The cold air seemed determined to snuff out Link's life as fast as possible: the wind howled around him, silencing what little amount of noise he could make. Little bullets of ice sliced through his skin, carving it like sandpaper grinding on wood. Still on his hands and knees, unable to feel his fingers or his arms, frozen to the ground, Link coughed uncontrollably. Oh, dear God, it hurt so much, and there was nothing that he could do to stop it, not when he couldn't even move. If he could see, his hands would probably be a sickly shade of blue.
With a sigh that seemed barely able to slip past his lips, Link fell, crumpling into the snow completely as his arms gave up on him. He could feel the wind sweeping snowbanks over his spine, over his clothes, which were frozen solid and did nothing to keep out the chill. Eyes clamped shut, the boy could only lay there and wait, thinking about how much it hurt, about what was going to happen. His heart beat frantically, and his mouth struggled to suck in the frigid air.
He was going to die here. He had been so stupid to have let his night terror and his panic set itself so firmly in his mind, to let him run into danger like this. What would Gaepora think? Oh, god, what about Zant and Zelda? Oh, Link hated himself so much for what he was about to put them through. The Skyward family had taken a chance on him, and taken him into their home and their lives, and this was how he was going to repay them.
He might very well be the worst person to have ever lived.
As Link laid there, he felt his terror consume him, as much as he tried to prepare himself for the inevitable. He was going to die, and it wouldn't be very long until he did, as he felt his conscious beginning to flicker, and the temptation of falling asleep mounted by the second. His thoughts began to slow down, until he found himself praying to his mother for the strength to not be afraid of seeing her again.
Time blurred. Link could very well have been there for years, or maybe a few minutes, but he had no way of knowing. The only way to know that time was, indeed, passing, was to feel himself slowly becoming numb, to feel the hurt beginning to soften around the edges, the cold pulling him into it's arms. His mind began to quiet, tilting softly as he let himself be lured into the escape of sleep, where the wind and ice couldn't bite him quite so harshly.
…and then he felt hands, scraping the snow off of his back, grabbing his body to try and lift him up, and he wonders if it's hi smother after all. If she's taking him away…
He's pulled close to someone's chest, and a blanket is wrapped tightly around his shoulders, and for the first time in what feels like forever, he feels warmth.
It's enough for the tension to leave his body in one fell swoop, and he goes completely limp in his mothers' arms, overwhelmed with the idea of finally getting to see her again, after so many years. He wondered how his father was, how the afterlife was. Were his parents happy that Link had found another family before he had joined them, or would they be angry that he had replaced them? He tried to open his eyes, wanting to see his mama's face, but his lashes were still frozen shut, and all that Link could do was to let his mother's arm jostle him closer to her warmth. He trusted her to know what to do.
He had missed her so much.
But then the hands were touching his neck, feeling for his pulse, touching his face and his lips and his eyes, warming them, trying to figure out if he was still breathing, and Link became confused. If he was already dead, what was the point in doing all of this? Why were they still here…?
When Link managed to open his eyes, he doesn't see his mother, or his father… it's just Ghirahim. Out in the cold, gritting his teeth against the wind, his eyes wide and watering as he searched for signs of life. His hair was whipping around wildly, and his cheeks were a warm shade of pink. He's here, he's real, he's worried and he's alive.
Their eyes met. Ghirahim breathed out a sigh that vanished into a puff of steam, and as Link gripped onto his shoulders with all residual strength he has left, Ghirahim pulled him out of the snowbank, and towards home. Link felt the cold and exhaustion pulling him down, and he let his eyes droop. The panicked run through the snow had done him in, especially since his body was already worn out by the sickness, and if he could just take a quick nap, he could regain his energy, and stop feeling the edges of his consciousness flickering. But Ghirahim shook him, jerked him awake, gripped him tightly and, at times, yanked on his hair and pulled the blanket tighter.
Don't you dare, he seemed to say. Wake the fuck up, or you'll never wake up again.
So Link pushed, and tried. He stumbled, but he forced his legs to work, to move. They would get though this together, or they would die together.
