Chapter Text
Zelda was tired of watching Revali and Link constantly up at each other’s throats.
They simply could not stop fighting even when they both had much better things to be doing at the present.
…Albeit the fights were extremely one-sided, usually leaning towards Revali — particularly in the verbal fights. But it could not be said that Link was completely innocent in all this, considering how he eagerly fought back when provoked.
Every. Single. Time.
Zelda had always assumed Link simply took it as extra training — an incredibly unconventional method of training.
‘Battle obsessed freaks’, she always thought. Of course they both needed to train for their respective roles in defeating Ganon, but incessantly trying to kill each other was not training.
Calamity Ganon could arrive at any time, and it would not be a good look for the two to be battered up from one of their little duels right when he awakens. Or even worse. If one of them was dead before Ganon could even awake.
They definitely did come close to that various times. Such as when they had first met — had Zelda not stopped their fight, their Vah Medoh pilot would have immediately been reduced to a meat skewer.
And then they would have had to find another highly-skilled candidate to pilot an ancient, powerful machine.
Just after Zelda had practically been begging Revali to pilot the divine beast as well. Wouldn’t that be just embarrassing for a princess?
Plus, Revali was pretty irreplaceable.
And still Revali continued to challenge the knight, constantly trying to beat him, even though in Zelda’s eyes they were equals.
Revali didn’t seem to think the same way.
— —
Zelda startles to her feet as she hears faint grunts and yells resonating through the castle halls and into her room, where she had been “peacefully” doing her research.
No way.
On palace grounds?
They didn’t even care to step outside.
She dashes forth, following the now clear insults that Revali was shooting, followed by grunts from Link through the wide castle halls.
She stares wide eyed, as the two continued their battle, ignoring her presence.
The two were in the observatory room.
At least it wasn’t in the dining room…or the throne room. She assures herself, taking in a deep breath.
Still, they were being such children. She huffs, throwing out her attempts of calm breathing and instead clenching her fists tightly by her sides.
Link spares her the barest glance, before lunging forward to follow the Rito’s patterns, preparing to parry his attacks with his own grounded movements.
Revali, in response, flies up in elegance, shooting his arrows at Link as the knight slashes at emptiness. Link just as gracefully dodges the arrows, side hopping out of the way, knees bent and eyes focused on Revali, who was flying on the castle grounds.
Link catches Zelda’s gaze, wincing as more arrows hit the deep red carpet, perhaps it would leave a mark. He looked sheepish, before quickly returning to the battle, eyes on the Rito, but also on the various weapons and detailed decorations around the room.
It’s how every fight of theirs went — Link grounded, careful, and aware of every little detail, especially when Zelda was present — and Revali high above, flying and constantly focused on Link, never looking away or losing that focus.
Zelda gasps as an arrow is shot much too close to her, landing at her feet.
She scoffs, shooting her gaze up at the Rito, who was currently blowing wind everywhere.
Her hair flies into her face and she spits it out, whacking the strands away as her irritation grows.
“Revali!” She yells, whipping her hair away, “both of you, stop it!”
Link immediately stops, completely still as Revali seems to snap back into consciousness, finally putting his gaze on the princess instead of her knight.
He quickly hides his surprised expression, rolling his eyes as he drops gently to the ground, picking out two of the arrows lodged in the ground.
“You know, I had him cornered, Princess.” He mutters indignantly. Link brushes himself off, sheathing the Master Sword. He once again kept a straight face, unfazed as usual by the outright insults and snarky remarks being thrown at him.
Zelda scowls — at both of them — as she pulls arrows out of the castle walls and ground, huffing and muttering to herself as she did.
“You,” Zelda says pointedly, stabbing an arrow in Revali’s direction. His crest seemed to twitch just the slightest bit. “have got to stop doing…” she waves her free hand around nonsensically, too flummoxed to make a clear statement.
“This!”
Revali raises an eyebrow. Link brings his gaze anywhere but at her. It was rare for him to be so shy,
but at least he was ashamed of the stunt he just pulled.
Revali scoffs, raising his beak high in the air and crossing his wings across his chest. “He practically started this. Can’t you get your pathetic knight to be able to read a room? He just buffooned right in here while I was occupying the space like the clumsy little boy he is!” He says with a haughty air.
“This isn’t your personal space!” She spouts incredulously, throwing down the arrows she had just gathered. “These are castle grounds, and you have just fought on castle grounds!”
