Chapter Text
Yuuri was 23 years old when he decided it was time for him to venture into the plains of Hyrule.
He would have done it sooner...if it weren't for the obvious danger that the aftermath of the Great Calamity posed.
As expected, there were monsters in every corner of the map, remnant Guardians ready to shoot lasers at any trace of life; the Yiga Clan's agents stealing bananas and attacking villagers, not to mention the typical highway robbers. But luckily for travelers and merchants, there were benevolent warriors and soldiers who helped keep the roads safe, achieving a certain peace and avoiding panic among the remaining population. Not to mention the recent rumors about the return of the 'Chosen One' by the Master Sword that filled everyone's hearts with hope.
Yuuri, for his part, had no formal training. He couldn't use spells nor did have magical artifacts. However, he learned as a child to fend off from low-level monsters with his slingshot and sneak past Guardians, so his journey through the mountains was relatively uneventful.
The only thing that kept him company was his full backpack, his new bow and the sound of his half-empty canteen. He had packed some clothes, which he washed every time he found a river; kitchen utensils, which he used when he managed to hunt or fish, he also had reserves of meat and nuts, which he consumed only in emergencies and which were of great help when, after several nights of storms without being able to gather fruit or hunt, he managed to reach Hateno Village safely.
After a hot dinner, a comfortable bed, and the warmth of a fireplace watching over him as he slept, Yuuri leave early the inn he had stayed at the night before and headed to the market to buy more supplies, including some clothes so he could better blend in among the pointy-eared population.
Yuuri didn't like it when his round ears draw too much attention of the locals, since he was a simple human and not a Hylian or another common race. It could happen that a horde of killer cuccos would appear in the middle of the plaza but Yuuri's ears would still be the center of attention.
At the market, he paid for a simple blue tunic and brown pants to replace his torn and mud-stained garments, as well as a matching scarf to cover his ears, then he asked a shopkeeper for directions on what to expect in the area.
"Don't tell me you're looking for the Lovers' Pond." Said the woman next to the shopkeeper, possibly his sister due to their physical resemblance. She was showing a smile between exasperated and mocking. "I'm sorry to tell you that only the Broken-Heart pound is in this area. Don't worry, you aren't the first one to confuse the locations."
"Ah. What?" Yuuri blinked, confused as he was only looking for the safest route to Zora's Domain. He was curious to meet the fish-men in person.
"Sara, stop telling our customers about that pond. He didn't even ask about it." The shopkeeper scolded her, rolling his purple eyes.
"But Mickey!" The girl frowned and pouted.
"Uh, what is… the Lovers' Pond?" He asked curiously, despite not being sure if he wanted to know.
"Oh! The Lovers' Pond, according to the legends..." Began to explain Sara with a big smile, ignoring the annoyed sigh of the man next to her. "...It's a heart-shaped lake, which was sculpted by natural erosions or perhaps by divine intervention, but either way, it's a beautiful setting where Soulmates are destined to meet when they need each other the most." She clasped her hands together, letting out a happy sigh.
"Uh, I see…" Yuuri didn't believe her.
But she had a point. There were many legends that were true, Yuuri couldn't deny that. However, that one in particular sounded...too good to be true. Still, a heart-shaped body of water sounded pretty spectacular to look at.
"You don't need to believe me." The girl laughed at the look of disbelief on his face. "But I can tell you that my brother Michele," She motioned to the man next to her with her right thumb. "Met his husband Emil at that pond." She winked as her brother blushed.
"It was just a coincidence." Michele waved a hand, trying to brush it off. "But it's a nice place to visit." Added before ending the conversation to serve another customer.
Days later, when Yuuri looked at the routes marked on his map, instead of heading to Zora's Domain as planned... he continued walking south, towards Tuft Mountain.
During his trips, Yuuri usually slept in the open air, but he would occasionally stop for the night at roadside inns, where he could keep in touch with vendors and other travelers to exchange stories and items. In fact, he had even befriended a Hylian farmer named Phichit, and the only reason they didn't travel together was because the farmer had to follow a certain route to deliver his goods, so it was a happy coincidence every time they met again.
And it was during a Blood Moon night, in which the atmosphere felt especially tense, that a Goron came rolling and asking for asylum while he trembled.
