"Do you think I'm a cheater?"
Summary: Isekai!Reader has a dilemma. You remember your S/O in our world and talk to Link about it. You know, the Link you slept with. Based on this fic. Can be read stand alone. Read on Ao3
"Hey Link," you called out to him, as you idly drew random shapes on the dirt floor. The night was quiet, except for the cicadas; or whatever bug making the chirping noises, and the small fire crackling nearby. And of course the snoring.
After the postman incident, thoughts of your own world occupied you again. You had been distant and they noticed. You couldn't sleep as much either, but thanks to the lack of your fighting skills, there was always a Link with you, taking the turn for the watch duty.
"Yeah?" Wild replied softly, with a low volume.
"Do you think I'm a cheater?" You deadpanned, still playing with the stick, not looking at his face.
"What?" He looked perplexed. Did you mean the flirting and glances between you and the rancher? But again, it's not like what was between you and Wild was all that clear in the first place, even though you did share each other's bodies... Once, right before Chain. Then cuddled during trying times, showed affection to each other.
Oh.
Right. You never talked about your life on the other side. Sure, about how some things were in your world, education, maybe some economy. But almost never your personal life, and none of them ever pushed you.
Hell, you actively tried not to think about it, you let go in a way at some point, thinking you'd never see them again anyway, so YOLO?
But then seeing how you are now traveling between eras, didn't that mean you could go back to your own world at some point?
How cruel. How cruel that only after years you learn that there is a possibility.
You sighed.
"I... I actually have, or had, or have.." you stumbled upon your words, not knowing which tense to use.
"There is someone in my world... that is, or was my partner."
Your lips formed a line again, you were still not looking at him. Wild didn't speak for a moment, only understanding what you meant by cheating, just now. You heard some shuffling, he dropped down from the tree silently like a cat.
"(Y/N)..." he started speaking, you interrupted him.
"I know... We have been together for quite a while too, we lived together. But then I was suddenly somewhere else, some world else," you were trying to keep your low voice from trembling, holding back the bitter tears.
He just listened, cautiously moving near you, but not quite making contact.
"I- I ignored their existence since I thought I'd never see them again, then a couple of years passed and I ended up sleeping with someone else, uh, no offense," you were still not looking at him.
"Actually two at once," he snickered. Wild didn't know what to say, so he at least tried to lighten the mood.
"Not funny, not right now!" You hit his shoulder playfully. It was a little bit funny, at least you got distracted from your gloomy mood.
"(Y/N), you thought they were lost to you, forever. How can that be cheating?" He inquired, with a serious tone this time.
You knew he had a point. But that wasn't as straightforward as he thought.
"You are biased," you scoffed. "And look at the Old Man, he sure got to see his wife again. I bet he wouldn't... indulge, like I did." You gulped, guilt was clawing at you again, making it hard to breathe.
"Yeah what a fair comparison. He was thrown into a precarious situation constantly fighting and jumping worlds and guesses he'd probably see his Hyrule again, and you, who had a peaceful life in a village for years with no way to return to your home. Really, a great way to make yourself a big baddie," he said with a sarcastic tone, a tinge of scolding mixed in.
You paused. You have never heard Wild speak this much before. You just mumbled something about not having tried hard enough, still staring at the twig you had in your hand.
He moved closer and gently lifted your chin towards him, making your eyes meet. You melted a little inside, which only fed your guilt even more.
"Look..." he said. "Fine, it is complicated." He sighed, not breaking eye contact in the dimly lit night.
"But you didn't do anything wrong, okay?" He tried to assure you. You averted your gaze again.
"Now that we know... What does it mean, Link? If I can get back to my world one day, does that mean... we, I..."
You trailed off. Wild just listened.
This was really complicated, way too complicated. You didn't want to push him away, you were selfish.
Yet thinking of your partner, wrecked with the pain of losing you perhaps, while you were in the arms of another, receiving comfort? Your stomach was twisting.
After all, maybe they did find someone else already? Or were you merely trying to justify your actions?
Oh Gods, you bet Sky wouldn't think so highly of you. Old Man wouldn't either. None of them would.
As you mentally shuddered, you gave in and leaned on Wild, even if a bit awkwardly.
"Don't tell the others, will you?"
"It's your life to tell," he assured you as he put his arm around your shoulder as you both leaned on the tree. The turmoil of emotions wouldn't let you go further, but at least you enjoyed the companionship and understanding he offered for now.
"I will never judge you, no one can, not for this," he said softly.
You were glad, but guilt still ate at you. Between these legendary heroes, it made you feel small. Shouldn't you have had some type of undying love story?
"...and what if we end up in my world?" your voice but a whisper. He didn't reply immediately.
"We'll cross that bridge when it comes to it, I guess," he ghost shrugged. His eyes had a distant look.
"But I'll be there, okay?" He added somewhat awkwardly.
You gave him a weak smile as you nodded, not knowing what to say, what to do. You wanted him to kiss you, you wanted to be close. He probably wanted the same but didn't want to force a choice on you.
What comes next would be your own choice. How you wanted to proceed now, was your problem.
But he would be there, whatever you chose.
You leaned on the tree trunk as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders, then you slowly drifted off to sleep. A warmth with a tinge of guilt embraced you, giving you dreams of bridges and portals as you fell asleep.
And the face of your beloved.
