Bold & Brash

His uneasiness was directed at you and how you claimed you had never had one. That your previous companions didn't seem too concerned about it and you had never been able to get close to the height of your pleasure not even by yourself. You and Law were nothing more than a few stolen kisses when you were both high or when a certain need struck. You had never gone beyond that, you had never assumed anything either. But Law couldn't get it out of his head.

That was when he convinced you to accompany him to the bedroom and as soon as the door closed behind you, he took your lips in a kiss that, no matter how much you both denied it, was full of feeling on both sides.

"Can I help you with that?" he asked and saw you looked lost. "With the orgasm thing."

"Oh." was the only thing that seemed to come out of your lips. Your mind was going haywire with the information.

"I'll understand if you don't want to. I mean, it's a strange request, isn't it?" Law almost let his nervousness get the better of him. "I just want to make you feel good and I don't intend on actually reaching the end and..."

"Please." the request didn't seem clear to him, so you insisted. "Please give me an orgasm."

A growl escaped Law's lips and he had to control himself. The focus was on you and only your pleasure that night. After you discovered what it was like to actually get there, he would let you choose whether you wanted to continue feeling that way with him.

"Take off your uniform." Law took a few steps back and sat down on the bed.

He watched you take off your outfit and remain in just a thin blouse and panties. A sight that pleased him enough. He leaned against the headboard and tapped the padded spot in front of him and you promptly complied, sitting up and letting his arms wrap around you.

"What do you plan captain?" you turned your face so you could face him.

"First, no captain here." he pointed out. "I plan to teach you how to get there. And then you can do it yourself or teach your future partners." the idea sounded bitter on his lips, but he didn’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation.

"So where do we start?"

"This way."

He gently held your face and started kissing you. Calmly, he felt you snuggle even closer to him. Almost like an authorization for him to sink deeper into your mouth.

While his tongue massaged yours, eliciting small murmurs that vibrated between you, one of his hands kept you trapped in the kiss, cupping your face. The other walked around your body, running down the sides of your skin, down your thighs. You squeezed your legs, trying to find some relief from the heat that was starting to accumulate there.

"A kiss is a good way to start." He pulled away just enough to comment, returning to your lips for a few more seconds. "When it's about you, a kiss is a good thing for any occasion."

"Don't say things like that." you moved away from his lips almost definitively, your head lolling just enough to rest against his chest.

The sight - almost as sinful as his own thoughts - was something to behold. You were there waiting for him to start showing you what pleasure was. One of his hands continued to trace some incoherent patterns on your skin, while the other wandered over your hardened nipple.

"Women are a little different from men in this regard." now avoiding touching your nipple through the thin fabric of the shirt, he just circled the areola. "Some are extremely sensitive at this point, others not so much, for some it also depends on the period of the cycle."

This time, he suddenly ran his thumb firmly over your nipple, your back letting you touch his chest for a brief moment, just to seek more contact.

"I see you fit into the first group."

"And what does that mean?" the question sounded innocent and silly, but it was difficult to think with Law so close to you, where you needed him.

Both of his hands came up enough to remove the straps of your blouse and expose your breasts.

"It means I can have some fun with them." he need to focus this was about you and not him. "So fucking beautiful."

His fingers gently slid over the two highlighted points. First he caressed your nipples gently, testing to see how much more you might want. Seeing you tighten your thighs even more and move a little in search of friction, Law captured both nipples between his fingers, eliciting an intense gasp from you.

Since the position didn't allow him to taste it directly on his lips, he at least tried to simulate the sensation for you. The hands that were previously on your nipples briefly went to his mouth and were bathed in saliva. In a calculated movement, Law placed his wet fingers back on your nipples just as his mouth closed on your neck in a wet kiss. A no longer so shy moan escaped you and made his dick twitch inside the pants he was wearing.

"Law, this...this feels good." your body arched against his fingers.

"I bet I could make you cum with just that." his lips untied themselves from you only to speak softly in your ear. "I will do this next time."

His hands allowed themselves to slide down your body again, now exciting a more breathless version of you. Law took his hands to your bare thighs and after caressing them, he gently opened them, placing them on top of his legs. Even though you were still covered by your panties, you felt exposed.

"Most women don't like to get straight to the point. Teasing can help make things more interesting." His hands ran up your inner thighs, raising goosebumps.

"I don't think provoking is the best option." you tried to sound firm, but your voice came out more breathless than you expected.

"This tells me otherwise." without hesitation, two firm fingers pressed your damp panties. "This pretty pussy is so wet just from me teasing you a little."

"Please Law." you tried to move against his fingers, which were now sliding along the sides of your intimacy.

"Did you know that the labia majora also have nerve endings?" he pointed out, ignoring your plea and letting his fingers slide. "Some stimulus can help."

His movement stopped for a brief moment, so brief that you were unable to ask why he had stopped or to contain your moan when you felt him touch through your panties where you needed it most.

"But they're not as sensitive as this one." Law started to make small circles over where your clit was. When he looked at your face, he could see that you had brought both hands to cover your mouth, your nails digging into your own cheek. "Room. Silence." he saw your eyes look around briefly. "Just let me hear you, please."

