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Hunter currently crouched in a bush outside the Blights, staring into Alador’s shop where Darius was smiling and talking to the other man.
“Dude,” Someone said behind him. “Why are you in my bush?”
Hunter turned and grabbed the other’s hand, pulling them down and turning to talk. Edric gave him a strange look, pushing his glasses up a bit.
“I think our dads are dating.” Hunter said. Edric immediately looked over the bush with wide eyes. “What?”
Hunter joined him and they watched the pair. Alador stood hunched over a little, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. Darius beamed at him and lightly patted his arm.
“Omigod they totally are.” Edric said. “I don’t like it,” Hunter mumbled and Edric turned.
“Why, don’t want your dad to be happy?” He asked.
“No,” Hunter said, eyes not leaving the pair. “Darius deserves the best person in the world after all he’s done for me, I don’t think alador is that.”
“I feel like I should be offended but I also feel like I gotta agree with you.” Edric said.
“What are you two doing?” A voice said from behind them and Edric and Hunter both grabbed the other person, pulling them down and turning to explain.
Emira looked at them both with a deadpan expression. “You two are ridiculous, you know that, right?”
“Look at them, Mir!” Edric said and Emira sighed, scooting forward to watch them.
“Omigod,” she whispered.
“We know!” Edric said and she turned. “So what’s the plan? Are we getting them to admit they’re dating or what?”
“I want to make sure your dad is worthy.” Hunter said, pulling out a notebook and pencil, writing up a small plan. “I want to test him, my dad is amazing, he deserves someone just as amazing who will love him and protect him.”
“Okay, okay, I feel like I should be against you testing my dad but I kinda wanna see how this goes.” Emira said. “Loyalty test, we can get someone to flirt with my dad to see if he’s loyal.”
“Oooh, and a protection test.” Edric added. “Like fake a situation where they’re in danger and see if dad helps Darius or leaves him be.”
“Okay, but my dad is not to be in trouble for real or I’ll-” “You’ll kill us, we know, you say this for everything,” Emira said and waved her hand around.
“I feel like there should be a third test, just to even things out.” Edric said.
“What are you three doing?” Someone else asked and the three of them grabbed the person and pulled them down, Amity shouting as he fell.
They quickly explained everything and what their plan was to her. She raised an eyebrow, opened and closed her mouth, tilted her head, made a face, opened and closed her mouth again before shaking her head.
“I’m not getting involved.” She said and Hunter sighed. “At least help us come up with a third test.”
Amity sighed and thought for a moment. “Parent trial?” She suggested and the three gave her s strange look and she sighed.
“It’s what Luz did to Raine to make sure they were good with Eda. Make sure Alador is really committed to your dad, that he wouldn’t mind you being part of his family. Well, our family.” Amity said.
“Oh, wow, I didn’t even think about that, you could become our little brother.” Edric said and Emira cooed. “Awww! Another little brother!”
“I’m only eleven minutes younger.” Edric hissed. “And I’m only a year! Not a baby!” Hunter said and Emira smiled. “No, you’re a big boy, aren’t you?” She cooed and normally comments like that would upset Hunter, but hearing it from Emira with the thought she could possibly be his older sister just made him smile a little.
“Thank you Amity, that’s a good idea.” Hunter wrote it down and Amity nodded, standing up. “Well, this was entertaining but I have a date with Luz. My girlfriend.”
Hunter smiled and nodded. “Have fun,” He said and started writing more details on how each test would go and when they would be.
“But not too much fun!” Emira and Edric sang in unison.
Amity flushed and scurried away.
Test 1.
Steve had agreed to flirt with Alador under the agreement he would be allowed to the next Owl House family night (which, was literally reserved for the owl house extended family, which Hunter had slowly became a part of, but after calling Luz and her agreeing, the plan was set into motion). He had disguised himself a bit in hopes Alador wouldn’t catch on immediately.
Darius and Hunter were out shopping for new capes (Darius’ was slowly disintegrating from abomination abuse and Hunter’s, as always, was falling apart from countless rips and tears), Edric and Emira had convinced their dad to take them out shopping for school supplies.
Steve was to start flirting with Alador, Hunter would get Darius in a spot where they could see them but Aladaor wouldn’t see Darius.
And everything was going great! Steve was laying on the charm and Alador was listening, Darius raisin an eyebrow.
Hunter was ready for it, ready for Alador to prove he wasn’t worthy and Darius would break up with him.
But Alador just flushed and chuckled softly before informing Steve “Sorry, but I have a boyfriend.”
Steve smiled and bowed. “No harm, no foul.” And left.
Hunter looked up at his dad and Darius was flushing.
At least Hunter knew for sure they were dating now.
