#god I haven't written anything in ages I feel so RUSTY

[dearheart42regenerated]

gritting my teeth and sharing this in the tag in hopes that it'll help me manifest actually FINISHING this fic.......

--

“I’m still not buying this!” Chuck popped out from the passenger’s side and leaned over the door, pointing an accusing finger at her. “How do you really know about Mutt?” he demanded.

Capri blinked and frowned, giving him a once-over as she crossed her arms. “How do you know about Mutt, Goldilocks?”

Texas cracked up at the nickname, slapping Dutch on the back. “Goldilocks! That’s a good one, hahaha…” 

“The name’s Chuck, for your information,” huffed Goldilocks, “and I’ve been hanging with Mikey since elementary school. Where have you been his whole life?”

“Elementary school, huh?” Something bitter flickered in her eyes. “That must’ve been nice…”

Mike tried to calm his friend, slightly taken aback by how riled up he was. “Easy, Chuckles, let’s just–”

“No! I’m not gonna sit back and let some random stranger put you through this all over again, dude! It’s not okay!”

“Look, I appreciate it, but–”

“All she has is a story about your bobblehead. That’s not actual proof she’s your sister!”

“He’s right.” Dutch’s eyes were wary. “Anyone could make up a childhood memory like that. How do we know Kane isn’t paying this one off like he did with your fake dad?”

“Let’s at least hear her out first, guys,” said Julie, exasperated. “You can’t demand ‘real proof’ and then not give her a chance at all! Maybe she–”

“I still say she’s an evil clone!” Texas declared.

The arguing devolved into chaos, everyone speaking over each other to the point where nothing coherent could be heard anymore.

“Heartwarming reunion over, I guess,” Capri muttered, unfastening her thigh holster. She pulled out a laser pistol and fired two blasts into the air. “EVERYONE. SHUT UP.”

Everyone shut up.

She sighed and holstered the gun, glaring at nobody in particular. “Sweet baby gumdrops. Okay. FIRST of all…” She turned to Mike. “You don’t need to take my word for it. I wouldn’t take my word for it, either.” Her com-screen popped up, glowing fiery orange. She scrolled, selected a file with the words “CAPRI C. GENETIC PROFILE” hovering above it, and flicked it over to him. “There you go. The DNA can speak for itself.”

Mike took it but barely glanced at it, still looking at her as if she were a hologram herself – something that could disappear any second. Chuck just stared at the unopened file from the other side of the car, unable to hide his own curiosity.

“Secondly. Goldilocks.”

He jumped and straightened his posture with a gulp. (Texas snickered.)

Her boots thumped in the silence as she strode towards him, cold annoyance in her voice. “For your information, I wasn’t talking about Mutt to prove I’m Mike’s sister. I brought it up to find out if he’s my brother.” She fished in one of her pockets and pulled out a well-worn photograph, dangling it in front of his nose. “There could be any number of ‘Mike Chiltons’ running around and I haven’t been here in a while. I wanted to be sure.” 

“Whoa,” he murmured, one hand reaching for it. 

Capri snatched it away, eyes hard as steel, and walked back around to Mike. Her expression softened when she handed the photo to him. “I am sure, now.”

It showed a little girl with messy hair and an even messier t-shirt – face scrunched up in a grin, one front tooth missing – and a wide-eyed baby dangling in her arms like a kidnapped puppy, clutching Mutt in small chubby hands, attempting to shove the top of its bobbing head in his mouth. The colors were faded, the edges bent and torn; but the happiness captured in it was so vibrant it made his chest ache. 

Any doubts he had left vanished, replaced by dizzying questions he couldn’t find words for. He had a sister. This was real. (What happened?)

“Thirdly!” said Capri, giving the other Burners a smile that bordered on a snarl. “I’m so very sorry if I’m being rude here, it's just that I spent the last seventy-two hours hopping city-to-colony and crossing a gazillion miles of mutants, raiders, boiling heatwaves and radiation pits to get back to Motorcity. Totally for funsies, of course. It's not like I’ve been trying to track down the only family I have left or anything.” 

Everyone shifted uncomfortably.

“Point being, I’ve had a long flippin’ day! So how about you nosy little ferrets take that file I just sent, run the DNA test, confirm I’m actually not a lying scumbag, and then y’all can decide on how to torture me next. What do you think?” she growled, shooting “Goldilocks” an incinerating look. “That sound alright to you? Chuck?”

