The hours between sunset and sunrise hold a magic all their own. When the world is quiet and the harshness of the sun is tucked away, your mind is allowed to focus on more serene locations and memories. Of moments stolen away with the one that you love. Jokes and laughter shared with your partner on the golden, grassy hills of the Sky Islands. Dodging projectiles, courtesy of the Octoroks, when you got too close to the edge of the Rutala River on your way to Mount Lanayru.
But your favorite adventure is always the next one, when you're given the chance to explore a new region. When Link's face is lighting up as he eagerly explains what he loves about the destination he's taken you to. About the journeys to reach said locations. Sometimes he uses the teleportation runes that make travel immediate. But when possible, you both enjoy traveling by horseback or simply venturing out wherever your feet will take you.
You never go anywhere without a sketchbook and pencil. Inspiration can be found in a myriad of places. It's not convenient to haul a full paint set across Hyrule, but with a sketch base you can go back and refine the artwork to become whatever you wish.
You've taken a room in Hyrule Castle at Link's urging. You've been given a role as an artist to aid in decorating. Pikango has his hands more than full with the requests of the Princess. Given your proclivity to soft, welcoming colors, Link recommended your artwork, and Princess Zelda was quick to agree. After all, there were many rooms in the castle that would benefit from the stylistic difference between you and the older Sheikah.
The torches in the wall sconces for your room are still burning bright long past midnight. You have a couple of oil lamps on the bedside tables that offer enough light for you to work with, at least for the time being. Reflections of the flames dance off the stones of the walls, bringing warmth to the otherwise cool interior.
You sit cross-legged on the bed dressed in loose, comfortable gray pants and a teal sleeveless top, and you are surrounded by a selection of sketches. Each one highlights a different region of Hyrule that you've explored with Link in recent days - any time the Princess allowed him a day off. Kara Kara Bazaar, the Spring of Courage, Zora Domain, Tanagar Canyon, Palmorae Beach, and the North Lomei Labyrinth. Not to mention the Sky Islands. There is no shortage of locations to choose from tonight.
You tap the end of your pencil against your chin as you contemplate your options. All of them will be turned from sketch to painting sooner or later. You simply have to make a decision. You find yourself picking up the sketch of Kara Kara Bazaar. A smile comes to your face. What a pleasurable venture that turned out to be!
Your mind drifts back. It was only a couple weeks past when Link had the brilliant idea of taking you to the desert. You're not overly fond of the heat, but the promise of a new outfit that would help keep you cool sweetened the offer. And who could forget the hints about a legendary drink called a "Noble Pursuit"? Trying something new would always trump temporary discomforts.
The day had been positively relaxing, and entirely unexpected. You both were greeted at the oasis with hydromelon juice while you rested under one of the palm trees to cool down from the oppressive heat. Then came Vilia. You took a liking to them immediately. And why wouldn't you? The tall, elegant figure dressed in pink was positively delightful. They were a fun conversationalist with an impressive sense of fashion - and an even better sense of humor!
When they heard of Link's intention to take you into the town, they provided both of you with traditional Gerudo outfits. While you were initially uncomfortable with the idea of wearing something that would have you presenting as a woman, their encouragement as well as Link's gave you the courage you needed to try it on. The lightweight clothing was flattering and covered all you were most self-conscious of without being overly feminine, thus fulfilling its purpose. And the fact that your partner was willing to stand beside you in similar attire sealed the deal. You would do almost anything as long as you were doing it with him.
After declaring you and Link both beautiful beyond comparison (which you still blush about when you recall the conversation), you accompanied Vilia into The Noble Canteen, the most popular bar in Gerudo Town. And for good reason! Furosa was a gracious hostess, serving drinks and snacks in a fun and timely manner.
The afternoon and majority of the evening were spent laughing and chatting with the ladies of the canteen. You had the opportunity to try a Noble Pursuit, or three. Suffice to say, you like them enough that Link promised to make them for you whenever he's able to obtain the ingredients.
