#linked sword

been a long time coming

beans

I’VE BECOME THE CHANGE I WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!!!

LU Four Link x Reader

★ Synopsis:Based on my series The Three Promises (which I haven't posted yet, so it's fine to read this separately — it doesn't affect anything at all), after saving Four, who fell from a bridge into a fast-moving river, you were separated from the group when the current swept you away. Now, soaked and with night falling, you take shelter in a cave after signs of rain appear. So it's just you and him in the cave, both drenched, cold, and alone.

★ Tags:Very mild angst, more for the reader than for the story itself, somewhat paranoid thoughts??, soft, light romance if you close your eyes tightly.

Nothing could go wrong, yet you felt that somehow you only brought bad luck to the team. I mean, you were just an ordinary person—no Triforce, no magic, no impactful backstory, unless running away from home, dressing as a man, and joining the guard counted for something. But the truth was, you had no remarkable achievements. Maybe that was the reason, or perhaps it was because they all remembered him. Whatever it was, you felt compelled to save the boy, which led to the current situation: the two of you, soaked, taking shelter in a cave from the increasingly heavy rain, with a campfire you’d managed to build right there, on edge.

The silence between you was thick, broken only by the constant sound of feet squelching in mud and Four’s slightly labored breathing.

You bit the inside of your cheek. It was awkward—a very weird atmosphere, for you. I mean, what could you even say now? Ask Four to take off his clothes and put them near the fire to dry? That, despite being a good idea, could come off as strange, a bit perverted. You weren’t that close, after all; you’d been with the group for less time. What could you do? He was there in the corner, shivering from the cold. You had to do something—he could catch a chill. Scanning every corner, you noticed the small cave had nothing but rocks, a few branches, and leaves blown in by the wind. That was it.

You had your small backpack—since you felt guilty about Epona carrying it, she wasn’t even yours—and opening it, you found some things were wet. Digging through, you saw the emergency blanket you always carried. It was a bit damp but not too bad. Taking it out and hanging it near the fire on an improvised line, you watched the moisture slowly evaporate, maybe because of the fabric. Whatever the reason, you took a deep breath, mustering a tiny bit of courage as you tossed more branches onto the fire.

In a simple, neutral tone, you asked the boy beside you to go behind the blanket, take off his clothes to dry near the fire, and use the blanket to cover himself afterward. In the lingering silence, you added that it was so he wouldn’t catch a cold and that you wouldn’t look—that it was okay—making sure it didn’t sound like you were some pervert or giving the wrong idea.

The whole time, staring at the fire, you wondered what the group’s next move would be. The most logical thing would be for the group to go down the river to look for Four, so after the rain, you’d need to go up the river to find them. Easy.

“Aren’t you going to dry your clothes too?” you heard the boy’s voice, which caught you a bit off guard. Still looking at the fire, not wanting to risk seeing him, you just shook your head. You weren’t cold—maybe because you were thinking too much. Your clothes were also made of different fabric; they dried quickly. And like the fire, your body heat was high from the adrenaline rush of rescuing Four. So, no, you didn’t need to. Besides, you were pretty used to these situations in your own world.

Seeming to swallow his response, Four could only nod in agreement even though you weren’t looking. He was utterly confused by the whole situation, his four colors in his mind each voicing different opinions and theories about the best way to say things.

Whatever it was, even though it was somewhat embarrassing to be in his underwear with a blanket covering him, you were still in damp clothes. You were still a bit wet, even if less so from staying close to the fire and tending to it.

The rain stopped. The sudden silence that filled the cave entrance was almost louder than the storm itself, broken only by the constant dripping of water from leaves and the stone ceiling. You stayed still for a moment, listening, confirming, before asking if Four was dry and dressed yet.

From under the blanket, there was movement—which you didn’t look at, keeping your eyes fixed on the embers of the fire—and you carefully went through the ritual: spreading the embers with a stick, covering them with damp soil from the entrance, making sure not even a wisp of smoke escaped.

“I’m dressed now.” The boy’s voice came from behind you, and as you took the blanket back, you stored it inside your backpack, feeling its damp weight against your back.

It wasn’t comfortable, but it was normal—a discomfort to be endured. With a nod toward the cave exit, you set off, not looking back to see if he was following. You knew he was. Heading up the riverbank, the silence between you was sharp, but it was fine. You weren’t much of a talker—he knew that. The intimacy wasn’t great, even though Four didn’t mention or show that, despite everything you’d been through, he’d developed a bit of a crush on you.

★ Author's note:I had the idea to write a more down-to-earth one-shot. I was reading some fics with a cave setting that ended up going down a more smutty path, with nudity at the end, and that wasn't what I wanted to do right now. Since I'm still working on the reader, I preferred something lighter and simpler. I'm not judging this type of fic—I actually like them a lot—I just want to experiment with other ways of writing.