Safe

by soda_acid

Summary:

Alright, so a shock arrow directly to the thigh hurts like shit.

Luckily, Sidon is there to help Link through both a physical hurt and an emotional one.

 

Alright, so a shock arrow directly to the thigh hurts like shit.

 

Link had gotten a little bit reckless, he can admit that. He'd gotten overconfident clearing out the monsters along the path to Zora's Domain and didn't see the wounded lizalfos behind him aiming its bow. Luckily, he'd noticed quick enough to move and not get shot in the chest, where it looked like the beast was aiming; unluckily, he still got an arrow lodged firmly in his thigh. Ouch.

 

He should have been paying better attention to his surroundings, maybe it was a bad idea to make a game of clearing the pathway. Ever since he started coming back to Zora's Domain to rid them of their monsters every blood moon (for the benefit and safety of the Zora community. Not as an easy excuse to see a certain prince at least once a moon, definitely not.) the task had begun getting tedious, so eventually he figured he could make a game out of it. He'd time himself, see how quickly he could kill all the monsters in the area, try to get all headshots if he was feeling particularly lucky. In hindsight, not one of his wisest ideas.

 

The adrenaline from the ongoing fight was enough to keep him going long enough to finish off the surrounding lizalfos, but he really started to feel the pain once that faded. His fingers itched to pull the arrow out, relieve some of the pressure, but he knew better. He couldn't let himself bleed out, it had to stay in until he was somewhere where he could close the wound (relatively) safely.

 

The best part? Rain.

 

Even though Link had calmed Vah Ruta and stopped its constant downpour, the valley was still a rather wet place and it rained at least once a moon. Of course, it had to rain the night of the blood moon, because Hylia above had some sort of personal vendetta against Link.

 

Limping back down the path in the direction he came from, past the defeated lizalfos bodies, he finally got to a keese-free cave. Just as he was setting himself down against the cave wall, he was nearly (nearly) startled by a familiar voice calling out, not too far away.

 

" Link? "

 

Of course, Link was unable to answer Sidon with his voice, so instead he whistled to hopefully alert the prince of his location. It's a good thing Zora have such good hearing, because it couldn't have been more than a minute before Sidon was crouching into the cave.

 

"Link, my friend, there you are! It had been a few days since you departed, so I thought I would come-- Oh, Hylia , your leg! "

 

Link raised slightly shaking hands to sign back at him, 'It's not as bad as it looks. But it's good that you're here, I could use some help.'

 

Sidon's features were dripping with obvious worry, seemingly not too convinced that it wasn't as bad as it appeared, "Why, of course, I can carry you back to the domain! I'll have our best medic treat you!"

 

Link shook his head, 'Won't work. You can't travel on land with the lizalfos and I'll lose too much blood in the water. I have to close it here.'

 

"I- I see, I suppose that does make sense. What can I do to help, then?"

 

'I'm going to stitch the wound up but I'll have to eat something that will dull the pain but make me a bit incoherent for a while. I just need you to keep watch. There shouldn't be any lizalfos left too nearby, but they can smell blood from pretty far and might catch a whiff of mine.'

 

He didn't want to think of the outcome if a monster did find them, with himself being out of commission and Sidon being unable to fight against shock attacks. He just had to pray to Hylia that they weren't found.

 

"I understand, Link! You can count on me to keep you safe!" Sidon promptly sat down in favor of squatting down, against the opposite wall from Link but still closer to the mouth of the cave so he could keep an eye out.

 

Link repressed a smile at the prince's words, and instead began locating everything he needed from his bag. Cloths, needle, suture, bandages, and most importantly, the leaves. He'd gotten them from Korok Forest, they possessed the ability to increase the endorphins in his brain, effectively making pain seem less, but it also made his head feel a bit... silly. It didn't hinder his coordination enough to interfere with his stitching, but it still was not a good idea to get into a full blown battle in that state. Finally, he pulled out the vial of alcohol he carried specifically for cleaning wounds. It wasn't as good as what a doctor would do, but so far it had kept him from getting infected wounds.

 

Making sure he had everything he needed, he popped a leaf in his mouth and quickly felt it start to work. Now he only had a limited amount of time before it started to make him sleepy rather than just fuzzy-brained, so he had to work fast. Gritting his teeth, he wrapped both his hands around the arrow, took a few deep breaths, and pulled. He couldn't stop the tears from pricking at his eyes or the choked noise from escaping. Even with the leaf, the pain was still a lot.

 

Link caught his breath before maneuvering his pants down in his sitting position, leaving him in his compression shorts, and poured some of the alcohol on one of the cloths. He hissed at the burning pain of it pressed against the open wound. Once he was certain it was clean of all dirt and grit, he set the cloth and alcohol aside in favor of the needle and suture.

