Maybe reader catches Revali sleeping and dreaming about them, like moaning their name in his sleep and stuff like that?
incandescence - light produced by high temperatures.
pairing: revali x reader
summary: rain is pouring and revali is sickly sincere
A cool night breeze slipped past the billowing curtains of the window behind you, carrying with it the earthy smell of rain just in time as drops began to dance across the pitched roof. With a sigh you reached over and closed it.
Taking this chance, you swapped the blankets over your shivering companion, his blue feathers puffing up and suddenly relaxing from the added warmth.
Once done you settled back into the uncomfortable wooden chair, retaking your careful watch by Revali’s bed as you fought back the pull of sleep.
It was the usual winter sickness, the kind that would sneak up seemingly out of the blue. One day a person could be climbing mountains, the next they’d be bedridden— the mother of all fevers knocking on their door.
In Revali’s case he’d been too stubborn to tell you, refusing to call for a break or even admit that anything was wrong until he was practically falling from the sky.
Taking a clean wet cloth, you wiped the cool towel over the burning surface of his forehead, bringing your hand down and past the little red marks on his face. Outside, the rain began to pick up. The light pitter patter soon became a heavy torrent, walls shuddering from the force of the tempest. Lush green fields melted until they were no longer distinguishable beyond the rain-covered glass.
Sometimes your heart mumbled in his sleep, speech slurred and incoherent. He’d taken his medicine so all that was left was to sweat it off. A part of you felt helpless as you watched him fight against some unseen entity, fever dreams making it impossible to get any adequate rest.
Not for the first time you wondered what he was dreaming of. As the rain poured, you imagined that come morning the whole field would be quite waterlogged. An ocean created in one night.
Maybe he was dreaming of the sea.
A wing wrapped around your wrist as you stood to refill the jug of water. A quiet word sounding like your name left his beak as a weak whisper— catching your attention.
“Go...inside,” he frowned, eyes still shut. “You’ll catch a cold.”
Smiling, you intertwined your fingers and lifted them to his face again, pressing it against his burning skin. “We are already inside, love.”
You stilled when the Rito sank into your touch, his cheek gravitating towards the cool back of your hand. Shallow breaths escaping from his beak, his eyes fluttered for a moment, not fully registering your presence.
Revali murmured your name again, shifting under his many blankets. “This— it’s good.”
“What is?”
“This dream.”
Biting back a laugh, you turned your head to the ceiling, wondering how you got to this point. “I’m flattered you think so.”
He shifted again, leaning fully against you. “Mm…never wrong.”
With a free hand you smoothed back the small wisps of hair that had come undone from his braids. A yawn escaped your lips. Revali smiled happily, deliriously even as you lightly massaged his temples. “Let’s get married.”
“...what?”
“Atop Satori Mountain,” he continued, slow and unthinking, oblivious to your dumbfounded expression. “Under the pink blossom tree you like so much.”
Wordlessly, you took the glass thermometer from the bedside table and placed it under his arm. Raising it to the light a few minutes later, it confirmed for a fact that he was still in the throes of a fever.
Revali sank deeper into his blankets, breath uneven as he slipped in and out of consciousness. Biting your lip, you quieted down your conflicting emotions. You looked at him despairingly, a fond smile fighting its way to your face.
“Yes. I will marry you, silly bird.”
His response was delayed and not at all what you were expecting.
“Of course you would say that.” He exhaled, jade eyes slipping open just a fraction so he could look at you. He appeared sad— mournful even, gazing at you like the sun would take you away come morning. “This is a dream after all.”
With a shake of your head, you stood up and stretched. You could feel his eyes sleepily following you as you leaned over to reposition him comfortably on the pillows.
“When did you decide you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me anyway?” You jokingly asked.
“From the moment we met.”
Halfway through tucking in the blankets, your hands froze at his shoulders. You repeated the conversation in your head again, wondering if you'd heard right.
Gathering your courage, you slowly turned to meet his stare, hoping to search for a double meaning or a hidden jest. Wondrously, you'd find that as sick as he was, Revali was truly and utterly serious.
Time came to a standstill as you both studied each other, the tips of your fingers disappearing into the blue of his feathers. Your whole body felt warm, making you wonder if you had a fever too.
“Say…” you inhaled shakily, words dancing around your tongue. “Say that to me again tomorrow. When you are well.”
His answer was but a simple nod, eyes sliding closed.
After a moment you pulled away. The rain outside continued, droplets racing down the glass.
Like waves settling in the sea, Revali's breaths began to even out. Not a word or sound was uttered as a peaceful sleep finally decided to wash over him, leaving you alone as you waited out for the dawn.
summary: you find a place to hide from the wind blight, but this quiet peace can only last for so long.
By some miracle, you dragged the ancient entrance shut with nothing but raw power and adrenaline. Broken arm painfully throbbing in the makeshift sling of your ripped jacket, there’s an air of finality when you hear the metal wall slam down, killing the lights and plunging you and Revali into near darkness.
“Let’s lie you down,” you say to no immediate reply. In the emptiness of Vah Medoh’s last safe chamber, his silence was unnerving.
“Catching your breath? That’s a good idea, take it easy please.” Talking to yourself wasn’t very effective in fending off the panic either. And the smell of burnt feathers was quickly overtaking everything else.
Carefully, you unhooked the Rito’s wing from around your shoulder, lowering him gently to the ground. Propping his back up against one of the walls, you failed to ignore the groan of pain that escaped his lips.
To your horror, his tired eyes began to close. “Sorry! I’m sorry, please stay awake.”
Knees buckling from the stress, you sank to the spot next to him, hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Reaching out through the darkness, your hand found the buckle of his armor. With some fiddling the straps loosened, heavy steel dropping to the floor. Like a drowning man, Revali took a deep breath of air, the wheeze and crackle that followed bringing you close to tears.
“Just a little longer. Hylia. You hit your head real bad up there so you can’t fall asleep until we get to safety.”
Even as you placed a hand to his abdomen, deep down you knew that running a quick check up would do nothing but bring you more sadness. You were out of bandages and potions. You couldn’t even see him properly. What good would fatal diagnosis do?
The Blight in its rage had torn a large gash over his stomach, cowardly disappearing in a vortex of wind to tend to its own wounds. Desperate to stop the bleeding, you had ripped the Champion’s scarf from around his neck, using it as a makeshift bandage in an attempt to stop the rush of blood that leaked from under his armor.
Probing the site of his injury, you felt your fingers come away damp with blood, dashing the last pieces of hope that you’d struggled to protect. A small sob left your lips. Oh no, please no—
A trembling wing was pressed over your hand, wrapping around your palm and squeezing it reassuringly.
Looking up, you can barely make out the green of Revali’s eyes in the low light. His voice came out quiet and raspy, slow as he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness. “How does it look?”
You shook your head, sobering up for his sake. “Not great, but don’t worry. We’re going to find a way out of here. Mipha or whatever healer is closest is going to patch you up. It’s going to be okay— you’re going to be okay.”
Revali huffed out a small laugh. It was soft and tired, but you can still trace the endearing upturn of his beak in the darkness. “When you put it that way, it’s hard to argue the contrary.”
The Rito coughed again, sagging to the side. You had to pull him closer, shivers racking through his body with burnt feathers fluffing up in an attempt to stay warm.
