* ~ Notes ~ *

Tags - ⚠️💖💞

AU - ⭐️

Info - Hazel is meeting the questers for the first time after convincing her father and uncle to bring her with them. However, she seems to take a bit of an extra liking towards a certain wolf!

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( No one's POV )

( Setting - Forest trail (First few paragraphs), campsite )

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"You seem tense, Hazie.. you okay?"

Cuphead's voice was enough to make Hazel snap out of her thoughts, looking up at him with a smile, waving a hand is dismissal. "Yeah, I'm okay! Just a little nervous.." She moved a hand to rub the back of her head, giving a quiet chuckle. "After all, I've been waiting to see them in person, and now I finally am.. who wouldn't be a bit anxious?"

With a soft chuckle, Cuphead gave Hazel a small rub on the shoulder in reassurance, smiling at her. "It's alright, you'll be fine. And if they do give you any trouble, you come right to me and uncle Mugs. Okay?" Hazel simply nodded, lifting her hand to grasp her father's and give it a gentle squeeze.

"We're here! You ready, Hazel?" Mugman spoke up, and Hazel looked ahead to see a clearing with three tents. True to as her dad and uncle stated, she could see Bendy, Boris and Felix. Well.. here goes nothing. She exhaled quietly, looking up at Mugman and giving a nod. They moved forward, and into the clearing.

"Hey guys! We're here!"

The other three were quick to turn around towards Cup, Mug and Hazel as they approached. They seemed quite surprised at the new face. Bendy had a small frown of uncertainty, Boris seemed more on the curious side, and Felix gave a welcoming smile, waving at Hazel before speaking.

"Welcome back you two. I see you've brought someone else with you." Hazel slightly ducked behind her father, gripping his shirt ever so slightly while forcing a small smile. This made Cuphead laugh quietly, and he patted her should, gently coaxing her out.

"It's okay, Hazel. Don't be scared." He whispered, and turned back to Felix, while Hazel hesitantly stepped away from her previous position to stand beside him. "Remember my kids I told you guys about? Well.. this is Hazel. She wanted to come along." Mugman looked over at Hazel, raising a brow in playful tease. "Took a lot of convincing, but she insisted. Right Hazie?"

Hazel couldn't help but giggle a little at Mugman's comment, nodding in confirmation. Felix still had a warm smile as he moved closer to reach his hand out, offering a handshake. "Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, kiddo! I'm Felix the cat; archeologist, adventurer, and book-writer! Your father told us a lot about you, your brother and your mother." Hazel took his hand, smiling as she shook it. "It's nice to meet you too, Felix."

After Felix introduced himself, Bendy and Boris approached to greet Hazel as well. "My name's Bendy, and this is my brother, Boris. It's nice to meet you." Bendy took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it in greeting. Hazel blinked at this and seemed a bit flustered at this gesture, and she couldn't see it, but Cuphead shot Bendy an unamused glare, which made him quickly let her hand go.

"Hello there!" Boris greeted, leaning a bit with a wagging tail. "Don't mind my brother, he's always like that with girls." That last comment was more of a whisper, but Bendy still looked at Boris with a halfhearted frown and a mouthed 'I heard that.'  Hazel couldn't help but giggle at this, and she looked up at Boris again.

She took a moment to look him over, noting how soft and fluffy he looked.. not to mention cute! She didn't notice it, but her cheeks had gotten ever so slightly pink. She let out a soft, nervous giggle, looking away shyly. "Ah, it's okay."

Mugman stepped forward to walk towards his and Cuphead's tent, looking back at Hazel. "Why don't you unpack your stuff and you can get to know them better after? We got a long trip ahead of us after tonight." With a nod and an "Alright!", Hazel left Cuphead's side to run up to Mugman, entering the tent with him. Meanwhile, Cuphead gave Bendy a lecture about kissing Hazel's hand- though Bendy insisted he was trying to be polite- Felix and Boris watching in amusement.

^V^V^V^V^V^V^V

Some time had passed since Hazel first met the group, and now, the sun was beginning to set, so Boris and Mugman were cooking some soup for everyone to eat before it would be time to settle in for bed. Hazel was sitting with her dad, resting against him while holding her cat toy, Whisper, and playing with him on her lap.

"Excuse me, Hazel?" Felix spoke up, making Hazel perk up and look at him with a hum of confirmation that he had her attention. "I couldn't help but notice that you have a crack under your eye there. I was wondering how you got it, if you're comfortable with sharing?"

This question took Hazel by surprise, and she looked down at the ground, slightly tightening her grip on Whisper. "Ah.. that.." Cuphead adjusted his position and rubbed Hazel's back. He knew how much she hated bringing it up. There's a reason she hides the crack all the time, after all.

