Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda, otherwise, I would have made it sure that a certain shadow we all know would have greater parts…AND ACTUAL LINES!
Rated: PG-13 now folks! Things gonna get funky!
Pairing: Shounan ai is for kids!...so let's see what happens to Dark Link and Link sevens years later! (muahaha!)
My gosh….please accept my undying apologies for taking waaaay too long with such a simple thing as granting your dimming wishes with a new chapter! So sorry! So very sorry! I hope this chapter makes up for it!
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Chapter Five: Would You Wait?
"I counted six. You sure you saw nine?"
"Well…a few flew off, so now I don't really know."
"Here, caught one! Take a look."
"Ok, let me-ECK! Onyx, you killed it!"
"Oops," said the ebony haired boy as he held out his dirty hands. "Only an accident…Link, c'mon, I didn't try to kill it." The Hylian poked at one of the disembodied limps of what was a beautifully glowing firefly.
"It's dead."
"Oh really? I thought I saw a leg twitching."
"Onyx!"
"Fine," Onyx said, rubbing his hands in the grass and looking up at Link's horrified expression. "Let's pretend he was a bad guy. A bad firefly. He was bad and terrorized the other fireflies by burning their villages."
"Burning their villages?"
"Well, they're fireflies so…oh work with me!" he sighed, ignoring Link's raised eyebrow. "Let's say he was the evil firefly. Corrupted by power and greed. For many years, he's been terrorizing the…the…the FireFlians-"
"You've got to be kidding. They don't even live that long."
"How do you know that for sure?"
"Well…" Link muttered as he played with a dew-covered blade of grass. "I had one as a pet once."
It was Onyx's turn to raise his eyebrow. "Ya kept a firefly as a pet?"
"I was lonely, okay! You know that!" Link yelped, glaring defensively at his smirking companion.
However, Onyx only chuckled and pulled Link over to sit in between his legs. "But now I'm here, right? No more insects for friends anymore. Ya got me, and that should be enough to handle." He smiled at feeling Link chuckle under his chin.
A thick sheet of night ran over the sky, inviting all nocturnal creatures to wake up and begin their cycles. The couple had planted themselves down in the grass outside of the Kokiri Village. Link was becoming uneasy as they walked closer to the forest. Surely the Kokiri inside would act differently upon seeing him after the episode Onyx so admirably dished out. The brunette saw this and gladly pointed out that sundown didn't have to mean it was time for sleep.
The boys found themselves staring up at the sky from their comfy beds in the grass, counting the stars until they ran out of numbers and had to start making up ones. When the numbers got too ridiculous at 'seven-nillionty and twelve', the two settled for counting the small amount of fireflies floating above their heads.
Link breathed in the night air, and let out a relaxed sigh. It's true to the point of saying Link had no idea how to be in a relationship. The latest part he had discovered was that trust was a large factor, and letting the other do what he wanted plainly showed how big of a factor that was. Onyx hadn't seemed to push him yet, and he rarely was uncomfortable. Even at that moment, in between the brunette's legs, huddled against his chest, with the other's arms wrapped around Link's shoulders, it felt like heaven. Simple, short and sweet heaven.
A yawn came out behind Link, brushing past his hair, and giving his ear a small tickling sensation from the warm breath. "Aaa-oh boy, you getting tired?" Onyx asked, squeeze his grip around Link as if to see if the blonde was awake.
"A little," the Hylian muttered, realizing the ba-bump of Onyx's heartbeat was causing his eyes to shut. Link almost yawned until a peck on the cheek drew his attention to a small smile above him. "Onyx?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened to the fireflies?"
Onyx chuckled and moved a bit to get comfortable. "Well, you see, when all the FireFlians lost hope, a hero firefly came to their rescue. He fought all the fireflies that had-"
"How'd he fight them?"
This stumped Onyx. "Well…er…with his mighty…fire! Yes, with his fire, the hero firefly fought all the fireflies that had allied with the evil fireflies. You see, Link, the hero firefly never knew he was going to become the hero of the fireflies."
"Really?"
