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Hunter, ragged and distraught, squeezed Darius’s hand like a lifeline.
It was terrifying to touch someone else right now, after… after everything. And, quite frankly, the last person he expected to be gripping onto like a lost dog was Darius, of all people. Although their relationship had, admittedly, changed in the past week; Hunter couldn’t help but look back on the way he used to be (almost) intimidated by the coven head. Hunter could almost feel every scar, every promise that he was nothing more than- than some thing, that littered his hands. Before, he had seen them as nothing but reminders, marks that told him to do better. It was different, tonight. Hunter found himself wondering if he ever even could've done better. If he was always going to end up here, a zombie counting down the minutes until he had to take the final leap into his grave. Instead of pondering that any further, he shook his head and insistently reminded himself that Darius wasn’t Belos. In fact, new to Hunter, Darius was actively going against the emperor.
Which he had extremely mixed feelings about, by the way. Although he truthfully did not have nearly enough energy to care about rebellions or anything of the sort, a surprisingly large part of him wanted to be upset at Darius and his two companions (Raine and Eberwolf, two more covenheads, and wow how did he never notice that?), although Flapjack seemed relieved. Hunter attempted to ignore that and the fact he, quite literally, owed these rebels his life. Not to mention the fact he really shouldn’t be worried about that of all things, tonight. Why was he fretting over where other’s loyalties lay when his whole life had crumbled to pieces in his hands? (Maybe it was easier to fall into old habits, an old life that he so desperately wanted to cling to.)
Breathe, he reminded himself, as Raine shot him a worried glance and Flapjack pecked at his cheek. He’d been enough of a burden, already, to the people beside him. He was grateful, really! The three of them, the cloaked figures that got him in as well as out of this mess, had been nothing but kind when calming Hunter down in the woods despite any sort of traitorous tendencies. Even if they could do nothing but drop him off here, at the forest line in front of The Owl House (which Hunter stared towards in a nervous sort of trance). It would be safer, there. Even Eberwolf had promised that, and the beast-keeping coven head never made promises they couldn’t keep.
Yet… he still found himself itching to run right back to his uncle, to promise that he would continue to be loyal no matter what. Anything for the rare, small moments of kindness. The moments that told Hunter that Belos was still family, still loved him. That Belos was kind. That couldn’t have all been a lie. Hunter wouldn't let it be. But.. right now, he needs to stay away. If only to give his uncle time to…cool off. Things always went better if he had time to calm down. Darius, Eberwolf, Raine… they just didn’t get it. (Because what was Hunter if not the golden guard? If not Belos’s right hand man?) Flapjack was tugging at his sleeve insistently, however, and maybe if not anything else Hunter can be Flapjack’s boy. It wouldn’t be the worst fate, really. But what’s the harm in hoping?
(He ignored the growing concern in the back of his mind that told him Belos wasn’t ever going to let him back. Especially with his palismen.)
“Are you ready, little prince?” Darius muttered softly, his concerned eyes piercing directly into Hunter’s thoughts. He wasn’t ready. He never would be, with the way his heart is pounding in his chest like a bird trapped in a cage. The image of the human’s- Luz’s- face twisting in terror and guilt as she tried desperately to save Hunter from his death before dark, bad, help, please– was burned into his memory. He had a feeling it wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. Hunter couldn’t bear to look into those eyes again. (To see the accusation in them of the way he had fallen for so many lies. Lies that he still wanted to believe. She would be upset with him, wouldn’t she? Were they ever even friends?) To feel the weight of the world crashing down between the two of them all over again would break Hunter enough that he couldn’t keep putting himself back together. He nodded anyway. For Darius. For Raine, and Eberwolf, and for Luz; who probably needed someone else who knew what she was going through right now more than anything. Hunter wouldn’t exactly mind having similar company, anyway.
Raine’s touch startled Hunter back to the cool, damp night in the forest. “I promise you that Eda will take care of you,” the bard comforted, “She’ll keep you safe, at least until we have a way to… keep Belos far away from you.” And then Raine smiled with nothing but kindness (although maybe also with a touch of guilt), while standing in front of Hunter with their hands on his shoulders. “I’m…sorry, Hunter. I wish there was more we could do. But, well, until then– call us if there’s an emergency, okay?”
Their voice was far away, cloudy in Hunter’s ears. He felt like they’d been stuffed with cotton, or maybe like he was a thousand miles away and standing here, with Raine, at the same time. Despite that, and the fact that his throat felt like it had been ripped to shreds by a demon’s claws, he managed a quiet “Thank you. For…uhm, everything, really.” Flapjack chittered in appreciation for their help, as well. Raine’s smile widened, but it was wobbly and Hunter just couldn’t figure out why. They were strangers, weren’t they? (Could one night really change that much?)
Raine only hummed softly, and gestured for a hug. They immediately moved to take it back, but Hunter let them, trying not to flinch as he was pulled into a tight embrace. He still wasn’t used to these things, the odd habits Luz had infected the Isles with. He…he was pretty sure, right now, that he was thankful for them anyway. Eberwolf clawed their way over as well, gripping Hunter’s leg and sneezing in what he was sort of sure was a “good luck.” The two coven heads pulled away, Raine fidgeting nervously and glancing sideways at The Owl House, while Eberwolf only smiled. Flapjack flapped their wings and chirped in the way that always made Hunter smile.
