For the next month and a half they snuck around. They never really discussed how they should keep it a secret, they just did. Most nights, Miles would sneak over and she would leave her door unlocked.
They would lie in her bed and talk for hours until they fell asleep. Then Miles would leave early in the morning before anyone might be awake to see him come out of her room.
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One night…
"Miles." Samus was wide awake looking at him.
"Yes Sam?" He on the other hand was almost unconscious…
"Tell me more about your brother."
Research. Why haven't you done any?
Truthfully she was afraid of what she might find. Miles didn't answer.
"Honey?"
He was asleep. She lay her head down and thought she knew the answer to her own questions. She knew what Miles had said before and she trusted him. She didn't have to do any research.
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Joseph Garden decided the best way to team people up was by hoe many matches they won and who they got along with. So Samus wasn't really surprised when she was teamed up with captain Flacon. They were both in the top five, and everyone knew they were good friends.
The two were sparring to get ready for their first match. They were practicing hand to hand, doing martial arts, neither of them getting a hit in.
"I'm getting tired!" miles smiled weakly at her. She threw a punch at his face which he easily blocked. He then proceeded to round house her but she flipped over him then quickly kicked him in the back.
"Let's take a break then." She said smiling at her victory.
They sat on the edge of the training platform drinking out of their water bottles. They sat quietly for a few minutes.
"Well, well, what do we have here." Said a voice behind them. "Are you two up for a practice round?"
It was Fox and Falco.
"Always" said Samus.
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Miles was getting beaten badly. He could have easily knocked fox out of the ring already except he was so distracted. He kept looking over to see if Samus was okay. She was doing fine but he was still worried. She eventually knocked Falco out of the ring, and then took Fox out. Miles was of no help.
"Thanks guys, but could you give me and Miles a few minutes to talk… privately."
"Sure" with that, they were gone.
"What was that Miles?"
"What?"
"You did horribly. If it weren't for me you would have gotten your face smashed in. You fight better than this. I just want to know what's wrong."
"I was just distracted okay?"
"By what?"
He hesitated to answer. But she smiled sweetly at him so he felt it would be okay.
"I just… kept wanting to make sure you were okay." She sighed.
"Honey, I'll be fine. Please don't do this tomorrow when we have a match. You need to focus on your opponent."
"But-"
"Promise. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Okay."
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They went on to win two matches. Captain Falcon always looked over to make sure she wasn't hurt. But that didn't stop him from doing well this time.
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Now is the time. You've been dating him for at least a month now… You can't keep this from him any longer. What if he…
"Miles. I need to tell you something important." He sat up from her bed." You have to promise you won't hate me."
He smiled.
"Sam, you know I could never hate you." He leaned in and gave her a quick, heartfelt kiss. "Now what's bothering you?" She stood up while he sat on the side of her bed.
"I've told you about some of my old bounty jobs before, haven't I?"
"Yeah."
"Well, the most recent ones… He sought me out." He asked who by she was suddenly warped into her own world. She was zoned into her story. Zoned into her guilt. "He wanted a few people 'taking care of.' But he knew I wouldn't just go around killing people. So he told me why he wanted them killed. He told me the horrible things they did. So I made a contract with him, it was a lot of money Miles. A lot. Some how even then I knew I shouldn't have trusted him. But the money was good, and I wanted to trust him." She sat next to him on the bed. He could tell she was getting upset. "His first contract consisted of four people. I finished the first two without any problem."
Her eyes were on the verge of exploding into flowing tears. Her voice was cracked and pained.
"The other two knew each other. They were… lovers. When I saw them they look liked good people. So I found out a little bit about them out of curiosity. That's when I found out they were good people. When I dug a little deeper I found out he, my boss, was this sick horrible bastard." She sobbed, her voice getting stuck in her throat as she forced the words she dreaded.
Guilty.
"It was Link and Zelda, Miles. The two who I was suppose to kill." His face didn't change to one of shock or dismay. But he spoke, whispering to her.
"It's okay. You made the right decision in the end. Their alive because of you." He put a comforting hand on her shoulder that she swiftly hit away and she stood up.
"No! I trusted my instinct too late. I killed two people. Two people who were most likely righteous, good people. Innocent people. I trusted and followed a monster!" She screamed in frustration and fell into Miles comforting arms.
"It isn't your fault. He lied to you."
"And I trusted him! I stupidly trusted him. It doesn't matter. I should have researched about the people on my own. I was so stupid. I still never found out about them. I'm too scared..." She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "I'm scared what I might find out. I'm scared to know what they were like."
Miles hugged her closely and kissed the top of her head.
"Who is he anyway?"
"His name is…." Samus thought about the name. The name she dreaded. The familiarly disgusting name.
"Ganondorf."
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They cuddled in Samus' bed as Miles explained he had heard their next match was against Bowser and someone named Ganondorf. This upset Samus because she highly doubted that there just happened to be another Ganondorf.
"I'm scared Miles. Damn it… I'm scared of facing him."
"Don't be. I'll take care of you. I promise."
"Miles… there is something else I wanted to tell you. Something even more important."
"What Sam?" He was extremely curious. He couldn't think of something that could be more shocking news than that.
Tell him about 148404. Tell him tell him tell him tell him!
She didn't want him to let go. Miles arms were protecting her. Not just physically. She needed him there or she was sure she would emotionally break down. More than anything she wanted him to be there. She couldn't let him let go. If she told him about 148404 she was sure he would…
Tell him.
Just tell him. He'll understand. Tell him.
Don't let go.
I love him.
"I love you. I just wanted you to know."
"I love you too Sam. I always will."
I didn't tell him.
He will let go.
148404
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