Two Link POVs in a row! What is this wonderful madness!
Also these are the only two in Link's POV so enjoy!

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Steam curled around the floor of the bathroom and slipped through the crack under the door. Link grabbed a towel and wiped away the remaining fog from the mirror. Resting his hands on the sink he stared at his reflection.

After today everything would change. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down at an abyss of unknown. The last six years he had learned how to deal with the world from the safety of a school. Now he wasn't sure what the future would look like. There was college but it wasn't the same and he couldn't help feeling like he was falling without knowing where he would land.

Forcing the thoughts aside, he grabbed a comb and ran it through his damp hair. Without thinking about it, he parted it on one side and swept it over to the other. He froze, realizing what he had done. It was how his father wore his hair.

He snapped himself out of his daze and corrected his hair, erasing the tie to his parentage. He got dressed, trying not to think about his father but thinking all the same. He left the bathroom. In the living room, he found Donovan stretched out on the couch, his head resting on the back, a coffee mug balancing on the armrest. He wore a dark blue button-down and slacks. There wasn't a wrinkle in sight even though he was slouched, his ankles crossed.

A part of Link was annoyed that no matter what Donovan did he looked good and was at ease. The future wasn't terrifying to Donovan, it was something he would take by storm cause that was just who he was. Link did not share the same confidence. He wondered if that level of confidence was embodied in a person or whether it could be learned.

Knowing there was no point in dwelling on it, Link approached Donovan and nudged his foot with his shoe. Blinking, Donovan raised his head and took a sip of his coffee.

"Why are you so tired?" Link asked.

Leaning forward, Donovan rubbed his eyes.

"Late night. That's all."

Though Link knew he missed a lot of things that Donovan and Carter usually saw, he wasn't dense enough to miss this one. When Donovan said 'late night', Link knew that it meant Donovan had been up talking to Carter on the phone. Sometimes he thought they were worse than Maddy and him. Knowing Donovan though, Link wasn't going to mention this knowing it would be denied.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, instead. "It's a big day!"

Donovan drained the rest of the cup's contents.

"For you," he said. "You forget I've already graduated high school. My ceremony was a handshake from my father, a hug from my mom and a piece of paper. I'm guessing it's the best graduation there ever was."

"Okay, we all can't be you, but let's get moving cause I still want that slip of paper."

Giving a tired smile, Donovan stood up and dropped the coffee cup off in the sink. As they were making their way towards the door, Link's mother hurried out of her room still in a dressing robe though her makeup was done.

"Wait!" she said. "You can't leave without saying goodbye."

"You're coming to graduation, right?" Link asked.

His mother cupped his face. "Of course. I just wanted to say something first." An affectionate smile overtook her face. "I am so proud of you."

Link flushed under the weight of her admiration.

"It's only high school, mom. It's not like I won Nobel."

"I'm not talking about you graduating, I'm talking about watching you grow up and deal with life and how amazingly you've handled everything that has come your way. When you could have hated me or your father for these past years, you didn't. You forgave us and I'm so so happy that you are my son."

A lump formed in Link's throat and he felt himself on the verge of doing something embarrassing, like crying. His mother hugged him. When she pulled back, she smiled and gave his cheek a quick kiss.

"I'll see you at the graduation," she said.

Link nodded, not trusting himself to speak. When he turned to Donovan, Donovan raised an eyebrow.

"Don't expect me to get mushy on you, I'm here cause I get paid to be."

Link laughed, grateful that Donovan had said exactly the right thing to stop Link from getting too sentimental. Clapping a hand on Link's shoulder, Donovan directed them to the door.

"Let's go get you that slip of paper," he said.

*************

The lobby to the auditorium was already filling with students when they arrived. The chaos seemed doubled with everyone wearing the same blue hats and robes, though most hadn't closed them and perfectly picked out outfits were displayed.

Before Link could try to figure out where to go in the mayhem, Donovan guided him over to the far side of the place. His choice in destination was obvious when Link saw Carter leaning against the wall, her eyes closed and her head resting back. Her robe hung open showing that she had gone with a pair of jeans and a t-shirt for the great occasion.

"Late night?" Link asked.

Grinning, Carter opened her eyes, her gaze darting from Link to Donovan in a telltale way. As if confirming her look, Donovan crossed his arms and leaned one shoulder on the wall, so he stood perpendicular to her, a small smile hidden in the corner of his mouth.

"You could say that," she said.

Fighting back a smirk, Link changed the subject to her outfit.

"I see you went all out for this grand ceremony," he said.

Carter spread her arms out, the robe framing her slim body.

"What can I say, I dressed with the level of care I feel for this day."

"Ready to be done high school, then?" Link asked.

"If my birthday had been just a little bit earlier I would have already been graduated, so yes. I'm ready to be done." She looked at Donovan. "Though you had to go through high school twice so I think you have it worse than me."

