#Ravio is just lost

[spicymcbean]

What was meant as Hyrule and Lorule duo thing became Wild adopting his lorule self. Which is still duos but I of course make thinks fun for myself and add on plot stuff from a theory I saw once. So I hope you enjoy!

Link stood back, his sword falling to his side. He keeps an eye on the shadow version of himself as the darkness begins to leak out and burn into the sky around it. This enemy appearing to kill him after all that had happened couldn't be ignored. He waits for the monster to disappear but..it never does. It remains but its appearance begins to change. The white hair shifts into a darker color. The tunic changes from a mocking dark version of the champion's tunic into a purple version of something close to the ones Hateno sells. The Hero raises a brow and hesitantly steps forward. He instantly regrets it as the body suddenly sits up gasping for air. Link aims his sword forward again. Ready for a fight. The other simply gulps air down and awkwardly glances around in a swaying kind of way. Then it looks up at Link. Fear fills the gaze of the other and instantly tries to scramble away. " AAAAAHHH DON'T KILL ME I'M SO SORRY-" it began to scream. Link stares in utter alarm. " You can..you can talk? " he questions. The former copycat smacks straight into the ground before nervously looking back at Link. A confused yet fearful gaze on the other's face. " Y-yes..? " " But you couldn't before. " Link retorts. The confusion grows worse. The person on the ground's eyebrows furrow. " Yes I could. " almost offended by the notion they could not. Link frowns at this. " No. When you were trying to kill me earlier you did not talk! " " I've never seen you before in my life! I never tried to kill you! " the person snaps back at Link. Frustration burns in him now. " Yes! You just did! You've been chasing me for months! Trying to do just that! I won't fall for this ploy Shadow Link! " The furrowed brows grow more knitted. The attempt to curl into a tree to hide loosens. " That's..that's not my name. " " What? " Link asks, unsure of what was just said. It makes no sense to him. None of this does anymore. The person looks at Link. A frown appears. " That is not my name.." Link grows quiet. A tight grasp on his sword as he lowers it a little. " Then what is your name exactly? " With great hesitancy, the person stood up. They stood about Link's height. This didn't look like a warrior to him, no weapon in sight and he couldn't really see any chainmail. " My name is Ravio. " Such a strange name, but Link wasn't going to say so. At least not out loud. " What are you doing here, Ravio? " he needed answers. Ravio seems to think for a moment. Then slowly a growing look of horror fills his expression. Tears burn in his eyes. " I can't..I can't remember. I don't know why or how I got here! " The distress was clear in his voice. It was painful to hear. Link swallows dryly. A hint of doubt echoes in his mind. He stashes his sword and steps forward. He stretches his hand out to Ravio, who looks at him unsurely. " It's alright. We'll figure this out together. " Link says gently. The gentleness may have helped. As Ravio hesitantly takes his hand and gets to his feet. " Did I really try to kill you? " he asks in a quiet whisper. Link stays quiet for a moment. Leading them out of the Lost Woods. " I'm not sure anymore.." he mutters back. All Link knew was that he was going to help Ravio.

[amanitacurses]

Faerie Dance

[sweeteastart]

Ravioli day 5 four days later for raviolishipweek by @breannasfluff

I finished this 25 panel hell of a comic. It's resolution is a bit quick but i don't think I'm impartial after spending days on it

[ravio-the-cabinet-man]

friends talking about heat and dehydration made me think of the time that me, a chronically dehydrated kid, asked my gym teacher if i could bring my water bottle for the mile run (which every kid was required to do for gym)

i was told no. you cant bring your water bottle. we'll have water when we come back inside.

jokes on her i had heat exhaustion so so bad for the next week, i couldnt even make it to school. and then my mom also got Pissed at her for it too. fuckin L

[clowns0up-felix]

Going full brainrot about your Links on a roadtrip... thinking about pitstops, getting stuck in traffic, car malfunctions, weird roadside attractions, playing games to pass the time... oh the to be in a car with the sillies

Sorry this took me a bit to answer bc I was originally draw more but I lost my steam so it was just sitting in my drafts for days,,, I didn’t draw anything u we’re talking about I’m sorry 😭 hope it’s not a crazy letdown

I might draw more in the future bc I DID have some fun visions,,, like playing games thatre themed after their games, Ravio running a souvenir shop with overpriced stuff,, them going camping and botw link being great at providing food out in the wild,,,,,, what if they stop at a beach and sailor and bunny show mc link how to build a giant sand castle,,, I dunno

[mirensiart]

Now I'm thinking about Dink realizing what's happening and holding Ravio hostage. The next time they see him he throws a tattered purple bunny hood at Legend and if the curse is still active the sudden emotional pain sends everyone to their knees

I love it when we hurt ravio guys, squeezing that lil guy in my hand like a stress ball

Anyway, ooooooh dark link (dink) doing a parallel to the one scene with ganondorf crushing midna's helmet in front of twilight 👀

I think if like dink were to take advantage of the curse, the weakest link (lmao) IS ravio since like, he's alone and in one place always, sure has items to defend himself but his first reaction is to run or hide, so grabbing him and hurting him to hurt the others is the most logical conclusion lol

They would all realize the one hurting is rav and like they'd all be worried sick over him, especially legend, cause all that pain can't come from just ravio being a clumsy dumb bunny

Because of the soul bond ravio can't die without legend dying too (or vice versa) so at least legend has the small comfort that ravio is not dead, but seeing dink with ravio's bloody hood would probably make him go full emotional pain mode

Cause he's lost two loved ones before (his uncle and marin) he can't lose a third one :(

