So the other day I bought a Link Figma and it just arrived in the mail two days ago, seriously, I know they're expensive but they're amazing! If you have the money I really REALLY recommend any Zelda play to get one! Anyway, the reviews to the last chapter were lovely, it made me so happy! So thank you to TheBlueAlienRobotZombie, prettyguardianofhyule, PrincesscharmingKnight, Franne, SwordSpiritFi9, AtticusFinch42, Princess Zelda-figure skater, ShadowNinja1011, LeilaEditer, Hanyoualchemist1, LEva114, and 'Guest'!
Thank you to Princess Zelda-figure skater for beta reading!
Dark Reflections: Chapter Two: Living Another Life
Dark Link's POV:
I stare through the old antique mirror to where he sits in a tiny pool of light. His figure hunched over, he leans back against the wall, legs curled up to make tight ball. He rests his head on his knees, remaining perfectly still. Helpless, defenceless, and though he'll refuse to admit it, hopeless. I slowly turn away, examining my surroundings. It's different here to the small patch of darkness that I'm used to… very different. The sun shines brightly here, and I'm free to do as I please, just like I've always dreamt of. I hold my hand out on front of me, examining every crease and every line as I clench and unfold my fist, watching the muscles tense in my arms as my veins are pressed against my skin. The flesh of my arm is a light golden colour… it seems strange, almost surreal, so different to the steely grey I'm used to. I slowly walk over to the window of his small bedroom, gazing out at his view of the city. Tall skyscrapers thrust into the sky like gods watching over the light dwellers. Cars and trains and buses run through the busy streets and the day goers wander around, without a seconds thought as to just how lucky they are.
I've spent too long trapped in that mirror. I've spent so many nights dreaming about what I'd do if I had a body, a life, if I had his life… and now I've finally got what I dreamt of, there's so much I want to do.
I shrug his backpack a little further up my shoulder, glancing around me at the large university campus. Where does he normally go? I look around, taking in my surroundings. That's when I spot a tall Sheikah walking towards me, I recognise him… I've seen him and Link together… his long messy blonde hair falls casually over his eyes as he approaches, a worried expression on his face.
"Hey Link, are you alright?"
"Yeah!" I say, smiling confidently, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"It's just…" he mumbles awkwardly, "Yesterday… everything with Zelda? You seemed upset…"
I swallow hard. "It's… complicated…"
"Have you spoken to her?" He asks as we both begin walking towards the large entrance to the building.
"Uhh… not yet," I stutter, "I was hoping to see her today." Impressing even myself with my improvisation skills.
"Oh… ok, well I think she has a lecture this afternoon, maybe you could catch her if you're lucky." He says, shrugging casually.
"Uhh… right…" I mumble.
"So, do you want to go get a coffee?" He asks, rubbing his hands together.
"Sure!"
He reaches out, wrapping his hands around the silver door handle and opening the door, he makes his way through, leaving me to follow behind. I'm struggling to remember his name, but as long as I stay cool, I can wing it until someone mentions his name. We make our way along the wide, crowded corridors of the university, light spilling in through the open windows. Eventually we arrive at what I presume to be the coffee shop he was talking about. Tables of varying sizes fill the room, and the strong smell of caffeine fills my nostrils. He makes his way directly over to the back of the queue, leaving me once again to follow behind.
"So, what exactly happened between you and Zelda?" He asks, watching me carefully as he pulls out his wallet.
I swallow hard, what am I meant to say here? "I just… think I should speak with Zelda first…"
He suddenly looks over my shoulder, lowering his head a little. "Speak of the devil…"
"Huh?" I question, turning around to look behind me. And sure enough, the blonde haired beauty I've seen makes her way into the room, followed by a pale, fiery haired Twili. I watch as Zelda's eyes fall on me, she stops still, turning around, but the Twili takes her by the arm, pulling her towards me.
"Go on, just talk to him…" I hear her say.
