There was no denying that Zelda was incredibly happy. Even as Ike's alarm went off at the ridiculous time of three thirty in the morning, she couldn't help but smile at his grumpy face as he climbed out of the blissful hole of sleep. "I wish you didn't have to go in," she lamented and he huffed as he sat up.

"I'd much rather lay there with you," he admitted as he swung his legs over the side, Zelda almost mesmerized by the scars on his back as he stretched. She wanted to ask, felt it a need to know, but knew he wouldn't answer, so she just sat up and leaned on his bare back. "Are you staying until I get back?" he asked as he turned and wrapped an arm around her.

"Mhmm," she nodded as she soaked up the warmth of his chest. He pressed a kiss to her hair and stood up, a sigh leaving her lips as she immediately missed the contact. "I've got my classes today, but do you want to do something later?"

"Can we see how I feel after I get off work at the restaurant?" he asked as he moved to the bathroom.

"Yeah," she nodded as she laid back down. "I was just thinking."

"Hey," he came out of the bathroom, shirtless and pants undone, "I'm not saying no. I'm saying I don't know how capable of doing anything I'm going to be."

"Yeah, I understand," she nodded vaguely, eyes locked on his exposed skin. He finished getting dressed and she pouted at him, drawing a smirk to his lips.

"I know," he said sarcastically, "it's such a shame to cover up such a flawless body."

"Ike-"

"I've gotta go," he moved back to the bed and pressed a swift kiss to her lips. "Sleep well, feed Mew."

"Where is she?" Zelda suddenly looked around her, the white ball of fluff's absence making her frown.

"In the bathtub attacking her toy she dragged in there," he said with an eye roll before turning to go to the door. "See you later beautiful lady." She blushed as he shut the front door behind him, a happy smile on her lips at the compliment.

XxX

The time Ike was at work Zelda spent napping, Mew hopping into the bed with her and purring happily. "Hey cutie," she cooed as the kitten pawed at her hand. "Are you hungry?" She stood up from the bed and lazed her way into the kitchen, the sound of meowing trailing her. The cat food bag was sitting on the counter and Zelda scooped it up to pour some in the empty bowl. As she straightened up the front door opened and she turned a smile Ike's way.

"Hey," he greeted with a small grin and Zelda moved to him, standing on her toes to give him a quick kiss.

"How was work?" she asked and he snorted.

"Boring without this obnoxious buzzing in my ears half the time," he fired and she scoffed.

"Well if that's how you feel about it maybe I'll just buzz on out of here," she taunted and turned away from him. An arm wrapped around her middle and pulled her back, her letting out a squeal of shock.

"You're not leaving yet," he purred in her ear, his tone making her blush. He kissed her neck and she let out a soft whine, loving the affection. Her back pressed against his torso as he continued with the not so soft kisses, her heart speeding up as she turned her head to capture his lips. They kissed for a long moment, until Mew wrapped herself around their legs. "And there's my favorite little princess," Ike said as he looked down at the crouching kitten, her tail flicking lightly.

"Can I shower?" Zelda asked and Ike turned his eyes to her, one eyebrow slightly raised.

"Yeah... can I join you?" he asked and she blushed a violent shade of red, unsure if he was being serious or not.

"Uh," she cleared her throat and he squeezed her gently.

"I'm teasing," he kissed her cheek and released her. "Remember, no rush." She nodded and grabbed her bag from the counter, still slightly blushing. She looked over at him, watched him limp towards the bathroom, and bit her lower lip. "If you just let me change right quick it's all yours-"

"If it bothers me will you get out?" she asked before she lost her nerve and he froze in his tracks.

"You know I will," he called over his shoulder and Zelda took a deep breath. She walked over to and then past him, shooting him a soft smile.

"Then come on."

XxX

The water pressure in Ike's shower was better than her dorm's, that was Zelda's first impression as she stood under the blasting water. Ike could be heard on the other side of the curtain, undressing to join her. "You sure?" he asked after a moment and Zelda nodded, reassuring herself first that yes she was.

