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freezingwhitefire · 3 months ago

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I decided to share what I already have while still working on the rewrite. So this is the original loosely written one and the rewrite of this is still in progress. It is for the Whumptober prompts, day 27.

No. 27: VOICELESS

Laboratory | Muzzled | “I have no mouth and I must scream.”

The room was silent, that was the first thing he noticed upon waking. The room was silent and his arm throbbed where he’d been grabbed before something knocked him out, probably some sort of magic that was what Ganondorf seemed to enjoy using the most. The next thing was something cool around his wrists, not his ankles though. He opened his eyes a little, not wanting to alert any guards that may be there to him being awake.

Sure enough Link’s hands were bound together, chained to the floor in the middle of the room when he awoke. Long thin arms were around him, rising from the floor, and he took in the pale sickly color of them alone with the red spattered nails and how they swayed. Slowly, trying his best to avoid getting closer to any of them he stood. As he shifted one of the hands swayed, the thin arm bending unnaturally, and reached for him. His eyes widened and he shifted back slightly to feel another hand grab him.

He tried to scream in terror, to call for help, something, but no words came.

No sound came.

Something was covering his mouth, blocking his voice, and Link’s hands scratched uselessly at the pale hand holding him. Suddenly it released him, he was left slightly dazed as he was abruptly released. Was it over?

Sharp pain rippled from his arm and he made a pained sound. Twisting he felt horror return, terror greater than previously. Red wet teeth in a twisted parody of a smile set into a pale deformed face. The stubs of arms ending in sharp points as the deformed bloated body wobbled away from him. He saw more of the sickly pale skin on whatever it was, splattered with more red that mirrored the color of the teeth. He wanted to shift back away from it but memory of the hand behind him came back and Link looked around. His eyes went wide with alarm and terror as he realized he was surrounded by arms, six of them.

The chain allowed him to try crawling past one arm but he was quickly caught and lifted to his feet, the chain stretching out to keep him in place and unable to escape the monster. Another bite, and before he could try escaping from the arm and hand another one had grabbed hold of him. A scream bubbled up, unbidden and yet a true reflection of his terror as he watched that red stained grin move closer to him, as it bit down and tore away some of his flesh. Somehow he was allowed to collapse on the ground and Link curled up around where the chain was anchored praying that somehow it was out of reach of the monster and that he’d be allowed to live through this.

A hand grabbed his leg and pulled, dragging him away from his safe spot.

Time sat up suddenly, his mouth open in a silent scream though no voice came out. His hands shook badly as they moved to his head. He buried his face in his hands and shook, wondering where that dream came from. A small suspicion came, but he tried to ignore it, and yet there had only truly been twice he remembered being so helpless… and only once had such been possible. A hand landed on his shoulder and Time jerked away, scrambling back away from the other. His eyes were wide, both of them, as he looked at whoever was there. He saw Warriors crouching, his hand outstretched and worry on his face.

“You okay?”

Time tried to smile. He was sure he failed by the way the concern only got worse. Still he nodded and opened his mouth to say he was fine but nothing came. No words… no sound… nothing. He tried again hoping that it was just how suddenly he woke from the dream or maybe it was just the words being caught and jumbled like usually happened, but nothing came. At last he had to admit defeat and slumped, his eyes closing as he slowly shook his head.

The hand tugged lightly at his sleeve and he blinked at Warriors, wondering what he wanted. Warriors tugged again, this time he followed him over to the pile where Wolfie, Wild, and Wind were. Warriors gave him a gentle push to join them and after giving him a doubtful look Time settled close to them. Wolfie opened an eye and grabbed Time’s wrist gently while pulling it over his back. Time tensed as he shuffled closer but he relaxed a bit.

Before he knew it he fell asleep again.

The hand dragged him away and Time tried to get free of it but could do nothing. His weapons were gone and so was his armor. All he had was the soft worn green tunic and the shackles on his wrists. His hands came up to try and block the mouth as it went for another bite but the chain pulled tight and stopped him before he managed to get it in place. Another bite and then another hand, he whined as he tried to twist away.

There was nowhere to go, the chain wasn’t out of range of the hands. He was surrounded by the hands and soon all he knew was pain from the bites that kept coming. Somehow he was on the ground, freed from the hands though the chains held him in place. A familiar laugh came followed by more pain, lightning crashed down close enough he felt it… worse yet the chains picked it up and sent a second shock through him. The gag kept him from saying anything, from trying to get it to stop.