"The Four Divine Beasts were awakened." He said as an explanation. Some guests panicked while others, like Phichit and Yuuri, nodded solemnly. There were tremors and noises during the night but no one dared to go out.
A week later, the news about the fall of the Calamity King was heard throughout Hyrule.
Yuuri guessed that it must be true since he encountered fewer monsters along the way. Still, he had to draw his bow and arrows to take down a bokoblin that was chasing an innocent puppy.
"Are you okay?" He asked after crouching down, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. The puppy growled instinctively until he managed to understand that the human was the one who had saved him, then he moaned and brought his muzzle to his thighs to ask for pets.
Yuuri picked the little dog up and comforted him with words and cuddles, and gave him something to eat and drink. Then he put it down again, waiting to see him go.
The poodle followed him.
The next day he named him Vicchan.
A few days later Yuuri finally reached the foot of the mountain marked on his map and sighed.
He could still give up and turn around, but he was already there, so he decided to climb up Tuft Mountain without rushing it, just enjoying the scenery and the fresh air slowly hitting his skin. Vicchan happily walked beside him.
Despite his initial doubts, Yuuri was amazed to see what was on the top of the mountain, leaving him speechless.
A beautiful heart-shaped pond was indeed there, with the surface of the water shimmering pristinely like a diamond in the midday light.
The human approached at a slow pace, dropping his backpack on the ground before kneeling at the edge and taking a breath at the same time that his little friend decided to drink from the lake.
There didn't seem to be anyone else around, which was a bit disappointing. However, a feeling of lightness and serenity came over Yuuri as he looked at his own reflection. He took off his glasses and brought water to his face to cool off and wash away the sweat, wiping it off with the sleeves of his robe.
Putting his glasses back on, he managed to make out through the ripples of water a tall figure next to him.
"Hello." Greeted the figure in a monotone voice. Yuuri yelled before getting to his feet and trying to back away, but he almost tripped due to the abruptness of his act and it made him stop and look at his interlocutor with wide eyes. "I think… you're my soulmate."
Yuuri blinked, not daring to move another muscle.
Strange. He was sure that he didn't see anyone going up the mountain or anyone walking behind him. But the figure in front of him… no, the man in front of him, didn't seem to realize that he literally appeared out of nowhere, as if he were a ghost… or a ninja.
A spark of recognition then lit up in Yuuri's brain.
That man was a Sheikah, a ninja of the Royal Family of Hyrule, the ones who did the dirty work and stained their hands with blood so that royalty didn't have to. He could tell by the tight blue and white outfit that showed off his glorious trained body, adding the flashy draw of a red eye with a tear over his chest.
He didn't know if the sheikah was happy or disgusted to realize that Yuuri was possibly his soulmate, as his face was hidden behind a white mask that also had a red eye drawn on it. He could only see his lips, which didn't give much indication either because they rested in a straight line.
"Tell me, little one, is this Human a good person?"
Yuuri put his hands over his head, thinking that he had dropped the scarf, however, it was still in place. How did the Sheikah know that he was a Human?
And why did he kneel in front of Vicchan, as if he were chatting with him?
The puppy, animated, began to bark, even made gestures by raising his legs as if trying to explain something...
The man nodded.
"I understand." He murmured, and somehow his voice sounded a little warmer. He stood up, addressing Yuuri again. "Vicchan says that you saved him and you always shower him with love, he also says that he likes the name you gave him."
"Vicchan said that?!" He asked, blushing. "W-wait! How do you know what he said?" He exclaimed in amazement. "Can you… talk to animals?" He inquired with some admiration. Phichit could talk to cows by using a lullaby, so that didn't sound so crazy.
"The Mask of Truth." The sheikah pointed a finger at the mask he was wearing. "It allows me to obtain information without the need to torture my target." Yuuri then remembered why he should be afraid. "Additionally it allows me to understand animals…Don't worry, I won't use it on you. I just wanted to talk to Vicchan before taking it off."
"Oh, okay." The dark-haired man didn't know what else to say. In theory, he had no reason to fear a sheikah who appeared before him unarmed, as it would have been easier for the sheikah to attack him from behind when he had the chance.
