zelda fanfic || what after love, 1.3;
title: What After Love
pairing: Sheik X Link X Zelda triangle: Sheik X Link and Zelda X Link
rating: PG-13
genre: romance / AU
chapter summary: Between harrassing politicians & couples in bathrooms, conversations about being pimps, and days of gray and rain, Sheik wonders why he likes Link so much.
author's note: SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOO MUCH FUN YO.
"Hey, Sheik," Link began, turning over on his side- lying on a bench as Sheik was looking out across the industrial harbor.
"Hmm?" Sheik answered, his eyes vivid as he seemed to see the art between the physical lines.
"How long have you known Zelda anyway?" he asked, watching seagulls pass overhead.
Sheik paused; "Some time now. Since I was a child." His voice wasn’t so edgy as normal- the light in his eyes hadn’t left, but it was as though he wasn’t running circles anymore.
"Oh, so since you were kids? Huh," Link answered, turning over again. The schoolkids had been out for a while now; they milled around the main streets with convenience store goals- a world apart from Sheik and Link. "How did you meet?"
Sheik looked back at Link with the light in his eyes thrown off; "Without luck. Why do you ask?"
"I don’t know- just to talk I guess," he answered, smiling and sitting up.
Sheik nodded; then motioned with his hand as he started off. "Come on, then," he said, beginning to walk. Link sprung up from his place and fell into step right by him; a kid with a skateboard blew straight past them. Sheik looked back to Link with mildly curious eyes. "You’ll like Zelda. You’ll meet her when she gets back, most likely." He paused- a grinning look came over his face. "That is, as long as there’s no plane crash, or anything of that sort."
Link smiled sheepishly back, let off a small chuckle. "Where is she now though? Doing like political stuff?"
"She’s on tour," Sheik responded, voice smoky and casual, as if that were an everyday thing to say.
Link paused for a moment, imagining a princess holding a microphone in front of thousands of screaming little girls- or else a girl with piercings and tattoos playing the electric bass in some grimy club...but then again, he’d heard other uses of the word before, so he didn’t say anything about it. He’d never seen the princess before- he’d only heard it said that she was beautiful. Anyway, how did Sheik know her? He must have been from a rich family, then...
The sun was setting, pearly pink above the gray buildings; they passed into the center of town, footsteps over the cobblestone...then into the market; making a left into the tavern streets. They were going to meet Raven and the gang, another drunken round, gunning off into the dark; in fact, Link hadn’t spent a night home in weeks. Whether ruining blacktie socialite cocktail parties or slumming with the lowest of the underground, there was always something to do here...the flowers were sighing as autumn was exploding into fire colors.
The first one Link saw from the block over was Raven, positively lurching, smoking a fat cigarette beneath the awning; and then the Lauryn Hill brothers, who Link guessed were actually fun once in a while (when they were drunk, they stopped talking about Lauryn Hill at least)...
"Hey!" Link yelled down the street, stretching out the syllable and cupping his hands around his mouth.
The Lauryn Hill brothers turned their heads up lazily to Sheik and Link, their bangs obscuring their faces; Raven’s eyes snapped to them similarly, and he made a loud whooping sound, throwing his cigarette into the street. "Hooooiiiii! Here he comes! He-who-don’t-know-love!"
"Apparently," Sheik began as they came near to the group, "Love is some intense joke, some misplaced application of feelings."
Link laughed a little, Raven laughed a lot. "Fuck love!- Give me pussy!" he yelled, earning some disapproving stares from ladies across the street. He turned back to Sheik and Link, dissatisfaction crossing his face. "I heard you made that chick cry. Whatever, she’s probably better off for it. Teach her some fuckin’ manners."
Link looked up to the blue sky, kicking pebbles on the curb. "I don’t know, I don’t think it’s right to hurt people, though."
Raven let out a disgusted scoffing noise, rolling his eyes. "Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot we were in the presence of Saint fucking Lucy. I’ll remember next time. What the fuck is wrong with you, anyway? Don’t you got any balls?"
Link smiled, about to say something, but Sheik cut through the conversation. "Fix your habit Raven- let’s go," he said, beginning to walk.
"Fucking eunuch," Raven grumbled. "Well, come on, Link."
Old ladies and Parisian flowers were spilling impressions down from the apartments above; but it was a useless rain, because the only gang down was one of desert poets, street generals who stepped on charity, twins lost in songs- and oh yeah, one country orphan with a scene and a plan on his mind. "That chick’s gone anyway," Raven mused, scratching his chin as they crossed the street. "It was her last day here, she went back to the country or wherever the Hell she’s from." He stretched out, limbs stiff, and eyed Sheik curiously. "But y’know, if it was me, I woulda fucked her. As long as it was her last day here, an’ I dint have to see her again- that’s like a fuckin’ Get-Outta-Jail-Free pass." He paused, on a thought- Link noticed the odd look in his eyes as he looked to Sheik.
Sheik had been looking out on the street; humming a memory melody softly. "And?" he replied pleasantly.
Raven paused, and then let out a heavy sigh. "I woulda hit that," he shrugged; but then his mouth turned on a thought. "But y’know, I guess there’s always that fuckin’ chance that she’s gonna wake up in the mornin’ with- ‘Guess what! I love you and I’m going to stay another day or eighty.’* That’s the fuckin’ worst. Still, she wasn’t bad lookin’. Just shut off the lights." He scoffed. "You gotta get fuckin’ laid, man. So what if she’s not goddamn Byron’s Evangeline? ’Sides, girls dig all that mysterious shit you pull. I’m startin’ to think you got a thing for Zelda or somethin’."
Sheik turned to Raven; Link wondered on that- that was an interesting thought..."I’m not in love with Zelda," Sheik answered, with a tone that was too even, too calm, to be normal; although, there was nothing unusual about the look in his eyes...
Raven smirked. "Whatever, I don’t really give a shit anyway."
A pause ensued (well, sorta a pause- the twins started to explain something about the song "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" that was relevant to the subject matter, something about self-esteem issues in young girls or whatever); Link was looking toward Sheik, wondering why he had answered that way...Sheik’s eyes moved a bit (the jewel light in them changing, turning- throwing off light like gold in fire) and he let out a small laugh. "And what are you thinking, Link?"
Link laughed after a short spell of surprise. "Oh, nothing," he replied.
There was smoke from a pothole door as the group walked on by; passed onto a block full of jeweler’s places. Cleared the Hell out of there, and onto dirtier streets. Outside a family restaurant there were tables out, covered with white taupe and propaganda. They seemed to be people campaigning for the upcoming election- for the reelection of the political right, or the instatement of the political left.
Raven grumbled a comment about "fucking world peace retards" and the twins said something about "Babylon’s benefactors," and it seemed sure that they would pass the stands on by. Link thought these people were like salespeople, in their own way- was always glad to pass by a salesman, regardless of the product.
"Gentlemen!" a woman said brightly, as they were near her stand. "Gentlemen, may I stop you for a moment?"
They turned back to the stand. She was a clean-looking woman, straight hair neatly brushed and smile carefully waxed; clothing that wasn’t offensive. A curious look passed Sheik’s eyes and Raven’s spirit seemed to evaporate. Without waiting for an answer (seeing they she had caught their attention), she went on: "Gentlemen, are you interested in seeing a bright future for Castle City? If so I’d like to explain to you Mr. Dotour’s vision for a new-"
"Man, FUCK Mr. Dotour!" Raven broke out, making Link jump with the boom of his voice, putting emphasis on the "f" in fuck you! A group of pizza people turned around, and a man smoking a cigarette on the nearby corner chuckled.
The woman winced; her eyes snapped open, and she began to stammer and laugh, wondering for a way out that was conceivably civil...Raven whirled around to Sheik. "Man, can you fuckin’ believe this chick, Sheik? All tryin’ t’ get us to vote for Mr. Dotour? Of all fuckin’ people?"
"Impertinence indeed," Sheik replied, stepping closer to lean on the stand and peer over the fliers. "How d’you feel about that, Raven?"
"Gets on my fuckin’ nerves, that’s for sure," Raven replied, leaning on the stand likewise. "Y’know, people don’t understand, but- heads get twisted, sometimes. You know, twisted."
"Heads’ll be twisted- and of course, blood takes no tallies," Sheik replied, his hand resting like a shadow on the white table cover, its color rough and exotic against the city plainness; as if it was some intrusive force, the poet’s sword. "And who’ll he call when the people rally? It’s got nothing to do with the street."
The woman’s eyes darted nervously to somebody nearby who appeared to be on the same campaign; but Raven just leaned forward. "Hell yes!" he bit, and her well-applied mascara and bargain blazer were nothing against his alligator’s teeth. "So what does this shit mean to me?"
There was a slight pause; the woman finally found the space to get a word in. "Hah-hah, but, gentlemen," she laughed smally, "Well, let’s deal with this. What’s the, ah, specific problem you find with Mr. Dotour?" Link found it wondrous that she could still focus on doing her job, even through the blitzkrieg of words.
Raven leaned back. Sheik put his hand on his hip, the curve of his legs catlike against the dark. "Hell if I know," Raven answered, with a shrug. "I don’t even know who the fuck Dotour is. But I’ll tell you one thing," he continued- then leaning forward again, turned the small cardboard cutout of Dotour around to face her- and then, his eyes narrowed, darkened. "He has purple hair. That’s already, like, a fuckin’ crime against humanity."
Link twitched; then, unable to help himself, let out a loud, ringing laugh- loaded with that silvery quality that made his laughter so irresistible. Sheik’s eyes darted toward him, but he quickly diverted his gaze to the woman, whose world was probably imploding at that very moment. "Yes, how will he effectively run a city with purple hair?" he asked her, mildly. "He may as well be mentally impaired."
She said nothing. Link was trying to recover from his laughing fit to no avail, and the twins seemed to just shrug and sigh. Raven moved away from the stand. "Whatever. You fruitcakes ready to go?" he said, indicating his wristwatch. "I don’t wanna miss the fuckin’ drink special."
Link paused, and nodded; then fell into laughter again. Raven raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck’s so funny? Come on, asshole."
The woman was shellshocked in her seat; but never mind that- they continued down the street, Link putting his arm around Sheik’s shoulders as a crutch for his incapacitating laughter. Sheik looked up toward him, a curious in his eyes. Maybe he was about to say something, maybe not, but in any case Raven’s rough voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey kid," he said, directing a criminal glance to Link. Link propped his head up, eyes like saying, "yes?" Raven shrugged into his corduroy jacket. "When we get to the place, wanna make some money?"
Link paused, wondering what that meant. "Uh, sure," he responded, and slipped his arm off of Sheik as an afterthought.
Raven nodded as the street scenery passed by. Sheik eyes didn’t seem to indicate any change, so Link figured it was okay. "Okay, I’ll give you the cue when we’re inside," Raven answered. "You know, that chick was kinna hot. She had that nervous energy goin’ on- put that shit to good use."
"Go back and get her phone number," Sheik said, with laughing eyes. Raven turned back to him and flattened his eyes in response. "You can discuss Mr. Dotour and then fall together in bliss at the end of the night."
"Hardy-har," Raven snapped.
The brick of the buildings was Brooklyn brown; like baby ducks, they fell into a line entering the narrow door of a flower shop. That thick sugar and anise perfume hung out, stretched lazily into the air, flooded Link’s senses immediately. What were they doing here? He paused to wonder on that, but was distracted by a lily-of-the-valley, following half-mindedly behind, counting by the rhthym of Sheik’s steps.
They blustered by the flowers and the old man at the counter gave them a surly stare, but none of them turned to him. There was a staircase at the back, hidden behind a fanning palm. They filed up the stairs, and passed a door into a place with low lights that smelled like coffee and perfume. The fixtures were all made of dark red wood; the place seemed relatively uncrowded. A chalkboard menu stood by the door, which Raven glanced at with lightning eyes before they continued. The place seemed mellow enough, and there was this nice, starry kind of light that breathed off of everything that Link liked. Amid the slight scratch of vague music, he could hear that hollow clattering noise of people playing pool...
