A/N: I DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU ALL I SWEAR. Hi. So on that note, the hiatus is over! *confetti* I've removed the note that says that, because it was going to throw me off. Also, I really want to go back and re-do the first nine chapters or so. I may do that before I update again, I may not… Blech. I'm very indecisive. P.S., my first OC is in this chapter. I got the name from Cicero, from Skyrim, simply because he's the best character in the world. *gush*
Disclaimer: As if.
Link's POV
Somewhere between sleep and consciousness, between heaven and hell, light and darkness, it hit me.
Literally. Hit me.
My stomach was bumped again and I moaned lowly. I scrunched up my eyes, not wanting to wake up. I never did. Sleep was warm, comforting. At least with the world depending on me to save it from utter destruction, I could take a break from it all in the depths of my mind while sleeping. In my dreams, it was me, no heroics. Me and Dark, in a world of our own. And in the back of my head I knew that Dark, me, and no hero shit was all I needed to be happy. And more sleep, of course.
But all the same I finally opened my eyes, smiling faintly at Dark's sleeping body next to me. I slowly moved my hand and brushed a raven lock of his hair out of his face, tucking it gently behind his pointed ear. My heart throbbed and floated while I gazed at him. I was on my side and Dark on his. His arm was draped possessively over my waist, causing a freezing sensation. The brown blanket covered both of us from the chest down.
My ass ached unbearably though. I mean, it hurt. It fucking hurt. I vaguely recalled falling asleep with Dark's dick in my ass, but I could tell it wasn't in me any longer. I guessed he must have pulled out when I was asleep, so I didn't feel anything. He's so sweet...
And then the shit storm crept up on me. I scrunched up my face; whoa whoa whoa wait- what? My eyes flew open and my legs none to gently kicked Dark. Said Prince was forcefully rolled out of the bed by my kick, landing loudly on the floor. "Ungh..." He groaned. "Link... the fuck?" His words were slurred slightly with sleep.
"You asshole!" I cried out, now wide awake as my brain painfully reminded me of last night. "What, cheating on me isn't enough? You had to fuck me one last time, too, huh?!" I tried- and failed- to sit up. My ass felt like it had been ravaged inside out by the lava of Death Mountain itself. I couldn't move. Shit. How am I supposed to kick his ass now?
"What," I could hear him push himself off the floor. "The hell is your problem?"
"You." I snapped. "You're my fucking problem."
"Still mad at me?" He sat back on the bed, scratching the back of his neck.
"No," I replied sarcastically. "I feel like my heart is filled with fucking rainbows."
"Damn." He smiled at me, "Not rainbows!"
I glared at him. "Yeah. I'm laughing my damn ass off, Dark. You should be a fucking comedian." I managed to prop myself up on a single elbow, still on my side.
He sighed, scooting closer to me on the bed. "Link, look, just listen to me. I love you. And I swear, if you hear me out, it'll make sense-"
"Damn right it will." My voice caught in my throat and I looked away, shaking my head. He stroked my cheek and I lashed out verbally. "Don't fucking touch me. Didn't you get enough of me last night?" I hissed. "Or what, am I just not good enough?"
He gaped at me with his wide eyes, speedily withdrawing his hand. "Link-"
"Why would you do this?" I asked pleadingly. "How could you cheat on me like that? Am I nothing to you? Am I not good enough? Or are you a total moron?" The words were coming out, and I couldn't stop them. They flowed without thought and I could feel everything in me building up and it just wouldn't stop. "Look at what he did to you! He fucking broke your damned heart but yet you go right back to him! And I love you, but you fucking throw me aside! What do you want? A slut? Because that's what it seems like when you choose him over me!-"
"I'm not cheating on you! For Goddesses sake Link just shut up and listen!" He cut me off. His voice stopped the avalanche of words that came from my mouth. It was quiet in the room, so quiet I thought I could hear the ache of my heart. I looked at him for the longest time before speaking.
"And why should I listen to you? You've lied to me. Cheated on me."
"I'm not cheating-!" He began to yell, stopping in the midst to take a deep breath. "I'm not cheating on you."
