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Mornings were usually Hyrule's favorite time of day.
From the soft tugs of sleep filtering away as he stole a couple extra hours in bed.
To the gentle wisping of wind through the opened curtains.
To even the warm rays of sun hitting his face on particularly bright summer days.
Normally, Hyrule liked to burrow and nest into the warmth of his blankets, and pull the sleeves over Legend's offered jacket.
Today however, such warmth and softness felt stifling and smothering over his sweaty, clammy skin.
With a whine, voice raw and unused, Hyrule tugged the layers off of himself, and wrestled the zippered sweater off and away from himself.
A sharp pang rolled through his lower stomach as Hyrule instinctively drew his hands over himself.
Doubling over his sweltering, claggy body, he felt the sweat-dampened curls stick to his face and neck.
Hyrule shut his eyes as another insistent wave of pain coursed through him, an uncomfortable groan tumbling from his lips.
With his legs pressed tight, and knees brought to his chest, Hyrule didn't dare move, not with the risk of the soft green sheets beneath him- It would be too obvious, Hyrule had no choice but to stay as still as he could.
His hands shook and trembled as he gripped his legs, and folded himself over to be as small as he could possibly let on. He stared at the bright, outdoor Sky with disdain, with upset, with such feelings Hyrule didn't want to feel as of yet, or at all.
Tears prickled in his eyes; These days were usually the hardest on him, where feeling like he normally was and who he was, wasn't ever normal, when Hyrule didn't believe he quite matched the body he was made to live in.
He sniffled upon feeling the slight trickle of blood, from where it wasn't supposed to come from because Hyrule wasn't supposed to deal with any of this, and his hands shakily rose to his face to wipe those tears away.
It was only these few days, only these moments to which Hyrule wasn't himself, to which he felt as horrible and wrong as he did before going by different terms, and identity.
It made him feel dirty, guilty for hiding such a huge part of him, a secret from everybody else. It was those sort of feelings that had Hyrule coughing out bile and sobbing apologies for his own, wrong, existence.
Because nothing about Hyrule was right, not the way his body ached with pain, the way his gut rolled and flipped, and certainly not the stabbing sort of sensation that targeted his lower stomach over, and over, and over-
"Rulie?" A telltale few knocks on the door dragged Hyrule out of his spiral, a spiral he would much rather fall into than deal with the realities.
Through the door, Hyrule could tell it was Legend, who likely went to look for him when Hyrule hadn't yet shown up for breakfast. Curse Legend and his altruistic motives. That sort of kindness may just be the exact downfall of Hyrule.
Silently, Hyrule allowed the tears to roll and stream down his face, there was nothing he could do about the impending truth, of Legend seeing and finding out.
His heart raced as Legend creaked the door open tentatively, and certainly skipped a few beats when Legend gasped at the measly sight of what Hyrule called himself as Legend's brother.
"Oh." Legend blinked, and Hyrule couldn't breathe any longer. "I…" Legend's voice dropped to a whisper. "I didn't know you were… Sorry-"
Awkwardly, Legend shifting from foot to foot, watching as Hyrule fixed him an apologetic look, his eyes wide and terrified, and mouth slightly agape.
Hyrule burst into a miserable wail.
Normally, Hyrule seemed to catch wind of these unfortunate events early on, and in the week of what he called suffrage and agony, it was never more than taking regular naps, drinking warm tea, or even remaining heartbreakingly more distant and reserved from the others.
The bed dipped nearby as Legend carefully sat next to Hyrule, folding his legs beneath him, and draping an arm over Hyrule's shaking shoulders, offering the little warmth he could.
A sob wrenches out of Hyrule's throat, unable to the find the strength and control over his limbs to push Legend away, because the bed was likely dirty, and so was Hyrule and Legend didn't need to do this to him, to be involved into any of this either, and-
"You're okay, it's okay now, Rulie." Legend soothed, a warm hand cradling the side of Hyrule's head, pulling the boy closer to his embrace and why would he do that to somebody as undeserving as Hyrule.
"I guess we're taking the day off, aren't we." Legend fixed him a pitying little smile, wiping a stray tear with the side of his thumb.
"B-But…" Hyrule sniffled.
