Follow up to this fic from my Links Meet AU. Written for @theoneeyedgoldenwolf
It was warm, so warm, and he was surrounded by softness. Storm simply drifted for a short time like that, savoring the gentleness and warmth before he had to do anything else. Perhaps he would have drifted longer, stayed in that relaxed, blissful, half asleep daze for longer but someone speaking woke him.
“So it’s really true, huh? Storm is the Hero of Time.”
Ice water could not have woken him quicker than those words. He kept still and mostly relaxed as his senses came to full alertness. A sigh caught his attention before he could begin to spiral down into his own mind.
“I wish I’d figured that out before now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not long after Sage told us about the hero before him and Time about the one before him… Storm asked us about it. He… he must have hoped that we’d want to know the truth of what happened.”
“Legend… you aren’t the only one who missed it.”
“I know, but maybe we could have spared him some of the hurt he has been feeling if we’d caught it earlier.”
Storm wondered at that, and was even more confused by the murmurs of agreement from the others. Weren’t they upset he hadn’t told them?
“I picked my nickname because of him, you know?” Time said, Storm could hear the bright smile he had on his face. It was comforting in some way to hear this, soothing enough he felt himself melting against the soft furs again while he listened. “He was my inspiration after I found Aryll, someone who did everything he could to help others. It is a tradition in my home for boys at twelve to get a green tunic in honor of him… I like my nickname even more now, Storm is one of the best people to have as a guide.”
“What’s with the grin Legend, weren’t you just upset?”
“I was, and still am honestly… Still he’s my descendant. Goddess and I both were worried that she might not be able to have children, but there he is. Storm is my descendant.”
“... I owe him an apology when he gets up.” Sage’s voice was soft and sad, Storm could picture Hope sitting next to him and the two of them just leaning against each other. “My words to describe… I was harsh. I just… I was so angry that the hero… well it doesn’t matter. I hurt my brother with my words. I don’t know if he’ll even listen to me now.”
“He’ll listen… I just wonder if that truth serum is still active in some way or not.”
Storm felt the line of warmth along his side shift and realized that Dysmas was likely lying there in wolf form. He wondered if his future student would give away that he was awake and had been listening or not. When the warmth moved away he couldn’t help the soft whine he gave as he turned onto his side to chase after it. A gentle nudge to lie on his back again came and he did so, feeling oddly fragile, as though the slightest wrong word or move would make him shatter.
Someone lie next to him on the opposite side from where Dysmas had been, an arm draping across him as the person settled. Then before he could curl into whoever it was the warmth on his other side returned, this time another arm draped over him instead of soft fur pressing against his arm. The extra warmth that settled against his sides, on both sides, soothed that fragile feeling a bit and helped him slip back into that soft drifting warmth then the soothing dark of sleep.
The next time he woke, Storm still felt like he was drifting but not as hazily as before. Instead a hand gently running through his hair seemed to help anchor him with his present. His eyes opened slowly as he looked around, the hand kept going and he blinked up to see Prism sitting there reading a book of some sort. He didn’t feel as warm which meant that Dysmas and whoever else had settled next to him last time were both gone elsewhere now.
“Prism?” His voice was oddly weak as he croaked that out.
“Storm! We were starting to worry, you’ve slept for over a day now.”
That explained why he felt so heavy and sluggish.
“Whoever that was that grabbed you had you for half a day before we were able to track you. Dysmas was the one to catch your trail while he and Legend had been out searching. After you went to sleep they told us about that thing and what it said… I’m sure the answer is no but…. Are you okay?”
“Where are the others?” Storm asked, starting to try to sit up. Prism sighed and closed his book before moving closer and helping Storm sit up. Storm leaned against him for a moment, wondering how long he had to enjoy this before it fell apart.
“Fauna and Hope found a stream close by, they all went to clean everything and gather what they could. I think they’ll be back soon. Are you thirsty?”
Was he? “Yes.”
Storm knew he had ignored Prism’s question of how he was doing, and a large part of that was he didn’t quite know. He still felt fragile, but not as much as he had previously. As Prism brought over a cup, one of Fauna’s mugs that had been left near the fire to stay warm, Storm wondered what he had missed while he had been sleeping. He took the mug with a grateful smile and sighed softly when he tasted the sweetened tea that Fauna left behind for him, his favorite tea and sweetened to the point a fairy would love it too. He could just about hear the delighted chiming and feel the soft flutter of wings against his cheek.
“You knew my secret… back before I told everyone about the Sword of Four Elements, you knew, but I never-”
“I didn’t want it known. Time was the only one who knew the story of what I did do, the story of my success, but I didn’t want any of you to know that it was me.” Storm said softly.
His shoulders slumped, as he lowered the mug, looking into it. He shuddered a little, nearly sobbing as he realized what had been said and what the others now knew. An arm settled across his shoulders as gentle hands took the mug from him. Storm didn’t resist as he was pulled against someone’s chest, his head tucked against their shoulder while something warm was wrapped around him. It took a long moment to recognize that it was Legend’s Sailcloth and that the person holding him tightly was Legend. Horus was sitting next to them and rubbing his back while murmuring an old song Storm could remember him singing during the war.
Storm lost track of time as he was comforted by Horus and Legend. At length he calmed enough to turn his head and simply sit with his cheek resting on Legend’s shoulder.
“Feeling better?”
Storm nodded and hummed softly as Horus rubbed his neck.
“Good, we were worried about you. It isn’t every day we get to see you going to pieces like that.”
“Also we need to apologize.”
“You don’t.”
“We do.” Hope insisted, his voice cutting in before Legend of Horus lost the argument to Storm.
“We… I need to apologize to you, Storm.” Sage stated, he crept closer to them then hesitated just in arms reach of Storm. Storm looked at him in confusion but didn’t move away from Legend who tightened his arms around him a bit. “I was angry at what I thought was a failure and I spoke thoughtlessly. I should have remembered that it was hard to fight against him.”
“You don’t need-”
“Storm, please, just let us apologize. We know you don’t blame us, but it still feels like we let you down.”
Storm was quiet for a moment then he sighed and reached out. Pulling Sage close he kissed the top of his head. “I forgive you. I forgive all of you.”
“Good, now that we have that settled… Fauna almost has dinner ready and you need to eat. After… how about we share some funny stories from when we were traveling together last time?”
Storm looked at Horus surprised then he smiled a bit and nodded.
“Sounds good, but only if everyone else shares a funny story too… maybe not tonight but soon?”
“Oh! I have one.” Fauna cheered happily, his grin seemed to get to them all and Storm took the plate he was offered, shifting to sit next to Legend who was still grinning widely and refusing to let him move away. “See it started with this bear-”
“Oh no, not another bear story.” Dysmas groaned, his voice expressing dismay but his face showing only fond affection.
“Yes! Another bear story.” Time cheered causing Storm to laugh a bit.
He gestured for Fauna to continue his story while he ate. Perhaps… just maybe… he had been wrong. Maybe they wouldn’t abandon him knowing the truth… and maybe that was okay. He glanced around at the others, seeing their grins and hearing their voices as they teased Fauna, catching the occasional look his way as though they needed to reassure themselves he was still there. Storm smiled at that and decided that maybe this time Majora lost after all.