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the-sunshine-dims · 1 year

Text

A mighty fine night (For comfort and rest)

hope you enjoy!

the book is ‘Tales from Thicketdown Forest by @a-small-batch-of-dragons, its a really lovely book, nice and cozy, highly recommend 20/10!

Ao3

Words: 4.9k

Summary: Hunter wanted Darius.

That's the only thought in his mind. As the door shut with a quiet but devastating ‘click,’

He was too old for this. He was a teenager, he was. Even if he suddenly had to work for the answer of sixteen when he tried remembering the specifics of how old he was.

Hunter knew being childish was bad, and no one would take him seriously if they saw him like this.

But regardless, Hunter wanted Darius.

Contents and Warnings: Age regression. Hurt/comfort. Referenced child abuse. Dadrius (unbeknownst to him). Childish fears. Fear of things being taken away. Post-episode ‘Any Sport in a Storm’.

______

Hunter wanted Darius.

That's the only thought in his mind. As the door shut with a quiet but devastating ‘click,’

He took a deep shaky breath. Trying to ignore the sudden emotions coming to the surface now that he was alone, in the confines of his room. He walked over, and then in a quick defeated action, fell right onto his bed.

Deep breaths.

He spent a couple of minutes there. Flapjack curled into his side reassuringly. Just being there, as Hunter took a minute.

Then, when he thought he was ready, he got up again. Because he had to. And he went to put on his pajamas for the night, trying to shift into the regular routine.

And trying to ignore the aching of his chest.

Trying to ignore the numbness slowly fading away completely, leaving only the emotional rawness.

But as tears finally sprung to his eyes; no matter how much he tried rubbing at them, the cold making them sting. And as sobs soon followed; no matter how much he tried breathing.

He wanted Darius.

Flapjack was instantly up, and then close again, cuddled into his neck in an attempt to comfort him. And Hunter just cried harder.

He was too old for this. He was a teenager, he was. Even if he suddenly had to work for the answer of sixteen when he tried remembering the specifics of how old he was.

Hunter knew being childish was bad, and no one would take him seriously if they saw him like this.

He knew he wasn’t even supposed to cry. It was a weakness, he’d been told so, a whole lot.

But his uncle had just given him some, corrections , again. For messing up. And he knew that it was his fault.

If he'd just done better.

But his mind felt soft and hazy again- if he was honest it had felt soft and hazy the moment he’d left the throne room. But it was getting hazier by the minute.

And everything just felt bad, and he just wanted Darius.

Darius was nice. Darius was cool. And Darius didn't hate him anymore, he had even given Hunter a scroll!

He would help.

He would comfort him and make all of the bad feelings go away!

He would make everything okay.

He would fix it.

But what if he was mad?

It was late.

Hunter had gotten back from his unsuccessful mission late.

And Hunter knew Darius sometimes went to bed early because of ‘beauty sleep’ and whatnot.

What if he was already asleep? What if Hunter woke him up and Darius was mad at him again?

Or what if Darius just didn't want to deal with him?

After all, Hunter should be able to be all good on his own with Flapjack! Flapjack was always really good at comforting him.

He should be fine all on his own.

It would be fine!

It wouldn't though.

He couldn't handle being alone, and Flapjack couldn't help all the time.

And even though a voice deep in his mind tried warning him against bothering Darius. Tried convincing him he’d be mad. Hunter couldn’t really imagine it.

Darius was nice to him now! He’d even given him a sewing lesson or two, and had said if Hunter ever needed him, he was there.

And Hunter needed him.

Why would he get mad?

So with not another thought to it, and his mind made up resolutely, mostly because he needed someone to be there, so very desperately. He grabbed his cloak and wrapped it around his pajamas. Hiding Flapjack subparly underneath. Then he wiped his eyes roughly one last time, before exiting his room quietly with socked feet.

He sniffed. But he knew he had to be quiet.

Just until he got to Darius.

he held his breath, in a dramatized action; He couldn't get caught.

Quiet quiet quiet.

He had to be super stealthy.

Like a super stealthy person who does stealth for a living.

He ran corner to corner in every hallway he went through, slyly.

It was almost fun. Anytime he forgot for a second why his chest ached so much, or why his face was all itchy and bad, or why he felt so lousy.

