Never Without You │ BOTW modern AU fanfic

Birthday Candles

"Yes, of course, my apologies. I didn't mean to keep you."

"No worries, I was the one who stopped to converse," he says with a smile and pushes his glasses up. "Have a marvelous weekend."

"You as well," I give him one last smile before getting in my car and driving off.

The whole drive to the frat house I feel like everyone is constantly looking at my car. I have to get this fixed before Father finds out. Malice could get expelled if this gets out. And then I'm dead.

I arrive at the frat house shortly before 3 PM. I roll my eyes at the flowers lying on the doorstep and enter without knocking. Link is in the living room, doing his daily stretches while Teli is watching TV. I want to sneak up to Link but the moment I enter the living room he turns around.

"Happy birthday," I smile and walk up to him for a hug.

I wish I could claim to have been the first one to wish him a happy birthday, but I forgot about time zones. His family in Japan and thousands of fans around the world beat me to it, even though I set an alarm for midnight just so I could be the first. Oh well...

"Hey Teli," I say to Mr. Boxershorts.

"Yo. Want some brownies?"

"No thanks."

"Cupcakes?" He asks. "Or cookies?" I give him a confused look. "Link's fangirls have been dropping off truckloads of deserts all day."

"What?" I mousily peep. Link gives him a scolding glare. I aim my eyes at the dining table and spot a tower of sweets.

"Living with a star is awesome," Teli laughs with his mouth full.

Try dating one. Wait–Oh no! "I forgot to pick up the cake!" I cry.

"Thank God," Teli sighs, rubbing his tummy.

"I even told myself not to forget to pick it up!"

"It's okay," Link assures me. "Let's go upstairs?"

I follow him to his room. He hasn't used his crutches in a while but instead of scolding him, I tell him that I'm proud of him. I'm not sure what his ambitions are and how good his chances are of getting back to where he used to be but I will support him in any way I can.

"So," I begin as I shut the door behind us. "Since it's the weekend and the frat house is going to have a party tonight, I thought it best to celebrate your birthday somewhere else."

"Good thinking. Ravioli will hate us for bolting on a Friday night but he already hates me so I got nothing to lose."

"Oh but if he hates me, that's okay?"

"Hey, you're the one choosing to spend the night somewhere else," he laughs. "Where we going? You dad out of town again?"

"No, we are not spending the night at my house. We're going somewhere more private."

"Even more private than your guarded hillside mansion?" he raises both eyebrows and takes a seat on his bed.

"When you were in a coma, I regretted having said no to so many things. I was so scared of getting in trouble that I forgot to have fun. One day I'd like to play all your favorite sports with you, but since you're still in recovery, we are going to do something that doesn't require physical strength." I try to repress my grin. With a tickle in my lungs, I continue. "We are going to attend the annual chess conference at the senior home!"

His face looks a bit frozen. "Oh," he smiles.

"Isn't that exciting?" I cheer.

"Mhm, sounds chill," he says almost convincingly.