Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Hear ye! Hear ye! All are welcome in the two thousand and twenty-fourth year to the Festival of Enchantment!”

A crier called from one of the wooden picnic tables, gathering everyone's attention. A hush fell over the crowd. 

It was almost funny, seeing someone in a faded Metallica shirt cry out “hear ye”. But Zelda supposed she would get used to that kind of thing quickly enough this summer. 

The crier hopped off the table and an older woman Zelda recognized as the director carefully climbed onto the bench of the same table, lifting a megaphone to her poised mouth.

“Welcome, new hires! If we haven’t met personally, I’m Dorothy Walker…”

She had the affect of a theater teacher, old and eccentric with her many bracelets and colorful shawl, but could clearly command a room. Or… field, as it were. As the director ran through various points of orientation (most of it a repeat of their introductory paperwork) Zelda took in the bustle of activity happening all around them. 

They stood on trampled grass in the dusty backstage of the fairgrounds. And apparently they did call it a backstage, though it was nothing like what Zelda had been used to in the theater. People rushed by in varying degrees of athleisure and costume, carrying clipboards, pushing dollies of boxes or dragging carts. A truck even crawled past with a horse trailer, which had Zelda subtly trying to see inside. 

It was a strange feeling, but nice, to be seeing behind the curtain so-to-speak. She had been coming to the faire for years and loved the magic in the air here. And now, seeing the skeleton of the operation, it was a different kind of magic. Like watching a great magical beast sleeping, and it would be her job to wake it up.  

“Main actors you’re going to Annie…” 

Zelda’s ears perked up at that, and her eyes followed where Mrs. Walker had gestured to spot this Annie person. She raised her hand and waved, a welcome sight in the sea of unfamiliar faces. Annie was short and stocky. Her bright round face and pigtail braids seemed almost too approachable. 

Zelda made her way over to her, but seemed to be the only one. As no one else moved to join them, a feeling of dread crept under her skin. Still, she kept a polite smile on her face.

Annie held her hand out for Zelda with a wide grin. “Hi! I’m Annie.”

Zelda returned her smile and took her hand. “Zelda,” she said with a nod. Mrs. Walker continued with her list behind them.

“Well you’re in the right place. Follow me,” she said, backing away from the ruckus.

They walked side-by-side on the wide dirt path between buildings. Annie jumped into pointing out important locations to remember, Zelda trying her best to memorize it and the path they took from the main backstage plaza. 

“So is that like a stage name or something?” Annie asked abruptly, almost causing Zelda to stumble. “Some of us were curious.”

“My name? Oh no, that’s my real name.”

“Huh.” Apparently Annie didn’t deign the subject worth any more discussion and swiftly moved on. “Well anyway that building over there is where they serve the included meals.” She put her clipboard under her arm and pointed to the back of one of the larger permanent buildings on site. “But it’s like, typical cafeteria shit, you know, so I rarely eat it.”

“You buy from the vendors then?” Zelda asked.

“Sometimes,” her smile turned mischievous and she elbowed her conspiratorially, “It pays to make friends though.”

“Ha, I can imagine.”

“Speaking of, do you have a boyfriend?” 

Now Zelda really did stumble a bit. “A boyfriend?” she repeated, dumbfounded. 

“Oh I’m not being weird or anything,” Annie rolled her eyes and elbowed her good-naturedly, “We’re just girls chit-chatting.” 

“Oh,” Zelda said sheepishly, fighting to contain the blush rising from her chest. “No, I don’t.” 

“Hm,” Annie said in a dismissive tone that struck her as odd, turning to face away from her. She didn’t seem to like that answer. 

Zelda rushed to explain, “But I’m not looking for anything right now, that’s really not what I’m here for.”

“That’s for the best,” Annie turned back to face her, her words sounding sickly sweet now though Zelda couldn’t be certain if she was imagining it. They’d reached the farthest point from the entrance now, backstage of the joust. “You wouldn't want to mess around with any of the guys here anyway. Least of all the knights.”

Before Zelda could ask (not that she was sure she even wanted to) Annie moved on to talking about the barn and the trailers they were approaching. 

The women’s dressing trailer looked like any other as they approached, but inside it was a mess of racks of extravagant clothing and accessories. One wall was nearly all mirror, with a long vanity counter to get ready at. 

“So this is your home! Our home. There are six of us, seven now, for main actresses,” Annie squeezed between racks to make her way back to a tiny kitchenette Zelda hadn’t noticed. “You didn’t get your scripts yet right?” 

Zelda’s hand lingered on a velvet dress as she passed it, the layers under it rustling in a satisfying way. She was really here. She was really doing this. 

She tuned back in to Annie and answered, belatedly. “No, no I haven’t gotten my scripts yet.” 

Annie searched through cabinets along the wall for a moment before removing two huge binders. “Alright, let’s get you caught up girly.”

It was hours later when they finally stepped back outside. The sun had already dipped behind the trees of the surrounding pine forest, though it hadn’t quite set yet.

There was a group of guys hanging around the men’s dressing trailer across from theirs, a couple of them sitting in camping chairs stabbed into the mulch. 

“Ay, it’s Annie!” one called out, a man with bronzed skin and a curly black mop of hair.

“Annie!” another man echoed, and one of them wolf-whistled.

Annie did a little curtsey, to their amusement.  “And fresh meat!” she called back to them, hooking her arm with Zelda’s. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to the boys.”

The boys. It felt more foreboding now, after Annie’s warning. But Zelda breathed and schooled her expression, marching to meet them. 

They were all tall and fit, moreso even than the men Zelda usually worked with in the theater. Actors tended to be attractive, but these men were sporting more than just vanity muscle.

She could see how they might earn a reputation here.

“Boys, this is Zelda, and that’s her real name,” Annie said proudly.

Zelda looked around to all of them with a smile, nodding to them.

"Ha! And my real name's Big Dick Russ," one of them sneered, earning a shove from the man next to him.

“Shut up, idiot,” the shover hissed.

Annie rolled her eyes. "Fitting, since nobody would call you that unless it was actually your legal name, Russ."

A chorus of ‘ooo’s and laughter erupted around them, and Zelda felt her shoulders loosen a bit. Russ seemed like the average playboy, his blonde hair shaved on the sides in the latest fashion. He took the burn in stride, conceding with a bow of his head to Annie. 

"So. That's Russ. Next to him is Jordan," she pointed out the man who’d called Russ an idiot. 

Jordan gave her a dazzling smile and lifted a hand in greeting. He had dark skin and a headband holding back shoulder-length braids.

“That’s Nick,” she pointed to a slim man with a buzzcut and a sunburn.

“Hey Zelda,” he waved cheerily. “I’m an actor too.”

That must mean the rest of the men were knights.

Before Annie could introduce the last man, he stepped forward and bowed, his curly black hair flicking with the motion. He held out his hand to Zelda. “Alfonso de la Roya, milady.”

Certainly seemed like a knight.

Zelda felt an intense blush coming on but rolled with it, taking her arm back from Annie and giving him her hand. He kissed it chastely, giving her something between nausea and butterflies, then met her gaze with a charming smile.

Annie scoffed. “Alright Alf, give it a rest.” 

As he backed away again he kept his dark eyes on her, bringing a cigarette she hadn’t noticed back to his lips. 

The men’s trailer door opened suddenly and out came another man. He was shorter than the others, with long, dirty blond hair that fell into his eyes. He was dressed in period-appropriate clothing, though it didn’t seem to be one of the provided costumes, those were far more elaborate and colorful. Just a shabby tunic and trousers, with tattered boots.

He didn’t make eye contact with any of them, keeping his head down as he hopped down the steps and walked away. Zelda was immediately curious.

“Who is he?” Zelda asked.

Annie glanced over at him like she hadn’t even noticed. “Oh, that’s Link.”

“Link? Is that a stage name?”

Annie laughed. “No, just another weirdo name,” her face changed and she stopped herself, the energy suddenly feeling off. “Sorry, didn’t mean to suggest…” she toyed with one of her braids for a moment, thinking. “But actually! You should go introduce yourself! He’s probably headed back to camp.” There was something sharp behind her eyes Zelda didn’t like the look of.  

Zelda looked over at him again, wondering what Annie was playing at.

“LINK!” Annie shouted with her hands around her mouth to get his attention.

The man stopped and turned to look at them.

Annie jostled her forward. “Go, go say hi. I’ll catch you later.”

“Ookay…” she said hesitantly, Annie already turning back to the guys to continue chattering.

She walked away from them and towards Link, feeling eyes on her though the conversation continued behind her. Link pulled out his phone and toyed with it as he waited.

She suddenly wanted to just jog to him and say the quickest hello she could and run away to the relative privacy of her tent to unpack the day. She was exhausted and just wanted it to be over. But she walked normally and breathed the cool evening air and focused on keeping her pleasant demeanor as she finally approached.

He looked up at her and the first thing Zelda noticed was how blue his eyes were. The kind of striking blue that can be unsettling sometimes, but it worked for him. His gaze was magnetic.

“Hi, I’m Zelda, I'm the new actress,” Zelda gave him a sweet smile and extended her hand in greeting.

The corners of his lips barely shifted up into the smallest polite grin as he shook her hand firmly with a nod. He seemed guarded, but there was something unnameable about him that felt so familiar. She hadn’t seen him before. Surely she would have remembered his face. 

Without a word, he pulled back his hand and began to leave.

“Are you headed back to camp?” Zelda asked quickly without thinking. It was odd, she had wanted to be alone, but now she just wanted to engage this curious man. She wanted to feel his eyes on her, hear his voice.

He looked down, and then past Zelda back to the trailers. His jaw tightened, with the smallest, almost imperceptible flicker of anger in his clear blue eyes. He pulled out his phone again and showed it to her, like he’d already had the note typed.

‘I’m mute’

The awkwardness from before clicked into place. Annie had set her up to be embarrassed, with Link in the crossfire. 

Zelda was suddenly burning hot with several emotions. Embarrassment, yes. She could feel their eyes on her back. The anticipation. But also a righteous fury, and then… excitement. 

She took a deep breath to still her erratic heart. “Do you sign?” 

Link, seemingly caught off-guard, just gawked at her for a moment before finally nodding. 

Zelda’s smile slowly widened. It had been so long since she’d gotten to use sign language. She had studied it as her extracurricular language credit, since sign interpretation in concert and theater had always fascinated her. 

She angled her body so Annie and the others could hopefully see, and signed, ‘Nice to meet you! I’m Z-E-L-D-A’  

Link’s jaw dropped in surprise, which morphed into an excited grin. His eyes flicked back behind her again and he smiled even wider, even silently chuckling. It had Zelda’s racing heart stuttering. 

‘That was priceless,” he signed slowly, ‘ No one has ever been able to speak to me. She must be pissed.’

“Good. Something tells me she deserves it,” she grumbled. She turned around and made a show of giving them all a thumbs up, Annie quickly turning away and a couple of the guys laughing. 

When she looked back to Link he seemed so much more at ease than when she first approached. It made her heart warm. 

‘I’m L-I-N-K,’ he signed.

“Do you have a name sign? And is it better if I talk or sign?”

‘My hearing is fine. I haven’t used a name sign in a long time. Not sure if it’s worth using my old one.’ He looked behind her again, then down the dirt path ahead. ‘Come on, I’ll walk with you.”

“Thank you, Sir Link,” Zelda said brightly.  

He smiled shyly at that and looked down, his hair obscuring his reddening cheeks.

Zelda decided she already much preferred the shy knight’s presence to the others, anyway.

Chapter Text

The burn of prying eyes subsided as they walked towards the cafeteria building, lights buzzing to life around them with the setting of the sun.

Zelda immediately wanted to know everything about the man walking beside her. Her mind whirred like it always did when faced with a puzzle, a challenge. But she stretched and breathed a sigh, willing herself to appear calm and collected. “Have you been working here long?”

‘Sort of. This will be my third year here, but I travel for gigs.’

“You do?” Zelda asked excitedly. “How? Like– with the faire?”

He smiled at her eagerness and shook his head. ‘ _____ gigs,’ he continued, ‘Sometimes other faires. They’re my favorite.’

“Sorry Link, I didn't catch this sign,” she repeated the sign for him.

‘No problem, _____ means S-T-U-N-T, basically.’

“Oh okay! Sorry, that’s a new one for me.” She repeated the sign and he nodded quickly with a sheepish smile that lit her up inside again.

He looked away, and something seemed to catch his eye in the distance. He brought his fingers to his lips and whistled suddenly.

Zelda followed where his eyes were trained and spotted… a dog? It was sitting against the back of a building, idly panting. It caught her off guard, though she supposed she really shouldn’t be surprised. The faire had been such a chaotic place so far. 

With Link’s whistle, the dog’s little folded ears perked up and it took off towards them, fan-tail wagging. 

Link turned back to Zelda to explain. ‘My girl,’ he signed with a smile.

Of course he just had to love animals. And he called her his girl!  Zelda’s heart thrummed painfully as the dog reached them, Link bending down to receive a barrage of licks to the face. She seemed to be some kind of border collie mix, with long sweeping hair but an unusual tan and white coloring. 

Link stood up again and the dog immediately came over to greet Zelda excitedly, leaning against her legs to receive pets. 

“Hello sweet girl! What’s your name?” She leaned down to pet her side but glanced up at Link. 

‘They call her T-R-O-U-B-L-E but I call her my girl,’ he signed, grinning at them fondly. 

“Trouble? Are you a little trouble-maker?” Zelda asked her excitedly, Trouble giving her a goofy grin, tongue lolling out of her mouth. “So is she a stray?” She didn’t have a collar, but didn’t seem to be in too rough of a condition for an outside dog.

Link nodded. ‘No one here can take her. Boss tried to catch her at the end of last season but she escaped. She seems to want to stay here. Likes the festival. Boss allows it as long as she stays out of the way, but she’s pretty good.’

Trouble abandoned Zelda, seemingly knowing Link was talking about her and sitting on his feet to smile up at him. He scratched her neck lovingly and ruffled her ears. The dog panted, eyes closing happily. ‘She waits in the staff-only areas for me, usually.’

“Sounds to me like she’s adopted you,” Zelda said, amused.  

‘I guess so. Not the first time someone’s said that. People talk to me a little more with her around. It's nice. I missed her.’ 

She thought of what he’d said earlier. That no one has ever been able to speak to him. She had assumed he meant only someone fluent, but surely someone would make an attempt to communicate somehow. “People don’t talk to you? Like, at all?” she asked, an edge of concern in her voice.

He made a sign she understood as the equivalent of ‘Umm’ . A placeholder to think.

Her stomach grumbled with a reminder that she still hadn’t had dinner. She waited for Link to glance up at her again and signed, ‘I’m hungry, let’s keep walking.’

Link’s smile widened as he watched her hands, a charming sharpness to it. Maybe a little bit impressed, though Zelda could have been imagining it. Regardless, she filed his reaction away in a special new folder in her brain with his name on it surrounded by little hearts. 

He nodded and they started moving again, Trouble pressed to Link’s side. ‘You’re good,’ he signed.

So he WAS impressed. Her heart leapt in her chest but she remained composed, mostly. “Oh? Is that surprising?” she teased. 

He opened his mouth and closed it, looking away sheepishly. ‘I didn’t mean it that way.’

Zelda laughed. “It’s fine, I’m just teasing.”

He smiled and shook his head, amused. He bit his lip a little bit before he looked away, Zelda could have sworn he did. It was so distracting she almost forgot where they were in their conversation.

“I might be a little rusty, but I like to think I’m still fluent. Enough to get by at least,” she added eventually. 

‘Why did you learn?’

“Curiosity. That’s what usually gets me. I got really into those videos of interpreters at concerts, and then theater since I love musicals. And it just seemed obvious when I was picking a language credit. I have a couple friends I get to use sign with but I haven’t seen them in a little bit.” Zelda suddenly worried that she was talking for too long and stopped, but Link seemed by all accounts thoroughly invested in her rambling, not even watching where he stepped.

‘I’m glad,’ he answered simply when she left him the space to answer. He looked away again, seemingly deep in thought. They were approaching the cafeteria. ‘What you asked earlier… The muteness scares people off, or they think I’m faking. Doesn't matter. There are some people that are nice to me, and having her,’ he patted Trouble’s head, ‘has helped. When they speak to her, they remember I can hear too, but can only respond with yes or no.’

Zelda could only think of how lonely that must be, but that didn't seem like the right thing to say, so she stayed quiet. 

By the time they were standing in front of the cafeteria building, Zelda decided she had to say something, even if it wasn't the most well-thought-out. “I’m glad we met, Link.”

He seemed taken aback for a moment, then smiled broadly. He had a bit of a dimple when he smiled like that, the lines in his face creasing. He had an undeniably endearing smile. ‘Same,’ he signed.

Sensing a blush creeping up on her, she quickly checked her watch. She had twenty minutes before they’d stop serving dinner. “Are you coming in?” she asked, daring a glance back at him. 

He shook his head. ‘But could you give me your number? I can come back if you need directions.’

Smooth, Sir Link.

She grinned and nodded, pulling her phone out of her bag and handing it to him. She thanked him when he returned it to her, seeing he had texted himself. 

‘No, thank you,’ he signed, and Zelda couldn’t pinpoint if he’d meant that to be cheeky or sincere. Either way, she decided she didn’t mind if this knight tried to flirt with her. 

“I’ll see you later then?” 

‘Promise,’ he signed with that charmingly lopsided grin, his eyes almost imperceptibly trailing down like he couldn’t help but take her in before he tore himself away.

What they were considering the cafeteria seemed to be a decommissioned banquet hall. It was simple, but was made to look like a grand tavern with high ceilings and dark woods that were so comforting in an exciting way. The place was mostly empty, a few clusters of people chatting together quietly, no one she recognized. 

She would start integrating herself, but not tonight. Tonight it was a small mercy to have the silence to organize her thoughts. 

And maybe to text a certain knight.

She pulled her phone out as she ate, staring at Link’s contact. He hadn’t added his last name, which seemed like a cruel injustice to her curious mind. She stared at the single name while munching on her very basic cafeteria food. Maybe she should give him a title, like a knight. Maybe he already had one. Like Link the bold. No, that wouldn’t fit. 

She groaned and focused on eating for a moment, staring into space thinking of what other titles he could go by. It suddenly seemed very important for some reason. 

If anything it would be ‘the shy’ but that didn’t sound good. The stoic? Sort of appropriate, but not really. He had such a nice smile.

This is stupid just text him, she scolded herself.

‘Hi.’ She hit send and then immediately felt the dread of a terrible mistake settle in her stomach. 

HI?! Oh god. Way to have nothing to say, he’s going to think you don’t even want to talk to him!

Some deity must have heard her (or the universe was behaving exactly as it should with her being inside a building in the middle of nowhere) because her message bounced. Zelda sighed and covered her face. Probably for the best. 

She swiped away another notification, this time for low battery, and spent the rest of her dinner playing on her Sudoku app until a worker called for closing.  

Despite it being summer, the night had grown chilly out in the middle of the woods. She rubbed her bare arms and headed in the direction of the staff camp. The lights grew fewer and farther between as she moved away from the more settled part of the fairground, the only lights those that people had put up around their campers and buses, and the occasional campfire. 

She activated her phone’s flashlight to make sure she was going the right way. The camp had evolved since this morning, additional staff arriving and setting up, making it all the more confusing. 

“Zelda!” a voice called from behind her. 

She turned, lighting up Alfonso as he jogged towards her. “Hey, I thought that was you. You good?

“Oh hi, yes. Um, do you think you could point me to the main bathroom building? I think I can find my tent from there. I might be a little lost.” 

“Sure, yeah, come on I’ll walk you,” he said with a reassuring smile. 

Zelda sighed quietly in relief, not realizing just how tense she’d been getting at the prospect of being lost. They began walking perpendicular to Zelda’s original path, her phone lighting their feet as they maneuvered through campsites.

