A/N: Bleh, so I need to get my sleeping schedule back on track. I didn't go to bed till 5 am last night then I got up at 10 and then I slept from 1-4. Gah! I'm a mess. So I figure I'll stay up all night… got my power juice ready. :D And just write and read all night. That way I'll be really tired tomorrow and fall asleep at a good hour… like 9. Lol Anyways, I want to thank deikitty, Darkwolflink1, Dani (of course XD), Ernoma, and Lady Keki for your recent reviews. Very much appreciated! Like I always say, let the writing commence!
Chapter 22: Conversation
"What?" Dark asked bewildered as he took a couple of steps forward, "How do you know?"
"It says your name on the front?" Link replied simply with a slight grin, "I wonder who would send you a letter… And how they would know to bring it here…" Link trailed off thoughtfully. He then picked up the piece of black fabric the letter was sitting on top of and unfolded it. It was a black tunic, just like the one Dark used to wear before it was ruined by the whole confrontation with Sheik. Link began to examine the shirt carefully, feeling it with his index finger and thumb, "This is high quality material." He added and then noticed a glimmer of gold shining from the right sleeve and fumbled with the tunic to get a better look, "It's a tiny triforce…" He muttered grazing a finger over the embroidery.
Meanwhile, Dark sat at the edge of Link's bed with the letter unopened in his hands. He flipped it over a couple of times and kept coming back to the writing sketched across the front. It was his name alright, but the letters themselves were beautiful. Whoever had wrote it had wonderful skills in calligraphy. He glanced up to Link who was now holding a pair of white pants in front of him that were also underneath the tunic and the letter. To Dark they looked like any other ordinary pants, but the look in Link's eyes said otherwise.
"These clothes are wonderful, Dark." Link said in awe as he examined the two pieces of attire. They didn't feel exactly like regular cotton but thicker, like flannel. The seams were spot on and tailored to fit perfectly, "Have you opened that up yet? I want to know who sent you these!" He said with a smile but it quickly faded as presumptuous thoughts filled his head, "What if they're from Ganondorf?" He asked with a tinge of anger.
"They aren't." Dark muttered with certainty.
"How do you know?" Link asked folding the garments and placing them neatly on a dresser.
"Do you think Ganondorf can write this pretty?" Dark questioned with a smile. Link didn't return the grin.
"That's hardly enough reason to say it isn't him." Link replied coldly, "Open it. Is that why you are stalling? Because there's a chance it's from him?" Link began to ask accusingly.
"I know it's not from him. But I will open it to ease your nerves, hero." Dark spat ripping the envelope apart and pulling out a piece of ivory paper from within. He stood to his feet and stepped outside to read it. Link didn't follow him even if he had doubts about who it was from. It was Dark's letter and it would be rude of him to be reading it over his shoulder. Dark took a seat at the edge of the balcony and swung his feet lightly back and forth as he began to read the following paragraphs…
Dark Link,
I need to confide the guilt I've suppressed in my heart since our last confrontation.
Hate is not an emotion I am accustomed to.
I assumed that since you are the only being that has been able to fetch that feeling out of me that you were of evil existence.
Death is not an action I would have ever desired upon a person so casually.
Especially a person whose identity I had yet to recognize.
You happen to be a very distinct individual, with the upmost significance.
You hold something very precious to my heart in your grasp and you carry it gracefully.
I could not see how valuable that treasure was to you as well, due to my own selfish intentions.
It was not until I saw death lurking in search for your soul that my observations reformed.
I had been the one to cause death to come looking for you when it wasn't your time.
Yet, even so I could not stop you.
And you postponed definite mortality with utter strength and determination.
Then when you came to find the one responsible for speeding up the curse of being only a mortal…
You did not seek revenge.
You did not seek revenge… because of love.
True, pure, and everlasting love.
That is the difference between you and i.
While I go seeking for vengeance for the one I care for, you refuse to give in to your own temptations.
I know what you craved for in your mind and what you had to do for your heart.
I will never be able to show Link the kind of pure and wholesome adoration as you can because he completes you as a person; and you with him.
Together you are one; and I was resentful to not have that bond as well.
Treat and care for him as you know I would have liked to.
