* If anyone likes dark themed stuff then I started a new story "The Spirit Guardian" purely to test my skill at writing that kind of genre. It's not even gonna be that long. I guess 'long' is a relative term though lol. The Hero's Brotherhood is going to be broken up into three different series but The Spirit Guardian won't be more than thirty chapters (hopefully, the muse sometimes ambushes the strategist so she can change the plan). So, check it out if you want : )
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Link yawned widely as he slowly entered the waking world. He couldn't remember the last time he was this well rested. He stretched, his mind already starting to imagine what he would have for dinner-
The hero paused as his hand suddenly laid across something warm and moving. Blue eyes glanced over and softened at the sight of his partner fast asleep a few feet away. His scroll lay unfolded across the Sheikah's chest, all the way this time. Perhaps he'd finally been able to read all of it.
Soft laughter startled him and then his sharp gaze swept around the room until the princess was spotted lounging on top of the sofa across the room. She leaned her back against one end and stretched her legs out in front of her. He thought he saw a certain gleam in her blue eyes, one that promised mischief but he blinked and it was gone.
It wasn't until she swung her legs over the side and stood to her feet that he realized she had been holding a hooked needle, allowing her to try her hand at crochet.
"Huh, I didn't know you did girly stuff like that. Cute. Is it a sun?" asked Link as Zelda approached his side of the bed. She frowned and looked down at her work.
"No, it's a cat. Can't you see the whiskers? What kind of sun has whiskers?" asked Zelda as she studied her creation like it was the most obvious thing in the world to see a cat out of her artwork. Link's brow wrinkled as he peered closer at her piece of jumbled yarn.
"Well, the whiskers looked like rays on the edge of a sun! They are hella long too! What kind of cat has whiskers that would be longer than its tail?" asked Link with a frown. She narrowed her eyes but a chuckle drew his attention to the person laying nearby.
"Give it up Link. Zelda has always been of the mindset that her crochet creations always were, and always will be, masterpieces. No matter what anyone else may think when they look at them," said Sheik, his red eyes alight with amusement. The hero grinned but then a slight blush started to creep across his face once he realized that his hand still rested on the Sheikah's stomach.
He fought the urge to yank it away in embarrassment and instead slid it away nonchalantly, using it to cover a yawn that was only half faked.
"So, ah what-"
"The meeting, you moron," muttered a bored voice identical to his own within his mind. Now that he was aware of this strange voice, he suddenly felt cold. Even the huge comforter and sheets he was covered with didn't seem to help fight off the chill lingering in his limbs.
It startled him, making him think that maybe he was dreaming. Or drunk. Goddesses know he's done and heard some weird stuff while he was hammered. Sheik folded his legs underneath himself on top of the bed as he peered closer at the hero.
"Link? Do you…remember what happened this afternoon?" asked Sheik carefully. Link shot up in bed, almost making Zelda slid off the edge she had just perched on.
"Goddesses…that's right! Why didn't I remember that right away!? I don't-I just-goddesses! I blacked out! What happened?! I blew it didn't I?! Are we at war? Did everyone make it out-!" but Zelda quickly silenced him with a finger.
"King Leonard…took quite a liking to you actually. An extreme liking. More so then I would have thought. You don't remember anything?" asked the princess. Link blinked, confused.
"He took a liking to me fainting in front of him?" asked Link unbelievably. Snickering started to echo through his mind.
Sheik narrowed his eyes as Link turned to face the patio doors, a sudden faraway look in his cerulean eyes.
"Link," The Sheikah placed a hand gently on the hero's shoulder when he didn't respond, making those cerulean eyes turn to him in confusion, "Just…describe what happened when you entered the dining hall. If we put our heads together then maybe the three of us can figure it out,"
Or they could ask the beast within him. Sheik wasn't ready to bring that subject up yet though. With any luck maybe he wouldn't have too.
Link dropped his gaze to the comforter, and slowly trailed a finger along the edge of the seams.
"Isn't there more important things we should talk about?" muttered the hero.
I don't want to say aloud how much of a coward the 'instinctual' part of me turned out to be…
"Didn't I already tell you to stop being such a pansy?" scoffed that identical voice in his head.
Link's eyes widened. This was not a trick of his mind and he was not drunk. The wolf couldn't be missing with him could it…?
"Oh, you wish it was the mutt," snickered the voice in his mind.
"I…I'm hearing voices…" said Link uncertainly as he peered cautiously around, not really knowing what to focus on. Sheik and Zelda shared a look that portrayed a sense of unease.
"What is it saying?" asked the princess. Link looked ready to say something but his eyes widened, almost comically. Then he started choking on air. The hero couldn't believe the things running through his mind!
"Oh! Tell her I said that gown she wore to the feast earlier made her look almost as incredibility sexy as Sheik does in that skin tight suit of his!" exclaimed that voice in his mind gleefully.
Goddesses…what is happening to his sanity?!
"Link? Are you alright?" asked Sheik worriedly as he absentmindedly raised a hand to push a few stray blonde hairs behind Link's pointed ear. The hero leaned slightly into the touch as the Sheikah's' fingers stopped to linger on the side of his neck.
"Ahhhh….there he goes being adorable again. Tell the princess to get lost so you can rip those cloths off his perfect body and devour-" but Link growled in frustration and embarrassment.
As if the wolf's attitude toward Sheik wasn't bad enough, now he had to deal with this?!
"Stop it!" exclaimed Link sharply. Sheik recoiled, thinking that Link had yelled at him.
"I-I'm sorry. I was only-I was just worried," said Sheik timidly as he started to back away.
Zelda frowned irritably at the hero, about to give a tongue lashing of her own at his rudeness but she paused at the look of shock that flashed across Link's face. Then the hero launched himself at his retreating partner, making the Sheikah collapse with the weight of the hero now on top of him.
"I wasn't yelling at you! I'm just-its-goddesses! I think I'm either going insane or there's…something else in me. Something like the wolf," said Link desperately, his voice slightly muffled since he had curled his body around the Sheikah's slim frame and half buried his face against his warm chest. An act that he normally wouldn't have the courage for but he was rattled. And really cold for some reason. He needed something to stabilize him.
"Oh, buddy. That mutt and I couldn't be any more different even if we tried. You see, you have some semblance of control over him, but you have absolutely no control over me," snickered that voice in his mind. A surge of anger swept through him and he felt a deep growl vibrate through his body.
