Archive of Our Own

"Link, I've made you something!"

Link tries his best not to let his exasperation show as he drops another log on the fire. He's heard these same words so many times. Every few days since they'd crawled out of the bottomless pond and warped straight back to Hateno some two months ago now.

He watches her enthusiastically pull a polished piece of wood with metal spike protruding from one side. Probably something she'd worked hard to made herself from the excited look on her face.

Link stares blankly at it, it's use lost on him. She chuckles, undeterred by his lack of reaction, and sets it on the kitchen counter.

"It's a chopping board. The spikes will keep whatever you're chopping still so you only need to hold a knife."

Link's insides chilled.

Goddesses. He should be grateful. Should worship the ground she walks on for finding solutions to every new hurdle missing an arm brought him. All it does is remind him that he can probably count the things he can still do without aid on his remaining hand.

He signed a 'thank you', knowing how insincere it would sound if he voiced it. If it bothered her, she didn't let it show.

"It's nothing. Do you feel up to making breakfast? We haven't had a home cooked meal since we returned."

Link swallowed bile that raises in his throat but nodded, tossing another log on the fire and hobbling towards the counter. The loss of his sword arm was difficult, albeit somewhat expected. He hadn't expected Rauru's arm to last long and as Zelda had explained, the 'parts' had to be there for her recall power to fix something. What he hadn't expected was for the near constant pain that radiated through him. He'd felt it worse when he'd first woken up on the sky islands, gloom lingering in his system no matter how many sunny meals he ate. Blessings from the shrines helped syphon the worst of it away, but it became apparent that he'd taken too long to find them all when the aches and pains in his muscles and joints stopped getting better.

And cold made it near unbearable. Like the air in the house right now while a storm rages mercilessly outside.

Zelda does her best to busy herself, letting him get on with it, but he can feel her eyes on him. He pushes it to the back of his mind and produces the ingredients for an omlette on a flash of blue and skewers a carrot on the spikes.

His mood sours as his hand trembles around the handle of the knife. The carrot remains perfectly in place as he cuts the edge, but there's nothing he can do when the piece he'd cut slides across the board and onto the floor. He takes a deep breath and readjusts his grip and tries again.

The next piece doesn’t fly away but it’s much thicker than he intended with his abysmal coordination. His mood sours even more. He’d have given up after the first attempt if he didn’t know Zelda was hovering.

His third time makes him flinch, arm spasming as nerves firing randomly when he puts force in the handle. The knife clatters to the ground and Zelda’s at his side in a second, replacing it on the counter without a word.

“Have you heard anything from Purah yet?” he bites out.

“Not yet. She’s looking for parts for a new design that’s promising. Robbie’s making good progress on his ‘crossbow’ though, he’s just fine tuning the self-loading mechanic but-” 

The rest of her words are lost on him as Link bites back a hiss, pain flaring up from the minimal effort when he tries to pick up the knife again. No matter how hard he wills it, his shaking fingers simply won’t curl around the handle.

“The last three designs were ‘promising’. How hard can it be?” he hisses through his teeth.

“It's not an easy feat. They’re working as fast as they can though. They’ll get there.”

She speaks so pleasantly, unruffled as she always is when things spill over and he lashes out. Shame and guilt tries to take route in him for being anything less than delighted she's hear at all but he doesn't have the capacity to feel anything beyond misery from everything else.

All he can think about is how much he doesn’t want her help, or more specifically, doesn't want to need it in the first place and why is it so difficult for Purah to make him a measly arm?  

He tries to step away from the counter so he can at least try to apologies but his leg has other ideas, buckling as he shifts too much weight on it. He catches it on the counter with a grunt.

When he steadies himself upright with far too much difficulty, he's made aware of a new pain on his forearm. Finally noticing his arm landed on the chopping board, blood oozing down the spikes and pooling on the wood.

Goddess . He doesn’t know how long he can deal with this much humiliation.

The board is detached from where it's stabbed in his arm and Zelda’s guides him to the sofa wordlessly and kneels before him. Any appetite he had is lost while the very woman he'd needlessly snapped at sets to cleaning up the wound and rapping it with gentle care.

