Five minutes into the third episode of Zelda's binge watching, her phone rang. She smiled to see Ike was calling her and immediately paused her show to answer. "Hey Grumpy!" she said cheerfully and he snorted.

"Do me a favor?" he practically gasped out the question.

"What do you need?" she asked immediately, hearing the pain in his voice.

"Just... just talk to me while I walk home. Keep me distracted," he hissed and Zelda frowned.

"Do you want me to come get you Ike?"

"No," he told her firmly.

"It's no trouble-"

"Zelda I don't think I could get in your car right now," he admitted and she nodded to herself.

"Okay, uh," she looked around her dorm, her eyes landing on her paused tv show. "What kind of tv shows do you like?"

"I don't watch much," he hissed into the phone and she nodded, brain scrambling. "Look, tell me anything, just keep talking please."

"Okay," she nodded, feeling all her words leave her brain. "Um, I'm excited to be done with college. I've still got a lot to go but this whole college experience thing is absolute crap... My roommates are obnoxious, constantly singing and trying to get me to go party."

"Why don't you?" he asked with a small groan in his tone.

"Because I'm not that kind of person?" she offered as she laid back on her bed, pursing her lips at the ceiling. "I don't like alcohol, it tastes like ass, I'm not interested in hook ups..."

"Too good for the average guy?" he asked and she rolled her eyes.

"No," she said firmly, "I just..." she hesitated, the truth about her ex posed on her tongue.

"Just what?" he prompted.

"I had this ex and," she took a deep breath, unsure why she was about to tell Ike her darkest secret, "he pushed it too far."

"What?" Ike's tone went from pained to angry in a flash.

"Yeah," she nodded and took a shaky breath. "He uh, we were on a date and things were great until he pushed it too far. I told him no but... it didn't stop him and he was a lot stronger than I thought."

"Zelda," Ike's tone was gentle as an sigh left his lips, "you can't blame yourself for some asshole's actions. You don't do you?"

"No," she shook her head and sighed.

"If I ever see that piece of shit I'm going to kick his ass," Ike's voice held so much conviction she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"You don't even know his name or what he looks like," she pointed out and he grunted.

"Doesn't matter, you tell me and he's gonna have a harder time walking than me," he growled and she smiled into the phone. She had just told him her biggest, darkest secret, and he wasn't treating her differently. He didn't think of her as a fragile glass statue, or a slut that let it happen... "Zelda? You suck at distractions come on," he hissed and she laughed lightly.

"Sorry, just the first time I've ever admitted to anyone that that happened," she replied sarcastically and he made a noise.

"Yeah? How long ago?" he asked and she looked down at her blankets pooled by the foot of her bed.

"A few months ago," she mumbled and Ike sighed.

"Shit, I thought you meant some high school dick bag. Look, gimme his name and he's not going to be able to walk. I mean that."

"Ike stop, it's fine. We broke up and he hasn't bothered me since..." she trailed off, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Zelda," he spoke once more in a gentle tone and she smiled despite the tears in her eyes, "hey, look I'm not the best for this kinda stuff and I know that but I... I'm here alright? If you need to talk or just sit and stare at a wall with someone I'm here and really good at that." She laughed at that, surprised by the offer.

"I thought I was just annoying to you," she reminded and he let out a huff.

"Yeah you're a pain in my ass but you're the least annoying pain in my ass that I have to put up with."

"I love how kind you are," she said dryly and he snorted.

"That's the first time I've been accused of being nice in a long time."

"Do you... Maybe wanna hang out?" she asked carefully, bracing herself for the answer to be no.

"What like right now?" he asked.

"Yeah, I mean since you're off work now."

"You actually want to hang out with me?" he asked and she bit her lips together.

"Yeah, I do."

"God and I thought I was messed up in the head," he grumpily said and she giggled.

"It's your winning personality, draws me in," she said in a faux serious tone.

"Ah yes, my super charming personality," he snorted. "Look, I don't think I'm going to be able to do much walking around after both jobs and it's kinda late-"

"I'm sorry you're right I-"

"And," he talked over her talking over him, "if you want me to not be limping around the mall with you, I should knock back some pills and just pass out."

"Okay," she tried not to sound disappointed by that, but obviously did when Ike sighed.

"I'm not trying to get out of hanging out with you, I promise okay? I'm seriously about halfway up the stairs and about to fall over."

