Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Honestly.
Honestly!
It's like they think he doesn't know what he's doing! Do they realize who they're talking to?

Of course, as the TOP BANANA, supreme leader of the Yiga Clan, he shouldn't be surprised his underlings wouldn't get it. This level of dedication is one only a hardened man such as himself can maintain.

Which is why soon Link shall not be traveling solo any longer! For the rest of his foreseeable life—with luck a mere few weeks—there will be a new addition to his party of one.

MASTER KOHGA!

Not that he'll ever suspect a thing. The Yiga Clan's ability to blend into a crowd is bested by none. And if there's one thing Kohga loves to do, it's to put on a show. It's brilliant, really. Extracting all the information he'll ever need to know about Zelda right under her beloved knight's nose... The excitement is eating away at his very soul!
And sleep schedule.

Another sleepless night, tapping away furiously at his thighs checking his travel bag. Let's see...
A tent and stakes, a big sleeping bag, some flint and sticks (tucked away tidily of course! Don't want to start a fire), a lantern and plenty of oil, bananas for the road...

Kohga's ears prick up, hearing soft footsteps approach. This has become almost a nightly routine at this point, timid footsoldiers who can't help but voice concerns.

"You're belongings are all set, Master Kohga? We can recount everything for you! Or carry it. Or join you."
"Yeah! Yes! We can join you, Master Kohga!"

The faintest groan escapes his lips, arms crossed in a huff. "I already told you all: I'm leaving tomorrow and I'm leaving alone. I'll hear nothing else! I've already prepped the Blade Masters on the plan till my glorious return, you have nothing to fear."
"And it is a great plan, Master!"
"A wonderful plan!"
"A-And there's of course nothing you can't do!"
"Yes, yes, not a thing!"
The two soldiers glance at each other for a moment, breaths hitched in their throats.
"It's not that we doubt you. This Link guy, he's just..."
"He is DERANGED, Master Kohga! I mean he's tearing through unit after unit! The infirmary's been packed full ever since he woke up! Can we please just send some of the blade masters in your steed? You shouldn't have to waste your precious time on him, master!"

Master Kohga lets out a long, drawn out sigh.
"He is 'deranged,' yes. And you all have done your best. Which is why we must send out the BIG GUNS!" The soldiers can feel his grin radiate through his mask: it's contagious.
"Haha! You see? This is more than a necessity. Nay, this is the way the Calamity would want it! That pesky swordsman... I was put on this Earth to end him, plain and simple." He points eagerly, finger wagging in their faces. "This is destiny! DESTINY! And I've survived our little hero's attacks once. This is my time to prevail!"
How could you deny him like this? The soldiers relent, cheery in his presence, but nevertheless concerned.

"Do you at least have enough bananas packed, Master Kohga?"
"..." He scans his belongings quietly, eyeing the golden fruit peaking out of his bag.
"...Fetch me another bunch."

Tomorrow's the big day... And he can't even sleep a wink. All he can do is stare out at the stars, a sky he's so eager to destroy.

I don't know how consistently I'm gonna be updating this uh. Hope there's insane people like me out there who think Link and Kohga are just silly dudes. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Text

There are a lot of words used to describe Link. Not many he'd agree with, but nonetheless spoken. Quiet, strong, focused, determined, a man's man! He'd be spotted knee deep in ravines catching bass after bass with his bare hands. Combat was like a second nature to him, at least to the villagers who'd spot him strike down bokoblins like it were nothing (and hadn't seen him stumbling around with two koroks in his arms looking lost mere hours before).

He'd hear whispers now and then, the tallest tales twisting his experimentation as near works of genuis. Suddenly every time he's burned the grass around him out of boredom is actually a brilliant technique to paraglide anywhere. More than any descriptor, and spoken with far more reverence, was the word alone. Lone wolf, the lone traveler, Link and the wind on his back.

There's such a strange fixation on that image of him. He never really noticed it until it became a staple of his 'legends.' He doesn't feel alone, does he? He stops by the villages to rest. And he loves spending time at the stables, petting all the horses (how could they say no to such an important hero?). And the forest children! Oh, if a week doesn't go by where he's making sure the little ones returned home safe to the Great Deku Tree and Hestu.

And yet, perhaps these stories have highlighted a sort of... emptiness, one that he didn't realize he had. Hm...

