Ghirahim was jealous.

It all started when Link had volunteered to take shifts on night patrol with... Pipit. Ghirahim loathed the name. Ghirahim believe it was very honorable and brave of Link to volunteer his own time to keep the citizens of Skyloft safe, but thought that Pipit did it just to say he did. Link pulled his hat on, strapped his shield and sword, and Ghirahim handed him a brown paper bag. Link smiled and peeked inside- a sandwich and an apple. Ghirahim wrung his hands in front of him and nervously looked out the window.

"Please be careful Master Link," Ghirahim pleaded. Link nodded again and tucked away his paper bag, then moved for the door. He put his hand on the doorknob and then turned to Ghirahim, who was watching him with wide eyes. "You gonna be okay?" Link asked. Ghirahim nodded quickly, then tried to smile as he looked around the room. "I can.. tidy up while you're gone." He forced his lips upward into a smile and then nodded reassuringly. "Have... fun. Go protect the people." Link noticed the sadness in Ghirahim's voice, and felt bad about leaving him sad, so he stepped forward to give Ghirahim a hug.

Ghirahim held him tightly and then frowned as he heard banging on Link's door. Ghirahim took his place on the side of the cabinet, but not before Link could squeeze him one more time. Pipit opened the door and leaned forward with his hands on his hips and said, "Ready, Link? I'll show you the ropes tonight, but then tomorrow we'll take shifts. Okay?" Link nodded once, and Ghirahim felt his stomach drop as Link shut the door. It echoed through the room with a note of finality.

Ghirahim sighed and moved to the window again to see Pipit rounding the town with Link. He turned away from the window, looking around the room to look for a place to start cleaning. He picked up all the dirty clothes that littered the floor and put them in a basket in the corner. Those would have to be washed tomorrow. Then he cleaned under the bed, wishing the time would go faster. When would Link be back? Was he coming back? Ghirahim felt terrified that he had abandoned again. He started breathing heavier than he knew was healthy, and had to sit on the floor and lean against the bedframe. The bed. Where normally he and Link would be sleeping.

Dumb Pipit.

Ghirahim balled his fists so hard that his perfectly rounded nails drew blood from his palms. Link was his. Link was his Master. Not Pipit's. Ghirahim started cleaning with a fervor. He dusted the very top of the cupboard and under it and he scrubbed the floors with a brush he got from the bathroom and sweeped and scrubbed again, taking his anger out on the dirt from Link's shoes. Then, when the room was sparkling and lemony-fresh, he pulled a chair over to the cupboard, sat down, and organized the cupboard. He put Link's textbooks in order, straightened the shelves, made sure the pendants hanging on the inside of it were even, and organized the random things on the top shelf so they were all symmetrical. Then he rocked the cupboard forward, causing everything to fall out, and reorganized them again.

When the last Empty Bottle was in its place, the door opened. Ghirahim sat back in his chair and saw Link stagger to his bed. Without removing his shield he flopped down on the covers and curled up. Ghirahim rushed over to him, his hands fluttering over his body. "Are you alright, Master Link?" Ghirahim asked, hysteria evident in his voice. Link nodded and yawned, then scooted over to make room for Ghirahim. "I'm just so tired," Link said. He threw his arm over his eyes and pulled Ghirahim down on the bed. "I don't know if I'll be able to do this every night." Ghirahim leapt at the opportunity to keep his Master close. He leaned forward eagerly and shook his head, his platinum hair tickling Link's nose. "You don't have to!" Ghirahim yelled, a smile forming on his face.

Link sighed and held up the covers so Ghirahim could scoot under. "I know," he said, raking his hand though his hair, "I just feel like it's my duty. Everyone expects the best from me..." Link trailed off. Ghirahim wrapped his arms around Link, keeping him in the bed. He said matter-of-factly, "You've done your duty. You saved Hylia. When is someone else in the town going to step up? It doesn't matter what they expect. You do what you want to." He held Link tighter and said more quietly, "And if it matters what I want, I want you to stay here with me."

Link froze for a moment, and Ghirahim felt he had finally gone too far. Now he would really be punished, putting his wants before his Master's. Ghirahim started to apologize but Link sniffed. "Ghirahim," Link started, "why does my room smell like lemons?" Ghirahim's lip quivered. "I cleaned while you were gone," he whispered.

Link chuckled at first, and then really started laughing, and Ghirahim was afraid he was losing it. "Master..." Ghirahim started. Link chortled, "What else did you do? Did you make me a four-course meal, too?" Ghirahim's head popped up. "I could," he offered. Link laughed and shook his head, then arched up his back to reach underneath him. He opened the brown paper sack Ghirahim had packed for him and pulled out the sandwich. It was a little flat, but he tore it in half and gave a part to Ghirahim. He took it slowly and asked, "Are you sure?" Link nodded and took a bite from his sandwich. Ghirahim picked at his and tried to mimic Link. Ghirahim liked to rip off little pieces with his fingers and eat them that way, but Link just bit it right off the whole part. Ghirahim did the same, and the Link reached for his apple. He held it out to Ghirahim, who pushed it back. "It's for you, Master," Ghirahim insisted. Link gave him a look that said 'take it' but Ghirahim wouldn't. "It's yours," Ghirahim said.