[crazylittlejester]

hiii I’ve seen ppl asking u ab like hcs right so I was wondering if u have any for like legend (I’ve been liking him a lot recently) I’m v curious if u do

YES I DO (sorry for taking so long to answer my brain has been a bit fuzzy and its been hard to think :/ )

- he is not at all a mean person, he just struggles with his tone and his facial expressions and often comes off as sarcastic snappy or rude when he doesn’t mean to be. not that he never intends to be sarcastic, but sometimes his genuine responses get read as sarcastic

- don’t fuck with him and his apple pie. he treats apple pie baking like it’s a sacred thing and not even Wild can make a better one. he and Wild have absolutely had some kind of master chef high tension level bake off and it Wild lost so abysmally he couldn’t look at an apple for a week

- he’s seventeen (almost 18) but the others will NEVER know this. Warriors once guessed he was 20 (out of fear of calling him a child when he wasn’t one), and Legend was like “well if that’s reasonable to believe I’m not gonna correct him” so he’s just kinda let the chain assume he’s the fourth oldest. Hyrule can NEVER learn he’s actually the older of the two

- he’s got bad knees, he stands up and they crack so loud everyone winced in sympathy

- makes a yearly tradition of hurling a single apple at Ravio’s head. its never on the same day so it’s always unpredictable. Ravio just has to watch the fuck out the ENTIRE month of september

[championofsanghelios]

Caps

Wind: -looking through a book about the heroes of hyrule throughout history.- "Huh...I just noticed something. We're all wearing caps in these pictures and drawings." Hyrule: -snorts- "I lost mine in a volcano." Legend: -huffs- "Ravio borrwed my red one...then sold it at an elevated price." Twilight: "I think I chewed mine up at one point..." Time: -raises eyebrow at him- "I hope you did that as a wolf, and not as yourself." Twilight: -sighs- "Duh!" -secretly lying, he was actually drunk and very hungry- Warriors: -flamboyantly throws scarf over shoulder.- "Get with the fashion, dweebs. Scarfs are all the rage." Four: "Nuh-uh! Hoods are where it's at!" Wild: "Yeah, Hylia's Chosen has a scarf, you're just a copy cat!" Sky: -sad sigh- "My cap got blown off during a loftwing lesson...never found it." Wind: -gasps- "Yeah, I lost mine whilst sailing through a storm one rainy night...linebeck wouldn't let me go looking for it." Time: -hums thoughtfully- "Malon took one look at my old cap and gear confined it all to storage. I've never been able to figure out where she put them." Legend: -rolls eyes- "So I'm the only one who wears a cap here? Seriously?" Twilight: -smirking- "Aw, you feeling special now, Cappy?" Legend: -glowers at him- "Say that again, wolf boy, I dare you!"

[hero-of-fortune]

A few lu adhd headcanons?

I generally headcanon/project adhd onto link in most zelda games i play, and it carries over to lu a bit

Wind - adhd, inattentive type. Wind has never been able to just concentrate on one thing, he tends to leave tasks unfinished halfway through and give up on a lot of things. He often left dungeons that he couldn’t figure out halfway. He had to learn about paying attention to directions the hard way a lot, he always had to ask the king of red lions to repeat things he’d been told to do or ask him what someone said. Loses everything constantly, the king of red lions made him check he had everything he came onto the island with still with him before he’d let him leave.

Legend - adhd, hyperactive/impulsive type. I feel like leg has a hard time stopping something once it’s started. He hyperfixates on projects around the house a lot, fixing things, making new rings and enchantments, he’s just a big project guy. He also can’t sit still and doesn’t like sitting down, which is horrible for his chronic pain and arthritis (shhh yes it’s canon shhh) he also has a horrible circadian rhythm and ravio has to drag him to bed when he’s hyperfixated on repainting the windowsills at 11pm at night.

Time - adhd, combined type. I feel like time has adhd, but it’s unnoticeable unless you’re focusing on it. A combo of less intense adhd, knowing how to cope with his symptoms, and a good support system. Malon deff helped him understand himself a lot, the kokiri probably didn’t notice anything and just wrote him off as a happy, excitable kid with lots of energy. He has major time blindness, though, which stressed him out in termina. He stims a lot too, he used to hum a lot as a stim when he was younger.

Wild - adhd, combined type. He gets sidetracked a lot, side quests have mini side quests inside of them and he gets off topic a lot during his quest. He masked heavily pre-calamity, (the military makes you do that, dont ask how i know dude) but lost a lot of masking skills post-calamity. He talks out of turn a lot and blurts out his thoughts with little filtering. He’s bad at organization, but he swears he has everything in his slate in his own special system. Does things before thinking of consequences.

Most of these headcanons are based on my own experiences as a person with adhd.

[sapphicseasapphire]

Chain as Cryptids au: Huggability

My back hurts, have some comfort! Characters are ranked by who gives the best hugs to the worst hugs, and a little bit of an explanation!

(Under the cut because long)

1. Sky

Do I really need to explain myself? He’s Sky. He’s the softest, sweetest, most cuddly hero to ever exist and we love him for that. He’s kind of known for taking a random hero into his arms, wrapping his mighty wings around them, and then flopping onto the ground and falling asleep. He’s just. So soft. His wings? So warm. Every hero- even Legend, who’s pretty touch averse- would kill to be wrapped up in his crimson feathers. (Eh, except maybe Time. At first). He has a knack for finding whichever Link needs a hug the most and seeking them out.

