Zelda stepped over the threshold of the dimly lit bar, the Holy Greil, hard day at the office already fading from her mind as she saw the bartender behind the counter. He was laughing with the young man already seated, a joke having just been shared. Zelda kept her eyes on Ike, taking in his spiked midnight blue hair and shirt that almost matched with a small smile as she crept forward. She was glad when the young man's phone rang and Ike turned his eyes to her. "Princess," he said with a sweeping bow and Zelda shook her head with a little laugh.

"If anyone else called me that I'd-"

"Have them beheaded for insulting you your majesty?" he asked with a raised eyebrow and she laughed as she sat. "So," he leaned on the counter, a faint cologne she couldn't name washing over her lightly, just enough to tantalize, "bad, terrible, or so bad you want to wipe if from your memory forever?"

"Pretty bad," Zelda sighed and he held up a shot glass. "Several of those."

"Yikes," Ike said as he poured her a shot of whiskey, "and here I thought being a rich kid would make life easy." She took the shot glass and sniffed lightly, the burn in her nose reminding her to not overdo it. Ike watched her, a grin lifting the left corner of his mouth. "So are you going to tell me or should I guess?"

"Your outlandish guessed always make it better," she said and he thought for a second before slapping a hand on the bar.

"Your intern Shulk has just declared his undying, never ending, all consuming love for you?"

"Oh geez," she laughed, almost spilling the shot. "No. Not even close."

"Peach has named you her best friend in the universe and has set you up to marry the ever single Luigi?" he taunted and she scrunched up her face.

"Never in a million years to both," she said with a giggle. She loved this game they played, ever since he started it almost a month ago. The phone rang and he winked at her.

"I still have one guess," he said as he moved to the phone. Zelda downed the shot, hating the burn and taste but wanting an excuse to get him back. He came back a moment later, mischief in those deep eyes she didn't want to admit she loved.

"Oh goddesses," she bit her lower lip lightly, "what has your twisted brain concocted now?" He gave her a very somber look as he leaned on the counter again.

"You've lost all your money betting on the Pokemon fights and are forced to take up doing Bukaki."

"Oh my goddesses Ike!" she howled with laughter and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "Really? That's the next step? No in between? I would jump straight to that?"

"Hey you're an all or nothing type," he shrugged and she shook her head.

"You're ridiculous," she said and he stuck his tongue out a little.

"You know you love me," he taunted as he moved to the young man who was now off his phone. Zelda watched Ike joke with him again, heat crawling up her cheeks at what he just said. The man paid and left, pulling out his phone halfway to the door.

"So what really happened?" Ike asked, mixing up something in a glass for her.

"Oh we lost a contract and the board blames me... They keep saying when my father ran the company things worked and now we're fumbling."

"Well," he set a colorful concoction in front of her, "you're a beautiful young woman in a business area that's been controlled by men forever; you threaten them. Personally? I think your boobs make them nervous."

"You just made a comment about my boobs," Zelda laughed and he shrugged.

"Could've said boobies," he replied and she covered her mouth to stifle her nervous giggle as she realized her side was aching.

"I've been here not ten minutes and you've said boobs, boobies, and Bukaki."

"I made you smile, that's what matters," he said and she nodded.

"You always do," she said as she picked up her drink. "Now what's this?"

"A love potion Shulk paid me to make you drink," he waggled his eyebrows and she rolled her eyes.

"Stop that he's a nice guy."

"Who's hot for his boss," he countered and she returned his earlier gesture and stuck out her tongue, shoulders shaking with silent laughter.

"So what's new with you?" she asked and he just shrugged. "C'mon Ike I tell you so much."

"I'm your bartender, I listen. If you want to ask questions," he motioned around them, "we have to change the scenery."

"Please Ike?" she pouted, poking out her lower lip.

"Oh stop that," he sighed dramatically and tapped the bar as he thought. "What to tell... What not to tell? Hmm oh I was unwittingly set up on a date the other night." Zelda froze, not liking where that could go. "I was supposed to meet a friend and he never showed, just this chick."

"What happened?" she asked, trying to keep her voice even.

"I uh... I left," he admitted and Zelda suppressed the urge to sigh in relief. "I paid for the drink I had before she got there and I left. Don't give me a look, she wasn't my type."

"Who is?" Zelda asked and he shrugged. She sipped her drink as she thought. It was fruity, a blend of strawberries and there was just a hint of chocolate liqueur. He knew her so well. "Rosalina?"

"No," he said quickly and Zelda snapped her fingers.

"Peach," she said and he put a hand over his heart.

"Oh yes," he said passionately, "my one and only true love. One day she will leave her fat little husband and we'll be together." Zelda laughed and he shook his head with a grin. "Guess again Princess."

"Samus," Zelda said and Ike got a contemplative look on his face. Zelda scowled, not liking that.

"She's beautiful," he admitted, "but not my type." Zelda felt a wave of relief wash over her and he must've noticed her face because he gave her a little grin. "If the words 'jiggly' and 'puff' come out of your mouth, I'm telling Shulk I've seen your shrine devoted to him." She laughed and shook her head.

"Well then I officially have no idea."

"Are you really that blind Princess?" Ike asked, voice almost sad. The door opened and he turned his attention to the incoming patron. "Snake! Come have a beer my friend."

"Just set me up under the tap," he grumbled gruffly as he moved to the opposite end of the bar as Zelda.

"Uh oh," Ike whispered to her with a slight scowl. "Duty calls," he walked over to Snake, and Zelda watched him fill a chilly mug with frothing beer as Snake began on a tale of woe. She wondered what he meant, and was dying to ask when her phone rang. She pulled it from her designer purse with a groan, knowing who it was without looking at the screen.

"What Link?" she sighed as she answered, eyes on Ike as he put a sympathetic hand on Snake's shoulder.

"Zelda," Link's voice held a hint of panic, "where are you? Dinner with the Mario's starts in ten minutes." Zelda suppressed a groan as she glanced at her platinum watch face, the hands betraying her.

"I'll be there," she said and hung up. She pulled a one hundred rupee note from her purse and hesitated only for a second before pulling out her pen and scribbling her number on the napkin under her drink. As she stood she laid the money on the counter, locking eyes with Ike who scowled but gave her a little wave as she moved to the door.

"Duty calls," she grumbled with a sigh as her chauffeur driven town car pulled up and Link opened the door for her.