The walk back home felt longer than a year, and harder than a 10k run for Link. By the time that the house lights were visible, and they were in front of the door, Link felt ready to collapse, his body freezing and aching and hurting more than it had ever been before. His legs were just about to give up on him, and he swayed dangerously, tired, and weal, and cold. Ghirahim had to practically carry him inside, and as soon as they were in, he was pushing Link to the bathroom, boots and melting snow and all. He shoved the younger boy into the shower, got in with him and stripped him of the blanket and his shirt and his pants and his boots, and turned it to the hottest setting, letting the water run over him until his eyes were able to cry tears instead of ice, and he stopped shivering. Eventually, Ghirahim cast his wet jacket and boots to the side, and just held Link up, standing stronger than any man he had ever known.
When the cold finally seemed to loosen the tight grip it had on Link's body, disappearing swiftly, he let out a pained sigh and slumped against Ghirahim. He wanted nothing more than to lay down and sleep, now that the danger had passed, as what little strength that he'd had seemed to have evaporated with the steam.
Ghirahim's hands found his neck again, taking his pulse, and Link couldn't do anything except lean into the touch. Then Ghirahim was grabbing his hands, bring them under the spray and inspecting them to see if they were still freezing. The warmth almost burned, waking Link up slightly from his stupor, and it had him struggling weakly for a moment, before he forced his eyes open.
He found himself staring directly at Ghirahim's chest. The chest that Link could very clearly see through his soaked, white shirt. And suddenly, Link became incredibly aware of his surroundings, of the hot spray of the shower hitting his nearly bare body.
A small splash of color painted itself on his cheeks, struggling to stay there, but had his body been stronger and warmer, he'd have been bright red. His struggling began anew, with more purpose this time, seeking escape from this entire situation.
"Stop," Ghirahim interjected. "Your fingers are freezing. If you don't want to lose them, I suggest you stay here." His voice sounded rough and painful, with no malice whatsoever. It sounds unnaturally flat and calm. He had been screaming, Link realized as it came back to him. He'd heard his name, and pictured his mother calling him. Ghirahim had been screaming Link's name outside, to try and guide him back towards home. He'd probably inhaled so much ice that his throat was littered with cuts. The man was still shaking, whether form the cold or form rage, Link didn't know, but all he could do was weep...
His chest was so warm... and Link could see ever ridge, every muscle. Link pushed aside his embarrassment and leaned against it, feeling his guilt wash over him, mixing with the water falling on his back. Body aching from what he know recognized as a near death encounter, he let slip a weak whimper and allowed Ghirahim to do what was needed.
Once satisfied that his hands were warm, Ghirahim guided Link's hair under the spray, running his fingers through it to melt the ice still dripping from it. But soon afterwards, he leaned to to inspect Link's feet, forcing another wave of embarrassment and... something else he wasn't paying attention to... through him. Link leaned against the wall while Ghirahim did this, eyes drooping and the water soothing his skin. It was only as he gazed at Ghirahim through half-lidded eyes that he realized..
The older boy had saved his life. Without his quick thinking, or his dedication to find him, Link would be dead, buried under a mound of snow somewhere in the forest. A swell of gratitude swallowed him whole.
Ghirahim's hair was soaking wet, falling in strands over his face. Drops of water clung to his eyelashes, as he felt Link's feet to make sure that they where adequately warm before he stood, and shut off the water. As soon as he pulled back the curtain, he reached into the cupboard to grab the largest towel that they had, his wet clothes and hair dripping dripping all over the floor. He wrapped Link in it, tightly, still as focused as he had been while out in the storm. Link shivered and clutched the towel around him, relieved to finally be getting warm again. He sniffled, nose slightly runny as he thawed.
With his body back to a safe temperature, Link felt his drowsiness increase tenfold, and he yawned, trying to gather up the strength required to walk up to his room and climb into bed. But it seemed that Ghirahim wasn't done just yet. He wrapped a second towel around Link for good measure, but when it came time to bring him out of the bathroom, he was oddly unmoving.
Still gripping the second towel, his hands began to shake, and he grit his teeth. The adrenaline was gone. At that was left was pure rage.