“So, this is your first time working a renfaire right?" he asked eventually. "You ever camped here? Or just came for the festival?”

“I tried camping once, but it got a little crazy for me,” she chuckled nervously.

He gave her a good-natured smile. “Yeah, you didn’t exactly strike me as the partying type.”

Zelda shook her head sheepishly. The restroom building was in sight. She let out a breath, finally able to orient herself. “I think I can make it from here, thanks Alfonso.”

“Hm.” He looked her over with a smirk. “I like that. The others call me Alf and I hate it. But Alfonso is better… especially coming from you.” 

“Oh um, noted.” A prickle of discomfort went down her spine, and at the worst possible time, her phone light went out. “Oh shit,” she turned it to check the screen, only to be greeted by blackness.

Damn Sudoku. 

“Spooky,” Alfonso said cheekily, now nearly shrouded in darkness, only the light of the moon and distant campfires lighting his outline. 

Zelda laughed nervously again. “Yeah I guess I need to get a proper flashlight or something one of these days. Anyway I can probably still make it, thank you for your help again.”

“Nonsense! I’ll walk you. Chivalry is not yet dead, if I have anything to say about it.”

Zelda said nothing, but kept walking alongside Alfonso. A part of her wished he didn't have to know exactly where she was camping, but she told herself she was being silly. They were coworkers, and he was just trying to be friendly. 

“My camp isn’t too far from here,” he said smoothly, “if you ever wanted to hang out.” Alfonso sounded completely at ease in the darkness, maybe even more confident than before.

"Yeah, maybe!" she said noncommittally, but the silence that followed felt like it was swallowing the air between them. The crickets and crunch of their footsteps were not enough to dispel the mounting tension in the darkness. “Where is it?” she added. Partially to fill the silence, but also to know exactly how close he would be to her own site. 

Alfonso stopped abruptly, placing an arm around her shoulder and turning her. He pointed in the near darkness to a bit of light peeking through campers and tents.

 “You see that little bit of campfire right there?” He smelled like cigarettes and campfire smoke. 

Zelda's throat ran dry, unable to respond. They weren’t very far. Maybe two rows over. 

“That’s me and the boys,” he continued, finally straightening up again and pulling his hand back from her shoulder. “Well, some of them. When I say the boys it's usually me, Russ, and Jordan. They share an RV.” 

He stepped back and continued walking. Zelda began to breathe again, just watching him get a few steps ahead before she could move. When he began speaking again she hurried to catch up.

“Their RV is right next to mine, so we made our little hangout spot between the two. It’s pretty sweet. We have a fire going most nights,” Alfonso continued, seemingly unaware that Zelda’s heart was racing. “But you’ll also know which camper is mine because I have this big flag on the side. A red and yellow lion crest thing. Can I tell you a secret?”

“Uh, sure?” she asked hesitantly. 

Her tent was in sight. 

“I like to tell people it’s the De La Roya family crest,” he chuckled, “But I actually found it at a thrift store. I just thought it looked cool.”

“Huh.” Zelda laughed half-heartedly. She had been prepared for it to be worse. 

They were silent for a moment, mulch crunching underfoot until they came close to Zelda’s tent. 

“Well! This is me. Thank you for walking me,” she said hurriedly.

“Anytime, Princess,” Alfonso smiled and bowed to her before taking his leave. 

The sudden nickname was jarring, but to his credit she supposed that’s just what she was now. And he’d left without issue. He hadn’t tried to hug her, or ask her number, or anything. 

As she watched him go, Zelda’s anxiety gave way to guilt. Alfonso, in reality, had only ever been sweet to her. He was being a friendly coworker. Maybe a little too friendly, but it wasn't his fault Zelda wasn't into that. Most girls probably were.

She sighed and trudged to her tent. There was no way she was making the trek back to the main restroom building tonight. She would have to shower in the morning, and resign herself to using the nearest porta-potty for anything else.

That’s what you signed up for, Princess, she thought as she collapsed onto the small cot in her tent.

Chapter Text

Despite the chaos around her tent, Zelda slept like a rock until her alarm woke her the next morning. She blinked at her phone to see four new text messages.

Two from her father checking in, one from an unknown number, and one from Link.

Her heart leapt in her chest as she sat up, greedily reading his words. 

She fell back and kicked her feet excitedly before reining herself in. He was just being a concerned coworker! 

She wanted to text him back immediately. Should she? Maybe she should wait till after showering. She stared at it a moment before returning to check her other messages. 

The message from the unknown number sapped her excitement away in an instant. 

What the hell?

She dropped her phone on the cot in annoyance and resigned herself to getting her mind straight before sending any replies. 

No wonder Alfonso didn’t ask for her number last night; he already had it somehow. Maybe Annie gave it to him? Though she certainly seemed happy to keep the men to herself. 

She grabbed her toiletries and stared at her open suitcase. Stacks upon stacks of neatly folded athleisure clothing had her eyes glazing over. She’d packed so much of it, since that was what was recommended for staff. It made sense. Better to have something breathable and comfortable to wear between shows. 

But… 

Peaking out beneath her sensible t-shirts was the corner of a black corset. A piece of her old renfaire costumes that she had brought along. Just in case. 

She thought of Link. Link in his tunic, looking like he’d been plucked from a different timeline to walk by her side. 

She smiled and quickly stuffed the corset and a tunic into her bag, feeling giddily like she was getting away with something. 

Zelda had braced herself upon seeing Annie again, expecting some kind of jab or drama after what happened with Link, but none came. Zelda preferred it that way. They were professional actresses, the least they could do was act like professionals .  

The morning was spent in wardrobe fittings, where Zelda met the performance director, Judy.

Judy could be summed up in one word: frazzled. From her hair to the way she always seemed out of breath, the woman seemed to be one coffee away from a nervous breakdown. She never stopped moving, popping in and out of the trailer to bark directions and take pictures for Mrs. Walker’s approval. 

Zelda happily went along with it all, even as her skin began to get irritated from getting in and out of scratchy dresses in the cramped heat of the trailer. It was magical to be here, she told herself. A dream, even. Some of the dresses she got to try were so beautiful she couldn't actually believe she got to wear them.

Still, It was a relief to change back into her own simple garb when they finally stopped for lunch.

There was no time for a proper rest. Zelda stole a moment for herself as she exited the trailer, breathing in the dusty summer air. Distant birds and insects sang. A horse in the nearby barn whinnied. Chatter drifted from the main path. 

She took another deep breath and braced herself for the rest of the busy day. The joust rehearsal time was approaching fast, so she took out her script and crammed her lines as she hurried to the cafeteria. 

She read the script again as she waited in line for her food. 

And again as she sat down with it. 

She was trying her best to not get pasta sauce on the pages when someone appeared next to her.

“Oh!” Zelda jumped, sending a tiny red fleck onto the page. Great.

Alfonso nodded to her in greeting, leaning on the back of her chair and looking over her shoulder. “What has milady in distress today?”

Zelda bit back an annoyed sigh in favor of a perfectly polite - if somewhat tight - smile. “I’m just reviewing my lines for rehearsal later.” Her eyes went back to the page, scanning the words and processing nothing. 

“Oof. Lines. I’m glad all I have to do is fall,” Alfonso huffed a chuckle.

Zelda flicked her eyes up at him. “Wanna trade? You can wear my dress.” 

That seemed to catch Alfonso off guard and he laughed heartily, bumping Zelda’s shoulder. “Hey don’t underestimate me, I can work any outfit.” He straightened up and stepped back, gesturing behind him. “I guess you wouldn’t be interested in joining us over at our table then?” 

Zelda looked where he’d indicated, seeing Jordan and a couple of others she knew were actors but hadn’t properly met yet. 

“Oh. Not this time, Alfonso, but thank you,” she said with an apologetic smile. “As soon as I’m caught up I’ll definitely be spending more time with everyone, though!” 

“Okay cool, yeah no worries, I totally get you. Hey, did you ever get my text?”

The question had her stiffening but she nodded. “Yes I did, sorry, I haven’t been able to message anyone today. It’s been a little crazy.” 

“Course, yeah, I get that,” he responded easily.

“How did you get my number, anyway?” she asked as casually as she could.

“Oh, everyone has each other's numbers. It’s a safety thing. They’re listed in the binder in the admin trailer.”

“Oh.” It was all she managed through the onslaught of guilt. So he hadn’t gotten it from Annie. Maybe it was unfair of her to have assumed… 

“We look out for each other, you know? So, if you ever need help with anything, you’re welcome to reach out. It can be rough your first week especially. If you get lost or something you better text me okay? I’ll only laugh at you a little, promise.”

“A little?!” Zelda surprised herself with a laugh.

“Friends and family discount, yeah.” 

Zelda smiled. Making friends here did sound really nice, despite the rough start.

“Anyway, we’ll be over here. I’ll be seeing you.” He bowed to her quickly before stepping back, “Princess.” 

Zelda chuckled and rolled her eyes, turning back to her script. “Alright, sir knight.”

The joust arena was a scramble of bodies for first rehearsal. 

Zelda stood waiting for directions and rolling her script behind her back as if she could make it small enough to disappear. None of the other actors seemed to have one. It was a little embarrassing, but she was determined not to let her smile waver.

Various staff swarmed the stage and arena below. Zelda scanned the crowd and spotted Link and the other knights standing in the dirt in front of the stage. Link was the only one in full historical dress again; similar to what he’d worn the day prior.

“Zelda, here,” Judy snapped her fingers, directing her to join Annie and another actress Zelda had seen in passing. Judy moved on through the crowd calling directions and sifting through the staff like a sheepdog among sheep. 

Zelda watched her go, before the actress she hadn’t formally met yet held out a hand to her in greeting. 

“Priya,” she said with a smile and a bit of a lilting accent. “I’m the other princess.” Priya was tall and thin, with tan skin and long raven hair braided down her back. 

Zelda fumbled to take her hand, barely getting her own name out before Judy was calling for their attention.

She called the knights closer to the stage as well. Alfonso, Jordan, Russ, Link, and three more men Zelda hadn’t yet met. 

“Knights and actors! There isn’t much overlap between your respective roles, but I need to cover the play system again since we have a few new members to our cast this year.” She pointedly looked everyone over to make sure they were listening, “Long story short, a straight play means that whichever knight gets the princess’ favor wins the tourney. Example, Princess Annie gives Russ, our yellow knight, her favor at the top of the show. Russ wins, that’s a straight yellow. Every few jousts we switch to a fakeout. These are decided ahead of time and posted on your schedules, but there’s always a chance we will need to change at the last minute in case of emergencies, so stay focused. Everything clear?” 

A wave of nods passed over the grouped performers. 

“A reminder also that the emergency signal is three fingers.” She demonstrated the action, three fingers out against her opposite bicep, “If we see that, we pull you out ASAP, and everyone else just keep smiling and improv your hearts out. Alright, I think that’s it. Knights, dismissed.” 

She turned to face the actors grouped on the stage, and the knights filed away to the center of the arena. Zelda chanced another look at Link, who just happened to already be looking at her. She smiled sheepishly, tearing her eyes away and trying not to blush. 

Judy heaved an overburdened breath in the direction of the actors on stage and clapped her hands once more. “Alright! Let’s take the pre-joust from the top with our captains in lead, everyone else in their supporting positions. Your marks are the same as last year.” She crossed the stage briskly, and everyone began to move into position. Zelda, having a vague idea where she should stand as the supporting maiden, took up position just beside Priya. “Action!” Judy called as she reached the end of the stage, sitting on the floor with her clipboard and what looked like a severely chewed pencil. 

The actor playing the king was wonderful. An older man with a booming voice that reminded Zelda of her father, with his graying hair and thick mustache. The king presented his daughter, the princess, to the ‘audience’. Zelda ticked off the lines in her head as they were spoken, watching the marks each actor moved to on stage. Fortunately the supporting maiden role may as well have been a set piece, allowing Zelda to simply take it all in. 

Unfortunately, behind the rehearsal she was supposed to watch, the knights were running through their own rehearsal. They each had a square of fabric pinned to their chest signifying their color. Russ was yellow, Alfonso red, Link green, Jordan blue. The two knights she didn’t know had white squares pinned to their chests, which she suspected meant they were sort of understudies like her. Another man, presumably the stunt coordinator, stood barking orders and demonstrating stances with various weapons. 

Alfonso and Jordan faced off, rehearsing a sword fight. Their movements were slow and precise, slower than in performances she’d seen other years. The coordinator was pointing at them and explaining things to the other knights as they watched on. 

Link stood at attention, arms folded behind his back, chest out in ridiculously good posture like he’d been in the military. Zelda made a mental note to ask him about that, and proceeded to fully ogle him until his eyes met hers again. 

He gave her a small smile before she could look away. She cursed her inattention and refocused on the scene before her. The actors were performing flawlessly; no surprise really, given their combined experience. 

They came to the end of the pre-joust scene, where the princess gives a token of her favor to the chosen knight. Annie turned and walked back towards Zelda and Priya, miming receiving the token from Priya and making her way downstage again. 

It was time for the final line of the scene. Zelda tensed in anticipation to see how Annie would deliver it. 

“I will bestow upon this knight my favor. May he be victorious and bring honor to his kingdom!” Her voice rang out like church bells as she pretended to place the wreath on an imagined jousting pole. 

Flawlessly, of course. Like a true princess.  

Zelda didn’t have to like her to know she was talented.

“Good good good!” Judy shot up from her position and buzzed around the stage, swapping out various actors with their supporting roles. Priya was next up to act as princess, Annie coming to Zelda’s side. 

"I'm sure you'll find that easy, right, Princess Zelda?" Annie whispered, not unkindly, though Zelda knew to doubt her intentions now. 

Zelda simply nodded with a neutral smile, turning her attention forward. 

She wouldn’t be surprised if Annie was one of those actresses who saw their understudy as a threat. That never made any sense to Zelda, though it was unfortunately common in the industry.

They started the scene from the top, the new actors playing through the same lines and blocking. 

Behind them, Russ and one of the white knights were facing off with the practice swords. They went through a similar routine to what Alfonso and Jordan had done before, but this time Russ did something that caused the other knight to drop his sword. 

Though they were a fair distance away, Zelda could just about decipher the coordinator’s words as he shouted, “What the FUCK was that, Russ?” 

Russ was laughing, while the other man shook out his hand. The coordinator got in Russ’ face to scold him, while the others stood around.

Link caught Zelda’s eye again. This time, she risked a quick sign. ‘Everything okay?’

Link made a show of rolling his eyes and nodded. Zelda bit back a chuckle. He smiled at her, and it felt suddenly like passing notes in class.

Especially when Annie cleared her throat. 

Zelda quickly glanced at her, but Annie was pointedly looking forward at the scene still playing out before them. 

Right. No. Focus. 

Priya approached them for the imaginary favor, delivered the final line, and they ended the scene once more. 

Then it was Zelda’s turn. 

She was no stranger to the stage. She’d been acting since high school. But this felt different, in no small part due to the vast expanse of the outdoor arena. Plus, she’d been watching the joust since she was a little girl. 

She took a deep breath and steeled herself as she walked to her mark near the king. The first actor was back in the role, and Zelda felt somewhat comforted. 

He smiled as she approached and quietly introduced himself. “Hello, I’m John.” 

“Zelda,” she smiled nervously and nodded.  

“Action!” Judy called, running upstage again. 

John spoke his opening lines, and Zelda smiled brightly, how a real princess should, imagining an adoring crowd to distract from the knights’ practice below. 

She couldn’t think about them.

She couldn’t think about Link. 

John turned to her, her cue to start. “I would be honored, father, to–”

Oh no was it ‘take’ or ‘hold the responsibility’ oh no.

She glanced down at her script and finished the line, without much of a hiccup. The king continued jovially as Zelda analyzed Judy’s expression. Her face was screwed into the same hyper-focused pinch it had been in all day, which was… reassuring? Almost. More or less.

It wasn’t unheard of to need the script as a crutch for the first rehearsal, especially when it was just given to her. Panicking would not serve her, in any case. 

Her next line was short and simple, and she nailed it without checking the script. Zelda moved to her next mark flawlessly, leaning near the edge of the stage and looking out at the crowd. She faced the king and stalled again, needing to read the next line from the script.

Behind her, Annie sighed in annoyance. 

Zelda aggressively maintained the brilliant smile on her face, playing the upcoming final line in her mind over and over. She would get it right. 

The king finished his line about the princess’ blessing. 

Zelda spun on her heel and walked towards the other princesses. The women held their hands out for the exchange. Priya smiled at her encouragingly, but Zelda did not meet Annie’s eyes to see if she was glaring at her. 

Her mark hit, she turned and headed back to the edge of the stage. 

Her hands were sweating, gripping her rolled script as if it could be her flower wreath. 

She looked at Link. He was watching the other knights. Despite how handsome his face was, it wasn’t the same when he wasn’t smiling. It seemed he was really quite stoic much of the time. 

Look at me, she willed. She wanted to imagine she was bestowing her favor onto him . For whatever reason, it felt right, if she was to truly embody her character. If she were a real princess, she would want Link for a knight. 

She took a deep breath and began her line. “I will bestow upon this knight–”

His head turned towards her and he smiled that half-dimpled smile that burned all the way through her. Goosebumps erupted across her skin as she became his princess. The rest of the line flowed through her, equal parts exhilarating and only natural.

“– my favor. May he be victorious and bring honor to his kingdom!” 

“Cuuuut! Great work everyone–” Judy called out, but her words quickly faded to the background of Zelda’s mind. 

Her attention was solely on Link as he signed with a cheeky smile…

‘I accept.’

Chapter Text

A new text came in as Zelda changed out of her last princess costume for the night. 

She almost tripped on the dress in her excitement. 

She hesitated to answer, running through her options and hating all of them. ‘Okay’ was lame. A smiley face was vague AND lame. It’d be a miracle if she ever responded to him at this rate, but she would see him soon now regardless. 

She changed back into her tunic and trousers in record time and patted her hair down from frizzing, sparing a glance in the mirror as she passed the other actresses. 

“Goodnight!” she called over her shoulder on the way out of the dressing trailer, the girls echoing her. Zelda shoved out into the night expecting to see Link just outside, but he wasn’t there. 

The metal door clacked shut behind her. Across the way, Russ and Nick sat around the men’s trailer. Zelda thought about asking them where Link was before swiftly reconsidering. 

“Goodnight, gentlemen!” 

“Goodnight, Lady Zelda!” Nick called back cheerily. Russ gave a half-hearted wave and went back to their hushed conversation.  

Maybe Link would be at the cafeteria? She looked around as she started the walk back up the path. She considered taking out her phone to ask him where he was when she spotted Trouble sitting off to one side of the path ahead. 

Zelda smiled and sped up to meet her. “Trouble! Hi baby!” 

The collie mix got excited, ears down and fan tail wagging as she trotted toward Zelda. Zelda bent to pet her, ruffling her long hair and patting her hip. “Oh you are so sweet,” she babbled. “You are so sweet, aren’t you? Where’s Link, huh?”

At that, Trouble stopped panting, cocking her head as if Zelda had said something interesting. 

“Link?” Zelda tried again. 

Trouble suddenly stood up again and trotted down the path, making a turn behind a building. 

Zelda watched for a moment before deciding, why the hell not , and following after the dog. 

Zelda turned the corner and found Link leaning against the wall, face softly lit by his phone. He looked up at her approach and smiled broadly, waving hello. 

“Hi,” Zelda said giddily, folding her hands behind her back, “I was escorted here.” 

‘I can see that. I was just going to wait for you to pass by, but this works too.’ He looked down at Trouble and snapped his fingers to get her to look at him. ‘Good girl,’ he signed, and she seemed to understand, butt getting wiggly again and coming in for more pets. 

