#Not really LU again

[breannasfluff]

Is there any interest in a side story about Ravio and Wars during the War of the Eras?

[wizard-finix]

LU Star Wars AU: Part 5

LAST BUT NOT LEAST ITS TIME AND SKY LETS GO

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

Time

Time is a direct survivor of Order 66. He was a child living in one of the more remote temples when everything happened, and was able to escape alive by fleeing into the dense forests of the planet.

Time spent many years after that traveling on his own and not getting close to anyone out of fear of being found out, or worse, left behind. He holds a certain bitterness towards everything that's happened, and when he was a teenager, he was involved in a major incident on the planet Termina. Time finally decided to bury his saber on a remote planet after that, unwilling to take on the responsibility that comes with it.

Time actually ended up meeting Sheik and donning Mandalorian armor some time after that in his teenage years. He doesnt always gel with Mandalorian warrior ideaology, but he doesn’t truly fit the Jedi way of his childhood anymore either, after all the war and death he’s seen. He's determined to be strong enough to protect those he cares about, like Malon.

Time doesn't entirely get along with the Chain at first. (Especially Warriors and Twilight; Warriors reminds him of his old Jedi master, who wore a red scarf, and Twilight's saber looks suspiciously familiar.) The boys eventually grew on him anyway, and he counts them among the people he cares about.

Sky

Sky comes from a gaseous planet in the Outer Rim with settlements that float in the clouds, constructed far above its surface.

Sky's planet is a bit of a cosmic mystery, since it should be impossible for islands of solid rock to float; some theorize that it was constructed instead of naturally occurring, or that there is a unique combination of magnetic fields and orbits that make it possible, but no one knows for certain. Loftwings are part of the planet's ecosystem of impossible floating islands, and are an important part of the culture there.

Being so remote, the Empire didn't show much interest in Sky's home planet until Ghirahim showed up. The Empire hasn’t taken over his home yet, and he is determined to keep it that way, along with the rest of the Knights of Skyloft (including Sun). Ghirahim's interest in the planet involved rumors that there was an old Jedi temple hidden on its surface, and the secrets that were hidden within it.

Those rumors turned out to be true; there was an ancient abandoned temple on one of the floating islands, and Sky and Sun ended up discovering it before Ghirahim did. Sky also found a protocol droid named F1, and with Fi's help he and Sun managed to forge their own sabers with the only remaining kyber crystals there.

Sky's connection to the Force manifests mostly as visions, and he occasionally experiences strange, cryptic dreams as a result.

Linked Universe AU belongs to @ linkeduniverse!

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

So, I started watching Link Click...

[fox-moblin]

Happy Halloween! Life has been kicking my ass lately so I threw this together in a hour or so and called it a day. It’s a re-do/draw(?) of this piece from a while back. Huzzah.

This time around, Ravio dared Legend to go as a bunny. The pink was optional.

Twilight really wanted to be a cowboy, but it was unanimously decided (by Wind) that this would be funnier.

Time and Malon stayed home to give out candy, obviously. (Really quick sketch below cut)

buff malon give me strength

[luna-lovegreat]

Sobbing because 72.51% of the fandom (<rounded)

was freaking out about if Four still had Twi's shadow crystal

^Valid concern!

And then my boy just shows up wearing it

Slightly hidden... shame/fear?

Anyways here's when Four put it back

I appreciate Four because he stepped up to take care of Twilight's stuff. And he found the crystal and disapproved. And then kept taking care of Twi's stuff.

Art and comic and complex well-written relationships by Jojo @linkeduniverse au :DD

obligatory screaming: Woooolllffiiiieeeeee!!!!!!

:)

[amystarrstuff]

part 3 (part 2)

[hotcheetohatredwastaken]

Local writer bullied into drawing, it is now 11 so you get the full story.

Anyways the prompt was draw your blorbo looking in a mirror before and after trauma. I drew fanart of my own fic in the hopes that it would motivate me to write (it did not). Anyways, in BDOR, Wild already had trauma, but he gets more trauma by the end of the story. So uh, spoilers? He smiling now he eventually becomes happy. Probably.

