Chapter Text
Chapter 1 - Heads'll Roll
May 30, 2015
It had been one busy night.
With his raven hair tousled, Dark was flying all over the room, giving lap dances and strip teases left and right. He was running the floor for a while, collecting mental tabs for private dances later on as he moved forward. Dark could tell he was making more money on the floor this shift, so he postponed all of his private sessions until the hours of twelve and two.
In the disarray of people and movement, Dark managed to pause in the centre of their four main booths and his ruby eyes floated to the neon analog clock over the entrance. It was 11:24. He let out a little breath, recognizing that this night would not only continue to be busy, but also be a long one at that.
A booth clearing out brought Dark back to reality. He noticed their drinks sitting there for a while and it only took Dark a quick sweep of the room in order to see that every single bartender was occupied.
Behind tight lips, he clenched his teeth, weaving through the customers to the messy table. He was able to snatch up all seven beers in both of his arms, three in one, four in the other. He shared a dazzling smile with some young men who were watching him from nearby and they visibly swooned as he rushed over to the bar. Dark walked around to the bar's left side, entering behind the counter. He dumped the empties into the disposal system and called to the bar manager,
"Ingo, pass me a rag, will you?" Dark batted his eyelashes.
Ingo Lon never liked Dark behind the bar. He just didn't believe in dancers mixing with bartenders. Also, Dark only usually added to the confusion back there. Ingo paused while washing glasses to release a snarl under an angry moustache and curled lip.
The customers at the bar counter began hooting and hollering, shouting eagerly on Dark's behalf.
"Saint Mirari needs a towel, man!"
"Yeah!"
"You can't treat the Saint like that!"
"YEAAAHHH!"
Men were half standing up on their stools, reaching forward to toss rupees to Dark. He snatched all of the fluttering bills with extreme care, swinging his hips to face the men with a doggish smile. He winked while he swayed his hips a little more; a man loudly whistled at Dark, sliding a ten right across the counter. He blew a kiss at this man and tucked the bill into his pocket with the others.
Ingo threw the towel, and with only seeing the movement out of the corner of his eye, Dark snapped his hand outward and caught the towel midair. He looked a little shocked at first, but situated his face with a steely look as he faced the customers once more. The drunken men were absolutely raving about Dark and bills were flying again.
Ingo grumbled several obscenities under his breath when he resumed washing glasses.
"All right, all right, boys!" Dark announced playfully and he grabbed out to more of the rupees with his free hand. "We're disturbing Ingo and his absolutely astounding business regime back here. If you want me, you know where to find me…" He winked again, the men swooned, and he strode away from behind the counter.
Dark grinned as 'Heads Will Roll' by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, remixed by A-Trak came on. He loved swinging his hips to this song out on the floor.
With the dampened cloth, Dark leaned over the table and wiped down the surface as quickly as possible. He swiftly crossed the club again, calling to Ingo to return the cloth. Ingo turned, reluctantly but expectantly, and Dark leaned between two customers, sharing a half-smile when he tossed the bar manager the rag.
The one customer that previously slid Dark the ten leaned in towards his ear and nervously asked, "How much for a private dance, uh…?"
"Mirari, if you please," Dark answered gently, smiling softly to the customer. He then lowered his face, smiling wider and flashing his lashes at the man. "To remind you, Ichiro, it's sixty for a lap dance or a strip tease either way, but you only get me for a mere five minutes. Unless you'd like to pay me for more."
His sultry tone and knowledge of the man's name had the customer aghast and in a sweat. "Y-you know me by name?!"
Dark closed his eyes for a moment, but glanced from the side with his ruby eyes.
"I'm fairly observant," Dark shared softly, rolling his shoulders in indifference. The man watched Dark's naked shoulders closely and swallowed. "Will you be here long? I'm free at quarter to one."
"O-oh, yes, that's fine. Thank you… Mirari."
"It's not a problem, Ichiro. Enjoy your evening. I'll see to you soon," Dark spoke louder as he moved backwards, voice full of sensuality. He smirked as he turned away, not even noticing Ichiro's red face in the club lighting.
The ecstatic chorus of 'Heads Will Roll' boomed above on the loud speakers. The crowds of customers oohing and aahing resounded throughout the bar when the dancers threw in their quick paced, intricate dance moves during the chorus. Dark laughed at the extreme amount of bills floating around the centre of the club right now. Midway through his laughter, someone loudly called his name. His real name.
