Revali's POV

I glance over toward the bar to see what's taking so long. The beer's right there on the counter, but Link and Mipha seem to be engaged in a serious conversation. I can't hear their words, but their body language speaks volumes.

Mipha's head is loweder and her eyes betray a sense of guilt. Link, on the other hand, looks puzzled. Perhaps worried. The sight of them triggers a twinge of suspicion in me.

As much as I try to ignore it, I've always had reservations about Mipha's feelings toward him. She's never been as open with me as she is with him, and moments like these make me wonder if I'm just a placeholder for the hero of her childhood.

When Link leans into her, my fists automatically clench. Whatever it is they're talking about, he clearly doesn't want us to hear it. And that's a red flag.

What could they be discussing that's causing Mipha to look so conflicted? Looks like she's about to say something to him. I sharpen my attention, trying to read her lips.

Impa pokes my cheek, breaking my focus. "Hey birdbrain! Where's your happy button?"

"My what?" I swat her hand away.

"There's gotta be a setting on you that'll put'ya in a f'stive mood!" she guffaws, swaying slightly back and forth. She tries poking my nose but I dodge the assault.

"His default setting is killjoy," Zelda giggles next to Impa.

"Guess it's up to us to keep the party going!" Impa puts her arm around Zelda and pulls her so close that their cheeks are pressed against each other. She begins to make up something a deaf person might consider lyrics. Most of it is so slurred that it doesn't even matter what she's saying because it doesn't go along with the Christmas music anyway.

No more beer for her.

I shift my focus back to Link and Mipha while Impa cuddles up to Zelda, her voice louder than necessary.

"Pik shoul've come w'th us! He would've LOV'D the vibe!"

"I agree. It's a shame Malice and Pik had to stay at the lodge," Zelda replies.

"Woah I was only t'lking 'bout Pik. Nott Malice!"

"I know. But I think she could use a night out. Though a bar might not be the right place for that. I wouldn't want her to get tempted to drink alcohol."

"You care toooo much about her," Impa lets out an annoying chuckle. "Malice's gonna BREAK your heart!" she says, breaking one of the soggy paperboard coasters for dramatic effect.

"What do you mean?" Zelda laughs.

"You wooorry 'bout her aaaall the time, take caaare of her, sleeeeep with her..."

"Only because I don't want anyone to catch her in one of the guest bedrooms."

"Yeah, but she'll NEVER appreciate what you've done for her."

"I don't expect anything in return," Zelda replies, her voice maintaining its light-hearted tone.

"Yeah 'cause you're toooo naive!" Impa continues. "Don't waste your time and energy on—on someone who doesn't return that kinda eff'rt. You'll just end up gettin' disappoint'd." Impa pulls away from Zelda, bumping into me at least four times in the process. "I think you treat her waaaay too good. You know what I mean? Like... don't be surpris'd if she dodn't reciprocate all that." Impa picks up the empty glass of beer in an attempt to get one last sip out of it. "J'st don't get too close to her. That's my only advice."

I blend their banter out, pretending they're sitting at a different booth, far away from me.

Mipha and Link are still standing close together. Mipha is the one talking for the most part. Link nods thoughtfully. His brows crease and he nervously rubs his neck. He says something to her and she shakes her head. This can't be good.

"Yo, Revali," Kiroh interrupts my espionage from the other side of the table.

"What!" I snap. Everybody needs to stop bothering me for a minute so I can figure out what's going on on the other side of the bar.

"You good?" he asks.

I force a casual shrug, masking my concern. "Just keeping an eye on things."

"Wanna get some fresh air?"

I divert my eyes from Mipha and Link to decline Kiroh. He looks at me with an expression that is both desperate and resigned. And though I could care less about whatever it is that has him looking all defeated, I surprisingly answer with a nod. I guess part of me would be relieved to leave the bar for a few minutes so I don't have to look at my girlfriend in cahoots with her ex-lover.

The town is adorned with festive Christmas decorations, sparkling string lights and colorful ornaments strung between the buildings. Despite the absence of snow, an icy wind sweeps through the alleyways, causing the decorations to sway and jingle. When I spot a mistletoe right above the bar entrance—right above me and Kiroh—I instinctively step away from him. He doesn't notice any of that. He's too focused on getting his cigarette lit.

"Stupid wind," he mutters with the cig hanging between his teeth. He shields the lighter with both hands and eventually gets it to work. "Want one?"

"No."

"You sure? It always calms me."

"Until it kills you." I give him a sidelong glance. "I don't smoke, but thanks."

He slides the pack back into his pocket. "Looked like something's up with you, so I just wanted to check on you."

I zip up my jacket to protect myself from the biting wind and bury my hands in my pockets. "Everything's good."

"Doesn't look like it."

