Chapter Text
The first thought Hunter had in the human realm was simple.
Damn.
It wasn't an all too smart thought. But it was his first. The second was less of a word, and more off a general flood.
I need to help Willow, she looked sad, wait, no I should go to Luz, she looked distressed, no, I should curl up and start crying because my arm hurts so badly, NO! That wasn't a priority, I should go to Gus, Gus was crying. That was bad.
Why wasn't he doing anything?
I should get up.
That ended up being the thought that remained when the flood finally passed.
You should get up, and stop being a brat. You need to help.
He thought, the voice sharper than his own, anger rising at himself.
He still didn't get up.
He was lying on the ground, supporting himself slightly. Water was falling on him, freezing cold. However, he didn't mind, it was easing that terrible pain in his arm... No! He couldn't start thinking about that.
Belatedly Hunter realized that he still hadn't done anything. Neither had anyone else, but he was the adult.
The others were kids.
And Gus was crying, and he still hadn't helped.
Fine then you little brat, you're good at following orders, huh? Well, get up.
He thought, that sharp voice still filtering though the words, The order worked however, he got up. Then he stayed still. Apparently he needed to continue the mental orders.
Turn, and walk over to Gus.
The voice commanded. He turned, walking over to Gus. Hunter knelt, tentatively reaching out to the younger boy. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped.
Can't even think of something to say?
Hunter winced. The voice in his mind was right. He knew it was technically him thinking the thoughts, but it sounded more like... Uncle, Hunter realized. He felt his breathing growing faster at the term, but he shoved it down. The voice had helped him get up, therefore: It was good.
Wow! Beautiful job thinking. Now if you can't talk - probably good with that annoying voice of yours - then help him up. He's banged up, you need to get him to safety and shelter.
Hunter took a deep breath in. He had a plan, a crappy plan, but a plan. For now he could dismiss Uncle the harsh voice in his mind. Hunter carefully pulled the boy onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him. Gus was still sobbing. Hunter barely noticed as the warm tears fell onto abdomen, joining the cold rain and the lukewarm blood.
Ohh
he thought blankly.
It appears that I have some slashes in my chest. That's bad.
He was distracted from the newly noticed pain in his chest by another strangled sob from Gus. Hunter finally found words.
"Shhh, Gus. It's gonna be okay," Hunter whispered, wishing his voice hadn't cracked.
It would be okay. They would live. It would be okay. Hunter looked up at Luz on the steps off the shake. She was from here, right? She would have some idea of where to go, right? Otherwise he could get them all into the shack, tend to their wounds with spare fabric, he could find food, and-
"Luz?"
The voice broke through his thoughts. It was Amity. She was next to Luz. Hunter looked away, they clearly needed a moment.
He looked over to Willow. She looked as blank as he felt. Hunter's heart broke a little more seeing her like this. Captain should be smiling. She should be happy. Everything was wrong. This was all wrong. Wrong like crippling pain spreading though his body, wrong like a strange all powerful child, wrong like his uncle, who he should hate who he hated, splatting into the wall, his goop spreading across the floor, wrong like splashing in it as-
Shut up! Hunter thought, clutching Gus closer.
He looked up, Luz had found strength, probably from her girlfriend, and was standing slightly firmer.
"Come on guys, we're going to my house,"
Hunter nodded dully, turning and lifting Gus onto his back. The kid was clearly too tired to walk, and stood up. He walked over to Willow, getting onto one knee and helping her up. Despite the detached state he was in, he still blushed as she took his hand. He straightened. Looking up at Luz, she nodded, grim determination edged in her features. She started walking, and Hunter followed, Gus on his back, Willow at his side. Onto whatever Luz meant when she said the word 'home' if Hunter knew anything about it, 'home' couldn't be good.
The walk could've taken five minutes or five hours.
Hunter truly didn't know.
Around half way through he had noticed Willow's limp. He had attempted to help her, but it had been nearly impossible with Gus on his back. Eventually Amity took over, supporting Willow as Luz led them.
They made it to a house. It looked much more comfortable then, say, a fortress, but Hunter still didn't trust it. He didn't understand everything about Luz, but he knew she was human, and he knew she had run away from here. Choosing to stay in the demon realm.
That alone told him she had been living somewhere that she wanted to leave.
It couldn't have been safe.
She didn't have any visible scars, but Hunter knew well enough that plenty of things could be hidden under clothing. Hunter didn't have the energy for a glare, but the anger inside him still grew. Sure, Luz could be annoying, but NO ONE was allowed to hurt his sister his friend.
