#shad/link

[linkies-lines]

Puppy love

[ordonianhero]

Shattered

TW/CW: alcohol abuse, eating disorder, suicidal thoughts

Rated: T (for now)

Genre: vent,hurt,comfort

Synopsis: Twilight is struggling with something, he never thought he had to worry about and Now things feel like things are crumbling around him. Putting his relationship to test. He now not even sure what is going on anymore. His emotions being all over the place. He doesn’t know what to do.

Authors notes: This a one shot. Sorry for spelling and grammar mistakes.

Shattered, verb. Upset someone greatly. Breaking violently into tiny pieces.

He was shattered. Hurt, confused and frustrated. Were they even reading his letters? Why had they not written to him. He stared at the lettered he had gotten from others he wrote to, but why wasn’t he? It had been months and watching as the others who have partners get loving letters filling them in on things in their life. The happy smiles and glow about them as they read them. All he got was another lousy sale at Malo mart. He crumpled it up and chucked it at the fire. Anger just running through his vains. His eyes stung as he caught off wanting to curl up and cry. He glared at the fire. His eyes start to water. He rested his head on his drawn up knees. Letting out an animalistic growl. Causing the rest of the chain to look up.

There he was hiding his face, finger clamping down in his hair. He let out a wet shudder, followed by another loud grunt. Fighting to stay in control. His mind begin to spiraling. Thinking to when they first got together. The fun adventures they had as they studied the old relics of Hyrule. The nights where they held each other, laughed, even cried. There was even a time where he was asked to be not a distraction as the scholar was attempting to get some major work finished. He felt he sacrificed a lot. He also remembers how much they had been there for him, when in need. He missed kissing them, miss being held by them. Oh how much he wanted this pain to stop. He wanted to be held and comforted. He let out another grunt as the tears fell from his face to the ground.

In one of the letters he got, Shad had mentioned going out with a fellow scholar friend from back in his earlier years. Twilight didn’t mind, it was great the two finally reconnected. Spending more time together discussing stuff that went well above his own knowing. Twilight wasn’t at all dumb or stupid, he is well educated. In due part of his own curiosity and working to be Ordon’s chief. However when shad would talk, it made Twilight feel rather small. Felt like how he did back in his school years where he would be teased for being Hylian in a human village. Plus the time shad had called him “simple minded country boy.” That was before they started dating. It was just at the beginning of his journey to save his Hyrule back then. He proved him wrong when Shad came to visit, he saw Twilight’s library of different subjects. Twilight loves to read on down time. Which was something shad and himself did on rainy days, lay snuggled together, reading. With a cup of Castle town finest teas.

His body was shaking from fighting himself, from loosing control. He wish he could disappear. Vanish. Not exist. He had not noticed that Some had laid a hand on his back. Rubbing it in a soothing way. It started to release the tension he had built up in his shoulders. He started to uncoil. He turned his head to see who it was. His eyes blurry from the tears still falling. He could make out the blue scarf the Captain wore. His face expressed worry. Twilight’s lip wobbled, as he fought to not let out the sob that caught in his throat. It was Time who was next beside him. Gathering him up in his arms. That’s what did it.

“Oh pup.” Was all the Older hero could say.

Holding him close, as the Captain continued to rub the Rancher’s back. Not a sound left his mouth, as he screamed without sound as he cried. He was absolutely shattered.

*

After what seemed like hours, the Rancher had full on passed out. Dungeon crawling and now this had left the young man utterly exhausted. His body manually shut down. As he was sleeping, the rest of the chain were confused on what had set this off. They all gotten letters from their loved ones. Was that the cause? Little did they know the next portal that opens was going to lead them straight to the problem and all the truth would be revealed.

“He has not been himself after the whole dark knuckle situation….” Sky spoke after there had been a moment is silence.

“I agree. He hardly been eating and don’t get me started on his sleep.” Warriors added. He carded his fingers through the Rancher’s hair.

Time sighed, rubbing his face. His pup is clearly hurting, why hadn’t he talked to anyone about it? Was he afraid what the other may think? What? Malon sure was going to have him sleeping in the barn when they return. He will mostly just write it in a letter to her. So she sort of aware of it. She was much better sometimes with sensing these stuff. Heck she had to deal with him in his crisis times. He knows how much he put her through before he finally just told her everything. Much to Talon’s relief. From then on the two promised to be open and honest. However hard it maybe to listen to or talk about.

“Maybe, when he wakes, I can whip up something simple that he can eat. Cause I doubt his own emotions are the rout of his not eating. Have you ever tried eating when you are billions of feelings and just the thought of food often makes one sick.” Wild responded, looking over at his sleeping brother.

“That sounds like a lovely eye cub.” Time said with a gently smile. Using Twilights endearing nickname for him.

*

He woke, just as the morning light started to light up the sky. He could see the clouds painted in hues of Pink and oranges. The local wild life also all stirring awake. He rubbed his sore puffy eyes. His body ached like he took on a lynel, and lost. He shifted, but felt the presence behind him. He turned his head and saw the Captain had sleeved beside him all night. Leaving his hand on rancher’s waist. It stirred the Captain awake. He blinked a bit before looking back at Twilight. Twilight sighed and laid on his back as the Captain removed his hand.

“How you feeling there bud?” He asked gently.

“Honestly, exhausted.” Responded the Rancher.

