#path of comfort

[the-rad-pineapple]

day 26 of @augusnippets

bonus prompt: whumpee wearing caretaker’s clothes

part 1 | part 2

Whumpee sits up gasping, body covered in sweat that’s now too cool. He shivers and lurches across the bed to flick on his lamp, scattering the shadows lingering in the room from his dreams. He still hasn’t caught his breath when he swings his legs over the side of the bed, resting them on the floor. He puts his head in his hands and closes his eyes. 

He didn’t used to get nightmares so badly. Only after Caretaker left Whumpee’s team. Caretaker’s presence has always been calming to Whumpee, and he’s always had Whumpee’s back. But Caretaker has been gone. He decided he needed a break and left for the main HQ nearly four months ago. 

Whumpee hardly sleeps due to the nightmares. He got his first write-up in his life this week because he messed up a training exercise two days ago because of how sleep deprived he is. He’s embarrassed and more stressed than he’s ever felt for this long. He’s exhausted in a way he’s never felt—a hollowed-out shell, empty and brittle.

He’s been putting off what he knows will help, but now he thinks it’s finally time. His sleep deprivation is negatively impacting his life. …Besides, Caretaker isn’t even here. 

Whumpee stiffly stands and sluggishly makes his way to the door. The way to Caretaker’s room is muscle memory. So is punching in the code to unlock his door. A ghost of a smile tugs at Whumpee’s lips when it unlocks. Caretaker still hasn’t changed the code. 

Caretaker’s room is cool. Whumpee considers turning on the light but decides against it. He’s too tired. 

He wants to be completely submerged in the covers, so he begins to take his clothes off. And that’s when his sleep-deprived mind whispers to him the sinful idea of wearing Caretaker’s clothes, too. As if sleeping in his bed in his room wasn’t enough. 

But Caretaker isn’t here, and Whumpee can have his sheets and clothes washed by tomorrow evening, so what’s the harm? 

Whumpee knows where Caretaker keeps his sleepwear. In the closet on the left. Whumpee grabs the first one he sees and immediately puts it on.

It smells like Caretaker. Like home. Like safety. 

Whumpee feels his muscles relax. He didn’t even realize he’d been so tense. He plops into Caretaker’s bed and slips under the covers, practically burrowing underneath. 

~ ~

Whumpee awakes slowly—peacefully—something that hasn’t happened in a while. He’s grown so accustomed to adrenaline and fear greeting him when he wakes.

He slowly blinks, movement catching his eye. 

Caretaker is sitting in the desk chair beside Whumpee, idly reading something on his tablet. He has the chair facing Whumpee. 

Caretaker flicks his gaze up, and their eyes lock. Caretaker immediately straightens and carelessly tosses his tablet on the desk. 

Then he leans forward and smiles, his eyes crinkling in the corners. It’s been a long time since Whumpee’s seen that smile. 

And Whumpee smiles back. It’s been a long time since he’s smiled, too.

[snek-in-a-hat]

Day 2 @augusnippets

2: Platonic Bathing / Hair Care / Make-up

-------------------------------------------------

The bath water had long since stopped being clear and was now dyed a mix of pink and grey. But as terrible as the water looked, A was beginning to look much better.

They'd shown up a mess cuts, some deeper than others, and badly bruised. After cleaning and covering some of the more serious injuries, B was anxious to get A into bed where they could rest. With a more analytic glance, B decided a bath was in order. A was barely conscious so a shower was out of the question, and they needed some way of washing away their ordeal.

B gently worked their fingers through A's hair. Before it had been stiff with dirt and blood but was now easing up with the application of their favorite mint shampoo. A let out a sigh and seemed to relax a little deeper into the water with the gentle ministrations.

'Thank you.' The whisper was soft, but B caught it nonetheless.

'Of course', B smiled. 'Just relax. I've got you.'

