51. Z1D-403
"CORNERS NOW!" Link commanded Lee and his unidentified brother. Both of them actually begun to retreat to a corner each, the bandit was making a tantrum on his way though.
LINK POV
My fucking Princess is in distress, and it appears SOMEBODY tried to choke her. I was expecting the pirate to give a fight, I mean… I would. But I was NOT expecting him to attack a girl MY PRINCESS. How did that happen? Robert was here to guard her, wasn't he? I need to talk to both of them. Let's start with the one left in charge here.
Link approaches Lee's corner, Zelda drops down to her knees in the middle of the room, on top of the tatami, she needed to catch her breath and to collect herself before trying to speak to ANY of them. After all... seeing the boys fighting really affected her, she had been scared of them REALLY hurting each other.
"What the hell happened? I want the short version" Link asks with serenity.
"The fucker woke up and tried to strangle Zelda, I pushed him off her and we fought a little… there is something wrong with him up here" Robert says as he taps on his temples "he wanted to fight me, but his punches were weak, he was not really trying. I felt like he just wanted me to punch him, maybe to even…"
Fuck, I know how that feels… Zelda was depressed and wanted an easy way out, why is my pirate depressed?
Link nods and gives Robert a pat on the shoulder, he then turns and walks towards the mugger, Zelda stands up and runs to Lee, she needed to let him know the robber was not really trying to strangle her, he made it hard for her to breathe but not impossible. He may be skinny but of course he could still manage to choke her, meaning he was using her to provoking the fight.
Link stands in front of the mugger who is sitting on the floor staring at the wall but not really paying attention to it, he was spaced out.
"Would you care to tell me what happened?" Link asks
The thief lifts his head angrily "EXCUSE ME, I AM THE ONE WHO WAS KIDNAPPED, YOU TELL ME WHAT IS UP!" he then looks at the ground and lowers his tone to a whisper "Why am I here… what more do you want from me?"
*WHAT THE HELL? WHY… WHO HURT HIM?
I don't know, but consider him or them death once he tells me
"I will explain EVERYTHING while we eat, care to join us?" Link invites him with a joyful tone and an honest smile.
"What?" the mugger asks in disbelief.
"I am sure you know what a meat pie is, we just bought some, let's eat them shall we?" Link says smiling and waggling his eyebrows.
Link says pulling up the pirate to a standing position. He begins to untie his hands and then proceeds to untie the feet. The thief was about to knee Link on the face but a giggle distracted him from doing so, looking up at the source, he saw the girl smiling and wiggling her fingers to salute him, then he saw the boy he fought previously frowning, but also waving at him, inviting him to come over and join them. The sight completely disarmed the larcenist.
Once Link released the assailant's feet, he started guiding him to the tatami. As they were heading there, he noticed the pirate walked hobbling.
Is he hurt? Did Robert do this or is it an old injury?
Link waited for him patiently, when he arrived at the spot Link envisioned for him, he pushed him down by his shoulders, forcing him to sit there. Zelda had already opened her order and started choosing which pie to give her new brother, Lee just ripped the top of his food container off to use it as a dish, he then placed a random pie and handed it to Zelda for her to place hers in there too, she then handed it to Link, who took the foam tray and started checking his order to preferably choose meat pies for his bro, avoiding the cheese one. He placed 3 on the makeshift plate and gave it to the pirate.
"enjoy" Link says handing it to the criminal
"Why?"
"Why not?" Link asks lifting an eyebrow
"Actually… I think I handed you the cheese one from my order, give it back and grab another one" Lee says handing over his half of the container with his meat pies.
The thief shakes his head in refusal "I am ok with the feta and spinach pies"
Link scowls irate "NO, YOU ARE NOT" Link says as he grabs one of the meat pies from Lee's tray and places it on the Bandit's "If you don't want to starve Robert then give back the Feta pie" Link says grinning maliciously, Robert whines pouting and trying to mimic a puppy.
This earns chuckle from Zelda and a snort from the Pirate "all right" he looks for the feta pie and palaces it on Robert's Styrofoam tray. "I don't mean to rush you, but could you start talking?"
Link smiles "Of course. By the way, I am Link, Robert there" Link points at Lee who just wave a little "and she is Zelda. How should we refer to you?"
"Z1D-4… damn forgot the rest. Just call me Z" the delinquent says as he starts tensing with uncertainty
"Do not fuck with me, that is not a name, that is the nomenclature the clinic used to treat you… right?" Link exclaims, but soon starts noticing the pirate's glare.