Her eyes fell on a bunch of bomb arrows in a corner.
At least he didn’t use those...
Her thoughts weren’t alleviating any of her anger.
“Well, someone had to put the knight in his place.” He says, flicking his wings in an exaggerated
motion. “He has to know that he is, in fact, not greater than the rest of us.”
Zelda opens her mouth, but not a single word comes out.
She was rarely mad, or impatient, or snappy. But right now, they truly were acting like children. Both of them.
“Him?” Zelda gestures to Link, who was standing still as a statue and simply watching the two. “You think he believes that he’s better than everyone else?”
The opposite was true, actually. If anyone thought they were better than everyone else it was not Link.
Revali mutters some incomprehensible words under his breath before replying.
“Yes! He keeps swinging around that pathetic little sword of his in all of our faces. That’s all he’s been doing lately!”
“Swinging it in your face because you asked for it, Revali! You’re asking for a fight!” Zelda cries, exasperated. “Why on Hyrule do you want to show off so badly?”
She groans, then directs her gaze to Link, who quickly looks away from the furious princess.
“And you,” she jabs a finger in Link’s direction, “just cannot back away from a fight! Can’t you…learn to do so?” She yells nonsensically at her knight.
The two hadn’t damaged anything. They hadn’t killed or even badly injured each other.
Sure, it was irritating seeing their pointless rivalry, but she shouldn’t have been this mad. Especially at Link.
Revali stays uncharacteristically quiet, watching the princess with a glazed over stare.
“Hylia, Ganon could be waking any minute now and yet you two are here, still fighting like children!” She blurts out, then pants heavily as she catches her breath.
Revali seems to soften — his crest falling flat and his beak open. Link just looks ashamed.
“Hey! It was awfully loud here earlier.” A voice rings out in the distance, Urbosa soon coming into view. She raises a brow at the sight of a frozen knight, a quiet Rito, and a very angry princess, a hand resting on her hip as she surveys the room.
“Fighting again, huh?” She says, amused. She most definitely knew what had happened.
Zelda scoffs.
~ ~
Urbosa barks out a loud laugh. Not at the princess’s enraged state, but at Revali, as she brings him away from Zelda and Link for a ‘little talk’.
“What is it?” He cries indignantly at her clear amusement, feathers all ruffled and raised.
“Oh, Revali.” She sighs, patting him on the back. It was more like a slap on the back. He stumbles forward with a squawk, looking back to glare at her with his oh so menacing gaze.
He looked more like an angry fluff ball than a furious bird right now.
“You’re being ridiculous.” She tells him bluntly, an amused smile on her face.
“I’m being ridiculous?” Revali squawks. “How am I the one being ridiculous right now?”
“You started a fight with the princess’s knight?” She begins. “Again?”
“He–”
“Started it?” Urbosa interrupts. “Please, everyone knows that you start all those petty fights. Especially the verbal ones.” She pauses. “Or maybe those don’t count as fights. They are pretty one-sided.”
Revali opens and closes his beak, sputtering at a loss of words.
“He’s just so…annoying.” He says emphatically, at a lack of better word. “He thinks he’s so important because of that little sword.”
“And he told you this?” Urbosa remarks teasingly.
Revali stays silent.
“Thought so.”
“I–” Revali groans, wings raising to aggressively push down his fluffed feathers. “Obviously he didn’t tell me. But it’s clear that he thinks he’s better than me — better than us with how much he shows off.”
Urbosa raises a brow. “Mhm. Keep telling yourself that.” It was ironic that Revali was calling someone else a show off.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” She smirks. Revali rolls his eyes.
“But seriously, Revali. Fighting on the castle grounds?” She sighs, her tone growing serious. “The princess already has enough to deal with.”
“I know.” He mutters. “Well, I’ll refrain from doing this inside next time.”
“How about just refraining from doing this at all?”
Revali scoffs. “Not until he’s beaten, of course.”
“Of course.” She repeats.
“Yes. Why are you repeating my own words to me?”
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” She asks tersely, earning a shocked look from Revali.
“Jealous?” Revali repeats, voice cracking. He waves his wing in a dismissive gesture, subtly pushing down more of his raised feathers while he did so.
“Now, why would you think that?” He asks, attempting to bring his voice down from his earlier high-pitched squawk of a voice crack. He crosses his wings with a loud huff in attempts to cover his fluffed out feathers.
“Oh…yes, why would I think that?” She says slowly.
