Musterion (A Zelda AU)

Contagious Smile - Chapter 8

When I awake, the light burns my eyes. The back of my head feels as if it's on fire, and my right arm is numb. Rubbing an eye, I turn my head to see Ali, still asleep against my body. She looks peaceful in her sleep like she has no cares in the world. Her ponytail is undone, her hair covered in the sand of the desert. Gently pulling her hair out of the sand, I try to brush it out.

"Good morning," Link says, his face appearing over me.

I jump back, Ali's hair landing back in the sand as she lets out an annoyed groan. "Hylia! You couldn't have waited to make it any less scary?"

"Nah. Besides, you should be the one scaring me, if anything. You've got more tricks up your sleeve."

"Whatever..." I don't want to get up. It means I have to wake up Ali, and we have to go find somewhere else to call home. For us. Potentially for our entire town. What's the point of relocating anywhere else? The wastelands have been our home for centuries. Leaving the desert to find a new home would break tradition. But we can't stay. The Yiga can always attack again at any time.

"You gotta get up, dude. You can't sleep all day. Plus, it's already past 10."

"Is anybody else awake?"

"We're all waiting for you two," Aabirah sighs. Her arms are crossed as she blocks out the sunlight, stepping into view. "We won't abandon our king. Or our beloved Alibi'eh. That girl does more than you."

"Ugh..." I raise my head, but the pain feels like a swift stab into my skull. My head drops into the cloth behind my head once more. "Wait... when did a cloth get there? Behind my head?"

Link helps me hold my head up, pushing the cloth against my wound. "I had to put it there so you didn't sleep with that wound in the sand. It'll get infected."

"Thanks. Ali..." I gently nudge her, moving my arm. "Wake up, sleepyhead."

She doesn't move.

"Ali." I wait, knowing she's a heavy sleeper. After another minute, Link just gives her a firm nudge.

"Wake up, Alibi'eh." His voice is stern.

She groans once more, finally opening her eyes. I find myself looking away just before we can fully make eye contact, but she just smiles. Ali does a double-take as I look at her once more, quickly pulling herself off of me as her face turns red.

"I'm so sorry-" She stammers, getting to her feet and brushing the sand off herself. She didn't use her right hand for much, still careful to not hurt her wrist more.

"No, no... You're fine." I smile at her, Link pulling me up. I grab onto him for extra support, feeling his free hand wipe sand off of my back. Our eyes stay connected for a while, silence being the remainder of our conversation.

Ali finally says something as she runs her hand through her hair. "Aabirah, could you help me with my hair really quickly? It feels like there's sand in it."

"Of course. I would be happy to, little vai." Aabirah walks behind Ali, brushing her hair out to make sure no grain of sand was left in it. "Perhaps I should braid it for you, like-"

"Shh!" Her face turns red again as Ali looks back, shushing Aabirah. "I'll just leave it down for now. Since I assume we're... leaving home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Thank you, though."

"Do you want me to hold onto your hair tie for you?" Zelda chimes in, holding out her bag.

"Oh, um..." Ali glances at me for a moment, before her gaze turns back to Zelda. "Sure." She hands it over, watching her hair tie go into the bag.

"Are we all set to get going?" Link asks. "I can't provide homes for all of you immediately, but I'll help the best I can. And we need to get moving before the full force of the heat sets in."

"I..." I look around, seeing everyone nodding. "I suppose so."

"Good. We're off."

Link helps me walk behind the crowd, Ali and Zelda in front of us. Aabirah walks beside them, seemingly enjoying talking to them. Her laugh is hearty and full. I wish I could enjoy a conversation at a time like this, but the situation is too grave.

Ali looks the happiest I've ever seen her. She's always been a girl to respect tradition, but... if I didn't know any better I'd say it seems as if a weight has been lifted off her shoulder. Her eyes gleamed with the sunlight, a happiness reflected in them that I had learned to cherish a long time ago. She had the kind of smile on that you rarely saw, one that most often was made your face hurt because it didn't go away. And it's such a contagious smile that she has. It fills my stomach with butterflies, making me smile as well.

"Man, you're really pining for her, aren't you?" Link muses, his voice quiet. "It's so painfully obvious. You guys would be good together."

"You think so?" I mutter, cheeks flushing red. "I've been thinking about talking to her. But I'm worried she doesn't like me back in that way."

"I'm sure she does, man! C'mon!" He jabs my side, eyes bright. "Have you seen the way she looks at you? For Hylia's sake, she tended to your wounds and wouldn't let anyone else. Not only that, but she even slept with you. She's already so intimate with you."

"Well, yeah, but- that doesn't mean anything!" 

"Man, you are dense," Link sighs. "She most definitely likes you. I'll take you two somewhere where you can go on a date once everyone else is settled down. Okay?"

"Oh... um... okay." I look down, nervous. What if Ali didn't want to go on a date with me? If she didn't, she would say something, though. Surely. 

I look back up, catching Ali glancing back at me. She gives me a bigger smile, tilting her head a little. "Quit being such a worry wart, Gan! We're starting a new chapter in our lives!"

"Yeah," I feel myself grin a little. Such a contagious smile. "I suppose you're right."