Bonding with Robert

FAST FORWARD TO THUSDAY

Zelda woke up exited, she was FINALLY leaving the department. Link kept looking at his Princess, she was running around trying to collect the few sheets of paper she still had. Zelda had spent her time alone drawing. The Princess had almost finished her sheets of paper, not that Link minded in the least, she used them so they served a purpose, hence the money was not wasted.

Even though it was a little fun watching her stressing, he still found it hard calming his own nerves… Li had not showed up to school yesterday, he knew Li's address but… he did not want to show up uninvited. 

Once Zelda was ready, they left for school. As they approached the entrance, a boy tried to tackle Link, but the hero lowered his stance, meet the charging boy's pecs with the blade of his right forearm, instantly rotating his right hand to grab on the back of the neck, using his other hand to push on the boy's shoulder, effectively avoiding the hit and redirecting the charging energy to slam him against a wall. Link then stood straight dusting his gloved hands off and looked at the small audience that gathered.

LINK POV

All of them are waiting for my next move, how spiteful of this lad to attack me because of a game we played yesterday. I believe THAT must be the reason since I have done nothing to him, aside from mercilessly targeting and hitting him with a ball… he is trying to regain his manliness I believe. Too bad I will not allow him to; I will take this as an opportunity to make a statement here; I need them to know I am NOT GAME.

"So… who else wants a piece of me?" Link ask using his hand to taunt them to approach.

The boy stood up wiping blood from his nose, then left cursing. The boys in the crowd throwed daggers at Link with their eyes, but also left. The few females present gathered together and rushed out giggling and smiling at Link. Zelda exhaled in relief, she was about to scold Link for taunting his fellow school mates, but she begins to hear steps getting closer. A smile graced her face once she noticed who it was.

"I was... not expecting that at all. What did you do to offend Jim?" Li asked laughing.

Link sighs slowly regaining his calm at the sight of Robert.

"Exist?" he answers and gives Robert a fist bump.

Zelda raises her index finger "Actually… I could be wrong, but I think it has to do with the game you were playing yesterday at PE" she laughs "the one you told me you enjoyed because everyone was an easy target" She reminds Link, he nods smiling at her.

"We played dodge ball yesterday? damn" Li says feeling regret.

"Serves you right for skipping classes that day" Zelda scolds him, but she is not really angry.

"I guess we will see you during lunch" Link says.

"Her lunch break is also at 10:40?" Robert asks surprised at the coincidence.

Zelda laughs at that "of course not, Link's lunch is at 12:40 I think, mine is at 11:40"

Li opens his eyes wide realizing both of them would be skipping classes.

"I know what you are thinking, but don't mind that, we are not here to study, we will meet you at lunch" Link assures Robert.

Link starts walking away but Li stops him pulling on his shirt.

"I skipped class yesterday because I could not concentrate, a Medic did show up, which means this is FUCKING REAL." sighs "I couldn't... I still can't. I needed to verify your existence first, to silence my head and convince myself that this is not a dream"

Hahaha, NICE. I have him now.

Link gives half a smile "as I said, we are not here to study, we came here to find YOU. Wanna get out of here?"

Li opens his eyes wide "I… yes, but my place is too small and messy for…" He looks at Zelda.

Zelda rolls her eyes "Oh gosh, don't mind about that, he made me sleep on a grass bed" she points at Link who just smiles and nods at Robert, Zelda continues "if your house has 4 walls its perfect."

"The place we are staying at is bigger, but we don't have amenities, it's your place or a public place like a restaurant" Link says.

Zelda hypes at the idea, Li looks at them and closes his eyes, he was trying to make a mental note of how much money he could spare for this. Still, he rather wastes his money buying food that letting them visit his place, he kind of wrecked it in an anxiety attack. Link notices his clone's hesitation and decides to throw him a bone.

"There is a park in front of our place, why don't we go there? A neighbor sells hotdogs for 2 dollars if we get hungry"

"LET'S DO THAT" says Li and starts heading out of the school.

