Sure, it all had started out as a childish joke, a silly game from so many years ago. She'd never given it much thought. But now...
Author’s Note: A fun twist on the "How about a kiss" line from the Legend of Zelda: CDI cutscenes ^u^ Chronologically, this comes after my other one-shot CDI fic “Found by Fate” though you can read this one by itself. (However I’d love if you checked out both!) This story doesn't require any prior CDI knowledge either. Happy reading!
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(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but never repost, thanks! <3)
>>><<<
8-year-old Princess Zelda of Hyrule held her chin in her hand, scrutinizing the checkerboard before her. She and Link had successfully smuggled it out of the castle, and now sat in their favorite spot in the middle of the castle gardens. It was a lovely spot, with an excellent view of the trickling fountain and the flower-filled courtyard. Birds twittered to each other somewhere above the children, hopping through the branches of the large oak tree that graciously offered them its shade.
Link was looking rather proud of himself, having just captured one of her pawns. However, he now failed to see the frightful position that move had put him in.
Zelda smiled innocently as she leapt her black pawn once, twice, then three times over his checkers.
"Ah!" he shouted in surprise. "Aww... how come you're so good at this game?"
"I'm a Princess of Wisdom," she batted her eyelashes.
Link snorted at the fake, frilly accent she’d put on. "Well, I guess that just means I'll have to be more smart than you!"
"Smarter," she corrected.
"Yeah! That too!"
"Oh, make a move already, Link!"
Before Link could even raise a hand, a commotion broke out by the rotunda near the fountain.
A visiting duchess was striding out of it, followed quite closely by a duke from another region. He reached out for her hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"Must you really leave so soon, my dear?" He dipped into a bow, pouting up at her, "How about a kiss, for luck?"
For a quiet moment, the garden stilled. Everything seemed sharper and more vibrant as the children looked on in anticipation. Even the roses and daffodils seemed to smell sweeter. Link and Zelda leaned forward, pointed ears perked, waiting to see what the woman would say.
She covered her mouth, her eyes wide. Then, slowly, the duchess leaned forward…
...and connected her fan to the man’s head with a resounding THWAK!
"OH! You've got to be kidding! A kiss?!? How dare—!"
The weaselly duke scrambled for his life as the fan lady gave chase, threatening to THWAK! him again.
Zelda and Link blinked. Bewildered, they turned to each other, slowly.
Their eyes locked.
THWAK!
The children erupted into uncontrollable, sputtering laughter, falling on their backs and rolling in the grass. From somewhere by the fountain, the adults chastised them, but the situation was far too funny for the children to care.
Link sat up, rolling his eyes up to the sky and sticking his nose in the air. "‘Hhhhow about a kiss, for luck?’ OooOOooo!"
Zelda wheezed. She put the back of her hand to her head, falling dramatically onto Link's shoulder. Then, in the snobbiest, fluffiest voice she could muster, she said, "YoU'vE GOT to be KIDDING!"
Their laughter came back with a vengeance, shaking them so hard that their little bellies began to hurt. Faces flushed and teary, they laid side by side together, still wheezing with silent giggles.
Forget checkers.
This was going to be a fantastic new game.
>>><<<
"C'mon, Zelda! Ganon's a pushover. I doubt he took over the entire island!"
Link, freshly 13, bounded over a table in one leap. He was buzzing with energy, his long, wavy hair practically standing on end as he stuffed his sword into its scabbard.
Zelda frowned as she watched him go.
She didn't blame Link for being so restless. They hadn't heard from Ganon in months, and it was beginning to get worrisome. Though, she had to admit, Gwonam's account did seem a little far-fetched. Seizing the island of Koridai? It was a bold move for Ganon. He'd never tried anything to this scale before, and part of the princess doubted he'd actually gone through with it.
Link shook her father's hand goodbye, stumbling as the king gave him a hearty pat on the back. Grinning from ear to ear, the boy practically flew to Zelda's side.
"Gotta go now, Zelda!"
She couldn't bring herself to smile back. Something deep in her gut told her something here was wrong. Something was different. Dangerous.
Tsk, Stupid Gwonam, saying only Link can defeat Ganon. I want to go help him!
In front of her, Link's boyish face pouted with worry. "Hey... what's wrong?"
Zelda looked into his big green eyes, hating the flecks of doubt she'd put there. She swallowed, crossing her arms. "Just... promise you'll be careful, ok?" she murmured.
