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The best part of the Demon King’s defeat is that there’s no longer any pressure to prioritize “useful” research over their more immediate interests.
The worst part of the Demon King’s defeat is that it’s harder than ever to track down their best source of outside information. It’s salt in the wound that Princess Zelda is back, so the information would be even more useful.
“I thought you threatened the hero before he left.” Linhardt doesn’t look up from his journal, still scratching out his best sketch of the Zonai battery they’ve been studying.
Claude smiles wryly. He’s never been sure if Linhardt doesn’t remember Link’s name or just doesn’t care. “I did, in my own way. I’m not sure any of my threats can stand up to the danger of defeating two iterations of a world-ending calamity, though.”
Or of having to deal with Researchers Purah and Robbie, since Claude had threatened persistent annoyance more than anything else. Claude is dedicated and Linhardt is stubborn, but Purah and Robbie have them beat.
“Then brush up on your skills,” Linhardt hums. There’s a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, giving away the joke. Claude laughs, full of enough fondness to push away the bulk of his impatience.
“I’m sure we’ll see him soon enough. I’m pretty sure they’re focusing on his prosthetic right now. I’ll wait to remind him until after that’s done.” Claude reaches over and lays a bookmark between the pages of Linhardt’s journal. “Hey. Get some sleep. You’ve been up for a day and a half.”
“Not tired.” Linhardt keeps trying to sketch the battery until his charcoal stick runs into Claude's finger, apparently without Linhardt realizing it was even there. “Oh. I might be tired.”
“Maybe.” Claude smiles warmly, secure in their privacy. “Go lay down. I'll take care of your notes.”
Linhardt nods and makes a sleepy, grumbly sound as he trudges to bed. Claude pulls any loose sheets of paper into the bundle of Linhardt’s journal, sliding them carefully into place. He straps the collection of notes shut, feeling peaceful in such a small, domestic task.
They don’t advertise that they’re together. They don’t hide it, but Linhardt doesn’t enjoy getting commentary on his relationships and Claude prefers to keep the facts of himself close to his chest. It’s a common suspicion. A piece of open gossip. A betting pool that will never see a satisfying conclusion. It could be a useful bit of information to trade, if Claude thought Link cared. Unfortunately, Claude’s pretty sure he doesn’t have anything worthwhile to offer as a bribe.
He can appreciate the need for both Link and Princess Zelda to recuperate after their ordeals. If his information gathering is correct, she was a dragon for several millennia, which seems exhausting. Link’s properly down an arm as well, and Claude’s sort of happy for him on that front. It never sat well with him that Link had someone else’s body grafted onto his without having any say in the matter. Claude’s never put much stock in gods or cared about the opinions of kings. He doesn’t think he’d much like the Zonai who’s been called both.
At least he knows Rinbell does good work. It shouldn’t be much longer before he can very reasonably start pestering Link again. Yes, the Hero and the Princess deserve rest, sure, whatever. But Claude and Linhardt have questions.
Maybe his priorities are crooked in the eyes of most of Hyrule, but that’s one of the benefits of keeping things to himself.
When Link finally shows up, Claude drops the half-dissected battery in his hands. He manages to set it down on the worktable without losing any parts (hopefully), and he grins when he sees that Link’s not alone.
“Princess Zelda! It’s wonderful to see you again.” He’s being honest, too. Claude’s always liked her. She was dealt an unfair hand (and then another, even worse one, which feels excessive), but it never stopped her curiosity. He respects that. “I assume your dear knight filled you in on our request?”
She smiles at him, small and tired, which is how he knows it’s at least partly sincere. “Yes, Link told me what you and Linhardt would like to see. And please, Claude. I’ve told you before to just call me Zelda.”
“Well then Zelda, I’ll tell Linhardt you’re here. We’ll be ready shortly.” Claude bows, but only in a small dip, more a joke than a show of deference. He hears a small chuckle, which is reassuring. He’s wondered how stable her mind is, after all that time away from humanity.
It doesn’t take long for Claude and Linhardt to get their gear together. They’ve been waiting for months, and they’re both so eager that hardly a word passes between them.
Zelda and Link don’t bother to put on airs or make small talk, which Claude appreciates. He’s picked up that there’s more sincerity in silence, when it comes to these two in public. Besides, he’s plenty preoccupied with his own thoughts, and he knows Linhardt is in the same position.
Not that Linhardt’s ever been good at small talk, but still.
They’re led to a large mine in the Depths that’s well-lit enough to prevent any stumbling. Claude hasn’t spent much time down here, and Linhardt even less, so they’re both too busy taking in their surroundings to ask questions. Who knows how straightforward the answers would be, anyway?
They finally stop in front of a construct surrounded by shelves filled with Zonai charges and chunks of raw Zoanite. Claude can’t keep the grin from his face. Finally, a forge.
