Resorting To Friendship
"Take care of her," Hunter said, firmly but not unkindly.
A teenage Rafinesque demon — the same demon kind as Quincey, Skara's boyfriend — with long brown hair falling over her eyes, smiled widely as she held her new palisman, carved in the likeness of a star-nosed mole named Stella, promised that she would treasure her, and left with her parents. Hunter sighed with contentment at another palisman bonding and glanced around at the grove where he worked, brushing his hands off on his heavy work overalls worn over a brown collared shirt and dark cargo pants.
Waffles tweeted happily at another of her fellows finding a partner and fluttered down from her nest, perching on Hunter's workbench and flapping her wings.
"What's up?" Hunter asked, head tilted. Waffles stopped flapping, only to wink … and Hunter's vision turned dark from a pair of soft, calloused hands.
"Guess who," a young woman sing-songed, and Hunter laughed. He placed his hands on hers and turned in place to find Willow smiling radiantly up at him with her long braids framing her face, dressed in a white-linen peasant dress cinched with a leather belt, dark tights, and her favorite ankle boots. She wrapped him in a hug, pillowing her cheek on his chest, and Hunter melted into the embrace as he hugged her back, sighing with relief at seeing her.
Willow had been gone for the weekend at a flyer derby convention. With the return of palismen, the sport was seeing a surge of renewed interest. As the founder and captain of the Emerald Entrails — Hexside's first flyer derby team, as well as the first school team in decades — and as a Hero of the Isles, Willow had become a major player in that movement. Hence the invitation for a minor to said convention.
There were rumors that the Emerald Entrails would be the first signed team in the restored professional league next year, after youngest members Willow and Skara had graduated. Hunter, naturally, supported that idea without a shred of reservation, as did the others.
"You're here," he sighed.
"I'm here," Willow whispered. She wriggled free and held up an opened envelope, her smile hidden behind it and her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. "And look what I won at the convention."
Hunter plucked the envelope from her fingers and slid out tickets to- Hunter's eyes widened in shock. "A weekend stay at Sunset Shores Resort for four people?" he marveled.
"You've heard of them?" Willow asked, pleasantly surprised.
"I've, erm," the tips of Hunter's ears turned red and he looked away. "I may have researched romantic getaways."
"Oh, Hunter," Willow cooed and placed her hands on his cheeks to kiss his nose. "That's the sweetest thing."
"So you want me to go?" Hunter asked. "I would have thought you'd bring some of the girls."
"To the most romantic resort on the Boiling Isles," Willow said flatly, tilting her head forward to look skeptically at him over her glasses.
"I never said my brain made sense," Hunter defended lightly.
Willow laughed … and then her smile wilted as she looked down at the passes. "I may not be able to go at all, honestly."
"Wait, what?" Hunter asked. "Willow, you won the tickets!" He blinked. "Speaking of, how did you win?" He smiled and arched an eyebrow. "An amazingness contest?"
"A random drawing," Willow replied, her cheeks pinking. She looked down forlornly. "I doubt my papa will let me go."
"They can come with us," Hunter suggested.
"They're working that weekend," Willow rebutted gently, tapping her finger to the date printed on the tickets. "And … it's not just that."
"Willow, we can talk to them about it," Hunter said, cupping her cheek into his palm and savoring how she leaned into the touch. "I'm sure they'll be reasonable."
"Absolutely not!" Harvey thundered.
The next day, Hunter had come over to support Willow in lobbying for their short vacation. They all had a midmorning breakfast, lovingly prepared by Gilbert, and Willow had explained the situation when all of their bellies were full. That wasn't stopping Harvey from standing in firm denial.
Hunter flinched despite himself, a reflex to outrage from paternal figures that he had never been able to fully shake. Willow squeezed his hand and offered him an understanding smile, which he gratefully returned, before she looked at her papa with calm, resolute eyes.
"Why not?"
Willow and Hunter shared a quick darting glance before they looked at the person who had taken the words right from Willow's mouth. Gilbert, who had actually asked the question, had turned to stand perpendicular to his husband and daughter, a silent declaration of neutrality. "Why should they not go, Harvey?" he asked mildly.
