A Lover's Brawl

by HokageAkamaru

Ike and Link have been an inseparable item ever since they've laid eyes on each other. Marth, who's stood by Link's side as a brother and best friend, betrays him in the worst way possible. IkeXLink IkeXMarth MarthXRoy PitXLink Rated M for a reason.

11. Pimp In Distress: Part Two

Title: A Lover's Brawl

Pairing(s): IkeXLink, IkeXMarth, Eventual MarthXRoy, Eventual PitXLink

Rating: M

Full Story: Link has always been the quiet, shy type. That is… until Ike came into his life. Since then, Ike and Link have been an inseparable item ever since they've laid eyes on each other. Marth, coping with his broken heart after the disappearance of his very own lover—Roy—had secretly loved Ike from the beginning. But it was too late, Link was the only one on Ike's mind.

With his seductive powers and body, he lures Ike to him, the both of them sharing many nights together. And ever since, Ike has not been able to let him—nor his delicious shape—go. Link is totally unaware of this, Ike constantly lying to him about his whereabouts to protect he and his prince's relationship. With whole-hearted trust, Link believes every single word.

Marth wants a fully committed relationship with Ike—tired of hiding it—and he will do anything to get it, even if that means hurting one of the people that he loves the most.

But there is one more person that complicates this plot.

Someone who watches his crush from afar.

(This story takes place after Super Smash Brother's Melee, the reason why Roy is "missing")

A/N: Ha haaa, well Hokage-chan got into some trouble (again... xD) hence the late up date.

And it was also National "Give-Hokage-A-Test-In-Every-Fricken-Subject" week, so I had some MAJOR studying to do with grades coming out soon and all... and I ain't doin' so good in some classes (I WANT TO MURDER MY GEOMETRY TEACHER).

Ahem... IkeXMarth, IkeXLink and PitXLinkness.

"PERSONALLY, I PREFER THE AIR!"

...I hate Falco, by the way.

18,000+

---

"How are you folks doin' tonight?!"

Snake got an overwhelming response from the audience—he couldn't even hear himself think clearly. Snake wore a suit, his hair slicked with gel, and his beard neatly groomed. He looked very handsome, girls from all over hollering his name.

"Thank you, thank you... and welcome to Karaoke Friday! I'm not good at this, so bear with me. I'm glad that all of you have decided to come out tonight to see some of our amazing acts that we have in store for you guys! Of course—most of you picked them yourselves… but anyway, let's get a move on."

Snake glanced down at his host card.

"Alright! Our opening act—"

And that's all he had to say to get the sea of fan girls roaring again.

"—performed by your two—ohh, now its three favorite swordsmen... Put together by our beloved Prince Marth Lowell... Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to present to you, the 'Hare Hare Yukai'!"

The shrills of joy were deafening. Snake ran off the stage as the entire stadium turned pitch black, which pumped up the people even more. The music played, a single spotlight shining on Marth. He smiled, his flawless face captured on all five, herculean screens surrounding the arena, and started swinging his hips.

Link and Ike were separately spotlighted, and Marth parted his lips, starting to lip synch.

Nazonazo mitai ni chikyuugi wo tokiakashitara! Minna de doko made mo ikeru ne...

(If we can map out all of Earth's mysteries, we will be able to go to any place we want…)

Link jumped in for his short-lived solo, right on cue as Marth led Ike to the back, apart of their act.

Jikan no hate made—Boooon Waapu de ruupu na kono omoi wa—

(Until the end of time, Boooon! With a warp, this looping feeling—)

—Nani mo kamo wo makikonda souzou de... asobou!

(—Swirls everything together and plays around with them!)

Aru hareta hi no koto

mahou ijou no yukai ga

kagirinaku furisosogu fukanou janai wa

ashita mata au toki warainagara hamingu

ureshisa wo atsumeyou

kantan nanda yo konna no

oikakete ne tsukamaete mite

Ooki na yume yume suki deshou?

(On a particular sunny day, a happiness greater than magic!

Will pour down endlessly. It's not impossible!

When we meet again tomorrow, we'll laugh and hum a tune.

Let's collect all the happiness,

It's easy, there's nothing to it.

Chase after them and try to catch them,

You love big dreams, right?)

And with a final shimmy, the three men landed their finishing pose, Marth pointing to the sky. Confetti blasted from different areas of the stadium. The audience cheered.

"Wow!" exclaimed the astonished Snake, climbing up the stairs to join the swordsmen. The prince blew kisses to the crowd, waving and winking. Link, too, thanked his supporters, waving his fingers shyly.

Ike immediately headed down the steps, bowing his head in humiliation as his hands were clenched into white-knuckled fists.

"That was lovely, darlings... Wasn't that lovely, everybody?"

Another round of wails. Snake assumed they agreed.

"You kind of had me questioning my sexuality there..."

He held the mike to Marth's lips.

"Thank you, Snake!" he said, slightly breathless.

"During the dance one of your fans asked me if you three—well, er, looks like two, now—would mind if you took a couple pictures with them."

The prince was again handed the voice projector.

"I definitely wouldn't mind! I will take pictures with whoever wants to after the show, but I can't speak for the both of us!"

He shoved the microphone to Link's lips.

"Uh... Yeah. I'm okay with taking pictures..."

"Well there you have it, folks! Marth and Link will be taking pictures after the show! Again, 'Hare Hare Yukai' by your favorite swordsmen. Amazing job, guys."

They headed off stage while being applauded, Link rushing to congratulate his lover with kisses and for once forgetting about his masculine pride, but was side-tracked by a random, handsome devil.

"Where did Ike go—"

"—Hey... Link?"

The swordsman turned around, "Y-Yes?"

He was face to face with a stranger—probably one of his fans—but he had never been confronted by a male fan before… and an older one, at that…

This unidentifiable person was tall—around Ike's height—lean, wore black-rimmed eye glasses, inky hair that reflected all of the stadiums lights, and looked like he was in his mid-twenties.

"Um… wow. Sorry… You're just… so much cuter in the flesh."

Link hid his special smile behind a hand, avoiding contact with the vibrant eyes.

"Th-Thank you…"

It was awkward being called "cute" by another man other than Ike… and even Marth.

"You're welcome… Um, I know Snake just said you'd take pictures after the show, but I'm kind of leaving a little early to go to work… So would you mind if we took a picture together before I left?"

"Oh, sure, um…"

He was searching for his name...

"Zack."

"Okay, Zack, do you have a camera?"

"Yes!"

Zack handed the digital, onyx camera to Marth who watched the two men chat.

"Would you take a picture of us, please?"

"Sure!" Marth snatched the camera out of his pale hands, clicking on the power. Zack scratched his head of beautiful, straight, jet black hair.

"…I have a specific pose that I'd like to do… Do you mind?"

"Oh no… Not at all!"

"Alright…"

One of Zack's ginger arms slithered its way about the small of the blonde one's back. And this drastically shocked little Link. He would have suffered an embarrassing fumble in front of all his fans if it had not been for Zack's sharp, cat reflexes. He snapped his arms around the archer's waist, and hoisted him up.

"That would've been a doozy!"

"...Th-Thank you, Zack."

Zack's saccharine grin was the product of Link's gentle, faint voice. He removed the bangs out of his darling face. It was like someone slapped a wide paintbrush dripping with cherry-red paint right across his cheeks. Zack's body was really warm despite the appearance of his pallid skin. The two, beady eyes that burned holes into his sockets were an overpowering verdant color; a weakening was occurring in his Link's knee caps. His lips were shaped disturbingly similar to Ike's—perfect and pink.

Link couldn't lie—he was a gorgeous being.

Fans cooed around them, taking pictures with their very own cameras.

There was an even brighter flash, snapping the much shorter man out of his concentration.

"Sorry! But that was a totally cute pose just then!"

Marth hobbled over to the two, showing them both the memory he had captured: the Hyrulean was softly gazing into Zack's eyes, meshed onto his body. Zack was smiling, holding his right cheek in his palm. The prince didn't catch anything from the waist and lower, but the lenses did catch the obvious arm around him.

"That's perfect… It's actually the exact pose that I wanted… Thank you, Marth."

"No problem!"

He received his camera back from the prince, tucking it away in his pocket.

"And thank you, Link, for the picture… My co-workers are going to be so jealous...! We all love you… well," he blushed, scratching his head again, "I love you the most… But, um, really… Thanks… I appreciate it."

He has the sweetest smile…

"You're welcome—AH!"

Ike yanked Link away from the handsome devil by the arm, stomping off towards the exit of the stadium with a balled fist. He looked over his shoulder while his boyfriend struggled to keep balance, shooting innocent, wide-eyed Zack a nasty glare, sending him an even nastier message:

"Mine."

xXx

"You were flirting with him!" Ike accused.

"I was not flirting!! How many times must I tell you that?!"

Link threw his hands high in the air before plopping down into a chair, blowing off his steam. Ike was taking off the schoolgirl costume in the bathroom stall next to him in unbelievable haste, snapping at him like a turtle for the interesting position he had caught he and this… this... other man in.

"He was just a fan! All he wanted was a picture before he went to work and so I gave him one!"

"Che, yeah. And a whole lot more."

"Oh, come off it! It's not even like that!" Link screamed to the door; he maintained his smooth voice.

"Riiiiiiiiight. That guy wanted more than a picture…"

Ike stepped out of the bathroom, the uniform wadded into a ball. He changed into a snug, citrus-colored polo with plaid Capri's. Link was loving the color contrast with his lover's hair and the fitting top, but retained his focus on the current, more relevant situation.

The taller man folded his arms.

"'Care to explain to me why he was holding you like that? And why you were all smiley and giggly the entire time?"

Link stood up to him.

"I almost tripped! And he caught me! We didn't do anything! Zack isn't like that! And he was very kind… and sweet—" he bit his finger, pink bleeding through from his nose, spreading like a wild fire in a dry environment, "—to Marth and I!" he quickly added at the end.

Ike did not like the way his little one blushed while saying some other man's name.

"Oh, so his name's 'Zack', eh? You guys are that close to where you can just use his name casually like that? Well, you tell this 'Zack' the next time I see him anywhere near you, looking at you, or doing anything that's associated with you, the only pictures he's gonna be taking are the ones for his CAT scans. That is… after I get through with him…"

The traveler started to walk out of the door and into the night. His legs were so long, so he took wider steps, meaning Link had to take two extra steps to equal them.

"Ike…! Ike come back! Why are you acting like this?!"

And then it hit him…

Ike was jealous.

Sure, he had been jealous many times before, but Link had never seen it in severity like this. Usually, the indigo-haired male was very good at controlling his emotions.

"Ike!"

"What?"

"…Are you jealous?"

He stopped in mid-stride.

"What are you talking about?"

The Hyrulean walked up to him, hugging his muscular frame from behind. He molded perfectly...

"The way you're acting… Are you jealous?"

"Eh…"

Link smiled, awaiting his lover's answer, but he pretty much knew what it was. He just wanted to hear him admit it…

"Are you~?"

"A little. But that's 'cause I didn't like that way that kid's arms were around you… and how he touched your face. I'm the only one allowed to do that," he turned around to meet his precious Link, and took his hands, "and who in their right mind doesn't want this?"

By "this", he was referring to Link's body, his love, and that naïve attitude.

"So… you were jealous?"

Ike sighed.

Was that a blush…?

"Yes, Link. Yes I was jealous. Didn't I just admit that five seconds ago?!"

"Oh… Sorry. 'Couldn't hear you."