-------------------------------------------------

[howtowhumpyourhiccup]

The Comfort of a Hot Bath

Summary: Written for Day 2 of Augusnippets. Modern AU, Mind Full AU. After escaping, Heather helps Astrid take a bath.

Warnings: /

Rating: General

Dead Dove: No

Words: 443

Prompts: Platonic Bathing / Hair Care

Fandom: How to Train Your Dragon

Characters: Astrid, Heather

Pairing: Heathstrid, Hiccstrid

Author's Notes:Yup, definitely writing more of this AU!

Enjoy!

-XOXOX-

Astrid can’t stop thinking of that warehouse. Where they found boxes full of supplies and containers full of dragons. And where they ran into Hiccup and his pets once again.

Sitting in this hot bath, she still can’t shake the chills she got from his thousand-yard stare that almost seemed too present all at once. The way the panicking dragons inside their containers just seemed to fall silent with his arrival, not out of fear, but almost out of respect and relief. Some even purred. How his Frightening Five- dubbed that way by Ruff and Tuff- just seemed to listen to commands he never spoke. They just gave him a look before they searched the warehouse. How he seemed to hear exactly what the Night Fury did. How else could Snotlout say something stupid across the warehouse and still be heard by him?

Astrid can’t shake it. She can’t stop thinking about him, about the boy she used to know.

Filling a can with water, Heather pours it empty on her head, pulling her from her thoughts.

It’s a good thing she came in when she did. She and her brother had come just in the nick of time. Just as the Night Fury found them, they caused one of their jeeps to explode across the property, forcing Hiccup to put an end to the search.

Once her hair is wet enough, Heather lathers it in shampoo. Her girlfriend is caked in grime and she’s covered in cuts and bruises.

“I used to have a crush on him.”

Her hands stop massaging Astrid’s scalp in shock. She knows the other woman is bi. “So he wasn’t always like…”

“No. He was awkward and cute, sassy.”

“Sassy?” Heather thinks it’s strange. She knew about the Dragon Whisperer before Astrid did, she and her brother met him before. She can’t say she has ever heard him sass. Or talk at all. She figured he was just born so unsettling, like someone only a mother could love.

“His mother did things to him. I know she did. No woman just leaves her 4 month old baby just to appear back in his life to “reconnect.” Or maybe some do, but Valka didn’t and Hiccup is proof of that.

“Then what do you think happened?” Heather fills the bowl again to rinse her girlfriend’s golden locks. She isn’t sure how to answer that, all they have to go on are rumors.

“I want to save him,” the bowl is empty and Heather looks at her.

“I don’t know how, but there has to be a way.”

She won’t be able to let him go until she does.

[roses-and-revolutions]

DC x DP Idea

After several years, Danny and Damian meet each other again at a gala. But there was no heartfelt reunion since the moment they led eyes on each other it was all-out war. Damian takes out a sword from somewhere and Danny just starts throwing hands.

The fighting is intense, and blood is being spilled (what are those glowing green specks?). They are screaming at each other in Arabic as it's easier to slip back to your mother tongue when in rage right? This makes the fight more personal.

Most people don't understand what they're saying but those who do look at the boys then Bruce. Bruce then back to the boys again. Like B, we know you're stupid but you fucked this person twice.... did you NOT see the red flags the SECOND TIME!?!?

The fight ends with Damian on the ground with the sword grazing his neck. He looks up to Danyal with the fear of god in his eyes, knowing that with one swift movement, he'll be dead on the dance floor. But Danny's eyes were cold and tired, they were dead. No spark, no sense of life in those chilling blue depths.

Calmly, Danny spoke to Damian. His voice was crystal clear, cool like a mountain stream.

"Just because you jumped into the fire behind me doesn't mean you felt the pain I did.  Your hand was held above the flames while I was being burnt in the fucking fire."

Damian begins to cry because he knows that Danny is right. No matter what he went through, it would never compare to what happened to his big brother. Even more so, when he feels long lanky arms wrap around him, a cool hand rubbing his back soothingly, and whispers of sweet nothingness entering his ears.