"I don't want to talk!" Zelda hisses, but it's too late, as they stand just a few feet away from us.
"Hey Midna," The blonde Sheikah says, smiling, wrapping his hand around her tiny one. Ok… so they're obviously a couple…
"Hey Sheik!" Midna replies, smiling broadly. She quickly gives Zelda a nervous glance, encouraging her to talk.
She rolls her eyes. "Link…" She mutters in greeting.
"Hi Zelda," I reply, smiling.
"You know…" Midna cuts in, "Suddenly I'm not thirsty!" She winks at Sheik, trying to hint something.
"Me neither!" Sheik says, "Let's go!" And with that the two of them turn away, leaving me alone with Zelda.
"Midna… Midna!" Zelda hisses, but the Twili just walks away, giggling with her boyfriend.
She turns to look at me, her indigo eyes look sad somehow, lonely. She sighs, pushing ahead of me in the queue.
I lean against the counter, one eyebrow raised. "Do you want to talk about it?" I ask, even though I'm not entirely sure what 'it' is.
"No." She says plainly as she picks up a cookie in a paper bag, not daring to face me. "And you don't either so don't pretend that you do."
"Is there anything I can do?" I ask, collecting a chocolate chip muffin.
"Yeah, you can leave me alone." She spits, making her way over to the counter. "One black coffee… make that an espresso actually."
"Course honey," the young serving girl replies, her thick curly hair spirals out around her head like a halo of curls. I watch in silence as she presses a few buttons on the coffee machine. My eye's drift over to Zelda, examining her perfect body in more detail, her slender waist and elegant legs. I swallow hard, telling myself to look away as the server turns back, handing Zelda her coffee and taking Zelda's change in return.
"One coffee," I mutter as Zelda turns, striding away from me, I sigh as the server turns back to the coffee machine.
"Zelda wait…" I call out.
She pauses, casting a gaze over her shoulder to look at me. "Yes, Link?"
"I'm sorry…" I say, looking her right in her indigo eyes, watching as they begin to shine again.
"Really?" She asks, turning to face me properly.
"I was an idiot… and I'm sorry, for everything…" I say, trying to sound sincere, I don't know what Link did, but if I can get Zelda to trust him… then it'll make my time here a whole lot more fun…
"I just…" She stammers, looking down to the ground, "I've been hurt by guys before… I want to be one hundred percent sure before I rush into a relationship…" I nod slowly, showing her that I'm listening "Is that ok? Do you understand where I'm coming from?" She asks nervously.
"Of course," I reply, "You know how much I care about you Zelda…"
Her face relaxes, relief washing over her expression as she runs towards me, her arms curl around my shoulders and she squeezes tight as she hugs me. I carefully wrap my arms around her waist, holding her securely as I smile deviously, she bought every word of it…
"So… what do you think?" Sheik asks, leaning back in his seat.
We all stand in the car park, crowded around a shiny blue car, brand new. Sheik sits in the driver's seat with the window pulled down, posing like a model.
"It's cool!" Zelda says, laughing.
"I don't get it!" Midna states, "It's just a car!"
"It's a new car!" Sheik boasts, as he grips the steering wheel.
Pipit laughs as he makes his way around the car to the passenger seat. "It's a cool car!" He carefully pulls open the door, clambering into his seat.
"Who wants a ride home?" Sheik asks as he changes gears before twisting his keys in the ignition, revving the engine.
"Go on then," Midna laughs, "It beats walking!"
"Yeah, why not?" Zelda laughs, pulling open the door, "Are you coming Link?"
"Sure!" I smile, climbing into the car and settling myself into the tiny middle seat, pulling the seatbelt over my lap. The girls climb in either side of me, squashing me a little, but I don't complain. Sheik pulls the car out of its parking spot. He cranks up the radio as we make our way towards the exit of the university, and Midna and Zelda start singing along.