"Enough. Leave," snarled a distorted version of his voice. It was verbal, and he knew by how stiff his guide had gotten that he had heard it. There was a conversation going on in his head and they could speak though him while he was still conscious.
The hero was frightened that he seemed to be changing more and more as time passed. Evolving even.
"What?! Oh, hell no. You don't get to order me around mutt! I was here long before you were-yowch! Did you just bite me, you flea bitten mongrel?!" growled that voice identical to his own in his mind. A surge of warmth started to spread from his soul. It immediately become aggressive and washed over his body until it collided with a cold presence that he hadn't realized had seeped into his limbs.
Link felt arms wrap firmly around him when he started to tremble, so he tightened his grip around his guide's torso. The bed shifted slightly as Zelda stood to her feet, feeling that her presence wouldn't be very helpful here.
Sheik's mind was racing as he held his friend close. Something was happening and it involved the wolf. He could take a chance and try to speak to it, but would it respond? Would Link even let him try in the first place?
"I ought too-yowch! Alright damn it! I'm leaving!" growled the voice identical to his own within his mind. Then the cold presence started to vanish, the warmth from his soul stretching throughout his body as if it were chasing the chill out from his very bones.
Sheik sighed as he leaned his forehead against the top of the hero's head, but flinched slightly when the movement suddenly shot pinpricks of pain through the top of his head. He pursed his lips, forgetting that his long blonde hair wasn't wrapped like it normally was. Now he remembered why he always did. It wasn't just about tradition. It was about the fact that his hair seemed to develop the nature of an ill-mannered toddler as he grew older.
Untamable while wanting to touch absolutely everything within sight. Therefore getting caught or in this case, trapped by nearly everything within sight.
Most of his long hair was now underneath him, or rather, underneath them. How did he always seem to get caught in this kind of predicament? He would need to stand in order to wrap it properly but he didn't want to move Link yet.
The Sheikah sighed again as he lowered his head and raised a hand up to readjust his shawl, unknowingly allowing his warm breath to escape and cascade over Link's pointed ear. The hero's body shuddered suddenly and he pulled his knees up higher to place in between his body and Sheik's. The Sheikah thought that the movement meant the wolf must be retreating back to wherever it went when it wasn't in control. He felt confident that he could draw it out with his magic though, if the hero were to help him.
Once he had his shawl adjusted enough to allow his hair a bit more freedom, the Sheikah locked eyes with the princess that had retaken her place on the couch across the room. She was watching Link with a grin plastered across her face for some reason, but he ignored that and silently asked her for privacy. She nodded in understanding and rose gracefully from her seat and strode toward the door. She paused as she gripped the door handle, making him glance her way again. She wore that grin again and then winked to him before disappearing into the hallway.
Goddesses. Sometimes he hated her.
Sheik had been just rolling with the motions, trying to comfort his friend. Thanks to Zelda's 'subtle' reminder though, the Sheikah was now hyperaware of their position on the bed and it brought just one thought to mind.
He needed to either get under the covers with the speed that would have put Maelstrom to shame, or he needed to get something to hide behind. Like a pillow or thicker pants. Otherwise Link is going to see just how happy Sheik's body is to be in this position. Because of course, the only part of his body suit that survived was the part that broadcasts to the world when he happened to be aroused. The hero would surely question it and that was not a conversation that he wanted to have. Not even with himself.
His father had always said that their body suits were traditional and every Sheikah warrior that completed their training wore them. So, how was this not a problem for his male ancestors? Did they all somehow become asexual? Was there some kind of training that prevents hard-ons? Did they just pretend there wasn't an obvious bulge in plain sight whenever they become aroused? Did they just not care?!
Sheik huffed and twisted his lower body away from Link so he was laying half on his side.
That turned out to be a bad idea. Since he kept his hold firm on Link's upper body, he unknowingly brought himself closer to the hero. Now he was half spooning Link. A position that changed extraordinarily fast.
There was a sharp intake of breath before Link was pushing himself away hurriedly. Sheik closed his eyes with a grimace as he released him. Not only did he just add to Link's stress by making him uncomfortable again but he must have smashed Link's hand at an odd angle when felt something warm and hard press against his backside.
As horribly embarrassing as it was though, the fact that the hero had just touched his butt was still incredibly arousing. What in the name of the Three was wrong with him?
When he finally looked up Link was perched on the edge of the far side of the bed, with one leg braced on the ground and the other folded on the bed like he was ready to spring away at any minute. His cerulean gaze was everywhere that Sheik was not as he wrung his hands nervously together.
The Sheikah took a deep breath before snatching one of Zelda's many small decorative pillows. He laid it over his lap as he sat up to face Link.
"Forgive me Link…I was just trying to get comfortable," said Sheik after a moment of thought. He suppressed the hurtful feelings twisting at his heart from showing at the sight of sheer relief on the hero's face.
"Oh, that's what you-ah, yeah. I get it. It's cool. Um…thanks though. I know that was probably awkward-"
"No. Don't ever be afraid to confide in me Link. How many times must I say it?" said Sheik sharply. The tone was laced with more bitterness then he would have liked but it was difficult to not allow his hurt feelings to seep into his speech.
Link scratched the back of his head as he gave Sheik a sheepish look.
"Well…I did want to tell you something…personal," muttered Link. Sheik paused to stare dumb folded at him for a moment. He expected strenuous effort, arguments or even just begging to get Link to open up to him and yet, here he was throwing Sheik a bone right out of the gate.
The Sheikah scooted closer to him on top of the bed. What did Link want to tell him? It must be causing him a lot of pain if Link needed to talk about it that badly.
"Well…I don't want to make you mad though," muttered Link. Sheik huffed, but was glad to notice Link had relaxed enough that he didn't look as if a Like-Like was about to drop on top of him.
"Link, if it is bothering you then please tell me. I won't be angry," said Sheik. Why would he be angry anyway? Unless he did something that upset the hero? He thought he had just been making him uncomfortable lately but maybe it was bothering Link more then he let on?
"Promise?" asked Link bashfully. Sheik scooted even closer, on the verge of getting impatient.
"Yes, Link. I promise I will not get angry. Now what do you want to tell me?" asked Sheik. Link sighed and then gave him a shy smile. The expression made the Sheikah's heart melt.
