Hunter ended up having to stay the night. He didn't mean to, but there was really no option than to. The Boiling Rains had only gotten worse, as if the Titan himself was telling Hunter to stay where he was instead of returning home. Not that the boy minded, however. Eun and Gilbert were nothing but kind and caring, and even told Hunter that he could come and practice on the guitar whenever he'd like.

Deep down, Hunter wondered if his father would be the same as them. He only had few and far between stories about his parents. He was the very spitting image of his Father, from what Belos told him, but had his Mother's eyes. Whenever he tried to pry more information on them, Belos either brushed him off or said it was too difficult for him to speak about them. All he really knew was that they had both died from Wild Magic somehow…

Hunter had realized that he had more and more often found himself in front of a mirror, like now while he stood in the bathroom of the Park's household. He stared at his reflection, as if daring it to move, but his thoughts were only on 'I wonder if I really do look like my father?' He turned his face to the side, looking over his profile, before the otherside with the scarred cheek… Maybe his father had scars like him as well? Hunter felt his hand go to the most recent mark on his body, just above his left hip. It was still tender at times, but it would soon just be like his others, a memory of his failures, but a reminder that though he was not blessed with magic he was one hell of a sturdy person.

Hunter signed through his nose, turning to leave the bathroom and moving down the hall to enter the small guest room. All things considered, it was honestly a lot nicer than his room in the palace. Smaller, but well kept, had quite a few books to ponder over, and of course the threat of having someone come and bother him to quickly get changed into The Golden Guard gear was nonexistent. He went to sit on the edge of the bed, Lil' Rascal landing on his knee after and giving a few chirps up to the boy.

" We can't stay here for a few days." Hunter replied to the bird, moving to pet the top of his head. " You know I have my duties...as much as I wish I didn't."

Lil' Rascal gave a few more chirps, turning his head into the fingers of the teen.

"Belos would...find me." Hunter thinned his lips, doubt creeping into his mind as he heard his uncle's words ringing in his mind. It would be such a hassle to find a replacement. Hunter sighed through his nose, moving to look up at nothing in particular as he thought… Why would it be such a hassle? His thoughts cut out as Rascal chirped again, fluttering up to his shoulder. Hunter gave a small laugh, nodding slightly.

" And what would I call it? The Crimson Cardinal?" he smirked at his palisman who chirped a few more times before snuggling into his cheek, gaining a snort from the teen. " Yeah, you're right, it is too redundant."

A light, quiet knock sounded from the door of the guestroom, Hunter quirked his brow, quickly glancing to a nearby clock that read 12:43 AM. The Park's had all gone to bed by now, right? Hunter stood, going over to the door to open it gently to try and keep it from creaking, and was greeted by the smile of Willow, in her pajamas, but holding a tray in front of her that rested a few tea cups, cookies, and lastly Clover who was apparently the one who actually knocked.

"Hey, what are you doing awake?" Hunter whispered, opening the door more to let Willow inside. The girl smiled, walking in to set the tray on the guest bed before climbing onto it and looking back at him expectantly. Hunter felt his ears flicking, and the blush returning. Wouldn't they get in trouble if they were caught? He moved to close the door most of the way, leaving just a small crack open to make sure that if Eun or Gilbert came they wouldn't expect anything funny.

"I figured you wouldn't be asleep yet." Willow whispered to him as he crawled onto the bed, carefully as to not disturb the tea tray. He quirked his brow at her as she shifted to more comfortably sit on the mattress, offering him a cookie with a smile. " The tea is a sleep time mixture, but the cookies are just short-bread." Hunter couldn't help but smile as he took the cookie, looking it over before dunking it into his cup of tea.

"Thanks, Flower-Cake. This is really thoughtful." He smiled back at her, he knew he was blushing but didn't care. It was just him, Willow, and their palisman, after all. No need for good impressions or anything. Willow had her own blush on her cheeks now, following his lead with dipping a cookie into her tea.

"So? How do you think meeting my parents went?" Willow kept that smile as she looked at him. He felt his ears flicking around at just her gaze alone, unable to do anything to stop them.

"I think it went well." Hunter smiled down at his cup of tea, which he picked up and swirled around. " I think they like me." 'Eun gave me their blessing, so they must like me, right?'

" I think that is an understatement." Willow giggled, " After you went to wash your face they took me aside and told me that I should date you." Hunter looked up at Willow, wide eyes, feeling his face turning a deeper red.

"Y-yeEAh?" Hunter cleared his throat, his voice cracking at the most inopportune times...again. " W-what did you tell them?" he flicked his ears at her.

"The truth." Willow smirked, watching as Hunter hunched slightly, his ears looking like they were going to fly him to the moon. Willow couldn't help but give a little giggle, leaning over to him slightly to make sure she got his eye contact, and taking enjoyment over how red his face was. " Was that ok?"

"W-was-" Hunter processed the question for a few moments before nodding rapidly, " O-Of course! Of course! I-I just uh- I-...surprised they didn't kick me out?" Willow smiled, moving to cup his cheek with her hand and force him to look up at her.

"Hey, you never need to worry about that with them, ok?" Willow said gently, her smile growing more as she watched Hunter's face. His brain was definitely starting to stop, trying to figure out what to do between her comment, her touch, and the fact that her parents knew they were exclusive but let him stay the night anyway. He thinned his lips, unsure why he felt tears starting to prick his eyes as he leaned into the palm of her hand, closing his eyes as he smiled. He felt Willow shift, then soon a kiss being placed on the top of his head. " How are you feeling?"

" The best I have been in a long time." Hunter replied, opening his eyes to look back at her with his own smile. They sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying the presence of one another as they drank their tea and nibbled on the cookies, breaking off small pieces for their palisman. After their tea was finished, Willow rubbed at her eyes as her own tea started to catch up to her, Hunter felt the same, wondering if he should try to drink this tea when he was at the castle.

"I am going to head to bed now. Get some rest, Hunter." Willow smiled as she stood, collecting the tea tray. Hunter got up to open the door for her, smiling as she passed him. She paused just before him, before standing on her tip-toe and placing a quick peck on his lips. Hunter felt his ears going wild as he stared wide eyed at her. She only smiled up at him, her own blush on her cheeks, before tilting her head. " I never noticed until now...Your eyes kind of glow in the dark." She whispered, before smiling again. " Goodnight, Hunter." With that she turned, heading down the hallway to put the tea tray in the kitchen, leaving the awestruck boy standing in the door.

Hunter didn't know how long he stood there just staring after she disappeared, but it was long enough that Lil' Rascal fluttered onto his shoulder and gave a few quiet chirps, knocking him out of his dumbstruck phase. He swallowed, moving his hand to touch his lips before he closed the door. Hunter turned to head to the bed before pausing and turning his head to look at a small mirror on the wall. What did she say about his eyes? He furrowed his brow before turning to walk through the darkened room, finding himself in front of the mirror…