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“Malon…” Wild pleads,
Malon stares at him with a sharp look in her eye. “No.”
He pouts from where he’s sitting at the kitchen tablet, ears all droopy and looking pathetic.
“Your puppy face can’t sway me. It’s sweet that you want to help out with the chores- but the most you’re doing is chopping carrots and staying off your feet.” She turns back to the stove, turning it on and moving a pot over to the top of it. “Count this as contributing in your head, and don’t feel guilty about it.”
Her stern voice does little to ease that guilt for not helping around the farm, but feeling firmly lectured- he relents.
Next time he just… Needs to not fall off a cliff right into a moblin’s line of sight.
…And not be able to use his paraglider due to a tear in the middle.
His leg aches thinking about it, along with his back and head.
Hyrule had focused on healing his back and head first and foremost- so his leg still needed time without overdoing it on healing magic.
Thank goodness they were sent to Time’s timeline so quickly after, at least. He didn’t have to walk- not that the others would have let him- all the way to another stable.
Wild focuses his attention on cutting up vegetables handed to him. Normally he’d at least have gotten a chore or two done before helping Malon out with lunch or dinner- but now he can’t even cook multiple things at once.
Reduced to merely the slicer… He was itching to put several things in that oven she owned so bad.
Wild’s thoughts start to take a self-deprecating turn, but he isn’t allowed to get too lost in his head as he jumps in his seat at arms wrapping around his shoulders.
“I could hear your thoughts from out in the barn.” Sky hums out, his head on his shoulder. “A rupee for them, perhaps?”
Sky was always back first from doing chores. Malon was firm about him not tiring himself out.
Fighting hordes of monsters was more likely to tire him out over cleaning up after animals, but no one could argue against her.
“He feels guilty about being unable to do chores.” Malon pipes up, “A sentence you think you’d never hear in your lifetime.”
Sky huffs out a laugh as Wild’s face reddens. “Is that all?” Sky questions, not in a way that’s mocking- it’s rather soft.
Wild shrugs, looking down at the cut vegetables that Malon finally takes from him.
“I thought so.” Sky removes himself from Wild, pulling a chair closer to him instead so he can sit right by him. “What else then?” He grabs Wild’s hand to hold, the other letting out a huff as he allows it.
“I didn’t say anything.” Wild mumbles out and Sky taps his nose.
“You had that look on your face.” Sky says knowingly, “Well, if there’s anything I know about you.. You love pushing yourself down when you feel like you’re not doing ‘enough’. And this doesn’t just involve chores.”
Wild’s ears droop again at being called out, and he averts his gaze away from Sky. “I’m useless like this.” He signs in a defeated way.
“Hey.” Sky speaks firmly, “I’ll tell you as many times as you need to hear it- you aren’t useless. You are the best brother anyone could ask for and there’s nothing wrong with having bad days. It doesn’t make you a problem or anything that your head tells you that you are.”
“...But-”
“Mm mm.” Sky shakes his head, holding up a finger. “New rule. No self deprecation at the dinner table. Actually, apply that rule to every single battle you get hurt in too.”
“That’s not fair..” Wild pouts at him.
“I agree with Sky. That’s a fine rule to have! The dinner table is for family and warmth. There’s no need for your thoughts to have a seat at the table, too.” Malon says as she stirs the pot on the stove.
“And after battle is for making sure we’re all okay. When we make sure of that, then if you really did do something stupid you’ll get lectured. This still doesn’t mean you’re useless in any form or way- we’ll all do something stupid every once in a while. Can’t be helped when you’re a Link, much less in an entire group of them.” Sky gently brushes a stray hair of Wild’s behind his ear.
“...Okay..” Wild looks down out of shame, and Sky beside him huffs out.
“Hey.” Sky says again firmly, “None of that. It's okay, Wild. No one is mad at you.” He grabs Wild by the waist then, pulling him close to himself and making Wild let out a confused noise. “Get out of that head of yours. Or else I'll have to take drastic measures.”
Sky says this seriously, but Wild reads the playfulness of it and he only drops his head onto Sky’s shoulder in response with his ears still drooped.
“Oh. Now look at you. You're like a sad little remlit. What did I say?” Sky pushes Wild’s head back up, staring at him. Wild stares back, looking utterly pitiful.
Sky squints as if the very idea of Wild being sad was offensive to him.
“Out.” Sky starts, kissing Wild’s cheek once. “Of.” Twice. “Your.” Wild whines at the kisses, “Head.” Four times, five times, Sky leaves kisses on his cheek until Wild’s ears start to perk back up and the boy is finally playing along.
Wild lightly shoves at Sky, it's a pathetic attempt to get him to stop and it's certainly not all that convincing that Wild actually wants him to stop. He's soon letting out giggles, and Sky continues to coddle.
“Well, looks like I walked into a trap successfully sprung.” Time muses as he walks into the kitchen, making Sky snort and Wild look to Time in a pleading manner. As if asking for help.
“Hmmm…” Time contemplates for a moment, even taking on a ‘thoughtful’ pose. Then, he smiles at Wild. “You're on your own.”
The traitor. Wild thinks as he watches Time go over to kiss his wife’s cheek and offer to help finish up the cooking.
Sky doesn't let him go, even when the entire Chain is gathered around the kitchen table eating. But the food distracts Wild from the arm around him, along with the conversation.
No, Wind. He can't use his slate to build up to the clouds. He uses bombs for that.
This earns him a flick on the forehead from Legend. “Don't encourage the brat to use bombs.” He tells him.
Well. He didn't see anything wrong with it. But whatever.
