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[In the end, still nursing a wounded heart or not, Rue can do nothing but melt at the sight of Hunter, especially when he looks so out of sorts.]

My heart - [They open their wings immediately. Let them coddle you, it's fine, it's fine.] Come here, darling.

[Really putting their foot down, you see]

[ He at least(?) seems wildly guilty about it? That letter has been on his mind all month, and he is well aware he has't taken it yet, and he should have, and he should have told Rue, and now it's so late, and now he's LOST THE LETTER and what is he going to tell the guard now,

He looks between Casey and Rue with wild eyes, seeing the nerves but not picking up on what they're FOR. ]

Wh - what's going on?

[ But he gets to his feet anyway, drifting closer to Rue. ]

[It's the look in his eyes that makes Casey cave, ultimately. The panic of too late is uncomfortably familiar. He needs to know where the letter is.]

You didn't lose it, [he says quietly, trying to look resolute before the guilt drags his gaze right to his toes. He'd do it again if he had to, but he still feels badly for it.] I gave it to them.

[Hunter drifts a little closer and Rue just continues to hold their wings open, patient in their offer. Now that it's all out in the open between them, they do not know if their boy will dive into their arms or backpedal away from the pair of them. It could go either way.]

Casey told me everything, dear. All that you've been going through and the plan that is in motion.

[ For a moment Hunter wavers in the middle of that decision, his face going on a whole journey as Casey mentions the letter. Relief at first - letter is safe, that’s most important - followed by guilt and panic. He’s really done it this time, hasn’t he? February is NOT his month. ]

I - I’m sorry, I know I should have brought it right away - but I was afraid, and then it was late, and then it was later, and -

[ His ears droop as his shoulders shake. ]

I thought maybe you might like him better than me.

[ But Rue has their arms out and Hunter cannot resist. Whether he’s the inferior guard or not, he hesitantly steps forward to bury himself in Rue’s wings. ]

I’ve really messed up this month.

[Oh... oh, Hunter. That's the reason? He looks briefly at Rue, knowing that will most likely be hurtful to them, but it's better to be out in the open. They can't reassure and correct him if they don't know. They can get past this... they just need to work through it.

He thought it might be better to stay out and let Rue handle it, in case Hunter was angry, but when he just looks distressed and shaken Casey can't help shifting to his other side and winding his arms around Hunter as well.]

Dummy, [he whispers, without actually sounding critical, only sad. It isn't a competition. How could they ever?]

[The moment Hunter presses into their arms, Rue fully engulfs both him and Casey into their wings, all soft feathers and floral fragrance.

And it's true that their son thinking such a thing breaks their heart, that he should ever think Rue's love was ever conditional in any way, but there is no denying the relief that floods through them that Hunter doesn't trust in them or has changed his mind in regards to the adoption. He's just scared and uncertain, letting those quiet hurtful thoughts convince him of what isn't true.

That is fixable. Nothing is broken.]

Hunter, please do not ever think such a thing again. I love you. You! I promised you my heart for the whole of my life and I do not say such things lightly. You and Casey and the others are my greatest happiness. I love him, yes, but in the same exact way I love you and Casey. You are all my children.

[Stretching out their neck, Rue affectionately bumps their head against Hunter's, nuzzling his cheek.]

Besides, no one can replace you in my eyes. You are mine, my perfectly curious boy with the soft heart, who loves so deeply, who is going to grow up to be so gentle and kind and loving to a world that has not always treated him back as kindly. Please, my love, hear me when I say you could never be replaced.

[ Hugged on both sides, Hunter can't help but melt into their embraces. Casey will get a faint sense of relief over their bond - Casey calling him dummy in this situation helps puncture his stress, bringing it back down a little for the moment - and Rue pressing kisses to his cheek makes him just start to cry a little. ]

I - I know that but - I -

[ Casey can likely feel the fear leaking over the link, the deep abyss of uncertainty when it comes to being loved unconditionally. It's not something he's ever experienced in his life with Belos; it's hard for him to feel with his whole heart, even with Rue telling him over and over that it's true. ]

He made us to be disposable. He never ...

[ He winds up squeezing his eyes shut and leaning in close, letting himself sink fully into the warmth of Rue's feathers. ]

I'm sorry. I'm - I'm trying.

Edited 2024-02-28 23:50 (UTC)

[Casey feels that fear through the bond and sends back gentle waves of love and reassurance, one after another. What Hunter went through was awful, and what he learned about Belos has left him with a very valid fear that he, too, could be replaced by another just like him. But not to them. To them, there was no one like him. Irreplaceable, he sends back, and hugs a little more tightly.]

We know you're trying. It's okay. You just need to talk to us when you're scared like this.

[Makes him wish he'd pushed harder, or stolen the letter sooner. If Hunter has been suffering and struggling with this all along, could it have been averted sooner? But he was so stubborn about it... now Casey knows that stubbornness really was born of fear.]

[Hunter is getting showered in silly owlbear kisses now, you best believe it.]

Whenever you feel like that, Hunter, when you find that words are too difficult to manage, you only need to grab your scarf for an instant reminder of how I feel for you. Anytime. That is part of the power of the bond we share. And let me be very clear, if I knew you needed me, nothing in this world or any other could keep me from you. Nothing.

