I don't really have anything to say except thanks for the revieeewss and things! All my notes are at the bottom lol u should read them they are important.

Warnings: Violence, also gets kinda gay in the middle but not really?

Pain exploded across the side of Link's body, the force of the blow sending him sprawling in the snow. He rolled a few times, the cold powdery substance kicked up by his body, before his back collided with the bottom of a nearby tree trunk. Gritting his teeth he sprang to his feet, looking back over at Ghirahim in alarm before the beast blocked his view.

It hunched, prowling on all fours, its solid unnaturally glowing eyes fixed on him. The thing resembled some sort of animal, its fur the same colour as the snow beneath its feet. It lunged without warning and Link cried out, having no choice but to retreat backwards into the forest. It hadn't even given him a chance to draw his blade.

Its claws struck the bark of the tree he'd been standing in front of, wood splintering everywhere. He looked back, catching a glimpse of another beast approaching the demon lord. The hero took off into the forest, his own pursuer close behind. He only managed to avoid another deadly slash by dodging around a tree. If appeared that the demon and he would be unable to reunite until they'd dealt with the two monsters. Link seriously hoped that there weren't any more around.

The boy hissed in pain as something sharp nicked his shoulder. He ran, hearing great bounding steps along with ragged panting just behind him. Trying to outrun it wouldn't work; the thing was fast. He dodged between the trees of the foreign woods, which were bare and yet their trunks were thick and tall, just barely managing to evade it. He had absolutely no idea where he was going, but he was beyond caring at the moment. Adrenaline had overridden exhaustion, carrying him along on instinct alone.

There was a rush of air from behind and Link threw himself down just in time to see the beast fly over him, jaws snapping at where his head would have been moments before. The hero scrambled back to his feet and changed direction, nearly tripping over a root jutting out of the ground. He'd hardly bought himself time for the animal was back on its prey's trail again in a matter of seconds.

The trees were thinning, causing Link to grimace. He had to think of something fast. While dulled by panic, the ache in his lungs and throat was becoming almost unbearable, his entire body weighed down in its already worn out state. He couldn't run for much longer.

All of a sudden, the ground gave way to a slope, deadly steep. Link's vision blurred, and he only just managed to catch sight of it; the snow made it hard to distinguish details in the terrain. He skidded to a stop with a gasp, but he had trapped himself quite precariously. There was no other choice now. He had to stand and fight.

Reaching back to draw his blade, the youth spun around right as the creature launched itself at him.

The breath left him swiftly, the mass of fur and teeth and claws slamming into his much smaller frame. There was a moment of stillness, of realization, as the two were thrown back into the open air. Link's hand, not having reached his sword in time, was tossed uselessly before him, fingers splayed towards the grey sky. Then, the world gave a sickening tilt before it turned into the most nauseatingly chaotic spin Link had ever known.

The trees, the earth and the sky all became one as the two shapes tumbled down the slanted land in a blur of green and white. Up became down, left became right and left again all too fast for the hero to process. In the midst of the dangerous fall, his shoulder slammed against the ground and something snapped, but his own cry lodged in his throat for he didn't even have the strength for it. The beast was still close, but it was as stunned and helpless in its position as he was. Snow flew into the blond's eyes, kicked up by their momentum, blinding him.

His battered form bounced high, and for a moment he'd thought that they'd come to a stop on flat ground at last.

And then all became dark, coldness engulfing him whole. Shock spread through his system, his limbs going rigid as though every blood cell in his body had turned to ice. It was like back in the realm of shadows when that monster had screamed and frozen him where he stood, only this was different. All he could hear was the sound of water rushing past his ears, but even that was distant. Everything felt far away, swept away in the current.

The hero's eyes opened, seeing the clouds above through the blurry unevenness of the water. The surface was within reach – almost cruelly so – an arm's length before him. He wanted to move but his body had finally given out, leaving him to sink into the depths. The will to fight, to survive, was slipping; it was so much easier just to let the river claim him…

But something hooked onto his tunic heaved the disoriented human up. He burst through the surface, gasping and choking up liquid as his rescuer came into focus.

Or not.

Like an abused toy, he was flung aside to make brutal contact with a nearby tree. He dropped to the ground, coughing up red-tinted water and lying motionless.

It appeared that his pursuer wasn't quite finished with him yet. Link could see it past his fluttering eyelids, stalking towards him, saliva dripping from its maw. He absentmindedly wondered if drowning would have been less painful than being ripped apart by this thing. He gritted his teeth, shivering at the foot of the tree. How pathetic, to die in such a way.

