Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Zelda Franchise... I wish I did.

Chapter 19 - Voie d'Azur

It has been less than three hours since Link basically fainted from pain and fatigue. And he surprised both of his companions when he woke up suddenly and tried to get out of the temple by himself.

At first, he protested loudly when Vahn quickly slid one of Link's arms over his shoulder. Defiantly stating that he could swim his way out by himself, Link wobbled his way to the entrance and stopped there.

For more than five minutes, the Hero made a motion to jump into the water, but every time a spasm of his body forced him to pull back and glare down onto his own feet. That went on and on until Sheik silently grabbed one of his arms and glared at Link when the Hero tried to pull away.

With Sheik at one side and Vahn at the other, they managed to escape the temple and not drown while carrying the one that is so much heavier than them.

Something that only seems to have worsened the Hero's mental state.

"Why is he doing this?" Vahn asked quietly, his eyes following the wobbly figure of Link fighting against the weight of the water at each step he takes.

A very aggravated sigh flew past Sheik's lips. Just like his red-haired friend, he is begrudgingly watching as Link walks at a slow pace towards the lake's shore.

Both Vahn and Sheik offered to assist the hero all the way towards the safety of land. However, as soon as he was able to stand up on the shallow rim of Lake Hylia, Link snatched himself away from them.

Ever since then, the blond Hero is slowly marching in a brooding mood. He doesn't talk, doesn't complain about pain, and doesn't divert his gaze from small waves floating in the water in front of him.

Having enough of his tantrum, Sheik swam over toward Link, only stopping inches away from him. "Could you stop being as stubborn as a mule for at least once?" He chided angrily. When he saw Link shudder under his words, the glare forming at his features melted away quickly. "Link… just talk to me."

Link finally stopped. Hunching a bit forward, he slowly bit his quivering lower lip. "Sorry…" He breathed out softly. "Sorry for being weak again."

Sheik sighed. His expression softened even more, glistering wetness forming at the corner of his eyes. "This is not the problem, Link. You're not weak. Out of everyone, I wouldn't and could never call you weak."

The Hero scoffed, a heavy frown twisting his handsome face.

Without any other word, Link began his march anew. Holding to his side with a firm hand, he tried to keep his pace faster and steadier. Not too long after he had reached the grassy shore.

Stuck in place watching his Hero move, Sheik stood there just looking at Link's broad back, pained deeply by what he sees. Only when Vahn moved over and tapped his arm that the Sheikah did tear his gaze away.

"He doesn't understand," Sheik said half angry and half disappointed. "Link can't get in that hard head of his that is his safety and not his strength or power that I care about."

"That's not true," Vahn replied flatly. "Link may be a little aloof sometimes, but he is not dense. He knows we care about him; he knows that you like him a lot… We heard it from the other Link's mouth and all that."

One slim hiss came from the blonde ninja, his hand casually sliding through his exposed right cheek. "Let us… forget about that for a while, okay?" He asked genuinely, the experience of that encounter still troubling his thoughts quite a lot.

Vahn shrugged, giving a little apologetic look to his friend. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that Link doesn't doubt our feelings for him. Our friendship. To me, this desperation of his, it feels like he doesn't trust himself. Somehow, he feels weak despite how powerful he is."

"So silly… someone like him, shouldn't have doubts about himself."

A playful giggle sang from Vahn's lips. "Someone like him? Sheik, he is just Link. And It's time you see that for yourself. Forget about the Hero of Time for a moment. Forget about Hyrule, about the war. Just look at him, just be honest. After today, you both need it."

Sheik's gaze lingered on Link's form for a moment. He watched as the Hero sat by himself on the grass, playing with his hands against the swaying green leaves. "I… can't, Vahn. There is so much at stake here. So many lives hanging on this thin veil of balance."

"Argh, stop with this annoying stoicism already!" Moving behind Sheik, Vahn pressed both hands on his friend's back and began to push him forward. "If you want to live a close-up life and never open up. Fine! Suit yourself. But I am asking you, just this once, to talk with him properly. I'm not asking you to throw yourself at his arms, just be there for Link."

"And you?" The Sheikah asked, his hesitation slowly crumbling away.

Once more Vahn giggled, but this time his eyes showed a hurt glow on them, one that the Sheikah failed to see with the red-haired boy hidden behind him. "You are the one he needs right now. Only you. I will… need some time anyway, to see if the protection I put on my bag doesn't have any leaking. Can you imagine the tragedy if water poured into my books?!"

Giving one final push onto Sheik's back, Vahn clutched the leather strap of his bag, pressing it firmly against his chest.

"Vahn…" Sheik called out to him, forcing the young scholar to stop and give him a timid glance. "Thank you and… sorry for yelling at you earlier."

Vahn laughed softly, shaking his head a bit as he began walking again. "Sometimes I deserve it. The yelling, I mean." Rising his left hand, he waved to his friend as he walked to the left where Link went to, giving more than enough space for the two of them.

Holding onto Vahn's advice more than he expected himself to, Sheik made his way toward Link, looking as nonchalantly as possible. Not that it was required, as Link didn't notice his presence until the Sheikah casually sat on the grass beside him.

