Hey, Mr. Hero! 9

Chapter 9

The Last Minute

---

"I don't want to go anywhere."

The words echoed around the room, and the hero lounged across his friend, his arms folded over his stomach. After a bit of convincing, Ravio had finally agreed to take off the belt, only to have the other snuggle up onto him. He looked down to him with a slight pout, but he rather enjoyed the angle; Even though the shadow was still over his face from his hood, he could almost perfectly see the other's face.

He reached out and twirled a finger lightly into the pale hair. "I... don't want you to go either, but..." His voice trailed off, not wanting to finish the statement.

Link picked up on the tone and leaned his head into the other's hand, the fabric beneath his chin warm and soft. "I know," he whispered. He took a deep breath and scooted up a bit more, his arms slipping around the other's neck as he nuzzled into the scarf. "Even if we aren't going to be... doing that..." He couldn't help but laugh a little. "I still want to stay here with you. Just for a little while longer."

With a gentle nod, Ravio combed his hand through the other's hair. "I'm not opposed to that," he murmured. "Besides... If Princess Hilda does have Yuga constrained as you said she does, I'm sure that he won't be escaping anytime soon."

"Oh?" Link looked up at him a little. "What makes you say that?" His brow furrowed slightly as he felt the other tense beneath him.

"I... dunno," the reply finally came. "It just sounds like everyone from Lorule... Has to figure out how to survive. And... she sounds strong." The merchant frowned, wrapping his arms up around him as he leaned in to press their noses together. "But let's not worry about that right now, Mr. Hero."

The blond leaned into the touch slightly, but his thoughts were elsewhere. "Are you sure... That you're not from Lo-" he couldn't finish his question as his lips were suddenly busy, and he took the offer readily. He pulled back momentarily for a gasp, then as he leaned in again, he couldn't help but laugh. "I'm definitely not going anywhere." His words made the other grin, and he leaned in to kiss him again, this time carefully deepening it.

Ravio sighed into it as he met the other's intensity, his head swimming in bliss. His fingers curled into the back of the tunic as he melted into his embrace, feeling one of his hands tracing down his side. As it went lower, he abruptly gasped and jerked back. "L-Link," he squeaked, his eyes wide beneath the hood.

"What?" Link questioned, pulling his hand back immediately, not sure if he accidentally hurt him.

"D-Don't put your hand there!" he whined, hiding his blushing face under his hood.

"....I'm not touching you, Ravs." Link held both hands into the air, watching him nervously. "You okay?"

It took a moment for the words to register in the merchant's mind, then his blush darkened abruptly as he realized what the pressure was between his legs. With a pathetic squeak he flipped over onto his stomach, hiding his face in his arms. "I-I'm okay," he whimpered.

"If you're sure," the blond muttered, not having a clue what was going on. Then, slowly, the idea rang in his mind. "Did I accidentally stir something up?" He grinned slyly.

"Shut up," the other whined pitifully.

He snickered before lying next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. "You know," he started. "For being the one to tell me not to go about and try to get laid before the big fight, and also offering the sight of your face as prize for it..." He reached up and gently traced a finger across the other's ear, having to reach under the hood. At the immediate shiver, he grinned. "And yet here you are, flustered beyond comprehension, just egging me on-"

Ravio spun around and pressed a finger to the other's lips, shivering softly. "M-Mr. Hero, please." He whimpered softly and hid his face again.

Link watched him with a small pout, feeling the finger slide from his lips. Then, in an attempt to comfort him, he scooted over and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him onto his chest. The merchant continued to hide his face against the other's chest, and sighed softly. "Are you okay?" Link finally asked, slipping a hand beneath the hood again, gently brushing his fingers across the other's cheek.

"Yeah," Ravio finally sighed. He leaned into his touch, closing his eyes. "I guess I'm just worried, is all."

"About the big fight with Yuga?" Link murmured, then frowned at the soft nod. "Don't be. I've made it this far, and I'm going to keep pushing till the end. I have a princess to save, right?"

"Mhm," Ravio hummed softly, nodding. He felt the other pat his back gently, and he nuzzled into the tunic a bit more.

"Besides, I won't be taken down by a clown," the hero grumbled, making the other laugh.

"I don't blame you," Ravio said with a grin, only to have it falter at the words that were flung through his mind.

I love you.

He abruptly blushed, letting out a small squeak. The words took him by surprise, but they were familiar. He hugged the other tighter, and found himself enveloped in another embrace. He wasn't opposed to the words, but they meant so much more than he could ever get across to the other. His confidence fell slightly. Even if he were to say the words, he didn't know if the other would find them silly or not.

