Just So Perfect - chapter 5

The three of them had sat down in the living room for a while, Red making them all a nice big mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows to keep the approaching cold at bay. Red and Shadow had made themselves comfortable on the sofa, chatting with each other quite happily, while Blue sat in an armchair across from them, arms crossed and glaring the entire time.

Of all the nights in all the year, Shadow had to appear on this one.

Blue made a mental note to kick the crap out of Vio the next he saw him, the guy had said he would make sure not to interrupt them this evening after finding Blue with that book, and considering Vio was the smart one where the heck did he think Shadow would go after kicking him out of their room?

Every now and then Blue's gaze would fall upon Red, Red and his dressing gown that every so often would become loose around his chest, the fabric falling away in a v-shape exposing his fair skin. Blue would find himself gazing at that exposed skin, wondering if Red actually had anything on under there at all, before Red would realise the fabric had slipped and pull the two sides together again, Shadow either not noticing or not caring.

It kept on happening, and every time Red pulled those two sides together again, blocking the lovely view of his chest, Blue would retreat further and further into his chair, lower and lower into a moody sulk that he had to sit here pretending he was fine with Shadow being here, when all he wanted to do was ravish that skin that dammit was showing again!

As the evening went on and it was eventually decided that it was time for sleep, Red had immediately offered to sleep on the sofa while Shadow took his side of the bed, after all he was a guest and would never be expected to sleep on the sofa. Blue immediately refused that arrangement, Red shouldn't have to sleep on the sofa just because Shadow had barged into their house for the night uninvited, so had said he'd be the one to sleep on the sofa (if Red really insisted on Shadow staying in the bed).

"That's fine with me," Shadow had said, slinging one arm around Red's shoulders and leaning in close to him, his eyes still looking at Blue with a mischievous sparkle, "Red will keep me nice and warm in bed." He'd purred in a low voice.

And so this was how Blue now found himself sharing his bed with Shadow after all, Shadow looking far too smug with himself.

Because like hell Blue was going to trust that lecherous shadow alone with his Red for the night.

Shadow had to borrow one of Blues boxer shorts for sleeping in, and was now casually half-sitting leaning back against 4 pillows (saying he couldn't sleep without a pile of pillows, making Blue go and find the spares, grumbling the entire time) while Blue lay next to him, back turned from him, the duvet tightly tucked around him so not a single inch of Shadow could accidently brush against him during the night, and lay there with his eyes firmly shut even thought he wasn't in the slightest bit tired.

He didn't like this at all, Shadow was the very last out of all of them he'd ever want to go to sleep next to. He didn't trust what he'd do in the middle of the night. He didn't exactly know what Shadow would do, be he still didn't like the feeling it gave him.

So now the lights were off, the room was quiet, and they both lay there wide awake. Shadow wasn't tired either, still too buzzed from the party, and he glanced down at Blue from where he sat, legs out stretched on the bed under the duvet.

"So er," Shadow started, trying to start a conversation to break the obvious deliberate silence, "Did I interrupt something when I arrived? You seemed angrier than usual. Not that that says much with you." He added.

Blue didn't even need to turn around to hear the smirk in Shadows voice, he was all too used to that tone with Vio, who also had a permanent smirk to his voice. The two of them really did spend far too much time together.

"What do you think?" Blue grumbled quietly, shuffling even further to the side of the bed.

"I dunno, that's why I'm asking."

"Don't play the idiot Shadow."

"I'm not. I don't know what you're talking about."

Blue sighed, irritation growing in his voice, "It's our 18th birthdays!"

"So?"

"So?" At that remark Blue turned over onto his back and sat up against the headboard, matching Shadow's position, "What do you mean 'so'? 18th birthday Shadow!" he said, stressing the words to try and get his point across, "What do you think I'd be doing here with Red on our 18th birthdays?"

Shadow blinked at him, genuinely confused, "I dunno."

Blue stared at him. Was he being serious?

"Shadow…" he said quietly, one eyebrow lowered in half a frown, "You know…what being 18 means right?"

Shadow seemed to think for a moment, "Only 2 more years of being a teenager?"

"SEX!" Blue shouted at him in frustration, before immediately blushing as he realised just how loudly he'd shouted that, and glanced quickly to the bedroom door hoping Red, tucked up warmly under the spare duvet on the sofa, didn't hear it.

Shadow stared at him, blinked twice, before bursting out laughing, "Oh that is adorable! Are you telling me you and Red haven't had sex yet?"