"Dark? Is that you?!"
A sudden panic, but also an extreme sublime sensation, emulated from Dark's stomach and travelled throughout his entire body. He felt a zing in the tips of his fingers and toes and even the top of his head. He had known that oddly questioning, strained voice. Goosebumps covered his whole being as he spun on the spot, facing the customer in question.
That immaculately messy, golden hair, accompanied with the deepest cerulean eyes, perfectly small curved nose, and narrow, but strongest jaw anyone ever did see—he knew that face. Even from at least fifteen feet of space between the two of them, he knew that face. Dark couldn't believe his eyes, but his body reacted all knowingly… his mouth fell open and his face emitted an innate rosy hue while his arms remained slack at his sides.
It was Link.
Link Avalon was here. In Hyrule's downtown plaza. At Spirit Temple, of all places.
Dark gulped heavily and didn't move. He wouldn't dare.
What would Link think of Dark? Link must have known that Dark was one of the club's strippers based off of his skimpy black leather vest and shorts with tall, laced boots. He hadn't seen him in almost seven years! Then what did Link think about strip clubs, especially gay strip clubs? Well, he was here, but what did that even mean? What did he think about strippers in general? And what would he think of his old friend being a stripper?!
Dark had never been so conflicted in wanting to hug someone while wishing to run at the same time.
His group of friends were now whispering to Link and he looked a little confused at their questions, but he shook his head, flashing them his index finger, and then started walking… right towards Dark!
Dark closed his mouth and swallowed heavily to keep his heart in his chest, straightening himself out and standing taller. He breathed deeply.
Link neared him, his body language more cautious than it had been seven years ago, but his face was beaming still. The same sincerity rested in Link's eyes from before. Dark noticed Link's cheeks were bright red as he got closer, emphasizing embarrassment, too; this relaxed Dark a little. Link went to open his mouth, hands gesturing outwards, but Dark spoke first.
"You can't call me that," Dark said dryly. His lips were so chapped and he licked at them at once. He made consistent, but wary eye contact with Link's relaxed gaze.
"That's okay," Link answered surely, smiling crookedly. Link finally placed his equally awkward hands in his jean pockets and gazed around the club.
This gave time for Dark to check out what Link was wearing. He was in a tight green polo shirt, black suspenders resting over his shoulders. They were snapped to his worn, navy blue boot cut jeans rolled up above brown leather boots. His body was tan and toned, and his arms were noticeably muscled; he obviously exercised daily. It was absolutely unbelievable that Dark had always pictured Link looking like this when he grew up.
And he was still so handsome too. His face was soft and young, but matured to an extent, with a more angular jaw and slight creasing of his life experiences between and around his bright eyes. Beautiful even. It was painful to Dark.
"So, what do they call you here, then?" Link tilted his head.
Dark's eyes, which had been everywhere all over Link, snapped to meet Link's warm gaze. He had lost himself for a moment, but shook his head, sharing a wicked smile.
"Well, I do have a few names." Dark glanced triumphantly to his nails and brought his eyes back up to Link's again.
He was finding it hard to look away for very long.
Link grinned and rolled his eyes playfully. "So you're a big deal around these parts, hey?"
"Yeah." Dark laughed, nodded, and crossed his arms. "I prefer Mirari. That's my original name. I'm also known as Saint, or even The Saint, as well as Saint Mirari. The 'Saint' stuff was tacked on later."
"Really?" Link inclined his head to the side with a questioning look, lips pursed and eyebrows together. He then found Dark's eyes and tilted his head more subtly, his eyes glinting in amusement. "I don't know how you feel about this, but do you think society is capable of canonizing male entertainers yet?"
Dark laughed, astounded that Link still had his same, bizarre sense of humour. Link snorted at Dark's outward response, and Dark moved forward almost hugging Link, but he had to stop himself. His arms dropped as swiftly as they were up. Link noticed this odd gesture and leaned back a bit, confused.
"We can't hug customers," Dark shared awkwardly. He shrugged. "I guess I almost forgot house rules just because of how long it's been since I last saw you."
Link nodded slightly, rested one hand on his hip and gazed up, looking thoughtful. He pointed over Dark's head.
"Those rooms up there?" Link questioned, eyes wandering above. Dark never looked away from Link's face to see where he had been looking. "Those are for private sessions, correct?"
