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Their entire group was beyond exhausted. They lost track of how many hours they'd been walking. When they entered through the portal it didn’t grace them with the luck of returning right to the heart of the Boiling Isles. Or perhaps that was a good thing, this way they had more time to prepare, however, it was more mentally than physically. It was a quiet walk, no one made any sort of attempt to communicate with one another. So, when Camilia told the group they should rest, no one protested.
With nothing but a cold damp ground to lay on inside a small cavern, they set up camp. Camila told everyone to sleep if they could, or at the very least rest their eyes. Willow already knew such a task would be impossible for her. She could still feel her heart fluttering rapidly as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She would not allow herself to rest when she had her loved ones to protect. Willow attempted to get comfortable, eyes wide open as she watched as the realm grow darker until it was pitch black. She didn’t know how long it had been since they had stepped into the portal, since Hunter had stopped moving.
Titan
She couldn’t get the horrific image out of her head of looking down at Hunter’s lifeless body laying still in her lap, it appeared in her mind with crystalline clarity every time she closed her eyes. She could still feel her fingertips tingle with the sensation of how ice-cold his skin had been after Camila dragged him out of the lake. Every nudge, tap, and push served to increase her panic each time he didn’t respond. For what felt like an eternity but was really only a few minutes, Willow wondered if she’d ever see the warm glow of his smile.
It terrified her.
Every time she attempted to close her eyes, she saw him again completely drained of life, as she cradled his face in between her hands. A small stupid voice told her that it was real, and he was gone. She ignored it as best as she could, counting and breathing tapping her own arm with her fingertips as she made futile attempts to comfort herself. Each attempt to provide herself with comfort did little to nothing to help.
Willow sat up and swallowed a gulp of air to ground herself. How long had it been since she’d let herself breathe? Her eye darted around, looking for Hunter. She needed the reassurance that this wasn’t a dream. That he was alive. They were almost home. However, Hunter was nowhere to be seen. Panic began to set in once again and Willow stood, running outside of the cave in hopes of finding Hunter. Before she could get very far a hand wrapped around her wrist stopping her in her tracks. Startled, she turned. Thank the titan it was only Hunter.
“Willow? What’s wrong?” Hunter asked.
It appeared as though he’d stationed himself just outside of the cave, of course, he was keeping watch. His tired, red, puffy eyes locked onto Willow searching for an answer as to why she was so freaked out. Hunter was okay! So why didn’t seeing him calm down her seemingly silly worries?
Willow was still trying to grasp the reality right in front of her, trying to focus on the hand gently holding onto her wrist, she wasn’t aware she was still pulling away, still trying to find what she had already found. The grip tightened, and Willow couldn’t bring herself to look at him, what if it wasn’t real?
“Willow, hey, please look at me. What’s going on?”
That was without a doubt Hunter, cutting through the lying voice in her head. She allowed herself to look down at the hand around her wrist, his new scar adorned his arm, she realized she was shaking, how long had she been shaking? A hand slowly cupped her face, fingertips trailed down just under her chin, and his thumb slowly moved across her cheek.
“Willow?” He called again, this time in a quiet whisper.
The hand on her face slowly guided her to meet exhausted bloodshot eyes. Cutting through the obvious pain she saw concern pouring out from his eyes, begging her to answer him. His eyes, his perpetually alert eyes. Willow let herself take in each new scar that marred his skin, his recently developed brown eyes felt familiar in a way Willow couldn’t place. His gaze never left her face and to her surprise, Hunter smiled.
“Hey, Captain.”
The way he said her nickname made Willow want to cry, the gentleness and love he expressed with a simple two-word sentence wasn’t fair. He moved the hand under her chin to slowly rest on her face, his fingers brushing across her soft skin slowly caressing Willow’s cheek. She could feel how lightly he was touching her skin, she could almost sense fear radiating off of him. She pulled back and felt instant regret at the loss of contact that reminded her Hunter was okay, she couldn’t put this on him not now, not when he’d just lost his beloved Palisman.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry!” She could hear her voice wobble.
“Hey, wait, why are you sorry? Was it something I did?” He stopped her again, this time by her shoulder. Could he feel just how much she was shaking? Could he see every tremble that traveled through her body?
“It’s fine, everything's fine. You didn’t do anything wrong, I promise. I’m sorry Hunter I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Willow went from not being able to look at him to studying his every movement, taking in every small detail that made him alive. Trying to prove to herself that there was no reason why she should be freaking out. She was being irrational and stupid, the paranoia was eating away at her ability to think logically.
“Willow, you're shaking.”
It was so nice to hear his voice, yet another thing that made him alive If only he could keep talking to her in a continuous string of comfort. She wanted to grasp his hands in hers, tightly so that she may be able to feel his pulse through his wrist. Every beat and breath he took, would put her troubled mind to rest. She hadn’t realized he had taken her hand in his, he was barely holding on this time, nothing but a soft grasp.
“I… just had a nightmare.” That was a safe answer, right? It wouldn’t add too much to his plate if she left it at that. when she met his eyes again, she was proven wrong. He looked so worried, it seemed as if he was holding back a hand to reach out to hers. He had such a servant’s heart, always looking to give and care for those he held dear. What a dangerous thing to possess, one should keep such a heart guarded.
“Ah. Those are never pleasant.” His worried eyes never lost the concern he was casting her way. If anything, it grew with every passing second. He sank to the ground and gently tugged Willow down next to him. His eyes continued to stare into what Willow felt like was her soul, trying to figure out what could have shaken her up to this degree.
