Linked AU One-Shots

37. Three Rupees (Joyful June 25)

Prompt: favorite things

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"I love rupees!" Ravio exclaimed as he hugged a bag stuffed full of that day's earnings. He spun it around, almost as though he were dancing with it. 

"Do you really have to be that greedy?" Legend hummed with an eyeroll. It was a bit much to him; the way that his most prized possession was a bag containing three rupees. The way he was greedy enough to not only crash at his place for free, to not only push him to save Lorule, but also charge him for it. 

"Well of course, Mr. Hero!" Ravio nodded, still beaming in all of his excitement. "You can solve most problems with it after all."

"Didn't save your kingdom..." Legend grumbled. 

"Sure it did!" Ravio beamed. "you had to use yours to rent my items!" 

Legend couldn't help but facepalm at that explanation. "Well yeah, but you didn't have to! You know, you could have given them to me for free so I could go through my Journey faster."

Ravio's smile lessened. He moved to a chest, where he promptly stuffed the rupees away. He ensured it was locked before he turned back around. When he did, the silly demeanor he often had was gone. "It's not just that, Link." He replied as he walked back to Legend. Such seriousness Legend had only seen from Ravio a few times. Seeing it crop up once more caught Legend off guard, but he tried to not show it.

"Then what is it?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow. 

"I don't really know what the political landscape is here, but back home... well, when I was growing up anyway, only the rich could hope to be the advisors to the princess. The rich and stupid, because Yuga would never allow any advisors to be against him." Ravio explained as his eyes narrowed.

"Ravio--"

Ravio held up a hand to quiet Legend. "Growing up, my uncle always had this sack on him. He insisted it was so precious that he couldn't bear anyone steal it. It had to remain on him at all times. I would beg and plead for a peak, but he would refuse every time. It had a symbol of rupees on it though, so it must be money, right? At least that's what everyone thought." He explained. 

Legend pinched the bridge of his nose. "Don't tell me that it was--"

"Three rupees." Ravio chuckled. "He showed me when he was on his deathbed. I couldn't possibly understand why, I nearly asked him if he were mad. I didn't, but my reaction must have been enough for him to guess what I was thinking. And do you know what he told me?" His expression softened into a smile. "Wealth and power will get you far, my little Rabbit. But when you have neither, or even if you have both, a good act will get you even further. And that was how I made a life after he was gone." 

"I'm... sorry."

"And why is that?" Ravio asked, tilting his head. "Whenever I have this bag slung over my shoulder, it's as though he's right here with me. When I told you it was my most prized position, that was never a lie." He grinned.