"Do you need help Ike?" she asked softly, wondering why she was pushing this so much.

"No," he grunted into the phone, "just a new leg."

"Well I'll just hop down to the black market and get you one," she teased and he huffed. "Is that as close to a laugh from you that I'm going to get?" she asked curiously.

"Probably," he admitted, the one word pained.

"Why don't you have a place on the first floor?"

"I tried to get one, they were full already," he told her in a stiff voice.

"My dorm is on the second floor, which is thankfully the top floor because I think hearing people walk above me would weird me out," she commented and he snorted.

"It's not that bad unless they're really loud... There, I'm at my door," he added after a moment.

"Do you want me to let you go?" she asked, hoping he would say no.

"You still have my spare right?" he asked instead of answering her question.

"Yes! Sorry, I forgot to give it back-"

"It's fine," he spoke over her quickly. "You might as well keep it for now, that way if I ever lock myself out I can actually get back in." She smiled into her phone. This felt like a big step for him, he was trusting her with the keys to his place.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather give it to someone in your family?" she asked carefully and he snorted.

"No," he answered firmly.

"Okay, I was just-"

"Look I'm going to eat alright? What time are you getting here tomorrow?"

"Eight thirty?" she posed and heard the sound of him opening his front door.

"Cool, see you then... Bye Zelda."

"Bye," she said and ended the call, feeling a mix of emotions about everything. One part of her wanted to go straight to his place and bug him into letting her help. The other part wanted to sit there and plan out how to make the next day a perfect one.

Her phone buzzed in her hand and she looked at the picture sent from Ike in confusion. There was a tiny pale white cat with a long tail wrapping around his leg, big wide eyes staring up at him.

'You have a cat?' she sent, definitely not remembering seeing any signs of an animal in his apartment the day before.

'This little fucker just followed me in like he owns the place!' The text made her laugh and she shook her head.

'No collar?'

'No and judging by the way it's going after my second burger I brought home from work I'd say it hasn't eaten properly in awhile.' She awwed in sadness and shook her head.

'Are you going to take it to a shelter?' She sent the message and looked around her room, deciding to pick out her outfit for the next day before she went to bed. As she opened the doors to her closet the phone buzzed in her hand and she stared at the picture from Ike, her heart practically exploding with how cute the picture was. The little kitten was curled up in a ball on Ike's bare chest, it's little tail wrapped up and covering it's little nose.

'I think I have a new roommate' the attached text said and she shook her head, trying to think of a good response to that as she dug through her closet.

"Acting all tough," she laughed to herself as she settled on a top, "but you're really a softie huh?" She settled on a nice pair of pants and decided to text him back.

'You're going to keep it?'

'Her name is Mew and yes. Mostly because I can't move right now without waking the princess.'

'Softie!' she sent as she sat on her bed, her mind flicking over what her dad had said about veterans taking in unwanted animals. Often kindred spirits of a sort, animals were usually very good for their veterans.

'Stop texting me you'll wake Mew!' She scoffed at that and another picture came through. She giggled at the tiny kitten, now stretched out lengthwise down Ike's torso, completely passed out on her back.

'She's adorable! I'm a little jealous' Zelda sent as she pulled back her covers to lay down.

'Jealous of me or the cat?' She froze at the text, her cheeks flooding red. She hadn't even thought of that but as she glanced at the picture again... she was very jealous of the kitten so comfortably laying on Ike's scarred chest.

'Going to bed, good night Ike. I'll see you and Mew tomorrow.'

'Nice dodge there Zelda. Good night.' She worried her lip between her teeth at that, wondering what it meant that he caught her dodge.

XxX

Zelda dressed quickly the next morning, wondering if Ike was awake already. She knew that he had trouble sleeping, so the odds of him being awake were in her favor. Deciding to air on the side of caution, she texted him.

'Hey are you up?' She sent the message, surprised at the swift response.

'Been up for awhile now.'

'How's Mew?'

'Eating all of my sandwich meat currently. I need to get her some cat food could we do that today?' Zelda smiled at that, a little blush coming to her cheeks.

'Sure. Is it okay with you if I come over? I'm ready to go.'

'Yeah. You can meet the troublemaker who's now attacking my socks.' She laughed at that as she grabbed her car keys and moved out of her dorm silently.

