Chapter Text
Sidon felt his heart rate increased, his mind ran wild of the countless times this exact event played in his mind of just how much he had wanted this. How long the monarch looked forward to this opportunity.
How wrong this felt and yet excitement rose deep within him.
The Zoran King shook his head, trying to at the very least clear his mind of such ridiculous thoughts. This sudden request to kiss him, was it some sort of farewell gift? That Link wanted to at least give something to the Zora before leaving forever? If that was the case then he sure as Hell would NOT give the man that satisfaction alone-
"Sidon?"
Shrouded golden eyes that now lost their usual sheen filled with confusion looked upon nervous blue eyes that had haunted him for so many years. Like a dangerous sea creature hiding in the abyss of his heart latching its teeth deep into his heart for every second he thinks of him. In the past, he would speak of the Hylian hero's tale with such enthusiasm and adoration such that people could not help but listen in due to how intense and infectious the man's passion was. Nowadays, however, he would rarely even speak Link's name, hell many members of the royal councils were absolutely confused by the lack of the blonde hero's name leaving the red King's mouth when it had spill out naturally like the numerous waterfalls surrounding their domain.
Even so...
Sidon found himself holding onto Link's shoulders, albeit tightly, not thinking at all. His eyes darting to those moist lips of the blonde, tempting him, almost calling out to him like some forbidden fruit. The scene of the kiss Sidon had placed upon Link's hand hung over his sleeping pool last night began playing inside of the Zora's mind, how he had always wanted to kiss those soft pink lips instead.
"... you were awake, weren't you?"
Sidon asked accusingly, but Link simply chuckled in response, which in itself was already the answer. Of course, Link always had this habit of messing around the all too trusting Zora King as much as he could, knowing their close bond was something that could never be tampered with regardless of the numerous amount of the Hylian's teasings.
"I was surprised, I thought for sure you would have kissed me on the lips instead. Hah, didn't take you for a coward."
Link teased smugly, giving off a cheeky grin at how adorable he had felt of Sidon for simply kissing his hand. Sidon's cheeks began to slowly turn to a bluish tint in embarrassment.
"It's called common courtesy, Link. Friends don't usually kiss one another during a sleepover."
As Sidon began spouting off the ethics of what friends were to do with each other, he idly began playing around with Link's golden locks as if that was something more appropriate between friends to do together.
It was something Sidon enjoyed doing when they began hanging out frequently together before the Upheaval. During the times Link would inspect or tend to his weapons and utility, the once Zora prince would begin brushing and combing Link's hair in a gentle and rhythmic manner. The act itself was very comforting for the both of them although the two would chalk it up to a 'quirk' their friendship had cultivated. For all the isolated prince knew, it could be a friendly gesture between Hylians, yet deep down, he knew there was something more. More within that he wanted out of their relationship, no matter how much he told himself nothing would come out of it.
"... is that a no then?"
Sidon's brushing slowly came to a halt when Link asked such a thing. He hesitantly shook his head. If Link wanted a proper kiss, it would not be on the head. Nor hand or cheek.
An excited growl rumbled within the Zora's chest as he realized, all of a sudden, that breakfast had not stave off his hunger.
The Zora King's hands began to rover all over Link's body until he slowly settled his grips upon the blonde's waist, keeping the smaller man below him from moving away, eliciting a groan out of Link. Was Link this excited for a kiss as well?
That makes two of them.
"Sidon, I want to kiss you, please. " Link pleaded one last time, desire and pure unadulterated affection blossomed within those eyes, how those words alone broke the control Sidon had over himself. Who was he to deny such a request from a dear friend?
Heart racing, his Adam's apple bobbing from nervousness, Sidon steadied his breathing as his hand reached out upon Link's cheek with his thumb gentle brushing them. Colors spread onto Link's face due to the Zora's actions. He thought he was ready but with how fast his heart was beating...
Perhaps he never was.
Slowly and gently, the Zora leaned in closer, staring deeply into each other's eyes, his crest touching Link's forehead before finally closing in the distance between them. The two men felt as though time had stopped as their lips brushed up one another, cementing their kiss. Link let out a delicious moan, pressing his lips against Sidon's as they both gave into a love that had been pushed aside for far too long.
Sidon had wanted it to be a quick kiss - he promised to the Goddess Hylia herself he did - but Link HAD to push his tongue in HAD to make such delicious noises Sidon never in his life had heard of, HAD to be the man he loves...who was Sidon to not give in to his beloved Hylian. A small voice inside the Zora's mind was to be mindful of his sharp teeth but knowing how much of a risk taker Link was, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside in order to continue his selfish desire.
The two soon gave into their wants and desires, slowly indulging in this moment belonging only to them. Sidon pulling Link in, pressing their bodies together, the blonde could slowly feel a warm fuzzy feeling blooming inside of him. How much he did not want this moment to end.
No matter how long Link had desperately tried to stay away from Sidon, no matter how long Sidon tried to shift his focus from Link to his duties, or perhaps amplified by that fact alone, the two showed intense desperation for one another, almost drowning into each other.
Hell, Link would not care one bit, because he knew Sidon would always be his lifeline.