"Once you get to know me, you'll learn that this is my happy face."

"Oh." I can tell he's trying to figure out whether I'm being sarcastic. "Are you just not into the whole holiday cheer thing?"

I shrug. "Not really a fan of Christmas anymore."

"Bad memories or something?"

I nod slowly, my gaze shifting to the mistletoe above us. "Something like that."

Kiroh flicks the ashes off his cigarette. "Did Impa get on your nerves tonight?"

"She's loud and annoying when she drinks, but that's not it." I keep my eyes on the lights above us as drizzles of rain tap my skin. "My mood has nothing to do with her really. I think I'm pissed because I feel like I'm just Mipha's second choice. There's a lot of history between her and Link, and seeing them together makes me uneasy. It's not that I don't trust her but... Let's just say we can't always control how we feel about people."

"Gotcha..." He blows out some smoke before speaking again. "You think she has feelings for Link?"

I give him a half-hearted shrug. "She used to. I don't know if she still does. They haven't really been talking lately, so it's been difficult to tell."

"Well that's good, right?"

"I don't know. They used to be close childhood friends and I think that she misses him sometimes."

"Does that bother you?"

I turn to face Kiroh, the chilly wind tugging at my jacket. "Yeah, it does. Sometimes I feel like I'm just filling a void for her."

He gives me an understanding nod. "I get that."

In the distance, lightning strikes, followed by a deep crack of thunder. The wind picks up and I pull my head between my shoulders in an attempt to stay warm. I better not catch a cold.

"Has Mipha done anything that made you feel uneasy when she's with Link?"

I can't help but laugh a little, and not even I can tell if it was meant sarcastically or not.

"I asked her out on Christmas Eve last year," I tell him somberly. "She said no. An hour later, she kissed Link."

"She kissed him right after you asked her out?"

I scoff, "Yeah..."

"No wonder you hate Christmas." He sucks on his cancer stick, considering what to say next. "On the bright side, she did choose you in the end."

"Yeah, five months after she found out that Link was taken," I respond bitterly.

Kiroh seems unfazed. "I wouldn't worry too much. I can tell she loves you one way or another. Even if she does have some kinda feelings left for Link."

"Still sucks."

"Yeah well..." He stomps out his cig. "At least your girlfriend is not in love with another girl."

Those words catch my attention. Feeling actually kind of bad for the guy, I frown at him as he lights another smoke. "They're just friends," I reassure him. "Impa always gets like that when she's drunk."

"It's not just when she's drunk."

Before I can think of a good response, the door to the bar opens behind us and the rest of the group steps out onto the wet cobblestone road. Zelda and Impa in the front, arm in arm, and Link and Mipha in the back. With a quick exchange of looks, Kiroh and I silently acknowledge that this marks the end to our conversation and that we shall keep this between us.

"What are you guys doing out here?" I ask the group, feeling angry at each and every one of them.

Zelda answers, "We decided that it's time to head home. The storm is getting worse and we don't want to be walking back in the rain."

"Too late," I say, glancing at Mipha, who's eyes quickly escape mine.

We trudge back up the hill, and upon arrival, the light drizzle has intensified into an unforgiving rainstorm. We enter the lodge, our coats soaked and our hair drenched.

Zelda turns on the lights in the living room. She is the first to notice the absence of Malice and Pik. "Before we left, Malice was sitting on the couch," she notes. "Where could she be? Do you think she went to bed?"

It's unclear whom her question is directed at, but Impa responds quickly, "Either that or she ran away."

"I doubt it," Zelda replies. "We're on a mountain. She has nowhere to go."

"Well, maybe she got kidnapped then," Impa follows. I think she meant it as a joke, but it's just causing concern for Zelda. Unable to ignore the shift on Zelda's face, Impa groans, "Fuck, I'm just kidding. She's probably in her room. I'll go check."

Impa stomps up the stairs. Not soon after, Kiroh bids us goodnight and heads upstairs as well.

"And then there were four," Zelda smiles at Link and Mipha. How come she's so happy this evening? Hasn't she noticed anything between Mipha and Link? Or does she simply not care anymore? I remember she used to be extremely jealous of them. Did she move past that?

"I guess we should head to bed too," Link says to Zelda. "You need some rest. We're gonna get up early tomorrow, right? Fin might give me a good deal on snowboarding gear!"

"About that," Zelda shakes her head. "I think I'll pass on Black Friday shopping this year."

"I knew you shouldn't have drank so much."

"It's not that. I feel fine," she assures him. "But I was thinking of taking Malice on a little hike tomorrow. She hasn't been outdoors a whole lot lately and I think being in nature might do her some good."

Mipha eagerly jumps into the conversation. This is the first time she speaks since we left the bar. "Spending time in nature can have significant benefits for her mental well-being," she says to Zelda. "Studies show that exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall cognitive function!"