At some point you felt the heavy weight of his gaze piercing into you, raising the hairs at the back of your neck. You looked at Revali questioningly, barely seeing him narrow his eyes at the sight of your injured arm.
“Uh...this?” You sent him a sunny placating grin as a reflex, useless as it was in the dark.
“Yes, that.”
You pursed your lips, shrugging as you were already past the point of caring for your own well-being. Sensing this, the Rito was less than enthused. “You were out cold but that Blight’s laser was going to hit us…” His body was tensing again, and so you fought your embarrassment to tell the truth. “I deflected it.”
“How?”
“With...my sword?” Rest in pieces. It was a precious gift from one of the best sword wielders among the Champions. “Please don’t tell Urbosa! I’ll make you salmon meuniere for the rest of the week.”
Revali was quiet again, and you could practically feel his trademark stare of Judgement burning into your cheek. With an exhausted sigh, he closed his eyes and rested against your chest. “I can’t believe you. Beautiful, reckless dumbass...”
You mocked a gasp. “Excuse me, a reckless dumbass that saved us both from getting sauteed on the rooftop. And don’t prefix your insult with a compliment, I’ll get confused.”
Much to your disbelief Revali chuckled, shifting in your hold to sit up higher. You turned your head to tell him off, out of concern that he was going to disturb his wounds, only for you to fall silent when you felt his forehead brush your cheek.
The silent show of affection brought the reality of everything crashing back onto you. You were still trapped in the Divine Beast, hundreds of metres above ground. There was no way to call for help, no supplies left but the clothes on your backs. And the person you cared for the most was bleeding out in your arms.
Your head dipped, pressing back against Revali’s face. Vaguely you could feel him whispering to you in the darkness. His wing reached up to wipe away the tears from your cheeks, and only then did you realise you were crying.
“You did well.”
Those words were said with such raw conviction, you almost mistook it to be love.
“I had to shut down Vah Medoh at the control terminal,” you shakily admit, smoothing a hand over the back of his head. Some of the braids he had worked so hard to maintain had come undone. Your fingers got to work, gently untangling the strands.
“I know,” his voice was quieter now. “Medoh asked me the same thing whilst I was in the air. I’m glad you heard the call too.”
The fight was slowly leaving him, his soul barely tethered to your own as you continued to steadfastly linger in this world. There wasn’t much time left. Eventually Malice would weave into the mainframe and find the back up generators at the core.
Eventually the emergency lights would ignite, bathing the room in red and leaving not a shadow left to hide in.
Eventually the Divine Beast Vah Medoh would awaken, undoing the security override on the door and sending you both to the inevitable.
But that would be later, and not yet now.
“Revali?”
“Yes?”
“Can we stay like this for a little longer?”
You could feel his smile against your cheek. “For you, I would do anything.”
HAII!! if it hasnt been done yet, could you do revali x reader with basorexia? maybe reader really wants to give him a kiss but she really cant since,, yknow she has lips and he has a fuckin beak so she just decides to give him a lil smooch on the cheek? idk that was just an idea i had in mind, u dont have to write it!
22. basorexia - the overwhelming desire to kiss.
pairing: revali x reader
summary: revali spirits you away to enjoy the new years eve festivities.
In the darkness of your room, you awoke to the sound of a soft tapping on your window. Twisting in the mess of blankets and pillows, you pushed aside the papers and textbooks that had accumulated at the foot of the bed, noticing only then that the candle at your desk had long since extinguished.
Head pounding, you rubbed at your tired eyes, feeling heavy. How long had you been asleep?
The tapping grew more insistent, forcing you to get up. Grumbling, you allowed yourself a second to stretch, ignoring how your room felt like water sloshing in a glass.
"Yeah, yeah. Hold on!" You said, hobbling to the window. Brushing the mess of hair from your eyes, you pulled the curtains away and roughly pushed it open.
The culprit hovered outside, eyes bright and smug. Revali looked very much at home though he was floating at a dizzying distance away from the ground. In the sleepy haze, he looked like a painting of some myth you had read before, with the late night sky as his backdrop and the outline of your window as his frame.
"Took you long enough."
"Apologies. I thought some tree branches were hitting the glass."
The Rito made a show of turning in the air. "Funny, I don't see any nearby trees."
"I know," you sighed, disappointed.
Revali rolled his eyes and poked his head through the window, feathers brushing past your cheek as he ignored your personal space in favour of scoping out your room. The stiff turn of his neck as he looked around reminded you of the curious and confused little birds that landed on the sill from time to time.
"Quite a dreary home you have here." Gesturing to the overall darkness, he pointed to your stack of scattered papers. "You shouldn't study without proper lighting, it's bad for your eyes."
"I was asleep."
"Why, I'm surprised. And here I thought you were one of the festive many who choose to stay awake at an ungodly hour in order to count down the remaining seconds of the year."
"Well," you shrugged, not wanting to meet his eyes. "Not like it's anything special. New year, same shit. What difference would a countdown do?"
Biting down on your tongue, you stopped yourself from saying anymore. The cold breeze sifted past the light shirt you were wearing, making you shiver.
He was right, normally you were one of those people who stayed up, excitedly watching the hands of the clocktower tick til they reached midnight. You enjoyed the energy of being in a collective crowd, waiting with bated breath for the first inhale and exhale you would take into the brand new year.
The final month on the Hylian calendar brought a sense of relief and a hope for new beginnings. Usually today of all days you were at your happiest, jumping at the prospect of celebrating along with the rest of the kingdom and yet…
That sinking weight clawed at your chest again, forcing you to clamp down on it once more.
You grimaced. There it was; that bitter feeling. Hylia. How annoying. It twisted in your brain like an angry snake, pulling down your mood and enthusiasm along with it.
Last year you wanted to cheer and dance until the morning light. Now all you felt like was staring at the wall. Or falling asleep.
You blinked, turning back to the window to see Revali patiently waiting for you to continue. Feeling your face warm, you hustled your brain to get a move on. A coherent thought would be great right about…now!
"Hey have you ever wondered why they don't grow trees on this side of the castle? It's not fair the more expensive quarters get all the pretty greenery. I mean, non-noble guests still need that sweet oxygen everyone keeps raving about, you get me?" Shut up brain, that's enough. I said a coherent thought. C o h e r e n t.
Stars in his wings, Revali shook his head but answered anyway. "I agree, it's hardly fair. Also go change into something warm, we need to get you outside."
"What? Why?"
Something in the Rito's expression clued you in to the fact that he wasn't in the mood to play stupid. You've been sitting in the dark for the past few days and it didn't take a private investigator to know it was playing tricks with your head. "Fine, but when I say we go back--we go back, got it?"
He huffed, turning around to give you some privacy. "I promise on my honour."
The brightly lit lanterns of the town square made you squint as you shuffled closer to your guide, the sound of the city loud in your ears.
Though less prominent, the twisting feeling in your gut continued, making you more hyper-alert than usual to the world around you. Adjusting the sleeves of your coat, you followed Revali past the streets, the Rito expertly navigating through the sea of people.
Somewhere along the way he had taken your hand, and you told yourself it was a good way for you both to stick together. Wouldn't want you getting lost and spending the final minutes of the year playing an elaborate game of hide and seek after all. He was a great friend like that. Nevermind that everytime you would hold his wing a little tighter to remind yourself that he was there, he would always squeeze back.
You needed a distraction.
Just focus on everything that's not him.