On the other hand, Yuuri didn't mentally prepare himself for the possibility for the legend being true. What if he said or did something to scare off his possible soulmate?
"You know…?" The sheikah man began after a few seconds of awkward silence. "I never really believed in legends, but now that the Calamity King has been defeated, my purpose in this world has been fulfilled and I don't know what else to do with my life. So finding my other half sounded quite promising, so I decided to wait here."
Yuuri sighed.
So it was true, the Calamity days were over, which made him remember that the Sheikah race, although they were still under the orders of the Royal Family… they no longer had kings to serve. The sheikah now protected the people, and have been doing it for the last hundred years.
Also, the renegade sheikah, those who robbed and harmed the population, wore red and black and were part of the Yiga Clan.
"I understand…" Yuuri sighed again, trying to collect his thoughts. "I…I didn't think I was going to meet someone either. I don't even know if the legend is true or if this is just a coincidence. I'm not sure what's next…" He said, still a bit nervous. But Vicchan kept wagging his tail, which meant they weren't in danger.
"I can assure you that the legend is true, now I sure of it." The man replied with a softly voice, tilting his head. "I have been on the peak of this mountain for about five days, waiting for someone to come. I saw many people pass by and try to climb on, however, some unknown force would stop them and they would always end up going back to where they came from. I was about to give up and go home, thinking that maybe I didn't have a soulmate, but then I saw you and I knew right away that you would make it to the top..." He removed his mask with one hand and the hood that covered his head with the other, revealing his pale skin and long silver hair. "By the way, my name is Viktor." He smiled. "Vicchan and I would love to know your name."
The human's eyes widened. The sheikah-no, Viktor, was extremely handsome. Silver hair, blue eyes framed in silver lashes, perfect nose, pointed ears, and a tired smile but so radiant and full of hope that it made Yuuri's heart pound… And he was his soulmate.
"My… My name is Yuuri… And I need to sit down." He said before collapsing on his butt. The puppy ran into his lap to lick his face.
The sheikah, perhaps as nervous as he was, came slowly over and sat beside him on the grass on his own legs, his back formally erect. He looked like an ivory statue.
"Are you okay?" He asked, looking at him from the corner of his eyes.
"... Yes, I think so." The human looked up to see the silver-haired man as he finally turned his head to look at Yuuri with a calm expression, though Yuuri would swear he saw his silhouette trembling. "Uh… So what's next?" He lowered his black lashes, embarrassed. "I've spent my whole life trying to survive, so…I never had a partner before and…Ah!" He raised his hands defensively. "It's not like I'm assuming we're a couple now just because we're met here! I just-"
"I understand, Yuuri." Viktor laughed lightly, carefully catching one of Yuuri's his hands in his. They were both definitely shaking. "We are in the same situation. I spent my whole life training and doing missions to protect the kingdom, so I never had time to worry about having a stable relationship. I had a couple of lovers, but we only limited ourselves to sex. I don't even remember their names. They died doing their duty." He said solemnly. "But, I would like to know you and have a serious relationship with you." He smiled, more relaxed, making the dark-haired man blush. "Like I said before, my services are no longer required for Hyrule, so I want to start a new life, and I'd like to start it with you as my boyfriend, as you are my soulmate, the one designated by the Three Goddesses for me. Do you think we could try it, Yuuri?" He finished to say while fluttering his long silver eyelashes in subtle flirtation. The fact that Yuuri didn't try to let go of their hands gave him extra confidence.
"Oh." The human swallowed hard. Viktor seemed sincere, and at the same time Yuuri didn't have any other commitments that could interfere with that decision. Besides, if the legend were true, that meant that he and the sheikah man were totally compatible. "Y-yes, I'd like that too. I think we should give it a try, Viktor." He smiled back, his cheeks unable to blush anymore.
Viktor's eyes twinkled, displaying some kind of adoration that Yuuri didn't feel worthy of receiving…but wished he could soon.
"I’m so glad right now. I promise to do my best, and I expect the same from you, Yuuri."
"Yes, I promise that too." He nodded, feeling unusually determined and full of confidence.
The silver-haired man, still with their hands joined, brought his lips closer and gently kissed his right cheek. Yuuri felt pleasant chills and his entire body shook.
