Chapter Text
Voe was the only term that you’ve come to know as the universal description of a non-female being, while your kind had all kinds of titles. Female, woman, girl, queen, priestess, with Vai being the most commonly used in the village. You knew that many women left the humble village in the far away desert town to go find these Voe’s with a promise of coming back with a young child. At times, only the child was returned to the village to be raised.
It was a curious thing, tho, watching as they left with packed bags only to come back with an almost identical little girl in their arms. How did it come to be? You’d ask, but the only answer you received was that it was all thanks to the Voe’s.
You remember your amazement at the time, looking at the new babe in the mothers arms, and wondering why Voes, able to give life incarnate, be forbidden to ever enter Gerudo Village. This had only deepened your confusion as the traveling woman described them.
They had the complete opposite composition of both mind and body, characteristics and anatomy being completely different from that of a Vai. They were described as grand protectors and abundant providers of life and agriculture.
“She looks just like you.” You had laughed then as your finger grazed the small, pointed part of the babe. “But these ears of hers look pointier than her momma’s” Her laughter was quiet as the new mother brushed a finger over a soft, peach-fuzzed head.
“As hard as we try, Hylian blood seems to be growing in the generations that pass.” She joked, and you sat straight to look at her quizzically.
“Hylian?”
The mother had nodded. “A race of Voe. While it was once tradition to keep the bloodline pure by having children with the Hylian, there’s just no telling what the world will give you instead.”
It was the first you’ve heard of this, but you immediately came to understand that creating a life as complicated and beautiful as a living person, the Vai weren’t the only thing that retained it, but the Voe were a part of it too. They weren’t just creators of life as they were described by the elders.
They give part of their own life, to create another to be taken care of by a Vai.
From then, it was a goal of yours to have such a gift bestowed by these Voes, to be able to take care of and raise a little one of your own.
Yet, when you had asked the elders how you could make your wish possible, they refused to say a word on the matter. They simply told you you were too young as they ushered you back outside in a means of quelling your woes with labor. And while they promised you some arrangements for the future, you knew they never planned on letting you leave the Village as a means to have children.
After all, they didn’t have any of their own. Why would they let you?
Your sorrows and resentment stretched for weeks at a time after that, and knowing that you’ll never be allowed to step foot outside of the village, you simply let them consume you as you worked. The elders were stubborn people, and being raised for as long as you remember, their principles of life were absolute, as well as their rules of never letting you stay out after sunset.
In a day like any other you watched as another Gerudo villager came from the gates, the weapons and items strapped to their back insinuating that they had traveled pretty far before coming back to this humble abode you call home. But, just as you go to turn back around, she comes into view and you notice that you don’t recognize the woman at all.
You’ve lived in this village all your life, and while you encountered many other traveling women, this one was wearing the village's traditional clothes that consisted of the Gerudo top, veil, and serwal, all adorned in jewels and decorative embroidery sown within the cloth.
So they had to be from Gerudo. Yet, you don’t recall ever seeing her here.
However, as the woman came into the sun, wearing mostly blue cut cloth-- not a guard, then-- you noticed that her skin was so much paler than you’d expected and your eyes had widened a little. Not a tan in sight. In conclusion, she definitely wasn’t from Gerudo, you would have remembered such coloration… not to mention her build.
She was rather… well, flat on the front. And the stomach muscles were more protruding than the lean build the guardswoman tend to have with their slimmed waists. Not that you meant any ill will on her lack of a soft chest and body! You’d never shame a woman on something so trivial!
But it was as interesting as the aura this Non-Gerudo Gerudo woman carried as she walked further into the village before stopping briefly to look around. After her head swivels this way and that, blue eyes as bright as the sky locked onto yours for a moment before the woman started walking your way. Her blond hair was carried by the wind of her steps as they swayed, looking as soft as thread before she paused a few steps away from you.
Perhaps your idle standpoint and stare was what made her come to you, but you didn’t waver when it seemed that she needed something.
You listened as she cleared her throat before speaking in a gravel-like voice with a high, feminine pitch. Her eyes flickered downwards for a moment.