"What’s he do here anyway?" Link whispered to Sheik.
Sheik paused; then turned his eyes to Raven. "Watch," he replied, voice low, eyes cast over the scene.
Raven had become embroiled in a conversation with some waitress girl. "Fuck! Whaddyou mean it’s over?" he was saying to some girl incredulously. She said something to him in low tones. He nodded, then made a gesture of exasperation. "Well, how long’s it been over?...Okay. Anybody leftover?...Point them out to me. No not with your hand dumbass, with your eyes. Okay. Okay. Thanks."
He trotted back over to the group, taking off his jacket and slinging it over his shoulder. "Okay, I’ll be around, faggots." He looked at Link with a set light in his eyes. "I’ll give you the cue, alright? So be nearby, and don’t get fucking drunk or anything, cause it’ll ruin it."
"Okay," Link nodded, smiling. "See you, then."
Raven disappeared, then, blended into the crowd seamlessly; and the Lauryn Hill brothers lurched off to do something else, go to the bar, maybe, or preach aimlessly. So under the shield of the low light it was just Sheik and Link again, back to square one and rushed into warmth. Outside, it was the windy train and double ecstasy- you could see it from the large windows.
"I’m thirsty," Link announced, looking baby blue around the open room, that particular searching dissatisfaction crossing his mouth like a gloomy kiss. A breath of breeze came in cold as a waitress opened a window nearby.
"Get something then," Sheik replied, making an urging gesture toward the bar.
"Yeah. But I don’t know? I’m not in the mood to drink." He gave the bar a passing glance, then looked back to Sheik; backed up against air, thin and graceful, fooling around with the neon jukebox beside them.
Sheik looked back at him with a small amusement in his eyes; replied with warmth in his voice. "Coffee, then? Ask a waitress," he said, striking the right chord and knowing it.
"They have coffee?" Link replied with a spark, his face brightening like city moon immediately- Sheik laughed smally, knowing he’d turned the right key. "Sweet! That’s like, exactly what I was in the mood for," he went on excitedly, looking for a waitress to commission, recruit to that end. His eyes looked happy and distracted; Sheik paused on his small success and then forgot about it just as quick, leaned against the wall as some baby retro song he’d chosen came into the room like telephone wires and industrial steel.
Link found his girl and asked for a cup of coffee- then turned to Sheik with a "you sure you don’t want?"- and then the two were gone again. Waiting for sweetness- the outside breeze dark and full as it came through the window. The moments were rushed, filled with Link’s happy chattering and a few half-brained wisecracks that ended in easy laughter...the girl came back with a wide-brimmed steaming cup, and Sheik made a small shadowy movement to get his wallet. Paid for that, and despite the odd look on her face she walked back toward a group of people who had called to her before...
Link tipped the cup up to his mouth; then winced and moved it away like it was persona non grata. "Jeez, that’s hot," he said with a curve in his tone. He looked up to Sheik with the electricity of a thought in his eyes, and laughed starrily. "Ew, you know, people prolly think you’re my pimp or something ’cause you’re always paying for me."
Sheik’s posture slackened on that thought; the look in his eyes hushed to low and smarting. "Ah,- that side of the road doesn’t oblige me. Would I even make a good one?" he asked, something in his movements filled with the music.
Link grinned. "I think you’d be a good pimp- I don’t think you’d take that much of my money," he answered.
"Well, keep on- if times ever come to that, you know who to call," Sheik replied, and Link saw the quirk of a smile in the riot red.
Link laughed back; but his eyes slowed to concern and the blue was smaller. "Are you okay with paying for me, though?" he asked, looking seriously toward Sheik.
Sheik’s head quirked a bit. "I don’t see why I shouldn’t be," he replied, his voice warm- his posture changing, as though he was telling Link to go on.
"I just don’t wanna be spending all your money and stuff," Link answered, mouth turning tentatively. "It wouldn’t be fair."
"I’m not about to go into poverty any time soon," Sheik said, eyes lit and tone turning on a thought of humor; then he broke into a small laugh. "That is, as long as the papes stay at bay." Link laughed too, a bit confusedly, but there was still a pause in his manner. Sheik brushed the topic off with the look in his eyes. "Don’t worry. As long as you keep your end, it should be fine," he said allowingly, with a warm gesture of the head.
There wasn’t really any question about what "his end" meant- maybe looking back on things, there should have been. But it didn’t matter to Link, he just gave a nod and a smile. He took a gulp of his coffee, then with the heat moving through his veins, moved so that he faced Sheik full-on- bright stars in his eyes and confidence on his mouth. "Okay," he nodded, then smiled- softly, Sheik noticed, with a cutting cross between boldness and sincerity. "If it’s you, I don’t think it’ll be hard to do."
The words struck Sheik strangely; he scanned Link’s face for cold traces of complicity, weakness- but couldn’t find any. It was only a smile full of promises and a look in his eyes that said he’d keep them. Why had he even doubted it?- Link was as he usually was. He said things, and he meant them...
The moment of lightning and doubt and hints of rain was broken through by a sharp whistling sound, subtle and high-pitched like a dog whistle. The noises cut; both knowing that it was thrown in their direction, they turned. Raven was by the pool tables, holding a poolstick low by his hip, looking toward them like some criminal boss. Link’s head quirked to the side, and Raven made a nodding gesture, giving him the signal with a slim expression.
"Oh! I guess I gotta go," Link said with a smile- his tone like it was some top-secret mission. He gave a small salute. "I’ll see you, then!"
And he turned; on his heel, on that luck of movement that he had, went over to where Raven stood. Though time was passing quick and the scenery had changed, Sheik was still caught up in this funny impression- like he was seeing familiar ghosts in Link’s words, in the way he walked...
He settled back against the window. In his veins, in his mind full of stars and paint, he could feel that it had started to rain outside. Cold rushed by. He wondered what this feeling meant- traveling through his blood like a storm of alcohol.
He exhaled; looked to all the world like some exotic soldier ready to go bombs bombs away, but his chaotic colors didn’t quite match the low feeling in his mind. He watched as Raven was explaining something to Link, very methodically. His mind crashed, set to low. There was a crushing melancholy in his breathing- with a strange dark sweetness, like happiness in gloom blooming in his chest. He examined the scenery; Link’s clean laugh filled the room with something light and happy...
The bells of Link’s voice floated by his mind. The lights were still low but the neon of cars was cracking new colors inside. Suddenly it struck him, what Link’s laughter reminded him of- he’d surmised that it was silvery, but it wasn’t at all, it was amber effervescence that bubbled like gold morning rain. It cut through feelings and radiated to the ceiling- like champagne.
There was a slight gray in the air, and this stillness that weighed down on Link, made his mouth turn unhappily as he dressed in the afternoon...He was running a little late- Sheik was going to pick him up so he could tag along with him until the night.
There was food, but he skipped out on eating, rushed out the door after seeing Sheik through the upstairs window. It was damp out, you could feel that in Sheik’s movements, still smoky and vital but with a sudden lowness. Link opened the door; Sheik’s eyes flashed a greeting and Link smiled as he buttoned up his shirt. "Hi! What’s up? Eesh, it’s cold out. What’re we doing today again?"
"Going to the roadhouse, off to kill the moon," Sheik answered, eyes lit.
Link laughed and nodded in affirmation and Sheik continued with, "The empire’s waiting," throwing his glance breathlessly to the street. Link was about to say something- but then his eyes became marked with curiosity, and he leaned forward, peering at Sheik. Sheik’s limbs tensed in immediate reaction, but relaxed just as quickly- it was Link, after all...the expression on Link’s face was soft. "Hey," he said, touching Sheik’s hair a little bit, "was it raining?"
Sheik looked up at him curiously- a dark feeling rising into his mind. "It used to be," he answered, voice low.
"Huh. Weird, I didn’t even notice. Then again I was pretty much sleeping the whole day," he laughed, fingers brushing lightly off Sheik’s hair as he moved his hand away. "Sorry you got caught in it though..."
"It’s nothing," Sheik replied. His words were careful as usual, masked the fact that he suddenly didn’t know what else to say...
But then the feeling passed, and he disregarded it like storms rolling off some remote planet- irrelevant, passing. They continued: down avenues of streaming gray, through lights that cut through minds like rolling wheels...on the fringes- Sheik slim as a pickpocket, Link low between rain and sunshine, but the conversation was filled with a quiet contentment.
They got to the place maybe 10 or 15 minutes later...Sheik met his guy at a coffee stand in front of an alleyway. Link got a cup of coffee and waited for Sheik on the margins, taking an occasional open glance at the guy. He was probably half-Gerudo- he had that sharp nose, those lidded snake’s eyes. The conversation was at its leisure but it was tense and something secret was being said, something that wasn’t for everyday eyes. Link wondered at that maybe Sheik was some kind of drug lord or a crime boss or something...well, he already knew pimp was out of the question, so he pondered on why Sheik would be so rich as he looked out on the carnival street.
It hadn’t even been 5 minutes, and yet the tone of the conversation closed up, wrapped up like a package to be sent; Sheik turned to Link with manic eyes lit, economy in his movements as his posture balanced strangely and he made a small gesture. "Let’s be off then," he said, beginning to walk off.
There was a pause as the kiss of mist hung over the narrow city streets. "He’s from the desert, too, right?" Link asked, catching up to Sheik.
"Mm-hm," Sheik answered, eyes ahead.
Link tipped his head back- downed a burning gulp of coffee, and flicked the cup into a corner garbage can with a wanton movement. They weren’t going back the way they came...it didn’t matter. "So," Link began, "is that how you make money?"
Sheik’s eyes flicked to Link- "is that how you make money-" what a question. He chuckled slightly and looked over Link softly, with gentle eyes. "No-" he said, stopping on the word for effect; he brushed it off, cracked his bandaged knuckles. "As a child," he began. Link leaned in a little bit- there was something about the way Sheik said things that was magnetic, stayed in your mind, made you grasp for more when he stopped the rush of his words; seeing the reaction he knew he’d get, Sheik’s eyes smiled, turned and shimmered. "I was raised with the thought that I was born into gold." He paused and waved it off. "My money’s not new. It’s a burden I’ve inherited."
When Sheik talked, it conjured colors, images; Link felt as though he knew what he was talking about even though he sort of didn’t understand. He nodded. "But, but how’d your family make their money?" he interjected like a schoolkid, "Like what do they do?"
"Looking at me- what do you think they do?"
They stopped on the sidewalk. Sheik had felt the heat surge in his voice when he’d said it- so he could understand the look in Link’s eyes, that slight surprise like he’d been burned. That dark feeling hummed through his limbs again as Link examined him, eyes weighing, washing over- eyes determined, but that blue was so lost...his mouth turned indecisively. "I donno," he finally said, hesitantly; he turned his head slightly. Sheik’s weight shifted to the other hip. "Like, I don’t think I could look at you and go, ‘Oh, he’s a musician,’ or, ‘oh, he’s a student,’...or ‘oh, he’s the town’s resident lazy dirty hobo.’ Just kidding. I don’t know, I think it’s ’cause- you’re nothing but you, I think. I guess to me, that’s all you are."
Their eyes met- but Link’s held nothing but a smile, and Sheik’s could not abide by that. Something in his mind cracked, rivers of colors flowed seamlessly straight through his thoughts, but one was more apparent than the others...Link just shrugged and continued, and Sheik spoke with hesitance- as though he was saying something heavy, important, something he’d have to tread around to ask it right. "And you?...Where are you from? The country?" he asked, stepping in tandem with Link quickly.
Link paused, and then grinned, turning to Sheik with a laugh. "I guess so," he answered. He swung his arms at his sides. "The orphanage was in the country. It was like an hour by train to come here."
"You have no family?" Sheik replied, looking over Link wth curiosity.
"Nope," Link answered, stifling a yawn. "Never knew ’em. It was an orphanage run by women- the only guy was a priest of Nayru I think. They were pretty cool ladies- they let me get away with a lot."
