Who We Are; Zelink, Modern (The Legend Of Zelda)

Who He Is (11)

Zelda watched Link throughout class, trying to catch his eye, but he seemed to be avoiding her gaze. So far as Zelda knew he hadn't spoken to her- hadn't so much as looked at her- since he had disappeared into the cold night.

As soon as school let out she tried to talk to him but he disappeared quicker than she thought was possible. What was his problem?

She finished her homework fairly quickly and shouldered her backpack as she went out of the library. She looked down at her phone to check the time as she left through the doors, but then she abruptly ran straight into someone else. She stumbled back and her phone dropped.

A hand reached out and caught it before it fell to the ground. "You should watch where you're going," came a sarcastically harsh voice from in front of her.

Zelda looked up and saw Link holding her phone. She blinked a few times. "No one is usually around at this time."

"Vigilance is important," he remarked as he held out her phone.

She reached out to take it, but he moved back before she could grab it. "Hey!" she said as she stepped forwards and tried to snatch it from him.

He stepped backwards and held it behind himself.

"What do you want? An apology? Because I'm not going to apologize for last night."

"I'm not asking for one," he said evenly.

Zelda reached out her hand and flicked her wrist. The phone materialized in her palm. "Don't mess with me. I don't appreciate it," she said as she brushed past him and tucked her phone into her pocket.

He walked after her shaking his head. "You shouldn't do that in front of people..." he said softly.

"What? There's no one around," she said started to walk towards the front doors of the school. She wrapped her scarf around her neck, and she looked back to see that he had pulled a blue scarf out of his backpack.

As he wrapped it around his neck she caught a glimpse of a dark blotch where his shoulder connected to his neck. That hadn't been there last night. "Where'd that bruise come from?" she asked.

Link dropped his hand from the scarf and raised an eyebrow. "What bruise?"

"That one on your neck?"

He looked down a little bit and then shrugged. "...I got in another fight," he replied. "I didn't have my girlfriend to save me this time."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "When?"

"Before school started."

Zelda frowned. She had been late to school.... "So you didn't follow me here today?"

He blinked a few times. "No, I did. I... I walk past the school in order to reach your house... I was stopped then."

"Bullies who are early?" she remarked. "That sounds rather unlike them."

Link shrugged. "Does it really matter who beats me up?"

She tilted her head to the side. "Of course it matters. I can't have people walking all over my boyfriend," she said lightly.

He seemed to relax somewhat as she made her joke. He nodded with a small smile. "Well, I'll make sure to call you next time," he said as he held up his phone.

She stopped and turned to focus on the screen. There was a contact with her name and number in it.

She let out an sigh of understanding. "That's what you held onto my phone for... weirdo. You could have just asked," she said.

"Would you have given it to me?"

She laughed. "Probably not."

"Which is why I didn't ask."

"A real charmer you are," she said as she rolled her eyes. Well... She couldn't deny that he was rather- No Zelda, he's your bodyguard. With a more than likely troubled past. Issues you shouldn't get involved with. You can't fall for him. You will not.

She'd never developed any sort of feelings for a guy before. Quite frankly she'd never had the opportunity. Which was probably why she was latching onto Link so quickly. The hurt she had heard in his voice the night before had affected her deeper than it should have. His vulnerability that he seemed to hide so well had leaked through the cracks just because of an argument of beliefs. Why had he been upset by her insistence in the old stories?

"Always," he replied with a small chuckle.

"Hey, Link?" She said slowly.

"Yeah?"

"I'm..." she looked away and closed her eyes. "...sorry about last night."

He looked over at her in surprise. "You said you weren't going to apologize."

"Well I thought about it and... Well I'm sorry for prying. You're allowed to keep your secrets, and I felt... guilty for driving you out into the cold like that."

Link looked down at his boots as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "...Thanks for the apology..."

Run.

Zelda blinked in surprise as she heard the voice in her head; her eyes darted around as she looked for the source.

"Something wrong?" Link asked.

"No, I-" she said. "It's... nothing."

Run! Now! Leave him and GO!

"I-I think I forgot something in the library," Zelda said as she reached towards her pocket and then shook her head. "Yeah I did; I'll be fast. Be right back," she said as she started to run back the way they had come.

"Wait, let me come with you!" Link yelled as he started to run after her.

"Just wait there!" she called back.

Don't go to the library. Teleport up when you go around the bend so he can't see you.

She was utterly confused, but she did as the voice said. As she ran around the corner she twirled, disappearing from the hall and reappearing in the attic. What the hell is going on? she demanded. You're talking like Link is the enemy!

He is.

Zelda's eyes widened. What? That's... No. You're wrong. He's...

He isn't your bodyguard. He wasn't hired by your parents. He's been lying to you since the beginning.

How do you know this?

There was no response.

Why are you telling me this?

No response.

Why are you helping me? Please, I just want to understand!

... Wait there and you should be safe.

Don't you dare break contact with me again! she yelled with her mind.

She heard a weak chuckle. You'll be safer this way.