I'll Be The One

Chapter 30:

=Normal POV=
[Friday, 3/1/2019-3:40 pm]
[Archipelago; Arc Isle]
[Archia Island University]

It had been about nine days since Hunter and Tallon started their relationship, and both were happy. Of course, they didn't spend every waking moment together; things were going slow and at a pace they felt was good for them. Tallon and Hunter decided not to plan any particular events for them to do, such as going on dates. It was agreed upon that they'd just do stuff as it came on, meaning that if that particular day they said let's go grab some food, see a movie, or talk a walk; they'd probably just do it. The two shared light kisses, holding hands, cuddling, and hugging, but nothing further for obvious reasons. It was easy for them to find topics to talk about, and they were never bored. The two also didn't say I Love You yet because they'd only just begun dating on a like each other level. Perhaps with more time in and seeing if their feelings grew more into a love place; they'd start saying it or maybe it would just happen one day. Yes, Hunter and Tallon loved being together; it felt good and right.

The friends were all being supportive of the relationship, and they were happy that Hunter had forgiven them. Everything felt right again, for Hunter to have friends and be with Tallon. Today, Hunter was technically twenty-two since the 29th of February didn't come this year; it meant that with the beginning of March, February was over, so Hunter was considered a year older. Salvatore had put a little something together for Hunter at The Archian House, and he had high hopes that Hunter wouldn't be too mad about the way he decided to hold the party. Gregory took care of inviting Hunter's friends and Tallon; they were going to arrive to house before Hunter did. Hunter was still in class; his Advanced Languages, which was from 2 pm to 4 pm. Unfortunately, Hunter wasn't feeling all that great. Not in the sense that he was sick, but he had a headache, which was getting worse.

Hunter was trying to paying attention to the lesson, but he found he had a hard time doing that. Hunter's head was pounding; he felt a bit nauseated and tired. "Mr. Haddock, is there something else that has your focus?"

"No, Ma'am," Hunter replied.

"Are you alright?" the woman inquired.

"Headache that is developing into a migraine," Hunter admitted.

"Off with you to the infirmary. A migraine will keep you from paying attention. You're not missing anything imperative, and I can e-mail you the homework at 4:00," the woman stated. Hunter nodded, not wanting to argue because he didn't feel up to it. Hunter collected his things and exited the room. Hunter wasn't going to go to the student health center; he wanted to go home and rest a bit. Hunter headed out of the building, sighing heavily as he waited for the signal to cross the street. However, something he didn't expect was for the black SUV to pull up fast as Cody and Andrew rushed forward.

"What the-?" Hunter asked quickly. Harry opened the door as Hunter was pushed in quickly. "Guys! What's going on?"

"We have him," Andrew said.

"We're bringing him home," Cody added.

"Night Fury secure," Bryant reported as Hunter's door was closed and the car zipped off down the street.

"Kris, what the fuck is going on?" Hunter demanded.

"Your father's orders, sir," Kris replied. "I'm sorry I don't have more than that; I'm just the driver and go where I'm told," he added softly. Hunter sighed as he flopped back with his arms over his chest. Closing his eyes; he knew he was on his way to The Archian House.

. . .

[4:00 pm]
[The Archian House]

Just a few moments from the house; Hunter sat in the backseat of the SUV in pain. Hunter had his knees pulled up and head down while trying not to throw up. The headache had turned migraine after leaving the university grounds; Hunter tried to deal with it, but it wasn't working. Kris happened to look back and see the state Hunter was in.

"Excuse me, sir; I don't mean to pry…But are you alright?" Kris inquired.

"I-I'm fine," Hunter managed without looking up. Hunter felt like he was going to throw up; he tried to hold it back and swallow.

"We're two minutes out," Hunter heard Bryant report.

Hunter felt the vomit rise again as he covered his mouth, trying to refrain from puking. Hunter took a few deep breaths to settle the nausea, but it wasn't working. "Pull…Over…" Hunter forced out.

"What was that, sir?" Cody inquired.

"Pull over…The car," Hunter told him.

"We have been advised to bring you-," Cody started.

"For fuck's sake, Cody! I said pull over the car now; I'm not asking! I'm ordering!" Hunter yelled. Kris pulled off to the side right away as Hunter opened the passenger side door, getting out and finally throwing up on the side of the road. Hunter had an arm around his stomach, and one hand held the road sign post for balance while he was slightly bent over.

