All LOZ characters/settings are property of Nintendo.

Chapter 2

Link gripped his phone tightly in his hand. He peeked up and watched as Sheik took a swig of his reddish drink. He thought he could see a hint of a smile and that sent butterflies straight into his stomach. Turning his head to hide whatever giddy expression that was, no doubt, plastered on his face, he let his eyes wonder across the bar before settling on the stage.

Link didn't really know what instruments were being played by his friends. He felt ashamed that he never took the time to learn the differences between the brassy looking ones. Mipha was sure to shake her head at Link's ignorance.

The music stopped flowing, and applause rang out around the bar. He watched as Urbosa, Mipha, Daruk, and Revali took a bow, and began to socialize with those closest to the stage. It was then that Link noticed the blonde head of his sister flinging around.

Zelda was visibly laughing, and hanging on the arm of the light haired girl beside her. Her cheeks were flushed, and Link could tell Zelda had already had a few drinks too many.

Link sighed, and turned back to Sheik. His companion was looking at his phone before his eyes snapped up in question.

"I'm pretty sure Zelda is ready to go home." Link chuckles and pointed at his sister. Sheik leaned over and smirked at his wobbling roommate before standing up and shaking his head.

"She probably only had two or three drinks." Sheik walked around the table, and made his way to the bar to pay Zelda's tab. "She is such a lightweight. Better for my wallet, I suppose." He handed the payment to the bartender before looking back at the giggling blonde who was talking to the performers.

"Let me grab her." Link waved at the others as he walked up behind his sister. "Nice set, guys. I hope this drunkard wasn't bothering you too much."

Urbosa, with her Amazonian like build and her blazing red hair laughed before gently booping Zelda on her nose. "Of course not. You'd better get her home safely though." The warning tone in her voice nearly gave Link the chills.

"I'm standing right here, y'know!" Zelda laughed before grabbing Link's hand, and, steadying herself, started to follow him away. "Great jazz tonight! See ya, Pay!" Zelda gave a clumsy finger gun before laughing again. Thank the gods she was a happy drunk.

"Let's get you home, Princess." Sheik held the door open with a smirk on his face. Zelda pouted, and shivered as they walked into the crisp evening air.

"How come you're not drunk, Sheiky," She was trying to point her finger, but she seemed too focused on actually walking to put any true effort into it. "You're more of a lightweight than I am!"

Sheik grinned and stuck his hands into his pockets. "It's called pacing yourself." Sheik laughed at Zelda rolling her head, and Link joined in. "It's the next left. The bluish building. Thankfully we live on the first floor."

"Seriously. I'm glad I don't have to throw her over my shoulder and lug her up some stairs." Link laughed again as he followed Sheik down the sidewalk. He had never been to Zelda's apartment in the year that she and Sheik had lived there. He was in training when they moved in, and felt bad that he wasn't available to help Zelda move. If he hadn't been at the knight academy he would have met Sheik earlier and who knows what would have happened. He could imagine the three of them hanging out frequently and was eternally happy that Zelda was such an understanding sister.

Link had always been a stereotypical big brother to Zelda: teasing her, and making her life difficult, but also helping her out of trouble and causing shenanigans together. Thankfully his pestering never got in the way of their friendship. Sure they fought occasionally, and tried to one up each other, but they were always best friends first. Link was always so glad he had a sister like Zelda. She was such a compassionate person, and always had encouraging or kind things to say...

"Sheik. One time I watched Link eat an entire roasted cucco. By himself!" Link's eyebrow twitched and he stuck his elbow into Zelda's side.

"Wow." Sheik looked back with an amused look on his face. "That's impressive, Link." Sheik chuckled before pulling a set of keys out of his pocket. They stopped in front of a blue door with the number three next to it. With a quick turn of his key, Sheik held the door open and Link guided Zelda inside. The lights were flicked on and Zelda plopped herself down on the plush grey couch as Sheik shut and bolted the door before walking down the hall.

Sighing, Link looked down at his sister and shook his head. "You're not going to get sick or anything, right?" Link was slightly afraid of vomit, and the thought of having to clean his sister up made his skin crawl. Zelda just smiled and gave a perky thumbs up.

"No, weirdo. I'm not that inebriated. Just a lil tipsy." Zelda snorted as she reached down to pull her brown boots off her feet. "Pleasantly tipsy. The exact right amount of tip-sy." Link smiled at the bright pink fuzzy socks on his sister's feet. No matter how 'adult' Zelda tried to act, there would always be a whimsical, child-like characteristic to her.

"I think it's time you took your pleasantly tipsy self to bed." Sheik had returned to the family room in a slim pair of grey sweats that tightened around his ankles. His top half was covered by a dark red, long sleeve shirt that look one size too big. Sheik looked twenty times more comfortable with his pajamas on. He walked briskly to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, grabbing a water bottle. He handed Zelda the bottle before helping her up and gently pushing her towards her room. "Goodnight, Zelda."

Zelda smiled as she sipped from the water bottle. She leaned against her bedroom door and wiggled her eyebrows at the boys. "Have a good night you two." With that, she slipped into her room and gently shut the door. Link and Sheik stared at her closed door for a suspended second before glancing at each other. Link scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before looking over at the clock on the wall.

"I guess I should get going if I want to catch the last bus of the night," Link chuckled quietly. He pulled the tie out of his hair and quickly raked his fingers through it before tying it up again. He felt eyes burning into him, and glanced up to meet the crimson orbs across the room.

Sheik fidgeted his fingers with a nervous sigh. He grasped his elbow in either of his hands and clenched his eyes shut. He threw them open and decided to just speak his mind.

