Chapter Text
“Multiply humanity, harmonise insanity. Shedding light of remedy, pulling tides of clarity. Shattered glass in flower beds; humanise inhuman ends. It's all the same for the dreamers. It's all the same for us.” - Where Butterflies Never Die, Broken Iris
I’ll go back one day, Vee always told herself. One day, she’d return to the Boiling Isles. One day, she’d feel safe enough, brave enough, to return. Even if it was just for a day.
It was a goal to aim for, something to keep in mind. She wanted to visit her friends, instead of them always having to come to the Human Realm to see her. She wanted to see The Owl House. She wanted to take up Luz’s offer of a tour around Hexside.
She’d told herself, for months now, that she’d return when she was ready.
Vee had always imagined returning to the Boiling Isles under fairly mundane circumstances. One day, she’d wake up and decide today’s the day. She’d walk through the portal with a smile on her face, ready to surprise her friends, arm in arm with her siblings.
She hadn’t expected Luz to burst into the house, gasping for breath, tears in her eyes as she screamed for Camila.
“Luz? Hermana?” Instantly, Vee slithered to her side. Even Stringbean looked tired, draped over Luz’s neck like a little scarf.
“It’s Hunter,” Luz panted, bent over, hands on her knees. Vee froze, instantly imagining the worst: someone hurt him, one of the escaped Coven Heads kidnapped him, someone who blames him for Belos attacked him, he hurt himself…
“Mija?” Camila ran down the stairs, eyes wide.
“It’s Hunter,” Luz repeated desperately. “Mamí, King showed us- we found-” She made a choked, horrified noise. She looked sick.
Luz was always so brave, so determined. Seeing her so scared was frightening Vee senseless.
“Deep breaths, baby,” Camila soothed, pulling Luz into a hug. “What did you find? Is Hunter hurt?”
“He’s not,” Luz said. “I don’t think so. Not- not physically. But he won’t move, he won’t speak, he freaked out when Willow and I tried to touch him and- and-” She shuddered, clinging to Camila. Stringbean nuzzled her cheek.
“It’s the Golden Guards,” Luz said hoarsely. “King showed us where- what Belos…What he did to them.”
Belos. No, not again. He was dead, he couldn’t keep doing this to them.
“He never buried them,” Luz said, horror growing in her expression again. Camila’s grasp on her tightened. “He just- he threw them in a pit. In the Titan’s skull.” She suddenly sobbed, tugging on her hair. “We were there, we were fighting him and they were right under our feet the whole time! We didn’t know!”
A pit. Vee wanted to throw up. Unbidden, she imagined the Golden Guard mask on dozens upon dozens of corpses. All thrown together, hidden in the dark.
She imagined her brother, lying crumpled on the ground, dressed in gold with dead eyes.
Luz had taken Hunter’s place on the Day of Unity. Tricked Kikimora into taking her to Belos. But what if she hadn’t? What if Belos got Hunter? Would he have thrown him into this horrible pit that very same day?
Of course he would, Vee thought. She felt ice cold; she couldn’t stop shivering. All she could imagine was Hunter, screaming as he was thrown into an abyss.
She came back to herself as Camila marched for the door. She turned into her human form, running to her mother’s side.
“Vee, baby-” Camila began, but Vee cut her off.
“I’m going,” she said firmly. She was doing it, she was going back to the Boiling Isles.
Her brother needed her.
She’d been nervous of Hunter at first and he’d been equally nervous of her. No doubt, he expected hatred and condemnation from her. But for Vee, whenever she looked at him, all she could think of was the lab. She remembered being forced to drain magic or stave. She remembered being trapped in a cage, helpless, scared and angry. She’d been beaten, experimented on and always kept in the dark.
She remembered Hunter looking at Four, starving and near death, and quietly but firmly saying they needed to feed her.
Vee remembered Belos beating Hunter’s head against the wall until he was unconscious for that. She remembered the puddle of blood around his head.
Belos never brought Hunter back after that. For months, Vee had assumed he’d killed him for speaking up, for doing the unthinkable and defending Four. It wasn’t until she heard another guard mention the Golden Guard that she realised he was alive after all.