"Really, now stop interrupting," Onyx said, gently punching Link's side when the Hylian stuck his tongue out at him. "He completed different…quest…things. Soon, he fought his way up and went face to face with the evil firefly."
"And won, right?"
"Are you gonna tell the story?"
"No, but it's kinda obvious."
Onyx grinned and leaned back, pulling Link up to his side and looking back up at the stars. "Well, that's how it's supposed to go. Unless you'd rather have the bad guy win and the land turn some gray color, of course with all the dead crawly thingies. It's really boring…"
A cricket began chirping in the background, and was later echoed by another in the grass. Link sighed, "Onyx?"
"Yeah?"
"You're stories are weird."
The brunette huffed and nudged Link in the shoulder. "I think it's time for you to go to sleep."
"But-"
"Now," Onyx commanded, taking the Hylian's arm and pulling him up. The blonde grunted and obeyed, allowing the darker boy to take his hand and lead him into the woods. "It's all clear. Those lil' brats are probably asleep, so they won't notice us," he smiled while swinging his and Link's hand back and forth.
Once in the warmth of the small house, Onyx kicked off his boots and tossed his hat away on the ground. Link, however, stayed in the doorway and eyed the floor with a dull expression. "Hey," the Hylian looked up to his companion who was, at the moment, trying to find the best position to fall asleep in. "Don't go to sleep yet. I…I need to ask you something."
The dark haired boy looked up, his hair starting to get in a mess, and lazily swung his legs over the side of the bed and patted the space beside him. "Alright then," he said as Link sat down beside him. "Shoot."
"We're kids…right?"
"I guess. The age seems appropriate, so I guess that's what we're considered," he smiled as Link nodded and looked to the floor again.
"Well, we're normal, right?"
Onyx frowned. "What are you thinking? There's not really a normal, Link. But we're not strange if that's what you're worried ab-"
"We're boys!" Link cried, shooting up at Onyx with a face covered in distress. "It's not normal! What if someone finds out! I've never heard of it before, so obviously there's something wrong with it!"
"Link! Relax! Why are you so worked up about it all of a sudden?" the brunette yelled, taking the Hylian by the arms.
"Because! I've had time to think about you!" Onyx, taking this as sweet, almost smiled before, "You're not normal!" Link jumped off the bed, on the brink of tears. "How do I know what you've been telling me is all true? I shouldn't be seeing the things you try to show me! I shouldn't be listening to most of the things you say! I shouldn't be…be doing stuff with another boy! I shouldn't really hang around you at all!"
Onyx tried to hold back a snarl. "What exactly do you mean by 'doing stuff'? I haven't done anything that could possibly make your life any more miserable than it was before I came!"
"But I was closer to normal before! Boys don't hold hands! They can be friends, but kissing? I mean, do you even know what the others would say if they found out?"
"Others!" Onyx hissed, jumping up and shoving the Hylian back. "You're worried about what those Kokiri think of you! Link, get it through your thick skull! Most of them wouldn't care if you fell in a hole and broke your leg! They aren't your friends and they don't give a damn about you or your feelings!"
Link stepped back, pulling away from the other's grasp and holding his arms. He shook his head, trying to take extreme interest in the floor and away from his companion's glare. "…But…it's wrong…" the blonde managed to choke.
Seconds passed between them of silence that seemed to be suffocating the air around them. A small sob reached the brunette's pointed ears. He looked up to see the little Hylian holding his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. It was then all the anger had completely vanished in him as Onyx walked over and wrapped his arms around the other's body.
"Link…Link, don't cry okay? Don't be sad. I didn't mean it. I was just mad. Normal doesn't have to be a good thing, right?"
Another sob emitted through Onyx's tunic.
"Link, it's okay. Relax, don't cry," cooed the brunette while rubbing the Hylian's back. "No one hates you. And if they do, then they're a lost cause. They…eh…They just don't understand yo-"
"Don't feed me that, Onyx. I've heard it enough from Saria," Link grunted, leaning back and rubbing his eyes to rib of any tears. He swallowed and hugged his arms again. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to explode at you…"
"Yes you did." Link looked up, startled.
"What?"
