959 words

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I sit up groggily. It's dawn, my usual waking time, but I barely slept last night thanks to Link's injury. Today, he's walking around as if nothing happened, as if he were fine. Acting like it too. But I see through the charade, I notice the small winces here and there.

"You really should rest." He jumps at either my touch or my voice—maybe both, shaking his head with arms raised defensively. "But—''

"No." He quite literally breathes. "No, I'm fine."

"You are not fine." I don't like to argue, but I will for this. "I see it."

He dismisses my remark with a wave of his hand. "N—hey!" He protests as I pick him up over my shoulder and carry him over to the hospital wing, dropping him in his assigned bed. He glares at me.

"Stay here, okay? You've been quite literally impaled, you need more than two days to heal." Link pouts with crossed arms but obliges, the scowliest scowl there ever was on his face.

Last night I brewed a potion, but I know nobody would approve of me drinking it. I'm not certified so I don't know what it could do. To be frank I don't give a shit. I'm sick of being taken care of—I'm supposed to take care of others, I always have. I took care of my father when I was younger, and he knew it. Of course, he tried hard, but he was always so busy and I ended up bandaging him up after the day of hard work—he was a border patrol guard at the castle.

I open the bottle after making sure I'm alone, and drink it all in one big gulp. I feel the effects already—the pain is reduced to a dull throb, barely noticeable now. I smirk at myself. Who needs to be certified? I just made a great elixir with only my limited wits.

I lift my shirt and remove the crimson stained bandages, revealing a long scar where the cut used to be. I stand and sneak out. It's hard to disguise myself well—I'm the only Hylian here among a sea of Zora. (Get my pun)

Right when I get to the great Zora bridge, I feel the same large hand take hold of my shoulder. "Where do you think you're going?" His voice no longer sounds amused, but has several tones to it—annoyance, frustration, and maybe a hint of protectiveness to it.

I'm sick of being mute. I know I have a voice, I just haven't used it in so long, I wonder if it's still there. In the recesses of my mind I remember that I hated my voice for some immature reason. And the breathing trick will only work for so long.

"I'm going... away," I force my voice to work, coming out all hoarse and ugly. Maybe the reason I hated it wasn't so immature.

He looks surprised, raising an 'eyebrow'. Of course, the Zora don't have hair, but still. "I don't think so."

"I'm not hurt anymore!" I yell, or at least I try, because my voice comes out quiet and hoarse, but at least it's something. "You're not my parent—I can do whatever I want because I'm an adult!"

"You're not acting like an adult," He puts his hands on his hips.

"Well fuck you!" I scream. "Fuck you!"

"Link—stop. You're not hurt anymore? Did you take an elixir?" I nod. "I assume you made it yourself?" I nod again. "Well then. I'm not stopping you from leaving, but I recommend you stay."

"But I'm fine!" My throat burns from the overuse, but I have to speak. "I'm okay!"

"I never said you needed to stay to heal" he blurts out, then looks surprised, covering his mouth hastily. "I... you can go."

"...you know what, I'll stay." And with a raise of my eyebrows. "I'm sure it won't hurt anybody."

"Sidon, right?" The blond boy says. "It's okay, I won't bite."

As if he knew the size of MY teeth. I recognize him — he's the one who keeps stealing Mipha's attention! I'm mad at him, I never get to play with my sister! I step out from behind the column, greeting his twinkling smile with a glare.

"Go away." I growl. He snickers, standing up to his full height. He's short. I never realized how short Hylians were. He's, like, two feet taller than me.

"Hey Mif, I'm getting bad vibes from your brother," My sister walks over, nodding at his statement.

"He... you need to acquire his trust, Link."

"Yeah but — but!" He crosses his arms, then turns to me. "What's wrong?"

"You steal Mipha!" I cross my arms now, glaring, trying to look intimidating. They look at each other, surprised, then snicker. "What?! You do!"

"Do you want Mipha's attention?" The blond says, raising his hands. "'Kay. I'll come back... er, sometime in the next month, Mif. I've, um, gotta lotta training to do."

With a curt nod and a bow, he walks away, leaving me and Mipha alone. Finally.

How I was wrong. I was so wrong, I realize, as I look down at the tiny Hylian leaning on my arm, sleeping. I thought of him as an enemy back then, a rival for my sister's attention. But now, I can't have it either way, so I find myself...

I find myself wanting his attention.

I scold myself and try to push those pleasant yet unpleasant thoughts out of my head.

But they won't go.