“See boy, you should have accepted my offer while you still had the time.”

More lightning followed, followed by the occasional ice or fire. He was writing on the ground, trying to get away from the pain when another sharp bite came, latching onto his side and threatening to do far more serious damage. He cried out, the sound muffled by the gag, his voice muzzled and silenced.

“Time!”

The sound of his name woke him. Time realized he had curled into a ball and was shaking. His back hurt from the position, though he felt something warm and solid against his back. A hand on his arm startled him and he whimpered in fear, trying to get away from the touch. It was too warm to be the monster, it was, but he still felt that strong sharp nailed hand holding him tightly as he struggled to get free. He felt the phantoms of bites all over his body, his side and shoulder hurting the worst.

A low crooning managed to seep through the terror, it was familiar and soothing. Slowly he started to recognize things, the trees above them from Wild’s Korok forest, Warriors crouching close by with his hands fisted into the fabric of his pants, the sun shining softly through the trees. Wolfie was warm and solid against his back… that last piece was a soft reminder that this was reality. His hands were shaking again as he moved them to his face.

His throat hurt but not like it would have if he’d been screaming, he’d woken from enough nightmares to recognize that sign. Opening his eye again Time saw that Warriors’ hands were fisted even tighter, the knuckles having turned white.

“Hey, back with us?” Warriors asked gently.

Time nodded and shifted, trying to get up despite the phantom pain. Warriors released his pants then moved like he wanted to help him up but stopped and returned his hands to gripping his clothes. Time frowned and tilted his head in confusion. He opened his mouth to ask what was going on but couldn’t manage to get the words spoken, he was voiceless again. That realization frustrated him since he couldn’t lead the group if he couldn’t speak.

“You reacted badly the last two times Wars tried to touch you.” Sky told him as the Skyloftian crouched next to Warriors.

Oh, that explained it. Time groaned and flopped on the ground again, Wolfie rolled and laid partly on top of him, licking whatever exposed skin he had. Time huffed and tried to squirm away. Warriors sighed and tapped the top of Wolfie’s head getting a disgruntled look before the wolf got up and started to walk away.

<<Nightmares.>>

“You don’t react like that to nightmares.” Four shared his observation as he walked past, behind Warriors, to settle with his bowl and a book under a nearby tree.

That was true… but they hadn’t just been normal nightmares. Warriors seemed to be watching him intently. His brother seemed to figure something out with how Time unconsciously started playing with a few pieces of grass.

“May I touch you?” Warriors asked and Time blinked in surprise but nodded slowly.

Warriors slowly reached out and made sure Time saw him touching him. Time was a bit confused by that before he understood what Warriors figured out. His ears burned a little, no doubt turning a little red, and his hands clenched a bit more tightly than he’d meant to around Warriors’ shoulder and arm. Warriors said nothing about it as he helped Time sit up then to stand. Time felt oddly shaky and he wondered why he remembered that now.

“Sometimes, after the war, some of the men would remember something awful when they were someplace safe. It always seemed to happen when they felt safe and comfortable… like the memory was finally able to be processed while they forgot it when they were in danger.”

Warriors’ words drew attention from the others and Time felt his cheeks burn too as the others looked at them. He closed his eye, not wanting to see whatever was on their faces. Surely they thought him a fool or weak or something. Unfit in some way… he felt like that.

“Battle fatigue.” Wild’s voice drifted over.

The term felt familiar to Time. He abruptly remembered a few soldiers that had fought at his side had suffered that. It felt off though. He felt Warriors nodding while the Captain pulled his arm across his shoulders.

“Just so. The mind protects itself from things it can’t stand to deal with.”

“So Time feels safe with us?” Wind asked.

Time’s eye opened and he looked at the youngest Link wondering how he’d gotten that from the rest of the conversation. To the side he saw Sky nodding and Legend standing a little awkwardly with his arms crossed.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that. He probably feels safe with Malon, you know?” Legend cut in before Warriors or the others could say anything.

“No, I think he does feel safer with us.” Hyrule replied to Legend and Time sent him a slightly helpless look. Hyrule smiled softly and hugged him, his arms reassuring thanks to the feel of his magic washing over Time before the touch happened. “Can you tell us about it?”

Warriors shook his head before Time could even try. “He hasn’t been able to speak since last night.”