As soon as the blue dome formed around you, Law deftly removed your hands from your lips and covered them with his own mouth. His tongue invaded your mouth shamelessly while his movements over the damp fabric of your panties became a little faster. Your hands tried to hold on to him as best you could and even with him kissing you so voraciously, your moans still found space to remain there against his lips. Again, he stopped his movements and moved away from your lips just enough to find your attentive eyes, dilated pupils and reddened lips.

"I'll buy you another one. As many as you want."

Instead of explaining why, you just felt his two hands force the fabric of your panties and it split into some pieces.

The touch of his fingers directly against your little bud could be enough for Law to have his own orgasm there. More exciting than that was just seeing your eyes closing in front of his, a loud moan escaping your lips at such a short distance from him. Heavens, that was a little bit of paradise he thought he'd never taste.

"I need more Law, more please." you turned to him again, but one of your hands remained tied to the back of his neck. "It feels so good, so fucking good."

"Fuck" he murmured against the skin of your neck as his fingers slid easily to your entrance. The warm wetness against his fingers left him on the verge of irrationality. Gently, he slowly penetrated you with his middle finger, your fingers against the back of his neck held tight to Law's dark strands of hair. "That's a good girl, I can feel you squeeze me. Is that what you wanted?"

"D-Don't stop Law, please." you involuntarily moved your hips against the back and forth of his finger, searching for more and more.

"I won't stop, babe, I won't." Law removed his entire finger and added his ring finger, slowly penetrating them again. The way you moved your hips against his fingers - and against his cock behind you - indicated that you wouldn't last long. "You're taking me so good, pussy so fucking tight."

“Law, I just…” as soon as his fingers pressed against your g-spot, a sharp scream left you. A knot beginning to tighten and burn inside you. "Fuck, that's it. I c-can feel something, I think… Law, please."

Seeing you start to lose control of your hips and tighten even more inside your pussy, Law knew he needed little for you to get there - and to be quite honest, he was about to reach an untouched orgasm himself.

"Stop holding back." His voice came out as a whisper at the edge of your ear, using the palm of his hand to stimulate your clitoris, your increasingly intense moans were a melody for him. "I can feel you squeezing me, begging for more. Come on, give it to me, let me feel you come. Just for me, okay? You're going to do this just for me."

"Law!" With one last moan from you, Law could feel you squeeze him hard and the fingers inside you become drenched as your body softened against his arms.

Giving a few more gentle caresses against your intimacy, Law took his hand away from you and had to dare the urge to put his fingers to his own lips. He would have the chance to taste you and when he does, he will taste it straight from the source itself.

Seeing your tired form nestled against his chest, Law let the caresses against your body be softer and without any trace of malice, just as his lips placed some chaste kisses on the top of your head.

"Thanks for trusting me." You smiled at his thanks, taking one of his hands and placing a small kiss on it. "So... how does it feel?"

"I feel like a teenager, but..." his gaze directed yours to the wet spot on his light pants. "Feeling you and hearing you was a little too much for me."

"It felt so good, I've never felt that before." you adjusted yourself just enough to meet his lips.

"Yes, it was great."

"I'm sorry for not making it up to you." you pointed out and saw a light laugh escape his lips. "What?"

You both laughed for a brief moment, enjoying the little bubble of affection that seemed to be surrounding you.

"Law?" his murmur indicated that he was paying attention. "You must be pretty experienced, right? To know all this."

"Not so much." his fingers intertwined with yours. "Part of it I know because I'm a doctor, so it's easier to know how bodies work. And part of it is because I've seen it in some books."

You just nodded and snuggled into him, his fingers were distracted playing with yours. This time, just like you had done, he called your name and you just mumbled back.

"What I said before." it was strange, but Law felt a little shy about bringing the subject on board. "I take back what I said. I wanted this – what you felt today – to happen just to me and not to other partners."

You sit at the vanity mirror, carefully removing your earrings and necklace before moving on to the many, many pins that hold your hair in place. You let out a sigh as you clink one after another into the gold tray on the counter. The older you got, the more obnoxious you found galas and other social events to be. 

You hear your husband's heavy footsteps as he enters the bedroom.

"Tearing off your feathers already, little bird?" he teases, watching you in the mirror.

He's dressed in a tailored suit of his signature green, dark hair swept back from his handsome face. Small streaks of silver have appeared in the years you've been together, but you find it only makes him look more dashing.

You remove what finally feels like the last pin and shake out your hair.

"There's just so much," you say with a sigh. "And my things aren't designed for comfort, unlike yours."

He lays his hands on your shoulders, softly pushing down the straps of your matching gold and green dress.

"You know I always prefer you undressed," he says, leaning down to whisper in your ear.

You roll your eyes despite the smile on your lips.

"Are the girls asleep?" you ask, beginning to remove your makeup as he makes a trail of kisses down your throat.

"Safe and sound," he mumbles between kisses.

"And the sitter?"

He sighs and backs away, holding up his hands.

"In one piece and well-paid. I was the perfect, non-threatening gentleman," he replies, feigning innocence.

"Mm-hmm," you hum, unconvinced, brushing out your locks.

