Chapter Three: Lessons Learned

The sick do not ask if the hand that smooths their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the lips that touch their brow have known the kiss of sin. -Oscar Wilde

"Whoooo!"

"Colin, don..." Link squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself not to cover the closed lids with his hands, instead allowing them to venture up to cover his ears, trying to block out Colin's shouts of pleasure and the splash that would certainly follow.

"You have no one to blame but yourself, brother."

The rumbling voice penetrated Link's poor defense over his ears and the blond slitted an eye open long enough to slant a glare at Darbus before squeezing his eyes shut again. Darbus laughed, returning his attention to the two boys down on the edge of a dock, the young Hylian soaking wet, laughing at something Conan had said before he grabbed the Spinner board again and went racing back up to the upper cliff face of the mine lake, sending the spinner soaring before jumping on it, flying out over the lake.

The spinner slowly lost power as boy and machine headed through the air over wood and water alike, before both plunched towards the green depths. Conan raised his arm lazily, aiming and firing the Clawshot at the falling Spinner, catching the machine before it hit the water (and was therefore ruined), the Hylian hitting the water instead with a yell of pure joy.

"You really shouldn't have told them they could borrow whatever they wanted from your packs if you didn't want them to."

"I thought they would borrow the slingshot, or even my bottles to catch bugs, I didn't think they'd take those. They...it's..."

"Breath, brother." Darbus said with a smile. "They're children, they'll be fine."

"They're not children," Link said softly and Darbus raised a bushy eyebrow, studying Link before looking back out over the waters of the lake.

"No, they're not are they," he said evenly, watching Link from the corner of his eye. "What are your plans, after you leave?"

"Kicking us out already?" Link asked with a smile before sighing and leaning on the railing of the dock. "Normally it wouldn't matter. I can't go back to Telma's yet and everywhere else...camping out wouldn't be that big of an issue but with Colin..."

"Weak Hylians," Darbus said evenly, causing Link to snort.

"He's sick, Darbus. But..yeah, he's weak. I can't subject him to my life, always on the move...always running."

"Then why didn't you leave him in Kakariko, he has family there, does he not?"

"I...don't know." Link went silent for a moment, blue eyes watching the small blond a few docks away as he playfully danced around Conan who was trying to push him into the lake. "It was nice," he finally answered, his voice almost too soft to hear, eyes sad. "To see someone who looked at me...someone...someone who didn't care."

"Does he know?"

Link's left hand came up to clutch his right forearm, the hard leather of his gauntlet imprinting itself on his palm. "No. I...it's never come up. And it won't. I was there, Darbus. He was shot, taken from his home, his family, left to die, and then..." Link's eyes widened and he clamped a hand over his mouth, body heaving.

Darbus frowned, watching Link as the fallen hero saw something that none of them did, blue eyes wide with pain and tears. He gently rubbed link's back, rumbling soothing words in his native tounge until Link calmed, leaning heavily against Darbus' rocky body.

"I can't stop seeing him," Link whispered. "His small, frail body tied to that spear, wiggling around like a broken rag doll as King Bulbin waves him around. He looked so...he'll fear me, Darbus...he'll hate me."

"Shh," Darbus said, sensing Link's growing agitation as the memories replayed. "That was years ago and the boy is safe now."

"Is he?" Link asked, looking up, his eyes filled with worry and an edge of panic. "And just how long will he be safe with a monster?"

There was a crack that echoed in the small valley, causing Colin and Conan to look up worried, the pair staring at Darbus and Link, the latter whose head was at an odd angle, a large red mark on his cheek. Colin moved to go to Link and Conan grabbed his arm, shaking his head silently when Colin looked at him.

Link slowly rotated his jaw, hand raising up to touch his sore face, hissing at the pain that came even from that light touch. He turned watery eyes to Darbus before snorting. "I think you broke my cheek."

"You were being an idiot," Darbus said, unapologetic as he reached into his hip pouch and pulled out a red bottle, handing it to Link, who drank it, eager to numb the pain in his face.

