her chair. The gentle creaking of Link's chair was equal measures soothing and irritating now.
"Welp. Give those strategies a try, I guess. Let me know if you need a headset issued," Zelda sighed. "Sorry we had such an interrupted chat."
Link stood, and Zelda's heart lurched as he leaned over the desk. Her breath caught as he reached out.
The pat on her shoulder was probably comforting. She had visions about other ways it could have gone.
Ways that would probably put her in front of a Sentient Resources inquisition.
"Thank you for coming in, Skull Kid." Zelda smiled as she gestured to the door. "And, of course, Skull Kid's entourage. Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything?"
"Nectar?" Skull Kid asked as they sat down. One of the fairies flew near their ear. "Oh, and honey."
Zelda closed the door. She circled around her desk and opened a drawer and pulled out a little fast food packet of honey - she was pretty sure it wasn't really honey, but stocking a bottle always resulted in a sticky mess wherever it sat - and a juice box that claimed it was nectar. The fairies yanked the little packet of honey from her hand and vanished into a corner as Skull Kid opened the box container of nectar.
"So, I just wanted to go over with you - and your friends - a small project that was handed down," Zelda explained. "I'll be telling the team as a whole later, but we were asked to hit a big milestone in the next few days. You've managed to do some fantastic work in the past, and I am hoping for that excellent work to help us hit it."
Skull Kid watched her as he drank and she allowed room for a reply that did not come.
"If we hit that goal, we should have a little breathing room to do that group exercize you wanted - making masks, you said?" Zelda offered.
"Oh yes! I have several! I was thinking of making this face with these spikes and wide eyes and you all would wear these other masks that are kinda… one's a fish, and one's a bull, and an insect, and this other is a guy," Skull Kid said excitedly.
"You have this all planned out, don't you?" Zelda smiled outside while she died inside. She did not want to be an insect or a fish or any of that. "Do you have drawings?"
She shouldn't have asked. She had no idea where they produced the drawings from, and would not make the mistake of asking. Six detailed masks - one of which had not been described yet, but appeared to be a kabuki mask with both friendly and aggressive markings both on it in an unsettling combination of Nice But Destructive - and decided she was not liking this idea after all.
She smiled as Skull Kid pointed to the first on the list, with wide eyes and spikes.
"This will be the biggest. I am majorly interested in making it sized to me," Skull Kid said.
"How nice," Zelda replied. "It seems suiting to you. Did you have ideas one who would wear the others?"
Skull Kid shook their head. One of the fairies flitted over from their feast and hovered around their ear.
"Oh! Link should wear this one!" Skull Kid pointed at the kabuki mask.
"That would suit him very well," Zelda agreed. "I think if we can get him to lose the hoodie, he would make quite the fierce image."
Skull Kid nodded excitedly.
"So, if we have a mask day next week, can I rely on you getting that amazing work out of you for a few days?" Zelda tilted her head inquisitively.
The other fairy flitted over, and they conferred among themselves. As one, the turned to her and nodded.
She decided asking how to tell a mote of light nodded was probably not an answer she really wanted.
"Thank you, all three of you. Can I get you anything else?" Zelda asked.
"Tatl would like another honey, please." Skull Kid smiled. Probably smiled.
Zelda sighed as the door closed behind the trio and wished she had a window outside to stare pensively through. Alas, the only windows were in the main room, and they were still drawn to keep out the strong western sun for a couple years prior and would remain so into perpetuity.
If her week could get any weirder, she had a feeling it would do so not only gleefully, but maliciously.
Groose opened the door a crack to poke his head in and inform her the computer tech Robbie had arrived.
"A long lunch?" Paya asked. "That - is very unusual. Why?"
"Robbie here is going to go through your computer. We need to confirm a few things, and it would take longer to get you another terminal than to just wait a little bit and let you enjoy some time away from here," Zelda explained.
"Is - this bad?" Paya chewed her lip. Zelda wanted to give her a reassuring hug, and held herself from doing so.
"Not for you," Zelda replied. "I am gathering evidence on someone else using your terminal."
"Oh. Um. Okay." Paya nodded. "Oh - but I didn't tell the pres-"
"I handled it," Zelda lied. She would, shortly. But Paya was skittish, and the lie was small.
"Alright. So an hour?" Paya confirmed.
"Make it two," Zelda replied. Paya nodded. "If my father tries to call, don't answer and send a text that you are on a special assignment."
"But we were supposed to…" Paya frowned. "Right. I don't actually want to spend time with him."
"I would think not, no." Zelda shook her head. "I'm sorry you're caught in the middle of this, but I promise I will do everything I can."
"I think I have enough time to go home. It would be a nice treat to see my partner for lunch." Paya sighed wistfully.
"Do that. And if you need a little longer, take it." Zelda smiled. "You are on official duty of not being here, so this won't impact your pay."
"You are a lifesaver, Lady Zelda." Paya clutched her hand over her heart. "I can't thank you enough."
"Don't mention it." Zelda grinned. "Especially to the president. I am going to address the team at the close of business, so I would like you here for that. We are going to talk about hitting the big six hundred, and stories we will be able to let shine."
