[ When their eyes finally meet, Zelda doesn't even try to put on a brave face for Link, to pretend that she's okay right now. She's not okay. She's scared. Deep, deep down inside of her, a tiny voice cries out that she doesn't want to go, she doesn't want to die. The transformation is death, in a way—the death of Princess Zelda and the birth of a dragon. But more than anything else, selfishly, the princess just wants to go back to her quiet little life with Link.
Link... Would things have turned out differently if they hadn't become separated by the gulf of time? Zelda examined the problem of how to defeat the Demon King from every possible angle, beat her head against every metaphorical wall, but found only one way forward. If Link had been there too, hurtled back in time along with Zelda, could the two of them have found a different path? A better path?
She wants to apologize for what she's about to do. He deserves it. She's seen first-hand how badly her sacrifice hurts him, how deeply it cuts. Even though she's doing this to save him (to save everyone, but especially him), it kills her to hurt him in the process. That hollow, empty Link she reunited with months ago was only a shade of her beloved friend. Gone was the quiet confidence in his demeanor, the hint of mischief behind his straight face, the unbridled joy when he cooked a new dish. Just remembering how he looked that night, when she caught him sneaking into the treehouse home they once shared, makes her heart ache. It's that look, alongside her guilt and fragile resolve, that pushed Zelda to run away tonight, lest saying goodbye make her see him hurt all over again.
As Link starts to speak, Zelda's brows furrow slightly, a look of apprehension coming to her face. She can't guess what he'll say as his goodbye, whether he will be angry or heartbroken or emotionless and detached. A dozen possibilities queue up in her mind all at the same time, each of them the worst possible way Link could react. When he doesn't finish his thought, Zelda immediately starts thinking up a dozen apologies.
From the periphery of her vision, she sees Link lift his other hand... and place it gently upon her other cheek. Her breath hitches in her throat, all the hypothetical reactions and apologies vanishing in a puff of smoke. Big green eyes get even bigger as she stares straight into his, searching for an explanation for the gentle gesture. Although they have known each other for years now and have touched, often briefly, in the past, Zelda is becoming acutely aware, at this exact moment, that Link has never touched her like this before.
The realization causes her heartbeat to quicken, her mind to race (this time, in a completely opposite direction). The way he's cupping her cheeks in his hands, holding her gaze with that quiet intensity she knows so well... Link knows what this gesture means, doesn't he? He hasn't been in a romantic relationship before— (that Zelda knows of) (although she suspected perhaps Mipha felt that way about Link) (but either he didn't know or he didn't reciprocate) —but he must know that this is the kind of touch usually only shared between lovers. The connotation of this action—
—And then he leans in and touches his lips to hers and the cacophony of overthinking immediately falls silent.
For a second, she's frozen in place, mind wiped blank. The three baubles tumble out of a hand that has forgotten how to hold them, falling to the ground with a little -thunk, thunk, thunk-. Link —her friend, her protector, her companion, her source of strength— is kissing her? That thought clatters around in her stunned mind.
But when that momentary shock subsides, Zelda finds herself... liking this. A lot, actually, in a way that makes her heart feel all aflutter, like its full of songbirds in flight. Link... kissing her... is nice. She tilts her chin just slightly, pressing her lips to his with just enough pressure to answer the unspoken question he's asking. Bravely, fearfully, foolishly. So this is the feeling that has been welling up inside her these past few years, filling her heart so full it almost hurts but always leaving her yearning for more. The name she's given it should have made it obvious, but still, somehow, the princess is only realizing it now. She's... in love with Link. ]
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Link... Would things have turned out differently if they hadn't become separated by the gulf of time? Zelda examined the problem of how to defeat the Demon King from every possible angle, beat her head against every metaphorical wall, but found only one way forward. If Link had been there too, hurtled back in time along with Zelda, could the two of them have found a different path? A better path?
She wants to apologize for what she's about to do. He deserves it. She's seen first-hand how badly her sacrifice hurts him, how deeply it cuts. Even though she's doing this to save him (to save everyone, but especially him), it kills her to hurt him in the process. That hollow, empty Link she reunited with months ago was only a shade of her beloved friend. Gone was the quiet confidence in his demeanor, the hint of mischief behind his straight face, the unbridled joy when he cooked a new dish. Just remembering how he looked that night, when she caught him sneaking into the treehouse home they once shared, makes her heart ache. It's that look, alongside her guilt and fragile resolve, that pushed Zelda to run away tonight, lest saying goodbye make her see him hurt all over again.
As Link starts to speak, Zelda's brows furrow slightly, a look of apprehension coming to her face. She can't guess what he'll say as his goodbye, whether he will be angry or heartbroken or emotionless and detached. A dozen possibilities queue up in her mind all at the same time, each of them the worst possible way Link could react. When he doesn't finish his thought, Zelda immediately starts thinking up a dozen apologies.
From the periphery of her vision, she sees Link lift his other hand... and place it gently upon her other cheek. Her breath hitches in her throat, all the hypothetical reactions and apologies vanishing in a puff of smoke. Big green eyes get even bigger as she stares straight into his, searching for an explanation for the gentle gesture. Although they have known each other for years now and have touched, often briefly, in the past, Zelda is becoming acutely aware, at this exact moment, that Link has never touched her like this before.
The realization causes her heartbeat to quicken, her mind to race (this time, in a completely opposite direction). The way he's cupping her cheeks in his hands, holding her gaze with that quiet intensity she knows so well... Link knows what this gesture means, doesn't he? He hasn't been in a romantic relationship before— (that Zelda knows of) (although she suspected perhaps Mipha felt that way about Link) (but either he didn't know or he didn't reciprocate) —but he must know that this is the kind of touch usually only shared between lovers. The connotation of this action—
—And then he leans in and touches his lips to hers and the cacophony of overthinking immediately falls silent.
For a second, she's frozen in place, mind wiped blank. The three baubles tumble out of a hand that has forgotten how to hold them, falling to the ground with a little -thunk, thunk, thunk-. Link —her friend, her protector, her companion, her source of strength— is kissing her? That thought clatters around in her stunned mind.
But when that momentary shock subsides, Zelda finds herself... liking this. A lot, actually, in a way that makes her heart feel all aflutter, like its full of songbirds in flight. Link... kissing her... is nice. She tilts her chin just slightly, pressing her lips to his with just enough pressure to answer the unspoken question he's asking. Bravely, fearfully, foolishly. So this is the feeling that has been welling up inside her these past few years, filling her heart so full it almost hurts but always leaving her yearning for more. The name she's given it should have made it obvious, but still, somehow, the princess is only realizing it now. She's... in love with Link. ]