2. Twilight:

This guy? Is extremely gentle. He’s so incredibly strong but also so incredibly soft. His Hylian hugs are second only to Sky’s, but he also had the added bonus of being a Shapeshifter! One moment, he’s got a Link all wrapped up in his arms and the next, he’s a purring cat on their lap. A wolf wrapped protectively around them. Warm and cuddly and always so careful. Gotta love Twilight.

3. Suprisingly (?), Legend:

Legend’s pretty touch averse most of the time. But when people need him, he’s there. He has so much love in his heart that he keeps bottled up. He has experience, and he has a knack for reading people. He knows exactly what they need.

4. Wind:

Little big brother. He’s surprisingly good at comforting the others and when he wants to be, he’s biggest cuddle bug in the world (second only to Sky, I guess haha). He’s really good at curling up and holding on tight, and he definitely 100% uses his younger age to his advantage. You wouldn’t tell the child to let go, right? You wouldn’t tell the child to get up. Even though, in reality, he’s comforting them more than they’re comforting him. He lets them think that they’re being the strong ones- it’s his little trick haha.

5. Hyrule:

Little guy. His hugs are always warm and gentle since he’s absolutely buzzing with magic. Fairy magic is inherently healing, so even if he’s not actively casting spells, the others are affected by his Good Vibes when they hug him! Having a bad day? Not anymore, Hyrule won’t let it happen. (Disclaimer: when he’s in his True Form, the two inch tall fairy, it isn’t wise for the others to try to hug him. Unless they’re Four and are also two inches tall.)

6. Ravio:

TOUCH STARVED BABY!!! GIVE HIM A HUG!!! Ravio is so eager to be affectionate haha! He kind of jumps directly on top of Legend like all the time, and when be hugs people, be squeezes them tightly as if he’s making up for lost time. While this is comforting to some, it might catch others off guard. I think he should be tied with Hyrule and Four but that’s not how these things work haha.

7. Four:

Four’s hugs are good hugs! They would be higher up on the list if it weren’t for their horns getting in the way. Sky’s go-to move is to rest his chin on peoples’ heads when he cuddles, but the top of Four’s head is deadly. Because they’re shorter than almost everyone in the Chain, the horns will get in the way. It’s no problem! The others can work around them! But they are gonna knock them down a few points. Sorry, Four.

8. Time:

This man. This God. Is so incredibly bad at being social. He’s awkward and not very good at reading social cues. And that’s not because he’s not mortal, it’s because he was raised by a tree. He’s not sure when it’s appropriate to hug the other Links (he’s more confident with Malon and his children), so he just tends to leave them alone. His philosophy, in this and in everything, is that if he gives them space, they’ll eventually come to him. That’s… not always correct. His hugs have great potential- he’s big and gentle- but he can’t give good hugs if he doesn’t give hugs.

9. Wild:

Wild doesn’t really… hug. He’ll sit next to a Link and flop against them. He’ll lean. But he doesn’t quite understand to wrap his arms around, and he doesn’t respond well to someone wrapping their arms around him, feeling trapped. So the leaning is about as close as they’re gonna get haha! And that’s perfectly fine! He’s not heavy (like at all) but he is warm (absolutely buzzing with spirit magic), so he’s always a welcome snuggle buddy. Just as long as he doesn’t try to steal their things while he’s half on top of them haha!

10. Warriors:

I’m sorry, I truly am. He’s a sword. He doesn’t do hugs. And even if he did, his physical form is metallic. Cold and hard and just about the least comforting ever. I love the guy, but this just isn’t his strong suit.

[damfangirl08]

SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY SUNNY :D

Do you have more details on this “legend is 14 agenda” because it has overtaken my brain (in the best way possible) and thought I’d ask just in case you wanted to share! :D

Yes ive been waiting for this one!!! In my au i like to think when the chain met legend, and eventually asked how old he is, he told them to guess. Warriors guessed 19 based on his looks and the amoubt of adventures he's been on, and Legend just said "yeah that works".

In my brain he started his first adventure when he was about 6-7 years old, so during cadence pf hyrule he was 7-8, then 8-10 for the oracles. Then links awakening happened, and he was lost at sea for about half a year? Then he got a small break before albw. Albw happened when he was like 12, then 13 for trifoce heroes, and I also like to shove any and all non-canon games into his breaks for extra trauma yk.

So when he meets the others he is only 14, and is desperately trying to keep the chain from ever meeting Fable, Ravio, Myth or Ballad because they will immediately expose him.

Its also very funny to me to look at some of the lu panels in this context because just:

Look at his face

Hes so small look at him

Youre telling me this ^ is not a kid?

(Added bonus of this headcanon is the comedy of Warriors beefing with a 14 year old)

I have a post with my headcanons for the rest of the chains age as well here if anyone is interested: https://www.tumblr.com/damfangirl08/757276696485429248/in-my-brain-this-is-how-old-everyone-in-the-chain?source=share

[amanitacurses]

do you do silly stuff? silly raviolink or vidow? your art is all so pretty, it looks like eating it would feel like crunching thin sheets of glacial ice

I had actually finished this a few days ago, but wanted to focus on my own stuff, since there were a lot of vidow requests already, I went with RavioLink being silly and flirting!

Also thank you, I'm not often told what my art would taste like

[gia-d]

Hello!

Anyone who pays any sort of attention to me has probably noticed that most of my latest artwork has been related to the fic This is an Adjuration by @not-freyja.

There's a very good explanation for this.

It's the best LU fic I have ever read (and trust me I've read a few).

It is so good in fact, I am actively in the process of binding it into a real, physical book so I can always have it ready on my shelf to read if the internet ever goes down.