"Yeah right. You heard me loud and clear. You just wanted me to say it again... I know you."

The blondie smiled to himself. For some reason, and he didn't know why, but… It felt good hearing that Ike had gotten jealous when he saw him in Zack's arms. That meant that he really cared for him and cherished him. There was also this feeling of possession and ownership wafting from the mercenary, which was sort of a turn on, especially in bed…

"But you don't have to get jealous... You're my one and only."

Those last four words struck a chord in Ike...

"...my one and only."

"Your... one and only?"

"Yep... You're the only one for me."

Link chastely kissed him. He was waiting for Ike to say something similar to what he just confessed, but the indigo haired man could not. He would be lying to him if he did. So what was the problem? He had been lying to him for almost a year. Why stop now?

"I better be," Ike selfishly joked; that was all he could come up with. He dragged his knuckles slightly against the warm skin of Link's cheek, then lower to his throat... The archer heavenly closed his eyes, elevating his head, allowing his lover's icy hand to touch the supple underside of his chin and below, a rigid, sugary mewl piercing his lips. Ike felt the gentle vibration against the barely noticeable hump... He then opened his hand, cupping the right side of his blonde's face. Link softly unveiled his beauteous orbs, fanning his long lashes a few times, gazing beautifully back into their rightful partner's.

"I love you..." promised Ike.

"...I love you, too."

Link rested both hands on Ike's broad shoulders, laying his head on either one. Ike tightened the hold he had on the small body kneaded adjacent to his... Link liked being held like this. The warmth was amazing, Ike felt amazing...

It was unlike any other feeling he's ever known.

"...Thank you dancing with Marth and I tonight. I meant to tell you that before you stomped off earlier... I wanted Marth to be happy, and what you did really made his day. And for that, I will have to reward you..." teased the Hyrulean, biting the lobe of his ear with his front teeth, which totally threw Ike off guard.

"Ike likes rewards..." the traveler whispered.

Stealthily, he migrated the hand that was placed near Link's midriff over to his sparse skirt, but stopped it as the blonde reached behind himself.

"And that doesn't mean tonight."

"Aww..."

Link giggled, squeezing his bereaved mate, creating a bridge of frosty, wet kisses from his chin and to the warm, tanned skin his unbuttoned polo provided. It made the taller swordsman shiver...

"Let me take this back to the dressing room for you," the shorter male took the schoolgirl uniform out of Ike's hands, "you go on and enjoy the rest of the show..."

"You'll be back, right?"

"Of course... I have the best seat in the house..."

The sweet, little archer chuckled and winked.

"I'll be right back...!"

xXx

"Ike! C'mere!"

Marth waved to him from behind a tree, which was next to the entrance and exit of the stadium that anyone rarely used. It had him raising his eyebrows; why would Marth choose such an uninhabited area? Nonetheless, Ike jogged over to him.

"Yep?"

The giggly prince grabbed both of his hands.

"I just wanted to say thank you for dancing with Link and I tonight! I know—for you—it must've been very difficult to go up on stage and dance in a little skirt in front of thousands of people—" Ike sighed here, "—and so I am very grateful!"

"…And you couldn't tell me this around Link because…?"

Marth simpered like a schoolgirl; he was playing the role quite well.

"Because! I wouldn't be able to do this, silly!"

Marth pursed his lips, pressed his chest against the others, and sentimentally kissed the set of matching, thin lips. It was the softest, heavenliest kiss that Ike's felt in days. It reminded him of a gentler version of the unexpected one back in the dressing room.

Wait…

"Marth," Ike said between their fused lips, setting his hands at either side of the "schoolgirl's" waist, thumbs unconsciously brushing the exposed, vanilla skin, "Why—did you—kiss me—in front of—Link?" The prince continued to peck the traveler's petals as he spoke, Ike kissing back.

"I—I was—happy. I couldn't—contain it. I—wanted to—show you—how happy you—made me feel."

Ike grinned at this innocent comment, holding the lithe body tighter. A finger had to be put to Marth's "woodpecker-like" lips; the young prince flushed, a little upset at this.

"Alright… I see. But don't try that again!" Ike warned, wagging the same finger in his face, "Got it?"

"Okay…" Marth droned, sapphire eyes performing cart wheels, "Kiss me more, please?"

His wish was Ike's command. Tongues finally collaborated in a slimy, tangling mess, but to Marth it was a beautiful slimy, tangling mess… Link was fortunate to have such a libidinous kisser. Roy had never made him feel the way he did when they kissed.

Ike interrupted the kiss to say something, but—using his peripheral vision—he realized that they were not alone.

There was Pit.

The angel plainly stood there, like a fool, his mouth wide enough to catch flies.

"SHIT!" Ike hissed, throwing the prince to the ground. Pit blinked out of his fixation of the couple, comprehending that he had been seen—not that he was really camouflaged. He panicked, and ran away in the opposite direction as fast as his injured wing would allow without inflicting much pain on his part.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! He saw us! He fucking saw us!

Ike paced around in circles, blowing through his flaring nostrils with his hands, getting ready to pull out half of his hair. His life was flashing in front of his eyes, or at least his relationship with Link. Before he knew it, Marth took off like a torpedo, chasing after him. He was even faster without his armor, and soon enough, the prince tackled Pit like a wild cheetah on a wildebeest.

The amethyst-eyed angel moaned in indescribable pain. He had hit the earth pretty hard, even if it was just grass. The impact on his injured wing wasn't exactly good news, either.

Marth sat on his feeble body, yanking him up by the threads of his now off-white shirt.

"What were you doing?!"

Pit was a little woozy, temporarily unable to form full, understandable sentences. But Marth wasn't having it. The prince shook him viciously out of his daze.

"Wake up, damnit!"

"—YAH! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, I SWEAR TO PALUTENA!"

"LIAR!"

"Marth! Get the hell off of him!"

He succumbed to Ike's bidding, but before he did so, he flashed the boy a bone-chilling scowl. Pit filled his lungs with air, crab-crawling away from the two swordsmen in pure fear. Marth's eyes weren't so nice and cheery anymore. They were cannibalistic, wanting to eat his soul alive.

And Ike's weren't nicer.

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! I'M SORRY!"

"Pit—SHUT UP."

Ike's deep voice was the second to ice over his bones, the angel backing farther away from him, but the traveler crept even closer.

"What were you doing standing there?"

"I TOLD YOU! I WASN'T DOING ANYTHING—"

Like Marth, Ike grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, jerking him.

"Don't you lie to me… You were following us, weren't you?"

"NO! I—I JUST—"

"Lower your goddamn voice!"

Pit gulped.

"I—! I… wanted a glass of water! My throat was dry, that's all! I wasn't following you, honest!"

The whole "glass of water" postulate was partially true. He was thirsty, but not because all that yelling wore down on his throat as he order Ness and Toon Link to settle down, but Link… in that skirt… He sweated all seventy percent of his bodily water as he watched the blonde man dance. His throat had gotten raspy; regaining it all back by drinking water was the only hope for his survival.

And that's when he found the two men, kissing, moaning, grabbing at each other. Some little voice in the very back of his head told him that the discovery that he had just made would alter his life in a radical way.

This sounded okay to Ike… and it also sounded like him being caught wasn't entirely Pit's fault.

It was his.

"I still don't believe him…" said Marth, his nose proudly raised high in the air.

…I shouldn't have been so careless… Anyone could've come out of that exit, even one of those fan girls… Once a rumor gets out to one of them there's no stopping it, so I'm pretty thankful that it was only Pit… But still… we were caught.

Ike vented the hot air he did not realize he was holding, and let go of the angel's shirt, groaning as he stood.

"Damnit…"

Pit moaned as he tried to stand, his bandaged wing whining to his nervous system. Marth turned to Ike, not satisfied that he let the angel off the hook that easily.

"What shall we do now?"

"There's nothing we can do! He already saw us! S'not like we can erase his memory!" Ike spat in his face, Marth stepping back at this. But he wasn't going to settle for that answer, so he took matters into his own hands.

"Now you listen and you listen well, Pit," the pissed prince began with a growl, "you best keep your mouth shut about this… You saw nothing tonight, and I want to keep it that way. But if not—and I find out that you've been babbling your mouth—I guess I'll just have to…"

He came down to Pit's level in height, mumbling his vital threat. Ike couldn't hear what creative threat his prince concocted this time—he sure could make up some scary ones—but he knew it had to be significant to Pit by the way his eyes morphed into full moons.

"…No…"

"Oh yeah, you don't think I know? You're just like him, Pit: transparent. I will do it, but to prohibit me from doing so, all you have to do is not tell Link what you saw here tonight. Do we have a deal?"

Pit stared apprehensively at his toes.

My hearts tells me that I should tell him… but then… it also tells me that I'd hurt myself in the process… because… because…

He clenched his fists at his sides.

"Deal…"

"Hmm? What was that?" Marth mocked, raising a hand to his ear.

"I said deal!"

"That's what I thought—"

"—and I hate people like you."

The prince was slapped with Pit's edgy, dagger-sharp words, and—indeed—they left a lasting imprint.

"I beg your pardon?!"

"I shouldn't use that word… but that's how I truly feel. I really, really hate people like you. Always taking, taking, taking from others… and never giving back! That's all you know how to do, you—you—spoiled brat!"

Marth bitterly gasped, verbally slapped once again.

"Did he just—? I know he did not just call me—"

"—And you," he got the courage to look the big, bad Ike in the whites of his eyes, "how could you…?! How could you do this behind his back?! And you say you love him! Why would you mess around with Marth when you already have someone as precious and dignified as Link! You don't deserve him… and neither do you, Marth! Neither of you deserve Link!"

The angel turned around, running back into an alternate entrance to the coliseum, sniffling.

"YOU LITTLE INGRATE! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT! DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?! YOU'RE LUCKY THAT I DIDN'T KICK YOUR—HEY! RELEASE ME! NO ONE CALLS ME A 'SPOILED BRAT' AND GETS AWAY WITH IT! HE NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON!"

Ike held the prince off with one arm hasped around his mid-section.

"Settle down…"

"HOW CAN I 'SETTLE DOWN'?! DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT HE JUST CALLED ME?!"

But then he recalled what Pit had said to him… feeling even worse, but not for himself…

…but for Ike.

To be told that you didn't deserve someone—especially in their situation—must've been like a dart to his core.

The prince took him into his arms, rubbing his back…

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. Pit was wrong to say those things to you…"

"…No. Pit's right. I don't deserve Link... I really don't… but I have him, don't I?"

"…Y-Yes."

"And as long as I do, I'll—"

"—Uwahhhh! Caramelldansen?!"

Marth broke away, rushing back inside of the stadium upon hearing the Swedish song blare through the hundreds of speakers. Ike sighed, shortly following after him.

xXx

Ganondorf, Bowser, Meta Knight and Wolf were on center stage and broadcasted on all five screens, their hands flapping just above their heads as they rattled their hips. For once, Ike felt sorry for all four competitors and shared their pain… Not one smile was on either of their faces.

Marth was standing next to the children, dancing alongside Toon Link and Ness. Lucas simply watched them, giggling at the silly dance. Ike sought Link, looking towards their usual seat. There he was, legs crossed, hands in his lap, nodding his head to the happy music.

He must've used a different entrance when he returned… Thank God that he did.

"Link!"

Even over the deafening music, the blonde could hear Ike's manly voice. He looked in all sorts of directions for his mate, and when he found him, his smile took cute to a whole new level.

He hopped out of his seat, ran over to Ike, and nearly knocked him down as his arms encircled him.

