Finally finished it :) Based on @ghosthoard's beautifully angsty Your Eyes Do Not Know Me As They Once Did.
Your eyes do not know me as they once did
Time & Twilight
Wind & Wars & Time
As Wild - no, Link - gazes at him in blank, curious confusion, Twilight suddenly realises how the Shade - Time - felt. He knows the boy standing in front of him. He knows what he will become. He knows that one day they will laugh together, hug each other, bind each other's wounds, and share meals and tears and starry skies. One day this skinny half-naked stray with leaves in his hair and a world limited to a plateau with a wonderful view will be the Hero of the Wild, one of nine, Twilight's beloved little brother.
But now, he's none of those things. He's just a kid staring at a strange wolf as if he's never seen one before.
Which he hasn't.
Twilight probably shouldn't have ensured that his first encounter with a dangerous animal was with one that had hylian intelligence and would have laid its own life down a thousand times rather than hurting him.
Link suddenly smiles, reaching out a tentative hand.
Twilight shouldn't let him do it. He's a wolf, not a dog, and this isn't Wild, this won't be Wild for a long time. He needs to learn to be what he will become. He needs to be taught to be the hero Twilight knows he is.
He wonders if this was how Time felt as he berated and criticised him.
If somewhere inside he was crying over eyes that looked at him without a trace of recognition.
If his disappointment came from remembering Twilight and finding himself facing inexperienced and incapable Link.
He shouldn't let this scruffy, empty shell of a hero pet him.
But Link's eyes are warm and curious and his hand is still outstretched, unsure of what to do but not knowing that he's taking a risk. As reckless as he'll always be.
He remembers Wild chatting to Wolfie as if he knew him, comfortable and happy in the presence of an old friend.
He remembers his lingering pain and confusion at the Shade's disappointment.
And he noses up into the outstretched hand and hears the surprised, delighted laugh.
🧡 Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome!!! 🧡
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Thanks Amayis!
@ghosthoard @uniquevoidflowers @blarefordaglare @jinxedruby @amayis-bigtower I love yall so much <33 I didn't wanna answer all of these individually, but I really appreciate it :)
@ghosthoard Remember I threatened you with Wild from Please Perennial hanging out with other dead heroes?
***
When Wild opened his eyes, he had a sudden horrible moment of dislocation. He was lying down in a shallow pool, staring into a bright light. He didn't know where he was.
Just before he started to panic, a memory did seep back. It wasn't comforting, but it was better than nothing.
Pain, shouting, blood, movement, pain…
He whimpered, closing his eyes again.
"I think he's awake." The matter-of-fact voice of a young boy broke into his awareness and he opened his eyes again from sheer surprise.
Indeed, there was a boy leaning over him, round face framed with fair hair, bright-blue eyes wide and curious. Something about him seemed familiar, but Wild couldn't place it.
"Give him space, Lad," said another voice. Wild's heart jumped into his throat as he tracked the sound to see a dark-haired man just easing to his knees beside him. He gave Wild a friendly smile. "You probably have a lot of questions."
Wild blinked. "Wha…?" he managed.
"I'm Link, and this is Boromir," said the boy with a big grin.
Wild stared at him.
"Take your time," said Boromir quietly. "I know it's quite a change."
It certainly was. Wild swallowed hard as memories once again flickered around the edges of his awareness. "I… what…" He swallowed. His throat felt better than it had in… a while. His eyes went to the boy again. Another Link.
His breath caught.
He didn't want to think about his brothers.
"Where am I?" he asked tentatively.
"Well… that's a difficult question," said Boromir.
"You're dead," said Link frankly, though not unkindly.
Boromir winced, but nodded. "This place" - he gestured around - "Well, I suppose it's what I was taught to think of as the Halls of the Slain. Though it's not what I imagined."
Wild had died once before, of course, though he'd been brought back and didn't remember any of it. Not really.
"I'm dead?" he echoed.
They nodded.
At last, he tried to move. He wasn't restrained. It didn't hurt. Boromir reached out to help him sit up, but when he pulled away the man didn't push it.
Please Perennial by @ghosthoard is an absolutely heartbreaking masterpiece. It hurts so much and is so well written. Go read it. Bring tissues.
This scene, where the Chain find Wild too late is one that always sticks with me. Just something about how tenderly Twilight handles Wild and how much he's holding on to hope that it's all going to be OK, I just cry.