Darius was the last to approach; grabbing Hunter’s hand again, like he had during the whole walk here (and if anyone asked, Hunter had not been missing the touch.). “I guess this is goodbye, Hunter. I do wish you the best of luck. We can talk later once you’re safer, if you’d like to. Our sewing lessons will, unfortunately, have to be…temporarily postponed.” Darius remarked and that, over anything else the rebels had said or done since originally helping Hunter through his panic attack, brought the tears back. Through blurry vision, he choked out a sob and leaned back into Darius’s arms like he had earlier, in an almost different time.
The abomination covenhead stiffened, and Hunter felt a million regretful thoughts flood his mind, until Darius rested his arms on Hunter’s back and squeezed. “This is..nice,” the older man admitted, and Hunter felt special in a good way, for once free of any responsibility, before Eberwolf snorted and grinned at Darius (who glared at them in return). A small smile played at Hunter’s lips as he stepped back. There were people here. People who were kind to one another, who were friends, and who most of all were working to keep Hunter safe. It was… hard, to look at them and know he must be missing some part of a puzzle. The fact he couldn’t understand the way they were so loose, so friendly without any expectations… It made him uneasy. Maybe he would understand, someday. (Or maybe this was all an act?)
Nevertheless, after hours of talking, of sitting together on the forest floor as Hunter wept and explained to the best of his ability what had happened (usually only with a lot of help or long breaks in between bits and pieces), the group was finally parting. Raine rushed in for one last squeeze, exclaiming that they just needed one more hug, despite the way Hunter always tensed. Darius ruffled his hair fondly, and then he was alone as the trio disappeared into the foggy woodland faster than a wisp of wind.
Alone. It left him uneasy and afraid, too similar to too many things he didn’t want to think about right now. Even with Flapjack sitting at their usual place on his shoulder, Hunter felt all of the weight begin to press back down on his shoulders and it was terrifying. More than talking to the owl lady, to Luz, to any of the weird demons that live in their house. So he took a deep breath, and stepped towards The Owl House.
The breeze whipped at his hair and face, chilly despite Hunter’s numbness to pretty much anything right now. Everything hurt like he was…like he was there again, drowning in nothing but dirt and feeling himself become undone. He needed Luz, to have someone there who knew– even if only partially. He needed someone to tell him what to do next. The owl lady could probably do that– Luz had mentioned her doing a lot of odd jobs here and there. Even if nothing would be the same as what he truly wanted; his heart aching for the mindless missions of the coven like a cold, unwanted reminder.
An unfamiliar sound was echoing from The Owl House as he approached, and Hunter perked his ears, stretching to make it out. With a pang, he realized the sound he had started hearing as he approached, the one that pierced Hunter straight through and left him feeling like he was going to retch again, was sobbing. A choked, messy cry that rang in the quiet of the night. He could hear another voice, too, a frantic quiet whispering that must’ve been the owl lady. Hunter froze in front of the door. This…he didn’t know how to deal with this. This feeling. The way he wanted to slam open the door and help, somehow. The fact he also wanted to crawl away and cry himself, to break down again and melt into the ground like he was supposed to earlier.
Flapjack sang softly until Hunter started breathing normally again.
The weird…bird-tube wasn’t here, most likely inside helping in..whatever way door demons do. That left him alone. Again. With nothing but thoughts, and the sound of the trees rustling in the wind. A voice, or maybe two, broke him out of the cobweb of his mind. “We need- We need to find him, Eda! He’s going to be hurt, Belos is going- he wants to kill him! And I…”
“I know, I know, kid. But we can’t help him until you’re ready to explain what exactly happened in there. I’m not leaving you until I know you’re safe, Luz. It’s going to be okay, shhh, he’ll be okay. We can…send Hooty out to search, if you’d like. But I need to stay here, with you.”
“I- I can’t… Eda.” Luz’s voice cracked, becoming a muffled whine. Hunter knew that, knew the way it was too much to talk about, to explain. Eda didn’t. She couldn't, not without being there.
Hunter breathed in sharply, grabbing the doorknob. If he couldn’t.. Couldn’t figure this out himself, or help Luz figure it out, the least he can do is help her focus on herself. He..owed her a lot, tonight.
The first thing that hit him when he stepped inside (which really wasn’t that hard to do, the door was wide open so the door-demon could access the indoors) was the mess. There were plushies scattered everywhere, alongside blankets and the jacket Luz had been wearing, discarded. Hunter pointedly looked away from it, steadying himself. The second was a pillow. After almost falling backwards (more from how hard he had flinched, rather than the actual impact), he found himself staring a frightened creature in the face. The rat, he noted. Then, King, it’s King now, he corrected. Flapjack was chirping with concern and fluttering around his head like the pillow could’ve actually hurt him.
“You!!” King shouted, before slapping his paws- claws?- over his mouth and turning towards the kitchen.
“King? King, who’s there?” The owl lady responds immediately, rushing towards the entrance to the living room with her staff at the ready. Even knowing she was powerless, Hunter still shrank back. You don’t evade the emperor for years and become one of the most powerful witches on the Isles just for having powerful magic, after all. He knew that first hand from…from Belos. Hunter swallowed.
“Blondie!” Aforementioned Owl Lady (who Hunter pointedly decides it would be more polite to refer to as Eda) exclaimed, relaxing before quickly rushing closer- still saying a few feet away, thankfully- and eyeing him with a mix of concern and distrust. A distant crash rang from the kitchen before a second figure followed behind Eda, panting. Hunter froze, for the second or maybe third time since leaving Belos’s mind. Luz was a wreck, like he was sure he must be, too, with tear streaks lining her cheeks and redness highlighting her face. “Hunter! You’re.. You’re okay!” She choked, moving to come closer before hesitating (he could see it on her face, the way she was just as unsure where they both stood as he was).
