#rivali

"That contraption is nothing compared to a Rito's flight," Rivali quips.

You grind your teeth. You're not built to hold your strength for so long; your arms shake. "I know," you grit out.

"Then why bother?"

Another minute passes. Rivali makes another pass. "You know, if you just wanted a flight, I could have been persuaded…perhaps."

"Rivali," you huff, "this is to help Link—"

Rivali comes swift, tip of his wing clipping the edge of the canvas. The glider wobbles. Your fingers slip. You tilt down immediately and glide back to the platform.

A tumble to the wood skins your knees and palms. A few splinters enter your flesh, too. You're furious. You turn to the Rito as he spins in the air and lands with grace and surety. "What was that? Why would you do that?"

Rivali crosses his wings. "The mere fact you are building something for that wanna-be hero is appalling. And you're welcome." At your stunned pause, he continues, "That flimsy cloth was beginning to tear. There was another gale coming. Had you stayed up, you would have surely fallen and become a disgusting Hylian pancake. And who would want to clean that?" Smugness radiates off him. It makes your skin prickle with pettiness and anger.

"I had it handled, bird-brain!" Huffing more, you kneel and splay the glider on the platform. Sure enough, there is a tear along the edge. Probably sewed it in too tight, or with the wrong stitch. You'll need to get stronger thread, ask the weavers if they can patch it up…"Maybe Link could find me some cloth—"

An aggrivated sigh. "Why are you paying that thing any attention?" A clawed foot stamps down on the glider. You glower up at him. His eyes, a jealous green, stare back.

Your brows furrow further. "Because he's trying to help? Like the rest of us?" A grinding sigh escapes your throat. "Honestly, I'd think you two would get along with how similar you—"

"He is nothing like me!" Rivali adds a grumbled, "He's not even a real champion. I thought you'd know that, at least."

You look up at him, and suddenly, you realize what's going on. A smirk melts away your frown. You stand and dust of your pants, cocking a hip. "Link is a real Champion. Princess Zelda knighted him herself."

Rivali scoffs and looks away. His feathers rise and fall, agitated. A laugh blown out your nose, cooling your anger, you walk to him and place a gentle hand on his back. "But," you say, softly, "he's not my Champion, is he?"

Those green eyes slide to you and blink. You continue. "He's not the one who gets me those faraway paints for my sculptures, right? Or who knows my favorite snacks and leaves them on my pillow at night?"

"I told you, it's the rats who do that. You leave too many crumbs in your bed," he mumbles. His feathers fluff out, though, more pleased than angry now.

You laugh and gently turn him to you. He does so with little resistance. Both hands on his wings, you say, "Thank you, Rivali, for helping me today. Thank you for keeping me safe while I figure this out."

His chest puffs out just a bit before deflating. "Why would you think to ask that pest before me, though?"

A shoulder lifts and falls. "You're busy figuring out Vah Medoh and planning things with the princess. I don't want to bother you."

"You're not a bother," he says. It's firm, undaunted. "You may always ask me for anything. I will get it for you."

"I don't doubt it." You press the tip of your nose to his beak, then pull back. "Help me find that thread? I'd really like to get this done before the end of the week."

"Fine," he sighs, though his eyes shine, "but first, we go to the healers. I see your clumsiness caused some wounds on the way down."

You pluck one of his feathers, and he squawks.