Chapter 2

Wednesday cont.

When Link found Aryll's lunch abandoned on the counter he had the presence of mind to take it with him to his last second assignment. As for his own-who ate food anyways? Nobody ever said he had to be that responsible. If Aryll and the kids were taken care of, and he was still breathing by the end of the day, things were perfectly fine by him. At least he was able to kill the lunch break. Some "friends" had made an unexpected appearance and his mind was staying occupied enough by their intrusion.

"Link, you have a class starting in five minutes. Hurry up."

The blond substitute scowled at the instruction. Hurry up? Sure. Easy for them to say. A mass of screeches sounded to his left and Link ducked as a blade swooped over his head. They weren't the ones dealing with the five demonic compadres outside of the school's anti-monster barrier. He struck out, his own sword making a silvery arc before embedding itself into the blue-skinned bublin at his side. It let out a final shriek before vaporizing in black smoke. A small horde of its friends grumbled in complaint and started toward Link with their machete-like blades raised.

Link sighed. "Sorry, guys. As much as I need this workout... I really don't." Angry gurgles erupted from the monsters as if they were offended by Link's apology. "Yeah, I know how you feel," Link said as he dropped to a crouch, his sword waiting at his side, ready. As soon as the creatures were in reach, Link growled and arced his blade in a complete circle-a move he and Sheik had dubbed as "the spin attack" when they were kids. A cloud of black smoke surrounded Link as the last of the monsters disappeared.

"I don't want to go to class either," he said to the dark vapor as he sheathed his sword. It vanished as he released his grip on it. Now it was just him in the stupid suit Impa had forced him to wear.

"Sixty seconds. Link, is the situation contained?"

The blond man glanced at his left hand, flexing his fingers and checking the golden light emanating there. His Triforce was still active from the fresh fight, but he couldn't sense anything else nearby, so Zelda's-what did they call it?-"skin condition" should die down any second now. Link flicked one of his earrings and spoke, "We're A-OK here."

"Good… You're late."

"Pfft. They can't leave the classroom until after fifteen minutes, right?"

"Link…" Impa's voice warned.

"Okay, okay! Give me ten seconds, yeah?" Link chuckled to himself. He was starting to sound like Ashei. If he were to say that to her, though, she would stare blankly for a few seconds before unsheathing her sword… How come she only did that to him?

With a quiet "hut," Link vaulted himself over the school's outer fence for the second time that day, and bolted for his class. Perimeter control around the academy was getting busy lately… Then again, with three Triforces under a single roof, the increased interest of nearby monsters could only be expected to peak. A feeling of concern settled in the back of Link's mind. Was there more to the increased monster activity? But he didn't have time to reflect on the finer points of life, he had a class to teach… He'd rather take the bublins. Any day. Every day. But he had been summoned to perform a duty at the Academy, and he would have to push through. It was, after all, just another odd job from the Aurea.

Halfway through Link's walk down the school's corridors, a shadow spoke, "Have you been enjoying your visitors, Alavryn?"

Link stopped in his tracks, his neck bristling. Glare barely contained, he faced the owner of the voice. "So it was you. Up to your old tricks again, Ganon?"

Ganondorf smirked. "You've gotten better, boy, but even so…" He screwed his face into a farce of confusion. "How many have you failed now? Two? Three?"

Memories of his allies, his surrogate family, flashed through his mind. Rusl, Uli… Every muscle in Link's body coiled, ready to begin where they had left off, but Aryll's face flashed through his mind, and Link forced his breathing to slow. Not in public. They couldn't fight here, not where the law could see them.

Ganondorf sneered. "How are the kids doing?"

"They're fine," he managed through clenched teeth.

Looking down his pointed nose, Ganondorf nodded sagely. "Good, good. Well, you'd best get to class, boy. I'd hate to see you fired on your first week here."

With every ounce of willpower Link possessed in his body, he forced himself to give a curt nod and stalked down the hallways before he threw a punch that would ruin every plan the Aurea had for Link's presence in the school.

PERIOD: 4. ROOM/CLASS: Gym. TEACHER: Mr. Dragmire.

It was never a contest or question in Zelda's mind, but gym class really was the worst. Her only saving grace in the physical department was her ability to keep up with the top five runners in the class and even that left her winded. As if that wasn't enough, the teacher, Mr. Ganondorf Dragmire, had the idea that his students were training to enroll in the Hyrulean army.

As a Gerudo skyscraper, he looked down on most people by at least two heads, and had the muscular constitution of an ox. However, for his hulking size, the red-haired man was able to move with relative ease. There was a slight smirk playing in his yellow eyes as he entered the classroom. The students, who were waiting in their assigned lines for class, fell silent at his arrival. The last teen who spoke out of turn had to run the perimeter of the massive school grounds… three times.

He parted the class down the midline and drawled, "Today's activity is dodgeball. Face shots will earn you a visit to the Headmaster's office." The boredom in his tone made it sound as if he wished heads were rolling instead of dodgeballs.

Mala, Amira, and Lila snickered amongst themselves, but other students fell silent, their minds conjuring images of Mr. Dragmire smashing heads himself. Dodgeballs appeared at the center line by the snap of the Gerudo's fingers and he blew the whistle.

The blood bath began.

Some students fell to the back, disinterested, and texting on their phones. Lila dashed to the front and rolled several of the dodgeballs onto her side of the line. Immediately Mala and Amira had their hands on ammo and were aiming directly at students' heads. On the other side of the line, Aryll and Midna matched Lila's speed to the front line and armed themselves with the rubber gym equipment.