I highly recommend it to anyone who likes LU, for its incredible characterisations, the highly moving message it sends, and the twisting, addictive narrative that plays out in it, that somehow manages to neatly explain the entire Legend of Zelda timeline with no loose threads (Freyja you are an actual genius).

"But Gia!" I hear a lot of you say, "Characters die in it, it would be too sad for me to read!"

To which I reply: Did you enjoy the Hunger Games? Harry Potter (before she who shall not be named outed herself as a raging transphobe)? Star Wars? Marvel? Vast majority of shonen anime? Literally the majority of popular fandoms?

All of these had beloved characters killed off. This is no different. What is different is that none of them were so kind as to give you an actual warning tag to let you know that someone would die in these stories like fics on AO3 do.

Adjuration is a tragedy in the classic, literary sense. It is not whump. It is not angst. It is not suffering porn. Characters don't die for shock value, they die because it is the only thing that makes sense for the narrative, and the entire time the story is holding your hand through it, telling you that it's ok. He mattered. This has meaning, even if it hurts right now. It is a story that ends with a dash of hope. And for every moment of pain and suffering? There are 5 times as many moments of hilarity (omg the chapter where they are arguing about the definition of "lost" gets me every time), moments of joy (Wind's un-birthday party had me grinning so much), and moments of love (Red with Wild in the shrine of resurrection, Hyrule with the seedling, Malon inviting Wars to stay, Legend going back to tell Ravio the truth...)

Adjuration is probably the best thing I've ever read. I would give nothing more than to be able to wipe my memory of it just so I can experience it for the first time all over again. Please go read it.

[tw1l1te]

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓷𝓼- 𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖙 2

Part 2!! This will include Hyrule, Four, and Legend ₍ᐢᐢ₎

Warnings: mention of scars and negative mental health

Please read with the warnings in mind, this one is heavier in terms of mental health topics.

⋆｡°✩

𝕳𝖞𝖗𝖚𝖑𝖊

About 18/19, a couple years after his journey is done

Average height, his build is still toned but more on the leaner side because of height and anatomy

light freckles across his cheeks/nose and skin is tanner than the rest of the boys

Has 2 small cartilidge piercings, small silver hoops

Part fae, I know a few others headcanon him as fae too I just think it suits his character

Speaks and writes Hylian well, takes a bit longer to read though (he's trying his best)

Closer to Legend, they're the downfall duo :3, but also close to Sky

I wanna say he's like one of the last few boys to feel attraction towards Y/n. Fae bonding to humans is weird and Hyrule doesn't wanna freak you out and needs to really process it.

When he realizes he fell for you? Oh boy. Definitely more clingy and obsessive and frets over your safety, more than Sky even.

Major sweet tooth, favorite food has go to be spoonfuls of honey

Keeps a journal, lots of sketches and notes on herbs and flora and some thoughts on Y/n

Has a.... difficult relationship with Hylia/Zelda/the Goddess

Knows about some of Legend's past, not as much as Y/n though

Has a large scar on his lower stomach from Dark Link, and faded white scratches on his back from a past incident that I may or may not bring up later down the line

Do not let him near a cooking pot. Don't do it.

𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖗

Our favorite smithy is about 18-19

He may be short, but don't let his height fool you. Mr. swordmaker here is built. You think all the hours hammering away at metal don't build muscle? You'd be wrong

Anywayss, I headcanon Four as having heterochromia, one eye green and the other a dark blue.

Has the lightest stubble, hardly noticeable because he shaves it everyday

Recently has also started tying up his hair in a pony tail, so he honestly looks like a younger Time from far away

Has lots of ear piercings and stacks rings on his fingers, most of which he made himself from spare parts. He made a few rings for Legend and Y/n

Develops feelings for Y/n slowly, though it hits him like a brick after the Yiga clan incident after realizing how close he was to losing you

Has a few scars on his hands and arms, a few burn marks from reckless accdients both in and out of the blacksmith shop

Has a tattoo of the Four Sword on his forearm

Ironically enough, close to Wild and Wind. He's keeping a tally of how many swords Wild has broken So far it's 46

Similar to Wild, he kinda has shaggier hair, though its only really visible when his hair is fully down without the headband

REALLY GOOD AT SHIELD SURFING FOR SOME REASON-

𝖑𝖊𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖉

19, slightly older than Four and Hyrule

Average height, leaner build, and I wanna say he's on the paler side. He gets sunburned crazy fast like no amount of suscreen can save him

Pink hair, duh, but its more faded than it was when he first shifted into his rabbit form. It's more like leftover on his bangs and on part of his head.

Pinky is decked out in rings, every single finger is stacked with rings for functionality, protection, etc., but some he just thinks are neat.

Double pierced lobes, a few cartilidge piercings, maybe even a Hylian-equivalent of an industrial and has a dick piercing shh

Does not like wearing pants. no sir. Only if absolutely necessary.

Can speak/write Hylian and Lorulean pretty well, though pretty rusty on the latter because he hasn't used or read it much since his adventures

Like the 4th person to develop feelings for our protagonist, he's a little lost to be completely honest. Part of him wants to succumb to his feelings, the other is terrified of losing someone again

Close to Hyrule, Wild, and Wars ironically enough (mostly because of the bickering :D)

Keeps a scrap of Ravio's scarf in his bag, holds it sometimes.

Has a deep long scar along his forearm from a fight, some burn marks from the fire rod. He also has other scars that he doesn't show or discuss, those are difficult to talk about. He wasn't in a good place after.... everything.

Snarky and grumpy, but he softens up around people he trusts. He just needs time and love ₍ᐢᐢ₎

[breannasfluff]

“Mr. Hero! Come on!”

