#i go sickfic trawling every once in a while and i somehow always find new shit

[musashi]

Wendy’s LoZ Sickfic Recc List

I was asked to do this by a couple other people in Zelda fandom! I am a massive fan of sickfic and it’s pretty much the only genre I really write myself, and my voracious appetite for it means that I am ridiculously adept at tracking down even untagged/hidden gems!

What constitutes a sickfic? By my standards, it’s any fic where a character is down with a low-stakes illness, and may or may not be looked after by someone nearby. i tend to favour natural illnesses but i’m down for a poisoning or an infected wound every once in a while~

(also, i don’t really read for AUs much, so sorry but those are gonna be absent!)

almost all of these are Sick!Link. the fandom has decided he is the perfect specimen. i can’t really argue with this, but sorry for a lack of variety in sickies.

While this is a recc list, I really don’t have impossibly high standards for sickfic, so it’s more or less just a masterlist of every single sickfic I could find that was... legible, lol. It spans multiple decades and multiple websites. Hoo.

This is the General Zelda Canon half of my reccs. For Linked Universe reccs, I’ve made a separate post here.

Under a cut so I can keep it updated! LET’S GO!!!!!

△ Breath of the Wild △

Fever, from I’ll Get By by Casandravus - [Revalink - 390 words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Revali, Post-Calamity. Short and sweet, gentle flustered caretaking, hiding in a oneshot collection so I found it for you.

get well soon (whether you like it or not) by inkedinfantasy - [Revalink - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Revali, some other champions on the side, pre-calamity. A few of the champions try to bully Link into resting when he’s not feeling well, but here--much like in all else--no one gets shit done like Revali.   

recklessness by sadfluffs - [Revalink - 8k+ words -  AO3]  

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Revali, pre-calamity, AOC-compliant. Three lovely, perfectly segmented chapters of these boys being kind of a mess while Link recovers from an illness in/around Rito Village. Big fan of the characterization here.

stay with me for a while or at least until i stop sneezing by duality_of_toad - [Revalink - 3k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Revali, pre-calamity. Urbosa and Zelda bully Revali into being a good person and looking after Link. Chicken soup is a magic potion now. Link is delirious and cuddles happen. Good soup.

Yesterday Once More by tirsynni - [Revalink if you squint - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Kass. another one i constantly find myself wishing was longer! it’s just so soft and comforting and... i don’t even know, humble? menial? the stakes aren’t high, the illness is a simple inconvenience, and still these two are sharing warmth while link’s head floats in between past and future.

Different Kinds of Fire by naberiie - [Sidlink - 3k+ - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Sidon. Sidon is so soothing in this one. i’m constantly astounded by how sidlink authors write sidon but he is just extra soft and soothing in this one, every word he speaks is like a breath of relief.

Even Heroes Can Catch a Cold by TheBuggu - [Sidlink - 9k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Sidon. PEOPLE WHO WRITE MULTICHAPTER SICKFIC GO TO HEAVEN BEFORE THEY DIE. i don’t even know what to say about this one because its just so delightfully meaty, but i think most of all i love how in character it is and especially how this author writes sidon. he is so perfectly dreamy and dashing, in that way where it’s not even intimidating. this is honestly a must-read if u like sidlink period.

Rain by RosyPumpkin - [Sidlink - 520 words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Sidon. Short and dreamlike, told in quiet little bursts. Link overdoes it on the way to Vah Ruta and fights until he’s too sick to carry on, but Sidon is there to keep watch over him.

Relief by DiaMori, Okadiah - [Sidlink - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Sidon, Caretaker!Link. SWITCHING THINGS UP! how fucking NOVEL. that sounds sarcastic but i mean it, its so nice to see Link acting as caretaker~! and he’s so tender here, putting his skills as both an alchemist and a doting lover to use~ we love to see it.

Untitled by Blackfen - [Sidlink - 1k+ words - tumblr]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Sidon. Link stumbles into the domain having caught something nasty, Sidon is there to adoringly fuss over him. This is literally just the sugariest fluff in the entire world it makes me feel like keeling over in the most affectionate way.

A Champion and a Brother by SwoodMaxProductions - [Platonic Zelink - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda/Impa, post-calamity. ‘magic-attuned character is so feverish they can see ghosts for a while’ is the most big brained and original sickfic idea i have read in AGES. this is a very good take on the classic botw sickfic trope of Link passing out the second the calamity is defeated, i love.

Frogs, Fevers, and Forehead Kisses by ashleyswrittenwords - [Zelink - 2k+ words - tumblr]

mutual sickness, mutual caretaking, pre-calamity, quarantine fic! holy shit. how did this one slip under my radar for so long its so good???? link and zelda are holed up with the flu and do their best to look after one another. might be one of my favourites ever.

