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sapphicseasapphire · 3 months

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Ravio my beloved!! I have some lore to share! I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself but I want to make sure I have everything together! I’m very heavily considering throwing Ravio in with the rest of the Cryptid Chain since 1) he’s my little guy and 2) he’s a Link, right??? Technically?? Let me know if you’d be interested in seeing him included in the adventure!

Anyway, yeah. Lore under the cut! (This one gets rough so be warned. Blood and gore and violence against children)

Ravio was born to a small pod of Mer that lived in Lorule’s sea. He was always such a happy child, excitedly babbling about everything he could see, playing with his friends, swimming freely under the watchful eyes of his family.

(Pods of Mer are very close. While they are not all blood related, they’re very close! It’s pretty communal: for example, Ravio had parents but was raised by every adult in the pod. While he didn’t have any siblings, the other children were all basically his brothers and sisters. In such a tight knit community, trust is very important. It’s one of the things that makes the Mer so strong).

Since Mer are 100% aquatic and never leave the ocean, they were oblivious to the horrors that had taken place in the land of Lorule. Years ago, their Triforce had been destroyed, which corrupted everything that resided there. Aquili, being amphibious, were affected by this. While most of them were in the ocean at the moment of the Triforce’s destruction, those that were on land were overcome by evil, transforming into horrible monsters that would come to be known as Ku. These Ku were ruthless, attacking everything in sight, both on land and in the sea.

As the years passed, their numbers grew, along with the surge of other monsters that plagued the land. Lorule fell to ruin, but the ocean remained lively. Of course, it became dangerous with even more monsters. In this world, instead of turning against each other, the Mer and the remaining Aquili issued a truce, agreeing to work together to fend off their common enemy.

Ravio’s pod was part of the alliance, but he was too young to remember it. Back then, all that mattered to him was his parents, his friends, and collecting little trinkets to play with. Children were sheltered from such issues, and while Ravio grew up in the throws of war, he never looked the enemy in the eye. Aquili didn’t often visit his pod- if they did, they met with the adults. Ravio never met any. Even with his life upturned by the Ku and other monsters, he never knew bloodshed or violence.

He was only five years old when that changed.

It was a quiet night, peaceful, no different from any other. He slept soundly in his father’s arms, a soft kelp doll snug in his hands. He was sleeping so deeply that he didn’t wake when the screaming started. He didn’t wake when his father’s arms tightened around him. He didn’t even wake when the scent of bloody water met his little nose.

No, what woke him was when he was suddenly thrown into open water. In an instant, the arms that held him were gone. His little pocket of warmth and comfort, gone. His father had thrown him. The force of it ripped his doll out of his tiny hands and his eyes snapped open instinctively.

At the time, he didn’t comprehend what he was seeing. But when he’d remember that night years later, he’d wish he’d kept his eyes closed.

The water was cloudy and red, and smelled like iron and sick. Screams rung out from all sides, horrible and aching. And in front of him was his father… and a Ku biting into his shoulder. Ravio’s father flailed in the open water, and the plumes of red coming from where the monster’s mouth had closed around his flesh only got darker and darker.

The beast did not let go.

He met his father’s eyes. Eyes that were pleading, begging, screaming for him to get out of here.

Red.

Ravio was frozen.

And he watched as more Ku swam to the scene, all of them bloodied. Their eyes were crazed, their minds warped by a corruption that Ravio was too young to understand. They swarmed the area, and two more grabbed his father. The child, frozen as he was by fear, could only watch as they tore him to shreds.

He watched his father die at the hands of the Ku, and then he watched as those crazed eyes fell upon him.

They stalked closer, slowly, as if they knew they could take their time. Ravio choked on the bloody water, his eyes burning with tears as he watched their approach. They were going to kill him. He was going to die, just like his father, just like the rest of his pod, and there was nothing he could do about it.

A clawed hand grabbed him by his tail and he screamed.

Red.

He was pulled forward, claws tearing his flesh, and the five year old was helpless to stop it.

Red.

A monstrous face loomed above him, the clouded water doing little to hide the jagged teeth and crazed eyes of his attacker. Ravio cried out and squeezed his eyes shut tight, squirming in its grasp-

Red. Red, red, red-

Before he could feel the bite of those awful teeth, the Ku above him let out an awful scream and released him. Ravio screamed again as the claws were torn from his tail, but he opened his eyes just in time to see the beast under attack. By now, the Ku was far enough away from him that the murkiness of the water blurred any details, but he’d recognize that silhouette anywhere: it was his mother. His mother, tearing at the Ku with nothing but her fists. His mother, bathed in bloody water. His mother, injured and exhausted and winning.

The Ku went down after one hell of a fight, and when it was over, Ravio’s mother was looking worse for wear. But she weakly made her way over to him, urgency in her eyes. Ravio cried as she pressed a kiss to his little forehead. He clung to her- and she held him. But only for a moment.

She looked between his injured tail and his pale, terrified face. And then she brushed his hair out of his eyes and leaned in close.

“It’s going to be okay, Ravio,” she had said, and even though her voice trembled, he believed her. “You’re going to be okay.”

Ravio could say nothing in response, choking back sobs as she held him.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered against the top of his head. “I’m so sorry, baby. I need you to listen. Can you do that for me? Are you listening?”

Ravio nodded against her chest, still unable to speak.

“I love you, Ravio. I love you so much.” She squeezed him closer. “And when I tell you to, I need you to swim away as fast as you can. Do you hear me? As fast as you can. Don’t stop for anything.”

And that’s when she let go of him.

“Mama,” he sobbed, and she hesitated before she turned to face the remaining Ku. There were tears in her eyes as she swam upward, her shadow falling protectively over her son.

“I love you,” she said one more time, “Now go. Go, Ravio. Now!”

And then the Ku were upon her.

Red.

Little Ravio turned and fled the scene, swimming as fast as his injured tail could take him. He swam through little tunnels in the rock and coral, ensuring that the bulky Ku would not be able to follow him. He swam until the water was clear of blood, until he could see the rippled patterns in the sand at the bottom of the seafloor, until the sun’s light filtered in through the waves above.

He was in shallower water than he’d ever been in before.

His tail had stopped bleeding at some point in the night, but it was painful. He could not keep going forever. And where… where was he supposed to go? Back to his pod?

Ravio did not stop swimming. He was tired. He was hurt. And he was confused. Later, he’d admit that he didn’t comprehend what he had seen. He fully expected his parents to appear out of clear water and take him home. He didn’t understand that they were gone… he’d never known death before that point.

Well. His parents did not appear. Neither did anyone else from his pod.

His mother had told him to keep going. To not stop for anything. And so, he continued. His heart racing in his chest, he swam on. He didn’t know how long he was swimming for. The water got shallower and shallower until he blinked and suddenly he could touch the bottom of the sea floor with his little hands.

Ravio’s wide eyes scanned the Surface. There were no monsters with jagged teeth and sharp claws and bulky bodies. No clouds of red. No screaming. The small child lifted his head above the water, holding his breath, and was greeted with the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the shoreline.

The ocean wasn’t safe. Not anymore.

And so, with trembling arms, Ravio pulled himself onto the beach. The sunlight directly on his skin was uncomfortable, and the sand was rough against his scales. He coughed water from his gills and wheezed as burning air entered his lungs. For several minutes, Ravio’s entire body was seething in pain. He desperately gasped for air that hurt to breathe, and his skin burned as it dried.

But once the initial discomfort passed, he felt… numb. Screaming echoed in his ears. The scent of blood lingered in his nose. When he closed his eyes, he saw his father’s desperation. His mother’s sacrifice. He saw them die, over and over again.

Red.

That’s when the tears started anew. And goddesses, when they started, they didn’t stop. His body heaved with sobs, his throat aching and his face slick with tears. He sat and cried for what felt like hours, but even looking back on it, he has no idea how long it truly was. Only that at some point, a curious sound caught his attention.

It was like the click of two rocks coming together underwater, but higher pitched. Melodic. It reminded him of his pod’s songs. And as he looked down to find the source of such a sound, ge was surprised to see a small Surface creature.

Ravio, being a small child, had never seen Shrface creatures before, so he had no way of knowing that what sat beside him was a “bird.” Only that it was tinier than he was and looked just as lost as he did.

He named the bird Sheerow, and he would become Ravio’s closest friend. A companion, a guide, a light in the dark. An anchor to cling to as his world crumbled around him.

They would be inseparable from that point onward.

. . .

Ravio would go on to become quite the figure in Lorule! He was discovered living in the woods by a local blacksmith, who brought him to the castle. (A strange child in the forest? Forests that are overtaken by monsters? Suspicious).

But the king determined that he was no monster, and sent him to live with the blacksmith and his wife. He never ventured back into the ocean- he never had the luxury of soaking in salt water. No, he stayed firmly on the ground where it was safe, even if the blacksmith and his wife could never be his family. He barely ever left their house until he was eleven, and even then he’d only go to the castle and back.

For years, he and Sheerow would frequent the castle, having deemed it one of the few safe places they knew of. They’d make deliveries for the smith, then stay a little longer just to talk to the princess. Hilda would be queen one day, and Ravio knew that she’d do anything to aid her suffering kingdom.

Anything.

Ravio never quite trusted her.

Her eyes were Red.

He was seventeen years old when his distrust for Her Highness was validated. After her father’s death, she rose to the throne and her desperation to help her people became palpable. She’d made a mistake in trusting a vile man named Yuga, and sought to steal another world’s Triforce in order to bring peace back to their own. Ravio, knowing the damage that this would cause to that other world, was against this idea wholeheartedly. And when Princess Hilda decided to go through with her plan, Ravio knew he couldn’t stick around.

He couldn’t stand idly by and witness another massacre.

But he couldn’t fight. No matter how hard he tried, he could not raise a sword against his princess. He couldn’t stomach the sight of an arrow or the sound of a bomb’s fuse. The thought if such violence brought him right back to the ocean, bloody water, screaming from every direction.

