Chapter Text
Hunter sat in Darius’s room, watching him sew something. Darius said it was going to be a surprise for him when he was little, which was really exciting! Hunter had only gotten one present in his whole life. On his fifth birthday he’d been given a pink stuffed frog toy by one of his tutors! By the time he was 7 his uncle said he was too old for toys, but Hunter still had it hidden in his room. It wasn’t like Belos was ever in there, so he had no idea.
“Isn’t this supposed to be your sewing lesson? I don’t see you doing a whole lot of sewing over there,” Darius teased.
“Shh, I’m trying to watch the pro at work so I can learn from him!” Hunter stifled a yawn after he said that.
Darius looked at the clock on his wall. “Oh, titan, is it already that late? Come, little prince. It’s time for bed.”
Hunter glanced over at the clock. His brain was feeling a little too fuzzy to be able to read the clock, but Flapjack told him it was 11:30. “That’s not even late! And I’m not—” Hunter paused to yawn. “Not tired.”
Darius rolled his eyes. He was tempted to just pick up Hunter and bring him to his own room to sleep, but didn’t think he’d appreciate it right now. He didn’t want to get him worked up with a tantrum right before bed.
“Well some of us are tired. Now, would you like me to come tuck you in or can you get to bed on your own?”
“I don’t need you to tuck me in, but if you really want to, I guess I can’t stop you....”
Darius huffed a laugh. Hunter was horrible at pretending he didn’t want something. “Of course, little prince. Grab your stuff and let’s go.”
Hunter put his cloak and golden guard mask on and hid Flapjack underneath the cloak, then followed Darius to his own room.
Once they were in his room, Darius helped Hunter change into his pajamas and brush his teeth, then it was finally time for him to go to sleep.
Hunter, however, wasn’t having it. He sat in the middle of his bed with his arms crossed over his chest and a pout on his face.
“Little prince, it’s bedtime,” Darius sighed.
“No!”
“I’ve read you three stories, now you have to go to sleep.”
“No!”
Darius took a deep breath and thought for a moment. Hunter was never defiant towards him just for the sake of being defiant. There had to be a reason. So, he asked, “Why don’t you want to sleep, little prince?”
Hunter sniffled. “I don’t want you to leave me alone.”
Darius softened. “You won’t be alone. You’ll have your palisman with you.” That little bird wouldn’t leave him for the world. The only time they were apart was when Hunter went to see Belos because he was afraid he would see Flapjack and kill him. Darius couldn’t imagine how heartbroken Hunter would be if something happened to his palisman.
“I know, but...I want you too!” Hunter pouted. He’d been having a lot of nightmares lately. That wasn’t anything new, but these were more childish than usual. But he’d fallen asleep on Darius’s lap the other day and didn’t have a nightmare! It made sense he would continue to sleep without nightmares as long as Darius was there, right? So he had to stay!
Darius sighed again. He picked up Hunter and sat on his bed, cradling the child on his lap. Hunter immediately snuggled against his chest. It wasn’t often that he got hugs. Or any physical affection, really.
“I’ll stay until you fall asleep, little prince. Now shut your eyes.”
“...Can I have another story?”
“ Another one?” Darius teased. “You sure are spoiled. Four stories in one night.... Alright, pick one out.” Darius loosened his grip on Hunter to let him go find a book.
Hunter grabbed one of Darius’s arms and put it back around him. “Flapjack pick.”
Flapjack flew to Hunter’s books and picked one about a dragon and a prince. He carried it back over in his beak, dropping it next to Darius before landing on top of Hunter’s head. Darius would have to make sure Hunter took care of his hair in the morning if this bird was sleeping in it all the time.
Hunter fell asleep halfway through his fourth story. Darius knew he should put him down and go to his own room, but...it wouldn’t hurt anyone if he stayed for a few more minutes. He hugged Hunter tightly. With the teenager asleep on his lap, he almost felt like he had a weighted blanket over him. Darius ended up falling asleep a few minutes after Hunter.
The Abomination coven head woke up a few hours later, cursing silently. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep there! He had to go back to his own room now. Hopefully Hunter wouldn’t wake up when he moved him.... Titan knew that kid needed all the rest he could get.
Darius slowly sat up and moved his hands underneath his little weighted blanket. He carefully lifted him off his lap and put him down on his bed. He started to stand up, but Hunter began to fuss in his sleep as soon as Darius took his hands off of him.
“Shh, go back to sleep, little prince,” Darius soothed, patting his back.
Hunter settled back down, only to start fussing again when Darius stood and turned the light off.
Darius sighed silently. “Fine, fine, I’ll stay with you. But only for tonight, got it?” He laid down next to Hunter, smiling when he snuggled against him. “Goodnight, little prince,” he whispered.
---
Hunter woke up in the morning halfway out of bed. That was weird. He didn’t usually move a lot in his sleep. He tried to roll back onto his bed just to roll into a wall. Huh. His bed wasn’t against a wall. He finally opened his eyes and saw Darius. Oh, right. He’d been being a brat about being left alone. He was surprised he hadn’t gotten punished for being annoying. Darius actually stayed all night! And he didn’t have a nightmare! Maybe his little self was onto something with making Darius stay with him at night.
Darius woke up when he felt eyes on him. He saw Hunter was awake now. Sunlight was spilling in through his window.
“You’re kind of a bed hog, you know?” Hunter asked.
Darius chuckled and rolled over, sitting up and stretching. “At least I don’t drool in my sleep.”
Hunter’s face redded and he whacked Darius with a pillow.
“C’mere.” Darius walked to Hunter’s desk to grab his hairbrush, then pointed to the desk chair in front of him. “That palisman of yours sure likes to sleep in your hair.”
Hunter knew he could brush his hair himself, but he was still halfway in his headspace and sleepy. Besides, what was the harm in letting Darius do it for him if he wanted to? It’s not like anyone would know. He sat in the chair and allowed Darius to brush the knots out of his hair. Flapjack flew to sit on the desk in front of him and chirped at him. “He says it makes a good nest. And thank you for brushing the knots out of his nest.”
Darius hummed. “Gladly.”