Chapter Text
Even though Mara, Keith, and Sebastian didn’t, Hunter quite liked the new scout Steve.
Hunter sat on the bed and watched Steve groom the large, purple, unicorn bush in his living quarters.A reasonably sized room with two beds, two wardrobes, a desk, and a narrow window showing a small view of outside.
“The hardest part is shaping the sides evenly,” Steve told him, mask still on as he trimmed the leaves into shape. “You have to see both sides.”
Hunter nodded, smiling as he kicked his dangling feet in the air. “Uncle’s teaching me plant magic tomorrow!”
“Wow, really?” Steve let out a low whistle. “You’re killing this magic training, little man.” He raised his hand. “Up-top.”
Hunter high-fived him. “Up-top!”
“Nice.” Steve chuckled, and then returned to trimming the bush. “Anyway, I’m gonna have to wrap this up. I have to head into the market to get Lilith a gift.”
“A gift?” Hunter looked up at him curiously. “Is it her birthday?”
“Yeah, it is,” Steve replied. “I found out it was tomorrow because her sister sent her a stink bomb as a birthday gift.” Then, he sighed. “I had to clean up the stink bomb…”
Hunter giggled, wondering what Lilith’s sister was like. “Is she gonna throw a party?”
“Huh.” Steve seemed to think about it. “Nope, don’t think so.”
“We should throw a party then!” Hunter jumped off the bed, growing excited. “And invite Uncle, Ms Kiki, and all the scouts!”
“Little man…” Steve looked taken back. “That is…AN AMAZING IDEA!” He raised his hand. “Up-top!”
Hunter high fived him. “We can get balloons and-and presents!”
“Yes! And we could decorate! I’m thinking flowers, bushes!” Steve replied excitedly. “Oh, and what about an ice sculpture?” He laughed. “Kid, you’re a genius!”
“And-and we should have lots of decorations and flowers! Lots of giant flowers.” Hunter grinned, hopping on his toes. “It’s gonna be the best party ever!”
“Yeah!” Steve fist-pumped the air. “LET’S DO THIS!”
“What are you both yelling about?” His scout, Sebastian, appeared at the doorway, causing Hunter to frown. “Hunter, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” He walked over and grabbed Hunter’s hand. “I told you to stay close, you can’t just runoff.” He plucked a purple leaf from his hair. “I was worried.”
Hunter’s frown grew, trying to wriggle out of his hold. “I wanted to see Steve!”
Sebastian kept a tight hold of his hand, making him feel annoyed. The scout had been too overprotective since having a special talk with the emperor. He wouldn’t let Hunter go exploring and insisted he be by his side whenever they were wandering around the castle like Hunter would get eaten by the shadows or something.
It was like Sebastian wanted to wrap him up in cotton wool and not let him have any fun anymore!
“Hey, don’t worry, man,” Steve said. “The kid’s fine—”
“I didn’t ask you, Steve,” Sebastian replied impatiently.
“Don’t be mean to Steve,” Hunter said, scowling. “We’re planning a party.”
“What?” Sebastian questioned.
“Yeah, for Lilith!” Steve said, crossing his arms. “It was the kid’s idea, and her birthday is tomorrow.”
“Yeah!” Hunter’s scowl faded a little. “A party will make her feel happy.”
Sebastian sighed. “Hunter…”
“It’s her birthday!” Hunter stomped his foot. “It’s important!”
Sebastian flinched a little at the noise, causing Hunter to stop and feel a rush of guilt. “Lilith may be busy, and we can’t just throw a party without the emperor’s permission…”
Hunter faltered, shifting on the spot. “If we invite him, he might say yes…”
Sebastian sighed, fingers trembling a bit as he touched the right side of his mask as if rubbing over a bruise. “I’m not sure…”
Hunter frowned, tugging on his arm. “We have to try, for Ms Lilith. It’s important.”
“You just leave the set-up to me,” Steve said, sounding confident. “I’m a pretty expert party planner.”
“I’ll make the invitations.” Hunter volunteered and tugged on his scout's arm again. “Then we can invite uncle.”
Sebastian shifted nervously. “Hunter…”
“Oh, come on, man, don’t shoot down the kid’s idea,” Steve admonished.
