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avatarmerida · 9 months

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So Dana tweeted this and I’m not sure what to label this AU but basically Willow is a baddie skating in the halls and Hunter is a student council member who is always on her case. Do they have magic? Idk. Am I obsessed? Yuh. Also based on this art and this art by @turquoisespace35 this art by @smallpapers and also this art by @gravityfying. Anyway, here’s some huntlow fluff thanks for the inspiration guys! Hope ya like it!

———

Hunter was simply minding his own business, trying to identify the bird in the tree above him and having a rather pleasant afternoon as he tried to destress from his eventful day. To be fair, every day was eventful for him. As a student council member and top of his class, he was responsible for making sure Hexside' reputation stayed pristine. This had earned him a rather unfavorable reputation himself. He was a legacy, he had high expectations, so he needed to do everything in his power to bring everyone to his level. In his mind, he was strict but fair. But the students saw him as a glorified hall monitor.

Which is why he always walked home alone.

As he admired the red bird that seemed to be calling out to him, the pleasant sound of silence was interrupted by a panicky echo.

“Look out!” came a familiar voice, but before Hunter could attempt to ‘look out’ as the voice had advised, his world went blurry and the next thing he knew he was pinned against the tree. When he regained focus, having a few choice words at the ready, he was stunned to find the culprit was one of his classmates.

His rebellious classmate with the most dress code violations. His resilient classmate who always had holes in her stocking and scars and bruises on her knees from skidding and falling so often. His carefree classmate who was the reason he carried a first aid kit with him. His breathtaking classmate whose bright peridot eyes somehow managed to shine through the yellow tint of her safety goggles. His classmate who was… a classmate, and nothing more.

Does she skate everywhere? He thought, knowing her skates were the cause of their… position. Skating in the hall was one thing, but this path was all downhill; even a pro would have a hard time stopping.

“Hunter! Hi! What are you doing here?” Willow casually asked the boy she currently had pinned against a tree, her hands resting naturally on his chest. Even with the height her skates gave her, he was still so much taller than her.

“Well I… I have a life outside of school, you know,” he replied, somewhat lying, his face positively beet red. Her skates made her so much taller, but she had never been this close to him. She had flipped back her signature yellow shades to see him better, apparently he was so close that he was in focus without them.

“I know,” she said plainly. “I just thought you had that big presentation today.”

“Oh that, no that’s tomorrow.” he said, his composure returning at the mention of business. “Really? Cause I’m pretty sure that’s where Amity is,” said Willow, backing up to give him space. “I thought it was the 4th.”

“It is,” he said. “On Wednesday.”

“No, Hunter today is the 4th,” said Willow.

“Wh- a-are you sure?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Don’t you remember when you wrote me up on Friday? You said ‘this is the last one of the month’ because the next day was the first and that was Saturday, so then Sunday was the second and then yesterday-.”

“Oh no,” he said softly, the color draining from his face as he realized she was right. His breathing became faster. “Oh no, oh no, oh no! H-how did I mess this up?’

“Hey, it’s okay! It doesn’t start until 4 so you-.”

“It’s almost 3:45 and the school is at least a 35 minute walk,” said Hunter, beginning to spiral. “A-and we always start right on time and I’m supposed to go first and if I don’t go then my proposal won’t be considered and if my proposal isn’t considered then that means I’ve spent weeks preparing for nothing and not to mention if my uncle hears that I-.”

“Hey! Hey, hey, hey,” said Willow, waving her hands in front of his eyes to get him to snap out of it. She placed her hands on his shoulders to direct his focus on her. “Just breathe, okay? Look at me and breathe. Count with me 1,2,3 in and 1,2,3, out. In and out.”

She motioned him to follow as she counted with her fingers, not removing her eyes from his until he felt safe to follow her instructions. Hunter would normally feel silly but it actually helped him. He focused on Willow and while his anxieties did not disappear, they definitely felt less heavy.

“Good,” Willow said gently when she could tell his heart was no longer about to explode. “Now, let’s think of a solution, okay? There’s always a way to help. Now, you’re right; the school is about a 35 minute walk from here-.”

“I know, it’s useless to even think that-.”

“-but I bet we can cut that in half on skates,” she finished with a smile.

Hunter looked at her like she was insane, like there was a punchline coming, but she remained unmoved. She was serious.

“What? Are you gonna carry me to the school on your skates? Y-you’re just gonna scoop me in your arms, and whisk me away as we speed off together into the sunset like you’re some kind of beautiful knight who reached me o-or something? Is that what you’re saying?” The way Hunter said it made it seem like he didn’t believe it was possible but also that he had had this impossible thought before. More than once. He didn’t seem against it.

“Um, not quite,” she smiled. She turned to remove her backpack, a blush gracing her cheeks (though it was nothing compared to the one Hunter currently wore) as she pulled her solution from her knapsack.

“You brought extra roller skates?” Hunter said, somehow not really supposed.

“I literally go nowhere without them!” Willow exclaimed in a bright, bubbly one, as she handed them to him. “They’re my dad’s old pair and I was gonna give them to Gus but they’re too big, but they should fit you! How lucky is that?”

“What, you expect me to do the presentation in roller skates? That’s worse than not showing up at all!”

“No, we can put your shoes in my bag and you can change when you get there,” she said simply. “We can totally get you there in time, I know a short cut.”

She seemed so sure, so genuine, so sweet. Hunter found it hard to keep up appearances as he let out a dramatic sigh as he snatched her skates from her and he leaned against the tree to start putting them on.

“Well, don’t think this means I’m gonna stop writing you up,” said Hunter as he carefully slipped off his shoes.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” she smiled, gently rolling her eyes endearingly as she went to place his shoes in her bag. She fought back a grin when she noticed the red cartoon birds that decorated his socks, but she kept that to herself.

He watched him struggle with the laces for a moment, they were loose on his ankles but the edges were frayed and were hard to get through the holes on the very top. She leaned down to help him, and when their fingers touched briefly Hunter pulled his hands back like he had just touched lava. Willow said nothing, knowing how prideful he was as she felt his eyes on her as she wordlessly tightened his laces.

She couldn’t help but hope that he was speechless the way she had been the day she had fallen in the hallway. It was the usual game, she was teasing him beckoning him to chase her to give her the citation in person and she had been overzealous and lost her balance skating backwards. But he didn’t taunt her or laugh, but rather rushed to her side riddled with concern. She remembered how there were no words in her head as she watched him drop the cold persona that she had long suspected was an act to lecture her on safety, not because it was a rule or because he wanted to say “I told you so” but because he cared about her.

Willow suspected he wasn’t used to someone caring about him the same way.

“I know you’re just doing this so you can tell everyone how uncoordinated I am,” he muttered after a minute, not knowing how to maneuver the silence. He didn’t really believe Willow would be so ruthless, he was just embarrassed that he needed saving.

“What?” said Willow, genuinely surprised by his harsh tone. It wasn’t his usual harsh tone, it had a twinge of hurt beneath it.

“Well, why else would you be so nice to me?” He asked as she finished the bow. “No one likes me.”

Willow giggled.

“What?” asked Hunter, not used to being laughed at in a way that didn’t feel condescending.

“Boscha’s always saying I’m no one,” she said, rising to her feet. “So maybe I’m the perfect person to like you.”

“Don’t say that!” He said sternly, as he quickly stood up as well, his hands balled into fists at his sides. “You’re not no one.”

He said it with such conviction and anger, as though the idea of her believing she was any less than she was inspired a fury in him unmatched by any uniform infraction or social injustice. He didn’t need to add “because” or “to me” because he felt it was so obvious. She was too vibrant and kind and strong to be no one.

As she searched her mind for a response, she saw Hunter begin to lose his balance and quickly leaned forward to catch him.

“I’m guessing you’re not much of a skater?” she asked lightly, not knowing what else to say.

“I uh don’t have much time for leisure or recreational activities,” he said, clearing his throat as he was overly aware of her hands on him, one on his back and the other gently on his chest. It was difficult to remain professional in such a stance, but if anyone could try it was him.

“Well, consider this a crash course,” she teased.

“What?”

“Oh no, sorry,” she laughed nervously. “We’re not gonna crash. Well, probably not. Well… we’re gonna try.”

“Oh this is a bad idea,” said Hunter, his legs shaking.

“Hey, don’t worry,” she said, helping him regain his balance until he stood by himself. She held out her hand to him and gave him a sweet smile. “I won’t let you fall.”

He carefully took it and allowed her to lead him.

She did not seem opposed in the slightest to be holding his hand, to be seen holding his hand. He mainly focused on keeping his skates facing forward and not knocking into each other, but Willow had a natural balance. He knew it came from practice, that if he wasn’t here holding her back she’d be doing elaborate spins and jumps, but still he felt safe beside her. If he wasn’t in a rush, he felt like he could do this forever.

He just wished he had a helmet.

As they descended down the bumpy street, there was so much for Hunter to be nervous about: falling on his face, being late to his presentation, showing up to his predation with a face that had clearly been fallen on, but the most pressing matter at the moment was whether or not the stunning girl holding his hand could feel how sweaty it was. His heart was racing but not from the cardio. It was a good thing Willow knew where they were going because his eyes certainly were not on the path ahead of them.

This was the longest silence that had ever passed between them, Willow wasn’t sure what to make of it. She had seen Hunter concerned before, but these nerves were new. She tried to lighten the mood.

“These are your fault, you know.” She said, adopting her normal tone as seen in their hallway encounters.

“What?”

“My rollerskates.”

“What? Me? How? I never-.”

“Do you remember my most common infraction before you were always hounding me about my skates?”

“Tardiness,” he said without hesitation.

She smiled, wondering if he remembered everyone’s violations so quickly. “Yeah, I was always running late because Bocha needed to make sure she tormented me before first period.”

“Ms. Park, I assure you if I had known that was the reason I would’ve handled the situation with more-.”

“I know,” she said simply. “But still, you said something once that gave me an idea. I didn’t tell you that Boscha was the reason, I just said I kept getting lost and you said ‘well then, find another way.’ So I did.”

“You heard that and got ‘rollerskate everywhere?’”

“Okay, I might’ve put my own spin on it,” she giggled as they turned a corner, and she felt his grip tighten . “But it worked, didn’t it? I haven’t been late since.”

“Yes but roller skates are still against school safety and dress codes,” Hunter pointed out.

“But they get me there,” she said simply. “And they got me off Boscha’s radar and onto yours.”

He looked at her with wide, worried eyes. “Miss Park, I hope you’re not suggesting that I am on a level with Boscha,” he said seriously and another smile tugged at Willow’s lips as she couldn’t help but notice the disgusted way he said Boscha’s name. How he didn’t even bother to grace her with formality. “I know I may be strict, but I hope you know I would never want to make you feel how she makes you feel. I know she used to sit on the council, but If I ever-.”

“No, no nothing like that,” she laughed. “It’s just, I much prefer being on your radar is all I mean.”

“Oh.” Was all he could say. It still didn’t add up, she liked being in trouble? “Huh.”

