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“I hate this damn pink.” Legend grabbed the ends of his hair glaring at the offending color.
“Why I think it fits you, fits with the dress at least.” Wars cackled ruffling his head, disrupting the hat on his head. Legend repaid him with tripping him, letting him fall into the dirt with a grunt.
“Upset you’re dirty, pretty-boy? I think you look rather fitting in the dirt.” He snarked.
“Alright enough you two.” And just like the father he was, Time came to the conclusion of stopping them from drawing their swords and ‘play’ fighting as they would put it. Being a pain in the ass was his.
“Why don’t you like it? The pink helps distinguish.” Twilight hummed, having stepped up right beside Time helping Wars from the ground. The latter of which shot him the Vet a raspberry.
“Because it’s an abomination.” He scoffed before blinking realizing what the Rancher said. “What did you mean, distinguish? Why would that be good?”
Twilight blinked back at him squinting for just a moment before frowning. “Why wouldn’t it? I mean, half of you all are blond save for me and Hyrule, even if Time’s looks more white,” he snickered slightly as the older clearly directed him a look. “That and with all the green hats there’s no differentiation.” He crossed his arms, shrugging.
“Yeah but we all vary in height… that and we look nothing alike.” Legend made a face that made Twilight's eyebrows furl.
“It can still be confusing sometimes. Especially in crowds. Pink isn’t really a natural color other than flowers. People don’t usually have pink hair, so my point still stands that it helps distinguish.”
“Damn, you’re really holding on to that point.” Wars reintroduced himself to the conversation seeing how Legend was getting an odd look and Twilight wasn’t giving it up.
“Because I’m right! Like you— that blue cape makes you stand out from normal Hylians. Same with Four’s tunic! It just makes it easier to tell who's who.” He grumbled.
Wars shared a look with Legend. “Do you usually struggle to distinguish us?”
“What kind of question is that?” He scoffed. “About as much as the rest of you?”
“And how often do you think we mix each other up?”
Twilight shrugged. “I don’t know, apparently not often if you think you don’t look like Wild.” He hummed.
Wars and Legend truly shared a baffling look now. Because seriously?
Wild and Legend looked nothing alike! Maybe both are blonde— maybe not anymore— near the same height and age, but Legend had a more skinny frame than Wild who climbs and throws himself off cliffs for fun! Wild also has longer hair tied in a ponytail with scars along his body. Despite all Legend’s journey, he can say he didn’t have that much scarring. And lastly Legend was left handed!
Wild was the downright opposite!
“What? You went silent…. Stop looking at each other.”
“Um, Time?” Wars called to the older who had walked to their items sorting through what they had after that portal.
“What? I just sat down. I better not have to break up another fight.”
“How many fingers.” Legend thrusted his hand up by his face. He was only a few steps away, but the three watched Twilight frown.
“Why are we doing this?”
“Just answer the question.” Legend snapped.
“Three. There happy? Now what were you two thinkin’ up about?” He crossed his arms giving them a look.
Legend looked to Time who really didn’t know what to say.
“Pup, do you really see three?”
“Yes? I mean he’s right in front of me?”
“Oh my god! That’s why you want us to be distinguished! You can’t fucking see!”
“What? Of course I can see.” He glowered.
Time placed a hand on his shoulder. “Twilight, he’s holding up two fingers. Can you really not tell?”
Twilight looked startled by this looking back and narrowing his eyes before eventually seeing the two fingers. “Oh…”
“How long have you been seeing like this? God— you’ve been fighting like this?”
“Don’t question my ability.” Twilight immediately shot that down. “I’m capable of fighting even if I can’t see clearly. I’ve been like all my life and no one’s ever pointed it out…”
“We don’t think you can’t handle yourself, it’s just the fact of how dangerous it was you defeated Ganon, and went on your journey with impaired vision… you could have gotten horribly injured.” Twilight huffed, but could agree– at least a little. Just thinking of any of the other having to fight like these with the trouble he’s had over the past few years… he didn’t even want to imagine it.
“Well there ain’t anything to do.” He brushed off quickly. He didn’t want to talk about this anymore than necessary and he’d ‘brotherly’ threaten Legend and Warriors from spilling to any of the others.