"Well, I'll sure try, but..." Link's face wormed into a poorly concealed smile.
"But... what?"
"Before I go," he giggled, "…How about a kiss, for luck?"
"I—Oh!" She laughed, shoving him and rolling her eyes. "You've got to be kidding!"
How dare he catch her off guard with their joke at a time like this! Zelda couldn’t help but smile as Link slapped a hand over his goofy grin, barely able to cover his bouncy laughter. It almost made Zelda forget the tug of loneliness that was already pulling at her heart.
Gwonam shuffled over, wringing his bony hands. "Have you finished your goodbyes?"
Link nodded with vigor. "Yes sir!"
"Then climb aboard, boy, we haven't any time to lose!"
Link dropped himself onto the wizard's magic carpet, waving excitedly to Zelda. "Bye Princess! Don't worry, we'll be back before you can say Gohma's Grandma!"
She smiled at him, trying desperately to squash the building dread in her chest. "Gohma's Grandma!" she shouted back.
Link blinked. "Wait, that's not how it—"
"Squadala! We are off!"
Gwonam lifted his hands and the carpet came to life, whisking Princess Zelda's best friend higher and higher into the air. She watched them until they were nothing more than a tiny pinprick in the sky, and in a blink, they were gone.
>>><<<
They had not, in fact, been back before she could say “Gohma's Grandma.”
Ganon had been immensely more powerful than they'd once assumed. He'd terrorized the people of Koridai. He'd set his fiendish minions loose to live out their own sick desires for his entertainment. He'd even kidnapped Zelda, a trauma which she couldn't even fully remember because of all the sleeping magic he and his goons had poured into her. Not knowing what they'd done to her in all that time... Brrr. She didn’t want to think too deeply about it.
The young princess shook herself, blaming the shiver on the cool winds whipping past her face. Instead of dwelling on it, she looked over her shoulder.
Link was clinging to the flying carpet beside her, watching as Koridai gradually grew smaller and smaller behind them. He looked exhausted beyond belief. His hair was in knots. His eyes were baggy. But despite everything, a weak, relieved smile refused to leave his face.
Gwonam was in front of them, just as tired and focusing the last of his magical energy on flying the hero and princess home. Even still, he too wore a smile, for they had succeeded. Good had prevailed, and Koridai was already experiencing a fast recovery. Zelda would ask her father about sending extra supplies to the province when they finally reached the castle, but for now, it was enough to see the island birds reclaiming their sky.
"I must commend you, Link!" said the wizard. "You have shown great courage, and from hence forth it shall be written: You, Link, are the Hero of Koridai!"
Link ducked his head bashfully, his hand worming its way into his hair as he blushed and smiled. Zelda giggled. He always got mushy and shy whenever someone praised him, and it never ceased to tug at her heart.
Link met her eyes over Gwonam's shoulder, and somehow, his goofy grin got even goofier. When his eyes twinkled like fairy dust, she knew exactly what he was going to say:
"I guess that's worth a kiss, huh?"
...Was it weird that she kind of wanted to say yes?
"H-hA! You've GOT to be kidding!!!" she laughed far too quickly. Eww eww, gross, gross, gross! I never wanna think that again!
He was her best friend and he just saved her life. It was just the relief talking. Give him a big hug when they got home? Sure. Absolutely. She'd feed a dodongo barehanded before she did the other thing which shall remain unnamed.
"Hey. Hey Zelda."
She jumped as he poked her shoulder, drawing her focus back to him. He'd spoken so softly, leaning towards her and smiling as if he were about to share some big secret.
"W-what?" She asked, trying very hard to focus on his kind, impish eyes and not her embarrassing thoughts.
He made a little victory fist and circled it in the air. "We won! Whoohoo!"
Zelda snorted and quickly covered her mouth.
He was such a dork.
>>><<<
Zelda and Link stood side by side, staring down the beastly maw of Ganon.
Every bone in the princess's body ached. She'd been traipsing across Tolemac for so long she'd lost count of the days, battling monsters at every turn. Beaten and bruised, her new perception of victory was when you could get out of a fight alive.
How simple their little adventure in Koridai seemed those two short years ago.
