Chapter Text
Ch. 1- Too Cold to Sleep
It was far too cold to sleep.
That was wrong, right? I mean, she had just descended that very afternoon with hero-boy from the top of Snowpeak Mansion, where nearly every room was literally frozen with ice, it was so cold. That had been cold. Yet here, in the relative comfort of their rented room in Telma's bar, the twilight princess was cold. Not for the first time, she cursed the impish form she found herself in. Her magic was usually enough to protect her from such trivial concerns as the environment.
Turning from the window and it's view of the square, she focused on her travelling companion. He was buried in a small mountain of blankets, leaving only his head poking out. His tousled blonde hair fell across his face, emphasising the point of his ear and the sharpness of his cheeks. He was striking, in his own way. Taken in isolation, his resting expression was almost beautific enough that she didn't notice the tiny spots of drool on his pillow. Such a majestic sacred beast, this boy.
Truthfully, she had warmed to him. He was arguably as talkative as a wolf as he was when human, and his manners left a lot to be desired. Even her standards were a little high for the pensieve farm boy. Still, there was a empathy to him that you could feel when he looked at you. No matter who you were, he had time for you and would help you if he could. Her own selfishness that began their companionship couldn't withstand the sheer level of care he took for his world and it's inhabitants. She found herself agreeing with him in a way that both annoyed and secretly pleased her. Less and less she was irritated when he gave her that look, the one that said "I'm doing this." She had even stopped complaining about the delays... for the most part.
As she recalled this, she shivered. From the cold, obviously. She didn't blame him for rugging up so much- he had taken some pretty rough hits. She could always feel him through his shadow, like a presence behind you that you cannot see, but nonetheless can detect. It started out as discomforting, almost like being watched from a hidden spot. Granted, probably more comfortable than her riding him in wolf form, but it still felt awkward, and she knew he felt the same. Over time, however, that changed. Sometimes, she felt less comfortable in her physical shape than in his shadow. He offered a sort of steady, resolute feeling that put her at ease. Like if she just had him on her side, the mirror and Zant were simple a matter of time.
This feeling did come with it's own drawbacks though. One such drawback was that many shocks to his system radiated to her, albeit in a diminished capacity. This was fine when it was jumping into water or falling from a height, where it was surprising but little more. During the fight with the twilit Yeta, though... she shivered again. Even faintly through him, she felt the impact of the huge chunks of ice as they smashed into his body. Knew his pain when his leg was shorn open by a falling spike. Felt the chill to her own bones as he was thrown across the icy floor, soaked clothes sticking to him even as they froze in the blizzard. Even the relief as the life force flooded back into him after the fight hadn't stopped the deep, aching chill she knew he was feeling.
She shuddered a third time, before lazily floating towards him. "Hey..." She began, but trailed off. He deserves the rest, she thought to herself. As he lay there in darkness, he cast no shadow. Nowhere to hide. Nowhere to seek the comfort she craved. And yet... "Link?" She moved to his side. Her voice is quieter now, plaintive. His eyelids flicker, before a deep sigh restores the peaceful slumber.
She turned away for a moment, full of doubt. She shouldn't be doing this. Closer they may be, but he is still the hero, and he needs his rest and space. I've forced myself into enough of his life. Not that he seemed to mind anymore. He seemed glad for the company, as far as she could tell. The way he smiled at her when he had defeated Blizzeta...
She yelped, as the sound of thunder caught her by surprise. She half expected it to be chaos up at the castle, until the rain began to pour down. She took a deep breath again, and relaxed, the blood orange glow of her magic relaxing back to darkness. Frightened by thunder.... ugh. How weak.
"Danger?" She started once more as she heard his voice, soft yet alert. She wheeled around to see his piercing blue gaze on her. He still looked half asleep but for his eyes, which were sharp and alert as they focused on her small floating silhouette. All of a sudden, she felt very exposed, like she should cover herself up, but she brushed over it with an air of confidence. "No, just thunder. Please don't bark at it." Somewhat condescending, but hopefully he knew it was a joke. "Go back to sleep." He stared at her a moment longer without reaction, before nodding and yawning. A weary smile graced his features, and then he closed his eyes again and lay back down. She lingered, her red eyes vacant as her gaze lingered on him, indecisive. Eventually, she silently drifted over to him once again. She lifted the blankets up and before he could react, slipped underneath, with him.
She gasped as she made contact with him under the covers He. Is. So. Warm. She was used to his emotional warmth, even the physical warmth of his fur as the wolf ran across the plains, but to feel his bare chest against her skin was something else entirely. He started as she appeared beside him, before a soft chuckle and lifting up his arm to allow her to come closer. No words were passed as he pulled her in, her physical body making rare contact with his human form as she snuggled up against him. This was new. He was short, just a rangy teen compared to her true form, but as she was she could fit head to toe against his torso, so as he replaced his arm around her she felt more embraced than she had ever dreamt possible.
"Cold?" He mumured, his doubt mixed with concern. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, and suddenly realised that how large and cumbersome her mask was in a bed. They were safe here, after all. A thought, and the mask disappeared, allowing her stupid, impish hair to fall properly down. "Yes," she replied churlishly, "it's a cold night. It'd be stupid to travel with a beast and not use it for warmth at times like this." She couldn't see his face, but immediately regretted her childish answer. He was annoyed at her, he must be. Her insecurities flared up, the tension building in her. He remained silent for a moment or two longer, and then...