Zelda nods in excitement. "I actually knew that. It's known as ecotherapy, right?"

"Yes. Or nature therapy."

Nerds.

"But anyway," Zelda circles back to tomorrow's agenda. "You guys should still go shopping. I don't think Malice is very fond of big groups anyway, so it's best if it's just the two of us."

I trail off with my thoughts, missing the rest of their conversation as I keep an eye on Mipha's every move. I snap out of it when Link and Zelda suddenly head upstairs.

"And then there were two," Mipha smiles nervously. Feels more like one, if I'm being honest.

As Mipha and I walk upstairs to our room, her demeanor remains distant despite holding my hand. She tries to engage me in conversation about random things such as the food at the bar or the rain that doesn't seem to be subsiding any time soon, but I'm not in the mood to play along with fake cheerfulness.

"I hope Malice gets better," she randomly says, her subtle glance waiting for a reaction on my face. She persists, undeterred by my lack of enthusiasm. "I heard the weather is supposed to clear up tomorrow. That'll be nice for their hike."

I nod, not really interested in discussing the weather, or the upcoming plans, or Malice's recovery.

When we get to our room, I silently wonder whether she'll keep up her innocent act or come clean now that we're in private.

The room is dimly lit by a small bedside lamp casting warm shadows. Feels like a goddamn interrogation room in here. I toss my jacket onto our black suitcase and walk over to the wooden-framed mirror. With a quick ruffle, I try to fix my messy, damp hair, my eyes momentarily meeting Mipha's through the reflection. This time, she doesn't look away.

"Revali?" Her mask drops and she finally voices her concern. "Are we okay?"

I pause, holding her gaze briefly before escaping her puppy eyes. "You're acting like everything is fine, so it must be."

Taken aback, Mipha's concern sharpens. "What?"

With a stifled sigh, I turn around to face her. "We've always been honest with each other. Even when the truth was difficult. That's something I really value about our relationship. I trust you with everything I have." I take a step toward her. "So if you act like everything is fine, then it must be."

"Revali..." Her voice trembles slightly.

"What? Is there something you'd like to tell me?" I hide my clenched fists in the pockets of my sweatpants, determined not to let my frustrations show in front of her. "At the bar, you left the table to help Link with the drinks. Ever since then you've been distant to me. I know jealousy isn't my best quality when it comes to you and him, but if you give me the impression that something is going on between you two—"

"Nothing is going on," she cuts in with a fleeting glance to the floor.

"Nothing at all?"

She remains silent, eyes still aimed downward.

Unsure what to do, I take a seat on the edge of the bed. "You can't even look at me."

Of course that makes her look at me. But even then, it only lasts for two seconds. Then it's back to the floor.

Before I run my mouth as I tend to do in these situations, I take a moment to consider how my words will affect the situation. As much as I want to deal with this quickly, I can't rush this conversation. I don't want to accidentally say something that will escalate the situation or push her away from me. Words can so easily be misunderstood, causing a lasting chain reaction of painful emotions and drastic actions, all based on a single faulty assumption.

"Look," I take a deep, calm breath. "Something clearly happened at the bar, please don't deny it." And unfortunately, she doesn't. That, at least, confirms that I'm not a total idiot. "Alright, so something did happen then. Whatever it is, I'm not necessarily saying you did something wrong or that this is going to be a problem. I just don't think we should pretend it didn't happen. Does that make sense?"

I wait for a few seconds. She finally gives me a quiet, "Yes."

When I reach for her hand, she takes it without a second thought and joins me on the bed.

"If you think I should know, then I will listen and try to be understanding. But if you think it would be best if I don't know, then... Then I will respect your decision and I will drop it."

I think about my words for a moment, and so does she. Would I really be fine with it if she doesn't tell me? I suppose I can't force her.

My heart is racing with anticipation as I add, "I only ask one thing of you. Whatever you choose, just don't lie to me. I can handle the truth. But I can't handle my girlfriend lying to me."

Mipha's expression is a mix of understanding and regret. "Link and I," she begins but struggles to find the right words. "Link and I were talking about what happened on Christmas Eve last year..."

Though I'm grateful for her honesty, the weight of her confession sinks deep into my chest. Her lips part again. I know there is more she wants to say, but she stops herself.

"Does it have to do with that kiss?" I ask.

She nods and tells me hesitantly, "I lied that day..."

"The kiss didn't happen?" I ask, unable to hide the shock on my face.

"It did happen, but not the way everyone may think. If you want to know the truth, I will tell you. But I believe it would be for the best if you don't know."

Sitting side by side, calmly and quietly on the edge of the bed, I consider my choice carefully. Should I push for the truth or let the matter rest...