"They're children!" Harvey protested.
"Hunter is nineteen and Willow will be eighteen next month," Gilbert gently rebutted.
"Teenagers, then!" Harvey adjusted. "Teenagers who would be alone at a resort."
"Harv-" Gilbert started, but Harvey cut him off.
"Don't you 'Harv' me, Gilbert," Harvey said, his gaze hard. "Not this time."
As it turned out, Hunter had been a divisive addition to the family — and he was a member of the family. Saying otherwise was a fast way to Willow's cold shoulder. Gilbert had supported that notion fully from the beginning. Harvey … not so much.
It was easy to see that Harvey deeply loved his family. That love tended to manifest as worry, both for his husband and daughter … and for the future. He had been the main factor behind Willow starting in the Abomination track at Hexside, though Gilbert had pushed it, too. They were far from wrong that Abomination magic and its corresponding coven had carried exceptional job opportunities. And for a pair of construction workers who weren't exactly highly paid, that seemed something to encourage.
But far more than that was concern over Willow's magical talents — certainly not as a late bloomer, as the Parks had utmost faith in their Willow and were in time proven unmistakably right — which would lead to the coven led by a certain … unstable witch. Terra Snapdragon had left an indelible impression upon both of them as students attending the IFWOT. While they knew that Plant magic did not make one unstable any more than any other field … it left them fearful that Willow might some day work for Snapdragon. But Principal Bump's recommendation had shown them how miserable Willow had been in her papa's field of magical study, and they had acquiesced on the change for her sake.
A boy, though, had been another matter entirely.
After Belos had been vanquished and the Collector flew off to "grow up" among the stars, Willow had been overjoyed to introduce Hunter to them as more than the mysterious "Caleb" from flyer derby — and more than merely a friend. Gilbert had been welcoming, but Harvey had been wary upon contact. Revealing his background as the Golden Guard had upgraded that to something solidly between mistrust and outright hostility.
Gilbert had been the one to talk Harvey down and convince him to give Hunter a chance, in part by using his beloved pet name. Over the last three years, Harvey had slowly come to accept Hunter's presence, though his paternal, nearly-irrational hesitance involving the boy had never fully faded.
"Harvey Park," Gilbert said more firmly, crossing his arms. He tilted his head forward to let the light flash off the lenses of his glasses and then to look at his husband over them. Harvey planted his feet and stood his ground, though a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face at his husband's rarely-seen ire.
"What if they had chaperones?" Gilbert asked, easing his anger to break the stand-off.
"Chaperones?" Harvey asked, blinking in surprise. His eyebrows arched and his gaze hardened again. "If you think I would trust the Owl Lady to keep them out of trouble-"
"I didn't mean the Eda," Gilbert interrupted, actually chuckling at the thought as he adjusted his glasses. "And I'm sure Raine is busy with council business, anyway."
After the throne had been cast aside, Raine, Darius, and Eberwolf had stepped up as a ruling body backed by King the Last Titan until a democratic government could be developed. It was still slow-going with all of the rebuilding going on. He glanced at the kids to confirm Raine's situation, to which they nodded, and he hummed in thought as he scratched his chin. "Darius would certainly adore the spa, but he's certainly busy, too." His eyes lit up and he addressed Willow. "Ah! What about Camila?"
"Camila still isn't super comfortable with the Isles," Willow said, shuffling her feet.
"She tries to hide it," Hunter picked up, his tone heavy with fondness for the woman who had essentially adopted him as her own, "and we love her for that." He shook his head. "But we couldn't ask her to come on a trip we know will freak her out."
"And as much as he could use a vacation," Gilbert mused, "Alador is out of the question." Harvey still hadn't forgiven the Blight father for his passive role in hurting Willow when she was young, and even Gilbert still wasn't comfortable with the man.
The conversation carried on with possible chaperones being named and denied. Dell and Gwendolyn Clawthorne — who were essentially Hunter's adopted grandparents — were deemed too close to Eda, which made Hunter laugh. Lilith was busy with Hooty working for the museum. Perry Porter was in the middle of a big story for the news.
