Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XLVI: Off Course

Link's Perspective:

It was against protocol to leave the princess's side. I knew it was wrong to leave, even with Zelda shooing me off (which was a perfectly valid excuse), but there was only so long I could be in Revali's proximity without getting irritated.

Technically speaking, Zelda could be hurt without me by her side. I wasn't worried, though: As much as I hated that prick, Revali was perfectly capable of protecting her. I've always harbored a secret appreciation for his archery and determination, but I'd rather explode myself with a remote bomb than admit that to his face.

It wasn't a surprise that Zelda ushered me back. I didn't want to be near him at all but she, bless her heart, always wanted to fix everything. Some of the Rito had found me sulking and accompanied me back.

To my surprise, Revali didn't sneer when he saw me. I fully expected him to, scoff and make some sort of snide comment or self-obsessive compliment, but instead he turned his head away, clacking his beak and crossing his wings gently.

I raised my eyebrows at him. We've never gone this long without insulting each other. Maybe I should break the ice... insult his stupid—

"How good are you with that bow?" I blinked in surprise. Was that rhetorical? I couldn't tell. I hesitated. Zelda shot me a death glare. Well, now I had to answer.

"Good enough," I responded cautiously. I distinctly saw Zelda roll her eyes. Revali clicked his beak again. I wasn't sure what was happening, but I knew my girlfriend was behind this weird behavior.

"I have some targets," he offered. "I bet I could knock the arrows off course." He glanced over me with his sharp yellow eyes. "I can control the wind, so I probably can."

I wasn't sure what kind of shitty olive branch this was, but, at least for her sake, I'd be damned if I wasn't going to accept it. I sneered a bit. "Put your rupees where your beak is," I laughed, smirking a bit.

"One silver says I can knock 10 arrows off course," he responded, eyes narrowed. Zelda laughed sharply.

"One gold says I can freeze 10 in midair before you knock them off course," Zelda sneered.

"You can do that?" he asked, caught off guard and giving her a questioning look. She nodded, smiling smugly.

"And my arrows are gonna be too fast for you to stop them," I respond, pointing at the both of them. For the first time in a long time, I saw Revali grin. Not false or smug smiles, flashed between insults, but a genuine happy grin, coupled with ruffling if his feathers.

He waved his wing grandly and I could sense the gale of wing coming towards me, shoving me backwards so I nearly fell. Zelda laughed sharply.

"Impressive," she commended. "But let's see you throw them before I can freeze them." I grinned, turning my head. I had seen the archery training grounds before and I knew they were right behind me. I smiled smartly and, before either of them could stop me, I pulled an arrow from the quiver in my back, aiming at the target as I whirled skeins and released, the arrow landing firmly within the center circles of the target.

Revali laughed again, moving forward and waving his wing again, so the end of the arrow broke off, leaving the head embedded in the fabric.

"Touché," I responded, drawing another arrow and firing. He was quicker than I imagined, jumping up with a flourish and throwing the arrow into the rock that the target was pressed on.

I heard the buzz of Zelda's magic before I saw it, the arrow suddenly freezing midair as it began to fall in toy rn chasm below.

"Ha," she sneered at us.

Oh it was on.

~~~

Genuinely can't tell if this chapter is shitty or not.

The problem with the chapters involving Revali is I need to make him like able. If I make him unlikeable, there will be too many antagonists floating around. I just wanna make him a well rounded character with motives that explain why he's an ass and it's so fuckin hARD.

On a totally different note, thank you to everybody for their condolences and stuff because of the last week. I appreciate but it's unnecessary. But I honestly so appreciate it.