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avatarmerida · 1 month ago

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365 Days

I posted part of this awhile ago so if it seems familiar in the beginning thats why. So this is told like over the course of a year, so imagine the breaks are just timeskip to different days. We’re obviously skipping around alot and I wrote this in fragments in like a million notes on my phone lol. Also I think I had one more section I just can’t find rn but it’s been forever since I shared something

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“Hey there, Mr. Man-of-the-hour,” Willow greeted in a low, teasing voice as she shut the door behind her. “What’re you doing out here?”

“Oh, just catching my breath,” Hunter chuckled, the cold air capturing it as he exhaled. “I haven’t danced like that in awhile.”

“Yeah, not since Grom I bet,” she said, walking over to stand beside him.

“Oh my Titan, don’t remind me,” he groaned endearingly.

“What? You looked so cute!” She insisted. “And you were a really good dance partner.”

“I think I stepped on your toes like 6 times,”

“Well seven but hey it’s a lucky number!” She said and they both laughed. He had bought a wallet purely for the purpose of keeping their Photo Booth pictures in jt. After the group had gotten their classic shot, she insisted they get as many of just the two of them as possible. They did all the classic poses, it was bright and loud and the best kind of chaos and for the final photo she had pulled him down to kiss his cheek. It was quick and she didn’t make a big deal about it so he didn’t make a big deal about it, at least not outwardly. That was the photo he had gotten laminated.

“Yeah well, alots changed since then,” he sighed.

Not really, Willow thought as she took in his relaxed profile. He was still sweet and dorky but now he was more rested. Her feelings for him certainly hadn’t changed, if anything they’d gotten worse. Well, worse wouldn’t be the best way to describe it, it was an overwhelmingly positive feeling but it just never found the right time to be fully expressed.

When she had kissed his cheek that night, she had intended for it to signify that she didn’t want their first date to be their only date. But Hunter had endearingly mistaken it as a ritual of the event and so she took it as a sign. She couldn’t deny there had been a shift between them after that night, that he felt more comfortable initiating contact and lingering when they found themselves sitting closer during game nights and the way he looked at her… well that might not have changed but he didn’t shy away right away anymore when she caught him. It was like she knew she had him but saying it aloud might undo it somehow.

“Did you ever think when you started helping Dell that you’d be traveling the Isles as this big shot hero?” She asked with a sigh as she took in the cool night air.

“‘Hero?’ Pshh, hardly,” he scoffed. “I’m just doing my part to help fix something I didn’t realize I was a part of hurting.”

“Hey, no one knew,” she said as she put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m not gonna let you blame yourself or deny that what you’re doing is pretty cool.”

He sighed, the fire in her eyes melting any guilt he tried to harbor. “Okay yeah it is pretty cool,” he admitted.

“There ya go,” she smiled, moving her hand up to brush his hair from his face, as though she just wanted an excuse to touch him. “I’m really proud of you Hunter.”

“Proud of me? You wanna talk about cool go look in the mirror Miss Pro Flyer Derby,” he countered, crossing his arms and shaking his face at hers in a cocky way he could only adopt when he was talking about her.

“Okay…” she said with a sigh of fake annoyance that he knew meant to kept going.

“Youngest ever recruit before she even graduated and is already on track to be captain? All while creating her own major in advanced plants studies? Now that’s cool.”

“Well you deserve a little credit,” she said. “How many times did you stay late to help me work on my drills?”

“Well how many times did you stay late helping me find the right PH level for the soil for the trees?” He countered.

“Oof, no wonder we’re so tired,” she joked and they laughed again. Oh, he was going to miss that laugh. He wondered if it would be weird to ask to record it. He knew they promised to talk as much as possible to keep in touch but there was nothing comparable to being beside Willow when she laughed.

“I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it to your first match,” said Hunter sadly, leaning on the railing again.

“Hey you can stream it,” she said, bumping his shoulder with hers. “I’ll give you a shout out.”

“Thanks,” he said, feeling a tug in his chest as he felt like it was some kind of sin not to be there in person to support her. Had he been smarter, he would’ve cherished their last one on one practice session more. Who knows the next time they’d be able to play and have it just be the two of them. “But ya know, it’s only a few weeks away I could probably push my trip back so I could-.”

“Hunter,” she cut him off. “As sweet as that is and as much as I want you to come I can’t let you do that for me. They need you over there and the sooner you go the sooner you can start changing the world.”

And the sooner you can come back, she thought.

“Besides, rookie games aren’t usually that exciting,” Willow somewhat lied. “I might not even play.”

“Well then that’s their loss,” said Hunter, knowing she was right. As excited as he was to go and as much as he cared about the work he was entrusted to do, well he just couldn’t help but care about her maybe a tiny bit more. In a perfect world, he could stop time and help the palistrom trees and come back before her season started. But unlike Willow, the world was far from perfect. “But could I at least get your autograph?”

“Only if I can get your autograph,” she teased, hitting the side of her hip against his. “I wanna brag about you to my teammates.”

“Brag about me?” He teased, inching closer to her. “Oh no no, I’m the one who will be bragging about you to my colleagues.”

“Well I’m the one with half a dozen hand made jackets I get to show off,” she said smugly.

“Oh no, what? You seriously kept all of them?” He asked with a sigh of fake embarrassment. He truly loved making her things and he had improved immensely but his early work was very obviously his early work. But nevertheless, Willow cherished them as though they were from the hottest designer (which in her opinion, they were.)

“Well I want something to remember you by.” She said shyly. She had a jacket for nearly everyday of the week, and for the day she didn’t have a homemade jacket she had acquired quite the collection of his own jackets he had lent her whenever she showed any indication of being cold. They smelled like him, which she used to think was a gross thing to say but she couldn’t argue with the peace it brought her. He smelled like wood chips and old books and fresh grass. It was like an easily accessible embrace when she was out of teleportation distance.

“Oh what, you don’t have enough pictures, ‘Miss 20 Scrapbooks?’” He teased. She loved when they entered this type of banter, how Hunter’s brand of flirting was mostly asking questions as though he knew just how to set her up. They ebbed and flowed until it was like a competition to see who could compliment the other more subtly and they were both extremely competitive.

“Well I blame you for being so photogenic,” she teased back. “It’s not my fault you have such a cute smile.”

“Well it is your fault I smile so much.”

Oooh, he won that round. She sucked her teeth, knowing the blush on her face was clear even in the dim lighting. She was having trouble crafting a response to top that. “Well I’ll gladly take that blame,” she said softly, seeing one of those smiles forming now from the corner of her eye. Oh she didn’t need a photograph to remember that.

She sighed and let her head fall against his shoulder. She was only somewhat overly aware of how much she was touching him tonight. Every playful shove or brush of the hand hid the severe urge to scoop him in her arms and trap him in the tightest embrace. But that would only make letting go harder.

She felt him lean back against her and her mind flash back to a movie night not long ago but now felt like lifetimes ago. They had found themselves left alone, the rest of the group not up to finishing the marathon they had been so excited to start and the pair found it up to them to see it through. It was late, and the movie was fine but Willow had for some reason felt the overwhelming need to be close to him. The way the screen reflected off his eyes, the way he muffled his laughter so as to not awaken everyone else, the way he yawned and stretched his arms and it landed… over her shoulders? She slyly scooted closer to him, testing the waters. He did the same. She pretended to adjust the blanket so she leaned into him more, and his arm held her in place. It was somehow both certain and uncertain, neither of them wanted to bring it to attention in case that was what broke the spell, but they both felt safe and cozy in this midnight bubble.

Now, many midnights later his arm found her shoulder again. More purposely. She looked up at him and he offered her a lopsided smile, still not speaking over what exactly it was but assuring her he was aware. He wanted her this close.

Being this close was another contradiction, the way it was both common and uncommon. They’d always manage to sit next to each other or wind up finding each other but without the guise of a crowd or being crowded, it came down to how to make it happen when you couldn’t simply happen upon it. It felt like always being on the brink of something, so being here now with all the space in the world to occupy and choosing to act magnetized… well how long could it exist without a reason?