Zelda steps forward and says something to the construct that Claude can’t quite parse. He can see Linhardt pull out his journal and jot down at least the rough pronunciation of her words, possibly including a transcription of it into their best current guess at the Zonai language. When Zelda’s finished, the construct dips its head and turns to Claude and Linhardt.
“Hello. How may I help you?”
The voice speaks in unaccented Hylian, cadence entirely modern. Claude couldn’t keep the surprise from his face if he tried. “Hi there. My research partner and I were hoping to ask you some questions about Zonai power sources. Is that alright?”
The construct dips its head again. “Certainly. What do you wish to know?”
Linhardt and Claude share a glance. Linhardt steps forward and flips to a different page in his notebook, immediately rattling off the list of questions they’ve compiled since starting to focus on Zonai batteries.
Claude takes a few steps back and offers Zelda a small smile. He can see Link roll his eyes and walk over to a pile of construction materials nearby. Good. Something to keep him occupied while the researchers do their thing. “I appreciate the introduction, Zelda. At least, I assume that’s what you were saying in Zonai?”
Zelda’s expression is more shrewd now, which Claude is genuinely pleased to see. He’s been…worried about her, maybe. They aren’t close by any stretch, but if her ordeal had eroded away all her sharpness, the world would’ve lost something. “In a sense, yes. I told it that you two are friends and your questions can be answered honestly. None of the Steward Constructs are hostile, but they don’t share information unless they know they can trust the recipient.”
“Fascinating.” Claude pulls out his own journal and scratches a few things down in shorthand, not taking his eyes away from her face. “How does it speak modern Hylian so well?”
“That’s because of me, actually.” Zelda’s eyes take on a faraway look, sadness blurring her edges. Not unaffected, then. That makes sense. It would be impossible to be unchanged by her experiences. “I spoke to the constructs often enough that they picked up the difference in the dialects. They’re very quick learners. I do have a question of my own, if you don’t mind?”
Claude closes his notes and offers a pleasant, respectful smile. “Of course, Zelda. What can I do for you?”
“Why are the two of you so interested in batteries?” Zelda doesn’t sound offended, at least. It’s a fair question. Many of the other researchers have asked it. There are so many Zonai devices—why focus on the things that merely power them? Surely there’s not much there to learn?
And there isn’t, really, which is exactly why Claude and Linhardt have been so consumed by their research.
“We know that they’re powered by forged Zoanite.” Claude says, even though they’ve only just now had that confirmed. It was their primary theory anyway. No need to make them sound less informed. “I know that there’s plenty of Zoanite still down here, ready to be mined, but it’s a limited resource. Zonai devices are fascinating, but what happens when the charge runs out? We wanted to compare the power source to Ancient Sheikah tech and see if there’s any way to make a hybrid version.”
“Oh, because Ancient Sheikah tech uses a regenerating power source!” Zelda looks genuinely interested now, and Claude’s not too proud to preen a bit. “That’s a very interesting idea. You’re right that we aren’t in danger of running out of Zoanite anytime soon, but I think you’re onto something with the power sources. It’s one of the significant advances the Ancient Sheikah had over the Zonai.”
Claude kind of wants to cheer. He holds back, but it takes genuine effort. He knew it! He knew it. Ancient Sheikah tech has been largely set aside in favor of the Zonai devices, but Claude and Linhardt have been assuming that there had to be ways that the Sheikah managed to build superior craft.
“I’m glad you agree.” He says, managing to keep most of the glee out of his voice. He thinks she can sense a little of it, because she looks amused, but that’s fine. There are worse people to see past his outer layer. “I’m going to pass on some of this to Linhardt, if you don’t mind?”
Zelda waves him off and goes over to join Link. Claude slides up next to Linhardt, glancing at the scrawled notes he’s been making while talking to the Steward. “Great news. We were right.”
“Of course we were,” Linhardt says, absently. “I’ve been getting some really fascinating information from this construct. Did you know that there’s very little waste when purifying raw Zoanite?”
“I did not know that.” Claude allows himself to slip a hand on Linhardt’s lower back. Linhardt leans into him easily, unconcerned about open affection here, in a place of such fascination. Claude loves that about him. “Go on, keep asking your questions. I’ll tell you more later.”
Linhardt requires no further prompting, and Claude lets the wash of information flow over him, not bothering to take his own notes. He trusts Linhardt’s methods.
He glances over at Link and Zelda, where they’re using the jumble of materials to build…something. Claude really isn’t sure what it is, but they seem to be having fun doing it. Anytime the two of them are together, it’s like the threads that bind them are tangible. He doesn’t know if one of them can exist without the other. It’s breathtaking to watch, and more than a little intimidating.
Claude doesn’t think he could ever want that kind of love. He doesn’t need to consume or be consumed. He’s happy for them, but as he presses his palm more firmly against Linhardt, he’s happier for himself.