He got the call at one. Ingo was apologetic and very, very serious, but he had no idea where Malon had gone, and she'd left Romani and Link alone, unattended, in the apartment. The only reason they knew was because he had called to check in and Malon exploded on him, screaming and shouting through the phone.

Ganondorf had been there when Dark had gotten the call, and the look on his face had made Dark flush deeper than he thought he ever had in his entire life.

Ganondorf had been the first person to tell him the kid was welcome to stay at the club while he worked. He tended to stay out of the family drama, if only because Cremia's was extremely personal in nature, but he was even more excited about Link than Cia was, and she was off the fucking walls about it.

So Ganondorf had given permission for him to go pick the kid up and bring him to the club.

The kid was so getting taken away from him. Nobody he knew could keep their mouth shut for shit. And taking the kid to a strip club, even if it doubled as one of the best bars in the whole damn Quarter, was definitely grounds for that.

And oh, the kid was going to have a fucking fit.

Ingo opened the door before Dark could even knock, Romani damn near tearing his apron off she was tugging at his so hard—but she fell silent, cutting herself off as soon as she saw him.

"Is he alright?"

"He…panicked? I guess? He hasn't said a word to me since I got here…Malon started yelling at them before she left. I just…I am so sorry, Dark." Ingo looked like a mess. He hadn't changed before running back to the apartment, and he still had flour streaking his otherwise black hair.

"No, you're not—it's fine. Don't apologize. I just—is he in Romani's room?" Romani started nodding so wildly he half thought her head would fall off—and her foil helmet did, wire antennas clacking against the tile as she squealed and dove for it.

Link was sitting on a beanbag in the middle of Romani's room, his entire body curled firmly around his backpack.

He looked up when Dark entered, just enough so that his eyes cleared the top of the backpack, but made no other move.

He hesitated for a moment before kneeling in front of him. He had no fucking idea what he was supposed to say.

"Did Malon say anything mean before she left?"

The kid nodded slowly, and then reached out for him, crawling into Dark's lap so quickly it knocked him back onto his ass. The kid wrapped his arms around Dark's stomach, burying himself there, and slowly, Dark put an arm around him too.

"I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but she's…going through a very hard time right now. She didn't mean what she said, she's just angry." Link's hands scrunched around Dark's shirt, and Dark felt the hot, slick wetness of tears on his neck as Link readjusted his grip.

"That does not mean she was right to yell at you, and I don't want you to have to deal with that again. Okay?"

The kid let out a deep, shuddering breath, one that made his entire body shake, and nodded.

"Okay." His voice was tiny, but…

"Romani is going to go to her dad's place today…Malon's not allowed to watch you two anymore." As he spoke Link began to tense up, going still.

"I'm going to take you to work with me. We'll go meet with them for dinner, and get a ride home from Ingo. Okay? But I need you to be very good, and do exactly what I say. There are a lot of family members there, and they are all very excited to meet you, but they all mean the very best for you."

The kid started crying then. It was the first time he'd really cried, besides a few random tears, since Dark had met him. Full-blown, body-shaking, nose-dripping tear-choking sobs. Even if it was the sort that came more from exhaustion and stress than actual sorrow, it was…something. Dark had a feeling it would be a while, if ever, before Link was fully able to let go of everything that had happened, come to terms with it and let it go. He'd done the same.

He did his best to soothe him, rubbing his back and murmuring that it was okay, until the kid got himself under control.

It didn't actually take all that long, probably. Dark didn't realize when the kid had really stopped crying, because he didn't move—still clung to him, so tightly that Dark thought his ribs might break.

Eventually he lifted his head, though, and untangled himself from Dark. He convinced the kid to clean himself up a little bit in the bathroom, and went out into the kitchen while he waited.

Ingo was talking quietly on the phone, Romani mixing something in a bowl so hard he thought her arm was going to fly off. When he saw Dark, he said his goodbyes and hung up.

"We're taking you home tonight?"

"I'll buy dinner." Ingo's eyes crinkled at that.

"No need. I'm…sorry about Malon. We just…don't know how to deal with it."

"What exactly is she so pissed about? I know she's thrown some stuff at Cremia that she definitely shouldn't have, but…" Dark kept his voice down, but Romani was chattering to herself so enthusiastically he could have spoken normally and not been heard.

Ingo hesitated a moment.

"I…I think it started as just her being difficult, you know? Teenage drama. But it got worse a few weeks ago, and lately she started bringing up her father. I don't—she won't let it go. Every time we try to get her to calm down or stop running out or to talk to us, she brings it up and it turns into a screaming match. She knows it's an easy ticket out. I don't know if she really cares all that much about it, but…"

Well, shit.

