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h4wari · 29 days ago

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GIRL I HAVE NO WORDS OF HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU OH MY GOD!!!! THIS FIC IS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING TO ME AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THANK YOU BABY YOURE MY EVERYTHINGGGGG!!!

The Nights

Pairing: Legend x Reader

Warning(s): none, but reader is assumed female for having a period.

Notes: Written for the bestest big sis ever, @h4wari, ALSO inspired by the song "Some Say" by Nea

Masterlist

It had been a day.

A terrible, rotten, no-good day that had you wishing for the ground to simply swallow you up once and for all. Not even Wind's cheerful chatter could assuage the annoyance you felt upon waking up before the sun to an unholy pain in your abdomen and tell-tale stickiness on the seat of your pants. It was only by the grace of whatever deities existed that you managed to sneak away from the group with your dignity intact, several thick rags stuffed in your tunic. The nearby river was mercifully abandoned as you took care of business, grumbling about the throbbing in your lower half.

The rest of the afternoon passed similarly, with you distinctly remembering silencing several of Twilight's concerned gazes, his nose slightly wrinkled, with a look patented specifically for situations like these, all the while dodging Wind's queries on why you were walking funny. The sailor's worry was cute, you had to admit, but it was the last thing you wanted to experience when you were currently aching and bleeding.

That didn't mean there weren't saving graces, of course. You had nearly cheered when multiple breaks were taken for seemingly no reason and almost shed tears when it was suggested that the group stay at the inn of the town you were passing through.

"Rough day?"

You practically jumped when Legend plopped down beside you, hands resting in his lap as he gazed curiously at you. You shrugged, bracing yourself when the log rocked slightly at the added weight. The sun shone through the gaps of the trees like a beacon, bathing you in tangerine light; you had been unable to relax in your room, so the log at the back of the inn seemed the next best place.

"It's fine," your stomach throbbed in a way that was undoubtedly not fine. "I'm fine."

"Funny, because I don't believe you," Legend said like he was merely pointing out the weather, and your neck nearly cracked with the force with which you turned to glare at him.

"Excuse me?"

"Unexcused," he said without missing a beat. Your eye twitched. "I'm not a child, (Y/n)–"

"You sure act like it–"

"–And I can tell when someone's in pain," there was a sharp look in his eyes that you weren't sure you liked, especially when another spike of pain tore through your abdomen, followed by a rush of wetness that had you wishing for death. "Especially when it's someone I know."

You raised an eyebrow, trying and failing to hide your discomfort. The way his violet eyes studied your face was unnerving, but you couldn't help but notice the other emotion lurking at the very center of his gaze.

Was it...concern? The very thought seemed preposterous--a mere wish taken from the depths of your subconscious--but the longer you looked, the longer you knew it was true.

Legend was concerned for you, and you had no fucking idea how to proceed. If there was any comfort in the terrible reality of having periods, it was that you always knew what to do when they arrived, but now, you were floundering. Badly.

What were you to do? Console him? Tell him to fuck off and mind his own damn business? Ask what in Hyrule had possessed him?

Legend's mouth moved once more, and you realized he was going to decide for you.

"I have something for you."

You blinked. Twice, then thrice.

"You have what?"

"Something," he shrugged, not bothering to elaborate as he rifled through his pack. "For you."

"...That's ominous," you said, not quite knowing how to proceed. On one hand, it was sweet, but on the other... "Dare I ask what you're plotting?"

Legend paused to fix you with an unamused gaze. "Woooow, can't a guy be generous without criticism?"

"Not when it's you," you shot back, wincing when a terrible shock shot up your spine. It was simultaneously too hot and too cold, and you were practically on your last wits.

"I'm generous all the time," the Vet scoffed. "You just never noticed."

"Because you're an asshole."

"So are you," he rolled his eyes, and you were forced to accept the terrible predicament of him being right, though it didn't stop you from gaping and wondering why his head hadn't exploded from the sheer rage in your gaze. "Here."

All your thoughts skidded to a stop when he tossed a gray square-shaped object into your lap. It was soft and round, with gentle edges, but the most startling observation you made was how warm it was. You lifted the square, marveling in the sheer amount of heat soaking into your palms.

