Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Time had really been hoping to get a full night's sleep, he’d had a mug of sleepytime tea and everything. It was a nice snowy night, flecks of white drifted down from the heavens to coat everything in a thick blanket, light wind buffeted the side of the large ranch house, a soothing lullaby to fall asleep too. His wife seemed to have taken nature's hint as she was sound asleep and snoring loudly into her pillow next to him. But Time couldn’t sleep. 

After an hour or so of listening to a podcast about pirates so he could keep up with Wind’s obsession he gave up on a good night's sleep and pulled himself out of bed fully awake. 

It was 12:34 at night according to his brain, he double checked the time on his phone and proved himself correct. It wasn’t all that late but he really should be sleeping right now, he had chores in the morning and had to make sure all the boys weren’t burning anything down out of pure boredom. It had happened twice, who could blame him for keeping a close eye on them all. He decided he might as well check on them if he was already awake. 

Sky and Four’s room was the closest, a dim light shone out from underneath the door and Time rolled his eye. It was very likely Four was up reading again. He knocked very quietly so as to not wake Sky who was most definitely asleep and carefully opened the door when Four’s mumbled “Come in” reached his long ears. 

As usual his second youngest was sitting up against his headboard with the thick book in his hands angled to catch the reading light perfectly. Sky was sprawled out underneath a thick quilt and snoring softly on the other side of the room, the arm of his favorite bird themed pajamas thrown over the side of the mattress. 

Time turned his attention back to the younger teenager still awake, his dark eyes were half lidded and his greasy hair was tied back into a short ponytail to stay out of his face. 

“You look tired,” Time commented. 

“Unhhh,” was his son's very coherent answer. 

“Put the book down and get some sleep, kid,” Time gently took the surprisingly heavy book from Four’s sleepy hold. “You can read about,” he checked the cover, “Tide pools and the animals that call them home, tomorrow.” 

Four reached clumsily for his book and Time just raised an eyebrow, “I doubt you’re processing any of this information right now.” He held up the book in question. “Go to sleep.” 

Apparently that was convincing enough because the teen just grumbled and lay down, snuggling underneath heavy winter covers and fumbled for the reading lamp’s light switch. After two failed attempts Time took pity on his sleep deprived son and did it for him. Not before dropping a kiss on his forehead and setting the book down carefully on the bedside table. 

Four just mumbled something that sounded sort of like “Good night,” and drifted off to sleep. 

Time smiled slightly and left the room quietly, making sure the closing door wouldn’t wake anyone. 

Next was Wind’s room, thankfully the lights were off so Time could only assume his youngest was sleeping peacefully. And if he was having a rough night Wind wasn’t shy about asking for comfort so Time passed by quickly. 

Further down the hall was Twilight and Wars’ room. The door was open and his oldest’s bed was empty aside from two cats taking advantage of the leftover body heat. Twilight at least seemed to be sleeping soundly, Wolfie sprawled over his legs acting as a weighted blanket and a small kitten wrapped up carefully in his strong arms. Why he let his son get away with bringing so many animals into the house Time wasn’t completely sure. But he couldn’t exactly change his mind now. 

Down the stairs he crept, making sure to avoid the creaking steps and keeping an eye out for Warriors. If he was awake right now it was probably one of his bad nights, the ones where he double checked door locks and carried a pocket knife in his sweatpants. After reaching the bottom of the stairs he started to hum quietly, not loud enough to wake anyone upstairs but enough to alert his oldest to his presence. Warriors was jumpy, especially at night and Time didn’t especially feel like getting punched in the face again out of panic, at least the teenager didn’t have the best right hook. He hadn’t even broken his nose. 

As he suspected he found the bottle blond sitting at the kitchen counter with a mug of steaming tea and ears on a swivel. Cheese Whiz the orange cat lay on the counter and Wars had a hand absently running through the thick fur. 

“What are you doing up, Time?” Warriors asked quietly. His voice was tight, like he was having trouble speaking. He didn’t have much trouble with speech anymore, mostly when he was nervous. 

“Couldn’t sleep.” He scratched at Cheese’s head lightly. “Bad night?” 

Wars just nodded shakily, obviously tired of speech. One of the cows moo-ed from the barn and the teenager flinched slightly at the unexpected noise. Time smiled sadly and grabbed an orange from the fridge to roll across the counter to his son. “Why don’t you focus on eating this and I’ll go check the perimeter?” 

Wars looked a bit conflicted but nodded eventually, digging his nails into the thick skin of the orange and peeling. They had done this many times, it always calmed his oldest’s fears a bit to know there were no intruders. So Time jammed his thick sock footed feet into a pair of rain boots, wrapped himself up in a big heavy overcoat, and stomped out into the cold night air with a heavy duty flashlight in hand. 

The snow was ankle deep at this point and Time carefully trudged through it towards the center field. With the flashlight he was able to see all the corners of the flat land, nothing strange, just a bunch of snow. He repeated this process a few times to make sure everything was clear before heading back towards the house and walking the perimeter. 

The chill was getting to him by the time he dragged his feet towards the barn, really he didn’t mind doing this whole routine occasionally so Warriors could have peace of mind, but he was excited to get back into a warm house and out of the wind and snow. But when he reached up for the door latch on the barn he noticed something strange. It’s unlatched. 

He never forgot to lock up at the end of the day, not for actual years. He looked down to find very faint footprints, already being covered in a thin sheet of snow. 

Someone is here. 

A closer look told him there were two sets, and they were small. Kids? Why would there be kids in the barn? They were a good hours walk out from town, why on earth would people come here of all places to presumably get out of the cold? And why not just knock on the door? 

Time shook his head to clear his thoughts and focused on the problem at hand. There were two, presumably children, in his barn in a snowstorm. He needed to see what was going on and if they needed help. Warriors would be fine for a few more minutes. He pushed open the heavy wooden door and slipped inside quickly, trying to avoid letting the cold air in. 

The overhead lights were off but a faint light emitted from the hayloft, as Time turned his attention to the wooden floor up in the ceiling he caught a disembodied hand switching off the light source. 

Not sure what else to do, the man turned on the overhead lights and called out. “Who’s up there?” He tried to keep his voice steady and soft, not wanting to scare what were likely runaways. 

All he got back was a muffled curse and a nasty sounding cough. 

“I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to know why there are people in my wife’s barn.” Maybe the mention of his wife would make these people more comfortable. After a few seconds a small face edged over to where Time could see them, but before he could make out more than tan skin and brownish hair they were tugged back. 

“We’ll-“ a horrible cough interrupted whatever the person had been trying to say. Wet and rattling, it was so loud Time could hear it from dozens of yards away. “We’ll leave. Just go back to your house and we’ll get out of your hair.” The voice was raspy and hoarse. They sounded young too, most likely a teenager. 

“Sorry but I can’t leave two kids out here in the cold.” 

Silence, then another gasping wet breath and Time decided he’d had enough. “You sound sick, do you at least have someone I can call?” 

The wheezing was still happening and Time began to slowly walk towards the wooden ladder to the loft, hoping not to spook anyone but getting worried about this kid’s health. 

A slightly higher pitched voice answered him, “No.”

Of course not. 

“But my si-brother needs help!” They said this very fast and loud, like they were worried they wouldn’t be able to get the words out. 

Time had reached the ladder at that point, “Is it alright if I come up there, he definitely doesn’t sound very good.” 

“Go- go away.”

“Please!” 

“Okay I’m sorry but I’m coming up.” And he ascended to the loft. Time wasn’t a large man by any standards but he still stayed on his knees when he reached the wooden slats, the last thing he needed to do was scare these kids further. 

With the light of the barn he could see the teenagers(?) in front of him perfectly. Crouched over a small figure was a young boy. A too large green and brown quilted jacket hung over his thin frame, chin length brown curls framed a round face with a few scars littered on tan skin. He couldn’t be more than thirteen. Big brown eyes looked at him with fear and hope, a mitten clad hand was on the other person’s shoulder, presumably keeping them from standing. 

The other kid looked older, maybe sixteen or seventeen, a thin pale face was half smushed into a pile of hay, golden blonde and pink highlighted hair was hanging lank over their forehead and shoved back into a blue beanie. There was a pale scar running from their nose bridge and halfway down their cheek. Sharp greyish blue eyes locked onto him with distrust, they were wrapped in an old blue quilt and visibly holding back another round of coughing.

“You don’t look so good kid,” Time was just about ready to get these kids inside the ranch house with a warm cup of hot chocolate and some medicine, but he had a feeling the older one at least, wouldn’t appreciate the offer. Nayru knows Time himself hadn’t been very easy to help as a kid. 

“Very kind of you old man,” The blond said in a painfully thin voice before hunching in on themselves in a violent shiver. 

“He’s been like this the past day.” Said the younger, “Do you have medicine or something, we can find a way to pay you back.” 

“Yes I have medicine, don’t worry about payment.” Time took a deep breath. “You two need to get out of this cold, it’s not good for your health being out here.” 

The blond took that opportunity to wheeze, “Think we don’t know that, dipshit.” 

Time just took another deep breath. “I’m going to call my wife to let her know what’s going on. You two can come back into the house. It’s nice and warm and we'll get you some hot drinks, and medicine. Does that sound okay?” 

The blond looked like he was about to argue but the brunette whispered in his ear and whatever he’d said must’ve been convincing because he eventually mumbled, “Fine. But nobody touches my brother.” 

Time nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” 

He pulled out his phone and opened a call to Malon, it rang a few times before a sluggish “wha” let him know she was awake. 

“Honey, there’s two kids out in the barn, one of them is very sick. I’m going to bring them into the house okay?” 

A few moments of silence passed while Malon tried to understand what the hell was going on thankfully she was pretty quick on the draw. “Kids in the barn?” 

“Yes.” 

“Alright, I’ll be up in a second.” The call switched off. 

“Is there anything I can call you two?” He was tired of thinking of them as the younger and the older. 

“Li,-“ The younger was cut off by a light jab to the ribs. 

“Legend, you can call me Legend.” The older one interrupted in a rush. “And he’s Hyrule.” 

“Like the kingdom?” 

“Yes.” 

Well Time couldn’t argue with that, it was obviously a fake name but everyone called him Time, even when he had a perfectly respectable legal name. Hell somehow all his kids were named Link but went by nicknames. 

It was surprisingly easy to get the kids out of the loft and to the barn door. Legend was shaking badly and unsteady on his feet but it seemed Hyrule was much stronger than he appeared because he was able to keep the other from falling off the ladder and then supporting them while walking. He was able to keep the ratty quilt around Legend while they walked, as well as carry what seemed to be a backpack and a violin case. It reminded him of how Twilight and Warriors tended to let Sky lean up against them when he got tired out of the blue and didn’t have his cane on hand. These kids obviously took good care of eachother. 

“Okay we’ll have to rush once we get outside, but it’s a straight shot to the side door.” Time instructed as he placed his hand on the door, ready to push. Hyrule nodded firmly and Legend just watched him with flinty eyes. 

He threw open the door and they all ran out into the cold. Time hurried to latch the door with freezing fingers and then turned his attention on the side door, turning the handle loudly to alert Warriors to his presence once again. 

“We have some visitors,” He said towards the kitchen where he could now see his eldest eating an orange very slowly. The blond tilted his head, confused, and only got more so as Time let the kids through the door and into the house.

“What the-“ Warrior’s obviously distressed face quickly turned into concern when he fully processed the two teenagers coming inside from the cold. “I’ll go get blankets.” He got up to leave and Time let him, this was no doubt stressful for the boy and if leaving to get blankets calmed his mind, all the better. 

“Why don’t you two go sit on the couch,” Time ushered them over to the large L shaped brown leather furniture. “I’ll start the fire up.” 

This earned him another determined nod from Hyrule as he lugged his sibling towards the large cushions and set them down carefully. Legend groaned and fell into another coughing fit while Hyrule slotted next to them with a hand hugging them close. 

Time could feel untrusting eyes watching him carefully as he opened the flu and began wadding up newspaper to light on fire. For once he was greatful for Wars' insistence that they got the news (since he had promised not to look stuff up about himself he had started reading the news, dreading the day he saw his legal name pop up. Time only let it slide because it was the local paper). As he worked setting up firewood and keeping the blaze alive he finally heard the distinctive steps of his wife making her way down the stairs. 

She was dressed in flannel pj pants and a woolen sweater, cow themed slippers keeping her feet warm. Her bright red hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and she was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Whatever weariness clung to her quickly fell away when she saw two young boys(?) (Time wasn’t one to assume gender but the older one definitely didn’t look completely cis, or at least he felt that’s something Sheik would say. And it hadn't slipped his attention that Hyrule was going to say something else before deciding on the word 'brother'.) on her couch. The older one was still hacking and wheezing while the younger was rubbing their back in sympathy. 

“Oh, you poor dears.” 

Time turned to see Legend bristle but once again Hyrule whispered something in their ear and they calmed down, watching Malon wearily. The woman came around the back of the couch to properly face the two who had broken into her barn and hid up among the hay on a cold winter's night. The concern was evident in the line of her shoulders and pinch in her brow, Time could tell she was trying to decide what to say. 

It was at this moment, Warriors chose to come back from the hallway closet with a truly impressive pile of blankets. He must’ve raided the guest bedroom as well. A large blue comforter took up the bottom of the stack, a fluffy green throw and a smaller red quilt plied on top. There was even a dusky purple weighted blanket in his arms. Warriors carefully dumped the assortment of cloth onto the couch and effectively broke the ice by asking a simple, “Which blankets do you guys want?”

Hyrule was momentarily distracted from his sibling’s poor health by the bounty of warm comfortable bedding. With a hesitant glance at Warriors who just gave him a small nod, the young boy dug into the pile next to him and pulled out the green fluffy throw. With cold stiff fingers he began to wrap it around Legend, despite the older glaring at him sharply. Their voice was incredibly soft though as they said “I’m fine, ‘Rulie.” 

Hyrule pouted and began to whisper something back at Legend when Malon took Time by the shoulders. She had to reach up just slightly because while he wasn’t a tall man, she wasn’t all that tall either. “I need you to go make some hot chocolate or something, I’ll take their temperatures and get them settled.” And Time, who had never been one to argue with his wife, simply nodded and with a single backwards glance, went to heat up some milk in the microwave. 

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Legend hadn’t expected his day to go like this, or rather, his night. 

The middle of winter was decidedly not his favorite time of the year, it was cold and windy and almost impossible to travel by foot through slushy ground. It was also harder to keep his brother safe as the temperatures dropped, and wild food became scarce. Night was always the worst, as he and Hyrule traveled throughout the kingdom avoiding the law and generally flying under the radar, it was always hard to land a warm place to sleep. 

Legend tried his best to keep his little brother warm and safe, he’d sworn to do so over a year ago when they’d run from that 'youth shelter' into the woods never to be seen again. 

Legend took care of his brother, he let the boy have the warmer jacket, gave him the most food, made sure he was wrapped up and warm enough every night. When he learned Hyrule couldn’t read he began taking him to public libraries and trying to teach him. He read out loud as best he could in his own strained voice, slowly becoming more comfortable with speech himself. He stole whatever supplies they needed to survive, becoming practiced and good at sneaking small items. When his nose got stuffy and throat sore, when already aching limbs and pained knees began to drag him down, Legend kept going, because his job was to keep Hyrule as safe and happy as possible. 

And when the snow storm began to blow in unexpectedly Legend did his best with what he had. And that barn on the horizon had looked pretty cozy to him. 

He’d expected for the night to go by smoothly, he’d pick the lock, get Hyrule up to whatever loft type thing there was and get him out of the wind and snow. He wasn’t expecting to half collapse on the way there, robbed of breath by violent coughing. His twelve year old brother had to support him as they shuffled down the slick county road, and because the goddesses seemed to have it out for him in particular, Legend only felt worse as they went. 

He’d managed to pick the rudimentary lock with the bobby-pins he kept clipped to his beanie and closed the heavy door behind them. Thankfully Hyrule was strong for his age (and Legend was small) and he was able to get them both up to the hayloft. With how badly his joints were aching the elder had seriously considered just laying on the hard packed dirt and passing out in misery. Hyrule had argued that he’d die of cold and then what would he do alone, it had been a compelling argument. 

So the plan was to wake up with the sun as usual and hightail it out of there before whoever owned the barn showed up and found them squatting. That genius plan had been ruined almost immediately because as Legend’s hacking and wheezing got worse Hyrule wasn’t getting any sleep. 

“Sorry, ‘Rule. Ack. Just cover your ears or something, I’ll be fine.” Legend patted his brother’s cheek in what he hoped was a reassuring way. “You need rest.” 

Hyrule frowned at him, “No. You need help or something, Ledge, it’s getting worse.” The worry in his dark eyes was evident and as always Legend tried to brush it aside. His calm facade was ruined by another painful round of coughing and body-wracking chills. 

They never got to finish that conversation, because at that moment someone entered the barn and they were no longer alone. 

It was only because his little brother convinced him to get help with a whispered “You can’t protect us if you’re in the grave,” that he even agreed to follow the new man. Hyrule also wasn’t helping to keep his hair from turning grey as he almost immediately spilled their legal names which would be bad as he had to remind the boy many times; “I’m suspected of murder and kidnapping! And you don’t want to deal with the authorities as much as I do!” 