"Get in here already," she called and heard his huff before the curtain drew back slightly. She tensed, her heart beating faster in her chest, and the curtain fell back into place. "What's wrong?" she called out, hating the slight quake to her voice.

"I'm not sure you really want me to, so I'm making the decision for both of us to not," he explained. "I want to, a lot believe me, but I don't want to make anything weird." She smiled at the curtain, wanting to kiss him for being so perfect. "I'm going to grab my clothes so don't take too long if you want to say bye before I leave."

"I won't," she called and heard him walk off. Her eyes flicked to the two bottles of soap on the side of the shower, one shampoo and the other a body wash. Both were obvious guy brands and she smirked at the thought of smelling like Ike as she grabbed the shampoo.

XxX

Zelda stepped from the bathroom into the living room, smiling at Ike on his bed with his hand under the blanket, Mew attacking the moving bump with adorable ferocity. "I'll say it a million times," she called out and he looked over at her, "you two are beyond adorable."

"And I'll always respond with a fond shut up," he fired back as Mew crouched on the bed, her little eyes focused intently on the way he moved his hand. "You took a fast shower," he commented as he carefully raised his other hand and poked the intent kitten, making her jump and hiss. Zelda couldn't help but giggle as Mew pounced on Ike's offending hand, her long tail adorably puffed up.

After it became apparent that Ike was obviously going to win, Mew took off, deciding to attack a stuffed mouse instead. "I think you hurt her feelings," Zelda teased and Ike stood up with a wince.

"Oh she'll live," he said as he walked over to Zelda and she met his lips gently. "I like that you smell like me, but I do miss the way you always smell," he whispered as he snaked his arms around her waist.

"You're absolutely the cutest-"

"Don't even," he growled as he kissed her again, her smiling against his lips. He pulled back and leaned his forehead against hers. "You're the best kind of torture," he almost whined as he pulled away. "I've gotta get going-"

"I'll drive you," she said and he hesitated, his eyes going to her curiously. "What? I can't give you a ride?"

"Just not used to any of this still," he admitted and looked around at the ground. "Mew! Outside let's go!" Zelda moved next to him and took his hand, a smile on her lips.

"Well mister you better get used it," she teased as she squeezed his fingers. He pressed a kiss to her hair and together they moved to the door and out, Mew shooting down the stairs. They followed at a slower pace, Zelda happy when Ike kept his hand in hers as they went down.

They hopped in her car and drove to his work, her eyeing the building suspiciously. "I'll text you when I can," he said as he turned to her and Zelda nodded. "And no, we're not ever eating here."

"Don't want your chef girlfriend to know about me?" she teased and he huffed as he shook his head.

"No, if she found out I had a girlfriend the free food would stop," he sent a wink her way and she couldn't help but laugh. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips, Zelda wondering when the butterflies at the slightest touch from him would stop. He got out of her car with a hiss and she watched him walk into the building, using a side door she assumed went into the kitchen. After the door shut behind him she backed out of the parking space, already dialing Link.

XxX

Her classes were the typical boring but informative, and as Zelda dropped her bag onto her bed after her last class her brain felt fried. She had a couple papers to work on, but she checked her phone first. A few texts from Link demanding more details about her coworker turned boyfriend, and one picture from Ike made her smile. She tapped on the picture, shaking her head at Ike balanced on a stool with a plate on his lap covered in what looked like chili cheese fries. The attached message made her snort.

'Do you really want this to stop? Look at this platter!'

'Do you flirt with her?' she teased him in her response as she sat cross legged on her bed and unzipped her backpack.

'Oh yes Zelda, all day long... insert eye roll there since I'm sure my dry sarcasm doesn't translate well. I told you I can't flirt with someone I'm not interested in.'

'So why are we really not ever eating there?' she sent after a moment of smiling at his message.

'Because I don't really want to, the food is not that good. I only do this because it saves me money. Money I now have better things to spend on than food.'

'What's better than food?' she asked curiously as she pulled out her notes from the day.

'Mew and you. Not necessarily in that order, but I don't want you getting a big head about it.' A laugh flew past her lips at that and she shook her head.

'Aw!'

'Shut up. Break's over. Later.'

XxX

The cell phone's buzz pulled Zelda from four pages of political science hell, and she grabbed the phone happily, more than ready for a break from the dull research paper. "Hey you," she answered upon seeing Ike's name.

"Can you distract me until I get home?" Ike hissed into the phone and she bolted to her feet.

"Ike, let me pick you up."

"No," he growled, "I'm fine. I just need you to talk to me about something while I walk home."

"Ike-"

"Zelda please," his tone held more pain than anything and she gulped down a breath.

"Okay," she nodded a few times, "I uh, told Link about us."

"Yeah? How'd that go?"

"Great actually. He wants to meet you in person but he approves..." She trailed off as her mind flicked to his family and hers. Her dad had expressly forbidden what had happened. "I haven't really told anyone else but Link knows almost everything about me so I had to tell him."

"I don't care who you tell," he said with a heavy breath. She bit her lips together as a thought popped into her head.

"What about work?"

"What about it?"

"Are we going to tell work? Snake? Marth?"

"I actually already told Snake," Ike admitted with a slight shake in his usually steady tone. "He's kinda my only-"

"He's your friend?" Zelda posed and Ike huffed.

"Yeah, I guess so... never thought about it before." She couldn't help but laugh at that and he let out a grunt.

"So is he your Link?"

"Well I've only known him since I got out of the service. He got me the job at the store and we grab a beer or two sometimes but I can't really drink much."

"Not that that's a bad thing but why not?" she asked curiously.

"Alcohol and painkillers don't mix well," he said and she scowled.

"Good point... Do you want me to come over tonight?"

"Uh," he hesitated and she nodded, already knowing what he was about to say.

"You sound like you need to lay down and let the pain pills work, but if you want me there I will be."

"No," he hissed out, Zelda trying not to cringe at the obvious pain in his tone. "There's no telling what dumb shit I'll say."

"It'll take more than high Ike to scare me off," she teased and he snorted.

"I don't want to risk it. Besides, I'll be seeing you first thing in the morning at work."

"That's true," she smiled at the thought, wondering if anything would be different.

"I'm at the stairs to my place," he spoke tightly. "Ah, there's Mew to greet me." Sure enough, Zelda heard the soft meow and she smiled. "I'm gonna get off the phone and get my ass upstairs. I'd say I'd call later but I'll probably pass out pretty quick."

"That's fine I understand, I've got a paper to work on anyway... I'll see you in the morning."

"Bye Zelda."

"Bye Ike." With that the call disconnected and she smiled as she set her phone down. Renewed by the quick interaction with her boyfriend, an idea that still seemed crazy to her, Zelda got back to work on her research paper.

XxX

The alarm pulled Zelda from her sleep roughly, and she had a very distinct moment of wanting to just roll over and go back to sleep. Then she remembered that getting up and going to work meant seeing Ike, so she crawled out from under her covers and got dressed. As she left her room she saw Peach sitting cross legged on the couch, the laptop glowing brightly on her lap. "Homework?" Zelda asked and Peach nodded.

"Research papers and I do not get along," she said as she glanced from the screen. "How'd it go with that Ike guy?"

"Well considering that Ike guy is now my boyfriend," Zelda said and Peach clapped her hands excitedly, "I'd say it went pretty well."

"I want all the details later okay?"

"Sure, bye Peach," she called as she moved to the front door.

XxX

The parking lot was darker than normal, and Zelda cast an annoyed look at the burned out lights that dotted the mostly empty space before hopping out of her car and walking to the front door. "Zelda!" Marth greeted her with a smile and a wave, one she returned with a little less enthusiasm. "How's life?"

"Pretty good," she responded, her eyes hunting for Ike in the gathering crowd. "How about you?"