Mother's Soup by MistressofInsanity19 - [Zelink - 6k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda/Impa/Paya, post-calamity. this one is so meaty! so cohesive!!! it’s got all the things!!! link pushing himself and passing out! zelda having ptsd and threatening people with a sword! unlocked memories! fever delirium! impa being funny! SOUP!!!!

Restless by ashleyswrittenwords - [Zelink - 2k+ words - tumblr]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. Classic stubborn Link, classic long-suffering Zelda, PERFECTLY written and cooked until they’re golden brown. i especially love how this author writes Link’s wandering internal monologue lmao.

Shattered Silence by me - [Zelink - 9k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, pre-calamity. Zelda’s trying to be softer on her knight, really, she is, but nothing about the way he is makes any sense to her, and she can’t seem to breach his walls... until he’s a little too sick to keep himself quiet, and all those walls come crashing down.

Sick Leave, from By the fire by Yabanned - [Zelink - 2k words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. Link’s late to elf practice so Zelda goes to find him, and when she’s greeted with him looking like death she elects to nurse him back to health and remind him how much she wuvs him. He cries a lil. It’s good.

Sniffle and Sneeze by SpicyChestnut - [Zelink - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, pre-calamity. This is one of my all time faves, if just for the novelty of it being a pre-calamity. Link’s bad at being sick and Zelda’s gotta use her big fuckin scientist brain to figure out how to get him to rest for five minutes! Absolutely adore their dynamic here. 

System Failure by SarcasticSketches - [Zelink - 10k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. lots of setup/payoff in this one!!! rrragh the good whump!!!! zelda being a badass!!! i love it. good shit op

to chase away a cold by syilca - [Zelink - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. Short, sweet, to the point, with an adorably stubborn Link and an equally exasperated Zelda~ This one just kinda feels like a sleepover on a rainy day. 

Tribulation by oatsnhoney - [Zelink - 7k+ words - AO3] 

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. technically a sequel but u don’t have to read the first fic it’s lovely as a standalone. little heavy but the comfort is So Good.

through vaults of pain by bene_elim - [Zelink - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. Link passes out sick IMMEDIATELY after defeating the Calamity. ain’t nothing like having to drag your former knight back to safety for a bonding experience after 100 years! 

Untitled by honestground - [Zelink - 500+ words - tumblr]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-calamity. kinda spicy, as HG usually writes smut, but nothing particularly overt. my favourite part of this one is teba’s inclusion. it really just Adds to it.

A Little Bit Of Help by AMMO121 - [Link & The Minish - 700+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Minish, post-calamity. A sick Link with no memory of what it means to be ill finds respite in a cave, where he is left in very good--albeit tiny--hands. Such a precious interpretation of the scrapped Minish plans in BOTW ;o;

Their Hero by SwoodMaxProductions - [Link & Hateno Village - 800+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Everyone, post-calamity. a sweet, short little sickfic about the NPCs of hateno looking after a sick & injured link <3 i am so, so weak for stories like this about lesser-loved characters, and the whole village coming together for him is really so tender.

Nesting by Tashilover - [Teba & Link - 7k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Teba/Saki/Tulin, post-calamity. Teba finds Link sick in the middle of his journey and it’s 8 chapters of him forcing him to rest in Rito Village. there’s some references to HWAOC but it’s ultimately set in the botw timeline. love this one, under-utilized pair.

Sick by Jaydee_Faire - [Beedle & Link - 700+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Beedle, post-calamity. Link is passed out for this entire fic but I don’t really give a shit it’s nice to see Beedle being an aggressive mother hen. Big brain op

Sheikah Dads Being Sheikah Dads by dorulean [Dorian & Koko, Dorian/Cado - 3k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Koko, Caretaker!Dorian, Cado and Cottla being generally adorable in the bg. oh this one is such a comedy of errors in the best possible way but it just oozes tooth-rotting familial fluff. i LOVE to see sickfic about underrated NPCs and kakariko just has SUCH a cozy vibe every sickfic set there feels so nice.

To the Castle by ficletsandthelike (schulia_jet) - [Mostly just Link - 900+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, teeny tiny bit of Caretaker!Zelda, pre-calamity. a short solo piece about link pushing through illness to make his way back to the castle, stubborn as he tends to be. this author weaves absolutely delightful little vignettes~

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu (Please Take Care of Me) by Tony WildRiver - [Link, Koko, Cottla] - 5k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Link, Caretaker Koko/Cottla/Dorian. Link stumbles into Kakariko, soaking wet and running a fever, and miraculously runs into two of the only people in town who can convince him to take it easy. This is, without a doubt, one of the most ADORABLE sickfics in the entire world. 

△ Link’s Awakening △

i'm not particularly superstitious, but you make me believe in hell by kiwinatorwaffles - [Link - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, no caretaker, post-Koholint. Just straight whump here, folks! Fever delirium and hallucinations and good ol’ angst! Getcha angst here!

