New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 50 - The Sword of Legend

"If I fall in battle again," he said quietly, his voice grave as he leaned in, "I don't want to forget you. I don't want to forget what you've done."

That's what he'd said to me, only moments ago. And he was still waiting on my response, even now, because I still could not quite sort through the words in my head and figure out something good, something fitting, to say. It was awful - there was so much I wanted to say. I just couldn't figure out what order to put them in.

All I could think to say, at first, was his name, once more.

"Link," I murmured, still holding him in my arms. More words were quick to follow: "What have I done?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You said you don't want to forget what I've done," I reminded him. "That's what you told me."

"Oh," he said, amused. "That." He paused, clearly thinking it over - and I could hear more than see his smile, for I refused to lift my head from his shoulder. "You help keep my head above water, (Y/n). You should know that by now."

I hummed happily, content with his answer - but he wasn't done.

"You've become very important to me, you know," he continued. "I don't know where I'd be or what I'd be doing if not for you."

"Oh, Link," I said quietly. "I think that's pretty obvious. You'd still be saving Hyrule."

"Maybe," he agreed, "but not in the same way. With no one to care for me, tend to my injuries, cook me wonderful food..." He shook his head, and I lifted my own so I could meet his gaze. "You mean so much to me, (Y/n). I don't want to forget you or anything we've done together. That's what I mean."

Link, I love you.

Oh, it'd be so easy to say, wouldn't it? The words were there on the tip of my tongue. All I had to do was grant them the breath, and speak them aloud, and let him know the truth that my heart wanted.

But I didn't. Maybe I couldn't.

"I can't believe how much you mean to me," I said, reaching down to take his hand in my own. "I hadn't expected it."

"I don't think there was any way to," he said, smiling, and I did, too.

"No, you're probably right," I said in agreement. "I can't see myself traveling with anyone else. Not ever. Even if I could, there's no one else I'd rather travel with than you."

"Yeah? Good, then," he said, and suddenly we were looking deep into each other's eyes, and I was watching the way his eyes were catching the light filtering into our little cove, and his eyes seemed to be searching my eyes for something and-

And then he was glancing down at my lips and, suddenly enticed to, I was glancing down at his own and...

"I don't think anyone else would have inspired you to travel, no?"

His words made me laugh lightly, and I nodded. "Yeah," I said. "Yeah, I think you're right. There's hardly anyone more inspiring than you, Link."

Emboldened by my words, the slight teasing nature and all, he laughed, his eyes sparkling. "Saving you at that beach was the best thing I've ever done."

"Mm-hm," I hummed, meeting his eyes once more; I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say at that moment.

"Saving you," he reiterated, and he nodded so surely it was as though he was really, truly thinking it over. "Saving you might be the most worthwhile thing I've ever saved."

"Oh, Link," I said softly, "don't say that. Not when you've saved the Rito, and the Gerudo, now. Not when you're saving all of Hyrule."

"I mean it," he said, and then he was caressing my cheek, his fingertips gentle against my skin. "I really do."