Breath of Another World (BOTW Link x Reader)

Without your influence

I waited silently on top of Pan as Link bought and sold necessary items from Beedle, my hand slowly running through the equine's mane as I allowed myself to get lost in my own thoughts. Lost Woods was up ahead... only the chosen ones could pass through - at least that's what I had heard. Honestly I was worried; what if we weren't ready? And even if we were, who's to say we'll even find the sword of legend there. It could just be a myth... and as for the spear, the heroine's spear... what if we can't find any clues of its whereabouts? What if it really was lost to the Calamity—?

Pan snorted in discomfort, alerting me I had winded his mane so tightly, it had formed a not so pleasant knot.

I was overthinking again...

"Sorry, boy..." I sighed as I began untangling his hair. I really had to stop doing this... it was unhealthy. I already had a lot on my mind, and... certain feelings to hold back. It wasn't fair on me or the people around me if I'm just worried the whole time. What happens, happens...

A hand took hold of mine while I was fiddling with Pan's mane, and began to help freeing it. Confused I looked over, only to see a particular blonde that for some reason made me go all weak. After freeing me and Pan, he looked up at me as if asking for an explanation.

"Oh come on," I laughed nervously "It's a new fashion trend!"

"And the truth is?"

"What, do you not trust my word?"

His eyes narrowed, freezing me as if they belonged to Medusa. This boy was an incubus, and I was under his spell... With the remaining will I had, I turned away and held my breath, hoping to the goddesses he'll let it go.

"Y/N."

"What if I don't wanna say?"

"Because you'd be lying," his grip tightened "I know you well enough by now to recognise when your unhappy, and you've been this way all morning. Is it something we didn't settle yesterday?"

I shook my head.

"Is it your leg?"

"No..."

"Are you nervous about the Lost Woods?"

"N— well..." I trailed off, my eyes slowly trailing down to where his hand still held mine "Kind of, but it's not the woods itself. I'm... worried about whether our sources are reliable, like whether the sword is even there. And if it is, what if we aren't ready... I dunno, I guess I'm just paranoid."

"I see..." Link murmured and also looked down at our connected hands, and for a moment I thought his lips quirked upwards, but he lost it soon after and  sighed "Honestly, I don't think I'm ready, either... if anything, I just want to see if it's there so I can go back in the future, when I'm more sure of myself. Right now I'm not certain of anything, there are still so many things I need to work out. I just want to know if I'm looking in the right places... and I hope this will give me enough clues that'll tell me how far I am from being... enough."

I frowned. I wanted to tell him to think otherwise, but how can I when I'm going through the same dilemma? It would be rather hypocritical for me to tell him not to think like that. I wonder if my predecessors ever had doubts about their place in Hyrule's fate...

"I know what you mean..." I whispered, and Link tightened his grip slightly.

"Hey," he leaned forward slightly "Is there anything else bothering you? Because you can tell me about it."

Yes.

"Nah, it's just that," I waved him off, this time forcing a smile "Annnnnyway I think I've- I mean my leg has calmed down from earlier, s-so I can sit in front now..."