Alright, chapter 3 is here!
Hope you all are well. This chapter is longer, primarily because I've set it up so our main protagonists can meet in the next chapter, bc that is obviously a crucial key in the plot (and also fun to write, but y'all will have to wait for less/about a week). Glad people are enjoying this so far! It's nice to see & it's encouraging.
& also, to answer Oracle of Hylia, Zelda specifies her age later, but both she and Link are mid/late 20s :) creative decision ig.
Anyway, please enjoy it!
It wasn't too hard for the two to find Jovani's; the etched letters into the wood siding of the collector's shop were an easy indicator:
JV. JoVani.
Link rapped on the thick, dark oak door that was at the end of the quiet alley. The building it led into had no entrance at the front; only windows on the second story with curtains pulled tight, no indication of who owned it, or what business is held.
Silence followed Link's knocking, but both he and Midna knew someone was on the other side of that door, waiting for a familiar voice.
"It's us."
More silence, until Link heard the heavy bolt on the door click. The door pulled open slightly. One dark green eye peered through the minuscule crack.
"What are you two doing here?"
Jovani's crackling, nasal voice was low, and a little annoyed. Link leaned closer, staring at Jovani's narrowed eye.
"My father sent us."
"Your father?"
Jovani moved away from the opening in the door, pausing for a slight moment. Then, he opened it wide, hand on his hip with a raised brow.
"This better be good," The middle-aged man said, pulling away from the door and impatiently beckoning Link and Midna inside, letting them in first before checking the alley once more. He quickly shut the door and bolted it, adjusting his green vest nervously as he turned around to face the duo. His small beer belly had grown slightly, but the rest of his frame was still very lithe, matching his narrow facial features.
"What's…with the skittishness?" Midna questioned, crossing her arms. Jovani huffed, impatiently beckoning them to a second door. They were in a small, derelict foyer, one that was remarkably run-down as Jovani fiddled with some keys, finding the one that would match the keyhole of the second door.
"You don't know the circus I've had to deal with these past two months," Jovani grumbled, shoving the key into the lock and wiggling it slightly before turning the key, "those damn government goons keep trying to shove their noses into business that isn't theirs."
Jovani pushed the door open, ushering the younger adults in and closing the door. Strong fragrance, characteristic of incense was heavy in the expansive main room. The staircase in the middle of the room reached up to the second floor, where an open hallway wrapped around the upper-floor perimeter of the building, many rooms spaced out around the hall, all with handsome double doors.
The open main room had luxurious, plush rugs on the deep wood floor, large couches and love seats all a deeper red with gold trim. The opposite wall to Link and Midna had a long, messy bookcase against the wall.
A small group of men and women were all lounging in this main living area, most wearing silky-looking, loose robes while stretched out languidly on the comfortable-looking furniture. Link looked up at the wraparound hallway, where a small group of women stood opposite to where he and Midna stood, looking down at the duo, all huddled together. They were all young, but not too young, at least in their 20s.
Link and Midna's appearance attracted nearly all their gazes, while Midna instead looked at Jovani with an unimpressed look.
"Still doing this?"
"I can't just throw them back out on the streets. You've come at a lull, more customers come later at night."
"Go figure," Link remarked as he scanned the handsome room, low-lit by various standing lamps and candles. "can we talk? Somewhere more private," He ignored the small giggles from one of the couches, where two women sat, speaking to each other behind perfectly manicured hands.
Jovani nodded, waving his hand impatiently. "Yes, yes," He jerked his head in the direction of another door, painted red. "we can go to the office."
As the trio began to walk to the office, one of the women, a raven-haired, porcelain-skinned beauty, spoke loudly to the dark-skinned maiden sitting next to her, who giggled.
"He looks so good," She gushed, to which Jovani turned slightly in her direction as he walked.
"Be polite ladies!" He scolded over his shoulder as Link looked back, unable to help a small smirk from pulling across his face as his gaze caught the speaker's, whose face seemed to flush slightly before he turned back around.
"You womanizer," Midna grumbled as Jovani opened his office door, holding it open for the two, "not even five minutes and you already want to stick your di -"
"Your words, not mine," Link countered, Jovani squeezing past them to his desk, where he quickly lit a large lantern on his desk, "who said I wanted to right now?"
"Right now are the key words there," Midna elbowed him roughly as Jovani beckoned them to sit down in two plush chairs, Link's face pulling into a cross expression.
