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Traitor	By : MyouTakara Category: Zelda > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 9770 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda, nor am I making any money off this fic (I am being bribed with fanart. Does that count?)

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter Fourteen

UPDATE: The lovely RococoSpade, who is awesome because she betas, does fanart for me, lets me use her as a sounding board, and just IS, has conceived of a companion fic for Traitor called "Canary or Mockingbird." It's been in the works for a while, but posting this chapter finally made her post it. It explores and explains the relationship between Majora and Kafei as they appear here. So, if you're curious about them, or want to see some Traitor scenes from another perspective, GO READ IT! There's no overt Traitor scenes in the first chapter, but I promise they're coming.

Warning: (Abuse of parentheses abounds.)

Vio twisted this way and that, but no position felt comfortable. No matter how he sat or lay, his arm throbbed, and Shadow, of course, would do nothing for the pain.

Something smacked the bars of his cage and Vio jumped. "Quit squirming!" Shadow snapped. "You're distracting me! I gave you a toy to play with even though you don't deserve one, didn't I?"

A toy. Oh yes. Vio's face flushed and he averted his eyes from the polished, purple-dyed wood affixed to his cage that had been carved in the shape of a. . . well. . . "I'm sorry, Shadow." Shadow scowled and lifted a hand to snap his fingers. "Master Shadow!" Vio hurriedly corrected. Shadow nodded his approval and returned to his work.

Vio's thoughts remained distracted all day, thinking of Sheik in the dungeon and wondering whether or not he'd found a way to free himself. For now, all he could do to help ensure Sheik's safety was behave. Shadow wouldn't hurt him needlessly if Vio didn't make him. . .

Shadow had dinner brought to his office that night, irritably muttering something about the evils of paperwork. The tray that arrived had a sumptuous assortment of foods on it, far more than the tray Vio had been forced to carry earlier. Vio could smell it from where he sat, and he ducked his head further.

"Vaati won't be bringing you food any longer, I hope you know." Shadow said casually, tearing a hunk from a loaf of bread. "I expect you to actually eat what I give you, from now on."

Vio's response was quiet. "I don't like it when you drug me."

Shadow snorted. "If you did as I told you to, I wouldn't have to, now would I?" A snap of his fingers opened the door of the cage. "Come here."

Hesitance could mean pain for Sheik. Vio crawled awkwardly out the door on three limbs, his left arm tucked close to his body. He shuffled closer to Shadow on his knees, head bowed. Shadow held a bite of the bread in his hand, which he held out to Vio. Suspicious blue eyes considered it, then closed in resignation.

The drugs Shadow used never hurt anything but his pride, and that was unimportant, now, while Sheik remained in Shadow's hands. Vio ate the bread. Shadow patted him on the head, pleased, and gave him a few more bites from his various dishes, carefully watching to make sure he ate them all instead of trying something idiotic, like hiding them to take to Sheik.

"That's enough." Shadow said a short time later, after feeding him a bite of some sort of pudding (honestly, even HE wasn't sure what he was eating half the time...). He returned to his meal and Vio remained kneeling at his side with his head low, resisting the urge to squirm. Ten bites. Ten bites and he was full. Shadow wanted him kept weak, and he was certainly succeeding. . .

Vio's injury didn't excuse him from his. . .'duties' either. That night Shadow shoved him onto the bed and forced him to his knees, gripping his right arm and pulling it back. He took him this way, with Vio laying on his dislocated shoulder, his face buried in the pillow as he screamed. When he'd finished, Shadow wrapped an arm around Vio's waist and pulled him close, drifting off to sleep. Vio tossed and turned, sat up and lay down again, but no position could ease the ache or the burning numbness in his arm. He did not sleep.

On the Dawn of the Third Day ("24 hours remain. . .wait, wrong game and I'm a couple scenes early. Oops! Carry on~") Shadow again escorted him to the kitchen for a tray of food. Tired but determined, Vio made it almost halfway across the dungeon before his arm gave out and the tray fell.

The day after, an unfortunate collision with an eager messenger boy sent the tray flying before he'd reached the end of the first hall. Shadow had threatened the boy, "watch where the fuck you're going! Do that again and I'm throwing your ass in the moat, got it?!" He hadn't, however, let Vio try again that day.

The fourth day, Vio managed to reach nearly the front of Sheik's cage before Shadow tripped him to stop him. He crashed to the floor, slicing his hand and arms on the broken glass with a yelp. He met Sheik's gaze briefly, terrified, but red eyes held only concern and worry, the contempt he'd expected lacking.