Willow saw and understood his confusion. “You’re really into your position on the student council,” she said as though he was unaware. “Sometimes it feels like breaking the rules is the only way I get to talk to you.”

Did she know how every morning he held his breath, worried today was the day she changed her ways? That he wouldn’t feel her breeze as she zoomed by him in the hall, her braids coming undone as she maneuvered through other students like a maze? She had never injured anyone (besides herself) and she technically wasn’t running and hadn’t damaged any school property, but Hunter had scoured the handbook for something to say about it. Because he just wanted an excuse to talk to her.

“And you… like talking to… me?” He asked.

“Yeah,” she said simply. No hesitation, no eye rolling, no sarcasm. How could that be true? “Ya know, you’re not as uptight as you want everyone to believe you are. I think you’re secretly a big sweetheart.”

“Me?” He scoffed, he had certainly never been called that before. Not even ironically. “How am I sweet? I write you up every day!”

His voice shook as they quickly moved to avoid a pot hole but Willow never let go of his hand.

“Well, yeah but,” Willow couldn’t help but laugh. “I mean, you make a big show of writing me up and threatening me with detention but you never actually follow through.”

“What? I-I have! I mean, I must have at least once er-”

“No,” she said, shaking her head, “You always say you could but you never do.”

“Well, t-that’s because it goes straight on your permanent record.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, obviously unconvinced. She was pretty sure those didn’t even exist. She also knew it wasn’t because he didn’t have the power to, because he sent Boscha to detention literally all the time.

She had her theories, but right now probably wasn’t the right time to voice them.

“I… well, the thing is I…” he offered her a soft look as he tried to find the words. Something in his eyes made her think maybe he was about to confirm her theories. “I think I actually might…”

But before he could finish, the hill became too steep and Hunter promptly lost his balance. He unwillingly surrendered Willow’s hand as his arms flailed to his sides trying to save him from tumbling forward. Willow rolled beside him, keeping her eyes on him as she tried to grab his hand again. When she realized she couldn’t, she improvised and reached out to grab in an embrace, trapping his arms at his side as she clung to him tightly. They continued to skate down the hill at increasing speed as Willow tried to ease gently into the breaks so they wouldn’t go flying.

Finally, they reached flat land and when they did Hunter arrived deeper in Willow’s embrace, his cheek pressed firmly against hers as she shut her eyes, focused on keeping them safe. All he could focus on was how close they were. She lifted him off the ground, not knowing her own strength and all he could do was just be lifted by her.

Their faces were touching, oh Titan their faces were touching!

He swore he wasn’t breathing, he swore time stood still as he floated in some parking lot being held tightly by Willow Park. He could smell the sweet scent of her shampoo, a collection of jasmine and mango.

“You okay?” She asked, opening one eye to make sure no damage had come to him.

“Never better.” He squeaked. He wondered if he even weighed anything to her.

“We made it,” she declared gleefully, and he was so close he could feel the smile on her face. He was so lost in the euphoria of being so close to her he had totally forgotten the reason for it. Then his eyes registered where they were.

And in record time too.

“We made it,” he breathed as she set him down. How had he ever doubted her?

“Not quite yet,” she said as she took his hand and led him once again. “C’mon!”

They slid through the side entrance and something about it made Hunter feel oddly… giddy. Willow sped ahead of him like a bullet, her brow furrowed in determination as she raced against the clock.

“Move aside!” She announced to a few lingering students walking through the halls. “Precious cargo, coming though!”

He laughed, in spite of himself, feeling like he was in a dream. Being with her in the hall now instead of against her felt… right. This was how she saw the world: fast, exciting, scary. Normally he was just a mere star she passed by, close for only a brief moment before her orbit spun her elsewhere. But now he was fully caught in her gravity, hoping to be a moon, a sun, a comet; anything that followed her closely. Anything she’d let him be.

All too soon, they were outside the classroom where Hunter was to give his presentation. Willow could see they were still setting up and Hunter would get his chance to do his presentation.

“We did it!” She declared victoriously, wiping the sweat from her brow. “We did-.” She looked up at him in excitement but was taken back when he didn’t share her elatement. Instead, his focus was on her. He was looking at her like she was some precious jewel he had been searching for his whole life. “What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face or-.?”

“You’re amazing,” he said like the phrase took all the air in his lungs.

She gave a tiny chuckle as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. It wasn’t what she had been expecting to hear but she certainly wasn’t complaining.

“Well hey, don’t waste all your charm on me, student council,” she teased. “Getting here was the easy part, you still have a speech to give.”

“Right,” he said with a rare smile. Willow wondered why he didn’t smile more, he had such a pretty smile. “Anyway, thanks for all your help. I… really appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” she said, and Hunter swore a rosey halo surrounded her. As he was admiring just how picturesque she was, a mischievous smile crept onto her face, as she allowed her wheels to bring her closer to him. “Um, excuse me, student council member Wittebane, but wearing roller skates in the hallway is against school policy, in case you weren’t aware.”

He offered her a shy, playful smile, running his hand through his hair as he leaned against the lockers, absentmindedly sending a chill up Willow’s spine. She caught him off guard and for a moment he was a little silly. Like he felt safe enough to be.

“Well, I guess I have to make an exemption today,” he said, his voice possessing a lighter tone that Willow was certain few people had ever heard. She liked it. She watched him quickly sink to the ground as he began to undo the laces on the skates as she handed him his shoes from her bag.

“Tomorrow morning though, no roller skating in the hallways,” he said, mocking himself as he wagged his finger at her. They both knew she wouldn't listen.

“But what if I’m running late?” She said innocently as she helped him back onto his feet once he had returned to his shiny dress shoes. “I have classes on opposite sides of the school, how else am I supposed to get there in time?”

“Well uh, I’m sure I could assist somehow,” he said, clearing his throat. He owed her one after all. “I could get you a special hall pass or help you plan a route or-.”

“Maybe you should start walking me to class,” she suggested.

“As punishment?”

She shrugged. “If you wanna call it that,” she said, brushing some invisible lint off of his shoulder. “Here, lemme fix your tie. Can’t have you beating my record for dress code violations, now can we?” She made sure he didn’t reflect the journey too much, adjusting his pin as well. Even after all that, he still managed to look so pristine. Maybe it was his posture, or his height, or the sharp definition of his jawline but his demeanor just seemed like it was permanently studious. Like he had a shell that extended to his heart. Like the cracks in his composure could only be seen up close and Willow wanted more than anything to have them memorized. Willow had caught glimpses of these cracks before, when she made a joke that caught him off guard and summoned a smile or dared him to joke back before following up with policy and procedure. These cracks didn’t make him foolish or fragile as she knew he worried they did, no: they made him shine.

The classroom was becoming louder as Amity tried to gain control so they could start and Hunter knew they’d be starting soon. But all he wanted to do was watch her fuss over his tie like she just wanted an excuse to be close to him.

“Willow, I-,” he started and her eyes instantly darted up to him. He then realized that that may have been the first time he had used her first name. He said it so gently, like he was worried he wasn’t worthy of it. She looked at him with wide eyes, like she hoped he’d say it again.

“Yeah?”

“I uh… I guess better head inside,” Hunter said, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice. Both because he didn’t want to leave and because that wasn’t what he wanted to say.

“Guess you’d better,” she echoed, though she did not release him.

“But thank you again,” he said. “For helping me, for getting me here. No one’s ever done something like that for me before.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I have plenty of experience with being a no one, huh?” She said coyly. She knew he was about to protest, but before he had the chance to, she rose up and slyly pressed a quick kiss to his check. “Good luck, Mr. Student Council,” she whispered with a playful wink, doing one more small spin before skating away, leaving him stunned by the lockers.

She knew she had left a faint lipstick mark on his face, and from the corner of her eyes she noticed that he could not bring himself to wipe it off before finally heading inside.

Must not be a dress code violation, she thought to herself. Good to know.

#huntlow #huntlow fanfiction #huntlow au #Willow park #Hunter toh #toh fanfiction #toh #the owl house

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sergeantsporks · 2 months

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Empty

Hunter had thought that physical pain and Belos’ disappointment were the worst things that could happen to him. He’d thought the most awful experiences were the ones where he ended up bleeding or bruised or, in the worst-case scenarios, with broken bones that he’d be working with for months until they healed.

He’d been wrong.

Hunter had thought that betrayal was the worst thing that could happen to him. His life, a lie. The man he’d been nothing but loyal to turning on him in an instant. It had hurt worse than a hundred broken ribs, and made it just as hard for him to breathe.

He’d been wrong again.

Hunter had thought that the worst thing that could happen to him was the loss of control over his body. At the failure of mind games and emotional manipulation, the man he’d once trusted paraded his body around like a sick toy, had worn and discarded his skin like a cheap costume.

He’d been wrong.

Hunter had come to the conclusion that the worst possible feeling, the most terrible experience, was loss. Soul-crushing, terrifying, aching loss. The moment when he knew Flapjack was gone forever was the worst moment of his life—and until he lost someone again, nothing else could possibly top that.

But somehow, he still hadn’t gotten it right.

Worse than the injuries, worse than the betrayal, worse than the possession, and worse than the loss was the emptiness that had replaced it. The conflict was over, Belos was gone; there was no more danger. No more heartbreak. There was just… nothing. Hunter had no more tears left to cry. No more screams left to tear out of his lungs. Just a blanket of numb quiet, like someone had put him inside Camila’s TV and turned it to a static channel. At first, the quiet felt better than all the pain and heartbreak, but slowly, it seemed to sap the strength from him.

He still went through the motions. He smiled, he laughed, he talked to his friends. Meaningless conversation, silly small talk that he forgot almost instantly because the weird color Gus’ socks had somehow turned in the dryer was fun to talk about in the moment, made him laugh in the moment, but certainly wasn’t something that needed to be committed to long-term memory.

But once they were gone, once it was Hunter, alone, he was left again with the bone-weary exhaustion that didn’t seem to be in his body. He’d felt this way in the coven sometimes, sure, when he’d been overworked and overstressed, or when he’d had to spend just a little too long trying to convince other coven heads to listen to him and was sick of being around other people, but things were supposed to be different now. These were people he loved, people whose company he enjoyed, so why was he still left feeling so empty? At least before, he’d been able to track the source. Now, it was just… numbness for no reason.

Slowly, the numbness settled in further. It didn’t just creep up when Hunter was alone anymore, it stole into time with his friends. He still smiled, he still laughed, but the Hunter who smiled and laughed was running on autopilot while the real him slipped into that soft, silent numbness. The enjoyment of their company faded into familiarity of a routine. More and more, he talked without realizing, snapped back into a conversation halfway without remembering what had just been said.

He wondered if anyone noticed. He thought he did a good job covering for himself.

On good days, he’d pick up needle and thread and sew, but even the hobby he used to love felt like nothing. A finished product was simply a finished product. Occasionally he still accidentally pricked his finger on the needle, and felt that bright sliver of pain, a blip of emotion in a sea of emptiness. Even more occasionally still, that needle prick sent off a complicated wave of fear and revulsion, his body automatically reacting to the memory of a needle prick that had left him open and defenseless. He’d be left sweating and shaking, sick to his stomach. But at least that felt like something instead of the yawning chasm of nothingness that seemed to be following him everywhere.

