#have some soft link loving ganon fluff

[dutifulsilence]

@tenebriism sent: ❛  you deserve better than who i am right now, but i'm gonna keep trying to become someone you do deserve.  ❜ // from Ganon!

Link tilted his head at the words from Ganon, before offering the smallest of smiles with a soft sigh. He moved to sit on the other man's lap, looping his arms over the Gerudo's shoulders. Leaning close, he let his nose bump lightly against Ganon's.

"What makes you think I don't deserve you now?" he asked gently. There were several answers to the question, he was sure, but he wanted to know which answer Ganon would give. "I love you as you are, Ganon. You don't need to change yourself into someone you think I deserve when I've already chosen you, knowing your past and all you've done."

Link tipped his head against Ganon's, letting his eyes close. "I don't need you to become someone I deserve - I deserve you, not some idealized version of you."

[attllhak]

Flora’s Musings

So, here’s the WingAU fic I mentioned. It’s the first one I wrote and features the fun trope of “The Unreliable Narrator That Is History”, which I had a lot of fun with.

I, don’t have a tag list for this AU at this point. So, this part is just my preamble I guess. So, preamble over, here’s the fic.

-------------------

Zelda ran her fingertips between her shoulder blades. She tried not to think about what wasn’t there.

Her wings would come in, she hoped, no she knew they would. They had to. As the princess fated to stop Calamity Ganon it was her duty to unlock her sealing powers, face him, and earn her wings.

It was why she was down here now, in the hidden and secret library they’d excavated. No one cared about this area of the castle, but Zelda loved it there. It was so full of knowledge, and there were records about the Queens and Princesses of the past, ones who had wings themselves.

It was certainly a good excuse to hide down there and do research.

There weren’t many documents on the founders of Hyrule, but she’d translated a few of the ancient texts and had learned much. Apparently her powers came from the fact she was descended from Hylia herself! There were exactly three paintings of her down there, and all of them were old and weathered. Two, one of her alone and one next to her husband, the first King of Hyrule, who was holding the Master Sword, his own wings giving him away as the first of Link’s incarnations, were so old almost all of the colour was gone. The last one, however, had been tucked into a book and, protected from the elements, retained some of its colour.

The goddess reborn had gold wings, bright and shining and as beautiful as everyone expected them to be. Her Hero, however, had red wings, a bright crimson with soft gold flight feathers. What was more, this painting seemed to depict them in their downtime, the goddess still dressed up and all, but leaning over the edge of her throne. Her Hero sat on the dias and leaned against the throne, and was messing with something in his hands that the goddess seemed to be watching, though age obscured what it was. It was entirely unprofessional and sweet, and it made Zelda happy. It made them seem less like untouchable figures of pure good and more like real people. She liked that they were people too.

There was only one picture of the next Queen, and it was so old and weathered that Zelda was scared to touch it lest it crumble into dust. This queen had smaller wings, though Zelda couldn’t tell what colour they were supposed to be. Her Hero was there too, and he had four wings, and Zelda couldn’t be sure but it almost seemed like each wing was a different colour. She couldn’t find any other record of these two, and so she’d taken a picture of the image on the Sheikah Slate to preserve it. This painting was important.

One of the Queens came from the point in history called the Split, a strange period of several thousand years where very different events happened at the same time. They had, through the records in the castle libraries and the temples across Hyrule, figured out this Queen had lived three different recorded lives. Regardless, she always looked the same, or similar at least, in all of her lives. She was a warrior, and her wings, indigo and white and flecked with gold, were always held in a way that showed pride.

Her Hero wasn’t always with her, in two of her lifetimes she ruled alone. In one of them, her Hero had died trying to fight Ganon, and was buried with wings wrapped about him, as was traditional for Heroes and their Queens. The Queen had been Princess then, the books say, and was only 17. I made Zelda uneasy, Link had turned 17 just a few months ago, and her 17th birthday was fast approaching. To think the Hero of Time could die at 17 made her worried for her own Hero. The next of the two he just, wasn’t there. There was no record of the Hero after he defeated Ganon, he just vanished without a trace. Zelda still wanted to know why. The last life gave the most information on the Hero, but he wasn’t listed as a Hero at all. There was no fight in this life, just peace and a failed arrest. As far as historians could tell, this was the most accurate life of hers, but Zelda wasn’t so sure. After all, she and the head of her Royal Guard both had wings. Something had to have happened. These were the only records of the Hero of Time where his wings were visible. A beautiful metallic copper, with darker bronze flight feathers. He seemed to keep them close to his body, like he didn’t want anyone to pay attention to him or them. He apparently married a farm girl in this life.

There were different heirs in each of these lives. For the first life the Queen was a fighter, one with all kinds of magic at her fingertips. Her wings were pink and red, and when she spread them a little bit of gold could be seen at the base of them. This was a Queen who never shied away from the many, many issues her people faced. And many issues there were, records argued whether the number of quests her Hero went on was five or six or twelve. He seemed grumpy in every painting, but after seven-ish quests Zelda would be too. His wings were pink, a million different shades at once. He also seemed to prefer long tunics or dresses to pants. Apparently he didn’t like pants.

After them came a pair of Queens. Zelda initially thought they were cousins, but apparently one was the other’s ancestor, as bizarre as that was. Only one of the two had wings, a soft amber or honey colour, a safe, warm brown. The Princess didn’t have wings, but was no less important if the records and paintings were to be believed. Their Hero didn’t look like much, but his wings, a deep, dark green with earthy brown flight feathers, told of his heroics enough that his looks didn’t have to. Records said he married the Princess, but they never had children, instead helping the Queen raise her bastard twins as a group. Zelda wondered if perhaps the three had all been together, so to speak, and the twins were actually his.

In the second life, there was only one heir, a woman who was named ‘Tetra’ and not Zelda. Her wings were blue, with red separating the blue from gold flight feathers. It was a beautiful colour. Her Hero was usually pictured at her side, his silver tipped sea foam green feathers shining next to her. Those two were always painted outside, and usually on a boat of some kind.

Following the timeline that was decided to be ‘true’, the Queen following the Queen of Three Lives was her great-granddaughter. Her wings, sleek and graceful, were solid black save for the lowest layer of feathers, which was a soft golden-orange colour. Her Hero was hardly ever at her side, history said he spent most of his time in his home village or on assignments for the Queen. Zelda didn’t know if they didn’t get along, or if he hated the city and castle, or why it was that he was never around his Queen, but there was only one painting of him next to her. His wings were big, wide and strong, a range of soft oranges with a rare black feather scattered across them. He also wore a strange charm on a rope around his neck, but no one seemed to know what it was.

The only other Queen, save for the one from 10 000 years ago, was one with a story so outlandish that historians debated on whether or not she was real. She always held a sword or bow in hand, and her wings were either spread for flight or held in close for combat. They were gold, with white flight feathers that seemed to go indigo at the base of each feather. Black flecked the gold, making it obvious she was a fighter. Her Hero was always with her, his wings out behind him, flared up in a show of pride or confidence, a rallying cry for his troops. They fought in a war, so the records claimed. His wings were gold, shiny silver spots scattered over his wings, not dissimilar to the stars in the sky, that made his wings look like they glittered. He was beautiful, as was his Queen, and it was clear that the two were very close.

There weren’t any records on the wings of the Queen 10 000 years ago, nor her Hero, and Zelda didn’t know why that was. Perhaps those records were lost when the Sheikah split. It was unlikely she would ever know.

Zelda didn’t know when her wings would come in, and some days she feared they never would. It was a comfort at least that Link’s wings hadn’t come in yet either.

He found her a few hours later, bringing her a blanket and some food. He sat with her and politely signed a request for her to read to him. They read all through the night, and Impa found them the next morning, Zelda leaned over the desk with her head on her arms and Link leaning on the side of her desk, head tilted back and drooling. She left them there.

When the Calamity hit and she didn’t get her wings she felt like such a failure, especially since Link’s wings had just broken skin a few moments ago, greyish brown wings that were still all fluff coming through the slits in his tunic designed to accommodate them.

She sat next to him in the Shrine of Resurrection, just before they sealed it. His wings were still small, they had never had the chance to come in fully before he fell. She reached over and brushed hair from his face, watching his relaxed features and ignoring the burns on the rest of his body.

“Don’t worry, Link,” she whispered. “I’ll make sure they’re all safe until you wake up,”

She marched on the castle then, staring down the Calamity and ready to give everything she had to keep him at bay.

She reached forward, holding her hand out to the monster and ready to fight. She could feel the triforce on her hand burn in response, her body spilling a radiant golden light. The monster dove for her, and she held her ground, eyes open and ready to stand and fight.

A push on her shoulders, then the pressure bursting and wings spread out behind her.

Blue and white feathers sat on the ground where she was moments before.

(---)

Link stepped into the castle, tiny wings fluffed up in anxiety and nerves making them quiver. He paused as he moved towards the heart, lifting one foot.

Under his boot, was a pair of blue and white feathers, perfectly preserved from when they fell there 100 years before.

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas]

Because I desperately need some fluff for my soul... Kohga and Mipha cooking together for their men, and it's adorable BFF bonding time?

That IS cute??? Let's do it!

"This is a surprisingly cute idea from you, Kohga."

Link and Sooga were out, with Link trying to teach Sooga how to tame horses. It's why Kohga and Mipha were at Link's house, and more specifically, his kitchen. Kohga waved his hand dismissively as he finished washing the vegetables they needed.

"Don't make me sound soft. I just. Know this is something kinda rough for Sooga. He REALLY wants horses to like him, and they don't."

"Why DOES that matter to him so much? I thought he hated horses?"

Kohga shrugged as he peeled the carrots, getting them ready for the oven, all while Mipha started to slice her mushrooms.

"He doesn't LOVE them, but he thinks they're pretty. And I think he's doing this more for me, since I love them a lot."

"Is he taking inspiration from your books?"

Kohga paused in between his vegetable prep, chuckling a bit awkwardly.

"Okay, okay, maybe. I mean the whole 'being whisked off on horseback', YOU'VE had that before, you know how great it is."

Mipha daydreamed for a moment, thankfully after she was done with the mushrooms.

"It is, really~...oh, sorry."

She gave an awkward chuckle as Kohga gave her a 'really, bitch?' Look. Kohga rolled his eyes, before finishing the seasoning on his carrots, before pulling the fish out of the bag. He WISHED he asked them to butcher it for him.

"Ugh. Hate. Fish. Why do I gotta like a guy who likes it so much?"

"I'm the same with ironshrooms. Hate them, but Link adores them. But in all seriousness, I just think it's cute that you're making this easier for him-do you want me to cut that up for you? You're staring."

Kohga shook his head wildly, trying to pump himself up. He hated fish, but Sooga's favorite, salmon, was just the worst.

"No. I got it. I hate it, but I hate it even more when someone else does it."

"Sounds like you just want it to be perfect. You like Sooga, you like Sooga~"

"Oh my Ganon, shut up."

Kohga snorted at her stupid little song. It was just the distraction he needed to help him cut the fish into filets, and toss it in the oven alongside the carrots. Meanwhile, Mipha turned her back to him in order to start her steak and mushroom sauce.

"It's not my fault you make it painfully obvious. Not that I'm genuinely trying to poke fun, I think it's precious. Now, have we decided on dessert yet?"

"I was thinking just fruitcake, but I'm open to suggestions."

"Well..."

She trailed off, letting the steak sit on the pan while she dug into Link's fridge.

"We have a block of chocolate in here. If you don't mind a bite taken out of it."

"I mean I'll eat it."

"Kohga."

"Kidding, kidding! Kinda. Anyway I might have a recipe in mind."

Mipha took it out of the fridge, cutting the bite mark off, trying not to think about how gross it was, Kohga eating it.

"I'm listening."

"Thinking of maybe a chocolate banana ice cake. We got the sugar, butter, leftover cookies- everything."

Mipha scowled as she thought.

"It's a nice idea, but do we have time for that?"

"Depends. Think you can hold down the fort here while I make it? Once it's in the freezer it's just set it and forget it at that point."

Mipha nodded, putting her hands on her hips, and smiling rather smugly.

"I think I can manage."

"Atta girl! Let's do it!"

They did a rather cheesy fistbump before they got to it. You'd be surprised how much a little fish princess and an old man could get done when they worked together honestly. Kohga got his cake in the freezer, and when Mipha got her dishes in the sink, she looked through the window.

"Oh! They're back!"

Kohga finished up the other dishes, starting to plate them and put them on the table.

"Just in time! How do you think it went?"

"I'm looking...he's signaling-oh no. Oh. It went. Poorly."

Mipha rushed to the door, opening it and allowing Sooga inside, while Link put his horse back into the stable.

"Mipha, Master Kohga."

Sooga peered over her shoulder, looking at the kitchen table.

"You...made us dinner?"

Mipha nodded, rather sweetly.

"We did. Kohga thought you'd be hungry after such a long day."

"WE thought! It wasn't just my idea!"

Mipha kept her voice low as she walked him to the table.

"It was absolutely his idea, he loves you so much its precious-"

"Mipha I will throw YOU in the fryer, try me."

She helped him into a seat, before suddenly yelping, almost making Kohga drop a plate.

"Oh my goodness, Sooga!"

"What? What happened?"

"He has hoofprints on his back!!"

Kohga quickly walked over to see, and sure enough, he had two giant hoofspots on his back. WAY bigger than a normal horse. Kohga winced.

"Holy SHIT. You got FUCKED UP."

"How did you WALK in here?"

Sooga averted his gaze, clearly embarrassed.

"I uh. Didn't think you'd notice-"

"Imma kill you. Mipha, fix him before I kill him. Sooga, she's gonna touch you, alright?"

Mipha thought it was sweet. How, despite his rather aggressive tone, he comforted him. Not just by having his wounds healed, but letting him know when something he feared (women), was going to touch him. He still looked uncomfortable as her hands rested on his back, but at least he didn't jump. Link walked in a second later, clearly looking apologetic. Mipha turned to look at him.

"You took the big one, didn't you?"

He nodded. Kohga scowled as he dipped into the kitchen for more food.

"Why didn't give him a small fella? You had to take the big bastard?"

"Usually Spice has such a sweet temperament..."

Sooga moped on the spot, disappointed by the failure.

"Not towards me. Almost pulled the hair off my head, then it ran over me. Twice. And uhm...if it's not too much, he bit my hand. And a towel if you can, he spat in my face. And he bit my shoulder too, actually-"

"And you were gonna sit there and not say shit?"

Kohga glared at him, and Sooga shrunk further. Mipha was thinking about scolding him, when Kohga sat across from him, holding a bowl of fried zucchinis.

"You know what, just shut up and eat."

Kohga stuffed one in his mouth, and of course, Sooga adored it. Mipha gave his back a gentle pat once she was done, handing him a rag like he asked.

"You're healed, do wash your hands, then come and eat."

"Thank you, Mipha."

Link and Sooga went off to wash, and Kohga stuffed a zucchini in his own mouth.

"He's so dumb. Imma kill him."

"Uh huh. You just hand fed him a zucchini that you personally made by hand."

"Shut up, you don't get to be right."

"It's not my fault you two make it so obvious-LINK NO! NO CAKE!"

Mipha got out of her seat to keep Link out of the freezer, and the sight made Sooga chuckle as he sat down next to Kohga.

"You made that cake, didn't you?"

"I did, because I like the cake. And you like it too, by coincidence."

Sooga took both of his hands in his own, bringing them to his chest.

"I love you. I adore you. You have so much love in your heart, I taste it in everything you make. This is a delight, and an honor. I apologize that I'm...failing, trying to give you something you want."

Oh the poor guy looked like he wanted to cry. Kohga sighed, leaning in to bump his mask against his.

"It's not your fault horses just don't like you. You're trying. And it's as stupid as it is sweet. You're willing to get trampled just to try to make me happy."

There was a moment of silence between them. Of appreciation and affirmation between them. It was tender. Sweet. Then Sooga saw Link sitting there, grinning as if he knew some kind of secret. Sooga nudged him away, scowling.

"I'm having a moment here, go away."

Kohga snickered, leaning over to pat his cheek, before turning to the table. He immediately started to put food on the plate. Brown sugar glazed salmon, sweet and spicy carrots, fresh bread and butter, fried zucchini, crab cakes, and roasted pumpkin squash. Sooga was about to ask why was he eating fish, when Kohga plopped the plate in front of Sooga. Mipha was the first to point out what they were all thinking.

"Did you just. Serve Sooga?"

Kohga seemed to just now notice. He had taken a nice, full plate of food, and given it to Sooga.

"I...no. No I didn't?"

Sooga sat there, clearly not trying to let his heart gush with feelings.

"You did. You...served me a plate. I didn't even ask you. You just. Did it for me. That's...VERY sweet of you~"

"It's not that big of a deal!"