Sebastian’s crossed his arms. “I wasn’t.”
“Sebastian, please.” Hunter’s bottom lips wobbled, eyes wide and pleading.
His scout glanced down at him and then sighed in exasperation. “Don’t give me that look.” He wagged his finger accusingly. “Hunter.”
The child’s lips wobbled more, sniffling. “Please.”
Sebastian shook his head and sighed again. “Okay, fine, we’ll ask for the emperor’s permission.”
Hunter smiled instantly, jumping up and down. “I’ll do his invitation first!”
With Sebastian’s help, he managed to get his uncle’s and Kikimora’s invitations done first, and then Sebastian duplicated the rest.
Hunter handed out his invitations to the scouts on the way to the emperor. “They’ll be lots to do!”
“Oh, thanks,” one scout said, taking the invitation.
“Uh, I have a nut allergy,” the second scout said. “Are there nut-free options for food?”
“Um…” Hunter thought about it. “Yeah, sure!”
Sebastian sighed, staying close to him. “Kid, we can’t claim the party is going to have that if we don’t know.”
“But, Steve is a good party planner!” Hunter argued, handing out more invites. “He can do it.”
Sebastian hummed, not sounding convinced. “It’s just important not to lie.”
“But uncle says it’s not lying, it’s just making the truth fancier,” Hunter replied, smiling brightly.
“Yes, well…” Sebastian didn’t sound pleased, gripping his staff tight.
“Can you make illusion spells at the party?” Hunter asked, excitedly. “That’ll make it extra amazing!”
Sebastian looked away from him. “…My illusion spells have been… funny lately, Hunter, so I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh…” Hunter frowned, wondering how that happened. “Well, that’s fine, it’ll still be amazing.”
His scout hummed, seeming timid and uncomfortable still, making Hunter worry.
His uncle had said Sebastian was fine now, and it was true that the scout was cheerful and enthusiastic still, Sebastian seemed anxious now. More forgetful and on edge like he was scared of his own shadow.
Hunter held the scout’s hand and smiled at him warmly.
Sebastian’s shoulders relaxed a little, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
They’d gotten rid of nearly half of the invitations by the time they had reached the throne room.
Hunter felt a rise of apprehension when they reached the large doors and there were two guards outside. “Can we see the emperor?” He held out two invitations. “It’s for a party!”
The two scouts standing guard exchanged a look. “…A party?”
“Yeah!” Hunter smiled, waving the invitations. “They’ll be cake!”
“Really?” The smaller guard sounded interested now. “What kind of cake?”
“Um…” Hunter tried to think. “…Chocolate!”
“I love chocolate!” The second guard exclaimed.
“Me too!” Hunter agreed. “So, can we go in?”
“Oh, yeah sure.” The guards were looking at the invitations now and stood to the side.
Sebastian opened the doors to the throne room, where a heart of the Titan beat above the throne where his uncle was sitting looking over a scroll while Kikimora stood by his side.
Hunter’s hands were clammy, but he tried to be brave and walked towards the throne, around fifteen guards standing vigilante along the walkway. “Uncle?”
The emperor glanced up from his scroll and down at the small boy. “Hunter, why are you here?”
Hunter stopped near the edge of the steps, a knot forming in his stomach. “Um…” His skin prickled unpleasantly as it felt like everyone was staring. “I…” He gripped the invitations tight.
Sebastian placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. “It’s okay,” he whispered quietly.
Hunter‘s nerves quietened a little, smiling, he held Sebastian’s hand. “Uncle, we’re throwing a party for Ms Lilith!”
A few guards shuffled, exchanging looks while the emperor remained silent.
“A party?” Kikimora repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow.
“Uh, huh.” Hunter smiled and held up an invitation, walking up the steps to his uncle while Sebastian hesitantly followed. “It’s her birthday.” He handed an invitation to Kikimora who just stared at it. “Everyone’s invited!”
“Are they now?” his uncle replied evenly.
Hunter’s smile wavered, but Sebastian squeezed his hand. “Yeah, so Ms Lilith can be with all her friends.”
A guard near the back snorted a little too loudly but tried to hide it.
“Friends?” Kikimora sounded like she was choking. “Child, that’s not—”
The emperor chuckled, the sound sending a chill throughout the room and cause Sebastian to hold his hand tighter.