“plus you’re still healing. That’s a lot going on. You know. You dont have to be so closed off. You went through a major scare. No wonder you’re feeling how you feel. You can always come and talk to us. WE hold zero judgment. We have shown that with knowing your secrets, right?” He asked, his brow scrunching up.

“Y-yeah. It’s just right now I am just dealing with something where I dunno what to feel. So it’s like a ton.” Rancher said as his voice wobbled a bit.

“Well we are willing to try and help. In whatever way you need.” Warriors reassured, gently brushing his fingered through the Rancher’s hair. Which seemed to Relax the young man.

Relaxed enough the Rancher fell back to sleep, with the Captain gently running his fingers through his hair. Then stopped when he felt the young man was fully in a deep sleep again.

*

(Part Two to come)

[ovegakart]

I loved that the manga had Shad come with Link to the city in the sky and i also love that the result of these two hanging out is they lose braincells. theyre so DUMB together truely boys will be boying

[amoebeau]

doodle dump of unrelated things. rotating stupid animals in my mind

[derpycatsu]

some twilight princess doodles i did that i thought i posted but apparently didnt…. i like shad

[razables]

i was struck with a vision

[smilesrobotlover]

I wanted to design the resistance for my au Love at Twilight so here they are! It was challenging to make characters 10 years after everything without changing their design too much 😅 idk it’s hard, I used the concept art for help.

There’s some Ashei concept art where she has full chest armor and I think it looks soooo cool. It also had some fur which also looked cool, so I like how she turned out! Shad didn’t change too much, just removed his silly socks and tennis shoes lol. Auru was difficult cuz he’s a much older man so he’s probably wearing more comfy clothes. There is concept art of a big baggy shirt so I tried to put that in this design. And I struggle with colors but I kinda like how he turned out! I already discussed Rusl’s changes, he just doesn’t have any ordon clothes. Link meanwhile doesn’t care and has his heroe’s outfit with his ordon clothes lol. He doesn’t care about his hair it’s just always doing it’s own thing. Sheik is just sheik from concept art with brown hair, Telma was hard but I added a circle apron and changed her colors. Idk how I feel about her design. I added some Gerudo influence tho cuz I like the idea of her being somewhat related to the Gerudo. And since I’m kinda wanting the resistance to be a group of outsiders it kinda fits. And then Renado, he’s a new addition to the team, and he gave me struggle but I like how he turned out. He looks fancy which fits the mayor vibe!

Overall I like these guys

[taddy-cat]

Twilight and Shad are on a date! Twilight is dragging Shad around like an excited puppy, and Shad is happy to be dragged along

(special thanks to @marcusdoodlesalot for the suggestion)

[shady-scripter]

Great-x Grandparents

SHANK SHANK SHANK SHANK SHANK-

@syntheticspades @vio-starzz

He had married Link two days ago. Banners and streams were still all around Ordon, green and red. He asked what the green was for, Link shook his shoulders so much he thought his head would pop off.

The smile on Link’s was like a miasma. He didn’t hear the words spewing from his lips. The only thing he took away was, “green good” and he couldn’t agree more.

Then there was the actual wedding. Even if Shad had one hundred hands, he still wouldn’t be able to count how many kisses he received from Link and Uli alone. It seemed that kisses were regular in Ordon. Forehead, nose, the back of the hand, cheek.

It was a beautiful scene, especially with Colin’s master flower throwing. He remembered when Link said that the boy should be their flower girl. Shad laughed and asked if Colin would like that. They wrote a letter and sent it off. A letter came back a week later. No name, just an address.

YES

The two didn’t expect to see the boy in a dress at the reception. It made Shad have to cover his face because of how red it got.

The only thing better than being told “you may kiss the groom” was the dance. Link had forgotten all about the dance. Shad hadn’t, though he knew Link had two left feet.

Their dance was sloppy, noticeably unpracticed, but it was perfect. Link laid his head on Shad’s shoulder, his cheeks an obvious rose red. Shad laughed with every misstep.

“When’ll this be over?” Link whined, picking his head up to give Shad his puppy eyes. He yelped as Shad dipped him.

Shad picked him back up and everyone cheered with a smile. “It’s over now,” Shad said, picking Link’s hand up to his lips.

“I’m gonna bite you,” Link laughed. Shad saw someone waving him over.

“Love, that’s what tonight is for.” Shad let go of Link’s hand and left him speechless.

That night…he felt as if he shouldn’t think about it this late at night. But then again, we were walking in a dark forest. But then again, he was walking in a dark forest because of…memories like that. One thing that he knew, Link sure did bite.

Shad took a deep breath, taking in the air of Faron woods. They had decided to stay in Ordon for a few days before they waddled back into Castle Town.

Shad swayed to the imaginary song that played in his head. Definitely the one Link played the second Shad gave him his wedding gift, a guitar. Then something caught his eye. Something bright. He turned his head and was met with a spectacle like nothing he’d seen before.

A wolf. A golden wolf. A golden wolf with a single red eye. Shad tensed. He never thought this day would come.

Asking for Rusl and Uli’s blessing was hard enough. Now, imagine getting judged by your fian-…husband’s great-x grandfather in the form of a wolf. Who, by the way, could tear you to shreds with how big he was.

Yes, Shad knew. Link had told him practically everything about his adventure. Then, of course, there were the parts that he’d seen with his own eyes.

Link had told him about this wolf. This wolf that turned into something akin to a stalfos. This wolf that taught like so much of what he knows now. This wolf, the Hero of Time.

