C-Support
Chrom: You're open!
Link: ...HYAAAAH!
Chrom: Gah!... Damn.
Link: ...Got you... You overextended.
Chrom: Phew... My pride isn't taking this very well. That's the fourth win in a row for you.
Link: Don't sell yourself short... You're strong... I learn a lot sparring with you.
Chrom: Heh. Well, I don't feel very strong when I'm up against you. We appear evenly matched at first, at least until... I don't know if you're just warming up, but your movements become much more precise and calculated. The moment you start fighting without hesitation, that's when the tide starts to turn.
Link: I think... that's just my instincts taking over.
Chrom: Hmm... Instincts, huh?
Link: You also practiced with the sword from a young age, right?
Chrom: Yes, my father began teaching me swordplay before I started learning to read and write.
Link: And how much experience do you have against real opponents? In genuine, life-or-death situations, I mean.
Chrom: Over the last few years, I've fought in a number of skirmishes against groups of brigands that had threatened Ylisse's borders. Compared to the time spent in practice bouts and training, though, it isn't much.
Link: I believe... that this is the reason for our gap in skill.
Chrom: You're saying that you have a great deal of experience in real battles, then?
Link: Yeah... Unfortunately... I was still only a child, but once I was called upon to save my homeland, I quickly learned how to fight with my life on the line... It was rare, even, for me to fight a battle where the loser wouldn't end up dead... That was just the norm for me.
Chrom: Hmph. Your people must have been quite desperate to put their hopes on the back of a single child. At that age, you should never have been forced into battle at all, if you ask me.
Link: ...In truth, there are some who never saw me as a child in the first place. I was seen as the "chosen hero" handpicked by the goddess, I'm sure.
Chrom: They were right to place their faith in you, at least. You're as capable as they come.
Link: ...Thanks... The heightened focus and perception that takes over when you narrowly dodge a fatal strike... The rush of adrenaline that you feel when you're wounded and on your last leg... Knowing that if I fall, my world is doomed... There's no doubt in my mind; those experiences are what make me the warrior I am today.
Chrom: I can certainly attest to that. Now that you've explained it, it only makes sense why you're such a difficult opponent for me.
Link: ...Let's spar again sometime, Chrom... Oh!...Uh...
Chrom: Hmm? What is it?
Link: I think... there's a hole in that wall?
Chrom: Ugh, damn it! Again?... I remember swinging wide and catching my blade on something earlier... *sigh* I'm sure Vaike will hold this one over me for a few weeks...
Link: This... happens often?
Chrom: Look, let's not get into it. It's embarrassing enough already.
Link: Ah, well... It's not exactly the same, but... I also have a... an issue... with this type of thing.
Chrom: Really? You? You've always struck me as the controlled and careful type.
Link: it's just... Do you ever get that urge to... break open every jar you come across?
Chrom: Break open jars? In frustration?
Link: No, I... I just need to see if there's anything inside, that's all. If I find any money or items, I'll take them with me on my journey.
Chrom: And where are you finding these... jars?
Link: Well... almost everywhere, really. Mostly in caves and inside people's houses.
Chrom: Hold on! You enter people's houses, break open their jars and steal their belongings that they've hidden away?! Link, in Ylisse, you could face jail time for that sort of behavior!
Link: ...Really? That seems a bit... extreme. No one's ever told me not to...
Chrom: You honestly see nothing wrong with this, do you?... Regardless, in this world, if you enter someone's house and destroy their property, you will be charged as a criminal. I beg you, please rid yourself of this habit.
Link: Hmm... I can try. It's just... every time I see a jar, I'm overcome by the desire to break it open and see what's inside. I feel as if I'm being compelled by some... unseen force or something.
Chrom: ...I'm not even sure how to respond to this.
Link: Hey, just... forget I mentioned this, okay? I thought we might have the same problem, but I don't know anymore. I think something's wrong with me... Uh, I'll talk to you later...