He cries because no matter what he does he will never be like his big brother.

[magicshop]

his smile could cure the world ♡ [for @morshiberna ♡]

cr. 0613data

[mythalism]

hmmm. thinking about how veilguard seems to subscribe more to the more traditional "video game as personal power fulfillment fantasy of heroism" than any other dragon age game, except perhaps origins, though origins does it more artfully.

[mari-lair]

Y'know about that worst-case neglect route down the acts?

So, what if the menu changes at that point?

Mirabelle

Isabeau

Odile

Bonnie

"a-and Siffrin!"

Siffrin's turn becomes automatic and Bonnie becomes a playable character

they just want to be useful

they are desperate to be useful to their team

That's absolutely heartbreaking thank you for the mental image I am in shambles

They will still not let Bonnie fight no matter how op they get, no no no, Bonnie is a kid so no getting in harms way! but siffrin feeling like he isn't part of the game anymore? isn't part of the team??? Agh that's so possible I AM DEAD

[histhoughtslately]

You’re not behind; however, life will continue to go by while you’re standing still. Just remember, little steps matter, too. ❤️‍🩹

[the-rad-pineapple]

day 5 of @augusnippets

drunk caretaking

part 2 | part 3

The mission went wrong. Whumpee had been ambushed. Surrounded. But he trains every day. He’d even memorized the entire layout of the building, despite his assignment being confined to the first floor. He was prepared, and it paid off. He made it out alive but far from unscathed. He rushed himself back to base where the medics immediately tended to him. 

The medics are proficient and excellent in their work, but Whumpee was really hoping for Caretaker himself to be there. But he never showed. He must’ve had the night off. 

But Caretaker hadn’t been the same since his trainee died on a mission. No one really knows what happened. Caretaker had previously been several ranks higher than Whumpee before he switched to the medical field. One day, he’d gone on a routine mission with his trainee and then came back alone. He’d sent in his mission report, but no one other than the highest ranking members are allowed to read it. Caretaker never speaks of it. But Whumpee can see the sadness in his eyes. It dulls the shine. His body seems heavier, too. As if he’s being dragged into the grave from below. 

Whumpee is settled in bed, typing his mission report on a tablet when three loud knocks sound on his door. The noise is strange. Unfamiliar. 

Whumpee silently places his tablet on his nightstand and painfully makes his way towards the door, walking slowly and heavy-footed. He had refused pain meds. They cause his defenses to drop, and that’s unacceptable. Whumpee will never admit to how unsafe he feels when he is prepared, let alone how unsafe he feels now—slow and vulnerable and hurt. His defenses are already low like this, so pain medication is completely out of the question. He’d rather be in pain and alert than painless and dull-witted. 

Whumpee clicks the button next to the door, and it whooshes open. 

It’s Caretaker. 

Whumpee has half a moment to take in his disheveled appearance (He’s usually just as meticulous as Whumpee, so this is odd). His clothes hang loose and crooked. His hair is askew. And then he’s stepping inside. 

“Oh, Whumpee,” he says, eyes desperately searching his face. The concern and…and the amount of it is—

Hands suddenly cup his face, palms unexpectedly warm. 

They’re so close it’s suffocating. 

And then Whumpee smells it. The alcohol in Caretaker’s breath. It’s so strong it stings. 

Then Caretaker frowns, emotion forming on his face more openly than when he’s sober. “You denied the pain medication. Again,” he unnecessarily emphasizes. The scolding look he shoots Whumpee is so powerful he actually starts to feel a little embarrassed.

Whumpee looks at the floor. “Look, I— Well… I don’t like…”

“…The way it dulls your senses,” Caretaker finishes with an over-dramatic sigh. “I know, I know.” Worried eyes search his face. “But you’re alright? I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. I—” He abruptly stops. Frozen.

“I know.” Whumpee pulls him close, and Caretaker stumbles into his arms.

part 2 | part 3

[homriette]

Sketch Commission work, Mia from Fire Emblem!

