Chapter 40: It's You
The line for boarding the plane was long, but at least it was not noisy since there were no traveling families, which meant no kids making a ruckus. Flights at this hour are mainly work related, the usual passengers tend to be very tired employees.
Link was keeping a firm hold on Zelda's hand, anyone who happened to notice them would say that they looked like normal siblings traveling together. But in reality, Link was almost dragging the fearful Princess.
Zelda was trying to portray herself as a serene and composed young lady, but deep down, she wanted to hiss at Link and bite him like a scared kitten. She could not stop him from dragging her, but she could definitely make it a VERY DIFFICULT TASK, so she did just that. Every step she took she was almost digging her feet and legs on the floor, making it hard for Link to pull her. But he still managed to drag her without making it look like a kidnaping was taking place.
ZELDA POV
PLEASE, it can't be safe to ride a machine that promises to fly, yet has no functional wings. I know now that this world is the impossible machine world, but come on, the car made sense, it had 4 circular parts that rolled around to move it. But THIS, this is impossible… if I board it, I am going to die.
"Please don't make me do this, I am afraid of heights, I don't feel safe boarding a machine that claims to be able to fly" Zelda begs him in a low volume, she does not want strangers judging her for this.
"That would mean something if I actually cared" Link declares intending to harm her, but sighs realizing his mistake and immediately tries to correct it "All I know is that I need to be somewhere in Huston. The question is NOT if the plane can fly or not, the question is: are you coming with me?" Link says looking at her sternly and extending a hand at her.
Zelda does not answer, she closes her eyes and nods taking his hand. Link guides her the rest of the way until they board, since the Princess refused to open her eyes out of fear. Once inside, he guides her to their seats and places the backpacks on the hand luggage compartment.
As Link takes his own seat, he notices Zelda praying to the goddesses, he sighs and takes hold of her hand, then an announcement is heard from the pilot's cabin, he is telling the passengers they are about to depart. Zelda immediately bites her lower lip and squeezes her hold on Link's hand.
Link chuckles at that "As I said before, this is not the first time I use a plane, I assure you it's a safe way to travel" he whispers to his Princess.
"Accidents can happen you know?" Zelda manages to say between her chattering teeth.
"Indeed, but accidents can happen on a bus too, or any other method of transportation… just rejoice in the fact that if you die, you take me with you" Link jokes.
"NOT HELPING AT ALL LINK!!!" Zelda yells at him in anger.
He pants "Really? I thought I was doing a great job, given that you have not even noticed we are airborne"
"You are lying…" Zelda opens her eyes, she notices everyone is calmly seated and that there is a window right next to her, she looks out and sees that they ARE flying, she also discovers that she is not scared at all, but rather fascinated by the sight.
How? I thought it had to flap its wings like the birds do, but the wings of this particular machine are fixed in place… so of course I thought it could NOT fly, but IT IS FLYING. I am not going to ask about it, I know I will not understand, the important thing is that I know this is a possibility in this world.
Thinking about it, I kind of understand why people here are so unstable, this world is FULL of possibilities. That goes hand in hand with a lack of limits, and you need limitations and restrictions for social and mental stability. And no stability means lots of bad apples running rampant for SWORD to take care of.
It took 3h25m for them to arrive at their destination, Zelda was very glad that Link never mocked her for being afraid, he actually encouraged her to explore the plane, she discovered the plane had a bathroom, and that the pretty ladies are called air hostess, their job is to assist the passengers and respond in case of an emergency, they are also trained to do CPR, like what was done to save Link. Zelda thought maybe she should learn to do that too.
When the plane landed, she witnessed lines of people waiting for their luggage, turned to Link to ask about it, but he just started telling her as if he could read her mind.
"Small luggage like ours can travel with us in the plane, bigger luggage like those suitcases" Link points at some that where being carried away "travel on the cargo compartment of the plane, that is why I like to travel light... there have been plenty of cases where luggage gets lost or misplaced, it ends up traveling in another plane" he tells Zelda as he opens the back door of a taxi stationed there.
Misplaced? How can they make such a stupid… I understand, is safer to travel light.
After Zelda boards, Link takes the copilot seat and tells the driver a direction. The driver nods and tunes the radio to his favorite music station before driving off. Zelda suddenly raises her head in amazement at the music sounding, she touches Link's shoulder and wants to ask about it but just bites her lip.
I WANT to ask him, but HE told me to avoid at all cost letting people know I am not from here.
Link kind of understands what the problem may be, and grants her half a smile.
"Do you have a preferred radio station sis?" Link immediately turns to the driver "excuse me, do you mind if I change the station on the radio?" Link asks before manipulating the car's radio, showing her the part of the car responsible of the music.
"What station do you listen to on your cellphone? Or do I just pick one"
OH, MY GODESSES, MY CELLPHONE CAN DO THAT?
[I promise your cell will have all you are asking for and more]
What else can it do? What Link just did was brilliant by the way, he managed to show me that the car has a music box and how to work it, making it look like a normal exchange between brothers.
Zelda smiles at Link hugging her backpack.
"Leave it where it was, but can you increase the volume?" Zelda says trying to play along.
"Sure can-do missy" says the driver as he tunes the previous radio station and turns the volume up.
