Okay, so here's chapter two! I want to thank the two people who have added me to their alerts, the one person who's favorited this story, and give a special shout-out to FernyBerry, who's my first reviewer! Thanks for the comment, sweety, and I promise, I don't plan on giving up on this anytime soon!
So I'm still sorting through some of my other stories, trying to figure out what's in a condition to be posted. Most of the stuff I write, I start somewhere in the middle and have to add a beginning, so I've got a lot of 9-12k word stories that are going to be 30k+ when they're done, but I need to connect all the scenes and write beginnings and endings. It's awful, because those are the bits I'm worst at...
Other than that, college is college. I don't have Columbus Day off officially, but both of my professors for that day told us to piss off and not come to class, so I'll be working on a lot of writing that day, and then I'll probably update this either that evening or Tuesday afternoon. I haven't even started chapter three on this, though chapters 6&7 are both done.
Now, on another matter - if you play D&D-style RPGs, Warhammer-style wargames, or like to paint, have I got the thing for you! Reaper Miniatures is doing a kickstarter - round two - for their Bones plastic minifigure line, and it is glorious! The core set is already over 150 figures, plus 50 1-inch bases, but some of the add-ons are great, too. There are some fantastic dragon sculpts dirt-cheap; Narthrax, one of my favorites, is 12$ for a figure more than a foot high. And a giant Kraken! Go ogle them for a bit - the KS ends on the 26th, so you've got a while, but I'd highly recommend checking things out. They've even got some of their special paints for less than 2$ a bottle, and free US shipping - come, join us and help us reach all of the stretch goals! ONE OF US! ONE OF US! :)
Anyways, here's the story:
"Vaati?" The Piccori doesn't look up at the sound of his lover's voice, choosing instead to continue his struggle to contain the flames now spreading across the top of his stove. "Shit, Vaati!" A large hand scoops him out of the way as the other grabs the burning pan, plunging it and it's burning contents into the sink, where it hisses as steam fills the room.
The piccori coughs in the other man's arms, Ganondorf patting him on the back until the he manages to choke out the last of the smoke. "Thanks, Ganon..." The violet-haired man looks embarrassed as he curls up in the other man's embrace. "Didn't expect it to just go up like that..."
"You're hopeless, you know that, right?" Ganondorf smiles down at the smaller man in his arms, voice kind. "What on earth possessed you to try cooking? Even you have to have realized that you're dismal at it by this point..."
"...I was trying to cook something for Link..."
At this, Ganon barks a laugh, eyes bright. "I thought you were saying that we should be kinder to the hero, Vaati! And didn't you promise not to poison him? It's important to keep promises like that if you want him to trust you..."
Vaati's ears droop, embarrassed. "Sh- shut up! I just wanted to give him something to eat... He's really scrawny already, and he hasn't eaten in at least a couple days..."
"...And why not just ask me?" the Gerudo raises an eyebrow. "Surely that's a better option than setting the kitchen on fire..." The embarrassed Piccori buries his head in the other mans chest, flushing red at the other man's chuckles.
"I figured you wouldn't want to cook for him..." says the violet-haired man, voice muffled by the other man's shirt. "Since you hate him so much..."
"...Vaati..." The response is soft, almost hurt. "I may dislike him, but if you want me to treat him well, I will. And... even I am not so cruel as to subject a helpless man to your cooking."
"You ASS!" Ganondorf laughs, putting the furiously blushing boy down and ducking away as Vaati shrieks and swats at him.
"Go play with your little pet, Vaati. I'll bring up something for him to eat in a little while..."
Link awakes to a growling stomach and pain. His entire body aches, a mass of purple-and-green bruised from his tumble down the mountainside, and the heavy ache in his ribs from where he was slammed into the bed by Dark Link does little to improve his condition. He drags himself to the top of the bed, rearranging the pillows around himself in a crude nest; the blanket is harder, tucked in at the end of the bed, and he is slightly winded by the effort of pulling it free to wrap around his slender form.
When Vaati enters, it is to the sight of the legendary hero curled up and trembling atop the mound of pillows, the entire rest of the bed completely empty. When he catches sight of the purple-haired Piccori, Link freezes up for a long moment before speaking, voice thin and hesitant. "Vaati...?" However, he makes no attempt to extricate himself from his cocoon of cloth, instead merely flinching back away from the other boy's touches when he attempts to brush the blond's hair from his eyes.
"Hey, Link..." Wide eyes regard him suspiciously, watching the Piccori's pale hands as if he expects them to turn on him with a strike or blow; Link trembles as the other man sits beside him on the bed and begins to gently rub his back. "How're you feeling?"
"...Thirsty..." is the soft reply he receives. "Sick... " The Piccori sighs before leaning over to grab a glass of water, offering it to the blond, who hesitates for a moment before accepting the glass, taking a long sip of the cool liquid inside. "Thank you..."
"You're welcome... Ganon's going to bring something up for you to eat in a little bit, alright? And then you can go back to sleep, if you want..."
