Disclaimer: Legend of Zelda and all its characters belong to Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto, and NOT GrimGrave who does NOT make money for writing fiction.

Possession

Chapter 6

One's Pain, Another's Gain

He had been invited. And he accepted. Scents that were not unfamiliar once again got caught with each inhale, the architectural apartment still endowed with gothic vibes that created a shadowy, spacious atmosphere that he had visited before. Link felt himself steeping inside a sanctuary for a fellow who could ease his troubles.

"-and that's how it's been the whole day." Link finished, sipping on his now lukewarm tea. He sat on her dark-purple couch, with Veran just next to him, sipping on her own tea as well as she listened to the young man, letting him speak freely. When he eventually paused, Veran intervened with her own thoughts. "So, has your girlfriend been acting like that before?"

"No, that's the thing! It's entirely new, and… To be honest, it frightens me a bit. How can I help her if she avoids me?"

The older woman nodded. As casual as she could make it out to be, she gracefully slipped her leg over on the other, giving her guest a proper viewpoint of her slender legs. "Hmm… That's quite the dilemma. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience in that area." ´Though that behaviour does sound familiar…"Let me ask you a few questions Link, and please, be honest." Link nodded. "How long, even on a smaller scale, has she acted remotely similar to this?"

The blonde man drank some more tea. Jasmine tea, soothing and smelled wonderfully. "It's ... It's been going on for a few days now. It started off a little, so I didn't pay it too much mind but…"

"And did she tell you anything of why she was acting like that even then? Or did she just pass it off as nothing?"

"She wouldn't tell me, no..." Link replied while Veran nodded. She reached for her cup and drank some tea, hiding her smirk from Link. "I see... Tell me, has she frequently told you that she loved you before? As in, before this drastic change?"

Link smiled warmly. "Yes… Yes she did... Every time we met and departed really..." Veran frowned when he was looking away. The thought of the brunette being all lovey-dovey with Link was sickening for her to imagine. She quickly masked it and smiled back at him, her right arm now resting behind Link's neck, on the back of the couch. "And that has stopped now? She just quickly disappears and doesn't tell you why?"

"Yes, I told you that-"

"And she still won't reply to any text-messages or voicemail, or return any of your calls?" Link eyed her with widened blue orbs. He shook his head slowly. "N-No... She hasn't..."

"Let me guess; did she tell you that her phone was dead?" Link nodded. Turning around, Veran picked up her cup again, a sly smile dancing on her lips as she sipped the rest of her tea. ´I see now… Naturally, it doesn'thave to be correct, but if I am… Looks like the slip of a girl isn't so innocent after all…she glanced back at the young man beside her. ´I should tell him… But if I'm correct, the impact will be far too heavy already, especially if he- No. Link, I am genuinely sorry for my future actions.´

The autumn-haired woman let out a small amount of breath in a low sigh. She had a few ideas of what Zelda might have been up to, and while it relished her to have learned of something that could be of help, the poor young man next to her would be devastated. If she was right. She hoped she was, still.

She cleared her throat with a dry cough. "Well… I think I can guess what your girlfriend is up to…" Link stared at her with even wider eyes, his mouth hanging slightly ajar. "R-Really?! Veran, you-"

"Don't quote me on this my dear." She said sternly, a narrow gaze piercing right into his eyes. She gently let her resting arm fall from the edge of the couch onto Link´s neck, as if to keep him calm. Her fingers evenly trailed on his skin. "But you probably wouldn't want to walk in on her unannounced."

"What..?" Link said dumbfounded. "What do you mean?"

She bit her lower lip. "I… No, forget it. I have said too much. I do not wish to bring you unnecessary worries so just forget-"

"Veran!" Link interrupted. "Please… Don't beat around the bush. What… What exactly do you mean by what you said?" Ocean blue orbs met the flaming sapphires. "Please..."

Veran sighed. "I rather not say it out loud, since I may not be right, but… Your girlfriend might have a secret. And the results of unveiling that secret probably would be dire… For your own good, you might want to ease it up before-"

She felt his weight disappearing from the couch. His closeness, his warmth that radiated had vanished as he got up, straight as an arrow and glared down at Veran with eyes on the verge of tears. His teeth gritted in anger, and his face was crimson. Veran couldn't put her finger on why, nor did she try and figure it out. All she knew was that Link had abandoned her care, and was directing a newfound irritation towards her.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence! I… I don't want to hear it! Zelda wouldn't do that! Not her! How can you- … I don't even…!"