“Hello, I'm here to see your leader. Do you know where I could find her?” she goes to ask, and you nod distractedly as you thought about her voice. Definitely not a local, then.
“Yes, just that way beyond those stairs.” You point to the temple but your eyes never leave hers even as her head turns to look. Your hand drops as you lean a little forwards with a worried crease to your brow. “Would you like some water beforehand? You sound parched after traveling so far through the desert to get here.”
The woman looks back at you before her eyes crease with the look of a smile as a hand goes to her hair, your eyes flicker to the rough palm and fingers as they work through her blond locks. “No, that's ok. I have plenty.” She says, and before you could further insist or invite her for some soothing tea, she’s waving her hand in goodbye and excusing herself with a light bow. You watch her walk to the temple stairs, standing idle for a few more moments before returning to your task.
You look down at your chest. Did I have something on me? You went to dust off your cut off top at the memory of her blue eyes flickering to it every now and then in your short conversation. Shortly after, you continue with your duties before nightfall and turn in for a good night's rest.
Only a day goes by before you see the woman again, only this time, she was at your front door. It was nearly sundown, so you were already on your way back home to the elders, but had stopped short when you caught sight of weapons strapped securely on someone’s back. They looked familiar.
You were going to wait outside for a little while longer, not wanting to interrupt her conversation with your high elder, but the old, grouchy woman had caught sight of you and pointed in your direction as her mouth moved. You stammered as you pointed at yourself, thinking that she was talking to you, but blushed lightly when the blond traveler turned your way instead, realizing that you were the topic of their conversation, not a part of it.
How embarrassing.
The traveler nods their head after looking you up and down, and says a few more words before she’s turning tail and walking away from the door. Your eyes are on her as she walks, before your ears catch the elders voice. “This young’un insisted to help. Chief Riju’s orders, so come back as soon as your done. No later!” She shouts, a warning to her tone that dared you to disobey her orders, but your too surprised by her words. I… I can stay outside a little longer?! Oh, what fun!
Your smile is wide as you nod vigorously before bowing as low as your body allowed you to. “Of course! And thank you!” You can’t hide the excitement in your voice, and the elder doesn’t seem to care as she rolls her eyes with a light shake of her head before wobbling back inside. You only look back up when the door shuts, you back straightening in an instant as your met with the traveler in Gerudo garb. She blinks as you question, and you blush lightly as you realize she had seen you become so erratic over nothing.
“Sorry. I’m not usually allowed to stay out late.” You explain before you extend a hand to introduce yourself. The traveler looks down before taking your hand in hers. It’s big, and incredibly warm as butterflies continue to swarm your ecstatic being. Your eyes can’t help but glance back at your home, telling you that you should already be inside by this time.
“Link.” Is all she says before taking her hand away after a firm, single shake, therefore stealing your attention back as you dwell on the name. It’s a strange one, but you smile nonetheless.
“Link, a catching name.” You compliment instead. “So I hear you’re here under the Chiefs orders. What can I do for you?” Did I catch her eye perhaps? You question, but the thought is tossed aside immediately.
“Actually, I’m here to assist you.” Link says, confusing you a little. The traveler in blue seems to see this and further explains after a clear of the throat. “Your chief asked that if I were able to address her people's concerns then she would be willing to let me take something off her hands.”
“Oh,” You say before you humm in thought, thinking of something this traveler might be able to do that you can’t do yourself. You glance out at the gate and an idea pops into your head. “Actually… I heard that there were some excellent- uhm… Aloe! Out in the desert.” You say, hoping your struggle goes unnoticed, as well as your hopeful desperation as you pointed stiffly at the entrance gate.
Link looks over before hands go to her traveling pack. “Easy, I have some in my bag here-”
“No!” You say, stopping Link as blue eyes flickered to you questioningly. You quickly regain yourself. “B-because they need- they need to be freshly picked! Otherwise what I plan to do with them won’t work at all, eh he…” Your laugh is stiff, but you relax slightly when you see Link readjusting the bag on her back again.