△ Majora’s Mask △

Food Poisoning from Whumptober 2020 by Crazysnakelover - [Link & Tatl - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Tatl. maybe don’t eat keese, Link. maybe listen to the fairy when she tells you not to eat a keese. this is more whumpy than hurt/comforty but tatl is still so delightfully soft~

The Sick Cycle by TheLoneStar - [Link & Tatl - 11k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Tatl/Anju. i constantly forget how good this one is until i’m reading it again. the sickfic is lovely but the introspective bits are such a delight, i’m obsessed with how this writer characterizes both link and tatl. it’s honestly so unique to this story and i can’t recommend this one enough.

△ Minish Cap △

Small Comforts by Ulawan5 - [Link & Ezlo - 3k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Ezlo. I’m biased because this was a gift fic for me but holy sweet god what a fave. how to care for your newly adopted son when you don’t have any appendages and very little patience for the world around you. please read this.

△ Ocarina of Time △  

I Think I Need a Doctor from Whumptober 2020 by Crazysnakelover - [Link & Anju - 4k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Anju, child!Link. classic bottom of the well angst/trauma wrapped up in a neat little fever delirium bow. anju looks after a miserably sick link after he’s conquered kakariko’s well. 

Now Where Did That Come From? from Whumptober 2020 by Crazysnakelover - [Link & Navi & Malon - 4k+ words - AO3]

Sick/Injured!Link, Caretaker!Navi/Malon, child!Link. this one’s a little whumpier than usual as it’s of the infected wound genre but i just really love navi as a fussy mother lol~ takes place right after dodongo’s cavern.

Rest Stop by me - [Malink - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Malon/Navi, adult!Link. link shows up on malon’s doorstep with the most common of common colds, confused because he’s never been sick in his entire life and thinks some evil power cursed him. mutual pining ensues. the kids are a mess. navi’s also there.

In Sickness And Health by inuchick22 - [Zelink - 3k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Zelda, Caretaker!Link, adult!Link. wow holy shit it’s zelda’s turn for once! this one’s super traditionally romantic in all the best ways, it makes my heart feel some beautiful something <3 

Shall We Dance by MyLadyScribbler - [Zelink - 4k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Zelda, Caretaker!Link, adult!Link. ANOTHER SICKIE ZELDA FIC AAA. i fucking love this one. a less traditional sickfic but it’s so sweet and it’s multichapter and it’s just about Link sneaking a sick Zelda out of bed so they can Party with each other and im WEAK about it. i’ve never seen this premise in a sickfic before and i love the complete immaturity of it. let them be kids!  

Sick by Clouds On the Brain - [Zelink - 3k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Zelda, Caretaker!Link, adult!Link. apparently the OOT Zelink fandom just knows whats up. i fucking LOVE how the two of them are written in this one, much like the above they are just SO immature and it’s adorable to watch. link as a caretaker is a hot mess in the best possible way and still somehow gets the job done, it’s so quintessentially him i can’t get over it.

The Stranger by LadyxHydrangea - [Link, Granny, several OCs - 7k+ words - FFnet - INCOMPLETE]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Granny/OCs, adult!Link. this one is incomplete and hasn’t been updated in a long time, but still it’s one of my favourites and despite my reluctance to read incomplete fics, i really love what we did get of this one. it’s a higher stakes sickfic that answers the question ‘how did this idiot make it out of zora’s domain without pneumonia?’ and i love it for that. the OCs are charming as all hell, and it does a wonderful job of characterizing NPCs~

△ Skyward Sword △

A Battle of Ills by Windswift - [Zelink - 1K+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Zelda/Caretaker!Link, Sick!Link/Caretaker!Zelda, pre-surface. YOU HEARD ME FOLKS. this is TWO chapters with roles reversed in each and it’s ACADEMY-ERA.  i’m OBSESSED with how they write Link they’re one of the only people i’ve seen in the skyward sword fandom who i feel truly GETS him in their writing and its so nice. i re-read this one constantly. it’s one of my all time faves, i only wish it was longer!

Sleeping With Sleepyhead by cruelcomplex - [Zelink - 12k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Zelda/Caretaker!Link, Sick!Link/Caretaker!Zelda, pre-surface. YOU THOUGHT I HAD ONLY ONE? PSYCH! I HAD TWO! this one IS long! 12k. 12 fucking k of awkward early teenage mutual pining academy era BABY ZELINKS. the title is literal its just about them napping together thruout the years but the sickfic kinda takes center stage. oh the simple teenage experience of you and your crush getting each other sick~

Stomach Flu by QueenieZ - [Zelink - 900+ words - deviantArt]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Zelda, post-surface. an old fave from tumblr that i thought was lost but miraculously found on dA years later! i’ve always really loved how queenie writes link but idk if i can put exactly why into words. short and sweet and tender and full of puppy-love.