"You don't have to go." Link blinked innocently, but Sheik continued before he had a chance to say anything. "It's late and it's not like you're some stranger. As long as you don't mind the couch... I'm sure Zelda wouldn't care... and I..." Sheik let his voice trail off. He hoped he didn't sound like an obsessed weirdo... He just didn't feel comfortable letting Link walk alone this late at night... he also didn't plan on going to bed right away and relished at the thought of getting to know Link a little better.

"Are you sure?" Link wanted to jump in giddy joy, but he didn't want Sheik to take back the offer. He also didn't want to make a fool of himself.

"Of course. We have extra blankets," Sheik looked at Link's proportions carefully before nodding his head and continuing," and I'm sure you'd fit my pajamas." Link's shoulders were a bit broader, and he was at least a few inches taller, but he would still fit. "You can use my bathroom. I think I even have an extra toothbrush."

Link toed his shoes off and timidly followed Sheik into his room. His bed had two pillows and was draped in a soft looking, dark blue duvet. Beside a side table with a lamp, a water bottle, and a notebook atop it, the only other piece of furniture was a sleek looking piano against the wall. Next to the piano on the floor, was a stack of thick looking books. Link assumed they were music, but he couldn't tell for sure. A comfortable looking bench was tucked neatly under the piano. It definitely showed a bit on wear on the leather seat, but still looked to be in good condition. Link watched as Sheik went into his closet. He heard some drawers opening and closing before Sheik came back out and handed him a folded stack of clothes. Sheik gestured to the opened door next to his closet.

"That's the bathroom. The toothbrush is in the medicine cabinet. Let me know if you need anything else." Sheik's smiled and quietly walked away, giving Link some privacy.

Link was a bit floored by Sheik's hospitality. Link had friends that hadn't ever treated him this nicely. He shut the bathroom door before taking a quick look around. The room was almost medical in its bare ness. Link could appreciate that. He opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the single, plastic covered tooth brush. Link did his best not to snoop at the other things in the bathroom. He quickly brushed his teeth with the toothpaste on the sink, and made sure to wipe up any mess he made. Link looked at his hair before shrugging and letting it fall naturally. He made quick work of the rest of his needs before dressing in the night clothes Sheik provided him.

The blue shirt was soft and stretchy as he pulled it over his head and down his abdomen. It also smelled divine. Link wasn't sure what the scent was, but it was so fresh and clean. Link discovered that all the articles smelled the same as he pulled on the black lounge pants. Sheik had also given link a pair of black ankle socks which he quickly slipped on his feet. With a last glance at himself, Link gathered his folded clothes and quietly walked back into Sheik's room.

Link set his clothes down on the kitchen counter as he watched Sheik drape a white sheet over the couch. He then set a plush looking purple blanket and one of his own pillows on the couch. Sheik smiled at Link as he walked closer.

"I'm glad everything fits. Are you tired? If not, I can make us some drinks. We have rum and tequila." Sheik was quiet for a second. "We also have water." Sometimes Sheik wanted to smack himself. He didn't want to come off as some lush to Link.

"That's sounds nice. Now that I don't have to babysit, a tequila on the rocks would be good." Link smiled and watched as Sheik pulled a bottle out of a cupboard and got to work. Within minutes, a cold glass was placed in his hand, and Sheik was plopped next to him on the couch. Sheik was sipping what looked to be the same drink he had at the bar. Link took a sip and enjoyed the fore that raced down his throat.

"It's pretty smooth considering it's straight tequila." Link laughed and took another sip.

"Zelda bought it. I'm sure it's top shelf." Sheik shook his head before pulled his legs underneath him. He got more comfortable and turned his body so he was fully facing his guest. Link looked relaxed with his golden blonde hair brushing along his shoulders. Sheik felt a pleasant feeling in his stomach at the way his clothes looked on Link. Sheik took a moment to appreciate how good looking link was. His jaw was nicely chiseled and his nose was strong and straight. Link's eyes were a bright sky blue and surrounded by soft looking, dark eyelashes.

"Zelda can be an extravagant spender sometimes." Link smiled widely with a shrug.

Wow. He is really attractive.

Sheik took a quick chug of his drink as he watched Link finish his own. Sheik decided to bring the tequila bottle to the living room and offered Link a refill. With a nod, Sheik filled his glass before sitting back down.

"You keep a very efficient room, Sheik." Sheik laughed before scooting closer to Link. Their knees were touching and Sheik placed his hand on Link's shoulder.

"Thanks. Are you judging me on my organizational skills or my utter lack of belongings?" Sheik gave Link a squeeze and a smile to show that he was joking.

"Hah. I'm sorry. I'm just... nervous? I guess?" Link was wishing a hole would open below him in that moment. He took a deep drink of the burning liquid in his glass. "This is personal, but I've never really... pursued a guy." Link sighed. He felt like his anxiety was making him sound ridiculous.

"Don't be nervous. We're just... talking." Sheik smiled when Link smiled and nodded. "I don't do much dating myself."

Link knew Sheik was gay. Zelda had mentioned it to him a few times over the last year. It was only last week when she said she thought they would be a cute couple, and even that was said quietly in passing. Now that he was thinking about it, Link wondered if Zelda was trying to send him subliminal messages.

"Training kept me busy, and now my father is." Link refilled his glass again before continuing. "Doesn't leave a lot of time for 'personal endeavors.'"

Sheik raised an eyebrow as Link took his drink down in one quick gulp. "We should change that." Sheik lifted his glass and downed it in support. He could feel the fuzziness growing in his head as Link poured them another shot. The same part of Sheik's mind knew they should stop now and head to bed, but the protective, slightly selfish side felt like commiserating with Link. That was also the side that was seriously enjoying Link's company. He raised his glass again.

"Bottoms up."