Anyways, here it is. Might color it one day if I figure how to color digitally. I don’t draw XD I was told to scan it, and I did, but I don’t know how to upload the scan itself so I took a screenshot of the scan, sorry for the bad quality. Wow, that is blurry fr XD. If anyone knows how to upload a scan to tumblr, tips are appreciated

[snailtaco]

Meant to make a small lil sketch, but look where we are now.

[adrift-in-thyme]

Congrats on the follower milestone, Trin!! For the lil fanfic suggestions, how about Sky and Warriors bonding? I do love how you write emotional hurt/comfort, and it would be cool if Wars were the one comforting, but these are all just suggestions! No worries if you don't feel inspiration from this prompt :) Hope you're having a good day!

Tysm @unclemoriarty !! And thanks for the prompt! I love writing Wars and Sky, especially when it’s angsty ;) I hope you like what I came up with!

No warnings, just some angst

———————-

Sky brushes a hand roughly across his eyes, trying to do away with the moisture there. He doesn’t deserve to cry. Not after everything. But the Shadow’s words still echo in his mind, a sentence he never wanted to shoulder.

…and yet has for years now.

“Have you told them yet?” Crimson eyes gleam in his mind’s eye. Cool metal presses against his neck. “Have you told them that you are responsible for all their pain?

“Tell me, hero, have you informed them of the curse you allowed to take root in your souls?”

Seeing their faces had been the worst of it. Worse than the wounds the Shadow had inflicted, worse than the fear and pain. They had looked at him, questioning, confused, and all he could do in the aftermath was spew a choked explanation full of excuses.

“I should’ve stabbed him right then and there. I shouldn’t have given him the mercy of another moment of life.” That is what it really comes down to. His foolish belief that he had won, that he could spare the fading god a few more seconds to breathe his last.

Decency and morality are things he clings to. They’re what make him a hero. He has no plans to release them now. But…

He gazes out into the dim light of a cloudy day, wincing as even that much brightness assaults his aching eyes.

But in this moment he is beginning to think his decision was more pride than anything else. Or…perhaps it was just exhaustion. A yearning for it all to be over so he could go collapse in his friends’ waiting arms, safe at last.

It doesn’t matter either way. The point is that he failed. And now others must shoulder the repercussions of that failure.

“Hey, Sky.”

He jolts abruptly out of his thoughts, breath hitching. In an instant, he is on his feet. But it is only the captain standing there, looking a bit damp from the drizzling rain.

“Sorry,” he says, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Sky shakes his head, forcing a smile onto his lips.

“It’s fine.”

He turns away, flopping defeatedly back down onto the ground. If Warriors knows it for the sign Sky means it to be, he doesn’t indicate as much. Instead, he comes to sit down beside him.

“It’s not a very pleasant day today, is it?”

Sky doesn’t answer, but he can feel the captain’s eyes on him, searching, questioning, perhaps even judging. He fights not to crumble before their scrutiny.

“No,” he croaks, finally, “it’s not.”

Warriors has turned now to gaze out into the endless gray. Sky still feels exposed, raw. Suddenly, he has the distinct yearning to claw out of his own skin.

For another agonizing thread of minutes it is quiet. Then, Warriors speaks, his voice soft.

“We aren’t angry at you, Sky.”

Sky looks down at his boots and doesn’t reply. The silence is agonizing, but speaking is far worse.

Warriors allows it for a short while more.

“Did I ever tell you how the War of Ages began?” He says, finally, still soft, far softer than the captain usually sounds.

Sky shakes his head. Warriors chuckles, short and bitter.

“I figured as much. Well, you should know…it started because of me.”

Sky’s eyes widen slightly. He turns to Warriors, but the captain is facing away still, expression carefully guarded.

