Hunter and Apprentice; Fantasy Zelink AU (The Legend of Zelda)

Chapter Twelve

He was still looking at me, not the sky, his hand cupping my cheek. I moved a little closer to Link, pulling the edge of the blanket up around me.

"So..." I began, "your visit to the healers went well?" I asked. Then I realized I'd already asked him that hours ago, so I laughed nervously. "Oh... sorry."

He pulled his edge of the blanket up around us too. "I learned a few things at least. It's gonna take a while to truly understand them... and even longer to fully apply them."

"And you still want to... train with me?"

"Yes, I do."

I closed my eyes for a moment, soaking in the moment. His hand was still on my cheek, and I leaned into it.

I didn't know what it meant about us, where we were going, what we were doing... but I didn't care. It didn't matter. We would just continue forward, and what would happen would happen.

I kept my eyes closed as I asked, "How do you want that to go... human form, beast form..."

"My human form to start out with. I was okay with the sword at one point... then as I get used to it, I can try my wolf."

I nodded, and it was like I was rubbing my face against his hand. "Sounds like a plan... When should we start?" Was I getting sleepy?

"Tomorrow night? Ira will have me running errands, and I can probably end with an errand to town."

"That'll work..." I said softly, then I opened my eyes and blinked a few times. It wouldn't do to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation. I looked up at the belt, studying its colors. "I need to work on my illusions too... I don't use them often and they're pretty complex to make look real and not... glowy," I chuckled.

"Two birds, one stone..."

"That's kind of a sad saying..."

"You're an alchemist hunter, you've never killed a bird?"

"You have a point... still, I didn't club them to death with a rock..." I couldn't help the yawn.

He smiled as he moved his hand down my cheek and rested it on my shoulder. "Should we go?" he asked.

"Don't want to..." I said.

He moved his hand down to mine, holding it with both of his now. "If we stay, you might fall asleep..."

I stayed silent for a few moments. "Hey, Link?" I said softly.

"Yes?" he replied.

"How do you know... how to be nice?"

He squeezed my hand but he didn't respond.

As the silence stretched, I woke up a little more. "I'm sorry I... I didn't mean that to sound..."

He shook his head. "I understand what you meant, I was just trying to find a way to explain it..." He took another few moments. "I used to dream of it. Of finding a time where I could be soft, not vicious... to be kind, instead of hardened." He sighed. "I don't think it's something that needs to be taught, or learned... but it's something anyone can choose to do."

"Well... you're doing a good job at it..."

He leaned into me and put his head against my shoulder, his nose brushing across my neck. "Thank you... I'm trying."

He stayed there for several minutes, and we said nothing. I could feel his breath on my skin, and I closed my eyes to process it all.

I'd never had this before. Anything like this. I wasn't even sure what this was. I'd been searching for a friend but... maybe I'd found something more in Link. I wasn't going to place any expectations on whatever we were forming between us... All the same, I felt a shiver go up my spine as I thought about the possibility of having maybe found what my parents had.

It was too soon to say... right? This ease we had didn't mean it would keep going like this and last forever...

In this moment though... it certainly felt like it could.

I turned in to Link and put my arm around him, my hand raised to the side of his face not pressed to my shoulder.

There were words that could be said, but... they all felt unnecessary.

So we laid under the stars together... and fell asleep. 

~*~

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Short, but we're back, bby! I recommend going back and reading this book again xD If you haven't already. I certainly had to!

It's really odd to be writing again, it's been a while... But I'm liking it :) 

It feels nice

KNOW WHAT ELSE IS NICE? LOOK AT THIS BBY BOY 😭