Last Words

(Warning: This chapter contains strong language, explicit sexual content, and violence. It may be a trigger, so if you are uncomfortable with swearing and scenes depicting sexual details, I suggest you skip to Zelda's POV)

—--

Link's POV

Eyes closed, head down. Inhale, exhale. I picture myself, ready to bat, with a strong stance and an empty mind. Ganon's gonna pitch. I take a swing at just the right speed, gotta hit the ball at a perfect angle. Always focus on the pitcher and the hitting zone.

My body feels rested, my breathing exercises are working, my pulse is normal. I'm calm, at least while I'm sitting on the bench. I already know I'm going to be nervous when the game starts. Probably shouldn't have lied to Zelda when she asked me if I'm scared but I don't want her to get worried over nothing.

I feel someone tapping my shoulder and open my eyes. It's Coach. I take my headphones off and give him a nod. Game time.

Now I can hear the fans. So many people watching. One mistake and it's all over. Shit. I clench my fists, exhale, and open my hands again, then I pick up my bat. I gotta try to keep a cool head now. Ganon is going to talk about my family again or about the things he's going to do to Zelda. He knows that she's my weakness now. I have to just ignore him. Can't get into a fight in front of the whole school.

I walk onto the field and the noise doubles. I hate the attention so much. Sports can be fun but I don't know how much more pressure I can take before it gets unhealthy. My eyes immediately go to the stands to find Zelda. One look at her and everything else fades out. She's holding her necklace again. I think she does that when she gets nervous. She shouldn't come to my future games anymore. It's nice that she wants to support me at games but it's not worth it if it gives her anxiety.

"Look who decided to honor us with his presence," Karusa says loud enough for me to hear it.

I look at him without turning my head much. He's been waiting for me to look and grins at me while he crosses his arms. Ganon is standing right next to him but doesn't say anything.

"What? No hello? No I missed you?" Karusa laughs. I clench my jaw and exhale slowly. Ignore him. "Rude. Even your little princess had enough decency to say hello to me earlier." Ignore him! I just have to keep my eyes straight.

The moderator reads the lineup. I push my shoulders back and focus on the bat in my hand. Feels like an extended arm, that's how much I've trained with this bat. I turn my leg a bit to see if it hurts.

"Careful with that knee," Karusa says to me as if I'm supposed to feel threatened by that. I don't even look at him.

After the announcements, when our teams take their positions, Karusa walks extra close to me.

"I know this whole mute act is like your thing and all but I've gotta give it to you, I could not stay this calm if I knew my girl was blowing half the team." I instantly look at him even though I don't want to. "The opponent's team," he makes sure to add that.

I know what he's doing. And I know I shouldn't care but it still pisses me off when he talks about Zelda. I look up at her to find that calm feeling but she looks even more worried now. I think I know why. It's Karusa. She probably hates him even more than I do. Once the game starts he'll be on the other side of the field. Just gotta ignore him till then.

"You two are a thing now, right? But why? I mean, yeah man she's tight but to be honest if my girl came home with a hickey I wouldn't bother with her." I stop everything. How does Karusa know about the hickey? "Is sharing your girl with other guys considered true love? Or is that just sad?" I can't take my eyes away from him. All I see is red.

"Karusa, Link," someone is trying to get our attention but I literally can't look away.

"Give us a sec, Link's figuring something out," Karusa brushes them off.

We're holding up the game but I couldn't care less. I don't even want to believe this... Zelda doesn't want her neck touched and Karusa knows about the hickey. It's not a coincidence. My hands are literally shaking. I want to feel his jaw breaking under my fist.

"I told you to stay away from her..."

"And I told you I'd come back for her. At least one of us kept the promise."

I can't help but look up at Zelda again. Is this the guy? I can see it on her face, it's definitely him. How fucking stupid am I? I thought she was safe. When did this happen? Why wasn't I there to protect her? Was she all alone? Fuck!

Karusa turns his back at me and starts walking to his teammates as if we were done here. This isn't over! I follow him, bat in hand. "What did you do?"

"Game's about to start, let's talk after. Oh wait, I'm already seeing your girlfriend after the game."

"You gave her that hickey..." Confirm it and you're dead. He stops and turns to look at me.

"I gave her more than a hickey. I grabbed her, pressed her against the wall so hard that I could feel her tits against me–"

"You should shut up right now–"

"I made out with her, felt her nice curves, her soft skin..."