He sighed when he was done, leaning on the railing of the dock again, watching as Conan dragged Colin into some half cocked game in order to distract the younger man. "What am I going to do, Darbus?"

"Stop being such an emotional Hylian woman and get rid of the baggage," Darbus grunted. He was rewarded by a weak hit from Link, though knowing his friend, it had probably been stronger then usual. He gave a smirk before sighing, leaning on the railing himself. "What do you want to do, Link? Stop caring about what is right, what is good and what the damned world would want of you. It's time to grow a pair and stop being her highness' puppy dog. The goddesses gave you a task, that task is completed, this...this is up to you. It's about damn time you stood up and grasped your future with those weak little arms of yours and got a bit of happiness for yourself."

Link rested his cheek on his hand as he watched the teenagers, a soft smile on his face as he studied Colin's smile. "I want him with me, Darbus. I don't ever want to lose him again."

"Then take him, Link."

Link blinked, looking up at Darbus who just smirked, heading back into the mines.

--

"Do you really have to leave?" Conan asked softly, watching Colin pack both his and Link's belongings into the saddle bags, the blond shaking his head every few steps to get his bangs out of his face.

"S'what Link said. He mentioned some friends...giants...something, he wanted to visit. Plus the doctor all but ordered me out of the mines." Colin coughed harshly as if to emphasis his point, having to sit down for a moment, struggling to regain his breath, leaning against Conan who had knelt to rub his friend's back.

Conan watched Colin sadly, not wanting to let go of the younger man, even though he knew he would have to. It was a stupid thing really, the concept of love. It made you weak, useless...and yet, when you were in the midst of it, none of it mattered, except their smile.

"Conan I..." Colin started.

"Colin I..." Conan said at the same time and both boys ended up blushing as they looked away, for some odd reason known only to teenagers, embarrassed.

"What were you going to say?" Colin asked softly when the silence had stretched on.

"I...I thin..er, I hope you get better. And come visit us again! Oh, and that you jump that hero of yours." Conan nodded.

Colin smiled softly, leaning more against the heavy form holding him. "Thank you, Conan." he whispered softly, before tilting his head up, intending to kiss his friend's cheek.

Conan's head shifted as the door opened and instead of the Goron's cheek, Colin's mouth slid over Conan's, both boy's eyes going wide. Conan's eyes slowly closed, and he raised an hand, gently, oh so gently cupping the back of Colin's head as he returned the kiss, knowing that this would be the only chance he ever got to do so.

Link stared at the pair from the doorway, food bundle forgotten in his hand, eyes wide, a pain in his chest that had nothing to do with Darbus beating the crap out of him in the sumo ring.

--

The sound of swishing snow surrounded the threesome as they headed down the mountain path, the lighter, and therefore slower human's trailing in the wake of the lumbering giant as he slid easily over the rises and valleys that made up the snow covered lane.

Colin glanced at the quiet Link, before kicking against the ground again, sending his piece of ice sailing further down the path and towards the next hill. Normally he would be enjoying an activity such as snowboarding on a piece of ice over the sharp curves and mounds that lead to Snowpeak Ruins, but with Link being even quieter then usual, and the odd parting he had with Conan...the enjoyment of the activity had been sucked out of everything.

The threesome finally slid up to the steps of the old mansion and Yeto clapped Link on the back as the blond managed to land on the front walk of the mansion, beating Yeto by a second. Link gave a grim smile, kicking the shards of ice aside as he headed up into the mansion.

Colin frowned behind his face scarf, watching Link walk away, leaving him out there with Yeto, before yelping as he was suddenly clapped on the back of the giant creature.

"Come, you get warm with soup." Yeto said, smiling at Colin before heading inside himself.

"Guess I have no choice," Colin muttered once the man was out of earshot, before following Yeto into the house, shivering slightly as he walked down the elegant front hall, examining the large suits of armor.

