Musterion (A Zelda AU)

A Weirdly Full Cup - Chapter 10

"Okay." I pause. "Let's talk, then. C'mon... sit down."

Ali lets go, sitting down as I mimic her action. Her hands are empty, no bowl of soup. Her wrist is swollen, and her bandages are more bloodied. She looks at me before finding her way into my lap, laying against my chest. Normally, I would've just turned red and get all embarrassed, but this time... it's different. It doesn't feel like she's doing it out of affection. She reminds me more of an injured animal, looking for someone to help.

She says nothing, still. 

"Do you want my soup, Ali? What happened to yours?"

"I... gave it to someone with a baby who needed it more." 

"Have some of mine." I try to set the bowl in her good hand, but she only sets it on the rocky ground.

"I'm not hungry."

"What's wrong?" 

No answer.

"Hey, Ali. What's going through that head of yours right now?" She continues to stay quiet, her bad hand pulling at my shoulder guard. I put a hand on top of hers, carefully taking it away from the guard. Her fingers brush over mine, fitting into the gaps between them. She squeezes my hand as much as she can, eyes glossing over with tears.

"I can't keep pretending I'm okay with everything that just happened," Ali mutters. She hesitates, tears falling from her eyes as I put my arm around her, pulling her closer. "My body hurts, all of my sand seals are gone... my... my mom is missing..."

Ali always told me not to bring up her mom. But she sounds so worried about her right now, I... I can't just not say anything. "Ali-"

"She's not missing, actually... I... I saw her, Ganon... under the bar's rubble- I-" She starts talking faster and faster, the panic inside her rising. I try to pull her closer, but there's no space between us for me to pull her into. "I- she called out to me- and... and I ignored her- I ignored her, Ganon- I killed my mom- I-"

"Shhh." I interrupt her, hoping to stop the panic-inducing thoughts. It sent a chill down my spine, thinking about Ali turning a blind eye to someone. Even her mom. "You didn't kill her. You couldn't have done anything at all, Ali. She was trapped under rubble. Nobody could have pulled her out."

"Even though I hate my mom- I killed her Ganon! I should've gotten someone- I... I should've yelled for help-"

"Alibi'eh. That is enough. You couldn't have done anything, okay!" I let go of her hand, putting my now freed hand on the back of her head. Her tear-streaked face squishes itself into my chest. "You... you couldn't have saved her. I'm sorry. But you need to hear it."

Ali doesn't say anything for a while, just silently crying. I see Link glancing in my direction for a moment before he quietly looks away.  

"Ganon... I... I don't get it," Ali sighs, taking a deep breath. "Why is it when someone else says they're fine, people continue to pester them until they let them take care of that person, but when I do it... nobody cares enough to continue pestering me? I can't just admit that I need help... I... it's like admitting I'm weak, like everyone thinks I am. I'm not a workaholic, either. I liked my job because those sand seals were my pets. Why doesn't anyone see that? You, Zelda, and Link are the only people who see me for me, and I haven't even known Zelda or Link for that long." 

"Not everyone is going to care enough to look past the fake person most people pretend to be, Ali. Not only that, but... pretending you're fine when you have major injuries like you do... people obviously see that you're hurt. But if you just keep pushing them, and others away, they won't feel like they can help you." 

"But you feel like you can... right?"

"Of course I do." I bite my tongue after, feeling the words I've been wanting to say trying to come out. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I... don't know." She hesitates. I can tell she wants to change the subject, because she's trying to think of something.

"I'm going to talk to Aabirah tonight."

"About what?"

"You and I... not going to wherever the others go. Maybe we'll go with Link and Zelda," I smile.

"What if she says we can't?"

"Then we'll run away, together."

"Would you marry me?" 

"I-" My face suddenly turns red as I look down at her. "Would I... marry you?"

"Y... you know, like... the 'let's run away and get married' thing? In... in books?" She mumbles, looking away from my eyes.

"I think I'd marry you regardless of what happens," I sigh, dreamily thinking of the different things we would do. We would build a house together, make each other food. Maybe Ali would make me an outfit or two. That's a Hylian tradition I've always wanted to experience. Then, when the awkward silence becomes apparent, I realize I said all of that. Out loud. Well, crap. Cat's out of the bag now. "Wait-" 

Ali's face turns red as she processes what I've said. "Do... do you..."

"Do I what?" I quickly mutter, hoping she somehow didn't hear.

"Um..." Ali struggles to find any words, only looking up at me with that clueless, flushed face of her. 

"I... hope you don't mind me saying this, or anything... but I think you're missing something." I put my hands under her arms, giving Ali a height boost as I lay back a little to alleviate some head pain. "Do you wanna know what that something is?"

I feel Ali's arms around my neck, encouraging me to continue as I put a hand back onto her head. I gently push her closer to me.

"I might be missing a someone rather than a something," Ali mutters, smiling a little as our faces come closer.

She looks almost angelic. The sun is shining on the back of her head, casting a shadow between us. 

"Mind me asking who that someone might be?" I tease.

"He's a real nice guy, with a good amount of muscle. He's got this nice tone of red hair, and it's almost always tied back. He also has a great personality. Pulls the whole thing together. Especially his humor," Ali replies.

"Huh, never heard of him."

"Weird. I'm about to kiss him." 

I don't get a chance to reply before our lips meet, Ali actually being the one to initiate the kiss. I kiss her back, laughing when she pulls away. She smiles.

"You look good when you smile, Gan. You should do it more."

"Only if you'll be my girlfriend. I might have a case of serious face forever if you don't," I joke, surprised she gives me another kiss on the cheek. 

"We wouldn't want that, now would we? I guess I'll help you with your serious face."

"Thanks. But it's gonna stay until you eat something. I'm allergic to hungry girlfriends."

"Oh, shut up!" Ali giggles, pushing on my chest as she reaches for the bowl of soup from before. "We can share."

"You have some first, okay? I can hold out longer than you if I get hungry, since I'm not as hurt as you. Your body needs the nutrients."

"Promise you'll eat?" 

"I promise."

And, I did, in fact, finish whatever was left of that soup. Which was roughly about half.