Just so Perfect: chapter 7

Waking up to find his arm around Red's teddy bear and not Red himself immediately reminded Blue of the events of yesterday. It had taken him ages to get to sleep last night, not only because his ears were tuned in to any unusual sounds around the house in case the perpetrator tried to break in, but also because he just simply could not get comfortable. He always slept holding Red, Red was his own personal teddy bear, and without him he just couldn't find a comfortable position. Red's teddy bear wasn't much of a substitution for the real thing.

Although Blue never did let it go anyway.

Already feeling down before the day had even begun, Blue had got dressed and, before leaving the house, had grabbed Reds Four Sword. Blue always had his on him anyway for training, but Red never used his sword anymore, never had any need to these days. But Blue would be a lot more comfortable and have more piece of mind if he knew Red was carrying it with him, just in case, for protection, so would give it to him as he headed off to the castle and Red's temporary bedroom.

As he walked he couldn't help eyeing everyone around him with suspicion, even those who happily said good morning to him. Who was it who had done this? Who was it to almost kill the one he loved more than anything in the world? Was it someone really after himself? Harming Red to get back at him for something?

Passing one of the soldiers around the town as he walked, he once again asked if anything had come up during the night, and once again the answer was no.

The walk to the castle had never felt longer than it did today.

A part of him somewhere deep inside knew it was a dream, but that didn't stop him from being terrified. Red was running in darkness, could see nothing but an endless length of obscurity. Behind him were flames, another endless distance of fire flowing fast like a river across the ground, chasing him as he ran. Up ahead the darkness suddenly began to twist and turn, turning into grey tendrils, moving towards Red like smoke with a mind of its own. Looking behind him the flames were gaining fast, so he mustered all his strength and ran faster, straight through the smoke. Suddenly the tendrils moved, wrapping themselves around Reds wrists and ankles, holding him where he ran. Panicked and frightened, Red looked back over his shoulder as he tried to wriggle free from the smokes grasp. The fire was right behind, was right there! The heat was unbearable, and he screwed his eyes tightly shut as the flames finally caught and consumed him.

"BLUE!"

Red awoke with a start, sweat dripping from his brow and his heart racing in fear in his chest. As he lay there, staring wide eyed at the ceiling and trying to calm his shaking body, there was a knock at the bedroom door.

"Red? It's Blue, I'm coming in okay?" As soon as the door handle turned Red jumped out of bed, running towards it. "I hope you're hungry, I went down to the kitchens to get some breakf-OOF!"

The tray Blue was carrying went cluttering to the stone floor, its contents smashing on contact. Red had his arms wrapped so tightly around him, head tucked underneath his chin and pressed firmly against his chest.

"R-Red? What's wrong?" Blue asked in panic, wrapping his arms around him, worried at this sudden strange greeting. Had something happened during the night? Had someone got in?

Red was silent for a few moments, before he spoke quietly, his voice muffled against Blues clothing, "Nothing really…..I just missed you."

Blue smiled softly at the top of Red's blond head, thankful it wasn't anything serious. He hugged him gently, eyes closed in relief, "I missed you too." He said, hooking his foot around the edge of the door behind him, swinging it closed. Not that Vio was out there now (he was standing there when Blue arrived as part of his shift to stand on guard at Reds door), Blue had thanked him and said he could go now he was here. "I'm sorry for making you stay here, I just didn't want to take any chances."

"I know," Red smile weakly, looking up at him, "But, I can go back home tonight though right?" Blues dubious look didn't offer him much comfort, "Or you stay here with me?" Red quickly added, "I don't care where we are but I don't want to sleep alone again." Red finished, burying his head against Blues chest again. "I was worried about you too you know," he said, his voice muffled again, "There was no one guarding you at home, someone could have come after you too. I wanted to stay with you but you wouldn't let me. We could have looked after each other. I'm a hero too remember Blue. I was scared that something could have happened to you."

If he hadn't been holding Red Blue would have brought his palm to his forehead in the realisation of how much of an idiot he truly was. Red had been so insistent they stay together after the fire, and no wonder after their discussion of saying someone could be after Blue as much as Red. He'd sent Red to the castle with nothing in mind but Red's safety, but Red had wanted nothing more than to stay with Blue, to watch out for him in case someone really was after him.

"And I didn't want to be alone after that fire…"

And now on top of the realisation of idiocy, a guilty spike ran itself through Blues heart. He'd left Red all alone after that fire, almost lost him, and what did he do? Tell him to go alone to the castle, to spend their first night away from each other all alone, right after he could have almost died. The one night Red would have truly needed his embrace and company, he sent him to sleep alone.

