A Hidden Kindness

3297 words

Rabia met Zelda the next morning by the latter’s request. They sat in the courtyard, Zelda in a light sundress. She smiled at her friend and handed her a piece of paper.

“I was told to give this message to you. It seems he didn’t know how else to contact you.” Rabia unfolded the paper and scanned it over. She nodded.

“This is from some man I met at your soldier benefit event,” Rabia said. “He was really cute.” She looked at Zelda. Zelda grinned.

“Really? Does he want to see you again?” Rabia nodded and Zelda’s smile only grew. “You should see him! He’s from a place to the east of Hyrule.” Suddenly, Rabia lit up; a devilish idea had come to her. She smiled at her friend.

“You think I should?” she asked. Zelda nodded eagerly. “Send him a message that I’ll meet him again, then!” Zelda clapped.

“I will certainly do so!” She nudged her friend. “See, I told you there are some good guys out there, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Rabia said. “There’s no use in pining over someone like Ganondorf.”

“That’s right, especially when you’re out of his league,” she encouraged. “Let’s get you a new outfit to meet him in! We can go shopping after the council meeting this afternoon.” Rabia smiled.

“Okay, that sounds fun,” she said. “He really likes the color purple.” She twirled a strand of her hair. “What’s the meeting about?” she asked. “Is there something going on?” Zelda sighed and rolled her eyes.

“We have to discuss possibly lowering tax rates. We just lowered them to the current rate a few months ago and everyone was so happy with it. It’s just...” She shook her head and sighed again.

“How fascinating. Are you making me go to this?” Rabia asked. Zelda pushed her playfully.

“Of course not, you’d be snoring two minutes in!” she laughed.

“I don’t snore!” Rabia protested. “But you’re right, I’d die of boredom.” Zelda giggled.

“You don’t have to come with me.” She bit back a smile and edged closer to her friend. “I kissed Link at the wounded soldier benefit event,” she whispered.

“You WHAT?!” Rabia gasped. “Oh, the scandaaaal!” she started giggling. “I’m just kidding, totally saw that coming.” She nudged Zelda. “Since like… the day I met you.” Rabia laughed and Zelda waved her off with a smile.

“Oh shhhh. Nothing has happened since then, it was just one kiss,” she said. She paused. “But you can’t tell anyone. I’ve only told Sheik.”

“Just a kiss? What the hell, Zelda! You two are my OTP. I demand future kisses and snuggles,” Rabia scowled at her. Zelda couldn’t help but smile.

“Shush, come on!” She giggled. “You’re gonna make me blush.” A group of soldiers marched on a path nearby. Leading the group was Link, and he waved at the two. Zelda gave a small wave back. Rabia started giggling at her.

“You two are so cute!” she said, watching the soldiers pass.

“Those are some nice butts…” she sighed, then shook her head. “You should ask Link out. He’d totally say yes.” Zelda went wide eyed and gaped at her friend.

“I can’t do that!” she hissed. “I want him to ask me... it just feels weird if I asked.” She immediately pointed at Rabia. “Don’t you tell him I said that...!” Rabia giggled and stood up, running after the soldiers.

“Link! Hey, Link! Wait up a sec!” she called. “Link!”

“Rabia!” Zelda cried after her. She jumped up from her spot and quickly ran to hide in the castle.

“Can’t stop, Rabia. What do you need?” he asked. He continued to lead the soldiers through the courtyard. She hurried to catch up with him, having to jog to keep up his pace.

“You should totally ask out Zelda,” she whispered to him. “You guys would be so cuuuuuuuuuute!” Link suddenly tripped over his own feet, landing roughly on the ground. He cleared his throat before he stood again. He motioned for the soldiers to stop and wait. He leaned closer to Rabia.

“Like... on a date?” he whispered.

“Well… yeah, what else would I mean?” she whispered back. “I bet she’d say yes,” she smiled. Link blinked.

“Did... she tell you about the charity event?” he asked. He sighed. “I don’t think she’d say yes... I mean, she’s the princess...” He stared at his feet for a moment. “Thank you for the suggestion though.” He walked back over to the other soldiers, shoulders slumped.

“Hey, hey! That wasn’t a suggestion, Link!” Rabia said. “It was an ORDER! Now go!” she stared at him, arms crossed. Link frowned.

“You just want to see me make a fool of myself, don’t you?” He turned and ignored her, then started to lead the soldiers off again.

