Zelda devoured the chips ravenously, even tilting the bag to get every last crumb and piece of flavored powder from it before she set it aside. What should she do now? She had no way of knowing when Ike's mother would get there, what would she do to pass the time?
You act like he'll come back...
HE WON'T!
Stupid girl...
She tensed up at the harsh words and leapt off her bed, wanting to escape the horrific yelling in her head. A shower sounded good she decided and went into her little bathroom, staring at the tiles absentmindedly as she took off her shirt. Her eyes fell to her reflection in the bathroom mirror, drawn to the horrific bruise on her arm. She suddenly understood why Ike wanted the long sleeves to hide his scars, if anyone saw that they'd panic.
He's going to come back...
The man from the garden...
He's going to come back and finish what he started...
She shuddered at what that meant, knowing full well what Ganondorf wanted.
He wants what HE wanted...
Then he'll let whoever wants you have you next...
As quick as her shaking hands could manage she removed her pants, pointedly not looking at the scars there between her thighs. She stepped into the shower and turned the knob, letting the freezing water hit her full force. A shuddering gasp escaped her lips and she sank down to the tiles beneath her feet. Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked as she felt the water begin to heat up.
Why's the whore crying?
The voice was a sharp sneer, a voice she knew all too well.
Don't you want it? You wanted it then... You wanted me, wanted us to go that far... You just needed a push...
"I didn't want that, I didn't want that," she rocked back and forth, eyes on the drain. She watched the water swirl down, wishing she could follow it wherever it went. There was a knock on her door and she jumped, terror making her chest seize up. She stood up, carefully unfolding herself as she went. As she pulled her towel around her body tightly she opened the door, gasping in shock at Ike standing there. His eyes widened in stunned shock, flicking over her quickly before he stumbled back.
"Fuck," he breathed as his legs hit the bed and he sat, eyes flicking down her again.
You like it...
Like him lusting after you...
Wanting to fuck you...
"I didn't mean to," he motioned to her towel-clad body and she blushed violently, stepping back to the bathroom. "I'm so sorry." He turned his head away, red flooding his cheeks. She looked at him, took in his tense posture, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the sheets. He shifted on the bed, eyes flicking to her again. "Do you want me to go? I-I can go-"
"No," Zelda insisted quickly, holding up a hand, her towel held tightly with the other. His eyes flicked over her again and she felt her gut twist.
Drop the towel for him...
Just...
Let...
Go...
She gripped the towel tighter and shook her head. "Just give me a second to get dressed," she said and he nodded, eyes straying from hers to her body. His mouth worked for a moment, almost as if he forgot how to speak. She lowered her arm and his eyes hardened, locking with her dark bruise.
"Who did that?" he asked, horror in voice as he stood up. Zelda stepped back quickly, terrified he'd try to touch her. He froze in his movements, eyes still locked on her arm. "Zelda, Angel who did that?"
"The demon," she whispered and his hands clenched to fists. "Ike it's okay I'm okay Daisy stopped him-"
"I'm going to kill him," he growled out and Zelda shook her head quickly.
"No, then you'll be in a whole lot of trouble," she pointed out and his eyes moved to her face. "If you get in trouble who's going to keep me safe?" She hoped manipulating him worked, sent out a silent prayer for it to work, and was rewarded with him grinning slightly.
"You want me around?" he asked and she nodded.
"Yes I do... Now let me get dressed and we can go," she stepped back into her bathroom and pulled on her clothes quickly, forcing her eyes away from the mirror as she smoothed her hair down. Once she was dressed she glanced in the mirror, nodding at her reflection. "You can do this," she said, hoping she was right.
XxX
They walked together down a white hallway, the light green and blue flecks in the tile the only color as they moved, not exactly side by side. Ike cast her a relaxed grin and she smiled nervously at him in response. Could she do this?
Meeting his mother...
Didn't you meet mine?
She cringed at the voice and tried to drown it out by talking to Ike. "So what does your mother look like?"
"You'll know her when you see her," he said with a grin as they came to a set of double doors guarded by a bored looking orderly. "Hi Frank," Ike acknowledged the guard who grunted in response as he opened the door for them. They stepped into a room Zelda had yet to see. Here the windows were open, the walls a calming blue, and the people smiling. Families of patients gathered around small round tables, hugging and speaking. Some were even laughing Zelda noted as a woman threw her head back and bellowed out a hearty laugh as if the world held no sadness. Her hair was as dark and as blue as Ike's, and when she turned to them Zelda realized this had to be his mother.
"Ike!" she beamed at him, love dripping enough from the one word she spoke to make Zelda feel insanely jealous of the love this mother showed her child. Why hadn't her mother been like this? Elena moved towards them and Ike met her halfway, scooping her up in a hug with a grin a mile wide on his lips. After a moment he pulled back and looked to Zelda, her wishing she hadn't agreed to come along. This... she couldn't do this.
She'll know what you are...
Not an angel...
Nothing so sweet...
Not for you whore!