“Of course we can? Time you said were in your time, yeah? Let’s go to Castle Town after we get to the ranch. We can pay to get you glasses.”
“They’d just get broken, we don’t have to waste money on something I don’t need—“ Time grabbed him by the shoulder, dragging him to look him in the eye as close as he could to get the point.
“I’m not wasting money on you buying glasses. They are something you need, not want. I want you to be safe even if you don’t always wear them. One of us can hold on to them in case you need it. We can buy multiple pairs— it doesn’t matter. Don’t you dare say buying something that could help you is a waste of my money.” He let Twilight tumble back, releasing his shoulder.
Twilight looked dumbstruck as he nodded, keeping his mouth shut, but obviously wanting to retort.
“Let’s search for the others, the woods aren’t dangerous, but we should start heading to the Ranch to set out tomorrow in the morning.”
Wars and Legend nodded subtly taking position on either of Twilight’s sides. He noticed regardless they were more protective of him now. Just more doubtful.
Finding the others was simple. They were all together with Sky leading them. They saw the uneasy way they all interacted, but none of them pointed it out. What did happen though was Wild taking up position at Twilight's side talking away about something or another. Obviously trying to distract the Rancher who looked like a beat dog.
Legend on the other hand glanced along with the others in the group wondering how much Twilight had issue with. His pink distinguished him. The blue for Wars, the rainbow for Four, and most likely the golden armor for Time. Other than that? They all blended kinda similar.
Hyrule had brown hair but in a group of people like in Castle Town where brown hair is natural he could be hard even with the green tunic. Though Rulie did give off enough magic. Twilight could surely smell it— smell it!
The idea nearly slapped him upside the head. Twilight was a wolf! He could smell their scents and distinguish better! That and hearing, he was the best at tracking for that fact alone and his hearing and smelling had made up for his lack of sight!
That alone wasn’t what hit him. It was the fact that canines and other animals were prone to color blindness! The reason vibrant colors worked or sometimes would help was the sole fact Twilight was probably colorblind!
Dogs were colorblind. There was no true idea of how that would affect him being Hylian, dogs and Hylians already have different color spectrums, but it could be a clear reason with his poor sight of why he liked certain colors to use as distinguishing!
He’s had to share that with Wars and Time at some point, but he honestly just couldn’t imagine it.
Twilight never showed signs of not being able to see clearly, and he’d seen him shoot a crossbow before and hit bullseye. He was no fool with his weapons and his blindness did not hinder him at all, but it also made him wonder if the older did have glasses. Legend was almost sure he’d be about as good a marksman as Wild.
That idea both intrigued and frightened him.
—
Getting to the Ranch was simple enough, but with the tension between Twilight and Time it was obviously stressful for the others that weren’t aware of the conversation.
Malon met them halfway sensing the air immediately. However, despite it she welcomed them all with open arms giving Time a look that said they’d talk later as having someone finally initiate the conversation for the others to open up.
Time smiled, kissing his wife like always, but the moment his hands left her hips he stopped smiling walking in the house.
Twilight on the other hand didn’t make a face, but both War and Legend could see the stiff way his shoulders were set and his face even less pleasant as he turned on his heel pulling Epona off to the barn. The Rancher most likely going to stay there.
“What’s wrong with them?” She placed her hands on her hips. “My boys better not be fighting, I’ll set them straight right-quick like.”
“Don’t ask us, Legend and Wars were with the two before we found them.”
“It’s a long story, Smith, we’ll explain it later.” Wars waved off, but he was just causing confusion that way.
“Long story short Twilight said something stupid and the Old Man snapped at him. Was a mean caring way, but Twilight's stubborn so he didn’t see it as that.” Wars shot him a look that he blatantly ignored.
“Boys, you mind going and helpin’ set up the kitchen for me to cook tonight? I think I need to talk to Wars and Legend for a moment.” Malon gave them a sweet smile they couldn’t refuse, even if Wild wanted to stay behind because Twilight was his mentor.
Once the others were gone she fixed them with a look. “I know both my boys are stubborn, but Link wouldn’t snap at any of y’all. Now what was the argument about?”
“We basically found out the Rancher is blind.” Wars wasted no time getting to the point. Malon was obviously surprised not having expected that answer.
“And most likely colorblind.” Wars raised an eyebrow.
