Own nothing I. Disclaimer: (the disclaimers are messing with my brain!)
"LINK! Watch out!" Navi screamed as Morpha's tentacle came crashing down behind the blonde. Ducking out of the way just in the nick of time, Link yet again faced the disgusting creature.
"Navi, it's not weakening!" He shouted, slamming his sword down on a rogue tentacle and removing it.
"Yes, it is, but it'll take more than that to defeat it..." Navi continued, pausing...
"LINK!" Link whirled around just to see another limb hurtling towards him. It rammed into his leg with great force, sending him flying backwards and colliding with the wall.
"Link! Are you okay?!" The little fairy questioned, flying over to her fallen comrade. Waiting for an answer, she kept one eye on the boy and one on the creature, which was deciding what to do next. Link gritted his teeth and nodded, trying to get up. He promptly fell back down, the pain dizzying.
"I... I think my leg's broken." Navi whizzed around even more frantically. Morpha had decided to attack, logically.
"I'll just have to continue," Link continued, more for himself to hear than for Navi. Edging up, he used the wall for support until he could stand. Stepping forward, he raised the Master Sword for another volley of stabs to the creature, but another arm hurtled out of the beast and crushed his right wrist, forcing him to drop the sword. Link fell to the ground, biting his lip as Morpha advanced.
"Link? Link!" Navi squealed, torn between worrying about her friend and worrying about the monster. Through all the pain, Link just sat there, waiting.
'Just a little closer... just a little...'
Finally, Morpha was right where Link wanted it. Surprising both Navi and the creature, he slammed his fist to the ground.
"DIN'S FIRE!"
The flames engulfed the creature, evaporating it. Link winced yet again as inhuman screams reached his ears as the monster was defeated and vanished into the darkness.
Link took inventory of his injuries... stabbing pains in his left leg and right wrist, probably multiple fractures, plus the many cuts and gouges from his run-in with Dark Link... the blonde shuddered. Remembering the events of the past hours, when the world slowly faded away from him, he was at least happy he got a break. The last thing he saw was Ruto running towards him.
Sheik followed Ruto through the back end maze of the Water Temple, a frown furrowing his brow. The Zora wouldn't of come and gotten him without good reason, and he had a sinking feeling in his stomach. Pushing open the door, Sheik looked upon the crumpled elf on the floor, being solemnly watched over by Navi. Biting his lip, he walked slowly over to Link and kneeled down next to him.
"Navi came and got me straight away, but I thought she should stay with him." Ruto said quietly, studying the Sheikah. He was bowing his head, thoughts of guilt, remorse and grief running through his mind a mile a minute. Navi blinked.
"Could I have... a moment alone. I'll take care of him." Sheik said quietly. Looking at each other, Ruto and Navi left the room without saying another word. He considered the elf before him for a few minutes, checking the injuries Link had suffered. After finishing this task, Sheik took out his harp and looked to the Hero of Time again. He had risked his life to save everyone else, and now there he lay, his mind swallowed in darkness and his body in excruciating pain. What did the sincere boy do to deserve this?! Sheik sighed, and gently touched Link's face.
"The needs of the many... outweigh the needs of the few..." He whispered, before teleporting away.
in Kakariko Village...
Link blinked and opened his eyes. He was greeted by the chirping of birds and sunlight on his face. After shuffling around a bit, he also discovered he was in a very comfortable bed and in possession of some very painful injuries.
"Don't try and move yet," A quiet voice came from the corner of the room. Jumping slightly, Link looked over to the source. He was, to say the least, flabbergasted at seeing the Sheikah there.
"You...?"
"Yes, me, that's correct."
"Why're you here?"
"You were... injured in the Water Temple. Ruto came and got me to help." Those mysterious crimson eyes softened.
"Oh... but still, that doesn't answer my question. Haven't you got somewhere to poof off to?" Link continued, still suspicious.
"Not at the present moment, no."
"You know... we never talk much, do we?" Sheik didn't reply. "Yet we always seem to rely on each other?"
"I know... but some things are out of our grasp." The older blonde finally said. Link frowned.