Ganon's seize on Koridai hadn't been a fluke. It had been a warning. The dark sorcerer had escaped his prison twice, each time growing stronger, and conquering more lands. Gamelon and now Tolemac had been no match for his greed. Now he stood before them, transformed into a towering, snarling amalgamation somewhere between man and wild boar. Two enormous hands clawed at the ground. A trident hung at the ready on his back, so big it could have skewered both youths on the same rung and left room for more. Magic and raw strength oozed through him, and he laughed maniacally at the two puny children who thought they could defeat him.
Zelda couldn't stop shaking.
"Princess?"
She glanced to her left.
Link's sword hand trembled as he struggled to lift his blade. He was pale, much too pale, porcelain skin putting his dark bruises on full display. With ragged breaths, he stared at her, unable to hide the pure terror that rampaged through his eyes.
Zelda gulped thickly. He'd looked like that ever since she'd rescued him from Ganon's dungeons.
What had that monster done to her sweet, innocent friend?
Link glanced back at their gloating enemy, who seemed to be vainly waiting for the children to make the first move. The young hero glared into the eyes of his captor with a flicker of hatred—a scary expression Zelda had never seen in Link's eyes—before he closed them.
When he opened his eyes again something had changed. He still looked like a lynel had chewed him up and dragged him through the mud, but his breathing was steadier. A courage had come over him in that moment, and with a little less trembling, he turned back to his princess.
He gave her a weak smile.
"Hey. Before we beat this guy up… h-how about a kiss, for luck?"
Something leapt in Zelda's chest. Her hero had been kidnapped and imprisoned for weeks, and yet he’d somehow found the energy to tell their silly joke to lift their spirits?
The surging emotions in Zelda's heart suddenly made Ganon seem very small.
Link was smiling at her like she was the only light in the room.
Goddesses above, she really didn't deserve him.
Zelda laughed shakily, trying to drown out the sound of their snarling enemy. She was going to utterly destroy him for hurting Link like this, mark her words, but for now, she would latch onto that glimmer of hope the young hero had offered her. She slipped her muddy hand into Link’s, smiling at him and twining their fingers as they faced Ganon together.
"You've got to be kidding."
>>><<<
Princess Zelda leaned against a ground level railing just outside the castle, gazing out at the beautiful courtyard gardens but hardly seeing a thing. Her mind was elsewhere.
He hadn't said it in a while.
Why was it that the moment she decided on the perfect new comeback for their little inside joke, Link seemed to be avoiding it?
Ever since she and Link had defeated Ganon in Tolemac, Hyrule had experienced an age of prosperity. It soon became clear that after several years of peace, the dark sorcerer wasn't coming back. Which, considering he was dead, should have been obvious, but you never knew with sorcerers.
Life had gone on. Bands of monsters cropped up from time to time, but Link and the knights of Hyrule were often quick to dispel them. Much of their work now consisted of keeping peace between the citizens and exploring new lands.
And it was... nice. Things were pleasant. But lately, it seemed that Zelda had been seeing less and less of Link. The young man had thrown himself into his role as a knight with a smile on his face, always willing to help others and explore. And though there were wondrous days where Zelda, as a fellow hero, accompanied him on his adventures, her duties as a princess always came first.
Recently, that distance had become hard to bear.
She wondered for a moment if he'd forgotten their joke. Every time she'd expected him to say it, every moment she'd spotted the perfect opportunity or even given him a subtle nudge, silence or an awkward reply followed. He'd get fidgety, too, which would have been adorable if he would just get on with it and say their silly joke!
No, Zelda tapped her fingers on the marble railing, undeterred. He couldn’t have forgotten. She didn't know for certain why he was acting this way, but she did have a hunch. And if she was right...
"Hey, I found you!"
Zelda squeaked and turned around. Link was jogging up to her, decked out in his adventure gear. He blew a wavy lock out of his face and grinned down at the princess, and his hair turning golden in the glistening light of morning.
Zelda felt her face heating up as she looked up at him. He'd grown a head taller than her since Tolemac, while she'd barely gained an inch. It was entirely unfair… for a number of reasons.
Link caught sight of her lifted chin and giggled like a fairy. He backed out of her personal space so they could see each other more comfortably, and immediately, the part of Zelda's brain that made her think stupid things sent an ache through her chest. Did he really have to step away so soon?
Her blush deepened.
Shut up shut up shut up get a grip, Princess!
Link—completely oblivious—was now tugging at the back of his hair. "So... um... the knights are going on a cave quest today in Koridai! Said they were gonna check it for rogue monsters and wanted someone who knew the map to lead them in, and... guuuuuuess who got picked?"
