Florist AU - requested by herlightoverhyrule on tumblr

It started innocently enough. On the first day, Impa would be celebrating her birthday. And what better way for Zelda to show appreciation for her life-long nanny than to find her the prettiest red roses?

The little flower shop was on the corner of the street, between a bakery and a pet store. Outside on the patio were shelves of potted plants and flowers, the aroma of roses intermingling sweetly with the scent of fresh-baked bread next door.

But when she saw him, Zelda suddenly felt self-conscious, smoothing out the wrinkles of her white sundress as she entered the flower shop.

His mussed, blond bangs hung in front of crystal-blue eyes, even as the rest of his hair was tucked beneath the green backwards cap on his head. He must've been the florist, with his green apron and white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The sight of him made her blush—she felt silly doing so.

The young man was behind the counter, arranging a group of daffodils together in a sunny little bundle within an elegant white vase. He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers. They widened a bit, but then he smiled, and she clutched her small purse to her heart.

"Afternoon!" he greeted, "Can I help you find anything?"

The second day, she just happened to decide that her father could use a burst of color in his office. And what better way to give him that than some fresh flowers on his desk?

"Something bright and blue, I think," she said with a tiny smile, her finger tapping her chin thoughtfully.

Link—she found out his name the day before, and she most certainly wouldn't forget it—leaned against the counter, resting his chin against his palm. He beamed at her with a nod, glancing around them. "Here, I think you'll like these." The young man straightened, offering her his arm as he led her to the sky-blue hydrangeas.

Though they were for her father's office, she couldn't help but think that they were the color of Link's eyes. So she curled her hand around the crook of his elbow and let him sweep her away.

The third day, he greeted her with a wide grin. "Zelda! You're back!"

"I need something for my friend, Ruto," she said, folding her hands together and glancing around curiously. "She's having a housewarming party tonight, and what better way to celebrate than to bring her a nice bunch of flowers from my favorite little shop?" She gave him a teasing smile, despite her own racing heart.

He looked quite handsome like that, reaching up to adjust some wisteria hanging from the ceiling. "Oh? Well, what does she like?"

She meandered closer to him. "… This is nice."

"Hm?"

"Those. The wisteria," she answered quickly, glancing away to avoid meeting his curious gaze. "She would like them, I think—purple is a very regal color."

He nodded, reaching up with his clippers that were tucked into the pocket of his green apron to retrieve them. "They're very graceful flowers. Elegant, almost. Regal would be a good way to put it."

He arranged them personally, with care, taking his time. "You know, you should get some for yourself. Purple suits you." He chuckled, reaching to awkwardly scratch the back of his head, dislodging the green backwards baseball cap from his head in the process.

Her heart leaped in her chest. She returned home with two bouquets—one for Ruto, and one that was "on me, princess."

The fourth day, she bought a lovely bouquet of white roses. Link's eyes softened as she told him that it was to be left at her mother's grave. He helped her make a personalized card as well.

The fifth day, Link taught her how to make flower crowns. When he tucked a stray plumeria behind her ear, she knew she'd fallen for him.

The sixth day, it was bundle of Forget-Me-Nots. The seventh, a delightful burst of wildflowers. The eighth, some potted tulips.

On the ninth day, her heart pounded hard in her chest as she purchased a single, white iris.

He smiled as he did every day. "Who's it for today, princess?"

"…It's for you." She looked down, refusing to meet his eyes. "It must seem so strange, buying you a flower when you have them all like this. I just…"

She ran out of excuses. This was her last chance.

Her eyes widened and her heart sunk into her stomach when Link's expression morphed into one of shock. He stumbled back and away from her at the counter, before whirling around and escaping into the back room.

Zelda stood there, frozen and at a loss and completely mortified with herself. How could she think—? Was she really that silly—?

She turned around and rushed toward the door, her face red and eyes burning. Her vision blurred and her chest hurt.

"W-Wait! Zelda!"

She truly did want to just leave—she couldn't handle his pity or his apologies. But Zelda couldn't find it in herself to move when he asked her to remain. After all, she was positively smitten.

When she turned around, she blinked away the tears to find him carrying a large bouquet, a huge flurry of color and petals bundled between his strong arms. Deep red roses, light blue hydrangeas, showering wisteria, pure white roses, plumerias, forget-me-nots, wildflowers, tulips … and the single white iris she purchased just then.

It was a splash of every day she had visited him.

"Don't—go! I…maybe we can have dinner later?"

Zelda smiled.