"Fuck you!" I slam my hands against his chest but that only satisfies him.

"That's exactly what we did next."

"She wouldn't!"

"But I would."

I can't think clear. I can't even fucking breathe. There's no way she wouldn't have told me if he did that to her. Fuck, maybe she did try to tell me... It took her months to tell me about the assault, what if there was more than a hickey? She said someone did things against her will, she tried to explain where he touched her but I was too impatient with her and didn't let her finish!

"Link!" Someone calls my name. I have to ignore Karusa and focus on the game but how can I? It's impossible. I need to know what he did! No, it's honestly enough to know that it's him!

"Guys, the game hasn't even started yet so just... chill out, okay?" Someone else says to us.

"What's wrong, Link? Can't handle the thought of me cumming all over your girlfriend's tits?" Karusa laughs and dares to step closer. "Does it bother you that she tastes like me?" I don't care who's watching, those will be his last words.

Zelda's POV

I get up so swiftly that I almost lose my balance and fall. Despite the lack of feeling in my legs I somehow manage to push myself past the fans to get to the steps.

"Where you going?" Impa calls after me. I don't waste time answering. She wouldn't understand why I plan on stopping Link from hitting Karusa. She'd enjoy that fight, she might even join that fight. I have to do something before Karusa tells Link about the hickey!

Breathless, I get to the bottom. A net separates me from the field and the players but I can get close enough to hear Karusa's disgusting voice taunting Link. "Does it bother you that she tastes like me?"

Link swings his baseball bat at Karusa's leg! I shriek and cover my eyes. Like two clashing swords, Karusa uses his own bat to shield himself from the attack. I'm sick to the stomach. I don't know the context but judging by the look on Link's face, it's exactly what I'm thinking.

I look up from my hands again to watch as Karusa pretends to hit Link's head with his bat while really kicking his knee with his foot. I hear a crack right before Link wails in pain and collapses. Karusa is no longer smiling and that scares me. He brings his bat into position. My mind immediately jumps to the memory of me shielding my face from that same bat. I can't watch!

None of Karusa's teammates are interfering! Everyone is in shock!

Link's hand blocks Karusa's attack and pulls his bat right out of his grip, then Link gets back up quicker than my eyes can follow. Instead of taking another swing at Karusa, he tosses his bat into the dust.

I can tell Link wants to continue the fight with his fists but two of his teammates come rushing over to hold him back by his arms. He is tensing every muscle and the anger is turning his face red. Suddenly Karusa's eyes land on me and my body goes numb. His smile has returned.

"Calm down you guys," one of the guys says, struggling to hold Link back.

"Yeah, calm down, Link," Karusa laughs at Link but doesn't take his eyes off of me. "It's not my fault that she screams my name when she's fucking you."

Link's fist connects with Karusa's face before I can even process that he ripped himself loose.

"Link!" I yell and beg for him to stop but he is not going to hear me. I start running along the fence until I get past the net and can enter the field! I have to stop them!

Link is beating on Karusa until another Boar pushes him off and strikes a punch to his gut. Don't hurt him! Karusa is weakened, trying to get up while Link defends himself with more violence.

"Link stop!" I shout when I'm close enough for him to hear me but he doesn't even react to my voice.

When I get closer, I realize that it's not Ganon Link is fighting. I swiftly scan the area with my eyes; Ganon is standing back, simply watching while his team fights ours. His eyes keep darting back and forth between Link and Malice. She doesn't look back at Ganon, but the man next to her does. That's when I realize it's Ganondorf he keeps looking at, as if waiting for permission to join the fight.

I finally get to Link and try to pull him off of the other player. He jerks away, draws back his fist to punch me, but freezes when he looks at me in utter distress.

"Please stop!" I beg him, tightly holding on to his wrist.

His eyes study my face as they try to find their way back to reality. Someone hauls me away from Link before I can calm him down. Pure terror takes over!

"No!" I screech and fight my way out of the man's grip. It's a security guard trying to restrain me. Link is facing the same situation but doesn't seem to see a difference between Boar and Security when he breaks the man's nose with his elbow.

The second Karusa gets up, Link throws him back to the ground and grabs him by the collar! I can only take one step toward them when I'm held back again. A large hand covers my mouth with such force that I can't even breathe! This time it's not security; I am fully convinced that a Boar has me in his firm grip!