Hyrule also nearly calling him sister didn't help either. It was just something he was trying out, being she when it was just her and Hyrule. It wasn't that he felt incorrect, just incomplete. And so whenever it was convenient, whenever they were alone and her identity crisis wasn't making things harder for the both of them, then Legend got to be called a sister. But obviously now wasn't the time or place. These people didn't get to know what her deal was, it had only ever caused problems.

Now Legend was wrapped up in multiple blankets by a roaring fireplace in a large ranch house. His nose was running, his head hurt, every few minutes he was thrown into another shaking, coughing, painful fit, and his hands and knees were aching almost unbearably. A large weak part of him just wanted to go to sleep. To close his eyes and hope for blissful, dreamless, rest. 

But he was in a strange home, with people he didn’t know, and he had to keep Hyrule safe. They had thought that youth shelter had been safe, they had been wrong. Legend wasn't going to let something like that happen again. Hyrule had enough scars as it was.

The red headed woman seemed nice at least, and the frankly intimidating man had been ushered into the kitchen to get medicine or something. They had introduced themselves as Malon and Time, and the older teenager who’d brought blankets had disappeared soon afterwards into the kitchen had been named Warriors. Which Legend decided was a weird name, ignoring the fact that his alias and preferred name at this point was Legend and his brother had named himself after the kingdom cause he couldn’t think of anything else. But Legend couldn't go by Link anymore, and Hyrule had said it wasn't fair if only one of them got the name, so they’d come to the agreement of nicknames. 

Legend watched Malon warily as she took a seat a few feet from him on the couch, on the opposite side of where Hyrule was cucconed closest to the fireplace. (Legend had insisted that Hyrule needed the warmth more than he did) “Is it okay if I check your temperature, honey?” 

“Whatever.” He agreed because even he could admit something was wrong, and if these people were stupid enough to help them without reward then Legend would benefit from that idiocy. And Hyrule was right, he needed to get better to be able to protect them both. He’d go along with this until the storm stopped or he was physically well enough to leave, but his little brother would not be leaving his sight for a second.

Malon schootched forward an inch and he held back a flinch as she placed the back of her well worn hand against his freezing forehead. The woman made a face and hummed quietly. “You definitely have a fever.” 

Legend felt his typical scowl get grumpier somehow, already tense eyebrows tilting closer together and usual frown deepening. Unfortunately at that moment Warriors chose to step back in and stifle a chuckle at his misery. He now had a thick crochet scarf wrapped around his neck and lower face, it was a hideous blue color that only got worse when combined with the guy’s nearly platinum blonde hair. 

Legend decided to demote him to shithead for the slight. (Because he was very mature) 

“What’s got you so upset kid?” There was a twinkle in Shithead’s eyes that gave the impression he was smirking. Why he was wearing that monstrosity of a scarf Legend didn’t know, but he couldn’t see his mouth. 

Kid. This guy was calling him a kid. It was bad enough coming from Time earlier, but from the pompous teen in front of him? Honestly, how fucking dare he. He had not been a kid for six dindamned years. “I’m not a kid, fuckface,”

If he had been feeling better Legend might’ve put more effort into that retort. But as it was he didn’t think his throat could handle any yelling right now, and getting up on his own to slap the scarf wearing prick was not in his wheelhouse at the moment. He also had a feeling Hyrule would look at him in disappointment for starting a fight, and that was just too much for right now. 

Unfortunately Shithead was making it incredibly hard to not want to punch him.

"Then how old are you?" He had a perfectly manicured eyebrow raised, Legend grit his teeth.

"I didn't know that was any of your business." The anger in his voice was sharp.

"Well you're in my house aren't you," Shithead spit back with a scowl.

His mouth was filling with venom, and his head was growing uncomofortably hot. Legend could feel Hyrule tensing up beside him. The last time he had instigated a fight he had ended up with a broken nose and shards of broken glass embedded in his arm. But it had felt good to be angry, to hurt and be hurt. He missed the fights he used to get into back before Hyrule was around. He missed saying whatever vile filth came to his mind, the relief of the anger and grief that threatened to drown him being spat out in words so he could ignore it for a bit longer. It was the only thing he missed about the time before he met his brother.

He could feel his mouth beginning to open in preparation to get underneath this guy's skin, his fear had left him, all that was left in his brain was a swirling hurricane of cruel words and insults. He wanted to get them out, and the pompous teen in front of him seemed a good enough target.

Before he could get himself beat up or thrown out though, a hand was raised between them and Malon crossed her arms in disappointment.

"Really kids?" She turned to Shithead, "You know better Wars, go help Time with the drinks." In a softer tone she said, "I know this is scary, we can talk about it later."

Shithead lowered his head in apology and then stalked out of the room into the kitchen.

Malon then turned to him, and Legend felt a chill go down his spine. He was expecting rage, anger, a slap across the face, yelling at the very least. He had come into her home, messed up her night, and started a fight with her kid. But all he got was a sad look and a disapproving shake of her head.

"Please keep your voice down if you don't mind, dear. Most of the boys are still asleep."

Hyrule, ecstatic to be able to change the subject, asked: "You have other kids?"

Malon smiled fondly and sat on a foot stool. "Aside from Wars, we have four others. Twilight, Sky, Four, and Wind."

"What's with the names?" Hyrule then asked in a moment of twelve-year-old style lack of manners and complete lack of self reflection, considering his name was Hyrule of all things.

Malon didn't seem offended though, which was great. Legend was already regretting his quick temper and hoped they still had a chance to stay on the woman's good side. Any woman that could run a farm and deal with five children intimidated him.

"Oh that's a story of random and improbable coincidense. Time's actual name is Link, you see. So when we heard tell that Time had a distant relative who died and left a kid on his own, well we were young but we'd been thinking about kids and decided to take him. It had all gotten caught up in the system, apperently they were having trouble finding a relative, so Twilight had been living with some neighbors for a while, and when we learned his name was Link we just let there be a Jr." She snorted into her calloused fist. "I think that decsion put some kind of mark on our heads because when we decided to become foster parents the first kid who needed a placement was a another kid named Link."

Legend could see where this story was headed, it would be funny if it wasn't beginning to feel surreal.

"Well he was a good fit and the name felt like a sign so we decided to adopt him. And I don't say a word of a lie when I tell you that this keeps happening. We hear word of a kid in need of a home and his name always ends up being Link somehow. I'm not sure if our agent is playing some kind of practical joke on us, or if the fates have a unique sense of humor. But I'm not complaining, I love my kids."

Legend would have chosen to believe the first explanation if he wasn't coming to the joyless conclusion that the fates did indeed have a sense of humor. And for some reason they had decided that he and Hyrule were a great addition to the long standing joke. Too bad he wouldn't be giving up either of their names. As soon as he stopping hacking up a lung they would be out of this place and halfway to Holodrum for the rest of the cold months, he knew someone there who would let them work for their stay for a while.

"The boys all chose their own names, none of them liked the idea of being the only one called Link. And who was I to stop them from choosing odd names."

"Makes sense to me," Hyrule added with a kind smile.

"It doesn't really," Time said with an unreadable expression as he carried in a tray of steaming mugs. Notibly Shithead wasn't with him. "But people get used to it pretty fast. I assume you know something about that Legend?"

Legend bristled but was kept from biting back by Hyrule's hand on his shoulder. "It's none of your business old man."

He watched Time and Malon share a look.

"Well, my husband found you in our barn in the dead of the night, we don't need your life story, but you have to understand that we're reasonably concerned."

Legend believed the woman's words, but that didn't mean he could trust them. When Time handed him a warm mug of hot chocolate he didn't let Hyrule drink until he had a scalding sip and made up his mind to wait and see if he felt any adverse effects. Thankfully Hyrule know what Legend's sharp gaze meant and he simply wrapped his cold hands around the warm drink and enjoyed the warmth. He had always been so content with so little.

It hurt his heart to think about the boy he called his brother growing up in that old shack all alone. And then his first true human interaction being so scarring. Literally. He wondered if the needle marks would ever go away, from him or Hyrule. Part of him was just glad that it had been needles and not knives when it came to blood collection.

"My name is Legend, my brother is Hyrule. What else is there to know?" He kept his tone unpleasant, hoping these nice people would realize he was a lost cause and not pry. It only took one slip up or misplaced truth before the authorities were being called and Hyrule would be taken from him and into some strange foster home, and it wouldn't take long for the law to see through all the dyed hair and piercings and figure out where they recognized him from.

Despite his best efforts to rip them down, there were always old wanted posters of a nine year old boy staring at him from gas stations and old bus stops. The name Link Conally printed in thick red lettering.

And unfortunately all the evadence pointed to him, how was a nine year old supposed to know that taking the knife from his already dead uncle would make him the easiest target. He had just wanted to hug the man who had raised him one last time.

He doubted it would be a fair trial, not after six years on the run. His uncle had told him to run, to trust no one. So he hadn't. He'd also been told to go save the girl he'd been trying to protect when he'd been stabbed.

And so Link had wiped the hot tears from his eyes and left the corpse behind in search of the girl who looked remarkably like him. He hadn't fully understood the situation then, but what he later gathered from newspapers and gossip columns it seemed that she was kidnapped and being held for ransom by someone who had worked for her father.

Legend had managed to find her and get her out of there without being seen. Unfortunately before he could her home some rando had taken a photo of them running hand in hand through the night. And since he had been covered in his uncle's blood at the time and was dragging her along behind him it had been damning.

No one even asked him what happened when the knights had come and taken Zelda from him and back to her father. It wasn't his fault that neither of them had known where her mansion was! They had been kids!

But once a man in gleaming armor had drawn his sword and accused him of murder Legend had known whatever he could've said wouldn't be enough. So he had run. He was lucky he had been small and fast or else he would've been caught immediately.

He had barely spoken a word since that night until he met Hyrule. That's when he stopped feeling so bad for himself and decided to put all his energy into protecting someone else.

The man and woman sitting across from him would only turn him in if they knew. He would run again if it meant keeping them safe. He would rack up another set of charges if it meant keeping Hyrule with him.

"Well, why you were sleeping in our barn seems like a good place to start." Malon continued, unaware of the memories spinning in his brain. His throat felt dry, he had to come up with an unassuming reason before Hyrule's tendency to blurt out the truth in tense situations got them separated.

"It was snowing." Not a lie but a pretty obvious truth. Unhelpful.

"That much is apperant," Time said in a quiet voice. His one eye was searching his face for clues, like Legend was a puzzle. "Why were you out in the cold in the first place?"

Before Legend could come up with a believeable lie he broke into another violent coughing fit.

Unfortunately that meant his darling little brother had time to speak. "There was nowhere else to go."

Dindamnit! He couldn't be angry with the kid but still, did he want to get taken away?

"Take this, it'll help the cough." Time handed him two orange pills that Legend recognized. A common cold medicine. He took them dry. Malon grimaced at that but didn't say anything about it.

"Have you two been on the streets for a while?" Time's voice was filled with nothing but stoic concern but Legend still shook his head.

"No." He choked on the lie and started hacking again.

Hyrule rubbed his shaking shoulder and told the truth. "Yes." Then remembering much to late Legend's insistence that he not share that fact and the repercussions of it; "Please don't tell anyone!"

"May I ask why?" Malon questioned softly.

Legend knowing that the game was up muttered, "They'll separate us."

He didn't need to say who they were, he could let the foster parents come to the conclusion on their own and assume the system. He still had a chance to keep his identity under wraps. If they managed to get out of here together then the couple at least couldn't report that he was a wanted criminal.

"And I'm guessing you don't have a blood connection, so they don't feel the need to try and keep you together?" Time said with a knowing look. It was obvious he and Hyrule wern't likely related by blood, they looked absolutly nothing alike.

"Bingo," he agreed in a dry wheezing voice. "So don't you dare turn us in. We've made it this far…" he knew it was probably a pointless request, but Hyrule had good puppy eyes so he had to give the sympathy card a try before measures got more drastic.

His brother thankfully got the memo and turned his big brown eyes on the farmers, nodding along to Legend's words and holding onto his arm.

The two adults shared another meaningful glance and both nodded their heads in a silent agreement.

"You two can stay here, we have a guest bedroom and a good social worker. They'll make sure you don't get separated, no matter what." Time said this with such conviction that for a moment Legend believed him. Then he remebered himself.

"You can say that, but you don't know that for sure."

"You don't know Sheik," he smiled fondly. "My sibling is very convincing, and they've worked on some tough cases. Whatever it is you two are running from, they'll fight for you. And if you want us, we will as well."

"Why?" Hyrule said in a very small voice. "We're just two kids who ruined your night. We'll only cause you more trouble."

Legend hated when Hyrule talked about himself like that, like he wasn't worth the effort. It was a shame really that the kid had latched onto him so fiercely, Legend would only drag him down. But it was too late now, Hyrule would lose everything if he lost Legend, they had to stay together.

Malon smiled sadly, the steam from her hot chocolate winding around her words. "Because when two cold kids show up in your barn in the middle of a snow storm, it becomes your only want to be able to help them. We may not know you, but if you need help we are more than happy to give it. I promise you this isn't our first rodeo." She guestured up to the second floor where all their kids were presumably sleeping.

"Life isn't always easy, but it't better if we take care of each other." Time nodded his head towards him and Hyrule. "I'm sure you know about that."

Legend looked down at the carpeted floor, the offer before him was tempting but terrifying. Sure he could lie about his name, hope no one noticed. Maybe Time and Malon would stand by them. But this was all so sudden and if he made a mistake it would ruin both of them.

He was about ready to grab Hyrule's wrist and make a run for it no matter how sick he was, when said boy took his first. His little brother had been a good judge of character ever since they escaped that awful place together. He could always tell when someone was lying. Legend trusted his brother's judgement.

So when Hyrule whispered into his ear, "They mean it, we're safe here." Legend took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Fine, call whoever you want. But if you break your word we will be gone before you can even start making excuses." He made sure to stare into both of their souls as he did so. If they hurt Hyrule they would pay for it. He didn't make idle threats.

Time reached out a hand to seal the deal and Legend tried his best to ignore how achy his own hands were as he shook it.

Things moved fast after that, Malon decided that they should get some rest before they made the call to this Sheik person. (Legend had not missed the use of non gender specific terms, it made something inside his gut twirl)

So the woman led them upstairs, Hyrule helping him from falling down when his shaking knees became too much.

The guest bedroom was addmititly quite nice. The walls were a soft green and the queen sized bed was covered in a warm brown quilt. Legend could tell through his tired eyes that Hyrule loved it.

"I hope you two don't mind sharing the bed."

Legend shook his head, "a bed is a bed." Hyrule would've slept next to him even if they had been given separate mattresses.

The adults told them good night and left, likely to quietly discuss the events of the night and decide how big of a mistake they were currently making. Legend didn't care, all that mattered was Hyrule getting a good nights sleep in a warm bed. He hoped they would get a good breakfast in the morning. Legend hadn't eaten in two days, Hyrule's needs before his own. Always.

He was glad to find a lock on the inside of the door, he trusted Hyrule's judgement, but that doesn't stop him from being cautious.

That night he dreams of a girl who looks too much like him, screaming at the knights that he was no murderer. There was blood on his hands and a bruise forming on his face. He felt it was lazy for his subconscious mind to simply replay old memories instead of making up a new nightmare.

><><><><

Warriors was still in the kitchen when her and Time came back downstairs.

Her eldest son was sitting hunched over the tile bar with a half peeled orange in his hands. Next to him was a pile of peels and fruit. It was a nervous habit of his to pick things apart, he said it kept his mind busy. Better that it was fruit and not his own skin this time. Progress.

''I'm sorry," he mumbled when they were within earshot. He held out half an orange to her with a remoseful twist to his cracking lips.

Malon took the fruit and tore off a slice, "You don't need to apologize to me Honey, save that for tomorrow when Legend wakes up." She chewed for a moment and let the citrus break through her hurried thoughts. It had been a sudden shock to learn of two freezing kids in her barn, what had happened since then was a blur as well. It was nice to focus on something else, if even for a second. She still had a lot to get done tonight.

First of the list was console her terrified son who no doubt had a knife in his pocket and his ears on a swivel.

"Like I said before, I know this is sudden and scary, but it's the right thing."

Warriors nodded glumly in agreement. "I know, they couldn't stay out there. I shouldn't have antagonized them." He looked down at the juice building on his fingers. "What was the older ones name again?"

"Legend, the younger one is Hyrule." Time said over the sound of the sink where he was washing the mugs.

"Unusual names."

"Are you one to talk?" She asked her eldest with a soft smile.

He shook his head with a silent laugh. "No, I'm not. In my defense though, Linkle was the one who chose it, not me."

Malon finished her orange slices and sat at the bar next to him.

"We're going to call Sheik in the morning. Those two are worried about being seperated and they're our best bet for not letting that happen."

Warriors nodded, but she could tell he still had something on his mind. "What is it Hon, I know you have something else to say."

"I uh, recognize Legend."

Time frowned and set down the mug he was drying. "Like from Castletown?"

"Kinda," he hesitated. "This is going to sound crazy."

"That's okay," Time said with a soft look.