The night was alive with the sound of music. It didn't matter if you partied with an alcoholic drink in hand, or a glass of milk, everyone in Hyrule was filled with an addictive buzz that came with an event that only happened once a year. Vendors with bright smiles called out from their stalls, the smell of freshly baked sweets or the sizzle of a barbecue beckoning you to take a closer look. To your left, a group of friends raised their hands in the air, loudly welcoming a Goron that had turned up late but regardless had finally arrived.
The archer followed your line of sight, guessing the question bouncing in your head. "Daruk is in Eldin, probably rattling Death Mountain with that story again about the Moblin camp and the barrel of explosives."
"I love that story."
"Of course you would."
"Sorry about your feathers though."
"Whatever, they grew back."
"How about the one's on your--"
"Anyway," he interjected quickly, playfully nudging you to the side and glowering at your laughter. "We've been told to 'take a break'. The other Champions have chosen to spend this day with their families and loved ones. We are planning to regroup and continue preparations in the days following."
"How about you?"
"I already said it."
Your cheeks coloured at the implications of his words, mind replaying the previous sentence. Families and loved ones. Families and loved ones. He didn't even hesitate. You both were not related. So that left you with...
"Woah!" Digging your heels into the dirt, you abruptly paused your brisk walk and saved yourself from colliding with the archer's back.
Stopping at one of the stalls, Revali held two fingers up. You glanced up at him questioningly but he refused to give anything away, expression relaxed. The vendor returned quickly, the Rito thanking them quietly and placing the payment on the bright yellow table cloth along with a large tip in their jar.
He turned around, dropping a square shaped pastry into your hands. It was some kind of rice cake, with a fluffy exterior and a golden baked surface that smelled of butter and felt warm like the sun.
Taking a bite, you smiled at the hints of coconut that were hidden in its sweet flavour. The sticky treat was familiar somehow. "Is this so luck sticks to you in the new year?"
Revali scoffed, though failed to hide his own smile behind the cake held in his wing. "You said the same thing when we first met. You need new material."
"Says the baron of bird puns."
"I am the king." He punctuated the statement by biting into his own rice cake. Offering his wing, he gently took your hand once more, turning back to step again into the busy promenade.
Following him, you noticed that the crowds ever so slowly began to thin. A lantern lit hill was coming up. The grassy expanse was dotted with a few people, though it was blessingly not as populous as the town square. "I should be the one that's surprised. Thought you hated crowds unless their attentions were all on you."
"It's tolerable so long as I am with good company."
The both of you walked up the hill with an unspoken agreement to make it to the top. Taking a seat on the grass, you allowed yourself to breathe, chest heaving from the small burst of exercise after days of being sedentary.
The twinkling lights of Castle Town stretched out before you. Gazing at it, you could imagine all the untold stories hidden in the glowing little pockets of the alleys and in the hushed whispers behind closed doors. Funny how in a city so full of people, one can feel so alone.
Revali was the first to speak, breaking you from your thoughts. "I think I can understand now. Looking at it from this distance, it really can feel like nothing much has changed."
You continued to stare at the lights, trying to focus on a certain string in an attempt to ground yourself. "Yeah. Sometimes it feels like though the world continues to spin, I'm remaining completely still. Just stagnant."
Frowning, you ran your hands through the grass, feeling the dirt shift under your fingers. You could feel your frustrations building, bubbling up to the surface with no way of dragging them back down.
"And the challenges just get worse every year. How am I going to face those old problems and these new ones if I'm still the same lost person I was back then?"
Your voice echoed at the last sentence, making you hide your head in embarrassment. That was loud.
Some strangers relaxing on the hill turned around to flash you an annoyed glare, before quickly returning to their picnics after spotting the Great Eagle Bow on your friend's back.
"I'm so sorry." You wanted more than anything then to dig a hole and hibernate preferrably for the next hundred years or so. "I'm yelling, that isn't like me. I'm so so--"
"There's nothing to be sorry about. You needed to say it." He glanced at you from the corner of his eye. There was a serious element to it that made it a little hard to breathe. "There is one part of that I don't agree with, however."
"What is it?"
"That entire section about you, how did you put it, stagnanting." He twisted a wing in the air, thinking on his words before pointing a feather directly at your face. "You're fully capable of enacting the change you want to see in yourself."
You felt a little dizzy now. But another kind of dizzy, one very different from the vertigo you felt waking up in the darkness of your room.
"And who said you were exactly the same as you were back then? You've changed. In a good way. You're stronger and more capable of things I'm sure the person you were two years ago or even less couldn't even fathom doing."
Turning to face you, Revali gave you his full attention, compelling you to do the same as the cadence of his speech joined the steady rhythm of your own beating heart. From the back of your mind, you could barely register the sound of people gathering together, their voices floating into the cold night air.
'Ten!'
"It's difficult to see your own progress from a distance."
'Nine!'
"So take my advice and start looking at yourself up close for once."
'Eight!'
He had that expression on his face, one that said he was thinking too hard about something. It was like watching him try to pull the planets together with just a piece of string. His brows were furrowed so deep that your fingers wished to run over his feathers and smoothe the worried creases.
'Seven!'
You slowly reached out to him, giving him enough time to back away. Revali stilled as your hands traced up the nape of his neck, leaning in as his pulse thrummed underneath the soft pads of your fingertips.
'Six!'
He opened his beak the moment you reached his face. You paused, half expecting him to tell you to let go and pretend like it never happened.
Instead, he called out your name.
'Five!'
He said your name again, though quieter now. It was enough to tug at the invisible force drawing you two together. Enough so that the polite distance nervously enforced by the both of you gradually began to dissipate, trailing away like a ribbon of smoke as you both leaned in closer.
'Four!'
"May I--," He cleared his throat, eyes darting away for a second before they were back on you again. Bright green in the lantern light. Emeralds in the desert sand.
'Three!'
"May I kiss you?"
"Yes."
'Two!'
"Your way or mine?" You couldn't help but joke. Revali smiled, exhaling a soft joyful laugh before pressing his forehead to yours.
'One!'
'Happy New Year!'
An earth-shaking boom rattled your ears, but all you could think of in that moment was Revali and the feel of his feathers against your skin; the utter elation of being so close to someone you deeply cared for and that cared just as deeply for you.
In the dazzling light you lifted your head from his, both your eyes meeting for a brief moment. Hands moving, you gently angled his face with a steady hand, feeling then the soft, butterfly light brush of his wings on your waist.
Closing your eyes again, you leaned in to press your lips against his beak, the blush on your face warmer than any fever or furnace. The Rito's soft sigh was barely audible as you trailed your kisses upwards, stopping at the red circle on his cheek.
Revali laughed again as you turned his face to press a kiss to the identical red mark on the other side. "You're very thorough."
"You deserve it." You beamed. "And this is just the beginning, just you wait at the end of the countdown I'll--"
"Actually my dear," he grinned, pointing to the sky.
"Huh?"
Above you were the vibrant colours of the firework display. It was beautiful and awe-inspiring, but a confirmation that you were definitely minutes in to the new year.
"Oh," you said, before shaking your head with a smile. "It's fine, we got 12 more months to prepare ourselves for the next one."
Revali nodded, pulling you closer so he could press your foreheads together again.
"Indeed," he grinned. "Now will you finish your sentence? What exactly were you going to do at the end of the countdown?"
could i get a revali x reader with the liberosis prompt from your prompt list?
