#expect the rest of the Zeldas eventually~ feel free to pick out some names for them if you like!

[wickedcriminal]

The Zeldas! 👑

Top to bottom, left to right; Lullaby, Tetra, Dot, Dawn and Aurora, Fable, Flora, Dusk, Sun, and Artemis!

I gave them all white star tufts on their foreheads to signify they're all destined to be the leader of HighClan ✨️

The LU boys as Warrior Cats 😺

(Top to bottom, left to right) Time, Wind, Four, Hyrule, Legend, Wild, Twilight, Sky, and Warriors!

What should their Warrior names be?

[ghirahimbo]

"2. Suddenly pulling them in for a dance." - Ghiralink, perhaps? (Sorry incase that's not really your thing anymore! Feel free to pick another ship <3)

Yeah… yeah, that’s still my thing T-T lol, thanks for the prompt! This one was fun 😊

Post-canon, vague master/sword AU, ghiralink-ish

—

The spirit maiden danced with a grace befitting her divine origins, little though Ghirahim liked to admit it. Moving so lightly through the lively steps that her feet might have been floating, he could almost believe that she still bore Hylia's feathered wings on her back, tucked somewhere outside of physical sight. Link danced like a log in comparison—though on second appraisal, Ghirahim had to give him more credit than that. The boy wasn't stomping on Zelda’s toes, after all, unlike Fledge dancing nearby with poor Karane. Link's style consisted of accuracy without artistry, though with enough enthusiasm to almost make up for it. How odd that all his light-footedness seemed reserved for the more violent dance of swords, where he moved nimbly enough to keep even Ghirahim on his toes… a nod to his true calling, perhaps?

Privately savoring the notion, Ghirahim lounged against the wall of a newly erected building, only half noticing the wary looks he received as he watched the festivities unfold. These Skyloftians-turned-surface dwellers still feared him, despite the months he had served already as their hero's sword—a primal fear, perhaps, unless that fool Groose had secretly run off at the mouth. Link and Zelda had agreed from the start that certain aspects of Ghirahim’s past were best kept hidden, his previous master and role in Zelda’s disappearance highest among them. He had certainly not done anything overtly threatening to the residents of this tiny, budding village—and yet, they feared him.

The whole situation fell well beneath his notice, though he’d caught Link frowning over it more than once. Link was frowning at him now, Ghirahim realized, directing it over Zelda’s shoulder as they turned in sync, and he met it with a scornful expression of his own. What had Link expected him to do here tonight? Mingle?

The music finally paused as the lively song wound to its end, prompting the dancing couples to bow and switch partners (in Karane’s case with remarkable alacrity). Link leaned in towards Zelda, whispering something in her ear before vanishing into the milling throng, and Ghirahim half raised an eyebrow. Likely he'd just gone for more food, though Link might have finally tired of this tedious celebration. Compared to the more demonic gatherings Ghirahim knew, this less raucous human affair contained a disappointing (if expected) lack of bloodshed—though of course, those had often erupted haphazardly in the throes of battles won. Not like this one, which commemorated nothing more than the laboriously slow growth of food and its eventual harvest.

Another song started up, slower than the last but no less cheerful. Fledge had moved on to his next victim, some girl in a bandana and horrifically flared pants whose name Ghirahim had never bothered to learn. Zelda had produced a harp, wandering to join the musicians with plucked out harmonies that flowed from her fingers with ease, and Link…

Ghirahim frowned when Link’s bobbing green hat still had not emerged among the dancers. The food tables remained conspicuously absent of green, as well. If Link thought he could escape on his own while leaving Ghirahim here waiting—

A hand grabbed his arm, pulling him from his perch by the wall, and if he hadn’t had that hand memorized from the hundreds of times it had gripped his hilt, Ghirahim might have expressed his surprise in regrettably drastic fashion. Instead he let it pull him through the crowd until they reached their apparent destination, and it slid down his arm to grasp his own blackened hand, while another reached up to rest lightly on his shoulder.

Ghirahim blinked. Link smiled blandly up at him.

"Care to dance?" he asked, a bit too late for etiquette's sake considering that the dance had already started. Link's cheeks shone pink from the exertion of tromping around with Zelda, and his messy hair, mercifully absent the hat that always covered it, felt deceitful in how easily it had disguised his presence. Sweat clung to the base of those dark blonde locks—the reason for the hat's removal?

Ghirahim's legs moved automatically through the simple steps as he considered his young master, who made a brave attempt at leading with that unfortunate portion of his usual grace.

"Presumptive of you," he murmured, just loud enough to be heard over the din of laughter and music. "Any particular motive for such impertinence?"

Link had the nerve to look confused.

"You like to dance," he said, as if that was answer enough. Perhaps it was. Link wore his cheerful naiveté like a cloak sometimes, and even Ghirahim couldn't always sort out how much of it was real, and how much artifice. "Someone had to ask you?"

The hint of a question?

A number of potential reactions ran through Ghirahim's mind, considered and discarded in quick succession. He could extract himself easily enough, leaving Link clutching nothing but vanishing diamonds. He could also stand stubbornly still, refuse to dance, and let Link discover just how easily he could drag around a sword that didn't want to move. He could reject Link quietly—dramatically—at knifepoint, even—but…

A quick glance around revealed their audience. Though most had the sense not to stare openly, nearly every couple surrounding them shared the same nervous, almost scandalized smile, as if they feared the consequence of making their amusement too obvious. The spirit maiden in particular watched him closely, keeping a pointed eye on him over her harp though her lips shared the same bland smile as Link.

There would be no consequence, of course—Ghirahim wouldn't risk this precarious arrangement with Link simply to save face in front of some humans—yet neither could he let anyone think him scared off by something as innocuous as an invitation to dance. The steps themselves were straightforward enough, easily gleaned through his brief time spent observing… and as Link had pointed out, he did enjoy it.

His lips curved into a grin.

"I accept your request," Ghirahim said, and the moment Link started to relax, added, "but I will not be led."

Link's eyes barely had the chance to widen before Ghirahim spun him around, reversing the position of their hands.

Backpedaling to match Ghirahim's smooth advance, Link's startled face swiveled between watching Ghirahim and his own two feet in a desperate attempt to avoid being trampled. Lack of practice in this secondary role made him even less sure of his steps than before, though Ghirahim managed to steer them without incident through the greater pattern of dancing couples, humming in amusement as Link fought with surprise against an unexpected dip backwards.

"Come now, Link, have I ever allowed you to wield me with so little poise?" he hissed, the tip of his tongue whipping out mockingly as he raised Link back up. "If you favor only my sword with your attempts at finesse, I will begin to be jealous of myself."

Face red now from more than mere exertion, Link opened his mouth as if to protest—and closed it again, his lips forming a thin line of determination. An abrupt change swept over him, as drastic as if a switch had been pressed, and his stance shifted along with his center of gravity. Back straight with just a hint of fluidity, eyes blazing with the same defiance that had caught Ghirahim’s interest from the very start, Link danced, the superior reflexes he showed in battle at last made manifest.

Ghirahim's own eyes glowed. So Link had finally remembered that he held a sword.

"You've been holding out on me," he whispered, uncertain if Link could hear him or not. Experimentally, he directed Link with a light hint of pressure through a gliding spin, and found him as responsive an opponent as ever. "I should punish you for that."

Except that Link had held out on the spirit maiden first, and only for Ghirahim revealed his true potential. There was a pattern to that, he decided, glancing once more at Zelda and relishing in her look of surprise. Her chosen hero could never have defeated Demise without trying himself again and again on Ghirahim's sword first, and he hoped at times that his necessity haunted her.

The music picked up in pace and volume, the steps coming quick and intense. Link said nothing—he never did in the midst of battle, as silent as stone and just as unyielding—but perspiration broke out in beads along his face, trailing down the edge of his jaw. His hair swept and stuck in strange patterns across his forehead, disheveled but not wholly unappealing. Link might still have lacked a certain flair to his movements, too direct and to the point for Ghirahim's taste… but style could be taught. Idly, Ghirahim considered other dances he might teach this man if he was amenable, of perhaps less wholesome origins—dances whose quick, subtle movements pushed the bounds of even his own abilities, requiring strength in muscles Link likely didn't know existed. What was a dance without challenge, after all… without something a little more physical?

For now they moved through this tamer dance of Hylia's people, both withdrawing and rejoining as the pattern of steps demanded. The outer world fell away as their attention narrowed in on small details—the clash of eyes and brush of skin—blue on black and flushed tan on cool, steely gray—

And the music ended in a moment of silence that rang out unexpectedly. Laughing chatter burst to life, as abrupt as it was unwelcome, and the spell between them broke. Panting, looking slightly dazed, Link gave Ghirahim a bow that he returned with almost his usual smoothness, convincing himself that he had not been nearly so affected.

"Satisfied?" he asked softly, with the hint of a smirk—and was taken aback by the positively sly look Link gave him in response.

“Well…”

Brushing his hands together and placing them on his hips, Link gave a show of looking around meaningfully, and only then did Ghirahim realize how the tenor of the voices surrounding them had changed. Those glances sent his way felt more curious now than wary, and the bubble of instinctive fear surrounding him had all but vanished—his presence made human in their eyes at last by his part in the harvest dance.

"It's a start," Link decided, wiping sweat from his brow and settling his pointed green hat at a jaunty angle on his head. "I’m done dancing for the night, but you keep going if you want. You looked like you were having fun.”

With a wink, he turned to leave, and Ghirahim couldn't help but admire his exit. Link really was as conniving as any demon he’d ever met at times, though to completely different ends.

A nervous cough caught his attention, and he glanced down to see Fledge looking up at him anxiously. From the flurry of motion around them, it was time to switch partners for the next dance.

“U-um,” he managed to squeak out. His face, torn between pale white and deep red, had settled on both in splotches. “Everyone else is, so do you… I mean, are we supposed t-to…?”

Ghirahim snapped, leaving Fledge gaping at vanishing diamonds, and as he left caught the edges of Link's laughter. Conniving indeed, he thought, though at least in that as in so much else they were equally matched.

[umbreonix]

Random Revalink Fluff

The hammock was entirely still, sheltered from all wind by the outermost rock walls of Tabantha’s massive volcanic caldera.

It wouldn’t have been Revali’s pick of spots, he usually quite enjoyed a gentle breeze but it would have been uncomfortably chilly for the hylian nestled into his side. Instead they came here, to a small cluster of cedars that overlooked the village, just far enough to be private.

That part, Revali did agree with. The privacy that was.

How had this happened?

It was absolutely absurd. He wasn’t exactly sure what this was but had the good sense to know that until it had a name, it was better to be kept a secret. He did everything in his power to keep these baffling moments hidden from the gossiping geese and glancing ganders that patrolled the spiraling wooden platforms of Rito Village for their daily blabber. Goddesses above! If nothing else, they could be commended for their unwavering hyper vigilance. If only his soldiers showed that same dedication to their own rounds.

Link moved, finally rousing from their afternoon siesta. One of his legs was tangled with Revali’s and his squishy pink little foot purposely began playing with the rito’s own much rougher and taloned one. His toes soon found and curled around Revali’s hind claw while his nose traced a slow line up his feathery side before burying into his chest.

When had this happened?

Well, he did have an answer for that. It was after the fall of the calamity. The unbearable little knight had disappeared into the Great Hyrule Forest and returned without his holy sword… and with the first smile Revali had ever seen painted across his lips.

His soul had been body-swapped and he was a different person entirely. It was the only explanation.

Except that couldn’t be the case. Even now, in this moment, as Link continued to stir awake, he began absentmindedly rubbing circular motions over the scar on Revali’s abdomen. It was the spot where he had once felt compelled, for some unknown reason, to take an arrow for the princess’ guard dog. The flesh mark had long since become hidden under his regrown feathers and so was something that this imposter could have never known about.

Therefore and in conclusion, this man he now held in his wings and the knight he once despised with all of his being were one and the same.

They hadn’t gotten to this point immediately of course.

There was a gap of time even where Link had disappeared entirely. It had to have been for over a year although Revali hadn’t cared enough at the time to keep track.

Just as he figured he was gone from his life for good, he started showing up in Rito Village.

It seemed he had been travelling. His hair had grown long and unruly, his skin was darkened by sun in all the areas that used to never see the light of day from under his clunky metal armor. There were freckles that now dotted his face and shoulders where his skin had once been the same pure porcelain as Zelda’s, indicative of how much time he spent stationed inside at various doors in the castle. When combined with his wooden expressions, he looked remarkably like one of those creepy-eyed dolls hylian girls like to carry around.

Now, in present time, his face was more often than not twisted into some wide and wild grin, matching the disorderly mottled canvas of brown spotty constellations over reddening sun-streaks in equal measure.

When he had first shown up, he mostly spent his days at the flight range. He seemed determined to finally remedy his piss-poor archery. Too little, too late if you asked the rito bowmaster but his efforts seemed to be more so for ‘fun’ than necessity. Still, his sense of self preservation was no better than when he had worked for the hylian royal family. He continually attempted death-ensuring maneuvers with his paraglider and Revali ended up having to save him from snapping his neck on the rocks below numerous times.

Soon, Link had taken to following the rito about on his daily wanderings like an imprinted fletchling.

Then, just as that strange turn of events began to feel almost normal, he began making moves.

Touches that couldn’t have been mistaken as innocent, looks that were too soft and affectionate to just be friendly.

Revali pretended to not notice and that was his downfall. By not talking about any of this, it had been taken as a sort of acceptance and, being given that inch, Link started to feel entitled to miles.

By now he had kissed just about every part of Revali’s face at one time or another. He would also often come up behind him when he wasn’t expecting it and wrap those tiny little arms around his torso and bury his face in Revali’s scarf.

Eventually, for whatever reason, Revali acquiesced to these gestures and now here they were taking afternoon naps on sunny days with the clandestine secrecy of a lover’s tryst.

Is that what they were? Lovers?

Link had grown bored with Revali’s scar and has since sat up, beginning to let his hand wander up and down his front, carefully reading and cataloguing each muscle, feather texture and imperfection (non-existent by the way)

“You hylians sure are handsy, aren’t you?” Revali finally murmured, interrupting the blond’s exploration before he could reach back up to his chest to feel Revali’s now thundering heartbeat that traitorously echoed his sudden revelations.

Link looked at him.

“Really,” Revali insisted, now curious. “Why do you all need to touch everything you see with your hands? Your whole body is covered in exposed skin is it just convenience or?”

Link pulled away the hand that had been tangled in his stomach feathers to look at it for a moment before showing it to the rito.

Revali tentatively took it, sitting up as well and turning it over in his wing, not entirely sure what he was inspecting.

“There’s ridges,” Link said, never really having lost his tendency towards short stilted sentences. “They help us feel things better.”

Revali squinted at the crinkly skin of the palm, initially thinking he was referring to the wrinkles set into the places that creased whenever he folded his hand into a fist. Then his keen falcon-like eyes noticed the patterns that spiraled all across the hills and valleys of the inner hand, extending all the way up to the pads of each finger.