“Don’t ignore me!” She tripped him and sat on his back when he fell. “I’m staying here until you do it. I thought you were supposed to be brave, Link, come on!” The soldiers looked on in confusion. Link struggled underneath her.

“Hey, get off of me!” he cried. He squirmed under her and tried to pull himself out. Rabia smiled sweetly at the rest of the soldiers.

“Carry on, boys. Link has something he has to do,” she said, adjusting herself to keep him pinned as he moved. “Stop wiggling and just accept it, Link!” He groaned loudly and stopped trying to escape.

“If I ask, will you get off of me?” he cried. “I can’t breathe.” Rabia watched the soldiers walk away.

“Are you calling me fat?” she scowled. “Yes, if you ask her out I’ll get off you. If you don’t, I’ll know, and I’ll sit on you again!”

“I swear I’ll ask her,” he muttered. Rabia smiled and got off him, offered him a hand up, then dusted him off.

“Good! She’s in the castle,” she skipped away, humming merrily to herself. She went to the courtyard garden and sat down in the gazebo to wait for Zelda to finish her meeting.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~

“So, did he ask you out?” Rabia asked as Zelda joined her outside with some lunch. Zelda’s face flushed.

“Yeah… he did,” she said, hiding a smile.

“And you said yes, riiiiight?” Rabia asked excitedly. Zelda smiled and nodded. “Finally! It only took you guys like, I don’t know… ten years,” she giggled. “I gotta text Kaiky…” she got out her cell phone and started texting away.

“Rabia!” Zelda scowled.

“Whaaaat? She ships it too.” Zelda rolled her eyes and allowed her to continue.

“Are you excited to go shopping after?” she asked. “Do you know what you want to wear?”

“Um… a shirt and some pants,” Rabia said. She started giggling when Zelda glared at her. “I have no idea, what do you think?” she asked. Zelda touched her friend’s arm.

“How do you feel about a nice top and a cute skirt?” She smiled hopefully.

“... A skirt? You really think I’m gonna wear a skirt?” Rabia raised an eyebrow at her. Zelda gave her puppy dog eyes, and Rabia sighed. “... maybe. Stop looking at me like that.”

“You would look so good though, Rabia... won’t you just try it? For me?” She clasped her hands together and pleaded.

“I already said maybeeee!” Rabia said. “Ugh, fine, Zelda, fine. Whatever. Let’s just go shopping, okay? We have to pick something out for your date with Link, too.” Zelda rolled her eyes and laughed, then led her friend out of the courtyard and the castle. Rabia skipped along beside her, humming merrily. “So how was your meeting?” she asked, looking through sundresses. Occasionally she would grab one and hand it to Zelda. “Long and boring?”

“You would probably think so,” Zelda nodded. “I mean, unless you like taxes it would’ve been incredibly boring.” She handed Rabia a few outfits as well. “Did you want some shoes too?” Zelda walked over toward the shoe section of the store they had entered. She browsed over them idly. “Just tell me when you’re ready to try these dresses on! I’m surprised you picked these out for yourself; I like them though!” She looked the dresses in her hands over. Rabia frowned.

“I picked those out for you,” she said. “There is no way I would wear that shade of pink, or any shade of pink, for that matter. It looks good on you, though.” Zelda shrugged.

“I guess I’ll try them on then if they’re for me. I’ll just have to wear them on our next date -- that would be strange if I wore a sundress on a hike.” Rabia grimaced.

“He’s taking you hiking?” She facepalmed. “What the... why?” She shook her head and sighed.

“What’s wrong with that? I don’t mind! I think it’ll be fun, I’ve never done it before!” Zelda chirped. Rabia raised an eyebrow.

“Not to be the bearer of bad news, Zelda, but you’re not very... outdoorsy,” she said. “There are going to be bugs, wild animals with diseases, icky plant life...” Zelda waved her off.

“Oh, I’ll be fine, nature is beautiful.” Rabia rolled her eyes as her friend continued to look at the shoes. “Ooh, how about these nice purple flats, Rabia?”

“Zeldaaaa I hate flaaats,” Rabia whined. “I’m already wearing a skirt for you!” she said.

“Can’t you just let me dress you like a girl for one date?” Zelda sighed.

“I always dress like a girl cause I am a girl, so there!” Rabia scowled at her. “I have black pumps at home that I wear for everything and will be fine. Let’s find something for you to hike in…” Zelda trotted happily into the other end of the store.