She was shocked. Granted, they had not known each other for a long period, but she had never seen Link in such an emotional state; and it gave her a small fright. "L-Link calm down! I did not wish for you to be upset, I-"

"If you knew her the way I do you wouldn't even suggest that!" Link shouted. "Have you any idea how much it hurts to hear someone suggest that? I can't believe you!"

"Link, calm down right now!" Veran shouted back. "You´re making a hen out of a feather here! I told you not to read into my thoughts too deeply! I just wanted to have you mentally prepared, should I unfortunately be right about it!"

"Zelda wouldn't do that! You've got to be wrong!" The blonde man shouted back yet again. He noticed that it was unlike him to burst out like this. But his mental walls had already been damaged by Zelda´s behaviour, leaving him and his walls fragile on the topic. And now, in his hour of need, Veran cracked them even further and the pieces began to fall. Zelda was innocent and smart, and she loved him. He loved her. There was no way she would threaten their relationship. Everything was so fine and well between them.

And yet Veran dared to suggest otherwise? Link shot her another teary glare. "You…You don't know her. Zelda would never do that to me." The woman averted her eyes with an expression of irritation and depression before looking back at Link.

"I know you want to believe that. And I could very well be wrong. But I know of these stuffs Link. I have been around the block… And that behaviour sounds awfully familiar with-"

He didn't interrupt her. Not with words. Before Veran could finish, the young man had already stormed off with heavy steps, accidentally kicking the coffee-table on the way, knocking over his cup in the process. Whatever remained of the jasmine tea was spilt on the table and further on the floor, where the cup landed with a shatter. Veran ignored it as she hastily followed Link, pleading him not to go. Her words fell on deaf ears. Before the front door slammed shut after Link´s departure, he shouted back with a voice that was shaky, angry, and near the edge of screaming.

"YOU´RE WRONG!"

The autumn-haired woman quickly followed, but as she opened up the recently closed door, she could only watch as Link got into his car, activated it, and began to drive way. She could only watch as her object of affections disappeared down the street into the crowd of traffic, angered and downhearted, whilst cursing over her loss.

::::

He didn't know where he was going. He didn't care. All Link knew and wanted right now was to be in solitude, far from everyone. He was slowly breaking down as a result of his emotional stress, he could tell; he rarely snapped at people like that.

So he kept driving, only stopping whenever a red light came into his view. Then he just thought even deeper into what Veran had hinted at, and Zelda´s behaviour. Why had she avoided him like that? He had finally found her, and she wanted to avoid him like he was carrying a plague. It irked him! Why wouldn't she talk to him?

The green light came on, but Link didn't notice. His thoughts occupied his mind, fogging his senses until the cars behind him honked their horns repeatedly, though they only fed his growing anger. With a scowl, he continued to drive through the streets. The sun began to set, basking the sky in its auburn light.

His gaze was sharp. Cold. He barely registered his surroundings as he kept driving what seemed to be in circles. No goal in mind, just something to occupy himself with as he replayed the thoughts of ill intent. Zelda, his sweetheart angel of a girlfriend wouldn't possibly jeopardize what they had. How dared Veran suggest otherwise!

No sane answer came to him. No clarity was awarded after what felt like hours of thinking, no higher understanding of the situation. Link was clueless, abandoned in nothingness with nothing to go for, or start working on. His eyes glared at his call phone. 18:02. Mondays always ended late, at 17:10.

He pulled over at a nearby parking lot. His engine hushed itself to a mechanical sleep as he picked up the phone again, staring at it. Flicking it open, Link scrolled down until he found Zelda's number.

You probably wouldn't want to walk in on her unannounced.

Link hesitated for a second. Veran´s words echoed inside his head, clearly as if she sat right behind him and recited them. He shook his head, and pressed call. The phone was next to his ear, listening to the dial tone that repeated itself over and over.

Hi! You've reached Zelda! I unfortunately can't answer right no-*Click*

The engine roared back to life. The steering wheel turned to the left until the car was facing the right way, and speeded up, out into the traffic like a bolt of thunder.

::::

´Queens Lane...´ Link thought to himself, turning right to enter the street of his destination. His heart had been beating faster since leaving Veran´s apartment, and it had only been worse. He swore that it even began to hurt when he breathed, if only occasionally.

He drove past the various houses that adorned the sides of the road, each building with its own colours, style and gardens. But what he kept a wary, nervous eye on was the fourth house on the left, until he pulled over, and his eyes shifter to something unfamiliar with the picture.

Link was very certain that Zelda´s parents didn't own a car of the newer models. Link was also very certain that even if they had bought a newer car, they wouldn't have parked it so recklessly over the driveway.

His heart ached physically. His breaths became shallow, the oxygen he inhaled felt like it wasn't enough. Link quickly unlocked the door, breathing the cool evening air.