“Do you wanna talk about it? No pressure or anything like that, only if you want to. Sometimes…talking about my nightmares helps…” She knew the last thing Hunter wanted was to pressure Willow into sharing something she wished to keep to herself. His soothing presence was all Willow needed at this moment.
“It was about you.” She lightly squeezed his hand again, hoping she wasn’t causing him any discomfort. There were no signs of any new scars directly on his hands, not that she could see.
“Me?”
When Willow looked up, Hunter’s face was still filled with confusion. It looked like he was trying to figure out what he could possibly do. From the corner of her eye, she saw him briefly reach out toward her, but he stopped midway in apprehension. He shifted his gaze down toward their joined hands, and when he did so his eyes widened, and he began to pull his hand away. Willow chased after it, clasping their two hands together once again.
“Please, don’t let go. Is it ok if I hold on just a little longer?” Her voice was wobbling like she was on the verge of a breakdown.
“Of course, it’s ok, but I thought you had a nightmare about me?” He asked.
“No! I mean I did, but not of you.” Willow said trying to explain her night terror as best as she could, but he still appeared to be confused.
“I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t scare you.” He sounded utterly defeated. This was the last thing Willow wanted, she had messed up again. She was the reason he was even more distressed now. If only she had kept her mouth shut.
“Hunter please don’t apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for. I…had a nightmare about losing you.” She explained.
“Oh, I’m sorry you had such a dream. I’m still here. I'm not going back to the emperor's coven.” He told her, a small smile cast her way.
“No, Hunter. I lost you, like what happened at the lake.” She whispered. He didn’t say anything, just kept his hand on hers, Hunter appeared to be intently listening to whatever she’d have to say. Calm and patient, he sat waiting.
“You weren't moving, I kept nudging you, but nothing happened. I thought I lost you, it terrifies me to think about you not being here with me. So, when I didn’t see you in the cavern I panicked and ran out here to look for you! I don’t think you realize how precious you are to me. How I’d give anything to keep you from danger, I’m still trying to hold onto the fact that you’re ok!” Willow rambled, and as she went on her voice got more unstable. She didn’t understand why she couldn’t calm down.
She felt the panic grow as the hand that held onto hers left until she felt warm palms lightly grasp her face, had she been crying? She felt him carefully wipe away the tears, streaming down her face. He gently guided her closer to him until her head reached his chest, a soft thumping noise played in her ears, as the hands-on her face slowly tangled into her hair.
“I’m alive, I promise I’m real.” His chest rumbled, and one hand left her hair to grasp her hand, threading his fingers in between hers he pulled her hand to his rib cage. She allowed her palm to rest and felt every expansion of his lungs. He was taking deep and slow breaths. With his free hand, he wrapped it around Willow’s back, pulling her as close as he was able to. With his knees on either side of her body.
“You’re precious to me too, Willow Park.” And as he told her Willow heard his heartbeat increase, that could just be her imagination.
She couldn’t bring herself to reply, particularly because of embarrassment, had she said that part out loud? In her panic, she may have just outed her growing affection for him. However, she couldn’t help but slowly melt into the calming situation she now found herself in. He was still breathing in and out in a rhythmic beat, Willow was still lightly holding onto his side, and she allowed herself to delicately curl her hand around his side. She could feel some of his ribs now, and it was oddly soothing to be able to feel every breath he took. She turned her attention to his heart, it sounded like a melody to Willow. A soft quiet reminder that he was alive, and it was hers to melt into.
“Is this helping?” She heard him ask, right she hadn’t said anything yet.
“Y-yeah, sorry I can let go if-”
“No! It's alright, stay as long as you need.” He interrupted her.
She hummed, smiling into his chest as she focused on his heartbeat again, it had slowly started to calm her down, this was real she was listening to Hunter’s heartbeat. He was ok, she was ok, and everything was alright for now. The calm before the storm, she wanted to be selfish, she’d stay here all night if he let her, which she knew he probably would. So, who could blame Willow if she allowed herself to further nuzzle into Hunter's arms, she felt him stiffen at her small gesture and started to panic again, but before she could apologize his arm around her back tightened, and she felt his head come to rest on top of her own. Willow could feel herself calming down, her shaking had ceased. She’d let out a faint sniffle every now and then. Willow could feel him running his thumb up and down along the side of her back. She felt her face grow hot when he began to idly play with her hair again. Making light touches up and down from the top of her head down to her neck, Willow wonders if this is the closest to anyone he has ever been. The ground didn’t feel so cold anymore, and she no longer felt so alone.
“I’m sorry, I know you must be going through a lot right now, the last thing you need is this.” She told him voice muffled, from where it was pressed up against his chest.
“Having you around could never bother me, Willow.” The hand in her hair brushed away some of the strands coming too close to her face.
Willow could feel her cheeks flush, and an odd sensation in her stomach that could only be described as butterflies. She wrapped both her arms around his midsection and kept her face hidden.
“Hunter, if I could give you one thing in this world I’d offer you my eyes, that way you could see how precious you are to me. Never forget there's only one of you, and I’m going to do my best to make sure you're safe.” She spoke as clearly as she could, feeling her face growing more flushed with each word she managed to get out. She wasn’t expecting him to start crying, his breath became shorter, and she could feel his body begin to shake as he wrapped his arms protectively around her.
“What did I do to deserve you, Willow?” He asked, she could hear his voice begin to break.
“You deserve the world, and nothing about you could ever change that.” She told him.
If neither of them decided to move, no one could blame them. If the others awoke to find them still sleeping outside, they wouldn’t be surprised. No words of confession had to be said, in their eyes the other was nothing short of precious.