"Were you trying to kill yourself?!" He spat, and Link reeled from the change in tone, wondering dimly if Ghirahim's throat would bleed after all of this. When he didn't get an answer, the older boy shook him, fury growing steadily. "Answer me! Were you trying to fucking kill yourself?!"
Link was too shocked to cry out as Ghirahim's grip tightened. Wide eyed, he shook his head vigorously, staring at him with stunned fear. Had he been trying to... no! Of course not! Why would he even think that?
Realization dawned on him. Ghirahim couldn't possibly know that. As far as the older man knew, Link had just suddenly decided to run out in the middle of a snowstorm without any protection on. The guilt churned.
Ghirahim didn't understand. Of course he didn't.
"Then what the fuck were you THINKING, YOU IDIOT?!" Ghirahim screamed, loud enough to cause Link to stumble backwards. "WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULL, YOU IMPOTENT CHILD?! DID YO UDO THIS SIMPLY TO SPITE ME?! WAS THIS ANOTHER BARBARIC TEST OF MY WILL TO BE KIND TO YOU?!" Ghirahim shoved him against the wall, his shouts echoing through the entire house. When Link opened his eyes, trying to convince himself to breathe, he sees tears in Ghirahim's own...
"WHAT THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO TELL GAEPORA?!"
Link shrank back, feeling 300 times more guilty now than he had just minutes before, especially at the tears. If he had died, it would have been on Ghirahim to admit to everybody what had happened. To tell them that he had ran out, under Ghirahim's watch, and died.
And he still has to mention this incident to Gaepora, even if Link wanted the man to know nothing at all about this.
What he wanted more than anything else was to explain to Ghirahim what had happened and why he had run out, that it hadn't just been a suicidal whim, but he couldn't bring himself to speak, and for the first time, he felt pure frustration at himself for his inability. His eyes bore into Ghirahim, filled to the brim with his guilt, shame, frustration and regret. Fuck, he needed to fix this.. how on earth could he explain this?!
If anything, Ghirahim's fury grew, and he forced himself closer, yelled louder. "YOU INSOLENT BASTARD! YOU WERE WILLING TO KILL THIS FAMILY WITH GRIEF OUT OF YOUR OWN LUDICROUS IDIOCY! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE?! SIX YEARS, FOUR OF WHICH I'VE BEEN SPENDING TRYING, CLAWING TOOTH AND NAIL TO BE EMANCIPATED! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN ASKED TO STAY HERE?! NOT ONCE!" Ghirahim heaved, his whole body quaking. "AND YET, YOU WALTZ IN AND SUDDENLY GAEPORA'S EXCUSES VANISH! SUDDENLY, ZELDA WANTS ANOTHER BROTHER. SUDDENLY, HE CAN AFFORD TO ADOPT A THIRD CHILD. SUDDENLY, HE CAN STAND DOTING ON YOU HAND AND FOOT FOR ISSUES HE DOESN'T HAVE THE FAINTEST CONCEPT OF! YOU ONLY NEEDED TO BE HERE FOR A MONTH, FOR THEM TO GIVE YOU WHAT I HAVE FOUGHT MY ENTIRE LIFE TO ACHIEVE! AND YOU, YOU SNIVELLING FUCKING PIG, WERE WILLING TO THROW IT ALL AWAY JUST TO WATCH ME SUFFER!"
Link listened in shocked silence, shrinking further away, finally understanding why Ghirahim hated him so much. It only served to make his guilt grow and swamp him, filling his stomach and climbing up his throat until he felt like he might choke. It seemed like years and years worth of tears were pouring from Ghirahim's eyes, like being here right now had uncorked over a decade of abuse and negativity.
