A Blooming Feeling
The greenhouse was alive with soft, glowing lights—tiny bioluminescent mushrooms clinging to wooden shelves, enchanted vines curling and uncurling in the gentle night air. It was Willow’s favorite place, her sanctuary, hidden behind a thicket of magically grown ivy.
And tonight, Luz was here with her.
Willow knelt in front of a fresh patch of soil, carefully placing a new seed into the earth. Her fingers glowed faintly with green light as she whispered an incantation. Slowly, a tiny sprout emerged, unfurling its delicate leaves under her touch.
Luz, sitting cross-legged beside her, let out a quiet gasp. “That never stops being cool.”
Willow smiled, brushing a bit of dirt off her hands. “It’s nothing special.”
“Excuse me? Nothing special?” Luz gestured dramatically to the sprout. “Willow, you just brought life into the world! That’s, like, top-tier witchery.”
Willow laughed. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m being appreciative,” Luz corrected. She reached out and lightly tapped the tiny plant. It swayed slightly in response, almost as if it recognized her touch.
Willow’s heart did something strange—a little flutter, as if responding to Luz’s presence the same way the plants did. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt it, but tonight, it was stronger.
Maybe it was the quiet, the way they were tucked away from the world, surrounded by nothing but moonlight and magic. Or maybe it was the way Luz’s face glowed softly in the enchanted light, her expression full of wonder, her fingers brushing so gently against something Willow had nurtured.
Something about it made Willow’s chest feel tight in a way that wasn’t unpleasant.
“You know,” Luz mused, watching the plant with fascination, “I think they grow better when you talk to them.”
Willow smirked. “That’s actually true.”
“Then they must love you,” Luz said easily, glancing up at her. “I mean, you’re always talking to them, taking care of them. No wonder your plants are the happiest in the Boiling Isles.”
Willow felt warmth rise to her cheeks. She looked away, pretending to adjust a vine on the nearby trellis. “I just like making things grow,” she murmured.
“Yeah,” Luz said softly. “Me too.”
The words made Willow pause. She turned back to Luz, watching her carefully. “You do?”
Luz nodded, picking at the sleeve of her sweater. “I mean, I don’t have plant magic or anything. But I like watching things change for the better. Seeing people grow, seeing myself grow.” She gave a small laugh. “I feel like I’ve changed so much since coming to the Isles.”
Willow tilted her head. “Do you think it’s a good change?”
Luz hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I think so.” She glanced back up at Willow with a soft, lopsided smile. “Especially ‘cause I got to meet people like you.”
Willow’s breath hitched.
She knew Luz was naturally affectionate, that she had a way of making people feel special. But this felt… different. More intentional.
And it was getting harder and harder to ignore the way her heart reacted to it.