"I appreciate the comfort you provided. It helped more then you could ever know…but I couldn't help but notice…" Link hesitated and gave him a nervous look.
"Yes…?" asked Sheik, leaning forward in anticipation.
"That you really still need that bath partner," said Link finally.
Sheik was silent as he stared at him for a moment, processing what he said.
Then he flew into action. The pillow he had been hiding behind was now a projectile weapon as it went sailing toward the hero's head. Link yelped as he dodged and shot away from the bed. He turned to say something but yelped again as he noticed another pillow already homing in on his head.
The Sheikah didn't even pause in his attack to speak.
"I can't believe," another pillow is thrown at Link, "You ruined," another pillow, "This moment," another pillow, "To tell," another pillow, "Me," another pillow, "That," another pillow, "I," another pillow, "Stink!"
Link was doing an impressive job dodging all the flying projectiles but he was still flabbergasted at where Sheik was getting all these pillows. Surely Zelda didn't sleep with dozens of pillows? He didn't remember seeing this many when he was still on the bed!
"You promised you wouldn't get mad!" exclaimed Link as he dodged another pillow. The Sheikah paused, his red eyes fierce as he stared at the hero in contemplation. Link stood frozen, ready to dodge at any moment in case the Sheikah decided that Link deserved more punishment.
"I'm not angry…I'm…aggressively surprised," said Sheik finally. They both paused at that, and then they erupted into laughter. Sheik leaned down to rest his forehead against the top of his hands as he laughed while Link collapsed on top of the couch and covered his face with his hands.
It was several minutes before either of them could even try talking. Ironically, neither of them ended up being the one to do it first. Once they both started to settle down, they stiffened when a giggle echoed around the room. They glanced up to see Abby zooming in circles near the ceiling as she giggled and laughed.
"You guys are so cute with your snuggling and pillow fights! Wheeeee!" exclaimed Abby as she flew down to bounce up and down the air in between the boys. Then she zipped over to hover closer to Sheik's face before he could respond.
"Linky is right though! You're starting to stink more than one of old aunt Gwena's farts!" Sheik shot a glare over at the couch when Link erupted into fits of laughter again, but the hero jumped when she whizzed over to him instead, "I wouldn't be laughing Linky! That moldy old man stuff you have on is only masking the scent underneath! A scent that is not that different then Sheiky's! I'm sure there's a bathroom somewhere in here! So, you guys go find it and put it to good use!"
She then proceeded to poke, tickle and pinch until they were practically stumbling over each other to find the bathroom first. The search took longer than it should have, making both boys think that Zelda must have a strange urge to collect things because neither of them could fathom how she could use every single accessory, piece of clothing, or her many many shoes that took up every inch of the wall space that was not her bedroom.
Link burst through a door and sent a prayer of thanks to Farore for finally allowing him to find the elusive bathroom once he noticed the bathtub stashed to the side. Before he could inspect the rest of the room, Sheik was suddenly shoving his way passed him and closing the door in front of the little red ball of light chasing after him.
"You two are gonna stay in there until you don't stink anymore got it?!" yelled Abby from the other side of the door.
They stood panting, staring at the door and half expecting the little ball of red light to crawl under the door in order to continue pestering them. Silence filled the room, with the exception of their harsh breathing that was beginning to subside.
The hero glanced over at his partner and they shared a grin, though he couldn't see it but Link could still tell by the way those red eyes lit up in amusement.
Then Sheik spun around and headed…to what he now saw was the actual bathtub. His eyes shot over to what he thought was the bathtub and realized it was just a bench with no legs. Just a solid base extending to the ground all the way around and elegant carvings surrounding the Triforce at each side.
The hero was amazed yet again with Zelda's personal living quarters. He thought the bathroom was only useful for bathing but it seems whoever designed this room wanted to prove that theory wrong.
The white stone of the castle interior extended into the walls but the floor was tiled with beige and styled with random tiles of different sizes. Stained glass replaced the white stone walls against the actual bathtub. Or maybe he should say pond? Technically there needed to be water in it to be called anything like that but it would be filled soon, so he might as well call it was it was. A small lake.
Smooth white porcelain made the interior of the tub that actually extended below the ground. He watched his guide climb the two steps that lead to the edge of the giant tub and then reach up to untie the sash holding the thick light pink curtain to the wall.
He chuckled at the color. Zelda always did have a thing for pink. He tilted his head curiously when Sheik grabbed the edge of the curtain and started to drag it forward. Blue eyes looked up to see the top of the curtain wrapped around a pole anchored to the ceiling and it slid along until the bathtub was covered by the curtain.
Sheik adjusted the curtain a bit more before walking over to the cabinet housing enough bathing materials to last for years and browsing through them, searching for the least likely to make them both smell like they walked out of a garden of roses.
"Since I seem to be the butt of this joke then I will bath first-"
"It would be faster if you both bathed at the same time! I mean…what was that about birds?" exclaimed Abby. She sounded suspiciously close to the door, making them both believe she was pressed against it listening to them.
"Abby, that is not happening," said Link through the door before folding his arms with a sigh, "This isn't Ordon either so it doesn't matter that Sheik is a friend now. We need our privacy,"
The Sheikah turned to give him a confused look.
"Why would it matter if we were friends or not? Does that…mean something else in Ordon?" asked Sheik cautiously. Link laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head.
"Not really. It's just…well, Ordon was never a big town and there wasn't very many of us. There was still a lot of work to be done to keep us on our feet and the days tended to be hot so it was always faster to bath together so we could get on with rest of our day. Girls would go down to the river together to bath and then the boys would follow once they were done. I just kinda got used to it," said Link.
"I see…is that why you weren't bothered to undress in my presence when we stayed in Kakariko?" asked Sheik. The hero gave him a guilty smile as his cerulean eyes peered up through his blonde bangs.
Link needed to stop looking at him like that. He had just barely gotten himself under control and now he wanted nothing more than to have the hero push him into that bath and have his way with him.
"Yeah…sorry about that. I forget sometimes that not everyone does things the same way we do," said Link bashfully.
If only I was still oblivious to my feelings for you. Things were so much simpler when I didn't want to claim you for myself every time those ruby eyes would ignite with mischief…what are you truly like under that mask? Is it hiding more than just your face?