Finished reminiscing, with a smile you can't shake even if you wanted to, you gather the other sketches into a stack and slip off the bed. Your desk across the room has all of your art supplies, and ample space to set up should you choose to work there. But tonight, you aren't feeling like enduring the discomfort of hunching over the wooden surface with your paints. So you gather a canvas, brushes, and the small cup of paint water that you keep at the ready. You hesitate for a moment before selecting the warmer of the color palettes you use. It's only fitting that you use it for the desert scene you sketched.
You hum softly as you settle back on the bed and spread out your materials next to you. The cup of water is set on the nightstand, and you grab a pencil to sketch on the canvas before you begin to paint.
You finish about half of the sketch when you hear a faint knock at the door. A glance at the window shows the darkness remaining from the wee hours of the morning. You know of very few people who would be awake at this time, and even fewer who would want to see you. Curious, you set down your canvas and walk to the door.
Much to your surprise, when you open the door, you find Link standing there. He's barefoot, wearing loose black sleep pants and nothing else. His blond hair is loose and disheveled. The blue eyes that meet yours are sunken behind dark circles. He manages a smile but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"I had hoped you would still be awake. May I join you for a few minutes?" he hesitantly asks.
"Of course," you immediately agree, opening the door wider for him to come in and join you.
He runs a hand over his face while he waits for you to close and lock the door behind him. "Forgive me for interrupting, but I didn't want to be alone for a bit. It's embarrassing to admit, but I had quite a nightmare that I'm struggling to shake. Your company is always soothing, and you have a way of helping me forget my troubles for a time."
A faint blush crosses your face. "I'm glad to help," you assure him. You move to gather your painting supplies off the bed, but he stops you, resting a hand on your wrist.
"Don't stop on my account. I'll just sit and watch you work while we talk, if you don't mind."
With a slight nod, you wait for him to sit against the headboard before you join him in your usual spot. The bed creaks when he shifts restlessly before leaning back and crossing his legs outstretched in front of him.
You sit in silence for a couple minutes while you continue sketching on the canvas. You can feel his eyes on you, but it doesn't bother you. You're accustomed to him watching you work. But when you lean back to check the sketch on the canvas versus the sketch from your notepad, you can't help but ask the question in your mind. "Do you wanna talk about the nightmare you had?"
There's a long pause before you hear a sigh from him. "I suppose I should get it off my chest. Maybe that'll help me let it go and feel better."
"I find it better to talk through the things that shake me. Bottling it up just leads to more problems down the road."
"That is true." Another pause where the only sounds that can be heard are faint breathing and the scratch of your pencil against the canvas. "Well, it started out the way a lot of my dreams do. Adventuring through the wilds, newly reawakened from the Shrine of Resurrection. Running around in my underwear with nothing but a rusty sword I found and a pot lid shield to slay monsters. Those were the days."
You chuckle under your breath. While you didn't know him during that stage of his life, it offers no end of amusement to envision him doing precisely that. To your knowledge, nothing would convince him to return to that now, save for a dare. But even then, you won't be the one to urge him to do it.
He gives you a look that tells you that he's both noticed your amusement and guessed its source, but he doesn't address it before he continues. "Well, this one took an unusual turn. I came here to the castle, to fight Calamity Ganon and free Princess Zelda. All that is as it should be, and how it went. But that's when things took a turn. When I had vanquished him in the primary form, he took on a different appearance entirely. A more human look to him. And it wasn't a monster at all."
A sinking feeling fills your stomach. You think you know where this is going. "Was it someone you knew?"
Link's silence speaks volumes.
You take it all in for a few moments while you lay down the flat colors over Vilia's outline. "Your nightmare was being forced to fight against me when I was possessed with pure evil, wasn't it?"
"... I'm afraid so. I confess that I needed to see you. To reassure myself that everything was as it should be. That we're okay." His hands were nervously balled on his lap. "It's foolishness, I know. I'm the damned Hero of Hyrule! I'm not supposed to be nervous over things like nightmares. But it was more realistic than many of my dreams, and..."
