#cardinalight

luz immediately recognizes that the golden guard is caleb when he takes his mask off for the first time. she didn't realize how cute he would be in person.

i think the timeline would become a bit different, considering caleb would know everything that him and pip have gone through. he'd be eager to get away, but too weak and small to do it. this would definitely warp his perception of himself and make him afraid to trust others. luz would be the first people he feels he can actually trust.

luz would help to build his self-esteem back up, slowly helping him believe he can fight back against belos. she promises he won't be doing it alone.

she would introduce him to eda, and he'd immediately realize that she's a decendant of his witch wife. eda would become the second person he trusts.

luz would fall in love with him, little by little, as he becomes more confident and strong.

"Sometimes you’re so cute I think I might just lose it."

Luz glanced at the man inhabiting her friend's body—at the brown eyes that shone, somehow, a different shade, and the grin that was crooked and dastardly in ways sweet Hunter could never manage even in his brattiest moments.

"You're one to talk," Luz laughed, warm and fond. "You're wearing a wolf kigurumi. You're adorable."

Caleb laughed. The sound was so different from Hunter's, even though they shared the same voice. "Fair enough," he said grinningly. "But in my defense, it was Hunter who put it on, so technically he's the cute one."

"Can't argue with that." Luz was, admittedly, very endeared by Hunter's love of cute, furry outfits. Knowing him, he'd have a fursuit cobbled together in no time. "I think you still wear it pretty well, though."

Caleb kissed her. She still wasn't used to that—to being held by not-Hunter's arms and kissed by not-Hunter's lips. But Caleb was so bright and kind and a little wicked… She couldn't say no. She kissed him back, eyes sliding shut.