"What's with that face, Mr. Hero?" little Walton wags his stick in Link's face, the soft bell sound pulling him out of his thoughts. He's one of the smaller koroks, with his bell-shaped leaf dwarfing him. Link smiles softly, letting the little one hop up in his lap.
"Just thinking," he mumbles, staring out into the forest once more. The Korok Forest had become a sort of sanctuary for him: rambunctious yet peaceful. It was nice, watching Hestu play with his younger siblings. Even though he always spectated, it made him feel as though he were a part of their little games.
"Thinking's pretty hard..." Walton nods, trying to sound just as pensive. "Um, when big brother gets all thinky, we like to play games! Maybe you should join us! Ahh, if Mr. Hero helps us play a prank, it'll make big brother soooo happy!"
Link leans back a little, watching Hestu trail after a group of koroks who stole his maraca seeds yet again.
"I think he's been pranked enough."

It took a lot of goodbyes for Kohga to get his foot out of the door. His men have always been the clingy bunch. Glory to Master Kohga and all that, he'll take the praise in strides. Their affection and admiration was just not enough to chase away the fears of him traversing alone. Kohga was swimming through a sea of "GET THAT HERO! YOU CAN DO IT!" and "DON'T DIE! WE LOVE YOU!" It bordered on an impenetrable wall, but nothing was going to stop him now.

He stepped outside the fort, past the lingering stares and hanging red banners, tabi shoes sinking into the sand. And a deep quietness followed, one he hadn't experienced in quite some time. It was almost surreal. He could hear himself breathing, his own near silent footsteps! A deep sigh escapes his chest.

The soft sound of sand shifting in the wind, and the low skittering of monsters hiding behind the dunes as if frightened by the moonlight; For just a moment he let himself take it all in, hands wrapped tight around the straps of his travel bag.

And then he disappeared into the shadows.

The silence always hits Link the hardest when he leaves the forest. There is a liveliness to those woods that just can't be seen in the rolling plains or mountains. He's trapped with his own thoughts. And he's great company, he can entertain himself for hours. He treks along like it's nothing with nothing. But no one can truly sustain themselves as a one man show forever, can they?

Ah. Why's this on his mind so much lately? He's been at this for how long with no problem? It's not like there was ever any breaking point. Just a creeping thought that's rooted in his mind. Life would be so easy if you could just pluck troublesome thoughts out...

Is he just tired? It's been hard to sleep lately. Is that a cause or a symptom though?
Regardless. He's exhausted. The closest inn would take all night to hike to.
No choice but to set up camp.

In the distance, a cloud of smoke trailed up towards the sky; an unusual sight just beneath the Aldor Foothills. Well, he shouldn't say that. Travelers seem to pop up just about everywhere even when there's a world-ending terror on the horizon. Still, better to be cautious.

At least, that's what he told himself. And yet that nagging feeling tug at his heart again. More than the usual polite chivalry to ensure someone's safety. His eyes followed the cloud of smoke down to the faint flicker of light, and his feet were practically moving on their own.

Maybe just for one night, he'd be more than a passerby.

hehehe link time

Chapter Text

A streak of smoke pierced the darkening sky. Kohga's eyes followed it straight up, lingering between the little spot as it just begins to melt into the low hanging clouds. He's got to keep his mind busy. This was the hard part, after all.

It's more than just making a convincing persona. Kohga could do that in stride. In another life, he would have been the finest actor around (in his opinion, anyway). And that was saying nothing of his costuming and disguises. The issue was instead concealment versus consistency.

He could fool the calamity itself that he were the princess if he truly wanted to—for, perhaps, a hour. These changes were strenuous on the mind and body, exhausting to maintain and jarring to exist in. There's nothing more uncomfortable than waking up in a 'body' that feels like a stranger's. But more than that, this appearance would have to be more than cosmetic: it needed to be travel sturdy. It needs to bleed! Naturally! And it needs to be low maintenance enough to hold while bleeding (or whatever trials Link would endure. He just knew it wouldn't be pretty).

With all that in mind. It helps not many people know what he looks like without his get-up. Could the Sheikah even clock him as THE Kohga without his mask? Well, maybe his stature would give him away... Not to mention his incredible charm! And surely they'd suspect a handsome devil such as himself to be capable of leading the yiga clan... BAH! He's getting off topic.

Little changes. That's all he needs to be a success. Darken his hair and eyes, bulk up his clothes a little to even out his frame... You'd never guess you were speaking to the right hand (right eye?) of the great Calamity

This disguise is a sure success, well tested and easily maintained. And to prove it to himself, he has injured his leg!
He did NOT fall on his way up to his camping spot. He did NOT nearly call his men to take him home. He is a TROOPER and this is all apart of his machinations!
Somehow.