"Yeah? So you were cheating on him with me instead?" I asked quietly. "Because I know I never mattered enough to you to be your only."
"You mean everything to me." He whispered. "Link, you are my only. I swear I'm not cheating on you. Link, I love you... More than you know."
"Yeah." I nodded slowly. "Sure." I still didn't believe him. How could I? Who would? I remembered that time we fought in the Shadow Temple, before he asked me out. Goddesses, had I been led on this entire time? I had my suspicions about them then, and now I had proof. This entire time, this had been going on behind my back, and I was too blind to notice?!
"Link, look, hear me out. A lot happened while you were gone-"
"I'm sure." I cut him off sharply. Yeah, a lot did fucking happen. He didn't need to specify, I knew pretty damn well what 'happened' when I was gone.
"-but I swear I'm not cheating on you, please, please." He resembled a sad puppy, eyes wide and clouded with gloom. "Please, believe me. I'm telling you the truth, Link, I love you. I love you so much."
I sighed. Good morning! My mind chirped. Time to eat you from the inside out with misery! Yayyyy! "Yeah, I'm sure. Now why don't you take a damn hint and get the fuck away from me?"
He narrowed his eyes, pouting like a spoiled child. "Link, for Din's sake, I'm not planning on getting 'the fuck away' from you anytime soon, so-"
"And why not? Can't you see you're unwanted? I'm done with you. Do me a damn favor and leave me alone."
He reached for me again, brushing the blonde hair out of my eyes. I moved to slap his hand away but he caught it, placing it against his chest like he had last night. "I'm not leaving you; and that's not open to discussion, sweet heart." His eyes softened, looking upon me with a melancholy and yet tender gaze. "Why don't you think about it rationally? I hate Sheik. I would personally love to stab him over and over, 'til his corpse was nothing but little diced bits of flesh-" I winced at the mental image, for Dark looked far too happy describing the scene, "so I can assure you, his mouth is the last thing I would prefer on my lips. As for cheating on you, why would I?" He smiled. "You're perfect."
I paused, debating his words. "Meh. Perfection is a fool's ideal. And as for your ever so glorious speech," I layered on the sarcasm "The words are still those of a vying suitor, trying to get into my pants." My eyes narrowed. "So fuck off."
He frowned. "I am a vying suitor, trying to get into your pants." I snorted, finding the words bitterly amusing if nothing else. "But more than anything else, I want to know that I have your heart. I want your love, I need it now. I know you love me, Link. So why, why is it so hard for you to understand this? We're in love, Link. I love you, and I know you feel the same. We're lovers. Lovers don't cheat."
" 'Lovers don't cheat.' So now you're pointing out my argument. If you really love me, if you really believe we are lovers, then you wouldn't have cheated. Therefore, you don't love me."
"For fuck's sake!" Dark dropped my hand and stood up, frustrated. "Why can't you understand that I didn't cheat on you? I. Love. You. So why do you make this so damn hard?!" He glared at the ceiling; his ruby eyes searing with such heat no doubt the Goddesses felt it. I remained silent, upset as well. I watched him, my mind repeating the same words over and over. We're in love we're in love we're in love…
"I don't want it to be this way." He whispered, breaking through the ear shattering silence that had filled the room. "I don't like this, constantly fighting, the never ending bickering and distrust. I love you. And I will do anything I can to prove it to you. I would chop off my own arm if you told me to, love. I would jump off a cliff and climb back up just to see you. I would injure, I would steal, and I would kill for you. I know that's not what you people of light like to hear; nay, you prefer sweet words and music and gifts to rain upon you. But this is what I can offer you. Maybe it's too dark and deadly for your romanticized tastes, but then again, I always have been that way. I am Dark, and darkness and death are my trades. But nonetheless, if you believe me, if you love me, I will hand you the world on a blood stained platter." His eyes never left the ceiling, but rather than glaring his eyes were now closed, hidden by pale eyelids that part of me wanted to grace with my lips. "I would do anything for you. That, I can promise."
I ignored the sharp pain as I lay down on my back. "There is nothing you can say to make me trust you." The words were cold and denying, but they were so sweet, so powerful across my tongue. "Leave me alone."