The class passed by in a flurry of red rubbered warfare. Midna was hurling dodgeballs like a Gatling gun while Aryll supplied her with ammo and Zelda kept a look out. It was almost a quiet class until Mala and her friends placed themselves on the opposite line where Midna, Aryll and Zelda stood.

"Um, um…" Mala stalled, wide-eyed in mock terror as she mimicked Zelda's performance in Mr. Alavryn's class that morning. The Gerudo teen scoffed. "There really is nothing interesting about you other than your dad being the headmaster, huh, Hykarin?"

"Knock it off, Drag-Queen," Midna growled, her red eyes boiling as she mashed a dodgeball between her hands.

"Midna, it's okay," Zelda hissed under her breath as she ducked under another dodgeball.

Red eyes slits, Midna hissed, "No, Zelda. It's really not. Nobody talks crap to my friends and gets away with it."

Zelda grabbed Midna's arm, a sense of panic welling inside of her. When Midna first came to the Academy, she was like a picture perfect delinquent—black leather, combat boots, and a "touch me I'll kill you" attitude. It was that image of her that many people still held and Midna's record of minor offenses at school did not help at all. "Mid, you can't get in trouble again. It's not worth it."

"Yeah, it's not worth it, Middie," Amira sneered. "So go back to your little backwash realm, okay?"

A swell of anger hit Zelda. "Her name's Midna, Amira, and she's here to stay."

The Gerudo trio laughed derisively. "And you think you have the power to make that decision? Oh, Hykarin, you're such a stuck up little-" Mala's taunt was cut short as a dodgeball crashed into her face. She lay on the gym floor, clutching her nose and groaning as blood slipped between her fingers.

Lila dropped to her friend's side as if she had been shot. Amira gave an exaggerated gasp before rounding on Midna with an angry brow, "You did that on purpose, delinquent!"

"Oh no…" Midna said dully.

"'Oh no?'" Mr. Dragmire's voice repeated. "My, my. Whatever could it be this time, Miss Nightshado?" At some point Mr. Dragmire had come up behind Midna, arms crossed and bushy, red eyebrows cinched into one. The room stood in stunned silence, the game now forgotten. Mr. Dragmire's niece had just gotten a ball to the face and they did not want to get caught up in his wrath for it. When no one answered his inquiry, he spared his bloody-nose-faced niece a glance and tsked. "Another fight, Miss Nightshado? The Headmaster won't be pleased with this…" He held a referral out and Midna snatched the paper without a word before heading towards the double doors.

Zelda started towards her friend, but Mr. Dragmire held his hand out, forcing her to come to a halt. "You are to remain in class, Miss Hykarin. I'm sure Miss Nightshado knows where the Headmaster's office is by now."

The two girls made eye contact and Midna gave a casual wave. "I can find my way. Thanks though, Zel." She then gave a glare to the Gerudo trio who were smirking amongst themselves.

Aryll exited the group of people who were out and came to stand by Zelda. The two Hylians exchanged looks, each of their brows pulled down and together at the center. With Midna's record...

Mr. Dragmire blew his whistle and the class resumed their game. Mala, Amira, and Lila, however, were avoided entirely. After a few minutes of sitting out, Mala had insisted that she was completely fine, before being allowed to resume her participation. Zelda bit her lip as the three Gerudo gave her knowing smirks and threw their dodgeballs in her and Aryll's direction. One went particularly close to her head and Zelda's hand fisted at her side. But she and the Gerudo trio both knew that Zelda didn't have it in her to fight back. It was this exact weakness in Zelda that had caused Midna so much trouble up until this point.

Aryll and Zelda allowed themselves to get out, so they could stand closer to the door. The moment the bell started its first frantic tolling, the two girls slipped out of the room and bolted to grab their things before making a beeline for the Headmaster's office.

Harassment was something that she had dealt with ever since she had arrived at the same school that her father ran. There was nothing wrong with her grades, but she had more or less gotten into the school because of her dad's position, and this fact was one which Mala enjoyed exploiting the most. It was in her bag of claims that it was because of the "daddy's girl card" that Midna hadn't been expelled yet.

While it felt almost like cheating, Zelda was going to do just that. The only problem Zelda could foresee was her father's already present dislike for her Twili friend. Being the person that Midna was always sent to whenever she got into trouble, it was harder for him to see past her ability to cause problems and be a rabble rouser. Even so, he had yet to forbid Zelda from spending time with her "delinquent friend."

The front office was quiet as the two of them approached. This filled Zelda with worry as she recognized that the secretary, a fairy named Navi, who was typically chattering away about something or another wasn't there. The room wasn't totally empty though. Midna sat on one of the four wooden chairs that lined up before the Headmaster's door.

Zelda breathed in relief. "Midna, are you okay?"

"I'm not suspended or whatever, if that's what you mean. The Big Man's calling my apartment manager. Nothing new." Midna shrugged as Aryll took a seat next to her.

Zelda's brow furrowed with concern. It wasn't a well-kept secret that Midna and her manager didn't get along. There wasn't a need to make things worse. With a sense of boldness, Zelda marched to her father's office door and knocked. Her insides fell still. This was a huge overstep of her boundaries. Zelda had never confronted or spoken directly with her father at work; it wasn't proper to do so. This, however, would have to be the exception. Mala, Amira, and Lila could say all they wanted about her, but there was no way that Zelda would sit back and do nothing when she had some kind of power within her grasp.

