Trigger

A/N: Ghiralink fanart posted at the end of the chapter. You're welcome.

A week passed, with fewer and fewer messages from Hylia. Ghirahim was getting better at picking isolated locations. There hadn't been a single fight since Link was shot, and the blond had healed amazingly, all things considered. The injury, he confirmed, would no longer hinder him in the event of a battle, not that anything ever did.

At the time, they were staying at a motel in Montana. Everything was looking up, although Hylia hadn't told them anything about who they were and they hadn't found any leads on a transdimensional object that could have taken them from Hyrule.

"The state officials have nothing on us, and neither do any of the police officers in any of the small towns." Ghirahim glanced over. Link rolled one of the strings on his hoodie back and forth between his thumb and forefinger while they walked towards the nearest diner, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Ghirahim, we may have to check the larger cities eventually. You know that, right?"

The sorcerer peered ahead to look for a sign pointing to the diner. "I know. But it's dangerous. Practically every big city in the country has our descriptions as their wallpapers. Not literally, of course, but you know what I mean. It's not safe to just stride right into the police stations. It's like asking to be executed."

"So we'll wait until they're on lunch break or something, or changing shifts, and we'll sneak in. We'd just need a day or two of observation beforehand. It's not like we have anything else to do." Link paused before they headed in and shot a glance around, which silenced whatever protests Ghirahim had. "Check the area. I think someone's watching us."

"We're standing at the front entrance of a diner. In a town."

Link scowled, peering in to see a few people sitting at tables. A cheerful couple walked by them on the street. "I suppose you could be right. Still. Check."

Ghirahim rolled his eyes before shutting them. A moment later, he looked his companion in the eye and shook his head. "Nobody dangerous. Not right now."

"We'll see. Let's just be careful."

"We always are, Skychild. Come on. I'm hungry."

For the most part, the meal was quiet, without any interruptions. Link seemed on edge, however, and ate quickly, then resorted to drumming his fingers on the tabletop. Once Ghirahim finished his own meal and they received the bill, he questioned, "Alright, who do you suspect?"

"I was thinking the couple over there." He pointed his eyes in the direction and Ghirahim shot a glance over without turning his head. "The lady could be hiding plenty of weapons beneath her skirt, and the man's jacket could easily conceal a few handguns."

"There's also that group of men to your right," Ghirahim pointed out. "They seem a little quiet, all things considered. Aren't most typically boisterous when they're out with their friends?"

Link shrugged. "I don't know. We're not normal men."

Ghirahim hummed in response to that sentiment and went to pay the bill while Link slid his jacket back on and threw away their trash. When the sorcerer returned to his companion's side, leaving a tip on the table, he added, "Whatever the case is, we'll be on our guard."

They were halfway back to the motel when someone jumped Ghirahim, throwing a blow to the back of his head and successfully dizzying him enough to stagger, and to forget to put up a barrier before another man put a bullet through his right leg. By the time his vision steadied and he incinerated one of his attackers, Link had drawn a gun and killed the other. They moved to stand back to back immediately.