Legend shook his head, easing Hyrule's hands down to his lap, to where he securely held the blanket over them, this stays here, this covers here. "It's alright, I could tell Time that you aren't feeling very-"
"No!"
Legend suddenly went rigid, jolting, and Hyrule trembled as the two remained in uncomfortable silence.
"I don't want him to know." Hyrule sobbed against his own will, feeling his chest quake and quiver and his lower stomach tighten up and contract, closing his eyes and waiting for the flutters and stirring of dished-out pain to finally cease.
"Okay." He breathed, watching furtively at Hyrule's furrowed eyebrows, and thinly pressed lips. "Okay, Time won't have to know- He never has to."
Hyrule nodded weakly, words can't help him much longer. Not when sweat rolled down the sides of his fast as legs nearly gave out in pain.
"Would…" Legend could only help so much, he could only do so much. "Would you like it if Wild was here?" Legend crooned, kneading the thin muscle over Hyrule's shoulders.
Wild would help, Wild too dealt with these monthly pains, with the same feelings of upset and anger that Hyrule experienced, that Legend could never quite help with because he could never relate.
Wild could, which was exactly why Hyrule gave a little nod of permission with that.
With a quickly-shot text to Wild, Legend was able to recline Hyrule further back before Hyrule jolted, and immediately froze.
"What's wrong?" Legend frowned, hands hovering over Hyrule's oddly flushed skin.
Hyrule shook his head quickly, staring at Legend fearfully. "Can't." Was all he said, understanding, Legend didn't press any further, if the way Hyrule's shoulders flew to his ears, and the way his hands pressed the blanket firmly over his lap had anything to about it.
Wild was a lot more open with being born as Hyrule had been.
From how he would seek comfort and care from Warriors on his cycle. Hyrule was upset that Warriors never treated him that way, mostly because he didn't even know Hyrule had dealt with the same issue. It still made him upset though, very, very upset.
To even how lightly he's waved off concerns and questions over his orientation, what to be called and considered as, Wild seems to be in a much better than place than Hyrule could even wish to be in.
Quickly after though, Wild had shouldered the door open and carried what Legend would assume to be a certain blend of tea, and a warm compress under his arm.
How domestic, how normal- Hyrule felt anything but normal under his skin.
Half-lidded jealously lingered behind Hyrule's tired, little gaze. Legend felt he was entitled to it- Seeing how lightly Wild flitted by, compared how Hyrule looked as though he was either about to throw a fit, or completely pass out under the throes of his pained anger.
Even how, Hyrule seemed to appear far more comfortable with Wild around, with the soothing that familiarity brought to the boy.
Legend sighed at both fondness, and relief at that.
Hyrule's shoulders seemed to drop a little, and the blanching grip on the covers seemed to lessen as well, but seeing how carefully Wild creeped over to the two, unspoken boundaries were still highly set.
"Hey, Rulie." Wild whispers, and Legend's gaze flittered to the door- They can't afford any more guests at this moment, especially how Hyrule's heart began to race, thoughts of Wild's being too obvious, they're going to know, to find out, Hyrule isn't ready to explain-
The click of the door lock allowed Hyrule to shudder out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.
Legend took the compress in hand, and placed it gently over the blanket where Legend assumed to be his stomach.
"You don't need to baby me…" Hyrule frowned into the mug of steaming tea.
"I'm not." He clarified. Nothing about this changes the way I think of you, Rulie.
Hyrule challenged Legend with a knowing glare. It was not the first time Legend had taken full support and care over Hyrule on these sorts of days, and it certainly won't be the last of these either. The only difference of these is that Hyrule is responsive, and judging by the permanent frown plastered over the boy, Legend isn't very sure if that's a better outcome.
Wild seemed to miss this sort of interaction, and instead shifted more comfortably on the bed. Legend was about to squawk in retaliation before Hyrule sidled a little, clearly conscious over the sheets beneath him- The sheets that all three of them knew would need to go into the washer alone. Neither of them said anything at that, all for Hyrule's sake.
Wild, whose long hair was tied back at a more manageable style, took Hyrule into his hands, despite the boy's weak sobbing and cries.
"I know, I know…" He truly did, and Legend didn't, so that was why Legend awkwardly sat off to the side a little, clutching the compress close to Hyrule's stomach, and right over where he figured the contracting pain to be welling from, if the look of pure gratitude Hyrule fixed him had any effect.