“I..yes, if you can call it that. Is…is that- that offer still available?” Hunter asked, feeling bile rise in his throat and his eyes blur over. What will I do if they say no? A small part of him asked, before being swiftly followed by Raine promised they wouldn’t.
“What? To…to stay here? I mean…I’m sure Eda…” Luz glanced sideways at her mentor, begging silently for an answer.
“Of course, kid. Stay as long as you need,” came the response; a quiet melody to Hunter’s ears. Eda looked at him pointedly after reassuringly patting Luz’s head. She looked him up and down suspiciously, before sighing and giving him a small, quiet smile. “I can always use some more hands around here.” Flapjack rushed to fly around Eda’s head and sing appreciatively.
Hunter felt himself visibly relax, letting that weight slip off his shoulders at last (although it might’ve been the fact Flapjack had left, honestly. He could feel his panic rising every second the bird stayed away). A distinctly annoying voice from the kitchen is asking if Hunter is a new roommate, and if he likes bugs and Hunter has decided that this can work, for now, if he has jobs to do like she says and-
And, oh, he thinks. Oh. Because his eyes have just fallen on a white bundle of cloth resting on the floor. My cloak, he thinks, before his heart is racing and everything is farther away than ever. He knows there’s voices calling his name, asking if he’s ok, but he can’t…can’t focus on anything else but…that, but him, Belos’s cloak, the cloak they all wore before they died. Flapjack is twittering frantically, saying Boy? My boy? but it’s too far away.
And oh, he can’t breathe again, he thinks, at the same time what was that breathing technique Raine mentioned again? crosses his mind. It all slips away, falling, collapsing like the dirt around him and he’s there again, being sucked in by Belos and by the weight of everything he never wanted to know. There’s dirt in his clothes, he thinks distantly. There’s dirt and darkness between every fold, every layer of clothing. It’s all from Belos, it’s dirty and it’s wrong, so wrong, and Hunter can do nothing but claw at the collar of his shirt and stare at his cloak like he’s trapped.
There’s hands, there’s people touching him and he whimpers like a child and tries to thrash until he’s free (somewhere far away, Hunter is embarrassed at his behavior). Yet the hands are firm, and push him away from the cloak, into another room. His boots click on the tiled floor, and he notices distantly that there’s a pile of pillows and blankets here with an indent in the middle. The tube creature is looking at him with confusion. It only makes him feel worse.
“..Kid?” Hunter makes out over the ringing, and his eyes snap to look at the face in front of him. He’s crying, he thinks, but it’s all too far away and he can’t breathe because the armor and the clothes are clinging to him like his cloak used to and.. and.. “Get it..get it off..please,” a voice, his own?, chokes. Eda squints, then stares at the way he’s scratching at his throat and chest, and understanding flashes in her eyes before a quiet, “are you sure?”
So he nods. And, oh, maybe that was a bad idea, because now he’s being scooped up and carried and Luz is talking and Eda is telling her to stay down there and it’s all too much, too much, he thinks.
Flapjack is trilling and the cold air shocks his bare skin as Eda hesitates but starts to help him get undressed; undoing the buckles on his chestpiece. He distantly remembers when Belos used to do this, and then he’s choking and crying and backing away and she stops and lets him calm down before she’s handing him a pair of clothes and asking if he’ll be okay on his own, if he wants help. He lets her help him get his armor off, then his boots when he cries over them getting stuck. It’s quiet, almost, if you can ignore his own muffled weeping. He doesn’t complain, doesn’t argue, and Eda looks almost worried at that. Hunter manages to slip on the new clothes, the clean ones, on his own– and Eda politely turns away as he does. She, thankfully, doesn’t mention the fact he leaves his gloves on after he’s done.
I’m clean, he repeats to himself over and over until he can pretend he believes it. He still backs away from the discarded clothes like a frightened beast and digs his nails into his skin. He’s messed up, he’s sure he has, because he had just asked to stay and said he was okay and he told himself he was okay and that he wanted to help Luz. Yet here he is, a snotty, sniffling mess who can't even handle his own goddamn clothes. Flapjack firmly says no, no, perfect boy.
Shamefully, Hunter turns away from the owl lady and tries his best to shrink, to undo everything like he’d been wishing he could all night. “Kid-, Hunter,” Eda says so firmly he winces. That makes her freeze, and he notices the way she’s acting small, too, like she’s trying not to scare off a wild animal. “Can you breathe with me?” she asks, and all he can do is nod and try to pay attention while Flapjack chirps you’re okay, you’re safe, no dirt no dark! Boy, my boy, I love you!
Eventually, Hunter feels a lot less like any moment he could fall over and disintegrate. He feels ragged, like he’s lived one too many lifetimes tonight (and maybe he has, all things considered), but he’s okay. His feet are on the ground and Flapjack is nuzzling against his cheek and maybe that’s all he needs. With a little more thought, and a lot less panic flooding his brain Hunter can stare down at the clothes loosely draped across him. It’s an obnoxious looking dark navy shirt with a strange creature- it’s jaws parted as it stares up at the moon- printed across the front. It’s paired with some baggy gray pants that he remembers struggling with the drawstrings for. Honestly, it’s one of the worst things he’s even worn; but it’s so different, so distinctly not at all related to the castle, that it’s all he can ask for.