 

He worked in silence, apart from the sharp breaths and small noises when the needle pierced a particular painful spot. It was as he was almost finished closing the wound when Sidon spoke up.

 

"Link?"

 

Hands being occupied, Link just hummed in acknowledgment.

 

"Do you do this very often? To yourself?"

 

Link thought for a moment and shrugged as he finished up his stitching and tied off the suture.

 

"I hadn't... I never had considered before that you must have to tend to many wounds on your own when you are out and about, being the champion of Hyrule."

 

Internally, he cringed at Sidon's use of the word 'champion,' but he only nodded. After a few moments of silence, he finished wrapping his wound with bandages and raised his now free hands to better answer Sidon.

 

'I'm used to it.'

 

"Yes, but you should not have to be! I wish you could live an easier life, my friend."

 

Link pondered this for a moment, 'I don't think I like easy.'

 

Sidon cocked his head in a way that Link couldn't help but internally compare to a confused puppy, "How so?"

 

'I don't like being shot in the leg with a shock arrow, but I like being out in the wild. I feel free. I think I'd get restless with an easy life.'

 

The prince considered Link's words for a moment, "I suppose I could not imagine you enjoying a lifestyle more similar to my own."

 

Link snickered under his breath at the thought of him being the prince of anything, having people tending to his every want and need. 'Definitely not.'

 

Sidon seemed to deflate a little at this, and before he could inquire about it, Sidon visibly tensed. His pupils constricted into slits (somewhere in the back of his mind, Link realized that Sidon's pupils had looked quite dilated while talking to him. Must've been a trick of the light) and he turned his head towards the mouth of the cave. He seemed to be listening for something.

 

Link waited until he could catch Sidon's eye before signing, 'What's the matter?'

 

This time, Sidon signed back instead of talking out loud. 'Lizalfos. I can hear a few coming in this direction.'

 

'Should we move?'

 

'It would be best, if their camp is near here it might be impossible to leave once they get closer. There is also the possibility that they're tracking the scent of your blood. Will you be alright to move?'

 

'I'll be fine.'

 

Link swiftly shimmied his wet pants back up, glad that he remembered to bring bandages with him because otherwise the rub of the fabric against his wound would be very unpleasant. He was about to push himself off the ground when he felt two strong arms lift him up.

 

Sidon was carrying him, bridal-style. Despite the frigid cold, Link's face suddenly felt very warm.

 

'Sidon?'

 

Hands now occupied holding Link, Sidon whispered rather close to Link's ear (Hylia, why was his face heating up so much?), "Don't worry, my friend, I'll carry you. I can't have you walking on that injured leg of yours. Plus, I'm faster than you, no offense."

 

Link accepted this with a nod and decided not to tell the prince that he'd walked on and even fought with much worse injuries in the past.

 

"Do you think your leg will be alright in the water? I believe the best option would be to swim to the domain, but I don't wish to harm you."

 

Link nodded again, 'I'll be fine. It's not ideal, but it's better than fighting lizalfos.' He left out the part where he could very likely get an infection from being in the dirty water with fresh stitches.

 

"Alright. Now, do try to stay quiet, Link. The lizalfos can still shoot at us in the water, so best not to attract their attention."

 

He wasn't really sure why Sidon thought he needed to tell Link to stay silent, but nodded once more anyways.

 

Then, Link was in the rain again and Sidon was making quick work of getting to the riverbank. The rain had let up a bit since before Link had entered the cave, and soon they were approaching the water.

 

Link was then situated on Sidon's back in the water, similarly to how they fought Vah Ruta together, though this time Link struggled to keep himself as upright.

 

With the leaf beginning to make him disproportionately tired, in combination with the oddly relaxing rhythm of Sidon's graceful swimming, Link found himself struggling to stay awake. He was a bit embarrassed to be practically falling asleep while placed on a prince's back, but his fatigue was working against him and he was a little too out of it too care too much. Just as Link could see the familiar lights of the domain, he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.

 

------

 

Up until when he woke up, Link was quite relaxed. Peaceful, even. But as he woke up, his sense of touch was the first to return to him. He felt water all around him, and quickly he realized that he was in a shallow pool. His face was obviously above water, because he wouldn't be able to breathe if not, but most of the rest of his body was submerged in water.

 

Link went into panic mode. Suddenly, his brain brought him back to that day. The day where he woke up in a shallow pool, resurrected. The day he learned that he had failed as a knight. The day he learned that everyone he had cared about, and who cared about him, were dead. The day he realized he couldn't remember anything about himself or his surroundings.