“...alright.” Link says before turning in the direction of the gate. “I’ll see what I can find-”
“Oh don’t be silly!” You interrupt as you catch up, even going as far as walking ahead as you march towards the gates. “How will you find all of the best spots without my guiding hand!”
Your heart is hammering the closer the entrance comes into view, swallowing hard as the winds from the outside brush over your skin without the walls slowing its force. It’s a simple breeze, nowhere near the hurricane winds that blew when the night was darkest. You hear its whistle, pitched instead of the hollow howls it gave from the surrounding walls. You hadn't realized you stopped just before the arc leading to the outside, eyes set on the dunes stretching beyond the two spears held tight by the front guards. Link snapped you out of your daze as blue veils and gold jewels entered your vision, passing you as the strangers footfall continued without yours.
Your heart skips as you swallow the fear inside of you, looking back at your home before rushing back to the travelers side, head down and quiet as you watch your footsteps. When nothing happened when you passed the two guards, you released the breath you had held and peeked behind you to see that they were unperturbed by you both leaving the town. It must have been too long of a glance, because Link's voice comes from a ways ahead of you, as scratchy and pitched as ever.
“Are you coming?”
Your head snaps to him, eyes meeting blue ones as they stare at you with that same, curious look. You look behind you before nodding and catching up.
By the time the Town is far behind you, you’re eyes are to the sky and beyond as your core refuses to stop it’s beating against your chest, and sometimes you catch yourself closing your eyes and letting the air envelope you, all while ignoring the goosebumps it gives you. A wonderful, overwhelming feeling it is to let nature surround you with the cloth you wore being the only disturbance to her golden touch as they rustle and lift against her winds.
When you open your eyes again, you stand above a sand dune, one tall enough that lets you see the outstretch of the world, trees packed together as they create green, leafy roofs, mountians protruding from the ground to touch the clouds above, praying for it’s rainfall to bless the earth as the sun kissed it’s white peaks.
And among them, the trees and mountains and under the clouds, are Voe. And one day, one day, you’ll travel for a blessing to call your own in the shape of a child. The smile on your face turns a little sad at that, however, because you're sure that it won’t ever happen.
The elders refuse to let you out of their grip, and your dream will remain as is, distant and unreachable. But you could pretend for tonight. Like you used to.
However, your eyes tear themselves away from the horizon when a body steps next to you and you see Link holding a few, thick, and spiked leaves in hand. You’re reminded of your task and you had cleared your throat in a means to save face in your very obvious distraction.
“Right. These look good.” You look at them some more. “...but not enough for my- concoctions. Let’s go find a few more.” You turn around and descend the dune, holding in a laugh as you slide all the way down and land with a hop and a skip. You didn’t know the sand could be soft and slippery in its own, unique way, and falling on it didn’t hurt like all the other times you found yourself on the floor when you ran through the village to get home on time. Always a hard landing.
Link said nothing, but followed after you nonetheless as you walked ahead.
By the time you had a heap of aloe you hadn’t a clue of what to use for, it was dark and the skies were filled with their stars like any other night with the moon nowhere in sight. Link was a silent fellow, you noticed, preferring to stay quiet unless asked a question, and never started any of the conversations you’ve had so far. Not to mention the brief responses Link seemed fixed on giving you, leaving no room to continue.
But, now it was time to go back as guilt of keeping Link out on a useless expedition consumed you. It wasn’t like she was doing this just to help; it was ordered under the Chief (technically anyway). Luckily, Gerudo Town's torchlights were your guiding star as you both trekked all the way back home, and after hiding behind the aloe as you passed the guards, Link kindly accompanied you back to your front doorstep.
Before going inside, you smiled at Link and bowed your head lightly. “Thank you for doing that for me.” You say. “I’m very grateful.”
“No problem at all. Although, I wasn’t expecting to travel so far for some Aloe.” Link trailed off as her head turned to look back at the entrance gate and you blushed in embarrassment. You might have… gotten a little carried away once you had gotten used to being outside.