In the end, Ravio was too much of a coward to fight on his own. And so, he set out to find someone that could help him. He took all of his supplies and stole a relic from the castle, a bracelet that allowed him to slip into the second dimension and crawl through the cracks between worlds.

He found himself in a land called Hyrule, having emerged from the walls of a sanctuary. And that’s where he found a boy his age garbed in green and unconscious on the ground. Ravio rushed over, and upon determining that he was alive and well, he took him to his own house.

Well… what would have been his house if he had been in Lorule. He’s not in Lorule anymore.

He’s…. A long way from home.

. . .

Some notes!

• Okay I know that my description of that massacre was really bad but Ravio’s memories of that night are EXTREMELY hazy. He was literally five years old. Details are lost, but he remembers that feeling. He still has nightmares about it.

• Whenever Ravio feels unsafe or uncomfortable in any way for any reason, he says “Red.” A topic of conversation that makes him uncomfortable? Red. Just saw something that kind of messed him up (monsters, aggression, etc)? Red. Woke up from a nightmare? Red. This usually lets people that he needs some space/needs comfort. He’s VERY vocal about when he needs a break. We’re proud of him.

• My guy’s so against violence of any kind. He’s NOT a fighter. He’s clever enough that if he finds himself in a dangerous situation, he’s usually able to talk his way out of it. If he’s not able to talk his way out? He has a boyfriend that’s more than happy to do violence.

• Going off of that last point, Ravio goes to Legend for everything. I know I said he’s against violence, but if it’s an actually dangerous situation, Ravio gets Legend immediately. He’s more than happy to provide Legend with the weapons and tools he’d need to win- he’s not about to watch Legend get hurt on his behalf. But Legend’s not about to let anyone mess with Ravio for any reason

• Unless Ravio scammed them

• But he won’t let Ravio get hurt

• Legend’s so gay for him but it’s a big secret shhhhh don’t tell anybody (everybody knows).

• Also Legend’s very protective over him. Ledge has a pretty icy demeanor but the moment Ravio says “Red,” all bets are off. Hugs. Cuddles. No one is allowed to judge him for how soft he gets around Ravio. Also if anyone ever tries to harm him, they will meet the business end of his sword.

• For as protective as Legnd is of Ravio, Ravio is JUST as protective over Legend. Legend is not nearly as… eh, we’ll say emotionally aware as Ravio is. If something upsets him, he doesn’t simply take a step back and say a safe word. Legend is a fighter, and that often means bottling things up until they explode. While Ravio is against fighting, he’s not against confrontation. Even if Legend is too worried about being perceived as weak for telling someone he’s upset, Ravio just seems to… know. And he’s not afraid to tell whoever upset him to back off. Or if he upset him, he’s not afraid to apologize and give him space. If no one in particular has upset Legend (just… hero stuff. Missing Marin. The pressure of saving the world over and over again. Those kinds of things have a way of getting to people), then Ravio is the first to take Legend into his arms and just hold him.

• Ravio is the only person that Legend will let hold him without any complaint. Not even a half hearted attempt to argue. Ravio opens his arms and Legend just falls in and curls up.

• This is sweet and all but they definitely still banter and argue and stuff (mostly lightheartedly). What I said before in this post about Legend calling Ravio his roommate and “little rat” is still true. He likes Ravio but you’re not supposed to just KNOW THAT. He’s! Big scary Hero of Legend!! Untouchable!!! Strong!!! This rat man cannot crack his tough exterior!!! (Ravio calls him Mr. Hero and gives him a cool bracelet one (1) time and he’s head over heels)

• For more information about that war, I made this post a while back!

• I’ll talk about this more in Legend’s origin, but it is FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG for Mer to have to live on land. Like it’s killing them slowly. Especially Ravio, who doesn’t have the opportunity to soak as often as he should and hasn’t been in the ocean since he was five years old. Ravio’s first time back in the ocean happens much later, with Legend. And he’s terrified. He has some… not so great memories, and Legend understands that. Ravio and Legend are both fearful of Aquili and even other Mer soldiers. But honestly? The biggest thing he’s afraid of about going back into the ocean? Is that Sheerow can’t follow him.

• Emotional support bird. More effective than you’d think. Rav and Sheerow are absolutely inseparable.

This is…. Incredibly long. Let me know if you have any questions! I’m happy to talk about my little guys. (Seriously, I think Ravio is my second favorite after Sky).

#the legend of zelda #chain as cryptids au #my art #fanart #CAC origins #we’re not gonna talk about how this is longer than the other three origin posts combined #sapphire rambles way too long #tw blood #tw violence #albw ravio #was this too much?#I’m sorry if it was too much #it’s just that Ravio is my little guy so I have to hurt him #that’s just the rules #cac art #cryptid legend #cryptid ravio #links meet au

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adrift-in-thyme · 3 months

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Febuwhump Day 3: "Bite down on this" (Legend & Time)

Ao3

CW for blood and injury

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The more of it that he sees, the more Legend is confident that he really, really hates blood. Sure, he’s a hero, and being exposed to the stuff is part of the job description. And he can deal with it when it's coming out of him, and he has no choice but to do something about it. But a situation like this? He would be completely happy to not experience.

Yet, here he is. Experiencing it.

Lucky him.

“I-I can handle this, vet,” comes the gravelly voice of the hero he is currently trying not throw up on to save. Time sits shivering against the rock wall, pale as the snow surrounding them. His eye is still sharp as ever, however. Which makes it a bit difficult to send him as heated a glare as Legend wants to.

Not impossible though. Never impossible.

“No, you can’t, old man, and you know it.”

He chances a glance at the wound, unable to keep from visibly cringing. It’s not every day you see a couple of ice arrows skewered in someone’s tricep.

“Let me just think for a minute. I’ve gotta figure out how to get these things out.”

“Pull them,” Time says as though it’s the simplest thing in the world. This time Legend has no problem glaring at him.

“In case you haven’t noticed, your arm is frozen,” he snaps, gesturing to the frostbitten flesh visible past the tatters of armor and tunic. “And has been for the better part of the last five minutes.”

Time looks relatively unperturbed for someone dripping icicles of blood and likely getting more hypothermic by the minute.

“I’ve dealt with things like this before,” he says, even as Legend practically dives into his pouch, searching for his fire rod. “I know what…what to do. It will only take me a moment.”

Fire rod acquired, Legend sets it aside and grabs for a pocket knife.

Oh, this is gonna be so pleasant.

Time tilts his head, a knowing look in his eye. ��This is making you uncomfortable.”

“Good to know it’s not bothering you.”

“Like I said, I’ve…done this before. Many times. There is n-no need for you to suffer for…for my sake.”

Bandages, fire rod, pocket knife, heart potion, a scrap of sturdy cloth torn from his outer tunic – Legend’s eyes roam over the objects he has placed beside him, checking to ensure he has everything he needs. Yup, time to dive in.

Yipee.

“Here.” He folds the cloth in half and hands it to Time. “You’re gonna need something to bite down on.”

“Legend…” There is something vulnerable in Time’s gaze now, vulnerable and almost pleading. “I’ll be alright. Just allow me to – ”

He cuts off, letting out a series of tiny – and frankly, adorable – sneezes. Legend hardly fights back a playful grin. So, he’s not the only one with “bunny sneezes.” Thank the Golden Three.

Oh, he’s gonna tease him about that later.

As Time finishes his sneezing fit, Legend picks up the fire rod. Mentally steeling himself, he moves closer to the affected arm.

“Look, old man, I’m sure you have done this yourself. Countless times. But that doesn’t mean you have to do that now.”

Time is looking at him out of the corner of his eye and Legend meets his gaze.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

For a moment, it is quiet. Then, the hero’s shoulders slump defeatedly. With a decisive nod, Legend leans forward.

“Alright, then. Take a deep breath and bite down on that thing. This is gonna hurt and I’d rather you not, you know, bite off your tongue or alert every monster in the vicinity of our location.”

Or causing an avalanche, he thinks, drily. Wild’s Hyrule is almost as bad as Rulie’s. Anything can happen here. Especially when you factor in miserable, below-zero temperatures.

If he hadn’t found the outcropping they are sheltering under now, he is certain they would’ve frozen to death from the wind alone.

Time sighs. But he obediently sets the cloth between his teeth. Legend ignites the rod.

“Ready?”

Time tenses, obviously steeling himself. He nods once, determined and resigned.

Gritting his teeth against the rising tide of nausea, Legend begins.

It’s difficult melting away the ice without scalding Time’s skin, especially with how violently the older hero is shivering. His fingers aren’t the steadiest right now either. More than once he hears Time inhale sharply as flames meet tender, abused skin. But for the most part, he is silent, save for his stuttering breaths.

Then, once the ice is thawed, the worst part comes.

Legend moves the rod to a one-handed grin to keep the ravenous ice at bay. In the other, he grasps his pocket knife. In two swift strokes, he slices the arrows in half.

Now, a low groan makes its way out between Time’s tightly closed lips. Legend tries his best to ignore it. It’s nothing compared to what is coming, he’s certain.

“I’m gonna pull these out now,” he says, a frigid arrowhead already in hand. He can only pray that the rod was enough to melt any internal ice. If not, then this is going to hurt far worse than it would otherwise.

Time nods again. And Legend wastes no more time. With a deep breath, he pulls.

The first one comes free with little resistance, wood slipping free from bloodied, frostbitten skin. Time tenses further as though struggling against the cries he undoubtedly wants to let loose. A low whine is the only thing that makes it out of him.

The second one, however, is stubborn. It is more eager about its ice production, actively fighting the attempts of Legend’s fire rod. No doubt, the very blood in Time’s veins is crystallizing, becoming more frozen by the second. An excruciating experience to be sure. The fact that the old man hasn’t begun screaming yet is either admirable or disturbing. Right now? Legend feels a bit of both.