Mipha gave Link his plate, trying not to grin too much.

"I do it for Link. And I love Link. So that must mean-"

"You know what, Sooga, give me that fucking plate."

"But you hate fish-"

"I AM PETTY ENOUGH FOR THIS."

Sooga, for the good of Kohga, had to lift the plate out of his grasp, despite his VERY loud demands for the plate to be given to him. Mipha looked over at Link, who was just chowing down.

"They love each other. Much how I love you~"

He leaned over to kiss her cheek, making her laugh at the buttery smudge he left in his wake.

Suffice to say, the horsing around wasn't done just yet.

[writingstarling]

Is it just me, or do y'all also want a story scenario that instead of Princess Zelda, we have Prince Link?

Like, their roles are still the same. Zelda incarnate of goddess Hylia and Link the Hero of Hyrule. But imagine instead of Zelda being exposed to royalty all these times, it's Link that gets that treatment since the day he was born and Zelda being the once nobody but suddenly has magical powers. And in every story we know how Link's task other than defeating Ganon or whatever evil is to rescue or protect Zelda right?

Now, hear me out. Imagine having this prince who's used to being waited on, whether he wishes so or not, suddenly being tasked to find this girl named "Zelda" from all those legends he's heard of and then rise up to being this big hero while as well protecting and working together with a girl he's never met that holds no social status in her name other than her legend.

Imagine the shock of it all when the royal family decided to name this son of theirs "Link" in honour of the Hero or smth and have their son become it without prior knowledge whatsoever. Since it has always been Zelda that's in royalty after all. Imagine looking at this prince that has no idea on what's happening suddenly having to face off an incarnate of a god of evil and protect someone when he himself is used to being protected all his life.

I honestly really want to see him struggle and rise to be the Hero his name is so famous for. I want to see him learn how to wield a sword like how SS Link first did. Someone who didn't need this knowledge and skill suddenly have to train himself to be the best at it??? Link learning basic life skills from Zelda, the angst of him doubting in himself like BOTW Zelda did, the feeling of discovery and just the joy of accomplishment he's going to feel everytime he manages to defeat a Bokoblin on his own or just managing to light a campfire without any advance tools or help.

I just want for once Link to be the clueless prince in all this without having a role swap between them. I want to see him being this Prince that has been protected all his life learn how to actually be independent and stand on his own. Even better, learn to protect others not just using his name, but physically sacrificing himself for his people.

Why am I specifically referring to only Link in all this? Because Zelda has actually been in a position where her name holds no privilege. SS Zelda wasn't someone worthy of much noting in her society before everyone discovered she was the incarnate of a goddess. (She was also a pirate, but technically being a captain's daughter is still some form of royalty to me)

But Link has always been this nameless child that rised up to be a hero. A nobody that swooped in and saved the day coming from all sorts of places. The only time Link was truly acknowledged from an early start was in BOTW, other than that, no one really blinked at Link with much acknowledgement to his name.

I wanna see Link struggle like BOTW Zelda. I wanna see him learn basic skills and feel this overwhelming accomplishment from managing to cook up this recipe that Zelda taught him. I wanna see him being scared of everything going on around him, but having the courage to face everything still. I wanna see Link, after having his heritage revealed to him by having that symbol on his hand like TP did or smth, spend casual time with Zelda other than just swooping in or knowing her just because he has to save her all of a sudden. I want a relationship between them like what SS and BOTW had.

I wanna see this prince strive to train himself and become worthy of the Master Sword. I wanna see this prince that has always had everything handed to him on a silver platter work his ass off to be worthy of his legacy. I wanna see him grow from a seemingly fragile prince into this strong, dependable young man that is on par to his ancestors before him.

And on the side, I wanna see his parents being supportive of him. Not just because of the calamity closing in and them having to rely on their son to have him save them all, but because they truly love and cherish their son and want him to fulfill his destiny. They might have not named him that on purpose, but they sure are gonna support him to the best of their abilities.

Link needs to learn how to wield a sword? The captain of the guards is gonna take some time off to train the prince.

He can't seem to figure out how to do what the trainer tells him to?? The king tries it out and when he succeeds he's gonna try to teach Link how to do it himself.

Link has been training exceptionally hard even in harsh winter??? The queen's gonna work hard too and knit him some gloves (or at least, try to).

Link is feeling unworthy and depressed because he's been unable to master the sword???? The king and queen take time off from their duties to comfort their son.

Just, let me see soft familial relationships. Don't always just omit their parents or make them a sort of ass (looking at you here, BOTW Rhoam). I want good parents that raised good kids. That are supportive of them and what they love.

For Zelda, I'm pretty content with one who's like SS Zelda. A normal girl merely enjoying life suddenly bombarded with a destiny to help seal away an evil incarnate with a boy who's supposed to be an incarnate of a legendary hero. A boy who wields a sword worse than her. A boy who doesn't know a lick about how to survive on his own. A boy who is still wandering through the dark in all of this, same as her. She herself still doesn't understand the extent or how to use her powers, and no one to teach her. The least they could do for each other was to be of solace for one another when things are getting tough and one needed comforting. To hold each other's hand through it all. To not be alone in the dark.

I want all the potential fluff and angst I can get from this AU. They're both scared for they don't know of their destiny until the time is short and the burden of it all is far much too large for their shoulders. But they can lean on each other. Better yet, they also have people supporting them.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

I wish I can write this on my own, but my writing skills have been failing me these past few months so I really wish someone would take this up and write it.

PS: if someone really did write this out, please, please, please, ping me. I desperately wish to read it.

[breathoftheweath]

Lightning in a Bottle

Word count: 1,364

Pairings: Zelink

Rating: G

Themes: Post-game, scars, being struck by lightning, just pure fluff

Notes: Inspired by the song Electric Love by Børns. Also this is my first time writing a fic, blease be gentle lol

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

The sun beat down relentlessly on Zelda and Link as they rode down the dusty path. They had been traveling non-stop for weeks, checking on the Divine Beasts and working to rebuild the once robust kingdom. As it turned out, defeating the Calamity was only the beginning of this long and difficult journey.

“If we continue at our current pace, we can make it Gerudo Town right before sunset,” Zelda declared excitedly, all her attention on the Sheikah Slate in her hands.

Link smiled at her, her excitement infectious. She was truly her authentic self lately, no sense of royal propriety restricting her enthusiasm anymore. While the Calamity was definitely a massive tragedy that ransacked Hyrule, he couldn’t help but feel that it was an opportunity to make some much-needed changes to the outdated social norms of this country.

His reflection was interrupted by a big drop of sweat plopping on his nose from his soaked bangs. He recoiled in disgust, and out of the corner of his eye he caught a familiar glimmer. There was a river not too far from the path, and he figured a short break wouldn’t hurt anybody.

“Where are you going?” Zelda asked, finally looking up from her Shiekah Slate as Link turned his horse in the direction of the river.

He didn’t respond, just taking off his boots as soon as he dismounted. He grasped the hem of his tunic and started to pull up, eliciting a panicked shout from Zelda.

“What in the world are you doing?!? We still have a lot of ground to cover today, and you’re here stripping???” A faint blush creeped up her face as she said that.

“Relax Princess, this won’t take long,” he said, tossing his tunic to the side and shaking out his bedraggled hair from its tie.

Needless to say, the princess did not relax as he swan dived into the river, making a resounding splash. He didn’t heed her protests though, as the water made him feel more refreshed than he had ever felt before. He gently laid back and let the soft current wash cooly over his sun baked skin.

Zelda had managed to make it to the river bank, nervously pacing up down as Link enjoyed himself in the water.

“Please be careful Link, the current here can be treacherous. I don’t want you to drown out there!”

“I’m fine Princess, if Ganon couldn’t kill me I doubt a little water will do anything.”

Suddenly, without warning, he was pulled underneath the surface.

“LINK!!” she screamed, running to the edge of the river, eyes scanning for any sign of the knight.

Then, a pair of hands reached up and grabbed her collar, pulling her into the water with them. Spitting out water and gasping for air, she heard a devilish laugh next to her.

“By Hylia Link, why in the world would you do that??”

“I don’t know, it seemed like fun,” he grinned wickedly. She glared at him, but couldn’t stay mad at him for long. She had to admit, the water felt amazing.

They spent the next half hour or so relaxing and playfully splashing water at each other. When they had their fill they clambered up the embankment and plopped down on the warm grass. Zelda wrung out her soaking hair while Link laid down, stretching out his sore limbs. She happened to notice the numerous scars all over his torso, varying in size and shade, some white and almost faded, others red and glaring. A wave of guilt washed over her. As a knight, scars are to be expected, but she couldn’t help but feel partially responsible for how extensive his were. Maybe if she had done her job better and sealed Ganon away sooner, maybe if she had worked harder to protect him —

She noticed Link staring worriedly at her, and she wondered if he could hear her thoughts. Who knows, considering how quiet he always was perhaps he was telepathic. She shook her head to rid herself of her guilty thoughts, and instead reached out to touch a long red scar on the left side of his stomach.

“How did you get this one?”

He looked down to see which one she was referring to.

“Uhhhh moblin attack. It had a spear and I only had a boomerang at that moment.”

“Ouch. What about this one?” She pointed to a smaller one on his right bicep.

“Arrow from a Yiga scout.”

“And this one?” A pale blotchy one on the palm of his hand.

He grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head with his other hand.

“Uhhhhh that one was from uhhh...reaching into a cooking pot for a baked apple too soon.”

“Link!”

“What? I was hungry!”

Before she could admonish him more for his carelessness, she happened to notice a strange looking scar near where his hand was on his head. It looked like branches of a tree, thin pink tendrils reaching from his shoulder up his neck, ending right at the base of his jaw. He shifted to his elbow, and she could see that the scar reached down his entire back as well. She had never seen anything like it before.

“What caused this one?” she asked softly, as she gently brushed her fingertips across the raised skin. He paused for a moment before telling her.

“Lightning.”

Zelda had heard of unfortunate citizens who had been struck by lightning, but she had never heard of any of them surviving. Any guilt she had was quickly washed over with intense curiosity. Link saw her eyes light up as a thousand questions bubbled over.

“Where did you get struck by lightning? How did you survive? What did it feel like???”

He chuckled. A lot had changed over the past one hundred years, but Zelda’s scientific curiosity had never gone away.

Then, an evil smirk spread across his face. “I’m not telling you.”

“W-WHAT?!” she sputtered. “You get struck by lightning, and somehow survive, and you won’t even tell me what it felt like???”

“Yep.”

“Goddesses you know this is the meanest thing you’ve ever done to me right? How will you sleep at night knowing that you’ve deprived me of this knowledge?”

“Like a baby.”

“Liiiiiiink,” she whined.

He laughed. She was so cute with her nose all scrunched up as she tried relentlessly to get him to surrender his lightning knowledge. He couldn’t help but lean over and kiss the tip of her little nose.

She froze. He too late realized this might have been a breach of her personal boundaries. They had grown to be very close but he wasn’t sure exactly what level of intimacy she was fine with, or exactly how she felt about him, and —oh goddesses he hoped he hadn’t ruined everything over a little impulse and why hadn’t he moved yet he’s still way too close to the princess oh no what should he do —

He felt her hands cup his face and suddenly his racing thoughts stopped. He looked into her dark green eyes and saw a gentle expression that both reassured him and made his heart flip. Before he could say anything she closed the distance and pressed her lips to his.

He felt a jolt of electricity course through him, numbing him. An intense heat seared his body. His thoughts swirled dizzyingly around in his head, unable to grasp ahold of any of them. He still hadn’t quite processed what was going on, but he was too drunk on this feeling to care.

As she pulled away, all he could feel was a sense of exhilaration, and he didn’t want it to stop. He breathed heavily as he slowly opened his eyes. She still had her hands cupped on his face, and he reached up to clasp one so that she could feel his burning skin. If she felt the same electric love he felt at that moment, she would understand what it felt like to be struck by lightning.

“I don’t think we’ll make it to Gerudo Town in time today.”

“Eh, it’s been a hundred years, one more day won’t hurt.”

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

[ashleyswrittenwords]

Correlation Doesn’t Imply Causation

Another Zelink Oneshot

Commissioned by @truffeart :)

Post-BOTW fluff with needless angst mixed in

--------------------

It took time for the people of Hateno to warm up to the presence of the Princess with the blood of the goddess. They were folks of the countryside where the strangest occurrences had been the occasional Goron traveller or the time a youngster swore up and down that one of the cattle could speak. Miffed hadn’t covered their wonder when the mysterious young man who had brought the decaying house by the cliffs brought home a wide-eyed blonde who suspiciously met the description of the fabled princess. 

The man had only stayed in the house for short periods of time, typically buying out Pruce’s stock of arrows and visiting the odd scientist at the peak of the village. A wild, insatiable heart for adventure was something to be expected and the older gossip mongers suspected he would bring back a woman from his travels. What they hadn’t expected was his bashful admittance the day after to Ivee and her mother that he was last century’s fallen hero, that Calamity had been vanquished, and that Princess Zelda was resting in his house.

When one person knows something in Hateno, everyone does.

Initially, it was something Zelda worried extensively about. One-hundred years. Would she be out of touch? Even worse, would they see her as a monster? During her excessive ramblings, the latter question made Link do a double take and immediately steer her off the topic. He had been awake for a little over a year and reassured her that the people of Hateno were harmless, but for the first couple weeks he didn’t dispute her flimsy excuses to stay in the home when he went out on short errands.

Actually, he was very supportive of her. Link’s love for cooking had turned into more of a passion and he had easily taken the mantle of the house chef. She could tell he allowed her to do menial tasks like dicing onions so she could feel helpful, and it worked. While out to gather ingredients for meals, he brought back gardening and sewing supplies to supplement her time; even taking her measurements and returning with three colorful Hateno dresses.

And Zelda was thankful, so thankful that after two weeks she let Link introduce her to the people he knew. She had slinked a couple paces behind him, uncomfortable by the stares once they reached the main road. Amira, the wife of the general store owner, had laughed during their brief introduction, “Nack was going around spreading rumors that you glowed in the dark. I don’t suppose that’s true?”

With a wobbly smile, Zelda affirmed that it hadn’t been true. The day got easier after that. People realized they weren’t going to witness anything other than a socially anxious girl and went about their chores as if nothing happened. Of course, she also dissuaded formal titles and told them she wanted to be a normal person for as long as possible before piecing together the kingdom that had already been underway by the Sheikah.

The days went by slow, but the months sped by her. Before she knew it, Link had woken her up to the smell of herbal tea and fruitcake - sweets in the morning had always been her guilty pleasure.

“Happy three months,” Link said with a hum as he set out some plates.

Blearily, she smiled and took a seat at the table to watch him work. “Has it really been that long?”

He barely nodded. “Official this evening.”

She observed him from behind. A soft hum smoothed over their silence and she allowed herself to enjoy this less guarded Link. He talked more often. It seemed to come naturally to him now.

Zelda let herself melt into the wooden chair and thanked herself for making patterned seat cushions. It wasn’t uncommon that she took in her surroundings, comparing what she lost to what she has now. Materially, it was a deficit but never did she feel so complete. There was no real goal other than to just be. 

They ate in a comfortable silence, both still wearing what they slept in.

When noon rolled around, she disappeared upstairs to pull on a deep green dress with sewn in flower patterns and jotted down a list of items to pick up from East Wind. 

“Do you not wish to accompany me?” she asked, tying a rupee pouch to her belt. There wasn't any accusation in her voice, merely simple curiosity due to his affinity to keeping by her side. And, admittedly, she did enjoy his company.

“As much as I do,” he grumbled shortly as he tapped the Sheikah slate repeatedly. “Impa sent a letter last week that travelling merchants were having bokoblin issues in the mountain pass.”

Link wore his riding trousers and a simple Hylian tunic. Without words, they had both understood that she had claimed his Champion tunic to sleep in after days of mending. Her heart sank, it meant the shrines weren’t working today and he would need to ride horseback.

He seemed to read her mind, reaching to thread his fingers passed her ear and through her shortened locks. A commonality after she decided thigh-length hair wasn’t practical anymore.

“I should be back at nightfall. Will… you be okay?”

It was a question born of genuine concern despite the knowledge that she was fully capable of cooking and caring for herself, but he needed that affirmation for himself and she was fully willing to allow him that. When she nodded, he pulled away and she mourned the loss of warmth. Zelda forced the corners of her lips upward. The sight reassured him.

“Be careful,” she chided once he packed a small bag and swung onto his horse. Link looked down at her, grinning as if he knew something she did not. “I mean it. Don’t do anything rash.”

“I know,” he breathily said, “I won’t.”

The manner in the way he spoke sounded like her nagging had caused him great exhaustion, which elicited a playful swat at his leg. 