"YOU FUCKING IDIOT! I'VE WORKED LONG HOURS EVERY NIGHT AFTER SCHOOL, SUPPORTING MYSELF FROM THE GROUND UP! I PAY FOR EVERYTHING I OWN, ALL OF THE SPACE I TAKE UP IN THIS HOUSEHOLD, AND FOR WHAT?! I FOR ONE KNOW WHEN I AM UNWANTED. ZANT VALUES YOUR WORTHLESS AFFECTION FAR MORE THAN HE WILL EVER VALUE MY EXISTENCE. ZELDA WILL GLADLY BRAID YOUR HAIR FOR HOURS, WHILE MINE IS JUST AS LONG! YET, YOU COULD HAVE RUINED ZELDA'S BIRTHDAY FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN ZANT'S BIRTHDAY IS, OR HIS MIDDLE NAME, OR HIS FAVOURITE HOLIDAY! YOU ARE A WORTHLESS, IDIOTIC CREATURE WHO HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME WITH HALF OF THE TALENT!"
Ghirahim can't help it, his voice breaks, his hands claw at is eyes as they spill tears after tears... he is shattering. And all Link can do is listen and watch like an idiot, hearing how he had ruined Ghirahim's life. He hadn't wanted to do that! He had just wanted to find a home, a family! He takes a shaky step forward, needing to help somehow, but not knowing what to do. He hated seeing the boy like this. It unnerved him.
He reached out a hand, seeking to offer some comfort, but, without hesitation, as soon as Link touched him, Ghirahim slapped his hand away with force. Link flinched back with a yelp, his eyes wide open to see the expression Ghirahim's face twist deeper and deeper into despair and rage, his clenched teeth bared and eyes mere slits of water and anguish. The back of Link's hand stung with a red mark.
"...Don't you have another life to ruin?!" Ghirahim spat at his feet. "I hope you stay silent, forever!" He rasped, before whirling on his feet, throwing the door open and slamming it shut behind him, the hinges shrieking until they snapped apart.
Link stared at the broken door, shaking like a life, feeling his words digging deep into his heart and lungs like knives made to kill.
Ghirahim... Ghirahim wanted him to be silent forever? He hated him, Link had ruined his life, and he wanted Link to never find his words.
He felt his heart crack into two painful halves before shatter into a million pieces, holding back a sea of tears.
There, he stayed, standing and clutching his towel around himself like a shield, for what felt like hours. He was the worst person to ever live. It would just be so much easier for everybody if he had never been born. When he took a step forward, he almost felt like he was in a trance, his footsteps slow and quiet, padding towards his room. His eyes were trained on the floor, tired and empty, and all he could think about was what Ghirahim had said, after he had saved him, how much Link must have scared him. And he knew that he owed the boy an explanation.
He pushed open the door to his room, as quiet as a mouse, and shuffled inside. The house was way too quiet, and Link stood on his carpet and stared at his desk, feeling helpless. A prisoner to the tense air.
When his gaze slid over his notebook, he was jerked out of his trance, and into a sharp awareness. He knew what he had to do. He also knew that it probably wouldn't fix anything: Ghirahim had said what he'd said, and Link had done what he'd done, and nothing he did was going to change those two important factors. But it didn't have to change anything.
He just needed Ghirahim to understand.
Link took his journal and into his hands, settling himself at his desk and flipped through the pages were all of the words he couldn't speak had been stored. When he found the entry that he had been looking for, quite easily, due to the shaky handwriting, he took a deep breath and ripped it out. Those four pages contained every last detail of his nightmare, from the first time that he had woken up in a screaming, sobbing mess. This way, he wouldn't have to rewrite the entire dream, wouldn't have to deal with that. Instead, he set them aside, and flipped to a new, blank page, grabbing his pen and sucking in a shaky breath, fighting against his tears.
And he wrote.
I ran because of this. The dream. When I was eight, my parents brought me to the movies, for my birthday. It wasn't supposed to snow that day, but a freak storm hit. And.. this happened.
I'm sorry I didnt explain to you. I tried to, but i cant speak. I used to talk a lot, before the accident. For months beforehand, i talked and talked about this new movie, how everyone had already seen it, how if you didnt see it, you couldn't sit and eat lunch with everyone who had. I begged and begged to go, even though they ahd to work extra shifts to get enough for the tickets and the gas. And then we did go, and I talked too much in the car, I distracted dad, and we skidded of the road.
Sometimes... sometimes im scared that it might have been my fault. That if i never said anything, they would still be alive right now. And that's why I can't bring myself to.. speak.
It feels like i killed them.