As he and Midna settled in their seats, Jovani remained quiet, only looking at them with a shrewd gaze. He always did this - making whoever was sitting across from them feel like they really needed to think; especially to ponder over the purpose of why they even came.
"So what do you want?" Jovani questioned, resting his elbows on the desk and bringing his intertwined hands to his mouth.
Link shifted in his seat, placing his hands on the arms of the chair. They were plush, but worn down, obviously by previous visitors to Jovani's. Visitors that were there for more than sex, or any other "de-stressor" that Jovani offered.
After all, Jovani was the most adept weapons smuggler on this side of Hyrule.
"…We need some things from your wares." Link took the time to respond, and Jovani raised his brows, exhaling lightly.
"Listen, son," Jovani began, brow furrowing, "you don't know how hard it is to get the good stuff."
"So you're saying you have none?"
"I did not say that."
"Then why are you hesitating?"
"You think I wholeheartedly trust you two with my wares? That stuff is hard to come by, and it's at a steep price."
"Who cares? All you do is sell, I don't ever see you using those crossbows Jovani," Midna snapped impatiently, and Jovani set his hands down, looking crossly at her.
"I have more than just the Citrine Legion looking at me for wares," Jovani said, slight exasperation in his tone, "occasionally the Gerudo bandits come around to sniff out my things. I get some of the Outset Pirates pestering me for things too."
Link scoffed, leaning forward, a hand coming up to touch Jovani's desk, whose eyes flashed in annoyance. "We're your most reliable clients."
"You're also the most notorious clients; every time the Hyrulian Corps are sniffing around for bandits they always flock to you like moths to a flame," Jovani leaned back in his chair and Link leaned more forward. "and I'm dragged into your shit every time. Two of your men were executed the last time you were here, and shit went sideways for me once that happened. A few other groups dropped me because they didn't want to get caught up with the Hyrulian Corps."
"Shit happens," Link deflected, cocking his head slightly, "you're still here."
He knew why those two men of his father's had been apprehended. It was because it hadn't been him and Midna doing that deal. They had gotten careless. Careless enough that, in Jovani's eyes at least, was enough to reconsider his partnership with the Citrine Legion. And as far as Link knew, they were the only group that paid Jovani generously, almost too much. Jovani was just trying to make things more difficult, send the legion on some wild goose chase for wares while he sat back and watched.
"Hardly, might I add," Jovani's words cut across Link's small introspection, his tone irritated. "Your father is a bastard, pulling others down to hell while he flies high."
Link bristled at that, drawing his hand into a fist.
"You're a coward." It was instinctual, that response. His father may be a bastard, but it didn't have to be uttered into existence.
Jovani's stern, unimpressed gaze made Link's temper flare like a child's, as much as he hated to admit it.
"Not a coward, just a smart businessman."
There was a gleaming flash of metal that reflected the lantern light before the blade of a dagger hovered against Jovani's throat, who only flinched slightly at the quick action. Link was leaning forward over the desk, hand steady as he firmly pressed the flat of the blade against the side of Jovani's neck.
"Link," Midna unenthusiastically reprimanded, resting her chin on her hand as she crossed her legs.
Jovani sputtered lightly before speaking. "That'll get you nowhere," He uttered, his voice wavering by a minuscule amount. "kill me and this whole agreement collapses."
"It'll get me somewhere," Link said in a steely tone, pressing the blade more firmly into skin. Jovani hissed quietly as the blade delicately broke his skin, blood welling up in the thin cut.
"We just want swords, and maybe a bow. All Hyrulian make, Lake Hylia design," Link said, his voice chillingly flat. His eyes seemed to have darkened and simultaneously lost any twinkle they had before. "we're not asking for an army's share."
There was a pregnant pause, everyone in the room frozen in place.
"I hope your party numbers are up to date," Jovani snapped, "I'm not talking to -"
"No. Just for us two," Link interrupted, and Midna looked at him with a confused expression. "we'll pay double if we have to."
"Just us? What are you talking about?" Midna couldn't help but question and Jovani chuckled slightly.
"There seems to be some miscommunication, or lack thereof, for that matter," He quipped, and Link growled as he pressed the blade harder into the man's throat.
"This has to do with our next assignment Midna," Link answered his confused companion, "worry about it later."
"You've told me nothing about it this whole time!"