“Tonight?” she said, sounding more like a statement than a question.

Unwavering cobalt eyes fixated on her. A chaste nod. They didn’t say much more by the time he secured the reins in one hand and urged the horse into a slight trot. Soon he was over the bridge and down the road. By the time she retrieved her basket, he had long disappeared into the Hateno woods.

Autumn made herself known in the tree leaves that were displaced by Zelda’s steps and the chill that bit her cheeks. She fell in love with the season all over again. Ivee’s voice was clear as day once she stepped on the village road. Two people on horseback road passed her towards the inn up ahead. They politely nodded to the woman as she shouted out today’s discounts and carried on their way.

Ivee grimaced at their backs and stiffened at Zelda’s footsteps. Suddenly, with a bright smile, she twisted around to ring out a warm invitation.

Zelda offered a weak wave when the greeter’s face fell. “Sorry.”

The store owner’s daughter waved her apology away with a sigh and continued sweeping away fallen leaves from the doorstep. “Don’t be. Dad’s been on me more about getting newcomers in before the first snow.”

“Is business bad?” she asked, taking a glance about the area. There were more people than usual. 

“Quite the opposite, it’s our busiest season,” Ivee pursed her lips in thought before gesturing towards the door with a scowl. “He’s always like this. Thinkin’ we’re missing out on customers if I don’t lose my voice by sunset.”

Zelda’s shoulders bounced with silent laughter as Ivee leaned back on her heels to wipe sweat from her brow.

“I saw Link leave not too long ago,” the brunette raised her brow. “Seemed to be in a hurry.”

A shrug was Zelda’s answer as she said, “I suppose Kakariko is having a monster problem and, well, you know how he is.”

She grinned wryly, “Can’t ignore a damsel in distress?”

The basket swung with Zelda’s idle swaying and she rolled her eyes. “Oh, no,” she considered, then remembered why she came by. “Have the truffles been restocked?”

“I’m afraid not,” Ivee pouted, “I tried to save some yesterday before they sold out again, but Dad nearly lost his head.”

“I appreciate the thought, Ivee,” Zelda hummed in contemplation. She’d have to do something else for dinner.

The woman looked down, then hazel eyes shot up to hers with an idea.

“Nikki’s daughters go truffle hunting down in the lower forest. Such troublemakers, those girls,” Ivee mumbled the latter notion under her breath. “But now that moblins aren’t as much of an issue, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you tagged along.”

“I’d love to, but Link has still been wary about me straying too far from the village. I’d rather not give him a heart attack.” And Zelda wasn’t too keen on wandering far without him; the Yiga were still active on the roads outside the village. Until now, they were careful to keep a low profile.

Ivee sighed and leaned on her broom. Wistfully, she smiled, “I wish I had a protective husband like you. You would think I could find a respectable man already, but everyone our age in this town has the maturity of a child.”

The basket in Zelda’s hands froze mid-sway. “I beg your pardon?”

She didn’t seem to notice the change in the blonde’s body language and went on to stare off, “Link is so protective of you. Zelda, you’re lucky to have snatched up a man like that early on. I’m starting to think I’m either horribly unlucky or Calamity Ganon made them extinct.”

Surely her ears weren’t mistaken. 

Husband?

Snatched up?

The woven wood splints of the basket handle dug into her palm, but she carefully guarded her expression - a testament to her upbringing. 

“There’s plenty of agreeable men in the village garrison,” she said, trying to shrug off the odd feeling. “I can make Link put in a good word for you.”

Ivee quirked her lips to the side, “I don’t know, Zee… but honestly I have nothing to lose. Will being into soldier types make me as smart as you?”

They laughed it off and Zelda politely excused herself with a slight stiffness. From East Wind, she picked up grains and milk while making sure to leave a good report to Pruce of Ivee’s behalf. On her way out, Pruce chuckled.

“Send my regards to your better half!”

Her brows scraped the highest reaches of her forehead, but Zelda quickly reeled herself in and sent a bright smile behind her. As she walked down the road with the sales shouting of Ivee behind her, she felt the shock of their assumptions settle into a stark warmth against the chill air.

There were several variables that insinuated… a very misconstrued aspect of her relationship with Link. The tips of Zelda’s ears flared. But, no, she was a scientist and understood that correlation did not mean causation. It could simply be an assumption drawn from Amira and Pruce’s household only. 

“Zelda!” 

She jumped at the hiss, spinning towards its direction and coming face to face with Nikki. The woman gripped her wrist and dragged her around the corner of a house. Then, Amira popped up from behind a barrel.

“You’re good!” she loudly whispered. “He didn’t notice.”

“Who didn’t notice?” Zelda said, making Nikki momentarily panic when her voice was too loud for her liking. The antics of the two women were fairly normal, but this situation was entirely new.

Amira, who was glaring around the bend, appeared again with shifty eyes. “There’s a man going around asking nearly every woman on a date.”

Nikki puffed out her chest victoriously. “You’re lucky. He got distracted by the innkeeper’s daughter. He kept going on about boots. His boots this, his boots that. My goodness, he’s fortunate he didn’t pull that on me. My Nacky would have let him have it.”

“O-Oh,” Zelda exchanged glances between the two of them. “Thank you.”

“Absolutely, darling,” Amira proudly declared. “We wouldn’t want Link running around trying to find the man who wanted to steal you from him, now would we? It’d be bad for business.”

Before Zelda knew it, she was nodding vehemently. “Yes, I know what you mean.”

She most certainly did not know what they meant. At all. Quickly, she bid them a good day and began her way up the slopes to the Sheikah lab. Despite Amira and Nikki’s warning, the boot man never appeared to steal her away.

Purah’s squeaky voice was heard above the ticking of gears as Zelda pushed open the doors. Calculating brown eyes met hers, “I was wondering if you’d ever visit me.”

“I was here yesterday.”

She still appeared to be a child, but Zelda noticed she was taller than the prior day. From her stool, she squinted down into the cavernous body of a small guardian. It had long been deactivated by Link before he defeated Calamity Ganon, and Zelda was set to use it for a better purpose than rotting in a junkyard. 

The Sheikah waved her off, “Did your potion make only my mind older because I distinctly remember Symin being the only one here.”

Symin barely looked up from a diagram, “She was here for four hours, Purah.”

All the scientist did was hum a tune. Zelda helped herself to the desk space she had occupied a day before. Scattered across it were miscellaneous notes in Zelda and Purah’s handwriting. Small illustrations were more prevalent in Purah’s more recent studies. At least her physical form was growing older and the blonde was quick to scribble down her observations. 

Beyond that, however, Zelda grew relentlessly distracted. Any progress was dashed when she remembered how they referred to Link. Three desperate attempts to read through the same paragraph were thwarted by the time she slammed the book shut, unable to get the notion of being married out of her head.

Husband. Husband? That would make her his wife, logically. But what wasn’t logical would be the ability to fathom this idea in the first place.

“Symin,” she suddenly said, catching the larger man’s attention. He swiveled a bit in his stool to face her.

“Do you need another reference?” He was referring to the Guardian mandible in his lap.

Zelda shook her head before choosing her words carefully. 

“What are your thoughts on marriage?”

“Um,” Symin wrinkled his nose and gazed up at the ceiling above. “Uh, I have very little on the subject. Why ask me?”

“Don’t hit on my assistant, Zelly,” Purah’s voice echoed from within the Guardian body she was dismantling. “I’ll tell on you to Linky.”

That made Zelda place her hands on the table and partially stand. The metal parts lying on her skirt clattered to the ground. 

 “So, you think we’re married too?” She was louder than she usually was with a tone of finality. 

Symin nearly gawked, “You aren’t?”

“No!”

“You aren’t?” Purah echoed, popping her white head of hair out of the sea of wheels and cogs.

“Purah you should know this!”

“Zelly, you must know old women don’t poke their noses into other people’s business! Consider it an educated guess.”

Zelda groaned, falling back into her seat with her head in her hands.

The researcher’s assistant beside her shifted awkwardly in his seat.

“Well,” he started, then stopping and starting again. “It must have been another dramatization when the story began spreading across Hyrule.”

“What’s the story say then?” she said, defeat in her stature and embarrassment on her cheeks. “I might as well know how it was told.”

Purah had fully reemerged now, her clothes stained from oil. She wriggled onto the table. “Something something, before the Princess’s birthday,” she sang, “the goddesses something something and under the watchful eye of Hylia they eloped or whatever.”

“We eloped?”

“I don’t know!” Purah threw up her short arms. “That’s what the bird said!”

“Look,” Symin steered her away from his mentor. “Maybe it’d be best if you got home and explained it to Link before he hears it from someone else.”

She considered it. He was right. Zelda should rip the bandaid off early on, then the awkwardness could pass faster.

Right? 

“I will say, I was hurt that I wasn’t invited,” Purah pouted, handing Zelda her basket. “But remember that when there’s a real wedding.”

She didn’t have the emotional energy to argue at that point.

It had been hours since she had ascended the cliff and now the impending sunset brought dropping temperatures. The clouds over the sea hadn’t lightened her mood either.

By the time Zelda returned home, night had fallen outside and it caused her to assume that Link was wise enough to spend it in Kakariko. He knew she didn’t like the thought of him riding past dusk.

She waited until small bubbles manifested over the sea of oil and melted the butter for her mind to wander. It wasn’t… imposterous to make inferences based on their interactions. After all, they had known one another for over one-hundred years (with all minor happenstances abiding). Perhaps it was only natural that they developed their familiar bond.

Zelda had difficulties with darkness and he, with sleep, so it wasn’t an uncommon occurrence that she made herself a space amongst his makeshift pallets by the hearth, nor him in her bed in the loft. How many times has that happened?

Many times. Most nights.

The heat on her face was quickly blamed on the simmering risotto base. Gradually, she stirred in the rice and spices, copying the movements she’s seen Link do before. 

Besides, sleeping together - no, merely sharing the same proximity - was born of necessity. There were plenty of activities a married couple performed that they didn’t. Nikki and Nack called one another the most egregious nicknames. Zelda nodded to herself, stirring the contents of the pan with fervor. That was something they never did.

They were comfortable roommates. Who slept together on the occasion.

And who shared lingering touches when words didn’t suffice. 

She was wary to confess the feelings she harbored for those small moments when he’d brush the side of her cheek and down the length of her hair; the only times she regretted her dubious haircut. And maybe she did enjoy the opportunities to remind him to shave by cupping his cheek in her hand. Thrill wedged itself in her heart when he leaned further into her touch.

Discomfort sat at the bottom of her stomach. Zelda frowned deeply. The familiar sensation of impending disappointment ebbed at her.

The door at the head of the room clambered open, revealing the sheets of rain falling from the heavens. Boots stomped a couple steps on the hard-wood and the door shut more gently than it opened. 

“I’m sorry,” a chilled, but deeply familiar voice said. “I’m late.”

Zelda sat back on her haunches, taking Link in as he peeled off his sopping cloak. His shoulders shook as the rain had long set into his clothes.

“Link,” she whined. “Hylia above, what have I told  you about riding in the rain? Especially in this weather!”

“I know,” he grinned wryly at her from across the room. “And I nearly rented a room, but then goddesses told me you were cooking tonight.”

She would have chastised him further and ran to grab him an extra change of clothes, but her previous thoughts pounded in the back of her brain and the steady bubbling of risotto kept her in her place.

“You’re too much for me,” she huffed, barely looking at him. “Can you check to see if this is done?”

Suddenly, his breath was right next to her ear. “I’ll move out anytime you want me to.” 

A pause.

“It’s perfect, Zel.”

Her hand stilled in its stirring. There went the nickname criteria.

Zelda caught his eye and his amused expression deflated slightly. She blinked, “This is your house.” 

A small crease formed between is brow. “And?”

“And,” she emphasized, “you’re going to catch a chill in your own home if you don’t change.”

Link didn’t move immediately and she could feel his stare, but eventually he relented to her nagging. She could hardly hear him shuffle about the room once his boots were removed. When Zelda pulled the pan from the fire, he was descending down the loft in a simple cloth shirt and trousers.

“Did I do something?” he said, idling by the foot of the stairs.

That had made her brow furrow and her frown to deepen. 

“No,” she nonchalantly answered, throwing down a potholder on the table with more force than needed.

He eyed her from the cabinet and pulled out a couple plates.

“I am fine,” she copied his stare and could tell the question was on the tip of his tongue. Still, he held her gaze from across the room. Zelda pressed the appropriate silverware onto the placemats.

“Link, stop that. I’m fine.”

When he closed the distance to put the appropriate plates on their mats, he hadn’t yielded to her reassurances and took note on the way she stepped away to give him extra room.

Annoyance wormed into Zelda’s chest and she dimly noticed that this manner of interrogation was used before.

“Have I done anything?” Link asked again, genuinely this time. “Because I’m sorry if I worried you.”

It was a wonder how this was the same man who could take on three lynels at once. She only knew because she’s seen it. The fire was there when he stared down Ganon after a year of waking up from a century of slumber, it hadn’t stifled the flame in his eyes. But now, he was careful with her. The blue of his eyes was soft, gentle and fully willing to apologize when there was nothing he did wrong.

“No,” she said, forcing herself to match his demeanor because it wasn’t fair for her own troubles to affect him. “No, you haven’t.”

His follow up question didn’t need a voice.

“I heard something in town and,” she stopped to let her stiff shoulders sag. “I don’t think you’ll like it.”

Gods, she sounded like she was a child about to admit to breaking something. As she said the words, she realized that the idea itself hadn’t bothered her. What had bothered her was his potential reaction. 

Zelda could say they were friends, even close friends, but lovers? Spouses? The pull of her heart at the thought scared her.

Disappointment. There would be disappointment in his eyes that would leave her  to hurt.

“They think,” she paused. He tried to take her fidgeting hands in his, but she pulled away and left him dumbfounded. Zelda didn’t like that expression at all on him, only making her more flustered in what to do. 

“Who?” His tone was gentle, like calming a spooked horse.

Zelda breathed in a large breath, “This morning. Ivee and- and Pruce and… Nikki and Nack...”

She trailed off, searching the floor and Link for words.

“The townspeople?” 

Tentatively, she nodded, not quite able to spit out what she needed to say.

Now, he was fully confused. “What do they think? Zelda, I promise you they don’t judge you for what had happened.”

The Calamity. Of course he would be thinking she was worried about that with how aloof her mannerisms suddenly were. Assuming he guessed right, his small frown upticked to sympathy.

“They’d never pin that on you. If anything, they warmed up to you more than they did to me.”

He began to tell her about the odd stares he got when he began reconstruction of the house. All the stories that would typically make her laugh, but all she could do with stare at their feet.

“They think we’re married!”

The words that flew from her were unequivocally hers yet her ears could hardly believe it. Link’s lips fell into a small “o” as he took a step back. Shock barely registered on his features, and it made her regret saying anything at all. She hated the way his eyes left hers.

Unsure of what to do, she watched him pace to the opposite wall and back. Never did he meet her gaze in turn for the rafters above. A hand brushed through his damp hair.

He swallowed the remnants of his tales, more softer with a certain disbelief, “Married, huh?”

Her quiet response affirmed him.

If this had been any other situation, she would have poked fun at the way he was behaving. Nothing about him exuded the certain confidence he so often employed in front of her. Lucky was a word she would have used if she managed to confound him like this.

“Ivee was the first to mention it in passing,” Zelda placated. “I thought it was a simple misunderstanding until Pruce then Nikki then Amira until…”

“Until it wasn’t so simple,” he finished for her. She smoothed a piece of hair behind her ear with a nod.

They fell back into a quietness. Some of Link’s shock gave way for, what she assumed, a reluctant acceptance.

The risotto was growing cold and neither had the stomach to point it out.

Zelda wasn’t ignorant about her feelings. However, she knew she was a coward. Before the Calamity, she had an understanding of why his name suddenly filled up the pages of her diary. Back then, Link had a silent charm to him that let her be herself for a short moment. It enraptured her. But she also had an excuse to never admit it. 

Now, she had nothing to hide behind. No Calamity Ganon was going to drag her away from the man who was obviously embarrassed to be seen as her husband.

“Married?” he asked again, as if she hadn’t confirmed it for the umpteenth time. He was leaning against the table with his hand rubbing his neck.

“Yes, Link,” she was growing frustrated. “They think we’re… you know.”

Then, he looked up. “Is that a bad thing?”

Link’s eyes swept the room at her startled reaction. “Well,” he said with a raised brow and a small shake of his head. “If you’re completely against it then I am too, but-”

Then, to her absolute surprise, he shrugged. “It’s not horrible.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” there was defensiveness in his voice, “that other people assuming I’m married isn’t the worst rumor in the world.”

Now Zelda was thoroughly convinced he had stumbled upon a pub on his way home. “You do realize that it would mean I would be your wife.”

