#ww link being a cuddler is totally canon sorry

[skyward-floored]

“Hey Captain?”

Link flicks an ear in acknowledgment, but doesn’t turn to look at Tune as he walks over to his cot. The younger hero looks down at him, but Link still doesn’t look back at him.

“...are you okay?” he asks.

“Fine,” Link replies quietly.

“You haven’t really been fine since the whole Volga business started,” Tune huffs, and flops next to him on the cot where he’s curled up. He’s quiet for a second, then props himself up on an elbow, and looks at Link. “...Did you ask Impa about your mother?”

Link swallows, the lump he’d been trying to ignore coming back in full-force.

“Yes. She... told me some stuff.”

“Anything useful?” Tune asks, tilting his head. “Like who she is?”

“...Something like that.”

Tune waits, but when Link doesn’t continue, he raises an eyebrow, a flicker of worry in his gaze.

“Soooo..? You gonna tell me, or keep it to yourself and let it eat at you forever?” he asks, green eyes narrowed.

Link can’t help the slightly bitter laugh that escapes him. “It’s been like, an hour, Sailor. There hasn’t been enough time for it to eat at me.”

“Yet it obviously is since you’re avoiding my question,” Tune points out, and gives his arm a light poke. “Come on. Mask is hanging around with Zelda, so it’s just us. What did she say?”

Link stares up at the ceiling for a minute, wishing for a moment he was outside and could see the stars. It was too cold to sit out there tonight though, and Link sighs, closing his eyes.

“She said she’s my mother.”

Tune blinks.

“...Oh.”

“Yeah that was basically my reaction.”

Tune makes a small, incredulous noise, running a hand through his hair. “Impa. Impa? She’s really..? Wow. She doesn’t even look... Uh. I... don’t think I would’ve guessed that.”

“Me neither,” Link agrees quietly.

Tune goes quiet for a second, and Link opens an eye to see him looking at him in concern again.

“You okay?” Tune asks softly, and Link shrugs.

“I don’t know.”

Tune is silent for another few seconds.

“Well at least you’re honest,” Tune sighs, and slides closer to him. “No wonder it’s eating at you. I’m sorry Captain.”

Link scoffs. “Sorry for what? It’s not your fault.”

“No. But I’m sorry you found out your parents are a dragon who’s tried to kill you multiple times, and a Sheikah who never told you she was your mom until now. That’s sucky.”

Link lets out an somewhat thick laugh. “...It is sucky. I mean... Volga’s evil or whatever, he nearly killed me and the General that one time, and the General knew she was my mother but she said she couldn’t tell me, and she had to give me up for some reason and it turns out I’m not even Hylian. How do I even begin to deal with that?”

Something wet tries to escape from his eyes, but Link stubbornly blinks it back, that same cold pit opening up in his stomach that’s been plaguing him.

Tune doesn’t reply, but he does tug him into a hug, and Link breathes out, closing his eyes as Tune snuggles up to him.

The little sailor is a bundle of heat, and Link hadn’t realized until now that he was actually on the cold side of things. He lets Tune nestle up to him in silence, his arms warm where they’re around him, and Link tries to silence the thoughts still rattling around his head.

“As if this stupid war wasn’t confusing enough already,” Link murmurs after a minute, and Tune gives him a tight squeeze.