Another pulse of anger shot through him, and Dark's fingers tightened into fists.

"I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do, just let me know."

"…Thank you. That was Ferrus, by the way. He's waiting for you downstairs."

Dark rolled his eyes at that, and then jumped, startled, when a weight slammed into his legs.

He looked down and saw Link there, clutching his pant leg so tightly he was damn near tugging them off. Thank Din for belts.

Link's eyes were huge again, and though he could tell the boy had been crying, he looked better than he had. Dark scooped him up.

"Alright. We'll get out of your hair. And, seriously, Ingo. If there's anything I can do, just let me know."

Ingo waved a hand dismissively and flashed another tired, apologetic smile.

"Of course. That means a lot to both of us, Dark."

Link refused to say goodbye to Ingo or to Romani, but he did wave and Dark considered that a victory. Probably the only victory he'd get all day.

Ferrus was incredibly solemn for once, which unnerved him.

"It's not like it's that far of a walk. You didn't have to pick us up."

"No, I just happened to call Ingo, and he was complaining to me. I'm waiting on some more calls. Told him I'd go look for Malon after I drop you off, in my spare time."

"Thanks. I owe you one." Dark said, settling into the backseat with Link as Ferrus pulled away from the curb.

"As always." Ferrus grinned as he spoke, relaxing a little.

"You should have the guys teach him how to play cards." Ferrus added suddenly. Dark stared, surprised.

"…That's…actually a good idea."

"Keep him busy, out of the club when it gets busy, y'know?" Ferrus said, grinning.

Dark wasn't quite sure how he felt about leaving Link unattended with Ghirahim, Zant, and Groose, but…he didn't think they'd do anything bad. They'd just scare the shit out of the kid. But then again, everything at the club would. So…

"…Yeah. Well—Ghirahim hates kids though."

Ferrus let out a snort.

"No he doesn't. He'll love the kid, trust me." Ferrus craned his head around so that he could see Link in the rearview mirror, and grinned at the kid.

"He just likes to pretend he's tough." Link just blinked at him and then wiggled closer to Dark. Ferrus pouted, but he didn't comment on it.

Link insisted on being carried when they got to the club. Ferrus didn't wait around before he left, and for that Dark was grateful.

He was too nervous about taking Link to the club to do much else.

Ganondorf was talking to Groose by the door when Dark entered. Both men looked up, and immediately zeroed in on Link. The kid shrank back and turned an almost accusatory look on Dark.

To be fair, they were both very nice people. They were just fucking huge.

"Link, this is your uncle Ganondorf, and this is Groose."

"You didn't tell me he was tiny." Groose complained, waving half-heartedly at Link. Dark rolled his eyes, and opened his mouth to retort. Ganondorf cut him off, though, scooping Link out of his arms before he could react. Before Link could react, too, but the kid didn't seem to mind too much.

"You have a big nose." Link's voice was so quiet Dark could barely hear it. Ganondorf chuckled.

"And you have a small one." Link's face scrunched up at that, and he leaned back to stare at Ganondorf like he might start either crying or screaming.

Ganondorf looked very much amused by that.

"You look so much like your brother it's uncanny." Groose nodded in agreement, and Dark sighed. Link's expression changed immediately.

"But he's got red eyes. And his hair's dark! And tattoos!"

It was amusing to see the list of things Link thought wrong with him listed in order, Dark thought. But that the kid ranked tattoos as worse than Dark's eye color was a very good sign. The Temple of Hylia taught that the color meant evil. He'd see a lot of people with eyes like Dark's in Termina. Telling all of them they were demons would not go over well.

"And when he first came here he didn't have tattoos. And he hadn't started dyeing his hair yet then, either. He told you he dyes it, right?"

"Okay please stop bringing that up." Dark complained. Ganondorf responded with a snort, and a roll of his eyes.

"It's stupid."

"People get the nickname when I have dark hair and Cia likes it and I don't look like a Temple kid!" Groose laughed at him, but Dark was serious on every account. He'd dyed his hair the first time for himself, wanting to get as far away from who he had been at the Temple as he could. Sheik had liked it, but when he'd left Dark had let it go. Cia had put a stop to that because she was In Charge and liked it—it matched her own white hair and she liked matching people. Said it was cute.

"What do you think, little voe?" Ganondorf asked the kid.

"I don't think I look like him." Link said after a moment, voice serious and slow as he blinked at Ganondorf. The Gerudo laughed, and Groose tried unsuccessfully to hide his own smirk.

Dark shook his head, and stepped past them. He pulled the door to the club open, and held it open as Groose and Ganondorf stepped through.

"Well. Come, then. Let me introduce you to your aunts!"