"And I'm not mad about it. I got mad that you've taken to heart what the others say about you. I know we only kinda just met-"
"No kidding…"
"And," Onyx continued. "I understand now how much 'normal' means to you. I just don't understand why. Listen, we've got to work this out or else it's going to stink working as your guardian if we're going to argue about this."
"Then what do you suggest?" the blonde asked, still not entirely convinced of a true partnership.
Onyx sighed and dropped his hands to his sides. "I'll stay out of site. Completely. You'll pretty much be the only one who knows about me around here. On top of that, if no one knows about me, then we'll be fine."
"No more jumping out and cursing at everyone?"
"No more."
"And what about a lot of the things you say? It's hard to believe what you say sometimes."
"You mean blabbering? I'll quit that too. Anything. Now are we better?"
Link stared into the other's eyes and suddenly felt a pang of guilt rush through him. "And what about me?"
"What about you?" Onyx asked, a little annoyed that so many things had piled up between them without his awareness.
"Is there anything you want me to change? If you're really going to do all those things, there must be something you want."
Finally, the brunette's mouth twitched into a small smile. "Naw, you're perfect the way you are. If you could just tell me these things a little earlier on so I know if I'm bothering you, then we wouldn't have outbursts like this."
The guilt only grew. In the back of his mind, he silently hated the way Onyx could speak so adult-like and calm when things seemed to be breaking apart. He hugged his arms tighter and turned his attention back to the floor. Onyx shifted where he stood, equally uncomfortable, but then laughed. Link looked up, shocked to find the ebony youth holding his gut. He kneeled to the floor, clutching his stomach while the laughter didn't seem to stop.
The Hylian's eyebrows furrowed as he kneeled down next to Onyx and grabbed the boy's shoulders. "Onyx? Onyx, what's wrong? Why are you laughing?" Suddenly, the blonde was pulled into a strong embrace. He felt Onyx's warm breath still chuckling in his ear.
Then the brunette pulled away, quickly giving Link's cheek a peck and retaining his familiar grin. "Amazing, ain't it?" Onyx asked. "In less than a day we're already acting like a married couple." The laughing started up again as Link smiled. He started laughing with Onyx, not entirely understanding the joke, but filled with such relief that he felt a bit light-headed.
As long as no one saw, he felt fine with Onyx. He was fine with the little kisses, the hugs, and holding hands. As long as Onyx was okay with it, nothing could go wrong.
xXxXx
He felt cold, but he didn't want to wake up. A shiver ran through Link's body, but the comfort of covers kept him from opening his eyes. He grumbled and turned in his sleepy daze, but that only faced him with the bright light of the morning sun. "Ug…" he moaned and sat up lazily. The Hylian felt beside him subconsciously, but then leaned back down. He shifted a bit, and sat up again. "…Hmm?" Onyx was gone. He gazed around the small room, slowly becoming more aware of how alone he was. His brow furrowed and he shot out of bed. Swiping on his boots, the Hylian ripped the curtain open to find-"Onyx?" Link breathed, annoyed that his sudden concern was for nothing. He had been paranoid throughout the night about their conversation and tense whenever he woke up and the brunette's arms weren't around his waist the way Onyx used to do before Link's outburst. Even if the boy rolled over in his sleep, away from the blonde, Link would awaken fearful that Onyx was upset at him.
The Hylian tugged on the brunette's sleeve, whispering his name. Onyx was standing near the railing, his eyelids half closed and his body relaxed. Faintly, the blonde recalled he did this outside the Shooting Gallery, but dismissed the image as he moved in front of the other boy and took him by the shoulders. "Onyx? Are you asleep?" he asked.
Onyx muttered something and blinked. "Hmm…?" he hummed, looking up after a few more blinks and seeing Link's worried expression. He immediately smiled. "Hello!"
Letting out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding, Link smiled back. "Onyx? You okay?"
Onyx nodded. "I guess I just dozed off, eh? Hah, funny how those kinds of things can happen." The brunette rubbed the back of his head and chuckled.
