Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

- He's super sweet, always making sure you're not too cold at the cool and wet Domain 

-  He loves picking you up and carrying you around on his shoulder /  on his head / in his arms  

- Since he's so, so SO tall compared to you, he always tells you that you're small and adorable!! Of course, he doesn't talk down to you, (hehe) he just genuinely thinks that you're really cute and squishy. 

- If any older Zora give you snooty looks or scoff at seeing you, he will guide you away and/or give the offender a small talking-to about how amazing you are!  

- He. LOVES. CUDDLES!!!! He loves hugging you, pressing small kisses to the top of your head, and falling asleep with you embraced in his arms. 

- When you smile at him, he just turns to jelly. 

- He's super protective, and if you get even the smallest scratch, he gets super worried and insists on you getting it bandaged.  

- If anyone hurts you, physically or emotionally.. they'd better watch out.   

- oh my god he's just the bestest boi ever and you better let him know at all times

Chapter Text

- You met him at Dueling Peaks Stable 

- You were grooming your horse and ohmy god you looked so goshdarn adorable! 

- He couldn't help but stare

- You did catch him, and his face just turned bright red 

- Thankfully, you didn't yell at him, just laughed and asked his name 

- You two talked by the cooking pot, and stayed up watching the stars above 

- The next day, you woke up to realize that he was gone 

- He left a note though, and a few baked apples "for your kindness" 

- You did meet him again, thankfully, this time at another stable 

- You literally ran up to him, and asked him how he'd been 

- Again, you two stayed up, chatting and enjoying his surprisingly delicious food  

- The next day, you woke up again to see that again, he was gone- but this time he had left a flower, a Silent Princess. You had only seen it in books before. For some reason, it made your heart flutter the tiniest bit. 

- But the fact that he left again.. you just sighed and accepted that 

- The next time you saw him was a while later

- You had been super worried

- He looked a little beat up, but otherwise good

-You almost screamed, but instead rushed at him, giving him a big bear hug 

-After you pulled back, you realized that his face was bright red- like the first time that you two had met 

-And again, you laughed, that glorious laugh of yours

-You spent a long time catching up, maybe a little closer than before, enjoying each other's company 

-This time, when you woke up, he was still there, sleeping with his head on your shoulder 

-After this day, Link asked you to travel with him, because said that he realized that he didn't want to leave you again 

-There were some unspoken feelings, but you could tell that something had changed within him. 

Chapter Text

 - Basically, you take the place of Teba's wife in this scenario (AN: still gender-neutral reader)   

- You both knew each other since you were young fledgelings 

- He seemed aloof at first when you met, but you two grew very close 

- Teba realized that he held deep feelings for you when you almost got killed by the Hinox, and it nearly broke his heart when you had been carried back to the village, gravely injured and nearly on your last breath 

- He had held your wing, comforted you, and kept you happy when you were on the mend 

- After this incident, he grew very, and I mean very protective of you 

- If even the slightest threat occured near you, he'd take it out in a matter of seconds without losing a feather 

- You started to feel like he was treating you like you couldn't do anything after a little while 

- You'd confront him one night, asking "Do you think I'm a weak little hatchling? I can do things by myself!" 

- He surprised you by engulfing you in a tight hug 

- "I don't want you to get hurt. Not again." 

- "Why?"   

- "Because… because I love you." 

- He asked you to be his partner shortly afterwards, to which you accepted!! 

- After a year or so, marriage joined you and Teba's souls in union.

Chapter Text

- Urbosa is a very passionate lover, and will not hold back when it comes to comments on how beautiful/amazing/kind you are. 

- She enjoys going out for walks with you, getting a drink at The Noble Canteen, or just spending time with you in general 

- If even the slightest bit of self-doubt comes out of your mouth, she will make sure that you feel 5x better about yourself by the time that she's done giving you a talk about how much she adores, admires, and loves you  

- She really likes cuddles, always the big spoon when you lay down with her 

- You two would stay up late at night, just talking and talking about life and things  

- She loves playing with your hair- braiding it, brushing it, or just running her hands through it. 

- Definitely hugs you from behind, resting her head on your shoulder and wrapping her arms around your waist 

- Very motherly, is always checking up on you, asking if you've been doing good, asking if you've been eating well 

- Pet names are a yes! Something like desert flower; something beautiful but cute at the same time 

- Overall, she loves you dearly, and would do anything to ensure your safety and wellbeing. <3  

Chapter Text

- birdmanbirdmanAAAAAAAAAaa

- He's very warm! Cuddles are really awesome with him, especially in the cold Hebra nights. (His feathers are great insulators!!!)  

• I'd like to think that one time you were cold and he offered to hug you to keep you warm, wrapping his wings around you and holding you close. This happened kind of early in your relationship, and until this point, you had just thought of him as a pompous jerk. But this changed everything ;)))

- He will braid your hair, he's surprisingly good at it (who knew you could braid with those wing-hand-thingies?)

- He's very protective, will take any threats out at a moments notice

- He's highkey a tsundere (ex. "I-It's not like I like you okay! I just- I just appreciate your company!" )

- Whenever he's embarrassed or flustered by you, the feathers on the back of his neck floof or puff up, and whenever you tease him about that he'll get even more flustered and cover his face with his wings.

- He will let you ride on his back to fly around, whether it's up to Medoh or just a nice flight around for funsies

- (The first time you rode on his back, he was super flustered! Cue the awkwardness! I mean, you hanging on to him like that, your warmth on his back…)

- He's a good cook, will make you food

- Will get jealous kind of easily when you aren't together and another person is flirting with you, but he doesn't admit it until you ask him directly

- Kiss him on the beak, it's the sweetest thing ever!!

- Honestly when all of his pompous big cool guy energy is gone, he's just a really sweet nice birdman who will make sure you're comfortable and happy

Chapter Text

- Basically this is where Reader replaces Link as the hero who has awoken after 100 years blah blah- but moving on.

- Yunobo, after you save him from the cave, lowkey develops a small crush on you?? You're really cool and he just can't help it??

- When you and him halt Vah Rudania and you announce that you're heading in, he just panics!

- "What if you get hurt? What if you don't come back??" (he wants to say that he wants to spend more time with you but he's too shy to say it, the poor boy)

- But of course you take down Fireblight Ganon and come back,, much to his relief

- You inspire him. A lot.

- And of course you hang out together, just the two of you, talking and laughing

- You help bring him out of his shell

- But then comes the time where you have to go take back Vah Naboris, and leave Goron City to go to Gerudo Town

- Yunobo is really sad, and doesn't want to see you go

- You promise him that you'll be back, and depart with a chaste kiss on his cheek

- He can't help but shed a tear as you warp away- he loves you too much

Chapter Text

      You and Sidon had been friends for as long as you could remember.

        Before his royal duties had caught up with him, you two used to play all day, doing this and that, and causing chaos all around the Domain.

        But now, you hardly saw each other due to Sidon's busy schedule as the Zora prince.

        Sighing as you glanced out of your window down at the water below, your gaze fell upon a worn-out piece of parchment tacked on the wall, nearly covered by all of the other things you had put up there, little knick knacks that you had collected over the years lining the shelves.  

        Pushing aside a few things, you picked up the sheet of yellowed paper.

        On it was a drawing of you, obviously drawn by a child's hand. And in the right bottommost corner was a fading signature that read, "To my best friend, from Sidon."  

        Smiling slightly, you allowed fond memories to collect in your mind.

                                         -- Some Years Earlier--  

        "Hey, Sidon, lookit this!"

        You held up a sheet of crisp white paper, a drawing of Sidon on it. Obviously proud of your work of art, you smiled at the red-scaled Zora.

        "Dontcha like it? I drew it this morning!"

        Sidon grinned as well, gently taking the portrait of himself from you. "I do like it! You did a really good job on it!"

        He suddenly looked pensive, looking down at the paper, and you tilted your head to the side. "What's wrong? Do you not like the way I drew your fins?" you questioned, pouting slightly.

       "No, no, that's not it- I was just thinking I should draw you too."

        "Why?" you asked, eyes widening. "You don't owe me anything!"

         The prince grinned once again, looking up from the drawing. "But I want to draw you. Besides, I still owe you for that time you helped fix my headpiece."

"Awww, Muzu was gonna be on your back about it though!" you protested, crossing your arms. "And we all know how Muzu is!"

Sidon laughed. "Well it's too late for you to stop me now! I'm going to go draw the best picture ever of you!"

                                        --Present Day--  

        And indeed he did, giving the drawing to you right after lunchtime. You remembered how broadly he was grinning, and how happy you were to receive it.

        Setting down the worn-out parchment on your desk, you allowed your gaze to wander back to the window.

        “I wonder when we'll be able to laugh like that again..,”

Chapter Text

         “Ssh. Stop fussing. I'm just braiding your hair."

        Revali clicked his tongue impatiently as you continued to squirm in your seat on the floor of his house.

         But you couldn't help it. This was so strange and out of character for him. All that you had seen was a pompous, arrogant, rude jerk who didn't care in the slightest about you.

        The past few weeks, though, had started to drive those assumptious into the ground. Revali had been acting… different, to say the least. Little things like leaving small gifts for you, or smiling genuine smiles in your presence, and giving you long glances when he thought you weren't looking. Of course, when you caught him, he'd turn away with a huff, acting as if nothing had happened.

        Lost in thought, you didn't notice for a few seconds that the Prussian blue-feathered Rito had finished braiding your hair until he tapped your shoulder, waking you from your little reverie.  

        "Ah- oh- are you done..?" You said hurriedly, cringing slightly as you stumbled over your words.

        "Mhm," affirmed Revali, getting up and retrieving a mirror from beside his hammock, using it to show you his handiwork.

        The braids were nicely done, and they were quite pretty- each one tied with black elastic and a jade-colored bead adorned near the end.

        "Woahh, you did such a nice job!" you complimented, reaching up your hands to cup your own cheeks in barely contained excitement.  

        You looked at Revali, expecting him to boast about his skill, say something like, "Of course! I excel at braiding! Why, just look at mine!"

        But surprisingly, the feathers on the back on his neck just poofed up, and- and was that a blush on his cheeks???

        "B-but- b-but of course!" he stuttered, looking away and clearing his throat.  

        Confused, you merely continued looking at him, which caused him to become even more flustered.

        "Is… is anything wrong, Revali?" you asked cautiously, causing him to flinch visibly.

       "No, no… nothing's the matter, ahahaha! Just- just that I'm feeling- warm all of a sudden, ahahahaha! In fact, I'm going to go get a breath of fresh air! I'll see you later!"

        To your absolute bewilderment, he abruptly got up from his place on the floor, and quickly made his way out of the circular-shaped home, leaving nothing but a few feathers in his wake.

        Picking one up from the floor, your mind clouded with questions.

        "Did I do anything wrong…?"  

--

        It was sunset, and you were seated on the landing, legs dangling off of the edge.

        You were still pondering about what had happened earlier. There was something about his actions that didn't quite seem right..

        Lost in thought once again, you didn't hear the click of talons on wooden planks behind you.

        "Ah. I thought I'd find you here."

        Turning around, you saw a familiar Rito, and smiled softly. "Hey, Revali. Were you looking for me?"  

        He nodded curtly, his green eyes shifting from you to the landscape. "I just… wanted to apologize for earlier. That was very uncalled of me."

        Your mouth dropped open slightly, but you quickly shut it. Revali, the proud Champion, apologizing? And- apologizing to you, of all people?  

        "Oh, I-It's fine, I must've just done something to make you uncomfortable-" you began, but were cut off by Revali shaking his head.

        "It was very rude of me. I assure you, you did nothing wrong."  

        "If… if you say so." Your tone was neutral, but your expression visibly brightened, a small smile beginning to grace your features.

         He walked toward you, taking a seat next to you on the wooden platform, reaching out a wing and playfully ruffling up your hair.  

        "Don't worry, I won't do that again."

        As you nodded, grinning, Revali could feel his heart swelling in his chest, and he couldn't not allow himself to smile back.

        At that moment, he really wished he could tell you everything.

Chapter Text

The memories came back in a blur.

The Lynel, the arrow, the activation of golden magic with power beyond what you had shown before- 

And then blackness. 

Feeling and hearing came back to you slowly, a dull ache settling itself deep into your body, deep into your veins. 

Suddenly, you realized you were laying on something. A bed. 

Eyes fluttering open gently, you glimpsed the wooden ceiling of what you instantly recognized as a stable. Fuzzy at first, then coming into sharp focus, was the figure of another person. A person with blond hair, a cyan tunic, and- 

"Link." 

The boy in question jumped, quickly turning around, and seeing that you were awake and alive, a grin broke across his face. 

"You're alive." 

Managing to smile weakly, you nodded, but immediately felt a sharp pain shooting through your neck. You winced. 

Link made his way to your side, helping you sit up on some pillows. "How.. how do you feel?" He asked quietly. 

"I've certainly seen better days-" you began, gaze shifting from the blanket then back to your companion. "....Er, what happened?" 

Your mind was a mess of loose thoughts, all flying away into the abyss of your subconscious before you could get a solid grip on them. Little fragments of memories that disappeared as quickly as they came. 

"...You.. you exhausted yourself while trying to save me from a Lynel with your magic." 

"Ah, did I manage to kill it?" you asked before thinking. 

Link gave a short nod, but stopped himself. 

The events were still clear in his mind- the Lynel charging toward him, him going to ready Daruk's Protection, but the fear was obvious on his face as he remembered that the power of the Goron Champion was still recharging. You jumping in front of him, summoning a golden ball of energy in your palms, your hair whipping in the pure energy radiating from it.  

He had seen you do this before, of course- but this time it seemed that your desperation had caused a power deep inside of you to awaken. 

The sphere of holy light crackled, and with determination set on your face, you shot it toward the Lynel with all the strength you seemingly could muster. 

The lion-maned monster let out a roar of agony, imploding into billowing purple smoke. 

Link was about to let out a cheer, but before he could, your knees gave out, and you collapsed to the ground, fearfully still. 

He had rushed to your side, checking for a pulse- and there it was, but it was slow. 

Picking you up bridal style, he had run as fast as he could to the nearest stable, his heart filled with fear and regret. 

This was all his fault.  

Chapter Text

(A/N: Kass is not married in this story. He does not have children either. )  

Being a shapeshifter meant that you could change your appearance and body at will. 

It seemed pretty amazing at first, but it came with consequences. 

If you told anyone about who you really were, they'd push you away with, "How many times have you deceived me before?" or "I can't trust you." 

"I can't trust you." 

--  

The Gerudo Desert. 

An unforgiving landscape for most. A desolate, vast expanse of sand and rock, where many monsters had made their homes as of late. 

Hard for most to traverse, but for you, it was a piece of monster cake. You could glide through the air with the wings of a Rito, or quickly move through the sand with the speed of a sand seal. 

This time around, you had decided to investigate one of the towers that had plunged up from the ground quite recently. They seemed pretty safe, and since they were so high up, it was unlikely that any dangerous beasts had climbed to the top.  

Standing near the side of a cliff that was near one particular tower that rose from a deep pit, you extended your arms out wide. Soon, your body was engulfed in darkness, and you took the shape of a (F/C)-feathered Rito, the black energy fading away.    

Leaping from the edge, you flapped your wings, making your way across to the platform on the tower. 

Strangely, the closer you got, you began to hear… music? 

Accordion music, you were sure of that now. It was actually quite nice, but you wondered what could be causing the music to play. 

You landed on the platform with a little tap, gaze scanning across the tower to find the source of the accordion.  

A cyan-feathered Rito caught your eyes. They didn't seem to notice your presence yet, continuing to play the slightly battered-up accordian they were holding. The song seemed… familiar somehow. But you couldn't quite put your finger on it… 

Cautiously making your way up behind them, you cleared your throat nervously. 

"I, uh.. like your song." 

The Rito jumped a little, almost dropping their instrument but regaining their composure just in time. Turning to you, you saw a flash of anger (or was it fear?) in their amber eyes.

"Woah, woah, woah! Sorry about that, I just-" You began to panic, but the parrot-esque Rito cut you off with a shaking of their head. 

"It's.. it's completely fine. You just startled me," the now obviously-male said with a faint smile on his beak. "Say, I haven't seen any fellow Rito around lately. What're you doing here?"  

At the words 'fellow Rito' , you felt your hand twitch, but thankfully, the accordion-playing stranger didn't seem to notice. 

"Eh, you know.. just traveling. There's a lot out there to see, especially from the skies!" you answered quickly, voice wavering just a touch. "What're you doing here?" 

"I made a promise, and I'm fulfilling it," he said simply. "I'm Kass, by the way. And you are?" 

"I'm… I'm (Y/N). Nice to meet you." 

Kass smiled, nodding in acknowledgement. "The pleasure is all mine." 

"..By the way, what is that promise? If- if it's alright for me to ask-" you said, quickly saying the last part so you wouldn't be too nosy.  

You'd made that mistake before. 

"Well…. I'd rather not tell you, but…," Kass paused for a moment, as if thinking. "..I had a mentor and teacher a while back. He was the court poet of the Royal Family of Hyrule. He passed down an ancient song to me, and I made him a promise regarding it. My teacher is now in a better place, but I still will fulfill that promise before I return home."  

A strange feeling enveloped your heart, but you pushed it down quickly, allowing yourself to only smile and nod slowly. You had only known this Rito for a few minutes, but you already felt that he was… different, somehow.  

"That sounds quite important to you. Best wishes regarding the promise. I hope you can fulfill it soon!" Grinning, you gave Kass an affectionate punch on the shoulder.  

He huffed gently. "Thank you."  

"Now, er… I should get going, you know. Places to see, things to do..," You rubbed the back of your neck sheepishly, realizing that you had accomplished what you had come here to do.  It was time for you to leave. 

But why did you want to stay? 

Too preoccupied with your already-swirling mind, you didn't notice Kass' face drop ever so slightly. 

"Oh, alright. Guess I'll… see you sometime." He gave you a curt nod, offering a small smile, which you returned. 

 "Right."  

Turning on your heel, you took a dive off of the side of the tower, spreading out your wings at the last moment, flapping them slowly and gaining back altitude.  

Kass watched you disappear behind a rocky cliff, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding. 

He returned to his accordian playing, mind now full with thoughts of you. 

-- 

It had been around three months since you had first seen Kass. You two had encountered each other quite a few times, and you had grown close to one another. 

You had been on your way to Rito Village, passing by Rito Stable on your way. That was when you had heard it. 

The sound of an accordian.  

Jumping slightly, your gaze wandered before finally setting on a familiar cyan, parrot-like Rito. Kass.  

You were about to make your way towards him, but stopped yourself just in time, remembering- "Oh no! I'm not in my Rito form, and that's all that he knows me as!" 