“A woman named Cia became obsessed with me without me even knowing it. She attacked Hyrule to get what she wanted. I wouldn’t give in — and neither would anyone else — and in the end we defeated her. But to get there, to obtain a victory…”

He ducks his head, that hollow chuckle ringing out again. It tears Sky’s heart in two.

“It’s what it means to be a hero, Sky,” he murmurs. “To lose, to fail, if only to succeed in the end. We carry heavy burdens — every single one of us.”

Finally, he turns to Sky, a sad smile on his lips. Gently, he puts a hand on Sky's shoulder.

“But if we stick together we’ll be alright. Trust me.”

Sky swallows hard. Tears still pick at his eyes and the lump in his throat warns of the sobs that are still to come. Far away he can make out a dark haze amongst all the gray — rain approaching fast. He watches it through blurred eyes.

“I’m sorry about the war,” he says, quietly. It’s not enough — he knows it isn’t. What can he say to wash away Warriors’ guilt, his pain?

“Not your fault. And I didn’t tell you to gain your pity. I told you because I wanted you to know that I understand. And I know the others do too.” His arm is around Sky now, drawing him in, nudging away his barriers. “That’s why we don’t blame you. Why would we when we all bear our own guilt?”

Sky inhales shakily. The rain is even closer now. They will likely be soaked soon. But with Warriors warm and steady beside him, he can’t bring himself to care.

He doesn’t deserve this comfort. The war that had made Warriors a hero wouldn’t have even happened without his failure, after all. Yet, he feels incapable of pulling away.

“I’m sorry anyway,” he murmurs, thickly, because words are all he has to offer. “Even if you don’t blame me for the curse…I’m sorry.”

Warriors doesn’t reply. But he coaxes Sky closer until the Skyloftian is resting on his shoulder. And when the rain comes pouring down and Sky shatters beneath it, Warriors holds him tightly while he sobs.

[luimagines]

He’s Sweet on You Part 2

Masterlist

Part 1

Part two will consist of Time, Twilight and Wind.

Content under the cut!

Time

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do. You know I do.”

It was a simple task and a boring afternoon. Your favorite.

It wasn’t everyday that you simply just got to hang out together and take in the presence of the other. Thankfully, it seemed as if the boys finally agreed to not cause any problems that you and/or Time would have had to deal with. It left you both with nothing to do and a whole day to yourselves.

Time smiled at you, looking ten years younger. “Would you follow me anywhere?”

“Of course.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“I know. You walk into walls. Someone has to look after you.”

“Hey!”

You laughed, patting his shoulder in consolation, slipping your hand in his. “But it’s also because I love you. Is it that hard to believe?”

“Sometimes.” He admits softly, pulling you closer. You don’t hesitate to wrap your arms around him. He follows suit, tucking you against him as much as he can. “Do you blame me?”

“I’ll just have to prove it to you.” You smile. “You can’t stop me.”

“You are stronger than me.” He grins, poking your nose with his. His eyes crinkle boyishly and it’s a soft sight on the otherwise battle hardened hero. You get the impression that he’s teasing you.

Still, not one to care much about being teased, you lean into it. “I am stronger than you, aren't I?”

He snorts.

You try to pull away, more teasing on the tip of your tongue but you realize that he’s not letting you go. The words die and you face him with a single raised eyebrow. “Sir.”

“Yes?”

“What is this?”

“What is what?” Time smirks.

“Oh is that how we’re going to play it?” Your own smirk crawls onto your face. You wrap your arms around his neck and lean back in. “Is this what you want to do? Really?”

“Mhm.” Time nods. His eyes shine with untold mischief.

“I see.” You do not see. If anything, you’re afraid he has something planned.

A moment passes where you’re both just drinking each other in before Time suddenly falls backwards, taking you with him.

“AH! LINK!”

He starts laughing, haven taken the brunt of the hit. “Much better.”

“You’re such a jerk!” You hit the metal plates on his chest. You know you’re not actually that mad and you can tell that he knows it as well. Especially since the laughter in your eyes only seems to grow.

Time doesn’t even try to look guilty. “Do you still love me?”

