I am going to obliterate them

Link blatantly entered the school kitchen. The ladies that served the food looked at him with contempt. The main cook smiled at him as she took the bread tray from his hands, she whispered a thank you and gave him a brownie. Link takes it kissing her hand and making her laugh in the process.

LINK POV

*That kiss was taking it a little too far, don't you think? *

Not at all, life has shown me the importance of befriending the proletariat, they function like an ant colony, meaning they are trust worthy and capable of incredible feats of strength if ever needed. One very important bonus of this relation is that you now have eyes and ears EVERYWHERE.

Link quickly scans the cafeteria looking for Li, he soon sees him waving. Link sighs and heads there. Li notices that his blonde duplicate is not carrying a food tray, he points at Link's hands frowning.

"I am not hungry" Link answers as he proceeds to take a seat in front of Robert.

Li quickly raises both his shoulders thinking ¨if you don't care, I don't care either¨ and continues to eat, Link closes his eyes and decides that he can't keep stalling over this, he needs to tell him everything NOW.

"Listen Robert, I am taking advantage of our current location, it's a familiar environment for you, and loud enough to avoid people listening in. The information I am about to disclose demands absolute secrecy. You are not to talk to ANYONE about what will be discussed here, not even to your family, am I clear on that?" Link asks sternly.

Li stops eating and looks straight at Link "I am listening" he says while he continues to eat "don't worry about the secrecy part, I don't really have friends and my family is probably death"

His parents may be death? I… will get back to that later.

Link clears is throat and continues "Listen, regardless of my age, I belong to an organization that imparts judgement on people, this line of work often places me on danger's path. It's vital for me to keep track of people that could be potential donors, that is the reason why I am here talking to you. According to Zhongshan Hospital archives, you were admitted there 4 years ago, your health records strongly suggest that you could enter the donor program of the organization as my donor"

Robert stares at Link frustrated "Do you enjoy pranking people like this?" he asks, but remains a little suspicious, because how the hell did Link knew about a Hospital in Shanghai.

Link breaths in slowly "You don't believe me, I understand, I will prove it to you" Link takes out his cellphone and opens an app "dial your cellphone number and click send" Link states handing over his cellphone to Li.

The brunette hero looks at the cellphone, an unknown app is open and running. Robert glances at Link with distrust, they don't really know each other for that long. In fact, just yesterday both of them behaved extremely weary of each other. Why would he suddenly trust this boy with his cellphone number? What if all this is just a sick prank and he ends up becoming the target of a scammer.

Link notices the hesitation, and tries to reassure his clone by mouthing ¨just trust me¨ Li sighs and grabs Link's cellphone and after dialing his number, he clicks send. In less than a minute Robert's cellphone rings, but it does not display the number of the caller. He looks at Link wary but answers. The call ends quickly and a few seconds later his cellphone rings again notifying that he received a message.

"What did I just agree to?" asks Li exasperated "the lady that just called welcomed me as a contestant and hung on me, I don't even know what this so-called program you spoke off involves"

"You agreed to a medic coming to visit you later today, he or she is to take a sample of your blood to verify if we are a match, if we are you will gain access to the benefits of the donor program, such benefits are listed on the text they just send to your cellphone" Link answers calmly.

Li stares at the hero enraged "You TRICKED ME, you got me enrolled on a doubtful program that conveniently demands secrecy… why did I trust you? You could be selling me to a mafia for all I know, how could I be so darn stupid"

Selling him to a mafia… that is a little TOO specific, I don't like where my head is taking me… I should not overthink this, maybe he enjoys watching telenovelas. Mafia involvement is a recurring theme in Latin TV productions, isn't it?

Link smiles "I implore you to read what was sent to your phone, in no way am I seeking to hurt you" he sighs "My time here is limited and you are hard headed, hence why I opted to trick you into testing for this, I figured it would be faster and easier. If we are NOT a match, you can forget about everything and carry on with your life. But if we are, you still have to call them to accept or refuse the program. I am not forcing you into anything, I only coerced you into testing for it. Please, read the information that was sent to you. It provides details about the benefits of the program, and also the hindrances" Link ends lowering his volume.

Li was about to grab his cellphone and start reading, but his hand trembled, this was too much… and happening WAY too fast for him to keep up. He places his face between his hands and takes a few deep breaths.

"Don't you need parental consent for this" Robert finally asks.

"No. As I said before, your involvement with SWORD has to remain a secret from everyone, that includes your parents, violation of the secrecy pact has… consequences" Link answers.

"SWORD?" Li asks rising his head.

"Sentient World Observation and Response Department"

Li scoffs "An acronym, makes me think of SHIELD, but that is a fictitious agency used in comics and recent movies" Robert suddenly widens his eyes realizing he is being played and begins to laugh manically "Come on, I thought you had more imagination" he laughs a little at himself for entertaining the idea of all this being real.