Sheik paused in his thoughts. That would explain why Link was such an open person- why he didn’t think twice about saying the things he said...Sheik had no reply, really, just gave a small nod and hum, turned as they continued. Rays of light were sifting shy through the clouds...
They both noticed that the construction noises they’d heard up the block had stopped. On a normal day, as the sun died away the scenery would be coated with gold; as it was, it was overcast and pearl gray.
But there was blue darkening abovehead. It wasn’t clear weather either of them knew where they were going. The buildings got smaller, dissolved from cafes into law offices. To their left as they walked along was a- field, maybe, chainlink fenced and between buildings. The grass, the lights, paled around them.
"Wow!" Link exclaimed, fresh as a windy breath, and half-skipped-half-hopped onto the grass. "I didn’t know there were even places like this here."
Then he started taking off his shoes, and Sheik hung back by the concrete, mild and curious as to what Link was doing. Link flung a glance back at Sheik- then said, with light in his eyes, "I want to feel the dew," matter-of-factly. He smiled softly back at Sheik- and with words unsaid, Sheik felt a spark glimmer in his chest at the sight of Link smiling, cartwheeling windlessly, falling over and touching the grass...
Like a child, like nature’s only son. Like stars and wind, misty candy almond in your mouth...Sheik leaned back on nothing, didn’t have a place to fall. Now that he thought of it (now that he paused in his constant stream of toxic thought-creation to reflect on it), Link gave him this feeling of loneliness- the sheer knowledge of being alone, but there was something dulcet about the feeling...
Why did he even trust Link? Or, why did he like him so much? Maybe it was that Link was free, but it wasn’t quite that. It wasn’t even that he was generally innocent, or that he was always looking out for other people. It was more in that he was lonely ultrafox, between worlds of right and wrong- more in the way his eyes turned thoughtful, rainy, more in the way he laughed. Or something like that, maybe it was even the things he said, or his general attitude, the way he understood the world...
Or maybe it was just Sheik being selfish, looking for a new friend, latching onto somebody who’d put up with him. The nerves in his arms stretched and vibrated- guitar chords striking, saying something under the breath of the sun air. He clutched at nothing as though it was his heart; Link attempted some kind of flip or another, then yelled back to Sheik that it was nice in the field, maybe he should join him. For a moment, a real strange moment, there was a dark voice across his eyes- and he felt for sure that he was doomed. But anyway, there was warmth in his movements as he leaned over swift and graceful to pick up Link’s shoes from their scattered places on the concrete.
"Dude," was said by the trashcan alleys; Raven’s voice in what was unusual for Raven- something like panic. "Dude, I don’t know...that chick- she came out the other day- she’s a fuckin’ lesbian."
"So what she’s a lesbian?" Princess laughed lightly, thwacking him playfully on the arm.
"What the fuck do you mean, so what! How the fuck am I s’posed to talk to her?" Raven barked, the rising tones of his voice obviously worried.
Princess rolled her eyes with a smile. "Just talk to her like you talk to Zelda, Raven."
Raven stared at her flatly, blinked in silence. "Was that supposed to be fuckin’ funny?" he scoffed. "She ain’t no fuckin’ Zelda, that’s for sure. Oi, when’s that girl comin’ back anyway?" he asked, pivoting wildly and throwing a glance back to Sheik. "You tell her to get her ass back in the city when you talk to her next."
"She’ll rush to see you," Sheik replied, eyes light with humor.
Raven rolled his eyes; then gave a measured look to Link. "Zelda’s real fucking fun," he said, "At first I was kinda like, eh, the whole princess thing, she’s prolly all lady-lady and Queen Mother and shit- but she turned out to be real cool."
"Everyone likes Zelda," Princess added, with just a hint of vitriol in the levity of her voice.
"Least she’s not a fuckin’ lesbian," Raven replied, biting.
Princess laughed again. "What’s wrong with being a lesbian, though? There’s nothing wrong with that."
"Oi, Sheik, what’s wrong with being a lesbian?" Raven asked over his shoulder, then turned to Link. "I’m not gonna ask you, Mother Teresa."
"The arithmetic of the thing is off," Sheik answered, that manic tilt to his voice.
Raven broke out into a loud laugh that had people on the street looking toward him. "The arithmetic, he sez- that’s fuckin’ good, I gotta use that one," he answered. Link grinned, was vaguely aware of Princess smiling back at him; but instead, decreased the pace of his footsteps and fell behind with Sheik.
They shared a smile of confidants; Raven’s voice broke through it. "Sheik, lemme bum a smoke?"
Sheik paused, then moved slightly, got out a small box with a liquid movement- pulled out a thin brown cigarette and his lighter. "And what’s wrong, Raven? Declaring insolvency?" he asked, holding the lighter as Raven drew a breath in.
Smoke rose and twisted; Raven’s expression tightened a bit on the first drag, and then he brought the cigarette down. "Your mother," he replied, turning to walk again. "Thanks."
"Raven’s a beggar," Link taunted, with a light laugh.
"Hey, I wouldn’t be talkin’, you’re basically a fuckin’ hobosexual," Raven spat. "Walkin’ ’round this town without a dollar to ya name- what the Hell are you even thinking, kid?"
"A cripple, too," Sheik joined, looking at Link, "You forgot that he’s a cripple."
"A cripple and a beggar, Raven? Jeez, there’s really no hope," Link answered, with a lost sigh. Sheik’s eyes ran along with the joke, laughter at their corners.
Raven rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, fucking gang up on me. That’s fuckin’ nice. Fruitcakes."
"That’s something a cripple would say," Sheik replied, voice like a whip to a horse.
"Yeah, I’m starting to worry," Link said.
"Whatever, whatever," Raven answered, taking a long drag- looking like a weary crime lord to anybody looking on. "At least I’m not...Hello fucking Kitty."
Link paused- then laughed; Sheik listened to the sound like it was church bells, though his eyes didn’t betray that. "Did you just call me Hello Kitty?"
"Yer damn straight I called you Hello fucking Kitty."
"Her name’s not Hello Fucking Kitty," Sheik piped up, as though he was reminding Raven of the name of a person they actually knew.
"Oh, excuse me, Hello Motherfucking Kitty."
"That’s more like it," Sheik answered, looking off to the street. "We’d do best to mind the venom- it’s poison from the street."
"Ooh, look, Choctoroks!" Link chimed, pulling out a quick coin and handing it to a nearby Gerudo kid selling candy from a cardboard box. He ripped off the wrapper crudely, stuffed it in his pocket and snapped off a chocolate piece.
Princess had been watching it all from the sidelines with an occasional laugh- but now she shook her head, with that "boys will be boys" smile on her rose mouth. "You guys are so ridiculous," she said, with a slight laugh.
Link turned his thoughtful eyes to her; chewed over some chocolate, then with a small boyish gesture offered her a piece. She looked surprised for a moment, then a smile came into her eyes and she gingerly broke off a piece for herself. She looked up at him, and they shared a small laugh...
There was a pause in Sheik’s thoughts when he saw the way she looked at Link- just a very small pause, only seconds long- and a flare of color across his black eye, in the back of his mind. But the thought only lasted for a moment, and its words were too quick and incoherent, so he disregarded it- turned from them and to the cars across the street.
The music was a pulse- the vibrations to back the king colors that cascaded from the ceiling. Came like an electric empire into the room. There was madness all around. Everybody was some kind of gutter royalty, acting on the foundation of their money.
There were only a few excluded from this classless rule, and they were mostly with Link as he sat chatting and smiling by the back walls. Sheik was nearby- like he usually was- slim and subtle, standing as though he was disconnected from it all. Princess was already drunk, and Raven was well on his way..."Holy fuck," Raven bit, coming momentarily back to Earth from Planet Vodka, "See that? That fuckin’ writer’s tryina fuck Iza!"
Over by a luckless railing, the writer (blonde and anonymous) was talking sweet to this chick called Iza, with big hair and a deep pout. Princess burst into exaggerated laughter and clung onto the wall, commenting on how nicely the room was moving. Link noticed an idea seemed to cross Sheik’s eyes, or not- it was always hard to tell with Sheik.
"’Ey you," Raven snapped, looking at Link with hard eyes, "Why aren’t you drinkin’?"
Link paused, blinking confusedly. "Oh, I’m just not, I guess."
"‘Just not’," Raven repeated, deadpan; then turned his eyes slimly to Sheik. "Hey, hit me up, huh? Anyway, you oughta join in- this one here’s already ready to fuck all of us at once," he continued, speaking lewdness with fluid ease, pointing to Princess with his thumb.
She giggled a little, her gray eyes dulling; "I only want him, tho’," she laughed, pointing crudely to Link. Sheik was getting out a cigarette for Raven- felt his fingers twitch, the blood concentrate for a moment...
"Hear that? She wants your stupid ass, for some fuckin’ reason."
"She’s drunk though," Link laughed, "I don’t think she means it." He was about to say something to the effect of, "Right, Sheik?" but Sheik wasn’t paying attention- had his head turned, a heavy look in his eyes.
"Oi, Sheik, you cretin, my cigarette," Raven commanded brusquely.
Sheik’s eyes turned back to them quickly- but the light in them was mysterious and vague. "Ah- I hadn’t noticed, Raven," he said, with a particular tone.
Raven rolled his eyes. "Aw come on."
"It had slipped my mind," Sheik replied, pivoting on his heel to turn back to them.
"...Please," Raven said, rolling his eyes.
Sheik let out a hoarse laugh, dark and seismic- a certain gloomy quality that flowers had. "Don’t spend it all in one place," he said,
handing it to Raven with a light movement. Link laughed, happy to see that Sheik was back in a good mood.
"Fuck you," Raven sneered, snatching it from Sheik’s hand. He leaned forward into the flash of flame from Sheik’s black lighter; sucked in, then gave an alligator smile, smoke crawling, rising, from between his teeth. "Thanks. Man, what the fuck’s he fuckin’ with Iza for? That chick’s a fuckin’ nag for real- not to mention she has the IQ of a fucking coffee can."
Link and Princess laughed- but Sheik seemed to be brewing in a thought. "The Pythagorean theory is next to useless," he began, voice filled with dark laughter.
"Pythagoras is a dirty whore," Raven snapped, throwing his head back and downing the rest of his drink.
"-and when it comes down to action, so is the theory of probability," Sheik continued, beginning to step. "Well, come on then, Link," he said, gesturing over his back.
Link sprung up to his feet with a clumsy logic, waving shortly to Princess and Raven. Raven just nodded and Princess beamed, face flush red with drink. Link fell into step with Sheik- wondering what he was up to now. "Why did you say that stuff was useless?" Link asked. He actually didn’t know what either were- if he had learned it he had forgotten it already...
Sheik looked to him curiously. "They’re lies for safety," he answered. Link paused, thinking on that. "It exists abstractly- strictly in some distant realm. Of course," he continued, laughing a little, "Shad would tell you otherwise."
Link laughed- Sheik was always picking on Shad for some reason: if something struck Sheik a certain way, he’d say something like "Shad would think that." Maybe it was ’cause Shad had glasses...no, that was stupid- Link let out a laugh at the stupidity of that thought.
"What’s wrong?" Sheik asked- something in him tensing at Link’s laughter- something like anxiety, constricting like that feeling of waiting...
"Oh, nothing," Link answered through his laughter, putting a hand on Sheik’s shoulder.
Sheik felt a pressure in his head for a moment- had words on his tongue, but movements nearby caught his attention. "Ah, look," he said, nodding straight ahead.
Link craned his head to look over the crowd, his hand slipping off Sheik’s shoulder; the writer was walking casually, alone, toward the bathroom. "Oh, him," Link said, with a pause. Usually Sheik wouldn’t mention somebody without a specific reason. He looked back toward him, wondering what was up. "He’s going to the bathroom?"
Sheik nodded; then after a spot of silence, said with a slow relish- "Iza went before him."