Chrom: ...All right, then...
B-Support
Chrom: I have to say, Link, when we first met, even I had my doubts about you. I certainly wasn't as outspoken as "Frederick the Wary', but there wasn't a thing about you that didn't raise a red flag or two.
Link: You were both in the right to doubt. I would've thought the same.
Chrom: Sometimes, I think about how poorly your situation could've turned out. There was a handful of stubborn, Ylissian nobles that wanted you and Robin put behind bars the moment you arrived. Look at the two of you now! Robin is a natural as our tactician, and you're practically a one-man army!
Link: C'mon, Chrom. I've been committed to your cause from the moment I was brought to Ylisse... You don't need to flatter me.
Chrom: Do you really not see how much of an impact you make on the battlefield? I mean it when I say that you're an incredible addition to this army, Link. You're well-versed in swordplay and archery, you're a natural on a mount and with a shield, and I've even seen you use a few magic spells that looked well beyond the beginner level. It makes me wonder what you can't do!
Link: Chrom... Seriously, quit it. You... don't know me as well you think you do. My friends... the people from my home world? They say the same thing. They shower me with all this praise as if I can do no wrong... I'm "amazing", "capable", "unbeatable"... They wouldn't say those things about me if they saw all the times I failed... When I failed to save someone right in front of me.
Chrom: Hey, I didn't-
Link: They call me the "Hero of Time"... but the only purpose that title serves is as a reminder that I left them alone to fend for themselves for seven years. Sure, I saved Hyrule... but it was only after the damage had been done, and it was nearly too late.
Chrom: ...Link, I apologize. I didn't mean to suggest that you're a perfect person. No one is. And it's true, I don't know of the troubles that you faced in the past... but I do know that you're here right now, risking your life for people that have no ties to you or the world you came from. No matter how you feel about this, you are a hero to the people that you've managed to save since joining the Shepherds.
Link: ...
Chrom: The people of Hyrule that you saved from a great evil? They think the same. The only reason you are here with us is because you are a hero. Naga, herself, sought out your aid based on your accomplishments alone. Is that not enough to convince you? You need to stop focusing on what you've failed to do and look at what you have done.
Link: ...Yeah... You're right. Sorry for... getting so down on myself like that. Everyone can see that I prefer to... keep to myself most of the time, but... I know it isn't healthy for me to bottle my emotions up like I do. In all honesty... these thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately. Still, that's no excuse for taking them out on you, of all people.
Chrom: Think nothing of it. You had mentioned in the past that, for almost the entirety of your journey in Hyrule, you had no others fighting by your side. But now? You're a Shepherd, Link. When one of us falls, our allies help them back up. So please, allow us to shoulder some of your burdens from time to time.
Link: ...Thanks, Chrom. It probably won't be easy, but... I'll try.
A-Support
Chrom: Gods... I'm such a fool...
Link: Hey... Chrom.
Chrom: How could I be so stupid?!
Link: Can you... talk to me?
Chrom: *sigh* Honestly, Link, I would rather not.
Link: ...I'm not one to bother others about this sort of thing, but... you should tell me what happened... and why you're upset.
Chrom: Was it not obvious?! I left our formation completely exposed! I... I saw that enemy battalion approaching us from behind. Instead of calling out their position, as I should have done, I abandoned my spot and tried to cut them off myself... I should have had faith in my comrades to handle it.
Link: ...And?
Chrom: And thanks to my selfish impulses, I left Lissa, my own sister, unprotected, and... and that's how she received that wound. It's my fault. I would have been there to defend her! Imagine if she was killed from that attack! Her blood would be on my hands! There's no way... that I could live with myself if that reality had come to pass...
Link: Maybe not... but that isn't our reality. Yes, you made a mistake... but Lissa will be okay, and we'll be entering battle again soon. Your soldiers need your leadership... and you won't be able to lead them properly if you're fighting with yourself at the same time.