"It's a heat pack," Legend explained quietly, averting his eyes from your face, expression uncharacteristically shy. "It's supposed to help with cramps and... all that."

All that.

You were silent, holding his gift like the treasure it was. It had been so long since anyone had been this thoughtful, and the fact that it was from Legend, of all people, baffled you to no end.

"Why?" you asked... and immediately felt dumb for it; you understood why, it was just...

"Because you're a lot less annoying when you're not in pain," Legend responded and you paused to contemplate what exactly you had seen in him. It wasn't a secret that he was blunt and snarky, just as capable of being a true asshole as he was being a decent person.

"Right," you studied the square for a long moment. "Where did you even get this?"

There was a pause.

Your eyebrows shot skyward when he blushed. The Veteran, king of sarcasm and plentiful digs at one's character, grew redder than his tunic in the face of a simple question. One thing was clear; whatever his answer was, it would be good.

"Legend."

Silence, save for the rustling trees and swaying grasses. You shielded your eyes against a stray ray of sunlight, biting your lip when another bout of pain stabbed your stomach.

"It's not going to work unless you use it," the Vet mumbled, still refusing to look at you. You immediately placed the pack against your abdomen, and, fuck, did it feel good. It was a battle unto itself to keep any... pleasured noises at bay when delicious warmth soaked directly into your poor, tired muscles.

Violet eyes flicked to you, then back down to the grass by his boots. You pretended not to see anything.

"Thank you," the words felt thick on your tongue. "This... thank you."

"It's nothing," the hero responded slowly, though the flush on his cheeks hinted that it was anything but. It was cute that he was so flustered, even if he was also being a jerk about it. "...I should go inside."

You watched him stand, deftly wiping imaginary dust from legs, and considered letting the moment end. It was late, and you were exhausted.

But.

"You made it, didn't you?"

Legend froze, boots kicking up some grass from how hard he stopped. You stayed quiet as he stood with his back to you, nearly motionless. A long minute passed before he turned, cheeks pinker than a cherry blossom tree at the height of spring.

"Yeah."

You pressed the pack closer, relishing as more heat swept into your aching skin. "How?"

"Does it matter?" Legend's response was sharp as his arms crossed over his chest, and it was a response you knew well. He had always been guarded, even when no one was there to hurt him.

"Maybe," you said, smiling ever-so-slightly. It felt good to grin again, like life had finally decided to act in your favor. "I'm just curious."

Legend rolled his eyes, lips twisting into a sneer that was so unadulteratedly him that you had to look away for a second, though the expression didn't reach his eyes, which were bright and focused. "Hasn't anyone ever told you that curiosity killed the remlit?"

"Just now," you managed a chuckle when he blinked, clearly not expecting a response. "But satisfaction brought it back."

The Hero of Legends was silent, until the mask cracked and a low chuckle escaped him. Maybe it was the dusk, casting a golden glow on his skin, or the breeze, ruffling his strawberry-blonde hair in a manner than would never not be him, but you felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to enact a move only accomplished in fairytales and dreams.

You rose to your feet, clutching the pack closer as your muscles screamed in protest, and hobbled over to him, one hand resting on the smooth fabric covering his right shoulder. Legend stiffened, eyes widening when you pressed the softest of kisses to his cheek. He stuttered something, cheeks practically exploding with color, but you were already gone, headed to your room with warm cheeks and a satisfied expression.

Legend knew he was in deep shit.

He had watched you all day, noting the way you clutched your stomach when you thought no one was looking, or the face you made when Wild mused about making stew for the fifth time in a row. Don't get him wrong, he loved stew, but the expression on your face was enough to have him butting in to suggest they expand their culinary horizons to fried rice. Twilight, the bastard, had given him a shockingly astute gaze, followed by a soft head tilt in your general direction, but Legend had contained himself impressively, only responding with a certain finger pointedly raised in the air.

When night had fallen, he followed you out of the inn for some goddess-forsaken reason, clutching an item he had spent an embarrassing amount of time making. Heat packs weren't difficult to enchant, but the process was nonetheless finicky--with a single wrong move capable of rendering the thing useless--and he wasn't interested in handing you anything but the best. He had a reputation to uphold, for Hylia's sake!

Until you kissed him.