"Okay, so I was a guest star on a news show once, back when I was thirteen I think, it doesn't matter." He began peeling another orange, the smell of citrus was strong. "It was a pretty normal segment, I think I was doing the weather or something, it was a tie in with a show I was promoting or the like. Me and the weather guy were talking about a crazy rainstorm that was about to blow in when we had to cut for some breaking news."

Malon was beginning to have a bad feeling about where this story was headed.

"The people doing the news were on the other side of the studio room, and I just stood off camera with my agent while they started talking about how a rich business man's daughter had been rescued from a ransom kiddnapping. She was alright apperently, just a bit shaken up. And she had only been gone for a day, but the reporters kept talking about how she was rescued by a murderer who was leading her away from home."

He paused to eat a slice, she noticed his hands were shaking.

"The city guard was able to find her and rescue her, but the murderer got away. They said he must've messed with her head or something because she was defending him. Keep in mind that she was like nine so I don't think anyone was taking what she said seriously."

Her husband scratched at his chin, "What does this have to do with Legend though?"

Warriors bit his lip and continued. "They put up a photo of the murderer and the girl running hand in hand through the streets. It was grainy but he couldn't have been any older then her."

Malon frowned, "They were calling a nine year old a murderer and a kidnapper?"

"Yeah! That's what I was thinking. But I couldn't say anything obviously. And then they started showing more photos of a crime scene where apperently this kid stabbed his uncle in an alley and then went to kidnap the girl, I don't remeber her name, from her own kidnappers. And since it was like a five minute segment this was all happening really fast but I remember them putting up one more picture; a nine year old boy with blond hair and a scar on his cheek, it looked just like Legend's. It wasn't a mugshot but I guess that was the best picture they could find of him."

Pieces were falling together, Legend had an old scar on his cheek, it was sort of an odd placement because it also touched part of his nose bridge. And Warrior's was very detail oriented. If he thought it matched then it probably matched.

"The name on the wanted poster was Link Connolly."

"You're serious," Time said after a long exhale. It wasn't a question.

"Yeah, I don't think they ever caught him either… there's still old wanted posters up around town. He looks older, but it's definitely Legend. The eyes are the same."

Malon set her head on the counter and took a deep breath. She had just let a wanted criminal into her home. A wanted criminal who she would bet her prize cow on, was innocent. Considering the fact that he was nine when it all happened. Legend seemed to have a short temper sure, but he was so gentle with his brother.

"I'm going to go look this up, see if I can find any details." Time turned around and left to go find his phone.

"Whatever happens, we won't let you get hurt." Malon told her eldest.

"I know, if it helps, I don't think he actually did anything wrong. I mean, obviously what do I know, but they were talking so definitively about it, it kinda seemed like a coverup."

"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out."

It was going to be a long night. 

Chapter Text

Time sat on the couch with a heavy sigh and looked at the headline from six years ago.

WANTED FOR MURDER AND KIDNAPPING:

Link Connolly of Mabe is suspected of killing his uncle, Alfon Connolly and partaking in the kidnapping of Zelda Gallagher-Hyrule, only living child of businessman Nolan Gallagher-Hyrule.

Six years ago, it meant Legend was not seventeen like he had assumed, but only fifteen. Four's age. His heart hurt. And another Link and Zelda connection? Time had thought Warriors' meeting another Zelda in his fashion history classes and becoming fast friends had been the wildest it was going to get. Obviously he was a fool for such a thought.

As he read through the article, and then another, and another, trying to get all the information, all he could think about was how fucked up the entire situation was.

It was obvious that this Link kid had been framed, the only evedence was his finger prints on the murder weapon and that he and Zelda had been found together. And from the reports he could find, the knights hadn't even had his fingerprints before they tried to arrest him at swordpoint.

No wonder the kid had run.

After even more searching he managed to find an interview with Zelda. In it she said that the boy being accused of murder was the one who saved her, that he was trying to take her back home but they got lost. All the interviewer told her was that she had stolkhome syndrome.

By the time Time set down his phone and looked into the fireplace he had come to a conclusion. Whoever this Legend kid was, they needed to help them.

He decided to not wait to call his sibling.

The call rang a few times, and then he heard the groggy voice of the person who had saved him so long ago. "Do you know how late it is?"

"We found another Link, I think. It's complicated."

There was a sigh on the other end, "Alright, I'll be over in thirty."

The call ended.

Seriously what did he do to deserve such a good friend?

><><><><

Warriors sat on the stairs, twirling his pocket knife in his fingers, and waiting. He wasn't entirely sure what he was waiting for though. For Sheik to show up and help Time and Malon with research? Was he waiting for Legend to wake up, just to make sure it was the same kid he had seen on a wanted poster six years ago? Was he waiting to defend himself, because there was a supposed murderer in his house, and the last time that had happened his mother had never woken up again?

Or was he just waiting on the stairs because the thought of going to sleep after the events of the night was too much?

He didn't know, all he knew was that his chest felt tight and the rythm of the knife hilt threading through his fingers wasn't enough of a comfort. Sitting here all by himself in the dark probably wasn't going to do him much good, but he didn't feel like standing up and asking someone for comfort. Maybe he was a coward.

When he heard a door opening though he was up in a flash. His knife flicked open and waiting behind his back just in case. As he waited in the shadows he could hear his heartbeat thudding away in his ears, anticipation like a spring in his gut. When he saw the figure looming at the top of the stairs though he took a deep breath, the figure was too big to be either of the runaways.

Sky gave him a knowing look as he started walking down the stairs and met him on the landing. Warriors closed the knife and put it back in his pocket.

"What are you doing up, bad night?" His younger brother's voice was soft.

"Initially yeah, but it's complicated."

"Hmm, want to come with me, I was going to get a glass of water?"

"Yeah, I'll try to fill you in. Though honestly, Malon or Time should probably be the ones to do it."

Sky gave him a confused look as he walked down the steps beside him. "Did something happen tonight?"

Warriors nodded, "I think the Link curse is still upon us, there's two kids in the guest room right now."

"Okay now you have to tell me."

So while Sky got himself a glass of water and sat down next to him at the bar, Warriors filled him in on the nights events, from not being able to sleep that night to Time and Malon talking about how to get a child cleared of criminal charges. Sky was a good audience, nodding his head in all the right places and making sympathetic noises where they fit. At the end of the tale his brother took the last sip of his drink and set the glass back on the counter.

"I can't believe you almost started a fight with a sick child."

Warriors spluttered, "He was being an asshole. I only asked him how old he was!"

"Ah yes, asking the horribly sick and cold kid who has been squatting in random barns and taking care of another child for who knows how long, and obviously hiding from the law for years, a personal question that could trace him back to a crime he was accused of." Sky was usually so sweet that Wars sometimes forgot how discerning he could be, and how blunt he got when tired.

"You may not have known all that at the time, Wars. But it makes sense that he was so defensive." He gave him a soft look, "It's obviously different, but would you react well to being asked what your natural hair color is?"

Wars looked at the floor, now that Sky was putting things into perspective he was getting a better grasp as to why Legend seemed so hostile. The last time someone asked him a question that could have potentially been drawn back to his past, well he hadn't handled it well either. He was just glad that Artemis hadn't taken it seriously. They'd talked about it later, and he had explained some things, not the full truth of course, but a close enough one

"You're right, as usual." He pat the top of his younger brothers head in thanks. "When did you get so wise?"

Sky smiled warmly and then said in a very kind tone, "one of us had to be a good example for Four and Wind, and Goddesses know it wasn't going to be you or Twilight."

Warriors wanted to retort, but then he remebered how often he got into arguments with actual cows because they had somehow gotten his clothes dirty. And every single new wild animal that Twilight brought home was a new strike against his responsible facade.

"I suppose I can't argue with that."

Sky hummed lightly and confirmed his theory. "You can't."

They had settled into a comfortable silence when a light knock sounded at the side door. Sheik was here.

Time's adoptive sibiling was cool as shit, they had short spikey blonde hair and a tattooed knife on their bicep. He and Sky both got up so they could say hi.

Sheik, who jokingly referred to themselves as their ankle, because there were no good gender neutral terms for aunt or uncle, smiled when they entered the room. They were still wearing their music note themed pj's and their hair wasn't spiked up.

"Sorry I'm not here for something normal, like game night." That in itself was a joke, game night in this family was never a casual affair. It was usually some form of table top role playing game and it tended to lean heavily to the dramatics. People had ended up standing on tables more then once. Warriors stood by his acting choices.

Malon shook her head and gave them a welcoming hug. "Thank you for being here, we have quite a doozy of a case for you this time."

Sheik laughed, melodic and light, "I probably deserve it after sending all these Links after you." They winked at Warriors and Sky. There was no malice in it, just the convoluted inside joke that had been going on for years. Warriors smirked.

Time put his arm around them and pulled them over to the couch. "Don't get too cocky, have you heard of a kid named Link Connolly?"

Sheik's tanned face turned strangly pale. "That kid on all the wanted posters, the supposed murderer."

Time grinned something wicked, and Warriors could only be reminded of the look Wind got on his face before pulling a practical joke. It was impossible to forget that these two had been best friends forever.

"Yup, thats the one. They're asleep in the guest bedroom with another kid who they have been taking care of."

"Fuck. You weren't kidding about this being a doozy, sorry for not believing you Malon." Sheik took a breath and pulled their laptop from its bag. "Let's get to work then, shall we."

><><><><

Legend woke up to the smell of something she had long forgotten about. Bacon wafted to her nostrils like a siren on the cliffs. Bitter nostalgia ran through her veins as she finally opened her sleep crusted eyes and took in her surroundings. It was warm, and the mattress below her was incredibly soft. The walls were green and Hyrule was sleeping peacefully next to her with a smile on his face.

It was nice.

It was terrifying.

She wanted to run away and never be heard from again.

She wanted to go eat bacon like she had what felt like lifetimes ago, back when her uncle was alive, and she could smile freely.

Legend did neither of those things, she just lay there in the warm bed and tried not to fall into a horrific coughing fit and wake up her little brother. He needed his rest while he could get it. If these people couldn't help them, if they broke their promise, they would have to run again. And Hyrule would need all his energy for that.

Through the sheer curtains Legend could see that it was already light outside. It seemed she had also slept well, which was strange, because she usually woke up at least twice in the night to check her surroundings and make sure everything was safe. It felt like she had been running on fumes for years, which she of course had been. There was little else to run on at this point, aside from spite and stubbornness. Which she also had in spades.

But she had slept well, and it was nice to wake up in a warm bed and be able to not have to get up immediately and start walking.

Legend kind of wished she could stay like this forever, but she knew it couldn't be like that of course. Life had it out for her, and she doubted it would let up any time soon.

She wasn't sure how long she stayed laying there in silence, fighting the urge to hack up a lung, before Hyrule stirred awake.

"Good morning Ledge." He said in a yawning voice that made her heart melt a bit. "Oh! What smells so good?"

Legend sat, and wiped the sleep from her eyes, and finally let out the coughing fit she had been fighting. When she was done hacking up her insides she answered her brother as nonchalantly as possible. "It's bacon, a common breakfast food. They'll probably share if we go down."

Because as nervous as she was about these people, Hyrule's needs were more important. And he needed to experience a good meal in the morning and dindamnit she was going to give him that when the opportunity was right in front of her.

"Please." Was his only response as he crawled out of the covers.

She regretfully left the bed and took a moment to make herself as presentable as possible. Her hole filled socks were readjusted on her cold feet. She put her beanie back on and stuffed most of her shoulder length hair into it. And finally she tried to brush the wrinkles out of her calf length tartan skirt.

Thinking about it, her refusal to wear pants probably didn't help her in the freezing cold. But she had her own lines, and jeans were a step to far for her.

Maybe she was an idiot, but she was an idiot with standards.

Once she was done she straightened Hyrule's collar and made sure he wiped the drool from his cheek.

"Alright, now or never." Legend unlocked the door and opened it to find, not an empty hallway, but a teenager with pin straight blond hair sitting on the floor and reading a giant book.

"Oh, good. You're awake."

"Who are you?" Legend said with a sharper tone than he intended. The teen across from him didn't seem to mind.

"I'm Four. Time and Malon told me to wait here and let them know when you guys woke up."

"Well, we're awake or whatever." Legend put a hand on Hyrule's shoulder.

Four bookmarked his page and closed the book before standing up. "That you are. Come on, breakfast is gonna get cold soon." With that he stood and Legend realized how short he was.

Now Legend was not a tall guy, he hadn't grown in at least two years and his measly 5'1 was admittedly very short. But the kid in front of him couldn't be more then 4'10. It was kinda nice to be taller then someone for once.

He and Hyrule followed Four down the stairs and into the kitchen he barely recognized in the late morning light.

Last night the place had been empty aside from a scarf wearing teenager picking at an orange. Now it was bustling with life.

Time was standing at the stove and flipping what looked like pancakes. Shithead was trying to wipe syrup off of a ten year olds face. Said ten year old was attempting to fight him off with a wooden sword. Legend liked the kid already.

Another older teen was filling a giant dog bowl with what looked like raw meat and sweet potatoes. Gross. And another older boy was sleepily picking at the eggs on his plate and yawning every other bite.

Malon wasn't there, but instead there was another adult with short blonde hair and music note themed pj's who was washing the dishes with a piece of bacon sticking out of their mouth.

Legend thought it was almost too picturesque, like something from a emergency waiting room tv show. He'd been in a lot of emergency waiting rooms, mostly because of the fighting. He always found a way to ditch before giving his name or information though. He'd broken a window and run more then once. Though he had also been caught and sedated as well. He was just glad he had managed to wake up and fight his way out before someone figured out who he was and turned him in.

Nothing like the nice family he was dealing with right now.

"They're awake." Four called through the chaos and everyone turned their gazes to him and Hyrule. He wasn't surprised when his little brother ducked behind him to hide, which admittedly wasn't very effective because Legend was starting to get a feeling that his brother would outgrow him in the next few years. A terrifying thought truly.

Legend kinda wished he could hide too, there were too many eyes on him, if he got recognized it was all over.

But for some reason Time came to his rescue. "Alright kids, why don't you finish your food in the dining room and then go help Malon with the cows."

And just like that all the boys cleared out, even Four just grabbed a piece of bacon from a plate and left with a nod in their direction.

"Get some food," Time said as he turned off the stove and stepped out of the kitchen, the other blonde adult following him silently. "The plates are there, and there's orange juice and milk in the fridge that you're welcome too."

Legend nodded and quietly approached the food, he helped Hyrule get his plate first and made sure to pile the food up. His brother wouldn't have to worry too much about eating too much too fast. He'd at least eaten the past few days. For himself Legend just grabbed a pancake and a single piece of bacon. That was probably overdoing it anyways. 50/50 chance he would be throwing it up in an hour. But by Farore he was starving.

When it was cold outside and his bones were aching and his brother needed a place to sleep, well then it was easier to ignore his shaking hands and stomach trying to eat itself. But in a warm house with only a brutal cough to worry about, well it made itself apperant.

After a moment of not knowing what to do next Legend remembered the promise of milk and orange juice and he took two cups off the counter and filled them with one beverage each.

Hyrule was sitting at the bar and had already dug into his food and so Legend simply set both drinks in front of him and after a small nod of thanks at Time and the other adult, he began to slowly eat.

With as hungry he was it was a incredible act of self restraint to not shovel it all in his mouth and go for seconds. But Legend knew better. And he refused to waste food like that.

He didn't get a drink either. Hyrule needed the vitamins, but he was probably a lost cause at this point. Maybe if he didn't throw up in the next few minutes and he was still allowed to get a drink.

They ate in silence and by the time Hyrule had finished his seconds and convinced him through pleading eyes to drink something, Legend had drained a small cup of orange juice.

Once Legend stacked their plates, trying to remember how to put things away like he had back before everything had happened, the adult with the music themed pajamas approached.

"Hello, it's nice to finally meet you two." They stuck out a hand for a shake and Legend just stared at it, untrusting. Hyrule though seemed happy to comply, though in that moment Legend realized he had never taught his brother what a handshake was because Hyrule didn't move his hand up and down, but side to side. We can deal with that later, he told himself.

"My name is Sheik, they/them pronouns by the way," the adult continued without batting an eye at Hyrule's unfamiliarity with the concept of a handshake. "My brother here told me you guys needed someone on your case."

Legend regarded them with sharp eyes before giving in. Hyrule was good at seeing through people, and if something went wrong they could just run again. Legend had a switchblade in his skirt pocket and wasn't afraid to use it in an emergency.

"Yes, but as I told your brother, if you mess this up, we will be gone before you know it."

Sheik nodded much to seriously for someone in pj's, "I understand. Why don't we go discuss this in the dining room, the boys should have cleared out by now."

Legend tried to nod in agreement but it only made him start hacking again.

"And Time, for Farore's sake please get this kid some cough medicine."

Legend took the offered pills dry again and let Hyrule hold onto his hand as they walked what felt like the trip to the gallows.

><><><><

Hyrule clutched his brother's cold hand as they sat at the large wooden table. Malon had joined them in the dining room and closed the glass French doors behind her for what he assumed was privacy. Beside him, Legend looked ready to break through that glass and hightail it outta there, maybe go join the circus while he was at it. But Hyrule kept him tethered.

His brother was terrified, of course he was. But this was his only chance. He knew Legend was sick, and it wasn't just the cold.