A weak groan left him as he felt it bite into his side, even more agony shooting through him. It suddenly lifted him, tossing him into the air to land a few meters behind it. Link let out a scream, and then a grunt as he hit the forest floor once again. So it wasn't going to kill him right away, it was going to play around with him first.

The boy tried not to let his emotions consume him, but it was too late. Frustrated tears began to spill down his cheeks, at his own incapability of handling himself, and at the fact that he was wishing for Ghirahim to come to his rescue once again. The demon may have abandoned him at this point, ultimately deeming him too useless to assist with his task and leaving him to his death.

And then there was Zelda, but he didn't even want to think of letting her down; it was too painful.

Everything had happened so fast. In the expanse of about ten minutes, he was reduced to this. It was pitiful because under normal circumstances he should have been able to deal with this creature easily, and yet here he was: too injured and drained to fight, waiting for the rabid animal to end him. But what could he do…?

Link raised his chin slightly, the minute action alone putting terrible strain on him. However, his eyes caught sight of something reflective resting in the snow just in front of him, a greenish colour showing through it. The youth managed to raise his hand, slowly reaching across the ground, his fingers closing around the object. It was a bottle, a crack ran through it but it was still intact. It must have fallen out of his adventure pouch when the animal threw him.

His eyes widened as he heard the creature's slow footsteps approaching him once more from behind. Without a second thought he uncorked the bottle and downed its contents.

Immediately a rush of strength poured into him, enough for him to get to his feet and face the monster. It looked back at him with its head cocked to one side in confusion. Breathing hard, Link glared at it, feeling as though he now had the energy to take it down, but he knew that his time was borrowed and the potion would only last for a mere few minutes. Breaking the standstill, he dropped the empty bottle and slid his blade from its sheath, charging at the beast.

A snarl tore from his opponent as its bewilderment turned to fury. Disregarding his injuries, for he could hardly feel them anyway at the moment, Link struck out, slashing across its muzzle and snapping its head to the side. It howled in pain and Link smirked, about to lung in again when it abruptly swung back around and threw itself at him. He grunted as he was forced onto his back, pinned under the creature's weight. He accidentally lost his grip on his sword and it fell a few feet away.

Canines snapped inches before his face and Link let out a cry, quickly reaching down and grabbing his spare dagger. He plunged it into whatever he could reach, stabbing at the beast again and again until its blood was running down his arm and dripping all over his upper body. It reared back a bit before sinking its teeth into his forearm, jaws closing around the gauntlet. Link screamed as the creature thrashed its head from side to side as though trying to rip the limb from its socket, agony shooting through his already injured shoulder.

That was it. He'd had enough.

The hero craned his neck, reaching with his free arm for his sword, fingers closing around the handle. With one final yell, he drove the steel clean through the side of beast's head, feeling it go still and watching the light leave its eyes. Link managed to untangle himself from it before the thing slumped down and trapped him under its mass. He clawed at the forest floor, pulling himself away from the creature and getting back to his feet, his breathing coming in short spurts. Looking back, he saw it lying in a pile. It would have blended in with the snow if not for the blood matting its fur.

Link slowly retrieved his dagger, and then backed away from it to return his weapons to their rightful places. He noticed that a few other things of his were scattered along the ground, but they were small items he'd found on the surface; nothing of real importance.

Heart still frantically pounding away at his ribs, the boy glanced around at the clearing he'd ended up in. His eyes travelled to the nearby river, which wasn't very big but not small either, and then to the steep slope directly behind it. There was a path cut through the snow where he and the wild animal had tumbled down it. His gaze followed it all the way to the top. Part of him wondered if Ghirahim had dealt with the other creature yet.

At that precise moment, the youth felt the potion wear off. The pain from his injuries, the exhaustion, the cold; everything that had been pushed back by it came rushing forth. It was too much for the hero's body to handle and he dropped to his knees.

He was out before the ground came up to meet him.

Few things could hold the fascination of the demon lord for long. Humans especially. Either they would bore him to the point of losing interest entirely, or test his patience to dangerous levels. However, having one do both at the same time could produce unpredictable results.

The sky child was a special case, able to fascinate him, bore him, and irritate him all at once.

Observing his unconscious form was about as entertaining as watching him in wakefulness. Both sides of the human were so different, yet similar.

His conscious state wore a hardened, determined mask, only fitting for the warrior he'd been forged to be by destiny. Admittedly, his heroic routine could grow tiresome. He was brash, yet infuriatingly righteous, as Ghirahim knew him to be.