Chuck all but melted into a whimpering puddle of terror and compliance, stammering out a vaguely affirmative reply as he stumbled over to where the unopened file still hovered.

“Great! Glad we could get that sorted out.” 

Everything in her demeanor dripped with spite…but Mike was beginning to notice the dark circles under her eyes, the heaviness in her shoulders. How many miles had she really crossed to get here? How many hours had she spent combing the dark labyrinth of Motorcity to find him? (Based on nothing but a hope that it might be him?)

And then they had all assumed the worst of her. 

Capri must be exhausted.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She stormed off towards her motorcycle. “I’m gonna check my bike for damage and maybe also secretly plot to sell out your leader to the guy who destroyed my whole childhood. Holler if you need me.”

[silentium-symphony]

Book Buddies I (Link x Reader)

(a/n) hi! i'm nicole and thank you for checking out this story! i've been HORRENDOUSLY down bad for link and i started this blog just so i can gush about him asdjhfjk i literally love him sm

i haven't written anything creatively in awhile, so i'm rather rusty--sorry if there are any mistakes, and thank you for being patient with me!

as i was approaching an ungodly word count, i decided to split it into two parts. part 2 will be released shortly and will be linked here!

cw: afab!reader, researcher!reader, dusty libraries, link accidentally discovering your kink before even learning your name, started out as fluff then kinda devolved into... well, smth, some swearing oops

wc: 2.4k

♤♢ ~~ ♡♧

Ah, Link--Captain of the Royal Guard, personal bodyguard to the Princess, battle-hardened warrior with dozens of well-fought battles under his belt, giddy little schoolboy head over heels for--wait, what?

This man--who has stared Death down until it flee from him--was tripping over a head-scratching, "aha"-ing, entrancing little Sheikah researcher?

You bet your ass he was.

It started out innocently enough. He had gone to the library to scout out some new battle tactics for the next skirmish he and his soldiers would inevitably be dragged into, and he happened to round a corner just in time to see a flair of (H/C) hair.

Oh Hylia, you were breathtaking.

Maybe it was the way the torches warmly contoured your face's every feature, or maybe how the sun got caught in that beautiful, silky hair of yours that seemed to frame your face in the most angelic way. Or maybe it was the way your brows crinkled and your nose scrunched as you absorbed the contents of the aged scroll balancing delicately between your cautious fingers.

Regardless, you were squarely in his line of sight and he made no effort to move (seemingly unaware of the rest of the library's patrons, who were scooting past him and shooting impatient scowls at the dazed captain).

♤♢ ~~ ♡♧

Your temples pounded a dull ache that sent any semblance of coherent thought out of your head; you let out a deep sigh, feeling your face relax as you do.

Ugh, you gotta stop doing that... Seriously, you look like a pig when you scrunch your nose like that.

The last sentiment was spoken in a thousand scornful voices, all the way from your mother to your fellow researchers. You threw your head back and felt your eyelids droop close, your eyes grateful to be getting a break from their swimming lessons. Your chest heaved slowly, filling the corner of your lungs with the smell of aged books and sun-caught dust.

As you exhaled, your eyes fluttered open and happened to catch a pair of wide, cerulean eyes eyeing you from afar.

You almost snorted your exhale and immediately threw your nose back into the scroll.

Shit shit shit! Oh gods, why Hylia, why of all people did he have to see that stupid expression of yours?! It could have been literally anyone but him!

Cheeks aflame and mind accursing, you slowly look up from your scroll and see the same pair of cerulean staring back at you, softer this time and with a hint of something else... Amusement?

You sent an awkward smile his way and nodded your head in acknowledgment before thickly swallowing the painful lump in your throat. Heart thundering loudly in your ears, you hadn't noticed it perfectly syncing with a pair of hurried metal footsteps barring against stone.

The door to the library creaked open and a pair of glistening silver helmets peeped through.

You heard a flurry of panicked whispers sourcing from the doorway and you couldn't help but peek your eyes just above the yellowed edge of your scroll. A gasp, followed by a barely there "Captain."

Link's eyes shot to the pair and side-eyed their raggedly breathing forms. Drills and exercise regimens aimed at improving one's cardiovascular system are in order. He tilted his head, beckoning for them to wait outside before they divulged possibly very important information to a room full of people without proper clearance. The pair nodded, understanding their silent captain's commands, and slowly closed the loudly creaking door (in which everyone grimaced).