Ever since he met his brother/sister he had been tired and shaky and complaining about aches and pains and clicking joints. And while he wasn't completely sure what normal was, he didn't think his brother should have to deal with constantly hurting knees and fingers that buckled under any amount of weight.

And Legend's insistence that he ate second and slept less and got the more beat up clothing was getting ridiculous. Hyrule wasn't a baby, and even if he was, it wasn't like Legend was much older then him. Three years difference did not an adult make, he thought.

But Legend would never hear any of it, and Hyrule knew that as much as Legend claimed he was fine, he wouldn't make it through the winter. Especially if they continued on the way to Holodrum. There weren't enough warm places to stay on this road, and while his brother was a master of survival, his health was deteriorating rapidly. They had been slowing down for weeks now, Legend needing more time to force his body to take each obviously painful step.

He couldn't stand by and let it happen anymore. Legend would die before he accepted help for himself, but Hyrule had a cheat code to this particular problem. Legend would do anything for him, even get both of them help.

And Hyrule had a good feeling about Time and Malon. They had obviously dealt with the system that Legend told him so many horror stories about, some firsthand some learned through getting to know other kids in shelters. He had learned the hard way that not everyone could be trusted, but he had learned to spot a kind heart.

Old women who could be trusted for a warm meal because they missed their grandkids or wanted company for a while. Librarians who would let them sleep in the back rooms for a night. A kind trucker who had talked about his daughter back home for a four hour ride.

Legend.

Legend who had been beat up from starting fights, and always ready with a sharp tounge, though other words hardly left his mouth. Legend who had seen through the kind rouse of that youth shelter, who had discovered that every single kid there was being used for off the record experimentation. Legend who had kicked their captor in the head and made sure every kid got out before picking Hyrule up in his own frail arms and running into the woods.

Yeah, Hyrule tended to trust his judgement now.

"So um," Hyrule began when no one else spoke. "How do we start this?"

Sheik shook out their hands and opened the computer on the table in front of them. "Well, this is not an ideal place to start. But first we have to confirm something."

Legend was tensing next to him and Hyrule had to physically hold him in place as Sheik spoke the next few words.

"Are you Link Connolly?"

Legend froze in his seat, face going sheet white. He stared at Sheik across the table and Hyrule did not let go of his badly shaking hands.

"I didn't do it," he said in a weak whisper. Fragile. Legend was never fragile.

"I believe you." Sheik stated factually. "But in order to get you help we have to know the details. We have a good legal team, and the case is getting old, if we have to go to trial it'll probably be very public, but you are still a minor, so no cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. The most that would get released would be transcripts, and we can shield your face on the way out of the courthouse."

The social worker gave them a sad smile. "I know this sucks, but it's your best shot. I doubt you want to run forever."

Next to him Legend let out a shuddering breath, "Why are you helping us? I get that you have bleeding hearts and all that shit, but seriously. Why?" His voice still lacked it's usual venom, strained as it was with the weight of all his fears baring down on him at once.

Sheik looked to Time with a fond expression. "Because we've all been through some shit, and I personally don't like seeing kids freezing to death."

Legend nodded, the answer seemed to be enough for him. He had always appreciated honesty over politeness.

"Fine, but if I go to prison you three have to promise me something, as much as that is worth."

Time nodded seriously and waited for the terms.

"You will take care of Hyrule. You won't ship him off to some random group home. And you will make sure he gets a proper education. If I get out of prison someday and find that you have broken your word, I will make sure you regret it." His tone was deadly serious.

Hyrule hadn't realized how much him getting an education meant to his brother, but he supposed it tracked. Legend hadn't been to school since he was nine, and Hyrule had never even set foot in such an institution. But Legend was incredibly smart, he had read every book he could get his hands on, learned most of what he knew from random odd jobs and hard taught experiences. He had once mentioned how he wanted more for Hyrule then the life they were leading. Hyrule had trouble understanding that sentiment, but he got it in the reverse. Legend deserved more then what they currently had.

Malon and Time gave each other a serious look before both of them nodded very seriously.

"We agree to these terms," Malon said.

"And Legend, if we are able to clear you, we promise to take you both if you want us. And if you don't, we promise to find someone trustworthy to take you both."

Hyrule felt something warm swell in the gaps between his ribs.

Hope.

><><><><

Legend stared down the adults who were practically promising him the world, and he believed them. He hated it. He had met these people not even a day ago and he trusted them to not break their word.

It horrified him.

But maybe, just maybe, this was his one chance to turn things around. To get a better life for his brother, to finally free himself of the paranoia always in the back of his mind.

So he told them the truth.

"My name is Link Connolly I'm fifteen years old, I didn't kill my uncle, and I didn't kidnap that girl."

He continued to tell the entire story of that night. From his uncle leaving the house after getting an urgent phone call, to Legend catching a train out of Mabe with only the clothes on his back and the blood still stuck to his hands.

He briefly recounted the years after that. The summer he spent at the circus where people didn't ask a lot of questions. His short lived time helping on a fishing boat. The six months he spent trekking through the mountains to keep a low profile.

Everything came spilling from his lips. Most of these things he had never said aloud.

He got up to meeting Hyrule and then he hesitated. That was not his story to tell, not fully anyway.

But Hyrule just squeezed his clammy hand and nodded. So Legend continued.

He told Time, Malon, and Sheik, about the youth shelter where he met his brother. About how kind the people running it had been, about how they promised that the pills were just for his health. That the blood drawing was just to send to the doctors and make sure he was doing alright. That the solitary confinement was just a short calm down period after he had acted out. But Legend had known something was going on from the very first pill. He had pretended to take it. In the month he spent at that place his blood had been drawn seven times, he had been locked up by himself for hours at a time while a blinking camera watched him ten times.

He told them that Hyrule had been there for an entire year. His brother wordlessly pulled up his sweater sleeve to show off the pale pinprick's in the crook of his elbow. Hundreds of needle marks.

He told the adults that he had waited for the right time to get the kids there out, because he refused to let them all stay trapped there. If kids wanted to stay and get experimented on for the price of a clean place to sleep and two meals a day then he couldn't stop them. But he would get the others out.

He and some of the older kids had made a plan, Hyrule had been brought into it because he had attached himself to Legend at the hip the moment they met.

One night when most of the staff was gone Legend had picked the dormitory lock, snuck up on the lone guard, and kicked him square in the skull. After that it was a simple matter of kids grouping off and going their own ways if they wished to.

Hyrule hadn't been able to stand at that point, he had been weak from blood loss and so Legend had carried him out. He had promised to drop him off at a hospital. Hyrule had refused.

Then Hyrule had filled in, breifly explaining that he had spent most of his life alone in the woods. He remebered his mother vaguely, her saying his name, but after that it was a blur. He didn't know his last name, or his parents, or how old he was even. Sometimes he would meet hikers or hunters in the woods, there were some elderly birdwatchers that he became friends with. He had only left the mostly abandoned cabin in the woods because there had been a forest fire, and thats when he had run into the youth shelter. And then a year later, Legend.

And here they were now, still together.

Legend finally looked up from the table and waited for disbelief, for accusations, all he got was a sad silence and a hand reaching out across the table for his.

Time wiped something from his eye and cleared his throat roughly. "You are very brave indeed, Link. I promise we will do everything in our power to keep you out of jail."

Link closed his gnarled fist around the man's and shook it.

"You better."

><><><><

Time felt as though he could finally breathe again as Sheik finally closed their laptop and stood. "That's enough for today I think. If I need more information from the two of you I'll come back, but in the meantime I need to speak to the lawyers."

Yes, it seemed that the most difficult part of this was over. At least, he naively thought that until Legend tapped a too thin finger on the table and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going to collect my bounty, if I remember correctly, it's a pretty penny."

Time could see this as what it was, a challenge.

"If you want to collect the bounty and turn yourself in then sure, we can save it for you for when you get out." Time really hoped this kid decided against going to jail for the promise of money.

Legend looked at his brother and sighed, like the choice pained him. "No, I can't do that."

Sheik nodded, "A wise choice, I wouldn't trust the guard to be anything but thrilled to have finally caught you. It's best you only speak to them with a lawyer present."

Time decided to change the topic. "Well it sounds like a lot has to happen before we can get this whole mess cleared up. I'd offer you two some options of where to stay but since neither of you are in the system I can't really provide that."

Malon chimed in then, thankfully deciding to be the barer of complicated news. "I know it's probably not what either of you would prefer, we're strangers and this place is new, but the guest room is yours for as long as you want it. And Legend, hon, you really need time to recover from this," she guestured at his still shaking and ill self.

Legend and Hyrule seemed to communicate silently and then they both nodded in unison.

"What should I do to earn our keep?" Legend's voice was rough and tired. Time could feel his heart pang with hurt.

"You don't have to do anything, just focus on healing. You're children, maybe if you get better and want to help milk a cow or something you could do that. But otherwise we don't expect anything from you."

Legend frowned, "What about your kids, I already provoked one of them? I'm not known to be an easy person to deal with"

Time snorted, "You are fifteen, no fifteen year old is easy to 'deal with'. Besides Warriors is easy to rile up, you should see how he gets when Wind messes with his things."

The kid smirked and Time could already feel that he was going to be a bit of trouble. But all of Time's kids were trouble, Hylia, he was not immune to it either. No matter how much Twlight refused to belive he had a period of time as a ten year old where he was sword fighting a lot of people.

This wouldn't be their first time dealing with the courts either, Sky was still on probation from before they adopted him last year. His temper had thankfully started to become better managed with therapy and supportive people around him. Though his methods had been a bit uh… intense, Time was still proud of his kid for standing up for himself finally.

"Legend, Hyrule, if you want some clean clothes and a shower the upstairs bathroom is all yours right now, and we can bring up some of War's old clothes from the basement to see if anything fits." Malon said with a warm look at the two kids.

Legend nodded and stood shakily, Hyrule supporting his side. And then he doubled over and started wretching.

><><><><

Legend knew something had to go wrong, he fucking knew it. Of course the moment he had been given a shot, a slim chance of escaping the torment that was his life, he had to mess it up. So obviously his aching body couldn't handle even a small meal. Pathetic.

He really wished he hadn't eaten that pancake, because it wasn't coming back up pretty.

He landed on his knees on the hardwood floor, his stomach spilling itself across all his tentative plans, tears in his eyes from both frustration and the natural reaction to throwing up. Hyrule was at his side, holding back his bangs as he completely ruined his future. There was no doubt these nice people would realize now what a worthless waste of space he was. He couldn't even hold his stomach until he could barf in a toilet and move on without anyone knowing. No, he had to be a drama queen about it and do it in front of everyone.

But then Time was also at his side talking softly in his low voice, "Just let it go, we can clean it up, just get it out."

And Legend wasn't sure why he was being so nice about this. The last time he threw up in someone's house he got kicked out, literally.

But as he finally hacked up the rest of his breakfast and slumped towards Hyrule, there was no yelling, no frustration, no harsh glares. Just Sheik walking back into the room with paper towels and cleaner and Malon handing him a wet rag with a concerned look on her face.

"Here hon, wipe your face off and then you can go take that shower."

And Legend followed her in a confused daze, Hyrule holding onto his arm and Malon leading the way to the basement door. "Sit down dears, I'll bring a box up."

And so the two sat on the couch again while the woman carried a large cardboard box back up the stairs and dropped it in front of them. She pulled up a footstool and began digging through it.

"These are Warrior's old clothes, some of Twi's might be in here too, but he usually destroyed his clothes before he outgrew them. They don't fit Sky, and Four hasn't grown much so unless Wind hits a growth spurt in the next hour these are all yours." She smiled and held up a pair of flannel pajama pants, they looked like they would fit either of them.

"Hyrule, take those," Legend hated wearing pants. As he was digging through the box of clothes though he was starting to realize that he probably wouldn't find a comfortable skirt here. But he couldn't keep wearing his, or the one in his bag, they were both filthy.

Once Hyrule was holding a bundle of warm clothes and Legend himself had a pair of thick socks and a dark blue sweater with an argyle design he realized how truly fucked he was. Not wearing pants was a matter of principle, he hated feeling the fabric wrapped around his legs and he couldn't stand how restricting it made his movement. He wore shorts sure, but under the skirts. And that was how he liked it.

"I'm guessing none of your sons have a skirt I could leech of off them?" He asked, trying to hide his sincerity behind a safe veil of sarcasm and venom.

Malon quirked her lips for a second and shook her head, "Well yes, Sky has one and Four has a few but I don't think any of those would fit you. None of mine would fit either I don't think."

Legend began fiddling with his rings, he'd taken one of them off of his uncle's dead body, the others were mostly from his summer in the circus. His sword juggling and tightrope costumes had included some fun jewelry which he had taken with him when he left. It has a bad habit, it showed others that he was nervous, but he wasn't sure he could stop. He didn't want to wear pants.

"He can have one of mine, you can take in the waist a bit with safety pins or something." A vaguely familiar voice said from the kitchen doorway and Four gave him another nod.

"Honey, that would be great," Malon said with a smile at her son and Four walked out of view towards the stairs up to where Legend presumed his bedroom was.

They sat in an awkward silence till Four returned with a pile of fabric and a few safety pins. "Here," he said in his curt manner. "Which one do you want."

Legend held out his thin hands to feel the texture of each one and ended up with a dark purple midi skirt made of a warm fabric. "Thanks." He said with his eyes downturned and bangs hanging over his face. Why was everyone here so nice? He didn't get it. At least Shithead seemed like a fellow asshole, that was something to rely on.

Legend took the safety pins too and huffed when Hyrule poked him in the ribs. "Go clean up, you smell bad."

"Not as bad as you kid," Legend smirked at him. "I'll go after you, I have to fix this skirt first."

Hyrule gave him that look, the one that knew he was putting him over himself, but wasn't sure how to argue against it, and then turned to Malon. She smiled warmly and stood, Hyrule following behind her to the upstairs bathroom. Legend watched them leave with apprehension, he wanted to follow, to make sure his brother was safe. But Hyrule knew to scream for him if something went wrong, so Legend watched Four out of the corner of his eyes and adjusted the waistband of the skirt in his aching hands.

He wasn't expecting the boy to sit on the couch though, he had assumed the other kids would avoid him, he wasn't very nice company on a good day. How bad he probably smelled didn't help either.

"Do you like to read?"

Legend sideyed him, "Why do you care?" His voice was rough, the exhaustion sinking into his bones now that he knew Hyrule was going to be warm and clean and safe.

Four shrugged, "It's what I ask every Link who ends up here. Your name is Link right?"

Legend huffed, "Yeah. One hell of a curse your family seems to have."

"Indeed, but you didn't answer my question. Wind likes adventure books, and Sky likes poetry, Twi says he doesn't read but he actually likes romance, and Wars gets really into murder mysteries. I don't think Time can read very well, but we don't talk about that." He added that last part in a whisper, like he was sharing some great secret.

"I still don't see why this matters," Legend deflected, not wanting to get chummy.

"Just want to get to know you, considering you'll probably be here for a bit. Sheik only shows up for important stuff, and also game night."

Legend frowned but relented. "I'll read anything really."

Four hummed, "Same. Like right now I'm reading this book on tide pools, it's really interesting actually, you see—" He continued on like this for a while, until Hyrule plopped back down next to him with wet curls and a smile.

"The soap smells like lavender," he whispered giddily to him and Legend gathered his clean clothes in his arms.

He wondered if Four would ask Hyrule the same question, his brother was still learning to read, but he always got really excited when Legend read to him. Legend wondered if he could borrow one of Four's books to read aloud, Hyrule already knew all the stories they had, it would be nice to give him something new to listen to.

><><><><

Malon showed Legend how to use the shower and then left him to it. Hyrule was occupied with talking to Four about tide pools so she decided to go check back in with Time and Sheik.

The siblings were still in the dining room, the sick was gone and the two were sitting at Sheik's laptop and muttering to eachother.

"What are you two up to?" She said as she pulled up a chair next to her husband and rested her cheek against his arm, trying to get a better look at the screen.

"Trying to find a birth record for Hyrule, It's hard without a last name. He's not in the system so I'll have to figure out where he's from and then I can maybe get some information from the mayor's office."

Malon hummed, "Can't believe two Link's showed up at once. That's a first."

Time smiled sheepishly. "We probably should've said no when Twi needed a home, but I don't regret it."

She pecked his temple, "Me neither."

Sheik frowned at them, "If you're going to be gross, go somewhere else."

Malon laughed at them and stood, "I'm thinking about making some more coffee, either of you want anything?"

"Black," Sheik said at the same time her husband said "Milk and suger please."

"On it, also do you think it's fine if the kids come back in? Four already got bored and is talking to Hyrule about tidepools."

Time nodded, "That should be fine, just tell them the usual."

With that, Malon left, passing by the living room and back to the kitchen where she started another pot of drip coffee. While it brewed she put on her boots and zipped up her thick winter coat.

The short walk from the side door to the barn was cleared of last nights snow and she figured that Twilight had already taken care of it. He always got a kind of restless energy when a new kid showed up, he wanted to help but knew better than to push it. She'd have to talk to him about overworking again.

She opened the barn door and shut it behind to keep the frigid air out, how Legend and Hyrule had made it this far… she didn't want to think about it. They were both so small.

