Chapter Text
It was a cool night in the Seres Scablands. The sky was totally clear without a cloud in sight; allowing the constellations to show themselves in the wide-open sky as soon as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. The only thing blocking the stars were the dragon blood trees dotting the scablands, their branches opening wide into mushroom-like brims.
For many, it was probably a strange sight to see, as there was no other landscape like it in Hyrule. It was somewhat familiar, though, to Revali and the Rito soldiers that followed him. The scablands were only a canyon away from Tabantha after all, so it wasn’t completely foreign territory to them.
However, it must’ve been for the Zora, Revali had to assume. Their land was far on the other side of Hyrule anyway, full of wetlands and mountains and coniferous trees. Where it was humid, muggy, and reeked of fish so badly that the smell would cling to visitor’s clothes.
And clearly, the cold-blooded Zora weren’t used to the temperature here either. Because when a cold breeze blew in from the west, tousling Revali’s warm feathers delicately, Sidon visibly shivered.
That made Revali smirk at him from across the campfire between their respective tents.
“Too chilly for you, your Highness?” Revali snarked at him, tipping his wooden mug of hot mead to his beak. He struggled to drink from what was clearly crafted only for people with lips in mind, but he refused to let the annoyingly peppy prince notice.
Sidon smiled at him with too many teeth and a hardness in his eyes. “Not at all,” he replied, clearly shivering even when trying to hold back. “After all the activity of today, such a breeze is very much welcomed!”
Revali cocked an eyebrow at him, taking note of Sidon’s sharp teeth, which were very clearly chattering. “Uh-huh.” He brought his mead back up to take a drink. “Seems your teeth didn’t get the memo.”
Immediately, Sidon’s smile flipped upside down.
Revali snickered into his drink.
“Fine. Yes. It is cold,” Sidon said flatly, his well-mannered tone cracking with contempt. “I don’t understand. Is that what you wanted to hear, Champion Revali? For me to admit that it is cold? Is it so important to you?”
Revali stifled a laugh, more than pleased to see he could get under the prince’s skin so easily. "Or to not be so annoyingly peppy." Revali sipped his drink, purposefully doing it as obnoxiously as possible. “It gets tiring very quickly.”
Sidon’s brows went crooked. “What would you rather me be then? Moody, like you?”
At that, Revali blinked for a moment before his brows quickly followed Sidon’s lead. He leaned in, chest getting almost too close to the fire. “Excuse me?”
“Yes,” Sidon snorted, then repeated Revali’s words in an almost mocking tone. “It gets tiring very quickly.”
Slightly taken aback, Revali could only scowl at him, feeling his jaw clench tightly.
Ever since Sidon, Teba and the others came crashing in from the alleged future, a subtle sort of hostility sparked between Revali and Sidon. And the longer that pestering fishhead stuck around, the worse it got. The more annoyed Revali became. The more he wished Sidon would just beat it. Honestly, they didn’t need him anyway. It’s not like he was exceptionally strong or cunning. In fact, he was pathetic and stupid! He brought absolutely nothing to the table!
The way that he followed Link around like a lost puppy…The way he hung onto him…Praised him and complimented him for every little thing…The way that he cheered him on during battle and never left his side…
Revali couldn’t help but hold such disdain and contempt for the overgrown brat.
In the future, Sidon and Link might be close friends or hold some kind of affection for each other. But here, now, he was practically a stranger to Link. A nobody. Plus, Link had already been claimed.
Well, maybe not claimed. Link wasn’t aware of Revali’s affections yet, it seemed. But he was certainly working up to making his feelings known since the idiot hadn’t caught up yet.
He definitely was working up to it. Absolutely. Undeniably. For sure.
That’s why the presence of this inbred was so infuriating. Trying to sweep Link off his feet underneath Revali’s beak before he had a chance to do it first. Absurd. Ridiculous.
He was unsure if the others knew of the rivalry going between them behind the scenes or knew the reason for it; judging from the fact that they left the two of them alone to refill their warm drinks, they might not have. The only thing that said otherwise was the way Teba would side-eye Revali when he snapped at Sidon or boasted in front of Link. Like he might know the connotations.
Or perhaps they simply didn’t care. That was also a possibility.