"Zel, what're you-?" Before Midna could finish her question, the clouded glass door swung open slightly and Zelda's father peered down at her with a look of surprise.

After a moment of pause, his brow crinkled in concern and Zelda nodded in silent confirmation. He sighed and gestured for Zelda to enter his office. He took a seat behind the mahogany desk and Zelda sat in the spot across from him.

"It wasn't Midna's fault, Dad," she vaulted in, "She was just defending me."

The room fell silent, save for the drumming of the headmaster's fingers against the desk and Zelda knew they were going to have that conversation. This wasn't the first time she and her father had needed to have it and she wasn't feeling too keen on having it again. When a few moments had passed, Daltus finally spoke, his voice significantly softer and quieter than his Headmaster tone, "What was it on this time?"

Zelda kept her gaze fixed on Midna's novel-sized record, which was still on his desk, and breathed deeply. "It's just a 'Headmaster's Daughter' thing." She was careful to exclude Mala's burn about Zelda being dull; that conversation would either lead to words of useless comforts on his part, or awkward silence on both.

His blue eyes fell and he sighed again, quietly. "I'm sorry you're having such a rough time at school."

"It's okay, really." It's been long enough that I expect it when I go places… Voicing her thoughts so openly, however, would only stoke her father's conviction to present a complaint to various parents and such. Instead she answered, "It's not like everyone's harassing me. Besides, I have Midna and Aryll. I'm okay, so please don't fault Midna."

"Zelda…" he started slowly before relinquishing a sigh. "I appreciate you standing up for your friends, and I understand the situation-Miss Nightshado told me what happened… But, because of her record, I am required by law to speak with her current guardian."

"Dad-" Zelda started.

Daltus held a hand up, motioning for her to allow him to finish. "She and her apartment manager will need to work out things on their own from here… However, as far as the Academy goes, Midna will not be suspended or expelled at this time…"

A swell of relief hit Zelda. She leapt to her feet and ducked around the desk to hug her father. "Thank you!"

He squeezed Zelda's shoulder. After a moment of hesitation, he asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to someone about…?"

Zelda shook her head, too relieved by Midna's pardon to retreat from the harassment conversation. "Most of the students aren't a problem, and even if they are, that's okay. I can handle it."

He offered a sad smile. "I know, sweetheart." Daltus stood and wrapped a comforting arm around his daughter's shoulders and Zelda allowed herself to fall into the embrace. "You've always been so brave…"

A sting settled in Zelda's chest and she wanted to raise her voice in complaint. If she was so brave, then she would be the one standing up to Mala and her gang, she wouldn't need him or her friends to protect her, she would be able to stand up in class without her Triforce sending her into a stuttering mess… she would be someone worthy of her parents' pride. Again, she kept silent and let her father hold her tightly.

He broke the silence, "If the Dragmires complain about Miss Dragmire getting hit in the face on purpose, then Mr. Dragmire and I will have a long conversation about this harassment."

Zelda snorted. "Thanks, Dad." After years of this going on, she was surprised that he hadn't overthrown the school board like some kind of angered, medieval king.

He released her after a moment and nodded towards the door. "You and your friends are free to go now, but please stay out of trouble for the rest of the day."

"We will," Zelda promised before rejoining her friends.

As they walked down the hallway, Midna asked, "So I'm not screwed?"

Zelda laughed. "No, you're fine."

The Twili swiped her hand through her orange ponytail. "Man, I thought for sure he was going to roast me alive…" Midna got quiet before turning on Zelda, her red eyes unnervingly perceptive-looking. "Zelda, you didn't tell him...?"

Zelda shrugged, noncommittal.

Midna frowned. "You know the student body is gonna eat you alive for this one if they hear about it, right?"

"And that's why nobody's going to find out about it," Zelda said while putting a finger to her lips.

Aryll zipped her lips. "Come on, Zelda. You know we can keep a secret."

Midna sighed. "The three of us can, anyway."

Zelda laughed, thinking of their other friends. Ruto, Ilia, and Malon would all probably go on strike if they heard, and Nabs would probably challenge them to a Gerudo duel for Zelda's honor or something. In short, the whole school would know.

"Speaking of secrets…" Aryll started, before turning on her heel to look up at Midna. "Your manager's going to be ticked when you get home. How about you sleep over at my house until he calms down?"

Midna snorted. "Aryll, that transition made no sense. Who are we keeping the secret from? Substitute Man?"

The shorter girl grinned. "Nah, Link's fine with it."

"Wha… How did you…? You already asked? When?"

As if summoned by his nickname, Mr. Alavryn strode up to the girls, a briefcase in hand, and said, "Ryll, there you are. You ready to go?"

"And there he is…" Midna muttered as Link jogged up to the trio in his unflattering brown suit.

"Link, can Midna crash at our place tonight?"

A hint of humor played in Link's eyes as he answered, "Sure, as long as she doesn't break anything."

Aryll rolled her eyes. "That would be you."

He chuckled. "Hey, speaking of breaking things… we leaving?"

"Oh my Silence Realm. They're the same," Midna said, wide-eyed.

Zelda giggled. "He practically raised her, remember?" she whispered. "Of course they'll have similarities."

"Yeah, but… Oh, I give up. Please tell me you're coming along for the ride?"

Aryll, who had been joking with Link in the background seemed to choose that moment to tune into their conversation. "Yeah! Zelda, come over!"