"Of course we haven't!" Blue yelled at him, face still red not believing he was having to explain this to Shadow, "We've all been at that stupid party all day, and then you come waltzing in here when we get back, everything's just-"

"No no, I mean, before today…" Shadow interrupted, "You still haven't had sex with Red?"

Shadow's eyes were large in both surprise and amusement, and Blue stared at him suspiciously. Why did he look so shocked?

"Of course I haven't! Neither of us were legal."

This just caused Shadow to burst into around round of laughter, "Legal? 18's just a guideline."

"G-guideline?" Blue stuttered incredulously at him, "It's the LAW!" he shouted, getting more and more embarrassed by the moment.

"It's a guideline! No one pays attention to it." Shadow laughed again, "But that's adorable aww, big tough Blue, still a virgin." He mocked, patting Blue's head.

Blue swiped his hand away, another furious and embarrassed flush spread across he cheeks, and he opened his mouth to yell at him some more but… he stopped.

"Wait…" Blue said, Shadows words sinking in "What do you mean 'still'? Are you implying that you've…" he trailed off, hoping Shadow would get the point without him having to say it aloud.

Shadow grinned at him, "Had sex? Of course I have."

Blue's heart seemed to sink from his chest, his wide eyes staring at Shadow, brain frozen, before finally his voice returned with a: "…WHAT? WHEN? WITH WHO?"

"Who?" Shadow smirked, "Who'd you think? Vio of course."

Blue stared at him in amazement, "So you and Vio are together?"

Shadow smirked, looked him right in the eyes and answered with one simple word:

"Duh."

Blue mentally raised a fist in triumph; he knew it! All these years he knew there was something going on between those two but Vio would never tell him anything! Oh how he was going to enjoy being the one to take the piss out of Vio for a change! Revenge would be sweet!

"As for the 'when'," Shadow continued, ignoring the look of victory on Blues face, "I dunno, last year somewhen? I haven't been keeping count since."

That look of triumph quickly disappeared from Blues face, and he went back to staring at Shadow, seeing him in this whole new light, "Keeping count…?" Blue trailed off, eyes wide again, "So, you've really…but, that's illegal."

Shadow chuckled, "I told you, it's just a guideline, besides I think if the Princess has already done it I think we're entitled to."

"WHAT?"

"Couldn't you tell?" Shadow asked, so amused by Blues reactions to this entire conversation, "Zelda and Green? They're all shy and sweet around each other then bam, one day they're permanently all over each other and have been ever since? It's like a maturity thing, as soon as you've had sex people can just tell."

"Well I couldn't tell!" Blue said defiantly at this ridiculous accusation towards Zelda.

"Well you're still a virgin." Shadow replied.

Blue glared at him, "I don't believe you! Zelda would never go against law she's the Princess!"

"Guideline."

"Shut up!"

Blue quickly turned over on his side again away from Shadow, anger evident in his eyes, trying not to believe Shadows words but at the same time….what if what he said was true? Has he wasted all this time? Every time he'd wanted so badly to touch Red, every time their kisses got so heated and they'd pull apart before it got more involved, all those times they could have just…given in?

"Don't beat yourself up about it Blue, it's cute." Shadow said, patting Blue's head again that was half buried under the duvet, despite the dangerous growl that rose from Blues throat at the touch.

"Shut up. I don't want your depravity in my head, it's the law I don't care what you say."

"Ooo depravity, that's a big word for you."

"Are you going to insult me all night or are you going to sleep?"

"Alright alright!" Shadow grinned in defeat, working his way back down the bed, snuggling against his pile of pillows and closing his eyes. He guessed enough was enough for one night.

As Blue lay there in the quiet, eyes closed but still not any closer to falling asleep, he wondered if that the only reason he seemed so desperate to believe it really was the law, is so he wouldn't feel so guilty for turning Red away so many times. If Shadow was telling the truth, and it really didn't matter if someone didn't follow the rule to the day of thier 18th birthday, then… Blue screwed his eyes even more tightly shut. That was stupid, it's not like Red knew that, or he would have said.

Wouldn't he?

Blue opened his eyes, staring into the darkness. Maybe Red did know, but just didn't say anything, thinking that Blue wasn't ready? It couldn't have done much to Reds confidence to have Blue push him away all the time.

No, no this was stupid thinking. Blue mentally shook his head and closed his eyes again. Red knew how much Blue wanted him, they both trusted each other, it was just Shadow putting stupid doubts into his head.

Still, if Shadow really has already had sex with Vio… Blue opened his eyes once again.

Wow.