Link’s face broke out into a grin. He laughed a little. "Scandalous," he said, knowing immediately what was going down.
"Perhaps a coincidence," Sheik hummed, looking mildly toward the small alcove before the bathroom; then, after a moment, their eyes slowly slipped and met with the same sneaking intent. Sheik’s eyes turned casual and cool. "Do you have to use the bathroom?"
"Suddenly, really badly," Link grinned, as their steps became quicker.
"You’re a hero after all," Sheik responded mildly. The look in his eyes was slim- like he was just some passer-by, like it was just a scene to check out.
"Right, we have to stop wrongdoing in the world," Link agreed with a nod- tried with some difficulty to mask the smile on his face, but had to let out a quick laugh before doing that...went to open the bathroom door, but before he could, Sheik’s arm shot out- stopped Link’s hand midway. Link looked toward him curiously.
"A moment," Sheik said, fingers brushing over Link’s. Link trusted Sheik’s judgment with this kinda stuff (whatever "this kinda stuff" even implied- if it meant walking in on bathroom sex, so be it)...it went unnoticed that Sheik’s hand lingered for a moment- between cold atoms, sparks of warmth, slight touch- the nagging feeling of contact...
Yeah, it went ignored; after a couple of seconds, Sheik’s eyes gave to okay, and Link pushed the door open brusquely, beginning to talk about the current election in an obnoxious voice, as though they were continuing a conversation...at the end of the bathroom- by the last stall, but not quite committed yet- Iza and the writer were caught between pieces of flustered conversation and heavy, lost kissing- but at the recognition of Link’s voice, they both jumped like electricity, both straightened immediately. The writer’s hand lingered over hers, and with hard eyes she smacked it away, half-hiding herself behind the stall.
Sheik and Link gave no signs of even seeing them- but Sheik kept watch out of his peripherals (Link was way too obvious to do that), and his eyes seemed to inform Link of what was going on. Link had to strain to keep from laughing- took a quick leak at one of the urinals as Sheik made origami stars from the bathroom paper towel...Sheik subtly gave the signal for Link to really fucking take his time washing his hands- from the mirror above the sink, they could see Iza and the writer twitching with anxiety, impatience...their postures tensed, centered around the ticking in their spines...
Link kept on talking about the election- as though somebody like him would really be interested in politics- and Sheik responded enthusiastically. Then, on the way out, the tension in the air seemed to breath away, be lost in relief- until Link and Sheik doubled back, with those pleasantly surprised "Oh, hey there, neighbor! Let’s have an hour-long conversation!" looks in their eyes. "Oh! Hi, I didn’t know you were here!" Link exclaimed, waving to the writer enthusiastically.
The look on the writer’s face just physically dropped like metal and gravity- his eyes became nervous. "Oh, yeah! She was sick, so I was pulling, pulling her hair back," he explained quickly, eyes moving over to indicate her.
"Ah, is that so?" Sheik replied, looking toward her considerately. She bristled at the look in Sheik’s eyes- vague, but with just the implication of a laugh...
"Oh, really? That sucks," Link said, frowning small, "Are you okay now?"
"Yes, yes," she replied, with acid in her voice, "It’s fine. I’m fine. I think I just need some quiet. I’m- noise-sensitive."
"She’s noise-sensitive," the writer interjected like it was world-fucking-knowledge.
"How terrible," Sheik replied.
"Yeah, that’s really bad- well, we’ll be going then I guess- catch you two later!" Link said, beginning to walk away from them.
All the sparks seemed to vanish and wash away from their eyes- they seemed like puppets on a string, once taut and now slackened, under the control of two young kids looking for a laugh. "Avoid citric acid," Sheik advised, turning back as Link opened the door.
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Try some soup!" Link said, as Sheik went past him with a small "thank you..." Then, much to the couple’s relief- they were gone, beyond the door- leaving them to the world of secrets that couples share.
The cluttered sounds of electricity and music, laughter and tears, flooded back around them- Link looked at Sheik and broke out into hopeless laughter. Sheik’s eyes seemed to smirk; he leaned against the wall beside the door. "Man," Link said- then fell into laughing again; Sheik closed his eyes, just listened for a moment..."Man, that was funny- did you see the look on his face? Oh God...I’m kinda sorry for doing that, but- hahahaha, that was so hilarious! And she smacked him!"
Sheik cracked an eye open. "‘She’s noise-sensitive’," he repeated.
Link nodded through his laughter, then started to walk beyond the alcove and back to the main room. "Holy crap, that was funny..."
The two exchanged a knowing glance. Link slid up on the wall next to Sheik, pressed against as though it was a covert operation. "How long this time?"
"A minute or two," Sheik answered; then flashed his eyes up to Link, an idea passing into them with red brilliance. "After a pause, the senses rush; the cold envelopes, and movement becomes hurried- once you’ve known it, you can’t forget it."
Link cocked his head curiously. "What’s that? A poem? You should be a poet, Sheik," he said, nodding with complete seriousness.
Sheik’s eyes quirked a little. "A poet? Poetry is in the veins- ink’s no use," he mused; then his posture relaxed a bit, and he looked toward the door. "Moon clouds the eyes, but sun shots are in the senses. The strength of feeling floods the blood- there are scenes only couples know. That’s poetry, I suppose."
Link smiled a little. "And you said you didn’t know anything about love," he said, giving Sheik a slight nudge.
Sheik chuckled. "I’m talking of sex," he said, with a slight amusement.
Link’s eyes brightened, and he gave a small laugh. "Sex," he said, "can be love too."
That tense feeling rushed back to him- into his mind, that darkness behind his eyes that flushed in smoke and blood pink. "I- I know," Sheik answered, suddenly ineloquent.
Link didn’t notice the change; instead his smile turned a truer shade, and he looked past Sheik and to the door. "Do you think--?"
Sheik brushed the feeling off by the force of his festival mind, and nodded. "It should be," he said, moving off the wall with a cool feline movement, walking with confidence ahead of Link...
No ceremonies this time- they just busted through the door- pushed it with such a rough energy that it banged against the cheap walls as it opened. A lustful cry was interrupted by mingled sounds of panic; Sheik began an improvised conversation with Link there was a dull thunking sound from the bathroom stall. Did the girl fall?...Yeah, she fell, her sex kitten heel had slipped off and she’d stumbled, untangling her legs from around his hips- he moved likewise with a clumsy movement- "You bit me, you fucking idiot!" she yelled, smacking him.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It was because-" he started...
"Shut up!" She pushed past him and poked her head out the stall, her hair obscuring his figure...
There was a calm moment before the fury of her eyes came like smoke between her and the two at the door. "Sheik!" she snapped, "You fucking asshole!"
"Wait, hold on, I’ll take care of it," the writer pleaded, pulling her back into the stall.
Link looked at Sheik. "Why only you?" he asked, curiously.
"I could say that she doesn’t know your name," Sheik responded, then shrugged; "I could also say that’s the general attitude toward me."
"You guys! What’s going on! Why are you here?" the writer asked, exasperatedly.
Sheik and Link exchanged a quick glance. "We were worried," Sheik began, "for her health."
"Yep yep," Link joined, with a wide grin, "There are crackers outside."
The writer’s desperate eyes turned up a shade. "Oh come on!" he answered, exasperatedly, "Come on, you guys gotta go, you gotta-"
"Alright, alright," Sheik nodded calmly, "Just make sure she gets plenty of rest-"
"And that she gets three square meals a day," Link said, as the writer walked them to the door.
"And that she brushes her teeth at least two times a day- that’s very important," Sheik responded, as the three stepped out the door.
"Also, always ask her how her day at school was, ’cause otherwise she’ll think you don’t care about her," Link said, holding up a finger as though it was a very crucial issue.
"And develop a self-confidence issue and possibly bulimia," Sheik continued.
The writer stopped at the door- backed up against it like some manic raccoon protecting his territory. "Okay, okay," he said, even laughing a little at their small tangent; but there wasn’t anything humorous in his voice. "And please don’t come back in," he pleaded.
Sheik’s eyes smiled. "Why?" Link asked, innocently.
"’Cause- ’cause I’m tryina bang this chick!" he said, finally letting the cat out of the bag, waving his arms in a frantic movement. He ignored their sudden bursts of laughter and hurried back inside, slamming the door as he went.
Link was too thrown into laughter to even comment on what had just happened (though he did make a small compliment on Sheik’s "and make sure she brushes her teeth" comment- to which Sheik replied, "Why thank you, fine Sir")- his sides split in aching, his laughter distracting...people looked over, wondering what the action was, and if they could get in on it- but it was just Angel Down and Shadow Slim laughing to the dawn on some immaculate in-joke.
"Jeez," Link broke out, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, "That was great- I never knew a bathroom could be so fun-"
Sheik laughed a little bit- it was hard to ignore the way Link said things, with such a simple, childish logic. He leaned against the wall near the door, thinking of the images that passed through his mind- with paint rapidity, a message low beneath the reality sounds...Link began to walk, touching Sheik’s arm slightly as he passed him. "Let’s go outside," he suggested, his movements light, "That bathroom smelled like dead cheese."
Sheik paused, then nodded- to himself, maybe; then followed behind Link...passing the same old scenes, the same old vacuum of nonsense that was always beyond their circle as they moved through the world. The same dream feeling that rushed by the end of the night...
And again a strange feeling took hold of Sheik, but this time there was more sweetness in his mind than anything, coupled with an electric energy that made him hungry for the night...the sidewalk was quiet. Only a few guys with alligator eyes stood around, having a smoke- but otherwise there were windmill colors singing from the all-night restaurants and a smoky haze drifting down the block...
"Wow, look!" Link exclaimed, stopping in his tracks and pointing upwards. Sheik raised his eyebrows, looked at the sky- the moon was low in the sky, theater red with splotches of gold- it gave an emperor’s light- and tonight the stars were bright, diamonds from the night...
Lotsa other nights were starless in Castle City. Link paused and reflected on the luck of finding stars, and Sheik observed the colors quietly.
"The red moon means bloodshed," he said, the words out of his mouth like war; Link looked back to him distractedly. Sheik’s balance drifted, his voice was light. "It’s bad blood in the air. Criminals lurk police red on a full moon night; tiger’s eye is good for protection."
Link smiled broadly, moving closer to Sheik. "You’re in a good mood."
Sheik laughed a little. "A good mood is relative. Whether or not I’m in a good mood- depends on the movement of the stars, I suppose," he said, pointing up a little. Link listened intently. "My ruling planet is Pluto- and a social planet is Jupiter, and so you have to work the math."
Link paused. "How did people figure that stuff out anyway? Like what planet governs which trait, and like- what kind of people or born at a certain time?" he asked, turning his head slightly. "Was it just observations people made?"
Sheik’s eyes flashed; he paused, though, and words came gradually. "People feel that some things are uncertain- mystery is a fact of life," he started; then thought. He leaned in closer to Link; was uncertain of the feeling of judgment in his chest, but decided to prop his arm up on Link’s shoulder anyway, to lean closer and to see his eyes for what they really were. Link blinked in confusion- Sheik wasn’t really a physical type of person, or at least he hadn’t seen that side of him..."There is a pulsation in the air that shoots into your blood- science to an extent is irrelevant next to feelings. You feel that you may be born under a bad sign- you may be luckless, loveless; there is darkness in the heart- lovers in the morning." He paused, and there was a small laughter from his throat that put Link at ease. "There are carnivals on the stars," he finished, with his eyes thrown into that manic light that Link knew well.
Link smiled and nodded, and knew that Sheik was right- even if not technically, in a more important way.
At the end of the day, Shad showed up (like a superhero from out of nowhere, only apparating when people were in dire need of
assistance- or at least when 1/2 of your group was drunk and needed to get home) and drove them all home. The car pulled up to the darkened street, to the lost azaleas in front of where Link lived. Ending the night, he was absolutely certain that he knew why he liked Sheik.
author's note: *this line inspired by My-Last-Resort's story "Murder is an Option." You can find it on DeviantART.