“Can you not repeat my words?” He raises his chin, straightening out his posture as much as he could. “I feel mocked.”
Urbosa laughs. “Sorry.” She replies insincerely.
“But you do realise that Link is all you ever talk about now, right? Seems like jealousy to me.”
“That is not jealousy.” He emphasises.
“Then why do you keep staring at him like he owes you rupees?”
The Rito’s attempts to keep his feathers down fails.
“I don’t stare! I just…look at him sometimes in attempts of finding what everyone loves about him.”
Urbosa hums, unconvinced. “And…you see it?” She teases.
“No!” He yells, puffing his chest out. “I am clearly more skilled than him. Why would I be jealous of someone so below my level?”
Urbosa tilts her head, gazing in thought.
Revali has been talking about the princess’s knight non-stop lately.
She definitely had her suspicions that whatever Revali was feeling was not simply jealousy. It was a part of it for sure, but there was nothing jealous about the way he would watch the knight in awe when the Hylian was training, or even simply standing around, when he assumed no one else was around to notice his gawking.
“Then why do you keep picking fights with him?” She asks playfully, teasing him if anything. She found it quite amusing how clueless he was about his own feelings.
“I have been over this.” Revali states emphatically, earning another chuckle from Urbosa.
“What is so funny to you?” He cries. Urbosa laughs louder, filling the room with the sound.
“Seriously…” He scowls, then stomps away, feathers all raised, muttering to himself about the incompetence and childishness of all the champions — aside from the princess, of course.
Urbosa smiles. She always saw all of them — Mipha, Zelda, Link, and Revali — as children too young for such a life-threatening situation.
And alright, maybe they were competent enough, and sure, it wasn’t like they were weak little children.
But still, she couldn’t help but think that their childhoods had been stolen from them because of all this. None of them should have to be involved.
So, the best she could do was help them make the most of the time they had before Ganon inevitably awakes and tries to destroy everything.
She would keep things light-hearted, and maybe try to bring a certain two together. Even if one of the said two is an absolute asshole who refuses to accept his feelings.
~ ~
Mipha couldn’t help but cringe every time Link and Revali started one of their little fights, especially in front of Zelda.
And right now, the two were…glaring at each other from across the dining table. Well, Revali was doing most of the glaring. Link was busy scarfing down his meal.
Why had they been seated opposite each other?
The six of them — Mipha, Zelda, Link, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk — had decided to stop by a little restaurant nearby, at Urbosa’s suggestion. They had all agreed they needed the break…well, except for Revali. He had rolled his eyes in all their faces, making his opinion known throughout the group that they should all be training instead, and that this would be a pathetic use of their time.
“It’s not like you’re training all the time, ‘Vali. Unless you consider your petty little fights with Link ‘training’.” Urbosa had cut in, smiling smugly as they all watched Revali get outvoted 5 to 1.
Now, Mipha wondered if this was any better than the impending sense of doom that came with staying in Hyrule Castle.
What was supposed to be a break became dreading what would happen if Revali suddenly decided to pick a fight with Link — in front of a dozen strangers who were admiring them and thinking of them as untouchable warriors.
“Do you have to eat like a savage?” Revali’s voice cut through the group’s lively chatter.
Zelda looked rather uptight, her body tense and her eyes snapping to Revali at his snarky comment. Urbosa rolls her eyes, Mipha sighs, and Link looks up, clueless, likely only paying attention due to the sudden mood shift in the group.
He always did seem like a different person when he was eating - not so tense and stoic. He was also much more unaware of his surroundings.
After a few ticks, Daruk chuckles loudly, patting Revali on the back.
Well, the ‘pat’ looked more like a hard whack with his rocky hand. Mipha had certainly felt Daruk’s form of affection before herself. She winces on Revali’s behalf.
“Come on, liven up, Revali! You should eat more too. It’s good for your training.” He says, his voice gravelly and echoing through the small restaurant.
The words seemed ironic since Daruk was hardly eating himself — their food probably just tasted like mush to him, so he didn’t bother ordering. He would likely eat some rocks on their way back.
Revali brushes off the Goron’s hand with a wing, face scrunching in disgust. “Could you get your hands off of me?” He rolls his eyes.
“I doubt eating 4 slabs of meat in one meal is anywhere close to good for you.”
“Why do you pay so much attention?” Urbosa steps into the conversation, raising a brow.
“It’s hard not to notice someone inhaling food right before your eyes.” He snaps back.