"Ah, I hope I haven't overstepping." He commented right away, worried about his reaction.
"N-no, it's fine. I just didn't expect that." Yuuri replied and tighter their clasped hands to assure Viktor he wasn't upset. "I didn't dislike it."
"Oh, I see." The sheikah seemed satisfied with his answer.
They stayed in that position for a while longer until they noticed that the sky began to change from blue to orange, so they decided to go down the mountain before the night reached them.
Later, the new couple and the poodle stayed at the first inn they found. The only problem was that there was only one bed left.
"Okay. I don't mind sharing if it's with you, Yuuri." Viktor assured him, still smiling after the innkeeper apologized to them. "And don't worry, I won't do anything to make you uncomfortable, I swear."
"I believe you!" Yuuri yelled, embarrassed. Then he cleared his throat. "Uhm. Viktor, if I do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, please let me know. You're taller than me, so I'm sure you'll need more space."
"Don't worry, I'll tell you." He said and looked around.
The beds didn't have walls or a screen between them, so the couple could see the other guests walking around, chatting with each other or having dinner. A few others were already asleep without caring about the noise.
Viktor, due to his sheikah uniform, received a few apprehensive looks as he entered the establishment, although having the adorable poodle in his arms did a lot to keep anyone from running away.
"I think we should sleep with our backs to each other." Yuuri decided after a moment. "By the way. Uh, I have some extra clothes if you want to wear them to sleep." He offered sheepishly, pulling his clothes out of the backpack to show them off.
"Oh, thank you." Viktor put Vicchan down on the floor and grabbed a few clothes to compare. He chose a purple tunic and black pants that seemed fit for him. Yuuri was only slightly shorter than him so his baggy clothes would fit him.
"I hope it's not too tight for you." He commented as he put away the discarded garments. "It's all the clothes I have and… Aaah! Wh-what are you doing?!" Yuuri exclaimed, his face completely red with embarrassment and eyes wide open. The sheikah looked at him with confusion.
"I take off my clothes?" Viktor answered as if it was a very obvious thing, as if he didn't mind changing clothes in front of other people's eyes.
"B-but…" Luckily no one turned to look at them, each guest continued with their own business. "Hang on a minute." Yuuri pulled the blanket from their bed and spread it out to use as a curtain, turning his head away and closing his eyes to give his now boyfriend more privacy.
"Oh, I see it now." Viktor chuckled. "You're adorable, Yuuri. If you're jealous because other men could see my body, you just had to say so."
"What?" He turned to look at him in surprise, then remembered why had closed his eyes in the first place at the sight of Viktor's bare chest. He looked away again. "It's not about jealousy!" He tried to explain but the silver-haired man interrupted him after finished getting dressed.
"You're right, Yuuri." He said thoughtfully, ignoring his babbling. "I wouldn't like other men to see you without clothes. My body is only yours and yours is mine now." He cupped Yuuri's cheeks gently and planted a kiss on his nose, flashing a playful grin at the flushed face facing him. "I totally understand how you feel. I'll be more careful next time."
"O-oh. W-well." Yuuri decided not to clear up the misunderstanding at this point, as Viktor seemed to be enjoying himself. Then he sighed wearily. The sheikah man turned out to be more cheerfully than he'd expected… although that wasn't a complaint. "Let's go to sleep now, it's late." He gathered up Viktor's clothes and took off his scarf to put them in his backpack as well, though he winced at the feeling of his ears being touched.
"Oh! I knew it, you're a Human." Viktor said with fascination, playfully touching his ears with his thumbs, as if Yuuri were a puppy. "Your round ears are so small and cute, I love them."
"Uh. T-thank you, I think." Embarrassed, he grabbed Viktor's wrists and gently pulled them away from his head. "I like your eyes." He blurted out suddenly, not thinking of the consequences.
Yuuri would have panicked if it weren't for the shocked face and flushed cheeks of the silver-haired man.
"You like my eyes?" He repeated slowly, thinking he had heard wrong. Yuuri frowned, confused by his reaction.
"Yes, they are beautiful." He stated smoothly, as if it was obvious. "Besides, blue is my favorite color." He added with a smile. "Sheikah usually have red-colored eyes, right? So your eyes must be a special case."
