No matter the situation, the location, or the occasion there was always one thing that was certain. Zelda and Ike were going to argue. Their friends had different ideas about what caused the rift but there was no concrete proof. Like clockwork the two would end up battling it out verbally, ignoring everyone around them.
The group of friends consisted of the two verbal jousters, their best friends Marth and Link, Peach and her fiance Mario, Cloud, Bayonetta, Robin, and Snake. Marth and Link had met years ago at the end of high school. Link had traveled to Marth's homeland of Altea and met the shy young man on a shared senior year fall break. They had instantly clicked and soon began dating. Link had introduced Zelda to Marth after they had been together for almost a year. The second she met him Zelda approved, happy her best friend was so happy. Marth had met Ike years ago at a very young age. The two blue haired men had been little more than toddlers when Marth's family had moved to Crimea and the two had been inseparable ever since. When Marth moved to Hyrule to be with Link, he brought Ike with him. Ike had left his sister and mother behind but checked in with them regularly.
At twenty five years old the trio of Marth, Link, and Zelda were quite successful in the business realm where they had met Peach, Robin, Bayonetta, and Cloud. Mario was a relatively new addition to their group, and Snake only began to hang out with them a month before him. The day Ike was introduced to Link the blonde would have sworn he was a fantastic match for Zelda. Hard headed with a fantastic work ethic, Ike was just as smart as he was strong. He was proud of his heritage and well versed in his homeland's history. Ike was a hardworking man, out in the sun all day at jobsite after jobsite with his own company. Everything from building new structures to air conditioning repair and installation Ike could and would happily do. He wasn't as rich as the other people in the friend circle but he was well enough off that he could send a good portion of his paycheck back to his mother in Crimea.
Zelda was similar to Ike in the regard of having a good work ethic. She had always poured herself fully into everything she did. Her grades in school and throughout college had been flawless, and her steady climb up the ladder at the company her father owned spoke wonders to her continued diligence. Where Ike had had to scrimp and save to get his start, she had been born into an easy life. Rich before she was born, Zelda had never known what the possibility of going hungry felt like. She had never had to choose between paying a bill or eating for a week and Marth suspected that that was the cause of a lot of the strife between them. He was wrong, bless his little heart, but at least he wondered about it.

