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Hunter loves his palisman. He really, really does. She gives him purpose, makes him so much more happy then he had been in the past.
But, sometimes her cute little antics got out of hand, became less cute, got him in trouble. And he'd always cover for her, because he wasn't even supposed to have her, and nobody could find out.
That day was no exception. But it was in fact much, much worse. Rascal had gotten out of Hunter's room earlier and while chasing her he'd watched her fly directly into the throne room.
His heart had sunken into his chest so fast he thought it had stopped beating, his pace quickened and he held his breath as he turned the corner to peer into the room. His eyes widened, his chest tightened, and he felt he was going to vomit on the spot.
Rascal sat on the arm of Belos' throne. Observing obliviously as the emperor worked on the portal door.
So now here Hunter stood, in the doorway to his Uncle's room. He watched as he worked, not yet noticing the bird behind him, anxiety clawing at his back. He wanted to run in, to grab her and to sprint back to his room, lie to his Uncle if questioned on his behavior later.
But instead he just stood there. Watching his uncle tinker with the door he'd built, watching his palisman hop around the throne. His heart stopped when his uncle began to turn, he knew now he'd be caught.
The emperor stopped upon seeing the thing. His head tilted just slightly, a brow raising. Hunter heard him speak, but his heartbeat was so loud in his ears he couldn't hear what it was.
He stared in fear, fear that his uncle would "take care" of his pet, that she'd be gone in moments and Hunter would have done nothing about it. Just stood and watched as her very essence was sucked out of her and consumed, leaving her nothing but a wooden shell. Lifeless, discarded. His throat closed at the thought alone.
But instead of that, Hunter watched as Belos reached down and held out his hand, inviting the bird onto it. She climbed up, chirping and flapping her wings happily as the emperor smiled down at her. He held her so gently. More gently then he'd ever held Hunter.
Belos held the bird up the his face, reaching up to scratch her head with a finger, grinning as she wiggled around happily. He chuckled softly. Hunter felt himself calming down as he watched, comforted by the sight, oddly.
But his comfort was not long-lived, as he heard his Uncle speak again, his voice no longer muffled in his ears.
"Hunter." He called, voice still that sickeningly soft, deceivingly caring tone. The boy's name rolled off his tongue in an almost venomous way. Hunter felt his bones freeze, his posture straightened in fear.
He entered the room, silently. Belos sat on his throne, Rascal still in the palm of his hand. Hunter kneeled before him, "U-uncle.." he mumbled.
He heard Belos chuckle quietly. He panicked, thinking he'd addressed him incorrectly. "What are you doing, boy? Stand on your feet." His uncle said. He followed the order immediately, rising to face him.
"S-.. sir, I'm sorry for letting m-... this palisman.. get into the throne room. It w-won't happen again, I swear." He stuttered out, trying his hardest not to look at the ground in avoidance.
"Ah, so, this is yours, is it, Hunter?" Belos asked, voice still disgustingly calm, still spitting his nephew's name in the most unsettling way.
Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but the words died in his throat. He couldn't lie to his uncle, he couldn't, no matter how hard he tried, how severe he knew his punishment could be.
"Y-.. yes. Yes, sir.." he mumbled, whimpering pathetically after.
"It's quite a nice one, really. So.." the emperor let the cardinal walk over his fingers a few times, back and forth. "pretty. It reminds me of the birds from the human realm." He smiled fondly. Hunter hoped this meant he wouldn't be upset, that his palismans presence was a good thing. That he'd made him happy.
"Perhaps I should keep it for myself, hm?" He spoke again.
Hunter felt his heart drop, his features twisting with panic. "No!" He shouted, not thinking beforehand. His fear increased at the sight of his uncle scowling down at him.
"No?" Came the cold, still calm and collected sounding voice again.
"N-no, Uncle, please, I-.." he paused, feeling his eyes well up again. He couldn't bare the thought of his uncle taking his palisman from him.
"You what, boy? Use your words."
"I-I need h-her... please.. sir."
"You need it. Do you?" The emperor narrowed his eyes. Hunter held his breath.
"After all the grief you've caused me? You lost me an entire batch of palisman, did you not? And when I sent you to get me palistrom wood from the gardens you returned with nothing. And you ask me to return this one to you? Because you need it?" The man's voice grew louder with each word, Hunter still couldn't breathe.
Then, he smiled. Hunter held his eye contact, not daring to look away. That smile made him feel sick, made his knees threaten to collapse under him.
"Then, how about a deal?" Belos stood, taking a single step down toward the boy, bird still perched carefully on his hand. "I will let you have your precious palisman, if you do now what I've repeatedly asked of you." Hunter bit the inside of his cheek, he knew what he meant.
Another step was taken toward him. "Bring me the human, once and for all." Another step. "And I'll let you keep your little.. pet." Another.
Belos now stood directly in front of him, towering over his small frame. The emperor reached down, Hunter squeezed his eyes closed in fear, but felt his uncle gently move a piece of his hair out of his face. He let out a sharp breath.
Then, the man placed Rascal gently onto Hunter's shoulder, petting her head once more. "You can do that, can't you?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Good boy. Now, go. And don't let this happen again, I'd hate for something to.. happen to our little friend."
