Beautiful Bugs ( Beedle x Reader BOTW / TOTK )

Bokoblin Bog

The mud was bubbling, it was so hot. There was a stink in the air of decayed plants and animals. A wooden structure stood over the bog and housed Bokoblins whose squeals and grunts filled the it with a never ending noise of danger. It was a disgusting place to be. The chorus of monsters were loud but otherwise distracted. Beedles bag was at the very top and could barely be spotted, but it was hard to miss with its strange shape and colors.

"Link isn't here..." Beedle mumbled, hidden behind a tree with you as the entrance of the bog.

"I'm sure he'll be here," You replied, searching the structure for steps and ways around. It was a massive thing to behold. As you watched, from far away you noticed a strange bokoblin that seemed to move in an unnerving way, wearing clothes that could only be descibed as Hylian. You pointed to it silently for Beedle to see.

The Bokoblin took out a stick with a spring attached to it and stalked around, and one by one, it bumped unknowing bokoblins right off the structure, making them splat into the boiling mud with each boi-ing.

A homicidal bokoblin? To be fair, they were all homicidal, but this one was quietly slaughtering its own kind as it slinked about.

"Can Link shapeshift?" you asked, shielding your eyes from the sun to better squint.

"The Hero of Hyrule could do about anything and I wouldn't be surprised-" Beedle grew restless, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Just amazed!"

Suddenly, one monster spotted the strange moving bokoblin push another right off the tower and squealed before blowing into a horn. The goblinoids paused- alerted- before understanding the alarm. On cue, spitting and hoarding, they crashed and moved as an impenetrable wall towards the weird looking bokoblin, death on their mind.

"We have to help!" You shouted.

"Wait- w-we?" Beedle stammered, but you already grabbed his hand, dragging him onto the first level of the bokoblin base. On his way, he managed to grab a spear that leaned against a pillar. You paused your heroic charge when the trembling of his hand in yours became too much-

"Oh, Beedle" you turned to him sympathetically, "You can hang back, I'll -"

"No!" he retorted, albeit a bit shakily, each word thereafter growing with courage, "Where you go, I go! That's what a friend oughta do,"

You went to say more but now it was him leading the surprise assault on the distracted hoard.

Even through his fear.

Even through his dislike of fighting, he pulled you both forward, and you began your attack on the group of monsters, stabbing and clobbering as many as you could in the back before they noticed you- monsters parts exploding out in puffs of stink. Once they started to wisen up and part of the group turned towards you, Beedle started catching them by the ankles with his spear, pushing as many off into the boiling mud as he could. Technique over brute strength.

Two Hylians against a hoard? It was easy to forget just how strong and deadly the bokoblins could be, but the sight of a lizalfo joining them was enough to strike anyone into shock- and you both stiffened seeing a white lizard jump off from the highest level to yours. When its shifting eyes stopped in your direction, a shiver crawled up your spine.

If you even had a change to begin with, you certainly didn't have it now; and as the hoard overwhelmed your vision, you knew just how doomed you were. Beedle pressed against your side, mouth agape in horror.

But then,

It was as if time stopped. You could see the lizalfos open its maw to spit poison and it seemed to stay frozen as an impossible entity- as fast as light and as light as air- danced through the world, cutting and hacking and slashing, and jumping high and unloading a barrage arrows. It slain the monsters like they were made of warm butter with a glinting sword. The hoarde puffed parts. They all fell and was gone that quickly.

When the impossible entity screeched to a stop before you, you saw it was the weird bokoblin, but its true identity was revealed as it tore off its own mask- some sewn head that merely looked like a bokoblin, and underneath it?

“Link!" You gasped.

“That was a-mazing!" Beedle all but squealed in delight and threw a first in the air. “Thank you,"

The hero gave a distracted nod of his head, brows furrowed like they were made of steel as he glanced about. With not so much as a warning, he started running up the wooden structure, and disappeared from view. You exchanged a confused glance with Beedle before Link repeared, toting Beedle's beetle shaped shopped above his head. He unceremoniously plopped it in front of him and waited expectantly.

“Whoof- you're really direct, arentcha?" Beedle laughed, dropping his spear as he went up to his shop, throwing his arms around it as he hugged it with a relieved sigh. It really made it noticable just how big his bag was compared to him. “Finally..."

Beedle opened up the million pockets throughout his bag and rummaged through its items, going through a verbal checklist. Unfortunately, most things were given the "missing" status. It seemed not to phase him though, and eventually he pulled out a bundle of arrows and graciously handed them over to Link. “This one's on the house!"

Link still offered up rupees. Beedle waved it away, but then Link went into his own bag of holding and pulled out something absolutely pricessless: a rhino beetle. That, Beedle dropped all thought of morals, and grabbed it from him, grinning. “YES! YES! I'll definitely take this. Thank you, friend!"

“I can't believe I'm looking at the Hero of Hyrule..." you murmured, oggling the small hero. In every way, he was so casually beautiful- attractive. He met your gaze and shrugged, sheathing his sword. “We owe you everything-... Is there anything we can do for you in return?"

Link screwed up his lips in thought, actually considering all of his options. It sparked a bit of terror, realizing that he could have you both on some indebted leash, but when the hero decided on what he wanted, it was a soothing gesture of kindness that he spoke of, “I need a travelling merchant on my journey. That's all," his voice was gentle but firm- much gentler than you could expect from someone so apt at killing.

“I will not disappoint!" Beedle promised, sitting as he slipped his arms into the the backpack straps. Heaving himself off the ground, he teetered for a second, expecting the much heavier weight he was used to and accidentally overcompensated. Once he was balanced again, he felt complete and overjoyed.

The hero felt that all he needed to do was done. Concluding the interaction with a small dip of his head, he went off, collecting things as he went. Completely locked in. It was a stange sight.

When you glanced back to Beedle, he looked ready to leave the steaming bog. “Guess it's time to go," and you together, you left and returned to the dirt paths of Hyrule.

It was on the road that you were struck with an aching pain. “Hey, Beedle?" you asked as he marched on beside you, “...What now?"

“Oh!" He didn't miss a beat. “I will have to forage and craft and start over almost from scratch. But you know what?" he glanced over, a twinkle in his eye, “I hardly mind! The world feels so much brighter and the air cleaner. I have the best luck- being able to jump up from rock bottom!"

You swallowed away a lump in your throat. “...No, I meant, with us,"

“Us?" he echoed, stopping in his tracks. He turned to you, confused, “...I don't know..." his smile fell away and he readjustied his backpack, looking away. “With you... I guess... Maybe you should head back to where your home is? Start over, too, get a new survival backpack and weapon. Find a safe place. The wilds can be very demanding,"

“I think I can handle it," you tried to sway his thinking, “There's strength in numbers-"

“You deserve to rest. How about..." he finally looked back, putting on a brave and comforting smile for you, “We travel back to your town, together?"

You tried not to deflate. “That sounds nice... Thank you,"

He bit his lip, trying to bite back words and feelings that were ready to seep out, but he caught them just in time and gave another smile. “I should be thanking you. Ready?" he offered his hand. You took it and felt your fingers entwine.

“Ready," you lied.