“Why don't you go to Eldin today? Spend a day in the hot springs.” she suggests timidly.

Link shakes his head, eyes on everything but her.

“What about a hot bath? I still have time before I need to be at the school to heat some water.”

Another head shake.

“Can I help you put on some warming gel?'

Link doesn’t respond at all. She finishes cleaning the wound and takes his hand between her warmer ones in a manner that would usually soothe him. It takes him everything not to jerk away.

“Link, please. tell me what I can do.”

He tries to meet her gaze but guilt keeps him locked on her steady hands over his trembling one.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

Zelda huffs in almost-amusement.

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. Is there anything at all I can do?”

And goddesses, he didn’t deserve her. She deserves to come back to a loving husband, the opposite of what she has.

“I don’t want help, I want my arm back,” he spat childishly, shifting to try and make himself comfortable as his hip and back flared enough to make his eyes water despite his high tolerance. It didn’t help. She reached out to rest a hand on his knee in comfort but he flinched away. 

“I know,” she said, face falling. She manages a smile, but he knows it’s forced. “Why don’t we finally take our honeymoon? Go somewhere warm and get away for a week or two.” She brightens. “We could go to Terrey Town and I can finally see your other hous-”

“No,” he snaps firmly. Zelda frowns.

“Why won’t you let me see the house? You keep refusing.”

Link winces at the mention, shame coiling in his gut. “Why do you stay?”

“Hmm?”

“Why are you even here?” Link all but snarls at her. It’s been a long time coming, but something in him finally shatters. “I’m useless, Zelda. F-fuck. I can’t do shit anymore. Worthle-”

“Link.”

Zelda takes his remaining hand carefully and gives him that look. It’s not pity, more like sympathy. Because she cares far more than he deserves. Even so, words can't describe the visceral anger it provokes in him. It all comes to a screeching halt when he realises she's fiddling with the ring on his fourth finger, the fire light glinting off her own matching one.

“In sickness and in health. Remember? I meant every word.” She shuffled closer so it was harder to avoid her stern gaze. “Listen to me, Link. You’re not worthless or useless. And you’re certainly not helpless either. We've been through far worse than this and – if you’ll let me – I’ll be here every step of the way. I nee- I want to.”

Link’s heart warms a degree at her promise but it does little to lift his noxious mood.

“Even if Purah manages to make me an arm, I might never be able to swing a sword again.” The words had sat in his mind for weeks, taunting and tearing at him. He doesn’t know how he survived crossing swords with the demon king, but something in him died in the sky alone with the demon dragon when he fell, noticed what was left of his arm.

Zelda’s eyes soften.

“That's a possibility, but it doesn't matter. You’ve never just been a swordsman, Link. There’s so much more you have to offer.”

“Like what ?” he hisses, voice dripping with venom. He regrets it immediately as Zelda doesn’t quite manage to stop herself from wincing at his tone. Fuck. He really can’t do anything right. “I’m sorr-”

“Stop. You don’t have to apologise,” she cuts him off sharply. Somehow, she manages a smile. “Come to the school when the rain stops.”

“Why?”

“I want to show you something.” She said, rubbing comforting circles over his knuckles. He lets himself accept the comfort this time, not without guilt. “You don’t have to if you truly don’t want to, but I’d appreciate it.”

Link wants to say no but shame stops him.

“If not today, maybe another?” she tacks on when he stays quiet for too long.

He slowly nods. “If the rain stops.”

Zelda’s smile is blinding, trying but failing to hide her excitement he doesn’t understand.

“Yes! Okay. Okay, good. I’ll see you later then? I don’t have enough time left for breakfast but I’ll get something on my way. Make sure you eat something!” She leaves his vision and races around the room, stopping to place a kiss on his cheek before leaving.

He slides closer to the fire and stays there for a long time, debating whether he can stomach trying to use the chopping board again, let alone eating anything he manages to cook. The constant aches rarely left room for an appetite but cold days like today were worse than others.

