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“Are we there yet?” Wind asked as he dragged his feet, dust swirling around his and Legend’s feet.
Wild, whose Hyrule they were currently in, hummed and tapped on his slate a couple of times before responding. “We should be at the stable at sundown, that, without running into any monsters.”
Legend internally cheered, this was the first time being dropped in the Champion’s Hyrule, and compared to the rest of theirs, it was huge. From the tall mountains to the dipping valleys, which made for a beautiful scene, but after being here for a week, it got tiring quickly.
Wind groaned, voicing his thoughts, and Warriors who was on the other side of him, chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry Sailor, I can give you a ride if you’re that tired.”
Wind grumbled and shoved the offending hand off his head. “I’ll be fine!”
Twilight, the worry-wart they’ve discovered him to be, looked back at the trio, concern in his eyes. “You sure?” He called, “I can always carry you if needed, your weight won’t hurt me.”
Wild sniggered and bumped his mentor’s hip, “This guy can wrestle Gorons! Barehanded!”
Legend blinked back his surprise as Wind brightened. “Really?! Could you beat the Old Man in an arm wrestle?”
Warriors smirked and laid an arm around Time’s shoulders, “Sprite can definitely beat the Rancher, no problem.”
Wild grinned and started walking backwards, “Nah, Twi’s definitely stronger, the Old Man is going down!”
“Oh?” Warriors raised an eyebrow, “Wanna bet?”
“You’re on.”
Time chuckled and Twilight gave the two an exasperated look. The Rancher sighed, “Lets save it for dinner, yeah?”
Wild turned back around, a determined look on his face as Warriors just chuckled.
The red glow of the setting sun illuminated the Chain—as Wind liked to call them— and the Sailor beamed. “Well dinner is gonna be soon! ‘Cause I see the stable over there!”
The Cook jogged ahead, excited, before he turned back to the group, “Rulie, lets go!”
The Traveler, who was trailing off the path as usual, snapped his head up and shuffled over to Wild, the two running off.
Twilight sighed, Legend cackled.
———
“Okay,” Warriors started, as he closed his rupee bag, “I got 2 rooms for us, so one will be with four of us and other will be five.”
Wild grabbed Hyrule’s hand and waved it skyward. “We’re gonna room together!”
Hyrule smiled, nodding.
Warriors nodded back to the pair, and wrapped his arm around Time’s armor-covered shoulder, grinning. “Well me and the Old Man are also pairing up.”
Legend felt a tug on his tunic and looked down, Wind was by his side and peering up at him with bright eyes. “Let’s room together!”
Legend agreed, as Four quickly raised his hand and said, “Ranchhand and I are joining Captain and the Old Man.”
Twilight shot a look at Sky, with a slight tilt to his head.
Sky sighed, “I guess I’ll join the troublemaker group.”
“Hey!” Legend protested.
Warriors snickered, “Sky isn’t wrong, Vet.”
Legend grumbled, I’d bet that he’d still end up sleeping through those troublemakers’ pranks.
“Now that that’s settled,” Wild clapped his hands, “I’m making some dinner!”
The Cook walked off to the cooking pot, as Wind ran after him.
“I’ll help too!”
“And me!”
“Hyrule, no!” Six voices shouted at the same time.
The Traveler slouched and sighed, and went to sit down next to Sky, who gave him a weary smile and patted his back.
“Well I’m certainly glad we’re not dying today,” Warriors' amused voice sounded behind him.
“Resorting to sneaking up on people, Captain? Not that I don’t agree with you.” Legend retorted.
He turned away from the rest of the group and went to sit on a log farther away from the stable.
Warriors followed, chuckling, “That’s your own protege you’re talking about!”
“And yours has been following me around for the past week! You do something, Pretty Boy?”
Warriors shoved him; Legend retaliated in same.
“Oh, you jealous?” Legend taunted, the smirk that was plastered onto his face seeping into his tone.
“Should you really be saying that, when Traveler’s basically Champion’s now?”
The Veteran chuffed, “Shove off, dude. Anyways, are you seriously betting that the Old Man is winning? I know he has the most muscle mass but the Rancher is strong. 25 rupees.”
“Are you guys betting something?”
The two turned around simultaneously to look at the owner of the voice: Four, who held his sword in one hand, and the other gripping the strap of his bag.
“Yes!” Warriors confirmed, as Four sat on the grass and began taking out his smithing supplies. “Wild and Wind are probably going to force Time and Twilight to hold an arm-wrestling competition. I don’t see why that is necessary, because it’s obvious who’s gonna win. I’m glad I’m making money though.”
Not bothering to look up from where he was sharpening his sword, Four replied. “Are you certain that you’re going to win?”
Legend chuckled, and rolled his shoulders. “I’m certain that I’m going to win.”