I was a bit gone from tumblr bc I was trying to decide if I wanted to post stuff individually or do art dumps, I ended up deciding why not both lol

[bklily]

Caught myself thinking about Chloe Bourgeois and my unpopular opinions about her (that redemption arcs are so expected in any mean character of any media that she is a refreshingly nuanced and interesting take on a character that refuses to take accountability and go through a redemption arc because she doesn't like the consequences that come with taking responsibility for her bad actions and that I very much prefer how her arc is unfortunately tragic in the original show). I am then shot 57 times.

[moldypoff]

No cuz wouldn’t it be so funny if 049 was handed a ‘sick’ patient and finds that they have no trace of the pestilence in them but researchers keep insisting that the patient is sick.

Eventually he gets pissed and that’s when they tell him that the patient has depression.

He tells them that ailments to the mind aren’t his specialty but they keep pushing him to whip up some sort of cure.

So, he requests a bunch of things, dried lavender flowers, water, oils, pots and a portable stove, sugar, etc. and he goes into full TLC mode.

First day goes by and people are like, “okay, basic mental remedies, at some point he’ll rip them open and fix the unbalanced humors in patient, right?” WRONG.

He spends time reading and talking to patient for the next few days and slowly they come out of their shell, picking up old/new hobbies that 049 introduced to them to. It’d be even cooler if patient gets better in record time than if they’d just gone to a weekly therapy session.

Anywho, patient gets taken away by foundation to do a psyche evaluation and turns out their depression is cured. (THE ONE THING 049 HAS ACTUALLY CURED)

Afterward, even if patient was formerly a researcher or a d-class, I think it wouldn’t matter in the end because they’d still be amnesticized.

Anyways, 049 has all this crap in his cell and it looks like he actually lives there now but it’s missing the person that made his prison feel like a home.

[naffeclipse]

Okay hear me out.... Journey to west au. Sun being the monkey king from the book and Y/N a traveller. Y/N rescues him from under the mountain and he joins them in their travels. Moon is a demon that's terrorising a town until Y/N and Sun stop him. Moon then joins the two. Finally Eclipse is another demon that kidnaps Y/N in order to eat them but instead is so utterly charmed by them that he joins the party. Shenanigans ensue... Thoughts?

The great monkey king is indebted to a mortal but he has little qualms with escorting you on your travels as a way to give his thanks for rescuing him from underneath the mountain. His magic and strength are at your disposal. Strangely, you prefer traveling peacefully and quietly, avoiding trouble and helping those in need when the two of you come upon them. The monkey king thinks you are vulnerable and too trusting, and he decides to protect you at all costs.

The lunar demon does not take kindly to his mischievousness and destruction being wrought, but when you and the monkey king stop the mayhem he inflicts upon a small town, the lunar demon can't help but become amused and intrigued by a daring, bold mortal who is so calm in the face of dangerous, sharp teeth, red eye demon. He thinks you are naive and foolish, but he follows you and the monkey king because who else will watch over you at night? Who will keep you safe from the other toothy and red-eye demons?

It is not too long down the road of your seemingly endless travels that a problem arises. The monkey king and the lunar demon venture to the river to fetch you food and drink and while you toil, you feel the shadow of a great personage fall upon you before you are snatched away. You struggle and call for your dear, new friends, but the dark being smuggles you into his cave. He ties you up and leaves you on the floor of his home as he prepares to eat you. You, however, remain calm and speak with the great demon and learn he is the eclipse prince. The eclipse prince wants nothing more than to cook and devour you, but you convince him to allow you to serve him tea first. Pleased by the offer, the eclipse prince unties you. You serve him a tea you have used to comfort the monkey king and calm the lunar demon, and speak with the eclipse prince. The conversation continues until the pot of tea is gone and he tells you to prepare another, pot after pot until he is laughing and telling you that he has forgotten his hunger—your charm and allure have sated him. He will let you go and return you to your companions, but you invite him to join your company.

