(Slight Spoilers i think)
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Another mess up, of course. Hunter closed his eyes as he clamped his hand into a fist. Sweat is pouring down his forehead as Emperor Belos stands before him. He fixes his glove as Hunter is staring at his boots. Small specks of the dirt from the mines he was in earlier. The small key dangles on the emperor’s neck, the blue blood leaking onto his cape.
“I hate to see you act this way, Hunter. I’ll have to give you one more chance before reprimanding you for your actions.” His voice was cool as ice as Hunter shuddered at the thought.
“I won’t fail you again.”
Belos only nodded his head before excusing our golden guard. Closing the doors, Hunter placed his mask on his face before striding down the halls. He made his way to his room, Lil’ Rascal following his movements.
Opening the door, his quickly entered his room before slamming the door shut as his cardinal swoops in. He leans his frame against the door as tears escape his eyes. Of course, of course he fails again.
He falls to the ground as small sobs leave his lips as he curls into a ball. He hides his face as more tears begin to fall. His whimpers almost hushed.
Without another thought, Hunter’s palisman flies through his window, gliding into the night air. His objective clear as he approaches the owl house.
Snores from Hooty were made aware as he shrieks in his sleep. Lil’ Rascal ignores it though as his wings cut through the air as he makes it to your window.
You were sound asleep, Luz’s body next to you as she kicks you in her sleep. You slightly wake from her actions before hearing a few clinks on your window. Looking into the direction of the noise, you notice the small bird, realizing who it was.
“Hey bu--”
Your sentence was cut short as your body slips off the small twin mattress. You let out a small hiss as you quickly look back to Luz, making sure she didn’t wake. You sigh as you look back towards the window, creeping towards it.
Opening the window, the cardinal enters, flying onto your shoulder.
“What are you doing here little buddy?”
Your finger grazes his chest as you give Lil’ Rascal some affection. With a small little purr from him, he shakes off your affections as he dives off of your shoulder, transforming himself into a staff.
He falls into your hands as you questionably hold the staff. With a swift movement though, your questions kind of get answered as he pulls you out of your window and into the night air.
“WAAA-”
You hugged the staff as it rode into the forest, then town and towards the Emperors castle. Left and right Lil’ Rascal tugged you as you squinted your eyes shut out of fear. Before you even knew it you opened your eyes to find some puffy cherry eyes stared back at you.
Before Hunter could finish his question, you were thrown into his room. The magical staff following as the cardinal transformed back into his bird form. He flapped his wings as he landed onto his make-shift branch Hunter made for him.
“I’m so sorry,” You stated.
Hunter rubbed his head as you pushed yourself up. You took in his features, noticing his puffy red eyes. You reached out to help him sit up as he accepted your help. Hunter froze as he could feel your hands cup his face. Your (e/c) orbs looked at him with concern as Hunter stares at your face.
“What happened? Are you hurt?”
Hunter begins to tear up again as you watched. You pull him into a hug as Hunter holds onto you. His body shakes as you hum, holding him as he cries.
“I just- I just- I wanted to-” Hunter stuttered as you could feel his breathing become uneven.
“Shh, take your time. You’re okay,”
He continued to sob, crying out all of his frustration. After a minute or two you could feel his breathing become more even as you helped him sit up. He wiped away his tears and snot as you sat there and waited.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Mhm.”
“Do you... wanna talk about it?”
You sat in silence, waiting for his answer as he continued to make himself more presentable.
“‘m sorry (Y/N). I never wanted you to see me like this”
“You’re okay, you don’t need to apologize.”
He takes a deep breath in as he starts to form his sentences.
“I failed getting Emperor Belos the palismans, and to make up for that I thought I would go and find Titan’s blood. I’m... ‘m not sure why he needs it, but I just knew I had to get it for him. Kiki talked about some mines, and while I went to take it I got captured by those stu--” He glanced up at you as you, “by Eda and that cotton candy haired girl... I can’t remember what her name is, but to sum it up it turns out she had what I needed, so I fought her and stuff and got the key, but when I left the cave to give it to Belos, it turns out the key was broken, and all the titan’s blood I needed was gone, which meant Belos was going to kill me and I failed again and made him disap-”
His breathing began to cut short as you quickly snapped Hunter out of his episode, his body relaxed once more as he calmed himself down.
“Hunter.”
His looked as you with eager eyes as you looked at his features. He was torn and hearing those words come out of his mouth broke your heart.
“What you did showed your loyalty to him as a coven leader, an ally, and as his nephew. If Belos doesn’t recognize your efforts, than he can just go-- you know what I mean. You shouldn’t have to base your worth on other’s validations or opinion. You are worth so much more than he can give you, and what you did was what you could do. You tried your best and that’s okay.”
Hunter’s lips quivered as he could feel tears start to form. He quickly wiped them away though, not looking forward to crying in front of you again. You noticed it and pulled him into another hug.
“I’m sorry that he made you feel like this, and I wish I could just undo all the trauma he’s given you. But I want you to know that I see your efforts and that you are valid.”
“Okay.”
You smiled as you tried your best lift him up onto his feet. He complied, silently laughing at your efforts.
Without another word you lead Hunter to his bed, his frame falling onto the mattress as you laughed. You tucked him in as a child, Hunter weakly refusing your efforts.
“Good night Hunter.”
“Good night (Y/N).... thank you.”