"I am such an idiot…" Blue whispered, eyes shut in disbelief at how stupid he was. "Red I'm so sorry." Blue hugged him even tighter, "Even after all this time I still can't get caring for you right."

If that had been him in the fire he would have wanted nothing more than to have Red's arms around him. JEEZ Blue could have punched himself right now!

"Oh no!" Red protested, looking up at him and smiling brighter this time, "I said I understood why you did it, you were caring for me, you wanted me to be safe. But …" a small faint blush added itself to Red's cheeks, along with a rather cheeky look in his eyes "…you'll still have to make it up to me."

"Oh?" Blue asked, one eyebrow raised in a sudden curious amusement.

Red hooked his hands together behind Blues neck as he stared up at him fondly, "I don't care if we're here or at home but…just promise that no matter what happens today, we'll be…together, tonight…like we've been trying to do." He added shyly, the warmth in his cheeks making them rosy and even more adorable.

Blue blushed softly, that enticing look in Reds eyes again, before he chuckled softly and pressed his forehead against Red's, "I think I can be forced keep that promise."

Blue had wanted Red to stay in that room just for today, but once again he'd said the wrong thing, Red reminding him what they'd just been talking about with Red wanting to watch over Blue too. Besides, the training grounds were in the castle, there were guards and soldiers everywhere, Red would be the safest with Blue anyway.

So after Red had been the one to gently whack Blue on the head telling him to stop being such a worrywart, the two of them had made their way down to the grounds and Blue's students. Blue had given him his Four Sword, saying it would make him feel better if Red had it, so with an affectionate smile and a quick kiss to Blues lips, Red had taken it and hooked it on his belt just like Blue's.

It was almost lunchtime now, and just like he had been doing all morning Red was sitting on the steps to the alcoves watching Blue train his class. He'd never actually watched him before, and as he watched as Blue had his students rapt attention, he found himself smiling warmly. Blue was a very tough Master, but he guided each and every one of his students the best he could, and you knew that when Blue gave someone praise, they must have done a really good job.

And he did give praise.

Occasionally.

Red giggled to himself, before thinking back to the day they'd decided to not re-form into one Link. It had been the time where the two of them had had their first kiss in the forest, but being so busy with all the troubles with Vaati and Ganon since that they'd never been able to do anything else.

On the first day they had of their new lives as four individuals, before they set out on their quest to rid the world of any remaining monsters, Red had seen Blue training in these very grounds getting ready to head out. He'd been practising against a wooden training pole, hitting his sword against it over and over….

"Hi Blue!" Red called out, Blue's sword slipping in surprise on the pole as he turned around.

"Red? What are you doing here?" he said, catching his breath.

"Not much, just wandering. It's still weird to think we're always going to be…us now, not Link. It takes some getting used to. Today I'm Red, and tomorrow I'll be Red, and the next day I'll be Red, and next year, and the year after that, and-"

"Red!" Blue glowered, his half smile giving his true feelings away, "Shut up."

Red beamed at him, "I'm just so happy that's all!"

"I can tell." Blue turned back to his training post, raising his sword.

Red continued to watch him for a moment, before a small, barely noticeable blush appeared on his cheeks, "Um…Blu-"

"Don't get too comfy yet though," Blue said, not hearing Red, "we still have monsters to get rid of before Hyrule is safe again."

Red paused before closing his mouth, a small forced smile on his lips, "Yeah, that's true."

Red remembered that scene with a kind of sad fondness. He was going to ask Blue about their kiss then, because now that saving Hyrule was over with maybe…they could go out together. But Blue was still too engrossed in finishing off those monsters, in his mind still had work to finish off as 'Link' before he began his life as 'Blue'. Red had told himself then not to say anything on the matter of their possible relationship until this new mission was over.

Of course that hadn't at all gone to plan. Red just…couldn't resist Blue, and that night on the Ferris Wheel, and all those extra long hugs he'd been giving him in those travelling days, everything had been building up and he just had to bring up their kiss again. When he'd asked Blue to kiss him on the Ferris Wheel, he never actually thought he would, but he did, and their second kiss was so wonderful Red knew this was absolutely what he wanted.

That Blue was absolutely what he wanted.

It was a shame about Shadow's reaction that kind of ruined the moment, but that was all water under the bridge now.

So as Red sat watching Blue train, happy thoughts overpowering the worry of yesterdays fire, Blue was having his own problems concentrating.

Every now and then Blue would find himself getting distracted by Red sitting there watching him and would glance over, Red waving happily at him which just made Blue grin stupidly, though quickly returning to his usual glare when his students started giggling at him.

It was another day of more push-ups as punishment.

"Good morning Red."

Red looked up behind him to see Vio, once again carrying more books.