He quickly examined the back of Link’s hand and down his arm where the skin looked more scaly, like what he came to expect of a skin texture, similar to what one would see on the shins and feet of a rito.

The spirals were apparently contained to just that one area of Link’s flesh. 

He grazed a wing tip over the natural designs, as if he would be able to feel them though the thin hair-like feathers that fuzzed over the skin of the finger-like appendages he used to hold his bow. He couldn’t end up feeling them of course, but he could watch the way the touch-sensitive hand closed a little in ticklish reaction.

He readjusted to holding it in a more typical manner,  although with the size difference of their ‘hands’ Revali had to use only the tips that approximated a pointer finger and thumb.

They weren’t lovers, but they could be.

Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

Link’s hair was out of its ponytail and completely free, the locks sprawled out behind him where Revali’s other wing was still cradled beneath him, bolding demonstrating how well his wheat-coloured hair was complemented by the deep navy of the feathers behind. He would look good in braids. Specifically, braids intertwined with a carefully selected assortment of Revali’s feathers.

Altogether, it would all just look… right.

Revali took Link’s hand and guided the fingers upwards to brush his cheekbones along the little specks of red feathers that he never seemed to have grown out of.

Link looked at him in surprise, unused to Revali ever initiating any of these little acts of affection.

Mind made up, he slowly trailed the hand down along his neck until it was splayed out firmly on his chest where his heart drummed through his ribcage to meet it.

His green eyes, the shade of sunlight through a leaf canopy, bore into Link’s teal ones, asking him without the words his dishonest beak would never be able to muster out anyway if he understood the message.

Link stared at him for a good long moment before nodding a leaning forward, kissing the flange of his gape at the furthest corner of his beak.

They spent the rest of the afternoon not moving from that hammock, sprawled out on their sides exchanging experimental caresses. 

As lovers would do.

[ashleyswrittenwords]

How to be a Queen [Part 23]

Summary: Princess Zelda is at a loss. Her handed royal responsibilities have begun to weigh heavily on her and she is eventually backed into a corner. Live a life she loathes or run away from everything she’s ever known? Navigating life is hard, and Link forces her to learn that she doesn’t have to do it alone.

Previous

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Part 1

How To Be A Queen

Cosmo slowed to a still and I swung my leg over the saddle to dismount. Anju handed down the basket and looked at the ground wearily. I held my hand out and she took it daintily. With a yell, she slip down Cosmo and to the ground safely, “Oh my goddesses.”

Then, she looked up with a smile, “That was fabulous, Z- Your Majesty!”

I blinked at the sudden title and glanced behind me. A guard was walking over.

“I can take your horse, Your Grace,” he held out his hand expectantly, but I respectfully declined to boarding Cosmo myself.

“It’s quite alright,” I politely declined his offer again, this time he left with a certain hesitation.

It was the first morning where I had a free schedule. The blankness on my calendar had nearly unnerved me and I double checked with Impa to see if I had missed anything. I hadn’t, however, leaving me with hours of time to spend on anything I wanted. While mulling over my options the night before, sleeping in sounded like a handsome idea. I had even attempted it this morning but woke up at my normal hour anyway.

So, the next best option was getting a temporary reprieve and Anju was happy to accompany me.

I smiled back at her with the reins in my grip, “I’m sure he was being kind. Nothing beyond that.”

“Kind?” Anju scoffed. “People in Castle Town aren’t kind to just anyone. Your ignorance is showing.”

I raised a brow at that, and she was quick to add, “Oh, don’t worry, it’s quite endearing.”

As we spoke, I led Cosmo into the back building of the stables. It was a little secluded from the other horses, but she still needed time to acclimate to the busyness of being a castle horse. I’ve always thought it was hard being a horse as it is. I latched Cosmo’s gate and winced when she snorted at me.

“Yes, yes, I know. You’ll get your apples, Your Royal Majesty,” I jested. I only stopped at a touch on my arm.

Anju’s smile had upturned. A sliver of worry snuck up on me.

“I should have said this earlier, but I’m sorry about what happened.”

Understanding smoothed the crease in my brow, “It’s fine. It happened and now it’s over. If anything, I’m happy for him. General is no small deal.”

“Those are your true feelings?”

I shrugged, feeling Cosmo push my raised hand with her snout. “My uncle is difficult to show up.”

She looked at me pointedly and I attempted to ignore it. The smolder was stronger on me as I distracted myself with grabbing a bucket of apples. Anju cleared her throat loudly. I set the pail onto the wood with a boisterous clang.

I sighed with a certain exasperation, “Between you and Urbosa, I can’t escape this. I don’t know! It’s been a week since the announcement and I can hardly look at him when he’s in the room.”

“Why?”

Because when I see him all I see is him.

I bit my lip, “I-I don’t know.” Then, I spun to face her a braced myself against the gate, “Do you know what sounds stunning? If we made a soup to go with the bread we bought.”

“Hm,” Anju motioned for what was in my hands. “Sounds like a basket full of excuses to me.”

Before I could come up with a retort, she took the basket from me and said loudly, “Well, Zelda, we should do this again soon! I’ll get the kitchen to make us some lunch!”

I watched her slink away.

What’s gotten into her?

Cosmo nudged my head and I scowled, “Okay, okay, I get it.”

As I went to pick up the bucket again, I saw why Anju had left. Link was walking down the line of stables, very clearly towards me. I looked behind me to be sure and saw no one he may be expecting. Cosmo huffed and I along with her and began feeding her apples as if I didn’t notice him in case he felt the need to walk right by.

But I did and was incredibly conscious of the way his footsteps stopped next to me.                  

“So, you did steal the horse.”

“Hello and good morning to you too, General Forester.” The title was still difficult to get used to.

There was a small gap of silence which I filled with petting my stolen horse. I didn’t bother to look over. With the glimpse of him, I saw that he wore casual clothes. Not that I cared.

His feet shuffled, “I’m not General yet.”

My nose crinkled, “You say that, but I have yet to get a coronation and people still call me Queen with all the fanfare that comes with it. The only thing stopping me from wearing my mother’s crown is my own desire not to. You and I are in the same boat.”

“Slightly different boats.”

“No,” I indignantly met him. “You’re supposed to be my right-hand man and I say we’re in the same boat.”

He looked miffed by my speech, though resilient enough to keep himself from avoiding my eyes. The loose white shirt he was wearing was tucked haphazardly into dark trousers. His sleeves ended at his elbow and I tore away from being interested any further.

Link seemed taken, “Were you out today?”

I glanced at Cosmo and back at him, “Yes. With Anju. Why? Did anything happen?”

“Was there anyone else with you?”

My hands let the bucket rest on my hip, it was only half empty now. Cosmo didn’t sound thrilled by my preoccupation. She made a partial attempt to reach it, so I set it on the floor instead.

“No, we just went around the market.”

He stared up at the rafters for a long minute with slight annoyance on his face before taking note of the horse and walking away. I watched as he brought over a bale of hay with rigidity in his motions. The mare tousled his hair as he dropped it on the other side of the gate. “It didn’t occur to you that you might be a target?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Link,” I caught myself when his name escaped me. I abhorred his hard gaze and shook it off. “No one would recognize me so early.”

His eyes flickered down and I unconsciously cradled my right hand in my left.

“And that makes me ridiculous.”

My cheeks reddened, “Imagine if I went out there with a group of guards surrounding me. It would be more than obvious.”

Anger was in his words, “You could have taken me. In the least!”

I took a step back and my mouth hung open. Link made a flimsy attempt to catch my arm before I was completely out of reach, but I yanked my hand away in time. “You?” I said, matching his tone. “Have you decided to forget that you’re the one who wanted us to remain strictly professional?”

“That would be professional. I’d be protecting you!”

I pressed my lips together as he tried to search me. “That’s exactly what got us into this mess.”

From where he stood, I could see that he understood me. I wondered if he could tell me how his feelings changed so fast. My own felt sluggish and detrimental. Within a few days, he could lead the war cabinet meetings and though I kept my seat in the back I had difficulty watching when he spoke. At least I knew I had made the right choice when he could quiet Fierlin and Whitehurst. Those two were oil and water, I had only seen my uncle know what to do with them until Link. Still, I learned to hate being in the same room. It seemed as if every time I paid attention, he would catch my eye and I’d fall right into those that cobalt blue again.

The same eyes maintained my own while he said, “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

My heart leapt into my throat, “Tomorrow?”

He nodded. I swallowed the sudden rise of alarm, “So soon?”

“The Zora have agreed to send more men this time and I should meet their commander at the border. After that, we have to lay out groundwork for the camp,” he struggled for words as I tried to remember if I was ever told of the departure. I knew it was soon, within two weeks, but not so suddenly.

“What about communication? I need… people here.”

I needed him here.

“If everything goes as planned, it’ll take three days to get a messenger out. It will be faster than before. Unless something unexpected happens, there should be at least two admirals here to carry out your requests,” he assured. “But I doubt you’ll need them for more than reports.”

The man was telling me things I already know. I’d seen the plans on paper and was in most discussions regarding it. After all, I gave them the go-ahead. Surely he knew that.

Cosmo was happily eating beside us, completely unaware of the deep uneasiness. Perhaps she didn’t care and I was envious of that. I squeezed my hands together, “Tomorrow… what time?”

“Before dawn,” he said quickly, “Hopefully a four-day journey with supplies… and no surprises, of course.”

My eyebrows knitted with that familiar beating in my chest. It felt like years since he was my attendant, yet the emotions I had went through were all too recent. Impa has assumed my breakdown was nothing but a childish infatuation – and it probably still is. The fact that I couldn’t focus when he was in the same room was proof of it. If anything, I should consider his departure a blessing.

I knew I didn’t want to stay, but I didn’t want to leave either. Gods, I had to grow out of this… this longing. It was holding him back and it was apparent he was waiting for me to take my leave before leaving himself. I should clue into the notion that he wanted to see me as everyone else did.

“It would be a shame if they took my General.”

“I did just get here,” he offered a small shrug. I liked this look better on him. He was looser with a small smile that could promise more. The horse-tousled hair added an amount of blasé. It made me yearn.

“Let’s not have that happen, please.” There was no humor in my voice now. I did care. I cared that he was leaving so soon after such little notice. I cared about his position and rank. I cared about his family and his smile and his happiness. Most of all, I cared about him.

I have to accept that only time can unwind it.

And, like that, I snapped out of it. The tightness in my throat lessened enough for me to speak, “Sorry… I-I’m sorry.”

“Zelda-”

“No, I get it. I keep,” I tried to gesture out what I was trying to say. My voice was thick and I attempted a smile. “I keep tying you up. You’re busy. And here I am, lucky to have a free morning.”

Even my laugh sounded forced. I took a step back, giving a passing glance at Cosmo, and then another step.

Link reached out as if to stop me, “Zelda-”

“Your Majesty!”

I spun around to see a short, hobbling man draw near. He was panting heavily, “Your Majesty!”

“Admiral Byron,” I said with surprise. “What’s happened?”

He took a moment to breathe “Oh,” Bryon heaved, “You’re here as well, General! Very good.”

I shared a glance with Link.

“Is everything okay?” I spoke up again. Then, the admiral smiled brightly.

He nearly jumped with the fervor in his words, “It is brilliant, actually. Perfect. I have intel on the usurper.”

  My father’s study still held the aspects that made it distinctly his. Gold accents decorated most, if not all, of the furniture. The walls crept high and were littered with paintings commissioned by my grandmother to capture the nature of Hyrule. I hadn’t used this room much, primarily because I was entirely used to using my own bedroom as a workspace. Another reason was no matter how the desk drawer was scrubbed down, it still had the distinct stench of bourbon.

“I believe we met at court,” a woman with a thick auburn braid said. Her features were sharp and I recognized her immediately.

“Yes,” I smiled, shaking her hand. “Riju. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

Unlike Urbosa, who I learned was her aunt, Riju was quite unapologetic about diverging from Hylian court customs. She wore a short bodice-like top with elaborate designs and a knee-length skirt that showed more leg than most young men had ever seen in their life.

I took a seat at the desk with Impa at my side. A stack of documents that were bound by a leather strap was set before me and I briefly looked up at Byron and Riju.

“How was this achieved?”

Admiral Byron spoke first, his hands excitedly flailing to emphasize his speech, “It should have been obvious, really. With the majority of the Gerudo aristocracy here, it hadn’t occurred to us that combining our efforts would exponentially increase our leads on both the Yiga Clan and the usurper – though I am not convinced that they are completely in line with one another. I learned that Lady Riju works heavily with a Gerudo division that monitors underground trade.

“With the tumultuous efforts of Lady Riju’s connections, my team as well as hers was able to locate a Yiga camp on the far outskirts of the Highlands. It was through a system of cave entrances where we were able to gather that this was where the rebels were taking camp.”

I undid the tight strap and thumbed through the pages before coming upon an outline. On it was a layout of a great number of rooms. Scribbled in each were labels; some underlined with certainty and other with a question mark beside them.

“These are from your team?” I mused, not bothering to look up.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The supposed layout of the caves.”

With a furrowed brow, I traced over the page. A large room labeled “Armory” was in the center along with “Barracks”.

From over my shoulder I heard Link, “This isn’t a camp.”

“No,” Riju sniffed, “It’s a headquarters of sorts. Perhaps Yiga training grounds. I can estimate that it could house three hundred Gerudo.”

“Was it abandoned?”

At the lack of response, I looked up to see Riju and Byron exchange a glance. The latter coughed, “We don’t know.”

I let the paper fall to the desk and glanced over the rest. “What does that mean?”

“Out of ten, only one scout returned to the rendezvous spot,” Byron relented to Riju. She stepped forward to continue, “We weren’t able to question her further because she died from mortal injuries soon after. However, we do believe they had been ambushed.”

A silenced washed over us. I tightly closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, trying not to dwell over the fact that these papers costed ten lives. “If we were to suppose that this… place was at full capacity, where did these soldiers go?”

No one answered. I spoke again, “Could I at least get clarification on the importance of the rest of these pages?”

“Some we couldn’t decipher, but it seems they were collected at the site. There are instructions for explosives written in several dialects, which can give us an idea of which areas are being targeted,” Riju said with assurance. “We know that there is a reason they don’t want us to have those documents.”

“Or,” Link asserted, “They let that one scout go solely because they wanted us to see them.”

“You said you had information on the Gerudo man?” I felt uneasy. A bulge stuck out under the pages and I lifted them up to see what was protruding.

It was no larger than my palm. The cotton was soft and its skin matched the blank white. Long strands of yellow yarn were sewn into the top. Clothing it was a blue and yellow dress secured by pins. Black button eyes and a mute mouth stared up at me.

