#look how far he'd come after ONE day with Luz

[pageofheartdj]

I am fucking sorry but a child who learnt a lesson about kindness and forgiveness and their first idea of applying it is to megalomaniac who wants everyone dead and you geniunely expect them to do some ‘growing up’ by THEMSELVES?

Or even worse, with OTHER COLLECTORS??

[ambrosiagoldfish]

Hello! Would I be able to request edric blight x m!reader. Maybe a small fix about edric asking reader to grom. Thank you in advance

A/n: I had a really fun Time writing this!! It’s a lot longer than a “small fic” but I hope that’s ok, if you would want to see another fic at some point with them actually going to Grom, I’d love to write that as well! Also please tell me if i misspelled anything. Thank you for requesting!! O_O

Word count: 2489

Edric Blight x Male reader

TW/ None! But there is Edric being a little self deprecating!

Grom Jitters

This couldn't be happening…

This CAN’T be happening! As much as he would like to complain about it, Edric only had himself to blame. “What for?” you may be asking. Well, Starting a few days ago Edric, may or may not have let it slip to Emira and Amity that he, may or may not have a big fat crush on you. He wasn't the best at hiding secrets, especially from his sisters, but he thought he could at the very least keep this one. 

But of course, he couldn't, as soon as his sisters started talking about who they were going with to Grom, his mind immediately started to wander to you. He started thinking about the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you like, how you patiently listened to him talk, and the times you brought him snacks, even though he didn't ask for them.

He knew he had a silly crush before but he didn't realize how much he actually liked you. How much he wants you to be there with him, dance with him… just have fun with him.

“I want to go with Y/n” Edric sighs, it takes him a second before he even realizes he said it out loud. His back quickly went straight, he really hoped they didn't hear him but it was clearly written on their faces. The room was quiet for what felt like an eternity, but it couldn't have been more than a few seconds. But then it happened, the hurricane of questions began to be flung at him.

“Y/n?!” They both scream

“When are you gonna ask Him?” Amity asks,

“No offense but Y/n is way out of your league,” Emira says bluntly

“Rude, but… true. And I'm not going to ask Him! And even if I did, I doubt He'd want to go with me.  He probably has a date already too.” Edric says as he slumps back into his chair, hands covering his face,  excuse after excuse leaving his lips. 

“Hey, don't talk like that Ed, from what I’ve been told by Luz and him, He doesn't have one yet.” Amity reassures him, He slowly moves his hands from his face, before looking away to the corner of the room.

“Well even if that's true, I think he would just laugh at me for even asking him that.” Edic grips his hair lightly just imagining the embarrassing thought.

“OK Ed, now you're just being ridiculous, you know he wouldn’t do that!” Emira says, nudging his shoulder a bit. They were right, Y/n wouldn't do that, He is far too nice to ever dream of doing that to someone. 

“Come on Ed, you might as well try! The worst he can say is no.” Amity once again reassures. Edric Looks back at his sisters, they clearly won't take no for an answer. 

“Ugh… Fine.” He stretches his words then leans back up in his chair, “So… How do I ask him?

The girls thought for a moment

“You could write them a poem?” Amity thinks out loud

“No, the last time I did that I got stood up” 

“To be fair, you did accidentally send it to their mom” Emira snickered as Edric’s face flushed a bright red.

“How about you… bake him something? I baked Luz a Fairy pie when I had a crush on her.” Amity lists more ideas

“Hmm,  I do get good grades in the Potions track, surely baking couldn't be too different,” Edric thought  “Ok, Baking it is!” 

“Ok then, so with that settled, we will help you bake and you will ask him the day before Grom!” Emria Said clapping her hands.

3 days later

“OK Ed, I had Luz ask Y/n what his favorite flavor of cookies is, and she also gave us a recipe she memorized from the human realm, so surely this should suffice.” Amity began laying stuff on the counter “I had to get the ingredients myself as Luz is busy occupying Y/n all day.”

“Wait, Where’s Emira?” Edric asked

“Oh, she's out grabbing some last-minute things for us, she'll be back soon.”