"His father is asking what is taking so long," Andrew told his elder brother, Cody.

"Tell him the truth; Hunter demanded we pull over and he's throwing up," Bryant stated.

"This is Anderson; we're a minute from our destination and stopped on the side of the road," Harry informed into his radio. "His son demanded that we stop," he added after a moment. Hunter puked again, coughing a few times before he threw up once more. Hunter panted, taking deep breaths as he rested his head on his arm that was holding the sign post.

"Alright…" Hunter pulled himself off the post and slowly moved back to the car, getting in his seat. "Let's go…"

"We're moving," Cody reported this time. Hunter kept his head against the rest and eyes closed. Less than two minutes later; they arrived out front of house as the guards positioned themselves to open Hunter's door an let him out. Getting inside, Gregory was first to greet Hunter.

"Why did I get brought back here?" Hunter asked him.

"Yer guess is as good as mine. I was escorted here as well, from my room," Gregory stated. "Your dad ordered it,"

"The president is requesting you both in the dining room," stated a man. Hunter sighed as he started for the room with Gregory. Reaching their destination, Hunter stopped before opening the door, feeling like he might throw up again.

"Are ya alright, lad?" Gregory questioned.

Hunter shook his head. "Migraine…"

"Feel like throwing up?" Gregory pushed as Hunter managed a nod, covering his mouth, but then taking it down when he swallowed the vomit rising up. "Alright…We can't do it then," Gregory said as Hunter looked at him.

"Do what?" Hunter asked.

Gregory opened the door to the room, putting his hands up and shaking his head to the people in there. "Greg, where is he?" Salvatore asked first.

"Right behind me, but don't do the thing," Gregory informed.

"Why not?" Salvatore inquired. "Is he alright? Does it have to do with why the car was pulled over? Is he hurt?"

"No," Gregory shook his head as Salvatore arched a brow.

"What the hell is going on?" Hunter stepped in now, seeing everything in the room; all set up for a birthday party for him.

"Um…Surprise?" Roxanne and TJ shrugged.

"It was a party for your birthday, lad," Gregory sighed. "But when you told me what's going on; I wanted to make sure they wouldn't yell for your sake…"

"And now that it's out…What is going on? Why did you transportation stop on the way here? I'm the only one who calls off an emergency transport," Salvatore asked.

"I didn't give them much choice, Dad. I got sick on the ride and told Kris to pull over so I wouldn't throw up in the car…" Hunter mumbled.

"He's got a migraine, Sal…" Gregory interjected. Salvatore backed off a bit, eyes widening.

"And what the hell is wrong with you? Having me taken off the sidewalk outside of the university? Making me think there's a threat? All for a surprise party? Really, Dad?" Hunter glared.

"That was my idea, lad…Your father wasn't sure you'd agree to come if he asked…" Gregory stepped in. "I know, not the best plan,"

Hunter sighed. "I suppose it was pretty clever because I wouldn't have come if asked…But still, can't really enjoy the party in my current state…"

"You said migraine, right?" Tallon asked as Hunter nodded to him. "I think I have something that can help…"

"I'll take or try anything…" Hunter replied.

"Someone get me a bowl of warm water and something frozen, like a bag a vegetables?" Tallon inquired. Salvatore nodded to the staff to go ahead and do it. "And you take off your socks and shoes, sit down on the floor," Hunter didn't argue with it, mainly because it hurt to do too much. Tallon obviously knew what he was doing, and Hunter was willing to give anything a shot to make the pain stop. After Hunter did what Tallon said; two staff members brought over that Tallon had asked for. "Alright, set your feet in the water, knees up, put your hands here," Tallon set Hunter's body the way it should be. "Keep your head down on your knees, and I'm gonna put this here…Bit cold," Tallon warned as he set the bag of frozen stuff on the back of Hunter's neck; it made him shudder a bit.

"Now what?" Madison asked.

"Everyone stays quiet for about ten minutes," Tallon said. "Hunter, just relax and keep your eyes closed," Hunter didn't say anything, but he closed his eyes and tried to relax. For ten minutes, no one did or said anything. "How do you feel?"

