Some angst today, because… I dunno. Wanted to mix it up, I suppose. Also takes place after Wind Waker.

Depression

He was hiding, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Curled into a corner in the cargo hold below deck, he buried his face into his hands, trying to forget his experience. It was really the first time he'd ever felt like he had failed as a hero. After Ganondorf's defeat, he had been sure he could take on any challenge that awaited him. Only… he couldn't.

"There you are," Tetra spoke softly as she approached. He closed his eyes, not wanting her to tell him to grow up, or that things happen, and to get back out into the world. But she didn't; instead, she simply sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I'm sorry."

He stared ahead into nothing, letting his shoulders fall in a half-shrug. "Wasn't your fault. It was mine," he answered with a whisper, though she shook her head.

"You don't know that. They were cruel people, Link. I don't think they would have left without there being a few casualties."

"But it shouldn't have happened," he argued. "I should have been able to prevent it. I could have…" He trailed off, his words unsure. "I shouldn't… I didn't mean to kill him." She looked at him sadly before tightening her hold around him, pulling him into a sort of hug.

They had been in a town to gather supplies when bandits had appeared out of nowhere, quickly spreading everywhere to ransack houses and shops. Tetra had immediately jumped in to fight, and he had been right behind her, drawing his weapon and taking on three men at once. He had been so caught up in the action that he had struck one down instinctively, plunging his weapon deep into the man's chest before the same happened to him. But a witnessing comrade had grabbed a fleeing civilian and viciously sliced open his throat. The thug had only laughed and disappeared, leaving the man to die a slow, horrible death. While the thieves had fled as quickly as they had come, they had left half the town trashed, making off with countless valuables. Many people had been injured, but it was quickly assessed that the poor victim and another woman had been killed – the latter being witnessed by Tetra, he later found out.

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, trying to soothe him. "I think we did what we could," she said gently. "It would have been worse if we hadn't been there. Yeah, we lost two, but we could have lost a lot more."

"I know," he replied, "I just feel that… I feel like I caused it to happen. Because I killed first." He looked at her with pleading eyes. He wanted her to understand. "I didn't mean it though. I just lost myself in the moment and experience took over." She nodded and grabbed his hand, squeezing gently.

"I understand, Link. Believe me, I had every intention of killing the ones I fought. There were just too many for me to try." She looked into his eyes and continued, "You can't blame that poor man's death on yourself. That one you got? Who knows how many more he would have killed himself, had he gotten away today? Long term, you could have done some good, getting rid of him."

Shrugging, she added, "You don't know what may have happened if you had acted differently, so there's no point dwelling on 'ifs'. What happened is past. If you regret it, then it'll just take some time to accept. Or, you can believe what you did was right and worthwhile, and get past it. Either way, you'll learn from it."

She leaned onto his shoulder once more. He was silent, carefully weighing her words. She was right, as usual; she always knew what to logically explain when he felt stuck. But he wasn't sure if this was something he could just shrug off. It had been a blow to his confidence, as well as his morality – no one had ever died under his watch. Either way he looked at it, that fact would take getting used to. He had to live with it now, but was it noble or shaming?

"I don't know," he whispered, leaning against her head and closing his eyes. "I just don't know if it was the right thing to do."

She squeezed his hand in response and whispered back, "Then I'll sit here with you until you do."

He felt miserable, unsure, and upset. But despite that, he managed a small smile and laced his fingers with hers. "Thank you."