Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As far as Darius knew, there wasn't really a single person in the Emperor's Coven that really remotely tolerated The Golden Guard.

Him being one of them.

It wasn't like he would go out of his way to harm the boy. Not in the way the other Coven Heads or officials would. Darius knew better than that.

But he still couldn't stop himself flinching whenever someone, particularly, the Emperor, would shout at him, shove him aside as if he were a mere dog and not a member of the Coven who was supposed to be highly respected and valued.

He didn't know why he couldn't stop the flinching. The Golden Guard didn't matter to him at all. Perhaps it had to do with his mentor? Titan knew.

All he knew, was that it had nothing to do with any personal feelings for The Golden Guard at all.

He didn't care for the boy, he just knew what was right and what was wrong.

***

Hunter braced himself before entering the Throne Room. He knew what he was in for, and he had to be ready for it.

The Emperor was not a merciful man. Hunter had known this fact all his life. And he knew that lack of mercy would be shown in just a second, when he reported back about his newly failed mission.

He walked up to his Uncle, who was sat on his Throne and clearly awaiting Hunter. It made his heart start to pound.

"..."

He stopped and stood before Belos, and proceeded to bow down and close his eyes.

"Would you like to explain what happened to your arm, Hunter?"

Belos's voice was venomous. It made Hunter feel like he had to do everything he said, no matter the circumstances or severity.

"... I hurt it whilst I was out on a mission, Emperor Belos... I—I really didn't mean to—!"

"Silence. That's enough."

The words brought shivers to Hunter's body. He immediately stopped talking, and stayed perfectly still in his bow.

"I cannot have the Golden Guard constantly failing his missions. It would bring shame to the Emperor's Coven's name. Not to mention, endanger the Isles."

"... Yes... I understand, Emperor Belos."

"Two times now, you have came back to me injured and unsuccessful. I think you should be taught a lesson, before you fail again."

"... Of course... Emperor Belos..."

Hunter gulped. He knew what was going to happen next.

"Back on your feet, Hunter."

He did exactly as he was told. He stared at the floor and didn't dare look Belos in the eyes. He knew he never did that during a beating or else.

"Hold still, this should be quick and easy as long as you cooperate."

"Yes, Emperor Belos..."

"Head up."

Hunter braced himself and sure enough, a swift punch came to his right eye. He held back a gasp and stopped himself from falling to the floor, knowing Belos would want him to stand and take the beating, and not show his pain.

Because showing pain was weakness.

And Hunter couldn't be weak.

"Head back down."

Hunter was staring at the ground again in barely a second.

"We're almost done already, Hunter. See how easy everything is as long as you just do as your told?"

"Yes, Uncle. It is easier."

"I'm glad you understand."

Then came a slap across his face. It almost made Hunter flinch again, but thankfully, he didn't.

It was still incredibly painful, however.

"We're finished now, Hunter."

"... Permission to look up, Emperor Belos?"

Hunter still had his head ducked.

"Granted."

Hunter looked back up, and nodded as if to say thank you.

"I hope this has taught you a lesson, Hunter. You need to try harder and take your missions for seriously. I'm sure you understand."

"Of course, Emperor Belos."

It was like he was a robot, saying the same thing over and over again.

"Good. Don't disappoint me again. You can leave now."

"Yes, Uncle. I'm very sorry... I promise you I won't let you down again."

"I hope not. I'm counting on you, Hunter."

"I know, I won't let you down again."

He hurried out of the Throne Room and into the corridors of the castle, only focused on making it back to his room before someone saw his newly obtained injuries.

He knew he deserved everything Belos did. But he knew other people wouldn't think the same. And he couldn't risk tarnishing his uncle's name.

So he ran back to his room as fast as he could, avoiding everyone and not daring to look them in the eyes.

***

Darius let out a gasp as him and the other person fell to the floor.

"Argh! What do you think you're—!"

He paused when he realised who he had bumped into.

It was The Golden Guard.

But with a horribly bruised right eye and face. He looked like he had just gotten out of a fist fight. And he had been the loser.

"Oh Titan! What happened to you!?"

"... Just... last mission was a little rough..."

"Little Prince, you have never came back from a mission like that! How could this one have been any different!?" Darius was almost at a loss for words.

"... I gotta go—! I really need to get back to my room! Uh.... Cya, Darius!"

He took off without another word. Leaving Darius in shock.

That whole experience felt like it never happened. It was so otherworldly.

Darius wanted to, but he couldn't get the image of the Golden Guard's bruised face and eye out of his head.