It would be weird, and suspicious, if you just walked up to him and started talking to him like you had met before. Which you had, of course, but you couldn't let him know your secret. You didn't want to lose him this early. 

Quickly pushing your gaze down, you hurried past him to behind the stable, hopefully to where no one was so you could make a quick change of appearance.  

Unbeknownst to you, you had drawn a very concerned Kass' attention, and he had moved to follow the apparently very panicked-looking Hylian to where they were going. 

Holding in a breath, you concentrated, and a darkness engulfed you as always, your body shaping and altering to fit how you had looked last time. 

Kass' eyes widened as the shadows faded, and you, a (F/C)-feathered Rito that he  recognized- remained standing where the Hylian had previously stood. 

Inspecting your feathers, you heard a gasp. Turning around quickly, you saw him. Kass, standing there, a look of shock on his face.  

"(Y-Y/N)...?" 

You let out a squeak, taking a step back as Kass took a step towards you.  

"Wait, no. What's going on?" 

His tone caused you to visibly flinch, and you started to back away. 

"I need an explanation." 

"Y-you don't! Y-you already know what's going on!" You felt your hands curl into fists, feeling tears threatening to spill down your cheeks. 

"(Y/N). Please, calm down, I-" Kass' face softened, but you didn't seem to notice, blinded by fear and desperation. 

"You? You what? Don't want to talk to me anymore? Don't want to see me anymore? Can't trust m-me anymore? What is it?" you demanded. 

"No, why would you think that?" His voice grew slightly louder. 

"Y-you- I-I- I could be anyone in your life! I-I could be ruining it with my own bare hands! I-I could be your best friend, your mother, your father- I-I could impersonate you and make you a wanted criminal! Don't you not want to associate with me now?"  

Different voices filled your head, each one of someone you had known in the past who had pushed you away when they had learned of your true identity. They had all suddenly despised you. And it was all your fault. It was all your fault that you were alone. You thought that you had grown used to it. 

But for some reason, this one instance had made you feel like your entire world was ripping apart.  

"(Y/N), listen to me." 

Kass' slightly desperate tone brought you out of your dark reverie, and you looked up at him, fists clenching so tightly it hurt. 

"For all of this time that I've known you, I've always been inspired by you. And even if you're a shapeshifter-" -you shivered- "I could never hate you. Or leave you. Or not be able to talk to you now and then. Don't you understand? You're important to me. So very important." 

Feeling the beast inside of you that was previously clawing and roaring and wanting to destroy something fading away, the tears that you had held back came flooding over your cheeks. You hastily wiped them away.

"You… you.. you really mean it..?" 

Your dearest friend smiled, moving forward.  

"Of course."  

Enveloping you in a warm, feathery hug, he gently nuzzled you on the cheek with the tip of his beak. 

"I trust you, and I know you would never do anything of that sort." 

Sighing softly and leaning into his embrace, you felt a small smile beginning to grow on your features. 

"Thank you." 

You both felt unspoken feelings transfer between the other, and decided to enjoy each other's warmth for the rest of the night. 

-- 

Chapter Text

- hmm yes back at it again with the headcanons :> of course it's gotta be our best hero Link 

- You met each other when you saved him from monsters, swooping in from the skies and expertly shooting them down with your bow and arrows  

• I'd like to think that you're related to Revali, and you inherited the Great Eagle Bow (sorry Link, you're not gonna get the cool gear this time, reader-san is so much awesome-er than you in this AU) 

- Hanging out with him was awkward from the start, but he gradually began to warm up to you 

- You helped him with his archery  

- Eventually, the time came for him to take back Medoh, and you helped him get up, drawing the fire of the machines that were generating the shield   

• Why yes, Reader takes the place of Teba in this AU as well

- But yes, you got injured as well, and were forced to head back to Rito Village and leave Link to bring down the scourge of Medoh and unlock its puzzles 

- When he returned, and Medoh was free of its corruption, he immediately went to see if you were alright (cos y'know he cares :> ) 

- You were, and were on the mend, and greeted him with a nice warm hug!! 

- You stayed up talking with him, until in the morning he had to leave to go to Death Mountain to take back Vah Rudania 

- Sadly bidding you goodbye, he promised that he'd come back.  

- "Stop!" you called, then hastily handed him one of your feathers

- "To remember me by." 

- He nodded, smiling, and tucked it away 

- Then he left 

- I'd like to think that he's such an excellent archer in this because of you!! :)) 

Chapter Text

Stargazing. 

He'd asked you to go stargazing. 

And from Vah Medoh, no less- the giant bird-like Divine Beast that flew around in the air, like some sort of machine propelled by the gods. 

Waiting outside Revali's house, you had taken extra precaution to bundle up well- the nights were cold as is, and he had told you that the temperatures high up in the air would 'freeze your little ears right off'.  

Adjusting your Snowquill Armor and doublet, you flinched ever so slightly as you heard Medoh let out a loud cry above. You had always been fascinated with the Beast, though a little wary because of its prowess in combat. One missed shot could blow up an entire village. 

"Well, are you ready?" 

Revali's usual cocky tone brought you back from your little moment, and you looked up to see him standing before you, dusting a few stray feathers from his wings. 

"....Yes."  

You nodded, and he turned around, crouching down slightly and spreading his wings. 

"Well, hop on. We don't have all night." 

Doing as he instructed, you climbed onto his back, anchoring yourself by wrapping your arms around his neck. 

With the power of Revali's Gale, an updraft gathered itself below both of you before propelling you into the sky. Your hair whipped wildly in the strong wind, and you felt the cold air of the wintery night hit like knives on your face as your companion allowed himself to glide upwards using the winds. 

Tucking the lower half of your face into Revali's shoulder, you felt almost dizzy with excitement as you ascended up to Medoh.   

-- 

Landing on the deck with a little thud, you slid off of the Rito Champion's back, shivering slightly as the frigid atmosphere greeted you. 

But you were quickly distracted from the temperature by the view in front of you. 

Stars stretched across a blanket of indigo sky, twinkling and shining above the landscape that stretched well beyond your vision. 

Rito Village lay below, glowing lanterns visible among the circular homes, and the famous perch-shaped rock in the center looming tall above. 

You must have looked very impressed, because Revali crossed his arms with a proud expression on his face. 

"I told you the view from Medoh was unparalleled." 

Waving him off with a snort, you walked closer to the edge of the deck, sitting down to admire constellations that you had never seen before.  

Awkwardly, Revali walked over, sitting down next to you. 

You both sat in silence for a good 15 minutes, but it wasn't a bad silence. You were both too taken by the view that lay in front of your gazes (though Revali wouldn't admit it), too distracted to start a conversation. 

Until you broke the silence.  

"Revali…," 

"Hm?" He turned his head slightly. 

"Did you.. by chance, bring mittens…?" You chuckled weakly, rubbing your hands together in an attempt to keep them warm. Sadly, you hadn't brought any form of protection from the cold for them, and they felt like they were about to freeze right off.  

"Of course not!" Revali scoffed, scooching closer. "You inexperienced little Hylian. Here, give me your hands." He extended his wings slightly towards you.   

Nodding, you held your hands out to him. 

Gently taking them in his, he began warming them up.   

Surprisingly, his feather-hand-things (what were you supposed to call them?) were quite soft and warm, and you relaxed as you slowly regained feeling in your nearly frostbitten fingers. 

Too relieved to notice, you didn't see the feathers on Revali's neck poof up at your touch, and a slightly crimson blush that was hidden by the dark night growing on his cheeks.   

Glancing up after a minute or so, you finally seemed to realize that your feathered friend was looking at you, and he hadn't let go of your hands yet. 

"What?" you asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"(Y/N)....," Revali began carefully. "I've invited.. asked you to come stargaze with me here tonight for a reason." 

You tilted your head slightly, imploring him to continue. 

He cleared his throat, glancing to the side then back to you. 

"I've never felt t-this way before, so this is.. strange for me. But I'll try to.. not be rude about it.. for once."   

"I think I have.. I have feelings for you, (Y/N)." 

It took a moment for it to register, and you must have looked very frazzled, because Revali immediately began to fret, pulling back his hands and moving to back away. 

"H-h- I-I'm sorry! Was that too forward? Do you not feel the same? If you'd like, can w-we still be friends then? I'm so sorry, I just-" 

"Stop." 

He let out a tiny squawk as you interrupted him, swiftly moving forward and closing the space between you and him.  

A kiss, a chaste kiss, laid upon his beak. 

That's all it took to show how you felt.  

Chapter Text

He glowed like the sun, so radiant in the lonely sky.

        But of course, he was not hers to have.

        Her older sister, Princess Zelda, was equally as amazing- shining blond hair that always styled perfectly, ocean-esque eyes that were the color of blue nightshade.  

Zelda was always destined to be with Link. The way that the legends described it, the Hero would always fight alongside the Princess of Hyrule.

But of course, the younger princess wasn't included.

Indeed… she was used to being pushed aside all her life, but heartbreak was the last straw.

The way that they looked at each other, the way that he never looked her way- she wanted him to notice her, to smile at her, to realize how she had felt all this time.

But alas, that was never going to happen.  

She knew she was a coward for running away.

But no one would notice.

No one would care if she disappeared.

That's why she ran.

Chapter Text

It had been easy to blend in. Castle Town was filled with many different people, and she wasn't that well-known. 

Not as well-known as dear old Zelda.  

She lived her life quietly, now. She was at peace. 

People came and went, and the years passed. 

The "missing" posters that displayed her face slowly disappeared, and the search for the little princess eventually came to a halt.  

It was a beautiful evening when it arrived. 

The first signs were only swirling dark clouds over Hyrule Castle. Then the mass evolved into magenta and indigo swirls of pure darkness. 

Then the ground shook, as if the world itself was about to split in two. 

A horn-headed beast made its presence known, shooting plumes of what looked like pure hatred and malice up into the air and down to land somewhere on the castle grounds. 

Screams erupted. 

Spider-like beasts crawled over the ground, easily scaling buildings and shooting beams of energy at anything that they could. Houses burned to the ground, and many people lost their lives one by one. 

She ran as fast as she could, heart in her throat and pounding like that of a squirrel being chased by a dog.  

Her legs felt like they were about to give out under her, but the pure adrenaline pumping through her veins kept her going. She knew that she had to run. Her very life depended on it.  

A forest, a forest. Far away enough that she couldn't be seen. 

She stopped, bent over, chest heaving, trying to catch her breath. 

Unshed tears filled up her eyes, but she bit her lip, forcing herself not to cry. 

She wouldn't cry.  

Beep. Beep. Beep.  

...Wait, what was that? 

She turned around, and there it was. Her breath caught. 

Poised and aiming its hungry eye right at her. A single red spot on her heart, marking where she was surely going to be shot with divine yet corrupted energy. 

Frozen in terror, she tried to move- but she couldn't.  

Beepbeepbeepbeep- 

Boo-oop. 

A searing pain ripped through her body, and she felt an inhuman shriek force its way out of her lungs. 

She fell to the ground, a steady flow of blood beginning to drench the grass below her, staining it crimson.

Her head was surely breaking. Her heart was struggling weakly to keep working, fluttering irregularly in its now-broken cavity. 

The world went fuzzy, and her vision slowly began to fade.. 

Suddenly, a burning sensation awoke on her right hand. 

With her last bit of strength, she twisted it so it was in her rapidly declining field of vision.  

A symbol, composed of three triangles, was beginning to glow faintly on the back of her hand. 

And without warning, it flashed, blinding her with heavenly golden light. 

The spirit, of the forgotten princess of Hyrule.. shall live on.  

A voice, a thundering cacophony of voices. 

She let out another guttural scream as she felt her soul being ripped from her very being. 

And her consciousness slowly faded into black.. 

Chapter Text

It had taken a while to get used to her new form. 

No longer did she need to walk on the ground, she could soar through the sky. 

Whatever form she wanted, she could take it in a surge of golden energy. 

But that came at a price, of course. No longer could she experience life as she once had. She was but a wandering spirit, not seen by most. Spending her days traveling the vast land of a ruined Hyrule. 

100 years passed quietly and quickly. It all seemed like but a mere blip, a stutter of time where her soul didn't seem to age one bit. 

Before long, she saw the towers burst from the ground. The shrines light up, activated by some force unknown to mortal eyes. 

She felt a current, a pulling string, something drawing her closer to a cave-like structure overlooking the Great Plateau. 

Too curious for her own good, she flew inside, no louder than the winds gently blowing inside the structure.   

An empty machine-like bed was situated in the middle of a circular room. She flinched as she felt the remnants of a presence that seemed.. familiar, somehow. 

And the current still pulled her elsewhere. 

Watching from a distance, she saw an old man, cloaked and hooded, a staff held in his leather-wrapped hands. He sat by a campfire, silently watching the flames flicker. 

Even though he seemed very much alive, she couldn't sense warmth emanating from him. Was he a lone spirit too, lost from ages past? 

But she didn't stick around to find out. 

Because whatever was guiding her surely had something that she needed to see more. 

And indeed it did. 

She recognized him the minute she saw him atop a high mountain, putting a device atop the pedestal located in front of a shrine glowing orange. 

"....Link?"  

How could he possibly be alive, after all this time?  

Was he- was he the one who had been placed into the mechanical bed, preserved for all this time? Brought back to face evils that had been terrorizing Hyrule for nearly a century? 

She nearly was lost in thought when she felt eyes upon her. 

Oh no. 

She turned around, suddenly very aware of the fact that she hadn't taken the precaution to transform into something else- a bird, anything else other than herself! 

But why wasn't he saying anything? 

He seemed- frozen, somehow, his beautiful cyan eyes clouded over, his hand still on top of the slate-like object.  

She took this as an advantage, quickly flitting behind a nearby rock, peeking out a little to continue observing the boy who had been stuck in her subconscious for nearly her whole life. 

A few minutes later, he shook himself out of his small reverie, immediately taking his hand off of the device, which fell to the ground with a clatter. 

He quickly drew his gaze to where she had once been, sagging ever so slightly when he noticed that she had left. 

She felt her heart sink in her chest, wanting so badly to talk to him, but not knowing if she should.  

Suddenly, a little voice in her head awoke. 

Forgotten Princess… do not waste the chance that we have given you. You must.. you must speak to the bearer… the fallen bearer of the Master Sword...   

A violent shiver went through her being, and she felt a spark of hope ignite in her veins.  

Taking a deep breath, she let herself slowly drift down, hovering an inch or two above the snow-covered ground. 

She cleared her throat quietly. 

His reaction was instantaneous, and he whipped around, eyes widening as he saw her. 

Slightly transparent, and emanating a holy-like golden light. She was wearing a light, white gown. A small tiara was atop her head, resembling the one that she had worn while she was still living in the castle. 

"Well, Link… it has been too long, hasn't it? You look well, as always." 

Her voice echoed ever so slightly, as if she was too far away, but at the same time close enough to hear. 

He seemed dumbstruck for a few seconds, but quickly regained his composure. 

"...where...where have you been..?" he murmured quietly.  

Smiling gently, she drifted forward. 

"I believe I have some explaining to do, Link. And you as well." 

Chapter Text

"So.. that was you, in the mechanical bed..?" 

"...I think it's called the 'Shrine of Resurrection'." 

She was perched on a rock, and Link sat below her on the grass. The sounds of the woods surrounded them. Birds chirping merrily, the leaves swishing slowly in the breeze, and the general chatter of insects going through their day. 

"...Resurrection? Did you.. did you die, or something?" 

"..I don't know." 

"But- but how can you not know? You surely can remember, right?" She rolled forward slightly, inches from toppling off the rock, but somehow stayed poised on the edge. 

"...I.. I don't remember, I can't-" 

"Wait! That's it!" Snapping her fingers, a shadow of understanding passed over her face. "After you were in the Shrine for a century or more- your memories must have been lost. But how do you remember who I am?"  

Link paused. "..When I saw you, I had a- a flashback, of sorts, I think. I saw you, you and… and Zelda, and then I saw your missing poster- I knew that you had to be important or something, to be standing next to Zelda." 

"Then I suddenly remembered you. You always seemed to be.. out of reach, vanishing into the background. " 

She flinched, but he was too preoccupied to notice. 

"And then.. I remembered that you did vanish. We had all assumed the worst. Zelda fell into.. a deep depression, she had loved you so much." Looking up at her, Link's mouth twitched subtly. 

"So what did happen to you?" 

Biting her lower lip, her form seemed to waver slightly. 

"....Zelda, oh Zelda. I don't want to say why I left, but I did what I did. I went to Castle Town, made a life of my own. Separate from the people who pushed me aside. "  

"And of course, I died when the Guardians burned it to the ground." 

"...How are you still here, though?" 

"Well," she giggled, swaying back and forth. "I should ask you the same question- but anyway. I'm pretty sure.. that the goddesses gave me another chance. I don't know why, but perhaps it has something to do with you ."  

On the 'you', her voice seemed to tremble, but grow louder and more persistent. 

"...Why me? Why bring you back just for me?" 

"Why, you're the.. the literal chosen one, of sorts. The bearer of the Master Sword and such. And I was drawn to you, Link. I think I'm supposed to help you." 

In the sunlight that wasn't caught by the trees, she could see his cheeks flush ever so slightly. 

"....Well. I suppose.. I can't refuse, that would be very rude of me to refuse-" 

"Of course. I wasn't resurrected for nothing, you know." She smiled gently as a small, white butterfly fluttered by. She held out her index finger, and the butterfly gently landed on its new perch.  

Link returned the smile, shoulders relaxing. 

The butterfly eventually flew away, disappearing somewhere among the woods. 

"So. I believe it's time we get started on our little journey, no?" She stood up on the rock, stretching. 

Nodding, Link made to get up as well, but before he did, her being was suddenly surrounded by a golden glow. He paused, transfixed as the light slowly faded away to reveal a small yellow bird in her place. 

The bird flapped its wings, flying over and landing on his shoulder.  

"There! Now it should be easier to get around this way-" it chirped, voice still the same as hers, but seemingly only present in his mind.  

"Whenever I'm in physical contact, I believe I can communicate telepathically with you, no?" The bird tilted its head ever so slightly. 

"R-right."  

Getting to his feet, Link began his journey anew, but with a new helper- and a new friend. 

Chapter Text

It was all over. 

Ganon had been defeated. 

But it had come at a price, as everything always had. 

In his arms, Link held the dying, broken body of his closest friend and ally. She had been speared through by Ganon- and even her new form couldn't stop the Malice from nearly breaking her in two. 

Tears rolled down his cheeks. The Master Sword lay forgotten near his feet, as did the Bow of Light that he had used to take down the beast at last.  