You swear your husband has chased away more babysitters than Marines at this point. No one was ever good enough to watch over his girls.

You're so lost in your thoughts that the sudden sweep of strong arms around your middle genuinely surprises you, and you let out a yelp. 

Crocodile nuzzles the nape of your neck, his good hand tightly gripping your waist as his hook travels down to the hem of your dress and slowly begins to pull it upward.

"Let's have another baby," he purrs in your ear, voice low and smooth, sending shivers down your spine.

He lays more kisses on your shoulders, occasionally nipping at the skin.

"Two isn't enough?" you say with a laugh. You've had this discussion before, several times, in fact. In a surprising turn of events, your husband, former warlord of the seas, famed pirate and mercenary, a cold-blooded killer, has the worst case of baby fever you've ever seen.

"There could never be enough of you in this world, little bird," he said, deftly unzipping your gown.

"What about you?" you ask. "They're half yours."

He shrugs, sliding the garment from your shoulders. You let him because there's no stopping him when he gets this way.

"The world could use a bit more of me," he says with a grin before placing a slow, firm bite on your neck.

You let out a low moan, reaching back to pull him closer, tangling your fingers in his hair.

"I don't know if the world can handle it," you tease.

"But you can," he replies. "You are *very* good at handling me, aren't you, little bird?"

He guides your hand to rest on the bulge in his slacks. You can't help the blush that creeps across your cheeks when you feel his thick heat against your palm.

"I suppose I could always use a little more practice," you reply, leaning your head against his chest to look up at him through fluttering lashes.

He lets out a sound between a growl and a laugh. Placing his cigar in the nearby ashtray, he plants a hand on either side of you, gazing at you through the mirror once more.

"I'm going to fuck you in front of this mirror," he informs you. "You need to see for yourself how good you look on my cock."

He reaches around your front to tease your nipples, drawing a whine from your throat.

"Would you like that, little bird?" he asks, giving one of your nipples a slow pull with his good hand.

"Mmhmmm, very much," you murmur, arching into his touch, your growing arousal turning your thoughts hazy.

You stand up, kicking your dress to the side as it slides to the floor.

Crocodile slides onto the bench and pats his lap with a wolfish grin. You give him a coy smile in return, twining your arms around his neck as you straddle one of his thighs. He pulls you in for a deep kiss, and you sigh as he slips his tongue past your lips. His hook ghosts up your spine, and you grind against his leg in response. He smirks against your lips and lifts his leg just slightly to give you more friction. You moan as you feel the thick cord of muscle push against your core.

He leaves a trail of kisses along your jaw.

"Panties off. Now," he growls in your ear.

Against all common sense, you decide you want to rile him up a bit further. 

Locking eyes with him, you pull back, defiantly continuing to roll your hips. Dampness seeps from between your legs, spotting onto the leg of his trousers.

"I never liked this pair anyway," you tease.

He quirks an eyebrow at you.

"Someone's getting cheeky."

With expert precision, he loops his hook through the legs of your panties and pulls hard. The fabric bunches, pressing firmly against your clit. With his hand, he gives one of your nipples a sharp twist. You gasp and writhe in his clutches, squirming with growing need.

"I know how much you like being put in your place, little bird," he growls.

A well-practiced swipe, and he rips the underwear from you.

"And how much I enjoy putting you there."

Crocodile crashes his lips against yours in a fierce kiss, fisting your hair tightly in his fingers. You lean into him, nails running down his back as you deepen the kiss. His hook gently catches around your thigh as his hand slides down your side and slaps your ass.

"Get on your knees for me, darling," he orders against your lips. 

You give him another quick kiss with a drag at his lip before complying.

Settling between his legs on the floor, you softly nuzzle the inside of his thigh, gazing up at him through half-lidded eyes. 

At one point, his massive presence overwhelmed you, scared you even, but now, after so many years at his side, it just felt like home -- safe, protected and cherished.

"I'll never get tired of this view," he says, stroking his thumb over your cheek. You melt into his touch, savoring the moment of tenderness. With a nod, he gives you the signal to go ahead. 

Crocodile's cock is thick and heavy in your hands. A thick stream of precum leaks from his flushed tip. You lap it up, enjoying the salty taste on your tongue before taking what you can in your mouth. He lets out a long, contented sigh as you begin bobbing up and down on him. 

Usually, your husband was one for order and neatness, but when it came to blowjobs, the messier, the better. 

You don't hold back as you slurp at his cock, drool running down the sides of your mouth as you firmly pump the base of his shaft with your hands.

"Fuck..." he groans. "That's my girl, show me how much you love sucking me off."

You can't help but wiggle your hips at his words. His dirty talk and the hunger in his words always left you dripping.

You pull back, running your tongue over his weeping slit with a playful wink. He hisses and forces you back on his length, gagging you a bit as he hits the back of your throat. He firmly guides you up and down his length until tears prick at the corners of your eyes, and your jaw begins to complain at the prolonged stretch. You give a soft whimper, and he pulls you off, a string of saliva connecting your lips to his tip. 