It was unsettling. And he didn't know why.

But he watched as the Golden Guard ran off to his room, clearly staring at the floor in case someone saw his face.

It took Darius a couple of minutes to realise something.

If it had just been an injury on a mission, why was he so determined to hide his face?

Granted, he could have just been ashamed, but why? Every Guard usually got somewhat injured on a mission?

Darius had a strange, new feeling. Like something wasn't right. It made his chest tighten.

He noticed that the Golden Guard had came running from the direction of the Throne Room.

But if he did, how could he have gotten hurt there?

Darius felt the strange feeling grow. And he didn't like it at all.

Something might be happening behind closed doors, and Darius was a little worried about finding out what it was.

Turns out, he would be finding out very soon.

Sooner than he probably would have liked.

***

Dinner time came for the castle. Where they would all gather in the dining room at what Darius and Eberwolf had agreed to be a comically large table, and have the most boring conversations known to man.

In other words, it wasn't very exciting.

Darius didn't like the way his eyes kept drifting over the now masked Golden Guard. He couldn't help but think about what was under that mask.

A terribly black and blue face. One that was definitely still hurting him now.

He didn't like the way his heart sped up thinking about it.

Darius sighed in boredom as he sipped from the glass of water on the table. Nothing could have been more boring than that dinner.

That was—until there was a loud crash, and the sound of glass smashing.

Everyone looked up and stared in shock, and even though the Golden Guard was wearing a mask, you could almost sense his fear.

Just as you could almost sense Belos's anger.

"... Please excuse this incident, Head Witches and other Coven officials. It will be easily dealt with soon."

Despite that anger, Belos's tone was calm and rational as ever.

But Darius watched as he whispered into the Golden Guard's ear, and they both proceeded to walk out of the dining hall together, Belos telling anyone who tried to not to accompany them.

This put Darius on edge a little. He didn't quite know why, but he had been theorising on what could have hurt the boy, and most of them added up with some sort of abuse with Belos behind closed doors.

Darius hadn't ever really fallen for Belos the way everyone else had. There was something about the Emperor that was too... perfect. Flawless. It was shady. He was too good to be true.

It wouldn't surprise him if he was hurting his nephew when no one else was around, though truthfully, it hurt him to admit that.

He sat at the table and let his fingers nervously drum on it. A part of him did long to go and see what might have been happening, but the other part which Dadius decreed to be more logical was going against it.

But somehow, his curiosity eventually got the better of him. And he got up from the table, to go and find where the Emperor and his nephew had gone.

As he rather quickly walked through the corridors, he started to hear recognisable voices. Ones he was far too used to hearing.

That was definitely Belos. As well as the Golden Guard. And they were in the Throne Room.

Once again, curiosity got the better of Darius, and he opened the door to the Throne Room just a crack so he could properly hear what was going on.

Belos's tone was completely different from how it had been in the dining hall. It was deadpan and had disappointment and anger written into it.

"I thought you said you wouldn't let me down again. I detest lies, Hunter."

"I—! I really meant it—! I'm sorry Uncle! I—!"

"Hush. You weren't giving permission to speak. When will you learn, Hunter!?"

"..."

"Two times today now this has happened. Are these lessons not hard enough for you? Perhaps we should toughen them up a little then."

"U—Uncle I—!"

"What did I say."

"..."

Darius watched with horror as Belos's hand met the already bruised side of Hunter's face. It was so hard, it brought the boy down onto the floor.

"Get back up. Come on, you should have been able to take that. You are the Golden Guard, after all."

Darius got to watch again as Hunter stood back up, ams then Darius's hand balled into a fist. He forcefully shoved the boy against one of the walls. But Belos did something weird. He grabbed The Golden Guard by the shoulders and leaned him forward. And then his fist was raised right in front of the boy's mouth.

Then Darius caught on to what he was doing.

He was going to punch his head into the wall.

What Darius did next, proved to be life changing.

Something must have possessed him then and there, because he threw open the door to the Throne Room.

And he proceeded to shout at Belos.

"THAT, IS ENOUGH!"

Both the Golden Guard and Belos were staring at him. Belos much more disdainfully.

"Head Witch Darius. My, this is new."

Darius just leered at him.

"Leave. Hunter. Alone."

Darius glared back.

"This is a new low, isn't it? You've always been more rebellious than the other Coven Members, but never to this degree."

"Stop changing the subject. Let him go, and I swear. If you so much as touch another hair on his head I'll kill—!"

