Work Text:
The rain was coming down hard enough to make the windows rattle. Sure, Link could have closed the shutters, but that would have required him to go outside, and there was no way he was doing that. He already felt miserable enough; there was no reason to add being soaked to his general ill mood.
Of course, these days he felt miserable more often than not, but today was particularly bad. The weather made his scars ache and his joints stiffen, his sleep had been disrupted by nightmares, and even his tea tasted unusually bitter no matter how much honey he mixed in. It was the sort of day that was calling for him to simply crawl back into bed, except there was no way he could fall asleep. So here he was, curled up by the fire with the bitter tea and a blanket around him, listening to the pounding rain.
Wait. That wasn’t the rain.
A part of him wanted to ignore the knocking at his door. It was likely someone Zelda had sent to check in on him on some excuse or another. However, that just meant they wouldn’t dare leave without either getting a response or confirming he wasn’t home, so the longer he left them there, the longer they would be outside threatening his already fragile peace.
It didn’t mean he was going to be happy, of course. No, he was going to grouse and grumble and hold his blanket closed around himself with one hand.
His other hand was holding onto a sword. He hadn’t survived this far by being careless.
Link threw the door open, prepared to yell and probably swear at whatever hapless castle servant or even particularly daring knight was here to bother him. Instead he saw a slight figure that looked all the smaller with the way the purple robe was soaked through, fabric clinging to him. Something small and white peeked out from within the hood only to disappear behind a floppy rabbit ear.
“Ravio?” It couldn’t be, it didn’t make sense, he couldn’t be real. “You — why are you here?” Had the kingdom borders started to fracture again?
“I’m sorry,” Ravio murmured, lurching toward him as though he was struggling to stay on his feet. “I didn’t — I couldn’t think of where else to go —”
Link reached forward on reflex, hands catching Ravio’s shoulders as his sword fell to the side, unimportant in comparison . He felt solid and real under Link’s hands, the thick fabric cold and wet from the rain. He was shivering, Link realized, and the whiff of scent he caught from under the hood carried a bitter undertone of sickness.
He was still not convinced this was real, but if there was even fraction of a chance that this was the actual Ravio, he had to grasp it. He wasn’t letting go without a fight, not this time.
He ushered Ravio indoors, closing and latching the door behind them. The moment the rain and wind were closed outside Sheerow flew out from within the merchant’s hood, perching himself as close to the fire as he dared. Link led Ravio to the armchair he had vacated earlier, dropping the blanket down before pushing Ravio to sit.
As he stepped to go, Ravio’s hand shot out, grasping his wrist. His hand felt freezing on Link’s skin. “Don’t go,” came a quiet croak.
“I’m just going to get you some towels and dry clothes. I’ll be right back.” He hated the thought of stepping away, was terrified that he would turn his back and Ravio would disappear, but he also couldn’t let the other stay like this. “If you need me, Sheerow can come get me.” At this, the bird glanced up at them, giving an affirming cheep.
It took a moment for Ravio’s hand to let go, but finally it fell down into his lap. Link drew a deep breath and then took off for the fastest run through the house he had ever managed.
When he returned, arms filled with clothes and towels and blankets, Ravio had managed worm his way out of his heavy robe, which now lay on the floor. The tunic and pants underneath were just as wet, and Ravio seemed to be struggling with getting his boots off. Link emptied his arms on the floor and bent down to help him. There was no way Ravio would manage on his own, not with how his hands were shaking.
“Sorry,” Ravio murmured, sounding absolutely miserable. “I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not,” Link assured him in the firmest tone he could manage. “I don’t get how you’re in Hyrule, but if you are, I’m glad you came here.” Came to Link. Sure, it probably was true that he didn’t know any other place, but Ravio was a survivor. If he hadn’t wanted to ever see Link again, he would have figured out what to do.
“Was in a war,” Ravio blurted, and Link looked up with wide eyes. “Ah, not in Lorule! I — there was a portal that appeared, swallowed me right up. There were other people from different times, too. Other heroes, even if they weren’t as impressive as you.” Ravio gave a weak chuckle. “No idea why they would need a coward like me, but I was stuck there for a while, so I tried to help. When the war ended they were supposed to send everyone home, but…”
“Something went wrong,” Link concluded. “Yeah, adventures can be like that.” He was going to firmly ignore the thought that perhaps Ravio’s home just wasn’t in Lorule anymore. “Well, I figure I can survive having you for a housemate again. And Sheerow, of course,” he added as the little creature screeched in protest. “Think you can manage to change into some dry clothes while I go get you some tea and food?” He would help if needed, of course, but his uncle had raised him better than to just assume an omega would be happy to undress in front of him.
He hadn’t even known Ravio was an omega. When he had been staying at Link’s place before his scent had been almost aggressively blank, no doubt covered up with some potion or another. It was still much weaker than he would have expected, but he could definitely detect a hint of omega sweetness under the dirt and rain and a hundred other things. And, well, if he hadn’t even known that much, they definitely weren’t close enough for Link to assume any liberties.
“I can try.” Ravio frowned down at his clothes. “…Sheerow might need to help me with any strings and buttons, though.”
“Well, if there’s anything he can’t handle, I’ll help with that once I’m done in the kitchen.” Still, Link was glad he had made sure to pick out a shirt and tunic that didn’t require any fastenings. His selection of pants was more or less limited to what pieces he had brought back from Hytopia, but his tunics were long enough that Ravio would be decent either way.
It still felt bad to leave Ravio’s side, and he had to fight the urge to go back to make sure he was still there; the whole point of this was to give Ravio some privacy, after all. Well, that and to get him some food and something warm to drink, but the privacy concern was the only reason he hadn’t just dragged Ravio into the kitchen with him.
Thankfully a judicious use of fire magic had the water hot very quickly, and it didn’t take too long until he was returning with a tray loaded with fresh tea and homemade apple tarts. Ravio had indeed managed to change into something dry and wrap himself into several blankets, and Sheerow was doing his best to rub a towel over his soaked mop of hair. It didn’t look like Sheerow was having much success, so Link set down the tray on his little coffee table and took over the hair-drying duty.
Being close like this, he got a good whiff of Ravio’s scent. The scent of an omega was still pretty faint, but the hint of sickness was undeniable now. As he let his hand slide down to Ravio’s forehead, it felt hot to the touch. “Think you’re building a fever,” he murmured, setting the towel aside. Ravio’s hair was left in unruly curls. He might have felt some kind of a way about it, about Ravio’s messy hair and shiny eyes and flushed cheeks in front of him, if he hadn’t been quite sure the flush was due to him being ill. “We’ll try and get some food into you, and then I’m tucking you into bed. Anything else can wait until you feel better.”
Ravio bit his lip. “I don’t want to be —”
“Hush.” Link frowned. Damn him and his inability to talk about anything even remotely related to emotions. “You’re not trouble, or a bother, or a burden. A freeloader, maybe, but frankly I don’t give a fuck about that. Just don’t try to sell my shit and you can stay here as long as you’re in Hyrule.” Ravio looked like he was about to speak, and Link shook his head. “I know what I said. It’s been… quiet, without you here. Guess you got me used to your endless chatter.”
“Oh, Mr. Hero.” Ravio looked sick and tired and so very small, but he was at least trying to smile. “I missed you too.”
Then don’t leave, Link wanted to say, but he bit his tongue. He could not and would not hold Ravio back if he actually decided to return to Lorule. All he could do was try to make it worth staying.
He wanted this to be the home Ravio came back to.