He looked up at the house. Only one room was lit up. Zelda's bedroom. Link had spent many a nights there to know the layout. One last time, he tried to call Zelda through the phone. If only his fingers would stop shaking.

Hi! You've reached Zelda! I unfortunately c-*Click*

Not even dial tones this time. Suddenly, it felt like he had stepped into a nightmare. Everything only seemed to be worse. He braced himself and hesitantly walked over to the door. His finger barely grazed the doorbell before he hesitated and withdrew his hand, and tried the knob.

Like either of luck or a cruel joke, either of those from a Higher Power, the door was unlocked. Having not learned from previous mistake with Veran, Link sneaked inside, aware of the lights that weren't on. It was a low tactic, but his fears were in control, and they demanded answers.

Widened eyes of worry peered around, his heart ready to burst through his chest. He was sweating. His fears screamed inside his head, louder and louder as he made his way through the house, noticing that there were no shoes other than Zelda's and someone he didn't recognize. Zelda's parents wouldn't wear combat-boots.

Nor would they spread their clothes around the living room, or on the staircase. Link knew they were there as he stepped on them through the darkened house.

He carefully stepped up the staircase, not wanting to make a single sound. Unlike the occupants upstairs.

The occupants upstairs! It was clearly Zelda's voice.

Link´s throat went dry. His eyes burned with tears that wanted to break through, his sinews tightened up and twisted in incontrollable spasms. He already knew, but he wanted to confirm it, if only because he was still clinging onto that last shred of hope of it not being what it sounded like. Even as he was about to glance through the ajar opening into Zelda's room.

That one second. It was all that it took. That one second that changed everything. All had been reduced to white ashes. Gone were the days of sweet moments with a long-time crush that had answered his feelings. There were only Link, Zelda and a muscular guy with a red pompadour with the space from the bed to the door between them.

It was sickening. Heartbreaking. Stomach-turning. Whatever hope that Link had clung onto was gone, shattered like his heart with the permanent imprint of Zelda, his love, on her hands and knees with another man behind her. Naked and smiling.

Until their eyes met. The equally blue rubies met for a second, and the brunette´s smile of perverted joy cracked. She looked scared, like she was about to scream, but her voice kept betraying her with moans.

That was the last he saw of her before he sprinted back outside to his car, and drove away.

He didn't even care that she had finally screamed and yelled after him. Another woman's voice that pleaded him not to go, all in one evening. But once again, it fell on deaf ears, never to be appreciated.

His eyes were just about to burst. Link felt his body shake due to his unstable emotions, barely letting him keep the wheel steady enough to drive properly. How could've this had happened? Why had it happened? Just like that had Link dropped from Heaven to Hell, at the tip of a hat.

He was lucky with the green lights. The traffic was lesser then earlier. Link could drive safely, but fast, through the streets until he found himself just outside of town after who knows how much time. It was near the forest and wildlife, where people tended to camp and throw barbeque parties during the summer, with a hill overlooking a good portion of the town.

Parking himself at the foot of the hill, Link got out. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, devouring whatever light that was still out. He walked up to the top, and simply stood there. His phone began to ring and vibrate, prompting him to pick it up. He recognized the number.

"So now your phone works huh…"

He wasn't enjoying the view, or being outside without a jacket. That one was still with Veran. No, he simply stood there; hiding his tears in the rain that shortly followed, and drowned his cries and shouts of rage in the thunder.

::::

Ghirahim chuckled to himself. Clad in soft silken pajamas-trousers, and an equally soft shirt that was buttoned open, he slumped back onto his armchair with a content sigh. His eyes shimmered with mirth, and his lips curled up into a lustful grin over the sight of his newest boy-toy undressing before him.

"Best way to start the week… "He remarked with a grin. "I could just eat you up you minx…"

Kafei smirked back at Ghirahim. "Flatter, flatter. If you like me for what I do, do me."

"Don't mind if I- "The doorbell rang loudly that very instant. The two young men shared a look of agitation towards the front door. The bell rang again, for a slightly longer period this time, forcing Ghirahim to head towards the now god-forsaken door.

"Alright already! I'm coming! Who the hell are you and what do you-" He yelled, opening up the door with a glare, only to see Link before him. His eyes were bloodshot, he was soaked due to the everlasting rain and his face was devoid of any emotions. Only a cold stare remained in his eyes.

"..Hey, Ghirahim." Link said solemnly. "…Is it a bad time?"

The white-haired man stared in disbelief. "W-What? No, No! No its alright, I… Link, what the hell happened?!"

"… Can I come in?"

