Work Text:
The scent of salmon meunière wafted through the air around the cooking pot as the pair sat beside it. Link was intently watching the contents of the pot and making sure they didn't burn while Sidon watched Link, infatuated by the hylian's culinary skills.
“So what comes next?” He asked curiously. Link had just finished adding the vegetables he and Sidon had chopped up earlier into the pot. He set the now empty bowl aside and lifted his hands to sign a reply.
“Now we add the seasoning. This is what makes it taste better.”
They'd finally managed to catch a break in their respective responsibilities and decided to spend time together via sharing a meal not far from the domain. Link had promised Sidon that he would show him his cooking process more often and the prince was eager to watch him in action. He'd tasted Link's cooking before, it was incredible, but he'd never actually seen him making it until today. He stared at the fish, butter and vegetable mixture brewing in the pot, watching as Link sprinkled rock salt and some sort of collective of finely chopped green plants into the dish. He then began to shift the contents around with a wooden spoon, carefully mixing in the new ingredients.
“How on earth did you learn such a delicate process?” Sidon asked. “I've attempted cooking before and it pales in comparison to yours!”
He rubbed a hand on the back of his head fin. “That and I've got very poor timing, so the majority of it turned out quite burnt…”
Link chuckled and shrugged. ”Don't know. Just kind of picked it up over my travels. Learned lots of recipes that way. Learned this one from a kid in Rito Village.”
“Fascinating!” Sidon said. “Have you collected recipes from all across Hyrule?”
Link nodded. “If you want, I can teach you some of them sometime.”
Sidon's eyes lit up. “Yes! That'd be wonderful!”
Link smiled. He stirred the pot for a few more minutes before gently tapping the spoon against the rim, shaking the excess liquid off of it.
”It's done now.” He signed after setting the spoon down.
“Marvelous! I would assume that you brought silverware seeing as it's still hot?”
”It's in my slate. Put out the fire while I grab it?”
“Of course, love.”
Link smiled and nodded in his direction before slowly getting up from his spot on the ground. It was then that Sidon became aware of another scent, something that instantly sent a pang of worry throughout the zora.
“Link, have you injured yourself?” He asked, looking at his lover with a concerned expression. Link tilted his head, confused.
”No. Why?” He signed.
Sidon narrowed his eyes. He knew Link would often downplay his injuries and didn't know if the hylian was telling the truth or not. Link's response seemed genuine, though.
“Are you certain? Did you perhaps cut yourself while we were chopping vegetables?”
Link shook his head. ”No, I'm fine.”
He began walking to the log where his slate and other belongings were leaning. He signed one more sentence before turning around;
”Why are you asking?”
“It's just, I could've sworn that I smelled your-!”
He stopped talking mid-sentence and gasped. A small, dark red splotch was visible on the back of Link's trousers, covering the area above and between his legs.
Sidon was on his feet and by Link's side immediately. “Link, you're bleeding! Why didn't you tell me that you were hurt?!”
Upon the zora's abrupt worry, Link started to turn back to face him. He lifted his hands to sign something, but Sidon stopped him partway through.
“Don't move! You might worsen it!” He said, kneeling down. He gently but forcibly grabbed Link by the waist so he could better see the bloodstain. “How did you even-?”
Link suddenly shoved his arms away and turned around. His face and the tips of his ears were tinted pink, something that happened when the hylian was embarrassed. He also had a look of dread on his features as he backed away from Sidon, lips pressed into a firm, thin line. He didn't sign anything at first, he just continued backing away from him.
“Love, what're you doing? You need to let me look at your wound!” Sidon said. Link shook his head.
“No? What do you mean ‘no,’ you're bleeding!”
”I'm fine.”
“Clearly you're not! When were you wounded? What creature did this to you-?!”
”It's not a wound. I'm fine.”
Now Sidon was just confused as well as immensely concerned. He stood up and stepped towards him. “Why else would you be bleeding if not from an injury? Please, love, let me-!”
Sidon reached out to Link again only to have his hand slapped away. Link shook his head vigorously and backed away again. His eyes were filled with dread, sadness, and what seemed to be fear as he stared at Sidon. He lifted his hands once again to sign, but he hesitated.