But in unconsciousness he was much more genuine. The boy's soft features were relaxed for the most part, and allowed a glimpse into the carefree spirit he once outwardly showed, yet still possessed at heart. In some ways it was endearing, in others, pitiful.

One side revealed only what the hero wanted seen, which was futile when it came to the demon lord since he was so adapt at toying with his emotions regardless. The other displayed his true colours; the child from the sky, still young, still so naïve.

Here he lay before him; worn and beaten, vulnerable, human. He was bare except for the clothing necessary to cover him, the rest of his soaked attire cast aside and spread to dry on the floor of the cavern the demon lord had been fortunate enough to come across. Firelight flickered on the stone, the heat from the small pit of flames hopefully enough to kindle the boy's body temperature. Humans were such fragile creatures. While they were capable of enduring much, their bodies would succumb to the slightest physical hindrance or, at the very least, suffer permanent injury.

His eyes swept his battered form, gaze lingering on the scars and various imperfections littering the human's skin. Most seemed aged, likely collected during his past adventure beneath the clouds. And the demon noted with amusement that some may have been inflicted by himself, had the boy been too slow to avoid a sword strike. Other wounds were recent, such as the puncture on his arm and side, and the gashes along his shoulder.

This one was reckless, Ghirahim thought, far too much so for someone of his occupation. He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Though he supposed he didn't blame Link for his growing impulsions. The pressure placed on one living under the magnitude of all he'd experienced could take its toll on one's psyche after all.

The demon lord lifted a hand, placing it on the boy's chest. His fingers traced mindless patterns along his flesh, moving to his collar bone, to his neck. He could feel the clamminess of the other male's skin through his glove. The blond didn't so much as twitch, his breathing faint. Ghirahim's eyes narrowed.

How inconvenient it would be if he lost the human here.

Hand gliding over to the boy's shoulder, which was awkwardly jutting out of its socket, the demon's fingers encircled the joint. Without hesitation, he pressed it down with sudden force, hearing it pop back into place. Immediately, a low groan drifted up from the human and he glanced down to see the hero's features contort in great discomfort.

"Apologies…"

Despite his mutter, he took some satisfaction in healing the human this way; having to break him more to put him back together. Ghirahim ran his fingers through the boy's hair, a soothing gesture to calm the youth whimpering in his sleep. Link quieted for the moment, but the tenseness in his expression never left. The demon supposed that was a positive sign; pain as opposed to the lifelessness he'd been displaying before.

Ghirahim lazily summoned a potion from the hero's adventure pouch, taking the cap off and bringing the rim of the glass to Link's lips. He tipped it slowly, letting some of the red liquid trickle down into his mouth, enough to heal the most recent wounds he'd sustained. The white-haired male sighed, resealing the bottle and setting it aside once more.

"Don't think I'm playing nurse for you," he hissed, fingers momentarily clenching in the boy's blond strands, "I've been forced to do that once already, and I won't make a habit of it."

His warning garnered no response, not that one was to be expected. Ghirahim propped an elbow on his knee, allowing his chin rest in his hand and closing his eyes as he let himself be consumed by the silence of his surroundings.

Link's grimace deepened a few minutes later, his neck craning to the side. A shuddering breath caught the demon's attention, his eyes opening to fixate on the human again.

He'd gone rigid as though having been struck by something invisible, a few small noises of distress slipping out from between his clenched teeth. The boy's body then went lax, only to meekly writhe and squirm on the cave floor. A cold sweat had broken out, beads of perspiration dotting his already pale form.

"Feeling a bit under the weather, are we?" Ghirahim commented dryly, suspecting Link of being in some state of unconscious torment. He wondered what sort of visions would grace his adversary tonight.

The hero's unsteady breathing grew fast and shallow all too quickly. He would flinch and gasp every so often, twisting away from some imaginary foe. It reminded the demon of how an insect would struggle when trapped under a magnifying glass; a fruitless effort.

Ghirahim didn't necessarily plan on helping the boy in any way. It wasn't like Link was actually being harmed – physically at least – and he knew that he was perfectly capable of handling a little bit of bad dreams.

… However, the noises were fast becoming bothersome to the demon. They were incessant, the hero's voice climbing in volume as the minutes wore on. And while those kinds of sounds were enjoyable coming from his adversary, they were really only satisfying to the lord when caused by his own hand.