Hexside had him up later than he’d been allowed to sleep in the emperor’s coven, but every morning, when Hunter woke up, he already wanted to go back to sleep. To put his body in the same place his mind and heart went, into that calm quiet. Making himself move and care about school was a chore when he fell into that numbness (and now it seemed like he barely climbed out—now, the numbness was the default, with a few bright spots of change). At first he dismissed it as morning sleepiness, but as the day passed on, all he wanted to do was to take a nap, or better yet, just go back to sleep entirely. And on weekends, on blissful, wonderful weekends, he did. He’d sleep and sleep and sleep, until his body wouldn’t let his eyes stay closed any longer, and then he’d lie in bed for another half hour at least before getting up. It didn’t fill him with any more energy to stay asleep that long, it didn’t make the numbness go away, but at least he wasn’t conscious in that cottony nothing. Sleep was the only relief from it.

Darius always looked like he wanted to say something when Hunter finally got up in the midafternoon, his face swimming with concern, but he never did. Hunter got the feeling he was worried about overstepping, or upsetting him. He almost wished Darius would say something, but at the same time, dully thought that it probably wouldn’t help anyway.

So he went through the motions. He scheduled out his day, get up, go to school, play flyer derby, come home, eat dinner, finish homework, hour of allotted time for hobbies or reading, then preparation for bed, and finally slip back into that blissful slumber he’d been looking forward to all day. A strict schedule. If it weren’t for the fact that it would cause worry, and the fact that Hunter felt like he should at least try to enjoy something, he’d skip the allotted hobby time and go right to bed after finishing homework. But some small part of him worried (as much as that numbness would allow him to worry, it was barely even a feeling) that if he slipped and let go of the hobby time, something more important would be next. So he kept the schedule, day after day after static day.

Just one more day

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

#vent fic lmao #toh #the owl house #toh fanfiction #toh hunter #the golden guard #hunter wittebane #hunter deamonne #my writing #minific

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wastokins · 6 months

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Everyone is so mean to Phillip.

Art commissioned from an AMAZING artist, @Oonpiturn on Twitter!

The 50th (FIFTY!!!) Chapter of my Owl House fanfic, "Kindness & Forgiveness", is out! Please go give it a read! <3

(In short, this fic is about a hypothetical Belos redemption arc. What that would entail, and what it would take to get there.)

| Likes/Reblogs very much appreciated! |

AO3: https://www.archiveofourown.org/works/47474935

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/1347209438

FF: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14237718/

#zedd's writings #fanfic #fanfiction #toh #toh fanart #toh fanfic #toh fanfiction #the owl house #the owl house fanart #the owl house fanfic #the owl house fanfiction #emperor belos #phillip wittebane #wittebane #belos redemption #wittebane toh #belos

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kindestegg · 1 year

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hey you!! do you like fusions?? self indulgent canon divergent aus full of stuff fans might have asked for??? WHAT ABOUT PLATINUM BONES (KING AND COLLECTORS DYNAMIC)?? then have i got the deal for you!!!!

from the foreword on the doc:

Nightingale is a “what if” canon divergent exercise that asks the bold question of “what if Collector still had a blobby goopy true form? And what if King was able to fuse with that and get cool super powers so he could also look cool and pose with Titan Luz and Harpy Eda?” And so was born Nightingale!

read their story here! have fun!

#the owl house #toh au #toh aus #king clawthorne #the collector #toh collector #canon divergent au #toh fanfic #toh fanfiction #nightingale toh #platinum bones #watching and dreaming #Commander's orders #art

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haystarlight · 25 days

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I wanted to submit this to the-owl-house-takes but they don't take asks anymore and are ending the blog.

Anyway, I think I'm getting a little bit sick and tired of seeing characters act like idiots on fics and fanart where they're not together yet. Like in those getting-together fics where both characters have a crush but they're not dating yet? I'm tired of people writing the characters to be idiots at romance just to stop them from getting together.

I understand these are all neurodivergent teenagers who all have their own trauma but, at the end of the day, they're not morons. They know a few social cues, they can tell what flirting is supposed to be. I was a neurodivergent teen with problems socializing but I still knew *some things* about romance.

The character who suffers from this the most is Hunter I think. Tho Luz is a victim of it too but Hunter is the most notable. I understand that he was raised in a cult so maybe he doesn't comprehend romance as well as other teens but he's not stupid, okay? I'm tired of people writing him stupid or too socially inept to even flirt or make jokes.

Canon Hunter makes jokes all the time! I know there's a common headcanon of him being autistic but not like this, dudes.

Maybe I sound conceited when I say I think I write characters a lot better than others. I try to make them awkward crushing losers but without them looking completely socially inept. A lot of fan writers don't strike that balance.

Anyway, maybe I should just read some Established Relationship stuff for a minute.

(this is isn't directed at any specific author/artist, it's a pattern I have seen in multiple fan works by multiple people and tbh it's okay if this is how you choose to write these characters. I just don't feel like reading it anymore)

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kess-i-guess · 6 months

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All Roads Lead To Home Update!

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childlikegoblinqueen · 9 months

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Happy one month chapter-versary to this nightmare sequence!

And thank you to @imperfection-you-will-find for depicting it soooooooo perfectly for the commission !

“Give her to me…”

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beanie-beebo-writes · 1 month

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Living nightmares

TW: Unintentional self-harm, dissociation, PTSD flashbacks, anxiety/panic attacks, sensory overload

Pairings: None but can be implied

Category: Owl House, Reader insert

Note: Meant to be set before the timeskip but after Belos is defeated, but it can also be interpretted as being at the noceda house after the s2 finale. Can be taken in any way, your choice.

--------

The world was spinning in a blurry dishwasher. When did that start?

"Hunter?"

A voice echoed from somewhere distant. He didn't know where he was, or what happened. It suddenly was hard to breathe.

"Woah, woah okay. Deep breaths, breathe with me."

The voice was close now, albeit still a bit muffled with his ringing ears. It pierced through his hearing suddenly like a flash forward, his vision becoming overly sharp and bright. Hunter squinted and whined softly at the overwhelming array of colors and structures around him, now in full focus.

"Hey, hey." (Y/N) said calmly with a hint of urgency.

Hunter felt a gentle touch on his shoulder, but it made his skin squirm. He gasped out softly and whipped his head to their face. He panted and took it in full excruciating detail. It at least made his lungs feel unblocked again as a wave of calm washed over him. (Y/N) was gazing at him with their sympathetic eyes that held a hint of concern behind them.

"It's okay." They began gently, removing their hand from his shoulder as they sensed his unease.

They held their hand placatingly at a short distance and began to breathe deeply. They were demonstrating how to breathe. Hunter followed almost automatically as his lungs craved oxygen. The deep breaths caused his head to feel airy at first, but (Y/N) continued to gently guide him even as he struggled to keep himself up.. on his hands. When did he get to the floor?

(Y/N) seemed to pick up on his confusion and slightly trembling limbs. "Just focus on breathing right now, nevermind that. Alright?"

They began to count with their fingers in between each deep breath since he couldn't seem to focus. Hunter followed weakly.

They had seen Gus demonstrate this to Hunter in times previous, but they didn't think their own hand would have the same effect as his friend's had before.

A few minutes went by and Hunter seemed to calm down rather quickly. He inhaled deeply and sighed. His limbs felt like lead; he attempted to move to a nearby cabinet with no progress. (Y/N) sensed the issue and swiftly sat him against the lower cabinets before he passed out again.

A beat of silence as they looked worriedly into one another's eyes.

"What.. what happened? Why can't I move?" Hunter asked, his voice creaking from the strain in his throat muscles.

"You had a panic attack I think. Just.. take it easy." (Y/N) said, sitting in front of him on the floor.

"You.. think?" Hunter said, panic seeping into his tone. "I don't.. I don't remember-"

"No no no, don't do that. Trust me." They warned gently.

They seemed to try grounding Hunter by putting a hand cautiously on his knee. He looked at them in confusion, trying to ignore the electricity at their connected limbs.

"Let's not.. go down that route again. That's what got you in this predicament in the first place. No thinking. Take a breather before you cause me to have a crisis too." (Y/N) chuckled nervously.

Hunter nodded and moved his leg onto the floor to rid of the horrible sensation. He's sure whatever happened, they would fill him in later. It seemed he really shook them up, and he didn't want to add to that any more than he already did.

"Alright." Hunter said.

He was happy to sit there for a moment. It's not like he really had a choice, seeing his limbs felt like jelly. But he couldn't help but ponder anyway, and it was clearly evident on his face.

"Hey, you promised." (Y/N) said firmly.

"Sorry, I just can't help it." Hunter said.

(Y/N) sighed and scooted next to him.

"If I tell you, will you promise to try and stay calm? I don't want you hurting yourself."

This worried Hunter. He hurt himself? He looked back to them, guilt written all over his face. He nodded. (Y/N) looked at his expression peculiarly but took a deep breath and continued anyway, shrugging it off for a later question.

"You... were hyperventilating and uh.." They paused, they had to be careful to not set him off again. "Something- something seemed wrong. I tried to snap you out of it, but you.. I don't know."

(Y/N) instantly knew they chose the wrong words when they looked back at Hunter. His eyes looked slightly haunted and he looked down at his hands like he did before he fell unconscious earlier. (Y/N) widened their eyes and hurriedly but gently took his hands into their own. They made sure to be firm in case he seemed to get lost again. Hunter looked up sadly, squirming his hands.

"You okay?" (Y/N) asked worriedly.

"Did I..? Did I hurt you..?" He asked, pulling his hands away.

Hunter looked like a kicked puppy just then, it broke their heart. They suddenly came to the realization of why Hunter looked at them like that before. Now they weren't sure if he was pulling away for self-preservation, or if something else was wrong.

"Hey, of course not. Sorry if I made you assume that. You were just having a rough time, okay? I think you were lost in your... thoughts, is all." (Y/N) said carefully.

"Do you promise? I'll never forgive myself if-"

"No, I promise. I just don't want whatever happened to happen again so I'm intentionally being.. choosy with my words."

This made Hunter calm down a bit. But then there was still one unanswered question.

"Is everything alright? Do you not want to be touched right now?" (Y/N) began.

"What happened? I can take it. Please, my head is spinning here." Hunter begged.

(Y/N) paused for a moment before deciding he deserved the truth, even if they thought he couldn't handle it right now. Their question could wait a moment.

"You were doing the dishes. And I was writing on my computer when you suddenly began to hyperventilate.."

----

(Y/N's) project was almost wrapped up. Only a couple more pages and they could send it in to the editor. They stroked the keys gracefully before a loud gasp brought them out of "the zone". They looked over to the noise. Hunter having done the dishes, had his back facing towards (Y/N). All they could see was that he was trembling with his head bent down, he was panting.

(Y/N) worriedly furrowed their brows and stood up slowly from the table to walk over to Hunter.