12. liberosis - the desire to care less about things.
pairing: revali x reader
part: 1 of 6
summary: on the night of calamity ganon’s attack, you find yourself thrown back a week into the past, waking up outside the door of an unusual rito with deep blue feathers.
Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Part 5
An adventure was never straightforward. There are knowns, unknowns, and unknown unknowns that were bound to happen. This you knew and this you understood from the moment you set out from your tiny home in Central Hyrule, dreaming of stargazing amongst the towering Hebra peaks with a roaring fire to keep you relatively unfrosted.
Setting out with a full heart and a stomach bubbling with excitement, you had promised yourself to go with the flow. Given previous advice, challenges were bound to happen. But you knew that whatever it was, whether it was food poisoning or an (unfortunately) common highway mugging— this was your nerdy meteor shower holiday and nothing was going to throw you off your groove.
And of course, on this night of all nights, the world decided to throw you a curve ball the likes of which you had never dreamed of anticipating.
An inhuman screech echoed over the mountains, louder than thunder in a storm.
"You have got to be kidding me," you groan, watching with dismay as the once peaceful black night sky rapidly turned into an unflattering blood red.
With a yelp, you clutched the pine tree next to you, holding on for dear life as the earth began to shake. A cold gust of air nearly knocked you over, extinguishing your campfire and knocking the tent over.
The sound boomed again. It shuddered through the branches above, causing snow and dead leaves to rain down upon you.
“Okay that’s my cue to go.” Thinking it best not to stay in one place, you decided to make your way back down the mountain path, aiming for the nearest watch post. You hoped that the Rito guard stationed there could give you some answers and if not, at the very least point you towards a sturdy structure to hide under.
No more than ten footsteps away from your original position, you hear the sound once more. A high-pitched scream that felt closer than it was before, wrecking your eardrums and sending you crumpling into the forest floor.
Make it stop! Makeitstopmakeitstop!
In amongst the pain, you managed to turn your head to the sky. Your eyes caught the wing of a giant mechanical bird. Glowing red, it made a pass between the mountain ranges, clipping the rock and chaotically tipping from one end to another in the air. Red beams of light chaotically fired from its beak, searing through the snow and sending rocks flying.
Heat tickled the small hairs on your arm. The air was getting harder to breathe.
Around you, the stars continued to fall.
.
.
.
.
"You shouldn't be sleeping here."
Silly brain. Of course you can sleep here. This was your canvas tent afterall. A perfectly average canvas tent, thank you very much. Fairly insulated, waterproof to a certain degree, sold to you at a discounted cost by a Zora with a cute smile.
“Hey, wake up! This is a public walkway.”
What? Eyes shut, you smoothed a hand over the ground underneath you. Fingers meeting solid wood, you sleepily wondered when you’d installed that. Since this was a perfectly average tent, the ground you slept on was all grass and bedroll, nothing else. There was no reason for floorboards out in the wilderness anyway...
“Swallow's Roost is two floors down. You hylian tourists are unbelievab—woah!"
With a sudden jolt, you shot up into a sitting position, forehead smacking into a solid metal object with a clang. Though the pain made you hiss, you continued to twitchily regain your bearings, dry eyes open and wild.
White clouds. Blue sky. There was a blue sky over you. What the fuck.
Someone snapped their feathered hand in front of your eyes, causing your brain to immediately recoil back like a rubber band. Blinking owlishly, you followed along the arm to find it connected to a dark blue Rito. His red lined eyes were green (and actually quite pretty if they weren’t so scarily intense right now.)
It only registered a second later that he was talking to you. Focusing, you managed to catch the tail end of his sentence.
“So answer me this; who are you and why were you passed out in front of my house?”
“Yes.”
The Rito’s glare transitioned from one of suspicion to tired irritation. And honestly, you probably deserved it. Poor guy was most likely out to fetch some groceries and here you were encroaching upon his Hylia-given right to consume some bomb-ass peanuts.
“Firstly, I don’t believe that’s a thing. Secondly, how hard did you hit your head?”
Opening your mouth to reply, the only thing that came out was a muted squeak as you found yourself suddenly yanked up to your feet. The world wobbled dangerously like a rippling tapestry in the wind. A strong arm looped around your waist, stopping you from falling over.
“Actually,” the Rito looked at you strangely again, shaking his head and deciding whatever witty comment he had prepared wasn’t worth it. “Nevermind. Just walk, the healer’s clinic is this way.”
Turns out you didn’t have a concussion. And though that was a big win, you still found it difficult to recall how and why you ended up at the Rito’s front door in the first place. Not wanting to cause any more trouble, you shrugged your shoulders and slapped on your most convincing ‘i’m not a liar’ voice.
“Guess I just had too much fun at the tavern last night.” You mimed toasting a shot glass. The healer remained stoic as ever with their wings remaining folded in their lap.
Laughing nervously, you lowered your hand. “And I’m sure you know when you’re that tired even the floorboards are considered comfortable…”
The healer sighed. Though they were unconvinced, they’d obviously given up on prying any further. “Very well. Though I’ve assessed no serious injury, I still suggest you return to wherever you’re staying and rest for the day.”
Standing up, they turned around to call out to the blue Rito— Revali, which you found out was his name on the walk to the clinic earlier. Leaning against the door frame outside, he made a good show of pretending he was lost in thought rather than curiously listening in on the conversation the entire time as he poked his head in. “Yes.”
“Will you kindly escort my patient back to their room at the inn?” Which was code for: Revali will you make sure this weirdo doesn’t do anything strange for the next 24 hours?
Revali sighed (you were very good at making people do that), and without another word, nodded and tossed his wing up in a ‘come along now’ gesture. Thanking the healer, you stood from your chair and followed him out.
Shielding your eyes from the morning sun’s glare, you silently trailed behind him and down the many flights of stairs. The quiet lasted for the whole walk, both of you contemplating the other, unsure as to what to make of the situation, and before you had the chance to break it— you had arrived.
Fishing the room keys from your pocket, you unlocked the door and stepped inside with a relieved exhale. It was just as you left it, with a partially made bed, your traveler's pack cracked open, and a collection of maps on the desk detailing your planned hike in the next few days.
“Excuse the mess, though I’m sure it’s not much of a surprise given the state you found me in a while ago.” Scratching the base of your neck, you sheepishly turned around to address the Rito who had walked you all the way back. “And thanks for taking me to the healer. I owe you one, Reva-”
“...li?” There was no one behind you. Stepping back out, your eyes scanned the surroundings to see if he had just lagged behind.
Nope, no one. All that was left was a single blue feather on the ground. Picking it up, you twirled it in between two fingers, watching it catch the light from the sun. “Huh,” you said aloud, “fair enough. Probably had more important things to do than watch over a stranger.”
Walking back inside, you shut the door with a quiet click. From the table, the scattered papers called out to you. Pulling one up and smoothing it over, it was the map of the Hebra mountains.
Taking a seat, your brain registered the squeal of the chair as an afterthought. Mind whirring, you got to work once more in plotting your journey up the snowy expanse, the unusual wake-up call from earlier, at least for the moment, now forgotten.
-
The mountain, though huge and awe-inspiring, was pleasantly familiar in a deja-vu sort of way. The walk was definitely as difficult and grueling as one would imagine climbing up a wild, snowy mountain whilst carrying a heavy backpack would be, but there was an odd feeling that kept prodding into your brain that screamed “you’ve been here before!”