Link simply shrugs, expression remaining neutral as he continues to eat his meal. Revali watches, seeming at a loss of words.
He scowls at Link. “Can you slow down?”
Urbosa groans, raising a hand to her forehead. Daruk scratches at his head nervously. They all knew where this was going.
Link glances up, tilting his head at the Rito.
“Can’t you hear me?” He asks, voice raising.
“Hylia, Revali…” Zelda mumbles in exasperation.
“What? He’s acting like a slob in public.”
“Stop.” Zelda orders sharply, her eyes narrowed and shooting arrows with that glare of hers. Their whole table seemed to quiet down at her firmness. It was rare for Zelda to be so snappy.
Revali seemed ready to argue back, but instead he slumps back into his chair, his crest twitching as Zelda doesn’t break her gaze.
It was getting tiring watching the two constantly fight, or most of the time, watching Revali be unnecessarily rude to Link. They all felt it. Even Daruk, who was usually able to keep a cheerful attitude when hatred and distaste was arising in their group. And even Mipha herself, who could usually tolerate such disagreements and fighting.
It was ridiculous, really, and Zelda could only withstand so much.
It was already enough that her father has been disapproving of her research lately.
Mipha sighs, reaching over to gently touch Zelda’s hand, feeling her relax and ease into the touch.
~ ~
Daruk didn’t mean to stumble upon…whatever this was.
Revali was circling Link, watching him carefully like a hawk stalking its prey.
Link was seemingly training with some practice dummies. Or, perhaps he had been training until Revali had come around. Link was blank-faced as usual, eyes trailing the Rito expectantly.
Daruk was unsure if he should interfere.
He didn’t like watching people who should be getting along not getting along. Especially around this time. They were all tense with the looming sense of danger raised above their heads, and having these two constantly fighting wasn’t great for anyone. What if their inability to work together disrupted their attempts of defeating Ganon? If they couldn’t work together and Daruk couldn’t protect them…He would feel horrible.
Not to mention it was all very petty, especially last night’s little…situation. The little Rito looked ready to blow up at that young knight over his eating habits.
And Urbosa had mentioned their little fight on castle grounds.
No wonder the little princess has been so grumpy these past few days.
Revali stops in front of the knight, staring him down. “Tell me, how does it feel being exalted for simply being able to carry that sword?”
Link remained expressionless.
Revali scoffs, beak clenched in Link’s face.
“I could easily beat you in a fight, but it seems we only ever get interrupted before I can defeat you.”
The boy may as well have been talking to a wall, but the taunts and insults continued.
“Hm. I’m sure you’d do far better if you could summon your own gale. But you can’t — no less fly.”
Daruk looks around. Uncertain about what to do — interfere or let the argument roll out?
Maybe he could just lighten the mood?
“Hey!” He greets, stomping by to bring both of them into his sides, his heavy hands wrapping around them and creating a unanimous strangled grunt.
Revali pulls away, wings furiously brushing down ruffled feathers, while Link remains in the Goron’s grasp. He seemed to be enjoying the side hug, in Daruk’s opinion.
“How many times do I have to remind you not to mess my feathers up?” He says indignantly, to which the Goron heartily chuckles.
“Sorry, little man. Can’t help myself.” He says, looking at Link, then Revali. “Say, what are you two doing?”
‘Training’ Link signs, finally freed from Daruk’s grasp, Revali rolls his eyes.
All the other champions had learnt at least some sign language after finding out that Link was mute, and yet Revali hadn’t seemed to be bothered to. Even after all this time, when he’s been continuously provoking the young knight and seemingly expecting an answer.
Daruk casts a nervous glance at Revali. “Little bird, how about a little chat?”
Revali groans, flicking his wings in an irritated manner.
“No.”
At that, he strides away, mumbling to himself. Daruk debates whether he should follow him, but considering the Rito’s mood, decides it’s best not to prod further.
He stays in his place, him and Link left alone amongst several damaged training dummies.
‘Little chat?’ Link tilts his head, sheathing his sword.
Daruk rubs his back, laughing nervously. “Y’know, about his behaviour.”
‘Last night?’
“Yep. Also about that fight he started with you in the observatory.” Daruk sighs, shaking his head. Link mouths a little ‘Oh’.
“Kid’s always so distant, never know what he’s tryin’ to do.”
Link shrugs, ‘Beat me?’ He suggests.