Blue found himself blushing for an entirely different reason now, a curiosity rising within him. Shadow and Vio. He'd never pictured them before, ew oh my Goddess never wanted to picture it either, but now knowing that they'd done it together, he couldn't help but feel….curious. Shadow had had sex. The one currently sleeping next to him had…

Blue shifted slightly, eyes darting to the left as if to try and look at Shadow, but not moving from the position on his side.

"Hey…Shadow?" he whispered.

"Mm?" came the sleepy reply.

"You and Vio, you've…really done it?"

Shadow yawned, "Yeah, loads of times."

Blue blinked and went back to staring at the bedside table shrouded in the night darkness.

"So umm…who…you know," he said quietly, irritating himself at the blush he just knew was on his cheeks, "who…does what?"

"Does what, what….what?"

"What do you do? I mean…" Oh crap how the hell do I ask this? Blue thought to himself, "You know, I mean are you the one who…or does Vio do it?"

Shadow, who'd only been half paying attention, finally opened his eyes, that trademark smirk slowly crawling back on to his lips as he realised what Blue was trying to ask.

"I mean it's not like I care or anything," Blue quickly said, "I just…just…you know, between the two of you , just curious which one does…what…in bed…you know…"

Blue lay there, so close to the edge of the bed he was going to fall off it if he wasn't careful, clutching the top of the duvet just waiting for Shadow to, well, probably start laughing at him. He felt the duvet and the bed shift as Shadow apparently turned over behind him, and Blue closed his eyes waiting for the mocking remarks. He knew that was a stupid idea to try and ask, what did it matter who did what, what a ridiculous question.

Suddenly though Blues eyes went completely wide, a look of horror on his face! He could feel a hand snake its way over his hip and lay flat against his stomach, moving upwards to his chest. Shadow moved behind him and pressed his entire body hard against Blues back, bare chest to bare back, his hot breath on Blues ear as he leant over him and whispered seductively,

"Why? Want to do it and find out?"

A cold shiver ran up Blues spine, and he was only momentarily paralyzed with a shocked fear before he leapt out of the bed, the duvet yanked with him as he held it around himself like a protective barrier.

"NO I DO NOT!" he screamed at him, eyes terrifyingly wide as he stared at Shadow in disbelief, who in turn…

Burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHA you're too easy Blue. Too. Easy!"

Blue stared at him, eyes flaming and mouth gaping, not believingly the jokes that idiot would pull! Shadow continued to laugh as the hotly embarrassed, flaring with anger Blue turned around and stormed out the bedroom without a word, slamming the door behind him.

As soon as he was alone, Shadow's laughing faded, but still couldn't get the grin off his face.

"Well, that was interesting." He smirked, before getting up and walking over to their wardrobe. Shuffling things around he eventually found a blanket folded up at the bottom. Blue had taken the duvet, he needed something to keep him warm, after all, he had no Vio to cuddle up to tonight.

Blue was astounded to find Red had slept through all that yelling. He stood next to the sofa looking down at him, curled up like a ball, the double-bed duvet taking up far more space than Red actually did, covering the entire sofa. Red's head sank comfortably into the fluffy pillow resting against the armrest, and he looked completely and utterly peaceful.

Blue looked back at the bedroom door. Shadow being a joking ass or not, Blue now had nowhere to sleep, and standing in the middle of the living room in his boxer shorts was cold.

There was no room on the sofa with that giant duvet in the way, and Blue didn't want to wake Red up (a part of him more concerned that he wouldn't be able to hold back if Red was awake, and Blue did not want his first time with Red being overheard with Shadow only in the next room), so he looked around, eyes falling onto the armchair he'd been sitting on earlier.

Reaching over he grabbed one of the cushions resting on it and knelt to the floor next to the sofa, placing the cushion on the floor near Red's head before quietly laying down on the carpeted floor, pulling his duvet over him. Blue gathered that any normal person would probably have slept in the armchair, but joke or no joke Shadow's whispered words in his ear had freaked him out, and he wanted to stay as close to Red as possible.

So he lay on his back on the floor, the fairly flat cushion not particular comfortable but better than nothing. He could see the tufts of Red's hair where he lay of the sofa, and one hand drooping over the edge.

His eyes softening at the sight, Blue leant upwards, cupping Red's hand with his own very gently, and placed a small, tender kiss to the back of Reds hand.

"Goodnight Red," he whispered quietly, before lying back down and snuggling in close to the sofa.

Blue was always amazed that no matter how angry, frustrated or embarrassed he got around other people, Red instantly deflated him, even in his sleep, making him feel just as calm and peaceful as Red looked right now.

So what if they hadn't had sex yet, it was just going to make it all the better when they did.

Tomorrow dammit! was Blues last conscious thought.