He eventually limps over to the Purah Pad and summons an apple -- more in an attempt to honour Zelda’s request than anything -- and changes into his snowquill set for the seconds the storm passes.

The sky finally clears before midday and Link makes the short trip to the school. The long route around the back of the houses lets him avoid the street packed with people, but he’s panting by the time he makes it up the hill.

“Mr Link!”

The hero forced what he hoped passed for a smile as the playing children turned to him in excitement. This wasn't a good idea.

“Hi, Mr Link! Are you helping Mrs Zelda today?” another yelled excitedly as they crowded around him. He doesn’t answer, not sure what Zelda wanted him here for. His lack of an answer doesn’t deter them in the slightest.

“I’m not sure. Where is she?” he asks, trying to peak through the open door and windows. The building appears empty.

“She’s gone to get ingredients for lunch. It’s playtime! Will you hang out with us?”

Not really knowing what else to do, Link nods, awkwardly lowering himself to the damp grass.

“What are… what are you learning about?” he asks, uncomfortable with so many expectant eyes on him. A tiny girl plops herself at her side and looks up with sparkling eyes.

“Mrs Zelda’s been teaching us about the calamity a hundred years ago! Did you really fight off hundreds of goblins before you were Mrs Zelda’s guard?”

Link’s stomach churned, not having expected a topic like this to come up so quickly. “Yeah. I was a soldier, it was my job.”

The children looked at each other in awe.

“Can others be soldiers too?”

Link nods. “There were many of us. Like the Monster Control Crew but much bigger.”

“Woah.”

“Can I join? I want to fight monsters and be just like Mr Link!” a chorus of excited hums of agreement followed. A more genuine smile tugged at Link’s. He didn't mind children and the group's enthusiasm is endearing.

“I suppose so? When you’re older though.”

“Can you teach us how to use a sword Mr Link? You’re like a professional!”

Any comfort he found in the back and forth turned to ash with just a few words. He tried his best not to let his inner turmoil show, he really did. He inclined his hand at the hollow sleeve of his padded coat.

“I can’t anymore.”

The kids crowded around his right side for a closer look and it took herculean effort to not cringe away. 

“Does it hurt?”

“Can you fight with your left hand?”

“Is there a scar?”

“Do you miss it?”

The sudden barrage of questions have him pulling his knees closer to himself, feeling cornered. This was a bad idea. This was a really bad idea.

“At least it wasn’t your left arm! That would have been much worse!” Link frowned in confusion, turning to the girl sat at his side. She reaches out for his left hand, plucking at the fingerless gloves with a happy hum.

“Why would that have been worse?” he asks incredulously, wondering is she hadn't listened to any of the conversation so far. The girl pushes back the short finger of his fourth finger, revealing the gold band underneath.

“You wouldn’t be able to stay married to Mrs Zelda. You can’t stay married if you can’t wear a ring! Isn’t that worse?”

Link stares at her, mouth agape. The words to correct her form in his mind but his jaw locks hangs slack and uncooperative.

Instead, laughter bubbles up from his chest. It sounds foreign in his own ears, makes his chest ache but he doesn't care. When he calms, he bites his lip at the pout on the girl’s face.

“I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you," he appeases quickly. She crosses her arms expectantly. "I just never thought about it like that. You’re right. Things could be worse.” A gappy smile breaks out on her face at his words.

He hums thoughtfully, feeling a little lighter from the awkward outburst.

“I can show you how to use a shield if you want?” he offers after a while. He’s not sure how long he’ll be able to hold a shield if they ask, but deems it worth the effort for the excited looks that befall the kids’ faces.

He takes out all of his shields and lays them out on the ground for the kids to see, chuckling at a boy trying to lift a royal guard shield and quickly pulling a lynel shield out of reach before another cuts her fingers. They follow his instructions as he talks them through how to hold the lighter wooden ones. Naming the various parts that make up each one and answering the children’s endless stream of questions.

While he’s correcting one of the older kids' stances, he catches sight of jewel green eyes watching them from the school’s entrance.