"I thought you left me!! You were gone for so long!!"

"I'm sorry!!"

Link kissed his lips, "I forgive you—"

I wonder if he forgives that easily for everything… hopefully.

"—come sit with me!!"

"Um, actually babe, M'not feeling too well!!"

Link stopped pulling on his arm. He looked a little sad.

"…What?!"

"I said I'm not feeling my best!!"

The blonde touched all over his face. Ike assumed he was checking his temp.

"You're not warm!!"

"Yeah, but still!! I—I think I need to lay down!!"

"Oh… okay!! Do you want me to come with you?!"

"No… You stay out here and enjoy yourself… but thanks for offering!!"

The couple walked out of the exit, Link very concerned about Ike's strange behavior. It was now much quieter, and they didn't have to yell over the hype music. The little one rung his arms about his love—encompassing him—and pecked his cheek before burrowing his nose into the tangy shirt.

"…Are you sure? I don't want you to be lonely."

Ike inhaled the oak tree scent of the yellow hair like a drug.

"Yeah, M'sure. And I won't be lonely... I'll be dreaming of you."

Link looked up.

"God, Ike. And you say I'm cheesy."

"You are."

The blonde went to hide his fresh blush, but his significant other grabbed hold of his chin, lifting his head high enough so that he could stare deep down into his lucid irises. It certainly didn't help his mantling cheeks disappear. Link felt his soul rumble, Ike skipping his lips across his brow...

"You're so beautiful."

Link melted... It had been a very long time since Ike's called him that. And every time he did, it was always special.

Ike was one lucky manwhore.

(A/N: Did I just kill the mood right there? xDDD Sorry for interrupting you, keep reading!)

Inside of the stadium...

"We have another song for you guys… Sang by our one and only angel, Pit!"

"What?!"

The crowd celebrated.

"Did you not request to sing?" Link asked, tilting his head. He had joined Pit after seeing Ike off to his dorm.

"No! Unless…"

He looked to the three little ones who stared back at him, halos hovering above their heads. They'd wanted him to sing to the audience for the longest, but Pit always said "no".

So they signed him up.

"Did you three have something to do with this?!"

"You sing really good, Pit!" said Ness.

"Yeah! He sings to us all the time!" Toon Link added on.

"He has a really pretty voice…" said the quiet Lucas.

"But—But I can't get up on stage… not in front of thousands of other people…"

Not in front of Link…!

"I would really like to hear you sing, Pit…"

The angel looked to his right. His beloved smiled softly, and touched his knee.

"Sometimes… If I were singing on stage… I'd close my eyes and only think of Ike. It'd probably relax me… It'd make me believe that it's only me and him… No one else. You should think of your special one, too…"

Link… Perhaps I should think of you when I sing.

"C'mon! Get up there!"

"Go Go Go!"

The small boys shoved their guardian angel out of his seat, "Alright, alright, I'm goin'!"

Meanwhile, Snake looked around for the angel in the vast, colorful crowd.

"Ahh! Here he comes! Or limps…"

A laugh spread around the arena as the public watched Pit hobble on stage. He was handed a microphone by one of the staff members.

"I see you're not feelin' too good, bud."

"Yeahh… I've um… had a rough week."

"Are you well enough to sing a song for all of us?"

"I… Truthfully, I really wasn't—"

His fans groaned in the stands…

"Aww, just one song won't hurt…" beseeched Snake.

"Well… I suppose I could sing one song…"

"Alright! Step right this way, please."

The angel followed the host to the center of the stage, looking up at the giant screen before them. Upon it were a list of a few songs out of billions; whichever one Pit wanted to vocalize, all he had to do was choose one. But which one, exactly?

"Since you didn't list a specific song on your card, we've listed some for you. Take your pick!"

Everyone shouted at the brunet, wanting him to sing this and sing that… Some of the songs on the board he's never even heard of!

"'Emotion', Pit! Sing 'Emotion'!"

"No! 'First Love'!"

"Ahh… Um…"

"Emotion" was almost his song of choice, until he saw the one and only hymn he knew in bits and pieces.

"Snake…? I think I'm gonna go with 'Simple and Clean'…"

Everyone hooted.

"'Simple and Clean'? Alright, if that's what you want, then go for it! The stage is all yours!"

Snake left the nervous angel in the middle of the enormous stage, which was also like leaving him in the deepest ocean teeming with man-eating sharks without a life jacket. Millions of pairs of eyes were all on him… Watching him… Poking at his milky skin. Now he was the center of attention, the most uncomfortable position to be in for a person like Pit. All he wanted to do was crawl under a rock… or be the spectator, watching from the safe sidelines. But now, it was his time to shine… Whether he wanted to didn't matter.

The stadium was reduced to a murmur.

"YAAAAAY, PIT!"

"WOO HOO! SING, SING, SING!"

The brunet turned towards the Smasher's section, facing the teeny voices amongst the silent crowd. His two, more assertive little ones cheered him on, Ness hopping up and down in his chair. Pit would've told him to sit before he broke an arm of a leg, and he almost did but he quickly remembered that all of the audience would hear him with the microphone up to his lips. Lucas was like a mini Pit—he was the one to calm his friend. Toon Link was sitting in Link's lap, restless. He kicked his little feet, his fists punching the air. The elder blonde peeked from behind the eclipse of the younger swordsman's head, smiling with incalculable sweetness. Even from where the angel was standing, Link still gave him the goose bumps.

"Whenever you're ready…" Snake reminded.

Pit nodded once.

"'Simple and Clean', people! Maestro!"

Pit clenched the mike, parting his thin lips as he carefully closed his eyes...

When you walk away,

You don't hear me say,

"Please, Oh baby, don't go…

Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight…

It's hard to let it go…"

The lights dimmed for theatrical effects, then a very radiant spotlight highlighted the angel, his skin glowing as bright as the stars whose very own light began to penetrate the inevitable, evening sky.

You're giving me…

Too many things…

Lately, you're all I need…

The angel's lips smirked here as he thought of his precious blonde.

You smiled at me…

Link couldn't believe his ears.

This delicate, beautiful voice couldn't have possibly belonged to the shaky, prone-to-confusion Pit. He sang like… like an angel…

He was an angel…

The daily things—

like this and that and what is what

—that keep us all busy

Are confusing me…

That's when you came to me…

"See, Link! Can't Pit sing really good?!"

Link—ensorcelled by the angelic melody, didn't answer the little swordsman.

"Hellllooo?!"

"Ah? Yes?"

"Isn't Pit's singing the best?!"

"Yes, little one… He's… amazing."

Hold me…

Whatever lies beyond this morning—

—Is a little later on…

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all…

Nothing's like before…!

Link curtained his eyes…

Why would he seal away such a beautiful voice…? I do not understand… Not taking advantage of the gift that was bestowed upon him … It's a waste.

Every word that drips from his mouth, I submit to it, and only Ike has this kind of power over me…

It's scary… But he's captured my heart—the easy ones are always roped in…

…I've… I've fallen in love with an angel's voice.

The song ended with a big bang, sparks raining upon the crowd like white snow, jolting Pit's eyes open. Everyone stood in their seats, hollering and applauding for the angel.

Did… Did I…?

Never in a million years would he have thought to sing in front of a massive crowd, and even then he probably still wouldn't have considered it. But he did. The brunet nervously smiled, looking in Link's direction. He was standing along with the rest, a big, proud smile on his face…

He was clapping for him… Everyone was.

"Uhh…Thank you… Thank you so much."

The audience got even louder… it was a magical moment for Pit.

He could tell that Palutena was very proud of him.

Snake approached the winged being as the crowd steadily calmed down.

"I would've never known that such a beautiful voice resided in you if you had not come to this stage… You sang your heart out, Pit, you put feeling into that song… and I think that was some of the best singing that I've heard in a very long time! Wouldn't you all agree?"

The mob of fans clamored in unison.

Pit blushed, "Thank you…"

Snake gave him more compliments before he left the stage, but was tackled to the ground by all three kids.

"WE KNEW YOU COULD DO IT!"

"NANA AND POPO WILL BE SO HAPPY, PIT!"

Lucas laughed, hugging the angel's leg.

"Thank you, thank you… My wing, guys… Don't forget about my wing!"

Link stood back, admiring the heart-warming view. The children congratulated him, squealing happily.

"Now, now… Don't suffocate him!"

Toon Link, Ness and Lucas removed their bodies off of him as Link held out a hand. Pit accepted it, the blonde lifting him onto his feet…

"Thanks, Li—"

Link forced his body onto Pit's, hugging him, but careful not to cause any harm to his wing. Amethyst eyes widened thrice their original sizes; the angel was paralyzed… The kids "Oooou"ed, Lucas giggling.

"You sing so beautifully…"

Link is so warm…

Pit embraced him back—his arms becoming ones of an octopus—he wasn't going to let this grand opportunity slip by him… The skin of their cheeks brushed the other, urging the brunet to kiss his beloved's.

"Thank you…"

"Your precious one… Has he ever heard you sing?"

Link let go of his body, surprised to see a rather big smile on the other celestial male's face.

"Now he has…"

Some hours after the show...

Link had never taken so many pictures in his life. Some of the fans tried to take him home, but thanks to tight security, that never did happen. All the archer wanted to do was have a peaceful night alone with the company of his lover, and perhaps even share another home-cooked meal.

Link scanned his fridge. It was almost empty; Ike's bottomless ditch for a stomach was to blame. He would have to make another trip to the grocery store to stock up again for the fifth time that month. He enjoyed cooking, and doing it for the one that he loved who had nothing but positive, uplifting comments, but he didn't know that it would be so exhausting! There were some leftovers from the other night, but Link wasn't in the mood for all that reheating and nuking. There were some things that he could quickly whip up, like a healthy garden salad, but he knew that Ike wouldn't want what he nicknamed "rabbit food".

Maybe I should just ask him what he'd like… that'd save me the hassle.

And in walked the living dead, right on cue. His love had taken a quick nap in his dorm and promised to meet him before dinner earlier.

"Hello," the shorter man welcomed his significant other a warm hug, "Have a nice nap?"

"Yeah… 'Dreamed about ya, too... 'Wish I could of slept a little longer… but I remembered that I had something special planned for tonight—Are you still wearing that?!"

"Special"…? And what could that possibly be?

"Yes! It is definitely lighter than wearing my battle gear. I get really hot and sweaty carrying around all that I do on my suit, and this is strangely comfortable…"

Ike lay on his mate's bed, sighing deeply. Link followed, sitting beside him, dragging fingers through the luscious, indigo forest.

"Admit it. You like the schoolgirl outfit."

He horribly blushed, "W-Well! What if I do?! I don't see anything wrong with wanting to be comfortable!"

"Reeeelllaaxxx, sweetie. No need to get all defensive..."

With one arm, Ike gripped his waist, and pulled his petite mate on top of his body.

"…Do me a favor… ask Marth if you could borrow that for a little bit longer. We could play 'Teacher and Student' sometime… And guess whose sensei?"

Link flashed beet red, childishly beating on Ike's chest like drums before he could even finish his thought.

"SHUDDUP, IKE!"

Ike chuckled to himself, holding Link's wriggling body, massaging his back to settle him down.

"Ha… I'm just playing… I'm not being serious… Or maybe I am…?" Ike replied, raising an eyebrow.

Link, the color in his cheeks finally subsiding, rolled his eyes and attempted to change the subject.

"What would you like for dinner? There are leftovers from last night… but I wouldn't mind cooking something…"

The indigo-haired swordsman smiled, his azure eyes also smirking as if he knew something that Link didn't.