Warriors rolled his eyes, “Whatever shorties. Who do you bet on, the Rancher, or the Old Man?”
Four’s eyes held a dangerous glint, “50 rupees that whoever Vet betted on, will win.”
Warriors groaned, “Seriously, Smithy?”
Four just dreamily sighed, “I’ve been needing a new whetstone.”
Startled out of the conversation by cheering at the other side of the clearing, the trio looked up. Wind, Wild, and Hyrule were cheering for them to ‘fight, fight!’. Sky looked amused, Time was trying to fight a smile, and Twilight was looking older than the Old Man.
They saw Twilight look to Time for help, and when he received none, he conceded. “Alright, alright. We’ll do it. Only so y’all get off your high horses.”
Cheers erupted.
Legend shot a smirk at Warriors, before cupping his mouth and shouting, “You better win, Rancher!”
———
Legend hummed as he counted the rupees before shoving his rupee bag into his bag that was more like a bottomless abyss.
“You sure are in a good mood.”
Legend tilted his head back from where he sat on his bedroll, to the Sailor, who was comfortably perched on the bed.
“Are you sure you wanna stay down there? I promise I don’t kick.” Wind asked, peering down at the man next to the bed.
When Legend shook his head, Wind patted the covers. “It’s really comfy.”
“It’s fine, Sailor.” Legend said, as he settled into his bed roll, “I like being closest to the door.”
“A bit concerning, but okay!”
He saw Wind’s bright blond hair disappear from where he could see, and heard the rustling of his sheets. He could only assume he was getting ready for bed.
He would be too, having already shedded his red tunic and comfortably in his bed roll. They were finally at a safe space with no need for night-watch. Legend would be idiotic not to take advantage of the fact. And Wild’s Hyrule was tiring. He felt that it was probably the biggest out of all of theirs.
Despite the lanterns still casting a bright warm glow around the room, Wild and Hyrule’s murmured conversation, Sky’s frankly thunderous snores, and Wind’s continued shuffling, it was safe; Legend let sleep claim him.
———
Legend groggily woke to the sound of bedsheets shifting and muffled sniffles. He quickly sat up, alert, and gazed at the bed on his left where the sounds originated from.
“Sailor…” Legend softly said, unsure where to start. “You good, bud?”
The blond curls that peeked through the top of the blankets shifted, and Wind sat up, small fists rubbing at his eyes. “I’m fine… just homesick, I guess.”
It was then that something inside Legend’s chest broke a little. Wind, who was always so capable and brave. But tonight he looked like a small child that he had every right to be, and Legend silently cursed the goddesses for putting children so young through these quests.
Legend frowned, before gesturing at the bed. Wind gave a small nod and the Veteran quickly maneuvered himself in front of the boy.
The two looked at each other unsure. A moment passed and Wind tentatively asked, “Can… can I have a hug?”
Legend had barely opened his arms before he got a lapful of child comfy in his embrace. His shoulders tensed for a second, before he wrapped his arms around Wind’s shoulders and laid them down in a more comfortable position.
“You’re warm.” Wind commented, his face smushed into Legend’s chest. It did not look comfortable, but the Sailor didn’t seem to mind. “Like your fire rod. Or I guess it’s the Captain’s now.”
The boy smiled a bit and Legend couldn’t help but lean into the bit and dramatically laid his hand over his forehead.
Taking mind of his volume, Legend quietly bemoaned, “Tragically so! I have to be warm without my poor fire rod, stolen by that evil, evil man!”
Wind sniggered at the dramatics and his sniffling died down into soft, slightly ragged breathing.
Hesitantly, Legend placed his free arm– his other under the Sailor– around the boy’s shoulder, and a hand into windswept hair.
“Do you… do you wanna talk about it?”
Golden Goddesses, I can’t even comfort a kid properly! Legend silently cursed himself when Wind fell silent. A beat of silence passed with the boy unmoving and he could almost believe that he fell asleep before Wind quietly spoke.
“I… well.” He took a deep breath, “I guess it was because this is the first time as a group—nine whole Links!—where we could truly feel safe. Without worrying about night watches or ambushes. And especially tonight, we seemed so much like a family, and I do think of you all as family!”
He was rambling now, not unlike when he would talk about the beauty of his Hyrule. “So I can’t help but think about my own family… They would love to meet you guys.”
Legend nodded, and patted the boy, urging him to continue.
“Well first is my sister, Aryll!” Wind brightly whispered, his hand went up to wipe away the remaining tear tracks. “She’s- she’s great. She’s so sporadic and cheerful! But I’m kinda worried if she’s going to sneak onto Tetra’s ship and join her crew. ‘Cause she’s a literal gremlin.”
Legend huffed out a laugh, “I can definitely see why.”
