Archive of Our Own ^beta

The thing is, Hunter is a good kid. Darius doesn’t exactly have a ton of experience in this area but he can see this clearly. Hunter is kind. He is extremely smart. He is funny and talented. He can be surprisingly witty and snarky in unexpected moments, which delights Darius. He is a little awkward, very thoughtful towards his friends, dedicated towards his schoolwork and numerous extracurriculars. He’s a good kid. 

 In the better part of a year that Hunter has lived with him, there have certainly been a few conflicts- again, mind you, not because Hunter did anything wrong. It was more about… correcting misconceptions. Corrections like, “nobody functions properly on three hours of sleep”, or “finally tipping the scale past ‘concerningly underweight’ is a good thing, please don’t skip meals”, or “if you need space I will respect that, but if you don’t leave your room for over 48 hours I am going to be very worried.” Hunter did best when Darius approached these issues gradually and in the spirit of negotiation, and many of Darius’ concerns had improved greatly over time. Others were still works in progress. But really, Darius is proud of how far Hunter- how far they both- have come. 

When he was younger he’d entertained vague ideas of parenthood, but as he’d grown older this was quickly brushed off for other priorities. He’d played up his ‘disdain for the youths’, thoroughly convincing himself and his fellow coven heads that he had no interest in such things. The truth was, he would have maybe liked to have a kid at some point. Yes, they tended to be a bit stickier and smellier than he’d prefer, but still. The thought had never fully left his mind. He’d seen Edalyn with the little human girl, and there’d been something. Not jealousy per se, but a small tug in his chest when he saw how close they were. How much Luz trusted the Owl Lady, the way Edalyn smiled at her and that small, scruffy dog?? titan??? kid. But he didn’t feel right involving a child in the chaotic, complicated life he’d chosen to lead. He certainly didn’t want to bring one into a world where their safety would be dubious at best. His life no longer so chaotic and complicated, the world a little less unsafe, he was suddenly left with plenty of time and energy to ponder that unfamiliar but undeniably paternal feeling Hunter inspired in him.

He feels it even now, in this moment, as he looks at the boy sitting across from him at his kitchen island. There is a glob of gryphon egg in his hair, somehow- the only sign that Hunter’s attempt at breakfast may have been messier than the neatly folded omelet on his plate or the immaculately scrubbed pan in the drying rack would suggest. Darius sips his orange blood, and Hunter explains to him the intricacies of flyer derby. He should probably tell him about the egg. Hunter grins as he describes the team captain’s winning maneuver, showing the gap in his teeth. Hunter can look and act beyond his years at times, but his smile lights up his entire face and reminds Darius how young he really is. Belos, unsurprisingly, never got the kid braces. Note to self- take Hunter to an orthodontist. Hunter notices the egg himself finally, picking it out of his hair and flicking it onto his plate. Should Darius not be charmed by this? It’s a bit gross, right?

He has not witnessed any desire expressed on Hunter’s end for a father, or even a father figure for that matter. Their arrangement is more like that of very unconventional roommates. Perhaps more like an uncle - no, bad association. Darius is his… guardian? Designated adult? Certainly not his parent. That reality makes these feelings a bit unwelcome. A bit embarrassing, really.

Anyway. 

Yes, Hunter is a good kid. A great kid, really. Darius is proud of him. Darius wants to support and protect him. Darius is not sure how to broach the subject of Hunter sneaking out at night.

If Darius had caught him doing so it would be much easier, but he hasn’t. It’s more a logical conclusion he’s drawn from the evidence presented. This makes it harder to accuse the witchling of any wrongdoing- is it wrongdoing? If he’s not sneaking out to do anything bad– but he is also lying by omission, which is a betrayal of trust— Titan. It’s complicated.

Hunter has always looked a little tired. The bags etched under his eyes had improved  since moving in with Darius- “you would be able protect the house much more effectively without sleep deprivation” was a pretty effective argument until he was eventually able to get it through to Hunter (somewhat) that protecting the house was, in truth, not his responsibility- but the deep purple shadows have since returned in the past few weeks. Slightly concerning on its own. Strike two was when Darius came to wake Hunter up the other day, thinking he had slept unusually late, to find his bed made and his room empty. Hunter had shown up twenty minutes later, claiming to have gone for a morning run. With his backpack. Alright, sure. 

