Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hunter needed to leave, everything hurt and he was bleeding everywhere! He felt slightly angry and scared. He shoulsnt feel this way. Uncle punished him all the time why was this different? Maybe it was the yelling, maybe it is how deep the cut is maybe its because he learned things he shouldnt of. He does not know. But what he does know is that he’s running and now he isn’t in the castle. He’s in the woods now and he trips. He looks back and notices the door like structure he tripped on. He pulled it out and it looked like the portal his uncle was making. Just slightly different. He decides to see where it leads.

Hunter picks it up from the ground. He don’t know if someone is chasing after him after fleeing. But he rather be safe than sorry so he opens the door to the portal. 

He sees that it’s raining outside and the leaves are green. It looks like the human realm from what his uncle told him story’s about. It wasn’t the human realm based off the different protal door but maybe it was similar enough to wear the rain didn’t boil. The rain here never affected him much but it was hot. Hunter heard what sounded like chrunced leaves and without a secound thought jumps through the portal.

The rain didn’t boil it was cold very cold. Hunter turns back to the portal and grabs it turning it into a portable form like that of a suitcase. 

Hunter let out a very heavy sigh the burning in his lungs subsiding a bit as he sat down on the wet floor. The cold rain bit his injuries, the gash on his face and the cuts on his arms. 

he pushed himself up against a nearby tree and brought his knees up to his chest. Once the adrenaline went away he was left hurting and ashamed. Titan how stupid was he? Running away from a punishment like a coward. He knew belos was going to kill him. He deserves that fate after all he was the golden guard. A soilder. He should have been honared to die for this land. By the hands of the emporer no less.

”I was hoping I didn’t have to do this so soon, it’s such a shame really. Out of all the grimwalkers you looked the most like him”

Hunter shook that memory out of his head. It was the last thing he heard belos’s voice say before he ran like a coward. He didn’t know what to think with him being a grim walker. He barely even knew what that was or ment. He was forbidden from learning about them. All he knew was that they were created from wild magic. The very thing he was made to hate was exactly what he made by. He felt like he was going to vomit.

The worst part is that hunter had no idea where he was or what this place was like. He had came here just to get away and he didn’t want to go back. He didn’t want to be captured just to die. Perhaps if he looked around he could find a place to stay. Just for tonight so he can heal his injuries so they wouldn’t get affected. They weren’t so bad anymore the large gash on his cheek was still bleeding, badly. He put his hand over it for some pressure the lesser cuts will be okay for now.

He stands up and shakey legs and grabs the portal as he starts to walk. He’s unsure where he’s going but if he walks far enough there has to be civilization. He hopes.

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It was around midnight and Abaddon was out for a walk. Find some birds to torment a squirrel to eat. Katharine was still awake so Abaddon had to sneak by her. He hated when the women stayed up in hope for ‘late night guests’ like anyone would come there. It also made it difficult for Abaddon to have his usual fun at night.

Abaddon was just about to climb a tree when he heard footsteps. He looked over to see what looked like glowing eyes in the distance. Was this another demon? Didn’t they know this was Abaddons territory. He had to assert dominance.

He approached the other person expecting something scary but instead he got what looked to be a strange looking man. He was tall with pointed ears and odd clothes.

“Human!” Hunter gasped taking a step back. Abaddon growled, “I am no human! I am Abaddon! King cobra and ruler of the abyss! I am a demon!” He clarifies huffing.

Hunter looks him up and down. He didn’t look like a demon he looked like a human. But that didn’t matter right now he would figure it out later. 

“Okay…” He took a sharp intake of air whistling through the gap in his teeth. his injuries starting to sting more because of the cold rain. He was also soaking wet. “Okay… So Abaddon do you know where I can find a place to stay?” The demon looks like a child but hunter doesn’t want to assume. Many people on the boiling isles were short or shorter than Abaddon and were grown adults.

Abaddon wanted to send Hunter away but Katharine kept talking about how ‘instead of scaring the quest try to invite some in’ and if he bought him it was sure to earn him a sticker. Damn that women and her bribes.

”yes I suppose I do. Come with me mortal” He waves his hand and begins walking with Hunter following closely behind.

They walk in silence to the undervale hotel. “Matriarch! I have acquired a guest” Abaddons says proudly as hunter walks through the door.

It felt warm inside the hotel, hunter was thankful for that. The blood from his cheek was seeping through the gaps in his fingers and getting small droplets on the floor.