Link nodded his consent to the idea before excusing himself to bring the car around. The three girls trailed after him, still talking away.

Zelda smiled sadly. "You know I can't do sleepovers."

"Yeah, but we have to make Midna memorize Hyrulean history." Her eyes gleamed as she elbowed a groaning Midna in the side. "It'll be fun."

"Kill me now," the Twili begged.

Zelda bit the inside of her cheek. "It sounds like it, but I have to go to another business dinner with my family tonight… That and my dad's going to want to talk about today…"

"Ooh. That bites," Midna said.

Zelda gave a noncommittal shrug. "It'll be alright. You two have fun, though."

A beep sounded outside of the school's front door. An old, barely held together car was puttering outside with an equally brown-clad Link inside.

"You sure we can't drop you off at home?" Aryll asked.

Zelda nodded. "I'm sure. I'll see you guys tomorrow though."

"Alright. Have fun!"

Midna smirked. If she was going to be tortured for the next several hours, she was going to have a little fun first. "Check out a waiter. Ru would love to hear about that."

"Midna Nightshado, you bite your tongue!" Zelda swatted playfully at her friend, who took off running towards the car. Zelda shook her head. Honestly, her friends were the craziest. There was no way she would ever check out a waiter.

…

At home, Zelda's mother, Daviane, was waiting in the kitchen for their return. Zelda froze in horror. Please, not another new recipe… Zelda did her best to scurry past the kitchen. Maybe if she moved fast enough, her mother wouldn't ask her to sample the food.

Spotting her daughter, Daviane beamed and set her mixing bowl aside. "Zellie! Good afternoon, sweetheart, how was school?"

Zelda suppressed a frustrated sigh at the nickname and smiled at her mom. She seriously loved the woman, and her food was usually amazing, but her recent health club craze was… questionable at best. She needed an escape subject, and Zelda often found that honesty worked best. "Madame Farore broke her leg, so we had a substitute in her class today."

Daviane's face instantly fell. She and Madame Farore were old coworkers and good friends. "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that." She smiled, "How was the substitute?"

Zelda paused. How exactly would she describe Mr. Alavryn? She was curious about him, but that was only natural. Zelda and Aryll had been best friends since the beginning of time, but she didn't get to so much as see him until today. Aside from that, there didn't seem to be much about him that jumped out at her. "Mr. Alavryn seems like he's okay."

"Mr. Alavryn? You can't mean Link Alavryn, do you?" Her eyes shot wide open and she cast a double checking look towards Daltus, who nodded. "Really?! Oh, I remember when he was just a little boy. The two of you were so cute together..."

Zelda froze. That was NOT what she had been expecting to hear. She had no recollection of Link whatsoever. Sure he seemed like a nice enough guy, but he wasn't someone that Zelda would fall dead over like the boys in Ruto's Hotties Book of Hotness or something. Instead of voicing all of this out loud, she asked, "Huuh?"

"Oh, his parents were good family friends. We used to visit with them all the time and Link came with them, before Aryll even! You had the cutest little crush on him. When you were six, you told me you were going to marry him..."

Zelda's face flushed red. There was no way in the Silence Realm that that was ever going to happen. Just then Zelda's phone rang. She paused, long enough for her mother to offer the horrifying poultice. Zelda was just about ready to give in and bite the bullet when Aryll's voice came anxiously from the other end.

"Zelda, Midna's manager just kicked her out!"

"What? No way! He can't just kick her out for something like-"

"No kidding! Can you help us get Midna's stuff to my house? We don't have enough space in our trunk and Link has work in thirty minutes."

Zelda nodded, even though her friend couldn't see her from the other line. She gave her mother a nervous looking expression and she seemed to understand well enough as she put the bowl aside, grabbed the keys and joyously announced to her husband, "Girl bonding time!"

Zelda smiled to herself. Her mom was a spaz, but she was the sweetest person that Zelda knew at heart. She let Aryll know that she and her mother, "the cavalry" would be arriving shortly at Midna's apartment.

...

The Hykarin women arrived at the scene about ten minutes later. There were still boxes lined up on the side of the sidewalk as if they were already waiting for the morning garbage man to come by and pick it up. The Alavryn's tiny beaten up car was nearby and Link was loading boxes, whom Zelda promptly chose to exclude from her field of vision. She found Aryll holding Midna back, staying her anger, as the Twili yelled at the apartment manager for not letting her move her own things... As if that was really the problem here. Zelda trotted over to her friends and tried to hold Midna back as well.

"I'm sorry, Miss Nightshado," the manager was saying, "But this was simply the last straw. I warned you that if anything else happened at the Academy that I wouldn't be able to house you anymore. The other clients have been complaining about the noise and..."

"And the race?" Midna snorted. "Yeah, sure, I get it."

Before she could say anything else that she might regret later, Zelda and Aryll finally succeeded in pulling her away and towards the boxes.

Daviane stepped up to the manager, who was now seething, and started speaking in her light tones. After a few minutes of conversation, he had calmed down considerably and was moving Midna's things out at a much slower rate.

"I always hated this stupid place anyways," Midna muttered as she grabbed boxes and ant-lined them into the Hykarin's car.

Aryll smiled. "Yeah. And you can stay with Link and I from now on."

The Twili scowled. "No way, Aryll. We agreed on one night, remember? That's all I'm going to stay for. I'll find a new place and get out as soon as I can."

"Maybe you could stay a night at my house?" Zelda offered, reluctant.