"... No.. please don't leave me, you can't go! We just won, we could've experienced this new world together..! Please, please, don't go, you can't..!!" he begged, openly sobbing for nearly the first time in his life.

Smiling weakly, she reached up and palmed his cheek with her hand. He curled into the touch, desperate for something, anything. 

"..I'm sorry, Link. But at least we.. we.. ,"   

The light faded from her eyes, and her arm fell limp onto the ground, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake. 

He slumped over, cradling her slowly fading body. 

"No, I'm sorry." 

Tenderly running his thumb over her cheek, he pressed a kiss to her lips. 

Suddenly, a bright flash of light engulfed her disintegrating body! 

Shielding his eyes from the blinding, warm aura, Link's heart leapt in his chest. 

When the warmth and light faded, there on the ground lay- lay her. 

The "Forgotten Princess" of Hyrule- alive and in the flesh. 

He gently picked her up, checking for a pulse. And there it was, beating strong and proud. He could've cried of joy right there, but something, someone did instead. 

Zelda, who had been tortured by the thoughts of her sister for nearly all of her time, rushed over, fresh tears pouring down her cheeks. 

Perhaps they would all experience the new world, and they would all help rebuild a ruined kingdom back to glory. 

~ End.  

Chapter Text

Nighttime in Zora's Domain was always beautiful. 

The moonlight glinting off of the smooth crystalline banisters and bridges, the waters slowly lapping below, and the peaceful quiet that could only be achieved when mostly everyone was sound asleep. 

You had decided to take a walk, as you were in need of some time for yourself. No teachers or children or anyone bothering you. Just a quiet stroll by yourself. 

Taking a moment to look up at the night sky dotted with glittering stars, you allowed a small smile to grace your features, feeling the cool air brush by your fins. 

"The midnight sky is quite beautiful, is it not?" 

A smooth, male voice that you quickly recognized interrupted your train of thought, causing you to jump and turn in the direction that it came from. 

You were greeted by the red-scaled Zora Prince, and your childhood friend, Prince Sidon, a smile upon his face per usual, though a slightly smaller one at that. 

"H- oh, r-right, yes, of course, Prince Sidon," you hastily stammered, still recovering from the slight scare that he had given you. 

"Come now, (Y/N), I've told you before, formalities aren't necessary!" Sidon said, approaching a little closer to you. "Just Sidon is fine." 

"Right, right, I know. What brings you out tonight?" you asked casually, feeling your heart rate speed up ever so slightly.  

"Well, I wanted an escape from the usual routine. You know, all the meetings and responsibilities- I just wanted a quiet evening with the stars. It's always peaceful at this time, no?" He smiled gently, the smile that he had reserved for only friends and close company. 

"Yes, I suppose so. Quite lucky that you decided to take a walk at the same time that I did, right?" Shooting him a cheeky grin, you glanced skyward. 

"I remember that we used to sneak out when we were little.. you almost got into trouble with Muzu once! Boy, I thought he was surely going to drag you by the fin to see your father, if I hadn't yanked you behind that crate!" 

You both enjoyed a laugh at that memory, the awkward atmosphere quickly disappearing.

"Yes, I still owe you for that, my friend," chuckled Sidon, tail wagging ever so slightly. 

"Right, what happened to that? You said you'd do me a favor, which-" You paused, comically stroking your chin in mock thought. "-I strangely haven't come in contact with this 'favor' of yours. Do you know where it's gone?" 

"Oh, I am so sorry! You know what, let me make it up to you now." Sidon beckoned to you, heading toward the large staircase on the right. "Follow me." 

-- 

Splashing up through the waterfall, you leaped up, using your momentum to flip twice in the air, then land with a little splash in the water below. 

Resurfacing, you paddled your way towards the bank, climbing onto the grass. 

Sidon was already waiting for you, as he was much faster a swimmer than you were.

"So, where are we going, exactly? We've already swam up three waterfalls, is our destination the top of the world or some…,"  

You trailed off as you were greeted with a view that you had never seen before, but.. but you had certainly dreamed of it before. And suddenly you remembered. 

"Sidon, this isn't- this isn't- it can't be!"   

"Yes, it is, my dear. Didn't you used to talk about coming up here one day? But you seemed to forget about it..," 

"..Oh Hylia, you remembered all this time..?" 

The night sky was like an endless, beautiful void, with little stars twinkling here and there like the lights of a faraway city. Zora's Domain sat below, shining slightly and looking like a giant, aquamarine expanse of jewels and wavering water.  

A familiar swelling feeling grew in your heart, and you remembered why you had fallen for Sidon in the first place. 

Chapter Text

Hey, so announcement to you guys! I will be updating this work again! :D 

But before you make assumptions, please note that there will not be a regular updating schedule.  

Because, you know, life gets in the way of fanfiction. 

But, I will try my best to write new chapters for you guys! ^^ 

As always, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you later!

Chapter Text

Zora's Domain had always been beautiful. 

The sunlight, glittering off of the chiseled banisters and floors of the place; the amazingly awe-inspiring way that the whole thing seemed to glow with a holy sheen. The craftsmanship of the Zora was not to be underestimated, after all.  

You and the rest of the Champions had gone to visit Mipha for a few days. 

To any regular outsider, it seemed like the pilots of the Divine Beasts were merely having a meeting, and planning out strategies to defeat the evil that was on the horizon. 

But, of course, after that meeting was over, you'd all just start chatting and enjoying each other's company as always. 

"Don't be so pompous, dear Revali," chided Urbosa, the motherly friend and gorgeous Gerudo of the group. "We already know of your great skill in archery, you don't need to brag so much." 

The Rito Champion merely huffed in response, crossing his arms. "It's bold of you to assume that I'm only proficient in archery, Urbosa -" 

You sighed, spacing out as Daruk interrupted Revali, the latter letting out a caw of indignation as the Goron clapped him on the back with enthusiasm. Your eyes drifted across the great table to the purpose of this trip, Mipha.  

She noticed you, and glanced at your left arm, which was bandaged near the wrist.

"...Are you alright? What happened to your wrist?" Mipha asked in her usual soft-spoken tone, concern on her face. 

"Ah. Well, I forgot how slippery the rocks were on the path to the Domain, so..," You trailed off, laughing a bit in embarrassment. "I may have fallen and sprained my wrist. It'll be fine in a few days, though..," 

Mipha sighed, getting up from her chair and gliding over to your seat. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Give me your wrist." She held out a delicate hand, her silver bracelet glinting in the light. 

You tentatively put your wrist in her hand. Her skin was pleasantly cool, but somehow warm at the same time.  

Slowly, a blue glow came from her hand, surrounding your wrist. You felt a sensation engulf your flesh that felt like a wave of cold water encasing your arm, and you winced slightly at the uncomfortable feeling. You had seen Mipha healing other people before, but she had never used her power on you before. 

The cold slowly faded away, warmth taking its place as your wrist healed.  

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding as Mipha pulled back her hand. 

"Feeling better?" she asked gently, glancing from the bandages then back up to your face.  

Suddenly feeling embarrassed, you flushed slightly, looking away. 

"Y-yeah. Thanks, Mipha. I owe you one."  

She gave you a small smile, nodding. 

"It is my pleasure."   

Chapter Text

Link  

• If you called on a whim, he'd pick up most of the time
• This guy does not have a stable sleep schedule  
• Either he's up doing random stuff or out like a light
• But trust me, he keeps his phone near him almost all the time - he's even got a special ringtone for you :)
• Maybe earlier on in your relationship/friendship, he's almost painfully quiet over the phone, but once he opens up he's actually a great conversationalist
• Video calls are fine, he may look a bit disheveled this late though (hair down and kinda messy, drowsy expression, etc.)
• Although be aware that sometimes he will fall asleep in the middle of the call, if it's late enough
• He's totally down for weird conversations about like, life and mortality and stuff
• It's all interesting to him  
• Be prepared for some wise philosophical quotes out of nowhere, though lmao  
• He'll talk for a while. I think you'd be the one to hang up because he literally doesn't lol
• His way of saying goodbye is a cheeky grin and a "Sweet dreams!"

Revali

•  This guy is a different story, he probably wouldn't answer the phone (as he'd probably be either asleep and set his phone to silent, or awake and not wanting to be bothered)
• But if you spam called him enough, he would eventually pick up
• "What do you want?!"
• He's a bit cranky late at night, as he does get a solid 7-8 hours of sleep most of the time
• Weird conversations? Nah. He'd listen, though. (but be ready for a steady stream of "that's strange")
• Video calls are a bit dependent on how he's feeling, occasionally he'll be alright with them but most of the time it's a no. "I don't look right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
• He won't admit it, but he likes to hear you talk over the phone.
• Especially late at night, really. He will deny not wanting to talk but still stay on the call for 4 hours -
• Bird man can and will make snide remarks, though. "shouldn't you be sleeping?" "that's mighty bland…"
• Even though he might be a tad bit annoying at the worst of times, his company isn't completely horrible.  
• ….On exactly *one* occasion, he fell asleep, and you'll never let him live it down.
• Expect for him to hang up eventually, he does need sleep y'know - he'll be maybe slightly disappointed about ending the conversation but def won't show it  
• "Good night.. or not."

Urbosa

• She would be somewhere in the middle of Link and Revali - sometimes answering, other times not.
• I think that she has a relatively late time of when she goes to bed, sometimes she stays up doing random things such as reading, or perhaps finishing up a knitting project (yes, in this AU I headcanon she makes scarves and stuff)
• First thing you'll hear when she picks up is "Shouldn't you be asleep?"
• Very pleasant to have a conversation with, she's calm most of the time and this isn't an exception to that
• She'll listen to your weird ramblings, yeah. Deep conversations are okay with her too, she wonders about life and such and how it'll begin and end
• Gossip is fine with her, too. As long as it isn't mean-spirited, she'll giggle about a few funny rumors with you.  
• Video calls are completely fine, her hair would be up in maybe a messy bun and she'd have perhaps a dorky t-shirt on                
• Even though sometimes she gets distracted, she will eventually leave the call to go to bed. She keeps a relatively consistent schedule (unlike some people.. *cough* Link *cough*)
• She will wish you good night and sweet dreams, too.
• Mom friend.        

Chapter Text

Link 

• He will definitely cook you something (that obviously tastes amazing, as usual) and wakes up early to do so. If you're travelling with him, he'd have bought the ingredients earlier, somehow managing to keep this a secret from you
• He'll also give you a few gifts, as per tradition - probably things that he noticed caught your eye before
• Not one for dramatics at all, really, as he's used to showing his affection through small gestures (and you don't hate that at all) 
• For this day, he will make sure that you're happy and having a great time
• Monsters that manage to somehow make their way in? Are gone in a few seconds. Because nothing, and I mean nothing can make you the slightest bit uncomfortable or scared today.   
• Lots of hugs and small kisses on your forehead/cheeks. He's not big on physical affection, but he doesn't hate it. 

Sidon 

• This man is the prince (hehe) of showing his love
• He will absolutely spoil you with affection and presents today. You want it? He'll somehow get it for you. Because he loves you! And you're special!  
• Sadly, he can't cook, but he'll invite you to Zora's Domain (if you don't live there already) for dinner, and send orders down to the kitchen of your favorite foods and desserts 
• He'll plan something that the two of you can do together, perhaps a quiet walk in the evening, with the stars glittering above
• Like Link, he will do his absolute best to make sure that you're content with today 
• He will be upset if anything goes wrong (which is, admittedly cute to see how much he cares) 
• LOTS of cuddles. He loves (if you're shorter, which is probably the case) leaning over and wrapping his arms around your shoulders from behind, placing his head on top of yours. 
• Overall, your birthday is something he looks forward to, because it's one of the many days in which he can show you how much he appreciates you!  

Revali 

• Even though it does surprise you on the first time he acknowledges your birthday, he does keep the date saved somewhere 
• (To be honest, he still doesn't understand the significance of birthdays, but it seems to be important to you, so he'll celebrate it.) 
• On the spectrum of celebrating birthdays, he's more on the Link side
• He's not very grandiose, even if he acts pompous and arrogant with most other people. Expect a few gifts, but nothing too big/expensive. For example, if you like archery, he'll give you a bow that he "expertly made to fit your skills". 
• Gets kind of flustered if you're genuinely happy about his presents. He may put on a confident front, but he was secretly really nervous about if you would like them or not. 
• He's a good cook (not as good as Link, but still), and will make you dinner and such 
• If you ask for them, he will give you really warm and cozy hugs - being wrapped up safely in his wings is so comfy (especially if you're in the relatively cold place of Rito Village!) 
• A bit hesitant when it comes to PDA, usually, but today's special for you, so what the heck. 

Mipha 

• She's very sweet and kind, and makes sure to remember when your birthday is
• Her gifts are usually small, pretty things that you can put on a shelf or something
• Perhaps a flower shape carved out of luminous stone, or a small figure of a butterfly 
• Mipha isn't entirely opposed to PDA, but she is initially shy when it comes to physical affection and such. Over time, she gets more used to it though, and on your birthday, expect hugs, small kisses, hand-holding, the whole shebang. She wants to make sure you know that you're loved. 
• She will spoil you a bit - similar to Sidon, requesting your favorite meals from the kitchens, etc. 
• Making you happy and keeping you happy is one of her top priorities for today. She's perceptive, and knows what you like and don't like, so you bet she's going to do a good job of making this a good day for you. 
• If you're a Hylian, and Muzu is a bit apprehensive of you? She doesn't mind, today she's focused on you. 

Chapter Text

For the longest time, relations between the Hyrule royal family and the Gerudo Tribe were - slightly strained, to say the least. With the Gerudo preferring to stay distanced, way out in the desert, and the fact that one of the most evil people in Hyrule's history was one of them - there were more than a few Hylians (some even within the castle) who didn't like the Gerudo, calling them the "strange desert people".

        You, the future heir to the throne of said royal family, didn't really have an opinion on them. Sure, you weren't deaf. You weren't oblivious to the whispers of the servants and some court members who disliked them. But you didn't really see anything wrong with the Gerudo. The past events in question were almost entirely forgotten at this point by the general public, and it was obsolete to keep focusing on them forever.

        But recently, your father, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule, had decided to reach out to the Gerudo - since the ancient fortellings of Ganon returning were now being taken seriously. And the old tapestries and old tales depicted Champions, pilots of the Divine Beasts among their ranks, that were now being excavated.

        There were four pilots. A Zora, a Rito, a Goron, and a Gerudo.

And when he had announced that you were to head to Gerudo Town (in his stead, because as king he had to oversee the current operations going on, with the Guardians and Beasts and all) to request the best Gerudo warrior's aid, you hadn't thought much of it.  

Now, with sweat rolling down your back, and your throat dry and legs sore, you regretted it a little bit.

Turns out horses couldn't be used in the Gerudo Desert, since their hooves would sink right through the sand - and they would surely die of the heat before they reached solid ground. But thankfully, you and your small entourage of royal scientists and guards managed to make it to the town before night fell. And things would've gotten worse then.

The chieftain, Urbosa, welcomed you and your party with open arms, and you were very grateful for it. But something- or someone, intrigued you.  

Urbosa's daughter, Zelda. She wasn't present at the gates of town, but you caught a glimpse of her on a small balcony as the chieftain showed you around the palace.

"There's my daughter.. Hopefully we'll be able to call her down for dinner later. She's not used to outsiders being here. She hasn't seen Hylians for nearly all her life," chuckled Urbosa, before moving on to the next thing.

And from what you saw, she was beautiful- flowing red hair and sun-kissed chocolate brown skin.

You did hope that you'd see her later.

--

        The food was great- delicious, yet simple and homely, almost. Vastly different from the food they offered back at the castle, and you enjoyed that.

        Zelda was pretty quiet, only speaking up when addressed by her mother or any of the scientists in your party - or you.

        Although, it didn't annoy you at all, really. Urbosa did mention her not being used to "outsiders", after all. So you didn't think much of it.

        Sipping a cool, fruity-tasting drink, you listened to Robbie, one of the scientists, talking about the power that the Divine Beasts would hold against Ganon.

        But slowly, you got the feeling that you were being watched - and slowly moved your gaze over, meeting her amber eyes.  

        Zelda's face quickly portrayed the slightest bit of surprise before she looked away.

        You were a bit caught off-guard yourself, but managed to keep your calm disposition, almost mechanically reaching for your cup again.

        "...And the King would be eternally grateful if we all banded together to destroy Ganon and keep Hyrule and its inhabitants protected and safe! Right?" spoke up Purah, interrupting your thoughts and causing you to jump ever so slightly. She looked at you with a grin from where she sat.

        "Ah - yes, yes indeed," you said, nodding. "My father thinks that this alliance would help defeat the great evil on the horizon, and ensure our victory."

--  

        The cool evening air caused you to shiver, wrapping the blankets tighter around yourself.

        You couldn't sleep, mournfully. Maybe it was the difference in temperature? Location? Or was it the way that your mind just wouldn't stop running a mile a minute..?

        Silently cursing yourself, you turned over again, before finally giving up and getting out of the bed.

        Maybe a short walk would help clear your mind.  

        This late at night, the town was mostly empty. The sky was a beautiful dark blue, stars visible here and there. Some lanterns were hung around the stands in the marketplace, lighting up small areas in yellow and orange glows.

        As you wandered around semi-aimlessly, you heard a clunking noise coming from one of the entrances.  

        You debated investigating, and stood where you were for a few seconds. Was it a masked voe intruder? A soldier? A monster?

        But, soon enough, your curiosity got the better of you, and you slowly walked towards where the sound had come from.

        A strange woman in a veil was saddling up what you recognized as a sand seal, attaching a golden shield to the rope on its harness.

        She looked up at your footsteps, and you instantly recognized those amber eyes.

        “Zelda..? What are you doing out here?”  

        Shushing you with a finger, the Gerudo princess immediately looked apprehensive, even behind the purple silk covering her face.  

        “I could ask you the same thing,” she answered, running a soothing hand over the sand seal’s mane. It pushed into her touch, barking happily.

        “Oh.. I couldn’t sleep.” You crossed your arms. “And you still haven’t answered my question.”

        Zelda paused for a moment, before looking away. “Why should I tell you?”  

        "Your mother would want to know where you're going. She'd be worried, you know."

        Brushing a lock of crimson hair out of her eyes, Zelda scoffed quietly. "Yes, I'm sure she would. But she'd understand. I cannot keep loitering around the castle and doing nothing."

        "But all she says is that it's too dangerous, that the Yiga will snatch me up. I'm stronger than she thinks, and I don't need the guards following me around at all hours--"

        Suddenly, the clanking of boots came from somewhere down the street.