Either way, for now, they were alone. Glaring at each other from across the fire. Tongues sharp. Hostility on the rise. Bellies warm and heads perhaps a little too fuzzy with mead. Quite possibly a dangerous combination.
Sidon continued, much to everyone in the world’s dismay.
“You’ll never win Link’s affection with such an attitude.”
Revali’s eyes shot open and his feathers all stood on end. His skin blistered underneath his feathers as he reeled back so quickly he almost flung himself off his seat. “Excuse me?!” He said again, but this time his voice was high and shrill. “I have no idea what you’re talking about! I don’t care about Link’s affections, you ingrate!”
It was Sidon’s turn to look amused. “Do you think I’m stupid, Champion Revali?”
“I don’t think you’re stupid. I know you’re stupid!” Revali shot back, then gained some composure seeing Sidon’s smirk fall.
Sidon grimaced for a half-second, then swallowed down his reaction and dismissed it with another snort. He was intent on getting underneath Revali’s skin now and was willing to put in the effort. “Truly, it’s hard to miss. The way you stare at him when he’s training, or even in general. The way you flaunt yourself in front of him specifically. How no one else is worth your attention other than him. How you are the first to jump at the chance to spar with him. And that is only the tip of the iceberg. It’s a shame though that nothing will become of it.”
Gritting his beak, Revali cursed himself.
Damn, even this idiot could tell? He really was caught red-handed.
He sniffed and crossed his arms. “What do you mean by that? Not that any of it is true, of course.”
“Perhaps it is the way that you talk down to him?” Sidon curled his lip up as if he were a dog; like he had been personally offended by all the insults Revali had ever thrown Link’s way. “I don’t know what sort of customs you Rito have, but insulting and belittling Link will get you nowhere. He will never feel the same for you, even if you did manage to stop pestering him. You have nothing worthwhile to offer, aside from being so inconceivably insufferable.”
Revali began to snarl but managed to dial it back. If Sidon could hold back, so could he. “And what would you propose I do?” He asked cooly, tipping his head up to look at Sidon down his beak. “Kiss the ground he walks on with every step he takes? Follow him around like a puppy? Praise him for everything as simple as wiping himself? By all means, let me know when that finally works out in your favor.”
An offended scoff rolled out of Sidon’s throat. Then he squinted at Revali and leaned forward, almost completely over the fire. “You do not know Link like I do.”
With a single, loud laugh, Revali said, “What? Not at all? For the record, moron, you’re from ‘the future’-“ He said this with air quotes- “Therefore, Link doesn’t know who you are at all, and you know nothing of who he is now! He thinks you are an absolute creep.” He shrugged and smiled. “His words, not mine.”
“He doesn’t even speak!”
Revali ignored him. “Me, however? I’ve been fighting beside him for months. Bonding over every battle. Growing ever closer.” Making sure they were making eye contact, he raised his brows and spoke his next words very slowly with hard emphasis. “…Sleeping in the same tent.”
With that, Sidon turned even redder than before, his cheeks flushing. His mouth shot open as if he was going to react with anger, but something must’ve occurred to him. It clamped closed and twisted into a smirk instead. “Sorry to say, but he simply cannot stand you. His words, not mine.”
“Why you-!”
“I thought you had no feelings for him? Why are you so upset?”
“I-I…I don’t!” Revali snapped, his tone way more high-pitched than he meant it to be. He coughed into his fist realizing this, as if it made it any better. “Ahem…What I mean to say is, you have it completely wrong. Link is my rival, not any sort of love interest of mine, obviously. That’s disgusting. I watch him train to study his techniques so I can be sure to be better than him. I spar him so he won’t ever forget his place-“
“Where would that be? Far above you?”
“You insolent-!”
“You speak such high praise of yourself, but I’ve never seen you best Link in any shape or form.”
Revali forced a smile onto his face. “You’ve simply never paid enough attention. I’ve bested that little knight more times than I can count. And it isn’t hard to do; he’s sloppy, weak, slow, tiny. I don’t understand how he could get so much admiration. It must be because his father is a captain of the royal guard.” He leaned back and shook his head. “Nepotism can really be the only explanation, given how useless he is.”