His shrug was more grandiose this time. “And I would be your husband.”

By then, the room was much dimmer. The fire lacked wood and Zelda hadn’t had time to think about lighting candles. She could make out his features, but could hardly read them.

“So, you’re not mad?”

Link wasn’t leaning on the table anymore. The action made her feel closer to him. 

“Why would I be mad at you?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Not at me. The rumor.”

There was hesitation in his movements, but he crossed the little amount of space between them. “Honestly? It makes sense why more people haven’t outwardly hit on you.”

That comment made her let out a short laugh.

“But no,” he said; she could hear his smile. “I’m not mad… not at all.”

Link’s approach was slower than usual, but she opened up to his enticing pulls that evolved into a gentle embrace.

There were many doubts Zelda harbored. Most old, some new. To her, they were indistinguishable. Yet, all were forgotten, if only for a little while when he held her close in his arms.

When she bunched the cloth of his shirt in her hands, she felt him shiver. 

“You’re going to catch a cold,” Zelda muttered.

All he did was hold her closer. 

[honeyveins]

       — -      hello,  yes,  hi.  it’s  me,  your  least  favorite  planet  named  mun,  here  to  try  and  explain  my  child  without  actually  writing  out  a  full  intro.  fingers  crossed.  oofies.  this  got  long,  please  just  go  on  and  skip  to  the  bottom  for  plot  ideas  !

        —    quick  stats  :

full  name  :  link  jang nicknames  :  n / a  age  :  twenty - two  (  22  ) gender  &  pronouns  :  non - binary  masc  presenting  /  he  &  they birthday  :  august  twenty - sixth  (  08 / 26 / 1998  ) zodiac :  virgo romantic  /  sexual  orientation  :  biromantic  &  bisexual   fandom  :  the  legend  of  zelda  /  breath  of  the  wild  timeline occupation  :  assistant  to  master  blacksmith

(  SKIP  TO  THE  END  FOR  PLOTS  !  )

         —     memory  :

     ❛       — -   the  smell  of  damp,  still  and  spoiled  water  itches  at  the  soft  freckles  that  reside  on  your  nose.  those  that  have  faded  in  the  one  hundred  years  you’ve  been  locked  away  underground.  locked  beneath  the  tall  grass,  cold  walls  that  coated  you  in  a  thin  layer  of  restless  sleep.  with  the  stale  water  that  blanked  your  pale  skin,  covered  in  gorgeous  scars  that  rested  against  your  hips,  the  curves  that  your  waist  held,  your  chest  that  was  constantly  covered  by  armor  was  still  peppered  in  raised,  white  healing  moments. how  these  all  came  before  that  which  they  aptly  named  CALAMITY  GANON. 

    ❛       — -   with  chills  raising  against  your  toned,  yet  fragile  arms,  you  bright  eyes  opened.  sapphie  eyes  that  shone  against  the  water  that  drained  below  you,  cornflower  shade  against  the  moss  covered  stone  that  surrounded  you.  the  slightly  tinted  walls  now  mirroring  that  of  the  necluda  sea,  remembering  being  at  the  helm  and  watching  the  waves  go  from  that  sweet  cerulean  to  white  as  the  waves  crashed  against  the  adorned wood. eyes  that  mirrored  the  sea  were  never  hard  to  forget.

    ❛       — -   crawling on your hands and knees  over  the  rough  rock  bed  that  you’d  gotten  comfortable  in,  a  stretched  spread  along  your  figure,  blonde  tendrils  brushing  against  your  ski  slope  nose  and  blushed  colored  lips. long  blinks  over  those  unforgettable  necluda  eyes,  before  getting  used  to  where  you’d  been  placed.  why  am  i  here  ?  did  we  lose  ?  is  mipha  okay  ?  daruk ?  urbosa  ?  revali ?  ZELDA  ?

        —     teaser  /  summary  :

   ❛       — -   link  jang  leads  a  life  as  boring  and  generic  as  you  can  think.  while  there  were  bumps  along  the  way,  link  still  enjoys  the  life  he  was  given.  along  with  the  parents  he  was  gifted  to.  he’s  shy,  doesn’t  speak  much  and  a  total  dork.  plays  world  of  warcraft  and  reads  comics  in  his  spare  time.  hates  the  taste  of  coffee  and  (  doesn’t,  but  should  )  wears  glasses  that  will  give  you  a  headache. very  sweet  and  loyal  but  with  his  fists  are  always  closed  if  he  needs  to  knock  some  sense  into  you. will  never  tell  someone  a  secret  you  tell  him,  but  it  always  very  bad  at  making  friends  because  he  can’t  open  up.  of  course,  this  will  all  be  explained  in  the  intro.  but  for  now,  this  is  all  i  can  expand  on.  if  you  have  any  questions  about  link,  feel  free  to  ask  them  and  i’ll  be  happy  to  answer  !

       —     plotting  :

i’m  really  bad  at  plotting  and  plots,  but  i  can  come  up  with  a  few  and  i  ADORE  brain - storming,  so  we  can  do  that,  as  well  !

001.  would  die  for  a  plot  where  link  has  a  crush  on  your  muse  and  never  says  anything  about  it.  just  admires  them  from  afar  and  it  too  scared  to  say  anything  about  it. maybe  they  come  into  his  dad’s  shop  or  link  has  seen  them  at  a  coffee  shop /  book  store  /  any  meet - cute  hot - spot  and  they  always  end  up  there  together.  link  has  never  been  in  a  relationship,  so  please  don’t  tease  him  !  CLOSED.

002.  also  think  a  best  friend  that  he  almost  looks  up  to  would  be  sick.  link  is  a  man  of  VERY  few  words  and  never  really  says  much.  he  talks,  but  doesn’t  ramble  or  anything,  keeps  it  very  concise.  but,  if  you  muse  can  ramble  and  talk  and  teach  link  how  to  use  his  big  boy  words  and  get  him  out  of  his  shell,  that’d  be  RAD.

003.  lastly,  i  think  link  having  a  someone  who  he  doesn’t  talk  to,  someone  where  they  can  just  enjoy  each  other’s  company  in  silence  is  cute.  someone  where  they  can  give  each  other  a  look  and  it  speaks  volumes  !   could  also  include  tons  of  fluff  with  cuddling,  watching  movies  and  kisses  on  the  cheek  /  forehead  /  nose.  little  acts  of  showing  their  friendship  and  how  close  they  are.  CLOSED.

that’s  all  i  can  really  think  of,  i’m  up  for  literally  anything. i’m  partial  to  angst,  so  i’m  sorry  if  we  plot  and  it  turns  into  a  big  ball  of  sad,  messy  angst.  but,  feel  free  to  message  me  /  ask  me  for  my  discord.  i’d  love  to  plot  with  all  of  you  !

[clumsydarknut]

Sleeping Beauty

A Linked Universe fluff one-shot for Hyrule Week 2019

“Your Zelda is super nice, Sky!” Wind sang giddily. Sky smiled and put a hand to the back of his neck. The crew had just finished their visit to Sky’s small cottage. When they had found themselves in this Hyrule at the beginning of ages, the man had been ecstatic. They’d been on their journeyings for almost two months now, and it was clear to see that the Skyloftian had sorely missed his princess.

Hyrule could relate to that sentiment. But he also wasn’t too keen on subjecting the group to his monster-ridden kingdom – or subjecting himself either – so he tried to quell his heartache.

“She reminded me a lot of Mipha,” Wild hummed.

“Mipha?” Legend laughed. “That fish girl?”

Wild scowled. “She’s was a Zora Princess. And a badass.”

Sky tilted his head. “’Was’?”

The mood of the group suddenly turned somber, the heroes coming to a halt, as Wild dropped his gaze to the forest floor. Legend’s eyes went as wide as saucers.

“She’s gone now.” Wild’s voice was slow and soft. “I don’t even remember her that well. But I know that she loved me a lot. I don’t remember if I loved her back, but she was kind, and smart, and amazing with a trident.” He gave a small sigh, and lifted his head to meet Sky’s gaze. “But it’s okay. It was really nice to meet your Zelda and be reminded of Mipha’s grace.”

Sky smiled. “I’m glad.”

“What about your Zelda, Wild?” Warriors asked. “We haven’t met her yet. What’s she like?”

Wild’s face broke into a devious grin. “Let’s just say her intellect is bigger than your ego.”

Raucous laugher filled the clearing where they had stopped, Warriors’ mouth dropping open for an appalled glare. As the somber mood vanished, they began walking again.

“You’ve got a Zelda, too, right Warriors?” Wind added cheerfully.

“I do,” he conceded, “A warrior queen if there ever was one. She’s quite the tactician.”

“You don’t sound like you’re smitten like our Cloudtop Boy over here,” Legend smirked.

Warriors stretched, clasping his hands behind his head. “She’s amazing, and undisputedly beautiful, but I haven’t decided what I feel yet.”

“But you feel something?” Twilight thought aloud.

“Something would definitely be the right word,” Warriors chuckled. “What about you? Got a girl back home? When we were in your Hyrule it didn’t seem like you and the princess were involved with each other much.”

Twilight gave a pained smile. “I honestly don’t know.”

“Don’t know?” Wind started. “How can you not know?”

“She went back to her realm before ‘feelings’ ever came up, and there’s no way to get there now. Not that I’ve found, anyway.” He sighed. “But she was incredible. Strong, smart, beautiful, and just the right amount of sassy. And a princess of her own kingdom to boot.”

“She sounds like Tetra,” Wind nodded.

“A princess of her own kingdom…?” Warriors screwed his face into a focused frown. “Wait, does she have orange hair?”

Twilight gave a start. “Yes, why?”

Warriors’ concentration turned into a grin. “Midna.”

Twilight inhaled so sharply he choked on his breath. “H-how do you know her name?”

“I’ve met her,” Warriors laughed in disbelief. “The Twilight Realm, right? That’s where you get your name from, isn’t it?”

“Y-yeah it is,” he sputtered, putting a hand to his head. “You mean to say that… that maybe…?”

Warriors nodded. Hyrule laughed jovially with the others as Twilight’s face beamed with a shocked but renewed hope.

“Looks like you might just get your happy ending after all, pup,” Time said, ruffling the man’s hair with a smirk.

“Like you did?” Four added. “You and Malon click better than any pair I’ve met.”

Time laughed. “It helps that she didn’t spurn me immediately like the princess did.” He smiled softly at his boots. “The princess was beautiful, but I’ve had lifetimes to fall in love with Malon, and I do it all over again every single day.”

“That sounds like a fantastic happy ending,” Hyrule mused.

“What about you, ‘Rule?” Legend clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You’ve got two Zeldas, don’t you?”

Hyrule was half-hoping they wouldn’t ask for the sake of his throbbing heart, but wasn’t surprised that they did. Now that the gates were open, he wasn’t going to resist the emotions any further.

“Queen Zelda and I don’t interact much since I saved her,” he began, “but Zelda the First is a different story.”

“Zelda the First?” Wind puzzled. “Wait, I’m confused, why do you have two Zeldas again? And which is which?”

Hyrule chuckled thoughtfully. “When I was 12 I rescued the then-princess from Ganon, much like the rest of you did. She returned to her rule and became Queen not long after – she’s almost ten years older than me, after all. But when I turned 16? That’s when things got hairy.”

“Aren’t you only 18 now?” Time chuckled.

“Yeah, or somewhere around there.” Hyrule didn’t notice the others rolling their eyes. “Anyway, some things happened and Impa took me to the North Castle, where she told me the Legend of Zelda. Apparently, maybe like a century before my time, one of the kings of Hyrule didn’t want his corrupt son to become a tyrant with the complete Triforce, so he hid the Triforce of Courage away and only told his daughter, Zelda, where it was. The prince didn’t like that and had his advisor try and weasel it out of her with magic, but she wouldn’t give in. The wizard ended up casting an eternal sleeping curse on her before promptly kicking the bucket, so there was no way to wake her up.”

The party had come to a halt yet again, all eyes glued on Hyrule. As he continued, he felt his emotions swelling in his chest.

“The prince sealed her away in the castle in the hopes that one day, someone would retrieve the Triforce of Courage and use it to break the curse.” He clasped his left hand with his right. “I knew I had to find it, not just for the princess, but for the kingdom. Hyrule needed a complete Triforce to rebuild. But before I could go, Impa took me to the Chamber of the Princess.”

Hyrule could remember that moment as if it were happening as he spoke. The doors of the sealed chamber slid open, light cascading through the intricate skylight in rays of blue and white. In the center of the room, a stone pedestal stood, the legends of heroes past carved into the base with stunning precision. On the pedestal lay a girl not much older than himself, her delicate frame clad in a layered silk gown of pinks and whites. Her sunny, auburn curls draped elegantly over her shoulders and across the cold marble. Time had stood still in that moment, and something beautiful had begun in his heart.

“Things changed for me after that,” he continued, closing his eyes with a soft smile. “The kingdom was important, but she was always in my thoughts. Every fight, every puzzle, every dream… she was there. And when I finally succeeded, I…”

He trailed off, reliving his most treasured memory as his heart threatened to burst. Her eyes had fluttered open as she took her first breath in decades. He’d watched in open-mouthed awe as she awoke, rising slowly and shakily from her bed of stone, dazedly coming to her senses, and eventually meeting his gaze. Blue eyes. He’d seen those blue eyes in his sleep, peering at him pleadingly. And now, those eyes met his own with a shimmer of gratitude.

“She knew who I was when she awoke,” he said softly. “She had watched my journey from her dreams, and she tried to rush to me the moment she got to her feet. I don’t think she realized she might not be able to walk just yet.” He chuckled. “I caught her as she stumbled, and…”

The feel of her in his arms flooded his mind and his eyes slid closed once again. So delicate, so beautiful, her weakened frame trembling in his embrace. She’d sobbed into his chest as he held her close, tears pricking at his eyes. When the drops finally fell, they mingled with hers – tears of joy.

You’ve saved Hyrule, she had said. You’re a hero.

He’d grinned. I did it to save you.

Her delicate hands had cupped his jaw, her overwhelming gratitude pouring from her heart right into his, as she pulled him into a kiss.

And that – that was something too special to share.

“Sounds like you’ve found your happy ending, too,” Sky sang pleasantly. He sighed, gazing up at the clouds in contentment. “Will we get to meet her? If we end up in your time?”

Hyrule put a hand to his pouch. Inside, he felt a small, square lump. His heart swelled.

“Definitely.”

[hyruviandoctor]

Soft Petals, Chapter III

It’s finally here! This chapter finally gets into a bit of the actual romance aside from banter, and I’m introducing a bit of an overall plot as well (nothing overly seriously or anything, as this is still mostly a fluff piece). I hope you enjoy! If you haven’t read the other two chapters, I’m going to post links to them at the bottom (both to the tumblr posts and to AO3). You can read this chapter on AO3 here

Chapter One: Tumblr and AO3

Chapter Two: Tumblr and AO3

The early morning air was crisp and dew still lay kissing the grass around the campsite as a single ray of light came to rest on the face of the sleeping princess. She huffed, roused just enough to be irritated, and she turned her head this way and that in an attempt to stay comfortable and avoid the obnoxious responsibilities the sun brought with it. Finding no solace on her back, Zelda rolled onto her side and pressed her face into the warmth of her knight, nuzzling and nestling in soft delight. Link, still very much asleep, reactively wrapped his arm around her and pulled in her closer. Mornings like this, Zelda thought, were well worth her hundred years’ inconvenience at the hands of Ganon.

As what felt like hours passed, Zelda rested gently against her lover and sighed in contentment as she felt him begin rubbing her head as he played with her hair. He placed a slow and soft kiss on her head as he began to awaken, wrapping his other arm around her and turning to face her.

“Good morning,” he mumbled into her neck.

“Good morning yourself,” Zelda giggled in reply. She’d learned early on that he was very affectionate when he first woke up, a secret she was more than happy to exploit every morning.

“Come on now hero. It’s time to get up,” she whispered after a while. “You know we can’t keep Paya waiting.”

Link grumbled as Zelda pried herself off of him and stood up. He knew she was right, but he had taken quite a liking to sleepy mornings ever since they began sharing a bed.

One of these days I’m keeping her in bed all day, he thought to himself.

His eyes drifted over to Zelda and watched as she stripped off her nightgown and began dressing for the day. She winked over her shoulder when she noticed him looking and Link turned his head away in embarrassment at being caught, his face turning bright pink. Zelda laughed and threw her nightgown at him, which only served to make him blush even harder. He stood and turned to get dressed himself, tossing the nightgown onto Zelda’s pack.

This girl….