 Zelda flinched, hurriedly attempting to climb onto the shield. "The- The guard rotation is going into motion. Don't worry about me, I'll be back in the morning--"

With boldness that surprised even you, you gently grabbed her wrist, tugging her back. "Are you crazy? You won't last long out there until a monster jumps out at you. You do know that the Lizalfos in the sand can blend in dangerously easily, right?"

        "And you're not even bringing any weapons along, what are you planning to do? Throw rocks at the things that try to attack you?"  

        She yanked herself out of your grasp, but seemed to be hesitating now. "I- I can perfectly take care of myself, thank you! I'm trained, and besides, the sand seal is plenty fast enough--"

        But before she could argue further, you glimpsed a golden Gerudo spear around the corner. Putting a hand on her shoulder, you prayed a silent apology to the sand seal as you guided her away and into a different area of town, away from the guard that would surely report you both.

        Zelda didn't move away from your touch this time - even in her frustration, she had noticed the guard right after you had started to speed-walk away.

        You turned fully towards her when you were a good distance apart from the spear-wielding warrior, placing both hands on her shoulders.

        "I think you should head back to the palace before Chief Urbosa finds out about you trying to sneak out. This was awfully foolish of you to even attempt, you know--"

        "--Look, I don't care about your status as Hylian royalty, and I fully know and understand that you're just looking out for me - but, please, spare me from your lectures." Zelda huffed, looking off to the side.

"I know that it may seem immature and childish, and I realize that I was badly prepared, but.. I've never been outside of Gerudo Town before. And the few traveling Gerudo vai always said good things about the big world beyond the walls. So I just wanted to catch a glimpse, a tiny bit of the giant outside that I've never seen before." She bit her bottom lip slightly, crossing her arms.

You fell silent for a few moments, before speaking up.

"...I can understand that, a little bit. Being stuck inside a castle, or place, with nowhere to go isn't exactly fun. I know you want to go on a grand adventure, like the heroes in old tales. But please remember the dangers of the real world. We're not all prodigies at fighting, and a few monsters could easily drag us off."

Zelda met your gaze, letting out another small sigh.

"...Fine. I see your point. But this doesn't mean that I'm not annoyed at you." She paused, slowly removing her veil. "I will head back to the palace. Just - promise to never speak of this to my mother, or anyone, about that matter? I don't want people to hear that the Gerudo princess is a naive girl who dreams of seeing the sunset from atop a mountain.. or foolish things like that."

You smiled slightly.

 "Those things aren't foolish. Trust me, there will be a day when you can see those gorgeous natural wonders of the world. A beautiful bird can't be kept in a cage forever."

Nodding slowly, Zelda turned towards the palace, her hair swishing slightly in the evening breeze. (Thankfully, she seemed to disregard your "beautiful" mention.)

"I suppose so. Well--"  

She glanced over her shoulder at you, a small smile on her face.

"Goodnight. Perhaps, someday, I'll see the sun from somewhere far up.. and perhaps you could come along."

Chapter Text

"...What do you mean, you've never gone swimming in your life?" 

You gawked in disbelief at your girlfriend, Zelda, who had just told you something that you wouldn't have thought possible before.  

Because of your roots in Lurelin Village, you had grown up by the ocean, and in the ocean, before you moved to Castle Town. Still a strong swimmer, you hadn't lost your touch at all, and couldn't imagine life without it. 

"I never was allowed to. Or never had the chance, really. Lately, with all the studying of my powers and personal investigations on the Guardians, I haven't had the chance or thought to spare about it either." She shrugged, golden hair pooling around her shoulders.  

You and Zelda were having a quick conversation in the garden, behind a large hedge. This was where you had met her, and it was your spot now - where you could talk, and laugh, without being spotted by the guards, hidden behind a wall of leaves. 

"Sometime I'll have to bring you swimming!" you insisted, gently grasping her hands. "It's lots of fun, and you'll have to experience it at least once before you have to focus entirely on your royal duties!" 

"I'm- I'm frankly not sure of what significance it has, but--" Zelda paused for a moment, squeezing your hands. "I'll take your word for it. But, how will I leave my current duties, even for a moment?"  

"We'll sneak you out. At night. By now, I know the rotation of the guards well, and we'll take advantage of that. We won't go far, just down to the calmest portion of the moat. The water's clean, is it not?" You couldn't stop a lopsided grin from making its way onto your face. The excitement you were feeling was hard to suppress. 

Zelda nodded slowly. "Yes. I'll take your word for it. What time?"  

"How about… 'round midnight. Wait by your window, and I'll be there, okay?" 

"But what if you get caught?" she asked, a twinge of worry visible in her eyes. Her concern touched you, and you couldn't help but grip her hands a bit tighter. 

"I won't. I've been getting past the guards until now, yeah? Plus, nighttime means less visibility. It'll be easy, trust me."  

She nodded again, a smile breaking out on her lips. "Then it's a date." 

-- 

The water ran quietly down the stone, splashing and bubbling around at the bottom of the waterfall below. You led Zelda down to the moat, holding her hand gently. 

Although it was slightly difficult to tell in the darkness of the night, her eyes sparkled merrily with almost childlike glee. 

You estimated the depth of the water- it wasn't too deep, but it wasn't too shallow either. Perfect. 

You let go of her hand, and you both sat down near the bank, shedding your footwear and putting them neatly to the side. A simple woven sack sat next to your shoes - you had brought a few things along with you. Dipping your feet in the water, you sighed as you felt the coolness running over your toes. 

Smiling, you beckoned to Zelda. "Come on. It's nice." 

The princess glanced over at you, reaching for her own sandals, and laying them next to your boots. "Is it cold?" she asked, sitting down next to you. 

"Not particularly. It's calming." 

Slowly lowering her legs towards the rippling water, she giggled as she felt the  slight coldness encapsulate her feet. "You're right, it is." 

You just sat like that for a little while, peacefully enjoying each other's company. But in time, you decided that it was time to start teaching her how to fully enjoy the water. 

So, you shed your top layer before sliding into the water, letting yourself dip fully underwater for a moment before surfacing. Brushing aside a lock of your now soaked hair that had been clinging to your face, you grinned at Zelda, treading water carefully. 

"You'll be glad that you didn't wear a dress for this. Now-- you can push off into the water, I'll help you over to the bank."  

"Are you- are you sure? What if I slip under?" She nervously fidgeted with her hands. 

"Look, I'll catch you. It'll be fine, just trust me." You smiled reassuringly. 

A determined look came over her face, and she nodded, using her arms to lower herself into the water with a small splash. 

Swimming forward, you positioned your arms under hers, guiding her to the bank. 

Her eyes were squeezed shut at first, but she opened them slowly. 

"Come on, grab the edge of the moat. I've got you," you instructed, treading water with your legs to keep you both afloat. 

Zelda reached out, bracing herself on the bank. You made sure she was secure before gliding next to her. 

"Now, I want to show you something. You've never fully been underwater, yes?" 

A slight flash of fear was shown in her eyes, but she quickly recovered. "Well- n-no, the Springs are not meant for that, and the baths at the castle aren't deep enough-" 

"Great! Then I'll show you something that you'll never forget." 

You fully knew and understood that going underwater for the first time would be slightly terrifying to think about. Not being able to breathe, and having to hold one's breath- wasn't exactly easy to get used to. But you were determined to help Zelda make some good memories in the water while she could - and swimming was something very important to you, so that added onto your drive. 

You swam slightly closer, gently grabbing one of her hands and tugging it away from the bank. "Okay. On the count of three, let go of the edge with your other hand, and hold your nose shut with it. It'll only be for a few seconds, but remember to hold your breath, okay?" 

She bit her lip slightly. "Alright. But- but what if I slip?"   

"Don't worry. I've got you." Pressing a small kiss to her forehead, you smiled. "Ready?" 

Zelda nodded. "Ready." 

"1… 2.. 3.. Now!" 

She let go of the bank, pinching her nose, and in one swift, fluid motion, you wrapped your arms around her, letting you both sink downwards.  

The water was dark. 

But, the moonlight allowed you to see Zelda's hair floating around her head like a beautiful golden halo. 

The feeling was almost ethereal- having her in your arms reminded you that you were damn lucky to have her so close. (A princess falling for a regular commoner.. who would've thought?) 

Thank Hylia that she chose you. 

After a few seconds passed, you kicked your legs, propelling you up to the surface with Zelda. Breaking the surface, her eyes flew open, and she took a few deep breaths. 

"So?" you questioned, unable to stop the grin that was now on your face. "How did it feel?" 

Zelda paused for a moment, then looked directly at you with sparkling eyes. 

"It felt… new. Different. As if time had stopped for a moment. The outside noises were muffled and distorted, and all I could feel was the water swirling around us, and-" 

Even through the dark, you could see the dusting of pink on her cheeks, and she glanced away slightly. 

"...And you." 

You felt heat beginning to seep into your face, and couldn't help but chuckle. 

"Well, that sounds like a good experience to me. Hang on tight for a moment." 

Kicking back over to the bank, you helped her out of the water. She shivered slightly in the cold air, goosebumps beginning to show on her arms as she rubbed them semi-clumsily. 

Producing a towel from your sack, you moved over to her, helping her dry off as she slipped back on her sandals. 

"Come on, let's get you back into your room. We've already been gone for a tad bit too long, and we won't want your father finding out about this." 

She seemed a bit distracted as you placed the towel back inside your bag, not moving from where she was standing. 

"..Zelda? Princess? Did you hear me? We have to go--" 

"--Can we do this again?" She interrupted suddenly. 

You were caught off-guard, to be honest. Sure, you'd half-expected Zelda to like this, which she did, but- wanting to go swimming with you again? You hadn't expected that.  

..But it wasn't like you were going to refuse. 

"Oh. Well, sure, yeah!" You beamed at her. "When?" 

"I have a few meetings and ceremonies to attend, so- next week, same day?" Zelda brushed a bit of her hair out of her face, looking a bit excited. 

"I'm free, so that sounds good." 

A silence overtook the air, with both of you smiling. 

"...Uh, we should get you back into the castle. You need to change out of those clothes," you said, breaking the silence with an awkward laugh. 

"Right, right," she answered, drawing close. "Let's go, then." 

-- 

After you made sure Zelda was nice and comfortable in her room, you left for your home in Castle Town - thinking of nearly only the next time you'd see her. 

Chapter Text

- Bazz and you had been childhood friends. 

- You had even been a member of the Big Bad Bazz Brigade, running around with Bazz, Gaddison, Rivan, and even Link at one point. 

- From an early age, you had displayed a potential to become a great healer, and you had aspired to be able to help people too. 

- So if anyone in the Brigade got a scrape, you would help them quickly recuperate and be back with the group in no time. (Since Link was a reckless child, this happened many times with him specifically.) 

- Although your healing powers were nowhere as great as Princess Mipha's or professional healers at the time, you could still heal very small wounds while you were a minnow, so you did so. 

- As time passed, though, and everyone grew up and got busy, you took up the occupation as a healer in Zora's Domain. 

- Your skill grew over time, and patients who were taken into your care would soon get better

-  Occasionally people from outside the Domain would come to the clinic, you'd witness some grave wounds from the rising amount of monsters in the area. You managed to heal those people, but it did take a lot of your energy to do so 

- Speaking of Bazz- after years of drifting apart, you finally reconnected after he came to you, escorting one of his comrades who had gotten injured 

- While you were healing the other Zora, he struck up a conversation, and you both realized it had been too long since you had talked 

- So after you finished your job, you decided to meet up after Bazz's shift 

- One meeting turned to many, and - well, feelings began to grow 

- It was surprising, Bazz denied how he was feeling at first

- So did you, honestly. A crush? On your best friend? At first, you assumed it was merely because of how you had gotten older.  

- But after the feelings stayed for a while, acceptance took the place of denial for the both of you.

- Although, the confessions didn't happen for a long time, either. 

- Until, when Bazz was rushed into the clinic, an ugly wound on his back. 

- It was hard to retain your composure, but you had to fight to remain calm as you began the healing process

- It took two weeks in total, with exhausting healing sessions every single day. It wore you out, but you were more concerned about Bazz. 

- Finally, when he was well enough to sit up and feed himself, you wanted so badly to embrace him, but 1. you were very tired and 2. it would be really rude and insensitive because of his state, and- he wouldn't want it, right..? 

- But, to your surprise, when you explained that you saved him from certain death, he found the energy to surge up and hug you instead

- In his sort-of exhausted state, he pretty much summed up how much he cared and loved you and how much he was grateful for how'd you stuck by him 

- Of course, it was a shock and took a bit to sink it 

- But after you said you felt the same, both of you were very happy 

- He's a very good boyfriend 

- .. Sometimes he finds dumb excuses to come to the clinic to talk to you. All of his fellow guards are aware of this, and will tease him about it 

- But he doesn't mind, he's glad to finally be with you

Chapter Text

- Alright, so, at first the relations were strained. Between all of the Champions as well. 

- You were all of different backgrounds, different races coming from very different places. 

- Meetings were awkward in the beginning, with each Champion mainly keeping to themself. 

- But slowly and surely, you all began to warm up to each other. 

- The ice was finally broken for good after you all banded together to fend off a huge group of monsters from a village nearby, and finally all the training paid off. 

- Working perfectly in sync was just… so satisfying. And you couldn't help but crack a grin at your fellow comrades as they did the same in return. 

- Being friends with powerful warriors seemed maybe slightly intimidating to the regular person, but now that you were experiencing that, it was basically just a normal friend group. Basically. 

- Playful banter wasn't alien at all. Most of the group at least had a spark of competitive spirit within, after all. 

- They're all pleasant to be around. If you need to make public appearances, yes, you all put on the calm and cool facade of a strong fighter, but in private, great conversationalists. 

- And what's also great is that if one of the group isn't well, the rest will do their best to help in the way that each of them can. Urbosa especially is probably the mom/older sister friend of the Champion unit, and she's really great. 

- Be it cheering them up (or healing. Mipha-) or other things, they've got the unwell Champion's back. 

- Because that's what friends are for, right? 

- Don't expect them to be serious all the time. Goofing off isn't an uncommon thing. 

- (Once, when you all went out to a tavern, Revali drank one too many drinks, and- well, he got strangely emotional, bawling his eyes out into Urbosa's shoulder about something. None of you could tell what he was saying, sadly.. but you still won't let him live it down.) 

- Trading battle techniques or strategies is a regular thing. 

- Like, different ways to defeat certain enemies based on the said enemies' weaknesses. 

- Overall, the Champions friend group (that's including you here) is great. And you wouldn't want to lose them. 

Chapter Text

People gave Daruk curious looks as he walked past, you at his side. 

He seemed relatively unbothered, and you were too. Because, could you really blame your fellow Sheikah for staring? Daruk was nearly a legend in his own right, and towered over mostly everyone at his height of nearly nine feet. Plus, Kakariko Village was a strange place for a Goron to be.

(Not to mention the giant Boulder Breaker strapped to his back.) 

"So, what do you think of the place?" you asked Daruk, curious of what he thought so far.

Kakariko was your hometown, and many of your fond childhood memories had been made here. And since the Goron warrior was your boyfriend, his opinion of the village was- surprisingly important to you, actually. 

"It's very different from Goron City!" he answered, beaming down at you. "Not in a bad way at all, by the way. It's got this rustic charm to it that makes ya feel right at home." Pausing for a moment, he smiled sheepishly. "But maybe that's just me, since this is where you hail from, eh?" 

You suppressed a giggle, stopping him outside a particular house. A carved wooden wind chime- a gift from Impa- was hung near the door, and it made small clunking noises every time the breeze gently collided with it. 

Opening the door, you beckoned Daruk inside. He had to crouch down slightly, as to not bang his head on the door frame. 

It was an average-sized house, with a bed off to the side. A few pieces of furniture were placed about, parchment with inked drawings pasted onto the walls. It was set up in the way that made you the most comfortable. 

"Hey, this is nice! Really reminds me of- " 

Daruk cut himself off, stopping short. You glanced at him, quickly noting that he was badly trying to conceal a sudden bit of shakiness. Or was it fear? 

"Reminds you.. Of what? Um, are you alright?" you asked, following his terrified gaze over to a familiar form sleeping on a cushion in the corner as you raised an eyebrow. 

… Ohhhh.  

"Y- you- you've got - a- a-" stammered Daruk, looking as if a Lynel was staring him right in the eyes as he struggled to complete his sentence. 

"A dog? Yeah, his name is Karu, he's the sweetest thing-" 

Letting out a tiny "eep!" Daruk curled in on himself, activating his orange shield with an almost comical expression of terror. 

It took everything you had to ensure that you wouldn't burst out laughing right then and there. 

"Hey, hey.. dear.. he's asleep. He won't hurt you, and he wouldn't, even if he was awake!" you coaxed, edging forward to lay a hand on the shield. It felt warm. "There's no need to panic…," 

After a good minute, the shield finally faded away, leaving Daruk still curled up in front of you. He slowly stood up, looking extremely embarrassed as he did so. Guilt wormed its way into your heart, and now you felt bad for finding this funny. Daruk looked remarkably like a kicked.. puppy. 

(.. Ironic, wasn't it.) 

"I'm sorry ya had to see that, dear," he managed to get out. "Must've made me look like some sorta wimp, huh?" 

 "No, no, not at all!" you exclaimed, shaking your head. "Everyone's afraid of something , right?" 

Daruk looked slightly less flustered, but his expression didn't really change. "Yeah.. I suppose you're right. It's just weird, ya know? For a.. brave fighter, a proud Goron, to be afraid of a.. a.. little dog." 

"It doesn't change who you are, or your achievements, Daruk," you said, laying your hand on his. It dwarfed yours by a lot, and was rough to the touch. But it was comforting, and you'd grown used to it. 

He stayed silent for a few moments. 

"... Yeah. I know. Thanks for not throwin' me out," he joked, a smile slowly appearing on his face. 

"Hylia, why would I?!" you snorted, landing a light hit on his arm.  

Daruk's grin was back in full force by now. "Well… for a second I was beginnin' to think that you'd prefer the dog over me, huh?" 

"Oh, come on! You're much more adorable than Karu," you shot back. "Even if you do sometimes yell my ears off." 

"Oh, really? Well, I think that you-" he started to say, before he was interrupted by the barking of a very jealous and just-awakened dog.  

Chapter Text

Hey, guys, steamed3gg here. So, my classes have started up again. 

That means I'll have a lot less time to update this work, so expect less frequent postings and new chapters and such. My apologies for this, but I really can't do anything since I don't want to fail school lol 

I'll still try to write and post as much as I can, which may be every month or so. I don't know for sure, though. 

Anyway, thanks for reading this update, and have a great day/night :D 

Chapter Text

Link

- One-word replies

- "Hey" "Hru" "Cool"

- Sometimes even just goes with a single. emoji. one emoji.