As she suspected the boys were done with their chores by now and we're keeping themselves occupied. Wind and Warriors were playing tic-tac-toe on the dirt floor, Sky was holding a cucco and talking to it like an old friend, and Twilight was brushing Epona's mane, even though she didn't really need it. No wonder Four had ditched them here, he had left his books inside.

"You guys can come back in, but before you do, do you have any questions or concerns about what's goin' on right now?"

Her sons gathered around the impromptu tic-tac-toe board, Sky still holding his bird, and looked at eachother.

"Wars says that Legend is wanted for murder." Wind said with very little tact. Malon guessed they were starting off strong.

"He didn't do it, we think he might'a been framed, considering that he was nine at the time and also the authorities never looked into another suspect."

"Are they Links?" Was Sky's question.

"Yes," Malon smirked. "They are both Links."

Wind burst out laughing. "I can't believe there's more!"

Wars pat him on the back with a grin, "I fear we grow in numbers by the day, soon we shall become strong enough to stand up to Ganondorf himself!"

Ah yes, Ganondorf. The man who ran the board of education in Hateno. All her kids had a personal grudge against the man, mostly because of how bad the school lunches were, which he technically had some control over. She'd met the man once, he had seemed stressed.

"Please leave that poor man alone," she responded. She really didn't need her kids tormenting the guy, Wind and his friend Tetra did a good enough job spying on him when he visited their school.

"A captain never runs from a challenge!" Wars said with false bravado. Really the spring renaissance fair couldn't come soon enough, she could tell he missed the dramatics. Maybe he should sign up for his college's theatre group.

"Yes well, if you want the lunches changed maybe y'all should start a petition or the like. Instead of scheming in a barn and blaming an overworked man."

Wars and Wind shared a conspiratorial glance which she chose to ignore while Twilight spoke up.

"Were they out in the cold for awhile? Are they gonna be okay?" His voice was bleeding with concern and Malon could feel her heartstrings pulling.

"Yes, they were in the cold for a while, and I do think they're gonna be alright. Though Legend, the kid with pink hair, does have a nasty cold. I doubt he's contagious though, considering that Hyrule hasn't caught it."

"They seem close," Wars chimed in. "Have they been together for a while?"

"Legend has been taking care of Hyrule for about a year now. I would be cautious when interacting with Hyrule for the time being, Legend seems to be very protective of his brother."

Her boys all nodded like they understood the feeling. She was raising them well.

"Understood," Warriors said. "How long are they staying here?"

Malon knew what he was actually asking: Are they staying forever, or is this just a few week thing before they go to other homes?

"We don't know yet, Legend is wanted by the law, and Hryule might not leagally exist, so it's complicated. But we told them they could stay as long as they like. I trust you all to be good to them."

Twilight smiled and leaned against Wars, elbow straining to be high enough to rest on his shoulder. "Course Ma, we'll do you proud."

"You always do."

><><><><

Legend ran a trembling hand through his wet hair and leaned against the sink.

It had been a while since he'd seen his reflection, he looked haunted.

His skin was palid, the hallows under his cheekbones stood gaunt and shadowed. His eyes were bloodshot, eyebrows stuck in a scowl. He reached up to massage at the wrinkle forming there but it did no good. He instead began to pick at his scalp, as he suspected the grey hair growing in was not an illusion, he hadn't known it was possible to start greying at fifteen. Maybe he was cursed, it would explain his life.

He needed to redye his hair soon, the pink was drifting much too far from the roots for comfort, he doubted he could sneak out to a store anytime soon though. Maybe Shithead would get him some, considering it was obvious the asshole bleached his hair within an inch of its life. Though Legend had no reason to believe the guy would do him a favor, he hadn't been friendly. Hyrule always said that being nice payed off in the end, he wasn't quite sure how to start that process though. Polite words and bitten tounges did not come easy to him.

He didn't think he was always this way, storing anger for later, using it to keep others at arms length, even if it meant being cruel. But Legend figured that running from armed knights for six years was a good start as to why he had become this.

He looked hard at the mirror, hoping it would have answers, all he could see were his own two eyes, and the deep, painful looking shadows beneath them.

Uncle would be so dissapointed to see me now.

Legend smacked his face none too lightly, he didn't get to mourn. There wasn't time for that. And with how things had been going since then, maybe he didn't deserve to. That's what those guards had said after all.

"You've got to get it together," he jabbed his crooked finger at his mirror image. "You don't get a pity party just because you're weak. You are going to go back down there and make sure your brother has a future, even if you don't." He made eye contact with himself, his worst enemy. "Don't fuck this up for him."

Legend took a steadying breath and brushed off his safety pinned skirt. Good pep talk, he thought as he straightened his beanie and bundled up his dirty clothes.

He opened the door and made sure to embody a confidence he did not feel, it was likely Time and Malon's other kids were back in the house by now, he could've sworn his long ears had picked up a door opening and shutting while he was toweling off. And if there was one thing he knew about other kids, it was that showing weakness would be a huge mistake.

He walked through the hall and quickly deposited his pile of clothes on the floor by his side of the guest bedroom, he would ask where to wash them later, and then turned back to get down the stairs. Now that no one was watching him, and he didn't have the excuse of literally freezing, he let himself hold onto the rail and limp. His knees fucking hurt. He wasn't completely sure when that happened either, all the pain in his joints. How his fingers flared up and his shoulders cracked with every move he made. He tried not to think about it much, but the more it happend the harder that got.

Eventually he straightened as best he could and rounded the corner to find Hyrule still sitting on the couch, Four wasn't there anymore though, instead it was Shithead. Hyrule had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and was waving his hands as he spoke to the older teen.

Legend huffed and sped up his pace, even though that hurt more. He plopped down right next to Hyrule and peeled his wet bangs off of his forehead with a cold hand.

He noticed Malon at the fireplace stacking more wood by the fire and calmed a bit. Despite her insistence on calling them 'hon' she seemed like a good lady, though he was still miffed that Hyrule seemed to be getting along perfectly with his mortal enemy.

"Oh Legend!" His brother said brightly. Goddesses, a good nights sleep, full stomach, and clean warm clothes really made him seem like a new kid. It was nice. "We were just talking about you."

Shithead smiled warmly, his teeth were too white. "All good things of course," he said when Legend's instinctual frown deepened. His voice was too smooth, tone practiced and even. It was uncanny. Maybe even familiar, but unplaceable. He kept his eyes sharp and focused on the teen.

"Yeah, he was asking what hair dye you use. I don't remember, do you?"

Legend sighed and kicked his socked feet up on the couch, testing the limits. "Yeah, it's Sayge's Styles." He had no reason to lie about it, so why bother. "The color lasts the longest out of the ones I've tried."

Shithead nodded and pursed his lips slightly, like he was taking a note in his head. "I only ask because Wind has been talking about getting blue highlights and the color payoff looks pretty good."

"I've never tried blue, but Sayge hasn't failed me yet, and the price is reasonable." Legend said this as if he had ever paid for the stuff.

"I'll look at the reviews later, thank you for the recommendation." His smile was too seamless. Fuck it really did remind him of something, but the memory was distant. If he didn't figure it out soon he was going to lose his mind. Well it was a good a time as any, if these people decided he was too rude to help then it was probably better to get that realization out of the way.

"Where do I know you from?"

Shithead's face paled, his calm and cool demeanor shattering as he curled his shoulders in like a scared child. Legend knew that look, he used to see it in the mirror a lot, before he had gotten a hold of himself.

"I suppose it was foolish to think you wouldn't recognize me." The guy murmured mournfully. Malon stood from her spot by the fire and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You don't have to tell them, if you don't want to."

"It's fine, Malon. Besides I probably owe you this, Legend." His expression turned sheepish and Legend bristled. What had he done?

"I was the one who recognized you, so I guess this is a fair trade." He took a deep breath. "Have you ever seen 'Hyrule's Heroes', 'Forest of Fate', 'A Squire's Story,' or anything of that type?"

Oh, now it was coming together.

"I wasn't always blond."

Legend could see it now, the posters outside his hometown movie theater, the dvd his uncle had gotten him for his eighth birthday, the vauge memory of a news piece playing in the background of a restaurant he had been loitering in.

"Link McCammack? The child star?"

Shithead was staring very hard at his perfectly manicured fingernails and picking out the imaginary dirt beneath them. "Yes, I can change my hair and clothing and posture, but my face is the same. Still, people don't usually recognize me."

"I don't forget faces," Legend muttered. Shithead, no Warriors' words were hitting too close to home. Before him wasn't just another asshole teen, but another person running from their own face. He may be a peice of work, but Legend would use his name, in his head at the very least. Legend wasn't known for referring to people by their names, even his brother got called 'Rulie' half the time.

And it was true, Legend did not forget a face once he deamed to learn it. He remebered his first grade teacher, the knight who drew a sword on him, the elderly lady who let him stay the night and cooked spaghetti after he helped her carry her groceries, the first guy who ever robbed him at knife point, the third person to try robbing him who had left empty handed with a black eye and a missing tooth, and even a man at the park who gave him his own beanie while they were warming up at a grill fire.

He unconsciously adjusted that same beanie on his head, it had been patched more then once, but he didn't dare to part with the thing, even in the warmer months. It reminded him that kindness still existed, even when it usually skipped past him.

"Well, unfortunate for me I suppose." Warriors looked to the floor once more. "You won't tell anyone?" His look was plaintative and borderline desperate, Legend didn't fully understand it.

"Signing autographs too much for you pretty boy?" Hyrule tensed but Legend wasn't trying to start a fight today, just learn the limits.

Warriors' just looked confused. "Well that, I wouldn't mind so much, it's more the random exposé's and digging into my past and present that I care about."

Legend raised an eyebrow. "Why? I thought you were Castletown's darling."

Warriors huffed a pathetic laugh. "Yeah well, my performance at that awards show certainly didn't end well."

"What are you talking about?"

"You seriously don't know?" Warriors' worried his lip, confused.

If he was standing Legend would have quirked a hip, as he was sitting he settled for an eye roll. "It's not like I follow the news or whatever, I don't have a phone."

"Oh." The older teen adjusted his dumb scarf. "Well there was an incident, my mother was murdered and I was contract bound to attend an awards show the next day. I caused a scene, yelled at reporters, threw a camera. Castletown blacklisted me."

It was Legend's turn to say, "Oh."

Part of him wanted to empathize, tell the guy he understood losing a loved one. Another larger part wanted to say 'boo hoo, how sad' in a cruel voice. What he ended up saying was a careful medium.

"That's fucked up."

Hyrule looked heartbroken next to him. "That's horrible."

Malon seemed content with their responses and after a ruffle of Warriors' perfectly placed hair she left them to talk.

Warriors quietly rearranged his hair. "Well yes, I won't disagree with that. But if I'm being honest, living here is better, despite everything that happened to get here." He looked awkwardly to the side and watched the fireplace glow with embers. "I hated the cameras anyway."

Legend huffed and sat back, kicking his legs up on a footstool. "Yeah I can't imagine it's pleasant."

Hyrule nodded seriously and leaned forward, placing a fist under his chin. "I always hated the security cameras back at the shelter, got in trouble for breaking one once. I made it look like an accident but they were still upset."

Warriors quirked an eyebrow but didn't ask. Good, it's not his place.

Unfortunately he still had something to say though. "Should your fingers be going back that far?" He pointed to where Legend was steepling his fingers, except his fingers were at near right angles arching backwards.

"I dunno, they've always done that." He shrugged and inspected his left pinky finger. There were calluses from his violin, and a scar from a broken bottle he fell on once. The fingernail was chewed to the quick and a thin gold band wrapped around it.

Wars frowned. "I don't think it's supposed to go back that far, look." He stretched his finger back as far as it apperantly could go.

Legend laughed at him, "That's it? Kinda pathetic honestly."

Wars rolled his eyes. "Ha ha," he said with no humor. "Does it hurt?"

Legend shrugged. "No more than everything else."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know, the pain." Legend furrowed his brow. "How everything hurts, it's normal."

Warriors blanched.

"No." He said in a horrified whisper. "It shouldn't hurt all the time, or like, most of the time either. Being in pain should be rare."

Next to him Hyrule crossed his arms and grumbled, "I've been telling you this for months, but you won't listen to me."

"Well you two must be some kinda anomaly, cause I promise this is normal." Legend said in a overly confident voice, trying to ignore the doubt.

He had always been in some kind of pain, even before his uncle died, it had hurt his knees to run, and his skin had been fragile. But Uncle Alfon had a bad back and needed help with the harvesting and planting and work around their small orchard, so Legend never complained. He had liked being helpful. And during his time in the circus he had heard other performers complain of aching joints and pain from their various acts, it had seemed normal then.

All the people he had met since then had seemed the same, maybe they were better at hiding it then him though, maybe he was just especially weak. It was likely, it wasn't as if he was anything special, someone worth giving a second thought.

"I can guess that you haven't been to a doctor for this," Warriors cut through his thinking.

"Duh," was his very eloquent answer.

"You should probably tell Time and Malon about the pain, they might be able to find something to help. Hell even Four could be helpful, kid spends so much time reading. He's the one who figured out what Sky has anyway."

"Doubt I'll be around that long," he muttered. He'd likely be in jail soon anyhow, it was Hyrule who would hopefully be staying here. Getting an education, learning to be a normal kid, eating three meals a day and sleeping in a warm bed every night. That's all Legend needed, for his brother to be okay.

"Well you can leave anytime," Warriors started. "But whatever fear you have that this is a trap or something, it's untrue. I can promise you that at least."

"Ha, no. That ain't the hang up for me." Legend barked a laugh. "Time and Malon seem overwhelmingly genuine and shit, it's more the fact that I'm a wanted criminal. I don't know what the justice system is like in Hateno, but back in Mabe it's known to be brutal. I'll be gone for years. If they ever let me out in the first place."

Hyrule unexpectedly grabbed his face in his cold hands and faced him with a hard glare. "Don't you dare talk like that! Sheik thinks they barely have a case on you, it's just some dumb rich people choosing to blame you for some fucking reason! Besides if they take you, I'll just bust you out."

Legend sat in shook for a minute, letting the words seep into his thick skull.

"You can't bust me out of jail 'Rulie, you're twelve."

Hyrule looked deadly serious when he muttered with zero hesitation, "Watch me. Also Warriors," he addressed the teen on the other end of the couch. "If I do end up going through with it, don't bring up this conversation okay." He ended his statement with a bright smile. Goddesses, Hyrule was good.

"Got it," Warriors offered a thumbs up.

"Great." Hyrule let go of his face and clapped his hands in victory. "With that sorted out, we should probably continue that very important conversation about your health and well-being Ledge."

Legend was going to kick his darling brother into a snow bank one of these days. He was a nightmare sometimes.

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine." He replied, used to Hyrule trying to convince him something was wrong. But what did Hyrule know, he didn't even know what a handshake was. Oh yeah, he still needed to teach him about those, Hyrule liked learning stuff, it would be a good distraction from this conversation.

Before he even opened his mouth to change the subject, Hyrule interrupted, "Don't you dare try to squirm your way out of this. Either we talk about this now with Warriors, or I'll go get Miss Malon."

"You drive a hard bargain, kid." Legend dragged his beanie over his eyes, desperate to slip away from this conversation. What was the point? He could manage, he had to.

"Who's driving a hard bargain?" An unfamiliar voice broke through his misery.

Legend pushed back his hat to find the ten year old from that morning, with a wooden sword in one hand and a muffin in the other. He had curly dark hair bleached blond at the ends, brown eyes that would've reminded him of Hyrule's if it weren't for the glimspe of mischief in them, and he was wearing a knit sweater with pirate ship designs.

"My brother," Legend responded simply poking an aching thumb over to where Hyrule was sitting.

"Ugh, tell me about it," the child responded with the exhaustion of a middle aged man who knew too much. "Sibilings are nightmares. Wars never shares his snacks with me. It's cruel and unjust and he knows it!"

"That's because your hands are always sticky for some Hylia forsaken reason."

The kid shoved one of his presumably sticky hands against Warriors' face. Warriors' jaw hit the floor in disgust and he tried to push the kid away, the entire time chanting "Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew."

"It's just syrup."

"Why do you have syrup on your hands still? Breakfast was hours ago!"

The kid shrugged and deftly escaped being captured in Warriors' arms and probably being dangled upside down or the like.

"By the way, I'm Wind." The kid said with a missing toothed grin. He reached out a hand to shake but Legend just used one finger to push his hand away delicately.

"Wash your hands first kid."

"Nah."

Yeah, Legend liked this fucker already.

"Do you like boats?" Hyrule asked while pointing to Wind's sweater.

"Yeah, pirate ones especially! We have a canoe, it’s awesome in the summer!" Wind said while bouncing on his toes.

"Legend worked on a boat for a while," Hyrule was really into telling his life story huh.

"It wasn't that long," he said at the same time Wind nearly screamed:

"That's so fucking cool!"

Warriors seemed stuck between telling off his little brother about swearing and looking at Legend with what might've been pity. He opened his mouth to say something but Legend would never know what he intended to say because another teenager walked into the room and immediately picked Wind up by the armpits and held him up in the air.

"Let me down you scalywag! I will make you scrub the goddessdamned deck you filthy landlubber!"