"You'll kill me, were you going to say you'd kill me? You'd kill the Emperor?" Belos gave a laugh. But it sounded awful. Awful and sadistic.

"You've never cared for the boy. I know you haven't. What's with the sudden protective urges? You'd be wise to just run along back to the dining hall, before you do anything you'll soon regret after." Belos was grinning at him. And Darius hated it.

"I think not. I want you to leave Hunter alone."

Belos's grin vanished.

He threw Hunter back down onto the ground, causing him to yelp.

"You want me to leave him alone, do you? Please, you're acting as if you're his father."

He began to approach Darius. Who was somehow still managing to keep—or rather, feign calm.

"He doesn't matter to you, Darius. So why are you risking everything you have here at the Coven—!"

When he was right in front of Darius, he shoved the Emperor out of his way. Just like he had done with his nephew moments ago.

He wasted no time in running over to the boy and grabbing his hand and pulling him to his feet. He barely even looked at him before he ran out of the Throne Room with him. Then they were back out in the Corridor.

For a split second, Darius looked behind him. He saw Belos, standing in the doorway of the Throne Room.

To say he was angry was an understatement.

The only word you could use to describe Belos was livid.

Darius snatched his head back away and continued running, Hunter's hand in his as they rushed downstairs and onto the bottom floor.

Hunter was yelling something, but Darius couldn't make out what it was. All he could make out was his name.

Then, there was the sound of alarms wailing.

Belos had alerted the Scouts.

Hunter screamed, causing Darius to hold his hand tighter.

The castle doors were getting closer. They were the only things Darius was focusing on, and soon enough, those doors were swung open, and him and a disheveled and terrified Hunter were out of them in an instant.

He could tell the boy was completely out of breath. He felt bad for him, but he knew he had to get them both away from the castle as fast as possible. Before the scouts got to them.

"Come on! They'll be coming for us!"

He gained a second wind, and him and Hunter were soon sprinting off again, the Emperor's castle getting smaller and smaller in the distance as they ran.

They ended up in Bonesborough. Hiding in an alleyway to avoid any citizens or titan forbid, patrolling scouts.

"..."

Hunter was heavily breathing, along with Darius. But he looked completely horrified. It may have just been the lighting from the night, but his skin looked grayish.

A wave of sympathy hit Darius, and somehow, he ended up pulling the boy into a hug.

That sympathy only got worse when he felt his shirt getting damp were Hunter's eyes were.

Somehow, their lives had changed in the blink of an eye. They had started of the day as well respected members of the Emperor's Coven. And now, they were runaways.

Or better yet, fugitives.

Coven Fugitives.

Chapter Text

Hunter's crying started to die down. Darius couldn't remember when he had draped his Cape around him. But that really wasn't what mattered in that moment.

What did matter, was finding out what in Titan's name they were going to do next.

"... We need to think of a place to stay."

For a second, Hunter just stared at him. Darius did think he was being irrational at first. But he had to remember. The Emperor's Coven was all Hunter had ever known. And all in one night, either no warning, he had just left it, as well as the only "family" he had ever known, behind.

"... I'm sorry, Little Prince. I really am. I—! Titan. This must be so overwhelming for you—!"

He had to resist from hugging him again.

He had to really fight to hold back a laugh. But he couldn't help it. It was funny how just a couple of hours ago, if you told Darius he and The Golden Guard would be fleeing from the Emperor's Castle together, he would have suggested you get your head checked.

But alas, there they were.

They really were in a bad predicament though. Darius didn't have his wallet or scroll with him. And odds were, Belos and his scouts had gotten to both by now, so it wasn't like he could summon them.

He had to admit, things weren't looking bright for him and Hunter at that time.

"... People are gonna recognise you..."

Darius pinched his nose, sighing as he wrapped an arm around Hunter.

He couldn't resist it anymore, and he side hugged him with a little tightness.

"I know..."

"Darius... Dairus we're—! Oh Titan! We're ruined! We're—!"

"Ssh. Ssh. Calm down. Stressing out won't make it any better."

Hunter's rapid breathing began to calm. Eventually, Darius got him mostly relaxed.

"We need to think about what we're gonna do next."

"... Y—yeah.... where are we gonna stay...?"

"That's the fun part. Neither of us know."

"... Scouts are gonna be looking for us..."

"All the more reason for us to think quickly, Little Prince."

They both paused and didn't say a thing.

"Maybe tonight we should focus on finding a place to hide away... try to be subtle, which means we avoid places like shops and stalls..."

