We all are animals anyway

Zid suddenly sits, gasping for air. He had just woken up from an unpleasant dream, as always. But this nightmare was different. The inhabitants on the vicinity discovered what he was, and were trying to kill him. Link and Robert fought to protect him but the dwellers outmatched them 6 to 1. Zid and Zelda were caught and chained like dogs to a tree outside of the shed, all Zid could do was wail as he watched how they gutted his brothers inside the shed. Li quickly fainted due to the pain, but not Link… he just took all the pain in without flinching or screaming. The Pirate watched as Links eyes slowly dulled once they ripped his heart out. Zelda's pained cries was all Zid could hear, and it ripped him apart.

But the dream wasn't done with him yet, they unchained and dragged Zelda inside the shed without closing the door. Meaning Zid could hear and watch the men laughing as they tore Zelda's clothes off and started rapping her… she yelled loudly and wouldn't stop fighting them, so they started beating her hard on the head. After a while, she was fighting no more, she turned to look at Zid and with teary eyes mouthed ¨I am sorry¨ Then a stream of blood came pouring out of her mouth, she had committed suicide by biting her tongue off.

The men who had been raping her noticed immediately, but they just shrugged and continued defiling her body as Zid was crying his eyes out, and stared to smash his head HARD on the tree he had been chained to, leaving traces of blood as he cracked his skull… he wanted to die.

ZID POV

Holy fuck, why did I fucking dream that? do I already care enough about them to have a nightmare like that? All I know is that Zelda fainted me, and the boys kidnaped me. I don't hate any of them for it though, and that is an ODD thing to say about the situation.

But it scares me to KNOW that if something like THAT ever happened to any of them, specially to her. I will end myself… how fucked up is that? have they really grown that much on me in such a short period?... I guess they have. I think I must have been a dog in my past life. They just feed me and showed me kindness, and now I feel like I owe them love and loyalty.

Zid starts looking around, when he sees the Princess, he places a hand close to her nose, to check if she was breathing. He notices Robert lying next to her but doesn't bother to check hid breathing since he was snoring. Link was nowhere in sight. 

Link is obviously no here, maybe he went outside… and WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME? He said that THEY will take care of everything, and ordered me to sleep, and it was like a huge stone was removed from my back. I obediently feel asleep almost instantly. Do I really trust him that much? Damn. I am going to miss them a lot when they leave. Because that IS what will happen… this is not their side of the puddle.

Zid was thinking as he stood up and opened the door to go out. One step outside he immediately felt like he was being prayed on, but looking around he could not identify why he felt like that. Then something landed on the ground close to him. Looking around he saw Link standing up and dusting his pants. He appeared to have dropped from a tree nearby.

"Where you trying to run away?" Link asks slowly approaching.

"No, I was searching for you"

The Hero raises both of his eye brows in surprise "What am I good for?"

Fuck, I did not get this far in my head… I don't want to talk about my nightmare, so… let's make him talk about himself.

"Fill me in again on who you are? and who do you work for? You never really told me"

Link smiles sheepishly "you are right, I didn't" sighs "I work as an agent for Sentient World Observation and Response Department"

"That is a mouth full"

"The acronym is easier to remember: SWORD"

"Ha SWORD? Not SHIELD like the comics?" Zid begins to laugh "I am a thief you know; I have stolen a few comics from tourist" he sighs sadly "just when I was starting to believe all your bull crap"

Faking to take offense "As I said before, I am not a liar. SHIELD conveniently guises its existence under Marvel comics, SWORD tried that too for a brief period, but it didn't work. Yet both of us definitely exist"

Zid stared at Link with uncertainty, then suddenly the door opened and out came Robert. He looked a little exasperated but relaxed after noticing the Pirate was still there and talking to Link.

"Don't get me wrong, but it's my turn to sleep, any further questions you can ask Li, or go to sleep and wait until tomorrow to ask me" Link says and starts yawning as he heads inside.

Li approaches Zid with curiosity, but doesn't ask him anything. He just stands next to him leaning on the tree and opens his water bottle to take a sip.