"Zelda," Ike's voice was kind as he pulled Elena over to her, "this is my mom Elena, Elena this is Zelda she's new around here."
"Oh it's nice to meet you Zelda," Elena beamed a happy smile at her and Zelda sensed she meant it. No false pity, no pity at all. She liked her Zelda decided immediately. "Ike usually brings Marth-"
"Marth got hurt," Ike growled and Elena's face whipped back to her son, eyes losing the happiness as she studied her son's face. Zelda watched, wondering what the woman was looking for.
"Ike honey you can't blame yourself," she said gently, laying a soft hand on his covered arms. Ike stared at her for a long moment, a silent conversation passing between them that Zelda felt awkward witnessing. "So," Elena turned back to Zelda with a smile once more, "let's sit and girl I can tell you so many stories about this one." She turned to an empty table and Ike followed her, glancing at Zelda.
"You okay Angel?" he asked softly and she nodded.
NOT AN ANGEL!
She ignored the voice and moved to an empty seat, watching as Ike carefully chose a chair so there was space between them.
"So," Elena looked between them, her mind obviously connecting dots that Zelda was sure she was imagining, "why are you here Zelda?"
"Mom," Ike's voice was firm, gentle but commanding and Zelda watched another silent exchange. "We've all got our problems let's not talk about them."
"Of course," Elena nodded, eyes flicking to Zelda. "I own a bakery downtown, did you know that? A little tiny shop we do cakes and cookies and pies... Oh Ike did you know Elincia is getting married?" Zelda looked to Ike to see him grin.
"Who finally managed to get her to say yes?" he asked as he leaned back in his seat.
"Oh some man she met in her travels, he seems nice and I've got an order for her bridal shower and the wedding cake," Elena beamed proudly and Ike shook his head.
"How's my little sister?" he asked after a moment.
"Mist is doing well... baby number two on the way, we'll have another bundle of joy in our family in about a month," she pulled a thin phone from her pocket and held it out to Ike who grinned and showed Zelda the picture. She recognized the gray picture of an ultrasound, the baby looking quite squished in it's temporary home.
Children...
Can you have those?
After everything...
I doubt it...
She looked away, wondering if Ike wanted kids of his own some day.
Not with you!
No one will...
If you even can...
"Let's hope this one doesn't take after his uncle and find ways to take off his diaper huh?" Elena teased and Ike chuckled, a blush crawling up his cheeks as he handed the phone back to her. He looked to Zelda and Elena spoke before he did. "This boy would strip down and run around naked all day if you didn't watch him. Somehow, don't ask me, he would work himself out of those baby clothes the second you had him dressed! I have so many pictures of him at home crawling around butt naked for the world to see..." she laughed and Zelda smiled, a giggle working out of her. "When he got older he decided he was going to cut his own hair one day-"
"No," Ike groaned the word and ran a hand through his hair.
"He got into my sewing kit and found my scissors while I was baking cookies. I walked into our living room to find him surrounded by piles of blue hair and a smile on his face. You were so proud of yourself mister," she laughed and Ike shrugged self consciously.
"I didn't like how the one lady cut my hair so," he motioned with his hand and looked to Zelda. "Needless to say that never happened again."
"Your father was so mad," Elena shook her head and Ike mirrored the motion. "Can you believe it's been ten years already honey?" she asked in a sad voice and Ike took her hand gently. She looked to Zelda and sighed. "I found the love of my life when I met his father. I knew the moment I saw him that I was going to marry him and I was so happy when I found out he felt the same... then came this boy," she squeezed Ike's hand affectionately and he grinned, "then Mist, and then I had my hands full and swore no more." Ike chuckled and looked to Zelda.
"I wasn't that bad," he confided and Elena snorted.
"Not that bad huh? Mister stayed out all night every night when he turned sixteen, joined the army at eighteen, scared me half to death-"
"I like to think you handled it well," Ike countered with a sigh and Elena shook her head with a sad smile. "Next time you visit you'll have to bring some cookies for Zelda," he said as he looked to the silent observer. "She makes the best you'll ever have trust me."
"I do," Zelda said softly and his eyes searched hers for a long silent moment. A grin slowly curved up the corner of his lips and he held out a hand. She stared at it, knowing she wanted to take it, knowing if she did she was undoubtedly showing him that she trusted him, and slowly she reached her hand to his. Her hand shook as she laid it down on top of his, limp and sweaty in his warm calloused palm. She could feel Elena's eyes on her, but all she could do was stare at his hand laying under hers, making no move to tighten it's grip as he grinned at her.
Foolish girl...
XXX
Sorry this update took awhile I may or may not have Gotham being added to Netflix (can I hear some love from fellow Gobblepot shippers?) and Assassin's Creed Syndicate coming out (sorry Jacob, but no one will ever replace Ezio and Edward as the sexiest assassins ever. Yes they are tied at number one) to blame... Special thanks to my review leaving awesome people Tsubasa (the guest), Paradigm of Writing, and (if you don't know by now you haven't been paying attention) concisponci! Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh
