1037 Words (we are BACK IN BUSINESS)

Dazed. Dazed and sluggish. Can't think, head hurts, legs pins and needles. Chest numb. I sit up, shaking my daze off as best I can, which isn't really good, and feel around for where I am. I'm in a bed. Whose bed?

Someone inhales sharply. "O-oh my gods," Sidon? Is that you? He kisses my forehead and I giggle. "You're okay."

"Y-yeah, silly," I swallow back blood. "I'm always okay."

He mumbles something about being high, sighing loudly, then cups my face in his hands and kisses my nose. I smile. "I never thought you'd wake up, Link."

Wake up? How long was I sleeping? "Never? Was I out for too long? Did you miss me~"

He takes my wrists in his hands gently. "Link, do you remember why you're hurt?"

Do I remember why my head hurts? I think there was a man. He smelled of hay and sand, his voice was super deep. He told me it was gonna be okay and I didn't believe him because he had a knife. It was a long knife since it made a big sound when he unsheathed it.

And then... then he stabbed me, but I stayed standing and cut him with my sword. He said the fuck word. I said the fuck word.

I remember that I fought him but I was bleeding. It was like he kept teleporting and he got another stab in, yanking the knife out really fast. I couldn't stand anymore. He yelled at me as he quickly stabbed me again, too many times to count.

He would've continued if I hadn't teleported away with the slate.

"Yeah, I kinda remember." I place my hand over my stomach. "He had a really big knife. It made a big sound when he waved it around." Sidon sighs heavily.

"You've been out for almost a month. I think yesterday was three weeks."

"That's a long time to sleep."

He laughs quietly. "Yeah. It is. I'm so glad you're awake, but you look terrible."

I'm suddenly overcome with sadness. "Why do all the bad guys hate me? I just want to help people." Pause. "If they're gonna kill me they have to go for the head."

Sidon lets out a huff. "Dammit, you're bleeding again. Sign, please,"

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, swallowing hard. My mouth tastes gross. I should brush my teeth. I hop off the bed and the second my feet touch the cool floor, my head spikes with hurt. My chest stings and I wince.

"Sit down." Sidon says. "I'll bring you food, okay?"

His voice is gentle but I still hate what he has to say.

"Link, you're terrible at lying right now."

I wince only slightly, holding back a pained noise. "Please, can I leave? It's boring in here."

He sits next to me and I lean into his shoulder. I've done nothing but sit in a bed for the past day and I'm tired of it. I need to walk around and do stuff. "You're a mess. You look like you're on the brink of passing out any second, Link. It really isn't a good idea."

I frown. I'm fine. Albeit in pain, but fine. "Just give me a shot and I'll be okay."

He lets out a long, drawn out breath. "Nope. You were high as a kite last time. No way you're going out in public like that. You'd regret it later." I run my hand along the side table, looking for the drawer handle. "Link, no."

"You really don't get it. I'm doing nothing here all day. It's boring as hell and I want to go out, just for a few hours okay? It can be just me and you,"

He clearly contemplated this. "I have a dinner meeting today. Zelda will be there as will the other leaders. I trust you know Riju? And Kaneli, the Rito chief?" He pauses as I nod. "I can't say no to you."

A quick kiss on my forehead, and rolling up my sleeve. "Half dose. Should still dull the pain." The prick was followed by a numbing sensation. I exhale in relief, the pain is too much to just easily push to the back of my mind, so I have to really distract myself from it. "Get dressed. We'll leave in an hour."

I nod, smiling slightly. I quickly change my pants but when I take off my shirt, I pause. I forgot the bandages were there. They're wrapped tightly around my chest and stomach, looping over my shoulders a few times. Kind of like a tank top.

I slip on a T-shirt and go brush my teeth.

"Does that feel nice?" The brush creates a pleasant sensation as Sidon runs it through my hair. "Your hair is so nice when it's clean."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Let's go." Before we leave, I pull him into a kiss. I feel lightheaded after even if it wasn't long at all.

I've walked around his chambers a bit so I don't really stumble around anymore as we head to the banquet hall. I hear many people ask him where I've been or seem surprised at my appearance.

"They're right, you know," Sidon says quietly as I bristle at another remark. "You've been gone for a month. They all love you, almost as much as I do."

We enter the banquet hall and immediately everything falls silent. I wave in front of me and take my seat next to Sidon. Nobody is on my other side.

After the introductions, conversation resumes, mostly small talk. Thankfully nobody questions me on my absence.

Phew.