That got even more attention and Time felt like shrinking, he wished he could. He looked at the ground while doing his best to ignore the way he saw the others watching him. Twilight walked over and gave Hyrule a gentle push towards the fire then casually shoving Warriors out of the way and ducking under Time’s arm. His hand was in the fur pelt across Twilight’s shoulders and he felt something relax at the texture, it was so different from the feel of Warriors’ tunic or the leather of his belts.

“Move, you’re stopping him from getting some food. Hey Wild, you made some fruit crepes, right?”

“Yep! Just finished them.” Wild replied, holding up a plate.

Twilight nodded and half dragged Time over, no doubt feeling how much Time was leaning against him. Time felt ashamed about needing the help, about making Twilight take care of him like this. Twilight didn’t seem to care and made Time sit down next to him while shoving the plate Wild had prepared into his hands. Twilight grabbed a plate with rice balls or something and started eating. When the others stared at them he sent them a pointed look. Legend huffed and dragged Hyrule over to sit for some food too and Wild handed them both the same thing as he’d given Twilight.

Time looked at his plate in confusion but he slowly started eating. He wasn’t sure how someone knew today would be a no meat day for him but however it happened he was grateful for it. Privately he suspected that Warriors or Twilight noticed that after nightmares he usually didn’t want any meat.

“So, I hope you don’t mind if we stay here and do some chores. There is a pile of mending that Legend has been complaining about growing and you know he won’t let us wear any of it until it gets washed.”

“Hey, I’m not that bad! It’s Warriors that refuses to go anywhere without having his socks washed.”

“If telling yourself that lets you sleep go ahead and believe it.”

Time knew that Legend had done most of the mending already. He blinked back some tears as he realized that the others were trying to make it easier on him. Nodding in answer, seeing that Wild was watching him for an answer, he then turned his attention back to his food. He completely ignored Wind trying to tackle Legend who had made some comment about his age, the kid was too easily set off by that… not that he’d been much better when he had been- well when he’d been around Wind while he was younger.

“Hey Sprite?”

Time looked at Warriors who was holding some paper and something to write with, or more likely something to draw with. He knew his brother had questions and he didn’t especially want to give the answers so he shook his head and pointedly held up his plate and fork to indicate he was still eating. Warriors seemed a bit sad about it but wandered over to stop Wind and Legend from possibly maiming each other.

“He’s worried, we couldn’t really get you to wake up from whatever you were seeing.”

<<Torture.>>

Twilight was quiet for a moment before leaning a little against Time who sighed softly and closed his eye again. It was a comforting weight, the feeling of someone leaning against him, but Time knew he would have to try to explain some of it.

“You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to.”

Time wondered if his voice would work again or not. He thought about trying but the soft look Sky gave him when he sat next to him stopped that thought. It was the comforting weight of two of his boys leaning on him that made Time realize he was still shaking a little. Their care warmed him and slowly the shaking stopped, it was replaced by an odd exhaustion that wasn’t caused by being tired.

“Would you three knock it off?” Four asked suddenly, his voice coming from Twilight’s other side where Wild had been. Time looked and saw Wild was making something in a pot and kept glancing anxiously towards where Legend, Wind, and Warriors had been. Hyrule was curled up on Sky’s other side and seemed to be content there.

“He started it!” Legend snapped while pointing at Wind.

“I didn’t ask who started it, I’m finishing it unless you want to make Time get up.”

The three who Four was scolding looked at him then all three looked very contrite as they shuffled to find places to sit. Time thought about leaving things alone but he really felt like he needed to share what had woken him the previous night… all he could hope was that sharing it would grant him a bit of peace. He flicked his fingers at Warriors to get his attention. Once Warriors was looking at him he mimed writing something and Warriors quickly brought him the paper and writing tool.

Time hesitated for a moment before drawing the Dead Hand from his dream, both the monster and the arms were there, as though it was right in front of him. He stared it for a moment before writing the name of the monster above it. He held it out to Warriors, knowing his brother could read his era’s alphabet easily. Warriors looked at the picture and seemed horrified.

“Was this… was this what you dealt with in your dream?”

Time nodded.

<<It attacks by biting and ripping parts off with its teeth. The hands grab then it appears and bites.>>

“No wonder you didn’t react well to being touched. I’m sorry Time.”

<<Didn’t know.>> Time paused, then he decided to continue. <<I was chained in the middle of the hands. Just enough to almost get away but they kept grabbing me. Once it was done..>>

“Time, just take a moment. You’re shaking again.”