I'm surrendering my dearest treasure to you and all I ask in return is that you forgive me for my ignorance.
Sheik
Dark had to reread the letter almost twenty times before a realization of what it meant and what is stood for began to set in.
"Sheik…" He whispered into the night air. He gazed up to the stars and noticed a formation in the sky. It looked… like an eye. He smiled to himself and shook his head as he thought of the idiotic Sheikah. He felt sympathy for the poor man. He knew what it was like to feel as if you're losing the most valuable possession in your life to somebody else. But yet, he didn't. For as soon as he thought he was losing Link he had gained him back; however, he never really left to begin with and he never belonged to Sheik. He never had Link to call his own and he was never going to and as much as the thought of the two being together frustrated Dark he couldn't help but feel bad for him. He could sense the pain in his letter of 'surrendering' his love and how much he never wanted to experience that anguish. What Dark thought Sheik was trying to get across in his writing was that he was apologizing for trying to murder him under careless circumstances. He knew that whenever Dark refused to lay a finger on him merely because of Link's feelings he'd realized how much he really cared for Link. Whereas Sheik cared about Link to an almost obsession and he wanted to kill off Dark so he wouldn't be able to have him, completely putting Link's wants and desires in jeopardy. And that was the difference between the two.
As well as, the act of kindness that Dark had shown when refusing to kill his enemy after nearly getting killed himself showed Sheik he was truly a part of Link. A half that made a whole. And Sheik would never kill something that was so intimately bonded to his eternal love, something that was as a part of him as his beating heart and soul. That is why he felt such dreadful guilt since that day.
Link had since come out onto the balcony and stood behind Dark gazing at the stars with him. He had yet to ask Dark who the letter was from but could tell by the look on Dark's face and his composure that it surely wasn't from Ganondorf. Dark could sense the blonde boy's presence from behind him and leaned back against his legs. He tilted his head upwards and stared at Link with a smile. He could tell that it was killing Link inside to know who it was.
"Fret not, hero. It was from Sheik." Dark replied a bit solemnly, "Where's the brat?" He asked quickly with a glare.
"Sheik?" Link asked taking a seat next to Dark, "Wha-at …did he have… t-to say?" He stammered thinking about Dark's near death encounter caused by someone he once thought was a very dear friend, "Oh… and Navi's inside. She passed out as soon as she hit the pillow." He added with a grin.
"Lazy Fairy…" Dark muttered, "And a lot of stuff. Mostly he apologized. I guess those clothes are some sort of bribe for me to forgive him for stabbing a dagger in my stomach." Dark replied sarcastically. Link continued to look at him with curiosity and Dark sighed knowing what he wanted, "You may read it, if you wish." Link grinned and grabbed the letter and just as Dark did, read it multiple times before looking back towards Dark.
"Wow…" Link whispered a bit forlornly, "That was… that was…"
"Some deep shit, right?" Dark answered for him while nodding his head.
"Not exactly the word choice I was looking for…" Link muttered while folding the letter and handing it back to Dark, "It's funny… well… never mind."
"What's funny?" Dark asked curiously narrowing his eyes a bit at Link, "I didn't find anything funny about it at all…" He added defensively.
"No… not the letter. It's just…" Link continued fidgeting with his hands and looking away.
"It's just what?" Dark asked again this time more demandingly. There was an awkward silence for what seemed like hours until Link finally spoke again.
"You two are just so different." Link choked out forcefully.
"Yeah. So?" Dark said sternly while giving him a shrug, "What are you trying to get at?"
Link's eyes grew wide and he could sense Dark becoming irritated.
"Just tell me what you're thinking Link."
"I just think it's funny how… Sheik writes about me like I'm some prized possession and how much I mean to him… in all these beautiful and creative words." Link stammered while avoiding eye contact with Dark, "And… and you well… you…"
"I what?" Dark shouted peeved at how much Link was stalling.
"You are always joking around… and making fun of me. You've never said anything to me like Sheik has..." Link said softly while twiddling his thumbs.
"Do I need to write you a love poem so you know I care about you?" Dark asked with a slight chuckle.
"No! It's just funny that Sheik is okay with backing off even though you aren't near as tender and delicate as he is… and he's letting us… you know… be together." Link managed to say through flustered language.