Strike three was hard to put a name to. Hunter’s general behavior of late has been… odder than usual. The boy has always been a bit spartan, a bit of a perfectionist, eager to please. These traits have all ramped up to an extreme. Darius hasn’t found himself needing to do the dishes or make himself lunch in weeks. His living room, dining room and kitchen are always spotless. He tries to tell Hunter none of this is necessary, that he can do it himself (which really means his abominations can do it for him), but Hunter insists he wants to. Something about the look on his face gives the impression of a small child that knows he is in trouble- except he isn’t, yet, as far as Darius is aware. He suspects Hunter is attempting to make up for some unknown offense. And while his effort with chores is quite sweet, a large point of consideration in taking Hunter in as his ward was to make sure Hunter never felt like he needed to do things like this anymore. He just wants to let Hunter be a normal teenager.

Except Hunter has very little experience being a normal teenager. If this were a different child perhaps sneaking out would not be so concerning.

Maybe Darius is just paranoid. Maybe he’s overprotective- would you blame him, though? He spent so many years in this child’s life not protecting him at all. He has so much to make up for. Beside that, he can admit to himself that deep, deep down there is some part of him still raw and hurting from the death of his mentor. He can imagine if Samson were here he’d be extremely fond of Hunter. The thought is both painful and healing. He’s not even sure where it enters the equation of his care for the witchling. Well, nobody said this would be simple. 

And maybe Hunter is going for morning runs. Maybe he’s just having a particularly serious bout of insomnia. And maybe he’s just being especially nice for no reason.

Still.

He decides to be as casual as possible. The odds of Hunter’s nocturnal activities being especially heinous seem pretty low. When Darius was a teenager he’d sneak out to share apple blood with Alador with his friends in the woods. Hunter probably isn’t even doing that. If he was, Darius wouldn’t be that mad- as long as he’s being careful, it’s perfectly normal. Everything is fine. It’s fine!

They are having dinner after Hunter comes back from an afternoon of apprenticeship with Dell Clawthorne. He is telling Darius interesting factoids about Palistrom wood. If it were anyone else Darius would only half-heartedly attempt a facade of interest, but Hunter’s enthusiasm is often contagious where Darius is concerned. Hunter is in a good mood. Darius decides this is a safe moment for this discussion.

“Hunter.” ‘Little Prince ’ has been long since dropped as a nickname. It feels wrong now.

“Yes?” He looks up. His soft brown eyes still surprise Darius at times. Not in a bad way- he appreciates how they set him apart from his predecessor. And, honestly, they suit him much better.

“Listen… when I was your age, there were times I would sneak out while my parents slept to meet with my friends.”

Hunter’s expression is neutral, but the twitching of his ears betrays his nervousness at this topic coming up.

“If you ever did that, I want you to know, I wouldn’t be mad. But it’s important I can reach you. I want you to go have fun- go be a teenager, see your friends, go see a girl or a boy if you like-“ 

Hunter’s ears flush red.

“I’m not doing that.”

“If you did-“

“I’m not.”

“Then you’re not. But if you wanted to, I just need you to communicate with me. I’m happy to extend your curfew once in a while. Just keep your scroll on you. I trust you, Hunter, I just need you to trust me.”

Hunter sinks in his chair. 

“I’m not sneaking out.”

“Alright.”

The rest of the meal is less cheerful as they eat in silence, Hunter quickly finishing his food and returning to his room.

-----------

“I’m not sure what you expect me to do here. I’m still working on my relationship with my own kids.” Alador runs a hand through his already ridiculously mussed hair.

“He’s not my- oh, please. I’m not asking for parenting advice from you of all people.”

“Much appreciated, Darius.”

“No, wait. Fine. I need to know if there’s any way I can see where Hunter goes. Without him knowing. If there’s something I can do with his scroll, maybe.”