"FUCK, that IS your name?" Link takes out his cellphone and starts retrieving the only document SWORD had on this boy "Z1D-403… that is not acceptable at all" Link says in shock and with a little sadness
What the actual fuck? He is a person, not a robot, why does he have THAT name? I need intel on this ASAP
Zelda crawls to Link and takes the cellphone from his hands, she quickly reads on it taking special notice on his so-called name, and the diagnosis. Cerebral Edema that put him in a coma for 3 days. They treated him with serum bags only, hoping an electrolyte deficiency was the root cause. She immediately stops reading, she wanted to avoid knowing too much, the last thing she needed was to get emotional.
"You know what? Your name is too complicated, can we call you Zid?" Zelda suggests and hands the cellphone back to Link who starts grinning.
HAHAHA, I see what you did Princess. Z1D-403… Z1D… Zid. You my royal ass of a Princess are a fucking genius, well not really, but you think fast and beyond your emotions apparently. I respect that.
Link chuckles and hands his cellphone to Robert, Lee starts scanning through the document. He smiles when he notices where the Princess got the name from. Then he got to the notes where the medic stated he was NOT sure what the problem was, they were hoping it was an electrolyte deficiency since all they could do was plug him on a serum bag, since they were treating him for free. Fortunately, he responded favorably. On an ending note, he was deemed malnourished by the medic in charge.
"I don't mind. Zid… I think I like it" Zid says beaming, but soon his smile falls and his gaze lands on the floor. Suddenly he looks up at all of them with a guarding look.
ZID POV
"As much I am enjoying this, let's cut the crap. Where and when do you want to do this? and what are you using to hunt me?" Zid says expecting them to be compassionate enough to answer
Lee rolls his eyes, Zelda stares at him with curiosity, Link answers with a blank expression.
"Tomorrow, at the Clinic 5min from here, and nobody is hunting you, I just want to test your blood"
"Blood extraction? What for? Is that really all you want from me?" Zid asks perplexed, he was NOT used to being treated like a human being at all.
Link squares himself and stretches his neck from side to side cracking it in the process "The information I am about to disclose demands absolute secrecy, you are not to talk to ANYONE about what will be discussed here, am I clear on that?"
The fuck… the mood just shifted, Robert and… was it, Zelda? Even stopped chewing. This is serious, do I want to be here? Am I in danger? Come on, don't be a coward, what's the worst that could happen? That I get murdered? That is what I wanted, I was pushing for Robert to kill me a while ago, I got nothing to lose.
Zid nods with apprehensiveness
"I belong to an organization… an agency that imparts judgement on people, that alone puts me on danger's path. It's important for agents like myself to locate donors that could help if things go dire. We happened to come across a document that makes us believe you could be a donor for me"
Zid shakes his head in confusion "You could not have, I destroyed everything, I heard men in suits where sniffing on medical documents so I destroyed mine a month ago… it's important for my safety to not exist"
Link opens his eyes amazed at finally learning the reason why SWORD could not find more information on Zid.
"You didn't destroy everything then… but please indulge me on why you thought we came here to hunt you down, and on the reason why you deemed necessary to destroyed your papers"
"Maybe someday" more like NEVER
"What do I gain from this? because I do gain something right? if not, I am not interested" Zid says
"How does 10k monthly sound?"
FUCK. That is a lot, I was bluffing and being an ass… is he for real? Of course he is not, how could he, he is not old enough to be working for starters.
"DOLLARS? AMERICAN DOLLARS? YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING WITH ME… I am tired of people fucking with me so don't lie to me. You are under age so you can't possibly be working for anyone"
Link chuckles shaking his head "I operate under very special circumstances, but what I told you is the truth, I don't lie Zid" Link says staring into his eyes "our Medic is travelling here to take and analyze your blood tomorrow 9am"
Do I really believe any of this? No, but they seem set on following this delusion, and it seems fun so let's play along.
"So where do I sign? For that money I would donate you even an eye right now"
Bluffing again, I would NEVER donate an eye, I need them to be able to protect myself. But I could lose a finger on the spot for that kind of money, it would mean I could stop stealing, hunting, and fishing… gosh I hate fishing.
Don't lie to yourself, YOU WANT TO BELIEVE. It solves EVERYTHING, and Link seems so fucking serious about this, he makes me feel like I can trust him.