"Nope," the teenager with light brown hair and the same accent as Malon said with a goofy grin. "Bad kids get put in air jail, can't do nothin' 'bout it. Thems the rules."

Legend decided that this was incredibly funny and nodded along very seriously.

"Nice to finally meet you two by the way. My name's Twilight." Said the guy keeping Wind hostage.

"Hyrule," Hyrule said pointing to himself. Then guesturing to Legend, "And this is Legend."

"Does Wind often end up in air jail?" Legend questioned with a smirk.

"Only when that sailor mouth of his gets used against those who don' know 'em." Twilight laughed. "Also when he gets his sticky hands into other folks business."

"Well I wouldn't worry about cursing in front of us," Hyrule said with a smile. "Legend has ruined my ears for good."

"It's what you get for sticking with me," Legend mumbled fondly.

"Well that's excellent news, becasue we all have mostly given up on trying to stop him." Warriors said with a grimace. "It doesn't go down well with his teachers though."

"What do you mean?" Wind said from his prison free from gravity. "My teachers love me!"

"They love your enthusiasm and creativity, Hon. Not the complaints parents send them about their children coming home cursing." Malon said as she walked through the living room back to the dining room balancing three mugs of what smelled like coffee.

"Bullshit," Wind mumbled and then succeeded in kicking Twilight in the kneecap and subsequently freed himself. "At last I have escaped the clutches of the fowl beast, I must write down this tale so my bravery is never forgotten!"

He started running off but before he turned the corner to the stairs he turned back and waved. "Nice meeting you! I hope you stick around for a while!"

Legend did not feel like addressing that sentiment, so he asked: "Where is he going?"

Warriors sighed, "Probably to write a letter to his little sister. She likes knowing what goes on in his life and he's a surprisingly good storyteller for his age."

"She lives with another family, if you were wondering." Twilight cut in as he moved to take a seat on the floor. Completely ignoring the unused footstool right next to him. "She got adopted before he came here, they didn't want two kids. Can't imagine why though, Wind is great." There was no sarcasm in his words, just love for the kid he likely called brother.

"Do they get to see eachother?" Hyrule asked.

"Twice a month, and they write once a week," Warriors said with a small frown. "It's a similar deal with my sister. We text instead of letters, but before we could drive we would meet up twice a month. We still see eachother about the same amount now, mostly cause we're both busy though."

"You've got a sister too?" Hyrule said with genuine curiosity.

Yeah," the elder teen smiled. "A twin actually, though we're not identical or anything."

"And she's older than him too." Twilight said with a sly grin.

"We're the same dindamned age! I don't know what it is with everyone bringing up that she's technically older!" Warriors protested. It sounded like a well worn argument, there was no genuine malice, just a routine of feigned annoyance.

"Well that's lovely for you," Legend said with sarcasm thick in his voice. Being this chummy was difficult. He wasn't sure how Hyrule kept it up all the time. Well to be fair though, his brother did crack sometimes and let loose a fury of frustration, it wasn't often though. But Legend knew to stay out of his war path at those dangerous times. Hyrule was sweet, but deadly when he felt like it.

Twilight frowned at him but didn't comment on his unnecessary rudeness. Legend wondered what part of him was so badly broken to make him such an asshole.

"I'm sure your sister is great," Hyrule, as always, came to his rescue.

"She is," Warriors replied. "She's also incredibly dumb, like I love her, but she needs to stop hanging out with so many Cuccos, those things are monsters."

Legend and Hyrule shuddered in unison. They had more then one bad altercation with the temperamental creatures, Legend had the scar on his shin to prove it.

"Those things are the goddesses' punishment to us all." Legend commiserated. Finally something he was good at: complaining.

"I'll have to disagree with you there," an unfamiliar voice said.

Walking up behind Twilight was a boy with dirty blond hair and a soft featured face. He was wearing green flannel pants and a knit sweater with chickens doing a silly dance on it. Of course he had to be a devil bird sympathizer.

"Cuccos are delightful birds and you are all wrong."

"Yes yes, we've all seen the slideshow Sky. You don't need to regale us with your strange love for those hell birds." Warriors said into a hand.

"I haven't seen the slideshow," Hyrule said quietly. "Also, what is a slideshow?"

Legend simply shrugged, he hadn't been keeping up to date with most stuff. Perhaps a slide show was some kind of interpretive dance about how interesting birds were. He wouldn't know.

"I'll have to show you then," Sky said with a smile. Warriors groaned into his hand and Sky ran off to find whatever supplies he needed for this 'slideshow'.

Legend smirked when he realized he had once again weaseled out of a conversation about is perfectly normal health.

><><><><

Time finished the dregs of his coffee and let his head fall onto the dining table with a quiet thunk. Next to him Sheik laughed and he could hear the click of their laptop finally closing.

"I have enough info to go off now, so I'm going to head out."

Time sat back up and made a small drawing in the condensation from his drink. "I really appreciate the help, thank you."

"Eh, I know this is like, a court case, but I can't imagine it being much more frustrating then what happened with Warriors."

Time shuddered at the thought. To this day he was still ripping down every old movie poster he saw in public, he didn't care if they fined him over it, better that then Warriors seeing it.

Though, now looking back on it, he might've seen a few wanted posters for Legend around town. He'd probably be ripping those down now too.

"Considering that we're likely going to up against a very wealthy family… well I wouldn't expect this to be easy."

"I'm well aware," Sheik said as they packed the laptop back into its bag. "But we also know that the main obstacle, the girl's father, passed away two years ago. His wealth and influence was a large part of the case and is the reason his bounty is still so high. Without him there will be less eyes on this."

His sibling stood and streached, they spoke through a yawn. "Besides, it's not as if our family doesn't have the money to handle this either. We aren't related to the Hyrule's for nothing."

Time felt a little hope come back with that reminder. It still amazed him that his childhood friend had not only turned out to be a member of the very expansive and influential Hyrule family, but also the driving factor into him being adopted when he was a young boy with too much on his shoulders. He didn't often take from his families money though, preferring to make do with the farm. But if his kids needed something, such as bail, he would accept it.

He found it a bit too ironic though, that the very family Legend was hiding from, was a distant part of his. Though it was true that the branches of the family tree didn't often interact. At least he had only met maybe two of them, and that was when he was much younger.

But the fact still stood, money would not be much of an issue, not if it was kids who needed help.

Sheik and he parted ways with a hug and he decided to finally go check on Legend and Hyrule. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to find when he walked into the living room. An all out fight, two exhausted kids fast asleep on the couch, one of his kids trying to get to know them. Whatever it was, it wasn't this.

Legend and Hyrule were seated on the couch, the former had a look of pure horror on his face and the latter looked queasy. Next to Legend was Warriors who looked bored out of his mind and also shook his head back and forth in revulsion. Twilight was seated on the ground at Warriors' feat and his face was fully baffled, there was a cat in his lap.

Standing in front of the TV and holding a remote was Sky, the screen behind him was full of pictures of cuccos and and was talking with a bright smile.

"And they're great parents too!" His son beamed at his audience of disbelievers. This wasn't the first time he had given this particular presentation, Time doubted it would be the last. The kid kept adding things to it, desperate to convince them that the birds were gentle and kind. Time knew better, he'd been mobbed by them more than once, they were part of the reason he had only one eye. The only reason they were on the farm was because Malon also had a sick affinity for them, and Time was not one to argue with his wife. Especially not over matters of her farm.

Legend and Hyrule seemed okay though, they were obviously not fans of the birds, but Legend wasn't fighting with Wars, and Hyrule seemed calm.

Maybe this would work out, it would be a hell of a lot of work. But it was worth it. Hell, Time had only known these two for a day, but it felt right having them here. If things went well, he was happy to add two more Links to the house.

It seemed a bit like fate.

Chapter Text

The court case had been a blur. Years and years worth of anguish and fear had leagally resolved within a week with the laywers the Lons had provided. It turned out that Time and Sheik's family was related to the Hyrule's, the fucking Hyrule's. So their legal team had been the real deal. They had also paid his bail, which had not been cheap. He still couldn't quite believe his luck. These people were idiots, throwing away their money to keep him out of prison until the trial. He was glad though, he didn't like how the guards around him had been staring at him, like a prize rabbit on the other end of an arrow.

Legend's case had been dropped on all charges after he pled his case and his lawyer began spouting out all the missing evidence. But what had really sealed the deal was the testimony of the only living witness.

Zelda Gallagher-Hyrule showed up to tell the court what happened. And apparently those combined things had been enough to drop the case.

Legend just stared at the girl in the stand across from him with his mouth open like a fish as she defended him. And goddesses, he hadn't been mistaken six years ago. They looked uncannily alike.

His uncle had never told him much about his family, just that they weren't around. And a nine year old Link had been perfectly content with that. But now, looking into eyes that were the exact same shade of flint blue, he couldn't help but want to know more. She had his sharp nose and thin face. Straight golden hair, though hers was thicker, and the freckles on her face were the same shade as his.

There was no way.

But then again there were his uncle's dying words, so garbled with the blood filling his lungs that they were hard to understand, cut off too soon to be a full sentence. But Legend swore he heard him say "The girl, she is your-"

His what, at the time he had taken it as responsibility, he had to go save her. But looking back on it…

His uncle might've been trying to tell him the truth.

His sister.

The entire Lon family and Hyrule were waiting for him when he was finally realeased from the handcuffs he'd been forced to wear inside the court house. He was a free man(? He could worry about that man part later)

Hyrule was crying, Legend just opened his arms and held him close, not caring for once that all eyes were on him. He was free.

The Lons were smiling and congratulating him, Wind was cheering loudly and jumping up and down. Caught up in the spirit of things Legend knelt down and let Wind climb up on his shoulders, the kid was thrilled about this. Legend might've been crying too, but he didn't care at the moment. He could finally breathe.

Hyrule was going to be okay, he was maybe going to be okay too. The Lons had stood through him throughout the entire process, for no reason other then genuine kindness. Maybe if they still wanted him and Hyrule, they would stay. It would certainly be safer then living on the streets.

A throat clearing interrupted the small celebration in the center of the courtroom. Legend turned, Wind still on his shoulders, and faced Zelda. The reason he was here, in the courtroom in the first place, but also the reason he would be leaving without a bounty.

"Thank you." They both said at the same time.

She put a hand over her mouth, at the same time he winced. He had a feeling she was thinking the same thing he was.

"I was hoping to talk to you, Link." She started slowly. "Would you join me for a moment, there's a balcony down the hallway."

Link looked at Time and got a slow nod, he put down Wind and squeezed Hyrule's hand. "I'll be back in a sec." And he followed the girl out of the room and down the hall.

The balcony was larger than he expected, with a few plants littered about in pots. The late winter air was crisp in his lungs. Goddesses breathing was so much easier now, he had never quite realized how much fear had filled his lungs.

"First off," Zelda said as she looked out over the center of town. "I want to thank you, for saving me that night. I was terrified I would never leave that basement."

Legend could see the past flashing through her icy eyes.

"I also wanted to apologize, for what a mess this has become. I ruined your life."

Was that what she really thought? She had been nine, just like him.

"Please, don't apologize. You did what you could, you showed up today." His gruff tone was wasted on his words, for some reason, he knew that Zelda could see through him.

"I won't then, and I would apologize on behalf of my father, but that would never be enough. He's in the ground too, so it would mean nothing anyway."

Legend wasn't sure what to say to that. Should he give his condolences, it wouldn't be honest, he felt nothing but contempt for the man who had signed his fate on a warm summer's night.

"Why do you look like me," he said bluntly. He didn't see much point in dancing around it, something strange was going on, they both knew it.

Zelda looked at the ground and motioned to a small stone bench. "You might want to sit down for this."

Link decided to oblige her, and they both sat, a foot apart. He fidgeted with his rings as she spoke.

"As you may have guessed by now, your last name isn't Connolly, it's Gallagher-Hyrule, and you're my brother." She hesitated and inspected her fingernails. "We're twins actually, fraternal, and I'm older then you by twenty-seven minutes. We have different birthdays too, you were born after midnight. Yours is April seventh."

So his uncle hadn't lied about that at least, if he even was his uncle.

"Uncle Alfon, who was he?"

She ducked her head.

"He saved your life, Link."

"What do you mean? Why did I not know about any of this?" He ran a hand though his gelled hair, he shouldn't have let Warrior's do his hair that morning. "Why did my own father send a manhunt after me!"

"The main reason, is that the Hyrule family is old and chalk full of traditions and old fashioned folktales. One such omen of bad luck is a male child. For some reason it rarely happens, back in the old days male heirs were culled, people feared they would take the throne and that a Princess Zelda would no longer rule. It's idiotic and needlessly cruel, and I would've hoped that it was no longer in practice." Her voice was bitter, she sounded a lot like him.

"So that's it, our parents wanted me dead and Uncle saved me?"

"Not exactly, there's more to it. You see mother got horribly sick after having us, she died weeks after we were born. They were going to keep us both, raise us together and break the tradition, but when mother died… he took your birth as an omen. After that.. well yes, he planned to kill you."

Legend stared at his dress shoes, dark brown and freshly polished. He'd never worn anything this nice in his life. His father had tried to kill him. He had a twin sister. He wasn't sure what to do about any of this information. He looked to Zelda to see tears shining in her eyes.

"Your uncle was actually our mother's bodyguard at the time. When she died he had a feeling about what father was going to do, he resigned, said he would take you far enough away that we would never meet. Whatever bad luck our idiot father believed that you held would never touch me. Father agreed, it was less trouble for you to simply disappear."

Legend huffed, "Lot of good that did any of them, I think our father might've been onto something about me in particular. You got kidnapped, and both of them are dead."

Zelda elbowed him in the ribs. "No, father was wrong and we both know that. Don't you dare go blaming this on yourself!"

"Pot, meet kettle," he mumbled.

"Shut up." There was no heat in her words.

They sat quietly for a beat.

"Did they ever find out who took you?"

"Yes," Zelda said sullenly. "It was a business partner, he wanted more money, felt that father had cheated him. They ended up settling the affair quietly, the people who kidnapped me never faced any consequences. He was too focused on making sure we would never meet again. To quote you, lot of good that did him."

Legend leaned his head back against the bench and looked up into the cloudless sky.

"Was he buried?"

"Yeah, in the family lot in central Hyrule, by the old castle. If you want, we can go vandalize it sometime, I have the key to the mosaleum."

"Yeah, that sounds good." He was glad they were on the same wavelength about this.

"And I know this is all a lot to process, and you can do whatever you want, but I want to give you an invitation. We can fix your papers, give you back the last name Hyrule. You could live with me, at the mansion. Everyone involved with our births is gone, as soon I was put in charge I had them all fired. You could come home."

Legend looked at her, her face was steely, eyes locked on the ground. She was probably lonely in that big house, he wondered if she had been allowed to have friends.

Then he looked past her, where Hyrule was passing by the glass doors obviously trying not to look like he was spying. He was defiantly spying. Legend had been gone longer then he thought, and Hyrule was very attached to him.

Home had never been a mansion in Mabe, it had been his uncle's cottage on the outskirts of town. It had been apple pie and music lessons and warm hugs.

Then it had been Hyrule.

And he knew what Hyrule wanted, saw how much he was improving and learning in the Lons house. They were trying to find his birth certificate and were working on trying to get him into school. He loved living there.

And whatever happend, Legend couldn't leave his brother.

And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to like it there too. Just a little.

"I appreciate the offer, Zelda. But I'm going to have to decline for now." He hesitantly took her hand, she had a birthmark on her thumb, it almost mirrored a scar he had on his. "The Lons, they've done a lot for me. I'm starting to think they might not be lying about wanting me around."

Zelda looked at him, dumbfounded. "Of course they want you, dumbass." She snorted. "Did you not see them cheering when the verdict came? I want you to do whatever makes you happy, you deserve that much after all of this. Just keep in touch, okay?"

Legend squeezed her hand. "Yeah. Here, do you have a pen? I can give you the home phone of the place I'm staying. I don't have a phone."

Zelda nodded and dug through her small bag, after a moment she pulled out a pen. "I hope you don't mind that it's sparkly."

Legend scoffed and uncapped it, it wasn't as if he had ever cared much for outdated gender expectations. Then he laughed. "Oh that's another thing, if father had waited fifteen years he wouldn't have needed to kill me. Prick."

"What do you— Oh!" She muffled a giggle behind her hand. "What a twist of fate, how ironic. Is it wrong to say that some part of this may be a bit funny?"

Legend smirked, "No, it's kinda hilarious. All that work for nothing. Well kinda, being called a guy doesn't feel wrong, but neither does being called a girl." He'd had a bit of practice talking to people about this recently. Time had asked him about it, after he heard Hyrule calling him sister. At the end of that conversation Legend had felt a bit looser, he hadn't told the others yet, he had been waiting to see if he would be spending the rest of his life in a cell or not.

"I think I'm both, he and she."

Zelda smiled and held out her arm for him to write the Lon's number on. "Should I call you sister or brother?"

"Both I think," Legend said as he wrote in glittery gel pen. "But uh, brother for now. Not everyone knows quite yet."

Zelda nodded, "Of course. Let me know about that vandilasation trip when you feel up for it. We can visit your uncle to, if you want. Not to throw eggs at of course, but maybe some flowers?"

