Never Without You │ BOTW modern AU fanfic

The Heart of Hyrule

"Have you talked to your dad yet?" Link asks, gently caressing my leg. I look past the pages of the novel in my hands to meet his eyes.

"Not really. I'm still upset with him."

"Right."

I have been trying to avoid home for the past few days and have only been there to sleep and get ready in the morning. Other than that I spend most of my time at school or in Link's room. Like right now. He's lying on his bed, phone in hand, while I'm sitting against the wall with my legs lying across his hips.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" I ask him.

"No," he lies. He's been tense all day. I offered to take his mind off of tomorrow's appeal hearing but he wanted to spend the day at home.

"Have you talked to Mipha lately?"

"What?" He puts his phone down and sits up slightly.

"I'm asking, because... well, I think... Link, I don't think I can be your advocate tomorrow."

"My what?"

"Your character witness."

"Why not?"

"I'm biased."

"Isn't that the point? Someone who can tell them that I'm a good person and all that?"

"Yes, of course, but I'm your girlfriend. It may seem unprofessional."

"You're also the president's daughter though. Being a member of the Hyrulean family would technically put you against me but you'd be on my side even though it's your school who wants me gone. So, I think you're the perfect choice for my defense."

"I think it should be Mipha. She's your childhood friend, a model student, and she witnessed the fight without directly being involved in it."

"We haven't really talked much this year..."

"How come?"

"I dunno. Just haven't," he shrugs.

"Don't you miss her?"

He hesitates. Does he really have to think about it? "Yeah I guess, it's not like I don't want to see her, we just haven't talked much since the hospital. We've both been busy I guess. What does it matter?"

Why is he getting so defensive? "Never mind."

"I want you in that room with me," he concludes.

"And I want to be by your side, always. I was just thinking of other options to enhance your chances. That's all. I really don't want your expulsion to be permanent... Remember, the school doesn't know you the way I do. They don't know what we've been through together. All they know is what happened that day, not why. Having your girlfriend as your defense may be seen as amiss."

"I don't think it'd be wrong to have my girlfriend by my side," he quietly answers.

"Okay. It was just a suggestion."

"Wait..." He moves my legs and sits next to me, then he takes my hand and holds it in his lap. "I think you might be right. Maybe choosing Mipha for my character witness would be good for me but..." He looks at me, then back down at our hands. "I really want you there tomorrow. I... need you."

"I'll be there," is all I say.

"Are you done with finals?"

"My last exam is tomorrow."

"Which class?"

"Phylogenetic Biology. I'm well prepared."

"Of course you are." He plants a kiss on my hand and holds it dearly. "What time?"