Chapter Text
When Darius contacted him before the Day of Unity, Hunter had been first frightened and then immensely relieved to know the person he trusted the most in the Coven –aside from Belos, that’s it, but that… didn’t really count anymore− was not only not trying to take him back to the castle or kill him, but was actively working against the very man who wanted him dead. It was almost too good to be true, but his story matched the rumors about the rebellion that he had compiled shortly before his world was turned on its axis, and so he had let himself believe it.
There had been a brief, almost bashful (though he had probably imagined that) ‘I’m glad you’re safe’ thrown in there and a few promises to meet after all was said and done to have a “long overdue conversation”, but there hadn’t been enough time to elaborate on that, since they’d moved on pretty quickly after Hunter requested to know how he could help.
Truth be told, he hadn’t actually wanted to go near Belos again, but Darius’s firm refusal to assign him a job had given him mixed feelings. He didn’t like the implication that he wasn’t trustworthy or capable enough to help.
And so, when Darius contacted him again to order him to protect Luz the human on her mission to rescue Amity Blight from… her own parents, apparently? −he wasn’t sure about the layers of the situation but he wasn’t about to question it−, he had been conflicted but eager; the assignment gave him the chance to prove to Darius that his trust in him wasn’t misplaced while also providing him with a very reasonable motive as to why he wasn’t in the first line of action to stop the Draining Spell. He had gratefully jumped at the chance.
Just one more him that had kept him from drowning in despair and self-doubt, of course he had grabbed onto it with all he had. He hadn’t stopped to think too much about it until way later, when his friends and him were safe in the Human Realm, although safe in a way they never would have chosen if they had the chance.
There was something about the command that had been nagging at him. And so, one day, while desperately trying not to think about the fate of the very person he was asking about, he decided to talk to Luz.
“What did I do to impress Darius?” Luz had seemed taken aback, but nice as she was, she had given his question some serious consideration. “Huh, I don’t know. I think I only talked to him in passing, I didn’t think I left any particular impression on him.”
“You must have!” He had insisted. “He was very clear about you having a security escort, remember? Why would he do that if he thought you were just some random girl?”
“I… don’t know? Maybe he just wanted to make sure everything went according to plan?”
That admittedly did sound like Darius, at least when he cared enough about making something work. But he still had felt there was some piece missing.
“Maybe, not that it worked anyway,” He hadn’t wanted to think too much about that. He had failed on the mission Darius had entrusted him with, but it hadn’t mattered much when the man hadn’t even been conscious to see it. “But… you didn’t do anything special? You just… were yourself, is that what you’re saying?”
“I guess so, yeah.”
And that had made sense too somehow. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that very few people could resist the weird combination of stubborn friendliness and determination that was Luz Noceda. She had been persistent enough to befriend him. She had befriended Amity, who, by the sounds of it, had been quite a handful when Luz first got to the Isles. No matter how negative the impression of her that someone had was, she always ended up winning them over.
Which was great. Grand. Amazing. Wonderful. He was happy for her and all that. But it posed a problem. He was nothing like her. If- once they got back to the Demon Realm, he wouldn’t be able to use that information to win Darius’s approval.
It didn’t feel fair. He had even gone on a mission to prove himself to the Abomination Head and by the end of it, the man had only started considering that maybe, just maybe Hunter wasn’t as terrible as he had thought all this time. Luz didn’t do anything at all and yet it was her the one Darius held in high regard? Without even trying? He shouldn’t have been surprised, having to work twice as hard as everyone else to earn half of the respect they already had just by existing had always been the norm for him.
But he couldn’t stop the jealousy from planting seeds in his chest. Most days the prospect of being unable to go back to the Isles terrified him, but there were days in which he was glad for it, if only because he didn’t think he could stand to see Darius fussing over Luz and knowing he wasn’t worthy of that. Because he hadn’t earned it yet, and he didn’t know how to earn it either. Still, there had been things to do, portals to find and dangers to avoid, it had been all too easy to dispel the bitter thoughts.
