After a moment of stillness, where everyone simply reveled in the relief of Link being back on his feet, a familiar spark of mischief flickered in his eyes.
He reached over to his pack, the corner of his mouth curling up as he retrieved a few bombs. The group, still gathered around him, watched with a mix of caution and amusement. Link had always had a bit of a reckless side, and the idea of playing with explosives—especially after everything he'd just been through—was definitely not the most reassuring thing to witness. But they knew, by now, that Link was no stranger to danger.
Zelda's expression softened in exasperated affection. "Link, are you sure you're well enough for... that?"
Link just grinned at her, a playful glint in his eye. "Well, if I'm going to keep living in this world, might as well get back to what I know best," he said, holding up the bomb and eyeing it with the same casual confidence as ever.
Age of Calamity Link raised an eyebrow, his protective instincts still on high alert, but he couldn't suppress the chuckle that escaped him. "You never change," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Aryll, on the other hand, seemed a little more concerned but also curious. She stepped closer, her gaze shifting between the bombs in Link's hands and his confident grin. "Link, are you sure...?"
Link winked at her, balancing one of the bombs on his palm. "What's life without a little excitement, right?" he teased, though it was clear the playful tone was masking the lingering strain of everything that had just happened.
Without waiting for further protest, he tossed the bomb into the air, catching it easily before it fell back down. He then rolled it across the ground, watching it bounce before it exploded in a controlled, harmless burst of smoke and sound.
Aryll jumped back, startled by the sudden blast, though she couldn't help but laugh at the same time. "You're crazy," she said, though there was a hint of fondness in her voice.
Zelda shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I guess... some things never change. But try not to blow yourself up, alright?"
Link chuckled softly, the sound familiar and comforting, even after everything that had happened. "Wouldn't dream of it," he said, though his tone was light and carefree, much like it always had been.
He threw a few more bombs, watching them explode in small, controlled bursts. For the first time in a while, it felt good to do something simple and familiar. The tension in his body eased slightly with every explosion, and though his wounds hadn't fully healed, it was as if the act of playing with his bombs brought him back to something he could control in a world that often felt like it was spiraling out of his grasp.
"I've been through worse," Link muttered to himself, looking down at his palms, now covered with soot from the explosions. His voice, though casual, held a weight. "But some things... some things still feel good. This is one of them."
Zelda watched him with a knowing expression. She knew Link better than anyone—knew the way he pushed himself, the way he masked his pain with humor and daring antics. But it wasn't just about the bombs. It was about returning to normalcy, no matter how fleeting or small.
After all, Link wasn't just a hero; he was a person, too. A person who had survived, who had made it through yet another trial, and who would continue to find ways to carry on, no matter the cost.
Zelda couldn't help but smile as she watched him, her heart swelling with affection and relief. "Just... don't blow up my house," she said, half-joking, half-serious.
Link grinned back at her, tossing another bomb into the air before catching it again. "I'll try," he said with a wink, still brimming with that same reckless energy that made him who he was.