They both paused as they heard a frustrated groan from the other of the door. Sheik rolled his eyes and then grabbed a jar of bath salt labelled 'water lily' and a bottle of cinnamon scented soap. The Sheikah hesitated as he stared at the small bottle. He was being a bit selfish with this choice. Link might not even like cinnamon. He just chose it because it was one of his own favorite scents.
Sheik sighed. He should not be having the man he was attracted to soak himself in one of his favorite scents. That was just asking for trouble. Maybe he was a masochist on some subconscious level?
"What'cha got there?" asked Link, suddenly right next to him. The Sheikah fumbled and almost dropped the bottle in his haste to try and shove it back on the shelf.
"N-nothing! I have my own supplies so I was just trying to find a suitable soap for you to wash with but-ah, well, this is a girl's bathroom so feminine chooses are going to be in abundance. I'm still looking. There's a closet on the opposite side of the bathtub. Will you go and get two towels and robes?" asked Sheik hurriedly.
Link made a thoughtful humming sound as he slipped the bottle from the Sheikah's fingers.
"Sure. I think the soap you found is fine. Strong too. I like it," said Link thoughtfully as he popped the cork off and sniffed the contents.
"Link, there's other bottles of soap you can use. Ones that are less…intense," said Sheik as the hero started to make his way other to the other side of the bathtub.
"Nah, this one is fine. Those other ones are a plethora of girly stuff by their smell anyway," said Link.
Sheik ran a hand down his face with a frustrated sigh once Link had disappeared around the corner. Goddesses, why didn't he shove that bottle to the back where the other scents would mask it from Link's absurd wolfish senses?!
He took a deep breath before approaching the curtains and pulling them back so he could slip behind them.
Link returned with the towels and robes. He silently thanked Nayru for giving Zelda the insight to get more than just pink robes. That was the majority of the color theme still but he had managed to fish out a blue and beige colored one. He wished he could have found a red one. Sheik would have looked sharp in red.
He paused when he heard running water.
"Sheik? Are you…how is that water getting in there?" asked Link, astounded. He heard a chuckle before the curtain was pushed enough so a hand slid out to beckon him forward.
"Come and see for yourself," said Sheik for the other side of the curtain.
The hero followed and slipped behind the curtain. He grinned at the sight of four huge silver faucets releasing water into the giant tub. He placed the towels and robes on the side and then knelt down, reaching a hand down to feel the water that was quickly filling the tub. He frowned at the temperature.
"Man, this is hella cold. Just like home. A quick bath it is then," said Link with a snicker. He felt a light tap on his head, making him lift his head to lock eyes with his guide. The Sheikah's red eyes were alight with amusement again and he nodded to side of the tub. Once he glanced over he noticed two silver dials. He had thought they were just for decoration but Sheik seemed to be implying they were more.
Sheik tapped a foot next to the dial with a red sun carved on top of it.
"Twist this dial. Not all the way though," said Sheik. Curious, Link wrapped his fingers around the dial and twisted slightly. It moved smoothly but he jumped, making Sheik instinctively grab a hold of his shoulder to stop himself from fall on top of the hero once he backed into his legs.
Runes appeared along the interior of the tub, shining a bright red. The water started to sizzle, causing steam to raise into the air. The hero tried to glare up at his guide but it quickly morphed into a grin instead as the warmth of the enclosed space washed over him.
"You could have just told me that this amazing tub could use magic to heat up its water," said Link with that grin. Sheik chuckled as he folded his arms, raising an eyebrow when Link narrowed his eyes at him.
"I thought you would benefit from the experience instead of me just telling you what to expect," said Sheik in a familiar mocking tone. The hero shook his head, laughing softly as he remembered those words from when he had tricked Sheik into getting caught by a Goron in order to prove that Kakariko was not as defenseless as the Sheikah seemed to think.
"Is that how this relationship is going to work? Every time I prove a point you're going to make sure it eventually turns around to bite me in the ass?" asked Link, a sly gleam entering his eyes as he hooked an arm around Sheik's leg.
The Sheikah was confused at the hero's sudden proximity, thinking Link would have moved away by now. He glanced down and narrowed his eyes at the mischievous gleam in the hero's eyes.
He was not focusing on the fact that Link had said relationship and not partnership. He was not.
"Perhaps you shouldn't be proving points then. It seems hazardous to your health," replied Sheik. He tensed when Link's grip tightened and then his thoughts ignited in all the wrong ways when Link laid a hand on the back of his thigh.
His thoughts were so jumbled and imagining reasons why the hero would be doing this that he didn't realize he was being tilted forward until the sensation of falling invaded his senses. The water rushed up to meet him as he flailed in a rather undignified way.
He gasped for air and tried to wipe the water away from his eyes once his head broke the surface. Red eyes searched for the culprit and found him already far from the edge and snickering.
"Well, if it's hazardous for my health then it's devastatingly dangerous for yours partner. Maybe you should refrain from proving points yourself before it's too late," snickered Link. Sheik's eyes narrowed before he dunked his head below the water.
The hero immediately rushed to the edge, his mischievous thoughts turning panicked. Did he take it too far? Was Sheik truly angry this time?
There was the sound of water splashing to the ground behind Link before he yelped as he was suddenly shoved forward. He fell face first into the water. He would be lying if he said it didn't feel wonderful to be submerged in this heavenly body of water.
Goddesses, the hot spring on Death Mountain was the only thing that could stand up to this tubs power of rejuvenation.
Once he broke the surface he searched for his guide, intending to drag him into this manmade hot spring but his eyes widened at the sight of Sheik on his knees next the edge. He pressed his shawl up against his face, but the pained expression in those red eyes drew the hero to his side instantly.
Link pulled himself half way out of the water so he could reach forward and place a hand on his partner's knee. Sheik sighed as he relaxed slightly.
"I'm fine. I'd forgotten about this…hindrance to my magic's effectiveness. It didn't even hurt that much this time. That might have been because I didn't teleport as far though," muttered Sheik as he glared at the floor.
He was thankful to be alive and couldn't even begin to express how much he appreciated that Zelda would give up her magic to save him. Especially during a time like this.
