“Hold on a sec.” Kimberly said as Eliza finished explaining why they came, “You want to go to Cloud Mountain to see whether or not your parents are alive.”
“They are alive,” Hazel said almost glaring at the dark-skinned blonde.
“Of course, they are my Little Robin.” Kimberly said smiling sweetly at her, “I’m just being realistic, that’s all.”
‘Sure, you are.’ Gabriel thought taking a bite of his food.
“Look are you going to help us or not?” Carla asked getting a bit irritated with Kimberly’s antics.
“I’m still going to help don’t worry.” Kimberly said, “I’m just skeptical on the reason you’re going.”
‘She is really getting on my nerves now.’ The twins thought as they saw both Hazel’s and Gabriel’s jaws clenching.
“When are we leaving then?” Gabriel asked trying to end the conversation as fast as he could.
“Tomorrow.” Kimberly answered almost glaring at Gabriel, “Still need to prep the ship.”
“Sounds reasonable enough.” Eliza said before she turned to Carla, Hazel, Gabriel, and the twins, “We’ll be staying here for tonight then, the sleeping quarters are on the second floor. Two people per room.”
The five nodded before they all finished their food.
“Rock, paper, scissors on who gets to sleep with Ace?” Rachel asked Gabriel as Kimberly started to clean up.
Gabriel glanced at Hazel who looked up from her book before smiling at him and continued reading, “Why not?”
The two smiled competitively at each other readying themselves as Ace watched them eagerly with Hazel looking at them biting back a smile. Carla and Eliza chuckled not noticing Kimberly almost threateningly glaring daggers at Gabriel.
“Rock, paper, scissors,” Gabriel and Rachel began, “shoot!”
“I win!” Rachel exclaimed excitedly looking at the fist Gabriel made and her open hand, “Better luck next time Gab.”
Gabriel laughed lightly at this before he saw Kimberly glaring at him. He furrowed his brow but brushed it off and turned to Hazel who once again smiled at him before returning to her book.
“Alright you four get settled already before you forget,” Carla said before the four nodded, grabbed their bag – the twins at least – and went upstairs with Phoenix behind them.
“Woah this place is huge,” Rachel commented as they saw the long hallways lined with doors.
“Maybe we should pick rooms closest to the stairs.” Ace suggested.
“Good idea,” Hazel said before she and Gabriel picked the closest room to their left.
“See you guys later then.” Rachel said as she and her brother picked the one opposite to theirs.
“Roomy,” Gabriel commented as they entered a spacious bohemian-style twin bedroom.
“Hey Gab,” Hazel called as she sat down on one of the beds.
“Yeah?” Gabriel said as he took off his shoes.
“Remember when I said that Kimberly seemed nice?”
“Yeah? What about it?”
“I take it back.”
“Really? How come?”
“She gives me the creeps.”
“Explain.”
“I just feel like she treats me like a child.”
“And?”
“She acts like I can’t take care of myself.”
“…it’s that Little Robin nickname too, isn’t it?”
“It sounds weird!”
Gabriel chuckled at this before he sat down beside her, “Don’t worry Hazel if anything happens, she’ll have to go through me!”
The two laughed before Hazel rested her head on his shoulder, “Thanks Gab, it means a lot.”
Gabriel chuckled again before resting his head on top of hers, “I’m always here to help Hazel.”
Hazel smiled at this before she closed her eyes contentedly, “Can we stay like this for a bit?”
Gabriel chuckled again as a faint blush dusted his cheeks, “For as long as you want Amore.”
Though unknown to the two hunters that the Oliviero twins were peeking through the crack of the door. The two siblings looked at each other before Rachel smiled and ran downstairs with Ace following close behind her.
“Eliza!” Rachel called jumping the last two steps after she saw the older hunters talking over tea.
“Something wrong Rachel?” Eliza asked as the three older girls saw the twins running to them.
“H-Hazel and G-Gabriel are c-cuddling.” Ace said holding back a smile as the two caught their breath.
“And they’re so cute!” Rachel exclaimed beaming.
“Are they a couple or something?” Kimberly asked almost demandingly, ‘They better not be.’
“Not yet.” Eliza said taking a sip of her tea, “You want to join the bet?”
“You guys made a bet?” Kimberly asked.
“Yep.” Rachel replied beaming, “Eliza and I versus Ace and Carla.”
“So which side are you on El?” Kimberly asked eyes narrowing at the older Abernathy.
“I’m betting ten Novas that they get together after this whole trip.” Eliza said smiling before turning to Rachel, “So they’re cuddling? Right now?”
“Yep!” Rachel exclaimed.
“I feel like you’re too excited about this.” Ace commented.
“I need to see this.” Carla said finishing her cup, “Lead the way, Rachel.”
Rachel squealed a bit before she grabbed Carla’s hand and lead her to Hazel and Gabriel’s room.
