Title: A Rose Has Thorns
Rating: G
Series: The Owl House
Characters/Pairings: Hunter/Willow
Summary: It was Hunter's first solo mission since he left the Emperor's Coven and moved into the Owl House. All he had to achieve was purchase a few items at the market. That should be simple, right?
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Luz asked.
Hunter sighed as he held up the list, swinging the basket over his shoulder. “I can handle a shopping trip, Luz.”
“Yeah, but I'm pretty sure you’re not exactly used to things like shopping,” Luz retorted. “I mean, from what Lilith said about the Emperor's Coven...”
Hunter couldn’t deny that. Most of the domestic chores in the Emperor’s Coven were handled by servants or abominations. Hunter had never even done his own laundry until he found himself living at the Owl House.
That had been an interesting lesson. Eda claimed Hunter had done well, but Hunter had a hunch that setting clothes on fire was not as common as Eda claimed.
Hunter sighed as his cardinal flew to his shoulder. “Look, I’ll be fine. I have my palisman with me and I have actually bought things before.”
Luz chewed her lower lip. “Yeah, but-”
Eda placed a hand on Luz’s shoulder. “Let him go, kiddo. If Hunter wants to do this solo we've gotta respect that.”
“Besides, it’s not like he could do any worse than you did,” King called out from the couch. “He just has to avoid trusting any wizards.”
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Why would I trust a wizard? They’re famous for being shady-”
“Oh, wow, would you look at the time,” Luz said nervously as she pointed over her shoulder. “I have to, uh, go get ready for my date with Amity! See you later, Hunter! Byyyyyye!”
Luz hastily dashed out of the room. Hunter turned to Eda.
“Do I... want to know?” he asked.
“Meh, I'll fill you in on the blackmail later,” Eda said as she crossed her arms. “Seriously, kid, you sure you don’t want to at least take King with you?”
Hunter rolled his eyes. “For the last time, I’ll be fine. I’ll be back within the hour.”
-----------------------------------------
Two hours later, Hunter couldn't suppress the twitch in his eyelid. He had finally managed to find almost every item on the list... except for formian crystal. He was almost tempted to just return empty-handed, but he knew the house needed it for their crystal ball - whatever his opinions on King's shows.
Besides, it was a matter of pride at this point. After his declarations, how could he prove to Luz and Eda that he could be useful and handle things like a normal person if he didn't return with every item on the list?
Unacceptable.
His cardinal gave a comforting tweet. It had tried to give him some suggestions, but hadn’t been in the market place for a long time. So in spite of intentions, the little palisman knew even less than Hunter.
Hunter patted the cardinal’s head as he glanced around the various shoppers passing by. There were many less people around at this time of day which admittedly is why he had come alone. There was a much lower risk of one of the Emperor Coven guards spotting and arresting him on the spot.
Still, Hunter wasn’t thrilled with the idea of asking someone for help. What if they recognized him and reported him? Maybe if he picked the right shopkeeper- Wait. Not far from him were a couple of girls close to his age.
Chances of them turning me in is lower, Hunter thought and walked over. At least if they're anywhere near as anti-authority as the human. I’ll ask them.
The two girls were laughing over some joke, but stopped abruptly as they noticed Hunter approaching.
“Hey, can I ask you two a quick question?” he asked.
The girl with pink hair and three eyes looked at him and smirked. “If you mean where to get a better fashion sense, that is not going to be a 'quick' answer. Where do we even begin?”
“Uh no,” Hunter said with a raised eyebrow. “I just wanted to know where I could find someone selling formian crystal.”
The other girl tapped her chin in thought. “Um. That's for old crystal balls, right? I think there’s a booth over in the east-”
“West side,” the pink haired girl jumped in with a grin. “She means there’s a seller on the far west side of the market.” She turned to her friend. “Right, Skara?”
The girl named Skara blinked, but then nodded rapidly. “Oh..uh, yeah, like Boscha said.” She gave a shaky smile and pointed. “To the far, far west side. Nearly...outside the market?”
“West side, okay,” Hunter said as he started walking in that direction. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” the girl named Boscha said with a smirk.
Hunter found her a bit odd, but he was too worn out from shopping to worry about it.