I want to scream but I can't, and Link is still beating on Karusa, who isn't fighting back anymore. Karusa's eyes are shut, his arms lie motionlessly by his sides. Link is going to kill him if he keeps batting his face and I can't stop them! I can't do anything!

Ganon is the only one who could restrain Link but he is not on our side. He exchanges one last look with his father before he grabs his own bat and starts walking toward Link. No! Link is already injured, he can't take on Ganon too! I use every ounce of energy to fight those arms around me but they are too strong!

Ganon keeps walking and the pain of my rapid heartbeat increases with each step he takes. He was kicked out of his own home when he failed to injure Link during the soccer game, and I'm pretty sure he's now trying to rectify that mistake by ending Link's career once and for all! I have to do something!

So many people are fighting at this point that the security is overwhelmed and no longer able to focus on Link or Ganon. Karusa is unconscious, still suffering from Link's assault. As much as I wanted him to pay for what he did to me, I can't bear the look of his bashed-up face!

Ganon is approaching leisurely. He stops behind Link and raises his bat! That's when I bite into the hand that is covering my mouth and use my foot to pull the guy's leg away, just like Link taught me on our first date. Back then I would have never imagined I was going to use this self-defense move for Link's sake.

Without taking a single glance at the face of the man behind me, I sprint toward Link. Ganon hits Link's back with his bat, causing him to plunge to the dirt next to Karusa. He receives another hit to his ribs! Link lets out an excruciating scream and the whole stadium falls silent. People are still shouting and fighting but I hear none of it. All I can hear is the drumming of my pulse behind my ears. Ganon hits him again! And again!

"Link!" I cry as I pick up his bat!

Ganon is looking down on Link, waiting for him to get back up. Waiting for Link to fight back... Link can't fight! He can hardly even stand! He should get out of here before he ends up like Karusa! Ganon draws back and swings his bat at Link for a final blow.

"No!" I scream and use Link's bat to hit Ganon as hard as I can. Hitting his legs knocks him off his feet just long enough for security to get a hold of him. I hear a thump behind me and return my attention to Link. He has dropped to the floor once more but this time is different; his eyes are closed and it doesn't look like he is getting up again.

I drop the bat and kneel next to him.  Blood covers his face but I can't tell where it's coming from, Ganon must have hit him before I intervened! His jersey is drenched in blood and his face twisted in pain!

"Link!" He is lying on his back, unable to move. I help lift his torso. "Can you get up?"

He coughs up more blood. His head falls back into my arms, his chest is quivering! "You're going to be just fine," I lie with the sole purpose of keeping him calm until help arrives.

His eyes hold my gaze for a fleeting moment before they drift out of consciousness. I catch the weight of his body and pull him closer. His chest is no longer quivering. It has stopped moving altogether.

I am screaming for help, so loud that my lungs are burning and I am left wondering why no one is doing anything until I realize that not a single sound has fallen from my lips. With a vision blurred by tears, I cradle Link's lifeless body.

Mipha appears next to me, rushed by fear but composed enough to instruct me to lay Link flat on the ground. Her voice is muffled like sound underwater, but I do as she says without letting go of Link's hand. For a moment I thought his hand was moving but it's just my own hand that is trembling so severely.

"He's unconscious," I tell Mipha in a broken breath, gasping for air as tears stream down my face. Every muscle in my body is fighting the instinct to freeze. Link needs my help now more than ever. Even though all I'm doing is choking while Mipha is the one helping.

She palpates Link's torso. "He has at least four broken ribs..." She lifts up his jersey; dark shades of purple taint the entire right side of his upper body. "Internal bleeding, multiple chest contusions..." Her breaths quicken and despair dresses her mien. I can see a slight hesitation on her face when she shakes her head, swallows in agony, and continues to determine Link's condition. "Did he receive a blow to the head?" Her voice is a mere whisper.

"I think Gan–Ganon–hit him--" I keep swallowing hasty breaths but I'm unable to exhale any of it. Looking at the injury on Link's head makes me dizzy. "Mipha... Mipha, he's–he–he's not breathing!" I cry, squeezing Link's hand.

She places her fingers just below his jaw. Panic takes over her features. "He's going into cardiac arrest..."

"What?"

"He doesn't have a pulse," Mipha positions her hands on Link's chest and starts CPR. "Call 911!"