Soon, the Zora King pulled away, Link whined and tried to chase after that warmth once more but instead his lips were blocked by Sidon's finger, the bigger man chuckling.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. After all, you did request for A kiss, didn't you?" Teasing, the Zora ruffled up Link's hair, causing him to let out an annoyed sigh, rolling his eyes. Oh well, at least he is happy enough. Placing his hand onto Sidon's own, the Hylian could not help himself but lean into the touch, feeling incredibly fulfilled. Never would he had felt the hole in his heart filled in had it not been for Sidon. Then again, it was Sidon's fault that the hole was created in the first place, no?
Pushing such foolish thoughts aside, Link just wanted to focus upon Sidon alone and noticed how quiet he had been. No more snarky remarks nor endless amounts of praise the Zora is often known for when it came to the Hylian Hero. Looking up, he figured out why exactly.
Instead of a joyous or heartfelt expression, Sidon's face was one of sadness, regret and pain. In his mind, he began to imagine what life would have been, if he or Link said what they both wanted to say, what those few years without Link could have been, how much he wished he could replace those lonely nights of his with ones where Link was beside him.
"... I hope you come visit me more, my dearest Link. Nothing would make me happier than to just... have you by my side."
Guiding Link's hand off his own cheek to the softness of his lips, Sidon kissed Link's knuckle with utmost devotion. His body may belong to his kingdom, but his heart...
Taking the Purah Pad off Sidon's dresser, Link decided he had spent enough time in the king's room, choosing now to finally make his exit and return back home. Before he pressed the icon on the screen, Sidon had told him to wait once again. What now, did he forget his toothbrush?
"Before you go, I wish to give you this."
Walking over to the dresser, Sidon pulled out a beautiful pendant that had the three crescent moon circling each other, in the middle was a gleaming sapphire that shone like ice.
"My father told me to give this pendant to my wife. Yona is an important and precious friend to me, however, it felt... wrong to give this to her. The person I truly wanted to hand my heart over..."
Trailing off, Sidon carefully put the necklace around the surprised blonde, locking them in place and allowing the beautiful pendant to rest onto the Hylian's chest, the gemstone matching Link's eyes, but never truly matching their beauty, at least to Sidon that is.
"Sidon I, I can't have this, like you said you were supposed to-"
"I have made my choice. No one can tell me who I should give my heart to, not my father, not the elders, not even you, Link. I choose to love you and only you."
Link's face slowly morphed from one of surprise to a flustered mess. Damn it. He hated how easy it was for Sidon to influence his heart. Hated how easy it was for him to fall for the Zora's charm and hated how despite it all, he allowed it.
Because he too loves the man dearly.
"... thank you, Sidon. I will cherish this pendant forever. I... am thankful to be the one you chose to give this to."
"Don't say it like that Link, you have already demonstrated more than enough reasons of why I love you. Your kindness, your bravery, your questionable but extremely effective strategies and if anything... everything about you, I adore."
"..."
Link looked down as he held onto the pendant, a beautiful deep blue gemstone resting between three crescent moons, with each cycle the gem would shine brightly for the one it loves, a beautiful representation of Sidon's heart coupled with the fact that Link was wearing it so closely to his own meant the world to him. Sidon loved that Link wore something which was essentially a part of him and Link loved to have a piece of Sidon close to his person, wherever, whenever. How close their hearts beat for one another, never truly waning even after all of these years.
"I love you Link, goodbye for now. Until we meet again."
"... goodbye, Sidon. I love you too."
Finger pressed firmly onto the shrine icon close to his home, Link's heart unable to handle such intense emotions anymore, a painful goodbye, he knows it is not forever but he wished he could stay. As the Hylian felt his form dematerializing, Sidon pressed his lips on his forehead with eyes closed, feeling the warmth slowly disappear from his lips, the lingering scent of earth and wind replaced by the cold empty air instead.
The Hylian was gone, leaving Sidon alone in his room and with his thoughts. He had given Link his heart, and now he wonders to himself if... this is all for the best. That the two would still support one another as friends as they had long before the Upheaval, if this is truly what is best for them both.
"... Goddess Hylia, please, give me strength."
All that is left for him to do is meet with his queen, continuing their discussion from the last meeting in an effort to strive for a better tomorrow. But as the kingdom of the Zora thrives and surges towards greater heights, their own King continues to look back to the past, staying stagnant and unable to truly move on alongside his people in this domain.
Looking at the mirror on his dresser, his calm demeanour he had held onto so tightly finally cracks, his face crumples, clenching his jaw in an attempt to control his emotions. After all, he was always good at doing those. Years of training, studying, learning on how to control his emotions when it came to the well-being of his kingdom, he would mask his pain in order to stay strong for both his people and his wife. THEY all mattered, he HAD to be their ideal ruler, even if it is at the cost of his own happiness.
"..."
Is this... truly what he wanted? A life without the love of his life? Living in a lie where everyone else is happy but he isn't?
Had he not done enough? Does his own happiness not matter in the grand scheme of things? Or... had he been so blinded by his responsibilities and rules set in stone by those before him that he had failed to even search for a solution to truly mend his broken heart?
... No, there is still time.
Sidon swore to himself that he would have an important discussion with Yona when he can. With his heart racing and mind falling more and more into the endless failures and possibilities, all he could do is find some peace and solace in his own life.