Requested By: WinterBlue_Angel22

Genre: hurt/comfort

Spoilers: OH HECK YES! Spoilers for "Hollow Mind"

Warnings: sad Hunter and Y/n 😢
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Hunter's POV:

“Hunter, wait!”

Ignoring Luz’s plea, I rush outside to get some air.

I feel like I can't breathe. My chest is tight, my vision is blurring, and my heart is pounding. I wanted to control myself, but something inside of me snapped as a heavy realization settled in my mind:

I'm a clone.

Luz and I had gotten ourselves trapped inside the mind of Emperor Belos, my lifelong mentor and uncle. At first, I was desperate to escape, not wanting to get into trouble. However, my curiosity had spiked when Luz decided it would be a good idea to explore and find some answers.

Spoiler alert: it wasn't a good idea at all.

One thing led to another, and it has been revealed to me that I am nothing more than a clone of Emperor Belos’ brother Caleb, and that I'm destined to die and be replaced.

I tried– I really tried– to handle the situation rationally. I hadn't meant to spiral out of control. I wish I was in control.

But, unfortunately, life doesn't like to work that way.

So as I'm running like a lunatic in the woods, I can't help but feel ashamed. What am I doing here? How did it come to this? So many questions come and go, and I can't seem to think straight.

Out of nowhere, I trip over a decently-sized rock, causing me to fall flat on my face. I yelp, feeling my skin tear as the rocky earth scrapes it. The cuts burn and my chest still hasn't loosened up. Reaching towards my head, I yank on my hair and curl up in a ball for a little while. It seems to be the only thing that can somewhat calm my nerves. Short and scattered breathes whistle through my teeth, reminding me of a scared animal.

Well, I certainly feel like an animal. I don't even feel like a person anymore.

As I'm laying there, I can't even think, let alone concentrate on a single thing. My vision blurs every once in a while as scattered thoughts crowd up my headspace.

Ugh…

So many things. So much clutter. So much pain.

I feel as if someone has sucker punched me in the gut as a strange, mental darkness surrounds me.

This is it, I think. I don't think I can do this anymore…

Then, one thought among thousands stands out above the rest. It's like a pillar of light has come to rescue me from my mental prison.

Y/n.

She could help me.

Ever since we met, she's always been there for me. I can't remember a time where she's abandoned me. It would be completely unrealistic of her to turn me away. She's safe– my safe haven. She'll protect me.

I attempt to push myself off the ground but fail. A stinging sensation pounds in my arm, informing me that a bruise will likely form there.

It takes some effort, but I successfully calm myself down by forcing my breathing to slow. I pant heavily as I lay on the forest floor for a moment. I have to recollect myself. Being stressed out would only stress out Y/n, and Y/n doesn't need that.

Oh, Y/n… What have I done…?

Y/n’s POV:

Luz is in a panic, not knowing where Hunter is or if he's safe. Luckily, Eda is there to help calm her down and reassure her that Hunter was likely alright. Instead of intruding, I found myself isolating myself in my bedroom inside the Owl House.

Back when I had left the Emperor's Coven, Eda was gracious enough to allow me to stay in one of her spare rooms. I was ecstatic to have somewhere to belong, but now I feel as if a trench stands between us all.

It's not that I'm not worried about Hunter (I am very much worried about Hunter); I just don't know how to handle what's going on downstairs. Luz is already worrying enough about Hunter. If I freak out about it, Eda will no longer pay attention to Luz. Either that, or I'll be ignored entirely. Who knows?

Right now, I'm laying on my bed, wrapped up in my weighted blanket and dwelling on Hunter's unhappiness.

I should've warned him that the Emperor's Coven wasn't a good organization to be involved with. Maybe then he'd understand why I just up and left. I have no idea what Hunter was panicking about before he left in a hurry, but it definitely wasn't anything good.

Belos is a dirty man, and I intend to get revenge on him for the things he's done someday.

A knocking sound on my window startles me so badly that I shout. My heart rate immediately increases as I fixate on the nearby window.

To my surprise, it's Hunter!

He looks distressed like he did before, but he doesn't seem to be in utter panic mode. The palms of his hands are pressed against the window, and he's pleading with me using his soft, violet eyes.

“I-I’m coming!” I say at once, yanking the weighted blanket off my body and making way towards the window. I slide it open, giving Hunter a worried look. “There you are, Hunter! Luz and I are so worried about you.”

