Ugh, I just realized the title of this fic sounds like that one soap opera, 'Days of Our Lives'. I didn't even realize until just now! *facepalm*
Oh well. I don't own The Legend of Zelda (or Days of Our Lives XD).
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Chapter Two, or The Time Aryll Took One For The Team
Pairing: Eh, mentions Link x Sheik, but mainly an Aryll-centric family fic
Rated: T, for language and mentions of underage drinking
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"Happy Birthday!"
Aryll grinned as she opened the door of her brother's house. Ten girls stood on the doorstep, wide grins stretching their faces as they were invited inside.
Leading the girls down the hall, Aryll pointed out the bathroom before coming to a stop at the tall double doors at the end of the hall. Peeking behind her to see expectant faces, she threw the doors open wide.
The large, main room, which could have fit thirty people comfortably, was decorated in Aryll's favorite blue and Echo's preferred red. The sleepover they were having was a mix of both the girl's birthdays. Seeing as they were born in the same month, they had begged to be allowed to have their birthday parties together. Of course, their brothers had agreed, and even offered to let the girl's use their large, rather impressive house for the sleepover.
Turning, Aryll grinned at the other girls' gaping mouths. She knew they were impressed; even after two years of her brothers owning the house, she was still left breathless by its class and beauty. She loved it. It reminded her of her brothers; large and impressive for Link, who always made sure Sheik had the best, and warm and homey for Sheik, who always felt a house should be a pleasant place.
Snapping out of her reverie, she motioned to the room.
"You can leave your stuff here. We're sleeping in here tonight."
The girls dropped their bags, looking around. Aryll hurried over to a nearby doorway.
"Hey Echo! Everyone's here!"
Echo's white head peeked around the corner. She grinned and waved to everyone, walking out of the kitchen to greet them. Aryll noticed with pride that her friend's limp was finally gone; Aryll had been with Echo for her rehab, and had watched her relearn how to walk. She was glad that Echo had fully recovered.
Shaking her head at her sentimental mood, Aryll stepped forward to join the others, smiling and laughing.
"So, this house is... passable."
Aryll rolled her eyes before turning to Stephanie. The red head was the school's 'popular girl', and lived up to the stereotype; she was rude, snobby, and mean. Aryll had invited all the girls in her class to the sleepover, hoping that Stephanie would refuse, but the mean girl had showed up anyway.
"Umm... thanks?" Aryll mumbled, trying to keep her temper in check. Stephanie nodded.
"Why, you're most welcome," she said, acting like her praise was the greatest thing in the world. Aryll rolled her eyes discreetly.
"Ok girls, food's ready!"
They all turned to see Sheik standing in the doorway. He smiled at them welcomingly.
"Are you hungry? Does everyone like pizza?" he asked. Everyone nodded happily. He smiled. "Ok, I'll bring it out to you."
He disappeared back in to the kitchen, returning a moment later with Link, both carrying very delicious-looking pizzas. They sat them down on the coffee table, and the girls surged forward, grabbing a slice. They moaned in delight. The pizzas were delicious!
"Where on earth did you order this?" one of the girls asked. "It's amazing!"
Sheik shared a smile with Link, who placed a hand on the shorter's shoulder.
"Actually, I made it," Sheik said, glowing with pride. The girls gasped in amazement. Sheik grinned, nudging Link playfully. "One of us had to be able to cook."
The girls laughed and Sheik went back to the kitchen, Link following behind. Aryll turned back to the pizza, but froze when she saw Stephanie. The red head was staring at the kitchen door, lip curled, not in a smile, but rather disgust.
Aryll shook her head as Link came back in, carrying a large birthday cake. She grinned, immediately recognizing it as Sheik's specialty: a half chocolate (Aryll's favorite), half white (for Echo) cake with homemade icing.
After the candles were lit, and everyone sang, Aryll saw Stephanie's lip curl again. As Sheik passed the red head her portion of cake, his hand brushed hers and she pulled back, as though stung. Sheik, busy being a good host, failed to notice, but Aryll saw it all.
When everyone was finished with their cake, they ran around the room, giggling as they spread their sleeping bags out, trying to find the best spots. Once they were all ready, Echo popped in a movie, a romantic comedy, and they settled in for a movie marathon.
Aryll felt content, giggling with the others over the movie, her spot on the floor right next to Echo. She could hear Link and Sheik talking in the kitchen. Smiling happily, she focused on the movie.
As they were watching the previews of their second movie, Link and Sheik came out of the kitchen. Sheik dropped a kiss on Echo's head, and Link ruffled Aryll's hair.
"Do you girls need anything?"