Which didn’t make sense since this was the first time you’d stepped foot in this place. Heck, it was the first time you stepped foot in the Hebra Region.
“Maybe I do have a concussion,” you mused, vaulting over a fallen tree and continuing up the trail. “Well, too late now.”
Grumbling, it took you a few hours to set up camp, wrestling with the perfectly average tent you’d purchased. Eventually, you had a decent campfire going, just in time as the blinding orange sunset sunk into a lavender twilight.
Adjusting your telescope, you grinned into the eyepiece. Okay, not the smoothest adventure ever but hey, you had avoided the odd monster encounter and had safely made it up the mountain with a warm fire to sit by. You had dreamed of this day for a long time and now everything was finally coming together. All things considered, life was good.
Turning a gear, you looked heavenwards and smiled at the night, waiting for the first few lights to descend from the sky. The evening air was cold but comforting, and you deeply inhaled the sweet scent of the forest.
...
What
Was
That
Eyes snapping open, you fell backwards into the pine tree behind you as the earth suddenly moved.
A loud screech echoed again across the mountains.
Looking around frantically, you observed with horror as the dark night sky was transformed into a sea of blood red.
Run! You need to run now! Your instincts shouted at you.
Abandoning your tent and telescope, you sprinted down the mountain path as a cold gust of wind slammed into you, sending you into the snow. Your whole body shook as you struggled to stand, the ear-piercing sound ricocheting against the mountainside once more.
Hands over your ears, you tried to block out the noise, a high-pitched ringing joining the chorus. There was a sudden shift in the air above you, forcing you to open your eyes to see what kind of unholy force from hell could have had the power to shift the weather so drastically.
A giant mechanical creature was looking straight at you.
Wings outstretched, the bright fuchsia light of its eyes seemed to pierce right into your soul. Stomach turning, every atom in your body recoiled from the pure malice it was emitting. This thing was evil.
The air shifted again, going from freezing cold to boiling hot as everything was overtaken by an oppressing pinkish-red light.
Your brain slammed to a halt as you slowly stood up, feeling nothing but the clawing pull of complete and utter fear that came with the numbing knowledge that this next breath will be one of the last. Why won’t my body move?
Shielding your face, you bit back a strangled scream.
13. cafune - the act of running your fingers through the hair of someone you love
pairing: revali x reader
summary: you’ve just survived a near death experience. revali is there when you finally open your eyes.
When you wake up there’s three of him in the room. You don’t say anything at first. They all look the same, perfect copies capturing the exact Hyrulean Blue of his scarf, down to the tight braids peeking from the back of his head. It’s very confusing, and blinking rapidly only seems to worsen it.
Taking a chance, you address the one in the middle— the clearest of the bunch. “Never knew your mum hatched triplets.”
Revali shakes his head and sighs. The fond exasperation is familiar and improves your mood significantly.
Attempting to sit up results in a jolt of pain from the upper quadrant of your abdomen, the muscles squeezing in disagreement. Biting back a curse, you hiss, a light pressure on your shoulder guiding you back to the pillows. One of his wings reaches out, gently brushing damp strands of hair away from your eyes. You focus all your attention on the action, noticing the lack of lustre in some of his feathers and the droop in his wings. It’s obvious that he was exhausted, so why was he still here? Lips parting, you’re seconds away from bringing this up when he decides to speak first.
“You’re a fool.”
The statement, though far from nice, was said with very little bite. It was delivered in monotone, in the same way one would state ‘it’s raining today’ when a storm was raging outside. Usually you had several equally acerbic, bird-themed responses to such a statement, but you were still busy reconciling the two other Revali’s in the room to care. So instead you smile lopsidedly at him, an action that pulls the frown on his even beak lower. “Am not.”
“Placing yourself between me and a sword doesn’t exactly roll in your favour of the argument.”
“I caught it.”
“Yes,” he stops himself, inhaling sharply. “With your torso.”
He averts his gaze from yours, staring hard at the floorboards. The sound of his breathing was loud in the otherwise empty inn, his shoulders rising and falling in time. His two doppelgangers were beginning to disappear, fading into the night as your mind swept away the cobwebs accumulated in your sleep.
It took Revali a minute before he spoke again, tone of voice continuing to lack his usual jeering lilt. He spoke like he was holding himself back, as if any other emotion would snap the fraying strands of his composure and reveal the true extent of the fatigue lingering behind his eyes. “Your reckless actions bought me enough time to dispatch the assassin. I managed to take you and the Princess to a safe location, but by then you had lost at least a litre of blood.”
The Rito’s words sinking in, your gaze strayed to the parts of your body hidden underneath the blanket, already imagining the soaked bandages that would have been changed time and time again throughout the entire day. Looking back up, you catch the soul-crushing regret in his expression, the light of the moon lifting away the mask of unwavering confidence he had worked years to maintain. His wing remained in your hair, deft feathers continuing to card through the strands, slowly unknotting the tangles in a manner so unapologetically tender that it made your chest ache. “Do you understand how unbelievably lucky you are that Mipha was waiting for us?”
Revali says your name with conviction, each syllable a precious spell binding you to the present moment as he leans forward, the coldness of his beak pressed to your shoulder.
“I thought you were going to die.”
Shakily, you lift a hand, placing it at the crown of his head. You brush away the feathers, feeling him shudder underneath your touch. “It’s okay. I’m still here,” you murmur.
The tugging in your heart urges you to apologise, to promise that it would never happen again. But remembering that night; the assassin, Revali, and the blade aimed at the crack in his armour. Had you not interfered, he wouldn’t have made it.
Should it happen once more, you would do it all again without question. You knew that, and so did he.
And in a way, that makes you both the fools.
-
You got it chief, thank you for the request! This is the prompt list by the way everyone so feel free to request something that hasn’t been asked yet.
16. verklempt - completely and utterly overcome with emotion
19. temerate - to break a bond or promise
pairing: revali x reader
summary: falling in love is difficult when neither of you know the end is near.
Night had fallen by the time you mustered the courage to walk up to him. He watched the shining caps of your barely worn boots approach the other side of the campfire, sensing your nervousness as you awkwardly stood for a few beats, weaving and unweaving your fingers.
Either his reputation as the strongest Champion preceded him, or he was completely unapproachable. Throughout the day you would chance a look at him from across the camp, quickly averting your eyes the moment he noticed. You were part of the Princess’ research effort and therefore had some questions— that much he was certain of. Yet you’ve been dancing around him for hours, gathering the will to speak only to have it snuffed out the moment he acknowledged your presence.
Embers lifted from the flames and flickered into the night sky as you finally faced him. Revali held his tongue and gathered his patience, trying to hide the glitter in his eyes at the chance of ‘wowing’ another admirer (nevermind that you were the first).
“Champion, uh sir,” you fumbled with the titles. The question fell from your lips so quickly that his disappointment didn’t register until a second later. “What kind of flower do you favour the most?”
“...”
If the following silence wasn’t damning enough, the Rito was honestly at a loss for how to respond to such an inane question. Seriously? He was better than this. Others have made more important inquiries and had to wait weeks, if not months, for him to clear time in his busy schedule and reply.
Something like this didn’t deserve attention, let alone an answer.
“Swift violets.” He said, before rising from his seat by the fire, dead leaves crunching under the weight of him as he made a beeline straight for his tent.