Link let out an imperceptible huff and turned his gaze to you one last time. You both caught each other's eyes, a feeling of enrapturement encasing the both of you--but as quickly as you caught it, it was lost with a swift turn of his heel and the click of the door (which didn't creak this time, much to the relief of everyone).

You felt the cheekiest of smiles play at your lips, and you almost smacked that stupid lil' grin off your face. Boy oh boy did that man have you whipped.

You looked down, your eyes locking with the same paragraph you have been trying to read for the past half hour; you groaned.

You were gonna be here for awhile.

♤♢ ~~ ♡♧

With a belly full of the most mid meal ever warm food the chef cooked up with leftover ingredients, Link found himself aimlessly wandering the halls of Hyrule Castle, absently absorbing the estate's splendor and many banners that riddled its thick stone walls.

Calloused fingers lightly grazed the rough interior, a chill slithering up his arm and down his back. His mind, in an effort to counteract the sudden coolness, immediately flashed to a thought that made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

You, of course.

All throughout the walk to the courtyard, during the emergency meeting called by the king himself, throughout dinner with his fellow brothers-in-arms, all he could think about was you.

He hadn't the slightest clue as to why you, specifically, had him absolutely smitten. There were plenty of good-looking researchers and soldiers who've pursued him at one time or another, but he never reciprocated their affections regardless of how flattered he was. Duties to the crown and whatnot occupied every crevice of his mind; he hadn't caught feelings for anyone since... Wait, had he ever caught feelings for anyone?

He clicked his tongue and shook these unproductive thoughts out of his head. In all his time serving Hyrule and her people, he had not once caught a glimpse of you. The palace was teeming with researchers and soldiers, so the chances of seeing you again were pretty low. Coupled with his irregular schedule and lengthy trips away from home, he could practically dash all hopes of fostering any sort of relationship with you.

Gods, if only he had caught your name! Maybe he can ask Zelda or Purah...?

He stopped before a door and stared at it for a long while, strangely unable to open it himself. The library. It felt like his arms were being weighed down by a chain with a heavy ball attached to it.

He glanced towards the window and felt the familiar panic of seeing the moon nearing its peak and him far away from slumber. Sighing, he rested a hand on the brass doorknob and sluggishly turned it.

Oh well. He's already here. Might as well do some light reading or review old battle strategies. Maybe that'll release him from his insomniac torment.

As he lightly pressed the door open, he poked his head through and scanned the room.

Only to be met with groggy, dark-rimmed (E/C) eyes.

His heart lurched in his throat and he almost sent you beaming across the room had his brain not make the last-second announcement that you were a civilian.

You, who was not a solider by any means, let out something between a yelp and a scream and fumbled backwards, unceremoniously landing on your rump and sending all your study things flying in all directions.

"Augh... Geez..."

A sharp pain bloomed from the point of contact and you hissed, rubbing the sore spot and cursing at your carefully organized notes scattered all over the ground.

A resounding clap of wood against stone preluded the Captain rushing through the doorway and immediately attending to you, resting a firm clasp on your shoulder and looking at you with a face that screamed a thousand apologies.

You let out a weak smile and an airy chortle, waving off his concerns.

"I-I'm fine... You gave me quite a scare, Captain! That woke me right up."

You did your best to whip out your most reassuring smile, all the while fighting the prickly feeling of new tears beading at your eyes; of course, this did not go unnoticed by the hyperaware soldier and his eyes widened in alarm, then panic, and finally resolve.

He smoothly laced his fingers with yours and in one smooth motion, gently hoisted you to your feet and into a chair with a thoroughly practiced move. Before you could even utter a 'thanks,' he was back on the floor, scrambling to get your papers and books in order.

During the chaos, a thin, deliciously scandalous-looking book slipped out of the Captain's hastily made bundle of paper and book.

It was your turn to start reeling. Ice coursed through your veins as your cheeks lightened to every shade of crimson under the sun.

Okay, act cool! Maybe he didn't see i--NO STOP WHY ARE YOU REACHING FOR IT

"U-Um--! Wait, that's--!"

Everything was in slow motion.

Link's hand felt the ground for whatever he dropped, picked up the book and absently inspected the scantily clad woman with a... Wait, is he choking her--?

"NOOO!!!"

You felt a void from where you initially felt a chair and saw Link's confused face rapidly approaching your own as you dove straight for the book and onto the Captain himself.

The force of a whole person launching themselves at him knocked the air right out of his lungs; his arms wrapped around your back and pressed you closer to him, bracing for impact.

THUD!