“Oh?” Wind raised an eyebrow that flew behind his fluffy bangs, “And why’s that?”
“You snarky kid. Continue.”
“Hmph. Well, next is my grandma…”
And Legend felt his heart give a tight squeeze. As Wind continued describing her —and he still listened, nodding along and giving his thoughts— but all he could think about was his uncle, and Legend really wondered why they had to keep suffering. He had grown attached to the Chain, even if he wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he still questioned. Questioned why the goddesses kept taking them away from their homes. Kept them in combat, to risk losing their lives, to never return home. Wind and Four had a family, Time had his wife, Wild, Hyrule, and Warriors had a kingdom, Sky had his girlfriend, and Twilight had his hometown. And he, what did he even have?
“Do you have any family, Vet?” Wind asked, breaking him out of his stupor, dark green eyes twinkling.
Legend blinked, “What?”
“Do you have any family?” Wind repeated with a patient smile.
Legend paused and thought. “Well,” he started, carefully, “I do have a roommate, but he is more of a freeloader who just took over my house. His name is Ravio.”
Spurred on by the excitement brimming in Wind (he was even vibrating!) that reminded him so much of what he was like when he first started adventuring, he continued. “He’s from Lorule, and wears this purple, rabbit outfit. And he’s a scammer. He even tries to rip me off even though we’ve known each other for years!”
Wind laughed. It was so joyful. Could someone like him really make someone like Wind laugh so purely?
Legend shook those deprecating thoughts away, “Oh, don’t you get any ideas, Sailor!”
The smile on Wind’s face widened, “Yeah. But even though he does that, he’s still sounds like a good guy.”
That mischievous smile softened into something that looked endeared, “It looks like you really care for him, huh?”
Legend froze. A light brush that rose to his cheeks went unnoticed in the darkness of the room.
“I’m really glad you have someone. Someone there for you at home, Vet.” Wind continued, a quiet fondness seeping into his voice, “He seems like a great friend. We have to meet him when we go to your Hyrule!”
“Yeah,” Legend intelligently replied. Wind is way too mature for his age.
There was silence after that; light breathing filled the room as Legend absentmindedly ran his hands through Wind’s soft curls. He almost thought the Sailor fell asleep, before Wind’s quiet murmur broke the silence.
“…Softie.”
Legend blinked. “…You wanna repeat that again, Sailor?”
Wind shook his head, muffling his giggles into Legend’s chest. Legend could only dramatically sigh, fondly shaking his head. “Kids these days, disrespecting their seniors.”
Wind snorted, “Now you’re sounding like the Old Man!”
There was a pause, the only sounds being the crickets chirping in the night and the rustling of sheets as one of the other Links shifted. Wind covered his yawn before looking up at Legend.
“No, but seriously,” Earnest deep green met expectant violet. “Thank you. For sharing this with me. I know you don’t talk much about yourself—and that’s fine of course!—but the fact that you felt comfortable enough to share this, no matter how small, with me, well…”
“I’m…” Wind yawned, “I’m… honored.”
Legend stared, wide eyed. He- he did not just say that and- then fall asleep?! He internally screamed.
It’s fine. The Veteran pulled the covers tighter around their bodies, sighing. I’ll figure this out in the morning.
Legend closed his eyes, the deep and even breathing of half of the people he’s coming to know as family filled the room. Even with the heavy claws of sleep that grasped towards him, something warm settled in his chest, and Legend smiled.
———
Legend groggily blinked his eyes open to the sound of muffled giggles and a shutter clicking. He found himself looking at the Champion, who’s laughter was barely contained behind his hand and his slate in his other. Hyrule, at his side, doubled over with silent giggles. He slid his gaze over on the other side of the room, and Sky sat near the sun filled window. The Skyloftian gazed at him with a warm expression, a serene smile tugging at his lips. He blinked at him; Legend was kinda surprised that the man was already up.
Legend turned back to look at what those two gremlins were possibly giggling at, before he blearily realized the warmth that was settled in his arms. Said warmth wiggled a bit and whined—eyes still shut—when Wild and Hyrule’s mirth got louder. He shot a glare at them, not as effective if he were actually awake, but enough for them to shut up and for Wild to give him a cocky thumbs up paired with a shit-eating smile. Jerk.
The two quickly shuffled out of the room, Wild pulling on Hyrule’s arm, their laughter fading as the door closed gently behind them. Legend shook his head and let out an amused huff, bringing Wind closer to his chest.
The sound of soft plucking of strings, a pleasant hum: Sky’s harp filling the room with gentle love. With the cozy morning light warming up the bed nicely, he let himself smile softly. Legend buried his face deeper into Wind’s sun-kissed curls and let his eyes fall close.
He could let himself sleep in… just until the scent of the Cook’s mouth-watering breakfast filled the room.