His magic was the inheritance of his people though. It was his closest friend and most reliable ally. Acting to defend him even before he realized he was in danger sometimes. Now, it was unpredictable and harmful. He hadn't even tried using any spells aside from summoning his daggers earlier but if he couldn't do a short distance teleport without cringing in pain then any spell stronger than his well-practiced summoning spell would have him on the ground incapacitated from the excruciating pain that would course though his veins.
Hands reached forward and wrapped around his torso. He wrapped his free arm around the hero's shoulders as he was gently pulled back into the warm water. Sheik smiled softly as Link hugged him to his chest, the warmth from the water already soothing his mind. He chuckled and laid his head against the hero's shoulder when Link started to walk backward slowly though the water so the Sheikah would trail after him.
"If all my scars disappear when we get out of this tub, I will not be surprised," muttered Link as he watched Sheik's long blonde hair flow though the water like a serpent chasing after them.
"It is extraordinary isn't it? The structure of the tub has been here since the castle was built. It was a few years after the grand relocation that plumbing was added to many of the fountains and this tub. I'm sure the servants were sending prayers of thanks to Nayru all year for that. It must have been hell dragging dozens of containers of water up and own these stairs. Can you even imagine how much effort it would have taken to fill this thing up manually? It wasn't until Xiondar and the late Queen became friends that he helped update a few things here and there. Xiondar has quite the talent for runes and earth magic. Very ingenuitive but a bit scatterbrained," muttered Sheik. He closed his eyes, just enjoying the feel of gliding through the water. He felt a thoughtful hum vibrate through the hero's body.
"You sound like you personally know this…Xiondar guy. Has he helped you learn how to use your magic along with Zelda and Victor?" asked Link, hesitating over the name again. Sheik hummed in agreement.
"He devoted most of his time to the royal siblings but he was always open to questions or gave advice when he thought I needed it. He was first stranger that treated me no differently than anyone else. I admit, it made me quite suspicious of him at first," muttered Sheik and then sighed sadly, "Once I asked him why he wasn't like everyone else I have ever met he told me…that he had experience with my people. There was a tribe of Sheikah that lived in the Snowpeak Mountains, not more than an hour's journey from his estate near the Magnoth Mountain Range. They disappeared a month before we were introduced to Xiondar and brought to his estate. That's seems to be the trend with me. Whenever I encounter anything that proves my people are still alive, I find I'm just a tad too late for it to matter,"
Link gave him a squeeze as he nuzzled his face in the Sheikah's hair. Sheik lost his train of thought then. Times like this is when he thought he might have a chance. A chance Link might feel the same way because really, how many friends, male friends at least, would hold each other like this?
But then again, how many of those male friends were part wolf? A canine instinct is installed in Link now. Anything that a person might have taken as romantic could easily just be a friendly gesture to a canine. Link always seemed overly embarrassed whenever he realized he did these things as well. Perhaps the only reason he wasn't now was because he sensed Sheik needed comfort. Always the hero. Putting the needs of others before his own, no matter how it might affect him.
Sheik gave a long sigh, and then lowered his eyes. His brow winkled in confusion and then his eyes went wide once recognized the gold embroidery on Link's dark blue tunic.
"Oh good Nayru. Zelda is going to kill you," whispered Sheik. Link's head tilted to the side and he made a sound of confusion.
"Huh, why?" asked Link but then he groaned once he felt Sheik fiddling with the embroidery of his tunic, "Oh, right. This thing is probably not supposed to get wet huh?"
"No, especially not soaking in water with 'water lily' bath salt mixed in! It's ruined! Goddesses, what am I saying? I'm the one that pushed you in the water! Zelda is going to kill me not you!" exclaimed Sheik as he pushed away to look frantically at the drenched tunic.
Link just grinned and leaned close to whisper in the Sheikah's ear.
"Relax. As far as you know, I took care of it, ok? It's almost like it mysteriously disappeared," whispered Link with a grin.
Sheik could not believe how quickly his mind focused more on the almost husky tone instead of the words itself. He suddenly felt too hot. It was like his body had a craving for Link. The need for close contact, for intimacy, was overwhelming. He didn't understand this feeling. How could it override his thoughts? It was like his years of training his mind and body didn't even exist.
He needed to get away from the hero but he found himself pulling Link to him instead.
"Sheik? What's wrong? I'll take care of Zelda, ok? You may have pushed me in but I could have gotten out right way but I didn't. It's really mostly my fault," said Link worriedly when the Sheikah suddenly grabbed a hold of the material in front of Link's tunic and pulled him closer. Sheik just shook his head and buried his face in the crook of Link's neck.
The Sheikah was terrified how powerful this feeling was and he could have cried when he felt the hero stiffen. He was not pushed away though. An arm wrapped loosely around his lower back while the hero's other hand trailed slowly along his back, whispering words of reassurance into his ear.
Goddesses, Link thought he was still upset about the damn tunic and probably has started to think that Zelda is some kind of tyrant when regarding noble clothing and will have him punished. He could not bring himself to correct Link yet though. If that was the only reason Link was still holding him like this then so be it. He would correct him later.
Link thought he and the wolf had reached some kind of silent understanding throughout this whole ordeal but as soon as Sheik pulled him closer, with that strange look in his eyes, he started to get nervous. Then the wolf was suddenly acting on its own again. What is making it do this?!
The hero couldn't bring himself to push his partner away yet though. He really seemed to be unsettled by something. Fearful even, and Link couldn't help but bring him even closer to try to sooth his fears. What has him so worried? Surely Zelda wouldn't be that mad about the damn tunic? She could just have another one made. One that actually fit him for Din's sake.
Link was trying to think of a way to calm the beast within, since it seemed to be mostly expressing desire instead of trying to take control. That changed when Sheik shifted his position. With two strong kicks Sheik's face was suddenly nestled next to Link's right ear. One arm snaked around Link's neck to keep himself there and the other loosened its hold and trailed slowly downward.
The hero was starting to become panicked by the wolf's increased activity, pushing at its bounties more as his anxiety rose. He didn't understand that. He was unsettled before this moment and there wasn't a peep from the wolf. So, he started to walk backward again. If he reached the edge then maybe Sheik would feel comfortable enough to get out of the water because he didn't know how much more of this he could take. The sound of his partners labored breathing against his ear alone was enough to send the wolf into hysterics.
His train of thought suddenly derailed when that wandering hand grazed over a nipple, setting his body on fire. The wolf went crazy as it snarled, bit and clawed its way out of its restraints.
