#shadlink

[yiga-hellhole]

happy pride month everybody. this is the plot of twilight princess if you squint

based on classic image below the cut

[stat1cdotpng]

BOOM SHAKALAKA

[author-main]

Requests you say? May I politely request something rather saucy... scandalous, even........

Shadlink holding hands

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[marcusdoodlesalot]

Rusl wasn’t sure about Shad.

Well, he wasn’t sure about him taking a, ahem, liking to Link.

When Shad had first joined the group, Rusl was not only glad, but a little excited. It was important for younger people to be apart of their ranks, people of different age groups and status brought light to different issues and angles that those who did not come from them wouldn’t even think about. And Shad was smart, he was clever and his curious and strategic mind more than made up for his lack of experience, as well as his enthusiasm and determination to help protect Hyrule.

And, all things considered, he did want him to meet Link.

Rusl wasn’t blind to the fact that Ordon was small, with only two people really around Link’s age, and Fado was over five years Link’s senior, so he probably didn’t even truly count. Also, considering Fado was technically Link’s boss, Rusl couldn’t exactly call him Link’s peer.

But, with Shad and Ashei joining the group, both roughly around the same age as both Link and Ilia, Rusl was hopeful that they would all hit it off.

It was a bit rocky, at first, Shad and Ashei seeming to both be on the offensive side when it came to protecting themselves and secrets, but it was quickly fixed after they learned who Link actually was, and both quickly apologized.

And, just as much as Rusl hoped, Link and Shad had hit it off.

Link was patient with people who talked a lot, he was used to people taking up most of conversations themselves with him only giving an affirming nod or just a word or two, but he also seemed genuinely interested in what Shad had to say.

Rusl was surprised at first, though, looking back on it, it shouldn’t have been too much of one. Link was smart, and he did like to read. He probably was the villager who owned the most books out of everyone in the whole village, and often read in his free time. He was always the first to look at any new books that came in from any merchants that stopped by only a few times a year, selling castle town staples like sugar and other food items that where hard to find around Ordon. Sometimes, they had things like jewelry or fine clothes or, though rarely, books.

He had asked Link, years ago, when he was younger and still lived in the home of him and Uli, what he found so fascinating about reading, Link seeming a bit embarrassed to answer, though telling him it was because he wanted to know about the world outside of Ordon. He had never visited Castletown before.

But it seemed there was something that just… clicked for Link and Shad. They seemed interesting in helping the other with their goals, even after the threat of the Twili Invasion was over.

And Rusl was glad for it! Link finally had another male friend in his life, one that had different experiences and dreams, but still wanted to be close despite different backgrounds.

They had started to spend a lot of time together, Link often leaving for a week or more stretches of time to stay in Castletown in Shad’s apartment, and talking excitedly what they had talked about and did while he stayed there. It seemed Link didn’t ever had a bad thing to say about Shad, only ever gushing compliments about the scholar.

He had talked about how bright, and funny he was. How kind and caring and attentive he was to it seemed like everyone and especially to Link. How he was courteous and seemed to go out of his way to help. Link always seemed to be a bit shy, though, when it came to talking about what Shad had complimented him on, always quieting and looking away with a small grin on his lips, before shaking it off and grinning wider, talking about a different part of his visit.

And then, after a multi-week visit, Rusl had noticed something.

There were small marks on Link’s neck, almost faded but deep red and, as Rusl was once young once, too, very obvious what they were.

Rusl wasn’t sure how to approach this topic. Link was still young and at the age to really start showing interest in girls, but he had never done so much as shown such interest in Ilia above being a friend, despite Ilia showing more and enough interest in him. Perhaps, he had finally found a girl who actually seemed to prompt such feelings in him?

He approached the situation in a way he thought was delicate. He didn’t want Link to think it was an interrogation or that he was in trouble. By this time, he was already well on his way to turning into a young man, though, as Rusl had a big hand in raising him, he would always be his boy.

When he had asked indirectly about the marks, Link had gone very quiet, and, when Rusl looked over to him, as he asked when he was busy with a chore asking this, he could see Link’s face was bright red, reaching as far as the tips of his ears in down his neck. He looked like a fish out of water, his mouth opening and closing, trying to find the right words to say.

Risk had laughed and told him there was nothing to be ashamed of, that he was glad he found a girl who sparked his interest in such a way. That’s when Link looked a bit sheepish, and maybe a bit… nervous? That was somewhat new.

And that’s when Link told him it wasn’t from a girl actually. That the marks had been left there by another young man, a young man they both knew well, though, it seemed now that Link knew him way more than Rusl.

The marks were left there by Shad.

To say Rusl was shocked would be an understatement.

Now these were really uncharted territory for Rusl.

He wasn’t really sure what to say about it, other than letting out a shocked “oh” when it was explained. They both stood there awkwardly for many minutes before Rusl had gone back to his chore and changed the subject. And the subject didn’t come up again until Link had mentioned that he was planning on visiting Castletown for a while, much longer than before, that that topic really came back to Rusl’s mind.

He had asked Link if he could accompany him, telling him he would really like to see the rest of the group again if at all possible. Link seemed to catch on quickly to what Rusl wanted to actually do, and was quick to tell him it might not be possible to see everyone, as both Auru and Ashei were often busy traveling as well. Rusl had assured him that would be fine, more than fine, actually.

Then Link had mentioned that then Uli would be by herself with both his younger siblings, which Uli quickly jumped in to say she didn’t mind, and had a whole village to back her up if she needed help.

Then Link tired again to try and prevent Rusl from wanted to go to Castletown by telling him he would be neglecting chores if he left, which Rusl quickly pointed out that Link would be doing the same.