"That's a problem for later!"
"It's a deal, son of Ganondorf."
Jovani's sudden exclamation had Link look surprisingly down at him, while the man looked up with a slightly amused smirk. Midna paused in her words that would've instigated a larger argument and closed her mouth tight.
"You heard me," The man reiterated, "now let me go."
The dagger in Link's hand wavered slightly as he frowned, before he pulled it away sharply, sitting down as Jovani pulled a handkerchief from his vest pocket, pressing it to his neck.
Pause.
"I want 1200 rupees."
"It's a deal."
"You pick them up tomorrow. Before 10 AM. You miss it, you miss the deal."
"Fine."
"Now get out."
Jovani stood up from his desk, opening one of the drawers, pulling out a cigar and box of matches. When neither Link or Midna moved, his eyes narrowed, waving his hand in the direction of the door.
"Don't loiter."
Midna huffed in annoyance as she violently stood, the chair scraping loudly against the wood floor as she turned and opened the door, walking out into the main room. Link followed, more measured in his action as he tucked his dagger into the sheath pulled tight to his thigh.
"…Thanks."
Link's remark was met with a scoff and a puff of fragrant smoke, Jovani drawing a long pull from the cigar before exhaling.
"Alright, get out son." Jovani waved his hand as Link frowned, closing the door behind him.
The raven-haired woman was standing near the door to the unassuming foyer, catching Link's arm in a tight squeeze when he and Midna reached said exit.
"Wanna stay?" She breathed, pressing her body against Link's side as one hand dragged along his chest, aiming for the slightly open collar of his dark shirt, part of his collarbone exposed.
Link grabbed her wrist, before taking his other hand and pulling the woman's robe up over one shoulder, where it had been drooping, chest threatening to spill out.
"Maybe another time." Link smiled slightly, detaching himself from her grip as he opened the derelict door. Midna followed, fixing an annoyed gaze at the woman as she pouted.
As the two stepped out into the alley, Midna rolled her eyes as she pulled her cloak's hood over her head. Link kept his hood down, but he glanced at her, catching her eye movement.
"What?"
"Nothing. You're just being annoying."
Link crossed his arms as they stepped out onto the road, which was relatively empty. Jovani had moved to his place to a very quiet side of town; the population seemed to mostly consist of older citizens, which would most certainly provide good cover for a brothel. Link bitterly thought about how intelligent Jovani was, infuriatingly.
"I'm being annoying?"
Midna fixed Link with a deadpan stare, raising a brow. "The favoritism from father is glaring. He really tells only you crucial information about a job, and he's been doing it more frequently."
"Are you jealous?" Link questioned frankly. Of course she is, Link thought as they took a left turn, back towards the center of the western district.
"Of course I'm not!" Midna snapped, upturning her nose. "I just think he's jeopardizing trust by doing that."
Link took a moment to respond, mulling over how his thoughts directly paralleled Midna's, annoyingly. "You don't trust me?"
A pause. The duo moved slightly to the middle of the road to avoid a concentrated flock of chickens, led by a young boy who was squawking just as loud as the animals.
"No, I just sometimes don't trust father."
Link spared Midna a glance.
"I know."
"Would the pretty lady like some pretty flowers to match?"
The flower vendor, an elderly man wearing a broad-rimmed straw hat beckoned sideways at his overflowing cart full of bouquets, full of only the most beautiful flowers in Hyrule. He was sitting in a flimsy wooden chair, garden apron speckled with dirt as he smiled. His fat, round glasses had some flecks of dirt on them too.
"Feel free to take a look, the Zoran forget-me-nots were just brought in this morning," He tempted as the woman in question stopped in front of the cart, gently touching said flowers. They gleamed in the sunlight, as if dots of water were on their petals, though the petals were dry.
"They are beautiful…" She mused, looking up at her companion, a small smile on her face. "Don't you think?"
"Sister, you said you wanted to go to the west side of town," He replied flatly as she pouted, cheeks growing rosy from under the heavy cream-colored hood of her cloak.
"That doesn't mean we can't stop on the way!"
"You're acting like you haven't seen sunlight in a year."
"Well, that isn't that far from -" The woman stopped in her retort, heart skipping a beat at her near slip of tongue. She glanced at the elderly flower seller, who was looking at the two with a genial smile. "…We'll stop by later, thank you," She said, slight guilt in her voice. The seller chortled.
