Chapter Text
Warriors wasn’t sure if he had ever actually seen the Vet sleep. Not for real. Not after seeing him passed out on the couch. He had observed Legend ‘sleeping’ many times out on the road. The Vet would lay on his back, his fingers intertwined on his chest. His breathing was slow, but he never looked like this. He was probably never actually asleep. Warriors recalled how he’d looked more at peace while leaning up against Hyrule or Wild in the morning light by the cookpot. Concern shot through him.
It had been a whole day and the hero hadn’t stirred. He was draped across the couch, face smushed against the cushion and turned to the rest of the house. Ravio had extracted himself after Legend had fallen asleep for a while. The Vet hadn’t stirred, to everyone’s surprise. Warriors walked up to the merchant while in the kitchen.
Ravio had been a surprise; he wasn’t expecting to see anyone he knew from the war that wasn’t a hero. Here he was a little older, still the same greedy bastard. The shock at learning that his hero had been Legend was even funnier.
He asked the purple-clad man. “Does Legend not sleep at night?” He had started to piece some things together and this was the conclusion he came to. Ravio stiffened before turning towards him.
“Mister Captain hero sir!” His voice was slightly shrill; he had been taken off guard. He wrung his hands, eyes darting around. Somehow the merchant was just as secretive to things about Legend as the hero himself was.
“Link, he um… no he does….” His green eyes landed on Warriors and he slumped with a sigh. “He does not sleep well at night, no. Daytime is his best bet.” The Captain felt guilt crawl up his throat. He’d been pushing them for months now. He hadn’t known Legend wasn’t sleeping at night at all. He had assumed those mornings where the Vet was quiet and still at the cookpot were just bad nights. Now he knew it was the only amount of sleep he had been getting. No wonder the Vet volunteered for at least one shift a night. Now that he knew, he thanked Ravio. The merchant relaxed and nodded. Now he could attempt to ease this burden his brother had.
He sauntered back into the living room and his eyes landed on the Vet. Warriors had never seen him look so young. His ears were relaxed instead of flicking or pressed against his head, always on alert. The dark circles that always adorned his eyes had dissipated. His brows had smoothed out and the forced wrinkles were gone. His blonde and pink hair was mussed and in disarray. Half his fringe had fallen in front of his face, softening his look even further. The collar of his oversized tunic was down and showing off his collarbones, and some bandages from his back peeked through. Blankets, Warriors’ scarf, and the Chosen’s sailcloth were rumpled around him.
The Vet was always meticulous, so concerned with appearance and demeanor. He would never admit it but the hero held himself with pride and was always put together. To see him comfortable and relaxed was a treat.
The Vet’s magic had curled around the entire sitting area. When one stepped into the living room they could feel it, cool and relaxed. The purple aura greeted everyone and brought them closer, promising rest and reprieve. Legend never let his magic wander like this; he was always in control, and to have it have free rein now was different. The feelings it poured over everyone were so persistent. Trust and serenity. Like everyone had finally come home.
He was also still so silent. He never mumbled or made a noise. He didn’t snore. His breaths were long and silent. Warriors realized Hyrule was the same way. The Traveler was curled up at the foot of the couch, small and silent. Even in unconsciousness their bodies had been trained to be noiseless to survive. None of the others were quite the same. They had not been hunted by everything and everyone.
Legend continued to rest. The heroes milled in and out, one always close by watching over their recovering brother. Ravio started to get anxious by the middle of the second day. Link never slept this long, he reiterated. The hero had barely moved. Hyrule assured them all he was just recovering his strength. Their concern was put to rest when the sun started to sink low on the horizon.
The magic in the air shifted, condensed. The living space was suddenly bereft of that twinge in the air. It pooled around the Vet and stayed tucked closer. Legend’s eyes opened. The brilliant purple eyes flicked around the room. Brows pinched downward and ears flattened against his head. The youth-like quality that had been shining through earlier dissipated. Legend seemed to age dramatically in the span of a few seconds. A stilted arm reached up, popping loudly at the elbow joint. His face darkened further.
Hyrule’s ears had perked up and the Traveler was gaining consciousness rapidly. He shifted and awoke, green eyes focused on his predecessor. Warriors remained still, watching. Ravio was walking toward the hero now as well.