"Oh I'm great! Met a cutie pie last night, hoping he'll text me today... are you looking for Ike?" Marth's tone sounded knowing and Zelda blushed as she nodded. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket and she pulled it out, smiling at the simple message from Ike.

'You really want people to know?'

'Yes!' she sent back and slid her phone back into her pocket. She shuddered slightly as a cold wind blew through the parking lot, and jumped when arms wrapped around her middle.

"Why are you not wearing a jacket again?" Ike's voice made her blush and she turned to him, once more loving the sight of that glorious leather jacket that looked made for him.

"Because I preferred being cuddled by you until we went inside," she said and he huffed as he held open his jacket. The warmth encircled her and she looked up at his tired eyes, worry making her frown. "You didn't sleep good?" she asked softly and he shook his head.

"Turns out I sleep a hell of a lot better when you're there," he answered just as softly and she shook her head. "Were you serious about wanting people here to know?" he asked and she looked up at him with a smile.

"Yeah," she nodded and he gave her a small grin before leaning his lips down to hers. There was a collective gasp around them, something that made Zelda pull back with an amused smile up at Ike.

"What?" Ike growled at someone to Zelda's left and she slapped his chest gently.

"Ohmygod!" Marth sounded excited and Zelda looked over her shoulder to see him staring at them with a big smile. "When did this happen? What's going on? I need details!" She laughed at his exuberance while Ike just looked aggravated.

"Be nice," she reminded him with a smile and he rolled his eyes.

"Why?"

"Ike," she pressed a quick kiss to his cheek that made Marth let out a squeal, "please."

"Don't ask me to do the impossible," he huffed and Zelda couldn't help but laugh. The doors opened and they separated, Snake glaring at everyone over his travel mug.

"Big truck today people," he barked as they filed inside, a few people letting out loud groans. "Yeah yeah, stop your bitching."

"Who pissed in your coffee?" Ike fired at Snake and Zelda almost froze.

"Fuck off Greil," Snake shoved him with a slight smirk and Ike tilted his head.

"Wife making you quit smoking again?" Ike asked and Snake huffed.

"Nicotine patches suck," he groused and Ike clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"You better quit, I'd hate to be on Meryl's bad side."

"Yeah she'd shoot me," Snake chuckled and Ike snorted as they made the trek to the time clock. Zelda idly listened to their banter back and forth as Marth stepped up beside her.

"When did this happen?" he whispered.

"Yesterday," she whispered back with a glance at Ike.

"I want details on break," Marth all but demanded as he walked off to his section. Zelda smiled up at Ike as he stepped over to her, the couple moving to their section with his hand on her lower back.

XxX

Pallet after pallet came out of the back room, Zelda beginning to feel the burn in her muscles as she worked. She had honestly not seen much of Ike since the first pallet dropped, and the worry over his limping was starting to gnaw at her. As she neared their almost empty pallet, she saw Nick coming their way with another one and suppressed the urge to groan at the sight of both.

"Here's another present for you!" he called cheerfully as he neared.

"Gee thanks," she responded sarcastically and he beamed.

"So hey, yesterday maybe I was being a bit too subtle so-"

"She has a boyfriend," Ike's voice behind her made her jump and she turned to see him definitely limping as he scooped up a few boxes.

"This really doesn't concern you Ike," Nick said with a sneer and Zelda watched Ike's eyes lock onto him, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

"Well," Zelda stepped in before Ike could say anything, "considering he's my boyfriend, it kinda does."

"Since when?!" Nick asked in shock and Ike snorted.

"Yesterday dumbass."

"Wow Ike," Nick's tone held a ready for a fight edge to it, "I didn't know you had it in you... caring for another person I mean."

"Nick," Zelda tried to warn him but now he had Ike's undivided attention.

"You don't know shit kid, fuck off."

"I don't know shit? My brother was in the army, he came back just fine."

"I wasn't in the army," Ike said in a dangerous low tone. "I was in a marine spec ops unit that legally didn't exist."

