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Four has given up trying to escape, these cold stone walls will be his home for however long this takes. As the smallest of them he would be the prime target for recapture and retaliation. No, he has decided to accept his fate with grace and instead sit back and watch as his brothers go insane.
“Twilight,” Wind begs, “Twilight please. I’m so bored.”
Twilight turns a fond, glassy eyed gaze to Wind and smiles at his prisoner.
The problem started about two weeks ago, though they didn’t know it at the time. A portal appeared in the middle of the day, and they stepped through into the middle of the night. Since then there had been another seven portals, all with the time of day shifting with each exit. Their sleep schedules were, as Legend had so eloquently put it, “Fucked beyond even the loosest definition of ‘schedule’.” Worse, they were all out of sync with each other.
Which is probably why no one noticed Twilight had, according to their current best estimate, gone at least four days without any real sleep.
This had been brought to their attention by Twilight losing his goddess damned mind.
They had stopped in a smallish stone building to escape the rain, one empty door frame, one empty window, and settled in to rest for a little while. When it was time to leave Twilight had stood in the doorway and just… not let them.
No, instead he growled at anyone who tried and manhandled them back to a nest of blankets made by ransacking any of the sleeping gear he could get his hands on. Four didn’t know where he found the energy, apparently he’d hit some point of fatigue where he’d circled straight back around to insomnia. He then sat by the door and stared at them all, smiling in a soft unhinged sort of way.
It had been hours.
Sky’s now sleeping, embracing compulsory nap time. Four is 90% sure Time is faking sleeping because he doesn’t want to deal with this. Hyrule, Wild and Wind are going stir crazy while Warriors does his mending because Wars thinks being boring when it’s perfectly acceptable to be losing your shit is what makes you an adult.
...Four is being boring for entirely different reasons thank you very much, it isn’t performative.
Legend is scheming something, but Four suspects he’s sleep deprived enough that it’ll be something extra stupid, which is excellent news.
The older boy slowly passes a cane, one of his myriad of mystery items, back and forth between his hands, watching Twilight track it with his eyes like the retriever dogs that hang around Wild’s stables. Left and right, up and down then he suddenly flings it across the room. Four swears, if this actually works-
Twilight lunges after the cane and Legend makes his move, sprinting for the door. Legend’s fast, but unfortunately Twilight is faster, or at least has long enough reach to be fast enough . He abandons his chase after the cane and Legend gets one step outside of the door before Twilight grabs him by the collar and hauls him back against him. There’s a brief fracturing outline of black and orange magic and Twilight turns back around to face the group, a pink rabbit in a little red waistcoat clutched to his chest. A beat of stunned silence before,
“LEGEND TURNED INTO A RABBIT!” wails Wind.
Legend looks at himself, looks at them, runs some calculation in his head, then joins in the wailing, “TWILIGHT CAN TURN PEOPLE INTO RABBITS!”
Wind and Wild scream in horror, Hyrule screams in delight. Wars stabs himself with his sewing needle then curls over his mending wheezing. Four stares dumfounded for a moment, then joins in the growing laughter.
Legend struggles and fails to escape Twilight’s grip, yelling at him to let him go before finally resigning himself to his arms, Twilight clutching him close and patting his soft pink fur. He sits back down, stroking the rabbit and looking the most content sleep deprived jailor in the world.
Slowly, slowly, Legend falls asleep and Hyrule seizes his chance, creeping forward to hold his hands out for the sleeping bunny. Twilight smiles lovingly at him and hands the rabbit over for cuddles.
* * *
Sky still hasn’t stirred, and Time might actually be asleep after another half hour or so of Twilight’s creepy, affectionate staring (at least they know he likes them even with a threadbare grasp on reality?) before Warriors stands and everyone left puts down their activity of choice to watch what will doubtlessly be a more entertaining show.
He heads to the doorway, Twilight steps between him and it.
Warriors sights heavily, “I need to take a piss, Twi.”
Twilight says nothing but frowns slightly.
“I can’t go in here,” Wars points out.
Twilight’s frown deepens and he doesn’t move for a long moment, before finally taking two steps back, putting him outside of the doorway. Warriors steps outside and moves out of sight, somewhere on the other side of the wall. The others all look at each other in silent anticipation.
Twilight stands just outside of the door, blocking the exit and staring unblinking in the direction Wars went. There’s silence, then a quiet growl from Twi answered with an “All right, all right,” from Wars.
The staring continues.
“Twilight are you going to… stop staring?” Wars’ voice drifts back in.
Twilight doesn’t so much as blink.
“Twilight, please.”
Nothing.
“Twi, how am I supposed to go with you staring at me?”
Hyrule is the first to start giggling, followed by Wind.
“BOYS!” A cry of despair.
Wild and Four join in laughing. There’s a tremble to Time’s shoulders that suggests he is in fact awake and knows exactly what’s going on. Suddenly they’re all in slightly unhinged hysterics and as soon as it starts to die off one of them will catch another look at Twilight, unmoving gaze fixed on poor Wars just trying to take a leak in peace, and it’ll set them off again.