"... What about... oh for Titan's sake! I DON'T KNOW!" Hunter suddenly screamed and kicked a nearby wall, clearly biting back a wince afterwards.

"Woah! Woah! What did I say—! Stress isn't going to help—!"

"HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME NOT TO BE STRESSED!? REALLY HOW!? YOU JUST—! YOU JUST TOOK ME AWAY FROM EVERYTHING I'VE EVER KNOWN AND— AND I—!"

He screeched again and lashed out against Darius, gripping his sleeves and banging his fists on his chest.

For a split second, Darius was enraged at the behaviour, and went to shove the boy off him.

But then, he realised what Hunter was saying.

Darius still believed he had done the right thing by getting Hunter away from Belos, but Belos was all he had known his entire life. What was downright abuse and neglect of a child's health to everyone else was every day life to Hunter, something he had learned to expect and live with.

... Darius really didn't like the way Hunter made his chest tighten like that.

So instead of shoving him away like he originally intended, he just held him close, ignoring the pain he dealt to his chest.

"YOUR FAULT! IT—IT'S YOUR FAULT!"

Hunter was crying again. Once again tears were staining Darius's clothes, but for once, Darius wasn't too fussed about his clothing.

"..  Hush, now, Little Prince. I know. I know you're scared. Oh, I'm so sorry. Ssh. Ssh... It's okay... I'll make it okay..."

"... Will you...? Will you really...?"

Darius let out a deep breath.

He somehow found it in him to hug Hunter tighter.

"I promise I'll try."

***

They were both as cautious as can be as they stepped out of the alleyway and back into the main parts of Bonesborough.

Darius almost swore. Of all times to evade the Emperor, it had to be at Winter time he decided to.

Hunter walked along beside him through the streets, truth be told, neither of them had a clue where they were going.

"... I don't suppose you have any ideas on where we should stay, Little Prince?"

Hunter just futilely shook his head.

"Didnt really expect you to. I don't have any either."

"Well that's great, isn't it?"

They were lucky there was hardly anyone outside. Along with the Emperor's Coven, recognition was currently enemy number one.

"I should try to find a cloak or something. We can't risk me getting recognised. And you... you're still wearing your Golden Guard outfit, that won't do either... both of us will have to find new clothes..."

This really was complicated. And Darius hated it.

"How will we do that? We don't have any money..."

"Believe it or not, that's the problem."

Hunter scowled and rolled his eyes.

If Darius was being honest, he really could think of ways to get money. But it was drastic, and they would probably resort to it only if they really had to.

Darius would not stoop so low to be a pick-pocket. And he wouldn't be letting Hunter do the same either.

They walked aimlessly around Bonesborough for about fifteen minutes.

That was when Darius had seen them.

Emperor's Coven Scouts.

His heart skipped a beat. He immediately yanked Hunter's hand into his and they dived into a random store, forgetting his "No shops or stores" rule.

"Woah— Darius!"

"Ssh!" He fiercely shushed him. To make sure none of the little amount of customers or the vendor could hear.

He whispered in Hunter's ear.

"Belos already has scouts looking for us. We're hiding."

He hated seeing Hunter turn pale.

"Just act natural."

Hunter was clearly trying to do that. Even though his arms were wrapped so strongly around his arms it was probably hurting him.

Darius held his arm around him again and pretended to only be walking around the store. If anyone asked, he could just pretend Hunter was his son. And that they had had a late night, and were buying a quick and easy dinner due to no more restaurants being open.

It was simple enough.

Sure he didn't personally like Hunter all that much, but it did hurt him to see the boy so frightened, and he rubbed the middle of his back for comfort.

"... How will we know when we can leave...!?"

"Give it another minute or so. Five at most."

Hunter didn't say a word, but he huddled closer to Darius.

"I... I'm scared... I don't—! I don't like it... I shouldn't be scared..."

"Calm down, Little Prince."

Truthfully, Darius wanted to say more than that. He wanted to properly reassure the boy. Let him know that he was right to be scared—and that it was okay.

And he didn't know why. He didn't like Hunter—maybe it was just that feeling of "this isn't right" again.

He realised it probably was that.

Darius took Hunter back over to the door. He noticed the store owner staring directly at them, though they were obviously trying (and failing) to keep it subtle.

Odds were, she thought they were stealing.

Darius opened the door a crack, there didn't seem to be any more scouts patrolling the area.

Him and Hunter were right back out of the shop.

"Doesn't look like there's any more scouts patrolling around here, don't freak out, but..."

