You'll be the first to admit: you never know what to expect with Link as your partner. Sometimes your time together is quiet and reflective, allowing him to rest from the recent adventures he has been on. You relish the companionable silence when you're settled in the comfort of your own home. One of your favorite things is the light pressure of his head on your shoulder as he's lulled to sleep simply by your presence while you work on your favorite downtime activity, drawing and painting. Hylia knows he deserves a break from the chaos, and you're more than happy to provide it for him.
Other times, he insists on cooking for you. Who are you to complain? Very rarely does it turn out strange or dubious. Link takes great pride in humming while he works on building the fire and making his preparations. You enjoy the opportunity to watch him carefully selecting the perfect ingredients and painstakingly hovering over the cooking pot until he hands you a dish of your absolute favorite meal. And seeing the faint blush on his cheeks when you compliment him on the delicious flavors brings butterflies to your stomach every time without fail.
But occasionally, he'll completely surprise you by doing something unexpected. And today is apparently going to be one of those days.
Link shows up at your door just after breakfast. He's cleanly washed and dressed in the ancient outfit he's been wearing more often lately. You don't really mind. The combination of green and gray paired with the golden-brown sandals highlights his hair and offers a pleasant change of pace compared to his other tunics. But regardless of what he wears, you find it attractive. After all, he IS your partner.
You ask what the plan for the day is, and he only offers a secretive smile. "It's a surprise," he informs you.
You request that he gives you at least a hint about what's to come, but Link is stubborn. Not even a hint will pass from his lips this time. You pout, but he's not persuaded despite your best attempts, so after a minute you give up and let him have his fun. You'll find out sooner or later – likely sooner. He's not in the habit of keeping you in suspense for long.
You give the outfit you had chosen for the day a once-over and ask if it's appropriate for whatever he has in mind. It takes him only a second to give your favorite colored tunic, pants, and boots a broad smile of approval.
"Comfortable but appropriate for adventuring," he explains with an air of mystery. "A wise choice indeed."
You jump at the term 'adventuring'. Wonderful memories have been created thanks to his decision to include you in exploration of different parts of Hyrule you never would have seen without him.
"Is that the surprise?!" you ask in excitement.
Link comes closer to offer you a hug. "I can't keep any secrets from you for long, can I?" he remarks with a laugh.
You look down at his question. Part of you is embarrassed. A greater part of you is more than a little flattered that he knows your curiosity will eventually lead you to delve into discovering what the secret might be. Perhaps there's even a little red to your cheeks, but you certainly weren't going to admit it, least of all to him.
"Yes, I thought we'd go see another place I guarantee you haven't visited before," he assures you. "It's about time we had another day out instead of staying around town."
You sigh happily and rest your head against his shoulder while you're hugged against his chest. He has a way of making you feel loved not because of what you do, but simply for being yourself.
Link is the one who steps away first, but you aren't surprised. When he's got an agenda in mind, his patience is lower and he's prone to restlessness. He looks around for a minute, then grabs a couple items from your kitchen. Some fresh fruit, and some rice balls you made that morning went into the inventory for his Purah Pad. You're still not sure exactly how all that works, but it sure comes in handy to keep from carrying much in your packs.
You happily slip your arm through his and attempt to peer over his shoulder at the map. He laughs and hides it from you, insisting that you'll see momentarily if you can wait that long. You let out a long-suffering sigh and let him activate the runes to teleport you off to a destination unknown.
The first thing you notice when you come out the other side is the crispness of the air. It wasn't quite cold enough to need a cloak, but it wasn't as warm as you expected.
The second was the difference in topography. The hills were littered with golden grass-covered berms, and any manner of path between them was a combination of weed-covered cobblestone and dirt. Wildflowers grew in small clusters between the trees, but even those were a combination of the new and familiar.
But the biggest thing you can't look past is the clouds. From where you stand, you can clearly see them surrounding the ground beneath your feet, rather than miles above. White and cottony they decorate the skies, with the occasional darker thunderhead on the horizon, all gently drifting thanks to the cool breeze ruffling your hair.
You sense Link's eyes on you, and you turn to him with unbridled excitement. "You've taken me to the Sky Islands!" you happily deduce.
His grin spreads from ear to ear and nods. "It's one of my new favorite places, and I want to share it with you. Come. There's several views you need to see."
He extends his warm left hand to you, and you happily take it. Your fingers interlace with his while you practically dance up a hill beside him.