Paya looked up from the fire where she’d been cooking breakfast to see Link and Zelda emerge from their tent. She smiled as Link ran a hand through his hair in a fairly useless attempt to calm it. He’d taken to wearing his hair down lately, something about Zelda preferring it that way. Paya certainly wasn’t complaining either. It was shorter than it was when he wore it in his tiny ponytail, but it was still long enough to blow handsomely in the breeze. When the wind caught it gently it seemed as if he were enveloped in a halo of gold, and he seemed utterly divine.

Paya shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts. She had got to stop daydreaming about him like that.

“Good morning Princess! Master Link!” Paya called, waving a poker with a sausage on the end. Zelda giggled at the sight, causing Paya to blush just as Link had. It still took her quite some time to stop being nervous around new people, and the added royalty of the woman in front of her certainly wasn’t helping things.

“I made breakfast,” Paya stuttered, offering up plates to the couple.

“I can see that! Thank you so very much Paya,” Zelda replied, eliciting a blush from Paya.

Link was silent. He was far too busy stuffing his mouth with the eggs Paya had prepared, and he was eyeing the sausage with the look of a starving cat. Zelda snickered and handed him a biscuit from the meal bag as she sat down.

“So, what’s the plan for today?” Paya asked, sitting across from the pair with her own plate.

“I’d like to make it over to the old research laboratory near the castle, and hopefully poke around a bit for any surviving manuscripts or other items that might still be lying around the old place,” Zelda responded. “I know Robbie and Purah grabbed what they could in their escape, but I’m hoping there are even more useful materials buried in the rubble. Functioning or not, everything that we can salvage I’d like to. It all will help us rebuild the kingdom and help the people of Hyrule live better, safer lives.”

Link swallowed and said, “That’s a good day’s ride from here, especially if something catches our eyes on the way there.”

“I can ride ahead and secure the route and the lab if you’d like, your majesty,” Paya offered. I doubt I would run into much trouble, and I can ensure the lab is kept free of looters for one more night now that the monsters are mostly gone.”

Zelda smiled.

“I would very much appreciate that, Paya. Thank you.”

“Then I’d best be going!” Paya smiled, blushing once again.

She grabbed her already packed bag and jumped over their heads, landing on her horse seemingly without any sort of impact. She coaxed it into a sprint off towards the lab, waving behind her as she did. Link and Zelda waved goodbye in return, then set about cleaning up the rest of the campsite and packing their gear into the saddlebags.

“Well,” Link said after about half an hour, “that looks to be everything.”

He ran his hands through his hair again, brushing it back and clearing it off his shoulders.

“Not everything,” Zelda smirked, placing her hand gently against his chest. “There’s some unfinished business we need to take care of before we go.”

Her hand traced down to his waistband and she slipped a finger inside before walking slowly backwards, coaxing him towards the privacy of the forest hill next to their camp.

Hylia, this girl…

This wasn’t the first time Link had had sex with Zelda in the privacy of the woods, and he doubted it would be the last. He guessed (correctly) that she had picked up on how he had higher levels of energy when immersed in nature, supposedly due to his connection to some ancient forest goddess, and his princess was never one to shy away from an advantageous situation.

She loved getting him on his back like this – naked and staring up in loving awe at her as she admired his incredible form from her spot on her knees between his legs. His muscles were incredibly well defined, and his numerous scars showed off just how many battles he’d fought valiantly in. There was, of course, the one large and circular scar on his chest where the guardian’s beam hit her champion all those years ago and sentenced him to a century in stasis. The Shrine of Resurrection had, thankfully, healed it quite nicely and caused it and his other scars to fade to a soft pink against his tan skin. She knew he was self-conscious about them, so she always took care to trace them gently with her finger and give them equally gentle kisses.

Her eyes traced his chest down to his pelvis, teasing him by purposefully avoiding looking at him where he most wanted her to. Her hands ran down his body and made him shiver as they made their way to his thighs. She knew she wasn’t the only one getting a show. She could plainly see him ogling her, his eyes indecisive as to where they wanted to land as they bounced between her breasts, her waist, her lips, her hands, her eyes. He almost had the same look as when he was staring at a delicious meal, but the hunger was deeper. Much deeper. Zelda leaned down and placed her lips gently against Link’s pointed ear, her warm breath causing it to twitch as he shuddered in anticipation.

“Show me what you’ve got, hero.”

“This specimen is truly fascinating,” Zelda posited from atop her horse. “I wonder if there’s any record of it in the old lab.”

The pair had been on the road for a few hours now, having finished their business at the now abandoned before the sun reached its apex in the sky. The horses were trotting along at a casual pace and Zelda had taken the opportunity to get out the purple Silent Princess and her notebook, hoping to get some useful notes taken down to pass the time. Link on the other hand was alert and watching the roads, just as he had when he accompanied the princess all those years ago on her travels across Hyrule. He had his bow across his lap and was idly popping nuts into his mouth as he scanned the horizon for any sign of trouble.

The Yiga had seemingly disappeared after Koga’s defeat, with the stragglers vanishing once Ganon had been destroyed. Link wasn’t going to take that at face value, however. He didn’t trust them to truly be gone, and he was always wary of travelers he met along the road - especially those that smelled like bananas. Monsters were obvious and easy to spot; the Yiga Clan was not.

Link glanced over at Zelda and smiled. The sunlight was catching her hair in such a way that her golden locks seemed ablaze with a gentle fire. Her forehead was contorted into an almost comical depiction of focus as she stared at the flower in her hand before taking a few brief moments to sketch what she saw and make little notes on the sides of the page. The particulars of her field notes didn’t especially interest him. Link understood them most of the time, a product of the two of them sharing the same tutors back in their castle upbringing. He just wasn’t as captivated by the specifics at the moment. He was perfectly happy to sit and watch his love excitedly obsess over a new specimen, and he knew he’d hear all about it once she was finished. Besides, he had a habit of reading her research journals by candlelight when he had trouble sleeping; they relaxed him while helping him keep up with her at the same time.

He looked back towards the road and saw a familiar figure emerging from the road behind a hill. The humorously large backpack and shuffling pace gave away their identity in even the briefest of glances, and Link was more than happy to see his friend appear.

“’Hoy there Beedle!” he called, waving from his saddle.

Beedle straightened up in excitement and waved back, shuffling faster towards the pair.

Zelda placed the flower back in the research container she’d stored it in and closed her book, returning both to her satchel. She rolled her head in an attempt to pop her neck and let loose a yawn as she too waved to their traveling merchant friend.

“Hey there Mister Link! Your highness!” Beedle exclaimed as they neared each other. “What brings you out this way?”

“Oh, just taking in the sights,” Link replied with a smirk.

Zelda chuckled.

“I wanted to take a survey of what’s left of the kingdom. It’s quite different from when I last was here.”

Beedle grinned.

“Yes ma’am, I suppose it would be! I hope you’re enjoying being out in the fresh air like this! Say, Link. You wouldn’t happen to have anything for me, would you?”

“Oh, I’ve got the stuff,” Link laughed, pulling a small box out of his pack. “I was hoping we’d run into you, actually. I’ve got five good specimens in there for you.”

Brimming with excitement, Beedle took the box and cracked open the lid to reveal the five Rhino Beetles within.

“THAAAAAANK YOU,” Beedle shouted, turning about ecstatically in place. “Beedle loves beetles!”

He tossed a money pouch to Link, who caught it in one hand and put it in his saddlebag. He’d told Beedle time and time again that he was happy to gather beetles for free, but the man had insisted on payment. Link decided that using that extra money to further the rebuilding of Hyrule was a better use than having it sit around in his house gathering dust, so he began just accepting the rupees and handing them over to people who needed them more when he came across them. He wasn’t really sure why Beedle loved rhino beetles so much, much less what he used them for, but he was happy to oblige his quirky friend’s interest.

“Well Beedle, it was good seeing you. We need to keep moving though if we want to catch up to the rest of our crew on schedule,” Link said with a smile.

“Don’t let me keep you! You two stay safe now!” Beedle replied with a wide grin before giving the pair a wave and shuffling down the road once more.

The sun was low in the sky as Link and Zelda neared the ruins of the old research laboratory. Zelda felt tears well up in her eyes as she took in the sight of one of her favorite places from before the Great Calamity. It was truly a decrepit sight - the walls and ceiling were collapsed in places, the windows were burst out and their glass littered the ground beneath them, the wooden door had mostly rotted away, and vines were creeping all along the guardian laser scorch marks on the sides. This had been her sanctuary away from her father back before the Great Calamity, and now it was decayed beyond repair.

Just one more thing taken from me.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Zelda dismounted her horse and began walking towards the lab. Link followed, coming to a stop next to her at the door.

“Glad to see you two made it here safely. I take it there wasn’t any trouble along the road?” Paya said, emerging from around the side of the building.

Link shook his head and asked, “Anything interesting happen on your way here?”

“Nothing to report, sir,” Paya replied with a wink.

She was almost surprised at how informal she’d gotten with Link, chalking it up to how much time they’d ended up spending together since he woke from stasis. Once she had gotten to know someone she was much more comfortable being herself, and with Link that had taken even less time to occur than normal. He had a friendly air about him that caused nearly everyone to take to him within the span of a single conversation, and he had quite a few friends and lovesick admirers throughout the kingdom.

It’s almost too bad he’s chosen the princess, she thought, sighing to herself.

Zelda reached down to the small Sheikah lantern hanging from her waist and flicked the switch on the side, casting a pale blue glow on the grass as she walked to the door. She reached for the handle and pulled it, causing it to come right off in her hands. She huffed, drew back, and kicked hard against the rotting door. It burst open and fell off its long-rusted hinges, crashing to the floor with a thud. Zelda stepped over it and entered the dark room. Link and Paya followed suit, lighting their lanterns as well.

“Let’s spread out and see what’s left for us to salvage,” Zelda suggested as she walked towards the bookshelf in the back of the room.

After a few minutes of the trio searching the cabinets and counters and shelves for anything worth taking, Zelda gasped.

“Oh good! It’s still here!”

Link looked over at her quizzically.

“What’s still here?”

Zelda held up a small key and flashed a smile at the knight.

“You’ll see. Now help me clear these rocks over here.”

Link and Paya set about assisting the princess in digging out, well, whatever it was she was looking for, taking care to avoid any rubble that looked like it was acting as a makeshift support for the ceiling. Pretty soon their goal was revealed to them: a trap door on the floor with a lock built into the frame. Zelda clapped her hands in delight, a sight that for a moment catapulted Link back to that incident with the frog by the lake.

“Oh, I do hope everything down there is safe!” Zelda exclaimed, inserting the key into the lock.

With a solid CLUNK they heard the mechanisms inside the lock open, and Zelda carefully pried open the door to reveal an iron ladder descending into the blackness below. She quickly climbed down, descending two rungs at a time. Her companions followed after her, a little more cautiously than their energetic ruler.

When they reached the bottom, they found Zelda standing inside the now open doorway to a large room. Link found it odd that the room seemed from where he stood to be well lit by a blue glow similar to the one emitted from their lamps, only several times brighter – similar to the ancient forges he’d lit at the two Sheikah researchers’ labs – considering the abandoned nature of the rest of the building. He looked over to Zelda, who had on her face a look of both confusion and delight.

“Well,” she started. “That’s new.”

[ethien]

Link x mermaid s/o?

Let me say: I love it. I love mermaids so much, Little mermaid is still my favorite disney movie and my acutal bedwear is little mermaid I know too much information.

I made it a bit longer and it’s more a story how they meet and how reader will tell it. Hope you like it as much I like it.

Under the sea

Genre: Fluff, little drama (soft drama)

Words: 3.018

“I congratsyou, my dears. All of you were successful in the test and the most important,you reached the age for our survival mission. I know the goal is hard toachieve. But I believe in all of you. Please spread yourselves over the sea andfind your mate outside the water surface. Everyone here will be waiting foryour comeback”

Everyoneapplauded and seemed touched by the words of the queen. Everyone could hear herconfidence for the new generation of the tribe. Of course, her dear daughterwas under it. You glanced to her. You saw how luckily she was to go on thismission and making her mother proud. It was true happiness. She needed it asthe future queen. You tried also to be happy but you couldn’t. You knew it wasimportant for you and your tribe. However, you hated the way the tradition washold. It was a must for every young mermaid. The only thing which brightenedyour mood was the journey to the outside of the ocean.

You werehighly curious to see how the world was. You only saw pieces when you hide inthe reef in the night.

You wereborn as a mermaid. Your type was a sub type to the normal hylian. For more than10.000 years, your ancestors escaped the rising evil ganon by transformthemselves in hybrids to live under the sea. In all the years, they used theirleft magic abilities to create a new life form: mermaids.

They couldlive in piece under the sea without facing the evil. But the price was high.They were shield for the rest of the world, so no one knew about them. Ofcourse, the transformation wasn’t completely successful. Only the royal bloodmermaid could mate with each other. Everyone could not propagate with eachother. That’s why only female could go on the mission. However, there were notmany kingdoms under the sea for the royal mermaid, so all mermaids needed to goto the outside of the ocean. This is the rest of the magic from theirancestors: They could transform themselves into a typical hylian to walk overthe surface. On the surface, they need to find a mate, propagate with them andafter this, returning to the ocean to give after some month’s birth to a newgeneration. To go on this journey, every mermaid need a training in fightingand living outside the well-known sea. And a minimum age.

Youachieved both of them, but it didn’t change the fact you didn’t like thetradition. The evil was gone long ago, there was no need to hide. And itsounded very unromantically in your ears to make love to someone and having noopportunity to see each other again. You did not understand the urge to stillhiding. However, there was no rule how long your journey should be. There was alimitation of your well-being on the ground but you had a good solution for it:You only need to be in the near of water.

Because themaximum limit outside without water contact was two days. After this, youdehydrate faster and this would mean your death. You were confident you won’tget this problem.

The thoughttraveling around the country you only knew from stories and books fascinatedyou. And of course the feeling of having a mate. Just without the urge topropagate. You wanted to stay at the outside.

Yourjourney started in a cave near Lurelin Village. It was the only place you knew.You dived out the water and sat yourself on a stone. You concentrated and feelhow your fin turned into beautiful legs. You did this many times before butevery time you were astonished by the result. It needed some time to get enoughstrength to stand and walk. You made slow steps around the cave to search yourlittle chest with some clothes to wear. It was pretty usual to wear nothing asa mermaid, so you were naked. You would not mind going out naked. But youlearned from the stories and your own observation that nudity was anembarrassing issue.

You tookthe cloths on and went out. You took a deep breath in and enjoyed the view. Thesun started setting. It was a good opportunity to walk around. That’s why youwent to the Village. The fact the evening came do not change the mood forpeople walking around. You had seen some before but now, you were one of themand they were so close. It made you really happy. The darker it got, morepeople went away. Despite the excitement you totally forgot where you will besleeping. Well, you had luck or you could call it coincidence when you bumpinto someone. It wasn’t a hard impact but it still surprised you. Neverthelessto say, you bump in a male hylian. He should be around your age, hadblond-golden hair and deep blue eyes. He had a good posture and the sword onhis back would mean he could fight. You found him quite handsome.

“Oh sorry,I didn’t see you” he apologized and offered you a hand. You took them and nowyou stand next to him. You didn’t know why but he made you a bit nervous.

“It’s okay.I did not see you either. My mind was in a bubble” you blurt out as an answer.He looked serious at you.

“You shouldnot walk around at this time. It’s quite dangerous outside in the night. Youshould go to bed” he said to you and wanted to continue his way.

“I…I don’thave a place…to rest” you murmur. He turned around and went back to you.

“You had nohome?”

You nod.

“And let meguess, you don’t own any rupees?”

You nodagain. You hide the urge to ask what rupees are. You guessed something forpaying. Like the shells at your home.

You heardhim sighed. You knew you are very careless. But you were full of happiness soyou simply forget the easiest things.

“I willhelp you” you heard him saying and got you back of your thoughts. You nod andfollowed him.

That wasthe beginning of your first friendship with a person outside the sea and yourjourney with him. His name is Link and you could say, he was a knight from thekingdom. He travelled a lot around Hyrule and fight monsters, solves miraclesand dungeons and helped people. You had a feeling he liked and hated it at thesame time – He was quite surprised you never heard of him or his adventures.You knew from the tales a hero appeared and defeat the evil. You guessed inthis time, it was him. You were very happy to be around him. He had learnedfast you had no idea of Hyrule. You said to him you were from far away and youreally wanted to visit it. Well, not everything was the true but he believedyou. The friendship grow between you while you travel and fight with him. Youknew you gave him at your first visit the view of the careless woman without orientation.But you had learned to fight and you could fight. The fact your orientation isbad was forgotten.

You had noproblem with finding a good water spot every second day – It seemed quitenormal to bath every day. It played you in your cards.

