New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 25 - The Lonesome Hero

Time seemed to drag by in an almost painful manner by the time Impa finally called down for the two of us to head downstairs and join them. Without saying the words, I knew what she meant to say: "Whatever cool, highly-classified information we were sharing and discussing has been shared and discussed, so it's safe for you lot to rejoin us!"

So, that's exactly what Paya and I did. We went down the stairs together at a pace that we tried to make seem unhurried but it was obvious to everyone in the room that we had been hurrying anyway. As soon as he was in view, my eyes sought out Link's of cool blue, and I was delighted to find that his own had been searching my own out.

He glanced briefly towards Paya, but that was only because she slowed upon seeing him, and I could only guess that it was because she was suddenly nervous to be around him. I glanced back at her too, only to smile at the sight of the blush rising up from her neck and reaching the ends of her pointed ears.

Link looked back at me as I reached the bottom step and went readily to his side. He welcomed me there happily, and smiled warmly at me. "Hey," he spoke quietly as Paya asked if there was anything she could get Impa. "Are you doing alright?"

"I'm trying not to think about it too much," I told him honestly, knowing he was referring to what I had learned about my own birth, my own heritage. "Not here, anyway. It's not Lady Impa's fault my parents did what they did. That's just something I'll have to handle on my own."

"You don't have to do it alone," he reminded me, and my smile turned grateful and warmth bloomed from my heart. I nodded, hoping he could see all that gratitude I felt for him displayed in my facial expression, in my eyes. If mine were only half as expressive as his own, then surely he would have - and judging by the look on his face as he searched my gaze, and the gentle smile he wore, then he must have.

"Thank you," I said, my voice not daring to rise above a whisper as Impa and Paya had their own conversation only a few short feet away. "I appreciate that more than you'll ever know."

"Of course," he murmured. "I can't imagine how surprised you must have been... I'm proud of you, for standing so tall even now."

"I can't very well disappoint the most courageous boy I know," I said, laughing lightly and enticing a chuckle out of him as well.

"Fair enough," he said, his gloved hand reaching for my elbow. "Listen, before we-"

"(Y/n)," Impa called, and I didn't even have it in me to be embarrassed that it seemed their conversation had ended several moments ago, meaning they must have been witness to our close proximity, our hushed words, the gentle smiles and gazes meant only for each other to see. "Dear child... come here."

"Yes, Lady Impa," I said, leaving Link's side and stepping closer to the Sheikah elder. Her eyes searched my features for something I would likely never be able to guess, and it felt for a moment that she was looking right past my skin and clothes and right into my soul, instead.

"Goodness, how you've grown," she remarked once more. "Those eyes of yours... you are definitely your mother's child. But I suppose you must have been blessed with courage of your very own. Based on what your parents had told me, I was afraid you'd never leave Hateno Village. And what a pity that would be - I cannot travel Hyrule as I once did because of these old bones of mine. But you have your youth, and that is not to be wasted."

"That is a lesson I learned recently," I said. "Thankfully, Link was generous enough to allow me to join him."

"No," Impa disagreed. "Thankfully, you searched your heart for what you wanted, and you found the answer. Many people never try; they never realize it's an option. Others try but never find the answer. How fortunate you are then, to have found your answer and exactly when you needed to."