"Oh, wow." Viktor blinked, not letting go of his surprise, then threw his arms around Yuuri to hold him tight. "No one has ever told me that before. You really are a sweetheart, Yuuri." He murmured next to his ear. "I'm glad you're my soulmate."
The next morning, Yuuri woke up with Viktor's arms around his body. That explained why he had slept so well.
-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-
Objectively speaking, Yuuri knew that Viktor must be very strong, he was a sheikah after all. But it was one thing to know about it and quite another to witness it.
When they began their relationship, the couple decided to settle in a village for a few days to talk and get to know each other better, as well as get supplies and new clothes. It was no surprise to either of them to realize that they were indeed compatible and that they were very attracted to each other. However, it was the next step that defined their relationship.
Viktor had no plans for the future, while Yuuri and Vicchan wanted to keep traveling to see the world, even if there were only ruins.
"I didn't think I would live more than 20 years." Viktor admitted with a shrug. "Now I'm 27 and having an existential crisis." He laughed, trying to brush it off.
Yuuri would have admonished him if it wasn't for the fact that everyone in Hyrule had the same way of thinking, including him, who almost died at the age of 15 due to a silver Lynel that attacked and slaughtered his entire village, not to mention the times he almost died from starvation.
So their decision, as a couple, was to keep walking side by side until they found a place they could call home.
And that's how they ended up surrounded by monsters while trying to cross a suspension bridge.
Yuuri had been paying more attention on not to step over an old wooden plank that might break when an arrow passed by his left cheek. The next thing Yuuri knew it was that the silver-haired man made him crouch down before placing Vicchan on his lap.
The sheikah man disappeared from beside him, and for several minutes inhuman shrieks of pain could be heard. When there finally silence, Yuuri slowly dared to raise his head and saw that Viktor was on the other side, holding a katana and practically covered in blood. Several bokoblins and golden lizalfos lay dead at his feet.
“Uhm, it seems that there are still some high-level monsters around this area that managed to regenerate after the last Blood Moon.” Viktor commented, holding a hand to his chin, as if he were talking about the weather. “Don't worry, Yuuri, I'll protect you and Vi....” Turning around, he noticed the look of shock on his boyfriend's face. "Yuuri?"
The dark-haired man, without thinking, ran up to him, leaving the poodle on the ground before placing his hands on his body, as if looking for something...
"A-Are you okay?" He continued to pat his chest, his voice desperate and breathing heavy. Viktor then understood what was happening.
"Yuuri." He dropped his weapon and took his hands, lacing their fingers together carefully. "It's not my blood." He clarified slowly, making sure that his calm was transmitted to his boyfriend.
"Oh... oh." Yuuri blinked, coming to himself. "Right. You're a sheikah… I'm sorry. Thank you for saving us." Embarrassed, he lowered his eyes and tried to break free. However, Viktor only let go of one of his hands, then used his own to lift Yuuri's chin so his blue eyes could meet the brown ones.
"It's okay. I like that you care about me, Yuuri. It means I'm important to you." He drew their breath together, closed his eyes and brushed their lips gently, taking special care not to make any sudden movements.
Yuuri's eyelids fell and dedicated himself to enjoying the intimate moment while finished calming down. Still, he cocked his head and pressed his lips harder against Viktor's, feeling a thumb affectionately caress his left cheek.
A few seconds later, after snapping back to reality, Yuuri realized that this had been their first kiss, which made his face light up in embarrassment.
Viktor laughed and kissed him once more time, as a kind of confirmation.
"Oh. Uhm…I think…we should go down to the river to wash your clothes and hair." He said moments later, when the smell of iron was more evident.
"Ah, you're right. You just bought me this tunic yesterday, it would be a waste if it got ruined so soon. Besides, that arrow cut your pretty face, I must treat it."
"Pretty face?" He repeated, stunned, but shook his head. "Co-come on. If we hurry up we can spend the night in an inn…And, Viktor, of course I care about you…" He pressed their lips together once more, shyly, then climbed down the riverbank to reach the river, with the poodle running after him.
Viktor followed them with a big heart-shaped smile that appearing on his mouth.