"Thanks, but… Your dad don't like me much." Midna plopped her box into the trunk and went back for another.

Aryll followed suit, but put the box down with greater gentleness. "True, but Zelda's mom loves you."

"She loves everyone," Midna snorted as Zelda stopped at the trunk to reorganize the boxes so that more would fit.

As if summoned by the mention of her name, Daviane danced over to the girls with an envelope in her hand. "Duh, duh, duh, duuh," she sang as she presented it to Midna. "The nice manager gave me a partial refund for your deposit."

Midna's eyes bugged out. She peered around Daviane for a disbelieving look at her now ex-manager, who had disappeared now that things had been moved out. "I was so far behind on rent that it wasn't even funny… How did you…?"

Daviane shrugged as she tucked the small envelope into Midna's sweatshirt pocket. Before the Twili high schooler could press the woman for further details, she broke out into another sunflower beam. "Why, Link Alavryn, is that you? I haven't seen you since you were a teenager!"

By this time Link was carrying the last two boxes over to the Hykarin's sleek vehicle. His face cracked into a friendly grin. "Has it really been that long?" His shoulders shook in a chuckle and he smiled at the kindly woman as he set his load down. "It's good to see you again, Daviane. I don't think you've changed at all."

Daviane laughed before organizing the boxes into her trunk. "Of course I have, sweetie," she hummed in amusement.

"Sorry for troubling you. I told Aryll we had time…"

Aryll shook her head before bowing slightly to Zelda's mother. "What he means is, thank you for your help."

"Oh, it isn't a bother, dearies. Zellie and I have a few hours before our evening appointment."

They stood like that for a few more moments, Link and Daviane exchanging pleasantries before Aryll dragged her brother away to drive. A short while later and the two cars had arrived at the Alavryn's house. It was a three story building with old paint, an unfinished basement, and an almost too big amount of property in the form of a backyard ranch. Going in, the only thing that was apparently new was the front door, which seemed to change every couple of months or so.

No time was wasted in moving Midna's things from the car, through the Living Room, up the stairs, and to Aryll's room. Midna stopped to peer into one of the next-door rooms. Tarps covered the floor and the furniture, and tape lined the space between ceiling and wall. Since when did the Alavryn's need to remodel unused rooms? Her brow raised as Aryll and Link ran circles around the other workers in bringing boxes up.

"Uh..." Midna started slowly when Link had reentered the room. "You know, we don't need to bring all of my stuff in. I won't be here for so long."

Link shrugged. "Oh, no, it's temporary. We'll find finish soon and move your things in later."

They were already moving her things in! "Well, yeah, but why not leave it somewhere out of the way?" When he didn't answer, Midna trained a stern look on the older Hylian. He smiled and left the room for another box. What in the Silence Realm was that supposed to mean?

Zelda paused at Midna's side, a box in her arms, as she followed Midna's line of vision to the tarped and taped room. She smiled to herself and a sense of relief filled her as understanding took root. Leave it to Aryll…

To Zelda, Midna repeated, "Seriously, we can just leave my crap in the garage. I'm leaving in a day or two…"

"Oh, but that won't do…" said an older voice at the door. The two girls stopped short and Zelda smiled as she found the silver-haired Alavryn standing in her door frame. Grandma Pearl's face was made solely of tanned laugh lines and well-weathered skin. The elder shook her head, emphatic.

Spending a night with all her junk was getting way too complicated for Midna. Despite her soft…ish spot for Granny Alavryn, Midna impatiently asked, "Oh? Why not?"

Pearl shuffled into Aryll's room and popped a box of Midna's clothes open with her cane. Very simply she answered, "We don't make family keep their things in the garage, dearie."

Midna's eyes shot open. The furniture away from the walls, all of her boxes coming in, finish soon, family? She scowled and barreled out of her doorframe to find Link and Aryll coming up with the last of her things. "Oh no! We had a deal! One night!"

Grandma Pearl winked at Zelda, who stifled a smile. Of course it would take Midna this long to figure out what Aryll was getting at.

Link and Aryll were silent for a moment, their faces completely devoid of any guilt, before they turned to one another and resumed their walk up the stairs.

"Yeah, the bed should get moved. "

Aryll nodded. "I told you earlier: the sun's going to hit her in the face every morning."

"No! Don't bother moving it!" Midna and sunlight didn't get along very well. The sun, however, didn't fry her skin like many Hylians liked to claim. Sure it was easier for her to get sunburnt, but it didn't roast her alive.

Utterly ignoring the Twili's complaints, Link laughed. "But I forgot. I'll be sure to move it when I finish with the walls." He dropped the last box off in Aryll's room before ruffling her hair and taking off down the stairs. "Dinner's in the fridge. Don't burn the house down. Good night!"

"Drive safe!" Aryll called down the stairs before started moving and sorting Midna's boxed belongings around her room. Midna, Daviane, Zelda, and Pearl followed her into the bedroom. Nonchalant, Aryll asked, "What color do you think we should paint the walls?"

"Maybe black?" Pearl recommended.

"Mmmm… Too dark… It wouldn't flatter the lighting," Daviane said, glancing at the bedroom through the door frame.

Aryll nodded slowly. "True…"

"Hey!" Midna complained, "Don't ignore me!"

Zelda piped up, "Hey! How about something with teal?"

"Zel, stop encouraging them!"

Aryll brightened at the recommendation. "Yeah! I could paint some cool, geometric designs and stuff!"

"Oh! What if we put some ancient Twili runes on the walls? That could be cool."