“Oh man,” she chuckled, reaching up to cup his chin in her hand, looking up at him to memorize the way he looked in the moonlight. “I’m really gonna miss that smile.” She said it softly, as though it was meant to stay a thought. She brushed a loose hair to the side of his face, another excuse to touch him as their eyes locked. He leaned into her touch again and placed his hand over hers. It was chilling and warm and natural and fleeting. His smile softened just when she thought it couldn’t get any softer and it was so warm she could just melt.

This was the moment he had hoped for. He cleared his throat and went to stand up.

“So there’s actually something I- oh! Ergh!” He stopped himself as he realized he had gotten tangled in some low hanging lights Luz had added for the event.

“Oh! It’s okay, stand still,” said Willow reaching up to help him untangle himself. “Hang on, I might need a flower to stand on, I can’t quite reach.”

He couldn’t duck down much more lest he bring the collection of lights down with him. Willow’s hands untangled him as carefully and quickly as she could manage, the task making her seemingly unaware at just how close their faces were. Hunter didn’t realize he was holding his breath as he focused on the determined and adorable way she stuck her tongue to the side as she freed him.

“Sorry, I uh think I got taller recently? Somehow?” He said awkwardly, not sure how else to explain it but feeling like he needed to apologize. More feeling like he needed to say something or else the silence would lead him to get lost in her features. He couldn’t imagine how he’d come back from the embarrassment he’d feel if she caught him actively daydreaming about her when she was right in front of him.

“No actually I think I got shorter,” she responded playfully, sensing his uneasiness. They both laughed as the light above them seemed to circle them like a sun, as though creating an illuminated midnight bubble. Like they were living in a fond memory.

“No, you’re the perfect height,” he said just as she freed the last lock.

“Well I won’t argue with you there,” she said softly, staying close to him, always loving the way she looks up to him. The way she could always tell when his gaze was on her. “Seems like even the Owl House is gonna miss you.”

“I guess so,” he chuckled, trying to steady his breath as he tried to determine if she was getting closer or waiting for him to step back. His arms remained at his side, holding back the urge to return to her shoulders.

“I’m sure Luz wouldn’t mind if you took the lights though,” Willow continued. “Maybe you could hang them in your new place, like a going away present.”

“Yeah,” he gulped. He didn’t think he’d get a better opportunity. “So uh speaking of that, uh there i-is something I wanted to give you before I left.” His voice was a mixture of nerves and determination she found utterly charming.

“Hunter this is your party, you’re supposed to be the one getting gifts!” She insisted, knowing that Hunter had specifically instructed no one to bring gifts and how everyone had definitely not listened.

“Heh, I think you know what I’m gonna say to that,” he said with a smirk.

“That me being here is already the best gift you could ask for,” she responded in her best Hunter impression, playing with his collar.

“Exactly,” he chuckled and nodded. “You just know me too well.”

“Okay so then lemme guess what you wanna give me,” she giggled and closed her eyes to think, her hands going down to take his and swinging them between the two of them as her mind collected her guesses. “Hmmm I know you’ve been trying out knitting recently so maybe a scarf? Oh! Some mittens maybe?”

“Um, well it’s more-.”

“Oh, I hope you didn’t think what I said before meant I had too many jackets cause if it’s a jacket I know I’m gonna love it,” she went on. “Clover loves all the secret pockets you add. Well anyway, I know anything from you is gonna be-.

Before she could finish, he leaned down and gently kissed her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered and looked at him in a small shock, uncertain if this was the gift or if it was just something that had come over him in the moment. Either way his face indicated he did not regret it. It was a simple gesture and he seemed relieved, as though it had been something heavy he had been carrying for her. She wished she could somehow preserve it, tattoo it or frame it or carry it in a locket around her neck. He hadn’t gone too far from her and her eyes quickly darted to his lips and back to his eyes which seemed to have done the exact same thing.

She suddenly wondered if he had been waiting for her out here, hoping she’d wander for air or knowing she’d go looking for him so they could have one last moment to themselves. She felt like she was in a dream she suddenly gained control of, the details of everything were simultaneously crisp and blurry, like Hunter being so close had frozen time and changed the air.

They both held their breath as they gravitated towards each other. It was unclear who pulled who in but suddenly their arms were wrapped around each other as they found themselves in a deep and long anticipated kiss. It was a quiet night, but they brought forth an orchestra and collection of fireworks without saying a word. Like it was the thing they had been on the brink of for all those midnights.

Hunter eagerly moved down to reach her better and she summoned a flower to stand on for a boost so they met the middle. Maybe it was meant to be a quick, chaste peck but it evolved and then evolved again, neither of them finding it in themselves to be the one to break it.

So they didn’t.

His arms secured around her waist and he held her close, cradling her and dipping her like the cover of some grand romance novel and her arms anchored around his neck as one hand found its way through his hair. He somehow knew how to carefully remove her glasses and how to angle his face so their noses didn’t collide as though he had thought about it before. He delicately moved the hand with his glasses to the side of her face, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. He could feel her smile against his lips which made his own wider and soon bits of laughter were mixed into their exchange.

It was a laughter of joy and relief and certainty. It wasn’t shy or awkward, they fell into it naturally as though they had fallen so many times before. But because they hadn’t, they had so much time to make up for.

When he needed a moment to breathe, she covered the rest of his face with kisses. His jaw, his nose, his forehead all demanded to be shown affection. When she went to kiss his neck she could feel his sharp inhale as he pulled her closer and went to reunite their lips with such vigor that Willow subconsciously summoned a vine to wrap around them as her knees went weak.

They weren’t sure how much time had passed or if it had stopped all together and frankly they were fine with that until a loud crash from inside brought them back to reality. They heard the muffled sounds of Luz and King assuring everyone there were okay to a response of laughter. Although they pulled apart, they still held onto each other like they were a life preserver.

They were each breathless, processing and replaying everything as their forehead naturally rested against each other as they panted. Their insync panting brought forth more laughter, hushed as though they were suddenly worried about being caught. It felt as though so long as it was just them then the moment could go on forever.

Willow wanted it to, it felt as though she had waited lifetimes to be able to take in his smile this way, like a wave that had been building and building just waiting to crash.

But they both knew there were other earthly obligations that needed attention and words that needed to be said. But the words were just as complicated and as much as Hunter was elated that his gift had been welcomed and returned, he had only worked up the nerve for actions and less for words. He didn’t know if it was the emotions of the evening that had gotten them here or something brewing longer but he didn't want to tamper with the moment. But he couldn’t just vanish into the night, well he could but he certainly didn’t want to.

He cleared his throat, still memorizing the way the moonlight hit her hair. “Um I have to get up pretty early in the morning tomorrow,” Hunter managed to say at last, his voice hoarse. He was unsure of what he was supposed to say as he handed her back her glasses. He knew what he wanted to say. He wanted to keep her in his arms and tell her how much he adored her and how amazing she was as he kissed the rest of her face, one for every minute he hadn’t taken the chance to.

“Oh, oh yeah uh you should probably get going,” said Willow, meaning the exact opposite. Now that she had been held by him like this she didn’t want to know any other feeling. She wanted to squeeze him and tell him over and over and over again how lucky she was to know him and how much she trusted him and all the things she had written in her diary about him. She hoped he could read her mind and come back down to her so she kiss him silly.

But instead she released him slowly, returning to the ground and felt his hold on her loosen. Leaving his embrace felt like falling from a precipice. They stood there for a moment, both waiting for the other to say what needed to be said. Their hands soon found each other, naturally entering their signature pinky hold like a promise they always returned to. Like a light always visible in the darkness.

“So I guess this is… goodbye?” She asked.

“Yeah I guess it is.” He replied with a sad smile.

He felt like he could kiss her goodbye, that it would be appropriate and wanted and reciprocated. But he felt that if he kissed her now he wouldn’t know when to stop. That he wouldn’t let go. He worried he couldn’t recreate the confidence and passion the spontaneous act had brought out in him. He worried it was a dream. He worried that she had only kissed him because he was leaving. He worried he had waited too long.

