Chapter Text
The low whirring and soft buzzing of the air conditioning had lulled Warriors to sleep. He had still yet to shake off the last of his grogginess, this morning, though it was an insignificant effort anyway, given that Warriors had fallen back asleep, in probably the most unwonted and cramped spaces in the entire house, which was also otherwise known as his predesessing makeshift safe haven.
He stirred a bit, grimacing from the few sore spots and mild aches in his spine and tailbone, before completely giving up and returning back to the realm of the awake.
At first, Warriors was rather muddled from the unanticipated surroundings, but as he adversely kicked aside the last of his drowsiness, he had recollected his memory in rapidity. Warriors was still addled with lethargy, but he was collected enough to at the minimum, discern the encircling key features of the space.
There was but a small window, with textured glass, nestled in the very corner of the wall, adjacent to the towering ceiling. It allowed little light, painting the room in patterned designs of a deep blue hue. Even so, there were the occasional flashes and sparkles of a warm orange on the angles and corners of the window’s geometric design.
Warriors would have smiled fondly at the sight, seeing the flashing and shimmering lights bouncing off the glass, similar to how a prism or a kaleidoscope would, but there was just some sort of emptiness that was deeply rooted in him. Akin to a heartache that never ceased to exist, instead remaining as a calm yet brooding sensation, that in lieu, learned to sanction with after abandoning his efforts to heal from. Warriors used to compare it as a tranquil silence after a storm, but in the sense that he was left stranded in the once-was heart of it, everything astray and deserted. and left with nothing but a bittersweet note of being obliged to feel grateful that it was over. No matter how much he picked up and rearranged everything, planted new flowers, and prayed for days filled with nothing but sunshine and rainbows, there was still the store of old debris that still lurked in the very back of the scene.
And now, he didn’t mind being surrounded by gloomy skies, reminiscing from the downpour as it lingered at this oddly calming state of equilibrium, as though things weren’t all in all that grand, but could have definitely been much worse nonetheless.
Warriors concluded that the optimal choice was to haul himself up and stretch his legs. His thoughts were uninhibited and replaced with the dull of a migraine. Warriors hoped that was the case, unsure if it were the inception or cessation of the misery in his head.
A distant thought in his head lends Warriors the idea that it might be logical to take some cold medicine, or a sports drink, let alone getting himself together as a whole. But that’s as far as it goes.
Warriors isn’t so sure anymore if he’s still simply tired, emotionally depleted, or rather frayed from everything. Warriors is very spaced out, finding himself staring into things for longer than he would usually appreciate, trying to make little choices that suddenly feel very breaking.
Eventually though, he grips onto the edge of the tub and uses it as momentum to get himself back to his feet. He nearly trips over it and lands face-first on the rug, but was luckily able to catch himself at the very last second.
Glancing at the mirror, it takes him a few seconds to recognize that yes, the figure with a stone-cold expression and dull eyes was in fact him, and not some pitiful physical representation of his current mental state- because to be frank, it was really appallingly accurate.
He remembers his earlier intentions, after seeing the smudged and ruined eyeliner on his face. His eyes are bloodshot, and a little puffy from crying earlier. Warriors didn’t even recall crying earlier, he just remembers being a little sad before waking up. What happened?
Warriors weakly pawed at his face, surprised to find that it was still damp from the tears, as though it was very recent. Without caring, Warriors grabbed the hand towel nearest to him, splayed on the countertop and ran it under the tap for a good few seconds before roughly scrubbing his face with it.
Warriors knew that it wasn’t the most efficient way to get rid of the stubborn remains of his makeup, he literally had wipes made for that sort of situation, yet, he just needs to feel something, even if it’s the coarse material of the towel against his already sensitive skin.
He later tosses the towel aside, to the hamper. Warriors misses by a mile but doesn’t care enough to pick it back up and try again. He also doesn’t care when he spots the skirt on the ground either, slumping against the bathtub's edge. Warriors just doesn’t care anymore.
He trudges out of the room, feet dragging behind him and head hung low, staring mindlessly at the carpet.
Warriors struggles out of the layers of his clothes, unbuckling belts and zippers and buttons- A seemingly trivial task, but much more bothersome and tedious for somebody as drained as he was.
He slips into an old band T-Shirt, borrowed from Wild and into some plaid pajama pants, an ugly blue and white design with gold accents. The colors appalled him, but Warriors was so close to the point of collapse that he didn’t even bother.
It’s really interesting, to see how just this morning he was just stressing over routine and fashion and everything was just right. But now, Warriors wasn’t sure if he needed to cry, sleep it off, or make some regrettable actions just so he could stress over those alone opposed to the much bigger, and more relevant problem. But he’s too tired to face anything anyway, he rather just let it marinate and would instead prefer basking in his misery for however long it took- He preferred it much over than facing it head-on.
He figures that a little stroll or nature walk - that just being along the hallways and rooms of the house because he’s in no mood to put on some shoes and a jacket - might help make him feel better.
Warriors left the room, still disoriented. The lights in his room were still off and his bed was unmade, the same way it still had been since early morning. So upon opening the door, he flinched and squinted his eyes as he adjusted to the hallway lighting.
