56. Crisis at the Barley orchard
ROBERT POV
Robert slowly opened his eyes, woken up by Zelda moving around under his arm. Looking down on her he saw her blond hair styled in a French braid.
When did Zid taught her to braid her hair like that? if I remember correctly, she didn't know how to style hair this way, and wanted Zid to teach her how…
Upon closer examination his eyes open wide in fear, he notices a fucking tail. Robert yelps and sits up immediately, Zid yawns as he slowly awakes, and turns realizing his sister is nowhere to be found, then notices Lee's exalted demeanor and remembers he WAS being hugged, Zid sits up and turns his head to the side in shame… the only possible explanation being that Robert was the one who had been hugging him. Zid's head starts spiraling in panic, but then Lee clears his throat.
"What happens in Australia" Robert says extending his palm for Zid for a shake.
Zid sighs chuckling "Fucking stays in Australia" Zid exclaims as he shakes Lee's hand
Clapping is heard and both brothers turn to the source. Link is slowly clapping at them, he glares at both of them smiling and stops clapping, Ciel places his left arm on his raised knee, and his right hand on Zelda's head as she lays on the floor hugging his right leg.
"Glad you solved everything like adults"
He fucking saw and heard EVERYTHING… how come I didn't notice him when he woke up? Oh… right, he said he was not going to sleep, I thought he was joking. Who the fuck does that? I don't think this was part of SWORD's training. So, what happened to him? what kind of situation forces a child to remain vigil all night?
Wait… why is Zelda sleeping with him? she caused this perplexing situation in the first place. I am going to wake her up, she needs to answer to ME.
Lee squints his eyes and slowly crawls towards his sister. Once he got close to her feet, he started tickling them. Zelda gave a hard kick witch Lee masterfully avoided as she sat up scared checking if she had an animal crawling up her feet. She then stares at Lee with fury.
"Why would you disturb my peace of mind like that?" Zelda asks clearly angry
"I don't know… maybe because you disturbed mine" Lee answers bluntly
"WHAT? How could I? I was sleeping"
"You were supposed to be sleeping between Zid and me, not on Link's leg?" Lee yells demanding
"Ow… that, I am sorry, I had to piss. When I came back, there was no space for me between you both anymore." Zelda says with a sheepish smile.
All right, that sounds plausible.
Link gives the princess a side glance full of disdain, it was a very brief moment, but Robert noticed.
What the fuck was that? did he just… she IS LYING. That must be the reason
[expect a medic from SWORD to visit you any moment now, I swear I am not lying about ANY of this… I hate lies and liars]
That is what he told me when he left my house back in Huston. And I believe him.
Lee squinted his eyes at the Princess, but could not really formulate his next sentence. Fortunately, Zid intervened.
"Honesty is the best policy you know?" Zid tells Zelda lifting an eyebrow at her
Haha Zid knows she is lying too, good.
"Why would-" she stops mid-sentence and looks down between her feet. The Princess closes her eyes tight and takes a very deep breath. "ALL RIGHT, let's put all the cards on the table… I woke up from a nightmare, it was a cold night and Link was alone by the tree out here, when I sat up to look at him, I got scared, he didn't seem to be breathing… I mean his eyes where closed, what if he passed out?... As I said, it was a cold night, I left the both of you to go check on Ciel out of concern all right?" Zelda says irate as she turns her back on Link
"THERE, those are all my cards, YOUR TURN, how much did you enjoy the hugging session?" Zelda asks still pissed at them for forcing her to speak.
This fucking bitch just couldn't leave without giving a blow. She did come clean at the end though; I respect that… But I don't understand why she even lied about it in the first place? Was it that she didn't want us perceive her as weak or something? [Zelda says irate as she turns her back on Link] Wait, wrong question. She didn't want to reveal her concern for Link… why? What IS the story between these two?
Link half smiles and looks at his duplicates waiting for them to answer to the princess, Zid starts wiggling his eyebrows and approaches Lee very seductively. Robert squints his eyes and stops Zid's approach by holding his shoulders with both hands, Robert then half smiles.
I see… you want to dance, let's dance baby
Robert lovingly puts a lose hair strand of Zid behind his ear, then produces the most captivating smile he can muster.
"maybe" Robert answers Zelda as he coups Zid's face and tries to caress the pirate's lower lip with his thumb. But the rover bites said finger.
Argh! Robert complains and examines his finger
Link burst out in laughter
"Not sorry, you were taking it TOO FAR bro" Zid exclaims rolling his eyes
Zelda relaxes once she notices it was an improvised act meant to shock and mock her. She raises her eyes to the sky and mouthing blasphemies.
