Chapter 2

Link couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed as Samus took off for her chamber. She didn't even thank me. It's hard enough for me to just look at her, let alone help her up when the front of her suit is ripped off.

Link scowled. He knew it had been set up for this to happen and he had a very shrewd idea of who set it up. Only the Captain would be so bold. He seems to be going further and further with each attempt to take off Miss Aran's clothes. I don't know where he learned respect, but he seems to have missed several points concerning women. No wonder he's still without a female companion.

Link turned to take in his surroundings in the gym that had been left behind in Samus's wake. The chest section of her Zero Suit was hanging on a hook just below the treadmill controls. As Link took a closer look, one of his metal-tipped arrows suddenly whipped from his quiver and stuck to it. It's a magnet. The Captain must have gone through a lot of trouble to get this there. Miss Aran's Zero Suit is made of a metal-mesh fabric that is very hard to tear like that, which means this hook is so strongly magnetized that it takes very careful handling to avoid every metal object in here being attracted to it. Link's scowl became more pronounced.

His thoughts were shattered by a familiar voice behind him.

"Hey, Link, you have any idea what's wrong with Samus? She's refusing to come out of her chamber right now."

Link turned to see Ike. "Apparently the Captain set up a magnet that tore the chest of her Zero Suit when she lost track of her rhythm."

Ike frowned. "How would a magnet do that?"

"Do have any idea as to what her Zero Suit is made of?"

"No, not really..."

"It's made of a unique metal-mesh fabric that is comfortable and yet durable. Only a strong magnet like the one on her treadmill would be able to tear it like this."

Ike took a closer look. "Hmmmm...Falcon set this up?"

"He's the only one I'd think of who would be this bold about it."

"When will he EVER learn?"

"At this point, it isn't a question of when. It's a question of whether he'll learn at all."

Ike gave a non-commenting grunt to this as he stood up and left.

Link noticed Samus's iPod was still on the treadmill. She must have forgotten it. And no wonder, considering what the Captain just put her through.

Link picked up the iPod, wrapping the headphones around it, wrenched the torn section of Samus's Zero Suit from the magnetic hook and hurried out.

Samus was refusing to leave her chamber and was just getting more and more steadily irritated by Falco Lombardi's attempts to talk to her.

"Are ya sure ya don't want to talk?"

"Falco, for the last fucking time, just leave me alone!"

"Come on, it couldn't have been THAT bad..."

"Really. How many times ave YOU ever had a chunk a clothing ripped off by a pervert?"

"Well..."

"Falco, just...just go away."

"Okay, fine. Just so you know, the mandatory meeting is in a few hours."

With that, Falco left. Samus sat seething in silence as she kept imaging different ways to beat Falcon into a pulp. That asshole has REALLY got some nerve to pull a fucking stunt like that. I swear, if I find out he's been peeping at me or some other perverted bullshit, I'm gonna...

Samus's thoughts were shattered by her buzzer.

"WHAT?!"

"Miss Aran?"

Samus froze. Link...

"Miss Aran? You left your portable music-playing device in the gym..."

Samus shook herself, looked around and found a hoodie to put over her still-exposed chest. She'd been too livid to bother changing. She then went to her door and opened it.

"Thanks Link. And by the way, it's called an 'iPod'" Samus said, trying to suppress a small laugh, "easier to say."

Link seemed to read her thoughts because he laughed softly. "Well, if you say so. I'm still getting used to this world."

Samus raised an eyebrow slightly. "And you've been here how long?"

Link laughed again and shrugged. "I would not know."

Samus finally smiled and took her iPod from Link's hands. "Thanks for bringing it. I would have been missing this a lot later."

Link returned her smile and blushed slightly. She has such a beautiful smile...

Samus blushed a bit as well. What a smile...who'd ever guess someone like Link had a smile like that...

"OI!"

The moment was shattered by a shout from down the hallway. Link, yanked from his thoughts, looked down the hall to see Solid Snake. "Snake? Is something wrong."

Snake laughed. "Nah, just seeing if you two were still on earth. Hey, listen, Link, you said you'd spar with me today, we gonna do that or what?"

Link grinned. "I'll be there shortly. Don't start without me."

"Wouldn't dream of it!"

As Snake left, Link turned back to Samus and said rather apologetically, "I'd better go. Snake isn't one to kept waiting."

Samus smiled. "It's fine, go ahead. And by the way, Link?"

"Yes, Miss Aran?"

"Just call me Samus."

Link smiled and blushed a bit more. "I'll remember that," he said as he turned and sprinted down the hall, moving rather quickly for someone carrying so much gear..

Samus didn't know why, but she felt her smile faltering. Why is it so difficult for me to be comfortable around him? I've dealt with far worse than him and yet...I just can't get myself to look him in the eye.

This was true. Samus hadn't looked Link directly in the eye throughout the exchange. What is wrong with me? I'm better than this!

Samus sighed. She knew that deep down, she was developing feelings for the Hyrulean Hero. One day, she knew, she'd have to reconcile with those feelings.

But how?