“It’s assumed that he was housed in the caves, at least temporarily. A signature with a male name is used under several documents,” Riju mentioned. “The doll, I can’t explain. I can only assume it was a child’s that had also stayed there. My contacts who have claimed to have seen him have written about a call to traditionalism. The accounts vary and it appears as if he can cross the desert in a night.”

The girl couldn’t be older than seventeen, but she spoke as if she has lived for twice that. I remembered what Urbosa had told me of how she was a child raised through war and her ability to adapt.

The same woman scoffed, “A coward.”

“A crafty coward, Auntie,” Riju grinned. “He and his underlings adhere to strict nomadic traditions. The usurper carries little and leaves no scent other than whispering rumors.”

I dipped a quill in ink and jotted down her notes, speaking my thoughts aloud, “Lady Riju, if it isn’t too much of a trouble, I would like to request steady reports of where he is.”

“Your Majesty, he moves too fast to send men,” Byron quickly said.

As I was about to quell him, Link interjected. “Ganondorf.”

I twisted around to him with a question on my lips. He held a piece of paper, reading out the bottom with a troubled expression. “Ganondorf. He’s the usurper.”

“How are you so sure?”

“This is an order from months ago to raid the Hylian village at the border,” he paused to read more. “No, I’m positive. There were explicit instructions to burn everything.”

I watched the emotions on his face flicker from confusion to realization and anger. When his eyes met mine they lingered before he forced on a neutral reflection.

“Admiral Byron,” I started, turning to the shorter man. “If there’s even a minute chance of slowing him down, I want the efforts to be applied.”

He only nodded and began to quietly chat away with the girl. I leaned back in my chair, overlooking the myriad of papers that covered my desk.

Urbosa caught my attention, “Zelda, I implore you to allow my niece to travel with your convoy. Your General will need a strong ambassador.”

From behind me, Link set down the document. “I can arrange that.”

I only nodded, my eyes never straying far from the doll. Link crossed the room to meet Riju, who was now speaking to Urbosa. For a second, our eyes locked and I saw a monumental weight in them.

“I think we should adjourn for the day,” I looked up at Impa. She offered a small smile and held out a hand to help me from my seat.

  I woke up to darkness and felt no relief from sleep. Sluggishly, I sat up and knew that I couldn’t fall back asleep with the realization of what would be happening in hours’ time. My feet found slippers and they scraped along the floor towards my balcony. The door slid open and I found the cool breeze of night on my skin.

Torches danced outside of the gates below and I knew there were people waiting to send off the soldiers. How many would there be? At least two hundred. From the balcony I could hear moving wagons and horses. It would be the first big move of the war, at least for Hyrule. I closed my eyes and… I prayed.

Muscle memory wanted my knees to bend and my head to bow, but that had gotten me no where before. I stayed upright with closed eyes and folded hands. Wind danced on my face as I faced the starry sky. I wasn’t sure who I was praying to; be it Hylia or some other celestial embodiment that had a sudden urge of kindness.

When I did open my eyes, I felt lighter. Most likely due to the lack of strain on my joints this time, surely. With a longing glimpse of the torches again, I turned to leave the balcony and wrapped myself in my night robe. It blocked out the chill of the halls. Paintings stared and haunted from the dim light, so I paid them no mind and quickened my steps.

Perhaps I should have tied my hair up before leaving.

Brushing it would’ve been enough, but I hadn’t even thought about it.

The only echoing footsteps were my own and it had occurred to me that I hadn’t been in the wing of officer apartments for nearly two years. In hindsight, it was a silly excuse to feel noble. I had heard Link caught an illness. After an especially long night of entertaining, I had snuck over after dinner and set out a big platter of food from the kitchen. The tricky part was knocking and running to find a hiding spot, but the look on his face was well worth it. Hopefully he still stayed in the same room.

Gods, I was proclaimed Queen and would be sending off my General in the same garb.

These halls were nearly as elaborate as the ones by my quarters. There were tapestries and paintings of past admirals that watched over the people that passed by. Tonight, it was empty, but I didn’t get the same chill as my ancestors’ portraits. Oil lanterns wicked up the wall, casting thin shadows on the stones.

I reached the door and gently tapped on it. Immediately, regret washed over me and I felt that insinuation of childishness. Maybe it was too forward of me to come to his door. What if he didn’t want me to see him off? Why would he?

There was a great possibility that he already left.

I jumped as the door opened a crack and then swung open with a rush of air. Link stood in the doorway with wide eyes. I clutched my robe tighter and tried to remember what I was going to say.

He looked like he was about to leave. His uniform was as pristine and blue as the day he arrived, this time an extra star clung onto his sleeve and a scarlet riding cloak adorned his shoulders.

“Um,” I tried, the morning tone not quite gone yet. “I came to say goodbye.”

The man stepped aside, motioning me through. I followed suit and awkwardly shuffled in. Once I was inside, he checked each side of the halls before shutting the door. Embarrassment thinly veiled my cheeks and I glanced at my slippers. Link was checking because we weren’t supposed to be seen together. Not like this.

It was darker in his room and I could barely make out the bed and nightstand from the moonlight coming through the window. The space was small and wasn’t meant to be occupied for long.

“It’s early,” he gruffly said.

“Yes, well,” I felt stupid. “I’m sorry for the trouble. I’ll let you go shortly. It’s just that Father would send off Uncle Nathaniel whenever he would leave. I thought it was appropriate.”

I stepped closer so I could make out his face as he had stayed idly at the threshold. His hair was swept back neatly. He didn’t move to speak and it made me regret. “Because I wasn’t able to do it last night,” I scrutinized my hands. “I wanted to wish you safe travels and…”

My mind blanked and I could feel my face redden further. This was not like me. Hylia, I was a child. I felt him staring.

“And that’s it. That’s all,” I sputtered, “I should go.”

As I tried to brush by him, he spoke, “Thank you.”

My feet stopped, but he didn’t move to recover the lost distance. His gaze held an unwavering fixation on me and, for a moment, I thought that I saw that crack in his exterior and the willingness to let me in. I looked away and reminded myself of what had transpired the last time I found myself alone with him.

Despite myself, “When do you think you’ll be back?”

“Months,” he nodded as he thought through his words. “Most likely not before the year’s end. If things are as I see them, we have a lot to accomplish in very little time.”

Months. Would that be enough time to forget the way he looked at me right now?

I somewhat expected that response from him, so that sinking feeling in my gut was born of pure confirmation. “Will you write often?” I bristled at my own words, “I mean with reports and updates and the like.”

“Every chance I get.”

At that, I met his eyes. “Am I holding you up?”

“No. No you aren’t.”

There wasn’t much space between him and the dresser. The closeness was a guilty pleasure. I didn’t want to be sad. I wanted to will the fear that I harbored into hope. “Hey,” I feigned a smile and nudged him. He didn’t move much, but I saw a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Don’t get hurt.”

Warmth met my wrist as he grasped it loosely in his hand. His callous fingers slid down and before they fell completely, I caught them. Neither of us pulled back as our hands interlaced.

Link spoke softly, “Do you want your ring back?”

I laughed through my sniffling, “You still have it?”

“I do.”

I took the time to think. “No, then,” I said, wiping the moisture from my eyes with my free hand. “I would have lost it by now. It’s far safer with you. There’s a reason I don’t wear jewelry all the time.”

Gently, he brushed back my hair and as he looked at me, I saw that stoic demeanor crack. His touch lingered behind my ear and slowly it circled to cup my cheek. My skin was wet from silent tears that I couldn’t hold back. I saw his brows pull together as he searched for something in my eyes. I leaned into his touch like it was the only natural thing to do.

“I thought I could be stronger for you,” he mumbled.

His fingers tightened around mine. I welcomed his warmth as he rested his forehead on mine.

“You don’t need to be.”

I saw the tiredness in the creases of his face. Link had a talent of speaking with urgency and gall. So much that I believed he could move a country if he wanted. Not once did he show the exhaustion and restlessness I could see so clearly now. Even still, there was an intensity to him that burned to do what no one else would.

The hand on my cheek tilted my head up and I felt the hesitation in his motions. He dipped towards my lips and paused centimeters away, unsure and conflicted. His eyes flickered to mine, waiting for me to pull away. The common sense I had left screamed to leave; that this was going to distract me from my duties as Queen and from his as General.

But then there was that soft truth that I may not be able to do this again.

Wariness had altogether left me when I let him press his lips against mine. My mouth moved against his like muscle memory and for a short moment it felt like everything was going to be fine. Maybe he did come back to that little room in the inn and this was all a long, twisted dream that I had been cursed with. It wasn’t, though, and the thought left me quickly because the taste of his lips was all too real with the sensation of my back pressing into the cool wood of his dresser.

My heart beat heavily in my chest as if this was what it knew it needed. The grip on my night robe had long left for his bicep and our hands parted to hold each other closer. My hand threaded into his hair and his own met my other cheek. Simultaneously, I felt the fierceness of his passion and the gentleness in his touch. The thought that this would be the last time I could feel him like this for months consumed me. It overwhelmed me and he was careful to brush away my tears.

“Must you go?” I softly gasped against his lips.

His response was to deepen our kiss, tilting his head and making my hands cling to him. If this was a childish infatuation, I decided, then it burns brighter than any I have ever had and I fear the strength that true adoration is capable of. He coaxed my lips to part with his tongue and I voiced my satisfaction with a gentle hum.

My mind drowned in his intoxication and pleaded in dying breaths for more while knowing nothing that feels this way could be good. There was impropriety in my every touch as I explored the broadness of his shoulders and the curves of his neck. Inappropriateness in the sounds of the creaking dresser door. Indecency in the way my night dress hiked to my thighs and the manner of how he gripped them to keep me pinned against the furniture.  

“Promise me,” he whispered hoarsely. “Promise me you’ll be safe.”

Through my attempt to recover the breath he stole, I saw the seriousness in his eyes. My fingers found his collar and he let me pull him in again, stopping a fraction. His lips brushed mine as he talked.

“I’m replaceable. You,” he shook his head slightly, “You mean everything. Allow me that one promise.”

A hand left his collar and drifted up to smooth over his cheekbone. I felt my way through his hair and the point of his ear, trying to memorize the way he looked silhouetted in moonlight. He was striking and it broke my heart. My hand ended to rest on the back of his neck with nothing left to explore.

“I promise.”

He met me with more fervor than before, kissing me with such intensity that the dresser handles dug into my back. I didn’t mind it and matched him, never wanting to move from this spot.

Then, there was knocking.

It took me a moment to gather my bearings that it was the door and I almost whined when Link pulled away from me. He gently set me on the floor and took a long gaze at my kiss-swollen lips. The knocking rapt again, making him straighten and motion me to the other side of the dresser – away from the door.

From my place, I heard his footsteps cross to the door and its hinges protest.

Then, a voice. “Good morning, Captain,” there was a series of gruff rumblings, “General, my apologies, the transition is quite the struggle for an old dog.”

“No offense taken, Admiral,” Link said. “I take it that we’re ready to depart?”

“Almost. I say another thirty, John says fifteen, but the man can’t see the face of a clock these days. Before I forget, the men are having issues securing the timber.”

“I’ll be down in five, then.”

There were short exchanges and the door closed soon after. Then, a long sigh.

When he came into view, he offered a small smile. “I’m sorry about that.”

“You have to go,” I presumed.

He confirmed, “I have to go.”

I reached up and smoothed down the parts of his hair that I had messed up. Slowly, savoring, I straightened his coat and collar.

“When I see you again,” I said, correcting the shining silver and gold metals. “You’re going to tell me how you got these.”

“Yes ma’am,” he answered simply. My hands lingered on the buttons of his coat and when I let them fall, he stepped closer and wrapped me in a tight hug. “I will see you again.”

We stood like this for several minutes until it was clear that there wasn’t enough time left. From the foot of his bed, he heaved a brown rucksack over his shoulder and as he met me at the door, he hesitated.

“I’ll write to you when we get there.”

I tugged at a piece of hair behind my ear and nodded.

There was nothing that had to be said that couldn’t be said later.

“Goodbye, Link.”

The doorknob turned.

“Goodbye, Zelda.”

[newobsessioneveryweek]

Love is a Battlefield

I have a wild HC that Warrior is bisexual and no one has the power to change my mind.

So here's something I wrote when I was supposed to be rehearsing for an important exam. Enjoy.

Fair warning: it's not very good

Summary: Warrior has a boyfriend named Alex who is a total sweetheart.

♤♡◇♧

After spending the longest month of their lives in the exceedingly dangerous era of Wild's Hyrule the band of heroes saw their newest switch as a welcome change of location. AFter a quick survey it was declaired that they had landed up in Warrior's Hyrule where well armed soldiers milled about with hard expressions and stood guard at the enterance to Castle Town while others stood stiffly on the battlements.

Warrior breathed a sigh of relief as he gazed across the familiar land and revelled in the busy, yet grounding atmosphere of the place he called home.

He turned to his comrades. "Welcome to my Hyrule for once," He said with a grin. They had never been transported to his home town so this change was well-needed. Warrior finally felt like he could breathe. Apart from this being his home, Warrior desperately wanted to meet with someone before they were forced to depart. He just hoped he had the chance to see them.

The group was making their way toward the entrance to the city, making small talk about the military feel of the place, when Warrior stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing a familiar guard stationed outside the gate. Even from this distance he instantly recognised him. How could he not? His guard's helmet couldn't keep those memorable blue eyes hidden. The group stopped behind him, startled by the sudden change in Warrior's expression. His eyes were firmly locked on an individual standing outside the huge metal gate blocking their entry inside the magnificent walls.

"Hey, what it is? Aren't we going in," Legend asked. Warrior remained still, staring at the figure. He felt a tap on his shoulder but didn't tear his eyes away from his target. "Ay! Princess, what's the hold up," Legend continued nagging.

Legend stepped to Warrior's side and looked at the figure on whom he was so intensely focused.

The figure shifted and turned his head in the Links direction, probably having felt the gazes, and visibly stiffened, his grip growing tighter on his halberd. His lips moved, saying something the group couldn't make out, but by the formation of his lips, Warrior presumed he was calling his name.

Warrior took a tentative step forward. The rest of the Link's stayed back, not wanting to get involved in whatever reunion was taking place.

"What's happening," Wind inquired from his place next to Time."

"I think I have a good feeling," Hyrule chimed in with a smirk on his lips. The group turned to him with questioning looks.

They noticed the guard noticing Warrior and decided to watch the scene unfold before making any attempt to interfere. They were probably good friends seeing each other for the first time in nearly three months.

Warrior took step after step toward the guard, who by this point had removed his helmet. He had raven black hair tied into a small ponytail. He had sharp, piercing blue eyes and a chestnut complexion. He gazed at Warrior as he approached and started making his way toward him as well, starting slowly but gradually picking up the pace the closer they got and, before they knew it, they both started running towards each other.

The other Link's watched as they met in the middle. They were expecting a hug, but what actually happened was much more... intimate.

