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It is all up to you, Link.
Link grunted, slamming his sword down with a “HYAH” on an unsuspecting Bokoblin’s head. It cried out, disappearing with a puff of purple smoke. Assorted horns and organs lay on the ground where the Bokoblin had previously stood, and Link collected them as he had done many times before. He sat beside the fire in the now-empty cave, sighing.
You must keep going.
Link’s body ached terribly, days upon days of constant combat wearing him down. He barely had any time to breathe.
There is no time to waste.
Toward the entrance to the cave, Link could see the red light reflecting against the smooth stone surface.
“The Blood Moon rises once again…”
He groaned, briefly considering staying in the cave and letting the newly revived Bokoblin take him down.
But Link knew he couldn’t do that.
He had to stay alive. He had to protect Hyrule. He needed to defeat Ganon. He didn’t have a choice.
Did he ever have a choice?
Link’s memories were fuzzy at best– most of what he could remember before the Calamity wasn’t helpful in the slightest. He couldn’t remember who he was. Did he have a family? Were they dead, too?
In his heart, Link knew they were. It was strange, mourning what he couldn’t even remember. It hurt in all the wrong places, leaving him upset and unsatisfied.
The Bokoblin was fully revived now, angrily grabbing a weapon. Link barely glanced up at it, staying seated as he slashed his sword right through its stomach. Once again, the Bokoblin screamed, disappearing in that same puff of purple smoke.
It was always the same in this cave, Link came to realize. No matter how many times he killed it, the Bokoblin in this cave was always red, always alone, and never prepared to fight. It made the cave an ideal place for him to rest, as long as he was in the area.
The fire crackled, Link staring as the flames licked upward. He felt so… dead. It was an odd feeling, but one he was growing quite familiar with.
Link pulled out a smaller blade, his only weapon not covered with monster guts. He admired it for a moment, gently pressing his finger to the tip of the blade.
That was all he needed. Glancing toward the entrance of the cave, Link shimmied out of his pants, leaving him in just his blue boxer shorts. He brought the blade up, light from the fire revealing the slight red stain along one edge of the blade.
Link inhaled slowly, letting out a breath before bringing the blade down to his exposed thigh. He pressed down, allowing it to sink down through his skin before slowly, excruciatingly, dragging it along his thigh. The skin turned a ghostly white, crimson beading up at the surface almost immediately afterward. Beading quickly turned to pooling, drops of Link’s lifeforce dripping down the side of his marked thigh and joining a growing puddle on the ground.
Link remained emotionless, only wincing occasionally when his blade bit further than expected. He made rows and rows of long cuts across his thigh, adding to the tally of marks on his skin.
After slicing through his upper thigh, Link paused. He had to stop. Any more than this and it would be harder to conceal. His entire upper thigh was covered in blood– which wasn’t an uncommon sight, but something about the thrill of knowing it was his own blood– the thrill of knowing he had done this to himself– always brought a bubble of excitement to his chest.
Maybe it was sick of him to feel excited to see the consequences of his own doing. But in his life full of responsibilities and tasks, it felt new and daring to stray from the path. This wasn’t a new activity of his by any means, but each time Link brought that blade to his skin it always delivered that feeling of something different, something new. And whenever the opportunity arose, Link would take it. If only just to feel something…
~
Link woke up to the insistent pounding of rain against stone; a fire taking its dying breath. He blinked slowly, sitting up and trying to regain his bearings. It only took a second for him to recognize the walls of the cave he frequented for nights like the one he had previously experienced.
He must’ve fallen asleep. His blade was already safely tucked away, but his pants remained on the ground beside him. Link examined his thigh briefly, running a finger over the scabs that had formed overnight. They were still soft, still fragile, but that wouldn’t matter. Today’s plans were just a supply run, so it was unlikely he would need to worry about them.
Link pulled his pants back on, standing up with a slight wobble as his thigh ached and threatened to give out under his weight. He sighed, forcing himself to power through it as he gathered all his things, setting out for the closest town.
He was in the Lanayru region of Hyrule, so Zora’s Domain would be the easiest location to get to. Link exited the cave, walked a short distance back to the path, and started on his way to the Domain.
~
Link was an idiot.
Somehow, he had completely overlooked the fact that the path to Zora’s Domain was overrun with monsters, mostly of the electric variety. He could avoid the Lizalfos with the mask he had purchased from Kilton, but that wasn’t going to keep the other monsters from attacking him.
Link passed through a Lizalfos camp, blending in well enough not to be attacked. Once he was in the clear, however, a large rock flew past his ear. Link spotted the Octorok immediately, forcing himself to sprint behind a tree to avoid getting hit. He drew his bow, hitting the Octorok dead-on. He didn’t bother to gather the materials, choosing to just keep moving.
Link’s thigh ached something horrible, practically screaming at him to rest, to just stop moving. But he couldn’t, he was almost there, just a little further…
From behind him, another Octorok shot at him, narrowly missing his head. Link didn’t bother with it, he just started sprinting. The Domain was so close, it was within reach. He just needed to keep running until he was safe.