I used to have this dream every night, and after a while, every few nights. It became less frequent, and I didn't have it at all since getting here, so it freaked me out a lot. I overreacted.
I was trying to find my mom and dad, trying to find the car that obviously wasn't anywhere near here. I just miss them so much, and I really didn't mean to scare you. To... to ruin your life. I wish they were still alive, so that I could be with them and be happy, and so that you could have your life without me and be happy. because you were right when you said I ruin lives. I killed my parents. I messed everything up with you, almost messed up this family.
I've been through a lot of foster homes. Nobody there understood at all, or tried to understand, they just tried to get me to talk, but i was grieving, and they were trying to force me to do something i wasnt ready for. Some even tried slapping or shaking me when they got frustrated. I had been very lonely for so long, and when I came here, I didn't expect to stay. I thought that you would all hate me too, think me weird. But they like me, i guess, and .. im sorry for what it's done to you.
All of your gifts have been appreciated, i swear. i do think i really like you, i want to give you some of my words, but you dont want that, and i understand.
I wasn't writing this to excuse what i did, what i continue to do. I just thought you deserved an explanation. and nobody else on this planet knows this, i kind of.. i guess i wanted you to be the one to know. If i ever start talking again, I'll answer as many questions as you want. you don't have to forgive me: i wouldn't blame you.
I'm really sorry.
Link
Tears dripped onto the page, as he set down the pencil, shaking and wiping his eyes, taking in small gasps of breath. He had to... had to pull himself together. He placed the newly written pages on top of the older ones, folded them, and then got up to creep over to Ghirahim's door.
And with a deep breath, he slid the papers that held more of his life and his secrets than anybody alive knew of him, under the door before retreating back to his own room and laying down on the bed.
Link falls into a light doze when no sounds at all come from across the hall, and his nerves end up wearing him done to the bone. Sniffling, he was jerked back into full awareness when, hours later, he hears Ghirahim's door open. He doesn't know if Ghirahim read his letter. He doesn't know if he forgives him at all. He doesn't count on it.
For a while, Link just hears dead air. Then, in the most bruised and empty voice he's ever heard, Ghirahim tells him.
"...Gaepora, Zant and Zelda are in a hotel for the night. They will be back tomorrow, when the roads are clear."
And that's it.
Ghirahim heads downstairs, grabs the mop, and starts cleaning all of the wet patches of melted snow and ice on the floorboards. He doesn't say another word for the entire night, and Link just stays in his locked room, a blanked around his shoulders, and feeling like his birth was the largest mistake that anybody had ever made. He twists around in his bed so that he can stare out the window, watching the snow fall whipping around outside as the room gradually got darker. When he can no longer see enough outside to watch the snow, he lays back on his bed and stares at the ceiling. He's used countless tissues, some for his cold but others just to mop up his tears.
He's so tired of crying.
There's a part of him that wants to sit in silence, awake and contemplating for the entire night. Yet, another large part of him wills for him to rest, to sleep, to leave this pain for tomorrow...
When he drifts off, it isn't peaceful.
He dreams of Ghirahim.
Except, the other boy isn't looking at Link like he's the scum of the earth. Instead, he stood before him, expression a relaxed, neutral, his shirt off, and Link couldn't stop his eyes from traveling to his chest. Ghirahim was.. fit, to say the least. Not all muscles, but... slightly toned. He looked good.
He flushed.
When his eyes drifted upwards once more, Ghirahim smirked at him, seeming to read his mind, and took a step closer, gazing at Link in a way that sent shivers down the smaller boy's spine, left something to be desired, and something to be expected. Another step closer..
Link woke up with a few new emotions mixed into the pot: confusion and shame. Had he... did he just dream of Ghirahim in what might be considered to be not friendly? And was he... holy shit.
He was a little hard.
Oh dear.
It took more time than Link was willing to admit to calm his breathing and heart rate down. He blinked at the light spilling in from his window, feeling a mess of emotions, but mainly a sense that he should feel very, very guilty for the actions of his unconscious brain.
From downstairs, he heard muffled speech, that, with a start, he could identify as Ghirahim and Gaepora.
