Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

First thing that came to his mind was bed. Then the dustiness, soreness, and dryness. Practically forcing his eyes to slowly creak open to the low morning light, Green looked around.

The dusty, almost bare room was large but still felt almost suffocated. They’d need to get some air into this room. And some furniture and other necessities for this new place. Forcing himself up and stretching, he can see where Vio’s laying still, practically dead to the world. Not having much furniture meant having to share beds, not that he entirely minds. He still hasn’t shaken off the weirdness of seeing his own face on someone else but oh well. Besides, he's already gotten antsy from having nothing to do in the minutes he’s been awake, so he decides it is officially time to start the day.

Quickly getting dressed into an old tunic, green as usual, he shakes up the groggy Vio up and heads out the door. After finishing washing up and wishing Red a good morning, he heads to the staircase. From upstairs, he can already hear what he thinks is Blue explaining enthusiastically to Dad what the “correct way to make a nutritional breakfast” is.

And Blue says Vio’s the nerd. The thought brings a little smirk to his lips.

The wooden stairs lead right into a view of the dining area and kitchen to the right, and there their (their dad, not just his) Dad was holding a very sad looking plate of burnt eggs with a confused look on his face. To his side, Blue had his arms crossed as he muttered something under his breath.

“Do uh, you two need some help?” Green questions with his smirk growing ever wider as he heads down. Blue scoffs and practically pouts while Dad- Oh Dad’s got that look on his face again. The one with the slightly widened eyes, tense shoulders, thin lips, and an ever slight scrunch of his nose bridge. The looks make his insides twist in a way he’s not ready to look into yet. There's a knot in his throat.

“Listen, just to be clear, I’m not the one who burnt the eggs!” Blue’s remark snaps them both out of the silent slow hold of frozen eye contact.

“Ah,” Dad clears his throat, “Well, you can’t blame me entirely, I certainly never was one for cooking, son! Uh.. sons? Yes, right,” he concluded with a firm little nod, an attempt at a solid recovery.

“Yeah, uh, anyways you guys need any help? I’ve already finished getting stuff ready for today, so I’m free to be here for anything ya need?”

Blue shrugs, “Maybe if you were up earlier, but I guess you could jus’ make sure our bags are set up for today?”

“Got it!”

The rest of the morning is spent with everyone shuffling around each other and trying to get ready as they make do with whatever meager house supplies (and clothing options) they have.

With bags set up, mouths fed, a good plan and list in hand Green corralled the others out the door and with a breath of fresh air, started the journey of what would be a productive and calm day of shopping. With the main objective of clothes solidified in Green’s mind, seriously it was uncomfortable and difficult to share the same clothes that Link used to own as a single being-, he sent out a quick prayer to the heavens as they headed down the path leading to the markets of Castletown…

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Well he was already exhausted. Between everyone staring at them, Blue looking like he was about to murk someone, Vio magically disappearing, and Red’s insistence on trying to over explain their situation to just about everyone- Hylia, help him they hadn’t even gotten out of the market stalls!

Although, he couldn’t entirely blame the others for being so… on edge? Not while he could practically feel the whispers, tendrils of acidic smoke scraping against his neck, rising and making him feel dizzy and ungrounded. Eyes burning into his skull as they tried to go about their day… Could you shiver from heat? Because he’s pretty sure that’s how he felt. Honestly, it would have been mounds better if they just, well, split up or went separately.. Actually, that's probably a good idea. Finding Vio went first though.

“Hey,” Green tugged Red and Blue’s sleeves, “We’re going to the antique store.”

“Wait what?” Blue whisper-shouted, slapping Green’s hand away, “ Why the hell are we heading there?!”

Green just rolled his eyes as he cut through the twisting crowd, forcing an anxious looking Red and a slightly flustered Blue to follow after him.

Once safe from prying eyes, inside the little antique shop Green finally let a breath out as the tension melted from his body.

Red glanced at Blue quickly, an uncertain little look on his face as he turned back to Green. They were waiting for his response. Why, just why, was I the one who had to get the green tunic? He groaned, fingers combing through his hair.

“ Okay so, this just isn’t going to work guys,”

“Yeah, no kidding bonehead-”
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Honestly-He could practically feel his nerves catch on fire. Green and Blue were already starting to bicker about what plan they should take and Red hadn’t even gotten a minute to breathe- Why was everyone being so horrible today anyways?! All those people questioning and whispering- I mean, he can’t judge them, of course they’d be curious!

It hadn’t been that long since they’d all put the sword(s) back into the pedestal. Honestly, the memory might be one of the best ones of his life- His heart had been so full and heavy and he knew it was going to hurt so bad to lose everyone- But he loved them so much he couldn’t help but smile, if not from his own feelings then at least for them. The little teasing and sad smiles- Red wanted to cry but he was determined to NOT let their last memories be a sad one!