Maybe it was because his ears were now sensitive to any strange sound with Shadow in the house, but Blue awoke in the morning at the exact time Shadow walked through their bedroom door into the living room. Before Blue even had a chance to open his mouth to yell at him, a ray of sunlight filtered through the window and Shadow disappeared, the black shadow on the floor now smoothly shifting across the carpet onto Blue's shadow.

Blue guessed Shadow set the alarm to wake up before sunrise so he'd be able to get into the living room in time. No one actually knew what would happen if Shadow reverted to his shadow form with none of the other Links there, though Vio predicted that with nowhere to go he may just vanish.

A part of Blue right now had no problem with Shadow vanishing.

Still, it was back to work today, so the usual routine had to be followed. As the morning continued, both Blue and Red getting ready for work, Shadow sneakily changed persons as they both walked out their front door, becoming Red's shadow instead of Blues. Blue didn't like the idea of Shadow being with Red all day, but couldn't exactly do much about it as the shadow behind Red gave him the middle finger and laughed, just as Blue pulled away from the goodbye kiss he'd just given Red.

"I warn you Shadow, if you're not back with Vio this evening I will personally chain you a wall in the castle dungeons so you can't get near any of us." Had been Blues final threat, Blue sure that the shadows profile on the ground had mouthed the words "Ooo kinky" as Red walked towards the town and his cake shop.

Heading on his own way in the opposite direction towards the castle, Blue had to wonder again if Vio had really kicked Shadow out, or if this was another one of their idiotic schemes they cooked up together. Deciding there was nothing he could do about it for now, he continued on his walk to work.

Blue stood in front of his class in the training grounds at the castle, looking over his students and seeing how many of them actually returned. After telling them this job had a certain lack-of-family issue, and that they needed to be prepared to be away from home for unknown long periods of time, he was very glad to see every single one of them had returned.

Well, all but one.

"Has anyone heard from Tyron?" Blue asked sternly, his students looking around and shaking their heads. Blue sighed. Oh well, that was a real shame. The guy did have a lot of talent, just didn't have the attitude it seemed.

"Very well." Blue continued, "We all wish him the best. Now for today…"

It was a lot colder today than it had been the day before. Autumn was slowly turning into winter; there had been a heavy frost on the grass this morning and people wearing scarves and gloves around the town. Blue preferred the winter times, mainly because with all the training he did every day it wasn't so easy to get over heated and tired out. His older students knew this, the younger ones didn't, and some were already complaining it was too cold. Blues simple response to this was that he obviously wasn't working them hard enough, and that perhaps he should send them all out to do some laps around the whole of Hyrule Field to warm them up.

They quickly shut up about the cold after that threat.

Blue was now giving some pointers to one of those new students, when all of a sudden one of the heavy oak doors to the training ground flew open, a solider badly out of breath running through it, practically collapsing to the ground.

"M-Master Blue!" he yelled out frantically, "Master Blue!"

Blue looked up from holding out the sword, showing his student an easier way of producing a backhanded slash attack, and looked over towards the heavily breathing solider.

"What is it?"

Desperately trying to catch his breath by leaning on his knees, the solider looked up at him, "It's…it's Red, he's….his shop…it's on fire…and he's still inside!"

In that moment, the entire world around Blue seemed to stop. No movement, no sound, even the stray brown leaf floating in the wind seemed to cease its movement. The sword in his hand slowly fell as if in slow motion, the out-of-breath solider seemed to still be shouting, but Blue didn't hear a word.

His lips parted soundlessly, his eyes, wide in a shock that soon turned to horror, and suddenly in a flash, he ran. Ran past the solider, ran through the door, and ran out towards the front of the castle. Spying a brown horse having items un-loaded from the carriers on its sides, Blue ran up behind it and placed his hands on its rump, pushing himself up and over landing squarely on the animals bare back.

The owner looked up from placing a basket of red apples on the ground, and only managed to get out an angry "HEY!" before Blue dug his heels sharply into the horses sides and it reared up, neighing at the sudden movement on it's back, before taking off down the road galloping fast towards the town.

The wind whipped through Blue's hair as the horse ran, townsfolk darting out the way as the horse sped past them at a super speed. Blue's mind seemed blank, blank except for one phrase.

Red. Please no, Red, please be okay! I'm coming just…oh Goddesses please!

As his panicked eyes saw the dark flume of smoke rising from somewhere in the town below, the fright in his features increased, and as he heeled the horse to go even faster, he prayed to the 3 Goddesses, prayed to anyone out there, that Red would please be okay.

To be continued…