"It IS a sister organization I admit, but let me correct you on one thing: SHIELD IS REAL, they hide conveniently under the guise of Marvel comics, but they are out there... and so are we" Link answers with more patience that he knew he was capable of.

Li shakes his head not sure of what to believe and uncertain about trusting Link. But still, he somehow felt like he should trust him… like he KNEW the blonde boy. Staring into those gray eyes was like staring right back at himself, that sensation baffled him.

The bell rings signaling the end of the lunch break, Link starts to stand but Li reaches to grabs his arm. Link stops and stares at him noticing he lacks color on Robert's cheeks and lips.

"I… don't feel good" Li says in shame.

Fuck, what do I do? I did this to him… is he not eating properly? maybe I should not have blurted out everything all of a sudden.

*But, on the other hand*

On the other hand, my forwardness and lack of hesitation caused an implosion on his mind. His logic tells him that I am obviously lying, but deep down he must feel that he can blindly trust me. I need take advantage of this…

"I understand… you should go home, let me take you." Link offers as Li stares back at him with contempt "don't get me wrong, I am just a little worried, I don't want you crossing streets alone feeling weak and distracted with all this…" Link says staring at him with concern.

"Fair, if you don't mind skipping classes, let's go" he agrees avoiding Link's gaze.

Li stands grabbing on Link's shoulder for stability since he was feeling dizzy. He continues to use Link for stability even when they reach the street. Link doesn't mind at all, Li's idea of grabbing on his shoulder was infinitely better than grabbing on his arm for support. That would have socially emasculated both of them.

They walked for 8 minutes till they arrived to a VERY small house. Once they entered Link noticed the house was one big room that functioned as a dorm, kitchen and dining room.

"Are you renting this place or…" Link asks with curiosity.

"I rent it, its small but I don't need anything else, and its cheap" Li clarifies.

"How are you paying for this? you are not old enough to work" Link asks.

"My… family gave me some money and put me on a plane; I need to make that money last until I am 14 or 15 and can apply for a job" Li answers rather quickly, not wanting to dwell on that.

So, he rented the cheapest place he could find, and is probably skimping on his food.

"Your family, you said… by that you mean your biological family or the family that gave you the Chinese last name?" Link bluntly asks.

Li freezes a little, breaths in slowly to regain his calm.

"I am curious you know, you don't look Chinese at all, or even half Chinese. How did you come to have that last name?" Link presses on the topic.

Li looks at Link a little angry, but then he starts looking depressed and sighs. Link starts to back down.

"If you don't want to talk about it, its ok, I will back off" Link says squinting his eyes a little.

No, it's NOT ok. If he needs time to open up, I won't press. But I still require to know this… the Chinese culture is very closed off and strict. I need to know what where the circumstances of his adoption.

"I was sold to a Chinese mafia" Robert suddenly blurts out.

Link looked at his duplicate in shock, he quickly shakes his head trying to avoid all the ugly images that came to his mind.

Li sighs "My father won a trip to Shanghai, then acquired a big debt at the hotel's casino, he was offered to settle it in exchange of me, they wanted to use me as a drug mule… since nobody suspects a kid"

"Did they got to use you to transport it?" Link asks trying to keep his calm.

"No, not as a drug mule, that would have been better… look I" Li interrupts himself to get a coup of water for himself.

Li's hands are shaking really badly, making it difficult to pour water in a coup for himself. Link stands, takes the cup from Robert's hand and fill it with water for him. Robert hesitates a little before taking the cup and drinking from it…

Truth be told, Li felt apprehensive about sharing that dreadful part of his life with a boy that may, or may not be playing a prank on him… but for some reason, he felt like he could definitely trust him… like he somehow knew him. He smiled thinking he must be going crazy.

"They tried inserting some ballons with coke up my rectum, but they could not fit them through my anus, they said they needed to loosen me up a little, and the best method to do it was to rape me"

Link closes his eyes irate "Tell me they didn't get to do that to you… please" the hero implores Robert.

"Don't worry, I don't remember any of it. The lady of the mafia lord entered the room and discovered what they were doing to me, she had lost the ability to carry a baby to term do to a car accident, so this made her furious. She demanded for them to be decapitated on the spot, but the lord just fired them" he chuckles nervously "Apparently, I was pronounced brain dead by when I arrived the hospital, but the lord's lady refused to give up on me and kept me connected 4 years. When I woke up from the coma, my physical features had changed apparently, and I had a major memory loss, I couldn't remember anything, not even my name or my parent's faces…"

Li takes a deep breath before continuing with his narration.