And he did.

"You don't have to cook anything tonight, babe, 'cause we're going out to eat."

Link flapped his thick lashes.

"…Out to eat?"

Ike laughed, slapping his forehead.

"Ah… That's right. You didn't know… Surprised? I made a reservation a couple weeks ago at this fancy, French place—and man was it hard to book a table for two. But I got one… and I figured that you could use a break from all that delicious cooking…"

He licked his lips before pecking Link's rounded nose.

"Pick out something nice to wear and meet me out front at eight-thirty, 'kay?"

Link—dumbfounded—simply nodded, doing what he did best: looking illegally cute and totally lost.

Ike adored it.

"See you in a bit."

He left the room, and leaving Link stunned, ecstatic, anxious, nervous and countless other emotions.

…French place?! Out to eat?! Ike and I have never gone out to eat! We've only had dinner at the mansion, and a couple of private meals that I've personally prepared for ourselves, but never out in public!

But there was something way more important that he needed to focus in on.

Like what he was going to wear.

xXx

"…And so he asked me to 'pick out something nice to wear'. I'm thinking semi-formal or casual, but the problem is, I don't have any semi-formal or casual clothes… So I was wondering if I could… perhaps, borrow a little something just for tonight? And if you could help me with my wardrobe? I don't have much of a fashion sense like you do…"

Marth genuinely smiled.

"Aww! My little Linky's going on his first dinner date! You've come to the right person! Sure pumpkin! Right this way!"

Marth had two closets: one for his uniforms, the other for his designer, going out, and lazy day clothes. He opened his compartment, and Link stood in awe.

"Sorry that there's not much to choose from, those damn managers told me that I could only 'have a certain amount of clothes'. Thank God that you came along and dragged me out of there when you did. If I had stayed just a minute longer I would've definitely came out with a body bag…"

Not much to choose from?!

Marth's closet was a shopping center, no wonder why the next dorm beside him was ten feet away instead of standard three like everyone else's. The walls were painted pink—Marth loved pink—and all of his clothes and shoes were labeled under a season: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.

Honestly, Link didn't know where to start.

"So! Did you have anything in mind?"

"Um—something warm? I've heard that fancy restaurants are ridiculously cold…"

His attention was immediately snagged by a very snazzy, green dress shirt. This would do, but he would have to get Marth's approval and personal opinion.

"What do you think about this, Marth?"

The prince looked over his shoulder—already having a couple blouses draped over his arm—and shook his head in a disapproving manner.

"No. No more green, please."

"But... But green is the only color that works for me...!" groaned Link.

"No… Green is the only color that you love! Link, you have such a beautiful, honey complexion! You're the hues expert, right? There are so many other colors that would wonderfully complement your skin tone."

The blonde sighed, hanging the shirt back onto the rack. It was in the "Summer" section of the closet anyway; it definitely wasn't summer.

This is going to be tougher than I originally thought… But he's right; maybe I shouldn't resort to green so much… I'll just go along with his expertise.

Prince Marth called his short friend over time and time again to have him look at some of his pants and shirts. He would elaborate on why he chose the particular article of clothing for him and asked the blonde if he liked it.

"I don't want anything too—um—sexy."

"What?! Don't you want Ike to drool all over you?!"

"Well, I want him to drool, but still focus on me. You know how easily distracted he gets…"

Yes… Yes I do.

In the end, Marth had circa seven different outfits for his best friend to try on, and Link had to hurry: it was approximately eight o' clock, and it'd be eight-thirty in the blink of an eye. He zipped in and out of the bathroom, shoving on and tearing off the flashy threads—but also having some respect for his pal's clothes—and stepping out, positioning himself in Marth's three-sided mirror so that he could have his say in what he thought.

The one's he had chosen looked—as he had envisioned—fabulous on his petite friend, but they didn't… wow him. They were all very nice, but neither one screamed "Pick me! Pick me!"

It was up to lucky outfit number seven.

"Oh no. I am not wearing this…"

Marth jogged over to the bathroom door.

"You finally have it on?! Come out! Let me see!"

"Wah… But I can hardly breathe in this."

"It can't be that bad. Just come out here and let me take a look at you! I'll see what I can fix."

A moment of silence.

Link opened the door—stiff as a board—and waddled over to the mirrors.

Marth gasped.

Ike… I now see why you're so addicted to his body.

"Yes. This is the one."

The prince thoroughly examined his best friend's wardrobe head to toe: A dark-chocolate brown long sleeved turtleneck that clung to him like a second skin, dark denim skinny jeans that were oh so deliciously tight, and Sperry's that were the same color as his fitting blouse.

"Must these jeans be so tight? My poor legs are suffocating…"

"Oh, quit your whining! It pays to be pretty! You have curves in your upper torso, which obviously calls for a fitting shirt to vaunt them. I also picked this specific color because it makes your skin look warmer, and it's very fall themed!"

"Yes… I can see that."

"Now as for the jeans—again—I chose a dark color because of the fall season… and for the love of God look at your legs! You have the graceful, vexatious legs of a woman, and that my friend is a complement! Sometimes I just wanna to tear 'em off and put them on my body! That's how jealous I am of you! I thought skinny jeans would bring out the feature best and—turn sideways for me?"

Link did so.

"Look at that! Look at that beautiful, scrumptious ass on you! Wouldn't you want to show that off?!"

"Uhh… I guess so…?"

"'If you've got it, flaunt it' is what I always say, and you, my dear, have it!"

Link took some time to look over his firm bottom, apple-cheeked by Marth's admiration towards his rear. He did have a point though. His ass was beautiful and scrumptious, and his short, adorable legs were absolutely ones to envy. He liked this outfit better than all the rest… if it could've been a little less constricting he would've liked it even more, but Marth's reasons for the flirty clothing seemed good enough.

"It's simple and sexy! 'You like it?"

"I love it…" Link replied automatically, turning to his sides, checking himself out.

"Great! Now all there's left to do is spruce up your hair a little bit, add some eye liner and—"

"—Eye liner? When did we ever agree on that?"

"It'd look really nice on you, and with your outfit! I won't put it on too heavy! You'll barely even notice it, I promise!"

The archer preferred to be natural when it came to looks, but the assurance and hurt that leaked from his friend's sapphires made him reconsider. He was his first project after all.

"Alright, but just this once. And only a little…!"

"YAY!! Hurry, into the bathroom! You only have ten minutes left!"

xXx

Link felt like a canvas; Marth the Picasso.

First, the prince painted on a thin line of brown, liquid eye liner just above his lashes, an expression of extreme concentration riddled all over his face.

Second came the chocolate brown mascara. The poor blonde was terrified of the scary-looking, prickly brush touching his eye in the beginning, but he placed his total trust in his friend and not once did it come in contact with his precious, azure irises.

And last but not least, lip gloss: "Melon Mystique".

"This shade'll give your lips more of a sassy pout, and it's almost the same color as them, too, so it blends in really well! It's also long lasting, so it won't rub off after you eat or drink… and rip Ike's lips off!"

Link laughed, frolicly bonking Marth on the head.

I hate pretending like this…

The make-up artist unscrewed the top of the skinny bottle, gripped his chin, and quickly yet neatly flicked the slanted tip across his top lip. Link mentally noted that it smelt very nice—just like tropical melons—and it was also very cold and creamy. The prince now applied the gloss onto his bottom lip with more caution.

"Okay, rub your lips together, and then let go, but as you do that make a loud, poppish-like noise. Like this…"

He demonstrated, popping his pink tulips perfectly. Link—putting too much thought into it—mimicked Marth as best as he could, his pop not so loud.

"No no, a big pop. Like this."

He did it again, but more slowly. The second time Link over-exaggerated his pop, which was what the prince was aiming for. He retouched some areas that needed a little more gloss to even it out. He fastened the top back onto his lip gloss, grinning happily.

"There you go! You're all set, sweetie."

The short man hopped down from the marble counter and examined himself in the mirror.

There wasn't much of a difference, except his eyes were more defined and his lashes were extremely coquettish if he batted them. He didn't need an artificial glow for his cheeks, and with the help of the tangy lip gloss his luscious petals shimmered in the fluorescent bathroom light, which was definitely going to make it harder on Ike to not kiss them. Marth sprayed a little oil sheen to his hair that also held the aroma of melons. Link felt like a fruit.

After a few moments of mirror gazing, Link faced his amigo, nervously biting the fleshy insides of his bottom lip.

"So… How do I look?"

"Like sex on legs! Your date with Ike will go perfect... Trust me!"

This spread a gracious, thankful smile over the glazed lips. Link gave his best friend a warm, sincere bear hug, nearly knocking him down.

"Thank you…! I couldn't have possibly done this without your help!"

"Yeah yeah, I love you, too. Now go on, Cinderella! You were supposed to be at the entrance seven minutes ago!"

xXx

Link sluggishly strutted down the hall in utter fear that his trousers would rip. He was stumbling a bit, too, not accustomed to Marth's binding pants. They did not allow him to take long strides, resulting in him walking at a quick, yet tiring pace. Link was not one to be late.

I'm already eight minutes behind, he thought, rushing down the second flight of stairs.

"…And so then he just turned around and left! Left! Can you believe that?! If he didn't want to do the duet then he should've just told me!"

Ike looked at his watch, monitoring the time, absent-mindedly listening to the lovely Princess Peach yap on and on about Mario and his lack in romance. Pit had gotten dragged into the conversation as well, sipping on his pink lemonade that she'd prepared and sending glares of death to Link's boyfriend.

He's crazy... Having Link and getting to touch him and kiss him should be enough for anybody! But Ike has to have two partners! Palutena... What should I do? I want to tell Link, but I don't want to risk the friendship that I've developed within him... I desperately seek your guidance...

Ike was dressed in a black dress shirt with a tie that was identical to his hair color—which he dared to comb through—around his neck. He chose to wear jeans over dress pants, and shiny black shoes.

It was a peculiar sight.

"Ike!"

He turned towards his lover's reflected voice.

Link skipped over to the trio, resting his hands on his knees, drained from all that walking.

"Hello!" Peach sweetly greeted.

"Hello Peach, Pit." Link shot Pit a dazzling smile from a low level.

He was still speechless, ogling over the edible man.

Once he regained his normal, breathing pattern, the blonde one hugged Ike tightly, all his words sloshing together in one horrible, run-on sentence.

"I'msorrythatI'mlateit'sjustthatIdidn'tknowwhattowearandsoIaskedMarthforhelpandhepickedoutsomanyoutfitsandthenwedidmakeupand—"

Ike hushed him with a finger, "It's okay... You're just a few minutes late, no big deal... You look great, by the way."

He looked behind Link, more than happy to see the little, round lump that looked so delicious in those jeans.

"Hello legs..."

Ike paced around him in a circle, like a shark encircling its prey in the open ocean, like a satellite floating miles above the earth.

Link crossed his arms, never thinking that he'd actually have to say this.

"Eyes up here, please."

Ike stopped his probing. "Hm? Oh. Right."

Peach giggled; Pit felt guilty. He himself couldn't stop staring at that tempting, inducing ass. It was like Link was talking to him as well.

"But yeah... you look really nice."

"Thanks. You look nice, too..."

The Hyrulean jumped to his feet, swathing about his love's neck, softly crushing lips with him. Peach tittered behind her hand, her inner fan girl getting its daily fix of Ike and Link-ness.

Pit was disgusted.

"Whoa... What's that? Are you wearing lipstick?"