Zelda's heart sunk. Today? He was leaving today? But they'd planned today. They were going to catch up and have lunch and...
She sighed, knowing full well how priorities functioned in castle life. "I'm guessing they didn’t pick Impa, huh?" she joked, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
Link snorted before he could stop himself. In an instant, he'd slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes wide and apologetic. "Sorry!"
Zelda smiled genuinely. "It's ok, Link."
"No, no, but I made a promise to you! And... well, golly, I really tried my hardest to tell the captain. But he—"
"Link," she took his fingers in her hands. "These things just happen. It's really ok."
"Not when they happen all the time..." Link muttered under his breath, pouting. "S'not fair..."
Zelda squeezed his fingers gently, fighting the urge to tap his nose. "Hey. Look at me."
He turned his sad eyes to hers, and for a moment, everything she'd just been thinking vanished. The princess felt herself getting lost in the forest green of her hero's gaze, his emotions sweeping over her like a fog. Distantly she felt the brush of his thumbs on her hands. They were quite close again...
Zelda blinked, tearing herself out of her daydreams. She looked away from his face in a hurry, but something in her refused to let his warm hands go.
"It's ok, Link. Honest," she said. "The sword on your belt should have clued me in sooner to what was going on. Yeah, I hate that you have to leave today, of all days, but there'll be others."
She moved one hand to fiddle with the golden skeleton key he wore around his neck—a mark of his stalwart survival of Ganon’s dungeons—and tugged at it gently. She looked up at him with a wink. "Takes a lot to keep us apart for too long. You should know that by now, Hero of Koridai."
Zelda didn’t miss the slight blush that grew on his face. He covered her hand with his over the key, eyes darting everywhere else, and squeezed her fingers gently. "I'm still sorry I couldn't spend the day with you," he murmured.
"...Would a big hug make up for it?" Zelda asked.
Link immediately brightened, throwing his arms wide, and she dove into them. His long arms wrapped around her, drawing her into a blanket of warmth and comfort. Zelda sighed as she snuggled against his chest, earning a quiet hmm from Link, and he dipped his head to rest on hers. She giggled, her heart squeezing as tightly as he squeezed her. He really was the best at hugs.
The pair held each other for several moments. They fell into a quiet sway, completely content in the other's presence and the glittering songs of distant birds.
"Zelda..." Link murmured to her, barely audible.
She hummed lazily in response.
"...I lov—"
As soon as he'd uttered those syllables, his spine went ridged. "Um!!!"
Zelda's heart flipped. Had he almost said...?
"I-I um, I-Io..." he coughed. "I'll-u-uh—miss you so much! W-when I'm gone!" Link spoke entirely too quickly, pulling his head off hers. She could feel his heart running a marathon.
No. No, he would miss her, certainly, but that's not what he was going to tell her. She was sure of it.
"Link—"
His hands flew to her shoulders as he awkwardly stepped away. "I... I should probably get going, now!"
"...Oh," said Zelda. She couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice.
She saw regret spiral through his eyes, and for a second, it looked like he might say something else. Instead, he reluctantly let his hands slip away.
Zelda bit her tongue, in frustration or loneliness, she couldn't quite tell. There goes the moment.
"Link..." she spoke softly, not trusting her voice to stay steady, "I... I hope you have a safe trip." She glanced once more at him. "I'll really miss you, too."
His eyes widened. He lingered in her space, staring into her, one foot planted and the other turned to leave. A war was waging within his mind.
Link glanced behind him in the direction of the barracks. His feet shifted.
Zelda felt her hopes falling like leaves around her as her hero started walking away.
Then he stopped.
He stared at the barracks only a second more, a decision almost made, when suddenly he turned back to Zelda. In three steps he was in front of her again, a big, goofy smile smeared across his face.
"Hey Princess?"
Her breath caught. That was a very specific goofy smile. The kind that he only put on when he was about to—
"B-before I go... How about a kiss, for—"
Zelda didn't let him finish. Instead, she flew to her tip-toes, lips brushing messily against his cheek.
Link let in a shuddering gasp. "G-golly...!"
She giggled, red tinting her cheeks as she hid her face in his shoulder. "Good luck, Link."
He swayed as if someone had struck him. Through his tunic, she could feel his heart doing flip-flops. His arms wrapped around her slowly, clinging to her like a lifeline. "Zelda... y-y-you mean... you really..."
She snuck a peek at his face. "I love you too, Link."
