Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!
Zelda was waiting in front of Link's door. "There you are!" she said with a bright smile. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About what, Zelda?" Link asked.
"About...well, that question you asked me earlier," Zelda answered, her smile fading.
"Which one would that be?" Link questioned. He had asked her a lot of questions. Most of them were rather unimportant.
"About what fake you did while I was in the torture room," Zelda explained.
"I see," Link said with a nod. He opened his door, gesturing for Zelda to come inside. "Perhaps we could have this conversation someplace besides the hallway?"
"I think that would be acceptable," Zelda laughed. She came to sit on the end of Link's bed. Link sat beside her.
"What did I do that made you so terribly upset?" Link questioned.
Zelda's smile was gone now. She stared at her lap. She laughed halfheartedly. "Well, if we're being totally honest, you did a lot of things. You were very prominent during my torture."
"I...I was?" Link questioned. During his time, only people who were very important to him had shown up over and over again. Mostly the princess had. But that was a long time ago. Link had almost no doubt that if he ever went in there again, this Zelda would become his most common visitor. But if he was hers...that meant she cared about him. A lot.
"Yes, you did," Zelda replied. "You stabbed me. And burnt me. And shot me. And electrocuted me."
"I'm so sorry," Link breathed. He clutched Zelda's hand. "You know I would never…"
"I do know that," Zelda sighed. "I know you'd never hurt me. Or anyone."
"But I'm certain those things aren't what caused you such severe trauma," Link guessed.
"No…" Zelda agreed. "That's not it." She looked up, staring into Link's eyes. "You know what it's like in there. One scenario after another. All of them feel so real. No matter how many times you tell yourself it's fake, you always end up having your trust betrayed again and again and again. I never truly believed it wasn't real until whoever it was hurt me. But the last one...was the worst.
You and I. Sitting here. In your room. Talking like this. You were telling me more about Hyrule. I was listening to you, telling myself that I needed to get up. To leave. That you were just going to betray me again. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't make myself believe it wasn't real. So, I sat and listened.
In all honesty, I have no idea how I was fooled. Whatever was talking to me, it wasn't you. It didn't sound like you. For goodness sake, you talking and me listening isn't you! But it was so nice. After all the pain I'd been through, just having a conversation was something I needed. The world wasn't about to end. My people weren't about to kick me off my throne. My version of Link wasn't about to kill me.
It was just you telling me about the beautiful, rolling hills and glorious blue lakes of your Hyrule. And all I wanted was to go there with you. To see this wonderful place you called home."
"You wanted to go there? With me?" Link breathed.
"More than anything," Zelda sighed. "Then you asked me a question." She faltered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"It wasn't real, Zelda," Link soothed, squeezing her hand gently.
She leaned her head back onto his chest. Link stiffened. Then he relaxed, and wrapped his free arm around her, holding the princess gently. Holding his princess gently.
"You...you asked me if I loved you," Zelda whispered.
"W-what...what did you say?" Link stammered.
"I said…" Zelda shuddered. "I said yes. I said I did love you."
"...I don't understand," Link said. "Why...why is that so bad?"
"Because you said you didn't," Zelda replied, a single tear falling from her eye. "You pulled away, looking disgusted. You said you didn't love me. Then you got up and walked away. And that...that hurt more than everything else that had happened in there."
"Well...would you like to try that conversation again?" Link asked her.
"What do you mean?" Zelda asked. "I'm afraid I don't understand."
Link smiled. A real smile, not just a small, half smile. "Do you love me, Zelda?"
Zelda's breath hitched. She started crying. "I...I do, Link. I love you."
"And I love you too," Link whispered back.
Zelda laughed through her tears. She wrapped her arms tightly around Link, holding on tightly. She leaned in towards him, relishing the feeling of his soft breath on her neck.
Link leaned forwards as well, their lips touching. They held onto each other, pressing their lips together. Link allowed Zelda's warmth to flow through him, allowing the walls around his heart to finally fall away. Zelda hugged Link, seeing his face clearly for the first time. Without his expressionless facade. Just him. And he was so, so wonderful like that. Zelda never wanted him to put his facade up again.
Then the moment ended, and Link pulled away, but he didn't let go. His face clouded over again, masking his expression. But Zelda could tell he was happy.
"For a guy who never smiles, you're not bad at kissing," Zelda breathed.
"I believe that to be a compliment," Link replied.
Zelda smiled. "It definitely is."
"...Link?" someone whispered. "What's going on in here?"
Link and Zelda quickly extricated themselves from each other. "Come in," Link called.
Queen Zelda pushed open the door. She saw Link, and smiled. Then, she saw Zelda. Holding Link's hand. Her smile faded.
Link bowed. "My queen. Do you need me?"
"No, I…" Queen Zelda trailed off. She cleared her throat. "I just… wanted to make sure you got to bed. I didn't hear you come upstairs."
"I appreciate your concern, my queen," Link replied. "But as you can see, I have made it to bed."
Queen Zelda nodded. "Yes. You have. Well, goodnight, I suppose."
"Goodnight, my queen," Link answered.
The queen faked a smile and left her knight's room. No one noticed the single tear that fell from her eye. No one was there to notice her pain. The pain that was worse than being shot by a thousand guardians. Because nothing hurts more than a broken heart. She crawled into her bed and silently cried herself to sleep.
Author's Note: My first attempt ever at writing romance! Hope it's not too awkward…