“Hunter,” Eda starts, and Hunter is tensing up and fixing his posture like he can somehow fix the fact there’s tear stains on the front of her dress. “I know you’re not…okay, after tonight. Neither of you are. But listen, kid,” and she’s pinching her nose like she doesn’t quite know how to deal with him. “Luz likes you. And, hell, maybe I could too. Titan knows I’ve gotten a bad habit of picking up strays. The point is, I want to help you. Is there any way I can make it feel… a little less like the world is ending?” she says and it’s so considerate it’s strange and he can do nothing but look for the hidden lesson, the secret message that he needs to solve before he’s punished. Hunter just shakes his head. The safe option. She squints at him, bites her lip like she’s itching to ask another question, before panic flashes in her eyes and Hunter remembers that Luz is alone downstairs.
Without a word, they’re hurrying down the stairs, previous conversation forgotten.
Luz is okay, thankfully, sitting against a wall with King hugging her leg and the house-demon wrapped around her in a way Hunter can only shudder at. She visibly untenses when Hunter is there, there and not crying (at least not that much, anymore), and not hurt. Eda rushes to Luz’s side almost immediately, kneeling to look her in the eyes. “Luz?” she asks, “you still doing alright, kid?” All she gets in response is a small nod and a shaky breath. “Yeah!” Luz says, and it’s clearly forced, and she’s trying to smile but it just looks wrong. “I'm just…glad you guys are okay. Can we just…put a movie on, or something? That’s what me and Mom…” and then her expression grows distant.
“Yeah.” Hunter interrupts, hoping to snap Luz out of whatever trance she’s in. “That sounds nice,” (Flapjack ruffles their feathers in agreement, and he smiles).
A few minutes later, he’s squeezed on a surprisingly comfortable couch, considering it looks like it was stolen from a garbage heap. Luz is next to him, King nestled into her lap asleep, and Eda has her arm over her apprentice’s shoulder almost like a shield. Hunter finds himself missing that familiar touch, because he’s sure Belos had to have held him like that when Hunter was smaller. Movie! Movie! Flapjack hums, and Hunter clings to that and not anything else. Eda is getting her crystal ball to project onto the wall where she’s sloppily pinned up a white sheet.
Hunter isn’t exactly sure what she’s doing, as he’s only ever watched shows in secret while alone in his room. He decides it might be better not to ask, but Luz nudges him and starts talking anyway. “This is just like something we have in the human realm,” she says, with an odd sort of tone that might be sad, or maybe even nostalgic, “We call them projectors! You have to buy them separate from a TV, and they show movies on the wall. We have whole places dedicated to seeing movies projected as big as possible.”
This is too similar, he thinks, to the way Belos told him stories about the human realm. But it’s Luz, and he’s not anywhere near the castle right now, so he does his best to focus only on the fact he’s interested in what she’s explaining. There’s a blanket draped over their lap, shared between the two of them and Eda. It’s soft in Hunter’s fingers, and it grounds him. The flickering of the light reflection, the dark but warm atmosphere in the house, and the way Luz is so focused on trying to explain what a ‘toaster’ is that the dark circles under her eyes are a little less noticeable, that’s all Hunter needs. He can stay here, can’t he? He can…get used to this. Being something other than the Golden Guard. Even if a small part of him still hopes it’s only temporary.
“Done!” Eda exclaims, falling back onto the couch with a quiet thump and smiling like she had accomplished something much grander than working a crystal ball. Luz giggles, and Hunter feels so alien he almost doesn't know what to do with himself. Flapjack is here, at least. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices the demon- who he now recognizes as Hooty- peering over the backside of the couch.
“You’re watching a movie? WITHOUT ME??” the bird accuses, twisting around and looking really not that offended. Eda huffs in a way that must be affectionate (which is surprising considering Hooty’s constantly squealing voice), and invites him to join the group. Hooty inhales like he’s going to scream from excitement before Luz interrupts. “I know just the movie!” she exclaims, and for the first time today it seems like genuine excitement. Hunter is so wrapped up in the strange, warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest and the voice whispering family, home, that it takes him a moment to notice. He startles, going cross-eyed trying to look up at Hooty, who has decided to lay on Hunter’s head.
Hunter scrunches his face up in discontent and tries to ignore the way his skin crawls. “What are you doing?” he asks, and tries to have a bit less bite than usual because, well, he is a guest (although he isn’t sure Hooty counts as one of the hosts. Better safe than sorry?). Flapjack is twittering and trying to peck at Hooty as the strange tube-thing responds. “You just look so sad!” he says (hoots?), “and my neck is sore!” Hunter tries not to visibly recoil as Hooty rolls around while speaking. Before Hunter can try and find some excuse for why Hooty should please stop touching him, Eda– his savior– interrupts.
“Oh, c’mon, Hooty. Leave the poor kid alone,” she grumbles, swatting at the demon to try and get him to reposition. Hooty whines, but gives. Hunter tries to let himself relax, huffing; before being promptly hit in the face with a piece of clothing. “Wh-?” he stutters, hand coming to grasp at it. It’s a jacket, he realizes. The jacket that saved his life.
Hunter can’t decide whether he wants it as far away as possible or right here in his grasp.
Luz is nervously eyeing him, biting her lip. “I thought you might…like to have it, tonight. You seemed cold. But I can- I can take it back, if you want,” she says. “And we’ll keep Hooty far away.” (Hooty, for his part, is yelling indignantly in the background).
Eda is smiling fondly, but she looks just as unsure as Luz. “You okay, kid?” And- and he is. Really, he is. Shakily, Hunter slips on the jacket; because, yes, he was actually pretty cold. “Thanks,” he mutters. It’s softer than he remembers. Without the death-grip hold and the whole dying thing, it was…a nice jacket, actually. A little small, but not in a bad way. Luz hums contentedly, and starts the movie.
