[He has learned recently what it's like for adults to make him feel safe. But one of them is starting to make him feel like he has a home. They're not even close to that yet. But he knows what it maybe can be.]
[He can imagine how it might feel in time. If he's very, very lucky and Eda ever feels that way about him. Because of the time in the reality bubble.]
[He knows what it must have felt like. Back when Hunter had been preparing to run away and live in the street, Dylan had told him his situation had been similar back home. Painful. He hadn't wanted to talk about it but it was enough for Hunter to know.]
["Being a teenager is all about figuring out who you wanna be. It's hard to do that when some asshole's trying to control everything you say and do and think."]
[Dylan had offered to talk about Belos. Hunter hadn't really been ready. Hunter had said if Dylan'd been in a similar situation, he was willing to listen too, and Dylan hadn't been ready either. But he'd responded enough in the affirmative that Hunter knew. He knew]
[And then he'd found a version of his fathers who'd been very, very good at being his dads, at making him feel loved, especially the one that was human like him. And now they're gone. It wouldn't be the same if Eda were suddenly gone, but there would still be a loss. Just like how badly it'd hurt when he'd regained his memories and "Aunt Eda" had stopped existing.]
[The hug tightens.]
He knew. There's no way both of them didn't know. I think...I think that's what good parents are like? They feel things and - and care. And you don't have to actually say anything back for them to do it. And they just know.
[Aunt Eda had known. There is a pang in his heart at the thought of that. A sadness. A loss, though nowhere near as profound as Dylan's. He can't remember all of it but he remembers that much, that she just knew. Just like he knew she loved him without her saying - even though she'd said it plenty.]
[The pang isn't something he needs or wants to talk about, not right now when this needs to be about Dylan but at least means he understands. To have a good parent ripped away after growing up with a terrible one...]
[Hunter lets go but it's only to take Dylan by the hands and lead him over to the little outdoor love seat, to draw him down to sit with him. To make it so it isn't just a hug - because hugs have to end at some point. It lets him hold him.]
[Wrapping an arm around him tightly, his other hand goes to wipe some of the tears off his face.]
It's not too late because all the time you spent together was all three of you saying it to each other. All the time. It was obvious to anyone watching, trust me. So that means it was obvious to both of them, too.
[It was everything Hunter himself had wanted growing up and he had been glad to see Dylan get it.]
cw: mention of child abuse
[He can imagine how it might feel in time. If he's very, very lucky and Eda ever feels that way about him. Because of the time in the reality bubble.]
[He knows what it must have felt like. Back when Hunter had been preparing to run away and live in the street, Dylan had told him his situation had been similar back home. Painful. He hadn't wanted to talk about it but it was enough for Hunter to know.]
["Being a teenager is all about figuring out who you wanna be. It's hard to do that when some asshole's trying to control everything you say and do and think."]
[Dylan had offered to talk about Belos. Hunter hadn't really been ready. Hunter had said if Dylan'd been in a similar situation, he was willing to listen too, and Dylan hadn't been ready either. But he'd responded enough in the affirmative that Hunter knew. He knew]
[And then he'd found a version of his fathers who'd been very, very good at being his dads, at making him feel loved, especially the one that was human like him. And now they're gone. It wouldn't be the same if Eda were suddenly gone, but there would still be a loss. Just like how badly it'd hurt when he'd regained his memories and "Aunt Eda" had stopped existing.]
[The hug tightens.]
He knew. There's no way both of them didn't know. I think...I think that's what good parents are like? They feel things and - and care. And you don't have to actually say anything back for them to do it. And they just know.
[Aunt Eda had known. There is a pang in his heart at the thought of that. A sadness. A loss, though nowhere near as profound as Dylan's. He can't remember all of it but he remembers that much, that she just knew. Just like he knew she loved him without her saying - even though she'd said it plenty.]
[The pang isn't something he needs or wants to talk about, not right now when this needs to be about Dylan but at least means he understands. To have a good parent ripped away after growing up with a terrible one...]
[Hunter lets go but it's only to take Dylan by the hands and lead him over to the little outdoor love seat, to draw him down to sit with him. To make it so it isn't just a hug - because hugs have to end at some point. It lets him hold him.]
[Wrapping an arm around him tightly, his other hand goes to wipe some of the tears off his face.]
It's not too late because all the time you spent together was all three of you saying it to each other. All the time. It was obvious to anyone watching, trust me. So that means it was obvious to both of them, too.
[It was everything Hunter himself had wanted growing up and he had been glad to see Dylan get it.]