It wasn't even romantic, the Vet reasoned, just a gesture of appreciation from you to him. Nothing more, nothing less. That is, if he had been able to excuse the feeling of your lips against the skin of his cheek as anything but perfect, so soft and warm that it threw him for a loop for a solid minute. It had been a miracle that he hadn't collapsed on the spot, still reeling from the situation.

And now, even as he walked down the moonlit hallway to his room, the thoughts of you were still there. What the fuck was he supposed to do? Kiss you? Confess the crush he had been nursing for weeks? Ignore everything and pretend he was above this like he always did?

No, Legend reasoned, hand falling on the doorknob. He was many things, but a coward wasn't one of them. He pushed the door open, only to freeze when he caught sight of what was inside.

It was you, because who else would it be, with a look of barely-disguised realization on your face. An identical room key dangled from your grasp, and Legend could have cursed whoever decided to give that damn rancher control of room assignments for the night.

"...I can explain," you began, though it was obvious you couldn't. The key jingled when you brought it up to the light. "Twilight–"

"Yeah," Legend cut you off with a short wave, closing the door behind him. The silence was deafening, and just staring at each other was getting really awkward. "He's an ass."

"I wouldn't say an 'ass'," you chided, though it was half-hearted at best. Legend noticed you were bereft of your usual tunic, dressed in only a shirt with no sleeves and some ratty trousers. He couldn't recall seeing you like this before, but it wasn't an unwelcome change. The subtle bulge around your abdomen indicated that you had made good use of the pack, and that was pleasing in its own right. "...But he doesn't skimp on causing trouble."

"...So he's an ass."

You snorted, embarrassment fading as you rested your hands on your hips. "Har har, very funny."

"I wasn't joking."

"You were."

"Nope."

"Yes."

"N–"

"You're fucking lucky I don't have the mental fortitude for this right now."

Legend fell silent, finally noticing the bags under your eyes, not to mention the way you seemed to hunch in on yourself, one hand pressed to your belly, and it was enough to make him actually consider his next words carefully.

"...Is it working?"

He knew it was a dumb question, but someone had to ask it.

Your expression softened and you nodded, brushing some hair behind your ear, gaze flicking to the bed. Legend tried not to blush any more than he already was. "...It's getting late."

"...Yeah."

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. It was a sound he had heard many times, typically when someone had decided to be a pain in the ass, but he had always tried to keep it from being directed specifically at him. "Don't look so scared, I'm not kicking you out."

Legend blinked. "You... aren't?"

You rolled your eyes. "Of course not," your tone was light, and it made him feel a bit better about the situation. "We can share."

Share. Share.

He was familiar with the word, of course, and it would have been no big deal with literally anyone else, but the thought of sharing a bed with you was... well, it seemed too good to be true.

"Unless you're uncomfortable," you amended quickly, the tiniest hint of red blooming over your cheeks. "I'm sure Wind and Four–"

"No!" Legend could have cursed himself for sounding so desperate, but the mere thought of spending the night alone left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I mean–... we can share."

You nodded, the ghost of a smile on your lips, and made your way to the bed. The sheets rustled as you slipped beneath them, shuffling over to make room for him. Legend used those few precious seconds to remove his boots and red tunic, setting them carefully atop the provided dresser next to your own clothes. His belt was placed next to the pile, the edge hanging down to brush the hilt of his sword.

By the time he was ready for bed, you had already dozed off, curled on your side with both arms around your stomach. Legend allowed himself to smile, sliding into the empty spot beside your form. The bed was firm enough to be comfortable, not to mention a lot less lumpy than expected, but he would have slept on the floor itself if you were there.

A quiet whimper broke through the silence.

Legend shot up like a spring, scanning the room for threats before focusing his gaze on you. The bed creaked as you rolled onto your back with a noise of discomfort, brows furrowed and eyes screwed shut. Your shoulders trembled noticeably and his heart felt like it was being stretched in a million directions.

You were cold, in pain, or possibly both.

Legend knew he had to fix it.

With ninja-like stealth, he crept from the bed, snagging his tunic off the dresser. You made another noise when he tucked the item around your form like a second blanket, pulling the comforter all the way up to your chin, deftly ignoring the somersaulting feeling in his stomach at the sight of his tunic over you. It was neither the time nor place to be pleased at... whatever this was, so Legend smoothed the bedsheets and settled atop them. It was a warm night, so he wasn't worried about getting chilled as he pulled you close, arms encircling your form.

