#love me some Ghirahim related angst for the boy

[wolfwarden]

Whumptober Day 30 - "Please don't touch me."

Word count: 1,503 Fandom: Linked Universe Characters: Sky & Wind

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“Sky, you gotta teach me that move!”

Sky jumps as Wind hurls himself down by his side, rocking the log he was perched on and nearly upsetting the food in Sky’s lap. Using both hands to steady his bowl, he gives Wind a curious look.

“You know!” Wind elbows him good-naturedly, a wild grin on his face. “The one you used on the Yiga from before.”

“Oh.” Sky smiles stiffly back. “Y-yeah. That was… that was exciting.”

“Right?! He appeared out of nowhere. Just poof-” Wind’s hands gesticulate dramatically as he retells the events from a scant two hours ago, “and then he’s there, an assassin right behind you!”

Sky’s smile remains fixed in place but the edges of his bowl press a little deeper into his hands. The other heroes have long finished their own dinners and moved on to other activities, only Wind lingering around Sky and his now-cold food. Sky had wondered at that, Wind not being one to just sit around if he could help it, but it’s now evident why.

Wind continues, his natural tendency toward storytelling sweeping him into the tale. “I didn’t even notice him until I turned and saw that crazy eye mask right over your shoulder.”

Sky can’t help the shudder that rolls through him, but he manages to keep his face blank, showing no hint of the revulsion that fills him. If he lets his mind wander, he'll feel the phantom press of pale fingers clutching at his shoulder, of unhinged laughter harsh against his ears, of intrusive breath puffing against his cheek-

“I wish I could teleport,” Wind sighs dramatically. “Wouldn’t that be so cool? Just a simple-” Wind’s hand rises to illustrate his point, fingers producing the sound of a sharp SNAP.

Sky jolts, spine snapping straight as old wounds seem to burn anew. His head half turns before he catches himself, helpless against the urge to check behind him.

“Oh, Sky, you dropped your food.” Wind dives down to gather up the spilled bowl. “I can get you more-”

“No,” Sky shakes his head, “I wasn’t hungry anyway.” With nothing to hold on to, Sky’s hands begin to tremor. He stuffs them under legs, letting his own weight press them into stillness against the tree bark.

Wind puts the bowl aside. “Really? Well, why don’t you come spar with the rest of us.” He gestures to the far side of camp where the other heroes are gathered in a clearing past the trees.

Sky can hear the clang of swords and the occasional angry word as competitive tempers flare. He doesn’t think he has it in him today to spar. He hears Warriors call out a friendly jeer, and his stomach twists tighter in a knot that formed hours ago and won't release him. The afterimage of black diamonds flit across his vision. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tries to shake off the jittery feeling.

“If you come you could show me that move?” Wind hops to his feet. “But only If you want. Oh, but it was just so cool! You whipped around so fast and had your sword drawn on the guy before he could even-”

Wind’s flailing hand hooks into Sky’s shoulder and blinding panic whites out Sky's every thought. He shouts, rocketing backward, kicking out blindly as he tumbles to the leaf-strewn ground.

He hears a body hit the ground with a grunt and has to remind himself to 'breathe, just breathe. Look, it’s only-'  “Wind!" The boy is staring up at Sky with wide-eyed shock. "Oh no! I’m so sorry!” Sky is a flutter of apologies as he crawls forward to check the damage he's caused.

But Wind waves him back, already clambering to his feet. “’S all right, Sky. You only nicked me.”

“You’re holding your side!” Sky protests, flushed red with shame as his heart still thunders away. “And I shouldn’t have done that! I- I wouldn’t do that, I didn’t realize it was you-”

“Well, who did you think I was?”

The question is asked with a breathy laugh, only seeking to cut the tension, but Sky freezes, kneeling in the fall leaves with hands outstretched. “I-” he gapes at Wind, feeling foolish. “Nobody. I’m sorry, Wind. I shouldn’t have… reacted so strongly.” Another shout sounds from beyond the trees quickly accompanied by laughter. Sky curls in on himself, drawing the edges of his sailcloth tighter around his shoulders. “That was my fault. Forgive me.”

