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When Darius had asked Hunter if he wanted to live with him, Hunter hadn't been quite sure why he was asking. Did Darius perhaps need someone to help him with the household chores? But Hunter quickly realized that wasn't the case. When he first wanted to do the dishes, Darius had only said that he would always have one of his abominations do them and that Hunter could just relax and do something else.
So why did he want Hunter to live with him? What did he want from Hunter if not to do the housework for him?
It all really confused him and Hunter increasingly didn't know what to make of certain situations he was thrown into.
Whenever Darius asked him about his interests, Hunter evaded and said he didn't have any or he was still thinking about things. It was better not to stand out too much in case Hunter liked something that Darius didn't like. He certainly didn't want the abomination coven head to kick him out again just because he couldn't just be quiet and pretend to be an ordinary and undamaged kid.
But Hunter especially tried to keep it a secret that he loved to wear colorful clothes. He had never seen Darius in colors other than purple, black, and white.
Besides, he and Darius had been at the market in Bonesborough the other day and there had been a sweater hanging on one of the stalls that Hunter had liked immediately. It had been light blue and had had flowers and different colors and shapes and in the middle of the front had been a big orange heart embroidered on it.
But Darius had just wrinkled his nose and asked a little disgusted, "Who would buy something like that?
And so Hunter had decided not to wear anything that Darius would call ugly. He loved fashion and Hunter knew that Darius would probably kick him out if he wore something Darius didn't think was good enough.
Hunter had once tried to add something more colorful and individual to his golden guard uniform. It had been a simple colorful flower patch that he had sewn onto his dark trousers rather poorly, but Belos had not been at all pleased by the idea. He had freaked out immediately when he had seen the colorful patch on Hunter's pants.
So when Hunter and Darius went shopping a few days into Hunter's second week at Darius' house, because one morning Darius said, "The four outfits you own can hardly be called a whole closet." Hunter tried to ignore everything he thought was beautiful.
They were already in the second store. In the first, Hunter had chosen the two plainest pairs of shoes, although he would much rather have had the bright red ones they sold there as well.
Now Hunter pulled everything off the hangers that looked like something Darius would wear, only a little plainer, after all, Hunter didn't want Darius to think he was trying to replace him or anything.
But no matter what Hunter did, his eyes kept wandering over to this one colorful skirt that was hanging on a hanger on the wall a little further back.
It was a pink skirt with different colored dots on it and Hunter really wanted to try it on, but he knew there was nothing about it that Darius would like and he didn't want to upset Darius.
Hunter had had one more scar on his leg as a result, when Belos had been mad at him back then, because Belos had lashed out with the green goop and ripped the patch off his pants, though he hadn't been very careful about it, so Hunter had limped back to his room afterwards with tears in his eyes.
Hunter didn't want Darius to have a reason to be mad at him, because Hunter really liked living with him. He didn't want Darius to kick him out, because it was really nice to have someone there to ask him every morning how he was feeling and if he slept well. And he just didn't want to lose that.
But Hunter tended to do things he shouldn't. So he took a quick look around for Darius, and when he was sure the man was busy, he sprinted through the rows of clothes to grab the skirt. He pulled the garment off the hanger and hid it among the rest of the plainer clothes he had already picked out.
Hunter wasn't planning on actually buying the skirt, he just wanted to look in the dressing room mirror and see what it looked like on him. And he probably could risk that.
Hunter walked over to Darius, who was struggling through a collection of purple pants and was looking at one of them as if he wasn't sure if he should buy it or not. That's when he noticed Hunter. "Oh, little prince, did you find something too?"
"Yes, I was going to suggest that we could go to the changing rooms now. Of course, only if you're ready, too. "He added the last sentence quickly, so as not to seem disrespectful, after all, he owed Darius at least that, even if he still didn't quite understand why Darius would want Hunter to live with him.
But Darius just nodded, "It's probably better that way. If I keep looking for clothes, I'll take more home with me later than you will."
Hunter opened his mouth briefly to ask what would be so bad about that, but then closed it again without having said anything.
"I say that because we're here to restock your wardrobe, not mine, little prince," Darius said, who seemed to have Hunter figured out. Hunter pressed his lips together and tried to look as emotionless as possible. Belos had always used it against him when he knew what Hunter was thinking or feeling, and Hunter didn't want to find out if Darius would do the same.
So they headed for the changing rooms. On the way they passed several dresses, pants and sweaters that Hunter would have liked to take with him and try on instead of the plain clothes, but he had to stick to his plan. His heart sank more and more the closer they got to the changing rooms, as if he knew he was making a mistake.
In the changing room, he first put on one of the plain outfits and showed it to Darius. Darius said that it would fit Hunter, but he didn't seem to 'feel' it. But Hunter had no idea what that meant. And anyway, wasn't the real purpose of clothing to fit him?
Hunter only understood what Darius meant when he tried on the skirt second, along with a purple T-shirt. He seemed happier immediately, like a completely different person. The skirt fell fluffy and airy around his legs and Hunter grinned childishly to himself as he turned a little and the skirt moved with him.
