Work Text:
Astor Place Market had been unusually slow, only a few people wandering between the scattered stalls lining the rails of the now-defunct subway line. Nobody had stopped by their stall in a couple of hours, the credits sitting in the pouch on their hip fewer in number than they’d like. Nikolaii would understand; they always did. Hell, they’d been kind enough to take Link in when everything went down a few months ago without expecting any recompense. Of course, Link’s pride wouldn’t let them take and take from Nikolaii without giving back what they could, especially with the others staying with them as well. Maybe they’ll get lucky and some more people will stop by and pick out a piece or two.
They yawn, using the hand they’d previously been resting their chin on to cover their mouth. A couple of the little ones had been up late with a particularly nasty sounding cough the night before, and it had been Link’s turn to watch over them. Resting their chin on their hand once more, they scan over the individuals milling about in the informal market. Most of them were other small-time merchants, trading their goods with others and chatting with friends. One, a scrap metal merchant that they were relatively friendly with, caught them looking and gave a small wave out of courtesy. They return it with a light wave of their other hand before looking over the area one more time. A slight twinge of disappointment stings in their chest, though they’re not exactly sure why. Probably just the lack of people coming by, they figure.
Having looked over the market again, they look down at the small piece they’d been tinkering with for the past hour or so. It was mostly finished, a mix of different pieces of scrap metal that they’d cleaned up and carefully crafted into a little jointed sphere. Of course, it didn’t look like much until the hemispheres were twisted and the surface shifted to change the solid shape into a more fragmented one that revealed the interior of the piece. That was where the real magic was. Inside, there was a small bulb that was only supposed to turn on when the hemispheres were twisted apart. However, it had been doing the exact opposite. Squinting at the piece, they grab a thin set of tweezers and gently pull off the cover to the wiring to take a look inside. They’d managed to get their hands on some electric dust a few weeks ago, which was the only reason they could even make the piece this small. Only a few specks of it would keep this piece running for a year. However, because they were more accustomed to working with traditional power sources, it was more than a little challenging to figure out the wiring.
They’re only able to fiddle with it for a few more minutes before they hear someone clearing their throat rather close to them. Looking up from the sphere, Link sees they do indeed have someone perusing their wares. It’s a familiar face too, one that they’ve sold a few pieces to in the past.
“Howdy, stranger.” They greet, setting down the tweezers and their project. “Sorry I didn’t hear you come up.”
“It’s okay. You looked busy.” Zero shrugs, the material of his jacket making a rustling sound as it moves.
“Yeah, I’m super busy, so many customers.” They reply, gesturing to the distinct lack of people around them.
He doesn’t quite smile, but there is a small twitch at the corner of his mouth that accompanies the raised eyebrow he gives them. They’re pretty sure it’s from amusement, so they’ll count it as a win. It’s become a kind of challenge they’d set for themself after realizing they’d never seen him actually smile. As usual, he doesn’t say much more beyond that, opting instead to look over the pieces neatly arranged on the folding table between the two of them. It’s a comfortable silence, though, as the ambient noises from the rest of the market go on around them.
“How much?” He asks, pointing to a hexagonal piece towards the back of the table.
A smile stretches across Link’s face as they pick it up. “15 credits, and watch this.”
They fidget with it, pressing in the center where the multicolored triangles meet until it folds in on itself and creates a wider ring. They look up at him expectantly, grinning wider at the look of surprise on Zero’s face. They turn it again, the shapes shifting and sliding against each other into a different formation.
“It’s a hexaflexagon.” They explain, cycling through it again and again with nimble fingers.
He’s already digging into the pocket of his jacket, counting out the credits and placing them on the table before asking, “Can you wrap this one too?”
“Of course.” They reply quickly, flipping the piece until it lays flat once more before wrapping it in some paper and tying it closed.
Link doesn’t hand it over immediately, instead retrieving something else from another pocket of the pouch at their side. They scoop up the credits he’d set in front of them and make to hand over his purchase along with the small figure they’d added.
“Wait,” he blurts out as he takes the wrapped parcel and carefully tucks into his jacket pocket. “It was just that one.”
“A gift,” They explain, offering it more insistently as it glints under the fluorescent lights in the tunnel. “For you.”
“But-” He just stares at them, at the cat sitting in their outstretched palm, his dark brows knitting together in confusion. “I can’t. I don’t want to break it.”
“You won’t.” They assure Zero as they place it in his palm and gently curl his fingers around the figure, patting his hand with their own before settling back on their stool. “I trust you, Zero.”