"..Hunter?" They asked.

No response, they were met with his rapid breathing.

"Hey sweetie, what's wrong? What ha-"

They gently turned Hunter around and froze when they saw the gushing slash on his finger. Fuck. (Y/N) rushed to grab the nearest dry, clean towel, pressing down on the cut that extended from his finger to his palm. Hunter was still panting harshly after a moment; they looked up at him now.

"Hey, it's just a little cut. It'll be okay." They said with a warm smile.

Hunter seemed to look past them, his eyes glazed over. With tears? From being in a memory? (Y/N) couldn't tell. They gently raised a hand to his scarred right cheek.

"Hunter? You with me?"

His eyes seemed to focus on them, but also right through them. Like he wasn't actually seeing (Y/N), but someone else. They didn't like that look in his eyes, it gnawed at them from the inside as if they did something horribly wrong. Hunter started to go pale under his sweat-slicked skin. (Y/N)'s worry grew, and practically skyrocketed, upon seeing his eyes roll back into his head and seeing his knees bucle before their eyes.

"Hunter!" (Y/N) cried out.

They managed to catch him, just barely. His body was limp in their arms before guided down to the cold, linoleum floor

------

"You were out for a few minutes. I was close to calling an ambulance or something. When you came to, I had no idea what had happened, not exactly. But then you started hyperventilating again, and I realized it was probably just.. a really bad panic attack or something of the sort. You really gave me quite the scare there." (Y/N) finished.

Hunter blinked. Well that would explain why they were being cautious about the subject. He truly hadn't remembered it. Based on what they were saying though..

"I think it was a flashback." Hunter said.

"What?" They asked worriedly.

"That's the only thing that makes sense. You said you've had them before, right? I remember when you told me about them, and your extensive research on them for your peace of mind, and it seems like that." Hunter said.

"Wait.. you don't.. remember?" (Y/N) asked.

"Remember... what?" Hunter asked.

"What was going on in your head? What you were feeling or what I did? None of it?" They asked, voice laced with concern.

"No, not really. I remember.. clearing my plate and going to the sink. The rest is... black. Blank." He said.

(Y/N) frowned. They recalled their own fits like this as a kid. Well, not by their own account of course, but from loved ones. This was long before they knew what was happening in their small little body. Long before they knew they had experienced trauma, and what it did to a person.

"Then that's exactly what that was, Hunter. I only assume from experience." They said.

"I really don't want to remember... what that was." Hunter said.

"And you don't have to, not right now. But someday.. you will have to face those things whether you want to or not. I know that sounds scary, but you'll always have me. Probably your friends too. You won't have to face them alone." (Y/N) clarified.

Hunter was afraid, but he smiled gently at the thought. But then there was the fact that he probably was in his head, alone.

"But.. you aren't in here with me. Yeah you understand but, at the end of the day it's just me in here. You can't.. you can't be there." Hunter said anxiously.

(Y/N) sighed.

"That might be true. We might be trapped alone in our meatsuits, this little thing we call a cranium. But guess what else? That doesn't mean you're really alone. I will always be within reach. Always." They reassured.

He smiled and (Y/N) took his hand gently.

"Promise." They said.

He noticed his skin wasn't as sensitive for a moment, he rejoiced in not feeling like he was being struck by lightning. He looked away for a second but then back to (Y/N), after he realized.. they meant it.

----------------------

I haven't written in what seems like months and actually drawing?!. Who is this person and what have they done with Allison ehgetesgfsf

#hunter toh #hunter x reader toh #hunter x y/n #hunter x you #the owl house fanfiction #toh fanfic #toh fanfiction #gender neutral y/n #gender neutral!reader #gn!reader #hunter x gender neutral reader #hunter x gn!reader #toh reader insert

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sokkas-first-fangirl · 1 year

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“Let me explain it for you: you didn’t capture our palismen. Meaning Waffles and Ratador have totally alerted everyone by now. You kidnapped Darius Deamonne’s boyfriend and kid. And when Willow gets hold of you?” He shook his head, letting out a low whistle. “Ooh boy.”

“What? The Park girl?” Kikimora scoffed, trying to dodge the mention of Darius, which finally had her flinching. “What will she do?”

“Hm, yes, whatever will one of the most powerful witches of her age do?” Alador scoffed.

“Not to mention she’s super protective,” Hunter said. “It’s very cute, honestly.”

“You two are very sweet together,” Alador said.

“Aw, thanks!” He turned back to Kikimora with a smirk. “See, I think Willow’s great. Absolutely amazing, the best person I know. And, get this: she loves me. So, I’ll enjoy what she does when she gets here. But you?” He tutted, letting out a low mock-sympathetic hiss. “Yyyyeeeaaahhhh, no. You’re not gonna like what happens next.”

Kikimora's poor attempt at kidnapping Hunter and Alador quickly goes south for her. Rule number one: don't ever mess with Willow's boyfriend. At least Hunter's going to get plenty of cuddles out of this.

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captainmera · 9 months

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THE GOLDEN BROTHER - GROWING AND CHANGES

New chapter.... _(┐「ε:)_ .... *lays down* I'm terrible at chapter titles.

#toh #toh fanfiction #the owl house #the owl house fanfiction #the golden brother #huntlow #toh willow #toh hunter

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hiccuppps · 1 year

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max's gustholomule fic recs!

sharing some of my favs i've read so far to help spread the gustholomule agenda!!!!!!!!!! also these live in my brain forever...

4:02 AM by kindofsortofmaybe : GOD. if by some chance you haven't read this already what are you doing. THEYRE SO FUJCING STUPID OH MY GODDDD <3333333 the vibes are incredible can you tell im a night owl? lots of gus pining :)

Gardenias by disco_girl : WAD timeskip! THIS IS MY CANON. first kiss and relationship discussion :)

One More Ride by WoorEnergy : *slaps screen* THIS. first kiss? late night drives? STEVE? sign me TF UP!!!!!!! how many times have i read this? yes.

dozy by rt5626 : sick fic <3 they're so cute i hope they explode.

i would've followed [you] all the way to the graveyard by emsprovisions : first kiss fic!!!!! they're so silly!!! absolutely lives inside my brain.

tfw boys have shoulders by killyhawk : post-canon. title says it all. read this NOW i laughed so hard.

A Little Bit of Sunshine by multishipperofmanyfandoms : takes place during FTF. i've read this so many times i love it so much.

we grew up so well by kairoskeeper : matt and amity friendship!!!! definitely fed my brainrot. gustholomule sprinkles. the "WHO EVEN LIKES GIRLS?" lives in my brain.

Heart Covered in Honey by This_Is_My_Guest_Name : very soft!!!

Eyes On You by killyhawk : OOO KILLY THIS LORE! i live for anything exploring gus's illusion magic + bonus established gustholomule and good bf matt <3

let's give 'em something to talk about by killyhawk : killy with another banger. THE gustholomule writer ever. idiots <3 i hope they explode <3

Palisman Playdate by AssignedK9 : short and sweet!! i love this one sm (garth my beloved). focusses more on their friendship with the ship sprinkled in but their interactions are so perfect.

#gustholomule #max talks #gus porter #mattholomule #the owl house #toh #toh fanfic #the owl house fanfiction #toh fanfiction #max is a killyhawk fanboy #i love gustholomule so much oh my GOD.#fics

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avatarmerida · 10 months

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A little something based on JovianPlanets Summer Camp AU on twitter. There's not much to say: they're summer camp counselors, they're in college and Willow is the sports director and Hunter is a lifeguard. They're still dorks, it's very cute, get into it.

---

Hunter was the newest counselor at Camp Palistrom and for the first part of the summer, he had mostly kept to himself. He had been recommended by Luz whose mom worked at the animal shelter he volunteered at, but he knew she had just started dating the activities coordinator and didn’t want to be a third wheel in their summer romance. He was fine using the limited free time he had to study, just because it was summer didn’t mean it was an excuse to slack off. He adopted an air of mystery; he was strict and diligent. He took his job seriously. But the moment he wasn’t actively responsible for campers’ wellbeing, it was like he vanished.

But then one morning Willow ran into him on her early morning jog and was overjoyed to have finally found a workout buddy who could keep up with her, and the two became the talk of camp.

But mostly because Willow and Hunter were no strangers to the infirmary.

They'd be on a hike and sure enough they'd fall into a collection of poison ivy. They'd try out double dutch and would be in with matching scrapes and bruises. They'd be in the garden and sure enough so would a whole beehive. Not to mention the infamous super glue incident when they tried to make a birdhouse for a cardinal that seemed to be obsessed with Hunter.

But this latest one really took the cake.

“Okay it’s not like a life threatening wound or anything,” Viney observed as Hunter sat in the small nurse's office, an arrow sticking out of his shoulder. “The arrow’s head was straight, so it won’t like rip you apart or anything but I ain’t gonna lie it’s still gon hurt when it comes out.”

“Can I take like a Tylenol or something?” Hunter asked.

“Uh I mean you can but it probably won’t do too much,” said Viney. “I mean, it’s an arrow, dude. The stuff that’ll make you not feel that is not the stuff they send to a state owned summer camp.”

“Oh, yeah well, I’m sure it’ll be fine…” Hunter started looking uncertain.

“Oh Hunter I’m so sorry!” Said Willow. “This is all my fault, let me drive you to the hospital and we can get you something to help-.”

“Willow, Willow I promise it’s fine, really,” Hunter said, putting his hand over hers. “It really doesn’t hurt, it’s just… kinda weird. And it’s not your fault!”

“I’m the sports director, I should've explained the technique better before I let the kids shoot!” She insisted. “Let me at least hold your hand or something while she takes it out..”

“Uh sure yeah okay we can-.” He began as Willow eagerly laced her fingers through his and gave his hand a small squeeze. There was no way he was focusing on the pain now. “-do that.”

Their collection of injuries wasn’t the only thing the pair were known for around camp.

“So uh, what were you doing by the archery field?” Said Viney as she looked for the gloves.

“Uh ya know just… walking by.” said Hunter tentatively as he tried not to look at Willow looking at him with wide, worried eyes.

“Just walking by, huh?” Asked Viney with a smirk. “It’s an awful far walk from the pool, are you sure you weren’t there for… any other reasons?”

Hunter’s face turned bright red. “I uh, ya know I was just walking by that’s all,” he said nervously. “Ya know, just… hanging out.”

He totally wasn’t watching Willow demonstrate how to pull back the arrow and admiring the cute way she scrunched her nose when she focused. It wasn't his fault King was overzealous and fired his arrow early.

“Sure it wasn’t Cupid that hit with that arrow?” Viney asked with a smirk.

“Pretty sure,” Hunter chuckled nervously, clearing his throat. If Willow got what Viney was trying to imply she made no indication. She was too focused on holding Hunter’s hand.

“All right then, hold him down Park,” said Viney, getting a good grip on the end of the arrow. “Just in case I don’t get it on the first try.”

“Wait what?”

—-

Viney gave Hunter an ointment he needed to apply every few hours when he changed the bandages. She advised trying to avoid getting them wet, but Hunter found that might be a little difficult being the lifeguard and all.