“Right- Sorry for that.” You say, your shoulders rising to your ears as an apology. Links gaze is back on you, blue eyes flickering between yours, and for a moment, you feel as if your being peered into. Scratching the surface to reach the depths of your being. After a while, Link nods.
“...It’s alright.”
You’re briefly caught short at the soft voice from her, her pitch gone as the scratched vocals were replaced with a smooth melody. It was as if the strings were gently brushed over a Full Moon Cello, and let its vibrations quell and ease your mind with its tune. Your heart gave its last few hard pumps as your excitement flared again. It was brief, but it was enough to startle you into breathing in a large breath and hold it.
You want to hear it again, but Link is already turning tail and walking back to the temple. You watch the traveler, body shrinking as the distance between you both grows and your hold on the aloe slackens until one of the leaves comes tumbling out of your grip. One of its spines pokes your ankle and you flinch at the pain before reluctantly bending down to grab it, careful to not let any of its friends' spines dig into your stomach.
When you manage to get back up, Link is out of sight, and you're left staring at the Town in its glory under the moon's cool watch, torches lining every home and street as all kinds of women walk among the open shops. Most of which were food markets as the sun is too hot to keep fresh fruit, vegetables, and meats from rotting. You look down at the aloe in your hand.
“Maybe the trip wasn’t a complete waste, after all.” You could make some spare change tonight, and on top of that, you won't have to lie about your whereabouts to your elders. Well, not completely anyway, but helping the night vendors seemed to be a plausible exuse.
Link on the other hand, had taken his time in discussing his services to Rijus people and did as promised, where most of them had been to either spar with a few of the guards to test their skills, find a few materials ranging from cloth, food, and minerals, or selling his own to buy from a few stores that had troubles meeting their daily sales.
By the end of it, Riju smiled tiredly from her high seat with a hand to her head to rest.
“Very good. You exceeded my expectations, and in a few days time no less. You’ve become this town's savior a second time, Champion Link.” She compliments, but her guard squints her eyes at him.
“He’s a Voe.” she scoffed. “I don’t see why you choose to let him continue his stay in our village after his objective was achieved.”
“Now now, Buliara. Don’t forget that this Voe was a friend of Urbasa, and any friend of hers deserves to be treated with utmost respect. I think we can overlook the fact that he’s a Voe after saving our town, and is now on his way to save the world.” She looks back at him. “Isn’t that right?” Riju asks, and Link nods, firm.
The guard grunts as she adverts her eyes with a pound of her staff to the ground that sounded more personal than dutiful. His ears flicker at the sound of something sliding against sanded ground.
“Now then, Since you’ve done as promised, it’s time I held up my end.” Riju says before she gestures a hand to the Thunder Helm placed on the decorative pillar next to her. “I believe this belongs to you, now, Link.”
The male is hesitant as he steps forwards, and with one more reassuring nod from the chieftess, he grabs onto the golden helm and lifts it from its placeholder. Riju gives him a satisfied nod as her eyes close briefly before her hand retracts back under her chin.
“Take good care of it.”
“I will.” Link replies before bowing at the waist with the helm in hand. He can see Buliaras grip on her staff tighten in clear displeasure at the fact that her chieftess is giving away a generations old heirloom, so he keeps his eyes to the ground. “You have my word.”
“Very well.” Riju gets up from her seat with a yawn, excusing herself as Link stands at his full height again. “Seems that I should go to my chambers for some rest. I bid you good luck on your journey.” Riju says as she walks past the male, down a few steps before turning into the direction of her chambers with another Yawn. Buliara follows her to the stairs, and Link only makes his move when both are out of sight.
He tucks the helm into his bag before turning to walk out of the temple, adjusting it over his shoulders as a hand goes to the vail in front of his face to make sure the wind doesn’t blow it away and taking his cover with it.
However, when he reaches the last step, bushes rustle and in an instant, he’s pulled into them by a firm hand and he flails his arms in the air. He falls into the leaves before rolling onto some grass with a grunt. In his struggle, he hit his head against a wall and held it in pain as his vision swirled, barely registering the weight settled on top of him.
