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Family is… complicated. Whoever originally thought up the idea clearly didn’t fully think it through, because there is no way a group of people only linked by circumstance could just stay together forever, no problems or falling outs. Why couldn’t he have gotten a normal family, you know, one that doesn’t try to kill you or something. Or better yet, he could just do everything himself for the rest of his life. Who needs family anyway?
Hunter ran his hand through his hair and grabbed on. The Day of Unity was over, Belos was gone, he can’t hurt you, he can’t hurt you, he can’t hurt you… Breathe one, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four. In, two, three, four. Out, two, three, four. Stupid breathing didn’t do much of anything. How come it seemed to help everyone but him! He ran over to the closest mirror, but there was still a disconnect between what was there and what he felt, and the fact he didn’t have any good clothes to wear didn’t help-
“Little Prince,” Darius called from downstairs. “Breakfast!” After… everything that happened, his former co-worker let him move in. He was grateful for the place to stay, he really was, but was careful not to let it get too permanent. The Day of Unity showed him that getting too attached could never end well, for anyone involved.
Hunter ran downstairs, Flapjack following close behind. The two got to the kitchen and Hunter grabbed the plate Darius had set out for him.
“You know, I was thinking, maybe you would like to go clothes shopping today? You could use something new,” Darius said. Hunter couldn’t tell if there was something behind his request, or if he was just trying to be nice after all that happened. Either way, he could use the new clothes.
“Yeah sure.”
After breakfast they left for the local department store since Hunter didn’t really know where to get clothes. Darius looked betrayed walking inside, but he went along with it because it was what Hunter wanted.
“Would you like a new binder, Hunter?” Darius asked gently. “Since I imagine your old one was not the best quality and you don’t need to fight anymore, maybe it’s time for a new one.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” Hunter paused. “Yeah, actually. I would like a new one.” And so the two of them went and picked out a binder.
They walked around the clothing section for a while, picking out an assortment of collared shirts, jeans, hoodies, t-shirts, and to Darius’s dismay, cargo pants. Hunter went to the dressing room to try it all on while Darius stood outside ready to instruct him on his fashion choices.
He put on the binder, one of the collared shirts and a pair of jeans, and looked in the mirror. And the person in the reflection looking back looked… like himself. He finally looked like himself. Maybe this wasn’t all that bad, because he could finally be himself in a way that no one had ever let him be before. He felt a twinge of guilt, because there is no way Belos would ever approve of this. He stepped out to show Darius before the thought could fully nestle itself in his head.
“How do you feel, kid?” Darius asked, looking up from his penstagram scroll.
“Like, myself or something, I don’t know” he replied, trying to stifle a laugh at his own awkward response.
“Well you look like someone who is finally growing into himself. Also that shirt is surprisingly okay for something here.” The two of them laughed. “Now hurry up and try on the rest of it so I can buy it and we can get out of here!” Darius said as he messed up Hunter’s hair.
“You don’t have to buy it. I don’t want to be a burden,” Hunter blurted out, fidgeting with his hand as he went.
“Nonsense. You’re family now, if you want to be. I can take care of it.”
Family. He was family. Maybe family wasn’t all bad. Yes, maybe sometimes it was a terrifying disaster, and yes maybe sometimes it was better to run from it. But maybe it could be someone who looks after you, and lets you stay in the spare bedroom. Maybe family wasn’t just who you were born with, but also who you chose. And maybe he could choose to let Darius be his family, to let himself get attached and care, just like Darius did for him.
“Thank you,” Hunter said, trying to hold back tears. “I’d like that a lot.”