"Feels like an average headache now…" Hunter replied as he pulled the frozen bag off his neck and sat up, turning his neck a bit and taking a breath. Tallon reached into his pocket and pulled out a pill bottle; he poured two into his palm and offered them to Hunter with a water bottle.

"It's just aspirin," Tallon assured. "It'll take care of the headache," Hunter smiled some, taking both before pulling his feet out of the water and drying them off. Hunter pulled his socks and shoes on before Tallon and Trevor helped him get up.

"Thanks, Tal," Hunter held his hand a bit; then kissed his cheek. "Didn't know there was a migraine cure,"

"I come from a long line of doctors," Tallon chuckled a bit.

"Definitely gonna have to keep that cure in mind. I'm not prone to migraines, but now and then…We're talking maybe ten times a year; they just hit," Hunter said.

"So…You're alright to enjoy the party then?" Avery questioned.

"Yeah, I think so," Hunter nodded as he looked at his father. "Alright…Come on," he said.

"What?" Salvatore asked.

"I think I've let you suffer the silent treatment long enough from what you did in January," Hunter mentioned. "You're forgiven, now come give me a hug," Salvatore hugged him tightly.

"I am sorry for what I did, son," Salvatore whispered.

"No more secrets, though. Okay? If you need to ensure I'm safe…You can ask. And if there's a threat, I don't mind you increasing the security…But friggin warn me, got it? It doesn't take much effort to send a text or pass the message along. Remember what mom always said? Think before you act…" Hunter retorted.

"I can promise to try…You know I don't mess around with your life, Hunter. If it requires immediate action; I act…" Salvatore let him go.

"Well…Try to remember that unless it's a shooter, bomb, or kidnapper threat…Ten to one; I can protect myself. And if I can't…I'm friends with five cops and dating one…Plus, I can call for backup…" Hunter reminded.

"I know," Salvatore nodded. "Wait…Dating one? A cop?" he blinked.

"Yeah…Tallon and I are in a relationship, we started dating nine days ago…" Hunter informed.

"Oh, I'm happy to hear that, son. I was wondering why you seemed so happy lately," Salvatore smiled.

"Good for you, laddie," Gregory nodded. Hunter wrapped his arm around Tallon's waist, bringing him close. Hunter laid his head against Tallon's; the two of them were about the same height and age. "Told you it would work out," Gregory punched his arm, knocking Hunter into Tallon, and making Tallon lose his balance a bit.

"You alright?" Hunter helped him up. Tallon nodded to Hunter, smiling.

"No worries," Tallon replied. "If I can't handle getting knocked down a few times, not sure I'm fit to be a cop or secret service,"

"You know what I'd find to be entertaining…" Seth said. "The two of you sparring," he chuckled, pointing to Hunter and Tallon.

"That would be interesting," Drew nodded.

"Have to agree, but this is a party…So no fighting," Salvatore said. "Besides…Hunter doesn't fight without a reason, never has,"

"Meaning?" Flynn asked.

"It means Hunter isn't the type of person who goes fighting without a cause to do so. Such as the night he jumped into help you and your friends; it was because people he knew were involved. A random fight for entertainment? No, would be pointless," Gregory said.

"Why is that?" Harper wondered.

"That's just how I am. I don't believe in fighting without a cause. Training purposes, okay. Helping out a couple friends, sure. Defending the innocent, no questions asked. Protecting people I care about?" Hunter paused.

"Fucking run…" Gregory and Salvatore said.

"That's not what I was going to say…" Hunter rolled his eyes.

"No…But that's what someone who hurts people you care about should do…" Gregory stated. "You fight that one with the most passion and drive. I pity the fool on the receiving end because they don't stand a chance,"

"Well, yeah…If you're stupid enough to use someone's family and friends against them…You do whatever it takes to stop it. You're driven by fear, which can effectively be stronger than fighting out of anger," Hunter said.

"You've fought angry before," Salvatore informed.

"But it's sloppy form and open to careless mistakes because your only focus is attack with everything you have," Gregory interjected. "And it'll tire you out that much faster. The lad is right, Sal. You can be angry but not use that emotion to fuel your drive in a fight,"

"Fighting with fear, though; it's a whole different ballgame," Hunter smiled. "Fear can be turned into strength because when you fight to protect others; you'll spend more time outsmarting your opponent, tiring them out before yourself. Or angering them so that they make the mistakes. At least that's how I feel about it; I can fight smarter and harder while afraid over being angry," he added.