The smile plastered all over her face makes his cheeks warm.

“What are we learning? This looks like fun,” she says as she approaches, basket of ingredients swinging from her arm.

“Mrs Zelda! Mr Link is teaching us how to be knights,” a boy says excitedly, holding up his wooden shield as Link had shown them.

Zelda chuckles. “Seems you’re all well on your way to me. Did any of you know that Mr Link is also an amazing cook?”

Link shoots her a silent plea and shakes his head while the children’s attention is back on him. She only smiles encouragingly.

“Really?”

“Oh yes. Better than the royal chefs that used to work at the castle! The best of the best.”

The children looked at each other in disbelief.

“Can you teach us Mr Link?”

“Pleeeeease!”

“Mrs Zelda always makes the same veggie soup. It’s boring.”

Zelda’s laughs, a hand coming to rest on his back and leans into his ear.

“You don’t have to do anything. Just tell them what to do.”

Link chews his inner cheeks, meeting her eyes and finding hopeful encouragement. And goddesses, he can't find it in himself to disappoint her anymore.

“Okay.” Cheers erupt from the children again and he knows he’s made the right choice, if not from that then from the charmingly pleased grin she flashes him.

“Right. We have wheat, butter, milk, meat and vegetables. What would you recommend, Mr Link?”

Lunch is a joint effort, Link giving instructions and dividing tasks while Zelda aids with knife safety and lighting a fire under the school’s kitchen pot. He doesn't hate it, and when they dish out the rich and flavourful stew, a sliver of pride warms him at the meal they'd collectively made.

Once lunch was over, he finds himself wanting to stay for the afternoon class. Zelda teaches them about the different regions of Hyrule, finding any and every excuse to have Link share what he knows of them from his travels, has him answer things he knows even Zelda doesn’t know. His words come easy, encouraged by the children's enthusiasm and inspired by Zelda’s passion that rolls off her as she leads them from one topic to the next.

When she dismisses them and they say goodbye, he can’t stop himself from curling his arm around her and stealing a kiss she melts into.

When he pulls away, Zelda’s practically beaming.

“What was that for?”

“You planned this.”

Zelda tries to make a face of mock offence but fails to contain a grin.

“What ever do you mean, Mr Link?”

Link tries not to roll his eyes, grazing his lips against her jaw and revelling in the giggle that was set forth.

“You’ve made your point.”

Zelda blinks far too innocently, readjusting herself so she can return the embrace.

“What point are you talking about?”

“Do I have to say it?”

Zelda takes her time studying his face carefully. Fondly. “I’d like to hear you say it.”

“Not useless,” he breathes more than says quickly, weak to the silent plea in her voice. The warmth of her smile makes the omission worth it. She nods, pleased.

"I know. I’m proud of you. Let's go home.”

The walk back home is easier being down hill. He even lets Zelda lead him through the central street by the hand. It’s a short walk, but he’s limping again by the time their front door closes, the evening air cold enough to bother him.

He quickly rekindles the dying embers and takes his place on the sofa nearby once it's roaring back to life. A sigh escapes him as warmth seaps into his skin and takes the edge off.

“Do you feel up to making supper?” Zelda asks once she’s put her things away and brewing some tea. Link glances over at the abandoned chopping board and shifts guiltily under her hopeful gaze. She merely shakes her head dismissively.

“Maybe tomorrow then. I can nip over to the tavern.” The corner of Link’s mouth curls in gratitude but the guilt doesn’t go away. He watches her drop fruits and herbs in a steaming pot and set it on a tray with two cups.

“Zelda?” He asks once she's seated next to him.

“Hmm?”

Link shuffles again, partially in search of a comfortable position. He’s as warm as he’ll get without sitting close enough to the fire to burn, but still not comfortable enough to stop hunching and relax.

“Can you help me put some gel on?”

Zelda’s up in an instant, knocking over her cup in her enthusiasm. A wave of her hand has a familiar ability cleaning the mess up for her.

“Oh gosh, I'm getting clumsy. Of course!”

Link waits for her to return to his side to let her help him shed his layers down to his undershirt and shorts, which she assists with happily.

