Work Text:
“Wars?” A hand tugged on his tunic, and Warriors looked down at the kid. Dirt was streaked across his cheeks, which were still rounded with baby fat. The butterfly-shaped bandage that Warriors had applied to Wind’s jaw had begun to lift, dried blood flaking around where his cut was healing.
“What’s up, kiddo?” Wind rolled his eyes at the nickname.
“M’ not a kid,” he muttered, kicking at a rock as they trudged forward. He looked up once more to meet War’s eyes. “Do you think we’ll find anyone else out here? Like-” he hesitated, glancing around at their surroundings as though an infected would jump out at any second. “Like actual, uninfected humans.”
Wind gripped the strap of his rifle in an uncanny fashion, though Warriors supposed it was mainly because the boy was barely even 15. He raised an eyebrow. “We have seen uninfected humans, kid.”
Wind groaned with annoyance, shoving Warriors halfheartedly. “Not Cia, dumbass. Or her stupid lackeys who try to kill us every time they see us. I mean like real, nicer people who we could join.”
“Language,” Warriors corrected automatically.
It had only been about a month since the infestation of New Hyrule. Warriors had been on an assignment when hordes of infected people, skin rotting and eyes sunken into their skulls, had broken into base and wreaked havoc. While he had ultimately avoided the damage, the Sheikah and all of their technology was destroyed. He wandered around Hyrule, collecting supplies and weapons in hopes to stay alive and find living humans, until he ran into Cia.
Cia was never a friend of Warriors. When they used to be on the same assignments, she never treated him like a human being- only a toy, a plaything that she found desirable and entertaining. He thought he had been free of her- the predatory stares, her touch that would leave burning fingerprints on his face- but getting booted from the Sheikah still didn’t deter her from finding him.
Once she realized that Warriors would never return her affections, her obsession became darker, more twisted. Cia, along with at least 10 other men, had been chasing them around Hyrule ever since Warriors ran into her, and had doubled her efforts when he found Wind.
Warriors sighed. The sun was beginning to set, which only meant that the infected would start to arise in a few hours. He ruffled Wind’s hair as reassurance. “I’m sure we will. In the meantime, we might want to find some shelter for the night. Shall we?” He gestured to the town ahead.
Wind saluted at him. “Aye, aye, Captain!”
–
Today marked exactly two weeks since Time and his family had met the other Links. The spread of infection hadn’t reached their farm until a week after it started, forcing him, Malon and the kids to gather their things and leave in the middle of the night. By some miracle and weird coincidence, after a week of wandering around Hyrule, they met Legend, Sky, Hyrule, and Four. After some minor confusion, nicknames were worked out and the chain (as Four liked to call it) was formed.
“What are the chances we meet four other Links?” Malon whispered that night as the boys set up for camp.
Time had just shaken his head in disbelief. He was still struggling to process the entirety of their situation, but the boys had quickly dubbed Time their impromptu leader. They were all too young, and it wasn’t fair that-
“WILD, I SWEAR TO HYLIA I’LL BEAT YOUR ASS!” Legend howled from behind him. Time sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He turned around to see Wild hiding behind Twilight, whose hands were up placatingly, as Hyrule held Legend back from throwing his son to the ground.
Wild grinned devilishly, while Sky and Four watched with amusement from the side.
“Boys,” Time said slowly, staring at them with agony as Legend attempted to bite Wild’s fingers. “Please.”
“He started it!” Legend growled, folding his arms. His pink hair swept into his eyes, and the gun at his hip clinked against his belt.
In typical Wild-like fashion, his youngest (and irresponsible) son stuck his tongue out, blowing raspberry.
“Link.” Malon’s hand smacked Wild lightly upside the head, and he grinned cheekily.
“Sorry, Ledge.”
Legend grunted with mild annoyance, but a nudge from Hyrule earned a begrudging “apology accepted,” in return.
As the boys continued to chatter, Time glanced up at the sky to check the time. The sun was beginning to set below the horizon, which only meant one thing: the infected would be coming out soon. He cleared his throat, scanning their surroundings for a place to camp for the night. “Boys, I think it’s time we set up camp. Sky, anything?”
Sky grabbed his rifle, glancing around nervously. “Looks clear so far to me. We should probably look for an abandoned building, though. I think it’ll be safer, especially since this forest are is so dense.”
Time nodded. “Alright then, let’s head-”
Gunshots echoed across the village, causing all his boys to jump with alarm. The sound of bullets fired at a rapid, insane speed before stopping momentarily and then continuing in a furious fashion.
“Find cover. Now.” Time barked, pushing his family towards the abandoned marketplace that was just across the street from them.
He pulled his rifle out, flicking open the safety and placing his finger on the trigger. They filed behind the building as the gunshots continued to ring out. He could hear distant shouting.