"Of course; there is blind fury…" Gregory shrugged. "That's where an enemy does something to push you over the edge and you rage out in a fashion the likes of which your opponent has never seen and effectively becomes afraid of you, backing down. Like submission,"

"Yeah…I remember the day you taught Hunter what blind fury was…" Salvatore retorted with a roll of his eyes.

"Hey, he was curious…" Gregory informed.

"You could have explained it…You didn't have to show him!" Salvatore huffed.

"Sal, there is no way to really explain blind fury; you have to experience that to learn how to fight with it," Gregory reminded.

"What happened?" Tallon asked.

"This genius set up training exercise behind Hunter's back, to show him what blind fury was like. Gregory got a couple of the guards to break into the house and fake kill me, his mother, and himself…But he made sure it was when Hunter was watching it happen. Hunter thought we were dead, and he snapped," Salvatore sighed.

"Hunter, in a blind fury of rage and grief, fought and took down ten people by himself; weapons and all," Gregory mentioned.

"Yeah…You left out the part where even when we stopped the exercise and called for Hunter to stop because we were fine; he didn't even hear us," Salvatore put his hands on his hips. "Hunter didn't stop until everyone he thought was an enemy was down…And he ended up blacking out for half an hour. Hunter woke up and had no idea what happened; he thought it was bad dream,"

"Dad…In Greg's defense…I did ask him to show me what it was like," Hunter shrugged.

"See?!" Gregory motioned to Hunter now.

"I still don't see why you couldn't just explain it…" Salvatore mumbled.

"Sal, listen to me, alright. Blind fury…It's not something you can teach someone through training sessions. It's not a technique, it's not a style; it's rage. Pure rage that can only be accessed when you've been pushed past the edge. Nothing else matters other than your target or targets; you fight with unbridled strength. Blind Fury is the reaction to being pushed past your limits. Blind Fury is something that happens when you quite literally, temporarily, lose your mind. When your sanity breaks and do things you didn't think you were capable of doing, then not being able to remember it, scaring yourself when you see or learn what you did," Gregory explained.

"Uncle Greg is right, Dad…Even with his description; you can't truly understand the feeling unless you experience it. Blind Fury is defined by blinded emotion; it doesn't have to be anger. It can be grief, sadness…Anything that hits you hard and you feel so much emotion that you snap in a fury, and it doesn't stop until your body gives out from exhaustion, emotional and physical," Hunter said.

"But Hunter…You were only seventeen…." Salvatore sighed.

"Doesn't matter," Hunter shrugged.

"Besides…Hunter felt that kind of raw emotion without me before…" Gregory informed.

"I have?" Hunter blinked.

"Yeah…What do you think happened when you found out Jay passed away?" Gregory arched a brow.

"Oh, yeah…I remember that," Hunter replied. "Good point. But anyway…" he smiled. "This is a party, right? Well, let's party!" he called.

"Finally!" the friends cheered as Hunter laughed a little. Hunter looked at Tallon now.

"Happy birthday," Tallon told him. Hunter held Tallon's hand, pulling him closer as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Happy birthday to you too," Hunter said as Tallon blinked a little. "What? You think I didn't know your birthday was on the 29th too?" he chuckled a bit.

"Well, I never told you…Did I?" Tallon asked.

"Yeah, you did," Hunter laughed a bit. "The night we went drinking at the Dragon's Nest; you told me while we were snacking on the appetizer sampler. We laughed about the fact our birthdays were on the same day. I mentioned it was awesome having someone who understood my pain of being born on a leap year, so we're technically only…"

"Five years old until 2020 when we turn six," Tallon nodded. "I remember now," he chuckled. "You have an extremely good memory,"

"Among my talents, babe," Hunter winked.

"Babe?" Tallon blushed a bit.

"What? We're together now, names like that come with the territory," Hunter stated gently.

"I'll…Keep that in mind. Do I call you names too?" Tallon asked. "Gods, I'm so bad at this…"

Hunter laughed a little as he brought Tallon closer, placing a hand around the back of his neck and kissing him softly for a moment or two. "You worry too much," Hunter poked his nose. "Come on, let's go have some fun," he pulled Tallon along with him. Tallon nodded, smiling as they walked over and joined the others while still hand in hand.