This led to a conversation about the annoyance of high school and ate away the time that they had to wait. A man with a megaphone ordered everyone to take their seats and a horde of blue robes began to shuffle into the auditorium. The trio was divided and Link walked along his designated row, plopping into his red cushioned chair. The minutes ticked on as family members filled in the rest of the seats. Phones were brought out and conversations with neighbors were initiated as the wait continued.

When it felt like a year had passed the principal walked onto the stage just as a few straggling students slipped into their seats. Principal Withers talked about the future and the world beyond. Link was listening intently when a small commotion next to him ensued. He looked over and found that Mason was talking to the boy beside Link.

After a few whispered words, the two exchanged seats. Mason sank into the spot beside Link and gave him a nod. Confused, Link turned to the other side, almost wondering if Mason had been directing the nod to someone else.

"Hey," Mason said.

Link frowned. "Hi?"

The principal was replaced by the valedictorian and Link wondered if the greeting was the end of his interaction with Mason, but Mason planted on elbow on the armrest between them, bringing himself closer to Link, though he didn't look at him.

"I thought I would give you a heads up," he said, speaking to the head in front of him.

"About?"

There was a breath, then Mason went on, his voice quieter than before so only Link could hear it.

"My...our...um dad might be stopping by," he said. "I figured I should give you a warning."

The news shocked Link and he found himself floundering, wondering what he would do, but realized in such public place there was nothing he could do.

"Okay. Uh...thanks."

Mason nodded. "Yeah."

The speech from the girl at the podium rushed back as they fell silent. Link fidgeted and glanced at Mason, who hadn't moved back to his original seat.

"Where are you going to college?" Mason asked, the question stilted.

"Georgetown along with Donovan and Carter," Link answered.

Shaking his head, Mason dragged a hand through his hair. "That chick is terrifying."

Link let out a breathy chuckle. After a beat, he forced his own question out. "Uh, what about you?"

"UCLA."

"Cool."

"Yeah."

Both boys fell silent again. Then Mason spoke up.

"What are you planning on studying?" he asked.

"Law. My mom has a firm and I've kinda been drawn to it. What about you?"

The girl on stage waved her hands, clearly enthralled with her speech.

"Computer science," Mason said.

Link's eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

Mason gave a careless shrug as if the knowledge that he wasn't just a pretty face wasn't a big deal. "I have a thing for coding."

"That's cool."

The student on the other side of Link leaned forward and glared at the two boys.

"Are you seriously talking during our graduation?" she hissed.

"Are you seriously listening to this speech?" Mason asked. He gestured to the girl on stage. "This is the worst speech ever. Who uses utensils as a metaphor?"

Lacking any good response, the girl settled back into her seat, crossing her arms. Mason relaxed, seeming more at ease.

"You still dating the Maddy girl?" Mason asked.

Link nodded. "You still with Valerie?"

Mason made a face. "Nah, that chick was way too clinging. She was planning on taking me to her beach house for a month this summer."

"That doesn't sound too bad-"

"With her parents."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

The valedictorian was replaced by a renowned author who started talking about the importance of being true to oneself. Link barely listened, Mason, pulling him in with a question.

"What are your plans for this summer?"

Link shrugged, summing up all he had thought about for the coming months.

"Well..." Link looked over, his curiosity piqued with the hesitation in Mason's tone. "You know my family doesn't leave for Camp David until after the Fourth of July, so we could," he shrugged, "I don't know, hang out or something. If you wanted to."

"Really?"

Mason shrugged again as if it could underplay the weight of the offer. Link went along, giving a casual nod.

"Yeah, that could be cool," he said.

"Yeah?" Mason asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Yeah."

Mason nodded and leaned back in his seat. "Cool."

A hesitate smile curled one edge of Link's lips.

The speeches ended, names were called and lines of students crossed the stage accepting diplomas and handshakes. Cheers echoed from different sections as family members encouraged their own.

Following his group, Link was halfway to the stage when a hand nudged him. He glanced around and found Mason jerking his head to the back of the auditorium. Link tried to find what he was motioning to but stopped when he almost tripped. When he stepped up to Principal Wither's and accepted his diploma with a handshake, he looked once more to the back of the room.

Standing in the shadows flanked by two men in black suits, was his father looking at Link and wearing a proud smile. Link returned the look, feeling a sense of warmth. As he returned to his seat the future didn't seem as terrifying as it did before.

Though it was unknown he wasn't alone. Besides Carter and Donovan, he had - however strange it might be - a brother and even though it wasn't perfect, a father as well.

No, the future didn't look too bad at all.

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Rawr!

Ha! Scared you didn't I? Makes sense, I am part tiger! Haha just kidding, it's part rabbit. Don't ask me why, cause I don't really know. 🐰 Maybe it's cause I get lost on so many bunny trails!

Not sure how I feel about the ending. I wrote the main part and then got to the end and drew a complete blank on how to end it so I apologize if it fell flat. 🙈

Despite it not being great, do you have any thoughts about it?

Haha I liked the fact that Mason is secretly a nerd! Who knew!

I understand if you don't vote, comment or follow I'm not sure this chapter merits it.