Din stood on the shores of the beach, watching Link and Zelda as they strolled along, feet bare and digging into the sand as they laughed in the setting sun. Farore breathed some wind onto them, enough so their hair wildly went into their eyes. And Nayru greedily lapped up every laugh between them as they worked to move the hair from the other's face.

"They are together, like they should always be. Doesn't it make your heart soar?" Nayru asked, addressing Din, though she never made a move to turn.

"You stole them from me, so no. I would rather have studied them in the Sacred Realm for longer."

"Don't be a brat. They're perfect. Take your curse away. Please."

For a moment, Din actually considered it. She was the Goddess of Death, but that didn't mean she longed for all life to end. It was simply unavoidable. And when they found those souls who tugged at the other, it was always something interesting to watch play out.

But Din could hold a grudge, and Nayru had stolen what was rightfully hers.

And nearly two human decades later, Din still couldn't find it in her to forgive.

"No. The girl will die when it pleases me."

"Then let it 'please you' after they've lived a full, happy life."

"That's my decision. Not yours."

They looked back, and days had passed again. They watched silently from the edge of reality, enjoying the music that the villagers played while others danced around a large bonfire on the beach. And they watched Link beckon Zelda closer, heedless of the eyes on them.

He'd gotten used to the stares, and the accusations from others. He'd tuned out the warnings that she'd have to leave him and return home some day soon. But he and Zelda had gotten close, something beyond a mere physical attraction. He knew her family pets, and she knew where his grandparents' graves were. She'd cried on his shoulder after a particularly bad nightmare, and he'd shared his own fears to remind her that she wasn't alone. She'd asked if they might have a future together in some way, and he'd agreed.

And he was no longer afraid of making a fool of himself around her.

He shimmied closer to her, giving her arm a light tug while his eyes glistened, inviting her in.

She smiled. If it was just Link, she wouldn't have minded. "Your dances and mine are very different! I'd embarrass myself."

Zelda looked around. Everyone was free, unhindered by judgement or 'proper etiquette.' There were no straight backs and arms, no stiff necks and stuffy moves and music counts. They danced as they pleased, and very few of them looked like they were doing even remotely close to the same dance.

But Link knew that Zelda longed to try. The wistful look in her eyes said as much. So he held out his hand for her. "Embarrass yourself with me, then."

She took a deep breath and then his hand.

He led her to the fire and started to dance.

Like everyone else, he was loose and unashamed as he practically skipped around, moving to the steady drumbeat.

Zelda bobbed her head, and Link grabbed her arms, pulling them away from her body. "Come on, I know you can do it. I saw you hula-hoop with Aryll the other day. I know you know how to move your hips."

The words were out before he could stop himself, and he was grateful for the darkness as his skin burned. He could see her mouth drop open. "Link! Were you watching me?"

He'd already dug his hole; why not make it deeper?

"Yes," he said with a nervous chuckle as he tentatively placed his hands on her hips, urging her to move with the music.

If it had been anyone else, not only would she have pushed them away, but she'd have been offended at their attempts to guide her hips the way they wanted her to move. But with Link, it wasn't like that. It wasn't a power play, like she'd been subject to by the nobles at home. It was him wanting to be close to her, as close as their situation allowed.

They were still in public though, and Zelda could feel that. Link, it seemed, didn't. Such was their different ways of life.

"Did you make him so embarrassing?" Din asked to Nayru as they watched on, unseen by the mortals.

Nayru grinned. "I am the Goddess of Life, and he has my blessing. Life is more than just being alive, and he knows that. He's unafraid to live. The poor girl can probably subconsciously feel your hand on her at all times, threatening to rip it all away. It's why she's so cautious."

"Stop trying to get me to change my mind, sister. The more you ask, the more resolved I am to leave my mark on her."

"Help the poor girl, at least. I cannot touch her. She's dying inside. Ease that death a bit."

Din let out a childish groan, but she wasn't complaining, per se. She didn't like being told what to do, though the idea itself was appealing. Watching their favorite mortals and having a hand in their actions was thrilling.

She walked over to where Zelda was stiffly dancing with Link and prodded her in the back. Zelda jerked forward into Link before she found herself moving unhindered by embarrassment.

Link grinned, moving with her.

Din crossed her arms and whispered into Zelda's ear, looking to have a little fun. Playing with the humans was one of her favorite pastimes.

And as soon as she stepped back, Zelda reached behind Link, tugging him closer to her as she ran her hands through his hair, pulling the elastic that kept most of it tied back until it had all fallen around his shoulders. She looped it around her wrist so Link couldn't easily fix it, and her hands were back in his hair, marveling at how soft it could be, even without the care that most nobles put into their hair.

"Din," Nayru scolded, but it wasn't without a laugh. "You shouldn't interfere that much."

"You want to as well. I can tell. I can always tell. Besides, I just told her to have some fun with him."

Nayru made a face, but walked over to Link. "Find some privacy," she whispered.

Din laughed and clapped for her sister as they watched Link gently lead Zelda away from the rest of the villagers.

Farore rolled her eyes, letting her hand run through the waves. "This is why I like nature better. You don't need me to play matchmaker for you, do you?"

The water didn't answer, but she laughed as it lapped at her hands.

Din and Nayru didn't care for the ocean. Their business was people. So they followed Link and Zelda as they headed up the hills, past the pasture, and moved against the cliffside where they could see the bonfire on the beach, and still hear the music, but no one would find them in the darkness.

