Title – A Time Without Heroes

Chapter – Perfection Lost

Pairing – Link x Sheik

Summary – When Sheik is killed, Link travels far into the future to find the one he loves reincarnated. Now to make him remember…

Notes – Sheik is a guy, and not Zelda. This chapter takes place in Hyrule as it was a year after Ocarina of Time, Link was not sent back with none of his memories and therefore Majora's Mask never happened

Disclaimer – I don't own The Legend of Zelda or any of the characters

A Hylian and a Sheikah lay together on the banks of Lake Hylia, under the setting sun, enjoying the company of the other. The Hylian, Link, Hero of Time, had fallen desperately in love with his best friend as of late. The Sheikah, known as Sheik, had fallen in love with the man beside him as well. Both loved each other above all else, but didn't know of the other's feelings so neither confessed.

'Tell him!' Link's conscience screamed at him. 'This is the perfect setting and no time like the present!'

Sheik, being the one more likely to keep his thoughts to himself, was still debating with himself when and if he should tell Link. He decided that it wasn't worth the risk and just enjoyed the evening alone with his beloved.

"Sheik?" Link almost whispered, making Sheik all the more interested.

"Yes?"

"I have something I've wanted to tell you for a while." 'Just say it! I'm such a coward. I guess the Triforce doesn't help with everything…'

Link was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice that Sheik had indicated for him to continue and now Link was just staring at Sheik's waiting face.

"I-I…uh…I just wanted to tell you that… Promise you won't be mad?" Link stuttered out, his bright blush hidden by the red light of the setting sun.

Sheik just gave a look that could have only meant 'come on!' in this situation.

"I love you…" Link blurted out breathily.

Silence reigned, and the two just stared into each others' eyes. Seeing their love mirrored in the other.

'He…loves me too?' was Sheik's last rational thought before his lips were sealed by the Hylian. Neither had realized that they were leaning closer until their lips met in a sweet kiss.

Link jerked back as if burned. "Sorry! I'm sorry!"

Sheik was hurt and confused. "Why?"

"I-I just thought that… I didn't think! I shouldn't have kissed you when you probably don't feel the same."

Sheik sat in shocked silence, realizing too late that he had been misunderstood. Link had taken his silence as the Sheikah's answer; he stood quickly and ran back to Epona who stood a ways back. "Sorry!" he said one last time. The Hylian was about to mount Epona when Sheik caught his wrist.

"I love you too," it was barely audible, but Link somehow heard it over his own pounding heart.

Link was then holding Sheik's wrist. The Hylian pulled the Sheikah to him in their first passionate kiss. Sheik felt Link's warm tongue at his lips, to which he gratefully accepted, letting him in, deepening the kiss. Sheik's arms found their way up to Link's broader shoulders, and Link had one hand on his love's lower back, the other on his cheek.

"Promise we'll be together forever? That you'll never leave me?" Sheik asked.

"Huh?" Link was still trying to bring his foggy mind back to reality. "Yeah, I promise. Promise me too?"

"Yes!" Sheik threw his arms around Link's neck with his head resting on Link's shoulder, sighing in happiness.

Link felt the breath against his neck and shivered in response to the unfamiliar feeling of being this close to someone; it made him lightheaded and made a heat in his lower stomach that he couldn't identify. Sheik tentatively licked at Link's neck, and Link let out a small moan. The Sheikah lowered them to the ground, and pulled Link on top of him. Sheik initiated their kiss this time; their tongues mock fought for dominance, ending quickly with Sheik eagerly surrendering.

Sheik's Sheikah training had made him constantly aware of his surroundings, so he picked up on the sound of someone's footsteps before Link. Sheik tried to push the Hylian away at the same time that Epona chose to alert them by neighing and stomping. The 'someone' sneaking up on them just happened to be seven people; all armed to the teeth and shrouded by the night, making it impossible for Sheik or Link to tell their nationality.

The Hylian scrambled off the Sheikah and they jumped to their feet; only realizing then that their weapons were with Epona, who was on the other side of the intruders. The seven people realized that they had been spotted and rushed the duo. It took four to hold Link down; he was kicking wildly at the men holding him so one of them stabbed him in the leg to immobilize him. He looked up through the pain to check on Sheik just in time to see one the assassins put a knife to his beloved's throat. Time seemed to stand still for the legendary Hero of Time as the knife was dragged across the Sheikah's throat.

Link thought he heard Sheik screaming, then realized it was himself and that tears were seeming down his face. Then a sharp pain erupted in a back of his head and as he lost consciousness he saw Sheik's lifeless body drop to the ground.

~ TBC ~

It's not over! Don't run away! I have more planned

Sorry it's so short

Suggestions welcome