Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda, nor any of its inherent elements, characters, locations, or awesome music. I do own this idea for an AU version of Hyrule and the unique storyline contained therein.
Link grinned as he extended his hand. "Alright, Midna of the Twili, you have just hired the best damn thief in Hyrule. Payment in the form of Twili magic essence shall be transferred upon delivery of one Light Tribe artifact."
Midna smirked as she shook, her small hand dwarfed by his. "In turn, Link, I will help you find the artifact and provide you with aid on our journey. Just don't try and weasel out of the deal before I get the artifact."
Link returned the smirk, "You don't trust me? I'm hurt." All he got in return was that smirk that turned into a grimace when Midna shifted uncomfortably. "You're a thief, Link. I'd be a fool to trust you completely."
"I'm not just a thief, Midna; I'm the thief. I've stolen artifacts from every Tribe and even from Hyrule Castle." Link puffed up a bit only to let out a grunt as she elbowed him in the stomach. "Not from my Tribe you haven't."
Midna grinned as he rubbed his stomach. "How long until you and I can start looking for the artifact?"
Link thought for a moment, then smiled. "Although it was deep, Saria told me the wound on your back wasn't as serious as she thought, but it stretched from shoulder to hip. If you hadn't called out for help, you might have bled to death before anyone found you." He nodded to himself and continued. "By the end of the week, you should be healed enough to travel. You can start moving around tomorrow, but you need to take it slow and not overextend yourself."
Midna sighed but just accepted his answer. "In the morning, we'll go over where this artifact might be in Hyrule, but for now, I'm going to bed." Link smirked and started pulling off his shirt.
The little Twili imp turned a dark purple and quickly turned away. "What are you doing, Link?!" The thief chuckled. "I'm going to bed, too. This is my treehouse, so of course I'm sleeping here. " He took no notice of Midna and pulled a pallet out from under the bed.
Midna turned until she could see Link in a thin undershirt as he lay down on the pallet. Strangely enough, he still wore the trademark bandages over his lower face. "Link?"
"Yeah?" "Why don't you take off those bandages? They can't be comfortable while sleeping." Link raised his head to glance up at the imp. "I'm not uncomfortable." He watched as she seemed to twitch. Wha-?
"Just, take them off, okay?" Now he did pay attention. Did they bother her that much? "Look, don't bother with it, they're fine as is." He saw that twitch again. "Take them off!"
The darkling was getting annoyed. There's just something about those bandages that irritated her…. "I said, take them off!" Link grinned. "You want to see my handsome face that much, huh?" There's that purple color again.
"Y-No! I just don't like them, okay! So take them off!" The boy was smirking underneath those bandages, she knew it! He had to be! "Right now you thief!"
Link just chuckled. "Not a chance, little Princess." 'He did not! He…He wouldn't dare call her a…a-' "Princess!" If looks could kill he would be six feet under and the little imp would be dancing on his grave. "Princess!" Oh look, she was turning that lovely purple color again! Link just smiled as the little Twili Princess seethed and sputtered. 'If nothing else, she's interesting and so easy to tease.' It was a long time before either fell asleep.
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Farore laughed at how her little thief teased the darkling. Din looked over and shook her head in amazement. "She is definitely mine, but does yours have to irritate her so much?" Farore smiled as she turned to her fiery sister.
"I do the same to you. Why shouldn't our chosen behave the same? Besides, she has your temper, but mine has courage to antagonize her." Both chuckled at some of the threats the newly named 'Princess' shouted at the thief.
"Not very ladylike, is she?" Din winced at a particularly painful threat leveled towards Farore's chosen. "And you say they'll actually learn to like each other? Little Link might be casual about this, but Midna's a bit stiff from ruling such a traditional Tribe."
Farore waved her hand to dismiss her sister's concerns. "I hate to say it, but my little thief is a bit too arrogant at the moment. He's overconfident and lazy compared to the heroes of the past, and Midna can give him the focus he needs to truly succeed."
Din grinned at this. "And maybe your lazy little thief can soften up my little Twili Princess. She needs to get past the whole 'outsiders are unclean' indoctrination most of her people suffer from."
They both laughed at the imperfections of their chosen. Din grinned as a question arose in her mind. "How did we manage to pick those two? A lazy thief who flirts with a woman who can throw him against a wall with her hair, and a Tribal leader turned imp who is bothered by a bandage-wearing thief and has a stick up her-"
"Din? Farore? It's time to eat!" A blue-haired woman walked in and glanced down at the mirror. "Spying again? Honestly, let them have some privacy!" The two guilty women looked over at their sister with sheepish grins on their faces.
"But Nayru, they're not doing anything. It can't hurt to eavesdrop a little." Din whined as she and Farore were lead out the door. None of the three women noticed a thin, slimy black thing make its way out of a crack in the wall and worm its way to the mirror on the wall.
The black creature examined the bickering figures on the mirror surface and hissed. It seemed to coil in on itself then lunged into the mirror, leaving a dark smudge on the clear surface.