He brings the rod closer, slowly coaxing the arrow forward with the other hand. This time an audible cry comes from Time, shattering the eerie near-quiet of their little hideout. Legend winces.

“Sorry,” he grits out, voice sharp with worry.

He pulls a little harder. The arrow slides a little farther. And Time’s fingers fist in the cloth of his tunic, knuckles whiter even than his frigid flesh. A tear trickles from beneath his closed eyelid and slithers down his cheek.

More ice melts away, showcasing blue-black skin beneath. Bile rises in Legend’s throat at the sight. But he drags more of the arrow out. It is nearly free now.

“Almost there,” he promises, steeling himself for the final stretch. Time’s only response is a muffled scream when he yanks the projectile free.

With a sigh of relief, Legend hurls the thing away, wincing at the ache in his hands. More than likely, he has frostbite now.

Oh, joy.

But he doesn’t allow himself a moment to gaze at his swollen fingers. Setting the fire rod aside, he places a potion in Time’s trembling hand.

“Here, drink,” he orders, already reaching for the bandages. The bleeding is faster now that it’s no longer impaired by ice. He’d rather like to put a stop to it before Time loses too much.

As he weaves the strips of gauze around him, Time knocks back half of the potion. Then, he offers the bottle to Legend.

“Oh no.” Legend shoves it back at the older hero, shaking his head. “You need all of that. I don’t want to see your arm rot off.”

“And I don’t want to see the same happen to your fingers,” Time croaks. “You have helped me and I’m thankful for it. But you cannot afford to remain in this condition.”

Legend looks from him to the bottle and back again. Then, slowly, he glances down at his hands. They are the same angry shades of blacks and purples and blues as Time’s arm. And though adrenaline had saved him from feeling the worst of it, he certainly feels them now. The ache has grown into a pulsing, tingling burn.

He sighs. As much as he wants to argue, Time has a point.

“Fine,” he grumbles and snatches the bottle away.

The bittersweetness of the potion is pungent and almost nauseating. But as soon as it has begun to heal him, he feels a wave of sweet relief. He hadn’t realized just how much pain he was in. And though this amount can’t soothe all of his wounds, it makes an awfully good effort.

He places the empty bottle back into his pouch, following it with the fire rod and remaining bandages. Then, he scoots over to Time, shoulder bumping against the older hero’s.

Soon, they will have to rise and walk, looking for the path that Wild had mentioned leading down the mountain. But for now, he thinks they are allowed just a little rest.

That ordeal has left him exhausted.

“Are you alright?” Time rumbles, his voice gentle.

Legend huffs a laugh. “I’m living. You?”

Time chuckles and lets his head fall back against the wall. He is still much too pale for Legend’s liking and exhaustion drags at his features. Tear streaks gleam on his ashen skin.

“Living,” he murmurs, “thanks to you.”

He places his uninjured arm around Legend’s shoulders and pulls him close. And for once, the veteran allows himself to lean in. After all, a little warmth is welcome in a place like this. And if he finds comfort in the at last steady rhythm of Time’s breathing, well, that’s just a bonus.

#febuwhump2024 #febuwhump day 3 #blood tw #injury tw #linked universe #linkeduniverse fic #lu time #lu legend #angst #whump #hurt/comfort #trin writes

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cutthroatcarnival · 4 months

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A Cinnamon Mask

Warnings: A panic attack happens, and a character being poisoned in the past is strongly alluded to.

1/3 fics!

The fire in the hearth crackled, filling the comfortable silence. The Chain had stopped their current trek through the snowy land of Hebra to rest, and Wild had guided them to the Hebra Trailhead Lodge, which was luckily devoid of its common patrons, allowing all nine of them and their various gear to fit inside the small cabin.

Wind had commandeered the bed, wrapped in various extra blankets with the remnants of a spicy elixir in the bottle he held. Being from a tropical climate and constantly under the sun, the pirate was not acclimated to cold weather. Next to him was Sky, the knight happy to be resting under a roof, even if the cold had little to no effect on him. A perk of growing up and living on an island in the sky.

One. Two.

The others were faring better than the sailor, even Legend, with his lack of pants. He claimed to be used to weather extremes, and refused to elaborate further. Sat on either side of him were Hyrule and Four, the two seemingly content to help him repair rips in their clothes.

Three. Four. Five.

On top of the barrels next to the hearth was a pile of Time’s armor, the man in question slipping on the warm doublet Wild had offered over his own tunic- the cold metal of his armor would do no good to keep Time warm. A quiet conversation with Warriors and Twilight was held as Wild piped in from where he was making something in the pot.

Six. Seven. Eight. Counting himself, 9.

Time adjusted the warm doublet, it surprisingly fit, with no tightness around his shoulders, a common issue for him. He kneeled down to reach his pack, digging around to find the thick blanket that had been packed (but knowing Malon, she probably put an extra one or two in).

A sharp whistle broke through the quiet atmosphere, demanding attention to the hearth, where Wild stood with six steaming mugs and Twilight behind him with three.

“I made us some hot chocolate, it’s a recipe I learned from Uma in Hateno,” appreciative murmurs rose, “And don’t worry, Twilight didn’t do any of the making.” That drew a few laughs from the heroes as the two proceeded to pass out the drinks.

Nodding his thanks, Time wrapped his hands around the mug, feeling both the warmth and the craftsmanship of it. Must be one of the mugs Sky carved, judging by the intricate patterns and steady lines.

“It smells good,” Wind took a sip, “and it tastes good too! I don’t think I’ve ever had this before!” The sailor’s hands were wrapped tightly around the mug, likely attempting to leech the heat out.

“It’d be a mite strange if you’d’ve had this before, being from a warm climate and such.” Twilight was nursing his own mug, as he sat down next to Sky.

The conversation flowed easily as Wild’s hot cocoa loosened the grip of any remaining cold, at some point turning onto the topic of stories from their adventures.

“There’s no way! That’s impossible!” Four shouted, face painted in complete disbelief.

“It’s not impossible, I’ve done it! When we next get to my Hyrule, I’ll ask Gor Coron and see if he would be up for another round.”

“You’re telling me you sumo wrestled a Goron? The people that are partially made of rock? Those guys?” Legend seemed skeptical, his left eyebrow lifted up.

Twilight struggled to defend himself as the younger heroes ganged up on him, poking and prodding for answers, or in Legend’s case, trying to get him to “tell the truth”.

A choked whine snapped Time’s attention away from the conversation, his ears flicking as he turned to face the direction of the noise.

He was met with a wide-eyed Warriors, staring down at the mug that rested in his tight yet trembling grip. In one motion, his grip loosened and the mug clattered to the floor, spraying the (now cold) hot cocoa across the floor.

Another choked off whine, and Time slowly advanced towards the captain, keeping his hands in view, as if he were approaching an easily-spooked horse. One foot stepped on a creaky floorboard and Warriors’ head whipped up, still wide-eyed, but Time could better see his expression.

Pure and utter panic.

Watching him carefully, the elder hero noticed that the younger had positioned himself into a position where he could both attack and defend, likely done subconsciously. Time raised both his hands up, showing he was unarmed.

“Captain… what happened?” In a flash of blue Time was knocked to the ground, and Warriors had effectively cornered himself, the panic in his eyes brighter. The war hero trembled as he brandished his sword.

A pair of calloused hands helped Time back upright, “Why did he attack you?” The rancher mumbled, gaze locked onto the captain.

“He’s panicking, that’s what. Something set him off.”

A few heads swiveled to the veteran, who only shrugged and gave a non-committal noise.

Warriors was muttering something, and Time strained his ears to try and catch what he was saying.

“Poison… trust… cinnamon…”

The rest was too mumbled to understand. It seemed his descendant had also heard what Warriors had been muttering, as he tilted his head in confusion.

“Poison? Cinnamon? What is he-“

“Fuck.”

All 7 heads snapped to the veteran, whose ears were pinned against his head, a look of recognition in his eyes. He growled.

“He thinks his drink was poisoned.”

“What?” Wild stared at Legend, a quizzical, yet worried, expression adorning his face.

“Cinnamon. It’s used to mask the taste and smell of poisons.” Legend explained.

“How do-“

“Not the time, Rulie.”

Time wracked his brain for something, for anything, when he landed on a moment a few weeks back, when he and the captain were up for watch.

Shit.

“I know what happened,” several heads turned to look at him, “he thinks we tried to poison him.” He turned his eye back to Warriors, the panic still evident in his gaze.

Again, he shuffled forward, palms held upward in a placating gesture. Warriors pressed himself further into the corner, his breathing picking up and hitching on every other breath.

“Link.”

The utterance of his actual name snapped Warriors partially back into reality, gaze now finally realizing Time.

“There you are. Link, listen, we aren’t trying to hurt you.”

Time advanced forward again, now within reaching distance of Warriors, and he slowly descended onto his knees, the joints creaking in protest.

“Can I touch you?” He waited until Warriors processed the question.

A nod.

Settling his hands on the captain’s knees, he started tapping an easy rhythm.

“Steady yourself. In for 4… hold for 7… out for 4…” Warriors copied his directions, breath hitching a few times, but steadily evening out.

“There we go. You’re okay. What are 5 things you can see?”

“You, the bed, the others, Sky’s shield, mugs.”

His rhythm continued.

“Good, now, 4 things you can touch?”

“The floor, my sword, my scarf, the wall.”

The breaths evened out more.

“3 things you can hear?”

“The fire, the wind, and creaking wood.”

Warriors’ eyes lost their panicked sheen.

“Almost there. 2 things you can smell?”

“Fire, and- and cinnamon.”

Time kept up his tapping.

“1 thing you can taste?”

“Nothing. I think I burnt my tongue.”

A quiet sigh of relief flooded through the group, who chuckled at Warriors’ comment. Time breathed deeply out his nose, stopping his rhythm and instead gripping at the captain’s knees. A scarred hand rested over his and squeezed.

“Better now, Captain?”

Another squeeze.

“Thanks to you, old man.” He chuckled and stood up, joints clicking as he went, offering Warriors a hand and pulling the hero up.

“So-“

“Shut up. Don’t apologize, damn it.”

“Legend…”

“No, Wars. You had a completely valid reaction to something. Don’t go fucking apologizing for it.” The vet snapped, crossing his arms tightly. Warriors crossed the room and set a hand on the pink hair.

“…Nice to know you care, pricker bush.” His hand was a blur as he messed up the vet’s hair, who squeaked and batted at his arm.

Time watched as they laughed at the two’s antics, a small grin on his face.

Warriors wasn’t fully okay, his hands still held a slight tremble and his eyes still a tad too wide. But Time knew that with time (ha), and his brothers, that the captain would be as right as rain sooner than later.

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soup-guts · 6 months

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Drinking buddies!

#tw alcohol #tw drinking #linked universe #linked universe warriors #linked universe legend #Lu warriors #Lu legend #they deserve a night off!#idk I wanted them to be silly #any content of these two just hanging out #maybe a little hurt but more comfort than anything else

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breannasfluff · 7 months

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Made to Watch

Rating: 3.5/6 TW: Emotional angst, blood and injury, wanting to die-panicking A03 Link

“Any minute, Hyrule!” Time’s teeth are grit as he holds Wild down.

Hyrule takes over, dropping to his knees and shoving his pack at Legend to help sort. “Sky! Come help!”

The frigatebird breaks from the clump of heroes on the sideline to run forward. “What can I do?”

“I need you to pick his wing up and stretch it all the way out. I need the bone straight so I can set it.”

“Got it!”

Wild screams under the pile of avians. As Sky starts to straighten the wing, he loses any semblance of awareness of the situation.

TERROR PAIN WANT TO DIE! The call is primal, shredding his throat. The magpie thrashes and the raptors are jostled, then thrown slightly.

From the sidelines, one of the flock whimpers.

“The rest of you! Come help us hold him down!” Time’s voice snaps through the chaos and the others come running. Four and Wind join them, although Wind gives nervous clucks.

Hyrule works frantically and Legend passes him items from his kit, holding the broken wing steady when needed.

Wild continues to scream and thrash, despite being pinned down by nearly the entire chain. It’s an awful sound. While a broken wing might be painful, it shouldn’t be this bad. Not so much that the magpie loses all awareness of his surroundings.

The similarity to his encounter with the Yiga must be too much. The thought is sickening and he swallows bile. Wild was tortured at the hands of assassins. If this reminds him of that—

“Hyrule?” The vet can’t help the tension in his voice. His wings are plastered tight to his back at the sound coming from his flockmate.

“I need to drain the blood. This will probably hurt but…”

But. At this point, does it matter? They can’t convey the information to Wild in a way he’ll listen and understand.

Hyrule’s hand with the knife is steady, even as his chest trembles. Brown wings hold a steady shiver he can’t still. He slices through skin and feathers.

Wild’s screams transition to sobs and half-formed pleas.

“I’m sorry,” the thrasher mutters under his breath. He pushes the knife deeper. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Finally, blood gushes from the wound, and a little of the tension leaves Hyrule’s shoulders.

“Sky,” Legend says, seeing what’s coming, “make sure you keep the wing straight and still while we set it.”

“Got it.”

Hyrule pins his ears to his head and Legend does as well. It doesn’t block out Wild’s cries, but he tries anyway. Someone else is crying—Wind, maybe.

The healer guides the bone back through the torn skin and into place. He takes the makeshift brace Legend passes him and the vet helps him tighten it into place. It will hold the wing straight long enough for Hyrule to heal the veins and start the bone fusing. Then the wing can be folded and kept still, along with daily stretching, until it’s fully healed.

“Here, Ledge, hold the ropes. They need to be tight to keep this in place for a minute.”

Even knowing this was coming, the vet winces as he takes the ropes. Wild hasn’t had good experiences with rope on his wings. This isn’t going to be any better.

The magpie freezes as the ropes tighten and likely rub across the skin below his feathers. Then he resumes thrashing, keening, and sobbing. Help help help help! Flock need you, want you! Alone! Want to die!

Legend chokes on a sob and gives their sub-flock call, before sliding into reassurances. Flock here, flock help, here for you, safe safe safe!

Wild continues to sob and thrash.

Hyrule tries to add his own call, but can’t. He’s crying too hard and he keeps swiping at his eyes, forced to concentrate on the wound. Not only is this a flock avian, but their sub-flock member. Even if they are helping, right now the only thing Wild understands is the primal need to flee and that he’s being hurt.

The vet is forced to watch as his brother—his flockmate—begs for death beneath their hands.

By the time it’s over, Wild is unconscious and no one is functioning well. Exhaustion drags their wings down. The flock huddle together, pulling their sleeping mats and blankets together to form a makeshift nest. Time clutches Wind to his chest and the two are still crying softly. The others curl around them, adding gentle coos and reassurances of love. Warriors wraps his wings over those he can reach and Sky does the same.

Hyrule and Legend stay with Wild. They curl into each other, miserable for the experience. The magpie’s calls still ring in the vet’s ears. The sounds are going to haunt his nightmares and, judging by how Hyrule is shuddering, the healer as well.

That night, no one sleeps well.

Dawn is lightening the sky when a soft whistle rouses the bowerbird from sleep. He blinks slowly, eyes immediately shifting to Wild. The magpie blinks back.

“Wild? Are you awake?” Legend shakes Hyrule, who whimpers but turns his attention to Wild as well.

Flock? Wild’s call is small and questioning.

Flockmate! Flock! Yes, love you, love you! Legend and Hyrule’s answer is overwhelming. They crawl closer, careful not to bump the broken wing.

Wild gives a low whistle, then swallows. His voice is hoarse from screaming when he speaks. “I’m sorry.”

Hyrule snaps lightly at the air. “Don’t be! I’m sorry, Wild. I wish we could have done something else.”

“You were trying to help. I just…the memories…”

Legend coos and, when that isn’t enough, slides into a maternal range. Chick, chick, little chick is safe in nest. He holds out his hands and Wild wiggles his out from under him. Taking them, the vet rubs at his palms, thumb digging into the muscle.

Hyrule trills and burrows into Wild’s good side, nipping his shoulder lightly. The magpie coos back; used to the affection.

It’s going to take a long time for them all to come back from this. Time, especially, is miserable with what he had to do. To force submission is a deep offense to avians, generally regulated to brutal flock leaders. But at the end of the day, it worked. Wild won’t lose his wing, or flight, as long as he lets it heal.

They could have lost him. Legend’s flock would be one member short. The thought brings a sad whistle and he presses a kiss on one of the hands he holds. “Love you both,” he whispers.

Hyrule trills an answer and Wild follows with their sub-flock call; strong and sure.

Love you, flock-of-my-heart.

#made to watch #tw injury #tw blood #whumptober2023 #linked universe #linkeduniverse #lu wing bois #lu whumptober #breannasfluff #mywriting #lu wild #lu legend #lu hyrule #lu triple threat #lu wing au #hurt/comfort

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absolutelybatty · 6 months

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This response has been killing me

#I don't even like ganon x link but if it'll upset the guy who thinks posting link in a 'straight' relationship hurts me then I'll support it #link and zelda t4t supremacy by the way #batty speaks #twitter #zelda #the legend of zelda #homophobia tw #transphobia tw #nsft text

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shylighthi · 7 months

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Whumptober Day 2: Delirium

Wild focuses on keeping his breathing steady as he stirs the pot. He's not sure when but members of the chain started to look odd from the corner of his eye. Gray patches of color, he tried to ignore it, thinking about sleeping once he was done.

Wild did everything in his power to not show them that he knew there was something wrong.

They weren't his brothers.

This wasn't the chain.

Ao3 Link here

This is based on @kikker-oma 's comic that is linked here

#posted in full on Ao3 #tw: mentions of blood #tw: character passes out #tw: character is delirious and ends up minorly hurting someone else #legend of zelda #linked universe #lu wild #lu fanfiction #whumptober 2023 #whumptober

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arecaceae175 · 10 months

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Sinking Deep: Ch. 1

Summary: When Legend and Wind go missing in a dangerous town, Hyrule takes it upon himself to find them.

This is the secret Legend and Hyrule story for @star-ocean-peahen's fic raffle gift! I know I said this would be a one shot but it kept growing XD. It was making me a little anxious how long it's been since I started this so I decided to break it up and post in short chapters :D. I hope you enjoy!!!

Warnings: trafficking, canon-typical violence, Hyrule is ignored a bit in the beginning (it’s because everyone’s stressed but that doesn’t make it okay (don’t worry they apologize)), kidnapping, violence against children, implied child trafficking, human trafficking, animal trafficking (only the Hyrule bit happens in this chapter- these are the warnings for the whole fic)

Hyrule’s knee bounced anxiously. He twisted his hands together over and over, and his eyes were locked on the door.

“Maybe if we just-” Hyrule said as he quickly rose to his feet.

Twilight’s hand clamped onto his shoulder and pushed him back down into the chair. It was, to Hyrule’s vague surprise, just as gentle as the last four times it’s happened this hour.

“Rulie,” Twilight said with a sigh. “They’ll be back soon.”

Hyrule huffed and leaned back in his seat. He let his head hang over the back of the chair and stared at the ceiling.

“I just want to help,” Hyrule muttered. Twilight sighed again. Hyrule was sure his lungs were getting a good workout with how many times he sighed today.

“I know. Me too,” Twilight said. “But they’d clock us as outsiders as soon as we step out that door.”

Hyrule crossed his arms and lifted his head up, locking his gaze on the door again. “Like Wild isn’t just as weird.”

Twilight laughed, this time. It was breathy and quiet, but Hyrule still felt a small smile tug at his lips. “Wild can get through town without being seen,” Twilight argued.

Knock knock.