Time covered Wind's eyes, but ended up nearly smothering the young boy with his big hands. Wind simply pried his way free and Legend nearly toppled over during the couple's affectionate reunion. The others had similar reactions, though leagues less dramatic.

Warrior was elated. The love of his life was right in front of him again after three months. He couldn't have imagined feeling so overjoyed during the time he was away, but now, with him, he felt liberated.

"I missed you," he heard him say and he nearly shed a tear at hearing that voice, deep and sonorous, thick with the accent of a land far away. Warrior embraced him again and kissed his forehead. They were roughly the same height, making the action easy.

"I missed you too," he said, and the end of their long separation brought a bonafide tear to Warrior's eye.

He felt his beloved's strong arms around him and, for the first time in a very long time, he felt truly safe; like the dangers he often faced and will face again soon could not hurt him.

Then a realisation occurred to him.

Warrior reluctantly pulled himself from the embrace and turned around to his friends, who were watching the couple with varying expressions of surprise and gladness.

He cleared his throat. "So, um, this is Alex," he started. He cleared his thought again. "He's my, um, my boyfriend."

Alex gave a polite wave and snuck his arm around Warrior's waste, his hand finding its place on his hip.

"Heh, didn't think you had it in ya," Legend commented in his expected snarky tone.

"What's that supposed to mean," Warrior asked, genuinely curious.

"I mean that I didn't think you'd land yourself a decent fella- or fellow in this case- let alone keep them around." He nodded to Alex as if to say 'no offense' or something along those lines.

"Luckily for you I'm used to tuning you out."

There was a moment of awkward silence until Alex decided to ask about Warrior's relation to the foreign heroes.

"I don't think I've ever seen you around here. From where do you hail, if I may ask," he asked. Warrior almost melted. He loved hearing Alex's voice, smooth and formal and never faltering. He was never one to forget his manners and he would always think before he spoke. One could never win an argument with him.

"Trust me, you'd rather not hear this story," Hyrule supplied after his question.

Alex looked surprised but didn't question the response. "I was told that Link was to make a long journey, but I was unaware that he had company. What are your names-"

"You always ask so many questions. Let's leave the formalities for later." Warrior said this more as an excuse to be alone with Alex than anything but he really didn't want to explain the timeline story. What a schlep.

Warrior escorted the group inside where they would speak with Zelda to garner some knowledge from her on their predicament after giving his beloved one last kiss on the hand.

♤♡◇♧

Like a teenage girl Warrior threw himself on his bed and squealed his joy through a pillow much to the enjoyment of his friends, but Warrior didn't care. He was happy and he sure as Hell was going to show it.

"I can't believe it," came Warrior's muffled voice through the pillow. He lifted the cushion from his face and revealed the brightest smile that has ever graced his face. Beaming, he continued, "what am I even doing here? I have to see him," he made to dart out of the room but was stopped abruptly by Time.

"Woah there. Calm down. We have work to do. Remember the princess gave us a task. Once we finish that you can go see Alex."

Warrior visibly deflated, melting into his disappoint but resolved to get his task done as quickly as possible. There were hordes of Bokoblins stationed near the fortress. The Links' jobs were to take them down. Warrior armed himself swiftly. "Well what are we waiting for then? Let's go."

"Hold on for goddesses' sake," Legend complained, "Some of us are trying to relax after a month of torture in the land of Wild."

"Hey," Wild exclaimed but knew there was nothing he could say to defend his Hyrule or counter Legend's attack.

"Urg, fine. I'll wait, but I'm not happy about it."

"Aw, come on, absence makes the heart grow fonder," Sky reassured.

"It's been three months of absence. My heart is filled with fondness," Warrior proclaimed, frustrated.

"Well that's great princess. Keep that fondness while we relax."

Warrior grumbled some more before the group eventually set off to destroy the monsters.

♤♡◇♧

"Link!"

Warrior turned around and saw Alex making his way toward them. "He stopped in front of the group, pulling his perfect jet black bangs out of his face. "I implored the princess that I may joining your party. She was perfectly accepting of my proposal. May I accompany you to the battle my love?"

Warrior stood there for a moment and blinked. "That's a very roundabout way of saying you want to spend some time with me, but yes," Warrior smiled in delight, "you may accompany us."

The rest of the group was a little surprised at the question but had no qualms. Without any complaint the group left the castle.

0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0

The Links arrived at the Bokoblin camp with their unexpected guest.

"Ok, Legend, Wind, and Four, you take the left, Sky and Wild, you sneak up from behind, Twilight, War-, um, Link and I will take the left," Time instructed.

"What about me? I will not watch from the sidelines," Alex complained.

"Oh, right, you can move with Warrior- I mean Link," Time corrected.

Alex nodded seriously. Before long they spread out and led their attacks.

0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0

AN: I don't know how to write fight scenes. Sorry!

0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0

“Link, can I talk to you for a moment.” The group stopped in their stride outside their room.

Warrior perked up at the question and turned to face Alex. “Oh, yes, of course.” While the rest of the Links went inside Warrior and Alex spoke. “So what did you want to talk about?”

“There’s,” Alex took a long pause and Warrior started getting concerned. “There’s something I’ve been keeping from you… for some time now.”

“What is it,” Warrior asked hesitantly. He was becoming worried this was something he wouldn’t like.

“I-I been seeing someone else- while you were away. I’m sorry,”

Alex continued to speak but Warrior didn’t hear a thing. The statement playing in his mind over and over again: ‘I’ve been seeing someone else’.

Soon Warrior picked up Alex’s strong voice again as it asked, “Are you okay Link?” No. No, he was not okay.

“How could you do that to me,” Warrior asked calmly, too calmly as he tried to process exactly what he thought was some kind of sick joke. “Do you honestly think I’m okay?”

“Link-“

“I’ve spent two years with you and you betray me like this? Who is he?”

“He… Bianca Campbell. I didn’t- Link I am so sorry. She came up to me one night and we-“

“Yeah, I know how these things go. I just,” Warrior paused, turned and left.

He didn’t know where he was going, only that he needed to get away.

"Link wait!"

He just kept running...

And running.

Then he stopped in front of Zelda's door.

He knocked twice until the door slid open, revealing the groggy princess

"Link? What's wrong," she asked. She must have noticed Warrior's tearful expression.

Warrior sniffled. "Can I talk to you," he asked in a broken voice.

0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0

Warrior had never felt so utterly heartbroken. The one he loved whom he thought loved him betrayed him without a second thought. Warrior could take revenge... but what would that solve? It would hurt Alex, but would that really make Warrior feel better. Would he be satisfied by his pain.No.That would be stooping down to the level of a traitor.And he hates traitors.

The next day the group left the castle, the portal having opened to their new destination. Warrior didn't look back at Alex as he stood amongst the throng. He didn't shed a tear.

0_0_0_0_0_0_0_0

That last line was meant to be ambiguous by the way.

Hope you enjoyed my lousy story. I'm sorry there's no conclusion. Alex was supposed to be a nice dude, but I had other plans for him.

No beta. We die like men.

[silver-snow-writes]

The thing with Jaytim and a lot of cats

This is a not! fic campfire I did on a discord server that I’m porting over here, I hope y’all enjoy the fluff. @inkyubus and @salazarastark helped a bit towards the end

———————————————————————

Okay. Tim is canonically a cat person and it has annoyed the hell out of me that Tim never got pets but Damian gets a menagerie, so I always give him a cat when given the opportunity by plot

Tim finds a pregnant kitty on his fire escape, and takes her in. He’s calling on Selina and googling everything he can after processing that oh right this is going to be a big change, and goes out to the pet store incognito to grab supplies

But he’s at the Crime Alley theater house apartment so Jason is out doing an early evening patrol, spots him, and gets curious. What’s he doing around here in civvies?

Jason tails him to the nearest pet shop, and back to his house, where he spots him playing with soon-to-be mama cat. He wants to be mad that Tim’s in *his* territory, clearly living here, but it’s hard to get too pissed when he’s giving a happy kitty belly rubs and smiling like that.

Jason’s seen him do confident Robin grin, dangerous “I’m gonna fuck you up” battle smirk, calming civilians smile, even polite Wayne heir curve of the lips. But smiling joyfully like this, eyes uncovered, clearly laughing a little as the cat demands treats? Something goes warm in his chest

Meanwhile Tim is feeling tired and stressed bc his life is a busy exhausting and traumatizing mess lately but it’s hard to think about the bad stuff when he has mama cat and her litter to think about. She’s clearly been a pet before and is so friendly and cuddly that it breaks his heart to think someone abandoned her. He gets her to the vet to check for a chip and get her looked over, and when there’s no chip that cements his decision that fuck it, he’s keeping her

He totally names her Arwen bc there is no way in hell a kid that was a DM for DC’s D&D equivalent isn’t a fan of LoTR. Arwen has to get mites and fleas removed but once she’s flea free she’s sharing his bed

Jason. Is still keeping an eye on him, subtly. Staying out of range of Tim’s security systems and Babs’s cameras and telling himself it’s all because he can’t just let the Pretender go unsupervised in his turf. And sure that’s part of it. But Tim’s actually pretty good about sticking to patrolling his own territory and that helps somewhat

And well. Jason regrets what went down during that mess after Bruce died. Was kinda shitty of him to repay Tim letting him out of jail by stabbing him in the chest and all. He’s a big awkward goober dealing with some guilt now that he’s more settled, so he has trouble figuring out how he should approach Tim and let him know that Jason is aware that he’s holing up in Crime Alley

He’s gotta do something eventually, right? Ah well. Can’t hurt to just. Watch him, every now and then. See him through the windows being a goofy new cat dad and a disaster of a teenage vigilante

(Jason, honey, things really have come full circle)

Eventually things get set in motion. LoS assassins attack Tim’s apartment, Arwen runs away bc scared kitty, Jason jumps in to help fight the assassins and then they go track down the poor baby. And some bonding and pining bc Jason is developing such a crush and also hot damn Tim fighting and winning is a sight to see

Tim is understandably wary about Jason but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when he’s being helpful and even offering to assist him in finding Arwen. She’s due to give birth soon!

(It’s been about a month now and she was already about midway through when Tim first found her. Domestic cats are pregnant around 57-65 days, so around two months)

They end up running around asking the ladies of the night and various others if they’ve seen a pregnant long-haired tabby cat. Eventually they go back to Tim’s apartment as dawn is breaking, only to find Arwen is on his fire escape again and in labor

They get her inside, clean up, and Tim sets her down in his bathtub, petting her soothingly and fussing over her. Jason is still helping out and he just goes with it, gratefully accepting a can of Zesti and medical supplies

I foster cats irl so I know how this tends to go pretty well. Within an hour of labor starting Arwen will finish pushing out kitten #1 and each of the rest will come around 15-20 minutes apart. She’ll clean them up and eat the placentas, which is gross but perfectly healthy, and soon enough they’ll be nursing from her while she purrs and rests

Tim looked into it and well. He’s been around human deliveries before and this was honestly so much quicker that it was a relief

(He was there when Steph gave birth and has likely helped deliver babies as Robin bc pregnant women can and will go into labor when shocked, like being held hostage or getting hurt in an accident)

He sits back with a sigh and pays his full attention to Jason now. He hasn’t been fully ignoring him persay, still keeping an eye and an ear on him just in case, but he’s been. Surprisingly nice and nothing but helpful, Tim isn’t sure what to think of it. Jason’s staring at the kittens but turns to look at Tim when he notices that the younger vigilante is assessing him

There’s a long moment of increasingly awkward silence as they stare at each other while the newborn kittens are mewling and Arwen’s drifting off to sleep. Jason is the one that finally breaks the tension, rubbing the back of his neck and looking back at the kitties.

“So. Pretty cute cats you got here”

Jay immediately cringes inside because yeah, it’s true that the cats are cute as heck, but c’mon Todd address the scenario

Here’s inky’s contributions:

"yeah real cute when they're covered in blood and placenta" tim retorts and then wants to smack himself.

"it's ok. they're still adorable through the bodily fluids," jason's smile is so fond when he looks down at the kittens tucked tight into the curve of arwen's body that tim thinks he must be dreaming

he's never seen jason with an expression even close to fond or happy since he came back. jason is stroking arwen's tail with just the tip of a finger, smoothing down the crooked fur.

(Back to me again)

He hasn’t seen him look so happy since he was. Since he was Robin, and Tim was just a fanboy with a camera

(Inky)

"you like cats?" the question breaks jason out of his reverie.

"they were just always around. alley cats are cranky fucks, but city strays are never that afraid of humans. they'd come around and beg for scraps until someone chased them off."

tim hummed, scritching arwen between the ears. "you were pretty good with her just now."

there was a tiny flush on jason's cheeks. "might have invited one in for a few days when no one was home. chased her off before she could get too attached."

(Me)

“I always wanted a cat, but my parents hated them and Alfred said no. I found Arwen on my fire escape hiding from a stray dog and I just had to take her inside”

Eventually Tim offers Jason a cup of tea and Jason asks about the cats more. Arwen’s name comes up and leads into a talk about Lord of the Rings, bc they both read the series and loved it. And a debate comes up over something they saw differently but it’s still friendly

Maybe Tim liked the movies’ take better than Jason did and they argue the merits vs flaws of the adaption. But they both agree that the Hobbit movies are way less faithful to the book

By the time they’re done with the tea and their conversation the sun is up and Jason ducks out to go home, feeling butterflies in his stomach at the memory of Tim smiling and laughing at him. Tim is reminded why he used to have a crush, but still very watchful bc he thought things were getting better before BftC happened

He goes to sleep and wakes up to Arwen balefully glaring at him bc her breakfast is late

Tim got injured during the LoS fight and aggravated it while looking for his poor kitty, so in the end he’s not really up for patrol that night. He stays in his apartment and alternates between looking over case files on his laptop and checking on Arwen and her babies. He lets Oracle know he’s off rotation for the night and to let Cass patrol his territory bc she’s visiting, and settles in to do some hacking to find out why Ra’s sent the assassins last night and talking with Lonnie about Unternet developments

He’s in the middle of hacking a phone’s datastream to find footage taken by a teenager that noticed skulking shadows outside the windows when there’s a knock on his window, and he checks his security system expecting one of the Bats to have gotten past his sensors. It’s Jason out on the fire escape with a couple of bags in hand. Tim is confused, but decides to roll with it again. He’s just hoping that the duffle isn’t full of heads

Turns out Jason went looking and found the League’s newest base in Gotham, liberating some paper files, a couple choice weapons, several USB drives, and a laptop that had belonged to the squad leader. He offers to let Tim work with him on this because he wants “those sycophantic assassins out of my territory dammit” and obviously Tim’s involved anyway

They both check on the kittens every now and then. They’re still too little to be doing much but nursing, sleeping, and crying, but god are they precious. And Arwen is a tired but proud mama cat

Now let’s see...Arwen’s a long-haired brown tabby with green eyes (not at all based on my baby Zelda, of course *shhh*). The kittens will be named after the Hobbits—Frodo the black kitten with big blue eyes, Sam the ginger tabby, Merry is white with golden patches, and Pippin is the tiny little tabby runt that mewls loudest

At one point Jason picks them all up and makes a joke while carrying the four of them that they're taking the hobbits to Isengard. It makes Tim snort and then wince bc the injury that kept him in was to his ribs

Tim gets sick. Not like immediately but a couple days to a week or two in, and Jason ends up playing rough but sweet nurse while Tim tries to hide that he’s ill from the Bats. Maybe the ribs issue leads to him getting a cold that nearly turns nasty bc no spleen plus two incidents of death plague and numerous other things mean his immune system’s wonky

Tim’s a stubborn little shit who won’t stay in bed unless Jason picks up Arwen and the babies to put them on the bed with him. He’s not cruel enough to move the babies when they’re sleeping on him, is he? But he can still glare at Jason

Jason might sneak a few pictures. For blackmail, he tells himself. Sure Jason, we believe you. It’s certainly not because it’s adorable and makes you get the warm fuzzies

It feels significantly less adorable when Tim pukes in the trash can and drips snot everywhere but the bedhead and flushed face and some semi-coherent feverish babbling about Star Trek and ornithology helps

Jason remembers Alfred’s cooking lessons and puts them to use, Tim lets out an obscene moan when he starts eating the soup that makes Jason choke on his own spit like a dork

“Did you get this from Alfred? It tastes just like his!”