XxX
Zelda fiddled with her engagement ring, smiling at how the beautiful diamond caught the light and sent tiny rainbows dancing onto her other fingers. In just over three months she would marry her amazing fiance and live a blissful, love filled life. She turned her eyes to the friends around her, knowing who was missing and trying not to wonder. They had all gathered at a local restaurant that night to celebrate Marth's promotion and she knew that he would show up soon.
"Ike!" Marth excitedly called out to his friend and Zelda tensed as she looked to see the man approach. Tall, broad, and muscled in an obscene way, Ike was the worst thing to ever happen to her. She had never known another person who was more infuriating or more attractive. He carried himself with the ease of a man who wanted for nothing and the confidence of a man who had fought so hard to get to that point.
"Sorry I'm late Marth," his deep voice hit Zelda's ears and she scowled into her fruity drink. "I had to finalize the paperwork with the bureau. By this time next month my mom and sister will be moved over here."
"Ike that's great!" Marth embraced his best friend and Zelda hated to admit she was impressed. Getting citizenship to Hyrule had become near impossible and for him to pull it off meant that he was an exemplary citizen himself. "Where will they live?"
"I've been saving up for that," Ike commented as he took the only available seat at the long table, unfortunately right across from Zelda. "There's this subdivision just outside of town that I had my crew at last month. Man behind the project said he was so impressed he'd cut me a deal so I'll probably move Mom and Mist out there. Mist can go to school next semester and I have no doubt mom can either open up a shop or get hired somewhere fast." He looked around the table and his eyes met Zelda's. She held the dark blue gaze for a moment, trying to make him see that he was not about to get under her skin tonight.
"You were wrong about the process by the way," he fired at her and she bristled. "You said months of paperwork and tests, but it was only a few interviews and a small stack of paperwork about this tall," he held his hand above the table a few inches and Zelda narrowed her eyes.
"Was your bureau representative a woman you charmed?" she asked in an acidic tone.
"Nope," he leaned forward and let the word pop. "An older man who was so impressed with what I've made of myself he said he wished his daughter could have met me." Ike winked at her and then turned his attention to the waitress. Zelda fumed at his grin directed at the young woman, not liking the way she smiled back.
"I'm assuming you set up a date then?" Her words brought his attention back to her and he scowled.
"I'm really not interested in a stuck up Hylian girl." Zelda scoffed, a little indignant at his words. "I'm honestly surprised you're not disgusted, you being such a purist yourself, that a Hylian wished his daughter upon me."
"I'm not a purist!" she snapped at him.
"You insist the royal family had never had a child out of wedlock or any case of bastard children."
"Yes because it's my family line I would know!"
"And yet your cousin has green tinted hair." Ike raised an eyebrow and she let out a small growl.
"My cousin is Kokiri and Hylian, which is still pure Hylian! It would be like if your ancestor married a Laguz, you'd still be one hundred percent both Crimean and a pain in my ass."
"First off, that would be true, I'd be Crimean, but no you're wrong. The Kokiri have never once considered themselves ruled by Hyrule. They're their own nation living in a protected forest. They have their own government and everything."
"In ancient times they were under the blanket of Hyrule. They've always been a part of our history and therefore are not any different from a family that was from Castletown. And I can't believe you'd dare call me a purist! I'm engaged to a descendant of the Picori!"
"So they don't count as Hylian? Are the Picori not the exact same as the Kokiri or Gerudo in terms of having their own government and their own land?" He was so smug Zelda wanted to slap him. She glared at him and shook her head.
"We've gotten off topic. The fact still remains that my family always respected the vows they upheld and never had any children out of wedlock or bastards."
"Then why is there a portrait hanging in the museum painted by the oh so famous royal painter Medilia showing a certain royal baby with red eyes and bluish skin? That's a Twili baby and you can't deny it."
"Its an old oil painting! It was probably discolored and damaged by one of the ancient wars!" She slapped a hand on the table top and glared. "Do I look like there is even a drop of Twili blood in my veins?"
"Didn't say it was any of your exact ancient relatives, just a side cousin or a younger sibling definitely had a half Twili baby."
"Ike," Marth whining his name caught Ike's attention and she glared when he turned his head, "this is a night to celebrate me. Can you please just drop the topic and focus on me."
"Sure, if Zelda will admit that I'm right." Oh that did it. All eyes turned to her and she tensed. Ike was a downright attractive bastard. He was so emotionally stunted, rarely grinned or laughed, but something about the way his eyes would light up when they argued...
"You're not right so I will not concede." The table groaned and Ike's lips twitched upwards in amusement.

XxX
Ike was having the time of his life. With an arm around Marth's shoulders he congratulated his hard work and achievements while simultaneously making Zelda more and more frustrated. It was really a good look on her. Red faced, wild expressions, exclamations that probably came out far louder than intended... he loved making her mad. Every time he felt like dropping the argument he would catch sight of the ring on her hand and that would fuel another volley of impassioned words against her tirade.
Zelda was the most obnoxious woman he had ever had the displeasure of meeting. She had had everything handed to her in life and carried herself with the ease of someone who had never known any genuine hardship. To her hardship was daddy not buying the car she really wanted and downgrading her to the less than stellar model. Hardship for Ike was pulling his family through the rubble and ruin of losing his father. He had almost dropped out of his secondary years of education trying to make ends meet. He had gone from the star of his local sports teams to the kid in class barely scraping by with passing grades thanks to working from the moment he left class to usually the next school day. He had survived hardship and had come out tough.
Truth be told he could care less whether or not the Hyrule royal family of old had ever had a child that wasn't in their strict bounds of marriage. He just loved getting under Zelda's skin and into her head. If he could get her to focus on him and try her hardest to defeat his very solid evidence he felt accomplished. It felt good to turn the woman into a red faced and angry mess.
As the night drew to a close he bid Marth farewell with a hug. He caught sight of Zelda doing the same with Link and couldn't help but wonder what the blonde saw in his best friend. How had they even become friends? Ike actually enjoyed Link's company and approved of him dating Marth. So where was the disconnect between them? What had happened to Zelda to make her so intolerable? When Zelda finished her hug with Link she gave Marth a hug, leaving Ike to shake Link's hand and turn away. He would have been lying if he even hinted that it surprised him to hear a pair of heels chasing him down.
As he stopped beside the driver side truck door he looked over his shoulder at an obviously flushed Zelda. "What?" he asked when she just stood there. Her eyes moved over the admittedly beat up truck and Ike snorted. "Judge me all you want." He stuck the key in the door and turned it, happy when the pop of being unlocked sounded. Almost home free. If she would just stay stunned for a moment longer he could make his escape.
"You own your own company of construction men how do you not have a better truck? This one has to be at least ten years old." Ike sighed as he got in and looked at her.
"I put money back into my company and try to keep my mother and sister safe in Crimea. That doesn't leave a whole lot of money for me to just up and buy anything I want. Besides this truck might look rough but it's in fantastic shape. Not everything has to be shiny and new Zelda, sometimes the beaten down and dirty works just as well." With that he closed the door and turned the key. As the engine roared to life he chanced a glance back at her. She seemed deep in thought as she turned to go back to her fancy car.