“Of course I do.”

Twilight

“Do you trust me?” Twilight held his hand out with a mischievous smile on his face. “It’s not as bad as you’re imagining, I promise.”

You face had yet to change even as you took his hand in yours. You did trust him. You trust him with your life and with your heart, mind and soul. But his current unprompted excitement was suspicious. “Of course I trust you.”

“I would have thought you would have agreed faster if you truly did.” Twilight shrugs innocently.

“Forgive my suspicion but I happen to know you very well.” You raise an eyebrow and allow yourself to be led through the area.

Somehow Twilight seems very well acquainted with the area. He has something planned for sure buy you have no idea what it is. At least you’re not blind folded.

Your comment makes Twilight laugh as he leads the way. “Fair enough. But you’ll like this, I’m sure of it.”

With those words you relax a little. If he’s so sure that it’s for your enjoyment then it can’t be anything too bad. It doesn’t even sound like it’s a prank. You walk a little closer to Twilight, lacing your fingers together and resting your head by his shoulder. “Can I have a hint?”

“Nope.” He says, popping the ‘p’. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise then, would it?”

You pout and put a hand on your hip. “Not even a little one.”

“It’s green.”

You pout further. You’re surrounded by green. That’s not helpful at all.

Twilight snorts at your expression and pulled away a small curtain of vines. Before is a small pond with the softest looking grass and just enough shade that you bet it would stay that way even as the sun moved through the sky. Twilight pulls your hand as he steps into the picturesque scene. “I found this a while ago. I wanted to share it with you.”

“Oh Link...” You smile and follow him with a slight shake to your head. “You have me worried that you had something else planned.”

“I do have something else planned.” He admits, sitting down on the grass. Twilight pats the spot next to him.

You don’t hesitate to sit there and make yourself comfortable. You look at Twilight and tilt your head. “What else did you have planned then?”

“A nap.” He throws himself back. “With my favorite person in the world.”

He opens his arms out comically and makes the universal sign for grabby hands. He gets a pitiful look in his eyes, as if he’s suffering the more you think about his request. He looks desperate to hold you.

You laugh and move to rest against him anyway. You make yourself comfortable again, making sure that you’re not hurting him and that you’re not positioned in any weird angles. “Is this ok?”

“It’s perfect.” Twilight sighs, running his hands through your hair. “Thank you for indulging me.”

“We could have napped closer to the group though.” You say quietly, letting the moment wind down as you both begin to rest.

“Not a chance.” Twilight replies with the same soft tone. “We would have not only been pulled away from each other but they would go out of their way to make sure we stayed awake. Someone would ask us to look after something or check something out. I don’t think they would ruin it intentionally, but we certainly wouldn’t have any peace.”

You giggle quietly and nod. “That’s very true. I’m glad we’re here then. Nap time sounds awesome.”

“Good, because I’m already five seconds from falling asleep.” Twilight keeps his movements of carding his fingers through your hair but they’re slowed down significantly. He’s really already falling asleep.

Still you find yourself follow his example incredibly quickly. “Sleep well, Love.”

“Sweet dreams, Darlin’.”

Wind

“I have a plan. Do you trust me?” That was only thing he asked you and you didn’t ask questions.

In retrospect, maybe you should have asked more questions. “Link...” You whispered as he lead you out of the inn. You were sneaking out and if felt thrilling to go behind the group’s back- even if you also felt guilty about it. “Shouldn’t we tell at least one person where we’re going?”

“You don’t even know where we’re going.” Wind grins, holding your hand tightly.

“Well no, but you do and what if someone comes to look for us?” You press.

“I already told Hyrule.” He waves you off. “This is going to be awesome, I promise.”

“Okay...” You quiet yourself. “I trust you.”

Your little comments makes him preen with pride and you manage to get out of the inn unseen. Once you’re away, Wind loosens up and swings your hands together. He seems happy. Excited, even.

It’s cute.

“Where are we going?” You venture. He’s been keeping it a secret from you but it’s late and people are asleep so maybe he can tell you now.