"I shouldn't be wasting it in your mouth anyway," he says, offering you a hand and gingerly pulling you to your feet. 

He lays siege to your neck and chest, his mouth hot against you as he bites, licks and sucks his way across your skin. 

"Croc," you moan as he sucks on your nipple, teasing it lightly with his teeth. 

He slips his hand between your legs, teasing along your slit with the lightest touch.

"Touch me, please," you whine. "I need to feel you." 

If you could drown in the sensation of his skin on yours, you gladly would. 

"But I am touching you," he teases.

You shake your head, attempting to get more friction from his fingers, but he keeps pulling away. You let out a frustrated cry.

"Tell me what you want, little bird," he says, his hook lazily tracing along the curves of your ass.

"For the love of god, please put your fingers inside me," you all but snap.

"Demanding," he tuts before plunging two fingers deep within you.

You choke out a gasp, knees threatening to give as he takes up a ruthless pace. The sloppy sounds between your legs echo through the room as he thrusts into you, curling his hand to hit your sweet spot, his thumb grinding mercilessly against your clit.

"Should I make you come once on my hand just to remind you who's in charge, little bird?" he asks with his characteristic sly grin, his hooked arm coiling around your waist to keep you supported. 

You can already feel your orgasm growing, and while it would feel nice, you know the feeling of his cock is so much sweeter.

You shake your head, biting back another groan as he changes up the rhythm of his fingers, massaging against your walls in steady circles.

"Please fuck me," you whine.

"You want me to put another baby in you, love?" he growls. 

His pupils are blown wide, gaze fixed intently on you. You know he's only moments from pouncing on you and taking what's his. It makes your blood run hot and your body shiver. Nothing matters outside of this moment as your vision narrows down to chasing your pleasure.

"Breed me, baby, please," you beg.

He snarls before pulling you in for another kiss—messy, chaotic and passionate—all the things he hides under that cool, calm exterior. Only you get to see this side of him. Only you can make him unravel in this way.

"Turn around," he spits, flipping you around to face the mirror.

You look a mess: hair askew, makeup smeared, eyes glassy and skin flushed. His large hands knead the flesh of your hips and belly, eyes raking over every inch of you.

"Gonna fill you up again. You were so beautiful when you were pregnant, such delicious curves."

He paws at you with a guttural sound, voice thick with desire and fraying control.

You can't help but look away with a blush. The truth is, pregnancy has changed you, inside and out. Since your daughters were born, you felt like you'd been stuffed into a stranger's body. Everything worked a little differently than it did before. It was one of the reasons you were hesitant to have another child. You just felt less desirable. Cool metal kisses against your skin as Crocodile turns your gaze back to the mirror.

"You are the most beautiful thing in this world," he whispers in your ear, eyes holding yours in the reflection. Reflexively, you try to look away again, but the side of his hook presses firmly against your cheek, holding you still.

"Say it," Crocodile growls, nuzzling your neck.

"I-I am...the most beautiful thing in this world," you squeak out.

He smiles against your skin.

"Did you think I'd settle for anything less?" 

The words pull a small smile to your lips.

"Of course not."

He whisks you into his lap with ease.

"Look how wet you are for me," he says, spreading your legs in front of the mirror. 

Your cheeks burn as you take in the sight before you. The insides of your thighs are soaked with arousal. Crocodile nudges your red and swollen lips apart with his fingers to reveal your dripping, wanting hole.

His thick cock is positioned just below you, slick with a mix of precum and saliva. You panic for a moment, trying to find the best way to hold on before settling with one hand on his forearm and the other wrapped behind his neck.

You can only watch as his fat length pushes into you, stretching you in the most delicious way. By all accounts, he shouldn't fit, but you watch in amazement as his considerable cock completely sheathes itself within you. You feel his tip bully your cervix, your walls fluttering around his intrusion in response. 

As soon as he's all the way in, he's fucking you, hips bucking up into your core, his strong arms holding you open for him, bouncing you along his length. 

Your gaze is fixated on the spot where your bodies join, watching his rapid thrusts fill you over and over again. 

"See how good you fit me," he says roughly, eyes boring into your stretching core. "You were made to take me, little bird."

He lifts you off his length; for a moment, you can see the gaping emptiness his cock leaves behind before he slams back into you. He does it again and again. You moan, crying out his name like a prayer, writhing in his iron grasp. 

"Touch yourself," he snarls.

You obediently place your fingers on your clit, moving in rapid circles. Your breath hitches at the increased sensation.

"Close, m'getting close," you pant, feeling your body begin to tense at the oncoming release. Crocodile increases his thrusts, the sound of skin slapping on skin filling the room.

"Fuck, fuck, FUCK--" you scream, fingers rubbing messily at your clit as your orgasm overtakes you. Your head rolls back, breath snatched from your lungs. Something warm shoots between your fingers, and you realize you're squirting. 

"Fuck," your husband hisses before throwing you over the vanity. His hips slam into yours a handful more times before he spills deep inside you with a low growl. The sensation almost makes you come again.

Bottles and compacts are scattered across the counter as you lay there panting, still reeling from the intensity of your orgasm. Soft kisses start across your back as a thumb rubs circles into your hip bone.