There was a general shaking of heads. Aryll looked up at Sheik.
"Why don't you stay for this one? I know you love The Blind Side," she told him. She knew it was his favorite movie and, honestly, she didn't mind him staying for a while; she didn't resent having him around since she thought of him as her own brother. Link smiled at her, knowing what she was doing.
"Well, alright," Sheik consented, pulling Link over to the couch. The taller blonde sat down, pulling Sheik close. Sheik curled into Link's side, and Aryll smiled at the two before turning back to see that the movie was starting.
"Oh my gosh!" Aryll heard someone whisper rather loudly. She peered around, and noticed Stephanie shaking her head, talking to the girls around her. Arylly could barely make out what she was saying. "...two...ugh...no...fags."
Aryll's blood froze as she turned to look at Sheik. There was no way he couldn't have heard the red head. Sure enough, Sheik's eyes were wide, and he was shaking slightly.
If there was ever a person who Aryll knew was extremely strong, it was Sheik. After everything he had been through, from loosing his parents to supporting Echo through her rehab, he was still sturdy and Aryll had come to lean on him for support heavily.
Even the strongest of people had fears, and Aryll knew Sheik's two biggest fears. This first, in Aryll's opinion, was quite silly: Sheik had always been, and still was, afraid of loosing Link. Aryll knew that Link would never leave Sheik, so she often dismissed that fear.
However, Sheik's second biggest fear was quite real; Sheik was terrified of homophobes. Aryll had once had a discussion with Sheik over this particular matter, and had found out that in Sheik's hometown, homosexuals were not only untolerated, but were actually beaten. The local gang ran the town, and didn't stand homosexuals. As a result, Sheik feared homophobes immensely.
Now, as Aryll watched, Sheik paled, leaning against Link. They all knew that a ninth grade girl was no threat, but her words still bothered Sheik greatly. The room fell silent, the mood tense. Stephanie was staring at the screen, but her face held a smug smile.
"What the hell did you say?" Aryll asked, voice low. Stephanie turned to her.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the red head said, smiling falsely. Aryll growled.
"Do you have a problem with my brothers?" She asked, voice now dangerously low. Stephanie snorted.
"Well, if you must know, then yes," Stephanie spat venomously. "Actually, fags make my skin crawl."
Aryll stood, Stephanie mirroring her. Aryll clenched her fist, wanting nothing more than to punch the red head, but decided to take a different approach.
Stepping back and cocking one hip, Aryll crossed her arms. With one eyebrow raised, she studied Stephanie.
"Are you sure you're not just jealous?" She asked. "My brothers, unlike you, will have someone who loves them for the rest of their lives."
A loud intake of breath sounded around the room, and shock crossed Stephanie's face for a moment, before her smug demeanor returned.
"Please," she said, "as if I'd want that. Why would I want someone of my own gender touching me?" Stephanie laughed coldly. Aryll opened her mouth angrily to retort, but Echo cut her off.
"You certainly didn't seem to mind it last weekend," she said nonchalantly, not taking her eyes off the tv. "In fact, you were enjoying it, right Makayla?"
Their dark haired classmate grinned in return, waggling her eyebrows at Stephanie. The red head stepped back, face falling.
"I was drunk at that party and you know it!" she exclaimed. "It's not my fault you took advantage of me, Makayla!"
However much she protested, Stephanie had already lost. Now everyone knew that she had been caught making out with another girl, and she had been shown up by Aryll. Turning, her nose held up in the air, Stephanie grabbed her things and headed out the door.
"Whatever," she called out behind her, "I'm leaving."
Everyone listened to the door slam before bursting into a fit of giggles. Aryll turned to Sheik.
"Are you ok?" she asked, concerned. Sheik nodded.
"Yeah," he said. "Do... do you think she'll get home alright?"
"She'll be fine," Link told him. "I already messaged her mom."
"Ok," Sheik said lightly. "Thank you Aryll."
"It's nothing," she told him. "Gotta take care of my brother, right?"
They settled back down, turning to the movie. It was only after a few minutes that Sheik stopped to look at Aryll and Echo.
"Wait, what were you doing at a party that involved alcohol?"
Aryll sighed as Echo gulped audibly. Sometimes, you can't win for losing. Although, looking at Sheik, curled back up around Link again and no longer shaking or worried, Aryll considered this as taking one for the team.
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Ouch Aryll, you got caught! XD Yeah, just another random thing I wrote.
Up next will be: Shenanigans, as requested by ryttu3k. Thanks for the first request. :3 Also thanks to CrimsonEyes27 for the first review. You guys rock! :D
-Snow-