"It's lip gloss: 'Melon Mystique'. It's Marth's; he said it would look really good on me. Do you like it?"

"It's a nice surprise... S'not what I'm used to, though, but your lips are extra yummy..."

Link dived in for another kiss, but was interrupted with a question from their other royal friend.

"Is there a reason why you two are all dressed up? Is there a special occasion?!"

Ike fell. Could Peach honestly be that slow?!

He had told her many times!

Link looked at his twitching boyfriend on the floor; he decided that he would answer this question for him.

"Um… Ike and I are going out to eat dinner together."

"Oh, really?! Where?!"

The indigo-haired man popped up, straightening his hair.

"'L'indigo café… That French joint a couple blocks down from here..."

"Woooow! How romantic! I wish Mario would take me to a nice restaurant, the cheapskate! Isn't that romantic, Pit?!"

Pit's vision flickered from the mushroom princess, then to the couple, and into Ike's eyes.

"Yeah... Very romantic," he unenthusiastically replied, clenching his fists.

Link, one day—very soon—I hope that you will open your eyes...

xXx

"Bonsoir, monsieurs. Welcome to L'indigo café. Your name?"

(Good evening, Mister's; The Indigo Café.)

"Ike."

The Frenchman checked over his book, scanning the many names for an "Ike".

"Ah! Ike, yes? Party of two? Eight forty-five?"

"Oui."

(Yes.)

"Please, wait here and one of our waitresses will come and assist you!"

"Merci, monsieur."

(Thank you, Mister.)

He showed the pair of swordsmen to a nearby couch fit for two, and that's where they took their seats.

Link stared at Ike, dazzled.

"You speak French?"

"Yeah, baby. Hello? Traveler here!"

"Oh..." the blonde man looked down at the gentle hands in his lap, sporting a very noticeable pout, "I didn't know... You're never spoken to me in French before. It sounds so... pretty."

"Je suis désolé, mon amour..." Ike muttered huskily, sneaking a kiss to his cheek.

(I'm sorry, my love...)

"…What?" Link was caught by surprise with the kiss and his beautiful, fluent French. He stole another smooch, serpentine arms pulling him closer to his body. Some of the seated customers looked their way, questioning why two men were in the most romantic restaurant in the area late at night. Link singled out one woman who tapped her husband on the arm. She whispered something to him, sharply cutting her eyes at the pair. He looked over in their direction, his lips boring a decisive, disapproving frown.

Maybe eating out wasn't the smartest choice…

Link gently pressed his hands against Ike's chest, pushing him away.

"Ike... Stop. People are staring at us."

Saying that only encouraged him even more.

"Let them stare…"

Ike sweetly pressed his cold, wet lips against the soft-looking skin that the turtleneck did not hide away him from.

"—Excusez-moi?"

(—Excuse me? Formal.)

The two men looked up.

A short, sweet, young female waitress with frizzy, red hair coughed softly and politely to grasp their undivided attention. She was symbolically red in her round face.

She must've saw us.

"Oh. Sorry..." apologized Ike, standing.

"Oh no! Not at all! Um—my name is Michelle and I will be your waitress for tonight, tending to your every need! Please, right this way!"

"—Mademoiselle?" the indigo haired man tapped her on the shoulder. She about-faced; his lips hovering just above her right ear.

(Miss)

"May we sit somewhere... quiet and secluded?"

She blushed, glancing from the taller man before her, then to the inquiring one behind him who wanted to know what was being said.

"S-Sure!"

The trio headed towards the rear of the restaurant, the young woman leading them through a thin curtain separating the main half of the building. It was dim; Link was careful not to trip over anything. The only lights in the room were ones emitted from small candles and very few suspending from the ceiling. The atmosphere suddenly changed from open and exposed to private and conniving. There were fewer people, tables were smaller, and Link felt much more at ease. A single, white rose stood proud and erect in a skinny, clear vase on each and every one of the tables, a vanilla-scented candle flickering gold. Michelle seated them at a far, isolated table on the right corner by a stained glass window.

"Thank you so much, darling," Ike thanked as he granted her a charming smile.

"Y-You're welcome, monsieur! Is there anything you'd like to drink? Or would you prefer to look over the menu for a bit?"

"Just a little more time, please?"

"Alright! I will be back in a few!"

She scurried off, leaving the couple be.

Soft, undertone, classical music hummed in the background, setting the romantic mood. Link picked up his thick menu, expecting a couple of pictures of all the different foods they served. Instead, he found nothing but words. Majority of them in French. He could barely pronounce some of them; his tongue had gotten tired of trying as he spoke aloud, but to himself.

Unexpectedly, he felt a hand lovingly caress his knee from beneath the curtained table. He almost jumped. How silly that would've been!

Flushing, he peered up to his partner from over his list.

Ike was innocently reading the appetizers, nodding.

He returned to his menu, but pushed past the cloths, sweetly resting his own hand upon Ike's. He looked up again, noticing his mate's lips shrivel into a smile. Oh how he loved that smile...

Link had finally found something that he could read somewhat, and checked the price... almost passing out.

"Um… Ike?"

"Yes?"

"There's one thing that I've noticed about this menu… The food… It's… It's very expensive. Are you sure you can afford all this?"

Ike looked up, leaning forward.

"Don't worry, baby. I got it all covered. You can get whatever you want—as much as you'd like—and let me take care of the check. My treat."

Link was given a brief kiss, and darted a charming smile. He concealed his appealing blush and happy grin from behind his menu—it was becoming more of a fan than a book with entrées. A few minutes later, Michelle returned as promised.

"I take it that you are ready to order drinks?"

"I'd like a bottle of your finest red wine, if you please," said the indigo-haired man with a wooing smile.

A bottle?! Surely he's not going to drink all of it!

She jotted that down.

"Okay… How about you, monsi—"

"—And as for him… Do you have anything that's non-alcoholic? I see that all of your drinks contain liquor in them; liquor and my date here do not mix well."

Link—who was just about to order a basic glass of water—pressed his lips together in a hard, bold line, staring at Ike in disbelief.

"Um, yes! We have many non-alcoholic drinks, but they are not listed because of the public demand of our popular wine and beers. We have an award-winning raspberry lemonade, a spec—"

"—Actually Miss, I'd just like a glass of water, thank you," intruded the pique, petite man, his electric blue eyes zapping his lover with invisible yet sensible lightning bolts, throwing his menu down with just a spritz of anger.

"Alright. So I have a bottle of red wine and a glass of water. I shall go and fetch them for you and when I come back I will be ready to take orders, yes?"

"That sounds good," agreed Link.

She left the table with a skip in her step; Ike was in for it now.

His blonde crossed his legs—scraping Ike's gentle hands away from his shins—a blank, hurt expression adorning his blessed features.

"Why do you do that?"

"...Do... What?"

He rolled his eyes, looking to the chandelier.

"Why do you always belittle me?"

"Belittle you? I don't belittle you, baby..."

Ike reclaimed those beautiful knees with his paws, but crept them up further to his thighs and caressed them gingerly and apologetically. The green man wasn't buying it. He simply avoided his sapphires, peering out the window that provided a stunning view. Buttering up to him wasn't going to be easy this time around.

"Yes you do," Link uttered under his breath, "you do it all the time..."

"Did I make Link mad?"

"No... Well, yes. Yes you did. And you clearly embarrassed me."

"How so...?"

"'How so'?! Just then! With the waitress! You made me feel as if I was a little baby! You're always giving me that treatment! I'm nineteen-years-old and pushing twenty! I'm not some infant! I'm a grown man and... and I feel that I should be treated like one if that's not too much to ask for!"

A momentous pause made the background music sound louder than it was, until the bigheaded swordsman rung out in stifled chuckles. That just made more smoke blow out of Link's pointy, pierced ears. Again, he peeled Ike's hands off his body, infuriated and confused.

He did not see any humor in this.

"Why are you laughing?! Did I say something amusing to you?!"

Lord knows Ike tried to answer back, but Link was just too damn cute.

His patience was running on empty.

"...You're unbelievable!"

"I'm sorry, Link... I'm really, really sorry...! But... but that's where you're wrong. Actually, my sweet, you are a baby."

Link was about to blow up in his face disregarding the quiet, tranquil atmosphere they were located in. But with great timing and loose lips, Ike capped his mouth over his lover's, successfully causing his eyelids to fluctuate and his anger to melt away, ceasing the foreseen nagging.

He loved pushing Link to his limits, and he was definitely easier to rile down than Marth. He made that connection right away.

"...You're my baby. And I only want what's best for you like any other good parent would want for their child. And tell me Link, what nineteen-year-old man fusses about his clothes getting shrunken? Huh? What nineteen-year-old man pouts and has little temper tantrums whenever he gets poked fun at or doesn't get his way? See? You're still a baby yourself. it doesn't matter how old you are. "

Link liked the saccharine kiss Ike gave him, but he did not necessarily like being told that he was still a child—although very much of it was true. With his arms still folded and pout accumulating at his mouth, Link looked anywhere but at his boyfriend. It was hard to tell what he was thinking because of this; Ike needed to look at in eyes to cipher his feelings.

"—Here you go: A bottle of one of our finest wines, and a water for you, monsieur!"

Michelle appeared out of nowhere.

She set down Ike's wine glass and humongous and Link's fancy cup, then flipped open her notepad.

"Are you both ready to order anything? Or do you need some more time?"

Ike tested his drink—tasting sweet, sweet grapes.

"Yes. Uh... I'd like the 'Le triple spéciale', please?"

(The Triple Special.)

"...Your sides?"

"Hmm... Mashed potatoes, and... Asparagus, I guess."

She recorded all of this, and then angled towards Link.

"Okay... How about you, monsieur?"

"Um..."

Link nervously flipped through the picture-less menu. He knew what he wanted; the only problem being was how could he say it? He looked up at Ike—eyes pleading for assistance—pink blinking in his cheeks like tail lights. Ike grinned, knowledgeable of his love's zero French tongue. He leaned halfway across the table, one arm resting upon it while the other swirled his wine glass in small circles.

This oughta be good...

"...Um. I'd like to get the... the um... 'Lee Tour Dee Fran... Fran-kay-is'?"

Ike and Michelle shared a good laugh, Link sinking lower in his seat.

"Il est mignon, oui?" Ike foreignly asked.

(He's cute, right?)

"Oui! Très mignon! Ehem... and a 'Le Tour de Français' for you," she pronounced accurately, "We are sort of busy tonight up front as you probably have seen earlier... So on behalf of the entire staff I apologize if your meals arrive a bit late!"

(Yes! Very cute!; The Tour of the French Language)

"Please, take your time. We're in no rush..." Ike said with another, manipulative smile. Michelle then disappeared through the flimsy curtains.

He giggled some more.

"'Lee Tour Dee Fran-kay-is'?"

"Yeah, yeah, I said it wrong. You could've helped me, you know! That would have saved me the humiliation!"

"Oh... But I thought you wanted me to treat you like a 'big boy'? I thought you could do things by yourself?"

The more mawkish of the two blushed.

"I don't know any French; I couldn't read that! And you knew it!"

He snapped into his folded arms, crossed legs, pouted lips position.

"You're so inconsiderate! Not only did you allow me to make a fool out of myself, but you and Michelle laughed at me, and talked about me in a language that I cannot understand...!"

"Cupcake..." Ike took one of his little lover's arms, holding one of his soft hands. He gave it a light squeeze, "You're right, I should've helped you out... I know how much you hate 'making a fool of yourself', and it was wrong of me to let that happen. But you're just so fun to mess with... And you know how much Ikey likes to mess with his sweetie, right?"

