ZELDA POV
It was early in the morning, Zelda was paying attention to Link moving around in his room, but didn't want to get caught watching him, so she faked to be asleep.
"I am heading to Nana's kitchen to get some breakfast; do you want me to tell Rolo to prepare and send breakfast to your room?" Link casually asks her.
I didn't even open my eyes, how the fuck does he know?
"Yes… I want yogurt, and 3 scrambled eggs with some bacon." The Princess sits up in her bed "How did you knew I was awake?"
Link smirks "You are not a pretty good liar Princess"
Zelda gasps "What are you talking about… I lied to the people in Australia, didn't I?"
The Hero lifts an eyebrow "Did you?"
FUCK, I actually didn't. I threatened them with actual facts that Link gave to me.
"But I told them Zid was my pet, and that I had his papers" Zelda counters.
"Given the circumstances, and that you actually HAD Zid's papers at the moment, not of ownership, but HIS medical papers. I don't count that as a lie"
Zelda squints her eyes not giving up yet "And at the hotel before we flew to Li's school, I…"
"You were having troubles to fall asleep so you decided to climb on my bed. Then woke up early, moved back to your bed, and feigned you sleep there all night"
He knew…
"How… why where you not asleep?" the Princess asks with curiosity.
Link smirks "Turns out… Claire is not the only light sleeper you know off" Link said before turning around and leaving the room.
I really need to mind what I do or say in the presence of this guy… well, time to head back to my room.
Zelda stands up, takes her pillow and stores it in a small pink chest in a corner of Link's closet, and walks to her room. The Princess was about to enter her it when she heard someone coming up.
It can't be my breakfast, can it? It's too soon.
Chacha was coming up the stairs and smiled at Zelda upon seeing her.
"I will start in hell this time, don't worry my Princess. Raziel told me you were going to wait for your breakfast in your room."
"Ok… WAIT. Is he there?" the Princess points at the maid's bosom.
Chacha raises one eyebrow and then laughs. "You mean Nuthaniel. Yeah he is, take a look" the maid leans closer to the Princess and widens the collar of her dress for Zelda to look inside.
Really? I can look inside? No shame whatsoever. We definitely are friends.
The Princess looks inside the maid's collar and in between the breast is the cute squirrel curled in a ball, holding tightly to the gauze Chacha used to give support to her chest.
"Oh my… he is so cute" Zelda chimes.
"Really? Let me see" Link says taking a step back to effectively avoiding his maid's uppercut.
"That could have killed me you know?" Link says frowning.
Rolling her eyes "With all due respect, if being mauled by 2 wolfos didn't kill you, nothing will… my Prince"
Link grunts at the maid and connects his forehead with hers "I thought I had told you to refer to me by name"
Zelda pulls Link back from the angry maid "Ziel, she just got angry at you for trying to steal a peek at her bosom, you should apologize"
The Prince raises his voice a little in exasperation "For what exactly? For mocking what the both of you were doing instead of calling you out on it? you do realize the aisle is not a private enough environment to be doing what you were doing?"
Chacha still angry lowers her gaze in shame, she had been overly excited about her new pet, and completely failed to notice her surroundings.
"And by the way, I didn't actually lean in to look at her. So, please Princess… do indulge me on WHY I should be the one apologizing" Link almost screamed that last part at Zelda who just cowered in fear.
"STOP YOU TWO, I AM SORRY, OK?" the maid suddenly blurted "My emotions got the best of me, I failed to notice what I was subjecting myself and the Princess to in a public area. And I also failed to control my fight instinct… potentially putting my Prince in harm's way" the maid said with a teary face "I promise to learn to control my-"
Link shushes her "You have it wrong, you shouldn't apologize for your quick defense reaction" he charmingly smiles at Chacha "it pleases me knowing that my favorite maid is capable of defending herself, and more than willing to fight for my Princess" he heavily sighs "but do take responsibility for your actions"
"But… I just said I was sorry" Chacha insists.
"Because I called you out on it… you could have defused everything easily yourself, watch"
The Prince turns to Zelda producing a high pitch voice, trying to sound like a female "For the love of Nayru, I am terribly sorry my Prince, I got scared. I just suddenly heard a male voice speaking relatively close to me, I thought we were in danger" Link signals for Zelda to continue with the improvisation. Zelda chuckles and plays along lowering her pitch.
"Don't worry about it, I should not have scared you like that, it was very childish of me" Zelda says trying not to burst out laughing at her poor imitation of Link.
Link exhales and makes a doubtful face "That was a meek interpretation of me, but more or less… this is what could have happened" the Hero says wiggling his eyebrows at the maid.