Zelda laughed. “That is so stinkin’ cute! But how does she know your name?” 

‘Other people use it when they see me. She figured it out pretty quick.’

“Oh, smart girl!” 

‘That’s nothing. Want to see a trick?’ he asked, his smile contagiously bright. 

“Like you have to ask? Show me, show me!” 

Link chuckled silently. He snapped again, then straightened and palmed his chest twice. Trouble leapt up into his arms and he caught her with ease. She flopped her head back lazily and he kissed her face before setting her down again. 

Zelda watched in delight and clapped her hands. “Bravo, Trouble! A performer in her own right.” 

Link’s blue eyes sparkled, the dimple showing in his cheek again. ‘Cafeteria?’ he asked once he’d set Trouble down. 

“Yeah, that’s where I’m headed.” 

He gestured for her to lead the way, and they came out from between the buildings to walk side by side (by side) in the twilight. 

‘I like your outfit,’ Link signed. 

“Thanks.” Zelda looked down at herself, tucking her short hair behind her ear shyly. Her tunic had become pretty ruffled. But glancing at Link’s clothes made her feel proud despite it. They looked right together, dressed like this. Like they were plucked from the same time. “I don't actually have much of my own historical clothing. I was planning to get more once the vendors set up.”

‘They won’t be open until the faire opens this weekend. There is a thrift store in town I get some of my clothes from though, maybe you could find something there to fill out your collection?’

“Oh that’s a great idea, I love thrifting!” Zelda said excitedly, barely catching herself from asking him to join her. That would be weird. Wouldn’t it? Maybe.  

‘Do you have a car? I could take you if we have some off-time that syncs up.’ 

Breathe. Breathe normally. DON’T SQUEAL.

“I would love that actually!” she said, without squealing even a little bit. She might have felt proud, though she reminded herself it was the least that she should be able to manage, being a professional actress and all. 

‘Deal. We can text about our schedules.’

Zelda nodded happily, not wanting to push her luck by trying to form words in anything resembling a sane manner. 

‘I’ve been thinking about name signs,’ he changed the subject. 

“Okay, whaddya got?” 

‘Well, you’re a princess, right? Or maiden, depending on the day, I guess. What if you were Z-Princess?’*

She watched his rough hands form the name and felt at once that nothing had ever been more her. It was perfect, and theirs alone. An encapsulation of her time here, and her time with him. She summoned her acting skills again to respond with a perfectly poised, “I’m good with that. What about you?” She switched to sign, ‘would you be L-knight?’

He watched her hands in turn as she signed, a broad smile on his face. Zelda made a mental note to attempt to sign more if he was going to keep watching her like that. 

‘Seems appropriate, sure.’

“It’s a good name. Valiant, even,” Zelda teased. 

He chuckled silently. ‘Thank you.’

They walked in a comfortable silence as the lights of the backstage area buzzed to life. Zelda watched her boots, overly conscious of maintaining the distance between them. It felt like she kept drifting closer to him, as if the air between them was magnetized. 

After a few moments, Link bumped her arm with his elbow to get her attention. 

‘Do you think you would have been a princess in the renaissance?’  

“Oh, I don’t think so. Sure, people would like to think that, but I don’t know. I’d probably be a peasant. Or hanged as a witch for my curiosity.”

Link looked amused. ‘I could see that.’

“Well don’t agree that quickly!” Zelda laughed. 

‘You say that as if it’s bad to be curious.’

“Not particularly, but being hanged is!” 

Link chuckled silently and shook his head. ‘Obviously. But anyway I would save you.’

Zelda’s heart stopped, and then somehow started up again without needing defibrillation. 

It could have come off as cocky, and maybe from anyone else it would have been. From Link though… there was something about Link. He wasn’t so much sure of himself as it seemed like everything about him was inevitable. He was so matter of fact. He would save her. Zelda believed that whole-heartedly.   

It took everything in her to come back to reality enough to speak after he’d dare say something so attractive. She chewed the inside of her lip and cleared her throat. “So would you have been a knight, then?” 

‘Absolutely,’ he signed emphatically, causing Zelda to laugh again.

“Really? You’re so certain.”

‘I love this. The horses, the fighting. I would do it even if it was real.’

Zelda pictured him in the arena again. What would he look like on a horse? His dark blonde hair billowing in the wind. Would he meet her eyes again, like he did today? 

She couldn’t wait to see him perform. Maybe it was his passion, maybe it was her bias, but something told her, Link was the best of the knights. 

They reached the cafeteria, but Link wasn’t slowing like last time. 

“Are you eating here too?” she asked, trying to keep the hope from bleeding too much into her voice. 

He nodded and opened the door, holding it for her and ushering her inside the air-conditioned hall. 

‘Thank you, Link,’ she signed cheekily. 

He looked away; sheepishly biting at his lip again. Zelda took that beautiful snippet and added it to the ever-growing folder in her brain as they lined up together with their food trays.

“I’m really excited for our first show.”

He nodded, his hands busy with his tray.

“The horses especially.”

He chuckled silently, moving his tray along and dropping it for a moment. ‘Cute how you’re more excited about the horses than your own performance,’ he teased.

Cute. Cute. CUTE. He definitely signed cute.

“Oh that’s all I’m here for, Sir Link, don’t be mistaken. That, and wearing pretty dresses, obviously.”

‘A girl with her priorities straight,’ Link signed totally straight-faced. 

Zelda covered her mouth to contain her laughter.

“Zelda!” She heard her name called from one of the tables and turned to see a cluster of their co-stars. Nick was waving her over and pointing to a spot near him.

She turned back to Link.

‘Go ahead,’ he signed with a smile.

“You won’t come with me?”

He shook his head. ‘Trust me, the invitation is just for you.’

“I don’t like how they treat you. And I’d rather have dinner with you anyway,” she admitted quietly.

He seemed to struggle to contain a smile at that. ‘I think you should go,’ he signed encouragingly. ‘They are our coworkers. Have to play nice. ’

He was right. She had set out to make friends here. She might have been happy with just Link on her side, but being friendly would make work easier. 

She nodded to him, then called back to Nick, “Coming!” She braced herself, not thinking to hide her nerves when she met Link’s eyes again.  

‘They aren't all bad. If any of them ever give you any trouble let me know though, okay? I don’t look like much, but I've dealt with worse.’ He was still smiling but his blue eyes had gone steely.

How dare he say something so interesting right as he’s walking away?!

She nodded and he elbowed her goodnaturedly. ‘Text me, yeah?’

“Yeah, see you later,” she forced out with a small smile.  

He backed away, Zelda watching him go for a moment before remembering herself. She plastered on a friendly smile in preparation to meet her other coworkers.

The long table was crowded with mostly familiar faces. Nick, Alfonso, Russ, Jordan, John, Priya, along with some strangers Zelda didn’t recognize. She would have liked to get to know Priya better, but her fellow princess was surrounded already. Zelda settled at the edge of the group, next to Nick.

“Nice to see you again, Zelda,” John said from across the table. 

“Likewise, thank you! I look forward to working with you.” She smiled politely and began to eat. 

Alfonso leaned onto the table to speak past Nick. “How you settling in?” 

Zelda covered her mouth and gave him a thumbs up as she chewed. 

“She did great for her first rehearsal,” John said jovially before taking a swig of his beer. 

“Hey we should drink to that,” Alfonso added, lifting his soda can into the air. “To a successful first rehearsal.” 

That got the attention of the rest of the table, several people lifting their various beverages. “Oh is that Zelda? Hi Zelda!” Priya called from down the table before lifting her water bottle. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!” 

“Here here!” 

“Huzzah!” John added in his gruff baritone. 

Zelda raised her water along with the rest and giggled to herself as she took a sip. 

Someone scoffed down the table, and Zelda noticed the stunt coordinator eating on his own, his attention half on his phone. 

“That’s Kendrick, he’s the knight’s coordinator,” Nick explained.

“Kenny’s just mad we had a little fun with our rehearsal,” Russ mumbled, side-eyeing the man. 

“It’s Kendrick, ” he snapped back, only glancing up at Russ briefly before returning to his phone. 

Zelda didn’t understand why Russ would provoke him, the man was taller than any of them and generally didn’t seem like someone you’d want to mess with. 

“Ah don’t be like that, Kenny,” Jordan teased. 

“Oh my god they killed Kenny,” Alfonso joked in a singsong manner that seemed reminiscent of a reference to something Zelda didn’t understand. 

Kendrick ignored them. 

It could have been harmless hazing, a typical boy thing she wouldn’t try to understand, but the teasing was beginning to rub her the wrong way. Zelda slowly swallowed her food, thinking. This wasn’t school. She was bigger now, more capable. She turned to Alfonso and cocked her head pointedly at him. “Hmm, that’s odd,” she began, “Maybe… I should start calling you Alf after all then? Or Alfie?”  

Alfonso’s face immediately fell and the boys laughed all around. 

Jordan threw a french fry at him. “She fucking got your ass, bro.”

“Alfredo sauce maybe?” Nick added. 

Alfonso put his hands up in defeat, “Alright, alright. I give.” 

“I like a girl with claws,” Russ said with a mischievous smile and narrowed eyes. “I’m keeping an eye on you, new girl.” 

“Ah, don’t be weird, Russ.” Jordan turned his attention to Zelda and stage-whispered, “Just ignore him,” before Russ playfully shoved him back. 

Zelda smiled to herself, satisfied to have put a stop to their foolishness. She glanced over at Kendrick again and he was still ignoring them. 

They went back to eating, the boys continuing to rib each other. 

“Do you get signal here?” Zelda asked Nick, curious since Kendrick seemed to be on his phone. 

“Hm? Oh.” He covered his mouth and swallowed. “Signal is shitty in a lot of the bigger buildings, yeah. Depends on your provider though I think?” 

“Whatcha trying to do on your phone?” Alfonso asked. 

“Oh! Nothing really,” she said quickly, trying not to blush now that the attention was returning to her. “I’ve been getting by playing some little puzzles on it anyways.”

“Like jigsaw puzzles?” Jordan asked. 

“They have jigsaw puzzles on phones now?” added John. 

Zelda sort of regretted saying anything, but wasn’t this all part of getting to know people? This could be the perfect opportunity to bond with her castmates. “Um yes, probably, but no, that’s not what I mean. I mostly play Sudoku.”

“I always thought Sudoku was a food thing,” Russ said absently past his bite of food. “Like sushi.”

“No, obviously it’s a puzzle, dumbass,” Alfonso cut in. 

“ Obviously I know that now, I was just saying.” 

“Do you do it for school or something?” Jordan asked. 

“Oh, no. It’s for fun, just to keep busy,” Zelda explained. 

Russ raised his eyebrows in doubt. Zelda sensed he wanted to say something more, but maybe she’d already spoiled his appetite for bullying tonight. In any case, she was relieved that he stayed quiet.

“You know what’s a classic phone game? Tetris,” Nick chimed in. Russ and Jordan groaned in unison. 

“You would like Tetris,” Jordan snorted. 

“What? What’s wrong with Tetris?” 

Zelda watched in sympathetic amusement as her hobby fell out of scrutiny and Nick took the hot seat. The evening turned out pretty nice despite its hiccups. That seemed to be a trend with Zelda’s time here in general. Oh well, no good without the bad , she reasoned, quietly finishing her dinner. 

Zelda searched for Link when she went to return her tray, but he was gone. The cafeteria was mostly empty except for their table. 

They all ended up walking back to the staff campground as a group - thankfully with no awkward incidents to speak of this time. Zelda’s phone buzzed with another notification, but she ignored it, lest she attract attention to herself again. 

Inside the privacy of her tent,  Zelda settled in her cot and pulled her phone out with glee. 

They arranged a time to head into town and didn’t stop texting until Zelda fell asleep with her phone on her chest and a smile on her face.

Chapter Text

Zelda conveniently failed to mention that she had her own car, since Link had offered so kindly to take her into town on his motorcycle. They found a coinciding gap in their schedules only a day after his offer (and two days before the faire’s opening weekend). 

It might have been an agonizing wait if Zelda wasn’t so busy. Rehearsals for smaller events, the royal dinner, weddings, and pop-up grounds performances saw her running around right up until the afternoon she had off. 

Zelda stood taking stock of the tent, her once neatly-folded clothing now strewn about in her frustration. How was the Zelda who packed for this summer supposed to know that she'd need a date outfit?

Not a date. Maybe a date? Probably a date?! 

Her phone rang out, the final alarm she set to make sure she wouldn’t be late. A frustrated growl escaped her as she silenced it. 

Ten minutes later, she made it to the staff parking lot in her jeans and finest tee shirt. She fretted over it as she walked, pulling it down where she could suddenly see every wrinkle in the sunlight. 

But then she froze in her tracks upon spotting Link.

He was leaning against a sleek red motorcycle, hair pulled back and wearing blue jeans and a classic white tee like he was ripped right off a movie screen. Thankfully, he was looking down at his phone, so Zelda had a second to recover.  

Her thoughts bounced between scolding herself and hyping herself up as she closed the distance to him. 

He must have heard her footsteps in the gravel, looking up as she approached.  

“Hi,” she said - a bit too breathlessly - her heart racing. 

Link smiled his half-dimpled smile, and because he was wearing modern clothing, the memory felt special enough to merit another spot in the folder. 

‘How was your day?’ he signed.

“Oh, um, fine,” she chuckled, toying with the strap of her purse. “Just some more rehearsals, mostly. We also spent like an hour looking for a crown Judy wanted? That was… interesting.” 

He chuckled silently. ‘I can imagine the girls’ trailer is pretty messy’ 

“Oh you have no idea.” Zelda rolled her eyes. “How about you?”

He scoffed, a short sound escaping his throat. ‘The usual.’  

She gave him a knowing look. “I’m starting to get an idea of what that might be for you.”

‘Whatever you’re thinking is probably right.’ He smiled and pushed off his bike, turning to stand next to her. ‘But come on, we can talk more once we’re away from here.  

“This is gonna be fun!” Zelda exclaimed, barely keeping her hands from actually clapping with excitement. 

Link leaned over his bike, his shirt lifting in the process and revealing a bit of his toned stomach. Zelda tried not to gape as he turned back to hold out a black motorcycle helmet. 

“Oh, thank you,” she said, taking it under her arm. He gestured for her purse and stored it in one of his saddle bags.  

‘Do you need me to explain anything? You’re good with turning and all that?’ he asked, his eyes serious. 

Zelda straightened and gave him a firm nod. “Mhm. My dad used to have a motorcycle.”

‘Alright. Hold on to me and tap if you need anything. It’ll take about forty-five minutes.’

Zelda nodded again, her heart racing into overdrive as he mounted his bike and shuffled forward expectantly. 

She was about to be pressed against Link, Link the knight, Link with a dreamy smile and toned abs, for a whole forty-five minutes . Her heart could barely take it. 

She pulled the helmet over her head, thinking at least it would cover her blush. 

She climbed on behind him and scooted in close. Her hands gripped his waist, the hard muscle under his shirt melting away the last of her rational thoughts. There was only sensation. The cotton under her fingers. The heat of his skin under that. Her knees pressing up to his butt and thighs. 

The engine roared to life beneath them and Link let up the kickstand. 

Zelda was surprised to feel him pat her hand, and looked up just as he was checking behind him with an expectant smile. She nodded in the bulky helmet to signal she was ready to go, but he stalled for a moment, looking her up and down with cool aquamarine eyes. 

She stared back, helplessly frozen under his gaze. She wondered what he was seeing. If he could see much of her eyes under the helmet’s shaded visor. And then he turned, barring his own eyes behind black sunglasses. She wanted to sigh in relief, but she was still incredibly keyed up from being pressed so close.

The brassy rumble of the engine turned to more of a whine as they moved through the gravel lot towards the exit. Zelda’s heart pounded in anticipation. She braced herself as Link checked the way was clear, and held her breath when he shoved off. 

The rapid acceleration had her thighs gripping tighter, leaning into the turn with Link before they straightened out on the road. The wind whistled, nearly drowning out the roar of the engine, and Zelda couldn’t help but laugh out the exhilaration bubbling up in her lungs. 

Trees reduced to green blurs on the side of the road. Zelda lifted her head up and watched the clouds move. The motorcycle was moving so fast the clouds seemed like the only real things. 

She imagined that here on top of the world, they were racing the clouds.

Eventually the pines gave way to civilization again. They came to a moderately busy area of the city, an avenue lined with boutiques and street parking.  

Zelda’s body was charged with electricity once Link cut the engine, the echoes of it still vibrating through her veins. She stepped off the bike onto wobbly legs, looking up at the sign for the shop proudly announcing ‘2ND LIFE THRIFT’.    

Link bumped her arm and gestured for the helmet. She handed it over, taking in his windswept hair in awe for a moment before realizing she probably wasn’t faring much better with her helmet hair. 

She looked away, quickly trying to peek at her reflection in the shop windows to no avail. With a frustrated exhale she decided to simply toss her head forward and shake out her short hair. When she flipped back up Link was waiting, eyes unreadable behind his sunglasses. 

‘How was the ride?’ 

“Great! It’s been a while though, my riding muscles are rusty,” she laughed sheepishly. Her legs would surely be sore tomorrow. 

He gave her a lopsided smile and put his sunglasses up on top of his head. He looked exceptionally good with his hair pushed out of his face like that, enough that Zelda almost didn’t catch him signing, ‘You’re a natural.’  

His praise had her dangerously close to short-circuiting, so she squeaked a thank you and looked at her feet. 

Her poor little tennis shoes had no idea they would be subject to a date. Not a date. Maybe a date. 

Oh god stop thinking about it being a date.  

Link took her purse from the saddle bag and held it out to her, gesturing to the door with a nod of his head. 

“Right. Thank you.” And then in a poor attempt at loosening the tension in her shoulders, Zelda added, “Let’s see if they have somewhere to tie up your horse.” As soon as the awful joke left her lips she froze in regret. 

Link stopped just as he was starting to move, placing a hand over his mouth as if trying to stop himself from laughing. Or possibly in horror at her terrible joke, who could say. He was biting his lip when he lowered his hand. ‘Nice one.’  

“Hey!” she scolded, “I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm.”

He held his hands up innocently and then signed, ‘I thought it was a decent callback.’  

Zelda sighed and put a hand to her head. “Let’s just go inside and please forget I ever said that.”

‘Never,’ he signed cheekily. 

Zelda scoffed, though she could still feel the edges of a smile stubbornly sticking around. “Rude.” 

‘I’m never rude.’

Zelda put her hands on her hips, running her tongue along the inside of her teeth. Link was surprisingly sassy. It made her brain fire on all cylinders, ready for a challenge. But Link continued before she could snap back a rebuttal. 

‘In fact, I have something just as embarrassing that might even the score. I’ll tell you, if we could stop standing in the sun.’  

Zelda gaped for a moment and then huffed, “Fine.” 

His smile widened as he gestured for her to walk ahead of him. 

Her indignation gave way to curiosity, and by the time they stepped inside she didn’t so much care to look at clothes, immediately turning to face him instead. 

Frustratingly, he walked right past her into the women’s clothing section. She followed him to a long rack of women’s blouses. 

“Okay tell me,” she said quickly, the words burning on her tongue. 

He glanced up at her and back down at the clothes. ‘But it’s embarrassing.’

“Link!” she hissed. 

He took a hanger off the rack and held up a ruffled black blouse with a question in his eyes. 

She sighed, accepting a momentary truce. “I don’t think I have anything that will go with that yet. You think it would work?”

He nodded. 

“I could try it I guess.” 

He nodded again firmly, putting it over his arm and continuing his search. Zelda felt a swell of affection at the gesture and tore her eyes away before she could blush, trying to focus on what they came here for. 

