silent memories // botw link x reader

her regret

——(your p.o.v)——

you woke up and shivered when you realised your source of heat was gone. 

wait what?

you tried to remember what happened last night, only remembering that you bid sidon goodnight and went to bed with nothing but a thin blanket. you recalled the feeling of something being beside you and providing warmth.

no, it couldn't be. 

you quickly turned around and noticed that you were the only one in the inn. you scratched your head in confusion and shrugged it off. you stood up from the bed and quickly got changed into your other clothes. you changed into the same hemp pants and shirt with a pair of brown boots you got from when you were sick and walked outside. there was no rain, and you smiled brightly towards the sky with your hand on your hip. the fresh air going through your nose and into your lungs.

link had done it. 

speaking of link, where was he? you looked around and noticed that no one was around like usual and you started to get suspicious. suddenly, you heard loud cheering from above and you started to run up the crystal stairs towards the king's quarters. 

your heart was pounding in your chest once you reached the top where every single zora in the domain was, the sound of clapping and cheering filling your pointy ears. you tried to push past the tall zoras and made your way to the front and you beamed. there, you saw link, shaking hands with sidon and the king cheering and laughing. 

"link!" 

you screamed and ran towards him, link looked over at you and smiled. 

"(y/n)!"

you tackled the young hylian in an embrace and felt his body hesitate. link didn't put his arms around you and looked to the side, looking away from you. you tilted your head and stepped back, letting go of the hero.

"link...?"

link slowly turned around and looked up at the king, ignoring you. you felt your chest tighten. link has never acted like this before...was it because of the kiss? the king laughed loudly, grabbing everyone's attention.

"link! you did well to survive your trial! i have been awaiting your return."

everyone clapped.

"the violent downpour has disappeared, as has the threat to zora's domain! it is all little more than a bad dream now."

all of the zoras cheered and whistled. 

"you appeased the divine beast vah ruta and thusly saved zora's domain!"

the plethora of zoras cheered once again and you clapped along with them. muzu spoke up and apologised to you and link for being rude before and you only smiled at him. muzu's croaky voice caught your attention at what he said next.

"that whole time, you were thinking of hyrule and lady mipha's well-being. just like the rest of us..."

you looked over at link and saw him smile wider at muzu. was that why link was acting so strangely towards you? perhaps something happened between him and lady mipha in the divine beast? did he not feel anything for you?

the king boomed in again, his deep and loud voice making you turn your attention to him once again.

"link! i must reward your efforts! now then, i implore you to collect the treasure inside that chest over there. it was cherished by mipha, a memento of sorts. i would like you to have it as a token of our friendship and i'm sure mipha would want only you to have it as well."

you tightened your hand into a fist.

"by the way, link. i see that you are without your trusty blade...the sword that seals the darkness. did you perhaps lose it when you lost your memory?"

link nodded and answered the king.

"i did, though i think i might have an idea on it's whereabouts. (y/n) and i are going to go there next, before appeasing the last divine beast."

-

"i see! well, i wish you both the best of luck and may hylia, herself, watch over you!"

the zoras once again cheered and sidon smiled brightly over at you. you smiled back and felt  a little sad that you had to leave zora's domain, it almost seemed like a second home to you. the king continued to praise link and he looked over at his son and praised him as well, making the red zora prince blush and hold his head down in embarrassment. you giggled at this and looked over at link. the blonde quickly looked away when he saw you glance over and you frowned at his reaction.

what has gotten into him?

— later —

after link collected mipha's trident, the king asked him about her and you decided to leave and wait outside the king's quarters. you didn't hear much except for link's response near the end of their conversation.

"i won't forget her."

you waited for link to come out as you thought about the kiss you shared with the hero of hyrule. did it really bother him? he's acting like nothing happened...

"(y/n)?"

you jumped a bit at link's sudden voice and you felt your cheeks warm up when you were face to face with your friend.

"y-yeah?"

-

"let's go."

link walked by you and down the stairs. the silence between you two only grew and it started to annoy you. after you gathered all of your things and said goodbye to sidon (he cried a little and begged for you to visit) and followed link out onto the domain's main bridge. there, link waited until you caught up to him and you both walked in silence together. you swallowed the lump in your throat and gained some confidence.

"i-i missed you, link."

-

"..."

link said nothing and continued to walk, you slowed down and felt your heart tear a bit. the sun was shining nicely behind link as he turned around and faced you, a small and sincere smile on his pink lips and the sun creating a golden silhouette behind him.

"i missed you too, (y/n)."

your (e/c) eyes glinted with relief and you walked over to him and faced him with kind eyes. you opened your mouth to ask about his feelings when link cut you off and looked away.

"let's get going, i want to get to kakariko village. i need to ask impa something important."

-

"what is it?"

-

"..."

link stayed silent and continued to walk away, leaving you behind. you looked towards the ground and frowned again. wild thoughts were running through your mind. you started to regret kissing him and everything you had said.

'this isn't how it was meant to be...'