“Such an active imagination you have, my boy,” Emperor Belos remarked, lightly, taking the invitation from Kikimora and then looking it over."You misspelt 'you're'."
"Huh?" Hunter looked at the invite in horror.
Each invitation had a crayon drawing of Lilith with a big smile on her face while she was standing next to a grand three-tier, pink, birthday cake. The top of the invite reading, 'Your invited to Ms Lilith's birthday party!'.
His uncle placed his scroll away. “And, Unfortunately, we don’t have time for a party," he said lightly. "Everyone is far too busy and Lilith has more pressing issues to deal with."
Hunter’s stomach dropped. “But it’s her birthday,” he mumbled. “If no one makes it special she’ll be sad.”
“Ms Lilith is an adult, child,” Kikimora replied evenly. “She won’t be sad, and she has more important things to attend to than a party.”
“But…” Hunter’s shoulder slumped, eyes stinging. “A coven’s like a family,” he said miserably. “And-and Ms Lilith works hard, and-and everyone loves her.” He closed his eyes. “And it’ll make her happy.”
Kikimora discreetly raised an eyebrow like he’d said something ridiculous.
“I hadn’t realised you thought so highly of Lilith, Hunter,” his uncle said evenly, something steely in his tone. “But, I’m afraid a party would be too… distracting, especially at such short notice.” His uncle’s tone grew sterner. “You’re to cease handing out invitations and planning this.”
Hunter’s shoulders stiffened, lowering his gaze. “Oh…” His chest tightened, face starting to crumble. “But—”
“We understand, emperor.” Sebastian quickly took the invitations, hands shaking a little. “We apologise for taking up your time.”
The emperor hummed, scrunching the invitation up in his hand. “You do need to be firmer with the boy, Sebastian,” his uncle addressed the scout who tensed. “I won’t take another interruption like this lightly.”
Hunter grimaced and leaned closer to Sebastian, feeling his stomach twist.
Sebastian just gripped his hand tight, gaze low. “Yes, emperor—”
They were interrupted when a giant vine burst through the ceiling.
“What in Titan’s name!?” Kikimora quickly summoned a shield around them while Sebastian picked up Hunter and held him tight.
The scouts had their spears at the ready as the green vine flailed. It was three times the size of a thick tree trunk and had thorns pointing out like spears.
“Move aside.” The emperor stood as Kikimora lowered her shield. “What is this?” He raised his staff and shot a beam of red magic at the vine.
The vine flailed, as a screech echoed from the walls. The vine slammed on the ground, like a quake, and knocked the guards over and made the throne shake. The vine retreated through the hole it had made like a snake sneaking through pipes. Leaving a gaping hole and silence behind.
“What was that!?” Hunter yelled, clinging to Sebastian.
“Someone must be attacking the castle,” Kikimora said, looking towards the emperor. “Should we—”
Them, they were interrupted again by the doors being flung open and an out of breath Steve nearly collapsing on the floor.
“Titan!” Steve clutched his chest, breathing heavily. “Oh, wow…so…so many steps.” He straightened up, rubbing his back. “I need water…”
A scout near him conjured a glass of water. “Here.”
“Oh, wow, thanks.” Steve perked up and lifted his mask a fraction so he could chug the water down with loud gulps.
Kikimora shared a look with Sebastian who shrugged.
The emperor sighed deeply, staff glowing a threatening red. “Steve.”
Steve stopped drinking. “Sorry!” he apologised and tossed the glass away. “Okay, so I may have had an accident with the flowers for Lilith’s party.”
There was a screech from the walls, followed by a series of screams coming from outside.
“TITAN!” Someone was shouting not too far away. “NO! NO! PLEASE!”
“…Yeah, like a few accidents,” Steve said, giving a strained chuckle when everyone seemed to glare at him. “Bottom line. We may have an outbreak of giant mutated flowers throughout the castle.”
There was another scream. “CARL, NO! OH, TITAN, NO!”
“Yeah…so there’s that.” Steve took a deep breath. “But on the plus side, the birthday cake is getting delivered today! So, party!”
Kikimora buried her face in her hand while the emperor sighed, all patience gone.