"Hi Vio!" Red smiled happily, as Vio placed his books on the ground, before tucking his long coat underneath himself and sitting down next to Red on the steps.

"How are you this morning?"

"I'm okay." Red smiled sweetly, "I'm just glad nothing happened to Blue."

Vio nodded, watching Blue parrying a practise attack from a student, "Me too."

Red suddenly noticed something glisten out the corner of his eye, and looked to see Vio's Four Sword attached to his belt, lying out on the steps by his right leg.

"You've got your Four Sword with you today?"

Vio looked at it and smiled in memory, "Just a precautionary measure. After yesterday I thought it might be a wise idea. I see you have yours too."

"Blue brought it up for me."

The two sat in silence for a moment, before Red asked:

"Hey um…did you and Shadow really guard my door all night?" Red asked, looking at Vio's shadow who was holding out its hand as if it was holding a sword, and swishing it around like Blue was.

Vio looked at him and smiled gently, "We did. Shadow stayed there most of the time though. I think because he was with you in the fire he was more concerned than he let himself show. I think…even though he knows there was nothing he could do to help, I think he feels a little guilty that he was right there and was unable to do anything to save you."

The shadow on the ground stopped waving its hand around and lay still, chin lowered in a sad and guilty gesture.

"That's silly Shadow." Red leant over Vio and smiled at the shadow, "There's nothing for you to feel guilty about! You couldn't have done anything, and anyway it must have been pretty scary for you too! If…" Red went quiet for a moment, "If I had died in that fire….then that means you probably would have too, with none of us around to go to, and that would have made Vio really sad too. Well…heh…" he looked up at Vio with a nervous smile, "That's if you two have made up now of course."

Vio blinked at him, "Made u-? Oh! Made up, yes, yes we've made up now." Vio smiled all too brightly.

Red looked at him curiously, the shadow on the ground moving its hands to cover its mouth, like it was stopping itself from trying to laugh.

"That's good." Red eventually smiled at him happily, not picking up on the strange atmosphere, or noticing the smirk in Vio's eyes as Red turned back to watching Blue.

By the time it came to early-afternoon Green and Zelda had joined Red and Vio on the steps, sitting next to Vio, and the servants bringing them all out a spot of lunch. They had also been worried about Red and wanted to check he was okay, so now the entire scene had turned into a little picnic with the Princess and the heroes, Blue finally letting his students go for a lunch break and wandering over to his friends.

"Well isn't this homely?" Blue said, grabbing a small bread roll and biting straight into it, "I'm starved." He mumbled through the bread, flopping down next to Red who handed him a large cup of water, smiling cheerfully.

The five of them chatted happily in the clear autumn air, discussing what had happened yesterday, and teasing Blue about his training strategies. They were all so relaxed and distracted that at first, not a single one of them noticed the oak door on the other side of the grounds slowly open, and someone stagger through, blood dripping down his arm as he stumbled out onto the sandy ground and across the training yard towards them, his sword dragging lazily on the ground in his other hand.

"I have to admit I am very surprise there wasn't more than one person to leave your class Blue." Green sniggered, reaching for some grapes.

"Yeah well I don't see you getting out there and training people."

"I have my hands full with Princess Zelda thank you." Green retorted, feeling like he wanted to stick his tongue out at him, but instead throwing a quick knowing smile towards Zelda, who bowed her head slightly to hide her blush.

"Yeah, so I hear." Blue mumbled cryptically, smirking, taking a bite out of an apple and enjoying the embarrassed glare Green was now throwing at him, Vio shaking his head in amusement between them before reaching for his drin-

Suddenly Vio saw him.

"Hey!" Vio called out in sudden concern, the others following his gaze to the young man dripping blood behind him.

"Tyron?" Blue and Red exclaimed in shock at the same time, both running down from the steps towards him, the others following.

Tyron was bleeding from his right shoulder, blood seeping through his clothes, a large gash on his left thigh and….burn marks on his left arm, his shirt completely singed away right to the shoulder.

"Master…" Tyron breathed, collapsing to his knees just as Blue slid to a halt roughing up the sand next to him, Red kneeling down the other side.

"Tyron what the…what hell happened?" Blue asked, eyes frantic as he looked over the wounds on his body.

"I'm sorry…" Tyron coughed, "I should have said something after the fire but…she's my sister…" he coughed again, trying to steady himself by stabbing his sword into the sand to lean on.

"What are you talking about?"

With the last bit of his strength, Tyron looked up and grabbed a fistful of Blues tunic, a begging look in his eyes, "Please…help Mirya…it's…not her fault…" he gasped, before collapsing towards the ground, Blue catching him before he did.

