He was Hunter. [The Owl House - Angsty/(Minorly)Fluffy Fanfic]

     Content warnings: Panic attacks, brief mentions of scars, brief mentions of rot, and of course spoilers. Without further ado, please enjoy the fic!

     Hunter was fine. He was fine. He smiled, and laughed, and showed all the right emotions at all the right times. He was fine.

     Or that was the impression of almost everyone in Luz's house.

     Luz knew that something was wrong with Hunter's mental state, ever since they were trapped in Belos' mind together. But Hunter smiled, and laughed. He showed all the right emotions at all the right times. He seemed fine.

     Until she went to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

     Hunter stood in front of the mirror. That was... not him. That was Belos. That was Caleb. He was Caleb. That... was him?

     No. No. It couldn't be. He was Hunter, he was Caleb...

     Luz opened the door.

     "Hunter?" Luz gave Hunter a puzzled look. He was just standing there. He was doing nothing.

     Drip.

     He was nothing. Hunter was nothing, merely a tool. He was the Golden Guard, he was a Grimwalker, he was Hunter, he was Caleb. He was Caleb.

     He was Caleb.

     Luz tentatively looked into the mirror. It was just Hunter, it was... Oh. Belos' mind.

     "Hunter?" Luz's tone was one of concern.

     Hunter Caleb saw scars and rot in the mirror. And Luz. Wait.

     And... Luz?

     Luz shouldn't be here. He would only hurt her. He was dangerous, he was bad— he would attract Belos—

     "HUNTER!"

     Luz gripped his shoulders. Hunter shrieked in response.

     "DON- DON'T TOUCH ME! I'LL END UP KILLING YOU! I'LL ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE! BELO-OS IS GONNA FIND ME— I'M- I'M CALEB— I— I—"

     "HUNTER!"

     Hunter Caleb quieted down.

     "Hunter. You are not Caleb. Belos will not find you, and you make everything so much better. Gus tells me all about how you make it easier to sleep when he's away from home. Willow... would not like me to disclose what exactly she thinks about you, but it's good! Mom really appreciates the help with fixing clothes. Amity appreciates that you bring joy to everyone around you, and I— well, I have someone here that I can relate with. It's hard, knowing that you've— Wait, this is about you."

     Hunter's breathing had slowed by this point.

     "Hunter. Repeat after me. You are not Caleb."

     "I am not Caleb."

     "Belos will not find you here."

     "Be- e- He will not find me here."

     "You are a wonderful person."

     "I am— I am..."

     "Hunter. You are a wonderful person."

     Hunter sighed. "I am a... wonderful... person..."

     "C'mon, this floor is dirty. Let's get you to the couch." Luz stood up and offered Hunter a hand.

     "Yeah. Let's go." He got up and glanced in the mirror again.

     He was Caleb Hunter. He was not a tool. He was not the Golden Guard. He was not Caleb. He was Hunter.

     He was Hunter.

     Once at the couch, Luz and Hunter chatted for a while.

     "It's crazy how nobody heard me, with all that yelling I did."

     "Well, Hunter, you'd be surprised how much of a deep sleeper everyone here is."

     "Including me?"

      "Hunter, you're in the basement and I'm upstairs at night. Two floors is a lot of room for sound to dissipate!

     "True, true. Y'know, Luz?"

     "Yeah, I know Luz. I see her in the mirror every day!"

     "Hah, I'm jealous. But... Thank you."

     Hunter pulled Luz into an embrace, and promptly fell asleep in her lap.

     He was Hunter.