Legend’s eyes darted to the merchant. Hyrule was slinking off the couch to stand. Legend lowered his arm back down unceremoniously, a huff escaping his lips.
“How’re you feeling?” Ravio’s voice was quiet, a hand reaching out. Legend cleared his throat.
“M’fine.” His voice was hoarse. He wasn’t looking at anyone now, his face bloomed in a blush. He readjusted his collar stiffly, his hand like a claw. His brows pinched further, his teeth biting into his lip. Obviously he was not fine.
Ravio had the audacity to poke a finger right into the Vet’s cheek. The hero’s eye squinted closed as his gaze fixed on the merchant. The hero huffed at his doppelganger’s antics.
“Let’s not lie.” Ravio’s voice was gentle and Legend seemed to sink further into himself. He turned his head away slightly, averting his gaze. His ears dropped.
“I slept too long. Everything’s too fucking stiff.” His voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes turned away. His ears pressed flat, twinged pink like his cheeks. He brought his hand up slowly to show the fingers still curled. His legs were still in the same position they had been while asleep. The magic in the room disappeared at the admission, tucked up and hidden inside the small hero.
Warriors saw the problem now; Legend was embarrassed. He was still weak and recovering and now his joints had seized up. He wanted to get up and move but loathed the creaking and popping of overused tendons and joints. He would need help, but the time was now past that he was pliant in their hands. That stubbornness reared its head. For being one of the younger heroes, the prickly Vet was falling apart from the inside out.
Hyrule must have sent out his magic because the room was awashed in spring rain and sunshine. The Traveler knelt next to Legend.
“That’s understandable. You’ve been asleep for almost two days.” Legend’s eyes widened, his ears perking up. Warriors watched the information process. The Captain wondered when the last time had been that Legend had slept for so long.
“Well Din’s tits. No wonder.” The curse made Ravio chuckle and the merchant held out his hand. Legend scowled at it before accepting it and Hyrule also helped to sit up the Vet. His legs swung down, barefoot on the floor. The Vet started to roll out his shoulders. A pop from the previously dislocated one made him bite his lip again. Hyrule was already reaching forward again, magic on his fingertips, though a warning glare from the Vet made the Traveler stall.
“I’m fine.” The words were sharp, as if defending himself. Warriors highly doubted that. Even with all the potions and healing from Hyrule, he knew the Vet’s back was still recovering. The nerves and muscles were sewing back together, a process that wasn’t painless, the pins and needles that came from limbs stuck in a position too long.
The brief period of time when Legend let himself be cared for had come to a close, his stubbornness and pride shining through now. A part of the Captain was saddened by this revelation. Legend still needed some help, and they were more than willing to assist him. At the same time Warriors found himself smiling slightly.
While he had been infinitely touched at how deep the Vet’s trust went, he found he enjoyed this snarky bastard just as much. It meant he was feeling well and whole again, not being stitched and scraped together. It made everything settle, the worry and anxiousness eased away at Legend’s gruff attitude.
He was readjusting his tunic, laying it flat against his chest and legs. Putting himself back together, stiffly and jarringly. He appeared to set his attitude in check. He seemed older and wiser. Not a scared and hurting kid, but a Veteran of life experiences. A mentor and hero, his classic scowl on his face.
Hyrule had not backed down and was pouring some Life into the Vet regardless of Legend’s dismissal that he was fine. Legend’s ear had flicked to the hero but he kept his mouth shut. His countenance eased as the spell finished.
Ravio had started to smooth out the prickly hero’s bedhead, pink and blonde laying flat once again instead of sticking up. Warriors held back a chuckle. For all his front, Legend was such a softie. Here he had been dismissive and coarse, and now he succumbed to gentle touches and the Traveler’s unending care for his predecessor.
Hyrule cleared his throat uneasily. His green eyes seemed to glow as they stared down at his predecessor, a slight frown on the youthful face.
“So, what would you rank your pain right now?” Legend’s eyes snapped to the Traveler, his easy mood now tense. Warriors watched him as he opened and closed his mouth a few times. The magic darkened slightly in the room. Ravio had stilled as well, the doppelganger looking uneasy.