Link rolled his eyes and bit a chunk out of the apple then forced it into Ghirahim's hand. "Thew," Link said around a mouthful. "You eab ib." Ghirahim chuckled and crunched the apple. They laid there listening to each other's chewing as the sun came up. Link eventually fell asleep, but Ghirahim couldn't. He was thinking about how there was not a luckier humanoid in the world. He had lucked out when Link became his Master. He loved him.

"It's your shift, Link!" Pipit said through Link's door. Link groaned and tried to move away from Ghirahim without waking him. This failed, of course, and Ghirahim jumped up, alert. "Are you alright?" Ghirahim whispered. Link nodded and stretched, pulling his boots on. Ghirahim felt sad again and tried to wake himself up so he could distract himself. Link looked at him over his shoulder and said, "No, man. Go back to sleep. I won't be gone as long as last time. Pipit will take his shift halfway through, so I'll be back soon. Get some rest." He patted Ghirahim's arm and then strapped his shield on, moving for the door.

Ghirahim whispered 'bye' and snuggled down into the sheets, trying to fall back asleep. He knew sleep would never come, though, so stood up and moved to the cupboard, which Link had someone managed to mess up since the last time he cleaned it. His eyes felt heavy and his body ached, but he knew he could not get back to sleep without Link. It was bad enough being alone here during the day, but having his nights taken away from him? This was all Pipit's fault.

If Pipit hadn't gotten so lazy and decided that he needed someone else to do the job he volunteered to do for him this wouldn't be happening. He thought of things he could do if he ever met Pipit in a dark alley.

As Ghirahim tried to organize the cabinet, he heard an obnoxious panting sound in the other half of the room. At first he thought maybe he should've gone back to sleep, but then got brave and pushed a chair over to the makeshift wall. He hoisted himself up with his fingertips and peered over the wall to see a small boy attempting pushups. He could go down just fine, but when he tried to push back up his spine arched and he just fell back to the floor.

Ghirahim tilted his head to the side, thinking about how that boy had looked like he could use some self confidence, and then got a piece of paper. He wrote on the paper, "Do you want a job patrolling at night? Pipit will mentor you." He folded this in half and balanced it on the top of the makeshift wall. He waited for a moment, blew, watched the paper float slowly to the floor, then jumped down and ghosted over to the bed, which he slid under.

The boy mumbled, "Huh?" and picked up the paper. Ghirahim waited as he read it, and then heard a delighted, "Ah!" as the boy folded the paper. "Fledge, today is your day!" Ghirahim heard the boy say. There was silence for a moment, then Ghirahim heard a chair scraping. The boy stood on it and peered over, then said, "Thanks Link! I- huh?"

The boy craned his neck as he took in the room. He realized nobody was there and shrugged, but then looked at the note in his hand. "How the...?" he whispered to himself. He stood for another minute, looked again, then hopped down from the chair. Ghirahim waited for him to go back to his pushups, and then slowly eased out from under the bed.

He moved back to the cupboard to finish his organizing. Ghirhaim could hear Link laughing with Pipit and they must've given each other a high five or something. More laughter. Ghirahim's eyes narrowed. Link came in and put his things away. Ghirahim didn't even move from his chair. "Ghirahim," Link asked, yawning, "what are you doing?" Ghirahim said quietly, "I organized everything in your cupboard. Alphabetically." Link raised an eyebrow and pulled his shirt off. He got dressed in his nightclothes as Ghirahim tried to make himself look busy in the cabinet.

"Everything okay?" Link asked, laying in his bed. Ghirahim nodded, still facing the cupboard. "Fine," he mumbled. He did not feel he could force any other words out, for the pain in his chest was too great.

"Master Link, I want to go outside."

Link was getting dressed to go help around the town. It was sunny outside and everyone was out, and Link couldn't figure out why Ghirahim wanted to go outside. He shrugged, pulling his pants on. Ghirahim stood by the door, his familiar red and yellow checker cloak draped over his back. Link said, "You can go out if you want to. Be prepared to get stared at." Ghirahim raised an eyebrow and Link hurried to correct himself. "No, no!" he said, holding up his hands in defense. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that we don't get very many newcomers here. That's all." Ghirahim nodded once, turned curtly, and opened the door.

Link hopped toward the door, trying to tie the laces on his boot, and followed Ghirahim out. Ghirahim did not stop to talk to anyone. He walked quickly and with purpose, and stood straight. It reminded Link of the old Ghirahim. He did not like it.

Ghirahim opened the door and cringed against the sun, then made his way down the stairs. People stared at him, stopping what they were doing to watch him ghost over the cobblestone. He walked into the bazaar and swiftly seated himself at a table in Piper's cafe. Link sat by him and frowned. "Ghirahim, are you alright?" Ghirahim smiled tightly and replied, "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?" Piper brought them each a bowl and then went back to stirring and tasting her soup.

Link sipped at his bowl while Ghirahim just stirred his. "So how's patrol going?" Ghirahim asked sourly. Link pursed his lips and turned toward the Item Check, where Peatrice was gazing dreamily at him. "Fine," Link said. Ghirahim nodded and looked the other way, toward Piper. "Great."

