#downfall bros

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An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Final chapter of Bad Blood!

Legend has a lot of questions, and Hyrule is very stubborn.

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Run Through Fire (Linked Universe Febuwhump Day 17 - Legend, Hyrule)

Prompt: self-inflicted wound

TW – fire, burns, self-sacrificing behaviour (prompt is interpreted very loosely but still... stay safe)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36809317/chapters/92775454

“That’s the last of them,” Hyrule panted, wiping blood off his face with the back of his hand, though he was still wheeling, peering into the corners in search of any remaining stalfos.

“For now,” Legend replied darkly. They could both hear the sounds of echoing footsteps in the passage leading into the next dungeon. “You okay? You used a lot of magic.”

Hyrule shot him a crooked smile. “I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here.” A slender arc of flame flickered around the heavy doorway standing open across the dungeon. Beyond it the moon glowed in a clear night sky. Side by side they ran for the doorway, dodging and jumping over the littered monster bodies they’d cut down to get this far. Then Hyrule slowed, only feet from the door, and Legend saw his eyes flick to the heavy chest, half buried by monster bones, across the dungeon.

“Roolie,” he began warningly. Hyrule hesitated, biting his lip.

“I just want to see what’s inside.”

“Roolie-”

But Hyrule had already raced across the dungeon, dropped to one knee beside the chest and lifted the lid. The second he did so there was a roaring sound and a splitting of rock and the dungeon floor surged and bucked like a panicking horse, throwing them violently apart.

For a moment Legend was in the air – then he crashed to the ground hard and rolled over twice before coming to a stop. Suddenly the cool wind chafed at his bruised skin. He groaned, sitting up and blinking away the residual dizziness and when he could see clearly again he realised he’d been thrown right out of the dungeon, and that the heavy doors had swung closed behind him.

Shit, he thought. Shit, shit, shit, we triggered another trap…

This dungeon didn’t give up its secrets willingly. And…

Hyrule was nowhere to be seen.

Oh goddess he’s still inside…

There was a big golden key sitting sat innocently on a stone pedestal right in front of him. From what Legend could tell, it was exactly the shape, size and material to fit into the keyhole in the dungeon doors. Surely it’s not that easy, Legend thought suspiciously. He staggered to his feet, ears still ringing, and strode forwards but as soon as he came within five feet of the key there was a rushing sound and a ring of flame leapt up, surrounding the key with a wall of fire.

Legend stumbled back from the sudden intense heat, then whirled and flung himself back towards the dungeon door, hammering frantically at the heavy stone, which refused to budge no matter how hard he shoved at it.

This dungeon really didn’t give up its secrets willingly…

“Hyrule!” he yelled. “Hyrule, can you hear me?”

Through the narrow grille in the door, presumably designed for a long-ago guard to demand “who goes there?”, Legend could just glimpse Hyrule’s dark eyes and untidy curls. “Legend!” he called. “Are you okay? I’m so, so sorry, that was really stupid of me! Can you open the door?”

Legend gritted his teeth. “I’m trying.”

“Because, um…” Hyrule’s voice trailed off uncertainly for a moment. “I, uh, don’t want to freak you out and it’s definitely going to be okay, but there are a lot more stalfos coming...”

Legend’s heart skipped a beat. Hyrule was trapped in the dungeon with a horde of monsters. Oh sweet Hylia… It suddenly struck Legend with terrifying certainty that unless he could get the door open Hyrule was going to die. Through the narrow grille he saw Hyrule glance behind him and draw his sword once more, saw it begin to glow with magical light. No. No. No. He had to get him out of there. He couldn’t let this happen.

He turned resolutely back to the ring of fire surrounding the plinth and drew his ice rod out of his bag. He was pretty sure it wouldn’t be this easy, because it never was, but it was worth a shot. He shot a stream of ice into the flames, but the magical fire simply absorbed it, closing around it with a gentle steaming hiss. He didn’t have any heat-resistant items with him – hadn’t thought he’d need them.

Okay, Legend thought. So this is the only way. Typical. Just typical. Thank you, goddesses above. Thank you so much. As always, let me convey my sincere and heartfelt appreciation for everything you do for us. Of course he had no choice. Of course not. Not when it was Hyrule.

“What’s all that fire?” Hyrule’s voice echoed from behind him. “What’s going on?”

“Hang in there, Roolie,” Legend called back, proud of how steady his voice sounded. “I’m gonna get you out.” He pulled out his water bottle, still nearly full, thank the goddess, yanked his tunic off and emptied the water onto the fabric before wrapping the wettest part of the tunic around his head.

“Legend?” Hyrule’s voice sounded high and panicked. “Legend, what are you doing? Legend, whatever you’re about to do, don’t, okay? Hey. HEY!”

Legend braced himself, fixed his eyes on the tiny golden key sitting so innocently on top of the plinth, brought up both arms to shield his face as best he could, and ran straight into the fire.

The wall of flame roared around him. He barely had time to register the blinding heat, the searing pain erupting all over his body before he was through to the other side. He staggered, every nerve alight, and black spots danced in his vision. “No,” he growled. “Not yet.” His hand closed on the key and he turned to face the fire again.

The second time was worse. The agony was so intense he lost track of where his skin ended and the fire began – then he was on his knees on the other side, retching with pain. “Legend!” Hyrule’s voice was yelling. Roolie. The door. Stalfos. Legend forced himself to his feet and half-ran, half-fell into the door, jamming the key into the lock. As the stone doors finally slid open Hyrule stumbled through, followed by a couple of pre-emptive arrows before he slammed the doors shut behind him.

Legend groaned and collapsed back to his knees. Everything hurt. Everything hurt. His skin felt raw and every movement, every breath sent ripples of agony tight and hot through his whole body. He could still hear the crackling of fire. The stench of burnt flesh was almost overpowering – breathing seared his throat and darkness gnawed at the corners of his eyes.

He was dimly aware that Hyrule was shouting something, and then he found himself shoved face-first into the dirt and Hyrule seemed to be hitting him all over, then rolling him onto his back and hitting him again. He was confused. Was Hyrule really that mad? He supposed it kind of made sense but the reaction still seemed misplaced.

It was only when Hyrule sat back on his heels, panting, and the crackling sounds had fully faded, that Legend realised his clothes had been on fire the whole time, until Hyrule had put them out.

“Legend. Legend, are you still with me? Just hold on, I’m going to heal you. You idiot, you absolute idiot, I can’t believe you…”

Legend just stared dazedly up at Hyrule, who was nearly crying with anger and panic, as he placed his hands over Legend’s heart on the charred remains of his shirt, and summoned his magic.

Legend hadn’t thought it was possible to be in this much pain and yet also be so absolutely fine with it. He stared up at the night sky above Hyrule’s head, and as the pale gold glow of the Life spell began to shine around them, Legend smiled.