- For example if you say something that went well on your day, he might respond with like, a thumbs-up emoji.

- It's annoying sometimes but it's just the way he works

- BUT. If you're close with him, expect longer replies. And lots of dumb photos. Maybe of food or dogs or just some random cool leaf he found

- Horrible replying habits most of the time

Mipha

- whee proper grammar go brrr

- According to the last time you checked, she doesn't even use spellcheck.. what sorcery is this??

- Smiley emoticons are used frequently. Actually, just emoticons in general

- "Hey, hope you're doing well! :) <3"

- Replies pretty regularly, except when she's busy with something. She'll let you know though

- Actually prefers calling over texting but doesn't mind either, really

- Uses a lot of sweet sticker emotes, like of cats or dogs

- They're freakin adorable

Revali

- Also uses proper grammar but depends heavily on spellcheck because of.. the feathers.

- He's gotten used to it after a while but it's still a bit hard lol

- A master of sarcasm over text

- Doesn't use emojis or emoticons, really. Maybe :) sometimes but it's rare

- If he doesn't feel like replying back, he just doesn't. Which does get a bit irritating but it's Revali, what'd you expect

- Otherwise he can keep up a convo

- Has a lot of weird memes saved on his phone and you can't convince me otherwise

Urbosa

- Types in lowercase, has turned off spellcheck 

- Uses emojis sometimes, mostly the heart or laughing ones

- Has lots of wholesome memes and cute animal pictures on her phone

- Replies pretty often, sometimes is busy though and forgets to text back

- Expect some goofy selfies, perhaps a few pretty pictures of nature or cool things that she's found

- "hey, look at this rock, it'll look great on my shelf"

- Checks up on her friends if she hasn't seen them in a few days

- "hi, how've you been?"

Daruk

- Due to BIG FREAKIN GORON HANDS I'd like to hc that in Modern BOTW Hyrule there's like special phones or something

- Daruk isn't the best with technology, or typing on the phone

- But he tries

- it's kind of silly but he tries

- Spelling errors are to be expected

- Hardly uses the phone because yeah he finds it a bit annoying at the worst of times

- Hardly texts too

- But sometimes responds

- SPELLCHECK IS HIS FRIEND. best friends. bffs.

- Emoticons? Emojis?? What?? How?? He doesn't use them.

Chapter Text

Oh, god. 

You really shouldn't have accepted that dare. You were certainly regretting it now. 

The old, abandoned mansion loomed above you menacingly, looking frighteningly similar to that of a monster getting ready to devour its poor, defenseless prey. Its old brick walls were nearly entirely covered with crawling plants. Its windows were cracked, or boarded over. And, the big dark oak door had cobwebs weaved over it, as if the spiders themselves were warning passers-by to not even dare stepping inside. 

You gulped, adjusting the straps of your backpack.  

Night was quickly falling, and the sky was darkening as well. A full moon was due to rise tonight, and you hoped for all the world that it was just a coincidence. 

However scared you were, now wasn't the time to chicken out. Robbie and Purah would never let you forget it if you did. And Hylia knew that wasn't an exaggeration. 

So, flicking on your flashlight, you summoned whatever courage you had left, and began walking up the mossy cobble path towards the door. 

Nobody had been near Hyrule Manor for a while. And it showed, by how overgrown the bushes and grass were. The old groundskeeper for the family who had lived in the house before had disappeared maybe fifteen, twenty years ago. The old coot had stayed to keep the plants from eating the house alive, but now that he was gone-- it had resumed its growth. 

And, about his disappearance? Nobody really cared about the old man. He was rude, irritable, and absolutely hated visitors. Everyone had just assumed he had gone off and died somewhere, however harsh that may be. 

You reached a tentative hand towards the doorknob, turning it and slowly opening the door. 

It made sounds like those you would expect out of a cliche horror movie, and you felt your heart rate increase slightly. 

Shining your flashlight around the hallway, you took note of the large amount of dust. The place seemed to be furnished in an old-fashioned style, with peeling blood red wallpaper in a diamond print, and an oak floor. There were a few unlit lamps on the ceiling, and ghostly threads of spiderwebs were stretched between them and the ceiling. 

A few portraits of what must have been the old family were on the walls as well, and you tried your best not to look too closely as you continued down the hallway. Those blank expressions and empty eyes were.. creepy, to say the least. 

From what you'd heard from the elderly folk down in the town, a small family had lived here. A mother, father, and daughter. But one day, the mother died of illness, leaving her husband and young child alone. 

Not much else was known, besides that one day, years later-- one of the maids, working under the family, came running into town, screaming bloody murder that the daughter and father were both dead, and the rest of the staff too. She had told the frightened townspeople that it was the work of a monster, of a creature of evil. 

Most had thought that she was delirious from shock, and a search party went to the mansion to investigate. 

But they found nothing. No evidence, whatsoever, of the man and his daughter's fate. They had just.. vanished. Disappeared into nothing. 

After a while of confusion and debate, the conclusion was that they had skipped town. Because they had no reason to keep living in the mansion. It seemed only logical, after all. But some actually believed the tall tale of a creature of darkness snatching them away. And passed it down. 

That tale had unfortunately come to Purah's attention, and over a harmless game.. you were dared into investigating those stories. And so, here you were. 

It seemed that you had reached the dining hall by now. A long room, with a grand chandelier and long table set up in it. Glass-fronted cabinets filled with what looked like china and other plates were on one end of the room, and everything was, again, covered with a thick layer of dust. 

As you shined your flashlight over everything, slightly in awe with how beautifully carved everything was.. 

A noise came from somewhere else in the house. 

It was barely discernible, but it sounded something like a thump. 

Your brain quickly began to make up outlandish scenarios, each one more wild than the last, but you abruptly cut that short with a shake of your head. 

'It's probably just a rat,' you thought, slowly but surely convincing yourself that those stupid stories weren't true in the slightest. 'Don't get so freaked out so easily, this place has been abandoned for years! Yeah!' 

Deciding that the sooner you'd get out of here, the better, you left the dining hall, going down the hallway. You passed by multiple other rooms-- the kitchens, a few miscellaneous bedrooms and parlors, a library.. but each of them were empty, the only occupants being a few insects. 

Your fear was ebbing away, now being replaced by curiosity. The house wasn't really that creepy, just cluttered and in bad shape! Which was to be expected, of course. The looks on your friends' faces would be priceless when you got back and told them what you'd seen. 

Soon enough, you reached the end of the hallway.. and there was a closed door. You tried the handle. Locked.  

'Hm.. that's odd. It's probably stuck,' You mused to yourself, sticking your flashlight in your armpit so you could try turning the knob with both hands. 

It wouldn't budge. 

Well, a stupid stuck doorknob wouldn't stop you from exploring the house in entirety! 

You knelt down so you were at eye level with the lock, producing a hairpin from your backpack. One of Impa's, of course. She had given it to you for luck, and you'd have to thank her for it later.  

Inserting it into the hole, you fiddled around for a few minutes.

A satisfying click came after a little while, and you grinned. Bingo. 

Putting the hairpin back in your bag, you stood up, turning the knob and pushing open the door, brushing aside a few cobwebs that were in your way. 

The room you entered seemed to be the master bedroom, with a large, dusty canopy bed set up in the corner, and -- 

You took a step back, slightly alarmed. 

Because, huddled in the opposite corner, was what looked to be a boy. About your age, with long-ish blonde hair and roughed-up clothing. 

He was visibly trembling, and had tightly wrapped his arms about himself. His knees were pulled up to his chest, and he seemed to be in distress, muttering incomprehensible things to himself. 

Now that the initial shock was gone, you took a deep breath. Whoever this guy was, he didn't look good. You had to at least find out what was going on, and why he was here! 

So, you slowly approached him, making sure not to seem outwardly imposing. "..Hello?" you said gently, crouching a few feet away from the blonde. "Can you hear me? Hello?" 

He didn't respond, so you prodded a bit more. "Sir? Are you in pain? Can you hear me?" 

Suddenly, his head whipped up, bloodshot cyan eyes meeting yours. He was pale, and dare you say easy on the eyes. But you didn't concentrate on that, instead scooching a bit closer. 

"Sir, I--" 

"You shouldn't have come," he interrupted, voice quiet but harsh. " Why are you here?" 

You went silent for a few moments, before speaking up. "That's not your problem right now. Are you hurt in any way--" 

"YOU CAME ON THE BLOOD MOON!" he roared suddenly, causing you to jump. "YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME! LEAVE..! LEAVE!" 

"Blood.. moon? Don't be silly, those don't appear except for every twenty years or so!" you insisted. "You're clearly in some state of delusion, I think I need to get you out of this old place and get you help--" 

"It's here. You fool. It's here."  

A red glow began to fill the room. One of the open windows showed the full moon rising- but it wasn't the calming, pale presence that it usually was. 

Oh. 

"I told you.. TO LEAVE. I CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE!" 

With a beasty cry that seemed to be torn from his throat, he closed in on himself, beginning to almost vibrate. You backed up out of terror, hitting the door. 

In front of your eyes, his transformation began. 

And suddenly, you realized why the poor inhabitants of the mansion had disappeared.

Chapter Text

Link 

- Stoic. Straight to the point. No dramatic speech about the volume of his affections

- Just a simple "Hey, I think I've fallen for you. Could you maybe feel the same?" 

- Granted, he's flushing a pretty shade of pink as he says these words, but manages to keep a straight face. 

- Leading up to this moment, you wouldn't really notice much of a difference in how he acts towards you. 

- Maybe he'd be a bit more protective, give you more gifts 

- Maybe you'd notice how he tended to linger when there was casual physical contact

- But other than that, if you weren't pretty observant you wouldn't notice much. 

- Doesn't really tell anyone else about his feelings or anything. He's used to it, (please don't bottle up emotions it's not good kiddos) but he knew that he had to tell you. 

Mipha 

- Really flustered! REALLY FLUSTERED!
- Like, she's stammering and everything. Super cute

- "U - um, I asked for you to talk with me in private because … I- I seem to h-have … I- I love you!" 

- She's decently more obvious than Link, and isn't so great at hiding her feelings 

- She'd get embarrassed when you complimented her 

- Blushes when you're physically close to her

- Noticeably worries more when you get injured and stuff. 

- Like if you get a wound, she'll be fussing over you for a while, and INSIST on healing it. 

- Maybe she'll tell her friends about it? She's really shy though. 

Revali 

- Okay, he'd be in denial for a while before he told you how he felt 

- But when he did, he'd be pretty embarrassed. Not as much as Mipha, but still 

- "I .. unfortunately, I .. I love you. And have, for some time. Do you.. reciprocate my love?" 

- Again, he was HUGE in denial at first 

- But even if he didn't accept how he felt, he's pretty horrible at hiding things. 

- Got jealous over stupid things, like if you're close to Link he'd be pretty jealous over that, and how … close you were, how CASUAL you could be with his rival, et cetera, et cetera… 

- And if that wasn't a dead giveaway, he was totally the "it's not like I like you!11!!" type, even when he did the sweetest things for you.  

- When he cuddled you on cold Rito Village nights? "i-it's not like I like you, I'm just.. I'm just cold!!!" Even though he's literally a freaking warm birdman. 

Urbosa 

- Smooth as hell 

- "Every day you remind me of how much I love you, darling." 

- Like, WHAT

- How?? Anyway, she'll delight if it makes you flustered, and be even happier if you volley back with another flirtatious remark 

- Not embarrassed in the slightest. 

- Unlike most of the Champions, she's pretty good at not being so obvious about her affection, before she confesses 

- She'd compliment you more than others, and maybe get you some REALLY nice gifts because she's got status, baby!! 

- But other than that, you'd have to have the eyes of a hawk in order to spot how she'd look at you as if you were the most beautiful flower

- And how she'd pay attention to every word you said, no matter how stupid 

- Those could be brushed off as a result of your close relationship before the whole confession thing, but trust me here. Wasn't just platonic love

Daruk 

- Yeah he's really not good at the whole feelings thing

- But he's not completely stupid and oblivious. He'd notice when he started feeling a certain way towards you 

- "Listen, I'm sorry if this is unwanted, but I just had to tell ya - I'm, well, I'm in love with ya." 

- He'd feel kinda guilty if you weren't a Goron, knowing that, yeah, he's a giant rock guy and MOST don't find that attractive

- But he knew that he'd have to tell you eventually. 

- As stated above, he's not very good at feelings

- But before he told you of his love, you'd probably be able to notice the way he became more protective of you

- A bit hell-bent on keeping you safe from monsters and such. It was a bit stifling, really, and if you brought it up he'd apologize profusely 

- But beneath his rough exterior (literally) he's a giant softie 

- Made you food, would talk with you late into the night 

- Just ADORED you. He loves you in the purest way

- And if you felt the same, he'd be the happiest Goron ever. <3

Chapter Text

Sidon 

• Freaks out at first. 
• He’s perhaps a bit overdramatic, and worries a lot, even if you’ve got only a common cold. 
• “Darling!! Are you alright?? What’s wrong??” 
• Basically FORCES you to stay in bed until you get better. 
• He doesn’t like to leave you alone, even though he has his duties to attend to, and more often than not when you wake up in the morning he personally delivers you breakfast. 
• Tries to spend as much time as possible with you. Pampers you to INSANE levels, too. Always asking if you need your pillows adjusted, new blankets, and if you’re into reading he’ll fetch you like any book you want.. 
• Makes sure you get your favorite foods from the kitchens
• If you don’t like the taste of herbal medicines, he’ll try and gently persuade you with lots of kisses, and reward you with lots of kisses too if when he manages to convince you. 
• The healers might eventually get kind of irritated with how he bombards them with questions about when will you get better, how long will it take for you to recover, will you be alright, etc. 
• But in general, he really does care a lot about you, and seeing you sick makes him sad. 

Teba 

• A lot more chill than Sidon 
• He is still worried and concerned, but is more low-key about it haha 
• “You’re burning up.. Are you feeling okay?” 
• Surprisingly, he’s pretty knowledgeable of home remedies and all that stuff. 
• He’s also a pretty good cook, and makes a MEAN soup
• Tries to stay with you to make sure you’re doing okay, and finds himself polishing his bows over and over again 
• Very caring, very observant. He’ll notice if you’re shivering, or if you’re too warm, and will adjust things accordingly 
• If you’re bored, he’ll tell you stories, either stories from earlier in his life or old tales he heard as a fledgeling 
• You’ll probably become familiar with the details of the time he tried to take down a bunch of monsters in his youth and failed .. miserably. 
• If you ask for it, he’ll wrap you up in his wings and hum a simple tune to help lull you to sleep 
• He isn’t as well-off as Sidon is, so he doesn’t have access to everything, but he’ll still do his best to help you recover 
• Is much more gentle than usual - which, on the subject of his usual demeanor towards you, is kind of saying something. He might be kind of gruff on the outside, but he’s always got a soft spot for you. 

Yunobo 

• This poor boy. 
• Doesn’t really know much about taking care of sick people, as he didn’t have much experience with it, being a hardy Goron
• But bless him, he still tries his best. 
• Basically, if you ask him for something, he’ll just do as you say to the best of his ability, trusting your knowledge better than his 
• He’s not extremely worried, as he knows you’ll get better, but he’s still a bit prone to anxiety, and usually anxiously hovers around where you are until you tell him to either sit down or go away 
• Past the initial nervousness, though, he learns quite quickly
• “Good morning, you look better than yesterday. D’you want me to get you some water?” 
• He knows that food fit for Gorons isn’t exactly fit for other races, so he’ll try and prepare you some stuff himself 
• He’s actually.. Not bad? His cooking skills aren’t anything impressive, (and it took him a good few tries to get the recipe right) but he can hold his own in the kitchen, despite his BIG FREAKIN GORON HANDS 
• Speaking of, if you ask, he’ll gladly hold yours 
• He’ll be much more careful than usual, which is saying something, and you might have to tell him that you’re not made of glass 
• Unless if you enjoy it, of course 
• He would prefer if he could stay with you, but he does still have responsibilities, and Bludo can’t exactly get those painkillers by himself, so he makes sure you have enough water and everything before leaving for a bit 
• In general, Yunobo will help you make a speedy recovery, and when you’re back on your feet he’ll be very relieved

Chapter Text

Link 

• Um hello?? He loves playing with your hair SO MUCH 
• Like you’ll just be chilling together and he’ll motion a hand towards your hair, asking if he can just run his fingers through it 
• It’s very calming to him
• He also likes putting stuff like pretty flowers and such in your hair
• He WILL buy hair ornaments for you too, count on that
• He has some experience with braiding hair, so if you ask him to do it for you, he’ll do a good job, and without hesitation
• Also, if you ask, he’ll gladly wash it for you too, even if you don’t ask too haha 
• Again, very therapeutic to him 
• His main love language is actually physical touch, which is kind of surprising since he’s pretty reserved at first
• But this guy is very touch-starved and just craves it 
• So even just running his fingers through your hair makes him so happy

Zelda 

• She thinks long hair is very pretty on you, and just adores it 
• Since she isn’t very experienced with braiding hair, due to the fact that she never really did it herself, you might have to teach her
• But she’s a quick learner, and likes braiding things like flowers and pretty jewels and other stuff into your hair 
• She’ll brush or comb it for you, as the simple act of it makes her feel more grounded
• If you style it intricately, she’ll help you with that too 
• And if you don’t, and just leave it down, she thinks it’s gorgeous too 
• When you’re hanging out, she sometimes reaches out to tuck some of it out of your face, or fix it back in place 
• She honestly prefers it when you leave it down rather than tie it up, but she won’t really say it out loud haha 
• She’ll gladly loan you some of her jewelry if you want to put fancy clips in your hair or something like that 
• Saying stuff like 
• “They look a lot better on you, darling,” or 
• “I hardly use them anyway, and you look gorgeous.” 

Chapter Text

It was early. Way too early, for you to be roused from your peaceful slumber.

Your surroundings slowly came into focus. You were sprawled out on a large, king-sized bed, with silk sheets and fur blankets draped languidly over your figure. The Gerudo Desert was notorious for getting very cold in the nighttime, and hot in the daytime, so one had to be prepared adequately. Though, the expensive, gold-embroidered fabrics were just an added bonus for being in a position such as yours. 

Speaking of positions… 

Tanned, muscular arms were wrapped around your torso, holding you close to an equally as toned chest. You couldn’t see him, as you weren’t facing him at the moment,  but you knew that your lover was keeping up his usual habit of being very clingy whilst asleep. It wasn’t very different from how he acted while awake–  but he had to keep up appearances in public, as the mighty Gerudo Chief. He was seemingly content with just keeping a hand on the small of your back while in the company of his guards, but in private, he didn’t act nearly so coy. 