Eliza smiled at this exchange before she noticed Kimberly’s slightly gritted teeth, “Something wrong Kim?”
“Of course not.” Kimberly said giving a strained closed-eyed smile, “Why wouldn’t I be fine?”
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Ace and Eliza looked at each other before Ace raised a brow with Eliza shrugging her shoulders.
“Okay then,” Eliza said hesitantly as she took a sip of her tea.
“Um, Ms. Cassidy.” Ace said a bit awkwardly.
“Yes, Ace?” Kimberly said turning to the younger boy.
“I don’t mean to be rude but shouldn’t you be getting the boat ready?” Ace asked.
Kimberly chuckled before standing up, “No need to be an impatient young lad.”
“Leave the poor boy alone Kim.” Eliza said knowing that the blonde was teasing.
Kimberly laughed a little before gently patting Ace’s head, “At ease Ace, I’m just teasing.”
As the three were interacting Carla and Rachel were quietly squealing upon seeing Hazel and Gabriel still cuddling.
“Carla and Rachel do know we can hear them,” Gabriel said whispering, “right?”
Hazel chuckled lightly before Phoenix jumped on the bed and rested his head on Hazel’s lap, “I have no idea.”
“Well unfortunately we’re going to have to stop right now.” Gabriel said before standing up and stretched, ‘I sort of like it though.’
Hazel quietly chuckled as they heard the sounds of complaints from the two girls outside before she began scratching Phoenix’s head, “So Gab are you hoping on going anywhere specific while we’re on this trip?”
“Not really.” Gabriel said laying down on his own bed, “Why’d you ask?”
“I was just curious.”
“Curiosity killed the cat Hazel be careful.”
“And satisfaction brought it back Gab so shush.”
“Never heard that one before.”
“Really? That was how Dad used to say it.”
“Isn’t that sort of dangerous though?”
“Maybe but what’s more dangerous? That or our job?”
“…Good question.”
The two stayed silent for a moment trying to think of an answer.
“Both.” The two said at the same time.
The two looked at each other for a moment before they burst out laughing.
∞
“Gods, what does Little Robin see in him?” Kimberly muttered spitefully as she heard laughter coming from the second floor while she was preparing the boat for the following day.
“You’re muttering again Kim.” Eliza commented as she stepped aboard the ship.
Kimberly only ignored her however as she continued with her tasks.
“Seriously though Kim you’ve got to move on.” Eliza said sitting on an empty barrel, “Hazel’s only sixteen and you’re twenty that seems pretty illegal.”
“Age is just a number.” Kimberly retorted earning a deadpanned look from Eliza.
“But Hazel’s happy with him.” Eliza replied, “She’s trusted him with way more secrets than me and I can tell that she loves him.”
Kimberly groaned before Eliza said, “She looks at him like you look at her.”
“Just shut up Eliza.” Kimberly said before walking below deck.
Eliza sighed for a moment before she noticed Ace just a couple of steps away from her.
“How much of that did you hear?” Eliza asked turning to him, “And while we’re at it how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to know that Ms. Cassidy fancies Hazel.” Ace said walking over to her, hands in his pockets, “When did that even start?”
Eliza only sighed again after folding her arms, “Since the day she first laid eyes on her.”
Ace blinked before saying, “In-person or-”
“From a picture.” Eliza said, “The first time they met in person was when Hazel and I were spending her sixth summer with them.”
Ace only blinked before saying rather slowly, “So they only first met when she was six?”
“Yep.”
“And how old was Ms. Cassidy then?”
“Ten.”
“This is a bit unsettling.”
“I know.”
“But Hazel likes Gabriel.”
“I know.”
“You want to make a bet?”
“…Is it bad that I do want to?”
“So how much are you willing to bet?”
“Seven Novas says she confesses before Gabriel.”
“Ten says Gabriel confesses under peer pressure.”
“Oh, you are on.”
The two smirked at each other before shaking their hands, “By the ancient rules the bet is set.”
Though unknown to the hunters three black-hooded figures were in a dark room gathered around four holographic figures of Hazel, Gabriel, and the twins.
“Jason has your brother located the whereabouts of these four?” One asked the other.
“Of course, Chancellor West.” Jason said, “Charles is already in position.”
The third figure looked at the two before he asked, “Chancellor why are we monitoring these four again?”
“We need to get to them before Max Dark or any one of his disciples get to them.” Chancellor West explained, “Honestly if I have to explain why you are more of an idiot than a monkey.”
‘Jeez.’ Jason thought eyes widening a bit as he folded his arms.
‘Ouch.’ Cameron thought following Jason’s actions, “That was harsh.”
“Thanks.” Chancellor West said taking their hood off to reveal a woman in her early twenties that had ice blue eyes and long platinum white hair tied in a ponytail before turning to Jason, “Tell Charles to engage as soon as they set sail.”