Luckily, Willow was still certified due to Amity insisting everyone be prepared in case of emergency so she could be there to help if lifeguard services were required. She offered to take his shifts all together and give him a break, but he insisted that it was still his responsibility. So, every day, Willow and Hunter would meet at the lifeguard tower. Hunter insisted he could have his chair and he would stand but she wouldn’t hear of it. So she got out an old one from the shed so they could both sit side by side “like a king and queen, looking over their kingdom,” Willow said. Realistically, they should sit at opposite ends of the pool to have a better view of the whole pool but Hunter didn’t mention this because he liked how excited she was to sit next to him. He wasn't able to do their usual activities since they might aggravate his injury, so he was glad he still had an excuse to see her.

He had expected this summer to be about a paycheck, something good to put on his resume. He hadn't expected meeting someone like her. She made everything fun. She bought them matching heart-shaped sunglasses and would mimic his voice when he yelled at kids not to run. But she wasn't making fun of him, which was odd to him. She went out her way to find him. She'd bring him an extra jello cup from the mess hall when he was running late, she asked people to move down so she could sit next to him at campfires, she made him a friendship bracelet that he mentally vowed never to take off.

For the first time, he wished for an endless summer.

---

As the last campers headed back to their cabins to get ready for dinner, Willow jumped into the pool to do a celebratory cannonball. Hunter laughed as she splashed his feet, setting her prescription sunglasses on the edge of the pool as she treaded water.

“Come on in, let’s race!” she called up to him.

It was tempting, it was very tempting. It had been a hot day the way Willow’s braids were slowly unraveling made her look like a mermaid. But he still had a few more days on Viney’s restrictions.

“I’d love to, but I gotta go change my bandages before the campfire,” he said. “I’ll be right back though, I wanna tell you about my idea for a water polo team.”

Hunter ran over to the pool shed where he kept his supplies and went to work. The bandages were tight around his shoulder, and it was difficult to remove one handed by himself, especially with the shed as dark as it was. But he wanted to get back to Willow as quickly as possible, so he practically dislocated his other shoulder as he tried to undo the old layer.

“Hey, are you okay in here?” came a delicate voice from the doorway.

“Willow!” he said, flustered as he turned himself back around. “I-I’m fine; really. I can figure it out myself.”

“I know Gus said you had trouble last night and he had to help you before bed,” said Willow as she made her way to the back by him, her hair still dripping wet. “I can help you if you-.”

“No no I don’t want you to have to-.”

“I honestly don’t mind at all Hunter. Plus I don’t want you to get infected.” She put her glasses atop her head, the shed too dark for sunglasses. He knew her normal glasses were back in her locker, he’d hate for her to strain her eyes on his account. “Let me help you.”

But she really did care about him.

“It’s just… I’d have to take off my shirt…”

“Oh, well… oh.” Willow stopped herself. She realized that despite being the lifeguard, Hunter did always have his tank top on. A fact she remembered vividly because the few times he had needed to jump into the water, her head quickly turned and saw the white see thru fabric clinging poetically to his torso, glaring in the sunlight. Not that she had been disappointed. Not that she was expecting anything. Not that she was ogling him.

Okay, maybe a little.

The point was that Willow knew Hunter did not take off his shirt because she definitely would’ve noticed if he had. She knew it was none of her business, she knew it wasn’t professional or polite to ask but she’d be lying if the slight definition of his arms didn’t spark a healthy curiosity in her.

But she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

“Oh, that’s okay,” she said. “If you want I can get Gus to help if that would be more comfortable for you, I just know it’s an odd angle and with how hot it’s been today I’m worried about you not healing properly.”

“Uh no it’s okay just… promise not to stare?”

“I promise.” She swore, crossing her heart. She put the appropriate amount of medicine onto her fingertip as she tried to allow Hunter some kind of privacy as he undressed. Hunter took a deep breath as he carefully went to remove his shirt and the moment he did Willow realized just how small the pool shed was as she felt launched into the orbit of his personal space as her eyes did not know where to land. Even with her impaired vision, she could see plenty. She didn’t know how to react, and her mouth moved faster than her mind as she let her thoughts become audible.

“Wow.” she whispered, immediately regretting it. She saw Hunter’s brow furrow in worry and she stumbled over herself to try and fix it. “Sorry! Sorry, it’s just that you’ve got some pretty impressive-.”

“Scars, I know they’re-.”

“-muscles.”

An awkward silence floated between the two of them as Willow attempted to address the task at hand as she placed one hand on his wound to apply the salve and the other somehow landed on his bare chest. As he looked up to face her, Hunter saw how close they were. She didn’t step back or wear a look of disgust, in fact if Hunter didn’t know better, he’d say she looked rather… flustered.

“Oh, uh… thanks,” he managed to say. “I uh work out a little, I guess.”

“Yeah, I guess saving people will uh will do that,” she said, pretending to clear her throat. She promised she wouldn’t stare, and she didn’t realize it was easier said than done. She held her breath as she wrapped the new bandage, trying not to apply too much pressure. It was one thing staring at his back when he passed her on their runs, but this was bordering unprofessional.

“Are you okay?” He asked when she was uncharacteristically quiet. “I know it’s kind of gross-.”

“No, no it’s totally not gross,” Willow quickly assured him. “It’s like the total opposite of gross, it’s like I get why the sign-up sheet for swim team filled up so quickly, ya know?”

“I uh, I meant the wound,” clarified Hunter.

“Oh! Oh yeah yeah yeah totally,” she laughed nervously. “I mean not that it’s gross, it’s like practically healed. You uh- I mean… dude you have some major tan lines.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah I guess,” he laughed, noticing for the first time the tan half circle from his tank top clashing with the pale whiteness of his torso. “You should see the tan lines from my crocs, my feet are covered in polka dots now.”

“You think that’s bad? Check this out!” She giggled as she pulled the strap of her coverup over her shoulder to reveal a dramatic discoloration of her own. “And don’t get me started on the tan line from my glasses.”

“Okay yeah, that’s pretty-woah!” Before Hunter could finish, he bumped a shelf with his elbow and sent the supplies faking onto the ground. He quickly pulled Willow out of its path, pulling her in by her waist to avoid being crushed by boogie boards and towels. The water falling from her hair created a small puddle that she slipped in and caused her to hold him tighter for balance.

“Sorry about that, are you okay?” He asked, looking down at her slightly embarrassed. Much to his surprise, he was met with wide eyes as Willow instinctively clung to his chest.

“Mhm-hmm,” she breathed softly, and Hunter was suddenly taken back by the way the gentle light shone through the small window and managed to find her like a spotlight. Like she was the only thing deserving of the sparse light, like it was drawn to her, like it fought to be near her. He could hardly blame it. They were so close, he could smell her sunscreen. So close, that it would be so easy to-.

“Hunter, how many floaties would be considered a safety hazard because Gus and I wanna-oh.” Luz stopped herself dead in her tracks as she examined the very surprising very… compromising scene she walked in on: a shirtless Hunter holding Willow as her strap exposed her shoulders and they both looked like deer caught in the headlights. What was she supposed to think?

“Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt!” Said Luz, going to shut the door. “I’ll just be going so you can-.”

“You’re not!” “It’s not what you think!” They said simultaneously as they quickly separated, and Hunter rushed to put his tank top back on.

“Luz, wait up!” Willow called before quickly turning back to Hunter. “Are you good?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, I-it’s great thanks,” he said with a blush he hoped the dim lighting hid.

“Cool,” she said, giving him a wink as she often did. “Happy to help.”

—-

It felt wrong to, but Willow almost wished Hunter’s injury would take longer to heal. She hoped he would ask her to stay on after he no longer technically needed her, but she knew he wouldn’t dream of inconveniencing her. But it wouldn't be anything like that, she loved spending time with him. And he didn’t socialize outside camp sponsored events. If he wasn’t required to be somewhere, he was off by himself. She would find an excuse to see him under the guise of planning events and soon he would be telling her about the books he was reading or showing her pictures of the cardinal he was looking after. She knew he needed the time to collect his thoughts after the overstimulation their job brought forth, but summer was ending soon. Was it selfish to say she wanted as much time with him as possible?

She had never met someone like him, so serious and silly at the same time. She loved the way he lit up when he told her about his interests and the way he looked at her when she went on about her plants. He admitted he had found an old book on edible fungi so on their next hike they could look for examples together. She would love nothing more.

She liked him, she really liked him.

And she was starting to think he really liked her too.

---

“Did you know Hunter’s birthday is this week?” Willow asked as she and Gus finished cleaning up makeshift kickball bases.

“How did I know you were gonna bring up Hunter?”

“Okay, you brought him up first when you were talking about arranging a Cosmic Frontier movie night,” countered Willow.

“Well, if we get two more sign ups we’ll be allowed to do it!” he said. They currently had three, two of which were them.

“Anyway, it’s not on the employee board so I wonder why he’s keeping it a secret.”

“How did you find out?”

“He was showing me a postcard his guardian sent him, and I saw another one on his bed that asked what he was doing for his birthday on Friday,” she said.

“You were in his cabin? Unsupervised?” Gus gave a fake gasp. “At last: a camp scandal!”

“Pshh, I wish,” she joked. “It’s your cabin too, Gus. I was just in there helping him fold your laundry since he lost the bet you two had.”

"The poor fool really thought he could drink more Bug Juice than me," Gus chuckled fondly as he slung the sack of kickballs over his shoulder. "He never stood a chance."

"He's never had so much processed sugar before," laughed Willow, remembering how she had tried teaching him how to braid with his surge of energy but he had passed out on her shoulder halfway through and she guided him through the sugar hangover the next day.

“Yeah, you two have been spending a lot of time together,” said Gus. “Getting hit by that arrow was the best thing that ever happened to him. Before, he’d be up all night rereading the manual to something and now he’s like a totally different person. He’s been smiling alot more.”

“We hung out before he got hit by the arrow,” Willow smiled. Hunter had a nice smile, even the thought of it was contagious.

"You know that's not the arrow I mean," teased Gus. Willow rolled her eyes, she knew Viney's joke about Cupid's arrow had spread around camp. She honestly didn't mind it. She had brought it up once to Hunter, to see if he was totally against the implication but somehow, they got talking about Percy Jackson, thinking it was a reference and he went on one his deep dives that Willow loved to listen to, like her own personal podcast.

“I wish we started hanging out sooner. There’s only one more session left and then he’ll be across the country for school.”

“I know,” sighed Gus sadly. “But that just means we have to make the time we have left count. The campers leave Friday morning and then we have a whole weekend before the last set comes in. Maybe we can do something for his birthday?”

“I want to do something, but I know if we tell him we want to do something he’ll insist he’s not worth the trouble,” said Willow. “And I don’t think it’s because he wouldn’t enjoy it, but he’s like actually convinced he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Then… what if we surprise him?” said Gus.

“Gus, we hardly have any free time as it is,” laughed Willow. “And when we do, we’re all together. How can we plan a whole party without him knowing?”