You had alot of fun times, playing around or just relaxing the field admiring the sky orthe sunset. You went to festivals with him or to marvelous temple. You got toknow castle town and had an audience with princess Zelda. It was a short talk,but you feel her love for Hyrule.

You spendevery day together.

You bothgrow close together. It took some months after you realized your feelings forLink. Maybe it was a bit of your instinct of finding a mate to survive. But themost part were from getting to know him more and more. You were afraid hewouldn’t feel the same for you. You never read how to confess feelings. Well,you really did not get a chance to confess.

You and hewere in a battle and it went well. At the end a silver Lynel appeared and thefight was horrible. The Lynel injured both of you, but you two made it todefeat it. You were exhausted and tired. You went to him and wanted tocongratulate for the win when he suddenly hug you. You could feel how hetrembled a bit. He did not let you ask what was. He put lovely his lips onyours. It was a short one, but soft and full of emotions and desire. After youtwo parted, he lean his forehead against yours.

“I wasafraid…the Lynel would defeat us. The fear to lose you was so intensive and nowI am so glad we both successes. Please…[Y/N]…Stay by my side”

Youanswered it with a deep kiss.

The monthspassed while you travelled with Link and being his girlfriend. You had the urgeto tell him your true nature – he deserved it. But you did not know how.

You did notknow at the moment the gerudo desert would give you a good moment when youshould tell him. You knew from Link’s telling it was quite hot and dry in thisarea. You were afraid to go there but also interested. You just hoped it willbe a good trip.

It wasn’t.

The momentyou took your feet on the sand, you suffered. You could feel how much you sweatand how your mouth went dry. Both of you had a lot of water on the trip to the oases.Well, you emptied them on the first half of the walk.

You wereglad he was a caring person. He noticed how you walked more slowly and yourheavy sighing rang in his ears. He also noticed how fast you ran out of waterand how pale your face got.

Heremembered you said you had some problems with extreme heat and dry humanity.He never expected it this worse. He wanted to travel to gerudo town to show youaround. He knew he had to wear his vai gerudo armor but the fact you alreadystruggle at the way to the oases worried him. He could see you were close to collapse.He supported you with his shoulders and his water savings. It was just enoughto arrive at the oases.

He sat youand himself under a tree to cool down. You were shaken and thirsty.

“Don’tworry – I will get you something to drink” he said and you watched how he buyssome drinks and food. You knew it would help a bit. Deep inside you knew itwasn’t enough. You had to go in the water. This was one of the rare moments youwanted to swim with your fin. You glanced to the little spring in the oases. Itwas like you act automatically when you jumped in the water.

You couldfeel the change immediately. Of course, Link noticed how you jumped in. He wasstill worried but chuckled a bit when he saw how happy you were in the water.

“Glad you’renow better. The next time, we will jump directly in the water” he said andjumped to you.

You wereglad he didn’t notice. But it also made you sad he did not notice. There were alot of moments he could think you were different.

Youremembered good how both of you swam. You could also swim very fast as ahylian, much faster as Link. You noticed a lot of hylians had problems withswimming for a long time. He often needs breaks and he was astonished by yourstamina.

He had toknow it. But how?

You twoabort your visit and went back. You really wanted to Lurelin Village. You saidto him you had a surprise for him. You had his attention.

During thewalk, you got nervous. You really did not know how he would react. A lot oflies will be revealed. He would learn why you react so badly to heat. Why youcould swim so well. Why you said you wanted to be intimate when married. Youwere afraid he would leave you.

“Iseverything alright? You’re quiet the whole way”

“Everythingokay. I am just a bit nervous”

He nods. Itconfused him why a surprise made you so nervous but he said nothing.

You arrivedand rest a bit. In the evening, you took him for a walk. You walked in the cavewhere you started your journey.

“I have totell you something…about me” you started while you watched the water in thecave.

“I…I hidesomething really important before you.” You started. “I lied when I said I amfrom a far away country. My home was always next to Hyrule, but no one can seeit.”

“What…doyou mean?” he asked hesitated and confused.

“My home isthe sea”

He tooksome steps back from you. “W-What?” he just asked.

“I am…I-Iam not a fully hylian person. We are a rare culture who lives under the sea –we’re mermaids.”

You saw hiswiden eyes and his shocked expression.

“There is atradition at my home. We should travel to the ground, find a mate, makingbabies and return to the home…to give birth to a new generation. We also hide,but it wasn’t necessary in my opinion. I hate this tradition, but it was theonly way to get to know this beautiful landscape…” you said and look himstraight in the eyes. “And it was the only way to get to know you…and fallingin love with you”

He saidnothing and did nothing to break the distance. You could see he was confused,feared and a bit hurt.

“I…I reallywanted to tell you sooner. Really. But I never had a good moment and I wasafraid you would think I only use you for the one thing. That was never myintention”

It wasquite between you two. The atmosphere was intense and you really had no ideahow Link thought about it.

You wantedto scream – the pressure of a silent Link was huge. You could not read hisface.

He took astep to you, he had a serious look on his face.

“[Y/N]…I…Inever expect this…as your surprise. I am kind of hurt you lie a lot to me”

Your heartclenched by his words, but you deserved it. It was the truth.

“I am soangry and confused at the same time. I really don’t know how long it will needto trust you fully again..”

You feelhow tears appeared in your eyes. You knew it would come and he had every rightto be angry. It did not change the fact it hurt you and made you sad…

“But I alsocan’t forget my feelings for you. I can also understand a bit your reasons tohide despite the fact it was wrong to lie…”

Suddenly,you were in his arms. You really did not expect this.

“Like Isaid after the Lynel fight…I don’t want to lose you. You’re the only one whereI can feel so free and calm. It will need some time to heal this wound…But to throwmy love away only because you had your reasons for hiding…isn’t fair for you…orfor me…I love you, [Y/N]. No matter if you’re fully hylian or not”

With this,you kiss him passionate. You also cried a bit. You were highly afraid he wouldleave you. But he accepted it and it made you to the happiest person. You feelhis hands on your waist which took you closer to him. You put your arms aroundhis neck and caress the back of his head.

The momentwent long and you two parted your lips. You saw a curious light in his eyes.

“Would you….wouldyou show me….how you looked?” Link asked a bit shyly. You nodded.

At first henearly falls from the stone when you fully undressed yourself. He saw you nakedbefore but this was very sudden. You jumped in the water and concentrate a bit.It took some time. You dived out and saw how his mouth was wide open.

“Oh hylia..”he said more to himself than to you. You feel a bit embarrassed. It should benormal for you being naked around him. But you were yourself before him and howhe admires your whole body made you shiver.

“Can I…touchyour…?”

Instead ofanswering, you took his hand and lay them on your fin. He could feel how warmit was…and how wet.  Your sheds were indifferent colors and shine brightly.

“You’rebeautiful” he only said and sat himself next to you. It was again quiet betweenyou. This time, it was a good silence.

“Ahm..” hestarted and you looked at him. He blushed hardly and looked shy away.

“Is yourtrue form the reason…we..you know…?”

You gotwhat he means and also blushed. You nodded.

“Well…yes.We mermaids are very fertile and despite the fact how much I love the idea ofhaving a family with you…at the moment, I don’t want one. Is this….okay for you…towait?”

His blushincreased and scratched the back of his neck. He chuckled shyly.

“I am gladit’s that reason. To tell the true, I really did not believe the reason withthe marriage. I really thought…you…ahm…don’t like my…my…my master sword…”

You werenow red like a tomato. Then you chuckled. He also started to chuckle.

“I couldnever hate you or your magnificent master sword.” You started and got an embarrassedglance from him.

“I love you…Link”

“I loveyou, too…[Y/N]”

[goldenworldsabound]

FLUFF 16 WITH URBOSA I BEG OF YOU

FINALLY GOT TO THIS AND…I AM SOFT SO VERY SOFT @heart-stealer-hope

Today was the day they’d found the Spring of Courage. It had taken many visits to the Faron region, over many months, before Wendy and Urbosa had stumbled upon it. Urbosa had cleared out the Lizalfos in the area, and they had set up camp just outside of the area that held the spring itself.

“The moon is bright tonight.” Urbosa commented, glancing up at it’s silvery visage. Night had fallen, but they hadn’t bothered to light a fire. Wendy had been studying all the ruins outside of the spring with reverence, while Urbosa watched on, scimitar casually in hand. Now, Wendy was looking through the photos she’d taken on the Sheikah slate, murmuring a bit to herself.

“I noticed you haven’t gone into the spring yet.” Urbosa added, nodding towards the covered area that housed the spring itself, with it’s guardian statue.

“Ah, yes, well, I…I don’t know that it would be…right, to go and take pictures of it and all…” Wendy fidgeted with the Sheikah slate, settling for turning it off and slipping it into its bag.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t go in at all.” Urbosa sheathed her scimitar and put it down. She stood up, holding a hand out to Wendy. “It’s a warm, beautiful night. Come with me.”

Wendy blushed a little, taking Urbosa’s hand and standing up. “Are you sure? I-I mean…you’re…you’re a Champion. You’re definitely courageous and worthy of going in the spring. I’m…I’m just…me.”

“Wendy, my Little Artifact.” Urbosa leaned down to press her forehead against Wendy’s, cupping her cheeks with her hands. “Without you…there would be no more Hyrule. It was Link’s destiny to free the beasts, but it was yours to free the Champions. And even without that…you have proved your courage time and time again. The gods surely smile upon you, for the good you have done.”

“Do you mean it?” Wendy mumbled, looking to the side shyly.

“I wouldn’t say it if it wasn’t true, Little Artifact.” Urbosa pushed a strand of hair behind Wendy’s ear. “Now won’t you join me?”

Wendy nodded. “Alright. I will.”

Urbosa straightened up, and they walked into the covered area. Wendy stopped and stared, but kept her gaze reverent, refraining from her usual act of running around and touching everything in sight, examining the details. She took the statue in from afar, feeling to some degree it’s presence and power. Even after all this time, the spring not seeing visitors for almost 100 years…it clearly still held some vestigial power. Perhaps now, with Calamity Ganon gone, it would return to it’s former glory. They would have to let Zelda know they’d found it. Though in retrospect, Wendy supposed Zelda already knew where it was…

She was startled out of her thoughts by the soft clinking of Urbosa laying her armor on the ground. Wendy made a muffled noise of surprise at seeing her girlfriend stark naked, highlighted by the streaks of moonlight that came in through the cracks in the ceiling.

“Ur-Urbosa!” Wendy stammered out, feeling herself blushing.

Urbosa laughed. “You didn’t think we were going in fully clothed, did you?” She asked teasingly, running a hand down her other arm slowly.

Wendy sputtered for a moment, before sighing. “I admit I didn’t think that far at all.” She admitted begrudgingly, before sitting down to strip. She remained deeply flushed under Urbosa’s gaze. Fully naked as well, she allowed Urbosa to take her hand and lead her to the spring water.

The night air was warm, and Wendy was surprised to find the spring was a little colder. She flinched but continued stepping into the water. They went to the center of the spring, where the water was deepest, Urbosa squatting to put herself at eye level with Wendy. Urbosa put her arms around the smaller Hylian’s waist, smiling at her. Wendy tentatively put her hands on Urbosa’s arms, blushing at feeling the taut muscle there. She expected Urbosa to make a teasing comment - but when she met the Gerudo’s gaze, she saw a softness there she hadn’t been expecting. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt captured in that gaze.

“Do you think the moon is jealous of how pretty you are?” Urbosa asked softly, stroking Wendy’s face with a wet hand. “Here, in her beautiful silvery light, you look more beautiful than she could ever hope to be.” She whispered.

Wendy felt her heart pound in her ears, still finding it hard to breathe. She wanted to say something back, but her mind had gone blank. Her words, the moonlight reflecting on Urbosa’s beautiful locks, the silvery water…it had all overwhelmed her with it’s beauty.

Urbosa pulled her into a kiss, soft, but passionate. Wendy returned that with an equal passion. Words she could not do right now, but a kiss…that would work. That she could do. They held each other tightly.

“My Little Artifact, you are a treasure more precious than the moon, or the sun, or the stars. Than anything I could ever hope to find.” Urbosa whispered as they broke apart. “I will love you always.”

“I love you too.” Wendy replied breathlessly, looking up into Urbosa’s green eyes, her own blue ones wet with happy tears.

She saw Urbosa’s lips curl up in a smile. They embraced again in the holy waters.

The goddesses saw the purity of their love, and blessed them.

[silentwilds]

RP Wish List

I’ve seen some other people doing this, so here is my RP Wish List! If we’re mutuals, and you are interested in plotting for some of these or taking part in them, then please feel free to like or reply to this. It might take me a little while, but I will work on addressing everyone and hopefully plotting out some really great threads.

I’m going to section this wishlist up by timeline points and possible shippy threads. AUs will be listed at the bottom, and they can be added into most of the scenarios described for extra exciting flavor!

C H I L D H O O D

Link going to Zora’s Domain for the first time, as a four year old rowdy boy. ((Meeting Mipha))

Link, age 6, comatose with scarlet fever, and taken to Zora’s Domain to be healed. Mipha, recognizing the boy from a few years ago, becomes his doctor and is one of the first people to realize that his ears and his vocal cords are damaged beyond all repair.

Any of the future trips to Zora’s Domain during his childhood, and bonding with Mipha and even a baby Sidon. Mentions of, or inclusion of Link’s baby sister, Una, is welcome!

S Q U I R E S H I P

Meeting Princess Zelda in passing at a young age. The Queen would still be alive at this point, and Link would just be a silent, but promising young squire in the castle.

Lost on Death Mountain! When Link meets Daruk for the first time, and becomes an honorary Brother of the Gorons.

Adolescent and teenage visits to Zora’s Domain, where his friendship with Mipha continues to grow and bloom into a particularly close bond.

K N I G H T H O O D

ANY AND ALL interactions with Zelda, from the initial friction between them to the gradual bonding. There are... so many... i don’t know if I could list all the scenarios... but Eating A Frog (tm) is definitely on it.

Visiting Gerudo Town for the first time-- requires an Urbosa

Visiting the Rito-- Revali required

Re-visiting Death Mountain and continued bonding with Daruk.

Visits with Mipha, specifically that one visit mentioned in her diary, when she and Link finally got to spend the day alone together instead of being pulled apart by duties. ((could become a slight AU where Mipha does actually propose to Link and doesn’t chicken out at the last moment))

Link being taught new techniques by the Sheikah-- requires an Impa or other Sheikah OC who was alive during the time

Bonding with lil’ Sidon!

R E S U R R E C T E D

Active mental therapy with the Sheikah to help him remember things. Open to any Sheikah who would be alive at the time.

Talking with Sidon about Mipha and all of the Zora-related things he’d forgotten. 

Gerudo Town revisited-- learning Gerudo fighting techniques and bonding with Riju. (maybe some sand surfing antics~? Or Link teaching Riju some Hylian Sign Language~?)

Finding the Master Sword. This is already an on-going plot I have with @iniquitoussabre , but it is on my wishlist because of all the things we want to do with it, and if anyone else wants to get involved, they are welcome!

Threads involving Hero’s Shade or Twilight Wolf. I want Link to bond with some of his past incarnations, even if they are wolfy-ghosts. 

Link possibly finding his little sister, who is now very very old and not 100% mentally lucid. But a thread where he meets her again and he has a rush of memories of his sister, his parents, his family, the life he used to live so long ago.

P O S T    G A M E

Link & Zelda spending time the Hateno House... just taking the tie to do nothing and try to quietly cope with all they have suffered. Includes gentle, domestic tasks, because they both deserve the chance to finally rest.

Rebuilding Hyrule! From repairing small towns to rallying the various pockets of population together to reconstruct Hyrule castle, there is a lot of room to grow in this on-going plot idea. Reshaping the kingdom to fit a new image, and rebuilding the world that they all thought would be lost.

A U s

Please feel free to mix-and-match many of these AUs with some of scenarios posted above.

ANY of the Champions being resurrected after Calamity Ganon’s defeat!

Urbosa and Zelda’s Mother as Queens of Hyrule

Royal Guard Link, and/or AUs where the Calamity did not strike or Link is not the legendary hero, but is instead a skilled royal guard member.

Role Reversal AUs, where Link is a prince of Hyrule and not a hero at all.

S H I P     S T U F F

Link’s first kiss. Baby boy here has never been kissed before. What an ANGEL.

The beauty of slowly falling in love. Little tings like small touches, warm smiles, spending time together alone, and learning romantic words in sign language. Just consider how cute.

Mipha finally proposing to Link. We all know she intended to, she made him the tunic, she got her father’s approval. A thread where she actually does it, whether it be before the Calamity struck, or post-game revival thread where she and Link have rekindled something, it would be cute.