"Look there on the horizon," he instructs, pointing a finger far off and below. "Do you see the tiny outcropping of rock above a blanket of cloud?"
After straining your eyes for a moment and scanning the area, you finally see what he means. You nod and look expectantly at him.
"That's the top of Rito Village. They moved Vah Medoh to a prone position by the Flight Range while they try to figure out a more permanent solution for where it should go. There's been speculation about the benefits of leaving it atop the village to easily point out the location for those visiting, but it's quite a source of debate."
You have a couple moments to process this before he's guiding your hand to follow so you can see what he wants you to.
"The glyph down there? That's on the side of the Gerudo Mountains. I've scaled that mountain to find a tear and a memory. I nearly died twice, but fortunately, I managed to come down unscathed. Climbing up sheer mountain faces isn't a favorite thing, but at least it beats Death Mountain!" Link quips with a smile.
"As long as you're being safe," you remind him. You're quite familiar with his proclivity for getting himself into dangerous situations with little regard for his own wellbeing. It's an argument you've had somewhat regularly, to the point where it no longer raises hackles and voices. He's always going to be a bit of a reckless idiot, and you're always going to be the caring partner, lovingly scolding him when he comes back to you covered in the evidence of his misfortunes.
And yet… he has a habit of going on all of these adventures and coming back with stories, but rarely giving you a chance to go too. You can't help but feel a pang of jealousy. You want more time with him, and journeying through all areas of Hyrule to discover what's there would give you that chance. You'll just have to think up new ways to encourage him to include you.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be safe." He sighs and promptly changes the subject again. If there's one thing the Champion is good at, it's deflecting when he doesn't want to discuss something. "Come here. We need to go to the far side for one of my other favorite views."
He leads you across a bridge that's literally nothing more than two logs bound together across a crevice in the island. You peek over the edge while he crosses to the other side. As suspected, there is no bottom to the fissure in the ground - only empty sky and the knowledge that a fall from such a height would end in your death. Unlike Link, you don't have the luxury of the Sheikah technology to bring you back to life should anything happen. But the encouraging smile and extended hand of your partner waiting on the other side fills you with courage, and you jog across without hesitation. If Link is leading the adventure, you would trust him and follow to the ends of Hyrule and back.
When you walk closer to the edge of the island with him, you can see the surrounding floating land masses, most of them appearing to be smaller than the one you're on. On two of the islands are several piles of carved stone, the rubbled remains of an ancient structure. A slow turn to look around you reveals more ruins, including on the hills up behind you. You can see the top of the pillars, nothing more. So you rejoin Link and gaze out at the nearest island's ruins instead. It appears some of them decayed faster than others judging by the vines climbing the stones, and grasses in the cracks of the gray cobblestone floor.
"Pretty incredible, huh?" he remarks. He crosses his arms and looks out at the islands and skies beyond. "Makes me wonder why we never saw them before. Or if they were so high in the atmosphere they only became visible when the Upheaval happened. Y'know about the stories, right? The ancient lore about Skyloft?"
"Of course," you reply. Skyloft was apparently where the people of Hyrule originated. Home of the first Hero, Link. It was a commonly shared historical tale that every child over the age of seven knew.
"I wonder if there's some kind of connection to that. But who's to say? These are new to us, and I doubt we'll find much information about it in the books within the castle. But it doesn't really matter. We're here now, and I'm glad I get a chance to explore. Especially with you." He smiles and turns back to face you. "C'mon. There's another section higher up that gives a great view of Death Mountain."
You smile warmly and take his hand again so he can lead you up and around to another section of the island. You silently wonder just how large the island is since you can no longer see the area where the shrine is.
You hear a strange whirring noise off to the right and immediately tense up. But your partner shows no such distress. A segmented green robot drifts towards you. It's unlike anything you'd ever seen on the surface. The main portion of the body is similar in size to a Hylian, but it's the long neck that doubled its height. A large head akin to that of a Lizalfos leans towards you, cocking curiously to the side. The white horns on it didn't look particularly sharp, and Link's lack of reaction further proved it meant you no harm.
"What is that?" you whisper to Link.
"That's one of the steward constructs who look after the islands and the shrines. They are peaceful. There are other constructs that are hostile though, so keep an eye out," he explains.
The construct chirps and whistles softly while it studies you and Link. Seeming satisfied, it moves past you to the ruins up the hill and disappears around a pillar. You listen until the sound fades away, intrigued by the strange robot.
