A/N: Before we start- a quick note about a few things I want to clear up about this fic.
It mostly will have Phantom Hourglass characters, with a few characters from other games. (Mainly Wind Waker.)
This is rated T mostly for language and blood/violence. Mostly language, though.
Bellum and Zelda are listed in the character list, but neither are mentioned until chapter five and become more important after that, just making a note of that.
Other than that, there's not much to put in this author's note.
Hope you enjoy!
Somewhere in the distance, thunder boomed, muting the pouring rain for a few moments. The kids' feet splashed puddle water nearly a foot away when they stepped in it, not lingering for a second as they sprinted through the alleyways. Other orphans shrank back against the walls as the kids ran past. A group of rather tough kids chasing a thin, lanky boy through the alleyways wasn't seen every day, but they knew the drill. Stay out of the way and let the stronger kids beat up the weaklings and degenerates. It was harsh, but everyone was out for themselves unless they were taking care of a sibling.
The group of jerks behind the lanky kid really didn't help his nerves. Those bunch of jackasses basically ran the place, ruling how much food the orphans get, somehow managing to rule viciously in their small area. He was just passing through, a nomad compared to this population of orphans in the city's streets. Wouldn't kill them to let him dig through some trash to get some damn food, right? Granted, they let him do that until he stole from them. Now they were chasing him, shouting things like 'schizo' or 'klepto', and a few times he heard 'beanpole'. Not that creative or harsh, but it worked.
He turned a sharp corner, quickening his pace. He was clearly faster than the kids chasing him. A few more turns and he could duck into a makeshift shelter. It was getting late anyways. Almost slipping in a puddle, the adrenaline pumping energy into his tired legs, he turned another sharp corner and slid into one of the sticks and blanket shelters. There was a red winter scarf bundled up in a corner, and he gathered it up, wrapping it around his neck and pulling it over his mouth and nose. If he was lucky, they'd chalk him up as some random orphan.
They sprinted past, not even glancing down at him. He let out a heavy sigh as they turned another corner. Sitting up against the wall, he took off the scarf and looked it over. It was nice, and warm. Worth keeping. Went well with his oversized coat, would keep him comfortable in the colder days. Wrapping it back around his neck, he checked his shoes, worn-out boots that he'd soon have to toss out in exchange for new ones.
Those kids calling him names- 'klepto' and 'beanpole' made sense, but 'schizo'? Did they even know what that meant? Why call some random twelve-year-old boy schizophrenic for stealing your shit? He lost it in the chase, anyways. Well, he did mutter to himself and stared into space often, but, really? Curling up to keep warm, he surveyed the alleyway. There were two other kids in the area, two girls, clearly sisters by the way they were cuddled up. An hour passed, and he didn't get any sleep. Screw it. He got to his feet and started to head down the alley.
Humming quietly to himself, the rain having calmed down, he thought about random things, what he'd do to get through the next day. He quit his humming after less than a minute, hearing something out of place. Well, not really out of place, but concerning.
Someone was crying- another kid. He'd heard that a few times, passing through more populated areas. Younger siblings or lonely kids. He never liked it, tried to get out of the vicinity as fast as he could whenever he heard it. It was nearby, sorta surprising he didn't hear it before now. Glancing around, he saw it. Some little boy, curled up under one of those shelters, bawling. Looked to be about five, what was he doing out here?
Curious and a bit saddened, he crouched near the boy, not too close, but close enough that the kid would see him when he looked up. The kid sobbed for a bit, and eventually stopped, hiccupping and rubbing at his eyes. He looked up, whimpering, and noticed the older kid watching him. There was a moment of silence, and he crawled over to the older. "H-hi..." He sat in front of him, and asked, "Wh-where am I? I-I want to see my sister a-and my grandma..."
Feeling a pang in his heart, the taller boy gently patted him on his head. His yellow hair was soft, though damp. "I... I'm sure you do. Where are they?"
The boy sniffled and shook his head, looking up at the other kid. "I don't know... They-they got s-sick... and some people showed up... A-and they went missing... I-I don't know where they are..." The kid sniffled again and hugged the newly met orphan. He flinched slightly but let him hug him. Goddesses, this kid's mentioned family- from what he said, they seemed to have died from a sickness... not uncommon. Most kids in the slums had their parents or family die from sickness. This kid clearly didn't know that.
"U-uh... I can take you to some people that can help you. D-do you want me to do that?"
He wasn't just going to leave this kid. Sure, he tended to focus mostly on his own well-being, but he's not just going to let this poor kid die out here. It would weigh on his conscious if he heard that this kid died. Might as well take him to a place that can take care of him and help him understand his situation. It wouldn't be too strange for the kid to refuse, though. Trust was something hard to gain, even harder when you were a homeless urchin living off the streets. Standing up, the kid still clinging to him, he asked, "Would you be willing to come with me to somewhere?"
He pried the kid off, and the kid stepped back, still sniffling but making better eye contact. "Y-yeah... thanks... what's your name?" The kid stepped back towards the taller again, holding his small hand out tentatively. "I-I m Link."
Rubbing the back of his neck, he glanced down at Link. "Uh, yeah. I'm Linebeck. So, uh, I can get you to the place in about a day, though we can rest a few times." Tugging on Link's hand gently as a half-hearted handshake, Linebeck started to walk down the alleyway. "C'mon, we should get going."