3) Relaxation, Contest Submission Thread

[Existence: DENIED]

Thread for submitting all drabbles under the theme 'Relaxation' .

[CrazygurlMadness]

Look, look, it's me again!

Overprotection (468 words)
Zelda sighed, and her breath came out as a staccato. Hands rumbled on her bare back, softly hammering into her tense shoulders. She hated working while bent over long documents, but politics didn’t wait, and besides, she owed it to her country. Her personal comfort paled in comparison.
Still, she could only relish moments like these, where warmth and softness curled around her, the harsh knots in her muscles slowly easing away like clumps in dough. Malleable. She liked that.
There was a grunt next to her, and she resolutely ignored it. Pooh, it would ruin her day if she paid it any more heed.
The man above her, a towering, broad-shouldered god of peace, bent down and asked, close to her ear, “Would you like me to finish up or would you prefer a few minutes more?”
She exhaled deeply and, in a drowsy voice, replied, “Maybe a few more minutes, Reed.”
Another grunt, this time of warning, sounded next to them. If her eyes hadn’t been closed, she’d have rolled them. She felt the towering mass of Reed hesitate then carefully resume his delectable work. Ah, yes.
His hands moved down her bare back and towards her lumbar curve, the motion warm and sensual. The man was talented.
There was a sharp clearing of the throat somewhere to her far side, and for a moment, Reed’s hands unexpectedly moved away. Darn it, just when she was ready to doze off again. What in the world was Reed doing? She paid him a madman’s wage to get these precious few moments every week. Traitor!
A door opened then closed. Silence.
Well, bugger it all!
Opening her eyes, she peered around at the visible area, but saw no one.
“Reed?”
She sat up, sleepy-eyed and annoyed, and cast a quick look to locate her-- Ah.
“Link,” she exasperatedly told her chief of security, “you have got to learn to use proper manners with my therapists. They are the only ones keeping me sane.”
It was clear from Link’s grim expression that he thought very little of her therapists, and even less of their impact on her sanity. “He was going to feel you up.” His eyes fell away from her gaze and rested at some point around her collarbone.
This time she did roll her eyes. “Link, by gods, if you’re going to be like this about every single one of my--,” she noticed his face reddening and his eyes dart away, “--What is wrong with you?”
All of a sudden she became aware of the air circulating freely on the skin of her back… and front.
Clearing his throat, Link held up a strip of pink fabric from the edge of the table and suggested, in a small but pleased voice, “May I offer you your bra?”

[Angel Zelda]

Zelink Theme #3: Relaxation
Title: Relaxing in the Courtyard
Words: 120

Fluffy white clouds floated lazily across the bright blue sky. A young boy and girl were lying on their backs in the lush green grass of the courtyard, just as lazy as the clouds above.

Link and Zelda caught each others’ eye. Both were smiling.

Zelda let out a small giggle, then her gaze (as well as Link’s) went back to the sky.

The boy from the forest and the Princess of Hyrule remained silent, enjoying the quiet and the relaxing. It wasn’t often that they shared a relaxing moment with each other. Normally, they would be getting into mischief or be playing games that involved running.

It was nice, Zelda thought, to simply relax and do nothing at all.

[LZ Angel]

Title: Escape
Word Count: 556

Link glanced up from the map he was studying as someone knocked on his door. Sighing, he moved over to the door and opened it. “I thought you might be here today,” he said in amusement, showing his ‘guest’ inside as he closed the door.

Zelda glared at him from under her hood. “Is it so bad for me to want to get out of the palace every so often? Would you rather I run off into the wilderness?”

Link immediately shook his head. “No, I definitely don’t want that. Impa’s going to kick my ass enough as it is – I don’t need her attacking me because you ran further away,” he said hastily as Zelda moved over to his couch

“You need to stop being so scared of Impa,” she said absently as she pulled her hood off to reveal her gold hair.

“Excuse me Zel, but who is hiding out here with me in order to lessen Impa’s wrath? You’re just using me as an accomplice and shield so she won’t yell at you so much,” he said dryly as he leaned against the wall and folded his arms.