Link didn't smile nor did he respond to the question.

"When you both talked in French, what did you say? Did you talk about me?"

God, is he a sensitive one.

"I asked Michelle if she thought you were cute after you had just brutally mutilated the French language, honest!"

"...And what did she say?"

"She agreed with me! Really! Baby, please don't get so worked up over this... It was sort of a joke, no need to take it so seriously. I just want to have a nice, quiet, evening dinner with you... When we get back to the mansion you can fuss and yell at me all you'd like, and I'll take it. But for now, can we enjoy ourselves tonight without these little arguments... Please?"

The blonde fixed his baby blues onto their linked hands with a telltale blush spreading from his nose. He frowned at them, lowering his head.

"I'm sorry."

"...huh?"

"I'm sorry, Ike. I'm sorry that I've been acting like a... a whiny, schmaltzy bitch. I... I need to loosen up and stop being so serious... Just like you said."

"No! No, don't say that! You're not a 'whiny, schmaltzy bitch'! Hell, I don't even know what 'schmaltzy' means! You have nothing to apologize for… I'm the one who has upset you like this. Partially, it's my fault. So I'm sorry. And you can't help it... that's just your nature... that's just who you are. And I love you."

He bent over, taking both of Link small hands. Their lips delightfully collided in a sugary kiss; Link's lips were always so soft, and because of that, he was jealous.

"Now, enough of this crazy talk! Let's do something a little more... uplifting."

"...Could you teach me a little French?"

He could see a little smile begin to surface on Link's lovely lips.

"That's a great idea! Sure, I'll teach ya some!"

"I hope you have lots of patience..."

"All the patience in the world, dear..."

Ike and Link spent the rest of their waiting time together reviewing French adjectives, the French alphabet, French numbers, and now the French verbs. Link was a brilliant, quick learner, and Ike was amazed at how fast he learned and how much they had accomplished in a short amount of time.

"Okay, now that you've familiarized yourself with the pronunciation of the letters, it's time to learn your first verb."

Link—determined—leaned forward.

"Alright, I am ready!"

"The first verb is... être."

"...etra?"

"No, roll your tongue when you say the "r"... être."

"...êtr—être?"

"There you go! It means 'to be' in its infinitive form. But once you conjugate it with other nouns and pronouns the entire verb—and how it's pronounced—changes completely."

Saying that, the strong will and determination was quickly swiped off Link's face.

"Aww man, and I have to remember all that...? It's too much..."

"No it's not, babe! It's actually quite easy!"

"—Sorry! Sorry for the terrible wait!"

Michelle stumbled in through the curtains with a tray that was almost as big as herself, carrying their hot meals. Ike—being a gentleman—helped her, taking the tray as she set up a stand to rest it on.

"Thank you...!" she sighed gratefully with relief.

"De rien..."

(You're Welcome in a sort of "Don't mention it..." tone)

He placed the tray on the stand, and took his seat as she served them.

"Everything is very, very hot!" warned Michelle.

"...It looks delicious!" Link complimented. Not only did his meals look mouth-watering good, but the way it was presented... it was way too beautiful to eat!

He was pretty hungry, though.

The blonde was surrounded by twenty-six individual plates with little, thoughtfully crafted servings of food each representing a letter of the French alphabet. "Ratatouille" for "R", "Crepes" for "C", and "Zewelwai" for "Z".

"If you need anything, do not hesitate to call me! Bon Appétit!"

And that's exactly what they did.

The couple happily devoured their food, definitely getting their money's worth—or in this case—Ike's money's worth. They had light discussion as they ate, occasionally giving the other light kisses to the cheek. Michelle checked in on them, Ike pouring refill after refill of red wine. Link warned him not to drink so much, he was the designated driver, but his arrogant lover told him not to worry. He was working on his fifth cup, and he didn't seem the slightest bit drunk—talk about a man who could hold his liquor.

When they were finished, the faithful waitress stopped by the tables to retrieve their plates.

"Was everything okay?"

Link slouched in his seat, patting his full tummy.

"It was magnificent..."

She found this humorous, personally taking a liking into the little blonde one.

"I hope you have enough room for dessert!"

She handed Link a brochure which turned out to be their desserts, which was right up his ally.

"We have some yummy treats in there that I'm sure you'd both enjoy! We use only the finest ingredients when we prepare our sweets! I'm going to put up these plates and I'll be back to take your orders!"

Link thumbed through the thin book, the colorful pictures benefiting him, drooling over all the thoughtfully crafted treats. It didn't take him long to point out one's that he would like to try; he counted three so far.

"Did you find the chocolate cake?"

"They have chocolate cake?! Where?!"

"'Should be on page five."

He furiously flipped to the fifth page, eyes nearly popping out of his head.

It wasn't a really big cake: about five-and-a-half inches in diameter and maybe three inches tall. Nevertheless, it was a beautifully-decorated, iced cake, a single, juicy strawberry settling on the very top.

"You want it, don't you?"

"Y—"

Link's cerulean eyes wandered across the price, and was easily persuaded.

"That much for this little cake?!"

"Would you like it?"

"Well... yes, but it's... It's too much..."

"Pssht. Nothing is ever 'too much' when it comes to my Linky. Remember when I said you could have anything you want, as much as you want? I meant it."

Michelle rejoined them, her notepad pocketed at her hip. She clasped her hands together, a serving smile on her small, glossy, strawberry-pink lips.

"See anything you like, monsieurs?"

"Ahh, yes. My partner here has taken interest in the 'Le Base de Chocolat Fondu'."

"Oh! I knew you would pick that one! It shall be ready in a wee minute!"

And she kept her word. Link's dessert was delivered to him just minutes after it was ordered. Unlike fast food, it looked exactly like the gourmet cake in the picture. Ike dug his silver knife into the little cake, cutting a huge slice for his love first.

What happened next blew Link out of the water.

A flood of rich, Dutch chocolate effortlessly oozed out of the center of the cake!

"Wah! I didn't know it had a core like that! How did they do that?! I must know!"

That made the taller of the two smile. He cut a neat piece from his chunk of heavenly goodness to his fruity lips.

"'Le Base de Chocolat Fondu' translated basically means 'the core of molten chocolate'. I've had it before, and it's freaking amazing. Try it."

When it came to chocolate, you didn't have to tell Link twice. He carefully wrapped his lips around the metal utensil, his tongue stealing the chocolate-y piece. He chewed slowly, excerpting what he could from it.

He gasped.

"Yes?"

Link had a twinkle in his eye.

"It's so moist... and it's warm and sweet! And the chocolate... it's so creamy. It melts on my tongue!"

"Knew you'd like it."

Oh, Link didn't like it.

He loved it.

By the time Ike was finished with his first slice, Link had already eaten the entire cake.

He watched in curiosity and astonishment as his blonde haired lover gracefully scarf slice after slice of the dessert with one glass of milk to wash it all down, wondering where it all went. His fork entered and exited his mouth, Link enjoying the heavenly taste of the chocolate delicacy, licking away the dripping chocolate on his fingers, plate, etc.; it was strangely arousing.

Ike did some elementary math, another finger disappearing into Link's mouth.

Link loves chocolate.

Link loves Ike.

Link plus chocolate plus Ike equals...

A new item had been added to the ever-growing grocery list:

Chocolate Syrup.

And lots of it.

"You've just made love to that fork."

The skilled archer chuckled in his throat, taking his index finger into his mouth, moaning in pure satisfaction.

"...I believe I did. Jealous?"

"Very."

Ike swirled his wine around and around in his cup, his signature smile growing wider and wider. The question… Each night—before they made love—Ike would remind himself to ask Link this very question when they were through… but he'd always forget. And Link would shut down minutes afterwards. He wasn't going to forget this time; he might as well ask it now, while it was still fresh on his mind.

"Why do you love me?"

Link reddened, rivaling the strawberry he was stabbing.

"Why do I… love you...?"

"Mmhmm. Tell me. I'm curious. What about me do you love?"

He blushed, nervously playing with the edges of his fancy napkin, which was covered in chocolate icing.

"I love a lot of things about you..."

"List some."

Ugh... he's going to get an answer either way...

"Um... Well... You... You're arrogant, cocky, egoistical, playful... and some of the time you can be a real jackass. But... that's what makes you—Ike. And that's kind of why—and all this'll sound really dumb but—that's kind of why I fell in love with you...

You're funny and strong and smart... I love your messy, dismayed hair, your bright eyes, your kindness and thoughtfulness... and you are very, very... handsome. Um—you make me smile when I'm upset, laugh when I don't really feel like laughing... and you fully understand me. You're patient with me, and when I'm with you I feel... I feel... complete.

You'reeverything that I'm not, which fills this empty void in my heart, so it doesn't seem like I'm missing out on life... You're a very sensual, passionate person. I—I love the way you look at me when we wake up together... How your eyes seem to sparkle whenever you see me... the way you hold me close to you at night and sing me to sleep... the feel of your lips—and... your tongue—moving against mine when we kiss... Your comfortable arms wrapped around me, like you're scared to let me go... Your gentle touch sets me on fire...

You give me so many warm feelings, and, um, I can't get enough of you. That's why I love you, Ike."

The shy, little man kept his eyes away from his mate's, sporting a comprehensive, red blush. Ike was smiling; some of those reasons surprised him.

"So, my 'messy, dismayed hair' turns you on? Never knew that..."

Link's thumbs were having a fierce wrestling match; his lips were flapping, but Ike could not hear one peep.

"……about me?"

"Hmm?"

"Um... What do you love... about me?"

"What do I love about you? Where do I begin?!"

Link gulped; the right thumb had won round two.

"...You are my lover, my best friend, and I hold you very dear to my heart...

Link, you're a rare gem, an interesting person that I am so thankful to have found. I am stunned by your endless sympathy for others, your blossoming sweetness towards everyone, and that lingering virgin that I just can't seem to ravish out of you! Do you know how frustrating that is for me? Anyway—in all—you're a beautiful person, on the inside and out.

Your pretty eyes tell me every little thing that I need to know. They're always swimming with some kind of emotion that's so fun to decipher. Speaking of emotion, you're so easy to excite. We could be having dinner back at the mansion, and I could say something like, 'You put a lot of seasoning in this chicken'. You'd twist your panties into a knot. But sometimes, I do that on purpose, just to see how you'd react. I know, 'not cool', but you're... so cute! And I also know you hate being called that, but it's true.

You have a heart made of solid gold and I admire how you put others before yourself without a second thought. You'd even give the shirt off your own back to a person who really needed it, I believe, and your hidden, questionable personality is very attractive to me, also. And so is that body...

Those fascinating pink lips, seductive legs, that nice ass."

Link's eyes grew at that last part.

"You know how much I love you, so I'm not going to make this all mushy... Um—Oh yeah!—I got a little something for you—close your eyes."

Link obeyed, his heart hammering into his rib cage.

He has something... for me?!

Ike reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small, black box, "Hold out your left hand."

He did that, too.

Ike opened the box, taking out a gleaming gold ring with a genuine emerald fresh from the mines and in the distinct shape of a heart centered at the top, bordered with small, white diamonds. It was a specially-requested ring, so it cost a lot more and took a little longer to produce and arrive at the jeweler. It couldn't have come at a better time, though. The situation with he and Marth was getting out of hand, and no matter how perfect things were now, he feared that Link was going to find out about them sooner or later...

Either it be from him,

Marth,

And now Pit, who he suspects has a little crush on his lover.

