Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There was no other choice.

If he hesitated, Hyrule was dead.

The portal had been sudden, and rather than solid ground Four’s feet had landed on a cliffside, plummeting to Earth. His legs had broken, and She had found him.

Four could feel his mind fraying as he ran across the wide cavern floor, trying to close the gap between himself and the altar. The knife was already being raised.

She was kind. She had no potions–no one did in their village. But She helped bandage Four up. She had given him food and a place to stay while he recovered. She had a laugh like the sun, bright and cleansing. Though the land struggled, She told him, She still clung to hope. 

“Lord Ganon, look kindly upon your servant, and accept this sacrifice.”

She loved flowers, but wouldn’t pick them. It wasn’t fair, She said, to kill such innocent things without cause. When the neighbor’s cat went missing, She led the party to look for it. She would help Four outside, so he could feel a part of the village, not waste away inside. On rainy days, She made bread and sang when She did. 

“Let the hero’s blood revive you, and let peace return to this land.”

When his legs recovered, She was the first to help him look. His brothers had not shown up in a month, and Four was worried. The land was harsh here. No doubt they had been busy fighting monsters while he recovered. She assured him, reached out to traders to ask for word of a band of swordsmen.

His feet faltered, still unable to accept it. But he pushed forward. He had to save Hyrule. His feelings didn’t matter.

One evening an older gentleman had appeared, talking to Her in hushed tones in the next room as Four cleared their dinner. Something needed Her attention. She laughed, always eager to help, and left Four to wash up. Four followed, worried about the monsters She had warned of, catching her unawares after dark.

She was smiling, as she held the knife over the captive hero. 

There was no other choice.

His mind knew this.

His heart resisted. 

She had to be confused. This had to be a trick, some illusion. It couldn’t be Her, not Her! She was not a monster! She was a friend, She was kind, She was holding the knife over Hyrule as she prayed to Ganon to end the suffering–

There had to be another way, there had to be a chance for mercy, a way to save them both. Four’s feet tangled under him again. The knife would drop any moment, there wasn’t time for a better plan. There was no room for mercy or hesitation or emotion here. Four needed to act. And he couldn’t act while his heart screamed for him to stop.

Four pulled the sword, splitting into four pieces. Red lunged, knowing the plan, trying to stop Blue, but Vio from grabbed him from behind. He struggled, but already the other two were out of reach, nearly to the altar.

“N–” Vio’s hand clamped over his mouth before he could scream to warn her. 

“There’s no time, Red. We cannot be held back by emotion. Look away. You need to look away if you can’t–”

Red thrashed. There had to be another way. There had to be–

There was a sound of metal, flesh, and a scream.

The cavern fell silent.

Red felt his legs give way. He collapsed to the floor, Vio’s hands not enough to support his grief. He could hear words, but they might as well be miles away. He couldn’t even rationalize to himself that at least Hyrule had been saved, at least that was ok. Red didn’t have that logic to support him. He was Four’s heart, ripped out and rejected to do what had to be done. He was Four’s mercy, and he had been left behind.

“Red…” Vio’s voice was too calm. How could he be so calm? Didn’t he feel any anguish over what they had done? “Red, it’s ok…” How could anything be ok? How could he live with himself, knowing what he had done?

“Get up, Red. We need to get out of here before someone comes.” Blue nudged him with his boot. Red couldn’t withhold the wail, flinching away. Blue’s sword was still slick with blood. “What do we do? He’s gonna attract attention, and we need to sneak Hyrule out of here, fast.”

Green bit his lip. “We could re-fuse?”

Red quailed at the thought of crossing his blade with Blue’s. “No. No, No, I can’t, I can’t…” Green, holding tight to the unconscious Hyrule, took a half-step towards Red.

“Red, we need to–”

“S-stay back!” Red’s eyes were blown wide, his chest heaving as he hyperventilated. Blue shuffled, eyes darting to the caverns leading off of this one. Already more cultists might be coming. Red couldn’t even look at him, the blood on his tunic nearly dyeing them to match.

Vio sighed. “I’m sorry, Red. We have to go.” If he felt anything, it was buried, deeper than the darkest caverns, entombed in rigid logic as he looked at the other two. “Green, you carry Hyrule. Blue, you take point. I’ll carry Red.” He straightened up, eyes dead as he stepped forward.

Red squirmed, trying to back away. “No!” Vio continued to advance, slow as a glacier, frigid as a mountain peak. “No, don’t touch m–”

“I’m sorry, Red.”

The blow was so unexpected Red barely felt it, and suddenly, everything was dark.

–

He woke up hours later, leaned against someone’s shoulder as they sat on the ground. Red’s head throbbed, his face felt sore from crying. His tongue felt dry and heavy. Someone, Green, was trying to start a small fire. Red shifted, trying to sit up and ask where they were.

His mouth could not move. In a panic, he realized it was a gag, fabric woven between his teeth. He tried to move his hands to grab it.

“Shh. Shh… not yet.” Vio’s hands came from beside him, pulling his hands down. “We’re still too close to the cave. We can hide the fire, but if you’re too loud it will draw their attention.”

Red wanted to ask who they were, when it came crashing back down on him. The cult. The woman, smiling with the same smile she had as she offered him a glass of milk, holding the knife. Blue’s sword, covered in red, red, red–

The keen choked on the gag before he could stop it. Red convulsed, trying to tear the fabric away, to let the awful sound escape his body as if it could let out the pain with it. Vio refused to let go, keeping a tight grip on his wrists. Red panicked, throwing himself back and trying to get loose.

“What’s ha–”

“Keep your voice down, Blue. We can’t afford to get caught.” Vio’s whisper was a near hiss. Red thrashed, trying to get away from him. He just needed to cry. He needed it like he needed to breathe, to process Four’s grief like he was meant to. The gag was already growing wet with tears as he strained, convulsing. 

“Red, you need to stop.”

Vio’s cold tone would have frozen lava, but it only served to aggravate Red further. Suddenly the panic was filling every sense, blocking sight and sound with gray and buzzing. He needed to scream, he had to scream. But he couldn’t.

“I don’t like this.” Green’s voice pinged against his frenzy like hailstones. “He’s suffering–”

“Until we can re-fuse or find the others, we can’t let him cry or carry on. For our sakes, and for Hyrule’s, we need him to stay silent.” Each word crushed Red further into despair. He went limp, choking as he tried to breathe through his running nose. Vio did not move to comfort him, maintaining a grip in case he tried to run again. 

