Chapter Text
Warriors got out of his car after returning to the ranch only to be met by Wind. The small boy had apparently seen him drive up and now stood excitedly bouncing as Warriors retrieved his bag.
“Hi Wind. How's your day been.” Warriors asked as the two started towards the house.
“It was kinda fun to start with but now everyone is busy and Four won’t let me help them” Wind spoke in an exasperated tone as he dramatically gestured his hands in Four’s direction.
Four sat at the house's front step and leaned over a rather meticulous looking object with a large book open beside. The step was littered with different intricate gears and other metal pieces, all laid out on cloth to protect them from potentially getting dirty.
“Wind, why in the name of Hylia would I let you help?” Four questioned with a sigh “ I’m fixing a music box and not just any music box but the one you broke and couldn’t fix yourself” he continued without looking up from his work.
Warriors had to fight not to laugh as Wind brought an offended hand to his chest and opened his mouth in shock.
“I most certainly did not break it. Gravity broke it, I simply was an assisting force but still, that doesn't put the fucking blame on me!”
Now Four did look up, carefully glaring at Wind before he rolled his eyes and went back to his work. Warriors couldn’t suppress a laugh any longer as he carefully placed a hand on Wind’s back to guide them both inside.
“Come on seabird, let's go inside and leave Four to be a mechanical genius in peace."
Once inside the scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air. Wind’s face, which previously held a scowl, lit up as he bolted to the kitchen. Warriors removed his shoes and followed at a much more acceptable speed. No wonder Wind always crashed into and knocked things down.
As Warriors rounded the corner to the kitchen, he found a surprising amount of the ranch's residents gathered at the table and cooking space. Hyrule and Legend sat at their spots next to one another with Twilight sitting slightly further up the table as he turned to greet Warriors. Time was near the oven with wild helping to clean as the younger boy pulled out a tray of cookies.
“Hey Wars. How was class?” Twilight asked as he held Wind’s hand back from grabbing a cookie from the hot tray.
Right. He had to tell everyone what happened. Warriors turned his eyes to the floor thinking of how to tell his brother his hopefully exciting news. Twilight seemed to take his pause as discomfort, his smile softening to a small frown. Suddenly Wild’s voice broke through his silence.
“Alright everyone, cookies are ready”
Hyrule jumped up to stand next to Wind and the two boys started to flap their hands at their sides, feeding off one another's excitement. Time smiled at them fondly.
“Why don’t you two go get Four from outside and see if Sky is Awake yet”
Wind and Hyrule both eagerly nodded before heading off to the front door. Twilight once again caught Warriors attention with his gaze, shooting him a questioning look. Warriors still unsure of how to answer instead made an excuse to leave the room.
“ I'll go check on Sky, I need to bring my bag up anyways” he said, already making his way to the stairs.
After dropping his bag in his room he went and knocked on Sky's door. He was met with a quiet response but one that welcomed his entry. Opening the door he found Sky sitting in his bed wrapped in a blanket. He wasn’t sleeping and he was no longer in sleeping attire.
“Morning Sky.”
“Morning.” he greeted with a yawn “ I didn’t know you were home yet. What Time is it?”
“Nearly noon. Have you eaten yet?”
Sky shook his head letting out a sigh.
“Why don’t you come down stairs for a bit. Wild just baked some cookies if you want” Warriors offered.
Sky shifted on the bed, standing up slowly before nodding his head in response.
Back in the kitchen everyone was getting seated. Wild was still working in the kitchen, apparently he also had prepared lunch for everyone as well and was working to plate it. Once everyone was settled Wild asked if he had already eaten and he realized that despite the fact he had packed himself food he completely forgot about it and gratefully accepted the food he was offered. Once everyone had been severed, Time began to speak.
“How was your class, Wars? It was an audition, right?”
Knowing the question would come up again, Warriors had a now somewhat planned answer to give.
“ The class went really well and yeah it was an audition. Umm… Yeah, I got invited into the company. I was the only one they accepted” he tried to speak with confidence but he kept his eyes locked on his plate.
The room fell silent then suddenly Wind had thrown himself into Warriors. The smaller boy’s arms wrapped tightly around him. Warriors tensed at the touch but quickly relaxed and returned the hug.
