Chapter Text
Sky wasn’t one to get angry easily. No, he could handle anger and discomfort far longer than any of his teammates. A snarky comment? No problem, he grew up with those! He could list off the top of his head one and a million names he had been called since he had memory. Sure, at the time they had bothered him, but he had learnt to grow past mean names and insults to the point he could laugh about it. Probably not a great coping mechanism, but it worked. It usually took him weeks of constant pestering to make him snap, and even then, his anger would never really last more than a couple of hours, and a couple of days at its worst.
This situation, however, was completely different. Because it’s been 2 weeks since he last spoke to Legend, and no one in the group seemed to be trying to get them to reconcile. Maybe it was because this quarrel wasn’t really affecting their progress nor their performance in battle; they all still fought as usual, they would aid one another without a second thought, but as soon as the battle was over and the adrenaline washed out of their system, they would go back to silence and cold stares. Sky didn’t particularly like it… but he couldn’t deny that he just couldn’t not see the Veteran differently. Not for now, at least.
And it’s not like Legend had tried to make amends with him, either! Ever since that day, Legend’s repertoire of sarcastic comments had decreased to target only Hylia. Whether or not he knew that Sky could hear him, he didn’t care. The fact that Legend had the nerve to talk shit about their Goddess, his Goddess, in front of him only served as fuel to the fire in his stomach. On top of it all, Legend was insufferable, he was worse than a child. If there was someone who could commit to silent treatment religiously, it was their local hoarder. He should’ve suspected as much. However, there’s no rule that stated two couldn’t play the game, and so the existence of the Hero of Legend had been wiped from Sky’s memory in return.
So, there he was, sat against the bark of a tree, a couple of feet away from the rest of the group. They had settled for the night and were now waiting for Wild to be done cooking dinner. He had separated himself from the group on his own accord; he was tired, mentally and physically, and didn’t feel like putting up with any of Legend’s comments and glares. He was fiddling with his carving knife around his fingers to pass the time. He could try and carve something out of the small chunk of wood just a foot away from him, but he doubted it would be any good given how tense and drained his muscles and mind felt, respectively.
He just didn’t understand. Why did Legend have to be so… mean, rude, even cruel, towards the Goddess? Why Hylia? He hardly ever dissed any other deities from his time. Not even the three Goddesses. He just couldn’t comprehend how he could turn their head away from the light that was the love and compassion of the Goddess? In his humble opinion, Hylia, who had shed her divinity for her people and the land she loved, did not deserve such slander from one of her chosen heroes.
He wanted to understand. Really, he did. But it was so difficult when all he could hear was Legend scowling at any mention of Her. The others, if they had any differing opinions, at least had the decency of keeping stoic faces. He had yet to ask the rest of their group what their opinions on Her Grace were, but that would have to wait. He wasn’t keen on being on the wrong side of more heroes for the time being.
He felt a slight tap on top of his hair, his head jerked up from where his eyes had been focusing at the knife in his hands. Four was smiling down at him, albeit faintly, holding a steaming bowl in each hand
“Sorry if I scared ya,” he gave him an apologetic look and offered him one of the bowls, “but I did call you first.”
“Thank you,” Sky accepted the bowl and looked at its contents; steamed rice and vegetables. He made a note to thank Wild later for not putting any meat in his food. “I really didn’t notice you, I’m sorry.”
Four looked briefly at the group behind him and then turned to Sky, “do you want company?”
Sky shrugged. Did he want company? He didn’t know. He didn’t feel like he would be the most fun to be around right then. He certainly didn’t want to make Four uncomfortable with his sour mood. He was about to let him know it was okay to leave him alone, to go back to the others if he wanted to, when he heard Four plop down next to him.
He didn’t pay it more attention and they started eating in silence. It didn’t matter that they started at the same time. By the time he was finished, he noticed Four had barely eaten a bit more than half of his bowl. Either Four was a slow eater, a very slow one, or he had devoured his meal in minutes. He spared a glance towards the campfire; everyone was finished too and were now cleaning up. He put his bowl to the side and brought out his knife again to roll it between his fingers.
He played with the knife without much care, his attention focusing on the other side of camp where the rest of their group was. Wind was now in the middle of telling one of his pirate stories, entertaining everyone around the fire. Hyrule and Warriors were encouraging him with loud claps and exaggerate reactions to match the Sailor’s expressive retelling. Wild had found his place between Time and Twilight, the three of them listening attentively to the story. And finally, his eyes settled on Legend, his chin resting on his hand, the faintest smile creeping on his relaxed face as he watched Wind use Wild’s ladle as a sword.