Zelda blushed. “Well....that’s beside the point,” she said quickly, sitting down on the couch

Link shook his head in amusement. “Nice comeback, Your Highness,” he said, grinning at her as she glared at him. He then sighed, turning serious. “What was it this time?”

Zelda sighed, resting her face on her hands. “I just needed to get away from the palace for awhile. I need to be somewhere where I can be myself with people who actually care about me, not the Princess. I need to just relax, and I couldn’t do it there. So I came here.”

Link smiled. “Zel, that’s the same story you’ve been telling me for months. I think you just like seeing me, and that’s your excuse,” he said as he came over to sit beside her. “I’ve noticed that you tend to come here whenever I don’t come to court for awhile.”

Zelda blushed. “Well, you are a dear friend, and I miss you. You’re my only friend outside the palace. Here, with you, I can relax and be myself.”

Link grinned. “I feel honoured, Princess.”

“How many times must I tell you to stop calling me that when we’re alone?” she asked as a knock sounded on the door again.

“As many times as I must reproach you for escaping the palace again, my dear Zelda,” he replied with a cheeky grin as he opened the door.

A new voice entered the conversation. “Link, I wager you don’t reproach her half as much as I,” Impa said, sounding amused.

Zelda sighed. So much for a chance to relax. “Hello Impa,” she said reluctantly.

Impa smiled slightly. “Hello Princess. As much as you want to stay here, you are needed at court.”

Link glanced at the clock on his wall. “I think this is a new record Impa,” he said, sounding amused as Zelda whirled around to glare at him.

Impa smiled again. “I do try. Come along Zelda,” she said, disappearing back outside.

Zelda sighed again as she turned to face Link. “Well, goodbye,” she said regretfully.

He stepped forward to kneel and kiss her hand. “Until next time my dear,” he said with a grin and wink.

[Alantie]

Theme: Relaxation
Words: 421
Title: Tension

“Link, I need you to cover my last client for me,” Kafei told him breathlessly, hurriedly pulling on his coat.

The young masseuse turned, his sapphire eyes wide. “What? No way! I’m not covering for you so you can leave early! You’ll just have to suck it up or find some other loser to do it for you.”

Kafei wrinkled his nose, pulling his shoulder length hair back into a sort ponytail. “Don’t be such a baby, Link,” he sighed. “I have a date with Anju and I’ll be late if I don’t leave now. I already cleared it with Impa.”

Link groaned, running his free hand through his blond hair as he followed the young man toward the waiting area. “What about Malon?” he demanded. “Or Saria? Can’t they do it?”

“They all have clients right now,” his friend told him. “You’re the only one here who can take her.”

“Her? Who?” he inquired as they stepped into the waiting room.

Kaefie ignored him, grabbing the clipboard resting on the desk and scanning down the list, pausing on the last name in his column. “Zelda?” he called out.

Link could feel his jaw drop as a young woman rose, setting her magazine down and picking up her purse as she came toward them, a bright smile on her lovely face. “It’s good to see you again, Kaefie,” she greeted the other man cheerfully, taking his outstretched hand in her own. “Is it my turn now?”

He laughed warmly. “Yeah, but I’m afraid I can’t take you today- I have a date with Anju that I’ve been planning for ages.”

“Oh, that’s alright,” she told him. “I can reschedule-”

“No need,” Kaefie assured her with a grin. “My buddy Link here has no clients scheduled at this time, so he can take you instead.”

“Really?” The blond brightened, her eyes sparkling hopefully as she turned her gaze on Link. “Would you? I wouldn’t trouble you otherwise, but I had an exhausting week, and my muscles are tense. I just want to relax.”

“Well, that’s exactly what this place is for,” he told her earnestly. “It’s no trouble at all- it’s my job. I’m good at helping people relax.”

Her eyes grew mischievous as she spoke. “So, you’re good with your hands then?”

“So I’ve been told.”

Link took Zelda’s arm, leading her toward the room, leaving Kaefie behind, smirking at them. He couldn’t wait to tell Anju that their plan to get their best friends together seemed to already be working.