A sigh left your mouth and your head turned to the side, settling in the junction between his neck and shoulder like you belonged there. You were asleep, the Vet knew, and would likely not remember any of this come morning, but he allowed himself to lay his head just above yours, letting your scent wash over him as he fell into the best sleep of his life.

I just realized that Twi is literally a wingman in every one of my stories, he'll get his turn eventually <33

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h4wari · 30 days ago

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Burning Love

Chapter 7

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The sun was high in the sky when the group reached Kakariko Village. Your eyes were wide with wonder as you crossed the bridge, passing under the multicolored streamers waving in the gentle breeze. The delicious scent of food filtered around the bustling village. Several people called to Wild as he led everyone into the heart of the area, the champion waving back cheerfully.

'It's just like Skyloft," Sky breathed beside you, expression filled with wonderment.

"Is that where you're from?" You asked curiously.

"It is," he paused, seeming almost wistful. "I wonder every day if the portal will take us there."

You grinned. "Will you give us a tour if it does?"

Sky's eyes brightened as he returned your expression. "Consider it done."

You opened your mouth to respond, but an excited gasp emanated from the back of the group. "They have a forge?"

That was Four, all right. You looked to the left and noticed that there was indeed a forge less than five meters from the road, dark puffs of smoke belching from the thick chimney above the fire. The young man inside hammered away at something on the anvil.

"He's making a horseshoe," Four fawned, though it was fairly hushed compared to his first remark. You assumed it was his manners kicking in, and hung back to pat his shoulder.

"Go have a look, then," you giggled at his excitement.

Four's grin grew larger. He practically took off toward the forge, shouting something about being only a minute. You smiled and shook your head.

"We can meet with Impa," Wild was saying to Time. "She should have a place for us to stay."

"It's only midday," Legend pointed out.

"Weren't you the one who said you wanted to see the Sheikah tech?" Wild shot back with a mischievous expression. Legend's eye twitched, but it didn't stop him from reluctantly nodding.

"Me too," agreed Warriors, stealing a glance at the mannequins outside the clothing store. "I'm curious what kind of clothes they have here."

"Crossdresser," Legend coughed into his fist and you barely beat Time in gently smacking the pantless hero upside the head.

"Be nice, he has a better fashion sense than you," it took everything in you not to laugh at Legend's hilariously crestfallen expression, though Warriors had no such reservations.

"Right on, (Y/n)!"

"I try."

Time hummed, though you suspected that he was hardly listening. There was a faraway look in the eldest hero's eye that you didn't dare comment on, not that it stopped you from worrying. Faraway gazes were far from good, in this group. "I'm going to find Impa," he concluded. "Wild? Legend?"

"We're right behind you," Wind grinned as they began to leave.

"You coming?"

"Not right now," you hummed in response to Sky's question. "I'll catch up with you all later."

The chosen hero shrugged good-naturedly, gaze flicking in the general direction of the forge for a split second before he moved to follow the others. You waved him off and headed in the opposite direction, intent on exploring as much of the village as you could; it wasn't often you had this much downtime, making every peaceful minute a hard-earned treat.

You stopped at the produce shop and bought a bunch of carrots, slowly knawing on one as you stepped back into the light.

Someone called your name, and you turned to meet Four, who looked strangely out of breath as he walked over. "Hey, Four, I thought you were still at the forge?"

"I was," he responded, panting slightly. You raised an eyebrow, but waited for him to finish. "Everyone disappeared and I wanted to see if you were okay."

Well, if that wasn't the sweetest thing you'd heard that day. Until the first part of his admission caught up with you. "Wait, what do you mean 'everyone'?"

Four stared at you like you had grown a second head. "Everyone but us."

"...You're joking."

"I checked everywhere; you're the only one I could find."

You swore under your breath, instinctually linking your arms together and marching in the direction the group had gone, drowning out Four's noise of surprise with your words. "We need to find Impa; there's no way this is a coincidence."

Four nodded in solemn agreement, keeping decent pace with your quick steps. "Do you think they were taken?"