Blurrily, Red could see Blue across the camp, keeping guard over Hyrule’s limp form as he cleaned his sword. The blood on the rag made Red retch, sending him into a new wave of hysterics as the gag blocked the motion. Vio put an arm around him, squeezing so Red was held upright and couldn’t fall over. Red wished it was a proper hug. Even as terrified and disgusted as he was, he craved comfort. But the hold was too tight, cutting into his arm without squeezing his core. 

Red felt the tears well up again, and tried to force them down. He was nothing but a raw nerve, exposed and fragile. His brothers needed him to stop. Hyrule needed him to stop. He just had to stop crying, get them to take out the gag. He didn’t need to think about–

The wail choked on the fabric, and Red gagged. The inability to draw a full breath sent him hyperventilating again, and this time, he couldn’t stop in time. It was the last thing he was aware of before slumping over again into darkness.

–

“... he’s waking up.” 

Red blinked open crusted eyes, trying to figure out what was overhead. It looked like a face, but he couldn’t tell who.

“Is he really awake this time?” 

That wasn’t Green, or Blue, or Vio.

“Can you hear me, Red?” A hand poked his cheek. Red barely moved his head, trying to avoid the light jabbing. “He reacted! I think he’s coming to!”

The face finally solidified. Wind’s smile was brilliant as the sun, making Red squint to look into it. 

“Woof, you gave us a scare. The, uh, the other yous said you passed out.” Wind looked over his shoulder. “Do you want to try to sit up?”

Red shrugged noncommittally. His head ached. His jaw hurt. Wind didn’t seem to notice, offering a hand and yanking him to a sitting position. Red wobbled, and the sailor quickly moved to support him. 

“Red!” Green was already rushing to his side. “Thank goodness… are you feeling better?”

Red flinched when Green touched him. The other Color’s touch burned, but also felt colder than sleet. Green didn’t seem to notice, checking him over.

“The traveler’s ok. He woke up when we found the camp. Cap checked you over and said you were dehydrated, do you want some water?” 

Red’s eyes roved across the camp. Wild cooking. Twilight cleaning his blade. Time and Warriors quietly conferring with Vio and Blue–

A shudder of revulsion went through Red. 

“Maybe some juice?” Wind’s arm around Red’s shoulders was less restrictive than Vio’s had been, more gentle. “Sometimes something sweeter helps when you’ve had a rough time, right?” Red still didn’t reply. Everything felt too heavy. Green finally scurried to Wild to request the drink. Wind pulled the blanket up over Red’s shoulders. “They, uh, they told us sorta what happened. And how you’re all… part of the Smithy? They said you’re the nice one!” He waited for a response, but none came. “I’m sorry for… they said you had a rough time of it.”

Red winced, images of blood and darkness and an altar–

“Hey, hey, it’s ok!” Wind moved to fully hugging him. “You’re out of there. It’s ok, it’s ok…”

Red shuddered, not moving to return the hug. He wasn’t crying, at least. He was just… existing. That was ok, right? Vio wouldn’t be angry if he just existed quietly.

“Has he said anything?” Red recognized Legend’s voice. He felt Wind shake his head. A patter of boots marked Green’s return. 

“Wild had some apple juice. Red likes apples.” Green tugged gently at his tunic till Red pulled his face from Wind’s shoulder, handing him the cup. Their fingertips brushed, and Red jerked back as if burnt. The cup fell to the ground, spilling. Green yelped in dismay as it splashed across his knees. “Sorry! Sorry, I thought you had it–”

Red stared at the liquid spreading through his tunic. He knew it should upset him, the waste of the juice or the fact it might stain. But he couldn’t bring himself to react until Legend bullied the shirt off him. Even then, he let the tunic be removed, and put on the offered replacement, but didn’t do much else.

He just felt so… numb.

The others came to check on him, Warriors feeling his forehead and pulse to confirm he didn’t have a fever. Hyrule tried as well, expressing gratitude to Red and Four as a whole for rescuing him. Twilight even turned into Wolfie and tried to coax Red into cuddling into his fur. The Color barely acknowledged them, complying with their requests docilely and continuing to stare at nothing. The only time he reacted was when Green or Blue got too close, whereupon he would shy away in silence.

Vio didn’t try to approach all night.

They moved the next day, Time eager to put distance between the cult’s territory and Hyrule. Wind kept hold of Red’s hand, guiding him along. They were in the middle of the group, something Red would normally have loved. He could have talked to any of them, asked questions and shared stories. But instead he kept silent, watching his feet hit the ground over and over. Even Wind’s unending enthusiasm slowly dimmed. 

They came upon a monster camp, and Red vaguely heard a whispered conversation about if they should leave him at the back. Could he fight like this? But he drew his blade and followed the Link in front of him. In a way, it felt like the first time he had been on a quest, following Green and working as a team–he stabbed through a bokoblin, mechanically continuing his assault. At one point Green called for a diamond formation and Red fell in on instinct, shoulder to shoulder with Green and Blue. The blood on his sword was red.

He didn’t feel anything.

“Since Red’s awake, can we re-fuse?” Blue was scrubbing at his face. “I’m tired of being split.”

“I don’t see why not.” Vio nodded once, curt. Green cast a worried glance at Red. “It will probably help him to be whole again.”

“Are you ok with that, Red?” Green tried to touch Red’s shoulder, but Red jerked back. However, he nodded, drawing his sword again and holding it up. “Are you sure? If you’re still not–”

Red only thrust his sword a little harder, eyes blank. The other three shared a glance before Green shrugged, drawing his sword. Blue and Vio joined in, and the light quickly enveloped them all.

Wind noticed first. “Smithy! You’re back!” He ran to hug him. Four let him, but made no move to hug him back. After a moment he finally pushed Wind away, stepping back and clearing his throat.

“We should keep moving.” His tone was flat. “We are too exposed, out here in the open.”

Warriors nodded, eyes narrow. “Are you ok to travel? Do you need to rest after, ah… mashing yourself back into one?”

Four shook his head, frowning. “I’m fine.” The words had slightly more bite than before. “Let’s just go.”

They set off, putting the camp behind them. Four was peevish, not wanting anyone too close. Sky tried to ask about his sword’s magic and received a vaguely philosophical explanation, but when Twilight asked if it hurt, Four snapped that he’d seen it in action and that was all he wanted to explain. Wild made cornets for dinner, usually Four’s favorite, but though the Smithy thanked him, he only picked at the meal. When Time suggested they play music, Four claimed a headache and retired as far from the group as he could.