Katharine looks up from her phone and stands up straight from leaning against the front desk. “Oh hello!” She smiled at the strange boy. He had magenta eyes and white clothes with cold accents and a cape. His ears were also pointed. But who was she to judge? Businesses is business and she has seen weirder. He was bleeding so at least he wasn’t a ghost. 

“Hello” He says hating how his voice crakes slightly.

Katharine was not expecting for his voice to sound like that. At first She thought he was a grown man but now that she looked closer she did see the soft features of a teenager. She chooses to ignore it.

”welcome to the undervale! How can I help you” Katharine said as hunter walked over to her with shakey legs. 

Hunter clears his throat before speaking again he doesn’t remove his hand from the gash he doenst want to ruin the carpet with his blood. “I am Hunter, a-and I was wondering if I-i could stay here. Just-Just for tonight!” Titian why was he stuttering so much? He needs to pull himself together.

”A room for tonight? Okay that will be-“ Hunter cuts her off before Katharine can say the price. “I-I have no money but I can work” Hunter was worthless if he couldn’t work.

Of course. Of course the guest couldn’t pay what was she expecting really. Nathan walks from into the room from the wall. “Hey Kathy what’s going on?” He asks with a cheerful smile.

”He wants to stay here but can’t pay” Katharine says with a sigh. “I can work! Please I will do anything just one night I will work to make up for my time here” he begs. He really was pathetic wasn’t he? 

“Oh Kathy let the boy stay! He’s clearly injured plus we do need more workers” Nathan was optimistic about everything. But he was right they did need more workers but Katharine wasn’t just gonna let anyone work around her children and Abaddon.

“I would like my sticker please” Abaddon butts in climbing ontop of the counter. “I have brought you a quest like you asked I want a sticker”

Katharine looks over at the demon. “Yes yes I will give you your sticker in a moment” she than turns back to hunter. “Okay I will let you stay here for tonight and just tonight but first I have a few questions. One, how old are you”

”15” he muttered he hated that he was young it made people not take him seriously. 

Katherine was expecting a bit more than 15. Hunter looked both young and old at the same time. “Okay… why are you bleeding?”

Hunter looked away and bit the inside of his cheek. “Do you have a healers kit I could use ma’am?” She didn’t want to tell her the truth so he deflected. 

Katharine sighed. Looking at this boy put her maternal instincts into high gear like it did with Abaddon. Even though she try’s to ignore it. “Yes I do come with me”

The walks him were the bathroom is. She walks to the cabinet and retrieves the first aid kit. She looks over and sees Hunter standing by the door. “Do you need help?” That was a lot of blood seeping through his hands he may need stitches.

”N-no ma’am thank you” He was cable of taking care of himself just fine. He took a tentative step into the bathroom and lightly took the kit from her hands. He removes his bloodied hand from his face.

Katharines eyes widened in horror at how deep the cut was. You could faintly see the teeth through the cheek. “Oh my god…” she mumers.

Hunter looks up at her than back down. He knows the cut is bad but he’s had worse. He goes to the disinfectant wipes but puases. This is another dimension what if words mean different things.

”ma’am?” He holds out the ‘alcohol wipes’ “is this disinfectant?” He asks quietly. Once Katharine nods at him he works on cleaning the wound. He only slightly winces he’s in company he can not be seen as weak.

”I’m Katharine” She says noting how she didn’t introduce herself. She revives a nod from hunter. 

He makes quick work of matching up the wound. He knows people don’t like to be kept waiting. 

“I will talk to the co-owner about you staying here. Where are your parents?” She asked if the boy was a run away she would have to call his parents. She just hoped it wasn’t like Abaddon who was a demon in a persons body.

”I do not have any ma’am” he clicks the first aid kit closed. He now has bandages adoring one of his arms and a thick bandage on his face.

”okay… I will talk to the co-owner about you staying here for now I will show you to your room.” 

Katharine walks to the least haunted room and turns on the light. “Thank you ma’am” he gives a half bow before walking in.

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Katharine walks back to the parlor. Making sure to add Abaddons sticker least she forget and have the demon remind her every five seconds.

She falls into the lounge chair. “So how did it go?” Asked Nathan. “Fine? I don’t know it’s concerning a teenager shows up bloody and doenst have parents and it weirdly formal. He has reddish eyes like Abaddon has when he’s mad but it seems different than Abaddon. I didn’t ask about it today, I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow. I really don’t feel right just throwing him out tomorrow” Katherine explains.

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Hunter removes his cloak but leaves the rest of his wet clothes on. He didn’t have anything to change into anyway. He sets down the portal by the bed and lays down on top of the covers. And stares up at the ceiling.