"Take a couple of the forget-me-nots for the road! Go on," He waved a hand as the woman hesitantly pulled one small flower from the bundle, then two, "have a wonderful day."
The woman bowed her head in gratefulness before her brother rolled his eyes in slight amusement as they drew back from the vendor.
"Zelda, you're acting like a five-year-old."
The empress bristled in slight indignation as Sheik chuckled, turning around and putting his hands on his hips. They were away from the middle of the dusty street, only lightly jostled by other passersby.
"I get it, you're excited. I'm surprised no one has caught on," He remarked as his sister fiddled with the hem of her cloak. "the casual clothes and hair works well."
"You like my disguise?"
"It's not a disguise, it's a wardrobe change," Sheik muttered, grabbing the empress's upper arm, leading her down the street.
Zelda tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, a piece that had fallen from the low bun she'd fitted for herself. Self-hairstyling wasn't a strong suit of hers, especially when most of her makeup, hair, and clothing were all curated by various maids and tailors.
The cream-colored dress she was wearing was already stained with dirt at the hem, even though it stopped in the middle of her calves. She wondered about proposing more cobblestone streets in Castletown to reduce dust and dirt; she was surprised she never thought about it before.
When spring comes around, She thought, as Sheik guided her down a smaller street, more in shadow from the tight cluster of buildings on it, I'll request for that man's flowers to be in the halls.
The two of them were led out onto one of the central streets on the west side, very busy and very crowded. The auditory sensation was overwhelming to the empress - merchants and vendors yelling at passersby, the occasional noise from an animal being guided through the streets, and just daily chatter.
"Stay close to me, it's really easy to get lost on this side of town," Sheik remarked, and Zelda pulled her arm from his grasp, shifting to gripping his lower arm.
"You said you wanted to stop by that bookstore?" He queried next, and Zelda nodded.
"I remember back when we were teenagers, Impa would always talk about that bookstore," She divulged, "I want to go in and see what they have."
"Probably some weird witch books and stuff," Sheik said in a casual tone, "I never understood where Impa got her crazy stories to tell us."
"It's worth a try."
"Yeah, yeah, your majesty," Sheik dismissed, the last words half-serious, half-teasing. Zelda shot him a bored look, and Sheik smiled. "Zelda, if you're so nitpicky."
"It's a little daring to say out in public," Zelda lectured as the two merged into the greater stream of people walking down the road, "We have to be careful."
"Of course I'm careful. The council would have my head if -"
The sudden raising of voices, followed by the angry bellow of an animal drowned Sheik's words as the crowd of people shifted suddenly, jostling the two siblings roughly. The crowd was desperately trying to shrink away from the middle of the road, where a hulking, skittish bull was flailing, dodging its owner's attempts to grab its rein.
Sheik made an attempt to steer back towards the very edge of the road, getting thrown off balance as more people began to push in on one another. Zelda moved jerkily with him, slight panic building as she felt her hand slip slightly from its grip on his arm.
"Sheik! Wait for a mo-!"
There was an abrupt movement from the crowd, flowing back and forth like a wave to avoid the bull, which had formed a wide circle in the middle of the road. Zelda was pushed backward as Sheik pulled forward, and Zelda felt her heart lurch as her grip was broken, people rushing in between her and her brother.
"Ah -!"
Zelda was pushed further back, further away from the direction of Sheik as she attempted to push away a few people around her, to make her way back to the side of the road. She couldn't see Sheik in the masses, couldn't pinpoint his figure or face. The mass of citizens was disorienting, the air filled with auditory chaos as the crowd ebbed and flowed with the movements of the bull.
The bull's angry bellowing seemed closer than Zelda first anticipated, which made her nervous. She had to get back - oh, where she was, the crowd was moving back away from the animal, she could use the moment to distance herself -
The crowd suddenly lurched backward, throwing off the empress's balance as she fell back, feeling the grittiness of the dirt road smart beneath her hands as she caught herself. She quickly tried to get up but was jostled again, hands slamming back onto the ground.
"Damnit!" She cursed, looking up as her heart skipped a beat.
She had been thrown to the very edge of the crowd.
Go figure that the bull was looming over her.
cliffhanger (but not really because why would I kill Zelda off right away?)! hope you all enjoyed it; please let me know what you think, follow/favorite/etc! stay safe everyone!