Linked AU One-Shots

4. Colorful Dinner

Another sprint. The prompt was "leaked secrets" and I had about 45 minutes or an hour. Also I always seem to run out of time on these things and rush the ending-

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

It was loud. Too loud. It had been all day. Four's eyes darted around, internally feeling how their irises were nearly pulled back and forth in a game of tug of war.

'There is no way we're eating that shit. Is he trying to murder us?' Blue hissed, looking down at the bowl of whatever Hyrule had made. It nearly appeared to be some sort of chuchu that had been burnt to a crisp with some sort of pockets of green bubbles. Whatever it was certainly didn't seem like it should be consumed.

'Blue, this is our dinner. Like it or not, we need to eat something.' Green retorted, glancing up at everyone else. It seemed as though everyone else had settled down, eating the substance albeit with pained expressions. They were talking amongst themselves about... something. With the voices in his head so loud, the pieces of Four couldn't focus on any of it.

'But– But Greennnn!' Red begged, looking back down at the monstrosity. It wasn't just how it looked, either – the smell was enough to almost tear him up. If it wasn't for the three others, Red certainly would have.

"Guys. Focus." Vio pressed all three of them. 'Just gag it all down as fast as possible so we don't taste it.' A soft sigh fell from their lips before they could stop it. Fighting about every little thing all day had left them winded with a headache and to say that they were tired of it was an understatement. Between Red's being overly emotional, Blue's complaints and insults, Green trying to placate them both and Vio fighting for control above them all so they didn't look insane, they were all sick of it.

"Er– yeah?" A voice spoke above the noise that was Four's mind. Quickly looking over at the person, they found Twilight staring at them, spoon in hand. No – scratch that, Green noted as he looked around the fire. All of their comrades had stopped eating in favor in hearing what they had to say.

'Goddess! Which one of you idiots spoke out loud?' Blue asked.

'I uh–?? Shoot, what did we just say?!' Green asked as well, forcing Four to gulp to buy themselves a few spare moments to get themselves in order.

'Was– was it me?' Red asked sheepishly. The tears burned behind Four's eyes, and the others had to fight to make sure they stayed there.

'Red, I swear if you make a fool of us right now.' Blue hissed. If Red wanted to cry, it couldn't be right now.

'They're staring at us...' Vio hummed, trying to mask the growing panic quickly growing in all of them.

'Fine, fine... Let me just handle this.' Green only sighed, impulsively letting his hand grab their throbbing forehead. They were arguing about the food... it likely had to do something with that. "Sorry – we were just wondering what you made us, Hyrule." He let out an awkward chuckle as he directed his gaze at their healer.

"Well, I tried to cook some birds Twi shot earlier, mixed with some of these herbs I found along the way." Hyrule replied, his brows knitted in confusion though he didn't voice it.

'There's no possible way that's true.' Blue shot immediately, their gaze narrowing with a grunt. 'Not unless he just ripped grass out and called it good.'

"What's this we?" Legend asked, his arms crossed and his bowl discarded to the side. At first, Four thought that he was talking to his successor, but then his stern but confused gaze turned to the four. "You've just been staring off into space and ignoring all of us!"

'We–? Green, you said we!' Vio exclaimed.

"I– Legend's right. You've been rather... spacy, today Four." Sky frowned. His voice was further away than it should have been, much like most of what everyone said today was. His head tilted, concern showing through his confusion. "Are you... okay?"

"Now you've gone and done it, Green! Get Sky worried and we'll never recover. You better fix this or–" Blue was interrupted by a gentle but firm hand on his shoulder. They all instinctively looked up, finding Time gently smiling at him.

"Four, what's this about green?" The older man asked. Unlike the other heroes, worry, confusion and annoyance weren't painted all over him. Just a genuine look of wanting to listen to what they had to say.

"Hyrule's cooking is green!" Red blurted before anyone else could, trying to brush the situation aside. The urge to cry coming from that corner of Four was growing to be almost unbearable, and it took all the insults and swear words Blue knew to have the strength to keep it all back. 'Guys, they're going to find out!'

"Well, yes." Time let out a nervous chuckle, exchanging looks with everyone else. "But what does that have to do with Sky exactly?"

'This is going to be hard to get out of...' Vio admitted, getting preoccupied by holding back the urge along with the other three. A few moments were passing, silence ringing through the camp as they all awaited a response.

'I guess this is up to me...' Green huffed, accidentally making Four sigh as well. He could hardly keep up with both the outside and the inside, but no one else was stepping up; what was he supposed to do? There was a reason why he became their leader. "Sky uh– cooks herbs too?" He tried, trying to force a smile. Their lip only held it for a few moments before it quivered and broke into a frown.

"Four, if something is bothering you, you can tell us." Time countered, not even trying to pretend that he bought it. That was it; Red's dam broke and tears began to form in their eyes.

'Red, you are not crying!' Blue scolded. 'Not now– what are you thinking?! Do you want them to think that we're insane?!'

But Red just couldn't help it. He bit his lip, shaking their head as he tried to put an end to his tears. "But – but we do seem a little..." He shook his head. The others raced to sush him, Time's gaze giving away that he had heard what was supposed to be a monologue.

"I– I mean–" Green began, reeling back.

"Shut up, Old Man! You don't know what you're talking about!" Blue tried, ripping off Time's hand from their shoulder.

"Er– we– I mean, I'm okay? Really." Vio tried to salvage it all, giving what had to be an awkward, teary smile.

Time's eye clouded in confusion for a few moments before it was exchanged with worry, and then it cleared. "Four... are there others in your head?" He asked directly.