"Could we get Twi to get you some painkillers, I could give you some of my cold medicine- It helps me a lot, even with this." Wild whispered, and Legend had internally thanked both him, and The Three for his idea.
Hyrule shook his head again, spluttering. His hands rested over Legend's hands when they flew down to grip the compress in what Legend would assume to be a particularly sharp spike of pain.
"No?" Wild soothed, brushing back a few dampened strands from Hyrule's face, smiling warmly at his wet, little pout. "They'll help a lot, I promise. I'll even take some too if you're not feeling very comfortable."
Hyrule's eyes widened at the suggestion, Wild well-knowing of Hyrule's fear over poisoning. But before he could mutter a response, Legend caught immediate shift of Hyrule's expression, going from pained, to much worse.
Wild didn't seem to yet notice, continuing on. "When are you going to tell the others about this? About you being transgender? They want to help you, you know…"
Legend was too late, and the fear of Hyrule being found out had been placed out too much for him- Wild could tell everyone else of his little secret, it was that easy. Hyrule needed to be more careful around Wild, because if Twilight were to find out about this, hell- Time were to find out about this, then he would likely kick Hyrule out. Because Hyrule wasn't Wild, because he was already keeping a secret and secrets never meant anything good, and Wild was very obvious about himself so he was fine, but Hyrule was not, and that wasn't right, or good, or-
Hyrule's breaths quicken, his stomach rolls in maddened anguish at the movement, and Hyrule feels more of the blood trickling down his legs, and Hylia, doesn't he have to get up to deal with all this and change into something more suitable, but the others would see the blood and Time would definitely find out when the stains linger on the bed covers, and he there was certainly no way he could lie himself out of this either.
"No, no, nonono-"
He retches, doubling over himself and Wild gasps, leaping off the bed. Legend scoots in closer, bringing in the boy to a loose embrace.
Hyrule hadn't eaten this morning, or for dinner last night - He never really liked to eat when he bled - so all that Hyrule could vomit out was whatever bile and choked-down saliva he had left in him.
Weakly, his stomach lurching and convulsing, Hyrule mumbled an apology before dry heaving all over him once more, pathetically, and in so, so much pain.
Empty bile and spit roll down his chin, the acid of his stomach lining his sweater and on to the blanket. An anguished sob rips out of his used throat, and Hyrule's nose stings at the stench of bile and sick.
His body, with the lack and give of compensation seems to work against Hyrule as his stomach heaves and pushes and heaves some more- What ever was in him, wanted out, and Hyrule could swear he felt the bedsheets feel a little more damp, blood clinging to his legs and pants.
Hyrule only sobs further at that, head leaning into Legend's chest no matter how far he wanted to be pushed away, no matter how gross, and dirty he felt, and certainly not of any deserving of Legend's embrace.
"Sorry! 'M sorry-" Hyrule gasps, internally thanking that his mouth opening wasn't to spew any more of the emptiness his stomach carried.
"It's-" Legend sucked in a breath, before exhaling shakily. This month's one must have been really bad if it was getting Hyrule to this point. "It's okay, Rulie. I'm not mad, and nobody's going to have to know this happened." He shot a gaze to Wild, who nodded in pitying agreement, clearly kicking himself for initiating this sort of breakdown.
Hyrule couldn't bother to listen to anymore of this, soothed enough by Legend's assurances and promises, albeit he didn't want to listen any longer.
Legend seemed to catch that, and his hand carded through his hair as Hyrule tried to calm himself, and control his breathing.
Faint mumbling swirls and muddles from above him, and Legend nods before shifting a little, Hyrule felt it, tiredly, distantly. His head lolls as he tries to replicate the motion.
Two hands creep underneath him, one cradling his back and one underneath his legs, and it only takes Hyrule a few moments to realize that he's in Legend's hands, and off the bed.
"Wait-" He gasps, and Legend's hands only tighten more over Hyrule's hurting body- Hyrule's arms immediately fly to wrap around the little crook between his shoulders and neck.
Obviously straining at the weight, Legend falters a little, but still shoots Hyrule the most reassuring smile he could muster.
"Where are you-" Hyrule stills, and simply accepts to be carried over, though his heart, and stomach don't sit very right with all the guilt it brings him. Legend's arms must be all dirty now, there must be blood on his clothes, and it's all Hyrule's fault.