They are sitting in the corner of a quiet tavern. Soft music fills the air and Darius, having an unusually hard time meeting Alador’s bright golden eyes, looks at one of the many rings stained into the tabletop- evidence of decades of coaster-less drinks. Hunter had realized soon after moving in that coasters were a necessary aspect of the Deamonne household, and any surface damage to Darius’ beloved coffee table was tantamount to the deepest betrayal. Darius does not smile at the memory of Hunter’s befuddled attempt to comfort him as he overdramatically mourned the fate of his furniture, lest Alador thinks the smile is in any way for his benefit. Even being in the same building without fighting Alador is a very new experience for Darius. This moment, right now, approaches surrealism.

Alador frowns. “Well, yes, there are options. But… tracking his scroll seems like a bad idea. He might see it as a breach of trust. Edric and Emira used to sneak out from time to time, it’s quite normal.”

Darius sits back in his chair, crossing his arms. “I don’t think that’s comparable. Your twins snuck out to escape that slitherbeast you call an ex-wife-” Alador rolls his eyes at this- “ and they always went together- much less risk of one being hurt accidentally.”

He looks down at his neatly manicured hands, and at Alador’s, abomination ooze stuck under the blunt nails. “Not to mention, I doubt you worried about either of them hurting themselves on purpose.”

This receives an inquisitive head tilt from Alador.

“Are you worried about Hunter hurting himself on purpose?”

It should not be this easy to talk to Alador about his life, not after all this time.

“I... Not as much as I used to be. But it’s hard to push out of my mind. Honestly, I just can’t imagine why he’s being so secretive about it. I did tell him that if it was a romantic rendezvous of some kind that he’s more than allowed to go on dates, but he refused to discuss it further.”

Alador barks out a laugh at this, startling Darius.

“What?”

“Come on, Darius. Don’t you remember being a teenage boy? He’s probably just embarrassed to talk about these things. I’m sure he’s just being a kid.”

“... It’s possible. Surprisingly insightful of you, Alador.”

Alador raises his mug of apple blood, a distinctly crooked smile on his lips.

“I have my moments.”

Not willing to approach the feeling in his stomach this elicits, Darius knocks back the rest of his own mug. He puts it down, clearing his throat.

“So, I suppose, no tracking for now.”

Alador nods. “One thing I’ve learned the hard way- building these relationships takes time. Especially if things were… rocky, in the past.”

Darius knows he’s talking about his own children, about Hunter. He thinks of the two of them, at each other’s throats for almost two decades, now sitting together and talking about their kids.

Darius orders another round of drinks.

-----------

He spills his troubles to Raine and Eberwolf the next day, eating a quick lunch while outside the newly built Bonesborough City Hall before they all resume the grueling, infinite task of rebuilding the Boiling Isles’ government from scratch. Darius had always thought of himself as a pretty private person, but when it comes to Hunter it seems like he suddenly can’t keep his mouth shut. Raine nods sympathetically as he complains while Eberwolf seems mostly amused, but willing to listen.

“I just worry about what he’s not telling me.”

Eber sniffs, tilting their head. Has already opened up much. Can’t push too far.

Raine nods. “I think you’ve already made a lot of progress with him, Darius.”

“I just- he’s been through so much. Back when Samson- well. I knew some of his situation. I don’t even like to consider what Hunter hasn’t shared yet. What if he’s off doing something… I don’t know, self destructive? What if he’s hurting and he won’t tell me?”

Raine pats his shoulder. “I’m sure he’s not doing anything that bad.”

Eber grunts. Darius.

“Yes?”

The little demon lets out a noise almost like a purr. You do your best. You do good. You are good dad.

Darius looks at his hands. “I’m- I’m not his dad.”

Eber lets out a scratchy laugh as Raine puts a hand over their mouth, clearly hiding a smile. If you say so .