“Like a three.” The Vet’s voice was tight. He was fisting the edge of his tunic now, eyes just as fierce as the Traveler’s. The air thickened.
“Uh huh. And after the flogging? When we found you?” Hyrule’s voice hardened further. Warriors knew what the Traveler was getting at. Hyrule wanted the Vet to admit that he still needed care, that he would still accept care from them. That he wouldn’t push them away and dismiss his ailments. He was still staring down Legend, brows starting to pinch and frown deepening.
“Seven.” Legend’s voice was stern. The purple in his eyes seemed to glow.
Warriors wanted to call bullshit; no way was that a seven. It was easily a ten to any of them, no matter how tough they were. He was already trying to hide his discomfort. Hyrule beat him to it.
“Bullshit. If this is a seven then your baseline is inaccurate. What would you say is your daily ranking, sans any injuries?” Hyrule was not backing down; he was digging further in.
“A one, like anyone else, Rulie. What the fuck do you want from me?” Legend was done. Warriors saw it in his attitude and face. His shoulders were hunched up and ears pressed far back. His lip was curling and his eyes narrowed. He was still fisting the edge of his tunic, knuckles white.
“You do not operate at one on a normal day. You don’t experience any discomfort or pain from your joints or old injuries?” Hyrule was standing over the sitting hero. Warriors prayed he was never on the bad side of the Traveler. The magic was palpable in the room.
Legend looked away and remained silent. Ravio was nervously dancing from foot to foot glancing at the two heroes. The merchant chimed in.
“Mister Hero’s pain tolerance is quite advanced. To him, wouldn’t daily pain be a one, since he has no other bar to go off?” Legend glanced at the merchant, his frown deepening. Hyrule’s face smoothed out slightly.
“I’m trying to get Legend to realize that his scale is tipped unevenly. If the flogging isn’t severe, then I’m not sure what would be. I don’t want you to hide things because you think they aren’t worth the time.” The Traveler sighed and looked down at Legend again. The Vet’s eyes snapped to his successor. Hyrule sank to his knees and leaned his forehead against his predecessor's.
“You scared the shit out of me, Ledge. I just want to help.” The words were filled with care and love. Legend melted, his head hanging, staring at the ground.
“Chronic pain is hard to gauge. I’m not… I’m not trying to be difficult. When you’re in pain, a lot of it just starts to melt together. It wasn’t the first time I’ve been flogged, as I’m sure everyone knows.” He let out a large sigh, rubbing a hand across his face. Hyrule was still kneeling in front of him; the Traveler had taken a jeweled hand and was rubbing his thumb across it. Ravio had plopped himself next to his roommate and had his shoulder pressed to the others. Legend sucked in another breath before continuing. “It wasn’t the first time, but it was the most… brutal.”
His purple eyes blazed as he looked around the room. Legend was very private, and to state any of this was a breakthrough in itself. The hero kept everything close to his chest. To have him admit that he was in pain most days was good, a step in the right direction. Warriors had often wondered what the Veteran’s experience with six adventures had left him with. A body with too much trauma too fast. Joints and bones that were decaying from the inside out. A stubborn spirit that wouldn’t lie down, wouldn’t let it overtake him. Legend was the epitome of survival. Hell, he was the epitome of a hero.
He cared deeply for everyone around him at the neglect of himself. He was selfless to a fault. He was a tough son of a bitch and oftentimes didn’t realize the severity of his wounds.
Warriors considered Hyrule. The Vet’s successor was just as hellbent on surviving. Those two grew up with the world already tainted and blackened. With a fallen hero beforehand and a mess to clean up. It left little time to be a child. It was not kind to the weak. The downfall era heroes were a force to be reckoned with. Warriors was happy they were on his side.
Warriors walked up the sitting hero. His hand landed in impossibly soft strawberry-blonde hair. How the hero had naturally-occurring pink hair, Warriors was unsure. But he’d seen weirder in the war. He ruffled his hair and smiled down at the hero. Legend’s glare returned but he didn’t get swatted away as he expected.
“Just let us help you, you stubborn ass. We care about you.” The Captain grinned down at the hero. Ravio nodded vigorously along. Hyrule shook his head fondly. Legend grinned back at him. His magic unfurled and wrapped the room in the scent of apple blossoms.
“Sure, I can do that.”