Names became scarcer after that, and none of them were deemed trustworthy.
"Well, I suppose that settles that," Harvey surmised.
Willow sighed and Hunter wound an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. He wished he knew someone else that was older. Someone who Harvey couldn't help but like, and whom Hunter trusted. But that list was very short. Even-
Hunter's eyes widened as a thought came to mind. "Excuse me," he said and moved over to the Parks' crow phone perch. He dialed a number and tapped his foot as he waited, glancing at Willow and answering her questioning look with a confident wink.
"Hey, man. It's Hunter," Hunter said into the crow's beak. "Yeah, it's nice to hear from you, too," he laughed. "Look, uh," he rubbed the back of his head, "I need a favor. How would you and your fiancee like to chaperone me and Willow for a weekend at Sunset Shores Resort?" He was silent as he listened, then smiled even wider. "Dude, remember who you're talking to. Of course I'm serious." He listened some more. "Yeah, Willow's papa is insisting on it. Apparently he doesn't trust us as two young adults to behave ourselves."
Willow giggled behind her hand and Harvey bristled, but was kept from stepping forward by Gilbert blocking him with one arm and leveling a flat look at his husband.
"Uh, yeah, sure," Hunter said, and then handed the phone to Gilbert. "He wants to talk to you two."
"This is Gilbert Park, Willow's dad," Gilbert answered. His eyes brightened as he listened. "Ah, yes, I think I've heard Willow mention you. Mh-hmm. Yes." Gilbert nodded along and he looked at Harvey. "Why, yes. We would love to meet you and your fiancee in person to discuss the matter. One o'clock at the Howling Dire. We'll see you there." He hung up and looked at Harvey expectantly.
"You can't be serious," Harvey said, spreading his arms.
"We're going, Harvey," Gilbert said.
"Gil-" Harvey tried.
"Harvey," Gilbert said, his tone finally growing frustrated. "How many times have I supported your decisions where Willow was concerned?" He began ticking fingers to illustrate. "Putting her in the Abomination track as opposed to Construction? Preparing to homeschool her when she was wrongfully expelled? Enforcing a sundown curfew for the first year of them dating?" He crossed his arms. "I have gone along with it all. Just this once, I'm asking you to back me." He softened his gaze and tone. "Please."
Harvey seemed to struggle … but to his credit, it was only a few seconds before he lowered his head with a heavy sigh. "I'll go get dressed," he mumbled, lumbering toward the master bedroom.
"Who did you call?" Willow whispered as her dad followed.
"You'll see," Hunter replied with a mischievous grin.
"Where are they?" Harvey grumbled, tapping his foot impatiently from his chair.
All of them were sitting at a long table at the covered front-verandah of the Howling Dire Pub, the traditional sign emblazoned with the silhouette of a howling direwolf. It was one of Harvey's favorites, as it turned out, but even that thought wasn't enough to lighten his spirits.
After the plans had been set, everyone had gotten dressed and arrived early. Harvey was dressed in a crisp, green button-up shirt and semi-formal trousers, his leather shoes freshly polished. Gilbert was a little less stiff in a brown polo and clean denim pants with athletic shoes. Hunter was dressed as usual in a dark shirt with half-sleeves under a pastel yellow waistcoat, dark pants, and his leather boots, while Willow wore a sleeveless white shirt with a rounded collar and green dress shorts with her leather sandals.
"It's not quite one, yet," Gilbert said mildly. "They're not late."
"Early is on-time, on-time is late, and late is unacceptable," Harvey quoted. "If they don't show up on time-"
"My guy's never been late for anything," Hunter interjected, his ears twitching as his smile grew. "Besides, they're almost here."
Harvey opened his mouth to ask how he knew … but nothing came out as a low sound registered to his hearing. It sounded like a low growl … that was steadily growing louder. Were their drink glasses shaking just a little? The gowling continued to grow and from around the corner whirled a motorbike, with a skull plate on the front and a high seat flanked by exhaust pipes in back. The motorbike roared, almost literally, as it raced down the street toward the pub and spun into a smooth arc that parked it firmly between two carts on the side of the road.