You shifted a little where you lay on the mattress, trying not to jerk so much, as to not disturb him, but it was no use. 

A few moments passed, before you felt a kiss being pressed to the top of your head, and the gentle sensation of long, auburn locks brushing up ever so slightly against your face. He pulled you a little closer to him, and you could just feel the smile on his lips as he kept them where they were. The silence remained uninterrupted for a minute or two longer, before he spoke up. 

His voice was a tad bit lower and rougher than usual, and you could feel it rumbling through his chest like a soft earthquake. 

“Up so soon?” Ganondorf muttered, as you twisted around semi-awkwardly to land a kiss on his cheek. Then another, and the corners of his mouth twisted upwards again. The serious commander and fearsome warrior was not present here. Instead, that man was replaced by a gentle and tender soul– it was almost comical, how different he acted when it was just you two. There was a familiar glint in his golden eyes. 

“You look radiant as always, my sunshine.”

“Flattery gets you nowhere,” you replied in a near-whisper, before proving yourself wrong pretty much immediately as you moved to be even closer to him. “I had thought that you had already gotten tired of complimenting me nearly every morning.” 

You heard him chuckle softly. “Oh, I could never, darling. I will never get tired of you.” 

Regardless of how dramatic and cheesy he was being, you couldn’t help but flush ever so slightly, and you knew he noticed. He always did. Another boost to his ego, you supposed, as he peppered the side of your face with more feather-light kisses. Only pausing back to draw back for a moment, looking smug. 

You cleared your throat gently. “Speaking of being tired .. I would really appreciate it if I could sleep for at least a little while longer.” Adjusting yourself again, you gave him a sidelong glance the best you could. “And I would also appreciate it if my personal heater remained in bed with me.” Though you tried your best, you couldn’t suppress the smile making its way into your expression. 

That earned another laugh from Ganondorf. “Is that all I am to you, love?” He said, but didn’t move from his spot near you. “I’m hurt, but happy to be of service where I can.” 

He fixed the blankets that had been previously haphazardly strewn about, before settling down beside you again, and falling silent. 

You closed your eyes, and felt his familiar warm presence behind you. Though he may have told you on multiple occasions that you shined like the sun, that you were more gorgeous than any star in the sky, you knew that he had a glow– an aura, about him that you didn’t possess. But rather than being jealous of that, it made you admire and love him all the more. 

And you were well aware that he felt the same way towards you.

Chapter Text

Link 

• He's kind of artistic himself, actually 
• Adores all the work you do, even though he's not the most vocal about it 
• Depending on your medium of choice, he might sit and watch you work or do his own thing alongside you
• Even offers to help if he can. Surprisingly good with a paintbrush, and is pretty good with menial labor so he's up for the task 
• Like if you need to carry something heavy or hold something in place he'll do it for you 
• If you run out of a certain material he'll also go get it for you - being able to basically teleport has its perks 
• Like, you need a type of flower that only specifically grows in a remote area of Hyrule? He's on it, and you've got it in less than half an hour
• Extremely supportive in general. Will gladly pose for you, can stay still for an impressively long time 
• Even if he's not dedicated his time to art like you have, he has little sketches of his own and likes to share them with you :) But he will always say that your stuff is better 

Mipha 

• Okay she's definitely done painting and stuff 
• Knows all the best spots in Zora's Domain for if you do landscape paintings. You get exclusive access to usually off-limits areas (as long as they're safe) 
• Will probably cry a little if you give her something you made 
• Even if you say it's not that big of a deal she'll hold both your hands in hers and insist "But you made it, so it is forever important to me." 
• Since she's royalty you'll have access to all the high-quality stuff 
• Do you need canvases? How big? She's already got a wide variety of them, and they're all yours. 
• Do you need stone for sculptures? Already got them for you.  
• She's got an eye for beauty herself, and since she lives in one of the most gorgeous places in Hyrule, she knows what she's talking about when it comes to art in general 
• Will gladly discuss it with you 
• Loves to watch you work. Unless it makes you uncomfortable. But she'll gladly offer her own perspective on things if you ask
• She's got her own pieces - mostly watercolor (haha) but she doesn't have all the time in the world for it. However, after she met you, she had a renewed energy for her own artistic endeavors 

Revali 

• Not an artist 
• Cannot draw to save his life 
• Sure, he's a great craftsman, and his combat skills are extremely impressive but this stupid bird man can't draw a stick figure at all 
• So even though he isn't outspoken about it at first basically anything you draw/create is impressive to him 
• But as your relationship grows closer he becomes your number one fanboy 
• "This linework is just … exquisite! Words cannot convey how superior your way of illustration is." and "Beautiful work as always, darling" -- etc. 
• He's got an eye for talent - or so he says, so the way he compliments you very often is a lot coming from him because he's not one for saying empty praises 
• If you ever ask to use him as a model for a piece he's going to combust 
• Acting all cool on the outside while melting on the inside. 
• " O - of course! Who wouldn't enjoy using me as a model?" He's blushing. 
• Will probably stare at the finished product for a while 
• If anyone is needlessly cruel to you about your work, Revali is going to be staring daggers into them for the rest of their living days. How dare they insult you. 

Urbosa 

• She doesn't create art, but she's sure an appreciator of good work
• The Royal Palace in Gerudo Town has its fair share of tapestries, statues, etc. 
• Like Mipha, she's royalty, so you have everything you need
• She won't take no for an answer - if you sell the things you make, she'll be even more insistent on supplying you with everything 
• Usually is pretty busy with both her Champion and Chieftess duties, but when she can, she's visiting you 
• Sitting with you while you're in the Art Zone makes her calmer as a result 
• Even if you're extremely focused on your artwork and not her, she doesn't care. Being around you in general just puts her mind at peace 
• If you ask for her opinion she'll tell it as she sees it, without being too brutally honest 
• "I like the way it is progressing, angel - but I think you could add more there, hm?" 
• Generally gravitates towards richer, darker colors, but will enjoy whatever you make 
• If you give her something you've made she'll be deeply touched. Smooth on the outside as per usual, but as soon as she's alone in her quarters, she'll be giggling like a teenage girl 
• However, the first time you give her something you made specifically for her, her facade drops for a few moments. She's a little flustered - smiling broadly, too. 
• "Thank you, dear. I'll surely hold onto this forever." 

Daruk 

• Even worse at art than Revali is. 
• Can't do anything at all. 
• Sure, he's a dab hand at repairing his own, giant weapons, but even then he'll need to use specialized Goron tools. And Gorons aren't known for their excellent and perfect craftsmanship either. 
• So basically, he's in awe with whatever you do regardless of how insignificant you see it 
• "That's a Silent Princess? Wow, you really got it down perfectly! I can't tell the difference!" 
• ^ Him at a pencil sketch 
• Is pretty bad at articulating his feeling when it comes to art so don't expect much from him 
• Does NOT know what he's talking about 
• But regardless, anything you create is simply astounding to him because. Yeah 
• If you give him something you made for him he gets pretty emotional 
• He's already a pretty open book, so don't be surprised if he sheds a tear. Or two. Or three… 
• "You - for me? Really? Are you sure? Gosh…" He's very moved. 
• Seeing your artistic process is pretty great for him. He's all full of pride for what his awesome partner can achieve, and will probably brag about it to other people at some point 
• (It's kind of embarrassing, honestly. But it's an ego-booster for sure) 

Chapter Text

Friday movie nights. 

It'd been a regular tradition for at least a year. You and your friends would vote on a movie to watch, then head over to the dorm of the person who suggested the winning movie in the first place. Even though you were all busy, juggling part-time jobs and studying and other things, most of the time you all managed to take an hour or two off to just hang out. It was nice, and way better than the sometimes completely dead group chat. And it certainly was amusing to see them argue over which genre of cinema was better than the other. 

Daruk and Link preferred the action-packed films, the ones with unnecessary amounts of dramatic sword fights and cliffhangers. Mipha wasn't too fond of those, mostly preferring romance or slice-of-life. And Revali and Urbosa sat somewhere in the middle of those two. You had your own preferences when it came to movies, but you certainly weren't as outspoken as Revali was about them - many a time he'd gone on and on about continuity errors or small details getting messed up. Stuff like that. 

Usually, you all managed to compromise on a single film, but this week seemed to be different. You looked at the notifications flooding the screen of your phone, and reluctantly unlocked it, opening the chat labeled as "the Champions". You were in your dorm, and your roommate Paya was out, so you were kind of borrowing her speaker in order to run through your playlist. 

Quickly, you were thrown into a rapid-fire conversation that you weren't prepared for in the slightest. 

--

> that Bird: Like I was saying, that movie is just cheap! 

> that Bird: I could make a list with all the dumb tropes from a superhero film and it would check all the boxes. 

> Mipha <3: Aw, come on, Revali. Link and Daruk wanted to see how it is, so why not give it a go? 

> that Bird: Everyone voted for it except for me and our absent friend! 

-- 

Right, you had forgotten - Revali had opted to choose a high fantasy film, with slight elements of technology. Something related to the ancient legends of the Sheikah people, but with a magical twist. It had good reviews online, and from what you had seen, the CGI was absolutely beautiful, so you had decided to give it a vote. Turns out nobody else had found it interesting, which was kind of surprising. 

You started typing in a reply, feeling a bit obligated to at least pitch in a little. Surely, you could all come to a compromise, right? 

--

< You: Revali, calm down a little. I know you aren't that fond of that kind of film but we gotta find a solution somehow 

< You: I mean we're pretty much outvoted here but if the others wanna watch it I don't mind 

> Sand Mom: were not going to force you to watch it if u dont want to, u can tap out this week and theres no harm done 

> needs a haircut: 👍

> Rocks don't Talc: It is not a big drwl

> Rocks don't Talc: **deal Sorry 

-- 

The chat stopped for a minute or two, in which you assumed Revali was probably thinking it over. He was one of the most stubborn people you knew, and he wouldn't give up his position so easily. It was kind of annoying sometimes, but he was actually getting better. The Revali you had known at the beginning of your time in college was way different from the Revali now.

Before long, another message popped up. 

-- 

> that Bird: Okay, you know what 

> that Bird: You guys can watch your movie, and I'll watch mine. I've already rented it anyways

> Mipha <3: Oh, okay. Are you sure? 

> that Bird: Yea. 

> Mipha <3: Alright, then, I guess we're going to Link's dorm tonight. I'll bring some snacks! ^^ 

> Sand Mom: gotcha 

-- 

The rest of the group acknowledged the new plan, but you hesitated. You had wanted to watch the movie that Revali had proposed, but you also wanted to spend time with your friends at the same time. It wasn't like you had all the time in the world to hang out. But at the same time, if Revali wasn't there, it wouldn't feel the same.. if that made any sense, really. 

And although Revali could be kind of obnoxious at the worst of times, the mental image of him watching a good movie alone in his dorm made you feel sad. 

And just like that, an idea. You picked up your phone again, the group chat still open. 

-- 

< You: You guys have fun. I'm gonna go to Revali's later because that movie really looked good 

< You: I mean, as long as he's ok with it 

> Mipha <3: Oh! Enjoy your movie, then! 

> Sand Mom: let us know how it is. if its really good then im probably going to see it on my own time lmao 

-- 

You waited with bated breath for Revali to give the go-ahead - and to your mild surprise, you got a direct text message a couple moments later. Not on the group chat. That hardly happened. Conversations between only you and him were few and far between. 

-- 

> Revali: Are you sure? 

> Revali: I mean, It's not like I'm going to stop you. I know my movie was the better choice 

> Revali: But I know that you're awfully fond of our little movie parties

< You: There's always next week 

< You: Same time as usual, btw? 

> Revali: Sure. 

--

For some reason, even though this wasn't a big deal in the slightest, you still felt … nervous? 

Well, it wasn't like you regularly hung out with him one-on-one. Or spoke to him personally, even. Apparently he'd been a fierce rival of Link's before they got on good terms, but that was all you knew about how he basically got forced into your friend group. And here you were - practically planning a date, even. 

You had to admit, there was something about the Rito that you'd always found captivating from the first time Link introduced him to you and your friends. Even through his neverending snarky comments and self-esteem issues. 

You didn't have much time to dwell on your possible (and strange) attraction to Revali, because you had other things to get done in order to make room for the movie night. And quickly.  

Thankfully, time passed equally as fast when you were occupied, and before you knew it, you were in front of his dorm. 

The nervous, jittery feeling had returned as soon as you knocked on his door, and it didn't leave when he answered it. He was dressed casually, his shirt having some sort of bird emblem in the corner accompanied with faded text that read ' Totori Camp '. But you didn't let yourself linger on it too long, because that was creepy. 

"So," he said, as you entered his room. It was really nice, as always - everything was really neat and in order, and even the posters on the walls were all perfectly straight; Not crooked like the ones in Link's room were. "Do you want anything to drink? Or eat?" His tone was kind of stiff, but you couldn't blame him. 

"I'm good, thanks," you answered. He picked up the remote, turning on the nice flatscreen TV with the press of a button. Revali didn't have any roommates, because of course he didn't. But that meant that you and him were the only ones there, sitting nearly knee-to-knee on the couch. 

"How much was the movie?" Trying to sound casual, you turned slightly to face him. 

"Not much." You tried not to focus on how his green eyes were illuminated by the glow of the television. "Enough that I didn't want to let it go to waste, though. Surely, the price must be worth it." You were aware of the fact that he came from a well-off family, so you didn't really want to know how much 'not much' meant to him. 

"I watched the trailer online. The visuals looked stunning, from what I could see." 

Revali opened up the streaming program and went to click on the movie player. "Of course they are," he sniffed. "This studio only produces the highest quality of animation, you know. That's why I chose it - unfortunately, not everyone else finds these sorts of plotlines entertaining." The slight condescension towards your action-loving friends was evident in his tone. 

"Yeah," you agreed. "Honestly, I was expecting it to get more votes, but apparently not." Offering a small smile to him, you shrugged gently. "At least we're watching it now, right?" 

Revali glanced over at you, before quickly looking away, back at the screen. "Yeah," he echoed, as the opening credits started, displayed over a gorgeous recreation of the construction of the fabled Divine Beasts as orchestral music swelled. 

You were both lost in the story for the most part, and the movie itself definitely lived up to what the trailer promised. Even if you were certain that the script probably took a couple creative liberties when it came to accuracy - it didn't really matter to you, because the plot was both straightforward and full of depth at once. 

And when the hero raised his sword to the sky at the end, clasping hands with the beautiful princess that had aided him against a great evil, you couldn't help but feel triumphant as well. 

Even if the 'great evil' that you faced on a daily basis wasn't a giant, swirling monster of hatred - just deadlines. 

As the credits began to roll, you looked over at Revali to make a comment, and you were suddenly aware of your close proximity. Very close proximity, in fact. Close enough that you could pick apart the differing colors of his feathers - close enough that you could see even the smallest details on his brow. 

You hadn't noticed it before. But he was … He was beautiful, really. 

But just as you were about to really slip into the feeling, Revali turned to face you as well, and you practically jumped backwards. The mere implication that he caught you staring like an idiot already made you feel mortified, and you were ready to apologize. 

Instead, there was a beat of silence, before he awkwardly cleared his throat. 

" … How was it?" 

You were about to mention his eyes - before you realized he was just talking about the movie, and smiled, mostly to keep yourself from going crazy. 

"Oh, it was great. I was actually really worried that the hero wasn't gonna make it, but honestly, what did I expect?" You smirked. "Way better than a superhero movie, I'd assume." 

He returned your smile, and you had a hunch you'd just boosted his ego even further. "See, I told you." 

All of a sudden, you could sense his sheepishness, even though he was trying to keep up an arrogant facade. He was avoiding eye contact again - firmly focusing on the credits displayed on the television, which barely lit up the darkened room at this point. And you were nervous again. Anticipatory. 

"Something wrong?" You asked, tentatively. 

"Nothing," he responded, a bit too quickly for it to be true. "I just - " He cleared his throat again. 

"Since we both seem to have better taste than everyone else, I was just wondering if… ," he trailed off, and wow. The feathers on the back of his neck were visibly starting to fluff up, an obvious sign of his own embarrassment. 

"If what?" You couldn't help but feel a bit bemused, but still concerned at the same time. 

"If you'd be interested in doing this again. You know." Even though he was cloaked by shadow, you could easily pick out the pink hue of his face.  "Just the two of us." 

Chapter Text

Being part of the upper crust of society meant that one had to make a good impression, always; There were no exceptions. One couldn't let impolite urges overtake manners, lest they be the subject of overwhelming gossip for the rest of eternity. 

That rule was always at the forefront of your mind whenever you were in public, but it grew from a faint whisper to a loud chanting during balls. Especially private ones. When you were of a younger age, you didn't care nearly as much for the unspoken bylaws of society. You were reckless, and it could be excused because you were a child. But now, you knew for certain that your entire future (and your ability to retain your status) hinged on whether or not you could follow said bylaws. 

After all, even if you didn't agree with most of the rules, 'they were made to be followed' - as your parents said. 

That was why you were carefully waiting on the sidelines of the grand ballroom. You recognized some people that you were on familiar terms with - of course, there were young Sidon and his older sister Mipha, as well as their father, Dorephan. And there was Urbosa, dancing cordially with a man much shorter than she. 

The owners of the grand estate that the ball was being held at were the Hyrule family, who were possibly one of, if not, the most influential families in the country. Everyone who was invited knew to be grateful that they were even thought of in the first place; Thankfully, your family and the Hyrules already had a good history, and you never had to worry about not receiving an invitation. 

Speaking of, it seemed that you had been spotted. 

Zelda Hyrule, who you'd known since childhood, appeared suddenly from the dance floor. She was gently flushed, but that did nothing to deter from her beautiful face that attracted many admirers. Her golden hair was appropriately and delicately tied up, her dress a pale blue. She smiled, and there was a mischievous look in her eye that you were somewhat concerned about.  

"Well, look who it is," she declared, striding up to your side. "Are you hiding?" 

You frowned at her, feigning offense. "I was trying to - but it seems I've been found." 

She just giggled, politely covering her mouth with a gloved hand. It was sometimes hard to believe that this was the same girl who you'd spent your youth with, catching frogs and other assorted bugs at the pond. "Oh, dear. How unfortunate." With a gentle hand on your forearm, she guided you further away from the dancing guests. "What a waste of your dancing talent." 

"As you say," you replied, allowing her to bring you next to one of the great pillars. She let go of you, leaning her back against it, and you smiled. "How much dancing have you been doing, Miss Zelda? You look positively fatigued." 

"Enough," she shot back. 

"Did anyone catch your eye?" 