So, that’s another thing. Imagine getting judged by your husband’s great-x grandfather in the form of a wolf who used to be a well known general in the Hyrulian army. If he didn’t approve, he couldn’t tell Shad, but he could kill him pretty easily.

“A pleasure to meet you, great-“ Shad had already forgotten how many greats there were, “-grandfather-in-law.” Shad waved slightly.

The wolf stalked forward and Shad gulped. The wolf circled Shad, sniffing at him, clawing at his pants on occasion.

The wolf stopped somewhere on his leg. Shad looked down to see what the beast had found and he felt his body go rigid. It was the only bite mark from their wedding night where Link had bit down too hard, causing blood.

The wolf’s head picked up, its one eye looking Shad dead on. Shad held his breath, praying for this spirit to be merciful. Then the wolf’s ears perked up, its head snapping in the opposite direction of Shad.

There, running toward them was a small red ferret. It made squeaky noises as it ran at them. The wolf stepped back, making a path for the ferret.

Shad, excepting his fate, knelt down and feld his hands out. The ruby ferret crashed into his arms.

Shad lifted the ferret, but kept it arms length. “Hi little guy!”

The wolf let out a low rumble.

Shad nodded. “Girl, noted.” The ferret’s head turned and squeaked at the wolf. The wolf’s head fell.

Shad laughed. “Link hasn’t told me about you Miss. Who may you be?” Both animals looked at him, the silence carrying for a few seconds. Every second, Shad felt dumber and dumber. “Right, animal spirits.”

The ruby ferret escaped from his hands and ran into his hair. The ferret made another sound, this definitely not squeaking. It was almost like it was trying to scream but stopped every half second.

The wolf huffed and shook its head. Then its ears went up again. The ferret stopped playing in Shad’s hair.

“Shad!”

Shad’s breath caught in his throat. I mean, of course he wasn’t scared of Link. No matter how good he was with a sword, he was his husband.

“Link?” He called back, picking the ferret off of his head. She wriggled in his hands. Shad soon put her down.

“You coo coo son of a bitch, why are you out, at night, in the woods?!” He breached the trees into Shad’s sight. He engulfed Shad into his arms, and without a second of hesitation, Shad hugged him back.

“Something just told me to come out here. Seems there’s a name to that something…?” Link let Shad go and looked at him with an obvious question on his mind, what the hell are you talking about?

Link turned around after feeling a nudge at his heel. He dropped to his knees almost immediately, hugging the wolf and, by the looks of the wolf’s posture, strangling it.

The ferret hopped around, definitely excited, and Shad really started to wonder who this ferret was.

What tie did she have to the wolf? Then Shad saw it, something so glaringly obvious that he should've seen before.

Around the ferret's arm was a ring. The moonlight gave it a beautiful shine. While examining the wolf that Link had finally let go of, it was like an earring, but far shinier than he had ever seen.

“You’re…married?” Shad whispered.

Link’s ears twitched and he stood. “Yep! Shad,” Link motioned to the animal spirits, “great great great great great…great grandparents. Great great great great great grandparents, Shad.” He motioned to Shad.

“Five greats, I thought it was seven…?”

“It probably is.”

“Hello great great great great great grandparents-in-law.” Shad waved.

[hugsandchaos]

Shad: Sometimes I wonder what stars are made of.

Twilight: Wait right here.

[Two minutes later]

Twilight: Alright. *puts Danny down on a chair* Here’s all the information we have.

Shad: Uh, pardon? This child knows what stars are made of?

Danny: More or less. I’m no expert, but I love outer space. Now, *pulls out like three books and a notebook* What do you want to know?

Twilight: I thought you only had one book. Geez, Hylia really took one look at you and said “Yeah, that boy can fit so much cosmic knowledge”.

[sleepy-the-loz-enthusiast]

Blast him with the Transinator

He has been trans'd !!!!

[thenmichael]

Happy Pride Month, guys !!

[luwyv]

shadlink yes or no

Yeah!

[bokettochild]

if i may ask, for febuwump if u don’t mind, day 15 twilight asking “who did this to you” to a whumped legend? and then protective big brother mode activate

Oh boy, I had SO many ideas for this one! Apologies for it being (checks wrist only to realize I'm not wearing a watch) late? By....time? Anyways, here's some brotherly bonding! (And copious amounts of Twilight having friends because I can!)

Rating: Teen

Wordcount: 5,792

Summary: Being a big brotehr is stressful, and sometimes, Twilight just needs a break to go and be a person. When one of his brothers needs him most though, he's willing to drop everything. Although, in the end, it's not all bad.

(Warnings: References to alcohol and social drinking)

-

As a rule, Twilight loves his little brothers. 

No matter who it is or what they’ve done, or even how much they might drive him up the wall on any given day, he loves them all the same and will always be there for them. Still, he’s only a man. Sometimes, as much as he loves those who he’s found as family, he also wants to get away for a bit and be not just a big brother, but more. 

At Telma’s, he’s the hero, but he’s also the country boy who doesn’t know the city well yet. He’s the daredevil, because they've never met Wild or Warriors and they don’t know how much worse it really could be. To his friends, he’s the wild one, and for once, he’s not responsible for watching out for any of them. In fact, if he didn’t know any better, he’d guess they all feel the need to keep an eye on him. Ashei definitely does, all things considered, and Auru likely does as well. Considering he’s the youngest of the group though, son to one and young enough to be the child or grandchild of two others, it makes sense. 