"Well, some things aren't!"
After that comment, the two stayed silent for a few minutes, just trying to analyse what the other was thinking. Sheik couldn't bear to stare into those pale azure eyes any longer. Getting up, he moved towards the door.
"You should get some rest... Nayru knows you need it." And with that, he was gone.
Needless to say, Link was as puzzled as ever. Just when he thought he had the older blonde figured out, he went and did something completely unexpected. Leaving his scientific analysis until later, Link decided to do as Sheik said and closed his eyes, greeting his close friend, Sleep, again.
When he next woke, it was well into the night. The sky was black, the stars and planets beyond dotting the sky like fireflies. Link lay still for a minute, just savouring the cool evening breeze and the sounds of the owls in the distance. Wait a minute... he swore he heard something. Straining to listen, Link picked out harp music, riding the wind, playing along. Curious, he swung his legs over the bed and fell out.
'Ugh... I forgot I broke one fighting Morpha,' he thought bitterly, grabbing a plank of wood he could use as a crutch. Finally regaining enough of his bearings to hobble out of the room, he walked onto the landing and spotted a small staircase in the corner. Several minutes later, Link had navigated the staircase, only to be presented with a ladder.
'AUGH! DOES THE TORMENT NEVER END?!' His mind screamed. All he wanted to do was find out what the music was coming from... sighing, Link grudgingly climbed up the ladder to find Sheik sitting on the roof, strumming his harp with his fingers. Link blinked a few times, just content standing there and listening. The song the Sheikah was playing was sad and reminiscent, telling stories of woes long past. It was only when Link fell a few rungs down the ladder did Sheik realise he had an audience, albeit a small one.
"Link!" He stated bluntly, startled. "Are you alright?" Link heaved up the last few rungs he had become close friends with and launched himself onto the roof, landing adjacent to Sheik.
"Of course, I'm fine." That settled, the two sat in silence, just enjoying the sky. Again, the breeze made itself known, and Link just relished it for what it was. It was a relatively warm night and the cool wind was welcome.
"That music... was beautiful." The Hylian finally said, and he meant every word of it. "I could listen to you play forever." Sheik praised Farore several times within the next few milliseconds that he had his mask on; otherwise the younger blonde would've seen him blushing.
"Thank you, Link." He replied, turning to look at him. Link himself blushed a little.
"It's okay." Link poked himself in his mind. Why was he acting like this? Like a silly schoolgirl with a crush?
"No, really... thank you. For everything you have done for myself, and for Hyrule." Sheik himself was thinking along similar lines. He was normally reserved, not letting anyone in, and now here he was, pouring his heart out to someone he had barely talked to. Sure, he wanted to spend a lot more time with Link, but Zelda would never allow that. This time alone was a blessing in disguise.
"Don't worry about it... that's what I was born to do, so I'm here to do it. I wouldn't have it any other way..." Link continued, suddenly taking note that somehow he and Sheik were awfully close. How did he only just notice...?
"Sheik?"
"Yes?"
"Could you... take your mask off?" Sheik was taken rather aback at this. His mask was kind of like his security blanket. Without his mask, he was vulnerable... looking into Link's eyes, he found it hard to refuse. Grudgingly, he unbuckled the mask and revealed his face. Needless to say, Link had to take a breath. The other boy was beautiful, his face shaped like that of a porcelain doll, and his dark red eyes setting the colour of his skin alight. Sheik tried to ignore the eyes that were on him and tried to get back to the conversation they were having.
"It's amazing how you can say that after all you've done, after so many times risking yourself for others... I know I wouldn't be able to." Link looked down, then turned to Sheik. Impulses are the word of the moment, he thought to himself, looking squarely into Sheik's eyes. Giving a small smile, Link gathered his words.
"That's not so. After all..." Link drew a hand up to Sheik's face. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, do they not?"
Yay, finished! This one is long, but I think it's cute and YES! EVIL CLIFFHANGER, MWUAHAHA! I should update very soon, as school is finishing and, yeah. You know how it goes. If you liked it, please review :D