|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:18 am
Midna giggled softly as his stomach gurgled with hunger.
"No, that's fine with me."
She stood up as well, turning from him slightly to hide the light new blush that had replaced the previous one. She knew he hadn't meant it that way, but the way he'd asked her was almost as if he'd asked her if she wanted to go out.
As far from home as she was, every moment she spent there seemed to make her feel more and more at ease and at home. At this thought, she smiled, raising her hand to her lips in a gently fist.
With another flip of her hair she'd already recovered and turned to him with an eyebrow raised.
"I hope you're not planning on wearing that to dinner though."
At that statement, she crossed her arms in quite a sassy manner, smirking at him, looking him up and down for a moment, from his blonde hair to his stocking'd feet.
"And if you're still in the mood for swimming- I wouldn't mind." <3
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:16 pm
"I'm.. not sure of anywhere around here to eat, to be honest," Link admitted, realizing that he didn't treat himself to meals out very often. If it was a special occasion, he'd usually just buy himself a steak or something. ...So what was he going to do with Midna? Frowning lightly, the young hero buried himself within his thoughts, contemplating on what to do. He hadn't bought anything nice, so dinner was likely going to be something simple.. unless he tried taking her out. But, he didn't know if where they went would be any good at all; they could very well end up hating the meal they ordered, and waisting money of mediocre food. Sighing lightly, it took him some time to snap back to reality at Midna's comment.
"OH. RIGHT." Springing up from the bed, a light blush returning to his cheeks, Link made his way around the house, gathering tossed aside garments from here and there. Pulling his outfit together and tossing the tunic on over it, he paused at the counter, contemplating if he should pull on his signature hat or not.
"Swimming sounds great," he called back with a smile, though his gaze still remained on his headgear. "It really depends on what you want to do for dinner, though!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:43 pm
Midna chuckled lightly, calmly watching him put his clothes back on, piece by piece. Actually, she preferred to just eat at his home. Having just arrived, she wanted to spend some time alone with Link, and having him make them both dinner just seemed... sweet. Not to mention that she's never eaten out before- not here, at least. A small smile crossed her face as she stood off to the side with her arms crossed- it was good to be back, she had missed being around Link even more than she thought she would, being with him in person was far better than being with him in her memory.
She'd drifted off into her own nostalgic and comfortable trance, watching him with a dreamy gaze while she thought to herself. This time, she was the one to snack back to reality when Link suggested that she decide what was for dinner.
"Oh, er.. I- don't really have a preference. It's your house anyway, you pick!"
Truly, she didn't have a preference. Midna didn't even really know what they ate around here.
She took a few steps forward, out of his room, following his voice as she looked around his home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:57 pm
"Oh." Crinkling his nose, Link thought a moment more, then grinned. Flipping his hat back onto his head, he began digging through the grocery bags, mumbling to himself as he took mental notes. Finally peering up from the recently purchased items, he cocked his head to the side slightly. Would Midna... even EAT what he had to cook? Goddess, this might be bad.
"Uh, which would you prefer, fish or steak?" He asked, considering how long it would take to prepare either. Or.. did Midna even EAT meat? Luckily, he'd purchased some vegetables, if not, and could very likely whip something up on the spot. "I've got potatoes and what-not, too, if you don't feel like meat. Heck, I can cook you just about anything!"
..Ok, well maybe not ANYTHING, but hopefully Midna would stay relatively simple. He'd prepared food on their journey together, when they weren't staying at inns... and at the time, she'd at least been able to tolerate it. Hopefully, his home-cooked meal would suit her a bit better. Leaning against the counter-top, he smiled lightly.
"As of tonight, your wish is my command!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:28 pm
"Ohh~?"
Midna peered at him slyly, with a particularly sinister looking smirk. Poor Link, he was so delightfully naive. He had yet to realize just what he'd said to her.
Once she'd reached the counter she leaned over it, arms folded before her on top of it as she grinned at Link. She decided not to point it out to him just yet, and instead reply to his previous inquiry.
"I prefer fish, myself."
She began to tap her fingers against the counter raising her eyes up to his. While she wasn't used to the cooking and food from this country, she was able to adjust herself to Link's cooking fairly quickly, and it's not as if she could cook for herself, especially foreign foods she was unfamiliar with.
Her wish was his command, huh?
Well, she'd take it easy on him. After all, her wishes were a little more than either of them could really take at the moment. She had just returned, it hadn't even been an hour, and besides, couldn't she control herself?!
But looking into his eyes like she was, it was hard to do. She found her heart had picked up pace once her eyes had met his, so she quickly broke away to glance off to the side with a small smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:49 pm
Unaware of the fault of his previous statement, Link nodded at the request for fish, hastily moving to begin the cooking process. He'd just bought some really delicious looking salmon, too~! Humming the song of his childhood to himself, Link seemed to move about the kitchen in the blink of an eye, digging out spices from here and there, and seemingly disappearing into random cabinets. Finally content with his array of aromas, he nodded decisively to himself, then pulled out the pan to begin cooking.