He was so distracted, as he entered the great hall, that he didn't notice the ice, sliding across it, yelping loudly. An arm snaked around his waist, holding him upright and Colin blinked, looking up into Link's blue eyes before ducking his head, getting his footing again on a patch of floor, carefully making his way to the living room.

He let out a cheer when he saw the huge, roaring fire, immediately stripping off his traveling cloak and making a bee line for the fire, kneeling before it, rubbing his frozen hands together in front of the warmth.

"Colin, this is Yeta," Link murmured and Colin cast a glance over his shoulder at the smaller snow creature before turning back to the fire.

"Hi," the boy muttered, more focused on the warmth then the woman.

Link frowned at Colin's rudeness, and made to comment when Yeta reached out and seized Link's arm, jerking the younger man onto the couch next to her. "Leave him be," she said softly, smiling fondly at Link. "It's alright."

"If you're sure."

"I am, now tell me of your travels. Husband says you went to the desert!"

Link smiled and started telling Yeta of his travels since he last saw her, allowing the motherly woman to wrap part of her fur jacket around him, sinking into the warmth she offered.

--

"He seems nice," Yeta said, watching as Colin blinked sleepily, setting his mug of soup aside in favor of curling up on the rug he was sitting on, watching sleepily as the flames danced before him.

"He is," Link said, carefully tending to their drying laundry, keeping the cloth spread out on the empty couch, shifting his eyes towards the soon to be slumbering Colin. Finished with the laundry, he moved back over to the couch he, Yeta and Yeto shared. He sighed, leaning back against the well stuffed furniture, feeling comforted by the twin furs against him.

Yeta glanced at Link, before looking up at her husband, raising an eyebrow. Yeto smiled softly and leaned over Link's head, kissing Yeta's cheek.

"I'm going upstairs for a few things to add to the soup, take care of Yeta," Yeto said softly, standing and heading into the kitchen for the outside stairs.

Link smiled at the order, used to Yeto's protectiveness of his wife, especially after what happened before. He turned towards Yeta, only to find her already gazing at him.

"Tell Yeta what's wrong," she said softly, before reaching out to carefully un-wind Link's dirty, stained bandages from his neck, a jar of foul smelling cream open on her knee.

"I..." he trailed off for a moment, tilting his head back so she could better un-wrap the bandage, trying to put his words into thoughts. "How old were you, when Yeto and you got married?"

Yeta paused in her bundling of the ruined bandage, trying to remember. "I was younger then fifteen winters," she said finally, tossing the bandage bundle aside, tilting Link's head almost back so she could look at the large, still open wound across his neck. She tisked, gently reaching out a leathery hand, carefully prodding the edges of the wound, feeling the slight rush of air from Link's breathing where his windpipe was still ruined. "They did a number," she said before grabbing a huge amount of cream.

Link winced as the smell of the cream came closer and closed his eyes, biting back a scream as the greasy herbal ointment hit his open flesh. Nothing hurt worse then having something pushed on and into an open wound.

He gasped as the pain started to fade, eyes watering. Sniffing from the reaction, he raised a trembling hand to wipe at his eyes, swallowing thickly as some of the cream entered his throat through the torn gashes across his windpipe.

"It's better," Yeta said, un-rolling a large swath of bandage and carefully wrapping it around Link's neck after smearing it with more ointment. "Not good...but better."

Link waited until she was done and had tied off the bandage before he hugged her tightly. "Thank you, Yeta." he whispered softly. "I would have died out there."

"Nonsense," The woman said, capping the ointment, before drawing Link into her lap, holding him close as only a mother could. "The goddesses wouldn't have let you died, even if they hadn't brought me to you that night."

Link rested his head on her shoulder, trying not to imagine what would have happened to him if Yeta hadn't stumbled upon him bleeding, half dead, torn apart by the citizens of Castle Town. He had no idea how he had made it to Snowpeak, though he suspected Telma and Prince Ralis had a hand in it.

"He was kissing Conan of the Goron's," Link said softly, and Yeta paused in her rubbing of Link's back, trying to connect what Link had said to their conversation, before realizing the boy's words related even further back.

