Zelink [One Shots]

| Change Is Good

The bright flame coming from the small fire Link has put up outside his house is enough to warm up the chilly air of the early day.

Cooking the remnants of his hunting morning, the hero is allowed a moment of peace.

It's been a little bit over than a week since the Calamity fell, that Ganon was sealed and peace was restored once again. In between visiting Kakariko village to tell Impa their victory; making a stop at the Dueling Peaks stable so that they could board their horses; and reaching Hateno village, they really haven't had the time to properly sit down and enjoy the peace that has been restored.

Refocusing on the bowl in front of him, Link awaits patiently for it to do its magic and suddenly the air is filled with the delicious smell of a meat skewer. Happy with the result with a rumbling stomach, a contented smile spreads across his face easily, and only then does Link realise that the person he's been travelling with for the past week is still inside his house.

Heaving out a bored sigh, Link turns his head around to the entrance of the humble house, noting with slight distress that the door is still closed shut.

Yes, he's learned and it has been proven to him more than once that Zelda is capable of protecting herself and much more, but it has been almost half an hour since she'd locked herself inside and Link is starting to feel the urge to see if she's alright.

He tries to convince himself she is, turning around to face the pot, resting his chin on a calloused hand while crouching down.

Eventhough he hasn't fully recovered his memories from one hundred years ago, somewhere deep inside his heart he knows that Zelda is the only person he can truely be himself with. He feels within his blood the need to protect her with his whole life, as well as keep her safe.

However, he knows there are some paths you need to take alone, and so he realizes that if Zelda wanted a time to herself, then it was because she was needing it. It still doesn't sooth him a slight bit though.

The hero doesn't have to wait much longer, for moments later he hears the dinstinct click of the lock on his front door unlock.

Link turns around with the sound, and once his eyes fall upon her steady figure, so strong and fierce even after every terrible event that she had to endure for so long, he has to keep himself upright with a hand on the soft grass beneath him so that he doesn't fall.

He thinks his eyes might be betraying him, but the evidence is clear.

Zelda has cut her hair short.

"I feel somewhat lighter now, actually." Zelda quips, a smile spreading on her thin lips as she seems to take in the clean air of Hateno village as well as the beautiful landscape of the small town.

Link, however, is sure nothing else is more beautiful than the sight right in front of him.

Her blonde hair cascades down a little bit past her jaw line, and even with her usual braided crown she looks more like the person he's come to know now than the one she had been forced to be back then when the world weighted on her shoulders.

She looks brighter, freer. And he's amazed.

"I feel like I did the right thing. It was starting to weight down on me anyway and with the journey we have ahead of us it will be easier to keep up with you without it blocking my movements." Zelda continues, oblivious to the struck faced Link not too far away from her as she prepares the bags they will need for their travel to Zora's Domain. "Not to mention the fact that it will enhance my peripheral vision, as well. What do you think?"

She turns his way, and only then does Link realize that he's been staring for too long, the slight smell of almost burned meat filling his nostrils. Turning around in a swift movement, Link immediately stirs the skew, trying his best to hide the slight pinkish color that has filled his face, wishing the Princess hadn't noticed.