#Meanwhile Wild is still trying to process that Ganondorf has a kid and he was MIND CONTROLLING HIM

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Sleepy Vibes with Wild and Shadow <3

Something snapped, wood bending and giving way to increased pressure, and Link jolted awake.

His first instinct was to reach for the newly recovered Master Sword, but he found his body impossibly heavy for some reason, causing even more alarm. He looked around wildly, eyes squinting through the dark, only to be met by a deer staring at him.

Blowing out a sigh of relief, Link tried to take a deep breath and found it sorely lacking. He felt unusually warm, and there was pressure on his chest and something around his waist and—

Oh.

Looking down a little, he saw the teenager he’d rescued from Naydra’s Snowfield snoozing peacefully, arm draped across his abdomen, head over his chest like he was a pillow.

Link. The other one. A possible Hero from the past, and Ganondorf’s kid.

Link sighed a little, letting his arms come up around the teenager. A breeze blew some of the kid’s lighter blonde hair into his nose and he sniffled a little, chuckling as it tickled.

They hadn’t gotten too far from the snowfield, barely making it beyond the East Lanayru Gate. This younger warrior, strong as he’d been in their last fight, was completely sapped of energy, overcome with Gloom Sickness now that the majority of Ganondorf’s control had been banished from his body. The boy still hadn’t explained how he’d managed to escape his father’s control, and Link hadn’t pushed for it quite yet. He just needed to protect the kid and get him safely to Kakariko Village.

But with the pace they had to go, with the way the teenager wheezed and nearly collapsed after a few hour’s journey, it was making the trip far longer than anticipated.

Link didn’t mind. He had the supplies and the time, for now. This kid was more important. He had to protect him, and he would. If Ganondorf would be coming after anyone, it would be him.

Besides, the information the warrior had was no doubt invaluable. Link had to help him get better, and then together, they’d defeat the demon king. And Link wouldn’t dare let that monster touch this kid ever again.

The teenager hummed a little, a mix of contentment and discomfort, shifting a little to get more comfortable as he tried to stay asleep. His hand pushed into Link’s abdomen a little, making the older hero cough, but Link tried to help the kid reposition as best he could.

The younger one’s eyes fluttered open, and he glanced around sleepily. Link held him tightly, remembering the scare he’d had the last time he awoke.

“Dad…?” The warrior slurred confusedly, clearly still half asleep.

Link was torn between laughing and cringing. He held him carefully, saying, “He’s… your dad’s not here. It’s me, remember?”

The young warrior looked up at him sleepily, red eyes bloodshot. His skin seemed to finally be getting a bit more color, though, no longer bluish grey in the cold but pale instead. The two stared at each other a moment, Link debating if somehow the Gloom Sickness had gotten so bad the kid was now delirious, but lucidity shone true as the boy tried to sit up a little.

The warrior mumbled an apology, arms shaking as he pushed himself off the ground, and Link braced his hands against the kid’s shoulders. “It’s okay. Look, you’re still pretty tired, and it’s the middle of the night. There’s no reason for us to get going right now.”

The kid nodded, nearly collapsing onto the grass beside Link, curling in on himself. Link watched him a moment, mind filled with so many thoughts. Why was his first inclination to call out to Ganondorf? Did the demon king actually have an affectionate bone in his body, that he would hold his child while he slept? How confused was the young warrior? Should Link try to comfort him?

He really wasn’t the best at this, but he wanted to help. Years of being with Zelda had improved his empathy, at least. Not that he never felt sorry for anyone before, but expressing it…

Well. There was a reason many of the parents he’d interacted with had called him a wild child during his first adventure. It was a bit difficult to navigate social situations, anyway, when he could hardly remember any. At least he had a few years of experience under his belt now, and far more memories.

Memories of his own parents, vague as they were, helped guide him nowadays. Experiences with a distraught Zelda, watching Impa and others offer her comfort, being given comfort in his own turn by Sheikah and Zora alike… it helped. And prompted him to act.

Reaching over, he gently tapped at the kid’s back. When the warrior turned to look at him, eyes tired and face beaten down, Link pat the space beside him, encouraging him to scoot closer. “It’s chilly tonight. C’mon. You’re not feeling well. Besides, I can protect you better if you’re closer.”

The younger fighter considered it a moment, seeming hesitant, before rolling over to face him, letting Link pull him to his chest. The teenager rested his head on Link’s shoulder, arms curled into himself to stay warm, body relaxing under the Hero of Hyrule’s care.

Link sighed a little, giving the kid a hug while he had him there, before letting himself relax as the Light Dragon flew overhead.