#also i'm very pro “separating Link from the idea of his past duty” can you tell

[veggiecorner]

What I liked about post-calamity Zelink is how they don't immediately grow into loving each other. Sure throw in the fact that Zelda had a thing for Link 100 years ago and Link now has been chasing after her (practically idolizes her memory, so maybe he might remember to love her throughout the journey), but they're both different and traumatized in a land that needs to heal. So they grow individually as people.

I also like to headcanon Zelda pretty much "forced" Link away from her, not out of animosity but rather she wants him to find who he was outside of his duty of a knight (and she doesn't believe he wants to stick by her) and meanwhile this gives her time to come to terms with her survivors guilt. Link is traveling around, remembering things about himself but also enjoying the freedom of adventure/traveling but still feeling like he's missing something.

And then their reunion is all the sweeter because they both realize they're missing each other, but now they're happier with themselves and while theres more healing that needs to be done at least they have each other to support