Two riders in leather jackets dismounted the bike, a man and a woman, and removed their helmets and then their sunglasses in perfect sync. The effect was surprisingly stylish, though ruined a bit by wide, joyous smiles. The bikers both whistled sharply over their fingers, a wave of red Bard magic lifting them up and over the street to land on the sidewalk before the pub.
"Hunter!" the man said.
"Hey, Steve," Hunter laughed and they hugged with almost brotherly abandon.
"Hi, Willow," the woman said with a kind smile.
"Oy my Titan, Katya!" Willow cheered and hugged her tightly around the middle. The woman hugged her back before grunting as her back popped as Willow lifted her off her feet.
"I always forget how strong you are," Katya grunted after Willow put her back down, stretching her back to ease the brief aches.
"Willow," Steve greeted, offering his spread arms which Willow laughed as she hugged him,too, while Hunter gave a friendly side-hug to Katya.
"Excuse me," Gilbert said, rising from his seat, actually half-raising his hand. "You're Steve?"
"Probably," Steve said, unzipping his leather jacket to reveal a red button-up shirt with his name stenciled in cursive that contrasted, but did not clash with, his heavy cargo pants and riding boots. He was a well-built young man with tanned skin and brown hair cut in a quiff to accommodate the single, bone-white horn curling from above his left eye. Both eyes were bright blue and shone with earnest friendliness. "Steve Malva, at your service."
"The scout who joined the CATs?" Gilbert pressed.
"Yep, that's me," Steve said simply.
"I can't believe we haven't met yet," Gilbert said with a wide smile, holding out his hand. "Gilbert Park." Steve shook the hand with a firm, friendly grip, and Gilbert stepped to the side, waving a hand toward Harvey. "And this is my husband, Harvey."
"Nice to meet you," Steve said cheerily, offering his hand, which Harvey shook with a curt nod. Gilbert lightly elbowed Harvey with an unimpressed look before turning to Steve's companion.
"Katya Sertdse," she offered, holding out her own hand to shake. She'd removed her leather jacket to bear an off-the-shoulder blouse of peach and denim shorts that hugged her curves, with riding boots of her own. Katya was of an age with Steve, probably a few years younger, with glossy, dark hair in a high ponytail, sparkling hazel eyes, olive skin, and a pair of small fangs. A die-mond engagement ring sat on her finger, sparkling in the sunlight.
Overall, Steve and Katya struck the image of a wholesome young couple.
"Nice to meet you, Miss," Gilbert said, shaking her hand and watching carefully as Harvey did, too. "Shall we have a seat?"
Everyone settled at their table — Steve and Harvey at the ends, Gilbert and Katya at their respective lefts and Willow and Hunter at their rights — and a waitress appeared with almost miraculous timing to take their orders. As they waited, Harvey spoke up.
"So, Steve, how do you know Hunter and our daughter?"
"Papa, I've talked about Steve before," Willow said.
"I'd like to hear it from him," Harvey said, his tone unchanged.
"I spend a lot of my off-time around the Owl House," Steve explained. "Lilith and I have known each other since I became a scout and she trusted me in those days." He laughed goodnaturedly. "Which is no small thing, let me tell you. Anyway, after she defected, we kept in touch." He hooked a thumb at Hunter. "And this guy I met in the coven, too. I mean, Belos kept him from really spending time with scouts, but," he ruffled Hunter's hair, "that didn't keep you from ol' Steve, huh?"
Hunter batted Steve's hand away, but was laughing as he did.
"Anyway, I've kept close with a bunch of the 'extended family'," Steve finished.
"What about you, Katya?" Gilbert asked.
"I was a member of the Bards Against the Throne," she answered. "We met Eda when she got us out of trouble during our debut and she helped us out until we were all captured. Darius got us out undercover and we met up with everyone else." She put her hand on Steve's, and he smiled back at her. "That's where we met, actually." They stayed like that for a long moment before Katya stirred and resumed, "So I've met Willow and Hunter quite a few times working for Raine and visiting Eda."