Test 2.
This one had been harder to set up but after a very long explanation (and a long lecture about meddling with people’s love lives) Raine had agreed to play the part of the attacker.
They were going to be disguised with magic and playing the part of a dangerous thief, confronting the pair when they were alone and seeing how Alador would react. Raine was also wearing protection magic in case Alador did attack.
Hunter, Edric, Emira, Luz and Amity were all hidden so they had perfect view of the whole scene.
Amity had tried avoiding it all as much as she could but the moment Luz found out about the plan, she convinced her girlfriend it would be entertaining.
So the five teens sat, waiting for the plan to go in action. Hunter was leaning against Emira, dozing off a bit when Edric smacked him. “They’re here!” He whispered and Hunter smacked him in retaliation but focused on the pair.
They were holding hands as they walked, Darius talking very animatedly while Alador listened with a lovesick face. Hunter groaned and Emira giggled.
Raine in disguise jumped out, holding a shard of glass as they cornered the pair. “Give me all your money or you’ll regret it!” They screamed in a deep voice.
Darius looked hardly concerned and Alador frowned. Raine sighed and then grabbed Darius, holding the adult tightly. “Wallet, ot I’ll hurt him.”
Hunter can’t even tell you what happened next because it happened so fast. Raine didn’t even finish their threat before they were thrown against the wall, abomination leaking off their chest. Alador stood with a blank glare, dusting off his hands as he helped Darius to his feet.
Raine disappeared in seconds, shooting a glare up where the kids were hiding.
“Dammit,” Hunter mumbled and Amity scoffed.
“It seems like you want my dad to fail.” She commented and Hunter sighed. “It’s not that, I just- I’m sorry, when I picture the perfect person for my dad, I don’t- I don’t picture yours.”
“It’s fine, we didn’t picture our dad as a perfect dad for a while.” Edric said. “And he’s not, he’s got his flaws, and maybe he’s not perfect for yours, but he’s doing a pretty good job, isn’t he?”
Hunter groaned.
“One more test.” He said and the others all shared a look.
~~~
Darius stood outside the Owl House, waiting for Hunter to pack up all the sleepover stuff he had brought to hang out with Luz, the young girl smiling up at him.
“I heard you got a boyyyyyfriend! She crooned and Darius looked shocked. “Who told you? Ugh, it doesn’t matter, please don’t tell Hunter,” Darius said and she frowned.
“Why not?” She asked, giving him a suspicious glare.
“Because, I don’t know if it’s serious yet and I- I want to make sure everything is perfect. Hunter has had a lot go on and I want to make sure this isn’t another relationship I’m going to mess up before bringing someone else into Hunter’s life.” Darius mumbled and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t want to make Hunter feel vulnerable around someone if I’m just going to ruin it and they leave.”
“Awww, so cute,” Luz cooed and then thought about how Hunter already knew and sighed. “But I think hiding stuff from him is gonna make things worse. And he can understand relationship stuff, okay? I mean, what, with his crush on Willow-”
Darius gasped a fairly unmanly gasp, smiling wide with eyes bright and Luz paled. “Shoot! You didn’t know? Don’t tell him I told you!” She panicked.
Darius made a zipping motion over his mouth but still smiled wide.
Hunter finally walked out, blanket rolled up under his arm and backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked at Luz and frowned.
“Why do you look like that?” He asked and Luz forced a smile. “I just thought about the most recent Good Witch Azura book, sorry! Gotta go! Had fun, come back, same time next week, BYEEEE!”
Hunter gave Darius a strange look and shrugged.
~~~
Test 3.
This one actually happened two weeks before Hunter planned it to. He and Amity had set up a whole elaborate event that would leave Alador alone with Hunter, but Darius had somewhere to be and dropped him off at the Blight’s to be watched. All the Blight kids were on separate dates which left him and Alador alone.
They were in Alador’s shop, the abomination witch working on a project while Hunter sat awkwardly in a chair, spinning himself out of boredom.
“Do you know about human stuff?” Hunter asked because he was hating the silence. Alador looked over his shoulder.
“Not much,” He admitted. “I mostly focus on my machines, though I should probably learn about human technology and see if it can improve my designs.”
Hunter nodded and spun some more.
“Do you know human stuff?” Alador asked and Hunter nodded. “Uh, yeah, when the two worlds created a bridge, Luz got me a lot of books about it. I really like first responders.”
“What are those?”
“Well, there’s differen’t kinds. There’s paramedics, fire fighters, stuff like that. I like firefighters most. They ride in these huge trucks and they stop fires, obviously that’s their name, but they also help people in other ways. Like if you’re stuck somewhere or something, they can get you out. There’s this thing called the Jaws of Life, it’s this giant tool that will push things open if like, your door is stuck or something,” Hunter said. He then launched into a really long winded explanation about firefighters and firetrucks, Alador asking him questions about it and intently listening.