Parting the canvas, he pretends to miss the earnest wave of goodbye you send his way, ignoring the static in his chest the moment his head hits the pillow. Sleep comes quickly.
*
A month later you meet again.
The universe seemed to adore playing tricks on him. Crossing the threshold of his home, he catches you investigating the decorative shells hanging by his kitchen window. Amusingly, you were balancing on the tips of your toes, its placement just a tad too high.
There’s something different this time around. You seemed more at ease with your surroundings, no longer jumping at every sound like a stranger in their own skin. The tips of your boots were scuffed with use, and the minute cuts and imperfections in your clothes spoke of days spent in hard work and travel.
Though some things still remain the same. He holds back his smirk when you stumble forward in surprise at the sound of your name, getting straight to business once you were safe from the risk of falling over. “I believe you’re the researcher sent to assess my progress with Vah Medoh?”
“Yes, I am.” You’re quick to snap back into stiff professionalism, he’ll give you that. The bow is low and formal, your back so still that someone could confidently rest a cup and saucer on it. An introduction spills out, followed by an apology when you realise he already knows who you are from the briefing he was given days earlier in Hyrule Castle.
The task was simple really. King Rhoam Bosphoramus wanted a full report on the breadth of Hyrule’s offensive capabilities against Calamity Ganon. From Guardians to Divine Beasts, much had been done in the past year in preparation for their greatest adversary. Now as the whirlwind began to settle, all must be accounted for, down to the last soldier.
Your report was just a drop in what will be an immense ocean of information currently being collated. But it was nevertheless quite vital. He wonders how someone like you was selected for such a task.
“Let’s do our best.” You blurt. Revali could see the millions of thoughts racing behind your eyes when you decide to break away from your military-stiff posture, raising a hand in the traditional Hyrulean greeting between strangers.
The lines of your palm stretch before him like deeply-woven thread. He glances at the wrinkles and grooves in your flesh, remembering that some mystics believe such lines could predict something as unknown as the future. He can’t help but wonder what yours might foretell.
Pressing his wing to your outstretched hand, he declared his agreement. “Of course. You’ll soon see that my ability to pilot Medoh is nothing short of perfect.”
He can’t help it. “And no questions of the botanical sort, understood?”
The sudden playful grin you give him makes all his witty quips screech to a halt, his focus trained solely on the way your face instantly lights up when it isn't held down by strict politeness or pure nervous energy. “I’ll be sure to steer clear from them this time, Champion. You have my word.”
*
Both of you eventually fall into a comfortable routine. Meals are made together and the chores are done quickly through combined effort. You catch on well, cottoning on to the needs of the day based on the tasks you both decide on the night before.
After breakfast he finds his gear and yours already neatly arranged by the doorway, allowing him additional time with Vah Medoh and you the chance to closely observe. The idea of training with an audience never bothered him, but knowing you followed close behind, notebook at the ready, gave him the extra push to perform just a level better than his previous.
One more arrow, one more extravagant somersault in the air. He even maneuvers Medoh to do a complete 180, reveling in the way your mouth pops open in awe as you walk across what was once the ceiling.
“... .... --- .-- / --- ..-. ..-.” The ancient machine complains, unhappy to be on their back. The Rito pilot pats the metal wall apologetically, watching as you excitedly flit from one end to the other, feeling quite pleased with himself.
*
Revali dreams of a cliff’s edge.
The precipice looms before him, nothing but fog and the unknown past the point where the ground stops and plummets. Revali looks at you and feels the smooth rock of the sea stone underneath his talons; hears the sound of crashing waves in the distance. Tantalising was the mystery of the void beyond.
The meaning escapes him the moment he wakes up. His pillow was warmed by the glow of the sun, making him realise that he had slept in. Morning was just beginning, and both of you had a full schedule of tasks to get through.
Diverting all his mental energy to the work ahead, he scrubs the sleep from his eyes and shakes away the odd thrill in his feathers. I’m better than this, he thinks.
His tea is still warm when he arrives at the table.
*
Word of the researcher shadowing him gets around quickly, it’s a small village after all. Some of the Elders glance at you in suspicion, old wounds from disagreements fought with the capital in the past lingering like dye in the water. You don’t seem to mind it, too caught up in the new sights and smells of this vibrant community built in the clouds.
The Rito children are much more enthusiastic about your presence, sharing in your curiosity by matching your questions with their own. Getting comfortable on the wooden slats of the departure deck, you happily play encyclopedia for them.
“Were you this cute back then?” You ask, watching a fledgling hop from one talon to another in imitation of a lizalfos, chasing after their friends who were the heroes in the story, at least for this round of the game.
“I was a model citizen.”
“Not true!” One of them pipes, poking him in the side with the tiniest of wings. “Mama said you were a hennish scallion.”
“You mean a hellish rapscallion,” the eldest of the bunch laughs, screaming when the ‘lizalfos’ tackles them into the ground.
Crossing your arms, you fix him with your best look of authority, shaking your head in mock disappointment. “I apologise but the council has spoken.” He raises a brow at your antics, feeling a little light headed at the adorable way your eyes water whenever you hold back your laughter. “Do you plead guilty for perjury, Mr Champion?”
Champion. The word echoes and reverberates, wrapping tightly around his brain like the blue scarf fitted snugly on his neck. He likes the way you say it, making him wonder about something else.
The words leave his mouth before he can think it through. “Revali will do just fine.”
Mirth drains from your face, replaced instead by surprise. “W-what?”
“I have a name.” He ignores the feeling of his feathers standing at the back of his neck, unclenching his jaw. Relax, he tells himself. “Better for you to call me that than to continuously mess up the titles.”
“Still working on it,” you shrug. Then, you’re gesturing for him to step into your space, leaning forward just the same like you’re about to tell him a secret. You’re close enough for him to feel the warmth of your breath against his beak. He freezes, becoming hyper aware of his heart thundering against his ribcage, not daring to move even a muscle in fear of giving his thoughts away.
“Revali then,” you murmur, almost too soft for him to hear.
It was only when one of the children tugged at your sleeve, dragging you away to explain the appearance of another monster you’ve encountered in your travels, that he allows himself to breathe.
*
His presence had been requested at the Chief’s office, the old, war-weary Rito regretfully informing him that an urgent message had arrived. Multiple reports had noted an increase in the signs of Calamity Ganon’s resurgence. It came as no surprise, with every Blood Moon summoning more monsters from the void, an omen that something big was coming.
Letters from the Princess implied the worst: that she had exhausted nearly all avenues in awakening her sealing power. The Spring of Wisdom would be her last chance, and after that, who knows? The Champions were to meet again in three weeks at the foot of the mountain, to celebrate or to re-strategise depending on the outcome.
He was never the religious sort but by the Grace of Hylia, please let it be the former.
A headache was beginning to form as he made his way home, the idea of knocking out on his hammock for an hour or so sounding extremely appealing. The day was coming to a close, a cold breeze chilling his back as the orange heat of the evening crept its way to night.
You’re the first one to the hut this time, brown scuffed boots positioned neatly at the doorway. Revali stares at them for a second too long, wondering if you knew your time in the village was coming to an end earlier than expected. The information you had diligently collected was finally required, a little last minute if he had to comment but such were the nature of these things.
