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He plunges like an arrow, the harsh wind shearing past him. She vanishes into a cloud and for a moment Link feels an electric current of fear all down his spine. Not even when he spies her again does it subside.
Logically, he will catch her. His form is perfect and lightning fast, and she is in unconscious freefall, limbs spread-eagle, drag slowing her plunge. Logically, he will catch her, because he has already failed once. The Goddess owes him this, over everything.
He emerges into clear sight of all of Hyrule. There’s a lake beneath them, something he likely should’ve worried about. He hadn’t thought of it back then either, more concerned with dying together than living alone.
His extremities are going numb, but he’s close now, enough to see the teardrop paint beneath her eyes. He reaches out his hand, his hand, soft flesh trembling against the wake of the air –
– And before he knows it he’s wrapped around her, pulling her arms close to her side and guiding her body into a dive. Link does not look to see if they are aligned with the lake. He holds on and does not let go.
His next memory is dragging himself out of the water, body still ringing with the shockwaves of their impact, Zelda in a bridal carry. He collapses to his knees, heaving and choking. When he finally manages to clear the tears from his eyes, Zelda is looking at him.
“...Link?” she rasps.
He’d thought of what he might say, if this moment ever came. I love you, or I missed you, or I need you.
Instead he folds over her and pulls her close, feeling their chests touch, wet but breathing. He says, in only the barest breath of a whisper:
“I caught you.”