Just had this idea. It's short, but... okay, sorta sweet. IDK, y'all. You tell me in your reviews! ;-)

It's in an AU like the previous chapter (though a different AU).

"Ike, stop pacing," Peach ordered in a flustered tone.

He ignored her and the dull thud of his shoes on the tile floor continued.

She threw up her hands. "Why are you so worried? Zelda can take care of herself! You never cared about her before," she accused, putting her hands on her hips.

Ike stopped to look at her, his cerulean eyes flashing in the dim light of the single bulb that hung from the ceiling. "I'm worried because I know Link!" He sat down heavily on the metal folding chair by the door, dropping his head into his hands. His hair spilled out from beneath his fingers.

"It's my fault," he muttered. "We were never friends, but I should have seen she was hurting. I knew her parents didn't really care about her. I knew when she first told me about Link that it was going to go downhill."

"You said she wouldn't listen to you when you warned her about him," returned Peach, shaking her head. "So it's her own fault."

Ike glared at the ground. "Yes, but it's my fault too. I shouldn't have listened to her. I knew this might happen!"

"What would happen?" asked Peach. "Nothing's happened! She's just missed school for a couple days."

"She never misses her classes! She's been an 'A' student at the community college the whole semester and ever since I knew her in high school. Grrr!"

"Look, I'm sure she'll show up. Her text sounded apologetic for missing classes and she said she'd meet us here. And that she was fine."

"And I totally think she's lying!" Ike snapped, getting up suddenly. "That's it. I'm going to find her."

"Take your coat," Peach answered. "It's pouring."

"I don't need it," he growled, pushing out the door and into the sopping street.

The short walk to Link's apartment did not take long, but it was enough to chill Ike to the bone and soak him like a wet sponge. He knocked fiercely on the door, narrowing his eyes as Link called from inside, "What do you want?"

"I want you to let me in!" Ike roared. "Now!"

"Why?"

"I want Zelda!"

"She's not in here!"

"Yes, she is! You let me in now or I'm calling the police!" Ike's threat echoed against the door and there was brief silence from within. Then a muffled thud and Link retorted desperately,

"You call them and I'll kill her!"

Ike's face drained and he stepped away from the door. He didn't believe Link's threat, but then again…he did.

"Let me in now!" he thundered, stepping back and hurling his shoulder against the door. It thudded and a dull pain shot up his shoulder blade, but he knew the door wasn't going to give. He looked around desperately and saw a twisted piece of railing by the stairs that was barely screwed on. He wrapped his hands around the slick metal and wrenched it free. With a roar he attacked the door.

"Get out! Go away!" Link's voice was rising to a high pitched screech. "I'm going to kill her! Get away!"

A sudden screech from Zelda froze Ike, but the door had already swung open and the man burst in. There was a light in the opposite room and Ike leapt over a table that lay sideways on the ground and landed on his feet in the doorway. Link stood beside the wall, a jackknife in his trembling hand, staring at Ike through wide blue eyes. And, back pressed against the wall, was Zelda, tears streaming down her face.

"If you'd hurt her, you'd be dead right now!" Ike screamed, knocking Link's backpack off the bed in the room as he approached the blonde man. He grabbed Link's shirt collar and pulled him back, dragging him over the bed towards the door.

Zelda winced as she heard the thud of metal against a skull and a thump as a body hit the ground. Ike reappeared in the door and he ran to her. She reached for him as well, wrapping her arms around his neck as he scooped her up like a baby.

"I'm so sorry. I never should have let this happen," he murmured, as he carried her towards the door.

Tears streamed from her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder. "I th-thought I could trust him. He said he needed me, but…" She choked. "He only wanted to use me."

Something dropped onto her head and she pulled away briefly to see Ike was crying as well.

"I hope you don't mind getting wet," said hoarsely. "I'm taking you to Peach's house. She'll take care of you for now, okay?"

She cried harder, squeezing him tighter, and wishing more than ever that she had learned to recognize the difference between true love and lovely lies.

Take it as you will. A Zelda x Ike or... who knows what.

Sorry all Link fans. I don't think he's really like that. ;-)

Review!