TWENTY-THREE

| dedication: sidewalkchalk_ for that cool cover xx |

TWENTY-THREE

At first I was confused. It wasn't something my mind could process well enough, or even at all.

I found myself in a moment where you didn't want to do anything but have someone assure you that you were still in reality and not floating above the clouds. I wanted someone to pinch me to be quite frank.

I was used to Link. I was used to all his twisted ways so I first thought of his words as a ploy. He wanted to get something out of me and one way to do that, was to tackle me from behind. He sure did succeed in doing that by just speaking to me.

Link had 'disappeared' after our bizarre talk at the hospital where he instantly shut me down. It was then I knew that no differences could settle between us ever.

"A truce?" I repeated his words, still finding it hard to understand what he meant by it.

Link pushed off the wall that he was leaning against and slowly descended upon me. He itched closer causing me to move back tentatively, a knee-jerk reaction whenever he would come closer to me.

"Yeah," he started to say, his voice dropping to a low tone which should have been one clear alarming sign that things were not so simple. There was more lingering behind that one word and knowing Link, it would be the death of him before he uncovers every meaning behind his words.

"Only a sane person would ask," I started to mumble, fiddle around with my fingers whilst trying to conceive a well structured response. "Why?"

Link eyed me carefully, watching my whole face as I tried to maintain a composed expression. But we both know well enough that I was not settled around him. "Only a sane person would ask for a truce," Link responded. "We both know all this chasing and looking over our shoulders has to come to an end."

I let out a loud scoff, not believing what I was hearing. "You looking over your shoulder?" I questioned incredulously. "Why would the tormentor have someone to fear?" I asked him, edging towards the table with my back still against the wall.

My eyes barely caught the twitch in the corner of his mouth before he dipped his head low. He stayed like that momentarily before he lifted his head up again, a questioning gaze lingering on his face. "Tormentor?" He repeated, as though that word didn't make sense to him.

"Yes," I fired back. "You're exactly that."

Link arched one eyebrow at me. "Do you hear yourself Ori," he said slowly and then I realised he was trying to pass me off as a mad woman.

"Don't even try to sizzle your way out of this," I wagged my finger in his direction. He was not going to play me, not anymore he wasn't.

"For a man asking for a truce, you really are going by it the wrong way," I filled him in, making sure he was aware that his pathetic antics were flying over my head.

Link Dane was no person to easily give up and he made it clear that our paths would forever cross until he avenged his sister. So for him to suddenly ask for a truce was bewildering.

"We have a past," I started to say. "We can't just sweep it all under the rug and pretend it didn't happen." I spoke the true words in my mind. Link and I were bonded in a way that no other person could imagine. They say behind closed doors lie secrets and Link has the key to my door. He wasn't afraid of slowly tugging out each secret for the world to know and that, I couldn't easily let go off.

"I can't just forget what you have done," I said out loud slowly. I was fully aware that I was showing Link everything that I tried my best to hide from him. All the fear and the pain he has inflicted on me.

"Neither can I." He shot back. "But I can try to move on from it as I'm asking you to do it too."

It bothered me how easily he spoke those words and how easily he could act like nothing significant had happened between us. It had shaped our lives, more his than mine.

"I can't forgive you for-" I began to say but was cut off by his scoff. My mouth clasped shut and my face firing up instantly.

"For showing you that Brandon was cheating on you?" He spat out his name like it was vulgar to his tongue. "Some would say I was an admiring lover wanting the best for you."

I neglected that mere idea as soon as he mentioned it and decided to focus on something else. "You didn't have to tell the world." I told him in a small voice.

Link let out a deep sigh. "If you want me to say sorry," he paused for a while causing me to hold my breath. "I won't say it."

I didn't know why that nearly threw me off my feet. Deep down I knew I'd never get an apology from Link and I didn't expect one either. But to hear him openly say that, it nearly threw me sideways.

"And what about when you-"

"When I showed you your mum was another culprit?"

The reminder filled my throat with burning acid and I held in my sick at the picture that resurfaced back isn't my mind. I shook my head, attempting to get rid of the image but it was to no avail.

"And the time that-"

Link cut me off with another exaggerated sigh which led to my mouth instantly closing. I peered at him with watchful eyes as he pranced around the kitchen, his hands fisted by his side. This was the closest I've seen to Link expressing any full emotions and allowing for something minor take a toll on him.

He stopped in the middle of the room. "We can stand here and retell everything," he began to say before he turned to face me. "But it won't do any good."

With the way he stood, the words he spoke and how he was looking at me with slightly wide eyes made me think twice about what he was asking for. I could fall prey to his false words or just close my eyes and hope that what he was saying would bring an end to everything.

I decided to take a leap into the unknown.

"Do you forgive me?" I asked him tentatively. Although he did inflict a few hurtful things upon me, it was foolish to forget the main cause and reason for it. "For what I have done?"

It seemed like Link was prepared for that question as he responded quickly but justly. "No I don't," he said. Loud warnings blared in my head. If he wasn't willing to forgive, there was no moving forward from it. "But I'm willing to move past it." He quickly added which halted my train of thoughts.

"Why?"

It took a few seconds for Link to gather his reasons but he hid all of them expect one. "For Palmer. I want to be with her every second of the day. For us to be neck to neck will cause a strain on her so I'd like to lay it to rest for her."

There was more to it. With Link, there was always more.

My gaze lingered on his straight face, once again, prying for any indication of his feelings. He barely gave anything away which raised far too many questions. I allowed for them to rest, to give myself a piece of mind and finally breathe without wondering if Link would strike again.

"Truce." I whispered mostly to myself, almost tasting the word on my tongue and the heavy promise it came with.

"Yeah," Link voice also dropped. He sensed my resolution.

"Our differences are huge," I reminded him. "Even if we spent time together with Palmer we will clash and-"

"Truce Ori." Link cut off the start of my rambling for which I was slightly irritated about but more or less grateful for. I glared at him but it seemed to unfazed him as a small dazzlingly smile itched at the corner of his mouth.

I held up my hand. "Before we lay everything to rest," I said. "I know you told me you didn't do those things on my wall."

The instant I mentioned the wall incident, I watched as the small smile on his face suddenly disappeared and in replace, his mouth thinned into a straight line. His eyes darkened right before me and the usual eerie vibe he emitted returned and swiped through me.

I was momentarily dazzled by his reaction. Regardless, I carried on without addressing his sudden change.

"You know who did it?" I asked him. He told me he didn't do it and for no adequate reason should I believe him but I did.

He took a long time to answer which sent my nerves on a rapid override. It was the cruelest thing ever done and it haunted me every night. The thought of someone coming into a place I thought was my only safe place sent every hair on my body standing. It frightened me beyond measure and showed how vulnerable I really was.

If Link knew who did it, it could ease me just the slightest. Maybe I could muster enough courage to confront the person who really did it and ask them how they knew.

It felt like I was waiting a decade for his answer, my heart drilled in position as it was struck with fear. When he finally spoke, I could feel everything I've ever known fall apart before me.

"Yes." He simply said.

My voice came out shaky and small. "Did you ask them to do it?" I asked him.

A part of me hoped it did as it meant it would stop after tonight. But I knew, with how Link was looking at me that everything wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be.

"No."

"So they know about your sister?" I asked him slowly.

He nodded whilst holding my gaze. I inhaled deeply and willed myself to go on once more.

"Do they know that I-" my voice cut off and I exhaled on a tremble. I didn't have to finish for Link to know what I was going to ask. And he had an answer already.

"Yeah, they do."

****

> so, clearly there is someone else apart from Link that knows what Ori did.

> can you lot guess who though??