"Are you saying we're together?" Dark asked with a slight grin.
"I don't know! Obviously I don't really have a choice since you and Sheik are just trading me away like a title deed as if I'm some sort of property!" Link sneered a bit hurt. Dark was a bit taken back by his sudden outrage. He had no idea that Link had felt that way, "I mean… first off Sheik confesses his feelings. Then you do… which I was sort of okay with. But I mean… this is all so new, Dark. Sometimes I just don't know how to feel about all this." Link continued looking amongst the forest with vacant eyes, "I don't mean to hurt your feelings but… it feels awkward at times. I mean you… we already talked about this… but you're a man. I'm a man. You know?" Link was starting to not make any sense rambling on about all of his pent up feelings.
"Well," Dark replied putting a hand to his chin. Link cringed waiting for him to yell or shout or become angry but he didn't, "I think it's easier for me to understand how I feel… because you're the first person I'd ever met besides Ganondorf. Sorry but the Dark Lord isn't someone I'd find very attractive." He added with a wink, "Anyways, since you were the first person I'd ever met… and the first person I'd ever cared about… it was easy for me to fall for you, regardless if you're a man or a woman. I'd never even met any women until Malon. The girls in the forest are children. And though I admit she was quite beautiful… I can't imagine being with her."
"Why not? That's how it's supposed to be." Link responded quite interested in Dark's profound thoughts.
"Says who?" Dark asked honestly. He really had no idea who made up these rules that everyone was to abide by.
"Well… everyone!" Link finally answered but then felt quite stupid afterwards.
"Why does it matter what they say?" Dark questioned once more. He really didn't know what the fuss was about. He didn't care what other people thought or had to say besides Link.
"Dark…" Link muttered as he tried to explain the situation to him, "How would it look for the Hero of Time to be a gay man?"
"Gay? Is that what they call it?"
"Ugh!" Link groaned, "Yes, that is what they call it. Anyways it's hard for you to understand because you don't always have everybody's eyes on you. Constantly I have to meet people's expectations."
"Mm," Dark mumbled, "Well, I'm glad that I care more about what makes me happy then other people. Well, except you…"
"It's not that I don't want to be happy Dark…" Link replied solemnly, "But seriously… we are both males. Do you know what that means? Have you realized that?"
"I notice every time I take a piss." Dark answered seriously, "I ask again, so what?"
"What… well… you…" Link rambled with widened eyes, "I know what happens when two guys… you know…" He took his two index fingers and poked them together at their tips. Dark couldn't help but laugh at Link's sign language for the term sex, "I know what goes on. I've heard things!"
"Well, I for one don't have the slightest clue. But… I think I could get a couple of ideas." Dark replied raising a brow seductively, "Look Link if you want me to back off then I will. But don't push me away because you're scared of what other people think of you. You're out there to save their lives and if they're as worth saving as you say… it shouldn't matter." Dark finished then stood up to walk inside. Before he could leave, Link grabbed his hand before he could take another step. Dark turned to look into his beautiful sapphire irises that glinted with both longing yet sadness. He frowned and sat back down.
"You do want me to back off don't you?" Dark asked again crouching down and holding his knees to his chest.
"I don't know…" Was Link's only response as he still held Dark's hand in his grasp. After he had noticed he let go quickly and flushed a deep red. Link had never been so nervous around Dark and he had to admit it was kind of cute.
"I don't mind." Dark said handing his hand back for Link to hold on to. Link smiled slightly and began tugging and pulling at Dark's fingers to keep himself occupied. Dark couldn't help but chuckle and sat completely on his bottom swinging his feet off the edge, "You know I'd never force you to do anything…" Dark whispered after a few moments of silence. At this Link looked up to Dark and smiled.
"I know… I just… I'd have a hard time refusing you." Link said nervously and gave Dark his hand back and set his own in his lap.
"What do you think I expect of you?" Dark asked seriously, "We've only kissed two times. And they weren't make out sessions or anything…" Link began to blush fiercely and thanked the night sky for covering it up.
"Well eventually that stuff leads to more stuff…" Link said childishly and shifting his position so he would be more comfortable and in doing so his knee gently brushed against Dark's and they quickly scooted away from each other nervously.