Hunter doesn't say anything. He looks down and away from me instead. I notice that his bottom lip is trembling as if he's trying to hold back tears. My heart aches at the sight of him.

“Are you alright?” I ask him.

Just then, Hunter bursts into quiet tears, sobbing helplessly. He reaches his hands up to cover his face, but I gently hold one of his hands in mine.

“H-Hey, hey, don't cry. It's ok,” I say softly. “C’mon, come sit under the blanket with me.”

Carefully stepping over the window ledge, Hunter follows me inside the bedroom, holding my hand tightly. I lead him to my bed, and we sit together wrapped in my comfy, weighted blanket. I make sure Hunter is comfortable before holding him in my arms. I run my hand up and down his back, not saying a word. Hunter just cries into my shoulder, which completely shatters me. He must've taken what happened horribly.

“Y/n…” Hunter finally says, his voice breaking as he speaks. He chokes back another sob. “You don't know how relieved I am to see you.”

I shift myself so I can look at his face. Reaching up to stroke his hair, I whisper to him, “I'm just happy that you're alright.”

I frown when I see several scrapes along Hunter's face. Did he do that to himself or was it entirely on accident?

I plant gentle kisses on Hunter's tear-stained cheeks, hoping that it'll help at least a little. To my relief, Hunter seems to be calming down now. He wraps his arms around my waist and nuzzles his ears into my chest. I feel his tears soak through my shirt.

“Are you alright, Hunter?” I ask him gently.

Hunter sniffles then shakes his head, pauses, and changes his answer to a shrug. “Everything hurts. Being with you is the only good thing in the world anymore.”

“I'm sorry…” I rub his back some more.

“Don't be sorry,” Hunter says. “You had nothing to do with what happened in Belos’ mind.”

“I could've warned you about him,” I blurt out suddenly. Before Hunter can say anything, I continue. “Instead of ditching you and the others in the Emperor's Coven without explanation, I should've said something. I should've… given you a reason why I left. You must've been so confused, and I just feel awful about it. You didn't deserve to stay in that Coven for as long as you have.”

“Y/n, you don't have to apologize to me,” Hunter insists. He squeezes my hand gently, wiping his tears away. “That doesn't matter anymore. I'm glad you left the Emperor's Coven. If you hadn't… I don't know what would've happened to you, and that scares me.”

Hunter's hands begin to tremble, and he looks down at the bed in shame. I reach up and wipe the remaining tear stains away. This catches Hunter's attention and makes him blush a light shade of pink.

“You don't have to be scared anymore,” I tell him. “I'm here for you if you need me, I promise. If you want to see me, you can visit anytime, ok?”

Hunter smiles and nods, his violet eyes sparkling. “Y–Yeah, of course.”

I gesture for him to scoot in closer to me and he does so, snuggling close to me. I instantly feel him melt into my arms, and I love the feeling of his natural warmth. For what feels like hours, we lay underneath the blanket in comfortable silence, nearly falling asleep to the sounds of the woods just outside my window.

Everything just felt perfect…

…until Hunter sat up and stretched out his arms and legs.

“Where're you going, Hunter?” I ask him with a deep concern lacing my voice. Hunter is now off of the bed, walking towards the window slowly. I can tell he doesn't want to leave.

“Just stay a little longer. Please?”

Hunter glances back at me after hearing my plea. A sad smile forces its way onto his scared face, and his eyes are filled with an overwhelming sense of guilt. “Y/n, I can't stay here any longer. Belos is likely after me.”

My heart sinks. “B–But Eda and Luz can help protect you! I can help protect you. Please, give us a chance.”

Hunter walks back over to me before kissing my forehead. Looking deep into my eyes, he says, “I'll be just fine on my own. If I need help, you'll be the first I'll go to. You have my word.”

I nod in understanding. “Alright.”

“Good.”

Hunter leaves, making sure to shut the window behind him. It's silent in my room now. Not even the sound of crickets can be heard. I slump back under the blanket and stare at the ceiling numbly. That is until tears begin to spill.

I make no sound as I cry and wrap myself up into a blanket burrito. Bringing my knees to my chest, I kind of just… lay there like a lump of undying sadness. I miss Hunter already.

The sound of my bedroom door slowly creaking open can be heard, and three sets of footsteps enter the room. I roll over on the bed like a caterpillar and look up, surprised to see Eda, Luz, and King all standing in the doorway. Luz steps forward with a look that read sadness.

“Y/n…?”

Word Count: 1776