"Onyx…" Link muttered, turning his gaze to the wooden floor. "I'm really sorry for yesterday. I…I had no right. I guess I thought about all the bad things that could happen and I never once consider that…um…"
" It could be fun?" Onyx smiled. "No worries, it's all good now, Link." He waved if hand as if swatting the problem away and took Link's hand in his own, tugging the couple back into the tree house. "Better get going then. It's a bit late, so we'll have to sneak out separately." The Hylian grinned back, relief rushing over his body. He had silently prayed all night that things would go back to normal, so this was a definite step.
Onyx put his boots on while Link tried to tame his messy hair. He settled for flattening it with his palms and then fitted his cap on, turning this way and that to make sure it wouldn't fall off. "What do you want to do today?" Link asked, flicking a few strands from his eyes.
"Well, why don't we…I dunno, explore?" Onyx said while finishing the buckle on his boot. "I heard rumor that there's a shop opening up in the market. A mask shop, so maybe we can find a creepy one and scare the shorts off of Mido!" He started chuckling to himself as they both made their way now the ladder.
xXxXx
"ONYX!" Link yelled with his hands cupped around his mouth. "C'MON! I SAID I GAVE UP HOW LONG AGO! ONYX!" He sighed and moved into an alley when too many people were giving him strange looks. How long has this guy played hide and seek? Link thought, looking through the same crates and barrels he had searched through before. A half an hour had passed and the Hylian had reached the end of his rope. Every time it was his turn to hide, the spot he was hiding in was discovered in under five minutes, yet whenever it was the brunette's turn to hide, Link got exhausted from searching. It always ended with him yelling out that he quit.
As the blonde strolled down the alley, a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He swiftly turned, victoriously grinning only to find-an empty alley. Link scanned the area. He was sure he saw something, but he just didn't know what. The shadows are playing tricks with me, he mentally groaned. Maybe it was his clothes that made him so easy to find. Bright green isn't the easiest to hide, while Onyx's black tunic could benefit him in all the dark corners of the town.
He sighed. I need to work on my game skills. Link turned to head back to the center of the town when a laugh made him stiff.
"Link!" Onyx cheered, pouncing into the Hylian and sending him onto the ground. "Why'd ya give up already? It was just getting good." He smiled down at the blonde while he pinned the other's shoulders to the ground.
"It took too long to find you, and I was getting tired," Link groaned.
Onyx stuck his tongue out. "Ya know," he chuckled. "I remember this from somewhere." Link gave him a funny look. "The graveyard. 'Member?"
The other boy blushed and nodded. "Yeah…I do." They smiled at each other, and Onyx leaned down, gently pushing his lips against Link's own. When he leaned back, he grinned. "Something like that happened, right?"
The Hylian grinned and laughed. "Help me up now."
The two walked out of the alley, hand in hand, and went over to the giant fountain planted in the heart of the town. Onyx jumped up onto the edge and held his arms out for balance as he strutted across. "Well, did you collect any during the game?"
"Not enough," Link said when he sat himself on the rim, taking out a small bag that contained a few rupees. "At least not for the Spooky mask, but I'm sure if you collected a few too, we could afford to rent Keaton mask." He looked up at the brunette that was making his way around the fountain.
"Naw, you can't scare anybody with that thing," Onyx said, jumping down and settling himself next to Link. "Well, we could probably get a few games at the Bombchu Bowling, but then we'll be out."
The blonde nodded and fingered his wallet. He found it strange that they were already out of things to do in a big place like this. He never thought that having fun cost money, but he decided that this place was far different than the simple woods.
Onyx was gazing at the different people in the town, trading goods or auctioning a variety of clothes. A few soldiers broadly marched into the plaza, followed by a kitschy dressed man holding a scroll. Onyx's ears perked up as he lightly elbowed Link to look ahead.
The flashy adult opened the scroll and held it up to read, raising his voice so that all the chattering and bidding ceased. "I come on behalf of the great King to publicize the new addition to the great Royal Family's Council! He is finely trained in the foreign battle tactics of the desert people and is the respective head representative of the Gerudo Tribe. The King trusts that with his further advice and knowledge, he can help give birth to an even greater Hyrule starting with a new Golden Age!" A man pushed through the soldiers to make his appearance. "May I present to the honorable citizens of Hyrule-" Onyx jumped up with a silent cry upon seeing the man. "-Dragmire Ganondorf!" The claps and cheers overpowered Link's yelp as the brunette seized his wrist and ran.