The fifth day and into the sixth Shadow must have forgotten about him, since he stuck him in his office cage early in the morning of the fifth day and did not appear again. Vio shivered, curled up on the floor of the cage wearing nothing but a purple. . .loincloth? Skirt? (He didn't quite know what to call the silky, lacy thing. Shadow had stopped giving him dresses because he liked to look at the marks on his back, instead reverting to clothing that covered only his groin, if he bothered to give him that much.) It seemed that Shadow banned his servants from the room when Vio was in there alone, because he saw no one. Nobody brought him anything to eat, and the books were all out of his reach, unlike the days when he was left to himself in Shadow's bed. He couldn't even sleep, his shoulder paining him however he sat or lay. So he worried. This wasn't like Shadow. . .Perhaps, Vio thought, Shadow was looking for a replacement for him, and his time would soon end. . .but if that happened while Sheik remained a prisoner. . .no, no he wouldn't think about that.

Vaati returned to him sometime around noon on the sixth day, looking tired and shaky. He moved slowly, but Vio thought he saw a small smile when the other spotted him, for he made his way to Vio's cage and placed his hands on the bars.

"Hey...are you alright?" Vaati frowned, bidding the door to open and making a pleased sound when it did, half-crawling inside the cage to inspect Vio's shoulder. "...What happened to you?"

Vio ducked his head. "I tried to sneak food to Sheik. Sh- Master Shadow wasn't pleased." Vaati twitched at his words, but hid his irritation by inspecting the injury again. "What about you?"

Vaati ignored the question. "How long has it been like this?" He prodded around the injury gently, making Vio whimper.

"...Six days?" Vio said after a moment. He was so tired. . .

Vaati sighed. Six days. By this point, the muscles and tendons would have begun to heal, and if the shoulder stayed out of its socket much longer he'd be lucky to be able to set it again at all. As it was, the ligaments had likely stretched so far that he'd be in danger of dislocating it again every time he swung his sword. . . were he ever given the chance to wield one again.

"Lord Shadow instructed me to escort you to the dungeon today." Vaati said, his tone irritable. "But he forbade me from touching the tray." He shook his head, saying softly. "You should have waited for me. I would have helped. . ."

Vio hung his head. "I'm sorry."

Vaati twitched. Dammit, what had Shadow DONE to him? This submissiveness, and from one who had helped defeat him, no less! It was a disgrace! Even HE had struggled against Shadow's barbaric 'punishments' until the shade ordered him to stop (and even then he tried to overcome the order, but he'd never been able to overcome the devil deal's effects). "Why don't you fight him?" Vaati demanded, his irritation getting the better of him.

Vio finally looked him in the eye, but the pain, the brokenness Vaati saw there...he found it difficult to hold that blue gaze for long. "How would you propose I do that?" He asked softly, his voice so very calm and logical. "I cannot wield a weapon as I am. I can't use my sword hand, and my body is too weak to manage any of the stunts Green or Blue would think to pull. But...presume I could. Mas...Shadow is much stronger than me, and has the shadows and sheer numbers on his side. I'd never make it out of the room. Even if I did, if I escaped from this castle. . . where would I go? I couldn't even begin to find a way home. And I can't leave Sheik. . .presume I could free him. I assume he knows the way. He's probably still strong enough to fight, or at least stealthy enough to get out undetected. Shadow found me once, he could do so again. And if he didn't. . ." Vio shook his head, his voice dull. "Shadow always keeps a pet, he told me so. If not me, he'd find someone else. And I. . .I cannot allow that."

Vio shifted, staring at the bars that encaged him. "But. . .most of all, Vaati. . .if I must die, I don't want to die a pointless death. If compliance keeps me alive. . . then I will do as I am told."

Vaati fell silent after this. Vio was only trying to stay alive, no matter what kind of life that resulted in. Wasn't he himself doing the same? If he made Shadow angry enough, he would kill him, and release him from his wretched deal. But. . .he didn't want to die, not yet.

Vaati offered a hand to help Vio out of his cage.

After a quick stop to let Vio take care of personal business neglected after more than a day in a space barely large enough for him to stand up or stretch out in, the pair of them made their way to the kitchen. Vio stopped there, eyes shut, relishing for a moment in the smell of delicious food. The servants, upon spotting him, loaded the tray with its breakable dishes and left it on the table for him to take. Vio breathed deep to steady himself and lifted the tray, tired muscles already protesting.