"Yes!" Aryll's eyes were sparkling now.

"NO! You guys, I'm not staying here! This is temporary, remember?!"

Two hours later, the walls of the spare bedroom had been covered with the first layer of black paint, and the ceiling was a pale teal color. Daviane, Zelda, Grandma Pearl, Aryll, and the Alavryn's youngest ward Lily, were covered in drops of paint and Midna was silently fuming.

Another hour later and the Hykarin women were at home and ready for their evening appointment. Staring down the pink columnar dress her mother had prodded her into, Zelda sorely wished she was back with the Alavryn's and getting paint flicked into her face by an irate Twili. She quickly pulled those thoughts away, however, with the acceptance that this was just a business dinner. At the very least, her evening would be one of peace and quiet.

…

Romani's was a very popular restaurant for business meetings, dates for the filthy rich and, in Ruto's words, the "hottie jackpot." Zelda couldn't help but shake her head at the comment as her family was being led to their seat by one of those who could be categorized as such in Ruto's book.

He was tall and athletic with an easy stride. His rust-colored hair was combed neatly to the side and his brown eyes and kind smile were friendly enough, but, as Zelda looked at him, she couldn't find the thoughts which inspired the title of "hottie jackpot." The uniforms were definitely nice and gray was not a color that most people could pull off very easily. This waiter, who had introduced himself as Anton as he seated Zelda's family at table two, would make Ruto's Book of Hotties for sure. Just not Zelda's.

The people Zelda's father was meeting with for the evening, who were all evidently Hylian, were already there, seated at the table and smiling as the Hykarin family approached. A man—well-rounded and black-haired in appearance—and a woman.

On closer inspection, the man was rather tall and well built in the arms with a thick black beard meshing with his sideburns. "Daltus!" the purple-suited Hylian exclaimed as he quickly scrambled from his seat to give Zelda's father a firm handshake.

"Error!" Mr. Hykarin said, returning the hand gesture. "It's been far too long."

"Agreed, my old friend. How have you been faring recently?"

"Just fine," Daltus replied. He put a gentle hand on Daviane's shoulder. "I'm sure you remember my wife, Daviane."

"Oh, but of course-"

"Oh, Mr. Hykarin, you're such a gentleman to introduce your wife," said the purple-dressed woman. Her green eyes sparkled with a playful glint as she smiled. Her hair sat on top of her head in a simple, yet elegant bun. Two strands of hair fell down the sides of her face in gentle curls, bringing attention to her scarlet-lined lips.

Error turned a slight shade of pink, but he gave a wide grin, regardless. "Oh, Freezia, my sweet, you honestly think I could have forgotten about you?"

The woman in the sparkly purple dress gave her husband a blinding smile before standing up and saying, "Mister and Mrs. Hykarin, it is wonderful to finally meet you. My husband has told me an awful lot about how he and Daltus used to take first in science fairs."

Zelda's mother laughed as she shook Freezia's hand. "Though I'm sure he let Mr. Warn do all the difficult work." The two women laughed as their husbands simply looked at each other and smiled.

"Oh, and you must be the Hykarin pride and joy, Miss Zelda Hykarin," Error boomed as his eyes landed on Zelda.

Zelda gave her well-practiced smile, extended her hand and said, "Thank you, Mr. Warn. It is a pleasure to meet you." The two guests gave approving nods at Zelda's confident tone.

"Well, now that we've all become acquainted, may we begin business?" Mr. Hykarin asked, motioning for everyone to sit down.

"Of course."

After everyone was seated, Zelda's father jumped into their topic of discussion for that night: security systems. Improvements needed to be made, despite the fact that the school was the closest thing to a modern fortress.

Her father and his new business partner, Mr. Error Warn, were deep into conversation. And, being the wives of businessmen, Freezia and Daviane were also occupied with their own conversation.

With the introductions over, all Zelda had to do at this point was look pretty and stay relatively quiet. She breathed out slowly in a silent sigh as she went over Ancient Runes in her head. There was a quiz coming up soon and she would be well prepped for it. Zelda had just finished going through the first set of a hundred characters when her Triforce hand started to prickle. She pulled it under the table and started rubbing at it with a slight frown. Being careful to be subtle, she cast her eyes around to see what could have set it off when something, or rather someone, caught her full attention.

"And will that be all for you tonight, miss?" he asked a woman just a table away from where Zelda was currently sitting.

The woman, a lady around the age of 25, blushed madly as she answered, "Yes, thank you." The waiter gave a small curt bow before turning around and taking Zelda's breath away.

The uniform was the same-white work shirt and a grey vest with small, double belts lining the back in black fabric-and slicked back hair, but there was some unnamed thing that made him a beacon in an ocean of waiters.

Zelda felt herself turn pink as he started to look in her direction. Her head snapped back to the conversation at her table, but the words around her were all swirled into indistinct chatter. A wild tempo had started up in Zelda's chest and she silently prayed to Nayru for spontaneous powers of invisibility. However, the waiter didn't seem to notice her lingering look and instead disappeared around the bend that led into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, the same waiter reappeared, now with a food-laden tray and continued around the opposite bend. Zelda watched as he served another customer with the same polite smile and she melted inside. For a prominent chin and pointed Hylian ears, his expressions were soft.

He paused for a moment and Zelda's eyes instantly flew back to her own table. She nodded, acting as if she were actually a part of the conversation at hand. However, her peripherals still had the blond-haired waiter within sights. He was looking around with a slightly perplexed expression before shrugging and walking into the back.

