Work Text:
“Sorry why?”
“Because I need someone to accompany me on my shopping trip, and you need to get out of that stuffy room of yours. You’ve been obsessing over that book Lilith got you for days now. Come out into the real world and live a little.”
“No, no, I get that,” he said, quickly slipping on his boots and texting Darius and Eberwolf that he was going out. Willow waited for him, patiently as ever, but clearly excited for her little trip. “I mean why are we going out shopping? We could go literally anywhere, and you hate shopping trips.”
“I know, that’s why I need someone to accompany me. Because shopping is gross.” She shifted so that Hunter could get comfortable on the back of her staff. “And I need to go out because it’s Father’s Day in a few days, silly!”
She shot off into the air perhaps a little faster than necessary, and Hunter held on tighter than he meant to. Willow just laughed.
“And what exactly is a ‘Father’s Day?’”
***
It didn’t take them long to get to the right wrist farmers market, with Willow pointing nowhere and explaining patiently all of what a ‘Father’s Day’ was.
“Well, it’s a day a lot of people use mostly as an excuse to just have a day off and do things that they enjoy as a family, to be fair, but it takes root in the celebration of fathers and everything they do for their families and communities. Being a parent isn’t easy, as anyone can guess, and kids are kind of by nature born very focused on their own needs and wants. But being a dad is hard! You have to care for little gremlins, and take care of them as they grow up, and be supportive even when their kids or families make decisions they don’t agree with. They do all that and so much of it goes unnoticed! Especially when people have a stereotype that moms are the more involved parent, it’s hard to remember that good dads do just as much for their families!” Hunter held a hand over his chin mulling over that quietly, when she started talking again. “It doesn’t always have to be a father though. A lot of people use it to take time to do any sort of appreciation for the male figures in their life that mean a lot to them. When my Papa was young, he tells me he would celebrate with his uncle because he didn’t have a dad, but his uncle was always there for him. He’s my grand-uncle, and he was lovely. And then at different times of the year, there’s things like a Mother’s Day, which we don’t really celebrate at my house, and things for stepparents and for non-binaries and all sorts of different people.”
Hunter only hummed. “Sounds ridiculously arbitrary. If you were thankful, you wouldn’t wait for just one day a year to show it.”
“Well, yeah.” Willow smiled brightly, “The hope is that you are thankful for more than just one day a year. But when it’s in the calendar, it’s a good reminder that the people in your life do a lot for you.” She quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him along, pointing at a stall that sold older looking books and odd trinkets Hunter didn’t understand.
“It might be arbitrary, but getting them presents and telling them they are the best dads ever is fun, so you are going to help me shop for my Papa and Dad. You can also sign the card if you want!”
***
They talked about mostly nothing and everything for the remainder of the trip, Hunter helping Willow pick out a book on construction of Torsonian architect for Mr. Gilbert and a new witling knife for Mr. Harvey, and then both of them going to a booth selling premade Father’s Day cards. Hunter eyed up the stands full of “Happy Fathers Days to the Best Dad ever,” some jokes that were not funny, but Willow explained some dads loved, and some that were mostly blank hold for professional looking décor before Willow chose two cards and was digging through her purse for some lose snails. Hunter was staring very hard at a blank beige card stock with purple decorations, and quickly turned to Willow with a look of quiet contemplation.
“You said that it’s normal to give them to any positive male figures in your life?”
***
And for all Darius’s luck, it was sunny and bright this Sunday morning, not a cloud in the sky above, but not too warm that it was to be uncomfortable either inside or outside of the house. He considered using the day off to go for a much-needed stroll, having sat at his desk for hours yesterday slaving over paperwork and newly proposed bills that he felt his joints would stiffen up and rust if he didn’t do some moving. He poured himself a cup of Earl Grey tea and basked in the early morning sunshine, uninterrupted and peaceful like he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Which was quickly shattered at the strike of 7:30, in which Hunters alarm went off and he heard the boy basically jump out of bed, heedless of the stomping he was making, or how he banged his way down the stairs minutes later, already dressed and bright eyed and looking at Darius like he was in desperate need of someone to prattle off all his theories and thoughts and ideas that he had no doubt come up with yesterday evening to. Ah well, such is life. It was hard to stay mad at the boy when he smiled like that, and Darius simply tipped back up his tea to hide a smile.
“Good morning, Little Prince.”
The boy barely acknowledged the greeting, fidgeting with his small brown satchel he had around one shoulder, before running up to Darius with a most excited look on his face.
“Darius! Perfect! I need your help! Are you doing anything right now?”
Darius only cocked an eyebrow at the boy. “Just starting my morning tea, I suppose. You seem eager?”