“Ravio, it’s freezing out. It’s winter! There’s snow!”

“Yes, but you need to see this!”

Legend stands, hands on his hips, and glares at the merchant. “I have to put on snow clothes.”

“Just boots!” Ravio has a full robe; he’s got no room to talk. 

“I’ll freeze.”

“I’ll walk close to you.”

With an exasperated sigh, the vet goes to pull on his boots. Why he gives into Ravio’s whims is a mystery. Certainly not because he likes him, or anything. 

The nighttime chill is enough to make him lunge for the safety of the house. 

“Oh no,” Ravio says, catching his hand. “Come on, buddy. We don’t have to go far.”

Legend is distracted from escape by the feel of his fingers twining in Ravio’s. If he rubbed his thumb, he could trace the merchant’s knuckle. He doesn’t. 

Ravio pulls him down the slope of the house and up the hill on the other side. He doesn’t let go of the vet’s hand, even when he slips. 

Panting, they both make it to the top. 

“Now look at this!” Ravio drops his hand and throws his arms wide, spinning in a circle. He’s a showman, through and through. 

Legend looks around. The faint moonlight sets the snow glittering. The air holds the unique smell of snow and winter; so hard to pin down. And overhead—

Oh. This is what Ravio wanted him to see. 

The sky is a blanket of stars; more than he normally sees. Maybe the cold of the air makes them more visible. Maybe he just appreciates them more when he’s freezing. 

The merchant moves right up behind him and wraps his arms around Legend, who stiffens. 

“Relax, you’re shivering.” Warm hands wrap over his chilled ones. “Look at it all. Isn’t it amazing?”

It is. Yet somehow, Legend finds himself focusing not on the sky, but on Ravio. His steady breaths against his back. The way his robe pools over their hands, keeping away the chill. 

The vet tilts his head back, resting it on Ravio’s shoulder. The merchant still stares at the stars. It could be a trick of the light, but they seem to reflect the sky. Constellations caught in his eyes, framed by long lashes. A world Legend could get lost in, if only he let himself. 

Ravio looks down, which isn’t very far with Legend’s head on his shoulder. “So? What do you think?” His breath is warm as it brushes the vet’s cheek. 

“It’s…beautiful.” Ravio is beautiful. And amazing, and caring, and charming. Annoying and stubborn in turns. Flawed, yet perfect in the imperfection. 

“I know some stories about the constellations. They were harder to see in Lorule, but we share some common ones. Did you know I chose my name from one of those tales?”

Only…Legend isn’t listening. He tuned out the words and focuses only on the merchant’s lips. Plush and full, pulled into a pretty pout as he realizes the vet isn't listening. 

Maybe it’s the stars glittering overhead. Maybe it’s the winter chill, pushing rational thought from his mind. Maybe Legend wanted this for a long time but never acted. 

Because when Ravio tilts his head closer to ask a question, Legend turns his head as well and captures his lips in a kiss. 

The merchant freezes. 

He’s not letting this stop him. Legend spins in his arms and grabs his shoulders. To keep him from fleeing? To pull him closer?

Then he presses their lips together again, gentler. 

Ravio…softens, molding his lips back. 

When Legend pulls back, the stars are caught in Ravio’s gaze. And maybe they’re caught in the vet’s too, because the merchant says, “I love you.”

This is what the stars must feel like to touch. Uncontainable, yet burning warm. Filled with magic and mystery. Beauty and home, all wrapped up in one. 

Legend leans in for another kiss and forgets about the cold. 

[occasionallyprosie]

"Hiding Behind Plaster and Ceremics"

Chapter 1

Legend had one job the second time he was dragged on a quest that involved time travel and ancestors, and the second time a quest involved meeting other heroes: Don't get attached. Thankfully, the other heroes seemed to believe the mask he wore, and most of them didn't bother with him as a result except to argue, especially Twilight and Warriors. Now, if only someone could tell the kid behind the mask to stop reaching out to the brothers he lost after Hytopia, that would be great. And if they could stop the frigid downpour so Legend wouldn't get even sicker, that would also be great.

Febuwhump 2024 | Prompt 13: "You weren't supposed to get hurt"

Next>>

Event Masterlist

Read On AO3 Warnings: mild swearing

Legend knew the role he was playing.

His whole life was just one role after another, his main one of "the hero" constantly being reprised, but changing with each installment.

His first casting, he had been a terrified child, doing his best, trying to fulfill his uncle's last words. His second, he was an excited, bubbly child gaining two older brothers who shared separate yet similar pasts. His third was a kid with too big a heart and a burn to protect, giving everything he had including the clothes on his back to a dimension traveler who helped him in turn. His fourth and fifth was of a kid in a new land, wearing his heart on his sleeve, helping everyone he met even when it burned him. His sixth was the turning point for his role, he began it as the sweet kid and ended it heartbroken and begging to never feel such pain again.

His seventh was starring him as a broken teenager doing everything he could to fix things, to do the right thing and help people, without getting attached and heartbroken again.

Like any other tragedy, that teenager failed in the end and Ravio went back to Lorule, their worlds closing.

The next reprisal, lucky number eight, was of a slightly older teenager who was determined to get through this without opening his heart to a single soul, even if it hurt those around him.

So that's the role Legend played. He was the hoarder, but he coveted items and people were a danger to those belongings, he was the scholar, providing information to those who asked, who found solace in books and scrolls, and he was the veteran, tired and done with the lives they led.

The longer it went on, the harder it was for Legend to suppress that terrified child who just wanted to help out. The longer it went on, his mask was trying to crack from overuse.

