Chapter Text
“Willow, are you almost ready?” Luz’s voice called from beyond the Noceda’s bathroom door. “We gotta see your costume!!”
“Just a second, Luz!” Willow turned back to the mirror as she tied off the end of her braid and tossed it over her shoulder with a nod of finality. She stood there for a moment, gazing at herself.
She was dressed as Sophie, a character from a human movie called Howl’s Moving Castle Luz had shown them all about a month ago. Hunter and Willow had become obsessed with it, and the two quickly formed a plan for a couple’s costume. Since things had finally returned to some semblance of normalcy after they saved the Boiling Isles, they could take part in fun activities they’d been struggling to make time for. Which led them to making costumes for the upcoming Halloween.
It was difficult, deciding whether or not they would even celebrate Halloween this year. Given everything that happened last time, it was understandably a touchy time for everyone in the group, especially Hunter.
But, regardless, it was a human holiday, and despite being a memory of a lost loved one, it was still a part of human culture that they wanted to share with Luz. Hunter insisted upon giving it a shot, and Willow had swore to herself to make sure it wasn’t in vain.
They’d spent the majority of the day in the Demon Realm, at Flapjack’s grave. The others had talked about their fond memories of their time in the human realm, and for a long time, Hunter had sat alone at the gravestone, just… talking. Willow wanted to comfort him, but she thought it best to give him some privacy with his best friend.
And, after all was said and done, Hunter looked surprising happy. He’d assured her he was okay, and they made their way to the Noceda house to prepare for the evening festivities, carrying the memory of their feathered friend in their hearts.
As for their costumes, Willow took the role of Sophie, not just because it was the obvious choice, but she connected a lot with her story. Willow knew what it was like to doubt yourself, to think yourself unworthy. But, like Sophie, she’d found her strength, with the help of those she loved. And she’d used it to protect them all.
So here she stood, fully dressed in Sophie’s outfit from the beginning of the movie, with a few of her own details she’d added with Hunter’s help. She already owned a green dress that was basically the same as the movie, but Hunter had eagerly insisted on modifying it. Willow was happy to let him— she loved anything he made, and she’d been excited to see what he did. When he returned it to her, she’d marveled at the vines he’d embroidered along the edges of the sleeves and the hem of the skirt, dotted with small red flowers. It was subtle, but far better than she could have ever imagined.
To match the dress, she’d chosen to add red gladiolus flowers to the hat, finishing the look with a few of the same blossoms in her hair, which had been tied back into Sophie’s single long braid.
Willow smiled and twirled around, admiring her reflection. She’d definitely wear this dress more often.
“Willow!!” Luz called again, her voice somewhat squealy with excitement. “¡Vámonos!”
“Alright, I’m coming!” She said with a giggle. Adjusting her glasses, she opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the hallway.
Waiting for her there was Luz and Gus, who instantly began cheering for her.
“Ay, que linda!! Willow, you look amazing!!” Luz gushed, squishing her face in her characteristic enthusiasm.
Gus nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yeah, you guys really outdid yourselves!! I love the flowers you added.”
“Thanks, guys!” Willow smiled gleefully at the praise. “You don’t look too bad, either.”
The two of them were also in costume. Luz was dressed in a black and red suit, with red webbing pattern all across the front, a spider at the center. She wore the grudgby jacket Eda had given her over the suit, the mask of the suit hanging from the pocket. Willow recognized the outfit from another movie they’d recently seen, Into the Spiderverse.
Gus’ outfit was not so familiar to her. He wore a light blue tunic with a white design on the front resembling that of a sword, much like the one he had on his back. He wore tan pants and brown boots, his twists pulled back into a ponytail, showcasing his pointed ears and the small mirror hanging from one. “Remind me what you’re dressed as again, Gus?” Willow asked, turning to him as she began slipping on her boots.
He scoffed dramatically, turning his head as he struck a pose. “Only the greatest hero of all time-- the Hero of Hyrule himself, Link!!” Gus drew the surprisingly realistic sword from behind him and brandished it in the light of the hallway. “The reincarnated hero sworn to forever be brought back to defeat the forces of evil, with the power of the Master Sword, and his beloved Princess Zelda fighting by his side, he faces--”
“I think she gets it,” a voice cuts in, all three teens turning to face Amity as she walked in the room with her own costume on-- a spider-suit like Luz’s, but colored instead in black and white, accented in places with neon pink and cyan webbing. The outfit also had a hood, which Amity pulled off of her head to reveal her pale purple hair.
Luz squealed, immediately running up to her girlfriend and sweeping her up in her arms. “You look sooooooo pretty, sweet potato!!”