"It.. may be a little while longer than expected, sorry." He apologized with a nervous laugh, sliding the skillet around to spread the butter more evenly out. Goddess, he never HAD cooked for Midna like this before! But... last time, she'd left without a goodbye. Thinking on this for a moment longer than he ought to have, Link didn't even register as the frown came across his face and his ears drooped, still working on preparing the meal. It really had been a year since they'd last seen each other. What if.. she'd gone, and fallen in love, or something? He hadn't even ASKED her about something like that yet! But, no, it was still too soon to pry into her business. She may have been one of his dearest friends, if not THE dearest, but.. it'd still been too long to simply jump in like that.
"So, uh," shifting off of the thought quickly, Link forced a smile back to his face, looking down to the pan to avoid suspicion, "What's food like.. back at your home?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:09 pm
Midna was free to look back to him, as his back was turned to her while he ambled from one cabinet to the other, to spices and back to the stove- he'd make a much better housewife than she would. Thinking about it, she figured she could learn how to cook and things easily enough, and Link would be patient with her- that's just the way he was. Her ears twitched when he apologized to her, so she snapped back to reality again to observe him.
"I don't mind, you're the one who's stomach sounded like a dying Bokoblin."
At this, she grinned at him playfully, but it quickly sank to a curious frown when she noticed that he'd become rather solemn- she could tell even though his back was turned. Her expression didn't changed when he turned to her with a smile, she only stared at him with a vaguely confused and sad look, while also retaining some sternness.
While she had far from forgotten his troubled air, she responded to his question without her expression changing all that much. She noticed he'd quickly bowed his head to look at the pan- not suspicious at all.
"Well, the kind of things you would expect to grow and thrive in a place that gets only the sun's evening light. We have animals and all that, similar ones I'm sure, but.. different. If that makes any sense."
Midna shrugged and gave a dry laugh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:21 am
Laughing along as well, Link managed a half-hearted nod, still worried about what had transpired while she was away. He'd missed her, goddess only knew, but... he really wasn't all that interesting. At this point in time, he was desperate to focus on the cooking, trying to shake the pessimistic thoughts from his mind. Midna was not L- ...his brother, she was NOT going to leave. She was much kinder than that, he KNEW that! Closing his eyes tightly, Link hurriedly moved the fish onto the skillet, desperate not to let Midna see his sudden state of unease. What'd even brought this on?!
"Y...yeah, makes sense." He choked out, trying to force his tone into one of happiness and cheer. "You've told me before it's really beautiful, as are.. the people," he swallowed heavily, mind sticking a moment at this part. "I would've loved to be able to see it better."
Goddess, he was good at ruining an evening. Just by her tone, Link could tell that Midna.. wasn't exactly in the brightest of spirits, either. Shifting the fish on the pan, he sighed lightly.
"..'m sorry, Midna."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:35 am
Midna couldn't help but let her stern disposition melt away as she watched and listened to him. It was impossible to be stern with the guy without forgiving him just moments after. Instead of a scowl, a gentle smile had replaced it, her eyebrows had relaxed from their furrowed state.
She watched him as he focused on his cooking, listened to his stuttering, his choked voice, though she had no idea why, or what she could have said to upset him.
Midna was a tease, she loved to torment him and to push his buttons. She loved to see him at a loss, and feeling so awkward that his brain for all extensive purposes shut down, and this was true. But she was not so cold and uncomforting all of the time, and she knew that, and knew that Link knew that.
So, she swallowed her pride and ignored some of the things she had previously told herself- about how she'd only just returned, how they'd only been in one another's presence for an hour or so. Very quietly and daintily she stood and approached him and wrapped her arms around his stomach from behind, resting her head in between his shoulder blades with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.
"I'd love for you to come and see it some time.."
She made a point not to accept his apology, nor decline it. Instead she simply ignored it. He had nothing to be sorry for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:54 am
Midna was not his brother. Just because she left once did not mean she was going to leave again... did it? But, no, there was a difference. Where his brother had left forever, off to the war.. Midna had come back. It had taken time- painful time, yes, but she was here now, and she was with him.. that was enough. Swallowing heavily, Link prepared to turn around and explain himself. His worries, his fears.. every shadow of a doubt that'd crossed his mind, when something suddenly stopped him.
It took every fiber of control not to panic when his personal space was broken- memories of his childhood screamed at him to set the pan down, and RUN. But... no, this was different. There was no forcefulness, no teasing nature, no desire to make him feel uncomfortable... it was kindness. Still slightly stiff, Link allowed for his shoulders to relax, moving the skillet from his cooktop as to not burn. Smiling softly, he glanced slightly over his shoulder.
