BotW Zelink Oneshots

Confessions & Conspiracies (M)

Ever since my impetuous escapade with Link, I'd been dying to steal him away for some time alone. But of course, as fate would have it, every day following that one was packed with political gatherings and ceremonies and whatever not that I had to attend. All I wanted was to let him know, in detail, how I felt about him, and likewise for him to do the same. It had reached the point where I was losing sleep at night wondering about the true nature of his affections toward me.

So when the first opportunity to speak with him away from prying ears presented itself, I took it. Granted, it wasn't in the most desirable of circumstances—he and I had been taking part in some grand banquet or another when I'd excused myself as I'd started feeling "out of sorts," signalling subtly for my knight to follow—but I was desperate, and an empty stairwell not far from the dining hall would have to do.

"Link..." He heard me come to a halt and turned to face me. "I... There's something I've been meaning to discuss with you. And," I chortled, "I'm quite sure you and I both know what it is."

He averted his gaze with reddening ears, no words passing his pursed lips.

"I just wanted to tell you that I meant what I said." His eyes met mine, though his head remained turned. "I know it's forbidden by law—that accursed law—but I hardly ever stop thinking about you. Even when we're apart." Now I, too, felt blood rushing up to my cheeks. I corrected my posture and looked him straight in the eye. "I just...I need to know what lies in your heart. Could you tell me, please?"

His eyes widened. "H-Highness..." His blush spread rapidly from his ears across the rest of his face. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what else to say... You—oh, Goddess..." He dragged a hand over his face, making his lower eyelids sag. I couldn't help but smile. "I'm sorry. I just think you're...perfect. I don't know..." he trailed off, a crumbling mess of awkwardness.

I let out a chuckle. "Aww, Link," I cooed in unabashed adoration. I realized I should've expected this much from him. "It's okay. You don't have to say any more."

I felt him stiffen as I went in to kiss him. His breaths were shallow, lips all but completely still against my own. I could almost feel his hand trembling as it came to rest against my cheek. And yet, when I opened one eye for a quick peek, his face showed barely any sign of doubt save for a slight dithering of the brow. My heart staggered for him. In hopes of easing his nerves, I gently and sweetly draped my arms around him.

Slowly, he separated his lips from mine and locked gazes with me. Almost nothing had changed about his expression, but his eyes were different; they somehow appeared softer, warmer, more vulnerable, than they had before.

When he went to kiss me again—and he did so with a clear rise in resolve—I let my body lean into his. This elicited a nasal exhale from him as his arm came down to situate itself around my waist, drawing me closer still into his lean frame. A soft hum escaped my throat, which he echoed, only with a touch more weight to it. All of a sudden, it was like we were stripped bare and lying in each other's arms once again. I felt myself being surrounded by him, thoughts being consumed by him, until the only one left in my mind was, "I love you, Link."

"Mmh, Princess..." he sighed in reply against my still open mouth. "I love you." His words burned my lips with their deep-set passion. By now he'd leaned into me so deeply that my back was against the wall, as was my hand which he'd tightly interlocked with his. For one who had come to be known as the "silent knight" for his notorious lack of expressiveness, he surely had a way with body language. The relentless yearning that flowed from his touch was enough to overwhelm me into complete submission.

Alas, my living fantasy was cut short by a clearing of the throat from one of the royal guardsmen down the hall. We were lucky to have found a spot where the nearest guards were around the corner and out of sight, but unfortunately, due to the castle's architecture, sound travelled quite far through its halls. There was no way to know for certain if we'd been heard or not. If that didn't make me anxious, it certainly did Link, who'd backed away and was glancing up and down the stairway frantically.

"Hey." I captured his face in both my hands, forcing the poor thing to look me in the eye. He bore a striking resemblance to a deer at bow point, shoulders tense and eyes wide with fear. "It's okay," I mouthed at him. He nodded, taking a shaky breath in and out through the mouth. Seeing him with panic written all over his face was almost more than I could bare. This was the first time I'd ever seen him like this. I wrapped him up tightly in my arms, rubbing up and down his back in slow and soothing motions. He returned my embrace without hesitating. Once he seemed to have regained some of his composure, I raised a hand to my lips and whispered into his ear a gentle suggestion: "What do you think about paying me a visit later tonight?"

I couldn't see his face, but it was clear the idea made him uneasy. "But...the guards—"

"Won't be a problem," I finished for him. "I know of a flaw in their security system that you could easily exploit to make it in and out without being seen."

He put a gap between us, coming face-to-face with me. The look he gave me was full of uncertainty.

"There's no need to worry, Link, I promise. Do you think I'm foolish enough to put you in any danger?"

He remained silent, gaze pointed at the floor.

"Oh, for Hylia's sake..." I rolled my eyes. "Look. Purah and I have used this method countless times, and she's never once been caught. All you have to do is borrow my Sheikah slate and warp to the location marked on the map. It couldn't be easier, right?"

He stayed quiet for another moment or two, weighing the options. Then he nodded curtly, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and whispered, "I'll give it a try."