“ That's amazing, I’m so proud of you.” Time’s voice sounded so honest as he spoke.
Proud. Time was proud.
Warriors cast his gaze from Wind and looked around the table. Everyone looked happy, they were all smiling, even Legend.
“So, are you going?” Wind looked up at him with his blue eyes wide.
This was the part Warriors didn’t know yet. He really wanted to go, it was what he wanted for such a long time. And now his dream had a chance to become his reality. He didn’t know if he deserved it though. He had never been good enough even when he was at his best and now he felt so much worse than that…so why did he deserve it now? And if he did go he would have to leave his home studio. The place that first taught him love and that those who love you won't hurt you.
“ I don’t know” he replied as he closed his eyes.
No one filled the silence after he spoke, the uncertainty of his words clung in the air and stirred panic in his mind. Warriors pushed Wind away glancing down to see his expression hurt. He didn’t care at that moment as he suddenly felt overwhelmed by the need to actually make a decision. Warriors pushed his chair back from the table and started towards the stairs ignoring the calls behind him as he went.
Closing the bathroom door behind himself he threw his sweater to the ground, the feeling of it on his skin making him claustrophobic and over heated. He turned on the faucet running cold water over his hands and wrists. He felt his breathing become unsteady as he tried to focus on the water instead of his screaming mind. He didn’t deserve this. It was a mistake, they didn’t actually want to accept him into the company.
There was a knock at the door, Warriors turned off the water and opened it only an inch to see who it was. Time’s eyes met his as he peered out. Slowly he opened the door fully and stepped back, allowing Time to enter and shut the door behind him. Warriors looked to the ground, not feeling worthy to meet his eyeline.
“Wars, can you look at me please?” Time asked in a quiet voice
Warriors raised his gaze slightly not wanting to ignore Time and possibly upset him after already running away from the table without explanation but still not feeling capable of eye contact.
“Are you alright?”
Was he alright? Well technically, yes, he wasn’t broken, bruised or bleeding. He was fine. But he didn’t feel fine. His mind was swarmed with so many things and he felt helpless to stop it. He couldn’t even seem to form a proper response to what he had been asked, instead opening his mouth and allowing a pathetic sound to escape.
“Warriors, no matter what choice you make we will still be proud, we will still be here for you and we will still love you.”
Warriors raised his head meeting Time’s eyes with tears in his own.
“What if I go and they realize how broken I am, what if they don’t actually want me there, what if-” Warriors was cut off by Time as he began to speak
“Stop. No ‘what ifs’. If we focus solely on what could happen, we lose ourselves from the present. You are not broken, you are an amazing dancer and they wouldn't ask you to join if they didn’t see something special within you.” Silence fell after Time finished speaking
“But… what if they… what if they end up like her?”
Time felt his heart sink. He felt such sadness, such helplessness in those words.
“Warriors, Cia was an incredibly cruel lady.” Warriors flinched at the use of her name “she was a monster and I won’t ever let something like that happen to you or anyone else in this house again.”
Silence again followed his words before it was broken by Warrior's voice.
“I really want to go” he spoke barely above a whisper “but I…I can’t get her out of my stupid head. Every time I feel good about myself it's drowned out by her voice, by her telling me she is what made me good and without her I’m…” his voice faded, breath stolen by a sob
“Do you want a hug?” Time asked his now crying boy.
Warriors shook his head, he didn’t want to be touched right now. Time gave a small nod in response and stayed where he stood.
“ Warriors, I know it is so incredibly difficult after everything she has done but you are so strong and you can make your own decision, and whatever it is, we will be here to support you”
Nevermind, maybe he did want a hug. Warriors walked forwards and leaned his head to Time's shoulder. Time slowly and carefully moved his arms to embrace him, giving plenty of time so he could pull away or ask for him to stop. Warriors allowed himself to be held, enjoying the warmth and comfort only another person could bring, something he so often struggled to have.
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Later that evening Time heard a knock at his door before it opened revealing Warriors. He walked up to Time’s desk and let out a slow breath.
“I want to go.”
Time couldn’t stop the smile that crossed his face. He truly was so very proud of his boy.