“Yeah, he taught me how to cook, before...y’know.” Jason is very proud of himself for remembering it correctly, if a bit sad that he hasn’t spoken to Alfred since before he died

“Oh.” Tim blinks owlishly at him, unsure how to respond. “Well. You did a way better job than I would have.”

Arwen chooses that moment to demand attention, meowing stridently and rubbing her face against his hand until he goes along with it and scratches lightly under her chin

———

And that’s all, folks. Will eventually turn this into a proper fic and give it an ending, but I hope y’all enjoy it as is for the moment

[rogerina-yee-haw]

“at least I’m one”

chapter 3: “- the broken rules and true affection”

sd!gwilym lee x reader

[the goodbye] [the sadness & tenderness]

summary: you and gwil met ten months ago; and he offered you to be his sugar baby almost immediately. you agreed at that exact moment, not knowing where it would get you.

warnings: badly written smut (again) sorry y’all; angst, fluff, cursing, cringy behavior, author’s spelling and grammar errors, typos

a/n: hey y’all ily!!! thanks for waiting!! i love you all!! I’m sorry it took me so long!! I’m dying at uni!! 

also, I wanted to thank you for 350+ followers like??? how did it happen?? I don’t deserve all of your pretty souls?? but seriously, you all are amazing and wonderful, and I hope you have a beautiful day <3

I :) hope :) this :) chapter :) isn’t :) a :) complete :) piece :) of :) garbage :) (it is imao sorry)

P.S.

there are three chapters left. 

As you follow your parents through the long and silent corridors of the hospital, you can surely say that you feel much better.

Becca gave birth to a beautiful baby boy; and you have never seen her happier. She and Jackson looked so felicitous with their newborn in Becca’s arms, that you couldn’t but shed a tear. For the first time during this day it wasn’t a sad cry; you were really happy.

Your sister needed rest after the tough night of labor; so you and your parents decided it would be better for you to leave. And now you are going home, back to your apartment, April and sorrows.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” your mum lightly touches your hand; you give her a fake smile in response. You can’t tell her the truth; and was there ever even a slight bit of truth about you and Gwil? Everything your parents know about this relationship is built on lies. You can’t tell her that you fell in love with your sugar daddy but he proposed to another sugar baby, and that’s why you’re heartbroken. You simply can’t.

“Just tired”, you smile weakly. “Can’t even imagine how Becca’s still able to talk and, y’know; behave as a normal human being after having such an experience”. Your mum lets out a laugh.

“Becca is strong. And she likes being the center of attention, so her desire to talk is quite understandable”.

“Put it this way, love”, your father joins the conversation, “Becca just wants everyone to praise her. That’s her character”.

“She deserves that praise”, you say.

Your father smiles. “Of course she does. She’s a hero”.

When your parents offer to give you a ride, you refuse, saying Janet is supposed to pick you up; you lie, once again. You’re not ashamed of yourself – you wouldn’t survive if you never lied. That’s just another deception. Just another delusion for your parents and you to believe in.

No one’s here to pick you up. Janet is probably having fun at that party, Billy’s sleeping, and Gwil… You sigh deeply. You just can’t continue doing it to yourself anymore. One more thought about Gwilym, one more memory – and you’re sure you’ll jump off of some building. You won’t make it through the night if you continue thinking about him.

He’s gone. He’s engaged to Alice. He’s not yours. He has never been yours. That’s all that you have to know for moving on.  But you simply don’t know how; Gwil has been a part of your life for ten months, you can’t just move on. That’s not possible.

When you get into the cab, you’re on the verge of crying again; all the bliss, given by Becca’s baby boy, is gone. You look through the car window – the streets of London are full of people on this Friday night. All of them are having fun, laughing and just enjoying themselves; and even if they have some troubles in their life, they simply forget about them while drinking tons of alcohol. If you do the same thing, you’d end up on Gwilym’s doorstep. You know that for sure.

Almost twenty minutes later you come back home; it’s silent there, as usual. You don’t even turn the lights on – you don’t want to see what kind of mess your flat is now. “Probably as messy as I am”, you think when you sit down on the couch.

On the floor, right in front of you, there is a bag. The bag. You take a deep breath before reaching your hand to it; you have to look through the stuff you took from Gwil’s apartment. You had to do that to cope with your feelings, to try to move on. You can’t let yourself drown in your sorrows, not being able to throw away everything related to him. You need to get rid of the memories. You have to do that just in case. Just to realize if the pain is still that strong.

The red flannel shirt is the first thing that you put out of the bag.

And you can’t even comprehend how much pain it causes you. It makes your chest ache, and you feel like your heart is going to explode.

And there you have enough of your weak attempts in moving on.

You burst into tears, squeezing the shirt in your hands; it still smells like him. Because it’s his, it’s his shirt. The one he says he hates so much, that he didn’t even protest when you borrowed it. The memories of this day are still fresh, and you let yourself drown in them, you give in. You can’t fight, you’re not that powerful. You can’t move on, you’re not that strong to do this. You want to drown in your sorrows, because it’s the only way to be with him now.

Still crying, you put the shirt over your shoulders. “Looks good on you”, Gwil used to say when you wore it. “It was a lie”, you whisper while curling up on the couch; you keep sobbing and wrapping the shirt around yourself. “Another lie to play with me”, you say under your breath, tears still streaming down your cheeks when you doze off. Your sleep isn’t peaceful; you dream about Gwilym, again and again.

                                            ╰╮✾╭╯✯╰╮✾╭╯

                                                     September.

“So you agree?”

You looked into the contract one more time; you furrowed your brows just to seem focused. To be honest, you’ve lost the ability to concentrate the moment you saw Gwil inside of the restaurant. He looked like the fucking Adonis in his dark-grey three-piece suit, and you couldn’t get the image of him roughly lifting you up from your seat and fucking you right on this table till you see the stars. You kept reminding yourself that it wasn’t right, that you just met him seven hours ago. You had no idea who he was until he approached you in that posh shop.

At one point you started doubting whether you needed that or not; but then you realized one simple thing. This beautiful, heavenly looking man was offering you the life you could never afford. Alright, maybe if you worked yourself to death – maybe then you could afford buying expensive clothes and jewelry. Also being alone for a year and a half had its own influence – and by that you certainly meant a badly hidden desire to have sex with Gwilym right there and then.

You sighed deeply, as you looked through the rules. They weren’t bad; as they weren’t, by no means, crossing any lines in any way. They were normal. They were adequate. You couldn’t ask for more. That was your chance to get free cash and hook up with a pretty dude. You couldn’t miss such an opportunity.

“I do”.

                                           ╰╮✾╭╯✯╰╮✾╭╯

rule №7. no contact with each other’s families and friends.

                                                        March.

“Someone get this goddamn door!”

Your mother’s scream was able to bring dead back to life; but now it only made you realize that you might lose your hearing, if she shouted like that one more time.

“Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?” Billy seemed to notice the way you winced when you heard your mother’s loud voice; and that’s why he decided to proclaim the song’s lyrics right into your ear. It made you growl, and you turned around to hit him on the shoulder.

“Idiot!” you said. “Go get the door”.

“I’m too busy to do that”.

You raised your eyebrows at him in disbelief; Billy was just messing around while his mother and you were helping your mum with preparing food and guests. Your dad and Becca with Jackson were of great help, too; everyone was doing something except for this dumbass. He grinned widely, seeing your frustration. “Besides, t’s not my house. I’m not allowed to open doors and, y’know, behave wildly”.

“Swift, for fuck’s sake, you’ve spent more time in this house than anywhere else”, you sighed. “And you certainly opened the doors for, like, million times”.

“But-“

“Billy!” his mother stormed into the kitchen “Stop wandering around and go get the door!” she took the bowl with fruits into her hands. “Or I’ll make you chat with Zelda!” she added before heading to the dining room. Billy’s eyes widened and he seemed to start trembling the second he heard your aunt’s name; so he left the kitchen immediately. You chuckled; this day was already a piece of work. Every time such a big family gathering happened, you knew that something would eventually be fucked up. Today was no exception, as it was your mother’s fiftieth birthday.

She wanted to have both her sisters, three best friends with their children and, of course, her own family present at such an important event. Three best friends included Mrs. Swift with her dumbass of a son Billy, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Raymonds with her daughter Alexis and son James. 

James had been a pain in your ass today since the moment he entered the house. You expected to successfully avoid talking to him, but it seemed as if he wanted to speak to you more than anything. You couldn’t really understand why. You hadn’t communicated properly for four years, right since your breakup, and you didn’t really want to; firstly, because before you were too invested in your relationship and split with Luke, and now because of Gwilym.

You closed your eyes and let out a sigh. How you wished to have Gwil here now; you knew that with him everything would be so much better. And, moreover, if Gwil was here, James wouldn’t be bothering you. You couldn’t tell him to fuck off; you were too nice for that. Besides, you didn’t want to ruin the “normal” relationship that you two had – if it was possible to call it like that. 

He was not only your childhood friend, but your ex, your first kiss, your first sex and your first heartbreak. Every “first” that happened to you was connected to James; and no matter how much thankful you were to him for giving you a necessary experience, you couldn’t but regret your decision to date your mum’s best friend’s son at the age of fourteen. If you never saw him again, everything would be so much easier. All just because he was awfully clingy and tedious; it seemed as if he had never grown up and was still stuck in high school. And he was an idiot in high school.

“You need help?” As your back was facing the kitchen’s entrance, you couldn’t miss the opportunity to roll your eyes when you heard James’s voice. It took you everything not to tell him to fuck off, as you put a fake smile on your face and turned around to see him standing near the fridge. A couple of steps more – and he would be right in front of you. Disgusting.”No; but thank you for the offer, James”.

“Oh, Y/N”, he smiled and moved a bit forward; your fists tightened and you clenched your jaw, still smiling. “You’re always welcome”.

Please, dear God. Save me from this monstrosity.

Billy was humming the song about the poor groom and his whore-bride as he approached the door; he was happy enough to avoid talking to aunt Zelda for a while. She was the most annoying person he had ever met, and she also hated him to death; so opening the door was quite a good opportunity.

A tall dude in a suit with bouquet of flowers on Y/L/N’s house’s doorstep surprised Billy; as he was 5’6” himself, everyone taller than that seemed like a giant to him. And this really handsome pal was certainly intimidating. “You alright, mate?” Billy examined him from heat to foot; the suit was totally expensive and the man himself looked like a fucking duke.

“Is Y/N here?” his voice was deep and a bit husky; Billy furrowed his brows – he had no idea you were aquianted with someone from the Royal Family.

“Y/N!” he screamed. “That’s for you!”

When James was almost standing near you, Billy’s voice saved your day. “Thank God!” you shouted in response and flew out of the kitchen; no matter who was there, you were happy enough it happened. You saw Billy standing in front of the open door; leaning to the doorway, that was leading from the hall to the living room, you let out a sigh of relief. You didn’t even see who was at the door; and at the moment you didn’t care, as you stood there, panting, with your eyes closed.

“Fucking James”, you breathed. “I hate this fucking wanker so much, you don’t even know, Billy”.

“Oh no, I do, trust me, Y/L/N. ‘Cause I hate him more”.

“If I hear his fucking voice one more time, I swear-“

“Who’s James?”

You couldn’t believe it; did the voice that you heard belong to Gwilym? Your eyes went round; and when you finally saw him, standing on your parents’ house’s doorstep, your eyes lit up and your mouth curved into a smile. He was there.

“Gwil”, you mouthed. He beamed, and his whole face lit up when he saw you. Or maybe it just seemed to you that it did.

“Y/N”, he said, “hey”.

“I’m Billy!” he chimed in, resting his chin on your shoulder; your smile faded as your rolled your eyes at him.

“Swift, go to the kitchen and help our mums”, you said quickly. He huffed.

“And talk to Raymonds? No, thank you.”

As you kept maintaining eye contact with Gwil, you couldn’t but close your eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “Billy”, you said through gritted teeth, “go and help our mums”.

“Y/L/N-“

“Billy!” you turned around; if it was possible to burn someone down with just one simple gaze, Billy would have been dead already. “Go and do it, while I’m asking you nicely!” you pinched his shoulder so strongly, that he jumped and let out a squeak.

“Alright!” he raised his hands. “I’ll do anything if you stop hitting and pinching me. Bloody woman”, he mumbled, while leaving.

“Sorry about him”, you looked back at Gwil; he was still smiling at you. “He’s just twelve, really”. 

“Is that your best friend you told me about?”

“Yeah”. Only then you noticed he was holding a bouquet of lilies.

“That’s my mum’s favourite flowers”, you said quietly. “How’d you know?”

His gaze was fixed on your face; and you couldn’t but look away because you felt extremely flustered.

“You said it once. I remembered”.

You melted like an ice-cream under the scorching sun. He remembered that? It took your father twenty-seven years of marriage to memorize his wife’s favorite flowers, and here was Gwil – remembering about it for some time. You didn’t even know how to react.

But then you realized one thing. He was not supposed to be here. He was your sugar daddy; and one of the rules was not to have any contact with each other’s families of friends. What exactly was he doing here?

“What are you doing here?” you asked. “You said you gonna have a business trip”.

He smiled. “I deferred it to the next weekend. Couldn’t leave my girl alone with her, as she says that, crazy family”.

My girl. Of course, you heard him say that million times; but something was different now, you could feel it in your bones.