"How long have you two been together?" Gilbert asked.
They traded a glance and both turned pink with something like bashfulness. Gilbert flicked his eyes over to Harvey, who he could tell was desperately trying to pretend his eyes were not shining and he was not utterly invested in the story.
"Like she said, we met right before the Day of Unity and, well, sparks just kind of flew," Steve said.
"After the Collector woke everyone up and rebuilding started, we kept meeting as the council organized things," Katya picked up. "A few months later, Steve asked me out and, well," she shrugged, "things have carried on."
"So about three years, then," Gilbert surmised.
"Tell them when and how you popped the question," Willow said, leaning in even as she held Hunter's hand.
"Oh, well, we took a trip out to Lake Lacuna," Steve explained. "We spent some time in the water, had a picnic on the sand, and then swam out to an island with our palismen to watch the sunset."
"As the sun sank into the horizon," Katya picked up, weaving their embraced fingers, "Steve asked me if I was happy." She giggled. "I asked him if he meant right then or in general, and he said 'Both.' So I answered honestly: yes. He says 'I hope this doesn't ruin it,' gets up on one knee, and fishes this," she lifted her hand to show her ring, "out of his pocket. He looks me in the eyes and asks if I'll marry him." She took a deep breath, as if fighting off tears. "I started crying, and he started panicking. And that made me laugh through the tears. I grabbed his face and kissed him harder than I ever have."
"And then she said yes," Steve added.
"How long ago was this?" Harvey asked.
"Nine months ago," Katya said, practically glowing. "We've set the date four months from now."
"It's coming up," Steve said excitedly, drawing Katya close by her waist.
"I know," Katya squealed, tucking her head into the crook of his neck.
The waitress took that perfect moment to take their orders. When she left with an assurance that the food would be right out, Harvey cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention.
"So you know why we're really here," he surmised.
"All I heard was joining Hunter and Willow at Sunset Shores," Katya noted.
"That's not all," Harvey said lowly. "Gilbert and I-"
"Whoa, no," Gilbert said, leveling a finger at him. "Leave me out of this part, Harvey."
"Fine," Harvey grumbled. "I am asking you to keep an eye on Willow and Hunter. I know this resort has a reputation for romantic things, and I want to make sure they don't get up to anything, erm, less than wise."
"You really want us to chaperone?" Steve asked, as if it hadn't fully registered the fact when Hunter had called him.
"Yes," Harvey said.
"Chaperone your almost-legal daughter and her legal boyfriend," Katya clarified. "Because I could be wrong, but I thought Willow will turn eighteen next month."
"She does," Harvey said, now clearly aggravated. "Can I count on you both to keep them out of trouble?"
Steve and Katya shared a look. Katya crooked a small grin and Steve smiled back. "Sure thing, Mr. Park," she replied. "We'll keep an eye on them."
"Two, even," Steve added. "If you prefer."
"I would very much prefer," Harvey agreed. Then he looked at Willow. "Sweetie, can I count on you to listen to Steve and Katya?"
"Yes, Papa," Willow said, though far from enthusiastically.
"Hunter," Harvey said, much more severely, "can I count on you to keep your hormones under control?"
"Papa!" Willow protested.
"Harvey!" Gilbert said in the same tone as their daughter.
"Yes, sir," Hunter said mildly.
Willow looked at Hunter with worried eyes, at his lowered gaze and slumped posture. She looked at her papa and glared at him hard enough to crack stone. Gilbert backed her up with a look far worse than Willow's anger.
He looked disappointed.
"I know you probably don't want to hear it, Mr. Park," Katya spoke up, "but women have hormones, too." Her smile grew wicked and she nuzzled Steve's jaw. "And just as strong as men's or anyone else's, I might add."
"I am aware," Harvey sighed and looked at Hunter. "Hunter, may I amend my request?" Hunter looked up to meet Harvey's gaze. "Can you promise you will use your head? And take care of my daughter?"
Hunter's withdrawn look sparked into determination as he took Willow's hand in his. "You don't have to ask, sir."