Vaati watched him with pained eyes, clearly wanting nothing more than to reach out and help him, though he could not. They made slow progress away from the kitchen, through the halls and towards the dungeon. Twice Vaati checked around them before letting Vio stop to rest, remaining alert to any approaching servants or guards.

As always, the stairs were the most difficult part. Vio leaned back against the wall to try to ease his burden, but his limbs were shaking dangerously already. One wrong step and-

Vio yelped as his aching legs gave out suddenly, closing his eyes as he pitched forward towards the hard stone-

But he didn't land. Opening his eyes, he blinked down at the floor beneath him. He seemed to be...floating. He landed gently on the steps, but the tray seemed much lighter. His eyes scanned over it, but no, he hadn't dropped anything, either. A small gust of wind traveled over his fingertips and he started, but Vaati only chuckled.

"He said I couldn't help you carry the tray. He never said anything about my wind." The Minish said with an impish grin. Vio gave him a genuine smile in return, and together they descended the rest of the way to the dungeons.

The Hinox standing guard by Sheik's cell shifted impatiently as they approached, but unlocked the door without being asked, gesturing them inside and locking it behind them. Vio hurriedly set the tray on the cleanest bit of floor he could find, and moved to inspect his friend. "Sheik. . . "

The Sheikah hadn't moved at all since Vio saw him last, his arms and legs still bound. Water dripped from his hair and body (his clothing having long since been taken from him, apparently a simpler matter than attempting to locate all the weapons he kept on his person), as though someone had recently decided he needed a rinse. Thankfully, it didn't appear that he'd been beaten since the last time Vio saw him.

The tan head lifted, shaking limp blond locks from his blood red eyes (which, Vaati had a moment to note with some irritation, were nearly the same shade as his own). Sheik's gaze flitted to Vaati with what might have been a hint of recognition, but he said nothing to him. He took in the dark circles under Vio's eyes and the thinness of his exposed body, his concern evident. He gazed at Vio's left shoulder with a pained expression, and it occurred to Vaati that the Sheikah's thoughts on the limb mirrored his own.

Sheik licked his lips and Vio gasped, leaving him to grab the goblet of water from the tray. Sheik drank slowly, draining half the glass before he spoke. "Thank you, Vio."

Vio gave him a pained smile, selecting a bowl filled with stew from the tray. Vaati moved to help, holding the bowl for him so he could feed Sheik. "This is all my fault, I'm sorry. I'll find a way to get you out, I promise."

"No, Vio, none of this is your fault. Nobody blames you." The warmth in Sheik's voice felt almost unfamiliar to Vio now, he was so used to Shadow's cold, accusing tone. He basked in it, although he could no longer bring himself to believe the kind words.

Vio and Vaati both jumped when the guard banged on the bars of the cage, gruffly ordering silence. Vio cringed but complied, continuing to offer Sheik spoonfuls of food. When the bowl was half-emptied, Sheik turned his face from it. "I want you to eat the rest. You look like you haven't had a proper meal in weeks." He said quietly.

Vio tried to protest in a whisper, but Sheik wasn't having it. Vio ate, the stew tasting like heaven in his mouth. He offered some to Vaati, but the magician softly assured him that he'd been fed (a lie, but again, food wasn't strictly necessary for him). When Vio said he'd eaten all he could and Sheik really should finish it, the Sheikah looked distinctly unhappy, but complied.

Vio'd just reached for the second dish, some sort of (squirming) bread pudding, when quick, booted footsteps echoed in the space. Shadow came into sight a moment later, melting through the shadows into the cell instead of waiting for the guard to unlock the door.

"There you are!" He snapped gruffly, reaching over to grab Vio by the arm. He glared at Vaati and kicked him into the tray, breaking the dishes and causing the Minish to hiss in pain. "I expected him back ten minutes ago, worthless Mage!" He snarled. Vio weakly attempted to protest, but a smack across his cheek silenced him.

He dragged Vio from the room, Sheik giving a murderous glare at the back of his head. Vaati picked himself up more slowly, giving a distasteful look at the shards of pottery piercing his skin. He plucked them out one by one, dropping them on the tray. He did not bleed, the wounds closing soon after the pottery came free, dark wisps of magic floating up from his skin.

"...He doesn't know who you are, does he?" Sheik asked after a moment, expression and voice unreadable.

"No, he doesn't." Vaati answered after a moment. His tone turned sarcastic. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell him, Sheik of the Sheikah. . . or do you prefer to be called Dark Zelda?"

It wasn't often that something could surprise Sheik. But then, it was even rarer that someone could see through one of his disguises.