“Tell me if I’m being too rough.” she says, dipping her fingers in the red chu jelly and cool safflina concoction she’d created. She spreads the gel liberally around his wrist and works her way up his arm, massaging it in gently. The strange icy-hot sensation of the gel, combined with Zelda’s careful ministrations coaxes a heavy sigh from him, tension melting off everywhere she touches.

Not really knowing where to look, he swallows reflectively, letting his eyes slowly drift to what remained of his right arm. The first time since he’d awkwardly pulled himself and Zelda from the bottomless pond.

He takes it in with measured breaths, forcing himself not to look away. This is really how it is now, his mind produces solumnly. He’s so lost in thoughts that he doesn’t notice Zelda’s stopped until her palm brushes his cheek. It’s also only then that he notices warm tracks running down his face.

He hastily tries to wipe them away.

“Sorr-”

“No. Please don’t,” she cuts off, taking more of the gel and gliding her hand over his calf. “How does it feel? The gel.”

“It helps a lot. Thank you.”

Zelda smiles. “Good.”

He watches her work for a while before breaking the silence, shame twisting his mouth into a grimace.

“Why do you always do that?”

“Do what?”

“You never let me apologise for being so-” Disgraceful? Shameful? Despicable? He couldn’t think of the right word. “For the way I’ve been acting.”

Zelda, to his surprise, chuckles, kneading his thigh in a way that makes him feel boneless. It’s foolish how he’s depraved himself of letting her alleviate his pain for so long, especially when she looks so content doing it.

“You were training as a soldier when you were four. Probably learnt how to swing a sword before you could walk. I can't imagine what you're going through, but I understand this much. You have nothing to apologise for.”

Link shook his head, mildly horrified.

“That’s no- I’ve been-”

“An absolute delight compared to how dreadfully I treated you,” she hums, grimacing at the memory. She shakes it off and places a kiss on the back of his hand. "If getting angry helps you through this, I don't mind. I know it's not me you're mad at."

Several arguments formed in Link’s mind but Zelda continued before he could begin to word any of them.

“You were protecting me. I feel- It makes me-” she swallowed. He can see her trying to keep her composure but a crease forming between her brows despite her efforts. “I just want to help. However I can.”

Link is lost for words, watching her in disbelief. “Goddesses, Zelda. This wasn’t your fault.”

She shakes her head firmly, trying to wave it off but he can see the guilt lingering. It sends fissures straight through his heart. She shakes her head firmly.

“It's not just that. I... I didn't expect to come back. Now I don't really know what to do." She kneads a trail up the back of his calf that almost drew a moan of relief from him, tension evaporating under her capable hands. "I feel less lost when I can do something useful." She repeats the action on his other calf but his focus is razor sharp on her. She shakes her head, brows pinching in frustration. "Anyway. This isn’t about me. I'm just glad I'm here at all. We’ll- you’ll get through this. And I’ll be here every step of the way.”

She clears away the gel and carefully curls into his side, taking both their cups and holding his. The pinch in her brow smooths out when his now steadier hand takes the cup with more ease than usual.

Link mulls the conversation over in his mind in silence. It’s the most they’ve talked about anything since they came back to Hateno. It feels good and wants to continue, but he doesn’t know what to say. Zelda seems to be of the same mindset.

“I’ve been wanting to ask about something for a while actually.”

Link shifted so he was facing her more. Zelda waits until he's done with his drink and takes his hand again, entwines their fingers and traces patterns along the old scars. Stalling, he realises. He watches her patiently, though curiosity overcomes him.

“What do you think about moving to Looking Landing?”

Link didn't know what he'd expected, but it wasn’t that.

“If you want to.” Then after a beat, “Why do you want to move there?”

Zelda keeps her gaze down but he knows she’s watching him from her peripherals.

“I think there’s more there for you than here. The monster control squad could benefit with some direction from an experienced knight and soldier. Or maybe you could open a restaurant like Bedrock Bistro in Eldin. Or you can teach people how to paraglide so they can use the sky towers. I already have an idea for a modified paraglider you can use,” she stopped herself, clearly excited about the idea of a new invention. “There’s so many things you could still do.”

