Work Text:
Hyrule hadn't been feeling so hot. Well actually more of the opposite, he'd been feeling incredibly hot- and achy, and sniffly, and his throat itched, and- whatever, Hyrule was sick.
He didn't think the others noticed how he felt, but then again neither had Hyrule- and he'd been meaning to tell the chain when he had woken up feeling slightly ill! Honestly! But it had just slipped his mind the first time, and over the next few days. But it was fine since he wasn't actually that sick. That is to say, he wasn't that sick until now. The newest portal the chain had gone through was the kind that decided to not only split them up but also drop them into the worst kind of weather ever. Snow.
Hyrule always had a grudge against it, snow was cold and it got everywhere, not to mention it tasted horrible- and it was the worst when sick. Frosty air whipped into his face making his nose chapped and further irritating his throat, every freezing breath made his chest ache, and worst of all he felt this gross mix of hot and cold all over his body. Everything was so uncomfortably warm but Hyrule was sure he'd half morphed into and icicle!
Goddess, at least he had Twilight with him. He was only walking a bit to the side, though it was hard to see or hear him through the snow in the wind. Hyrule glanced over at where his brother was, intent on asking for a second to rest, but Twilight was-
…Nowhere to be found?
No that couldn't be right, his brother wouldn't leave him alone out here afterall. Hyrule turned and glanced every which way until he spotted Twi's back getting further and further away.
Hyrule breathed a sigh of relief, "Twi wait up a sec-!" And immediately the travelers words caught in his throat and his chest seized.
He doubled over in a coughing fit that rattled him to his core. It felt like it lasted forever before Hyrule tried to right himself, just to be hit with a light headedness that sent him crumpling into the snow. Darkness started to creep into his vision as he tried to get even some air back into his lungs.
Hyrule shivered, he really hated the snow.
"'Rule? Did you trip or somethin- Hyrule?!" Twilight had only turned at some odd muffled sound behind him, but he hadn't actually expected to see Hyrule laying facedown in the snow. Good Hylia, we didn't even realize the boy had lagged behind so much!
He rushed over, feet kicking up snow and nearly tripping him before he let himself fall to his knees as the travelers side.
"Traveler! Kid- Rulie, get up! What happened? Are you ok?" Twilight reached to turn him over, but the second his hand made contact with Hyrule's head Twilight nearly dropped him again. The kid was hotter than Din's fire!
He managed to flip Hyrule over and checked him over, looking for injuries and making sure the kid still had a pulse and didn't just drop dead into the snow.
By Ordona, was he glad he did, because without further inspection he wouldn't have noticed how Rulie's shivering covered up the way his chest fluttered while he wheezed. The rancher did his best to wrap his wolf pelt around Hyrule, anything to stop that goddess awful shaking, before putting him on his back. They had to get somewhere warmer right? Even though the kid was burning up the rest of him was colder than Nayru's asscrack.
Twilight adjusted his arms around his neck, flinching a little at how icy his fingers were- not to mention how red. He'd have to do something about that when they got to a warmer spot. And so Twilight walked, focused solely on the need to find shelter for Hyrule instead of finding the rest of the chain.
After what could have been miles and hours of walking, the rancher spotted something in the distance. It was tall and dark, it stood out clearly between the swirling snowflakes in the air, surely there had to be a formation of sorts that they could rest in. Yes, there! A dark spot in the mountain stood out, it had to be a cave!
Twilight ran as fast as he could- he needed to make sure Hyrule wasgoing to be ok. The poor kid was breathing hard, and from where his head lay against the rancher's neck, he was sweltering too. Why hadn't Rulie told them he was sick? Why hadn't he told Twilight while they were alone and vulnerable together? He was always so insistent on not hiding these kinds of things from the group, yet here he was; unconscious on Twi's back and forced into finding shelter.
Carefully Twilight peered into the cave from its entrance, it wasn't that deep into the mountainside but not too shallow that it didn't keep the winds out. So he got to work, setting Hyrule down and double checking that he was well wrapped in his furs, Twi attempted to make a fire (He doesn't know how, but he did). Just when Twilight let himself breathe a harsh breeze came in through the caverns mouth and the fire flickered violently. He shot up to protect the embers, there was no way he was gonna let Hyrule stay in a cold cave.
He sighed and glanced back at the kid who was still shivering up a storm. Then his eyes landed on his hands, good Goddess his hands! Twilight rushed back to his side, already lifting Hyrule's hands and cupping them in his own. He blew warm air onto their hands before drawing back and rubbing them together.