Even then, a cold part of her wondered if he’d been replaced with a new Golden Guard. Who was to say, really? The scouts, the Golden Guard and Belos always wore masks; wouldn’t it be easy to replace him? She’d never heard him speak until he said they needed to feed Four.
She’d wondered about it, on and off. It was never something she spent hours brooding over, like Four did when they told her what happened. Survival took priority and Vee focussed on that; she focussed on escape. When she did finally escape, she tried very hard not to think of the Boiling Isles at all.
She looked at Hunter and remembered things she didn’t want to remember. Maybe he felt the same way.
So, they pretty much avoided each other. They never spent time together, just the two of them. It was always with the rest of their friends; there was always a buffer.
But then, when Camila realised they were out of milk, butter and eggs (with a very put-upon sigh), both of them offered to go to the store. They looked at each other warily, but neither of them took it back.
Besides, Camila looked so happy. They hadn’t intended to work together, they’d both just blurted out, “I’ll go,” at the same time. If Camila knew it was an accident, she didn’t show it; she just handed Vee her purse and adjusted Hunter’s beanie over his ears.
It was an uneventful, if awkward trip…Until the walk back home. Then they ran into Jacob Hopkins. As a group of little kids went running past, Vee dodged them and nearly knocked right into Jacob.
“Sorry!” she squeaked, and when she saw who was standing behind her, her stomach sank. She shrank away, tightly holding Camila’s purse like it could shield her.
But he wasn’t even looking at her. He was squinting at Hunter.
Jacob looked dishevelled; his hair was a mess, he had a patchy five o’clock shadow and bags under his eyes- but she knew that manic gleam in those eyes. She knew that almost excited look as she stared at Hunter.
Her legs were shaking. She stumbled back, right into Hunter. He stood still as a statue, a surprisingly warm and steady presence.
“Your eyes…” Jacob whispered, staring and staring, hungry and manic.
“What about them?” Hunter drawled, bored and arrogant; it was so different from the loud and giddy tone he used on their friends, or the polite and quiet voice he used for Camila.
Vee winced and reached back to grasp his arm. Hunter’s eyes. His magenta eyes. Not many people had commented on them but, when they did, Hunter followed Camila’s instructions to blandly say “Oh yeah, albinism,” or even just “Wanted to try contacts for some cosplay.”
Everyone else accepted it.
Jacob Hopkins was not a man to accept a bland, every day answer.
“The colour,” Jacob said, his voice getting louder.
Hunter shrugged. “Albinism,” he said.
“No,” Jacob said, giddy in a way that made Vee’s skin crawl. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Hunter, we need to go,” Vee whispered. It was all she could manage. She thought of cages and traps; she thought of knives, tasers and pain.
Camila wasn’t here to protect them. They needed to run.
Hunter looked at her, something calculating in his gaze. He nodded and turned to go, barely sparing Jacob a dismissive glance. Vee was so, so glad she’d settled on a new form; a form that made her happy, a form that Jacob didn’t recognise.
“Stop, witch!” Jacob spat. He sounded like he had before; all bravado and arrogance. He reached out, trying to snatch Hunter’s beanie-
And Hunter’s arm snapped out, grabbing Jacob’s wrist, stopping him in place.
“Oh,” Hunter said softly, dangerously. “Oh, you’re the guy Camila beat up. Aren’t you?”
At the mention of Camila, there was a flicker of fear in Jacob’s eyes. Vee could admit, it made her feel better.
Hunter’s grip on Jacob’s wrist tightened. He twisted his hand and Jacob let out a pained hiss, knees buckling. Hunter’s knuckles were turning white; there was no light in his eyes. There was nothing in his eyes but a sudden, burning fury.
And then Hunter said something that shocked her.
“If you ever come near Vee again,” he hissed. “I’ll be right there after Camila to tear you to pieces. Do I make myself clear?”
“Hunter!” Vee tugged on his shirt. She wanted him away from Jacob, away from this crazy witch-hunter. She didn’t want him to be thrown in a cage.
“W-witch!” Jacob gasped. “You’re a witch, aren’t you!?”