“If we tell him it’s not for him,” said Gus slyly.

“Ooh, you’ve got a scheme, Porter?”

“We just need to convince Hunter that I have a summer birthday.”

---

“Okay, Gus is out with Matt collecting firewood so we should have plenty of time to set up the main hall before he gets back,” said Amity, going over her checklist. In truth, Matty and Gus were finishing making a cardboard cutout of O’Bailey out of paper mâché, convinced it would be a fun photo op. “Luz and I are finishing up decorations, Skara is on music, Jerbo is on punch, Ed and Em are getting games, Viney… I don’t think a petting zoo is gonna work but lemme double check and we just need someone to pick up the cake and a few things from town.”

“Oh! Hunter and Willow can go!” Luz pretended to spontaneously volunteer as though that had not been the plan the whole time.

“Uh, sure yeah,” said Hunter. Willow nodded and ran ahead to grab the keys from Eda’s office.

Once she was out of earshot, Luz reached out and pulled Hunter back by his shoulder. “Don’t mess this up.”

“I won’t,” he assured her, confused as to why she thought he would. “I know Gus’ favorite flavors and I’m prepared to go to multiple stores to get the trick candles he likes.”

“Not that!” Luz said in a harsh whisper. “Do you really think we need two people to pick up a cake? No, this is just an elaborate excuse to get you two alone so you finally make a move.”

Luz considered the opportunity a birthday gift to Hunter.

“Make a-,” he turned around frantically to make sure Willow had not been around to hear. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“My dude, during free swim you look at Willow like you’re hoping she’s gonna drown,” said Luz. “Those sunglasses aren’t fooling anyone.”

“I would never put the lives of campers at risk!” He said, truly offended. “I keep an avid and well circulated eye over everyone in the water, not just Willow and her green bikini!”

Luz simply raised an eyebrow to him as his words caught up with him and did not help disprove her point.

“I mean I- it could’ve been green, I don’t remember but it’s beside the point because what I mean is I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Which I guess means you haven’t noticed the way she practically starts drooling every time you reapply sunscreen,” said Luz smugly, amazed how neither of them were even a little bit subtle and yet the other was totally oblivious. Like an unstoppable force and an unmovable object.

“I don’t… notice everything Willow does,” Hunter lied, beginning to sweat. He assumed her gaze was always meant for something just past him. Or maybe she was just making sure he applied it evenly. Once she had offered to get his back for him and he ended up pretending to see something in the water to avoid coming up with an answer because he literally couldn’t say yes but how could he say no?

“Hey, having a crush is nothing to be embarrassed about-.”

“Shhh! What are you doing? Willow might hear you!” Hunter hissed. “If you bothered to read the handbook you’d know that fraternization among counselors is frowned upon and can end in demerits or termination of employment!”

“Demerits? Are you reading the manual from like the 1950s?”

“It’s been a consistent policy!”

“Interesting that you seemed to care so much about that policy that you looked it up to see if it had changed,” said Luz with a smirk.

“It’s not like that,” he lied again. “I happen to know all the policies and their updates.”

“So are you gonna report me and Amity?”

“What? No, I would never-.”

“Then the rules are not the reason you’re being a wuss,” said Luz firmly. “So why haven’t you made a move all summer? She’s been flirting with you like crazy.”

“What? She has not-.”

“So what I walked in on in the pool shed was just… what exactly?”

“She was just helping me with my injury.”

Hunter knew how it looked. It wasn’t the first time they had been caught in a similar situation.

There had been the time the counselors had gotten together for a game of capture the flag. The only condition was that Willow and Hunter had to be on opposite teas, otherwise no one else stood a chance. After a competition within the competition on who got Gus, he declared himself referee to keep the peace. The counselors had decided to make things more interesting and to make finding the flag extra hard. There were no rules so long as it was on the border and chaos ensued.

In the end, Willow’s team had been victorious as their flag was apparently invisible. Flag locations had been disclosed to Gus so he could confirm no foul play had occurred. Afterwards, Hunter was praising Willow at her ability to hide her flag so well, no one had been able to locate it. She beamed at his praise and twirled her ponytail, saying it wasn’t that far away. Hunter knew she often wore her hair and braids and took immediate notice. Especially the interesting color of her hair tie.

Without thinking, he reached forward and took a closer look. Finding his suspicion correct, he removed the makeshift scrunchie, causing her curls to cascade onto her shoulders as he finally held the flag high over his head. The game was long over but he still felt victorious. Despite the finding of the flag resulting in no real loss, Willow til lunged forward to try and take back her treasure. Hunter used his height to his advantage and kept it out of her reach but that didn’t stop Willow. She wrapped one arm around him to prevent him from switching between hands as the other reached up in vain, the both of them laughing too hard to care how silly it all was. She gave one bold jump and the next thing they knew, they were on the ground.

In the commotion, Hunter had landed on top of Willow who managed to win her flag back. She tried to catch her breath from the laughing and the falling as she looked up at Hunter with a wide, smug smile. Their faces were mere inches apart as Hunter found himself frozen. He knew she couldn't get up and until he did but he was too focused trying to formulate an apology. But Willow hardly thought one was warranted. Silently, she reached up and placed the handkerchief around his neck and tied a loose knot as her fingers lingered at the frayed ends. Hunter wordlessly looked down at her as she did not remove her hold but seemed to try and bring him down closer to her. She was slowly succeeding as his forelock now rested on her forehead, she bit her lip and somehow Hunter felt she was resisting the urge to raise her head to close the gap herself. Her hair was spread out on the ground with the dark green grass effortlessly blending in, like she was everything and everywhere. She was in her element, and he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. He allowed her to pull him down more, until he was on his elbows and as her eyes fluttered closed he knew that he was right where she wanted him to be and he just had to-

“Have you guys seen where Gus-oh!”

Just as quickly as it was cast, the spell was broken as Amity and Luz rounded the corner.

“Oooh, what’s going on here?” sang Luz mischievously raising her eyebrows as she wrapped her arms around Amity’s waist and placed her chin on her shoulder. They pair had been betting on who would make the first move and there was a stack of limited edition Azura bookmarks waiting for the winner.

“Nothing!” said Hunter, his face turning bright red as he pushed himself away from Willow, quickly standing on his feet. Amity and Luz exchanged a knowing look as Hunter frantically wiped the dirt off him before extending his hand to Willow to help her off. “It was uh… it wasn’t… we were just uh-.”

“I was just giving Hunter his consolation prize,” said Willow as though that truly was what she had been doing. She straightened the bandana around his neck before gently tugging the front of it to lead him away as she walked past their friends as though nothing had been interrupted. He followed behind her, and later chalked it all up to adrenaline from the game.

It was nothing, right? Just like the pool shed?

So why was his mind so consumed by nothing?

“It looked like you were posing for the cover of a romance novel you see in the grocery store checkout line,” insisted Luz, interrupting his daydream of a memory. “Man, if I knew she was so into bad but sad boys I would’ve set you two up ages ago!”

“She is not into me!”

“Do you… not want her to be?”

“I want her… I want her…”

“I don’t think you need to finish that sentence,” said Luz with a wink as she heard Willow returning.

“Hey!” Willow called as she ran back to him with a smile, dangling the keys in his face. “Ready?”

—-

Willow tried her best to waste time in the store, but Hunter was just too efficient. When she pretended to lose the list, he had it memorized. When she pretended like she couldn’t decide between two things, he offered to get both. When she pretended to have forgotten something, planning to take her time going back to get it, he and his long legs rushed to grab it in record time.

She had to admire how determined he was to get back and help set things up for Gus, she couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he saw the effort was all for him.

But damn it, she needed to waste some time!

Maybe she could make the most of this opportunity…

She watched him check his mirrors as though they had somehow been adjusted since they were last in the car 10 minutes ago. The way he furrowed his brow and blew his loose strand of hair out of his vision almost made her forget to breathe. She knew his mind was a never-ending maze of lists and instructions, and other people might think that made him uptight or critical, but Willow knew it was because he cared so much, he didn’t know where to start. He was thorough and thoughtful and clever and careful, and Willow wanted him to know that she knew. She couldn’t help but see him.

“You’re a really good driver,” said Willow, looking at him with a smile.

“R-really? Uh, thanks,” Hunter gulped. Despite the car being in park and off, Hunter’s hands remained at 10 and 2 on the wheel. “You’re really good at… sitting shotgun.”

“Thanks,” she said, kicking her feet as they dangled over the side of the high truck seat. He started the car and Willow watched him quickly go through the checklist. Seatbelt, lights, windows, reverse, windows again. Maybe he even glanced her way, surely to make sure her seatbelt was secure. She fiddled with the volume knob and watched him from the corner of her eye as he sat up straighter, as though sensing her gaze.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Luz:

Luzura: We need some more time, can you stall him a little longer?

Hello_Willow: Of course 🙂

“Hey uh, since we have some extra time, do you mind if we take a small detour real quick?” she asked as sweetly as she could.

“Oh uh, sure,” he said. She knew he was not the detour type, but she has a feeling she wouldn’t say no to her.

“Oh, take a left at the next stop sign,” said Willow as Hunter did so. They were far from the streetlights now, far from any light. Willow led them to a small, secluded spot that overlooked the lake, the moon’s reflection the only thing showing where the land ended and the water resided. They weren’t too far from camp now, but far enough where they had privacy.

“Is this… Lookout Point?”

“Oh, huh, I guess it is,” said Willow with a chuckle, seeing he was right. “I never realized. I always come here during the day to catch frogs, but I guess at night it has other plans.”

“Yeah, heh.”

“C’mon! Let's go sit by the water!” she said, jumping out the door before he could protest. He wouldn’t, he would follow her anywhere. A few feet from the lake was a picnic table and Willow hopped on and spread out her sundress dress, looking like a painting that Hunter felt somehow always existed in his mind. The moonlight found her, as light always seemed to, and graced the top of her head like a halo.

“I just thought the moon would look pretty over the water,” she said, bringing her knees up to get more comfortable.

“You were right,” said Hunter, his eyes going back between her and the moon, their radiance essentially equal. “It’s really pretty.”

“Yeah,” she agreed with a sigh as Hunter tentatively sat beside her. Her stomach flipped, as their shoulders nearly touched.

“So uh, how did you know about Lookout Point?” Willow asked after a moment.

“Huh? Oh, uh I dunno.”

“It’s just cuz Lookout Point isn’t the actual name of this place, the only people who call it that are people who come here to… uh…”

“Oh, yeah I know,” said Hunter, trying to seem cooler than he felt.

“So… have you?”

“What?”

“Been here with someone to-.”

“Oh! No! No, no, no! Haha no way!” He said quickly and nervously, his laugh forced and unconvincing. “I just uh know about it because Luz is always sneaking off here with Amity and she asks me to cover for her. She called it that but I had no idea that wasn’t the official name, heh.”