But then, like a miracle, after that burning bright flash- They were still there. He slowly opened his eyes and didn’t feel like Link, and then heard a gasp and suddenly they all realized they were all still there!

The sheer, dizzying relief and then absolute fizzing excitement from that moment still made him smile- Of course the others seemed mostly shocked, but also relieved too! Naturally, Green did immediately quietly freak out for a minute because if they weren’t back together what would happen with Vaati and all the other horrible things from breaking the seal?

Zellie had quickly checked the seal and pretty much said it was a-okay! Something about them being separate and interacting with so much additional magic or something all magicky and complex like that. In all honesty, he wasn’t really listening because he was very very busy
trying to wrap them all in the biggest hug he could muster without crying on all of them-

As good, no- super wonderful and amazing it was, it didn’t really mean they were totally without consequences. Nope, everyone just had to be so… judgey about them! Red knew it wasn’t their fault! One person becoming four people was pretty weird after all.. But still! Some people were all wary if “they were just products of magic or even people?” or were just “really weird and actually like they were some… Chimera like person” or something?? Whatever that meant.

Zellie had to explain everything that happened to all the citizens, with all the fights and the bad guys they defeated and like all that had happened to link and how the kingdom would fare and whatever else. Stuff about aid programs, extra defense against pirates that could take advantage of Hyrule’s “weakened state”, and some more boring stuff about foreign politics. But people still didn’t really.. Understand them? Well, Red didn’t really get it, he knew he definitely wasn’t the smartest, that was Vio’s whole thing-Hylia he wished Vio hadn’t disappeared- But the least they could do was TRY to be nice to people about it!

All the people who looked and asked, well Red thought he could just explain it to them how it wasn’t weird! Like they were totally different people and they were kinda born from the sword magic but they were totally still Link! But all he got was weird looks! It made him feel… very bad inside.

Of course, Green and Blue still bickering (not as bad as they used to of course) didn’t exactly make him feel any better. And he was very, very sure, that crying about little petty things wouldn’t make anyone else feel better. If Vio was here he’d help Red feel better. Blue was amazing at showing he’d support Red now and Green was super reliable and inspiring but Vio.. He just had a way of soft listening and rationale that just calmed his nerves, grounding him back to earth.

He sighed while looking down at his shoes, honestly he’d really have to get better at not acting like such a child! He knew he was that part of Link and all but really? The others shouldn’t have to pick up his slack! Rebuilding Hyrule up was taxing on everyone and he wouldn’t make things worse for everyone. It was like every time he tried to make things better and explain things he’d just make everything messier and more confusing and everything felt all fuzzy and grating and-

Oh.

Yep the very small view of his snug boots against the wooden panels was becoming blurrier-

Don’t do it- Don’t do it-Don’t do it-

His breath hitched-

Blue and Greens eyes immediately snapped to him. Vio’s too. When did Vio even get there-

That didn’t matter just don’t-

Too late.

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One thing most people don’t mention about being magically frozen alive is that it feels like you are being burned alive. Except, you can’t move or do anything. Totally helpless. He couldn’t yell or curse or fight back. He couldn’t even move his eyes. Couldn’t even breathe with his lungs near frozen solid. The only thing that kept working was his mind, internally screaming and raging as if the anger would thaw him out. When that didn’t work… Well, he’s glad Red got to him before he really fell into the deep end.

Red had lightly teased that that’s what made Blue “cool down” and be less prone to hitting the closest and easiest target near him. Which, more than not, was often Red.

But still, no matter what he did with his hands he could always feel a small part of him trying to force itself out from underneath the surface. No matter how much of the heavy rubble from the attack he helped clear or how hard he swung at the batches of monsters that were too stubborn to just die already, he knew that that little, impatient, and ruthless force was always ready to burst.

It didn't matter if he thought he was calm or if things were okay. Because No- Despite his efforts to not explode the dam holding that uncontrollable energy could snap with a second whether he liked it or not.

The dam currently? Oh yeah, it was super close to crumbling so its surging waters could pour out relentlessly, without caring what was in its path. Green’s advice of “counting deep and taking slow breaths” didn’t really do much to convince the pressure of that vicious force from being released. If not through his fists, with his words. Loud, angry, rude, uncaring, ice burning words.

He wasn’t ashamed of it. He refused to be. Blue was strong, wasn’t he? He could take it.

Red didn’t seem to think so.

The boy whose heart was just too big for his chest, except when his emotions flowed they just endeared everyone to him.

Blue looked over to said boy, failing to be discreet, as he was measured by the tailor.

He wanted to go over and just.. Do something to make him feel better dammit! He wasn’t good at this stuff, that was like, just the one thing he couldn’t do! Seriously, he knew he was an amazing fighter, but couldn’t just a small ounce go into the whole “making people feel better” category? The split was kinda unfair in splitting Link’s skills, it wasn’t his fault he sucked at this one thing specifically.