Wind only shakes his head, smiling ear to ear still.

“Oh come on!” You his arm. “Not even one hint?”

Wind makes a sounds to show that he’s thinking about it. “We’re going to the lake.”

“Really?!” You perk up. “Oh that’s lovely, Link!”

He giggles and pulls your closer. “Shhh! Or we’ll get caught.”

“Right. Right.”

You keep your voice and follow Wind to where he leads. You end up by the lake alright, but he doesn’t go for the patch of dry land like you assumed he would. You’re confused. He heads inward, letting go of your hand and pulls out a little row boat from under the short dock.

You gasp in delight.

Wind can’t keep the grin off of his face and pulls you onto the dock. He jumps in first and makes sure that it’s ship shape before extending his hand. “Jump in. I’ll catch you.”

You don’t think twice.

You make yourself comfortable on the little pillow he’d put on the bench and watch as he takes the oars, paddling you both out into the middle of the lake.

“This is so charming, Link.” You admit, feeling warm and fuzzy and special. “Thank you. I love it.”

Wind doesn’t comment and extinguishes the little lantern. “Look up.”

You do- and witness one of the most spectacular views of the stars that you have in a while.  “...Oh wow.”

“It’s not like being on the ocean.” Wind says quietly. “But this is as close as we’re going to get in a while.”

You hop to his bench, and rest your head on his shoulder. “But you will show me the stars at sea at some point, right?”

“I’ll show you everything.” Wind promises. 

You grin back, getting comfortable to watch the stars.

You get yelled at when you eventually return to the inn at the crack of dawn but let’s not focus on that at the moment.

Part 3

[ijustreblogcoolshit]

A while ago I had a dream where I was just chilling with the LU characters and Wild had star wars pajamas and grippy socks on for some reason and was doing flips on a trampoline and then Time tried but fell over then Warriors laughed at him

[skyward-floored]

Linked universe incorrect quotes (assorted) pt. 3

pt. 2

[sweeteastart]

I love your art!! Could you maybe do Warriors for E2 for the outfit thing?

Y'all really want me to become a puddle huh ? Thank you so much,,, I'm happy people like my silly little things

Someone finally gave me my boy !

He is feeling bonita :)

Thanks for the ask ♪♪♪♪

[majorproblems77]

Was going to draw and saw your blanket fort post, so I drew a quick cosy blorbo for you ! Hope he'll bring you a little joy :)

Thank you lenn :)

[crazylittlejester]

*prev anon with the very shitty day. Since you're also having a shitty day, have some happy head canons.

Warriors likes to give forehead kisses. He gave them automatically to Tube and Mask, so now when another hero does the same movement or action, like bumping their head too close to his, he automatically gives them kisses. Everyone gets flustered but they like it and sometimes purposely trigger it.

Everyone thinks that Sky is the cuddle bunny, but if a hero gets in the right position to a sleeping Warriors, when he is having a good day, he will pull them into a hug like he used to do to Mask and Tune.

Time remembers campfires with Captain Link singing and Mask playing his ocarina, and sometimes he pulls out his ocarina and encourages Warriors to sing along. Sometimes by kicking him if he doesn't respond promptly.

When Warriors is having a bad day, Twilight likes turning into Wolfie and cuddling him. Neither ever talk about it.

Warriors and Legend are actually best buds and love snarking at each other in a way they can't with the others. They are also the quickest at noticing when the other is having a Bad Day and intervening.

Sky's Loftwing loves Warriors. The feeling isn't exactly mutual but Warriors is too much of a softy to push him away. He just tells himself that it's a really weird horse.

Warriors, Wild, Time, and Twilight bond over being Horse Girls. Warriors and Twilight were very excited when they were introduced to Wild's horses. Not so much when Wild tried to show off the other animals he could ride.

AAAAH THANK YOU FOR THESE, THEYRE ALL SO SWEET!!