At the mention of the larger man, Link shrinks back in fright. "Please, don't let him hurt me..."
Vaati sighs again, returning to rubbing the sick boy's back and watching in amusement as his blue eyes flutter closed, taking back the cup before it can spill. "Don't worry. I've spoken with both of them, Ganondorf and Dark... they understand that, for the moment, you're mine. They won't touch you without my permission, not unless you do something to anger them..."
Link lays still for a long moment, allowing Vaati to massage his bruised and aching back without complaint as he contemplates this before finally speaking. "Why are you protecting me?" The hero's voice is quiet as he questions his captor. "Why aren't I dead?"
"...I enjoy taking in a little project, every now and then. A wounded animal, an abandoned chick... It gives me something to do with my time. I came across you by accident, broken and defenseless, trapped beneath the ice, and thought you might make an amusing pet, that's all... The thought of having you helpless at my mercy, after you've proven such an annoyance, was appealing, I will admit. I won't say I'm above a little vindictiveness... but I don't like torture. I won't hurt you." He grins, though Link, laying on his stomach, can't see it. "Not without provocation, at least..."
"Oh..."
"But it's okay, Link. I don't let my pets get hurt, if I can help it... As long as you don't do anything to anger the others, you'll be safer in my clutches than you were clambering about the countryside, at least if these scars are anything to go by..." He traces a finger over one thin white line, feeling the slight twist in the skin where the scar marrs otherwise smooth flesh. "Where did you get all of these, anyways? Fighting, or do you just scar easily?"
Link shakes his head, squirming beneath the other boy's touch. "Yeah, fighting, mostly. I... wasn't that good with a sword, starting out. That one... I got surrounded by moblins. They got a few good hits in before I could get away... One of them had a flail; he managed to get around behind me and split my back open."
Vaati hisses in sympathy, tracing over the scar once more before returning his attention to the rest of the other boys back. "That sounds painful, yeah. It's one of the good things about using magic, I suppose - it's rare that I'm in a position to be attacked, unless it's by an archer... Although I do enjoy the occasional sword-fight. It's fun to be able to move around sometimes, rather than just standing out of reach..."
This gets a chuckle from the other boy. "Yeah, sword-fighting's fun when there's no real danger... but I have to say, I'd love to be able to just blow away my foes. There was this giant centipede -"
"Ole'runna! Yes, he was one of mine. I was watching that, actually - I had a mirror in the corner to let me see what was going on. It was a good fight, I'll say that..."
Link seems to tense at Vaati's words, as if remembering for the first time that the Piccori is one of the foes who has, until recently, been trying to kill him. After a moment, he shifts uncomfortably before speaking. "Ah... I'm sorry about killing your centipede..."
"Demon, actually. Don't worry about it - I was never terribly fond of him in the first place. Vicious, and not in a good way - he took a swipe at me, once, even. That's why I stuck him all the way over there; I figured he'd be out of the way, and at least I wouldn't have to deal with him..."
Moments after Vaati finishes speaking, there's a knock on the door. Link tenses, glancing up at Vaati. "Is that -"
Vaati nods, then speaks. "One moment, Ganon!" He then bends over the other boy, speaking softly in his ear. "Don't be frightened. Remember what I said; I won't let him hurt you." Link nods, and Vaati calls out again. "Come in!"
Ganondorf enters, a tray in one hand, and nods a greeting to the violet-haired Piccori. "Ah, Vaati. How is he?" He watches for a moment as the Piccori gently rubs the boy's back in a comforting gesture, Link's hands balled to fists against the sheets as he struggles not to cower away from the Gerudo.
"The bruises look like they're beginning to fade, at least." Vaati gives Ganondorf a grateful smile when he sees the tray, patting a spot on the bed. "So improving, hopefully. I have a feeling it'll be a good while before it stops hurting, though... I'm just glad I managed to get all the broken bones healed; they would've been a much bigger problem, especially with him thrashing around."
As the two villians talk over him, Link has an odd look on his face, as if torn between embarrassment that they are acting like he isn't present, and a strong desire not to draw that attention. However, as Ganondorf sits beside the pair on the bed, placing the tray on the bedside table, he gives a squeak of fright, curling away from the Gerudo man to squeeze as close to Vaati's reassuring form as possible.
Nevertheless, this isn't enough to hide him from the larger man's attention. Ganondorf reaches out, placing his hand over Vaati's on the hero's back; Link stiffens, expecting crushing pressure or the force of a blow, but instead, the hand simply remains there, a warm weight on his back, as he slowly relaxes.
"Link, Ganon brought soup. Would you like some?"
The hero nods at the question, but Vaati isn't done; his next request makes the boy squeeze his eyes shut in reluctance. "Then why don't you ask him? Be polite, and I'm sure he'll give you some..." Ganondorf looks at the Piccori mage questioningly, a smirk on his lips, but when the hero attempts to rise, he obligingly removes his hand from the boy's back, supporting the slender figure when he wavers. Link doesn't refuse the aid as the pair help him turn around to face them, though his face is red when he finally manages to a position kneeling, head bowed, beside the Gerudo man.
