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Hunter couldn’t breathe. He’d messed up, again. He knew he probably couldn’t go back.
He hates me he hates me he hates me he hates me
He sucked in a breath, head in his knees. He had to calm down. Panicking would get him nowhere. The sun was going down and he needed to find somewhere to stay.
Snap!
Hunter’s head shot up, looking around. Who’s there? He couldn’t force words out.
“Hunter?”
It’s him. No, no no no! I let him down. He doesn't want to see me. He can’t. I don’t want to hurt him or get hurt any more.
“Hunter, where are you?”
He jumped up and ran away from the voice. He kept running and running, terrified of being found.
He slammed into someone and fell, looking up to see one of Belos’s scouts. “Watch where you’re- the golden guard? I am so sorry, sir!” She pulled him to his feet and dusted him off, missing how panicked he was. “The emperor’s been looking for you. You must return with me immediately! He’s been so worried!”
“Oh, you- you don’t say?”
Someone hit her from behind with a staff, and she collapsed in front of him. Hunter cried out in surprise, he realized who it was who hit her.
“I’m- I’m so sorry for what happened, I’m- I’m sorry for- for running, for- for-”
Edric broke him off by hugging him tightly. Hunter flinched, expecting to be hit. He realized what was going on and returned the hug. “Hunter, I’m not mad at you. I’ve been so worried! Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He pulled back to see his face, wiping his eyes. “I was so scared of losing you.”
Another tear fell, then another. They kept falling. “I- I let you down, I- I disappointed you, how- how can-”
“Hunter, calm down. Please. You didn’t disappoint me, it was just a fight. Couples fight, then they talk through it. I will never hit you. We can talk about it and make up. I still love you.”
Hunter looked up at him, then pulled him in tightly for a hug. “I love you too.”
Edric held him for a while, then pulled back a little to kiss him gently, wiping his tears again. “It’s getting dark. We should go back. It’ll be okay, I promise.”
“I love you.”
-
Edric ran, heart pumping in his chest. He’d successfully gotten away, if he got caught now it would be all over.
Man, why are there scouts everywhere?
He hid behind a tree, catching his breath. This was an important day. Very. Getting caught would ruin everything.
He glanced out and saw a scout close to him, waiting until they walked away. He sprinted off, holding a small box close to him.
When he saw the bushes hiding the path, he grinned. He was a little late, but that was fine. He was here. And he was super excited.
He ran down the path as if he was being chased by Belos himself. But when he got there, he was alone.
Huh. I guess he’s also late. That’s okay.
He sat down and put the box down, checking its contents. All there. He was ready. All he had to do was wait.
And wait.
Edric hated waiting.
Especially for this long.
Where was he? He was never this late, and Edric was getting worried. Maybe he’s busy. That’s all. Something could’ve come up. He looked up and saw a cardinal sitting in the tree, watching him. It chirped, and Edric realized that was Flapjack, Hunter’s palisman.
“Flapjack! What are you doing here?” Flapjack flew down and landed on his head. He seemed disturbed, but Edric didn’t know why.
“Oh, I get it. Hunter was sent on a mission, wasn’t he? This sucks. I’ll stay here until he comes, then.” Edric sat down against a tree, holding the box. He yawned, but fought sleep as hard as he could. He had to be awake when Hunter got here.
A little nap won’t hurt, I’m sure I’ll wake up before he gets here.
-
Edric woke up and saw Hunter sitting across from him. “Hunter!”
Hunter looked up at him and grinned. “Sorry about yesterday.”
He realized Hunter was holding his side weirdly, and he had a bandage across his face that covered one of his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Huh? Yeah! I’m fine.”
“What’s wrong?” He moved closer to him, looking at the bandage over his eye. Hunter’s ears flared bright red, but Edric didn’t notice. “You’re hurt. Who hurt you?”
“Just- just a fight, a mission!”
Flapjack had been sleeping in Hunter’s hair, he woke up to the commotion. He grabbed a strand of Hunter’s hair, tugging on it.
“Ow! Fine! I’ll tell him!” Flapjack let go, Hunter sighed. “I messed up on a mission. So Belos was just correcting me.”
Edric hoped Hunter didn’t mean what he thought he did. He slowly reached for his shirt, pulling it up enough to see the bandages wrapped around his side. They were bloody already. “He- he abuses you?”
“Not abuse! Just corrections. For when I mess up.”
“That’s abuse, Hunter! And these bandages are dirty, you need new ones.”
Hunter looked down at them and sighed. “Already? I’ll get some from Darius later.”
“Why don’t you go to the healing coven?”
“They aren’t allowed to help me. I’m the Golden Guard, I can’t appear weak.”
The fact that this was normal for Hunter made Edric’s heart break. Odalia wasn’t the nicest mother, but the most she did was slap her children for talking back. She never left permanent marks. But Edric now knew how Hunter got most of his scars. He grabbed Hunter tightly in a hug, not missing the fact that he flinched.
Hunter returned it, Edric noticed he was shaking. “Hey. It’s okay. I’ve got you, okay? I know this is hard. But we’ll get through it together. You aren’t weak, and I won’t leave you.”
He held him for as long as he needed in silence. After a few minutes Hunter let go, his ears and cheeks still red. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For needing all of this. For missing yesterday. Were you here all night?”
“Yeah, but that’s not important. And it’s not your fault what Belos does to you!”
Hunter couldn’t make eye contact, Edric realized then how close they were. He desperately wanted to be closer, to hold Hunter until everything was okay.
He’d have to ask him what he had planned another day. This timing was awful. “I can’t let you go back there.”
“Wait, what?”
“It’s abusive! Come back with me. I’m sure Mittens and Emira will help when they realize what happened, we can hide you from my parents.”
“I can’t leave! Belos needs me. I’m the golden guard, Belos says that the Titan has big plans for me. I can’t just abandon those.”
“And I can’t let you go back to that place where he hurts you!”
“Why not?”
“Because I love you!”
Hunter’s uncovered eye snapped to look at Edric, wide. His face and ears were red, Edric could tell he was blushing as well. “Yeah. I love you. I love you so much Hunter, and I can’t leave you here. Not where you’re hurt and abused.” He turned and grabbed the box he’d brought, opening it. Inside was a box of chocolates that were probably melted by now and a pin with a golden flower on it. “I love you more than you can imagine.” He couldn’t look at Hunter. He’d imagined this going completely different.
Hunter hesitated, then slowly took Edric’s hand. He held it tightly. “I love you too. You’re the first person to care this much, besides Flapjack, Raine, and Darius. I just want to keep you safe and protect you.”
Edric looked back at Hunter, making eye contact. He leaned in slowly, giving Hunter the option of pulling away. Hunter didn’t take it, but he seemed confused.
He’s never done this before. He’s lived in the castle his whole life, all of this is probably new.
Edric kissed him, putting his hand on the uninjured side of his face. He could feel his face heating up, he could feel his heartbeat in his throat. He’d imagined this moment many times. When he pulled away Hunter was as red as he was, he laughed a little. “I love you, Hunter. And I’m never going to leave you. I’ll protect you.”
Hunter didn’t speak, he just hugged Edric tightly. He seemed exhausted. It wasn’t long before he could hear him lightly snoring.
Hunter may be unable to leave with Edric. But Edric would love and protect him best he could.