му нєяσιиє (Prince!Link x Hero!Reader)

тяυє єи∂ιиg ѕєgмєит: υиισи σf fαтє

Link's face grew a brighter shade of pink once you responded, clearing his throat. "Did, um..." He fiddled with his sleeves a little, almost scared to speak up. "D-Did you..."

"Did I... what...?" You ask as you tilt your head.

"D-Did you... did you mean what you had said...?" He finally got out in a soft voice.

"Meant... what I said...?" You repeat, unable to recall at the moment.

He took a breath, fixing his posture as he walked over to you. He looked you right in the eyes, his own lit from the newly arrived moon. His face was still pink from what you could see, but he looked a little eased. "In the sanctum, before you went to face Demise," He added on. "Before you left, you said... you said that you had loved me. Did you mean it...?"

Your face quickly matched his once you had finally recalled the situation. The last moment you had seen him as you left to face a life or death battle for the world. You said it so naturally, you hardly noticed it. You stutter over your words to try to make sense of what to say next. But the longer you took to properly respond, the more disappointed he grew.

"So... you didn't then..." He muttered, his hand gripping the front of his shirt. "I suppose I should have guessed as much. Forgive me, I-I didn't mean to--"

"N-No!" You blurt out in such a tone it startled you both. "...N-No, I..." You bit the inside of your cheek to pull yourself together, a small punishment for acting so suddenly. "... We've been united for a long time," You continue on as clearly as you could. "Since we were children, we had a small connection that had only grown once I came to the castle. After you started to have your nightmares, and you began to rely on me of all people for support, it felt... something that I wasn't sure of..."

"I made you uncomfortable, didn't I?" He mumbled, turning away as his ears dropped.

"Hardly," You said as you placed your hand on his cheek and turned his head to look at you. "It felt like I had earned a new place in your life. Not as a knight, or a castle staffman, but as a person that you could truly depend on. I worried for you, Link. Every day when you felt down or distressed I just wanted to keep you safe. And every moment while I was on that mission was heartbreaking. I never knew your fate, whether you were alive or dead..."

"It was difficult for me, too..." He added as he looked at you, a moistened sadness present in his already shining eyes. "I was so worried about you. I never wanted you to be the one to fight Hyrule's battle... but in a way, I'm also glad."

"I am too," You admit as you rest your forehead against his. "I wanted to be the one to protect you."

"S-So... are you saying...?"

You nod a little, smiling a bit. "I'm saying it's true. Even if it's dangerous for me to admit... I do love you, Your Highness. I just... I haven't truly realized how much you mean to me until now."

His eyes widened again, his lips parted a little in shock. He cupped his hand over his mouth to try to hide some of his blush. His reaction made you laugh a little, and you stepped back. "My apologies, Link," You say. "I didn't mean to cause you alarm."

"... I-It's alright," he said, gently placing his hand at your waist. You blushed again and flinched, but he only drew you near so slowly it seemed he was afraid to. "I... I love you, too," he whispered. "You are the most incredible girl I have ever met. You're so beautiful, and you are a symbol of everything good in this kingdom." His face inches to yours, and soon his breath was brushing against your own lips. "I never wanted to let you go to fight the evil of our world. If there was a way I could've helped, I would've. You mean too much to me..."