“So, which one will he be kidnapping?” Jason asked.
Chancellor West hummed in thought, “Either Hazel Abernathy or Gabriel Pasi.”
“Of course, Chancellor.” Jason said bowing before turning to Cameron, “You might want to tell your scavengers that we’re going to be having a guest. You know so they won’t steal from them.”
Cameron grumbled before unfolding his arms, “They don’t just steal from others left and right Jason.”
“Both of you enough!” Chancellor West exclaimed glaring at the two, “Back to your stations until further orders!”
The two males lowered their heads before saying in a low voice, “Yes Chancellor West.”
“Get out of my sight, both of you.” Chancellor West said folding her arms and disabling the holographic images.
The two only nodded their heads before two mechanical doors opened behind them. Chancellor West sighed after she knew that the two males were far beyond the hearing reach and lightly clapped her hands and the room’s lights turned on. Sighing again she made her way to a desk with dozens of maps and letters scattered about.
‘What are you planning Dark?’ Chancellor west thought eyes narrowing and brows furrowed as she gazed thoughtfully at an old picture of Max Dark in front of what looked like an ancient ruin.
She sighed again before the silver pen beside her softly beeped. Chancellor West smiled before picking it up and carefully drew a crescent moon on a scrap piece of paper.
“This is Charles Martinez reporting in Chancellor.” A voice said as a light blue holographic image of a man in his early thirties appeared above the crescent moon drawing.
“Got anything new to report Charles?”
“Nothing yet.”
“Just what are they doing anyway?”
“The twins are off playing with the red fox.”
“What about Hazel and Gabriel?”
“They’re only a few footsteps away.”
“Well, WHAT are they doing Martinez?”
“Just the usual.”
“And that is?”
“They’re just playing chess and talking like always.”
“Are they all safe?”
“Yep, and they do have their weapons with them.”
“Alright then call me back in two hours.”
“Of course, Chancellor West.”
Chancellor West sighed again after the holographic image zapped out.
‘Gods that woman is harsh.’ Charles thought sighing before he turned his attention back to the four teenagers, ‘I get that they’re Monster Hunters and all but they’re still technically children.’
He sighed again before he saw Phoenix looking at him directly in the eye before the fox started barking at him. Charles saw Hazel quickly looked at her pet fox before walking up to the animal and knelt down beside him.
“Something wrong boy?” Hazel asked putting her hand on the fox’s back, “What’s gotten your attention?”
Phoenix only stopped barking at the moment to look at her before he turned back to Charles’ direction and began barking at him again.
“What’s up with him?” Gabriel asked as both he and the twins walked up to the girl and the fox, “I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“Neither have I.” Hazel admitted as she stood up, “Should we check it out?”
“Yep.” Ace said with Rachel following after, “Gabriel?”
Gabriel was about to say something before his eyes caught something in the direction Phoenix was barking at.
“We should be careful.” Gabriel said before turning to Phoenix, “Lead the way boy.”
Phoenix barked again before he ran in Charles’ direction with the four hunters following him.
‘Incoming!’ Charles thought surprised as he saw the group getting nearer.
“It’s in a tavern?” Rachel asked in confusion as they stood in front of a building.
“Whoever said it’s an it?” Gabriel replied, “It might be a who.”
Hazel’s eyes widened a bit before she took out a piece of coal from one of her pouches before drawing a small heart on the side of the building.
“Just in case.” Hazel said pocketing the black rock, “Keep your eyes and ears sharp.”
The other three nodded before Phoenix bolted to the back of the building.
“Phoenix!” Hazel and Rachel exclaimed as the four Monster Hunters ran after him.
‘Change of plans then.’ Charles thought pulling his hood over his head and began running after hearing the raspy barks of a certain red fox.
Charles was about to slip out of the fox’s sight before a black arrow stopped him in his tracks.
“Stop right there!” Gabriel exclaimed just a few meters away from Charles.
Charles only glanced in his direction before bolting in a different direction, ‘Gods that boy’s eyesight is immaculate.’
“Gabriel the rooftop!” Hazel yelled as she saw scaffolding high enough to reach the tall roofs, “Think you can get up there!?”
“Yep!” Gabriel exclaimed smirking a bit before slipping his bow on and started to climb the wooden planks.
“Ace, Rachel!” Hazel called as the two twins appeared at her sides.
“Yeah!?” The twins asked.
“Get back to Eliza and the others!” Hazel exclaimed, “If we don’t come back by midnight tell her to get Luna!” she then threw her own Claist to Rachel who gave her a look of doubt, “We’ll be fine Rachel, trust me.”
“You better Hazel.” Ace replied.
“Be careful Hazel.” Rachel said before the two stopped in their tracks.
Hazel smiled before she followed Gabriel and Phoenix.