In Sickness and In Health || sidlink (sidon x link)

Thirteen

(Light smut warning)

Link somehow managed to drift off to sleep whilst snuggling against Sidon in the water, but he eventually stirred from his slumber in the middle of the night due to the air getting cooler and nipping at his cheekbones. He awoke with a shiver, likely because Sidon, like the rest of the Zora, was a cold-blooded species, and therefore didn't generate any heat typically.
The restless Hylian gently let go of Sidon and climbed out of the water, careful to not make much noise so he didn't disturb anyone. Once he was a good distance away from the lounge area, he stretched his arms up and made his way over to the plaza, staring up at the ruined statue of Mipha. He was still half-asleep, but even his loose expression had traces of sadness. He couldn't help but agonize over the state of not only her likeness, but the entire Zora's Domain; for Sidon's sake, he would try to remain optimistic regardless of these feelings.
He blinked slowly to snap himself out of his trance, turning around in the process. He gazed at the sky above, his attention stolen by a shooting star. He didn't know if he was just delusional, but this, among an abundance of other things, reminded him of Sidon, particularly his handsome smile. He was so distracted daydreaming about the prince that he didn't notice the sound of footsteps until their cause was looking him in the eyes—it was, of course, the man who never left his train of thought.

"Ah, Link, there you are... What are you up to?" The Zora prince's royal scales glowed majestically underneath the moonlight, the passionate pink hues drawing Link in against his will. Sidon gazed into his eyes momentarily, then turning to catch sight of the same shooting star. They were so rare to spot from here that he felt as if he was witnessing a miracle—perhaps it was true symbolism of the solidity of his relationship with Link, considering they were here alone, watching it together. "It's quite beautiful tonight. The sky is so breathtaking." His voice was full of emotion...more than usual; when he eventually let his eyes drift down to Link inconspicuously, he couldn't resist that flame inside of him—it was a huge bother how shy he had been getting around the man as of late. Thankfully, he averted his gaze before Link could discover it, although...his sheepish demeanor was a huge giveaway.

"You're more breathtaking." The blonde responded boldly, his cheeks burning as he grabbed the Zora's hand. Even though they had refused to make eye contact, this physical intimacy engaged a desire on both ends to stare at one another longingly.

Sidon gingerly returned the Hylian's peer, facing the man completely to overcome the pit in his stomach. Why was he having such trouble with confidence? Earlier, he had no problem flirting with his admirer, so why was his heart pounding so hard now? "U-Um..." He attempted to thank Link for his compliment, but the words evaded him, and all that he managed to relay was that his voice was still cracking at 138 years old. It only embarrassed him more. "L-Link, I... I've been a fool not to speak my truth. I am...deeply in love with you. I was so nervous to say it, because I didn't want to drive you away. I know you get somewhat uneasy talking about your feelings, so I didn't want to pressure you."

Link hadn't been sure of 'love' and its predecessors, but hearing this formal confession from Sidon helped him to unearth the meaning. He felt safe, warm, happy, and above all else, he felt understood. He squeezed the man's hand and grabbed his other, pulling it to his lips to place a charming kiss atop the knuckles. The smile that surfaced on his face was new—it was lively, and wasn't one born from pity. When he showcased it to Sidon, he could tell the man was speechless, so he made yet another attempt to speak. "You've always been patient with me...and even when I didn't reciprocate your enthusiasm, you would find a way to put a smile on my face." Upon getting this off his chest, he realized how similar to Mipha he was in terms of self-esteem. She'd always relied on Sidon to make her smile, as well.

"I do enjoy seeing you smile... It seems as though time stops when you do." Sidon chimed in flirtatiously, still effortlessly romantic despite how many curveballs had been thrown at him. "I want you to know that you can take as long as you need to be able to respond. I will continue to be patient with you." He reassured Link before the need would arise, though he was pleasantly surprised when the Hylian shook his head dismissively.