Link x Reader ~ Find You

Chapter 1

"__f/n__!" he exclaimed, his cerulean hues grew wide as he took in your pale, fatigued, and, thanks to your recent tumbles, slightly bruised form. "L-Link! C-could it be?! Is it really... you?" You embraced him in a strong hug, eliciting a cry of what sounded like pain to escape his lips.

You withdrew from your embrace and gripped his forearms to gaze into his eyes which twitched at the pain in his abdomen while he tried to conceal the wound that was securely wrapped up in multiple bandages. Before either of you had a moment to speak, the entire town began funneling into the clearing, calling out excitedly to Link; they most have been woken up by your cries. The mayor quickly made his way up the ladder and began asking Link all sorts of questions before motioning for him to return to the village center with him to discuss important matters.

"I'll be there in a moment Mayor Bo," Link replied. "I need to have a moment with __f/n__, if you don't mind."

"Ah yes, of course my boy," the mayor chuckled lightly before descending down the ladder. As soon as the mayor's head was out of sight, Link turned to you and gave you an apologetic smile.

"__f/n__, I know it's been several months now since we last saw each other, and all I want to do now is be with you," you blushed lightly at his rather bold statement, "but first I really must help the mayor and the others. The village looks to be in pretty rough shape." He said, peering down the path towards the town, which indeed had seen better days.

"I promise that the first break I get, we'll go down to the spring and chat, just like old times!" He smiled at you earnestly.

A sad smile settled on your face as you nodded in understanding. "Alright, I'll find you later, I guess." With that, he planted a quick kiss on your cheek and rushed off into the village. You stood there dumbfounded with a rosy blush painting your cheeks.

As the weeks dragged on though, Link, unfortunately, never got that break. As soon as the sun set each night, he had barely enough energy left to haul himself back to his hut and into his bed.

((end of flashback))

Without waiting another second, you stormed off quickly to the ranch, tunic in hand.
"Good evening, __f/n__!" Ilia greeted you sweetly as you rushed past her. You simply ignored the poor girl and broke into an all out sprint towards Ordon Ranch. You were huffing and puffing by the time you reached the top of the hill where the men were working, but you tried to keep your speed steady as you 'rocketed' (although your pace was barely a jog now) towards Link, who turned to you with a look of shock. When you finally reached him, you had to rest your hands on your knees and catch your breath for a minute or so.

"L-Link!" *pantpant* "Why didn't you" *pantpant* "tell me you were" *pant* "injured?!" you finally managed to gasp out.

"What are you talking about, __f/n__?" he asked you nervously, shifting his weight on his feet and finding his shoes rather intriguing.

"THIS is what I'm talking about!" you shouted, pointing at the bloodied garment in your hand.

"__f-f/n__, It's not that bad, I swear! And I was going to tell you, I just haven't had the time yet," he urged, trying to get you to calm down at least a little bit. You glanced around and noticed the other men staring at you in confusion.

"What are you doing with my clothes, anyway?" Link questioned.

"You're coming with me right now," you grumbled, lowering your voice as to not attract anymore attention than you already had and ignoring his question. You grabbed a hold of Link's wrist and proceeded to drag him to Ordon Spring.

As you sat down beside him on a rock by the twinkling water, you sighed and apologized,

"Link, I'm sorry for being so aggressive. It's just that... I'm worried about you, and when I saw your shirt I kind of freaked out..." He grinned at you reassuringly, and took your hand in his. A deep crimson blossomed across your cheeks.

"It's alright, really," he chuckled, looking at your intertwined digits. "As the 'hero', it's kind of nice to have someone looking out for me for once." He turned his head and locked his deep cerulean eyes with your (__e/c__) ones and your breath hitched in your throat. His gaze... It just looked so... adoring. No one had ever looked at you in such a way, and honestly, it kind of frightened you. You weren't sure how to respond to his gesture, so you opted for getting back to business. You broke the intense stare and cleared your throat authoritatively.