The mental image of you puffing out your cheeks in frustration, complaining that you would have to organise the data on the way back, was enough to make his mood perk up— just a tiny bit. Picturing you disgruntled and annoyed, just like when the markets ran out of your favourite produce, was easier to stomach than the thought of saying goodbye.
Leaning against the hardwood of the kitchen counter, you don’t notice him enter the room, too engrossed in the list you’re making.
It's a sight he'd seen before. If he forgot about the sobering news he'd just received, then the day would feel like any other.
The open window frames your form, making you appear like a painting come to life. Rays of light streamed from the cracks in the blinds, illuminating the slope of your nose and curve of your mouth.
Instinctively, you tilted your head to the source of warmth, instantly reminding him of the swift violets that would bloom by the Hebra cliffsides, forever seeking the sun.
Oh.
The ground had finally run out, earth and sky crashing together. There was no denying it now. Inwardly, he cursed himself, following the thought past the precipice, plunging himself deeper into the truth he'd avoided acknowledging for months. The universe truly was cruel.
It wasn’t like he didn’t see it coming. The answer was clear as day, right from the beginning of its inception.
It's the golden hour before sunset when Revali realises he’s in love with you.
*
Wind plays with the jade clasps of his braids as he appraises Medoh’s central control unit. He’d done this maneuver many times before, enough that he could perform it with his eyes closed.
It was your final day on assignment so shouldn’t he attempt an action that was more daring? He tried to ask. But you had rejected the proposal outright, reasoning that it suggested this would be the last time you both would meet at the top of the Divine Beast. “You can’t get rid of me that easily,” you smile. “I’ll visit once the fight is over.”
“Guess there’s no harm in going back to the basics,” he mused, inputting the commands before taking a step back.
Leaning against one of the columns, you watch with rapt attention as he points the Divine Beast south. The view abruptly shifts from the towering mountains of Hebra, to the grassy Tabantha Frontier, greenery spanning for miles and disappearing into the white, snowy wall of Mystathi’s Shelf.
You tilt your head up, eyes trained on the heavens. There’s a solemn intensity in the way you look at the sky, as if trying to ascertain a greater meaning to your existence in this world between the cover of clouds and the endless sea of blue. It never gives you the acknowledgement that you desperately want, no matter how long you spend asking it, but that doesn’t stop you from searching anyway.
He understands because he’s tried asking well, too many times to count. Eventually the young Rito stopped looking, opting to make an answer for himself instead.
“Do you ever get tired of it?”
Revali’s silent for a moment, mulling over his answer, before he pushes away from the control unit and starts walking towards you. “There’s no spectacle grander, and I can’t recall a time I’ve been without it. As a Rito, it was your first companion, and so long as you looked above, you were never alone.” He shook his head. “Though I guess to love something so vast and beyond our comprehension would be rather imbecilic.”
He’s running his mouth at this point, the hum of Vah Medoh loud in his ears. “... .. .-.. .-.. -.-- / -.-. .... .. .-.. -..” the beast warns, but he continues anyway.
“It’s far too foolish to pine for something that will never be in your grasp. So it would be best for me to realise that there’s no point in fighting it anymore. I mean, I should feel relieved by the concession that at least I’ll be remembered by someone other than myself.”
Your attentions were no longer directed at the sky, the intensity of your eyes piercing into him, seeing right through his poorly hidden deflections. “Are we still talking about the same thing?”
The urge to plunge himself over the edge and fly away by the sheer fuel of his embarrassment was beginning to feel very enticing. Trust his description of the sky to sound like a confession. “No,” he admits.
“Then…”
Revali thinks about telling you— considers allowing himself to become vulnerable just this once.
You’re still here, feet planted firmly on the ground, within his reach at this very moment. There was nothing he wanted more than to take that last step forward, to close the gap that perpetually rests in between you both. He imagines what it would feel like to wrap his wings around you, and believes that it would be nothing less than holding infinity.
Yet, despite this— despite everything, he sighs. “Another time.”
Almost like reading his mind, you simply nod in response, smiling as you reach out to him. He lets you take one of his wings in both your hands, the firm surety of your touch grounding him into the present. There’s no hesitation in your next words, only a promise of a thousand tomorrows lingering on the corner of your lips.
“Tell me when we meet again?”
“I swear it on my life.”
.
.
.
-
As usual, what was supposed to be a short and sweet answer became a creature of its own, demanding my full attention until it was finished. Writing in Revali’s POV is so fun, but there’s always that small bit of doubt that I can never do his character justice. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy this one.
By the way! Hello to all the new visitors to my blog. Welcome yall. This is the prompt list. I may not answer straight away, but I shall do my best :)
pairing: revali x reader
summary: under the canopy of stars, revali’s curiosity distracts you from fixing your telescope.
You don’t flinch when the space next to you is suddenly occupied. The evening air parts with an audible whoosh, the dirt ground shifting and rattling your flimsy telescope, throwing your careful calibration off course. Twisting a knob (a little too tightly) you silently readjust the altitude, not deigning to look up at the Rito poking his head into your business.
For a few minutes you were able to continue your work in relative peace, the feathered Champion silent in his contemplation of the same night sky. However, it didn’t take long before he impatiently waved a wing in front of the lens.
"Make it quick." You say, frowning at the magnified shock of blue in your eyepiece.
“How many stars are there above us?”
“Enough to fill the night sky.”
He scoffs, “You know what I mean.”
“And I’m sure you understand my meaning as well.” You frown. This was no good, maybe it was the telescope all along. The aperture was weaker than its predecessor, but it was the best your rupees could buy after the previous one was smashed to hell.
Octorocks. Those bastards.
Bleary and blinking, you followed the Hunter’s sword up to where the smudge you saw earlier would be. Initially it didn't appear to be anything special, but upon closer inspection you saw what looked to be some sort of luminous cloud and knew this could be the cusp of a potential great celestial finding. If only you could see it better.
“There should be at least one expert in astronomy in that ivory castle. It makes no logical sense for you to continue coming back.” Revali is indistinguishable in the darkness. Your eyes struggle to see him in the meager glow of your lantern’s light. As it adjusts the first thing you can recognize is the gentle slope of his yellow beak and the familiar shine of striking eyes a leaf-green.
“Have you considered in that bright brain of yours that perhaps I wanted your take on it?” His voice is snarky but for the few days you’ve known each other, you recognise it as a half-compliment. And those, like a total solar eclipse, were a short-lived and rare phenomena.
“There’s no clear cut answer I can give you,” you admit.
Revali smiles like he knows a secret. Folding his legs as he lowers himself to the grass, he unhooks his bow from its place on his back. Reaching out, he drags the lantern closer, illuminating the resilient wooden limbs as he gets to work at restringing it.
“Humor me.”
The wind sighs and you do the same, shaking your head as you pull away from the damaged telescope. The luminous cloud in the middle of the Hunter’s sword remains a mystery for another night as you allow yourself to take a break.
Revali gestures to the ground next to him, and you gracelessly sink down into the space, back aching from the hours spent hunched over the eyepiece. With a sigh you stretch up, rubbing your dry eyes tiredly.
Opening one eye, you’re surprised to see him glancing at you, quickly turning away at the last moment. Despite yourself, a small laugh left your mouth, amused as some of his feathers stand in response to his embarrassment.
Shrugging off your coat, you idly rolled it into a ball, holding it close to you as you watched the thousands of visible stars blink above in the vast expanse of the cloudless night. You think about galaxies and nurseries. Of collapsing matter and temperatures rising hotter than hundreds of Death Mountains put together. “This will take a while.”