“Alright then, Time to make the best cookies Y/n would ever try!” And with that Amity and Edric began to work.

Amity set the oven to preheat as Edric sat out the supplies they needed, then Amity began to read the ingredients and Edric put them in,

“Then after the vanilla, butter, and sugar is mixed well add in flour, salt, and-” Amity stopped.

“And what?” Edric asked, confused but then Amity carried on.

“-and Baking soda, Now, I couldn't find “Baking Soda”  but I did find this regular soda in the night market, but I doubt there will be much difference,” Amity said closing the written recipe and placing it on the counter

“How much did the recipe say to add in?” Edric asked

“The note didn't say how much, hmm will just add one can just to be safe.” 

With that, they poured the soda into the cookie mix and stirred it until ready, 

“That should do it,” Edric said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Time for it to go into the oven for…10 minutes and we can let them cool.”

As they are waiting for the cookies to bake, Emira comes through the door holding something behind her back.

“Hey, how's the cookies going? I got the stuff you wanted, Mittens” Emira says, handing Amity a bouquet of red flowers. Edric forgot the name of the flowers but he knows they are pretty common amongst couples on the boiling isles.

“What are those for?” Edric asks

“Ed, Surely you can't be that dense right?” Emira says a slight chuckle escaping her lips at her twins' oblivious nature.

“I had Emira fetch you some flowers for Y/n. According to Willow, these were Y/n’s favorites when she showed him her flower collection.” Amity said, wrapping a ribbon around the bouquet to complete it.

*Beep**Beep**Beep**Beep*

“Ah, looks like the cookies are done,” Amity said putting on an oven mitt and opening the door to see…”Um… Ed, we have a little bit of a problem”

“What? What's wrong?!” Ed walks in a hurry to the oven to see the issue.

Where what should have been “the best cookies Y/n would ever try” was a cookie tray filled with melting, liquid, cookie(?) mix. Amity quickly took them out of the oven and placed them on the stove. 

“Uh no! What happened?! It should have turned out good.” Edric almost yelled before sinking to the floor of the kitchen.

“I'm sorry Ed. Maybe the cookies weren't meant to happen, we still have the flowers.” Emira said, sitting next to her twin and patting him on the shoulder. 

“But I really wanted to give Y/n something before I asked him. He deserves more than just flowers.” Edric put his hand in his hand.

Everything was quiet for a moment until Amity let out a noise as if she had an idea. She slowly walked over to the tray filled with melting cookie mix and picked it up.

“What are you doing Mittens?” Emira asked 

Without answering Amity walked over to the freezer and put the tray in. 

“If I'm right, you may still have something to give Y/n,” Amity said 

“What do you mean Mittens, you saw them, there is no fixing that” Edric felt like crying, of course, it has to be him who always fails to get dates because HE can't do anything right. First with that poem now this. Everything is a disaster. 

“Just go get ready and Emira and I will handle it”

“But i don't have anything-”

“Ed, trust us ok?” Amity cut him off

Edric nodded his head and made his way to his room to get ready.

After he got ready, mainly just taking a shower and making his concealment stone make him look how he wanted,, he heard Emira call him down,

“Edric! It's almost time to ask Y/n come on down!” Emira yelled

He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Emira and Amity were. 

“Guys, I don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't have a good gift, and-” Edric was cut off by Emira sticking something sweet in his mouth.

“You were saying” Emira asks i smile on her face

“I was saying-'' Edric tried to continue but the taste of whatever was in his mouth tasted delicious.``What was that?” He asked

“Our “Cookie” mix disaster” Amity said handing him another one

“What?! These can't be them, they don't even look like cookies and they definitely do aren’t melted like last time.” Edric wasn't believing it

‘Yeah, I definitely wouldn't call them “cookies” now,  it's more of a taffy or fudge now.” Amity says, handing a piece to Emira. 

“But how?-” He was cut off again.