"This is a really sweet project." Paya sighed and smiled. "I love helping others be shown off."
"Same. Enjoy lunch, okay?"
"I shall," Paya replied.
"Yep, she had no real idea," Robbie said as he rubbed his thick glasses clean on his ridiculous white lab coat. Zelda still didn't understand why he wore it.
"That's good." Groose nodded. "We can work with that."
"Thank you. Anything else of note found while digging around?" Zelda asked.
"The pictures of her and her sister are intriguing." Robbie grinned. "Think I have a chance with either of them?"
"That's probably her wife, and no." Zelda shook her head. "Also, didn't you make that robot Cherry for companionship?"
"She's very accommodating," Robbie said defensively.
"You made her, old man. You made her that way," Groose laughed.
"What are you trying to say, whippersnapper?" Robbie put his glasses back on.
"He's not trying to say anything." Zelda looked at Groose sharply. "Thank you for your help today."
Robbie stood and struck a pose while giving the 'V for Victory' gesture. Zelda shook her head as he left.
"That went well." Groose nodded.
"I'm glad you think so," Zelda grumbled and picked up her frozen coffee. She had long ago gotten over the chu eyes embedded in the walls staring at her. She never did ask Link how he got the ice chu in there, and still wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"This ain't about my cat, is it?" Malon asked as she settled into the chair opposite Zelda unprompted.
Over the years, Zelda had picked up the woman's childhood around horses and farmland, and the slower drawl was a lovely respite from the rushed everything of her own youth.
"It is not," Zelda giggled. "That little orange monster of yours is a boon to this office and the handsomest gentleman who ever shredded the chairs."
"Well I'm tickled to hear it," Malon grinned. "You and Groose have had your heads pressed together half the day, so I'm guessing this isn't a social visit."
"I don't say it enough, but I really appreciate how straight forward you are." Zelda smiled.
"If I'm telling the truth, it's a bit on the hard side." Malon sighed. "Back home, a trip into town is an all day affair not because the trip or the errands. Its 'cause you might not see Ingo for another three months, and you went to school with the bank teller and want to know how his kids are doing."
"Ahh, so you've adapted to the city," Zelda nodded. "Well, I don't want to be another one forcing you into our pace, so let's make this a little social."
Malon shifted her jaw in thought.
"If you're sure," she replied hesitantly. "I do like gabbing a bit."
"I'll bring us back on track if I need to." Zelda nodded. "So, you raised horses. Got a favorite back home that you miss?"
Malon grinned.
"As momma always said, they're all my favorites. But being as they aren't here to overhear, Epona is my favorite among the favorites," Malon chuckled and lit up as she relaxed. "That filly'll run rings around any uppity stallion that thinks it might stand a chance to woo her."
Zelda laughed as Malon pulled out a phone to show her the lock screen. A beautiful silver bay with a white star marking and long flowing mane as it ran greeted her.
"That is such a precious girl!" Zelda exclaimed. "That marking. Those ears!"
"Ain't she a beaut?" Malon grinned.
"Thank you. She's perfect." Zelda nodded as Malon pulled her phone back.
"When she was a bit younger, she had trouble with some of the jumps we had set up. Soon as she figured those out, we'd catch her playing with them herself." Malon chuckled. "Had to take then down more frequently so she wouldn't get herself hurt."
"I bet she hated them going away."
"Don't you know it. Started lazing about after that, or eyeing the big fence. She's trouble." Malon laughed.
"But she's your trouble." Zelda smirked.
"That's what mama says." Malon grinned. "I love gettin' to talk about my little troublemaker. Thank you."
"Anytime." Zelda smiled. "Thank you for showing her to me."
"Alright. Down to business?"
"Down to business." Zelda nodded. "So I'll be making a bigger announcement closer to the end of the day, but we were given a directive from on high. Looking at your review rate, you should be fine to keep above the goal as you always have. However, if there is anything I can do to help increase your output for a few days, I'll see what I can do."
"Oh, is that all? Shoot, hand me a bunch of shorter things from Skull Kid's stack and let me do my thing." Malon laughed. "What kind of directive, anyways?"
"Finish out six hundred reviews," Zelda replied.
"Where we at now?" Malon raised her hand and started doing some quick.
"At the start of today five hundred seventy five," Zelda replied. "You know our rates?"
"I like lookin' at things and figuring out where they're at and where they're going," Malon said. "Tight, but we could do it if we don't have any delays."
"If Groose mentions anything about bringing in an invention…," Zelda began to advise.
"Break the elevator?" Malon arched an eyebrow.
"I - you know I can't authorize that." Zelda laughed and leaned close to whisper, "but yes do that."
Zelda looked out over her team. Paya was finally present, and seemed invested for once. Impa was still reading a print out and making notes in the margins as she stood waiting for her to begin. Link kept messing with the hood on his hoodie for some inexplicable reason. Malon was looking around the office clearly distracted. Groose, for his own part, was leaning idly against a desk among them.