XxX
Oh how she hated him. Ike and his damn way of existing and living bothered her. While she had managed to get top of the class and excel in all things regarding the business world, Zelda feared her social skills had taken a serious hit. Did Ike really see her as some sort of purist or was he just trying to once again get under her skin? Was the comment about the truck being beaten up and dirty metaphor for how he assumed she saw him? The questions whirled around Zelda's brain as she tried to focus on work. Vaati would be back in town from a long but successful business trip and she wanted everyone to get together and celebrate. The only problem was that Vaati and Ike hated each other. She was happy that Vaati did not like Ike as everyone else seemed to, but the two of them could not even be in the same room without her fearing for an all out brawl.
The reason for their discord was unknown to Zelda. She just assumed that Ike hated her fiance as an extension of her. However, she had to admit that Vaati had been the one to start the bad blood between them. It had been at a gathering like the one a few nights ago. All Ike had done was sit down and suddenly her fiance had surprised her by tearing into everything he could discern about Ike on sight. His background, lifestyle, you name it Vaati sneered at Ike like he was the scum of the earth. Zelda had had a problem with that. While she argued with Ike constantly she certainly did not look down upon him for existing, merely that he existed in her social circle and she could never escape his attention.
As Zelda ruminated over the dilemma of Ike versus Vaati her phone chimed an alert. Curious, she picked it up and felt a part of her stomach drop. It was a group text from Snake, sent to everyone in their group about Ike. He had gotten hurt while on a jobsite for the ex military man turned real estate mogul. Apparently it was nothing too serious but it still warranted a trip to the hospital. Marth immediately responded, a few texts coming through one after the other. What happened? Is he conscious? Is he bleeding? Is anything broken? The questions echoed around Zelda's mind and when she realized that she felt worried about Ike she froze.
Why would she be worried about Ike? He was an obnoxious brat! She deemed she was only concerned because of her best friend being in a serious relationship with his. What hurt Marth hurt Link and that in turn hurt her. Besides, she reasoned as she set her phone down once more, she wasn't completely heartless! Hearing that anyone was hurt worried her! Feeling a little better she went back to work.

XxX
Zelda was just putting the final touches on the place settings around her long dining room table, confident that Vaati would be happy to see all her effort and her friends being so supportive of his work. As she walked back into the kitchen she admired the food. She didn't cook a bit of it, but she had ordered enough food from Vaati's favorite restaurant to feed a small army and everyone would have enough to drink to make it a lovely evening.
A knock on the door made Zelda jump and she turned to answer it, curious who it was. No one was supposed to show up for thirty minutes and Vaati himself was not going to be there for another hour. She opened the door to reveal a very upset Marth in Link's arms. "Hey Zel," Link greeted with a sheepish smile.
"Marth what's wrong?" Her heart sped up at the mere thought that Ike was seriously hurt and she tried to ignore it. Damn her caring nature.
"Ike has to stay overnight in the hospital," Marth sniffled out. "He was hit in the head with a heavy metal bar and it was a serious concussion. The doctors aren't sure what the damage done is yet and want to make sure there isn't fluid in the brain or any cracks to the skull."
"Oh goddesses," she felt a huge mess of worry and sympathy hit her and she tried to ignore what could really be causing that as she ushered them inside. "Let's get you a drink so you can calm down."