It's a shame for that mask that he was a hoarder and always had something to hold it back together.

It was also a shame for the excited, bubbly child inside to watch as his older brothers failed to even recognize him with the mask he wore and the many new years he bore.

Legend recognized Ocean and Forest immediately, the moment his eyes landed on them, he knew who they were. Ocean hadn't changed much, but Forest was taller, bigger, more muscular and he had face tattoos interestingly enough.

He met their eyes and saw not a flicker of recognition appear in theirs, he supposed that was fair, he looked different and he had changed. He'd be surprised if they figured him out by anything but the fact he wore the same tunic.

They went weeks into this adventures, Legend doing whatever he thought helped him maintain that distance, strengthen that wall, that kept the other heroes out of reach of his internal child and kept his heart safe.

He couldn't do Ravio again, or, he supposed, this was more like Raven all over again. He refused to do that again.

But that child really wanted out, it was begging to be released, to call out to the two heroes he once called brothers.

No, Legend reminded himself. They don’t even remember us.

So he shut up and kept to his corner, he stitched and bandaged his own wounds and snarled at anyone who dared to approach. Especially the ones who he knew he would trust easier--the Sailor, the Rancher, the Traveler, and the Skyloftian.

Legend was sick. He knew he was and he blamed that cold storm they'd got caught in not two days ago for it. When they'd made camp, most of them bundled by the fire but Legend had stuffed himself away out of stubbornness and pride, using his fire rod for heat and wrapping an extra blanket around his soaked self.

He wasn't surprised by the turn of events, but he wasn't certain how to approach it.

Clearly, as they walked and he focused hard on keeping steady steps and maintaining pace with the others that he'd missed the entirety of Wind's story, he wasn't great. He usually listened, even if he feigned otherwise, it was a good distraction and he liked stories. It was the only thing he granted to himself, listening to Ocean ramble on about events he'd already heard the stories of. Now he was struggling and normally he would've stayed in the cave from the other day or even backtracked to it to rest and maintain a safe space, but that wasn't much of an option.

The cold of Warriors' Hebra region was piercing, and darkened clouds still rolled overhead but didn't open for much more than a sprinkle. Though humid, all the humidity did was prevent their clothes from drying, it didn't further soak them. Frankly he preferred the cold storm over a blistering, tropical hot storm.

But goddesses, he needed to take a break or he'd pass out and he didn't know how to say that. His mask was cracking, he knew it, and he was running out of energy to fix it while also trying not to stumble and fall in the mud.

To his luck, Sky called for a break, explaining the wet air was getting to his high altitude lungs. Legend didn't bother trying to understand that, which was rather telling. Instead he followed to the side they'd went to and tucked himself under a tree, letting his eyes shut and block out the painful, headache-inducing light.

Too soon, someone called to him.

"Hey Hoarder, get off your ass and let's go," Warriors snapped at him.

Legend dragged up his energy to shoot a glare at the knight. "You'd know all about sitting back on your ass, wouldn't you, soldier boy?" He snarled, pushing off the tree. The rest was helpful, but not sufficient. He really hoped he wasn't assigned a watch tonight, he wouldn't stay awake.

"One of these days, you’re going to get what's coming to you and that goddess-awful attitude," Warriors warned him.

Legend rolled his eyes. "Whatever comes for me for "this attitude" is going to get the exact same treatment as everything else that has come for me. A sword through its heart."

"Oh right, how could I forget, the Hoarder just kills everything that comes near him," Warriors spat.

Twilight got between them, shoving his way in and accidentally helping Legend hide the flinch that broke through from Warriors' words.

"Alrigh', that's enough. We have a lot of ground to cover and not enough patience to deal with you two."

Legend scoffed and he trudged off after the others who had already began to leave them, probably at Twilight's suggestion and Time's agreement. His boots threatened to get stuck in the mud and he feared his dwindling strength would have him unable to pull them from the sucking sludge, but he had the strength for now.

He heard Twilight mutter to Warriors. "Look, yer not wrong, the Scholar's f'r sure quick t'fight an' his whole personality leaves much to be desired, but none of us wanna listen t'ya two hurlin' insults no matter how much truth is with them."

Warriors groaned lowly. "You better not even try to lecture me, Rancher. I won't start a fight, but I'm not going to just take it."

Twilight backed off, surprisingly. Those two were at each other's throats just as often as Legend was with either of them.

The bubbly kid held back a sob hearing Twilight's--Forest's-- words. Legend trudged through the mud and plastered over the crack in his mask.

He wouldn't let them see how much that hurt.

He didn't kill everyone who came near him, he thought to himself pleadingly. Then names flickered through his mind and the plaster cracked too.

He was too exhausted from the growing fever to actually try and fix it back, it began to pour again and he had to keep moving.

Keep going, Link. He told himself. Keep going, then when they finally say stop we can rest. It'll be fine, just hold out a little while longer... please.

They couldn't make camp early enough. Hyrule found a cave again and Legend went as deep as he could until Time told him to not go that far. He came a bit closer and rolled out his bedroll.

He tucked his two fire rods in the blankets, then promptly collapsed, ignoring the others set up their camp.

He never usually helped, helping meant interacting and interacting risked attachment.

He wouldn't risk getting attached. He just had to hope the heat of the fire rods and the blankets would burn out his growing fever before dawn. With their chatter, they didn't seem to hear him down a health potion before passing out without dinner.

Dawn came and he felt no better, but he wasn't worse. It took way too much energy to get up when he heard the others rousing, it took too much focus to realize the sounds he heard was the others rousing.

