Link's POV

Dark's fingers entwine with mine as we step out of the tent. The night air is crisp, carrying the distant sounds of the camp settling into slumber. We walk silently, trying out best to avoid encountering other inhabitants.

We approach Rusl's tent and I knock on the wooden entrance beam.

"Yes? Who is it?"

"Rusl, it's me, Link. I need to talk to you. Urgently."

"Come in."

I squeeze Dark's hand as we step inside. Rusl is busy drafting a letter at his desk, but he puts down his quill and looks up, his eyes widen and his hand goes to his sword.

"This is… unexpected, Link. You freed our prisoner, " he narrows his eyes. "without the council's permission."

"I know how this looks but Dark and I have come to an agreement. He will help us fight against Ganondorf. We can use the prisoner exchange as a chance to get Ganondorf out of the castle and vulnerable, then we launch a full-scale attempt against him and his forces," I blurt out, the words tumbling out of me in a rush.

Rusl leans back in his chair. "I don't know about this Link…"

Dark steps forward, "I know I've given you no reason to trust me, Rusl. But I'm doing this for Link. I can play whatever role you need me to play."

After a long moment, Rusl looks at Dark "I will never trust you," he glances at me. "but I do trust him. Give me some time to convince the other council members, but I think your plan could work."

I release the breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"It would be best for you two to stay out of sight until I get the chance to speak with the rest of the council."

"Okay, we understand. Thank you for everything."

I pull Dark outside and we make our way back to my tent, sticking to the shadows as we travel. The night air is quiet, everyone is either asleep or keeping to themselves, leaving us to navigate through the dim light undisturbed.

When we finally reach the tent, I hold the flap open and beckon him inside. The interior is modest. A bedroll is neatly laid out on the ground, next to a small wooden table and chair. The flickering light from a single lantern creates a soothing, intimate atmosphere.

"It's been a long day, we should probably get to sleep."

"Would you like me to go find a second bedroll… or can we share?"

"We can share."

He reaches up and brushes a stray hair out of my face before letting his fingers settle against my cheek. I lean into his hand, closing my eyes for a moment, savoring the contact. His touch is both comforting and exhilarating, grounding me while setting my heart racing.

"Sleep sounds good." He pulls his hand away, the warmth lingering on my skin.

We lie there in the quiet, and as I drift off to sleep, I take solace in the simple fact that he's here with me, and that's enough.

—

Over the next three days, as we waited for Ganondorf's reply, we settled into a rhythm at the camp.

For the most part everyone avoided Dark. It was unsettling at first but now I actually don't mind it. It's a nice switch from when I first arrived at camp and never got a moment of peace because everyone wanted to meet "the Hero of Hyrule".

This morning we are parting ways, he is headed to breakfast with Amara and I'm going to the training area.

The clearing where I practice is on the outskirts of camp, surrounded by towering trees that form it into a natural arena. The ground is covered in soft grass, the sun is shining and there's a gentle breeze. It is the perfect day for some exercise.

Since I am by myself today, several of the camp inhabitants make their way to the clearing to watch me. Today, I'm sparring with one of the more experienced soldiers, Jago.

I parry another strike and find that yet again, despite his skill, the match feels effortless. I honed my abilities for the past year under the guidance of the Hero of Time, and it's clear that my training has set me apart.

Jago stumbles back, struggling to keep up with my pace. I hold back slightly, not wanting to overpower him completely. I can't help but feel a twinge of frustration. I need a real challenge.

I disarm him.

The onlookers murmur excitedly.

"You're an excellent swordsman, Link. Thank you for letting me spar with you today." Jago bows, picks up his sword and walks over to the weapons rack.

I sheath the Master Sword. Maybe I'll practice my magic instead?

"No one's ever thanked me for kicking their ass."

Dark is walking up to me. The rays of sunlight catching in his raven-black hair, and I find myself momentarily breathless at how strikingly handsome he looks.

"How about I give you a real challenge?"

The crowd falls silent, but I can sense their anticipation and excitement at the proposition.

I swallow hard, the memory of our last fight coming to mind. Dark's offer is more than just a casual suggestion; it's a test of trust.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I'm not here to hurt you, Link. We've both changed. This is about pushing each other to be our best. Besides, think of it as practice for fighting Ganondorf."