-
Hunter's eyes snapped awake, bolting to sit upright where he was. He breathed heavily, chest rising and falling rapidly. His face was wet, hot, heavy tears still spilling from his eyes.
He looked around, panicked. He was in his room- his room in the Owl House, his current room. It was pitch black out, crikets chirped outside. He could barely see anything, eyes blurry from sleep and tears. He let out a loud, pained sob, followed by a whine.
He heard footsteps, quick and light approaching him. His eyes widened in fear, hands gripping onto his bed sheets. His door swung open and a figure moved quickly to him.
He couldn't register who it was and in the moment, after having just woke up from that dream, a strangled scream clawed it's way out of his throat. He thrashed against the hold of the figure, eyes closed tight, yelling.
"L-let go! Let g-o of me! P-please!" He sobbed, still fighting the grip of the person, his own cries so loud in his ears he didn't register the words coming from them.
"Kid, calm down!" He heard, so faintly, he opened his eyes, looking up to see the other's face.
Eda. It was Eda. He stopped fighting, letting her climb onto his bed with him. He threw his arms around her, letting out a choked cry into her chest. She held him softly.
"M-.. Mama..." he croaked out, hands grabbing onto her shirt desperately, as if she'd disappear from his arms if he didn't.
"Shh, shhh.. it's alright, sweetheart. I'm here. It's all alright." Eda cooed, rubbing her hand up and down his back comfortingly. The nightmares had gotten more frequent recently, she knew what to do by now.
But what Hunter had woken up from hadn't just been a nightmare- it had been a memory. A memory, so clear and painful he could feel it, that had tortured him.
"C'mon, kid, breathe. Breathe." Eda said, still rubbing his back. He sucked in a deep breath, struggling to let it out evenly. "Good, good. Are you okay? Nightmare?" She asked him, looking down, voice laced delicately with concern and care.
"Y-yes.." he whined, shaking still.
"You wanna tell me about it?" She offered, one hand moving up to run through his hair, gently.
"I-... I need her... I need her, Eda, I need her..." he mumbled into her shirt, instead of a clear answer.
"Who, kid?" His mother cooed
"Rascal.. R-Rascal- where is she? Where is she, Eda, please, I need her. P-please-" his voice raised, tears threatening to rush again.
"Hey, hey, calm down. She's at the end of the bed, where she always is, okay? Do you want her?" Eda reached away from him for a moment, leaning to grab the staff. Hunter held her tighter as she did, afraid she was leaving, whimpering a few 'no, no, Mama..-'s under his breath.
She set the bird next to him, still in her wooden state. "Here, kid. Here." She nudged him.
He peeked up, quickly moving to grab the bird once he saw it. He tapped her head, bringing her to life quickly, before snuggling her up to his face. She chirped, confused, before understanding.
She nuzzled his face, chirping at him. He took a deep breath, petting her softly, trying not to get his tears on her.
"See, hun? She's okay." He heard Eda say, he sat up so he was no longer leaning on her. "You wanna tell me about your dream?" She tried again
He sighed a little, sniffling. "Wasn't a dream.." he mumbled. "This one really happened.. back when- when I still lived in the tower. Rascal got out, she went and interrupted Un-.. Belos' work. He told me if I wanted her to survive I had to bring him Luz.. I didn't wanna, a-and I didn't in the end, I.. I came here and hid, you- you know.." he paused.
"I love her, so much, Eda.."
"I know, sunshine. She loves you, too." Eda reached down the pet the cardinal aswell, smiling a bit. "You and her are safe here. You know that. I won't let anything happen to her, promise."
"Thank you, Mama.." he mumbled. He looked back up at her, her eyes softened. She reached out to put a hand on his cheek, cradling it softly. She wiped his tears. "Y'want me to stay with you tonight?"
He nodded, scooting back up to the top of his bed. Eda followed, laying down next to him gently. He hugged her, making sure Rascal was still sitting safely above him. He cuddled into her, she smiled, running her hand up through his hair again.
"Get some rest, Hunter. I'll be here, okay?" She heard him yawn, then nod sleepily. Before she knew it, he was out.
She stopped petting his hair, her hand stayed on his head, though. She felt so bad for him. She was supposed to protect him, keep him safe, but she couldn't keep him from his own thoughts, his memories. They'd plague him no matter how hard she tried to stop them.
Most nights he'd deal with them silently, by himself, and Eda would find out in the morning after noticing the tear stains on his face and questioning him. It had scared her when she heard him sob out loud, she knew she had to go get him. He'd probably woken up King or Luz with his screaming, but neither of them actually got up so maybe he didn't. Or maybe they'd ignored it.
She knew how important Rascal was to him. That he had to know where she was, or he'd be so stressed he wouldn't be able to think or function. She was like his baby.
She didn't know, though, that Belos had ever threatened him with her. No wonder he was so protective of her, he was probably still afraid of someone taking her or worse.
She wouldn't let that happen, though. She'd promised him and it was a promise she'd absolutely keep.
Her eyelids became heavy, as she listened to the sound of the bugs outside, and her son's soft breathing. She let herself drift off, shooting another small glance to Rascal, who was snuggled in Hunter's hair now. She smiled, passing out just moments after, mumbling a small "g'night, kid.."