"Hey Link, Zelda!" Sheik calls out, glancing at her in the rear view mirror of his car, luckily I was just out of the picture… my lack of reflection may have been difficult to explain…
"Yeah?" Zelda replies.
"Are you two… ok now?" He asks, giving her a meaningful look.
She turns to me, smiling, and I feel her warm hand wrap around mine. "Yeah…" she says, "We're ok!" I give her hand a gentle squeeze, watching as she smiles, a faint pink stain seeping across her cheeks… I've got her exactly where I want her…
I carefully close the front door to his apartment, dropping his bag down at the foot of the wall. I run my fingers through my blonde hair… it's still strange to get used to. I make my way into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge and producing a bottle of water. Smiling, I walk slowly over towards his bedroom, pushing open the door and entering the room. I make my way over to the cupboard and bring out a tie, pocketing it and the bottle. The room's still exactly as I left it, the duvet crinkled and folded from where I didn't bother to straighten it out, and the desk bare of anything other than a notebook and a single pen. I smile, lying back on the soft mattress, resting the back of my head on the palm of my hands, smiling tauntingly. I carefully reach out my arm, allowing my fingers to glide along the smooth surface of the mirror, watching as it ripples like water. I haul myself to my feet, reaching my arm right through, before allowing my body to pass through the mirror. The coldness of the enchanted glass sends a shiver down my side, but within moments I stand on the other side in the dank little room. I carefully look down upon his fragile body, he lies on his side, clothes crumpled and crinkled from lying on the floor all day. His hands are still bound behind him, leaving him stranded. I carefully crouch, running my hands through his long blonde hair, pushing it back from his face. I smirk as his eyes suddenly snap open and he shuffles back away from me in a panic, his face quickly flustering.
"Where have you been? What have you done?" He demands, anger showing in his deep blue eyes.
I laugh, "Relax, I've just been you… nothing crazy… yet…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asks, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Nothing… I got Zelda to forgive you for what you did…" I laugh.
He sighs, sitting in silence for a few moments, looking down at the ground. "How long do you plan to keep me here for?"
"Depends…" I murmur, "I'll stop when it gets boring, or I'm satisfied I've wreaked enough havoc…"
"You can't mess with my life!" He suddenly rages, he lashes out with his leg, sending a kick to my shins… I react quickly, grasping his ankle in one hand, knocking him off balance. He falls onto his back, pulling hard to try and make me release him, but I just laugh. I throw his foot down to the ground, letting it hit the stone floor with a loud bang, he winces in pain, sucking the air in through his teeth.
"Someone will find out…" he growls, "Someone will know something's up!"
"Why would they?" I say smugly, raising one eyebrow, "When I look exactly like you…"
"But you're not me…" He growls again, his eyes darkening.
I turn to look directly at him, feeling the black hatred swelling inside me as I reach out, grabbing him by the jaw and yanking him up to his feet. "I'm not you… I'm stronger than you are!" I say, throwing him back against the wall, watching as his body slams into the brick work before hitting the ground. I sigh as I reach into my pocket, pulling out the deep green tie. "And I have grown quite weary of your endless whining Light Brother…" I grab him by the hair, pulling his body a little away from the ground, watching as he winces in pain. I twist the tie between my fingers, before slipping it over his mouth and tying it in a tight knot behind his head. He tries his best to protest, but the only noise that escapes him is a muffled whine. I smile as I pull the water bottle from my pocket, carefully examining it. "You know… I brought this because I thought you might like a drink…" He looks up desperately, but my smile turns to a crude grimace. "Shame you weren't more polite…" I growl, ripping the cap off the bottle and pouring the clear aqua over him. It drenches his hair, running over his hunched figure, soaking into his clothes and dribbling over his skin. He shivers as I shake the last few drops from the bottle, leaving him drenched and sat in a small puddle, arms and feet now bound. I drop the empty plastic container beside him, leaving him gasping for breath as I pass back through the mirror. It's time that privileged boy learnt what it's like to live in the shadows…