That had only lasted as long as they were separated from their realm.
Being back home had been... odd.
Contrary to his fears, Darius had been more than happy to see he was safe. He had beelined for him when they had arrived −although that was probably because the Owl Lady was hogging Luz− and he had even offered him a place to stay! The castle of course wasn’t an option, and he couldn’t depend forever on his friends’ kindness, so of course letting him stay until he found a more permanent living arrangement was the most logical solution. The man was a good strategist, and Hunter had figured there were other reasons that made staying with him and not someone else the best option, but he had avoided questioning those, just in case he changed his mind.
When he had promised to find other accommodations as soon as possible, Darius had grimaced, looking weirdly hesitant for a moment before sighing and telling him to stay as long as he needed. He couldn’t help but feel bad at imposing his presence in the man’s house like that. But ultimately, that had been it.
Or at least it should have been; after all, everything was going perfectly! The Boiling Isles were no longer being ruled by a genocidal tyrant, every day more people were warily venturing into the practice of Wild Magic, he had a safe place to stay, friends who cared about him and now he could even attend classes with them! Rebuilding efforts aside, looking for his new home should have been easy, the last stepping stone to improving his life.
Except there was another problem. He didn’t want to find somewhere else to stay.
The first few weeks he had avoided looking, having very reasonable excuses like ‘getting used to not being a child soldier anymore’ and ‘getting used to not being stressed all the time due to very real, very palpable threats’. Darius had been infinitely kind and understanding about that, reiterating that he could take his time, but still having an odd look in his eye that Hunter couldn’t decipher. He could only hope it wasn’t hidden annoyance.
Regardless, he had slowly gotten used to the routine of the house. To Darius’s abominations cleaning the house every day (‘you would be surprised how filthy things can get if you let the dirt accumulate’, Darius had shuddered) and Eberwolf inevitably tracking more mud inside and earning a scolding that would ultimately fail to dissuade him from doing it again. To waking up one morning and finding out that Darius had bought baked orbs because Hunter had off-handedly mentioned he wanted to try them (his friends had told him about the fried version, but the older witch had said they were much healthier this way) and then having Eberwolf perching on his shoulder while munching on one. To walk into the kitchen at least once every week after that to find a warm bag of the pastries on the counter. To Eberwolf turning off his scroll to pay him full attention when he was talking about something new he had learned in class and being patient enough to teach him what he could do with his own scroll other than using it for Penstagram. To purring and head pats and the occasional hug.
It felt homey. And right, which is just dumb, considering Hunter doesn’t really belong here. But… maybe he could? He likes it here. It’s too much to ask, he knows, but he wants to stay anyway. How can he prove himself as someone worthy to keep around? Eber seems to like him well enough now, no longer growling every time he so much as says a word in his direction, but Darius…
Darius has always been hard to read. Sure, he’s far nicer than he used to be, but he has come to realize the man simply has a good heart. It doesn’t mean Hunter is housemate material. As far as he knows, the abomination witch respects him since the Flyer Derby incident, but that’s not… just respect is not enough to let someone stay in your house for more than what’s strictly necessary. He needs Darius to think more highly of him before he even dares to bring up the possibility.
But how can he earn himself a chance to do that?
It doesn’t take him long to realize he only knows of one person who has managed to cause a positive impression on the man in record time. But if there’s not one big, specific gesture she did to accomplish that, what can he even do? Being himself wouldn’t work for him as it did for her, or clearly he wouldn’t be having this problem. It’s useless to think about it from that angle.
Unless…
Unless he doesn’t focus on being ‘himself’, but rather on being more like Luz? Huh. That could work. But he needs to gather intel first.
His chance comes without him having to put any effort into it at all, during a lunch conversation about the virtues of Flyer Derby vs Grudgby. He resists the impulse to either ask more about Grudgby or argue about the superiority of Flyer Derby on principle alone and turns casually to Luz, who hasn’t joined the heated debate between Gus, Willow, and Amity.