Legend wiped his eyes. "Yeah, I'll let you know." He had never been to his uncle's grave, hadn't even know if he had been buried or cremated.

"Impa will be looking for me, we should get back."

Legend nodded and stood, offering a hand out to help her up. She took it and bumped her shoulder into his. "I'm glad to have you back."

"Same." He spoke the word quietly, but he meant it.

><><><><

"How do you want to celebrate Legend?" Malon said when they were all packed into the truly ginormous van that the Lons owned.

Legend was sitting next to Hyrule in the second row, they had played rock paper scissors over who got the window seat. Legend was enjoying the day's second victory.

"I don't care," he said truthfully. This day had already been enough of a rollercoaster, he wanted get out of the stuffy clothes he'd had to wear at court, wash the gel out of his hair, and sleep.

"How does dinner sound? There's a place called The Lumpy Pumpkin on the drive back." Malon typed something into her phone and held it back to him. Legend scrolled down the menu for a moment until he found it, exactly what he needed in that moment.

A bit of a send off, a goodbye, a thank you.

Apple pie.

"Sounds good," he said and crossed his arms, trying to hide his desperation to shove an entire pie in his mouth and then collapse.

"Yes!" Sky yelled from the back seat. Legend looked back to find him and Twilight high-fiving in excitement.

'What's got them so excited?" Legend poked a thumb backwards to where the older teens were already drooling.

Time adjusted the rear view mirror and turned the car key. "They serve pumpkin stew there, and Sky and Twilight would do anything for it."

Legend grunted in understanding and leaned his face up against the window, the lights and people of Mabe flashing past him. If things had gone differently, he might have been one of the teenagers walking around with friends, or, Hylia, with the new information he had, if things had gone differently he would be living in a mansion downtown. Hyrule leaned against his side and Legend let him, they were all tired. Hopefully a meal would bring them back to life enough to finish the drive back to Hateno.

"If you don't mind me asking," Warriors' started with more hesitance then Legend was used to from him. They had settled into an easy routine of snide remarks and mocking taunts, this sincerity was breaking that carefully crafted mold. "What did Zelda want to talk to you about?"

Legend kept his eyes on the city as it thinned out slowly, more trees and less buildings flying past them. He didn't feel like lying, for once in his life. What was the point anyway, everyone in the car knew his biggest secret, and they had stood by him anyway.

To Demise with it.

"Funny thing, turns out that the uncanny resemblance wasn't just a random occurrence."

Behind him Four gasped and then mumbled to himself. "I knew it."

"Turns out dear old dad put a warrant out for my arrest, and I have a twin sister." He did a single, sarcastic jazz hand.

Everything but the car engine went dead quiet.

Legend considered busting through the car window and running off and hiding in a ditch.

Finally Wind broke the silence. "Dude! You're like, royalty or something!"

"Haha, no." Legend turned in his seat to give the kid a deadpan glare. Wind didn't even bat an eye. "I think any plans to be a Hyrule were dashed the second my father started planning my murder for the first time."

"Wait really?" Sky's voice was shaky, in the two months that they had known eachother Legend had learned that he was more sensitive then the others.

"Yeah, apparently me being born was enough of a crime."

"I thought we had thrown that superstition out." Sheik's voice was quiet from where they were sitting next to Hyrule. They locked eyes with Legend across the row of seats and he could see the horror they were experiencing.

"Your parents really tried to go through with it?"

Legend nodded grimly. "Yeah, well, apparently they were going to let me live, but then my mother got sick. When she didn't make it, father decided to get rid of me. I was an ill omen." It felt weird referring to people he had never met as his mother and father. But what else was there to say? It was the truth.

"Goddesses above kid, I'm so sorry."

Legend shrugged and then realized this was a perfect opportunity to drop another information bomb. Especially with Sheik here, he felt a little better about it.

"And he probably didn't even need to bother with the entire 'cull the male children' thing either, considering that I'm not entirely a guy. Would've saved him a lot of money in bribing gaurds to chase me around for the last six years." His tone was purposefully blunt, logically he knew the Lons would be chill about it, but still. He was never good at revealing information, especially since he'd been hiding for so long.

Once again there was quiet in the car until Sheik doubled over laughing. "Oh Nayru give me wisdom, I can't believe you just used the information that your died tried to kill you, to come out!" There were tears in their eyes and Legend couldn't tell if they were from pity or humor. Maybe both.

Time reached an arm back to swat Sheik on the head. "You literally decided to go undercover as a martial arts specialist and then beat up a guy in an alley as part of coming out. You can't judge."

"What!" Came a shriek from the back seat, Twilight was half standing up in the back with his hands splayed. "I thought you were reasonable?!"

Sheik wiped a tear from their eye and just turned to wink at their nephew.

"They're as cryptic as the old man!" Wind moaned in misery.

"I think we're focusing too much on Sheik right now," Warriors said in agony. "Why the fuck would your dad kill you for being born male?"

"Also what are your pronouns?" Sky asked with genuine interest and bad timing.

Legend looked over at Sheik and cracked up laughing. "He and she," she said through barking laughter. "Sheik, I get the feeling you know the situation, mind explaining? I think I'm gonna puke."

Sheik took a deep breath to stop their giggles and managed to calm themselves enough to talk. "Okay, this isn't funny. It's serious."

That only made Legend snort louder, it had been a long day. She really hoped that apple pie was coming up soon. Hyrule held her hand while Sheik talked about the branches of the Hyrule family and how they had some outdated traditions and superstitions from the time when they once ruled the kingdom.

Legend eventually calmed and leaned into Hyrule's shoulder. Maybe they could all work themselves out while he slept.

><><><><

She awoke to someone shaking her shoulder, and Legend reached for her boot knife. She then promptly remembered she did not have her knife because she was wearing dress shoes, and showing up to her murder trial with a weapon was not a good look. Then she realized that the person shaking her awake was Hyrule and she didn't need it in the first place.

"We're almost at the restaurant, Time said to wake you up." Her brother said in a quiet voice, he looked tired.

Legend groaned and pushed herself off of her brother and into a sitting position, the seat belt dug into her shoulder and she cursed under her breath, that shoulder had been feeling weak as of late, it had been popping a lot more too. But that was just what happened when you grew up she figured, despite the fact that she was all of fifteen.

"You good back there Legend?" Time made eye contact with her from the rear view mirror and Legend shrugged noncommittally.

"Fine," was her yawning reply. She looked out the window to realize that the sun was going down, it was beautiful.

"You sure," Warriors' said from behind her. "I mean, you just learned a lot of complicated news?"

Legend glared at the floorboard and crossed her arms, she wanted to deflect, yell at them to all leave her alone. But for once, she didn't, mostly because she feared making a scene would ruin her chance of eating apple pie. "I don't want to talk about it," she spit out eventually.

"Got it," came the easy reply. She assumed Warriors would know something about not wanting to talk about things, considering his childhood and all.

Time turned the radio up a bit and let the sound of a banjo waft through the car whale various people chattered quietly to eachother. Legend found herself not minding all the noise for once, and she just focused on the sound of a fiddle joining the strain of music, it reminded her of better times.

Not long after they pulled into a restaurant parking lot and began the process of getting eleven people dressed in stiff formal wear out of a extended van, safe to say it took a few minutes and they had to wake Sky up twice in the process.

The staff had to put together two tables for them to all fit and Legend took a spot in between Hyrule and Sheik, scanning her menu for her prize.

And there it was, laminated and shining, apple pic, it had been so long.

They ordered and Malon only smiled when she made her order.

Legend didn't participate much in the chatter as they waited for food, but she could tell that the Lons were keeping the conversation light, skirting around the topic of the trial and Legend's past. She appreciated it.

Four was done with the kids coloring page he had been given (he had called it a slight against his height, but had taken it anyway) when their food came. The heavenly smell of warm apple and cinnamon filled Legend's nose and she did not talk to anyone for the rest of the meal.

When the plates were empty and various to-go boxes were filled, the group managed to get back in the van and contiune on the road back to the farmhouse. This time Legend lost at rock-paper-scissors and ended up sandwiched between Hyrule and Warriors. Sheik had decided to join the third row and play poker with Four, Wind, and Twilight. They weren't playing for money, but Malon had handed back some mints from her purse for them to bet. Legend was pretty sure that every single person playing the game was cheating at it, but that was their problem, not hers.

Her problem was that Warriors kept discreetly glancing her way with pity in his eyes, it was all she could do to not call him out on it with a onslaught of venom laced words. Instead she made sure no one was watching and stomped on the toes of Warriors' dress shoes and when he whipped around to complain made direct eye contact.

The older teen thankfully got the message and the rest of the car ride was peaceful except the time Sky shifted in his sleep and knocked the cards out of Twilight's hands. Apperently he had been about to win.

><><><><

For once in his miserable life, Legend slept well. He woke up to find Hyrule curled into his side and the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the curtains.

For the first time in years Legend had taken an old rabbit plushie from his ratty backpack and held it while he slept. He'd had the stuffed animal as long as he could remember, and after someone tried to steal it from him at a shelter when he was ten he had left it in the bag, it was emberrising, and too precious. But now the bunny with its worn ears and threadbare nose was safely in his arms, it still smelled a bit like pipe smoke and cinnamon. Of course no one but Hyrule could know about this, but still. He let himself have the comfort for the moment, not matter how small it made him feel.

He wondered why no one had woken them up. He was guessing it would be a busy day, they still had so much to do.

Now that his case was settled he and Hyrule were either going to run, because it was safer now without knights at their backs, or they would be put into the system. Time and Malon had talked to them a few times about this, they'd had an entire conversation before the case, Legend hadn't given them an answer.

But he knew what needed to happen, Hyrule needed an education, he needed support and care and access to medical treatment if he got hurt. Legend couldn't provide that, the Lons said they would, he belived them.

And as hard as it was to believe, as much as he wished if wasn't true, because Legend was not a nice person, he was harsh and rough and cruel, Hyrule still needed him. There was no way he would leave his brother now.

In that moment, warm under blankets and the soft sounds of cows mooing and people moving about in the house floating through his ears, Legend made a decision.

They were staying.

For once in his life, he wasn't going to run.

><><><><

The afternoon air was sweet with the promise of spring and Legend was sitting at the edge of the front porch, her legs kicking over the short drop. It was childish sure, but there was nobody to watch her right now. Hyrule was helping taste test in the kitchen and everyone else was doing whatever they did in the middle of the day. This time last year she and Hyrule were in Lorule doing odd jobs and busking for change. Well, she was doing those things, Hyrule's job was to stay warm and safe.

It was weird to not have to keep an eye on him at all times, it was weirder to trust others to make sure he was alright.

Legend found herself humming a tune in the silence, one she had learned during her time at sea. There had been a girl her age, Marin, she was the daughter of the boat's captain. She liked feeding the seagulls and watching the stars, she had taught Legend to sing. To use her raspy voice for something other than violence.

But there had been a storm, and the boat had capsized, and in the rain and ruin the last thing Legend saw was a girl singing to herself on the flooded deck, trying to calm herself down, or maybe she knew she was going to die and it had been a parting gift.

Legend didn't know, all she knew was that she woke up a few times on a piece of wreckage, and she hadn't really tried to survive, but she had. And when she woke up on the shore it was to two knights with dangerous grins and brandished weapons. She still wasn't sure how she had escaped that time. Sometimes she thought she had dreamt half of it, even though the smell of hibiscus sent her in a panic.

But that song had haunted her ever since, and she refused to forget it, it was too precious.

She had never told Hyrule about Marin, just that she had worked on a ship once but left when someone recognized her. Not a complete lie, but enough to protect him. She had a feeling her brother knew something had happened though, she apparently talked in her sleep, especially when she was having nightmares, which was most nights.

The tall grasses swayed in the front yard and Legend swayed with them, feeling lost at sea once more, just part of the pull of the tides. She had no direction to go, no compass pointing the way, no map.

"That's a nice song," came a too smooth voice. "I didn't know you could sing."

Warriors stood a few yards away with a dumb smile on his face.

Legend scowled and crossed her arms, "Well I'm sure it's nothing compared to your dulcet tones Mr. Castletown."

"You wound me," Warriors clutched at his chest as if he'd been stabbed. Legend had been stabbed a few times, Wars' acting wasn't very good for once.

Legend rolled her eyes and looked out at the large sky, dark clouds loomed on the horizon.

"Do you think it'll rain?" Warriors asked as he took a seat on the porch next to her.

Legend eyed the clouds and took a sniff of the air. "Yeah, we're in for a storm alright." She could already feel the pressure in her joints shifting. She hoped there wasn't much lighting, it always took her back to that night at sea. She got hit, there were scars on her back from it, they were starting to ache something fierce as the air turned.

Warriors leaned back on his hands and sighed, "Tomorrow will be a nightmare with all the mud."

"Oh no," Legend said in mock horror. "Your poor face, what if you get dirt on it!"

"Ha ha," Warriors said with an eye roll. "I know everything has been crazy recently, but I wanted to talk."

Legend tried not to show the fact that her heart had stopped, she felt like a rabbit backed into a corner. She wasn't sure what Warriors was about to say, but he seemed to know too much. His every action was too practiced, preformative, she could tell another paranoid bastard when she saw one. But what had he noticed this time?

Legend forcibly relaxed her face and waved a hand at him to continue.

"Did you ever talk to Time or Malon about the pain?"

Oh. This.

Legend snorted, "Course not. I told you before, it's normal."

"And like I said before, it's not."

He wasn't going to give up about this, was he?

"I don't get why you care so much, don't you have your own problems to worry about, pretty boy?"

Warriors looked out into the big sky, like he was looking for answers. "Yeah I do," he fingered one of his blue hoop earrings with a perfectly manicured hand. "But I don't want to see kids suffering, that includes you."

Legend jammed her foot into his ankle, but it was halfhearted. She felt too strange to be all that mad. "I'm not a kid."

"I used to say that," Warriors mumbled. "All my life I tried to be an adult, to support my family with my acting career. My money paid for our house, food, my sister's schooling. They relied on me. And then it all came crashing down, I won't bore you with all the details, but I was a mess. Still am honestly."

He adjusted his scarf around his neck, like he was fighting the urge to hide.

"My family wouldn't take me, they thought I was too much trouble. Too fucked in the head to deal with. So I got put in the system, and thankfully, I ended up here. They let me be a kid here, and it was hard, still is some days. I'm turning twenty in the fall, and they still refuse to put that kind of pressure on me."

He flicked his dark blue eyes to meet Legend's. "I know you've been taking care of yourself and Hyrule for so long, and you've done an incredible job given the circumstances."

Legend felt her gut twist, no one had ever acknowledged how hard she had worked for her brother. She guessed it made sense knowing what she did now about Warriors. He had supported his family once too.

"But you're fifteen, and nobody here is going to judge you for acting your age. And if you're in pain, we will do everything we can to make it better."

Legend pulled her lips back into a snarl, tired of all the kind words. She wanted a release, a break from the ache that echoed throughout her body and brain. Warriors was easy to rile up, it would be so simple to start a fight. To goad him into throwing the first punch, to run when it was over.

But she didn't do that, she bit her tounge and made herself sit with his words.

"I'm going inside." She eventually decided on saying. What she didn't say was that she was planning on tracking down Time and Malon. Mostly because she needed to tell them that she and Hyrule wanted to stay.

Maybe if that went well though, she might consider mentioning how badly her knees were aching.

><><><><

Legend held his little brother while he cried.

Hyrule didn't cry often, but when he did he was quiet, the youth shelter hadn't liked kids who took up space. They had hated Legend, it explained why they had locked him up so much.

"Shh, you're alright Rulie." Legend wasn't entirely sure what to say to his brother in that moment. What were the right words for someone who had just learned their last name, and the names of their parents, and how their parents died?

He sure as fuck didn't know, so he held his shaking brother close to his heart and hoped it would be enough.

><><><><

It was weird, walking through a town without having to duck her head and hope for the best.

It had been a week since the end of her trial. Six days since she told Time and Malon they were staying.

Legend wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel when Time told them that they should pick out some clothes for themselves. She should probably feel greatful, mostly she felt angry.

She had survived for six years with nothing, and now, at the flip of a coin, she had food, a clean bed, and warm clothes.

Where had these people been?

Why had she been alone for so fucking long?

She inspected the stitching of the leather boot in her hands, it looked strong, like it could last for a decade. It was rare these days to find such an item. She ran a worn hand over the dark brown leather and sighed. She would be glad to have better shoes, it had been awhile since she'd gotten new ones. Her toes were pinched in her current shoes, not to mention how nonexistent the treads were now, they were bad for foot chases.

Legend wondered if she'd ever be in a foot chase again, with her bounty gone she mostly doubted it. But she knew better then to let her guard down. She didn't survive this long by being an idiot.

Down the rack of shoes Hyrule was holding a pair of green converse over his head in triumph. At that very moment the music in the thrift store changed to an upbeat trumpet trill and she snorted at the perfect timing.

"Do they fit?"

Hyrule nodded amd tossed them into the small cart they had been given. Legend set her boots next to the canvas shoes and frowned, getting things for herself was weird.

"Okay, next on the list, you need at least five more shirts." Legend ran through the list Malon had given her again. T-shirts, sweater, long sleeve shirt, tank top, bottoms, shoes, jacket, and any interesting trinkets or books they wanted. The rest she said they would buy at a different store.