Amity giggled as her face turned red, still holding Luz as she set her back down. “Thank you, batata. So do you!!” She glanced over her girlfriend’s shoulder to pass a smile to Gus, who looked miffed at being interrupted in the middle of his infodumping. “And you, Gus. But I think the real star here is Willow.” She managed to pull herself away from Luz and walk over to where Willow stood, preening at her praise. “You look beautiful!! Hunter is gonna have to pick his jaw up off the floor when he sees you.”
“Oh, stop it,” she laughed. “Speaking of which, where is Hunter? Is he ready yet?”
“Not sure. I haven’t seen him,” Luz replied, glancing over at the kitchen where Camila and Vee were filling a bowl with candy to pass out to trick-or-treaters.
“He’s still downstairs.” Gus gestured to the staircase leading to the basement, which had become Hunter’s bedroom after being partially adopted by the Noceda family. “You know him-- he’s probably just nervous.”
“I don’t blame him,” Luz mumbled in reply. She smiled gently as Amity took her hand, offering a reassuring smile. “But this year will be different. We just have to make sure he knows that.”
Willow didn’t like to dwell very long on the events of last Halloween. It was a night that still haunted her dreams to this very day-- the feeling of Hunter’s skin running cold, his breath growing quiet, his heartbeat slowing down under her palm. The boy she loved, dead and gone from her world.
But Flapjack saved him, she reminded herself. He’s okay. He’ll be safe, no matter what, because we’re all here to protect him.
“I’ll go talk to him,” Willow stated, making her way to the basement staircase. “You guys wait here.”
“Ooooooo~” The others teasingly sung in unison.
Willow scoffed back at them. “Oh, hush up. You guys are insufferable.”
Gus’ voice rang out as she descended the stairs. “Willow and Hunter, sitting in a tree--”
“Don’t make me put poison ivy in your pillow, Porter!!” She called back at him, hearing Luz and Amity laugh at Gus’ scared little squeak.
Willow descended the steps and noticed Hunter standing before the mirror sitting next to the sewing machine. He was fully dressed in his costume, and Willow took a moment to admire his work.
Her breath caught in her throat. He looked so pretty.
He’d dressed as Howl, to match with Willow, but he’d taken a few liberties with the outfit (surprisingly enough--he was normally such a stickler for being true to canon). He kept the same basic parts— the white shirt with billowy sleeves tucked into high-waisted black pants, and the gaudy checkered jacket draped over his shoulders. The lining of the jacket remained gold, but the checker pattern was black and red as opposed to the movie version’s pink and blue. Willow smiled at the color scheme, noting it was reminiscent of Flapjack. He wore a necklace— a small red jewel on a gold chain, and earrings to match, both items handmade.
One hand hovered over his heart, where Flapjack had lain to rest-- Willow knew Hunter liked to feel him there, as if their hearts beat as one. The other hand gently traced the larger of the two scars on his face, clawing its way over his hooked nose. He stared intently at himself in the mirror, almost looking lost.
Willow gathered her wits and finally addressed her boyfriend. “Hey, sunshine,” she called, startling him out of whatever reverie was taking place in his head, his eyes instead snagging on her as the hand on his face fell to his side. His eyes widened, his cheeks and ears dusting a pleasant shade of pink.
“Oh, wow.” He gulped, struggling to find words. “You look… so pretty,” he finally said.
Willow smiled bashfully at him, titling her head to the side. “Thanks. You look quite handsome, yourself.”
Hunter laughed lightly as Willow walked over, intertwining their hands. “I mean it,” she insisted. “You’re gorgeous, and you worked so hard on these costumes--”
“No no, I believe you, I promise.” He turned to her fully, using his free hand to brush a loose curl out of her face. “I just… you’re beautiful.” He grinned, his adorable gap tooth peeking through his lips. “You’re absolutely wonderful, Willow. I’m so lucky.”
Willow tried to hide her red face under the rim of her hat, giggling madly. “Come on, now, I just came to check on you. Are you ready to go?”
Hunter paused, briefly glancing again at the mirror beside them. His hand tightened around hers, but his other went back to press against his heart.
Willow looked on in concern. “Are you sure you want to do this? We can stay here tonight instead, and just relax. I know it’s probably hard to do something like this again.”
Hunter clutched the hand over his chest tighter and let out a deep breath before turning to her with a sincere smile.
“I can do it. I… I-I want to try. I know I’ll be safe, and I’ll be with you guys… with you. And besides… Flapjack would want me to have fun.” He chuckled, mirth sparkling in his warm brown eyes as his hand fell. “It’s funny— it’s like I can feel him. He’s excited.”
Willow placed her own hand over his heart, smiling as if she could feel a flutter of wings matching his quickening pulse.
“I won’t leave your side,” she said, resolve shining in her olive green eyes. “I promise. We’re going to have a great time.”
Hunter smiled in return, bringing her into his arms as he pulled her into a loving hug. “I know," he said, placing a kiss on her pink-dusted cheek. "Thank you, Captain.”