The only thing he could do to even TRY to make things better was taken away from him too! Green’s sissy little kiss-up hero look meant he couldn’t even take action so he ‘wOuLdN’t MaKe ThInGs WoRsE’, apparently! And that stupid nerd Vio just always had to obnoxiously add some stupid reason to support every little thing Green said too-hey got on his freaking NERVES-

No- He wasn’t going to go down that rabbit hole of thoughts. Better to just cut it off and shove it somewhere else.

Looking somewhere else he spotted Vio already finished with his own measuring and choosing of whatever garments he needed. He walked over to him, trying to keep his shoulders straight.

The damn dolt had apparently told the others that he was going to head towards the antique to escape the crowds or something. Blue didn’t believe it for a hot minute, Vio just always did things without ever freaking telling anyone so why would this be different?
Vio of course has simply replied, “Oh I do tell you things its just that you don’t listen. Really, considering your mental capacity I can see that you hadn’t really processed it.” The gull of that guy… Why was EVERYONE so stupid? Well other than Red, Red never counted. Vio had been all, “Oh I merely meant you were busy with other things.” but honestly the nerd just needed to can it for once. Of course he would have heard what Vio said!

Especially since it’s like Vio never shut up with his way of pointing out every little thing! Like, even if he didn’t really listen then it TOTALLY wasn’t his fault he was just looking out for Red at the time after all. Hylia knew the little firecracker needed it. Blue had started to zone out when Green starting questioning Vio about some bullcrap when he heard Red.

Blue couldn’t really describe the messy hot emotions that hit him in the gut when he heard that he already knew immediately it was his fault for not protecting him well enough. Not that Red needed physical protection, but he could kinda be a wimp when it came to people.

He didn’t want to make Red upset, Red was really sensitive to arguments apparently… Maybe it was because of the whole fire temple thing? But it really felt like he did that before that had even happened too.

As soon as Red had started sobbing in the middle of the store they were all quick to comfort him and ask what was wrong. Red just said he didn’t really talk about it which definitely raised a few eyebrows. This was Red they were talking about, he always told them (and especially Blue) everything?

He had to give it to the nerd though, Vio just told them they would talk about it later, somewhere more private and boom problem solved. Before Green could even protest and insist that they deal with it right now because it was their biggest priority to help a upset team member.Red immediately threw all of his body weight in a crushing hug to Vio. They’d talk about it later. Which, he wasn’t jealous about that.

So when Blue started walking to Vio with the intent to get the real reason why Vio just ditched them he wasn’t biased at all.

Chapter Text

You know, the advice to “Never argue with an idiot” would be useful. Except if the idiot is a hotheaded menace that doesn’t know how to just accept no as an answer. It didn’t matter if he was monotone, inoffensive, and clear cut with his words, Blue would still try to pick a fight. At least with Vio, anyways. It’s as if he hates him specifically.

Absolutely ludicrous, what a jerk.

Perhaps he isn’t exactly being the most fair.

Vio’s brain feels as though it is filled with the harsh buzzing of a lightning rod. His thoughts spread far too thin between trying to solve the issues Zelda had been facing, (they all elected him to help Zelda with legalities and speeches because he was “super good with books and stuff”), to actually worry about what is happening in the moment.

His pounding headache only compounds the issue. And Blue’s grating voice doesn’t actually help. So if he very lightly snaps at him to shut up and quit acting like a child, he has to admit maybe a small part of him enjoys seeing Blue’s jaw snap shut with his ears turning red as he storms off.

Okay, perhaps he is being a tiny bit of a jerk, but Blue shouldn’t have dished out what he couldn’t take back.

The mess between aid programs, defense, and Hytopia is messy and horrible. Zelda isn’t the ruler of the kingdom, at least yet, but rather more of a public figure. She was in charge of ceremony, speeches, spiritual sanctions, complaints to the crown, and even had a role in high court cases. Her wisdom has always been renowned and she has a skill for the people. A true princess.

Of course she isn’t just the princess. She’s also his friend. And he knew she’d been through hell.

The horrors she saw and experienced herself? The destruction of her home and kingdom? The admittance of Vaati’s comments? The physical pain from the dark magic trying to use her as she tried so many methods she had never truly studied to escape? The lack of knowledge of what would happen? Finally, being so utterly needed by her people without a moment for anyone to truly care about her?

He knows the others share his deep resentment and inner infuriation. It wasn’t fair. They all put in whatever they could to lessen the load and listen and be there for her. Of course… It’s still rather awkward, for a lack of a better term. Zel had only really gotten so much mismatched information from her time imprisoned.

While she had managed to trick those dark entities into revealing their abilities, which she would use to destroy them with her light magic later on, she also was fed very distorted or entirely false accounts of the horrors that were befalling her land.

As though playing with her like a cat to a mouse.

