I WANT TO SEE MY LTITLE BOY

HERE HE COMES

hug prompts | 18. the hug that lasts longer than the rest + 23. the final hug. 

He knows all too well the weight that lies on everyone’s shoulders, the expectations they’re fated to bear. The Champions’ responsibility was great for each one of them, he knew that, but it’s an unspoken word between them that Zelda carries the most. Maybe that’s why the other four were so quick to accepting her request to pilot the Divine Beasts ( Revali took a bit of convincing, how very much like him. ) Link… well, it’s always been part of the knights code to protect the royal family. To protect Hyrule.

While she talks, his gaze goes from the wound and the sensation of pain slowly dissipating as she heals him ( as she’s always done, ) to her. He doesn’t speak, not at first, but with Mipha he’s never felt the forcefulness that he had to say anything at all. Her voice is soft, carried with compassion for him, although he knows that’s just how she is. She’s caring, sympathetic with those who need it the most, watches after the others ( her people, always her people, ) and it’s safe to say that she’s skillful. He admires this about her, wonders if she can show him her way around a spear. Her own techniques a bequest of their time.

The sunlight that shines behind her is like a halo surrounding the color of her face. He wants to speak up ( chooses not to, lets her carry on with her own very kind words, ) and as always, as it is with her, the warmth that radiates throughout his fingers similar to the butterflies he gets holding the sword that seals the darkness, like a livewire. It feels good — electric, like the air before a summer storm. It swells in his lungs; he can taste it on his tongue.

—

Their company alongside her paints the dissimilarities between them, what they all share in common and what they all lack. The Princess feels the weight of this the most, Link knows that now, but he’s always listened painfully close to when Mipha speaks. Her words would bring comfort, he’s certain of that, before the ground quakes beneath them all and cuts her off, and Zelda almost stumbles; he reflexively reaches out to keep her held up.

They don’t have long for goodbyes, everyone’s duty not for lack of discovery ( they already know it, ) but he picks her out from the others, before Mipha turns on her heel to head for her own Divine Beast, and he stops her with her name. She smiles gently, in the same way that leaves that familiar flutter in his chest, and he holds his hands out to her ( palms up, inviting. ) How can he explain this? He wants to ask her to take this kind of pain away from him, the very same way she has with his physical ones, with the overwhelming feeling that he won’t see her again. Intuition, as it may be — maybe fear over Ganon’s abilities. It’s been a prophecy up until now, something they’ve all prepared for. Are they prepared? Fighting him may be different from fighting his beasts.

Still. He can do this. Whatever he runs into next, he’s done it before.

A bad feeling, ( he still doesn’t know what to call it. ) When she takes his hands, he runs his thumb along her own fingers, feels the same tug in his heart, feels the same feeling in his lungs. He runs his hands up along her arms, wraps his arms around her and he lingers. If eyes are on him, he wouldn’t be able to tell, and what he wants to say doesn’t come out, what he wants to say stays in his throat.