“Do you think it’s uninfected people?” Hyrule whispered, his eyes wide.
Time turned to look at his sons. Legend was gripping Hyrule in one hand and his gun in the other, his jaw clenched. Hyrule was crouched down, his eyes wide with fear and worry. Both Sky and Twilight had their guns in their hands, poised to shoot. Wild, Malon, and Four were pressed up against the wall, Malon whispering reassurances quietly into their ears.
He motioned at Sky and Twilight. “Come with me. The rest of you stay here. We’ll just scan the area.”
Legend opened his mouth to protest. “You need to protect them, Legend. We’ll be back quickly.”
“Be safe,” Malon whispered.
They quickly filed out of their hiding place, ducking behind dumpsters and walls until they heard the shouts growing nearer. The gunfire had stopped luckily, but now he could hear the sounds of fighting breaking out. As they drew near, Time froze.
In the clearing was two boys surrounded by men with assault rifles. The older one, who was at least 18, was curled up in the pavement, a rifle several feet away as the men kicked him in the ribs. The younger one, with tears spilling down his rounded cheeks, was begging as he was restrained by the arms.
“Please, stop it!” the youngest wailed, fighting desperately against the men holding him. He kicked his legs out, cursing up a storm as they hoisted him up and bound him to a pole nearby. “Leave him alone, you jackasses! You fucking scallywags! I’ll kill you!”
Twilight sucked in a sharp breath from beside him as the burliest man, with thick arms and a massive gun, hauled the older one up with a hand wrapped around his neck. The kid’s eyes widened, and his mouth opened and closed as he tried in vain to get the hand to let go. His legs kicked around with desperation, but it was no match for the size or the strength of the man holding him.
“Time, what do we do?” Sky hissed. “We have to help them.”
Time opened his mouth, at a loss for words.
“Cia will be pleased to know that you scum are dead.” The man rasped, bringing the kid closer to his face. “Time to finally finish y’all off.”
–
Warriors couldn’t breathe. His lip throbbed from the force of the punch that the man he had dubbed “Oily hair” in his head had delivered to his face.
He was so stupid. He should’ve known that Cia would find them, no matter how far they traveled. And now Wind was tied to the damn pole, and Wars was bruised and bloody and Hylia, he couldn’t breathe-
The burly man that was currently choking him suddenly let go, dropping Warriors on the cement with a satisfied smirk. Spots filled his vision as he gasped for air, reaching around blindly for his rifle. A sharp, steel-toed boot crushed his hand suddenly and he let out a shout.
“Not so fast, pretty boy. Wouldn’t want ya to escape, now, would we?” The men around him laughed, and Wars lifted his head to meet Wind’s eyes. His brother was clearly scared, tear tracks drying on his face as he squirmed in the ropes wrapped securely around his wrists.
Warriors spit a glob of blood and saliva on the man’s foot, causing Oily Hair to jerk back with disgust. “You- f- fucking freak!”
Warriors grinned, his mouth and teeth a bloody mess. “Pleasure to see you gentlemen once more. Though, given the circumstances, you would think that you guys would try less harder to kill us since Cia wants us alive.”
Big Boy scowled. “She never said how damaged you had to be.”
“Clearly not,” Warriors snorted. “I’d say you roughed me up some, but it felt a little more like a little girl was trying to hit me rather than a big boy like yourself.”
Wind groaned with exasperation from behind him, his eyes glaring daggers into Wars’ head. His little brother knew this strategy too well- take the attention off of Wind so that Wars would bear the brunt of the attack while Wind (or sometimes Wars) quickly found a way out. His insult had the intended effect, however, as Big Boy stepped forward with an angry lurch, a fist connecting with Warriors’ cheekbone.
Stars spun in his eyes as he flew backwards, landing hard on the concrete. Hylia, Big Boy knew how to throw a goddamn punch. As the man reared back to land a second hit, Warriors closed his eyes with anticipation. He just needed to keep the attention off of Wind until he could figure out a way out of this-
Big Boy hit the ground with a bloody gurgle and a thud, and Warriors scrambled back with a strangled yelp. Blood began to pool underneath him as the men surrounding them scrambled for their weapons. Oily Hair barked orders, but a bullet struck him in the temple, killing him in seconds.
He crawled over to Wind, who was swearing like a sailor as the bullets struck down the remaining goons until all of them had either run or lay rotting on the concrete. With trembling hands, Warriors untied Wind’s binds.
“You stupid, motherfucking idiot,” Wind wailed, gripping Warriors by the face. “Why the fuck would you do such a fucking idiotic thing?”