The eclipse prince is pleased to accept. He opens his cave and returns with you to the monkey king and the lunar demon. When you come upon them, they are furious and frantic. They act quickly to take you back and prepare to attack the one who carried you away before you calm them. The eclipse prince stands rather unapologetically as you explain that he is now joining the three of you. The lunar demon does not take kindly to this change and the monkey king hovers close to you, refusing to let you leave his sights while the eclipse prince seamlessly joins the camp and prepares a pot of tea for you to drink.

You continue your travels, glad to have such devoted company.

[orengejoshi]

do u write fanfics? i need to GOON 💔

damn brother, you just gonna come at me like that? alright I see you

that's a great question tho! I have indeed thought about writing a fic... for years tbh...

but there's a myriad of problems

well first of all I'm not native in english. that is probably noticeable more often than not. I sometimes even use a translator, I always secretly got google/dict.cc open in a second tab. didn't formally learn english, I just snagged it by proxy listening to American Youtubers and reading manga online. that's why I prefer to ramble a bit in public or to my damn self in private areas than live-texting 1 on 1/in groups; bc I can take more time totally judgement-free. you're gonna see me "typing..." for 30 minutes and wonder wtf is taking this mf so long?!

apart from that there's dyslexia. I can't spell one word correctly without swipe-to-type autocorrect. I think all arguments I've gotten into stem from me mistyping, using completely wrong words, messing up the sentence structure etc

my brain is a single dense cloud of fog that'll occasionally split open to drizzle down a bunch of jumbled thoughts that I could turn into barely cohesive words if I'm brave enough and exude copious amounts of energy.

so my linguistic skills are not up to par. my intelligence lies more in... intrapersonal and existential departments.

unsurprisingly I've thus become a visual artist to express myself.

the catch is... that I understand paperhat, I do.

but I can't seem to draw toxic dynamics. my head is just empty about how to depict it. it's like it doesn't come naturally to me. not without going overboard and making a whole comic that I would likely abandon before even reaching the half mark. I've been given these angelic skills along with the curse that I shall only draw joyous, bright scenes.

however if I could write it... now we're talking.

as a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure that most of my ideas are way too dark and sober. people don't know me like that so I'm petrified about the presumably shocked response when and if I did drop smth like that.

I'm not ready for that... I have really severe OCD (that the internet is making way worse with their anxious tendencies to interpret smth sinister into any and all fiction that is not happiness and rainbows. which seems new to me, idk where this mindset to read so deep into shit is suddenly coming from. I was here 2017-19, left for like 3 years and all of a sudden everybody's fallen off their rockers)

writing domestic stuff is too boring for me... there's gotta be gut-wrenching horrors and drama and tragedy and conflict!

none of this would be PG (which is what I assume you're asking for anyway) I'd just write smut with sprinkles of character studies and a pinch of comedy mayhaps, but I used to do that about 10 years ago and it was so bad. the way I describe these scenes comes off very plump and cringe

I... might. dip my toes into it later this year.

I'll drop a few ideas in the tags... maybe 2 ideas. very roughly. without spoilers, just in case.

[borgialucrezia]

so heartbreaking how they used to stare at their father with so much vulnerability and trust in their eyes and gullible to his words of comfort because even though he did love them very much he ultimately loved the power he could achieve through them more...

[skyward-floored]

Downfall IAU, next part to Sunlight. Legend stresses, everyone worries, and Twilight’s finally safe... but is he okay?

(Blood/injury warning, and the very slight beginnings of a panic attack)

————————————————————

Legend had had the thought before, but lately he was really starting to wonder if one day his head would just pop from the weight of everything that was going on in his life.

He was wanted by the government, Twilight was hurt, their parents were gone, the odds were stacked endlessly high against them, and whenever Legend tried to help, things only seemed somehow to get worse. Not to mention how apparently there was another dimension where things seemed to be better and he had four extra brothers, two of which had ended up here somehow.