“But only for now,” she went on, her voice shaking as it was apparent she was holding back tears. She powered through as she looked up at him, her lipstick smeared over most of his face. “Promise me you’ll message me as soon as you get there?”

“Of course,” he said.

“Okay good,” she said, searching for something more profound to say. She wanted to send him off with something more, something to assure him this was something more. But he already had so much on his mind, she didn’t want to add any uncertainty or pressure to his plate. But regardless of any additional feelings she harbored, she cared about him no matter the label their relationship wore and that was something she did not let him forget. “Have a safe trip, captain’s order.”

“Of course,” he said again with a smile and he pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his torso and his chin rested atop her head.

He heard her let out a small sniffle and he felt his own eyes sting with tears.

“I’m really gonna miss you captain,” he whispered.

“It’s not that long,” she said, muffled by his shirt. “It’s just 365 days until your next day off, right?”

“Right,” he said and felt her hug him tighter. He remembered the first time she had said that, as if that was the day his days began to hold value. The day he knew he didn’t have to be alone, that he didn’t want to be alone. The day he knew he wanted her in as many days as possible, and one day he hoped to have more days with her than without her. He had endured worse things, he needed to remind himself. Saying goodbye to everyone had been emotional, but saying goodbye to her carried so much more.

“It’s just 365 days.”

He hoped it would be there when they said hello again.

“…aaaand this is the kitchen,” Hunter declared proudly as he moved the scroll around to get everything in frame.

“Oooh veeery cute!” Willow cooed, having said that about every room his apartment contained.

“It’s small but I mean it’s just me,” said Hunter, to which he promptly received a peck to the nose by a certain palisman. “Ow! Sorry, heh, I mean it’s just us.”

“Hehe looks like someone is hoping you’ll be making her namesake in that kitchen, huh?” Willow laughed as Waffles chirped happily in agreement, nuzzling her image on the scroll as though Willow could pet the Palisman that way. Clover buzzed happily atop her friend, greeting her friend.

“I bought all the ingredients in town this morning,” laughed Hunter, scratching under her beak. “Luckily Camila sent plenty of pans and pots and plates, oh gee I hope I have enough room for all of them.”

“Well you love making shelves so I’m sure it won’t be much of an issue,” said Willow. “Show me your room! I wanna see how the quilt looks on your bed!”

“Oh yeah! That rooms the best part!” Said Hunter as he teleported to the room. The camera was shakey as Hunter tried to linger one part before excitedly moving onto the next. “Ta-da!” He said proudly, showing off the decorating he had done in just a few days.

“Oh wow, Hunter! It looks great!”

“Right? I still have to find a place for the rest of the photos, but my desk had enough space for our championship one and grom and graduation and-.”

“Is that my yearbook photo?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, yeah I guess it is.” Hunter said nervously, going out of frame so she couldn’t see him blush. “Is that okay? That I framed it? I know you gave it to me cause you get them in a package and I found this frame that matched the color of your eyes and you just look so happy and it-.”

“Hunter! It’s fine!” She insisted with a giggle. “I just thought it was funny because…” she put the scroll down for a moment before returning with a wide smile. “I have yours framed too!”

“Really?” Hunter marveled at the image of himself, hair slick as he presented his best posture, donning his cosmic frontier cosplay beneath a suit jacket Darius had bought him.

“Yeah,” she said, unaware of the joy swelling in his chest. “Isn’t that funny?”

“Heh, funny yeah…” he wanted to say it was romantic, but he didn’t know if that ship had sailed. Now it was a coincidence, a fun thing in common between friends. It was nice, it was sweet, maybe in another life it was romantic.

“So the move has been good so far?” Willow asked, making herself comfier at her desk.

“Yeah, the trip was fine and all my stuff came just in time and I didn’t have much to unpack anyway,” Hunter went on. “I live close to the shops and didn’t get too lost when I went for groceries.

“Awh, proud of you,” Willow smiled. “It looks really cozy, Hunter. You picked a good place.”

“Thanks,” Hunter said with a small blush as he went to lay on his bed. “I don’t know how much free time I’ll have when we get started but there seems to be some cool stuff to check out.”

“Well I expect full updates on our calls,” smiled Willow. “I want to know about all your adventures.”

“I don’t think going to the store is considered an adventure,” said Hunter.

“It was when we’re in the human realm,” she pointed out and he couldn’t argue with her there. “But you don’t have to tell me everything if you don’t want to, I guess I just thought hearing about it all would make me miss you a little less.”

Hunter was still coming to terms with what it meant to be missed. It wasn’t layered with worry or paranoia or distrust, but everyone told him how much they would miss him. He thought it meant after awhile, that they just got used to having him around but Willow missed him already. He didn’t understand it but at the same time he did because he missed her. It was so odd, missing someone and knowing where they were and even still being able to see them and talk to them. He wondered if she missed him in the same way.

“I miss you too,” he said sheepishly, not knowing what else to say. “Will you… tell me about your day too? Even if… nothing happens, I like knowing what you’re up to I guess.”

“Of course,” she smiled. “I’m glad you’re settling in okay. Luz said the photos Darius showed her made it seem really small.”

“I think I like small,” said Hunter, laying on his side. “It’s easier for it to feel full. It’s weird because for like most of my life I basically lived alone, I mean it was a big castle but it was pretty empty most of the time. Then I guess after being in the human realm I got so used to having people around it’ll be weird living alone now.”

“Well soon everyone there will see how smart and funny you are and you’ll be hosting wild parties in no time,” Willow assured.

“Won’t be much of a party without you,”

“Awhh, well that’s true,” she said with a giggle. “But nothing will compare to the party we’ll have for you when you get home.”

He smiled. “So what time is it there?”

“Uh, it’s almost midnight.”

“What? I thought I was three hours ahead of you.”

“Nope, other way around.”

“Willow, you have a morning practice tomorrow! You need to get to bed!”

“I knoooow,” she groaned playfully. “But I wanted to talk to you.”

“Why? I don’t have anything exciting to say,” he chuckled.

“Well then I’ll talk to my girl Waffles,” she joked.

“Waffles is still on Isles time and she is in her bed” said Hunter, switching to authoritative mode. “Just like you should be.”

“Oooh, so strict,” Willow pretended to act betrayed. “C’mon Hunter I’m not even… tired.”

“Did you just hold back a yawn?” Hunter accused, his face way too close to the screen.

“Nooooo,” she lied, hiding her face from the phone as she was about to do it again.

“Willow!”

“Okay, fine!” she surrendered. “But I want a full apartment tour tomorrow!”

“Deal,” he agreed, excited to have a mission. He was even more excited to hear about her first practice, he knew she was going to be amazing. “Talk to you later?”

“It’s a date,” she smiled, as she could feel sleep starting to claim her. But she still didn’t want to hang up.

Hunter chuckled to himself, hearing a small snore escape her as she battled to keep her scroll upright in her hand. She was adorable.

“Willow… do you really think I can do this?” he said softly, not expecting her to hear.

“Wha-?’ she sputtered, suddenly stirring. “Hunter, of course you can.”

“I just… I dunno,” he sighed, embarrassed he had woken her up after telling her she should be sleeping. “Sorry, it’s nothing. It’s dumb, I’m dumb, I just-.”

“It’s not and you’re not,” she said firmly. “Now tell me what you mean or I’ll stay up all night.”

“Okay, fine,” he chuckled, gently petting Waflle’s sleeping head. “I just mean… it’s only been a few days and I already feel kind of homesick.”

“Oh, Hunter, that's normal,” Willow sweetly insisted. “I think we all missed you before you even left.” “Really?”

“Really,” she smiled. “I mean, Luz and Gus have already sent you like five care packages, you’ll probably get them before you’re even done unpacking. It’s a big change, you’re by yourself in a new place doing something big. It’s a lot, it can be scary; anyone would feel the same. But you’re gonna do great things, we’re all so, so proud of you. You’re really brave.”

