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Sidon was awoken to the sound of someone sobbing.
At first, he thought that it was a part of whatever dream he'd been having and tried to brush it off. But then he felt movement to the right of him and realized with a start that it was actually coming from Link.
He turned to face him quickly and was met with a pitiful sight; Link, hunched over himself in the darkness, his arms folded around his waist as his shoulders shook, quiet whimpers escaping from his mouth that was buried in his knees. Sidon didn't need to ask what was wrong, Link had informed him that his monthly cycle had started earlier that afternoon and that he would be laying down for the majority of the evening. His heart sank at the sight. Why hadn't he woken him up? He knew that he wasn't going to shame him for it, so why did he never say anything?
Sidon reached over and placed a hand on Link's back. He flinched and glanced behind to look at Sidon with tear-filled eyes.
‘Sorry…’ He signed, his hand trembling. Sidon shook his head and gently pulled Link by the shoulder to be closer to his side. Link obliged, maneuvering clumsily in the bed until he was laying in the fetal position beside Sidon. The zora wrapped his arms around him, pressing him into his chest as he continued to wince and sob in pain.
“Love, there is absolutely no need to apologize. You can't control what your body does to you, or how you react.” Sidon spoke. “I only wish that you'd let me know when it's hurting you the most, like now.”
Link shuddered. “'M just used to being alone. Don't wanna bother you.”
Sidon's heart wrenched as he heard his shaky voice. He'd sounded absolutely miserable and Sidon would have given anything in the world to take that feeling away from him. He placed his hand on the back of Link's head, gently stroking his blond hair. “You're never bothering me, my pearl. Never. Especially when you seek comfort, like now.”
Link sobbed again. He placed a hand against Sidon's body and leaned further into him, as though he were trying to absorb his warmth. “I love you.”
“I love you too, my treasure. Forever and always.”
They laid like that for what seemed like ages. Link would occasionally break the silence with a hiss or a whimper and Sidon would whisper sweet words of encouragement to him, reminding him that this would pass and that he'd feel better in no time, all while gently moving his hands across his body. It wasn't until Link's breathing finally evened out that Sidon allowed himself to fall back asleep as well.