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Willow woke up with the sound of a thunder outside the house. She freaked out a bit because… that wasn't her room. Or her world. Little memory pieces began to fill her mind. Memories she wished were just a dream began to take shape little by little.
The boiling isles.
The day of Unity.
Belos.
The fight.
The portal.
Luz.
Gus started moving from the other side, they were sleeping in something that Luz's mom explained was a bunk bed. Now Gus had freed her arm and was hugging one of Luz's stuffed giraffes tightly. From the bed above, she could hear the soft murmur of Amity's voice singing to Luz. To calm her down. Or maybe trying to calm her down.
Willow sighed, and watched the clock standing in Luz’s desk. 3:24 am. Amity has been singing the same song for 4 hours.
“Amy?” She said, silently, not sure if Amity actually heard her. The song stopped.
“Hmm?”
She did.
“Is she asleep?”
“Yeah. Gus?”
“Mhmm.”
And silence again.
“Why are you awake?” Amity asked some seconds later.
“The thunder. And you?”
Silence.
“I’m not letting Luz to run away again.”
Willow swallowed.
“That’s fair.”
Willow closed her eyes. Luz's room was too different from its version in the owl house. It was a bit more ordered. Probably because in the last few months, the basilisk that Luz spoke about —whose name they later find out was Vee— has been living there. Amity started singing again, and she sighed, knowing what the other reason was that she just couldn't fall asleep, and now she had to think of some strategy to sneak out to the living room.
Just when Willow was about to get up from the bed, Amity spoke again.
“You should check on Hunter.”
Her cheeks started burning.
"I mean, I heard you telling him you'd be back once Gus stopped crying." Amity started moving. "Don't worry, I can take care of both of them."
“You should sleep too, Amity.”
She heard her chuckle.
“Yeah, that’s not happening tonight.”
And the singing started again.
Willow took a deep breath and sat up in the bed. She picked up her gold glasses from the floor —honestly, it was a miracle they weren't broken— and walked slowly towards the door. The hallway was silent and the door to Camila's room was ajar. She said that everyone could sleep in Luz's room, Hunter decided that he would sleep on the couch and Vee took the guest room. She was pretty sure Mrs. Noceda was still awake, so she passed as quietly as she could, going downstairs.
The first image she had, was Hunter sitting in the couch, watching the big bright box that Mrs. Noceda called a television. She said Hunter could watch it all night if he wanted. Willow smiled when his eyes went wide open looking at some animal program.
“Hey.” Was the first thing Willow could think to say, and mentally she slapped herself for that. Hunter gave her all the attention in the world, and with the other little black box, he turned off the television.
“Hey.”
It was curious. The first time Willow met Hunter, she thought that boy never has took a nap in his life. But now… she couldn’t imagine him without those baggy eyes. She kept walking towards him until she was in front of the couch.
“Can I sit?”
Hunter didn’t answer, he just moved to the other side and patted the spot next to him. Willow sat, giving him a thankful look.
"Sorry for taking so long."
“Don't worry... How is Gus?”
“He’s fine.” She said. “He fell asleep at some point in the night. I… really don’t know when, I fell asleep too.”
Hunter nodded. “How is Luz and Amity?”
“Uhm… fine, I guess. Amity is taking care of her and… she said she will be up all night.”
“I figured it.”
“Yeah.”
There was another thunder, now less scary than the first one.
“Human clothes suits you.” Willow finally said as some kind of teasing, but Hunter didn’t laugh, even flinched a little.
“Mrs. Noceda had them stored in a suitcase, they are quite big for me but, they work.”
“I can see it.”
“Yeah…”
She wanted to keep talking, she really wanted. But, if she was being honest, talk about her dads, or Bonesborough, or any other thing related to what her life was, looked very irrelevant right now. She knew about everyone’s big desire of going back to the boiling isles, and right now, things didn’t seem to be solved faster.
Besides, she knew that if she started talking about it, she would just break down and would cry in front of him. So she stayed there, in silent.
“I once asked the emperor if rain didn’t boil in the human realm.”
Willow looked at him.
“He told me it was true, and besides, that trees were green and nights were quiet.” Hunter gazed to the rain outside, he heard one of the little people inside the brilliant box say the rain will continue all night. “I think it was the only thing he didn’t lie to me about.”