Four laid in his bedroll, staring at the sky. He was whole. Everyone was safe. Nothing was wrong. He should be fine. Normally he loved watching the stars as he fell asleep–Red had been especially fascinated by the constellations.

A shiver of revulsion swept through him, directed at nothing. The stars were just distant lights, cold and pointless.

Feeling nothing at all, he closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

Chapter Text

When he was Four, he was really one.

That was always the way Vio had thought of it. The four pieces of Four were only that, pieces. Fourths. Not quite full beings, aspects of a whole. When they were Four, they balanced each other. The whole bled together, not distinct pieces that reacted with protective anger, or heroic concern, or innocent emotion… no, Four considered all the angles: the facts, the just solution, the impact on others, the impact on Four; and then Four took one action.

It was only when Four couldn’t decide on one action that he had to split. Recently, they had only used it to debate–sometimes with fists, but mostly with words–till a majority was satisfied with a proposed solution. Vio had, somewhat smugly, felt as though he was the mastermind of this. As logical as one could get while still making room for feelings and fury.

The death of the woman shook that.

There was no time for debate. She was evil, she was going to kill Hyrule, she had to die. It didn’t matter if she was misguided, or a friend. Logic dictated they stop her. Logic had no room for their own feelings. A blue sense of justice agreed readily enough, and green care for others wanted no harm to befall their brother. It was only self-serving emotion that resisted. The sword sliced them cleanly in pieces, excising the rebelling element. There was no time for debate, and so logic–so Vio–had held Red back. It had to be done.

Logic could not account for the force of grief that poured from Red. Logic was helpless in the face of the horror, the agony, the rawness of it all. Red had to feel this. He had to process it, for Four, so they could all function as one. 

But now was not the time.

Vio had done what needed to be done to save them.

As he carried Red’s limp body out of the cave, he knew his emotional side would not be able to function. Red would need Vio’s assistance to get through this safely. Vio did not think of comfort—one of their brothers could comfort Red, once they found them. But until then, Vio had to prevent Red’s grief from getting them all killed. Logic would hold back emotion. It was what had to be done.

“This seems… extreme.” Green couldn’t bear to watch as Vio tied the strip of cloth through Red’s mouth. “If we just talk to him—“

“He is incapable of thinking right now. This will prevent him screaming and giving up our location.” Vio tied the gag tight. “You tend to Hyrule. I will be sure Red is quiet till we find a place that’s safer for him to feel things.”

Red woke that night. As Vio predicted he was nearly feral, trying to wail and carry on, trying to remove the gag, trying to throw himself to the ground. Vio kept a grip on him, unwilling to let him hurt himself in this state. He just had to keep Red under control, just a little longer. Blue was focused on defending Hyrule, but Green was growing evidently more concerned for Red and his behavior. Green was soft, Green cared about others’ opinions and wanted to keep the peace. Vio had to be as unyielding as flint, for all of their sakes. 

Vio thought of their first split, when the lines hadn’t been so clean between them. The first time some of the other colors had bled into him, when he had felt things, and it had nearly cost him his life. If he had been as surgically removed from his emotions as he was now, he knew he would not have hesitated to smash that mirror. In a way, it was freeing, not worrying about how things made Four feel. Red could process it later. Maybe when they were all Four and one again, Vio would let himself succumb to those emotions and let cold logic be carried away in brilliant, blazing grief, till it was all burnt away and Four could grow back stronger than ever.

Red cried and panicked himself back into unconsciousness relatively quickly. Vio held him all through the night. Blue and Green offered, but Vio didn’t see the sense in moving and possibly waking him.

They found the others the next day. Legend and Wind quickly took over the task of watching out for the unconscious Hyrule and Red, leaving Vio and the others to debrief the Chain about what was going on. The reality of the danger posed by the cult quickly outweighed their shock about Four’s ability to split. Vio noticed Wind giving him an odd look as he removed the gag from Red’s mouth. Time likewise seemed less than impressed by Vio’s explanation, but let it go with relative ease. It was not logical to fight over it, something Time surely realized. 

Vio set about tending to the Chain’s swords. Many were in rough shape since Four had gone missing a month ago, especially Wild’s. Blue joined him, helping sharpen edges and hone the steel, but was unusually quiet. Green hovered around Red, waiting for him to wake. Hyrule came to first, waking with a scream that only faded when he realized he was not in the cult’s hands. Green had explained the situation, Vio listening dispassionately when he mentioned the woman who had been their friend. He noticed Blue hesitate as Green described the woman’s seeming kindness, her love of life, how she had helped Four recover.

Hyrule’s expression fell. “There’s… many like her. They would be good people, maybe they are good people, but they have suffered under Ganon for so long that they… they blame me for the monster attacks.” He stared at his feet. “It’s my fault, after all. They hunt me down to avenge their master, and people get hurt—“

“That’s illogical. You are not the cause of the monster’s evil.” Vio frowned. “They choose to act in such a way. The cult as well. How can they blame you for their own actions?”

“But if I wasn’t around—“

“Ganon would be alive, killing people and destroying Hyrule.” Vio stared at him. He didn’t understand why the tears had formed in Hyrule’s eyes. Blaming himself made no sense at all.

Red woke that night. Green and Wind tried to comfort him. Vio watched Green get juice from Wild, preparing for the dehydration that would surely follow Red’s inevitable deluge of tears. But no tears came. Vio watched Red sharply, but the aspect remained silent, staring into the fire with wide eyes and a blank expression. He was somewhat relieved. Perhaps Red had already gone through the grief the night before, and they could fuse together again sooner than expected. But Red winced when Blue tried to approach. He didn’t gleefully cuddle into Twilight’s fur when given the chance. 

He didn’t seem to be feeling anything.

For the first time since the split, Vio felt worry begin to chip away at his icy logic. He shook it out. In didn’t make sense to be worried.

They moved early the next morning, Vio maintaining his distance. Blue wouldn’t stay in place, bouncing from one end of the line to the other, snappish and defensive of questions. Green remained glued to Red, but the emotional aspect seemed to reject the other’s presence, forcing Green to fall back and watch from behind beside Sky. Legend ended up keeping pace with Vio, trying so terribly hard to act like it was coincidental. 