Wind shakes his head. “Nothing to forgive.”

Sky looks unconvinced. “I- I think I have a potion-“

“Sky, it won’t even bruise.” He takes a moment to really look at Sky, before determination colors his expression. He steps forward and kneels in front of Sky. Then, making sure to telegraph his every move, reaches forward to wrap Sky into the biggest hug he can manage.

Sky flinches back.

Wind pulls away immediately. “Sorry, is this wrong? I thought- I mean, this is what you usually do for… for us.” He winces as he stumbles over his words.

“I know.” Sky’s head is down, staring far too intently at the leaves gathered around his knees. He shivers despite all his layers of clothing.

Wind thinks he’s never seen Sky look so small. It’s an odd sensation. Sky always seemed larger than life, a hero from the beginning of time, the creator of the Master Sword, a being who came to earth from life in the clouds. “Sky?”

“Please don’t touch me.”

Wind may not understand everything that just happened in Sky’s mind, but he knows the sound of fear and shame in Sky's voice. “Okay.” He makes himself comfortable on the ground, careful not to draw any closer. “What do you need me to do?”

Sky drops his head even lower so his fluffy bangs hang over his eyes. The tips of his ears are bright red against the blue and white of the sailcloth behind them.

“Do you want me to leave?”

Sky jerks his head up and gasps out, “No!”

Wind carefully doesn’t react to the edge of panic rolled into that one word. “Then I’ll stay.”

“I’m sorry,” Sky whispers.

“For what?” Now that he’s caught Sky’s gaze he fights to hold it with his own, unwilling to see his friend drop his head in shame again. “You don’t have to like being touched all the time. I don’t like it all the time.” He twists up his face in an exaggerated grimace. “Especially when Wars and Twi muss up my hair when they’re trying to out-big-brother each other. Morons.”

There’s a flicker of a smile across Sky’s face and Wind glows with secret pride.

“I’ll make sure to ask next time,” Sky says.

“Naw. You don’t have to ask.”

Sky’s face twists in confusion.

Wind shrugs. “You give good hugs.” His face feels a little warm but he pushes on anyway. If releasing one teeny tiny secret of his will make Sky feel better he’ll do it. “When I’m homesick… I guess I don’t mind it when you hug me. It- it’s nice. And don’t you dare tell anyone I said that or use it for nefarious purposes, Sky!”

That gets a huff of air out of Sky, an almost-laugh, and Wind will take it. “You’re always looking out for us. Isn’t there anything I can do for you?” Sky doesn’t answer. So Wind waits. He tries to do so patiently, but he hates sitting still. How is he supposed to fix things sitting down? The possibility that Sky will just push him away hangs heavy over him, some problems deemed too big for someone so little to understand, but Wind does his best to ignore his own insecurities. He can tell this is not about him. “If it’s just sitting here with no talking I can 100% do that no problem.” Probably. Mostly silent, anyway. If it’s for Sky he’ll manage, somehow.

Abruptly, Sky reaches out and carefully curls two fingers around Wind’s hand.

Wind sucks in a sharp breath and scrutinizes his friend for any visible discomfort. “This is supposed to be for you, Sky. Don’t do this if you don’t want to.”

Sky fully wraps his hand into Wind’s, pauses, then squeezes his hand in three little bursts. Wind wonders briefly if that was supposed to mean something, but notes how Sky’s shoulders dropped, no longer hunched up around his ears.

“Okay then.” So Wind sits, watching the golden-red leaves flutter between them, whistling an occasional tune, and holding Sky’s hand. And slowly, Sky relaxes, rolling his eyes at Wind’s intentionally poor rendition of a jaunty forest tune Time had taught them. Bit by bit he huffs and unfurls and smiles wider and Wind still doesn’t let him go.

He doesn't let go even when the others draw back toward the camp, noisy and pleasantly exhausted. He doesn’t let go when Warriors and Twilight catch sight of them and exchange a confused look.

Wind only sniffs loftily at the pair, holding Sky’s hand up as evidence, and says, “Big brother duties.”

Sky laughs, a real one this time, and Wind thinks that’s worth an evening of just sitting still.