He internally groaned as Warriors realized that he wasn’t alone in the house either. He heard laughing and rustling coming from Wind’s room. Hyrule’s door was completely left ajar yet the one next to it was locked shut- Legend’s room. There was whispering inside the room.
Sky’s room was right next to Warriors’. He liked how Sky was probably the most tame out of his brothers, given that Four was a bit.. Arbitrary at many times.
Speaking of the man, he had just closed the door behind him and was about to make his way downstairs. Either to make dinner, or to meet up with one of his brothers, Warriors didn’t know. Though, it was rather unfortunate to be seen like this, and Sky was also just as confused as Warriors thought he would have been.
Sky really didn’t know how to react after seeing Warriors in a state like this. For the better words of it, he looks rough. His face was flushed and his eyes were dry yet there were still some predominant remains of tear-tracks on his face. Also, Warriors didn’t greet the other with a tease nor a playfully narrowed gaze, which was quite odd as Sky was pretty sure that egging on his brothers was undoubtedly Warriors’ favorite pastime.
Warriors simply gazed over at Sky. His eyes were half-lidded, and there was nothing but saccharine misery in his bleak yet narrative expression. Warriors wanted to apologize to Sky, he wanted to account for himself and play it off with some mediocre story. But he was just so tired. His jaw fixed in place, unable to convey his thoughts and emotions into words, held back by frustration.
Nonetheless, Sky simply gave a small wave and a timid smile. He shyly opened his arms as an invitation for a hug, seeing that Warriors clearly looked like he needed it or at least some other medium of comfort. Warriors still remained bizarrely stoic. That was until he crumbled.
He toppled over on Sky and melted into the embrace, nearly leaping and throwing Sky off of his balance and sending them both colliding to the floor. Sky was certainly up there, and rather strong for somebody as mellow and gentle as him, but Warriors was taller.
Warriors nearly missed the small flinch from the other man if it weren’t for the current fact that he is trying to hold everything back and not acting like a totally crazed and hopeless - victim - person for two Hylia damned seconds.
They remained in an uncomfortable silence, save for Warriors’ muzzled or forcefully quieted weeps and Sky’s stammering consolations and sympathy.
“S-She had me, Sky!” Warriors cried, grasping onto Sky with shaking fists. Sky didn’t know who she was, but if had gotten to the point that Warriors was reduced to this pitiful display of tears and whines, then Sky didn’t like her one bit.
“I know. It’s okay, Wars. I have you now.” Sky internally crossed his fingers and hoped he wasn’t accidentally making things any worse for the two of them. Seeing the dire situation that Warriors was acting like he was in, it seemed logical that the first thing he needed was convincing that he was safe. And If there was one thing that Sky was confident in being experienced in, it was this.
At first, Sky actually thought that his words were getting into that stubborn head of Warriors’, but that was until he started to hyperventilate, resulting in the loss of his ability to hold himself up. Warriors dropped to his knees, palpably pulling Sky down with him.
As he tried to adjust his legs and at least sit on the ground a little more comfortably, he barely missed the faint twitch in Warriors arms from the corner of his eyes before he started to scratch his arms, violently, without a single care for if he broke skin or not. Sky was not about to just sit there and watch his own brother hurt himself, who was also clearly in an unsafe headspace.
Without any prior thinking, he grabs onto Warriors and holds him, a clever yet cheap tactic to keep his arms away from harm without actually pinning him and scaring the man even more than he already is. Sky inwardly curses himself for not asking first, but luckily, Warriors wasn’t too entirely shaken up by that, instead allowing it to happen to him. He might just be too hazed to even notice, or that he must trust Sky that much.
Also, Sky wasn’t so sure that Warriors was that sober to even recognize his intentions, he was also worried that if he stopped Warriors from hurting himself, he might be considered a possible threat- Which was definitely the last thing that either of them needed.
After a while, Warriors let out a shuddery breath that he didn’t even know he was holding. “Sky, I-”
The man in question shook his head and held Warriors’ hand in both of his own. “There’s no need. You don’t need to explain yourself. Just focus on calming down, yeah?”
Warriors nodded, appreciating the comfort and guidance. A part of him is also actually quite glad that Sky cut him off before Warriors said anything that he was going to regret in the future.
“Everything’s just fine. It happens to the best of us.” Sky said after recalling that Warriors’ seat was empty for both breakfast and lunch. It didn’t take a genius to figure that his absence must have contributed to his current fragile demeanor.
Warriors listened. Sky noticed that Warriors was still holding on close to his sleeve and burying his head on Sky’s shoulder, savoring the comfort and little distance between him and his brother.
Eventually, Warriors pulled away a little to press his lips into a small smile and straighten up himself a little by adjusting his hair. “Would you like to have some tea with me? I’m sure a little wouldn’t hurt. “Sky asked. “The kitchen’s empty, so you don’t have to face anybody else if you don’t want to.” He added after seeing Warriors’ expression dampen a bit in thought before it quickly returned to where it was originally, still at the very middle between feeling much better or returning back to the center of his breakdown.
Warriors nodded and smiled, this time with his eyes. He wasn’t in the mood to speak quite yet, and Sky was able to pick that up almost immediately. Maybe tea would help with calming the last of Warriors’ erratic nerves.
And for the first time in many years, Warriors felt the ache in his heart dissipate before being replaced with something much warmer and more pleasant.