"Beautiful.." he'd mumbled without thinking, then blinked in surprise at his words. "I.. I'm sure it's beautiful there, I'd love to."
He paused a moment, then.
"...I'm sorry to ask, but.. I just.. I need to know." Turning back to face away from her- though not moving to pull Midna away from him, Link mumbled quietly.
"Y...you're not going to leave like that again... are you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:12 am
Midna continued to hold onto him, and maybe even clutched him a little tighter after the initial grab. She felt his entire body stiffen, and she could feel his heart beating a little faster than normal. She felt it when his shoulders relaxed, but the tension he felt from the rare physical contact kept most of his body from actually relaxing.
But she would fix that over time.
When at first he spoke, her eyes remained closed, and she didn't shift or move at all, save for her chest moving very gently against his back with each calm breath she took.
When he paused though, and managed to tell her that he needed to know something, her eyes opened just slightly, staring at the floor, her ears tilted back somewhat as she listened intently.
'Y...you're not going to leave like that again... are you?'
Her eyes remained fixated on the floor as she paused, and for a moment, her grasp tightened and she held him even closer- in fact, with all of her resistance, she was fighting herself not to burst out at him, both verbally and in tears. She held back, all but a single sharp intake of breath, before she let her left hand slide down a little to his side, and her right moved up to his cheek as she positioned herself in front of him, so that she could look him in the eye.
"Link..."
Would she have to leave again? Did she plan to sacrifice her kingdom to stay here, with him?
"... Link," She looked up at him with a calm smile, her hand still on his cheek- she couldn't tell if there were tears in her eyes or not.
The thought of forever leaving her kingdom hurt.
But the thought of leaving Link again.. was far worse.
Even she could not hold in all of her emotion.
"I will never leave you again."
For a moment, she felt her body unconsciously leaning forward and her heels rising- but she quickly snapped back to reality and without warning wrapped her arms around his torso and bowed her head so that it rested against his chest.
It had to have been the best feeling she'd ever had- to hold him.
Not that she'd ever admit it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:24 pm
"I.. I didn't mean.. keeping you forever, Midna. I know that I couldn't." She had a kingdom, and a home, and a life.. and as much as he would love to have Midna, he couldn't take that from her. By the gods, he would love to be selfish- but... even if he were to, each time he looked into her eyes, it would break his heart. When she moved to stand in front of him, he meet her gaze, biting slightly on his lower lip to keep from letting anything else. She wouldn't know it- nor would she ever- but, very slowly, Midna was breaking his heart.
Shaking his head softly, Link very quietly ran a hand through her hair- surprisingly soft, more than he'd ever thought possible- entirely unsure of what to do. Even the puzzle side of his brain was... puzzled. Very carefully taking a hand from his waist, he weaved his own fingers between Midna's, gently holding her hand within his. So.. small, and soft, it was surprising. Midna seemed to be good at surprising him lately. Gently resting his chin on her head, he mumbled very gently.
"I.. I can't make you stay here, Midna. I can ask you to visit, whenever the time is alright for you. But you've got a kingdom, and people, and I'm... nothing compared to that. I just... I couldn't ask you to give up everything for me."
No matter what he did, it'd break his heart.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:04 am
Though she could see very little with her face against Link's chest, Midna opened her eyes just a little as she listened to him talk. His voice was quiet and gentle, almost in a whisper. When she felt his hand in her hair her heat felt like it had stopped and her body tensed up- it was so unexpected of him. As he took her hand in his she couldn't help but to look up at him, though without really raising her head. Her eyes looked up at him, somewhat somber but also wide with surprise. It was comforting to know that Link was capable of, well, being comfortable with this kind of physical contact, and it gave her some hope for him.
Once he had set his chin on her head, she exhaled softly, relaxing her body while keeping her ears alert for anything else Link had to say.
...
That's right. She did have a kingdom to take care of, her people expected certain things from her that could not be done from another country, and she loved her home and her people and took pride in her leadership.
"You're wrong.."
Her grip tightened on his hand, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to hold in her tears. Link had no idea how much he meant to her, how much she loved him. To her, he was far from nothing. She had already decided that she wanted to stay with him. She had even put a temporary ruler into place back home for her time away, so she would still have to return one day.
But at that time, she intended to take Link with her, and return here with him as well.
The decision had torn her apart inside- was she abandoning her people for her own desires?
"Link- no.. you don't understand."
By this time, her voice was a little shaky, thinking of home and of Link and this decision she needed to make.
"I want to stay here- I told you that I'd never leave you again. I only left before because I had to, my people needed me. But... when I came back this time... I did so intending to always stay- with you."
Was she looking into it too much? Link probably didn't feel the same way about her, he had even said that he wasn't interested in any girls.
But, even as friends, being with him was enough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