I felt his eyes on me, but my gaze was focused outside. The sun was working its way across the blue sky, peaceful, constant, unlike everything else. But then I heard his voice again and whatever tranquility I had had was lost. "I said I won't leave you."
"Just go away. I don't want you here. I don't need your lies and your deceit, so just leave."
"No."
I looked over at him, only to find he was sitting on the bed, looking at me with the most sorrowful look I had ever seen. Do my words really affect him so..? Does he… Does he really mean it..? No, of course not! He just wants me, my body, the pleasure I can offer him. No! I won't, I won't fall for it, not again! "Go away, Shadow Prince. I have no need for your services." So formal, so bitter, and ever so heroic was my poise.
Leave it to the damn Prince to shatter that composure.
"Hero, this audience is not yours to have the pleasure of receiving." He kept his chin high, dignified and so damn perfect. "You are in my control. The desert has always had a foot in the realm of Shadows; and as such is more of a realm of twilight than light. So please, hold your ever so grateful words for when I am truly in your pitiful light realm. And as for my services, well, I can assure you that will indeed have great need of them, Time Hero."
Time Hero.
The words draped over me and wrapped me up in every negative feeling I had ever had.
Time Hero.
"Get out of my mind, Dark." My voice held a threatening tone as I squeezed my eyes shut.
"I'm not in your mind." I could almost hear the smirk on his lips.
Time Hero.
Shut up shut up shut up shut up
"I know you're doing something." I accused.
"Yes, I am doing something. I'm trying to make my beautiful lover understand that I love him and would do anything for him, although for some reason he can't manage to grasp the concept. Care to help?"
Cheesy little son of a- "No, I don't care to help." I snapped. "You know what I mean."
"I'm sorry Hero; I was merely using your ever so enthralling titles, since apparently we're no longer on a first name basis."
Time Hero. Why the hell does this always get to me? Why do I let myself crumble at the simplest and most formal of words? No, I can't let him into my mind! I can't give in again, I can't! I can't love someone who doesn't care, who throws me aside for some loose ass. I can't and I won't!
Now if only my heart was in on that plan too.
v^v
Dark's POV
"Are you sure I can't stay here while you think?"
"Dark, you've asked me about a million times already. Just. Leave."
"But-"
"Get out!" He hissed.
With a small squeak I left the room, closing the door quickly behind me. After about two more hours of trying to explain the truth to Link, I had gotten through.
Well, to an extent.
He told me had needed to think about it. That a lot had happened and he was tired and stressed. I wasn't allowed back in to see him until at least after sunset, leaving him to think and ponder over what to do with our relationship.
Normally I would've been sorrowful to go the next few hours without the golden skinned blonde, but today… Heh. Let's just say I have a few "errands" to run.
My feet 'clicked' and 'clacked' against the floors as I walked out of the Gerudo's camp. I hadn't lied about the desert being more of a twilight realm area than a light area. And as a glorious result, I had stronger bonds to the Shadow Realm here than I would have had in say, Hyrule Field. I nodded my head to a few of the dark skinned women as they passed, ignoring their glares and hateful sneers. Sexist bitches.
Eventually, I found what I had been looking for; a small clearing, where small tufts of grass dared to show its presence in the orange desert. It was close to one of the canyon walls, bathing the area in mid-afternoon shade. I looked around, eyes narrowed. I didn't see anyone, but that didn't mean I was alone. Nonetheless, I pulled out a small, dark purple orb from one of the pouches attached to my belt. Looking around one last time, I placed it on the ground, and stepped on it. With a popping noise it was smashed under my black boot, and I stepped back quickly.
I watched as the orb remains slowly moved around of their own accord. Within moments, other particles the same shade as the orb flew in, joining the circular movements. What was once a small sphere the size of a large marble, was now an archway. It stood slightly taller than I, and barely any wider. Within the outlines of the arch were various shades of black and purple, swirling endlessly, and reminded me of a vortex. As though testing the connection, I slowly ran my finger over where the surface of the swirling colors should have been. Instead, my finger slipped in. I yanked it back as though it burned, although there was only a mere tingling sensation.