It’s a silly movie, a mindless one with romance and friendship as the main themes. It’s nice, and Hunter lets it distract him. As he watches the brightly-colored characters talk, he finds his eyes falling shut. Flapjack, always so nice and comforting, nestles in his hair and sings as Hunter drifts off into a much-needed sleep.
. . .
He knew.
Hunter ran, and ran, and ran until all he could understand was the beating of his heart and the gentle thump, thump, thump, of his feet against the forest floor. There was nothing in his mind but go, run, jump over that root, dodge that tree, and he honestly felt that if he let anything else in he would shatter like a piece of glass.
Belos- the emperor- knew. And he was going to kill Hunter.
This time, there wasn’t an escape. No one was going to help him, not the CATTS, or anyone from The Owl House. He was alone, and Belos was catching up on him faster than ever. Hunter was aware, in the distant sort of way, that he was dreaming. It didn’t make his terror feel any less pressing. He stepped, and became immediately alert as the forest floor sank beneath the weight of his foot. Everything folded into nothing, the trees flickering away like the last light of hope Hunter had.
It was dark. He latched onto that, letting the fear wash away as he took a shaky exhale. It’s only a dream, he reminded himself. It didn’t feel like one when a cold, firm hand gripped his shoulder. Hunter tensed, ears pressing against the side of his head as he did his best not to whimper. Where once he would have interpreted nothing but a kind, familiar act, he found only pain (and a dark promise).
“You’ve disappointed me, Hunter.” Belo’s voice cooed, overflowing with nothing but a joy similar to a cat toying with a mouse, “again.” Hunter turned slowly to look at his uncle, breath hitching in his sore throat. Every scar that lined his features burned; a reminder, almost. Belos hummed cheerfully. “I know that you can do better. All I want is to see you live up to your full potential.”
Can I even? Hunter wondered, too frozen in fear to speak aloud, Is my potential only to be your pet? To be thrown away when no longer needed? His eyes watered, and he choked on a sob. He didn’t want to believe it. Any of it. (When had his loving uncle suddenly become such a cold, terrible sight that made him tremble and cry?)
(Hasn't it always been this way?) “I’m sorry” he mutters, instead of confronting every misconception he’s ever had. It is, significantly, easier. Belos smiles, but it’s wrong. It’s a little too wide, and his eyes are an empty void. “I know,” the emperor purrs, and it’s in a voice that isn’t his own. The hand on Hunter’s shoulder is melting into the goop Hunter now recognizes as a side-effect of the palismen fighting for freedom. It makes him feel sick.
Hunter’s eyes slide upwards, meeting his uncle’s lifeless expression. “Please,” he whispers, feeling his cloak wrap weigh him down until his chest aches and he’s shuddering at the familiar feeling of earth closing around his legs. Belos only smiles wider, stepping backwards and becoming enveloped in the darkness.
I'm dreaming, Hunter firmly reminds himself. This isn't real. Yet the feeling of the ground around him, sucking him into its depths is hard to ignore. He bites his lip until he tastes blood and tries not to scream.
Luz's glyphs can't save him, this time. (He's distantly aware of a voice calling his name as he feels himself die in an odd, sort of disconnected way.)
. . .
Hunter abruptly jerks upright, panting and heaving like the air just won't come to him. Luz is across from him, hands up like she wants to help but doesn't know how. They're sitting on the floor of The Owl House's living room, surrounded by pillows and blankets. Flapjack is chirping and pulling at his hair. (He pointedly ignores the clear signs that he had been thrashing in his sleep, blankets pushed away and pillows tossed. Had they set up a bed for him?)
"Hunter?" Luz asks, and there's so much left unspoken but he can feel all her worry pressing down on his chest. He's crying, and her eyes are nothing but understanding. With the way she’s clearly been up for a while, he reckons she really does understand.
Guilt wells up in his throat, making him feel even worse. He's older. He's supposed to take care of her, not the other way around. So, he says, "I'm okay," trying not to let his voice shake,"it was just a nightmare. Sorry."
Boy, my sweet boy, don't lie! Flapjack tweets.
Luz pouts, looking like she thoroughly doesn't believe him anyway, and scooches closer. She doesn't press him, doesn't ask for more; she simply leans her head on his shoulder and sighs. "I'm sorry," she starts, "I wish I hadn't stopped you in the market."
And, oh, how he wishes the same. But it's not what happened, and he needs that to be okay. For both of them. "It's alright. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have known about Belos and he probably would've just, y’know, killed me," Hunter chuckles sadly, breathing out slowly like he can somehow accept that at all right now. "I mean, you're letting me stay here and everything. I'd say that's enough of an apology, anyway." Flapjack nestles against his neck comfortingly.
He turns to meet Luz's gaze and, oh titan, is she crying? He tenses, running over every possible thing he could've done wrong before she's wrapping him in that stupid hug thing (Flapjack chirps indignantly). He flinches, but she's only crying into his shoulder. Hunter very stiffly attempts to pat her on the back (or do really anything to calm her down and get him out of this new, uncomfortable territory).
"I wish you'd just been born with me, in the human realm," Luz finally admits with a whisper, and Hunter stiffens and tries to decipher what that means before she continues. "We could do stupid stuff like, like siblings do- and you would never have to deal with stupid Belos. Is that silly? I just…" she pulls away, pressing her knees to her chest and burying her face in her shirt. Flapjack flies over to rub against her face.