“Nah,” Hunter said with a grim smile. “But you wish I was.” He shoved Jacob away so hard that Jacob tumbled and fell, right on his butt, with a pained yelp. He looked shocked, so utterly ridiculous and undignified that Vee couldn’t help but giggle.
“We’re going home,” Hunter announced. He steered Vee away, but stopped to point at Jacob. “You even think about following us and no one will ever find what’s left of you.”
Jacob gaped at him. Hunter gave a dismissive huff, head held high as he strode away.
“Y-you…You didn’t have to do that,” Vee said when they were nearly home. She couldn’t seem to stop wringing her hands together. Her heart hadn’t stopped pounding.
She’d just stood there. She should have helped. She should have done something more than pull on Hunter’s shirt.
“Maybe not,” Hunter acknowledged. “But I wanted to.” He smirked at her. “The look on his face was so worth it.”
She giggled again, high pitched and a little hysterical. “You knocked him right on his ass!” she wheezed and Hunter laughed with her. It wasn’t really that funny; Vee would argue it wasn’t funny at all, but neither of them could stop laughing once they started. Hunter had to put the shopping bag down to lean against a tree, gripping his stomach as he laughed. Vee snorted and leaned against him, clutching his arm. She just did it; she didn’t even think about it. It didn’t hit her that she was holding onto Hunter until later that night.
“He’s so pathetic,” Hunter said past his giggles. “He’s chasing after kids!”
“M-maybe,” Vee snickered. “Maybe we should get Camila after him anyway.” She swiped at the air, miming Camila with her slipper. “You should have seen her! She beat him with a slipper!”
Hunter laughed even harder and Vee sat down to laugh, unable to keep standing. Her fear washed away, the adrenaline vanished and all she could do was sit there. She was so, so thankful she hadn’t been by herself.
“Hey…Hunter?”
“Yeah?”
Vee smiled at him shyly. “I’m glad you were there,” she said.
His eyes widened. Looking rather shy himself, he sat next to her. “Oh,” he said. “Um…You too.”
There was the Hunter she’d grown familiar with; shy, sweet and awkward with it, unsure how to take the mask off.
Something else occurred to her.
“Hey- how come you said you weren’t a witch?” she asked, tilting her head.
He stiffened, staring across the street. After a moment, he shrugged. “Powerless,” he said, pointing at himself. “Without Flapjack, I can’t use magic.”
“Oh,” Vee said quietly. Then, more shyly than ever, she added, “You still count. You’re still a witch.”
He stared at her, wide-eyed and uncertain. Slowly, awkwardly, he returned her smile.
“Thanks, Vee,” he said. He stood up and offered his hand. Vee took it. Hunter picked up the shopping and they returned home.
Hunter quietly made his “report” to Camila and she went on the war-path, threatening to call the cops on Jacob, pacing the kitchen furiously. She pulled them both into a tight hug.
“I won’t let that horrible man hurt you,” Camila swore. “He won’t get near any of you.”
Vee clung to her gratefully. Hunter looked baffled, awkwardly patting Camila on the back.
Vee wrapped her free arm around him, pulling him further into the hug.
Now, Vee marched into the Boiling Isles. Now, damn it all, she was going to help.
Luz flew them right to the Head. Maybe another time, Vee would have appreciated the view. Maybe she would have taken in how the Titan’s arm reached for the sky, how the skull was torn in half. Maybe she would have peered down at the rebuilding efforts or looked at the Isles with a new perspective.
She stared straight at the skull, eyes narrowed. Her brother was somewhere in there. Months and months ago, he’d stood between her and Jacob. Years ago, he’d spoken up for Four.
(“I wish I could thank him,” Four whispered to her once, when the others were asleep. Vee hadn’t been sure how to answer. She wasn’t even sure if the Golden Guard would accept Four’s thanks.)
Months ago, Vee had tried to drain Belos from him and failed.
Months ago, he’d drowned in an effort to protect them all.
This time, Vee told herself, it’s my turn to protect him.
She was the youngest. Luz delighted in teasing her about being “the baby Noceda” and Vee was often delighted to hear it, even if she playfully complained. There was something warm about that word, about being called baby. It reminded Vee that she had a family; a mom, two older siblings. She had people who loved her now.
