Receiving the therapy: my OC Haven. She/her pronouns. 20 years old, and is cold to those who she doesn't trust/know. She's an ex-Yiga who escaped because she didn't believe in their ideals
Why?: struggling with nightmares about the Yiga recapturing her. Also, she wants to get out of the habit of eating bananas for every meal.
Therapist: Wild
Side character(s)?: Tears
Thanks for this request @non-canonlinks! It was so fun to write. I hope I wrote Haven the way you imagine her. :3
(Quick note: I added one character from Link Club for a short sentence named Charlie, he’s my sister’s OC who is also ex-Yiga so I thought, “well, I have to add him in now.”)
Your ficlet can be found under the cut!
Link Therapy: Haven
By Ruth Jacqueline
“Alright, boys, let’s get started. Let’s see, first on the agenda is- oh.”
Ocarina set his clipboard down on the club table and sighed. “It’s therapy day.”
Everyone groaned.
“Well, we’ve only got… four people who signed up, so we’ll be done soon.” He promised with a fake smile. “First, Jigglypuff. The SSBU one. Says he’s tired of people making fun of him. Any takers?”
CD-i slowly raised his hand, scooting away from the corner just slightly.
“Put your Din hand down, CD-i.” Kingdom said, shooting daggers his way. “You’re shunned.”
CD-i put his hand down. Ani patted his shoulder encouragingly.
“Well, I suppose I could offer the globose creature counseling.” Prince said dramatically, standing up and taking the patient file from Ocarina’s hand. “Bid me luck.”
“Next, we have some ex-Yiga gal named Haven.” Ocarina continued, getting back to business. “She’s having nightmares. Anyone?”
Everyone looked at Charlie. “Don’t look at me!” He exclaimed. “I’m barely stable too!”
“Fine, Wild, you take her, then.” Age poked Wild’s shoulder and pushed him towards Ocarina. “You haven’t done a session in weeks.”
Wild grumbled under his breath but reluctantly accepted the patient file, then walked out of the club room. He could still hear Ocarina announcing the next patient, “…this weird kid who’s saying his soul keeps controlling him…”
He walked past the Unwanted Side Characters club room and the Villains club room before stopping in front of what used to be the Linkle room, now remodeled to be a calming, therapeutic space.
He opened the door and stepped inside, immediately turning to the left and entering one of the session rooms. “Hey, I’m Wild, what’s up?” He said, sitting down on the couch opposite his patient.
She said nothing, surveying him with careful eyes.
“What’s your name?” Wild asked, setting down the file and taking her under closer inspection. She had long black hair pulled into a braid that ran down her back, but strands still found their way to frame her hardened face. He noted a dagger attached to her hip, and the way her fingers twitched next to it, as if she was ready to attack him at any moment.
“Haven.” She said finally, slowly moving her hand into her lap. “Yours?”
“Link. I mean, Wild.” He glanced over at her file quickly. “So, nightmares? Tell me about it.”
She blinked, her light red eyes narrowing slightly. “I was a member of the Yiga Clan. I left for reasons.”
Wild leaned forward. “And those reasons are…?”
She stiffened. “I don’t think that reviving the Demon King is really that noble a cause.”
He snorted, then stopped himself. Last time he did that, the patient ran away crying. It was Luigi. “Alrighty, well, I agree. And so, what’ve your nightmares been about?”
She crossed one leg over the other and sighed. “The Yiga don’t take too kindly to having their members leave, and so, well, I keep having nightmares they’ll recapture me. Force me to rejoin the Clan.”
Wild nodded solemnly. “Mm-hm, mm-hm, and are these dreams-“
“Nightmares.”
“-nightmares, vivid?”
She grabbed the end of her braid and started running her fingers through the tail. “Yes. Very.”
Wild thought for a moment. “And… is this the only reason you signed up today?”
She dropped her braid and blinked. “Also I’d like help on how to break my habit.”
Wild cocked his head to the side. “What habit? Because if it’s arson I can’t help you.”
She scowled. “No, it is not arson, you lunatic. I can’t stop myself from eating bananas. For every meal.”
He would restrain himself. He could do it. Do not laugh. Do not. Laugh. Do not-
He laughed. Really loud.
She recoiled a bit, her eyebrows knitted together in both confusion and anger as she watched him. “I thought you supposed to help me.” She said quietly once he calmed himself enough to talk to her again. “Not laugh at me.”
He wiped a tear from his eye. “No, no, no, I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing… with you.”
Her gaze was stony. “I’m not laughing.”
Wild stopped and thought for a moment. “Am I even helping her?” He stood up and held up his hands. “Listen, I’ll be right back. I need to call in some reinforcements. Hang tight, okay?” He turned and left the room, leaving her alone with the thought that her plagues were insignificant.
Finally, after ten minutes of her sitting in solemn silence, he returned, with another man who looked almost exactly like him in tow.
“Raven-“
“It’s Haven.”
He smiled awkwardly. “Right, Haven, this is Kingdom. Kingdom, Haven.”
Kingdom sat down where Wild had been and surveyed her. “Okay, I have some advice for you.” It was taking everything in him not to insult her in some way. “Firstly, the way to get nightmares out of your head is to tell yourself that you’re safe and the Din Yiga can’t get you.”
She nodded along slowly.
“Secondly, to break your-“ He took a deep breath so he didn’t start laughing like Wild did, “habit, I’d say try eating one different thing a day. Once you start doing that subconsciously, then try two things. Eventually, you won’t be uncontrollably scarfing down bananas every day.”
Haven tapped her finger on the leather chair she was seated in. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“Then come back and we’ll try again. Probably with a different Link.” Wild muttered that last part so she didn’t hear it.
She stood up, flipping her braid back over her shoulder and readjusting her dagger’s place in its sheath. “Alright, I’ll try… thanks.”
She walked past them, and Wild grinned and held up his hand for Kingdom to high-five.
“You’re an idiot.” Kingdom said instead, standing up too and walking back into the club room.
The End
(Kingdom’s advice worked. :3)