Thanks for reading!
pairing: Sheik X Link X Zelda triangle: Sheik X Link and Zelda X Link
rating: PG-13
genre: romance / AU
chapter summary: Between harrassing politicians & couples in bathrooms, conversations about being pimps, and days of gray and rain, Sheik wonders why he likes Link so much.
author's note: SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOO MUCH FUN YO.
"Hey, Sheik," Link began, turning over on his side- lying on a bench as Sheik was looking out across the industrial harbor.
"Hmm?" Sheik answered, his eyes vivid as he seemed to see the art between the physical lines.
"How long have you known Zelda anyway?" he asked, watching seagulls pass overhead.
Sheik paused; "Some time now. Since I was a child." His voice wasn’t so edgy as normal- the light in his eyes hadn’t left, but it was as though he wasn’t running circles anymore.
"Oh, so since you were kids? Huh," Link answered, turning over again. The schoolkids had been out for a while now; they milled around the main streets with convenience store goals- a world apart from Sheik and Link. "How did you meet?"
Sheik looked back at Link with the light in his eyes thrown off; "Without luck. Why do you ask?"
"I don’t know- just to talk I guess," he answered, smiling and sitting up.
Sheik nodded; then motioned with his hand as he started off. "Come on, then," he said, beginning to walk. Link sprung up from his place and fell into step right by him; a kid with a skateboard blew straight past them. Sheik looked back to Link with mildly curious eyes. "You’ll like Zelda. You’ll meet her when she gets back, most likely." He paused- a grinning look came over his face. "That is, as long as there’s no plane crash, or anything of that sort."
Link smiled sheepishly back, let off a small chuckle. "Where is she now though? Doing like political stuff?"
"She’s on tour," Sheik responded, voice smoky and casual, as if that were an everyday thing to say.
Link paused for a moment, imagining a princess holding a microphone in front of thousands of screaming little girls- or else a girl with piercings and tattoos playing the electric bass in some grimy club...but then again, he’d heard other uses of the word before, so he didn’t say anything about it. He’d never seen the princess before- he’d only heard it said that she was beautiful. Anyway, how did Sheik know her? He must have been from a rich family, then...
The sun was setting, pearly pink above the gray buildings; they passed into the center of town, footsteps over the cobblestone...then into the market; making a left into the tavern streets. They were going to meet Raven and the gang, another drunken round, gunning off into the dark; in fact, Link hadn’t spent a night home in weeks. Whether ruining blacktie socialite cocktail parties or slumming with the lowest of the underground, there was always something to do here...the flowers were sighing as autumn was exploding into fire colors.
The first one Link saw from the block over was Raven, positively lurching, smoking a fat cigarette beneath the awning; and then the Lauryn Hill brothers, who Link guessed were actually fun once in a while (when they were drunk, they stopped talking about Lauryn Hill at least)...
"Hey!" Link yelled down the street, stretching out the syllable and cupping his hands around his mouth.
The Lauryn Hill brothers turned their heads up lazily to Sheik and Link, their bangs obscuring their faces; Raven’s eyes snapped to them similarly, and he made a loud whooping sound, throwing his cigarette into the street. "Hooooiiiii! Here he comes! He-who-don’t-know-love!"
"Apparently," Sheik began as they came near to the group, "Love is some intense joke, some misplaced application of feelings."
Link laughed a little, Raven laughed a lot. "Fuck love!- Give me pussy!" he yelled, earning some disapproving stares from ladies across the street. He turned back to Sheik and Link, dissatisfaction crossing his face. "I heard you made that chick cry. Whatever, she’s probably better off for it. Teach her some fuckin’ manners."
Link looked up to the blue sky, kicking pebbles on the curb. "I don’t know, I don’t think it’s right to hurt people, though."
Raven let out a disgusted scoffing noise, rolling his eyes. "Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot we were in the presence of Saint fucking Lucy. I’ll remember next time. What the fuck is wrong with you, anyway? Don’t you got any balls?"
Link smiled, about to say something, but Sheik cut through the conversation. "Fix your habit Raven- let’s go," he said, beginning to walk.
"Fucking eunuch," Raven grumbled. "Well, come on, Link."
Old ladies and Parisian flowers were spilling impressions down from the apartments above; but it was a useless rain, because the only gang down was one of desert poets, street generals who stepped on charity, twins lost in songs- and oh yeah, one country orphan with a scene and a plan on his mind. "That chick’s gone anyway," Raven mused, scratching his chin as they crossed the street. "It was her last day here, she went back to the country or wherever the Hell she’s from." He stretched out, limbs stiff, and eyed Sheik curiously. "But y’know, if it was me, I woulda fucked her. As long as it was her last day here, an’ I dint have to see her again- that’s like a fuckin’ Get-Outta-Jail-Free pass." He paused, on a thought- Link noticed the odd look in his eyes as he looked to Sheik.
Sheik had been looking out on the street; humming a memory melody softly. "And?" he replied pleasantly.
Raven paused, and then let out a heavy sigh. "I woulda hit that," he shrugged; but then his mouth turned on a thought. "But y’know, I guess there’s always that fuckin’ chance that she’s gonna wake up in the mornin’ with- ‘Guess what! I love you and I’m going to stay another day or eighty.’* That’s the fuckin’ worst. Still, she wasn’t bad lookin’. Just shut off the lights." He scoffed. "You gotta get fuckin’ laid, man. So what if she’s not goddamn Byron’s Evangeline? ’Sides, girls dig all that mysterious shit you pull. I’m startin’ to think you got a thing for Zelda or somethin’."
Sheik turned to Raven; Link wondered on that- that was an interesting thought..."I’m not in love with Zelda," Sheik answered, with a tone that was too even, too calm, to be normal; although, there was nothing unusual about the look in his eyes...
Raven smirked. "Whatever, I don’t really give a shit anyway."
A pause ensued (well, sorta a pause- the twins started to explain something about the song "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" that was relevant to the subject matter, something about self-esteem issues in young girls or whatever); Link was looking toward Sheik, wondering why he had answered that way...Sheik’s eyes moved a bit (the jewel light in them changing, turning- throwing off light like gold in fire) and he let out a small laugh. "And what are you thinking, Link?"
Link laughed after a short spell of surprise. "Oh, nothing," he replied.
There was smoke from a pothole door as the group walked on by; passed onto a block full of jeweler’s places. Cleared the Hell out of there, and onto dirtier streets. Outside a family restaurant there were tables out, covered with white taupe and propaganda. They seemed to be people campaigning for the upcoming election- for the reelection of the political right, or the instatement of the political left.
Raven grumbled a comment about "fucking world peace retards" and the twins said something about "Babylon’s benefactors," and it seemed sure that they would pass the stands on by. Link thought these people were like salespeople, in their own way- was always glad to pass by a salesman, regardless of the product.
"Gentlemen!" a woman said brightly, as they were near her stand. "Gentlemen, may I stop you for a moment?"
They turned back to the stand. She was a clean-looking woman, straight hair neatly brushed and smile carefully waxed; clothing that wasn’t offensive. A curious look passed Sheik’s eyes and Raven’s spirit seemed to evaporate. Without waiting for an answer (seeing they she had caught their attention), she went on: "Gentlemen, are you interested in seeing a bright future for Castle City? If so I’d like to explain to you Mr. Dotour’s vision for a new-"
"Man, FUCK Mr. Dotour!" Raven broke out, making Link jump with the boom of his voice, putting emphasis on the "f" in fuck you! A group of pizza people turned around, and a man smoking a cigarette on the nearby corner chuckled.
The woman winced; her eyes snapped open, and she began to stammer and laugh, wondering for a way out that was conceivably civil...Raven whirled around to Sheik. "Man, can you fuckin’ believe this chick, Sheik? All tryin’ t’ get us to vote for Mr. Dotour? Of all fuckin’ people?"
"Impertinence indeed," Sheik replied, stepping closer to lean on the stand and peer over the fliers. "How d’you feel about that, Raven?"
"Gets on my fuckin’ nerves, that’s for sure," Raven replied, leaning on the stand likewise. "Y’know, people don’t understand, but- heads get twisted, sometimes. You know, twisted."
"Heads’ll be twisted- and of course, blood takes no tallies," Sheik replied, his hand resting like a shadow on the white table cover, its color rough and exotic against the city plainness; as if it was some intrusive force, the poet’s sword. "And who’ll he call when the people rally? It’s got nothing to do with the street."
The woman’s eyes darted nervously to somebody nearby who appeared to be on the same campaign; but Raven just leaned forward. "Hell yes!" he bit, and her well-applied mascara and bargain blazer were nothing against his alligator’s teeth. "So what does this shit mean to me?"
There was a slight pause; the woman finally found the space to get a word in. "Hah-hah, but, gentlemen," she laughed smally, "Well, let’s deal with this. What’s the, ah, specific problem you find with Mr. Dotour?" Link found it wondrous that she could still focus on doing her job, even through the blitzkrieg of words.
Raven leaned back. Sheik put his hand on his hip, the curve of his legs catlike against the dark. "Hell if I know," Raven answered, with a shrug. "I don’t even know who the fuck Dotour is. But I’ll tell you one thing," he continued- then leaning forward again, turned the small cardboard cutout of Dotour around to face her- and then, his eyes narrowed, darkened. "He has purple hair. That’s already, like, a fuckin’ crime against humanity."
Link twitched; then, unable to help himself, let out a loud, ringing laugh- loaded with that silvery quality that made his laughter so irresistible. Sheik’s eyes darted toward him, but he quickly diverted his gaze to the woman, whose world was probably imploding at that very moment. "Yes, how will he effectively run a city with purple hair?" he asked her, mildly. "He may as well be mentally impaired."
She said nothing. Link was trying to recover from his laughing fit to no avail, and the twins seemed to just shrug and sigh. Raven moved away from the stand. "Whatever. You fruitcakes ready to go?" he said, indicating his wristwatch. "I don’t wanna miss the fuckin’ drink special."
Link paused, and nodded; then fell into laughter again. Raven raised an eyebrow. "What the fuck’s so funny? Come on, asshole."
The woman was shellshocked in her seat; but never mind that- they continued down the street, Link putting his arm around Sheik’s shoulders as a crutch for his incapacitating laughter. Sheik looked up toward him, a curious in his eyes. Maybe he was about to say something, maybe not, but in any case Raven’s rough voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Hey kid," he said, directing a criminal glance to Link. Link propped his head up, eyes like saying, "yes?" Raven shrugged into his corduroy jacket. "When we get to the place, wanna make some money?"
Link paused, wondering what that meant. "Uh, sure," he responded, and slipped his arm off of Sheik as an afterthought.
Raven nodded as the street scenery passed by. Sheik eyes didn’t seem to indicate any change, so Link figured it was okay. "Okay, I’ll give you the cue when we’re inside," Raven answered. "You know, that chick was kinna hot. She had that nervous energy goin’ on- put that shit to good use."
"Go back and get her phone number," Sheik said, with laughing eyes. Raven turned back to him and flattened his eyes in response. "You can discuss Mr. Dotour and then fall together in bliss at the end of the night."
"Hardy-har," Raven snapped.
The brick of the buildings was Brooklyn brown; like baby ducks, they fell into a line entering the narrow door of a flower shop. That thick sugar and anise perfume hung out, stretched lazily into the air, flooded Link’s senses immediately. What were they doing here? He paused to wonder on that, but was distracted by a lily-of-the-valley, following half-mindedly behind, counting by the rhthym of Sheik’s steps.
They blustered by the flowers and the old man at the counter gave them a surly stare, but none of them turned to him. There was a staircase at the back, hidden behind a fanning palm. They filed up the stairs, and passed a door into a place with low lights that smelled like coffee and perfume. The fixtures were all made of dark red wood; the place seemed relatively uncrowded. A chalkboard menu stood by the door, which Raven glanced at with lightning eyes before they continued. The place seemed mellow enough, and there was this nice, starry kind of light that breathed off of everything that Link liked. Amid the slight scratch of vague music, he could hear that hollow clattering noise of people playing pool...