Hyrule jumped out of his seat. Twilight held out a hand; Hyrule held his breath.

Knock knock.

Pause.

Knock.

Hyrule jumped to the door and unlocked it as quickly as he could. He threw the door open and Warriors and Four rushed into the room. Hyrule quickly locked the door behind them then whipped around.

“Did you find them?” Hyrule asked.

Warriors shook his head as he leaned over the table with the town map.

“No luck,” Four said.

Hyrule wrung his hands together anxiously.

“Sky and Time should be back any second. Maybe they found something,” Twilight said.

Hyrule turned his anxious gaze to Twilight. Twilight didn’t look sure of his own words; Hyrule felt his anxiety increase.

“Where haven’t we checked?” Four asked. He pulled a chair over to the table with the map and knelt in it with his elbows on the table.

Warriors sighed and moved pointed one hand at the map. “Here, but that’s close enough to Sky and Time’s search area that they might get it.”

Knock knock.

Everyone whipped around to face the door, Again, Hyrule held his breath.

Knock knock.

Pause.

Knock.

Hyrule leapt to the door and flung it open. Sky and Time rushed in and Hyrule locked it behind them. Time pushed Sky onto the bed and immediately bent to dig through his bag. Sky huffed and slumped as he sat. Through the curtain of Sky’s bangs, Hyrule could see a split cheek and a black eye forming.

“What happened to you?” Warriors asked.

Sky’s fists clenched, then he sighed and forced them open. “It’s nothing.”

Time produced a red potion from his bag and wordlessly held it out to Sky. Sky shook his head and tried to push it away. Time leveled a harsh glare in his direction, so Sky relented and took a small sip. Time looked displeased.

“We should save it. I’m fine, really,” Sky said as he handed the potion back.

“You didn’t find them?” Hyrule asked.

Sky shook his head. Time had his back turned, but Hyrule could read the tension in his shoulders easily.

Sky opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the window flying open. Wild vaulted through the window and landed in a crouch on the floor. He pushed the window shut and it bounced slightly on the latch to remain ajar.

“Anything?” Warriors asked as Wild stood.

Wild pulled off his hood and shook his head. With a couple taps of his slate, his weird, skin-tight clothes disappeared and were replaced with his normal tunic and trousers.

“No sign of Wind or Legend. I listened in some bars, too, but no one said anything helpful,” Wild reported.

Hyrule’s heart felt like it plummeted into his feet.

“No one else?” Wild asked, looking around the room with wide eyes.

Warriors shook his head as his gaze fell back to the town map.

“What do we do now?” Wild asked, approaching the map. Sky, Twilight, and Time followed.

“You said you last saw them here?” Warriors asked, glancing at Sky and pointing to a spot on the map Hyrule couldn’t see.

“Yeah, heading this way,” Sky said. He leaned over the map, effectively blocking Hyrule’s view.

Hyrule huffed and leaned back. He glanced around the room then moved to the window, desperate to catch sight of any clues. At the edge of his view, Hyrule saw a river flowing around the town. Hyrule gasped.

“I have an idea!” Hyrule said. He whipped around, but no one heard him. Hyrule shoved his way into the huddle.

“Guys, we should look by the river! We’re looking for the Sailor, he would have wanted to see the water,” Hyrule said.

Warriors frowned at the map, then shook his head.

“They weren’t heading in that direction,” Warriors said.

“That was in the morning, though. Legend probably made him wait until they picked up everything they needed,” Hyrule argued.

Hyrule glanced around the group. Everyone was frowning. Hyrule felt his frustration with the situation increase.

Warriors shook his head again. “None of the things on their list are on that side of town.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to check,” Hyrule said.

“I was over there a bit and I didn’t see anything,” Wild said. He shrugged apologetically at Hyrule.

“That’s the most dangerous sector, from what I heard,” Sky said.

“Then we should definitely check there!” Hyrule said.

Time crossed his arms and glanced out the window. “It’s best to stay away from that sector unless we have evidence they were there.”

Everyone turned back to the map, accepting Time’s word as law.

Hyrule felt like he could rip his hair out. He flopped down onto his chair with a frustrated huff. The others were deep into their conversation already, plotting out their next moves.

Hyrule glanced between the group and the window. No one was paying him any attention; no one would notice if he slipped out.

Almost immediately, his mind was made up. Legend and Wind needed help, and if no one else was willing to take a risk, Hyrule would have to do it himself.

As quietly as he could, Hyrule tiptoed over to his bag. His sword was propped against the wall next to it. Hyrule glanced at the group again to confirm no one was watching, then slipped his sword into his bag. He pulled the bag over his shoulders, silently thankful for the sound dampening enchantments, then crept to the window. It was still cracked from Wild’s entrance.

Hyrule glanced back one last time, then slipped out the window.

#ace writes #linked universe #lu hyrule #lu twilight #lu warriors #hurt/comfort #mystery #sinking deep fic #mer!Legend #tw:#nothing in this chapter #i don't think

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uniquevoidflowers · 2 months

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Summary:

His captors, monsters, babbled about resurrecting Ganon but Legend didn’t focus on that. He couldn’t. His head throbbed and his vision blurred pretty often.

Thud. Thud. Crunch. Thud….Thud.

_________________________________________

Febuwhump 2024, Day 13: "You weren't supposed to get hurt."

#tw major character death #unique writes #linked universe #lu legend #lu hyrule #lu time #febuwhump #febuwhump2024 #day 13 #you weren't supposed to get hurt

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linkedspirit-fanartfunart · 8 months

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Feels like Being Hit by a Train

Ao3

Engineer's Post Spirit Tracks

-Link had been injured in the train crash just before fighting Malladus. Now that the battle's done, she's starting to really feel how bad that all was.

Warnings: angsty, hurt/comfort, injury leading to disability, crush-stage zelink (that might be slightly 2nd hand embarrassment inducing at a moment or two), forced-medication/potion drinking(?) (lemme know if there's anything else to tag)

____

Link clutched Zelda’s hand tightly as the Lokomo spirits vanished into the heavens. She was starting to feel lightheaded after all this. She barely had room in her mind to think anything beyond keeping ahold of Zelda.

“...We should go home,” Zelda said after a while.

Link let out a vague hum, not moving. She wasn’t sure she could manage another step. The adrenaline was leaving her system and she was entirely drained. Zelda looked at her, brows furrowing “Link?”

She swallowed around the cottony feeling in her mouth. She knew she at least attempted to say “I think I need to lay down.” But she wasn’t sure it ever came out properly. Instead, the world spun.

“Link!” Zelda yelled. She was holding both of her hands now. The ground was solid against her back, and now everything burned. But Zelda was there and her hands were warm and real, that was good. “Oh-Oh no. HEY. Stay with me okay?” She slapped her cheek. Link yelped, eyes opening wide. When did she close them? Zelda sighed, “Er-where- where do you keep your potions?”

Her hands awkwardly hovered over her and she frowned. She hadn’t noticed this whole adventure? She fumbled to reach her pouch and Zelda practically pounced on it. She made a sharp cry at the sudden intrusion of her space. Zelda shushed her, gentle but sharp regardless.

“Sorry! Okay! I’m just-”

One of her hands rested over her jaw, a thumb brushing her lip. The increasingly loopy part of her brain thought “This would be a weird time for my first kiss.”

Zelda’s bug-eyed expression potentially implied she’d somehow said some of that out loud. “Just drink the stupid potion!” She poured the liquid down her throat and she coughed as it went in regardless of her wishes.

She wheezed and turned on her side, coughing.

“AH! Sorry! Sorry!” Zelda yelped in panic.

Link whined, then lifted a thumbs up.

Zelda socked her in the shoulder. “You scared me!”

“Sorry” She croaked. It still hurt. She fumbled and tugged up the tunic, struggling to free it up from under the belt.

“What are you DOING?” Zelda gasped, covering her eyes.

Link pulled the tunic up and struggled to lean over herself to take a proper look at her torso. Purple was blooming under her ribs. Her brows furrowed.

Zelda peaked at her and her hands shifted to cover her mouth instead. “That- that’s not from Maladus, is it?”

Link blinked and shook her head, “Train crash…”

“You were fighting Maladus with THIS?” Zelda’s fingers gingerly reached to poke at the bruise forming. Link winced. She shrugged. “So the potion only cleared up the surface injuries.” Zelda nearly growled, scowling at her, “You should’ve taken it earlier.” She stood up, crossing her arms, “Now I have to carry you.”

“I can-” Link mumbled, sitting up. Her body seized under her and she fell back. Her eyes went wide. She swallowed “Zelda…”

She looked at her sympathetically.

Her eyes flickered over her face, “Carefully?” She tugged her tunic back down. “I- I don’t know what’s wrong.”

"You should have seen your old grandpa when he'd been shot from our cannon," Niko chuckled, "He looked so sour when Miss Tetra stuffed him in there."

Link and Zelda were sound asleep next to each other. His sleepy face was tilted towards a flurry of blond curls. Zelda rested her head against Link’s chest. Her cascade of hair rippled over the pillow. Her fingers loosely intertwined with his. The pair of children seemed peaceful, but exhausted.

Telling stories while Link slept wasn't an uncommon event, so it really only felt right to do it on purpose for once. Although, for some reason it felt distinctly quiet and uneasy this time. Looking at the injured boy, sound asleep.

The door creaked open. Old Man Niko lifted his head, eyes widening. Alfonzo placed a hand on his sword- only to release it. Ol' Link's daughter and her husband walked through the door quietly, focused with themselves, clearly assuming the house was asleep.

"A little party is entirely appropriate," she whispered as she entered the door walking backward, "We missed the ceremony, the least we can do is-"

"Link always hated those kinds of things," the kid's father said, walking after her, "I think we should take him for a day around a museum or-"

"Oh lovely, you're home!" Niko cheered.

Alfonzo nodded to them.

The pair looked up. "Oh! You're up," little Link's father said, startled.