[Rue would fight Thirteen herself if they had to.]

You're my son. And I know Casey will joke that I have many of them now, but each one of you is so intensely important to me. You all make up my very heart. I would be nothing without all of you.

[ Hunter nods against the both of them as tears spring to his eyes. Of course he has the scarf. Of course! He'd touched it sometimes, but never for long, a little too fearful to risk feeling it change or something. But Rue is right. Of course they're right. And - Casey's right too: he has to speak up next time. His new family won't hurt him just for having an opinion that might be difficult... ]

I w-will. For - both. [ Talking and the scarf he means. He scrubs at his face, leaning into Rue physically and Casey's comfort mentally. What a joy it is to be surrounded on all sides by his loved ones. ] I mean, I hope there isn't a next time but if there is...

Edited 2024-02-29 11:16 (UTC)

Even if there's a hundred next times, we'd just remind you again.

[It's easy to judge or be critical of something a person fails to do. He's had things that he's struggled to share, too. Rue as well. Hunter's endured so much, and opening up is so new to him. Casey can't blame him at all for feeling afraid.

Comfort, though. That, he can do.]

We love you. Nobody's getting replaced.

[Alright, enough of this. Time to scoop this boy up into their wings and shower him in a dozen reminders of their love.

So that is exactly what Rue does, gently nudging Casey's arms out of the way so they can wrap up Hunter and squeeze him close to them, moving across the room to settle over on the couch.]

There won't be, I'm certain. But even if there was, the way I feel about you can not be changed. And if there is anything you need from me to better reassure you of how I feel, you only need to say it. I would do anything for you, Hunter.

[ Hunter just nods at that, letting the comfort from Casey lap over him. The fear begins to fade, replaced by comfort that flows straight back to Casey. They love him. He's not getting replaced. Of COURSE he knew that, but it's just not a matter of trusting them? It's a matter of convincing his heart to trust...

And then he is SCOOPED!! Hunter lets out a startled squawk and clings to Rue's neck as they lift him bodily. ]

I - I don't think you need to do anything! Honestly!

[ He means that with his whole heart. ]

I'm the one who has to learn how to live with being loved.

[Oop- away Hunter goes with Rue. He's in good hands, in that case. Rue will know how to handle this, and since it's Rue's affection that Hunter worried about, they're best suited to comfort him. Casey follows them over, setting the package of snacks on the coffee table, and while Hunter is distracted by Rue just kinda. Points at himself, then the door. Should he go? Let Rue talk to him alone like they wanted? Is this the moment to bail, he has no guidebook for this.]

[There are no guidebooks for any of this! Casey makes a gesture to leave and Rue gives a gentle, but firm shake of their head, gesturing themself for him to come join them on the couch instead. He doesn't have to feel pressured to contribute to the conversation that must take place, but his presence is always a comfort.

Once settled, the owlbear pecks a slow, lingering kiss into Hunter's hair, right between his horns.]

I do not want you to think you are in trouble, dear, but we must talk about this. It can not go ignored, that would be a disservice to the relationship and trust we've built up.

[ Hunter misses this interplay for the most part; he just looks a bit alarmed at Casey maybe leaving. Why leave?? Of course Casey should stay.

Anyway, he pinks a bit at Rue's kiss. And ... well, tenses up a bit. He can't hel but feel a bit in trouble anyway. ]

How do we talk about it?

[Casey feels some relief and sinks down on the couch next to Rue, pressed up against their side. He reaches out and rubs his hand up and down Hunter's back, allowing their bond to gently reconnect, nothing too invasive, just a subtle background reassurance.

He keeps quiet for now, allowing Rue to take the lead on this.]

Well, I need to know what is going on.

[Straight to the point, really.]

[ Ah. Hunter droops against them; Casey's quiet reassurance is REALLY gonna come in handy here. ]

Something ... happened in my head. Draxum set that older guard free in his head, and you adopted him, and between the two I think ...

[ It sounds ridiculous. It IS ridiculous. ]

I think it sort of made him into a person. Or a ghost. More than just a memory left in my galdorstone.

[A nod of their head against him, one paw moving to softly run through his hair, urging Hunter on.]

It gave him agency in a way he didn't have previously. What else?

[ He leans into that, reassured by their steady support. ]

When I fall asleep, sometimes he wakes up. It's ... not all the time? But. Enough.

[ He ducks his head a bit. ]

I was terrified the first time. It felt like I was trapped in my head while he was out there.

[A soft, soothing coo slips from Rue's beak as they nuzzle a cheek to Hunter's, refusing to let him feel anything but the absolute and total full of their love.]

I can not imagine how scared you must have felt, little one. I'm so sorry. You were awake and aware while he was in control? Oh, my darling...

[ He winds up headbunting them just a bit. ]

Y-yeah. It's - not normally like that? Normally I'm just asleep. But the first time was bad.

[Tender little headbutts]

To feel out of control of your own body, that sounds terrible. But it sounds as if a solution has been found? To keep that from happening again?

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