And even then, Link kept his gaze down onto his lap, evading at all cost the gaze of those ruby eyes.

"Brooding doesn't suit you." Sheik tried to start with a light joke. Sadly, it was not enough to make Link glance at him. "Haa… Link. No one could ever predict something like that. It's not your fault-"

"How isn't my fault?" Link cut him short. Clenching his hands together to stay the shaking feeling on them. "I failed to beat him. I wasn't strong enough."

"And yet you're still standing. Alive to fight another day."

"That's not enough!" Link shouted, throwing an annoyed glare to his side. "It's not enough for me, Sheik. I failed once. I was not strong enough on that day… and because of it, Navi died."

"Is that what frightens you so?" A slight realization downed on the Sheikah.

Link gave a short nod, his blond bangs falling upon his eyes. "I can't lose you Sheik… not you, not Vahn. If I fail again… if my body can't stand and fight anymore. How can I protect you?"

"I don't need your protection! Look at me Link, do I look like a damsel in distress? I've spent more time fighting this war than you have spent awake." Sheik's sudden outburst came not as a surprise but still felt overwhelming for Link, the tall blond sinking his head even lower.

"Knew you would be angry…" Link said softly. Like a chastised child, he looked sideways to Sheik, his big blue eyes teary at its corners.

"I am angry, Link. I am livid!" Seeing the other blond flinch at his heated words, Sheik's angry stance quickly deflated. Reaching with one hand, he pressed a reassuring touch at Link's shoulder. "What makes me angry is that you can put your trust in me as I have in you. How do you think I feel when you are hurt? When I'm holding your bruised body?"

"But I am the Hero of Time." Link protested, finally turning to sit with his legs crossed while facing Sheik.

"Well, you are and no one can take that from you. But as one very eloquent scholar told me, you also are Link. Just Link, my… ours Link."

For the first time since he woke up, Link's expression changed to a more mischievous one. "Not 'The Hero' then?" He teased, expecting Sheik to turn away and divert this topic away.

Yet, to Link's surprise, Sheik didn't look away. He didn't frown or click his tongue in annoyance. Instead, the red-eyed blond took Link's right hand onto both of his and smiled. "Yes, no 'The Hero' anymore." Noticing how close he got to Link and how large those beautiful blue eyes look, his cheeks got tinted with hot streaks of red. "If… if you promise me that you won't leave us behind anymore. If you promise to fight with us, to depend on us. Then… I promise to… treat you only as Link. Just my Link."

"Your Link?" Link asked, half confused and half teasing.

"Y-Yes… my Link."

Nothing could possibly hide the huge grin on Link's lips right now.

"Stop looking at me like that." Sheik said bashfully, his eyes going anywhere but to those shining azure eyes.

"Like that how?" Link teased, inching himself closer, tightening his hold onto the Sheikah's hand.

"Like that! With those… big blue eyes and that smug grin."

Link closed their distance in full now, resting his forehead against Sheik's. "You make me like this. So… only you can help me with my… smugness."

Sheik practically melted under the warmth of Link's breath grazing against his neck, the other blond teasing him with a few kisses on the cheek, with one hand pressing an attentive and graceful touch on his thin back.

"S-stupid…" It was all Sheik could breathe out before closing his eyes and pressing his lips firmly against Link's lush lips.

For a spare, a tiny little moment, Sheik's mind wandered back to that moment inside the Water Temple. A tingle in his lips, reminding him of that awkward sensation, of a stranger's kiss against his lips

But then, Link's tender touch overpowered his discomfort. Forgetting how weak and scared he felt at the moment, Sheik can only embrace how good this feels. The sweet taste of Link's lips.

With a small sound, they parted away. Blue and red met in an intimate gaze.

Breathing heavily, Link pulled Sheik into a tight embrace. "Sheik… are you mine too?"

The question caught the Sheikah by surprise, a very unfamiliar giggled sounding from him. "Do you even have to ask?" He giggled again, pulling away from their embrace to press a caressing touch on Link's cheek. "I am yours. Only yours."

Their next moment was a shared silence. Smiling together, they sat next to each other in pure bliss, with only the orange gloom of the sunset reflecting on the lake as their company for this intimate moment.

"Ahn… guys?" Vahn's shy voice came from along the shoreline, the small scholar standing a bit awkwardly to the side, clutching the strap over his shoulder. "Is it okay for me to join in?"

Sheik and Link shared a peal of good and loud laughter. The Sheikah slid a bit to the side, leaving both him and Link free from each other's warmth.

Giving a sunny smile to his friend, Link waved one hand at him.

Vahn looked a bit nervous about it. Pressing his strap even closer to his chest, he hesitated for a moment. But Link's contagious smile soon overcame the petite scholar's nerves. Running like an excited boy, he dashed as fast as he could.

Opening his arms, Link welcomed Vahn into a hug too. Pulling the small red-haired with a bit of force, Link forced the boy on his lap, taking more than a few giggles from his friend. Nodding towards Sheik, Link invited the Sheikah that promptly leaned in onto the mess of limps.

