WARNING: ABUSE MENTION

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The Parks were very nice folk, to say the least. When Hunter walked their daughter right up to the door, Hunter was unsure whether or not to let go of Willow's arm, but ended up keeping hold of it. Willow's father, Eun, had answered the door and seemed rather surprised to find his daughter with her arm holding onto a boy's tightly. But, after he sized up Hunter quickly with a glance, he invited him inside for a cup of tea like predicted.

Gilbert, on the other hand, was a lot more cautious of Hunter, not that the boy blamed the man. It was obvious he cared a lot for his daughter, and he was sure the two older gentlemen were probably taken back over Willow suddenly bringing a new face around they had never seen, even more so when that face was well...his. He couldn't help but notice how often Gilbert's eyes darted at the scar on his cheek, a question he wanted to ask but felt was too rude.

"So, what track are you in school, Hunter?" Eun asked as he sat down a tea tray on the table. Hunter couldn't help but feel glad that he took part in proper etiquette classes when he was younger, he wanted to make sure he made the best impression possible, and silently thanked himself with dressing nicer as well, instead of throwing on one of his hoodies.

" I am actually home-schooled for the most part." Hunter replied. " I tend to lean toward construction, however, but I have dabbled a bit in bard magic." Willow had warned Hunter not to tell her parents that he was The Golden Guard, not just yet at least. She was worried that Gilbert in particular would have a heart-attack if he straight up told them.

" I take it that is how you meet our daughter then? She has told us all about the grove you two helped create." Gilbert smiled, looking over to Willow, who smiled. Hunter couldn't help but feel his ears flicking as he glanced over to her as well, trying to control the blush on his cheeks but knowing he was failing.

" She has, has she? I hoped she spoke of me in a good light." Hunter said, looking back to the two older men. Eun poured a cup of tea and passed it to Hunter, smiling a very kind smile.

"She has only good things to say about you! Why, I thought she was exaggerating a bit when she talked about the 'Handsome boy she met in the grove'." Eun smirked.

"Father!" Willow couldn't stop herself, her cheeks turning red as she stared at Eun. Hunter knew his face was probably redder than hers, though...did she really tell them he was handsome?

"But in all seriousness," Eun began, taking his own seat after the tea had been passed out. " We cannot help but thank you enough for how you have treated Willow. It meant so much to all of us that you went out of your way to bring her a new pair of glasses so quickly." Hunter cleared his throat, trying to tame his cheeks by force as he picked up the tea cup in front of him.

"Of course. It really was no problem." Hunter took a long sip from his tea, 'Good job, you are looking like a big goof to her parents.'

" So, how about your parents?" Gilbert asked, making Hunter choke on his tea and start coughing. Willow quickly went to start patting his back, Gilbert and Eun quickly exchanging looks before their eyes rested on Hunter once more.

"S-sorry, what was that?" Hunter cleared his throat. How did he not even think about the possibility of his parents coming up in conversation?

" I was just curious where your parents worked." Gilbert offered, resting his arms on the table.

"U-uuh...well.." Hunter rubbed his neck, feeling Willow shifting at his side. He glanced over to her, unable to help himself even around her parents, to see the look on her face reading 'You don't have to answer'. " I don't...have parents. It's just me and my uncle." Hunter looked back to Eun and Gilbert.

"Oh, I am sorry to hear that." Eun started.

"D-don't be! They passed away when I was very young. My uncle takes...care of me." Hunter hesitated saying that...shoot. His facade is starting to break, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep up with honesty much longer, even more so if they start asking questions about what his uncle did for a living. By the glances the two men were sharing, as well, it was easy to tell they knew something was up.

" Well, you have a home here if you ever need one, Hunter." Eun offered, making Hunter's ears flick in surprise as he looked at the gentleman.

"Absolutely. Our door is always open to you." Gilbert confirmed, smiling at the baffled teen. " Now!" Gilbert stood, rubbing his hands together. " How about dinner? Willow, will you come help me in the kitchen?"

"O-Oh I don't want to intru-" Hunter was cut off as a loud boom of thunder roared through the house. The boiling rains have come, and Hunter couldn't help but feel a sense of relief washing over him.