Feelsy recovering and coping moments with Link & Zelda. the game implies that there might have been some dormant feelings there between them as well, as they both recover post-game, there are many moments they could have together that will help each other get by and learn how to exist in this new world.

A romantic partner seeing and discovering all of the scars Link has, old and new, on his body. Potential for steam, tender soft fluff, and angst all in one go.

Did I mention that he’s never been kissed?

S E L F     I N D U L G E N T

Link as a father. Imagine him with a baby strapped onto his back or chest in a cute little papoose. jUST IMAGINE

Some reason for a ball. Pre- or Post-Calamity, I love balls, I am such garbage, but just gimme a ball event. Link can awkwardly struggle to hear the music and there is ample supply of moments for interesting moments.

[ichabodcranemills]

End Of Year Fic-Writer meme

It’s that ask meme, but because I never get asks, I decided to just answer everything on my own :)

1. What’s your personal favourite thing you wrote this year?

there’s always time, on my mind (so pass me by, I’ll be fine) , specially chapter 5

It’s a Thirteen-centric story where she has to face some demons after having the TARDIS attacked by a very peculiar weapon, and ends up becoming something of a monster herself. It was based on a prompt list and, at first, was meant to have short chapters but it grew into something much bigger and more complex. Chapter 5 is almost a story on its own and it has 5k words, which is the most I’ve ever written for a single chapter. Yeah, I just love this story a lot.

2. What’s your least favourite thing you wrote this year?

Doctor Oswald. It was a Yaz & Clara roadtrip adventure. It’s not that I disliked it, but it was really out of my comfort zone and I’m not sure if I managed to write Yaz and Clara well. I had a really hard time tapping into their voices. I deleted that story for a series of reasons, but I plan to post it again next year, after giving it some more treatment. But I think it will still be my least favourite thing, even though I think it’s a good story.

3. Which of your fics was most different from what you usually write?

I mean, this year I really expanded on my writing, so it was a big exercise on writing different styles, but It’s just blood under the bridge was the most unique one. It’s a collection of Doctor Who ficlets following whumptober prompts. It has a little bit of graphic violence, and it’s the first time I wrote something like that. Also it’s my first collection

4. Which of your fics this year was most successful?

rare is this love; keep it covered  it’s chameleon arch Spydoc story, of the fluff, domestic bliss variety, not angst and deceit one. It was my first Doctor Who fanfiction ever, I love it so much and I’m so proud of it.

5. Which of your fics do you wish was more successful?

Despite being my second most successful fanfic, I wish ‘there’s always time’ had been more successful, because it is my favourite. Find me where the skies are blue is another Spydoc story that didn’t get as much attention and I think it’s a really good one.

6. What’s your favourite piece of dialogue you wrote this year?

“Come on, Doctor” his voice is velvety and amused “You locked me here, the least you can do is face the truth, for once in your life. Admit that you’re doing this because you have to feel in control of something after you lost control of your entire life. Of your entire history. It does bother you not knowing who you are, or what you have done, and your silly speech at the Matrix chamber didn’t change this. Admit that it hurts you that you don’t even have me. I’m not your oldest enemy, just another casualty that doesn’t even cause a blip in your life. You have no one and there’s nothing you can do to fix this. Admit that you wish you-”

“What,” she snaps, getting face to face with him “Wish I had killed you?”

Before he can answer, the Doctor grabs him by his shirt and pushes him against the wall, her forearm in his throat, squeezing enough to make him gasp.

"That's what you want, isn't it? To die? I can arrange that."

"Do it then” he shivers under her touch “Snap my neck until I run out of regenerations, see all of them wither in front of you, wreck this vault with the energy of it. End me for good."

She pushes him harder, a snarl twisting her face, but it only makes him laugh and lean into her touch.

“Or, even better, do it properly this time. Find another death particle, throw this ship into a neutron star. End us both, once and for all. Rid the universe of its monsters.”

From chapter 5 of “there’s always time” (I said it was my favourite :D)

7. What’s your favourite piece of description or narration?

He doesn’t deserve any honor because he doesn’t even deserve to be alive.

Sometimes, when the pain is too much, he walks to Mount Agaat, the edge of his world. If he would jump from there, there would be no way back. Nothing would be fast enough to catch him. Not even-

He always walks away, though, because what would be the point of that? Kill himself when Mipha and the other champions had given their lives so that Link and Zelda could live. Defeat Ganon. Rebuild the world. That would be a waste of their sacrifices, pettiness too great for Link to bear. So he walks away and gets into stupid fights with armored Lizalfos, and if he’s lucky, he gets himself hurt enough he might see-

From “What remains once the war is won”, a post-game Breath of the Wild, Miphlink fanfic. It’s all angst, all the time, and I still have to write the final chapter :D.

8. Which fic this year was most fun to write?

the landscape after cruelty , another Spydoc, based on Spyvember prompts. Most of it was really fluffy and soft and I wrote it with a smile on my face all the time. 

9. If you could go back and change something about one of the fics you wrote this year, what would it be?

I wouldn’t title a story “rare is this love; keep it covered”. A semicolon on a fanfic title? What kind of pretentious shit? I don’t know what I was thinking.

10. What, if anything, are you going to try to do differently in your writing in the new year?

I will try to give some love to my non Doctor Who stories, specially “in her smile was kept my whole world” (Sleepy Hollow, Ichabbie), which should’ve been finished already. I’ll also try to be less self conscious. English is not my first language but I work really hard on it and I shouldn’t be ashamed when I make mistakes, that’s only natural.

[inkingthewild]

His Favourite

ahaha finally, my first Zelink fic! I’m warning you, it’s pure fluff. I hope you all enjoy <3

Link hummed quietly to himself as he flipped the pancake over, being careful not to let it stick to the sides. He hoped that the princess wouldn’t mind a change from her usual breakfast.

It wasn’t a particularly special day in Hateno Village; the birds sang sweetly and the sun smiled upon the residents as it usually did. However, Link had woken up with an unusual abundance of energy, and had decided to make something a little different for breakfast. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision but, judging from the mouthwatering smell wafting from the sizzling pan, it was definitely a good one.

Zelda was still asleep. Upon the defeat of Calamity Ganon, Link had asked Bolson and his construction team to build a temporary room for her in his house while Hyrule Castle was being rebuilt. While he would’ve liked to admit that his request was purely for practicality and convenience, there were undoubtedly other feelings that had influenced his request as well. It had taken some time before he had recognised what those feelings were, but once he had, he found himself yearning to spend as much time with her as he could - more than he was already spending. She was an immense comfort to him, especially after having travelled Hyrule in loneliness for the better part of a year. 

Zelda was intelligent, endearingly passionate when excited, and incredibly beautiful - so naturally it was difficult to tear his eyes away from her at times. She had told him that he was the light of Hyrule; but he always believed that if he was Hyrule’s light, than she was the stars that shone with a constant warmth, illuminating the bitter night sky at its darkest.

Link began to ladle more of the mixture into the pan, placing the finished pancake on top the towering stack he had already made. Daydreaming about Zelda had become more common for him, and it was becoming increasingly harder to hide. When the pair had trekked to the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, Purah had pulled him aside, told him he was ‘gazing at the princess as if she were the Goddess Hylia herself’ and had then winked knowingly at him. It had been enough to send Link into a flurry of half-hearted denials and a coughing, spluttering mess, and to prompt Zelda to ask him concernedly if he had suddenly contracted a fever. It hadn’t been his best moment.

“Link, what are you making? It smells delicious…”

Jolted out of his musings, Link spun around to see Zelda descending the wooden stairs while barely concealing a yawn behind her fingers. Her nightgown was rumpled and her golden hair puffed up in places, but the sight of her brought a familiar fondness to his chest.

“I made pancakes.” Link answered, gesturing to the window. “It’s a beautiful day, so I was inspired.”

“Really? I’d love to see!” Zelda’s infectious enthusiasm showed itself as she moved closer to inspect Link’s cooking, all tiredness forgotten. It was, quite frankly, adorable the way she poked at the food, beaming all the while. Without any warning she pulled off a piece of pancake, and popped it into her mouth. And another, and then another.

“Hey,” Link chuckled, amused, “don’t eat it all, otherwise there’ll be none left for the actual breakfast.”

“But it’s absolutely divine! How could I not?” Zelda smiled, mock-offended. “With food as good as this, it would be an insult to not eat it.”

“Yes,” Link agreed, “I seem to remember you devouring all of those cookies I made last week, but leaving none for the poor cook.”

“Well,” she laughed, “ I’m sure the cook didn’t mind me eating them all, since I complimented him profusely once I finished them all. Really though, what prompted you to make these? You’re prone to sleeping in, and you never wake so early to prepare food. I’m not complaining, but I am curious.”

Link grinned cheekily. “Can’t I make divine food for my favourite princess?”

Zelda stared at him, momentarily stunned by his answer. Then, slowly her emerald eyes lit up and her lips curved into a soft smile.

“Oh, Link,” she murmured, “you’re so sweet. Thank you.”

He wasn’t able to formulate a response, because she then leaned up, brushed his cheek with a gentle finger, and pressed her lips lightly to his.

It was a chaste kiss, but it left Link reeling and suddenly hot, with a splattering of crimson blossoming across his face. He dimly registered the sound of Zelda’s honeyed laughter in the back of his mind as she slipped past him to swipe another pancake from the now-dwindling stack.

It truly was a beautiful day.

[chainsawbettyloo]

Title: Regardless 

Pairing: SidLink 

Rating: Everyone

Tags: trans!Link, fluff 

A/N: Thank you for the prompt! I enjoyed writing this but it was a bit of a challenge as I really have no experience with this so I hope it came out alright! 

I’m still taking prompts so hit me up! This is also on AO3 if you’d prefer to read it there! Comments, reblogs, kudos are appreciated! Thnx! 

-

The moment they met up at the entrance to Zora’s Domain for their monthly reunion, he could tell there was something on Link’s mind. Or, at least, there was something Link wanted to say but, for whatever reason, was hesitating in voicing it.

As they weaved their way to Sidon’s private quarters, Link’s small (well, small in comparison to his own) hand held gently in his own, he tried to think of what it was. Far as he knew, there was nothing troublesome going on. Peace had long been restored, the nations were thriving, Hyrule was slowly returning to it’s former glory and Calamity Ganon was gone. Perhaps it was more of a personal issue? Maybe Link wanted to talk about their relationship, though he wasn’t quite sure what he would want to talk about.

Personally, he considered their relationship to be in just the right place. They were becoming more and more comfortable with each other, they had even been a little intimate a few times, though Link clearly wanted to wait a little longer until their intimacy went beyond light touches and kissing, all fully clothed (for Link, at least), which he was unopposed to. He still wasn’t completely sure how to go about the physical aspect of their relationship so he was grateful for the time he was given to figure it out.

But that pretty much struck down all the reasons he could think of for Link’s behavior. He was most certain that he didn’t want to end their relationship, as well as sure that he wanted to wait to take it a little further.

‘Ah well.’ he thought as he pushed open the large door that lead into his personal chambers. Link would tell him on his own time. For now, he would just be patient and be thankful for the time they were able to spend together.

Closing the door behind him, he immediately swept his beloved up into his arms, squeezed him tightly and said, “I’ve missed you.”

Link’s arms were immediately around his shoulders, squeezing back just as much. Dotting little kisses everywhere he could reach, he snuggled closer, “I’ve missed you too.”

Pausing to give Link’s round shoulder a little bite, which immediately earned him a surprised but pleased giggle, he set the Hylian back down onto the floor and smiled happily, “Now, what shall we do? I imagine you have to be exhausted from your trek here so would you like to take a nap?”

“Maybe in a bit but before then-” Link stopped, visibly hesitating, his gaze dropping. He took in a deep breath and began to fidget nervously, “Before then, I need to talk with you about something.”

“I figured as much.”

Link raised his head in surprise, his eyes wide.

Sidon smiled gently, “I can read you quite well, you know. It was obvious that something is on your mind.”

With a soft chuckle, Link’s head fell forward again. He was quiet for several moments, his hands in constant, nervous motion. Squatting down so that they could be at eye level with each other, Sidon waited patiently, sensing that whatever Link needed to talk about was important. He wanted to reach forward and brush the hair out of Link’s face but he felt that would be distracting. By the expression on Link’s face, it seemed as though he was concentrating, thinking hard on what to say.

After another deep breath, Link spoke up, his voice soft, “You would love me, no matter what, right?”

This time, it was his turn for his eyes to widen in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up. Tilting his head, fully baffled as to where that question had come from, Sidon replied, “Yes, I would.”

“Even if there was something about me that didn’t meet your expectations? Even if I was...different than what you thought?”

“Link,” he reached forward to gently take hold of his shoulders, “there’s nothing beyond you becoming a homicidal maniac that could make me stop loving you. And since I never foresee that happening, I don’t think it’ll ever come to a point when I don’t love you anymore. Now please, tell me what’s going on. Why these questions?”

For a few moments, Link was silent before he slowly raised his head to met Sidon’s gaze. He seemed slightly more confident, though Sidon could still see the hesitation, the nervousness. Opening his mouth, he started to say something, stopped, sighed, rolled his shoulders and finally said, “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time and now just felt like the right time. Biologically speaking, if someone were looking solely at the building blocks that make up my being, the cells and genes in my body, they would designate me as a woman.”

Sidon blinked hard in surprise before saying, without even really registering what he was saying, “But you’re not.”

Link seemed startled by his response, as though he had been thinking of all the ways Sidon could have replied and that hadn’t been one of them. Slowly, he nodded, “I’m not. I’m a man.”

He stared at him silently for a moment before nodding as well, “Okay.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Link’s mouth opened and closed like a fish freshly pulled out of water a few times before he finally got out, “J-just okay?”

Sidon tilted his head, “You say you’re a man so you’re a man. There’s no one who knows you better than you do and I’m certainly not going to force a gender on you that you know you aren’t based on some notion of what constitutes as gender. If you’re a man, then you’re a man - no matter what anyone or anything else indicates.”

“It doesn’t bother you?” Link asked, one hand reaching up to wrap loosely around Sidon’s wrist.  

“No, why would it?” Sidon replied honestly, a little offended Link would even feel the need to ask. He would have to ensure the depths of his love for the Hylian were more broadly expressed from now on, “You’re you regardless. And I love you regardless.”

He stared at him, his blue eyes searching his face, for a few moments before his head fell forward once again. With a soft snort, he gave his head a shake and said, “I don’t know why I was nervous. I should have seen this outcome a thousand miles away.”

Stepping forward, he wrapped his arms around Sidon’s broad shoulders. Returning the embrace, Sidon placed a soft kiss on Link’s cheek and said, “Thank you for telling me. It’s obvious it wasn’t easy for you so thank you for trusting me enough to tell me.”

Snuggling closer, Link turned slightly to press a warm, gentle kiss against Sidon’s lips, “You’re welcome. And thank you for accepting me.”

“Of course, my beloved.” Sidon whispered gently, returning the kiss with a little more strength, “Now, how about that nap?”

“A nap sounds good. Can I sleep on your chest like last time?”

“You’re not sleeping anywhere else. I enjoy the comfort of your weight too much.” He replied honestly, standing up and taking Link with him. Smiling a little at the soft sound of Link giggling, he cradled his beloved in his arms and carried him over to the large, round bed they shared.  

[chainsawbettyloo]

Title: Armor Crafted by My Own Hand

Pairing: Prince Sidon / Link

Rating: General 

Tags: biting, kissing, fluff, confession scene, fish person loving a blondie, sweetness with a bit of bite

Summary: On a rainy, cold day, Sidon confesses his love to Link

Continue reading here or check out on AO3! Comments, reblogs, and kudos are much appreciated!

-

Lounging atop one of the watchtowers that sat at the end of the Inogo Bridge, Sidon gazed glumly at the rocky path that led away from the bridge and up into the mountains. Overhead, the sky was as grey as his mood. From that veil of grey, a heavy rain fell, turning the world into a blurred wash of blues and greens. The air was chilly but nothing his thick skin couldn’t handle. Though to anyone without tough Zora skin, it was a probably bundle yourself up and stay inside kind of temperature.

Of all the days for there to be a downpour, it had to be this day. Not that he minded the rain, he was a Zora, after all but he had been hoping for a sunny, beautiful day - truly one that would stand out in memory. He had dreamily imagined a scene set against the vibrant, rolling river, shimmering in the afternoon sun with the backdrop of the gleaming mountains, and a dash of green from the healthy grass growing along the banks. Not one where he could scarcely see the river through the haze of the rain and all color was washed away into a world of dullness.