“Oh yeah, I bet they carved their initials here somewhere,” she said, looking down at the table. Hunter followed her gaze and saw it was covered with hearts filled in with tiny letters. Willows’s finger traced a few as she searched for her friends’ and Hunter held his breath as her fingers brushed his, maybe even lingering when they did. He looked down too, searching for Willow's initials, being very familiar with how they looked encased in a heart.

“So, uh, are yours-.” Hunter started to ask but was interrupted by a loud explosion. He and Willow looked up and saw a display of fireworks gracing the sky above the lake.

“Oh wow,” she whispered. “They must be from the camp across the lake, they’re always showing off.”

It was like a show just for them, a spontaneous display of light and color trying to reach the moon. Okay maybe Willow knew this would be happening since it happened every year. Hunter wasn’t the only one super into planning. They sat atop the picnic table admiring the scene together. If you told Hunter he would be spending his 21st birthday at Lookout Point watching fireworks with the prettiest girl he’d ever met he would say he’d never believe it.

“Are you cold?” he asked, most likely because he wanted to say something. It was the perfect night, in every aspect. Willow felt perfectly content. But she noticed Hunter wasn’t wearing a jacket and it made her feel mischievous.

“What if I said I was?” She teased, bumping his arm with hers.

“Oh, uh…” Hunter suddenly realized he did not have a solution to offer. “Uh…I guess I could uh…”

He looked around as though one might appear if he was desperate enough, but the air did not manifest him something for some reason. He tentatively raised his arm and hovered for a moment over Willow’s shoulder. She saw from the corner of her eye but said nothing, as though worried she might spook him. But in her mind she was screaming words of encouragement. Finally, his arm found its way down across her back, his hand resting gently across her shoulders.

“Is that… okay?” his voice was strained as his eyes looked straight ahead. Willow wanted him to know he didn’t have to be nervous, but she has to admit it didn’t make her heart flip a little. She carefully wrapped her arm around his waist to bring him closer, her head ever so slightly resting on his chest.

“I feel warmer already,” she said softly, unable to help but giggle at the small gasp he let out when she returned the contact.

“Cool,” said Hunter softly as he felt her shift closer to him. “Yeah, uh this is… nice.”

“Yeah,” agreed Willow as the pair enjoyed the view. She felt his head rest against hers and all she wanted was to be in this moment forever. She imagined how picturesque they must look, comfortable and cozy. Her phone in the car, their friends miles away, no chance of being interrupted now.

Now she could find out if there was something to interrupt.

“Do you… think you’ll come back next summer?” Willow broke the comfortable silence to ask. It was such a nice moment, and she didn’t want to ruin it, but it had been on her mind. But she might not get another chance where she was sure the two of them had privacy. She might need to take advantage of that.

“I mean, I’ve been having a great time so far,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the campers and the birds and yo- you know, the o-other counselors.”

“Well they’ve enjoyed getting to know you too,” she said sweetly, as her free hand played with her braid. “So I was kinda hoping I’d get to see you again.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Willow quickly turned her head up to face him just as he turned his and their noses nearly touched. Suddenly she couldn’t hear the fireworks as her heart flooded her ears

“Willow, I have to tell you something,” he whispered. She held her breath. “About my shoulder…”

"Oh my gosh, was I hurting you?" she panicked as she pulled away. "I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking I was just-."

“Viney said last week that my shoulder was fine,” he said quickly and ashamed as he turned away from her.

“What?”

“I didn’t technically need your help this week,” he went on. “I lied to you because I like spending time with you, and I was worried that if I didn’t have this then… then I wouldn’t know how to ask you to… because everytime we… I- I never know how to ask you to hang out and I guess I just wanted you to think…” he sighed and covered his face with his hands. “I dunno.”

Willow just smiled and looked at the friendship bracelet of woven yellow and green wrapped tightly around his wrist. “Ya know,” she started. “This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to get you to Lookout Point.” She admitted with a chuckle. He slowly looked back up at her as though her words were in another language.

“What?”

“I mean, this actually wasn’t on purpose but after we took that hike and a ladybug landed on my shoulder and you didn’t laugh at me for freaking out but you just came up and let it crawl on your finger until it flew away and then you made sure there weren’t anymore nearby, I… Hunter I’ve had a huge crush on you all summer.”

“Wha- o-on me?” he asked as though he had somehow misheard her.

She nodded, feeling lighter now. “I know it might be silly, but if this is the only summer we’re gonna have together then I just…”

She leaned in and closed her eyes as she waited for Hunter to lean in the rest of the way. She felt him place his hands on shoulders. He took a deep breath and looked at her again as the fireworks fizzled behind her. She was stunning and sweet and astonishing. She was so much more than just one summer.

“I’m not really looking for a summer thing,” said Hunter awkwardly as he pulled away.

“Oh.” Willow said quietly, blinking as she tried to transition back to the real world and process his words. “Oh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh, Hunter I’m so sorry! I’m so embarrassed! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I’m so sorry you can just leave me here and I’ll walk back to-.”

“No! No, you didn’t make me uncomfortable, I swear!” Hunter assured her in an equal panic. “I just really like you and don’t want to ruin things and I’m not gonna make you walk back-.”

“You like me?”

“What?” Hunter said, not telling what he had just admitted as the fireworks continued to go off behind them. “I just… I uh… w-when I said I wasn’t looking for a summer thing I meant I wasn’t looking for something that was just the summer.”

“But I thought you were going back to-.”

“Not anymore,” he said. “I… I didn’t wanna risk jinxing it but I’ve been taking online classes at night and... I'm gonna be transferring to Hexisde in the fall.”

“Hunter, that’s-.”

“So I don’t want things to be awkward if we see each other on campus because I do wanna see you again and I know the rule about counselor relationships so I was planning on maybe doing something after I was sure that we-.”

Before he could finish, Willow pulled him forward by the collar of his shirt and kissed him. It was quick, but meaningful. The finale of fireworks illuminating the sky behind them as Hunter melted into the contact. As she slowly pulled away, Hunter followed her not wanting to release the dream quite yet.

“‘Fraternization among counselors is only prohibited if the relationship in question is between two counselors where one is the direct supervisor of the other,’” she quoted effortlessly. Hunter let out a small squeak, knowing instantly why her words sounded so familiar.

That’s when he knew she didn’t just want his summer, she wanted everything. He knew how deep she had to have read into the handbook to find that paragraph, as it lived beneath an asterisk that his tired eyes somehow neglected to commit to memory. As she quoted regulation to him beneath the light of the full moon, Hunter had never felt more hopelessly infatuated.

“So… does that mean that we… that you and I can… t-that y-you want to-.”

“I mean, it really doesn’t take two people to get a cake,” she chuckled, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist. He smiled, nearly having forgotten how they had found themselves here in the first place.

"Right, heh, so uh we need to get going, don't we?" he said. "We don't wanna be late for Gus' party."

"Weeell, the thing is it's kind of not a party for Gus."

"What?"

She smiled and leaned forward to press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Surprise," she whispered, not sure if it was technically still his birthday but just so utterly giddy that he was in the world. "Happy birthday."

"What? H-how did you-?"

"A girl has her ways," she said smugly. "Anyway, we wanted to do something special for you but just make sure to act surprised when we get back, okay? I know you probably don’t-."

She was cut off by Hunter’s lips on hers, purposely and purposeful, no longer allowing room for interruptions or misunderstandings. His hand delicately cupped the side of her face as he felt her melt into him, resting her hand atop his to assure him she intended to keep him there awhile.

"- wanna be late,” she finished dreamily as he pulled away for a moment, only because he forgot to breathe.

"It's my party, I can be as late as I want," he said quietly, not moving too far from her. Willow laughed as she pulled him back to her and reunited their lips, kissing him repeatedly as she brought forth a whole summer’s worth of longing.

They hardly realized the fireworks had ended, feeling as though they had just begun as they moved closer to hold each other easier. In their desperate eagerness, they fell off the picnic table they would later carve their initials in. They landed side by side on a collection of stones, which would find them both with matching casts in the morning.

But it was hardly the oddest injury they had gone to Viney with.

#huntlow #winter toh #toh #Willow park #Hunter toh #huntlow fanfiction #huntlow au #the owl house #toh fanfiction

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sergeantsporks · 2 years

Note

Writing request: (angst kind of!)

Imagine Hunter finding an unfinished grimwalker in the ground then desperately trying to dig them out (dont know if the grimwalker in question is alive or dead but who knows)

“This place gives me the creeps.”

Hunter pushed his light glyph up further, his boots tapping on familiar stone tiles. “We won’t be here long. I just… don’t want to leave my stuff. You might want to send some people in for books, too, the emperor had a lot of wild magic research holed up, here.”

Luz shuddered. “Yeah, alright. Let’s just… where are you going?”

Hunter turned down another hallway. “I wasn’t allowed down here before,” he said, half dazed, “Belos said it was storage of old wild magic relics and they were volatile.”

“Okay, well, let’s not go down there, then—oh, it was a lie, probably, gotcha.”

Hunter pushed open a door to a greenhouse, with locked cabinets and soil on the ground.

It felt… familiar. Almost… safe.

Hunter kicked off his shoes, wiggling his toes in the loamy soil.

And then his feet hit flesh.

Hunter stumbled backwards with a yelp, kicking up dirt and landing on his backside in the soil.

“What?!” Luz yelped, “What is it?!”

Hunter tentatively crawled back to the spot, and saw a familiar nose poking out of the dirt.

“Oh my titan,” he mumbled, and then his stomach heaved. “Oh, I’m going to be sick.”

Luz knelt down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. She gingerly brushed more dirt away. “It doesn’t make sense,” she murmured, “King saw the bones down in the pit at the head. Why would there be just one buried here?”

Hunter peered down at the face. It was young, too young. Unscarred skin chubby the way a one-year-old’s would be, but… wrong. His hair was blue, the color of palistrom, and the skin, although unscarred, had patches of scales dotting it.

“Oh my titan,” he whispered again, “It’s a new one. No one was here to finish…” He started digging, clawing at the dirt, uncovering more of the Grimwalker. Dirt cascaded into his gloves, and he tore them off as it rubbed and chafed and itched.

Please be alive, please be alive—

Hunter clawed frantically at the dirt, tearing his nails and staining his hands, but still he shoveled away. Luz came with a trowel, scooping away dirt in big shovelfuls, while he swept it away in handfuls, fueled by some primal urge swelling in his chest to get him out.

He needs to be free, he needs to get air, he’s too small to dig himself out.

To dig himself out?

Small

Reaching for the light, tiny hands scrabbling at the earth

He was ready to come out now

Why had he been buried so deep?

Why had he been buried where it was so hard to grow, so far from light, and only some water trickling down?

It hurt, to have to do so much digging.

Would someone meet him halfway? He thought they should, if they buried him so deep, but he couldn’t hear any digging above.

It wasn’t fair.

Still. He’d find the light, he would.

He was ready to be.

Hunter finally tugged the little grimwalker out of the soil, wrapping him up in his cloak. Fingernails were blue, he realized in a panic, but then so was the hair, maybe it was just the palistrom wood. Hunter put his ear up to the Grimwalker’s chest.

Nothing.

But the air hummed around the incomplete Grimwalker.