What a concept, Hunter thinks. Them, being normal stupid siblings. Would Luz still have left for the Isles? Would they have gone together? Did it matter? He smiles in his wobbly, unsure sort of way and tries not to cry. So many ifs. "I think I'd like that," he admits, and in the dark- with only the moon for light- he finds himself thinking of Luz as more than just the human.
He nudges her shoulder teasingly. "Why don't we try, sometime? Doing stupid sibling stuff in your world?" And Luz looks at him with tears still shining in her eyes and Hunter, for the first time, realizes that this must be what family is like. (He, distantly, also realizes that if Luz had really been his sibling he would've realized years sooner everything that was wrong. He wouldn't have let Belos do half of the things he'd done to him happen to her. But what's the use in ifs?)
She's laughing, petting Flapjack softly, and he lets the weight of everything on his shoulders rest somewhere else for a while. "Yeah." Luz snorts, "That'd be nice." And then she's startling, eyes going wide. "I'm- oh titan, I'm sorry! I was being all...down and you had just woken up and were scared and…"
Hunter pokes her in the cheek in about the most annoying way he can muster. "It's okay." He admits, truthfully, "It made me feel better, ironically."
He looks at Luz, and he finds so many questions caught in his throat. Like, who's Phillip, really? Is Belos truly human? But tonight isn't the night for that, he knows. Neither of them can take it. So Hunter squeezes his hands into fists and sighs, trying to muster a comforting smile. "Let's just go back to sleep, okay?"
Luz hesitates, then nods; before both are startled by footsteps on the stairs. Hunter immediately tenses up, spinning to scan for weapons and possible exits. But it’s just Eda, and Luz trusts her, and she’s letting him stay here, so . . . “Kids?” the owl lady mutters, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Although, admittedly, she doesn’t look like she was managing all that well anyway. King must still be upstairs.
Luz and Hunter exchange a glance, and Luz gives him a look. He has absolutely no idea what she means until she turns to the owl lady and promptly states, “I had a nightmare. Sorry for waking you up, Eda.” Which is insane, more insane than this entire situation, because why would she stick up for him? Every time they’ve met up he’s been nothing but rude and snarky. And also funny. But she probably wouldn’t like to hear that part.
Literally any covenhead would have taken the chance to show the Emperor his weakness at a slim chance for promotion, or maybe even just for some sick satisfaction (okay, well, probably not Raine. Or Darius. Or Eberwolf. But the rest, for sure). Which raises a very concerning question: why is she doing this? What’s her motive? All he gets when he looks her up and down, confused, is a reassuring smile. Which is even more worrying, when it’s Luz.
It doesn’t particularly matter, anyway, because Eda is staring at the two of them like she’s waiting for them to tell her the actual story. So he does. “I had one too.” Hunter mutters, scrunching up his nose like the words taste foul. Honestly, he isn’t sure he’s ever actually told anyone about any of his nightmares before. It finally helps Eda relax and move to sit alongside them, though, so it’s probably helpful this time.
The owl lady is strange, to say the least. Her hair is in a messy ponytail, and it brushes the ground when she plops down on the floor. Her dress is ripped, and frankly, nothing about her would ever follow anyone’s protocol (unless maybe it was “look as crazy as possible”). As she huffs and looks at the two of them, Hunter can’t find any traces of disapproval or assessment. In fact, she just looks… kind of melancholic, sporting her half-droopy smile.
“Oh, what am I going to do with you two?” Eda mutters, seemingly more to herself than to them. She’s staring at him, specifically, like she’s trying to decide whether he’s a guest or the owlbeast’s next meal.
“Hopefully not eat us.” Hunter retorts. It’s almost instinctual, being witty and making mean comments to his foes. He really hopes it was quiet enough to go unnoticed, because the whole “eda eating people” thing doesn’t really seem polite to bring up.
It wasn’t unnoticed, apparently.
Eda snorts, grinning and squinting like she’s just heard the funniest and most confusing joke she’s ever heard. Luz is trying not to laugh, but when she talks it’s between giggles, “What? Oh my god, Hunter, she’s not gonna eat you.”
“I only eat the finest little witchlets, kid, my taste is more refined than that,” Eda chuckles, and Luz is elbowing her, laughing along and Hunter feels very lost. He can feel his ears going red as Flapjack circles around his head.
“I- Wild witches are supposed to eat people, it’s like, their thing! They eat people and then burn down towns for fun,” Hunter rambles, somehow trying to prove that he isn’t the biggest idiot in the whole Boiling Isles. “You, quite literally, can turn into a harpy.”
This, at Hunter’s expense, only makes Eda laugh harder. “Oh titan. I cannot believe that’s what the emperor’s coven is up to these days. ‘The big bad kid-eating owl lady,’ I can see it now. I’ll be famous.”
Luz snorts and leans back against Hunter, smiling more genuinely than she has all night. “No wild witches are gonna go around eating people. Unless they’re like, really terrible. Then maybe,” she states matter-of-factly (like that doesn’t apply Eda would’ve eaten him before, just not now).
“Nobody is eating anyone, ok? I am absolutely no danger to your physical well-being. I can, however, be as mentally draining as I’d like to be,” Eda reassures, beaming at Hunter. “Is that what your nightmare was about? Me eating you?”
He flushes, hiding his face between his knees. “No.” Quite frankly, when stopping Luz from taking all the blame, he hadn’t quite expected having to have a therapy session after. The mood has changed, however, and the spotlight is on him.