“After I figured out that the mix clearly wasn't gonna bake, I decided to put them in the freezer to see if it would solidify” Amity explained 

“And if you look at them, I'd say she did a pretty good job, right Ed?” She cracked a smile

Edric ran up to his sisters and hugged them tight while saying more “thank you” than anyone could count.

“OK Ed, enough hugging, you'll be late for you to meet up with Y/n, Luz says she's almost out of ideas to keep him occupied,” Amity said with a slight laugh. ”We can take my staff and I can drop you off”

They then quickly put the Disaster “cookie” mix candy in a pretty thermos container (Also bought by Emira) to keep it cold and put the bouquet of flowers in Edric's bag and made their way to Y/n.

When they got there they saw Luz and Y/n hanging out on a bench by the park. Just seeing Y/n made Edric’s body hot, and he realized what kind of situation he's actually in. He is about to confess to his crush, with flowers and food. It's pretty cheesy when he actually thinks about it. 

But is he ready to do this? Some part of him thinks it may be a dream ‘This couldn't be happening, This CAN’T be happening’ he thought but he remembers everything everyone’s done for him just to have him do this. He wants to do this, he will do this. He can't keep hiding his feelings. 

After a few moments, they land and they walk over to where Luz and Y/n are sitting.

“Amity And E-Edric what a completely unexpected pair that I totally didn't know was coming! It's good to see you haha! Luz tries (and fails) to fake surprise. She then runs up to Amity and gives her a hug. “Hey Hermosa!” Edric walks over and sits next to Y/n

“Hey Edric, what are you and Amity doing here so late?” Y/n asks looking into Edric's eyes

“I umm-” he clears his throat ”-I could ask you the same Y/n” He replied giving a smile, Y/n laughs.

“Well uh, I actually don’t know,” Y/n rubbed the back of his head “Luz told me she ‘had something cool she wanted me to see’ but right after she kept telling me ‘But wait! I know an even more interesting thing’ and it just kinda went for a while hehe” Y/n explained

‘What a way to keep someone distracted’ Edric thought

“But if you want to know all the interesting things we saw, ask Luz 'cause there were way too many for me to keep track of, she should be talking to Amity over-” When Y/n went to point he saw… well nothing. Except for 2 people flying away on a staff.

“Talk to you later Y/n! Eda wants me to be back at the owl house so Amity is taking me home, byyyye!!” Luz shouts while waving bye in their direction.

“Looks like they ditched us,” Y/n laughed “but it's fine, it's getting pretty late is it?” Y/n Looked up at the sky, looking at the dim red of the evening.

“I could  walk you home if you want?” Edric asked hoping he’d say yes

“I’d love that,” Y/n smiled

Edric thought for a moment, if he didn't do it now he might not be able to on the way to y/n’s house. 

“Before we go… You wanna talk a bit?” Edric asks, trying not to sound too desperate.

“Course’ Ed, you know I like talking to you” Y/n laughed

Slowly but surely Edric began to build his confidence to ask him until finally he tried to blurt something out but was cut off.

“So about Grom, that's tomorrow, isn't it? Y/n asked, Edric only nodded “I completely forgot about it” Y/n laughed

“Are… Are you going? Edric asked 

“Hmm, I don't know,  I don't have anyone to go with, no one asked me yet.” Y/n replied his eyes looking up at the dimming sky, “I might not even go, considering I don't have a date,”

“If you had a... date, would you? Edric asked another question while slowly shuffling around.

“Yeah, but it'd have to be someone I truly care for and love,” Y/n said smiley, he then looked away from the sky and turned to look at Edric, “What about you Ed-” Y/n stopped seeing the sight in front of him, 

Edric Blight, on one knee, holding a box of candies and flowers in each hand, looking up at him,

“Y/n.. Will you please go to Grom with me? I've liked you a lot ever since I met you and I've been afraid of telling you how I feel, in fear that you’d hate me or something. But I'm asking you now.” Edric confesses

“Ed, I…” Y/n paused, shock written over his face. Edric began fearing the worst the longer Y/n took to answer. 