Zelda crossed her arms, looking forlorn. "No. But at least my toes were not bludgeoned half to death - like last time." You recalled the memory with a little bemusement. A poor chap with less than enough dancing experience had somehow managed to get a dance with your friend; It was sufficient to say that he and his family would not be invited to another ball. 

"Yes, at least," you echoed. "I always wondered how exactly he got on the dance floor in the first - " 

Suddenly, you were interrupted by an unfamiliar, low and masculine voice. 

"So this is where you've been hiding, Zelda."

You turned to look at the rude interrupter, managing to push down your own annoyance. And what you saw was more than a little shocking.

A tall, broad man who you were forced to look up at to make eye contact. Flowing, red hair that was decidedly unfashionable, but somehow worked. Tanned, bronzed skin with hardly a blemish in sight. And a pair of golden eyes that, when you looked into them, you had to suppress the instinctual shudder that threatened to run up your spine. 

You were .. silent. 

But Zelda spoke up, unbothered. "Hmph. Brash as always, I see." She got off the pillar, moving to stand by you once more. "Could you possibly politely announce your arrival instead of rudely inserting yourself into every conversation?" 

The man chuckled. 

"I suppose," he mused. "But that would be boring, yes?" 

She smiled sardonically. "You suppose. " A dramatic sigh from her, before she finally turned to you. "I don't believe you two have met, is that correct?" 

As soon as she mentioned it, you felt his gaze burning into you. You forced yourself to look at him again - managing a small, polite smile despite how you could feel your heart racing. Fortunately, you knew your poker face was one of your best-developed skills, and you prepared to steady your voice. But he spoke first again. 

" I believe I would've remembered a face like yours." 

Zelda sighed again, leaning over to murmur in your ear. "Ever the charmer, isn't he?" Before you had the chance to respond, she stepped away, placing a hand on your shoulder and directing her attention to him. "This is the childhood friend I was speaking to you about yesterday." Glancing at you, she motioned to him. 

"And this is Mr. Ganondorf Dragmire - he is an old friend of the family." 

He inclined his head slightly at you, and you did the same. 

His eyes never left your face. 

"Pleasure to meet you," said Ganondorf. "It is a shame that we weren't introduced sooner." 

You couldn't bring yourself to say anything more than a polite "Yes, indeed." It was pathetic, really - you'd always prided yourself on how you managed to keep your composure in the most stressful of situations. And here you were, clever words and sharp tongue completely disappeared because of a mere man. How pitiful. You needed to get yourself together. 

However, just as you were about to say something, once again, you were interrupted - by a new song, replacing the old. Several couples left the dance floor, but more than enough entered to take their places. Zelda was still by your side, though you could see she was itching to go back. She'd always been a graceful dancer, a product of the notably brutal dance instructor she had.

Although your attention was swayed from the introduction for a moment, it was brought back by Ganondorf saying your name; Before holding his hand out to you with a look that could only be described as coy. 

"May I have this dance?" 

His voice was a deep rumble. 

You internally winced. He'd not even known your name for a minute, and already he was putting forth the invitation. You were sure if he obviously wasn't so familiar with the Hyrule family already, he wouldn't have even been considered to be let into high society. But even though he could have been a little more patient - there was some part of you that was intrigued by him. 

Which caught you off-guard a little, you had to admit. The last time that you were intrigued was when you caught Zelda looking at a certain blonde footman with that gleam in her eye. A while ago. 

So, you tentatively put your hand in his.

"Alright." 

He led you onto the floor. Even though you were aware that he was an obviously strong man, the way that he held your hand in his made you feel as if he was treating you like a porcelain doll. As if he squeezed too hard, you would shatter. It was equally demeaning and flattering, but you held your tongue. At least he knew his own strength. The same could not be said for other dance partners you'd unfortunately had to experience. 

Your left hand found his upper arm (or something close to it; He really was quite tall) and his right landed gently near your shoulder blade, whilst his other joined yours, your fingers threading naturally through his.

For a man so large, he was nearly as poised as Zelda, and he was no forceful leader. He easily found the downbeat of the music, guiding you round in gentle steps. 

"I must admit, Mr. Dragmire - " you said quietly, after a few moments. "You are a very curious man. It surprises me that I have not noticed you before." 

That earned you another deep chuckle. "Truly? Why do you say that?" 

"Well," you were trying your hardest not to phrase it impolitely, "not many men who are invited to these little gatherings have hair like yours, sir." As you spoke, your eyes drifted to his red locks, which although it was somehow gathered in sections by ornaments, was still long for a man. It wasn't unpleasant in the slightest - just unique. 

"Does your judgment of me hinge only on my superficial qualities?" He seemed more amused than anything, which you were grateful for. "I would not have taken you for that kind of person." 

"It isn't only that, but it was the first thing I noticed." Meeting his gaze again, you kept your tone light. "Which cannot possibly be surprising to you." 

" Touché." Ganondorf smiled wider. "In that case - do you like it?" It was hard to decipher anything beyond playfulness, but there was something else in the way he steadily maintained his usual piercing gaze, and you felt as if you were under close scrutiny - you probably were. 

"Like it?" You echoed. "It does not look terrible on you, that's all." The lie came easily, and you were sure that it was highly inappropriate to say that you wanted to run your fingers through it. It must've been tricky work to maintain hair like his. Absent-mindedly, you wondered how many servants he had; If any. 

"I shall take that as high praise." 

You danced for a little while longer in silence before he spoke up again. 

"You are very curious as well," he murmured. "I do not attend many of these parties, but I'm glad I decided to waste this particular night." 

You inwardly cursed as your heart skipped a beat - you couldn't afford to fall for easy smiles and charm from a man like this. Surely your parents had already planned a match for you, one that would allow for you to keep your high status. You didn't even know if this man's family was legitimate. What were you doing? 

"How convenient." Keeping your voice firm, you didn't let any of your emotions bubble to the surface. "And very bold of you to refuse invitations from the Hyrules." 

"Rhoam knows I have my own troubles," Ganondorf answered smoothly. "He is understanding." 

"His attitude is not that way towards everyone," you said, a little bewildered. What had this man done to earn the head of the Hyrule family's trust so completely? You could only imagine, and that meant your mind was spinning a dozen possibilities at once. But you kept yourself balanced, not wanting to make a fool out of yourself. 

"I'm aware," he said. "I have heard gossip about his temper before." 

Tutting, you shook your head gently. "You must be adept at pleasing others if you've never experienced it before." 

"I would say so." His grip on your hand tightened ever so slightly - not enough for it to be uncomfortable, but it was noticeable. "It is a skill one develops after enough … time." 

You glanced at him, before suddenly finding the wall rather interesting. "As you say, sir." 

The dance only lasted a minute or two longer before the music ended, and you stepped apart from one another. He still hadn't looked anywhere else but you but dropped his gaze to the floor as you bowed to one another. As he straightened up, he offered his hand to you once more, which you took without the hesitation of last time. 

"Would you like a breath of fresh air?" He asked, as he led you off the dance floor. "I find myself feeling rather claustrophobic. Like a bird within a cage." 

The implication of being alone with him was … New. It wasn't like you could refuse, though. And you had to admit, after standing around for so long, going out onto one of the grand balconies didn't seem like such a bad idea. So you gave him a small nod. 

"Sure." 

His grip on you wasn't as soft as before; More grounding, you could say. But you didn't dwell on it much longer, as he let go of your hand as soon as you were outside. The summer night air was cool on your skin, a welcome change from the warmth of the ballroom. The sky was clear tonight, so you could see the occasional star if you looked close enough. 

From this particular spot, you could see the garden, which looked immaculate as always. It seemed you were the only ones who decided to leave the interior of the house, which wasn't anything new. But you wouldn't be anything close to astonished if you caught a glimpse of a couple or two between the hedges. They were the prime hiding spots - besides the big willow trees in the back. 

You approached the railing, laying a hand atop it as you looked outwards. 

"Do you feel less claustrophobic, Mr. Dragmire?" Feeling a touch bolder now that you weren't surrounded by other people, you looked back at him with a small smile, which he returned, approaching the railing beside you. 

"Just Ganon is fine." You were suddenly aware of his hand, millimeters away from yours. 

"Isn't that impolite?" The retort disguised your nerves. "You hardly know me." 

"I know you well enough." 

Turning fully to face him, you saw his features, awash with moonlight. A thought slipped unbidden from the farthest recesses of your mind - this was possibly the first time that you'd possibly describe someone as truly beautiful. And it scared you. Just as you were trying to concoct a witty reply to his words, he spoke again. 

"Tell me, are you seeing anybody?" 

Chapter Text

• He can be… very… oblivious… so getting into a relationship with him in the first place must've been kind of difficult 
• Won't take a hint unless if it hits him square between the eyes 
• "You like me? Oh, I like ya too, pal! You're a great friend!" 
• But when you do manage to confess to him he's very flattered 
• He's a great partner overall 
• LOVES to listen to you talk. Even if it's just complete and utter rambling he'll be completely attentive 
• May not look like it but he'll remember the small details about stuff you like or dislike, making mental notes of all of it so he'll know what to do or not to do 
• He's naturally a very loud guy but if you've got sensitive hearing he'll tone it down a lot for you
• If you're not a Goron it'll take a while for him to remember his own strength 
• Also he's like. A giant boulder so physical affection in general can be tough (pun not intended) 
• But he's still warm??? Somehow??? 
• If you're shorter than him (which is pretty much impossible not to be) he'll gladly carry you around if you want tho 
• Also he's very physically strong so if you need to carry something else then FEAR NOT! He'll do it for you, no questions asked 
• Still kind of oblivious whilst in the relationship but you can trust him to always be honest and straight to the point about things 
• He's terrible at lying anyway 
• Usually he's pretty busy with Champion duties and such but he always tries to make time for you 
• Not exactly the best at planning dates so you usually end up hanging out wherever is the most convenient 
• If you're not a Goron he'll try to learn how to cook "organic" food for you - but not before making you at least try a Rock Roast 
• Assuming that you don't enjoy eating literal rocks he'll cave and attempt to cook you something actually edible 
• Which is kind of difficult for him, because he has Big Freaking Goron Hands. 
• But it's the thought that counts, right? (Not really, but it's still nice that he wants to try cooking for you with comically small pots and pans) 
• You might be able to help him become less afraid of dogs - for example if you have one, or if you just really like them in direct contrast to his deep-rooted fear of them 
• It's a slow process, and he's very twitchy and nervous at first, but y'know, exposure therapy 
• Over time he might learn that dogs aren't actually ferocious, rabid beasts who'll chase him around 
• Honestly the other Champions might be a little surprised when meeting you, but it's only briefly 
• They all see how happy Daruk gets around you, how he's even more boisterous and smiley 
• Which is extremely impressive 

Chapter Text

Upon being hired for the job -- assistant nurse at the popular sleepaway summer camp known as Camp Tarrey -- you'd mentally prepared yourself for the worst; some horrific accident that would inevitably occur, like a freak bear attack or a kid falling into the lake and almost drowning. 

But, actually, you were well into your third week and it wasn't like that at all. The worst injury you'd seen thus far was only a sprained finger, and even that had only required some ice and a splint. Most of what you did was hand out Band-Aids or gingerly apply antiseptic to scrapes acquired through unfortunate trippings on tree roots and such. 

The kids were pretty well-behaved, too. Only a couple squirmed away from you, and it was almost scary how quickly an "injured" kid would go from bawling their eyes out to completely normal after a couple bandages. No matter how many times it happened, you never quite got used to it. 

The responsibility of calming down said bawling kids usually fell to the "real" nurse -- Mipha, whose ability to soothe anybody almost seemed like magic sometimes. She was always really kind, too. Even the most prickly counselor didn't admonish her nearly as often as he scolded basically everyone else. 

Speaking of counselors. 

Ever since the second day of camp, you'd become pretty familiar with one in particular. 

Tall. Sun-beaten. Long, bright burgundy hair that matched amber eyes. Mipha's little brother. 

… Well, he wasn't so "little". 

With a laugh that echoed around the dining hall and arms that could carry an impressive amount of fishing gear, you were well aware that Sidon did not have a tendency to be easily afraid. It made him perfect for the job, as his energy was contagious, and even kids with frightening amounts of stamina had trouble keeping up with him on occasion. They loved him, anyway. Whenever he was assigned on nature hiking duty, there was always a large group tagging along. 

Unfortunately, that same recklessness that he wore so well led to a lot of careless accidents. If you hadn't grown such a terrible soft spot for him, it'd probably be annoying by now. 

"Again?" You'd say, pretending to be disappointed whilst doing something like applying gauze or removing splinters. "I thought you'd learned from last time." 

He'd grin cheekily. He had a single dimple, you noticed. It fit his face perfectly, like a new jigsaw puzzle. 

"I just couldn't help myself."  

-- 

You knew you were screwed when Mipha leveled you with that look; that same calm, serene smile, and yet her eyes were full of mischief. 

"You like my brother," she stated, matter-of-factly. 

Spluttering and attempting not to choke on your drink, you put down the mug cheerfully reading Camp Tarrey in bright orange font. "What. You can't be serious." 

But she didn't back down. "Don't play coy." Her hair, like Sidon's, was red; however, more subdued and softer. A lock of it was wound about a perfectly manicured finger as she scrutinized your expression. "Practically anybody can tell, you know." Mipha's smile became more of a smirk. 

"Especially if they're around for essentially every interaction you have with him." 

" Oh, Hylia." You sighed, but felt your face warm regardless. "I know you can read people really well, but … " 

"You know I'm right." She reached out, affectionately poking your cheek. "You just light up whenever he steps through that door." 

For a moment, you just looked at her. 

And then you slumped onto the table. " Fine. You got me." 

Before Mipha could gloat -- not like she was the type to do so, anyway -- you continued. "But it's nothing more than a silly little crush, y'know? It's only a couple more weeks before we all pack up and go home." Defeated, you sighed again. "There's no way that anything substantial's gonna come out of this." 

She shrugged lightly. "You may be right." 

When she didn't elaborate, you weren't surprised, and picked up the thread of conversation instead. "But nobody can blame me, right? It's not everyday that you meet a guy who's basically straight out of one of those terrible teen shows starring Blynne Rider or whatever. And he's always so nice -- " 

"I think he feels the same way." 

Suddenly wide-eyed, you stared at Mipha; she was utterly unfazed. 

"You're kidding." 

"I know my brother," she shrugged, "and he is not hard to read." 

"But there's no way -- " 

" -- you think he would bother dragging himself all the way over to the infirmary for just a few scratches from thorns and such?" Mipha asked, still unaffected by your bewilderment. "There are medical supplies readily available in those small stations throughout the camp. You're aware of that, yes? We restock them every so often." 

Oh.

Yeah, she was right. It was really good thinking on the camp founders' parts, since it wasn't like it was convenient for a kid to run all the way from the lake. Which was on the complete opposite side of the designated grounds. 

"Maybe that's just a coincidence," you offered meekly. 

"Suppose it wasn't," she continued, "and suppose that last year, he did not bother coming to the infirmary at all, except to walk a child or two over." 

"But … he didn't visit you? At all? Didn't, like, pop in to say hello?" 

"He found talking to me in the dining hall sufficient on its own," she recited, before smiling again. 

"Isn't that funny? He did not start visiting frequently until you were hired this year." 

You opened your mouth, then closed it a few seconds later. It was funny; since you were hard-pressed to deny it once again, but it would probably sound stupid. Especially when having your feelings reciprocated was actually a very very good thing. Why were you denying it, anyway? 

"Ha ha," you finally managed to get out, "yeah, very funny." 

"You don't believe me," replied Mipha. It wasn't a question at all. 

You placed your chin firmly in your palm, inhaling and then exhaling, sharply. "Yeah, not really." Pausing, you added, "I mean, I know that you know him a lot better than I do, but it's still hard to believe that he might really…." You flushed, and trailed off. 

Mipha's expression softened. "Oh. No, I understand," she said, "I didn't think I'd be able to convince you anyway, with how you've been … oblivious." 

"Oblivious?" 

"Well, yes, to a certain degree. I know obliviousness when I see it." 

You wondered absentmindedly if that had anything to do with a certain blonde counselor, but were unable to dwell on it. She opened her mouth to continue, but then was interrupted by the telltale ringing of the infirmary door being opened. 

"I'd better go check who that is." She smiled semi-apologetically at you, before leaving the tiny kitchen. 

And you were left alone with your thoughts, the new information whirling around your head. 

Knowing Mipha, that wasn't going to be it. 

--

And you were right. 

It was just two days later when you'd been assigned to accompany Sidon and a bunch of kids to the lake. Of all places. It was a hot, humid day, so of course the kids were going to be in the water for a good while -- you didn't know how you'd managed to end up being forced to tag along, with Sidon being a licensed lifeguard and all. 

Hylia. 

Well, it wasn't like you were complaining or anything. It was just a bit weird, to be walking beside Sidon on the dirt trail that led to Lake Floria, and not standing next to him while he sat on the exam table in the infirmary. But, he seemed to be taking it very well, and so you didn't say anything about it. 

You weren't supposed to be going in the water at all, in favor of watching the kids, but you hoped you'd be able to dip your feet in at least. It was pretty muggy, even with the current shade the trees were providing. 

"How much longer?" Whined one of the kids, and it took you a second to recall her name -- Kheel or something like that. "It's so hooot." 

"Not much longer," reassured Sidon, sounding confident as always; even in the heat. His hair was tied up in a bun today. "Don't worry, alright?" 

"How can I not worry?!" She protested, melodramatically. "I feel like I'm gonna melt." 

Again, Sidon was utterly nonchalant, despite the apparent desperation of the little girl's situation. "You'll get cooled off in an instant once you get in the water," he mused, smiling down at her pouting face. "The water's always nice at the lake, you know." 

For a moment, she just stared. But she eventually turned back to face forward. Not without a little huff, though. 

"Always?" You dared echo. "Not last week, though. The wind was terrible." 

Sidon's answering chuckle made you feel like you were going to melt. 

"Terrible indeed," he said, "I remember wondering aloud if it was possible for one to surf on the waves." 

You couldn't help but snort. Sidon looked like the surfing type, alright. "If only that was allowed." 

He heaved a sigh. "If only." 

The conversation died down after that, but the chatter from the kids following behind you sure didn't. 

It wasn't long before the lake was in sight, as well as the small sandy shore you were going to be parked at for maybe two hours. With excited whoops and yells, and throwing of bags onto the picnic tables nearby, the formerly peaceful shallows were suddenly disturbed by multiple splashing children. 

"Don't go past the buoys!" Called out Sidon, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Otherwise you won't be allowed in the lake anymore!" 