“Really? You think I’m… brave?”

“Hunter, that can’t possibly be news to you,” she said as she lovingly rolled her eyes. “If I list all the examples I’ll definitely be up all night. I promise, Latisa is lucky to have you and you’re gonna love it there.”

“Thanks Willow,” Hunter said. “I guess I just need to give it time.”

“You’ll be back on the Isles before you know it,” said Willow, her eyes fluttering shut.

“Just 362 days,” Hunter said fondly.

“Just 362 days,” Willow agreed with a yawn. Neither wanted to be the first to hang up so they laid beside their scroll on opposite sides of the world until they fell asleep.

——

“Captain!” Hunter nearly shouted as he answered the call after half a ring.

“Hunter, I’m not the Captain of this team,” she giggled, making herself comfortable on the bleachers. She was certain she was the last one there, the sky behind her turning and comforting shade of pink.

“Pshh, you’ll always be my Captain,” he said proudly as he continued.“Gus and I were video chatting the whole time! You looked beautiful, Willow! You guys did great!”

“We still lost though.”

“Yeah but in double overtime! You didn’t make it easy on them! And you were the top scorer! That’s amazing!”

“Thanks I-.” She took a closer look at her screen. “Hunter, did you paint your face?”

“Yeah! It’s tradition.” He said simply. She smiled and took a screenshot of the perfect moment, his smile was wide and toothy and she got the display in its full glory.

“You dork,” she said with a smile as she quickly made the photo her scroll background. “I love it.”

“Thank you, I did learn from the best after all,” he said. “So how do you feel?”

“Well tired mostly,” she sighed. “I’m bummed that we didn’t win but I’m proud of the game I played. A few players on the other team stopped me after to say how impressed they were with my moves and the coach said that I’m starting the next game.”

“Any plans to celebrate?”

“Well the team usually goes out for dinner afterwards.”

“So why aren’t you there?”

“Cause I’d rather talk to you,” she said simply.

“Willow, this was your first game! You should be celebrating with your team!” He said. “Don’t let me keep you from team bonding, you always said it was just as important as running drills.”

“Yeah but…”

“But what?” He asked, concerned.

“I just…” she didn’t know how to say it wasn’t the same without him in a way she wasn’t sure would make him feel guilty. And he was so happy and proud of her and she didn’t want him to feel bad about that. She didn’t have to tell him how badly she wanted him to be there in person, how she wanted to celebrate with him. But she was just as proud of him, and she knew they were both doing new things and she would need to bully him into going out to make friends where he was eventually. She needed to lead by example.

“We’ll hang out in 333 days.” she said.

“333 days.” he agreed.

—-

“A ball?” Willow repeated with a gasp, unable to beehive how Hunter mentioned his evening plans so casually. “Oooh how fancy!”

“Yeah I guess,” he said, off screen as he finished getting ready, adding on some last minute additions to his outfit. “I mean it’s technically a fundraiser for the organization and we have to dress up but I don’t know if everyone calls it a ball.”

Willow gasped in excitement. “Oh! Are you wearing a suit? Show me, show me! I wanna see!”

He tried to suppress his smile at her excitement as he adjusted the scroll on his desk and walked into frame so she could see the whole outfit. He stood there just kind of gestured to himself, not sure if he should do a pose or something. It wasn’t a suit he would normally pick out, it was more classic and simple but Darius had approved it. They had compromised on a dark green velvet jacket highlighted with a signature gold bow tie and matching cumberbun. He pressed the white shirt himself and added a floral lining to the inside, half because having a sewing project calmed him and half because he had impulsively bought the fabric because it reminded him of the girl on his scroll. Either way, it put him at ease. It was comfortable and only for one night. He stuck his hands out to the side and gave them a little shake and let out a small: “Ta-da?”

“Oh dang,” Willow said under her breath, as though she didn’t realize he could hear her as she took in the sight of him.

“What was that?”

“Nothing! Uh, heh um y-you look really nice Hunter” she said, catching herself. She couldn’t help but think he looked like a spy or a prince.

Or a groom.

She had been taken back by the suit he had worn to grom, but this was more fitted and styled. It balanced his professionalism and silliness perfectly, making the sharp features of his face even sharper and the soft brown of his eyes seemed to shimmer like new copper.

“Really? Are you sure?” He asked, still uncertain as he fiddled with the sleeve. “I dunno, it feels kinda snug and my hair is growing again and I tried to tie it back but this one part keeps sticking out in the front-.”

“Hunter, trust me you look great.”

“Really?”

“Really really,” she giggled. “You look… hot.” She said it as though the response overwhelmed her.

“Hmm? Really?” He said, his hand darting to his forehead. “That’s funny, I don’t feel warm. Is my face flushed?”

“No Hunter that’s not what I- “ Willow giggled nervously, finding it necessary to clarify despite her flusteredness. “I mean you look very attractive. Very handsome.”

“Oh!” He gulped, the directness catching him off guard. “Oh, well thank you. So do you.”

“What? Me? Pssh, I’m not even dressed up, you goof,” she giggled.

“Well you don’t need to be to look attractive,” he fumbled.

“Well thank you,” she said, her eyes darting to her tiny box on the screen. She was in pajamas and her hair was a frizzy mess but she knew Hunter’s compliment wasn’t just an automated response. “Are you excited?”

“I’m actually a little nervous,” he admitted with a chuckle. “They want me to give a speech about what we’ll do with the money we raise and the hall it’s at is huge and it’s kind of a big deal I guess.”

“Hunter, that's so amazing,” Willow said sweetly. “I’m really proud of you, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah I know,” he said with a lopsided smile that made Willow’s heart spin. “Thanks Willow.”

“And I know it’s a big important serious event and stuff but don’t forget to have some fun, okay? For me.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“Good,” she said, readjusting her scroll so she could lay on her stomach, wishing they could talk all night. “So do you have a date for this thing?”

“A-a date? No! Wait, am I supposed to bring one?” He asked in a small panic.

“Oh no I mean you don’t have to but you could,” she clarified. “Ya know, if you wanted to. I mean, I was kind of just wondering if you were uh going on dates or meeting people there like that.”

Wow Willow, reeal smooth she mentally groaned.

“Oh, yeah uh n-no not really,” he replied.

“Oh,” said Willow, surprised. “Just… too busy?”

“Yeah, uh that’s why,” he stuttered as he shyly looked at the real reason, twirling her hair on her finger.

“Oh too bad,” said Willow unconvincingly. “Well, I hope you still have fun tonight though.”

“It’d be more fun if you were here,” he sighed, unable to help but fidget with his tie. Willow wished she could reach through the screen and fix it for him. He sighed as he accepted it was as good as it was gonna get. “I wish you could be my date.”

He said it without thinking. Willow knew it wasn’t technically a real invitation, but her heart skipped again knowing he genuinely meant it.

“Me too,” she said, not giving him a chance to realize his slip up and try to cover for it. Her new favorite movie was Hunter wearing this suit absentmindedly complimenting her.

“You wanna know something funny?” He asked with a small chuckle as he tried to flatten his hair.

“Sure.”

“The only time I’ve ever asked anyone on a date is when I asked you to Grom.”

She smiled and shifted to her side. “Why is that funny?”

“Because I didn’t even finish asking you because I was so nervous,” he laughed. “So I’ve technically never asked someone on a date before.”

At the time they hadn’t officially labeled the outing as a date, but that’s what they each hoped it was. They were a bundle of cliche nerves and jitters as they eased into the evening, making googly eyes at each other as they worked up the nerve to slow dance. Willow wished that real life had more opportunities where it was expected to slow dance as she thought she could stay forever swaying in Hunter’s arms as he tried to hum along with the song. She made a mental vow to take him dancing the moment he was back in town.

“Well I still said yes,” she teased.

“Thank Titan you did,” said Hunter, wondering if it were possible if he’d have the nerve to ask her to go with him tonight face to face. He used a grand evening and obligation as an excuse, trying to build up to asking her on a date that wasn’t particularly special except in company. But he knew any evening would be special if it involved her.

