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It had been weeks. Or maybe months. It felt like years, but Hunter knew better. The sun had risen 26 times since they arrived in the human realm, and Hunter hadn’t had a single thought that wasn’t full of concern. Concern for Flapjack, concern for Raine and Eda, concern for Darius, concern for almost every witch on the Boiling Isles, and most of all, concern for Edric. None of them on this side had any idea what was happening that side. Last they had seen of the demon realm was King throwing Luz through the door as everyone they knew and… and the others loved, Hunter didn’t know he was there just yet, but everyone in the Boiling Isles was in danger as the Collector wreaked havoc for his horrific “game”. Now they were trapped and they had no idea how to get back.
Hunter spent his time in the abandoned shack by the woods, trying to pull the last of his magic to reopen a portal from this side. He wanted to get them all back to the people they cared about. He wanted to get back to his palisman, to his parent, to his mentor.
Tonight was a full moon over in the human realm, Hunter didn’t care much, but the moon always held power on the boiling isles, so maybe he’d be able to open the portal tonight. He sat in the abandoned shack, both his hands on the spell circle he’d drawn on the old wooden floor. The crystals and runes on the “corners” of the circle seemed to help him along.
“C’mon… C’mon c’mon…” He mumbled, his eyes closing tighter. “Please…”
His eyes shot open as he heard something open, he looked up at the magical doorway that had opened in front of him. “It worked..?” Tears found his eyes as he looked through to the doorway to his home.
“It worked…” Came Raine’s voice from the other side. “Hunter- Oh thank the stars you’re okay- Where are the others are they hurt?”
“Raine!” He hopped up. “They’re okay- I’ll go get them- Try to keep this open as long as you can.”
He ran back to the Noceda household, opening the door. “Gus! Willow!” He rushed to wake his friends up. “Amity! Luz!” He ran to Luz’s room, knocking on the door. “Get up, we can go home..!”
“You got it open?” Gus stared at him in shock. “From this side?” He exclaimed.
“Raine helped from the other side, but it’s open.” Hunter nodded. “We can go home to your families.”
“Well let’s go then!” Willow grabbed her staff, collecting her things from the living room where the three of them had been staying.
“Amity Luz c’mon let’s go..!” He knocked again as Gus ran around to collect his things. “Raine can’t keep it open forever we gotta go..!”
“Luz… Are you leaving again?” Camila asked as they all left their rooms.
“I have to go mom… The demon realm needs me…”
“We’ll keep her safe,” Amity promised, a soft smile resting on her face. “I promise, she’ll come home safe again.”
Hunter nodded. “She’s safe with us. We’ll find a way so she can spend her time between the two sides.”
Camila gently took Luz’s hands. “Promise me that as soon as you can, you’ll come home.”
Luz teared up a bit. “I promise mama… But I have to go…”
Amity gently set a hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder. “She’ll get home safe.”
Camila found herself nodding. “I’m trusting you. Thank you all for keeping my daughter safe.”
They all nodded, grabbing their things before running to cross through the portal. Raine was still standing there, now joined by Eda, Gilbert and Harvey Park, Perry Porter, and Alador Blight.
“Dad!” Amity ran through the portal, jumping into her father, who immediately hugged her close.
“Amity thank the Titan you’re alright.” He mumbled into her hair.
It was Willow’s turn next, being surrounded in her fathers’ arms. “Willow- Oh we were so worried…’
“Don’t you ever do that again young lady-”
“I’m sorry dad… I won’t papa…” She sniffled, her tears flowing.
Next was Gus. Perry held him close, his tears falling into his son’s hair. “I was so worried about you… I’m so glad you’re safe, Augustus…”
Luz went next, running over to Eda. She was wrapped in the one and a half arms of her mentor. “Eda!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more kiddo…”
“No no no it’s okay! We’re all okay see?” She gestured back to the doorway as Hunter stepped through last, his coven brand fading as the magic overtook his
system. “Everybody’s okay.”
Raine immediately walked over to hug Hunter, their glasses pushing up as they pressed their face into his soft blond hair. They took slow breaths as he melted against their thin form, his hands gripping the back of their shirt like they would disappear if he let go. This was as close as he got to a parent. He didn’t want to let them go again. He wanted to stay, he wanted to be a normal kid, he just wanted to be Hunter. He hated being the Golden Guard, he hated being the emperor’s nephew, he hated what he was created to be, he just wanted to be him.
“Raine…” He mumbled. “Don’t wanna…”
“Shh… It’s okay, I got you. You’re safe.” They rubbed his back. “I’ve got you bud.”
“Let’s head home, you all need to rest.” Eda nodded. “We’ll talk about what happened in the morning.”
~~~
Several hours, a nice long nap, and some warm food later, all the young witches were settled back in their homes, and it was time for Hunter to check on his boyfriend. He made sure Eda and Raine knew where he was going, he took Luz with him, and they took Flapjack to go to Blight Manor.
Luz slid off the staff as they got there, going to knock on the door. “Hello?” She called out.
Edric was the one to answer the door. “Amity’s inside.” He mumbled, slipping past her and running over to Hunter.
Hunter opened his arms for his partner, picking him up in a hug as they wrapped their arms around one another. “Ed- Oh thank the Titan… I was so worried-”
“You were worried? Hunts you were thrown into another world! I was so so worried-” He cupped the blond’s face, rubbing his cheeks with soft thumbs. “I thought you were dead…”
Hunter melted into the touch, touching their foreheads together as he leaned into the hands on his face. “I’m okay… I missed this, I missed you…”
“I missed you too… I missed you so much Hunter.” He kissed the corner of his mouth.
The two of them kissed as the rain began to fall, the only thing keeping them dry being the balcony above the door.
They enjoyed the moment, the gentle touch, the quiet sound of the weather, the emotion that flowed between them, the soft “I love you”s whispered between their lips. This was Hunter’s favorite place to be, in the arms of his lover, surrounded by his love and warmth. He was safe, he was alive, he was home. He got so lost in this feeling that he missed the sound of the door opening beside them.
“Ed come in- Oh…” Emira laughed softly as the boys pulled away from each other. “Sorry about that. Dad said to come inside.”
“Right, yeah let’s go.” Edric blushed.
“I should go home…” Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. He wanted to come inside and spend some time with his partner, but he knew that Amity had just
come back, he didn't want to intrude.
“You can come in.” Emira grinned, leaning on the doorframe. “We’ve been kinda wanting to meet Ed’s secret little boyfriend. Never expected it’d be you.” He felt his face flush, the tips of his ears turning the same pink.
“Well uh… Alright… Let’s do this then…”
Edric gently held his hand as the twins lead him inside. Luz and Amity were sitting together on one of the couches, talking quietly, that didn’t surprise him.
What did surprise him on the other hand, was seeing Darius on the other couches, sitting and talking with Alador Blight.
“Darius?” Hunter’s shock was clear in his tone and expression.
The coven head looked up. “Little prince.” He smiled. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Just visiting an old friend,” he hummed.
“An old friend, he says.” Alador rolled his eyes, pressing a light kiss to the darker skinned man’s cheek. “As if he isn’t co-parenting my children.”
“I missed all of that?” Hunter squeaked out. “Darius what the fuck-”