"So good for me, darling," Crocodile grumbles, burying his face in your hair. 

"Is this why you wanted to leave the party early?" you huff with a laugh. 

He swallows his mouthful of food, “Oh?”

“One of the books you ‘borrowed’ from the castle says that if you want to start over with your identity, start with your hair.” She makes quotations with her fingers when she says borrowed.

“Hey look, everyone steals from the castle nowadays.” Link shrugs.

“Pish-Tosh.” Zelda huffs, “I suppose my old knickers are stolen, then?” She asks with a cheeky smirk on her face and Link almost chokes on his next bite of food.

“You’re trying to kill me?” He asks.

“No, I’m trying to cut my hair.” She says. “See if you want to reinvent yourself, start with something minuscule and semi-permanent. Besides, hair holds memories. I want to get rid of the memories I have made with this hair.”

“All of them?” Link raises an eyebrow.

“No… of course not all of them. Look, are you gonna cut my hair for me or are

you gonna make me do it myself?”

“Are you sure? I mean you’ve never cut your hair before, I know how big of a deal it was to you when we were young.” Link isn’t trying to talk her out of it, he just really wants her to be sure.

“Absolutely. Now give me your sword.”

“Woah, woah, woah.” He stands up as Zelda moves to the weapon leaning against the wall. “Okay, let's cut it.” She was sure. That was clear. The two of them face Link’s janky mirror.

“You want it here?” He asks, holding her hair at a length that was about her mid-back.

“Shorter.”

“Okay…” He pulls it up to her shoulders. “Here?”

“Shorter.”

“…okay.” Link cocks his head and brings up her neck.

“Shorter.”

“Okay, how ‘bout you show me how short you want it to be?” He drops his hands. Zelda playfully rolls her eyes and takes her hair in hand, stroking it. She then holds her hand to just under her ears, making a chopping motion with her hands.

“That’s pretty short, it’s gonna tickle your neck and you won’t be able to put it up at all.” Link says.

“I’m sorry, is it your hair?” Zelda turns around to ask him and she’s so cute when she’s angry he wants to lean over and kiss her but he doesn’t.

They‘ve been sleeping in the same bed now for about a month. They both sleep better that way, and the physical touch is very nice for both of them. They fall asleep faster, dream better, wake up later and feel more rested. The few nights they’ve tried not to, one or both of them have woken up in a fit of nightmarish sweat and tears. The beast in the woods heightened Link’s trauma response. They fall asleep apart on separate ends of the bed, but wake up in a tangled fit of slumber, holding one another. They then get out of bed and act like it didn’t happen, going on about their day as if they were just two roommates. Neither of them will deny the chemistry created between them from it, however.

Extra stolen glances, looking for too long, small touches here and there, one getting brave and rubbing the others back or tickling their arm as they fall asleep. It’s easier to act like it doesn’t happen until it happens, but both of them are miserable when they aren’t touching, but they’re also both terrified of ruining what’s been created.

“I just… like your long hair.” Link shrugs.

Zelda purses her lips, “Okay what about here.” She then makes the same chopping motion just under her jaw.

Link nods, “I like that. I’ll go get the shears.”

“Wait.” She stops him by grabbing his wrist.

“Second thoughts?”

“No.” She raises an eyebrow. “I want you to use the sword.”

“What? Why? That’s dangerous. You trust me too much.” Link scoffs.

“Exactly. There’s symbolism to it. The Goddess incarnate taking control of her own destiny.” She explains.

Link folds his arms, “okay… but why?”

“Link can’t you just accept that I have a flair for the dramatic by now?” She groans. He chuckles.

“Fine, but if it's an uneven cut you can’t blame her.” He refers to the sword and turns to get it, Zelda has to shout from the other room.

“What, like she has a mind of her own?”

“Hey, you’re the one who talks to her, not me.” Link smiles as he walks back into the room with the sheathed blade. “I was advised only to use this on evil, so I’m breaking a rule for you.”

“Oh I’m sorry, was a hearty durian evil? A fortified pumpkin?” Zelda teases, tongue-in-cheek.

Link frowns, “hey, it's not fair that you got to spy on me! Those were private situations.” The both of them laugh.

“I liked spying on you.” Her inexperienced attempt at flirting.

“That’s not creepy at all.” Link teases.

“Oh what, like opening all my drawers in my room at the castle wasn’t creepy?”

“I was looking for arrows!”

“Righttttt.” Zelda squints.

“Hey, I’m the one with the sharpest sword ever made in hand.” Link raises an eyebrow and Zelda winks before turning around.

Link unsheathes the weapon, “Kneel.” He commands her and they both blush at it. He clears his throat and tries to ignore the subtext. “Here?” He holds her hair at the spot with his left hand.

Zelda hums, “mhm.”

“Okay, stay very, very still.” Link concentrates, Zelda holds her breath. Link takes some time to line it up, trying to get the right angle. It’s hard with the length of the sword.

“Any day now.” Zelda sarcastically says.

“Will you shut up?” Link playful says, they speak that way with each other all the time nowadays.