Darius sighed. This really was a low, but it didn't seem like they had another choice.

"... We might have to steal..."

Hunter's eyes widened, and he looked like he was going to say something, before Darius stopped him.

"Ah—! I said don't freak out! I'm sorry, Little Prince, but it's our only option!"

"B—but Darius! It's illegal! I— what if Belos finds out!? We'd—!"

"Belos won't find out!"

Again, he shut Hunter up before he could say anything else.

"If it's any consolation, you'll only be distracting people. I wouldn't force a child to commit a crime."

"I'm not a child—!"

"You're sixteen. Shush."

He realised he had forgotten to take his arm off Hunter again.

Awkwardly, he moved it.

"We won't go to any shops, we'll just try to pickpocket people at first. It'll be easier to get away with at night. The Night Market isn't nearly as populated as the day one."

Darius and Hunter ended up hiding in the alleyway from earlier again to avoid Coven Scouts.

"Let's wait for someone to show up."

"... Okay..."

It took about seven minutes for someone to walk by.

Darius and Hunter could see the outline of something wallet shaped in their jacket, and they immediately sprang into action.

"Odds are, their wallet will be in their pocket. You'll have to go first to distract them, and I'll search them."

"Got it..."

Dadius went behind Hunter's, which felt wrong. It felt so wrong doing this. But what other choices did they have?

Hunter walked up to the man who was walking by, he cleared his throat and spoke up 

"Um... excuse me, sir!"

The man turned back around, staring at Hunter Skeptically.

This was Darius's cue. He walked up behind, but didn't do anything else.

"How's your... How's your day been...!?"

The mab looked insanely confused.

"... Fine...!? What's a kid like you doing out so late!? You should hurry up and head home! Your family must be worried sick."

Oh. Oh Titan.

Darius saw Hunter almost flinch, and felt instantly regretful.

He was the one who had gotten Hunter into this situation. This so clearly uncomfortable situation.

But he had to put that all to the side for now. Unfortunately, their top priority was trying to get money.

"... Y—yeah... I bet they are... really worried..."

Darius hated the way Hunter's voice faltered, it made his hand twitch a little as he reached out for the wallet in the man's jacket.

"Well then, you should head back home, it's dangerous to be out so late."

"I—I agree! G—Good night!"

Just as they finished their conversation, Darius grabbed the wallet, and he beckoned for Hunter to walk away.

They watched as the man shook his head and walked on. He was completely oblivious.

Darius sighed in relief, then he turned towards Hunter.

"... Are you... are you alright?"

"... Let's just see how many Snails there are..."

Darius wanted to press further on it, but in the end, he went against it. Hunter wouldn't like that.

They opened up the wallet, and they were shocked to discover that there was a total of thirty Snails in a pouch.

That would he enough for them to get a room at the nearby Inn, but, they did have a slight problem.

Two bed rooms cost forty Snails.

They could afford a room, but it would not have enough beds.

"Is—is that enough...?" Hunter asked.

Darius pinched at his nose.

"Yes... But... there is an... inconvenience..."

Hunter raised an eyebrow, looking at Darius with as much Skepticism as the man had looked at him with.

"... We... We only have enough for a room with one bed..."

"... Oh..."

"... I guess we'd better head along, now..."

Darius and Hunter both proceeded to walk along the streets of Bonesborough, headed towards the local Inn. Darius couldn't remember the last time he had ever been in one, he was pretty sure he had been around Hunter's age.

About halfway there, they realised they had forgotten another problem.

Their clothing.

Yes, nobody besides those in the Emperor's Coven had seen Hunter's real face, but Everyone knew Darius's.

And that could only cause trouble. If he was recognised, and someone found out what had happened back at the castle, him and Hunter would be for it.

"... Little Prince?"

"... What...?"

"... There's something else we have to do... or rather... steal..."

Hunter's head jerked to stare at Darius.

"I know! But this is also important! People will recognise your armour, even without your mask, and me!? Everyone knows me!"

"... Clothes...?"

"Correct."

Hunter let out a breath, and leaned against a nearby wall.

"... Do I have to help....?"

"... I—I don't think so... but I also can't tell yet..."

Hunter honestly looked like he was going to die on the spot in shame.

He couldn't help it though. Hunter had been raised to have a high moral compass, (Which Darius found ironic due to the state of the Emperor's Coven.) And of course that made stealing the biggest no there was.

Darius couldn't blame him for his attitude tonight.

"... I really am sorry, Little Prince..."

They both walked along to a new location.