“You’re a voe?!” A voice whisper shouts, and Link freezes in place as his eyes snap open. He’s more startled by the proximity and lack of space than seeing your face again. Then, your hands go to his face before he feels his ears being touched as a gasp leaves your lips. “And a Hylian too-!”
Link is quick to grab both of your wrists with a single hand as he uses the other to cover your mouth with a loud shush as he leans into your space, further closing the distance between you both.
“Don’t be so loud!” He whispers harshly as his eyes lift to look behind you, but the bushes cover you both enough to block you from the public, and the dark skies create abundant shadow for further coverage.
But, a noise escapes him when you sit further down into his lap, his bent knees leading your hips to only one destination. He looks down to also register the fact that he was under you and your clothes left nothing to the imagination to the shape and feel of your body as it slid. His face heats as his ears flush, and his hands immediately go down to your waist to stop you from sitting all the way down, thumbs digging into a soft stomach.
Of course, this also meant that your only obstacle of not letting you speak was gone, and you took full advantage as you beamed.
“Are you perhaps here to favor the Chieftess? Are you the Voe that will grant her a life?” You ask, hurriedly and unbelievably excited and your eyes never rest as they flicker all along Links features and structure, giving them a second look. So this was what they meant when the Elders told you that Voes had different characteristics of that of a Vai.
Link had muscles that were bigger and more visible to live up to the expectation of proper protection, and while you still didn’t know the use of them, Link was flat not because he was a woman, but because he was a Voe. And his jaw was strong, his voice ringing in deeper octaves that before you only had a taste of. His ears were his own, coming from his own beautiful race as they pointed outwards and folded back against hair that put gold itself to shame. And as you ran your fingers through it curiously, its softness made it ten times better.
Link sputtered front under you as his grip-- strong and incredibly hot-- released itself from your midriff to bat away at your hands. But they only wandered elsewhere as he let out a gasp of air as you sat down on the Voe, your giddiness on meeting a non-woman skyrocketing as you ran your hands down to his chest and arms, squeezing the muscles laid bare. Link's body fell completely to the floor as his legs crossed from behind you, his pained noises going unheard at your inspection.
Oh, you thought happily, he’s just as the elders described him. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity seeing a specimen so different from you up close, and all of your mannerisms were lost to your curiosity as it drove your hands to return back to his head and ears.
How wonderful and exciting this is! Even your stomach flares with every touch, feeding your nerves as they buzz until you feel yourself go practically numb . Your heart is pounding even harder than it was before when you ventured out into the desert, far from home, and it travels in places it rarely goes to as well.
Link, wheezing on the floor with his hands twitching and hovering between you, finally seems to register your words.
“W-what life.” He groans, and your eyes flicker to his lips as do your ears, wanting to hear every tune his unique voice carries with every word. “I just came here for Naboris…”
You pause momentarily as your eyes go to his, bright and blue as they squint in what looks to be pain. “Naboris?” you question, before remembering the chieftest words.
You saved our town. She had said, and now that you think about it, there wasn’t a single sand storm in sight when you were picking Aloe with Link. Nabiris was… quelled. And it was all thanks to Link?!
You gasp. “How amazing… Voe really are as strong as they're described.” you go to mumble with a breath, but your eyebrows turn downwards a little.
“So-... you really aren’t here to provide for the Chieftess?” You question, and Link, despite his best efforts to shove the pain away with a few calming breaths, his questioning glance looks more like one of suspicion.
“ Provide life?” He asks, confused, but with a shake of his head, he continues. It didn’t sound like something he was planning on doing so denying it right away without asking questions was simply the quickest way. “No, I was here for the sole purpose of calming Naboris and putting him back into his original state for his original purpose.” He groans as he sits up and starts to slide away from under you. Tho, it’s a little tough now that you’ve made yourself comfortable on his stomach without any qualms.
“And can you get off I can’t-- breathe.” He huffs a breath to prove his point, but he’d be lying if it wasn’t the only reason he wanted you off.
You however, did not move.