“Let me know if you ever wanna try again.”

“Try what?”

“Asking someone on a date,” she said. “This time I’ll let you finish talking before I say yes.”

“Uh…” He tried to remember how to breathe. A knock on the door told him he was out of time to think of something clever. Darius had flown in to help with the fundraiser and he knew if he walked on them chatting he’d have a comment that Hunter wouldn’t be able to combat so before he answered the door he offered their usual sign off. “300 days.”

“300 days.” She said back, watching him fumble to hang up, his face red as a tomato.

His scroll buzzed, with a call from Willow. This wouldn’t normally be unusual, except for the fact that it was rather late which meant it was even later where she was. It was Willow’s 21st birthday and as someone who had only recently learned the importance of birthdays, it pained him not to be there with her to celebrate. They had talked earlier between her fathers taking her out to lunch and then she was getting ready for Amity and Luz to pick her up for their own celebration. She opened the gift he had sent her and couldn’t stop gushing about how much she loved the gold earrings he had found in a hidden shop in town. She had implied that she’d be occupied after they hung up and of course he was always happy to talk with her but the timing still seemed odd.

He propped himself up, and turned on his light as to not let on that he had been sleeping, not wanting her to think she was bothering him.

“Hey captian, happy birth-.”

“Ahhhh! Hi Hunter!” Willow exclaimed with joy as her bright face filled his screen. Her makeup was smudged and she was sitting under her covers in her favorite party dress. He could tell she had an eventful night.

“Hi Willow,” he tried not to laugh, finding her to be extra adorable. “Happy birthday.”

“Thaaaank you good sir,” she giggled. “Oh my Titan, do you know what’s funny? Some blood can taste the same but this one when you drink it you feel different?”

“Oh yeah, Luz told me Eda got you spiked Apple blood,” Hunter chuckled.”I take it you’re a fan?”

“Oh yeah, it’s super ‘licious,” Willow beamed. “It’s like… candy liquid? It makes me feel… everything , like everything is funny and fun and all my friends are friends.”

“I’m glad you had a good time, captain,” Hunter said with a smile. Her lips were stained from the sweet drink and the birthday crown Amity had got her sat askew on her head, her curls covered in glitter that clung to her skin.“Tell me about your night.”

“Weeeeell,” she began with excitement. “We went to one place and everyone bought me drinks and then we went to another place and everyone bought me drinks and then we went to another place and everyone-.”

“Bought you drinks?”

“And nachos!” She added with joy. “And I felt so bubbly and spinny and then I thought about you and I got sad.”

“You got sad?” He asked, unable to hide the worry in his tone.

“Yeah because I just missed you and stuff,” she said with a sigh. “They played a song that reminded me of the one we danced to at Grom so it made me think about you and then I thought about the last time I saw you, which was the night we kissed...”

He tensed up at the mention. They had never brought up that night, at least not that specific moment. For a while Hunter was convinced that he had imagined the whole thing, and didn’t dare bring it up to see for certain in case there was a reason she hadn’t mentioned it. Eventually, enough time had gone by that talking about it didn’t seem like an option but the causal way Willow brought it up made it clear she remembered it very very well.

“And that made you… sad?” he nearly hesitated to ask.

“Yeah,” she pouted overdramatically. “Cause that was the last party we had and I didn’t get to throw you a birthday party and now it’s my birthday and you had to work.”

“Well knowing you had a great time makes me happy,” he said with a small chuckle. “And don’t worry about me, you guys gave me a great party.”

“Mhmm it was a really great kiss too” she said dreamily before erupting into a fit of giggles. Hunter saw his face turn bright red in the bottom corner of his screen. He wasn’t sure how to emote that the feeling was mutual without his voice cracking, so he just gently nodded.

Willow didn’t call attention to his awkwardness as she continued in a dramatic whisper. “Do you know what my birthday wish was?”

“What?”

“That we kiss again,” she whispered softer, before covering her mouth with her hand to try and soften her giggles as well.

“Really? I mean you… did you really use your wish in that?”

“Well you know Isles tradition is you get a wish for each year,” said Willow. “But I used a few of them. But shhh! Don’t tell Amity I told you, she doesn’t know I stole my scroll back to call you.”

“Why doesn’t Amity want you to call me?”

“Cause I’m engebriyated,” Willow mispronounced with confidence. “And they think I’m gonna tell you things I wouldn’t want to tell you but I tell you everything so what do they know?”

“Willow I… I think maybe they’re right,” he said gently. “I mean, I always want to talk to you but-.”

“But what?” She said, turning onto her side. “I’m gonna tell you my secrets? I don-I don’t have secrets. It’s not even a secret that I think you’re cute, like that is fact. Issa fact and Amity is a hater hating. Very rude on my birthday of her, hello.”

“Is Amity still there?”

“She and Luz are downstairs cleaning and they think I’m sleeping but I’m noooooot,” she whispered, having reminded herself she was supposed to be in stealth mode. “I mean, they’re probably not even cleaning, they're probably kissing. Everyone is kissing on my birthday but me, what even?”

Hunter tried desperately to change the subject. “So uh, did you guy have any cake or did you-,”

“Have you kissed anyone else?” She interjected, clearly in no state to notice a hint.

“Uh… no.” He said simply.

“Since then or ever?”

“Uh, both?”

“How come?” She said munching on her chips that she seemed to pull out of nowhere. “You’re a good kisser.”

“Am… I?” He said both flattered and shocked, he wondered if he should message Amity to let her know Willow got her scroll back. He didn’t want to ruin her day but he was worried she wasn’t in her right mind.

“Yeah, you’re like… hmm,” she couldn’t bring herself to finish as the words she wanted to say flooded her with giggles. “Pshhh, you know.”

“Do…I?” He asked nervously. “Willow, uh are you sure you’re up for talking… about this? I-I mean I don’t want you to say anything you don’t-.”

“Hey hey hey now,” she cut him off. “It’s my birthday and I wanna talk to you. It it illeeeeeeegal to not talk to me on my birthday. I was born today, Hunter.”

“Yes Captain,” he agreed with a soft smile. Hunter didn’t drink on his birthday, it felt silly to be the only one and so he wanted to wait until the next birthday to celebrate with them.

Which just happened to be Willow’s.

“Are you happy I was booorn?” She slurred with a delighted smile, resting her cheek on her hand.

“Yes, very much so,” he said, mirroring her.

“Hmm, I’m happy you were born too,” she cooed.

“Umm…” he thought about correcting her, but bringing up the grimwalker lore tended to complicate things and she seemed like she was not in a state for complications and technicalities, she seemed more inclined… to flirt. “Thank you.”

“Soooo?”

“Sooo… what?”

“Am I a good kisser?”

“Oh!” He nearly dropped his phone as though it was on fire. “I mean I… well I’d say you’re… you know, you’re very-.”

“Willow! I can hear you!” Amity’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Did you take your scroll from my purse?”

“You’ll never take me alive coppers!” Willow hissed at the door as she buried herself in her blankets.

“Who are you talking to? You were supposed to drink water and go to bed!” Amity said, entering the room.

“Hunter, when you come back we have to get nachos at the place,” she managed to say as Amity summoned an abomination to snatch her phone. “They have different cheeses! Hunter, did you know?”

The call went blurry and muffled as Amity picked up the scroll, and he could see Luz in the back trying to get the crown untangled from Willow’s hair.

“Forget anything she said!” Amity demanded dramatically. “We specifically told her not to call you after all the Apple bloods she had. She kept sneaking drinks.”

“I’m a sneaky sneakster,” Willow giggled.

Luz patted her head endearingly. “Aww, you sure are, birthday queen.”

“Luz, don’t encourage her!”

“We don’t take orders from you!” Willow replied dramatically. “Hunter, tell her I outrank her!”

“Um… I don’t…”

“Willow, you specifically asked me to make sure you didn’t…” she dropped the scroll and the rest of the conversation became muffled, but he could make out the general sound of Willow’s zealous rebellion.