"A sight better than the guardians, huh?" Link points out, and you're quick to nod in agreement. Even after the Calamity was defeated, the fear caused by the guardians wasn't swift to disappear. Possessed guardians had injured and killed far too many people for the distrust to disappear overnight.
"What do you think so far?"
You smile brightly and lean over to kiss his cheek. "It's fantastic! You outdid yourself this time."
"Good. That means I'll have to set a loftier goal next time to surprise you." Link shoots you a wink.
"Was that a sky pun?"
"Maybe."
You laugh and shake your head at him. His sense of humor is occasionally ridiculous, yet it's infectious and you can't help but share in his amusement. "Are you taking me to see any of the ruins up close?"
"That's the idea. Maybe even using one of my paragliders and hopping down to one of the other islands. How's that sound?"
"Like an adventure that's right up my alley and the perfect date with my partner." Your excitement is written all over your face. You trust that he will keep you safe. And there's a guarantee that you'll be creating memories you won't soon forget.
His Purah Pad went into his hand and within a few seconds, he had a paraglider out. "You remember how to go tandem?"
Thoughts of a fun day only a couple weeks ago flooded your mind. He'd taken you for a hike from halfway up the Gerudo Mountains to the summit. And when the sun had started to set, as one you'd grabbed the frame of the paraglider and sailed down with the wind in your face and Link at your back. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
You grab the front of the paraglider's frame, and you feel your partner's warm body right behind yours while his strong arms take hold. You feel the nervousness of what you're about to do begin to fade, replaced by the anticipation of a new adventure.
Link walks you to the edge of the island and removes his Zonai hand just long enough to point over your shoulder at a grassy spot on the next island over. "That's our destination. Don't think I need to tell you, but hold on tight, and don't look down."
You laugh and tighten your grip. "Let's go."
"Three, two, one!" Link counts down for you. His breath is warm on your ear while you step off the edge.
The breeze blowing by your face adds to the thrill of flying. You enjoy the momentary feeling of weightlessness before the strain of holding onto the glider hits your arms and shoulders. It only lasts for a handful of seconds before you're dropping down to the island and landing on the hill.
Well, the term 'landing' may be a bit generous. You lose your balance as your feet make contact, sending you tumbling onto the grass. At least you have the good sense to let go before you can bring Link down with you.
"Are you alright?" he asks in concern, immediately kneeling at your side.
You laugh and grin up at him, completely free of any pain. "Never better. Just a few grass stains. You've taken me home with worse before."
Link blushes but he joins in your laughter. There were several occasions you can think of where either by misfortunes while shield-surfing, or more intimate activities, you both needed to change out of stained clothes before the day's end.
A cluster of wildflowers catches your attention, and you tug on Link's hand. "Look at these!"
There was one golden flower that you can't stop staring at. It's similar in size and shape to a silent princess, but the blossom is entirely gold with dark purple, no, almost black veining. You kneel down and stare at it in fascination. It's unlike anything you've ever seen or cultivated back at home, yet it's perfectly natural in the sky islands. You reach out to touch one of the leaves, and you marvel that it too is gold like the flower blooming and facing the rays beaming down from the heavens.
"Sundelions. They grow frequently around here. I haven't seen them on the main surface of Hyrule though. I don't know if the climate would support them."
On a whim, you look around and gather a handful of the assorted wildflowers. Most are white and blue, but a few are pale yellow. You can feel Link's eyes on you while your fingers carefully weave the stems together to begin forming a floral crown.
"Will you teach me how to do that?" he quietly asks after a moment.
You smile and nod, gesturing for him to join you. You hand him a couple of the long stemmed flowers and show him how to carefully interweave the green vines so they'll stay together. His initial attempts are clumsy and don't last for more than a few seconds before falling apart, but his look of concentration only grows as he mimics your step by step instructions. Blue eyes brighten when he succeeds, and lifts the partial strand.
"Beautiful." You turn your back towards him, and peek over your shoulder. "Go ahead and put it in my hair." You don't wait to see if he'll respond before giving him a chance to decorate your head with the blossoms.
It's not on the top of your head where you feel his hand first. You shudder when he slides his fingers underneath your hair, his breath warm on your ear. Link kisses the sensitive spot at the nape of your neck, drawing a faint moan from your lips. "Flowers aren't your focus, are they?" you whisper with your smile evident in your voice.