“Should I wear shorts or pants you think? This is so exciting.” She looked along at the jackets on the wall with Rabia close behind.

“I guess that would depend on where he’s taking you,” Rabia said. “I’d choose shorts and just bring bug spray. At least you won’t get hot,” she shrugged. She handed Zelda something that was cute in an outdoors-y kind of way. “Hmm… let’s find some sneakers, too.” They soon settled on a pair of hiking sneakers.

“Great! I’m all set. Did you try on your stuff yet?” Zelda asked. Rabia sighed.

“No… I’ll go do that,” she said. She tried on a few of the outfits Zelda had picked and settled on the one with the most purple. “You’re absolutely sure I have to have a skirt?” she asked Zelda as they stood in line to pay. Zelda just gave her a look. “Alright, alright…” Rabia said. “...But you and Link have to take pictures on your date! I still don’t know why he’d take you hiking…” She paid for her clothes and followed Zelda.

“I think he was nervous and hiking was the first thing that came to his mind. That’s fine by me, though.” They were soon back at the castle. Zelda smiled at her friend. “So, I’ll send Lord Vaati a message tonight and let him know you want to see him again. I’ll keep you posted.” She waved goodbye to her friend and disappeared inside.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~

Rabia returned home from her day with Zelda and shut the front door behind her. Saul was in the living room, and he looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“You guys went shopping, huh? What’d you buy?”

“An outfit for a date,” Rabia said. “Why?”

“I thought you broke up with Ganondorf!” Saul said.

“I did! I have a date with someone else.” Saul raised his eyebrows higher.

“Oh, a new guy?” He patted the seat next to him on the couch. “Tell me about this guy; what’s his name?” Rabia sighed and sat next to him.

“His name is Lord Vaati. I met him at Zelda’s last charity ball. All I know about him is that he plays piano, he likes gardens, and purple is his favorite color.”

“And he hasn’t killed anyone?” Saul asked.

“Not that I know of,” Rabia shrugged. Saul nodded.

“Well... if it goes onto a second date, I’d like to meet him. So if this date goes well, inform him that he’s going to meet me next time.” Rabia sighed.

“I’m going to be single forever,” she said. “You’re gonna scare them all off. Might as well start buying all my cats now!” she grabbed her bag. “I’m going upstairs.”

“Okay, see you later drama queen,” Saul called after her.

“Screw you, dad!” she called back, walking upstairs.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~

“Sooo, how did the date gooo?” Rabia asked, looking between Zelda and Link with a smirk. Sheik just rolled his eyes.

“You guys went on a date?” Kaikoura asked.

“I texted you about it!” Rabia said. “Oh, never mind. They went on a date. Hiking, apparently. So, how was it?” They waited anxiously for an answer.

“Oh, the mountain was beautiful!” Zelda smiled. “The birds were singing and the sun was shining… it was wonderful!”

“What about you, Link? Did you enjoy the view?” Rabia giggled. He rolled his eyes.

“You let her wear shorts; she got eaten alive by mosquitoes,” Link muttered.

“What? You didn’t have bug spray? What kind of hiker are you?” Rabia scowled at him. “You butthead,” she threw a balled-up napkin at him. Link scowled at her.

"I thought she'd be wearing pants! Mountains are cold!" He cried indignantly. Rabia facepalmed.

"So you offer her a coat, you walnut! Honestly, I tried so hard to help you make a move because you need all the help you can get and you still couldn't handle it." She sighed. "You need to work on your wooing skills." Zelda blushed while Link spluttered. Kaikoura was biting her lip, holding back a laugh.

“I’m not a walnut!” Link cried.

“Yes. You are,” Rabia nodded.

“Yeah well… You’re a… dumb person!”

“Good one.”

From the shadows, a pair of piercing blue eyes watched on, unnoticed by the laughing group of friends. His eyes narrowed to slits when the princess let out a particularly happy giggle and he ground his teeth. Her happiness filled him with a blinding rage. Kill… kill… he almost couldn’t resist the urge to snap her neck, but he held himself back. He couldn’t go out there. Not now… not yet… but soon she would succumb to his rage.