He didn’t hate Legend, he told himself; Legend was a good person, even if he tried to hide it. He missed the company, for sure, but he also realised that he was not looking forward to making his way back to the group. They were distracted, but Sky knew that as soon as they saw him get close, they were going to stare. He could already feel everyone’s eyes on him, expectant for his or Legend’s next move. As much as he appreciated each and every hero, they could be too nosy for their own good.
“Sky,” Four called him, a tint of confusion? No, hesitance to his voice. “Hey, are you… are you okay?”
A beat of silence and then he let out a sigh.
“Do I look okay?”
“You look like shit.”
That managed to get a bitter chuckle from him. He should’ve figured as much. But he didn’t blame Four for pointing it out, he knew he hadn’t been the same in days, and the screaming match he had had with the other hero was finally catching up to him.
Resigned, he said, “I’m just thinking.”
“Do you want to talk?” Four wasn’t looking at him, he was giving him as much space as he could while still being close, “I believe it would do you good to voice those thoughts out.”
Sky didn’t reply immediately, and he was sure he felt Four shift a little further away, still taking small spoonfuls of rice to his mouth. He knew Four was just trying to help, he really appreciated him and his efforts, but he didn’t even know how to make sense of his turmoil of thoughts; let alone, arrange them in a way that wouldn’t sound strong, decisive but not forceful. While he knew Four had no ill intentions, he couldn’t help but feel wary of him. What if he turned like Legend? What if he didn’t want to hear what he had to say just like him? He wasn’t sure he could take that again, not from Four.
It was a scary thought he didn’t realise bugged him.
“It’s just… I don’t know where to start…” he admitted, carefully selecting the words to use before Four could get up and leave, “you saw what happened with Legend and I… I just don’t understand?”
Four hummed in acknowledgement, probably thinking back to the day when all this mess started. After all, it had been quite a scene for everyone.
Sky hugged his knees to his chest and placed his head on top of them, “I don’t understand his disdain for Hylia, he won’t say a word about it. He just… hates Her,” he turned his head to find Four looking at him with a focused look in his face while chewing a mouthful of rice “ I wish he would talk about it, and then maybe he would realise he doesn’t hate her.”
Four hummed again and nodded, “you were pretty angry that day. I would even say you looked furious.”
“Furious? Oh, I was!” Sky let out a sardonic chuckle, “Angry? I am.”
Four didn’t comment on that, letting them slip back into silence. As comfortable as it could be with one of them eating and the other reliving said day and listing off word by word the blasphemy against Her Grace thrown by the Veteran. Yes, he didn’t like what he had said about Her, but Sky didn’t hate him. Hate was too strong of a word to use, he couldn’t bring himself to say he hated something or someone… except running, he despised running. He shook his head as a sour smile crept upon his face, he put his knife away.
He rewound to the early thought of what the rest of the group believed. He figured that if he were to feel safe and ask someone, it would be Four. Not because he thought that he would agree with him, but because Four just seemed to be the most well-put-together of their rag-tag group; definitely excelling in the maturity department in contrast to half of the heroes. Yet, there was so much he didn’t know about Four, the boy kept so many secrets. Sky was aware of his aversion to magic, only comfortable using his own magic items. But somehow, deep down, Sky was sure that faith was a topic he could discuss with him.
“What do you think?” he found himself looking at Four, catching his eyes open in surprise.
“Me?”
He pointed the spoon at his chest and Sky nodded, a tiny smile tugging at his lips.
Four went silent and looked down at the bowl resting on his lap. His brows furrowed deep in thought. Sky’s smile vanished quickly. Four had turned awfully quiet and his face screamed hesitation, confusion, and finally, indifference. Sure, sometimes someone would ask Four a question and he would take five seconds to answer; but this time, Sky feared he might have broken him for good.
“Err… you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Sky said after a good minute of silence, “I understand if you don’t want to talk about that with me, considering what happened.”
Four shook his head and gave him a reassuring smile, “no, it’s fine. You just caught me off guard.” Four set the unfinished bowl aside and hugged himself, rubbing his hands along his arms, “I just haven’t really thought about that in a while. But the short answer to your question is that I don’t have an opinion on Her,” Four looked at him and laughed sheepishly, “you see, my family is devoted to the Golden Goddesses, and more specifically, entrusted our protection to Farore. That’s where my faith lays, if you wondered.”