"Been a while since I've seen one of these. Planning on going somewhere, Darky?"
"I was waiting for you to show yourself. Either I've gotten better at sensing presences or you've gotten lax at hiding yours." I didn't bother to turn around, keeping my eyes trained on the archway. "I'm guessing it's the latter, since I haven't exactly had too much practice these past years."
"Maybe I didn't want to hide. But that's beside the point. So where exactly do you plan on going without your cute little blonde lover, hm?"
"He doesn't exactly want to see me. You would know why." I looked back over my shoulder. "I'm not sure I really want to know, but how the fuck did she get into your clothes, Sheik?"
He huffed. "It's one of those things where you want to know, but when I tell you, you wish you didn't know."
"Just tell me."
"She gave me a blow-"
"Never mind I don't need to know." I interrupted quickly. He cackled, which quickly de-escalated into a short yet violent coughing fit. "So why are you here?"
"To make sure you don't fuck yourself over."
"Because I have a long and strenuous history of fucking myself over." I said sarcastically.
"You do." He replied, very serious.
Oh.
"So how is it that I am 'fucking myself over' this time, huh?" I cocked my head to the side in question.
"Well let's see. Your lover is pissed at you for something you didn't do; so while he thinks about all the shit you've put him through, you plan to go to another divines-damned realm to do all sorts of random bull. Meanwhile a horny female stalker has plans to go after him while he's in his distrusting mood. To top it off, even if she doesn't get her paws on his delicious body, unless someone else talks to him he's still not gonna take you back."
I stared at him blankly for a moment before walking over and grasping his shoulders, and turning him away from me. "And that's where you come in!" I chirped. "You're the third party. You get to go talk to him and convince him to take me back. And if you say no or turn him against me, I'll strangle your puny neck myself." My hands had moved from his shoulders to his neck, and squeezed for emphasis. He was tense under my touch, adding to my amusement. "And, you owe me one for that kidnapping shit the other day. Good luck." I pushed him roughly into the direction he was facing and he stumbled.
My feet led me back towards the archway, but I paused in exasperation when I heard Sheik cry out. "Wait! Wait!"
I sighed. "What now?"
I could feel his pouting gaze on my back. "How the hell am I supposed to convince Link that you didn't cheat on him?"
"You mean convince him of the truth?" I imagined he probably nodded right then. "I dunno. You figure something out. Oh, and by the way, you have until sundown." Something akin to 'that's bullshit!' left Sheik's mouth but I ignored him, choosing to stick a few fingers into the arch instead. A tingle shot up my arm and I narrowed my eyes, waiting for the pulsating aftershock to die down.
Then I stepped in and disappeared with the portal archway, lost to the realm of light.
v^v
I really didn't remember the Shadow Realm being such a wreck.
The sky was a dark, cloudy mess, but that was normal. However, the rest of it…
Garbage littered the streets. Doors and windows were boarded up; a corpse lay on the ground close enough to poke at it with my boot if I chose. In the background, a building burned: flames, smoke, and ash filling the air. Dusky whispers echoed from person to person as any shadow being who dared be outside remained cautious. I looked around, before slinking close to a wall and keeping low. I wasn't here for leisure, and I had no time to waste being caught. I hadn't been in the Shadow Realm for seven and a half years; seven and a half years my people had suffered at the hands of Ganon, because I, their prince, couldn't help them…
A window opposite the building I was close to shattered outwards, and I had to dodge the pieces of glass that flew toward me. Shouts and angry growls were heard from the building and I made a quick dash to get out of the way.
Eventually I found myself in a more familiar part of town, and slinked over to a rotting door. The hinges were so rusted that they resembled the orange of a fire. Looking around to make sure no one could see me; I pulled out a lock pick from one of my pouches, and went to work on opening the door. After a few unsuccessful tries I heard the click of the door opening, and silently pushed it open.
It was dark inside, even by my measures. I closed the door behind me, thankful that surprisingly the hinges didn't squeak and that the floor didn't moan. A cluster of candles was lit in the opposite corner of where I was now, illuminating the darkness that continued to hide the rest of my surroundings. I pressed my back to one of the damp walls, waiting for my eyes to adjust.