Dark nodded, eyebrows stitching together. "What, just because you're my friend you think I can take a break in the middle of this fuck fest to hang out?" He barked out a laugh and gestured both hands outwards at the mess of people everywhere.
Link snorted, his face heating up a little as he shook his head. His blond hair fell into his eyes, gaze low, and he turned his hands suggestively to Dark. "No, I mean that I could pay you… for a 'session.' And we could just catch up."
"You really want to catch up for a sixty rupee payment to start?"
"I think after seeing you for the first time in seven years that, yes…" He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket. He opened it and slid out three bills. He extended the cash in hand to Dark. "… you are worth any amount of money for your time, Dark."
Dark shushed him harshly and snatched the money. "Don't call me that, I said." He playfully raised his eyebrows and Link smiled widely as Dark forced the bills into his front pocket.
"I'll try to remember," Link shared softly, looking down in embarrassment. He suddenly glanced over his shoulder back at his impatient friends. "Oh! I have to tell my friends that I'll be gone for a bit. Are we leaving now?"
Dark nodded.
It was funny that Dark didn't even plan on having any private sessions for at least a half an hour yet. He supposed this was all right though, especially if it was for a friend he hadn't seen in ages.
"Okay." Link smiled gently again, his eyes creasing in warmth. "I'll be right back."
Dark waited patiently as Link jogged across the room.
It was at this point that Dark finally scanned Link's group of friends in the middle of the dance floor. He didn't recognize any of them, except for one extremely familiar face… Sheik's!
What the in the absolute fuck?!
Dark felt his face heating up from the one million questions that unraveled within his mind. Ever since breaking up with Dark, Sheik hadn't stepped foot in Spirit Temple in over three years. Sheik also never came to Spirit Temple with a group of people, nor on a Saturday night, and when he did for the first time, of all people, it was with Link? There must have been some solid explanation for this! He couldn't ask Link though, and he knew he had to ask Sheik himself, awkwardly enough. He felt in his bones that that time would come soon enough.
Putting these questions aside, the most bizarre part of everything was Sheik's appearance. It was the first time ever in public that Dark had seen both of Sheik's eyes, pensive violet and striking scarlet in clear contrast with one another, watching over Dark intently. This was due to the fact that this was the shortest Sheik ever had his hair cut, from what Dark remembered, anyway. Sheik's hair was buzzed at the back and sides, and then faded into a short, soft tousle on the top of his head. He looked like an entirely different person. It took Dark's breath away.
In the meantime, Link eagerly gestured back at Dark and then pointed twice over at the empty booth that he cleaned up himself. Dark immediately knew that they had it booked, so Link was clearly here for a special occasion. It was the end of May, so either it was a coincidence or this group of friends was here for what would have been Sheik's thirty-first birthday.
His friends looked more understanding now, sharing smiles and laughter with Link. Sheik, on the other hand though, watched Dark carefully and even shared a tight, uncomfortable smile with him from across the way. Dark made sure to look away quickly. Link's friends then moved from Link, thankfully forcing Sheik to look from Dark, too, and the group began weaving throughout the crowd to claim their booth. Link turned back, face lighting up once he met Dark's eyes again.
Dark called Link over with two fingers and then pretended he had lassoed his old friend, tugging him over with exaggerated pulls. Link slid back through the crowd, acting as if Dark's invisible lasso was dragging him along the way, and when he reached Dark, Link nudged his shoulder with firm knuckles. Dark shared a fast grin and then flicked his head in the direction of the staircase. With Link trailing closely behind, they manoeuvred up the stairs and hooked an immediate U, heading to the red doors.
Dark took the first door on their left and flicked the lights on when they entered the private room. As soon as the door clicked shut, Dark felt Link's arms wrap around his shoulders and Link squeezed him close in an entirely unexpected hug from behind. It was instant that Dark reached up with both hands and rested his palms gently along Link's warm forearms. He closed his eyes for a moment, but wouldn't lean his head back to let Link see.
"I missed you so much, Dark," Link burst out, pushing his face into Dark's shoulder blade; the leather squeaked against Link's nose.
"Mirari," Dark corrected softly again, dejected look crossing his face. Link dropped his arms from Dark as Dark turned to him. "I'm sorry, it's just my name is my private sphere. I don't like to think of being potentially exposed here."