"Please, may I have some soup?" His head is bowed, eyes diverted from the dark-skinned man; his face is flushed with embarrassment at being forced to beg his captor for food, but the ache in his stomache is too much to resist for the sake of pride; nonetheless, tears of humiliation prick at his eyes when the Gerudo man chuckles at the sight of his enemy begging. His eyes shoot up, however, when he feels a pair of large hands grabbing him gently, and he lets out a sob of terror when he finds himself lifted into the larger man's lap, desperately flailing in an effort to struggle free from his captor's arms. However, Ganon is far stronger than the half-starved figure he attempts to hold; with one hand, he holds the hero's legs down, blocking any attempted kicks, while the other holds the boy close, pinning his arms between him and the wall of muscle that is the Gerudo's chest.
"Don't struggle." The command is punctuated by a short squeeze, and a gasp of pain as pressure is placed on already bruised ribs - just forceful enough to remind the hero of the fact that he is defenseless, should he choose to continue to fight against the larger man.
"Now Ganon, don't tease..." Vaati's voice is gentle as he scootches closer to the other pair, hand coming up to run comfortingly through the hero's straw-blond hair. "Sh, Link, don't be embarrassed. You're still sick; that's nothing to be ashamed of... Just let Ganon feed you, okay? Some food will make you feel better; you haven't eaten anything in a few days, so I'd imagine you're pretty hungry... but I don't think you could handle the bowl yet - you're still pretty weak." His words don't seem to be much comfort to the hero, who continues to flush red in humiliation, but when the spoon is again offered, he accepts it, eyes shutting in pleasure at the taste anf the sensation of warmth.
"Hm... it would seem that my soup meets your standards, hero? I'm glad to see that you like it..." The Gerudo offers the boy in his arms another spoonful, which he accepts more eagerly before looking up at the tall man, hesitating before replying.
"Yeah... it's really good." He pauses a moment before bowing his head again. "Thank you..."
Ganondorf chuckles, sounding pleased. The laugh isn't mocking, however, and when Link looks up again, he is offered another spoonful of the warm soup. The Gerudo continues to feed the boy in silence until the last of the soup is gone, Vaati gently running his fingers through the hero's fine blond hair. Ganondorf finally lays the bowl to one side, keeping his grasp on Link's slender form, and Link leans into his captor's form, the warmth of his embrace mixing with the heat of the soup and the comfort of a full stomach to relax him, his consciousness slowly slipping away into the first comfortable sleep that he's had since finding himself imprisoned by his three foes.
Ganondorf and Vaati continue to sit beside each other for a while, enjoying the peaceful quiet of the room - Link occasionally gives a little gasp, or shifts slightly in his sleep, but other than that, the room is calm. Finally, however, Ganondorf rises to his feet, turning to lay Link down on the mound of pillows still piled at the head of the bed. The boy curls in on himself as the Gerudo covers him with the warm blanket, and Vaati gathers the dishes, leaving only a glass of water before slipping out the door after his companion. Once outside, he waits for the door to slip shut before stretching upwards on the tips of his toes to give the Gerudo man a kiss. Ganon stoops to accept it before taking the tray from his lover and plodding off towards the kitchen, Vaati on his heels.
"I'll give you this, he is pretty amusing. I figured he was hungry enough to accept food, sure - I didn't think he'd actually fall asleep on me! He was cute, though... did you see the look on his face when he was asking for soup? He looked so embarrassed..."
Vaati laughs. "Oh goddess yes! That was hilarious, though I'll admit I felt a little bad for him... I thought he'd ask, you'd maybe mess around with him a little - I didn't expect him to get down on his knees and beg! He must have been desperate, though - he was nearly crying..."
"Mm-hm..." The Gerudo looks thoughtful for a moment. "I think it may be a while before he's willing to stand up to us, to be honest. He may be young, but he's not stupid; an idiot never would have made it as far as he did... He has to know that there's no way for him to fight us, injured as he is. Once he gets a little healthier, I think we'll start having more issues with him; we shouldn't become complacent, even if he's being obedient for the moment... Still, I'll give you credit - he's just as fun to mess with as you said he would be. I think he'll liven the place up to no small degree, once he's well enough to get back some of that fire..."
Reaching the kitchen, Ganondorf drops the dirty dishes in the sink, arm swinging around to scoop up the violet-haired Piccori before the other can even think to dark away. He pulls him in close, ignoring the boy's squeak of surprise, and nips at the other's neck, growling in his ear: "Now, I believe you left quite a mess in the kitchen this morning; one which I was kind enough to clean up for you. I think I'm due a little repayment for that, now..." Vaati gives a startled gasp at the others tone before moaning when the other man nips at his throat, allowing the Gerudo man to carry him off to their bedroom...
Hm... I should probably write out some of these end-of-chapter teases... I'm just not feeling it atm. I'll probably toss them in a separate story... Sort of a bonus chapters thing. And could one of you guys give me a title, please? I still need one...