In Emergency Situations, Your Sword Can Provide Medical Attention by me - [Link & Fi - 14k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Fi, post-surface. link falls ill right before taking on the fire sanctuary, and somehow this causes the benevolent spirit who lives in his sword to have an existential crisis. not before shit gets really tender, though. i WILL make them cuddle. 

Just a little fever by princessofthieves - [Groose & Link - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Groose/Old Impa, post-surface. takes place in a fun little spot right after the first imprisoned fight, where groose hasn’t quite grown into his good guy wings yet but is still doing his best. i adore how he’s written here, and this is also one of those sickfics that gets link incredibly right, as well. feels good all around.

Not the Only Hero by DowaWitch - [Groose & Link - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Groose/Old Impa, post-surface. god i love caretaker groose. just gently manhandling link. calling him names while he asks him what’s wrong. this is short and sweet and good and i ain’t got much to say but i like it.

sumuvirsi by callunavulgari - [GrooseLink - 700+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Groose, post-surface. GENTLY... MANHANDLING... this is one i’ve been reading for years now, i’m just so fond of it. it’s so short but it’s so evocative, and i just adore the second person perspective and how this author writes groose. i always come back to this one.

I See Demons When My Eyes Are Open by Raylin Shire (RaeBLynn) - [Orvillink - 900+ words - AO3] 

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Orville, Goddess Era. WOW it was a lovely shock to see this! what a rarepair! the sksw prologue gets little to no attention but here’s almost 1k of traumatized fever delirium first hero if you want it. i certainly enjoyed every second.

△ Twilight Princess △

A Hero's Sick Day by PhoenixSong4232 - [Ilia/Link - 6k+ words - FFnet]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Ilia/literally everyone in Ordon. Link heads back home to spend some time off the road with people he loves and proceeds to fuck it up by falling off his horse and passing out in the middle of sword drills with a fever. Everyone works together to make sure his dumb ass gets in bed and Ilia is very cute. Imo this fic is... such a perfect length I have nothing else to say it’s just perfect. Classic. 

△ Wind Waker △

No Sleep 'Til Shore Leave by Anonymous - [Tetra & Link - 3k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Tetra. this one’s got some action! and i really really like how this author writes tetra. she’s so competent in this mission she’s on but so ‘oh lord what do’ about Link collapsing halfway through it. It’s positively lovely.

Sick from Complement by BTM707 - [Telink - 700+ words - AO3]

Sick!Tetra, Caretaker!Link. angry stubborn feverish tetra we love to see it, softboy worried concerned link oh my god this is so sweet. i don’t have a lot to say it’s just classic good feels.

Coming Down (orphaned) - [Link & Daphnes - 6k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Daphnes/Caretaker!Link, Sick!Link/Caretaker!Daphnes, post-story AU. ANOTHER CARETAKER REVERSAL FIC!!! god i love those. AU where daphnes unboats himself and lives w/ link and fam. i absolutely adore how this author writes the both of them. two chapters, the first one is link looking after daphnes and the second is the reverse. just feels like comfort food~

Queasy (orphaned) - [Link & Daphnes - 2k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Daphnes, Caretaker!Link, same AU as above. the utter hilarity of being seasick when u spent a good chunk of your life as a fucking boat. anyways as previously mentioned this author just makes them SO sweet i’d read a thousand more words from this AU.

Little One by GrapieBee - [Link & Daphnes - 6k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Daphnes, slightly AU. another au where he can unboat himself just whenever the fuck. honestly god bless the wind waker fandom. as sickfics go this one is traditional as traditional gets its just little sick link & his dad who loves him so much. this is probably my fave wind waker sickfic of all time.

Vow by GrapieBee - [Link & Daphnes - 5k+ words - AO3]

Sick/Injured!Link, Caretaker!Daphnes, same AU as above. on the whumpier side of things, link and daphnes wash up on windfall on the end of a gyorg attack at sea. daphnes practically tears the island apart to fix his v small son. 

Waves by temporalgambit - [Link & Daphnes - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Daphnes. this one is so fucking good. daphnes is actually boat here so he does his best talking link through the mortifying ordeal of being seasick. despite not being able to comfort him traditionally, he’s just a very soothing presence. i really adore nonconventional caretakers and this fic does so good with it.

I Don’t Feel So Well from Whumptober 2020 by Crazysnakelover - [Link & Grandma - 1k+ words - AO3]

Sick!Link, Caretaker!Grandma, pre-canon. this is just straightup fluff. the fluffiest fluff. this fic feels like a mouthful of cotton candy. it’s a cute little oasis in a collection of whump. love.

#whump tag #sickfic #fic reccs #masterlist #i know im missing a lot of stuff i remember reading on ffnet #so i will periodically add to this as i re-discover #i go sickfic trawling every once in a while and i somehow always find new shit