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School. Not something Wind was particularly a fan of. But everyday he had to get up and go. It wasn't that he disliked learning, in fact it was quite the opposite, Wind loved learning. He just found it very hard to stay still and quiet for long enough to actually digest any of the information.
This inevitably led Wind to being deemed the ‘disruptive’ student. His teachers didn't seem to like him. And he had very few people he would actually consider friends. That's just how life was. People would bully and tease him and he would hide or fight if he felt like getting detention, because he was always the guilty party.
_________
“I'm just saying it's weird to cut a pie into so many damn pieces!” Wind huffed, Tetra was explaining a math problem to him for the dozenth time and he still couldn't wrap his head around it.
“Well then think of it as just a circle.” She said starting to lose her patience.
“I just don't get it!” Wind whined a bit too loudly, the kids sitting in front of him turned around.
“Maybe you would be more likely to understand if you could actually shut up sometimes.” He sneered. Wind felt his face go slightly red in anger.
“Or if you would pay attention.” The boy next him snickered.
“I do pay attention.” Wind bit back, the anger and frustration in him only growing.
“Clearly.” The first boy rolled his eyes sarcastically.
“This math is easy. Even a baby could do this stuff.” He jeered. Wind stood up, opening his mouth to retaliate,
“You jus-”
“WIND LON!” He froze on his spot at the teacher's shout.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to get up from your seat?” She seethed, Wind blushed as a few of the kids around the room laughed at him under their breath. He should have just apologized and sat back down, but no he had to run his big dumb mouth.
“They were calling me stupid!” He said in an accusatory tone pointing at the boys in the seats in front of him. More people laughed at that and the teacher just rolled her eyes.
“All three of you get back to work. And for Hylia’s sake Wind, sit down.” She said, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Wind sat down with a huff, James turned back to him,
“Did you just tattle on us cucco boy?” He whispered harshly, Wind shook his head, shit he really needed to learn to shut up.
“Hey!” Tetra cut in, “leave him alone, it's not like you got in trouble anyway.” She glared at them, slowly they turned back to their work. Tetra sighed, looking to Wind.
“Hey, don't listen to them, you're smart!” She encouraged. But Wind wasn't listening.
_____________
The next class Wind had was without Tetra. But of course James had to be there. It was English, a subject he almost enjoyed. But the teacher was bland and Wind found him rather boring.
He lay his chin on the desk, reaching his hands forward. Goddesses he was bored. His hand wandered mindlessly to his pen and he began clicking it in and out slowly.
Click, click. Click, click.
He turned his head to look out the window and watched a rather large bird play in the wind. He wished he could be that bird right now.
Click click click click.
The bird spun in circles in the air, Wind traced it with his eyes, following every movement.
Click click click click.
He watched the trees swaying gently in the breeze, it ruffled their strong, sturdy branches. The bird danced in it.
Click click click-
“Can you fucking stop!?”
Wind snapped back to the classroom and sat up, James, and now half the class was looking at him.
“Wha-?”
“The pen cucco brain! Stop clicking it!” James shouted.
“James, no yelling in class. And no swearing, I'll have to write you up for that.” The teacher said in his monotone voice. James fumed, glaring at Wind.
“You'll pay for this.” He spat.
And pay for it he did.
__________
The lunch bell rang not long after the disturbance. Wind yawned as he left the classroom, making his way outside to the place he usually met up with Tetra.
He kicked at the dirt absentmindedly with his toe to pass the time when he heard approaching footsteps. He looked up with a smile that quickly faded when his eyes met James and not Tetra.
He had four other boys training behind him, all of them were bigger than Wind. He looked at them a bit nervously, eyes drifting from one smug face to the next.
“Not so tough without your girlfriend, are you cucco boy?” James teased, Wind glared,
“What do you want?” he snapped.
“To make you pay. You and your fucking pen. Why can't you just be normal like the rest of us? But no you have to be a stupid little asshole. You're such a retard. No wonder your parents got rid of you.” He sneered. Wind shook with anger. Or maybe it was because he was trying not to break down… he didn't know.
“Go away.” He breathed, trying desperately to keep his voice calm and even.
“And why would I do that, cucco brain?” James smirked as the two largest boys stalked forward. Wind jumped into action, taking a swing, but it was stopped by a hand much larger than his own.
He was held down as James punched him in the stomach. When he collapsed to the ground they all started kicking, he tried desperately to protect his head, curl in on himself, hide. But he was at the mercy of others.