Wars is DEFINITELY a forehead kisses kinda guy (that first headcanon is sooo cute), I headcanon his love language is physical touch and he’s getting more comfortable with hugs from people again (even if he does occasionally have his bad days). As long as people warn him before they come too close or touch him, he’s down for a good hug whenever

Sky’s loftwing loving him is sooo sweet 😭 It’s making me wanna write something where those two meet each other. Wars is SUCH a horse girl, I can totally see him convincing himself it’s just a big horse

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Hi Lofty!!

I love all your work and can't get enough of your Healthcare AU!🖤

Question though: We know the boys don't do great self care especially if they are sick or hurt. Malon seems like she would be just as strong headed and always say she's fine. But how would Time react to seeing her name pop up as a patient in the ED?

Like if she got into a car wreck (not a horrific one, though I'm sure Time would lose it) or had an incident with a horse and got banged up, maybe even a concussion, and was trying to refuse treatment because she's "fine", only for Time to burst in.

How would Time react to it all??

The sky had steadily darkened as they drove. Warriors' usual cheerful chatter died down before he'd finally started breathing softly in gentle, rhythmic patterns of sleep. Time glanced over at him on occasion with a fond smile and then he gently turned on a quiet music station on the radio to fill the void.

The emergency medicine conference had gone very well. The boys had learned a great deal, Time's talk was a success, and Sky had even gotten to see Sun briefly. After a good four days relaxing at the shore and getting training hours under their belts, they were ready to return home.

Time had one final class to teach today before they'd left, and he'd turned off his phone as a result. It was only now that he realized he'd forgotten to turn it back on, but he wasn't going to mess with it while he was driving. They'd be arriving home soon enough.

An hour later, Time escorted a sleepy Warriors to his apartment where Wind was cheerily waiting. After a few shared words and laughs and some hot chocolate, Time headed out. As he pulled into the long driveway leading up to the ranch, he saw a single light behind him and blew out a small sigh of relief - it was Sky's motorcycle, which meant he'd gotten there safely as well. Legend and Hyrule had carpooled separately, and he'd have to text them to confirm they were home.

When he finally parked the car and Sky pulled up beside him, Time turned on his phone. It vibrated once, twice, three, four, five, six times as he climbed out of the vehicle to check on Sky. Good grief, did the world end while I was driving?

It was probably the group chat.

Sky yawned as he pulled off his helmet, giving Time a tired smile.

"Hungry?" Time asked. "I'm sure Malon has something prepared."

"Food sounds nice," Sky hummed as he grabbed his luggage from the car and the pair made their way inside. While they walked, little details jumped out at Time, because no matter the situation or his level of calm or exhaustion, he couldn't not notice his surroundings.

Malon's car was missing. The gravel leading up to where it normally parked was tousled a little, like feet had shuffled back and forth.

Time paused.

Sky was unlocking the door, oblivious to the environment, but did note, "I wish they'd left the light on so I could see the key."

Lights. There were no lights. Not a single light in the house was on.

Time pulled out his phone, anxiety beginning to bubble in his chest.

He had multiple missed calls and more texts than could be displayed on the screen.

Sky entered the house just as Time unlocked his phone, and the pilot called confusedly, "Nobody's home!"

Hey. Tried to call but went straight to voicemail. Malon's sick. We're at the ER. She's stable, just dehydrated. Needs fluids. Don't know if staying overnight. She'll probably kill them first.

Time read the text from Twilight. The one, single, solitary text. The rest had been from Wild, who was anxiously giving update after update.

Then his phone started blowing up. Legend, Hyrule, Warriors, Four, and Wind were all texting now, having apparently just being told by Wild. Between that and the time stamps on the texts, they had just missed them.

Sky walked out slowly, phone in hand, likely reading similar information from the others. His head shot up immediately, eyebrows crinkled together in worry.

"Stay here," Time advised as he made his way back to the car, mind fixating on the issue.

"But--"

"Stay," Time insisted tersely. He wasn't entirely sure why he was so insistent on the matter, except that it gave him one less person to worry about if Sky wasn't perseverating on the matter alongside the surgeon himself as he drove to the hospital.

