Never Without You │ BOTW modern AU fanfic

Dead

This is the last chapter of Never Without You!! :) Enjoyyy

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Malice's POV

The wind picks up, rustling the leaves of the sparse trees clinging to the mountainside, and the sun peeks through the patchy clouds, casting shifting shadows over the rocky terrain.

Zelda stands a few steps ahead, her hair tousled by the wind. She turns back to me with a rock in her hands.

"Look what I found," she grins like a little kid. "This could be a significant archaeological find! The patterns could match the early timeshift stones I learned about in Professor Shad's class. Have you taken his class? He always says these kinds of artifacts can reveal so much about ancient history. He'll be thrilled to see this!"

She's gonna give her professor a rock? I meet her look of excitement and curiosity with a simple nod.

"You've been unusually quiet today," she says, taking a small step toward me. "You haven't even insulted me yet."

"We can easily change that," I force a smile.

A sincere giggle escapes her, "No, that's alright. I like it more this way. I'm just making sure you're doing okay."

"I'm okay." I thought that would do the trick but judging by the look on her face, she's doubting my words. "Just thinking about some of the people that have influenced my life."

"Oh." She crouches down in front of me. "Am I one of them?"

"Well, I am currently sitting on a mountain because of you. So, yes."

When I dodge her eyes again, she takes another step. "Would you like to talk about some of the things you're thinking about?"

I shrug, tossing a loose stone off the cliff. It tumbles down the slope, disappearing into the underbrush below.

"Not really," I finally say, but the words feel hollow. There's so much I want to say, but I can't find the right words. Or maybe I'm just afraid of what might happen if I do. "I just have a lot on my mind. No big deal."

"Maybe I can help," she says.

I glance at her, surprised by the sincerity in her eyes. For a moment, I feel a flicker of something—hope, maybe?

"You've done more than enough already."

Zelda's jaw drops, a smile qued behind it. "Is that your way of saying thank you?"

"Ha, you wish."

"Come on, let me in on your thoughts."

"Pass."

"Please?" Her eyes widen. With the light catching them just so, they sparkle like the river, making it hard to refuse. "If you tell me one thing that's been on your mind lately, I'll tell you something that has been on mine."

I'm tempted to say that I don't give a shit about the things in her mind but I swallow it, remembering Impa's advice—or threat—to be kinder. "Sure," I sigh. "If it makes you happy."

"It sure will!" Zelda chirps, her enthusiasm infectious. "So what or who is on your mind?"

"Making me go first, huh?" I arch my eyebrow at her, but her smile prevails.

Part of me wants to tell her about my kiss with Pike while another part of me is oddly intrigued by the idea of sharing some of my past with her.

In a reluctant mutter, I begin with "I..." but instantly pause, dismissing both of those ideas. What happened with Pike is private; it's between him and me, and I shouldn't go around broadcasting it. And I don't think Zelda could handle the truth about my past as a Yiga Clan member. Maybe I should just make something up so she'll stop asking questions.