Chapter 1: Under cover, under arrest.

Hunter was not a morning person. Ever since he could remember, he'd stay awake most of the night, sometimes nights on end, and every morning he'd curse everything. The sun for rising, his ever-growing list of duties as Belos' right hand man and head of the Coven, even himself for staying up late (though the last one wasn't as frequent as the other two).

So, this was probably a sign that the world was ending because he actually woke up with a smile, as the little cardinal was chirping from his spot on his head. At this point, it might as well become officially his nest.

"Come on, get off. I'm awake." He chuckled, as the cardinal flew to his hand. "You got out of the staff again? You little ras-"

A knock on the door, made them both jump out of their skin, as Hunter started rummaging around looking for the staff and the cardinal flew under the bed.

The knocks continued until a voice was heard from the other side:

"Golden Guard? Are you awake?" And it was the worst possible voice one could hear in the morning...

"What do you want, Kiki?" Hunter called out in exasperation, scrambling around to get dressed.

"The emperor wants to see us both. Right now."

Hunter gave a worried look at the lower part of his bed, from which the cardinal stuck his head out, looking at him as though he could read his mind.

"Shall I wait for you to get ready?" Kikimora's voice quickly brought the boy out of his thoughts, his expression changing to an angry pout the moment he heard it.

You shall mind your own buisness, you bootlicker! "No. You go ahead, I'm coming in a minute." He finally said, repressing a growl.

"Coming in a minute... I'm sure the emperor will appreciate this amount of respect."

After that, it sounded like she started walking away. And the moment the sound of her steps disappeared, Hunter leaned against the door with a sigh of relief.

"That was a close call..." he muttered mostly to himself, as the cardinal flew to him with a chirp and settled on his knees, not really leaving him room with his thoughts. "You can't keep getting out of the staff. If anyone finds out you're here... If Belos finds out you're here, we're both done for."

He was stroking the palisman's head as he spoke and when he finished he flinched.

He knew first-hand that the emperor didn't take kindly to any kind of mistake or transgression and despite the fact that he wasn't regretting his decision to keep his new staff and his palisman and he had been doing a pretty good job at hiding them the last couple of days, there were still moments like this. Moments that he was scared that this wouldn't last. He wouldn't last.

He had a staff of wild magic, he used it to practise that very magic, for Titan's sake!

Belos had... hurt him before, for simply mentioning wild magic or its techniques. If he was to know that he was using it, he would end him. No question. He would end them both actually, because he knew what fate awaited the palismen that ended up in his hands...

No!

Crack!

...!

The cardinal had flew off his kness and was now flying in front of him, studying his face. Only in the moment he moved, did Hunter realize he was squeezing it (again) and that he was holding his breath.

"Sorry. I really need to work on that." He quickly apologized (for probably the one hundrendth time).

Wait a minute-!

Belos! He was waiting!

Hunter quickly stood up and put the rest of his armor on, but before he left he paused at the door, staring at his palisman who was now sitting on his bed.

With a disappointed chirp, the little bird flew under the bed, back in its staff. Hunter even checked to make sure, before he took his... other staff.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon." He said, before finally stepping out and locking the door behind him.

One can't be too careful. Especially with a bootlicker snooping around.

Kikimora arrived first, her collar hiding a smirk, which she quickly replaced with a serious, almost forlorn look before she entered the throne room.

"My liege." She said with a bow. "I know you summoned me, but I'm afraid I have to tell you something first. And alas, it's not good."

"Amity! You coming? We need to leave for school at some point."

Amity felt her stomach drop the moment she heard Emira calling for her. She had been awake nearly all night, dreading the moment she'd have to walk downstairs. And actually going to school...

Couldn't the Titan come to life for a second, swallow her and die again?

That'd be great. It would definitely save her from a lot of gasps, and whispers, and questions and...

No, she already missed a day (and apparently an important one, from what Willow and Gus said in their messages.). She couldn't spend the rest of her life hiding in her bedroom. No matter how tempting it was. And it wasn't just the... school situation. Her parents had yet to find out she dyed her hair.