“Um, Willow will call you back when she’s… had some water,” said Luz, picking up the scroll and doing her best to angle it away from her best friend and girl friend.

“Wait! We have to say our thing!” Willow called. “I have it on my calendar! Luz, show him! We say the numbers left!”

“Awww that’s so cute!” Luz gushed, her eyes wide. “You guys are so cute. Okay lemme see oh did you put a little heart next to the number?”

“It’s 252 days,” Hunter said, not knowing how else to help. “Eh, well I guess 251 days now, since now it’s the next day, heh.”

“Hmm, just 251 days,” Willow hummed with a giggle. She offered him a wink from the back of the scene and blew a small kiss before Luz managed to hang up, half enjoying the exchange and half feeling like she should be helping Amity to restrain the birthday girl.

He had thought about it, he had dreamed about it many times. He imagined her turning around, maybe right after she blew out the candles to see him standing there with a bouquet. Or she’d say she wanted to go dance and he’d tap her on the shoulder and offer her his hand like he just happened to be in the neighborhood. It would be memorable and perfect and romantic.

But with the time it would take to get there with the time he’d have to be back, he’d only be able to stay for maybe an hour. It would be worth it, to see her in person for even a moment. To have her rush into his arms and hold her tight and spin her around and-

but he also didn’t want to make her night about him, knowing she’d insist on seeing him off and take her leaf away from her own party. Not to mention he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to leave her a second time.

“Did you get the flowers I sent?” Willow asked excitedly, still taking off her jacket, having called him the moment she walked through the door.

“Oh, yes! I did! Thank you!” Hunter said, angling the camera so the flowers were in frame, sitting on his desk in a vase she knew he had gotten just for them, a congratulations for successfully planting enough palistrom trees to begin the process for the land to be declared a national park.

“Is something wrong?” Willow asked, detecting a hesitation in his voice. She hoped he wasn’t working too hard (or that he didn’t like the arrangement).

“Huh? Oh, no! No, of course not!”

“Hunter, you know you can tell me,” she said, knowing there was something more in his voice.

“Well, one of the interns brought in the flowers and said they were beautiful, which they were, they are! And they asked if they were hybrids and then asked if they were from my girlfriend and I said yes and I meant it as the answer to the first question but they asked the second one so quickly and then they wanted to see a picture of you and I admittedly had one in my pocket and by then it was too late to backtrack, I mean in like from a social standpoint, so now a lot of people at work think that you’re my girlfriend.”

“Oh, I’m fine with that.” She said after a moment of silence.

Hunter was taken back by her response, he had expected her to laugh at the predicament or offer to help him with a scheme to change the subject but it almost seemed like she was a little happy about it. Maybe he had explained it wrong?

“But, ya know, these aren’t random people I see out one night for an hour and then never again they’re people I work with everyday.”

“So you… don’t want them to think I’m your girlfriend?”

There was no right way to answer that was there? “I don’t want you to think I’m lying to people about you,” he said. “You know if it ever came up.”

“So if Amity had sent you flowers and they had thought she was your girlfriend, would you have corrected them?”

“Well yeah I’d say she was my sister’s girlfriend,” he said. “But Amity wouldn’t send me flowers, she-,”

“So you’d correct them because there’s absolutely no way she would ever be your girlfriend even if she wasn’t dating Luz, right?”

“Right.”

“So like…” she fiddled a piece of hair, her hair finally growing back enough to twirl as she tried to decide how direct to be . “Would you say that about me?”

“That you’re Luz’s girlfriend?”

“No,” she couldn’t help but chuckle. “That there’s no way I could ever be your girlfriend.”

She didn’t think she could be more direct, she couldn’t help but be obvious in the fact that she wanted to know. She suddenly really wanted to hear him say, feeling a spontaneous impatience.

“Well that’s… that’s not really up to me is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… if I would like for you to be my girlfriend I could like it alot like I could really really like the idea but it doesn’t matter if you don’t like it.”

She couldn’t help but be impressed at the way he managed to flip what she had thought was unflippable.

Well I think I do like it, she said in her head. Oh she could do it, she could do it right now. It was all set up, it was waiting, it was perfect. It was bold and risky and oh it was right there and she could just-.

“I’m honestly surprised they believed me,” Hunter continued before Willow could vocalize her thoughts. “I mean…they’re always saying how illogical a long distance relationship is, they’re always giving the soil expert a hard time and his partner only lives two hours away.”

“So are you saying they’re trying to break us up?” She asked with dramatic gasp, playing into the bit.

He laughed, amazed at her ability to somehow always know the exact right thing to say.

“I mean, if we’re being honest it’s not the first time something like that has happened,” WIllow pointed out with a laugh. The amount of times Darius or her dads or even Camila slipped up and referred to them as romantic partners. Sometimes it was playful teasing, but most times it was a genuine slip up.

“Oh, Luz is inviting Amity over for dinner and Vee is making Masha so why don’t you ask Willow over too? Make it a triple date, mijo.”

“Tell Hunter he did amazing at the match, petal. It’s so nice to have another flyer derby player in the family. Imagine how talented your kids would be!”

“Little prince, your girlfriend is in the front room waiting for you.”

“Yeah,” Hunter agreed. Everytime they brushed it off, shared a small laugh about it but never really addressed it further. They stopped correcting people because they really didn’t mind and secretly they sort of liked the implication.

“On my birthday there was this guy who wouldn’t leave me alone when we were trying to dance and he only considered letting up when I said I had a boyfriend, and Gus gave us those charms to make our scrolls look like phones and you're my background so… I kinda said it was you.”

“Oh, well that’s fine I mean that guy should've left you alone regardless but I’m happy to help, indirectly I guess.”

“And then I was kind of… having fun talking about my boyfriend and it made me miss you which made me talk about you more and it just kinda… got away from me.”

“So you… remember that night then?”

“I mean, bits and pieces are fuzzy and some are kind of like in slow motion but yeah, for the most part.”

“So… you remember calling me then?” he asked, his voice getting high.

She sucked her teeth. “Yeah,” she winced. “Oof, not my best moment. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable with that. Also sorry I didn’t apologize sooner, I guess I was just kind of embarrassed.”

“Oh please don’t be! You didn’t wake me up or anything, and I was planning on calling you anyway but I didn’t want to interrupt your night and I-.”

“I mean, I meant more about… what I said.”

“Oh… oh,” he suddenly connected the dots of what she meant. Of course, he had dwelled on that part of the call, wondering if he should’ve responded differently. But more so he wondered if she brought it up because she had just remembered it or if it had been on her mind the way it was always on his. “It’s um… y-you don’t have anything to feel embarrassed about. Please don’t. I mean, I-I don’t think it’s.. I mean it was…”

“So you’re not embarrassed that we kissed?”

“Embarrassed is not the word I would use,” he assured her. “I don’t know what words I would use, actually. But… I have thought about it.”

“Okay,” said Willow, relieved she wasn’t alone. “So… why haven’t we talked about it?”

“I guess I… didn’t know if it was something we could talk about?” He winced.

“Really?”

“I mean, you didn’t bring it up so I wasn’t sure if I should or how I would or what I’d say or-.”

“Hunter, it’s okay I get it,” she assured him. “I mean, I guess I was kind of in disbelief, so much was happening and I didn’t know how to process it all or maybe that was me processing? And eventually enough time passed that I didn’t know how to bring it up.”

“Did you… want to bring it up?”

“I mean… I like talking to you about things I’m thinking about but how do I do that when I’m thinking about you?”

“Oh, heh well I… I think about you too,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck trying to seem casual.

“Oh yeah?” She asked with a smile, a flower emerging from behind her ear. “Do you… think we think the same things?”

“Um I…” he cleared his throat as he tried to summon something both suave and assuring. “…hope so.”

“Okay…” Willow sighed, trying to figure out how to move forward when it seemed like they were both worried about being too forward. She knew how she felt and she was so so sure that he felt the same way about her but if not… it was a harder conversation to hang up from. “So how did you feel? After we kissed.”

