By the Fire
As usual, Link is up late. He doesn't sleep well most nights, preferring to stare into the fire and zone out. This night is different, though. Hawkes returns from a patrol and catches the younger boy awake, despite the others all being fast asleep. Link offers to let the man sit with him, and they share a quiet moment together.
Commission by ResonantCrimson~!
The fire crackles as Link sits near its edge, the heat doing little for the turmoil in his heart. He has new friends and people he cares for. But he just can’t forget about the person who was his first love, who stole his heart, and then left without saying goodbye or even writing a letter to say so.
Despite not wanting to think the worst, Link’s thoughts often drift to one constant, ‘did Edge leave on purpose?’. It would make sense. Link let the beast free, he hurt Edge, so why would the other boy want to say goodbye?
Wringing his hands, Link looks up at the twinkling stars overhead. It’s a beautiful evening. This world was known for its beauty. Despite it, Link can’t find it within him to admire any kind of beautiful thing. His heart hurts.
A sorrowful sigh slips free. Link knows if he wanted to talk to someone about his emotions, he could. Mallaidh would be an easy one to converse with. After all, when they first met, she called him every cute name under the sun and cuddled him. It would be so easy to sit with her and tell her of the grief lingering in his heart.
But he doesn’t. He just continues to sit here, the heat from the fire warming his face.
“Link? What are you doing awake?”
Link starts, keyblade forming in his hands on instinct. Hawkes appears from the brush, eyes blown wide at the sight of Link’s keyblade. Link rolls his eyes before his keyblade disappears from his hands in flecks of light. “Oh, Hawkes. Hi. Why are you awake?”
“Scouting the perimeter to ensure we’re safe. Is everything alright?” Hawkes looks like he wants to sit, but also appears like he doesn’t want to intrude on Link’s privacy.
“You can sit,” Link says, waving a hand to the opposite side of him. “I’m just wallowing in self-pity anyway.”
“I see,” Hawkes replies. He sits and starts to make some tea - Link quickly realizes it’s chai tea, his favorite. A kind smile rests on his lips at the realization. He and Hawkes may not get along real well, but the man noticed enough to know what his favorite tea is. That alone is touching.
Hawkes, once the tea is made, offers it to Link, who takes it with a warm smile and a soft murmur of, ‘thanks’. The older boy nods, crossing his legs and resting his chin on the palm of his hand.
“Did you want to talk about it, or would you prefer the quiet?” Hawkes asks in a soft tone.
“Honestly? I just want to sit here for a while. Maybe I’ll talk about it later,” Link replies, voice full of conflicting emotions. The anguish is still there, but gratefulness for Hawkes’ presence is as well. And it’s strange. Usually they’re fighting, but now they’re sitting in silence save for the crackle of the fire.
For the rest of the night, Link sips at the tea while Hawkes sits across from him, a shy, yet content smile on his face. It’s the first night they’re civil with one another. And, when day breaks and Mallaidh finds them there, they smile at her and say nothing, knowing this was the first step to becoming friends.