“I…”
He stopped. He rubbed a hand over his face, his eyes growing visibly watery. His hands trembled as they hovered in front of him, like he couldn't think of the right words to say. Sidon placed his hands against his chest, choosing a gentler approach.
“My pearl, please don't cry. Just… tell me what's going on. You're worrying me.” He said softly.
Link sighed shakily. “I'm sorry. I just really hate when this happens and didn't want you to know. Especially like this”
Sidon cautiously stepped closer before lowering to one knee. “Know about what, love?”
Link hesitated before continuing. ”Remember how I told you that I have a woman's body?”
“Yes, of course I remember.”
Link fumbled over his words, seemingly trying to figure out the best way to phrase his explanation. “Hylian women are the ones who actually bear the children.” He signed slowly. ”Because of this, there's a part of them that builds a space for a child inside of their body each month. But when there's no baby, it… gets rid of that space. It's part of an organ, so that's why there's blood.”
Sidon nodded slowly. “So… that's why you're bleeding?”
Link nodded. ”It's a process called-“ He finger spelled the next words so Sidon could understand - ”menstrual cycle.”
He then showed Sidon the sign for it - he gently tapped his fist into his cheek twice. The zora nodded again.
“I see. Is there always blood?”
”Yes.”
“Does it hurt you?”
”The fact that it happens doesn't, it's actually a sign of good health in people who have that organ. But it is painful.”
“Are you hurting right now?”
Link hesitated again. ”Physically no, not at the moment. Mentally, however…”
He stopped. He looked away from Sidon, his gaze downcast. ”It's another reminder that I'm not a real man. I'm a freak.”
Sidon sighed. “Link…”
He reached his arms forward. “May I touch your face?”
Link nodded, stepping closer. Sidon gently cupped the hylian's face into his hands. “You are not a freak. Just because your body is reminding you that you were born one way doesn't mean that you have to live that way. You're still a real man, the organs that you have don't define who you are. I wish you would've told me about this sooner, that way I could've supported you each time you struggled with this.”
Link's eyes were beginning to water. ”It doesn't bother you?”
“No, of course not! Why would it?” Sidon gently brushed his thumbs against Link's cheeks. “It only means that I have to provide you with twice the support I normally do from time to time. And that's something I am more than willing to do for you, my treasure.”
Link smiled as tears slowly began cascading down his face. He let out a shaky half-laugh, half-sob, closing his eyes. Sidon wiped some of his tears away with his thumb.
“Don't cry, Link. I adore you. A bit of blood isn't going to scare me away.”
Link nodded. “Sorry. Just really happy.”
“Don't apologize! You've got nothing to be sorry for!” Sidon reassured. He moved a hand to the top of Link's head and gently ruffled his hair. “You shouldn't have to apologize for being happy, my love.”
Link laughed. “I think the salmon meunière might be burning.”
“Oh, shit!” Sidon cursed, turning around. He'd completely forgotten about the fire. He hastily grabbed a spear that was nearby and thrust it at the burning twigs until the fire collapsed, leaving nothing but a few glowing coals and dying flames. He turned back to Link, who was laughing heartily.
“Goddess, I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention and-!” Sidon started, but Link placed a hand on his arm to get his attention. He began signing;
”Don't worry about it. It's just going to taste a little over cooked, that's all.”
Link grabbed his slate and summoned two wooden plates and two sets of silverware from it. He set the items on the ground beside the cooking pot, freeing his hands to sign. “Besides, you were a bit busy thinking that I was bleeding out.”
Sidon chuckled nervously. “Well, I mean, to be fair, blood isn't exactly something anyone wants to see. Especially when it's coming from their partner!”
Link laughed. ”True.”
He grabbed his slate again and tucked it into the corner of his arm. ”I'm going to change and clean myself up. You can serve yourself and start eating if you'd like, I'll join you in a minute.”
“Oh, okay! I'll wait here for you.” Sidon said, taking a seat next to the cooking pot once again. Link began to walk away before Sidon suddenly called out to him again.
“Link?”
Link turned around.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Link smiled. ”Thank you for being supportive.”
“Of course, my treasure. Of course.”