"What’s he do here anyway?" Link whispered to Sheik.
Sheik paused; then turned his eyes to Raven. "Watch," he replied, voice low, eyes cast over the scene.
Raven had become embroiled in a conversation with some waitress girl. "Fuck! Whaddyou mean it’s over?" he was saying to some girl incredulously. She said something to him in low tones. He nodded, then made a gesture of exasperation. "Well, how long’s it been over?...Okay. Anybody leftover?...Point them out to me. No not with your hand dumbass, with your eyes. Okay. Okay. Thanks."
He trotted back over to the group, taking off his jacket and slinging it over his shoulder. "Okay, I’ll be around, faggots." He looked at Link with a set light in his eyes. "I’ll give you the cue, alright? So be nearby, and don’t get fucking drunk or anything, cause it’ll ruin it."
"Okay," Link nodded, smiling. "See you, then."
Raven disappeared, then, blended into the crowd seamlessly; and the Lauryn Hill brothers lurched off to do something else, go to the bar, maybe, or preach aimlessly. So under the shield of the low light it was just Sheik and Link again, back to square one and rushed into warmth. Outside, it was the windy train and double ecstasy- you could see it from the large windows.
"I’m thirsty," Link announced, looking baby blue around the open room, that particular searching dissatisfaction crossing his mouth like a gloomy kiss. A breath of breeze came in cold as a waitress opened a window nearby.
"Get something then," Sheik replied, making an urging gesture toward the bar.
"Yeah. But I don’t know? I’m not in the mood to drink." He gave the bar a passing glance, then looked back to Sheik; backed up against air, thin and graceful, fooling around with the neon jukebox beside them.
Sheik looked back at him with a small amusement in his eyes; replied with warmth in his voice. "Coffee, then? Ask a waitress," he said, striking the right chord and knowing it.
"They have coffee?" Link replied with a spark, his face brightening like city moon immediately- Sheik laughed smally, knowing he’d turned the right key. "Sweet! That’s like, exactly what I was in the mood for," he went on excitedly, looking for a waitress to commission, recruit to that end. His eyes looked happy and distracted; Sheik paused on his small success and then forgot about it just as quick, leaned against the wall as some baby retro song he’d chosen came into the room like telephone wires and industrial steel.
Link found his girl and asked for a cup of coffee- then turned to Sheik with a "you sure you don’t want?"- and then the two were gone again. Waiting for sweetness- the outside breeze dark and full as it came through the window. The moments were rushed, filled with Link’s happy chattering and a few half-brained wisecracks that ended in easy laughter...the girl came back with a wide-brimmed steaming cup, and Sheik made a small shadowy movement to get his wallet. Paid for that, and despite the odd look on her face she walked back toward a group of people who had called to her before...
Link tipped the cup up to his mouth; then winced and moved it away like it was persona non grata. "Jeez, that’s hot," he said with a curve in his tone. He looked up to Sheik with the electricity of a thought in his eyes, and laughed starrily. "Ew, you know, people prolly think you’re my pimp or something ’cause you’re always paying for me."
Sheik’s posture slackened on that thought; the look in his eyes hushed to low and smarting. "Ah,- that side of the road doesn’t oblige me. Would I even make a good one?" he asked, something in his movements filled with the music.
Link grinned. "I think you’d be a good pimp- I don’t think you’d take that much of my money," he answered.
"Well, keep on- if times ever come to that, you know who to call," Sheik replied, and Link saw the quirk of a smile in the riot red.
Link laughed back; but his eyes slowed to concern and the blue was smaller. "Are you okay with paying for me, though?" he asked, looking seriously toward Sheik.
Sheik’s head quirked a bit. "I don’t see why I shouldn’t be," he replied, his voice warm- his posture changing, as though he was telling Link to go on.
"I just don’t wanna be spending all your money and stuff," Link answered, mouth turning tentatively. "It wouldn’t be fair."
"I’m not about to go into poverty any time soon," Sheik said, eyes lit and tone turning on a thought of humor; then he broke into a small laugh. "That is, as long as the papes stay at bay." Link laughed too, a bit confusedly, but there was still a pause in his manner. Sheik brushed the topic off with the look in his eyes. "Don’t worry. As long as you keep your end, it should be fine," he said allowingly, with a warm gesture of the head.
There wasn’t really any question about what "his end" meant- maybe looking back on things, there should have been. But it didn’t matter to Link, he just gave a nod and a smile. He took a gulp of his coffee, then with the heat moving through his veins, moved so that he faced Sheik full-on- bright stars in his eyes and confidence on his mouth. "Okay," he nodded, then smiled- softly, Sheik noticed, with a cutting cross between boldness and sincerity. "If it’s you, I don’t think it’ll be hard to do."
The words struck Sheik strangely; he scanned Link’s face for cold traces of complicity, weakness- but couldn’t find any. It was only a smile full of promises and a look in his eyes that said he’d keep them. Why had he even doubted it?- Link was as he usually was. He said things, and he meant them...
The moment of lightning and doubt and hints of rain was broken through by a sharp whistling sound, subtle and high-pitched like a dog whistle. The noises cut; both knowing that it was thrown in their direction, they turned. Raven was by the pool tables, holding a poolstick low by his hip, looking toward them like some criminal boss. Link’s head quirked to the side, and Raven made a nodding gesture, giving him the signal with a slim expression.
"Oh! I guess I gotta go," Link said with a smile- his tone like it was some top-secret mission. He gave a small salute. "I’ll see you, then!"
And he turned; on his heel, on that luck of movement that he had, went over to where Raven stood. Though time was passing quick and the scenery had changed, Sheik was still caught up in this funny impression- like he was seeing familiar ghosts in Link’s words, in the way he walked...
He settled back against the window. In his veins, in his mind full of stars and paint, he could feel that it had started to rain outside. Cold rushed by. He wondered what this feeling meant- traveling through his blood like a storm of alcohol.
He exhaled; looked to all the world like some exotic soldier ready to go bombs bombs away, but his chaotic colors didn’t quite match the low feeling in his mind. He watched as Raven was explaining something to Link, very methodically. His mind crashed, set to low. There was a crushing melancholy in his breathing- with a strange dark sweetness, like happiness in gloom blooming in his chest. He examined the scenery; Link’s clean laugh filled the room with something light and happy...
The bells of Link’s voice floated by his mind. The lights were still low but the neon of cars was cracking new colors inside. Suddenly it struck him, what Link’s laughter reminded him of- he’d surmised that it was silvery, but it wasn’t at all, it was amber effervescence that bubbled like gold morning rain. It cut through feelings and radiated to the ceiling- like champagne.
There was a slight gray in the air, and this stillness that weighed down on Link, made his mouth turn unhappily as he dressed in the afternoon...He was running a little late- Sheik was going to pick him up so he could tag along with him until the night.
There was food, but he skipped out on eating, rushed out the door after seeing Sheik through the upstairs window. It was damp out, you could feel that in Sheik’s movements, still smoky and vital but with a sudden lowness. Link opened the door; Sheik’s eyes flashed a greeting and Link smiled as he buttoned up his shirt. "Hi! What’s up? Eesh, it’s cold out. What’re we doing today again?"
"Going to the roadhouse, off to kill the moon," Sheik answered, eyes lit.
Link laughed and nodded in affirmation and Sheik continued with, "The empire’s waiting," throwing his glance breathlessly to the street. Link was about to say something- but then his eyes became marked with curiosity, and he leaned forward, peering at Sheik. Sheik’s limbs tensed in immediate reaction, but relaxed just as quickly- it was Link, after all...the expression on Link’s face was soft. "Hey," he said, touching Sheik’s hair a little bit, "was it raining?"
Sheik looked up at him curiously- a dark feeling rising into his mind. "It used to be," he answered, voice low.
"Huh. Weird, I didn’t even notice. Then again I was pretty much sleeping the whole day," he laughed, fingers brushing lightly off Sheik’s hair as he moved his hand away. "Sorry you got caught in it though..."
"It’s nothing," Sheik replied. His words were careful as usual, masked the fact that he suddenly didn’t know what else to say...
But then the feeling passed, and he disregarded it like storms rolling off some remote planet- irrelevant, passing. They continued: down avenues of streaming gray, through lights that cut through minds like rolling wheels...on the fringes- Sheik slim as a pickpocket, Link low between rain and sunshine, but the conversation was filled with a quiet contentment.
They got to the place maybe 10 or 15 minutes later...Sheik met his guy at a coffee stand in front of an alleyway. Link got a cup of coffee and waited for Sheik on the margins, taking an occasional open glance at the guy. He was probably half-Gerudo- he had that sharp nose, those lidded snake’s eyes. The conversation was at its leisure but it was tense and something secret was being said, something that wasn’t for everyday eyes. Link wondered at that maybe Sheik was some kind of drug lord or a crime boss or something...well, he already knew pimp was out of the question, so he pondered on why Sheik would be so rich as he looked out on the carnival street.
It hadn’t even been 5 minutes, and yet the tone of the conversation closed up, wrapped up like a package to be sent; Sheik turned to Link with manic eyes lit, economy in his movements as his posture balanced strangely and he made a small gesture. "Let’s be off then," he said, beginning to walk off.
There was a pause as the kiss of mist hung over the narrow city streets. "He’s from the desert, too, right?" Link asked, catching up to Sheik.
"Mm-hm," Sheik answered, eyes ahead.
Link tipped his head back- downed a burning gulp of coffee, and flicked the cup into a corner garbage can with a wanton movement. They weren’t going back the way they came...it didn’t matter. "So," Link began, "is that how you make money?"
Sheik’s eyes flicked to Link- "is that how you make money-" what a question. He chuckled slightly and looked over Link softly, with gentle eyes. "No-" he said, stopping on the word for effect; he brushed it off, cracked his bandaged knuckles. "As a child," he began. Link leaned in a little bit- there was something about the way Sheik said things that was magnetic, stayed in your mind, made you grasp for more when he stopped the rush of his words; seeing the reaction he knew he’d get, Sheik’s eyes smiled, turned and shimmered. "I was raised with the thought that I was born into gold." He paused and waved it off. "My money’s not new. It’s a burden I’ve inherited."
When Sheik talked, it conjured colors, images; Link felt as though he knew what he was talking about even though he sort of didn’t understand. He nodded. "But, but how’d your family make their money?" he interjected like a schoolkid, "Like what do they do?"
"Looking at me- what do you think they do?"
They stopped on the sidewalk. Sheik had felt the heat surge in his voice when he’d said it- so he could understand the look in Link’s eyes, that slight surprise like he’d been burned. That dark feeling hummed through his limbs again as Link examined him, eyes weighing, washing over- eyes determined, but that blue was so lost...his mouth turned indecisively. "I donno," he finally said, hesitantly; he turned his head slightly. Sheik’s weight shifted to the other hip. "Like, I don’t think I could look at you and go, ‘Oh, he’s a musician,’ or, ‘oh, he’s a student,’...or ‘oh, he’s the town’s resident lazy dirty hobo.’ Just kidding. I don’t know, I think it’s ’cause- you’re nothing but you, I think. I guess to me, that’s all you are."
Their eyes met- but Link’s held nothing but a smile, and Sheik’s could not abide by that. Something in his mind cracked, rivers of colors flowed seamlessly straight through his thoughts, but one was more apparent than the others...Link just shrugged and continued, and Sheik spoke with hesitance- as though he was saying something heavy, important, something he’d have to tread around to ask it right. "And you?...Where are you from? The country?" he asked, stepping in tandem with Link quickly.
Link paused, and then grinned, turning to Sheik with a laugh. "I guess so," he answered. He swung his arms at his sides. "The orphanage was in the country. It was like an hour by train to come here."
"You have no family?" Sheik replied, looking over Link wth curiosity.
"Nope," Link answered, stifling a yawn. "Never knew ’em. It was an orphanage run by women- the only guy was a priest of Nayru I think. They were pretty cool ladies- they let me get away with a lot."