"I don't know," your eyes scanned your surroundings, lingering suspiciously on the faces of the townspeople. You didn't bother hiding your deepening scowl when it became apparent that the others were gone. Your arm tightened around his own, and you whispered: "stay close."

Four did just that, practically melding his burning side into yours as the two of you marched down the road to Impa's home. The stairs creaked under your boots as you made your way to the top. As if on cue, you and Four each flung a door open, revealing an empty room for all to see. There was a large chair in the back of the room, flanked by what could only be described as a glowing orb and a simple staircase leading to the second floor. "She's not here," you said. "Time said–"

You froze when a loud screech emanated from outside, echoing through the space. "What–"

"Here," Four unlinked his arm with yours, cutting you off with a single word. He pulled the short sword from his belt, offering it handle-first to you while drawing his own sword. "You're going to need it."

You took the sword, head tipped in understanding; you had enough combat skills to hold your own in battle, but it was still glaringly obvious how much better the other links were compared to you. "Thanks," you replied before turning on your heel and shooting in the direction of the scream. "Come on!"

Four could only race after you as you bounded down the stairs, boots digging up small clouds of dirt. Another yell shook the air, and you took off down the road. You turned a corner the clashing of swords grew louder, sprinting into the forest without a second thought.

Your heart thudded like a drum as you practically flew into the clearing, which could more accurately be described as a battleground. Legend, Wild, Wind, and Sky fought a gaggle of lizalfos on the outskirts of the area, while Time and Warriors grappled with a large moblin in the center of the fray. Hyrule and Twilight were on the opposite, the former desperately trying to heal the large cut on the rancher's forehead.

Adrenalin roared in your ears as you flung yourself at the lizalfo aiming for Legend's back, slashing at its neck with your weapon. The creature screeched, stumbling forward as it clutched the pouring wound. The veteran faced you with wide eyes, but quickly reacted when the lizalfo stumbled closer, finishing it off with a vicious stab to the chest.

"Are you alright?" you called over the raging battle, scanning his form for injuries.

"I'm fine," Legend gave the corpse a firm kick, sending it crashing to the ground. "Thank you."

You gave him a short nod, refocusing on the moblin. A large cut spanned most of its bared chest, courtesy of Time's sword. A roar left the creature's mouth as it swung at Warriors, who deftly ducked, seizing the opportunity to stab at its right leg. A familiar screech followed, and you rushed forward, taking advantage of the Moblin's position to bury Four's blade in the junction between its neck and shoulder, where you knew they were weakest. At least the military taught me something, you thought with a small amount of pride as the creature collapsed with a heavy crash.

"Watch out!"

You heard Wind's shout too late, stumbling back as an arrow embedded itself in the flesh of your side. A shocked gasp rose from your throat as every nerve in your body flared like a wildfire, spreading from the burning epicenter of the entry wound. Instinct took hold faster than you could think in the form of your unoccupied hand clapping down on the wound, sending another stab of pain radiating through you. "Fuck!"

Someone called your name, but you couldn't be bothered to respond when a lizalfos lunged for you, talons flexed in preparation to draw blood. The muscles in your arm tensed like a spring as you brought your arm up, swinging your sword in a deadly, desperate arc at your attacker, gritting your teeth against the spike of pain in your side at the quick movement.

Shiing!

The metal of your sword connected against the lizalfos' claws with a terrible grating noise. The creature shrieked in rage, vile blood spurting from its injuries like a cursed fountain. Some of the liquid splashed on your face, and you wanted nothing more than to scream in frustration. Hand still clenched against your side, you rallied yourself again and aimed another slash at the lozalfos' throat.

Only, as you swung, there was a blur of motion on your right side, and the lizalfos' tail connected directly against your side, sending you tumbling to the ground. Your sword clattered on the ground, wholly unreachable, and you snarled as the creature stumbled forward, casting a shadow over your prone form. There was a devastating ache in your head, likely when you collided with the ground, and you tried not to panic when dark spots danced in your fading vision.