XxX
Ike picked his cellphone off the tiny tray holding his untouched hospital dinner, eyeing the stream of texts from everyone in the group message. Peach had sent him a dozen hearts with a get well soon, Mario had asked he keep them posted, and even Bayonetta had wished him a speedy recovery. It didn't surprise him that Zelda had said nothing even though she was a part of the chat, and he tried to ignore the way something in his chest twisted at realizing how little she must have cared. When she had gotten the flu last year he had sent a quick message saying he hoped she felt better soon, was it so hard to return the gesture?
Shaking it off Ike opened up the camera on his phone. He scowled at his image displayed by the lens, making sure to show off his bandage that mussed up his normally perfectly spiked hair. He snapped the photo and added it to the group chat, typing out a quick message saying he was going to be fine. He did not go into details, he just sent that and laid back to shut his eyes. Getting hit in the head had given him one hell of a headache that still had not gone away.

XxX
Alerts chimed all throughout Zelda's apartment except for Vaati's phone. She checked the message and almost choked on her sip of wine. Ike was laying in his hospital bed, a massive bandage around his head that hid no doubt a big bump. He looked exhausted but overall fine, and Zelda was not exactly sure how to handle it.
As the responses from her friends poured in Zelda hesitated. She had never sent him even a quick hope you're okay sort of message. What, if anything, could she say now? Vaati leaned over her shoulder and scoffed. He brought his lips to her ear. "What are they all whiny about? He's obviously fine. Marth is too sensitive."
That struck a nerve with Zelda. Marth was compassionate, he was sweet! She did not think that he deserved such a broad statement from her fiance about him being too sensitive. "They've been best friends for as long as Link and I have been. If Link was in the hospital hurt I'd be just as much of a wreck." She pecked Vaati on the cheek and quickly slid her phone back into her pocket.
Her eyes fell on Marth as he sat on her couch, typing out what appeared to be a very long message. He hit send and stared at the screen, obviously waiting for a response.
"Ike you bastard," he growled under his breath as he waited. "Say something!"
"He probably fell asleep," she tried to soothe and Marth looked up at her. His red rimmed eyes and worried expression made her heart ache.
"I know you don't like him Zelda, but he got me through so much hardship while dealing with his own... He's been hurt before but every time I worry. I just," he paused for a shaky breath, "I don't think I could function without him."

XxX
Ike glared at the hospital staff as they talked him through the limitations set on him. He had a business to run and had never been the type to take it easy. He pretended to take their words to heart and signed his release forms, mind already on the next job he needed to oversee. As he walked out of the hospital he found Marth standing by his sportscar. The thin man embraced him and Ike felt a rare genuine grin on his lips.
"I'm alright and just fine," he promised his best friend.
"I was so worried! I didn't know what happened to you and I didn't know if you were okay and-"
"Marth," Ike made the rambling man look up at him, "I'm fine. You can stop worrying about me." The smaller man nodded and Ike sighed as they moved to get back into the sportscar.
"Link wants everyone to come over for dinner tonight to celebrate your discharge."
"Nah I don't want to bother everyone, I know last night was the dinner at Zelda's for Vaati." Maybe he sneered the name of the fiance, but he was completely justified in doing so. If there was anyone on the planet more annoying than Zelda it was her piece of trash future husband.
"They're getting married in a few months," Marth sighed happily as they readied to leave the parking lot. Ike could hardly hold in his scoff at the reminder. "Did you ever get a suit for the big day?"
"I don't even know why she invited me," Ike groused as he gingerly touched the slightly smaller than a tennis ball bump hiding in his hair. "Why invite someone you hate to your wedding?"
"Ike I don't think she hates you-"
"Marth do not defend her," Ike spat at his best friend. "I get you're boning her best friend that's like a brother but I have never met a more insufferable woman than Zelda. Her and her douche of a fiance deserve each other."
"Ike Greil!" Marth turned to him and Ike scowled right back. "She is a wonderful woman! Smart, successful, beautiful... I don't understand why the two of you can't just get along! I half hoped when we moved here that you two would really hit it off."
"Seriously?!" Ike laughed at the idea. "I hate to break it to you Marth but Zelda and I would kill each other if left alone long enough." With that he slapped the button for the radio, effectively ending the conversation.