Sheik paused in his thoughts. That would explain why Link was such an open person- why he didn’t think twice about saying the things he said...Sheik had no reply, really, just gave a small nod and hum, turned as they continued. Rays of light were sifting shy through the clouds...
They both noticed that the construction noises they’d heard up the block had stopped. On a normal day, as the sun died away the scenery would be coated with gold; as it was, it was overcast and pearl gray.
But there was blue darkening abovehead. It wasn’t clear weather either of them knew where they were going. The buildings got smaller, dissolved from cafes into law offices. To their left as they walked along was a- field, maybe, chainlink fenced and between buildings. The grass, the lights, paled around them.
"Wow!" Link exclaimed, fresh as a windy breath, and half-skipped-half-hopped onto the grass. "I didn’t know there were even places like this here."
Then he started taking off his shoes, and Sheik hung back by the concrete, mild and curious as to what Link was doing. Link flung a glance back at Sheik- then said, with light in his eyes, "I want to feel the dew," matter-of-factly. He smiled softly back at Sheik- and with words unsaid, Sheik felt a spark glimmer in his chest at the sight of Link smiling, cartwheeling windlessly, falling over and touching the grass...
Like a child, like nature’s only son. Like stars and wind, misty candy almond in your mouth...Sheik leaned back on nothing, didn’t have a place to fall. Now that he thought of it (now that he paused in his constant stream of toxic thought-creation to reflect on it), Link gave him this feeling of loneliness- the sheer knowledge of being alone, but there was something dulcet about the feeling...
Why did he even trust Link? Or, why did he like him so much? Maybe it was that Link was free, but it wasn’t quite that. It wasn’t even that he was generally innocent, or that he was always looking out for other people. It was more in that he was lonely ultrafox, between worlds of right and wrong- more in the way his eyes turned thoughtful, rainy, more in the way he laughed. Or something like that, maybe it was even the things he said, or his general attitude, the way he understood the world...
Or maybe it was just Sheik being selfish, looking for a new friend, latching onto somebody who’d put up with him. The nerves in his arms stretched and vibrated- guitar chords striking, saying something under the breath of the sun air. He clutched at nothing as though it was his heart; Link attempted some kind of flip or another, then yelled back to Sheik that it was nice in the field, maybe he should join him. For a moment, a real strange moment, there was a dark voice across his eyes- and he felt for sure that he was doomed. But anyway, there was warmth in his movements as he leaned over swift and graceful to pick up Link’s shoes from their scattered places on the concrete.
"Dude," was said by the trashcan alleys; Raven’s voice in what was unusual for Raven- something like panic. "Dude, I don’t know...that chick- she came out the other day- she’s a fuckin’ lesbian."
"So what she’s a lesbian?" Princess laughed lightly, thwacking him playfully on the arm.
"What the fuck do you mean, so what! How the fuck am I s’posed to talk to her?" Raven barked, the rising tones of his voice obviously worried.
Princess rolled her eyes with a smile. "Just talk to her like you talk to Zelda, Raven."
Raven stared at her flatly, blinked in silence. "Was that supposed to be fuckin’ funny?" he scoffed. "She ain’t no fuckin’ Zelda, that’s for sure. Oi, when’s that girl comin’ back anyway?" he asked, pivoting wildly and throwing a glance back to Sheik. "You tell her to get her ass back in the city when you talk to her next."
"She’ll rush to see you," Sheik replied, eyes light with humor.
Raven rolled his eyes; then gave a measured look to Link. "Zelda’s real fucking fun," he said, "At first I was kinda like, eh, the whole princess thing, she’s prolly all lady-lady and Queen Mother and shit- but she turned out to be real cool."
"Everyone likes Zelda," Princess added, with just a hint of vitriol in the levity of her voice.
"Least she’s not a fuckin’ lesbian," Raven replied, biting.
Princess laughed again. "What’s wrong with being a lesbian, though? There’s nothing wrong with that."
"Oi, Sheik, what’s wrong with being a lesbian?" Raven asked over his shoulder, then turned to Link. "I’m not gonna ask you, Mother Teresa."
"The arithmetic of the thing is off," Sheik answered, that manic tilt to his voice.
Raven broke out into a loud laugh that had people on the street looking toward him. "The arithmetic, he sez- that’s fuckin’ good, I gotta use that one," he answered. Link grinned, was vaguely aware of Princess smiling back at him; but instead, decreased the pace of his footsteps and fell behind with Sheik.
They shared a smile of confidants; Raven’s voice broke through it. "Sheik, lemme bum a smoke?"
Sheik paused, then moved slightly, got out a small box with a liquid movement- pulled out a thin brown cigarette and his lighter. "And what’s wrong, Raven? Declaring insolvency?" he asked, holding the lighter as Raven drew a breath in.
Smoke rose and twisted; Raven’s expression tightened a bit on the first drag, and then he brought the cigarette down. "Your mother," he replied, turning to walk again. "Thanks."
"Raven’s a beggar," Link taunted, with a light laugh.
"Hey, I wouldn’t be talkin’, you’re basically a fuckin’ hobosexual," Raven spat. "Walkin’ ’round this town without a dollar to ya name- what the Hell are you even thinking, kid?"
"A cripple, too," Sheik joined, looking at Link, "You forgot that he’s a cripple."
"A cripple and a beggar, Raven? Jeez, there’s really no hope," Link answered, with a lost sigh. Sheik’s eyes ran along with the joke, laughter at their corners.
Raven rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, fucking gang up on me. That’s fuckin’ nice. Fruitcakes."
"That’s something a cripple would say," Sheik replied, voice like a whip to a horse.
"Yeah, I’m starting to worry," Link said.
"Whatever, whatever," Raven answered, taking a long drag- looking like a weary crime lord to anybody looking on. "At least I’m not...Hello fucking Kitty."
Link paused- then laughed; Sheik listened to the sound like it was church bells, though his eyes didn’t betray that. "Did you just call me Hello Kitty?"
"Yer damn straight I called you Hello fucking Kitty."
"Her name’s not Hello Fucking Kitty," Sheik piped up, as though he was reminding Raven of the name of a person they actually knew.
"Oh, excuse me, Hello Motherfucking Kitty."
"That’s more like it," Sheik answered, looking off to the street. "We’d do best to mind the venom- it’s poison from the street."
"Ooh, look, Choctoroks!" Link chimed, pulling out a quick coin and handing it to a nearby Gerudo kid selling candy from a cardboard box. He ripped off the wrapper crudely, stuffed it in his pocket and snapped off a chocolate piece.
Princess had been watching it all from the sidelines with an occasional laugh- but now she shook her head, with that "boys will be boys" smile on her rose mouth. "You guys are so ridiculous," she said, with a slight laugh.
Link turned his thoughtful eyes to her; chewed over some chocolate, then with a small boyish gesture offered her a piece. She looked surprised for a moment, then a smile came into her eyes and she gingerly broke off a piece for herself. She looked up at him, and they shared a small laugh...
There was a pause in Sheik’s thoughts when he saw the way she looked at Link- just a very small pause, only seconds long- and a flare of color across his black eye, in the back of his mind. But the thought only lasted for a moment, and its words were too quick and incoherent, so he disregarded it- turned from them and to the cars across the street.
The music was a pulse- the vibrations to back the king colors that cascaded from the ceiling. Came like an electric empire into the room. There was madness all around. Everybody was some kind of gutter royalty, acting on the foundation of their money.
There were only a few excluded from this classless rule, and they were mostly with Link as he sat chatting and smiling by the back walls. Sheik was nearby- like he usually was- slim and subtle, standing as though he was disconnected from it all. Princess was already drunk, and Raven was well on his way..."Holy fuck," Raven bit, coming momentarily back to Earth from Planet Vodka, "See that? That fuckin’ writer’s tryina fuck Iza!"
Over by a luckless railing, the writer (blonde and anonymous) was talking sweet to this chick called Iza, with big hair and a deep pout. Princess burst into exaggerated laughter and clung onto the wall, commenting on how nicely the room was moving. Link noticed an idea seemed to cross Sheik’s eyes, or not- it was always hard to tell with Sheik.
"’Ey you," Raven snapped, looking at Link with hard eyes, "Why aren’t you drinkin’?"
Link paused, blinking confusedly. "Oh, I’m just not, I guess."
"‘Just not’," Raven repeated, deadpan; then turned his eyes slimly to Sheik. "Hey, hit me up, huh? Anyway, you oughta join in- this one here’s already ready to fuck all of us at once," he continued, speaking lewdness with fluid ease, pointing to Princess with his thumb.
She giggled a little, her gray eyes dulling; "I only want him, tho’," she laughed, pointing crudely to Link. Sheik was getting out a cigarette for Raven- felt his fingers twitch, the blood concentrate for a moment...
"Hear that? She wants your stupid ass, for some fuckin’ reason."
"She’s drunk though," Link laughed, "I don’t think she means it." He was about to say something to the effect of, "Right, Sheik?" but Sheik wasn’t paying attention- had his head turned, a heavy look in his eyes.
"Oi, Sheik, you cretin, my cigarette," Raven commanded brusquely.
Sheik’s eyes turned back to them quickly- but the light in them was mysterious and vague. "Ah- I hadn’t noticed, Raven," he said, with a particular tone.
Raven rolled his eyes. "Aw come on."
"It had slipped my mind," Sheik replied, pivoting on his heel to turn back to them.
"...Please," Raven said, rolling his eyes.
Sheik let out a hoarse laugh, dark and seismic- a certain gloomy quality that flowers had. "Don’t spend it all in one place," he said,
handing it to Raven with a light movement. Link laughed, happy to see that Sheik was back in a good mood.
"Fuck you," Raven sneered, snatching it from Sheik’s hand. He leaned forward into the flash of flame from Sheik’s black lighter; sucked in, then gave an alligator smile, smoke crawling, rising, from between his teeth. "Thanks. Man, what the fuck’s he fuckin’ with Iza for? That chick’s a fuckin’ nag for real- not to mention she has the IQ of a fucking coffee can."
Link and Princess laughed- but Sheik seemed to be brewing in a thought. "The Pythagorean theory is next to useless," he began, voice filled with dark laughter.
"Pythagoras is a dirty whore," Raven snapped, throwing his head back and downing the rest of his drink.
"-and when it comes down to action, so is the theory of probability," Sheik continued, beginning to step. "Well, come on then, Link," he said, gesturing over his back.
Link sprung up to his feet with a clumsy logic, waving shortly to Princess and Raven. Raven just nodded and Princess beamed, face flush red with drink. Link fell into step with Sheik- wondering what he was up to now. "Why did you say that stuff was useless?" Link asked. He actually didn’t know what either were- if he had learned it he had forgotten it already...
Sheik looked to him curiously. "They’re lies for safety," he answered. Link paused, thinking on that. "It exists abstractly- strictly in some distant realm. Of course," he continued, laughing a little, "Shad would tell you otherwise."
Link laughed- Sheik was always picking on Shad for some reason: if something struck Sheik a certain way, he’d say something like "Shad would think that." Maybe it was ’cause Shad had glasses...no, that was stupid- Link let out a laugh at the stupidity of that thought.
"What’s wrong?" Sheik asked- something in him tensing at Link’s laughter- something like anxiety, constricting like that feeling of waiting...
"Oh, nothing," Link answered through his laughter, putting a hand on Sheik’s shoulder.
Sheik felt a pressure in his head for a moment- had words on his tongue, but movements nearby caught his attention. "Ah, look," he said, nodding straight ahead.
Link craned his head to look over the crowd, his hand slipping off Sheik’s shoulder; the writer was walking casually, alone, toward the bathroom. "Oh, him," Link said, with a pause. Usually Sheik wouldn’t mention somebody without a specific reason. He looked back toward him, wondering what was up. "He’s going to the bathroom?"
Sheik nodded; then after a spot of silence, said with a slow relish- "Iza went before him."