Heaving a long, suffering sigh, he supposed that it was probably not that important. It was not the setting that was vital, but rather what was going to be said and who was currently traveling along that rocky path towards his location. A sprig of warmth blossomed in his chest. Right, Link was making his way towards Zora’s Domain with the intention of seeing him and staying for several days, during which Sidon was determined to have the young Hylian all to himself. It was a occasion that he had been looking forward to for weeks now. Too much time had passed since he had last been able to spend time with Link as being the Hyrule Champion and best friend to Princess Zelda kept him occupied much of the time.

But before those days started, there was something very important he had to do. Glancing down to his side where a loosely wrapped parcel sat, Sidon gently ran his fingers over the wet paper. Inside was a token, an expression of a feeling within his heart that had steadily been growing larger and larger ever since had had first met the Champion of Hyrule. Ever since that young one had appeared at the bottom of the watchtower he currently sat on, his serious blue eyes quietly taking in the world around him, Sidon had been taken with him; taken with his quietness punctuated with playfulness, his gentle and protective nature, his curiosity and determination to continuously move forward despite the hardships put in his path. He had admired him, respected him and soon, came to love him as a friend. Link, in turn, became attached to him. He often visited the Zora Domain during the sparse moments when he was unoccupied with other matters, usually spending every moment he was there with Sidon. Over the years they had spent building their friendship, they had shared in hardships, battled against wretched beasts and, most pleasantly at all, had just enjoyed each other’s company. Many of his days over the years had been spent conversing, playing and engaging with Link. To Link, he had showed parts of himself that he would not even show his father, and to him, Link had revealed vulnerabilities, fears and grievances of which he swore never to reveal to anyone. Between them, a deeply seeded trust had grown and with it, love, warmth and unity. Link was someone he would entrust his life, the life of his people and the fate of the world with, and would fight by his side till his very last breath.

He wasn’t certain when exactly he realized that the feelings he had towards Link went beyond the realms of friendship but when he had, it had been a feeling he had wrestled with, analyzed and scrutinized, before quietly, peacefully coming to a firm, solid conclusion.

And now, it was a feeling that he was ready to speak aloud.

Letting out a slow breath, he turned his attention back to the path. Surprisingly, he wasn’t nervous. He had already moved far past those sorts of feelings, after having spent a great many agonizing nights debating if this was truly an okay thing for him to do. Link was a Hylian and one of his closest friends, if not the closest one he had. Not to mention, he had been the one his sister had wanted to give her heart too before that wretched Calamity Ganon had stolen her life away. True, the feelings had been one sided but that didn’t lessen the impact of him hoping to claim Link’s heart as his own.

For a long time, that alone had kept him away from voicing how he felt. The guilt, the feeling he was doing something wrong, unfair to his sister’s memory - it had eaten away at him until he thought for certain he would never reveal his feelings to anyone and simply remain Link’s close friend. It wasn’t until his father had gently reminded him that his sister would want both him and Link to continue living, to move onwards towards happiness and embrace it as everything could change within an instance. With a bemused, almost melancholy expression on his wrinkled face, he had said in a soft, distant tone, “Move forward so that when you look back, it isn’t with regret or bitterness at what could have been said and done.”

Those words alone had been enough to spurn him forward. With a little with what felt like shame, he had realized just how cowardly he had been acting. His father was right - he needed to follow his heart towards his happiness. Time would not wait for him.

With that in mind, he had, rather clumsily, set about creating a suit of Zora armor for Link. It had taken him some time as he had no experience or knowledge in the field of armor crafting, given that he's never done it before, and had ended up with something that wasn’t anywhere near as beautiful as the one Mipha created but in a way, that felt right. He wasn’t intending to compete with Mipha or belittle the feelings she had had for Link. More than anything, he wanted to separate himself from all that so he could start a new path with Link by his side. To do so, he felt that everything needed to be done uniquely, by his own hand and with his own words.

Of course, that was on the assumption that Link would accept the armor as well as his heart. In all truthfulness, while Sidon is confident in his own feelings, he wasn’t certain as to how Link felt. There were hints he had picked up on: lingering gazes, warm smiles, shimmering eyes, a readiness to be close, a lengthening in the time they spent in physical contact with each other, how happy Link always was whenever Sidon invited him to spend time together or when they happened upon a chance encounter with one another, but nothing concrete. Nothing strong enough to absolutely convince himself that there was something deeper there.

Regardless, he would not back down from this. No matter what, he would continue walking forward. If Link didn’t feel the same, he would accept that with grace, dignity and implore him that they remain friends. Though he wasn’t certain Link felt the same, he knew that Link wouldn’t be offended by him harboring such feelings for him. Of course, he hoped that Link would accept his heart but he was prepared for the worst.

All of the thoughts of Link potentially rejecting him wasn’t doing much for his mood. Sighing once more, he gave his head a hard shake. He would not allow the atmosphere or those thoughts ruin this for him. He had spent too much time planning, too much time getting ready, he would not back down now.

“Quite the sigh. You alright, Sidon?” A familiar soft, concerned voice said below him.

Starting, Sidon jolted forward to look down at the ground. Standing at the base of the watchtower was Link, dressed in light tunic that easily blended into the dreary environment. The Hylian was drenched but seemed unbothered by the rain and cold. He had been so distracted with his musing that he hadn’t seen him approach.

“Link! There you are, my friend!” Sidon called happily, immediately feeling his mood pick up at the sight of his beloved Hylian. Picking up the parcel, he jumped down from the watchtower and gracefully landed next to him. Straightening, he smiled brightly at Link, “It is good to see you. How have you been?”

“Doing well but are you alright? That was a heavy, burdened sigh.” Link’s blue eyes were filled with concern, his blond brows knitted together. “Did something happen?”

Sidon waved a hand dismissively, not quite ready to confess just yet. Having Link actually right in front of him was proving to be a little more nerve wrecking than he had anticipated. While he certainly wasn’t ready to back down, he needed some more time to build up his courage, “Worry not, my friend. Nothing is wrong. I was simply thinking, a bit too hard most likely.”

Link tilted his head inquisitively but didn’t push the point any further. Instead, he returned the smile with a small one of his own, the concern in his eyes replaced by a gentle happiness, which immediately sent a spasm of welcomed warmth rushing through Sidon’s heart, and said “It is good to see you, Sidon.”

“And you too, my friend.” He responded, his heart fluttering inside of his chest. The smile on his face smoothed, becoming softer as he gazed down at Link with what he was sure must be a starstruck expression on his face. Such simple, innocent words but they were more than enough to nearly bowl him over, and leaving him feeling warm, tingly from head to toe. Unable to resist, he reached forward to stroke his thumb over the soft curve of Link’s cheek. To his delight, Link reached up to cover the back of his hand with his own. His skin was so soft, so smooth; he longed to be allowed to roam his fingers along every single inch of it, to explore every bared and hidden areas, and perhaps even find a place or two that would have Link turning a shade similar to his own skin color when his fingers played across them.

Starting slightly at such a thought, he nearly jerked his hand away out of embarrassment. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t entertained that line of thinking before but it felt a bit improper to be imaging such scenarios in such a situation. That needed to be saved for that, after all. Link must have felt the jolt because he once again furrowed his brow. The hand that rested over his own curled lightly, capturing it within his calloused, strong fingers, pressing it closer to his wet, warm cheek. Those gorgeous blue eyes, as clear and vibrant as the sea rolling underneath the high sun, gazed steadily up at him, searching and inquisitive.

“Talk to me, Sidon.” Link said, his usual soft voice hardened with a tinge of a commanding undertone.

“Of what, my friend?” Sidon replied distractedly, feeling as though those eyes were stripping him bare, leaving him completely exposed to the Hylian. It was a strange, intimate sensation that he didn’t find that unpleasant. Quite the opposite, actually. In that moment, he longed to lean down, cup Link’s face in his hands and press them close together - close enough that they could practically meld together.

“Something is going on. You’re trying to act normally but something is on your mind. What is it?”

Sidon gazed silently down at Link for a long moment before letting out a slow breath. It needed to be said, to be done now. No more running away, no more hiding. Before he could lose his courage, he needed to do this. In response, he simply offered the wrapped parcel to Link. With a confused expression, he took the gift from Sidon. After a quick, inquisitive glance up at Sidon, he set about opening it up. Holding his breath, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, he watched in anguished anticipation as Link made quick work of getting the wrapping out of the way. It didn’t take him long, and soon the armor inside was revealed.

Several long, tensely quiet moments passed, only punctuated by the rain pouring down from the sky. In those moments, as Link stared down, silent, at the emerald green armor in his hands, panic began to grow in Sidon’s chest. What if he had been wrong? What if this proved to be some great offense to Link? Was he angry, upset, hurt? Or was he just confused? It had been several years since Link had first come to Zora’s Domain, perhaps he had forgotten what armor meant? No, that couldn’t possibly be the case - if Link was confused, he would have voiced that by now. Something else, something possibly negative, was going on inside of the Hylian’s head.

Swallowing hard as the moments continued to stretch out, Sidon came close to saying something, to reassuring Link that it was armor given out of their friendship, and not what he was obviously thinking, when Link slowly looked up at him. His entire face was flushed a deep red, and on that face was an expression Sidon had never seen before. A touch of bashful with a tinge of embarrassment and overlaid with what was undeniably happiness. Clutching the armor close to his chest, Link silently stepped forward, pushed himself into Sidon’s stomach before falling still. Against his skin, he could feel how hot Link’s face was. All the tension bleed out of his muscles. Letting out a slow breath, he wrapped his arms around Link, delighting in how the Hylian snuggled into his embrace.

“Can I take this as a yes?” He whispered hopefully.

Without looking up, Link slowly nodded. His breath froze in his chest. Squeezing Link even tighter, he leaned down until he could bury his face into Link’s fluffy hair, “Truly? Will you accept my heart and, in turn, give me yours?”

Shifting, Link slowly lifted his head to look up at him. Remarkably, his face had flushed even a darker shade of red. He was so adorable, so painfully, unbelievably adorable. Fighting back against the urge to just cover Link’s red face with kisses, Sidon gazed into those eyes and asked again, “Truly?”

A warm, heart fluttering smile spread across Link’s adorable face. Reaching up, he rested his hand on Sidon’s cheek before pushing himself up onto his lips toes and pressed a soft, chaste, quick kiss against Sidon’s lips. He wasn’t given time to react, though his heart near about jumped out of his chest, up his throat and down onto the ground where he was certain it would have done a jig of absolute jubilation, as Link almost immediately leaned back, that warm, amazing smile still on his face, his eyes glimmering with happiness, and whispered, “Truly.”

Letting out a loud, boisterous laugh, relief and joy rushing through every inch of his body, Sidon picked Link up, swung him around a couple times before coming to a stop, squeezed him tightly to his chest and finally gave into temptation. Peppering little kisses all over Link’s hot, wet face, minding his sharp teeth so that they didn’t even come close to nicking his soft skin, he basked in the little giggles coming from his beloved Hylian. Link tilted his head this way and that, giving Sidon access to anywhere he desired to place a kiss. Once he was satisfied with the kissing coverage, he buried his head into Link’s shoulder, let out a long, shuddering breath and whispered, “You’ve made me so happy, Link.”

Looping his arms around Sidon’s shoulders, Link squeezed them even closer together, burying his face into the side of his neck. Being this close, Sidon could practically feel Link’s heart thundering inside of his chest, hear how quick his breath was moving in and out of his body, and took note of the slight tremble that had settled into his limbs, seemingly not from the chill but from the excitement, the happiness. No more words need to be spoken, the motion alone was more than enough to tell him that Link felt the same. The rain continued to batter down onto them but neither took any notice of it. Together, they fell silent, merely enjoying the closeness, the warmth of one another. For several moments, they remained like that, unheeding anything else until Link quietly spoke up, “May I admit something?”

“Of course.” Sidon leaned back slightly so he could look down at the Hylian. To his surprise, there was a slight mischievous glint in Link’s blue eyes.

Smiling slightly, Link quietly admitted, “I had thought a confession from you would have been more suave.”

Chuckling, Sidon nodded, “I was hoping for it to be like that but alas, when I’m around you, my tongue does not obey my commands. Were you disappointed?”

Link shook his head, his smile growing to match the mischievousness in his eyes, “No, it was rather nice to see you so obviously flustered.”

“Flustered?” Sidon asked incredulously, feeling his own cheeks start to burn. That was not something he often heard used to describe him. In control, smooth, kind and serious, with just a touch of playfulness, yes but flustered? He wasn’t even really sure how to react to such a description.

“Yes, it was subtle but obvious once I realized what was going on. You’re very cute, Sidon.”

Though his expression was playful, there was a serious edge to his voice that sent his heart racing once more. More heat flooded his cheeks, while a twinge of excitement sounding off in his mind. He had never seen this side of Link before - this playful, teasing, very adult attitude. While it did throw him a little as most wouldn’t refer to him as “cute”, there wasn’t a single protest voiced from anywhere instead his heart or head. In fact, he was a little pleased about the whole thing. He hadn’t thought Link would be a demure, passive partner but he also certainly hadn’t considered him to be so forthcoming either, especially not after having seen him so quietly and bashfully accept his offering of the Zora armor. It was a welcome surprise, one he was glad to be shown. But, he wasn’t about to outdone. If Link wished to play his cards in such a way, then he would have to respond with an equal or better gesture.

Steadying himself, he let a warm, smooth smile spread across his face. Leaning down, he captured Link’s mouth with his own. Link inhaled sharply in surprise at the sudden contact before letting out a long, slow breath that brushed pleasantly against Sidon’s cheek and returning the kiss. Reaching up, he wrapped one hand around the base of Link’s head, pulling him closer as he slowly, carefully slid his lips over Link’s. Nervous that his sharp teeth might catch the delicate skin, he kept the kiss simple, confined to gentle movements and lingering contact. The world around them seemed to go still once more. Rain nor cold bothered him, instead all he could feel was those delicious, soft, smooth, plump lips against his own, all he could smell was Link’s intoxicatingly sweet scent filling him - it was better than he ever could have dreamed, far exceeded every imagination he had ever entertained. He wanted to push deeper, to sink his tongue into Link’s mouth so that he could taste every inch, to slip his hands underneath his wet clothes, trace the lines of his muscles, his veins before sneaking down into a more intimate area but he knew that if he were to go that far, he might not be able to stop himself. While he couldn’t control the weather during his confession, he most certainly was not going to engage in an activity out in the open, in the cold and rain.

Gently breaking the kiss, Sidon leaned back slightly and drank in the view before him. Link’s face was flushed a scarlet shade of red, his eyes were heavy lidded, the irises inside dazed and heated, his mouth was slightly parted, his lips swollen pink. That sight broke what little composure he had left. He was so cute, so beautiful, so adorable, he couldn’t stop himself. Before he realized what he was doing, he leaned down once more but this time to the side of Link’s neck, where his armor had been pulled down a bit to reveal a patch of smooth skin. Opening his mouth, he settled his teeth against Link’s skin and bit down, a little harder than he intended but without near enough force to break the skin. It was just enough to leave a mark, and most likely a bruise that would form over the coming days. A jolt wracked Link’s small body and to his utter delight, a loud, unabided, breathless moan trickled down to his ears. Encouraged but still realizing that his very sharp teeth were very close to actually hurting Link, Sidon pulled back, swiped his tongue over the little marks, a sense of elation overwhelming him as the taste of Link’s skin filled his mouth, pressed a couple of soft kisses along the red patch of skin before leaning back slightly so he could look Link in the eye. Setting a kiss on the tip of Link’s nose, he whispered, “Shall we return to Zora’s Domain? I’m quite intent on you showing me just how cute you are capable of being.”

“And how do you propose I do so?” Link asked softly, his voice laced with want and heat.

His smile grew, a hungry tinge sneakily slipping into it. Without breaking eye contact, he responded softly, his voice husky, “By allowing me to slowly, thoroughly devour you.”

That got exactly the reaction he was hoping for. Link’s eyes widened, his face, remarkably, flushed an even deeper tantalizing, delicious shade of red and his breath noticeably quickened. His temperature heightened as a tenseness settled into his body before he swallowed hard, took in a deep breath, opened his mouth to say something but seemed unable to think of anything and abruptly shut it. But, perhaps the most satisfying reaction, was how undeniable excited Link looked. His entire face was wreathed in eagerness, his eyes swam with glints and glimmers of feverishness. Pleased with his response, Sidon placed another quick kiss atop Link’s nose, “Now, shall we start heading towards Zora’s Domain? I do believe it is about time we got out of this rain.”

Link nodded mutely, eagerly in return. Without setting the Hylian done, Sidon turned and started walking towards his home. Shifting Link carefully in his arms so that his position was, hopefully, comfortable, Sidon glanced up at the dreary sky and briefly thought of how it would have been so much nicer if the sun had been shining. However, when Link snuggled even closer to him, his arms tightening around his shoulders as he nuzzled intimately into the curve of his neck, he quickly decided that didn’t really matter much at all.