There was a rack of dresses along the back wall of the store that called to her, but Link’s choice to start in the blouses was more sensible. She perused her own side of the aisle, the only sounds between them the hangers scraping across the racks and pop music playing over the store speakers.

When Zelda looked back at Link the screeching stopped for him to sign. ‘You have to promise you won’t laugh.’

Her curiosity roared back to life. “What is it? Tell me!” 

‘Swear!’

Giddy energy bubbled up in her chest. “That's very hard for me to swear I am literally laughing already!” she pleaded with a helpless chuckle.  

‘You are too giggly for your own good,’ he signed in mock sternness.

“It’s part of my charm! Now tell me!”

He bit his lip and rolled his eyes. Zelda’s heart threatened to beat out of her chest. 

‘I named my motorcycle.’

“Okay…” she started, then realized, “Oh! Wait! Can I guess?”

He chuckled silently, seemingly caught off guard. ‘Go ahead,’ he signed, returning to look at blouses. Zelda did the same. Most of the clothing was far too modern. 

She considered what a man like Link might name a motorcycle, and quickly realized she didn’t actually know much about him at all, despite feeling like she’d known him a long time. 

She thought of every name she’d given her pets, her car, trying to find a pattern that could apply to Link, but came up short at every turn. Zelda didn’t know where he grew up, his favorite TV show, nothing that could give her a clue. 

“Red?” she took a shot in the dark. 

He shook his head. 

No, that wouldn’t be embarrassing either. Something embarrassing…

“Baby?” 

Link’s head shot up, eyes wide and cheeks flushing.

Zelda widened her eyes too, feeling suddenly like she’d made a misstep. “For your bike, I mean, like how some guys treat their bikes and boats like women… I don’t know!” she squeaked. “Would be embarrassing I guess…” 

‘Fair,’ he signed with a sheepish smile, ‘but no.’

Why would I say that? Why would I say that? Is the date ruined? Is it even a date? He didn’t seem that bothered by it, just flustered. Might be nice to actually call him baby… Oh no no don’t think about that I’m starting to blush.  

Zelda put a firm stop to the racing thoughts and focused hard on the clothing rack in front of her. She found a sleeveless shirt with potential and held it up for scrutiny. 

Link narrowed his eyes at it. ‘Would you layer something under?’

“Under this? Probably not, I think it’d look weird.”

‘Do you sunburn easily?’

“Oh good point.” She put the top back, silently impressed that he had arrived at that conclusion before her. “Okay I give up, tell me.”

He sighed, seemingly bracing himself and turning to face her. ‘E-P-O-N-A’

She looked at him in confusion, trying to sound it out. “Eh-pona? Like pony?” 

‘Sort of.’ He was picking up a bit of red in his cheeks again. ‘But long E,’ he signed the letter and mouthed an EEE sound.

“Epona.” 

He nodded, shyly returning to the task at hand. 

“I see why you mentioned it now, that’s really cute,” she bumped his shoulder with her own and he glanced up at her with a small smile. “And I suppose it does make me feel better.” 

‘Good.’

“But there’s gotta be a story there right?” she pried, cogs still whirring in her mind. 

Link held up a forest green blouse with long flowing sleeves. 

“Ooooh yes I like that one. And we could match!” she added before considering the weight of her words. She just found herself so much more attached to green since learning he was the green knight. 

Link seemed to be having a hell of a time trying not to appear flustered, looking away and clearing his throat as he added the blouse to his arm. Zelda considered taking it back, or adding some kind of clarification that would make her statement less damning than it was. But he signed, ‘Yeah, we could,’ stirring up the butterflies in her stomach. 

They returned to the search for clothing, a welcome distraction for Zelda’s fraught nerves. 

She almost forgot about the story behind the motorcycle’s name, until they were looking through the rack for bottoms and Link carried a sizable stack of clothing on his arm (without complaint). 

“So Epona. What’s the story?”

‘When did I say I would share that?’ His signing was clunkier now with all the clothes weighing down one arm.

“You didn’t, but why won’t you?”

He busied his hands for a moment before continuing. ‘You’re too curious.’

“So I’m told,” Zelda said without an ounce of remorse, handing him a long skirt.

‘It was what I named an old stuffed toy of mine, when I was little.’ He held up a knee-length skirt that Zelda quickly shot down. ‘It wasn’t even a horse. Some kind of multicolored donkey thing. But the name stuck. I named my first motorcycle E-P-O-N-A, and this one is technically E-P-O-N-A two. I loved that toy. My sister got it for me in secret.’

“In secret? Sorry I’m not sure I understood that last part. What do you mean?” 

‘Oh.’ He made a filler sign to wait as he thought, his brow furrowing. ‘No, you understood right. Sorry, I think maybe it’s best we don’t get into that. It would just… it’s not that I don’t…’ his fingers tensed in his signing, he seemed to be getting distressed. 

Zelda’s own nerves gave way to protectiveness and she stopped him with a gentle hand on his arm. “Hey, it’s okay. That’s okay, I’m sorry if I pressed too much.” 

He relaxed, though there was still a lingering worry in his eyes. ‘No, you didn’t overstep, I promise. I just got away from myself. I find it hard to stop talking to you,’ he admitted hesitantly. 

Zelda wanted to close her eyes and stop time. To breathe in this moment for much longer than they could ever have. 

I find it hard to stop talking to you . 

The words reverberated through her and must have knocked something loose, because she got a sudden sinking feeling. A feeling that she REALLY liked him. Like REALLY REALLY scary-liked him. And suddenly she was at the precipice of the first peak of a rollercoaster, and she was ready to fall. 

He’d gone back to checking through clothes, a tight smile on his lips and a focus in his eyes as they darted back and forth. Zelda still hadn’t moved, frozen until she could reply, though to Link it probably just looked like she was considering the trousers in her hand particularly hard.

“Me too,” she murmured. 

Link looked up, first at her lips, then her eyes, considering. ‘Do you like tacos?’  

Stumped by the sudden question, she answered a hesitant “yes?”

‘Would you like to get tacos after this?’  

Zelda almost couldn’t believe she’d correctly interpreted his signs. Could this be real? His blue eyes were sincere and hopeful, and maybe still a little nervous. Zelda carefully considered her response, as much as it pained her. An adventurous part of her insisted, now is your chance!  

“Sooo like a date?” she managed. Part of her cringed. The other rejoiced in her bravery. 

‘Did you want it to be a date?’

Drats. He’d turned it around on her. But she’d already used up all her bravery, how dare he?! “Did you want it to be a date?”

His smile widened, the dimple on his cheek deepening. ‘One of us has to crack, princess.’

Frustration, amusement, curiosity, all mixed and bubbled inside her like a particularly explosive witch’s brew. “You’re a knight aren’t you? Shouldn’t chivalry compel you here? Or bravery or something?”

‘You ask that I fall on my sword, is that it?’

“Well I hardly think it’s that bad!” Zelda said a bit too loudly, a woman a couple of sections over giving her a strange look. Zelda clamped her mouth shut and made herself small, tempted to shrink between the clothing racks. 

‘No, no, it’s not, that’s not what I meant,’ Link signed quickly and took a deep breath. ‘I do. Want it to be a date. If you do, obviously. If not that’s okay, there’s nothing inherently romantic about clothes and tacos, and well I really want to be friends either way. But I am— I do like you.’  

BREATHE. BREATHE. 

ADD TO FOLDER. 

INTERNALLY SCREAM. 

She was taking too long to respond, Link’s eyes seeming to progressively widen in ramping anxiety as she stood stunned. 

ANSWER!!

“I– um– yes. I mean. I– Same.” She laughed nervously and his expression softened into a relieved smile. “I would also like that.”  

‘Really?’ 

Zelda looked at him in disbelief. “Yes.”

‘So it’s a date?’

Zelda laughed again. “Yes, it’s a date, Link.” And because his shyness made her feel a little more bold she added, “I like you too.” 

His cheeks reddened even more as he lowered his gaze to the clothing rack again, biting back a smile. 

She looked back at the clothes too, then the clothes on his arm. Her mind was buzzing far too much to focus on their task anymore. “I think I should go ahead and try this on before your arm falls off, huh?” 

‘It’s no problem,’ he signed quickly, adamantly shaking his head no. 

“I admire your chivalry, sir knight, but this stuff will have to fit on your Epona and in my suitcase too,” Zelda teased. 

He nodded once, and moved aside to let her pass. 

When she spoke to the sales associate, Zelda found herself watching to see if the woman looked at Link, and how, but it wasn’t jealousy.

Yes, he is here with me, she thought, excitement buzzing under her skin. Yes, he is waiting on me. This man with a breathtaking smile, sharp eyes, and even sharper posture. 

Her chest swelled with pride as she smiled at him, and closed the fitting room door.

Chapter Text

When Zelda emerged from the dressing room, Link was waiting patiently against a nearby wall, playing on his phone. 

“Sorry, sorry, I know I take forever,” Zelda said sheepishly, handing a pile of clothing to the attendant and leaving with a serviceable remainder to costume herself. Hopefully. 

‘That’s okay, I have games to pass the time.’

“Games? What kind?” she asked as they moved to the registers. 

He lifted his phone and showed his screen, revealing a game of Sudoku. 

No way. 

Zelda felt as though she was probably setting some kind of world record for the first person to get heart eyes over a puzzle game. 

As she checked out, they argued the merits of one Sudoku app over another. Link paid for his app, which seemed absurd until he made a case for its virtues and Zelda had to consider it. 

‘Maybe we could play one together on my app later. I’ll show you that it’s better,’ he signed as they made it back onto the sidewalk, haul in hand. 

“I’d like that,” Zelda said, sounding totally cool and rational despite the continued internal squealing. 

They walked the street chatting, with Link’s magnetic pull as hard to fight as ever. The low sun winked at them between buildings until they reached the taco truck Link had been leading them to.

‘Have you had this before?’ Link pointed to the menu board where it read ‘elotes’.

“Hmm I don’t think so.” 

‘We can split some in case you don’t like it, what else would you want?’  

Split some… the suggestion made Zelda feel giggly and light and she had to fight the urge to hang on his arm. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked over the menu, barely able to focus enough to choose, but managing to rattle off an order for a taco. Link held his phone screen up to the window to order then paid for them both as Zelda stood smiling so much her face hurt.

They sat in the last of the sun’s orange, the metal picnic table warm with it. Link’s face was striking in the sunset and it was almost hard for Zelda to keep her attention on his hands and answer his questions. 

She told him about her university studies, majoring in education, minoring in theater arts. About how she had lived with her father up until last year. Link watched her speak with his chin in his hand, his burrito practically abandoned. 

“Aren’t you going to eat? You’d better, because you need your hands free when it’s my turn to question you,” Zelda teased, taking the opportunity to have another bite of her taco. 

Link chuckled mutely. ‘I’m a fast eater, don’t worry about me. Here.’ He opened up the elotes and pushed the styrofoam bowl across the table to her. Zelda wasn’t sure what she expected by the name, but was surprised to see corn. Mostly just corn, with added spices and cheese that made it extra yummy. Zelda held on to her spoon, toying with it as she talked and they passed the container back and forth. 

When the sun disappeared behind the surrounding buildings, Link stood and rounded the table to join Zelda on her side, sitting sideways on the bench to face her. ‘Easier to share,’ he explained with an expression like maybe he expected to be told off for it.

Zelda beamed. He was sitting so close to her now. “No, of course, please,” she stammered, then chuckled at herself before hiding behind another bite of her taco. 

From that point, the bowl stayed in place between them as they alternated their bites between the elotes and their own orders, talking all the while. 

“Are you from a military family?” Zelda asked eventually, more than ready to start satisfying her own curiosities. 

Link halted his chewing, eyebrows raised. ‘How did you know that?’

Zelda bounced in her seat and switched to sign so she could take a bite of her taco. ‘Your back. Very straight.’  

‘That’s scary impressive.’ 

‘Thank you. Tell me more about your family.’

‘My dad was in the military, we moved a lot. I never joined myself but I did that military prep program in high school. Never went to college. I trained for stunt work instead.’

“Which is just so cool, I hope you know,” Zelda added as she swallowed. 

‘I like to think so,’ Link signed shyly. 

Zelda took another spoonful of the elotes, and then froze with the realization that she used Link’s spoon. 

That spoon was in his mouth. Don’t think about that! Gross. Not gross, I like his mouth. Oh my god.

A second passed where she considered playing it off, but then it was too late; Link realized something was wrong. She turned to him with wide eyes. “I think I just used your spoon.”

Link looked down very gravely at the half-eaten elotes, took out the remaining spoon, and chucked it into the nearest trash can with impressive smoothness. Then his mind seemed to catch up with his actions and he suddenly looked equally mortified. 

“What was that?” Zelda asked, stifling a chuckle. “Are we sharing a spoon now?” 

‘Yes. I mean, if you don’t mind. I can get another spoon, I don’t know why I did that.’ As he signed his embarrassment turned to silent laughter, until they were both laughing away their nerves. 

“No, no, I don’t mind sharing,” Zelda responded with tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

They finished their food as the night and its associated nightlife drew in around them. The street was bustling by now, but Zelda didn’t want this night to end. 

“So, show me what’s so great about this paid app of yours,” she teased, and they huddled over his phone together. 

He smelled faintly like ambery cologne and sun. It was almost too much to bear, being pressed so close, heads practically touching and breaths mingling. But the nerves didn’t last long before Zelda was absorbed into the puzzle. 

Initially, Link was just showing her the app, but as soon as he started filling out the board, Zelda saw it as her opportunity to backseat-game, pointing and directing him with excited whispers. 

Link chuckled, a faint sound on his breath now this close to him. It drew Zelda even closer to him, and soon they were lost to the world in their own little bubble. 

Zelda wished they never had to go back. 

She almost said it aloud, emboldened by how their game had devolved into teasing shoves and flicking hands away to get the numbers in first. But the thought of returning to the faire reminded her of something else. 

“Oh! Link?” She turned to look up at him. His bushy eyebrows were tilted up in gentle surprise, amusement glittering in his eyes. It almost caused her brain to reboot.

 “Do you think we could go somewhere to buy a flashlight? I need one for camp,” she whispered.

He smiled and nodded. ‘Of course.’ He locked his phone screen and patted her arm before standing. He took care of throwing out their trash, then automatically held his elbow out as if he wanted her to take it before suddenly stopping himself. 

She must have had a little bravery left in her, because she slotted her arm in his with a nervous smile. “Lead the way, sir knight!”

Not many could say they still look good under the jarring fluorescent lights of your average superstore, but Zelda was beginning to believe there was nothing that could make Link look bad. 

‘Do you need anything else? What’s your sleeping arrangement like actually?’ he asked as they searched the aisle with camping equipment. 

“I have a pretty big tent!” Zelda responded cheerily, looking over the flashlight selection. “It’s meant for four people, I can even stand up in it.” 

Her face fell when she met Link’s eyes again. They looked a steely blue now in the harsh light. 

‘You’re in a tent? Alone?’ he signed seriously.

“Yeah…” 

Link didn’t respond right away. Zelda watched as he looked down, observing how his white t-shirt shifted with the rise and fall of his chest as he took a deep breath. ‘Do you have a way to defend yourself?’  

The question rattled her. Zelda crossed her arms, suddenly too cold from the store’s air-conditioning. “I mean not– I, from like, bears?” she stammered. 

Link sighed, his jaw clenching and unclenching. He didn’t say anything, but his eyes searched hers.

In the back of her mind, she knew what he meant. 

But it was the same part of her that had been nervous of Alfonso walking her back to her camp, and that turned out fine. Link was being overly cautious. Maybe even a little protective. 

Did she want him to be? She wasn’t sure. 

“I… took a self-defense class once,” she added. It sounded less convincing than she’d hoped. 

Link’s face started to loosen up, approaching something like amusement as he assessed her. ‘Yeah? Can you fight?’   As he signed for fighting he connected with her arm in a tap with his fist.

“I’m–” Zelda started, chuckling out some of the tension in her own chest, “Maybe!” She raised her fists at him playfully and he lifted his hands in surrender, laughing mutely.

‘For real though,’ he signed with a gentle smile, ‘It’d be nice to see what you can do. I was a fight teacher for a while after high school. Maybe we can meet up and train?’

“Fight teacher?” Zelda asked, not sure if she was interpreting correctly.

‘Yeah sorry I wasn’t sure if you’d know the sign for ____.’

“Oh. No, I don’t. But is it like… martial arts?” 

‘Almost. T-’ he stressed the sign for T. 

“T… Taekwondo?”

He snapped and pointed like she got it and Zelda could not help the sheer joy at guessing it right… only to be struck by another wave of overwhelming fangirlhood over the fact that he was A TAEKWONDO INSTRUCTOR! 

Zelda had to look away immediately before she blushed, or checked out his muscles, or some other embarrassing thing. She scanned the keychain lights quickly and plucked one off the peg. 

He was a taekwondo instructor. And he was offering to basically have a private training session, that… would that count as a second date? That was a pretty hot second date, if she could manage to not make a fool of herself. Oh God she absolutely would make a fool of herself. 

“Maybe,” she squeaked out before finally looking back to him.  

His smile went self-deprecating then. ‘Sorry, I can be a little paranoid I guess.’

“That’s okay,” Zelda said quietly, breaking eye contact again to pretend to inspect the flashlight. It was sweet coming from him. And actually, now that she thought about it, she might go a little crazy at the thought of him being in danger too, despite how capable he seemed. “Sounds like quite the second date,” Zelda prodded with a cheeky smile. 

Link ran a hand through his hair and looked away. Zelda saw him start to sign an apology again and batted his hand down. 

“I’d love that. Training. And a second date. Whichever. I’m sure I’ll be rotten at it though, fair warning.”

Link seemed to relax. His relaxed smile was one of the best, certainly top three of his expressions. ‘ Everyone starts bad,’ he assured. ‘That's what training is for.’  

It was an exciting prospect, and maybe the most exciting date idea Zelda had ever heard. “Would you wear armor?” she asked jokingly. 

Ohh Link in armor. This would certainly not be the time to imagine Link in armor. 

Link shook his head emphatically, aka, ‘absolutely not.’ Then added, ‘fighting in armor is the worst. Very clunky. But useful if you have a sword or axe coming at you.’ Zelda had never encountered the sign for sword but it seemed pretty self-explanatory. 

“I can imagine,” Zelda responded coolly, while internally her mind raced forward to the coming weekend. Link on a horse. Link in armor. Link sword-fighting.

‘Come on, I want to get a couple more things while we’re here.’ He gestured down the aisle and Zelda nodded and followed.

They grabbed some snacks and Link led them to the toy aisle, of all places. Zelda smiled at the dolls and stuffed animals. She spotted a donkey and thought about Link’s Epona. She catalogued it in the back of her mind as something he might like as a gift one day. 

One day. The suggestion of a future with Link twinkled in her thoughts, dangerous and tantalizing. Zelda put it out of her mind. This was only their first date . 

Although, they had discussed a second… how many dates before she was allowed to fantasize about the future? 

Link held something up to her, pulling Zelda out of her thoughts. 

It was a pack of two small walkie-talkies. Link put the package under his arm to sign ‘I’m getting us these.’ 

“Oh really?” she asked, amused. Who else was getting this kind of gift on a first date? No one, and she wouldn’t want it any other way. 

‘Obviously I can’t talk into it, but maybe we can work something out where one click means yes two means no or something like that. I want–’ He stopped in consideration. ‘In case of emergency, you can call me. Phone signal or not.’  

Oh.  

Zelda looked at the radios, her heart in her throat. This felt serious. Maybe he was overprotective, or paranoid, but either way in this moment she felt relieved. 

She hadn’t realized the weight of her own paranoia until now. Being away from home, not knowing anyone here, getting lost on dark fairgrounds; it had all compiled onto her normal anxiety. Knowing that Link had her back unburdened her somewhat and suddenly she felt like crying. 

