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“Wild, do you hate me?” The gentle banter around the pot of steaming curry was quickly halted at the sudden comment. Wild paused his meal to a sudden jolt of surprise, turning to look at Hyrule, whose face was plagued with furrowed eyebrows and a stern look.
The comment came out of nowhere. Well, nowhere in the context of the friendly conversation going around at that moment, but taking account of past action would seem reasonable. Since Wild joined the group of heroes just a times ago, everyone had noticed his wary and uncomfortable body language when in regards to Hyrule.
Hyrule simply getting closer would result in Wild taking a step back, a strike in conversation leading to short and vague comments as answers, even as much as a simple pat on the shoulder calls for a noticeable wince. You couldn’t imagine how frustrating it was for Hyrule to even attempt to heal the man.
Hyrule continuously began to contemplate the meaning behind such actions. He’d observe Wild turn down a pat of the back from Hyrule but immediately accept one from Time. Or deny a potion from Hyrule just to accept the same one from Twilight. He wasn’t going to stand for it, and it was finally time for him he’d get some answers.
“I understand why you’d think that. It is a reasonable result of my attitude towards you, huh,” Wild set the wooden bowl on his lap and gazed into the fire that added a soft illumination and comfortable warmth to their surroundings. He sighed gently, “I should stop avoiding my feelings towards you.”
Everyone sat quietly, Wild was known to be a man of few words. Never necessarily talking unless it was needed of him, nonetheless about his personal life.
“I’m gonna get a little personal, so I’ll apologise in advance if I get emotional,” Wild continued after a pause, and took a deep breath, “Have I ever told you about my love life a hundred years ago.” This was more so a rhetorical question, as even he knew he hadn’t talked much of it.
Another deep breath, and continued, “Well, not much to say. Except for my fiancé.” Wild hadn’t looked away from the fire, but could guesstimate the feelings of the group around him. Surprise, perhaps.
“She was… the love of life. A woman who used her kindness as a strength, and her wits as her weapon.” He took a pause and he remembered the details of his lover, memories as clear as if they were made just yesterday. “The smartest person I’d known.”
“Princess of the Zora, Mipha. A champion, a lover,” he took a deep breath, “A healer.” He took this time to look back at Hyrule, whose face he could only describe as solemn and focused, but he continued, “I remember the way she’d hold my arm when looking over my wounds, how her fingers felt brushing her cold but gentle healing magic to mend the scars. It felt just like your magic, but minus the part where she’d hold my face and give me a kiss well done afterwards.” Giving a gentle smile to himself as he reminisced about the feeling of her soft and warm lips against his.
“She even shared that aspect of bickering on and on about being more careful, though she was more than happy to be able to use her magic to aid me in the ways she could.” He chuckled quietly, watching Hyrule’s face puff up in the little bit of embarrassment. Even the way he’d pout his lips was similar to hers, but he figured he’d keep that thought to himself.
“Hyrule, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to act so coldly towards you. It’s just, you remind me so much of her.”
He noticed Hyrule scooch closer towards him, just barely noticeable, but enough that more than a few others saw. “I’m not making an excuse. I suppose more of an… explanation. Just know, I’m not telling you that this is your fault, you don’t need to change anything about yourself. I think just getting this off my chest will help with my journey of acceptance.”
He sighed, turning to the bowl of curry that now sat rapidly cooling in his lap, he gripped it gently.
“Thank you for opening up to us, Wild.” He felt Hyrule shimmy himself right next to Wild, noticing a hesitant hand hovering closely to his, and Wild gave a nod of approval, allowing Hyrule to grip his hand in his.
“I’m glad we got to learn this side of you.” They both stared at their hands in each other’s, mutually agreeing to sit silently in one another’s presence.
Slowly, more of the others began to share their thoughts; a “Thank you for telling us about her,” from a pleased Time. “I didn’t know you even had it in you to get a girlfriend,” from a sly Legend. “Tell us more about Mipha!” from an excited Wind. “She was a zora, you said?” from a confused Sky.
The rest of the night was filled with excited chatter of Wild’s now known fiancé. Wild was more than happy to reminisce on her. He hadn’t known why he kept this to himself for so long, he originally presumed it was to protect himself from feeling upset, but in that moment, all he felt was cathartic happiness. Nothing but gentle bliss as he told them about their young meeting, his sloppy but well-received proposal, the realisation that if he were to marry the Princess of the Zora that he would ultimately become the Prince of the Zora far too late into their relationship. And making a promise to take Sky to visit Zora’s domain soon, as he was still utterly confused as to how a Hylian-Zora relationship would even work in the first place.
The conversations died down slowly as the night passed quickly. One by one dropping silently into a slumber, including Hyrule, who melted onto Wild’s shoulder long into the night. Wild didn’t seem to mind.