It all seemed hopeless until you heard a sound unlike anything you'd heard before; a yell, no, a battle cry, because no simple cry could possible sound so feral, so unhinged, so enraged. You stared in shocked wonderment as the lizalfos jerked, chest flying forward as a blade pierced through the pale green scales. Blood sprayed from the wound like a geyser, soaking you to the bone, but you found yourself not caring when the sword moved down, nearly splitting the beast in two, and the blood-soaked physique of Four was revealed. He was huffing, arms shaking as the lizalfo's corpse fell off the blade, landing on the ground with a satisfying thud, and you were almost embarrassed to admit that, for a split second, you almost didn't recognize the sweet hero you'd come to know. His pupils, usually an earthy green, flashed erratically with impossible hues of blue, purple, and even red.

You felt as though every muscle in your body had frozen over when he stepped over the lizalfos' body, b-lining for you. The sounds of battle had long since died down in your ears, but you couldn't bring yourself to be concerned with anything other than the Hylian stalking towards you.

Four's eyes flashed green as he stood above you, seemingly taking stock of the situation. You were incredibly aware of the moment he noticed the arrow embedded in your side, because it was the same moment his already stormy expression darkened unimaginably, lip curling with what you could only assume was complete rage as the color in his pupils bled to a cerulean blue color.

"Four," you breathed, because what else was there to say? The words tasted coppery on your tongue, but you spit them out nonetheless. "What happened to you?"

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught Wind finishing off the last lizalfos with a mighty yell. The others had begun to gather close, each of their faces a picture of fear, and you almost felt embarrassed. Almost.

Four had nothing to say when he reached forward, applying pressure to the wound when your own hand fell slack, his other arm wrapping around your shoulders, supporting your weakened body. A moment of silence passed, and you caught the terrified gaze of Wind over Four's shoulder.

"It's alright," Four whispered, voice deeper than you'd ever heard it; the press of his blood-soaked tunic against your shoulder was worryingly unmistakable in your hazy state. His breath tickled your skin, and, if you paid attention, you were sure the thumping against your arm was actually the frantic beat of his heart. "I'm here."

You tried to smile, you really did, but another stab of pain all but skewered your consciousness, and everything went black.

You felt warm.

Not an uncomfortable sort of warmth, but one that ebbed and flowed with each shaky breath, encouraging you to consider the earthy scent of the blanket covering you, and the bumpy white ceiling when your eyes cooperated enough to crack open.

"You're awake!" a voice suspiciously similar to Wind exclaimed, and you groaned at the overwhelming volume of the admission, groggily slinging your right arm over your eyes. "H-Hang on, I'll get Hyrule!"

"Okay," you croaked, and it was enough to startle you into a higher level of consciousness. There was a creak, followed by Wind's unmistakable shout, and many quick footsteps entered the room, as if the owners were all clamoring against one another.

"Are you okay?" Yup, that was definitely Legend's voice. "How are you feeling?"

You found the strength to remove your arm from your face and attempt to rise to a sitting position, only to be gently pushed down by a concerned Twilight. "Stay right there, medic," the rancher instructed firmly. "Do ya have any idea how long ya've been out?"

You made a face, though it was mostly because of the deep ache in your side. "...Isn't that your job?"

"It's been two days," (Y/n)," Warriors spoke softly, and his expression brought a fresh stab of pain to your heart.

"I'm sorry," you tried to sigh, but stopped when your wound flared again. "...Where are we?"

"The Shuteye Inn," Wild explained, and you didn't have to look at him to know he was smiling. "They've got the best beds in town."

You tried to nod, only to hiss when a sudden flash of pain radiated through your skull. Someone swore, and you vaguely heard Sky asking for more health potions. There were a few shuffling noises, followed by the distinct sound of a cork popping, and a glass was pressed against your lips.

"Drink," Hyrule said, and you did so, gulping down the foul-tasting liquid in record time. The potion burned down your throat, pooling warmly in your belly, and the pain in your side and head eased almost immediately. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit," you half-croaked, half-grumbled, and a unanimous chuckle passed over the group. Your eyes scanned the group, passing over the faces of your friends, but something was missing, or, rather, someone. "...Where's Four?"

"Asleep," Twilight grunted. "He stayed up day an' night t' watch over ya; was practically a battle 't get him to rest."

You nodded slowly, thinking back to the battle in the forest and the person you had witnessed. Not that you were scared--that couldn't be further from the truth--but the sheer... emotion in Four's eyes had thrown you for a loop. A long, bumpy, convoluted loop that branched into something not even you could hope to identify.