“You don’t have to talk about it,” Luz tells him, “Or I can.. I can go first, if you want.”
It’s an incredibly kind offer, but Luz doesn’t look nearly ready enough to talk about anything yet, and Hunter isn’t quite sure he’s ready for her side of the story, either. “In the morning?” He practically begs, peeking up at Eda and Luz with a nervous tension.
Eda softens, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Of course, Hunter, I’m not going to push you. I can put the crazy owl-lady shenanigans away, begrudgingly.” She stands up, offering a hand for each of the two still clinging together on the floor. “How about we just get some food? Midnight snacks always help me after a bad night. Not like it can hurt.”
Luz grins, letting Eda help her up and rushing to the kitchen. “Does that mean we can get into your not-so-secret hidden stash?” she calls from the kitchen, and from the sound of it, she’s already getting into it anyway. Eda sighs, pulling Hunter up and rolling her eyes. “If we don’t hurry up, she’ll have eaten half of everything before we can even look,” the owl lady warns with nothing but affection, and Hunter feels himself relax. Flapjack is racing ahead to the kitchen, so he follows.
Eda lightly rests a hand on his shoulder, and Hunter flinches and turns back. Instead of any of the millions of bad scenarios he had imagined in that moment, the owl lady just ruffles his hair, smiles, and says “it’s gonna be okay, kid. We’ve got you.” And…and he isn’t quite sure how to feel about that, yet, but it doesn’t seem like Eda expects him too– she’s already passing by him and calling to Luz. So he just lets it sit, a warm weight in his chest.
The nightmare and all of the horrors of the last twenty-four hours are suddenly a lot less worrying as he’s play-fighting with Luz for the best snacks and splitting his prizes with Flapjack (who is very happy to be included, but eats nothing) while Eda plays a very biased referee.
He is, almost, completely and totally weightless. (For the first time he can remember, he feels at home.)
. . .
Hunter next awakes to the sound of knocking. Thankfully, this time he isn’t sweaty and afraid as he becomes alert, so the sound is much less mortifying than it could’ve been. He finds himself leaning against the owl lady on the couch, her arm wrapped around him; Luz is in a twin position on her other side. Eda is stirring, blearily blinking her eyes and looking for the source of the sound.
The knock comes again, more frantic this time, and that’s enough to get Luz awake, too. Hunter tenses against Eda, suddenly afraid to be in view of the windows. Eda seems to understand, in turn, and grabs her palismen before inching towards the door. Luz seems a bit dazed, but she’s staying quiet and reaching to squeeze Hunter’s hand, so she must be aware of the danger. “Scouts?” she whispers. Hunter just bites his lip.
With a shaky breath, Eda swings open the door.
Darius is on the other side.
This makes Hunter relax, loosening his shoulders and itching to go say hello. On the other hand, Eda is stepping to hide them from view and looking like an angry cat while Luz moves in front of Hunter as if to protect him.
Ok, so, maybe a coven head showing up at The Owl House would normally be a bad sign. Especially considering Hooty is wrapped up in abomination goo to stop him from giving any warning. Hunter wants to explain that it’s alright, but his mind keeps going back to when Raine had made him promise to keep their secret. What is he supposed to do? He’s still tired, confused, and afraid; which is definitely not the best mindset to come up with quick convincing lies in. Luckily, Darius solves Hunter’s problem for him. The covenhead raises his hands in surrender, worry plastered across his face. “I’m not here on any coven business,” he affirms, “I just need to speak with Hunter.”
Eda looks about the farthest away from convinced she could be, holding her staff tighter. Before she can blast Darius’s face off without waiting for an explanation, Flapjack flutters off of Hunter’s shoulder to land on Darius’s shoulder. The covenhead doesn’t exactly seem pleased, but he lets the palismen stay. Safely perched, Flapjack twitters happily. This, finally, get’s Eda to fall out of her i’m-going-to-kill-you-until-you-are-dead stance, although she does keep her staff close. Hunter thinks he even spots glyphs in her pocket.
“Please,” Darius says softly, “It isn’t safe here.”
That gets Hunter's attention. Darius is being particularly… not Darius-like. He stands up, wrangling himself out of Luz’s protective grip, and moves to go talk to the covenhead. As soon as Hunter is in sight, Darius relaxes and the corners of his lips twitch upwards just slightly (it’s still enough to make Hunter feel fuzzy inside). “Little prince,” he says.
“Darius,” Hunter responds, relief washing over him like a wave.
Eda looks considerably confused, eyes flicking between the two of them like she’s trying to solve some grand puzzle. Hunter nudges her, trying to gently assure her Darius isn’t a threat. She seems to get the picture, motioning for Luz to come stand with the rest of them (although she still seems like Darius is the last person she expected standing on her doorstep at some god awful hour of night. Considering the man’s near-worship of beauty sleep, it’s understandable).
Flapjack, job complete, returns to his spot on Hunter’s shoulder.
Darius, in turn, checks behind him and leans towards the trio to whisper in a hushed voice (eyes meeting Hunter’s in a way that made the boy feel just a teensy bit afraid). “The emperor knows you’re here. You aren’t in any immediate danger, per say, but I would much rather you be somewhere he won’t even look,” he straightens, always staying alert of his surroundings. “Even with the capabilities of your…demon…thing, Eda, I don’t think here is the best stronghold. For Hunter, specifically. I trust you can take care of yourself just fine, thank you.”
