Eternity [Link x Reader]

XVI || Smile Today, Cry Tomorrow

I just wanted to say thank you for all the support you guys ;~; <3

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【 P R E S E N T L Y 】

You dragged yourself back in the direction of the inn, each step heavier than the last. This was all because of a certain tunic-wearing, pumpkin-tossing, Hyrule-saving, fate-binding Link. Ha.

Fate-binding Link. Good one, [Y/N].

You couldn't help but praise yourself for your weak attempt at a joke. As pathetic as it really was, it somehow made you feel just slightly better. You inhaled deeply, straightened your back, and plastered a smile across your face.

As much as you wanted to crawl into a little dark hole and bawl your eyes out, you knew that would make things harder for you. You had to keep your chin up and show the entire world that nothing could ever bring you down.

You lightly patted both your cheeks, hoping it'll help you appear more lively than you actually were. After taking a deep breath, you pushed open the doors and walked in. The lobby was still rather boisterous; your guild-mates were still drinking, dancing, and laughing in all their drunken glory. Thankfully no one seemed to take notice of your return.

You quickly ducked your head and moved into the crowd, deciding it was probably better than trying to go around. This way, at least, there'd (hopefully) be less of a chance that either Link or Shad would spot you. You were jostled back and forth within the sea of people as you slowly made your way through. Determined to get through as fast as possible, you held your ground and bulldozed through. Whenever someone pushed you, whether by accident or not, you shoved them back twice as hard. An annoyed look appeared across your face when someone almost spilled their drink all over you. Thankfully with your fast reflexes, you managed to sidestep them at the last minute, causing them to crash unceremoniously to the ground.

Ah, oops?

"Man down! Man down!" Someone to your right cried out with a laugh, drawing a bunch of attention.

Part of you was concerned about the toppled man's well-being, while the other half thought of this as the distraction you needed. You quickly turned around, slipped out of the crowd, and ran up the stairs.

You couldn't help but grin victoriously at your small feat. Sneaking around the way you did was oddly thrilling. It reminded you briefly of that time in Gerudo Desert, when you and Link snuck into the Bokoblin camp. You weren't the best when it came to confrontation or fighting, but you aced the art of sneaking around.

Your good fortune, however, didn't last as long as you had liked. Just as you turned the corner, you found yourself face-to-face with none other than the source of your heartache. Link looked just as surprised to see you as you did him. Instead of wearing his iconic green tunic, he was dressed in a cotton shirt and a pair of dark slacks. His weapons and his protective gear were absent, suggesting he had retired from the party downstairs.

"I was just about to go look for you," Link explained softly and carefully. It was almost like he was afraid that you'd disappear if he spoke too loudly. "I was worried."

You quickly scurried back, creating some distance between you two. Link immediately frowned, getting the hint. He bit down on his lower lip, just absolutely despising what's become of you two. He missed the closeness you two shared. Fighting together, laughing together, crying together... He missed it all. You were the one person Link could fully trust with his heart and soul. You were... Dare he say it? His soulmate. And not because the Gods decided it, but because that's what Link believed in. Now, however, it was almost like being around a total stranger.