There's something foreboding about being in the library of the destroyed castle. Maybe it's because the whole place is falling apart and the last time he was here there were Moblins patrolling every hall. That probably has something to do with it. Or maybe it's because Vaati's sitting on one of the broken dirty tables, citing the names of monsters that could still be lurking inside.
"Keese, of course. Though I hardly think they're a threat or even pests ," he says calmly, with the macabre delighted tone of a small child that knows they're doing something terrible. "They're strangely cute. I have a soft spot for the little bastards."
"You're making it really hard to concentrate," Link tells him as he pulls out another book. In this huge library, there's got to be something on the sanctuary he found. Hopefully one with pictures of it, just in case it's too old for him to read.
"Ah, what about Like Likes?" Vaati keeps listing the monsters off. "They might not be fond of the environment. I believe they like something more damp than this. You know," he says, voice a pleasant lilt. Link notices him out of the corner of his eye, waving his hand as he speaks, a dainty finger winding its way into his long hair and wrapping a bit around the digit. "I met someone once who had an… odd interest in them. To each their own, I guess."
At that, Link actually turns around fully to look at him. Granted, though, it might be more because it's hard to keep his eyes off the fidgeting man. "What are you talking about? "
Vaati shrugs. "Simply making conversation."
"What- What even is a Like Like? Are you talking about some weird... sex... thing...?" He sets down the book and pushes it away. An encyclopedia of insects found in Hyrule. Totally useless. Unless it happens to mention Like Likes.
"I don't think anyone can just explain a Like Like to another person. It's really something you'd have to see for yourself." Vaati's got this awful little smirk on his face now and it kills him to watch. He's so distracting. "Imagine, I suppose, that a rather large vat of slime became sentient and decided it'd like to digest you."
"I… alright, I'll bite. Why would anyone be interested in that?"
He shrugs again. "Morbid curiosity? Vivid imagination? Disturbing fetish-"
"Alright," Link claps his hands together. "Back to work."
He throws open another book.
"Ah-" Vaati snaps his fingers. "Gibdo! That's the one I was forgetting. Certainly there's a few Gibdos, what with the casualties that surely took place here."
A book on proper Hylian etiquette. Link has half a mind to toss it at Vaati's head. "Has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much?"
"I think I don't talk enough." Vaati jumps off of the table and wanders to Link's side. He's uncomfortably close. Like, brushing up against Link's arm close. "What is it that you're tearing this library apart for?"
Link doesn't know if he's really allowed to tell Vaati, to be honest. Zelda never said he couldn't tell anyone else about it, but she also didn't know he was going to be traveling with some weird guy he met along the way. But Vaati seems to know a lot about Hyrule's monsters, so maybe he knows something about the spot.
He takes out his Sheikah Slate, opening up the photo.
"I'm trying to figure out what this place is. I found it just before I helped you out with that Moblin. I've never seen it before, which I thought was pretty weird since… well, I've been just about everywhere in Hyrule. And it's got this old Hylian all along the walls, too, right?"
Link's voice picks up a little bit. It kind of reminds himself of Zelda, actually. Like when she's talking about something he just doesn't understand. Medicinal properties of ingredients or how ancient screws can save the world. It's not like he's excited about old stuff like she is, though. He just wants to know what's going on. He likes a mystery and a little bit adventure. Not full blown 'save the world' kind of adventure, but little 'my cat got sucked up by an Octorock can you get it out?' kind of adventures. Ones to keep him busy. Something that might help jumpstart his memory. And he's always a little interested in Hyrule. There's something great about learning more about the place you just saved.
"I don't know, I've never seen anything like it before." Link continues. "I uh… thought that Hyrule Castle might have something on it."
He leaves out the fact that it wasn't his idea to check here. That he's not just doing this for himself but for Zelda. He leaves Zelda out entirely. Vaati doesn't need to know he talks to the princess, even if it's pretty obvious. And for all the times Vaati's closed off and been good at hiding what he must be feeling (although, Link's only known him for about three days, tops), he really doesn't do so well this time. His face goes white (which is pretty impressive, he's incredibly pale already) and he looks shaken.
"I see," he says curtly. "Brushing up on history then."
"Sort of, I guess. You… know about this?"
"No." He snaps. "I do not." Which is about as inconspicuous as a clown in Gerudo Desert.
"Oh- well, I just thought you might. And I mean, you look so nervous-"
"We're supposed to be looking for my cap."
"I know, but I said I had to come here first and this is why. It's important-"
"And so is my cap." Vaati slams his hand down on the table. Hard. Loud. "It is crucial that I find it." He raises his voice. He sounds furious. He looks furious. "If you're going to keep on wasting my time in this Goddesses' forsaken castle then I can simply look for it on my own-"
Link doesn't like making people upset. He doesn't like screwing up so badly that he's got someone yelling at him. But this is different than before. This is almost defensive. This is directed at him but not exactly at him. Like someone yelling at their kid because their boss just pissed them off. Vaati's yelling at his search.
"This is important ," Link repeats. He stares Vaati in the eyes. Wants to know what's wrong. Wants to get it into his head that he's trying to help, even if it doesn't seem like it. What is it that is getting him so worked up? What does he know? "You can either help me look or you can leave."