Sheik gasped as the hero suddenly lurched forward with a growl, submerging him under the water. He flailed in an attempt to reach the surface again and felt hands dragging him up. He coughed, trying to expel the water from his lungs.
"Get away!" exclaimed Link. The Sheikah was scared at first, thinking of rejection and disgust from the hero but his desperate tone didn't match the almost painful grip on Sheik's arms. Suddenly he was scared for a whole new reason as he turned and saw those cerulean eyes switching between feral and normal.
The wolf had gotten angry. He didn't think there was a part of Link that would hurt him but he found himself struggling to get away from the harsh grip and intense blue eyes.
"Mine," snarled the wolf within Link's mind. The hero's fear spiked and became terror. He had always thought the beast just didn't care about embarrassing him or that its actions could damage Sheik's relationship with him.
The sheer possessiveness and determination to claim the struggling Sheikah in its bruising grip was not something he thought it was capable of. If it gained control, then it was going to have Sheik. Willing or not.
"Get away from me now!" exclaimed Link desperately. Goddesses, if the wolf forced this on Sheik, Link would never be able to live with himself. Sheik must have understood Link's underlying warning because he raised his feet and kicked off Link's chest.
The Sheikah was fast. He was already a few feet away by the time Link could even straighten. Suddenly his world was underwater, disorienting him enough to allow the wolf to give chase. Sheik felt a hand wrap around his ankle before he was pulled under water.
His instincts kicked in as he was drugged closer to the hero and controlled his panic, tightening his lips together so the air stayed locked in his mouth. Then he spiraled in the water, loosening the hold on his ankle enough to allow him to kick out and dislodge it.
Sheik knew it would hurt this time so he braced himself as he teleported to the edge of the tub again. He shuddered as pain raced through his body, even greater than before. He didn't know if he actually traveled farther then last time or if the pain happened to escalate if his teleportation's were done in close succession.
He didn't really care once those intense blue eyes found him again. The wolf dived underwater and reached the edge of the tub in a few strong strokes. Sheik tensed, trying to decide if he should just leave the room and let Link cool down or if he should try and help him calm the wolf. He was the reason the beast was angry though. Surely he would only make matters worse then?
Link's body shot half way out of the water, making him lay on the wet floor while his legs kicked and flailed in the water of the tub. One hand balled into a fist but the Sheikah paused at the look of frustration on the wolf's face when Link seemed to be regaining some control.
Frustration…not anger.
Sheik frowned as the wolf snarled, trying to drag itself up again when Link slowly started to fall back into the tub. He huffed, renewing his courage. It was his duty to be the Hero's Guide. The hero indeed looked lost now, so he would do his part to help him through it.
He no longer believed the beast was trying to harm him. It was frustrated about something. He watched the hero fight with himself, trying to spot the problem. Would he even recognize the problem for what it truly was?
Red eyes widened slightly when the wolf glanced up at him and snarled again, renewing its efforts. It was frustrated with him. Not in retaliation for any kind of wrong doing or raw anger. What was it trying to convey to him that Link wasn't allowing it to?
The Sheikah started forward again, crouching low to the ground as he cautiously approaching the struggling hero. Link panicked at the sight of him stepping closer, causing the wolf to thrash angrily when it was repressed even more.
"Don't! Get back! I'm-I'm not-"
"Link, are you angry with me? Frustrated?" interrupted Sheik. Link looked momentarily confused before he hit his forehead against the wet floor of the tile surrounding the tub to try and distract himself from the wolf's fight for dominance. It was not letting up this time.
"Link…please tell me. If you are not then I might have a theory for why this is happening," said Sheik softly. Link's fingernails started to scratch along the hard floor, making him wince until Sheik placed his hands over his to stop him.
A soft whine escaped the hero at the touch. Link wasn't even sure if it was the wolf. He just wanted to pull the Sheikah back into the water and into his arms again. Goddesses…what he must look like right now. Water trailing over his face, down his neck and disappearing under his shirt…
"I am angry and frustrated….at myself. I don't want to hurt you so-" Link paused, his breathing increasing as hands slid into his hair. The Sheikah sat on his knees as he leaned slightly over the hero's head.
"Link, you need to understand that the instinctual part of you is going to act on your first reaction. If something suddenly snatched your freewill away from you, would you just accept it?" asked Sheik as he slowly massaged Link's temples.
The hero's forehead remained pressed against the floor but he was having a hard time understanding his partner. The motion of those fingers rotating in small circles started to relax him though.
Of course I wouldn't accept it. I would fight tooth and nail to-
His blues snapped open, vaguely wondering when he had closed them. His first reaction… has not been constant when regarding the wolf.
"Remember? You are trying to make the beast more of a companion and less of an animal. Your first reaction to anything is going to be exactly what it does. If you fight it, then it is going to fight you because that is what you would do in its place. Don't you think?" replied Sheik. He thought the hero didn't hear him at first, but then Link slowly nodded his head.
"Whatever the wolf is trying to do is something that you want on some level isn't it?" asked Sheik.
An almost hysterical laugh, slightly muffled by the wet floor that he was pressing his face against, was his response.
It's something that I crave on every level…
Sheik sighed as he lifted one hand from the hero's temple to glide it through his dark blonde hair instead.
"Whatever it is involves me in some way right? Will you tell me what it is? I will try and help you through it," said Sheik. He frowned when the hero's loose fingers that had just started to relax, suddenly clutched into fists.
"I can't," grunted Link. He was not about to talk about his lustful problems with the object of his desire.
"Why? I thought you trusted me Link?" asked Sheik softly as his hands gently gripped the hero's blonde locks to lift his head.
Link moaned softly at the feeling of Sheik pulling at his hair. Goddesses, he just can't catch a break can he? That moan swiftly became a growl when the wolf rose from its barely complacent state to try and wrestle control away from him again.
The Sheikah paused at the sudden feral look in the hero's eyes but then took a deep breath.
"Link, stop fighting it. An instinct can be suppressed through conscious effort. The beast in you is not going to hurt me. I've seen it angry and violent before. All I see is frustration. Just let it out and work with it," said Sheik.
"You don't understand…it isn't-I'm not-damn it! It's not right. The way that it…expresses things. I don't want you to get the wrong…impression," muttered Link.