You smiled like an idiot, while he was taking off his coat; he beamed at you back, and there you were – two grinning idiots, who stood in your parents’ house’s hallway. That was so much you wanted to tell him; how thankful you were that he came, but mostly you wanted to kiss him softly and whisper “I love you” in between kisses.

“You’re gonna regret it”, you say instead. “They’re embarrassing”.

He chuckled and took your hand; Gwil pressed a sweet kiss to your knuckles. “I will never regret a minute spent with you. Even if your family is embarrassing”. He pulled you closer, and you were perfectly safe and sound in his arms. The flowers, lying on the little sofa in the hallway, were long forgotten, as well as guests, food and the world. Gwil was warm and lovely, and you closed your eyes, resting your head in the crook of his neck. You would stay like this forever. You didn’t need anything, anyone else, but him, just him, only him. You had no idea why he was there, when he could be somewhere else, with another sugar baby, having sex and buying jewelry. But he was there, with you.

“You are stunning”, he whispered in your ear. “Red looks good on you”. You let out a chuckle against his neck. God, that was so silly.

“You bought me this dress, after all”, you answered quietly. Gwil hummed in response and kissed your hair; you pulled away from his neck, catching him staring at you in awe. You lost yourself in his blue eyes, lost yourself forever in his mesmeric gaze. Was this love? For you, yeah. For you, it was everything you ever wanted – it seemed that Gwilym walked into your life in that dark-blue suit at the end of the September right from your dreams. You didn’t even know when exactly you fell in love with him – but you knew it was more than just a simple arrangement now. At least for you.

“It’s not the point, baby”, his fingers traced different shapes on your back and Gwil could certainly feel you shivering under the dress. “You look good in everything”. He pressed a kiss on your forehead, and you both smiled. It was perfect.

“You must be the mysterious guy Y/N always talks about!” You let out a squeak and jumped back from Gwilym in an instant; your sister was leaning onto the doorframe and grinning impishly. You pressed a hand to your chest and cursed under your breath. “I’m Becca, her elder sister”, her and Gwil shook hands and you couldn’t but roll your eyes; Becca was up to something. You didn’t like the thought of it; any idea of your sister always turned out to be a disaster.

You all walked in the dining-room; and the whole place went from a loud chat to complete silence. Aunt Zelda, as you noticed, was examining Gwil thoroughly. You furrowed your brows and rolled your eyes; your aunt was evidently interested in a good-looking man who just walked in with you. You let out an exasperated sigh and rolled your eyes once again, this time thinking that they may just stay inside of your head if you do that one more time. You saw Billy barely holding back his hysterical laugh, when you sat down at the table; you stopped yourself from slapping your forehead and throwing something at Swift. Your attention was drawn to Becca and Jackson as they were having whispered conversation, while looking at you and Gwil. James looked confused, when you gave him a brief look; his opinion was the last one you were interested in. You were so invested in observing everyone’s reaction that you missed the main one – your mum’s.

“….boyfriend?”

You frowned hearing the scraps of the conversation; you turned your head and caught your mum and dad talking to Gwilym. You looked at them, being disoriented, as you heard him saying that. “Yes, I am. I’m Y/N’s boyfriend”.

You tilted your head, still furrowing your brows. Boyfriend?

“I’m Y/N’s boyfriend”, for fuck’s sake, what?

“Holy shit”, you almost mumbled, still staying bewildered; he didn’t just say what he said, did he?

Boyfriend? No. He was not your boyfriend. He was the exact opposite. He bought you expensive shit and fucked you into oblivion. He was your sugar daddy. He was providing you with money and taking you to luxurious resorts to spend the weekend there. He made an arrangement, came up with rules for both of you to follow. He had other women as his sugar babies, whom he fucked too. He was a boss in the huge ass company. He was a literal Disney Prince. He was this, and not your boyfriend.

But he took care of you when you were terribly sick after your romantic getaway in Aspen. He held you tightly when you were crying. He cuddled you until you fell asleep in his arms, both of you beaming. He praised every part of your body. He wrote you cute letters every day, saying how much he adored you. He told you he was proud of you when you got a promotion. He made you a bubble bath with candles lit around and sweet music playing on the background. He did facemasks with you while watching your favorite shows. He told you he didn’t want to let you go. He made you feel valued and protected, for the first time after two failed relationships. He made you feel as if it wasn’t just an arrangement. He made you feel like he loved you.

Your heart skipped a beat at this thought. Loved you? No, that was ridiculous. Gwilym couldn’t love you; he could love Alice, a small pretty thing with her piercing gaze and gracious movements; or his other sugar baby, Zoe, with her husky voice and plump lips. He could love someone much more skinnier than you, someone not that tall, and someone not that awkward. He was way out of your league; and still, somehow, he was there, at your family’s gathering, talking to your relatives and resting his hand on your thigh.  He was there, with you, not anywhere else. He was there. 

You exchanged glances, smiled at each other; throughout the whole evening he never stopped whispering into your ear about how beautifully you looked. He held your hand and kissed it, when there was an opportunity. Gwil was talking to your dad about science and business, like your father had a clue about any of those things; he even chatted with Billy for a moment, which made you smile lightly. It seemed to you that every time he looked at you, his eyes lit up.  And for a moment you knew - he was yours. Only yours.

                                          ╰╮✾╭╯✯╰╮✾╭╯

rule №2. accept every gift that is given.

                                                     February.

It was so good.

The sound of Gwil’s skin clapping against yours, the way he gripped your hips and sucked on the skin in the crook of your neck made you arch your back, your breasts pressing into his chest. He growled, and it sent shivers down your spine. His thrusts were now faster, as he was as close as you.

“You like it like that, right, baby?”

You were clinging onto him as if it was the matter of life and death; and it was, indeed. He was giving you what you needed. Finally. “Yes, daddy”, you mouthed. “I’m so close”, you were breathing hard and saying these words wasn’t very easy as well; but it was what he wanted – you spoke. Gwil thrusted into you harshly, burying himself inside of you so deeply that you could only scream his name in pleasure. It seemed that you both had forgotten about the little game you played. You were more than happy to realize that; even though you were terribly wrong about Gwilym.

He started moving slower in you and then pulled out; your eyes were wide open the second he did that. What the actual fuck?

You rose on your elbows; your brows drew together as you watched this asshole slyly grin. “You said…” you were panting. “You said…you…”

“That I’ll let you cum in the bedroom?” he replied. “That’s true”, he shrugged his shoulders. “But you didn’t catch one little thing, love”, Gwil was hovering over you again. “By that I meant master bedroom. And this”, he pressed a kiss on your lips, “This is certainly not the master bedroom”.

You looked at him with wide eyes and sighed loudly. In a master bedroom? “There are seven bedrooms in this house”, you mumbled, when you head fell back onto the pillows. He was kidding, right? He didn’t let you cum neither in the kitchen nor in the living room, and promised you’d come in the bedroom – but now, turned out that he was just messing with you? You covered your eyes with your hand and sighed deeply. This was going to be a long ride; and with Gwil’s desire to edge you until you were begging and telling him exactly what he wanted – you knew you would be exhausted as fuck.

“This can end very quickly, y’know it, love”, he hovered over you, you could feel it; your eyes were still closed and jaw clenched tightly. You didn’t want to give in. You didn’t start playing this game just to let him win in the end.

It wasn’t exactly a game, though. You were just rejecting his gift, and that’s all. The only thing was that not accepting the present was another violation of rules. And, also, that his gift was a fucking three-storied house. A freaking mansion with a huge garage, a back garden, and, like, fifty rooms. He just said, “It’s a simple gift, love”, and you jaw fell open at his words. Simple fucking gift; the one you never asked for. That was too much. Money, Cartier bracelets, diamond necklaces and designer clothes were great and amazing, but the house? You knew Gwil couldn’t get enough of spoiling, but he crossed the line here, even for a sugar daddy. Even for this type of relationship buying a house was too much.

But he, apparently, didn’t think so. He kept on insisting it didn’t mean anything, that he didn’t even spend that much money on it. Your blood was boiling, and you could feel your ass burning with anger. 

Now your ass was burning too, but because of how much Gwil was spanking you. You were ready to come undone just cause of it, but this asshole didn’t let you. He wouldn’t let you come until you accepted the gift. And even though you really liked the house, you couldn’t just agree on his terms and take it. No. It was too much. Even for such a rich dude like Gwil.

“I just have to accept your gift and shut up, right?” you said through gritted teeth. Gwil furrowed his brows, and took your hand from your face. Your eyes were open as you were looking at him irritably.

“I never told you to shut up”, his tone was serious as he was staring you in the eyes. “And it’s not what I meant. You know that”. He sounded offended; you suddenly felt guilty about your behavior. You were acting like a bitch the second you saw the house, and said some stupid shit, like “I hate this fucking house". He shouldn’t have bought it, but you shouldn’t be a brat about it either. He did  it not 'cause he wanted to buy you, no; he did it because that’s how he showed his affection. And it was part of your arrangement, part of then rules after all; he always sticked to them, unlike you.

“I do”, you cupped his face in your hands, looking at him softly. “I know that you don’t mean anything like that”, you pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. He kissed you back eagerly, putting his hands on your waist and pulling himself lower, closer to you. You both were naked, aroused and hungry for each other. You pulled away trying to catch your breath. “But I still can’t accept this gift, Gwil”.

Gwilym let out a loud groan as he rolled over to another side of the bed. “Why’s that, Y/N?” he tried to sound neutrally but you could feel irritation coming out of his whole body.

“Baby, I told you already”, you sighed tiredly. “The house’s too big, too expensive. I can’t accept it”.

“It’s a gift, love”, he ran his fingers through his hair. “You don’t have to think about its price”.

You rolled over to face him, but he wasn’t looking at you; he lied on his back, breathing heavily with eyes closed. Too annoyed to even speak to you. And even though he wouldn’t speak to you through his mouth, you knew through what he would certainly answer you. If he said “no” to it, you would never insist on keep going. You were both keeping each other comfortable, always.

He was still rock hard and you had to restrain yourself from moaning. He might have been a huge ass with the whole edging thing today, but you wanted him like crazy, always and constantly.

 He let out a groan when you straddled him. You tried your best to keep a straight face, but you were so fucking wet that no facial expression could save you.Gwil felt that; thinking that you were insisting on continuation of the sex, he put his hands on your hips, trying to make you move; but you had other plans for him. You took his hands off of you and put them on his sides. “What will people say when they learn I’m living in such a big house?” you traced circles on his chest with your fingers; he drew in a long breath, gripping the sheets. “No one would believe I’m able to even rent it. I’m not really rich, baby”, you kept maintaining eye-contact; him inside of you and neither of you moving.

“Fuck them”, he whispered. He made you feel like a goddess just by looking at you that lovingly and hungrily. You moaned at the thought, and Gwil took this chance to putting his hands on your hips again. You raised an eyebrow and brushed his hands off. He didn’t let you cum. Now you were going to torture him for a little bit as well.

“No touching, Gwil. You can’t do that unless I say so”.

He licked his lips and grinned, surprised by your sudden dominance. He liked seeing you like this: confident and naked. Gwil’s favorite moods of yours.

“Shit, Y/N”, he grunted. “You feel amazing. So tight and beautiful”.

You gasped; Gwil was well aware of the effect his words had upon you, and he smiled, no, he fucking grinned, looking at you, almost twirling in ecstasy already.

The smug look on his face vanished when you started rocking your hips against him. Moving up and down his cock, you moaned and clung on his chest with your nails. He hissed, gripped the sheets tightly but never touched you. You rode him fast and needy, trying to reach your climax sooner than he noticed. “Feels so good”, you whined. Sweaty, greedy, whimpering, with head tilted back and nails digging in his chest – just the sight of you like this could make Gwil lose control. He wanted to thrust into you harshly, touch you everywhere, run his fingers through your hear and caress your face as you rode you both to orgasm – but he followed your rules. Not only 'cause he liked that, but also because he wanted to show you that obedience wasn’t too bad. Although he would certainly disagree with it right now, when he couldn’t even kiss you. “Touch me”, you breathed, needing his hands on you. God, you needed him in so many ways.

“Finally”.

He squeezed your breasts immediately; you moaning echoed in the room, making him even more turned on than he already was. Your walls clenched against him, and no matter how much he wanted to continue your little game, he wanted to fuck you properly more. He wanted to hear you screaming, wanted to see your face when you cum. God, he wanted all of you just to him.

You felt your orgasm coming in any moment, and you bit your lip to hold back moans, so that Gwil wouldn’t stop. But he didn’t even intend to. Not this time. “Come on, baby”, he whispered, caressing your sides, “come for me”.

Gwilym’s words made you lose it, lose all the power you thought you had. You fell onto him, burying your face in the crook of his neck, as he was fucking you now, hitting that exact spot inside you that drove you crazy. “Gwil”, you panted against his neck; and  your hot breath sending shivers down his spine and making him thrust into you harder. “I’m gonna cum”, you said in an unsteady voice, while gripping his shoulders and digging your nails in there.

“Let go, baby”.

He let out a pure animalistic growl and suddenly flipped you over, so you were underneath him. He attacked your lips with his, giving you the most heated and loving kiss in your life. You wrapped your legs around his waist so that he could have a batter access to hit your g-spot; with your hands on his neck, you didn’t let him to break the kiss, deepening it, trying to fight for dominance. But dominance was his thing in bedroom.

He buried himself so deep inside of you that you two could only moan into each other’s mouths; you both reached your highs together, skin to skin, in unison, screaming one another’s names and grabbing the sheets. You both needed that.

Some minutes later, when you came down from your high Gwil left a delicate kiss on your forehead and got up; throwing the used condom into the trash, he turned around and saw you lying down with your hand covering your face. The blissful smile on your face and steady breathing told him that you were ready to nod off.

“Falling asleep on me, aren’t ya?” he lied down next to you; Gwil took your hand and pressed a kiss to it.

You took a deep breath. “Just give me a couple of minutes”, your reply was weak; Gwilym chuckled and smacked your ass playfully. You giggled and turned your face to him; you struggled to even open your eyes.

“Let’s get some sleep, love”, Gwil said quietly. He adjusted your pillows and put a blanket over the two of you; after he pulled your closer, your back on his chest, and his arms wrapped around you. He kissed you hair and you smiled sleepily.

“I still can’t accept your gift”, you continued your almost long-forgotten argument. Gwilym took in a deep breath and buried his face in your hair.

“I can’t argue with you anymore”, he mumbled, “I’ll accept any decision you make, Y/N”.

“Thank you”, you whispered. “But I love this house”, he chuckled at your words.

“I know. I did everything here like you love it. Just for you”.

You smiled lightly and hummed in response. “Wake me up in ten minutes”, you said leaning in closer to him. “I’ll be ready to continue till we get to the master bedroom”. Gwilym pressed a warm kiss to your shoulder.

“This is the master bedroom now”.