"...(Y/n)?"

Your gaze snapped to the door at the sound of your name, landing on a very rough-looking Four. Cresent-shaped dark circles rimmed his half-lidded eyes, partially obscured by his wild bangs. His signature multicolored tunic was gone, leaving him in a simple white one, and his bandana was nowhere to be seen, causing the rest of his hair to limply frame the sides of his flushed face.

"You look terrible," the words slipped from your mouth before you could stop them.

Four blinked slowly. "I feel terrible."

Well then.

Twilight was the first to break the silence, tone taking on a slight growl as he addressed the other hero. "Hylia, smithy, what did I tell ya about gettin' rest--?"

"I couldn't," Four said, the raw desperation in his voice painfully unmistakable. His eyes found yours. "Not without..."

I'm fine, you wanted to reassure him, but the words got stuck in your throat. Your hands fisted in the sides of your tunic.

"Hyrule," Twilight's voice broke through the silence. "Do ya have anythin' ya can give him?"

"I do," the traveler sighed. "But it won't do much. You need rest, Four, we'll handle this."

Four ran a hand through his bangs, looking slowly between you, Hyrule, and Twilight. "...Can I stay?"

An uncomfortable silence blanketed the room. Time and Twilight shared a look, while a shifty-eyed Warriors coughed into his fist. Hyrule pointedly looked away, a pink flush creeping up his neck. And you... well, you tried not to choke at the admission. Not that you had a problem with sharing a bed with him, but it felt a hell of a lot different when he was asking in front of seven other people.

Still...

"Sure," you hardly registered the words that fell from your mouth, scooting an inch to the right so he would have enough space. When Four began to advance, Wind clapped his hands.: "first one to the town square wins!" ...and took off, followed by the Wild and Legend. The others were slower to leave, with only Hyrule and Twilight remaining by the time Four reached the bed.

"Call us if ya need anythin'," the rancher instructed with a stern expression, looping his arm around Hyrule's shoulders. "C'mon, traveler, we'll see 'em tonight."

"Thank you," you called as the two heroes left, closing the door behind them with a resounding click. Your gaze flicked to Four, standing at the head of the bed with a hesitant expression. Channeling your best disappointed-medic face, you eyed him. "I hear you haven't been sleeping?"

Four nodded, not bothering to hide it. You sighed, gingerly patting the spot beside you. "C'mon, smithy, we're burning daylight."

He smiled tiredly, and the bed dipped with the additional weight. You let yourself relax as he lay shoulder-to-shoulder with you, movements slow and careful. For a while, nothing was said. Four stared at the ceiling, hands folded over his stomach, while you busied yourself with breathing through the dull ache in your head.

"I'm sorry."

You blinked, turning your head to look at him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he mumbled in a soft tone.

You shook your head, wincing at the sharp spike of pain that followed. "It's not your fault," you trailed off for a moment before continuing with a weak-sounding: "We all get hurt."

"That doesn't mean it should happen," Four shot back. You sighed, all hopes of getting a proper nap dashed before your very eyes. "To you or anyone... it's not fair."

"Life isn't fair," you answered gently.

"No... it isn't."

That tone, you were sure he had used it before. Memories of glowing crimson eyes flashed in your mind's eye, but you pushed them aside with a shiver. You had no idea what that was... and you were almost positive you didn't want to know.

"...I lied to you."

"About what?" You asked slowly, tone laced with anticipation as you wondered if this was what Twilight had been referring to.

"Everything."

...Everything? What in Hylia did that mean?

"That's... a lot," you began, unsure of what to say next. "You... hate my cooking?"

Four's head snapped to you. "What? No–"

"But you said–"

"Hylia, (Y/n), I'd kill for your cooking," he said, and images of a blood-soaked, multicolored tunic flashed before your eyes. "That's not–"

"Then explain it to me," you cut him off, feeling a bit pissy as your cranium throbbed.

Four huffed, hands fiddling with the comforter. His expression was guarded, eyes flicking around the space like he was looking for a way out, until it wasn't, and his shoulders slumped against the mattress.

"Four," you pressed, and, when that didn't work: "Link, talk to me."