The drive felt like an eternity. He tried calling Twilight and got no answer, which only made him more worried. Wild wasn't answering either, and his persistent texts had stopped.

Twi just said she needed fluids, he tried to reassure himself. That's an easy fix.

But when had she gotten so ill that it was needed? What had happened? They'd only been gone a few days - what had he missed? He'd just talked to her yesterday, she'd seemed fine!

After an admittedly sloppy parking job in the garage, Time walked hastily into the emergency department, making his way past the triage desk and badging himself into the department. He caught sight of the status board and immediately found her name.

She was in one of the acute care areas. That was a good sign, at least. But the waiting room still had a few people in it, which meant she was higher priority than others. That could potentially be a bad sign.

His stomach churned even more as he tried to focus instead of spiral. He couldn't quite silence the pounding of his heart in his ears, he couldn't stop biting his tongue anxiously as he walked to her room. His usual, calm demeanor was quickly crumbling, and he was losing control of the situation fast.

When he reached her room, his phone buzzed just as he opened the door. He wasn't entirely sure how he would act, seeing his beloved wife in a stretcher, but the immediate wave of dizziness that slammed into him wasn't the first reaction he'd expected to have.

Time leaned heavily on the door, and Malon's surprised expression quickly changed to alarm. "Honey, I'm okay--"

"You're--" Time stammered, taking a shaky breath. "What's wrong?"

Twilight hastily walked up to him, guiding him to a chair beside her bed. He didn't quite notice Wild or Twilight for a moment, holding his wife's hand as she gave him a reassuring smile. It was less comforting than it should have been, given that her face looked drawn and tired and was drenched in sweat.

"I'm okay," she repeated tiredly. "Just a little sick. Threw up a lot. They gave me Zofran, so I'm doing better. Boy do I love that stuff."

"You look awful," Time blurted out. "You're pale, you're diaphoretic--"

"Oh stop spouting out an assessment," Malon hushed with a weak chuckle. "I'm just dehydrated. Couldn't hold anything down for a while. Look, see, they're giving me fluids now."

She held out her arm for inspection, and Time examined the 18G IV in her AC. She'd already gotten a 200mL bolus, and the fluids were still infusing. He looked at the monitor and saw the tachycardia, saw the hypotension, and he swallowed thickly.

Shock. She'd been going into shock.

"Do they know what's wrong?" he asked. "What's causing this?"

Malon blew out a dismissive breath. "Oh, just a bad stomach bug. Hit Wild earlier in the week."

Time immediately turned his attention to the two young men in the room, watching Wild shrivel into a corner. Twilight was strangely stiff, his expression closed off as his hand settled on Wild's shoulder.

"Boys," Malon directed at the pair. "Do you two mind getting me some water and a damp washcloth?"

The pair took the hint, exiting the room wordlessly and closing the door behind them.

"Link," Malon said gently, garnering her husband's attention. "I'm okay. I promise. You look paler than I do."

"I wasn't here," Time said suddenly, his voice choking up, his guilt and anxiety swirling in an uncomfortable mess of overwhelming emotions that he couldn't express in any given word. "You're sick. I'm--"

"You can't control everything, hon," Malon insisted. "Life isn't your OR."

Time bit back a rebuttal, because he knew she was right. It still made him feel utterly helpless, like he had been so, so long ago when he was a child. He hated it.

But he latched on to her words, latched on to the facts, latched on to the reality of the situation like he was in the OR. Because he could think in the OR, he could focus in the OR.

Malon is fine. She's sick, but she's stable. She was in shock but she's getting fluids. She's awake, her mental status is normal, she's oriented and talking to me.

"How are you feeling?" he finally asked.

Malon laughed. "Spoken like a true surgeon. Looking at the numbers before you look at your patient."

Time gave a pleading pout, though her little jab did cheer him up. If she was able to make quips about his patient care, then she wasn't feeling too terrible.