XxX

Zelda knocked on the door of Ike's apartment, bouncing on her feet a little. Today was going to be fun, and she was going to spend as much time as possible with Ike. The door opened and she smiled up at Ike, determined to keep her eyes from going down his bare torso. "Come on in," he nodded and let her in. Zelda stepped in and froze, a laugh working its way out of her throat at the little ball of fluff currently batting a balled up sock around the carpeted floors. "Mew," Ike called and the kitten froze. "Come here," he slapped his right leg and to Zelda's surprise the kitten bolted over to him and, to her stunned amazement, climbed up his leg and paused at the top of his pants. Ike scooped the ball of white fluff into one hand and the kitten mewed at him. "Say hi to Zelda."

"Hi there," Zelda spoke in a soft tone as she reached a hand out carefully to touch the kitten. She let her sniff her fingers, a smile coming to her lips. "She's adorable."

"Don't listen to her," Ike whispered to the kitten. "You're a pain in the ass just like her." Zelda scoffed and watched Ike press a kiss to the kitten's head.

"You've really warmed up to her," Zelda commented and Ike snorted as he let the kitten jump from his hand to the floor where she continued her attack on the sock.

"I can't exactly help it," he admitted, his eyes flicking over Zelda. "Honestly it kinda scares me."

"What does?" Zelda asked, curious what he found scary about the kitten.

"Getting attached to something again," he said in a careful tone. "I haven't... in a long time."

"Ike," she put a hand on his arm, right on top of a raised scar, "that's a good thing. There's nothing wrong with forming attachments to animals or people." He stared at her for a second, his eyes searching her face.

"Yeah, that's why you scare me too," he told her and she couldn't help but smile at that.

"Ike I told you I'm not-"

"I've heard that dozens of times Zelda," he told her gruffly as he pulled his arm away from her fingers, "and look where I am."

"I don't know what you've been through," Zelda said firmly as she stepped into his path, "and I'm not going to pretend to understand. However I know one thing for certain and that's that no matter what I'm not going to randomly decide I want nothing to do with you." She searched his face, watched a dozen emotions flash across his eyes, before she stepped against him and hugged him. She buried her face in his bare chest, her hands resting against scars across his back. She turned her face and her cheek brushed against a rough patch. He tensed in her grip and she decided that showing him they didn't bother her was best. She turned her lips to the rough skin graft and pressed a gentle kiss there before stepping back. "Now go get dressed, we should buy some stuff for Mew before we can hit the mall." He stared at her, his eyes wide as his mouth worked silently for a second. "Ike?" she called his name warily and he jumped.

"Yeah," he nodded and moved away from her, Mew pouncing on his toes as he moved to the bathroom. "You little shit," he said, his tone lighter than Zelda had ever heard before. She giggled as he scooped the kitten up and carried it with him, the duo vanishing into his bathroom.

XxX

Fifteen minutes later and Zelda found herself pushing a cart with Ike walking beside her, the store down the road from his apartment relatively quiet. "So cat food, bowls..." They stopped in front of the dozens of bags of cat food and Ike scowled.

"How many choices do cats need?" he asked and she shook her head. "Well," he grabbed a bag that promised barbecue flavors, "she likes burgers so maybe this'll strike her fancy."

"You should get her this bowl," Zelda beamed at him as she held up a hot pink bowl with the word princess printed in a sparkly silver.

"I don't exactly want her to have an attitude about it," he informed Zelda as he grabbed a black plastic bowl with the words Cool Cat printed in white. "There, not too ego boosting." She giggled and Ike looked at her, his eyes dancing with mischief. "What?"

"You're really cute when cat shopping," she offered and he narrowed his eyes.

"I'm going to get her a toy," he said as he turned around to look at the wall of toys, his lips twisting. Zelda finally looked as well, her eyes landing on a mouse that would scoot around on its own. She plucked it from the wall and Ike scowled at the price.

"I'm going to get her this," Zelda said firmly, "try and stop me."

"I wouldn't dream of it," he said in a mock serious tone. He grabbed a pack of jingle balls and tossed them in the cart.

"Are you going to get her a litter box?"

"No," Ike shook his head. "I don't think I could get down low enough to clean it every day." Zelda nodded at that and began to push the cart out of the aisle. He followed, grabbing another feathery tailed blob of fabric for Mew as they went. Zelda smiled at nothing as they moved, her eyes landing on a display of cheap necklaces set up for the upcoming holidays. A two necklace set caught her eye, the split heart proclaiming best friends making her snicker.