Hunter stiffened. He hadn’t thought about how him being here would paint a target on both Eda and Luz. The emperor clearly was not happy with Luz, but had yet to threaten her any harm. In fact, he had seemed almost…thankful. On the other hand, Belos very clearly wanted Hunter dead. He had already tried once, after all. Maybe it would be better to go somewhere else. In hindsight, clumping all of the emperor’s most wanted in the same house was a significantly worse idea than spreading them out. Was the damage already done? What if scouts were on their way here, right now?
Eda seemed to realize the danger, aswell. She was fidgeting, still hovering protectively over her two wards. “We could all leave,” she suggests, “find a better place. I can call Lilli up..”
“No,” Darius interrupts firmly. “The emperor, as far as I’m aware, wants nothing to do with you. He only wants Hunter, and the more people with Hunter, the easier he’ll be to find.”
Hunter shrinks back. He doesn’t want to be alone again.
“Not to mention,” Darius continues, “I can check in on him whenever I’m free. It would be much easier for me than Bonesborough’s most wanted witch.”
Eda squints, raising her hand. “One moment,” she says, before promptly closing the door on Darius’s face. Luz snorts.
Hunter is pressing his ears back, twiddling his fingers together and worrying his lip. This is… a lot. Tonight’s already been hard enough. Eda seems to realize this, crouching down and putting her hand on Hunter’s shoulder in a considerably maternal gesture (it makes his face feel warm). “Ok,” she starts, “I have a lot of questions. Most can wait. Probably. Right now, I need you to understand that Darius is a big dumb idiot who is probably being way more dramatic than he should be. We can protect you, if you need it.”
Eda squeezes his shoulder reassuringly. “There are probably safer places, admittedly. But I’ll go through hell and high water to keep you two safe, and if this is where you wanna be, I’ll commit. Titan knows I’ve fought my way through scouts before,” she says, softening, “it’s up to you, kid.”
Hunter considers. He considers a lot. All he really comes up with is the fact he’s too tired, worn-out, and distressed for any of this. Which would normally mean he should just stay and not risk any more major changes in his life tonight, but the idea of Belos knowing he’s here…the idea of being caught and taken back…it terrifies him. It leaves Hunter frozen, trembling and failing to push everything away for later like the weight has somehow gotten even heavier. He trusts Darius, and if Darius says it isn’t safe here. . .
Isn’t that enough?
“Okay,” he says. “Okay. I think… I think I should leave. At least for now. We can… meet up later, after the day of unity.”
Luz tugs on his sleeve, frowning. “I don’t trust him, but… but if you do, then okay. I can’t stop you. Just… promise you’ll be safe, okay?” Her voice cracks with worry, and that makes Hunter’s stomach do all sorts of flips.
“Okay.” He promises.
Eda squints, worrying her lip in an echo of the way Hunter had. “You sure?” she asks, “where are you even planning on going?” The question isn’t unwelcome, but, er… Hunter hadn't exactly had it that well planned out yet, either.
“You can stay at Hexside!” luz butts in. “There’s… there’s tons of people there who can help you, and then I can come and visit and bring you food… oh, and, uhm, Belos won’t even look!” It is, very clearly, just the solution Luz wants the most. However it… admittedly doesn’t sound that bad. Hexside is almost entirely off the radar, and if Luz has friends she could tell to keep an eye out, too…
“Okay.” he says, simply. Flapjack chirps reassuringly.
“Okay!” Luz parrots.
Eda snorts, putting her hands on her hips and smiling at the two of them. “Guess that’s solved, then.” She turns, opening the door and snarkily eyeing Darius. “After a long, intense debate, we have begrudgingly decided to allow you to take Hunter somewhere else,” she states.
“Lovely-” Darius, starts (sarcasm already seeping in his voice), before being cut off by Eda; “But. We get to decide where too. Hexside only, it’ll be our best bet.”
“Yknow, I was expecting you people to choose about the worst place I could think of, but that’s not the worst suggestion yet.” Darius hums, like it’s supposed to be a compliment.
“Thanks?” Luz offers.
Darius brushes aside her response, instead opting to continue on. “Do you have a specific location in mind? It won’t exactly be easy to hide a wanted teenager in a school flooded with kids everyday.” Oops. Didn’t think of that one.
“I know!” Luz chimes, bouncing on the fronts of her feet, “the auditorium’s been under construction ever since that basilisk attack. Nobody goes anywhere even near there.” Problem solved! Luz, yet again, saves Hunter’s day. He really owes her, damn.
This seems to make everyone at least mostly satisfied, because Eda is packing a bag of clothes and treats for him and Darius is offering a hand. Hunter takes it, swallowing down his anxiety and giving Luz one last glance. “I’ll text Amity,” she says, already typing away furiously with obviously-still-shaky hands, “let her know not to chase you off.”
Appreciated. Hunter really doesn’t want to have to find another place to stay. He gives her a wobbly smile, offering a parting hug (which she rushes into gratefully). “Stay safe out there,” she mutters.
“You too,” he states, pulling away and fidgeting. “Thanks for… everything.”
Luz simply smiles, shoving her weird device back in her pocket and helping Eda get Hunter his things. Flapjack nestles against both of Hunter’s caretakers appreciatively, chirping kind words that they can’t understand.
Darius waits respectfully, and waits until Hunter has said all his goodbyes to take the former guard’s hand and lead him away. As Hunter walks back towards the woods he’d spent far too many hours in, Eda and Luz call out their last farewells and hopeful words until he can’t hear them anymore.
As the leaves crunch under his feet once more, Hunter feels a strange sense of safety well up in his chest. Maybe, just maybe, this will all be okay.
He has plenty of people to lean on, after all.