"...in the snow, last night..."
"...my God...
Immediately, his dream was forgotten, and he shrank in his spot. Creeping over to his door, he sat down, pressed against it to hear better. Great. Gaepora knew that he was stupid now. He just wondered how much Ghirahim had told the man: had he just explained what had happened, or did he also reveal the why, what Link had given him as information? He buried his face in his knees, wishing that Ghirahim hadn't said anything at all. How could Link ever face any one of them ever again? They would know now exactly how stupid he was, how much of a bother he was.
He stayed there for twenty minutes, motionless, only catching bits and pieces of conversation that made him feel even worse. He wasn't sure where Zelda and Zant were, but he was certain that they were hearing this... that they knew what he did.
...and then there's a loud knock on the door. Not Link's door, but the front door. There's an audible pause int he conversation, and then Gaepora opens it.
"...Demise. Welcome, come in."
Link jerked up in alarm. Demise... that was Ghirahim's abusive dick of a father, wasn't it? What the hell would he be doing here? What was going on?
Quietly, he got to his feet and opened his door, hurrying over to the stairs and descending a few so that he could peer down to where the front door was, and the living room, but he couldn't be seen. He had a bad feeling about this, and he'd rather be closer, where he could listen more clearly. With suspicion, he settled himself on the 5th stair and peeked down.
Demise didn't look like what Link imagined he would. When he thought of Ghirahim's father, he saw someone who looked nothing like Ghirahim, who stumbled as he walked, carried a bottle with him everywhere... an other. An entity that bore no resemblance to the boy he'd met. But Demise doesn't look like an alcoholic. He's tall, attractive and well-built. He looked like he worked out, or at least got frequent exercise. He had Ghirahim's hair. He had Ghirahim's way of carrying himself. And he had Ghirahim's eyes... those deep, mysterious brown eyes that almost looked purple in the right light.
Link sees this, and he hates the man for it.
Zant and Zelda are on the couch; Zelda teary-eyed and Zant resolutely holding her hands in his own. And then there's Ghirahim, who looked like he hadn't slept a wink, who was standing behind Gaepora, trying to take shelter.
"I'll only take a second of your time," Demise said. "I'm taking my son home."
The words felt like a slap to the face, and Link was immediately on his feet.
...Ghirahim was about to be taken away.
No. No, Gaepora wouldn't allow that. He couldn't! Link clenched his fist at the sheer audacity of Demise to waltz right in here and expect to take his son back, after everything that he'd done, while Ghirahim was practically a part of this family. He couldn't leave! But before Gaepora can even speak, before Link can even rationalize the thought process Demise is following in showing up here and now, Ghirahim interjects.
"...Fine."
That's it. That's all. Empty and void of any fighting power. And even Gaepora seemed to despair as Ghirahim circled around him, heading to meet his father at the door.
On the couch, tears spring to Zant's eyes too. the siblings clutch each other's hands and weep silently, as Ghirahim puts on his boots and zips up his new jacket.
No. No, no no.
It can't end like this.
"W-wait!"
Without giving it a moment of though, he throws himself down the stairs and bolts across the floor, past everybody, and reaches out to tug hard on Ghirahim's arm, so that the boy stumbled backwards, farther away from Demise. His eyes stung with tears. His throat hurt from disuse. The last time he had heard himself, it had been with the high pitch of an 8 year old kid. It's deepened since then, raspy with disuse.
But that had definitely been his voice.
With tear filled eyes that glared at Ghirahim accusingly, he managed to choke out another plea. "Y-you can't just leave!"
For a long moment, time seemed to slow. Ghirahim was staring at him, eyes wide and mouth slightly open.
He was right. He had gotten Link to speak. But soon, his brows pressed together and his jaw snapped shut. There was hurt there, and confusion, and lingering anger.
Zelda and Zant were gaping at him, and Gaepora wore a tattered but proud smile. Link felt a hand rest on his shoulder, the man behind him murmuring his name.
"You can't just... sprint here trying to be heroic, and expect us to be friends. Nor write me a letter, not even speak to me... that is not how I work," Ghirahim hissed out.
