[Darin stares at her. From word one his eyes are wide enough they might fall out of his head. He tilts his head as if she were speaking an entirely different language. He was all set to play off her refusal as something that was no big deal. He was ready to put that mask back up— to pretend that this didn't mean as much to him as it actually did. He felt it. It took everything he was to not retract his desire before she could answer.]
[But then she answers.]
[He takes a cautious step toward her, hands tentatively in front of him, as if she might blow away with the wind or shatter into a million pieces.]
[Did she really just—?]
[But she continues. She's been just as happy as he has been. She never knew she could have something like this with someone? But...what about Link? Obviously they weren't romantically involved but did she really see him so differently?]
['Not home in Hyrule. Simply...home.']
[He takes another heavy step forward and his hands hover awkwardly about her shoulders. And when he speaks, his voice cracks.]
Y...Y-You want to...? Did you say—
[His hands gently grasp her just above her biceps and he lowers himself to look her in the eye. Even after everything they've shared, he knew how big of a commitment this was. And she can see it plainly. He doesn't want to tie her down— tether her to him when she has a life someplace else.]
[He licks his lips, his mouth suddenly dry.]
S-Say...C-Can you say it again...? [And slowly, his voice returns; energetic and filled with disbelief. She can already see the way the corners of his mouth are curling up into the beginnings of a smile.]
no subject
[But then she answers.]
[He takes a cautious step toward her, hands tentatively in front of him, as if she might blow away with the wind or shatter into a million pieces.]
[Did she really just—?]
[But she continues. She's been just as happy as he has been. She never knew she could have something like this with someone? But...what about Link? Obviously they weren't romantically involved but did she really see him so differently?]
['Not home in Hyrule. Simply...home.']
[He takes another heavy step forward and his hands hover awkwardly about her shoulders. And when he speaks, his voice cracks.]
Y...Y-You want to...? Did you say—
[His hands gently grasp her just above her biceps and he lowers himself to look her in the eye. Even after everything they've shared, he knew how big of a commitment this was. And she can see it plainly. He doesn't want to tie her down— tether her to him when she has a life someplace else.]
[He licks his lips, his mouth suddenly dry.]
S-Say...C-Can you say it again...? [And slowly, his voice returns; energetic and filled with disbelief. She can already see the way the corners of his mouth are curling up into the beginnings of a smile.]
Say it again...!