So, naturally, after a long day on the road with the other heroes, one where Wild has been not quite a pain in his ass but definitely a challenge, no one can blame him from wanting to get away from the champion a bit. 

“It’s not that I don’t love the kid,” he tells the others, “But Ordonia’s Horns, does he try my patience some days.” 

“What did he do?” Ashei’s dark stare flicks over him, lips twitching in what, for her, is a greatly amused smile. “Climb up a freezing mountain without proper gear and nearly get killed?” 

His tankard hits the table harder than is really necessary, and he’s definitely not pouting as he stares back at her. “You’re never gonna let that go, are you?” 

She just blinks at him, face unchanging. 

Twilight sighs, running his free hand over his face and shaking his head at the same time. “No. He’s a smart kid, amazing at survival an’ he’d never make that kind of mistake. Well, not now.” Brows raise, but he quickly explains. “I’m sure near the start of his adventure he had to learn somehow, but as young as he is, he’s pretty exceptional in all things survival.” 

The familiar clucking of Shad’s tongue announces the arrival of the scholar, who drops without a care into the free seat beside him, smile loose and, to anyone else, haughty. Twilight knows that smile though, knows it means mischief, and he’s not wrong. “And yet we got stuck with you, when we could have had someone so capable!” 

Maybe, in the earlier days, he would have smacked the other for those words. In the early days he certainly would have wanted to, and he would have meant it too. Now, the urge to jostle him like he does with Warriors when the other teases him is still very much there, but he resists it. Shad may be close in height to the captain, but he’s not accustomed to taking blows, and a smack from the ranch hand may or may not actually leave him still sitting in his chair.  

Instead, he settles for knocking his boot against the man’s ankles, staring at him pointedly. “Yeah, I’d love to see him launch yer skinny ass up to the sky islands. Don’t know if you’d survive the trip though.” 

“But he’s a hero, saved a princess didn’t he? You expect me to believe he doesn’t know how to handle other living people?” 

He snorts. His understanding of the younger hero is filtered through uncanny dreams that, apparently, show him things that actually happen between them in the future, in the cub’s era, but even if he doesn’t hold them as memories of his own (not quite yet) he does know how Wild treats his princess. “I once saw him push his princess down a mountain, so...” 

“What?” Auru stares at him, and Twilight is abruptly reminded that their present company is not just people his own age who the shock factor works on, but also elders who might actually experience heart failure at some of the stories he could tell about his cub. “She was standin’ on a shield an’ they were doin’ this thing called shield surfin’. Worst she got was a face fulla snow when she skidded into a bank.” Somehow that doesn’t assure the elder very much. “She was laughin’ when we got her out, and she pushed herself down the next time.” He adds, watching Auru relax at least slightly at the words. 

“Well then, it’s clear they were doing it in good fun,” Shad answers. “He doesn’t sound so bad.” 

“Are you a princess?” He teases back. “Gee, Shad, I must have missed the tiara! Where you been keepin’ it?” 

Unlike himself, Shad takes no issue with smacking him for his jesting. Unfortunately for the scholar though, he can take a hit, and at worst it just feels like a slight stinging from the impact. Shad, on the other hand, cradles his hand like it’s been broken. 

Ashei shakes her head at the man, sipping from her tankard with a sigh. “You really should know better by now.” 

“I forget!” 

“You forget he’s a wall of muscle when you’re looking right at him?” Telma teases, waltzing over with a drink for Shad and offering a warm smile to all of them. 

Twilight takes the opportunity to flip the glasses of his friend’s nose. “You need a better pair of these if you’re that blind.” 

Shad squawks, fumbling for the fallen spectacles. It takes a moment, and his flailing almost ends up with them falling in his drink, but Ashei catches them neatly and offers them back. It's only when they're on the scholar’s face again that he turns to Twilight, huffing. “Why must you do that?” 

“Because I can.” 

And this is just what he means. He’s not the elder sibling here, he’s not in charge, he’s not the reliable one. To these people, he’s the young pup who beat Ganon, the country bumpkin up from Ordon who sees the city as a wonder and a giant. He’s just Link. 

Not that he resents his brothers for needing him. No, he’s glad to have a place and to know what’s expected of him, to be able to do something for them. Still, sometimes he doesn’t want to be the level-headed, well-behaved example for the younger ones to emulate. Sometimes, he wants to be as crazy as his protege. The problem is, he can’t do that with them watching, he can’t when doing so jeopardizes the trust Time has in him to help keep the younger ones in line and out of danger from their own crazy exploits. 

Here, he can be a bit crazy. Here, he can let loose. Here, no one can see him being a wild young man in his twenties. So, he enjoys it. He laughs and he teases and he and Shad go back and forth for the next hour or so with jabs and jests that have the others all rolling their eyes or sighing at them, stares heavy but not nearly as cold as they might appear to a onlooker. 

It’s a good night all told. By the time they’re all getting up to leave, Auru’s already gone home, and Telma’s getting a start on cleaning up the bar for closing. Shad’s had a bit too much, although not enough to leave him a babbling mess, just a tired one, and Twilight and Ashei are left to shoulder the scholar and haul him back to his own home. 

“I could haul him myself.”  

“I don’t doubt it,” Ashei hums from where she has Shad’s other arm around her shoulders, “but we’d never hear the end of it if he found out you princess carried him down the street like a maiden.” 

He sniffs. “If his pride’s that sens’tive, that’s his fault.” 