But Demise had had enough of this, and he yanked Ghirahim back towards him, making him struggle to stay standing, and his head bow low.
"Get in the car."
And, to everyone's dismay, Ghirahim obeyed, slamming the door shut behind him.
The tears that had gathered in Link's eyes began to fall, and he filled with anger and hurt. No. No, he wasn't just leaving like that, not now! The boy sprinted up to the car, clutching at the door handle and swinging it open with force. In a last ditch attempt, Link threw himself into the vehicle so that he could stare directly at Ghirahim, right into his eyes.
"Please," he begged, voice quivering, rasping, laced with hurt. "Please don't go, please don't leave, not after I told you everything!" His hands reached out to clutch at Ghirahim's jacket stubbornly.
But Ghirahim retracted from his touch, shouting at him through gritted teeth. "This is not a domain under my control, you imbecile, now get out before-"
Link felt a hand seize the back of his shirt, scratching the skin, and forcibly throw him out of the car. He landed in the snow, and when his tearful eyes opened, Demise was standing directly in front of him, grimacing like he could crush Link's skull under his boot if he wished.
"Control your child, Gaepora! I don't tell you how to aprent, so I refuse to be told so!" Demise slammed Ghirahim's car door shut. Link didn't miss how Ghirahim jumped. "I know my rights! My son isn't of age yet, and until he is, if I see him anywhere near this lot, I will sue you for everything you have!"
Link let out a cry of frustration and protest, forcing himself back on his feet. In a surge of anger, and without thinking about the consequences, he threw himself at Demise, his entire body shaking with how unfair this was. Fists were thrown out, and they landed over and over on Demise's chest, aiming to hurt him, to stop him from taking Ghirahim, from hurting Ghirahim anymore. The man can't do this! He kicked Ghirahim out, he doesn't get to tell the boy what to do anymore! How dare he!
But while Demise was perfectly content to hit Ghirahim, he doesn't hit Link. He merely stomped away from him, towards the driver's seat, until Gaepora swooped in to restrain him. Link kept thrashing, tears falling and fists flying until Gaepora held the boy close to his chest, shushing him, asking him to relax, trying to calm him down.
"Foolish courage," Demise spat, as he got into the car, and it started to leave.
When the car pulled out of the driveway, Link finally lets himself break. Loud, heart wrenching sobs explode from his mouth, and with a sudden spur of strength, he struggled free of Gaepora's grasp and swung around, running back into the house.
He ignores Zelda and Zant, instead, fleeing up the stairs and into his room, where he slammed the door hard enough for the bang to echo around the house. A flick of his fingers locks the door, and he flings himself onto his bed to cry his heart out.
And cry he does. It seems like hours pass, yet the heavy feeling doesn't lift from his chest, and tears continue to pour from his eyes.
He's gone.
Link had told him everything about himself, trusted him more than anybody, had given him his words, and the boy had just left. Back to his abusive house, back to his father.
Nothing seemed to be able to make him feel better, to get hid of the overwhelming feeling of unjust, so when he saw 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' on his bed stand, he picked it up and threw it across the room. That earned him just a hint of satisfaction, so he threw Hamlet too. And then his journal. His pillows, his blankets...
He felt like screaming. He finally, finally opened up to somebody about everything, and they left him alone! Ghirahim stole his words! How could the boy do this?! It wasn't fair.
Link's knees buckled, and he fell to the floor, choking on his sobs. He wanted to tear his own hair out. He wanted to destroy his room. He wanted to scream and cry until his voice broke and he was silent again.
He spent what felt like another hour wailing and crying, and he knew that the entire house could hear him, but he didn't care. When his sobs dissolved into whispers and whines, he reached for the books on the floor, hugging them to his chest.
And he opened Hamlet, remembering Ghirahim's voice as he'd read to him...
'O that this too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! O fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely.'
He glared at the passage. Why would the other boy buy him all of these books, why would he even bother with getting Link to talk if he was just going to completely betray and shatter him when he got what he wanted?!
Link hated Ghirahim. Link hated Ghirahim with a passion, with all of his heart, and he never wanted to see the other boy again.
He hated him for doing this.
He hated him.