A Strange Change| Ghirahim x Link Fanfiction

The Strangest Truths

After Link was done bandaging Ghirahim's wounds, he settled back into a normal sitting position and watched as Ghirahim teared up again and put a hand over his eyes, hiding them. Link couldn't help but frown at this man clearly so broken up inside. The pain seemed to take hold of all his features, his shoulders were slumped over as if he was being defeated once again. Link flinched when he thought of those times he had stabbed this man, slicing him open, and hoping and praying that he would die already. Now all he wanted to do was help him and keep him alive. It was strange, Link thought, how much could change in the way he thought about things in just a few years. But then he realized with a sick feeling, the only reason he feels this way was because he is lonely. 

Lonely. Broken. Alone. That's how he felt, that's how this supposedly amazing hero of legend felt, alone, in the world of people he had saved and protected with his life. He felt a tear slide down his own cheek and he quickly wiped it away, not realizing that he had let himself get so hurt because of this man that he was actually crying. He got up quickly, causing Ghirahim to flinch and gasp out of reflex, and then started to cough, a painful dry cough. Link laid a hand on Ghirahim's back before grabbing the pail he was just using and going down the stairs quickly, not caring at this point if a little water got on the floors. He grabbed a cup and filled it with water from the kettle in the kitchen as well as some food he had bought from the village.

Link made the trip back up the stairs and walked into the room, making his way slowly over to Ghirahim, he noticed that this time the man was looking straight at him with glazed over eyes that seemed as tormented inwardly as his actual body did. Link almost wanted to drop everything and hug him, but instead he walked over, bent over a little bit to hand him the cup of water and the fruit. Ghirahim held out a shaky hand, his fingers trembling as his hand closed around the cup of water, but Link didn't let go, he didn't trust Ghirahim's hand to be able to hold the cup of water with the way his hand was shaking. He held the cup of water to Ghirahim's lips who drank all of the water with only a few gulps.

Ghirahim let out a breath as the water went down his throat, something he hadn't had in a few days, it made him feel a little better, but once Link held out some fruit, he couldn't help himself, he took huge bites of the fruit, barely having time to breathe in between bites. His body needed to eat, his body was dying and he knew it, he knew that any longer out there and he would have died, even if it wasn't for the monsters, he would have just died. From exposure to the elements. He could feel the Sky Child watching him intently, as if waiting for him to make a move, or if anything, just to watch him. Ghirahim looked straight back and licked his lips, his tongue wasn't as long as it used to be, he knew this, but it still made the Sky Child's eyes narrow only slightly, not in a threatening way, but just enough to let Ghirahim know that he remembered.

Ghirahim ate the last of his fruit and let out a sigh of relief and it seemed that it made Link somewhat happy as a ghost of a smile crossed the sandy-haired boy.  Ghirahim studied Links features closely, The blue eyes were kind, but there was something darker in them this time, not like there was before, it was a deeper emotion. Link had grown since the last time they had met, he seemed to have grown quite a few feet, he wasn't as tall as Ghirahim, but he was close to it, only about  two inches shorter. It was strange to Ghirahim, to him it didn't feel like it has been that long. But he guessed it had to be, for this boy seemed so much more mature, so much wiser and yet so much more hurt. He noticed was Link was wearing, it was green, but it wasn't what he used to wear, and he wasn't wearing his hat either. His hair was somewhat longer but wasn't passed his shoulders. 

Ghirahim noticed so many differences it made him feel strange as he almost felt disappointed as if maybe this Sky Child held the key to making his memories not seem so old. Ghirahim did notice however, that no matter how long ago, this man still isn't talking. Ghirahim stared deeply into Link's eyes, Link looked straight back and they both sat in silence for what felt like an hour. Ghirahim suddenly coughed a little, cleared his throat and said softly, "Thank you Sky Child, I guess. Thank you for saving me back there, as well as for the water and the fruit...I guess we really are tied by fate." Ghirahim looked down at his lap at his now bandaged hands, surprised when Link placed a hand on them. 

This touch of kindness caused Ghirahim to feel something different. It was warm and tingly, something that he had never felt, and he felt his body slightly relax, he turned and looked at Link, just then, he realized that Link's face had a light blush against his cheeks and he could feel his own cheeks starting to heat up. It was strange the sensation and it made his heart beat faster. Just by the touch of a hand it made Ghirahim panic a little. This damn kid, whatever magic he used i'm going to make sure it goes away.  Links brain went on overdrive, confused and somewhat strange, a spark seemed to be going through his fingertips.  

After a moment, Link pulled his hand away, got up and took the cup to get more water as well as some bread and fruit. He returned with all of it, as well as some herbal medicine that would help with pain as well as any sickness that Ghirahim might have going through his system. Ghirahim accepted all of it without question, not really wanting to scream and yell and fight with the Sky Child. Even though he knew that Link wouldn't really say anything, so he'd be fighting with a statue. So he sighed, took it, and finally relaxed, falling asleep for what felt like an eternity.