“I thought you said the red one was the emotional type.” His tone was calculating blithe. Vio wasn’t sure why Legend didn’t speak plainly. What did it accomplish aside from delaying the point and causing unnecessary confusion? “I guess Four’s not dramatic. Makes sense his emotions would be subdued.”

Subdued. What a terrible choice of words. 

“When we are Four, we are one. Four’s emotions are tempered by the rest of us—Green hates making others uncomfortable, Blue is generally more angry at injustice than sad about it.”

“And you?”

“I do what has to be done.” Vio’s gaze drifted back to Red. “When we are one, there’s… more to consider. Things beyond just evidence.”

Legend hummed. “So you act on facts.”

“I try to look at the reality and factors at play and make the best decision overall.”

“You mean, the best decision ‘in the moment.’” Legend wasn’t making eye contact. “Sometimes something seems right at the time, but you later regret it.”

“That is a consequence of not knowing everything.” He didn’t like this conversation. There was a layer to it beyond what he could comprehend, and he didn’t like knowing he didn’t have all the facts. “I can only act on what I know in the moment.”

Legend didn’t reply, though his expression remained dark.

They stumbled on a monster camp, and for a moment Vio was nearly relieved to be spared from having to worry about Red. They all fell into familiar patterns, Green calling the formations as they whirled across the battlefield like a spinning top of doom. Red was always at Vio’s back, flanked by Green and Blue. Still, even without seeing the other aspect Vio could tell he seemed to be hesitating. 

Normally Red was fond of the fire rod, an outward manifestation of his inner element. He had first obtained it due to Shadow’s trickery, but he hadn’t let the negative memories associated with it prevent him from mastering its use. Yet Red wasn’t using magic today, only his sword. Red also usually kept monsters at a distance with his attacks, rather than pushing them back with close-quarters combat. His attacks seemed to be more an imitation of Green than his own style. It wasn’t only Red—Blue’s attacks were always powerful, but the blows he unleashed today seemed extra savage, his body tense as a spring pulled too far in the wrong direction. Green scrambled to keep up with them rather than break off on his own or covering one of the other Links. His normally smooth movements were choppy, distracted.

Vio didn’t understand.

Blue suggested they rejoin, and Vio eagerly agreed. Red would be fine once they were Four. Melting back into place would warm him back up, soften the solid silence and burn away the lingering discomfort of the past few days. Vio almost hoped that Four would feel like crying.

The last thing Vio felt was ice, radiating through all four of him, then Four was all that remained.

That’s how it was supposed to be. One mind, one will, one heart, one action. 

Yet something was not right.

“Does it hurt?” Wild’s question was innocent, genuine curiosity. It tore into Four’s mind and struck against edges that were more battered than they should be. 

Factually, it didn’t hurt, not physically. You simply were one, then you were less than one. You didn’t miss the other pieces. And if you did, they were tangibly there to talk to, to touch. Everything you weren’t, but also still you. The same goals, four different perspectives.

Yet Wild’s question clawed into a space that was bleeding, a wound from their split that should have seamlessly healed when all the pieces of Four fit back together like a jigsaw puzzle. And the question hurt.

“You’ve seen it in action, haven’t you?” The words had more edge than they should, pain directed outward. But that didn’t make sense, why was he so angry, temper untempered by logic or altruism or— “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, ok? It’s been a long day and I don’t want to have to keep rehashing it.”

The other Links were all unsubtly sharing glances. Wind and Legend both looked grim, Time almost looked disappointed. 

Wild shrunk back, crestfallen. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to pry…”

Four knew he should feel bad, but he didn’t say anything else. He wasn’t sure what would come out when he opened his mouth. Everything was too much to process. Everything felt like ice, growing in his core. He kicked at the dirt, walking in silence.

He barely touched his dinner, turning in early in an attempt to escape the chill of consciousness as fast as possible. Overhead, he could see stars, fantastic formations and glowing galaxies. Normally the sight would fill him with a swell of joy, wonder at the universe. But tonight? It only made him realize how dim the moon was. He shuddered, a wave of loathing rolling through his stomach, then stilled.

Feeling nothing at all, Four closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

—

He dreamt of the cave. The altar in the center. The woman was there, smiling as ever. Vio rushed forward, tripping over his own feet. He had to stop her. He had to save—

Why was he Vio? He shouldn’t be split. He should be one. Where were the others?  

His feet inexorably drew him closer to the woman. Already the victim was covered in blood. Her knife was bare and silver.

He needed to find the others. Vio wasn’t supposed to be alone. Why was he so afraid? Fear wasn’t logical. His mind felt like tar. He was alone, broken away from the others, and he had failed. The figure on the altar was limp, a weakly beating heart visible amid the ruby fabric. Vio fell up the steps, grabbing the edge of the stone table. 

The woman smiled still, handing him the knife. Vio took it, the cold of the blade seeming to pierce his skin. He turned it to the victim, without hesitation, and plunged it through their heart. 

Red screamed, eyes flickering out like a candle in a grave.

Vio felt nothing.

—

Four woke on his side, one fist clutched against his chest as he heaved for air. The dream was hazy already, a warning he couldn’t understand. Sky was on watch, the knight shooting him concerned looks. 

Four sat up, his body aching. His eyes burned, and he suddenly wished he could cry. He wanted to sob his eyes out, let Sky hold him while he felt everything all at once and fell apart. But he couldn’t. The thought almost disgusted him. He prodded at his thoughts, but only numbness radiated from his chest. The closest he could get to a feeling was a sickening sense of self-hatred at his own desire to feel.

Memories, him but not, flicked across his mind. Vio wouldn’t be angry if he just existed quietly. He was Four’s heart, ripped out and left behind… Four wanted to throw up now. 

He had known what he was doing, when he split before. He had told himself it would be easier, to cut out emotion and do what had to be done. The split had been precise, tactical, pushing everything that would stop him into one body then physically holding that body down, forcing it to keep that grief internalized with cold brutality as they fled. He had gagged his emotions till they choked out on his tears.

He had broken his own heart. At the time, it had been the best, the only option.

Now, nothing made sense.

Chapter Text

Blue was very concerned with things being fair.

When water was left alone, it naturally sought to create a level surface, to make things smooth and even. Perhaps, in a world where all things were equal, water could be calm and reflective.

Of course, things in real life were never fair, and like water disturbed by forces outside its control, Blue reacted to injustice with turbulence.