Well, he jumped on that one, he doesn't want us at his place… Hehe, I wonder what he did to it.

Zelda giggled happily and started jogging behind Robert. Link checked his cellphone but there was no new message from SWORD, he sighted in desperation but shakes his head to reset his mood and ran behind his Princess.

Zelda walked a little worried, she feared being reprimanded by other adults for not being at school, but the few ladies that saw them couldn't care less. As they approached the central piece of the park, which was a water fountain, Zelda was going to ask the boys why the ladies from before where so… indifferent. But she was interrupted by a beeping sound.

Link's pulls out his phone and notices he has a message from SWORD, then Li's phone sounds too. They both look at each other already knowing what it was about, as Link was about to check the message, his cellphone rings with a call from the General Zalatoris, he answers immediately.

"Kid, is Robert with you currently?"

Next to the hero, the Princess yelps and hugs Li exited.

"He is, what is going on?"

"YOU NEED TO MAKE HIM ACCEPT THE PROGRAM; we took longer than expected because we had to run the analysis several times… it's just that the results where unbelievable, 98%... Kid, he is basically you" states the General.

Fucking 98%, DAMN… I already knew he was me, but I was expecting somewhere around 80%, praying for a 90% so he could enter the program… seems like I should not have been worried at all.

"I get it, don't worry, I will make him accept" Link ends the call.

"LINK!!! HE IS A MATCH!!! I KNEW IT, BUT THE CONFIRMATION MAKES ME SO HAPPY" Zelda yells jumping a little.

Robert looks at Link puzzled, the hero nods and starts mouthing ¨she knew¨ Li opens his eyes wide.

"THE FUCK? How did could she?" Robert asks Zelda, looking at her like she was a witch.

Zelda smiles with pride "Because of how you smell"

Li stares at her with doubt, then turns to Link.

"Is she a fucking dog?" Robert asks.

"HEY!!!" Zelda yells in anger, Link smirks before answering "a hound I would say, she does have a sharp nose" Link states chuckling.

Robert laughs a little, but then secludes himself in his head for some reason. Link was about to touch him, just to snap him out of it. But Li starts speaking.

"Is it true that I will be getting a deposit of 8 thousand per month?" Robert asks.

"Yes and no, it was actually 10, but I called them and told them about your living situation, they lowered the monthly pay in exchange of placing you in a better house on a better neighborhood… the house may not even be in this state, and it will be small, but I think you don't mind that right?" Link asks raising an eyebrow.

"Hehe, yeah, I don't mind that at all, I hate this place, anywhere else to rent is good" Li says confirming he is willing to move.

Link almost cracks laughing, he covers it by clearing his throat before speaking.

"Robert, you won't be renting. It may be small, but it's going to be YOUR HOUSE"

Li's jaw drops "no, no, don't joke with me here, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS, WHY WOULD THEY DO ALL THIS? AM I BEING LIED TO?"

Zelda giggles a little and raises her index finger again to draw their attention.

"I think it makes perfect sense, they will be taking your blood every month" Link raises 3 fingers and Zelda immediately corrects "every 3rd month, they need you to be properly feed for that, and healthy... that means not stressed. You worrying about your living conditions is a stressor" Zelda tells him.

"And you also need to subscribe to a gym or do something to stay in shape, in case I ever need an organ… the operation is easier if there is not a lot of fat around the organ" Link adds sitting down on a nearby bench.

Closing his eyes and breathing in deeply "Eating healthy and exercising, I don't know why those are listed as hindrances of the program but oh well. I don't mind them at all" Li says.

Link's cellphone beeps announcing a message, he reads it and raises from the bench. Then looks at Zelda with dread.

Its children… I need to respond. They will understand.