But before that happened, a promise had to be proposed.

"You're making me nervous, Ike."

"Alright, alright..."

Ike grasped Link's hand, and steadily slipped the ring onto his ring finger.

Link sharply gasped—eyes still remaining shut. It was a ring... that much he did know.

"I... Ike?"

"Open your eyes."

Link immediately looked to his finger, then to his love, and back again. He placed a hand over his heart, utterly speechless.

"Ike... Wow. It's... it's so beautiful...!"

"Yep, just as I thought... I chose an emerald, since that's the only green gem that I know of..."

Link "oooh"ed and "ahhh"ed some more, inspecting his ring. "I Love You" was engraved on the bottom of the golden band in script letters.

"'I Love You'..." he read, exhibiting a lovely smile, "Aww... Ike, I love you, too..."

Ike grinned, kissing his forehead, wishing he could bottle up that smile and save it for later.

"Is it okay? S'not too tight? Too loose?"

"No... It's perfect. But I… I can't accept this..." Link started to take it off, but Ike interfered, hastily stopping him and almost knocking his wine over as he did.

"NO!"

The green-loving man was confused.

"Um... I mean... you have to accept it. It's a gift from me to you. I practically spent all of my savings..."

"Which is why I cannot accept it! You've spent enough money on me already—"

"—but it has a special meaning!"

That caught his attention.

"S... Special meaning?"

"Mmhm... Very special, and important. You see, baby, this ring," he held up Link's hand, "is a declaration of my undying love for you that will last on forever and ever... and a day. It is a promise—guarantee—that I will never stop loving you, no matter what comes our way. So, let's say something happens... causing us to split up."

Link's orbs grew two sizes. To talk about breaking up so casually... It was hard to ignore, but Ike kept going. He needed to get this across first, then he'd ask questions.

"...You may get the feeling that I never did truly love you. But hopefully you will take the time to look at this ring and remember these very words that I am about to say... 'Link, I love you and I have always, always loved you. I'm terribly sorry that this had to happen to us, and I take the blame for everything. I can only pray that you would one day forgive me... I love you, I will still love you, and I have always loved you'."

Ike paused here; Link's eyes were unreadable, illiterate, holding no emotion whatsoever.

"...You got all that?"

"Um... Yeah... I got it."

He was ecstatic with his new ring a minute ago, but that mood was quickly replaced by another that puzzled the taller man. Ike kissed him passionately, but Link's lips weren't as responsive.

"...What's wrong, Hun?"

Link softly shrugged.

"I... I don't know. I guess you could say I am a little... worried..."

"Can you tell me why? Was it something I said?"

He nodded at that.

"Then tell me... tell me why."

"No... It's… it's stupid."

"Well, if something 'stupid' has you looking like your puppy had gotten run over by an eighteen-wheeler, then I want to know what it is."

Link peered out the window once more.

"All this talk about splitting up... it's... it's a scary thought. For a second there you had me thinking that you were... um... that you were going to... err..." he swallowed, softly choking out, "break up with me."

Living without Ike? He couldn't see himself making it...

I knew he would feel this way... Link, I'm so sorry.

Ike sighed, resting his head in his hands. How could he explain this without hurting him?

"No," he finally spoke after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. Ike brushed his fingers across the baby-soft skin of the blonde's face, gently redirecting his head to meet his eyes.

But the twin irises did not.

"Baby, look at me..." Ike commanded in the softest tone he could muster.

The petite man looked at his hand, then to Ike's collar, and finally into the oceanic abysses.

"We're not separating... and I'm not hinting around about it. It's just a precaution. Like if something does happen. I'm not saying that it necessarily will... You see?"

Link bit his lip, hesitantly nodding.

"On the bright side, you have a very pretty ring to show off! Don't worry about it too much… I want to be with you for as long as I can... Okay?"

"...'kay," he agreed, with a hint of a smile...

"Good. Now gimme kiss..."

Link arose from his seat just a little to press his fruitfully-glazed lips against his boyfriends, letting them linger there more than Ike was immune to. But he didn't mind. A group of female waitresses that walked by squealed in sheer pleasure, rapidly yapping away in French. Link—alarmed—tore his lips away and horrifically stared at them.

"Wh... What are they saying?" he questioned his lover—now his French translator.

"Hmmm... They think I'm sexy, and that we make a cute couple..."

"Ahh... Fan girls are everywhere."

Ike eavesdropped on the conversation some more until one of the females—pressured by all of her friends—brought him in it.

"Um... my friend Michelle told me that you speak very good French. So... um... We all have a question for you. Est-ce que tu es dessure?"

(Are you "top"?)

Ike grinned sheepishly. He had taught Link some french, but not enough to actually form a sentence. Plus he was talking so fast, slurring his words together, so Link had to dissect every little word piece by piece.

"Ahhh... Oui. Je suis dessure et il est dessous."

(Yes. I'm top and he's bottom.)

She nodded—her blush getting deeper—then turned to her clique.

"Il est dessure et le mignon un est dessous!"

(He's top and the cute one's bottom!)

They all celebrated again.

"Merci!"

The skinny waitress rejoined her friends...

"What did you tell her?! I want to know!"

"Nothin'."

"Please tell me!!"

But Ike never did answer his questionnaire.

They shortly left, Ike paying his check, leaving Michelle a generous tip as they both exited the restaurant.

xXx

The drive back to the mansion was painfully silent; the crescentic hum of the engine filled their ears as Ike glided the rented car down the empty road.

Link hadn't said a word to him since they left, which disgruntled him. He was sitting there, his right thigh placed over the other, his eyes staring into the distance, fingers absent-mindedly groping his ring. Whenever Link was silent like this, he was either in deep thought, shutting himself away from the world, or really pissed off.

Ike had to keep his eyes on the road, so he couldn't analyze his expressive face as thoroughly as he yearned. There weren't many people out with it being late at night...

He's not upset with me because I wouldn't tell him what I told the waitress... at least I don't think... Is he still worried about the whole ring thing?

Ike glanced over to his love.

"You're not mad at me, are you?"

"No." An affirmative, straight to the point answer.

"Oh, great... it's just... you're all... quiet."

"I'm thinking."

"'Bout what?"

"Stuff."

"...What kind of stuff?"

"Just... stuff."

"Oh..."

Ike yielded at the red light.

"You... want to talk about it?"

"No thank you."

"Alright..."

Ike took his left hand, and smiled at him. Link flashed him a half smile, and then sank back into his thoughts.

xXx

"I thought you were going to... to ask me to marry you..." mentioned a drowsy Link who was blanketing Ike's body with his own. Ike laughed to himself, planting a kiss into his golden locks. It was funny how he seemed to blurt out the truth when he was sleepy. He used this to his advantage.

"Really? Are you disappointed?"

Link's face got really hot, the heat seeping through his thin shirt and burning his chest. He couldn't see his face, but he already knew those cheeks were as read as his shirt. The smaller man softly yanking at his clothes like a little child.

"No... Just... surprised."

"I would marry you."

The blonde looked up, his cobalt eyes glistening like gold.

"You would?"

"'Course I would, but..."

Pit's haunting, depressing words echoed...

"How could you do this behind his back?!"

"Why would you mess around with Marth...?!"

"You don't deserve him…"

"Neither of you deserve Link!"

"...I don't deserve you."

Link rubbed his lips together. He lay back down, continuing to listen to his partner's heart, shutting his eyes.

"Why do you always say that? That you don't deserve me...? You've been saying it a lot…"

"Because I'm—" Ike cut-off here, thinking about Marth and their eight-month rendezvous, "—I'm no good. I don't deserve anything like this..."

Link held his face in his hands; Ike did not look at him.

Not those honest eyes… Please… anything but those.

"But everyone deserves to be loved... You deserve to be loved. And you are. I love you, Marth loves you, your fans love you..."

"...Marth loves you..."

Ike's dark, depressing orbs flickered into the cerulean ones, making Link shiver a little. They harnessed the deadly strength of a glare; the leaner man sealed his lips shut, instantly looking away, a little shaken up by his lover's sudden mood change.

"Don't talk like that," he threatened, eyes swimming with black, "Stop."

Ike...

"Okay."

Who is this person...? This isn't my lover… this isn't the Ike that I know.

Link backed off of him, fumbling with his piggy toes, very nervous.

Ike saw this, feeling incredibly stupid.

Damn, my anger got the best of me there... Why did I say that to Link? Now look at him...

I'm hurting him. Just because I'm feeling shitty doesn't mean I have to drag Link down with me. And I've been hurting him all night... I can't stand this.

I'm sorry, Link.

...but I need to see Marth.

I want to see him.

"Link... I'm going to sleep in my dorm tonight," lied Ike, getting off the bed, but the blonde one reached out, grabbed his shirt, and lassoed him into a tight embrace.

"...Did I say something to make you mad? I… I am sorry. I did not mean to..." he mumbled, the traveler feeling ever the more horrible.

I really wanted him to stay with me... to talk more. He's been acting weird all night.

"No! I... I'm just a little out of it... I need to think... You didn't do anything, alright?"

Link nodded his head, hair falling into his face.

"How you're acting... Does it have something to do with that one problem you can't tell me about...?"

Ike sat back down on the bed, next to his lover.

"Yeah... it's got a little something to do with it."

"Oh... Then..."

Link angelically kissed his troubled mate's cheek, showering him with love and care.

"Since you cannot tell me what is going on with you, I can only give you hugs and kisses to make you feel better... like you wanted, right?"

He... He remembered...

Ike coiled his own arms around the small man, nearly crushing his lovely, warm body into bits.

"I love you, Link. I love you so very much, you just don't know."

Link drew in his crisp scent, confiding in it…

It hurts that I cannot be of much use to him…

"I hope that you have a peaceful rest."

xXx

"GODDAMNIT! YOU STUPID, SLOW ASS MESSENGER! Now Romeo will never know that Juliet's alive! ARGH!"

Knock Knock Knock Knock.

Marth tore off his skinny, rectangular glasses, staring at his door in annoyance.

Who was interrupting his reading time? And at this hour?! Everyone should've been in bed, including him, but the suspenseful, timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet was keeping him wide awake and biting his manicured nails, wondering what was going to happen next.

Now who is this?

Marth opened his door.

"What is it—Ike?!"

He blushed significantly, subconsciously brushing his bangs.

"Um—what are you doing here?"

Ike grinned, avoiding the question.

"You're still awake?"

"Well, yeah! I was reading a very good book!"

He allowed the indigo-haired man in, closing his door behind him. Ike grabbed the thick novel set upon his bed, taking his usual spot against the bed post.

"Romeo and Juliet? You're into this twisted, romance crap?"

Marth crossed his arms, offended.

"Shut up! It's very, very sweet! And it is not crap!"

Ike laughed, wagging his finger; Marth knew what that meant.

Cuddle time!

The prince skipped over to his bed, hopping into the taller man's lap with a big, happy smile on his face. Marth was surprised at how warm he was, and nuzzled even deeper into his body. Ike kissed his head, flipping through the book and skimming over a couple of passages.

"And this isn't the simplified version for dummies, either. You actually understand all this?"

Marth looked up.

"Shakespearean English? Of course I do!"

Marth faced him, his entire expression changing into what he called "theatrical mode". He took Ike's hands into his, placing them over his heart.

"'O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet...' That's from the balcony scene, my absolute favorite! And it's not too hard to understand! You just have to have a romantic mindset..."

Ike sat in silence for a couple moments, gawking at Marth with a discombobulated look.

"What…?"

"I have no idea what you just said..." he softly kissed his second favorite pair of lips, "but it sounded beautiful on your tongue."

Marth wasn't stupid.

…Wait a second.

As happy as he was with Ike being in his dorm and all, there was something about it that seemed abnormal.

He wasn't afraid to ask questions.

"Why are you here?"

"…Whatever do you mean?"

"Oh please. You'd sleep with Link any chance you could! But you're not tonight, meaning something happened between you two, or—Oh! The date! How did it go?!"

Ike slapped a hand over his forehead. He came here to find peace to escape his "problem", but he just ran right back into it again. It's funny how that works.

"Well, it went great… but I kind of fucked things up at the end."

"What happened?!"

…And Ike explained.

………

"So… I came to you…"

"Aww… I'm flattered."

Ike was embraced by his prince's cuddlesome, lithe body.

"You should've seen his face, Marth… it would break your heart. How do you stay calm like this...?! And then there's Pit: He saw us—kissing—and even if he swore he wouldn't tell Link, what if he does? I can't imagine what'll happen, then…"

"Baby…"

Marth sat up, implanting innumerable butterfly kisses onto Ike's sad, coral petals, "You want to know how I remain calm? Because I stay in the present—I live for now. I don't stress about the future—it'll work itself out—and you shouldn't either."

"But I've already tried… and I can't get this off my mind…"

The beautiful, sky-blue hues churned languidly into frightening navy. The prince stroked his hot cheeks with his thumbs…

Ike… I must do something!

"I don't know what to do, Mart—"

Elegantly—and with great grace—the royal one widened the narrow crease in Ike's lips with the point of his tongue, dipping his sweet tissue into the warm haven.

He tasted liquor, the kiss even more intoxicating. Maybe that was why he was acting so emotional.

Ike moaned—flabbergasted—but joined the sympathetic muscle in dance.

Let me take him off your mind… if only for a while.

xXx

Link held Moby in his arms—the teddy bear Ike got him some time ago—burying his face in his soft fur. It was a little lonely sleeping by himself. He loved his stuffed animal… but he'd rather have Ike enveloping him other than the pink, furry arms.

"Do you know what's wrong with Ike, Moby?"

He made Moby shake his head "no".

"…Neither do I."

Link thought a little bit more as he lay in the darkness, looking to his ceiling, which was an olive green color with the absence of light. He looked over at his digital alarm clock.

"12:54 A.M."

Thank goodness for Saturday, the only "rest day" the Smashers were given.

"You don't think he's mad at me, do you? I mean, he said he wasn't but… his eyes. They were so scary… He's never looked at me like that before... or spoken to me in such a questionable tone."

Moby tapped his chin with a paw, and then shook his head "no" again.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Look at me… I'm talking to a toy bear... I need to get some rest…

But for the first time, he couldn't.

"If Ike said he's not mad… then he isn't. He wouldn't lie to me… but I'm tired of feeling useless...! Weak...! Not needed...! I want to help Ike feel better... And I will! Because that's what good lovers do."

Moby thrust a fuzzy paw into the air in agreement—it would've been a fist if he actually had fingers.

Link smiled, hugging onto his nonliving friend, inspired.

And he treacherously held onto that goal for the rest of the night.

---

Finished. Kinda liked this chapter. But that doesn't matter, does it?

I have French class C:

I had the most fangirl-ish moment when Link was sumo wrestling with that one guy named Bo on the game. It was so precious… I was squealing.

NyoChan: Ahhhh… I guess I have acceptable writing. I try to expand my vocabulary; I have about three to four thesauruses and dictionaries lying around my room. Did you enjoy this chapter? C: And you forgot to vote in Part One…

Bitbyboth: Choice B? I sorta see Pit as a seme. Maybe if he was Dark Pit Cx Ha Haa, Dark Pit and uke Link xDDD Maybe that should've been a choice.

Sachiko V: Yesh… the conversation with Pit and Link kinda foreshadowed some things… 83 Who knows what Marth's done when he was young… Hee hee. Link will officially find out in Chapter Eleven. I will cry when I write the scene. I can already see me bawling my eyes out… xD You have Choice A, right? Just makin' sure! I need to find more fanarts, too… n w n

Kufuffelupagus: Another one for Choice B! Why can't people see Pit as semmmmeeeee………? D: Just 'cause he has wings doesn't mean he's totally innocent… And shall prove it if Choice A wins! Lucky you! I gots… -counts fingers- 9 somethin' more years to go!! Dx –jealousness-

Miss Paisley: There's nothing like coming home from school to a new chapter of your most favorite fanfic… I tell ya xD Marth is always impatient, I made him that way. You can't wait for Link's heart to get broken…? D: I CAN'T EITHER. I'M TIRED OF WRITING IKE AND MARTH DOING VERY BAD THINGS BEHIND HIS BACK. Makes me angry… Grr… Ah, thank you! I don't like to toot my own horn too much :3 My friends say I have excellent writing. Maybe that's cause they're my friends. Eh, anyway. Choice B for you? Got it!

Ernoma: (I am secretly favoring choice A, so HIGH-EFFING-FIVE)! Noes! If Choice B does win, I promise to make Pit a little seme-ish… :C -Hides under a rock- Sorry. That's why I split this up into two parts. But this was still prolly a killer on your eyes. Over 18,000 words. I write too much… xD MORBID PIT WAS FUN TO WRITE O W O

Kurai: All my first time reviewers get cookies x3 I'm just nice like that. Yeah, taking your time is most important! Although I rush lots of things xD Ike in schoolgirl uniform… Mmmmmm… - w -

Link: -glare-

Me: … -Backs off-

Eh heh heh… Lol, Ganon that homophobe. Choice B, is it? I've never read a fanfic where Pit was the seme either, but maybe that cycle will break Cx And yes, Link's heart fractures a bit in this chapter, but it's nothing a little sleep and optimism can't fix :3 Or can it…?

Flock o' Seagulls: I've never seen the show, either. I've seen the dance and fell in love with it. So I was like, "Hey, why not Link, Ike and Marth perform Hare Hare Yukai (Ike is Yuki Nagato since he's not really dancing at will, and Link is Mikuru Asahina)? Pit almost died from dehydration! xDDD Choice B… And yes. I like the way you think. Link should get a chance to top, and Pit is the perfect candidate! Ike will remain seme forever, I guess…

royLeingod: You're welcome! That's my favorite cookie, you know, rainbow m&m... They will be the death of me… BRILLIANT. I love the Hare Hare Yukai, Ike, Marth and Link dancing to it just makes it even better! ("Fish Lips" is my nickname that this one boy that I want to murder gave me :3) Ha Haa, I was going to make him dress up as Kyon, but I thought that Ike in a school girl uniform would be much funnier. Choice B? :3 Alrighty.

Midnight Crystal Sage: How the HELL do you get IkeXPit?! That doesn't even make sense to me! I can see Ike raping poor, little Pit… -cries- Yep, I'll prolly start out with a LinkXPit one shot (Seme Link/Uke Pit). That is, when I'm settled into this story.

MUST. HAVE. IKE. LINK. ONE. SHOT.

O m O

Pit didn't have time to laugh at Marth and Ike, he almost died from dehydration xD "Manwhoring Cockflute"?

-Images-

O.o I don't think you want to know what my mind came up with just now. YAY FOR CHOICE A!

Yukina99: Another choice A! x3 (Personally, I want "A" to win)… Ike and Marth got told and it sure as hell was cold! Link is a cute ukeeeee… I will have so much fun writing that if choice A wins!

The Mad Joker: Choice A! Wee! Yeah, I can see them switching, but Pit would prolly want to be more dominant, since Link's the broken one and all… "Dominant Uke"? Never heard of that before. But I can see Pit being a dominant uke (Is it possible for two uke's to have sex? O.o) Yep, Ike and Marth get caught in the eleventh chapter, fo sho. Pit finds out, yay! But will he tell? Hm… Uke's can go long without sex, or so I think, so restriction for Link might not have been as hard on him as if was for Ike.

WinterVeil: Aww, I'm glad you like my story 8D And NOOOO! NOTHING IS WEIRD ABOUT A SEME PIT AND UKE LINK. At least I don't see it is… But I think I've made Link too cute to be seme…

Gathouria: Yeah, where did LinkXRoy come from? O.o That's awkward, but I can see it happen… Yes, Pit should be seme and Link uke, since I've already made him too cute… :3 So you picked Choice A, I take it! Lol, I don't mean to make extra long chapters, it just happens. Writer's Block is a bitch! DDDx If you die from lack of sleep, I don't want to see authorities at my doorstep… Interesting view on how you think the story will go. If Ike doesn't leave (I'm not saying that he will), it'll be good for him to watch Link and Pit be all lovey-dovey around each other xD I'm a meanie :3 I don't have melee, but I wanna play with Roy once… He's so cute!! They better bring him back… Or I'll be in the courtroom right along with ya. LOL at the pictures! "I AM NOT UNDRESSING YOU WITH MY EYES" xD The young link one was cute, too. My life? The teachers are giving me pure hell, and I need to bring my grades up. So nothing special. Except getting Poe-kun to notice me… (I secretly took a picture of him on the bus. So cute –domodomodomo-

Rayestar Ikina: YUSH. Cause I've never heard of a LinkXRoy fanfic. Interesting…

- w – You're read Alas, Babylon before? I'm really starting to hate that book. Not because it isn't interesting, but because It's making my grade in English go down since I don't do the study guide questions. I don't like being forced to read things that I have little or no interest in. Yeah, ol—bottom locker—me. I used to have a top one, but that's what I get for boasting about it last year. I can remember when I was younger, I was checking the mailbox. I kept feeling something itching at my legs, but I just shrugged it off as I tried to reach inside to get the mail. The itching got worse, so I looked down and from the knee and below, my poor legs were covered in black ants, nipping and biting at my legs. I ran back inside and my mom poured cold water on all of em. And I've never looked at ants the same way again… xD Choice B for you? X3 –Tallies-

DarkItachi22: I'm glad you like my story!! x3 (Choice B?) Seme Link would be interesting to write. It probably won't break the character that I have made for him, but he change slightly. But he'll still be cute and pouty :3 Lol Ike has very strong testerone hormones xDDD Ahh, and now I have your say on how you think the story will come out. Well, let's see. We have Ike, Link, Marth, Roy, and Pit. That's five people. So let's do the math. We have one pair, and another pair. But that leaves someone out. Meaning SOMEBODY'S not gonna have a lover. O.o I wonder who…? Thank you. I literally DRAIN myself writing this fic, but it's my baby :3 I put lots of effort into it so all my readers can enjoy it! I used to do the same thing, giving up on my idea. I almost gave up on this one, but I figured that there were IkeXLink fans out there wanting to see something like this. AHH! LOLLIPOP! –nomnomnom-

O w O

Now let's see… I just tallied the votes, and Choice B is leading by one point. Close race!! I can't wait to see how it turns out! :3 It would be tied if I was voting, but I'm not. It wouldn't be fair since I am writing this for you guys. But if I was being selfish, I would vote for Choice A Cx

Seme Pit will prevail…

Next Chapter… Pit tattletales to Link about what he saw despite Marth's heedful warning. Doubting, but very conscious about the whole situation, Link emotionally reacts to this discovery, his love, trust, and relationship with the mercenary tested!

And yes, it is official, Link will catch Ike and Marth in chapter eleven.

Voting is still open for anyone who wants to!

Review?

C:

Much Love,

HokageAkamaru