The Company You Keep (BotW Link x Reader)

The Plan

Your POV

The next morning you wake up with puffy eyes from crying too much the night before. The embarrassment has started to dissipate a bit, but it still won't go away. Your sister tries to comfort you but to no avail. At about noon, when the sun is at its highest, you get out of bed and go outside. You know you can't just sit around all day and sulk. You go and find Jay right before he is going to fish with his father and grandfather and you ask him if he has an extra fishing spear. It is part of your plan.

Only the main fishing families own fishing spears. Your father owns nets and buckets but no fishing spears. He isn't a fisher. Everyone has their own job and must stick to it. Your mother used to run a tiny seafood store but once she gave birth to the new baby that wasn't an option anymore. She always says that you are old enough to run the store now and that it would be the perfect fit for you. You have zero interest in trying to sell fish all day.

At first, Jay is hesitant to give you the spear. He knows exactly what you are going to use it for. You aren't going to fish, that's for sure. "When I come back later meet me behind my hut. I'll give you the spear then," he whispers. 

It is against the rules for a girl under the age of 18 to hold fishing spears. A ridiculous rule, yes, but that's how it is. Again another reason you need to leave this village as soon as possible. But you have a plan now. A fairly solid one too. You spend the rest of the day doing whatever you can to pass the time.

Jay doesn't come back until after dinner that night which is perfect. It is dark out but just enough light from the tiki torches and moon so that you can see where you are going. You run to his hut, grab the spear, and thank him. "Please don't hurt yourself," he says. 

"Don't worry Jay. I'll be fine," you reassure him. You quietly run back and stow the spear in some long grass under your hut. All the huts are built on stilts in case of flooding or a really high tide so there is some space under them.

You head back inside and luckily your parents haven't even realized you left. Your dad is already asleep and your mom is dealing with the baby. He is finally useful for once. You finish the chores around the house and sit down to finish reading your book. It is a novel a merchant had given to you a while back when he came to the village. It is about a young boy who embarks on a terrifying adventure into a new world. You have read it so many times you can almost recite certain chapters by heart. Your mom tried to burn the book once but you stopped her before she could. That was when she was pregnant so you and your family just blamed it on her crazy hormones. The two of you haven't gotten along as well since then but you still love her.

Soon everyone has gone to bed so you sneak back outside to grab the spear. You will only be able to practice at night so that you will have cover in the darkness. You also need someone to train you. There is nothing to lose so you run cautiously to the Inn where Link is staying. You might have to beg him to help you but you are going to try whatever you can.

When you arrive you see Link practicing his technique with a spear outside. You are so excited that you won't have to ask him for anything, you can just watch him. He stays out for hours going through the same motions and you become exhausted quickly. You don't want to go home so you stay and watch for a while. He really is impressive and so strong and determined. If you go there every night and just try to pick up a few tricks, maybe you can show him you know how to take care of yourself and he will let you join him on his journey. That is the plan and you are going to make sure it works this time. Well, hopefully.