"You love him." It obviously wasn't a question, so Link didn't bother replying, instead he shifted, turning to study Colin.

"I don't think...not love, not yet. But...there's something there. I thought it was just fondness for a childhood friend, a boy I watched grow up..."

Yeta smiled, brushing Link's bangs from his eyes, kissing his temple softly. "Even the sweetest of childhood friends can hide the harshest flames of passion, Link. Yeto and I have seen it. Not just in the way you two look at each other...that soft, fondness you both carry in your eyes, but everywhere. Everything you two touch sings of it. My couch and rug haven't shut up since you arrived. Not yet...but someday there will be a love there."

"Is it strong?" Link asked sleepily, resting his head on Yeta's shoulder.

"Very. It may not be the love of ages, but it is a strong love, Link. And I think it's something you both need right now."

Link smiled as his eyes started to close, dreams filled with visions of firelight dancing off wheat gold hair.

--

"Wow..." Colin spun in a slow circle as he stared at the large room around him, taking in the multitude of weapons laying around.

"This is the armory," Link said in a harsh whisper, throat still sore from Yeta's treatment the night before. "As Yeta and Yeto are peaceful lovers, most if not all of this is mine."

"This is all yours?" Colin said, eyes wide with shock.

"Most. I've collected it on my travels and brought it here to be kept safe. There is no one in the world I trust more then Yeta and Yeto, not even Darbus or Telma. Listen to me now, Colin. They are my mother and father, for all intents and purposes. They are the ones who take care of me, feed me, and patch me back when I do something stupid. Treat and respect them as you would your mum and dad, alright?"

Colin nodded, turning to look at Link. "So, why did you bring me here?"

Link sighed, sitting on a crate of bombs he had picked up in Kakariko when Barnes invented a new type, something about air and lightning, he hadn't quite tried them out yet. "What did you want, when you came with me to the mines? Did you just want to escape what was going on in Kakariko?"

Colin shook his head, biting his lip behind his face scarf. "I..." He took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself. "I wanted you, Link. I've missed you."

"And how long are you going to want me?" Link asked.

"How long can you stand me?" Colin countered and the pair stared at each other, a stalemate achieved.

Link rubbed his sore throat, trying to clear it before standing. "Then we have to talk." He said, nodding to the crate of arrows next to him. Colin sat down, bundling his cloak around him, drawing his knees up so his legs were fully under the woolen material, before the boy blinked at Link, waiting for him to continue.

"I'm not...I'm not the same man I was, Colin," Link said and he growled at Colin's muttering of 'figured that one out', trying to focus his thoughts that were slowly slipping to strangling Colin and being done with it. "I'm not even the man I was, at the end of...what happened. I...well...I guess, to fully tell this story, I need to tell you about what happened when you were first kidnapped."

Link trailed off when he saw Colin shivering at his word and he shifted, pulling Colin onto the crate he was sitting on, settling the boy in the V of his legs, wrapping his own cloak around the teenager. Holding Colin close, he plunged on with his story, not wanting to stop, in case he lost his nerve.

"When you were kidnapped, and I was knocked un-conscious...things changed. By the time I had awoken, Twilight had already overtaken Ordon..."

"What is Twilight?" Colin interrupted, curious about a point to the history he had always been confused on. "I mean, it's evil right, so why isn't it called Darkness like all the others?"

"Precisely because Twilight isn't evil, nor are the Twili. Yes, they have dark part and dark pasts, but they're just...people. Like you and me, living their lives. Their magic isn't any more evil then ours is, it's just...tainted, by the sins of their past."

"Oh..." Colin murmured, turning that over in his mind.

"Anyway, when I discovered, what would later be told to me, was the door to Twilight, or to the tainted Ordon...I was...er...well, I guess 'yanked' would be the correct term, through the door. Now, most humans, or creatures of light, cannot live in Twilight. We become ghosts, shades of who we are. We don't really see the world as it is, nor do we exist in it. Thanks to a wondrous gift of the goddesses, I was different."