“I felt… like I was about to wake up?”

“Hmmm…” Willow processed the comment as a mischievous smile overtook her face. “So you’ve dreamt about it before have you?”

A blush took over his face in record time. “No! I mean, no that’s not what I meant! I mean… I just mean it was… t-that it didn’t feel real. I don’t have any other feeling to compare it to really.”

“In a good way?”

“In a very good way,” he said with a breathy chuckle.

“Well that’s… also kind of exactly how I felt too.”

“Oh,”

“So if we both felt the same way about it then I guess we know that we feel the same way about each other,” she said. “Maybe a way we don’t feel about anyone else?”

“I think… maybe we do?” He said, uncertain about what was happening but certain he knew what he wanted to be happening. It was a big thing to just assume, especially over a call where it could be days until they could sort things out and then in the meantime he would speculate and escalate things and have no idea if they were still on the same page or if he had too much or not enough and then there was no telling how things would-

“Hunter, I like you,” Willow said bluntly, a thick blush suggesting she had blurted it in an attempt to drown out her own matching spiraling monologue.

Hunter’s heart stopped. The world froze. The air shifted. Everything went slow and fast at the same time.

“What?” he dared to ask, needing to make sure he hadn’t misheard or imagined what she had said.

“I like you,” Willow repeated with a laugh, as though it got easier to say somehow. “Romantically,” she made sure to clarify, finding herself suddenly giddy. “And I liked you for a long time, even before we kissed,” she added as though reading his mind. “This is probably not the best time to tell you since you still have 200 days left over there but I‘ve just waited so long and not being around has just made me realize how much I really like you and that I want you in my life and I want to be more than friends. So… yeah. I like you, Hunter.”

How could so much dodging and planning and second guessing and confusion just be surrendered in one moment? How was Willow so effortlessly wonderful that she had so easily done the thing that he had only ever accidentally dreamed about doing but nothing ever seemed good enough? She had done it so casually, so minimally, so in a way that he would never consider good enough and yet it was beyond perfect?

She had removed any reason

And then his scroll died.

He paced the room as his scroll charged, his eyes wanting for the light indicating it had enough power to make a call. He needed what he said next to be perfect, profound, romantic, and memorable. He was right at the edge of something and he didn’t want Willow to think he had any doubts and didn’t want her to take his forgetfulness to charge his device as a sign that they weren’t meant to be. On the other side of the world was the most wonderful girl he had ever met and she just told him she had romantic feelings for him and fate had cut him off before he could tell her he felt the same way.

The light went off.

He nearly leapt to the scroll, muscle memory typing in Willow’s information as the request was sent. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing to ease into his prepared series of points to work up to the big question as Willow accepted the call. Her bright, bubbly face filled his screen.

“Hi Hunter!

“Hi Willow canIbeyourboyfriend?”

He hands shot to cover his mouth, mortified at his own betrayal to his preparedness. All that rehearsing just to begin with the end.

She thought about saying “do you wanna be” but she knew he’d say “do you want me to be” which would lead to “do you want me to want to be” and they’d dance around it until the end time so instead she said what she wanted the answer to be:

“Yes.”

“Oh,” said Hunter softly, looking as though he had been broken in the most gentle way. She saw the tears form in his eyes, held up by the reach of his smile. “Okay cool.”

“I also think it’s cool.” She said, trying not to erupt into a fit of giggles.

“So… I like you romantically and you know that and you also like me…”

“…romantically,” she happily finished for him.

“So that means… you’re my girlfriend.”

“I’m your girlfriend.” She confirmed with a nod.

“I’m your boyfriend.”

“You’re my boyfriend,” she confirmed sweetly, loving how it sounded in stereo.

“I’m your boyfriend,” he said, still in a daze. “I’m your boyfriend.”

“Yeah,” she said, trying to conceal her giddiness as small yellow flowers overtook the top of her head. “Who woulda thought, huh?”

“Oh, I’ve thought about it many times,” Hunter chuckled, then caught himself. “Oh, not that I- wait, no it’s okay that you know. Yeah, I have thought about it. I’ve always thought you were great I… I’m sorry I don’t think I know how I’m supposed to act now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ve… I’ve never been a boyfriend before,” he said. “And being your boyfriend that’s like… a really big deal.”

“Yeah? And why is that?”

“Because you’re a really big deal,” he said, matter-of-factly. “You're really amazing and you’re one of my favorite people and you’re so beautiful and smart and strong and funny and I-.” He looked up at the screen at the soft expression she offered him as she absorbed his words, and those soft green eyes made him feel lighter as his worries left his mouth on delicate breath. “-I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Have I told you how cute you are when you’re worried?”

Hunter just blushed and offered her a chuckle and felt safe and at ease at the way her smile grew at his reaction. She managed to erase and validate his nerves just by looking at him.

“So… what’s next?” He asked.

“Hmm… I dunno…”

“Should we… tell Gus?”

“Oh my gosh yes! Add him! Add him!”

“So…I take it, you got my letter?” She asked with a smirk, opening the chat to see Hunter greeting her with a goofy smile covered with tiny kiss marks.

He simply giggled in response and gave her a small nod and she was delighted that her gift was so well received. It was commonly known as a ‘kiss-o-gram,’ a red envelope that flew to the recipient and once it found them covered them in air kisses the sender had blown into the envelope. Most people sent one or two but Willow sent one for every day he had been gone.

“Amity sends them to Luz all the time,” Willow explained, unable to suppress her smile. “And I just… wanted to send you one for Bleeding Hearts day. Is that okay?”

“Tehee yeah I-I think yeah I-, uh um thanks heh-.” Hunter giggled.

“So…” Willow took a deep breath and tucked her hair behind her ears as she sat up straighter. “Hunter, will you be my bleeding heart?”

Hunter nodded dreamily, a bit in a daze. “O-oh m-me? You want me? Me?”

“Yes you,” she giggled. “Unless, someone else has already asked you to-.”

“No!” He said louder than he meant to. “I mean, no they haven’t. But even if someone did I’d say no. Unless it was you! I… was actually going to ask you. Or I was going to try and ask you.”

“Well, great mind thinks alike then,” she declared happily. They had only been boyfriend and girlfriend a couple of days, and navigating the difference in status long distance was a unique challenge. But Willow was determined to take every opportunity to remind the blushing boy how much she absolutely adored him.

“Guess so,” he chuckled. “I’d… be honored to be your bleeding heart.”

“I had a feeling,” she smiled, setting down her scroll so her full outfit was in frame.

“You got my package then too I see,” Hunter said softly, seeing her in a green sweatshirt he had lovingly adorned with hearts and flowers. A project he had been admittingly working on long before they were official.

“Oh? You mean this old thing?” She said cheekily, hugging herself to feel the sweater’s warmth as though he had stitched sunshine in the lining. “You like it?”

He chuckled, finding it ironic that she was asking him.

“Yes, I do.”

“Thanks, my boyfriend made it,” she said giddily and he somehow knew she had been doing this bit all day.

He couldn’t wait to see it on her in person.

182 days. Halfway there.

Their calls became more infrequent and shorter. They started to text their updates, each line littered with hearts and words of affirmation. They both had growing responsibilities, Hunter called on to consult on palisman carving and care and Willow became acting captain of her team when the acting captain was injured, not to mention she was placed in an advanced plant care class that put her on the fast track to graduate early.

But no matter how busy they both got, they always managed to send each other the numbers left until they saw each other again.

Distance did not deter their hearts from growing fonder every day.

At some point they tried counting the hours instead of the days, and then the minutes to see if it made the time seem shorter. The number got longer but each check in seemed like more time had passed.

“Bye dad! Bye papa!” Willow sang as she rushed down the stairs. She didn’t wait for a response before continuing, so excited to be in a rush. “Hunter gets back today and I wanna be the first one to see him! I have something I need to tell him and I have to tell him in person and I can’t wait any longer because I-.”

She stopped when she turned and saw it was not her dads who were sitting at the table.