And Darius had a hypothesis that Hunter would have responded the same way wither he told him he was having the best morning of his life or that the world was caving in, because the boy simply started prattling off whatever nonsense it was that was clouding his mind.
“Great! Would you be able to use your abomination teleportation to help me deliver some things around town? I have letters that I want to drop off and I don’t really know if people would be busy or not later in the day so I thought I could probably catch them all if I got an early jump on it, but without a staff I don’t know how quick I could get everywhere I need to go, and I can’t ask Gus or Willow because Gus said he would be making his dad breakfast and Willow apparently has some plans at home and-“
Titan, did this kid ever stop to breathe? Or blink? Darius watched him further rattle off some nonsense about how Luz was too busy in the Human Realm, and that he couldn’t get in touch with Viney or Skara, and all the thousand other things that Hunter thought he needed to justify with Darius before asking for his help. He reached out and tapped Hunter lightly on the head with the side of his hand.
“Alright Little Prince. Alright. Calm down. Yes, we can go and deliver some things to your friends if you’d like, and no, I don’t need you to explain why you need my help. I’d be happy to help you travel around a little faster.” And he both loved and hated how Hunter beamed, so full of light and joy and energy because, yes, it was adorable, but Titan, 7:30 in the morning was far too early to try and parse what Hunter was saying with his mile-a-minute speech. He hid his smile behind his teacup again and rolled his eyes. “Well, I need to go change, and while I am doing that, I’d like for you to make yourself breakfast, less I let you wander out having not fed yourself again. Am I understood?” he asked, setting the tea down.
Hunter nodded, eyes shining.
“Good. I’ll be down in about 20.”
***
And when Darius agreed to this nonsense, he had, of course, expected to be taking a trip to the Parks house. Probably to return a borrowed book or share notes or something of the sort that Hunter was well known for doing. What he did not expect was for the little Parks girl to answer the door, and for Hunter to greet her with a hug before asking if he could please speak to her fathers if they were around.
He did not expect Mr. and Mr. Parks to step outside the door, Gilbert already dressed for the day and Harvey still in comfortable looking pj’s, twin looks of confusion and slight concern on their features, before Hunter reached into his overly stuffed satchel bag and drew out two envelopes with Harvey and Gilbert written on them in golden script. Darius waited patiently, curiously, as the two men open the envelopes to reveal each a card, Harvey’s a plain beige with swoopy purple decals and Gilberts light brown with Darker brown geometrical patterns.
And he did not expect for Hunter to look up at both of the men and say: “Happy Father’s Day Mr. and Mr. Park! I know that this is, um, kind of weird… But I was told that you could use Father’s Day as a day to thank the male role models in my life for what they do for me! And, um, you two, ah, you two are always very kind to me when I come over. And very helpful! You guys treat me very well, and I’m very thankful for what you do. For me and for Willow and for the team! The Emerald Entrails team sleepovers wouldn’t be the same without your two’s awesome food and encouragement. So, uh, thank you! And I hope you have a good day with Willow. She really loves you guys. For good reason, I mean!”
And Hunter clearly didn’t expect Harvey to make the sappiest little face and grapple the boy in for a hug, or for Gilbert to smile at the boy and tell them that he was such a fantastic guest and that it was always a pleasure to have him. Didn’t expect a tear to run down Harvey’s face and tell him that the boy was welcome anytime. Darius could tell that Hunter was expecting the thankfulness to be one sided, or that the Parks parents only put up with him because he was Willows friend, and he could tell from how red Hunter’s ears were turning that this was a pleasant surprise. He was returned to Darius with a smile from ear to ear, and all three of the Parks waving him off and telling the two of them to have a good day, before closing the door behind them. Darius tapped Hunter to break him out of his little star struck trance.
“That was…” Strangely adorable. “Interesting. I didn’t realize that it was Father’s Day.”
Hunter looked bashfully at the ground. “Yeah, well, Willow told me about it a week ago, and then I helped Gus make a card, and they both told me that it was okay for me to give cards to the male figures in my life who meant a lot to me. I guess I didn’t know what I was expecting.” He scratched the back of his neck, and Darius felt oddly touched. The kid had come so far from his old life of being “the best around” and was going out of his way to show the people in his life that he appreciated them. That they mattered. Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing?
“Oh, yeah! Speaking of!” Hunter quickly scrambled through his bag and grabbed out another envelope, before turning to Darius. The man felt his heart flutter and then promptly drop as he read the name Perry scribbled in Golden ink. “Can we go to Gus’s house next?”