Being the baby meant being safe.
But she wasn’t just the youngest. She wasn't the only one who needed to be safe. She was Hunter’s sister and that meant keeping him safe too.
She jumped off Stringbean as soon as it was safe to.
“Vee!?” Gus gasped. Amity gaped at her. Vee waved awkwardly.
“Er, surprise?” It sounded more like a question than a greeting.
“Where is he?” Camila demanded, marching forward.
“Inside,” Luz said. She gave Camila instructions on how to find the staircase, hidden behind some rocks. King ran to Luz and she picked him up, gently swaying back and forth as she told Camila where to go.
When Vee stepped forward, Luz grabbed her hand.
“No,” she said gently. “Trust me, hermanita. You don’t wanna go in there.”
“But I want to help!” Vee protested.
“Same here!” Gus threw his hands up in frustration. An older man, his dad presumably (he looked just like Gus) snatched him backwards when Gus tried to stomp towards the opening in the skull.
Camila disappeared inside without a backwards glance. Vee looked around, tapping her foot. She felt jittery and impatient. She wanted to run and find Hunter. She wanted to bring him back home.
“Willow and Lilith are with him,” Luz told her.
“Lilith?” Vee repeated, lost. She liked Lilith well enough, but she was pretty sure Hunter didn’t. At least Willow was there.
“Um…” Amity smoothed down her skirt. “Vee, meet my dad, Em and Ed, and Mr Porter. Everyone, this is Vee; Luz and Hunter’s sister.”
Okay, Vee had to give Amity points for her distraction technique. She knew how badly Vee had wanted to meet everyone else.
Still, it didn’t stop her from bouncing anxiously in place, staring at the skull as introductions were made. She could hardly be blamed for making an awkward first impression; everyone else kept glancing worriedly at the skull too.
She wanted Hunter to come home.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Camila re-emerged with Hunter, Willow and Lilith. And- was that Hooty on Lilith’s back? It was. What an odd assembly of people.
A cardigan had been wrapped around Hunter’s shoulders (plainly Willow’s) and Camila had her arm around him, murmuring softly to him as they approached. Willow didn’t take her eyes off Hunter once. Alador gently pulled Lilith aside, their heads bowed together as they spoke.
Hunter stared at the ground with glassy, vacant eyes. He was shivering like he was freezing, but there was no emotion on his face.
“Hunter!” Gus practically tackled him into a hug and Vee’s concern rapidly sky-rocketed when Hunter didn’t return it. He stayed limp in Camila and Gus’s grasp.
“Hunter?” Vee asked. He didn’t answer, but he slowly raised his eyes to look at her. His eyebrows furrowed; it seemed to be sinking in (albeit slowly) that she was here, in the Boiling Isles.
She couldn’t exactly hug him with Gus and Camila practically sandwiching him between them, but she reached out and took his hand. It was ice cold.
“We’re going home,” Vee promised him. She kept her voice as steady and reassuring as she could. “Okay? We’re going home. You’re going to be okay.”
He nodded in a limp sort of way, like he didn’t really have control of his neck.
She’d take it. At least it was a response.
Camila passed him (somewhat reluctantly and Vee couldn’t blame her) to her and Luz as she went to thank Lilith for her help. They linked their arms with his, keeping him between them.
Willow cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs running over his cheeks.
“We’re not going to leave them there,” she promised, eyes blazing. “We’ll get them out of there.”
Them. The Golden Guards. Vee wasn’t brave enough to ask how many there were, especially not within Hunter’s hearing. That would just be cruel.
So she kept her arm linked with his instead, keeping a firm hold on him, keeping him with her, with all of them.
“We’re going home,” she promised again. She’d promise it as many times as she needed, until she was out of breath if she had to. She’d promise it until she lost her voice.
They were going home. They were going to be okay. Hunter was going to be okay, she’d make sure of it.
And then Vee had to plan another trip to the Boiling Isles.
Like Willow said, they weren’t leaving the other Guards in there. They were going to get them all out of here, starting with Hunter.
Camila returned to them, taking Hunter back into her arms.
“Okay, niños,” she said gently. There were tears in her eyes. “Let’s go.”