-----------

Despite all the support- and really, Darius is a bit touched by how nicely the people in his life are treating him- he still worries. He takes to checking on Hunter during the night. Or, well– he knows how important Hunter’s privacy is. He doesn’t want to enter his room without his knowledge or permission. Instead he has programmed the smallest abomination he can make with the orders to simply slide under the crack in the door, confirm Hunter is in fact sleeping in bed, and report back each night. He doesn’t know if the boy is aware of this- he certainly hasn’t mentioned it. Darius is just relieved that, as far as he is aware, Hunter has slept in the house every night for the past two weeks since their conversation.

They are sitting in the living room, Hunter working on a ‘crochet’ project (a recently acquired human handicraft, apparently) while Darius completes paperwork, when an idea occurs to him.

“Hunter, your next birthday is your eighteenth, isn’t it?”

“Um… yes.”

“It’s still some time away, but you should think about what you want to do for it.” Darius considers the logistics of a party. Things have settled down somewhat, but Hunter turned seventeen in the months after the Day of Unity when the rebuilding efforts began in earnest, insisting he was much too busy helping to celebrate and only begrudgingly accepting a few gifts from Darius and his friends. An eighteenth birthday party could be fun if he was up for it. Maybe at the house, or perhaps even in the Human Realm. He imagines Hunter would find the idea exciting. Darius still hasn’t been there himself. Hunter might enjoy showing him around.

Realizing Hunter hasn’t responded, he looks over. The boy is frowning down at what will eventually be a hat.

“Hunter?”

“Oh, um. Right. Yeah. Sorry, I realized I was… doing the wrong stitch for this row. I’m just- I left the pattern book in my room.” He abruptly stands and, with a flash of light, is already climbing the stairs.

Darius looks up after him, concerned. He doesn’t want to push it. Maybe a party would be overwhelming after all.

-----------

Darius is sleeping soundly that night when he is awoken by an abomination. Hunter is not in his room.

Darius tries to remain calm, searching the house. It’s possible Hunter is making himself a late night snack. Not that he really eats snacks, but it’s possible.

He is not making himself a late night snack. He is not in the house at all. His scroll is on his bedside table.

He calls Eberwolf after the crow phone he sends for Hunter returns, croaking that ‘requested user is out of range.’ What does that even mean???

Eberwolf can be there in an hour, which is too long. Darius runs out into the woods surrounding his home. He summons a small army of abominations and orders them to sweep the area. He runs through the thicket and pictures Hunter, lying half-dead in a ditch somewhere. He pictures, or rather remembers, Samson, dead for real in front of him-- he calls Alador.

Alador answers, yawning. Darius faintly remembers it is three in the morning.

“Darius? What is it?”

“I was so stupid , I should have known better - I should never have listened to you! He’s gone and I don’t even know where he went! He wasn’t in his room and the crow phone can’t even find him- what if he’s hurt ? What if he’s–”

His foot catches on a tree root. Darius Deamonne, ever graceful, eats absolute shit, twisting his ankle awkwardly on the way down.

“Titan- dammit! ”

He pushes himself up on scraped hands. The crow has flown away, Alador having apparently hung up. Why is he even mad at Alador? Why did he even call? It’s his own fault. If he were better at this Hunter wouldn’t feel like he needs to lie to him. Eberwolf was wrong, he’s a bad dad. Hunter doesn’t even want a dad, Darius just wants to be his dad, and he isn’t even good at it.

He allows himself a few minutes of careful breathing, precious minutes he shouldn’t be wasting, before he shakily stands and dusts himself off. He pulls a twig out of his hair. He suddenly hears running footsteps, relief turning to wariness when he realizes they are too heavy to be Hunter’s.

He is prepared to fight- he is not prepared to see Alador stumbling through the trees, clutching a staff.

“ Alador? ”

“Oh, thank Titan you’re alright.” Darius watches him hunch over, free hand at his chest, huffing and puffing. He is not as spry as he used to be.

“What are you doing here? ”

“I came as fast as I could. Mittens- Amity- lent me her staff.” Darius recognizes the little white cat perched on the top.

His brain attempts to find words in response to this information.

“But- why ?” Perfect.

Alador straightens up, his hand clenching and unclenching around the staff.

“Well- because– because you called me.”

They stare at each other. Darius has absolutely no idea what to say.