“... They have the animal, it’s called a dog, but the specific dog is a dalmatian. They would run alongside the trucks when they were horse-drawn, that’s a bigger animal, and would bark at people to get out of the way so the path was clear.” Hunter came to a conclusion.
“That all sounds remarkable.” Alador said, turning away from his now finished project. “You sure know a lot about that sort of stuff. Darius mentioned you were autistic, would you consider firetrucks your special interest?”
Hunter’s eyes grew wide and he smiled a little. “Yeah actually!” He said and Alador smiled.
“Mine is inventions, though I think that’s a little obvious.” He mumbled and Hunter jumped off his seat. “You’re autistic too?” He asked and Alador nodded.
“We’re a little different,” Alador mumbled. “While you’re more outgoing, I’m more private, I suppose. But yes, we’re alike in a few ways.”
Hunter suddenly remembered that he was not in fact supposed to be liking this guy and he opened and closed his hands a few time, trying to suppress the excitement over one, having met someone like him and two, having someone who listened so intently to his special interest.
“More ways we’re alike is that we both care for your father,” Alador said and Hunter straightened. “Hunter, I’m not blind, I’ve seen you stalking us.”
“I- I wasn’t! I was observing ! It’s for my own intel.” Hunter huffed.
“Intel about what?” Alador asked.
“... If you’re good enough for my dad.” Hunter mumbled.
Alador smiled and moved to sit next to Hunter, appearing smaller than the teen because of his he hunched over.
“Hunter, I’m sure your father would be thrilled to know how much you’re going through for him. I sure am. I don’t think I’ve ever been tested on a relationship before.” Alador said and Hunter gasped.
“You figured that out?” He asked and Alador smiled. “No, Edric is a bad secret keeper.”
Hunter laughed a little at that.
“But,” Alador continued. “I kind of appreciate it. Though I think the test no longer works if the person you’re testing is aware it’s a test. Hunter, I care for your father, deeply. I love him and I would do anything for him. But I also care about you. If you’re uncomfortable with us dating, I will break up with him.
Hunter fisted his hands and pressed them against his eyes.
“No, I don’t want that.” He mumbled and sighed. “I think I’m… I think I’m scared about someone new being in his life. I think he deserves the world, he’s saved me and taken me in and I don’t know who I’d be without him. I just want someone like that for him, someone who is just perfect.”
Alador chuckled. “What, am I not?”
Hunter shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant. You’re good! Great, I’m proud of how you treat him.”
“You just don’t me enough,” Alador said. “But I promise I can do my best to be perfect for him.”
Hunter looked at him with soft eyes. “Do you promise?” He asked and Alador smiled. “I promise.
~~~~
Darius and Hunter were eating dinner in their living room, watching a human cartoon on their TV (now that worlds were connected, they didn’t need to rely on hovering around a crystal orb to watch things).
“So, I heard someone has a crush,” Darius sang because, sorry Luz, Darius was also awful at keeping secrets.
Hunter turned red and looked at him wide eyed. “What?” He said in a high pitched voice and Darius chuckled.
“You and that Willow girl, are you ever going to ask her out?” Darius asked and Hunter brought his shoulders up to his ears.
“Maybe! I don’t know if she likes me back!” Hunter mumbled and Darius scoffed.
“Of course she likes you back,” He said like it was obvious and Hunter glared at him.
“You can’t know for sure.” He mumbled. Darius nodded. “I guess that’ true, but trust me, Hunter. She likes you back.”
Hunter smiled softly and picked at his food a bit, inhaling and then sighing.
“I know about you and Alador.” He mumbled.
Darius was silent and Hunter glanced over. Darius looked guilty.
“I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure,” Darius mumbled. “Are you mad?”
Hunter shook his head. “No, not mad at all. And… And I think Alador will be good for you.”
Darius blinked at that. “Really?” He asked and Hunter nodded.
“He’s not perfect , but he’ll do.” Hunter joked and Darius hugged him.
“Thank you, kid. I just- I didn’t want to bring him into your life if our relationship wasn’t going to last.” Darius mumbled.
“He really loves you, dad. I think you guys will be fine.” Hunter said and Darius smiled.
“Thank you.” He mumbled and they separated.
“I really thought you were gonna be more against it, like testing if he’s worthy for me or something.” Darius joked and Hunter flushed, sitting up straighter and he scoffed.
“Pshhh! Nah! That’s so extra and unnecessary!” Hunter said and Darius chuckled.
“Yeah, a little bit.”