He dragged himself to his feet, packed his things away and pulled on his mud covered boots. Nobody bothered him aside waiting at the entrance until they were all gathered, him included, to leave. Sky, as usual, greeted him with a good morning and Hyrule tried to fall into step with him, but a glare and a snap had the other hero retreating to Wild reluctantly.

It was raining the moment they left and continued to rain throughout the whole time.

He wasn't the only one slipping and stumbling through the mud, Four was struggling bad, as was Wind and Sky. Wild seemed to stumble but had a certain step of understanding, like he'd had to do this before, and Hyrule was similar though struggling far more. The three tall heroes, Time, Twilight, and Warriors, still slipped a bit but the knee deep mud for Legend was only halfway up their shins.

He lost his battle with the sickness and he nearly fell, barely catching himself and kneeling.

Distantly, he was aware of someone calling for him to keep moving over the roar of the heavy downpour.

He couldn't stand. His vision was bad and his body was trying to give out. He couldn't stand. He couldn't hardly move.

Come on, Link. Just a couple more hours, you've made it through worse!

Except the worse was fighting Ganon with an infection blossoming. Except the worse had adrenaline pumping through his veins and Raven at his side to help out. Except right now, one step took as much energy as a whole spin attack back then.

He had to stop. He had to breathe--

A hand landed on his shoulder and he flinched, but it tightened before he could fall back.

"Hoarder. Get up," Warriors ordered and it sounded like he was underwater. "There's no way with how much you slept you’re this tired, even the Skyloftian and the Sailor are handling."

Legend wheezed softly. He knew that. He knew he had to stand.

His body wouldn't cooperate, but he managed to smack Warriors' hand away and push against his knees to painstakingly stand.

The blur of green moved away, Warriors going on ahead. He tried to drag a foot ahead again but collapsed again. This time falling face first into the mud was a near thing, only barely avoiding such a fate.

Stand, damnit! He wanted to cry. He couldn't get his body to move, he couldn't find safety. This was why he took sanctuary whenever he got sick, so he wouldn't be a sitting duck.

He hated this. He hated it all. He hated them, those damned heroes, their stupid, stupid idea of correct and good. He hated everyone who left him, everyone who'd abandoned him. He hated himself for being so damned soft and attaching himself way too easily to others.

It wasn't supposed to hurt. Loving people wasn't supposed to hurt. He wasn't supposed to get hurt for caring.

Yet here he was, close to tears because he couldn't stand. Because he couldn't admit to weakness, because being weak meant needing help, and needing help meant letting people come close.

And he was too soft, to quick to care, to let anyone come close and not get attached. He couldn't get attached again, he couldn't lose someone again.

He glanced up briefly, just enough to know none of the blurs were approaching and were in fact moving away. He shakily took out a green potion, took way too long to uncap it and drink some, and used the forced energy to stand again and keep moving.

He'd never had to drink a green potion to keep moving before, but as it turned out, this whole quest was just a mess of "do this" so they wouldn't notice him, so they wouldn't get close, so he wouldn't get attached.

Goddesses, being alone wasn't supposed to hurt.

Legend genuinely didn't know how he made it through that day, but what he did know was that he wasn't getting up from where he had collapsed in the wet cave they'd once again made camp within.

He pressed his burning head against the cold stone and just let out a shuddering breath, eyes slipping shut and staying shut. He had made it to the back of the cave again and Time hadn't yet made him move closer.

He just needed to rest. He had to rest. His whole body ached, his insides twisted, and nausea rolled in his stomach and wound around his throat. He could hardly inhale through his mouth without wanting to throw up, but he couldn't breathe through his nose either, so this was what he had to deal with. He didn't even try with getting out a blanket or his fire rods for some heat, just curled up and hoped to the goddesses it passed tonight because he wasn't getting up until it was.

He slipped asleep quickly, but was startled back awake.

A haze settled over his mind but that didn't prevent the world from shaking and then someone grabbing him, or maybe it was the other way around and the grabbing shook him? He didn't know.

All he knew was that the light of the fire was gone, his body hurt, and he had been tackled or something by someone.

There was talking--no, yelling but he couldn't bring himself to actually process the words.

He just blinked dazedly up at the darkness and the barely-visible silhouette above him, they were shaking him. His brain rattled in his skull and the shaking grew painful fast.

"--t! Link! Come on, wake up--"

He whimpered. "St'p... 'urts."

"Oh. Link, hey--" cool hands brushed his face and he inhaled sharply, only to exhale softly. The coolness pulled away fast and he whined at the loss. "Oh Ordona, yer burning up."

The cool hand returned and he managed to lean into it.

"Sweet Ordona, Link, how long have you been sick?" They said, and the sound echoed almost painfully. He tried to curl back up into the ball he had been in before he'd been disturbed.

He slipped back asleep, finally just resting, finally letting the exhaustion take hold.

They'd made camp in a cave again, and Twilight was a bit relieved by that. He was tired of the rain and mud, the hard rock walls was a boon.

They'd made a fire, Wild was just beginning to start it when the ground trembled.

"The ceiling's caving in!" Four yelped, his eyes flashing purple. How he knew that, Twilight really didn't need to know nor did he care to.

They all moved fast, but Twilight spotted Legend still unmoving and curled up deeper into the cave.

"COLLECTOR MOVE!" Hyrule screamed, clearly having seen the same.

The cave ceiling began to break. Twilight ran and he managed to pull Legend deeper into the cave as the ceiling in the area they'd begun camp in collapsed.

Thankfully, the cave in ended far enough back that Twilight got them far enough away. He just had to hope the others got out on the other side.