Link’s face broke out into a grin. He laughed a little. "Scandalous," he said, knowing immediately what was going down.
"Perhaps a coincidence," Sheik hummed, looking mildly toward the small alcove before the bathroom; then, after a moment, their eyes slowly slipped and met with the same sneaking intent. Sheik’s eyes turned casual and cool. "Do you have to use the bathroom?"
"Suddenly, really badly," Link grinned, as their steps became quicker.
"You’re a hero after all," Sheik responded mildly. The look in his eyes was slim- like he was just some passer-by, like it was just a scene to check out.
"Right, we have to stop wrongdoing in the world," Link agreed with a nod- tried with some difficulty to mask the smile on his face, but had to let out a quick laugh before doing that...went to open the bathroom door, but before he could, Sheik’s arm shot out- stopped Link’s hand midway. Link looked toward him curiously.
"A moment," Sheik said, fingers brushing over Link’s. Link trusted Sheik’s judgment with this kinda stuff (whatever "this kinda stuff" even implied- if it meant walking in on bathroom sex, so be it)...it went unnoticed that Sheik’s hand lingered for a moment- between cold atoms, sparks of warmth, slight touch- the nagging feeling of contact...
Yeah, it went ignored; after a couple of seconds, Sheik’s eyes gave to okay, and Link pushed the door open brusquely, beginning to talk about the current election in an obnoxious voice, as though they were continuing a conversation...at the end of the bathroom- by the last stall, but not quite committed yet- Iza and the writer were caught between pieces of flustered conversation and heavy, lost kissing- but at the recognition of Link’s voice, they both jumped like electricity, both straightened immediately. The writer’s hand lingered over hers, and with hard eyes she smacked it away, half-hiding herself behind the stall.
Sheik and Link gave no signs of even seeing them- but Sheik kept watch out of his peripherals (Link was way too obvious to do that), and his eyes seemed to inform Link of what was going on. Link had to strain to keep from laughing- took a quick leak at one of the urinals as Sheik made origami stars from the bathroom paper towel...Sheik subtly gave the signal for Link to really fucking take his time washing his hands- from the mirror above the sink, they could see Iza and the writer twitching with anxiety, impatience...their postures tensed, centered around the ticking in their spines...
Link kept on talking about the election- as though somebody like him would really be interested in politics- and Sheik responded enthusiastically. Then, on the way out, the tension in the air seemed to breath away, be lost in relief- until Link and Sheik doubled back, with those pleasantly surprised "Oh, hey there, neighbor! Let’s have an hour-long conversation!" looks in their eyes. "Oh! Hi, I didn’t know you were here!" Link exclaimed, waving to the writer enthusiastically.
The look on the writer’s face just physically dropped like metal and gravity- his eyes became nervous. "Oh, yeah! She was sick, so I was pulling, pulling her hair back," he explained quickly, eyes moving over to indicate her.
"Ah, is that so?" Sheik replied, looking toward her considerately. She bristled at the look in Sheik’s eyes- vague, but with just the implication of a laugh...
"Oh, really? That sucks," Link said, frowning small, "Are you okay now?"
"Yes, yes," she replied, with acid in her voice, "It’s fine. I’m fine. I think I just need some quiet. I’m- noise-sensitive."
"She’s noise-sensitive," the writer interjected like it was world-fucking-knowledge.
"How terrible," Sheik replied.
"Yeah, that’s really bad- well, we’ll be going then I guess- catch you two later!" Link said, beginning to walk away from them.
All the sparks seemed to vanish and wash away from their eyes- they seemed like puppets on a string, once taut and now slackened, under the control of two young kids looking for a laugh. "Avoid citric acid," Sheik advised, turning back as Link opened the door.
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Try some soup!" Link said, as Sheik went past him with a small "thank you..." Then, much to the couple’s relief- they were gone, beyond the door- leaving them to the world of secrets that couples share.
The cluttered sounds of electricity and music, laughter and tears, flooded back around them- Link looked at Sheik and broke out into hopeless laughter. Sheik’s eyes seemed to smirk; he leaned against the wall beside the door. "Man," Link said- then fell into laughing again; Sheik closed his eyes, just listened for a moment..."Man, that was funny- did you see the look on his face? Oh God...I’m kinda sorry for doing that, but- hahahaha, that was so hilarious! And she smacked him!"
Sheik cracked an eye open. "‘She’s noise-sensitive’," he repeated.
Link nodded through his laughter, then started to walk beyond the alcove and back to the main room. "Holy crap, that was funny..."
The two exchanged a knowing glance. Link slid up on the wall next to Sheik, pressed against as though it was a covert operation. "How long this time?"
"A minute or two," Sheik answered; then flashed his eyes up to Link, an idea passing into them with red brilliance. "After a pause, the senses rush; the cold envelopes, and movement becomes hurried- once you’ve known it, you can’t forget it."
Link cocked his head curiously. "What’s that? A poem? You should be a poet, Sheik," he said, nodding with complete seriousness.
Sheik’s eyes quirked a little. "A poet? Poetry is in the veins- ink’s no use," he mused; then his posture relaxed a bit, and he looked toward the door. "Moon clouds the eyes, but sun shots are in the senses. The strength of feeling floods the blood- there are scenes only couples know. That’s poetry, I suppose."
Link smiled a little. "And you said you didn’t know anything about love," he said, giving Sheik a slight nudge.
Sheik chuckled. "I’m talking of sex," he said, with a slight amusement.
Link’s eyes brightened, and he gave a small laugh. "Sex," he said, "can be love too."
That tense feeling rushed back to him- into his mind, that darkness behind his eyes that flushed in smoke and blood pink. "I- I know," Sheik answered, suddenly ineloquent.
Link didn’t notice the change; instead his smile turned a truer shade, and he looked past Sheik and to the door. "Do you think--?"
Sheik brushed the feeling off by the force of his festival mind, and nodded. "It should be," he said, moving off the wall with a cool feline movement, walking with confidence ahead of Link...
No ceremonies this time- they just busted through the door- pushed it with such a rough energy that it banged against the cheap walls as it opened. A lustful cry was interrupted by mingled sounds of panic; Sheik began an improvised conversation with Link there was a dull thunking sound from the bathroom stall. Did the girl fall?...Yeah, she fell, her sex kitten heel had slipped off and she’d stumbled, untangling her legs from around his hips- he moved likewise with a clumsy movement- "You bit me, you fucking idiot!" she yelled, smacking him.
"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It was because-" he started...
"Shut up!" She pushed past him and poked her head out the stall, her hair obscuring his figure...
There was a calm moment before the fury of her eyes came like smoke between her and the two at the door. "Sheik!" she snapped, "You fucking asshole!"
"Wait, hold on, I’ll take care of it," the writer pleaded, pulling her back into the stall.
Link looked at Sheik. "Why only you?" he asked, curiously.
"I could say that she doesn’t know your name," Sheik responded, then shrugged; "I could also say that’s the general attitude toward me."
"You guys! What’s going on! Why are you here?" the writer asked, exasperatedly.
Sheik and Link exchanged a quick glance. "We were worried," Sheik began, "for her health."
"Yep yep," Link joined, with a wide grin, "There are crackers outside."
The writer’s desperate eyes turned up a shade. "Oh come on!" he answered, exasperatedly, "Come on, you guys gotta go, you gotta-"
"Alright, alright," Sheik nodded calmly, "Just make sure she gets plenty of rest-"
"And that she gets three square meals a day," Link said, as the writer walked them to the door.
"And that she brushes her teeth at least two times a day- that’s very important," Sheik responded, as the three stepped out the door.
"Also, always ask her how her day at school was, ’cause otherwise she’ll think you don’t care about her," Link said, holding up a finger as though it was a very crucial issue.
"And develop a self-confidence issue and possibly bulimia," Sheik continued.
The writer stopped at the door- backed up against it like some manic raccoon protecting his territory. "Okay, okay," he said, even laughing a little at their small tangent; but there wasn’t anything humorous in his voice. "And please don’t come back in," he pleaded.
Sheik’s eyes smiled. "Why?" Link asked, innocently.
"’Cause- ’cause I’m tryina bang this chick!" he said, finally letting the cat out of the bag, waving his arms in a frantic movement. He ignored their sudden bursts of laughter and hurried back inside, slamming the door as he went.
Link was too thrown into laughter to even comment on what had just happened (though he did make a small compliment on Sheik’s "and make sure she brushes her teeth" comment- to which Sheik replied, "Why thank you, fine Sir")- his sides split in aching, his laughter distracting...people looked over, wondering what the action was, and if they could get in on it- but it was just Angel Down and Shadow Slim laughing to the dawn on some immaculate in-joke.
"Jeez," Link broke out, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, "That was great- I never knew a bathroom could be so fun-"
Sheik laughed a little bit- it was hard to ignore the way Link said things, with such a simple, childish logic. He leaned against the wall near the door, thinking of the images that passed through his mind- with paint rapidity, a message low beneath the reality sounds...Link began to walk, touching Sheik’s arm slightly as he passed him. "Let’s go outside," he suggested, his movements light, "That bathroom smelled like dead cheese."
Sheik paused, then nodded- to himself, maybe; then followed behind Link...passing the same old scenes, the same old vacuum of nonsense that was always beyond their circle as they moved through the world. The same dream feeling that rushed by the end of the night...
And again a strange feeling took hold of Sheik, but this time there was more sweetness in his mind than anything, coupled with an electric energy that made him hungry for the night...the sidewalk was quiet. Only a few guys with alligator eyes stood around, having a smoke- but otherwise there were windmill colors singing from the all-night restaurants and a smoky haze drifting down the block...
"Wow, look!" Link exclaimed, stopping in his tracks and pointing upwards. Sheik raised his eyebrows, looked at the sky- the moon was low in the sky, theater red with splotches of gold- it gave an emperor’s light- and tonight the stars were bright, diamonds from the night...
Lotsa other nights were starless in Castle City. Link paused and reflected on the luck of finding stars, and Sheik observed the colors quietly.
"The red moon means bloodshed," he said, the words out of his mouth like war; Link looked back to him distractedly. Sheik’s balance drifted, his voice was light. "It’s bad blood in the air. Criminals lurk police red on a full moon night; tiger’s eye is good for protection."
Link smiled broadly, moving closer to Sheik. "You’re in a good mood."
Sheik laughed a little. "A good mood is relative. Whether or not I’m in a good mood- depends on the movement of the stars, I suppose," he said, pointing up a little. Link listened intently. "My ruling planet is Pluto- and a social planet is Jupiter, and so you have to work the math."
Link paused. "How did people figure that stuff out anyway? Like what planet governs which trait, and like- what kind of people or born at a certain time?" he asked, turning his head slightly. "Was it just observations people made?"
Sheik’s eyes flashed; he paused, though, and words came gradually. "People feel that some things are uncertain- mystery is a fact of life," he started; then thought. He leaned in closer to Link; was uncertain of the feeling of judgment in his chest, but decided to prop his arm up on Link’s shoulder anyway, to lean closer and to see his eyes for what they really were. Link blinked in confusion- Sheik wasn’t really a physical type of person, or at least he hadn’t seen that side of him..."There is a pulsation in the air that shoots into your blood- science to an extent is irrelevant next to feelings. You feel that you may be born under a bad sign- you may be luckless, loveless; there is darkness in the heart- lovers in the morning." He paused, and there was a small laughter from his throat that put Link at ease. "There are carnivals on the stars," he finished, with his eyes thrown into that manic light that Link knew well.
Link smiled and nodded, and knew that Sheik was right- even if not technically, in a more important way.
At the end of the day, Shad showed up (like a superhero from out of nowhere, only apparating when people were in dire need of
assistance- or at least when 1/2 of your group was drunk and needed to get home) and drove them all home. The car pulled up to the darkened street, to the lost azaleas in front of where Link lived. Ending the night, he was absolutely certain that he knew why he liked Sheik.
author's note: *this line inspired by My-Last-Resort's story "Murder is an Option." You can find it on DeviantART.
Thanks for reading!