...But now really wasn’t the time to be thinking about it.

Twilight mumbled something indecipherable beside him from Sky’s arms, and Legend bit his lip. Twilight just needed to be taken down into the base, and then he’d be fine. Hyrule could heal him just fine. Getting Twilight there was going to be the most difficult part, but they’d manage.

Sky lifted Twilight onto his back with a grunt, Legend going first down the ladder in case he slipped to catch him. Wind went last, helping Sky in any way he could, and their trip down was near silent except for Twilight’s rasping breath. Legend felt near dizzy with emotion by the time they reached the bottom, and he almost missed a rung when Twilight groaned.

I swear Twilight if you don’t make it out of this alive—

“Hyrule!” Legend shouted before his feet even hit the floor, and Hyrule’s head shot up from where he was still playing uno in the corner. “Hyrule get over here!”

“Twilight!” Four gasped as Sky eased him off his back, and Hyrule scrambled to his feet, rushing over to where Legend was helping Sky carry Twilight towards the room with the beds.

“Can you help him?” Sky asked worriedly, and Hyrule nodded as he walked beside him, already lighting up his hands.

“It’ll help if his shirt is out of the way,” Hyrule replied shortly, setting a hand on Twilight’s head where the dried blood was thickest. Sky hurried through the door, setting Twilight on the closest bed, and he let out a groan that sent a jolt through Legend’s chest. He firmly ignored it and began unbuttoning the shirt Twilight had on, and saw Wind hovering anxiously nearby as Four ran up, eyes huge.

Aryll tried to follow them through the door, but Ravio took her arm and said something Legend couldn’t hear over the roaring in his ears.

“Is he okay?!” Four gasped as he looked at Twilight, and Legend very much ignored the red staining his hands.

“He will be. Hyrule’s good at this,” Wind said in a voice he was obviously trying to make reassuring as Legend began ripping Twilight’s shirt where there weren’t buttons. Twilight stirred a little at the motion and looked at them all, then tried to clumsily grab at Legend’s arm. Four took his hand before Legend could do anything.

“I’m-m fine,” Twilight slurred, his eyes unfocused, and Legend glared at him.

“You’re not, shut up,” he hissed, finishing with his shirt with a sharp rip. “There, done.”

Sky propped Twilight up a bit so they could remove his shirt, Twilight hissing in pain as they pulled it off. But Legend had made sure to rip it neatly, and they didn’t have to move him too much. The moment it was out of the way Hyrule moved forward, and he pressed his hands to Twilight’s bloody shoulder, the action prompting a strangled yell from him.

Twilight tried to launch himself out of the bed, and Legend moved to help Sky and Wind hold him down, their faces shining with blue as Hyrule used his powers. Twilight writhed a little, clumsily pawing at the arms holding him down, and somehow despite his exhaustion he felt as strong as ever to Legend.

“Twilight, hold still,” Sky urged, and Twilight squeezed his eyes shut, obviously making an effort, but still shaking.

The shouting had attracted more attention as well, and Sun hurried into the room with a sharp intake of breath, shooing Aryll away again when she tried to run in, and setting a hand on Twilight. Hyrule kept working, eyes closed and face creased, and Legend watched him and Twilight with his heart in his throat.

He didn’t have a very good grasp on everything Hyrule was capable of, but he looked like he was focusing rather hard. Was that bad? It must have been bad.

Was Twilight even more hurt than he looked?

Hyrule shifted his hands and Twilight started squirming around again, face pained. Sun noticed, and she began to hum, soft glimmers of light drifting through the air at the action. Twilight’s bleary gaze flicked to her, and his struggles slowly relaxed as he listened.

His breath was still coming fast, and he occasionally let out a sharp twitch of pain, but the humming seemed to help with the worst of it. Legend even felt marginally calmer with the sound of his aunt’s music as well.

But only a bit.