“Hunter…”
“I know Gus saw something there.” Magenta eyes were on greens now. Something in that look twisted Willow’s insides. “I know he did, because every time he stared at me his eyes were filled with tears over and over again.”
Silence. Willow recognized that worried look, and there was no other thing she wanted the most than tell him the truth.
“Does he… told you anything?”
If she knew the truth.
She exhaled.
“If Gus saw anything inside Belos memories, he didn’t tell me.” Willow answered. “I know him from years, you know it. If this is important for you, he will talk with you sooner or later.”
There was a lot of feelings in Hunter’s eyes that Willow just witnessed in that moment. Pain, perplexity, but above all, fear. She let her hand rest on his shoulder, an action she kept doing from the first time they met. She doesn’t know why, but the way Hunter seems to relax all of his posture when it happens, makes her keep doing it.
“Do you think everyone is okay?” His gaze fell in his hands, and, probably this was the first time Willow was seeing them. Full of tiny scars. His right hand though, had some marks of his sigil. “That thing stopped the draining spell, right? I mean- I’m alive, they must be.”
Willow hated lies. Maybe it was one of the aspects she still had in common with Amity, and right now, telling Hunter that everything was okay felt like one. But honestly, she needed to hear it too, she needed to convince herself everyone was safe, that her dads were safe. That, in some way they saved their home.
“They are safe. King made sure that everyone… survived.”
King.
Their hearts stretched by the last memory of the little demon, being dragged by the collector.
“This is all my fault.” Hunter finally said. He lifted his legs, holding them tight against a pillow. “It was my mission to protect Luz, and I failed. I didn’t listened to her when she warned me about the emperor. I knew that he was dangerous, that he could hurt me. But I never listen. Why can’t I listen!? WHY-“
Willow hugged him. Tightly.
“Stop.”
His chest was moving faster.
“Breath.”
And he listened.
It was hard not to cry in this kind of situations. Willow has always kept her emotions to her and her only. Even with Gus upstairs, hearing him crying and sobbing, repeating words without any sense, or when they witnessed Luz being quiet, staring at nothing, every time Camila was trying to figure it out what happened. She never has let herself lose her composure. So, why it was always different when she was around him? Him from all the witches?
“Willow! Are you okay!?”
The worried tone made Willow realize she was already crying, and Hunter, barely knowing what to do, hugged her back.
“I’m fine, I’m-“
“Shhhh.”
She listened.
None of them broke contact.
When Camila Noceda heard some steps down the corridor, she expected the worst. She imagined her daughter trying to reach the demon realm again. Maybe every single one of the kids that knocked her house that night didn’t answer a lot of her questions, but their faces said it all. Something terrible happened there. So she quickly stood up from the bed and went downstairs.
There was no sign of her daughter but she stopped the moment she heard two voices talking. The older kid of the group was about to shout and suddenly stopped, and just some seconds after, some little sobs started.
“I left them. I left them, I-“
“They are fine. I swear, they are fine.”
“Everyone in Hexside-“
“They are fine too.”
“That- kid blew him up… Like it was nothing.”
And there was no answer.
Camila descended the stairs slowly, and the two kids were there. Holding tight to each other. The older boy felt her presence and immediately got up from the couch. Willow was confused at first, but the moment she turned to see what was going on, she got up too, cleaning her eyes.
“So- sorry Mrs. Noceda, do we wake you up?”
Camila noticed they were ashamed, but she didn’t understand why.
“No, you didn’t… I was going to prepare some tea… do you want some?”
Hearing that made Willow smile, for some reason. It was almost refreshing to get to know Luz’s mom because how look-alike they were. The same calm expression, that same look that made you feel safe and accepted that she hasn't seen in a long time.
"Yeah, tea would be nice, Hunter?”
“Sounds… good, if I knew what tea is.”
“Like, herbal infusions, Luz use to make in the owl house when we had our little slumber parties, you will see.” Willow explained.
Camila smiled a little, and they all entered the kitchen.
Once there, and studying Hunter's reaction to his hot drink, Camila spoke.
“How is it?”
“This is way better than the garbage they use to serve in the emperor’s coven.”
“Hunter!”
“What? It’s a compliment!”
Camila laughed.
“What you use to drink?”