He hadn’t stopped to think about killing the cultist. Four had been convinced they had to stop her, so Blue had carried out justice on their behalf. He was already so worked up by the anger at her betrayal—betrayal of Hyrule, betrayal of Four’s trust—that he hadn’t noticed Red’s distress at first. Not till he had turned back, sword still warm from the execution, and seen Red inconsolable in Vio’s arms. 

Predictably, his first reaction was fury. How dare she cause Red such grief? How dare she hurt Four like that?! Blue had discarded any happy memories he might have had of the woman the moment he saw a knife over his brother’s limp body. The thought of Hyrule’s near demise only doubled his anger.

He had leaned into it, at first. It was easy to stay on guard when you were angry. He wouldn’t let any more injustice reach Hyrule or his other pieces. The line between “us” and “them” was drawn nearly between the world at large and the two-turned-five boys escaping the cult’s territory. The black and white view of reality made it easy to turn his wrath into something he could pretend was productive.

Red’s tears always caused him agitation, yet the absence of them disquieted Blue even more.

Red had always been clingy with Blue in particular. They were both the ones prone to wild mood swings, Four’s emotional core made to shield from harm and vent pain when it was inflicted. Seeing Red gagged punctured Blue’s carefully tended boundary, because it didn’t feel fair. He trusted Vio, at least as far as he could throw him. Vio said Red couldn’t cry, so Blue didn’t stop him. But it rankled his very core seeing Red in such obvious distress and unable to do anything to prevent it. Every time he got close to Red and Vio, Red would go into hysterics all over. 

He stuck to guarding the group, but when Red passed out again it took everything Blue had not to try to insert himself between him and Vio. Vio hauled Red up by his shoulder, refusing to let the others take a turn holding him. “He’s settled here. It doesn’t make sense to try to move him around.” Blue hated the calm tone. He hated feeling helpless. It wasn’t fair.

Once they found the Chain, Vio relinquished Red to Wind, and Blue settled for sullenly letting Warriors talk at him. He kept watching the other aspect out of the corner of his eye. In a way, he felt like he wouldn’t feel better till Red woke up and clung to him like a soggy koala, crying and soaking Blue’s tunic. Blue would complain, make a half-hearted attempt to shove him off, but Red wouldn’t let go. He would know Blue would keep him safe, protect him till he finally calmed down. Then, and only then, could Blue relax, knowing everything was as it should be, the world was back to normal, and he didn’t have to feel this awful turbulence swirling in his chest. Yes, that was how it would go. Warriors may as well have been talking to his reflection in a puddle, for all the attention Blue was paying him.

Red woke up, and the expression on his face made the swirling discomfort sharpen into a storm. He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t doing anything. Green tried to give him a drink, and Red winced, spilling it. Blue couldn’t take it any longer, walking away from Warriors mid-sentence.

“Red, you scared the crap out of–”

The glance Red shot him as he scooted away made Blue’s blood boil. His eyes, normally full of a million emotions all at once, were utterly blank. Blue was reminded of the time he had been encased in ice, unable to move or breathe. That had been less painful than this. It had been Red who had saved him that time. Blue reached out to pull Red’s arms around him, as if triggering the clinginess would somehow fix that horrible emptiness. Red made a voiceless noise, pulling back. The loathing in his eyes made Blue back away.

The waves of injustice battered against Blue’s doubts.

–

Blue was the first to request they re-fuse. 

He couldn’t stand it anymore, the hollowness in Red’s face and the cold radiating from the normally warm aspect. He fought alongside Blue, his movements effective but telegraphed. On instinct Blue had tried to stay close once the fight ended—Red was normally always a little soppy after having to kill things, even monsters. After the traumatic incident in the cave, Blue figured Red would finally break down after having to spill blood himself. Blue was getting pre-angry at his brothers for teasing Red for the tears, ready to defend the emotional side of Four with words and, ideally, fists. But the other Links only seemed relieved Red had made it through the fight ok, or mildly concerned by his lack of response once the battle ended.

Blue felt like he was drowning. And there was nowhere for that anger to go. He needed Red to need him. 

“Since Red’s awake, can we re-fuse? I’m tired of being split.” He was wiping his face in agitation, trying to remove the blood. Red had been afraid of Blue’s sword earlier, when it was covered in blood. 

“I don’t see why not. It will probably help him to be whole again.” Vio’s tone was clipped, analytical. Blue almost retracted his desire to merge. The boiling worry in his chest didn’t want Red near a threat, wanted to put himself between danger and his heart. How could he do that when the threat shared their body and mind?

When had he started viewing Vio as a threat? 

Blue made sure he stood between the two of them, gritting his teeth as he felt the magic begin to knit them all back into one. 

The last thing he thought, as he faded into Four, was at least Red was next to him again.

—

Things didn’t get better. 

Four could feel the anger frothing under his skin, snappish and refusing to let anyone too close. “Did it hurt?” Why would Wild even ask that?! Did he think he was incapable of protecting himself? No one understood what he was going through, and all the prying questions did nothing but make Four put up more walls. By the time they fell asleep that night, anger was the easiest, maybe the only thing he could feel.

Then he dreamt of Vio killing Red.

The pain seemed to fill every inch of his body, tingling like ants walking over his skin. Even when he woke up and the dream faded, he couldn’t shake the shivering. Sky was watching them. Sky would understand, wouldn’t he? He could go tuck himself against Sky’s side and maybe, just maybe, let himself cry—

The walls shot back up, dams to fill him with self-hatred. No, he didn’t deserve to be comforted. He shouldn’t feel anything. It was easier not to feel, right? That’s what he had decided when he cut Red out. Justice had been more important than feeling.

A worried voice of protest in the back of his mind wondered, if it was easier not to feel sadness and joy, would anger be next?

He couldn’t fall back asleep. He didn’t want Sky to fret over him, so he tried to lie back down. This did nothing. The stars seemed to mock him, shining the way Red’s eyes once had. It didn’t feel fair. Four could feel his breathing pick up, fists clutching into his bedroll. Any second the others would notice, and might try to comfort him. Already Sky was shuffling, debating coming closer. 

Four rolled to his feet. “Bathroom.” He waved vaguely at Sky. “M’ fine.” He hesitated, picking up the sword as he went. “In case there’s monsters.”

“Shout if you need us…” Sky bit his lip. He clearly was debating between giving Four space and his concern about leaving him alone.

