Chapter Text
Downstairs, Time kneaded at his brow. It had been a very long day. They’d been on foot for over a week, picking over thin tracks of dirt posing as roads, passing through three eras altogether. Few signs, less people, no towns to speak of. His back was sore, his shoulders aching in relief now that his armor was tucked beneath a bed upstairs.
The boys had scattered as soon as they reached the inn, all desperate to find some space away from one another. Legend’s patience had soured in the last few days, enough that he even started fights with Hyrule. Four’s headaches became more frequent and more severe, Wind could only complain about his aching feet. The two which largely held them together when tempers rose were Sky and Twilight. Sky was far too exhausted to do anything more than keep up. He’d needed more and more breaks which only irritated Warriors, Legend, and Wild. Twilight had been fine until that morning, but upon waking, the rancher seemed to have it out for anyone who so much looked his way.
Time was so thankful for a bit of quiet that he nearly cried when silence fell around him save Sky’s nearby snores. He was alone in the inn’s hall, sitting at one long table with a glass of cold milk just in front of him. Across the room, Sky had dropped like a fly on the wooden sofa. Aside from snoring, the only sign of life was one hand draped over the back of the seat.
A groan escaped Time, his fatigue catching up with him and charging interest. He folded his arms, resting his head on top of them—
Thunk!
Blearily, Time lifted his eyes towards the rafters, watching a bit of dust filter down. He assumed someone had simply tripped, but then, faintly, there was a cloud of cursing. More thuds, shuffling steps— bam!
Time stood up quickly, swallowing a whine as his back seized. Sky shot awake on the couch, as if rising from a grave. Wide-eyed, the chosen hero lifted his gaze upwards. From the small parlor at one end of the hearth, Legend poked his head out curiously.
“What was that?” Sky murmured.
Time pressed his palm into his back. “I’m not sure…” And honestly, he didn’t want to know.
“ Unhand me!” Warriors roared from upstairs.
The three heroes downstairs swapped looks.
“Stop it!” Four yelled from the top of the steps.
And just like that, Sky, Time, and Legend mustered up energy they didn’t have to scramble upstairs.
Twilight had Warriors pinned under him, one hand gripping the captain’s hair as the other belted him across the jaw once, twice, three times . Warriors screamed obscenities, his hands flailing at Twilight until one caught on the rancher’s snipped ear.
Warriors yanked, pulling Twilight down with a surprised yelp. Twilight threw the captain off, biting at the man’s arm as he did. Warriors drew up one foot, driving his heel into the rancher’s sternum. Twilight wheezed, latching on to Warriors leg and tossing the man onto his side.
“Enough!” Time yelled, throwing himself into the fray.
Warriors spit curses at Twilight, the rancher slurred venomous insults back however incoherent they were through his accent. Warriors kicked his foot into Twilight’s thigh as the rancher grabbed the back of his top and clawed him back for more beating.
Time tackled Twilight off of the captain. Twilight barked in anger, grasping Time by the shoulders and throwing him into the wall with such force that a picture fell from its nail, shattering on the wood below.
“Animal!” Warriors screamed, throwing himself at Twilight.
“Stop!” Sky yelled, grabbing the captain beneath the shoulders.
With all his might, Warriors grabbed at the air in some horrible rage, attempting to get at Twilight again. He managed to rip out a few strands of the rancher’s hair, his nails leaving faint marks over the man’s brow.
Twilight lunged for the captain again, but Time threw his arms around Twilight’s waist and jerked him back down.
“That’s enough!” Time bellowed again.
Twilight landed on his chest and chin, broken glass lacing open his hand as he clawed at the floor to reach Warriors. Sky and Legend worked together to twist Warriors away and shove him towards the stairs.
“I’ll kill ya!” Twilight raved, nearly foaming at the mouth.
“Try it!” Warriors threatened in return.
Legend, Sky, and Four fought to push the captain downstairs, away from the fight. Twilight still howled out curses as Warriors continued to let loose a flurry of insults.
“Twilight,” Time scolded, “I said that’s enough !”
Time reached for Twilight’s shoulder, his eyes widening at a sudden pain. It was dull and deep, not sharp but severe all the same. Time stared, both eyes open as he gawked. Twilight’s teeth were in him . They sank into the thin flesh of his hand, their crush threatening to break the little bones between his jaws. The look on Twilight’s face was primal— inhuman . Blood beaded up around the rancher’s teeth, staining his lips and dribbling down Time’s hand.
Time let out some horrible sound of surprise and pain, ripping his hand back towards his chest reflexively. Twilight’s teeth refused to yield, instead carving gouges in his ancestor’s hand. Time gasped for air, tears pricking his eyes as he clutched his hand to his chest. Twilight’s anger suddenly thawed into horror.
Blood dripped to the floor. The flesh around the deep marks began to bruise and swell. The skin was scarlet. Twilight licked his lips, finding Time’s blood on them. The rancher uttered out some noise, unable to manage even a plain apology.
“ Beast!” Warriors screamed, doubling his efforts to climb his way over the other heroes.
Twilight gasped, clamping his hands over his ears at the sudden pitch. Time flinched from the volume, able to feel the air buzz against the word just with his plain hearing. He lifted his eyes to Warriors’ face stained vermillion with rage. The captain’s eyes were bright, his teeth grinding as he bared them at the rancher’s back. Warriors charged for Twilight, breaking free of the younger heroes with a rough shove.
“Captain—” Time cut in, stepping forward. He planted his hand to Warriors’ chest, feeling the man’s pounding heart under his palm.
Warriors stalled, his eyes darting between Time and Twilight. “I’ll kill him ,” Warriors snarled as he attempted to shove his way past.
Time shook his head, holding Warriors where he was. “No,” he got out, still lost in shock from the bite. “No. No more. Downstairs. Now. All of you.”
“But Twi—” Sky started.
“Leave him,” Time said sternly.
The other three wilted. They traded unsure looks, but then agreed, leading the way downstairs ahead of Warriors and Time.