Suddenly, eyes flashed open directly across from me, making me tense and freeze in my place.
A dull lavender eye on the right, a glowing orange one on the left. Even if the unnatural coloring (even by Shadow Realm standards!) wasn't enough to petrify me, the ageless voice was.
"So you have come."
It was a whisper and yet felt loud as a scream. My ears rang. Was it one voice or hundreds? Male? Female? A rasp, a coo. The sweet tone one might expect from a young lover and yet the miserable tone of a dying man. All at once. Old, young; innocent, aged, wizened by the threads of fate and ticks of time itself.
"You have grown much since our last encounter, young one."
The voice had cleared itself, and as it spoke once more it hit my ears as the voice of an elderly woman. The candles seemed to burn brighter, outlining the sharp and proud jaw, the pointed nose, the leathery gray skin- but all only for a mere heartbeat as the already dim light faded once more.
I found my own voice, the sound sandy on my confused ears. "I did not realize we had already met."
"You would not remember. You were but a demonling; freshly summoned and so new to this world. So… fleshy. So weak and so vulnerable. Radiating life despite being renowned as death."
I couldn't help but think she sounded hungry as she spoke.
"But alas, you have grown. Not as fleshy, and certainly not weak. Tell me, Prince. What do you know of me?" I assumed she leaned forward as she spoke, since her eyes seemed to get slightly closer. "What sort of riddles and lies have been spun about me in the past years, hm?"
"I know as much as anyone else." I replied, wary. "Of your endless age. The powers you possess. How your voice and your form is mere illusion. That you take shape of whatever amuses you, or whatever the wanderer pictures you as. You have no true gender, no true identity." I stepped forward, feeling braver. "But if we are to speak of how others have spoken, then tell me: what has been said about me in my absence?"
"You speak out of place," The voice hissed, and whatever cockiness had begun to grow in me dissipated. "But…" A raspy chuckled echoed from her mouth. "It is nice to feel the spirit of a young one in this house once more. You are correct; your knowledge of me is true despite generic. You have been taught well of us living legends. And as for what I have heard of you? Who is to say I have heard anything at all? Ever since this damnable conflict broke out, few have dared to leave the safety of their homes and fewer still would bring one as old as death news of an imprisoned Prince. You are feared in this realm, but only by those weak enough to be tainted by such an impure emotion."
A snap filled the air and candelabras scattered throughout the room lit themselves, casting a dim orange glow; and revealing myself to the one who had spoken. She was aged indeed in her appearance to me, but who knew what the creature's true form was? I saw a crone, with leathery wrinkled gray skin and discolored glowing eyes. A crooked nose, thinning silver hair. A jaw that stood proud and outspoken to match the high cheekbones that demanded elegance. The room itself was nearly empty. A small bed and a few boxes and barrels filled with supplies took up small portions of the room. I saw no other way out beside the door through which I had come and a tinted, filthy window on the same wall. In the corner opposite me was a small, round table with a clouded orb and two crude wooden chairs by it. She herself was sitting on a similar chair, looking at me intently.
"It is better to be feared than loved in this realm, is it not?" I asked briskly while I gazed about the room.
Another rasping chuckle came from her, and it reminded me of the sound death would make whilst looking upon one whose time had come too early. Sadistic and ancient beyond measure. "That it is; that it is. But you are only feared by the weak. Some, the hopeful and the youthful, see you as a savior, an idol. The rest respect you and wait in duress for your return."
I grunted. "As it would seem."
"Not one for short talk?" She cackled. "Fine. I assume you came here for business." I nodded and she sobered. "I know why you have come, what it is you seek. You waste your time, Prince. Relief and comfort are not here. You know what it is the future holds for you and you come anyway. I cannot help to ease your troubled mind."
"I cannot turn away until I know for sure." I reply steadily. "What I have read is wrong. It has to be. Read for me, Cisica. I will pay your steep price."
