This idea has been in my head since April but I'm finally writing it haha
set before hollow mind but after any sport in a storm
•••

The gloved hand grazed against the metal gate of the cell, knocking on it every so often in an attempt to capture the attention of the person held inside.

Every time, she ignored him and continued to stare at a wall, face looking blank.

Okay, sure. Maybe he'd betrayed her again, and was keeping her in a different cell than her friends. But, he had a so called valid reason!

He was protecting her. If it hadn't been for him, she be petrified along with Gus, Amity, and Luz, the terrified stone faces in the entrance of the conformatorium.

But instead, he'd saved all of them and locked them up separately, to prevent escape. He'd done the right thing, in his eyes.

Now, the day of Unity could proceed as planned.

Hunter knocked on the gate again. "Captain!" He said in a sing-song voice, to hide the annoyance and anger of her ignoring him.
Finally speaking since he had thrown her in the cell.

This time, it worked, and Willow faced him, fear lining her eyes.

"What?" She spoke harshly, making him flinch and faltering his cheery façade.

"Listen, I'm sorry about this whole situation, but I'm keeping you safe." He explained to her, trying to be calm.

"How is this keeping me safe, Golden Guard?" She shot back.

The façade fell.

His hands gripped the bars of the cell, leaning forward a bit. Willow didn't flinch, she stood her ground.

"Because if I hadn't intervened, you'd be dead. You, Gus, The Blight, The Human... you'd be stone if it weren't for me." He hissed. "And I can still let that happen, y'know."

Willow couldn't think of a response, but it wasn't necessary, as Hunter continued to speak.

"I'll make you a deal, however." His grip loosened, and motioned Willow to lean forward, worried someone might hear.

She raised an eyebrow, and leaned in, curiosity gaining the best of her.

"What's the deal?"

Hunter, his quick temper gone, smirked at the sudden compliance.

"I'll let you go, purposefully keep everyone off your trail, and diminish any further attempts to arrest you. On one condition."

"And what's your condition?" Willow questioned.

He suddenly looked bashful, and scratched his cheek. "Could you make me, uhm... a flower crown?"

Willow stifled a laugh, then proceeded to give Hunter a confused look.

"Seriously?" She shook her head. "That's it?"

"Yes!" His eyebrows furrowed. "All the other coven scouts got to have one when they were initiated, but I didn't."

Willow chuckled, and made a circular motion, yellow flowers taking shaping and growing on Hunter's head, highlighting his ashy blonde hair.

He blushed, and looked at Willow. "You better not tell anyone about this."

Pulling the lever before stepping aside, Hunter sighed as Willow stepped out quickly. However, she paused, and looked at him.

"Is there a reason you're letting me go? Everyone knows flower crowns are the easiest type of plant magic to do."

Hunter looked to the side, then back at her. "I couldn't stand to watch a pretty girl like you wilt away in this hell. Now go, your friends are down that hall." He pointed, a forced glare sharpening his facial features.

Willow nodded and ran down the hall.

Later, she'd reflect on what he'd done, and his actions... but more importantly, his words to her unlike anything the others who've held interaction with him would ever describe.

Willow would think about that for a long time.