Finally, Alador looks away, scratching his neck. “I think Amity knows a bit about what’s going on. She wouldn’t say much- and I’m not really in a position to push her- but I know where we can start.”

-----------

Gilbert and Harvey let the two of them into the Park residence, quite politely if a bit confused considering the hour. The four of them sit at the rustic kitchen table as Darius informs the Parks of the situation. Harvey is just standing to go and wake Willow when Darius sees the girl in question at the top of the stairs, bundled up in a fuzzy green robe.

“Dad? Papa? What’s going on?”

Harvey puts his hands on his hips. “Willow, has Hunter been… coming over to see you? At night?”

Her face immediately flushes bright red. “PAPA! Oh my Titan , no, that is not what is happening!”

Darius stands and she looks to him, seemingly just now noticing his and Alador's presence. “Then what is happening?”

She looks down at her slippers. Her mouth twists, eyebrows furrowing as she has some kind of internal debate.

“Miss Park. Please. I just need to know he’s safe.”

She looks up to meet his eyes. “He’s safe.”

Gilbert leans forward in his seat. “So you know where he is, honey?”

She bites her lip. “Can I speak to Darius alone?”

Harvey looks to Darius “I don’t think-”

Darius raises a hand, placating. “No, it’s alright.”

Now he sits with Willow on the Parks’ front porch. He feels a bit too old to be perching on a stoop like this, but so be it. She looks at him with an expression more serious and thoughtful than he’d expect for a fifteen year old (sixteen soon, he hears Hunter say in his head excitedly. He’s already making gifts for the captain’s birthday.)

“What are you going to do when you find Hunter?”

Darius frowns. “I’m going to take him home.”

“And then what?”

“What do you mean?”

She tilts her head, scrutinizing him.

“Willow. You should know I would never, not once, consider hurting Hunter. I am not Belos. I… care for him, very much. He’s very important to me. I just want him to be happy and safe, and I promise you, I am doing my best.”

He’s not sure why it feels so important that this teenage girl knows he is trying his best as a guardian, but it does. She nods slowly, a bit of tension leaving her shoulders. He gets the feeling she would absolutely fight him to keep Hunter safe. From what he remembers of witnessing her in combat, she would have a not-insignificant chance of beating the daylights out of him, though he wouldn’t advertise that fact.

“Alright. When you get there, you should talk to Camila first. It’s not her fault, she thinks he’s got permission to stay over.”

“I– Camila?”

“Luz’s mom. He’s in the Human Realm.”

-----------

And so, he stands with Alador in front of the Owl House. He turns to the other man.

“You should go home.”

Alador raises an eyebrow. Darius looks away.

“I just mean, go home to your kids. I don’t need any more help.”

Alador huffs a dry laugh. “You’re welcome.”

His face warming, Darius steels himself to do something very uncomfortable.

“I’m… sorry. For yelling at you earlier. Thank you. For tonight.”

Alador smiles. “Goodness, Darius. A thank you and an apology? All at once? Maybe you should sit down.”

Darius scowls. “Right, don’t expect any more any time soon. You can go.”

Alador sighs and turns, preparing to climb onto Amity’s staff. Once he is settled on it- looking a bit unbalanced- he shoots a glance at Darius.

“I am glad you called me. If you perhaps called again, for whatever reason, I would… like that.” And with that, he is whisked away into the sky.

Darius resolutely does not watch him go, taking a deep breath before knocking on Edalyn’s door.

-----------

The woods of Connecticut are odd. Something about trees being green is unnerving to Darius. It is also shockingly cold, reminding him more of the climate on the Knee than anywhere else. Is it always like this? No, Hunter had shown him pictures. In the autumn the Human Realm is cool but sunny, the trees turning a familiar shade of red. This snow must be a seasonal occurrence. He belatedly realizes he has been running around all night in a tee and pajama pants as he shivers. He wraps himself in a sweater of abomination ooze and walks faster. It’s uncomfortable for him to appear this disheveled in public, but he’s not about to go home and change.

