(HA. This story DOES live.

Taking a break from typing "Temptation of Darkness" (but certainly not from writing it-- if only I had this willpower in school) to give you a lovely little chapter featuring a potentially OOC Zelda, a panicking Ike, and Samus acting silly-- all in a very serious manner!

Let's begin.

Characters © Nintendo)

Passions

Chapter Two: Betrayal of Trust

"I'm sorry, Ike. I cannot grant your request."

"But sir--"

His cool, detached nature had faded at the door; Ike leaned over the desk that separated him from Master Hand, desperation and anger evident in his expression.

"I can't do that, Ike. We can only allow people who fight to reside in Smash Mansion; surely you are aware of our current financial situation--"

"I would fight twice as hard to make up for her!" the mercenary interrupted, his eyes flashing fiercely. "She could room with me. I promise, she wouldn't be a burden to anyone--"

"That's enough."

Ike fell silent.

"This is... the fourth time you've asked me if she could move in," Master Hand sighed, flexing his oversized fingers. "Must you continue to persist, even when you know what the answer will be?"

"Yes, because the answer may change."

"The answer is the same, Ike. She cannot live with us."

The last shimmer of hope died in the swordsman's eyes.

"...yes, sir."

"Should the situation change, and circumstances shift to your favor, I shall let you know. Until then, however... you will not ask me again. Now go."

Ike reluctantly strode out of Master Hand's office, trying to quell the frustration and despair that tore at him from the inside.

"Hmm... his sister, maybe?"

Zelda sighed, taking the picture back from Samus.

"Does he even have a sister? I know he doesn't have parents..."

"Well, why wouldn't he?" Samus shrugged, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "She looks really young compared to him, so I don't think it could be a girlfriend. Sister or a friend, that's my guess."

"Yeah," the princess responded absentmindedly, sliding the picture back into her glove. "Oh well... I suppose I might as well just ask him next time I see him..."

"What? You mean he didn't give it to you? You just... took it?"

Zelda froze.

"I-it was just lying there! On the ground! I just-- picked it up!"

"Careful, Zel! He might burst into flames and start devouring small chi--"

"Samus! Really, that's quite unnecessary!"

Samus chuckled, thoroughly amused by her royal friend's distressed expression.

Ike cursed himself for forgetting to close the door before he left, but counted his blessings when he saw that everything was as he left it... Ragnell hadn't even shifted slightly from its resting spot in the wall.

Quietly, he shut the door behind him, stepping over what had once been a chair before he collapsed onto his bed. For a few minutes, he simply lay there, his dark eyes closed as he thoughtlessly ran his hand over the soft blankets.

Eventually, without opening his eyes, he dragged his hand towards his chest, his fingers sliding beneath the leather patch...

Ike's eyes shot open.

It was gone.

"Really, though, she's being way too paranoid about it."

"Prove it."

"We're talking about her paranoia."

"...good point. But still we can't completely blame her; Ike is rather... inte--"

BAM.

Marth and Link jolted suddenly, covering their ears at the unexpected booming sound.

"What was that?"

"Beats me..."

They were further startled by Ike, who skidded into the kitchen, a panicked look in his normally dark, brooding navy eyes.

"Have you seen it?!" he demanded, a frantic tone in his voice.

"S-seen 'it'?" Marth repeated, shooting the mercenary a confused look.

"A picture-- an old picture of me and my sister-- have you seen it lying around anywhere?!"

"N-no, we haven't," Link shook his head, frowning slightly. "We'll let you know if we find it, though..."

Apparently this answer did not satisfy Ike, for he stormed out of the room, continuing his search.

"...that was... different..."

"...oh, shit."

Marth noticed the look of horror painted on Link's face.

"What?"

"It would be Zelda's luck," the Hylian began, "if she had the picture in her hands at the same moment Ike found her, and he flipped..."

"Then before he finds her, we have to! C'mon!"

Link and Marth quickly dashed off, splitting up to search for the princess.

"Okay, Zel-- don't you think you've worried long enough? I mean, he hasn't even done anything to you."

"You're the seventh person that's said that! Why can't I notice these things for myself?"

"Because you're letting your preconceived notions get the best of you," Samus smiled, relaxing on the sofa in the living room as Zelda leaned against the nearby wall. "Seriously. Next time you see him, just ask him a question about himself, and you'll see that we're all right, and you're dead wrong."

"You're enjoying this far too mu--"

Surprised shrieks suddenly flew from both women's lips as Ike burst into the room.

"Have either of you seen a picture lying around of me and my sister?!" he immediately exclaimed, unfazed by Zelda's heavy breathing or Samus' shocked scramble back onto the couch.

"P-picture...?" the bounty hunter repeated once she had finally regained her composure. "...hey, Zel, you--"

"N-no, I have seen nothing."

Zelda quelled her fear, putting on a calm face as she shook her head.

"My apologies, Ike. I hope you find it soon..."

Panic faded from Ike's eyes, replaced by a growing sense of hopelessness...

"...alright. Thank you, Samus... Princess Zelda."

He left, the tension that came with him following the mercenary out of the room.

"...oh, why did I do that?!"

Zelda's reprimand caught Samus off-guard once again.

"Damnit, are you all trying to give me a heart attack?!"

"I had the opportunity to tell him the truth and I blew it!" the princess groaned, sinking to the floor as she put a hand to her head. "Now when I give it to him, he'll be pissed..."

"Then just say you found it lying around--"

"I can't keep lying! ...I have to tell him the truth..."

"...I'll pray for your survival, Zelda."

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Zelda stood once again, ringing her hands nervously.

"Thanks, Samus."

Quickly, she hurried off, searching for the blue-haired mercenary.

It took her three hours to track him down again.

Three hours.

It all seemed to be only a second when she saw Ike's relieved grin as she handed him the picture.

"Wh-where did you find this...?" he asked, overjoyed to finally be once again holding the one picture he had left of the only family that remained...

A tense sigh escaped Zelda's lips.

"...in your room."

Ike slowly looked up, confusion showing in his navy eyes.

"What...? When did you--"

"After you left... to go speak with Master Hand," the princess began quietly, her gaze cast downward, "I... went in your room, and..."

"...and you found it and took it."

His confusion melted away, replaced by anger.

"What gave you," he hissed, "the right to enter my room uninvited, and proceed to take things that don't belong to you? What, I ask you?"

"...n-nothing did," Zelda murmured, nervously wringing her hands. "I'm sorry, Ike..."

A shocked gasp escaped her lips as Ike's unexpected slap nearly sent her to the ground; she shot her head up, her sapphire eyes blazing with fury--

A shut door was the only sight that greeted her.

Fuming silently, the Hylian princess picked herself, storming down the hall back to her room as she carefully placed a hand over her swelling cheek...

A soft curse of pain escaped her lips.

(End chapter two.

Ike's pissed at Zelda for lying, and Zelda is pissed at Ike for hitting her. Isn't this a lovely circle of anger and potential unnecessary violence?

Hopefully, it won't be so long of a wait for chapter three...

Please review!)