And okay, maybe it was starting to be increasingly more fun, as he got too preoccupied with dodging and weaving to remember the reason he was doing so.

And soon he was at Darius’s door.

And how could he be anything but excited?

____

When Darius heard a knock at his door, far later than anyone should bother a coven-head. He had several ideas of who, or what, it was, already in his head.

One less when Eberwolf didn’t barge in after a moment anyways, regardless of Darius's non-answer.

But no matter how many ideas he had, one thing he did not consider was the teen golden guard currently at his door.

He was shifting on his feet nervously but despite that- and despite the fact, his eyes were very obviously red and puffy- he was looking at him with the biggest puppy eyes known to man and a little sheepish grin to match.

“Little prince?” Darius asked, mouth agape, concern instantly taking precedence as he immediately went to gently shoo Hunter into his room and out of the open space.

Hunter’s large peculiar-colored eyes seemed to have gotten larger at the words, almost looking teary for a second before a pout broke through it suddenly and he crossed his arms.

“I’m not little!” He demanded, suddenly seeming a whole lot younger than Darius had sworn he was.

Darius simply blinked, the sudden weight of worry lessening significantly already. He smirked, “then what am I supposed to call you kid? Big prince?-“

“Yes!”

“No- it sounds all ugh!” He made a dramatic showing of disgust and Hunter outright giggled.

giggled.

And the worry was back.

Darius had been so sure this kid was sixteen. Hunter had been… when he became the golden guard- much too young an age. And then it’s been a couple of years since then-

And then Hunter’d confirmed it a little over a couple weeks ago!

Was he bleeding out again?

And then, suddenly, a little note of information he’d only half been paying attention to from Raine pierced itself into his mind.

Age regression.

It would make sense, they had said it was often a coping mechanism.

he stored that information away again carefully to ask more about later.

“Alright brat- that fits, huh?”

Hunter gasped “nuh-uh!”

He chuckled “Only a little, if it makes you feel better, little prince”

Darius still very much received a pout at that though. However, it was taken back very quickly as Hunter found himself distracted with Flapjack happily flying up and out from the cloak, and instead to his hair to make a nest of, while Hunter moved about.

Darius huffed a laugh, before crouching down to the kid’s height and potentially giving himself back problems in the process. Titan, he was getting old. “Alright little prince, now after having that very insightful conversation, what’s going on? What did you need?”

He honestly didn’t know what to expect with that question. Even if Hunter wasn’t very well potentially regressed, Darius was completely in the dark about most of this.

Hunter simply paused, as if remembering. Bringing a gloved hand to his eyes- revealing a pair of pajamas under his slightly crinkled cloak - before tears sprung to his eyes.

Crap.

Titan, what did he do?

The kid's bird got up immediately and went right to his shoulder instead, chirping a little reassuring tune, before glaring at Darius with all of its might. Darius felt like he had been threatened.

“Oh Hunter I’m sorry-“ he tried, his arms moving placatingly in his attempts. Because he really couldn’t tell Raine and Eber he had made Hunter cry.

He didn't even know what he did.

Hunter let out a sudden sob, “he wa’ mad at me ‘gain” he hiccuped.

Oh.

Darius didn’t even have to guess who ‘he’ was “oh kid, I’m so sorry”

The poor thing just shook harder.

“Hey it’s okay-“ he panicked, he would deny it till his dying breath, Darius Deamonne did not panic. But he panicked.

“-comfort?” He offered, the word rushing out in a panic as he opened his arms, completely out of his depth.

The word had barely even left his lips before the kid was nodding profusely and barreling toward him.

The wind nearly got knocked out of Darius with the force that Hunter clung to him. And after just trying to breathe for a second- because Titan kid, he carefully wrapped his arms around the kid in exchange.

He decidedly did not mention the growing wet spot on his sweater from Hunter, he could always burn the thing.

It was more pressing to try and help Hunter.

Because Darius didn't think he could take the frankly heartbreaking sobs and mumbled words of explanation that didn't really make sense.

It was so very melancholic.

but, eventually after carefully rubbing circles into Hunter's back- and then swiftly stopping after being swatted at and told it, quote, ‘made the skin exist too much, but angry’ by Hunter. The sobs had slowly stopped and morphed into nothing but small breathy hiccups.