The nearest clothing shop. It was locked and closed, the time being so late, but Darius already had a way in mind to break in.

"You can wait outside, if you'd like. I... I know you won't like this..."

Hunter nodded, going to wait outside like Darius said.

Darius knew it would be easier to steal when there was two of them—but after watching Hunter interact with the man from earlier—he couldn't bring himself to make Hunter steal alongside him any more.

He took one last look at Hunter, watching him closely and silently observing him, before entering the store via the sewing needle he had left in his pocket from earlier during the day.

Picking the lock came easily enough.

Part of him didn't want Hunter being out in the open like that, especially knowing about the Emperor's Coven members searching for them, but he didn't want Hunter being with him when he stole, either.

And neither did Hunter.

***

Darius preyed to the Titan there would be no alarm system.

Which thankfully, there wasn't.

He looked around the shop. In normal circumstances, Darius wouldn't have came in here in two hundred thousand years, it wasn't his style at all.

But anything would work right now.

He was wondering around, and eventually found clothes that could work for them both.

There was a black cloak Darius could use to disguise himself in, and for Hunter, there was a relatively thick black jacket, an incredibly dark green shirt, that in the dark, honestly looked black.

For leg wear, he was able to find black pants that he figured would be easy to move in, as well as keep warm in.

He had to estimate Hunter's size, of course, but it wasn't like he would be unable to check with the boy if they fit.

Once he had went back around and found more clothing for himself, he quickly went back out the door and met back up with Hunter.

"I don't know your size, you'll need to see if they fit."

The only exchange they had to make for a smaller size in the end was the pants. Odds were they would probably have to be running from some of Belos's scouts a lot, and Hunter would have to be able to at least move fast for that.

Darius pulled the hood of the newfound cloak up, and together, he and Hunter walked back to the Inn, Darius making sure to keep a good hold on the wallet.

Part of why he had chosen this Inn was because he knew it wasn't... the best quality. Which may seem strange for Head Witch darius, who would scream if a room had so much as one speck of dirt in it, but odds were, the Inn wouldn't question the cloak when he and Hunter went in.

They both stepped through the front door, Hunter standing sheepishly at Darius's side as he approached the innkeeper.

They had made an agreement that Hunter would do the speaking, so that Darius's voice wouldn't be recognised.

".... Hi... M—me and my dad need a room..."

On cue, Darius placed the Snails on the counter.

It was clear that Darius had been right with getting hopes up that he wouldn't be asked to remove the cloak, the innkeeper only nodded, took the snails, went to get their key, gave them it, and sent them on their way.

"... You really think he didn't question us..?"

Darius sighed for what had to be the seven thousandth time that night. "I don't know, Little Prince. But I hope not..."

They were soon at their room, and Darius opened the door. It was as awful as he presumed it would be, peeling wallpaper, smelling of awful room freshener they had clearly been bought for one snail at a "Homeade Fragrance Stall" at the market.

The good thing was, none of the Emperor's Coven members would think they'd have gone to a place like this.

Though Darius had had to abandon the majority of their clothes, he had kept his previous cloak anyway, just for him and Hunter to use as a blanket, thinking that it could be helpful.

They both got ready to go to sleep, which Darius wouldn't lie, was awfully awkward seeing as just earlier in the day, the two had practically hated each other's guts.

Now they had to share the same bed.

Darius hander Hunter his cloak, claiming he could use it as a spare blanket, seeing as the Inn's one was so unbelievably thin.

"... What about you, Darius?"

A ghost of a smile hinted at Darius's face.

"Don't worry about me, Little Prince... I'll be fine..."

Even so, when they both were in the bed, Hunter wrapped Darius's cloak around them both, and even though Darius's didn't like that they were forced to stay close together because of that, he did like the warm of it.

"... Night, Darius..."

"Good night, Little Prince..."

Surprisingly, Hunter was the first to go to sleep. Until Darius himself could, he basically just had to stare at him.

He didn't know why or how, but he found himself placing a hand on Hunter's shoulder. As if he were trying to shield him from something.

Maybe it was because he knew that Hunter had been through a lot today. And that things most likely could get worse from here on out. And though he may not like the boy personally too much, today, and from further out, it was his job to protect him now.

So, maybe he could at least try to warm up to the boy somewhat.

He watched as Hunter gently snored in his sleep, chest slowly rising and falling as he huddled go Darius for warmth. He somehow looked younger in his sleep, more like a small child than anything.

... Maybe warming up to him wouldn't be as hard as Darius initially thought.