Disclaimer: I don't own LOZ

The Boy Thief

A young seventeen-year-old boy walked through the hideout of the Gerudo thieves on the search for a good friend of his. Blowing his blonde bangs out of his eyes in exasperation and impatience, he entered the next passage of the fortress. As the boy rounded yet another corner, something ran into him knocking the wind out of his lungs as he hit the floor.

"What are you doing!" he gasped trying desperately to catch his breath. The Gerudo girl looked at him with intelligent hazel coloured eyes, carefully studying him. "You must be Link, Nabooru's pet," the girl spat in disgust. The named boy stood up indignantly, his blue eyes danced in anger.

"Well excuse me brat, but I am here to ask Nabooru a favour, not that it's any of your concern. Where is she?" Link asked curtly.

"She and another man went out into the Haunted Wasteland five moons ago, and I doubt she will be coming back," the redhead replied, still watching Link warily but with slightly more interest.

He was very good looking; any Gerudo girl would probably want him. In the Gerudo society they solely survived on trickery and deception. They would go after Hylian men, seduce them and then have sex with them in order to keep their race alive. Because the race only consisted of women, this was their way of life along with thieving. They rarely had a male come willingly into the fortress and this Gerudo found it the perfect opportunity.

But Link had other things in mind. "If she isn't here than I will be heading back to the town," Link curtly informed her. Turning he left her, that is until she bounded up and grabbed his shirt.

Link in response to jerked away from the girl and she decided that maybe Nabooru had been right about Link. Link knew all about this race and what this particular Gerudo was up to and he showed this girl with zero hesitation that he would have nothing to do with her. Nabooru had introduced him…tried to introduce him to that one long rainy night in Hyrule Castle Town. Hopefully this girl wouldn't be as stubborn as Nabooru had been.

Flashback

Link had been walking the streets as a 15 year old. Living and surviving on what he could, Link was a prime target for a Gerudo to come and attack him. It was raining hard and Link was doing his best to stay dry under a cheap cotton flap over a merchant's stand.

A low female voice sounded out in the darkness. "Why don't you come and warm up, boy? I'll keep you warm," A Gerudo woman said huskily. "You stay away from me," Link said in a firm and harsh voice, a voice that one develops after living on the streets for a long time.

"Aww, come on I want to play with you," she answered coming into Link's view. Link watched her through narrowed eyes, ready to fight for his life. He had seen these women before. They would persuade a man to have some fun and then after they were done having their "fun" the women would disappear never to be seen again. Link wasn't going to give this lady the pleasure.

"I said leave me alone," Link said, his voice now had a warning in it. But Nabooru wasn't going to have no for an answer. She drew a sword and practically jumped on Link who was ready with a counter move. With a wooden staff, Link quickly disarmed her and caught her around the neck and pinned her against his chest. Nabooru didn't expect this and of course went to hit Link in the groin because her hands weren't bound.

Link sensed that she had shifted position and he quickly spun her to the ground and used the wooden staff to temporarily pin her while he retrieved her sword. When Nabooru bounced back to her feet she was faced with Link whom was armed with her sword. She was now very vulnerable; the wooden staff was broken when she broke free of its restraint.

Link stood ready, watching Nabooru carefully and blowing his unruly blonde hair out of his eyes. Nabooru watched Link, posed and ready for her to move, but she decided that maybe moving would be the end. She took a step back and Link didn't move, he just watched her coolly. She was surprised that he didn't let down his guard even a little bit.

"I guess I picked on the wrong kid, huh," Nabooru said gruffly. Link didn't reply, he continued to watch the Gerudo. Nabooru was surprised that the boy still didn't move. So she decided to advance on him and see if she could get the upper hand over him. After all she was a trained Gerudo, not a poor boy who lived on the streets.

With a swift movement to the side, Nabooru rushed him, but Link, who had seen the move before quickly sidestepped her and as she rushed by, Link was able to get her down to the ground. He quickly pinned her down with the sword at her neck. As she felt the cold steel on her neck, she quit struggling immediately.

"Do you always pick on poor defenceless people?" Link sneered in her face. For the first time in her life, Nabooru actually felt her blood run cold at the cool look in his eyes. Nabooru knew that she would have to surrender to the youth who had defeated her if she wished to keep her life.

"Ok, you win boy." Link looked deep into her eyes and saw the sincerity behind those eyes. Slowly he removed the blade from her neck, and rolled off of her. Getting to his feet, Link held out a hand for Nabooru to take. She was thoroughly surprised again by this youth. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

"So, what is your name kid and what were you doing out in the rain anyway?" Nabooru asked, eyeing him. Link met her eyes with a slightly pained expression. "My name is Link and I was out in the rain because all I have is a grungy house with no roof," Link said, slightly bitter, "What is your name?"

"Nabooru, I am a lone wolf thief of the Gerudo, I usually work alone, but if you would like you could live with me in the desert. We would make a great team," Nabooru proposed. Link looked at her outstretched hand and gave it a quick firm shake.

End Flashback

A lot had happened since Nabooru had accepted Link, but Nabooru was the only one that Link would go with to the city. If not her, he would go by himself.

The young Gerudo had been thoroughly rejected and decided that Link wouldn't change his mind. So she just sat down on the floor in total despair. Link ignored her and continued on out the door.

Suddenly she had a thought, 'I'm going with him'. If he gets into some sort of trouble, Nabooru won't be there to save him. "Link, please, take me with you in Nabooru's stead," she pleaded. Link looked at her and thoroughly considered it and then he gave in with the sincere look in her eyes, even though he knew that she might not even be close to being sincere. He nodded curtly again, once again with the street attitude that he had grown up with.

"Do you have a name kid?" he asked. "My name is Lania, and I promise to stay out of your way once we make it to the city," Lania said, coming up to face him.

"Good, now lets get going, do you have a horse?" Link asked gruffly. "Yes, are we leaving now?" she asked. "Yes, now get moving," Link said, slightly amused by her eagerness but not showing it.

The duo left the valley with a sound of thunder as Link's fiery chestnut mare, and Lania's spirited sorrel stallion, headed for the fertile fields of Hyrule.