Darius was nothing, if not relieved.

Hunter felt better.

Darius carefully untangled himself, “Alright little prince, Why don't you go sit over there” he pointed to the brilliantly purple couch -“for just a moment while I get you water?”

Once again, however, he is lost as Hunter does not do that, and instead clings harder.

“Hunter-“

Darius is met with a wobbly lip and any resolve to do anything crumbles, for a totally inexplicable reason. But he needs to get him water before he starts feeling the headache and any other plethora of dehydration symptoms-

He sighs, and Hunter shies away a little- making Darius feel guilty instantly, but then Hunter gasps, eyes bright with an idea.

Hunter backs away a little before holding up his arms at Darius, Darius just blinks.

Hunter frowns, “up!” He demands.

The kid baffles Darius constantly.

he chuckles lightheartedly, raising an eyebrow “ really? How old are you?”

Hunter pauses, thinking, before going onto quickly count on his fingers, eventually he lands on four.

four.

Darius just blinks again, theory effectively proven. And he decides this might as well happen.

“Alright brat, we’ll try, ” he says. Before very carefully picking the boy up by the armpits and settling him on his hip with less effort than he was expecting.

And okay, he wasn’t expecting Hunter to be super heavy, he was only, usually , sixteen. But he wasn’t expecting him to be this light, it was concerning.

Teenagers weren’t normally that light, were they?

Darius didn't mention it right now though.

Instead, just continued on his prior mission, walking over to the small kitchen. Carefully, as he held Hunter and grabbed a glass from his cupboards- before deciding that was most definitely a terrible idea, and replacing it with one of the sturdier ceramic mugs he kept for Eber.

He made sure to not fill it up the full way before handing it off.

Hunter took it happily, and his palisman chirped in approval, seemingly having maybe forgiven Darius.

Darius smiled as Hunter took a sip, a lot more relieved than he probably should be, especially for just some random kid, that he was definitely not at all attached to.

And he would recite that over and over when Eber would ask.

Even if Eber would not believe him.

He carefully carried Hunter to the couch, doing his best not to make sharp movements so the water wouldn’t slosh.

Once he was on the couch though, he was finally hit with the realization he should've had far earlier, he didn’t know how to deal with kids.

He hadn’t had any younger siblings, Titan he hadn’t even had older ones. He was an only child. And it had been so long since his own childhood.

He had barely known what to do with Hunter when he was a teenager.

But he was completely lost on what to do now that he was age regressing- and four.

He definitely needed to look more into age regression later. But even that. Was a later thing.

He couldn't do it right now.

He sighed, just settling against the couch with Hunter. For just a minute trying to relax and think as Hunter took quiet sips out of his mug. It was fine, right now everything was fine. They were in between things, able to settle for just a moment, Darius usually liked these kinds of moments, even if specific others didn't.

He could just think, think about his next step, or, maybe not. Maybe he would close his eyes until Hunter decided he was done with the water or wanted to talk.

Hunter wasn't crying anymore, that was a good sign, it was okay for now, Darius was doing something right, hopefully.

Should he be concerned about the lack of tears too?

Darius felt like a worried hen. Titan, this kid will be the death of him.

Hunter has already caused more gray hairs than should be possible in just the short time they've started getting along, this added stress could not be good for him. Still, he didn't find he minded. What was one more gray hair?

The kid deserved someone to go to.

He was a good kid.

Feeling like a worried hen just happened to be a side effect, and even that, he could, eventually, likely, get over.

If Eber didn't find out at least.

He was pulled out of the thought of the ruthless mocking he would incur from Eber later when he felt Hunter tug on his sweater. And he looked over to see the little witch quietly hugging the already mostly-empty mug with one arm. And looking so very, very, young , his legs moving up to his chest. He was so small, a child .

He was only sixteen. A thought Darius had thought before, with more scorn than necessary, aimed at someone he knew wasn’t responsible.

Didn’t stop him often, only recently being struck by the thought in a different light.

He was only sixteen, not fit for his duties still, but deprived of outside experiences, deprived of a childhood.

Not his fault.

“Yes, little prince?”

“I’m tired.”

Darius blinked, not surprised, but registering.