"Look at us!" Dark laughed, "We're acting like little kids." He grinned over to Link who wasn't smiling back. More awkward silence presumed.
"I'm still getting adjusted to being an adult, Dark." Link muttered finally.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Whenever I pulled the master sword from the temple of time I was asleep for 7 years. It's not like I had time to grow up or experience the things normal kids would. I just woke up one day and bam! I was an adult." Link explained, "I'm sorry if I still act immature. I'm trying to get used to it. I've had a while to adjust… but it's nothing compared to seven years."
"I wasn't trying to offend you Link… I just think it's goofy how all of a sudden we're so nervous around each other. I know what you had to go through and that's half the reason I'm taking it slow." Dark answered, "I'm sort of the same way… when we were split apart I had to grow up in that temple. I didn't experience what normal children did either, Link. I sat there and practiced swinging that sword around for seven years." He replied comfortingly and grabbed his hand and entwined his fingers around his, "But that's what makes us so special. We're different from everybody else and nobody could ever understand. I think that's one of the things Sheik was talking about in his letter."
"Do you forgive him Dark?" Link asked out of nowhere while looking towards him with a pained expression. He didn't know himself how to feel about what had happened with Sheik. He couldn't stay angry with him even if he had almost killed Dark. Sheik had always been there for Link. He was the first person he saw and spoke to when he woke up after the time lapse.
"Who said I ever held a grudge?" Dark asked confused, "I know what he did was wrong but I understand his motives. They'd come across my mind too. Even if he was a true enemy it still doesn't matter. When somebody is your opponent you don't waste time with feelings and emotions. You do what needs to be done and kill them. That's why Sheik couldn't kill me. I wasn't a true enemy." Link just stared at him with a confused expression, "In simpler terms, yes. I forgive him." Dark said rolling his eyes. Link couldn't help but smile. He felt so peaceful at this moment. Sheik and Dark were on better terms. They had just finished another small quest when they conquered the shadow temple and they only had one more left to go. Then they would fight Ganondorf and it would all be over. Then his smile faded and a look of concern came over him.
"Dark," Link said quickly, "What's going to happen to you when this is over?" He asked frantically as if he knew the answer.
"I… I don't know Link… what do you think would happen?" Dark asked flustered and turned to face him head on.
"I… I don't know!" Link cried almost on the verge of panic. He grasped Dark by his tunic and clutched the fabric in his fists as if begging for him to give him some kind of explanation.
"Well, I'm not going to go anywhere. They won't kill me off will they?" Dark asked with worry referring to princess Zelda and her authority figures.
"No… they wouldn't do that. Not after helping me defeat Ganondorf…" Link said staring into Dark's ruby eyes for comfort. He was trying to convince himself that everything was going to be alright in the end, "What if she tries to send me back in time?" Link suddenly asked widening his eyes so big Dark thought they were going to bulge out of his head.
"Well… then I'll be closer to you than I could have ever imagined." Dark replied softly stroking a lock of blonde hair behind Link's ear.
"That doesn't make sense Dark…" Link mumbled letting go of his shirt and pulling his knees to his chest, "You'll be gone… we would never be split apart. It'll just be me."
"Us." Dark corrected tracing a finger along his jaw to his chin and forcing him to face him, "I'll always be with you that way…" He said trying to sound comforting.
"It isn't the same. That's not what I want." Link answered frustrated, "I'll never see you again… How come I never felt you before? You know… like heard your voice in my head or something?" Link asked.
"Maybe I was just tucked away somewhere…" Dark replied poking Link in the chest where his heart should be. He could see Link's face fall and tears start to swell into his eyes, "We'll worry about it when the time comes." He assured him snaking an arm around his waist and scooting him close while giving him a tight squeeze, "Besides… as much as I hate to admit it. You'd be just fine without me."
"Don't say such things…" Link muttered leaning his head on Dark's shoulder.
"I'm only speaking the truth, darling." Dark replied honestly and began to run his fingers through Link's straw-colored hair, "Why don't we get some well needed rest. We should head out early tomorrow…"
"I don't want to go…" Link complained groaning like a child. Link thought the longer he put off the temple the longer he would get to be with Dark without worrying about what was going to happen to him. However, he knew as always Hyrule's safety came before his own wants and needs and he stood up dutifully and let Dark pull him into the house. Their makeshift bed remained unmoved since the last time they'd slept on it.