“Hey there Captain,” Hunter said with a gentle wave, holding a bouquet in his lap. How long had he been there?

“Hunter,” she breathed as though he was a ghost, her hands subconsciously smoothing her dress and her hair like none of her knew what to do. “W-what are you-.”

“I got an earlier ship back,” he said, slowly standing up. “I wanted to surprise you, I guess I just couldn’t wait to-“

She cut him off by wrapping him in a tight secure hug, curling her arms around his waist as she buried her face in his chest. It took little time for him to respond in grand, wrapping his arms around her and holding her like she’d float away. She smelled like a greenhouse, a smell that he had experienced everyday working on the palistrom trees that dwindled the intensity of missing her. Oh but nothing compared to the real thing. Her natural warmth that made him feel like he was bathed in sunshine, oh it made actual sunshine seem dull.

“Did you get taller?” She asked, muffled in his shirt.

“Hmm, no I think you got shorter,” he smiled, resting his chin atop her head.

“No, I’m the perfect height,” she chuckled, holding him closer as her glasses pressed into him.

“I can’t argue with that,” he laughed, lifting her up and spinning her around.

He put her down and stepped back to look at her. “Wow,” he marveled. She looked the same as she did through a screen but having her in person was like living in a dream. He had so many things he wanted to say but he settled on something obvious. “Your hair got longer.”

“So did yours,” she said, reaching up to trace the shaggy blonde edges. “Want me to cut it again?”

“Whatever you think will look best,” he smiled, placing his hand over hers.

She smiled and leapt up to press a firm kiss to his cheek, pulling him down to be closer to her.

“Um, there’s actually another reason I came back early,” he said, clearing his throat as she went to kiss his other cheek. “There’s… something I needed to say to you in person. I uh, well I thought about it a lot and I just… I couldn’t wait another day uh-.”

“I think… I think I know what you’re talking about,” she said brightly. “It sounds like I was going to surprise you at the station for the same reason cuz there’s something I wanna tell you too.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as he held his and gathered his courage. They spoke at the exact same time.

“I’m in love with you.”

“Will you marry me?”

She opened her eyes and saw he had gone down on one knee, his hands shaking as he presented her with a small dark green box, holding a simple yet brilliant ring.

She knew what this meant, what it was but still she could not help but be confused. “What?”

“I… I just realized how I felt about you because I missed you well. I realized that I missed you and it made it clear how I felt about you and how I feel about you and I… I thought this was…”

She struggled to catch her breath as she realized this had not been an impulsive or last minute decision.

“Wait I’m sorry, what did you say?” He asked

She got down on her knees to eye level with him.

“I said I love you,” she said, cradling his jaw in her hands. “And I’m guessing… this means you feel kinda similar, huh?”

“Yeah, well I guess…” he chuckled nervously, having been so nervous he hadn’t really gotten to look at her. “Well how could I not love you?”

She moved her arms around his neck. “Well I am pretty lovable I guess.”

“You are pretty and lovable,” he said.

“Well takes one to know one,” she giggled. “But I have to ask… about that?” She gestured to the ring. He knew from her tone that he might’ve skipped ahead a bit.

“I just… thought about you all the time and when I realized I loved you I guess I just figured that’s what people in love do. So I started making the ring because I… I love you Willow and I want to spend my life with you.”

There was no air left in her lungs.

“Oh Titan,” she said, falling forward to catch his lips in a kiss and knocking him to the ground. She covered his face in kiss marks, just as she had planned to do when she saw him. She finally managed to calm herself long enough to bring them both back up, delighted in the lipstick prints that decorated his love struck face. She sighed. “Oh I’ve waited so long to do that.”

“So um… I didn’t mess things up?’

“No you dork, you’re so sweet,” she said, cradling his precious face. “But I think it might be a little soon for that.”

“So are you saying you don’t wanna get married?” Hunter teased, not really considering it a rejection as her eyes assured him they thought the absolute world of him.

“Well maybe not quite yet,” said Willow. “But I really do love you and I’m not gonna lie, I have thought about marrying you more than once.” He couldn’t help but giggle like a fool, eager to hear more details. “But I mean it’s a really big step and there’s still so much we both have to do and you’ll be heading back soon and-.”

“Yeah, I guess I just got excited,” he chuckled.

“And I love that about you,” she said, booping his nose. “But we have plenty of time for that. And I kind of feel like we should maybe live together first.”

“Yeah, yeah you’re probably right.”

“So… why don’t we?”

“What?”

“Well, it’s the off season and I can do that training anywhere,” started Willow. “And I miiight have volunteered to help regrow palistrom trees in Latissa.”

“Really?”

“Really,” she said, matching his smile. “So I kind of need a place to stay.”

“You wanna stay with me? Really? I-I mean w-would you stay with me? If you want to?”

“I think that sounds great,” she said. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to impose-.”

“No! No, are you kidding?” Hunter practically shouted. “Please, I’d love it if you stayed with me. They’re moving me to a bigger place closer to the site so it’s perfect! A-and I’ll get to see you everyday? Willow, would you want to-?” As her answer, she pulled him in for a kiss and he eagerly returned her affection. A smile pressed against her own as his mind flooded with possibilities. Not wanting to completely break the kiss, his lips only parted from hers when he thought of something wonderful they could do together.

“And we can, *kiss* have movie nights and *kiss* Clover and waffles can play and we can *kiss* “go running in the morning and *kiss* I can make you breakfast and-.”

Willow pulled him in for a long kiss before settling her chin on his shoulder and hugging him tightly.

“I can’t wait,” she whispered.

He exhaled as he looked down at her. “Ya know, to be honest this was not how I thought this would go but it’s somehow better?”

“Heh, oh yeah,” Willow said looking down at the ring box sitting on the table. “Oh, it really is beautiful.”

“Thanks I… I’ve been working on it for awhile.”

“Do you think I could… try it on?”

“Y-yeah! Of course!” He sputtered. “I mean, it’s for you. You can still have it, if you want. For… whatever I guess.”

He had carded small flowers and vines to frame a jewel he had found in a market that reminded him of her eyes. She admired the way the peridot sparkled in the light and then at the way his eyes sparkled looking at her. It fit perfectly.

“I think you should keep it,” she decided. “For when you… ask again.”

His face turned bright red, his romantic gesture suddenly flipped on him.

“Yeah, I’ll uh… good idea,” he said. “How long do you think I should wait?”

“Hmmm, I’d say about 365 days.”

#huntlow #huntlow fanfiction #toh #willow park #hunter toh #the owl house

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avatarmerida · 6 months ago

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So I know it’s been awhile since I’ve updated anything or shared any news fics but life is doing life things and my hyper-fixation has been coming and going but I’ve had this in my drafts for awhile so I thought I’d share what I have ready! When it’s all done it’ll be called 365 days in my Wintery Junk collection on AO3, for context in this they’re like juniors in college 20/21ish and Hunter is leaving for a year to work on planting more palistrom trees across the Isles. So this fic was gonna be about them like video chatting and keeping in touch and figuring stuff out long distance and updating each other. So here’s the last post of the year I guess! It felt thematic to share today lemme know if it’s worth finishing!

—-

“Hey there, Mr. Man-of-the-hour,” Willow greeted in a low, teasing voice as she shut the door behind her. It was a lovely night, and she knew Hunter couldn’t resist looking at the stars, even at his own party. But she acted surprised anyway. “What’re you doing out here?”

“Oh, just catching my breath,” he chuckled, the cold air capturing it as he exhaled. The muffled sounds of music and laughter broke the silence for a moment as she joined his island of silence on the porch. Her emerald green dress somehow just as vivid and captivating in the dim lighting the low hanging string of lights provided. “I haven’t danced like that in awhile.”

“Yeah, not since Grom I bet,” she said walking over to stand beside him.

“Oh my Titan, don’t remind me,” he groaned endearingly.

“What? You looked so cute!” She insisted. “And you were a really good dance partner.”

“I think I stepped on your toes like 6 times,” he said between clenched teeth, remembering he was wearing the same shoes now.