Although hardly anyone turned to shout back an affirmative, you knew the kids would take his warning seriously. It was true that he was normally a pretty relaxed counselor, however, when it came to rules that directly protected the campers' safety, he was absolutely unforgiving. Another good quality to add to the already-long list, you supposed wryly. 

Waiting until all of the kids were in the water, you headed towards the shore. After your shoes and socks were neatly placed in a pile, safely away from the water, you sat down. 

The water was cool, and even though you only let it lap up to your ankles, the relief was almost instantaneous. A welcome distraction from the otherwise unpleasant heat. 

Lazily, you dragged your gaze over to the kids, who probably wouldn't get hurt in six feet of water, tops. But after being here for a couple weeks, you couldn't be too sure. 

You'd expected Sidon to head in after them. You'd expected to be quietly filing away what you were seeing for later. And you were expecting to sit quietly, and whilst you would probably be blessed with something you'd never forget, you'd also be in agonizing pain over the fact that you couldn't even work up the nerve to call him over. 

What you hadn't expected, however, was him sitting down next to you instead, making himself comfortable on the sand. 

"Is it cold?" He asked, with a megawatt grin that could probably power a thousand generators. 

You tore your eyes away from him, and looked out at the lake. 

"No, it's perfect." Mentally kicking yourself, you added, "I mean, I guess it's a little cold. But if it wasn't, I wouldn't bother putting my feet in." 

Sidon nodded as if you'd just said something incredibly profound. "Understandable. If the water was warm, I'd suppose the children would come running back, too." They were running, of course, but not in your direction. Not yet, at least. 

"True." You idly moved your fingertips across the sand. "It looks nice. Refreshing." 

"So it does." 

A beat. 

"Aren't you gonna follow them?" Glancing over, you were slightly startled -- he'd already been looking at you. But the moment your eyes met his, he was back to paying attention where he was supposed to. The lake. 

Sidon's tone was still cheerful when he spoke, but you detected an underlying level of something else. "Ah, I would, but I'd probably just get in the way!" He let out another one of his typical "hah!"s before continuing. "... Plus, I'm not particularly in the mood for getting my shirt wet before having to proceed to the friendship bracelets station." 

Just take it off, your brain supplied unhelpfully. 

"That makes sense," you forced yourself to say instead. "We don't exactly have the luxury of being able to get completely dry before the next activity, so …" 

"I've certainly learned my lesson!" He grinned again, and it was contagious. "Remember when I had gotten a nasty scrape from slipping in the water?" 

You remembered. Pretty vividly at that. 

"Yes, my hair was wet until dinnertime!" Shaking his head slowly, he watched as a couple kids tossed a mini beach ball back and forth. "There weren't any towels, and I was not soaked, so I suppose it wasn't deemed an emergency." 

"At least you wore it well," you said without thinking. 

Oops. 

The heat must've been getting to you. Before you could recall the statement and apologize furiously for your mistake, he spoke. And he was … 

"You think so?" His gaze flicked down for a moment, before returning to yours. Embarrassed. "I - I mean. That … was probably a joke, to make me feel better about my unfortunate wet-hair incident, yes?" He blinked, all bravado having disappeared in an instant. 

"Right?" 

Right, you should've repeated. But Mipha's words from before came back to you. 

… Oh, screw it. 

"It wasn't -- " you took a breath, fortifying your inner defenses. "It wasn't a joke." 

Your words hung in the air for a moment -- 

before Sidon's dimple made a grand reappearance. 

"Oh?" No, that wasn't your imagination. He was moving closer. Just a touch, but you noticed. "In that case, I will ask again." Now, the smile wasn't as big as the ones before, but it was softer. Sweeter. Familiar. 

"Do you think so?" 

"Yeah," you answered, suddenly feeling a whole lot lighter. "I think so." 

He just looked at you for a moment. Pleasantly, his eyes seemed to twinkle. 

"You're beautiful, you know that?" 

It caught you extremely off-guard, to say the least. If your expression didn't betray you, the way you instantly averted your eyes probably did instead. You felt your face warm -- warmer than it already was, that is. 

Eloquently, you replied, "what?" 

"Ah." Completely unlike the shyness he'd displayed just moments earlier, he was content to repeat himself. "I said that you're -- " 

"SI-DON!!" 

Dammit. 

Your head whipped around so fast that you almost got whiplash. 

Approaching you was an indignant-looking boy, followed by an even more frustrated-looking girl. They both splashed loudly in their mad dash to approach the man next to you, whose surprise (and perhaps even frustration) at being interrupted vanished in mere seconds. 

"What is it, Tumbo?" 

"She pushed me!" 

"What?" The girl in question glared at him, and he returned it all the same. "No, I didn't. You started it, because I -- " 

"Now, hold on," interjected Sidon, smoothly transitioning into 'helpful counselor-and-mediator" mode, "no matter who is at fault, we don't push people, okay? You could get hurt, especially on the slippery rocks out there." 

Silence. 

The calm before the storm. 

"See, I told you to -- " 

"This is all his fault!! He -- " 

 At that point, you officially tuned out of the argument. Sure, you were paid to affix bandages to physical scrapes, but you hadn't been hired to mend emotional ones. 

Still, as Sidon attempted to lead the kids to a peaceful reconciliation -- keyword, attempted -- his words still repeated over and over in your head. They repeated over and over as you guided the kids back to camp, and when you and Sidon parted to your respective areas. Now, you didn't miss his lingering glances. The way he looked at you. 

The opportunity for you to address his words didn't come up until later that night, though. 

-- 

With a little help from Link, you'd managed to get a moment alone. 

It was a remarkably clear night. The weather was perfect; you were certain that it was a sign that it would be raining buckets tomorrow. All the more reason to act now. 

And act now you did. The very moment he approached -- the very moment he opened his mouth, you acted. Well, spoke. Interrupted. 

"I think you're beautiful, too." 

Sidon's reply was as clear as the sky above, glittering with unshed stars. Quietly, he drew closer, and he dipped his head, entering your space. He looked at you as if he was trying to memorize your features -- catalog them for the perfection they were. Reverence was something you hadn't experienced before, but you had a good feeling that was how he felt. 

Because it was what you felt right then, too.

His hand was warm, slightly callused as he cupped your cheek. 

"May I kiss you?" 

You nodded. 

-- 

Needless to say, the goodbye you shared a few weeks later wasn't a final goodbye. 

Chapter Text

Being a traveler in times like these meant that you had to be aware of any current threats. 

There were many, of course. Such as monsters, like the short and mildly annoying Bokoblin and the tall and very terrifying Hinox, as well as the decaying mechanical monstrosities half-buried in the ground. Not to mention the Lizalfos or Moblin, the latter more than willing to split your weapons like twigs. 

But the vast array of enemies wasn't just limited to literal monsters, artificial or otherwise. There were, of course, regular sentient beings who, driven by a need to survive in the broken lands of Hyrule, took to crime. Either by raiding travelers in the dead of night or demanding their supplies at knifepoint, said thieves were common in certain areas of the once-great kingdom. 

However, one particular group of thieves were the deadliest. 

The Yiga. 

You knew what they were, of course. Being Sheikah yourself. 

It was true that you were far from home, but it wasn't that uncommon for Sheikah to travel either; one notable example being the painter Pikango, who you'd encountered on several occasions. His zeal for exquisite locations was pretty impressive, and he always greeted you like you were some long-lost relative of his. 

Regardless, the Yiga had gotten more bold in recent years. Actually venturing out of their hideout deep in the Gerudo Desert -- you had a strange feeling that it had something to do with the sudden surge in monster activity. It'd been some time since you'd last been in Kakariko Village, but with every passing week, it was like the invisible string on your heart tugged harder. 

The Sheikah in Kakariko weren't warriors. Protected by the surrounding hills, far away from everywhere else, they'd been safe for millennia. What would happen if the Yiga got confident? Their hatred and desire for vengeance against the Hylian royal family had lasted for generations, after all. 

You could only handle so much stress concerning your friends and family. 

Before long, you decided just a visit couldn't hurt. Even if the ultimate purpose of said visit was to make sure none of those Ganon worshippers had placed even a foot near your village, even you got homesick sometimes. It was true that the architecture of Zora's Domain was magnificent, and the mountains surrounding Rito Village were breathtaking -- but at the end of the day, nothing compared to your own bed in a simple home that held nostalgia in every corner. 

Thankfully, the journey wasn't going to be too long. And you knew the path by heart.

It took you through open plains, where breezes blew the long grass in lazy patterns. Woods, in which birds looked upon you curiously, chirping at each other. Across burbling streams and wide rivers, where you occasionally stopped to see if you could catch a fish for dinner. 

It was always just after dark when you settled down in stables to sleep. True, you could handle yourself decently in a fight, and you knew how to get out of a tough situation -- but you weren't exactly fond of being chased by Stal creatures. Nobody with a functioning brain was. 

The only time you made an exception to the 'only sleep in stables' rule was when you were forced to stop at the halfway point. 

Grumbling to yourself, you started setting up camp for the night. Dinner was whatever you could throw in your frying pan and roast over the fire with whatever spices you could find. Your bedroll wasn't the comfiest thing, but it was warm enough to keep the cold Necluda air from seeping into your bones. 

Hoping that you'd be allotted at least three hours of undisturbed sleep, you closed your eyes and shoved your face firmly into the thin, crudely built-in pillow. 

Things were fine at first. 

Until a few minutes later, that is. 

As if Hylia had looked down on you and laughed, you heard shuffling from nearby. 

Instantly, you were alert. You'd kept your trusty, familiar sword sheathed near the side of where you'd laid down. Sitting up, you reached for it, and then slowly got out of your bedroll. 

In a shallow crouch, you exited from beneath your makeshift tent. 

There was another rustle of leaves, and your ears instantly picked up on the sound. Eyes adjusting to the darkness, you creeped behind a wide tree. Cautiously, you peeked around its trunk, looking into the woods. It could just be a small animal, but you couldn't take any chances. 

The next sound you heard just confused you, though. 

A grunt, accompanied by a couple snapping twigs. It sounded far too much like a person. Then, the sound of fabric against the ground. Your mind jumped to a few wild conclusions before you landed on something that sounded at least somewhat plausible. And yet, you still needed to investigate. 

Keeping your hand on the hilt of your sword, you stepped forward. 

Scanning the ground, your gaze finally landed on something. 

Dark hair, tied up. A red and black uniform. 

A mask, with the inverted symbol of your people. 

You could only stare at the wounded Yiga footsoldier as they dragged themself through the dirt. 

It must've been bad, if they couldn't teleport away. 

In an instant, you were hit with the two decisions you could make. 

There was the first -- the obvious option. Take advantage of their wounded state and end their suffering right there. It'd be one less pair of gloved hands to worry about, after all, and it was the choice you were supposed to make; the Yiga were your sworn enemies. In a time of exile, they hadn't stuck with their blood. They'd defected to pursue their own agenda of revenge and bloodshed. 

But there was also the second option. 

You could … help them. 

Just seconds after realizing that you'd even considered the idea, you were struck with incredulity. Why would you bother? Minutes after they'd healed, they'd probably dig their sickle deep into your neck. After all, the Yiga Clan were enemies of anyone against Ganon. And that meant the Sheikah were their enemies. That meant you were their enemy. 

Yet … 

There was something pitiful, in the way they crawled. How they grunted and sniffled, occasionally stopping to just lay there. They were too distracted with their own pain to even notice you standing there, just a small distance away. 

Your hand trembled on the hilt of your sword. 

Wondering if the Goddess would condemn your soul for eternity, you took a cautious step forward. The sound you made was slight -- just a few leaves giving under your boot, not even dry leaves at that -- 

The Yiga footsoldier's head whipped around, and with the song of metal, you caught sight of their sickle glinting in the meager amount of moonlight. Your reflexes were fast enough for you to step out of the way, but not fast enough that you drew your own weapon in time to deflect their strike -- 

-- but you didn't even have to, since they crumpled before it could land, letting out a sharp cry of pain. 

For a moment, you were frozen. 

Then, you removed your weapon from its sheath. 

Though their neck was covered, you knew they could feel it digging into the back of their neck. Not hard enough to actually pierce the leather. Just enough force for them to know that it was there, and it could. 

You spoke clearly, not wanting to waste any time. 

"Hand over your weapon." 

You heard a muffled exhale -- a sigh? Before they obeyed, still hunched over at the waist. It was light in your hands, almost alarmingly so, but you knew it was just as deadly as your sword. 

A moment. 

If you strained your ears, their ragged, pained breathing was audible. 

The forest was dead quiet. 

Your blade slipped gently off their neck, and was easily sheathed. 

"Come on." 

-- 

Soon, you learned a few things about the footsoldier. 

For one, he was a man. 

There was a deep wound -- from a weapon he wouldn't name -- that had narrowly missed any vital organs. He was reluctant to accept your help, and even more reluctant to make small talk. Not that you minded. It was better this way. Better to not try and form a lasting bond with someone who was supposed to be your enemy. 

Though, normally, one did not patch up their enemy. Or offer him a Fairy Tonic -- which was refused, by the way. He was weak, but stubborn. 

He knew what you were from the second he noticed your crimson eyes. 

The firelight danced off his mask, which was still pristine despite his less-than-pristine condition. The rest of his uniform was still in place, sans his gloves, which had been discarded somewhere to the side. 

Silence reigned supreme, until he broke it. 

His voice was scratchy. Again, muffled. 

"You should've killed me." 

You had to admit, you were a little startled. From his stillness and his unwillingness to speak, as well as his injuries, you'd expected him to fall asleep or something. Drowsiness tugged at your own eyelids, but you weren't exactly keen on taking a nap in present company. You could make it up tomorrow morning, after all. And you needed to mend a couple pieces of your armor, anyway. 

"Why?" Was all you could say, pausing for a moment. 

His gaze -- well, his mask -- stayed fixed forward. 

"Why not?" 

He interrupted your train of thought before you could come up with a semi-adequate answer. 

"Did you not want the blood on your hands?" The fire crackled. "The guilt?" 

You were sure that was some sort of jab, but you didn't feel like addressing it. No, that wasn't the reason why you'd spared him. You'd killed before, more out of necessity than anything else. Not enough times that it was a regular occasion -- it wasn't -- but enough times that you were aware of it. And, yes, sometimes it weighed heavily on you. But you just had to remind yourself that you had to do it at the time. There was no other way to save yourself. 

"No." You were steady as you resumed your task at hand.

The truth was: you'd simply felt bad for him. But that wasn't something you wanted to tell him. 

"It would've been too easy," you asserted instead. 

He gave you a noncommittal hum in response. 

Even if his mask obscured his eyes, you began to catch onto the subtle movements of his neck which betrayed where he was looking. The Fairy Tonic still sat by your shin, as you had a hunch that his -- even though it was impressive -- stubbornness could only hold out for so long. The body was always more powerful than the mind, after all. 

He kept glancing over at the pretty bottle, but didn't say anything. 

Finally, it was too much, and you sacrificed what was left of your dignity to ask a second time. 

"Are you sure you don't want it?" 

He stiffened the best he could, in his position. 

"I don't need -- " 

"Hylia." You picked the bottle up by its neck and held it out to him. "Just take it, okay? Build up the strength you need to get back to the Gerudo Desert." 

Now he was looking at you, and you raised your eyebrows in return. "The sooner, the better." 

He only hesitated briefly before sitting up -- you didn't miss his wince -- and grabbing the Tonic out of your hand. For just a moment, his now-bare fingers brushed yours -- 

-- the feeling quickly dissipated as he turned around, hands working clumsily at the straps of his mask. 

You only caught a glimpse of tan skin before his mask was put back down, and the empty bottle placed to the side.

He must've been thirsty, judging by how fast he downed the tonic. You weren't sure if he'd accept water, too. Regardless, the effects were near-instant, and although the wound definitely wasn't gone, you knew he'd regained some of his strength -- even if he was still hunched over, you had a hunch that might've just been his posture, only worsened by the gaping hole near his stomach. 

"Fine?" You offered. 

He nodded, and then hesitated once more. As if he was going to say something. 

You waited, expectantly. 

Dropping his masked gaze to the fire, he made a sort-of coughing noise. 

"Thanks." 

Well, it wasn't exactly beautiful, but you'd take it. 

"It's nothing."

Despite yourself, you offered him a tiny smile. It wasn't every day you actually encountered people -- you were maybe a little desperate for at least decent company. That, and you still had his weapon stowed deep inside the bedroll you were sitting on.

He looked up at you for a moment, but quickly turned his attention back to the slowly-dying flames. 

You expected him to just stay silent, so you picked back up your leather chestplate, flipping it over so you could inspect the back. Yeah, the job you'd done wasn't the best, but you could just ask Cado to look at it once you'd gotten back to -- 

"I mean it." His words came out in a rush. "I … still don't understand why you didn't just slit my neck and leave me there for the Bokoblins to fight over." He kept going, throat still raw despite the tonic. "You had every reason to kill me." 

He sounded confused. Frustrated. Maybe even afraid, but you weren't sure if that was the case. For the third time, you put down your work and looked at him instead. 

You weren't sure if he was truly meeting your eyes, but you had a feeling. 

"But I didn't," you answered, simply. "Let's just leave it at that, okay?" Unwavering, you held his invisible gaze. "It's not like we'll see each other again." 

It was the truth -- why did it take effort to say? You wouldn't recognize him, even without the mask. You didn't know his name. If you came across another one of his fellow footsoldiers, and they engaged you in combat, you'd do so without a second thought. After all, that was what was supposed to happen. 

He was suddenly focused on the fire again. 

"Right." 

You allowed the silence to permeate the small space again. Insistently, your eyelids threatened to fall, but you forced yourself to stay awake. 

Your footsoldier seemed to be in the same boat. His head kept drooping downwards for a minute or two, but he seemed to snap back alive after realizing his own exhaustion. Similarly unwilling to drop his guard, it seemed. Although you'd spared him once, he wasn't completely certain that you'd do it again. 

However, unlike you, he was in much worse condition. He needed to sleep, otherwise he wouldn't recover like he needed to. 

Eventually, he succumbed to it. 

He didn't wake when you started cleaning up your things -- he didn't even stir when you dropped your pan with an obnoxiously loud clatter. Once everything was stuffed inside your bag, you put out the fire, making sure no burning embers were left. 

You only left two things behind with him. His sickle, and your spare blanket, which you tucked around his shoulders. 

You should've gone on without looking back, down the path towards the next stable, where you could get the rest you needed. But -- and you didn't know why -- you had to cast one last glance at him. 

Mask and all, slumped against a tree near what used to be your campfire. His weapon by his side. You'd never seen a member of the Yiga Clan like this -- he looked peaceful. Vulnerable. 

Almost human. 

Willing away your own fatigue, you got back onto the road.