"We need the results of the analysis first; you need to be a match with me of at least 90% to enter the program and benefit from it"
Zid's excitement plummets "90? Oh… don't bother testing me then, I am NOT your man, can I still finish my pies though?"
Link stares at him frowning, unsure as to why Zid seems so sure of not being a match. Lee tries to say something but can't find the words. So that gave the Princess an opportunity to intervene.
The Princess starts chuckling "I beg to differ; I think you are EXACTLY the man. Let's just get you tested first before claiming anything, how about that?" Zelda tells him.
"If you are still willing to go through with this, I don't have any problem. Just telling you in advance I am not going to be a match" Zid says as he starts munching on his meat pies.
Zid stops after the first bite and his eyes start to tear up. Zelda was about to ask if something was wrong, but Link pulled on her arm effectively silencing her, he smiles at her and brings an index to his lips, signaling for her to remain quiet. Zid actually starts sobbing.
I can't believe I am crying over food, it's just meat. I eat it from time to time when I manage to catch a rat or to fish. But the taste is so different, does salt really makes this much of a difference? No, I don't think so, there are other spices involved I bet. I am going to miss this… I am going to miss THEM.
Why are they so nice to me? I thought Robert surely hated me and Zelda at least feared me but, they don't, not at all. Lots of tourist hear about the legend of the cursed children and they hunt us down, believing they would get paid for killing us, but I never hear of anyone getting paid for slaughtering the others.
Zid thought as he devoured his food, earning stares from the others.
"Did you get your fill? If not, I am sure there is something I can do to remedy that" Link assures him
"I don't know what full feels like, but this was more food than I am used to. Don't worry about me, I will live through the night" Zid winks at him.
Link inhales deeply "Tomorrow we leave at 8:30am, the blood test requires you to be fasted, what do you say we stop at a restaurant for breakfast when we are done at the Clinic?"
Zid opens his eyes wide and shakes his head "NO, I would rather eat home prepared or to go food"
The three of you may be alright, but I don't feel safe sitting in an unfamiliar place for too long
"Actually, the food stand where I got the meat pies sells a breakfast pie, its cheese, bacon and an egg on top of it all, that is only available from 7:00am to 10:30am" Lee informs them.
"Excuse me, what is bacon? What if I don't like it? Some cheese or milk will do for me" Zid states
Zelda's eyes go wide and she turns to Link anguished, he retains his stoic countenance and nods at her. He was about to tell Zid to shut the fuck up and eat whatever they feed him, in nicer words obviously, but Lee beat him to it.
"THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?" Lee yells "NO BROTHER OF MINE REFUSES BACON" He inhales deeply "you are eating bacon tomorrow, and you are gonna love it"
"I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!" Zid screams back.
Robert smiles with his eyes wide open as he tilts his head "Got news for you, if you pull off a 90% match you might as well be OUR brother" Robert loses his demented smile and points at the Princess "She knows you will be a match and I trust her judgement. You, BROTHER, will eat bacon even if I have to force feed you, and believe me… you don't want ME to do that, it will be out of love though"
Link cracks laughing at the whole scene. He was NOT expecting his brothers to start their relationship fighting and arguing. The whole idea was hilarious but felt right and normal somehow.
Out of love? Ha-ha, who the fuck does something so savage out of love… wait, mothers force feed veggies to their kids, DAMN… I am loved… WHAIT, WHAT THE FUCK! We just meet. He cannot love me already, can he? None of them can, they haven't even SEEN me yet.
"I say tomorrow Link and Zid head to the clinic, and Lee and I will go order the breakfast pies… maybe buy some fruit if possible?" Zelda shyly asks hoping Link's economy allows for that.
Link nods at her "sound like a plan, let's get some sleep. Lee, can I count on you for guarding rounds?"
"Sure, for now I should go get a toothbrush? And…"
"I will share some clothes with Zid, just bring him a toothbrush"
"And a hair tie please" Zid ask sheepishly
I have not been able to find another one, and I am sick of having my hair all over my face.
Lee nods and walks out followed by Zelda; she points him where the convenience store is at and sends him off.
"You told me his name was Robert" Zid complains
Link chuckles a little at that "I didn't lie, that is his name, Lee is his last name, we call him like that from time to time"
"I see… I could assist on the guarding rounds too you know"
"Yes, you could, but I won't let you, those dark circles around your eyes are terrifying, you need to sleep to make them disappear, we are big boys, we can take care of everything here, you go to sleep"
