Work Text:
"Link! Look!" A feminine voice called out, dragging Link's attention to where the blonde hylian was pointing. A blue and yellow storefront greeted them, with neon letters aglow over the store's entrance, it's cheery glow practically exclaiming "Build-a-Bear Workshop" with a smiling bear image spaced in the middle of the words. All sorts of colorful bears and accessories lined the shelves inside, seen through the grand glass windows, a rainbow allure to catch the eye with all it's limitless possibilities.
Link allowed himself to be towed over by Zelda, a small smile teasing the edge of his lips at how excited she seemed to be, shoes squeaking faintly against the tile as the pair made their way on inside, soft music playing from the speakers overhead, a soft chime ringing out announcing their presence as they fully set foot inside the store. A kind looking red-haired employee glances up, face dotted with a smattering of freckles, blue eyes scrunching slightly from the smile they wear, hand raising up in a welcoming wave.
"Hello, welcome to Build-a-Bear! Would you like assistance in picking out a new friend today, or would you like to look on your own?" she asks in a recited script. Zelda and Link glance at each other, the former clearly having ideas already dancing in their mind while the latter looks a little unsure.
"Oh I believe we'll be okay looking on our own, but thank you! Come Link," She responds easily, tugging on his hand and leading him further on, over to one of the shelves. He hesitates, the wall of options both enticing and overwhelming, then turns to Zelda, slowly raising his hands to sign at her.
'What do we do?' he asks, hands steady and Zelda seems to hum before answering.
"I had an idea, what if we made a bear based on each other? I make one based on you, and you make one based on me? It'll be brilliant! Then we not only have a fun experience, we have something that reminds us of one another!" She exclaims, her green eyes glittering with the prospect of digging through dozen's of bears to find the right one, already breaking her focus from Link back to the shelves.
Link huffs out a small laugh, giving a thumbs up, signing a simple 'sounds good' before the pair split apart, Zelda immediately going over to the section with the dog inspired bears while Link takes his time strolling along the shelves, hand softly running over a few of the more fluffy ones, marveling at how soft they all are. He continues along from section to section, only stopping to pick one up and try to picture it as Flora, before setting it back down. The next section he ends up on causes him to stutter in his step, feet tangling on themselves making his hand shoot out to grip the shelving to steady himself. Face flushing hot from embarassment, a quick look around shows that thankfully no one noticed, and he looks back at what caused him to nearly eat shit on the tile floor. Bright, orangy-red fur with an oversized head, scrawny body, upturned pig nose and large floppy things for ears, sits a bokoblin. Right next to it is a round chu and then beside that is a moblin. His brow furrows, trying to figure out how in Hylia's name any one of these could be popular enough to warrant a plush design, then he shrugs as he would love having a lynel plush.
Link paces along the sections, there's so many choices and a lot of them would frankly work for Zelda, but yet none of them quite seem to be just right for him to settle on, and he goes back and forth between a blupee and a cat. He goes back over to the small section of cats, picking up the fluffiest white one he sees, squishing at the empty skin a bit. As he turns to carry it away having made his choice, something else catches his attention. There's an itty bitty section dedicated to more mythical creatures, and Link fumbles to put the cat back, letting his feet take him over to the section. There's a small selection of dragons, bodies a bit longer then the rest of the build-a-bear options, and there's just one left of this particular plush left in the bin under the stuffed version. A snow white smooth dragon with a fluffy shock of yellow for the mane framing around it's head like a dandelion, a similar tuft of yellow on the tip of it's tail. A pair of small pastel mint colored horns rest on its head along with the same colored little spikes along the spine of its back. It's eyes are almost psychedelic in color, cartoonishly wide and almond shaped, with rings of color starting with purple on the outside, transitioning to blue then green at it's very center-most ring.
This is the one, Link decides immediately, grabbing it up. He pauses, scanning around realizing he forgot to ask what all was involved in the process, so he heads over to where he sees the worker from before, spotting Zelda who sees him and quickly hides what she has against her side with a nervous smile. She tilts her head to the worker who's standing by a machine filled with stuffing, and he nods, continuing on his way there as she scurries away towards the clothing section now. The worker looks up as he approaches, and smiles brightly noting the empty plush.
"Hello there, are you ready to bring your friend to life?" she asks to Link who nods.