Goddesses, he didn’t deserve her.

“The school,” he mumbled after a while. “You love teaching.”

Zelda shrugged. “Wherever there’s children, I can teach. Hudson’s already half way through rebuilding Castle Town and people are starting to move in. It will be the biggest town in Hyrule once it’s done. They'll need teachers.”

He thought about it, a stubborn part of him that wants to wallow hating it, but it’s easily crushed. He doesn’t hate the idea. Hateno is cosy and familiar, more alive than ever with the uptick in fashion tourism. Lookout Landing buzzed with activity around the clock, quickly becoming the kingdom’s central hub. His stomach churns uncomfortably at the idea of teaching others to do what he no longer can. Stuck behind just being grateful he can even walk. 

Zelda pulls him out of his thoughts with nervous chatter, taking his silence has an answer. “We don’t have to and there’s no rush anyway, it’s just an idea. Even… even if Purah can’t make you an arm, there’s still plenty of things you can do. I saw you today, you’d make a wonderful teacher and there’s so many things you have to teach-”

Link squeezes her hand to catch her attention, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

“That sounds like an insult. Teaching something I’m incapable of.”

Zelda looked alarmed but she caught onto the teasing lilt in his voice. She pouts. “I can come up with recipes because I understand the chemistry of cooking in intimate detail. Yet for some goddess forsaken reason I can only make one dish safe for consumption without your help. Does that make me incapable?”

Link bit back a smile at the humour in her tone. No, it didn’t, yet he stayed quiet. He knew where she was going with this and wasn’t entirely on board.

“You’d be an incredible chef. Maybe you were cursed at birth.”

Zelda chuckles, meeting his eyes with so much affection it makes his breath hitch. “Good thing I have a very capable husband who knows his way around a kitchen.”

Link untangled their fingers so he could curl his arm around her waist tightly, rediscovering how much he appreciated feeling her next to him.

“Is that why you agreed to marry me? For my cooking?”

Zelda’s whole body seems to light up with giddy glee, her eyes shining. “There’s my Link.”

He dipped his head into the crook of her shoulder to hide the warmth he could even feel in his ears. He wanted to tell her how much he loves her but the words elude him, a simple ‘I love you’ inadequate to express the depth of his adoration.

His mind goes back to her suggestion, running it through his mind.

“What about Tarrey Town? They don’t have a school either.” 

Zelda tilted her head curiously. “Why Tarrey Town?”

Link had to take a breath to brace himself. Her determination to help was… heart warming, inspiring even, but he’d be damned if he didn’t start pulling his own weight.

“Warmer. Rains less,” he admitted, testily rolling his wrist which ached from the movement. Manageable with her help, but still there. “If the shrines lose power like the shikah ones did, it’s half a day’s ride to the springs at the base of Death Mountain.”

And goddesses, it was worth it for the pride on her face. Eased away the shame he felt for his current state. Emboldened, he let his thoughts spill from his mouth.

“Hudson wants to expand the town up Kaepora Pass and around the wetlands with all the extra visitors and researchers around. They don’t have any security around the dig site. I suppose I could- I remember how guard rotations work. I could-” He clears his throat. “Or I suppose the tourists would like somewhere nicer to eat. The inn doesn't even serve food. Maybe I can-” he ran out of words, retracting his hand to run his fingers through his hair. There's far too many if's and maybe's for his liking.

Zelda gives his thigh an encouraging squeeze. “You can try. And if something doesn’t work out, you can try something else.”

Link nods slowly. "There's other things you can do too. They're finding so many artifacts. You could join the dig. Or you could teach children or even adults what you learned back then."  he runs out of words at the thought but Zelda’s smile is blinding.

“This is a wonderful idea, Link. All of it. It’s such a beautiful place to raise a family too. I-” Zelda catches herself, glancing at Link nervously. “Sorry, I’m getting a little ahead of myself. W-we’ve not really had that discussion again since um, everything.”