"Link told me you could answer my questions, do you also work for SWORD?" Zid asks in a dismissive tone.

Robert violently spits out his sip of water coughing a little.

"Wow, you two were having THE talk… and no, I do not. I want to work for them though" Robert answers.

"You mean to tell me this is no bullshit? This is real?" Zid asks with eyes full of wonder.

"Yeah, it IS real, I actually got to experience how they work first hand when Link found me"

"WAIT, lets back track here, what do you mean by ¨when Link found me? ¨ NO, scratch that, tell me everything, pears and apples because I AM stupid at best, but I still want to know EVERYTHING"

Li chuckles at that and begins to tell him how he came into contact with Link thanks to Zelda's sense of smell, how Link didn't even try to convince him into believing SWORD was real, and they were offering to pay him monthly for blood donations. He figured it will be easier to just TRICK him into accepting getting his blood tested. And finally, how he basically blackmailed Link into letting him take part on a mission if he wanted him to accept the donor program. Over all, Robert told a very short version that lacked a LOT of details, since he didn't feel it was right to reveal a lot about himself, or about the dynamic duo currently sleeping, not right now at least.

Boy… Link appears to be cunning and deceptive, and Robert knows this, yet he trusts and follows him. And probably so does Zelda. How fucked up is that? as fucked up as the fact that I am NOT AFRAID OF HIM AT ALL. The real question is why? I need to really think this through, and to try to arm myself against him just in case.

Zid heard every word trying to memorize a few things, so he could use them later if he needed to.

"You have been here with me for more than an hour, you really should go back to sleep, oh and by the way" Li says as he hands Zid a hair tie he pulled from his back pocket.

Sweet, tomorrow I get to present myself like a normal human, and not like a savage boy.

"OH, you remembered sweetheart" Zid says as he puckers his lips at Li. Then quickly turns running to take cover inside when he notices Robert picking up stones to throw at him.

ZELDA POV

Zelda opens her eyes waking up, she lazily stretches yawning, she hears somebody moving around, probably Link or maybe Robert. Turning around she catches a glimpse of Zid braiding his hair.

Wait, he knows how to do that? I mean I of course I know how to do a braid but how to you make it stick to your head like that? and how do you start it from the crown of the head instead of from the nape?

"It's amazing that you can braid your hair like that, and it seems like you have natural highlights making your blonde braid kind of stunning, I love it… you need to teach me how to braid like that"

Zid slowly turns his head to look at her frowning a little but starting to smile.

"Good morning to you too dear, how was your sleep? Mine was kind of hectic but all good, thanks for asking"

Link starts coughing trying to hide his laughter, Li was still laying on the tatami and sits ups to stare at the princess with a devilish smile.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. And I thought YOU were versed in proper etiquette" Robert reprimands her.

Zelda stares at Li widening her eyes "So… I am expected to behave like a Princess at all times?"

Link walks to her extending his hand to help her up "NOTHING of the short is expected of you, Robert is just trying to rile you up"

Zelda rises her eyebrows and stares at Robert seeking for confirmation of what Link just said. Li wickedly smiles, confirming he was just messing with her.

"Zid, you ready?" Zid stands up nodding at Link, then speaks to Zelda without staring at her directly.

"it's a French braid, I can teach you how to do one later. But you need to remind me or I will forget"

Zelda energetically nods at Zid smiling. Link was talking to Robert and hands him some money, he then waves at Zid to follow him out. Once they left, Robert stretches and yawns.

"Shit, I still need sleep… whatever. Link said that the blood extraction shouldn't take long, so they will probably be back soon. Meaning we should go get breakfast NOW. Do you know where to find those apples you wanted?"

"I think I do, he left us some cash, didn't he? Grab what you think you are going to need for the meat pies, hand me the rest so I can buy some fruit."

"AGHH" Robert yells "After what happened yesterday you are asking me to let you wander around alone? Not a chance missy" Li tells her frowning.

"YES, I am asking for that precisely… we could save time and effort. Besides, the biggest danger out there happens to be my brother, doesn't that mean I should be safe" Zelda says winking.