I can't face your rejection after you see just how strong my desire is for you….
Sheik's brow winkled in confusion as he tilted his head.
"That is why you are fighting the wolf? Because of the way it expresses how it is feeling to me?" asked Sheik. The hero refused to keep eye contact but gave a hesitant nod.
It was silent for a few moments until Sheik's soft laughter echoed around the area. The hero glanced up with a slight glare, thinking that his partner wasn't taking him seriously, but there was nothing but warmth in those red eyes.
"Link, my mother was my only humanoid friend until I was introduced to the princess once I was seven years of age. Prior to that, our family of cats and our Cucco were the ones I interacted with the most. There were even a few wild animals that made their homes near my village that I had befriended once my mother let me explore on my own. Trust me. I am quite used to the expressive way animals tend to show their feelings," said Sheik with a chuckle.
Link blinked several times, trying to wrap his head around the image of a young Sheik surrounded with animals. He had to admit, it was adorable. He relaxed a bit once the wolf became distracted with the image.
He thinks the wolf is just trying to be affectionate. Can I pull that off? He said that he is used to that kind of thing but…I'm still a person, even if there's beast within me.
"It's already embarrassed me enough. I can't imagine you not being bothered by the…affections of the wolf since I'm, well, a full grown man and not an animal being friendly," muttered the hero. He had relaxed his stance, finally able to focus his attention on his guide.
He thought about what Sheik had said though. Especially now that the wolf seemed to have become more cuddly than lustful. Instinct can be suppressed through conscious effort, huh? Was the wolf's sudden change in attitude happen because of his shift of attention from the proximity of his partner to the image of Sheik surrounded by forest animals then?
"I admit, it will take some getting used to the fact that a man will be the one trying to show affection but I can manage. I know you and have grown used to you. Honestly, I would be more comfortable with receiving your affections, even if a part of you is trying to express them in a way that is normally undesirable, then I would anyone else's. Except my mother and Zelda perhaps. Just…don't be afraid to allow the wolf to interact with me. I will not be angry and after I become used to it, I doubt I will even notice the strange behavior anymore. I know it will not hurt me or try to…send the wrong message," said Sheik. He pulled away from the hero and turned around to slip off his boots, wincing at how heavy and soaked they were now. It would take forever for them to dry.
The Sheikah paused slightly as he realized his body's reaction to the close proximity to Link was still very noticeable. Especially in these blasted tight pants.
"Where is that soap? I put enough bath salt in the water to make even a sewer rat smell pleasant but we should at least wash our hair," said Sheik as he rolled his body and hurriedly slipped back into the water.
A small smile spread across the hero's face at the almost playful but graceless flop of the Sheikah's body as it rolled off the side and was submerged underwater. He reached into the pocket of his thin white breeches to pull out the little bottle of cinnamon soap. He really wanted to take this damn tunic off. Not because the object of his desire was in a giant bathtub with him, but because he was certain that he would suffocate if he had to wear the water logged heavy tight clothing much longer. If it wasn't unbearable then, it definitely was now.
Sheik's head broke the surface in middle of the giant tub. He swiped a hand down his face to wipe the water away from his eyes but paused as his shawl began to sag again from the weight of the water soaking into it. He sighed, nervously tapping a few fingers against the material he pressed against his face to keep it up. Now was as good a time as any to take it off and he couldn't properly wash his hair with it on anyway.
Link slowly started to make his way over to the Sheikah, hesitantly allowing the wolf some free rein. The edge of irritation and constant pushing against its bounders vanished as it surged forward. Link made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a yelp as he suddenly found himself dog paddling through the water.
The hero glanced up to see Sheik submerge himself again. The wolf whined dejectedly and ducked under the water as well. Link immediately tried to restrain it again. The beast was going to smother his partner with its 'affection' if it kept wanting to be near Sheik like this. It returned to its belligerent nature as he felt its snarl vibrate through his body.
With a sigh, he released the beast. His body jerked and flailed briefly in the violent surge of energy of the wolf. Quickly trying to find a way to distract it, Link thought that perhaps just focusing on something else would help find a way to 'work with it' better.
So, he focused his thoughts on the heavy foot falls of his soaked and probably completely ruined boots. They felt strange and constricted his movements somewhat in the water. Link grinned as the wolf seemed to immediately forget about Sheik and turned it's irritation to the water logged boots on his feet. The hero almost choked in his surprise as the wolf didn't hesitant to dive under the water to rip at the boots.
He cursed, bubbles escaping from his mouth, when he realized that the beast dropped the bottle of soap in its quest to rid them of the brown menaces wrapped around their feet. He reached down to grab it but suddenly a hand swiped it up first.
Blue eyes looked up to see a single red eye not hidden by the golden hair flowing gently through the water like liquid sunshine. He had a fleeting thought of how freely his partner's hair seemed to gracefully twist and turn in the water. He followed as Sheik kicked off the ground and headed to the surface. He must not realize how loose his shawl is becoming.
Once the hero broke the surface, he closed his eyes as he raised a hand to wipe the water off from his face.
"Hey partner, I think your sha….." but Link's words trailed off as he opened his eyes to see Sheik's unveiled face.
Maybe he was supposed to get out when Sheik came back into the water or maybe Sheik had expected him to stay facing the wall. The wolf didn't seem to care what the reason was. It just wanted to touch every inch that was revealed to it.
As if trying to control his own hidden desires wasn't hard enough, his partner wasn't making it any easier. His head hung just slightly so those red eyes were peering up through his blonde bangs as he held the cinnamon scented soap in the hand loosely floating in the water beside him while his other hand clutched his bundled up shawl to his chest.
The wolf stirred again as Sheik gave him a small but nervous smile. The hero was already swimming over to him, panic raising at the level of desire coursing through him.
Distraction. Think of something else.
It was just not possible to think of anything but the face presented to him. Sheik was even more beautiful then he could have imagined. He paused as the attention of the wolf seemed to shift and Link realized that he might still get through this in a way that both sides of him could be happy.
Admiration…
One last stroke of his arms brought him up close to his partner, who still looked at him nervously. The hero focused on the sight and not the feeling, relieved when the wolf followed his lead and reached a hand out to touch a high cheek bone. Sheik sighed and seemed to relax somewhat.