Warriors closed his eyes briefly, not even bothering to correct his brother for his language. “Ca’ let ‘em hur’ you,” he mumbled. Wind’s grip on his face suddenly tightened, and he heard the click of the safety on Wind’s handgun.
“Who- Stay back!”
–
Time walked forward cautiously, his hands up placatingly as his rifle hung loosely around his back. Sky and Twilight followed his motion, while the rest of his family slowly crept out from behind the wall.
The boy cradled his injured brother’s face in one hand, the other tightly gripping a small shotgun. “Stay back! I fuckin’ mean it!”
Time stopped, about five feet away from the kid. “I’m sorry to alarm you, son. We just want to help.”
The boy eyed him suspiciously, still refusing to lower his gun. “Are you the blokes who shot Cia’s henchmen?”
Twilight stepped forward. “I shot them,” he said quietly. “They won’ hurt y’all again.”
The kid slowly lowered his gun, tears pooling in his eyes. “Are you really not gonna hurt us?”
Time’s heart wrenched. These two kids, alone in the middle of an apocalypse- he couldn’t bear to imagine Twi or Wild getting stuck in that kind of situation. Malon’s face read the same, as she and Hyrule gingerly helped the kid let go of his injured brother so that they could tend to his injuries.
Time walked over to the kid, crouching down so that he was eye level with the boy. “I promise to you that we will not hurt you.”
With a watery nod, the boy scrubbed at his eyes furiously.
Sky approached from behind him. “What’s your name, kid?”
“I’m Wind. And-” he glanced at the injured boy hesitantly. “That’s m’ brother, Warriors.”
At their raised eyebrows, he sighed. “It’s our nicknames. I know they’re kinda stupid, but what else do you call someone when you are both named Link?”
Everyone froze.
Wind glanced around nervously, wringing his hands. “Did I say something wrong?”
Time ran a hand over his face with a dry chuckle. Hylia sure had a twisted sense of humor. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Wind. It’s just that our names are all Link too.”
Wind’s eyes grew wide. “For real?”
“Time, honey,” Malon interrupted gently. “We should probably find somewhere to camp tonight before the sunlight fades.”
Time looked up at the sky- the sun was completely gone, and the last few rays remaining were a soft pink as they faded into blue. “Wind, would you like for us to take you and Warriors somewhere safe?”
Wind looked around at their group before nodding slowly. Time smiled with relief at his response. “Good. Let’s make camp, boys.”
–
Warriors woke up to the smell of antiseptic, fresh bandages, and- was that soup? He sat up with a gasp, hands flying to find his rifle.
“Wars!” Hands flew around his torso, and Wind’s face buried itself into his shirt. “You’re finally awake!”
“Wha-” He licked his lips, throat suddenly dry. “What happen’d?”
Wind sat up, face serious. “I found them.”
What? Warriors looked around for the first time, taking in his surroundings. Eight people he didn’t recognize all were watching them, a fire blazing in what looked to be a campsite. He felt his hand instinctively reach for his rifle once more. “What?” he managed, looking back at his brother.
“You got beat up pretty badly, Wars. But then these guys-” Wind gestured to the eight strangers behind him- “They helped chase Cia’s goons away. Well, they kind of killed most of them but those fuckers-”
“Language.”
“Those guys deserved it. Anyways, they’re also named Link and they’re really nice and they bandaged you up and Wild knowshowtocookreallywellsoIthinkweshouldstaywiththembutyeah!”
Warriors rubbed his face with disbelief. The strangers waved at him hesitantly, and then a boy with heavy scarring and long, tangled hair came up to him with a steaming bowl of soup. Warriors took it with thanks, holding the small wooden bowl in his hands as Wind updated him on everything that had happened as he had been unconscious.
The one-eyed man, Time, as he was named, came up to the two of them after dinner was served and the others were getting ready for bed.
“Thank you for helping us,” Warriors said. Time looked at him with an unreadable expression, before closing his eyes and nodding.
“Of course.”
They sat in silence for a heartbeat before Time said, “We want you to join us.”
Warriors looked up at the man in shock. “Wha- why?”
Time sighed heavily. “You are two young boys surviving alone in the middle of a goddess-forsaken apocalypse. You have the same name as the rest of us, and I don’t think it’s simply a coincidence that Hylia brought us together.”
He blinked at Time slowly.
It was funny how things worked. Only a few hours ago, he had told Wind that he believed that they could find good people who were uninfected. That they could find more survivors like them. And now they were sitting with eight others, sharing stories and the same name. He looked down at his sleeping brother, who had taken Warrior’s blue scarf from his bag as a blanket. Wind’s face looked so peaceful- without the pain of the world, or the infected, or Cia.
He needed to protect him, no matter what.
“Okay. We’re in.”
Time smiled.
“Welcome to the chain, Warriors.”