YOU HEARD ME, my brother Zid is the threat out there. So, by default, I am protected. And my criminal bro happens to be a really nice guy, kind of an asshole at times, but only when provoked.

Li still frowning grabs her by the shoulders, and growling starts shaking her back and forth in exasperation. After a few seconds he let go of her and starts walking without saying a word. Zelda follows grinning and taking that as a win.

Once completely outside of the hostel Li speaks.

"I am heading east, where are the fruit stands?"

"That way I think" Zelda points "I don't know what cardinal direction I am pointing at"

"south-west, girl you can't even tell me where… are you sure about going alone?" Robert asks with genuine concern.

"I am sure, I want to do this myself, besides… YOU KNOW I WILL BE SAFE, if you really doubted, you wouldn't even consider it, you will be dragging me with you by the hair like a cave man" Zelda scoffs.

Rolling his eyes "Fair, just be safe and don't take long"

LINK POV

Well, that was fast. The medic proceeded with the blood exaction kind of aggressively, but Zid didn't complained, or even flinched. I will venture to assume he didn't even felt the needle.

After the extraction I asked the Medic when could I expect the results. He told me they will have them in a few hours; I was not expecting that at all, he explained that the hard work was done with Li since he was my first and only donor, but now they have a map of what to look for, all that is left is to fill the blanks.

 Zid kicks open the door of the shack, Link stares in disbelief.

"Wait… you continue to limp yet you have the strength to kick like that. are you faking an ailment?"

Zid froze on the spot realizing he had been caught, but soon his semblance shifts, he turns to face Link with insolence.

"What if I am?" Zid says.

Sighting "it doesn't change ANYTHING, it only means that I can stop worrying about Robert or Zelda having caused that limp… you do you, I don't mind."

Zid opens his eyes wide, but immediately turns away trying to hide his surprise. In that moment the door opens again, Robert enters with the food, Zelda follows carrying a small bag with an apple for each and a small bag with nuts.

Her eyes fixed on the ground as she extends her hand holding the nuts "I didn't buy them; they were handed to me for buying the apples. They said they were the leftovers of last season's batch; they are getting rid of them before harvesting again" Zelda says unsure if she did the right thing.

Link grabs the small plastic bag from Zelda "hazelnut, a few pistachios and macadamias, aside from the apples… nice" Link rubs her head completely messing her hair and making her frown.

"How was the hunt, Li?" 

"Ha, hunt. I ordered 5 trays, I wasn't sure if you would eat but if you can't, Zid and myself will finish your order" Rob says confidently.

"Actually, I will eat breakfast with you all this time, still not going to finish the order tough, I am counting on you for that" Link says looking at Zid.

"But… you could store it for later, no?" Zid suggest.

"It will go bad, and I hate wasting food, if you don't eat it, I will force Zelda to eat it." Link says in a threatening tone.

Zelda panics "But… I don't know if I can even finish 5, yesterday I was FULL with four" Zelda says in fear of what Link just said.

"Start jogging or something to make yourself hungry, because you will be eating 7, am I clear?" Link says sternly, but manages to send her a quick wink.

That is all I can think of to hint her, I need her to help me convince Zid to EAT ALL THE FUCKING FOOD.

Zelda starts to smile but soon begins to sob as she looks at Zid with teary eyes.

"You know he can't force you to do anything right?" Zid tells her.

"Can't I?" Link asks tilting his head a little and smirking at the Princess.

 Zelda's gaze begins to show utter panic and Zid turns her body to force her to look at him.

"Has he…" Zid glares angrily at Link "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?"

Link approaches the Princess and raises her blouse to expose her back a little, bruises from him tackling her and scratches from her fight with Kenya still present. "I did what had to be done"

Zid was about to punch Link in the face and run off with Zelda, he had no money or a house but he could treat her better at least. He could not believe he misjudged Link that much, he was even starting to trust him.

The sound of Robert's chuckles makes Zid even angrier, but then he hears Zelda's giggles. He slowly turns his head to stare at Link, who is trying to hide a grin "YOU" he then turns back to Zelda as she was hold back her laughter. "THIS IS MUTINY, YOU ARE A FUCKING BASTARD" he yells pointing at Link "AND YOU ARE A MANIPULATING BITCH" Zid yells at Zelda avoiding eye contact with her.