Zelda watched until the V-shape of his back disappeared from view. With him safely out of view, a Triforce-like jolt shocked her back to her senses. Oh sweet Nayru no. She did not just… Her face burned. Oh, but she had… No… No, there was no way. Zelda didn't know the man. There was no way that she could be checking him out on the simple pretense that he was… She saw a slight blur of gold and her eyes snapped up in time to see him again. He began to turn again and…

Zelda's hand smacked against her forehead as she turned a bright shade of red. She had almost been caught! She growled quietly in frustration, but her crushless record had just been shattered. Even her Triforce was still burning, as if to agree that he was unfairly attractive. This was so not okay. Her parents were there, watching, and she would never live this down if her friends heard about this. But why was she acting this way to a complete stranger? True, she felt a certain... connection to him, but that hardly qualified for anything! She didn't know him and never would! … Even so, her family came here often enough that she should at least know his name, right…?

…

"Hey, one of my father's inventions blew up again and Pamela needs me to come home and take care of her. Can you take my shift at table two?" Anton asked his coworker.

The blond Hylian man turned with a smile. "Sure, Anton and good luck."

"Thanks," the brown-eyed Hylian man said gratefully before handing the Hylian a notepad of the tables he was scheduled to service. "I owe you one, Link!" He then took off running into the back, so he could change and head home.

Link smiled sadly as he watched his co-worker leave. Anton's family, much like Link's, had struggled immensely. He quickly shrugged off the sad memories that came to his mind about Anton Angustiae's family and turned to the table he needed to service. He stopped short, however, as Daltus and Daviane Hykarin came into his view. Link glanced down at his notes, double checking that it was indeed the table Anton wanted him to cover, and frowned when it was confirmed.

He looked to the group, taking in each face and identifying them in turn until he got to the young woman. She looked like she might be in her early twenties, and she was fidgeting with her hands under the table. Not for the first time that night, Link's dominant hand began to itch. He pressed the back of his hand against the small of his back as another waiter passed him by with a tray. Link took a few steps to the side to get out of the kitchen's traffic and turned his eyes back to the female. She was the Bearer of Wisdom: Zelda Hykarin.

For years Daltus had ordered Link to stay away from her, especially in public. With increased proximity, both of their Triforces were more likely to become active. Not only would this expose them to public scrutiny and the eyes of power-hungry humans, but to monsters as well, who would seek to take a Bearer's life in order to destroy the Triforce. Over the years, Link had learned to suppress its activation, but the Hykarin girl had no such experience. Getting too close to their table could spell disaster.

Link closed his eyes and breathed slowly. The itch turned to a burn in Link's hand as he forced the golden glow to become dormant once more. At the table, Zelda seemed to relax slightly. Her Triforce was quieting as well it seemed. Interesting. If his resistance as enough to quell Wisdom's activation, then maybe… Daltus had brought Link to the Academy and even placed him to be a teacher in one of Zelda's classes. They would be in close proximity for an hour and a half every other weekday, so how was this evening any different? As long as he could keep Courage suppressed and concealed, there shouldn't be a problem. He pulled a fingerless, black glove from his pocket and slipped it over his dominant hand as a failsafe before finally approaching their table.

…

Zelda's eyes widened and her menu flew to her face as Unfairly Attractive approached her table with a disarming, white smile. Why was he…? Had he seen her? She swallowed thickly and froze in her seat. He spoke, "I'm sorry, but Anton had to leave unexpectedly, so I will be taking your orders. My name is-"

"I'll have the Kokiri minestrone, a salad, with croutons, of course, and water for my beverage, please," Mr. Error said, impatient to return to the important business conversation both he and Daltus were involved in. The waiter, who had whipped out his order form after Error had started speaking, nodded as he finished the last few requests. He turned with a smile to Error's wife, Freezia, and continued taking orders from around the table.

Zelda couldn't help but frown slightly. So much for finding out his name… The waiters here didn't wear name tags, so finding out his name was suddenly more of a challenge. She could just ask him, but how awkward could that be? Zelda shook her head slightly, still holding the menu close to her nose, and sighed as she dismissed the thoughts of ever knowing who this guy was. It was probably for the best.

A warm sound drifted into Zelda's mind. She poked her head from her menu to see the waiter speaking to her, "And for you, miss?"

"Uh…" Zelda started. Everyone had finished ordering, and were all busy in their conversations once more. Zelda gulped. She was on her own. Unfairly Attractive was smiling patiently when her gaze fell back on him. Holy Nayru his eyes were blue. Her face flushed pink and she snapped the menu up again to hide the embarrassing color. "Um… Uh… this," she muttered while pointing blindly at the menu.

Earthen smells greeted Zelda's nose and she involuntarily took a deep breath in. What was that? Pine? Sandalwood? A hint of rain?

"The cucco fettuccine, miss?" Unfairly Attractive's voice asked thoughtfully.

Red flushed every feature of Zelda's being as she realized his face was right next to hers. She had just… He had probably heard her, and thought she was a freak, and… She gulped as another wave of his scent wafted over her. Why did he have to smell so good? Zelda tried to speak, but her heart was thudding too loud for her brain to form any words, let alone an intelligible sentence. She managed a nod.

Thankfully, he retracted his head and straightened without a response. "Would you be interested in a side salad?"

"Yes," Zelda half-breathed, half-squeaked. What were they talking about again? Right! Food! "That would be… g-great."