Link put his bowl down and leaned forward, then said, "I'll be right back. Gotta... go to the bathroom." Ghirahim nodded and picked at a loose thread on his sleeve.

Link went to the bathroom and then came back only to find that he and Ghirahim's table was empty. He searched around the bazaar and found Ghirahim sitting behind the counter at the Scrap Shop. Link set his jaw and walked over to them, and leaned on the counter.

"...I haven't been able to get him working, though. Hey, Link!" Gondo said. Link smiled a bit then turned to Ghirahim, who was perched on a stool next to Gondo. "So, Ghirahim, what do you want to do now?" Link asked. Ghirahim sighed dramatically, and Link knew that Ghirahim's flair, at least, was back. "I don't know... don't you have some errands to run?" Ghirahim asked. Link frowned and then turned away. "See you later," Link mumbled over his shoulder.

The pain in Ghirahim's chest was throbbing now more than ever.

"Maybe the oil from an Ancient Flower would help," Ghirahim mumbled. They had stayed in the bazaar long after it closed, working on Scrapper. Gondo crossed his arms and nodded, then sighed. "That would probably work. But I don't have any flowers." He sighed again and reached behind him for a tool when Ghirahim saw Link out the window.

Link had been patrolling with Pipit for two weeks after Ghirahim had given Fledge the note, and he was just now stepping up. Link was walking with Fledge who had a crude training sword. He was walking around the bazaar, his sword at the ready, when Link noticed Ghirahim watching him. His eyes widened and then narrowed as he noticed Gondo ask Ghirahim for a tool. Ghirahim handed the wrench to him and then turned away. He didn't want to hurt Link like this, but he could play just as dirty as Link. Link didn't understand how it hurt Ghirahim to be left alone like this, so he went and found a new friend.

Link slashed his sword at the air and then threw it down, angry. Fledge wrung his hands in front of him. "You can go home if you want, Link. I think I've got this." Link shook his head but picked up his sword and started for the Academy. Ghirahim saw this and hurriedly told Gondo, "I have to go, Gondo, but I'll see you later." He left without an explaination and hurried after Link, who only increased his pace when he noticed Ghirahim following him.

"Why would you do that to me?" Link fumed. Ghirahim followed behind him, matching his strides. Link continued, "I'm your Master, not Gondo! How could you leave and betray me like that?" He saw Ghirahim begin to defend himself and turned to face him, just at the bottom of the steps. "No! It doesn't even matter that you haven't done anything huge. It doesn't matter that I haven't needed you to do anything for me. The point is, you left me. You're, like, the one person who I'm supposed to be able to count on! What if-"

Ghirahim balled his fists by his head then held his arms straight by his sides. His eyes widened and his hair flipped as he screamed, towering over Link. "You're spending more time with Pipit than you are with me!" The last word hung in the air and Link looked stunned. His pointed ear twitched and a shade of red Link had never seen before colored Ghirahim's face.

"What?" Link asked, stepping back. Ghirahim yelled, "I've been abandoned- again! When you found me, you said I would always have someone to be with. You lied! I can't survive without a Master! I have to spend every day in that room alone anyway," he jammed a finger toward Link's window, "and now I have to be alone at night, too? This isn't fair, Link!" His arms fell to his sides and he wilted. "I just want you back," he whimpered, his lower lip jutting out. "You're my Master," he whispered pitifully.

Link stood, shocked, and then reached forward and hugged Ghirahim. Ghirahim did not return the hug, although he wanted to. Link whispered into Ghirahi's chest, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt that way." Ghirahim sniffed. Link looked up at him, pulling away slightly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and Ghirahim could tell he meant it.

"Why didn't you tell me you felt that way?" Link asked. Ghirahim sobbed for a few seconds, then threw his hands up. "Because I just wanted you to be happy! I thought you were mad at me and that's why you stayed out so long," he said. Link looked up at him through his eyelashes, ready to cry. Ghirahim stared at him hopelessly, then Link gritted his teeth. He sniffed and grabbed Ghirahim's hand tightly, winding his fingers through Ghirahim's. He led him back to the Academy, holding him close to him.

"I'm not happy unless you are."

Whew. That took a while. Lol. So, I was thinking about this as I wrote, and I just thought I'd tell you guys. When I first started playing SS, I couldn't figure out how to pronounce Ghirahim's name. Now I know it's pronounced GEAR-UH-HIM, but before I couldn't say it. When my sister asked me who that creepy guy who invaded my personal space and licked the blood off his sword was, I didn't know what to say. And, you guys know that thing he does that we love, how he snaps his fingers and disappears in a shower of diamonds? Well, yeah, I'm kind of a Lady Gaga freak and I love her and yeah, and the whole 'diamonds hanging around him and in the air' thing made me think of Poker Face by Lady Gaga, so we called him Poker. Allison (my sister) still calls him that, though, because she doesn't understand how to be a fangirl. Thanks for reading this pointless author's note, and I'll update soon. If not, you can come hunt me down with a hockey bat. Lol. Review, lovies!
~Paige