Hunter looked up as Luz knocked on the door. He had already set Gus down, one arm protectively over his shoulder. He looked up at the door, ready for anything from an attack to the door remaining closed.
The door opened, revealing a woman who looked like an older version of Luz. Her shoulder length hair the same brown color, a look of great shock and concern on her face. Hunter held his breath, waiting for the woman to start yelling, or worse.
The moment lasted just long enough to make him uncomfortable, then it broke.
And Luz and her mother both broke down crying in a hug.
Hunter felt his eyes go wide. He waited for it to hit, but it didn't. Luz's mom... Invited them in. She, she didn't start yelling, or questioning them, or... Anything.
She just, invited them in.
Hunter couldn't stop his mind from imagining what his Uncle would have done if Hunter had run away for months, then showed up randomly with a bunch of strangers. He winced slightly, his Uncle certainly wouldn't have huggled him. He probably wouldn't have started with backhanding him across the yard.
Hunter shook his head, dispelling the thought.
Hunter let everyone enter before him, Luz's mom stood holding the door open. Hunter hesitated, was he allowed inside? Sure, the kids were, but he was older, would he be expected to fend for himself... She turned to him, smiling slightly.
He let the breath out, he was allowed in.
Hunter bowed his head slightly in respect, stepping in. He stayed uncertainly on the mat, letting his clothes drip off. His eyes went wide again as he watched the rest of the kids continue on. He reached for Gus, but didn't reach him in time.
They were getting mud on the carpet.
Hunter was ten. He was two years into scouts training, and he had just gotten back from a mission. He ran into the throne room, exited to tell his uncle that he had successfully passed the maze test! He slipped slightly, looking down he realized too late that he had tracked mud into the room, he looked up. Eyes going wide.
Blood joined the mud on the floor of the throne room.
Hunter looked up at Luz's mom, waiting for her reaction. She still looked concerned, not angry. She might be waiting for later, he reasoned. Maybe he could convince her to let him take the punishment. . .
— • —
Camilla Noceda was feeling a LOT. However, sometimes, feelings had to be set aside. Not suppressed, just put aside for the time being.
Camilla wasn't going to pretend that she had always been good with emotions. (She had sent her daughter to a 'think inside the box' camp) But then...
Vee.
Vee who needed someone to understand. Vee who needed someone who didn't yell, Vee who needed someone who cared enough to research. Which Camilla had done. Done a lot. So now, she knew enough to understand her own emotions, and understand how to set them aside for a moment.
Which she needed to do now.
Because a bunch of traumatized teens had just walked into her house.
Well, most of them had walked in. Camilla glanced outside into the rain. The oldest child was still standing out there. He was looking up at her... Waiting? His eyes wide. She smiled at him. He nodded slightly, then stepped in.
Camilla closed the door, turning back to the kids. "Hello children, my name is Camilla Noceda. I am Luz's mama, if you didn't know," she said, smiling slightly.
The kids stared up at her, looking tired. Her smile faltered slightly.
What happened?
She thought, growing steadily more concerned as she registered how much blood was visible on them.
"Come follow me into the sitting room, yes?" She said, turning and waking away. Hoping that they would follow her.
The echoing footsteps confirming her hope.
"Okay, get settled, I'll go get a first aid kit." She said, happy to see them start to sit down as she left.
Vee was waiting for her in the hallway.
"Luz is back, mom?" She said, looking up at her.
Camilla nodded, leaning against the wall for a moment. Vee hesitated, then taped her arm. Camilla looked down at her daughter.
"Can I go say hi?" She asked, smiling hopefully.
"Of course mija." Camilla said, love filling her as she looked down at her little girl.
Vee smiled, turning hurrying down the hallway. Camilla stepped into the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit from the cupboard.
— • —
Vee nearly ran (as much as you could run in a basklisk form) down the hallway. Luz, her sister was here. She stopped in the entry to the sitting room. The ground of teens in front of her were...
Bedraggled.
To say the least.
She looked over them. A purple haired witch was helping a black haired girl onto the coach, something clearly wrong with her ankle. Luz was helping as well. A young boy was sitting, knees up to his chest on the couch. Another boy was standing by the wall, he looked worried. His eyes wide.
Eyes that she was sure she had seen before...
Vee froze. Shock filling her.
The Golden Guard was here.