Work Text:
The ranch had been quiet for far too long. It was one of the hazards of having Link for a husband, and Malon never held it against him when he had to leave. There were, Malon knew, things at stake far greater than their marital vows. The redhead had known that ever since she and Link were teens. That doesn't stop her from missing him when he is gone.
Malon had been overjoyed when she finally got to meet the other heroes that her husband wrote of with fond exasperation. Though she could not deny that they were cut from the same cloth as Link was, they all had their own personalities and in the short time they had spent at Lon Lon Ranch, they had lit up the place in different unique and vibrant ways. The days after the troupe of heroes had left had been startlingly quiet, and she found that she missed the noise and chaos that they had brought just as much as she missed her husband.
It should have been easy falling back into the old routine once they had left, yet Malon found herself expecting to find Wind chatting away while attempting to help offload the wagons, or to find Sky cradling a cuckoo to his chest as he subtly tormented the others by seeing just how close he could get to them while still holding the bird. It was the small things that, once missing, left her feeling somewhat wrongfooted as she traversed around her lifelong home.
One morning, maybe a month after the last visit, she wakes to a distinctly unquiet house. Despite the still dark sky, she can not help the fond smile that creeps across her face. She slips out of bed as quietly as she can, pulling on a comfortable robe against the morning chill. The floor is cold on her bare feet, and the sensation sends goosebumps chasing over her skin. She doesn't mind it though, giddy anticipation of what she might find propelling her through the bedroom door and to the wooden rail overlooking the bottom floor.
The sight that greets her makes her heart pound with affection and she raises a hand to her lips to stop a soft sound from escaping. Nine familiar men are gathered in the kitchen area, their gear and equipment scattered around the room haphazardly. At the stove, Link and Wild have their heads bent in conference. Now and then her husband offers directions to which the scarred teen nods and adjusts accordingly. At the table three of the remaining heroes are setting out dishes, the effort spearheaded by Twilight. From her place near the top of the stairs, Malon can make out a heated - if friendly- debate between Legend and Warriors on the proper arrangement of silverware. Someone has produced a large selection of flowers and two jugs and the remaining four young men are busy putting the plants to good use in what are the most chaotic bouquets Malon has seen in her life. Wind has chosen to sit atop the table and the redhead watches with amusement as the youngest of the group snags a blue flower from Sky's hands and proceeds to stick the stem in Warriors' ear. The Knight jumps and yelps in surprise, causing the whole room to burst into laughter and shushes.
Whatever plan the heroes have enacted has their full and undivided attention, and Malon cannot resist the opportunity before her. With practiced ease, she creeps down the stairs avoiding the loose boards that might give away her position. Once at the bottom she crosses her arms and puts on the best disgruntled and half-awake face she can manage.
"What," she states loudly, voice firm and displeased. "Is going on here?"
Malon has to fight back laughter at the nine identical looks of guilty shock that snap to face her. Aside from the sounds of food cooking away, the room falls silent as the heroes blink owlishly at her feigned ire of being awoken early.
"Uh-"
"SURPRISE!" Wind shouts from his place atop the table, waving his hands rapidly for added emphasis, the flower in his hand flapping comically.
Her serious expression crumbles in the face of the sailor's enthusiasm, and Malon drops her arms as she gives over to her laughter. All nine of the men relax, some even joining in as the joke hits them.
Link sweeps forward, fondly shaking his head, and embraces his wife in as gentle a hug as he can manage while still wearing his armor.
"You're horrible, love." He says, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Malon leans into the touch smiling.
"It's why you keep me around."
"Among other reasons." Link agrees with a soft hum.
"Sorry if we woke you," Sky pipes up from his seat at the table, yellow and orange flowers in hand.
Malon pulls back from her husband and waves a dismissing hand at the apology.
"One early morning won't do any harm. Besides," she approaches the group, laying a hand on the dirty blonde's shoulder, "It's good to see all of you. Though I am curious as to the sudden invasion of the kitchen space."
"It was Hyrule's idea," Four offers, and Malon looks over at the indicated teen who waves sheepishly.
"I just thought it might be nice if we surprised you, is all."
Around the room, the others nod and make sounds of agreement, and Malon brings a hand to her chest at the warm feeling that spreads through her.
Wind hops off the table and enthusiastically presents a single white wildflower.
"For the lady of the house," he says with a flourish. She takes it with a smile, carefully tucking the bloom behind an ear, and lets herself be pulled into a chair and surrounded by the noise and chatter.
She observes the scene one more time.
The knives and forks are in the wrong places and the bouquets are truly some of the ugliest she has ever seen. It's loud and hectic, and dirty boot prints criss-cross the wood floor. At the stove, Wild fends off eager fingers with a wooden spoon. It's messy, chaotic, and indescribably wonderful. Malon smiles at the strange little family that has brought warmth and life into the house. She drinks the moment in, tucking the memory away in her heart for the next time they will have to leave and resolves to enjoy having them around while she can.
It is, she muses to herself, perfect.