“It’s why he said our hair and tunics blend in, he’d be yellow-blue color blind. With that you mix up yellows and greens and blues and purples. Other colors too but some reds, blues, and browns tend to stick out more.”
“Oh, I guess that makes sense. So glasses so he can see and for colorblindness. He’s gonna throw a fit knowing he’s getting both.” They could already imagine it.
“Wait, go back. Twilight’s blind?”
“Partial. He can’t distinguish anything unless it’s up close.”
“He basically tried to play it off saying it didn’t matter in the long run till I brought up the idea of buying him glasses in Castle town.” Malon nodded, accepting the idea one hundred percent. “Twilight being the way he is, was offended we thought he was impaired, and I guess that’s fair. He told us he was like that all his life.”
“Went on his journey and came with us for several months and no one noticed. He’s not handicapped in the least.” Legend agreed, crossing his arms.
“Twilight however, made the comment to not waste money on him.” They could see the red in Malon’s face as her eyes darted to the barn. It looked like she had a few strong words to say to her boy too.
“I assume Link set him right?”
“Yeah, pulled him up close so he could actually see his expression, and said he wasn’t a burden and he wasn’t wasting money helping him for something he needed. Of course, Twilight didn’t see it like that.”
“By fucking gods did you just make a god damn pun?” Legend rolled his eyes disgusted at War's laugh.
Malon sighed. “All my boys are the same. Thinkin’ they don’t need help, and even if they don’t, people who care to try and help aren’t necessarily thinkin’ you can’t handle yerself.”
“Runs in the family?”
Malon giggled. “I suppose. Neither of you caught that trait did you?” See teased making them both blink awkwardly as she laughed.
“But I guess the issue still stands. Link won’t apologize for being mean. He’s too stubborn and thinks himself right. And Twilight believes he’s dragging everyone down even if y’all say he ain’t because you keep trying to force the idea of glasses in him.”
“Getting either of them to talk would be a miracle.”
Malon hummed, swaying in her feet. “Boys, would you two do me a favor? Would you run into town and get the glasses? I know we don’t know the actual prescription, but if you can get close enough with the colorblind lens too, I think we wouldn’t have to worry about them opening up.”
The two looked between each other. “Sure, I’ve given a few eye exams in the military, I know the general knowledge of eye distance to know a gauge idea of what he should be, but would it be fine to buy a pair of glasses when they wouldn’t even be permanent for him?”
“No, no, it’ll be fine. My father is slowly losing his sight too. And for your description he’s about the same if not a bit better than Twi. That and he breaks his glasses so much, it’d be safer to have a pair he can’t work in so he’d actually go into town and get more. God knows how many times he’s broken his last pair and made Link go get him new sets.” She rolled her eyes over her father, the two of them laughing.
“Alright miss ma’am, we’ll be back for supper!” They waved each other off as Malon entered the room, announcing to Time that she got the boys to go get some supplies for supper and for the meantime all the boys would be outside tending to the horses or goats and chickens. The latter of which a lot shuddered at.
She chuckled at this as she set to work finding the perfect box and bow for her gift, now out of prying eyes to her little plan.
—
“Twilight!” Malon was all too giddy to see how this would play out. She imagined it in her head, but she truly wanted to see her boys make up.
“I got you something,” she thrusted the thing in his hands.
Twilight took it awkwardly with everyone staring at him and the oddly wrapped present on the table after supper.
Twilight blinked, taking it to not be rude but he was almost quick to turn it away.
Time furled his brow looking to his wife curiously who waved him off. “C’mon dear, open it! I’m sure you’d love it.”
Twilight nodded to the energetic woman undoing the bow on top and pulling off the lid before pausing completely. He hadn’t even taken the top off to even show what he had gotten, but just seeing it reflect from the box he knew.
“Miss Malon you didn’t need to.” He closed the box, but Malon frowned.
“It’s rude to reject a gift you know.” She chided lightly. “Besides I picked out the color on what I thought would look good on you.”
“What is it?” Wild leaned over as Twilight pushed the box away from him.
“Malon, what did you get him?” Twilight looked across the table. Seems he had no part to play in this.
“Just something I wanted him to try.” She offered him a look. “You don’t have to use them if you don’t want to, dear. It’s just the idea that you haven’t experienced that before.”