Wide green eyes found yours, and the look of surprise on his face was one you wouldn't soon forget. He opened his mouth, then closed it, and opened it again.

"...I'm part minish."

"That's it?" you blurted before you could stop yourself. Four's eyes widened further and you rushed to save the moment. "I mean–... that's cool?"

"...You don't understand, do you?"

"Not really," you admitted sheepishly. "But I don't have to. If it's important to you, it's important to me."

"...I think I love you."

You nearly gave yourself whiplash from the force in which your neck turned to stare at him, uncaring of the spiking pain in your head. "I... what?!"

"You heard me," he said, averting his eyes with a flush brighter than the sun, and you felt a sudden rush of deja-vu.

"You... you don't know that," every nerve in your body felt hot, though you couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or another, unspeakable emotion. "Four–"

"I do know," Four cut in, shifting to a sitting position on the bed. You tried to follow, but his hand gently pushed you down by the shoulder.

You didn't bother fighting. "...How long?"

"Months."

Months. He had felt like this for months, and you hadn't known a damn thing.

You were almost afraid to speak. "I-Is that why..."

"Yes," the heat in his voice sent forbidden shivers down your spine, zinging against your ribs with more intensity than a shock arrow.

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you mumbled: "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I am now," Four responded, and you knew he had you there.

"You should have told me," you amended softly.

"You would have thought I was crazy," again, he had you there. You wouldn't have taken him seriously with how sick he looked before.

"You are crazy," you muttered, half affectionate and half accusing.

"Maybe, but so are you," he shot back. "What would you have done?"

This was it; the moment of truth. What would you have done? Had you been in the field, you'd have laughed it off, chalking a confession to feverish ramblings, but now...

"I would have kissed you," you admitted, slowly, to test the waters. Four's expression immediately froze, and you could practically smell the disbelief coming off him in waves. It was flattering, but it wasn't what you were looking for.

"I– could you repeat that?'

You almost rolled your eyes at the shellshocked face he made. Almost. "I said I would have kissed you."

"Kissed me," he repeated, blinking slower than you'd ever seen. "...Me?"

This time, you rolled your eyes. "Yes, you."

"...Are you sure?"

"Hylia, Four, do you want a kiss or not?"

"I–" the smithy started, the tips of his ears flushing a deep pink. You watched in fascination as the color traveled to his cheeks, then swooped down his neck. "Can I?"

"Only if it doesn't kill you in the process."

Four rolled his tired eyes, but the action was rather moot when a bright grin broke through the mask. "I think I'll be fine."

"If you say so," you teased with a smile, reaching your hands up to cup his face. Four held them there with his own hands, swooping down to press his lips against your own.

It wasn't the longest kiss you'd had, but there was something about the way your lips connected that put all your other kisses to shame. His hands, calloused and rough from years of hard work, rested against your own like a single touch would shatter you, and you sighed when a hand dipped down to caress you own cheek, while the other landed on the bed to stabilize him.

Your heart felt as though it was going to pound through your ribcage when you broke apart, staring into each other's eyes for what felt like an eternity. Your eyes traced every inch of his face; from where the sloping shadows met along the gentle planes of his cheek to the sheer rawness in his eyes as he gazed down at you. No one had ever looked at you with such emotion, and, for the first time in forever, you understood the feeling behind that emotion.

Of course it was love, because what else would it be?

"Hey," The tip of Four's nose brushed your own as he murmured down at you.

"Hi," you said back, and it was enough to make everything in the world feel right again.

"Get some rest," Four's fingers brushed up your neck, tucking a string of hair behind your ear, dipping down once more to plant a tender peck to your forehead. "I'll be here when you wake up."

Hylia, you hoped so.

"Only if you do, too," you shot back, eyelids already drooping closed. There was a chuckle, and you felt the bed dip some more as slid down, gently slinging an arm over your clavicle, fingers curling around your opposite shoulder. His face nuzzled into the curve of your neck and shoulder, tickling your skin with his soft breaths. You felt warm, and that was when the last realization of the day came.

"You're not sick, are you?"

"Shhh, you're supposed to be sleeping."

"So are you, Link," you shot back, feeling him grin against your skin as familiar darkness consumed you.

It's happening!!!!

There WILL be smut in the next chapter, so prepare y'allselves.

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