Link’s footsteps pounded against soft earth, sinking slightly into the mud. His thigh burned from the friction of fabric against tender skin, but Link elected to ignore it in favor of speed. Once he reached the entrance to Zora’s Domain, he slowed his pace, walking along the blue crystalized pathway with a barely noticeable limp.
“Link! Is that you?” Link froze, body stiffening for a moment before it registered in his mind. He turned, watching as Sidon eagerly bounded toward him.
“Link! My dearest friend! It is so good to see you again!” the Prince exclaimed, extending his arms out to the side as he grinned toothily. “Whatever brings you to the Domain on this day?”
‘Supplies.’ Link signed, smiling weakly. Sidon nodded, grin fading as his face twitched.
“Link, are you alright? I can smell blood!” Sidon said, concern lacing his usually strong tone. The prince looked him up and down, tilting his head. “Oh! My friend, you’re bleeding!” Sidon pointed down, and Link felt his blood run cold. Sidon was right– not only was there blood trickling down his leg, but there was also a very apparent stain on his pant leg.
‘I’m fine.’ He signed, backing away and holding his hands in front of himself cautiously.
“Link, I must insist that-”
‘I’m. Fine.’ Link signed, more firmly this time. Sidon paused, frowning. Link glanced around, noticing the attention they were beginning to attract. He backed up nervously, stumbling as his thigh seared with pain. Sidon lunged to catch his hand, piercing yellow eyes staring into his soul. Link glanced at the crowd forming around them, anxiety and defensiveness bubbling up in his expression.
Sidon must’ve caught on, because he changed their position so both he and Link were standing normally. He refused to let go of Link’s hand. He smiled at the crowd of Zora, using his charm to diffuse the situation.
“All is well here! Please, continue on with your days, while I catch up with my dear friend Link!” Some of the Zora exchanged glances, shrugging and retreating back to whatever they had been up to before. Once the crowd had dispersed, Sidon scooped Link up in his arms, carrying the tiny Hylian.
Link struggled and fought against Sidon, but it was no use. The Zora prince was far too strong, and Link was already weakened by his own doing. He would never use his weapons against Sidon, so he resigned to crossing his arms defensively as he was carried to Sidon’s private quarters.
“I am sorry about this, you know,” Sidon spoke up. “I do not wish for you to resent me. But your safety is quite important to me. I do hope you’ll forgive me…” Link softened, seeing the worry in Sidon’s expression. He bit his lip, frowning as he gingerly leaned his head against Sidon’s chest. The Zora’s expression seemed to lighten, but Link’s guilt only rose. Sidon was concerned about him, unknowing that this had been Link’s own doing. He didn’t deserve to have someone worry over him… much less a prince.
“Here we are,” Sidon murmured, turning into a room. It wasn’t quite a bedroom; it almost resembled a Hylian bathroom. There were a few key differences, since there wasn’t a toilet of any kind. Still, the room contained a sink and a rather large tub, so it was safe to assume this was some sort of bathroom. Link was carefully set on the counter next to the sink, sitting up on the crystalized surface. Sidon fiddled with his hands, seeming almost… nervous?
“Link,” the prince began, speaking slowly as if he was trying to choose his words carefully. “I’d like to help you. I’m not a healer, but my sister… Mipha taught me some basic first aid when I was a child.” He swallowed. “If you allow me to… I’d like to help heal you.”
Link sat there, completely still. He may have looked indifferent on the outside, but inside his emotions were tugging him every which way. He really, really didn’t want anyone to know about what he does to himself. It would be an embarrassment to himself, and, quite frankly, all of Hyrule.
This is the famed “hero”? They’ll say. What a joke! He cuts himself! Hyrule is better off without him!
As much as Link hates his responsibilities as the Hero of Hyrule, he knows that without it, he is nothing.
Still, his leg hurts more than it usually would after he hurts himself like that. It could end up badly if it isn’t treated, and Hylia knows Link won’t take good enough care of it himself.
Yet again, he doesn’t want Sidon to think any less of him. The Zora prince had always treated him as a friend rather than the Hero, and Link didn’t want to lose that.
“Link?” Sidon’s concerned voice broke him out of his spiraling thoughts. “Please let me at least take a look. You had quite the limp out there, and there is quite a lot of blood…” Sidon opened up a cabinet under the sink, revealing a bunch of medical supplies. Most of it was made for Zora, but Link noticed a few items that were distinctly Hylian. “I will not judge you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Link swallowed thickly, holding his hands up to sign. ‘Okay.’ Sidon’s expression turned to one of relief.
“Thank you! Now, ah, if you wouldn’t mind… removing your trousers?” Sidon requested, gesturing at Link’s pants with a slight blue tint to his skin. The Hylian matched that tint in a pinker shade, awkwardly removing his pants and letting them drop to the floor. “Alright…” Sidon leaned in to examine Link’s leg, gasping in shock when the injury made itself known. He had been suspecting a large gash or some sort of burn, not…
…not neat cuts lined up in rows along Link’s thigh. Not the impossible number of similar scars that lay embedded in skin that wasn’t torn open. Not this.