Zel had heard Link had been “shattered” or “split into pieces” but she hadn’t really been under the impression that her best friend became four separate people-

In the moment of the battle she seemed to take it in stride. She claimed she knew all along that Link was still alive due to the hints from the dark entities that surrounded her.

Besides, at the time, four best friends was far better than a possibly macabre and mutilated dead one. It was very clear after the explanation that she was… well she was certainly more accepting than their father who had…..expressed serious doubts about their validity and inherent being…..to say the least.

However, it was abundantly clear she hadn’t really adjusted to it. No one really had.

What does she see us as? What about Dad? What even are we?

Those were the intrusive thoughts that would stab Vio randomly as he shifted through documented complaints with Zelda, the moment a ripped monster would fall dead at his feet, or when he realized he could recognize each of their voices as distinct rather than identical.

Zelda had essentially ordered them to get some rest, as if she wasn’t the one who really needed it. She used their need for, well, every item as an excuse. Although to be fair, a lot of his own meager items were pretty dingy. It wasn’t exactly doing “her royal grace” any favors. He knew he couldn’t win any argument against Zelda though, even with his honor of “being the holder of the sacred brain cell” or whatever. He definitely didn’t smile at the title at all.

He tried not to let the thought of maybe she’s freaked out by us get to his head too much. But as the day progresses, he can’t stop thinking. He’s supposed to ‘rest his mind a bit and focus on the mundane’ but honestly after the whole “glorious quest”, as the King put it, he and the others are far too high strung to really stop the constant need to be doing something.

So there they had been bickering like children in public, as disorganized as ever. He did not give enough damns to actually stay with them, so he politely excused himself to the much quieter antique shop. Where they had apparently decided to come to squabble some more with each other and then question him as though he was the problem here.

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“Honestly, Vio, where were you? You can’t just disappear like that when we have so much to do today!” Green frowned, crossing his arms in very obvious disapproval.

“I had told Blue I wanted to excuse myself to the shop, Green. If Blue didn’t relay that to you then it’s simply his fault,” came Vio’s dry response.

Blue’s head shot straight up,”Excuse me?!”

“Oh please, don’t you remember near the fruit stalls?” sharpened eyes challenged right back.

Both held firm gazes, each one eyeing the other with a dirty look, it was very clear those two were not ones to back down. All of Blue and Vio’s spats weren’t because of some real disagreement as far as Green was concerned. It was just that those two just apparently couldn’t stand the thought of the other one "winning."Green had an idea where a lot of Link’s, ahem, “strong will” had gone.

Sure, Vio would act like he didn’t actually care and was “simply stating facts” but he already knew that Vio just defined winning in a different way than Blue did. Which meant riling Blue up on purpose as if to prove or say “See how much more rational I am?” It had taken a hot minute for Green to catch up on it and he wasn’t even sure if Vio knew what he was doing, but he did know that it was only counterproductive.

We were finally all good with working together, but it feels like we’re back at square one… Time to nip this in the bud.

“Guys, please,” Green sighs, near defeated, “Blue havent you argued with everyone enough?”

“Are you serious?! I’m just ‘beInG a PaRt Of ThE tEaM’ Green,” Blue griped as he practically shoved his finger in front of Green’s face.

Blue then turned his hunched shoulders to Vio, “Besides! Vio didn’t even tell me anything anyways.”

Vio scoffed, “Oh yes I did, I can recall you nodded your head and everything.” Vio said as he casually, yet pretentiously, leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

He’s acting flippant about the whole thing, gazing lazily off without a care, Green notes. On purpose. And Blue kept on going and going without any stop. Seriously his insistent need to defend his ego was going to drag this on until Green reached his limit. He didn’t know what he’d do if that limit was ever broken, but he did know that today that limit was substantially smaller than usual.

“Listen! You-”

Green cuts him off, “ No- you listen! You’ve been making everything worse, Blue!” and before Vio could get all smug about it, he quickly added “ You too Vio!”

Blue practically rolled his eyes with his entire body, “Are you seriously gonna blame me over the guy who had us looking in circles around the market, moron?”

Vio’s already opening his mouth, a sarcastic remark ready to spill without a thought, before Green claps his hand together with a little bit too much for than necessary to cut him off.

Breathe in, breathe out… Okay.

“Guys, okay fine- it doesn't matter “whose fault it is” could we please just try to move forward?”

Green sighs as his shoulders slump down, “Also Vio why did you even think separating would be a good thing to separate?” He can’t help but pinch his nose, “ I just… ugh i just wanna know so we can avoid this again,” he gestured broadly towards their group.

Blue just scoffs, rolling his eyes and staring out the window. Vio seems to stiffen for a moment and then he shifts and Green knows the argument has been relinquished. Finally..

“The crowd wasn't making me feel very well,” comes the vague response, “I am fine to continue though.”

“Wait,” Green gives a double take to study Vio for a moment, “You’re not sick or anything are you?”