But to everyone's surprise, except perhaps Din, Zelda wasted no time pushing Link against the cliff and kissing him.

For one with a stiff upbringing as hers had been, her own intensity caught her off guard. And while she certainly had been hoping, she'd been just as surprised by how eagerly Link responded to her kiss. It was tongues and teeth and sloppy and desperate, as though it had been hundreds of years since their last kiss, and they longed to be with one another once more.

Link was grateful that they'd escaped from the prying eyes and ears of their fellow villagers. Zelda's hands played with his long ears, and he felt an embarrassing sound escape from deep in his throat. And his lips moved to her neck, unwilling to break apart from her for a second. He could feel her gasp as he let his teeth graze her skin, no pressure, but her nerves reacted all the same. Zelda fisted his hair and gave it a light tug, bringing that same sound out from him.

"Did you tell her to do all that?" Nayru asked.

But Din shook her head, impressed. "Not this time."

Link held Zelda tightly as he lowered them both into the grass. Zelda finally started to giggle as Link rolled beside her.

"Not too bad, Link."

He snorted. "Is that the best compliment you can give a poor guy?"

"I didn't realize I needed to stroke your ego."

Link turned his head to face her, studying her fine features in the moonlight and the backlit glow of the fire. She felt the pressure of his gaze and turned to him as well. And for the longest time, neither needed to speak a word.

But Link couldn't help himself. "Zelda?"

"Hrmm?"

"I think I'm falling in love with you."

She had to blink a few times before she could settle her gaze. "What?"

"I don't want you to go."

"Link…"

Nayru crossed her arms and gave Din a triumphant look. "Subconsciously, he knows she's got your mark of death. He's wasting no time."

"He doesn't know. Stop trying to sound superior."

Link propped himself on his arm to get a better look at her. "Zelda, do you feel it too?"

"Yes," she said quickly, so he wouldn't doubt her hesitation as a lack of reciprocation. Because despite herself, she was falling in love with him too. "But you know I have to return home. I have to help my father. He needs me. Before I was taken, he said he had something he needed me to do for him. I have to go home someday soon, if only to ease his worry."

Link brushed his hand across her forehead. "I just don't want to lose you."

"And I don't want to leave you. I've told you before, my home is… different from here. Here, everyone is free to do whatever they wish. You wouldn't be allowed there, not the same way you've all welcomed me here."

"I'll come as your servant, if that's what it takes."

"Link, you're far more to me than a servant." She brought her head up, and he met her halfway, letting her lips explain the rest of her sentence. She pulled him to her, and his fingers brushed along the skin of her stomach where her shirt had ridden up. Her hands trailed down his neck, stopping over the rope necklace he wore.

She pulled away slightly. "Will you tell me the shark story?"

"No," he laughed. "I like to keep you guessing."

"Not even for the woman you love?"

Link smirked and sat back, biting his lip. "Not even then. I have a reputation to keep, and I'm not telling that story for that reason."

"Did you scream in terror as it swam towards you?"

"Don't look so excited at the thought," Link jested, running his hand higher up her side.

Zelda laughed, but she laid her head back in the grass soon after. "We'll think of something, okay, Link? For now, just stare at the stars with me."

"I can do that," he breathed, stunned to see her move closer and curl up against him, getting comfortable by his side, despite his confession.

Din knelt over them, her hand hovering just over Zelda. She could do it. She could lift the curse she'd placed on the girl. She could give them a happily ever after. Even she enjoyed a happy ending. Death would find everyone in time, and she was eternal. She could wait.

"Please, Din, do it."

And at the sound of Nayru's voice, Din shook her head and stood back up. "Your incessant nagging just cost that girl her life. I was going to do it. Now I won't. I have others to attend to, as I expect you do as well. Do your job, sister, and I'll do mine."

Nayru disappeared in a huff, but Din stayed behind, looking at the soul-bound pair.

How she longed to take pity on them. She wanted to see if the world would spin the wrong way just to keep them together. And only she had the power to break them apart. That kind of raw strength was intoxicating, and Din reveled in it.

But most of all, she still longed to see her sister pay for stealing her two light souls. And that was something she could put above all else.

Din closed her eyes and took a step, finding herself wandering through a forest when she opened them again, rather than the hidden hillside of the village. She'd appeared near a familiar man, someone she couldn't place, but knew. And it took her a moment to realize who she'd appeared next to.

The Yiga who'd tried to kill Zelda. The one who would have succeeded if Link hadn't been there.

Before she could move, she asked herself once more: was it worth it? Did she want to watch the lives of her precious souls unfold the way they were meant to, or did she want to punish her sister.

"The girl," Din whispered, leaning into the man with her mind made up. "The girl you were after, she's in the village still. Lurelin. She's there. It's time to call in what's mine. Do what you'd intended to do. Finish your job at any cost."


A/N: dun DuN DUNNNN! Hope you liked the fluff while it lasted MUHAHAHA!

Reviews: Queen Emily: THEY DID! And I'm glad you can see the heart because I still just see a 3 lol! Guest (who I'm going to pretty much assume is zViridian...): HAHHAHA Yeah! Din just wants to ruin the party out of spite. No real monsters or anything going to show up here. It's really my practice attempt at keeping a fic short, so no epic swordfights and month-long overarching plot hahahah! I have nearly 100 AoC at this point. I just have Koroks and one more side quest so I'm finally close to going back to writing more often!