"Mmm. Grrrr." He growled sleepily. She could feel his smile through the darkness, and felt the vibration of his chest against her with the noise. Did he just... was that a joke? She was so shocked that any response failed to materialise. She just sat there in silence as he, as if in affirmation, repeated "Grr grr" sleepily against the back of her head, and his arm tightened a little around her. His muscular arms, around her small body.
She melted. Tomorrow, perhaps, she would be the sharp tongued aristocrat her life had formed her into, but for now, she was a puddle of affection for this strange peasant boy from the woods. She giggled, and shuffled against him. "Fool. That's what you are. I thought you had no sense of humour, and it turns out you just have a terrible one!" She smiled as she said it. Her eyes closed, as he remained silent, his warmth radiating through her body. Making her feel as if she belonged. She tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in her stomach, an ache for something she could never have, and simply relaxed.
A few moments passed like this, in pure contentment for the young twili. She was just drifting off to sleep, her mind concocting fantasies of her spiralling across bridges of light and a warm radiant glow in the cool halls of her home, when she felt something strange. A sound, and a feeling on the back of her head. What was that? She would have turned, but wasn't sure if that would stop whatever it was, and it was most curious. She waited, and then it happened again. Is that... sniffing? It is! Link was smelling her hair! How improper, how rude of him to simply assume... She took a moment to reflect on her own actions, and second guessed her moral authority. Yet still, it felt like it was going too far, it was too... intimate. Another shiver rose up her spine, though she remained warm in the hylian's embrace. She could not tell if he was awake or not, but he held her closer all the same, and she quietly prayed to the goddesses that she could just go to sleep and not feel any more awkward.
He mumbled something, but sounded no more awake than before. Truth be told, it was barely more than a grunt. "Ii...a..." I-a? Ilia, she suspected. He was thinking about his childhood friend, while he was holding her.
Suddenly everything felt wrong. All the emotional comfort had been stripped away and she was invading his personal thoughts. I should move, she thought to herself, and would have, until it happened again. "I-na... orz range..." Range? What? This was rapidly becoming embarrassing- she shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be lying here with him, like this. Her frustration getting the better of her, she turned her overly large head to look at him over his shoulder. "What are you saying, wolf-boy?" Her words betrayed her, she never called him that when she was happy with him, let alone snapped so furstrated at him.
His eyes opened again, barely. She could see the lethargy in his face as he made eye contact, upsettingly close eye contact, breathlessly close. Their noses were almost touching at this distance. "Midna... you're strange." He struggled to get the words out, it seemed. He closed his eyes again, that heart-stoppingly peaceful smile coming across his face again. "But you smell nice."
She stared open mouthed at him, stunned. "You... You..." She stammered, but he didn't respond. "You're such a dog!" She exclaimed, and then turned away again. In the darkness, her cheeks were burning hotter than the inside of Death Mountain, and somehow she knew he knew. His breathing suggested a laugh, but nothing more. She closed her eyes furiously, outraged and shocked and confusedly, inexplicably pleased with his words. Why did that hit her so hard? What did he mean, she smelled nice? She had washed once they arrived at the inn, but he'd never commented before! When he was a wolf, surely he could smell her far better! Why not say it then? Or could he smell her too much then? Did she need to bathe more while they were on the road? That's terribly impractical, even the finest lady of the court is subject to the wear and tear of the road! Let alone an imp who spends her day straddling a wild beast. Certain fragrances cannot be avoided! Was he suggesting that she stunk?
Her circles of furious thought were put to a swift end by another sensation at the back of her neck- like the last, but far closer. He had curled his head in, and his face was pressed into the crook of her neck. She could feel his mouth (his lips?!?) against her spine, and his nose rested upon her shoulder. He was breathing softly, breathing her in as his breath warmed her neck. "Link?" Her voice was quiet, uncertain. Was he awake enough to know what he was doing? A gentle "Shhhhh" was all she got in response, but so close, the sensation sent lightning down her spine. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and she relaxed again. He was awake enough to understand, and well... it was very cold outside. Here, they were warm.
She closed her eyes, and left them closed, as a few minutes past and the heat built. He was asleep again, judging by the rise and fall of his chest against her back. Definitely asleep, she asserted internally. And if I just close my eyes, no need for him to know I'm not. She smiled as she felt him bury his face in her hair and neck even further. The closeness still gave her pause, but given how much time he spent as a dog, resting with his muzzle on a companion didn't seem so out of place. Was anything more happening? She decided she didn't care. Drifting off, she let out a sigh as she felt him place a single, infinitely tender kiss upon the back of her neck. The cool shivers of sensation gave way to a flood of warmth throughout her as he pulled away and then went back to nuzzling her spine.
Midna shifted softly in his embrace, relaxed. She didn't want more right now, just this comfort. The steady breathing of the sacred beast, this strange quiet young man, was all she needed tonight. Her exhausted mind began the light show of dreams, safe in the arms of the young man who would save Hyrule. She barely even noticed when slowly, gently, dreams took the twilight princess away. She was far too warm to care.