Green really hoped Vio wasn’t sick or something. If he was then, man, he really was off his game today wasn’t he? Oh Hylia, they’d been sharing beds and everything too! Vio already wasn’t that much of a talker but couldn’t he at least share he was getting ill?! At least so that no one else would get sick too!

Okay, he didn’t know that Vio was actually sick or anything but walking around in that loud, hot, and dusty market probably wouldn’t be making it any better if he was sick. Not to mention-

Stop that, you’re overthinking all the situations outcomes, Green. I can’t just keep thinking in battle mode all the time. Besides, this isn’t some life or death situation! Vio can think for himself too.

If I keep getting lost in my head like this, then I’ll be out of it when they actually do need me. You can do better than this. You have to.

“Green, believe me, I’m fine. I just needed a drink and I was fine.”

Oh yeah we’re mid conversation aren’t we? Hope he doesn’t think I was (acting like a weirdo) being all pushy or anything.

“Okay then, if you say so,” Green nods, trying to play it confidently as ever.

Vio returns a lazy smile, shifting into a much looser pose, “I hope all your bickering with Blue wasn’t for nothing though, what's the plan?”

Green immediately brightens and straightens up, “oh yeah, of course! so we were going to…”

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Alright, all he has to do is open a door. There’s no reason to delay such a menial task.

He stares ahead at the wood. It’ll need a fresh coat of paint.

Just three quick knocks.

The door opens.

It’s Link.

Or not really. It’s ‘Red’, as he had apparently dubbed himself. Opening the door with a chipper hello and smiling bright as the sun, he started mindlessly chatting about the trip to the tailors. He blindly nods along, listening numbly.

“Well, we didn’t really know if we should get, like, new tunics with just random colors but then we all figured that wouldn’t really make sense!” Red shrugs as he hurries back to the stove.

“Because wouldn’t it be hard to like, tell us apart? Cuz, I guess we are kinda literally color coded?”

“Hm? Ah yes, that is true.” It's a spaced out response and he knows it.

He just can't really listen to his kid right now. But this is Red, the very sensitive and childlike one. Hopefully the boy won’t pick up his mood, especially not with his obvious innocence. He’ll still have to pick up the slack on his subpar responses though. That is indeed the least he could do.

“Um, so I’m making some squash soup,” he pauses, tilting his head slightly, “ I really hope you like it?”

Yeah, as much as he hates to admit it, Red is a sweet kid. It isn’t as though he hates them. Each one of Link. Far from it really, he’s just so…lost.

Really, what was he even supposed to do? Go back to normal when his kid just, freaking what? Went through mitosis? There weren’t exactly parenting books on your kid getting… cloned??? Hylia it was awful all around, was there even an explanation?

He’d thought them to be demons at first! The princess, that kind and wise soul, had later explained what had happened to him but as much as she was sweet (and probably right) he just couldn’t be satisfied. She’d always been the one to keep everyone, including Link's, head straight. From what he could piece together, the four sword was supposed to give its user the strength of four men, and then it was supposed to make four men literally, and then it was supposed to put the different versions of Link back together into his son!

Garret just doesn’t have a son anymore. One could argue that’s because he technically has ‘multiple’ sons now, but really his son that he raised is gone. He doesn’t know what part of that is worse, in all honesty. He knows, logically, that they are still “technically” Link.

They all remembered him and see him as their father. They sure act like him at times too. If he let himself slip, it’d be like he was talking to Link, the only difference being that he seemed to be in a particular mood and was wearing an unusual tunic. If just for a moment, anyways.

Then, the illusion would shatter, splintered into millions of pieces by the smallest phrase or gesture or opinion that was just wrong. The Princess had explained that no, they weren’t just more of Link, but rather fractured pieces of him. Is he really just supposed to accept that?

The “colors”, as The Princess had “officially dubbed” jokingly, seem perfectly fine with their predicament though. He doesn’t understand any of this mess but he just has to trust the Princess. She was fine with this and she knew Link better than anyone, so if she advised Garret to just give it time until he understood, then he will.

If he got a few more gray hairs then so be it. It wasn’t like Link being the main factor of his aging was something new after all. Hopefully it just wasn’t sped up at four times the rate.

Unfortunately, Garret knows that he’s still their dad, and he does have a job to do. He can certainly handle this, perhaps he’s simply overreacting. He still loves Link and therefore he loves them too. He just needs to understand them and give it time. Step by step. For now, he’ll just push that moral guilt, discomfiture, regrets, grief, and incomprehensible situation away where it can be dealt with later.

He sighs, “Say, where are the others?”

Chapter Text

Blue stares at the mess in front of him as though he has a personal grudge against it. Well, he does actually. The bed he was trying to put together is still very much not put together, as evidenced by the pieces scattered across the wooden boards. Much to his dismay, “Sam’s Easy Furniture Guides!” was full of bullcrap. He needs this to be done tonight so he can actually sleep in his own bed. So Red can too. 