And when they did... May Titan help her. She knew what would come with that decision when she made it, and she didn't regret it. But that didn't mean that she couldn't dread their (or rather her Mother's) reaction.

Sure, lately she had gained a lot more confidence and even stood up to them in the exhibit (man, did that feel good!), but...

But what? Was she having second thoughts now?

UGH! For the love of-

"Hey, Mittens. Are you-..." Emira stopped herself upon entering the room and went next to her little sister, who was still under her covers. "Hey, are you okay?"

"...I don't know." Amity said, her voice tired.

"I get it. So what's the plan? Stay here for the rest of your life or just until graduation?"

Amity gave no response. Just a soft groan as she pulled a blanket over her face.

"Come on. What are you afraid of? Mom? Or... someone else?"

More groaning. And a red face beneath the covers. While Emira gave a knowing smile.

"Look, Mittens. You can either stay here feeling sorry for yourself, for something as simple as growing. Or you could just go out there, show off that awesome new hair and spend some time with you-know-who."

Amity kept replaying that memory in her mind over and over again for the last few days. And every time, a part of her would loudly barate herself for getting out of bed that day. Indeed, things at school hadn't been as bad as she thought they would. She got to her classes, she saw her friends, she got plenty of compliments for her new hair... But she didn't do the most important thing: She didn't talk with Luz about the... about the kiss...

And she probably wouldn't have the chance...

"Amity?! What happened?! Who did this to you?!"

Amity definitely wasn't expecting her Mother to be happy with the change in her hair, but she probably did have to get some earplugs. And a bit of extra courage, because she could feel her legs trembling, as her Mother's voice was growing more shrill the more she kept going on.

"-shame?! What's wrong with you?! Is this really how you want to present yourself?! This is-"

"Yes." The moment Amity opened her mouth, the trembling stopped, and so did her Mother, who just stared at her in utter disbelief. "Whether you like it or not, I am a person! I'm not some puppet for you to toy with and you have no right to treat me like that!"

"What are you- I am your mother! I have the right to treat you however I see fit!" Odalia raised her voice again and started getting closer. Actually, dangerously close.

Amity clenched her fists to her sides, her eyes locking with her Mother's, while trying not to show that her heart was beating out of her chest.

"And apparently, I've been too lenient on you. We need to fix that. Now!"

The look in her Mother's eyes... Amity knew that dark look. And it still was enough to break her guard, as Odalia grabbed her wrist and started dragging her away.

Amity looked behind only for a moment, noticing her Father. Sitting there. Not doing, or saying anything at all. Probably not even caring.

Of course... Why would he? When did he?

Odalia took her to a guest room and gave her a vial with green hair dye.

"I have some buisness to take care of. In two hours I'll be back. If... this isn't undone by the time I return, you'll sleep in the basement. Understand?" She said, staring down at her daughter with the same dark look.

Amity said nothing, but her whole being was shaking. She was a bomb ready to explode and let out countless words and spells of frustration and anger!

But what she did in the end was just as loud.

She dropped it. The bottle broke. The dye was all over the floor.

And now she was sitting in the basement. Cold and alone. A prisoner in her own house, this time officialy. Her Mother said that she would stay there until she... 'got her act together'. She'd come to check on her a few times a day, but also to bring her her homework. She must've told school she was sick or something.

Fortunately, she didn't have to listen to her during the food deliveries. That was Ed and Em's job.

"Hey Amity! Special delivery!"

Speaking of...

"Cheer up, baby sister! We got you something we know you're gonna love!" Edric said, as he and Emira made their way downstairs and left a tray with food in front of her.

"Scrambled eggs. Great?" Amity said not sure why the eggs were supposed to make her so happy.

"Not just any kind of eggs. Griffon eggs, we're all about quality here." Emira added, as she and Ed gave her a knowing smile.

Amity gasped and her eyes flickered with hope, as she picked up what they were putting down.

"And you'll have a double portion tonight."

So, this is my first Owl House fanfic. Hope everyone was in character. Please leave a review and I'll see you later for chapter 2. :)