“You don't have to if you don't want to… We can just forget this ever happened-” Edric was cut off when Y/n bent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek, a warm blush covering his face.

“I would love to Edric,” Y/n finally gave his answer, 

“Really?!” Edric shot up, almost spilling the candy.

“Yes Ed, I want to go with you” Y/n laughed taking the candy and flowers from Edric before grabbing his hand to hold. “You want to walk me back Ed?

“Of course!” Edric replied swiftly

As they were walking, hand in hand, Y/n took a piece of candy out of the box and tried one

“Wow! These are amazing Edric! I've never had these before, How’d you make them?” Y/n said his eyes lighting up.

 Edric laughed, “It's a long story..”

[lollytea]

Mmm do you think Hunter would be overwhelmed by how affectionatate hexsquad is with each other?

What would he be most interested in during their first trip to mall in HR?

As for the mall, it might be the boring answer but he is going straight for the bookstore. Hunter has a fascination with the history of the Boiling Isles, along with magic and the complexities of what makes magic tick. He's interested in how things work. So I could totally see him getting his mind blown by human history and science books. Science is basically human magic, right? It sorta turns the mechanics of everything Hunter knows on its head so he'd be super intrigued.

Also he's going to be bewitched by Hot Topic. So will Amity. It will be a bonding experience.

Also also. Judging from Flapjack and King and his little stuffed froggy, Hunter really likes cute things. He's gonna stumble across Build a Bear workshop and flip his shit. Like "YOU CAN MAKE ONE???"

As for the affection thing, I think he's sorta gotten used to it. Not completely. They still take him but surprise with how much they can be. He was definitely overwhelmed by Willow and Gus hugging him that one time but mostly cuz he didn't prepare for it and they were so very close and I doubt anybody has ever held him that close in his life so he needs a moment to just like. Adjust.

But like. After those few days between LR and COTH where it was just him, Willow and Gus, I imagine he received plenty more hugs. Now he's like. He feels awkward giving hugs himself but he likes getting them. If it's Willow and Gus, that is. He'd probably be cool with it if Luz hugged him too. Luz seems to be one of the few people he's always been comfortable casually touching. It's very funny. Its like she's not even "people" to him, she's basically furniture. I love them.

Also since it wasnt too intimate the way hugs are, Hunter seemed to genuinely like affection during ASIAS. Shoulder touches. He loves shoulder touches. Look at him!!!

He even liked them so much that this became his go-to method of touching people. He's been doing this a lot lately.

Though the latter two seem more like tight side-hugs than a light touch. Which is cute. He's slowly getting more comfortable with being the one to initiate hugs.

I feel like this Dana art says a lot about how far Hunter's come in the few weeks since Hollow Mind. He's now the kind of person who holds his friends close to comfort them. He might still be taken aback by just how much affection is thrown at him, but he is a lot touchier than he used to be.

[edoro]

An idea for how they realize belos is Phillip (other then babybel deciding to screw around with them) is perhaps when he's sick with something like the common mold since it'll probably hit him harder than Luz, since he's in the body of a young child from the 1600s and while resting has the mask off (either taken or fell off while sleep), Luz or someone goes to wake him up and notices the lack of pointy ears and freaks out(which could get the job done of waking him up just in an extremely stressful way) and probably realizing how much this kid looks like Phillip, wanting to question him as soon as possible. So she'll probably create some theories about it (all but belos being a child of Phillip since that implies that Phillip had gotten someone to have kids with and she doubts it so hard).

Also the instant they take babyBel’s mask off or try to get his hair out of his face they���re going to realize he’s human which�� he wants this? He thinks? He wants everyone to admire his cunning wiles. But under these circumstances his reaction to vulnerability is No Actually I Will Scream. Meanwhile everyone else is having a minor crisis.

(i have no idea if you are both the same anon but since it's basically the same concept i'm gonna toss you both together in this ask here. l-love connection?!)

anyway, yeah, i'm mulling this one over - i think they're gonna figure out he's human pretty much the first time the mask comes off, which, he's gonna have to take it off to eat, so that's going to happen pretty quickly.

at that point the question becomes "how quickly is Luz going to be able to put the pieces together and figure out that this weird little human moppet they pulled out of the Emperor's brain is in fact baby Philip Wittebane?"

