#i have indeed been in this exact mood/depression slump on numerous occasions

[anadorablekiwi]

What’s this? A kiwi comfort fic about Eli thats not actually coming from a breakdown of yours truly? Unheard of!

Anyways yeah, I’m tired and wanted comfort vibes so i wrote them. There’s (very brief) discussion of depression (basically just acknowledging it exists) and of self deprecating thoughts. This is pure fluff tho

Takes place before Eli gets caught up in her LU adventure, and yes these two are oblivious friends with mutual crushes on each other (key word: oblivious)

Anyways fic under cut! 615 words

Eli stared at the moon, somehow both sad and numb. Depression is weird. She let her thoughts wander, only putting in minimal effort to redirect the self deprecating ones (to little success).

Footsteps approach, and a familiar voice snaps her out of her thoughts and back into reality.

“Hey, you okay Pixie?”

Eli looked over to see none other than Link, concern painted across his features.

“O-oh, hey Link. I didn’t see you there. What brings you here this time of night?”

He recognized the attempt to avoid the question, but decided to answer hers first before repeating his own.

“Was taking care of some business in some of the towns nearby, and I finished up late. Also, I was kinda hoping to see you.” His cheeks flushed pink and he rubbed the back of his neck, averting his eyes.

Link followed with a question before you could fully process what he had said. “Which brings me back to my question, are you okay? What’s up?”

“I-”

“And don't say ‘I’m fine’ because something’s clearly bothering you. Is your depression acting up again?”

Eli sighed. “It's just… particularly heavy right now. And uh. The thoughts are back, too.”

“Ah.” Link nodded, taking a seat on the bench beside Eli and opening his arms for a hug. She accepted, burying her face into his chest with a sniffle.

Link held her close, stroking her hair gently. “I wish those thoughts would leave my amazingly talented and wonderful friend alone.”

Eli chuckled sadly, melting into his embrace. “Me too,” she added softly.

“Do you want to talk it out, or a distraction?”

Eli sniffled again, Link’s compassion and concern having broke the dam of numbness.

She glanced up at his face, flustering a little at the genuineness in his expression. “Can you just stay here with me for a little?”

He smiled and nodded. “Of course. I can stay as long as you’d like.”

They sat outside for a while, discussing the various constellations that were visible and the stories they knew behind some of them (mostly learned from Zelda).

After a while, Eli’s eyes began to grow heavy and she found herself resting her head on Link’s shoulder. Link hummed softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he gazed at the stars.

As he expected, Eli was asleep within seconds.

Link smiled, carefully moving to pick her up without waking her. He carried her inside her house, gently setting her down in her bed and adjusting the blankets over her petite frame.

Eli stirred lightly, mumbling something incoherent in a questioning tone.

Link chuckled softly. “Go back to sleep, silly. You’re okay.”

He brushed the hair from out of her face, and it took every bit of willpower he possessed to not give her a kiss to the forehead.

Once Eli was settled in and sleeping soundly, Link got up and wrote her a note for the morning, placing it on her nightstand alongside a glass of water. Satisfying that she was taken care of, he silently left, locking the front door behind him.

~~~~~~

Bonus:

“Eli-

Good morning sleepyhead! Make sure you drink lots of water, and don’t forget to eat! How about you, Zelda and I have lunch together today? You know where to find us if you’re interested.

In case you need one, here’s another reminder that you are amazing, talented, and have So Much worth. Those self deprecating thoughts lie to you, and I’ll be more than happy to remind you of that fact whenever it’s necessary.

I hope you slept well, and dreamt of happy and peaceful things. Come check in with me if you have the time today, okay?

~Link