Vaati looks fuming. Like he's going to punch Link or storm off. For a split second, Link thinks he should apologize. Back pedal and say he didn't mean that. But something changes in that split second when his eyes meet the bookshelf.
"Fine," he says slowly. "I'll assist you."
He almost knocks over the entire thing when he goes and picks out a book (figures, he's got to be a jerk about it) but he gets to work. Link realizes about halfway through searching through another book that now all of his attention is on Vaati, waiting for him to do something or say something. For him to get angry again. For him to try something sneaky. He's really doing more bad than good by helping. Maybe that's what he's trying to do.
"Here," Vaati says after a half hour of silence, other than the sound of turning pages. He slams a book down. "Now, can we get on with what's really important?"
It's just one page. A short blurb and a drawing of almost exactly the photo he took (in much better condition, of course). The whole thing's a mess, though. Practically illegible. He can't make heads or tails out of it, it's so damaged. Scratched up, scorched, the edges all torn, marked up. Vaati couldn't have done it, Link's been watching him almost the whole time, but… but Link knows that somehow this has to do with him. Maybe there's another book on this and Vaati just handed him the one that was the most messed up. He can't check without alerting Vaati that he doesn't trust him.
- - Sanctuary
Rest-ng place of the - -d. Legend says that a he-o once u-e- this -a- to -q-s- -a-, binding - -c-re- to it, -nd placed it here to -t. It is now the royal f-ily's duty to b- the -w- and -p the -as- - - for - -.
He needs to find out as much as he can about this sanctuary so he can report back to Zelda and they can figure out a game plan on what they're going to do about it, but he can't let Vaati know that he isn't looking this up just to solve his curiosity. That he's involved with the princess. Or that he's suspicious of Vaati. Not when he thinks that Vaati might have something to do with it. He's got to fold for now.
Goddesses above, his heart is beating fast.
It's exciting. He hasn't been in possible danger in a while. He hopes that this isn't life-threatening end of the world danger, though.
Link's not a good actor but he likes to think he's a little convincing when he sighs and rips out the page "I guess it's not that important if they didn't keep this in better condition." He stuffs it away into his pocket for Zelda.
They can use it. At the very least, Link can make out that it's talking about the sword he found.
"Thanks," Link smiles at Vaati and prays that he's not as smart as he thinks the man is.
And if he is, he's at least good at bluffing because he crosses his arms and scoffs.
"Of course. Now… shall we?"
"I promised," Link says.
He has no idea why Vaati would want to keep the sanctuary a secret from him but Goddesses above he's hoping it's because of something silly.
Afterall, he's really enjoying his company.
A/N: In which Link finds out what vore is.
Oh and I guess more important shit takes place. Wow though! 10 chapters already, huh! :o We are up there~ And speaking of up there - I am now working on the cLIMAX of this story, writing out what is likely to be the third to last chapter.
Which means of course it's going to take me ten years to finish but hey, we're almost there. ANYWAY review time!:
Tiger Spy: Thank you very much! :) And I loved your comment haha so cute.
Mari: Ah thanks! 3 Vaati's a complicated boy who thinks he can hide his feelings perfectly, but Lord knows he's wroooong.
SmashQueen: AH! I hadn't of even thought about Kilton to be honest! I wonder if I can squeeze at least a mention of him into any of my already written chapters... Thanks for the comment!
FCL: Don't worry, while I definitely am trying to write a better relationship between Link and Zelda, their interactions are far and few inbetween (but when she's there, she is TherE). And ah, Link might exaggerate here and there – and even if it only seemed like a few minutes, I definitely thought of it as more but didn't want to write that so much time had passed as it didn't feel as natural. I'm not a huge fan of the apocalyptic future theory on most things, but I can definitely see where the idea draws from. I always just like to imagine that Hyrule's just a little kooky.
Link has it in his head that he makes mistakes a lot just because someone might seem a little upset. Don't worry, that's just the anxiety.
And no problem! Half the time I'm way too lazy to log into FF to properly comment, so I just do it over anon with my username lol.
Hyrule's home to plenty of odd characters, so it might take Link a little bit to get there! Also I would have lOST it if that happened while I played Eventide. I did it pretty late in the game, personally, so it was really odd to suddenly go back to the roots. Very nostalgic, even though the game had only just come out a week ago lmao. BUT LINK IS ALWAYS IN EVERYONE'S BUSINESS ALL THE TIME- he's such a nosy bitch and I lOVe it. Everyone always seems to forget that.
I'm glad you thought Link's speech was inspiring, though! ;A; I didn't think it would resonate so much with people! It was sort of an ode to my love for redemption stories lol. Just gotta project onto my good boy. And oh well! I don't mind if the fic only hits a niche audience. Rather it be a good experience/read for those who don't mind the ship than those that are completely against it.
Don't worry though, Link's just exaggerating/saying what Vaati wants to hear to get him to come inside lol. Again, thank you so much for the awesome review! :) And thank you for the encouragement! Now if only the rest of this fic could write itself lmao.