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A key hangs from a hook on the dungeon wall, about five metres off the ground. Beneath the key is a line of cells with open tops, walls between them and bars facing the corridor. Nothing that could contain a Link for more than a minute.
“I could climb up?”
“Be careful.”
That isn't a no. Warriors stands back and Wild grins to himself as he jumps up on the wall. After that last dungeon room, he's beginning to feel like he’s establishing an actual relationship with Warriors. Maybe this dungeon team was a good call after all, he certainly felt like he’d bonded with the Captain. He's over the cell now, and reaches out to grab the key. It's almost comedic how much satisfaction he feels just because Warriors showed respect for his ideas-
His fingers touch the key and the downwards motion triggers something in the wall.
Bricks shift. He slips. He falls. Something clicks as he lands. At least he lands on his feet.
Spikes shoot out at him. Wild's breath catches. Stabbing pain makes itself known in several parts of his body. He's lucky he landed on his feet. He's lucky he's small.
There's spikes right in front of his eyes. He stares them down. He wants to close his eyes. He can't close his eyes, lest he accidentally move.
“I need you to stay very still,” Warriors instructs. Thank you, Captain Obvious. He’s so calm. How the fuck is he always so calm?
“Wars,” he replies. His voice sounds small. He doesn’t care.
“You’re gonna be okay. Hold still. Help is coming.”
Wild tries to breathe. More sharp points press against his skin. He tries not to panic.
He wouldn't have been so pathetic a hundred years ago.
“It’s okay, breathe, just small breaths. Here, hold my hand.”
Wild feels a touch against his right hand and doesn’t dare turn his head to look. He grips it tight, and Wars squeezes back.
“It's okay.”
“It's okay,” Wild repeats.
-
“Ah, yeah, the iron maiden isn't fun.”
It's less than half an hour before Legend finds them. Having retrieved their key and boomerangs, Legend made the decision to go after the team whose dungeon ability he believed in least while Hyrule remained in the main room to wait for the others.
“Wars, here's the bandages. You're gonna wrap him up nice and tight as soon as I release the trap, okay?”
Legend checks as they walk back to the entrance that the bandages aren't soaking through. Blessedly, they're not. Backtracking through the dungeon is easier than passing through the first time, without monsters, and soon they have Wild laying on his front on a bedroll while Warriors uncovers the wounds and stitches them up.
“You had a tough fight in that water room, huh?”
Legend threads another needle for Warriors, who accepts it with a nod and continues his work in silence.
“Yeah,” Wild answers, voice shaking when the needle pierces his skin again. “There was a lizard thing, and these electric balls, and the spikes in the water…”
“Impressive,” Legend remarks.
“That's high praise coming from you!” Hyrule yells from across the room. Legend rolls his eyes lightheartedly, finally drawing a small smile from Wild.
The last of the stab wounds is closed and Wild sips the potion Legend hands him, sighing in relief as the cool comfort washes over his body. Warriors watches him intently. Wild hesitantly meets his gaze.
“I'm sorry,” he whispers. “I should've been more careful. I understand if you don't trust me now.”
A sigh from Warriors. “Wild, I appreciate that you're going to be more careful with yourself, but it's an honour to fight alongside you. You're resourceful, you're determined and you're always looking after others.”
A confused look of surprise from Wild prompts him to keep talking.
“I'm sorry that I'm so hard on you. I just see a lot of my younger self in you, and I don't want you to make the mistakes I did.”
“Hey fuckass, how old are you anyway?” Legend interrupts.
“I'm 24, assfuck.”
“I'm way older than you,” Wild jokes, diffusing the last of the tension by making a joke instead of talking it out, in typical Link fashion. Well, he’d certainly bonded with Warriors after that, he thinks as he closes his eyes and rapidly falls asleep. And Legend, too.
Legend packs up the medical kit, stowing it back in his bag.
Warriors is still visibly trembling, staring at the younger knight. Legend extends his hand, an offer. Warriors takes it, and Legend can see that his arm is covered in scratches from the trap. He'll take care of those.
“Come rest. You did good, Captain.”
He'll always take care of them.