#not pictured: them almost dying while trying to borrow the Master Sword without waking anyone else

[ixtaek]

A fast fluffy idea I had at work

Wolfie was excellent for comfort.

When anyone had a rough fight he would appear and circle to be sure they didn’t try to walk it off. When nightmares woke one of the heroes up—visions of curses and dying family and moons and wars and birds and blights—he would curl by their side, even begrudgingly tolerating a few pats or snuggles until they fell back asleep. When homesickness drove a hero to retreat into silence, Wolfie would distract them with mock wrestling or herd them to the group until they opened back up. He had sat with, under, and on all of them at least once.

All but Twilight.

Legend saw the rancher take the heavy hit that day, but no wolf joined him to be sure he didn’t try to hide it. He heard Twilight crying in his sleep, tossing as the pain of the bandaged wound pulled with his gasps, but no divine beast snuggled to his side till he stilled. He saw the sadness in Twilight’s face when Wild and Flora leaned into each other, when Time made a show of rubbing noses with Malon. The loneliness he endured silently.

Of course Wolfie couldn’t comfort Twilight. He was Wolfie.

Legend was sitting on watch when he heard the rancher’s breathing pick up again in his sleep. The man’s hands gripped his bedroll, searching for comfort unconsciously. No one else was awake. Anyone else, Legend mused, would be better at soothing Twilight than him. He could wake Time, or Wild. They’d surely noticed Twilight’s distress if Legend had.

He stood, popping his back, and moved closer. The rancher was calling for someone, teeth grinding as he did. Legend could see tears forming under his fluttering eyelids. Legend was not good at this.

His eyes fell on Twilight’s things. No one else was awake as he reached into the rancher’s bag.

-

Twilight woke with a start, panic melting into confusion almost immediately. He could smell something familiar, the acrid smell of Twili magic lingering in the air after a transformation. He looked at his hands. They weren’t paws. The words that had choked in his throat all day finally found an outlet as he realized something was on his lap.

“Vet..?”

“If you wake the others and they see this, I’ll bite you.” The pink rabbit shoved its head under his hand. “You were having a nightmare. Normally Wolfie deals with this for the others.” Legend took Twilight’s wrist, guiding it along his ear. “Since Wolfie can’t show up for you, you’ll have to deal with a substitute.”

Twilight stroked the fur, blinking to clear the tears still lingering. Legend sighed, unconsciously leaning into the rancher’s touch. Twilight felt warmth swell in his chest as he scooped his brother up, ignoring the slight squeak as he hugged him to his chest. The fur tickled his cheek, smelling like old metal polish and apple blossoms, nothing like home and everything like family and care and compassion. Legend grumbled, but nuzzled Twilight’s face all the same, whispering that he was ok and he was strong and they were there for him.

“Thank you.” Twilight breathed.

Wolfie was excellent for comfort.

But as Twilight sat, petting soft fur and listening to murmured affirmations, he was glad to know his brother would return that comfort just as freely.