The Both Of Us | Zelink X The Last Of Us

Chapter Twenty

Link's pov

My back hurts everytime I look at Zelda. She's slumped in the seat with her knees resting on the dash, her book resting in her lap. She has a straight face while she reads. I know that poker face.

"You're reading smut aren't you?"

Her finger stops just under the top corner of the page. Then she turns her head towards me slowly with wide eyes and slightly pink cheeks.

"It's just a book," she squeaks, not denying it.

I turn my attention back to the overgrown road where it should be. "I wasn't judging."

This is going to end badly. It always does when you get attached to someone. The thought of being alone again is almost enough to consume me. I thought there was nothing left to feel with until Impa died. She took a bit of me with her just like everyone else did when they left me.

Don't leave me alone here!

It didn't matter if I begged.

No, just stay there!

Or if I tried to save them.

Blood soaking my hands, getting under my nails. Dark and warm. It's everywhere.

I always end up alone.

You alone?

Completely.

I always end up burying someone.

Pale and limp. No more blood left to bleed. Close their eyes. They don't see anymore. Lower them into the ground. Shovel dirt over. Say goodbye.

I miss you.

I flinch when Zelda touches my arm.

"Why didn't you respond?" She's fully turned in her seat facing me. When did she do that? She was just huddled up reading.

"I didn't know you said anything."

"I've been trying to talk to you for five minutes." That doesn't make any sense. I just talked to her. "It was like you were in a trance."

I readjust my grip on the steering wheel and clench my jaw. Impa said I did that once. She said my eyes glazed over like I wasn't even there. It's what happens when I let my walls come down, when I let myself fall into the hole. I have to refocus and haul myself out of it. Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't keep you alive.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I snap. Why does she always think these are fucking therapy sessions?

She goes back to her smut book and I look over. I shouldn't get attached. I can't get attached. I'm leaving her with her dad and that's it. She's a job, not a friend.

She's dead!

Stop.

Woah, you look like shit.

Fuck off...

Nah. I'm Impa. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Stop thinking about her. You have a job to do so fucking do it. Feeling sorry doesn't keep you alive. It makes you easier to kill.

Are we going to die like Mommy?

I won't let anything happen to you.

I promise.

Zelda isn't dead. I won't fail this time.

"What's the book about?" She looks at me surprised. I'm surprised. "Besides the sex." Now she blushes.