Link's mother smiled, "You keeping Alfonzo up late with your stories, Old Man?" She hugged Niko, "You wouldn't believe the freak storm we encountered on the way back, we had to dock at Dragon's Roost for an extra week-" she cut herself off from her sailing story, eyes settling past Niko at her child's bed. She stared for a moment.

Link looked battered and bruised, purple blooming under his eye. But what was likely most noticeable was the cast over his leg and a rigid brace over his midsection.

Alfonzo hummed lowly, "They went on something of an adventure…"

Link's mother covered her mouth, hiccupping her breaths, "He… his-"

"He fell out of a train...and fought a demon right after" Niko said, "they… want to try and get everything set properly before they give him another healing potion after the one he took himself. To make sure it doesn't heal over in the wrong position."

"A demon?" Her father asked, bewildered.

"He was called Malladus, and had attempted to possess the Princess's body. These two," Niko gestured to the Princess and the boy, "fought him and destroyed him. Saved the day!"

"I don't understand- he- he was just supposed to just get an engineer's- I-" his mother sobbed. Slowly, carefully, she walked over. She knelt at his bedside. Her shaky hand carding through her child's hair.

"Do the healers know if everything will… set right?" His father said softly, gentle and quiet.

"They can't be sure. He…" Niko rubbed his eyes, shaking his head.

Alfonzo sighed softly, putting a hand on Niko's shoulder, "He ran on it for some time, they suspect nerve damage… It might never properly heal even if it does set straight."

The princess stirred, lifting her head as she glanced over the adults in the room, "Who-" she blinked away sleep from her eyes, sitting up gently. "Oh… you must be Link's parents."

The pair nodded.

"I hear you had an adventure with our kiddo," his father chuckled lightly, "It's an honor to meet you Princess."

"Ah. Yes… You as well" Zelda looked down at Link, brows knit in concern, “Link speaks highly of you,” she said.

“Oh, glad to hear” Link's father laughed lightly. His eyes shone in the dim light.

The princess bowed her head, "I'm- I'm sorry. It's all my fault- he was only ever helping me and I- he would've never been hurt if-"

"Zelda," Alfonzo said softly, "None of it's your fault."

"I just feel so-"

"I'm sure he was happy to help," his mother said with a sniffle, "He's always been eager to help."

Zelda closed her eyes and let out a slow breath, "I know… I- I just wish I could help him in turn. I almost miss being a suit of armor," Zelda giggled, rubbing her face, "I tried- I tried to protect him as much as he did me-"

His mother took the Princess's hand gently, "I'm glad to know he had you."

Zelda smiled softly and nodded once.

Link whined a little, face scrunching up, "Wh's going onnnn?"

"Link! Your parents are here!" Zelda announced, leaning back down to look at his face.

Link opened his eyes slowly. Then gasped, eyes widening further at Zelda's closeness. Face warming. Beside him, his mother chuckled as she brushed her hand against his cheek.

"Oh," Link tilted his head to look at his parents. He smiled. "You're back safe!"

"Oh, honey," his mother laughed softly, "yes, yes we are."

"How are you feeling?" his father asked.

Link smiled, nervous and lopsided, "Like I was hit by a train?"

His mother snickered and shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes again. She leaned her head against Link's, forehead to forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," Link whispered, closing his eyes again.

His father leaned in to hug them both, "I'm so sorry we weren't here-"

Link hummed and shrugged lightly. "It's okay."

“It’s not okay honey, we’re your parents we’re supposed to be here to protect you-” his mother said, shifting so she could cradle Link's head against her chest. Her son pliant and willing to snuggle in.

“I’m- I’m old enough to protect myself,” Link said softly, “I knew what I was doing…” he sighed, looking around the room, “I don’t want any of you blaming yourselves.”

“You got hurt pretty badly, Link,” his father whispered softly.

“I’m sorry- but… I knew what I was doing,” he reaffirmed, “I knew if I kept going on with my injuries I’d make it worse. But, I did it because I knew Zelda needed help,” his brows furrowed. “New Hyrule needed us.” He sighed heavily and closed his eyes.

His father sighed, “...My brave boy.” Link giggled a little in response.

Zelda leaned down and shifted back into the hug. "You could've at least said something," Zelda mumbled.

Link groaned and buried his face more into his mother. Weakly, he swatted a hand blindly at Zelda. She avoided it with a laugh.

"Hey, I'm not a ghost anymore! You can't do that when you're annoyed now, I'm the Princess, you'll get arrested."

"Ok. Arrest me," Link murmured against his mother's shirt. Zelda huffed hotly. After a short beat of quiet, the pair of children giggled, amused with themselves.

His mother shook her head, kissing the top of Link's hair. "You two seem close."

"Yeah," Link said softly.

"Wh-what? Just 'yeah'?" Zelda shook her head, briefly lifting a hand to her cheek, gaze shifting almost nervously. She shook her head, "We're friends now. Perhaps best friends! Yes. I like that. Best friends. He's been especially kind and not nearly as awkward as he was at first. I greatly appreciate his friendship."

Link smiled, feeling a blush rise.

"Aw, Link's always been shy, glad you've gotten over that hurdle," his father said.

Link grumbled "Am not…"

"So you just stared nervously at the guards without a word because that's how you imagined recruits did things?" Zelda teased.

"Oh that was all your fault. I don't know how to 'small talk'. I still don't understand what makes talk small."

The princess leaned up slightly, brows furrowed. Link's mother laughed lightly, "Don't try to explain it, Princess, I've tried for years. He knows the definition, just not the application."

Link sighed dramatically. Then took in a sharp hiss of a breath, hand going to his chest.

"Link? Are you okay?" His mother asked, hands flitting to assess him.

"I dunno- I just… breathed too hard, I guess." He closed his eyes, frowning.

"Maybe you should go back to sleep," Niko piped up. "It's been a long day."

Link nodded "I like sleep."

"Too much." Niko laughed. "But it'll be good for ya. For you all, actually."

The boy's parents sighed.

"Sounds like a good idea," his father said. "We'll unload the ship tomorrow."

"I'll be going, then." Zelda said with a heavy sigh.

Link whined a little, "Wha? Really?"

"I don't wish to intrude-" Zelda said, glancing around the small home, "Besides I should take the train back to the castle soon, everyone will worry-"

"Don't worry about it, Princess," Alfonzo said, "I told everyone I'd be here for you when we left."

"You're very welcome to stay here," Link's mother said with a nod, "It's late regardless."

Link's hand quietly found Zelda's. She glanced down at him. His eyes peacefully closed, his hand giving hers a squeeze. Zelda sighed, "Alright. Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're Aunt Tetra's granddaughter. My home is yours." Link's mother winked. Zelda laughed lightly. "Now, scoot over, I'm sleeping here."

Link whined "Moooom why?"

"Because I love you, and you can't escape your mother's love" She scooped her arms under Link's knees and upper back and carefully shifted him over so there was enough room for them all. He made a small pained noise of protest. Zelda was quickly snuggling into her place, squeezing his hand again. He relaxed easily.

His mother crawled into the bed, careful of her use of space. She curled, protectively, around her child.

Link's father smiled softly, "Good Night."

"Oh, does anyone want a bedtime story?" Niko exclaimed softly with a grin.

"Old Man, you need to sleep too, git" Link's mother huffed.

Niko chuckled. Quickly enough, the lights were snuffed, and the house was asleep. Soft and warm.

#ls engineer #ls phantom #linked spirit #loz au #legend of zelda #loz #angst #hurt/comfort #tw major character injury #ls writing #fanfic

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faithandfearcollide · 1 year

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Dream vs Reality

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adrift-in-thyme · 7 months

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Whumptober Day 3: "Make it stop"

Read it on Ao3

- Wild & the Chain

- Summary: When Wild is captured by the Yiga Clan, Master Kohga decides to get his revenge

CW for graphic depictions of violence, torture, blood and injury, vomiting, and a character briefly wishing for death

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“Get up!”

Wild pries open his eyes just as a boot connects with his side. He jerks away with a hiss of pain.

Of all the horrible ways to wake up…

The face of a Yiga assassin comes into view as his vision clears and he groans.

Even better.

“I said, get up!”

Another kick that takes Wild’s breath away.

“Yeah that’s not the best way to get me off the floor,” he remarks, dragging himself into a seated position.

That earns him a sharp smack across the face. Wincing, he watches as the assassin bends down, unlocking his chains. They fall to the floor with a clatter. But Wild hardly has time to breathe a sigh of relief, or rub his wrists, or even to plan a quick escape. Almost immediately, the Yiga yanks his hands behind his back, then ties them tightly with a thick rope.

The coarse material rubs at his already raw wrists. It only adds to the cacophony of aches that have begun to arise now that he’s conscious. Wild blows out an annoyed sigh. As if he could forget how sorely he had lost his last fight.

Rough hands haul him to his feet and he stumbles. His surroundings go fuzzy and dim and for a moment he is certain he’s going to faint. But then it passes. And not a moment too soon. The Yiga shoves him forward and wrenches open the cell door.

The same one they’d thrown Barta into, Wild realizes dazedly. The thought doesn’t make him feel any more comfortable.

“Walk,” comes the sharp order, accompanied by another, hearty push. Stumbling on achingly numb legs, Wild starts forward.

He falls more than walks down the stairs. Between the Yiga’s forceful movements and the haze he has yet to pull himself out of, he can hardly keep himself upright. Even the journey across the main room is difficult.

Especially once he realizes where they’re headed.

“Master Kohga will be so pleased to see you,” his captor hisses, no doubt noticing the sudden increased tension in Wild’s shoulders.

“Didn’t I kill him?” Wild asks, with a forced chuckle. Maybe if he feigns nonchalance it will mask the thundering of his heart. He sends a furtive glance around the space, looking for anything that could possibly allow for a quick escape. But there is nothing.

…and no one. Save for the few assassins who leer at him from beneath their masks.

