Free to Love - A Zelda x Link Fanfiction

XLVIII: Don't Go

Zelda's Perspective:

Link was a bad liar. Well, he was bad at lying to me. Maybe it was because I knew him so well, I could read the mannerisms that indicated he was lying.

He only blinked a lot when he was lying to me. Other than that, he was usually stone-faced and frigid when lying.

He held me close to his chest, trying to soothe me. He still smelled faintly of copper — blood. His sword wasn't stained with it and neither was he. Still, he reeked of sweat and I could still hear his heart hammering in his chest as he pulled me against him, letting my lie my head on him.

He didn't land a hit; but he also wasn't hit. He must have been dodging a lot. I've seen Link fight. He was a very offensive fighter, striking quickly with deadly precision. Dodging was only something he did when he was caught off guard and had to calculate his actions.

I was just glad he was ok.

He whispered in my ear softly, hands tracing circles on my shoulders, murmuring words of comfort. As I held to him tightly, burying my head in his sky blue shirt, I couldn't help but worry.

I didn't mind Link fighting for the most part. He was a very good fighter and I had faith in him, albeit I was still always worried a bit. What scared me the most was when he was fighting in an uncontrolled environment.

I couldn't tell what happened and I wouldn't pry him for details, but I knew that his heart beat this fast only when he was in danger, or has been in danger. When he wasn't in controlled of the fight.

I was thinking about it earlier when I was clinging to his shirt, when he disappeared down the ladder of the landing. What if the last thing I had of him was this shirt he had given me? Nothing but my memory to keep him alive.

The thought, just the thought alone, scared me to my core and I dug my fingers into him without thinking. And when Revali left, trying to reassure me, but interrupting himself when he sat up straight and ordered me to stay there firmly, jumping off the landing with a great flap of his wings. I thought it was the end. Possibly, my end, too.

"Zelda?" his voice distracted me from my nightmare, shaking my shoulder gently. I looked up at him. I didn't know what the expression on my face conveyed but it must have been bad because his face softened more, pulling me into his arms again and up so we were eye to eye. "Zelda, what's wrong?" He asked quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"N-nothing," I stammered and shook my head. I was also a bad liar. His shirt was oversized on me and I felt like I was drowning in it, in the scent of fresh leaves, smoked meat (his favorite food), and steel.

He didn't mention my bad lie, instead playing with my dark hair. We didn't say anything for a moment. "You look pretty in my shirt," he said quietly. I blushed, looking down, cuddling into him more.

"It's too big for me," I responded, glancing up. "I like it better on you." He chuckled softly, jokingly patting me as though trying to find me in the fabric.

"You're right," he agreed and nodded, unable to stop his small smirk, adding, "It does look better on me." I gasped and shoved him, causing his entire face to brighten up, a large beaming smile crossing his face.

I closed my eyes, and tried to focus on the thrum of his heart. I couldn't shake the fear that still lurked in the back of my mind. He was so pretty when he was protective of me like this, holding me to him like I would slip out of his grip.

I didn't want to lose him.

I wonder if the same thoughts are going through his head? What day will be our last day?

Before I could think, shake the thoughts from my head, I was sitting up and out lips were connected. He was surprised, eyes opening wide at the sudden advance, but he didn't move away and his hands gripped my waist.

Don't go. Don't go. Don't leave, please. Be with me.

I took his hands and moved them. I pull away for a gasp of air, his face flashing red in embarrassment as I guided his hand up to my chest quickly. "L-Link," I murmured, voice shaking.

His hand hesitated before groping me gently, carefully, like he was afraid I would break in his hands.

More. I want his bruises, I want the marks and not just the memories. I can't live alone just the memories.

I intertwined our fingers and moved his hand rougher. I didn't know what I wanted. I was scared. I didn't want him to leave. Did I want this? Or did I just not want to be alone.

My heart beat spastically in my chest, blood pounding in my ears, so loud that Link's ears were twitching. He dint go rougher. He slowed down, firmly moving his hand back to my waist and holding me carefully.

And all of a sudden, I hiccuped and there were tears in my eyes. They began flowing down my cheeks before I could stop them, before I push them away and try to swallow the scared cries that were lodged in the back of my throat. He didn't mention my blubbering cries, grading me to his chest, murmuring words of comfort.

I was being ridiculous. He wouldn't leave. We've only had so few dangerous encounters. His life wasn't in risk that often. He wouldn't leave.

He wouldn't disappear.

Right?