"Looks like you have no choice but to say and have dinner now, Hunter." Eun smiled, picking up his own cup of tea and sipping it. Willow smiled, moving to stand. She rested her hand on Hunter's shoulder to get his attention, giving him a bright smile before following her father into the kitchen, leaving Eun and Hunter alone. Hunter was unsure of what to do without Willow there. Picking up his own tea to take another sip as he hoped Eun would make a conversation point.

"You know, Hunter." Eun started, a gentle smile on his face. " Willow has not been able to stop talking about you for a while." Hunter felt his ears flick as his face flushed again. " I suspect she might have a crush on you."

'...haha...yeah...it's not like her and I are exclusive...though we are…' Hunter thought, looking at Eun. He was unsure how to reply to the man, but the color of his cheeks were enough for him.

" You like her back as well, I can tell." Eun smiled, a bit smug. Hunter swallowed, thinking over his reply.

"It's...hard not to, sir. Your daughter is...a very amazing person." Hunter looked down at his cup of tea, trying his best not to just throw it in his face to escape the situation.

"Well, just know that you have my husband and I's blessing. You have taken great care of her, and now after finally meeting you, I know you will do good by her." Eun kept that smile on his face, though it turned more genuine as he spoke. Hunter looked up at the other man, unable to find the words at first before giving a light nod.

"O-of course. Thank you, sir. I know I am a better man because of her."

Willow and Gilbert were starting their meal preparation, Willow incharge of the vegetables as always, and Gilbert handling the meats. He had picked out a more hearty meal to serve their guest, a pasta and meatball meal with thick sauce and mushrooms. He had muttered something under his breath about Hunter being too scrawny for a growing boy, something he thought Willow hadn't caught. As Willow worked on the mushrooms, along with a few different squash and peppers for the sauce, she noticed her Father turning to face her in his ' I am about to ask a question I probably shouldn't ask' kind of way.

" I don't know his diet, Dad. But, I can go ask if he has an allergy." Willow looked over to her father with a smile, almost sure she guessed what he was thinking but frowning as she saw his expression. Gilbert had a very concerned look on his face, one that read he almost had anxiety about what he wanted to ask.

"T-that is nice, sweety...but uh…" Gilbert sighed, setting down a meatball he had rolled down before looking back to Willow, and used a quiet tone to make sure Hunter and Eun didn't hear them in the other room. " Willow, this is going to be a very hard question to answer, and one that will be distressing…"

'Oh no, what is he about to ask?' Willow thought, unable to hide her own worried expression now.

"Willow...do you think Hunter is being abused by his uncle?" Gilbert whispered. Willow's heart sank as she looked back to the cutting board. She bit her lower lip, before giving a light nod, looking back to Gilbert.

" I see in your eyes there is something you want to tell me…" Gilbert coaxed. Willow hesitated as she glanced at the doorway that lead to where Eun and Hunter where, thankful that the two of them were out of sight of her.

" His...situation at home is…" Willow started, thinning her lips as she thought over her words carefully. "...he works for The Emperor's Coven, and very closely with The Emperor himself." Willow swallowed, looking to Gilbert who covered his mouth to try and hide his shock. " Dad, I am really worried about him, but...There is nothing we can really do to help him." Willow suddenly felt tears pricking at her eyes, she had talked to Hunter before on how she worried about how he was treated by The Coven, but the boy only gave her vague answers and promises that everything was ok. It did little to comfort her to say the least.

" Do you want us to talk to him? We can try to convince him to stay with us for a while if you think that will help." Gilbert whispered, putting his hand on Willow's shoulder. " We have a spare bedroom, after all."

"I-I don't know if that will work, Dad…" Willow whispered back, staring down at the cutting board before her. " It's...so complicated. He has a lot of responsibilities and can't just leave his situation…" Willow felt her father's hand squeeze her shoulder in comfort, before he took it back to sigh through his nose, trying to think over what to say next. Willow closed her eyes, sighing through her own nose before looking to her Father, " Can I tell you something, Dad?"

"Of course, sweety." Gilbert looked back to his daughter, eyes still showing concern.

"I want to rip that palace apart stone by stone for how they treat Hunter…."

_AN_

Hunter meets the parents~ I think they are chill with him! I decided to take a page out of 's book and gave Willow's father the name Eun for now until his real name is revealed! I did the same for Gus' palisman, but forgot to mention. Thank you guys for reading!