𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕖𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 ℤ𝕖𝕝𝕕𝕒 𝕆𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕥𝕤

For a Hylian pt. 2 || Revali

"You really shouldn't have tried to storm the Yiga Clan's Hideout all by yourself."

I sighed as my hands began to glow with their ethereal purple hue and I ran them down Revali's back. His feathery back was covered with deep cuts, dark bruises, and scorch marks galore. I had seen many brutal injuries before, but this was by far the worst.

"I couldn't just let you die." He scoffed crossing his wings and tensing his back. "The others were never going to make it in time."

I don't know what I was going to say in rebuttal because as soon as he said that I completely faltered. My face dropped and I just sighed sadly.

"It's not your fault, Revali, that I got taken."

"That's utter asinine." He snapped. "Had I not left you that night on Lake Hylia's Bridge, you would never have been kidnapped."

I braced myself in the red armchair I sat in as I felt him push himself off of the carpeted ground. We were currently in one of the smaller studies in Hyrule Castle. Revali refused to be healed by anyone but me, if I hadn't been so worried about his injuries and my own, I would have probably teased him.

It had now been almost a year since we first met.

I had frequent contact with Revali. First it started out as me just being one of the healers that Zelda kept around. Healers were very important in times of war, and I hadn't any intentions of not healing any hylian, gerudo, zora, rito, or goron that needed me. Then, he would seek me out and I had grown accustomed to our hangouts.

I remembered how many times that Mipha would tell me that Revali is never like this with anyone else. Of course, I knew that. All that I ever heard about the Rito Champion was his confidence and ego.

We once talked about how Revali has never let another touch his beloved Great Eagle Bow until he had met me.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little crush on the giant cucco.

"Revali-"

He shot me a look that made me quiet upon one glance. Now, the only sounds that could be heard was the faint fire that lit the dim room.

"What (Name)? Are you going to tell me that I'm wrong? That I saved your life? I'm the reason it almost ended!"

I had been around Revali while he was upset before.

He has opened up about his anxieties and deep-seated fears before. I felt like I was the only one who really knew the real Revali. The Revali that grew up wanting nothing but prove himself to be capable and worth something.

He was abandoned by his mother when he was very young. His father went off one day never returning and she in turn wasn't ready to be a mother all alone, so she abandoned her only fledgling.

Revali fought tooth and nail to be the best of his tribe. He often feared he wouldn't live up to the expectations of others and would never let himself be seen as weak to anyone except me. I didn't know why I was an exception, but it was nice to see this side to him.

"Revali," I said moving to the edge of the armchair and gently grabbing his hand-like wing. "Please don't do this. Don't shut me out. It wasn't your fault it was an ambush and you couldn't have possibly known they were going to do that."

"But I should have been able to stop it."

He kneeled in front of me so that we would be eye-level before using his other wing to stroke my neck that had a plentiful number of scars on it.

I shivered at his touch.

I could still see the Yiga Clan's soldier holding his sickle against my throat drawing the smallest pinpricks of blood. I could still practically feel the sharp stings as my captor threatened to behead me if Revali even breathed wrong.

He would occasionally leave cuts on my throat just to see Revali squirm before he escaped and took me back to the little prison cell where I was held.

I couldn't help but still feel the sensation of my blood trickling down my own throat. It was a horrifying thing to think about.

"Revali," I winced as his fingers grazed over each scar.

"I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough."

I felt the tears prick at the corners of my eyes at the pain that shot through me and also at the memories of everything that happened in those three days that I was held prisoner. I had much more scars than what were on my neck.

When he found me, I was limp on the prison's floor with blood gushing out my stomach from the small dagger that was protruding from my body. I could barely see anything, feel anything, then the immense pain I was in. I didn't even register when Revali broke open the bars and cradled me in his arms while feeding me a healing potion.

The potion is the only thing that kept me alive until he was able to find a way out.

"You got me out... didn't you?" I said softly looking into his grief ridden eyes.

"Just barely."

We had only gotten back to Hyrule Castle for a couple hours before I was able to heal myself and started to heal him too. Our way back to Hyrule was full of close encounters that almost ended the both of us.

"What do I need to do so you know I don't blame you and don't want you to blame yourself?"

"I don't know. I failed you. I don't deserve your kindness."

"Revali please, I'm here. I want you to listen to me." I grabbed his face with my hands and pressed my forehead to his.

He did this. He was this kind of person. He'd always blame himself and torture himself over anything hurt that anyone had gone through.

He let out a quiet cry as he nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck. He may have been such an arrogant prick sometimes but deep down he was a huge softie. A softie that I wanted to know that I didn't blame him.

"I love you. Every time I close my eyes, I see your corpse in the Yiga Clan's Hideout."

I held a hand to the back of his head while my other hand was around his back gently tracing circles in his feathers.

"It's okay I'm here and I'm not going anywhere."