"S-Sure man... Uh, on second thought, give me a minute." Ghirahim left the door ajar as he headed back to the living room. Link couldn't hear what exactly was going on, but his suspicions were answered when Kafei stormed out of the door with a frown, barely glancing over at Link before he walked away in the rain.

"So, you can come in now." Ghirahim said, beckoning Link from inside. The blonde, young man raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Your… Guest seemed quite upset."

"Oh don't mind him. He's a boy-toy, nothing more. But that aside, come in! What the hell happened to you?! You look like you got the worst news of all the bad news in the world and took a swan-dive into this downpour!"

"…" Link remained silent. He stepped inside, closed the door, and was guided to the couch. "… Something like that."

"Look, it's a serious matter; I get it." Ghirahim said, a hand on his hip with the other one pointing at Link. "But I tossed out my night´s tool of pleasure just to let you in. So you owe me an explanation." He grinned afterwards, however briefly. "Seriously though. Just what on earth happened? I have never seen you like this before."

"… I can't tell you the details." Link replied, looking into Ghirahim´s eyes apologetically. "Not yet… I rather just forget everything, if only temporary..."

He paused. "I found out the reason as to why Zelda has been acting like she did."

His friend´s eyes widened. He arched his back, having bent over to listen carefully, and took a few steps before looking back at Link. "… And..?"

The blonde sighed. His head hung lifelessly on his shoulders over the floor, letting the droplets of water fall down onto the carpet. At this point, Link didn't know if it was rainwater or remaining tears.

"… It wasn't pretty."

::::::

Link looked back at his cell phone. When he had visited Ghirahim, he had let it remain in his car due to not wanting it around.

20 missed calls. 17 text-messages and 8 voicemails.

Nothing. He felt nothing. So Zelda had called, tried to contact him. Who was he to care? Where had she been when he had tried to contact her? She was the one who avoided him when he finally found her. She had closed that door, not him.

It all felt like a bad joke right now. A horrible punch line with effects. That's what it was. Not that he cared at the moment. Still damp and growing tired, Link drove through the merciless rain and roaring thunders, determined to get back home. He had school tomorrow, and even though he felt like staying home and skip it, he knew that would be unwise. But he considered it, still. Ghirahim himself had told him to "take a day off" to recuperate, insisted on it even.

Link allowed a temporary, small smile adorn his face. Ghirahim could be a pain at times, but he knew how to cheer people up with his odd behaviour and deranged sense of humour.

He glanced back at the phone. 21:04. He could afford another hour of doing nothing before going to bed. Sure, Ghirahim had cheered him up, but it was bound to be only temporary. Hours of playing videogames, talking about everything and nothing that was relevant to what had happened, and generally just goofing around had been fun, but Link´s spirits was kept down. He had shed his tears and screamed his rage, but the pain of betrayal clung onto him like a mantle.

He parked his car on the usual slot. Once again did he bask in the rain, the raindrops hitting him like bullets. And yet he walked as slowly as possible, not bothering to hurry up inside. With a little luck, he would get sick and therefore had a legit reason to stay at home.

´At home… far from her. With no chance- … risk of having to see her again.´ Link thought bitterly, making his way up the stairs. The wind cut to the bone, but he would soon be inside, after a few more steps. And then he saw it. Right there, on the handle to his front door hung his jacket.

His jacket that he had left behind in his rage earlier that evening. Link stared at it for a good ten minutes before he took it, flung it over his shoulder, and walked past his door to the next, and rang the doorbell.

He waited patiently. Eventually, the door was unlocked and opened up to reveal Veran in her usual attire. She looked down at him with a somewhat puzzled expression, but her eyes revealed the joy she felt when she saw him. Her eyes, like Link´s, were somewhat reddened, as if she as well had shed her tears. Thinking back, Link could understand. She had only tried to help him, and he threw it back in her face. He stared at her, solemnly.

"You… You were right." He said quietly. She heard him, but remained silent, even as his eyes began to tear up. "You were right all along. I… I'm sorry."

"I am sorry as well…" She stepped up to him and pulled him into her arms. Fortunately, it wasn't an awkward hug like the first time. He wrapped his arms around her, burrowing his face into her shoulder, and let the last tears leave him as she warmed him up with her embrace. Even as they stood outside with the chilling wind, they remained warm for the duration of the hug.

"Want to come inside?" She whispered. Link nodded against her shoulder, his nostrils catching the scent of lavender. "I would love that." He whispered with a small smile. Unbeknownst to the blonde man, Veran smiled genuinely back.

And there we have it. Now things are really starting to pick up its pace!

What will happen now? :O

Find out next time!