“Make me.” Zelda flirts back and they both hold their breath. She wanted to believe Link felt the same way about her but wasn’t sure. She didn’t dare risk it. Link figured that if they were sharing a bed together, they could probably stand to do more, but he didn’t want to overstep. He didn’t dare take advantage of her. He awkwardly chuckles. His response makes Zelda cringe, and she closes her eyes tight wishing she hadn’t said that. Link just didn’t know how else to respond.

‘Idiot’ He thinks to himself, ‘I am an idiot’.

“Okay… Here I go.” Link says and then in an instant he’s pulling the master sword through Zelda’s hair and it’s cleanly sliced off.

Her long, gorgeous locks fall to the floor by their feet, and Link is just impressed with his ability. “Master Swordsman, Hero of Hyrule… Hairdresser.” He wolf-whistles at himself and spins the sword by his side.

“And soooo humble.”

“And insanely handsome.” Link tongue clicks twice.

“Can’t argue with that.” Zelda says as she’s standing up but before either of them reply, she sees herself in the mirror. Her breath is taken away, she looks at her new cut with awe, her green-eyes blowing up wide. She runs her fingers through it a few times, brushing it out.

“So, how’d I do?” He asks, leaning against the hilt of the sword.

“I love it.” She beams, seeing herself as Zelda for the first time. Not Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hyrule. Zelda then giddily jumps up and down a few times, squealing with delight. Link hums.

“I’m happy you like it.” He smiles.

“Do you like it?” She asks, turning around to show him from the front. Link smiles, examining her.

“It’s beautiful… You’re beautiful.” He admits.

They look at each other for a long time. They always give each other that look. A look of longing, of despair, of wanting to say something but not being able to. They look at each other.

Zelda pulls her eyes away.

“It’s market day, should we get ready?” She changes the subject, Link nods and she moves past him and this time Link is the one to cringe. He shuts his eyes tight, she probably didn’t want to hear that from him.

They have their little routine now. On Wednesdays they go to the pop-up market on the hill by Purah’s house. The Lurelin fishermen bring their fish and tropical fruit and trade with the Hateno farmers for milk and cheese and whatnot. Link and Zelda go there on Wednesday’s, on Thursdays they take Epona out into the forest and Link practices mounted-archery while Zelda reads. Mondays are for Hateno Favors. Getting rid of wasp nests, cleaning wells, killing bokoblins, telling stories to the little kids, in return they usually get offered rupees but the pair always refuse. The villagers started giving them eggs and herbs and spices instead. Link has started experimenting with cooking immensely.

Tuesdays are for house chores, cleaning up, building Zelda a little study in the well, Link has even taken up farming and last week he planted his first seeds for tomatoes. He doesn’t know if they’ll take root but every night he tells Zelda about how much they’ve grown or wilted.

Fridays are for stargazing and astronomy lessons. The two of them climb onto the roof and try to remember all the constellations together, Zelda has started to map them back out, this causes a lot of debates between the two of them, but it's fun.

Saturdays are Zelda’s favorite days, it's when Link takes her up to Purah’s and the two of them talk about science and inventions and Link spars in the yard. He never wants to freeze up again like he did a month ago at Dantz’s. He never wants to feel as rusty as he did again. He has never told Zelda what he saw, in fact he’s told no one, and at least it hasn’t shown back up.

And lastly, Sundays are for worship. Sunday’s are Link’s favorite day. They’ve started going to the services at the Mayor’s house, and they are very pleasant. No one knows Zelda is the literal personage they are worshiping, which it feels nice to have the anonymity that she’s gained. After worship, they come home, and Link teaches Zelda how to cook. She still hasn’t gotten very good at it, but it usually ends in laughter and an opened window and playful nudges and side aches.

And every night, Zelda sits at the table and Link paces back and forth in the room while he tells her about every adventure, every battle and every dungeon he came across over the last three years. Well… not every adventure. He leaves out details like those drunken nights of passion, or the few times he almost died, or the times he got lost.

Zelda writes it all down. It’s very important to keep records, she reminds him. Besides, she’s found that it helps her memory and motor skills, which are still lacking.

The fainting has subsided, at least a little bit. Zelda doesn’t cry every day anymore, she can bathe without feeling watched and think about her past without feeling as much guilt. It’s refreshing.

It’s refreshing for both of them, a domestic life was never something either of them were raised for, and they are both as happy as ever with their routine.

Zelda wears a pretty straw hat as she and Link head to the market. She blabbers on about the theory of gravity to Link and he’s just happy to listen. They know the villagers names now, and Zelda happily calls out to all of them as they walk by:

“How do you do, good day, so glad to see you Mrs. Faido, thank you I just cut it this morning, pleasant afternoon isn’t it?” And so on. She’s so cheerful, so full of decorum. Link gets awfully stoic as he’s seen in public, but it’s okay because Zelda does all the talking for both of them. He sometimes even reverts into his three-paces behind her, but she always stops and waits for him until he remembers to walk side-by-side these days.

Link’s stomach drops when he sees Savi at the market. It’s his first time seeing her since the night they kissed, and she meets his glance far too quickly. She smiles and waves, and he waves back like an idiot. Zelda notices.