Her lips twitch into a little half smile. For Ashei, that’s the equivalent of a cackle. “It’s bad enough being seen with a country boy who could crush him, being treated like a woman as well hardly helps his masculinity.” 

“Again,” he chuckles, maybe slightly tipsy himself, “ain’t my fault he’s fragile.” 

Dark eyes slide to stare at him, but his friend says nothing ore on the matter. There's not much more time to say anything either, since Shad lives relatively close to the bar anyways, so getting him home is hardly a lengthily journey. Getting into his place to drop him off is a bit of a mess, as Twilight does have to support the scholar long enough for Ashei to pat him down for his keys, but once she’s got them and unlocked the door, he does take the chance to sweep the smaller man up in his rms and carry him through the door, even as the swordswoman watches while shaking her head.  

Once Shad’s laid in his bed, shoes off and tie loosened only because Ashei is a dear and not because of any kindness on Twilight’s part, they step back out into teh street together, pulling the once more locked door closed after them. 

“He’s going to be pissed.” 

He chuckles. “He can live with it.” 

A gauntleted arm nudges against his, protected against impact unlike the scholar’s hand, and much stronger too. “You say that because you’ll be gone by morning and don’t have to deal with it.” 

“You could be too,” he reminds her, “he’d never dare follow you up into the mountains.” 

This time, the rough nudge actually makes him stumble. Maybe he is tipsy. He’s about to protest at teh rough treatment, or tease, he’s not sure exactly what it is that’s on his lips because it slips away in an instant when a soft noise, a familiar sound that is his utter weakness, sounds on the flagstones of the alley not far from him.  

Ashei must see his ears prick up, face turning towards the sound, and she already knows, because one perfect brow raises with all the grace and authority of the captain. “Cat?” 

His moving feet are his only answer. 

She sighs. “Do you have to pet every one of those things that you see?” 

“Yes.” 

Despite her protests, she trails after him, watching as he peers around the alley, crouching low to find the fluffy creature. “I don’t understand why you like them so much. Aren’t you a wolf? Shouldn’t you prefer a dog’s company?” 

“I can enjoy both!” 

Ashei sniffs. “Dogs are better.”  

He turns to her, affronted and maybe, slightly offended. “They are not!” 

“You turn into a dog,” the words are flat, “shouldn’t you take that as a compliment?” 

“I’m not a dog,” he sniffs, “I turn into a wolf, and I’m still me under the fur, so it’s different anyways. Most dogs don’t act like that.” 

“You chase your tail.” 

“I had to learn to blend in so people wouldn’t suspect anything!” 

He doesn’t deign to meet the look that’s fixed on him, but he knows precisely what it is: brows raised, chin lowered, eyes flat and simply waiting for him to cave and admit she’s right. Uli pulls the same face on Rusl when he says something dumb, and he’s seen Telma do it too. He’d say it’s a woman thing, but he’s pretty sure he’s seen Warriors do it too, and Four as well, so saying that would be a very good way to get his ass kicked. Shad might be unable to do much damage, but Warriors can and has thrown his ass across the camp, and could probably do it again. 

Instead of saying anything, he keeps his eyes open, ears flickering about to catch any further hint of where the critter in the alley is hiding he thinks it’s a cat, but it was a muffled and very brief sound to begin with, so all he knows for sure is that it’s something small with paws. Crouching low and clucking his tongue softly usually draws them out, but this time there are no such results. He’s almost about to give up and accept that the sweet little thing had maybe slipped away already when Ashei’s hand catches his shoulder suddenly, grip firm. 

“What-” 

“Look,” her other hand points down at the flagstones underfoot, “blood.” 

Playfulness and excitement bleed away to a firmness he usually only takes on in battle, and he turns his attention to the spattering on the stone rather than the slight shuffling he’d thought before, although he doesn’t dismiss the noise either. “Fresh too.” 

Dark eyes meet his own, a silent question. 

Usually, he’s against using his crystal in public spaces, but it’s late eough at night, and in a seedy enough part of town that he doubts anyone’s lingering around the area to see, and if they are, they’re no good anyways. He shifts, fur and claws taking over in a now familiar twisting and aching. It doesn;t hurt anymore, no more than like stretching an unused muscle, and it only takes a moment to settle into the wolf’s body that’s as much his by this point as the hylian one he prefers. 

“I’ll follow you.” Ashei tells him, hand drifting to her hip and the sword hanging there.  

She’s ready for trouble, and he is too as he sets his nose to the ground and tries to follow the trail that is invisible to human eyes, but clear as day to him as it winds and twists around the small space they linger in. Whatever left the trail isn’t human, he knows that quickly. The scent trail springs off of walls and rubble in the streets in ways only the most skilled of fighters could achieve, and even then, likely not when injured. It’s fresh still though, like he said, so it’s not as though it fades out quickly, and it’s only a few minutes before he finds it’s end amidst some fallen crates around the corner. 

Something from within the pile of discarded containers shuffles, the same slipping of paws against stone, and rapid little breathes that sound in time with a pitter pattering heart. 

He shifts back. Wolf form is easier to use to track things, especially when his head is slightly fuzzy from alcohol, but for small animals, it’s not always the most welcome sight. A hylian with kind hands and gentle eyes is easier to accept in his experience. 

“Here?” Ashei asks, brows raised. 

He nods. “Not human.” 