After Link standing, trying to hastily think of a reason that would get him to stay, he relented, head bowing slightly and shoulders slumping a bit in defeat. He told Rusl he planned to leave in the morning the day after the next.

That morning, Rusl had waited for Link outside of his house, ready to leave, his bag and sword ready and a mule saddled up and ready to leave. Link honestly seemed a bit shocked to see him ready to go even before he was, and sighed. It was earlier than he said to be ready, perhaps he planned on trying to leave him behind. Fat chance.

The travel was mostly silent, other than Rusl saying how excited he was to see some of his old colleagues and friends again and Link letting out halfhearted replies returning the sentiment, his shoulders tense.

When they had finally got to town, it was the afternoon and they had decided to head directly to Telma’s.

Telma seemed extremely pleased to see them both, even coming out and giving Rusl an unexpected hug, which he just grinned to her and told her he was glad to see her and her business where doing well.

They walked over to the older group table and found both Ashei and Auru seemed to be in town, what luck, and sitting around the table, greeting Rusl, a bit shocked to see him all the way out here. The only person who did not seemed overjoyed to see him was Shad, who stammered out a greeting when he got to the table, glancing a bit nervously at Link, who shrugged his shoulders, giving a tense grimace and shrug.

They had ordered drinks and got to catching up, Rusl sitting on the opposite end of the table to Shad and Link managing to sit next to Shad, though at a distance that would be considered appropriate.

They caught up on life of one another and Rusl sent studying glances to Shad every now and then out the corner of his eye, causing the young scholar to sweat a bit, before he got caught up in a conversation with Auru, which expanded to the whole table and helped ease the tension.

They all seemed to settle in nicely, the drinks likely working their magic on keeping everything loose and friendly, and not in a killing mood. Though Rusl still kept a close eye on Shad.

Throughout the evening, Rusl noticed Shad’s and Link’s chairs scooting closer, inch by inch, until they were practically shoved into each other, both engrossed in their own conversation, seeming unaware of the other’s quieting conversation and Rusl watched them.

They talked quietly, seemingly about nothing, just it seemed about their day and time apart.

And then, Shad made a small joke, which Link laughed at, his grin slightly widening as he looked down, his hands folded a bit in his lap, before glancing briefly back up to Shad with a bashful look, before looking back down.

And that’s when Rusl saw it.

Shad’s eyes softened, his amused grin growing to one of fondness, a small, somewhat dreamy, sigh huffed out from his nose as he looked at Link, his eyes moving from place to place on his face, not looking to anyone else in that moment.

This was a look that Rusl had recognized, not from the scholar, no, this was the first time he’d seen such a look on Shad’s face, but it was a look he recognized on himself.

It was a look he had when he and Uli were young, just starting their courtship, still teenagers at the time. This was a look he had given her on their wedding night, and a look he still gave her to this very day.

Yes, Rusl recognized the look.

He… didn’t know exactly what Shad wanted after Link had told him who had given the marks. The first place his mind went to was only for Shad’s own pleasure, that he was using Link as an object for entertainment and self indulgences. Shad was from the city, after all, and Rusl wasn’t too sure about these city boys and girls.

Though, with that one look, Rusl’s thoughts had changed.

Because that look? That was one of a man in love.

And when Link looked back up, his own look slightly softening, he could see that it was more than mutual.

Rusl just sighed a bit, shaking his head a bit with a small smile, before going back to talking to the others.

Once they had all left, Ashei and Auru returning to their respective residences and Telma waving goodbye as she cleaned up, it left Rusl, Shad, and Link standing in the courtyard, a bit awkwardly.

“‘M gonna guess you gonna stay at his place tonight, right?” He asked Link, who seemed to jump a bit before hesitating to answer, Shad’s shoulder stiffening besides Link. It seemed he wanted to say something, though likely thought it was better to keep his mouth shut tight.

Rusl nodded at the confirmation.

“‘M headin’ ta tha’ one Inn for the night. I’ll probably head out in jus’ a few days, now,” he told Link, walking over to the two. He clamped a hand on Shad’s shoulder, who jumped, his eyes wide with nervousness and worry, Link watching anxiously beside him.

“Now, listen here, Shad, I don’ wanna hear nothin’ negative ‘bout you never from Link. So you best not give ‘im a reason to say anythin’, got it?” He asked him, his voice dipping a bit low. Shad gulped a bit, nodding, though there was a look in his eyes that conveyed earnestness.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” was all he told Rusl.

Rusl nodded a few times, patting Shad on the shoulder and turning to leave.

“Good ta hear. Now, you kids have a good night. Don’ have too much fun, now,” he winked at them with a small teasing grin, both of their faces reddening slightly, both of them nodding and say their goodbyes and wishing him a goodnight.

Rusl walked away with a small wave and a smile.

Maybe Shad might be alright after all.

[friedpanlink]

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Welcome back

[razables]

i was struck with a vision

[mushroomqueen-arts]

Shadlink my beloveds!! Niche ships are my favorites✨

[kings-comic]

Sooo for the pride month we can request art riiight ? 🌈

SHADLINK SHADLINK !!!!!! (I know Hunter is straight, but I love this ship so much)

>:3

Well, funny you say that... I cracked and made him bi curious- (in the comic, he's currently still just straight, bit he'll get some character development and erm- Shad does his job of transmitting the gay by osmosis or something XDD) might change as I write him, who knows

oh and yeah- I tweaked Shad's design a little to make it a little more destct as my au's (the jewelry he wears is zonai stuff he found in the sky and he has one of Oocoo's feather in his hair) and yes- that is an unshaved beard hehe

Anyways- happy pride again :D

Imma do Dielli x Tetra and Shade next ^^