Link drove home alone; Zelda was getting a ride from Saria. He fiddled nervously for a while with the knobs on the radio, before finally settling on a station playing 'relaxing' music. Well, it wasn't helping. Luckily for Link however, country roads are not too busy at 9.30pm on weeknights, so his twitchiness wasn't causing anyone else a problem.
About forty minutes later, too long for Link, he pulled into his driveway and climbed the steps to his front door. He hung up his coat in the closet and settled into a chair to try and relax, but he was clutching the tiny paper rather tightly in his hand. Forcing himself to take some deep breaths, Link eventually calmed himself enough to move his hand towards the phone without shaking and pick it up. Holding the phone in one hand, Link unfolded the paper with his other and dialled the number. It took him longer than it should have; 10.30 at night is not a good time to call a wrong number, so he stopped to double check the numbers several times.
Then the phone started to ring.
Link was curling a free finger around the cord, something he had always considered rather girlish, but he didn't even take notice now. After about three rings, the phone was picked up at the other end.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice? But I checked so many times...
"I'm so sorry, I must have the wrong number. I apologize for bothering you at this ti--"
"Try me," the woman laughed lightly.
"I-I'm looking for Raven..."
"I thought so. You don't have the wrong number, I'm just his secretary. I'll get him for you."
"I'm not bothering HIM, am I?"
"Not at all. He takes most of his calls after dark anyways," more laughter, "He says he concentrates best at those times, if you can believe it. But just hold on."
"Sure."
Less than a minute passed, but it was enough time for Link to bite three of his fingernails.
Raven was sitting in a cushy, red armchair, sipping wine and flipping through a magazine. Every so often, his blonde bangs would slip in front of his eyes, and he'd have to set the wine glass down to brush them out of the way. It annoyed him sometimes, but he wouldn't trade his hair for the world.
The room was lit (if it could be called lit), by a fireplace opposite Raven. He surprised many people with his ability to see, and subsequently read, in relative darkness unaided. He shrugged their compliments off, it had come naturally to him. No practice whatsoever had been involved.
An thus, he found himself in his favourite, easily reading critiquing article on plastic surgery, in lighting which would by now have driven anyone else mad.
"Raven?" Louisa's silky-soft voice flittered through the air.
Raven looked up towards the door.
"Yes? Are you going home?"
"Well, yes, but there's a call for you."
"Ah,"
Setting his glass and the magazine down on the table, he got up slowly and made his way to the hall, where Louisa was politely holding the phone out to him. He took it with one hand and covered the bottom with the other.
"Thanks, love," he said, "Are you going home now?"
"Is there anything else for me to do?"
"Not that I can think of. Besides, you're already here two hours overtime. I couldn't possibly make you stay any longer."
She giggled.
"Alright, I'll go," Louisa picked up her coat and briefcase, and turned back to Raven, "It's a first time caller, and he sounds rather nervous. Go easy on him, ok?" Not that he wouldn't have anyways.
"Of course," Raven kissed her briefly on the cheek, and she walked out the door. Settling himself into Louisa's chair, he lifted his hand off the receiver and cleared his throat.
"Terribly sorry for the wait," his voice was moderately deep, and lulling. He would make a great father, if only for being able to sing lullabies.
"That's alright. This is Raven, isn't it?"
"It is. And who might you be?'
"My name is Link."
"Lovely," lulled Raven, and he meant it. All names that he had heard throughout his life were lovely to him. All of them. Except for George. He couldn't stand that name, "If you don't mind, how did you come across my phone number? I give it out to a precious few people."
"Oh. Well, a former patient of yours gave it to me, just a couple of hours ago, I think."
"I see...and this patient would be?"
"I don't think I should just tell you..."
Raven laughed. Though it was not mockery whatsoever, Link still lapsed back into terrifying nervousness. He had this dread feeling that he was talking to some kind of prostitute, rather than any sort of doctor. Raven spoke again.
"Trust me, it's alright. If hewasa client, then I know him already." Not that all his clients were male, but Raven just knew, somehow.
"Um, his name's Sheik."
"Ah yes! I remember him well. How is he?"
"We don't talk much. He seems fine."
"Excellent. Well, what can I do for you, Link?"
"I-I'm not sure actually. Sheik told me nothing except that you could help me. And your name, he told me that too. But nothing else. I'm not even sure what you do. I'm assuming you're some kind of doctor?"
That laughter again.
Insinuating
"Yes, I am a doctor. Though judging by your voice I can tell you've never met one like me before. In any case, actually using the word 'doctor' may prove misleading. Rather, call me a therapist."
"Um, sure."
"May I ask you a personal question, Link? I can assure you anything of that sort I ask you has to do with my profession."
"Alright then..."
"Are you gay?"
"Shei--No. No, I'm not."
"What about Sheik? Did he ask you that this evening as well?" Raven almost laughed, but decided against it.
"Yes, he did. Are you gay?"
"No, I'm very much bisexual. It's a lovely position. The best of both worlds, you could say."