It is not too difficult to find the Noceda residence, following the directions Edalyn had given him- after laughing at him, of course, Raine apologizing profusely next to her. They would certainly have to talk later. Apparently Hunter had been coming to use the portal in the Owl House regularly for months. Darius felt a twist in his gut at this revelation- he’d tried so hard to impress on Hunter that he could do what he wanted under Darius’ care, but perhaps he was too lax. He just doesn’t understand why this would be such a secret. At least she was nice enough to call Camila and let her know Darius was coming.

She opens the door before he can knock, stepping out onto the stoop and closing it behind her. He has met Camila briefly before, but things were so chaotic they never had much of a conversation. He remembers thanking her for taking care of Hunter while the portal was closed. She had said she was happy to see someone waiting for him on the other side. Now she looks at him, concern written all over her face.

“He’s alright?” Is the first thing to come out of Darius’ mouth.

She nods emphatically. “Yes. He’s good. Luz stayed in the basement with him last night, she’s on the couch and he’s camped out on the floor.”

He suddenly needs to put a hand on the small railing on the stoop, his knees almost buckling out of sheer relief.

“Please, come in. Just be quiet, I don’t want to wake them up yet.” She opens the door and he follows her.

They sit in the living room, speaking in hushed voices. 

“I’m sorry, Mr. Deamonne-”

“Just Darius is fine.”

“Darius, then. I was under the impression that Hunter was allowed to stay over as much as he does. I should have checked with you. But he hasn’t been any trouble, really.” She adds this last part so earnestly. Darius feels his ears twitching uncomfortably.

“...What does he do, when he comes here?”

She raises an eyebrow, smiling.

“What does he do? Eat dinner, watch movies, use my sewing machine. Argue with my daughters. Snore loudly on my couch.” The fondness in her voice is unmistakable. Darius feels something in him sink.

“You quite like him, don’t you?”

She smiles. “It’s hard not to. He’s a sweet boy.”

His hands become very interesting, suddenly. His left palm is scraped from his fall earlier. His cuticles are begging for a trim.

“Darius?”

He looks up.

“I… think we probably feel pretty much the same way about Hunter,” she says, slowly.

He swallows, a lump in his throat. He nods.

It makes sense. Of course Hunter doesn’t want a father. He has a mother here, on the other side of the portal. Sisters as well, he supposes. That’s probably more than enough for Hunter, all the spots filled and no room for Darius in this little family he’s gathered.

It’s alright. Darius always told people he wasn’t interested in kids. Even if he wanted to be a father he probably wouldn’t be very good.

He respects Camila. She seems like a kind, intelligent and very capable woman. She cared for five traumatized children for months while the Boiling Isles dissolved into madness. He certainly would not have the patience or fortitude for such a task.

If he didn’t feel at this moment as if she had taken his son from him without even trying, he’d probably like her a lot.

Footsteps sound from the basement stairs, a gait Darius immediately clocks as Hunter. He stands suddenly, his chair scraping behind him. He very much doesn’t want to be here right now.

“Morning, Camila-” Hunter enters, stretching. He freezes, seeing Darius.

Darius does not wait for whatever will happen next, bolting quickly walking to the door and out of the house.

The snow makes it hard to move with any real speed. Darius is this close to shifting into his abomination form simply to get back to the portal faster, but even now realizes any non-Noceda human witnessing that could be disastrous. As it is, Hunter with his teleportation has the speed advantage and catches up quickly.

“Darius, I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry–”

Darius whirls around to face him and he flinches. Darius immediately feels about two inches tall. He takes a deep breath. He knows Hunter doesn’t understand that Darius isn’t angry, just extremely, overwhelmingly sad.

Hunter looks up at him, eyes wide. Another deep breath.

“No, Hunter. It’s alright. I apologise.”

“I promise I was going to tell you, I just-”

“I understand.”

“R- really?”

“ Do you… do you wish to move out? Would you prefer to stay with the Nocedas, instead of with me?” Not the most tactful, but he’s doing his best! If this will make Hunter happy, then Darius will support him.

“ No! ”

This is… not the response he expected. Hunter’s face twists from apprehension to horror, his ears pinned against his head.

