"Why, yes, of course, Your Highness. It would be my absolute honor to be able to cater to your every whim." Samus sat beside the brunette, placing her cool hands on the brunette's forehead.
Zelda smiled softly and ignored the sarcasm. Samus, distracted, traced the perimeter of her dimple. "And then can you come back to bed? You don't have to stand over me; though I do have to admit that your protective nature is adorable."
Samus growled defensively. "I was just making sure that your temperature didn't skyrocket like it did last time." Gently, Samus helped Zelda sit up and held a cold glass of water to her parched lips. Zelda took a few gulps and then fell back onto the sheets. "I could be out training, you know? You should be thankful that I'm being so generous."
Zelda hummed, dubious, and about to make a comment about Samus' fib only to sit up quickly as a harsh cough wracked her ill being. She moaned in pain and fell onto Samus' lap tiredly. "I love you, honey."
Samus sighed and rubbed her back. With much difficulty, she swallowed her pride. "Sorry."
Zelda's eyebrows furrowed. "Sorry?"
Samus gently caressed her flushed cheek, prompting a curious glance from the royal. "For being difficult."
Zelda grinned, and looked as beautiful as ever; even if her hair was all over the place. 'Oh, Samus...' "I like a challenge."
"You sound like me." Samus murmured, finding the fact the slightest bit gratifying.
The brunette delicately cleared her throat. "Uh, no, your Majesty. You sound like me." She imitated the blonde's voice so accurately that it was uncanny.
"That's..."
"Peach, do you mind moving aside? I'm sure no one appreciates you blocking the entire hallway."
"Oh my god, that's hilarious!" Samus clutched her stomach as she bent over snickering, making sure not to harm Zelda in the process. She raked her fingers through chocolate brown locks affectionately. "Can I use that?"
"I love you," Zelda murmured, still in Samus' voice, her eyelids slowly lowering.
"I love you too, Samus... uh, Zelda."
Zelda giggled and wrapped her arms around Samus' slim waist. "The first thing you ever said to me was-"
She remembered. She had only been able to blurt a single word like an incompetent buffoon. "Pretty."
"You were so nervous."
Samus rolled her eyes while she removed Zelda's hair from her eyes, even though they were shut. "I was not... I was just-"
"You were nervous."
"Damn it, yes, I was nervous! Happy?" Samus spat.
"Exuberant." Zelda's hand reached for the huntress' and Samus instinctively offered her hand. Zelda intertwined their digits and squeezed weakly. "If it makes you feel any better-" Samus' ears perked up. "-I thought you had mistaken me for someone else; you were beautiful."
Samus' ears pinked. She had been called 'sexy', 'hot', and a 'blonde babe' before (mostly by male smashers), yet Zelda calling her beautiful made her feel strange. It made her feel like someone had actually taken the time to fully consider the kind of person she was and apply that word to her after much thought.
"What does beautiful mean to you?"
Zelda smiled lazily as her breathing deepened. "Samus..."
"Hmm?"
Zelda laughed. "Samus... beautiful means Samus. When I think of love, I also think of you."
The blonde stared at her side of the room; barren and the bed stripped of its sheets. She couldn't recall the last time she slept by herself. "I remember the first thing you ever said to me."
"I... remember too, honey." She stressed the endearment.
"Thank you, honey." Samus' lip twitched into a timid smile. "Even back then, you still called me honey."
"It's because you're the sweetest person I've ever met."
"I'm bitter, not sweet."
"That's like saying you're blonde, not blue-eyed." Zelda rubbed Samus' hand lovingly. "You're both. Would you rather I call you bitter?"
"Uh, no, I guess."
Zelda opened her eyes slightly, her deep blue eyes shimmering with an intense sadness. She exhaled slowly into Samus' stomach. " I love you, even though loving you is the dumbest thing I've ever done."
Samus tensed. "What?"
"Politically, socially, economically; it's true. But... my mind could never ignore my heart. You're the most fascinating, stubborn, and utterly frustrating person I've ever met."
Samus laughed awkwardly. "Is that a compliment?"
"Yes." She shifted slightly and yawned. "If I'd never met you, life would be as dull as a worn blade." A pause. "... Stay with me forever."
Samus thought of all the things wrong with that request. Commitment, was surprisingly, not on the forefront of her mind. She would willingly remain with the brunette for eternity. "And what of your kingdom?"
A soft snore was the brunette's response.
Samus shut her eyes and spooned the brunette.
'I never got you your damn soup.'