Never Without You │ BOTW modern AU fanfic

A Dead Sparrow On The Pavement

Exhausted, I lie in the sand while the crashing sound of ocean waves creeps up on me. The sea level is rising... Once the water reaches me, my pick will be lost for good. And here I am, just waiting for it to finally happen. Is this a metaphor for my own dreadful life?

I hear the faint noise of footsteps approaching. They halt right in front of me and when I turn my head to look at who it is, I can make out the delicate shape of a young woman.

"Pik..." Zelda's voice pulls me out of the darkness and gives my heart the strength to beat in vigorous leaps of joy.

"Am I dreaming?" I ask her in bewilderment.

"Not unless you're sleep-talking," she answers. Her humor puts a smile on my face. Another one of those little things I missed; smiling. "Would you like to tell me what's going on with you?"

I sit up and push my hair back. "I told you not to come."

"I know. And it wasn't easy to find you. You didn't give me a specific location."

"Again: I told you not to come."

"Do you want me to leave?" She asks and I shake my head. I want anything but that.

"Is Link here too?" I dare ask.

"N-no?"

"Oh. I thought for sure you were going to spend the night with him."

"I was but I called him to tell him that I'll be late because you need me. He understood."

Link keeps surprising me. I always took him as the jealous type. The reckless, stereotypical, muscle brain of a frat boy, steered by knuckle and fist, but perhaps I erred to judge him as such. Maybe he's nicer to his friends and loved ones than he chooses to show in the presence of fans and classmates.

I let out a sigh, hoping she doesn't notice how much of a mess I am. "Zelda... I can't believe you came."

"You're not mad, are you?"

"I am really happy to see you."

Such simple words... No one would think twice about their meaning or how much it pains me to utter them... but I can't adjust the English language to my preference. I just have to learn how to look forward to seeing people without actually looking and seeing.

"It's good to see you too, Pik. I'm sorry that we haven't talked in a month."

"Don't worry about it. I know you've been busy with finals and whatnot."

"Yes... So... What did you lose?"

"I lost my plectrum," I tell her calmly. "My favorite pick."

"You lost it here? At the beach?" I nod and look down at the sand. "It must be very important to you."

I nod again. "You have no idea..."

"How long have you been searching for it?"

"The number of hours would entertain you. I packed up my guitar about an hour before sunset, that's when I dropped the pick. So it's been a little while."

I still can't believe she came even though she had plans with her boyfriend. I even told her not to come. Yet she searched the beach to find me... she's incredible. It's quite a beautiful tragedy that she has no idea how truly incredible she really is. I wish I could tell her, or better yet, show her. Because words could never express how grateful I am for her right now.

She kneels down next to me while I keep my eyes aimed at the sand.

"You worried me," she tells me in that tender voice of hers.