Before any of them had a chance to say anything else, a sudden massive explosion in the distance filled the air, so loud it made the ground around them shake like an earthquake. A huge fireball shot up into the sky, and the heroes looked at each other ominously.

That came from the Four Swords Sanctuary.

"We need to get him medical attention." Vio said, kneeling down in front of Tyron, "He's badly wounded, YOU THERE!" A loan solider who'd just appeared walking in the alcoves jumped at the summons and stood still, saluting."Get this man to the infirmary! Hurry!"

"Yes sir!" The solider replied, running over and taking Tyron from Blue, slinging an arm around his shoulder as Tyron stood very shakily on his legs, still stubbornly gripping his sword despite his injuries.

"Please…don't hurt her…" was the last thing he managed to say before being taken away, barely conscious let alone able to walk properly.

The four remaining heroes only had to look at each other once, the same thought going through their minds, before they ran to the alcoves, heading towards the entrance to the sanctuary.

"I'm coming with you!" Zelda shouted, running after them.

"We don't know what's happening, it'll be safer if you just-"

"I'm coming with you Green! If this is bad I'll need to inform my father!"

Sighing while running, Green shouted back, "All right, but stay behind me!"

As each of them had expected when they heard the explosion, the entrance to the Four Sword Sanctuary had been blown to pieces. Zelda had had it sealed after the four Links had decided to remain as four separate people, and with Ganon safely split into four and sealed inside each of the Four Swords, there was no need for the sanctuary to remain an open space. Nothing but trouble ever seemed to arrive from here, so it felt safer to have it all sealed away.

"Careful guys." Green said quietly, the four of them and Zelda approaching the entrance, sword drawn and poised, as were the others.

"Just like old times huh." Blue whispered, subconsciously standing a little ahead of Red to protect him if anything suddenly attacked them.

This was too strange. Who would want to get into the Four Swords Sanctuary? The Four Sword wasn't there anymore, the place held no power without it, so why break open the seal?

"Can I…can I hear someone crying?" Zelda suddenly whispered.

Carefully stepping inside the sanctuary, the group saw the old familiar sight that brought back so many memories. Ahead of them was the empty Four Sword pedestal inside the ring of stone, overgrown now with long grass and weeds. The carvings in the wall behind it were crumbling, ivy pushing through the cracks and slowly splitting it apart.

But between the pedestal and the wall sat a little girl in the overgrown grass, knees pulled to her chest, head buried in her arms as she sobbed, her long black hair falling over her shoulders.

Blue squinted suspiciously at her, "Wait a minute…" he said, taking a step towards her, "I know that girl! She's the one I shouted at when she tried to get my autograph."

"You shouted at a little girl?" Vio said, amused and totally not surprised.

Blue ignored him, and instead took another step towards the sobbing girl, "Hey! Hey, are you alright? What happened? Are you hurt?"

The girl shook her head in her arms. Blue stared at her, "Um…okay, is that a no you're not alright, or no nothing's wrong?"

The girl seemed to bury herself even further into her knees, still sobbing.

Behind the heroes, Zelda's face softened in sympathy, "Oh, look the poor girls scared." She said, stepping forward towards her.

"No! Zelda!" Green shouted, reaching out.

But it was too late.

The moment Zelda stepped up beside Blue, the ground around them started to shake again. In a split second, an eerie darkness radiated from the girl, tendrils rising before swinging forward and wrapping themselves around Zelda's waist, lifting her from the ground with a sudden scream. Blue's eyes went wide in surprise and he gasped, drawing his sword, but it was too late, and one of the tendrils smashed into his stomach causing him to fly back into Green.

"Blue!" Red exclaimed, running over to them.

"Oh yeah, just like old times." Green groaned, shoving Blue off him, "ZELDA!" he called out as he stood up again, taking his sword in hand ready to run towards the girl, before Vio placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Wait! Look!"

As Red helped Blue up, the four of them watched as the darkness gained height, Red's eyes growing wide as the memory of his dream returned to him, the giant shadow seeming to spread high above the girl, a smoky wisp to the tendrils, too many of them to count. It continued to grow, spreading out and blocking most of the light, before a cold dread of shock and terror ran through each of the heroes.

"No…" Vio whispered in disbelief.

"That's impossible…" Green said, staring up at the darkness as a circle in the middle of it began to take form.

"We killed him…" Blue said incredulously, "WE KILLED HIM!"

Red just watched, watched with a dropped jaw as a large all too familiar eye suddenly opened high above the girl, staring down at them with its red depths, seeming to smile as a deep echoing laugh came from the girl, a laugh they also knew all too well.

Red found Blues hand and clung to it tightly,

"Vaati."

To be continued…