(sidenote, also: at what point are they going to realize this isn't just a manifestation of an emotion but, in fact, the actual inner Belos? i'm sure that's also gonna happen relatively soon there, and it's going to be very interesting)

so - as far as Luz knows, there's only ever been one other human in the Boiling Isles. and she met Philip as an adult, so she knows that he's a white guy from the 1600s with brown hair and blue eyes, and here's this little white kid with brown hair and blue eyes who's dressed in very antique clothes (the fact that he doesn't talk might draw it out a bit, since she doesn't have an archaic accent/speech pattern to further drive the point home)

she might remember seeing some of those childhood portraits in the Emperor's mindscape, depending on how far they got, and it certainly seems like a different time. little motherfucker was churning butter in one of those. she might remember some of the ones where he was a bit older, and looked more like adult Philip, and have a realization there.

i don't know if she would jump immediately to "oh my god, Belos is Philip" - i think that the idea would probably occur to her, because she's only ever known of one other human and the general time period seems to fit and the kid looks like he could plausibly grow up into Philip, but i can imagine a similar sort of denial going on, and this time she doesn't have him forcing the issue to taunt her.

(let's see if i manage to remember this, but i'd like to go into my thoughts about why i think she was so upset to realize Belos is Philip - i've seen a lot of people suggesting reasons why, and other people feeling like it fell very flat, and i've definitely got my own personal take on it, but this post isn't really the place)

so she might be trying to find ways to believe that he isn't Philip, that maybe this is some other human who ended up in the Isles. after all, she's only heard of Philip, but travel between the realms is totally possible, and he can't be the only person who ever fell into a pool of Titan's Blood, right?

i wonder if she would outright ask him, and what he'd say. actually, you know what?

here's what i think. they're going to find out he's human within, probably, a few days at most if he's sneaky and secretive about eating and doesn't manage to lose the mask somehow. once they do, it's just a matter of time before Luz puts the pieces together that this human is probably the same other human she met.

(sidenote: what the fuck is up with Philip's timeline? no one has even brought up the fact that he's apparently four hundred fucking years old, but i'm starting to question if he actually is?

the BI era he ended up in was the Deadwardian, and in our world the Edwardian era was 1901-1910, and those were definitely not colonial fashions we saw on the BI residents; but we've also not gotten any indication that the Boiling Isles and the human realm are asynchronous with each other.

the BI calendar seems to be very different (forty days in a month?? how long is that week we've got left before the Day of Unity? Dana i have so many questions -) but we have no indication that one day on the Boiling Isles =/= one day in the human realm, which would have some disturbing fairy circle shit implications for Luz's time here if that was the case.

so when he and Caleb came through at Eclipse Lake, were they transported in time as well as space? Philip's diary entry in s2e12 suggests that he thinks it's the 1660s or 1670s back home, but that's just him figuring based on the passage of time and conversion between calendar systems - was he, unbeknownst to himself, already cut off from any hope of ever actually going back home? would that portal have spat him out into the early 1900s?

however, the sheer number of grimwalkers he's made and killed suggests that he has in fact been around for quite a long time - @samael-i-am has that post counting up the masks which suggests it's more like 20+, and someone else did the math and suggested that each one only lived somewhere into their teens or mid twenties at most if you account for seventeen grimwalkers (including Hunter) over 350ish years

but that also assumes that the grimwalkers are born as babies and grow and develop at a normal rate, which might not be the case - it could be that he can control what age they come out as, and makes them at whatever age he thinks is best for raising them to be loyal and devoted and also useful. can't pop one out fully grown and expect to mold its mind, gotta get in there when there's still some good neural plasticity and rewire that development!

but the sheer number of them still implies he's been at this for more than fifty years, unless most of them really didn't make it more than a couple of years.

anyway. anyway.)