“Untrue!” Sidon yapped from the edge of his seat. “Link earned his role! Earned his title! Do you honestly believe that the Master Sword chose him through nepotism?! Impossible!”
“It wouldn’t be the worst thing that’s ever happened,” Revali said from the side of his beak. “I’ve had to meet your sorry face.”
Sidon’s face twisted and contorted into the most offended look Revali had ever seen on anyone’s face, even his. “I beg your pardon?!”
All Revali could do was try his best to hold back bouts of laughter, a smug smile stretching seamlessly across his face. “Go on. Beg.”
Hot air flared out of Sidon’s nostrils, and then he forced himself to take a deep breath that was all but slow. “You know,” he hissed. “I’ve tried my very best to remain cordial for my sister and Link’s sake, but I cannot handle it anymore!” He leaped onto his feet. “You are the rudest, nastiest, most callous person I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting! You do not deserve to fight by Link’s side!”
Eyes sharp, Revali followed suit, standing up and balling his fists. “Correction. Link is the one that doesn’t deserve to fight by my side! As much of a useless wimp as he is, however, I at least like him a whole lot better than I like you. You pompous, infuriating brat!”
“It shouldn’t be hard to be liked less than him. Since you so clearly have such deep feelings for Link. I cannot imagine what sort of thoughts cross your mind when you’re in the tent with him like you mentioned…”
Revali’s feathers ruffled against his will. He ran his hand down his crest to try and flatten it. “Are you dumb? How many times do I have to explain it to you? I think nothing of that lowly twerp! I think of him just as I think of the mud that sticks under my talons!”
Revali regretted his words when he saw Sidon smile. The smile looked almost innocent, but Revali knew better. “Does the Great Revali need a proper bath?”
“You are missing the point!” His feathers rose again, but with anger this time. “I hate Link! He’s weak, hopeless, ugly, stupid, and doesn’t deserve to be the hero!”
“Say what you will, but you know none of that is true! Link is strong, capable, brave, kind, handsome, and cunning-“
“You are such a kiss-up, it makes me sick.”
“You’re the one who makes me sick.” Sidon folded his arms together. “In any case, I would be willing to bet that Link could take the both of us down single-handedly without a scratch.”
He probably was right.
“You’re delusional,” Revali spat.
“Come to think of it,” Sidon began, stroking his chin in thought. Then, a grin took over his whole face as he jabbed a finger in Revali’s direction. “With how talented, strong, swift, and genius our knight is, I would bet absolutely everything I have that he could defeat every single person in this entire campsite with total and utter ease.”
He motioned to the entirety of the campsite. To every tent full of Zora and Rito warriors. To every campfire surrounded by even more men. There must have been at least three hundred of them total. Maybe even more.
And Link could most certainly wipe them out. Only someone who had never seen him action or someone who was beyond dumb would think otherwise.
Revali licked the edge of his beak anxiously while trying to keep his nasty smirk up. He refused to let up, even though he definitely knew better.
“Hah. Well, now I know that you’re insane. Even if he is as strong as you stupidly believe, it is literally impossible for him to take on that many soldiers. Especially at once.”
It should have been impossible for Sidon to smile even wider, but it horrifyingly was not. His lips curled and twisted themselves up so high that his eyes turned into two golden slits, nearly cutting his face in half.
He leaned himself down into Revali’s face. “Take my bet then, if you’re so confident.”
Underneath his feathers, Revali’s skin began to blister again. His brows deeply furrowed themselves into his eyes and a hard chuckle erupted from his throat. He took a step forward, so close that their foreheads nearly smashed.
No. Just say no.
“Sure, why not? I’d love to get the chance to see the both of you make such fools of yourselves.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Sidon said through clenched teeth.
“I suppose we’ll have to see, won’t we?”
They stood like that for several seconds, squinting at each other, close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Until they heard the flap of a tent open.
Both of them jumped and swiveled to look, to see Link leaving the tent with a cup in his hand and his hair a total rat’s nest. He scratched his neck, then shoved a pinky in his ear to dig around in it as he walked.
Revali hated how attracted he was to him.
So. Much.
“Link!” Sidon and Revali shouted, then stumbled over each other to get to Link, who just blinked dumbly at them.
~~~