Time blinked before realizing. “I don’t need them!” He stressed.
“I’m not saying you do.” She grabbed his hand, taking the box from his hand opening it and pulling out the small frames. “You don’t have to wear them after this and I won’t force you to, but will you do me the favor of trying them on?”
“Glasses?”
“Twi, are you having trouble seeing?”
“Understatement, he’s basically a few steps away from being legally blind.” Wars scoffed to Twilight sharp glare.
Twilight slipped the glasses on feeling the odd way they set against his nose or the way his eyes struggled to adjust to the more clear look of the table compared to the outside of the glasses that remained blurry.
Malon pushed her hand out in front of him. “How can you see? We didn’t really know your prescription so we tried to get as close as we could.”
Twilight was stunned to silence seeing her hand. It was still blurry, the edges not crisp as he took her hand in his pausing once to not stare at his own.
“You see the color?” She whispered seeing him entranced. She leaned up close cupping his ear. “Look at Link. I promise he isn’t angry at you, but I want you to see something.”
Twilight grimace looking up across the table to him.
Meeting Time’s eyes was something. He could see the fond look seeing him wearing the glasses as he leaned forward on the table to watch him.
What Twilight stared at was the bright blue eyes and pointed nose that were centered by two strips of color on either side, and a half circle above his brow.
The colors were more vibrant than he would have pictured. It was always a soft pink and fuzzy blue. His eyes unhelpfully the same color blurring them from his mind completely, but having the glasses he could see the detail of the marks and the brightness of the color.
His mouth hung open unhelpfully.
He reached out grabbing Time’s cheeks. Time just let him, giving Malon a questioning look.
Twilight’s thumbed over the marks by his eyes actually staring at the whole of his face. “I— I didn’t realize they were colored.” He admired softly to the quiet room that watched him.
“Colorblind too?” Time hummed with a frown, but just let himself be leaned across the table for the younger to gaze over his tattoos.
“Why don’t you look at everyone else too?”
Twilight did and couldn’t describe what he was seeing.
“They’re different colors?” He looked down right dumbstruck looking at Sky’s tunic and hair. Neither were similar from the tinted glasses. The tunic was a sharper color— green. He knew that color fondly.
The hair though was brighter, like what he usually saw just brighter and more yellowish. Even his skin was paler than his hair. Twilight really just couldn’t grasp the different colors.
He looked down to his own tunic. It was darker than Sky’s by some shades, yet it was just as much green.
“How’s it look? I ran on the idea of you being yellow-blue colorblind too. Figured it was why you said the pink was distinguishing.” Legend laughed when Twilight looked at him caught in the oddness.
“Oh… your hair and tunic are different. I thought pink and red was the same color, just different shades.” He mused, staring at the finer details of those purplish eyes. Not blue— purple!
“Eh, they’re similar. Can’t fault you on that one.” Wars patted his shoulder.
“So you gonna wear them more often? I mean— after we get you a proper pair!” Malon’s hair was what jumped out at him. So bright, so red.
A vague thought in the back of his head— was that what Midna looked like? Was Zelda’s dress purple, not blue? Were his goats and cows different colors too?
Those questions brought tears to his eyes. He rubbed the glasses up to wipe his eyes.
“Sure, though I don’t like it.” That made her snort, taking him by the shoulders to hug him.
“I know. You're too stubborn for it but having them makes you safer, and that means you can come back and gripe at me all you want.” She teased.
He couldn’t even lie and say he was mad. He’d never seen this much and it felt overwhelming to say the least.
Time reached across the table taking his hand again. A soft look on his face opposed to the stern look Twilight often imagined. “I told you it wasn’t a waste.”
Twilight couldn’t bother to answer before he was dragged off by the others to look at more things. This left Malon and Time at the table watching the boys through the window.
Malon leaned down to kiss him. “You think he liked the gift?” She teased sitting in his lap. Her fingers tracing over those brightly colored tattoos.
He grinned. “Enough to shed tears.” He kissed her back making her giggle and laugh.
“That just makes our boy safer.” She leaned on his shoulder and they sat together in peace listening to the dramatic surprise of hearing Twilight when he saw his horse– how reddish her coat was. They chuckled together knowing it was something special.