She relaxes. He doesn’t. Animal death isn’t anything she worries about; she’s a warrior, a fighter, if the animals die, then they do. People are her priority. He, on the other hand, would prefer to avoid any unnecessary death if he can help it. Maybe it’s because he knows what it’s like to be on both sides of the matter, but unless strictly necessary, he doesn’t care to be a witness to or cause of death.  

Her hand slips from her sword and she stays back as he crouches low again, carefully shifting the crates and clucking softy. “Hey there, little ‘un. You okay?” 

The air seems to go still for a moment, and somehow, he knows his voice has made the creature freeze, but a moment later, as he shifts the boxes, wary lest they suddenly shift and crush the little injured thing, it seems to settle again, and the softest little questioning ‘mrrrp?’ sounds from within. 

“It’s okay,” he soothes, voice lowering, a soft rumble that rolls gently off his tongue and through his throat. Usually, it works on most animals, unless they have bad experiences with men specifically. Here, it seems to have the preferred result, and the softest brush of paws on stone touches his ears as he moves another crate. 

As the wood lifts away, he nearly drops it again at the sight that lies before him. 

“What’s wrong?” Ashei’s hand is moving to her sword again, likely as a result of the tension that’s jumped back into his shoulders, the way his ears have flicked back to press against his skull in horror. 

He doesn't answer her. Instead he’s all but throwing the crate away and reaching into the space between splintered wood. The motions are maybe too sudden, he reminds himself belatedly, for handling an injured creature, and the flinch away from his touch drives the point home. His heart wrenches somewhat at the way long ears press back and little paws stutter against stone, violet eyes squeezing shut in a wince. 

Two thoughts flicker in his head. How is Legend a rabbit, and what is he doing looking bleeding out in an alleyway as a rabbit? 

“Shhhh,” he tries to soothe, “it’s jist me, jist me, okay?” His eyes flicker over bloody pink fur to dark eyes that stare up at him, shining with a fear he’s never seen from the other before as a fluffy little chest rises and falls with breathes that would be dangerously fast for a hylian, but even for a small rodent are concerning. 

There’s a lot of blood, and he means a lot. 

“Who did this to you?” He can’t help the soft sigh in teh words, the almost coo. Small animals are most definitely his weakness, and small injured animals, even if they’re actually grouchy teenage boys, are definitely worse. His brother just looks so breakable and delicate, and the crimson matting fur together and staining the stone is just making his heart clench up even more as he reaches out. 

From behind, Ashei’s feet pad softly over, wary, but knowing her, she’d know he wouldn’t address anything threatening in that sort of voice. Still, she does recoil slightly, shock briefly flashing across her face as he manages to get a hold on his brother’s changed form, carefully lifting Legend up into his arms. “Is that a pink rabbit?” Her voice catches slightly, which is frankly impressive; she’s usually never so expressive. 

He nods, and while last time Legend had protested loudly at being picked up and handled like an actual rabbit, this time the animal form of his brotehr nestles down into his arms with a soft shudder, head resting on the crook of his arm even as wary eyes lift to stare at the swordswoman who’s likewise fixed on him.  

“What in Hylia’s-” 

“He’s hurt bad.” 

“It’s a rabbit in Castletown, are you shocked?” Reason seems to be slipping over to cover shock as she turns her eyes, flat once more, up to stare at him instead of the critter in his arms. “There’s dozens of dogs in this neighborhood, and while most have probably ever seen a rabbit before, they’re still hunters by nature.” 

The words twist in his gut. Not because he hadn’t realized; he’s changes into a wolf, he knows what sorts of urges come with the canine form, and while he might laugh it off, there’s still a part of him that, when in that form, lunges at the chance to chase small things, to get his teeth into them and shake them. He’s more man than beast of course, so he doesn’t really give into it unless he’s starving for food and a hunt is truly needed, but even then, there’s still part of him that recoils at his own actions. He’s been the one hunted before though, chased and tracked and lunged for by those who’d rather use his pelt to warm their families then let him so much as walk past them in the street. 

Still, as a wolf, he’s got teeth and claws to fight back, if he wanted to. The creature in his arms, his brother, doesn’t have that option. Legend's teeth and claws can barely draw blood, and by the time he’d gotten close enough to even try, a dog’s teeth would already be snapping around him before he could do anything. 

His arms tighten around the shivering form in his arms. In the back of his head, he can almost hear Uli, back when he was a kid still new to Ordon, still new to trees and animals and anything that wasn’t sand and swords. He shouldn't scare little things, ever, she’d told him. She’d been holding a rabbit in her arms, one she’d somehow managed to catch while they were out having a picnic in the fields with him. He’d been in wonder of the glossy fur and tiny paws, but moving too fast, too harsh, and it was hiding it’s head in her arms to avoid him. ‘They’re not made to handle scary things,” she’d murmured to himself and an equally awed Colin, who was only three at the time. ‘their little hearts might explode if you scare them too much.’ 

It’s slightly an irrational fear, considering Legend isn’t actually a rabbit, just transformed into one, but the words still ring in his head as he cradles the broken little body in his hold. 

Ashei’s stare is blank as it turns back to his little charge, lips twitching downwards briefly. “You’d be better off putting it out of its misery, Link. It can’t survive here, and you can’t take it with you.” 

The very idea makes his stomach, heart skipping up into his throat as he recoils from his friend, body shifting by instinct alone to shield his little brother from her cold stare and colder words. “No!” 

“Link...” 

“He’s not just a rabbit!” 