“You’re not here for the Chieftess?” Your sudden change in tone, cautious and serious makes Link pause as he looks up at you, and feels tension build within you. You had gone stock still as you stared down at him.
“No.”
“So where are you going now.”
Link looks at you, analyzing and trying to decide whether giving up his destination would do any good, but despite your seriousness, a genuine smile seemed to start blooming on your face.
“To my next mission?”
He watches as your hands clench on his shirt as you squirm minimally above him.
“So you aren’t here for Chieftess Riju.” You clarify.
“ No- why do you ask about your chief so often?”
But you were already skittering off from on top of him and going to an empty patch of grass to kneel before putting your head onto the ground. “Then, please let me be the one you give your children to instead!”
Link's cough is caught in his throat as he slaps a hand over his mouth to muffle it in a means to not let other people here and find him in his state. His whole body goes into an adrenaline like state as blood rushes to his face as your words play a role in his imagination, vivid and unbidden.
“ What.” He eventually came to wheeze.
“I want your children.”
So he hadn't heard wrong. And after hearing it a second time, Link has to force himself to breathe before declining your very eager, and very out of place, proposal to him. There was no other option. So, with a clear of his throat, he looks down at your bowed form and puts his wonders aside at the action to speak.
“I can’t do that.” You stiffen and Link, after a moment, sighs as he sits up. You don’t move an inch. “But now that you know that I'm not a Vai, please keep it to yourself until I leave Gerudo.”
You say nothing, and when Link glances at the spear that had fallen next to you, he moves to grab it along with the rest of his things, putting them back where they belong before putting his pack on his back again. When you hear the rustling of bushes and snapping branches, you look up instantly to watch Link step out of the shadows, readjusting his veil over his face before looking back at you. A silent moment passes between you both as the walls around you make the wind howl, clothes and hair whipping in the air briefly before he gives you a small bow to the head, never breaking eye contact.
“I have to go.” And then he’s turning away. You snap out of your trance as the last of his thread-like hair disappears with a flutter, scrambling from the grass you kneel on to tumble your way through the bushes, a few of the branches catching on your clothes.
“ Wait!” You call before a small yelp escapes you as you trip, but your fall to the ground is short lived as you get up just as quickly as you had hit the ground. “Can you at least tell me why!” You half shout as your eyes go to Link's retreating form, catching up to him in time as he turns to face you. You breathe a puff of air, feeling as if you had just exerted yourself with your initial panic of seeing him leave, but Link doesn't say a word as he lets you regain your breath.
At his stare, you swallow as you take a step closer. “Is it perhaps that you’re incapable?” You question, and the tips of his cheeks flare in a blush from behind his covering, eyes going wide before he takes a defensive stance.
“Of course not!” He says, his yell whispered harshly now that you were both in an open crowd. Still, you mistake his tone for one of anger as your eyes widen before you stammer.
“I-i meant no offense! I would never question your abilities in the making! I was simply curious as to why you seem so headstrong in denying my wish, is all.” You bow your head as far as your body allows you to, back as straight as a board. “Sorry for being so insensitive.”
“ That’s not- ” For whatever reason, he still sounds flustered. “In any case, I really have to go-”
Your back straightens upright as your expression pulls tight in light sorrow, feeling immense disappointment wash over you as you hold your hands against your chest. And just as you open your mouth to ask why, your name is screeched from down the road, and both your heads turn to see one of the elders at your front door step. She looked displeased, and your reality came crashing down as you slumped.
Link's head turned back to look at you, his eyes flickering over your expression before he ultimately decided to put a hand at your shoulder, patting it lightly. It felt like a gesture of goodbye, and you turned to look at him because of it. He gives you a smile-- and oh, how you wish to see it-- as his eyes turn kind.
It made your heart flare as it sank, and the wings that fluttered inside struggled to keep your wish afloat as he waved goodbye and bid you a good night’s rest. The gaze of the elder burned, but you ignored it in favor of watching Link step through the gates and out into the freezing desert.
When you went back to your room, it wasn’t to sleep.