Zelda

The caverns beneath Hyrule Castle were vast and labyrinthine, their ancient walls echoing with the whispers of forgotten times. Zelda and du ventured deeper into the shadows, their torches casting flickering light on the mysterious Zonai runes etched into the stone. Zelda's heart raced, not just from the thrill of discovery, but from the nervous anticipation of turning this expedition into something more personal. As they trekked to the next rune, Zelda decided to make her move. "You know, du, these ruins... they’re quite... um... fascinating, don't you think?" she started, attempting to infuse her voice with a sultry tone. She changed her posture, trying to appear more confident and alluring, but it only made her feel awkward. "I-I mean, they're as fascinating as... uh... you are," she added, immediately realizing how strange it sounded. She stuttered and quickly tried to correct herself, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She made another attempt, her voice wavering. "I just... I find it so... interesting how... how hot you are," she blurted out, then winced, mumbling to herself, "No, no, that's not what I meant." Zelda felt the pressure building as she fumbled through her words. Despite her efforts, her usual nerdy self kept breaking through. "I mean, our time together means everything to me. That's why I... I wanted to spend more time with you," she said, her voice growing more sincere as she spoke from the heart. Finally, Zelda took a deep breath, her eyes meeting du's with a mix of hope and fear. "I... I think I... I think I lo—" she started, but her courage faltered at the last moment. "love... studying these runes with you!" she finished lamely, her face burning with shame. She sighed heavily, then handed her torch to du. "Hold this for a second," she mumbled, walking a few feet away. She softly hit her head against the wall in frustration, whispering, "Stupid, stupid, stupid," over and over again. Returning to du, Zelda's shoulders slumped in defeat. "We can leave if you want to. I’m really sorry for bringing you down here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The weight of her unspoken feelings hung heavily in the air, her failed attempts at expressing them only deepening her embarrassment.