Clef smiled warmly, attached like a lamprey to his son's arm. He might let go so the pair could hug but that would be about it. After... after everything he needed the continued tactile confirmation that this wasn't a Storm or a trick, that this was real.

But he also knew that Link and Zelda would always be connected in ways far deeper and older than his connection to either. So if Link wanted him to let go for that, he would. Zelda. Shadow. Those are the only two people he'd let go of Link for the sake of.

Well for Link's own sake as well, of course.

He wanted to speak, to say... something. But he realized that this, sadly, this was not his moment. He was present. But he wasn't a part of it, not the way the two of them were. He was patient, he could wait. Besides, e got Link to himself for a bit now. It was only fair to at least try not to interfere here.

Besides he was seven hundred and forty... seven was it now? He had to at least feign dignity.