#yeah... i doubt flavius kept his post in the keep for long

[sergeantsporks]

Whumptober Prompt 16: On a Need to Know Basis

“Golden Guard? Hey—kid!”

Hunter huddled under his bed. “G-go away!”

He hadn’t known when he’d come with his uncle that there was a curse. He hadn’t known that if he made Belos angry… Hunter sniffed, clutching his wounded face. The cut stung, and his whole cheek was swollen and sore.

The coven scout reached under the bed, flat on his belly. “Hey, there. It’s okay. You’re okay. Come on out.”

Hunter scooted further back.

The scout gave up trying to grab him, tucking his hands under his chin and aimlessly kicking his feet. “That looks like it hurts. Mind coming out so I can help you with it?”

Hunter sniffed again. “I c-can do it.”

The scout pulled off his mask. “Hey. I’m Flavius. What’s your name, bud?”

“H-Hunter.”

“Hunter. That’s a nice name. Okay. Hey, Hunter? I’m not going to hurt you. Why don’t you come on out from under there, and I’ll help get you cleaned up?”

Hunter scooted out just a little bit, and the scout held out a hand. Hunter gingerly took it, and Flavius pulled him the rest of the way from under the bed, scooping him up. “Okay, buddy, let’s find you some bandages.”

Hunter kicked to be let down as they approached the door. “Don’t want them to see me!”

Flavius set him down. “Why not?”

Hunter sniffed, holding his face. “I’m in—in trouble,” he hiccupped.

“Trouble? What could a little tyke like you possibly have done?”

Hunter’s eyes welled up with tears just thinking about it, and Flavius waved his hands frantically.

“Hey—hey, it’s okay, it’s okay.” The scout picked his mask up off of the ground and plopped it on Hunter’s head, draping his cloak on top. It was way too big, the material practically swamping him, but he was hidden. “There. Better? Now they won’t know who you are.”

Hunter nodded, pulling the fabric closer around himself and trailing after Flavius, the too-large white cloak dragging on the floor behind him. Flavius led him through the hallways to the scout barracks. Flavius picked him up and set him down on one of the beds.

“Okay, just a second.” The scout rummaged around, pulling out a first aid kit. “You should get one of these, Hunter, it can get pretty rough, being a coven member.” Flavius pulled down the hood and took his mask back, tucking it under his arm. He crouched in front of Hunter. “This is going to sting a little,” he warned, pouring a cleaner on a cloth and dabbing at the cut on Hunter’s face.

Hunter yelped, squirming away from the touch. Flavius held a hand out. “Hey—Hunter. Hold still, ‘k? I know it stings, but it’ll hurt worse if it gets infected.” He cleaned the blood away, then hissed. “Hey, what is that?” He held out the cloth. An oozing green-ish mud was smeared on it.

A curse

His uncle, lashing out, his eyes glowing.

Hunter buried his face in Flavius’s cloak, looking away from the mud. Flavius gently tilted his face up.

“Hey—I’m going to get this stuff out, okay? It’s going to hurt, but I need you to hold still.” He scrubbed at the wound, and Hunter bit back tears, wincing. Finally, Flavius stopped, holding a pad of cloth up to Hunter’s face. “Okay. Okay, you’re okay. Hold that there for me, ‘k, buddy?”

Hunter sniffed, putting his hand over the cloth. Flavius pulled out sticky tape and stuck the cloth to Hunter’s face, tossing the cleaning rag to the floor and lighting it on fire, completely destroying the mud. “There. All better.”

Hunter pulled at the cloak. “I’m s-sorry. I got blood on it.”

Flavius shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time. It’s a dangerous job.” He sat down next to Hunter. “Are you sure it’s the kind of job you want?”

Hunter scrubbed tears away from his eyes. “I don’t have a choice.”

“Hey, Hunter, look at me.”

Hunter tilted his face up at Flavius.

“You always have a choice.” Flavius ruffled his hair, swinging his cloak back over his shoulder and putting his mask on. “I’ve got to go on patrol. You need me to take you back to your room?”

Hunter shook his head. “I’m okay.”

“Okay.” Flavius ruffled his hair one more time. “Nice meeting you, Hunter.”

Hunter grabbed Flavius’ hand. “Can I go on patrol with you? I… I want to go outside.”

Get out of Belos’ sight.

Flavius snatched up another mask, plopping it on Hunter’s head and pulling up Hunter’s own cloak hood over it. “You know what? I could use the company.”

Hunter brightened. “Really?”

Flavius lifted his mask up, grinning at Hunter. “Really. Patrols are boring alone. You ready?”

Hunter snapped a salute. “Sir!”

Flavius chuckled, dropping his mask back down. “Off we go, then. You know what, Hunter?”

Hunter trotted after him out the door. “What?”

“I think you’re going to be a great guard.”

#whumptober2021 #no. 16 #scars/aftermath #the owl house #fic #yeah... i doubt flavius kept his post in the keep for long #toh #save the owl house #toh fanfiction #my writing #toh hunter #the golden guard #the babysitter’s coven