Sidon felt a wave of emotion. As a Zora, he was unable to cry in the same way a Hylian might, but he still felt that same vulnerability and sorrow. He forced himself to keep his personal feelings on the matter suppressed as he took a shaky breath, grabbing a healing paste.
“This is- ah- this is…” Sidon was struggling to keep himself together. “You… you must forgive me, Link, I seem to not be myself…” Link reached out, placing a comforting hand on Sidon’s shoulder. The Zora shook his head. He should be the one comforting Link, not the other way around!
“If I may…” Sidon set the paste back down, kneeling so that he was at a closer height to the counter. “Why?” It was a simple question, but the answer wasn’t.
‘I don’t know.’ Link signed. ‘It just helps.’
“Helps with what?”
‘With…’ Link’s hands shook, tears pricking at his eyes. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. ‘It helps with the pressure.’
Sidon didn’t need to ask about that. As prince of the Zora, he was familiar with pressure and responsibility… but he had never assumed Link would be uncomfortable with his own title and the responsibility that came with it. He supposed it made sense. Link had been through more than anyone, from being Zelda’s personal knight, to the Calamity, to the Shrine of Resurrection, to waking up with no memory of who he was, to now…
Goddess, poor Link! And he was still so young… Sidon couldn’t even imagine the amount of stress he was under.
“I’m sorry,” he said simply. Because really, what else could he say? “I’m so sorry. I wish I had known sooner.” Sidon gathered both of Link’s hands in his own, offering the Hylian a small smile. “Just so you know, I am always here for you. You are always welcome in Zora’s Domain. I will alert Bazz that you are allowed to enter my private quarters at any time.” Sidon squeezed Link’s hands. “You are not alone in this world. I hope you know that. Please, if you ever feel like this… know that this is a safe place. I will do anything to help you, Link.”
Link could barely see through the tears clouding his vision. ‘Thank you.’ he signed. Sidon nodded, pressing a quick kiss to the back of Link’s hand.
“Of course, Link.” Sidon picked up the healing salve from before. “Now… this is a salve made from Hyrule herbs. Hylians use this to help heal themselves, yes?” Link nodded, the tiniest smile on his face. “Good… we Zora don’t usually use this, but I made sure to have some stocked anyway.” Sidon opened the jar, scooping out some of the salve on his finger before gently smoothing it over Link’s cuts. The soothing effect of the herbs was immediate, the burning sensation practically melting away under the coolness of the salve.
“Is that better?” Sidon questioned. Link nodded gratefully, some of the tension in his body melting away. “Good, I’m glad. I’ll bandage these for you and then you should be all set.” Sidon’s large hands were surprisingly nimble as he tied a long bandage around Link’s thigh, protecting the injuries from the outside world. With the Hyrule herb’s healing properties, they should heal quite nicely. Sidon finished tying the bandage with a proud smile, happily picking Link up off the counter and carrying him to a new room.
‘I don’t need you to carry me everywhere, you know.’ The blond signed, one eyebrow raised in slight amusement.
“I know,” Sidon answered simply. He set Link down on a waterbed, encouraging the Hylian to rest. “Do you need anything? I don’t want you getting up until that’s healed more.” Link shook his head, settling into the waterbed. “Alright. Rest well, Link.”
‘Wait.’ Link signed, barely catching Sidon’s gaze. ‘Stay?’ The Zora smiled, nodding and closing the door to his room.
“Of course. May I?” Sidon wondered, gesturing to the waterbed. Zora usually slept in pools, but Sidon didn’t mind the waterbeds. Link scooted over, making space for the large Zora. Sidon barely fit on the bed, his legs too long and draping off the edge. He didn’t seem to mind, laying on his back with his head fin brushed to the side so he wouldn’t crush it.
Once Sidon was settled, Link shyly snuggled into his side, resting his head on Sidon’s chest. One arm lay draped across the Zora’s torso, the other tucked beneath him. Link’s mid-length blond hair lightly tickled Sidon’s skin, not used to the sensation of hair such as Link’s. He let out a soft breath, brushing Link’s hair to the side so that it didn’t obscure the Hylian’s face. Link let out a huffy breath, raising an eyebrow and smiling at Sidon. The Zora blushed, blue rising to tint his cheeks.
“Ah, sorry, Link! Please, do try to rest. I will not disturb you.”
‘Rest. Together.’ Link signed lazily. Sidon was still able to understand him.
“I suppose so,” Sidon agreed, shrugging. “All right! We shall rest– together.” Sidon laid one large hand against the small of Link’s back, keeping the tiny Hylian close to his side as they both dozed off.
Link had never slept so peacefully before, and Sidon had never enjoyed sleeping in a waterbed as much as he did in this moment. A delicate moment between the two of them, not to be spoken of outside of that room, but something they would both hold dear to them for years to come.