“Can I hug you?” she asked quietly, looking into his clear blue eyes.

Link smiled and nodded, readjusting his hold on the walkie-talkies and reaching for her. 

Zelda wrapped her arms around his shoulders and hugged him close. “Thank you,” she whispered into his hair, and he patted the back of her head comfortingly.

Zelda pulled back and cleared her throat, blinking back tears. “We should probably get going huh?” 

Link gave Zelda his jacket to wear along with his helmet for the ride home. 

‘Do I look like you now?’ she signed cheekily before striking a pose. 

He laughed silently. ‘No, much better.’  

Zelda playfully whacked his arm before mounting the bike and settling in against his back.

The damned helmet kept her from getting too close, but she leaned into him as much as she could now, unconcerned about seeming too eager or touchy. 

Once they were on the open road again, Zelda found herself lazily closing her eyes. It was late. The helmet hushed the wind and noise of the engine enough for her to get pretty comfortable. Headlights and yellow street lights flashed behind her eyelids as they passed, rhythmic and peaceful.

She was a zombie when they got back to the faire. 

A full-body soreness served as a souvenir of a long, adventurous day, and promised to have her sleeping like a rock. She yawned as she removed the helmet. 

Zelda had nearly forgotten about her thrifting haul until the bags appeared on Link’s arm. ‘Come on, sleepy,’ he signed before looping his free arm with hers again and guiding her back towards camp.

Zelda nodded and leaned her head against him, trusting him to lead the way. 

That unfortunately only worked for so long before he was gently elbowing her. 

With his hands full, Link looked at her expectantly. 

She blinked up at him, then at the dark campsites around them.

“Oh right, my tent,” Zelda chuckled weakly and began walking again, somewhat sure she was headed the right way. 

It was a little cold even through the comfort of Link’s jacket. Crickets chirped loudly. 

Eventually, she found her tent and dumped the shopping bags inside haphazardly before rushing back to Link to say goodnight. 

‘I don’t think we’ll get much of a chance to see each other again before opening day,’ he signed apologetically. ‘I hope we do. If not, you can always text me.’

“Yeah, same. I will.” 

As the words left her mouth, there was a certain feeling of finality settling around them.

It was the end of their first date.  

Isn’t this normally where people would kiss? She’d never kissed anyone on the first date. But if she was ever going to…

No, she probably shouldn't. They were sweaty, tired messes and this was only their first date. But she definitely did want to kiss him. Oh god she wanted to kiss him? Already?! 

Link stepped closer to her, definitely glancing at her lips before looking further down… then pulled on the sleeve of her his jacket. 

‘I’m going to need this back,’ he signed with a sly smile. 

“Oh! Sorry,” she chuckled and immediately wriggled out of it. 

He backed up again to slide it on and Zelda felt the cold absence of him as much as the cold on her arms. He looked so good in that jacket, and actually the jacket might even be somehow hotter now that they’d shared it. She wondered if it smelled like her now.

Hopefully it didn’t smell bad , an intrusive thought pressed at the worst possible time. This was supposed to be kissing time!

But he was farther away now, and her mouth was dry from anxiety. 

‘Text me, yeah? We’ll get the radios set up,’ he signed. ‘Goodnight.’  

“Yeah, uh…” Her heart was racing. “Wait, I umm.” 

No , there was no bravery left in her system. She was exhausted. But now he was looking at her, a bemused smile on his face as he cocked his head. 

She took a deep breath and surged towards him, throwing her arms around his neck and quickly kissing his cheek. “Goodnight,” she blurted, then fled to her tent before he could respond. 

She got the tent zipper closed and silently screamed at her awkwardness, throwing herself dramatically into her cot.

Chapter Text

The vendors were out in droves now setting up their shops.

It made maneuvering the faire all the more difficult, but every person was an opportunity to Zelda. She thought it would be nice to make a name for herself. For people to recognize her and wave to her as she passed, like Annie. Annie seemed to know everyone.

Zelda still found herself searching for Link through the crowd sometimes, but focused on chatting up those around her. The new vendors, the other actors as they walked from gig to gig. Every once in a while she managed to get a few minutes with phone signal to text Link.

At joust rehearsal, Zelda told herself she would NOT be distracted again. Unfortunately, the potential for distraction was even worse than last time. 

The boys were all split off in pairs to rehearse their own duels. Link’s back was to her as he sparred against Alfonso. It was the first time she’d seen him at all since giving him her pathetic excuse for a kiss, and her heart did an awful flippy thing at seeing even just the back of his head.

To make matters worse, one of the animal handlers came out with a horse and a joust lance to practice the princess’ blessing. Zelda tried to stay focused as the handler led the horse to the edge of the jousting pit, right in front of the stage.

This was acting on hard mode. But, Zelda reminded herself, this was exactly the magic she wanted to be a part of.

Zelda ran her lines in her mind over and over as the clash of weapons rang out in the arena. The horse shook its head with a whinny and– oh it was so cute– but she had to FOCUS. 

Then it was her turn to practice. Her nerves prickled, excitement bouncing her to her mark on the edge of the stage to meet the horse and animal handler. 

“I will bestow upon this knight my favor!” Zelda willed her voice to come out strong despite the giddy fluttering in her chest. She gripped the blessing wreath tightly, pricks of artificial florals digging into her hands. Maybe this is where she would look at her chosen knight, but she couldn’t help but smile down at the horse. “May he be victorious and bring honor to his kingdom.” She finished the line and put the wreath onto the lance with a flourish, imagining grand applause. 

Zelda returned her gaze to Link’s rehearsal the second she was back on her first mark. She’d completed her quest after all, she deserved a reward. It was tragically short-lived, however, and she was quickly whisked away again. 

When Zelda entered the cafeteria, the knights were all accounted for except the one she wanted to see the most. She texted Link asking where he was, but the message promptly bounced. Going outside to send it felt…desperate? Besides, she already had her food. Maybe the universe was saving her from her own awkwardness again.

Settling at the table with the actors and stunt men, she was greeted to a chorus of ‘it’s Zelda!’. She smiled, it was actually kind of starting to feel like she belonged. 

As the night wound down Zelda was back to brainstorming topics to discuss with Link, eager to continue texting as soon as she left the cafeteria.

Zelda was exhausted, but somehow still full of nervous energy when she entered her tent that night. Maybe it was thoughts of Link. Of what to say next, of the fear that she would mess all of this up somehow. Maybe it was the activity around her tent. People laughing, fires crackling. In the distance someone played a guitar. 

She wrung her hair out a final time and hung her towel up. Her eyes fell on the walkie-talkie charging beside her cot. 

Zelda picked up the walkie-talkie. “Test, test” she said into it and waited through a dull static. 

A responding beep came like the one that had preceded her call.

“I think that means we're good to go,” she spoke into the receiver again.

Another beep, and then a text. 

Emboldened by the chance to speak to him directly, Zelda continued in the walkie-talkie. “Where were you at dinner today? I didn’t see you in the cafeteria.”

A response didn’t come, but the signal had dropped out on her phone again. She put down the radio and got up to wave her phone around the tent in search of signal. 

A message came through. 

Zelda’s eyes widened at her phone, before she abruptly threw it onto her cot in a panic.

She shouldn’t even answer that. With how he always got her flustered, she should give him a taste of his own medicine and leave him second-guessing himself all night. She decided to compromise. An answer, but not a desperate one. 

That didn’t sit right with Zelda. Was he avoiding her?? All because of this absurd idea that she was better off with the others? 

Staring at the message, Zelda tried not to let a flood of warring thoughts consume her. 

She would rather be friends with Link than anyone else, she knew that. But when it came to what was best for the job… obviously the job came first. 

But this wasn’t that extreme, they were just talking about who she hung out with. At the same time, Link had experience with the politics here and was just giving his ( albeit unsolicited!) advice. 

She exhaled a sharp sigh. Another message came in. 

Zelda cracked a smile. 

Zelda waited but a response didn’t come. Her phone still showed she had signal. 

She settled into her cot and fretted over the conversation, and then over opening weekend looming ahead. She started to suspect Link had fallen asleep until he answered again. 

It was the last day before opening weekend. 

There was a palpable buzz in the air from the chatter and bustle, the sizzle of grilling meat and smell of fried sweets. It was just like Zelda remembered. 

The great magical beast was awakening. 

It was harder to get around with the stir of activity, but at least Zelda was beginning to feel at home at the fairgrounds. Well, emphasis on the beginning to , since she still had some questions. 

Zelda was reading the text while she walked, but froze in place when she registered what he meant. Her mind went blank. 

The front balcony. On opening day.  

Someone bumped into her from behind, snapping her back to reality. She apologized weakly though they were already moving on. 

This particular brand of anxiety reminded her of the first time she’d ever been on a professional stage. It was new and terrifying, but somewhere inside her was a little girl screaming her head off in excitement. 

She was going to be the princess welcoming guests into the faire. Waving and smiling with a sparkling crown. 

Goosebumps erupted on her skin at the thought, a smile slowly following. She set back on the path with a renewed sense of purpose. 

Zelda didn’t see Link (or any of the knights for that matter) at the joust rehearsal. But on her way to her final costume fitting she heard a distinct whistle that broke through the fog of her disappointment. It was the same whistle she’d heard Link call Trouble with.

Her head whipped around. The path wasn’t as crowded as it had been in the morning, though people still occasionally sped past in a hurry. 

Then she spotted Link, looking exactly as she expected him to. A well-worn tunic and trousers, long hair tousled, that lopsided dimpled grin. Maybe it was desperate or awkward but she couldn’t help but run to meet him. 

She threw her arms around his neck with a breathless, “Hi!” 

He squeezed her back, which was at least some assurance she wasn’t too weird. She pulled back and just smiled at him. It was SO nice to see him. 

‘Where are you headed?’ he signed. 

“Admin trailer.”

Link’s shoulders dropped as he heaved a silent groan. ‘Opposite direction of where I’m headed.’  

“That’s okay,” Zelda lied, because it was not okay at all and surely the universe was punishing her for some reason. “I’m glad we got to see each other for a second.” Which was true. A second with Link was a very precious thing. She took in his clear blue eyes and the striking features of his face. The bridge of his nose. The crease in his forehead as he pouted. 

He looked down, then unexpectedly took her hand and squeezed her fingers.

His hand was warm and clammy from the summer heat but it was such a sweet gesture. Her heart skipped. 

He dropped her hand as quickly as he had taken it, giving her a half smile. 

‘See you,’ he signed. 

Zelda only nodded, too many words wanting to get out of her mouth at once.

It was a little easier to fall asleep after that. 

Zelda could barely breathe as Priya helped her tie the back of her corset. 

“Really it’s one of the easiest gigs,” Priya reassured her. “It can get tiring to smile big the whole time, but make sure you take water - and turn around or bend down to drink it so no one sees it.”

“Oh I hadn’t even thought of that,” Zelda said with a mix of relief and anxiety. It was nice to know, but what else could she miss if that was something that never occurred to her?

“Yeah it seems a bit overkill but it’s the most photographed position you know?” Priya added as she finished and patted her shoulder. 

“Sure, I get that.”

“You look great.” Priya smiled at her in the mirror and Zelda gave her a nervous smile back, then looked to her own reflection. 

She really did look like a princess. She wore a lavish pink gown with ivory lace details and a golden crown, her hair styled into ringlets around her face. 

She nodded once firmly before setting off (water bottle in hand). 

Nick was waiting outside to escort her, looking every part the squire with his red, black, and gold getup. 

“Good day, milady!” he said cheerily. 

“Good day, gentle sir.”

Zelda was grateful that the long train of her dress necessitated an escort. It was a relief to have a friendly face with her on day one.   

They made it to the entrance of the faire without incident, where Nick also helped her up the scaffolding to the balcony door. 

“Best of luck, milady,” he tipped his head and then added, “I’ll just be down there with the admissions guys if you need me.” 

Zelda nodded and then added belatedly, “Thank you, Nick.” 

He hopped down the scaffolding and did a full bow with a flourish, making her laugh. 

She turned back and hurried through the balcony door. The gates would open any minute, sending crowds surging inside. 

A cluster of squires stood around below, waiting to scan tickets and hand out maps. Zelda put her water down and adjusted her crown, then took a deep breath as the crier outside finally made the opening announcement. 

“Hear ye! Hear ye! All are welcome in the two thousand and twenty-fourth year to the Festival of Enchantment!”

Chapter Text

Guests began streaming in, the atmosphere sparking with the buzz they brought with them. Zelda’s bright smile was every bit genuine. It was a delight to see people of all ages dressed up and brimming with enthusiasm. 

“Welcome!” Zelda shouted down and waved. “Welcome!” 

Some guests stopped to take pictures of her. A little girl dressed like a witch pointed up at her and tugged her mother’s skirt. Zelda blew her a kiss and she squealed. 

This was going to be a magical day. 

An hour into manning the front balcony, a familiar face appeared in the crowd below.    

Link stepped to the side of the path and leaned in the shade of one of the buildings. He smiled up at her and her heart swelled. She couldn’t help but blow him a cheeky kiss too. 

Zalda watched with rapt attention as he bit his lip and grinned, then pretended to catch her kiss and pat his own cheek with it. 

She laughed, signing, ‘You’re silly.’

‘You started it.’

Zelda rolled her eyes and waved to more visitors entering, not wanting to appear too distracted. When she looked back at him he signed again. 

‘How’s it going?’

‘So fun! I love it!’

‘You look perfect.’

Zelda’s breath caught and she just blinked dumbly before tearing her eyes away to continue waving at the guests passing by. 

Perfect. 

She signed a thank you without looking at him, sure that she still felt his eyes on her. Was he here just to watch her? Would he stay there watching her? The thought was nerve-wracking, but also kind of nice. It was almost a little cheesy wasn’t it? Like her Romeo come to meet her at her balcony. 

She looked back to him again and he was still there, leaning against a tree like he had nowhere else to be.

‘Are you going to stand there watching?’ she signed. 

‘Maybe,’ he signed back cheekily. ‘Am I distracting you?’

Zelda subtly nodded as she waved to more visitors. It was about time to call out another greeting, but she didn’t exactly want to attract more attention to herself right then. She gave Link a pointed look. 

He chuckled and apologized, then bowed deeply, folding all the way over himself and back up with a flourish. ‘Good luck, princess. See you.’

Her heart felt like it might burst as she signed back, ‘see you.’

The morning flew by until it was nearly time for the joust. 

Maiden costume donned once more, Zelda hopped on the balls of her feet and watched the hive of backstage buzz around her. Stagehands went by with weapons and props. Judy barked orders from somewhere unseen. The animal handlers led horses right through the chaos - close enough to touch! 

Annie sat in a plastic folding chair scrolling on her phone, indifferent to the magic going on around her. Probably texting since there was no knight around to flirt with. Zelda held in a chuckle at the thought just as a stagehand hurried over to her. 

“You’re Supporting Maiden right?” he addressed her abruptly and thrusted the wreath at her before she could scarcely get a word out. 

“Ye- oh. Thank you.” She hugged the wreath to her chest and watched him disappear into the madness. 

Out in the arena, the noise of the crowd crescendoed as one of the staff members went through the preshow instructing the different sections of the audience which color knight to root for. 

The schedule in the trailer listed this show as a straight red play. Knowing this felt like being handed the keys to the kingdom. Zelda knew something no one else in the crowd would know when they watched the knights fight for victory. 

“One minute to show!” Judy called out as she sped past. 

Annie finally stood from her chair and joined Zelda to stand closer to the stage door. “Break a leg,” she said with a smile bordering on a sneer. 

“You too,” Zelda replied, unbothered. 

John joined them, looking positively regal in his king costume. “Morning, ladies.” 

Before they could respond, Judy barked, “Actors on!” 

“That’s our cue,” he said jovially and strode out before them. 

Zelda followed out last, blinking in the sunlight. 

The crowd was just as she’d imagined, exactly like the ones she’d been a part of so many times before. Her heart raced.  

Follow Annie, she reminded herself sharply and snapped back to her task. She followed the princess like the dutiful supporting maiden that she was, settling behind her on stage right. 

John began his monologue as the knights rode out on horseback– 

And Zelda stopped breathing. 

There was nothing like this. No experience she had ever had was anything close to this. 

Acting on the typical stage meant performing to a void - the audience drowned out by the stage lights. All that mattered was the stage, every prop a part of your character’s life. It was easy to get lost in the character then. But here, a whole world extended beyond the stage’s edge. 

An audience full of fairies and monsters, knights and pirates. Horses trotting in the arena sending dirt flying behind them. Squires running beside them and hyping up the crowd. 

Alfonso was out first, riding a black horse adorned with red colors to match him. Then out came one of the understudies filling in for yellow. He waved to the crowd and led a bay-colored horse to stand before the yellow section adjacent to Alfonso’s. They looked magnificent, but couldn’t compare to Link. 

He rode in astride a grey spotted horse with a black mane and tail, its green accouterments flowing as it trotted around the arena. Link’s hair was tied back. He was wearing his armor, the sight of which was promptly filed away as an urgent memo in the heart-covered folder reserved for thoughts of him. 

Link was not an especially large man, but in his armor he seemed larger than life. Broad shoulders glinting silver. Black-gloved hands that could tame the mightiest of beasts. He wore a neutral expression in contrast to Alfonso’s preening and waving to the audience.

Zelda was reminded of Link the Stoic again and smiled to herself. 

Jordan was the last to align himself before the blue section, waving to the crowd atop a spotted black and white horse. 

Annie spoke her first lines, pulling Zelda’s attention back to the scene playing out around her. It was time for the princess to choose her champion. She called to the red knight and Alfonso rode his black steed towards the stage. 

Zelda noticed Annie coming her way and readied her Supporting Maiden smile. She half expected some snarky comment from Annie, but thankfully the hand-off went smoothly, and Annie was sauntering back towards the knights in no time. Zelda released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“I will bestow upon this knight my favor,” she continued. Alfonso held his lance up to her and she leaned to place the wreath on it. “May he be victorious and bring honor to his kingdom!”

Alfonso bowed his head to her and then turned to the audience, lifting his lance in the air as they cheered. 

Then it was time for the joust to begin. 

Jordan and the yellow knight faced off first. The yellow knight broke Jordan’s shield with his lance, earning two points. They left the arena and Link and Alfonso replaced them on the joust run. 

Finally. Finally she was going to see him perform. 

Every little thing he did seemed marvelous. Destined to be memorialized somehow. The way he moved on horseback, posture staying perfect despite being jostled back and forth. The way the wind licked at his hair as if it was embracing him. 

And Zelda had yet to see the best of it. 

The men readied their lances. The crowd quieted in anticipation. It all felt so much more intense because it was Link. Her Link, her knight. 

One of the squires ran out of the way, shouting, “Ready!” Zelda’s hands clutched each other tightly. 

As the horses started forward, launching themselves into a gallop to meet in the middle, Link smiled. His face lit up with joy like he was having the time of his life, and Zelda was certain she would dream of this moment. 

With a clash of their lances, they batted each other’s shields. Neither shield nor lance broke. The crowd cheered and oooh’ed as things heated up. The knights circled their horses, gearing up for another round. 

Even though it was all planned, Zelda couldn’t quite squash the hope that Link would win. She didn’t breathe as they came together again and - with a splintering crack - Link’s lance broke. He threw it down dramatically as the crowd split between cheers and boos. 

He slid off his horse and ran towards Alfonso’s horse. Zelda’s eyes widened as she drew in an excited breath realizing what was happening: Link, of all people, was the villain. 

As Alfonso celebrated and waved to the crowd, Link came up to his horse and pulled him off of it. Alfonso rolled into the dirt, barely avoiding a punch from Link, whose fist connected with the ground and knocked up a cloud of sand. A squire ran in to break up the spat as the king spoke up again. 