"All I am telling you is what the medics at Zhongshan told me, I don't remember any of it. Guilt is the reason why the mobsters kept paying the hospital so many years, and pity is why they raised me as their own for 2 years" Robert sighs and stares at Link to check if the blonde was actually listening to his narration, but got goosebumps at the sight before him. The hero was trying his best to contain his rage, but could not really hide it. His facial expression was grim hinting at danger, and his gaze was intense and unsettling.

Trying to deviate the hero from the dark path his mind was on, Li clears his throat and continues "Then I noticed my new family was being hunted down, when I asked about it my Chinese mother protected me by sending me to America with some money, that is why I am safe, but not sure if they are still alive"

They killed him, Robert died that day and the goddesses used the empty vessel to place one of my duplicates… I don't need a fucking DNA test, he is me, I am sure now.

"You know… I was forced to read a book about psychotrauma, and let me tell you, there is no way you don't remember, your brain can be easily tricked, but the body remembers" Link says with dread "do you really don't remember anything"

Li stares at Link a little terrified by the idea, up to this day he had chosen to believe he was lied to "I… can't bring back the memory of it, but I have disturbing dreams often, no images whatsoever, but I can still hear men laughing maliciously, and a kid pleading and shrieking in pain… if what you say is true, maybe they are not just dreams" he shakes his head furiously "But I don't know how the mind works, so I can't be sure of anything" Li says trying to avoid breaking down.

Sadly, he will remember something awful that didn't even happen to him. This was a cruel twist Farore, or whomever of the three glorified peafowls thought this was a good idea.

The men who did this are part of the vermin that I, as a SWORD agent, should take care of… I swear, I AM GOING TO OBLITERATE THEM, AND I AM GOING TO FUCKING ENJOY IT.

"Li, I am going to ask you for something… I need names, and a physical description of the abusers. Do you remember enough to do this for me?"

Robert shakes his head "I don't know the names, but I kind of remember the nicknames they used to refer to themselves. I can also make you a drawing of their faces. My mother showed me pictures of them hoping that would unlock my memory but it never did... Why do you want that?"

Sighs "I belong to SWORD, that is above all, an observation and RESPONSE department, and I swear I AM going to respond."

ZELDA POV

I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind, staying behind all alone doesn't sound fun at all, but I am having a blast. I have learned more about the appliances my cellphone has, And the night before, Link showed me where and how to watch movies on it. I believe he did that to prevent me from doing something stupid.

What is he afraid of? That I could end myself? He should not be, I am too much of a coward to do it, I need external assistance if I want to carry it out, and I already burned that bridge with him. Besides, I am having so much fun, I am enjoying myself despite what happened with my dad, or with Kenia. I now realize that I am more than a wounded child, and I have the potential to be the person I always dreamed I could be. I want to aim for that… I don't want to die anymore.

The door knob turns, Zelda stands on high alert, but relaxes when she sees Link entering.

"WHY WAS THE DOOR OPEN?" Link yells at Zelda without turning from the now closed door.

Wow… he DOES have a choir voice, I knew it. I am glad he trusts me enough to let me hear him, but on the other hand... he is irate at me. I may have made a stupid mistake by leaving the door open, but I am still here, and I am safe, so why is he FURIOUS, what happened?

Zelda approaches him slowly, putting on a shameful face.

"I am sorry, I thought to leave it open since you no longer had the keys, but you are right, I should have closed it… is everything went ok with the donor?"

Link turns from the door to her, his eyes closed as he leans back on the door.

"I talked to Li, he will accept the program I am sure, but it weights me knowing why he will... I won't say anything else about this" he clarifies staring deeply at her.

Fair, I won't ask about it… I wonder if Li is ok, at least it doesn't appear that they fought.

"Ok, I am sorry for the both of you, but it's still good news, right? we… YOU can help him a little now, right?"

"Yes, I suppose" Link opens his eyes to look straight at her "this really doesn't scare you?" he asks pointing at his vocal cords.

Zelda grins at him and shakes her head "it sounds cool actually, I like it" she answers truthfully.

Link grunts a little, then retrieves the brownie from one of his pockets and hands it to her.

"Before you ask, I tend to befriend the service people wherever I go, they are a great source of information"

Zelda laughs "I suspected something like that, I mean… you didn't befriended Chacha because she is cute, did you?" Link smiles confirming what the Princess said.

"THIS… they gave it to you right? YOU should eat it then"

"I can't"

"Just give it a small bite, I eat the rest" Zelda encourages him as she opens the brownie's plastic wrapper.

"You don't mind doing that?" Link asks raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not" the Princess says, then looks up at him mischievous "I mean… you DO have your shots, right?" she jokes. 

Growling, the hero snatches the brownie from her hands, takes a bite, and hands it back at her with fake disdain.