It was late in the morning when Rusl returned home, his mind full of worry. His missions would take him away from his children, likely for long periods of time. And though he was sure they would be safe, he knew he would be thrust into more danger than he had ever been in before. He didn't worry for his own life, but he worried for his son's, and what reckless move he would pull if he ever found out the truth. He couldn't let that happen.

And he worried for Dorian. He had become so deeply involved with the Yiga Clan over the years that it seemed the only way for him to get out alive would be with Kohga's defeat. But in doing so likely meant that Rusl's life would be sacrificed. There was no doubt in his mind that he would do that for Dorian, just as he would for his children. But he knew Dorian would not make that easy on him.

Rusl had wandered upstairs into his bedroom, realizing only as he made his way up the stairs that his children were not in sight. He heard them talking, however, and when he turned the corner into his room, he saw them sitting on his bed. Aryll had his old guitar in her hands, and Link was trying to show her how to hold it properly.

Link looked up as Rusl stood in the doorway. His gaze narrowed on him suspiciously, but he didn't press him for information. Rusl held his gaze on him for a moment before turning his attention to his daughter. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Link's teaching me how to play!" Aryll said excitedly.

Rusl scoffed. "Link doesn't even know how to play."

"I know what a G cord is," he argued.

Rusl crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway. "Ladies love a guitar player, you know," he said with a grin. "Why couldn't you pick that up instead of hero work?"

"Jokes on you," Link said. "Heroes get way more action."

Rusl's nose wrinkled. "I don't see it."

"Some girls took pictures with him and got his autograph," Aryll said in a disinterested tone.

Link grinned proudly, but Rusl shook his head.

"What about Mipha?"

"Link and Mipha are gonna get married," Aryll added helpfully.

Link elbowed her sharply and she yelped.

"Link!" she shouted at him. "You're a dumbass!"

"Aryll," Rusl and Link scolded her in unison.

Aryll crossed her arms and stood on the bed. "But it's true!"

"That doesn't mean you can say it," Rusl said with a grin.

"Daddy," Aryll whined.

"Link, you're a dumbass."

Aryll grinned and stuck her tongue out at her brother. Link sighed and rolled his eyes. He got to his feet.

"I saved the world," he muttered. "Why do I still get treated this way?"

"Can't let it get to your head," Rusl said.

Link pushed passed him, ignoring his comment and stepped out into the hall.

"Daddy," Aryll started, sitting back on the bed and holding the guitar in her lap. "Will you play my song?"

Rusl moved into the room and sat next to his daughter. "Alright," he said. "But only if you sing."

Link looked over his shoulder as his father began to play. Aryll watched curiously as his fingers moved over the strings. She looked up at him and grinned, then began to sing. Rusl met his gaze briefly, but Link was frowning deeply.

Rusl knew his son was suspicious of him. He knew that Link knew that he was up to something. And Link knew that pressing him for information would be a useless endeavor. Rusl was determined to keep him out of it all. Link, on the other hand, was determined to be a part of it. To do what only he could do to keep his family and friends safe. Rusl wanted to be proud of him for his virtues, and though he was, he also pitied his son. Such a burden that had been placed on his shoulders. A burden Rusl never wanted for him. And in the end, the success of his son, and his son's life, relied on Rusl's imminent death. Without the full power of the Triforce, Link would not be able to stand up against Kohga. Link was oblivious to this truth, and Rusl intended to keep it that way, positive that if he knew, he would do everything in his power to try to change Rusl's fate. In doing so, it would only cost his son his life, and Hyrule, in turn, would fall. Everything they had done would have been for nothing. And Rusl was not about to let that happen.

Link's forehead creased with worry as he watched his father. The pain and guilt flashed across his face for a brief moment before Rusl pulled his gaze away, turning his attention to Aryll and singing along with her. At the corner of his vision, he saw Link turn away from them, turning around the corner to make his way downstairs.

When the song finished, Rusl stopped strumming and moved his fingers through Aryll's hair. She smiled up at him, then scooted closer to lean against him. She took the guitar from him and plucked at the strings.

"Will you teach me to play?" she asked. "You're better than Link."

Rusl smiled. "It's pretty hard," he said. "You'll have to practice lots."

Aryll met his gaze. "I will!"

"Alright," he said. He positioned her hands on the instrument for her, then showed her how to strum. When the sound came out, she grinned excitedly.

"I'm going to practice a lot," she said. "And when I get good, I'll show you!"

"Promise?"

She nodded. "Promise!"

"Good." Rusl stood. "You keep practicing that." He watched Aryll busy herself with the guitar for a moment, then slipped out of his room. He made his way downstairs in hopes of catching Link, and to his relief, his son was sprawled out on the couch, holding his phone over his face as he texted.

Rusl hesitated, standing in the doorway until Link spoke.

"Do you think putting Hero of Hyrule on my applications and resumes will be enough to get me out of here?"

"I'm hoping," Rusl said. "You don't have much else going for you."

Link frowned. "Thanks for the support."

"Since when do you care about anything?"

Link blew his hair out of his face. "I don't." He hesitated, then let his arms drop as he stared at the ceiling. "I dunno," he said. "Everyone else is doing something. I look like a loser if I don't."

"You've always been a loser."

Link sat up to glare at him. "Why are you an ass all the time?"

"Are you going to cry about it?"

Link groaned and dropped back against the couch. "Some people have normal parents," he said. "Parents that support them and aren't assholes."

"Too bad you don't know what that's like."

Link sighed loudly.

Rusl stepped into the living room and leaned against the wall, his arms folded over his chest. "So, what? Are you applying to college?"

"Eh." Link blinked at the ceiling. "What else am I supposed to do?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know." He paused. "I'm not good at anything."

"That's not true," Rusl started. "You're good at being a pain in the ass."

Link's lips twisted to the side. "I'm good with a sword."

"That's debatable."

Link frowned. "Maybe I could join the army like you did."

"You could barely handle a sword. You think you could handle a gun?"

"A gun's gotta be easier than a sword," Link pointed out.

"And easier to accidentally shoot yourself with."

Link rolled his eyes. He tilted his head back to meet Rusl's gaze. "You did it. How hard can it be?"

"I made some stupid mistakes," Rusl said.

"You never talk about it."

Rusl hesitated. He pushed himself off the wall and turned away from his son. "There's nothing to talk about," he said as he made his way into the kitchen.

"Are you staying?"

Rusl occupied himself in the fridge for a moment, taking out a beer and popping it open. He then turned back toward Link, meeting his gaze.

"I don't know," he said. "If they need me. Maybe."

Link's gaze narrowed on him. "What could they need?"

Rusl's lips pressed together. "I dunno," he said with a shrug. He pulled his gaze away. "Probably nothing."

"Then I guess they don't need you."

"They won't need you, either."

Link held his gaze on Rusl for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the ceiling. He picked up his phone and began to text.

Rusl knew Link was skeptical of him, but his son didn't push the matter further. Rusl would tell him in time, when there was something to tell, but for now, he didn't want him to worry.