"The Triforce, right?"

"Yes and don't interrupt. Because of that, I could exist in Twilight, though not as a human. I...changed. I became a mons...er, a wolf. I was founded, weakened by the first shift from human to creature, and was imprisoned. Midna freed me, and thus started the partnership you know."

"That's it?"

"No, that's not it." Link said, taking a deep breath. "Originally, I was returned to human whenever the Twilight disappeared from an area and light was brought back, thus allowing all of us to exist again basically...then I ran into Zant," Link spat the name, causing Colin to blink, not used to such hatred from Link.

"What happened?" the boy breathed, curious.

"I was cursed. I had a piece of pure Twilight shoved into me, forcing me into the wolf's form permanently. Thankfully, it was able to be removed, and with it's power, Midna could transform me at will, which saved a lot of time and energy..."

Colin remained silent, listening to Link's shuddering breaths, waiting...for what he didn't know, but he knew more was coming.

"W...when Midna left, when she shattered the mirror, she left something behind in the sands of the desert." Link whispered, his voice barely audible, his breathing harsh, wheezing from emotions and use. "I found it, as I was picking up the pieces of the mirror for the Princess."

Link swallowed, staring at the wall for a long moment before raising his arms from Colin's waist. He didn't look, as he started to un-tie his right gauntlet, the leather cracking and groaning as it was removed.

Colin gasped, clutching Link's thighs tightly, staring in horror. Links' arm was ripped open, from just below his wrist to just before his elbow, the wound an angry red, black, dead skin clinging desperately to the edges, outlining the morbid image of a shimmering, glowing...thing, shoved into Link's skin.

"I wanted to remember her...to remember what she taught me, what she made me feel," Link said, his voice emotionless, not looking, staring straight ahead, too afraid to see Colin's reaction. "I picked up the shard of Twilight...and I shoved it into my body. It was...worse, then anything I had gone through, even having it in me before. I lost control, I forgot...everything. For a year and some odd time, I was nothing more then a beast, a shadow over Hyrule." Link swallowed, carefully, again without looking, replacing his gauntlet.

"It took me that time, before I could control the Twilight, to remember my name...my identity. By the time I had come back and could become human again, the whole of Hyrule knew of the blue eyed wolf with an earring in his ear. Remarkably similar to the farm boy who had once traveled the country. To the wolf of stories...the beast of Twilight. I had hunters and bounty men everywhere searching for me. I had been declared a monster and outlaw. Telma and your father came for me, and thankfully it was they who found me first. They had gathered my things from the desert, Castle Town and Ordon. They sheltered me, helped me regain my strength, my...being. They did the best they could, but it had to be hard, waking up every morning to find...that...at your campsite. Eventually they left me..."

"Don't," Colin whispered, tears flowing down his cheeks. He was clutching Link's left arm, still staring at the one that had that...thing in it. "Please, don't...no more," he whispered and he turned, burring his face in Link's chest, crying.

Link's strength broke and he lowered his head, his own tears sliding down his cheeks. He wrapped his arms around the small teen in his lap, holding Colin tightly. He rested his nose against Colin's hair, gently nuzzling it, drinking in the boy's scent, even as the warm, salty tears stained the gold strands. "I'm sorry," Link whispered, clutching Colin tighter. "I'm sorry...you had to know...I'm sorry." He mumbled the words repeatedly, unable to stop.

--

"What will you do now?"

Colin sniffled, wiping his eyes on his sleeve before turning to look at the large figure behind him. His face crumbled again and he turned away, crying softly. Warm, furry arms wrapped around him and Colin clung to Yeto, crying into the thick, matted fir.

"Why?" Colin whispered brokenly, openly sobbing now. "Why him? Why...why, after everything? Why?"

"Because it is their will," Yeto whispered, oh so gently rubbing Colin's back. "The goddesses have plans for all of us, child. We may not see the path, and we may fall into the shadows of the ditch, and even when we break and crumple, screaming their name, their plan is always their, guiding us along."