"Oh. That's...neat. I'm not sure about myself, actually. I'm not really attracted to anybody."
"Interesting. You may be wrong, though. No offence intended, of course."
"None taken."
A silence. Link began slowly.
"What-what exactly do you do, as a doctor? Sorry, therapist."
"Ah. Yes, I suppose it would make sense for me to explain. But first, are you seeing anyone else? A therapist perhaps?"
"Yes. I'm seeing a Dr. Gaebora."
"Mm-hm. Yes, I know him. Let me guess, did he speak with you about relationships?"
"Yes, he did. How did you know?"
"He's very well known. Several of my clients see him."
Link started to wonder why Raven never said patients. Only clients.
"Actually, he told me to try and begin a relationship. That it might help ," he finished lamely.
"And that is where I come in."
"So you are a matchmaker then!" a feeling of intelligence flew through Link, making him feel slightly less nervous. That is, until Raven began to laugh. Still not at Link, though. In fact, the laughter was almost comforting; it was rich and joyful.
"Good Lord, no!" Raven wiped a tear from one of his eyes, "my way is better."
"What way?"
"In a moment. First you must tell me, have you had any partners before?"
"None. I've never kissed anyone before." Link blushed. That last comment had come out unbidden.
"Ah. But you do converse with people regularly, do you not?"
"Yes, often."
"But you feel nothing?"
"Not really, no."
"And therein lies the problem."
"Which is?"
"I was about to explain."
"Sorry."
"There is nothing wrong with you, Link. What may the cause of your difficulty in starting a relationship is the fact that you do not desire simple companionship. You need something else, but you cannot place it. I think I can."
"What is it then? What do I need?"
"I'm speaking of sexual release."
"What?"
Raven cut in somewhat.
"Tell me Link, do you masturbate?"
"No!"
"Forgive me. It may sound strange, but I assure it's all an assessment of your possible condition."
"Forgive me, but I've never even met you, nor heard of you until this evening! How do I know you're not just some weird pervert?"
"You don't. You have every right to hang up. You even have the right to be suspicious and call the police."
Link was somewhat taken aback at what sounded, oddly enough, like a suggestion. Raven continued, his voice soft but strong as ever.
"But first allow me to finish my explanation."
"Yeah, sure, go on."
"Well, I believe the underlying fact may be that everywhere you go, you are forced into conversation with people, but offered nothing else. You see happy couples, but you yourself are offered nothing that can interest you. Subconsciously, you have no desire for a relationship, you wish for....other things. I can give you that. That's my job."
"Isn't that what prostitutes are for?"
"Yes, but there are several differences. For one thing, you can't just pick me up. Two, I can guarantee you medical safety. Third, I can also guarantee you an experience." Raven licked his lower lip, as he often did when speaking of these matters, "I can also offer you a closeness you wouldn't get with...others."
Link was starting to feel...weird. There was no other way to describe it. The part that scared him the most though, was that he was hanging on to this man's every word. Not only that, he believed all of it!
"Would you like to meet me?"
Link's heart raced.
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
"So soon!?"
"Why not? I'm not busy. Are you?"
"No, I'm almost never busy. Tomorrow's...fine, I guess. Wait! H--how much do you charge?"
Raven chuckled.
"I'll come to your house. We'll talk. If you decide against my services," Link shivered at the word, "you can send me away and I'll charge you nothing. We'll figure it out then. There are numerous factors that will affect the price."
"Alright. What time will you be here?"
"How does 8pm sound?"
"That's fine. But I have work on Monday."
"I figured. I won't stay too late. Do you drink?"
"Yeah. Wine, usually."
"How does brandy sound to you?"
"Fine, but...I don't have any."
"You misunderstand me. I'd bring it over, I was merely checking if it was alright with you."
"Oh. That's fine. Actually, it would be very kind of you."
"It's never a problem. However, you must do me one favour. Not in exchange for the drink, but in general if you are to become a...client."
Link shivered again.
"What?"
"Wash yourself. No more than two hours before I arrive."
"That's easy enough. I shower every day, if that's what you're worried about."
"Oh no, no. I meant, wash yourself better than usual. It's a simple precaution, for health and comfort."
"Ah. Sure, I'll do that."
"Wonderful. But before I hang up, I need your address."
"Hm? Oh, yeah, of course!"
Five minutes later, Link had pulled a sweatshirt over himself and was drinking a hot mug of coffee. He had felt incredibly cold for the entire phone call, and it hadn't gotten any better when the call ended. Neither were the swearshirt nor the coffee helping. Link quickly realised what it was. Anxiety. He had accepted the (obviously questionable) services of a complete stranger who had managed to turn him on over the phone; a feat very few people had achieved before now.
Though he doubted he would be able to, Link decided sleep would be best at this time. Before going upstairs he wrote himself a note, reminding himself to shower after dinner the next night, in case he forgot.
Twenty-five minutes later, just as he had lain down and pulled the covers over himself, did Link realise that he might, just might lose his virginity the next evening. His ceiling had never looked so interesting.
TBC