“So… Luz, what kind of, you know, human things have you been up to?”
Luz blinks a few times before turning to look at him, as if unsure if she actually heard right.
“What?”
“You know, human things? That you’ve been doing. Because you’re a human. Like… yesterday, what were you doing?”
Nailed that.
“We… saw each other yesterday?” The girl scratches her cheek. “I mean, our schedules are very similar and everything.”
Technically true, they’ve seen each other every day at school, but that’s not particularly helpful for what he really wants to know. Attending classes is hardly that impressive.
“Of course, yeah, but I obviously don’t need you to tell me what happened in class, I was there,” He rolls his eyes. “I’m asking about your other human things.”
“… My other human things? Oh, are you asking about my day?”
“… Sure?” The girl visibly brightens up at that, looking oddly moved, before speaking again.
“You should have started with that!”
What follows is a detailed retelling of the happenings at the Owl House AND the Noceda’s household all in one. Hunter does his best to stay focused on things that might help, but Luz, unaware of the information he needs, prefers to lean more on how much King has grown, what Vee has been up to at human school, Mrs. Noceda’s growing fondness of the Boiling Isles and the Owl Lady and Raine’s failed attempts at appearing put together when they still get flustered every time someone points out they’re a couple. While he’s glad the weird… custody arrangement they have going on worked out in Luz’s favor, the mere thought of being around so many people in one day sounds exhausting and he can’t help but wince a little.
“Hunter?”
Perhaps that’s the problem. Luz is a people person. He is not. He likes being free to choose who he wants to be, don’t get him wrong, but at the same time… sometimes he thinks he would like to have some kind of guide to know how to behave; it’s hard to know how to act around other people. How casual or formal he has to be around Darius and Eberwolf.
“Are you listening?”
He supposes it was bound to happen. They were technically his coworkers. He used to think the Coven Heads were his friends, but after learning how actual friends treat one another… well, they were a little less than cordial during most of the time he knew them, to be quite honest. They have both apologized for that since, but it’s still weird if he stops to think too much about it.
And now he lives with them.
“Hunteeeeer?”
And he has no idea how to reconcile the thought of them before and what he now wants of them. Not that he wants to want more of them, it’s not that they’re not great already… except because asking to stay with them for good is a lot, isn’t it? How does one even get around to asking that? Are there guidelines somewhere or something?
“Hunter, are you okay?” A hand lands on his shoulder and he jumps, taking note of his surroundings again.
Unfortunately, Luz not only managed to catch his attention, but the others’ as well, and now there’s not only one hesitant gaze on him, but also an alarmed one and a concerned one and a confused one. Just what he needed.
“I’m feeling absolutely dandy!” He chuckles nervously, waving his hand in dismissal and looking from one face to another to see how much they seem to believe him. Squinting eyes, a tilted head, raised eyebrows. It’s not looking good. “Really! I just… didn’t sleep well yesterday?”
The excuse sounds weak even to his ears.
“Don’t be offended… but I don’t think you’ve slept well a single day of your life,” Hunter glares at Gus for that. Wow, and here he thought friends didn’t betray each other.
“Do you need to take a nap? There might not be too much time left before lunch ends, but we can make sure no one tries anything while you’re asleep,” Willow looks vaguely haunted at that, and if he wasn’t trying to stay on topic, he would definitely try to inquire more about that.
If his previous Golden Guard training must be good for something, let it be to teach people not to mess with his friends. But his training also taught him to hierarchize his tasks.
“No! No, I need to hear this, it’s important.”
“Not that I’m not happy that you think so, but this seriously can wait” Luz shrugs. “I don’t mind.”
If he were a more sensible person, he would take the chance to pretend everything is in order. But because Hunter is not, in fact, as blessed with common sense as he would like to think, he instead raises his voice in alarm at the prospect of his only source of information refusing to talk.