Link’s eyes widen in surprise.

“You’d still want that? With me?” he asks tentatively. She doesn’t even try to suppress an eye roll.

“I married you didn’t I?” Link manages an amused huff at that, watching her carefully. “And even that aside, I can’t think of anyone I’d want to start a family with more.” 

The sincerity in her admission makes Link’s heart swell. More at ease than he’s felt since he failed to catch her. He flashes a mischievous grin.

“Maybe you just haven't met them yet.”

Zelda gently shoves his shoulder, drawing a tiny laugh from his throat. Seemingly too pleased at his jest to chastise him.

“Would you want to though? Have you changed your mind?” she asks nervously.

Goddesses. He’s struck again by how much he loves her with renewed intensity. Unable to stop himself, he leans in and claims her lips with his own, chaste and leisurely, but deep enough it sends pleasant shivers through both of them. She melts into it. When he finally pulls away, their lips are swollen.

“I haven’t. Not now though. I want to be… let me try to…” his inability to put his feelings into words frustrates him. Zelda cups his cheeks with her hands, forcing him to meet her stern gaze.

“You’re not broken.” she states with no room for argument, then adds more softly; “When we find our footing again.”

Link forces a nod. He doesn’t agree with her former statement, but he vows he’ll work towards it. For her. A bashful grin colours his cheeks as he nuzzles her jaw with his nose.

“I have three weapons rooms in the other house I really don’t need. Space won’t be an issue when... when.”

Zelda’s jaw drops. “Three whole rooms just for weapons? How big is the house?”

Shit.

It takes too long for Link to realise where he slipped up. All the colour drains away from his face and Zelda’s expression falls.

“We can buy another house,” she suggests quickly. “I'm sure Hudson would offer a discount.”

It’s a fight for Link to make his jaw move, shame twisting his insides into knots. Zelda’s hands seek out his and he lets her gentle comforting touch wash over him.

“The house is going to need some repairs and a clean before we can move in,” he finally admits. He can’t bring himself to meet her gaze, but he can feel it on him. Curious and patient and completely without judgement. He holds onto that. “I.. goddess. I smashed it up pretty bad. Haven’t been back since.”

The hand entwined with her own squeezes gently and she stays silent. Waiting. He wishes he had his other arm just so he can run it through his hair without letting her go.

“I wasn’t in my right mind when I found out- F-fuck. I thought you were gone. Mineru said dragonification is irreversible.”

Zelda remains quiet. As it spans out, Link forces himself to look at her. He frowns when he finds… relief? Amusement? He can’t decipher her expression. Whatever face he’s pulling makes her laugh.

“Thank the goddesses. I thought it was something serious.”

Now that has him confused.

"Smashing a house up isn't... serious?"

Zelda’s cheeks colour with embarrassment.

“I thought something completely different. It’s foolish really.” Link can only blink at her, thoroughly bewildered. It only makes her chuckle more nervous.

“Link. Darling. What reason might someone have for hiding a whole house from their wife?”

Link just stares, completely oblivious. Zelda’s chuckling evolves into all out cackling. He flushes, but the sound of her uninhibited laughter curls his lips.

“I truly am a fool. It probably never even crossed your mind did it? Even though I wasn't meant to- Goddesses, I love you.”

“I love you too?” he says more as a question, a little frustrated with her refusal to clue him in. She readjusted herself so she could stretch her legs over his lap and wrap the blanket more snugly around them.

“Out of curiosity, what would you have done if I hadn’t returned?”

Link bit his lip. He didn’t particularly want to talk about that either. Somehow, she made revealing his weakness easier, and talking was helping.

“I was going to join you,” he admitted under his breath, adjusting so he could bury his face in her hair, let her fill his senses and soothe the painful memories. “I planned everything out after trashing the other house. ‘Borrow’ Yunobo or Tulins secret stone. Neither of them would have asked too many questions. Then I would have gone to the sky temple of time and waited for you to pass by so you were near. M-maybe we’d even fly along the same- Oh no, don’t cry.” A quiet sob has him backing away, shifting her so he can see her face. She waves a hand in a dismissive manner despite the tears running freely.