"Hunter? "That was Darius' voice, "Show me the next outfit. Judging by your laugh, you seem to like it a lot."
Hunter slapped a hand over his mouth. Had he laughed without realizing it? Apparently he had. But now Darius expected him to present an outfit that he 'felt'. But everything else Hunter had taken into the changing room with him was stuff that didn't really excite Hunter. Besides, he didn't have time to put on another outfit without it looking weird.
"Hunter, dear, is everything okay? "Darius sounded concerned, but somehow that only made Hunter more nervous.
He needed to get out of here. Everything seemed so tight all of a sudden. Even the skirt. Hunter took off the clothes and threw them on the floor. Then he reached for his familiar clothes and frantically put them on.
At that moment, he heard Darius' voice say, "Try to breathe, Hunter. It's all right."
It sounded like Darius stepped back from the door to give Hunter some space, and Hunter took that opportunity to rush out of the changing room and head for the exit. He heard Darius call behind him, "Hunter! Wait!"
But then he was already out of the store and running down the street, past confused looking witches and demons.
He didn't know where to run at all. The only person he could think of, except for Darius, but he wouldn't have been an option in this situation anyway, was Camila. But Hunter knew that Camila would tell him to just talk to Darius about everything.
So Hunter stopped and leaned against a cool stone wall in a side alley and slowly lowered himself to the ground. What on earth had he been thinking? He didn't even want to imagine how mad Darius would be if he found him. Or maybe he wouldn't look for him at all, but simply decide Hunter wasn't worth the trouble.
He pulled his legs to his chest and buried his face in his arms. Only now did tears well up in his eyes and he began to cry.
Hunter had no idea how long he had been sitting there when he heard Darius' voice ask, "Hunter? Is it okay if I sit with you?"
But Hunter was not able to register the words at all. When he looked up a few seconds later, face tear-stained and eyes all red, Darius had crouched to the floor some distance away and seemed to be making himself as small as possible so as not to tower over Hunter in a threatening manner.
"You need to take a deep breath, little prince. "Darius said, his voice sounding incredibly soft and little more than a whisper.
And only then did Hunter realize he was hyperventilating. Slowly he stretched out his fingers and did the counting exercise Gus had shown him.
"It's going to be okay." and "You're doing very well." Darius whispered in between, which helped to calm Hunter down even more.
After a while of trying to breathe deeply, he started to feel a little better.
Darius smiled softly, yet somewhat sadly, and nodded to the asphalt next to Hunter. "May I?"
Hunter just nodded and Darius slowly and carefully sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry. "Darius said softly and as Hunter was about to say something in reply he continued, "I seem to have made you feel like you can't talk to me about anything, and for that I am truly sorry. Whatever it is that made you run away, you can tell me. Really."
Hunter avoided Darius' gaze and looked down at his feet, which he scuffed a little nervously across the asphalt. "I- well- " He took another deep breath, literally feeling the air rush through his lungs. So he tried again, "I didn't want you to be mad."
"Why would I be mad at you, little prince?" asked Darius gently.
"Because- "Hunter looked up at him and blinked away tears that threatened to burst from his eyes again.
"It's all good. Take your time. "Darius said.
Hunter avoided his gaze again as he asked softly, "Can you hold me? Just- just for a second I- never mind. Forget what I said! That was really stupid, I- "
But Darius stretched out his arms and looked at Hunter with a loving, concerned look. He put one hand on Hunter's back and pulled him closer. The other hand he used to gently caress the back of Hunter's head.
"What is it that's troubling you, little prince?" asked Darius, but his voice still sounded just gentle.
"I don't understand why," Hunter began, tears running down his cheeks again. He snuggled closer to Darius and held onto the front of his shirt, afraid Darius would let him go again, "I don't understand why you took me in. I don't understand what you want from me."
"I- Hunter, I want you to be okay. In the last few days before the day of unity, I really realized how wrong I've been all this time and what a wonderful child you are. I wanted to prevent you from being hurt again. I'm sorry, I should have made my intentions clear from the beginning, little prince," Darius said, gently rocking Hunter back and forth.
"I thought- I thought it would be a good idea in fashion- well, to stick to what you're wearing. B- Belos, he- he never liked it when I- well- when I tried to be myself. And I guess I kind of thought you'd react similarly. "Hunter murmured, closing his eyes as the soft warmth of Darius' body made him feel safe.
"You can wear whatever you want," Darius said, gently stroking a hand through his hair, which was still disheveled from his hasty escape, "but I figured it was something like that."
"How- "
"The colorful skirt on the floor," Hunter could hear Darius' smile in his voice, "I bought that skirt, by the way. Because judging from your laugh, you liked it a lot. And tomorrow we'll go out shopping again, and I want you to choose whatever you like, not what you think I might like."
Hunter broke away from the hug and looked at Darius with a wide smile that showed the gap in his teeth.
"I- thank you Darius. "he said, feeling his ears turn a little red.
Darius pulled him into a hug again and nuzzled him gently. "I want you to know that the only thing I want from you is for you to be happy."