(scene break)

The door leading to the balcony of the Sky High tower slid open silently. Feet clad in black high heels stepped stealthily inside, red eyes searching the lavish room. For all the evil that Gufuu was capable of, it would never be said that he treated captive princesses cruelly.

And speak of the devil...

A door at the other end of the room flung open, a tall, red-eyed, purple-gray skinned man pulling the princess in behind him. All things considered, she looked well, if angry. A kick that would have broken bones went flying at his knee, only the barrier around his form protecting him from harm.

"Sorcerer Gufuu, You will unhand me this instant!" Princess Zelda demanded, attempting to strike him again.

"Of course Princess, of course." Gufuu crooned, his eyes wild with insanity, yet still holding a sort of cold, calculating nature about them. "I am ever the gentleman, after all."

"I should hope you are." A near-copy of Zelda, but with gray skin, dark hair and red eyes sniffed, stepping farther into the room. "I won't settle for my light being manhandled, Sorcerer."

Gufuu's eyes gleamed as though only he were privy to some private joke, and he bowed mockingly. "I wouldn't dream of it! Dark Zelda, I presume?"

"I am." She sniffed, regarding him with disdain. "And of course you understand my interest in my light's well-being?"

Gufuu straightened, laughing. "Don't worry, my lady. No harm shall come to my future bride!"

If Gufuu saw the hand that clenched around the dagger, or the murderous expression on 'Dark Zelda's' face, he didn't comment on it. "If you wish to remain and see for yourself, be my guest! I have no objections to my princess's companion."

"I think I will." Dark Zelda answered, sitting primly on the chair in front of Zelda's vanity. "In fact, I think I'll remain at least until your...wedding." The acerbic tone in which this was said did not go unnoticed, but only seemed to amuse Gufuu further. "You will make the proper arrangements."

Gufuu bowed again. "I'll see to it right away, my lady.~" He answered, vanishing in a whirlwind.

Really, he thought, did the Sheikah think he didn't notice how good he looked in a dress, even without the illusion which he, Wind Mage Gufuu, could of course see past? He didn't have Sheikah-red eyes for nothing. . .

The real Dark Zelda, of course, was off on vacation in Twilight with Princess Midna.

Vio shifted uncomfortably on the cushion next to Shadow's throne while he oversaw. . .Vio guessed this was a party similar to the first one he'd attended, but he couldn't be sure. Granted, this outfit wasn't quite as bad as what he'd been forced to wear the first time Shadow forced him here, but still. . .

A lacy pair of (purple) barely-there panties hid his groin from view, only a thin strip passing over his behind (the term 'butt-floss' came to mind, and he inwardly cursed Blue). The top was...well, he still thought it sounded silly, but the best way he could think to describe it was a bra without the cups. That, or a very, very small tank top. A strip of lace, held up by thin straps, wrapped around his chest to cover his nipples without hiding any of the hypercandle burns on his back. Lace had been attached to his collar, and to the matching cuffs on his wrists. A thin chain, designed more for show than functionality, connected the cuffs. A second chain traveled from the middle of the first up to his collar, clinking slightly when he moved.

And. . .

The creepy guy in the heart-shaped mask was watching him again. The blue-haired man in the keaton mask stood next to him, arms crossed, everything about his posture suggesting that he was NOT HAPPY.

While Shadow was distracted speaking with another gray-skinned shadow Vio didn't recognize, the man (?) in the heart-shaped mask sidled close, bending down to peer at him. Vio eyed him warily, but quickly dropped his gaze. Shadow would stop him if he wanted him stopped. . .

"Shadow~" the man crooned. Shadow broke off his conversation to look at him, eyes narrowing.

"Step away from him, Majora."

Majora continued as though he hadn't heard. The man in the keaton mask looked increasingly agitated. "Did you know there's something wrong with his arm? If you leave it, it's going to heal like that!"

Shadow's tone would have told anyone else (anyone sane) to back off. "I'm aware of it. Leave him alone."

Again, Majora acted as though he hadn't spoken. "I guess you don't know how to fix it, do you? It's not that hard to fix a wrong shoulder! All you do is this!" One of his hands grasped Vio's upper arm, the other bracing itself against his chest. Before Vio even had time to register what he was doing he gave a quick yank and something popped back into place. Vioscreamed, the entire hall falling silent and turning to look at them. Shadow snarled and leapt, but Majora danced back out of range with a deranged giggle.

"Don't you fucking lay another finger on him!" Shadow shouted from the top of the dais, the shadows around him hardening into a spear that flew at Majora's head.