"Got it a couple years ago. Pretty much an accident on my part. Fell face first on concrete after tripping and the crack was too severe to be fully healed, or to save my vision. I'm always being picked on for it, so I'm.. eh.. very self conscious of it, to say the least..."

"Oh dear.. I'm so sorry." Felix's ears lowered in sympathy, "If you ask me, I think that scar makes you look tough! A battle scar, if you will. I've had my own fair share." He lifted his shirt slightly to reveal the Fire Tiger scar, making Hazel blink in surprise. Now that looks like it hurt.

"Wow.. what on earth caused that, Felix?" Hazel asked, moving her gaze from the scar to his own gaze. "A Fire Tiger! Old fella put up a fight, that's for sure. It's actually in one of my books too if you're interested!" Felix lowered his shirt again, smiling at Hazel's reaction that followed. "Woah, that's real cool! I'll have to see about reading your books sometime!"

Felix gestured with a hand to Bendy, who was sitting close by, also listening to what Hazel had been saying. "Bendy's a big fan of my books himself, I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting you read the ones he's brought with." Bendy shrugged, smiling slightly. "Eh, I see no harm in it."

Felix and Cup both chuckled when Hazel lifted her arms and let out a happy "Whoop!!" at Bendy's comment. Soon after, Boris finally spoke. "Soup's done, guys!" Cuphead patted Hazel's shoulder as a gesture for her to stand and get her portion to eat.

Once she got a bowl, she looked over at Boris who was moving to sit by Bendy, then back at her dad. "Could I go sit by Boris, dad?" Cuphead was quiet for a moment, but shrugged. "Sure, go ahead." Hazel smiled and walked over, to Boris, Bendy and Felix on the opposite side. "Hey there, Hazel." Boris greeted with a smile, slightly scooting to give her more room.

"Hey Boris!" She greeted back, sitting down between him and Bendy, and took a scoop of the soup. "I heard you talking about your scar. You know what I think? I think those people who picked on you need to go and get a hobby." His tone was playful, causing Hazel to laugh. "I mean it! I'd just ignore them if I were you, they ain't worth your time." He took a bite of the soup after speaking, Hazel doing the same.

She smiled widely at the taste, letting out a quiet hum of content. "This is delicious! What is it?" She asked, turning to Boris. "Nothing fancy, just some canned mushroom soup," He replied, looking at her. "We have a couple cans yet, so we're good on food for now!" Hazel took another spoonful and ate it, letting out another muffled hum. "I'm so getting this next time we go shopping when I'm at home again."

^V^V^V^V^V^V^V

A couple minutes passed by as everyone ate, and when Hazel was finished, she set her bowl down in front of her and let out a yawn. This made Boris look at her and give a small laugh. "Guess you're the type to get tired on a full stomach, huh?" Hazel laughed back, nodding once. "Yeah. I'm good for now, though."

For some time, Hazel remained sitting and played with Whisper while the others talked and continued to eat, Hazel slowly growing more and more sleepy. She peered up at Boris, who was talking to Bendy, and after contemplating it for a moment, she leaned towards him until her head was rested against his shoulder. She closed her eyes in content with a faint smile, nuzzling against his fur. He really is fluffy..

Boris jumped when he felt Hazel rest against him, and he looked down at her, then at Bendy, his cheeks growing pink at the face he was making at him. That raised brow, half smirk and overall teasing look Bendy was making him just screamed teasing. "Bendy, quit looking at me like that! She's just tired!" He growled under his breath, making Bendy snicker.

"We should all get to bed. It's getting late." Cuphead's sudden annoyed voice made Boris jump again, and his ears lower in nervousness. He could tell by the look on Cup's face as he walked over to Boris to carefully pick up Hazel- now sleeping- and carry her towards his and Mug's tent that he was not amused with what just happened. "Safe to say that Cups is pretty protective of Hazel, huh? Doesn't seem like he liked that in the slightest." Bendy whispered to Boris, who nodded in reply.

Even as he, Bendy and Felix stood up to get ready to settle down to sleep themselves, he couldn't get rid of the blush on his cheeks. What on earth just happened? And why was that so.. cute? Oh man, was he flustered. Hazel caught him way off guard. 'Come on Boris, get yourself together, or you're never gonna hear the end of it from Bendy..' He thought, patting himself in the face a few times to try and get the image of what just happened out of his head.

"You gonna come and sleep or what, tomato cheeks?" Bendy chimed from inside the tent, clear teasing in his tone. "Oh shut it, I'm coming!" Boris barked back, groaning quietly. He shook his head once more and took a breath to recollect himself again, moving inside the tent. She was just tired, it was nothing more. He needs to sleep.. not be up all night thinking about that. After all, the group has an important mission to continue come morning.