so anyway - Luz tries to put this realization off. she doesn't want Belos to be Philip. she doesn't want to deal with that. but it's where her mind goes, because there are a lot of connections, and well - she asks him.

he can't talk, but he can draw and write (did actual Philip Wittebane at this age know how to read and write? no, probably not, or if he did then Caleb had only just started teaching him. but adult Belos does, so Babybel can, although he struggles a bit with the motor control and his spelling is... interesting to say the least) and he's pretty expressive with that when he wants to be, although getting him to actually directly respond to or acknowledge anyone is a crapshoot

so she asks him, works up to it maybe - "when and where were you born? where are you from? what's your name?" - and he does tell her

because the thing is, right, the thing is - he wants a human on his side. he wants to hear her say his name. he wants another human to know that he's here, know who he is, know what he's doing, support and agree with him, talk to him.

and this whole thing, where she thinks he's just a kid version of himself and doesn't know how much he does or doesn't remember of his adult self? this is perfect for manipulating her! he could not have engineered a better chance to get her on his side if he'd tried, actually! because she likes him as a kid. she's sympathetic to him. she thinks he's cute and she relates to him and she has this hope that maybe they can raise him to be better than adult Belos, that he can change, that this can be a re-do.

so how much more sympathetic is she going to be if he tells her, yes, he's Philip Wittebane - he's little baby Philip, and she's sure getting some glimpses of how he might have grown up, what it might have been like for him, how he was treated, and they aren't good glimpses, and she was already sympathetic to Philip - she thought he was hurting people because he was so desperate to get home, after all.

so Philip as a kid? not the adult man who manipulated and betrayed her and said it was fun, but just this angry, troubled, weird, difficult - the same way Luz, neurodivergent herself, has been difficult her whole life - kid who is also obviously traumatized and expects to be abused?

she doesn't stand a chance. she's going to see herself in him. she's going to imagine what it must feel like to be a little kid, trapped so far from home, away from his family and friends and everything familiar, disabled and traumatized and struggling to communicate with anyone around him or understand what's going on, and she's going to feel sorry for him.

and because the reveal comes to her in the form of this weird fucked up cute little kid who she relates to and likes, rather than in the form of Belos psychologically torturing Hunter in the process of revealing his evil plan and then 'killing' him and stalking her as he delivers a creep-ass villain monologue, she might start to think maybe she's wrong about Belos.

oh, not that he's fucked up and evil and needs to be stopped - but maybe he doesn't just want power. maybe he really does just want to go home. maybe he's just been lost and stuck here this whole time and his loneliness and desperation corrupted him. maybe he actually is still someone she can understand, even if she can't agree with him.

and maybe if someone steps in and helps this kid, who clearly needed it and didn't get it - maybe then he can be different.

[jay-zzz87]

Belos adopts Luz part 6

Hi guys. This is pretty late. I wanted to wait a little just to see how Hunter's personality was so I could write. Anyways enjoy. Part 5 in the source.

Luz tried to hide behind another bush. It was very convenient how many bushes there were inside the castle. Luz managed sneek her way around another pair of guards.

Luz: Ok. How do I get through the door

Hunter: Oh, you just pull that lever over there.

Luz: Oh thank yo-

Luz turned and was faced with none other than the Golden Guard himself, Hunter. Luz tried to run but Hunter stopped her with his staff. Luz couldn't move, she stuggled to free herself, but it was no use. Hunter brought her closer to him.

Hunter: So what you doing out here.

Luz: None of your business

Hunter: Well, we'll see what uncle has to say about this.

Luz: You wouldn't dare.

Hunter: Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but why take the chance.

Before Luz could say anything, Hunter let her fall to the ground. Once Luz got up, Hunter started walking towards her.

Hunter: C'mon, let's get you to your room.

Luz was confused.

Luz: Weren't you gonna tell him

Hunter: I have more important things to do. Also I can use this as blackmail for later.

Hunter laughed at his own joke while Luz punched him in the arm.