"Alright, everyone," Zelda began. "We are coming up on our six hundredth review, and I am so proud of the work done to get us to this point."
Paya stood a little straighter. Malon finally looked towards her. Link kept messing with his hood, and Zelda tried not to let her affection cloud her judgement that she should be annoyed by that.
"We were given a goal," Zelda continued. "Hit the big mark of six hundred reviews by the end of the month."
Skull Kid raised their hand.
"Yes, Skull?"
"It's Skull Kid," they informed her.
"My apologies. I thought Kid was a last name," Zelda replied and made a note to herself.
"Do we get anything for hitting the goal?" Skull Kid asked. One of the fairies flew near their ear. "Like cake? Or honey?"
Zelda stared at them trying to determine if they were serious.
"Done," Impa announced and flipped to another packet.
"Maybe," Zelda said as a way to delay. "We will definitely have the warm fuzzy feeling of a job well done."
"I wouldn't mind cake," Malon said.
"That would be pretty nice," Paya agreed.
"Well, I'm sure I can make something happen." Zelda plastered a smile of her face. "If we hit our goal. Of which, where are we on that, Groose?"
"Done." Impa announced. "Really short one."
"I've given up tallying during the day," Groose shrugged. "I'll know in an hour."
"Alright, sounds good. Let's get to it," Zelda clapped her hands.
"Mao," Link's hoodie replied.
"Tri! There you are!" Malon said.
Link grinned as a little orange cat head poked up out of his hoodie's hood.
"Five hundred eighty," Groose stated.
"Only five days remain," Zelda sighed. "And we don't always get lucky with short ones."
"It's going to be a tough one, boss." Groose set the report down. "Why's he pushing so hard?"
"I don't know," Zelda rocked her chair back and forth as she stared at the ceiling. "There's got to be a reason, even if it's petty."
"Or pretty," Groose hummed in thought.
"Explain," Zelda ordered.
"What if he's making an impossible goal to reassign Paya under him, since your team would be failing?" Groose raised an eyebrow. "Looks like a clean excuse from an outside perspective."
Zelda spun her chair hard enough to ram into the edge of the desk.
"I hate that you might be right," she sighed. "So, what kind of plan did you have in mind?"
"Honestly? I don't." Groose shook his head. "But she may be willing to play along or play as bait. I'll see if I can come up with something and let you know."
"Think about it overnight. Go on home," Zelda said.
"You're going to try to catch us up some," he frowned. "You shouldn't work yourself to the bone like that. All day dealing with your manager duties and working into the night ain't healthy."
"Nothing's healthy," Zelda replied. "But at least this isn't addicting."
"Leave my caffeine habits out of this," Groose laughed.
A sound from the main room pulled Zelda's attention from the story she was engrossed in. She put a binder clip at the section to hold her place and got up. Her office blinds were drawn, and the lights in the main bullpen were out.
She turned the lamp on her desk off before cautiously padding her way across her office and peaking through the blinds. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness around her and through the window. In the dark room, a tall dark shadow began to stand out among the background. It was moving methodically and occassionally stumbling on a chair.
"Ganondorf," Zelda whispered to herself. "This isn't his normal routine…"
Zelda looked back through the window again and saw the shadow stoop. She heard muffled laughing as he stood upright. Zelda sighed and shook her head.
And then had an idea. She stepped to the side and opened the door while flipping the light switch. Ganondorf covered his eyes in sudden pain and shock.
"What are you doing," Zelda asked with a sigh as she put her hands on her hips.
"Things," Ganondorf said as he blinked and uncovered his eyes. He was still squinting, and he was holding several computer cables. "Stuff, even."
"Hm," Zelda replied.
"Why are you here?" Ganondorf asked as he finally opened his eyes the rest of the way. They were their usual striking gold, though still were mostly black irises for seeing in the dark.
"I work here. What's your excuse?" Zelda inclined her chin.
"Stealing power cords," Ganondorf replied. "Messing up your little fiefdom of a department."
"Why do you care? You have not now nor ever worked for any of my father's companies."
"Really? After all this time you really have to ask me that?" Ganondorf said in the most deeply offended tone as he gestured to himself.
"That was a long time ago, and it wasn't my fault," Zelda replied. "The bigger question is why you keep targeting me like some loser who peaked in high school and is trying to get his dream girl back?"
"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to-"
"Not happening," Zelda huffed.
"It's always you because your father is too hard to get to," Ganondorf replied.
"What if he was easier to get to?" Zelda asked.
"Go on…" Ganondorf drawled.
Gotcha, Zelda grinned she laid the bait down.
"He has the hots for one of my employees," Zelda began.
"He has the hots for a mediocre wine, too," he countered.
"Fair, but at least in matters of attractively-shaped people, he at least has good taste," Zelda replied easily. "So, the question is - what if I lure him out and you can solve my problem and yours at the same time?"
"You are a devious one," Ganondorf said admiringly. "We could be quite the power couple. So, you think I'm attractive do you?"
"Want to find out how strong the windows are?" Zelda grinned wickedly.