It’s at least 10 long minutes, in which Twilight doesn’t budge an inch, before Warriors steps back inside.
“Did you-?” Wind starts to ask.
“Yes.”
Everyone awake cheers and claps loudly at his accomplishment.
* * *
The puppies are restless. So naughty. It’s endearing. But the little ones need their sleep. He keeps watch, yes he does. He will keep them safe.
He loves them so, so much.
Even when they keep trying his patience. They cannot help being babies. Soon they will tire and curl up in the pile. They are so cute. They are so rambunctious. Good, healthy puppies. Of course they want to explore! Of course they tumble over the adults! But it is time for a nap. Time to be safe in the den. He watches over them.
He hears something moving outside, snuffling, coming closer. He is so lucky! It is a boar looking for food! Not massive for a boar, but it will suffice for now.
Maybe they are restless because they are hungry!
He peeks out the door. The puppies chatter behind him. He gives them a warning growl and slips outside. The boar isn’t far, likely it smelled their food. He leaps on it, sinking his teeth into the back of its neck. His teeth are so bad at this today! He picks up a rock and hits it many times. So noisy! But it works!
He carries the boar in and drops it between the puppies.
The puppies scream in delight.
“TWILIGHT, WHAT THE FUCK?!”
They are not eating? Ah. They are too little. He needs to break it up for them. He grabs a leg and wrenches it.
“GODDESS’ MERCY AT LEAST LET ME USE A KNIFE, TWILIGHT!”
More delighted screaming. Good. They are excited about food. He was right!
He hands a slab of raw meat to the smallest puppy. Full of vitamins! Everything a growing pup needs!
Smallest puppy takes it delicately, “Thanks, Twi. Good boy.”
* * *
Warriors decides to try a new tactic, the younger of them probably couldn’t get away with it but maybe he can? The boys all watch intently as he goes and sits beside Twilight. Twilight subtly leans towards him, and Wars puts an arm around his shoulders, reaching a hand to gently start stroking his hair. They watch as Twilight starts to relax a little, to let down his guard, but the moment his head drops he jerks it back up, forcing himself back to wakefulness and watching the group. Wars starts stroking his hair again.
Four catches Warriors’ eye and signs, ‘catch me’.
Wars nods with the slightest tilt of his head, and Four quietly packs up his book and gets his feet under him. Wars shifts his grip on Twilight slightly so he can extract himself easier.
Four sprints full speed for the door, Twilight startles but Wars gets up first and catches Four around the waist with one arm, scooping him up and carrying him back to the pile to dump on top of Wild and Wind. Possibly a little too enthusiastic about dumping him on top of them? Four will get revenge later. He feels like there’s going to be a lot of revenges coming from the last few hours.
Wars goes back to Twilight and sits back beside him, pulling his head on to his shoulder, “It’s okay, I’ll keep watch, you can rest now, I’ve got them.”
Twilight settles again and they all hold their breath as gradually, slowly, he falls asleep against Warriors. Wars runs a thumb along his jaw fondly then begins to gently stroke his hair again.
Wind is the first to get up and head towards the doorway.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Wars asks quietly.
“…what?”
“I’m not letting him trust me when he’s vulnerable then wake up to find half of you gone.”
“ …what? ” Wind repeats.
“Sit back down and take advantage of the break. Do your maintenance work.”
Oh look, the vengeances have already started.
“You’re seriously going to-?!” Wind starts to shout only to be cut off by shushing from everyone else as Twilight stirs and shifts in his sleep. They all freeze.
“You wouldn’t,” Wind hisses.
“Want to try me?”
They stare at each other for a long moment before Wind caves in.
“This group is a nightmare, I haaaaaaate you!” he whisper yells, throwing his hands in the air.
“Shhhh, sit down and eat your boar.”
“You will pay for this.”
* * *
Twilight wakes rested, but wakeful in that all-encompassing way that can happen when his body clock is messed up. He has no idea how long it’s been, it’s dark outside but the light of an almost full moon through the window is enough to see by. He finds himself surrounded by his brothers on all sides and takes a moment to privately bask in it, some part of his consciousness whispers a gleeful ‘puppy pile!’ and he smiles softly to himself.
He shifts his head to check who’s on watch, Sky, then disentangles himself to join him. Sky yawns and gives him a nod.
“I’ll take over from ya,” Twilight offers, “Wide awake.”
“Mmm, thanks. I think I’ll take you up on that,” Sky yawns again.
“Anything happen while I was out?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Good, they need their rest,” Twilight stretches out, feeling his bones click.
“Oh, and Wars said something about not letting anyone out.”
“Know what that’s about?”
Sky shakes his head, “He was quite adamant, but I was still half asleep.”
“Well a’right,” Twilight settles by the doorway, “You get some more sleep, Sky. I’ll make sure everyone behaves.”
“Thanks, Twi,” Sky squeezes his shoulder then leaves him to take Twilight’s place on the puppy pile. He watches the boys as they shuffle and rearrange and settle back into sleep.
He loves them so much.