Luz and Hunter had a weird relationship. They always found each other annoying but had each others backs when needed. The first time they met, Luz was only a few day into the Isles. One day, Belos called Hunter to enter the throne room. Once in the throne room, Hunter saw a human standing by the emperors side and could hardly believe his eyes. A small human? How? Where? Why? When?

Belos: Hunter

Hunter snapped out of his daze and responded quickly.

Hunter: Yes Uncle?

Belos: Come forth

Hunter walked closer towards his uncle. The little human gripped tightly to Belos's cloak. Her eyes met with Hunter's and immediately she went back into hiding.

Belos: As you can see, I have a small human with us today. Her name is Luz, and I believe she could be an important asset to us.

Hunter kept looking at the human. There was a lot he wanted to ask, but couldn't.

Belos: Luz, come forth.

Luz walked from behind Belos and went foward. Hunter stretched out his hand for a hand shake. Luz was hesitant at first but took it. Belos was pleased and released both of them to their rooms. Hunter and Luz were escorted by guards. Hunter couldn't help but stare at the human. His curiosity grew bigger by the second.

There were times where Hunter would visit Luz, just to be sure she was ok. He knew Belos wanted him to watch over her. They would play sometimes and Hunter would read to Luz, but as they grew older, their relationship began to change. Hunter became more distant and found Luz more annoying. But his objective didn't change. He'd still look after her in his own way.

Hunter and Luz got back to the room, much to Luz's dismay. The Guard that was keeping watch was still asleep. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't gonna hear the end of it from Hunter when he awoke. Hunter opened the door and let Luz inside.

Luz: Well thanks for spoiling the fun.

Hunter: My pleasure, it's my job after all.

Luz: Really? I thought your job was to stand next to your uncle and look pretty.

Hunter raised his fist but quickly lowered it. He knew he could never hit Luz but sometimes he wish he could. Hunter composed himself and walked towards Luz's desk and grabbed a quill. Luz stood over his shoulder and observed what he was writing.

Luz: Whatcha doing?

Hunter: I'm writing a letter requesting a better guard to keep look for you.

Luz: Wha- HEY

Luz tried to reach for the quill and paper but was held back by Hunter. Hunter grabbed the paper and rolled it up. He tried to exit the room but was tackled by Luz. Hunter got the letter as far away from Luz's reach as possible. Luz still ended up grabbing it and ran out the door. Hunter quickly got up and ran after Luz. Luz ran down the corridors and knocked down some plants in hopes that it would slow him down. Luz kept running but shortly came to a pause after her saw Kikimora. Luz hid behind a pillar before Kikimora could see her. Hunter caught up and was about to grab Luz until she grabbed him first and dragged him behind the pillar.

Hunter: What are yo-

Luz put a hand over his mouth in hopes that Kikimora never heard him. She peaked around the pillar but was quickly taken aback when she felt something lick her hand.

Luz: Are you licking my hand. I'm trying to save us both

Luz starts wiping off the saliva on Hunters face.

Hunter: Why should I believe you

Luz: Look, Kikimora is over there and if she sees us both, we could get in trouble.

Hunter: We wouldn't have to be in any trouble if you just stayed inside your room.

Hunter looked back from the place they came from. The door was still open and no guards were around.

Hunter: Shit, I forgot to grab my staff. C'mon, let's just hurry back before anyone notices.

Belos: Too late

Luz and Hunter could here the voice in their heads. They both knew exactly what that meant.

Luz and Hunter: Shit

[anguigenus]

A/N: So after my last couple posts I couldn't stop thinking about how easy it would be for Perry to just get killed off. Just like that. It could happen next episode. Consider this my prediction for how it could happen. Two scenes: one at the start of the episode and one at the end. Then a third scene where Gus comes home that I don't think would be shown but the pain was too great and I had to write it down. Warning for major character death under the cut.