And then it opened its eyes.

Magenta eyes.

Rimmed with a glowing blue.

A small hand reached out of the cloak, gripping Hunter’s own hand. The unfinished baby Grimwalker studied Hunter’s torn, bleeding nails and brushed at the dirt. “Ack?”

“Awwwwww,” Luz crooned

Hunter froze, watching the baby.

The Grimwalker rubbed Hunter’s hand on his face, getting dirt on it. He burbled happily, wiggling Hunter’s fingers.

Hunter scooped the baby up, snuggling him more carefully in the cloak.

Will he be alright?

Will he last, or will he fall apart?

“It doesn’t matter,” he said out loud, holding the grimwalker closer, “I’m not going to make you dig your way out on your own.”

#toh #the owl house #asks #writing requests #toh fanfiction #my writing #toh hunter #new beginnings au

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sillysistersusi · 10 months

Text

Style It The Way You Want

I made this little story for the second day of the dadrius week 2023 (fashion), it's a little late but better than never🥰😊 I hope you like what I did

You can also find this story on my ao3 and wattpad accounts

@sergeantsporks

So here it is:

When Darius had asked Hunter if he wanted to live with him, Hunter hadn't been quite sure why he was asking. Did Darius perhaps need someone to help him with the household chores? But Hunter quickly realized that wasn't the case. When he first wanted to do the dishes, Darius had only said that he would always have one of his abominations do them and that Hunter could just relax and do something else.

So why did he want Hunter to live with him? What did he want from Hunter if not to do the housework for him?

It all really confused him and Hunter increasingly didn't know what to make of certain situations he was thrown into.

Whenever Darius asked him about his interests, Hunter evaded and said he didn't have any or he was still thinking about things. It was better not to stand out too much in case Hunter liked something that Darius didn't like. He certainly didn't want the abomination coven head to kick him out again just because he couldn't just be quiet and pretend to be an ordinary and undamaged kid.

But Hunter especially tried to keep it a secret that he loved to wear colorful clothes. He had never seen Darius in colors other than purple, black, and white.

Besides, he and Darius had been at the market in Bonesborough the other day and there had been a sweater hanging on one of the stalls that Hunter had liked immediately. It had been light blue and had had flowers and different colors and shapes and in the middle of the front had been a big orange heart embroidered on it.

But Darius had just wrinkled his nose and asked a little disgusted, "Who would buy something like that?

And so Hunter had decided not to wear anything that Darius would call ugly. He loved fashion and Hunter knew that Darius would probably kick him out if he wore something Darius didn't think was good enough.

Hunter had once tried to add something more colorful and individual to his golden guard uniform. It had been a simple colorful flower patch that he had sewn onto his dark trousers rather poorly, but Belos had not been at all pleased by the idea. He had freaked out immediately when he had seen the colorful patch on Hunter's pants.

So when Hunter and Darius went shopping a few days into Hunter's second week at Darius' house, because one morning Darius said, "The four outfits you own can hardly be called a whole closet." Hunter tried to ignore everything he thought was beautiful.

They were already in the second store. In the first, Hunter had chosen the two plainest pairs of shoes, although he would much rather have had the bright red ones they sold there as well.

Now Hunter pulled everything off the hangers that looked like something Darius would wear, only a little plainer, after all, Hunter didn't want Darius to think he was trying to replace him or anything.

But no matter what Hunter did, his eyes kept wandering over to this one colorful skirt that was hanging on a hanger on the wall a little further back.

It was a pink skirt with different colored dots on it and Hunter really wanted to try it on, but he knew there was nothing about it that Darius would like and he didn't want to upset Darius.

Hunter had had one more scar on his leg as a result, when Belos had been mad at him back then, because Belos had lashed out with the green goop and ripped the patch off his pants, though he hadn't been very careful about it, so Hunter had limped back to his room afterwards with tears in his eyes.

Hunter didn't want Darius to have a reason to be mad at him, because Hunter really liked living with him. He didn't want Darius to kick him out, because it was really nice to have someone there to ask him every morning how he was feeling and if he slept well. And he just didn't want to lose that.

But Hunter tended to do things he shouldn't. So he took a quick look around for Darius, and when he was sure the man was busy, he sprinted through the rows of clothes to grab the skirt. He pulled the garment off the hanger and hid it among the rest of the plainer clothes he had already picked out.

Hunter wasn't planning on actually buying the skirt, he just wanted to look in the dressing room mirror and see what it looked like on him. And he probably could risk that.

Hunter walked over to Darius, who was struggling through a collection of purple pants and was looking at one of them as if he wasn't sure if he should buy it or not. That's when he noticed Hunter. "Oh, little prince, did you find something too?"

"Yes, I was going to suggest that we could go to the changing rooms now. Of course, only if you're ready, too. "He added the last sentence quickly, so as not to seem disrespectful, after all, he owed Darius at least that, even if he still didn't quite understand why Darius would want Hunter to live with him.

But Darius just nodded, "It's probably better that way. If I keep looking for clothes, I'll take more home with me later than you will."

Hunter opened his mouth briefly to ask what would be so bad about that, but then closed it again without having said anything.

"I say that because we're here to restock your wardrobe, not mine, little prince," Darius said, who seemed to have Hunter figured out. Hunter pressed his lips together and tried to look as emotionless as possible. Belos had always used it against him when he knew what Hunter was thinking or feeling, and Hunter didn't want to find out if Darius would do the same.

So they headed for the changing rooms. On the way they passed several dresses, pants and sweaters that Hunter would have liked to take with him and try on instead of the plain clothes, but he had to stick to his plan. His heart sank more and more the closer they got to the changing rooms, as if he knew he was making a mistake.

In the changing room, he first put on one of the plain outfits and showed it to Darius. Darius said that it would fit Hunter, but he didn't seem to 'feel' it. But Hunter had no idea what that meant. And anyway, wasn't the real purpose of clothing to fit him?

Hunter only understood what Darius meant when he tried on the skirt second, along with a purple T-shirt. He seemed happier immediately, like a completely different person. The skirt fell fluffy and airy around his legs and Hunter grinned childishly to himself as he turned a little and the skirt moved with him.

"Hunter? "That was Darius' voice, "Show me the next outfit. Judging by your laugh, you seem to like it a lot."

Hunter slapped a hand over his mouth. Had he laughed without realizing it? Apparently he had. But now Darius expected him to present an outfit that he 'felt'. But everything else Hunter had taken into the changing room with him was stuff that didn't really excite Hunter. Besides, he didn't have time to put on another outfit without it looking weird.

"Hunter, dear, is everything okay? "Darius sounded concerned, but somehow that only made Hunter more nervous.

He needed to get out of here. Everything seemed so tight all of a sudden. Even the skirt. Hunter took off the clothes and threw them on the floor. Then he reached for his familiar clothes and frantically put them on.

At that moment, he heard Darius' voice say, "Try to breathe, Hunter. It's all right."

It sounded like Darius stepped back from the door to give Hunter some space, and Hunter took that opportunity to rush out of the changing room and head for the exit. He heard Darius call behind him, "Hunter! Wait!"

But then he was already out of the store and running down the street, past confused looking witches and demons.

He didn't know where to run at all. The only person he could think of, except for Darius, but he wouldn't have been an option in this situation anyway, was Camila. But Hunter knew that Camila would tell him to just talk to Darius about everything.

So Hunter stopped and leaned against a cool stone wall in a side alley and slowly lowered himself to the ground. What on earth had he been thinking? He didn't even want to imagine how mad Darius would be if he found him. Or maybe he wouldn't look for him at all, but simply decide Hunter wasn't worth the trouble.

He pulled his legs to his chest and buried his face in his arms. Only now did tears well up in his eyes and he began to cry.

Hunter had no idea how long he had been sitting there when he heard Darius' voice ask, "Hunter? Is it okay if I sit with you?"

But Hunter was not able to register the words at all. When he looked up a few seconds later, face tear-stained and eyes all red, Darius had crouched to the floor some distance away and seemed to be making himself as small as possible so as not to tower over Hunter in a threatening manner.

"You need to take a deep breath, little prince. "Darius said, his voice sounding incredibly soft and little more than a whisper.

And only then did Hunter realize he was hyperventilating. Slowly he stretched out his fingers and did the counting exercise Gus had shown him.

"It's going to be okay." and "You're doing very well." Darius whispered in between, which helped to calm Hunter down even more.

After a while of trying to breathe deeply, he started to feel a little better.

Darius smiled softly, yet somewhat sadly, and nodded to the asphalt next to Hunter. "May I?"

Hunter just nodded and Darius slowly and carefully sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry. "Darius said softly and as Hunter was about to say something in reply he continued, "I seem to have made you feel like you can't talk to me about anything, and for that I am truly sorry. Whatever it is that made you run away, you can tell me. Really."

Hunter avoided Darius' gaze and looked down at his feet, which he scuffed a little nervously across the asphalt. "I- well- " He took another deep breath, literally feeling the air rush through his lungs. So he tried again, "I didn't want you to be mad."

"Why would I be mad at you, little prince?" asked Darius gently.

"Because- "Hunter looked up at him and blinked away tears that threatened to burst from his eyes again.

"It's all good. Take your time. "Darius said.

Hunter avoided his gaze again as he asked softly, "Can you hold me? Just- just for a second I- never mind. Forget what I said! That was really stupid, I- "

But Darius stretched out his arms and looked at Hunter with a loving, concerned look. He put one hand on Hunter's back and pulled him closer. The other hand he used to gently caress the back of Hunter's head.

"What is it that's troubling you, little prince?" asked Darius, but his voice still sounded just gentle.

"I don't understand why," Hunter began, tears running down his cheeks again. He snuggled closer to Darius and held onto the front of his shirt, afraid Darius would let him go again, "I don't understand why you took me in. I don't understand what you want from me."

"I- Hunter, I want you to be okay. In the last few days before the day of unity, I really realized how wrong I've been all this time and what a wonderful child you are. I wanted to prevent you from being hurt again. I'm sorry, I should have made my intentions clear from the beginning, little prince," Darius said, gently rocking Hunter back and forth.

"I thought- I thought it would be a good idea in fashion- well, to stick to what you're wearing. B- Belos, he- he never liked it when I- well- when I tried to be myself. And I guess I kind of thought you'd react similarly. "Hunter murmured, closing his eyes as the soft warmth of Darius' body made him feel safe.

"You can wear whatever you want," Darius said, gently stroking a hand through his hair, which was still disheveled from his hasty escape, "but I figured it was something like that."

"How- "

"The colorful skirt on the floor," Hunter could hear Darius' smile in his voice, "I bought that skirt, by the way. Because judging from your laugh, you liked it a lot. And tomorrow we'll go out shopping again, and I want you to choose whatever you like, not what you think I might like."

Hunter broke away from the hug and looked at Darius with a wide smile that showed the gap in his teeth.

"I- thank you Darius. "he said, feeling his ears turn a little red.

Darius pulled him into a hug again and nuzzled him gently. "I want you to know that the only thing I want from you is for you to be happy."

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