He gets extra dessert from Malon. She slips it to him when the others aren't looking and he pouts at her. Her expression tells him he's going to accept it or else, and he signs a ‘thank you’ with his head ducked down.
She gently runs a hand through his hair, then goes back to Time.
Wild shares some of the extra dessert with Sky, though he only manages to get him about three bites before he doesn't accept any more and motions for Wild to eat the rest.
He's fine with that. He really liked Malon’s desserts.
Once everyone is done eating, he tries to stand up so he can use the bathroom.
Only for Sky to shoot him a look and tighten his hold for a moment on him.
Wild looks back at him with a frown.
“You're not walking without help, remember? Resting your leg.” Sky points at him, eyes squinted. “Where we going?”
Wild’s frown turns to another pout. “The bathroom.” He huffs, looking away from Sky smiling again at his ‘easy’ acceptance of help.
Sky takes him to the bathroom, using it as well after Wild then taking him over to Malon’s couch in front of the fireplace. Wild really wants to lay on the floor in front of that fire- but Sky doesn't let him.
Sigh. Is it so bad to roast yourself after a nice meal?
He lays his head against Hyrule’s shoulder, Sky seeming finally done with his own coddling and giving him to someone else to do the exact same thing as he left to go talk with Time.
He feels Hyrule kiss the top of his head, and Wild shifts a bit instinctively in response to get closer to him.
Hyrule happily wraps his arms around his shoulder in a sort of side hug and lays his head atop of Wild’s.
“I love you.” Hyrule mumbles to him so earnestly that it makes his heart squeeze.
Wild signs an ‘I love you too’ into Hyrule’s side, making him lightly laugh with pure warmth in that laugh.
It still almost sounds like chimes every time.
“Gross.” Legend says when he rounds the corner to see them. “Affection.”
He joins them on the couch, sitting at Hyrule’s other side. Hyrule looks at him with a dumb grin and it makes Legend roll his eyes.
Hyrule tries to kiss Legend on the cheek, and Legend shoves his hand into Hyrule’s face in response.
They stare each other down. Legend squints, Hyrule squints back.
Wild slowly lifts his head off of Hyrule’s shoulder and looks between them both- before scooting over completely onto the next couch cushion.
…
Hyrule tackles Legend and they both go rolling off of the couch.
Wild yearns to join in on the rough housing, alas… He is bound to sitting.
He watches as Legend gets the upper hand on Hyrule, pinning him to the ground. Hyrule dramatically whines and Legend lightheartedly glares down at him.
“You and Wild might be the exception when it comes to my ‘no affection’ rule, but you’re not an exception to my wrath.” Legend smiles deviously down at him, “Or this.”
Hyrule’s eyes widen, “No wait-” But he’s interrupted by his own giggles as Legend tickles his sides.
Hm! Wild does not want to be part of that!
He tries to politely get himself onto one foot so he can try hopping away- but it was already too late. He was getting pulled down to the ground by arms around his center.
He hears Hyrule tell Legend to be careful, he hears Legend snicker, and then he’s letting out a squeal as Legend pokes at his sides.
Everyone in this damn house and chain was out to get him.
“I keep on walking into traps already triggered.” Time’s voice makes the hands poking him stop, and all three of them look over to the man standing with his arms crossed with Twilight in wolf form by his side.
Wild huffs, allowing for Legend to help him stand despite the betrayal he just enacted. Twilight steps over to press his body against his legs- helping him stay steady. Even though he really didn’t need the help, he was starting to get rather sleepy so his mild yet lighthearted irritation at everyone hovering over him simmered down.
He pets Twilight on the head, and the wolf boofs at him.
“Ready for bed?” Time questions with amusement laced in his tone.
Wild glances over towards the kitchen before he answers, seeing Warriors, Four, and Wind all on dish washing duty with Malon talking to them- they all had an easy smile on their faces.
Sky was likely in bed already.
….
…He was going to be Sky’s 'teddy bear' tonight, wasn’t he?
He looks back to Time and sighs, oh well. He was tired for once.
“Yeah.” Wild hums quietly, hopefully his leg will be fine tomorrow. He thinks he might need a little space soon.
Coddling was fine- or, physical affection in general like hand holding or hugs. But if he indulges in it for too long, sometimes it starts to feel more like a trap and he knows that he needs to take some time for himself.
The chain helped him maintain a good balance, and he was grateful for that. It helped him be far more clingy than not most days- something he never thought he’d be.
Hyrule and Twilight guide him to bed, Legend staying at the couch to say something to Time.
Wild can hear Time teasing Legend right as he enters the bedroom, and it makes him snicker when he hears the insults from Legend that follow.
Sky is smiling at him sleepily when he sees him, the hylian opening his arms and making ‘cmere’ motions with his hands.
Wild lets out a fond sigh, collapsing into his arms once close enough to do so. Sky holds him in his bear-hug fashioned-way, and Wild can’t help but relax.
Hyrule kisses his and Sky’s foreheads then checks on his leg one more time before he temporarily leaves the room. Twilight hops up onto the bed after that, taking his place at Wild’s back and being the overly large heater that he was.
Sky mumbles something as he succumbs to sleep, and Wild thinks he hears Hyrule talking in a playful ‘baby voice’ to Twilight when he comes back in.
He can imagine Twilight’s deadpan expression on the wolf’s face.
It’s a comforting thing to fall asleep to.
Wild often questioned how bad his luck was when it came to… Literally everything about his adventures.
But if he never went through it, he never would have met his brothers.
So maybe he did have some luck after all.