"We gotta go!" Onyx yelled, pushing through the crowd that was gathering.
"Hey, watch it, ya little brat!" growled a merchant as he pushed into the boys. Link suddenly tripped backwards, losing his grip on Onyx. He grunted and rubbed his bottom.
"Link? Link!" the ebony haired youth called once he realized that the Hylian was no longer behind him.
The green clad boy bit his lip. Onyx, where are you? he thought desperately. The crowd was moving so roughly, he decided to just go with it lest be trampled. Link was about to turn around before a large lady rammed him in the side, causing him to fall foreword, out of the crowd and at the feet of the commotion.
"Dammit, shove off!" Onyx snarled, leaning down and rushing under. "Link, for crying out loud, answer me!" A final slip and he flew out, knocking into one of the soldiers.
"Whoa, there. Careful, boy. Hurry and get back to your parents now," a soldier said in a proud, yet kind way.
But Onyx didn't even listen. Across from him, on the ground, Link was slowly standing up and staring at a strangely armored man. The Hylian had fallen out of the crowd and clumsily tried to sit up only to see the man in black Onyx had earlier warned him about. Frozen, all he could do was stare as the powerful man kneeled in front of him and offered a hand. Link automatically smiled for the help, but frowned when he looked up at the man's face. A smile wrung on it, so misplaced and forced that it nearly scared Link out of his wits.
"Boy," Ganondorf spoke, "better get up unless you want to get hurt."
Link didn't move.
"Come now, boy, don't make this difficult. Get up and out of the wa-"
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" Onyx screamed, jumping in front of the Hylian and slapping the large hand away disgustingly. He pushed Link behind him and lowered his head to glare menacingly at the Gerudo. "Don't. Touch. Him." He repeated.
Ganondorf smirked and made a humph sound. "Well, boy, has anyone ever told you not to speak so rudely to your superiors?"
Onyx only snarled.
"Especially," the Gerudo continued, "if they may be in charge of your future." His eyes seemed to flame with a secret hilarity as to what he had said.
"Don't count on it! The gods will strike you down before your vile acts commence, and then you'll be sorry!" the brunette yelled, balling his fists and waving them at his sides rebelliously.
This only made Ganondorf laugh. "Guards, I believe this boy is in need of assistance. Remove him from my sight." A guard nodded and moved forward to grab at the boys, but Onyx yelled and bolted back into the crowd, Link in hand with a tight grip.
"I swear it! You'll never get away with it!" he shouted from beyond the crowd. And with an urging pull from Link, they dashed down the street and into an alleyway.
"Sir," a soldier stepped forward to the mighty Gerudo. "Do you want us to catch him for proper punishment?"
Ganondorf sneered. "No, let the children have their fun while they can." The soldier stared at him. "What are you waiting for? Get going!"
The soldiers around him stiffened attentively, and started their march back onto the castle grounds.
A/N:
I am sorry once again for being late, and I hope the chapter made you a bit less agitated! I finished it late at night, and I wanted to post immediately, but I had to edit, so I'm posting this now, the next day…..and thank goodness I did edit. (weird face)……(I hate how stupid smileys won't work on ff .net).
Things of course bother me with this chapter…but like hell I'm changing around so many things to make it work. I'd probably mess it up even more, so I'll just leave it and smile!
Wow, I hated writing the fight between Onyx and Link. I seriously hated that. And all the timing is annoying. During the typing of this all, I wanted to go to a night scene, but I all too late realized it was only about two hours after they had gotten out of bed. (sighs) Maybe I should take advantage of how in OOT, night and day are minutes apart. (grins) That'll make everything easier!
I'm already horribly lazy when it comings to writing fanfics. So you can wait a few years, or review and I'll try to get it done within a few months.
Hah, not really. Or at least I hope not a few months… Oo