“Pardon?”

“No! No, I mean- it’s not– Darius, please don’t –” Hunter cuts himself off, closing his eyes and pulling at his hair with a frustrated whine. He sits down in the snow heavily and puts his face in his hands.

Darius has seen this before- much more frequently when Hunter first began living with him. He is familiar with the protocol, oddly relieved because for the first time today he knows exactly what to do. It’s like a switch flipping- of course he is still upset, and confused, but the immediate well-being of the witchling in front of him becomes top priority. He kneels down with Hunter.

“Just breathe. Take your time. I can wait.” He’d quickly learned that asking questions only made it harder. Hunter had reluctantly explained it to him once: when there were so many thoughts and feelings flying in every direction, they would all get stuck and clogged up coming out. The only thing that helped was taking the time to calm down.

“I- I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I forgive you.”

There’s nothing to forgive here, but that isn’t the point. Apologies like this aren’t about anything in particular. It’s Hunter’s gut reaction, that taking the blame of any situation onto himself is the correct thing to do. For as tough as Hunter can be, for as decisive and confident as he may appear, it had been a hard pill for Darius to swallow that he can think so little of himself.

He sits with Hunter in the cold as the boy presses his palms against his eyes and takes measured breaths. The loud crunch of snow announces Camila’s arrival, carrying a puffy yellow coat that she drapes around Hunter’s shoulders (Darius feels both grateful, and embarrassed for not considering this himself). She settles herself on the ground with them, suddenly a perfectly fitting player in the tableau. He can’t help but feel that she’s the one who is supposed to be here and he is intruding somehow. Together they wait for Hunter to speak.

Hunter lowers his hands from his face, still keeping his eyes closed.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for, mijo?” Camila puts a hand on Hunter’s shoulder.

“I- I lied. To both of you. I’m sorry.”

Camilla nods. “Apology accepted. I’m not mad, Hunter.” She looks at Darius, her expression clear. Go on.

“No, I’m… I’m not mad at you. I’m just worried about you. I want to understand what’s going on with you.”

Hunter clenches his fists in his lap.

“It’s selfish. I’m being really– selfish .”

Darius looks at Camila, who raises her eyebrows at him. He realizes she wants him to handle this- she trusts him to handle this. He decides he does quite like her.

“Why do you think you’re selfish?”

“Because– because. I made you think I don’t want to live with you.”

“If you didn’t, it would be okay-”

Hunter chokes out a sob and Darius stops. His stomach twists into knots. It’s not that he’s never seen Hunter so upset before, but Darius hates knowing that this is happening because of him. Because he’s not saying the right thing to help. Because he’s not good enough at this.

He tries again. “Please, Hunter. Help me understand.”

Hunter grits his teeth, pushing the words out carefully.

“I love being with the Nocedas. I get to read all of Camila’s old sci-fi books, and watch nature documentaries with everyone, and Vee is helping me learn to make Dominican food, and Luz always sleeps near me in case I get nightmares. And it makes me so happy when Camila calls me her son.”

Darius’ heart sinks as Camila gently squeezes Hunter’s shoulder. Darius is about to speak when Hunter continues.

“But- I don’t– I don’t want to leave you. You try so hard to make me feel safe, and you decorated my room, and you always listen to me even when I’m talking about stupid stuff, and you ruffle my hair, and you come to my games. And I know you’re probably just doing all that because you feel bad, and when I’m eighteen you won’t have to worry about me anymore-”

What?? 

“-and I know it’s not like you want to be my dad or anything-”

“ I want to be your dad. ”

Darius barely even registers the words coming out of his mouth. It’s just an immediate reaction. He wants to be Hunter’s dad.

He’s not sure what reaction he expects, but it isn’t Hunter bursting into tears. Camila lets out a sound of surprise and dismay. Darius, acting on what he hopes is the correct instinct, takes Hunter’s hands in his own and puts all his cards on the table.

“Hunter, I want to be your dad. I’m happy to take care of you because I love you . I love having you live with me.”

Hunter looks between him and Camila, confused and desperate.

