Chapter Text
This day couldn't get any worse. Well it could but if Link thought about that he knew he’d spiral, so he quickly shoved that idea away for later unpacking. It had started as calm as a day in the emergency wing of Kakariko Medical Center (KKMC, or the Cucoo Coop as he had taken to calling it. HR did not like that nickname, makes people feel like livestock they had said) could reasonably be. Some geriatrics from the assisted living facilities, had arrived and none had died which was a great omen. A low speed car vs pedestrian collision had been the scariest thing so far and the worst that ended up being was a hairline hip fracture, to be discharged after a couple hours of monitoring. Then one of his new med students had used the Q word and all hell started breaking loose.
It started slow, like a symphony slowly crescendoing, but how loud it would get he had no idea yet. First a MCV involving two little girls and their mother. All of them lived barely and thankfully, but that one had been tough on the med students and younger residents. She was 9 years old and loved soccer, and she might never walk again. Then one of the aforementioned residents had taken on some triage cases to calm down, and was now testing positive for TB. Public health had to be called and everyone in the lobby tested. So far there was no more spread but there was no telling if that would change.
Link had just gotten off of the phone with public health when he heard a commotion from the nurses station. The charge nurse, Purah, usually so energetic and rousing, and so calm in the face of chaos had a bad look on her face. When their eyes met he could tell instantly that this was gonna get messy. Was it an MCI? Another shooting like at last years Indi-go-go’s concert? Sometimes he felt like the blood from that night was still caked into the grooves and callouses of his hands. As if sensing the way his mind was heading Purah hung up the phone to Med Command.
Leaning over the desk to Purah he spoke softly, trying to not spread panic. “MCI?” She shook her head no. Thank Hylia. Before he could ask another question she interrupted him. Her voice was uncharacteristically soft and cautious.
“One victim. 28 year old female, GSW to the left chest. Its uhm… Its Princess Zelda. They think it was Yiga somehow. 3 minutes out, by helicopter. I don't know anymore than that.”
The nurses station fell in deep silence, which immediately caused everyone to stop and turn to look at them. Realizing what she’d done Purah raised her voice to gather everyone’s attention.
“Listen everyone, gather around! We have a VIP arriving via helicopter ETA 3 minutes. Stay calm, Robbie call OR and tell them to prep for a GSW, someone get Trauma One open and ready. Any words Link?”
Oh shit, he was the attending. All eyes turned to him, and he faltered a moment. A quick clear of Purah’s throat brought him back. This was his job, to rouse and to inspire. It was game time.
“You heard Purah, I want Trauma One and OR prepped for a GSW, get Mipha. I dont care if shes in operation this is a VIP have someone cover for her. Revali you’re with me, were taking care of this ourselves.” He turned to his now very concerned med students. “My med students, you guys have been doing great, but you’re gonna need to step it up for today. Someone grab Midna, she’s sleeping in Central One, she is your new attending until I am done with this mess. This is what we trained for people lets move!” and with that everyone began to run like ants, readying for the increased responsibility about to be placed on everyone's head. He gave a brief ‘How’d I do?’ look to Purah as he walked backwards to the elevator. She gave him a thumbs up before waving him off to go do his job. He checked his watch, only 2:38 pm.
The elevator slowly ascended. Agonizingly slow. He had known the Princess was in town for an event, some summit for climate action. To think it would end up like this. If they were heading here instead of the 30 minute flight to one of the bigger hospitals, it meant she wasn't stable enough to make it there. That wasn't good at all. Who shoots the Princess anyways? She had an approval rating in the 90s. Well obviously the Yiga but from his memory they were more… theatrical? It felt wrong using that word for them but this just didn't fit the MO. He checked his watch again. 17 seconds had passed. Could this thing go any slower? But really who shoots the princess!?--
“Good speech, I probably could’ve done better” his thoughts were interrupted by Revali’s voice. Cocky bastard. A light punch to his shoulder shut him up quick. The door to the elevator finally opened, and the mid afternoon sun was blinding. Revali saw the look on Link’s face, one of pure focus, of preparing for the challenge ahead.
“You’ve got this Link. They don’t call you ‘The Hero of Hyrule’ for nothing.”
Revali was right, and that earned him a soft smile and a nod of affirmation. Damn right he was the champion. Youngest attending in Hyrulean history, and the reason this coop was now the top performing ED in the kingdom. He tried to let his own earlier words fill him with the same confidence he tried to instill in others.
The helicopter with a royal emblem emblazoned on the side slowly touched down in front of them and a gurney was pulled out by a paramedic. He was dressed in the Champion Blue of the royal guard, which would’ve been very cool to see under different circumstances.
He leans close to her, hands already examining her in practiced motion as they move to the elevator. “Princess Zelda, can you hear me? I’m Dr. Link Forester can you open your eyes for me?”
He receives a groan of pain in response and a fluttering of the eyelids. He’d think about how beautiful her lashes were if he weren't so concerned with her survival.
The paramedic leans down and flips up his visor, checking a small monitor attached to the princess. “GSW to the left chest, around 4cm below the clavicle not through and through. On scene GCS was 14, now 11. BPs 88 over 60, tachycardic--”
Revali interrupts, stethoscope against her body as he listens to the sounds of her breathing “Likely a hemopneumothorax, Airways patent, but she’s not protecting well. We've got a chest tray and are ready to intubate in Trauma One.” They pull her out of the elevator, rushing into the trauma room, a light already in Link’s hand checking her pupils despite her wiggling and squirming. 4mm equal and reactive. He relays this along with everything else so far to the room.