Ghirahim's fingers twitched. 'What am I going to do with you, sky child?'

He reached forward, slipping his arm under the other male's shoulders and drawing him into his lap with some amount of caution.

"Nnh…" A soft whine slipped past the unconscious boy's lips. "Uhn…"

"Oh, come now, it can't be that terrible…" The demon lord remarked offhandedly, stroking his thumb along the other's shoulder. A smirk crossed his features as he rolled his eyes back down to the human. "Unless I'm totally reading the situation wrong and all these laboured sounds you're making indicate something else…?"

It was a bit sad that the other male was not awake. He was certain that remark would have at least flustered the human… well, more so than this already less than dignifying position.

The human shuddered, from the cold or otherwise Ghirahim did not know, one of his hands finding the demon's cloak and gripping it instinctively. His mouth began to move, forming around words too low for his accomplice to catch. His voice was almost silent, blinking in and out as he spoke.

"N-no…" The demon lord finally heard him protest against his illusionary assailants. "No… stop…"

Ghirahim deliberated. He had two choices. He could either leave the hero be, or wake him up as it was clear that his state of restless sleep would most likely only get worse (and more annoying) from this point on. It appeared that he wouldn't have to decide however, for when his gaze travelled back down to the boy, he found dull blue eyes staring back at him.

Straightening his back, the pale demon tilted his head down, observing his temporary accomplice. It was obvious that Link was hopelessly lost, his sights lidded, expression as lifeless as how the boy himself had appeared to be not too long ago. The blond brought his hands before him, fingers twitching as he appeared to grasp at nothing. His bottom lip quivered.

"They killed her…" He managed out, barely above a whisper.

"Who killed her?" Ghirahim asked with slowness, his patience a falsehood. He felt as though he were dealing with a small child – which, in some aspects, he was – humouring him like this. The demon's fingers drummed on the boy's shoulder.

Link didn't hear him. He wasn't even looking at him, his gaze far away, seeing past the other male.

"I couldn't… I…" His voice broke and he suddenly curled in on himself, closer to the demon. He looked unbearably small. "Pl… ease…"

"This is quite the pathetic display," Ghirahim murmured, mostly to himself, absentmindedly stroking his fingers through the blond's matted hair. "… But I would expect nothing less. At your core you're nothing but a frightened child, trying so desperately to protect the ones you care most for. Courage is such a fleeting thing, is it not?"

As Link's shuddering breathes echoed around the small expanse of the cave, he began to speak again. Ghirahim cocked his head, attempting to at least make some of the barely audible words out.

"… keeps watching… red eyes…"

That made the demon pause, his eyes narrowing. Nearby, the fire crackled, its flare throwing sparks upwards.

"Hm…"

Ghirahim turned his attention towards the other end of the cavern. He could ponder on that later, for now he had a shivering wreck of a human to deal with.

The King sat upon his throne, his very presence radiating power and dominance. His eyes were narrowed, smouldering in his skull, the same shade as his fiery hair. They scanned the hall, taking in every face present, though most were avoiding his gaze.

The chamber was wide, demons of the highest positions lining the raised portions of the room, perched in their respective seats. They didn't speak a word to each other, the silence seeming to resonate around every corner of the room in a deafening whine. The tension made a few shift uncomfortably where they were seated.

But there was one who stood at the center of the hall, silvery white hair obscuring one eye from view, the edges of his red mantle almost brushing the floor. Under normal circumstances, he would appear malevolently whimsical, even wearing a pleasant mask if a particularly good mood arose.

But today his expression was unreadable. It didn't appear cold or dangerous in nature but looks could be deceiving.

The demon didn't clear his throat. He already had everyone's attention.

"As I'm sure you're all aware…" He spoke, his voice easily carrying around the formerly soundless room. "Recently, we've suffered heavy losses at the base closest to the Faron province border. How our forces were unable to anticipate such a raid honestly escapes me. In any case, as it stands, the fortress has been so damaged it's been rendered completely unusable."

Aside from the one occupying the throne, every being in the room stiffened. There was no mistaking the obvious displeasure that seeped through his words, and when the demon lord was speaking for his superior like this it could only mean that the King was highly displeased himself.

This would not be good for them.

"Now," the flashily-dressed speaker continued, taking a casual step forwards, "the demons stationed there have already departed and taken with them anything of importance of course, but…" he blinked slowly, lifting his chin, "… do you think I am impressed?"

A quick glance around told him no one was going to respond.

