Chapter 2

After the little ordeal with the shower Link and Marth had become a while lot closer. Friends actually, which in turn had made him a little closer to Zelda. That, even though Marth thought it shouldn't be, was his main priority. They were working out in the gym. Marth and Link. Link had sweat tracing down his face and some glistening on his back. His blonde hair was matted to his head and he was breathing heavily.

Marth, meanwhile was finishing up a set of chin-ups on the high bar. He cheeks were flushed a rosy colour. Sweat poured off his forehead.

" Twenty four, twenty five…twenty six." Marth mumbled through clenched teeth. He gasped and dropped down from the bar. He sat down on the benches. Link sat down beside him.

"Hey!" Link greeted Marth cheerfully.

"Hi." Marth replied tiredly. He took a cloth from the railing and wiped off the sweat from his head and chest. Then he passed it on to Link. He obviously didn't care if it was all sweaty. He did the same and put it down. Link turned to face him.

"How many did you do?" He asked curiously.

"Twenty six." Marth said.

"Ha, I did thirty, weakling!" Link bragged. Marth grunted in annoyance and playfully punched him on the arm.

"Asshole!" He said.

"Now, now boys." Said a voice from behind them. They turned sharply. They saw Zelda, looking beautiful, as usual. Her shiny blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. She was wearing a pink belly button top and tiny black shorts. Marth almost had to teach himself to breathe.

"Marth is not a weakling and Link is not an asshole." She announced. Marth smiled at her.

"Usually." She added and hid a giggle. Marth looked at him and then back at her again.

"Hey! I think I heard that!" Link responded. He recovered quickly. He could never stay mad for long. He looked at Marth.

"How about a duel?" He said and grabbed his sword and held it up for all to see.

"If you're not too weak, that is." He added.

"I'm not!" Shouted Marth. Although it was sort of a lie because he didn't exactly feel one hundred percent, not just yet anyhow. He lied because he didn't want Link to have power over him. Actually he doubted if it was about dominance at all. He just didn't want to back down in front of Zelda. She would have thought he was a loser. I'm not a loser, Zelda. He thought with confidence.

Marth stood up and found his sword. Link was already on the mat and in the ready position. Marth walked over and waited until Zelda started the timer.

"Okay, go!' She shouted. Their swords clanked. Steel on steel. As far as anyone knew, they were equally skilled but in different areas. Link exelled in hard, high power, aggressive swings where as Marth relied on speed more than power. Link jabbed but Marth swiftly blocked it and took a swipe of his own. Link jumped out of the way.

"Gotta do better than that!" Link taunted. Marth went up closer to Link and swung again. Link blocked it. They held it there for a moment, each obviously trying to weaken eachother's balance. Zelda watched in anticipation. They broke free at the same time and almost fell backward. Marth breathed heavily. This could go on forever and there would never be a clear winner. While he was lost in thought Link stelthly creeped up and raised his sword. Marth gasped as a little bit of the sword punctured his shoulder.

"Link!" cried Zelda.

"You know you aren't suppose to actually hurt him!" Link looked at her meekly.

"Sorry Zelda, I got carried away." Zelda didn't reply and ran to Marth. The puncture was small but the deal Zelda made about it was tremendous. The blood dripped down his arm. Zelda used the aweaty cloth to wipe it off. It left a red stain on the rag that would be there for a while. Zelda didn't care.

"Are you okay?" She asked with consideration.

"Yeah." He almost couldn't speak. There was Zelda wipeing up his wounds. It was a dream come true.

" I can get up." Marth said. Zelda backed away and gave him room.

"Sorry Marth!" Link called from across the room. He was getting a drink from his water bottle.

" Good match, though." He smiled. Link had not the will nor strength to say anything. Both marth and Link's cheeks were flushed red from the fight. Zelda noticed. Then she had an idea.

" Marth, sit down!" She ordered. He did as he was told.

"Why?" He asked curiously.

" I'm going to give you a back massage." Now Marth was sure he was dreaming. Zelda giving him a back massage.

"What about me!?'" Link chimed in, ruining the moment, and snapping Marth back to reality. Zelda put her hands on his back. He shivered slightly at the touch.

"Oh, you will get yours later!" Zelda responded to Link's question. Man, she was a good massager. She could be a chiropracter if she wanted. It was rather rough. She had really long nails. They dug into his skin but still created a pleasureful feeling.

" That good?" She whispered in his ear.

"Wonderful, a little lower if you don't mind." He responded. She put her hands lower. They were now to the left of his spine in the middle of his back. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"You are really good at this." He thought a little flattery might take him a bit further.

"Thanks." She said cheerfully. She moved closer. Her hair slid across his back.

"You know you are pretty cute, if Link and I were to break up you would be the one I would go after." She whispered. Those words felt magical to Marth. He then reminded himself. If. Only if. Link and Zelda broke up. That would probably never happen. They had been together for so long. What would be for them to fight about now?

"Oh, look at the time, my battle with Donkey Kong is coming up." Zelda exclaimed, looking at her watch.

"I didn't even train!" She giggled. Well, she was right. She had come there to work out but she had watched them train instead.

"See you, later, Zelda!" He called after her as she left. He stood up and looked in the full body mirror beside the benches. Her nails had made small marks in his back. He felt like never taking a bath again. On the other hand, he was tired and a bath seemed inviting. Then he admitted to himself that he loved Zelda, but then that word if came into play. There was Link in the way. Stupid if.