"So you're saying it was his destiny?" Colin asked, voice bitter, pulling away from Yeto.

"No, it was his choice. But they gave him that choice, to take up this burden and remember, or cast it aside and live free. He made his choice, and he lives with it as best he can, the same way all of us do."

"I want to take it away from him," Colin whispered, staring out the window, sadly watching as Link built up a snow pack to fix part of the crumbling courtyard wall, the young man laughing as Yeta pegged him with a snowball.

"As do I, child. I would prefer nothing better then to rip that taint from his body and cast it into the deepest parts of Hyrule, but that is not our place. Ours is to be there beside him, to give him our strength, catch him when he stumbles, and pick him back up when he falls. Ours is a role to give him the love he so desperately needs."

"He asked me to go home," Colin whispered, tears freezing on his cheeks as he continued to stare at Link.

"Do you wish to?"

"No!" Colin angrily brushed away the frozen teardrops, ignoring the pain from the ice pulling free of his skin. "I want to stay with him! I want...I want to see his world, not just the one I know. I want to sleep under the stars while I listen to him breath, I went to go fishing in Lake Hylia and see him use the armour that once marked him as a hero of the Zora. I want to visit the desert, and know where Midna left to...I want..."

"You want him." Yeto summed up simply, smiling. "He wants to give that to you, Colin. But he's scared. For all his courage, for all his bravery, for all the good he does, he's just a man, scared and alone. He can't bear to lose more friends, more of his family because of what he is. Already Hyrule herself has turned on him, he has been cast from his childhood home out of fear, and forced to live like a wanted criminal...all because of something he cannot change. He wants, so very much, for you to be with him, but he's pushing you away, before you turn your back on him."

"I wouldn't!" Colin said, face red with anger. "He's...I couldn't do that, Yeto! I...he...I love him!"

"Then tell him," Yeta said softly from the doorway.

Colin turned, mouth opened to answer her, words falling away as he stared at Link who stood next to her, the blond's face an odd mixture of shock, hope and despair.

--

"Link, about what I said earlier..."

"Don't, Colin."

"But I..."

"Leave it." Link sighed, regretting his harsh tone. He fluffed the fur he was holding again, trying to smooth it out. "We'll discuss it later."

"When?!" Colin cried angrily, throwing down the pillow he had been dusting off. "When is later? When you drop me of at Ordon because you can't stand the sight of me anymore? When you leave me in Castle Town, unwilling to drag me along? When?!" Tears welled up in the boys eyes and he opened his mouth to continue his emotional tirade, when he was cut off by a coughing fit so violent he was sent to his knees, hacking, desperate for air.

Link was at his side in an instant, kneeling with the boy, rubbing his back, urging him to calm down before the cough got worse. Colin's coughing finally settled and he leaned heavily against Link, his body weak, blood staining his lips. His breathing was slow to even out, and the pair passed a great deal of time in silence, simply waiting as Colin struggled to breath in and out. Link had thought the boy had finally dropped off into an exhausted sleep when he spoke again.

"I'm dying," Colin whispered, dabbing at his blood stained lips, body limp in Link's arms.

"No, you're not, you're just..."

Colin cut him off with a dry, bitter laugh. "I lied. I lied to you, when I said I hadn't seen a doctor. Mum and Dad took me to...too many healers." Colin paused, breathing rattling for a moment, before he forced his eyes open, looking up at Link. "I'm dying, there's nothing...no one can do." His eyes drifted shut, sleep trying to claim him but he forced on, eyes prying themselves back open. "Promise me, Promise me Link...just one thing, please, just promise."

Link closed his eyes, fighting with his emotions. "Anything, Colin. So long as that one thing is within my power, I'll grant it, I swear."

"Love me," Colin whispered and reached up, pulling down his face mask, his other hand curling behind Link's neck to pull the blond down, their lips sealing over the others, the taste of blood thick between their lips.

TBC