Your hand moves automatically to the palette for more paint, but you pause at his words. This wasn't the right time to continue on your artwork. Not when he was here, looking for reassurance. So you gather your materials and set them aside where they won't be in the way.
Link's eyes are on you as you clear off the bed, though he doesn't say anything more. He shifts out of the way when you lean past him to grab the water jar off the windowsill. He's patiently waiting for you to be finished so you can continue the dialogue with him.
Once everything is set aside, you crawl back to sit beside him and rest your head on his shoulder. "What were they like? The vilified version of me?"
"You were engulfed in malice, like the blighted creatures that I fought on each of the Divine Beasts. You had an oversized paint brush in one hand, and a palette the size of your forearm in the other. You'd paint an outline of something and it would come to life. The attacks were relentless. But the worst part…" Link trailed off, clearly hesitant to say more.
You lay your hand on your thigh and look at him with gentleness to reassure him. "Go on. I can handle it," you tell him.
"You kept taunting me, daring me to come close for an embrace, or a kiss. And the minute I got close enough to try and counter the attacks you sent aside from blocking them? The malice would lash out at me, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt that the partner I cared about was consumed by this evil." Link sighed. "I had to fight, no matter what. And somehow, I had to prove that I was willing to do whatever it took to try and save you."
"Were you able to?"
He hesitated. "Depends on what you mean by 'saved', I suppose. In a manner of speaking. You were engulfed in malice. The Master Sword's light managed to cleanse it after a bit of a fight. But you were knocked out, and when you came to, you had no memory of me." The sentence he added below his breath breaks your heart even further.
"Or us."
You can't help yourself. He needs your reassurance, so you immediately pull him into a tight hug. "It was only a dream," you whisper into his neck. "A nightmare, to be sure. But it wasn't real. And I hope to Hylia that it never is."
You feel him swallow hard against you before he nods. "I don't wanna lose one of the best things I've found since my hundred year sleep."
You can't help but blush. No matter how many times he says it, you still get a bit flustered when he refers to you in that way. But you whisper a soft word of thanks before leaning up to claim a gentle kiss.
His arms are strong, his lips warm against yours. You can feel the tension in his body ease the longer you remain in his embrace. It's your tongue that brushes against his lips, gently coaxing him to allow you to deepen the caress. He obliges, and you hum in quiet contentment at the tenderness of the kiss even as it stirs stronger feelings of desire.
Link is panting softly when you reluctantly are forced to pause for breath. Vulnerability remains in his blue eyes, a sight for you alone. "Please… may I stay?" he asks in a low voice. "I don't want to wake up alone in my bed and be afraid for you."
There's no hesitation in your response. You nod and kiss him again, offering further proof of your quiet love for this courageous, incredible young man. "I'll be with you when you sleep, and when you wake up. Nobody should have to suffer nightmares alone."
"You say that, yet I've witnessed firsthand the dark circles under your eyes after a restless night," Link counters with a loving shake of his head. He settles back against the headboard while you adjust the blankets over his knees. "You don't confide in me very often. I hope you will do more in the future."
Your hand pauses on his thigh while you admit what you rarely would, even to yourself. "I don't want to worry you. Or anyone."
"But in doing so, you bear the weight of it alone. And you don't deserve that. It's why you have me now, to give you someone to lean on. It's what partners do. It's what anyone does when they love another. They support each other, no matter how great or small the cause for concern." Link's hand cups your cheek. "Let's do it for each other."
You press your forehead against his and nod slowly. "For you."
He lets out a soft sound and claims another kiss, delicately cradling your face. You find yourself leaning into the caress. He lacks skills in very few things, and kissing is not one of them. You greatly enjoy all the times you've been in his arms. And automatically, you feel your body moving on its own to press against him, quite forgetting where you'd left your hand - until it brushes the growing ridge in his pajama pants.