Link's face was tomato red. He stared just over her head like a startled deer, ridged and silent for so long that Zelda feared she'd broken him.
A bead of doubt trickled down her spine. He had been about to say "I love you," a few minutes ago, hadn't he? All his awkwardness in their usually comfortable friendship, all the stammers, the blushes... she hadn't imagined it all, surely?
Her own heart began to hammer. Oh my gosh I just kissed him. I just kissed my best friend. I actually did it, not just thinking about doing it for our joke I actually did it oh my goodness I kissed him did I just ruin everything?
Suddenly, Link's eyes fell back on hers, and she froze. Her hands shook against his chest.
"L-Link, I—"
She jumped as the silliest giggle she'd ever heard bubbled out of his mouth.
"Aw gee... oh wow, oh golly oh wow..." Link swooned, eyes fixed somewhere in the distance. "I just got kissed by a girl!!!"
He backed up and spun, fumbling around with all the grace of a newborn foal. "Oh boy, oh WOW!!!”
He ran back to her wearing the stupidest grin she'd ever seen. "I love you too, Zelda!" A laugh tumbled from her lips as Link grabbed her hands and spun around with her, his eyes overfilling with joy. "I love you, I love you, I'll love you for a million years!" he shouted.
Relief bloomed in Zelda’s chest like a spring garden, spreading out to her fingers and toes like the warmest of roses and daffodils. He loves me back. He loves me back!
Link stumbled to a stop, drawing her to him with an utterly desperate expression.
"I-I'm sorry I chickened!" he said, looking like a kicked puppy. "Earlier, I mean. It's just, you're my best friend and you have been forever, and I was so scared of ruining everything and—"
"Link?"
"Yeah?"
"Breathe."
"Ok."
She let in a shaky breath and reached up to his face, wiping away a happy tear with her thumb. He choked on a laugh and nuzzled into her palm.
"I love you," he mumbled again. He kissed her hand shyly.
Warmth flushed through Zelda's body, and she squeezed her eyes shut. "Love you too..." she whispered back. She was grinning so widely it hurt.
"Um, Zelda?"
"Yes?"
He was gazing down at her with the softest of eyes, taking in every detail of her face with a deep sort of longing. Zelda's heart felt light. They were leaning closer.
With a voice thick with adoration, Link asked, "Do you think… M-may I kiss you? F-for luck, of course."
Zelda laughed breathlessly. She was soaring. Surely, this wasn't real! Any moment it seemed she would wake and the butterflies in her chest would all fly away. Yet with one look into his deep forest eyes, she knew he wasn't kidding anymore.
With a grin splitting her face, she gave him a tiny nod.
Slowly, shyly, Link brought his head down. Zelda stretched up to meet him, eyes slipping shut...
Until their noses bonked together.
"Oop!" she laughed.
"Sorry," Link murmured. "Try again..."
And he kissed her.
Zelda felt weightlessness and warmth wash over her entire body. Everything that had been so fuzzy before was now crystal clear, and even the air in her lungs seemed sharper. She laughed against his lips. Her dearest friend held her tighter.
Joy cascaded from his smile like a sunbeam, spilling onto hers with every touch. Every stroke through her fine hair, every nuzzle on her cheek felt like a final puzzle piece clicking into place… like everything would be ok.
And maybe it had been all along. She wouldn't trade her bond with him for a million rupees. Every fight with Ganon, every night spent wide awake with worry... she'd do it all over again, every line, if it meant that she and Link would still end up here, together.
And sure. It all had started out as a childish joke, a silly game from so many years ago. She'd never given it much thought. But now...
Link pulled away from her, hovering a few inches above her face. He held her like she was the most delicate, valuable feather in the entire world, and when Zelda looked into his eyes, so bright and filled with love...
...she knew she was the luckiest girl alive.
>>><<<
End of fic!
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Author's note: Hope you liked it! Feel free to drop a comment if you did or have questions ^u^
Extra Note: I am a children’s book/family friendly author, so please keep all comments Safe For Work (no swearing please!) I want to do my best to make this a place for everyone. Cheers!
(💚Please comment and like directly from the og post in case Tumblr does weird things again! Tumblr reblogs are ok but never repost, thanks! <3)
i love this video because it breaks up my stims to a point where it's just me saying a ton of nothing in between all the stuff i normally say
so im just going I I I I I in between all the harkinian impressions i use for everything.
whoever made this is a genie