"Alright, awesome, so lets find the opening for them first," She starts, helping instruct him to find it having to turn over the plush skin.
"Now, we position it over the nozzle like so, so we can get your friend as firm as you like." She continues, going through the process of filling the dragon up, giggling a little at how focused Link is, his brow slightly furrowed and lips pressed firmly together in a look of concentration.
There's a couple times she has him take the plush and give it a test hug, only stopping for the last time when his expression shifts and he he makes a happy hum. The woman turns to the bin beside her, filled with an assortment of small, silky satin red hearts, foot tapping against the ground in a rhythm as she gestures to it.
"Now you'll come pick out a heart, make sure you think of the personality your new friend should have too, " She explains, reaching in and fishing out a heart herself holding it up, the light gleaming across the smooth fabric.
He looks into the bin, a lock of blonde hair drifting into his face. He blows it away with an exasperated huff, fishing around in his pockets for the small blue hair tie he uses. It's a familiar motion that's second nature, tying back the unruly hair, an unconscious habit as he keeps scanning the hearts. They all look the same, though there are a few odd ones out with a gingham pattern, and it's really the intention that matters, and he finally reaches in and pulls one out. It's one of the red ones, but it caught his eye and he turns to the worker, presenting it proudly.
"Got your heart selected? Thought about it long and hard, did you? Good good, now what do want to do is rub it between your hands, like so," She demonstrates and he copies her, the friction warming the heart between his hands. "Oh we can't forget to tap tap tap, make sure they have a nice strong heartbeat," she taps the heart three times with him.
"Now, we can also rub it on our arms, so they give great big hugs, yes just like that, and then our sides, so they're always by our side! Then we can rub it on our ear, so they're a good listener. Finally, and this is the most important step now!" She pauses for dramatic effect, before holding the heart to her chest, over her heart and she closes her eyes.
"We hold it close, and we make a wish on it! Your turn now," She opens her eyes, watching as he takes the heart with great care, holding it over his own heart, and he closes his eyes, silent and solemn taking the ceremony serious. The hylian stands there for a moment, wishing and hoping for Zelda's happiness, then slowly opens his eyes.
"Now, lift it up to your mouth, give it a kiss, yep just like that, and now we put it in your new friend and get 'em all nice and stitched up!" Link's cheek flush a little at having to kiss the heart, tips of his ears feeling warm as he carefully places the heart into the opening.
The worker quickly gets the plushie stitched shut, nodding pleased with her work. Turning to face Link, she hands the dragon over and clasps her hands together. "Perfect! Now, over here you'll fill out the information on their certificate, and then you'll head over to the dress up section to further personalize them and get them all dressed up,"
Link is guided over to the table where the worker fishes out one of the certificates and hands him a pen, letting him have a moment to fill out the information. He rolls the pen between his fingers, a soft scratching sound audible as he fills out the information, the eye and fur color, filling out his name for who they belong to and that it was stuffed by himself, and then he gazes at the name section. Images of flowers fill his mind, and he writes down 'Flora' for the plushies name, finishing it off. He picks it up, giving it a last once over , then takes it along with the plush over to the dress up section, noting with mild disappointment that Zelda seems to have already left the area.
Left fully back to the insurmountable task of having to decide on another thing, Link lets out a small sigh, ears drooping as he blindly looks over all the different tops, bottoms, the dresses, shoes, glasses, and all sorts of other bits and bobs one can get for a stuffed animal. He ends up grabbing a few different options, taking them over to the dressing station, and spends a good ten minutes deciding on the options. A sunflower yellow and white dress, or a top reminiscent of the one she wears often with dark blue jeans? He blows air out his mouth slowly, exasperated and decides he has enough to get both outfits. Heading out of the section, he takes a pause just to snatch a little pair of soft leather boots that can lace up then continues on to the register, where Zelda hovers nearby holding a white and blue box of some kind.
"Ready to take your friend home? We have options for the packaging like our build a bear condo, we have this lovely drawstring bag and we also have just a regular shopping bag if that's more your style," The worker rattles off, making sure to hold up and show off each packaging, even showing him how the condo looks put together.
Link glances over at Zelda, then back to his options and signs 'The condo please,' making sure to also point. The worker nods easily, telling him his total, and in the dragon goes, disappearing into the aesthetic cardboard packaging. He gets his change and box, waving a goodbye hurrying to go meet up with Zelda, the blonde clearly extremely excited as she bounces in place, rocking on her heels a bit.
"All done? Lets go Link, oh I cannot wait to see what you picked out I do hope you liked what I chose oh they're so cute and I almost couldn't put him down," the blonde chatters on, tucking light blonde hair behind her ear, the pair leaving the store, the calm of the store shifting into the crowded atmosphere of the busy mall they're in.
An arm causally snakes his way, looping through his, an innocent look on Zelda's face as the two walk, arm in arm, condo's swinging by their sides held in opposite hands. Navigating through the crowds to go sit near the food court, the delicious scents of greasy food growing stronger the closer they get, causing Link's stomach to growl, thankfully hidden by the hustle and bustle around them. Spotting a clean enough table set apart from the others, he gives a small tug to her arm, inclining his head towards it, and she gasps, the duo bee lining for it. As Link sits, she moves around to the opposite side, plopping down and swinging the box onto the table, legs jiggling.
"Right, okay now uh oh you go first! I want to see yours first, you seemed to be so deep in thought with what you were doing," At his looks, she hastily adds "Oh but don't worry, I didn't peek at your choice! I just couldn't help but peek at you, you always get this look of concentration,"
He nods, still skeptical of her words, but he lifts his cardboard condo box onto the table and opens it up. Reaching in, hands wrapping around the smooth yet soft middle of the dragon, he lifts them up and out. He anxiously looks at Zelda, waiting for her reaction, seeing her eyes blow wide, hands clapping over her mouth. An almost imperceptible muffled squeal , the blonde lunging across the table snatching the dragon out of his hands and holding it up better in the light.
"Oh Link! I love it, look at how lovely they are! What unique coloring too! I love the eyes, ohh," She breathes out, green eyes glittering in the light as she gently runs a hand through the yellow fur of the mane, gently fluffing it with a scritching motion.
"Oh you made such a lovely choice, a dragon though? For me? I love that, what did you name her?" She has a fond look on her face, handing the plush back to the flustered male, who quickly stuffs it back into the box. Link takes a few moments to collect himself, signing out of sight as he replies 'Flora,' much to Zelda's delight.
"What a lovely name, oh I have to show you mine now, don't I?" At Links nod, she pops open her own box, hesitating just slightly as doubt clouds her mind, though a quick shake of her head she dispels it and swiftly pulls out the plush within.
A fluffy and bright, golden,wheat yellow retriever with floppy ears and mouth parted in a facsimile of a smile, dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, blue open hoodie and tan pants, and matching brown leather boots to the one's Link got for Flora. His gaze softens, reaching for the plush, marveling at the soft and plush of its fur. There's a bit of weight to it, along with a subtle pineapple aroma wafting from it. He buries his nose into it, sniffing and finding it stronger. Lifting his head, he looks at Zelda who's looking anywhere but at him, fingers clasped together in her lap, a soft pink dusting her face.
"I know you enjoy fruits, and pineapples just seemed to go well with the plush, I hope you don't mind that's what I chose," She begins then pauses before resuming. "I also think that a golden retriever fits you, loyal and dependable, the best cuddle partner," She wiggles her eyebrows "Also quite goofy at times," She finishes, her blush having grown from basically singing praises of his qualities.
Link has an indescribably happy and soft look on his face, hugging it close, before handing it back over. With his hands free, he signs to Zelda, asking what she named him. The question makes Zelda laugh nervously, her hand flapping at him having gotten the plush back in the box.
"Oh the name uh well, I wasn't entirely sure what to name him, after all was said and done with the-the ceremony, I am not the best with that sort of thing so I went with Link Jr." Her lips purse a bit, fidgeting with a flap of the box.
Link taps the table to get her attention again before lifting his hand back up, signing clearly. 'I love it Zel, I love everything about him and I think it's perfect, Link Jr. it is.' A loud growl gurgles out from Link's stomach, making its displeasure known again, and Zelda laughs softly before standing.
"How about we go get some food then? I am quite hungry as well," she murmurs, Link standing as well, and grabbing the boxes with their new pals, the two make their way into the food court to get some food and enjoy the rest of their outing at the mall.