“No, it can’t wait!”
“… Why?” Aaaaand now the concerned looks are back.
He coughs a little.
“I’m just… interested in your life? Like any good friend would be? …Not that I think you’re not good friends,” He adds awkwardly, avoiding the others’ eyes.
“Right… any particular reason why you want to know about my life so bad? You could ask the others about their days too.”
Oh, shit. He didn’t think that far. He looks down at Flapjack in panic. The bird is peacefully dozing off inside of his bag. Another traitor.
“Because I’m very interested in, huh, human customs?” He half-asks, praying for them to not bring up how all of them were actually in the Human Realm long enough for him to not need to settle for scraps of data like that. Not to mention the fully functional portal they have now.
“I could let you borrow some of my books if you’d like,” Gus offers tentatively, looking at him like he’s trying to figure out his thoughts with his gaze alone.
“Ah! No, thank you, that’s… alright.”
“Oooor depending on what you want to see, we could make a trip to the Human Realm? You know my mom doesn’t mind.”
“No, no, yeah, I know, it’s just…”
When his eyes find Amity across the table, she’s frowning, but she softens her expression as soon as she catches him looking and mouths ‘you okay?’ at him. He wants to smile at her in reassurance, but it comes out as a grimace. He looks away.
“I only wanted to ask… to know… it’s nothing big, really” Willow and Gus exchange a look.
“Hunter…”
“I just need to know what Luz did to impress Darius, okay?!”
In the following silence, he’s at least glad the sound of talking at nearby tables can still be heard. He’s not feeling like humiliating himself in front of the whole school.
Finally, after several seconds of avoiding looking at their faces once more, Gus speaks.
“Aren’t you living with him? Why would you need to impress him?”
“Because…!” He takes a deep breath. “Because… you know how this is temporary, right?”
“It is?” Luz sounds like this is news to her, as if she wasn’t there when Darius made his offer.
“Yes, it is” His voice comes out slightly more forceful than he would want and, he clears his throat. In contrast, when he continues, it sounds a lot softer. Too soft “And I… don’t want it to be.”
He gives it a second for the truth to be out there before deciding that no, he doesn’t think he’s ready to hear what they have to say to that, so he keeps talking.
“And I thought ‘hey, maybe if you impress him enough, he won’t mind letting you stay’, right? Flawless plan, if you ask me, except because I have known him for as long as I can remember and he only barely started liking me. Barely. There’s no way I can impress him by doing anything I’ve already been doing” He huffs, passing a hand through his hair anxiously and apparently doing enough of a racket to disturb Flapjack, who flies to his shoulder and starts pecking at his cheek.
‘Perfect! Boy’s already perfect!’
He pets the bird softly in thanks.
“And then I thought… maybe if I figure out what is it about you that made him approve of you so fast, maybe I can do something similar so he’ll let me stay?”
He dares to look up at Luz. He can’t quite tell what the look in her eyes means, but he knows her, she has a good heart. He’s counting on that.
“So, please… will you help me?”
“Hunter, I don’t think-“
“Please.”
Luz presses her lips tightly. From the corner of his eye, he can see the others exchanging glances.
“… Fine, but… promise you’ll talk to Darius about this?” She can probably tell he wants to protest, because she hurries to add: “At some point?”
“… Okay,” It will probably be alright once he has secured his place in the house. Which will be soon now that he has a reliable source.
“And we’ll help too, of course!” Gus declares, his smile small and hesitant, but present from the other side of the table.
“Yeah, you can count on us,” Amity says and… well, he supposes he’s not surprised about that. She understands, she almost always does.
He smiles gratefully at them. Sometimes he finds himself still startled by how different things are when you have friends to support you, but he can never get tired of the feeling.
“Thanks, guys.”
And so the Operation 'Make Darius like me' begins.
... He doesn't tell the others that he called it that.