He knows that he probably just messed up somewhere along the way and that he can just ask for help. Green can probably handle it. When they found a busted canoe back after saving Erune and her village they had set to work on it. Blue knows that Green was the one who actually seemed to understand what needed to be fixed on it. Apparently, the guy had retained some of Link’s carpentry skills that he learned from Valenzuela as a kid. 

All Blue has to do is ask. He doesn’t move. Instead he just stands on his knees, tense and clenching his fists firmly to his sides. Time feels like molasses slowly leaking around him. Nearly suffocating. Red would tell him to just “ask for help, silly!” But he can’t.

 Why does it have to be so embarrassing! It shouldn’t be embarrassing! He can feel the heat rise up to his cheeks as he sits there. Immature, bullheaded, stupid. He knows he was difficult, he knows that! If anything Blue knows better than all of them because he’s the one who has to deal with it all the time. The cotton in his head is suffocating. 

Why can’t I just do this?  

He’s still busy sitting in his own building ire towards himself when Green opens the door with no freaking warning  and pokes his head inside. ‘ Of freaking COURSE it’s Green!’

Green’s eyes scan the room quickly as he shoots Blue a stupid little tiny smile. Like he’s in on some joke that Blue can’t possibly figure out. ‘ Bastard ’ comes the pitiful internal protest. Green walks up to him, stepping over the random nails and wooden pieces scattered on the floor of what’s going to be Blue’s room. He stops in front of Blue, that little amused look still on his face with his hands on his hips, and looks down. 

“Need some help?”

He could just say yes. That he does need help. But at the same time he can feel his chest tighten and his eyes immediately have to glare or else he won’t know what to do. Every bit of him is screaming to don’t back down, don’t look away or else. He hates it, he hates it so much but he’s being forced to do it by his own self anyways.

“ No ,” comes the growled answer.

Green just raises a single eyebrow, glaring back to Blue’s, well, “progress.” He’s already trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it, damnit! What’s with this guy and trying to help everyone all the damn time! He isn’t some kid! Totally, just all pretentious and crap! 

Don’t break the eye contact, don’t move, you're strong, don’t show anything, don’t give him anything to pick-

Green sighs, finally breaking the mental battle he was totally unaware of. 

“Well, if you say so,” Green shakes his head, “But word of advice before I go?”

Blue just stares deadpan at Green. 

“Just check out step seven again, alright?” 

Blue very tactically decides right then and there he will not do that. 

…

Green’s advice helps. Dammit. 

-Red-

They’re still settling into their new routine. That could probably explain why everything is so.. Slightly tense and awkward at home all the time, right? Okay, fine, Red isn’t stupid. He knows that the second Dad got home everyone just started holding their breath and that whatever was said wasn’t natural. He was guilty of contributing to that awkwardness in the room any time Dad came around too. 

It was like the others weren’t even aware of it though! Red knows he shouldn’t rely on the others to just make things better but honestly he’s out of ideas. Or he could just be being too impatient. That earlier conversation with Dad was just so dry. 

Sure, Red had tried to just, you know, be friendly and all that! Maybe Dad wouldn’t be so weird about them if he saw how great they all were! Red himself knows for a fact that he wouldn’t trade his brothers for the world, especially with how close they’d gotten. So Dad probably just needs to get to know them better! And hopefully not… be constantly reminded of the whole “demon clone” incident every five minutes. 

Honestly, as a Link he knows he’s kinda dumb. But Red knows that he’d gone to Zelda “just to make sure” just based on the way he acted around them. Those random assurances to them that “Oh of course, I know you’re all mine, of course, of course!” and all those other signs were just straight up uncomfortable at best and deeply wounding at worst. 

He’s probably just being too sensitive! Everything is fine, and everything will be fine! They just need to adjust! It’ll be just like moving into their new house. Sure, it’s pretty empty right now and really only has the bare minimum… But with some time and a little bit of work, it’ll be a lovely home. 

He just wishes the others would stop dancing around the issue though, but Red’s sure they’re probably just handling it better than him. That’s all. Speaking of, Blue and Dad had finished building the new bed frames a bit after Green and Vio had gotten home.

 The soup seemed pretty good, maybe he just needs to get some food in his system to calm his nerves after all! It’ll probably help them all get off edge! Dad did say that Mom’s cure for a sad home was a warm meal after all. 

It’s probably a better choice than trying to be a step-in for Green. He had hoped that Dad would help Blue out with building the bedframes together but apparently they just did it solo. Green is a lot better at making choices that help them work together better. But Green didn’t seem worried about any of that stuff so it was probably all just fine. Red just has to be patient, that’s all. 

Red smiles as he sees his family go down the stairs one by one. Dinner isn’t much of an affair. The food isn’t half bad, if Red said so himself, and the conversation is casual. Mostly just sharing information and plans for rebuilding Hyrule. There’s a bit of teasing between Green and Blue and softer smiles. 