His responding chuckle communicates a lot. "Guilty as charged. But the crown will look good on your head. Turn, please."
You face him as he requested. Your partner gently places the flowers above your brow so it rests on your ears. The leaves lightly tickle your skin, but you don't mind at all. "How does it look?"
"Beautiful. But not nearly as attractive as you, Dae." The smooth compliment rolls off his tongue easily. Link's confidence in flirtations has soared in the time that you've been together, and being on the receiving end of it never fails to stir butterflies in your stomach.
You blush and lean in for a kiss. His lips are soft and warm, inviting you to linger and deepen the caress. You let him pull you closer until you're sitting on his lap, and you carefully put the hand holding his flower crown behind his back where it won't be crushed. His tongue slips over your lower lip and you open your mouth to allow him access. Your free hand cups the back of his head and keeps him right where you want him. The faint scent of the Hateno milk-and-honey soap he used combined with the light and sweet aroma of the flowers surrounding them, heightening the romantic moment.
The need to breathe forces you back for a few seconds, your chests heaving from the heady sensation. Link's cheeks have a dusting of red to them, a sight you never grow tired of. The Champion, the Hero of Hyrule, blushing in your arms from a lover's caress. It's a sight reserved for only you, and you are thankful that you've been given the opportunity to enjoy it. You never want to take that for granted. It's a blessing you enjoy as often as he offers it to you.
His hand brushes over the back of your hair, his blue eyes shining with affection for you. "You look good with flowers in your hair. But you're missing something."
You cock your head in confusion. He's already placed the crown on your head. What could he mean by–
Your silent question is answered when he tucks a Sundelion over your right ear. He brushes another kiss on your cheek. "There. Now the flowers are perfect."
It's your turn to blush and duck your head slightly in embarrassment. But you can deflect slightly to make yourself feel better. You shift on his lap so you can put the matching floral crown on his head. For being the strong Champion he is, he still looks incredibly attractive wearing wildflowers on his brow. And you take a cue from his book, but instead of placing the larger lily-style flower on his ear, you tuck it onto the center of the crown.
Link chuckles quietly and presses his forehead against yours. "You can't say that you're not every bit as romantic as I am."
You open your mouth to protest, but he takes that opportunity to claim your lips again. He's not going to take 'no' for an answer. So you simply return the kiss with a muffled moan and let him win this round. If it means that you get to enjoy some time in the loving arms of your partner, it's worth accepting the compliment even if you're not completely sure that you believe it. Romantic moments always follow, and you can't get enough.
You close your eyes when he eases you back onto the grassy hill and lays down beside you before tugging you over to lay your head on his chest. The light breeze rustles through your hair and carries the scent of the island around you. The warm sunlight makes you mildly sleepy, as does the lazy caress of Link's hand across your torso.
You have no idea how long you lay there enjoying the warm comfort of his embrace. But a shadow passes over your body and has you blinking. You open your eyes to see movement that goes against the wind currents surrounding the sky island. "Link! Look!"
He runs a hand over his eyes and follows where you're pointing. "A dragon? Oh, that's cool." He squints at the creature before grinning. "That's the Light Dragon weaving her way around the floating islands. I haven't gotten close enough to see her for real, but her features are softer than the others. Occasionally I'll even see one of the other three dragons, like Naydra or Dinraal making their way around. But they rarely venture this high. That reminds me though, I've gotta see if Farosh can spare another scale for me at some point. But that can wait til another day."
You roll over to face him. "I can't fly like you can, but maybe someday we'll get to see the dragons together. If Hylia will let me see them. I know that's a rare blessing."
"That could be a fun adventure for another day," he agrees. "But for today, let's take a photo to remember this one."
"The Sky Islands are always going to be memorable for me," you remind him. But you sit up and lean over to fix the Sundelion on his crown while he does the same with the flowers on your head.
You smile brightly when Link lifts the Purah Pad and turns the camera to face towards the two of you. Maybe this will be another photo to have Purah transfer onto parchment for putting on the walls like the others in your home.
The shutter snaps and he checks it briefly before lifting the pad back up for another photo. The second time, his lips are pressed against your cheek, and you blush as the picture is saved in the photo album. The day is only half over, but you know you'll have the memories of this date in the sky to remember for the rest of your life. And for that, you would thank the Goddess Hylia and count your blessings. After all, you're the lucky one - the one able to call Link your partner.