AO3

~~~

"--is the fourth round of arrests this week by the emperor's coven. It seems whatever's causing this high level of security is getting worse, so I would advise caution for--"

"Hey dad! What're you watching?"

Perry flicked off the crystal ball as Gus bounded into the kitchen. "Good morning, Gus. I'm just looking over some recent recordings of stuff I was broadcasting. Gotta see if there's room for improvement and all that."

"Cool!" Gus sat down and started wolfing down the breakfast Perry had sat out for him.

"You seem in a hurry," Perry said. "I know you don't have school today, are you going somewhere?"

"Yeah! Me and some friends were going on a trip today!" Gus answered between mouthfuls of scrambled gobber-goo.

Perry smiled. "That sounds fun. Are you going with Willow, Luz and Amity then?"

"Nope! These are some new people I met. I was going to show them this cool place I found the other day!"

"Well, I wish you the best of luck." Perry chuckled as Gus shoved the last of his food into his mouth and ran off towards the front hallway.

Just before he disappeared around the corner, he turned and waved good-bye. "Thanks! Love you dad, bye!"

"Bye Gus!"

As the front door slammed shut, Perry turned to his crystal ball and flicked it back on. That last broadcast hadn't been good. It would be far too easy to interpret it as going against the emperor, and he did not want to be in the next round of arrests. Gus needed him too much for that.

~~~

Perry's eyes slowly flitted closed, then blinked open. Between his long day at work and the comforting, nostalgic smell of the soup he was stirring, it was hard for him to stay on his feet, much less keep his eyes open. Still, Gus would be home soon. Then they could both eat and Perry could take a nice, long nap.

The sound of the front door opening and closing helped knock away some of his lethargy. He smiled and turned to the front hallway. That must be him now.

"Hey Gus, welcome back! How'd your trip go?"

His stomach turned to lead as an unfamiliar figure wearing an owl mask walked around the corner, a mechanical staff slung casually over his shoulders. "Not Gus, I'm afraid."

"Who are you? Is Gus okay?" Perry's eyes flicked to the seal on the person's cloak. "Wait, you're with the emperor's coven, aren't you."

The stranger swung his staff around and pointed it at him playfully. "Bingo!"

"Please, if you're here about the broadcasts, I can call off of work, take a long vacation, change jobs if you need me too!" Perry's voice cracked with desperation. "Just don't take me away. Gus needs me."

"Oh, you'll be taking a vacation all right." The stranger spun the staff in a wide circle, then brandished it menacingly as the tip began to glow. "A permanent one that is. From life."

From outside the porter residence, a bystander wouldn't have seen much. Just a faint red flash, accompanied by a small trickle of smoke that quickly blew away. It was enough though.

~~~

"Dad, I'm home!" Gus called out, throwing open the front door. His day had gone better than he'd thought possible! New friends and new magic that he couldn't wait to tell Luz about tommorow.

He paused as no one answered. Maybe his dad was asleep? He was usually pretty tired when he got back from work after all.

"Dad?" he asked, softer this time. He stepped forward out of the hallway to see if his dad was sleeping on the couch in the living room. Something crunched underneath his foot. He looked down and saw some sort of charred stick.

"What's this doing in here?" Gus bent down to pick it up and noticed a slight trail of ash pointing off towards the kitchen.

"Dad? Are you in there?" Gus slowly walked towards the kitchen. The familiar smell of soup wafted towards him, mixed with something more bitter and smokey. Had he left the stove on during his nap? He shouldn't have, since he always told Gus never to.

Gus turned the corner. The first thing he saw was a huge black scorch mark that took up the far wall.

"Dad?" His voice was nothing more than a whimper.

The second thing he saw were more charred sticks scattered across the room. Except they weren't sticks, he realized in horror. They were bones.

Bile rose in his throat as he stumbled forward. No. No no no no no no no. They were from some sort of monster. It had attacked his dad and he'd used some sort of fire--

A skull. In the middle of the scorch mark. The front teeth were slightly lopsided, just like he'd seen a thousand times in his father's mouth.

Gus' eyes rolled back into his head, and he collapsed like his strings had been cut. The shock had been too much. His consciousness had retreated to the deepest corners of his mind, refusing to fully process what had happened.

And so he lay, the son among his father's blackened bones, until they were found the next morning.