“Now, now, gentle sirs, this is no way to settle a dispute. What say you, fair audience, that we have an old-fashioned hand-to-hand duel?”

The audience cheered in agreement as squires brought out the knights’ weapons. Link was cute when he was fake-angry, his brow furrowed dramatically. But when he picked up his sword, he actually seemed a little intimidating. Zelda quietly filed the sight away without deigning to think too much about it right then. 

The men slowly circled each other in the middle of the arena with their swords raised in defensive positions. Link struck first, explosive in his anger. The clumsy move was parried easily. The clash of heavy swords made it feel real. This wasn’t a movie. A slip could truly be dangerous to them.

Zelda reminded herself that they were practiced professionals. Looking closely, she could see how it was a dance, choreographed and careful, though they played it up with grunts and tosses of hair that made it seem more chaotic. 

Their swords came together in a flurry of slashes and parries, Alfonso pressing forward and gaining the advantage. 

Link stumbled back, crashing into the dirt in the most convincing fall Zelda had ever seen. It looked like it hurt.  

The audience collectively gasped. Zelda dramatically covered her mouth as Alfonso brought his sword to point at Link’s throat, pinning him to the ground. 

The king announced the red knight as winner of the duel. Alfonso helped Link up, like any good hero. 

Then it was time for the battle royale. 

A full rack of weapons was wheeled out into the arena. The yellow knight and Jordan returned on foot, hyping up the crowd again. 

This time the knights all took up weapons. The yellow knight took a mace, and Link an axe. Jordan and Alfonso chose swords. Zelda’s eyes were trained on Link. His expression, how his limbs moved; armor glinting in the sun. His face was stained with a mix of dirt and sweat. 

He seemed to be fighting a smile, his eyes glittering with barely-contained joy as the rest of his face scowled. 

He faced off against the yellow knight while Alfonso and Jordan crossed swords.

The knights were all impressively fluid in their movements, but Link had something the others lacked. As good as they were, there was always a tell that they were acting. A hesitance before an impact or move. When Link moved it was always with purpose. 

Link wound his arm back for a powerful strike, the opposing knight barely lifting his shield before the battle axe came down on it hard. The WHACK rang loud in the arena and the knight fell back into the dirt, his shield broken in two. Link turned to the crowd to celebrate his victory prematurely. 

The yellow knight scrambled to his feet quickly, running up behind Link and getting the chain of his mace around Link’s neck as if to strangle him. Zelda could almost hear some members of the crowd shouting ‘behind you!’ just as her subconscious screamed it. Distantly, Zelda registered booing and Jordan’s sword being knocked out of his hand, but she couldn’t look away from Link. 

Link and the yellow knight went down, falling back in the dirt as the yellow knight strangled him with the mace’s chain until he tapped out. Zelda stared at him and swallowed hard. He stayed down, catching his breath while the yellow knight threw himself at Alfonso. 

Zelda felt a silly flood of affection for Link as he lay there, the defeated villain covered in dirt. She wanted to scoop him up and kiss his head. He rolled over away from the action, slowly righting himself as Alfonso pushed the yellow knight down. 

Alfonso the red knight was victorious. The crowd cheered and booed as he celebrated. Squires brought the horses back out and the knights mounted their steeds again, positioning themselves in front of the different sections of the audience as the king crowned his victor.

It seemed like everyone in the world was looking at Alfonso and the king. Everyone except for Zelda, who looked longingly at her knight’s dirty hair and half of his dimpled smile.

Chapter Text

Zelda came across Link leaning on his motorcycle, looking as cool as ever. He was lit a dingy yellow by the solar-powered lights fighting feebly against the darkness of the forest.  

“Hey, Green Knight!” Zelda called out with a smile, feeling the tension from the long day ebbing at just the sight of him. 

Link spun around to face her, giving her his handsome dimpled grin and a little nod in greeting. His signature leather jacket hung from squared shoulders, and a thin white tank underneath hugged his chest. Zelda averted her eyes so she didn’t ogle him. 

“How far out’s the bar?” she asked, approaching the motorcycle. 

‘Not far. I can make it in twenty,’ he signed and then handed her his helmet.

She took it but hesitated, anxiety choosing the moment of their departure to sink its teeth into her. The day had been such a whirlwind of excitement that it hadn’t really occurred to her to feel nervous about this. 

She reminded herself that this was essentially what she wanted; everyone getting together. Maybe she could even interpret for Link, and they could leave any drama in the past!

But… everything could just as easily blow up, couldn’t it? If Russ or Annie started something, or Link disappeared because he felt uncomfortable…

Link cocked his head at her, bushy eyebrows quirked, and Zelda snapped out of her thoughts. 

“Sorry, I’m just- tired,” she gave him a weak smile. “I’m glad it isn’t far.” 

He nodded reassuringly. 

“Okay,” Zelda exhaled, bracing herself and putting the helmet on. But before she could turn away, Link reached out and flicked the visor of the helmet up to expose her eyes. Zelda jumped, blinking at him in surprise. 

He snapped the visor closed with a playful smile on his face. 

“ Ack - can you stop that?” Zelda gave a muffled chuckle, swatting mildly at his hand. 

His other hand came to lift the visor again and she let him, giving him a deadpan look. “Are you done ?” 

If it was possible, his grin grew even more mischievous as he slooowwlly closed the visor. 

“Link!” 

‘Zelda,’ he signed cheekily. 

She was about to say something about being late, when he reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers. 

Everything felt pretty okay all of a sudden. 

Zelda rolled her eyes, a smile causing her cheeks to strain in the padded helmet. “Let’s go.”

The place was a bit of a dive bar. Zelda supposed she should've expected as much since it was so close to the faire. 

It was a beacon of hazy light and raucous sound in the forest. The buzz of chatter and the rumble of other engines cut through the night, but most of the patrons seemed to be heading inside to avoid the heat of an especially warm summer night. 

Link parked next to two other motorcycles beside the building and helped Zelda dismount. Her stomach knotted as she tried to reassure herself.  Zelda knew people in there. And she always had Link. 

‘You can drink if you want. I won’t be, obviously,’ he signed as they headed to the entrance.

“Thank you. I kind of doubt I will though, this might be more of a– you know, making an appearance, kind of thing.” She gestured vaguely with her hands and then promptly decided that looked stupid and clasped her hands in front of her. 

He nodded and opened the door for her, releasing a burst of sound from within. Smoke, laughter, and music surrounded them as they waded into the fray. Distant clinks of glasses and pool balls ornamented the chaos. 

Scanning the packed bar, Zelda first recognized the face of an animal handler, then Kendrick standing next to her chatting, then more and more people from her department clustered in the back half of the bar. Some sat at the bar, some at nearby tables, and others mingled in between. 

“Zelda, hi!” 

Zelda recognized Priya’s voice before spotting her. She was waving an arm high in the air practically standing on her barstool. It was a relief to see her.

Zelda pressed through the mass of bodies to meet her, glancing back to make sure Link was following. He was, if at a bit of a distance. He seemed distracted. Zelda didn’t give it much thought though because suddenly she was surrounded by her coworkers greeting her with a chorus of “Hey”s and “Zelda!”s. 

“Zeldaaaaa” Annie slurred happily from next to Priya. “How are you girlie? Do some shots with us we’re doing shots.” 

“Oh, no, I’m okay, I don’t think I’m going to drink tonight.” 

Annie gasped and pouted dramatically. “What? But it’s opening day! We have to celebrate.”

Priya nodded. “It is opening day,” she repeated plainly as if that was all the justification needed. 

Zelda looked around. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. The knights were caught up in some kind of drinking game at a nearby table. Even Kendrick was smiling and drinking a beer. Link had drifted halfway between Kendrick’s conversation with the animal handler and where Zelda stood with the girls, still a partial lifeline.

Zelda turned back around to her co-stars with a hesitant smile. “Shots of what?” 

“Hey that’s the spirit!” Annie said excitedly and hailed the bartender. 

Priya cheered and clapped her on the shoulder. 

Zelda turned back towards Link and he raised his eyebrows in question. 

‘Do you want anything? I can order for you,’ Zelda signed, preferring it over trying to make herself heard in the chaos. 

Link hesitated, then shook his head. 

‘Are you sure? What’s your favorite soda?’  

That seemed to wear him down enough to answer, though still hesitantly. ‘Coke please.’   

Zelda smiled reassuringly at him and turned back to see the bartender approaching. 

“Three more vodka shots for the princesses!” Annie said dramatically. 

The bartender chuckled and rolled her eyes. “‘Kay.” 

“Could I also get a Coke please?” Zelda blurted before the woman turned away. 

“Sure thing.” She nodded and went to gather their order. 

“It’s so freaky how you do that by the way,” Annie said suddenly, seemingly directed at Zelda. 

“Huh? Me? Do… what?” Zelda asked. 

“The whole… sign thing.”

Priya patted Annie’s hand on the bar. “She’s being a bitch about it but she actually means it’s cool.”

“Yeah it’s like,” Annie lazily put her head in her hand, “You can talk in secret code or something.”

“Oh,” Zelda chuckled, “Thanks I guess.”

“You should teach us something,” Priya encouraged. 

“Yessssss,” Annie joined in. 

The bartender returned with the shot glasses and vodka, pouring them on the bar in front of them before addressing Zelda. “Coke’s gonna be a minute, we’ve gotta get more stocked but my manager’s on it.” 

“Okay, thank you!” 

“Cheers!” Annie said and raised her shot glass, leaving Zelda scrambling for her’s. It’d been a while since she had alcohol and readied herself for the sting. 

“Cheers!” Zelda and Priya echoed and everyone downed their shots. 

Zelda grimaced and shook her head at the burn flowing down her throat. 

Annie laughed at her reaction. “Oh little Zelda,” she cooed and patted her back, “You’ll get used to it.”

“So how do you say, like, hello?” Priya asked. 

“Oh yeah!” Annie added, seemingly having forgotten the request to teach them sign. 

Zelda cleared her throat and laughed. “Oh you’d be underwhelmed. Usually it’s just waving. No sense overcomplicating it, you know.”

“Makes sense,” Priya said simultaneously to Annie’s “That’s lame.” 

Priya laughed. “Annie, you are such a bitch, seriously.” 

“Only when I’m drunk!” she defended, batting her eyelashes. 

Priya and Zelda shared a look as if to say, No, it’s definitely not only when she’s drunk, before they both burst into laughter. 

The warmth in Zelda’s gut spread up to her head, rendering everything just a little fuzzy and nice and making her laugh longer than normal, especially when Annie asked what they were laughing at. 

“Nothing, nothing,” Priya assured her with a chuckle before scooting to the edge of her barstool and addressing Zelda. “Here Zelda, do you want to sit down? We can try to squeeze?”

“Oh no that’s okay! I’m good with standing,” she refused, reminded suddenly of the man standing somewhere behind her. 

She glanced back and saw Link had his back to her. She swiveled back around, but not without something else catching her eye. A couple of tables away, Russ was looking at her. 

He smiled as their eyes met, lifting his beer bottle in acknowledgement. Zelda smiled tightly and quickly turned back to the other girls. 

“So what’s something we can actually learn then?” Annie asked. “I’m not even gonna ask about cuss words I feel like it’s just gonna be–” she held her middle finger up and made an obnoxious face. 

Zelda might‘ve been bothered normally, but found herself laughing instead. “So sorry to break it to you…”

“You’re JOKING,” Annie groaned.

Priya laughed. “How about just something like ‘how are you’?”

“Easy!” Zelda replied enthusiastically, showing them the translation slowly and breaking down each sign. “And then you specify ‘you’ by pointing, usually.”

Priya copied the movements slowly.

“Yes, exactly!” 

“Oh that’s so fun,” Priya squealed. 

“Oh so fun,” Annie echoed sarcastically. 

“Well maybe if you actually tried it,” Priya shot back. 

Annie lifted her middle finger again in protest as she tucked back into another drink sitting on the bar already half gone. 

The bartender returned,apologizing for the wait and placing a bottle of Coke on the counter. Zelda thanked her and turned, calling out for Link. 

His head snapped in her direction immediately. Zelda held the Coke up so he could see and he gave her a tight smile before weaving his way back to her. 

Zelda felt even warmer, her heart fighting the lull of alcohol to race for the sight of him. Link was beginning to sweat. Little hairs stuck to his forehead. Zelda felt such a wave of affection for him that it was without much thought at all that her arm came around his waist to pull him close to her on his approach. 

He was slow to take the bottle from her, as if he was stunned. And maybe he was. Zelda’s brain wasn’t working all the way anymore. Everything just felt very warm and nice, especially with him pressed to her side, and then Priya was speaking. 

“Hello Link,” she said politely. 

He nodded to her and took a swig of his Coke. 

Annie similarly hid in her drink. 

Tension began to fight its way into Zelda’s happy haze until Priya broke it again. ‘How are you?’ she signed. 

Zelda lit up, excitedly looking at Link's reaction. He blinked at Priya in surprise and cracked a bit of a smile before slowly signing, ‘good.’

Priya automatically looked back to Zelda. “That’s ‘good’” she explained, repeating the sign for her. “Isn’t this exciting?” she turned to Link, squeezing his side. His face was so close like this. “They asked about sign language.”

He nodded. He still wore a tight smile that was finally starting to feel off to Zelda just as he began to pull away from her. 

‘Excuse me,’ he signed, then nodded to Priya in acknowledgement. Annie was still avoiding him. ‘I’ll be outside if you need me.”   He walked away, moving between patrons until Zelda could no longer see him.

Suddenly the warmth wasn’t nice anymore. It was hot and sticky embarrassment. 

Zelda threw down some cash and excused herself, following back in the direction he’d gone until she found the door and pushed out into the night. The door smacked hard as if she was angry. And maybe she was. Her eyes stung a little. 

She lingered beside the entrance to compose herself, walking slowly and taking deep breaths. It was sobering to be outside again.

More patrons of the bar came towards the door so Zelda backed away to the side of the building to find LInk. 

He was sitting sideways on his motorcycle and looking down into his lap. The sight made Zelda less certain in her anger. 

“Why did you leave?” Zelda asked. 

He looked up at her and sighed, running his hand through his hair. 

Zelda moved closer but left significant space between them. 

‘I didn’t want to be in there anymore. Made my appearance,’ he answered after a moment. 

Zelda raised a suspicious eyebrow at him. “Is that all?” 

He shook his head. 

“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,” she admitted quietly. 

To her surprise, Link shook his head again and reached his hand out to beckon her closer. Zelda took the invitation immediately, closing the distance between them and taking his hand, looking down into his pensive face. 

For a moment he just looked up into her eyes, right, then left, then down to her lips and up to her eyes again before a small smile graced his lips. He reluctantly let go of her hand to sign. 

‘I liked you pulling me close.’

Zelda’s heart pumped magma through her veins, her skin on fire as she stopped breathing.

‘But I really don’t think you should be seen with me like that,’ he added. The reminder of what had gone wrong immediately cooled things down. 

Zelda looked away from him and down towards the ground behind him. “I thought things were going surprisingly well.”

Link shook his head. 

“What do you mean, no? Priya even asked about sign language on her own, I swear. Even Annie surprisingly thought it was cool.”

‘That’s not what I’m talking about.’

Zelda took a step back and crossed her arms, confusion and anger snuffing out any remaining excitement. “Okay, so what is it then?” 

Link’s jaw tensed as he looked away, then shook his head. 

Zelda was a bit taken aback at his refusal. Did he just not know and was being paranoid? Or was he hiding something? Either way it felt off. 

“You’re just not going to answer?” 

He inhaled sharply and rubbed his lips before signing, ‘I’m trying to protect you.’  

“Protect me from what? ” Zelda hissed. “How does keeping me in the dark help anything? And you must not know me at all if you think I won’t just go back in there and figure out what the problem is for myself if you won–” 

Link stopped her with a hand on her arm, suddenly standing with a panicked look on his face and shaking his head. 

“Then tell me ,” she demanded, standing her ground with him practically pressed between her and the motorcycle. 

‘It’s the boys.’

“The knights?” Zelda tried to comb her mind for anything strange that had happened in the bar and only drew up memories of distant smiles and laughter from their coworkers. 

Link nodded. ‘They aren’t all bad but some of them. I’ve.’ He paused. ‘I’ve heard how they talk about people. Women, especially. And they’re drunk, and they really, really,’ he stressed the sign twice, ‘don’t like me.’

He sat back down on the motorcycle and it was easier to breathe then. 

‘There was this look on R-U-S-S face after you put your arm around me. I didn’t like it. I worry now that he’s a threat to you if he thinks I’m interested in you. But now that I told you, you’re going to storm in there and confront him and make it worse.” 

“I won’t,” Zelda answered automatically.

Link unfolded with a smile pulling on his lips, readjusting his position on the bike to be sitting straighter, a little closer to her. ‘I have a feeling that’s more to make me wrong than anything.’

“It is not!” Zelda defended, and then immediately realized how true that was. “I just… Okay maybe I would have done it without the warning, but now I have more perspective!”

The smile overtook his face as he just continued to look up at her. His eyes were always a sight to see, in every color, in every shadow. They were so blue they fought to be seen, even in the yellow of streetlamps. He brought daylight with him when he looked at her like that. 

She hated that a part of her still wanted to be mad. And then hated the part that didn’t, because she should have more self-respect. 

‘So promise me you’ll be careful? We have to be more careful,’ he signed with a bit of nervous tension darkening his eyes. 

Zelda looked back towards the dark road and found herself asking, “Is this careful enough?”

The words were an expression of nerves in her mind but how they came out of her lips was something else. 

Link swallowed and reached for her again, placing his hands on her hips as if he’d done it a thousand times before; automatic and familiar despite the tension knitting his forehead. 

He shook his head no, but he did it while looking at her lips, and Zelda almost forgot what she’d asked.  

And then she did forget, because Russ was turning the corner of the building towards them.

Chapter Text

Zelda stumbled away from Link, feeling caught out even though she had every right to be near him. But Link looked worried too. 

Russ approached them with wide, unsteady steps. He was trailed by an even drunker-looking Alfonso and then Nick, who just looked more nervous than anything. 

Link stood from his motorcycle looking like he wanted to disappear. 

Zelda wouldn’t mind disappearing right then too, blood running cold and mind a messy back and forth from it’s fine to run now.

“Hey Zelda!” Alfonso called out first, still a distance away, while Russ walked right up to her before saying a word. It didn't seem to matter to him that Link was there. 

He got himself a cigarette before speaking, his face flashing orange with the flick of the lighter. Dark bloodshot eyes locked on Zelda’s. “Hey. Lost sight of you in there.”

“Uhuh,” Zelda said with just enough false confidence to sound impatient. 

Russ smirked and took a drag of his cigarette. “There you go with those claws again - such a feisty girl, I like that..” 

“Russ,” Alfonso warned, settling woozily against the wall of the bar. At least he still seemed to be on her side. 

Nick looked between them all with wide eyes and shifted his weight from foot to foot. 

Russ took a step closer to Zelda and she stepped back automatically, driving her further from Link and any security his presence might offer. 

“Let her decide on her own, Alf!” Russ said loudly, still staring at Zelda. Then he dropped his voice so only she could hear it. “Alf called dibs but honestly, I don’t give a shit,” he chuckled. 

Adrenaline spiked in Zelda’s veins. 

Alfonso wasn’t there to help…

“So, which of us will it be?” Russ whispered. 

Zelda wanted to look at Link, but she forced herself not to. It would be like lighting a powder keg after what Link had said. So instead she kept her eyes defiantly on Russ and raised her voice so the others could hear. 

“Nick? Can you get them back inside please?” Her voice shook only slightly, better than what she’d expected considering the circumstances.

Russ laughed. “Nick! Oh big bad Nick!” He blessedly withdrew, returning to the nervous man  and throwing his arm around his shoulders. “Nick’s not gonna do shit, are you buddy?” 