He gave another one of his disarming smiles and bowed slightly, with his right arm crossing in front of his chest. "Very well. I shall return shortly."

"Okay," Zelda said, feeling faint.

As soon as his head was out of view, Zelda felt herself remembering to breathe again. She tried to busy herself with the boring conversation her father was having, but she couldn't focus. Somewhere between ten minutes and an eternity, the waiter had returned with their food in tow.

"Here we are," Unfairly Attractive said, handing out the various dishes to each individual from a tray, which balanced on his flat palm, with practiced ease. He smiled as he turned to Zelda and placed a dazzling, delicious smelling dish in front of her. "Here you are, Miss. Cucco Fettuccine, made on your request."

Zelda turned slightly pink as she accepted the dish. "Thank you, Mister…?"

The waiter opened his mouth to reply, when Error abruptly cut in, "Link, my boy, is that you?"

Zelda's insides froze. Did he just say…?

Daltus' face grew stern as he jolted to face the waiter. There was a silent warning in his voice as he slowly repeated, "Link…"

The blond-haired waiter gave a small smile. "Evening, Error, Freezia, Daviane… Headmaster."

Zelda's eyes flew open and all color drained from her face. The blond hair, blue eyes… Strangely familiar… There was no way… Her gut confirmed otherwise and her mind screamed, 'MR. ALAVRYN?!'

…

That was a disaster, Link reflected on his drive home. It was like he had been put on stage in front of an audience who demanded he performed multivariable calculus while flipping Ordonian goats. He could do many things, but calculus was not one of them.

The Warns and Daviane regarded him with warm, welcoming smiles, and Zelda didn't seem to notice him, but his boss and commander had given him the death glare. It was that look that told Link he had made the wrong decision to approach them. Even with that as the case, the damage had already been done, and Link did what any respectable waiter would have done in the situation: smile.

Yeah… Link wouldn't be surprised if he were on monster hunting duty for the rest of the night, or if Daltus revoked his order for Link's presence at the Academy. He would willingly take either order. Link was off work early tonight, so he had time for monsters; and he wouldn't mind leaving the school since he didn't do performing monkey very well-he hated crowds and staring eyes, both of which were available there in droves.

A pair of smirking, golden eyes flashed across Link's vision and he gripped the steering wheel. No, he couldn't just leave. If for nothing else, Link would remain at the school in hopes of a chance to bash that man's face in. In reality though, Link wasn't technically supposed to get into fights with the Gerudo male. Link was supposed to distract him from the Aurea's current actions. This plan, however, seemed more likely to result in Ganondorf's retaliation and destruction to the Academy.

Link could see his house in the distance at this point, and forced himself to breathe deeply. He couldn't bring work home with him tonight-especially for the work his family knew nothing about. To disentangle himself from monster fights and stupid Gerudo, Link thought of his family. The kids would be in bed by now, but Aryll often stayed in the Living Room until he got home. Normally he wasn't home until after midnight and he'd have to tuck her in. With a vague smile he wondered if tonight would be another one of those nights.

"I'm home," Link called as he pushed his way through the doorway. Aryll was still awake and trotted up to give him a welcome home hug, when Link heard something he had forgotten:

Midna.

"Aaah! Who the heck-Substitute Man?!"

She was standing on top of the couch, eyes bugging out and a finger pointing in Link's direction.

"Substitute Man?" he repeated in confusion, ruffling his sister's hair.

"What in the great Twilight suns are you wearing?!"

Link glanced down at his unbuttoned vest and rolled up shirt sleeves and shrugged. "Well, I just got home from work… What are you wearing?" It was an awkward question repeated in courtesy.

Shorts and a T-shirt, pajamas most likely, but Midna wasn't able to articulate that information as she continued to stare at him.

"But… you're usually fat," she said bluntly.

It took a moment for Link to realize she was talking about his Academy uniform before he started chuckling. "Oh. Yeah. Sure, it's a hand-me-down from Darunia."

Midna's brow rose in disbelief. "Darunia, the Goron security dude at our school?"

Was that Darunia's job? Link couldn't keep track of everyone. Not betraying his thoughts, Link smiled brightly. "Yeah. That's him."

"That thing is…"Her face screwed up as she warily looked him up and down. "…Way too big on you."

No kidding. It's hard to move in for combat. I hate that suit… "But I love that suit," Link said with the best disappointed expression he could muster.

Aryll rolled her eyes. "I like it for the Academy." She turned to her friend as she flicked her brother's tie, "Link would get stampeded if he wore something like this to school."

Some kind of silent understanding passed between the girls and Midna slowly nodded as she sank back into her seat. "Yeah, no kidding."

Link couldn't be one hundred percent on what they were girl-talking about, but he could guess it had something to do with the many flirty girls at Romani's. But high schoolers wouldn't actually hit on him, right? It was… most likely safe… Even then, the suit was a good precaution and made Link's cover story more believable.

Midna was still glaring at him. "You don't look like you're twenty-whatever."

The Alavryn siblings locked glances for a moment. Link had heard many stories about Midna, the punk student who protected his sister at school. Aryll trusted her like family, and if she were to live here, she might as well be one of them.

There were many things Link couldn't tell his family-his shadow-cloaked life fighting monsters, his work with the Aurea, the truth behind his "clumsy" injuries-but there were some things that he could. And, if Aryll trusted Midna enough to bring her into their home, then perhaps Link could trust her with this one thing…

"Of course I don't." He smiled. "I'm nineteen."