Yes, it was getting late. Darius would've even been going to bed soon.

As if to emphasize the statement he had just made, Hunter yawned.

Darius huffed a laugh, patting Hunter's hair as he made a move to get up

-“Alright kid, it is getting late. How about we get you back to your room for the night? I’ll even- what? Tuck you in?”

The blond froze, visibly tensing before shaking his head insistently, disgruntling his little bird.

What was the bird’s name? Pancakes or something?

“I- what? ‘ no’? ” Darius asked back incredulously. Completely baffled. Hunter was tired, therefore, he should go to sleep. And it wasn’t like Darius was just sending him off! He would walk him back.

Still, Hunter just pushed himself back further into the couch, “no” he told again stubbornly.

Darius was, once again, in the span of only what he could guess was maybe ten minutes, realizing he was terrible at dealing with children.

He sighed, moving a hand to massage at his temple, “and is there any particular reason for that?”

Hunter looked down at the floor, suddenly refusing to make eye contact, or even look in Darius’s general direction.

Because Hunter didn’t want to make Darius mad. Darius was nice, and he’d been nice! But Hunter was being a brat, he knew that.

Even when everything was soft and fuzzy he always knew that. He couldn't not.

If he didn't know, he’d be told it.

He didn’t want to be a brat. Didn't want to be mean, didn't want to be thought of as a pest again.

Didn't want to make him mad, didn't want to be annoying or a bother.

He didn't want everything to go back to how it was. Didn't want to be hated by everyone in the castle again.

He needed to just do what Darius said. If he did what Darius said, then everything would be okay!

Darius wouldn't be mad.

He had to do what Darius said, if he didn’t-

But he couldn't go back.

Darius wouldn't understand and he couldn't go back-

Now that he had left, the shadows and monsters would be waiting for him.

The moment Darius left, they would mock Hunter.

He didn't like the shadows.

He couldn't go back,

He couldn't go back he couldn't go back-

Darius sighed again, moving slowly to sit back down next to Hunter.

“Little prince, you're not in trouble. But I need to know what’s going on, can you please just tell me what is the problem?”

There was a small mumble of ‘I’m not little’ before Hunter just hugged his legs harder, the poorly drawn-on cloak not doing any favors.

He didn't want to make him mad.

“You can take your time. I just want to help, and I can't help think up solutions if I don't know the issue,” Darius said as gently as he could.

Hunter slowly nodded, a good sign.

Darius would help, wouldn't he? Hunter still needed him. And Darius didn't lie, not a lot at least, Hunter didn't think.

It did take a minute, Darius just sitting there with Hunter.

But eventually, Hunter gathered the courage to speak again.

He still hesitated, opening his mouth once, then twice, before closing it with an unsteady lip. And then after looking at Darius for a minute and receiving an arm in invitation, hiding in Darius’s side again.

“I don’t want the shadows to get me,” he admitted quietly, voice nothing more than a whisper.

Completely baffling Darius once again, would the baffling of the older witch never cease? because he knew, often, young witchlets had that fear, in fact, it was pretty common. But Hunter?

Maybe it was just the headspace?

He really needed to ask Whispers more about the whole regression thing.

Regardless he very carefully set the water down on the end table before it spilled onto his poor couch.

And then, he took a breath, before wrapping an arm around the poor kid, who- despite how much he’s argued to the contrary- he quite frankly has gotten attached to. Because he really is a good kid, a brat, and a menace, often, but a good kid.

“You don’t want to go back to your room, because you're afraid of the shadows getting you?” Darius parroted back, not mocking, just making sure he understood.

Hunter nodded, once again disturbing his bird, not that his bird complained, simply chirping a sad little tune to comfort his witch.

Darius thought about it for a moment. Took another breath, and then made a big show of sighing melodramatically, “alright fine -“ he made a dramatic gesture with his free arm, “I suppose then, just this once, you can stay”

Hunter immediately perked up, eyes bright with hope “really?”

“Yeah yeah little prince, don’t get used to it”

Despite his words, Hunter lit up with a bright grin as he jumped up- making Darius thankful he moved the mug- and pumped his fists into the air in a little victory dance.

He said yes! He said yes!

Flapjack flew around him too, celebrating alongside him chirping excited little chirps.