"Do you think you are even worthy of standing before my master after having allowed such failures to disgrace our army?" He scoffed and sharply turned, walking a few paces back along the floor. His voice climbed, causing a few to wince. "Count your blessings! You should be grateful for the mercy my master is showing you!"

Feeling that his point was effectively drilled in, the demon clasped his hands behind this back, speaking in a more hushed tone. "However, the casualties do not end there… We've lost more than a base and soldiers, unfortunately. A human prisoner also managed to escape in the confusion."

The attentive spectators awaited more information with baited breath.

"This human… happened to be the chosen hero of Hylia. He was being held and interrogated up until this point, soon to be executed."

All at once, astonished voices rippled around the chamber. A few exchanged appalled glances. Some appeared bewildered while others looked fearful. Some hardly reacted at all. The demon lord cast his gaze back to the throne behind him.

The King's stone-faced expression hadn't changed a bit, for he was already aware of what had transpired, but he was watching his speaker with interest. The being clad in white and red turned back to his audience, momentarily angling his head towards the tiled floor. Everyone was too preoccupied to notice the smirk painted across his lips…

But when his head arose his countenance was serious once more. "Now, now… quiet yourselves; I'm not finished just yet."

It didn't take long for them to comply, so he went on.

"Yes, there is something that strikes me very odd about this situation, something that grates my very core…" The leather of his glove creaked as his fingers curled against his palm. "Would you like to know what that is?"

Again, his question garnered no response. Leisurely he paced over to one of the generals, who froze as she realized that the demon lord's attention was directed at her.

"From your reports, our little guest was secured in the innermost sanctum of the fortress, so deep in the earth that not even the sharpest Sheikah dog should have been able to sniff him out. Am I incorrect?"

She was pale, but she seemed to turn even paler as he spoke. "N-no, my Lord…"

"Then how is it that we've lost one of our most valuable prisoners of war?" His eyes narrowed. She had no answer, so he addressed the rest of the meeting again. "I'm sure that brings upon a slew of new questions, such as whether or not Her Grace was aware that her little toy was being held in that specific base before it was attacked. Quite frankly, I myself am not so certain about that one, but I am positive about one thing."

The demon paused for dramatic effect, letting the tensions in the room climb higher.

"Whether aid was actively seeking him or not, the human should not have been capable of escaping," he stated with the utmost certainty. "This leads me to another notion… one I would rather deny as it would very much upset me greatly should it be proven true… There is a traitor amongst us, one that assisted the hero, and one that may even be an agent for Hylia herself."

Once again, his audience began to pipe up in alarm, louder now as the weight of the situation sank in.

"I don't mean to point fingers, but I'd rather narrow my suspicions…" the demon lord spoke over them. They quieted under his authority. "There were only few who were authorized to interrogate the prisoner, and few who even knew his exact location."

He turned again and this time his sights settled on another demon, one who had hardly appeared to be moved during the entire course of the lecture. But his crimson gaze was carefully guarded, even defensive as he stared back at the King's servant.

"Is it true that you and your associates were those I am referring to, Lord Tannin?" The demon lord inquired casually, the sharp undertone of his voice making his accusations clear. The darker being gave no verbal response, but dipped his head in a small, yet assertive nod. While he was cautious, he didn't appear to be fearful of the higher class demon addressing him, something that could not be said for the majority of the other demons in the room.

The demon lord regarded him with an unreadable energy, the entire chamber practically on the edge of their seats as they watched the silent exchange. It seemed as though something unpleasant were about to break out, but then the silvery-haired male simply waved it off.

"Of course my suspicions are merely theoretical. For all we know, this may prove to be a prodigious misunderstanding!" He called out to his attentive listeners. But not before his voice dropped to a dangerous tone, his sights narrowing in an understated warning that was heard by all.

"But do keep in mind that there is no place in this world for traitors."

… Ghirahim is so painfully ironic in that last bit, eh?

So… I realize that this is another filler-ish chapter and not much has been revealed, aside from some allusions to the past, and some mysterious onlooker. 2spooky. But I am a bit stuck with what to do, and with school starting up again updates are probably gonna take longer…

I'd like some input here though. Would you like to see things progress faster and have more stuffs revealed, or keep at a steady pace? I personally am for the former.

Also, in case it wasn't obvious, there will be OC's in this fanfic. The demon realm isn't just some place filled with insentient monsters after all, despite what's been shown in it thus far, hah. Of course Link and Ghirahim will still be the main focus, as well as their… rather complicated predicament.

Anyways, feedback is appreciated.

R&R