Majora caught it and cackled, using it like a cane as he pranced back over to his blue-haired friend, lifting his heart mask to grin at the keaton. Shadow snarled in disgust, snapping his fingers to dissolve the spear while Majora was in mid-somersault. Majora landed on his face with an undignified squawk. The other facepalmed while those around them laughed.

Satisfied by this, Shadow returned to his throne. Conversations began again throughout the room, and Shadow seized Vio by his right arm, tugging him up and into his lap. He ran his hands over Vio's shoulder, grunting in displeasure. Vio tensed, afraid that Shadow planned to yank it out of place again.

Shadow seemed to hear his thoughts because he smiled, his hand resting on Vio's upper arm. "Have you learned your lesson?" He asked softly, his other hand coming up to run through Vio's hair.

"Y-yes...Master Shadow." Vio answered, staring down at his hands.

"Well?"

Vio swallowed thickly. "...Don't...take things places I'm not supposed to?"

Shadow smiled, pleased. "Very good." He crooned, rubbing Vio's shoulder lightly before letting go of it, moving his hands to Vio's waist. "You're learning well."

"Thank you, Master Shadow." It seemed the only appropriate thing to say, but the words tasted like sand in his mouth.

For Sheik. He thought. Sheik has to stay safe. Green will never forgive me if I don't protect him.

"You're looking well, Mon Obscurité."

Sheik gave his Shadow Caster a bland stare. "I'm not speaking to you."

Belial returned a hurt look. "You wound me. I only came to check on you!"

Sheik didn't waver. "You warned him, didn't you?"

". . .Not in so many words. . . " Belial, at least, had the good grace to look embarrassed.

"Get me out. Now. Or I will never forgive you." Sheik threatened. His Shadow Caster, his ever-infuriating 'brother' (he had simply appeared in the woods one day to gravely inform Sheik's mother that he had been waiting too long for his Cast Shadow, and wouldn't leave him alone again for anything. She thought it was sweet. He thought it sounded stalkerish.) gave a soft whine, his expression pained.

". . .I can't. It's. . ."

Sheik sighed. He still felt angry, but of course he understood, for who could understand a light better than their own darkness? "He reminds you too much of the other one, doesn't he?" He asked softly.

"I just want him to be happy." Belial answered morosely.

Sheik responded with a nearly identical look. "What about Vio, then? Doesn't he deserve to be happy too?"

Belial scowled. "It's his own fault. He started it."

"BELIAL!"

The next day Shadow again ordered Vaati to escort Vio on his daily task (after remembering to forbid the use of magic to help him). Vio didn't make it to the dungeon, despite his best efforts. He nearly cried in his frustration and Vaati gave him a pitying look.

". . .I can sneak something to him." He murmured quietly, "But you'll have to go back on your own. He'll come looking for you, but I'm supposed to be busy all day, so he shouldn't notice if I take a little longer."

Vio's face lit up and he looked like he wanted to hug Vaati. "R-Really? You mean it? Thank you, Vaati! Thank you so much!"

"Yeah, yeah." Vaati muttered, embarrassed. "Just get going so he doesn't get suspicious, all right? And...avoid the west hall. Some of Shadow's guests stayed over last night."

"Thank you again!" Vio responded, smiling. Happy with the outcome, and keen to avoid drawing suspicion to Vaati, Vio headed back towards Shadow's room.

He never saw them coming.

A hand seized his right wrist and whirled him around, slamming his chest against the stone wall and trapping his arm above his head. His left hand was caught and pinned between his body and his captor's. He tried to scream, and the hand by his side moved quickly to cover his mouth. The body pressed against him felt cold and hard, like living clay.

His captor cooed. "Now now, is that any way to act when someone's trying to help you?~"

What?

A groan sounded. "Majora. . .let him go."

Majora pouted and whined. "Nu-uh! This is more fun!" He giggled, resting his chin on Vio's shoulder. "I have a proposition for you, Hero.~ I can set you and the Sheikah in the dungeon free."

What?

Vio squirmed, now recognizing the voice as belonging to the man in the heart-shaped mask who had fixed his arm. He tried to turn around, but Majora apparently preferred to keep him right where he was. "Of course, it won't be free." He crooned. "But I don't charge much. All you have to do is let me take you. . ."

What?

"Sleep with you?" Vio repeated in surprise once the hand left his mouth.

"You'll get it in writing, of course!" Majora chirped, as though that made everything so much better.

"I- I..."