It felt like a long time before the glow from Hyrule’s hands finally faded, and he let out a sharp exhale. His hands jerked as he withdrew them, palms stained red, and Legend immediately swung his gaze from him back at Twilight.

He wasn’t moving.

“Did that do it? Is he okay?” Legend asked sharply, and Hyrule flinched.

“H-He’s stable. But he n-needs, a sling, probably, a-and his shoulder, bandages,” Hyrule forced out, voice oddly clipped despite the stammering. “Further examination should— should be, done. Dismissed?”

Legend and Sky both looked at him then, Legend’s whirling thoughts screeching to a halt as Sky’s expression turned to one of dismay. Hyrule was shaking like he’d just run a marathon, but his pose was rigid, eyes fixed forward, back straight, hands tight at his sides.

He looked... blank.

Sun quickly moved when she noticed Hyrule’s state, and she put her hand on his arm, holding him up when he swayed.

“Yes, dismissed. Rest, Link,” she reassured softly, and Hyrule dropped like a puppet with its strings cut, unconscious.

Sun caught him in her arms, and the room went quiet.

“What... was that?” Four asked after a minute, and Sky looked at Hyrule, face saddened.

“Old habits die hard,” he murmured, and Legend suddenly felt very, very sick.

Before he could process it though, Twilight grunted, catching everyone’s attention and distracting Legend from the sudden urge to vomit. Twilight still looked utterly exhausted, but when he opened his eyes there was a clearness to his gaze that hadn’t been there before.

“Oh. Hey,” he mumbled, blinking up at everyone staring at him, and Legend felt a sharp stab of relief hit him.

“Hey yourself. How are you feeling?” Sky replied with a small smile, and Twilight slowly blinked, then closed his eyes again.

“Better. Not... great. But better,” he said, voice still hoarse.

“Well why don’t you get some rest,” Sky said gently, moving his hand to rest on Twilight’s head, and Twilight weakly hummed, leaning into the touch. “We can talk later.”

Twilight was asleep in seconds, and Sky drew back, exhaling as he shifted his wing a little. He set it around Sun and Hyrule, and Legend’s gaze snapped back to the healer, silent and pale.

He was vaguely aware of the other people in the room, Wind looking around at everyone, Twilight still bloody where he lay asleep in the bed, Four quietly holding his hand. Sun held Hyrule as she and Sky gave each other a look, but Legend couldn’t tear his gaze away from Hyrule, unconscious and exhausted with his hands coated in blood, and felt the urge to be sick again.

He thought he was back there because of you—

“Come on. Let’s let them rest,” Sky said finally, breathing out and giving Legend’s shoulder a quick squeeze. Legend nearly threw him off. “That’s what they both need right now. We can reevaluate once Twilight can tell us more of what happened.”

“But... will he be okay?” Wind spoke up, eyes darting between Twilight and Sky.

“He will. Right now sleep is what he needs more than anything. Come on,” Sky said encouragingly, and Wind reluctantly pulled back.

“I’m staying,” Legend managed to choke out when Sky nudged him, and his uncle nodded, giving him a gentle look.

Sky began steering the others back out of the room while Sun settled Hyrule on a bed, and Legend watched distantly as she quickly wiped the blood from his hands and set a blanket over him. He was feeling oddly detached from what had just happened, even with the emotion frothing around inside of him like a storming ocean.

Legend had spent most of the day before now in a tired daze, wrung out from the entirety of yesterday and having barely slept overnight. He thought he didn’t have anything left, but the whirlwind of relief and terror that Twilight’s return had brought along with Hyrule’s reaction was bringing it all up again and he just felt... sick.

Suddenly his aunt was pushing him down to sit in a chair, and Legend blinked as she handed him a wet cloth to wipe his own hands off with.

“Come on Legend, you’re all right,” she said gently, and Legend realized he was shaking. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Twi first,” he managed to get out, and Sun’s eyebrows crinkled.