"When we're done playing hero, we're upgrading to a bigger tree house!" Dark announced, "And a new bed!"
"Shut up… Dark… you shmuck…" Navi muttered in her sleep. She had Link's old bed all to herself. She had to enjoy all of the space she had to roll and move as she pleased. Dark frowned that even in her sleep the fairy would still manage to insult him. He sat down on the pile of quilts that made up their sleeping area and began to pull his boots off. He glanced up to Link who was just standing there staring at him.
"What is it?" Dark asked nervously as he placed his boots to the side. Link walked delicately over to Navi and picked up the pillow she was laying on. Dark raised an eyebrow then continued with taking off his gauntlets and then his tunic. Link tip toed towards the door, Navi in tow and set her gently outside on the balcony making sure not to wake her. Link then returned and continued to stand and stare at Dark who was in the middle of pulling the shirt over his head, "So you're getting sick of her to, huh?" He asked with a smirk. Link didn't smile back but curled his lips in and looked at Dark thoughtfully. He knelt down on his knees in front of him and placed both his hands behind his neck rubbing his thumbs under the skin beneath his ears.
"Link, what are you- Dark started to whisper but was cut off instantly when Link's lips came crashing down to his own. He leaned back slowly bending his elbows as Link carefully placed a knee on either side of him never breaking apart their lips. Dark's eyes were wide with shock but he slowly relaxed and placed a hand delicately on Link's cheek. Link opened his mouth and began to kiss Dark with more force and more passion nipping at his bottom lip and slipping his tongue in to tease his own.
Dark uneasily grabbed at his wrists but did not pull him away. Link yanked his arm from Dark's grasp and ran a calloused hand up his stomach and traced a finger along his defined muscles. Dark shuddered as Link's hand was coming dangerously close to the hem line of his pants. This is when Dark stopped and completely backed away. Link stared at him mortified and got off of him, "Link, what's wrong?" He asked worriedly not that he hadn't enjoyed what had just happened, but it was so sudden. And right after their talk about taking it slow and backing off?
"I-I'm sorry!" Link shouted raising his arms as if he were surrendering to the police.
"No! Don't be sorry!" Dark replied crawling on all fours towards the trembling blonde, "What was that all about? I thought that you wanted me to slow down and then here you come, full force! I'm not angry… just confused." Dark said softly grabbing at Link's hand. Link relaxed a bit and exhaled a deep breath.
"I don't want you to think that I'm a coward. And I don't want to miss my opportunity to show you how much you mean to me… in case you should disappear." Link muttered with his head down and his bangs covering his face.
"What? Link, I'm not going to think you're a coward for not wanting to sleep with me. Hell, I'm going to be scared shitless when that time comes." Dark assured him with his eyes wide and a hand to his chest, "Don't push it too soon just because you're scared to lose me. We still have time and if you keep worrying about what's going to happen after Ganondorf it's going to drive you nuts. Let's just enjoy our time together by the day…" Dark said soothingly then giving Link a peck on the nose. Link sighed with relief.
"Okay good… wow I hope I didn't just freak you out." He replied uneasily giving Dark a look of worry.
"Nah… I'm kind of regretting stopping you by the second…" Dark joked pushing Link lightly, "I'm such a fool!" He cried over dramatically and then fell backwards with his wrist to his forehead.
"You're such an idiot!" Link teased pouncing on him and kissing his forehead. He then rolled to his side and rested his head onto Dark's chest with a hand over his torso. Link latched onto him like it was the last time they were ever going to see each other. That talk about the future really freaked him out.
"Goodnight princess." Dark mumbled sleepily while fluffing his hair. Link frowned but didn't let Dark's teasing bother him.
"Night." He replied hoping to the goddesses that things would turn out in his favor.
The next morning the two young men woke up to a very angry fairy.
"WHO PUT ME OUTSIDE?"
A/N: Oh ho ho… silly Navi. XD How'd you like that Dani? Mwahahahaha Oh god you're probably scared of me now… -_-