Of course, they’re all just tired. He was just being silly when he worried about stuff. There aren't any arguments or silent grudges being passed around the table. It’ll be okay. Mom would probably be proud. At least, that's what Red thought to himself when Dad complimented his soup.

He’s making progress! Maybe, today hadn’t been so bad after all. He’s content. 

-Green-

Well today was a bit of a dumpster fire.  

Okay fine, maybe Greens being a bit over dramatic, he thought as he lay on the slightly cramped mattress he’s sharing with Vio. At least they’re all on the shorter side. Small blessings. Literally small. It’s fine though.

Vio was turned away toward the wall. Probably trying to help keep some space from him. Green winces, yeah, apparently he’s a very… bad sleep partner . “Sprawled arms like a damn spider with a snore as loud as a hinox” bad apparently. 

Sorry Vio.

Vio doesn’t seem sick at least so they won’t have to worry about everyone getting sick together. Thoughts just seem to keep fluttering in his mind, recollecting the events of that day.

But even as he sifts through everything, there’s still a nagging feeling inside him. There has to be a good reason for it, he trusts his gut. Green keeps searching… Maybe he just isn’t thinking through what he already knows?

Okay… so right now we’re trying to rebuild Hyrule and it’s been hard work… No one’s really doing too well, with all the additional stress but there’s got to be more. I guess we have been run a  bit too thin… We never even got a moment to rest, Zel’s right about that, huh… Then we never even got a chance to really talk about what happened other than just? Catching up on the the gist of whatever was necessary to know at the time…. 

Ugh, I still feel like crap about it all… If we hadn’t got split up we probably never would have gotten into all those situations in the first place! I barely even know everything that happened but it's like every time someone adds a detail I feel like my head is going to explode!

If I had just paid a bit more attention and hadn’t let myself get distracted we wouldn’t have been split up and I could’ve gotten to the others faster! From what Vio said it sounds like he had no choice but to “join” that Shadow because he was alone… Then Blue and Red had just, well, gone through everything that happened in that dungeon… I’m actually just glad no one died… If I wasn’t split into four people from a magic sword I’d call that the most incredible miracle this realm has to offer.

Ugh, everything just feels so bad even though it’s supposed to be fine now! I don’t even wanna think about this sort of stuff anymore! But… If I don’t deal with it NOW it is gonna bite me in the butt later… Okay, this is okay, I just need to talk about it… Yep! Work it out step by step! Probably should start with the fire temple stuff. It honestly still scares me what happened, Hylia I really hope Vio isn’t too upset about it. Man, is that why he's so mad at me?!! Ughhhhhhhhhhh he probably thinks I’m the biggest jerk in all of Hyrule! 

Okay, yeah I can’t think about this anymore, I don’t think my gut can take this. Alright, we just gotta… rip off the band aid real fast!

“Hey, do you ever think about, you know, the fire temple and stuff?”

He can feel Vio tense up for a split second and then the sleepy mess of hair turns towards him with a nasty glare peeking over from his shoulder.

“ What? ”

“I- Just you know, everything that happened back there.”

Vio blearily blinks back, confusion and annoyance clearly visible in his crinkled brow. 

“Green, do you ever think about, oh you know, the fact that some people are trying to sleep?”  

Green startles, “H-hey!” he whisper-shouts back, “Listen can we just talk about this real quick? It won’t take long?”

Vio deadpan glare only lasts a fraction of a moment before he turns away again, yanking even more of the blanket towards his side. 

Seriously? Dang he’s grouchy when he’s tired, he might be worse than Blue…. Nah Blue’s definitely worse heh. Okay, focus-

“Vio seriously, we- we need to talk about this eventually! And well, I don’t.. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until we do, honestly..” Green admits, a bit sheepishly.

Next to him comes a very long and very purposefully aggravated sigh. Slowly, Vio untangles himself from the sheets and pushes himself up until he’s sitting up. Green follows.

“So, I’ll take that as a yes?” Green smiles, trying to bury any anxiety deeper into his gut. 

-Vio-

“Yes, fine, what’s the matter?” Vio sharply relents as he stares out the window, certainly thinking about how maybe he should just sleep outside instead of answering the random questions Green spouts at ungodly hours. 

Seriously, he’d either just randomly start rudely blabbing about something from the day right as he was shutting his eyes or he’d sleep talk staring at him dead in the eyes while chatting about “the eggs with legs” or something nonsensical like that. Yay.

 Honestly, the gibberish definitely didn’t leave him with any anxiety ridden dreams about rotten slimy eggs that could burn your flesh, chase you with their spider legs, and then shoot weird beams of energy at you. Truly, Vio hadn't considered himself imaginative enough for that, but it really could’ve been just Green’s muttering feeding into his subconscious as he slept.