To his absolute surprise, Legend had barely startled at the tackle and was currently limp beside him. Twilight's night vision was improved due to being attuned to his wolf form, but it was not perfect.

Legend's eyes fluttered open part way, half lidded and looking dazedly.

"Collector?" Twilight prompted, hoping the other hero didn't have a concussion. "Collector!" He called again when he didn't even respond, shaking his shoulder. "Link! Come on, wake up--"

A whimper, an actual whimper escaped the other hero and Twilight faltered as he heard the quiet plea for it to stop, that it hurt.

"Oh. Link, hey--" Twilight tried to move his bangs to check his eyes, to look for a concussion, but the skin he felt was far too hot for the frigid caves and storms they've been in for the past three days. He'd jerked away from the unexpected heat on instinct before it set in what was going on.

Suddenly it made sense, how quiet Legend had been the past couple days, the way he had struggled to keep up and stand. Twilight had taken it as just having a restless night and being tired, he'd clearly been exhausted the other day with how quickly he'd gone to sleep and he wouldn't have been surprised if he'd been caught unable to fully rest with how soaking wet and cold it had been. However this just... Why didn't he expect someone to get sick with how cold and wet it's been?

"Oh Ordona, yer burning up," he breathed. He placed his hand on Legend's forehead and the collector leaned into it. "Sweet Ordona, Link, how long have you been sick?"

He watched Legend's eyes slip shut and then not open. He'd passed out, oh that was not good.

Twilight tug the smaller hero closer and picked him up. He... He never realized how small Legend was until he had the Scholar curled up in his arms, shaking like a leaf and whimpering.

He delved deeper into the cave, hoping for an escape or at least for the cave to get warmer.

Light Spirits, was he so blind by his own judgment and dislike of a person as to not notice them get so sick they had struggled to stand?

He didn't find an exit but did find an underground river but a dry shore, probably a lot higher of a shore than it normally was considering the amount of rainfall. He managed to set out enough blankets, decently dry, that he thought he could bundle the collector up.

Muttering an apology, he stripped Legend of his soaked clothes, leaving his shorts, and wrapped him tight in four dry blankets. He did take the time to try and clean both their boots of mud, but was careful with Legend's precious Pegasus boots, he knew the Hoarder would kill him if he messed any of his items up.

Then he settled on the dry rock, Legend's bundled form in his arms as he tried to provide what heat he could to lessen the amount of shivering the other hero was doing.

He let himself fall asleep at some point, only to wake up a few hours later with an inkling of light above.

He looked up and there turned out to be an opening in the ceiling, rainwater a steady trickle into the cavern. From what he could tell, he could probably hookshot out, but definitely not with Legend.

So he waited.

Legend was remarkably warmer but he woke up, with the light Twilight could actually see his glassy red eyes fill with confusion.

"Where..."

"It's alright," he murmured on instinct, if Legend was more coherent he probably would've been hit. But as it stood, he had someone small and sick in his arms so he acted instinctively, pulling them closer and promising safety. "It'll be alright, just rest, kid. I got you."

Legend twisted a bit, dazed and distant eyes settling on his face. He frowned, and Twilight was struck by how much younger Legend looked when he wasn't glaring and snarling at anyone who neared like an injured animal.

"Oh..." he muttered and he went limp again, curling willingly into Twilight's chest. "It 'urts," he mumbled and Twilight felt his heart constrict.

"I know," he promised. How sick was he? Why didn't he say anything? Was it out of pride? "It'll be alright."

"Where's Ocea'?" The hero in his arms asked and Twilight froze.

Oh goddesses no.

"Apple?" Twilight croaked.

"Mm... yea?"

No, no, no.

"F'rest?" he called, voice weak, and Twilight struggled to breathe out a response.

Legend hummed. "M...M'kay."

No. Twilight felt his blood run cold, his heart beat too fast and too hard, because suddenly everything went extremely wrong. Legend --the group's Collector and Scholar, the harsh, rude, snappy, violent one who had nearly bit Hyrule's head off only that morning-- was Apple, the kid that had broken his leg in Hytopia after slipping off a roof that he'd climbed on a whim. The nine year old kid who sang songs, hummed tunes, who fooled around while Twilight and a younger Wind who they nicknamed "Ocean" did the walking. The same kid who earned his keep and, when given the chance by the two older heroes, absolutely slaughtered any monster in his path so long as he had a blade and a magic rod in his hands.

Legend, the distant, snarling, cold, bully of a hero... was his sweet little brother. Legend was the same kid that had asked Lady Maud nicely to not make Styla wear clothes she didn't like, because he said it was mean to make people do things they didn't like even if someone else was doing something to you that you didn't like. That kid was Legend?

For a moment, Twilight couldn't believe it. There was no way that Legend could be Apple.

Then, he looked at the hero in his arms and the fact he had to be at least ten years older had probably embarked on a third quest after Hytopia...

Twilight's own quest changed him for the better, he'd been a prideful brat of a teenager and became... well he wasn't sure, but he hoped he was a better person now. So who was to say Legend's didn't turn him from a bright kid to a violent and harsh man.

"You weren't supposed to get hurt," Twilight croaked. "You were supposed to go home and be happy."

Legend didn't respond, after all, the collector was out cold. He couldn't give Twilight any explanation for why he was so jaded and... and so angry, why he was so harsh.

"You weren't supposed to get hurt," Twilight repeated weakly, because that sweet, bright little kid was supposed to go home to that aunt he spoke the world of and be happy, not go on another adventure or whatever had happened that turned him into this... broken, cold, harsh hero.

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