“Me and Sky already got him cleaned up. You’re the only one left,” she said, and Legend blinked, looking at Twilight and realizing she was right. His brother had had the blood cleaned from him and his injuries wrapped, a blanket placed over him, same as Hyrule.

When had that happened?

When Legend didn’t move, Sun sat beside him and began gently wiping his hands herself, the feel of the damp cloth oddly startling. Legend looked down at Twilight’s blood still on his hands, parts of his shirt damp with it from when he’d hugged his brother, and felt rather lightheaded all of a sudden.

“Easy Legend,” Sun said, her hand suddenly catching his shoulder. “Deep breaths. You’re okay.”

Legend swallowed and tried to do as she said, shakily breathing in, then letting it out. He flicked his gaze away from the red on his hands, and focused instead on the golden color of Sun’s hair, swaying a little as she wiped off his hands.

He was... really not a fan of blood.

But he managed to even his breath by the time Sun finished, even though his cheeks burned a little at the realization she’d had to clean him up like a child. He easily could have done it himself, though... looking at the red and thinking about everything else it meant would probably only make him feel more lightheaded.

Embarrassing as it was, he... appreciated the gesture.

Sun set the washcloth aside, and Legend finally looked down at his hands, clean of any blood, calloused and speckled with scars.

“I set Hyrule off,” he whispered.

Sun breathed out, nodding. “You were only part of it, but... yes. It was hardly on purpose though, and I know you’ll apologize when he wakes up.”

“He thought he was back at that clinic we saved him from,” Legend croaked, “he thought we were them.”

“This isn’t the first time it’s happened, and it won’t be the last,” Sun replied gently, something heavier in her voice. “...I hate it as much as you, Legend. But Hyrule was there for a long time, it’s not all going to be erased in a few weeks. All we can do is help him as best we can. We all have our scars.”

Legend didn’t reply, glancing down at the old burns on his wrist, and Sun sighed. She ran a worried hand over his head before standing up, and said she was going to go touch base with Sky. She seemed to have realized he wasn’t in the mood to talk, another thing Legend was grateful for, and he nodded at her as she left, carefully closing the door behind her.

Legend was alone.

He breathed out, rubbing a hand over his forehead as he glanced at Hyrule again. The healer was almost as pale as Twilight was where he’d curled into his blanket, and Legend’s fingernails dig into his palms. He’d make it up to Hyrule. He didn’t know how, but he would.

For now though, he had someone else to worry about.

Legend swallowed and stood up, his feet wobbling a little under him, but he managed to walk over to his brother’s bedside, sitting on the edge of it as Twilight slept on. Twilight was much less pale, closer to his normal skin tone, and though there were too many bandages for Legend’s taste, he looked a lot better. Just exhausted.

An idea flitted across his mind then, and Legend stilled, surprised he’d had the thought. He glanced around the room, hesitating, but before he could have second thoughts, he breathed in, and let the power he almost never used sweep over him. His body compressed, twisting around, ears elongating, frame shrinking down and leaving the world a lot bigger than before.

Legend, now a small, pink rabbit, wiggled an ear as he adjusted to his body. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d turned into a rabbit, it had been... a while.

Sometime before Dad had died.

Legend almost turned back, but then he remembered why he’d done it in the first place. Twilight liked animals. A lot. And since Legend couldn’t really do anything else for him at the moment... it had seemed like a good idea.

Legend swallowed, and placed a paw on his brother, feeling his heart beat steadily. Twilight shifted just a little in his sleep at the touch, and Legend sighed, wiping a paw across his nose. He carefully climbed up beside Twilight, curling himself into a ball, and nestled up to his side, frowning as he felt him.

Twilight was cold. Twilight was never cold.

Legend nuzzled closer, and made sure the blanket was tucked to Twilight’s chin, and let himself be comforted by the steady movement of his brother’s chest going up and down, focusing on the sound of both his breath and Hyrule’s nearby.

Twilight was okay. They were both okay.

Legend closed his eyes against all the other thoughts in his mind, focusing only on that one.

They’re okay.