Giggling "yeah, sorry about that, got inspired" Robert says with a sheepish smile
"I cause that on people so don't sweat it… where to now Link?" Zid asks
Link told them that he requested information on their current location, since they were staying only for 3 days, and one of them was already spent. Turns out there are three plantation farms close by, they had to choose one since time was limited. Zid immediately suggests the Barley farm, claiming that it was managed by two sisters, they may not catch the criminals but if they could at least guard the girls for the next 2 days, he will consider it a successful mission and accept the donor's program.
He better accept it. That way he will be economically and medically taken care of. Releasing us from the burden of having to constantly worry about him… well I worry, he seems and moves fine, but THAT WEIGHT IS NOT HEALTY.
ZID POV
Well… right now we have been walking in silence, but I have been having so much fucking fun. Zelda is still angry at me and Lee. Because we basically made her admit to have feelings for Link… or at least that is what I think is the problem, could be wrong though.
Been trying to make up with her but she is a hard cookie, and that is the FUN part of this journey, I have been improvising scenarios that will force her to speak to me… my favorite so far is when I came across a tarantula and caught it, since she didn't even flinch, I decided to pushed it further and it worked. She started yelling at me when I attempted to eat the arachnid in front of her. Was not going to really do it of course, the color pattern told me it was poisonous. But I had to play my act… I needed her to react, to insult me or something… hate to admit it but I can't stand her silent treatment.
The group kept walking in silence when suddenly Link stops and asks them all to make silence placing a finger on his lips. Then after a few seconds he starts running REALLY fast. Lee grabs Zelda's hand and pulls her to ride on his back piggy back style, then starts running behind Link. Zid just gives chase to all of them confused.
What the fuck is happening, did Link find the criminals? Really?
Zid caught up with all of them really fast, they appeared to be crouching. Link had his index finger on his lips, signaling them to remain quiet. He opened the foliage a little to see, in front of them where was a barley field, not big but not small either, about the size of a socker field. On the edge opposite to them was a small house. The door was kicked open from the inside, a man came out zipping his pants and grinning at the sound of sobs behind himself, then another man entered the house closing the door. Terrified screams were heard and then a hard slap. They all knew what was happening in there, Zid was about to jump into action but Link tackled him down to stop him.
"What the fuck? We need to save them, YOU NEED TO SAVE THEM, ISNT THAT YOUR JOB"
POW! Link connected a punch to Zid's cheek bone
"I AM NOT SHIELD; I don't save people. I execute them, engrave it on your head" Link says in a low menacing tone.
The scared pleas of one of the girls was heard, followed by the sound of a man yelling and smacking them, which only fueled girl's fear making them shrieks in terror, causing the assailant to lose his patience and start beating them with something metallic, judging by the sound.
Zelda sat on the ground covering her ears, her whole body was shaking violently in fear and impotence. She started rocking herself as a cascade of tears dropped from her eyes. She was biting hard on her inner cheek to contain her own screams.
"And HOW do you plan on executing them genius?" Zid exclaims furious.
"The only way it can be done… ambush. I NEVER just rush in, no matter what is happening and to whom, if I enter the scene imprudently, I am essentially giving away my position and granting some of them the opportunity to flee. I CAN NOT allow that; I have to rid of EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM… in a way where they won't even see me coming, so they won't have time to warn the rest. Do you understand? Can I count on you?"
NO, I mean, I do understand the need to remain undercover, but how can you stay here knowing a rape is taking place and not do something to stop it? This motherfucker is not my brother, he is a fiend, a complete sadist, a-
BOOMM!
A gun shot is heard, followed by the loud bellowing of one of the girls. Zelda covers her mouth and weeps in sorrow. Lee frowns and look at Link.
"Am I allowed to use my gun now?" Robert asks with a neutral semblance
"YES, go around the back of the house, anyone that runs your way trying to escape, you put a bullet between their eyebrows. If they are not running away…" Link draws a small dagger from his boot and hands it "you use this to avoid alerting them with the sound of a shot"
Robert nods grabbing the dagger and starts heading to the back of the cottage. Zid stares at Link, who only raises an eyebrow. The sound of a heartbreaking cry is heard, Zelda could not retain her own whimper… that particular sound coming from the Princess disturbs Zid, bringing back the memories of the dream where Zelda had been…
Zid started beating his own head hard with his fists. Zelda yelped scared for her brother, she started to crawl towards Zid to stop him, but Link grabbed her arm and pulled her away, he remained stoic, waiting patiently for Zid to come out of his inner struggle.
Then, as if by magic, it all fell into place, Zid didn't knew who or what he was, his existence so far had been hell on earth, but none of that mattered anymore. All he cared about was the light he was able to see at the end of the tunnel, a light that glimmered promising that HE HAD A PURPUSE, a role to play in all this mess. Zid stopped hitting his head and rolled his neck, then he heard men laughing. He opened his eyes knowing what his purpose was: he wanted ALL of them DEATH.
"What do you need me to do?" Zid asks in a neutral tone
Link smiles