Sky nodded in understanding, yet there was something in Four’s answer that didn’t sit well with him. It felt like something was missing… but then again, he was conscious that Four’s answer was not about him and it didn’t have to sit well with him, but maybe, just maybe…
“Of course, I’m a Hylian and I have some kind of affection for Hylia. But in my eyes, she is no more than my Goddesses. She did what she had to do and I have Zelda with me and, for that, I am grateful to her.” Four nodded at him, signalling that he was over.
He tried not to look disappointed with the answer he got, but he was sure he failed; a slight frown appeared on Four’s face and he quickly turned his face away. And so did he. Sky wasn’t sure what to think of it. Sure, they didn’t share the same idea, but at least Four wasn’t rude about it. Legend had outright refused to talk to him and only proceeded to mock him for what he believed.
“I’m sorry, Four,” Sky said, “it’s not that I disapprove of what you say… I guess it’s hard for me to imagine a life where I don’t believe in Her, you know?”
And maybe, that’s what this whole conflict was all about. They were supposed to share the same spirit, right? The very same spirit that is bound to Her… so how, exactly, can there be other heroes that do not like Her Grace? In his eyes, it just seems absurd. At this point in his life, he can’t picture a day, much less a life, where he doesn’t love her.
Four laughed lightly, “well, we’re all pretty far apart from each other in history. Beliefs change, Sky, but that doesn’t mean any of us is more right than the other.”
Silence reigned once again and Sky took a moment to think about Four’s words. He didn’t have a problem with that. He didn’t want to prove them anything. He knew they had the right to believe, or not to believe, in anything they wanted to. All he was asking for was a bit of respect for Her, for him.
“Can I tell you what I think of all this, Sky?” Four broke the silence and took him out of his thoughts.
“I’d be glad to hear it, Four,” he said, but he wasn’t sure if he really meant it.
Four turned his full body towards him, giving Sky his complete attention; expecting the same from him.
“You’re the nicest guy I’ve met, Sky,” Four started, “and that is saying a lot. You’re so kind and unbelievably selfless. I know that if I were a deity, I’d be delighted to have someone as devoted as you under my blessing, “ Sky blushed a bit at that and when he nodded, Four took it as a sign to continue, “and I’m sure that you already know what I’m going to tell you, but you need it to be said to your face.”
Four extended his hand, motioning for Sky to take it. He held him tightly and locked his eyes on him.
"Your opinion is valuable, but you can't force it on others,” Four smiled, and started rubbing circles with his thumb in Sky’s hand, “you can’t tell the Vet to think differently about Her. What you can do is show him, us, why you think the way you do. Deities do not need us to worship them, but to practice their values and what they stand for.”
Sky wished his surprise wasn’t evident, but he was aware of how loud his gasp had been. The same intake of air that made him choke lightly. Somehow, Four had been right; he already knew that. It was the first thing he had been taught all those years ago back in Skyloft. Although he must admit, he never gave it much attention; he had never had to confront anyone about their lack of respect for Hylia. In his time, she was the ultimate depiction of love, loyalty, and righteousness, why would anyone separate themselves from Her? It had never crossed his mind that he was also to blame for their little quarrel and misunderstanding. How could he let his faith blind him so badly? He has yet to understand how her message of unconditional love seems to have been distorted and eventually forgotten down the line. But that shouldn’t worry him much, he’s got the opportunity to entrust himself to her and as much as he wanted others to know her love, he had to accept that not all his teammates had been fortunate to do so, and that was perfectly okay.
And after two weeks, a genuine smile finally tugged at the corner of his lips, which then turned into a full grin. He smiled brightly at Four, who then smiled back. He didn’t waste more time and enveloped the smaller hero into a tight hug.
“Thank you for listening, Four,” he breathed and only hugged him tighter when he felt Four accept his embrace, “thank you for talking to me.”
They pulled away, bright smiles still on their faces. Four let out a tiny laugh that he tried to muffle with the back of his hand. He picked up his forgotten bowl, stood up and offered his free hand to Sky.
“Let’s warm up near the fire. I’m freezing.”
Sky nodded and accepted the hand, not that it did anything to help him stand up. But Four’s grip never faltered, and he let himself be guided towards the group. And suddenly, the idea of walking back to them did not seem to be as scary as he once had imagined. He trusted Four’s comforting smile, so he squeezed his hand in response; holding Four’s hand was enough, and more than he needed, to know that everything would be alright.