Cisica, the undying reader of fortunes and divine of the damned. Cisica, of course, is the name she goes by as a female. When in the guise of a male, Cisico; to keep it simple. Records of the divine traced back further than anyone cared to know. Always in a different body, always with a different voice. Yes. My realm is in tatters and yet I come to a leathery fortune teller to waste my gold. I'm obviously deserving of the Hero's attention.
Shut up. I hiss back. I need to know.
"Steeper yet for those who seek me out when they already know the answers themselves." She grunted. "But yet you are bent on wasting your fortune where you need not. What can you hope to gain?"
"My reasons are none of your concern. Will you read or have I come here for nothing?"
"…I suppose I would not gain from putting myself in bad standing with the modern royals by turning away the Prince."
"You would not." I agreed curtly.
"As you wish. I will take your coin, but you will not gain anything but despair-"
"That is what I get for coming to the divine of the Damned; it is not?" I drawl, increasingly impatient.
She cackled her agreement but said no more as she stood, bones creaking. I couldn't help but ask myself how long she sat there. With nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to talk to? What else is there to do but sit in the darkness and watch out the window as time slowly waves past? She moves- her hobbles slow and uneven- to the table with the orb upon it, and sits on one of the crude chairs. "Come. Sit."
The breath I let out seems agonizingly uneven, and I feel my nerves jump at the thought of sitting next to one who was undying as she. All the same I forced myself to walk over and sit stiffly. "What is the price?"
"700 coin." She didn't bother to look up, even when I choked at the thought. 700 gold?! For the love of- That's insane!
But it wasn't as if I didn't have the coins to spare… I smothered a sigh and nodded. "Agreed." Steeper yet for those who seek me out when they already know the answers themselves, my ass.
"Blood." She spoke, still looking at the orb. Her hands hovered over the sphere, her eyes fiercely aglow.
I choked on air, my eyes widening. My eyes snapped to her discolored ones as I rasped out, "Excuse me?"
Still not looking at me, she held out a hand. "I'll need some of your blood if you want me to read your fate, dimwit." She clarified. I bit back a remark at the insult and grabbed my knife with a sigh.
Crimson red dripped from a gash on my palm onto her hand, my other hand with a grip of steel on the knife's handle. It didn't hurt, but it was an inconvenience to have a cut across my hand. Too easy to get infected. But in the Shadow Realm, everyone had scars across their hands. Blood was used to mark people, to claim your territory… to have your future read. Blood flowed through the realm easier than gold.
I could feel my skin already starting to heal itself, and I withdrew my hand, licking at the drying blood.
Salty, rustic… A fanged smirk appeared on my features. It's just a demon thing.
Cisica had rubbed my blood over the sphere, and I watched in curiosity. The remaining blood on her hand she licked up as well, and I realized sickeningly that she was savoring the taste. That's a little weird…
And suddenly the candles went out and I was cast into darkness.
v^v
The only light was a minty glow from the orb, pulsating as the glow became brighter and dimmer and brighter once more. My blood seemed to have disappeared from the glass, and a chill ran over me as the air cooled drastically.
"Your future awaits." A rasp whispered in my ear. Not the voice Cisica had been using earlier though. It was the sound of a young woman, gentle, soft. "Grab the orb, Prince. Let your fate unfurl."
And as though in a trance, my arms moved out and my hands rested on the glass. Everything spun, and as I tried to close my eyes, I realized that they were already shut.
But then the voice spoke and I thought on the matter no longer.
"Yes. I see it. Do you?" An image, of smoke, of chaos as a town burned to the ground at my hands played in the front of my mind. I opened my mouth to speak, but she answered before the question left my lips. "Sometimes we must look into the past to see the future."
A young woman limped along, trying to escape the fumes. She cried out as she fell, tears of desperation, fear and pain rolling along her cheeks. A horse, black as death with glowing red eyes reared up. I tried to look away, but I couldn't, couldn't look away as time slowed and the hooves landed on her head-
So much blood as her last scream echoed throughout the air.
"Your past was filled with fear; fear and anger. Blindly following orders out of your emotions."
Yes. Yes, it is.
"Your future reflects heavily on your past."
