Siegfried did not often recall the meaning of the word helpless. Half the time it was not even considered a word in the dictionary that was his mind. He certainly never used it to describe himself in any given situation. He would rather have his skin ripped off and placed over an open fire than admit there was ever a moment when he could not have some kind of power to his name. Siegfried Schtauffen was not helpless.

At least, he wasn't helpless very often.

Link, as usual, made Siegfried experience things he had never had the displeasure of dealing with before they met. Most of the time, the knight could claim it was a good thing. He had been numb when Nightmare lost control over his body. He had forgotten what it was like to feel properly and to actually use the heart he had inside of his chest. Link made him realize the depths of happiness his heart could bring to him.

However, Link also made him realize that that same heart could also plunge him into a pit of despair if it so chose.

"What the hell is this?" Kilik held Siegfried back from rushing inside the medical tent. The knight was not making it an easy task, thrashing around as though the monk were trying to steal his soul. "Let go!"

Kilik tried to pull the enraged knight back. "Raphael told me to keep you out."

"Screw Raphael! What happened to Link?"

"There was an accident,"

"What kind of accident?"

"There was a fight, in a bar, they had weapons," Kilik tried as quickly as he could to explain the situation. Siegfried did not have the patience for long stories when he was this upset. "Link just got hit a couple of times."

Siegfried scoffed. "Then why is he in a tent?"

"Because there are a few scrapes Raphael was worried about. He just wanted to examine him."

"And he can't do that with me in there?"

"Honestly, no. No he can't."

Siegfried stopped struggling altogether. He looked back, surprised by the monk's blunt answer. "What?"

"Siegfried I don't mean to insult you, but if you go in there, there will be a problem."

Siegfried scoffed and pushed the monk off of him. His eyes darted towards the tent again, but he knew going within a hundred feet of it would be unwise. Kilik was stronger than he looked, and when he had a task he wanted to see through, his brute strength was incomprehensible. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"

Kilik sighed. "Raphael said he wanted a nice quite environment when checking over Link's wounds." He needed to choose his words very carefully. Saying something too rash, despite how sensible it may have been, would be a mistake he would pay for later. "With you there he wouldn't be able to do it calmly. You'd be hovering and panicking and no one would get anywhere."

Siegfried gaped. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly." Kilik answered confidently. "I know you don't mean to, but when Link is involved you lose all semblance of what it means to be collected. When you find out about things like this through a second hand source, you lose it even more."

"I do not."

Kilik raised an eyebrow.

"…often."

The brunette ran a tired hand through his hair. "I know you're just worried about him, but the fact that he got hurt isn't your fault. You don't need to shadow or hover, and you don't need to internally blame yourself for not being there. It's okay to let the rest of us deal with things every once in a while."

Siegfried blinked. After a second he raised an eyebrow and pointed to the monk. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"I barely said anything to you, and you somehow knew what I was thinking. Everything."

Kilik shrugged. "I'm secretly a physic."

"That's kind of creepy." The knight sighed. "I really don't mean to cause people trouble. I just get so mad when I hear about these things. Then I get frustrated because I couldn't do anything."

"You're not always to blame, you realize that?"

Siegfried smiled. "You sound like Link when you say that."

Kilik smiled as well. "He'll be alright. I was serious when I said he wasn't hurt that badly. Raphael is just being overprotective."

"Like me?"

"Yeah like you." He saw Siegfried roll his eyes. "Although," He whispered. "From you, it somehow seems a little different."

Siegfried hummed in question. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Never mind."


MistressOfTime1218: I wanted to give you guys something for the holidays, so hopefully you'll like this short little token of my affection. I know it's not an actual chapter, but never fear, for you shall get one of those on New Years! Love you guys, and have a happy holiday season!