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Hunter's breathing hitched as he shot up in his bed.
Another nightmare.
Another nightmare of the day of unity. Of seeing his own father figure blasted into goo, magic being ripped out of all of the coven witches, and seeing belos’s cursed form with eyes that saw everything wrong about him. The worst part was the constant fear of losing his friends, the people he loved, the only people who had truly accepted him, who had truly made him feel loved.
The day of unity may be long over, but Titan forbid he forget the crippling fear that had overtaken him.
Hunter surveyed the room, making sure that Belo- no, making sure there were no monsters. His room in the owl house was dark and cold, the only light being the occasional lighting appearing in a flash through window. As for the cold, his blankets had been long abandoned on the floor due to him thrashing about during his frequent nightmares. The only sound was the pounding of boiling rain hitting the protective shield covering the house. That, and Hunters hyperventilating.
It's not that he didn't remember Gus’s breathing trick or his well practiced ability of pushing away emotions during his time in the emperor's coven, its rather the issue that for once he wants, no, needs, someone to comfort him. He doesn't want to be alone to deal with this, and he knows doesn't have to be. Loneliness isnt an unfamiliar feeling for the tired blond, but being lonely while having supportive people that you refuse to ask for help from, is new territory for him.
Lighting strikes, lighting up the room for a split second and making Hunter shrink back in fear as thunder rumbles seconds after.
He’s so tired. So exhausted from everything that happened in his life. He's glad everything is over, but he knows it doesn't mean he's done recovering from it. He's physically fine, yes, but emotionally he needs more time to heal. Eda keeps telling him that things like this take time, and that that's ok, and Hunter knows she's speaking from experience and her assurance makes things easier. Right now though, when he's all alone in his dark chilly room, her words hold less power.
He hadn't noticed he was crying until his tears flowed down and caught on his jaw, not until he could barely breathe through his nose, not until the sudden boom of thunder accidental shakes loose a whimper.
Between Hunter's mental breakdown and the storm, mainly the latter, the sounds are loud enough to wake up a certain someone across the hall.
He’s both startled and relieved when a gentle knock is heard at his door.
After a moment's hesitation he responds.
“Come in.” He says, voice just above a whisper.
The door is opened and they step into the room, observing the poor crying boy huddled against the headboard of his bed.
“Hey, hey, I'm here, it's alright.” They hush gently.
Hunter doesn't trust himself to speak, responding with a nod.
They sit down close to him on the bed, but purposely sit far enough away to avoid touch, less they overwhelm poor Hunter. With much forethought, they try to comfort him using the first thing that comes to their mind.
“Do you want a hug Blondie?” they ask, the nickname smothered in a soft and affectionate tone.
Hunter doesnt think too long before answering.
“Please.”
With only a moment's pause, they open their arms, wanting Hunter to make the first move.
The boy relaxes and uncurls from himself before being quickly yet gently surrounded by arms that scoop him into their lap before resting on his back, his face snuggled into their shirt.
In any other scenario he would have been embarrassed and would complain despite enjoying it. However tonight there was no resistance as he fell lax in their arms.
All too soon a bolt of lightning lights up the sky and Hunter begins shaking, knowing what was coming. He squeaked when thunder shook the ground once again, burrowing into his companions neck hoping to find solace.
“Sweetheart it's alright, nothing can hurt you. There are no monsters, you have nothing to worry about.”
“I- Im just so, so, …. terrified.” He said, struggling to find the words at first but managing in the end.
“I know, I know, the things you're feeling are valid, but they won't last forever. it will be ok. Morning will come. You will eventually move on. For now though I'm going to hold you and comfort you until you feel safe. Sound good?”
Hunter nods against their neck, feeling a bit better from their soft words.
It doesn't take long after that for their arms to move. First they rub up and down his back making the touch starved boy melt under their gentle minstrarions. After that Hunter stopped shaking, and a hand tentatively made its way to his hair.
It slowly crept up his undercut and to his blond locks, beginning to scratch gently, their fingers brushing against his scalp in a way that made him feel genuinely cared for.
It was so much tender affection and love that Hunter couldn't do anything but sit completely relaxed within their arms, face nuzzled into their neck, eyes closed.
“Tomorrow im totally going to cuddle the hell . out of you.” They whispered, before placing a kiss on his head.
Hunter, who had been starved of affection for years, let slip a small whimper at that. If he got any more attention like this he thought his heart would burst.
They heard his small sound, and became concerned. Had they done something wrong?
“Was that not ok? I'm sorry little prince, I should have asked.”
“No no please, I . . . I liked it.” He sleepily struggled to speak. He also hadn't heard that nickname in a while, deciding he needed to visit Darius when he felt better.
They're warm voices prodded him from his thoughts. “Oh, alright. Nice to find you're a big softy.”
The boy could only nod, the use of words feeling like too much energy.
Here, in his room, wrapped in his companion's arms receiving such loving words and affections, Hunter realized that for the first time that night, he felt safe.
With that revolation, Hunter began to slip into sleep once more, the last thing he heard being,
“Good night sweetheart, i'll be here in the morning.”, before he finally fell back asleep.