As you nodded off, feeling warm and safe in Gwil’s arms, you were beaming; when your mind was drowning in drowsiness, you felt a warm breath on your neck and heard Gwilym’s voice saying softly, “I love you so much, Y/N”. But you knew it was just a dream. Reality couldn’t give you something like this. Never.

                                         ╰╮✾╭╯✯╰╮✾╭╯

rule №6. no contact with other sugar babies.

                                                December.

“When you’re gonna be home?”

You locked your phone after texting Gwil; you didn’t want to bother him, but it was Christmas Eve and you weren’t amused by spending it alone in his empty penthouse. He was called for work, and promised you to come back in three hours. The clock struck five in the evening. Gwil left at ten A.M.

You sighed deeply as you looked at the served table. You wanted to surprise him by cooking a festive dinner; it wasn’t like you were a chef, on the contrary – you couldn’t cook for shit. But, as you planned this thing, you googled some recipes and tried to cook something simple, but yet delicious. You had strange desire to be domestic with Gwilym – to cook food, do laundry, clean the house, and take kids from school… You didn’t even know when you first started imagining you two living a happy, suburban life in a pretty house with three children. Before Gwil you didn’t want kids. Now you were questioning all of your life choices. You were never able to have hook ups and not catch feelings. And this was certainly just a “hook up”, as you thought in the beggining. Only now it was much more.

“Soon, baby. I promise”.

His text gave you hope; his “soon” could be in ten minutes. You looked over the table in panic, quickly lighting candles. You ran to the nearest room; looking yourself up and down in the mirror, you twisted a ring on your index finger nervously. This green dress was exactly what Gwilym liked: it was tight, giving a perfect opportunity to observe all of your curves, and also very short. The color wasn’t exactly in the style of Christmas, but red lace lingerie underneath the dress was quite in the mood of the holiday. You knew Gwil would have gone crazy the second he came back home. He gave you  so much during those months and you just wanted to get him a pleasant reward; and you were also head over heels for him. That was pretty simple.

Suddenly you heard heels clattering on the marble floor of the living room; you frowned, trying to understand who was there. Was Gwil wearing heels? You wouldn’t be surprised at that. Or was it Gwil’s sister again? Not that you didn’t like her, you just wanted him all to yourself tonight; even though you weren’t against spending time with his family.

“Heather?” you called while heading back to the living-room.

It wasn’t Heather.

It was a girl in a coat and high-heeled ankle boots; her eyes were gleaming in the dark as she was reading the note she took from Gwil’s plate.

“Unwrap your gift”, she said; she raised her head and looked at you haughtily. “Who are you?”

“And you?” you asked in confusion. “How did you come in?”

“The door’s was open”.

“No, it was not”.

You stared at each other, trying to burn yourselves with your glares; you had a strong feeling that it was one of Gwilym’s other two sugar babies.

“I assume you’re Y/N”, she sat down at the table, at Gwil’s place. “You got a nice dinner here”.

“Thanks”, you squeaked. You already felt helpless and hopeless in front of her; she was this black-haired goddess with a sly grin on her face. She was confident. You weren’t like that. “That’s actually…” you were speaking quietly. “That’s for Gwil”.

She huffed. “Of course, it is. I’m Alice, if you don’t know that”, it felt like you were supposed to know her name and whom  she was. It seemed like she was the one who was supposed to be there. You suddenly felt really uncomfortable in her presence; her whole behavior was telling you to get out.

And here you were again. Feeling unnecessary, needless, unwanted.

“I’ve been with Gwil since I was twenty-three, like you are now”, she took a sip from the glass with champagne. “We’re having three-year anniversary this year”, she said with a smug smile.

“You sound like you’re dating”.

“We do”.

“No”.

The sound of his voice was something you craved for. It was like oxygen in the room with no windows and doors. It was like a light in the darkness.

“Daddy!” Alice jumped from her seat and beamed. Oh god, you already wanted to leave. She was looking at him so hungrily that you didn’t even know what you were doing there. You were an extra one. Unwanted. “You’re back! Y/N was just leaving”, she glared at you and raised her eyebrows, giving you a silent order. And you, with your zero self-esteem and very high level of shyness, obeyed.

“I’ve gotta go”, you muttered, heading to the door. Gwil, who stood not so far from you, immediately reached out and grabbed you by the wrist.

“Y/N, no. Please. Don’t go. Please”. He begged you to stay. Gwilym wanted you there, with him. You. Not Alice. The realization of it hit you suddenly, as you looked in his eyes.

You nodded, and he let go of your wrist, now intertwining his fingers with yours. “Alice is leaving”.

“Now, I’m not!” she tried to object, but Gwilym had none of her bullshit.

“You’re leaving. D’you remember what rule number five is about?”

Alice lowered her head and mumbled, “Never visit each other without calling beforehand”.

“Exactly. You broke it. Now you’re staying without your monthly supply. And getting the fuck out of my house”.

You could have sworn she muttered “Bitch” under her breath as she was passing by you. When she slammed the door, Gwil went to close it quickly; then he approached you and pulled you into a hug. “I’m sorry it happened”, he whispered.

“T’s alright”. You were silent for a moment. “I made you dinner; was afraid she’s gonna eat it”.

Gwil laughed and pulled away, his gaze fixed on you; “Did ya, really?” he sounded surprised. You smiled and nodded; then you took his hand and leaded him to the table. “Wow”, he gasped. “You didn’t have to, Y/N”, your gazes met and you smiled at him one more time, your eyes sparkling like diamonds.

“I wanted to, Gwil”.

He pulled you in a desperate kiss; it seemed as if he tried to show his whole affection and gratitude through it. “Thank you, baby”, he whispered against your lips. “I don’t deserve you”.

You rolled your eyes, ruining the moment and walked to your seat at the other side of the table. “Don’t start this”, you said, sitting down. Gwil chuckled as he took his seat; some seconds later you caught him staring at you.

“What’s for dessert?”

You looked at him with raised eyebrow and a smirk on your face. “You will find out later”, you winked at him.

                                                         ***

                                                        May.

“Y/N, stop apologizing. I’ve already told you everything’s alright”.

You couldn’t stop saying “Sorry” and nervously play with your hair the entire time you were sitting in your flat with Zoe; it was the first time you met each other and you were extremely anxious. She looked dazzling, like a star; she was smoking already a third cigarette in the last fifteen minutes.

“Alice’s the one who has to apologize, if to be honest”, she looked at you. “This bitch fed me with ugly lies about the sweetest person I’ve ever met”.

“Are you talking ‘bout me?”

“Absolutely”.

A small smile settled on your lips; Zoe was really sweet and nice, despite what you had been thinking about her. There was something charming, mysterious about her. You could certainly say why Gwil liked her, even if it broke your heart completely. “So, where were we?” Zoe asked.

“You were telling me about what Alice told you”.

“Oh right”, she nodded. “Alice has like a friend, a source in the company, where Gwil works. This “source” finds out everything about him, dunno how. This person told Alice about Gwil’s ex, Stefanie. I was fucking heartbroken after I heard that story”, she lit another cigarette.

“What’s about it?”

“Oh, Y/N, there’s so much. They were engaged, been together since school. Apparently, he loved her too much to notice that she started getting expensive jewelry and clothes. He believed every word she said, when she lied, telling she bought it herself. It turned out that she had three sugar daddies. And if he could forgive her just getting the money from them, he certainly couldn’t forgive her sleeping with all of them. It’s been like seven years since it happened and he’s still too eager to spoil us so much so that we wouldn’t even think about having someone else”.

You sat down on your couch, looking at Zoe in a state of complete shock. But she continued her story. “Gwil talks too much when he’s drunk; that’s how this source knows all of it”.

“You are his first sugar baby, right?”

Your question hung in the silence of the room. “Yeah. Been for four years”.

“And he never told you this?”

Zoe furrowed her brows and she took another drag. “No. We don’t talk about stuff like that. We usually just have some kind of small talk. He just gives me money-“

“In exchange for sex”, you interrupted her, voice thick with jealousy. Zoe chuckled.

“No. Not anymore at least”.

Your eyes widened at her words. “Why?”

Zoe shrugged her shoulders. “I dunno. He called it off several months ago, actually, with both me and Alice. He still gives us money, yeah, but nothing more than that. And if for the reason why – I think it’s ‘cause he’s just as in love with you as you’re with him”.

You gasped; you didn’t expect her to say something like that. You frowned and crossed your arms over your chest. “I don’t-“, you stuttered. “I’m not-“

“Yes, you are”, Zoe huffed. “Come on, Y/N, you know it’s true. He wouldn’t call off two opportunities to fuck whenever he wants just ‘cause he’s bored. No. There’s something more. He loves you, you dumb bitch”.

“He doesn’t, Zoe. He doesn’t and he never will”.

                                        ╰╮✾╭╯✯╰╮✾╭╯

You are awoken by a loud, non-stopping knocking on your door. You take in a sharp breath, struggling with getting up; your head is throbbing violently, as you stand up from the couch. It’s already dark outside; and you wonder how much time you have spent sleeping. Twelve hours? Fourteen? No matter how many of them – you are still sore, sad and hurt. Everything hurts so badly.

But you’re still wearing Gwil’s shirt. The feeling of its fabric on your skin makes you somehow feel better. Warmer. Makes feel a little bit alive.

The loud knocking proceeds as you walk towards the door. You think that it’s probably your mum coming to see you; you don’t answer your phone as you’ve been sleeping for so long.

When you open the door you expect to see a middle-aged woman with brown hair and angry voice, who’ll start lecturing you immediately as she always does. But your expectations are nothing compared to reality.

With red swollen eyes (like he’s been crying), messy hair and a backpack, which is slowly falling from his shoulder – that’s what  he looks like standing at your doorstep. You don’t understand why he’s here, what he needs from you. You look at him as if he was a ghost, a phantom, a shadow, that will disappear at any moment. You can’t believe he’s here.

“Gwil?”

________________________________________________________________

wtf just happend am I right haha

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[triforceangel13]

The Breath of the Water Epilogue (A SidLink Shape of Water Au)

Epilogue

The horror was over. Sidon could be a free Zora. They could all be free people and live the lives they were meant to enjoy.

As the excitement with the guards had died away Link had emerged from the water to show Zelda that he was indeed alive and well, even with a new ability from the necklace that sat around his neck granting him the ability to breathe below the water.

She had been more than happy to see him, crying tears of happiness that all was fine and everything would be alright. Even Urbosa had shed some tears at the sight of him.

The rain had even stopped.

Saying goodbye again was harder than the time before. Stress had fallen away, replaced with bitter sweet farewells. They couldn't stay long. Who knew if anyone else would be coming to them to either look for Sidon or something else.

All would be safe now and they could all enjoy their lives again without any risks or someone trying to hurt any of them.

They could all finally go home.

And back home was right where Link and Sidon had gone, or at least to Sidon's home. To the other side of Hyrule where Zora's Domain was beginning to thrive. Hopefully soon enough they could come out of hiding and not be a risk

Needless to say things were rough at first. There had been much praise to Link for him rescuing their prince, a fact that Link still couldn't believe, and he was treated like a hero for a short amount of time after they had arrived.

Once diminished however they had begun to grow wary of his constant presence around their prince. He did go explore from time to time but always came back to Sidon's side, sticking to him like glue.

Of course the Zora did not mind in the least, Sidon even sought him out at times. He wanted to make sure that this was all real. That he had found his mate. Having him by his side always reminded him that this really was how his life was now.

Happy.

The Zoras were unsure of what to expect of Link, wondering if he was just waiting for a chance to strike and take them all back to where they had been. After what had happened to Sidon their security had gone up so much more.

Link understood and he was nothing but nice to them, wanting to give them time to adjust. Though he did feel a little unwelcome as their wariness still went into more days.

That is until Link officially met with Sidon's father. He had met him when he had first arrived and was thanked for his bravery for saving his son but now the King had sat down with him, Sidon interpreting what he was saying between them.

It quickly came to fruition that Link had been claimed by Sidon.

The king was joyous, ecstatic even that his own son had finally settled down and had picked someone as his mate, much to Sidon's embarrassment and protests to tell everyone. Link thought it was cute and he was glad that he had brought that much happiness.

The king was quick to announce the wonderful news, the rest of his kind even welcoming Link in even more with open arms, forgetting about their worries and treating him with what he felt was more than he deserved.

A wedding was quickly held, Link officially becoming part of the royal family. Months ago if someone asked him what he would be doing later in his life he would have thought it wouldn't have been this at all.

Their love life had expanded greatly from there, however it had brought up the issue that Link was not able to conceive and produce an heir. Thankfully for the time being no one pushed the subject too far on them.

Communication with the kingdom was a little difficult for Link even after being there for so long. He could understand them, but they had problems understanding him. It wasn't like they could understand sign language.

Sidon was there always to interpret but the moments they weren't together made it all the more difficult.

But if he could have taught Sidon how to communicate he didn't see why he wouldn't be able to teach the other Zoras.

It took some time but simple gestures were learned so that Link could communicate with them all on a more comfortable level rather than pointing.

Link could understand the Zora language a lot more thanks to his own lessons with Sidon. It was easier for him to understand the Zoras as they spoke to him that way they would not need to communicate with something they weren't very familiar with.

Sidon continued to speak to him through sign language, the only actual words he only knew in Link's language being his name and a few other things. It still had Link blushing with excitement whenever he heard his name pass from his lips.

Speaking in sign language with one another was a bit more of a private thing for the two of them, something they loved.

Back in the town Link had grown up in Zelda had gone through many changes. She had moved herself as well as her pets into Ubrosa's home where she stayed to help raise the girls. There her life changed for the better.

She had opened up her own shop, flourishing with the amount of customers who wanted her beautiful dresses. The shop she had worked at had even wanted her back but she turned them away. Eventually they had to close their doors, not being able to compete with Zelda's work. In a way Zelda had been happy about that but also a little sad,.

Urbosa had even quit working at the lab, knowing that she did not want to remain in a place that treated people as well as creatures so poorly.

However weeks later the lab had been closed down. Word got out about what Ganondorf had done. If he hadn't died by Sidon's hand he would have been imprisoned for quite some time on accounts of abuse as well as the murder of the scientist Kohga, whom was also found to be a part of another organization known as the Yiga Clan.

In a way Ganondorf's death had been a blessing in disguise.

Even his family now, his dogs and Ghirahim, could have a life of their own, no longer under the cruelness of that man.

Urbosa and Zelda had blossomed into a couple, being just as close as Link was to Sidon. In a letter Link received, through much difficulty as the Zoras were still hidden, he had found out what had happened after he had left. He did miss home but he was glad to see that things had changed for the better for those that he had left behind.

Perhaps he should have introduced the two of them sooner that way things could have been easier for the two of them.

Maybe one day he would be able to go back with Sidon and see them again. It would have to be under much secrecy but he knew they might be able to pull it off.

Our lovable characters all received their happy endings. It took some time and effort but now they all could finally like the lives there were meant to have.

Thus concludes our story of the boy that fell for the prince. Told you it was a different take on a usual story you have heard of.

