Never Without You │ BOTW modern AU fanfic

Broken

"I think you're perfect," I say under my breath. "I know perfect is a lazy adjective and by definition a theoretical paradox that can't truly exist in the raw scheme of life but... I don't care about the probability or lack of logic... I don't care that it can't exist in a literal sense... I don't care. You're absolutely perfect to me. I'm so glad life led us here."

He answers with a most genuine smile but before he can say anything in return, my lips return to his. This smile... it's just for me. No one else. And my heart beats faster and faster.

This may be the longest we have ever kissed. Usually I would have found some lame excuse to stop by now, but this time I can't bring myself to break our kiss. Not after everything we've been through. We deserve to just enjoy each other's company without any fears or rules holding us back.

My fingers drive through his unruly mess of hair, tugging at it lightly. He brings his hand to my thigh, causing me to hold a keen breath. I don't mind it, I even find myself enjoying his touch. But when his hand moves up, and when his fingers find their way under my skirt, an overwhelming wave of anxiety overcomes me. He hasn't done that before so I don't know what to expect. I open my eyes, considering stopping him.

"Link," I breathe, lacking the words. Do I really want him to stop?

When his lips attach to my neck, I find myself trapped in a nightmare I always dreaded. Pain strikes my body at once. It is impossible not to picture Karusa on top of me, pinning me to my own bed. What's worse is the thought of voicing my discomfort; I fear it will anger him, potentially causing him to get violent just like Karusa!

"Link," I pant nervously.

He doesn't stop. My emotions are jumbled all over the place. I don't know what to feel right now! I'm so confused and frightened at the thought of Link ignoring and pushing past my comfort zone. I'm not used to him doing so. I don't like this horrifying uncertainty. It's making it hard for me to breathe!

"Wait," I beg. His lips embrace mine but I'm done kissing him! I almost bite his lip in an attempt to push him off. "Get off!" I shout in despair.

Link sits up across from me. Immediately, I shuffle away from him, toward the headboard, trying to create as much distance between us as possible. He looks lost. Utterly startled.

"I told you not to go near my neck!" I cry, covering the spot he kissed.

"What?"

A cold shiver zaps down my spine. "Don't you remember? I told you I don't like it!"

He shakes his head, looking more apologetic by the second. "I'm sorry."

I don't know what to do or say. Is this even real? It can't be. Link is my safe place... Isn't he?

"I didn't know—I thought... I..." He doesn't know what to say either. Am I in the wrong here? Am I getting angry for no good reason again?

"I told you to stop," I whimper embarrassed.

"I didn't hear you say that! I'm sorry..."

I definitely told him to stop, didn't I? Even if I didn't, he must have known that I was in pain... Or was he really clueless? Am I antagonizing him because I saw a brief resemblance to Karusa? More importantly... Does he not remember what Karusa did to me?

"Sorry, I kinda thought with you inviting me over when your dad is gone and taking me up to your room and all..." He begins but pauses to allow his eyes to roam the room as if in desperate search for another piece of memory. When it becomes evident that I am not going to speak, he continues in a timorous voice. "We haven't done this before?"