Nick laughed in a stilted way like he wasn’t sure what was happening. Russ let him go and headed back toward Zelda without waiting for an answer. 

“Stop!” she said firmly before he could get any closer. It was the first step in self defense. Warn loudly. Make your intentions known. Make yourself a harder target. “I’m uncomfortable, stay away from me.” 

Russ did stop, a surprised grin on his face. 

Alfonso actually laughed. “See she’s so fucking cute, man.” 

Russ stepped closer, unblinking. “You didn’t answer my question.” 

Zelda swallowed dryly and tensed her hands. “If you don’t leave me alone I‘ll have to—“ 

Russ cut her off, choosing that moment to step forward and try to put his arm around her waist. 

Zelda slammed her palm into his chest.

It knocked him back just a little, stunning him more than anything. But amusement flashed to anger in a blink. 

There was a roaring in her ears of pure panic. She almost didn’t hear Alfonso laughing again. “What the hell are you doing?” he slurred at Link.

Everything stopped as they all turned to look at him. 

His eyes were still pointed down at the ground, his hair obscuring them in darkness as he slowly removed his jacket. 

Zelda considered running while they were distracted, but what if the sound drew their attention? The tense air felt poised to explode at the slightest provocation. 

Regardless, she was frozen, heart racing as she wondered if Link was really about to try taking them on. The muscles he hid under his jacket were impressive, but he was still smaller than the others and it was two against one (maybe even three, if Nick could decide whose side he was on). 

“Ha!” Russ barked as he stalked back towards Link, flicking his cigarette at him. It landed on Link’s boot and rolled off, the ember dying in the dirt. “I’d love to see you try something,” he growled. 

Link placed his jacket on his motorcycle and raised his head to stare defiantly into Russ’ eyes. He shook his head in a slow warning. 

And the tension exploded. 

Russ drew his arm back wide to suckerpunch Link’s face, but Link deflected it with a forearm, shifting quickly to the side and falling into a fighting stance light on his feet. 

Russ scoffed and put his fists up like a boxer. Zelda worried that maybe he was one. It would make sense if the stunt guys all had some kind of professional combat training. 

“This should be good,” Alfonso mumbled. 

The men stared each other down, both in the fighting stances of their respective training, until Russ went for another right hook to Link’s face. Link acted so fast it was hard to see what he was doing until he had Russ’ arm trapped between his and twisted it upwards. 

Russ hissed in pain, and with no choice but to lean forward or get his shoulder dislocated, went down to his knees. He tried to turn and hit Link in the flank, but Link was quick to get him in a headlock. Russ made a sort of choking sound laced with disbelief. 

Alfonso laughed. “Holy shit man he’s got you!”

Russ’ eyes flicked to Alfonso in a rage, his face progressively getting more red as Link squeezed his throat tighter. 

Zelda started slowly backing away, angling for the other side of the building. It was risky to go the long way around back, but Alfonso and Nick were blocking her only other option.  

“Just tap out man,” Alfonso said with a now-nervous chuckle, standing up from the wall. “Hey, where you going?” 

Zelda froze. Alfonso was looking at her. 

But Russ wasn’t done after all. 

He surged, throwing Link over his head but ultimately failing to unravel their tangled limbs.

“Link!” Zelda gasped. 

“Shit,” Alfonso muttered, stepping closer to the fight and assessing how he could help. 

Link moved with purpose, grappling onto Russ so he couldn’t shake him. He got his body higher on Russ’ torso. 

Russ tried to right himself but Link managed to get his head in a sleeper hold between his legs. 

Russ, with his movement limited and his air supply cut off, resorted to straightening as much as he could and slamming Link’s back into the ground. 

Zelda bit back another gasp. Her hands shook from the strain of adrenaline, eyes darting between the three men. What if Link couldn’t do this? What if she fled and left him to get injured or worse? 

Nick hadn’t moved, glancing behind them to see if anyone was coming.

“Alright fucking cut it out!” Alfonso shouted and kicked dirt at them. 

Russ dropped Link into the ground again, this time with not nearly as much power. He was fading. 

Alfonso let out an explosive growl of anger and frustration before seemingly deciding to come help his friend. He stumbled on top of them and tried to pry Link from Russ but he held fast.

“Let go!” Alfonso shouted before growling again and punching him in the back.

It was two against one now. Zelda couldn’t leave him to this fate. 

“Stop!” she cried and ran back to them, pushing Alfonso’s arm as hard as he could. 

He stumbled to the side, dumbfounded and blinking up at her like he’d forgotten she was there.

Just as it seemed she might have to contend with Alfonso, Russ collapsed in the dirt. Link finally released him and rolled to the side. 

Alfonso flipped Russ over and inspected him. He seemed to be out cold. 

Link was panting. Disheveled and dirty, his hair falling out of its ponytail. He straightened into a fighting stance again, ready to face Alfonso. 

Alfonso leveled a bleary glare at him, his lips set in a hard line. “Truce. I’m too drunk for this shit,” he spat and turned to Nick. “You didn’t wanna help or anything?!” 

Zelda stepped closer to Link and studied him. 

His eyes changed as soon as they met hers, his face softening. He seemed ready to collapse. Zelda wanted to embrace him and cry but tamped the urge down with the others still close. He wouldn’t want it yet. Not when it would solidify the target on her back. 

Maybe it was stupid to hope that others wouldn’t get any ideas about them after this. But Zelda’s mind never stopped pumping out solutions and she was already crafting a story to protect them. She only rode with him out of convenience. He was just being decent when they were drunk out of their minds and acting like idiots.

But she pushed that to the back of her mind as her eyes trailed down his bare arms. He had bruises already developing; a friction burn on his shoulder slowly beading blood. 

“Are you okay? Do we need to go to the hospital?” she whispered. 

Link shook his head, but somehow she’d expected as much from him. 

“Are you sure?” 

‘It’s surface. Just need a shower,’ he signed clunkily, panting and in a rush. 

“What should we do now?”

Link looked behind her to Russ and Alfonso, and Zelda followed his gaze. Alfonso had dragged Russ to sit up against the wall and was gently slapping his face. Russ grimaced and moved his head back, seemingly coming to. 

‘Walk fast to the front. Now. I’ll meet you.’

Zelda looked between him and the others in concern. He nodded reassuringly and turned back to his motorcycle. 

She kept a wary eye on the men as she passed them with a wide berth, then ran as soon as she made it out of sight. 

Zelda had imagined before what Link’s camper might be like. 

Now, she found it hard to care much about her surroundings, staring at the pink water in the tiny sink of Link’s cramped bathroom. It was hard to think about anything after the adrenaline waned. 

It was hard to believe that this was still opening day. This morning on the balcony felt so long ago. 

Link turned to her. He looked so tired. His undershirt was half soaked from washing his face and the wounds on his arms.  Zelda suspected he didn’t take it off just to hide the full extent of the damage.

‘I think you should quit,’ he signed suddenly. 

Zelda stared at his hands. His knuckles were scraped and red. The camper was so quiet but for the hum of a little air conditioner in the back. 

Of course not, she thought and didn’t say, because it was too much work to object. 

‘It’s never been this bad. I don’t know what to do.’

Zelda closed her eyes and shook her head. “Link, I just want to go to bed, we’ll talk about this tomorrow.” 

A whirlpool of thoughts fought for traction to stick for more than a second in Zelda’s mind. 

Why should I be the one to leave? They’re the problem. 

I’m finally here and I have to leave?

Call the police. 

HR? 

I’ll just get pepper spray. 

Would I get fired if I went to the police?

She opened her eyes to a more stern-looking Link. 

‘It’s not safe.’  

“Am I really in any less danger than I was yesterday? This is why you got me the walkie-talkie. This is why I know self-defense. Obviously you can’t just start escorting me everywhere and you said yourself it wasn’t safe to be around you anyways!” Zelda was beginning to raise her voice out of pure exhausted frustration. She stopped and sighed, continuing more calmly. “I just need to sleep, we still have work tomorrow and I’ll think clearer in the morning.”

Link ground his teeth and looked away. ‘Okay,’ he signed without looking at her. 

Zelda looked around. The camper was old; faux wood, beige carpet and plaid textiles screaming 90s. It felt lived-in and cozy. Certainly cozier than her tent… her mind wandered to consider how good of a night’s rest she could have here. But then her tent had her things in it, and despite everything she’d really only known Link for a week. Even if he asked – which he hadn’t – she couldn’t just stay here. 

For a someone she barely knew though, a man she’d gone on one date with, he’d done so much. 

She turned back to look at him. He leaned against his counter - fidgeting -, seeming lost in thought. 

“Thank you,” Zelda said weakly. 

Link gave her a small nod. 

“I mean it. For everything. I appreciate where you’re coming from about me quitting. I’m sorry you went through what you did tonight basically for me…”

Link looked up at that and shook his head. ‘This is my fault. They hate me.’

Zelda gave him a half smile. “Alfonso had already been a bit of a creep to me before. I think it’s just a perfect storm from both angles.” 

Link sighed. 

“Can I hug you?” Zelda whispered. 

He surged forward and took her into his arms like he’d been waiting for just that. He still smelled like dirt and sweat and a little like himself. He squeezed her hard enough she wasn’t too worried about squeezing him hard back despite his injuries. 

It felt so safe in his arms. The rattling hum of the AC and the coziness of his old camper. It was hard to let him go and face reality again. But she pulled back and kissed his cheek, lingering a little before forcing herself back. 

‘Keep your radio on you,’ he signed. 

“Course.”

Link walked her to the halfway point between the bathroom building and her tent, sensible since he still needed to shower anyway. 

He squeezed her hand before he left, and Zelda kept that feeling with her as she fell asleep clutching the walkie talkie. 

Zelda woke up before her alarm. 

It was unusual, though maybe not so unusual considering the previous night’s events. 

But it wasn’t just that. Something felt off. Her eyes had shot open as if something woke her but she didn’t know what. 

She sat up slowly and looked around her tent lit the dark blue of early dawn. 

Then her strained ears heard something. A shift of gravel near the front of her tent. Not footsteps passing by— just one isolated sound. 

Zelda’s hair stood on end as she pressed the walkie’s talk button. “Are you outside?” she whispered. 

Two clicks came back over the line. No.

Zelda took a deep breath and balled her fists in her lap. It could be nothing. It could also be Russ or Alfonso or both, thinking that without Link she’d be helpless.  

Driven by tired anger, she quickly stood from her cot, pulled on her pajama pants, grabbed her flashlight, and unzipped the little front window flap of her tent. 

There was a figure sitting on the grass in front of her tent with his back to her, his dark curly hair unmistakable. 

“What are you doing here?” Zelda announced loudly. 

Alfonso jumped, immediately shushing her before he could even stand. He held his hands up in surrender, squinting in the bright beam of light she leveled at him. 

“ Shh, fuck, sorry sorry, Zelda please–” the words tumbled out. “Last night was such shit I’m so sorry we were drunk as hell.” 

Zelda narrowed her eyes at him. He seemed truly panicked. 

“Can we please like, sit down or something?” Alfonso whispered. 

“Where’s Russ?” Zelda asked only moderately quieter, still unsure she might not want a neighbor or two waking up right about now. But the sun was slowly rising and Alfonso did seem to be in rough shape. He even had on the same clothes as the night before.

“Urgent care.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Little bastard really did a number on him.” 

Zelda glared daggers at him but lowered the flashlight. 

“What’s going on with you guys anyway? You hooking up?” he asked, doing a remarkable job at only seeming mildly curious about it, Zelda thought. 

“I can’t believe you’re bringing this up right now when someone could’ve been seriously injured,” she hissed. 

“No you’re right, you’re right I’m sorry. That’s…” he sighed again, “I don’t know when to shut up sometimes. I don't know why you'd be interested in me after that shitshow anyways.”

Zelda cringed but her gears started turning. Last night's fight for survival was this morning's diplomatic opportunity. Zelda’s mind raced through the excuses she’d conjured up the night before. “I’m not interested in anyone . I didn’t come here for that. You said yourself I don’t seem like the partying type. Well I’m not here to date, or fool around, or whatever it is you want either. And Link offered me a ride to a place we were all going anyway, and then was literally just a decent and sober person stepping in when you were being a jackass.”

“Well, I mean, it was mostly Russ—“ 

Zelda felt like she could blow steam out of her nose right then. Alfonso stopped himself and let his head drop in defeat. 

“Shutting up. Sorry.”

“You’ll understand if I hesitate to forgive you!” 

He nodded and looked up. “But please don't report us.” He seemed remorseful, and was practically begging. 

Zelda was inclined to believe he was truly sorry, and it was really Russ who’d instigated. But Zelda was also not a fool. “I’m not sure what I’ll do yet.”

Alfonso nodded with his lips in a thin line. “I’ll um… see you around I guess.” 

“Yeah.” Zelda continued to glare at him until he’d turned and walked off of her camping spot. 

She picked up the walkie again, assuming Link was probably freaking out on the other end. “False alarm,” she assured, but kept watching Alfonso until he’d disappeared in the distance.

Chapter Text

It turned out that Zelda wouldn't need to report the incident, because everyone was called in to the director’s trailer first thing that morning. 

It was like being sent to the principal’s office (something that had never actually happened to Zelda but she still got nightmares about sometimes). She fidgeted with her arms behind her back, unsure where to stand on the other side of Mrs. Walker’s desk with Russ, Alfonso, Nick, and Link. 

Mrs. Walker was so grateful no one had called the police that Zelda almost felt good about the decision. 

“I’m glad we can keep this close to the vest, everything is much simpler this way. And you’ve learned your lesson, Russ, haven’t you?” she asked with a pointed look over her cat-eye glasses at Russ. 

Russ’ face looked bruised and scratched. He kept his gaze solidly on the desk, his jaw clenched through his words. “Yes ma’am.”

Mrs. Walker folded her arms and turned her attention to Zelda. “And he’s going to behave because this is the last straw. This isn’t the first time we’ve had to slap some extra makeup on him to keep the show going.” She sighed and shook her head. “Everyone else is alright? I don’t need to call a medic?”

Zelda shook her head automatically, but internally reeled at what Mrs Walker said about Russ. If this was the final straw, what had he done before? Worse, wouldn’t that be pitting him against her? Or Link, if that relationship could get any worse. They’d put his job on the line. Zelda swallowed nervously. 

The director dismissed Russ, Nick, and Alfonso and moved her attention to Link and Zelda. 

“Unfortunately I still need everyone to work today, it is opening weekend. But I’ll sort out your private events and admin to give you both Monday and Tuesday off. Link, I’m deeply sorry again this has happened. Russ was out of line. If there’s nothing else, you may go.” 

Link nodded once and turned to leave. Zelda met his eyes and saw a flash of something that made her nervous, some sort of doubt he was clearly trying to hide. The trailer door closed and Zelda was left alone with Mrs Walker. 

“Boys, hm?” Mrs. Walker chuckled. “A lot of these stunt guys can’t help getting in trouble. Anyway, I wish it was under different circumstances but I’m glad to have the chance to speak with you.”

“Me?” 

Mrs. Walker smiled and put her glasses on her head casually. “Oh yes! I like you, Zelda. More importantly, people like you. You’re making quite the impression.”

Zelda blinked at her, not quite keeping up with this turn of events but feeling flattered nonetheless. “Uh… thank you.” 

Mrs. Walker nodded. “Your efforts aren’t going unnoticed, and if you keep this up I see you potentially even moving past an acting role, if you wanted it. This faire needs more passionate and friendly people like you.” 

Zelda hadn’t realized how murky the view of her future at the faire had become until it was suddenly in sharp focus again. 

“Thank you, I really love it here, and hope to keep making you proud.” 

When Zelda left Mrs. Walker’s office, Link was waiting for her with Trouble at his side. 

Zelda smiled brightly to see them, but it was short-lived as Link asked, ‘Can we talk about you quitting now?’

Exhaustion from both the long night and early morning slammed into her at once. She sighed and started walking towards the cafeteria, following the flow of people milling around them.  

“I think it’s being handled, Link. Plus, I–” she paused and switched to sign. ‘I think I convinced A-L-F that I’m not interested in dating anyone.’ 

‘Really?’ he asked skeptically. 

Zelda nodded. “I tried, anyways. I’m hopeful.” 

Link rubbed his lips in thought. They walked for a while without speaking until he looked at her again. ‘We should train tomorrow. Our second date.’ He raised his eyebrow and gave her a cheeky sideways glance she couldn’t help but laugh at. 

It was the perfect compromise. And another date. “I’m going to ignore that it's for pragmatic reasons and choose to believe you just can’t wait.”

Link bit his lip, his mouth stretching to reveal his dimples. ‘There’s also that.’ 

Zelda was never going to get used to the flutters she got in response to seeing his little dimples.

Fortunately, Annie was so absorbed in talking about her own drama that it seemed she might not have heard anything from Russ. Or maybe he was too embarrassed to mention it. 

Either way, Zelda was perfectly happy to blend into the background as she prepared for work. That is – until Annie gasped at her phone and finally focused on Zelda.

“Did you punch Russ?!” she practically screeched, Priya wincing next to her before leaning over to peep at Annie’s texts. 

Zelda froze, dumbfounded. “What?”

“Someone named Gary is saying Russ told him you punched him,” Priya said looking up from the screen. “Who’s Gary?”

“One of the vendor guys, it doesn’t matter,” Annie dismissed before turning to Zelda again. “What. Happened.” 

Zelda reeled. Why would he say that? Was it really that embarrassing to have Link best him? He must have just been making a joke and people were running with it. Either way, it meant the story was unclear, so she reasoned maybe she could take the opportunity to distance herself from the whole ordeal. “H-how should I know? I barely saw Russ at the bar.”

Annie looked confused more than anything, a ridiculous scowl on her face with her hair half done up in curlers. “Why would he say that then?” 

“I don’t know, to be funny? Or, knowing Russ, he tried to hit on someone and it didn’t work out well for him. I don’t know.” 

Annie’s face lit up as she gasped and turned back to Priya. “Oh my god what if he tried chatting up the girl that Kendrick’s been talking to?” 

Priya gave her a skeptical look and went back to curling her lashes. “I really doubt he’d get out of that with his job intact. Or his jaw.” 

Releasing a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, Zelda returned to getting ready. 

It was such a ridiculous thing to say that Zelda seriously wondered if Russ had taken Link's phone.

The more she considered it, the more it actually made sense. She hated to agree with Russ on literally anything, but if it made Link more comfortable she didn’t see much sense in arguing it. Maybe it would help him get off her back about quitting. 

Zelda stared at her old grey minivan with her hands on her hips and felt the same sort of resigned disappointment she’d felt at her poor choice of wardrobe. How was she supposed to know she was going to want to impress a boy? Unfortunately there wasn’t much to be done about her choice of vehicle. 

She was also back in tennis shoes and athleisure, but at least this time it was a practical choice for training. 

Link’s signature whistle broke Zelda from her staring contest with the car. She whirled around and waved at him. 

He waved back and sped up into a jog to reach her. He wore sunglasses and his hair up, along with a tee shirt and gym shorts. He actually kind of gave her surfer vibes like that and Zelda felt even more certain there was no look the man couldn’t pull off. He had a duffle bag wedged on his shoulder presumably carrying his training equipment. 

‘Got everything?’ he signed. 

“Yep,” she responded with a tight smile, a bit nervous and excited. 

‘Thank you. You didn’t have to.’

“Hey you got the food last time it was only fair.” 

He quirked his lips like he was holding back an argument and glanced at the car. ‘Should I drive? Would be easier for directions.’ 

“Oh. Hm.” Zelda scrutinized the minivan again. She hadn’t thought about that. If Link was giving her directions she’d have to turn and look at him to see what he was saying. But there was something oddly intimate about him driving her old family car. Like most things when it came to Link though, that just made it more exciting. 