Four wasn’t going to be alone. 

The split felt rougher, less precise. Instead of carefully separating mind and soul and sense and heart, it ripped them apart like a sheet of paper. And like a piece of paper, the pieces weren’t equal.

“Get away from him.” Blue’s sword tapped Vio’s cheek before they were even fully formed. Red lolled limply in Vio's grasp, eyes closed. “Let him go, and step away now.”

Vio stared up at Blue, defiance radiating from his body. Oh no, Blue wasn’t about to tolerate that. Defiance came from him, and no matter how much Vio borrowed in a split, it wasn’t ever going to match Blue’s reserves. 

“Last warning. Put Red down.”

“He’ll get dirty.” 

“That’s crap and you know it!” Blue’s sword cut into Vio’s cheek slightly. “He’s only like this because of you! Because you wanted to act without mercy, and now Red’s gone!” Fury painted his words. “Don’t act like you care about him!”

“It wasn’t just my idea. It was all of us, it was Link deciding to do what had to be done.”

“Link?! Link didn't choose to gag him! Link didn’t refuse to let anyone offer him comfort! And now Link can’t even think of crying or feeling without loathing himself for it!” 

“Stop.” Green tried to put a hand on Blue’s shoulder. “Killing each other won’t help. Red doesn’t need us to fight.”

Blue’s blade wobbled, but he stilled it. “Red needed me to fight for him a lot sooner, and I didn’t. This is me making up for lost time.” He glared. “Let me have him. Now.”

Green sighed, looking at Vio. “Please…”

Vio reluctantly let go of Red, and Blue rushed to collect the unconscious body. It felt too light, insubstantial and chilly. He backed away from the others, keeping his sword ready in one hand in case they tried to reclaim Red from him. Green looked pained. Vio only stared, eyes never leaving Red, muttering to himself.

Blue finally settled a few yards off, sitting and holding Red on his lap. Red remained limp, like a puppet with its strings cut. “C’mon. Wake up. I need you to wake up.” He gave him a shake. “This isn’t funny, Red. You need to open your eyes.”

Red remained still. If he wasn’t faintly breathing, Blue might have thought he was dead.

“I mean it, Red. Wake up.” Blue felt the anger cresting. “I’ll beat you up, see if I won’t! If I have to shake you till you wake up and start crying I will!”

“That will only hurt his neck…”

“Shut up, Vio!” Blue clutched Red closer to him. “Come on, you're supposed to get all soggy and cry on me and cling to me like a stupid leech! Tell me who I have to fight to fix this, and I will! There’s gotta be someone, something! I can’t protect you if you’re de—“

Red shuddered. Blue’s voice broke on the last syllable. Red stirred again, eyes slowly opening. He looked at Blue—no, through Blue. His expression remained inscrutable as his gaze roved over nothing for a moment, then slowly his arms moved up to encircle Blue, pulling tight to his tunic. Red turned his face into the fabric, squeezing.

“Is this what you want me to do?” The voice was tiny, broken, barely audible. Utterly mechanical. It was the first time Red had spoken since the cavern, and Blue wasn’t sure even Red knew he was speaking. Blue stared, the maelstroms inside him hitting each other with such force that they somehow cancelled each other out into a glassy calm. “Is this what you want me to do?”

Red didn’t want him. He only tolerated him because he thought Blue was demanding it. And Blue couldn’t bring himself to let Red go.

It was so unfair of him. But for once, Blue couldn’t care.

Chapter Text

They were falling apart, and it was Green’s fault.

He hadn’t stayed behind to comfort Red when She died.

He hadn’t stopped Vio from gagging Red to stop his screaming.

He hadn’t insisted on caring for Red, who he knew to be so fragile, while they fled.

He hadn’t been able to coax words from Red when he woke up, hadn’t been able to look inward and fan the dying embers of Red’s heart with the compassion Green so readily felt for everyone else.

He hadn’t made the Chain wait, to let Red rest and recover.

He hadn’t fought back when the others asked to rejoin, not even when he saw how much Red needed support.

He hadn’t wondered how Vio was doing, as the nightmares rolled through Four’s mind and forced him to rush off to split.

He hadn’t convinced Blue to sheathe the sword as he laid the blame for Red’s condition at Vio’s feet.

Green wasn’t sure it was Vio’s fault.

But Green had not stopped the self-directed attacks, nor the spiral. He was supposed to be compassion and heroism, a genuine care for others that extended beyond his own desires. Yet he couldn’t seem to apply that care when the others were him. He had stood by, allowing them to become mired in self-loathing and self-destruction. And too late, he realized he had to fix it.

Red was holding weakly onto Blue, whose stricken expression told Green that the emotional half of Four’s existence had completely shut down. Vio wasn’t doing much better, staring at his hands and mumbling to himself. Vio was already an externalization of Four’s thought processes, but the things he kept muttering didn’t sound… coherent.

“Just tell me what you want me to do.” Red had found his voice again, only for every word to inflict pain on the others. “Is this what you want me to do.”

Blue didn’t respond, keeping a grip on Red and breathing unsteadily. He shook his head, but when Red tried to let go he only held tighter. Vio tried to shuffle closer and Blue bared his teeth at him.

“Red…” Green’s voice felt thick. “Red, can you hear me?”

Red’s eyes snapped to him, flat and dark. “What do you want me to do.” His face seemed thinner, which was impossible. He should have looked like Four, should have looked like all the others except for the tunic. But there was a gauntness about him now, a corpse half-shriveled even as his lungs still drew air. He's reflecting how he feels… or how he doesn’t…

The world rippled. They all felt it–a portal was opening. They needed to rejoin, to go back to camp and marshall the others. Portals in the middle of the night were always the worst. The others would be disoriented, they needed all the hands they could get. But Blue wasn’t moving, Vio was shifting from foot to foot, Red kept repeating himself over and over while holding loosely to Blue’s tunic. Green felt the overwhelming desire to go help the other Links, leave the other three to handle themselves till he was sure everyone else was situated. Green had to be helpful.

But the ones who needed his help most now were him.

Green stepped to Vio, gingerly laying a hand on his shoulder. Vio winced, ogling at him. “What…?”

“It’s time to go, Vio. We need to go back to camp.”

The purple Link looked dazed, his cheek sluggishly bleeding. “We’re… leaving?”

“Yeah, yeah buddy, come on. You start back, I’ll be behind you.”

