Invisible String | Ghirahim x Reader x Link

Hair

"Here, I can do it."

I let Link grab my hairbrush as I sat at the end of his bed in just some old tunic and a pair of shorts while my wet hair was waiting to be brushed.

I felt his bed dip when he sat behind me. His gentle hand grabbed some of my hair while he ran the brush through the segment he grabbed.

"Thanks Link," I murmur letting myself enjoy this moment.

I didn't get many moments to slow down like this. In his room, on his bed, with his presence, I felt this relaxation and peace I hadn't felt since before I found out I was Soleil. Link brought so much peace to me.

"My pleasure. I know how much you love it when I do this."

The brush ran through my wet hair even easier now. In all honestly, in the moment, I hadn't even realized that my hair didn't even need to be brushed. It just felt good and I had no desire for it to end.

Occasionally, my head followed the brush's strokes and it leaned back. It just felt so good. I could completely turn my brain off when I was with Link. I felt that safe and secure.

"You've never done this before."

"I know, but I can just tell that you like this." Link said giving me a soft peck to the forehead the next time my head came back.

We had returned to Link's room after he had gathered supplies to find the sacred flame of Farore. Link said that I had had a long day, and I needed rest, and I had always rested the best at his place.

Link, Zelda, and I would always have little sleepovers all the time.

There didn't have to be a special occasion. We just liked being around each other and having fun was so easy when I was with the two.

Me and Zelda would often tag team pillow fights to take down Link. However, one time, Link tackled me and tickled me until I surrendered.

Even thinking about those old memories made me smile and feel so warm and fuzzy in the moment.

"I love you, Link."

"I love you too, (Name)."

After he had stopped brushing my hair, he told me to lie down with him.

"Are you sure? I can just sleep on the floor like always?"

He told me that of course I couldn't do that. Besides, it wasn't like we had never cuddled each other before. I wanted to tell him that yeah, we had but also it would be different this time. This time he knew I loved him. This time I knew he loved me.

However, I swallowed my response and laid in his arms.

I buried my head in the crook of his arm while he held me close and intertwined our legs like he was afraid I'd disappear if he didn't. It felt nice. I liked his warmth.

Usually at night was when the terror and anxiety of the great mission started to get to me, yet with Link here not a thought had crossed my mind. All I could think about was never wanting to get up and leaving his warm embrace.

He whispered sweet nothings about how much he cared about me and how much I meant to him while giving me the occasional kiss. It felt so nice.

"Sorry for not telling you about Ghirahim and everything."

"It's okay, I know why you didn't."

"You do?"

"I talked to Fi while you took your bath. I was a little upset at first but then she put things into perspective for me."

"I'm sorry I hurt you. I never wanted to."

"I know, (Name). I know. I just wish I would have known about Ghirahim sooner. I always knew I hated that creep."

"Yeah..." I trailed off sadly.

Link paused for a little just looking in my eyes searching for something to say. I did the same in his. There was so much I could say. I could ruin Ghirahim's reputation—not that he had much of one to Link in the first place—in seconds. I think Link could see the pain in my eyes as flashes of every single moment I could recall flashed in my brain.

"I'm sorry for what he did to you. What he still does to you."

"It wasn't all that bad."

There I was again, defending his actions despite knowing how terrible he was and is to me.

"When was the last time it was good?" He asked.

"I... can' t recall. It's been eons, but I think a part of me will always love him despite how horrible he can be."

"How could you possibly be okay with that?"

Link's brow was furrowed now. I could see the concern dancing in his eyes. Something that was comforting about Link was the fact I knew he was saying all this not because he loved me and wanted to be with me but because he legitimately cared for me. He cared for me not just as a possible lover but as a best friend and that was hard to come by.

My relationship with Ghirahim was so far gone that I no longer feel like he cared for me a lover or even an acquaintance. I felt like toy for when he was lonely or horny. I certainly didn't feel loved or cared for. Yet, despite that, I did once, and I keep going back hoping and praying that that Ghirahim I first fell for will come back and prove me wrong.

"I... it's more complicated than that. I am forced to love him because of the invisible string bond. Those kinds of bonds steal a part of your soul and never let your love die no matter how harmful or violent your love becomes. That's their nature; destructive and obsessive."

"I'm sorry," Link said before moving his hand from holding my waist to caressing my hair in a soothing way.

I wanted to love him with my whole heart and soul. I wish I could. It was only in this purgatory that I could since my invisible string no longer existed.

"It's okay, I'll be okay."

"But I want you to be more than okay. I want you to be happy and safe."

"And I am when I'm with you."

Link pressed a soft kiss to my lips in response.

If only I hadn't bonded my soul. If only I would have waited for Link. If only I didn't keep going back to my abuser like a moth drawn to a flame.