The Red Guard (The Owl House AU)

Chapter 3: Owls in a Cage

Hello, everyone!

Unfortunately, I can't see For the Future at the moment because I do not have access to Disney Channel, buuut For the Future is going to be uploaded to YouTube soon, so I decided to celebrate by uploading another chapter of TRG to celebrate the release of FTF!

No spoilers, or else. :)

Enjoy!

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Hunter didn't sleep that night. And, when he saw Kiki again the next morning, he could tell that she didn't sleep well, either.

Kiki had dark bags under her eyes, although they weren't as big or as pronounced as Hunter's. Hunter felt bad for her; he knew that seeing the demon child, King, being collared like a wild animal was an image that was most likely burned into the back of her eyelids anytime she'd close them. 

It haunted him, too. He only got about three, maybe two hours of sleep, the previous hours of that night spent thinking about Luz Noceda and her boy. However, he often had to stay up at ungodly hours of the night, especially when on a mission or just doing a task for The Emperor, or even doing ordinary desk work, so, his body had long since grown accustomed to the lack of sleep.

Still, that didn't prevent him from worrying about his (only) friend.

"Here," Hunter said, his magenta eyes full of concern as he handed her a mug of a caffeinated version of apple blood. "I figured you could use it."

"Thank you, Hunter," Kiki croaked, taking the mug and blowing at it gently, before completely lifting it to her lips and taking a sip of it. "Titan, I am so relieved that they made a caffeinated version of apple blood."

"Same here," Hunter chuckled, smiling at her. "I practically live off of this stuff."

Kiki's eyes flashed with something melancholic, and Hunter sighed. "Kiki… please don't give me that look."

Kiki coughed, averting her eyes from his magenta ones as she took another sip. "What look?"

“That look you always give me whenever I’m not taking care of myself.” Hunter said, his eyes narrowed.

Kiki sighed. "I… I can't help it, Hunter. I just…" Her grip tightened on the mug, and her eyes shone with an emotion Hunter couldn't quite identify, before she slowly shook her head. "This isn't right," she finally whispered. "It isn't right at all."

“I know, I know. But I can’t exactly do much about it.” Hunter sighed. “Belos will just mess me up again if I mess something up. All I can do to take care of myself is make sure I’m still alive.”

"Or at least go to bed early so you'd have a full eight hours of sleep," she pouted, sipping at the apple blood again.

Hunter chuckled. “I still remember when you wanted me dead, but now? You’re worried about me. How things have changed.” His eyes then softened. “I mean it when I say I appreciate it, though…”

Kiki's chest warmed, and then she used a levitation spell to hold the mug of apple blood, while she hugged Hunter tightly. Her eyes watered as she spoke. "I wish I could take you away from this place, Hunter… away from... him."

Hunter felt his eyes water again and he slowly hugged back, sighing softly. “I…I wanna get away too...but we both know what he’ll do.” he mumbled before speaking up. “The best thing we can do is just…put up with it.”

Kiki sniffled, and then wiped at her eyes before she took the mug of apple blood back. "Okay," she whispered, though her eyes were still filled with sorrow.