Link gasps and recoils slightly, his eyes searching yours. "D-did you mean to…?"
You shake your head, cheeks flushing. But your hand remains where it is. "I didn't mean to," you admit. "But I can help you fall asleep if you'd like."
"What about you?" he protests. "I can't do that without offering something in return."
"Your company is more than enough for the night. You can take me on another adventure soon as thanks."
He relents when your hand slides back over his clothed erection. He bites his lower lip to hold back any sound that might slip out. His eyes close when you gently massage his length through the fabric. You take advantage of his distraction and lean in to kiss him while you continue your slow ministrations.
Blue eyes flutter open to meet yours when you withdraw your mouth to focus on what's in hand. You reach down and undo the fly on his pants to lift him free for your touch. He's long and thick, swollen with proof of his desire for you. You can feel his body tense under your keen gaze but he relaxes again when you begin to stroke his length.
Your hand wraps around him in a firm yet gentle grasp. Slow movements. Up and down, from tip to root and back again. The only sound in the room was his faint panting and the occasional moan when you shift your grip or adjust your pace.
Your eyes drift from his length up to his face. The blissful expression on Link's face, particularly with his parted lips as he lets out a pleasured groan send a thrill down your spine. You can't deny that you're feeling aroused as well, but the sensation is secondary. Your focus is on Link. Reciprocation can wait until another time.
His hand rests on the back of yours in a comforting touch. Silent reassurance that you're doing well, even as he guides your ministrations to a faster pace. You can sense his pleasure is approaching its climax, yet it's your hand wrapped around his length rather than his own that draws him closer with each passing moment.
Link's breathing is rapid and erratic, his eyes closing tightly when he's overcome. "Oh, Dae!" He moans, biting his lower lip hard. His head tilts back and he gasps as his release washes over him, coating your hand and his stomach with the evidence of his arousal and desire for you.
Your own breath is ragged as you watch his chest heaving and feel the warmth of his fluids on your hand. There's something beautiful - and that is truly the only word for it - in seeing your partner flushed and relaxed after taking his pleasure. Your hand continues to stroke lightly until you're certain that you've drawn the last of his release from his softening length. Only then do you allow your hand to rest on him and lean in close to press a kiss on his forehead.
He hums in the back of his throat to acknowledge your caress, but otherwise doesn't move. You chuckle to yourself and withdraw your hand, grabbing one of your clean wash rags that you keep nearby to clean yourself off. Once your fingers are sufficiently clean, you wipe off his stomach before lifting his cock and tenderly wrapping it in the cloth to remove the remaining traces of his seed, being mindful of his sensitivity.
You initially sense more than see that he is now watching you finish taking care of him. You toss the soiled cloth towards your laundry basket, not caring if it reaches or not. Your focus isn't on that. You have more important things to worry about.
You roll off the bed and quench the flames on the wall sconces, leaving only the small bedside oil lamp lit as you crawl back beside him. But that too is doused, leaving only a faint glimmer of moonlight to trickle into the room through the window in the otherwise darkened room.
There's a companionable silence between the two of you as you settle under the covers. Link yawns as he opens his arms, allowing you to snuggle against him and rest your head on his chest.
"Thank you," he whispers.
"For what?"
"Being my partner. Allowing me to share my nightmares and fears with you, as well as life and pleasure. You're a blessing from Hylia herself, and I'm grateful for you," Link murmurs against your hair.
Your cheeks are warm but you smile and nod slightly. "Anything for you. I hope you sleep well knowing that I'm here for you, no matter what happens."
His sleepy whisper of thanks is muffled behind another yawn. You feel his breathing begin to slow as sleep creeps up to claim its hold on you both. You suppose that a part of you should feel slightly ashamed of your lack of accomplishments on your artwork for the evening. But then you hear and feel Link's heartbeat against your body, and nothing else matters. Anything else can wait. You're exactly where you should be. A warm embrace. A comforting presence. With the Goddess as your witness, you will give your partner everything you have. Anything, for the love of your Hero.