“Who’s that?” She asks.

“No one.” Link swallows.

Zelda raises an eyebrow, she knows he’s lying. She tries to push down any jealousy she had but fails. She lifts up her chin and walks over to the girl. Link wants to reach out and stop her, but he freezes up again. Some knight he is.

“Good afternoon.” She says to Savi, “How do you an Link know each other?” Zelda says in a cool-tone. Sometimes her royal qualities came off a little too strong.

“Zelda-“ Link tries to stop her but she doesn’t allow it.

Savi almost stumbles over her words, “He helped at my father's farm some weeks ago.” She manages to get out, but she looks at Link as she says it, and Zelda is biting her tongue.

“Interesting. He never told me about you.” Zelda turns to Link.

Savi blushes, “And you are?”

“I’m his…” She stops. What was she? His Roomate? His century-old babysitting assignment? His God-Given soulmate of sorts?

“She’s my friend.” Link just smiles and nods, “My…best friend.” He walks past the women wanting to go look at the fish for dinner tonight as an escape.

The girls make eye-contact.

Zelda tries not to let that hurt her. Just a friend? They’ve been sleeping in the same bed for a month and he can’t come up with anything better?

Savi’s dark eyes get mischievous, and she takes a step to Zelda, “Just friends, hm?” Her arms fold.

Zelda frowns, “Does it offend you that we live together?” She asks, “I know the morals of Hateno Villagers like yourself are…outdated.”

Savi visibly tenses, “Have you kissed him?” She asks.

“Excuse me?”

“Cause I have.” She grins, “So even if you’re ‘best friends’, you better not act like you get some special treatment from him.” Her voice lowers as Zelda’s stomach drops. She must have shown it on her face because the girl is egging her on more after that. “Oh, he didn’t tell you? Some best friends you are.”

“When?” Zelda couldn’t care less about Link’s… activities before she was saved, but now that she’s back, everything has more weight to it.

“Oh not long ago,” She acts like she can’t remember when, her eyes tracing the outline of a thought, “Oh yeah… it was just a month ago or so.” She smirks.

Zelda’s face goes flush. Had he kissed her when he helped at the farm? When Zelda was at home alone, crying in bed because she’s broken in more ways than one? And Link decided to go out and kiss some girl?

“Link’s personal affairs are none of my business.” Zelda tries to stay relaxed but in reality she is crushed.

“Oh good. So you don’t mind if I do it again?” The girl teased.

Zelda frowned, and looked at Link who was laughing with a Lurelin villager. His laughter had a cadence of joy that filled her spirit. She doesn’t think she ever heard him laugh before the slumber. He looked at her and they made eye contact through the market.

“Excuse me, miss.” Zelda says to Savi, “But I don’t need to condescend other women to know my relationships are secure.” She returns. “Good day.” Zelda walks away, filled with gumption.

The walk home is done in silence, Link doesn’t think anything of it, and that’s what really upsets Zelda. How could he not see she was upset?

He starts dinner, she stays silent. Link whistles that same song, the one that came to him in a dream. It’s incessant. He’s clueless and it drives her insane. She’s filled with a feeling of frustration and anger. Feelings she hasn’t felt in hundreds of years. Literally. She rubs the pages of her book, not even reading a word on the page even though she stares at it.

The whistling keeps going.

She glares up at him.

Why didn’t he tell her? Why didn’t he just kiss her? He probably doesn’t want to. She’s been filling her mind with nonsense all this time. Link likely doesn’t see her as anything other than a nightmare blocker.

Or a nightmare causer.

The whistling keeps going.

Her heart rate rises. Why was this so upsetting to her? She tries to swallow her pride but can’t. She feels embarrassed. Was Link dishonest? Has he really changed that much overtime? He never would have lied to a soul in their youth, much less his Princess.

The whistling keeps going.

It rings in her ears in an unpleasant way that makes her want to bite into wood. “Can you shut up?” She blurts out in a tone that reminded both of them of their time together early on, when Link was just a silent knight who followed her everywhere.

He stops, frozen as he turns around slowly to look at her, sitting at the table and glaring up at him. “I’m sorry?” He says, clueless.

“Thank you.” She looks down at her book, a little embarrassed now.

“Is everything okay?” Link asks.

“Yes.”

“…Okay.” He turns back around to continue on dinner. Zelda slams her book closed. He turns back around. The air is thick. The tension is high.

“No. I’m not okay and it bothers me that you can’t see that.” She says.

Link blinks awkwardly. “Was I supposed to?”

“Yes!” Zelda says a little too-shrilly. She takes a breath and tries to compose herself.

“What did I do?” Link asks, trying to comprehend the situation.

Zelda sighs, “Well, lets see, you left me at home, sick, while you went into town to kiss some random girl a hundred years younger than you and then acted like it didn’t happen. I mean, did Dantz even need your help?”

Link's face goes flush, “Savi came onto me.” He feels the need to defend himself because of her accusatory tone.

“And you let her?”

“I’m not proud of it, Zel, that’s why I didn’t tell you. It was a mistake.” He keeps a level head.

“Don’t call me Zel.”