“We shouldn’t split up. Red—“

“We aren’t splitting up. I’ll be right behind you, ok. Go on.” Green gave him a slight push. “Blue? Can you walk for me?”

Blue only grumbled, glaring at Vio. Green was half-certain Blue would stab him if he got too close. When he was protecting things, he tended to not be too focused on details like who was his ally or his self. 

“Red, there’s a portal. We need to go back before it comes after us.” To Green’s relief, Red stood obediently. Blue made a noise of distress, trying to keep hold of him as he pulled away. Good, they’d both go. Red shivered, face screwed up for a moment as if some feeling was trying to emerge, but it died off just as fast.

Green nearly ran ahead, but the other three were like lost sheep. Vio would get too close, and Blue would pull Red away, getting them off track. Red would obediently follow any direction—spoken or tactile—which grew more confused when Vio began to speculate out loud about their surroundings or where the portal was. Green was kept on edge, nudging Red back into line and stopping Blue from trying to tear Vio apart for “talking too much.” It was exhausting. He didn’t feel like he was making a difference, agonizing to someone whose whole being was based around being helpful.

They made it twenty steps before the portal lost patience and opened under their feet. Green barely had time to lunge forward and grab Vio before they were all tumbling into the black.

This was the first time they went through one separated, and it was worse than Green expected. The darkness clung to him, filling his lungs with smog. Agony shot through his head, like an arrow. Green felt it pass through to Vio, then onward, like a thin line momentarily recognizing that Four was not four individuals but one person smeared across four bodies. Then the portal spat them out. The other side was bright, cold, wind-swept. Green shuddered.

“Is this…” He looked around. Only the colors were in sight. Green felt a twist of fear that the other Links might have fallen off the side and squashed it. “The Tower of Winds.”

Vio had gone icily pale, seeming short of breath. Green quickly moved closer, catching him before he collapsed. Blue was shaking, eyebrows scrunched together in rage. He held tight to Red, who had gone back to dangling from Blue’s grip like a doll, though his expression indicated this was less about numbness and more the migraine, which had passed through them all and ended up lodged in Red’s head.

“This… this is…” Vio took a deep breath. “This is where…”

“Shadow…” Green looked sidelong at Vio. Vio had been closest to Shadow, but in the end, he had been one of them–as much a part of Link, of Four, as the rest of them. If things were normal, this would have been the most devastating place they could have landed. But now… 

They couldn’t even cry about it.

That made it so much worse.

“We need to get to the castle.” Green needed to maintain the feeling of control. He needed a plan. “The others will head there. Zelda will know what’s going on.”

“No.”

Green blinked. Blue had released Red, backing away from the group. His fists shook with pure rage. Green kept his tone as soft as he could. “What do you mean—“

“I’m… I’m not doing this any more. I can’t take it!” He jabbed his finger at Vio. “I don’t want anything to do with him! I don’t care if he’s me—what he did was wrong! Red’s only getting worse, and it’s all because of him!”

“Blue, we can’t fight. If we can reach Zelda—“

“No! After everything he’s done, thinking he’s so smart and making the rest of us suffer, I’m done! I won’t go with him!” Blue threw an arm out to gesture around him. “Or did you forget what happened here?”

Vio blinked, frowning. “I was… that wasn’t my fault. It makes no sense to—“

“Vio was trying to get close to the Dark Mirror, we know he wasn’t actually trying to hurt us.” Green’s stomach lurched at the memories of the duel in Death Mountain, of Vio’s emotionless expression as he had pretended to kill him. But it had been a ruse, it had been part of his plan, and everything had ended fine. “Shadow was able to…”

“He manipulated Shadow! He manipulated us! He knows how to play our emotions, but he doesn’t feel anything. And now, thanks to him, Red doesn’t feel anything either! You felt it, that cold when we were Link–Red’s just gone!” Blue balled up his fists. Red hadn’t moved from where Blue had left him. “I can’t stand by while Vio destroys us, destroys pieces of Link.”

His sword came free of its sheath.

“If Vio’s so keen to eliminate parts of himself, then it’s my job to protect us by stopping him.”

“Blue, please. I know you’re protective of Red, but…” Green stepped between them. “You’re not thinking straight. What happened impacted us all badly, but Vio didn’t mean to hurt Red.”

“The worst part is, you got me to be part of it.” Blue didn’t seem to see Green, eyes locked on Vio. “Stupid, stupid Blue. I didn’t stop to question you, I trusted your judgement. You knew that I’d do what you said, so you didn’t even have to get your hands dirty.” Blue raised the sword. “And now, Link’s broken, and I failed to protect him. But the least I can do is avenge him.”

He lunged.

Green could tell Vio wouldn’t react in time. He was staring, expression empty, hands slightly open almost as if he accepted the judgment Blue was handing down. Green fumbled for his sword. He could block the blow, he was fast, he could fight Blue till he tired out, then–

A second blade clashed against Blue’s, making him stumble back. Red was standing, sword in hand. His face was a mask, but his eyes seemed to almost spark, as if something was stirring deep within him.

“Move out of the way, Red!” Blue snapped his teeth. “I’m not letting him hurt you again!”

Red shook his head slightly. He tracked Blue’s movements slowly but steadily, sword the only part of him not shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. Blue feinted a few times, but Red remained a wall between him and Vio. Green knew he could have grabbed Vio and run, but he couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning people in need. He had to stop the fight before it got worse, and Blue hurt someone in his blind anger.

“Vio, please, you need to apologize. Maybe if you do, Blue will calm down enough that we can–”

“But I’m not sorry.” Vio’s voice was dark as a cave. “I did what had to be done. It doesn’t make sense to apologize for–”

“Can you honestly look at Red and Blue right now, at how much they’re hurting, and tell me you think that it’s not necessary to apologize?!” Green felt something in him cracking. “Red hates himself, Blue’s ready to attack you. I can’t keep–”

“Their reactions aren’t logical.”