Daruk snorts. “Yeah. But, well…” He pauses, refraining from spilling what Urbosa had been telling him. Revali would hate it if Link heard any of it. Or if anyone heard it, really.
Link gazes into the distance of trees cascading down a hill, the bright, early morning sun shining down upon them.
These two in particular were always up so early. And Revali always woke up the earliest among the champions. Maybe to go catch worms. Early bird gets the worm?
‘He doesn’t like me.’ The knight signs, gaze downcast.
“Hey, cheer up, little guy! He’s just a tough rock to crack is all.” Daruk grins, resting a hand on Link’s shoulder as gently as he could. Though he still winces at the immense weight.
“Trust me, he certainly respects you.”
Link snorts, ‘doesn’t seem like it.’
Daruk couldn’t say a lot without completely revealing the young Rito’s little secret — which by the way, he was still uncertain about — but he did want to comfort Link.
Daruk always noticed his little resigned sighs every time Revali left after insulting or taunting him. He didn’t speak much but his disappointment was not so silent to Daruk.
Daruk huffs, running a hand through his hair. He frowns. “Well, little guy, he’s certainly stubborn.”
Daruk puts on a big, cheerful smile, bringing Link’s eyes onto him.
“But you just give him some time and he’ll warm up to you. I’m sure of it! Just like how you did with the princess.” He smiles encouragingly, chucking lightly to raise the mood.
Link and Revali’s rivalry always made him a little uncomfortable. And he could tell it made everyone else uneasy too — particularly the little princess — so who else would be the one to try to make them get along?
Link still appeared unconvinced, but managed the faintest smile at the Goron’s liveliness.
~ ~
Link exhaled deeply as he threw himself against his bed.
What had started off as his attempt to befriend Revali, had somehow turned into a tense fight on castle grounds.
‘Congratulations’, he thought to himself, ‘you’ve pissed off Revali, Princess Zelda, and all the other champions!’
He had just started growing closer to Zelda as well.
As for Revali? Their relationship remained the same.
Completely, hopelessly, distant.
It wasn’t the first time he’d dueled with Revali, but it seemed this time was the last straw for the group. Which was fair enough, Link supposed. It wasn’t like the princess wasn’t constantly, quite bluntly, scolding him for reciprocating Revali’s dueling invitations.
Yesterday, Link had found Revali alone on the observation deck, feeling around his bow and aiming for targets in the distance, when he had gotten the horrible idea to try to communicate with him.
But Link never really liked talking, and he wasn’t good with words even if he did, so he was stuck with sign language that Revali didn’t even understand. Of course, this led to major miscommunications.
Miscommunication was probably an understatement.
— —
“What do you want, Hylian?” Revali muttered, his sharp gaze and sturdy arrow fixed on a bird gliding through the air. It seemed a little wrong that a Rito was using a bird as target practice…but perhaps they just did that often? Link didn’t know much about Rito, admittedly.
And to be fair, the Zora ate fish.
Fish eating fish. Can you believe that?
So, perhaps Link couldn’t just place his Hylian norms on other races and expect them to fit…
….Alright! Maybe he was just distracting himself from the task at hand.
He clears his throat and fidgets with the hem of his tunic, mainly out of nervousness, and stares as Revali takes aim. He found himself looking at the Rito’s crest. It was quite expressive, twitching or falling depending on what he was doing.
He shoots and cleanly strikes the bird, which squawks in the far distance as it falls from the skies. Link watched intently, mouth open in awe.
Link was good with a sword — likely even the best in all of Hyrule. But with a bow? He was adequate at best.
Although, to Revali’s standards, he would probably be considered horrendous.
“Impressed, Link?” He remarked as he caught Link’s stare, drawing out his name mockingly. Most often, it was just “Hylian”, or “pathetic knight”.
The way he said his name now made Link snap out of his thoughts, bringing his gaze to the Rito, though not directly at his eyes.
Of course, Link doesn’t answer.
Revali rolls his eyes, placing his bow down and striding over to loom over Link. “Why are you here?” He demanded.
Maybe this was a mistake.
Link merely shrugs, then considers what signs Revali would understand. Maybe he could do something more like charades…?
“…Are you trying to communicate with me?” Revali asks after some time, having watched Link try out a few meaningless gestures with his hands to no avail.
Link scratches his head, huffing. It clearly wasn’t working.
What did he even want to say?
The Rito rolls his eyes, walking away to pick up his bow. “If you don’t have anything to tell me you can take your leave.”