Darius just huffed an amused laugh making a motion to settle down “shh, lower your voices. It’s late, someone will hear you.”

Hunter pouted at him.

He didn’t have to be all alone, hiding himself and Flapjack from the monsters looming so close, and the shadows trying to grab him.

Everything he was sure would be waiting for him when he got back.

Because they were always there when he got back.

And the monsters, and the shadows, scared him.

But if Darius was with him then he was safe!

Darius would protect him.

Darius went to stand up and immediately Hunter was back at his side and following him again, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young griffin-ling.

“Sure are clingy tonight, little prince” he breathed out a laugh, before waving Hunter off “go sit down, I’m just gonna get a book, or- it’s getting cold, maybe a blanket too”

Hunter blinked, visibly hesitating at the idea, but ultimately nodded, going back to sit down with Flapjack.

And Darius knew exactly what he was doing as he immediately went to grab the softest blanket he could find, neatly folded up in his linen closet.

And he knew what he was doing as he gently thumbed over the spines of his books, before picking out a particular one he had adored as a child, from his small bookshelf.

Even if he hadn't though, by the time he got back Hunter's eyes were already so clearly drooping. And he had to jerk himself up when Darius came back into direct vision.

Hunter moved a bit so Darius could sit down, however, once Darius had, Hunter wasted no time in being in his space again. Increasingly intrigued by the objects Darius held. Looking at them like they held the key to the universe.

“Are you usually like this? All clingy?” Darius laughed again, and the teen just blew a raspberry.

“Brat”

“Bleh,” Hunter replied wisely.

Darius chuckled, utterly amused, before shaking his head dramatically “utterly heartbroken, by that statement. Little prince,”

“Bleh”

“My mother too? When shall this cruelty end?”

Hunter giggled.

Darius gasped, “you take amusement at my suffering?”

“Uh-huh!” The blond laughed.

Darius chuckled, messing up Hunter's hair “I say it again, brat.” he said fondly.

Hunter squealed, the sound high-pitched and loud, and so very happy.

Darius smiled, before moving to put the book on the couch arm as he began unfolding the blanket.

And he was planning on easily spreading it on the two of them, but when he was getting ready to put it on Hunter, he paused.

“Kid take off your cloak, I can’t imagine existing with that is comfortable” he really couldn’t. It was far too big. The golden guard should’ve at least been given a cloak that fit him. And sitting in that-

Hunter blinked, having completely forgotten he was wearing it, but nonetheless did as told. Doing his best to unclasp the unwilling clasping mechanism, before taking off the heavy thing and holding it uncertainly. Then after a moment, just holding it out to Darius.

Because he didn’t know what to do.

Darius paused, before nodding and spreading the blanket over Hunter’s lap. Patiently waiting until the boy’s palisman sat on the headrest of the couch before extending it too far.

Then he very carefully took and slowly folded Hunter’s offered cloak. He didn’t want it to get wrinkled after all, and Hunter just watched, visibly tense, for some inexplicable reason.

Hunter had been the one to hand it to Darius, why would he be nervous?

Then, once it had been set on the end table as well, joining the mostly-empty cup of water, and the small book for the time being. Hunter hesitated, before finally speaking.

“Promise you’ll give it back?”

Oh,

Oh.

Darius really did have to apologize for that huh?

He nodded, “don’t worry, in the morning, it’s all yours. I won’t take it away” again.

“ Promise? ”

The idea that Hunter had already given the cloak up so willingly before he even brought it up, left an unpleasant feeling curdling in the older witch’s stomach.

He had still been so scared it wouldn’t be given back. But Hunter still gave it up. Because he was told to, even when Darius hadn't meant it that way.

It was a sad, sad, thought.

Hunter was such a good little soldier.

And what a horrible thing that was.

“Promise.”

Hunter’s bird seemed to approve of the truth in that statement, offering a small trill. And Hunter visibly sagged in relief before he just nodded- another yawn cutting it off.

So then. With little hesitation, the older witch initiated act two of his plan. Carefully picking up the beige book. Small pages worn gently, from age and care.

Hunter was, as expected, immediately interested. Tired eyes, so utterly exhausted, that it made Darius’s own ache just looking at them- still wide just to analyze the little art embellishing the book cover. And anything else he could see.