“Of course they aren’t! They aren’t the logical ones! Just because they’re reacting differently to a situation doesn’t make them wrong.” Behind him, he could hear Blue’s attacks grow more frenzied. “You did what was logical, that’s what you are. But you didn’t let Red be what he was supposed to be, Red is supposed to be the part of us that feels, and you denied him that. Even if it was right at the moment, it still hurt him, Vio! It wasn’t fair to him. Blue doesn’t react on logic, he reacts based on what is fair, on preventing injustice. To him, stopping someone from hurting himself is the right thing to do!” Green shook. “And me, I’m supposed to reconcile all the broken pieces, to help others get along, to empathize. I can see all the sides. And I am telling you, until you bend your pride and apologize, it’s not going to improve.” Vio avoided his gaze. “Isn’t it logical to accept others might be hurt, even if you were doing the right thing?” Green hesitated, not wanting to poke an old wound but seeing no choice. “... isn’t that what Shadow did? He sacrificed himself because it was the right thing to do, but it still hurt you, hurt us.”

Vio flinched. Green could see his face twitch, as if trying to feel something but unable to place it. “Fine. I will apologize.”

Green sighed in relief. One down. Now he just had to get Blue to listen…

There was a grunt, making them both spin around. Red was sitting on top of Blue, back to staring vacantly at nothing. Green idly wondered what instinct had pushed Red to defend Vio, even when he couldn’t feel anything and he had more reason to hate Vio than anyone.

“Go on.” He nudged Vio’s shoulder. “While he’s not stabbing.”

Vio moved closer, though Green noticed he stopped well short of Blue’s reach should he get away.

“My actions over the past few days have been…” He hesitated, but his eyes strayed to the center of the room where the mirror once stood, and he continued. “I hurt you. I was trying to protect Link from physical harm, but I caused you anguish, for which I apologize.”

“That’s not good eno–oof!” Blue squirmed as Red refused to let him continue.

Red looked up at Vio, eyes still dull. Then he slowly offered his hand, letting Vio clasp it. He gave a slight nod, then released Blue. The protective aspect scrambled to his feet, glaring daggers.

“I did not mean to make you feel like I was using you.” Vio’s words were more cautious. “I will try to be more considerate of emotions in the future. I want Link to be safe, but I of all people should know, it’s not worth sacrificing a part of ourselves for that.”

Blue grumbled, looked away. Red reached out, grabbing his hand, making Blue startle slightly. Red joined his hand with Vio’s, looking intently at them both. Green let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

Climbing down took time. Red was still quiet, though he would occasionally grab hold of one of their sleeves before letting go and looking ashamed. Blue’s anger had largely subsided, letting him return to restlessly patrolling around them like a sheepdog. Vio had out his bow, picking off the few Keese that dared try to harass them. Green was glad to be back in their Hyrule–things felt so much closer together than in the Champion’s sprawling land. They arrived at the castle as the sun set, the guards recognizing them and quickly sending word to Zelda. A notice was sent to the rest of the company to be on the lookout for the rest of the Chain and guide them here as well. Red tugged at Green’s sleeve till he remembered to warn them not to chase the Vet, lest they reawaken old traumas.

Zelda received them in a small parlor rather than the throne room, one they often met in before their latest quest. “And he hasn’t spoken in a few days?”

“He was talking earlier, but I don’t think he was really aware of what he was saying.” Blue was closest to Red, though he allowed Zelda to gently clasp his hands. Red was looking at her hands like he had never seen them before. 

“And this started when you killed a friend who was trying to hurt one of the other Links.” Zelda’s tone was gentle.

“She was a cultist. She wasn’t–”

“You said she treated you kindly.” Zelda cut off Blue without taking her eyes off Red. “That until that moment, she was your friend.”

“Yeah, but it hardly matters–”

“You can still mourn a friendship, even if it ended badly, even if it was their fault. It’s still a form of loss.” Zelda’s thumbs traced small circles on Red’s hands. “What was her name?”

Red blinked, looking down. “It… it was…” He shuddered, and a single drop of water fell onto Zelda’s hands. “It was Kaitlen.” A few more drops spilled out. “Link wouldn’t even… even think it… and I… what she did wasn’t right but…” Red finally lifted his head, eyes swimming with tears. "but it still hurt to know Kaitlen could have been so nice, she could have been… but to be sad over that wasn’t… it wasn’t right—” 

“It’s ok.” Zelda touched his face. “You’re allowed to be upset.”

The permission finally broke through the dam. Zelda pulled Red close, and the boy buried his face into her shoulder, sobbing. Green could have melted right there from relief. Red looked up, saw the other three still there, and his crying redoubled.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I know it’s stupid to cry about someone who did something so terrible, I just… I just…!”

Vio suddenly grabbed Red, squeezing him tight. Red whimpered, then flung his arms around Vio too. 

“You’re not stupid. We thought… she was our friend. You were the only one trying to acknowledge that.” Vio sighed. “I’m sorry, Red. I… I’m so sorry…”

Red squeezed tighter. “... don’t ever gag me again.”

“I won’t. I won’t.”

Without looking up Red grabbed Blue and pulled him in as well, making him squawk. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

Blue blinked, turning slightly pink. “S-someone has to, you soggy sponge.” He gave a very quick hug before letting go. “I’m… I’m sorry I said those things, Vio. At the tower. I know that whole thing with Shadow was hard on you, I shouldn’t have…” 

“You say lots of things when you’re mad. If anyone should understand you don’t mean them, it should be yourself.” Vio let go of Red enough to grasp Blue’s arm. “Besides, you probably couldn’t have killed me. I’m much tougher than you.”

“What! Why you–!” Blue nearly lunged at Vio, but Zelda giggled and held him back. 

Red looked up at Green, eyes full of tears. “Thank you… I know you… you tried really hard to help… I’m sorry I didn’t…”

Green knelt by him. “You’re ok. I’m ok. We’re all going to be fine.”

“Yeah, but… but I know helping others is really important to you and… and you did help.” Red’s eyes were still streaming tears. “Even when everything else was so faded and distant, I knew you were helping me. And when Blue tried to fight Vio, I felt like… like I knew it would only cause you more problems, to have to watch out for all of us. And I didn’t want you to have to suffer more.” Red opened his hands towards Green. “And just for a second, I felt like I loved you enough that I couldn’t just stand there. So I was able to move. Even if it was just loving a piece of myself, it was the first time I’d felt something since…” He ducked his head as more tears flowed. Green carefully hugged him, feeling the slight warmth returning even as his tunic grew uncomfortably damp. Zelda laughed, throwing her arms around all of them and pulling them into a group embrace that lifted all four off their feet.

Things weren’t perfect. But they were healing. And if they could move towards it, four parts slightly off-sync, then there was a chance some day they might again be whole.

Green took a deep breath. The air tasted like hope.