Chapter Text
“Try to keep up!”
Sprinting, Link’s spiked shoes seemed to defy gravity, carrying him across the sands. He spun quickly, throwing his shield down and stamping on it, sending himself surfing down the sand dunes, matching Revali’s airborne speed.
The Rito laughed, flying with his back parallel to the ground. “Impressive!” he called, “But I’ve seen it before!”
Link bent his knees, balancing his weight to speed along the dunes. He skidded to the side, spinning on the spot and landing with precision. Hm. A mere show-off’s trick, if Revali said so himself.
Revali pumped his wings faster, spiralling midair to overtake Link, his shadow blocking the sun. Link looked up, his hair pulled back with a Voe headdress. “Oh, here’s something you’re good for!” Link laughed, thankful he didn’t have to keep squinting.
Scoffing, Revali fought the familiar tug of a smile on his beak. “Don’t get used to it!”
He gave in, grinning and slowing his speed to let the harsh Gerudo sun scathe Link once more.
“Gah!! Hylia’s sake!” Link shielded his face with his forearm, and if Revali wasn’t mistaken, he could swear he heard another laugh.
He chuckled along, still flying just above Link as they traversed the Gerudo desert. Close to the town, but far enough to have room for stunts and ego-boosting races.
Indulgent fun, really.
They needed it.
In fact, Urbosa nearly fell over upon hearing Link’s request to show Revali Gerudo. Being a Rito, heat was his sworn enemy, but with the insistence from his new ally (and sapphire-encrusted braids), Revali was admiring golden sand for the first time.
He never knew why he didn’t travel. It was so strange - to be in the same world, but have it feel like a different realm altogether.
Exhilarated, he watched Link wave his hand for a direction, following the Hylian back over the sand hills to Gerudo Town.
They soared together, almost. Looking down at Link, Revali could have sworn he was flying. His blonde hair whipping behind him, clothes rippling with the wind, and a smile so permanent it reminded Revali of his own love for flight.
In the sky, he was always smiling.
It seemed Link smiled anywhere. Land, sea, sky…
He found a way to enjoy it. To effortlessly travel. To move.
Without wings, too.
It was admirable.
Before he knew it, Link was sliding to a halt near the Gerudo gates. Huffing, but not entirely out of breath, the Hylian was laughing again .
It seemed he spat out endless joy. An adrenaline seeker.
Revali had learnt that lately.
He landed gracefully, puffs of sand rolling away from him as his talons settled into the slightly-too-hot grains.
Revali kicked his feet, trying to shake the sand with a scowl. Brushing down his legs, he huffed, allowing the tiniest smirk to worm its way on his face. Maybe the rush of flight didn’t always have to be for training’s sake.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, he sighed. “That was…that was alright.” he announced.
Then, he looked up.
A mistake.
Link was glowing . Not literally, but the sun behind him and the sheen of sweat wasn’t helping. Hylia, why was he so skinny but so strong?? Did he always have that belt over his chest? Was that a Gerudo thing? When did his eyes start sparkling. Did they always do that? Was that a chosen-hero quirk? Did he always-
“...Woah. Earth to Revali.”
“I hate you.” Revali spluttered suddenly.
Link’s eyes widened before he burst into laughter. “Okay?” he snorted, hands on hips like an idiot. “Anyway, I was saying we should wait for Urbosa before we head back.”
The mood seemed to darken instantly, even though the sun was still golden and bright.
Heading back meant more preparation. Heading back meant they were closer to the castle, closer to gloom, and panic, and malice, and rain…
And fate.
“I had fun, though.” Link said quietly.
Revali took a deep breath.
“Me too.”
Link’s eyebrows flew up his face, and he beamed.
“Oh, no need for all of that.” Revali scowled, waving him away. “Gods, it was one admission.”
“I’m messing with you.” the Hylian chuckled, shoving his wing.
Even though Calamity loomed over their shoulders, Revali felt it slipping away, his priorities shifting for the first time in 5 months of war preparation.
Nearly half a year living as a Champion. Nearly half a year knowing Link.
And nearly 20 minutes of accepting that maybe the heat wasn’t half bad. If he was flying. If he was cooling off after.
If he was with friends.
Y'know....like Link.
- - -
Revali awoke that night with a yelp when his tent shook with a bang of thunder.
He nearly toppled from his hammock, throwing aside the canvas of his tent. He lunged out of his tent, eyes widening as they met pure chaos.
Soldiers were sliding on armour, nurses scattering across the base with supplies. Rain pelted down, yet it stopped none of them in their frantic pursuit of preparation.
The Champions were at the podium, Mipha’s hands in Purah’s, Urbosa quiet, trying to communicate with the sky’s roars, and Daruk rolling his shoulders, grim.
Revali sucked in a breath.
…No. It was too soon, it felt too soon - they’d only been here for what, 5 or 6 months?
Then again, you didn’t need to be Link to know Hylia was begging for action. The state of Hyrule was enough.
Revali shucked on his quiver, reaching for the Great Eagle Bow, carved by the village elder and himself in preparation for…well, today.
He inhaled the spray from the rain - the cold burnt his nostrils. He stamped down the tiny pit of worry in his stomach and marched to the Champions. Purah ran to him, saying a thousand words a second, her eyes blown wide and frantic from adrenaline.
The sky screamed at them again, deafening the world for a brief moment. Gasps and murmurs floated across the base before quickly settling into determined shouts.
Red wisps floated through the air, dragging along the ground. They’d become more and more common each passing day.
Purah snapped him out of his thoughts with the word, ‘castle’.
Turning to it, Revali clenched his jaw to fight the urge to vomit.
It was so…red.
So tangled in Calamity - monsters littered the pathways, and bokoblins strapped to horses were galloping wildly across the further plain. Black smoke billowed from the turrets, rendering any safe rooms useless. Ganon had seated himself right in the heart of Hyrule.
And now it was his job to scrape him out.
Well, Link’s, really.
Where was he?
Gently (but not really) pushing Purah aside, Revali speed-walked past Daruk to a higher shelter where he could recognise Zelda’s blonde hair whipping in the wind. With her was her constant shadow.
Link.
He was dressed in the familiar royal blue, but clad in leather gear and symbols galore. He seemed to shine - the shimmer of the rain illuminating him to the point he looked beyond human. It was…
Revali shook his head. “Princess!” he shouted over the fray. Zelda turned, ignoring the guards beckoning to her as she stepped into the rain.
Revali had to admit, he was shocked at how calm she looked. Impressed, if he dared to go there.
Despite her caring nature, Zelda wore a face fit for a ruler. Sharp, brave, determined. It reminded him of Rhoam, who was probably still in his base area. He didn’t think he’d seen him aside from his occasional orders and appearances.
He’d never admit it, but the word coward seemed to float into Revali’s mind at the thought of him.
Zelda gave him orders, reminding him that Medoh awaited on the nearby mountain, as well as drilling safety procedures into him again.
“The SOS,” she said sternly, “You hit that button and we will send Teba and troops to you. The others all have the same. If you manage to defend your post and fire your strike, you are free to aid the others or press further. Do not abandon your duty. We need you to fire the laser. Link needs you.”
Furrowing his brows, Revali nodded. He glanced to the balcony, watching the rain pour down Link’s leather chestplate, his hair whipping in the wind. The Hylian turned to him, eyes holding that familiar, unyielding gaze. He nodded, small and strong.
“You have my word.” Revali said to Zelda, but his eyes never left Link’s.