He repeated those two things a few more times until his hands felt warm enough to just hold. Twilight sighed, this reminded him so much of being back home and taking care of his little siblings while they were sick. It was a helpless feeling, he missed home so much, and after gazing over Hyrule a bit more Twilight realized that he looked just like Colin.
Well somewhat, they really didn't look all that similar, but Hyrule was so small. He was sweet, and quiet, and cute as a button! Twilight… he really cared for this kid- and the rest of the chain of course- but Hyrule was different. Twi smiled, 'Rule had a lot of potential in him, so he would be there every step of the way to get Hyrule out of his shell.
He gently stroked a hand down his face, adjusted the pelt around him, and went back to warming Hyrule's hands. Yeah this kid would be just fine, he was looking better already.
Hyrule wanted to open his eyes but he felt so comfortable, relaxed in a way he hadn't been in forever. It was weird. He remembered being back home, just as if not more sick than he was now, but it wasn't quite like this. Back then he felt warmth, from a fire, but this felt like something he hadn't ever experienced. This warmth surrounded him, filled him, held him- Hyrule felt loved. And it was holding him now, gentle and soft, wrapped around him and breathing onto his hands.
Hold up. His eyes shot open and he tried to move away. Something was breathing on him? Yeah no, Hyrule knew he needed to get away.
"Hey wait, shh, it's alright Rule. It's me, it's Twilight." he pulled his hands from Hyrule's own and held them up between them, "How are you feeling?"
The traveler paused in his attempt to pull away and blinked the bleariness from his eyes, "I- I feel fine, I think? My throat hurts though, and everything's really warm." his voice was hoarse but true to is word, Hyrule did feel better than earlier.
Twi just smiled, "I'm glad to hear that kiddo, you really had me worried! The hell were you thinking, not telling me how bad you felt?" he accentuated his words with a gentle ruffle to his hair. Hyrule just laughed and his smile grew into a grin. "Yeah there you are Bells, how about you get some more rest? I'll keep watch over us."
Hyrule almost nodded before realization hit, "Bells?"
"Your laugh. When you laugh it sounds like little bells." Twilight said with a small smile, "now go back to sleep you rascal!" the rancher hooted as he dragged the boy back into his arms. Rulie giggled, earning himself another smile from his brother, he cuddled a little bit closer and finally let himself fade off into sleep again.
For the first time in his life, the cold cave he found sanctuary in wasn't something he had to face alone.
The rancher was startled awake by the sounds of yelling, and expecting monsters to have finally shown up, Twilight threw himself in front of Hyrule with his sword at the ready.
"Woah woah woah! It's us you mutt! We've been looking everywhere for the two of you. Time's leading everyone here, I just had to run after this one because he bolted at the first sign of fire-" Warriors yelped as he was unceremoniously shoved out of the way as Legend rushed forward.
"Is Hyrule ok? Why does he look so sick?" There was stark panic in the vet's normally monotone voice.
Twilight sighed before dropping his sword back onto the cave floor. "He looks sick because he is sick. We were looking for you lot out in the snow before he collapsed, was coughin' and wheezin' for a minute, but this fever of his hasn't gone down. We've been waiting here since then."
Legend shuffled in place for a second, seemingly unsure of what to do with that information, before walking over and sitting next to Hyrule. He ran a hand through his hair before softly jostling him, "Rulie? Wake up kid, we're all here now."
Legend, as sour and prickly as he usually was, most definitely had a soft spot for his descendant. The Vet gently shook him a few more times before Hyrule actually roused with a confused little sound.
"Leg.? How long have you been here? The others ok?" his voice was croaky but his eyes seemed more lucid than they were before.
"Of course we are Rule! You keep resting up, I'll make lunch!" Wild's bubbly voice came in through the entrance of the cave as he and the rest of the chain came into view.
At the mention of food Hyrule perked up considerably, mouth dropping open as he breathed a small 'really?'. A fond little huff managed to escape Twilight, "Rooly drooly, close your mouth before a keese flies in."
He heard Legend snicker and the traveler's flush got a little darker as he glanced away with a little pout. Twilight felt his heart strings pull just a little tighter at his childlike expression, and reached a hand to ruffle through his damp yet fluffy hair.
The kid's responding laugh was like fairy bells in the summer breeze, and Twilight couldn't help the happy tears peaking their way into the corners of his eyes. Quick as a bolt he let go of Rulie's hair and pulled him into a big hug.
"Agh! Twi , I can't breathe-"
He is so small, he is baby!
Twilight must have said that out loud if the abrupt laughter from the rest of the chain meant anything. Whatever, Hyrule was gonna be fine- especially with some of Wild's magic soup. For now Twilight just let himself flop over and enjoy holding his little brother in his arms and hearing the laughter of his rowdy family at their side.