Harvey blinked and offered a faint smile of approval. "I like that answer." He waited for a beat before looking at Steve and Katya. "So, what do you two do? I mean, I assume Steve is a watchman, but I could be wrong. And Katya?"
The atmosphere was much more friendly moving forward as their lunch came and everyone ate to their heart's content. Steve and Gilbert were the most intentional about keeping the conversation going, with Katya and Willow piping in about half the time. Harvey was content to listen, though he couldn't hide his smiles when the topic turned to romance. And when Katya began asking about their own romantic life, Harvey gushed as much as any teenager, much to Gilbert's good-natured embarrassment and Willow's mortification.
Hunter remained mostly silent, also content to listen and laugh while his free hand was joined with Willow's.
When the meal wrapped up, Harvey was clearly much more supportive of Steve and Katya chaperoning his daughter and her boyfriend. "If they act up, just call me or message me on Penstagram," Harvey said, passing them both the Park home's crow number and his and Gilbert's Penstagram runes.
"Will do, Mr. Park," Steve said with a legitimate salute. Without another word, he and Katya loaded up on Steve's motorbike and raced off into the distance.
"I like them," Harvey said.
"Everyone likes Steve," Hunter said smugly, "and Katya's right behind him in the charm department."
"Cheeky boy," Gilbert chuckled and ruffled Hunter's hair. Willow beamed at Hunter and placed a kiss on his cheek, which prompted Harvey to clear his throat and usher them along.
Steve pulled the motorbike up to the side of the road in front of his and Katya's apartment building, pacifying the engine — one did not "kill" an engine on the Boiling Isles, lest they incur a vengeful spirit or family — and removing his helmet with a neutral expression. He stayed put as Katya shuffled off the bike and stowed her helmet, then grabbed her wrist and turned her around.
Katya's lips were straight in a guileless look, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"We're not chaperoning the way Mr. Park expects, are we?" Steve asked, cracking an impish smile.
"Oh, no we are not," Katya agreed, a wide grin baring her fangs.
Heya, gang! Ever had a dozen projects in progress, but then an idea hits you upside the head and you have to make it happen? A friend of mind told me about winning a weekend resort trip, I thought how nice that would be for Huntlow, and dominoes kept falling until THIS became a thing! Not to mention I've wanted to write Huntlow and Stevatya interacting fluff for ages.
This will be a multi-chapter story of the vacation, probably about five chapters long or so. Fair warning, this will get into spicy territory and you'll get warnings beforehand.
*It is made fairly clear that Harvey is the more overprotective parent between him and Gilbert in "Escaping Expulsion." As I wrote this first chapter, I felt like I'd used the whole "I've supported you, please support me this time" speech from Gilbert before. After an hour of raking through my Huntlow work - of which there is quite a lot - I found it mentioned more in passing in one of my earliest works. How did I remember that?!
*Harvey's quote about being late is a philosophy that I myself hold dearly.
*Steve's surname is the one I gave him in the "Bard & Scout" series that is so-far split into NSFW and Severine/Morton stories. It's my favorite of the many surnames I've given him. The word "malva" is a flower that supplies the Spanish phrase for the color "mauve," as in "mauve shirt" character, which Steve started out as.
*Watchmen is the term I use across my TOH fics for the reformed, post-Emperor's Coven law enforcement. They have a system of checks and balances like real police to keep them from abusing their power and are intent on courtroom trials and genuine justice.
*In my post-canon TOH fics, I generally assume that power was taken up by Raine, Darius, and Eberwolf as a ruling triumvirate council to placehold until an elected government could be put in place, vouched for by King the Titan. Raine is so likable that the people keep electing them and Darius is so good at his job that he keeps getting elected, too.
*The coven system was heavily reformed, rather than dissolved. Covens are entirely optional and more like trade guilds, which require proven dedicated skill to join and one can join more than one if they have the resolve and talent.
*For those of you wondering, the BATs became part of Raine's personal staff, acting as executive assistants and bodyguards.
As always, I hope you liked it! Leave a review if you like! And may your own works be fun to read and to write!