"Don't apologize, it's my fault," Link reassured with a small smile, waving his hand about. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I keep forgetting…" he finally reasoned, maintaining a solid stream of eye contact with Dark. His lips slowly pulled up to a grin as they continued the battle. "You know…" Link started, but halted, lips parted in needed speech. His eyes flickered up and down Dark's face.
Dark's hip fell to the side and he rested his hand on it. "Well, you gotta tell me now."
Link cleared his throat and crossed his arms. It clearly took him all his strength to continue looking Dark in the eye.
"I didn't think I would ever be in the position to say this in a situation like this, but… everything about you, right here, right now, is so…" He raised his hand up and down while surveying Dark, trying to express his words from gesture alone. With a piercing look, Dark didn't allow it. Link cleared his throat again and finished, "… is so… perfect."
Dark absolutely accepted this compliment, his face lighting up in elation, but he did want to know what Link actually meant by it.
"You look ready for anything and everything," Link finished before Dark had to ask. He loved that Link still explained things, without question. "Also, I didn't know leather suited you this well."
"Sometimes I even put gel in my hair."
Dark had only been recently gelling his hair back in the last year or so, but never gelled it when he was at home.
Link's lips parted and he nodded in recognition, his eyes gazing off, obviously trying to envision that. Playfully, he answered with, "I can picture it. I'd like to see it sometime. And Dar—Mirari…" But Link's words fell short thereafter.
"And…?" Dark playfully pestered.
Link took this opportunity to sit down on the bed, so he could kill time avoiding to answer. First though, he walked as though he were surveying the room, arms behind his back, while he moved around Dark. Link then plunked down on the bed and tried to make himself comfortable. Dark just watched him, standing to the side.
"Well, for one thing…" Link began softly, but glanced up with a wild eye. "You've grown up… a lot!"
Dark sighed dramatically and physically drooped, throwing his limbs loosely toward the ground in feigned agony. Link spat out an unprecedented laugh at Dark.
"You chicken shit!" Dark laughed hoarsely. He just had to sit with Link; plopping down beside Link, he joined him shoulder to shoulder. He smacked a loose hand back against Link's chest. "Just tell me I look good!"
"It's true," Link rapt right away, without any indication of a pause. He was leaning forward a bit, hands at his sides, palms on the bed. He glanced sincerely to Dark out of the corner of his eye. "It is true."
"Well, thanks," Dark finally replied seriously. He smiled a little. "And what did you mean by a 'situation like this'?"
Once Link heard his own words reiterated back to him, his face flushed red and he leaned back defensively from Dark, throwing up his hands in defeat. "Oh, Goddesses, I just realized how awful that sounds! I don't mean anything by it, I swear! I was only shocked to see you in any situation in general, seeing as it's been so long!"
"Oh, yeah?" Dark played off seriously, but couldn't hold back a smirk. Link clearly saw the amused glint in Dark's eye. He then further bantered, "So you weren't thinking about me being a stripper while saying those words, huh?"
Dark shouldn't have said that, but he wanted to rile up Link more.
"I… I'm definitely at fault here again," Link grumbled in exasperation, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm sorry. I guess didn't imagine that I would be praising you, or even any of my friends, for this specific career in my life. It goes to show that anyone can do anything."
Dark felt his chest swell with pride. Link called male entertainment a career.
"Yeah, you know, it's a lot of hard work. You work in such a vast environment while tackling a variety of customers and situations," Dark said thoughtfully. He caught Link's eye again, then announcing elatedly, "and I'm fucking rich because of it!"
Link laughed loudly and moved closer to Dark, reaching his arm up to rest his hand along Dark's back and on his furthest shoulder. Dark was growing more content with being alone with Link again and this physical touch did emphasize these feelings inside. He had forgotten how easy it was to be comfortable around another human being again. He couldn't remember the last time he sat with a friend like this. Maybe other than Kafei.
Dark sighed, and looked down at his and Link's thighs. "So, please, you've got to tell me what you've been doing for the last seven years?"
Link and tossed his head from side to side. "Well, I don't know if you remember, but I wasn't really sure whether I wanted to go into History or Criminology. I decided that I'd probably do best in Criminology at the University of Hyrule. I took History as a minor."
"Link, that's amazing! I knew you'd do well as a cop. Well, you are a cop, right?"
Link nodded and grinned. He rubbed the back of his head. "Yes." He paused and then shared, "I was only promoted to detective if I transferred to this specific task force, so I did. I worked in Termina for almost three years before now."