His gaze snapped to the redhead as she poked fun at Zelda’s bodyguard. The bodyguard he had to get rid of if he was to get near Zelda unimpeded. The sheikah and the Hylian girl were nothing. Could be crushed like bugs, if he wanted to. But that was unnecessary. For now. The princess laughed once more and he could feel the rage burning, a fire that fueled his desire for her demise. He almost, almost growled when the redhead joined in the laughter. She reminded him of someone. Someone he loved and… despised. I will use you to get to the princess… and then keep you for myself. With that decided, he slunk back into the shadows and was gone, unseen, unnoticed, and unthought of. Besides, to carry on with his plan, he had to get himself a servant.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~

Rabia took a deep breath and smoothed out the skirt she was wearing, then glanced up at the clock. Vaati should be here soon. She tapped her fingers on her knee impatiently.

“Rabia! Hey!” Vaati chirped as he walked in. He sat down across from her at the table. “Whatcha up to?”

“Oh, um… nothing much. I went shopping with Zelda, but that’s about it. You?” He smiled.

“I cleaned out my potion room today; it looks great!” he cheered.

“Oh, you make potions?” Rabia asked, resting her cheek on her hand and looking at him with interest. “What kind of potions do you make?”

“A little of everything,” Vaati shrugged. “I also do magic!” He snapped his fingers and a small swirly ball of light appeared in his palm. Rabia gasped, surprised.

“Oh!” She laughed. “That’s amazing!”

“Give me your hand,” he said, waving her closer. Rabia scooted closer and held her hands out. He gently pushed the small bubble into her hand. “Just stay focused on it and it will stay.”

“Whoaaa…” Rabia stared into it intently. “It’s so pretty!” It started to fade, so Vaati hovered his hands under hers, reigniting the light in the ball. She looked at him with a smile, which he returned. They continued to look at each other for a long moment, and finally Rabia looked away and cleared her throat. Vaati took the ball and closed his hand, and the light disappeared. “That’s really impressive. I wish I could use magic...” She sighed to herself. He inched closer to her.

“But you have your own kind of magic; it’s different than mine, but still magical nonetheless,” he said.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You make magic with your music. I can’t do that.” She smiled and nudged him.

“Oh hush...” She giggled. He smiled again. “What do you do for a living?” He fidgeted with his hands.

“Well, I’ve only recently graduated from my apprenticeship. I’m basically just starting out, but I help out at the medical clinic in the prenatal ward.”

“Aww, that’s so cute! You like children then?” He turned pink.

“Well, I mean, I’m better with the mothers, but I-I guess...” There was a silence. “What do you hope to do for a living?” She hummed thoughtfully.

“I really like being a musician... but if I was going to choose anything else, I think I’d want to be a veterinarian. I like animals more than most people.”

“Animals are awesome!” he chirped.

“Yeah... they are,” she agreed. Another awkward silence. He cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, I’m just really nervous...” he mumbled.

“Why are you nervous?” she asked.

“I just... you’re really pretty...” he said quietly.

“Oh, thank you,” she smiled. “... Do you wanna go for a walk or something?” He nodded, and followed her onto a nearby path. They walked in silence for a while. The birds were singing quietly, heralding the coming night. There was a soft breeze blowing and there were few people about. The sun was setting low behind the houses as they approached the fountain in the center of town. Rabia sat down on the edge of the fountain with Vaati beside her.

This fountain... reminds me of-

“I’m so happy you came out with me tonight,” Vaati said with a smile. She gave a small, half-hearted smile back and watched her reflection in the water. “Is something bothering you?” He looked at her with concern. She sighed.

“Vaati... I should tell you something,” she said. “I’m crazy about this guy, but my parents don’t want me to see him. I was hoping this date with you would make me forget about him, but...” He touched her shoulder gently.

“I’m sorry... I wish I could help you...” She smiled at him.

“You’re so sweet.”

“What will you do then?” he asked. She sighed.

“I really don’t know. I went to see him yesterday and told everyone I broke up with him, but I didn’t... I don’t know how I’m going to keep sneaking off to see him without them getting suspicious...” Rabia answered, chewing her lip. He stared at the cobblestone for a moment before he glanced up at her again.

“I could help you if you wanted... I don’t mind.” She looked at him, surprised.

“You would do that...?” she asked.

“Yeah. You could say you were seeing me. I don’t mind playing along with it.” Rabia hugged him tight. He giggled.

“Thank you so much!” Rabia said. From then on, Rabia and Vaati worked as a team to keep Rabia and Ganondorf’s relationship a secret.