Darius carefully held out an arm and Hunter slid into it again without a word, just looking at the book’s cover.

“Want me to read it to you?”

The young witch gasped, amazed at just the idea, like that was the first time he’s ever been offered it.

“ Can you?”

Darius chuckled fondly, “just this once.”

Hunter grinned and nodded with an amount of enthusiasm Darius was sure should give him whiplash. Before going and getting comfortable. Adjusting the blanket, and wiggling until he was satisfied with the comfort level. Then, Darius began.

“Tales from thicketdown forest.”

He opened the small, delicate pages to the beginning.

“Most people today live in big cities.”

“Big, bustling areas with lots of concrete and people living on top of each other.”

“And everybody knows how to get around and everybody says hi to their neighbors.”

Hunter’s attention was completely rapt already, considering every word said carefully.

He liked the book already, he decided.

“Some people live in smaller towns.”

“Smaller, not quite as bustling areas with fewer buildings and people live a little farther apart.”

“But everybody knows how to get around and everybody says hi to their neighbors.”

He glanced at Hunter, barely a portion of the page in and eyes already back to drooping, even as he was still so excited to listen.

Hunter yawned and rubbed his eyes. Sending a curse around as Darius yawned as well, maybe it was getting late for him too.

“Almost no one lives in the middle of nowhere”

“One minuscule area with one building and only one person living miles away from everyone else”

Hunter snapped himself back after closing his eyes for just a moment too long.

Hunter’s eyes were just so tired.

Maybe he could rest them, just for a minute, and if he paid really good attention then he wouldn’t fall asleep.

“But usually, they know how to get around and would still say hi to their neighbors”

“if they had them”

The teen’s eyes slipped closed.

And in an instant he was solidly gone, sagging into Darius.

Darius flipped to the next page.

“But no one lives in the Thicketdown Forest.”

“There are no buildings and no people.”

“Nobody really knows how to get around and there are no neighbors to say hi to.”

Darius was interrupted by another yawn.

Maybe it was time for him to retire as well. He carefully closed the book, unneeding of a bookmark. It would be easy to find his place on the second page. And he sat the little book on the end table, with the rest of the items.

A little disappointing that they couldn’t make it farther. Darius is sure Hunter would've loved it, and Darius hadn't read it in quite a while. But Darius could read it on his own time, and if Hunter wanted to, he could borrow it. Right now Darius was just fortunate Hunter fell asleep.

Because he’d met the kid when he was younger, and he sure was a spitfire. Darius remembers him distinctly being completely exhausted, for at least a couple weeks at a time, in several different phases for a mix of reasons. Some such as deciding ‘sleeping was actually not needed’. Or just stubbornness for a reason he had never told anyone. As well as fits of insomnia that left the poor kid wrecked.

He was fortunate Hunter fell asleep so easily.

He moved to get up, but was then struck by the realization he could, in fact, not move.

The brat had him trapped, Darius quite literally couldn’t move without waking Hunter.

He was too tired for this, and he really didn’t want to wake up the kid.

He sighed, throwing his socked feet up onto the couch and pulling the blanket up.

His back would hate him in the morning, but he really couldn’t wake Hunter up. The kid needed his sleep. And the bags under the young golden guard’s eyes which should not be that dark- agreed with him.

He was only sixteen.

And right now, not even that.

He needed his sleep.

Darius got comfortable, carefully summoning a pillow from his bed with his small abomination companion, before putting it under his neck, trying to minimize the amount of hatred his body would have for him in the morning.

He may complain about it to Eberwolf in the morning regardless. But no matter what, he wouldn’t regret it.

A worthy cause, for Hunter, to feel safe, and hopefully get actual rest.

Darius’s eyes grew heavy, and he yawned a final time, before wrapping his arms around the young witchling, and, eventually, drifting off too.

Flapjack settling in close by.

Only going to sleep with the final assurance that everything was okay.

That his witchling was safe, protected, cared for, and oh-so content.

And he was. It was a good night.

Despite all attempts otherwise, his boy was happy.

#toh hunter #toh darius #toh flapjack #the owl house #toh #darius daemonne #hunter daemonne #the cold one writes #hurt/comfort #age regression #Dadrius #toh fic #the owl house fic

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