"You lived in Termina?!"
That would explain why Dark hadn't ever bumped into Link in Hyrule either.
"Yes, I did. It's way different than here, Dark. It's beautiful! The cities are much smaller than ours… the people are so rustic. It's an entirely different lifestyle! I travelled mostly everywhere by horse when I wasn't in town! Isn't that amazing? Remember how much we always wanted to learn how to ride?! You would have loved it."
"Wow."
Dark looked at Link in absolute wonder. So that's what his old best friend had been up to. Dark's life had changed dramatically, sure, and he would even say for the better, but he didn't feel like he had experienced as much change as Link had. Dark had not left the downtown centre in seven years. He hadn't even been to Lake Hylia since high school.
Link added, "To be honest, my aunt is getting older and might need help around the house, so it's probably best that I'm home for the next while anyway. I'm staying with her for now, but I haven't entirely decided where I'm staying for good."
"Yeah, that is good," Dark whispered gently, as he gazed off in the distance.
He couldn't begin to imagine all the things that Link had done without him.
"So you've got to tell me how you've ended up here," Link teased, bumping the side of Dark's forearm.
"It's not really too surprising, but I was basically shit out of luck with my apartment, my funds were running low, and I was about to be kicked out. I had two weeks to search for jobs so I looked everywhere. I can't even tell you how many resumes I handed out. As I handed out my last resume to some random restaurant, the Wind Mage found me!"
Link looked utterly confused at the end of Dark's sentence and Dark's eyes opened widely.
"Oh!" he exclaimed. He brought his face to Link's ear and raised his hand to cup it, reluctant to break a rule, but whispering anyway, "Vaati, my manager."
"Ah."
"Well, he's my boss now. I'll never understand where he actually came from though. I was hired the same day—he brought me here and showed me to our boss, our other boss. It was probably the most scared I had ever been at that point in my life. He checked me out like I was some sort of piece of meat. To be honest, he still kind of does."
Dark shivered a little and Link, feeling Dark's trembling figure, clearly took note. He touched Dark's back more firmly and eyed him carefully. Link remained silent and allowed Dark to continue,
"But he made me dance, that's what had me frightened."
"Now I remember that you could dance," Link shared keenly and his head tilted to the side out of endearment.
"I think that's what he thought too," Dark replied, looking a bit more thoughtful now. He had improved so much since then, so it was interesting to compare himself to what he used to be. "I've only gotten better, if you couldn't guess." He doggishly grinned at Link.
"That doesn't surprise me at all. You'll have to show me," Link spoke with utmost sincerity. "So you say you're a big deal around here then? Is that why?"
Dark nodded proudly. "I shimmer and glint like a mirage, so they say. It's all in the hips. That's where 'Mirari' comes from, the Latin root of 'mirage.' It means 'to admire.' And 'Saint,' well, you get the idea."
"They love you that much?"
Dark gave a deadpanned expression. "So much so that just this very evening I caught a rag in midair behind the bar and money was literally thrown at me because of this. One customer even gave me a ten and then asked for a private lap dance afterwards."
Link choked on laughter, removing his arm from Dark's shoulder to hold his gut.
"Ow, ow, it hurts," Link cried out through tears of joy. "Dark, oh, I love you!"
Dark's stomach dropped for Link and his forward language. He bit on his bottom lip and swallowed, nodding.
"Ha ha, yeah, thanks," was all he could say in response, rubbing the back of his neck.
Link obviously hadn't heard him as he was still trying to suppress giggles. "Okay, okay," he hoarsely murmured. He cleared his throat. "I get it. Knowing you, I bet that they've rewarded you for your efforts in dancing."
"Yeah, the Wind Mage stepped down, or technically, up after Mr. Dragmire asked him to be co-owner. He said he didn't care about being a supervisor anymore anyway. So I took his spot. I'm head manager now."
"I'm so happy for you. For everything," Link released truthfully. "It breaks my heart that I thought this way, but I really didn't think we would ever get to see each other again."
It took all of his might to stop any tears from welling in his eyes. With a thick throat and eyes cast downward, Dark murmured, "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings if I did," Link honestly reiterated, hand to his chest.
"You didn't! But, I'm actually sorry because… I felt that way too."