***
So they did, and Darius watched Hunter give another adorably-Hunter speech to Mr. Porter about how he and Gus had really become a family to him, and that it meant a lot that they would be so kind and so open when he really was at his lowest, and gifting the man a card themed around oracle colours and designs. And Darius watched with a slight pang as Porter had also given the boy a hug, holding him tight and telling him that he was becoming like a second son to him as well. And he had watched on the side lines as the Porter child had run up and given him a tremendous hug, and invited him inside, only being turned down as he had more letters to deliver.
***
So it went.
Darius let his mind wander to all the reasons he had forgotten about Father’s Day as he watched the kid give a card to his mentor, Mr. Clawthorne.
How it had been far too long since Darius had last had a positive male role model of his own, as Hunter shared a fist bump with Steve Tholomule.
How he had clearly grown a little bitter and thankless in all his years as a Coven Head, as Hunter gave a card to his Principal Bump.
Darius tried to look happy as he saw others doting over the kid, all of them saying that he was like family to them as well, that they would always be there if Hunter needed them. Because it was a good thing Hunter was doing. He cared about these people, and would no doubt be doing another run like this for Mother’s Day, and apparently there was also a non-binary parent day for Eber and Raine? He wanted these people to know that the difference they made in his life was truly understood, and appreciated, and that Hunter thought that so many of the males in his life deserved praise and recognition.
And it ate at Darius that he was not one of them.
But honestly? He understood. Darius had had plenty of opportunity to establish himself as a positive role model for years, and he what? Mocked the kid. Berated him. Told him he didn’t deserve to be where he was, that he was not worth Darius’s time or energy. That Hunter had to prove himself to be worthy of attention and care, that Hunter had to be more like his mentor, or he would trip and fall trying to fill those shoes.
Dell had taught Hunter life skills, and Steve had stood beside him in training. The Parks and The Porters took him at his lowest. The Clawthores and The Nocedas and Bump had wanted to help him. Darius had taken a passive role in his life next to these very active ones.
And Titan he regretted it. He regretted it the moment Hunter had first stepped into his house, pathetically minuscule amount of belongings in tow, and tried so hard to make Darius like him. He had regretted it when he first found Hunter having a panic attack under the stairs, regretted it when Hunter had begged him not to throw him out.
Regretted it when he found Hunter face down asleep on one of his many fascinations, when Hunter smiled so big and so wide and went off about every and anything that he had learned in a day, when the boy had fallen asleep against him in the living room. He was never not going to regret how poorly he had treated Hunter, and he was determined to spend the rest of his life making up for it if Hunter would let him.
So he decided he was not going to let the jealousy get to him. If anything, this was just proof of how much he still had to learn. And that was okay. Trust took time, and work, and he would spend as long as was needed to earn a place among the rest of them as a positive male role model in Hunters life.
***
It did, however, get to him a little bit when their last stop was at the Blight house to give a card to Alador, but fine, whatever, it was fine. He let Hunter have his moment with the hack, and only sneered a little when Hunter wasn’t looking, which earned him a confused stare from the man, and teleported them back home before even 9 o’clock AM. With all that done, Hunter thanked Darius profusely for helping him, and Darius watched the boy run off to his room without even letting Darius get a word in, still with a large smile on his face.
Darius could only huff affectionately and let the boy go about whatever nonsense he was up to.
***
What concerned Darius was that he hadn’t seen the boy since. He had not come down to bug Darius about his newest findings while he was watching the crystal ball, and had simply shooed Darius away when the man had asked Hunters bedroom door if the boy wanted to accompany him on a walk. He had not come down for lunch, either, or to pick up the home phone when the Parks called and invited him on an outing they had planned for the following Sunday. It was only just before dinner that Darius finally saw the boy again, smile still as wide as ever. He had peaked his head around the corner of the kitchen and locked eyes with Darius before ducking out of sight. Darius only huffed as he ducked in and out not once, but twice more, before calling the kid over and asking what all the nonsense was about. Hunter kicked his socked feet at the floor, with his hands behind his back as he approached, and Darius couldn’t help but see how the boys’ ears were bright red. He didn’t look guilty per say, but he did look a little embarrassed.
“What do you need, Little Prince? Supper will be ready shortly.” He said quickly, turning back to the stove and opting to let the kid decide when he wanted to talk. “We are having roast beast and vegetables. And yes, you will be having vegetables this time.”
He could only laugh when Hunter pouted.
“They are good vegetables. I promise.”
Hunter only kicked his feet at the ground, a stupidly adorable pout on his face, and Darius waited patiently, as Hunter clear was fighting with something other than the disappointment of having to eat something green.