He swallows, hard. “I think I remember dropping his own weapon onto his head.”

That garners him a swift kick to the shins. He trips, only saved from face planting by the Yiga’s tight grip.

“You are a fool to think our master is so easily defeated. You on the other hand…”

The hallway narrows, then widens into a familiar room. He forces himself to take a deep breath.

“…you will meet your end today.”

Wild lifts his head as he walks through the doorway, heart situated painfully in his throat. Master Kohga sits before him, looking very much alive.

“You,” he snarls as soon as he lays eyes on the champion. “You cocky, undying little punk! You thought you had seen the end of the Great Master Kohga, didn’t you?”

Wild shrugs, a slight smirk on his lips. “I did drop a boulder on your head.”

The Yiga restraining him kicks his legs out from under him. He hits the ground with an “oof.”

“That-that is inconsequential!” Kohga replies, huffily. “I am more powerful than death! But for the pain you caused my beloved, loyal followers” – He rises now, stomping his foot along with every word– “You. Are. Going. To. Die!”

His captor’s grip tightens and he yanks on Wild’s hands. Wild falls back, head bumping against the assassin's hip.

“Shall I take him outside, Master Kohga?” A sadistic sort of excitement colors his voice. It makes Wild’s blood run cold.

Kohga nods. “Yes, take him. I do not wish to ruin my furniture with his blood.”

Again, Wild is hauled upward, though this time a vicious sickle finds its way into his back. It bites into his flesh and he fights not to let out a hiss of pain.

“Move,” the Yiga snaps and Wild stumbles out into the sun.

Kohga sits cross-legged over the crater Wild had been so certain he had plummeted into, hovering serenely just above it.

“Come forward, hero,” he sneers as Wild is shoved toward the gaping hole. “You will be pleased to find that I have perfected my art more than ever!”

With a snap of his fingers, a massive boulder appears above his head. Dozens of tiny spikes protrude from its smooth surface. Wild’s blood runs cold. Abandoning his more measured, methodical tugs of before, he begins yanking ferociously at his bonds.

But then, the Yiga drives his sickle into the back of his leg and all thoughts of an escape vanish. He chokes on a cry. His vision bleeds white. It’s all he can do not to pass out.

One, swift movement and the weapon is out of him, tearing through his flesh as easily as fingers through tissue paper. This time he screams.

He hardly registers it when the Yiga backs away, barely realizes that a large, stone door is sliding over the opening behind him, blocking any exit.

But Kohga’s shrill laughter pierces his ears like knives and he drags his head up to look at him.

“If I were you I would run,” he says, voice nearly brimming with excitement. “Because the time for vengeance has come!”

He begins to swing the boulder over his head. With each trip around it gains momentum, growing closer and closer to the moment when it will break free and careen straight at Wild.

Come on, get up. You’ve got to move.

Gritting his teeth, Wild forces himself to his feet. Pain shoots through his leg anew, like a thousand tiny shards of glass have entered his wound. A scream breaks through his parched lips. His lungs burn, breath coming too fast, heart beating erratically. Stars explode before his eyes.

And still the boulder spins. The motion makes him dizzy.

On trembling limbs he stumbles forward, bile rising in his throat. But each step is sheer agony and he’s slow.

…much too slow.

When the boulder flies free, he can’t evade it. It collides with his body and he goes flying. Pain erupts within him. It steals his breath, propels forth a shout of shock and agony, makes his extremities go numb. He can hear his bones cracking even over the rushing in his ears. His vision goes blindingly white, then spotty, then dangerously dark.

He hits the ground, crying out at the agony of the impact. And the boulder comes down with him, crushing his prone body.

Somewhere, Kohga is laughing. The boulder disappears, retreating back to its owner to prepare for another round. Wild knows he should get up, knows he should at least attempt to run. But all he can do is lie there, trying to breathe. Trying to stay awake.

Blood gurgles in his throat and he pitches sideways, gagging on it. Against the blurred sand, the liquid looks far darker than usual. Almost black.

Like the blood of the Shadow, he thinks dazedly.

He doesn’t get much farther than that thought. Because once more the boulder shoots forward. This time it rolls into him more than flies, shoving him against the far wall and pinning him there.

He doesn’t have the strength to scream, even as the spikes tear out chunks of his flesh and his shattered bones protest this newest assault. He yearns for oblivion that refuses to come.

“So, hero, how do you like it?”

It hits him again, smashing him against the cool stone. He gags on blood once more. It drips into his eyes, runs in rivulets down his face, pools in the gashes that run along his body.

“Painful, isn’t it? Well, that is what you did to me!”

Wild teeters on the edge. Of death or unconsciousness, though, he isn’t sure. Death, he hopes.

(Though at the same time, he doesn’t, because that means he has lost the battle again, failed everyone again, but sweet Hylia he just wants this to stop. Please make this stop.)

And it’s clear now that there will be no other escape.

Your brothers aren’t coming for you. Even if they are, they’ll be too late.

It’s already too late.

“But the mighty Master Kogha prevails over pain and death! You, however, are weak! Weak, weak, weak!”

The boulder retracts and Wild watches it dimly. One more hit is all it will take. He is certain.

So much for coming back to life.

He can see bone, he realizes, shining gorily from his left arm. It is at a strange angle too.

Must be broken.

It certainly isn’t the only thing. But somehow, that hardly seems important at the moment.

His eyes slip closed. Everything hurts. The only other time he felt like this was when he collapsed on Blatchery Plain.

I’m sorry, Zelda, for putting you through this again.

I’m sorry…

“Champion!”

A shout rings out across the space, protectively furious and wonderfully familiar. There’s a scream and the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. But the blow he expects doesn’t fall on him.

Instead, gentle hands lift his head, cradling it. He blinks open swollen eyes to see the blurred face of Twilight hovering just above him. Legend and Sky appear over his shoulder, seconds later.

“Twi.”

Clumsily, he tries to reach out with his less injured arm, eager to touch him, to prove that he is real. But his body refuses to follow his commands. He doesn’t have to worry, though. The rancher’s hand easily finds its way into his.

“I’ve got you, Wild,” he says, and there is pure fire in his tone. “You’re safe now.”

A head of familiar pink hair leans over him. Gentle, trembling hands nudge his chin upward.

“Here, you’ve gotta drink this.”

Potion is poured down his throat, lukewarm and burning. But the magic of it begins its work immediately, zipping purposefully toward the worst of his wounds.

Wild swallows it with an effort. Then, he drags his eyes back up to meet Twilight’s. “Kohga?”

It is hardly a whisper, yet they hear it anyway.

“Dead.” He thinks it’s Sky who answers, though his voice doesn’t quite have its usual tone. It is a brittle thing. Dangerous. “For good this time.”

Wild tries to grin, but finds he isn’t quite up to it. “Good,” he mumbles instead. “Tired of his dumb belly.”

Twilight’s lips quirk the slightest bit. Gently, he brushes aside Wild’s bangs, wet with blood and sweat.

“Well, he’s never gonna touch you again.”

“Now, rest up,” Legend says, shakily. “We’ve got this handled. You focus on not dying.”

Any other time Wild would laugh and tease the vet about his blatant caring. But all he can focus on is the pleasantly numb feeling that has begun to spread throughout his body, and how warm Twilight’s embrace is as he scoops him carefully off of the ground. His eyes slip closed of their own accord. Before he even realizes what is happening, the darkness swallows him and he is gone.

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gryphonlover · 1 month

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Natural Selection by TheFloof

Words: 11,830 Chapters: 4 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence Summary: "Link had always been a stunning example of how an exception to the rule could unravel an entire system. How one instance of impossibility, one unexpected result could undo any logic no matter how world-defining. And for as long as Link could remember, his entire world had been governed by one rule: survival of the fittest." A look at Hyrule and his home, and what would happen if he was ever truly cornered. *MIND THE TAGS*

Thoughts: Firstly, yes, mind the tags. This fic deals with some heavy themes that could be triggering for some people. Regardless, I highly enjoyed reading this. The pacing and the prose were both very good, and I felt that the characters were portrayed well. Legend is a bit blunt and insensitive, but in the context of the extreme situation, I think it's a reasonable reaction for anyone.

#gryphon reads #fanfiction #fic rec friday #linked universe #lu time #lu twilight #lu sky #lu warriors #lu legend #lu hyrule-centric #fairy hyrule #tw suicide attempt #tw swearing #hyrule meets the chain #not beta read #artistic liberties #angst #happy ending #hurt/comfort

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skyward-floored · 1 year

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@telemna-hyelle the other day you said you were in a hyrule Warriors zelink mood... this is Sheik and Link (and ended up not being quite as fluffy as I was going for oops. sorry about the redeads), but I hope you enjoy <3

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The fading light of the sun cast the battlefield in an almost eerie glow, the liquid gold flashing off of armor on both man and beast alike. This particular fight wasn’t as large as some of the battles that had happened over the war, but it was by no means a small skirmish.

Link was fighting off the usual hordes with his typical speed and efficiency, slashing through groups of bokoblins and the occasional bigger foe without too much trouble.

He’d been separated from the majority of his allies, monsters and terrain pushing them apart, but he could see Sheik fighting nearby, her long braid twirling out behind her as she fought. She alternated using a few small knifes and the harp on her back, and blasted enemies backwards with various magical songs she pulled from its strings.

The music provided a faint background to the screams and clashing sounds of the battle, and when Link found himself with a moment to breathe, he paused to listen to it.

He found himself watching Sheik as well, and tried to ignore how his heart skipped a beat when she defeated an entire group with a single strum.

She ended up a little closer to where he was catching his breath, and he caught sight of the look that always appeared on her face whenever she played a song in combat, equally serene and intense. Her hair was ruffled and coming loose from its braid as she wove through the battlefield, a few splatters of monster blood speckling both it and her one shoulder, and a large smear of dirt coated her cheek.

Link couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

“Link! Watch out!”