— —
Link had remained still on the deck at that moment, continuing to watch the Rito shoot targets far from the deck he was standing on. He had decided that he couldn’t just walk away.
Partially because he hadn’t finished his business there…but also, admittedly, because he knew he was annoying Revali by staying, and thought it would be funny to do so.
Link truly wanted to become friends with all the champions, and the rest had been easy to approach, even learning sign language to understand him.
But Revali?
Revali was skilled, hard-working, and incredibly interesting to Link. And yet, he was distant…and sometimes — no matter how much people tried to tell him otherwise — Link believed that Revali hated him.
The very obvious insults, and the way Revali would just openly proclaim his opposition to Link proved that hatred, in Link’s opinion.
Link didn’t know exactly what Revali wanted, but he did know that Revali did not like the idea of being a mere support for Link. He communicated this quite outwardly.
And in all honesty, Link didn’t ask to be the one to defeat Ganon either.
But he had no other choice. It was for Hyrule, for the people, so he was perfectly content to train and work hard for his princess and for his kingdom — no matter the cost.
Though he had to admit it was lonely.
Everyone looked up to him, everyone expected so much from him. All because of a glowing sword he just happened to pull as a kid. No one really took his presence for anything less than a crucial role in a fight against evil — even Princess Zelda, no matter how much she was warming up to him nowadays.
Revali did not think any of this.
He made it quite clear that he did not think of Link as an indestructible hero who would save the whole kingdom.
And Link quite liked this attitude towards him.
He didn’t, per se, like constantly being insulted by him, but he never took Revali’s words to heart.
Link didn’t doubt his own skill with a sword, and he’s never fazed by mere words.
Or, if he did feel insulted, he had been silent long enough to be able to endure such harsh words without reaction.
Well, he’s able to endure because he simply replies to insults in his head! He had thought of some pretty good comebacks over the past few years of his knighthood by doing so. In his opinion at least.
And yet, and yet, he didn’t understand why he still could not approach Revali.
The Rito was always showing off his skills to Link, and he could admit that it was all very impressive.
But Revali always ended up storming away afterwards, muttering to himself in indignation, as if Link had done something very wrong, when he had said and done nothing at all.
He frowned. What was he doing wrong? Did Revali not like how Link didn’t speak much? Or maybe what Link thought was funny wasn’t to him?
So of course, yesterday, when Link continued to watch Revali practice in silence, things escalated quite quickly.
— —
“What on Hyrule are you still doing here?” Revali broke the silence after a few moments, irritation clear in his tone as he continued his practice. He had moved on to using bomb arrows to target multiple birds at once. Those poor birds.
When Link did not shift or attempt to communicate, Revali turned.
“Just come to watch my worthless practice, hm?” He mocked. To which Link shrugged, ensuring his expression was flat, even though he really wanted to smirk at the way the Rito’s feathers stood up in disarray.
He was still supposed to play the role of the princess’s appointed knight, of course.
Oh, and keeping his straight, expressionless face when provoked annoyed certain people.
Link had noticed this sometime during the first few weeks of his knighthood. A bonus of being a stoic, serious knight, he supposed.
Revali was one of these people.
Revali scowled, seething, then aimed an arrow in Link’s direction.
“You’re interrupting my practice. So how about a duel with that sword of yours while you’re here? Since you believe I’m so below you now.”
Link pulled his sword out of instinct, his blood rushing as his sword buzzed to life and the sound of Revali’s arrows releasing from his bow wooshed across the room.
Because no matter how much he wanted to be friends with Revali, and no matter how much he acknowledged his sense of duty as a knight, he did like a fight.
He couldn’t help it, even if he knew it was pointless.
Of course, the fight didn’t end well, considering how irritated the princess was afterwards.
There went his and Zelda’s progress in becoming closer.
— —
Link sits up on his bed.
‘What am I even doing right now?’ He wonders, getting up with a huff. How long had he been doing nothing?
Walking over to his desk, he looks down where his thick, leather-bound journal laid.
He’s had it since he was nine, and he decided that right now, it wouldn’t hurt to write a little more. Even if nothing much had happened today. Yesterday, he had already written about what happened with Revali.
He stares down at the journal for a tick, a thought coming to mind.
‘Why don’t I just write to Revali to communicate? Why have I never thought of that?’ Link realises.
He scoffs to himself, shaking that thought away.