“It’s- it’s not fair !”

Not fair?

“What’s not fair?” Camila, rubbing circles on Hunter’s back, seems equally alarmed by this response.

“It’s- it’s selfish , I don’t even deserve – it's bad that I want– ” he breaks off, his breathing uneven. Oh.

Darius leans forward. “That you want me and Camila to be your family? You don’t think you deserve both?”

“It’s ridiculous that I even have one – after everything – and I just keep imposing even though I know better –”

“Oh, mi tesoro ,” says Camila softly, “you deserve a family that loves you. Every kid does.”

“No, but I’m–”

“Still a kid.” Darius refuses to let him think differently. “A really, really good one.” 

He puts his hand up to cup Hunter’s cheek, slowly, giving him time to move away. Hunter leans into it almost unconsciously.

“You are so easy to love, Hunter. I hope one day you’ll believe it yourself, but we aren’t going anywhere in the meantime. I meant what I said. I love you, okay?”

It’s all but imperceptible, but Hunter nods. 

Of course, this is the moment Darius’ scroll begins pinging wildly. Darius attempts to ignore it until Hunter, sniffling, shoots a look at Darius’ pocket. He silences it without looking.

“That’s probably Eberwolf. Mind you, it doesn’t stop with me and Camila. Eber is worried sick about you. You even had Alador Blight running around the forest in the middle of the night.”

Hunter gives a wet laugh- more a weak snort really, it’s snotty and gross and Darius loves him so much.

“Was he doing that because of me, or because of you ?”

Darius grins. “Ah, there he is.”

He hugs his son. After a moment he extends an arm and Camila gives him a radiant, approving smile before joining, and the two of them hold Hunter, still a nit sniffly, between them. It should be odd to share an embrace with a woman he barely knows, but she is Hunter’s mother, so it really just feels right.

-----------

When they return to the Noceda house, all three shivering and a little teary, Vee already has steaming mugs of cocoa set out on the table. As Camila kisses her on the forehead, Luz comes up the stairs, apparently having slept through the entire ordeal. Seeing Darius and a snotty, red-eyed Hunter, she promptly threatens Darius with a shoe (before quickly apologizing, following admonishment from her mother). Darius has no hard feelings- if someone made Hunter cry he’d likely throw a shoe at them too. Then she traps the boy in a tight squeeze that to Darius appears quite unpleasant but must be comforting for Hunter by the looks of it.

As the three children return to the basement, Darius and Camila sit down to figure out how to best parent Hunter together.

-----------

“Do you have your overnight bag packed?” Darius looks up from his work as Hunter runs down the stairs in his Hexside uniform.

“Obviously!”

“I only ask because last time you forgot your toothbrush-”

“I know, I know.” He is currently stuffing the offending toiletry into the duffel.

“Your girlfriend is going with you this weekend, yes?”

“Ugh, Darius, she’s not– yes, Willow is coming.”

“Ah, young love...”

“And how is Mr. Blight?”

“Point taken.” Darius points to a beaten paperback copy of Cosmic Frontier . “Give that back to Camila, won’t you?”

“Wow, you’re already done?”

“The woman has excellent taste, we both know this.”

Hunter puts it into his bag with far more consideration than he did with the toothbrush. 

“What did you think about it? Isn’t it awesome? O’Bailey is so-”

Darius hates to cut him off, but considering what time it is-

“Hunter, if you want to walk to school with Gus you have to get going, but we’ll talk about it on Sunday? I doubt you can guess my favorite character in the meantime.”

“Captain Avery?”

“Nope.”

“Quando?”

“You’ll just have to wait! You really will be late, you know.”

Hunter yelps when he looks at the wall clock, slipping into his ridiculous rubbery human shoes (Darius has been extremely kind and refrained from commenting on them), and running for the door.

Darius holds up his new human phone, much more effective than a crow phone for interdimensional communication. “Have fun, but remember, you can call me if you need anything. I love you.”

Hunter Deamonne-Noceda pauses for a second in the doorway and smiles at Darius, just before racing off.

“Love you too, dad.”