"Hello?" An even voice pierced the air. Kohga nearly dropped his banana, eyes wide as he turns to see him.
Link.
Right behind him.
"Oh! A traveler." Kohga's voice comes out like a squeak, the bold script in his mind completely discombobulated. He was sort of banking on calling him over in the morning. "Please, feel free to join me by the fire! It's a lonely night, hm?"
"Yes." Link muttered, sitting directly across from him. His gaze is almost unreadable, intense but nothing hateful or malicious. Still, Kohga couldn't help but feel a weird tension in him. He pulls down his hood abruptly, staring at the fire, then at Kohga, before back into the flames. He pats his bag almost absentmindedly.

Link tried not to be too rude, noting the stranger's attire with a quick glance over. It was hard to pin where he might be from or how experienced a traveler he may be. His clothes seem excessive for travel, lots of layers and heavy belts. At a glance, he has some kind of cotton shirt, a dark vest, followed by a heavy coat with the sleeves cuffed. His pants are baggy yet thick, and his boots almost seem too nice to be hiking in. The equipment he was using looked very nice, but his campsite looked thrown together almost.

Despite all this, he held himself quite confidently in front of Link. It wasn't entirely arrogance, it didn't even feel misplaced. There was a weird air of authority around this strange man that he could pick up even just from the way he swayed, sat on his little log. Link let out a low hum, and his eyes finally fell on his injury, the left pant leg rolled up and elevated on a large stone.
Ah. The fire must have just been a smoke signal for help, then. He shouldn't keep him long.
"No bandages?" Without hesitating he pulled his leg up onto his lap, digging around his satchel for his medicinal equipment.
"Oh-!" The stranger twitched a little, jerking his leg back, but Link is unrelenting. He held it firmly.
"You have to hold still."

What the hell is his problem?! Kohga's fingers dig into the grass below, trying not to blow his cover. He imagined this going a lot differently... I mean, was this how Hyrule's hero spoke to everyone? This wasn't even blunt, he just seemed so... disengaged. Like he were on autopilot or something. I mean he didn't even ask his name!
"Tell me your name." Link muttered, unraveling some bandages.
Oh.
"I, ah..."
"Are you uncomfortable?"
What kind of question is that?
"No. This just isn't, uh, how first meetings usually go."
He doesn't reply to that, seeming lost in tending to his injury.

"I'm Roma." It was a pretty enough name to answer to for the next week or so. Link nodded along, mouthing it to himself as he secured the bandages.
"There we go. Be gentle on your leg, Roma." And then he wordlessly stood up, stiff as ever, eyes on the horizon. Damn it!
"You're leaving?" He didn't mean to sound so upset, but his own worries were bleeding into his performance now. This couldn't have gone worse if he tried.
"I did what you wanted. Yes?" Link pointed at the fire. "An SOS. For help."
"Oh, no no no!" Kohga's hands waved almost aimlessly, frantic and flailing in his face. "Noooo, no, the fire was to camp out! I'm just a lone traveler, ah..." he fumbles around his words, struggling to hop back to his original script. "On a mission. To aid Hyrule... uh, vigilance-vigilante? Like, on my own, uh-!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're- you're Link!"

It's all he could say. Kohga's hands hung up, pointed towards the hero's puzzled expression.
"You're Link!"
"..."
"..."
"You're Link-!"
"I know I'm Link. What does that have to do with the fire?"
A shaky breath escapes Kohga's lips as he reorients himself.
"You're on a mission to save Hyrule from the dreaded Calamity. I want to do that too! I've been trying to seek you out!"
Link's expression does not falter.
"This is embarrassing, I was hoping to catch you at the ranch in the morning. And yet! Look! Fate brought us together even sooner. Sounds like a sign to me." He points his thumbs to his chest proudly. "New partner? Eh? Eh?"
"Oh. Partner?"
"Yes!"
"Mm. No. Thank you though. Goodnight, Roma."
"WHAT?! No, no no no, come onnnn!"

As Link began trailing back down the hill, Kohga struggled to get back up on his feet.
"Roma, rest your leg."
"I'm not resting anything until you let me help you! I mean you're one guy! Saving Hyrule is a lot to put on ONE GUY!"
"Our princess has tasked me with this alone. I trust her judgement in me."
Kohga scoffs, but Link continues forward. Damn it... Damn it, damn it, damn it!
"Isn't it lonely?!" He shouted it without thinking much of it, but it was enough for Link to stop in his tracks. "I just mean, a little companionship can't hurt, right...?"
"..."

Link returned to his spot at the campsite, silently staring into the fire. Without looking up, he points to where Kohga was once sat. And soon they were sitting together in a pleasant silence once again.

wahoo! sorry this ch took a little longer to write. i was very tired this week. but they are Interacting now yippee!!