“Last item. Last item! I can do this. I just need to get this done so we can head home,” he said aloud to his cardinal.
Another hour later, Hunter had been up and down the west side of the market three times but he still hadn’t found any formian crystal.
“Where is it,” he grumbled as his cardinal hovered nearby. “It’s supposed to be here!”
The cardinal tweeted in his ear.
“No, I will not just go home,” Hunter said as they continued to walk. “I can't fail my mission, and it isn't complete until I find-”
Suddenly, he walked straight into someone's back. The pair of them let out a grunt as each, separately, stumbled and fell to the ground.
Hunter quickly forgot about his annoyance as he scrambled to his feet. “Sorry, are you okay?”
The person he had bumped into was another girl. She waved off his concern as she adjusted her glasses and dusted the dirt off her clothes.
“Don’t worry,” she said with a small smile. “A little dirt never hurt anyone.”
A bee palisman carrying a small basket hovered nearby and the girl gave it a pat on the head. “I’m okay, Clover - oh dear.”
Hunter looked down and saw what she had noticed. The items from his basket had fallen out when he had crashed into her.
“Great,” Hunter grumbled as he knelt down and started picking them up. “Just what I needed.”
He started gathering up and inspecting the items for damage, engrossed in his task until a jar of toad jam was suddenly thrust in his face. He hadn’t realized the girl was kneeling next to him and was helping to gather everything
Hunter blushed. “Uh, thanks,” he replied. Why didn’t I see that?
“You're welcome,” the girl replied, still smiling. “Do you need help with anything else?”
Hunter sighed. “Actually, yes,” he said as he rose. “Can you tell me where I can get some formian crystal?”
The girl raised an eyebrow. “Formian crystal? Here?”
“Yes. The vendor that’s supposed to be stationed in this area.”
The girl frowned. “Um..last time I checked, no one in this part of the market has ever sold anything like that. This is the area for fertilizers, cloth dyes, and any of the really pungent produce.”
“What?!” Hunter cried. “But that Boscha girl said there was a stall here for it.”
The girl’s eyes widened, then narrowed as she held a tight frown. “Wait, Boscha? Three eyed girl with pink hair? She told you to come here?”
Hunter didn’t like where this was going. “Uh, yes. I’ve been searching for over an hour.”
The girl sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Boscha, honestly…” She shook her head. “I kind of hate to tell you this, but she lied.”
“What?” Hunter growled. “Why would she do that?”
Was it all a trap? Was she working with the Emperor’s Coven-
“Because she’s a mega jerk and probably thought sending you to the 'smelly' end of the market would be funny,” the girl replied firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. “She has a twisted sense of humor.” She pointed to herself. “Personal experience.”
“Oh,” Hunter mumbled. “That kind of makes sense.”
He glanced over the list. Maybe he should just head back now. He had wasted enough time as is and there would be...concerns if he wasn’t back soon.
The girl gave a small smile and pointed. “Come on, I’ll take you there.”
Hunter blinked. “Um..take me where?”
“To where you can get some formian crystal.”
Hunter frowned and tilted his head. “You will? But... why?”
“Because I want to,” the girl replied. “Besides, I was heading in that direction anyway.”
Hunter paused. Should he trust her? What if this was another trick? But without her intelligence, he had no way to avoid failing his objective.
“Are you coming?” the girl asked with a concerned frown.
Hunter shook his head. “Yes, sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
The girl smiled back. “I’m Willow by the way.”
“Hunter,” he replied, frowning to himself. Willow? That name sounds familiar. Wonder why?
He tossed the thought aside and quickly caught up with her.
True to Willow’s word, she took her directly to a stall selling assorted magical crystals, including what he was looking for. She even helped him bargain to get it a few snails cheaper.
Hunter tucked the small bag carefully in the basket.
“Thanks,” he said.
“No problem,” Willow replied with a smile. “I know what it’s like dealing with a bully far too well.”
So, do I, but on a different scale, Hunter thought as his mind drifted back to the Emperor’s Coven.
His cardinal tweeted and Hunter patted his head. “I have to get home, but thanks again for the help.”
“Sure thing,” Willow said as she began to walk in the other direction, the bee buzzing busily beside her. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Hunter said with a wave.
