Chapter Text
Part 2 – That Cotton Ball Call
Link had to admit that it was a good call on Kaneli’s part. The idea of spending a holiday break in Rito Village only sounded more inviting the more he let it sink in his head. Toiling for many long months had taken its toll on him, on everyone.
Being ever so insightful, Elder Kaneli had somehow sensed their exhaustion through their letters, even though their words didn’t explicitly convey as much at first glance.
The funny thing was, whenever someone told them to go take a short vacation for themselves, Link and Revali had declined every time. Which was very altruistic but also obstinate for them to do. They had gotten together months ago, yet the two of them hardly had the chance to focus on their budding relationship. Thankfully, the moment the wise Rito leader had appealed to them to come home for the upcoming fall festivities, the couple had relented almost immediately, especially when they were told that everyone—Saki, Teba, Kass, the fledglings—were looking forward to seeing them again.
Well, Revali’s excuse was that he wanted Link to experience the festival since he had missed out on it last year, but Link noticed how his posture had eased up when they got permission to leave. Zelda had been enthusiastically adamant that the two of them were to enjoy themselves and not worry about hurrying back at all. Even Purah had supported that demand, waving her pen at Link admonishingly as she knew full well how fixated he could get when it came to working hard. A recurring phrase amongst the construction team purported that: It’s so hard to keep up with Link. More than once did someone come up to Revali and Zelda to complain about their resident workaholic. Can you please, for the love of Hylia, get Link to sit down or something? He’s driving us bananas.
Though Mipha had placated him when he was all but booted from the construction site, she was also the one who insisted on checking his vitals and having a physical done on him before his departure. He did not miss how everyone had collectively sighed in relief when his results indicated that he was fine.
But that hadn’t stopped Urbosa from packing his things for him, nor Daruk when he had picked him up to deposit him on Epona’s back.
Such worrywarts, Link had thought fondly. I love them all so much.
Link and Revali had taken their time traveling to Rito Village. When they arrived a few days ago, they were met by an overjoyed welcoming party who lavished them with warm greetings and plenty of food. Saki and Teba had already cleaned out their hut of dust and washed their bedding, so the couple had promptly turned in early after thanking everyone for their hospitality.
And honestly, since returning, Link had slept like a log each night. He felt so lazy it had to be a crime.
It didn’t help that his partner was steadfast in keeping him lazy. Whenever Link got up too early or thought he could do something strenuous, Revali would suddenly waylay him, tucking him in more quilts or yanking him away before he could so much as lend a hand.
The biggest worrywart of them all is the one I love the most.
Saddled with a lot more free time than he knew what to do with, Link had taken to roaming around the village to distract himself. At this time, all the villagers were busy preparing for the festival. Although Link was barred from helping—definitely Revali’s doing, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Kaneli was the one enforcing it—there were tons of things he could observe or learn about. He watched as mixtures of vividly colored face paint were made to be worn the day of the reveling, as fledglings painted freshly carved wooden figurines to offer to their deities, as Rito his age practiced the footwork and gestures to the traditional dances that would be performed in front of everyone. There will be many dances, he was told. Some needed practice to be learned, while others didn’t.
As for the music that would be played for those dances, his self-appointed tutor was currently teaching him about them. They had flown out and found a nice meadow to have their lesson, a place where they would be free from disruptions.
The problem was, Link tended to space out as he was being lectured, but not because he was bored. Quite the opposite, actually. He was too fascinated. In his defense, it was hard to pay attention when his tutor was being so darn distracting. His beloved had such a pleasant singing voice, and his mastery over several instruments was nothing to scoff at.
“…and at this verse, the main dancers will lead the others to—oh dear. I’ve lost you again. This has to be the hundredth time already. Come on, my silly little cloud chaser. Touch down to earth, will you?”
The Hylian Champion blinked dazedly when the navy blue wing retreated, having been waved in front of his face.
“Huh? Oh, sorry,” he apologized, sitting up straight. “I, uh, got lost in thought.”
Revali gave him a pointed look, but his emerald eyes were warm. “Mm-hm. About what?”
Link toyed with the grass and weeds by his legs, bashful. “Well, it’s just that the other night I spotted something while flying back from rounding up Amali’s girls for her and…”
“And?” prompted the Rito archer, resting his borrowed lyre on the grass by his lap.
Link had to juggle with the words in his head, his wings raised as he instinctively signed along. “It was a dance of some sort,” he rambled, “but I noticed it was only between two Rito and that it didn’t match with any of the dances being practiced for the festival. There was some singing I didn’t recognize, too, something that used little words, though I can’t be sure since I was only passing by.” He coughed, a little self-conscious at how his partner was staring at him curiously. “So, yes, I thought maybe you could enlighten me while we’re on the topic of music and whatnot.”
Revali cocked his head, thoughtful. “I’ll need more of an explanation than that. Mind showing me what you saw?”
“My memory of the dance isn’t that accurate,” the knight admitted, “but I think I can mimic a part of the song.” When the other Rito nodded, Link cleared his throat carefully before taking a moment to hum and croon a few notes to test how they sounded compared to what he vaguely remembered. Then he released a long trill that soon shifted into a sequence of chirrups and twitters. He did his best to imitate the pitch and melody as much as he could, but he was still a novice when it came to using his vocal cords, particularly in the intricate manner the Rito used them.
Having been too focused on what he was doing, when he finally looked at the other Rito, Link stopped himself short to stare, dumbfounded.
Why was Revali puffing up like a giant cotton ball?
“L-Link, you—you—that was—” sputtered the Rito Champion. “Great Goddesses above, Link! That was a mating call,” he burst out, sweeping out a wing wildly, which looked oddly misplaced with its broad, flat shape in contrast to the Rito’s round, puffy face. “How could you not figure this one out?”
Link continued to stare at his partner dumbly before breaking out into a similar cotton ball impersonation, but this time out of embarrassment. Oh, Hylia. How dense was he? Knowing the actual truth made him feel like an idiot, especially when he had all the clues right in front of him.
Wait a second. If that was a mating call, then…
An idea popped into his mind.
While Revali was grumbling under his breath and vainly trying to pat his fluffed feathers down, Link stalled his attempt as he leaned forward into his space, gently sliding their beaks against one another until he was close enough for their faces to touch. Nuzzling their cheeks together, he trilled tenderly, beckoningly, as delicate as a fairy’s breath, and he felt how Revali melted into him, helplessly won over. When his beloved reciprocated the gesture, a rich, saccharine noise spilling from his throat, warmth blossomed in Link’s chest.
After that, their music lesson was set aside for the rest of the afternoon.