He tried not to stare (Hunter loathed being stared at), but the way Hunter fidgeted, refusing to look at Darius, he could tell something was bothering Hunter. Silently, Darius pushed the hot stir fry off of the active element, and wiped his hands with a towel, before turning to Hunter and gently laying a hand on his shoulder. “I’m here, Hunter, if you need me. For anything.” He tried for a smile, hoping to the Titan that Hunter could understand that he wasn’t good at this, Titan, Darius would never be good at this whole, “showing emotions and sincerity” thing, but he meant every word of it. That he would be there for Hunter come hell or high water, or even if Belos decided to rear his ugly head again. That he would always be there for Hunter.
Hunter blinked twice before the tips of his ears went an even deeper red and he looked away, suddenly shoving a piece of paper out from behind his back and into Darius’s hands.
It was a comically large envelope, uneven at parts, with Hunters distinctive cursive, this time written with a deep purple pen. Darius.
And inside was a card. It was very different from the ones Hunter had given to the others just this morning. Those were clean, well cut and expertly decorated, and come to think of it, held a very cookie cutter quality to them.
This card was not that. It was a folded purple construction paper, coloured with what looked to be marker, with a large abomination looking creature on the front of it. Stickers and poorly pressed stamps decorated anywhere that the abomination was not, and it gave the card an extremely hectic quality to it. When Darius opened it, a large paper fell out.
It was a candid picture of Darius and Hunter at the Owl house. The two of them were sitting on the couch, clearly unaware of whoever was taking a picture of them. Hunter was dressed in his Hexside uniform, pointing down at what looked like one of his Cosmic Frontiers books, a large smile on his face. His eyes were wide and so full of light. Darius sat next to him in his comfy day-off sweater, listening intently, eyes drawn to whatever picture it was Hunter was pointing at. He had a cup of something in one hand, the other resting purposefully on his chin like he was trying to figure something out. It looked like Darius was saying something. Around the border of the picture were clearly handmade decals, glued onto the thin frame. It was an alternating pattern of the Abomination Coven symbol and the Potions Coven symbol, poorly stuck on with some sort of hot glue.
The inside of the card was a much larger attempts at the potions and abomination decals and had only a few simple words on them, written in Hunters favorite golden ink.
Happy Father’s Day to the best ̶P̶a̶r̶ ̶Guardian I could have asked for.
Hunter cleared his throat, and Darius looked up at him.
“Uh… Happy, umm Father’s Day Darius. You’ve already heard me say this a bunch today, but, uh, I was told that I could use Father’s Day as an… excuse to say thank you to all the positive male role models in my life. And you’ve been…” he had the most genuine embarrassed half smile going on right now, and wouldn’t look Darius in the eyes “You’ve done so much more then I could ask for. You let me stay with you, you took care of me when I wasn’t at my best, and you’ve helped and supported me as I’ve been… trying to learn how to be a normal teenager. I’m sure it’s been… harder than you expected it to be, but you’ve done… ah… a lot for me… umm… a lot more then I could have asked for. And it means a lot more to me then it means to you, I’m sure, but… thank you anyways.”
Hunter kicked the ground slightly, dropping his head even further towards the ground somehow. All Darius could see is that the tips of Hunters ears were bright red.
“And I really don’t know what our relationship is right now, but I want you to know that I am really happy to have you as my guardian.”
The air was silent and tense, painfully so, until Hunter finally decided to lift up his head and look at Darius with the most hopeful smile Darius had ever seen on the boy. Which quickly turned confused.
“Are you crying?”
Darius lightly reached a hand up to his cheek, fingers coming away wet at the touch. He blinked a few times at his hand, and then at Hunter.
“I suppose I am.” He said, because he really didn’t know himself.
Titan, this child. What did Darius ever do to deserve such a thoughtful kid? He would have never believed this could happen, had believed only hours ago that he had failed to make any sort of difference in this kid’s life, only to have Hunter go to all this trouble to tell him that he was happy to have Darius be there for him? That Hunter somehow believes that every major and minor change for the better that Hunter had made in Darius’s life could somehow be seen as anything less than extraordinary.
Titan, Darius did not deserve a kid this wonderful.
He didn’t want to say that out loud, less the universe realize their mistake and somehow take Hunter away from him, so instead he asked: “Can I give you a hug?”
And Hunters confusion changed quickly to happiness, as he nearly tackled Darius. And Darius tried as hard as he could to put all the unspoken into words with this hug; that he was happy to have Hunter living with him, that he would always be there for Hunter, that he would continue to do his absolute best to be what Hunter needed.
And as if Hunter could read his mind, Darius heard Hunter whisper softly, perhaps thinking or hoping not to be heard.
“Happy Father’s Day, Dad.”