"Easy to say shit you can't prove," Nick fired and Zelda had to grab Ike's arm as he tried to move past her. Ike glared down at her, his chest rising and falling with jagged breaths.

"Ike, it's okay, ignore him," she said gently.

"Wow, already pussy whipped Ike?" Nick sneered and Zelda tried to grab Ike's arm tighter as he lunged. One swift punch she could barely register and Nick was on the ground, blood seeping from his split lip.

"Ask your fucking brother if he ever got shot," Ike growled as he crouched before the now cowering Nick. "Ask him if he had to watch seven of his best friends die. Ask him if he knows what happens when the enemy catches you... Your brother came back fine because he didn't live through what I did you self righteous prick. Say all the fucking shit you want to me, but you leave Zelda out of it. Got it?"

"Ike!" Snake's voice made Ike tense before he slowly stood up. Zelda's brain struggled to process the new information on Ike, her heart breaking for her boyfriend as Snake stalked over to them. "What the hell happened here?"

"Your psycho attacked me!" Nick shouted and Ike let out a bark of a laugh.

"This little bitch tried to insult me and-"

"Ike, do your job. Nick, do yours. No!" he snapped at both of them. "No arguments! Go! Zelda, walk with me."

"Oh, okay," she glanced at Ike but he was already picking up his dropped boxes, a deep scowl set to his features. She followed Snake away from the grocery section and awkwardly cleared her throat. "Look, Nick-"

"I don't give a damn about Ike punching Nick," Snake sighed as they moved. "I know the prick can get mouthy and Ike's the worst person to do that too. I'm not even going to make a note about it because hopefully it teaches the idiot a lesson."

"Oh," Zelda felt confusion swirl in her brain. "Then why-"

"I'm happy for Ike, I really am," Snake said as he turned to face her, his expression serious, "but he's literally been through hell and I just want to make sure you understand exactly what you're agreeing to be with." She pulled herself up to her full height at that, ready to defend Ike. "Zelda I've read his file," Snake said in a softer tone, his eyes flicking around them. "My father in law is a general and he slipped me the file... I almost wish I hadn't read it. Has he told you anything about what he's been through overseas?"

"Just bits and pieces," she admitted and Snake huffed.

"Well there's a damn good reason he doesn't want to just sit down and talk about it. He's been shot, that was his first injury, and he's been tortured." Zelda paled at that, and the ground beneath her feet felt like it shifted as she lost her balance. Snake caught her, a grim expression on his lips. "I know. That's what the scars are from, and why he limps. The mere fact that he's not locked up in the looney bin drooling and broken is a miracle in itself. So just... if he's harsh or rude, don't take it the wrong way. He was the best damn soldier the country never knew existed and he's a damn good man." Zelda nodded numbly at him, trying to process how to handle the new information about her boyfriend. "Now get back to your section and don't tell Ike about this conversation. I just asked what happened to put Nick on his ass okay?"

XxX

They made it to break, Zelda feeling exhausted already. Ike was limping badly at that point, every step making him wince. "Hey," she called out softly as she stepped up to him and wrapped an arm around his waist.

"Hi," he responded tightly as he put his arm around her shoulders.

"Do you have to go to the restaurant today?" she asked and he nodded. "Ike I really think you should call out today."

"I'll be fine," he replied curtly and she rolled her eyes.

"Ike please, I'm feeling sore from all this and I plan on doing nothing when I get out of here so-"

"I have to work," he told her firmly as they came to the front doors. "If I don't I don't have a place to live and I'll be damned if I'm going to turn into one of those creepy homeless vets. See you after the break." He pressed a rough kiss into her hair and moved to Snake by the front doors, Marth immediately stepping beside her.

"Details. Now. All of them." She smiled at Marth distractedly, her eyes on Ike as he limped out behind Snake.

XXX

This chapter felt longer, I hope it was. I wanted to cover some more time than normal. Special thanks to Qoh22, Sidhmeril, and concisponci for reviewing last chapter! I love you guys. Let me know what you think! Much love, Leigh