“Princess Zelda did you hit your head on the way down?” When she only responds by writhing away from him he looks to the paramedic, still in full flight uniform who shakes his head ‘no’. Thank god, no CT just yet then.
“She’s fighting me too much! We may have to sedate.” Link probably already should have, probably would have but she was the Hylia damn princess and he couldn't think straight.
“Zelda look at me, I need you to calm down, we’re gonna do everything we can to help you.” Her eyes meet his and he grasps her hand with his. She squeezes his hand in understanding. Their eyes meet. Her eyes are gorgeous and green. They match the color of her dress. Or the color it was, before the blood soaked into it. She stills under his gaze and a perfect bubble forms around them. The world stills, Link takes a deep breath, Zelda does too.
“Zel, we need to sedate you, but I need your consent to help you out the best way I can. Do you trust me?” Revali looks on in curiosity at the calm amidst the chaos around them, the way their eyes dance across each others faces. Zelda nods. Link lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
A nurse starts to cut away the blood soaked fabric, as they push her medications.
“Zel, I’m sedating you now, we’re gonna put a tube down your throat to help you breathe. You’ll be asleep for it, but I need you to stay with me ‘kay?” She nods her head quickly, then slowly, as the drugs take effect. She’s out in half a minute. As he hurriedly intubates her he shouts to no one in particular.
“Has anyone called the OR!?”
“Right here” he heaves a sigh as he hears Mipha’s familiar voice enter the room.
Thank Hylia. Mipha smiles at his unintentional spill of words.
“Only the best for her Majesty” She says, turning to Revali for him to present the situation.
“Her Royal Highness” Link corrects, not looking up from the prep on his MTP set up.
Revali and Mipha give him an unusual look, pausing before remembering the situation and falling back into the familiar chaos.
The last of her clothes are cut away, and he begins examining the wound. He’s seen thousands of naked bodies, he’s not a prude. He blushes anyways.
The wound doesn't look good. He knows the bullet is still in there causing mayhem in her body, but thats not his job. He trusts Mipha, all he has to do is giver her the best shot at saving the princess. If they do their jobs perfect she might have a chance. It’s a damn good thing he’s the best at what he does. He takes a deep breath and begins working, begins giving orders. The whole trauma room senses his shift, and they begin taking after him, moving like a hivemind. They follow his every word like a lifeline. It is one. Hers.
The operation is a blur. He feels high. This must be flow state. Funny, he was reading a paper in a medical journal about that two mornings ago. When sufficient motivation meets sufficient challenge, when control peaks, when your mind is so singularly focused on a task that the world around you fades. His hands move like they’re controlled by a spectre. He can almost see himself from above, see the whole trauma room. Every movement cataloged and understood perfectly, like watching a dance you’ve memorized the choreography of. In record time her wound is packed and she’s stabilized enough for the OR. She might have a chance. Mipha gives him a nod, her eyes meeting his. She’s impressed with him. Very impressed. He’s impressed with himself too. As they wheel her out to OR, he looks down at his gown and gloves. They’re covered in blood. The blood of the goddess supposedly. His cheeks are flushed, he’s covered in blood and sweat. He has to pee. He ignores it all and follows them to the OR, discarding his old gown and gloves for new ones.
Warmth spreads through his fingers as he lays a hand on the operating table. The princess emanates an ethereal glow, her pale skin reflecting the bright lights of the OR. A tap on his shoulder from Mipha brings him back into focus. It’s now or never.
-----------------------------------------
Link practically collapses onto a chair outside the OR. 5 and a half hours of intensive surgery crash down at him all at once and he struggles to keep his eyes open. Mipha sits down much more intentionally next to him. She leans her head on his shoulder and they sit silently for a few minutes. He’s drifting off to sleep when her voice finds him.
“We did it. We saved her Link.” He feels her cheeks pull into a smile against him. “We really did it.”
He simply nods and wraps his arm around her shoulder, rubbing soothingly up and down her arm. They did do it. It took every ounce of effort and focus they had, working perfectly in tandem as if controlled by the same mind. They stay like that for a while, comforting, and relaxing, and together. Eventually they make their way down to the locker room, change into something less blood covered, and walk in comfortable silence to the parking lot. When she suddenly huffs in annoyance, he looks at her curiously. He follows her gaze to see his parked motorcycle. Oh yeah, he did drive that to work today. The warm summer day felt too good not to enjoy. He shakes his head in defeat.
“Yes I know, its a deathtrap.” he sighs out.
“Then why do you drive it? You know how we all feel about it. How many motorcycle accidents have we treated, and how many lived?” he knows the statistics, both for the ED and for the whole kingdom. The survival rate is not good. He’s too tired to feel any real shame, but still he hates worrying her.
“I know. I know. And I know our agreement” he says, walking to his bike and leaning against it. He looks down, not meeting her gaze.
“You won’t save my ass if I crash”
“I won’t save your ass when you crash”
He coughs. She glares. “When” he corrects.
She smiles and gives him a wave. “Good night Link, I’ll see you tomorrow. Zel will want to meet her savior” She says this last part with a wink. He cant help but notice how hollow and insincere the gesture seems. Still his cheeks flush.
“I was just-” He lamely starts, but she interrupts by suddenly hugging him tightly.
“Goodnight Link” she mumbles against his chest. It takes him a moment but he returns the hug. He watches her walk off to her car and pull out of the parking lot before following suit. When he finally makes it home and falls into his bed, sleep hits him like a truck.