"You need stuff to," Hyrule said with an all too familiar look. The one that meant he thought Legend was babying him.

Legend was not babying him, thank you very much. She was being responsible. Whatever she needed came second.

"I will, come on, lets find the shirts."

It wasn't hard to find the right aisle, Legend would have a peek through the woman's shirts in a minute but she usually liked plain t-shirts anyway. They were more comfortable and easier to replace and repair.

Her wrists ached as she combed through the rack, carefully inspecting any garment that caught his eye. She found herself gravitating to dark greens and reds, as well as a purple and pink striped sweater that was soft to the touch and felt sturdy.

Hyrule carefully put his findings in the cart, mostly greens and browns as well as one black shirt with some kind of whimsical looking image of frogs on a tandem bike. Something about the art style twisted in the back of her mind, but she couldn't place it. Things went like this for a while, they were about the same size so they spent a lot of time in the same sections, occasionally Time or Warriors would check in and see how things were going, but they were mostly left alone.

When they had checked off most of the list and were down to the non clothing items Legend floundered. She had always liked trinkets and keepsakes, items that looked pretty or had weird uses. Things that were worthless when all you owned had to fit into a backpack. Over the years she had left a lot of things behind, she had put a rule in place for herself, she could only take one purely sentimental object with her.

It always ended up being the stupid stuffed animal her uncle had given her. Threadbare in places and once bright pink fabric fading to grey.

Her violin had a purpose at least, she made sure of that over the years. She refused to part with it, even if it was clunky in a desperate situation.

She gave Hyrule a bit more leniency with his things. As long as he carried his own trinkets he could bring them. Early on they had decided that one backpack would be enough for the both of them, that way they could trade it back and forth on long journeys. It was a rare day though when she let him have it. And that wasn't just her being responsible, she needed to know where her things were at all times. The thought of losing anything made her heart race and her palms sweat.

Hyrule took her hand and led her through the aisles at the back of the store, oohing and ahhing at the various trinkets and toys that littered the metal shelves. She could see Time browsing the dishware section and Warriors looking though the paperbacks in the corner.

With no eyes on her, Legend focused on the task of finding things she liked, for the purpose of liking them. On the car ride home when Wars asked why she had so many music books, for instruments that she didn't even have, she just sneared at him.

><><><><

The knee braces helped, at least enough to notice.

Legend stood next to his sister above an overgrown headstone, he held a bouquet of wildflowers in his shaking fist.

The epitaph on the grave stared up at him.

I Love You, My Little Legend. You Will Do Extraordinary Things.

He fell to his knees, and for the first time in years, sobbed.

Fable, as she had decided to be called when she learned of all the other Zelda's in the mix, sat beside him and kindly didn't mention the snot running down his face or the way that his hiccuping sobs sounded like a child's. She just cried with him, and that was enough.

><><><><

His house looked the same.

Sure there was dust on the porch, and the orchard was overgrown and wild. But the shutters were still painted cherry red and the rabbit weather vane still spun lazily with the turn of the breeze.

The keys in his hand felt heavy and were becoming uncomfortably warm in his sweaty palm. The paint on the door was chipping, he could still see the scrape from the time he borrowed his uncle's sword.

Zelda had told him that it was all left to him. His adoption had been legal, he was next of kin. And now that his charges were dropped, the place was his. The house, the orchard, the memories that made him ache all over and smile at the same time.

He could hear Twilight's truck turn off and two pairs of footsteps join behind him as he stared forward, unsure how to proceed. He was glad when the ranch hand broke through the storm in his mind.

"Are those apples?"

Legend nodded slowly, his head felt fuzzy. "Yeah, no ones been taking care of them though."

He turned from the door and put the keys in his pocket, it could wait. It wasn't like Uncle Alfon was coming home.

There was no reason to waste perfectly good apples.

><><><><

Four stuck his shovel into the earth and ran the back of his hand over his forehead. "That's the last one."

Legend looked up from the saplings he had been inspecting. "Good, I don't like leaving these out of the dirt for long. The transplant is gonna be enough of a shock as is."

"Let's get this done then," Four said with a tired smile.

Legend shrugged, "The sooner the better." And he picked up the first apple tree sapling they had brought back from his orchard.

It would be years till they started to fruit, but he could wait. It felt more permenant then foster papers and bunk beds, it felt a bit like home.

><><><><

Her fingers ached on the strings of the violin, but Legend didn't mind all that much. The pain was familiar, grounding, and she needed that at the moment.

The sky was bright with stars and the full moon stared down at her like an all seeing eye. If she stared at it too long she could almost convince herself that it was smiling. But that was probably the sleep deprivation, it had been awhile since she'd slept though the night. It was part of the reason she was sitting on the front porch playing an all too familiar song in the middle of the night.

She wasn't expecting to have an audience. It wasn't that she particularly minded people hearing her play, she knew that she had a talent for it, it was how she kept herself alive in most towns. But still, she hadn't heard the door open until Time was scuffing his bare feet against the wooden planks that reminded her too much of a lifeboat's.

"I've never heard you play before," Time said into the ever present buzz of cicadas. "You're very good."

Legend wondered if she would get in trouble for being outside at night, or playing too loud. It had been hard enough to leave Hyrule alone in that room. But he would probably be okay, they were working on their separation issues a bit. Having the bunk beds helped. Hyrule had the top and Legend got the bottom bunk which was actually a full size. On nights that neither of them could sleep they still curled up together. It helped. But Hyrule had been fast asleep when she woke up in a cold sweat that night, the afterimage of blood on her hands and the shock of lightning running up her back.

But Time didn't look upset, in fact, he had that same spaced out face Hyrule got after a dream about fire.

"You look like shit, old man." There was no poison in her words, the air was too calm for that.

Time ran a hand down his face, his long hair for once not pulled back into a low ponytail, but cascading down his shoulders and glinting in the bright light from the eye in the sky.

"I don't like the moon," was all he said as he took a seat on the edge of the porch.

Legend snorted into her fist at the obsurdity of the statement, but the slump of Time's shoulders kept her mouth closed.

It was a weird night, she put the violin back under her chin and started at the beginning of the song she wasn't able to find in any book of music. Marin had said it was called The Ballad of the Windfish, but she wasn't even sure if Marin had been real. Legend dreamt of her dying song most nights, they were always devastatingly real. Sometimes she was almost sure that she was still asleep.

"I've never heard that one before," Time said as he looked at the moon above. He never took his eye off of it, like he was waiting for it to start falling from the sky.

"I heard it once in a dream." Was all Legend said about it.

><><><><

"Told you so," we're the first words out of Hyrule's mouth when Legend's knee pulled a successful escape attempt from it's socket.

The second thing he said was more of a scream. "Time, Warriors, somebody! Legend's hurt!"

If he wasn't in so much pain, Legend might've told him off for making such a big deal out of it. But he was currently clutching at his knee in agony and desperately trying not to bite his tongue off in an attempt to not scream bloody murder.

"What happe- Holy Fuck." Were Warriors' very eloquent words as he almost tripped over his unconnected leg.

If he wasn't wiping at his eyes on a panic, not wanting to be seen as weak, Legend would have chewed him out for almost stepping on him. But unfortunately, the tears we're trying to drown him.

"Oh Farore," Wars breathed out as he took in the fact that his leg was crooked at the joint. "Yeah I think you need to go to the hospital, this is bad."

Legend bit back enough of his tears to choke out a response to that. "Astute observation, pretty boy."

Wars grimaced and knelt down. "One of my specialties. How bad do you think it'll be if I pick you up? We don't have a streacher and it would take forever for an ambulance to get here."

Legend tasted bile but managed to swallow it down. "Just get it over with."

"You sure."

"As I'll ever be."

Warriors gave him a grim nod put a hand underneath his back and another under his legs, he was careful to not hook under the knee area.

Legend closed his mouth on a scream but nodded through the pain. "Get a move on, don't wanna be like this all day."

Warriors looked down at him, then to Hyrule who was anxiously moving from one foot to the other. "Let's get to the car then. 'Rule, why don't you go find Time or Malon and meet me at my car."

Hyrule nodded and with a last sick look at Legend, dashed off from the field they had been throwing a frisbee in to the farmhouse in search of a better adult then Warriors.

Can't be too hard to find one of those, Legend thought through the agony.

><><><><

Hyrule had never been in a hospital, but he didn't like it. The sterile surfaces reminded him too much of the youth shelter, and all the fake smiles on the doctors and nurse's faces were freaking him out. Time said that this place was called an Emergency Room, ER for short. It smelled like cleaner and iron and bile.

He was in the waiting room with Warriors, somewhere in a seat behind them a baby was crying, Hyrule really wanted to leave. But Legend was waiting for him, so he had to stay put.

Wars was decent company at least, he was showing him some kind of finger whacking game where the numbers went up until someone was out. It was repetitive, but it passed the time at least.

"Hyrule Albero and Warriors Lon," a voice rang out through the crowded room.

Warriors reached out a hand and Hyrule took it, he didn't let go as they followed the nurse. Maybe it was childish, but sue him. He just wanted his sister to be okay.

They winded though white halls with impersonal pictures on the walls and the smell of antiseptic followed them. He wondered when he would breathe in fresh air again.

Eventually they were led to a white door and let into a small room with a bed and two chairs. Time was sitting by Legend's bedside and staring at the clock above the computer station in the corner. Legend was asleep, her freshly dyed hair splayed across the pale blue pillowcase like she was in an old painting. The nurse left them with a few words that Hyrule didn't pay attention to.

"She should be awake soon, and then we're allowed to go home." Time said as he stood and motioned for Hyrule to take his chair. He did, taking Legend's cold hand in his.

This situation sucked, but it had been a long time coming.

"Normally they don't knock people out for this stuff, they just use painkiller and put it back in place. But she was fighting the nurses, I don't think she could hear any of us."

That sounded about right to Hyrule. "Legend can take pain, but she hates medical stuff. They always ask for her name."

Time nodded grimly, Warriors set his eyes in determination. Hyrule was glad they were here.

"She might freak out when she wakes up in here, but if I'm here she'll calm down really fast. The idiot will be more worried about me."

Warriors raised an eyebrow. "But she's the one who got hurt, not you?"

Hyrule waved a hand through the air lazily. "I know right, she's a total worrywart."

Time nodded in consideration but didn't say anything.

They set in to wait. Warriors eventually took a seat on the floor by Time's chair after winning a game of rock-paper-scissors over who had to take the chair.

Legend looked so peaceful in her sleep, her breathing was even, normally pinched face smoothed out, her mouth was not pulled into a frown. She didn't seem to be having her normal night terrors.

She looked her age for once.

><><><><

Legend woke up to the smell of antiseptic and the color white. She bolted up, reaching for a knife only to find she didn't have one.

A warm hand grabbed hers and she pulled back for a punch only to face her little brother. She immediately dropped her hand and reached desperately for her darling brother's face, holding him like he was the most important thing in the world. Because he was.

"Are you alright? Did they hurt you!?" She patted at his cheek and scanned for injuries with quick eyes.

She started to swing her legs off the bed when Hyrule stopped her. "I'm fine, we're fine, please stay where you are."

She froze, it was smart to take in their surroundings before escaping anyway. She scanned the room, she was in a medical bed, wearing her normal clothes and uncomfortable blue socks that she didn't recognize.

There were no doctors in the room, and as her fuzzy brain cleared a bit she was able to see two men she remembered.

Oh. Yeah.

Her knee, Warriors, a nurse trying to give her pain meds. She had panicked, started trying to escape.

They must've knocked her out. It would explain why things were going by in slow motion.

She reached down to poke at her injured knee. It hurt.

Warriors was sitting on the floor, the idea that he would willingly sully his clothes on a hospital floor made her snort.

"Ledge, are you here now?" Hyrule's voice was tentative, like walking on ice.

"I'm here, Rulie." She leaned to his ear and whispered a quiet "thank you." He squeezed her hand in response.

><><><><

Hospital issued wheelchairs sucked balls. Legend had decided this the moment he first sat in one and realized that not only did the foot rests barely work, but that he couldn't push himself.

Fucking typical.

Listening to Warriors struggle to steer the damn thing to the car almost made up for it though.

><><><><

"We really need a downstairs bedroom," Malon said when she and Twilight were done dragging his mattress down the stairs and into the living room.

"Add that to the list," Time called from the kitchen.

Legend was on the couch, his bad leg in a constricting brace and propped up. Hyrule was sitting next to him with a book and reading slowly, occasionally Legend would correct his pronouciation of a word, but he was getting a lot better, so it wasn't that often.

The doctor said he shouldn't even try hopping up the stairs for a few days, and there was no way he was going to be carried up the stairs. Warriors was being insufferable enough about carrying him to the car like some damsel in distress. So his mattress was leaned up against the living room wall for later. Hyrule had already said he would be sleeping down here but he said over and over that he wanted to sleep on the couch because he'd never done it before. Legend had slept on a lot of couches in his day, Hyrule would realize it sucked half an hour in and end up hogging half of his mattress.

Legend didn't mind though. It was nice waking up to breathing whenever he woke with his lungs failing him in panic.

He was mostly worried about one of the various inhabitants of the house finding out about his night terrors. They already knew too much about him. They didn't need to know he woke up in the middle of the night unsure if anything was real most nights.

How pathetic was he?

><><><><

Of fucking course it was Warriors. She was going to murder the bastard, when she figured out how breathing worked again.

It had been a familiar dream, the ocean rolling around her, the sky breaking apart with white lightning and the screams of sea birds. A haunting song hung in the air, terrified and desperate to be heard above the sounds of dying sailors.

It always felt so real, a single hibiscus flower flew past her in the salt filled wind. She tried to catch it but every single time if slipped though her fingers, and then the singing stopped. She usually woke up when a knight with a gleaming helmet obscuring his face, leveled a sword at her, and shot forward with greed in his eyes.

And Warriors was the one to find her curled up and sobbing in the kitchen where she'd attempted to get a glass of water but gave up halfway through and ended up on the floor with her nails carving half moons into her cheekbones.

Warriors, who carried himself with that same smooth confidence, who she had grown up watching play the part of a knight in her favorite movies, who she knew went to fencing practice once a week.

It was unfair, but he reminded her of the men who had ordered dogs to chase her down in the woods when she had been ten years old.

And she wasn't proud of it, but when he rounded the corner of the kitchen island, looking so tall from her seat on the floor. She pulled a knife on him, and some part of her wasn't surprised to see him do the same to her.

Now they were in a stalemate, cloudy eyes staring at eachother and breath heaving. Her heart was a panicking rabbit.

Warriors dropped his knife first, and then fell to his knees, head in his hands. Legend watched with hazy apathy, her knife slipped from her shaking fingers and clattered next to his.

"I- I'm so- fuck." Wars' voice was choked and thin, like his throat was being crushed.

"Fuck," she agreed in a whisper.

Warriors shifted against the counter and sat with his knees pulled up to his chin, Legend carefully followed suit, pushing herself into a sitting position opposite him. Her leg burned as she adjusted it into the least painful position possible.

"I'm so sorry Legend," he started with a uncharacteristically small voice, there was a strange lilt to it as well. Not like Twi or Malon's, something a less twangy. It reminded him a bit of how her uncle spoke, like how she used to speak, before she figured out that covering the accent made her less noticeable.

It knocked her out of her shock, and when she demanded answers she slipped back into the mouth feel of it.

"Why the fuck, do ye sound like me?"

Warriors' jaw hit the floor. "Why were you hiding it?"

Legend raised a pierced eyebrow, "Too noticeable. You?"

"Made me hard to cast back in Castletown, my Ma made me take speech classes to cover it."

"I s'pose it doesn't matter any more."

"Aye," Warriors looked at the tile floor. "Don't tell no one though, I've got an image."

"Same, keep yer trap shut about this."

They both nodded in agreement.

"Sorry I pulled a knife on ye," Warriors hung his head low in shame.

Legend just barked a quiet laugh at him. "I did the same, we're even."

They didn't talk about why either of them were awake and scared enough to be carrying knives with them. But they sat together for a while on the kitchen floor, talking of nothing important.

It wouldn't be the last time they had a midnight chat while trying to come down from some fear either.

><><><><

Legend scanned the bar again, looking for a single blue peice in a sea of hundreds. Why he was helping Wind with his new puzzle he wasn't sure. It was a thousand fucking pieces and most of them were goddessforsaken blue.

The sea landscape was haunting him to.

But Legend liked puzzles. Whenever he was in a library he would make sure to stop by the puzzle table if they had one, it was a good enough way to spend a winter day when he had no where else to go and needed to not freeze to death.

There was no way he was letting a stupid pirate ship painting get the best of him.

><><><><

An apple pie lit up with sixteen candles sat in front of her, it smelled of cinnamon and honey. Smiling faces surrounded her, the Lons, Fable, Hyrule grinned at her with a cake in front of him. Thirteen candles danced from the dessert.

Legend's birthday had actually been a week ago, but they had wanted to celebrate theirs together.

Later they would both sign papers to make them permenant residents of the house, until they decided to move out some day at least.

But for now, she was going to enjoy her pie and a very intense game of cards. She wouldn't have it any other way.