Then his wife sighed, leaning her head into the pillow and staring at the ceiling. "I'm tired. But not as nauseous as I was. And the fluids are helping. I knew I needed fluids. Figured I could handle it at home. Tried ginger ale, tried sprite, little sips of water between vomiting episodes, but I just couldn't keep anything down. I..."

Malon bit her lip, and the worried look on her face made Time's anxieties return tenfold.

"You what? What's wrong?" he asked quickly.

"I might've asked too much," Malon said, her voice shaking a little. "I just--I felt so ill, and I knew I was losing the fight with staying hydrated enough. I... I asked Twilight to do something I shouldn't have."

Time glanced out at the doorway, but with the curtain drawn he had no idea where the boys were. When he looked back at Malon, she was staring at the curtain too.

"What did you ask?" he prompted.

"I asked him to start an IV on me," Malon said finally, her expression falling further. "My hands were shaking too much, or I would've tried to just do it myself. I know he's just a basic EMT, but I also know he's done some tech work in the ED, so I figured the others had taught him how to start them. He... he really did try, but I was too dehydrated and the only vein he found blew, and... I think he feels bad about it. I shouldn't have asked him. But I was desperate and thought I could just fix it easily at home."

Time's eye traced along Malon's arm to see a small bruise that had developed from Twilight's attempt. He felt equal parts upset and concerned.

"This whole thing's a stupid mess," Malon grumbled. "The sooner I get some fluids the better. I think they'll just give me some ODT Zofran to go home and we'll be done."

She made it sound so normal. As if his wife weren't sitting in a hospital bed. As if his wife weren't so acutely ill she'd had a medical emergency.

Time spiraled a moment longer and then buried his face in his hand, leaning an elbow on the side rail of the stretcher. He and Malon had both seen and treated infinitely worse.

But it was different when it was a loved one.

This isn't even the first loved one you've seen in this position.

"I swear, you're all conspiring to each have a hospital stay," Time muttered, finally grounding himself in some levity as he squeezed his wife's hand.

Malon laughed at that. "Well, mine's less exciting than Twi almost blowing up his appendix. Or Sky getting shot. Or anything Wars has done."

"Wars didn't need an ED visit."

"Not yet, at least."

Time sighed, rubbing his face and then smiling at his wife. "Well. Either way. You're not getting out of bed for a few days."

Malon huffed, cheeks flushing in defiance. "I have things to do--"

"You're sick. I'm taking care of you."

"You? You're a surgeon! I'd be better off being taken care of by one of the barn cats!"

Time spluttered, "I can take care of my own sick wife!"

"You're not a nurse," Malon fired back. "You don't know how to take care of a patient, just how to fix them. There's a difference."

"Well, then, you'll just have to teach me," Time argued stubbornly, kissing her hand. "I'm taking care of you whether you like it or not."

Malon sighed, put out, and relented. Then she gave him a cheeky grin. "I'll be sure to demonstrate how you act when you're ill."

"Malon--"

"All the whining and moaning--"

"Malon, be merciful--"

"And the constant neediness--"

"That's just playing dirty and you know it."

His wife's laugh was far more energetic this time, giving him some peace in his still anxiously fluttering heart. Time took her hand in both of his once more, stroking it lovingly.

The peace of the moment was shattered when the curtain was nearly torn off its hooks as Legend led a stampede of young men into the room.

"Malon, are you okay--"

"Who's your physician, I'll make sure they're actually getting stuff done and moving things along--"

"Forget that, who's her nurse--"

"Are you hurting? Wild said your stomach hurt before--"

"Did the Zofran help?"

"Malon can we grab you anything?"

The pair stared at the group, overwhelmed for a moment, and then Malon smiled, eyes filling with tears. "I guess I have a lot of nurses taking care of me."

"You do," Time assured her, taking the damp washcloth out of Twilight's hands and placing it over her forehead. Malon hummed in contentment as she was surrounded by her husband and her boys, and despite the chaos of the area all around them, there was at least peace in one room in the emergency department that night.