"Guys… I need to go. SWORD informed me that there is a situation involving child kidnapers and I am the agent closest to the site, hence the fastest responder right now. They told me that I CAN refuse to engage, since I am currently dealing with my possible donor… but"

Link stops speaking once he notices Li's grumbling, the brunette starts walking in circles with his head between his hands and cursing under his breath. After a few seconds he stares straight at Link.

"LET'S GO" Li yells.

Link's sudden dread is palpable "What? No… both of you stay here, I will…"

"ITS FUCKING KIDS LINK, WE MUST GO, I CAN HELP" Li yells.

*The case is too close to him; he could make mistakes and hinder the mission*

Zelda suddenly blurts out "I also think he can help; he knows a little self-defense and has training in shooting"

Shooting… of course he does, he comes from a mafia, but how does the Princess know this? when did she talked to Li?

Link breaths in closing his eyes, arriving to a decision he hoped would do more good than foul.

"Let me make something clear, SWORD punishes people, our directive IS NOT to save them, I CAN AND WILL save people if doing so does not interfere with my main directive. You can come with me but you have to follow my orders, no questions asked, fair bro?"

Li agrees with a nod, then asks "Bro?"

"WHAT DID I SAID ABOUT ASKING FUKING QUESTIONS LI?" the Hero roars.

Robert nods, it's not like the tag bothers him, he was just shocked by the sudden familiarity.

ZELDA POV

Link starts dialing on his cellphone, and walking in circles like a caged lion. Zelda sits closer to Li and leans to whisper him something.

"Just so you know, he is not angry with you, that is just the character he has. Or maybe not, it may be the character he has forced on himself… anyway, I guess he called you bro because in a way you are. I read siblings tend to match 50%... SWORD demands 90%"

"The fuck. How? I couldn't possibly… but apparently, YOU were sure I was going to be in the program. Smell can't be your only lead, so how did you do it?" Robert asks Zelda intrigued.

Zelda grins and gives him a side look "Well, you both look alike and even share that awful character. That is all, it was primarily the smell for me, both of you smell A LOT" Li turns his head to his shoulder and tries to smell his armpit "NO, not like that, you don't smell bad at all, I was referring to your natural musk, maybe you won't be able to pinpoint it since you live with it."

"STOP THE NEXT TAXI YOU SEE" Link orders them still using his cellphone, he appears to be fighting with the recipient of the call.

Zelda stands and heads for the road, Robert follows looking back at Link who was now yelling… Robert could not help feeling guilty about that, shaking his head he turns to the road and whistles to stop a taxi that was passing by. They board it and wait for Link who ends his call and rushes to board in the copilot seat. Link shows the direction to the driver and they head off. Robert leans forward and starts whispering with the intend of being her, but only by the Hero.

"I will accept the program. I don't think there are any serious hindrances to it, not even the possibility of donating and organ or a body part. I will gladly do it after this... I am sorry if I forced you to included me, but I couldn't ignore it. It hit way too close to home…" sighs "and I know that the correct thing was for you to take care of this, leaving me and Zelda behind. This situation I forced caused a fight between you and someone of higher command at SWORD. Thanks for still bringing me, I will not fail you." Li finally ends expressing what was on his mind.

Well, they seem to be getting the hang of each other, I am jealous. if my dad had only… NO ZELDA, HE IS NOT WORTH EVEN A FRAGMENT OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

Link chuckles "You could have said all that earlier you know… to give me a solid reason to contest my general and avoid disobeying his direct orders"

Robert just grins with malice "Forcing you to turn to the dark side IS what a good brother does, stop complaining and start bonding with me" he says as he reaches to grab on Link's left shoulder.

Link tries to suppress his laughter by just tapping on Li's hand in his shoulder.

I hate Link, why does he get to have a family and I don't? this is fucking unfair. I am going to make him pay for this… I am going to slap him or kick him during his sleep. Yeah, I will do that, he can't blame me if he thinks I was asleep.

Zelda was plotting her vengeance, but deep down, she was happy for the boys.