Proxi didn’t even finish her warning cry before something screamed, a horrific sound that froze Link’s entire body with an unnatural terror. His heart rate spiked and he sucked in a gasp through suddenly paralyzed lips, a cold wash of fear sinking into his limbs.

Readead, he thought in horror, and fought the paralysis with every inch of his being. But he couldn’t move at all. Not even wiggle so much as his pinky finger, and his chest tightened as something began to approach him from the corner of his eye.

No no no no no—

He‘d been paying attention to his surroundings, but had neglected to cover his flank, and the redead had caught him completely unawares. Proxi had fallen onto a nearby tree stump, her wings quivering with the same dark magic that was keeping him locked in place, and Link felt dread roll over him as the lumbering form of the redead knight grew larger in his peripheral.

A blade abruptly swung towards him, and Link managed to break the grip of fear just enough that he could tilt his head back, the weapon merely slicing his cheek rather than plunging into his neck.

A pained noise escaped his frozen lips, but it was drowned out by another deafening scream, this one so close it seemed to pierce his very soul with terror. His ears rang as his slowly fading fear returned in full-force, and he wheezed in a gasp, darkness freezing him inside and out.

And then another scream pierced the air, this one from a slightly different direction, and Link thought he might pass out from the utterly crushing terror that was pounding through him.

Two redeads screaming at point-blank was too much, and a tear escaped down his cheek, eyes still blown wide with unnatural fear. Any resistance had been replaced by nothing but mind-numbing horror, and all he could think about was how much he wanted to curl into a ball and hide.

The blade of the first redead Knight swung upwards, and with what cognitive thought he had left, Link cursed himself for being such a fool.

But then a light tune trilled through the air, a wave of magic throwing the blade and it’s wielder backwards with an angry groaning noise. A blur ran past him, but Link couldn’t turn his head to see where it or the redead knights had gone, terror still holding him captive. Two more screams rang out at the same time, but they were abruptly cut off, a wave of music rippling past his ears.

A few grunts sounded behind him, then the thud of a body hitting the dirt, shortly followed by another.

Link choked in a gasping breath, and hands suddenly settled onto his shoulders, carefully pulling him downwards into a sitting position. His frozen limbs were coaxed into something more comfortable as he was settled on the trampled grass, and the terror ebbed, just a bit.

Link managed to look up and saw Sheik kneeling next to him, one hand still resting on his armored shoulder.

“Captain, I’m so sorry I couldn’t reach you sooner,” she said in a regretful voice, crimson eyes quickly scanning him and wincing a little at something. “Are you okay? Can you respond, Link?”

He managed a weak nod in reply, and felt his stiffened body begin to shiver, slowly at first, then growing in intensity. Sheik noticed, and pulled the trailing edge of his scarf off the ground to set more firmly over his shoulders, her fingers sending warm little sparks over his skin wherever they touched him.

“Redead screams are not to be taken lightly,” she sighed, watching him continue to shake.

“D-don’t seem to b-be too affected y-yourself,” Link managed to get out, hating how shaky the words came. “H-how’s th-that?”

Sheik’s eyes crinkled from behind her face covering, and she hummed, adjusting her position a little. “I have a... natural defense against them, so to speak.”

Link huffed. “Well count me j-jealous,” he shuddered, heart still pounding with leftover terror.

Sheik looked at him, her gaze concerned as he continued to shiver. He hated how weak he felt, barely able to move, fear still coursing through him. He knew it was merely the dark magic that redeads possessed making him feel this way, provoking an unnatural response from his body that manifested itself as soul-crushing terror. And especially since he’d been right next to two of them as they’d screamed, but he still hated it.

And he felt so Din blasted cold.

“You’re still rather pale, Captain,” Sheik said softly, pulling him out of his thoughts. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He shot her as reassuring of a grin as he could manage, but the effect was ruined when the motion made his cheek sting. He winced at the sharp pain, and shivered again as an icy chill ran up his spine.

How could he have been caught so unawares?

Something suddenly brushed his cheek, and Link flicked his eyes back over to Sheik, who‘s face was much closer to his than it had been as she studied the cut.

“You’re lucky this wasn’t worse,” she said, a frown in her voice at the blood he could faintly feel dripping down his chin. “Or hit your eye. It’s deep, but not too bad.”

“You uh, m-made sure of that,” he chuckled weakly, then froze as her fingers brushed his cheek, carefully skirting her finger around the cut.

Oh... her hand was really warm.

A sigh escaped his lips without his permission, and he almost leaned into her touch before realizing what exactly he was doing. He twitched back, but Sheik put her hand back on his face, carefully studying his injury.

A blush rose unbidden in his cheeks as Sheik continue to brush her fingers along his face, focus only for the cut that was dripping blood down his chin. Concern was bright in her crimson eyes, and Link couldn’t help but stare a little dazedly at them as she worked to staunch the bleeding. She happened to meet his gaze as she wiped away some blood, and they looked at each other for a few silent moments, red against blue.

Then Sheik suddenly dropped her hand from his cheek and reached for the pouch at her hip, the smallest hint of a blush coloring what of her face he could see.

“You’ll need to have the medics look you over back at camp, but this should do in the meantime,” she murmured, and Link thought she almost sounded flustered as she pulled some bandages out.

“H-hey, I can do it,” he interrupted, and Sheik raised an eyebrow at him.

“Hero, can you even raise your hand?”

Link lowered his brows in concentration, and attempted to raise his trembling arm. He managed to move it a few inches, which he counted a success, but Sheik shook her head in exasperation.

“You’re not steady enough to bandage yourself,” she said, and Link sighed. “And besides, I don’t mind.”

Her voice softened at the end, and Link risked meeting her eyes again, watching as she raised her hand up towards his cheek once more. She hesitated before she touched him again, but gave herself an almost imperceptible shake, and began to clean and wrap the cut, her hands still warm against his icy skin.

He tried to focus on calming the fear still making him shake, fighting stubbornly against the magic still tight around his chest. But it didn’t seem to want to listen to him, and he soon gave up, focusing instead on Sheik’s fingertips brushing his skin.

The regular motions of her fingers against his cheek, disinfecting the slice as well as she could and making sure the bandages would stay, were calming despite the sting, and Link felt his terror actually start to wane a bit.

“You’re freezing,” Sheik murmured at some point, and Link swallowed, his heartbeat still quickened with leftover fear and adrenaline.

...it was definitely just racing from that.

“We need to get you back to camp, you’re too cold,” Sheik continued with a sigh, finishing with his cheek. Her hand lifted off his face and Link mourned the loss of the warmth it had brought. “It’s obviously going to be a while until this wears off. Can you stand?”

Link managed a shivering nod and after a minute, forced his feet underneath him.

Then nearly fell flat on his face when his legs refused to comply.

Sheik shot out a hand and stopped him from face-planting, then carefully pulled his arm around her shoulders, her own arm warming his back where it was supporting him. Her side ended up pressed against his as she held him up, and his blush came roaring back, sending an admittedly pleasant warmth up his face.

He was still trembling, even with Sheik’s help, but he was standing at least, and could mostly support his weight. Her head was rather close to his though, all of her was rather close to him, and that was making it hard to focus on staying upright. Or much of anything.

Maybe that was still just the effects of the redead’s scream.

Yeah. That had to be it.

A thought abruptly occurred to him and he flicked his eyes over to the stump where Proxi had been, just in time to see a bright blue sphere rocket towards him.

“Link! Oh Link, are you okay?” Proxi cried, fluttering a bit wobbly to perch on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I didn’t warn you sooner!”

Link managed a smile as she worriedly sparkled at him, leaning his head down a little so she could brush against it. She made a worried noise at the bandages on his cheek, and Link let her look him over.

“It’s okay,” he said softly, feeling her shiver a little. “Those things ca-ame out of n-nowhere.”

“You were a lot closer than me though, and they kept screaming at you! You’re all shaky and cold, are you really okay?” Proxi continued to fret, and Link saw a smile in Sheik’s eyes from next to him.

“I’ll be f-fine Proxi,” he said, trying to sound reassuring.

He directly countered his words when another huge chill ran up his spine though, sending shivers wracking through him. Sheik’s hold on his shoulders tightened, and maybe it was his imagination, but he thought she might’ve pressed against his side a little more tightly, imparting more warmth.

“I think the sooner we get him back to his tent the better,” Sheik put in. “He’ll be okay with some rest Proxi. This will just take some time to wear off.”

”Okay... if you’re sure,” she said a little hesitantly, giving Link’s cheek a little nuzzle. “Thank you for helping us Sheik!” she glimmered happily, and the smile in the sheikah’s eyes grew just a bit. “Those redead knights are awful.”

“Think w-we can all a-agree on that,” Link chuckled weakly, and Sheik gently nudged him forwards.

Proxi jingled as she settled down a bit, and nestled herself into a fold of Link’s collar, giving him a little warmth of her own. They started to walk, and between Proxi’s warmth on his neck and Sheik’s from beside him, Link slowly began to feel a little less cold. His shivers started to ease, and the terror that still lurked in his chest lightened a bit.

“Thank you,” he whispered in Sheik’s direction. “For saving me, and patching me up. And... this.”

She hummed in reply, and Link had a feeling he was being smiled at. “Someone has to keep an eye on you. And besides, you would do the same. And have done the same.”

The blush on her cheeks returned, and she gave his shoulder the lightest of squeezes, one that sent warmth all over him.

“You’re welcome, hero.”

And this time, when his heartbeat sped, Link knew it had nothing to do with the redeads at all.

#legend of zelda #hyrule warriors #loz hyrule warriors #legend of zelda fanfiction #zelink #link/sheik #what do we tag this as #sheik/link #???#writing from the floor #tw blood #tw injury #but only minor #hurt/comfort #it’s my belief zelda is redead proof because she’s the princess and stuff #also #I kinda had coa in mind when writing this #not that it much matters #just putting that out there

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