“My word, what has gotten into you?” He asks, putting his utensils down. “Why does it bother you that I kissed her?”

She can’t answer with what she really wants.

“Because it just feels dishonest! It implies you keep secrets!” Zelda huffs.

“Well… I do keep secrets.”

“Goddess, Link, did you even fight anything that night?” She asks, “Or was it all a farce?”

Link feels angry at that, how dare she say something after what Link saw, after what it did to him physically… emotionally, “Zelda you’re tired.”

“Stop telling me what I am or what I am not.”

“Stop acting like I’m some monster!” Link raises his voice for the first time.

“Stop pretending everything is fine!” She says and her voice breaks. It’s quiet for a moment.

She stands up, “I am sick, Link. You don’t even see half of it. You don’t see my hair falling out, you don’t see me throw up after almost everything I eat, you don’t see the bloody noses, you don’t see the fact that my womb is literally rotting inside me and I feel it. I am dying, Link. Calamity Ganon took every chance for full recovery I had, and left me a shell of a person who failed her kingdom.” She sobs.

Link is quiet at first, time passes, it’s only a few seconds but it feels like an eternity, “How do you want me to respond?”

“I want you to acknowledge it!”

“Okay! This is me acknowledging it, Zelda! Why didn’t you tell me about any of that?” He asks, also emotional.

“Because I don’t need you to baby me.”

“What do you want, then? Because you’re giving me very mixed signals.” He responds. “It’s not just about you, Zelda-“

“I don’t think it is!”

“Let me speak.” He stops her, barely raising his voice and staying cool, staying collected and analytical in contrast to her pain, “I have died. I spent four months lost in the Gerudo desert and was captured by Gibdos and survived by starving myself until I was skinny enough to crawl through a hole in the ceiling of their cave. I have been poisoned, shot with arrows, waterboarded, and hanged. I know what it's like to know you are literally dying because I feel it once every few months. So don’t-“ His voice cracks and he has to take a deep breath to finish his sentence, “So don’t preach to me about life and death because if there's anyone left in this world who can empathize with you…” His last few words are swallowed in the emotion of his throat. “I am trying.”

They both cry now.

“Just because you have had it worse doesn’t mean what I am experiencing isn’t valid.” Zelda says in a quieter tone than before.

“I would never suggest that.” Link defends. “But you have got to communicate with me. My entire purpose in life is to make sure you are safe. And I cannot do that if I do not know. Everything has seemed normal, we’ve been farming and stargazing together. How was I supposed to know?”

“I don’t want you to worry about me.”

“Of course I worry about you, Zelda.” He wants to tell her it's because he loves her, but he stifles the sentiment. Padding it instead with, “You’re my best friend.”

There it is again, she looks down, “Is that all I am to you?”

“What?”

“Just your best friend?”

“Zelda-“

“Best friends don’t look at each other the way we do.”

Their eyes meet again. They look at each other that same way. That look of longing. Their hearts begin to beat in sync. Link takes a single step to her.

“Zelda I- I can’t.”

“You can't do what? You can’t look at me as more than your princess? You can’t hope for more?”

“I can’t lose you again.” He says. “If we get any closer, it will make everything hurt more.”

“So let it hurt!” She gets worked up again. “We have nothing to lose at this point!” She fights with him, she fights for him, “Why can’t you love me the way I love you?” She asks.

They stare at each other. Silent again.

The tension builds, they feel it in their muscles.

Teary, green eyes find his crystal blue ones. Chests rise and fall, fists ball and loosen.

And then, like perfect clockwork they are stepping towards each other at the same instant and they are meeting in the middle, clashing together like two planets, grabbing onto one another hungrily, desperately as they kiss.

The first kiss is gentle. It’s soft and short. It’s sweeter than fruitcake and they pull away and look into one another's eyes. Link is sure his heart is going to burst out of his chest. They get dizzy, and pull into one another again.

Link’s hands cups her face, pulling her into him as much as he can. Their lips lock and pull apart and lock again. It’s full of desire and brokenness and a starvation for the other. Their breath gets heavy, their tongues meet. It’s a clash of need and thirst.

Their limbs tangle and he pulls one hand to the back of her head and the other hand moves to her hip. She wraps her arms around his shoulders. The kiss deepens and it’s like the entire world seems to stop spinning at that moment. They pant into one another’s mouths, Zelda bites his bottom lip, he groans quietly. He starts to push her backwards into the wall, and she hits it, gasping when she does. Link is putting his weight into her and it's sweaty and they both know they should stop but can’t. Both of them have been wanting this for as long as they can remember. The stars align, the window bursts open with a gust of wind, and they both pull away with tears in their eyes.

“Link I… I.”

“I’m sorry.” He steps back, “Shit, Zelda I’m so sorry.”

“What?” She asks and when she notices he’s walking away she’s pulling him back to her, hugging him tightly, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face into the crook of his neck. “Don’t you ever apologize for that.” She whispers. He sighs. “I was wondering when you were gonna do that.”

Link chuckles. “No more secrets, okay?” He mutters as he holds her by the waist. “It’s just you and me, okay?” Their foreheads meet.

“Okay.” She says.

“The fish is burning.”