As he walked home. The girl’s name bugged him. Willow...Willow...I know I've heard that name somewhere, but where?
Hunter got his answer exactly two days later.
Luz had invited two of her friends over for a 'study session'. Amity had apparently been dragged off into ‘bonding sibling time’ with her brother and sister, which was admittedly a bit of a relief for Hunter. She was still suspicious of him over that whole Eclipse Lake business.
Gus was the first to arrive. He seemed wary of Hunter, but was mostly friendly.
“If Luz says you’re okay, then I’m willing to trust her opinion,” Gus said. “She’s a pretty good judge of character. Besides, it's hard to pull the wool over an illusionist's eyes!”
Hunter couldn’t help but agree with him. Or at least his opinion of Luz.
They chatted for a bit before Luz’s other friend arrived. Hearing a new, and yet somewhat familiar voice, Hunter raised his head and froze.
It was the same girl who had helped him at the market. It was only then his brain connected the dots.
Willow, as in Luz’s friend Willow who she talks about all the time, Hunter thought with a gulp. Cursing his poor memory, he stood up.
“And this is Hunter,” Luz said as she pointed to Hunter. “Also formerly known as - wait for it - the Golden Guard.”
Willow gave a shaky smile, but it vanished as she spotted Hunter. The basket slipped from her fingers, kept up only by her bee palisman's efforts.
Hunter coughed as he gave a sheepish wave. “Um...hi?”
He could feel everyone’s eyes on them as the silence between the two of them continued.
She’s probably just as surprised as I am, Hunter thought.
Luz got in between them and frowned. “Something wrong?”
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh...we've met before. Actually."
Luz tilted her head as Gus grasped his chin in thought, muttering under his breath.
“You have? When?” Luz asked.
“Uhh…” Hunter stammered as he struggled to find an explanation that wouldn’t have Luz fretting over him.
“In my dads’ shop,” Willow chimed in quickly, fending off King's attempt to climb her and peer into her basket.
Hunter blinked. “The shop?”
Willow gave him a look and suddenly he understood.
“Rrriigghhhttt,” Hunter said slowly and gave a shaky smile. “I was just curious so I popped in for a quick look.”
“Yeah, and we had a nice little chat,” Willow added.
“Oh,” Luz said as she placed an arm around Hunter’s shoulder. “Man, the Boiling Isles. Small world, am I right?”
“Suspiciously small,” Gus commented, tapping the spine of a book.
“Who cares,” King said as he pointed at Willow. “The important thing is that I’m smelling tasty yum-yums that should be in my tum-tum, but they're still in that basket. You have brought tribute to your monarch, and it must be delivered!”
Willow smiled. “You're right!” she glanced at Luz. “It’s snaggle bread but my dads left out the fairy wings so Luz can enjoy it.”
“Aw, that was nice of them,” Luz said as she moved to take the basket. “How about I get some plates?”
“I can do it, I know where they are,” Willow offered as she headed into the kitchen.
“Okay,” Luz said. “There should be some toad jam in the cupboard too! Fresh from the market!”
Hunter glanced behind as his cardinal landed on his shoulder.
“Um..I’ll go make us some tea,” Hunter offered as he pointed. “Be right back.”
He ignored their baffled expressions as he ventured into the kitchen. Willow didn’t turn around. Hunter hesitated, considering talking to her, but finally just moved towards the kettle in silence, turning on the tap.
More silence followed until Hunter turned off the tap and placed the full kettle onto the stove.
The clearing of a throat caused Hunter to look up. Willow had finished arranging slices of bread on a plate with the jar of jam, and was rifling through the butter knives.
“Ssssooo,” Willow began as her bee fetched teacups from the pantry, “I’m assuming you didn’t want Luz to hear how we actually met?”
Hunter covered his face with one hand. “Yes, please,” he groaned. “If she found out how my first shopping trip went, she would never let me live it down.”
Willow’s face softened. “Luz isn’t like that,” she admonished as her bee palisman landed on her shoulder. “But I get how being tricked by Boscha can be kind of embarrassing, so I’ll respect your pride.”
Hunter sighed. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
Willow crossed her arms. “However, there is something else I want to make clear.” Her eyes narrowed. “Amity and I do talk about things, after all."