"Alright. Let's do it." I'm anxious but also excited to show off how much I've improved.

We move to the center of the clearing.

Dark draws the shadow version of the Master Sword and with a confident flick of his wrist, spins the sword in arc above his head before smoothly catching it in his opposite hand. He winks at me as the onlookers gasp.

I roll my eyes. What a show-off!

With a deep breath, I steady myself. I remind myself that it's different this time; it's about pushing each other, not trying to kill each other.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

We begin to circle each other, our eyes locked. The first clash of our swords is tentative, a careful dance. As the match progresses, we fall into a pattern of strikes and parries

Dark almost lands a hit, and I can see the satisfaction in his eyes.

Not bad," I grin.

"Thanks, you're not bad yourself."

As the match progresses, the crowd grows larger.

As I parry another one of his blows, I decide it's time to try something different. I feel the rush of power flow through me, manifesting as a shimmering blue shield that deflects one of Dark's strikes.

His eyes widened in surprise "Nayru's Love? You'll have to tell me how you learned that little trick."

I smile, feeling confidence surge through me. "Later, I have a fight to win first."

"We'll see about that hero." He laughs.

He raises his hand, and instantly the air around us thickens with darkness. Shadows swirl, and I can barely make out his figure as he moves silently through the now darkened space.

I focus, trying to anticipate his movements. Suddenly, he's behind me. I turn just in time, our blades clashing with a resonant ring.

"You're not the only one who's learned a few new tricks."

I tighten my grip on my sword, ready for his next move. He disappears again. I listen intently, trying to pick up any sound that might give away his position.

A flicker of movement catches my eye, and I swing, meeting him in a clash of sparks.

"You're good," I admit, breathless. "But I'm not giving up."

"Wouldn't expect anything less."

Dark raises his hand again, and the shadows around us deepen. I know I need to act fast. Channeling Farore's Touch, I focus all my energy into dispelling the darkness. A bright, radiant light emanates from the Master Sword, cutting through the shadows like a knife through butter. The darkness dissipates, revealing Dark's shocked expression.

We resume our sparring, but this time, I have the upper hand. The crowd cheers as our fight intensifies, our movements a blur.

Metal shrieks as we push our swords against each other, both of us straining to gain the upper hand.

""You won't fail," the Hero of Time reassured me. "You have the strength of those who came before you. Remember their courage, and let it be your guide."

I feel a burst of determination, and begin to overpower him. With a final shove forward, his sword falls to the side. The Master Sword stops an inch from his exposed neck. Scarlet eyes bore into mine and for a second, I'm scared I may have pushed him too far.

He laughs, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"I yield."

—

Dark's POV

After the fight, we head to the river to wash off the sweat and grime.

"You cheated." I tease. Link's hand swinging with mine as we walk. "I didn't know you could use magic."

"It wasn't cheating, It's something I learned from the Hero of Time."

I stop walking and stare at him. "...what do you mean?"

"After you… after we got separated, I needed guidance. I had a dream that told me to find answers at the Sacred 's where I met him, well met his spirit. We spent the last year together training."

My shock is replaced by longing and admittedly, a little jealousy. I would've given anything to spend one more minute with my long-lost love. "You trained with the Hero of Time?"

"Yeah. We talked about you a lot. He told me how important you were to him. That you still are, in many ways. He's the one that gave me hope of saving you from Ganondorf's influence."

"So, you and the Hero of Time had heart-to-heart talks about me, huh?"

He blushes. ""What can I say, he was very open about how much you loved each other."

I lean in, my lips brushing his in a gentle kiss. "You're so adorable when you're flustered."

"He also told me that when you're deep in thought, you play with your hair. He said it's something he always found endearing because it shows off your softer side"

Bastard. Sharing secrets with Link. I scowl, but Link just smiles. "Well you shouldn't believe everything you hear!"

He cracks up. "He also said to watch for the cute wrinkle above your nose when you scowl."

I cross my arms and watch him laugh it out. A smile replaces my scowl. When is the last time I've seen Link genuinely happy and smiling?

He calms down and we start walking again, the river now in sight.

I turn to him. "All jokes aside, I'm glad you got to meet him. He was an amazing man, but he's in my past. You," I poke him in the chest " are my present and my future, Link."