“How much were you drinking?” 

The implication hurts a bit. He can hold his alcohol better than that, and he hadn’t had very much at all. He knows better! He knows Sky would have words for him if he came back drunk, especially after the trouble they’ve been having with keeping certain heroes sober. “No, I’m serious! He's....” the words slip outr of his head for a moment as he turns his gaze down to dark eyes that are squeezed closed in pain. “He’s...” 

“I’m not a rabbit.” 

He’s never seen Ashei’s eyes widen that much in his life, nor her move so quickly, sword half drawn and feet scrabbling back in shock at the fact that rabbit in his arms just spoke. 

“He’s like me,” he tries, soothing one hand down blood matted fur, and realizing at the same time that he should probably do something about the damage done to the vet.  

“A shifter?” 

“A hero,” he corrects, attention now on finding the source of the blood. “And yes, he transforms when exposed to dark magic.” 

“Can he turn back on his own?” She moves closer, apparently assured by his words, even though her eyes are still fixed on the pink rabbit that can talk, likely wondering how much more insane her night is going to get. 

Twilight shakes his head. “Not without a source of light magic.” 

“But you-” 

“I have control over the crystal, and practice. He’s...different.” 

There, he’s found it, the source of the blood. His heart twists up more, somehow, when he identifies the familiar marks left by sharp teeth. It could be his own work if it was a size or two bigger, and that particular thought has his stomach lurching yet again. There’s more bites than one too, and one paw seems to have been crushed, hanging oddly and when he jostles it there’s a bitten off cry of pain from his brother’s altered form. 

“He doesn’t look good.” Ashei states grimly, ow crouched at his side and staring intently at the injuries and violet eyes that squeeze closed as rapid little breathes shake the tiny body in his hold. 

She’s right. “Is there some sorta animal doc ‘round here?” 

Raised brows. “We aren’t a country town, Link.” 

“But even city folk have horses and shit, right?” 

Ashei frowns, gaze slipping free of his own. “Horses, yes, but smaller creatures-” 

“What about Agitha?” 

A flat look. “She’s a child, and her interest is insects.” 

“Small beings that she believes are magic,” he corrects, already shifting to his feet, cradling the fluffy form in his arms with all the care he’d use with Uli’s littlest. Legend doesn’t protest the movements either, although that might just be because he’s in too much pain to do so. “A talking pink rabbit is going to make her night.” 

Following his lead, the swordswoman stands, dusting herself off with a little sigh. “It’s worth a shot, I suppose.” 

The path to the self-proclaimed princess’s house is a short one, which is the main cause of his choice to see her, that and, like he said, her love of small magical beings. A rabbit and a butterfly are very, very different, but he’s counting on the quirky nature of the girl to overrule that logic like it does with most things. Sure, putting his hopes on a twelve-year-old with questionable logic isn’t maybe the best choice he’s made in his life, but considering he took the advice of a warrior killed in battle on how to beat Gannon, no one can exactly argue that his logic is sound either. 

If anything, Agitha is awake, and when Ashei knocks at the door, it swings open quickly, revealing swinging pigtails and a bright smile that’s just slightly off-putting. “Ah, brave knight! You’ve returned!” 

The look Ashei levels him with could probably kill a lesser man. 

The bug princess swings the door open wide, smile even wider as she cocks her head on one side. “Welcome! The Princess of Bigs is happy to let you enter her kingdom!” 

“Thank you,” he bows his head slightly. The best course of action here is to play along. He’s not sure why Agitha is like this, but going along with her game doesn't hurt anyone, even if it used to drive Midna crazy. Still, she’s a kid, and he’s used to kids, good with them too. “I come seeking the princess’s help.” 

“A knight needing help from a princess? How queer!” She giggles into her hand, but then stops. It’s like her whole person stalls for a moment, eyes falling on the bundle of pink in his arms. “Oh my, what’s this you’ve brought here?” 

He exchanges a look with Ashei, and in return, she just stares. 

“This is an enchanted warrior,” he tells the girl, “he’s been cursed into this form, and injured badly. We thought, since you are princess of the creatures of the small kingdoms, that maybe you might be able to aid him, even if he isn’t one of your subjects.” 

He can feel the groan building up from his companion, but she doesn’t release it, thankfully. Agitha probably wouldn’t notice if she had though, gliding forwards slowly with features pinched up into an honestly adorable pout. “Oh, the poor, poor little warrior!” She coos. “Yes, I am not princess of the mammal world, but I do not have a heart of stone. Here,” her arms are thrust out, open and waiting, “allow the Princess to help him!” 

He’s more hesitant than he’d like when handing over the vet’s beaten form, but Agitha handles him with surprising care, shushing and cooing as she strokes back long ears, whisking around to head off deeper into the room. Twilight trails after, leaving Ashei at the door, as the woman does not appear to be at all interested in plunging further into the insect castle. He’s cautious with where he puts his feet and keeps his distance, also wary of his surroundings. Meanwhile, Agitha lays the vet’s rabbit form on a tabletop and, with quick kiss to the brow that would be very ill advised considering the blood there, she darts off to grab something from one of the many nooks and crannies about the room. 