Chacha looks at the floor to ponder a few seconds "I think I get it. I should learn to deescalate situations, but never apologize for my fight reactions…" she grins "you just served yourself on a silver platter, you know that right?"
He produces a subdued laugh "You are asking if I know that I basically allowed you to beat the crap out of me. Yes, I know I did, just be smart about it. Press my anger button and my forgiving button at the same time. Like in the scenario your illustrious Princess and myself just acted out for you. I will still be angry, but just a little, and I won't feel the need to avenge myself" he cackles "You don't want to deal with me trying to get revenge" Link warns.
Learning how to defuse Raziel Link Nohansen 101. I hope all of this works for me too.
Chacha smiles and hugs the Prince, who turns to Zelda "I will go back for my breakfast, I just came to inform you, I need to head out again, it's not on a mission, its worse" Link claims dejected "I need to attend one of Stephen Strange expositions about something, it may be boring… you don't need to"
Zelda didn't even allow him to finish the sentence" When are we leaving?"
Link slaps his face with his palm as Chacha releases him from the hug giggling "Of course…why wouldn't you want to come. I still don't know the specific date of the lecture, I will let you know once they inform me" he sighs "For now eat, and then get your ass outside. You will be doing exactly what you did last time, so loose the pretty dress and put on your pants and boots. I will also explain the exercise routine I want you to follow from now on"
Zelda looks a little doubtful "But... the new exercises are still doable for someone like me, right?" she asks lifting her eyebrows in hope.
"They should be… unless you somehow lied about your physical performance all this time"
Zelda smiles and negates shaking her head "I did not lie; I tried my best"
"Then there is nothing to worry about… now, would you excuse me my ladies" Link bows a little at both girls, then lifts his hands to place them behind his head and walks away whistling.
LINK'S POV
I absolutely hate Vincent's lectures… the information on human social behavior is invaluable, it allows us to manipulate people. But the exposition also throws in affirmations that claim: "No matter how nefarious you have had to become, that does not turn you into a criminal"
*That is why they are necessary*
I KNOW, its SWORD's way of ensuring we remain focused and human, stable enough so that we don't suddenly flip. But I find it tiring.
Link enter his room and finally checks on the texts he received.
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Text from Zidane:
DUDE, I LOVE PLAYING THE FUCKING BATTERY. I told Li that with his grumpy bossy attitude, he should help me stablish a rhythm to guide the song. So, he picked up the bass… it amazes me how fucking good he is playing it, almost as good as me. It's like we are music incarnate. Dude, you should pick up on the guitar, so we can soon play something basic that we can pair with… whatever instrument Skull plays. See ya.
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My dear brother, we kind of ARE music incarnate. Given your natural curiosity, you will soon realize that you can pretty much play ANY INSTRUMENT… It's a virtue granted by our patron Goddess.
Link closes that interaction and quickly opens the other text he had. It was a text form ex agent Skull.
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Text from George:
I never got to use the music room, even though I signed up for the program… if you want a small meet before it disappears, I will be there.
I will get properly reinstalled in a week, any day before I get back as a SWORD agent, would be great.
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Perfect… I made a mistake though, I never bothered to ask what fucking instrument is he proficient in, or if he plays anything at all. Not that it matters, I am sure we can still play something together, and give a proper goodbye to this branch of the emotional regulation program.
Somebody knocks on his door, he answers and receives a turkey sandwich, he had already eaten with Nana, but he still asked Rolo for a quick meal for himself when he ordered Zelda's breakfast. He finished the sandwich in 3 bites before heading out of the castle.
Once in the garden, he was stretching a little when he saw a familiar face approaching.
"HEYOOO!"
"Ichiro?" The Prince looks him up and down and smiles "looking good"
The Carpenter smiles "I know… I can now do 10 pull ups, I still have a belly but not as pronounced, and my arms look GOOD" he cackles a little at that "The wife is pleased… and I like my new vitality and appearance. I call this exercise structure ¨door frame¨ because it reassembles it, but what is it called?"
Link chuckles "It's a pullup station"
Ichiro looks up at it pondering about the name, then he nods "The name makes sense… well, I must leave now"
"Take care, I will see you when I see you"
The carpenter smiles and bows at the Prince before leaving. Link then hears the sound of Zelda's hurried steps.
"I am here; do we start now? I need to tell you something… yesterday I had ¨the talk¨ with dad about my brothers, I didn't tell you since we kind of fought but."
"But you figured now it's a better time, IT'S NOT. Tell me all about it when you start working with the dumbbells, then I will listen." Ziel smirks evilly at the Princess "Now start running… 10… 9…"
Zelda dashes off in panic.