"Zelda, I have a crush on you" Link said, certainty in his voice as he stared.

"No, that's too forward!" He muttered, moving away from the mirror he was speaking into.

Saturday had yet again come around, and Link was certain that today was going to be the day. Ever since Monday, he'd constantly tell himself things like 'I'll tell her as soon as I see her!' but it never turned out like that. Link always just resorted to an 'I can just do it next time' mentality. He was procrastinating even this of all things.

But today was different. They were alone, just the two of them. At school they didn't have much privacy often so it was awkward for Link to get a word in no matter what about topics like this. It was only awkward because he made it so though.

Who am I kidding? I'm never going to be able to just say it.

He actually prayed to Hylia to give him the courage he so desperately desired. Zelda would be there soon, and he had nothing planned. The one piece of advice he could give himself was don't think. The more he thought, the more he'd push it back and avoid it. So he decided to not have a plan. He'd go in there, say what his heart told him and then just see what happens.

The time was fast approaching, so Link decided that as soon as she arrived, he'd just blurt at least something out.

Once the doorbell was rung, he took a deep breath as he opened it, not letting himself hesitate.

"Hey, I need to tell you something that is pretty important, but if I let myself think about it too much then I know that I wouldn't, so there ya go" He rushed out, awkwardly standing with every muscle in his body tensing.

"O-okay..." She chuckled, hanging her coat up as she stepped in the door. "Is it okay if I get a drink?" She asked, already walking towards the kitchen. Link nodded frantically, following her as she did so. "So what is it?" She then asked, pouring herself a cup of water and gulping it down quickly.

"Maybe it's actually best if I leave it, it's not that-"

"Link... Oh Hylia, you're getting a rash" She spoke, noticing the red blotches that had started to appear on the part of his chest that was visible. "Don't think about it. Just say what you want. And if you're genuinely not ready then I understand" She spoke sweetly with a serious tone, seeing how he looked like he was biting his tongue.

Don't think.

"Every time I think of you it's as if my heart is actually going to burst. I've never had anything that I couldn't stand losing, until you" Link rushed out. Zelda could only barely understand what he was saying, but with each word he spoke, her heart raced faster and faster.

She knew how hard it was for him to do things like this, and this was the first time he couldn't consult her before doing it, or else the whole thing would be lost. But also, she was hoping that what Link was saying would stray more obviously in a certain direction. It was easy to infer already from what he already said, but in Zelda's case she felt as though it wasn't worth the risk.

"This is the only thing I've been certain about in a while. When I first noticed you, I was scared to try and talk to you. Then when I'd talked to you, I was too scared to open up to you. Then when I opened up, I was too scared to... Tell you this. But this whole time something has been consistent, and that thing is that I'm too scared to lose you" By now his voice was clear and talking felt much more natural, as if it came straight from the heart. He wasn't scared of just being honest anymore. If it bothered her that much, she would've stopped him by now. He wasn't thinking.

Zelda remained quiet, trying her very hardest to not smile like crazy. For him to say these things to her was just... Wow. It was indescribable. The way Link's eyes had softened up and how his words were so genuine and real had Zelda completely captured. This boy was truly spectacular. He truly didn't realise how courageous he was actually being. There was a recurring theme through this speech, that Link was scared of losing Zelda. That was completely stupid to her. He wouldn't lose her.

Please just say it so I know for sure. Zelda thought.

"Every hour we spend together feels like a second. Honestly... Forever wouldn't feel like too long if I were to spend it with you"

Suddenly, he stopped talking, as if the natural speech he'd started to develop came to a swift end. It looked as if he barely even noticed what he said until he said it, realising just how strange it actually might have sounded.

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Zelda asked, being careful of her wording. If not, then she needed to make sure. It sure as hell sounded like it, but it was kind of hard to tell with Link.

"I guess that depends on what you think I'm saying" Link replied, chuckling slightly as Zelda didn't sound upset, or even inconvenienced in the slightest. He didn't expect her to, but it was still nice.

"Are you saying what I hope you're saying?" She said next, smirking slightly as his eyes widened and the red blotches of rash made its way slowly up his neck.

She moved obviously closer, folding her arms in curiosity. This was risky and made her a lot more nervous than she'd like, but if it made Link uncomfortable or anything then she could play it off as a joke. They'd been much closer than that before, maybe it was just the context that this was in which made it feel much different.

"I guess..." He cleared his throat, trying to keep his cool and composure as much as possible. "That depends on what you hope I'm saying" He replied again, hoping for her to just say it before he had to. He was only hoping that they were talking about the same thing.

There was a moment of silence between the two when they just stopped talking, stopped... Everything really. What now? They both didn't want to be the one to say it.

"Honestly-" Link started, with the intention to finally just get it out. He knew he had nothing to lose, and it was where the conversation was heading anyway. However, he was interrupted abruptly.

Zelda stepped forward, quickly wrapping her arms around Link's neck. Link stood in shock for a second, but reacted eventually, sliding his arms around her waist, holding at her back. His cheeks had erupted, but Zelda of course couldn't see it. Link closed his eyes into it, delicately holding her in his arms.

This was different from the embraces they'd shared before. Back then, although there were hidden feelings behind it, those hugs were platonic. This, however... This was different.

"One of us is going to have to say it. Trust me when I say that if I'm wrong, it'll be incredibly embarrassing" Zelda pulled away, still remaining close in proximity to Link.

"Well what if what I'm saying isn't what you hoped for? That'll be much more embarrassing" He insisted, already missing the second they just shared.

"It isn't"

"It is"

"It won't be"

"I can promise you it is"

"Well what if it's the same?"

"Why don't you say then and we'll find out?"

"What if you say it?"

The two were bickering back and forth, chuckling in between their little lines of dialogue to the other. This was perfect. He could just blurt it out in a few, easy words without actually having time to think.

Come on, Link. You've got this.

"Well what if I have a crush on you?" He rushed more than anything else he said, his breathing hitching as soon as he said it, almost instantly regretting it afterwards.

Zelda didn't reply for a few seconds, she just had to gather her thoughts and make sense of the situation, make sure that he did actually say that. Link bit his lip as his hands were visibly shaking down by his sides.

The poor thing, I bet he's been agonizing over this.

But still, she was relieved.

"What if that's what I hoped for?" She lowered the volume of her voice, looking down to the floor as to hide her huge smile and almost tearing eyes.