 

As soon as his senses returned to him, Link shot up into a sitting position and found that it was immensely hard to breathe. Even worse, he had tears in his eyes threatening to spill over. Before he could get his breath under control, he heard a voice that he would usually find comforting. Now, he could find no comfort in one of his only living friends finding him in such a state.

 

"Link!"

 

Sidon came into view, crouching beside the pool Link was sat it, "Link! Whatever is the matter?"

 

Link tried to sign some kind of explanation, but between the violent trembling of his hands and his exhausting effort to get air in his lungs, all he could do was shake his head.

 

"What has happened? Did you have a nightmare?"

 

Link squeezed his eyes closed, causing a few tears to fall, and shook his head again. He didn't want Sidon to see him like this. He's supposed to be Hyrule's champion, and here he is crying and shaking over waking up in some water.

 

He heard Sidon move into the pool in front of him before he spoke again. "Link, my pearl, take a few slower breaths for me, alright? Everything's okay."

 

With some difficulty, Link took a few deep, slow breaths and felt his heart rate slow down a bit. He tried to let Sidon's words sink in. Everything's okay.

 

He repeated the deep breaths for what felt like a couple minutes before his breathing felt a bit more normal and he could open his eyes.

 

He confirmed that Sidon was, in fact, sitting with him in the pool. He also realized that he was in one of the domain's healing pools. Not the Shrine of Resurrection.

 

Sidon looked as though he was about to say something, but Link beat him to it.

 

'I'm sorry.'

 

Sidon looked surprised, like that wasn't what he was expecting. He blinked once, twice, three times before responding. "Why, whatever for?"

 

'I didn't,' Link started, then changed his mind, 'I overreacted. Sorry you had to deal with that.'

 

Sidon softened a bit, "It was no trouble, my friend, trust me. I'm not angry. A bit confused, but I'm not upset with you. Of course, you don't owe me any explanations, but do know I'm here if you need an ear, dearest Link!"

 

Link thought that over. Of course Sidon wouldn't openly judge him, he didn't think the prince could say a mean word if his life counted on it. Maybe... maybe it would be safe to let him in a little.

 

'I panicked.'

 

"Well, yes, I had gathered that, but why?"

 

'I thought... The last time I woke up in water like this..'

 

Link struggled to find his words, but Sidon only sat patiently until he continued.

 

'The last time I woke up in a pool like this one, I'd forgotten everything. I'm scared of forgetting again.'

 

Sidon's eyes softened with something, but it wasn't pity. Sympathy?

 

"My friend, I'm so sorry! Had I known--"

 

'It's not your fault. It's silly anyway.'

 

"It is not silly, Link. I can only imagine how frightening it would be to wake up and not only not know where you are, but to also not know who you are! I admire you greatly for not succumbing to that fear."

 

'Didn't I, though?'

 

Sidon looked at him quizzically, "Whatever do you mean?"

 

'...Never mind.'

 

"Link, my friend, I won't force you to tell me anything, but I do wish for you to see me as someone you can confide in. Alright?"

 

Link only looked down at his own hands, not responding. Sidon was standing up to give the hylian some space when the hesitant movement of Link's hands started up again.

 

'You see me as brave and noble. But I'm not those things. All I do is run around all over the kingdom trying to avoid my past, trying not to hear my own thoughts. Most of the time I wish I hadn't gone and restored those memories, but at the same time I'm terrified of forgetting. It's selfish.'

 

"Link... I know for a fact you are anything but selfish. And I want you to know that you are not at fault for what happened that day with the champions. I am aware that some of the elderly zora haven't been exactly... subtle about where their blame lays, but I want you to know that not a day in my life have I blamed or resented you for what happened to Mipha. The champions all knew of the hazard that came with commanding the beasts. Nobody is liable for all the suffering Ganon has caused apart from Ganon himself. Do you understand, my friend?"

 

Link felt his eyes well up with tears again. He wasn't quite ready yet to fully accept what Sidon was telling him, but he could at least take comfort in knowing that Sidon believed in every word he was saying. That was as good a start as any.

 

Slowly, Link looked up at Sidon and held up his arms. It took a moment for Sidon to figure out what he wanted before he was scooping the small man into his lap for a hug.

 

"You will always be safe here, my pearl."

 

And for a rare moment, Link let himself relax totally. He was safe. Sidon made him feel safe. Nothing could harm him when Sidon was holding him like this, like he was something precious.

 

Though he knew he wouldn't be able to see it, Link still signed, 'I love you.'

Notes:

sidon centric sequel to this is now complete and posted ! :)

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of SidLink Two-Shot