After 4 songs and a few commentaries from the radio host, they arrive to a tall school building. There are several cars stationed around it, surely the teacher's property. And a few youngsters running around in a hurry. Link pays and turns to Zelda once the taxi leaves.
"This is a school for kids our age, the person I must meets is enrolled in this school, so we must enroll too, I wanted to take care of doing that today before it closed, I need a few minutes to short some legalities here before we can enroll, in the mean time you can look around, just don't exit the building" Link says as he heads for the principal's office.
He does like to leave me alone A LOT. But that is good right? I mean, it shows that he trusts me somewhat, or maybe he is trying to build mental strength in me. NO, he is trying to test my capabilities… FUCK IT, I don't know what he is doing, and I don't care.
Zelda thought as she was walking down the hall, then a wall cached her attention, it had a lot of pictures of different school events, she was looking carefully at all the faces in those pictures.
WHAT AM I DOING? Let's be real here, I am not going to find him, I don't even know what he looks like, the only lead we have is his name. A name I don't know because Link didn't share that info, looking at these pictures hoping for a miracle is a WASTE OF TIME.
Zelda thought, but kept looking though the pictures and reading a few headlines posted, when a guy came to lean on said wall to catch his breath.
Wow, Link finished sorting everything rather quickly, I wonder why he ran here, I am not THAT FAR away from the principal's office. OH! that looks interesting, is that a common dinner room? I want to visit it.
"Are you done? Can we enroll here now? you know…. I would love to visit some of the places in these pictures if we have time today" Zelda starts speaking still looking at the pictures of happy students.
"I don't know who you think you are talking to, but I am NOT him"
THEN WHO THE FUCK IS THIS!!!
"I am sorry I just thought" Zelda starts to apologize, but then looking at the guy her jaw drops for a second, then she begins to giggle.
"It's YOU" she yells "it HAS to be you" Zelda says trying to touch him, just to make sure she is not imagining him.
The guy notices her attempt and slaps her hand away glowering at Zelda "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME BITCH"
Zelda pauses for a moment, then she beams at him clapping a little, the boy looks at her puzzled and raises an eyebrow at her merriment.
They even share that snappy hot temper; he HAS to be the donor.
"Zelda… we have to regist-" Link stops speaking and stares at his look alike menacingly.
Zelda turns beaming "LINK, LOOK WHO I FOUND!"
LINK POV
He is a fucking CLONE of me, well… almost, we have 2 clear differences. The hair and the eye color, my hair is a dirty blonde while his is more of a chestnut. As for the eyes, his are green, more on the emerald spectrum, while mine are silver gray. He may look like me but it's not an exact copy. Once I verify his identity, I need to contact SWORD for them to retrieve blood samples and analyze them. But right now… all I need is to take my Princess away from him. If he IS me, he is dangerous and I should not trust him near her right away.
Link uses a hand motion to call Zelda to him, never breaking eye contact with the clone boy, whom was also shocked by Link's physical similarity to himself, the boy quickly sized his blond version up and deemed him dangerous, he thought it would be a mistake to turn his back on the blond or break eye contact first, so he didn't.
*Dude, you need to be the bigger person here, if he IS us, he won't risk moving an inch, you need to move first. *
Zelda approaches Link skipping happily, then turns and waves good bye at Link's look alike.
"See you tomorrow" Zelda chimes happy, Link squints his eyes at the boy and turns to head for the principal's office with Zelda.
After getting registered and receiving a list of school supplies, Link begins walking around seeking the apartments the principal recommended. Since they needed to live close by to assist that particular school. Once he found them, he rented one, he did not even check it, since they were not staying for long, besides… anything would be better than sleeping outside on the street. He thinks as they enter their temporary home.
"What now? I don't mind sleeping on the floor since we don't have a bed. I am talking about your donor" Zelda asks.
"I need to corroborate his identity first, then talk to him about SWORD'S donor program. If he agrees, someone will show up to take a blood sample, and SWORD will test it to verify how much of a match we are" Link answers bluntly, but deep down he is in a state of dread.
I want him to be me, that will give me a chance to mend things. I don't know if he remembers anything, or if he has been suffering all this time. Time I could have used to search for him but I was so self-absorbed in my pain... This guilt is going to suffocate me.
Zelda interjects "I hope he agrees to the program, it has benefits for him, right?" she asks.
"Yes, SWORD is willing to pay for the donor's living expenses, but to apply for the program, he needs to be a 90% match with me in a health evaluation from SWORD. That to ensure I will not reject any donation from him" Link breaths in suddenly feeling very exhausted.
"90%.... that means family?"
"No… being family helps a lot, but DNA is not the only measure considered. Natural siblings are only a 50% DNA match most times. But you also need to be aware of HLA tissue typing, a Cross-match, age difference and weight difference. And since SWORD is willing to ensure his living expenses for life, the donor must be able bring me back from death's door, that means a 90% transplant success rate measured at by SWORD" Link informs her.
"Oh… I don't know what all those tests you mention are for, or why age and weight are important for this. But it doesn't change the fact that he IS going to be your donor"
Link stares at her "What makes you so sure about that outcome? Please enlighten me" he mocks her cynically.
"Because he not only looks like you, he SMELLS just like you" Zelda states confidently.
Was she a Hund in her previous life or something?