The Rito nods, wind parting the feathers down his back. His shoulders relax as he shifts to settle better in his improvised seat, his role as a Champion and the many responsibilities that awaited him in Castle Town pushed to the side for the first time that day.
“Go on.” He says, and you do.
-
Thank you for the request! Sorry that took so long. I kind of liked where this was going. Might become a series? Who knows...
15. balter - to dance gracelessly, but with enjoyment
(Robbie x Reader)
Part I of ?
It’s day one of being assigned as an assistant to the Chief of Guardian Research, and you don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“This is a great honour,” your research supervisor—ex-supervisor, said. They smiled at you tearily like a proud parent, fixing the collar of your shirt and patting away the non-existent dirt on your shoulders. Both of you had decided together on an outfit that was functional but boringly business casual, something that screamed ‘This job is serious and I too am seriously serious.’
“Teach,” you say, bending down to look the elderly scholar in the eye. They’ve been frantic the entire morning, packing and repacking your things, double checking your itinerary and quizzing you on random topics for the past five hours (“What is the integral of the absolute sin, x, over the interval 0 to two pi?” “Four, and how is this relevant?”) You try to smile in a way that is both calming and trustworthy. “I’m going to be alright. We’ve gone over all the possibilities together yesterday, everything from A to Z remember?”
Grabbing their cane, they picked up your suitcase, wagging their finger when you reached to take it from their smaller, wrinkly hands. “Yes, yes. But one can never be too careful.” Walking to the exit of the academy, both of you pushed open the double doors, a field of wildflowers greeting you on the other side.
A bright blue sky hung above, cloudless and empty. Your horse was grazing not too far away, ears pricking up at the sound of your approach. Before planting your foot into the stirrup, your supervisor called out your name, prompting you to turn around. Pulling their coat close to them self, they wrapped their short arms around you, enveloping you in a rare hug. “Just, keep your wits about you.”
“Why is that?”
“Doctor Robbie is a little eccentric.”
“Nothing I can’t handle, Teach.” You winked, squeezing them a little tighter. “I’ve worked with you after all.” The air shifts when you spot a cane spinning in the air, the hardwood eventually smacking painfully into your side and making you yelp.
“Stupid child,” the centenarian grins. “I wish you luck and a prosperous future.”
With the Royal Highway in your sights, your thoughts were filled with a whirlwind of excitement at the prospect of working with such a bright mind. Focusing your thesis on the newly excavated Guardian’s design and its sophisticated targeting system had spiraled into a series of meetings with the King’s scientific panel and eventually a position at a lab beyond the imaginations of both you and your Sheikah supervisor.
An hour had sped by and before you knew it, the imposing entrance to the Royal Ancient Tech Lab loomed over you like a giant’s shadow. The secure metal doors were decorated with a pattern of tumultuous swirls and waves, stretching from the edges and across the vast surface like creeping vines on a stone wall. Raising your hand to knock, you were surprised to hear the unmistakable boom of a small explosion on the other side.
Pulling down the handle, the door opened with little resistance, a black cloud of smoke filling your nostrils and making you splutter. “Anyone there?” You called out. Leaving your suitcase at the entrance, you cautiously stepped into the fray, dress shoes squeaking against the floor. Looking around, the first thing you spot are three long stone tables littered with gears and springs of various sizes. The next is the smoking carcass of half a Guardian in the corner.
You stared at the ancient machine, unable to compute.
“Over here!”
Whipping around, your eyes scanned the room.
“Ah, behind the table.” The voice said sheepishly.
Rushing towards it, you quickly vaulted over to the other side, finding a young man on the floor. You blinked, silent as he rubbed his head and groaned, readjusting the metal goggles that sat heavy above his eyes. Taking in his appearance was...overwhelming. He looked, well, rather odd for starters.
His coiffed white hair was combed back and above his forehead in a style you’ve never seen before, fanning out like a peacock’s feathers. It possessed a volume that was miraculously intact despite the blast, making you wonder if he employed some sort of chemical to keep it that way.
The Sheikah uniform that he wore was cream in colour and soot stained from the explosion earlier. You noticed that he’d made a few minor adjustments, rolling his shirt sleeves above the elbows and foregoing the usual navy inner layer completely, giving him a ridiculous V-neck that seemed to go on and on...and oh Goddesses you were staring now. How long have you been staring at him for?
Quick, your brain screamed. Say something, maybe he hasn’t noticed.
You blurted out the first thing in your mind: (well, second. The first was ‘is your hair held up by witchcraft?’ and that probably wouldn’t roll too well.) “Are you okay?”
Reaching out, you offered him a hand up, shocked when he grasped it with no hesitation. His grip was strong but not uncomfortable, and with your help he managed to stand with little trouble.
The grin that he gave in reply was infectious. “I am now, thanks to you.” He had a nice smile. In fact, now that you think about it, his voice was rather nice too. Smooth and—not the time to do this brain!
Releasing your hand, he took a step back, surveying the damage and mess around him. He cleared his throat. “Hm, apologies for the...everything that you see around you right now. I wanted to test a hypothesis regarding the activation of the Guardian’s defense mechanism even whilst inert.” Picking up a fallen gear, he polished it with the edge of his charred shirt and placed it on the table. “Evidently, I got my answer,” he laughed. “So in a way the experiment was a success.”
Oh, he’s a scientist here, you gathered. Great, maybe he could help you find your boss. “Actually, I was wondering if you knew where one of the Directors of this lab was? His name is Doctor Robbie. I’m the new research assistant.” You felt a shock of warmth threatening to creep up your neck, feeling silly at needing to ask a colleague for assistance this early in the day.
His smile widened, your blush rising to your face like mercury in a thermometer. “Know where he is? Why, of course I do.” In the blink of an eye, he stuck his hand in the air, striking a pose that was so charming and silly that you wondered if you’d inhaled too much toxic smoke earlier and was currently hallucinating on the fumes.
“You’re in luck,” he announced. “For the ‘Doctor Robbie’ you’re looking for is none other than I.”
Oh. It was no use, your embarrassment was reaching an all time high and at this point the smartest option was to stop fighting and let the blush takeover and run its course. Trying and failing to hide your shock, you don’t notice the Doctor’s pose wilt at the lack of your response.
Take a deep breath and do it again, your supervisor— ex-supervisor’s voice echoed like an angry phantom that refused to leave your head. Slowly recovering, you bowed low, the seventy degree angle pulling the muscles in your back. “Forgive me, I didn’t know.” You say your name quickly and in one breath. “Pleased to meet you.”
Straightening up, you were relieved at the lack of anger or annoyance in his face. Even with the goggles, it was easy to tell that the Doctor’s expression was relaxed, and if anything, just a tad worried. “The pleasure is all mine. You have nothing to be sorry for, and please, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“Got it. If you show me where the written reports are kept, I can start organising the data as soon as possible.”
“Hmm? Oh, we can worry about that later.” Folding his arms across his chest, Doctor Robbie gracefully spun on his heels, walking towards the Guardian head that tried to set him on fire only minutes ago. “What I need you to do is to grab a crowbar from the table and some gloves.”
“How come?”
Fearlessly knocking on the ancient machine’s temple, he moved to face you, that enigmatic smile back on his face as the gears on his goggles began to turn. “We’re going to see what makes this beauty tick.”
