Musterion (A Zelda AU)

Hearty Soup and a Deal - Chapter 24

"I can't believe we got this done in just three days," I mutter, standing in front of the cabin Alibi'eh and I had put up.

"I can. My body hurts..." Ali groans, stretching as her back pops. "Scratch that- my everything hurts..."

"Well we did already get the bare bones of the furniture put in there after Link demanded he pay for it all. Go lay down if you need to," I sigh, opening the door and holding it open for Ali.

"You know, this is the part where you offer to carry me inside."

"It is?" I pause, looking her over. "I mean, you're standing."

"This is why you shouldn't have skipped classes!" She huffs, draping herself over my chest. "I can barely walk, you should be a man and carry me."

"Fine, fine..." I sweep Ali up off her feet, rocking her back and forth in my arms for a moment before closing the door with my foot. I notice Ali's face redden as I walk over to the couch, and I set her down. I gently kiss her forehead, reaching for a blanket that one of the Hateno children made for us. I pull it over her with a smile, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes. "You look beautiful, you know that? Even when you look like you just got out of a sandstorm."

"Do I?" Ali tilts her head a bit, her gaze meeting mine as a small, delicate smile pulls at the corner of her lips. "I didn't think I'd hear that from you of all people."

I kneel down on the floor, putting a hand on her cheek. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. So beautiful, in fact, I could never compare you to another."

"O.. oh..." She puts a hand over mine, leaning into the palm of my hand. "Thank you... That's... that's the... nicest thing anybody's ever said to me."

"I can say nicer."

"Please do," Ali mutters, closing her eyes.

"As much as I would like to, I shouldn't. Link and Zelda said they would stop by sometime today."

"Well why would that stop you?"

"Because I know you want me to take things further than 'saying nice words'," I sigh, rubbing her cheek with my thumb before standing. "Plus I should make lunch."

"Ooo lunch?" Link says, opening the door. "What're you gonna make? Wood shaving stew?"

"Yes, because I'm going to feed literal wood to my friends," I retort, rolling my eyes as I walk over to the fruit basket Alibi'eh had weaved. Inside were a few different fruits. I took notice of the abundant amount of hydromelons, glancing at her on the couch for a moment.

"Oh, don't worry. They're fresh. Ali and I picked them," Zelda smiles, waving as she pushes Link inside. "You guys did a good job getting this place put up so quick."

"Well... I've helped with other construction efforts before. Figured this was no different," I reply, tilting my head. "Was I supposed to just freeze my ass off in the rain?"

"Yeah because then you wouldn't have so much damn cake back there!" Link laughs, smacking my butt as he grins.

"You're asking for a beat down, shrimp." I glare at Link, reaching into the basket.

"What're you gonna do? Beat me over the head with a stick?"

"Worse," I return the shit-eating grin as I slap Link's face with a mushy banana, bursting out into laughter.

"Boys..." Zelda sighs before sitting down by Alibi'eh.

The two of them start muttering to one another, Zelda holding her Sheikah Slate out to Ali to look at.