He doubted Revali would read anything that Link wrote. Him not bothering to learn sign language was probably a telling sign that he simply didn’t want to have a conversation, or get to know Link better.
Link sighs, slumping back in his chair.
He just wished he understood Revali better.
~ ~
Revali did not understand that pathetic knight one bit.
Nor did he want or need to.
He was insufferable, plain as that.
Over and over, he would ignore Revali — ignore Revali — No matter how loud he was, no matter how much he insulted him…nothing.
That damn knight was like an impenetrable wall that could somehow block out even the extravagant Rito’s shining personality. As if he was very sun-protected and Revali was the damn sun.
Revali did not like that.
He hated the silence, he hated how Link constantly had that blank look in his eyes, and he hated how he — Revali — would be lame backup for that little Hylian.
Oh Hylia, how Revali had wanted to decline the princess’s offer the day she asked him to pilot Medoh after hearing that he would merely be a support to the knight.
Him? A support?
Link should be the one supporting him! Revali was undoubtedly sure that he could defeat Ganon if given the chance. He most certainly could, especially if he trained even more.
Yet alas, he could do nothing to change their roles.
But how could Revali have rejected the princess’s offer when she was practically begging him to help out? She was desperate, clearly. And lately, Revali has seen why.
He wasn’t blind — he could see the pressure rising on Zelda, as apprehension filled every room and person.
Ganon could be awake any moment now, and they all knew it.
She had the whole of Hyrule on her shoulders, and Revali could sympathise with her. He himself carried the expectation of his entire village.
But that sympathy didn’t stop him from loathing her knight, thus annoying her and making her lose her mind.
And of course, who could blame him when Link was constantly in his way?
Oh Hylia, just like right now.
– –
“What do you want now, Hylian?” He groans, turning begrudgingly to the short boy. He was short, wasn’t he? Compared to him, of course, but even to Hylian standards he was on the smaller side, Revali presumed.
Link blinks, then reaches for something in his bag. Revali raises a brow.
Eventually, he takes out a bundle of bomb arrows and hands them to Revali, who blankly stares back for once, instead of talking away or insulting the boy.
Revali didn’t think they were friends, nor would they give each other gifts.
‘You left them at the observatory yesterday.’ Link signs.
Oh. That’s what this was.
And, of course Revali understood what he was telling him. He had learnt sign language in secret.
Well…not entirely in secret. Mipha had helped him privately.
But it would be incredibly embarrassing if someone else knew that Revali had been learning an entire language all for that pathetic knight. For instance if Urbosa knew…
He shuddered at the thought.
But don’t get him wrong, he only learnt sign language to understand what he was saying to everyone else. That was all. It wasn’t nice being kept in the dark on what Link was talking about to the other champions.
Revali huffs, raising his beak high, haughtily looking down his beak at the Hylian.
Was Link mocking him? Trying to look better than Revali by “kindly” bringing his arrows back for him after a fight?
After all, Link hated him. Revali knew he did.
He snatches the bunch of bomb arrows from Link’s hand, swiftly turning away like a petulant child.
“Don’t you know by now that I don’t understand you?” He states with a scoff.
Lies.
“…I’ll hope you did not mess with these arrows, Hylian. It won’t end well if you did.” He tells him in faux sweetness, glancing back.
He was met with a stony, stoic expression.
Did nothing Revali did bother him in the slightest?
Insufferable.
He rolls his eyes, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture.
“Alright, thank you.” He drawls out in a sardonic tone. “Was that what you wanted to hear?”
No response.
Revali clenches his beak, gripping the arrows tight.
He was talking and apologising to a damn wall here. It was simply embarrassing.
“You—“
“Yeah.”
Revali stares in utter shock, eyes wide and beak hanging open at the blonde knight.
He was hearing things, surely. He was going crazy and it was Link’s fault.
But no, the boy’s rusty voice was very clear in the silence of the hall.
“What?” Revali finds himself muttering, his words not carrying their usual arrogant air.
Link simply shrugs at the Rito, signing a short ‘goodbye’ before turning and leaving Revali alone.
He makes an irritated sound, throwing the bomb arrows down to the floor like a child throwing a tantrum.
He truly knew nothing about that mysterious knight.
First he gives Revali his arrows back like a little saint, then he just stares at him with a dull expression as Revali talks him down.
And then…he speaks.
One word. One small, simple word.
The utter nerve of him.
He was going to make Revali lose his mind.