—

Links POV

We walked together towards the riverbank. This area of the river is a secluded haven, with crystal-clear water winding through tall trees that provide cool, dappled shade. Smooth, flat stones and vibrant wildflowers dot the grassy edges.

I feel so thankful for Dark, we have overcome a lot together and he makes me hopeful for the future.

I reach out and take his hand, pulling him closer. I must still be riding the high of my earlier win because I find myself feeling uncharacteristically brazen.

"You know," I say, my voice low "as great as you look covered in sweat, I think you would look even better with nothing on at all.

Dark's cheeks flush as I lean in, brushing my lips against his in a soft, tentative kiss.

He responds, his arms wrapping around me, deepening the kiss.

I nip playfully at his lower lip, earning a surprised but pleased sound from him. "You taste as good as I remember," I whisper against his lips, my hands slipping under his tunic, caressing the warm skin beneath.

He groans softly, his hands moving to my waist, holding me firmly as our bodies press together. "Link," he murmurs, his voice needy.

We stumble towards the ground, our lips never breaking contact. He tugs at my tunic, pulling the fabric over my head and tossing it aside.

"Much better," he says with a mischievous grin, his eyes wandering over my chest. "You know, you should walk around shirtless more often."

I laugh. "Only if you do the same."

I slide the fabric off his shoulders, clawing at his back. I freeze as my fingers trace the hard, ridgid curve of several raised scars.

"Dark, These scars are deep…what happened to you?"

He stiffens, pulling away. "It's nothing. Just an old battle scar." He leans in to kiss me again but I gently push him away.

"Let me take a look."

His jaw tightens. "Everyone has scars, Link, just leave it alone."

"There are healers back at camp, if I could see how deep then then-"

He growls."Stop. I told you it's nothing. I don't want to talk about it."

He goes to turn away and I take the opportunity to grab his shoulders and take a look at his back.

My heart sinks as I catch sight of the three long, jagged scars spanning the length of it. They are angry, red lines that haven't fully healed.

"Dark, these aren't just old battle scars. These are fresh."

"Stop, just stop." He wrenches out of my arms and turns back to face me. "It's in the past. It doesn't matter anymore."

"Of course it matters! You can't keep pretending everything's fine when it's not! Someone hurt you."

I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Dark, I care about you. I know you have been through so much while I was gone and I want to help you, please…"

His shoulders sag, the fight draining out of him. "Fine." He hesitates. "Ganondorf... he whipped me. I was late—three hours late. He wanted to make sure I never made that mistake again."

My heart twists with anger and sorrow. The thought of Ganondorf inflicting such cruelty makes my blood boil.

"Ganondorf did this to you?" I can barely keep my voice steady. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He looks away, expression pained. "Because I didn't want you to see me like this. Weak. Vulnerable. And it's not your burden to bear, I should have known what I was getting into by serving Ganondorf."

"Don't say such things, you are not weak, and it's not your fault."

My heart is heavy with guilt."This never would have happened to you if I had killed him when I had the chance. I'm sorry I failed you, I failed everyone."

"Look at me," he lifts my chin to meet his gaze. "You didn't fail anyone, Link. You are the strongest person I know, and even with the weight of the world on your shoulders, you are still hopeful, still kind."

His words are like a balm to my wounded spirit, and I feel a lump rise in my throat.

"Hyrule is lucky to have you," he continues, his voice softening. "And I'm lucky to have you. I love you, Link."

He blurs as my eyes start to water. "I love you too, Dark. Whatever happens next, we'll face it together, and we'll make sure Ganondorf can never hurt you or anyone else ever again."

I press my lips to his in a fierce, passionate kiss. Our hands explore each other, mapping out familiar and new territories alike. The rest of our clothes are quickly discarded, and soon there is nothing between us but the heat of our bodies and the intensity of our connection.

As we move together, the world outside ceases to exist. There is only us. Each touch, each kiss, is a promise of devotion, a vow to be there for each other no matter what.

When we finally collapse into each other's arms, spent and breathless, I feel a profound sense of peace. Dark's arms around me are a sanctuary. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"I love you, Link" he murmurs, his fingers gently stroking my hair.

"I love you too, Dark." I laugh, "Now let's go clean up."