Full of love and suspense.

And dare I say the cliché moment at the end of the story:

And they all lived happily ever after.

I can no longer link previous chapters with the new “updates” from tumblr.

I’m open for written commissions

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[queakenstein]

Smash Ultimate Drabble

This was not as shippy as I wanted it to be but I didn’t have time for anything else. I may come back and edit it later... Also, meant to post this last night but didn’t realize my interent crapped out as it was psting so yay on that.

To be one of the Chosen few was something that Link was familiar with. However, he had not expect to be pulled from his homeland and placed within a competition as a “chosen participant”. At least that is how his “gracious” host described it. Link prefers the terms abduction, unwilling, and distasteful.

The rest of the odd cast brought together by the still unseen host seem to have some sort of grasp on what is going on. A short man with a helpful disposition named Mario has been a great help.

“You know, we’ve meet before.” The man laughs, sliding his tray down to snatch a piece of pie from the plethora of food within the cafeteria offered until the tournament’s end.

Link frowns at both the food and Mario’s comment. He misses Hyrule and it’s food. His plate sits nearly empty as he follows the other hero back toward the table shared with Peach. “I don’t recall a previous meeting.”

Mario shrugs. “Well, it was, uh, explained to me that you’re...” He pauses and thinks of the word around a mouthful of pie.

“Reincarnated.” Peach supplies, helpfully, and drops a sandwich onto Link’s plate with a warning look that if he didn’t eat more than just the fruit cup on his tray that she would hurt him.

Link picks it up and eats. “My soul is.” He shakes his head and frowns, deeper. “How... many times have we met?”

“Five, counting this time. Though I don’t know if your younger self counts...?” The plumber stabs his fork in the direction of the child making his rounds about the cafeteria.

A headache begins to hum in the back of his head and Link crops his chin into his hand. He doesn’t respond and, mindlessly, chews on whatever food Peach presses against his lips. He’s thankful for his new... friends who have taken to guiding him around along with “Little Link”.

“I wonder when the tourney will start?” A booming voice with a gravely edge cuts into Link’s silence. “Gettin’ antsy to beat on ya. “Bowser snatches Mario’s cap off his head and this is where Link departs. The noise makes his brain throb.

He slips away and feels a small relief that he may get a chance to be alone for a while when a child’s voice speaks from behind. “You know, it is a lot easier if you try not to think about it so much.”

Link turns to see his other self staring back at him. Or rather, up at him. It disturbs him to see battle hardened eyes in the face of a child. “I have a kingdom to finish rebuilding. I have no time for a foolish and forced competition... and what of you? Don’t you have something to get back to?”

The boy smiles and motions for Link to follow. “I have learned, as you will learn, that there are things beyond our control. I have battled would-be gods and came out alive. This competition is little more than testing your abilities. We cannot even die here.” He holds up a finger to silence any rebuttal. “Even, if it feels like it.” Link follows the young Hero of Time into a flowering courtyard. “The last time I came here, I was placed right back into the moment I had left. Though I wonder why I have been put into the form of my youth...” The child turns his back against the sunlight. “We’ve battled here before, you and I. Care to test your skills again?”

This was something Link was familiar with. “I feel like these little sessions have been lessons.”

“I have taught before... It’s nice to be able to do so in the flesh.” A short sword is drawn and the Hero of Time does a quick bow. “Ready when you are.”

There have been few that could defeat Link and even fewer that could do it with such gusto. Their matches end with an eventual tie with both shuffling off to their rooms to rest. He drops to the mattress and appreciates for a small second the attention to detail their host went into to make this room seem like home. It even smells like his house... with a hint of that lovely perfume Zelda wears. He tries on to dwell on the terror in her voice as the Sheikah Slate teleported him away after giving her a serious malfunction code. He hopes everyone is right and that everything will be set back to normal after this tournament ends. 

He wakes up some hours later to the soft alert announcing a newcomer. He rolls out of bed and stumbles into the empty hallway. He sighs and proceeds toward the room where he knows someone must be waiting some sort of direction.

He doesn’t expect it to be Zelda. Or rather, a Zelda he has seen portraits of on the old castle’s walls. “P-Princess?”

She looks absolutely relieved and confused at once. “You know me? You must be Link-- I’d know your soul anywhere- What’s going on, where are we, I’m sorry. I’m babbling. I do that sometimes when--” She takes a deep breath and sits down right where she stands. “I’m very dizzy.”

He smiles gently and comes forward to crouch next to her. “I did too.” He glances around. “There was an assistant or something that explained everything to me... and showed me to my room.”

She reaches forward and clutches his arm. “J-Just don’t leave.” Her eyes pierce into his. “No matter where we are, who we are... I know I can trust you.”

He wants to call her a fool because how could she possibly know him when they literally just met. Yet, he had an immediate kinship with the younger Link so he bites his tongue and takes her hand. “Of course. I am sworn to protect Princess Zelda.”  There’s a pause. “So, have you ever been to a ... Smash Tournament before?”

“No.” She blinks. “Have you?”

“Define which ‘me’ you mean because apparently I have but I haven’t.” He grumps then slumps into a cross legged position next to her. “This place is confusing but most of everyone is nice.”

“Exclusions being?”

“Bowser is nuisance and Ridley is horrifying.” He smirks. “I’ve been here about 2 weeks... I’ll introduce you to the nice people that have helped guide me-- Oh, looks like the assistant is here.” He helps her up and allows the butler like character to begin his explanation of how everything works. It’s simple enough, there will be practice rounds to get everyone prepared for the tournament then the battles will begin. First there will be free for alls which will eventually determine a winner of those rounds then teams and finally solo matches. Winners are given an unspecified reward. Link follows Zelda towards her room since he promised not to leave her alone. He’s not surprised to find her inhabiting the empty one next to his. It seems everyone ‘related’ to them gets lodged within their hall. Link notes that there are two rooms yet to be filled.

Zelda turns to the butler and asks him how long until the tourney starts. There’s a brief murmur about acquiring all the specified assets before he merely marches off. The Princess sighs. “You know, my Link doesn’t even know I’m gone...”

“I was told that we would be placed back in the exact time that we left.”

“Who told you that?”

Link runs his fingers through hair. “The Hero of Time.”

“Oh!” Zelda gasps but then her eyes grow very sad. “Oh....” She folds her hands together. “His history is not a pleasant one...” 

“In mine he’s a Hero...!” 

And then it starts, Zelda invites him into his room as they begin to compare notes on their respective stories of the life and times of the boy who sleeps just a few rooms away. They nod off, Zelda’s head dropping against Link’s shoulder as they sit side by side against her bed. Neither hearing the arrival of yet another boy clad in green.

[stormears]

Traveler of Mine (snippet)

Summary: While Hyrule rebuilds its civilization, the Champion Link disappears into the wild again, seeking rest, or familiarity, or a release from a century of crushing weight that defined his life. Princess Zelda and Prince Sidon, the royals who stand a chance against him, pursue him, so that they might bring him home. Link runs. 

1,500-word snippet/beginning scene of a 10 - 15k-ish oneshot I’ve been thinking about. I have a fanfic “thing” I enjoy of Charcter A hunting down Char B with pseudo-romantic intentions. Zelda and Sidon and maybe a handful of random other citizens suit up to bring Link home and maybe ask him out or try to win that opportunity by catching him and beating him at his own wilderness-traversing game. Chase scenes, friendship, friendship-to-romance, lots of horse riding and mentions of horsey things, long journeys across Hyrule symbolizing Link’s metaphorical, huge expanse of crushing exhaustion of the burden he’s lived with as long as he can remember. 

The snippet doesn’t get that far into all that, but it’s what I’m going for. 

The people came back, and so she could breathe. It was her secret fear, her spoiled, hopeful one, that when—if—the Calamity was driven back, the city would stay empty, and no one would ever return. Several times across a hundred years where she refused to age and strained her muscles against the Beast enough for fifty men at once, she thought about this and felt something like humiliation. But once again, Link saved her.

Link’s journey upon waking in his shrine to bringing his newly rallied Beasts with him to take back their Kingdom took him five months. The battle took three hours. After they had rested and woke alone in the castle ruins, they explored. They pushed rubble, collected artifacts that had sat on stone floors and collected dust for the length of a Hylian’s whole life. At the end of the first week, some strangers came in. And more came. And the rubble moved.

Now Zelda does not know the feeling of humiliation. She knows about growing, and filing residential deeds and merchant partnerships. Folk coming into Castle Town came with businesses and families and precious heirlooms to put on shelves. And most importantly, they brought crafts to carry these things with. Carpenters came and mixed cement and brought logs and homes rose up. Link was on roofs more often than not, hefting this and aligning that. He made his intentions known well enough even to those folk who couldn’t make sense of his hand signs. Whether they did or didn’t, he was well in demand. Everyone knew him. Half the population had seen him roaming Hyrule these past months, some of them had apparently had errands done by him, sold him groceries and supplies and weapons. Everyone knew the warrior, the horseman, the moblin slayer, mountain climber, savior of races and dragons and things like that.  

When she  gave out plots of land to a group of farmers, another one came up, with a Goron behind him, asking with great excitement, “Ma’am, where is the Champion? Is he in the south quarter today?”

Where is Link, was a familiar question, usually easily answered. “He’s due for a rest day today. He must be sitting on a castle wall somewhere. I’m afraid he won’t be back for any construction assistance till tomorrow morning.”

“I might have the answer to that, miss Zelda,” said the Goron, who raised a folded piece of paper above all their heads. “I passed him this morning. He said to give this to you, uh, ma’am.” And his arm came down over the farmer, to Zelda’s reach. She took the paper and felt a thin magic on it immediately, some fairy blessing to keep the paper shut. An invisibly bump of sorts told her that the Goron had tried to open this letter and failed.

“Thank you, sir. I’m so glad it’s safe and unopened.” She gave him a fine grin and made sure to look him in the eyes as she opened it up. The Goron kept a straight face in front of her.

Zelda did not keep her straight face. The letter was from Link, written in his passable, leaning scratch and saying words she really had not expected to see or read this morning:

Zelda,

I’m leaving for a while. Don’t know when I’ll be back I need to be away Im very tired. Please accept my  apologies. Reconstruction of castle Town is going well I don’t think they really need me anymore. I think I want to, be in the wild again it helps me sleep and I’ve felt heavy and strange since we won the battle again I am sorry. Take care of yourself my princess

At the bottom he signed his name the way he used to, a century ago when he was a trained soldier. The elegant precision and large L seemed to be written by an entirely different hand than the one who had written the message itself. Zelda dared to think ‘Who wrote this?’ as she scanned it a second time. It seemed like a tiny work of fiction. A small handful of collapses in the grammar and spelling. It didn’t matter. Link probably hadn’t written letters for a hundred years. Link had left her without telling her so. Heavy and strange. What in the hell did that mean? She read it again, again. Im very tired.

‘Well, I know that, silly goose,’ she wanted to laugh. ‘You are the most tired man in the land right now.’ But it didn’t feel funny at that moment. That lying Goron was still looking at her.

She looked up with her same smile. “He says he’s gone out for some fresh air. Won’t be back for a while. I say he could use a good long break.” She nodded to herself and folded up the paper into a little scroll and tied it with a spare hair ribbon. She hooked it onto her belt where it would not be taken or read. “The first zone of the town is properly gridded off and our buildings are coming along nicely. We can do without his help for now.”

“Oh nooo!” moaned a lady with a cloth cap from behind them. “I hoped to see him today! I promised him free blackberry wine, you know! He, I think he made a sign saying he’d take it.”

“When will he be back, milady?” asked the man she’d been talking to before this nonsense started, and Zelda told him “Long enough for a decent vacation,” and hoped he would shut up. To assure that he would, she made a show of taking a new set of important paperwork in her hands and walking away. She could be busy anywhere. With the construction, the lake and reservoir diggers, the Zora party asking for trade, that asshole who said his grandfather was a Councilman, some horse association, lots of things.

Zelda made time for many of these things until just after sunset, when construction crews were piling up lumber for the night and lazing about. They left town or took shelter at the one inn that was close enough to complete to comfortably stay in, and any new residents did the same. Several folk during the day had asked about Link, was he coming to this area soon, was he around, did he have lunch plans? Zelda excused him each time, but she knew with each one that her placating couldn’t last forever. Or even for long. This town was growing new life again because of Link. It was all because of Link. He was the one people really knew. Not her, not usually. Even if her name was on everything and she carried the Goddess blood and every person she spoke to was her subject now, people nodded these facts away and asked to see the Champion Link, please. And so did she.

He was her appointed knight and constant companion through every trial and struggle and sunny day. She had known him since they were small. She knew him before he started tying his hair back. She watched him fall and cut himself on grown men’s swords and then wield them on the back of a horse. She told him to stand by her while a great godly demon threatened to swallow them and erase them from existence. She had known him so long, trusted only him by that point, that she could only choose him now. Link was at her side for everything and she loved him for it in some way. His loyalty was stronger than the might of Ganon. He hadn’t even told her to her face that he was leaving her alone.

“Are you all right?” she murmured in her half-broken room that night. She felt she was close to sleeping and dreaming this away. “I know you’re tired. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I need you for everything.” There was no one here to apologize to her, to say it’s okay, or I am always at your side, or some such thing. Link was gone. Was it absurd, that she wanted to cry? That she was crying.

‘If it helps you sleep and rest and finally...feel good again, then you must do it,’ she thought, for speaking was out of the question now. Her lip was wobbling like a soft child’s. She wiped at her wet eyes. ‘I didn’t know you felt heavy and strange. And tired. I’m sorry, Link. I’m sorry! Should I come get you? Do you want me to help you?’ No answer here. There was a light wind outside, delaying the silence.

When the silence was back she thought, ‘You rest, my Champion, and if you are not well or back soon, I will come find you.’

-

This came out significantly more emotional that I first intended. But we’re rolling with it. Eventually Zelda will decide Link’s been gone too long and she’s worried about him and enlist Sidon to help her since I guess she knows they fought Vah Ruta together and Sidon would want to help. This was originally a purely Sidlink idea but Zelda wormed her way in there and we may have some sort of Zelda x Link x Sidon thing on our hands. Or maybe I’ll pick one in the end, eh, I’m not sure yet. I planned this in my head when I was playing BotW to distract me from failing to write other WIP fics that I frankly care much more about. 

And as Link keeps eluding them (he secretly takes up “work” at various Hyrule stables, he’s the one who goes to collect horses off of mountaintops and shit when people ask to “board” them like the player would, so he keeps escaping with both his natural athletic skills and his retinue of infinite horses lmao) Zelda and Sidon will feel less “poor dear Link, we must find him and make sure he’s okay” and more “That clever BITCH, I almost had him, he’s too good, soon I’ll have him in my arms you hear me my dear Link I’m coming for you” 

That’s the kind of fic I’d like to read anyway, so here I am writing it :/