Dark looked up from his hands at Link with concerned brow and sad smile, and Link didn't even pause to take Dark into another hug. Dark rested his hands along the curve in Link's back and pushed his nose against Link's shoulder, taking in his aroma of whisky and pine and cheap-aftershave suppressed by an overwhelming, but tasteful cologne. Dark wondered at this point if he had smelled as good as Link did. Probably not.
Dark broke the hug first to ask a question that had been nagging him since the moment he met with Link tonight: "Why are you here, by the way?"
"At Spirit Temple?" Link questioned and then laughed a little, resting both of his hands on his knees. "It's my friend's thirty-first birthday and plus he's gay, so he thought he'd fit right in!"
Dark felt his stomach jump. So they are here for Sheik's birthday, he thought. Link must have met Sheik while he was working in Termina.
"He's at the right place," Dark soon joked back.
Link smiled crookedly. "It seems like I am too."
They talked for a few minutes yet, their conversation picking up like it never ended. Finally, Dark glanced up to the clock and noticed that it had been twenty-one minutes since he and Link arrived inside the room. He paled, even more than he thought he possibly could, and stood up lifelessly, staring hard at the clock.
"What's wrong?" Link asked softly, glancing between Dark and where he was looking—the clock.
"I haven't gone over in years," Dark muttered weakly, eyes still focused on the second hand ticking around the clock.
"Oh, shoot, I'm sorry!" Link exclaimed, standing up quickly. He whipped out his wallet from his back pocket, pulled out the remainder of the session's payment, plus a tip, and leaned forward to shove it into one of Dark's hands. "I'll go now! And I won't talk to you until later! You won't be late again, Dark!"
"SHHHH!" Dark spun on the spot and pressed his index finger against Link's soft mouth. His lips were puckered in surprise and Link tried to look down at the offending finger. With his other hand, Dark shoved the bills into his back pocket. "That is the sixth time you've said my name tonight."
"I don't mean it," Link whispered once more, ashamed. His lips brushing against Dark's finger made Dark blush a little and he swallowed at the sudden tightness in his pants.
Shit, shit, no, just think of anything else.
"So, can I see you tonight, or…?"
His finger shot down from Link's face at this. "What do you mean?" Dark rapt out quickly, a nervous tone crossing his voice. There was no way he already knew that Dark…?
Link cocked an eyebrow, muscled arms folded now. "What do you mean 'what do you mean?'? I mean to hang out, like we could get food or maybe I could see where you live now since you're such a big shot or something?" He raised one hand at the end of this question.
Dark barely hid the huge sigh of relief he wanted to release. He was able to smirk at Link's playfulness instead. "I get it. Sure thing. What about your friend's birthday?"
"Oh, shoot," Link cursed, turning away. He was hiding his red face, but Dark had already noticed it. "Well, we'll see how he's doing at the end of the night and I'll talk to you then."
"Could we… exchange numbers?" Dark muttered, looking everywhere but at Link.
He hadn't a clue why that was so hard to ask, but Link didn't notice the struggle Dark faced with such a question because it was clear he was so astounded at the fact that Dark had a phone in the first place.
"A PHONE?" he shouted with an unavoidable grin on his face. Link whipped around and shook Dark's shoulders wildly. "You have a phone?! A cell phone?" The second question was more so to himself than to Dark, it was obvious.
Dark placed a hand on his waist and dramatically rolled his eyes.
"I do," Dark replied flatly. "You must remember that I'm an adult at age twenty-four now."
At this comment Link looked on at Dark, full of admiration. "Yes… yes, you're right." He still marvelled at Dark until Dark encouraged Link with a frantic gesture to get out his phone. "Oh, right! Okay, what's your number?"
He took it down and smiled gently at Dark, raising his phone at him.
"I'll text you tonight," Link said. He couldn't stop smiling and Dark could tell. "When are you done your shift?"
"Two, I'm usually outside by two thirty."
"Okay… okay, I'll see you, soon," Link assured, nodding at Dark. He turned to the door and swung it open, loud music immediately pouring into the small space. He looked back at Dark again and meekly waved. "Two thirty. I'll see you, okay?"
"All right," Dark encouraged firmly, nodding. "Have a good night. I will actually see you around here though."
Link blushed again. "True, okay, that is right."
And these were the last words Link spoke to Dark as he awkwardly drifted out of the room. He maintained eye contact with Dark, ocean challenging fire, until the doorframe concealed them from each other.
He looked at the clock once more.
A supposed twenty-three minute private dance.
Dark hoped that Vaati hadn't noticed.