"We're going to get you changed into something better. Something more loose, maybe." He muses, and Hyrule's too scared for him to mutter a thanks at Legend's help, or even his understanding at how much Hyrule hates how tight clothes hug him when he's obviously bloated and in agony.
Instead, he goes rigid at that. "Don't worry, I'll wait outside." It's only with a clarification that obvious does Hyrule seem to settle.
"I'll change the sheets in the mean time." Wild tells Legend, but Hyrule hears anyway. He wishes he doesn't though.
Hyrule shuts his eyes immediately at that, only because if Wild's moving to change the sheets then it only means one thing, and pure horror washes over him like a dowse of iced water.
"Hey." Legend jostles the boy a little. "Stay with me, yeah? You're okay."
A weak whimper escapes him, and Hyrule can't bare to see any view of the bed, of the mess he's made, of the mess he's made for others to deal with.
"Sorry…" He whispers, voice wet, and Hyrule isn't sure what exactly he's apologizing for- There's a lot he should feel guilty for. All he could really muster is an apology, that's all he was good for anyway.
"There's nothing to be sorry for." Legend hums, placing Hyrule back down on the bathroom's bench.
"I'll be back in a second, yeah? I'll get you some clothes." Was all Legend said before darting off, clear he didn't want Hyrule to remain in this sort of misery for any longer. If Hyrule didn't know any better, then he'd assume the flashes and waves of heat over him to be from his heart warming, just maybe.
Later, with the pile of clothes in his hand, and the shower running distantly, Hyrule stares at the little trashcan in front, lined with a plastic bag, and Hyrule can't help but feel horrible for everything he's caused.
"I'll be right here if you need me." Legend mentions, casual, clear, as though Hyrule's body isn't any different than his, as though there isn't anything different about Hyrule over him.
Hyrule likes that, he likes that a lot. But still, the thought of been dealt with any more than he was been already gnaws at him deep, and the longer Hyrule sits, the more the clinging bile and blood dries on him. Hyrule shifts a little in his seat, that doesn't feel very pleasant.
Perhaps Legend is right, maybe a shower would help him feel a better, a lot better.
The door clicks shut as Legend waits patiently outside.
Hyrule kneads at the fabric on his lap a little, a thick sweater and loose pajama pants, Just as Legend suspected he would want, also as this wasn't the first time Legend had taken care of Hyrule on his cycle. Hyrule's heart pangs in guilt bit at that.
After a few moments, Hyrule returns, bashfully, shyly, and eyes anywhere but the pile of bedsheets Wild has in hand.
Legend smiles, and Hyrule leans against him in a hug, though his arms remain uselessly at his sides, leaving Legend to do all the work.
"Better?" Legend hums, and Hyrule nods noncommittally. His skin feels a lot more cold, the warm shower however keeping his temperature a little higher than normal, at least he's dampened by the clean water, and not sweat. Hyrule likes to count his mercies.
"…Tired. Want to sleep." He mumbles weakly, supposing that Legend is at least warranted for a verbal answer for all that he's done for Hyrule.
"Of course." Legend leads the boy back to the bed, as his legs don't really seem to cooperate as well as normal. "Finish your tea first, then you could take a nap, alright? I'll still be here."
With a mug of still-warmed tea placed in his hands, at a much more tolerable heat rather than before - at least Hyrule wouldn't have to worry about burning his tongue - Hyrule reclines back on the bed, dressed with much thinner, and more breathable sheets.
"Thanks." Hyrule sighs, and Legend tucks the blanket around his lap a little before sitting atop it, next to Hyrule.
"No worries. Let me know if you need anything more, yeah? Just focus on resting up."
Hyrule nods, and is really only able to down half the mug's contents before pushing it weakly back to Legend's hands.
"Do I have to finish the rest?" Hyrule whines, his stomach lurching at a thought a little.
Legend shakes his head, "If it's making you feel sick, then not really. I don't want you to be in any more pain than you are already in."
And that was the end of that.
Hyrule shifted, flopping over so that his head rested on Legend's lap, before stilling.
Legend's hand carded through Hyrule's hair, and neither of them said anything else, until Hyrule shortly fell to a well-deserved rest.