Another image, of a young soldier strolling through an alleyway late at night. And suddenly a hand was on his mouth and a knife was stuck hilt deep in his back, being twisted sickeningly. His body shuddered, blood bubbling from his paling lips as he was dropped to the ground.
"Death. So much of it fills your past. So many lives ended at your hands."
It was so wrong; to look back on my past, to make me relive the moments that now I regretted. But at the same time I hungered for it. The blood, the evil smirk that took control of me as I killed. The rush.
"You may hide from your past now, but the truth of it is you are a demon. Killing is in your blood."
And yet another clip of my past, of me kneeling before the man who claimed to be my master. In my hand I offered him a letter, from the king of the Light Realm. An invitation to his court.
Then the clip changed to something I had never seen before. Sparkling water, reflecting the silver moon. A voice in the background, but I couldn't place it. The rustic scent of blood.
"Torture. Heartbreak. Isolation."
We weren't in the past anymore.
Stones covered the ground now, in a different area. A corpse, hazy in my mind's eye. Sharp objects. Pristine tears. Sobs.
"Despair. Darkness. Death."
A dusty room, wooden walls and a hunched body in a corner. A ring turned over and over in a pale palm, debating, shaking, cold.
"Blood. Broken. Betrayal."
So much more.
"Love. Life. Lies."
It continued on, every clip of my future felt like an eternity. I wanted out. I didn't want to see anymore. She was right. I had already known. It was the same as I had seen myself. Coming here had been a fool's hope.
v^v
It ended as soon as it began. One moment I was stuck in my mind and the next, the candles were on, my eyes were open, and I was alone.
A single tear was on my rolling down my cheek.
I brushed it away stiffly, standing up and ignoring the dizziness that came with the movement.
"Payment on the table, please."
I wasn't sure where the voice came from. It almost seemed to echo in my head though, eerily. I pulled out 700 gold and dropped it on the table. I turned away and placed my hand on the door knob to leave before the voice returned.
"There's something on the table for you, Prince. May it aid you in your rising and save you in your demise."
I looked back and the coins were gone, and a small black sack the size of a hand lay in its place. I walked back and snatched it up, feeling two small objects inside. "Thank you." My voice was dry and raspy, but I didn't take any notice. I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I stood in the doorway and took a step out when I heard the parting words.
"The Hero is key."
Link's POV
I fiddled with the fabric of my shirt as I looked out the window. It was only late afternoon, but it felt like another life time had passed. I was sitting on the bed, in nothing but briefs and a button up shirt that I had found laying out for me. I had cried myself out earlier, and fallen asleep only to find the cream colored clothing on the bed's edge.
I still didn't want to make a decision.
But I guess I had to.
So he would go, and I'd be left by myself to finish the task ahead.
We're like a dove and a raven. My thoughts droned on and on. We share the skies, and maybe we're not all that different. But we can't be together.
I hummed quietly, closing my eyes and letting my thoughts think up another million random things.
A knock on the door jolted me from the peaceful state and I looked over my shoulder. "Come in." I called. The door opened slowly and I hissed when I saw the visitor. "What do you think you're doing here?"
Sheik raised his hands, palms facing me in a defensive gesture. "Why not?"
"You're the last person I want to see." My voice lowered into a growl. "Get. Out."
He pouted, walking in despite my words. "You could be a bit more hospitable." He huffed. "Besides. I just want to talk."
I snorted.
"I'll cut to the chase." Thank the Goddesses. "Your anger at Dark is misdirected."
I blinked. "Oh, really? And I should listen to you, because..?"
"You have every reason to not believe me." He agreed. "But do you really think I'd have this if I was lying?"
He threw me a note and I looked at it before slowly picking it up off the bed. I took it out of the envelope, before looking at back up at Sheik.
"Go on." He urged me. "Read it."
So I did.
Sheik,
I hope you don't mind that I took your clothes. Or knocked you out. Some people get upset about that. I locked the door with light magic as well, just in case you decided to step in and try to be heroic. We've been over this, and as you well know, Link is mine for the taking. You said it yourself, for him to even look my way he'd have to be over the demon. Well, I have a great idea on how to do that. You know what I mean!