After what felt like forever he heard a shout, the beating promptly stopped and he heard pounding footsteps running away. And then there was a gentle hand on his cheek and a worried voice.
“Wind? Wind! Come on! Get up!” Tetra sounded frantic, she tapped at his cheek and he let out a soft groan.
“Goddesses Wind, what did they do to you?” She said breathlessly. Wind tried to push himself up to find that his side ached, his head hurt and his shins felt very bruised.
Once he was sitting he blinked slowly trying to focus his blurry vision, Tetra had a hand on his shoulder and looked very worried.
“I'm fine.” He mumbled, his voice was nasally.
“You don't look fine.” Tetra retaliated. “Your nose is bleeding and you just got beat up!” She said exasperated.
“Come on, we're going to the school nurse.” She stood up and held out a hand to drag Wind up with her.
“Tetra no… please, not the nurse…” Wind groaned, it was the last place he wanted to go. They would ask him what happened. They would blame him. They would call Time. He would be expelled. He would get kicked off of the ranch. No that couldn't happen.
“Well, we have to do something…” Tetra mumbled, “I don't know how to deal with injuries.”
Wind sighed. He felt badly for Tetra getting dragged into this. He should have never been clicking his pen. Why couldn't he have just paid attention in the first place? That would have been so much easier.
“C-can we go find Legend?” He whispered. Eventually. His older brother had a knack for getting into fights of his own. He was probably the least likely to blame Wind and tell Time what happened. Tetra nodded, offering her hand to her friend before they went around the school ground looking for Legend.
______________
It took a while but eventually the pair stumbled upon Legend, though he wasn't alone as Wind had hoped. Hyrule and Ravio sat with him, they seemed to be chatting about something animatedly. Ravio was using big hand gestures and Hyrule smiled brightly. Legend was first to notice the approaching pair.
“Holy shit Wind! What the fuck happened?” He said, alarming his other group members. They all turned and Legend rushed over to Wind, guiding him to sit on their picnic bench. Wind didn't reply, he instead let out a soft sniffle which only led to more blood to come seeping from his nose.
“Seabird?” He asked, his usual scowl replaced with a look of concern.
“He got beat up.” Tetra said for him. Legend looked between her and Wind before glaring. Shit. Maybe this was a bad idea.
“Rulie, can you go grab some paper towels or something so we can stop his nose bleed?” Legend finally said, his scowl returned. Hyrule nodded and ran off to get paper towels, Tetra followed.
“Who did this to you?” He asked, Wind was surprised when Legend's voice was gentle.
“No one.” He mumbled. Legend sighed.
“Wind, that's obviously a lie.”
“It was my fault.” Wind whispered. Legend raised an eyebrow.
“Your fault you got beat up?” he queried. Wind nodded.
“I was clicking my pen.”
“Okay? One has nothing to do with the other bud.” Legend said in his sarcastic tone.
“I'll drop it for now but we're going to talk about this later. And we're going to tell Ti-”
“No! Don't tell Time!” Wind shouted desperately. Tears were falling from his eyes now, he thought Legend wouldn’t tell! He thought he of all people would understand.
“Y'know it's good to have someone to talk to about bullying.” Another voice cut in, Wind had forgotten Ravio was still there.
“It's not bullying if what they're saying is the truth.” Wind deadpanned.
Ravio seemed to give his words some thought.
“Well what are they saying?”
“That I'm a dumbass, I'm a cucco brain, I'm stupid, that I'm not normal, that I'm unwanted!” Wind's voice cracked at his last words. Legend pulled him into a hug and Ravio gave him an awkward pat on the head, though it was almost comforting.
“Wind, you are wanted.” Legend says “You are loved by so many people. And who gives a fuck about normality anyway… have you met our family.??” Wind let out a wet laugh at that.
Hyrule and Tetra returned with hands full of paper towels. Legend took a few and pressed them to Wind’s face.
“I can do that myself!” Wind squawked.
“Sure, whatever buddy.” Legend said with his trademark scowl returning.
“But seriously, Rav is right, talking to someone about bullying is helpful… And we do have to tell Time, sorry to say but that black eye is kinda hard to miss.”
Wind cast his gaze to the side but nodded slightly.
“Good,” Legend replied, “now, who did this so I can go kick their asses?”
Hyrule and Ravio both immediately jumped up telling Legend ‘no’ while Tetra huffed at them and called them “kill joys” Wind couldn’t help but laugh at his brothers and friends. They really did care about him and knowing that filled his heart with joy