XxX
Zelda sighed as she glanced at the clock. Not even back in town for twenty four hours and Vaati had already cancelled their lunch plans. She knew he was busy, knew he had super important things to get done, but she wished that they could have spent some quality time together. She texted Link, asking him to go to lunch with her, and groaned when she got a response. Ike was out of the hospital and absolutely she could join them for a bite. Them of course meaning Ike. Seeing as how she had opened the door to the possibility she accepted the invitation with a scowl. Link already knew she didn't have plans anyway so it was not exactly a situation she could lie her way out of.
As soon as she walked into the fancy little sandwich shop she found the trio of men. Link and Marth had the annoying habit of always wanting to sit side by side and she groaned when she realized exactly where that left her. Right beside Ike. Steeling herself for her unfortunate fate, she walked up to the booth and forced a smile on her lips.
"Hey Link, Marth," her eyes fell on Ike and her cheery tone faltered, "Ike."
"Do you want to slide in?" Ike asked with a raised eyebrow and she shrugged.
"Glad to see you're okay," she commented as he stood up. She slid in the booth and watched Link mouth two words to her. Be nice. Ha.
"You can't get rid of me that easily," Ike spoke as he reclaimed the seat on the end.
"If only," she faked a pout and Ike snorted lightly. "Where's the bump?" He eyed her like he was not quite sure if he could trust her with such delicate information before he finally pointed to a spot at the back of his head.
"You can't see it through my hair, but it feels like someone implanted a tomato in my skull." Curiosity getting the better of her, Zelda reached up to touch it and Ike caught her hand. A shock of what felt like electricity ran through her body as his rough hand met her manicured one. "Hell no you're not touching it." He released her hand and she flexed her fingers to rid herself of the sensation.
"So," Link's voice cut between them and Zelda turned her attention to him, "what's going on at the office today?"
"Honestly it's been a slow day. I was supposed to have lunch with Vaati but he cancelled on me." Ike made a noise and she whipped her head around to glare at him. "Do you have something to share with the class there Ike?"
He looked across from him to Marth who Zelda could see mouth something suspiciously like the word please and he sighed. "You don't want to know what I think Zelda. Now please just talk to Link and Marth because I've already got a massive headache and arguing with you will only exacerbate it."
"Exacerbate? Wow I think you're the first person in history to get smarter with a blow to the head."
"Alright," Ike turned to face her as best he could in the booth, a furious glare on his face, "I promised Marth I would play nice today because I wasn't kidding when I said my head fucking hurts and I didn't want to fight. You want to throw insults? The noise I made was because you said he cancelled lunch and I highly doubt it was because he's mister busy business man. I think-"
"Ike-" Marth tried to warn him but Ike just spoke louder.
"I think he's cheating on you." Zelda felt her jaw drop as rage flooded her system.
"How dare you!" It came out a shriek and Ike groaned as he put his head in his hands.
"Dammit I told you that you didn't want to know," he glared at her and Zelda glared right back.
"Take it back he would never cheat on me!" This time her voice was a forced whisper.
"You asked, I answered." She stared at him, angry tears filling her eyes and blurring her vision. One escaped down her cheek and she jumped in absolute shock when Ike wiped it away. He stared at his thumb that had wiped the tear as if it had acted of it's own accord.
"Let me out now," she hissed and tried to move around him. There was not enough space and she fumbled to a sitting position practically on Ike's lap. His hands on her hips stopped her from falling face first onto the table and that was more disconcerting than anything else. "Let me go!"
"Go where? If you would have let me up I would have been more than happy to let you leave but oh no you just had to go and jump on my lap and then get mad at me!" Ike shoved and Zelda winced when her backside hit the wooden bench.
"You asshole!" she hissed and he just left the booth without looking back. Even when Marth called out he ignored him. Zelda stared down at the table top, eyes not seeing, trying to ignore how the place where his hands had been moments before burned.

XXX
Well this is a new angle I'm playing with isn't it? I hope you've enjoyed the first chapter! Now before anyone mentions the Picori being no bigger than a thumb I know, I just took some liberties. Please let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh