A/N: Okay, so I'm really trying to finish this story before my next semester starts because I'm going to be swamped with classes and I probably will never have time to write this between classes and work. -_- Blech, anyways I will probably at least write one chapter (maybe two if I'm feeling up to it) a day from this point forward. Yay! Oh and I want to apologize that I always upload a new chapter so late at night… I know most of you aren't up in the wee hours of the night/morning… sorry! So here's chapter 12! Hoo-ra!

Chapter 12: Understanding

"I saw everything, Link."

He'd finally confessed.

"But how?" Link asked bewildered as he searched Dark's face for answers. Had he been spying on them?

"I'm not sure I want to say…" Dark mumbled as he gazed outside the window of the inn. It had started to rain.

"I found it quite strange how you were able to locate me earlier… and now you're telling me that you saw what happened between Sheik and I? You weren't even in the temple, how can this be Dark?" Link asked suspiciously while scooting a couple of inches away from him. He knew Dark didn't have any special powers to allow him to do this so questions started to form in the back of his mind, "I want to know now."

"To be fair, it wasn't that hard to figure out you were at the Temple of Time anyway. Of course you would be there, that's the only place you can return to or come from the past." Dark started and then sighed. Link had been honest with him and he owed it to Link to be truthful back, "I don't believe I should be telling you this. It will only cause problems with our relationship. You may turn against me…"

"You must tell me. I don't want secrets between us." Link responded bluntly standing to his feet. He crossed his arms and stared down at Dark, "Now confess." Dark started to fidget as he sat on the floor. He could feel Link's piercing eyes staring right through him. It made him extremely uncomfortable.

"I'll tell you… but you must promise to hear me out completely first." Dark stated roughly. Link nodded but continued to gaze towards his shadow with doubt.

"Link… i… I went to see Ganondorf." Dark admitted almost choking on his words as they came out of his mouth. Link's eyes grew huge and he gasped in alarm while he backed away from Dark to the other side of the room.

"Please, Link. It's not what you think!" Dark pleaded standing to his feet and taking steps towards the hero.

"Stay back." Link demanded lifting his arms in defense. He began to panic since he had none of his weapons on him, "Don't come any closer." Dark's face fell with sadness and his eyes softened with grief.

"Please… you promised to hear me out." Dark whispered looking at the floor, "Don't jump to any conclusions yet."

Link remained silent staring wildly at Dark as if he were a rabid animal that had him cornered.

"I went to Ganondorf because I wanted some answers. After you left me alone on Death Mountain I didn't know what to do or where to go. You had said that you didn't care what I did with my time or if I waited for you… and it got me thinking what would happen if you didn't come back for me." Dark explained taking a few steps back so that Link wouldn't be so tense, "I wanted to know why exactly I was here on this earth to begin with. I wanted to find out why I was so insignificant." Dark cried looking upwards as if he could see the goddesses, "Ganondorf answered those questions for me… but that doesn't mean I was there to join his side. That isn't why I went to see him, Link. You have to believe me." Dark continued looking at Link to see if any expression in his face had changed. He looked the same.

"Apparently the goddesses split us into two separate people so that you could be the pure and innocent hero they were looking for. And whenever they got rid of me, Ganondorf took it as an opportunity to use me to his advantage. My only purpose was to kill you in the Water Temple and I failed. Now I am worthless." Dark answered, "I know that I must be good for something… I just haven't found it yet."

"What else did Ganondorf say?" Link asked with a deep and serious tone. His eyes still narrowed with suspicion.

"Ganondorf asked me to join him, do not get me wrong. I will admit that he had asked me to return to his side. And in an attempt to convince me to turn against you, he had me spy on you and Sheik with some sort of… magical ball." Dark replied, "Apparently, he knows about Sheik's feelings towards you, Link. He thought that I would get angry enough to betray you but… it only… broke my heart…" Dark's voice cracked and he walked towards the window and rested his arms and his chin on the windowsill.

"And what did you say to him?" Link asked ferociously awaiting Dark's answer.

"I couldn't even speak," Dark whispered, "I just left…"

"That's hard for me to believe he just so blatantly let you leave!" Link shouted defensively, "If he knows so much, he's aware you will help me defeat him… that is if you are really on my side and not his." Link added harshly.

"He said that it would be a good fight in the end."

"I don't know, Dark. I never expected you to go look for help from that pig of a man." Link replied sharply, "I don't know if I can trust you now."

"I wasn't looking for help I was looking for some truth about who I am." Dark retorted not turning from the window, "You have no idea how it feels to be completely useless. In fact, you are the complete opposite from me... People need you more than anything. Your purpose in life and the necessity for your survival is greater than anybody else's in Hyrule. What do I have, Link?" He asked turning from the window with pain-stricken eyes, "I have no friends and no family. I don't have a world to save or people counting on me. I don't even have a master like I thought I did… Ganondorf isn't my true creator so even if I did decide to go back to him, what would be the point? He has no value to me." Dark finished the shoved past Link and began to put his boots back on.

"Wait…" Link said quickly as he watched Dark get ready to leave, "You have me, Dark."

"…for how long? Before that Sheikah takes you away from me…" Dark asked solemnly.

"That's not going to happen…" Link reassured, kneeling down beside him, "I don't listen to the things he says about you… just as I ignore the things you say about him." He laughed softly.

"It isn't looking too good for me Link. So far, these have been the sequence of ill-fated events: We get into a horrible argument, Sheik plants his filthy lips on you, and I admitted to going to visit Ganondorf." He listed with his fingers.

"Shh," Link whispered, "Just shut up Dark. Quit your moaning and just be happy. I forgive you for what you said to me on the mountain, I told you that I don't have feelings for Sheik, and I can understand why you went to see Ganondorf."

"You do?" Dark asked with a smile, "You forgive me for everything?"

"And I had no idea you were having such a hard time… living… ever since you left the Water Temple. I guess I never saw your situation like that… I just thought of you as any other person, but I realize now that I was wrong. Most people have family and friends to go home to at the end of the day..." Link stated sadly.

"It's not just that… it's the fact that I'm always going to be living in the shadows of the glorious 'Hero of Time'. It's hard to make yourself shine when you're in the presence of all that fame." Dark said with a sad smile.

"I'll give you all the attention you will ever need." Link assured him putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm glad… because you're the only person I want it from." Dark answered with a slight grin. Link blushed and looked away.

"I need to ask you Dark, besides Sheik always talking badly of you… why else did that kiss upset you so much?" Link asked hesitantly. He was hoping for the answer he wanted.

"Well… i…um…" Dark stuttered trying to find an escape out of this question, "I don't know… I just…" Link smiled from ear to ear as he watched Dark stammer. It was his first genuine smile since their argument, "Well… I guess since we're sharing secrets…" Dark mumbled softly, "I really care for you… I guess… the way Sheik does." That was the only way he could word it without saying it directly. He could hear Ganondorf's voice in his head… I don't understand why you love that boy so much anyways…

Love…

Link was just staring at him with a wild grin, "Are you sure?..." He asked finally after Dark had remained silent.

"I think so…" He responded with a nod, "I always want to be with you… and I get so jealous when he's around… and I wanted that to be me, not Sheik… that… that kis-" Dark stopped short blushing fiercely with embarrassment.

"Okay, well since we're on this track of honesty…" Link stated, "I thought about that too… after Sheik kissed me I found myself only thinking about you and I didn't know why. I sat there thinking what it would have been like if were you instead of him… and I got this ridiculous smile on my face." Link laughed. Dark remembered seeing Link sitting in the Temple of Time with that love-struck grin he thought was for Sheik… Dark chuckled as he remembered how angry he had been.

"So, how was it?" Dark asked finally.

"Huh?" Link replied raising an eyebrow.

"The kiss… how was it?" Dark asked again nervously.

"Uh…" Link mumbled, "Okay, I guess… I've only kissed one other person and that was a long time ago… it was Saria in the forest when we were… experimenting. Oh and Malon about molested me once as a child… that was… interesting." Link laughed humiliated, "Sheik's kiss was short and unexpected. I didn't really think much about it."

"I was just wondering… because… well…" Dark stuttered blushing with shame, "Because I've never kissed anybody." He finally spat out.

"I figured. You were stuck in that temple your whole life." Link said with a frown. He stared at Dark who looked quite sad and forlorn as he fidgeted his feet and twiddled his thumbs. Link smiled as he thought about how he could make Dark happy, "Dark."

"Yeah…" He responded barely above a whisper.

"Would you let me have the honor of giving you your first kiss?" Link asked politely grabbing one of Dark's hands. Dark just smiled at him and that was all the response he needed. Link gently slid his other hand behind Dark's neck and pulled him close, gracefully placing his lips softly onto those of Dark's. Even though Link hadn't done much of this himself, he executed the kiss with such grace and elegance Dark would have never guessed. When he pulled away Dark sat there with his eyes still closed and the broadest of grins spread across his face.

"Th-Thank you…" Dark muttered. Link giggled hysterically at this and playfully slapped Dark's knee.

"You're welcome, I suppose." Link sputtered through laughter, "Hope it wasn't too bad, I'm still new at this." Link said with a wink. Dark opened his eyes to look at the handsome blonde boy in front of him.

"It was perfect."

A/N: D'awwwwwww :D Writing this made me smile so huge! Lol I'm such a dork. I hope you enjoyed the fluffiness! I wanted things to be happy again… Review if you wish! I will write another chapter later. I already have my energy drinks ready so I can be prepared to stay up as long as I need to finish another chapter. Thank you guys for the appreciation of my hard work! *tear* I feel so special. :'D