Thank Hylia, a majority of the blow concentrated mostly on his shoulder. He'd take a sore shoulder over a split skull any day. Peering down, he saw trusses of (H/C) messily splayed atop his chest and your smaller body oh so perfectly filling in the empty spaces of his much larger frame.

More base thoughts seeped into his mind and he mentally flogged himself for thinking such things. He cleared his throat, raw from disuse, and groaned out, "you okay?"

You flinched at the deep, husky rumble in his chest and pathetically pushed yourself up.

How could you ever recover from this.

"Y-Yeah... I'm so sorry Captain, I... slipped."

He stared at you steadily, skepticism thinly veiled behind his eyes.

"... Slipped?"

"Y-... Yes."

Oh how you wished that Hylia would just whisk you away to the Demon King himself.

He maintains eye contact with you, several emotions you couldn't pick up on swimming just underneath his seafoam hues. He nodded slowly and sat up even slower, with you still wrapped up in his arms not that you minded but for the sake of decorum.

"Ah... Captain..."

You were practically straddling him now and his arms still remained tight behind your back. A flash of realization shot through him and he immediately released you, scooting back and back and back until he was nowhere near your personal bubble.

"I," he cleared his throat hoarsely, "apologize. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Oh no, it's okay! It's my fault really, I shouldn't have lunged--er, slipped, like that..."

You dusted the light brown dust that stained your garbs and offered a helping hand to the downed man. He looked up at you gratefully and clasped his hand in yours; it took everything in you to not get pulled down in the process.

As Link rocked back to his feet, The Book--still tightly gripped in the man's hand--flashed in your peripheral and you damn near shat bricks. You did all that and you couldn't even get the fucking book.

As if suddenly made aware of its existence, Link looked down at what he'd been holding this whole time and gazed upon the cover in its full, sultry glory. The tips of his ears began to adopt a shade of red you didn't think was possible and you snatched the book out of his hand.

"T-That's for a friend! She, uh, has been looking for this book for a really long time and I-I was just grabbing it for her! Please do not think that this is for me!"

You bowed your head, hoping that he couldn't see the beads of sweat dotting your brow or hear how fast your heart was racing. Link was silent for a moment, no doubt trying to process everything that went down in the past five minutes, before letting out a low chuckle.

"Well... You can tell your friend that there is no need to be embarrassed. She can pass her time however she pleases."

You strained a laugh and looked up bashfully, more than done with this conversation and itching for a topic change.

"Oh! Right! So, um... What brings you to the library so late at night?"

A vacant visage filled your vision as the soldier looked about the room--has he forgotten why he was here?

"I was... looking for a book to do some light reading. Do you or... your friend have any recommendations?"

He cast a knowing smile your way and you fought the urge to swipe that smug grin off his pretty face. You inhaled sharply, maintaining your composure, and flashed him a bright smile.

"Of course! What genres are you interested in?"

He hummed thoughtfully and drummed a finger on his chin.

"I... am not sure. I have only read strategy books and training manuals and the like. Perhaps something easy for the mind, but engaging enough to be read any time of the day."

"Hm..." While your head was filtering through a lifetime's collection of good reads, your feet shifted from under you and you found yourself weaving through the different aisles. The Captain loosely trailed behind you.

"At first glance, you seem like an action type of guy who'd do nicely with a good war story... But I assume you have enough of that in your life?"

"Yes." He lightly winced.

"Actually Captain," you start, dragging your fingers across a myriad of different book spines, "there's a fair amount of literature centered around you and your exploits."

"What? Really?" It filled his chest with a funny, lighthearted feeling. "Well, I suppose that makes sense..."

It felt rather strange to have whole books dedicated to you and your past accomplishments, but he recognized that not everyone has the privilege of getting their exploits penned down for the enjoyment of future generations. He couldn't help but wonder... Have you read any of them?

"Ah! Here it is!" Your deft hand snapped a book from the shelf, the remaining books gently folding in on each other to account for the sudden absence of their neighbor. The deep purple cover seamlessly blended into the dark corners of the library with only the occasional glint of the book's gold accent outlining its shape.

"This is a classic detective novel called Louis and Sholmes. The novel takes its sweet time building to its climax, but once you get to the good parts it's a real page-turner!"

Huh... Climax...

Link cleared his throat and bowed gratefully to you.

"Thank you for your recommendation, um..."

"Oh!" You placed a hand on your chest and bowed deeply. "(F/N). My name is (F/N)."