Winter (hunter/willow) Oneshots

Night Terrors

(Disclaimer: in this oneshot I imagine they're a bit older 17/18, there's nothing sexual at all, I just think it'd be kinda weird for them at their cannon ages)

   Ever since Willow and Gus found out that Hunter had been living alone at the school, Willow offered For Hunter to stay with her and her dads at their place.
    They didn't have a guest room, but they set up an unfolding bed in Willow's room for him since there was plenty of space. Willow's dads didn't have a problem with it since they knew Hunter had nowhere else to go, and Willow was a strong and responsible young woman.
    At no fault of Willow's family or their hospitality, Hunter often didn't get a lot of sleep. He spent most nights laying awake with a pit of anxiety in his stomach, and when he did have the fortune of falling asleep, nightmares usually ended up waking him soon after.
    One night in particular the nightmares were especially horrible. Hunter woke up in a cold sweat with a croaking gasp. Willow was awoken immediately with a jolt by the terrified sound that had escaped Hunter's throat.
    Willow promptly threw the covers off of herself and swiftly shuffled towards Hunter, who was sitting up in his bed, hyperventilating with his head in his hands.
   "Hey, hey, it's alright Hunter, your safe." She reassured.
    Hunter was trembling and couldn't catch his breath.
   "Shhh, try to slow down, just breathe." Willow crouched next to the bed, softly put a hand on his shoulder and began the breathing exercise her dads taught her.
   Hunter lifted his head from his hands and tried to follow along and match Willow's breathing. Even with Willow's help though, it took Hunter longer than usual to get his breathing under control.
   Once he had stopped hyperventilating Willow stood up.
   "Would you like me to make you some tea to help you calm down?" She asked softly.
    Hunter nodded his head wearily, still focusing on keeping his breathing steady.
    Willow hesitantly left the room and started a kettle on the stove in the kitchen. Before Willow could go back to the bedroom to check on Hunter, he walked into the kitchen holding his hands close to his chest to stop them from trembling.
    "I'm sorry for waking you up Willow." He apologized.
    "It's ok Hunter, really. I just want you to sleep well."
    The water in the kettle began to boil.
    "What kind of tea do you want? Lavenburr, or Clovermint?" Willow asked.
    "Oh uh I don't know..." Hunter responded.
    "Lavenburr then." Willow decided, pouring the tea into a mug for hunter. After stirring in a spoonful of honey she handed the tea to Hunter, who sat at the small dining table in the middle of the room.
   Willow sat with him as he quietly drank the tea. He seemed to have calmed down quite a bit, but Willow could tell that whatever he had dreamt about was really affecting him.
   Once Hunter had finished the two of them went back to bed.
    "Just let me know if you need anything else, ok Hunter?" Willow said climbing under her sheets.
    "Ok..." Hunter breathed quietly.
    Willow fell asleep quite quickly, but not long after she was awoken again by quiet sobbing emanating from the other bed. She sat up.
     Hunter was curled up facing the wall, trembling as he cried softly.
    Willow didn't really know what else to do to comfort him. She got up and walked over to the side of his bed.
    "Would it help if I hug you?" Willow asked gingerly.
    "I don't know." Hunter sobbed. He could hardly speak.
    "Can I hug you?" She asked for clarification, she wouldn't hug him if he didn't want her to.
    "Yes" He mumbled.
    Willow crawled onto the bed, wrapping her arms tightly around him from behind, pulling her body close to him. She could feel his body shake with each sob and gasp for air.
    "It's ok Hunter, you're safe here, I'm not gonna let anybody hurt you, you're ok." Willow whispered, burying her face in his back.
    "It was just a dream it can't hurt you." She consoled.
   Hunter continued to shake, but Willow just held on tightly. Gradually, after some time, Hunter's breathing began to slow, and his body relaxed. Willow didn't move.
    Hunter was exceptionally exhausted, and once he had relaxed, he fell asleep quickly.

——————
    In the morning, Hunter slowly stirred awake. He rolled over in his bed only to find that it was empty. He opened his eyes and looked across the room to see Willow asleep in her own bed. He didn't know what he was expecting, of course Willow didn't spend the night in his bed, why would she? Still he couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed to wake up alone, after the way she had held him so warmly.
Hunter got up and gathered some clothes from one of his bags to go get dressed in the washroom. Willow began to rouse from the movement. She sat up with a yawn and a stretch.
"How'd you sleep?" Willow asked groggily.
"- Well, after all that." She clarified.
"Pretty good to be honest." Hunter shrugged. He opened his mouth again to thank her for.... Comforting him... but his breath caught in his throat. 'Is that weird?'
Instead he stayed quiet and left the room.

(I don't have the patience to write filler so we're skipping to the next night)
————

As Hunter got ready to go to sleep the next evening, he could already feel his stomach beginning to twist with anxiety as he anticipated more nightmares. If he was being honest with himself, he wanted Willow to sleep next to him, but he wouldn't dare ask her to, not in a million years. It's just that, being alone is probably the worst thing. When he lays in bed worrying, anticipating the nightmares, spiralling, it's the worst thing feeling like there's nobody else there, but when Willow was holding him, he felt the safest he's ever felt.

—-

Hunter was curled up under the covers, staring at the wall. His stomach turned and disgustingly twisted. He felt nauseous, hot, cold, and sweaty all at once. He shut his eyes tightly and put his hands to his face. 'Just sleep'. He pleaded silently. But he couldn't, his body made him feel like he was about to die. He let out a shaky sigh. He thought again about how safe and comfortable he felt when Willow was close to him. A lump rose to his throat. He didn't want to wake her, but he thought maybe if she was still awake...
"Willow?" He whispered as quietly as he could with a tremor in his voice.
"Hm?" She responded.
SHIT. He really didn't actually think she'd be awake. Now he had to say something, he didn't think this through. He rolled over to face her bed.
"Would... would you mind.... Coming over here again?" He whispered shakily, his voice cracking.
"Huh?" She responded.
Crap, he shouldn't have asked.
"Oh," Willow sat up realizing what he had said. She hadn't been asleep, but she was still only half awake.
"Sure." She pushed the covers off of herself and went over to Hunter.
Hunter shifted over to make more space, so she wouldn't feel like she had to lay right next to him. But Willow crawled onto the bed and shifted herself towards him, lying on her side, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and holding him tightly while he lied on his back.
"Not feeling well again?" She asked empathetically.
Hunter took a deep shaky breath.
"Yea." He let out a quiet sob he couldn't stop from escaping.
"It's ok, I'll stay here." She reassured.
"Thank you." His voice cracked.
Willow didn't say anything, but she hugged him tighter.