Despite how tumultuous their afternoon had turned out to be. They found with each other a respite from it all. At this moment, they are just a group of friends enjoying a few laughs and giggles.

This hurt.

Oh, it hurts a lot.

Either be the sore bruise at his chest or the sight he finds himself so engrossed in.

They are laughing and playing together… his Sheik, laughing so carefree… and he is here. Hidden beneath the shadow of a tree, skulking behind a line of brushes, watching what should be his life.

His tongue slowly strokes the swollen spot on his lower lip, the steel taste of blood still very much present.

But there is no pain, just frustration. Just confusion.

"Why… why did he push me away." Link brought his head to his hands, for the first time since he got here averting his gaze from that impostor. "He… loves me. I know it. I felt it. For a moment… he kissed me back. I know it."

Clenching a handful from his silver-blonde bangs, Link snarled furiously in anger. In a fit, he punched the grass at his side, then sliding his hand along his leggings he clenched the fabric.

It hurts so much.

The world rejected him.

The Sages rejected and betrayed him.

Even his friends, his precious ones.

What has he done to deserve this?

Why him?

Why didn't the other one got banished away? Why isn't he down there, sitting next to them?

From the depths of his madness, Link still has enough awareness of his surroundings to hear the rustling of leaves coming from behind the trees.

The clumsy steps of someone not used in being furtive.

"Why are you still following me?" He growled menacingly, his anger and frustration still getting the better of him.

Parting the branches of some tall brushes, a tall Zora walked into this hidden spot. Her big eyes stared at him with a pause. "There is nowhere else for me to go."

Link scoffed, his red eyes traveling to her form, studying her stance. "Surely there is a better place than here. You saw what I did. You saw how many I killed." His right hand traveled to the handle of his sword, his eyes turning deadly in their glare. "Aren't you scared?"

"Of you? Maybe. But I'm far more scared of those monsters in black armor." She offered bravely, walking closer to him despite the dangerous look on Link's face. "From what I saw, you are no friends with them. Then I trust you enough."

"A daring suggestion. Heh, what a gambler you are… ah…"

"La'Azul." She responded. "My name is La'Azul."

He nodded curtly, slipping his fingers away from the handle of his sword. "My name is-"

"Link. I heard you in there." La'Azul explained.

"Yeah… I forgot you sneaked into the Temple." Pulling his right leg up, he laced his fingers around it, pulling the leg closer to his chest. "Truly, La'Azul. Why are you here? The lake is right there, If I remember it properly there is a water channel connected to Zora's Domain, no?"

La'Azul clenched her hands tightly, sadness and anger clear in her features. "It Zora's Domain no longer. They took it from us, my people enslaved and subjugated under their cruel rule." She glanced down to her feet, large tears forming at the corner of her big eyes. "I have nowhere else to go."

Her response staggered Link from his indifference. Looking at this woman he felt something of a kin spirit. They have robbed her of her world, just like someone has robbed him of his.

"From my point of view, if they took your home from you. Just take it back with retribution, bloody retribution." He smirked, thinking of taking his differences personally to that accursed owl, not that Rauru would ever come back to life so he could kill the bastard again.

"Easy for you to say." La'Azul spat back angrily. "You are… evil. You enjoy killing, I don't."

"Never killed before?" Link asked plainly, ignoring her comments about him.

"I… it wasn't my choice." She replied with her arms trembling, hugging her chest in search of comfort.

"It is always a choice, La'Azul." Slapping his backside, dusting off his leggings, he got up to his feet. "You could let them kill you. Let them rip everything you own from you. Or you can take up arms and fight. Kill whatever endangers those you love. There is no shame in that."

A faint glint of hope shone through La'Azul's forming tears. "Could you… help… me?"

Link scoffed, shaking his head ever so slowly. "Do I look like someone in a position to help others? Sorry for crushing your hopes, La'Azul. I have my own problems to deal with."

Giving one last glance to the group down the hill, Link shook his head again and began to march in the opposite direction. As he passed by La'Azul he heard the low sound of sobs, her tears now freely sliding down her cheeks.

Feeling a horrible twist in his guts, Link stopped next to her, his head still focused on the path ahead. "La'Azul… if… if you want your home back. Then fight for it. And as with any other fight, it starts with the first step. Look ahead of you; what does your first step look like?"

Nodding just once, Link felt as if his job here was done. Without any parting words, giving no other care about this girl, he walked away. His figure quickly disappeared behind the tree lines.

Wiping the tears away, La'Azul forced her sobs away. Her big eyes watched the scenery in front of her. For the first time in years, she has been able to witness the sunset.

It is so pretty, so peaceful.

'If you want your home back. Then fight for it.' Link's words resonated within her. For so long, she has been drowning in fear and despair. She had given up on her freedom and that broken man gave it back to her.

Now, he gave her some way of keeping going forward.

Taking a long and very needed breath, La'Azul looked down to the group of people next to the lake getting ready to leave.

"My first step."

La'Azul ran down the slope, yelling for them to wait.

And reacting to her call, the three of them turned to look at the desperate Zora running clumsily toward her destiny.