“N-no, thank you for sharing. I’m glad we’re talking about this actually.”

Link stills, letting her wipe her face on a corner of the blanket and meet his gaze in her own time. There’s a sadness in her eyes that he wants nothing more than to fight.

“Seems we are of like mind I suppose,” she says, untangling a hand from the blanket so she can play with his hair. “Back then, there was no rush for me to swallow the stone. Ten thousand years is a long time. Long enough that… forty or fifty years wouldn’t make a difference.” Link rubs a comforting circle over her back, not sure where she’s going with but uneasy at her solemn tone. “Mineru tried to convince me to live a life first. Before swallowing the stone. I could have and the master sword would have been no less powerful. I couldn’t.” Link’s heart sunk like a stone, tightening his arm around her. “I’d already lived a hundred years not knowing if I’d ever see you again. I couldn’t live another lifetime knowing I wouldn’t. I-it was just too much to bear so I.. chose to lose myself instead.”

Link sucked in a breath. There had always been an urgency when the goddess called on them for their chosen roles. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that she wasn’t under pressure to act.

“Goddesses. We’re a mess aren’t we?” she said through a humourless laugh. Link sniffs, neither sure nor bothered if he’s crying or not while he offers what comfort he can. Guilt settles in his stomach like a brick, ashamed of how he’d been so wrapped in his own problems to see through her too-easy smiles and upbeat attitude.

“I know what you're thinking. Stop it.”

Link looks down and finds her jewel bright eyes on him, brows pinched in a frown though she’s smiling. Though she tries to hide it, it’s no less infectious.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

A wet chuckle tickles his chest. “Hmm. Sure.”

Link grasps for something that would hopefully bring back that true smile.

“If you’d come back as a wrinkled old lady, I’d still want to take our honeymoon.”

Zelda laughs wetly, curling her arms around his waist.

“I believe you. Though Purah’s age rune would have seen to that anyway.” She snorts. “Godesses. I’m technically 10126 years old.”

Link grins, finding it easier to tap into the old confidence the upheaval had smothered out of existence.

“We’ll need to remodel the kitchen in the house. I'll need more space to make a birthday cake big enough for all those candles.”

Success. The giggle set forth is music to his ears.

“I can’t do much to help with that. But I should be able to repair the house with my time powers.” She shifts again so she can rest her forehead against his, fixing him with a tender smile that warms him to the core. “We’ll find our way again.”

Link kisses her in responding, a promise that he’ll do everything he can to at least try. They settle comfortably onto the sofa, laying rather than sitting in a tangle of limbs, Link smiles to himself.

“Zelda?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you. For sticking with me.”

Zelda looks up from the pillow of his chest with an adoring smile that makes his pulse skip a beat.

“Link Hyrule-Meadows. Death, amnesia, the upheaval, technically two calamities and irreversible dragonification couldn’t keep us apart. I don’t think a little rough patch stands much of a chance. Do you?”

Link’s grin makes his cheeks ache, so thoroughly charmed and smitten all over again.

“Goddesses, Zelda. I’d do it all again if I had to. I love you so much.”

Zelda rolls her eyes, though her flush is heartfelt. “Let’s hope that’s not necessary, but I love you too.” She lavishes his neck with attention that raises a different kind of heat in him. “Do you want to try cooking again? I really do miss it.”

Link bites his lip, casts an uneasy glance at the abandoned board he hadn’t put away earlier. He really didn’t feel up to tackling that tonight, not while he felt so raw from their conversation. 

“Tomorrow,” he promised. Then, “Do you… do you want to try cooking something? I could- you know.”

Zelda positively illuminates and it quietens the voices that had ran rampant in his head since they'd warped back to Hateno. Screaming about how worthless he was. Despite feeling lighter than he had in weeks, he wouldn't fool himself into thinking this was going to be easy, but he knew he could count on her kindness when his mind and body had none for him.

“That would be wonderful. Show me what to do, Mr Link.''