Time looked at his hands and noticed that he was shaking like Sky said. Wind carefully climbed into his lap and curled against his chest, not touching him beyond just sitting there and letting Time take in the comfort of his presence. It seemed to pick apart something he’d missed being knotted up. Tears were finally running down his face as Time curled his arms around Wind. He felt himself gently pulled closer to Twilight who was standing on his knees. Time turned his head and buried his face against the pelt while he shook with the sobs he’d been denied that day. He felt as Wind moved out of his lap and as Warriors moved to shelter him from behind while Twilight held him close from the front. He heard the others moving around and finding other things to do. It left him feeling ridiculously grateful for them and their understanding.

“We’ve got you. It’s okay to let it out. I promise, we’ve got you.”

Time nodded and just let the tears come. He lost track of time while he cried, the tears and release they gave so needed though he didn’t realize it until he was done and just resting tiredly against Twilight. Warriors shifted, then he guided Twilight so the two of them kept him tucked between them as they laid down.

Time tiredly murmured more, finally able to say the words though his voice sounded odd. “Was gagged.. and chained.. then he came and there was lightning and fire and ice over and over. Then was left with it. Couldn’t move, couldn’t speak.. Just lay there and hope it didn’t reach me.”

The words were spoken softly, so softly that he doubted any of the others heard them, but apparently he was wrong since before he finished the last sentence he felt warmth settle over his legs and glanced to find that Legend and Hyrule had draped themselves across Warriors and Twilight to rest against him. It brought more tears to his eyes and Time shuddered a little. A hand gently ran through his hair, carefully threading through the strands in a soothing way. As he relaxed more the hands started to braid it while someone started playing music and Wild started chattering with someone else a bit away from them.

“Sleep, Sprite, we’ll keep your dreams safe. If that thing even tries to hurt you while we’re here we’ll kill it, I promise.” Warriors reassured.

“I’d like to see it try to touch us. I’ll tear it apart.” Twilight vowed, his voice quiet but intent.

Time hummed and felt himself starting to drift to sleep again but he had one more thing he needed to know.

“This.. it happens?”

“Yes, memories coming back like this happens. It’s okay though.”

“We’re here for you, and for each other if this happens. No one will have to deal with it alone.”

“Not while we have a say in it.”

Time nodded with a small hum. He felt Twilight hold him a little tighter and Warriors shift a bit closer. The warmth from the five of his boys was finally enough to send him back to sleep. He knew when he woke he might be teased about being an old man, but he also knew that if they ever did find a Dead Hand the thing wouldn’t last long against them since the others knew of his fear of them now… and somehow that knowledge followed him into his dream.

Link was once again chained in the middle of the room with arms around him. He tried to back away, forgetting the hand behind him. As it reached down a shield intercepted it. He blinked in surprise as he recognized that shield, it was one that had rescued him many times on a battlefield. Hands gently touched his, warm and careful as they picked the locks on the shackles holding him still. He looked and met two sets of eyes, both watching him in concern.

Smiling he accepted help standing, grateful that when he stumbled a bit they said nothing and only helped him stand. A sound behind him drew his attention and he saw the Master Sword flashing as it struck the creature, it gave a sound of pain as it disappeared below the ground again. A hand reached for the smallest of the Links but before it touched him Wolfie had it caught in his jaws, the wolf snapping whatever it had for bones and making the monster reappear.

Wild took out the other hands, forcing it to create new ones or simply stay visible. It seemed to choose to stay visible. Time looked around and Hyrule stood next to him with a small smile.

“Your turn.” He offered him his sword.

Time took it hesitantly, looking at his hands as he realized that he was in his armor again. That he had his gear once more. A hand on his shoulder drew his attention and he noticed Kishin stood there, his expression reassuring.

“You can do this.”

“I know. They helped.”

“They did, but even without them you can do this. You never have to do it alone again.”

“Thank you.”

Kishin nodded and he turned so Time could see the monster. He could see that now it seemed much smaller and weaker than it had. He tightened his grip on his sword and struck, it vanished and with it the dungeon and the chains. He turned and grinned as he recognized where his mind had taken them. He took a step then paused.

“You know, anywhere that was my home is yours too. I would be happy to have my friend as a guest.”

“I know, but for now you need rest.”

Time grinned over his shoulder at the Deity before continuing on his way. He needed to meet with Saria after all. She was always so happy when he brought the boys to visit.