Roaring in laughter "NICE sketch" Robert says raising his thumb at the royals "You should apply for Sydney's Opera house" He then directs his attention to Zid "and you… I understand if you want to remain cautious around us, but Links pulled this shit just to force you to eat properly, is that a sin in your book? I swear both of them will behave from now on if you just eat. If you can't finish it all, I will help, we won't torture Zelda."

It appears Robert's superpower is logic, that makes him very smart and a natural mediator, SWORD is going to love him. They have trouble with me because my superpower is INSTINCT. I easily gain people's trust and then betray them by installing dread and magnifying it. People's survival instincts force them to BELIEVE anything I say, and to follow my orders since they trust me. Yeah… I am an asshole; I play with how I make people perceive things like a puppeteer.

Zid sighs and nods, he quickly manages to put everything that just happened behind him. He then sits on a corner of the tatami. The rest sit as well smiling. Robert gives a Styrofoam food container to each. Zid took a bite of his breakfast pie and started coughing almost spitting the food on his mouth.

"Wow, what happened, are you ok?" Link asks

"I don't know, the taste was… unfamiliar. Is it the bacun you were talking about?"

"BACON, I don't know so let's test it" Link says as he tears open one of his pies and pulls out a bacon piece "this is a piece of bacon, eat it and tell me if it was this…" Link hands it to Zid.

The pirate smelled it and gave it a small lick, then glared at Zelda when he heard her giggling at what he was doing. He then silently prayed as he gave the bacon a bite, but soon started moaning as he chews. Robert raised both his eyebrows, Zelda started to giggle, and Link raised his left fist to his mouth and bit on his knuckles chuckling.

"I will take that as: you like bacon" Robert says.

"I LOVE IT, what is it? It smells like meat but the taste is a little different"

"it's animal fat with a thin slice of meat" Link answered "So… lest dig in already, Zid is making me salivate"

The boys started to eat ravenously, scaring the Princess a little, watching how much Zid was enjoying the food, Link decided to start a game, he started shaking one of his extra pies up in front of Zid and threw it up in the air for Zid to catch, and he did catch it with his mouth, Zelda laughed and clapped at that. She also tried to throw him the pie she was not going to eat, but when she threw it, Li was the one who caught it. Zid started growling but let it go once Link drew his attention with another pie, but he didn't throw it up in the air this time, he was not going to risk Robert catching it.

I am so fucking glad we still have apples, apparently BOTH my brothers are hungry. Li can have my apple, but it is important for Zid to eat protein, so he gets my remaining meat pie.

BEEP!!! Link checked his cellphone immediately and started laughing, Robert mouthed ¨really? That soon? ¨

"Yeah… the tedious job was done with you" Link point at Rober "since you were my fist donor EVER. For Zid is just following a list of markers previously set and see how many of them he meets" he turns to Zid smiling "Congratulations, we are a match"

Zid stares at Link in disbelief and a little of panic, Zelda hugs him happily, Robert asks Link for his cellphone to see the study and grins.

"95, not bad… not as good as 98 but not crappy at all" Robert says winking at Zid.

"That… is not possible. You need to redo the test" Zid exclaims.

Squinting "Thought you would be more excited about this" Link says with wariness.

"How can I? my blood or an organ donation from me could kill you. This is wrong… the test is wrong. We can't possibly be a match"

Link sighs "My patience is limited, I won't ask again, why do you think we are not a match?" he says with enraged.

The Pirate lowers his gaze "Because you are not like me… nobody is" Zid raises his eyes to face Link "you won't believe me if I say it, so I rather show you" Zid stars unbuttoning his trouser and pulling them down.

Link immediately turns to shield Zelda's eyes, but Robert was already pressing her against himself effectively shielding her sight. The Hero turns back to Zid irate about the exhibition, but opens his eyes wide at what he saw. The color drained from his face.

What the f… HE IS ME!!! of that I am sure, so how did this happen? How did my favorite Pirate came to have a monkey tail?