Hunter sighed. He’d been expecting this. “All right, let me have...it?”
Suddenly, Willow was holding one of the knives and was stomping forward. Hunter barely had time to react before he found himself pinned against the wall. His cardinal gave a concerned tweet, but the bee was buzzing angrily nearby and it stayed where it was on the counter.
Hunter could theoretically get out of this. Probably. Maybe. Willow was shorter than him and he had more training, but she had a weapon and he didn't - not to mention the sheer determination shining in her eyes.
“Luz is a very dear friend to me, and I care a lot about King, Eda and Hooty,” Willow stated firmly as she held the butter knife unwaveringly. “Now. I do believe in second chances. That's why Amity and I are friends again.”
“Under...stood,” Hunter said slowly, wondering how a simple butter knife could be more threatening than Kikimora's clawed monsters.
“I do, however, wish to inform you that Luz is friends with a plant witch. Plant witches know about plants. Including which ones are very toxic,” Willow pulled his shirt collar close until both of their noses were touching. “If you betray Luz, or Gus, or Amity or anyone in this house you'll get first-hand knowledge of dragon fly blossoms.”
“The... burning, stinging kind?” Hunter guessed.
“The same,” Willow said as her bee gave another buzz. “Do we have an understanding?”
“Clear as formian crystal,” Hunter replied as he held up his hands.
Willow’s smile returned. She slipped the butter knife up her sleeve and her bee suddenly became much calmer.
“Good,” she said and took a deep breath as she steadied herself. “Oh boy, that took a lot out of me.”
Hunter wasn’t sure how to reply, but was thankfully saved by King’s voice.
“Where are those snacks?!” he cried. “Your tiny tyrant is getting hungry here!”
“Be right there,” Willow called as she gathered up the plates. “Coming?”
“In a minute. I, um. Need to wait for the water to boil to make tea,” Hunter added quickly.
Willow smiled, nodded and left the kitchen.
Hunter took deep breaths until he heard the kettle boil, removed it from the stove and started pouring it over the teabags. As he was putting the lid on the teapot Hooty extended his head into the kitchen window.
“Wooow, that was intense,” Hooty commented.
“No kidding,” Hunter commented as his cardinal landed on his shoulder and then paused. “Wait, you saw the whole thing?”
“I see everything in this house,” Hooty replied cheerfully. "Eeeeeverythiiiiing."
“And you didn’t do anything? Say anything?!” Hunter asked.
“Willow wouldn’t have hurt you unless she had to,” Hooty replied as he smiled. “She’s a lovely lady who's as sweet as a dragon fly blossom.”
Hunter kind of understood. Helping out during his first shopping trip proved what kind of person she was. And yet, there was that look in her eyes. Willow, for all her sweetness, was clearly also a person who was willing to protect those around her. Whatever the cost.
Even A Rose Has Thorns, Hunter thought.
It was a line from one of Belos’s old books. Hunter never quite understood the significance. Of course roses had thorns. It was just how they were.
He looked to where Willow had stood. Now he felt like he understood the full significance.
“She’s very admirable,” Hunter muttered, andis cardinal tweeted in agreement.
He glanced at Hooty and saw the house demon was smirking at him.
“What?” he asked.
“You liiiiike her,” Hooty sang as he wiggled about.
Hunter blushed. “What? Well...Yes, I mean I hope to be her friend.”
“Oh, old Hooty has been around all the blocks! This is clearly the beginning of a slow-burning subconscious unrequited crush,” Hooty replied in a sly tone. "That is, for noooooow~"
Hunter waved his hands in the air. “What makes you think that?!”
“Oh, I don't knooooow," Hooty smirked. "Why are you blushing?”
The words died in Hunter’s mouth as he fumbled with the kettle, putting it aside and sweeping the teapot onto a tray.
“I’m leaving now,” he declared.
“Feel free to ask me for advice,” Hooty called to his retreating back. “I’m knowledgeable in all the glorious and sinister ways of the heart! Just look at how I helped Lumity set sail! Literally!”
Hunter vowed he would never ask as he left the kitchen. And did his best to ignore the tweeting of the cardinal on his shoulder.
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