"Come on, come on, what's a little deal with the devil now and then?~" He giggled, and Vio had the distinct impression that he wouldn't like the look on Majora's face about now.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vio saw the man in the keaton mask glare and cross his arms. "When I asked you to help him this wasn't what I meant, Majora."

"Hush, Kafei! Let the boy make his choice.~" The hand not pinning Vio's right wrist moved to caress his hip, tracing little patterns over bare skin. "What do you say, Hero?~"

Vio closed his eyes against the light touch, taking a breath to steady himself. "Let me make sure I understand. . .if I. . . if I sleep with you, you will rescue Sheik, and take him back to Hyrule."

"You too." Majora corrected. "I'm not heartless~" He tapped his mask and giggled again at his own joke.

Vio stayed thoughtfully quiet for a moment. Freedom. . . To see Green, Red, Zelda, even loud-mouthed Blue again. To feel the sun on his skin. To belong to himself, and nobody else. . .

But if he ran, Shadow would only find him again, and who knew who he would hurt in the process. Shadow would not pursue Sheik, but Vio. . .

Kafei gave a frustrated groan. "Vio, don't listen to him. You don't have to do this."

Majora whined. "KAFEI! You asked me to help him, so I'm offering my help!"

"You shouldn't charge him for it! Damn it, couldn't you at least make me pay the toll? I asked!"

Vio's soft voice pulled the pair out of their argument. "No. Not me." Vio couldn't see, but Majora and Kafei shared bewildered looks behind his back. "Leave me here. Sheik won't be safe if I go too."

"But, Vio. . .do you really want to stay here?" Kafei asked slowly, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Don't you want to go home?"

Vio bowed his head, his voice shaking. "I do. Goddesses I do. But I can't. It's better for everyone if I stay. I just. . .please, can he do as he says? Can he get Sheik home?"

Kafei moved where Vio could see him, reaching out to pat his head comfortingly (his hand felt just as cold as Majora's...). He looked torn. ". . .Yes, yes he can. The contract wouldn't be binding if he couldn't."

Majora shot Kafei a baleful stare. "Just for that I'm making you do all the work."

"Better I do it than you mess it up." Kafei's glare made Majora recoil and whine at him.

"You're mean. . ."

Kafei ignored him. "Vio. . ."

"Please, this decision is difficult enough already." Vio whispered, blinking back tears from his eyes. I'm sorry, everyone, but this really is for the best. He took a moment to compose himself, and when he lifted his head again his eyes were hard as steel, as determined as Green's ever were. "Fine. If it saves Sheik, I'll do it."

Kafei swore and Majora let him go. "Then it will be done. Just sign on the dotted line, Hero, and wait for the ring around your neck.~" Majora pulled out a length of parchment (did he have that this entire time?), presenting it to Vio with a grin. Kafei fumed. Vio took the proffered quill, sighed, and signed.

The parchment glowed with a blood-red light and melted into a pair of heavy-looking rings, one wrapping around each of their necks before vanishing. The weight remained, a reminder of their deal. Vio wondered whether Vaati carried a similar weight, and he just couldn't see it.

Majora cackled, leaning in Vio's personal space and running one sharp claw up his neck. "I'll be back to collect my price shortly. I have preparations to take care of!" He pranced over to Kafei, draping his arms across his shoulders and resting his head on Kafei's chest. "What do you think? Half a bottle of leever juice?"

Kafei grimaced. "I'm a foot taller and it only takes half that to floor me. A cup should suffice."

"Full bottle it is!" Majora announced, dancing off down the hall.

"What are you going to do?" Vio asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Majora grinned back. "Get him drunk off his ass, of course!" Kafei facepalmed.

Kafei heaved a sigh, removing his mask to give Vio an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. I asked him to help you. . .I never thought he'd do. . .this." The look on his face told Vio very clearly what Kafei thought of the deal. "It might take some work, but I'll see if I can't get him to stop this nonsense. And if he does ANYTHING to hurt you. . ." He let the threat hang, but the look of thunder on his face spoke volumes.

Vio gave a wane smile and a small, polite bow. "Sheik is going home. That's all that matters. Will you. . .will you do one more thing for me, please? Will you tell him not to come after me again? Tell him. . .Shadow will let me go when he's finished, and I'll come home then." When I'm dead.

Kafei shifted, his expression pained as though he heard the words that Vio would not say. He coughed and fixed his mask, giving Vio a deeper bow in return. "I'll see you again soon, Hero." He vanished after Majora, and Vio hurried back to Shadow's room to wait.
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Traitor