Chapter Text
"Golden guard, we've talked about this. You can't interrupt me, let alone talk about wild magic. If you keep talking about these things, there will be consequences for your actions." Belos's words echo throughout Hunter's mind. Sending him into a dark spiral of fear.
Hunter is sitting there, tears running down his face. The soft salty water droplets burn his eyes as he blinks them shut. There isn't much he can do other than just sit. Under his feeble, harsh breath, he keeps whispering inaudible thoughts. He clutches his hair tightly, attempting to find something stable but failing repeatedly. The only sounds in the room are sporadic cries and the ticking of a demon clock around the corner. Suddenly, a soft knock comes from the door. Hunter was freaking out but he could register who it was by the way the knock sounded.
Edric is patiently waiting for Hunter to say something before he walks in. It could be a simple "Come in," or a "Give me one second, my amazing awesome boyfriend," but he just likes to imagine that. "Goldie? Are you in there?" He inquired, knocking once more.
A long period of quietness follows. They are both waiting for the other to make a move, yet they are both waiting for the other. Hunter makes the decision to speak up. He swallows his saliva and wipes his tears away. "I'm here, come in..." he grumbled, his tone surprisingly clear. A loud, abrupt sound of a door slamming against the wall.
"Surprise!! I bought your favorite for you! Apple blood and flower..s..." When Edric sees Hunter with a wet, red face, his high attitude suddenly dissipates into the air. Hunter had been crying, he could tell.
They make brief eye contact with each other. Hunter's crying brought back memories of Edric's younger sister, Amity, as a small child. She once messed up her knee real bad and she kept on crying. That little girl was now replaced with a hurt boy that has gone through so much.
Edric hurriedly sets down the items he bought from the night market and walks over to Hunter, pushing his thoughts aside. "What happened?" He inquired quietly to his boyfriend.
Nothing happened.
"If you don't want to, you don't have to tell me. I understand you're going through a lot and it's difficult to talk about it. But if you do tell me, I swear I will keep it a secret." He vowed.
Hunter raises his eyes to him. Hunter is soothed by the golden border around his eyes. In the light that filters through the thin drapes, Edric's eyes gleam brightly. Hunter looks back down. He whispered, "It was just something that happened with Belos again." "I got carried away with wild magic yet again, and he became irritated...and yeah..."
Edric takes a quick moment to think about what to say when he comes up with the best idea. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, after telling Belos how much I despise him, I'd say this to his crucial face." There was a dramatic pause. "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because your companion- the golden guard -thinks so."
Hunter's mouth crackles with a tiny laugh. "Do you realize how stupid you can be at times?" He laughs once more, before he calmly wipes his tears. Even though Hunter was having a mental breakdown just a few minutes ago, Edric had somehow managed to help despite merely making a stupid joke. It doesn't matter how Edric expresses affection; what counts is that it comes from him. "Wait- what are you doing?"
Hunter was pushed onto the bed he was sitting on, and Edric crawled over next him before he could crush him. They sat there, staring up at the ceiling.
Edric takes a glance over at Hunter. "I'm not sure what Belos said or did to you, but whatever it was, you're safe now. He is a dreadful individual. I know that because you usually come home feeling down." He takes a moment to carefully grasp Hunter's hand. Hunter shifts his gaze to Edric as a result of his actions. "God you're cute.." He spoke something without thinking about it. "Oh, that's right, the wall. I was conversing with the wall! Yeah..? " Edric quickly made up the first excuse that popped up in his head. Small prickles of red grow on his cheeks.
Hunter suppresses a sigh of shame by placing his palm to his forehead. "You're a complete moron, Ed." Hunter chuckles and punches Edric's arm lightly with his free hand.
"I am not!" he exclaims.
"I'm not going to engage in this. You're dumb and cute, end of the story." With a boop on Edric's nose, Hunter brings the conversation to a close. "Now let's watch a movie so I can get my mind off of Belos." Hunter suggested.
Edric promptly accepts and opens Ghostflix with his scroll. Hunter rests his head on his boyfriends shoulder and examines the screen, deciding what to watch.