The hero took advantage of such an invitation and his eyes sought out everything that they had been denied since they first met. He recognized the freckles he had caught a glimpse of before and a slight grin reached his face when he saw that they were dusted across Sheik's skin. As if the Goddesses had taken a brush and just lightly stroked it once across his cheeks.
His skin was lightly tanned evenly, making the hero believe that he used to spend ample amounts of time out in the sun without his shawl on. Slightly pointed ears almost hugged the side of his angular face. They weren't as long or sharply pointed as his own and they also didn't carry the round shape of a human ear. It was like a cross between the two. Full lips that looked as if they were asking to be kissed by the nearly innocent way that his bottom lip suddenly found its way in-between his teeth.
There was a certain exotic beauty about him that shone out with those ruby colored eyes. Link could stare just to appreciate such a sight for hours if he could get away with it. He raised his eyes and paused at the nervous energy that seemed to be increasing in his partner.
He's waiting for me to say something.
His opinion mattered that much to Sheik? The hero was touched and it stirred his rolling emotions that seemed to be changing way too much lately. Though the desire still burned just under the surface, Link found the need to sooth that fear and anxiety overriding it. He wanted to wrap his partner in his arms until he felt safe and content. The wolf whined with longing within his mind.
He was certain of it now.
What the hero felt was not just a crush. It was not just lust.
Link loved him. He would do anything for him. Be anything he needed.
"It's a shame such a sight is hidden from the world," said Link softly. He couldn't help but feel a slight smugness at the fact that he was among the few that have seen such a sight.
Sheik's anxiety seemed to drain away at his comment and his grip loosen on his shawl. He smiled softly and looked ready to say something but they both jumped away from each other, flailing to stay above the water, when the door suddenly burst open.
"Link?! Sheik?! Goddesses, where are they…?" said the frantic voice of Zelda as she rushed into the room.
"Why would you burst in here?! They finally had some time to themselves! Hey wait…where are they?" They heard Abby say before she suddenly popped out from above the light pink curtain covering the tub from view, "Oh! Here you guys are! Are you done yet?" Then she zoomed away before they could even think to answer, "Nope! They need more time! So move it! Out!"
They heard the shuffling of feet as Zelda was apparently ushered out the door by the fairy and then the door swung shut. It was silent for a few moments until Link finally snickered.
"Well, you can always count on Zelda to find the right moment to drop in," said Link.
Whether that moment needed an interruption or not tends to be debatable…
Sheik chuckled and then tossed his wet shawl over the edge of the tub.
"Sometimes I wonder if Abby is as innocent as she makes herself out to be," said Sheik. There was a 'humph' heard close by, making both boys snicker.
The Sheikah uncorked the bottle and poured a generous amount of soap in his palm before handing it to Link. The rest of the time was passed in comfortable silence, with the exception of the occasional splash of water from Sheik when he caught Link staring.
"Oh, come on! You expect me to act as if it's no big deal that I finally get to see your face?! After all this time?!" exclaimed Link as he towel dried his hair. He realized it hasn't actually been that long since they met but it might as well have been years to Link.
Sheik sat by the edge of the tub, wringing the water from his long hair. He sighed as he reached over to begin towel drying his hair as well. He knew it was a mistake to have Link use that cinnamon scented soap. He could smell it from here and with Link now bare chested he was forced to put every ounce of his willpower into not pouncing on the hero bending over in his attempt to vigorously dry his hair.
Link's shorter hair meant that he was done bathing before Sheik had even finished properly washing his own. The hero then all but ripped his dark blue tunic off, complaining that he couldn't breathe in it anymore. The Sheikah could relate since he found himself unable to breathe with the amount of skin shown to him. He had seen the hero without a shirt on before but it wasn't anything like this.
Sheik was able to handle it mostly by refusing to look at Link while he was half naked. He was glad that they seemed to have covered a lot of ground in the trust issue though. Both between them and with the beast within the hero.
It had been amusing watching the hero swim around the giant tub making strange animalistic sounds or doing things that most people wouldn't. Link seemed to have finally found a way to effectively interact with the beast within him and had tested it in every way he could. The Sheikah could almost spot the difference between the two when they weren't close enough for him to see those cerulean eyes.
The biggest difference was the hero had a strong front stroke when swimming through the water but the wolf would always revert to a dog paddle whenever it came out. He thought Link was getting better at connecting with it once he spotted the feral look but his body didn't portray any sign of the wolf taking control. It never lasted long, but it proved Link was finally regaining some stability.
Sheik was a bit surprised when he pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the tub to watch, only to have the wolf dog paddle its way over to nuzzle against his right leg. After a few reassuring words to the suddenly nervous hero, Sheik couldn't help but laugh at the way Link's left leg would kick out instinctively in the water when the Sheikah had started to teasingly scratch him behind the ear.
"I appreciate the gesture but you're making me self-conscious! I'm not used to people staring at me like that," muttered Sheik from his perch next to the tub, still refusing to look at the bare chested hero. He was actually enjoying the attention of the hero. Perhaps a bit too much. It made him blush how much he caught those cerulean eyes fixated on his face.
Sheik heard a low whine from behind him, making him sigh.
"Oh, stop that," said Sheik sternly before a smirk slowly started to lift the corner of his lips, "Bad boy,"
He snuck a peek behind him and laughed at the state of the hero. Link's body language portrayed someone that felt indignant but those feral eyes were downcast like any loyal animal when scolded properly. Link quickly shook his head and glared at him.
"Don't do that damn it! The wolf likes you too much not to listen," exclaimed Link indignantly. Sheik just chuckled as he tied his hair into a loose ponytail.
"I'll have to remember that," said Sheik as he stood to his feet. The hero just glared until the Sheikah approached him with a nervous smile as he handed Link the blue robe.
"We need to move on Link. There are several missing pieces of the story earlier that could be vital components to how the meeting with the Lion King had truly gone. I think I can find out but I need you to cooperate, alright?" said Sheik. Link frowned, thinking he must be referring to something that he probably won't like. Surely he knows that Link would help in any way that he could regardless if he liked it or not?
"If you think its necessary then have at it. Just tell me what to do," replied Link as he slipped the blue robe on. Sheik nodded, relieved.
"Come with me," said Sheik as he headed for the door to the bedroom.
Perhaps this won't so hard after all.