Not to mention Green’s weird habit before bed of pacing around and talking to himself as he planned the next day too. If Vio wasn’t supposed to be a hero he probably would’ve strangled Green right then and there. “Sorry, I didn’t really realize I was doing it! Whoops.” Yeah, sure, whatever you say Green.

It seems like they had retained information from Link, with some remembering certain bits of information and experiences better than the others and then lacking what another would have retained. And Vio considers himself very blessed; he had a far more thorough vocabulary than the others. Which included curses. Lots and lots of curses. Even foreign ones. 

Sure, Vio will refrain from saying them all out loud, but thank Hylia for that lifeline to his sanity when dealing with Green’s boorish thoughtlessness. Letting out a few streams of curses in his mind probably isn’t really the best answer, but hey he’s going to work with what he has. 

Green chuckles nervously, squeezing his hands and staring down at his lap.

“Are you mad at me?”

What?

Why in the Three is Green jumping to that outlandish conclusion? Well, maybe he is in sort of a bad mood, not especially helped with his poor sleep. But Vio isn’t mad at him! Does he really come off that cold?

“Green,” Vio responded in a measured tone as he tilted his head, “ Why would I be mad at you?”

Now it’s Green’s turn to be startled and despite the meager light of the moon, Vio can think he can see the tips of his ears becoming flushed pink. Vio’s suspicion is confirmed when Green ends up rubbing the back of his head with that nervous little laugh Zel had pointed out to them when they were Link. 

“It’s just, everything that happened? I just don’t like it, you know?”

Vio blinked owlishly. Face near blank, as the gears of his mind turned. Pursed lips frozen in place.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to be a bit more clear?”

“I- It’s just that the whole, us fighting thing, I just wish it hadn’t happened. And I just realized I never really apologized for all that.”

“Apologize? Green, ah-” Vio smiles and shakes his head, all intensity gone. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, if anything it’s me for scaring you all like that.”

Green doesn’t stop the anxious finger fidgeting however, “I mean—I know you were acting and all and that, it’s not really anyone’s fault because of the whole like not having a choice but to do what you could’ thing but I really just-”

“Green-” 

 “-wanted to say that I’m sorry we had to fight, because you shouldn’t have to do that and I know it’s my fault and that I just judged you as some villain, even though if I was smart enough I should’ve realized I just-”

Oh, that idiot’s rambling… Green’s goodness just can't help shine through. He really does deserve that hero's title. 

“ Green ”, this time Vio snaps his fingers as he says it. Green flinches and then he’s back to reality, although a bit addled. 

“Y-yeah?” is all Green manages to utter out. He looks like a mess with his hair nearly windswept and those eyes as open as the sky staring straight back at him. 

Vio rolls his eyes with a soft chuckle, “You know, even though tricking you wasn’t pleasant, I’m still glad I’m a bit smarter than you.”

Green startles at that, looking at him like he just grew a second nose.

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean???”

“It means that I’m glad I’m perceptive enough to tell when you’re being so stupid,” Vio smiles warmly. 

“ Huh???”

“Green, it was just a bad situation we were forced into, trying to apologize for an… unpleasant fight for Hyrule and everything that's right, it’s honorable at best but unproductive at worst.” Vio elaborated.

Green looked a bug like a baffled pigeon as he took a moment to think through what Vio had said. No wonder everyone adores him, Green is probably the most admirable dork in all of Hyrule. 

“So…” Green starts off slowly, “You’re not mad at me for not taking responsibility for everything that happened?”

“No, I’m not. I’m just saying to stop being so hard on yourself for things that weren’t your fault. Honestly-” Vio can’t help but glance away for a moment.

 “By all accounts you did the most well thought out choice any knight could hope for. You should be more proud of that…” Vio ends softly.

Vio hopes he had gotten the message across well; he isn’t as effective with these sorts of things as Red is. The “sappyness”, as Blue would have described it, had made him feel a bit flustered. When he finds the confidence and self stability to look back at Green-

“ Thank you,” Green tells him earnestly with near wet eyes.

  Ohhhh those are feelings, very wet ones whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy-

“N-No problem,” Vio somehow manages to stutter out.

“You always know what to do and say, huh?” Green mumbles as he grips Vio’s unexpecting hand with a tenderness as if they’d known each other all their lives. 

It’s sort of true in a sense, Vio reasoned. It didn’t help that he feels like he’s already going to burst out of his own skin.

“I- Yes.” 

Why are feeling things so hard??? Oh, if Blue knew about this night talk he’d tease us for weeks-

“Please, don’t tell anyone about this Vi?” Green gently requests.

“Of course- We’d never hear the end of Blue if we let him know,” Vio chortles, shaking his head.

“Pfft, or Red, he’d be all in our business, wanting all the details!” Green laughs breathlessly.

“Yeah, that’s true, but Green?” Vio pauses, slumped down a bit now.

Green nods eagerly, “Ooh, yeah?”

“Go to sleep now.”

“Alright, alright!”