“Alright, but just this time so I learn the way,” she said as she handed him the keys.

He looped them on one finger to sign. ‘Not a passenger princess then?’ he asked cheekily. 

Zelda laughed despite herself and slapped his chest. “You did NOT.”

He lifted his sunglasses and winked at her before dropping them back and opening the driver side door. Zelda excitedly ran around to the passenger side and felt like a kid getting ready to go to an amusement park. 

She proceeded to do a terrible job of actually watching where they were going, but how could she be expected to do that when Link was driving her car? 

His dextrous hands with tanned and scarred fingers were made to carry swords but were instead perched casually on the worn steering wheel. The steering wheel where her hands had been a thousand times before.

Link turned to look at her and she briskly snapped out of her musings, hyper aware she’d been staring. She floundered for a moment looking around the dash and then asked the first thing that came to mind.

“What kind of music do you like?” 

Link gave her a deadpan expression and then focused back on his driving. 

Zelda rubbed her forehead to hide her embarrassment. “Right. Signing and driving is probably not the best idea. Sorry. Hmm.” She looked through the music on her phone and ended up in the playlist she had made for roadtrips, full of songs both her and her dad could tolerate. She chose “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, because that felt like a pretty safe bet. Who doesn’t like Journey?

The first synth notes blared and Link lit up, turning to her in a mix of disbelief and excitement and mouthing YES! YES! He leaned to turn the music up louder and bobbed his head to it. Zelda let out a delighted giggle and leaned back in her seat. 

*Just a small town girl…* 

The first words played out on the car speakers and Link mouthed along in time with them. Soon Zelda was singing along and the time flew by.

They arrived at the nature preserve and walked to a flat clearing surrounded by pines. Zelda was surprised that they hadn’t crossed a single person, but supposed it was pretty hot for hiking. At least it was a cloudy day so they didn’t have the sun to contend with. 

Link took a striking shield out of his duffle and they left their bags off to the side in the grass. ‘I want to practice your punch if that’s okay.’ 

Zelda nodded once firmly, trying to get herself into serious self defense mode when all she wanted to do was be silly with Link. He lifted the strike shield and patted where he wanted her to punch. She looked down at her fist and adjusted her thumb, took a deep breath, braced her stance, and punched. 

Link smiled and nodded. 

“Good?” Zelda asked hopefully.

With his hands occupied he mouthed slowly, Not bad.

Zelda crossed her arms. “Alright well how should I be doing it, Mr. Instructor?” 

His smile broadened at that and he put down the shield to adjust her form. With light touches he silently demonstrated how she could be knocked off balance. Zelda felt her cheeks reddening at his careful attention. 

When he set up with the shield again she couldn’t look at him, only at the target as she swung again. 

He had her repeat with both arms until she was panting.  

‘Good. You’re a lot more consistent already,’ he praised. 

Zelda’s chest swelled with pride and mixed with all of the already confused adrenaline. How in the world was she supposed to focus in these conditions? 

They moved on to Link testing her responses to a range of possible attacks. 

Every new position either meant praise or physically manipulating her body to correct her reaction or show alternatives. Either way, it was still very hard to focus. Link, for his part, seemed completely professional and unaffected. 

The sky darkened. Wind cooled Zelda’s sweat-slick skin. She stopped and fanned her top to enjoy the breeze. “I think I could go for a water break,” she panted.  

‘We could stop to eat, we’ve been at it a while.’ 

Zelda sighed in relief and folded to the ground right where she was, lying on her back in the grass. Link laughed silently and booted her hip so she’d look at him. 

‘Should I bring your bag over then?’

“Noooo, I don’t know. You don’t have to, just give me a second.” She closed her eyes to breathe the humid air. The grass under her was a little cold and felt heavenly. 

Then suddenly her tote landed next to her with a thump. She opened her eyes and propped herself up on her elbow - just in time to see Link roll gracefully to the ground and lay by her side. 

“Ooo fancy,” Zelda laughed. “You should show me more moves like that.”

With his head in hand he asked one-handed, ‘now?’

“No, we have time. But know that I’m interested.” She fished around in her bag for her water bottle and took a few big gulps before lying back again. With her eyes closed she just enjoyed the cool air until she heard robotic speaking. It took her a moment to process that it was coming from Link’s phone. 

I can switch to TTS, the voice said. 

“Text-to-speech?” Zelda asked and turned her head to face him. “Sure, if you want.” 

He typed one-handed with his phone balanced over his face. I’ve got fast fingers, he assured before lifting his other hand and wiggling his fingers. 

Zelda’s eyebrows automatically shot up, wondering if he was making an innuendo. 

Link’s face reddened and he tossed his phone away in the grass in apparent mortification, to Zelda’s amusement. She laughed and tried to think of a witty comeback as he retrieved his phone. 

Fastest fingers in the West. 

Link the Nimble. 

Coming up short, Zelda could only smile fondly at how well-matched they were for being so horrendously cheesy and awkward. 

Link typed as he settled in beside her again. So how about that weather huh?

Zelda giggled and looked up at the sky again. It was whipped a thick grey with heavy clouds. “I’m glad for it. It’s been so hot. I’ve sort of had enough of the sun, you know?” 

Suddenly she felt something against her hand. Her initial wariness about it being a bug was quickly displaced by Link’s fingers intertwining with hers, his warm and calloused palm settling against her own. Butterflies guided her face back to his but he was looking at his phone with a neutral expression. 

Yeah me too, his phone said, and he glanced at her with a dimple fighting to appear on his face. 

She squeezed his hand and watched his smile widen before looking back up at the sky again.

Chapter Text

“Okay this is going to be weird but I need you not to judge me.” 

Zelda and Link sat on a small blanket in the grass eating sandwiches, a bag of grapes sitting between them to pick at. She pulled a small jar of creamy peanut butter and a plastic spoon from her bag. 

‘I would never,’ Link signed seriously. 

Zelda smiled and opened the jar, the muted plastic sound of the cap screwing off an echo of a hundred childhood summers. 

She plunged the spoon into the peanut butter and scooped it directly into her mouth. 

…It wasn’t like she remembered. She frowned, the spoon hanging unceremoniously from her mouth.

Did she expect it to be sweeter? It wasn’t exactly bad, it just… maybe wasn’t good enough to eat by the spoonful anymore. She chuckled to herself and swallowed, trying not to choke on the thick peanut butter. 

Then she realized Link was looking at her oddly. 

Oh. That was embarrassing. Of course she probably looked insane, gleefully eating out of the jar just to suddenly hit a hard reboot and laugh at herself. 

“I can explain!” she blurted and cleared her throat. 

Link nodded - overly slow and earnest - and it only made her want to laugh harder. 

“I’m not even sure I like peanut butter!” 

Link’s blue eyes only widened, pleading for her to start making sense. Everything got funnier and she had to fight to explain through a fit of giggles.  

“I think… I like peanut butter conceptually. Or like… oh I guess it’s nostalgia. It reminds me of the feeling of being somewhere temporary, especially like this.” She waved her spoon around before stabbing it back in the peanut butter. “My dad and I used to go on roadtrips every summer and a jar of peanut butter with a spoon was like… a meal. It was just what you ate on the road. And now here with you it feels extra fun. So I couldn’t not pick up peanut butter for our picnic.”

She was rambling. She stopped and looked away, feeling a bit like she should apologize. 

Link bumped her knee with his leg to get her attention. His warm dimpled smile melted her nerves away. ‘I feel like I can see you as a kid. Especially when you get really excited.’

“Hm,” she mused with a soft smile. “I guess I could say the same to you. You and your little dimples.”

His eyebrows furrowed. ‘I don’t have dimples.’

“Oh you don't want to challenge me when it comes to your face! As if there's anything I study harder.” 

That seemed to startle him a little before he smiled again. ‘That was a good one. Was that a line or does that kind of bake into you when you've performed enough romances?’

Zelda laughed. “That might be it. I don't know. You know you fry my brain a little. Sometimes I have no idea what gets into me when I’m around you.” 

‘Yeah and that makes me happy to hear.’ 

“Why, you like me unhinged?” Zelda teased.

Link shook his head with an amused grin before  taking a moment, seeming to consider his next words. ‘I guess because it’s scary to feel like that, so I’m glad you're feeling it too. We’re not- I…’ he fumbled for a moment then finally landed on ‘Same.’

“Same?”

He hesitated to speak, nerves clear in his eyes like whatever he wanted to say had been weighing on him. ‘Zelda I would do stupid things for you. I kind of am right now, with us seeing each other like this. And it sucks because I also need to protect you. I hope that doesn’t sound weird or overbearing. The thought of you not being in my life anymore literally doesn’t occur in my mind. Like it’s impossible.’

Zelda could do nothing but stare at his hands; it felt like her breath came slower as she processed the weight of his words.

‘And I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to meet. When I picture you as a kid I end up wondering how different my life would look if I had met you sooner.’

This felt big. A thousand of Zelda’s hopes and fears were kicked up like dust clouds by his admission. Of all of them, one small question rolled out of her mouth with a melancholy sigh. “You think we’d have been friends as kids?” It felt silly to be the thing to ask. Smaller than the weightier, more romantic questions fairytales had planted in her mind. 

Link nodded just a little like his mind was somewhere else. ’I feel like you make me brave.’

It was laughable, considering his profession; basically putting his life and limbs on the line every day. But he said it with a pain in his eyes and a set to his jaw that told her he was serious. Whatever was playing behind his eyes would’ve gone differently if he’d been more brave, or so he clearly believed. 

And all at once he looked a bit like a kid too, but in the way that made Zelda want to cry, and she needed to hug him. 

She hastily pushed the food out of her way and crashed into him, but he held firm and hugged her back. 

Zelda let out a chuckle and forced down her tears. One day she would learn about his past. One day when they weren’t all sweaty, with grapes precariously close to being squished by her knees. 

“Sorry. I don’t know how the heck we got here from peanut butter,” she said as she pulled away. 

‘It’s okay,’ he signed with a half smile and glassy eyes. 

Unsure what to do with herself and wanting to start over, Zelda stood and stretched. 

Link stood too, and then suddenly turned away and did a cartwheel in the grass. Zelda blinked at him as he turned back to her with a cheeky smile and jazz hands as if to say ‘tada’!

Zelda erupted into a belly-deep laugh and cheered. “Bravo! Show me what else you got!” 

They returned to training, but it was sillier this time. Zelda wanted to see more of Link’s moves and the choreography he learned for work, and Link seemed happy to oblige. In exchange, Zelda showed him the few moves she’d learned from stage combat training. 

‘Try and hit me but stop about here,’ he mimed about a hand's length from his shoulder, eyes sparkling with mirth. 

“I don’t know…” Zelda hesitated, still holding the wooden practice sword he’d brought with him. Sure it was wood, but it was heavy. 

‘Worst that happens is I bruise. But you won’t hit me.’

Zelda narrowed her eyes at him. She might’ve normally refused, but something about today demanded she be more adventurous. 

“I accept your challenge, knight!” She ran at him and swung wide, really not getting anywhere near him before he dramatically flung himself to the side and rolled away. 

‘Again,’ he signed excitedly as he stood. 

She laughed and tried to swing at him again, coming from the other direction. He ducked under the sword and jabbed at her side playfully. Zelda jumped with a shriek and felt her competitive spirit take over. 

Just as she was about to lunge at him another time, a fat raindrop landed on her head. She looked up and felt another nearly land in her eye. 

Link stopped and held his palm up to feel it too, and then the sky opened up all at once. 

Zelda yelped in shock at the sudden drenching. “Time to go!” she shouted. 

Link nodded and they hurried to shove everything in their bags and run back to the car. Zelda was breathless and giddy, the rain actually a bit of a welcome relief from the sticky heat of the day. 

Link led the way, jogging up the trail with his duffel over his head until he turned to shelter under the narrow awning of a trail map. He threw down his bag and held his hand out to usher her over. He was grinning ear to ear, his long hair plastered to his face. 

Zelda laughed and let him pull her in, the momentum of her run forcing them together with a huff. 

She clung to his sculpted arms and panted. The rain came down around them in a constant woosh, drowning out the sound of their breath. 

Zelda reached up to push his hair back out of his face. 

His dimpled smile faltered a little as he glanced down at her lips. 

The sight had her heart racing, chest tightening with tension like a rope being pulled taut between them, and she couldn’t help but lean in. At first she wasn’t sure if she just meant to press her forehead to his. But he leaned in too, and suddenly there was no space between them anymore. 

They kissed – lips wet with rain colliding and molding to each other. 

Link was a wall of warmth and Zelda lost herself to sensation. Skin, a taste of his lips, and then breath as he pulled back and immediately returned for more. She kissed him back, clutching at his wet hair, pulling him into her. He pressed his body more fully against hers. The wood and plastic of the map dug into her back; his hard-muscled body on her front. 

Sandwiched, a whine squeaked out of her, and his lips parted with a breath thick with the ghost of his voice. Her tongue slid against his lips into his mouth and he made another hungry sound that threatened to make Zelda faint right then. 

It was the hottest kiss of her life. She didn’t know it could be like this. Didn’t know any of it could be like this, or feel so much like they were made to fit together.

Everything but Link melted away. The salty ozonic taste of his breath on his tongue. The sound he almost made with each desperate breath. Zelda would have lived forever in this moment, if only she didn’t need to breathe.  

She pulled back, then kissed him again without meaning to, because he was still so close and panting and he was too tempting. 

With one long and final press of their lips she finally leaned her head back against the map and chuckled, catching her breath. 

“That was…” she stalled, the sound of her own voice strange suddenly. The rain had died down to a steady flow, no longer the loud deluge it was a moment ago. 

Link removed his hands from her hips, still staying as close as he could to sign, ‘I’ve been waiting so long to do that.’ 

Zelda couldn’t help but laugh again. “We’ve known each other a week!” 

He nodded in reply, a little smirk on his lips that begged to be kissed again, but the reality of the situation started intruding on this happy dream. 

It’d be very nice to shower. Get warm and dry. 

She sighed. “I’d love to do this more but uh… we should probably get going.” 

Link nodded again and kissed her cheek. It should have felt chaste– but he lingered with a sort of promise that they weren’t done. When he backed away he signed, ‘race you to the car,’ and winked. 

She barely processed what he signed as he picked up his duffle with an excited grin. 

“Oh no you don’t!” Zelda laughed and took off into the rain before he could get a head start.

Link held Zelda’s hand over the center console as he drove back, even going as far as  maneuvering his left hand so he didn’t have to let go when he turned. Zelda laughed at his foolishness and tried to drop his hand, but he smiled and squeezed harder so she couldn’t get away. 

It was nice. 

And then they made it back to the faire. 

Their hands parted, and didn’t come back together again because they couldn’t be seen doing that. Despite the wonderful day, that frustration at needing to hide lingered. 

Zelda didn’t text Link about it because it felt silly. They’d known each other for a week. They’d been on two dates. They weren’t even really officially dating or anything. It felt silly to care. And surely they couldn’t spend every moment together, so she spent the next day off on her own. 

The faire was mostly closed on weekdays, only sections of it open for private events. Zelda would normally have been scheduled for trailer cleaning and a King’s Pub dinner that evening. Instead she wandered the grounds, aimlessly enjoying the relative quiet and overcast weather. 

She decided to take an early lunch to try and avoid the rest of the cast. She’d have to face them at some point, but so far it had been a peaceful day that was sorely needed to recuperate. Still, the long table felt too empty. 

Chewing slowly, she reflected on all the recent chaos. 

Russ had clearly gotten into trouble before, but it was frustrating to not know what kind of trouble. It was one thing to mess around during sparring. To play pranks or haze newbies. But how far would things have gone at the bar if Link wasn’t there? Could any of them actually be trusted anymore? Alfonso, Nick. What about Jordan? Part of her felt like Jordan would’ve stopped him. He always did when Russ did something stupid. 

Priya was nice too. And Kendrick seemed to have a good head on his shoulders despite his aloof demeanor. Zelda would just have to be careful, and certainly not be around anyone drinking anymore. That seemed wise. She wouldn’t let this opportunity be ruined by a couple of boneheads. 

Speak of the devils, Zelda thought as a familiar crowd entered the cafeteria.

She had time to make a hasty disappearance if she wanted to. The idea wasn’t appealing though considering how much of her meal was still left. 

Zelda stood her ground. 

One by one, the cast and crew joined her with cheery greetings as they filed into the table. Priya sat on her right, John on her left. 

“It’s the woman of the hour!” Jordan announced as he approached, Russ trailing behind him. Jordan put down his tray and actually clapped for Zelda, a couple of people at the table joining and laughing. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Zelda teased with a coy smile, continuing to eat as if unbothered. 

Russ seemed subdued. It didn’t look like he was gearing up for an argument. 

“Aw come on, don’t be humble,” Jordan continued as they sat. “Everyone knows this guy was begging for an asskicking.” 

Zelda chuckled along with a few of their coworkers. “I am a lady, sir knight… it would be a shame for your job security if a princess was capable of such a feat of bravery.” 

“Ha! You’re sure right,” Jordan agreed. 

Russ rolled his eyes with a smile. Just as well since she was playing his game. 

Zelda met his gaze pointedly. “I’m joking, of course. It’s all water under the bridge now.” 

“That it is, my lady,” Russ replied cordially and bowed his head. 

Zelda breathed a sigh of relief when she stepped out into the warm afternoon. That had gone better than expected. With any luck the whole thing would blow over by tomorrow. 

She started walking back towards camp when she felt a nagging feeling like someone watching her. She stopped and looked around, only to see Trouble coming down the path towards her, happily panting and wagging her tail. 

“Hi baby girl!” Zelda called excitedly, kneeling down to greet her. 

The dog broke into a run and threw herself on Zelda. 

“Hello sweet girl! You aren’t with Link?” 

Trouble stopped in her attempt to lick her face to cock her head at Zelda curiously. 

“No?” 

Trouble began panting again and looking around aimlessly. 

“Okay, I’ll take that as a no. Want to come back to my tent with me?” She straightened and began walking again. 

The dog followed, so presumably a yes. 

“Oh this is so fun we’re gonna have a girl’s day!”

The pair made their way towards the staff camp. Zelda sort of felt like a Disney princess to have a dog following her around the faire. Not even a single treat or bribery in her pocket! 

She did sort of wish she had something to bribe Trouble with, however, when she got to her tent and Trouble refused to enter. 

Zelda stood with her hands on her hips next to the open tent, looking at an unbothered Trouble. 

“Come on, it’s me! You trust me. I’m not gonna capture you I swear.” 

Trouble stubbornly continued panting where she sat. 

Zelda sighed and tried to think if there were any snacks she had that wouldn’t be bad for dogs. A lightbulb went off in her head when she remembered the peanut butter. 

“Ooooh do I have something for you!” 

She dove back into the tent, digging for the tote with her snacks and pulling out the peanut butter and a plastic spoon. Opening the jar resulted in the curious face of a certain collie mix popping into the tent’s opening. 

“Ha! I knew it.” Zelda scooped some peanut butter onto the spoon and gingerly held it out of Trouble’s reach so she would need to enter if she wanted it. 

“Come on, it’s very – sorta – yummy,” she said and laughed at herself. 

Trouble carefully put one paw inside, then the next, until she was half in and stretching as far as her neck could reach. 

“That’s it! Good girl, come on. I’ll even leave the tent open if you want.” 

A third paw crossed the threshold of the tent, and then in a flurry of movement the spoon and dog were suddenly gone. Trouble whisked it away and ran to a campsite across the path, where she settled in to lick her prize. 

“You dastardly dog!” Zelda called out to her, laughing incredulously at the situation. “Serves me right I guess.” She mumbled to herself. 

Twenty minutes later, they reached a compromise, Zelda lying on the grass, reading a book with her head on Trouble’s flank.