Hunter took a little sip of his tea; he chose green tea. Willow was drinking something called blueberry tea. Both of them smelled really good, and the flavor was sweet and tender, something that calmed them instantly.
“They served this black poison that was totally bitter, ugh, when I remember the taste it returns to my mouth. Gross.”
“Not a coffee person, ya veo.” Camila said.
“Coffee? No! That was black bean blood.”
“That’s disgusting, Hunter.” Willow said.
“See?”
Camila was out of words.
“Okey, it wasn’t coffee then.”
“Not at all.”
They chuckled, and kept enjoying their late night drinks. Willow was observing the clock pendant in the entrance of the kitchen. 4:15 am. It was late, but, considering all her midnight adventures in the past, this was pretty normal to her. She sighed.
“Now…” Camila said, using carefully her words. “I… heard your conversation.”
Willow and Hunter looked at each other for a second, then at Mrs. Noceda. Suddenly, their hands went cold, even when they were holding their warm cups. Camila didn’t expect for an answer, although the look on their faces gave her chills.
Again.
“Don’t worry, I’m not asking for an explanation… I just want to put myself in context before Luz can say anything to me.”
Once again, both teens looked to each other, and then nodded, at the same time.
“Está bien… Did Luz left something important back there?”
“No.”
Maybe not something.
“Did… Luz left someone important back there?”
There was no hesitation. “Yes.”
“All of you, left someone important back there?”
Willow gaze fell to her cup. The smell was nice, but the question turned her stomach. She could feel Hunter looking at her.
“They did.” He finally said, and surprisingly, his hand went right to Willow’s back.
Willow didn’t hear Camila’s words after that. Hunter’s hand was light, soft, warm. It felt so different to whenever moment she touched them with the gloves on. His touch was comforting, even more so when his thumb began to trace little circles on her sweater. As a reflex, she dropped her head to his shoulder, and Hunter held her by her arm.
“…I’m guessing you both are the eldest of them, so I understand you want to protect them so badly. But you are still kids, you deserve a rest too.”
“Thank you Mrs. Noceda.” Hunter responded, his fingers gave Willow a little squeeze.
“Call me Camila. I’m glad Luz have every single one of you. All this time... I thought she was all alone, it's nice she made friends there. She needed some...”
“Believe me Mrs. Noceda.” Willow finally spoke. “Believe me when I tell you that she changed our lives more than we changed hers.”
Camila gave them a little smile “Of course.”
That said, Camila took her cup of tea, going to her room again.
After some minutes, Hunter let Willow go and she stood up, sleep already weighing on her eyelids. The tea was having an effect on her, and maybe her earlier crying had something to do with it as well.
“It's late.”
Hunter was still in his chair. Looking at his now empty cup of tea.
“It is.”
“Hunter.”
“Hmm?”
“You did left nothing, nobody, at the boiling isles?”
He looked up, Willow could see his eyes water a little, but he held his breath.
“I... don't know. Everything I use to had, I use to be, was a lie. Even now I'm not sure of who I am anymore. But," He stood up, right in front of Willow, and now she was holding her breath. "since I met you all, I started to feel… like someone who had something to lose. I don’t want to sound selfish but, I think I’m the lucky one here, because everything I truly care for now, everyone I got to know on my own, is here, with me.”
The light from the kitchen was on them, the sound of the rain was less loud. The magenta eyes looked tired, yet still warm enough for Willow, unbearable to see them directly, she took off her glasses. She didn’t say a word, and instead, she hugged him again. This time it was different. This hug was softer, tender, and Hunter corresponded quickly.
“We are glad to meet you too, Hunter.”
She could hear his little sob.
“C-can you stay until the rain stops?”
Willow murmured against his chest. “Sure.”
They both settled on the sofa, so that they looked directly at the rain through the window. It was relaxing, and perhaps the quietest moment they've had all day. Hunter nestled his head against the arm of the couch, and Willow had no choice but to lean against his chest. Willow was careful though, because she was aware of the bruises Hunter had from the fight they all had a few hours ago.
“Are you cold?”
Willow denied, and her eyelids slowly closing.
“Rain isn't stopping, is it?”
Hunter didn’t know Willow was talking half-asleep.
“…No.”
Willow didn't answer, and that was fine, because Hunter closed his eyes a couple of seconds after too.
It was going to be a long season in the human realm.