Chrom: But what if-
Link: Yeah... you will make mistakes again, but an effective leader can't hesitate over "what ifs"... right? You have to press on... despite what goes wrong.
Chrom: I agree, and I'm starting to think that this is exactly why I am not suited for this role.
Link: ...Do you remember when you told me that it seems like there's nothing I can't do?
Chrom: What of it?
Link: Well... there's plenty I can't do. If you put me in your position as leader of this army?... I'd fail terribly, no question.
Chrom: How do you figure?
Link: I can't inspire like you can... nor can I speak. It takes... time... for me to figure out what to say... and more time to figure out if I should even say it. So, I... keep to myself. I can confidently say that I'm not fit to lead, Chrom... but you are. The Shepherds... Have they ever voiced complaints about your leadership?
Chrom: I suppose they haven't, but-
Link: That's because they believe in your ability... and so do I. Do you really think that we're all wrong about this?... Look to Sully or Vaike... They're the kind of people who will let you know if you're a liability... Trust me on this... If not me, then trust in your allies who have continued to put their trust in you.
Chrom: ...Hah!... You say you're no speaker, but you've got a way with words when the situation calls for it!
Link: ...At times, maybe.
Chrom: Thank you for that, Link. I'm very fortunate to be surrounded by so many incredible people that are willing to work toward the future I envision, and I'm even luckier still that I can call them not just allies, but friends... I may be our leader, but I'm a simple man at my core. I need a wake-up call every now and then to keep me on the right path.
Link: Everyone does... You taught me that, if you remember... When you fall, let your friends help you back up.
Chrom: Right you are. *sigh* All right, I should look for Robin, then. As head of the Shepherds, I've got to redouble my efforts. I'll never be the perfect commander that I desire to be, but I'll be damned if I don't learn from my mistakes! C'mon, friend. Let's prepare for the march.
Link: ...That's what I like to hear.
A/N:
Here's a little background on my version of Link and how I've written him, if you're interested in that. Because he's a blank slate protagonist, I view him as an OC in many ways, so I figure I'd talk a bit about his character. Feel free to just read on and see for yourself too, though.
Throughout this fic, I definitely focus more on his better qualities. As a lone wolf hero that took down Ganondorf with little help, he's among the best fighters of the FE Awakening world. He's kind, and rarely turns down someone in need, which is a trait that is meant to reflect a Link that has suffered to save others and completes side quests for Hyrule's people.
His muteness in the games is something that I've tried to incorporate, but because this is written like the supports from FEA (in a story script style), I can't describe any expressions or motions he might make in the place of spoken words. I use ellipses a bunch to compensate for this, and as I wrote in this chapter, I attempt to write him as a character that takes more time to think of what to say and how to say it.
The reputation he's garnered is something that he accepts with reluctance. As someone who is on the reserved/introverted side, he doesn't enjoy the attention but understands it. Sometimes I write this as humility, and other times he brings negative thoughts on himself because he doesn't feel that he's earned all the praise. I write it as both a positive and negative at times, and it's a topic I revisit a lot with many different characters.
If I was told that I write Link as too much of a Mary Sue, I could understand that, but this is a crossover story, and Link is the main draw. I imagine most readers (myself included) would want to read about a powerful Link that the other characters recognize and respect. That said, I did try to give him some flaws, even if they are minor. His relaxed "go with the flow" demeanor gets him into trouble with the more strong-willed Shepherds. He often doesn't realize that he's a pretty strange dude with some strange habits that can be harmless and also harmful. He's shy and can get overwhelmed easily. He has a hard time saying no to others, even when he knows he should.
As a sort-of OC, he's a reflection of myself in some ways, as well. He's the main character and is featured in every chapter of this thing, so I hope I was able to make him interesting or at least enjoyable. If you have anything to say about my depiction of him, let me know. I'd love to hear your thoughts, good or bad.