But no, the hero wasn't like that. He pouted a little as the embrace tightened slightly. If anything he'd take it way too seriously.

"I... think that after a little while, I'll go," Link finally whispered, the apprehension clear in his voice.

Ravio nodded. "T-take your time, Mr. Hero." Perhaps he would wait a bit longer after all.

---

Link swung his sword and shield onto his back with a soft sigh. Apprehension filled his being from head to toe as he turned towards the other. "I guess... I'll see you after it's all done?"

"Yeah," Ravio said quietly, stepping over to fix the other's shirt. "Hopefully... not sooner." At the nod, he leaned in to kiss him again. The hero's hand cupped his face, and he sighed. He pulled back, and the other leaned in slightly, not wanting to let him go yet. "Be careful," he whispered, tracing his fingers across the other's face.

"I will be," Link said confidently. "You'd better still be here when I get back, alright?" They shared a soft laugh, and he leaned in to peck him softly once more. "See you later," he murmured before turning to the door.

After passing through the crack to Lorule, Link took a deep breath. He was confident, yes, but he was also terrified. He had seen what Yuga had become, and he resembled the dark lord from the legend he had read about in Hyrule's Castle. Lord Ganon had fought the hero of the legend, who bore the same tunic and sword as him.

"I'm the hero, but I'm no hero," Link muttered nervously, staring up at the looming castle in front of him. "I'm just a blacksmith's apprentice who sleeps in too much..." He sighed and started towards the castle. "But even if it's a dream, it's had good parts... It deserves a good ending." He smiled softly to himself with the words, and pressed his hands to the doors. "Hylia and the three Sacred Goddesses above... Grant me the strength to do this," he murmured softly.

The inside of the castle was blazing hot, and as he stepped forward he found the reason for it. Grates covered the ground, making the pathways towards the top level precarious. Lava boiled beneath his feet, much too close for his comfort. Various structures were suspended in the center of the building, and rooms led off into different areas at random points. Lorule's crest, looking just like Hyrule's but with an upside down Triforce, was scattered about everywhere.

Link shook his head softly, sighing gently at the heat. How he had longed for it the other day... Now he wished for the chill of the frozen ruins. Images of the two princesses drifted into his mind, and he heard his friend's pleading to save the princess.

He started up the grates, pulling out his sword at the distant sounds of enemy cries. So long as nothing had gone wrong, Princess Zelda would still be in her painting. He took a deep breath, then started to jog. The sooner the better.

---

Ravio looked around himself with a soft sigh. His shop had certainly done him well, but now he had absolutely nothing to sell. So even if the hero had to come back, there would be no purpose of calling his house a store anymore.

He let out a sigh and walked over to the tables, pulling the cloth off of them to reveal they were nothing more than just boxes and pots. He dropped the fabric and started to move things back to where they had been with a gentle sigh. He could hear Sheerow's panicked sounds behind him, but at seeing it was over the movement of the items, he paid his dear friend no mind.

"So," he murmured as he gave a box a shove. "Seems like this is it, doesn't it, Sheerow?" The box slid into the corner, and his fingers curled slightly onto it. "You think he's alright?"

The bird set out a displeased sound, still circling the room.

The merchant sighed. "Yeah, probably not. But I don't feel anything with my magic yet, so he must be okay."

A few grunts and shoves later, the house started to resemble what it had originally looked like. The bed was back where it was, and made. The table sat next to the fireplace, and as a finishing touch, Ravio had set it up for the hero. He looked down to it with a gentle sigh. Two places were set.

He shook his head and turned to his bird, whistling softly. Sheerow landed on his shoulder with a soft coo. He had his bag of rupees slung over one shoulder, and he had the rug he had used, as well as Sheerow's cage ready to go. But just in case...

After taking in a deep, nervous breath, he turned to the side. The blue tunic had displeased Link, as the fabric had been too coarse for him. Ravio, on the other hand, quickly retrieved it. If he wasn't able to make it back...

"L-let's... go... Sheerow," Ravio whispered softly, picking his things up. It was best he didn't think of the negative things... They would surely work out. He left the house, and looked back to it. He had taken down his signs, returning the building to how it originally had been. The thought tugged at his heart, but he continued on to Lorule despite it.

He climbed up the hill with his bird and items in tow, and looked up to the castle with a nervous sigh. Mr. Hero was up there somewhere. Doing heroic things. He smiled a little, then made his way into the empty house to his side, dropping his things off next to it. Maybe, just maybe...

With a glance up to the castle again, he bit his lip. Perhaps he could help him after all.