Zelly
There was no mistaking the handwriting. The girly cursive font was the Princess'. And it matched what Dark had told me, over and over…
"How do I know this actually happened, though?"
He unwrapped one of his hands and showed it to me. It was burnt red, angry and tender. "These are the burns from the light magic she put on the door. Maybe it was stupid of me to even try, but I tried to open the door anyways. This is what I got for my efforts."
Dark's story was suddenly looking a lot more realistic.
I groaned in exasperation. I wanted to believe it, to take Dark back, to love him-
I just wasn't sure I could.
"Thanks, Sheik." I looked up at him, feeling tired again. "I'll reconsider."
He nodded, but paused on the way out. "Link?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't get yourself killed."
Well aren't we optimistic today, mother fucker?
v^v
Dark's POV
The walk back to the camp passed quickly, and before I knew it I stood in front the door that was in the way of me and Link. My hand rested on the doorknob but I couldn't bring myself to turn it yet. I let out a deep breath, my mind completely focused on what Link's decision would be. What if he told me to leave? What then? I needed him. He wasn't only the key to winning this war, but he was the reason my heart was beating. I couldn't lose him.
I opened the door and stepped in. He was lying on his side, atop the blankets and facing the window with his back to me. He was dressed lightly, the shirt thin enough to see his back underneath, his legs bare. He looked back at me, and even though his lips didn't move, his eyes lit up when he saw me.
I slowly walked closer, unable to control myself. I sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching forward to gently brush his cheek with the back of my hand. His eyes closed and I leaned down, capturing his lips with mine.
After a moment he turned away, breaking the kiss to look back out the window. "Link…" I breathed him in.
"I love you." He whispered suddenly. "I shouldn't, but I do."
I pulled back, unsure of what to do. Did that mean he was going to leave me? I could feel panic creeping into my mind. "And that means..?"
"I'm not sure what it means." He looked back at me, his blue eyes conflicted. "I want you to stay." He admitted. "But I don't know if I can trust you."
After reliving my past, I wasn't sure if he could trust me either.
"But if you want, I'm not going to make you leave." He continued and turned back to the open window, watching as the sun dipped lower and lower. "Sheik came and talked to me, gave me some proof I couldn't ignore. So… I guess I owe you an apology. I'm sorry."
"You should have some faith in me." I whispered.
He snorted. "You're not exactly easy to trust or have faith in. And I did say I'm sorry. But what was I supposed to believe? I come back after a week and find someone who looks like your ex on top of you- It's rather hard to believe anything else when I see something like that."
"Maybe if you listened to me-"
"Maybe if you'd shut up?" He raised his voice a little as he cut me off. "It's not like I don't feel bad enough already."
"…Why are we fighting again?"
He sighed. "I don't know… We can't keep doing this, Dark. It's driving me insane. If we're going to stay together, we're going to have to find a way to make this work."
I gently pulled him closer and into a sitting position, nuzzling the back of his neck. "We'll make it work."
He turned his head to the side and frowned. "Promise me something."
"Anything." I agreed.
"Promise me you meant all of it." I looked up, confused. "Promise me that everything you said to get me back was true. That you love me. That you'll do anything for me. Because if you didn't mean it, if you lied at all-"
I pressed my lips to his, efficiently shutting him up in the process. I pulled back only to whisper, "I promise you that I meant all of it," and pressed our lips back together. He relaxed in my arms, kissing back.
Just then someone behind us cleared their throat and Link jolted out of my arms as fast as he could. I rolled my eyes inwardly and looked over to see a Gerudo with crossed arms standing in the doorway. "Dinner is being served; I was to ask if you would join us." Her voice was heavily accented.
I nodded and she left. I looked over and saw Link still blushing at being caught. I smiled fondly and he blushed deeper, looking down. "Do you want us to go, or should I get some food and bring it up here for us?"
"W-we can go…" He looked around. "I just… need some pants…" He looked thoroughly embarrassed.
I laughed.
I'm sorry if any of that confused you. I got lazy at the end and deleted about 600 words somewhere in the middle… So yeah…
Review! :D