"What?" Ike asked curiously and she shook her head as she grabbed it and added the necklace to her gift for Mew. "Who's that for?" he asked suspiciously and she beamed at him. "I'm not wearing that."

"But Ike," she pouted dramatically and he rolled his eyes.

"No."

"Ike please?" she begged sweetly and his scowl deepened. She beamed at him as they made it to a check out line and he didn't say a word as her items went first. Even though he let out a world weary sigh as she swiped her card, the way he stared at her when they handed her the bag told her he wasn't really all that annoyed.

One quick trip back to his apartment later and Zelda found herself falling in love with the tiny kitten even more. They set up the food and water bowls, Zelda laughing in absolute delight as the white fur ball chased after the mouse. "She's so cute!"

"Here," Ike held out the necklace still on the card stock backer and she blushed as she took it. As she worked it from the package Ike slapped his leg and Mew crawled up again.

"You be a good girl okay?" he said firmly as the kitten crawled up to his chest and let out a soft mewl. "No parties, no catnip..." Zelda finished getting the chains from the backer and looked to see Ike give the small ball of fur clinging to his chest a soft kiss between her ears. He pulled back and Zelda almost gasped at the little grin that curled up one corner of his lips. Ike, the stoic, never smiling man who said he couldn't remember the last time he had smiled, was grinning at the kitten. He glanced her way as the kitten went back to attacking the mouse, his grin still lingering, and she couldn't help but blush at him.

"What?" he asked curiously and she shook her head as she held out his necklace.

"For you," she beamed at him and he stepped over to her, his grin still there. He stopped before her and leaned his head down, Zelda nervously taking the opportunity to clasp the thin chain around his neck. Maybe she stepped closer than necessary to him, maybe she breathed in his faint lingering scent of body wash, and maybe she was tempted to kiss the neck so openly bared to her, but that was her secret. He moved back when the clasp closed and she held up her own. He took the delicate chain and carefully moved her hair as he slid it around her neck. Zelda watched his determined face as he focused on working the tiny clasp, a smile creeping up her lips.

"There," he whispered as he released her hair slowly.

"Thanks," she whispered back, wishing she had the courage to press a kiss to his lips. She knew it would be catastrophic, the consequences severe if he didn't think of her that way, so she resisted the urge and stepped back. "Let's hit the mall!" she said with a slightly forced smile and he nodded.

"One store," he held up one finger and Zelda rolled her eyes.

"Yes Ike I'm aware of what I promised," she said with a fake sneer. "Now come on!" She gripped his arm and hauled him towards the door, his huff making her smile again.

XxX

The mall was bustling with people when they finally stepped inside. The ride had been spent picking songs off of their phones, Zelda quite proud that his was now synced to her car's Bluetooth. They moved past the first few shops, Zelda unthinkingly wrapping her arm around Ike's as they went, pulling him close as they walked.

They were walking past a window display of a clothing store and she froze, eyes wide at the sight of a men's leather jacket hanging on a mannequin. "Ike!" she squealed in delight.

"What?" he looked down at her and she pointed at the jacket. "The jacket?"

"You should try it on!" she said excitedly, already picturing how good it would look on him.

"What? No, I'm not trying that on," he told her and she scoffed.

"Why not?"

"Because that's a douchebag store and I have a leather jacket already at home," he explained and she looked up at him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "You don't believe me?"

"I don't know if I should," she responded and he snorted.

"Alright look, I'll show you when you take me back I promise, but I'm not trying that one on." She rolled her eyes and he let out a huff. "One store remember?"

"Fine," she sighed the word and they continued, her arm still wrapped around his. Together they moved, Zelda happily pretending that they were probably how they looked to the casual observer. Walking how they were, her smiling up at him... She caught a glimpse of their reflection in a shop window and blushed. They looked just like the countless other couples around them.

XXX

This felt like a good place to stop, though there is more to their shopping experience. I hope you've enjoyed what you've read so far and continue to stick around for more! Special thanks to my reviewers last chapter: concisponci, Purple Mercenary, guest, and Sidhmeril! The alerts seriously make my day and I don't think you could possibly understand how much. Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh