Well, hmm, here we are; me and you again.

This story is loosely based off of someone I used to know. So, you can thank that guy for this.

Read to your heart's content!
Enjoy.

An Inkling of a Lie

"Isn't this better than catering to the needs of hungry civilians?" A pale hand gripped the blonde's shoulder. "Having a blade in your hand and being able to do what your forte is? You don't have to worry about money; I can pay for you. I can take care of you."

Link was, to say the least, uneasy. Cagney had been trying to coax him all morning. The hero had killed, he had saved and he had conquered; he was the one who demonstrated his power. Now, here he was, at the mercy of a man who could probably end him should he so choose to. Dark had that utterly charming smile on his handsome face. If he didn't know any better, he would have fallen for his pearly whites and those half lidded crimson eyes but the incision on his cheek reminded him what he was capable of. At least Link felt like he was at 110% today; he couldn't explain it but he had a ton of energy ready to spill out.

They had made their way south outside of Clock Town. They were heading to Romani Ranch, close to Woodfall. According to the detective, verboten activities had been swarming the Romani's for a few years now. Dark didn't offer any more information other than Grog was at the back right of the ranch in the Cucco Shack. He feigned as a farm hand and should be disposed of immediately before he could inflict additional harm to the case. For whatever reason, the name of his target seemed to ring a bell to Link but he couldn't put his finger on it. He made no mention of it to the detective.

Dark told him to repeat the code words verbatim in order to see for himself what Grog was. He gave him precise instruction. With that, Link walked along the dirt path after receiving a "good luck" smack on the ass while Cagney remained outside. If he were present, red flags would go up or so he said. The hero muttered curses and went along with it; it was not as if he had a choice in the matter. He passed the Romani house, noticing a curtain peeked open to reveal cobalt eyes. He shrugged them off and made his way to the Cucco Shack in the back of the ranch where Grog resided. He tried not to look suspicious as he did all this.

Link stepped off the porch as he eyed his surroundings. There were multiple wooden fences that were placed throughout the significantly smaller field. He stepped down the creaky wooden steps and approached an extremely pale man who sat, head hung, on a stump in front of a lone tree. He was surrounded by Cucco Chicks; Link assumed this lean man with a mustard mohawk and matching capris was Grog.

"Hello there, stranger," the shirtless man lifted his face to the hero. "How can I be of service?"

"Ah, would you happen to have some milk?" Link was momentarily shocked to see pupil-less eyes; everything hit him like a ton of bricks. He knew this man but it was impossible. Grog died back in Hyrule. This all had to be some strange coincidence, besides, Grog was bald. Where did he get the mohawk?

Grog had paused momentarily, as if searching for a reason to deny him. His expression was stoic as he seemed to be determining something in his mind. The blonde tried his best to remain expressionless as he was observed. He always wondered how this guy could even see but more important questions rose to his mind. Grog furrowed his brows and smiled soon after. Link found himself relieved as the man nodded, but, he felt something was off.

"I don't have milk, this here is a Cucco Shack but I do have some golden eggs," his back remained hunched over as he kept his watchful gaze upon his customer. "Are you interested?"

"I am," the hero placed his left hand on his heart and put his right palm out in an open gesture. "Very interested."

He grinned and clasped his hands as his elbows rested on his knees, "Wonderful! Now, I have to ask, who sent you?"

Link recalled what Cagney had told him to say, "Barten."

"Alright," he seemed satisfied with that response. "How much are you looking for?"

"Ah… I was thinking a half ounce…" Link bit his lip.

"Half ounce? That's a lot of egg," Grog frowned. "That's 600 rupees; I need to see it up front before I can give you breakfast, friend."

"600 rupees?!" Link whispered curses under his breath as he reached for his wallet and pulled out 3 orange rupees; it was a good thing Dark was loaded.

Grog took one and observed it, slamming it against his stump; he decided it was real, "Alright, come with me."

The lanky man got to his feet and led him inside the Cucco Shack. It was dimly lit and he told Link to sit at the table. A lone bulb flickered as it dangled above his head. The hero tapped his fingers against the rotting wood. He felt restless; this was happening. He felt more on edge than usual. It was probably just the situation. Grog slipped into another room and Link unsheathed his blade and put it between his legs. He figured the darkness of the room would hide the fact he had pulled out his sword. He laid out the rupees on the table and anxiously awaited Grog's return.

"Here is your prize," he tossed him a small pouch as he gathered the rupees.

The blonde took it and opened it, his cerulean pools held disbelief as he stared at the white powder. Dark wasn't pulling his chain, this was cocaine. Link closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he knotted the pouch and tied it to his belt. His fingers grazed the hilt of his blade as he knew what he now had to do.

"I never caught your name, friend," Grog seemed to eye him suspiciously.

"Ah…" the hero thought carefully as he tried to figure out what to say. Dark never said anything about this. He was going to end his life, why not just tell him the truth? "It's Link."

"I knew I wasn't seeing things," Grog offered a crooked smile as the blonde paused his movements. "Don't you remember me, Link?"

"You look like someone but he no longer lives as a mortal," he frowned, gripping the hilt of his sword, ready to fulfill his mission.

"I never became a Stalfos if that's what you're implying," Grog crossed his arms. "A witch that lived in the woods found me. She healed me and got me into this business. It makes more money than just running this little Cucco Shack."

"I'm happy to hear you survived, Grog," Link bit the inside of his cheek, his task just became 20 times harder. "I thought you were gone."

"Yeah, I heard about your success in Hyrule," the man seemed to smile genuinely; it seemed his misanthropic attitude had completely gone. "I'm amazed, you're so strong but, then again, I could see you were a good guy. You saved so many people."

"Yeah…" Link was becoming torn.

"I'm just wondering, what're you doing with this stuff?" he seemed disappointed. "I heard about the princess but I didn't think it would hit you this hard."

"I'm not doing drugs," the hero scowled at the mention of his ex but immediately caught himself. "I mean…"

Grog furrowed his brows and grasped the edges of the table, "What are you doing here then?"

"I… I'm here for a friend," Link sounded unsure of himself and the pale man caught his hesitancy.

"Who would that friend be?" he seemed to reach his hand under the table where two daggers were taped underneath the ledge.

Link must have thought for too long because Grog flipped the table aside and charged him. His friendly demeanor had completely turned hostile. His knives went to slice him but Link pulled up the flat side of his blade to block the attack. He went falling backwards in his chair and overset Grog in the process. He immediately got on his two feet and the lanky man did the same. Link's heart was pounding, the adrenaline was pumping at a ridiculous rate through his veins. The hero tried to relax himself as his body was ready to kill a ton of energy.

"Who sent you?!" he growled.

"I mine as well tell you since I have to kill you," Link steadied his double edged blade in his hands. "I was sent here by a man named Dark Cagney."

"I see," Grog seemed to accept this information, almost as if he knew this would come. "He caught on, I figure he would at some point but I never thought he'd get you."

"No one has me!" Link, now irate, rushed him.

He slammed his sword down vertically; his foe blocked. The blonde sent a swift kick to his side and twisted his body in the process. Grog slid to the wall. He got up and licked his lips, charging the hero. Link dodged every blow. Everything appeared in slow motion. It was as if the Goddess of Time was on his side, helping him win this battle but he knew it was not the case. It was something else. He dodged and blocked with ease; if he were hurt in any way he couldn't feel it. Link suddenly found his blade buried inside Grog. His pupil-less eyes widened as the hero painfully ripped out the blade. The mohawked man chuckled, puzzling Link as he was soon to greet death. Grog fell to the creaky, wooden planks.

"You know, I was half expecting this from Dark," he coughed up blood. "But I never expected you to betray Hyrule."

"What are you saying?" confusion lined his face.

"You don't know?" he laughed, causing him to bleed out faster and cough sporadically. "What a pity, I won't be able to witness the show… this has definitely become more interesting, more than I ever thought it could be."

"What are you going on about?!" Link balled his fists. "You're the enemy here!"

Grog simply chuckled some more, that genuine smile grazed his face; he pulled out a handheld transmitter and receiver from his pocket and spoke into it after holding the red button, "The Cucco has escaped the shack, the egg has been dropped and we need the dogs to step in, over. Mohawk Chick-y was eaten by the wolf, over and out…"

Link kicked the walkie talkie from his hands, fearing he may have jeopardized the mission. This only made Grog laugh harder as his blood pooled the floor. His vacant eyes stared at him, piercing his entire being.

"I do like you, Link," Grog grasped his ankle. "I do and, what I suggest is, watch your back because the dogs will be chewing on it."

Link pulled his leg away and frowned at the euphemism that only further perplexed him. The man below took one last breath as his entire being became cold and limp. The hero felt bad, he did like Grog but he wasn't going to die for him. The guy did attack him first. He did what he had to. However, he was left with too many uncertainties.

What did he mean he was against Hyrule? Link sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. His stomach felt queasy as he realized that more trouble was going to precede this event. Link took a deep breath and finished what he came to do. There was no sense in disappointing Dark. He carved the symbol of the enemy organization on the wall and grabbed a random piece of cloth lying around to clean his sword. He sheathed his weapon and went outside to meet Dark. Maybe he could provide some answers.

Should he even tell Cagney anything?

Link bit his lip as he eyed the Romani house. He felt those eyes on him again; it made him uncomfortable and it didn't ease his trepidation. What if Dark reprimanded him for messing up? He figured it would be worse if he didn't say what happened now than suffer the consequences later. Link mumbled profanities, frustrated that he was wrapped around this man's finger. He was feeling paranoid. Link had caught himself in deep shit, he knew it but it was progressively getting worse. He decided to bite the bullet and take everything as it came. He saw Dark waving him down at the end of the path.

Here goes nothing.

Well, until next time.

See ya!

R&R if ya like