It’s honestly impressive, considering her age and the general doubts he has for her sanity, how efficient the insect princess handles the injuries presented to her. She shows little worry for the blood that gets on her dress and many accessories, humming softly to herself as she set bones with ease that’s almost scary and binds up wounds with care that he’d almost mistake for the skill of an actual healer. Once she’s done though, she’s scooping up Legend’s little body and settling him back in Twilight’s arms, a smile on her face as she winks up at him, one finger pressed to her cheek with a coy little smile 

 “Lucky for you, Mister Captain Hero taught me a thing or two on treating wounds! He’s all fixed now! Make sure to let him rest and give him lots too eat, okay? And lots of pets!” She claps her now blood stained hands, smile still shining. “He’s such a darling thing! He deserves all the pets in the world! Oh, I wish you could pet bugs, but there’s so little of them to pet, and butterflies die if you pet them...” 

His smile is stilted, but he manages to bob his head in thanks all the same. “Thank you, princess.” 

“Of course, brave knight,” he’s answered with a charming smile and a little curtsy, one that leaves bloody fingerprints on pink skirts. “If ever you find another such wounded warrior of the magical world, do bring them here. Princess Agitha will take care of them!” 

Ashei hurries them out the door before ‘Princess Agitha’ can say much more than that. Honestly, he’s thankful. She’s not a bd kid, but she’s kind of off-putting if he’s being honest. Legend’s face buried in his arms indicates that he too finds the girl somewhat off-putting, even if he hadn’t spoken at all since they alley. 

“That child is insane.” Ashei pronounces once they’re safely away again. 

It’s strained, but he finds himself laughing slightly, hand dragging over long ears as he walks and resisting, strongly, the urge to rub his face into long fur. “Yeah, prob’bly.” 

A side glance is fixed on him, feet not stopping on the well known path back past the bar. “Will you be going back to your inn now?” 

He nods, glancing down to find Legend is staring up at him as well, gaze hazy from either pain or exhaustion, he’s not sure. “Yeah. It’s pretty late, an’ i still need to get him changed back before the others realize he’s missin’.” And then, as an after thought, he adds, “I know the way back.” 

“You had a bit to drink.” 

“Ashei,” he laughs, strained, “no one’s gonna try anything on swordsman wearing wolf’s pelt, not if they have an ounce of sense! ‘Sides, it’s not far off.” 

Her stare is heavy. 

“I’m fine. If anythin’ as the man here, I ought to be offerin’ to walk you home!” 

Weight is nothing in comparison to the sharpness in those eyes. “Watch it, Ordon.” 

“Yes, miss.” 

She shakes her head, dark hair somehow not so much as swishing with the motion. “Have a good night.” And then she’s heading off, not even bothering to wait around for his echo of her farewell and instead disappearing around a corner up ahead, pace faster than his own as he tries to keep steady and not jostle the brother in his hold. With her gone though, it’s just Legend and himself, violet eyes truned up to stare blearily up at him. 

“We are gonn talk about this later,” he warns, even as he sets off towards the inn again. 

Legend shifts, ears flicking slightly in answer, but he doesn’t talk. If anything, the rabbit in his arms curls in tighter, defensive.  

“I’m not mad,” he’s quick to assure, foddling long ears gently, “but you scared me there, vet.” 

Still no answer. He resigns himself to silence as his feet carry the two of them down the mostly quiet streets of Castletown and back to the inn, one hand still running through silky fur, careful not to catch on where it’s still matted with blood.  

“Here’s hoping Sky doesn’t have our heads for wakin’ him.” He sighs as they come to the door, and he has to stop his petting of pink fur to push it open. “Hopefully the rest are also asleep, cuz I ain’t got an answer for any of this.” 

The rabbit in his arms snorts, but th head that’s been lolling into the crook of his arm raises to butt against him gently. It startles him. 

So many years ago, Uli said that was how rabbits indicate affection, or ask for more pets. Good grief, how out of it is Legend: Mister-Don't-Touch-Me-I-Will-Bite-You? There’s no way to know though, but he doesn't look a gift bunny in the mouth, and he’s only too happy to continue his petting as he takes the stairs up to their room, nodding briefly to the wide eyed inn-keeper as he goes. 

Tomorrow, he will have to ask Legend what happened. Tomorrow, he will have to adopt being a good, responsile big brotehr who gets to the bottom of things, but for tonight, he’s simply content to try and turn his brother back to a hylian, get a potion down his throat, and head to bed, leaving the adult stuff to future Twilight. That’s easy enough too. Sky has questions, but is too tired to slur through them, and while feeding the vet a potion is hard with the other slumping against him so heavily, but they manage. They manage and then he’s slumping himself back into the bed left open for him. He sort of expects Legend to slip away after, but belatedly, he realizes that’s just impossible. Maybe it was the petting, since he’s been there and he gets how much it turns his muscles into jelly, but pink hair hits his chest the moment his back has settled into the mattress, and the hand that catches in the front of his tunic further cements that Legend isn’t going anywhere. 

Ah well, if Legend’s going to take up space in his bed, he reserves the right to keep running his hands through fluffy pink. If Legend doesn’t tell him to stop, he won’t. The vet doesn’t eitehr, just hums softly, curling in on himself and nestling into his side with a soft sigh that would almost, almost fool him into thinking his brother was still in his beast form. 

Tomorrow will be interesting. Explaining the blood on their clothes, where they’d been, and all else won’t be fun. But for tonight they can have a little more peace. The scare is over, and Twilight’s free for just a little bit more. And hey, the brief panic was worth it, especially considering he’s getting cuddles out of the deal! 

[screaming-but-also-no]

VERY LATE BUT HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!

[syntheticspades]

been listening to will wood lately