My senses dull as shock sets in. I might lose him. This moment right here might be it. Clasping Link's hand, I stare at his injuries. I have never been this terrified in my life! I want to see if his eyes have opened but I can't bring myself to look at his face again. I don't want this image to burn into my mind! I don't want it to be my last memory of Link!

Mipha tilts his head back and gives him mouth to mouth, then she resumes chest compressions. "Zelda, now!"

I use my free hand to bring up my phone. It slips out of my grip, I pick it up from the grass and try to unlock it. Blood smudges the screen, making it difficult to enter the pin and face recognition isn't working and I'm shaking and–wait there is an emergency call option! I press the button and enter 8-1-1–shit! Delete, delete, delete–9-1-1!

"It's ringing, it's ringing!" I bring Link's hand up to my lips and shut my eyes so tightly that I almost believe I could wake up from this nightmare.

"9-1-1, what is the address of your emergency?" A female voice sounds through the speaker.

"Hyrule University main campus, we–we need an ambulance, please hurry! My-There was a fight, multiple people got injured."

"Hyrule University main campus?" The lady repeats.

"Yes, please hurry!"

"How many people are injured?"

"I-I-I'm not sure!" My eyes refuse to leave Link for even just one second to take a look around. "You're hurting him!" I cry, feeling a stab in my chest each time Mipha presses down on his heart.

"I have to!" Mipha pants.

"Ma'am, how many people are injured?" Too much is going on at once, my mind is about to shut down. "Ma'am? Are you there?"

"I don't know how many people are injured! At least two people are unconscious! My boyfriend is not breathing! He doesn't have a–he–we need help! Help, please just hurry!"

"Okay, what is the condition of your boyfriend?"

"He's not breathing!" I repeat frustrated. "Are you sending someone?"

"Yes, help is on the way. Can you tell me what happened?"

"Someone hit him with a bat," I cry and gasp for air.

"Someone hit him with a baseball bat?"

"Yes, someone hit–h–" I'm going to faint... Mipha is still performing CPR but Link isn't waking up! Why isn't he waking up?

"Ma'am? Can you tell me where he was hit?"

"The head," I weep and keep Link's hand close to my heart. "His back too, and his leg... Maybe other places too, I'm not sure, my friend is performing CPR, she thinks some of his ribs are broken. She's pre-med..."

"Where on campus are you?"

"Please, he's not breathing, he doesn't have a pulse, he needs help... I think he's dying, please, please hurry."

"Ma'am, I need you to tell me where on campus you are located."

I am breathing so hysterically that words fail me. Impa kneels down next to me and gently removes my phone from my grip. She frowns at me and takes a look at Link before she speaks into the phone.

"Hello, my friend is having trouble talking so I'll continue the call if that's okay."

Beyond grateful for Impa's help, I grip Link's hand with both of mine and whisper prayer after prayer, begging, pleading the gods to save him. Mipha continues her efforts to prevent Link from dying while Impa rubs my back and calmly passes more information to the 911 call operator.

I take fleeting, sharp breaths, over and over, but the oxygen feels like fire in my lungs, and exhaling any of it seems impossible! Suddenly, I just stop breathing entirely. This is not a nightmare, this is actually happening...

—-------

(Hey guys! First of all, thank you so so much for 400K reads! You guys are amazing!!

Secondly, let's talk about this chapter...

There are a couple of things I want to say about this chapter but they are sort of spoilers so I'm going to wait with that until the next author's note. Meanwhile, I want to address Karusa's lines. Did you feel uncomfortable reading them? Imagine how I felt writing them!

This was one of the most challenging chapters to write, not only because writing out of Link's POV feels foreign, but because I had to put myself into Karusa's and Link's heads. I had to write about a girl in the most disrespectful way imaginable. Fictional character or not, I was hurting when I was writing those things about Zelda. Really shameful behavior which I'm sure a lot of you have experienced one way or another.

There's more I want to say, but it will have to wait. I hope you were still able to enjoy this chapter even though it had multiple disturbing scenes.

Here is some good news to hopefully brighten your mood a little! We now have a Thinking About You channel on my Discord Server! So if you guys want to discuss chapters and theories or just chat with other readers, make sure to check it out :) Lots of cool people to meet and talk to! But don't stop commenting here because I'm not going to be reading the discord conversations. Here's a Link to the server ;) https://discord.gg/6x7nrrRQYf

Love you all!

-Ace)