Amity always had to take a few breaths before entering the Owl House.
Luz had asked her to help with some homework. She had brought her notes, and her hair was tied up in its usual half ponytail, neatly arranged so only a few auburn roots poked through.
This is fine. Just a totally normal platonic definitely-not-anything-is-going-to-happen study session, she told her hammering heart.
She glared at the Owl tube thing implanted into the door as it babbled, something about a bug it ate the other day. The (literal) demon almost made her regret agreeing to come over. To help Luz. As a friend, the witch reminded herself yet again.
She made her way past the door bird upstairs and knocked quietly. She didn't want the Owl Lady to notice she was there. This was, surprisingly, not due to the fact she was the most notorious criminal on the Boiling Isles and instead because of the knowing smirk the grey-haired witch adorned whenever Amity interacted with the human. There wasn't anything to be knowing about, other than the fact that her face would redden at any (cute) stupid thing Luz did, or how her pulse quickened at physical touch from the girl or how-
Shut up! She's a girl, a human girl, what would mother say if she knew you were thinking like this?
Amity knocked again, and when no response came, she opened the door. And there she was, sitting half-turned toward the window with a pencil scratching away on paper, one of many that were scattered in a messy half circle around the human. She also had… strings leading to her ears?
Luz looked up at the witch, pulling the one string away as she smiled.
"Amity! I'm so glad to see you. It turns out trying to learn nine new courses in a completely new world is a bit harder than I thought it would be. Eda said she wasn't going to be back for a bit, so it'll just be us." She patted the spot on her other side, still grinning widely.
Titan, how am I supposed to survive this?
"Uh, y-yeah, it's good to see you too." Amity managed to stutter out, claiming a place directly in the beam of sunlight from the window, trying to stop her fluttering ears.
They studied for a while, Amity assisting whenever needed. She had been staring at the human's ear, which still had the string attached. It was so fascinating how round they were, how they seemed to have more cartilage and less mobility. The witch fought with the urge to teach out and touch them.
I shouldn't be feeling this.
Apparently Luz had noticed, looking at Amity with a grin. Amity's ears twitched and she felt her cheeks starting to heat.
"I, uh-"
"Wanna try?"
Amity was sure her heart stopped.
Luz clarified, seemingly mistaking Amity's starstruck expression for a confused one.
"My music"- she held up the other string - "I could use a break."
Amity sighed slightly. Dammit Blight, get yourself together.
"Oh, um, sure. What is this?"Amity replied, observing it. It had a little curved plastic bud attached to the end. Now that it was nearer, she could hear faint music.
"It's called an earbud. They're kind of like mini-speakers." Luz explained as she scooted closer, handing the 'earbud' to Amity.
She fumbled with it for a moment, before giving in and asking Luz for help.
And of course Luz just had to laugh that laugh, her eyes just had to sparkle and dance in a way that was so mesmerising.
Amity, too flustered to respond, mutely gave the 'earbud' back.
The human girl gently guided the device to its intended place, entirely unaware of Amity trying her Titan-damned hardest to not squeak.
She couldn't, however, stop her ears from twitching at the warmth and softness, How can a hand be that soft-
"Aww, your ears are sensitive! Amity, that's so cute!" Luz seemed delighted at this discovery, beaming at the other girl.
Cute! She just called me cute, Titan-
"T-Thanks?"
The human smiled again, effectively melting her heart.
"I'II be right back, gonna grab a drink. Want anything?" She asked.
Amity shook her head. "No, l-I think I'm okay for now."
And so Amity was left alone with her thoughts.
What in Titan's name am I doing?
I shouldn't be feeling this.
She's a girl.
She's a girl.
Amity's mind flashed back to when she was younger. Her mother's scolding voice echoed in her head. She had only asked a question, regarding an old couple of ladies walking down the street, but that was enough to trigger her mother.
"You are a Blight, dear. Act like it. I won't be tolerating any of that kind of behaviour under my roof."
Amity was snapped out of it by a new song being started.
'I've been hiding for so long~ These feelings, they're not gone~'
As if on cue, Luz comes back, holding a glass of water, just when the chorus had started.
"I'm back! Uh… Amity, are you okay? You're looking a little red."
That was an understatement. The green haired witch's face was completely flushed. All Amity could do was stare blankly at the other girl.
"Is it too hot in here? I mean, you've been sitting in the sun this whole time."
"l-l uh," Stupid words. Stupid feelings. "l-l'm okay, j-just… some, uh… thoughts…"
Luz sat down beside her again, so close, so concerned, so beautiful. Their faces were barely a foot apart, and Amity couldn't help her eyes from glancing at Luz lips.
No. Nope, no no no no no. BAD. Do NOT think about it, don't think-
'l shouldn't be feeling this~ But it's too hard to resist~ Soft skin, soft lips~''
She couldn't control herself from letting out a squeak this time.
Now Luz was really concerned. She quickly grabbed her phone and hit pause, thankfully not bothering to see which song it was playing.
Amity was still stuck staring at Luz and considering whether or not to lean in and kiss her. It would be simple, really, to just-
Wait, did she just think about kissing Luz?
"Gah!" Amity cried out as her tense muscles gave in under their own tension, falling onto her back.
"Whoa! Oh my gosh, Amity, are you okay!?" Luz reached out a hand, helping a very flustered Amity back into a sitting position.
"PFFT WHAT ME I'M TOTALLY NORMAL NEVER BEEN MORE NORMAL THANKS!"
Luz winced.
"Uh, I'm pretty sure you're not." Luz stared for a moment, taking note of how stiff the very red faced witch was.
The human seemed to hesitate for a moment, before taking Amity into a hug. She felt her breath hitch before hesitantly reciprocating it, circling her arms around the tan girl's waist.
"Amity… Does this have something to do with your parents? I know they're not the best, I mean, I've met them before. You know I'm here for you right?"
Well, not entirely accurate, but pretty damn close.
Instead of answering, Amity just pressed her face into Luz's shoulder. This girl was just so caring, and sweet, and warm.
Amity started to laugh. And she just kept laughing, she couldn't stop. Luz pulled away slightly, confused.
And then Amity started crying.
Luz started to let go further, hastily apologising. "Crap! Amity, I'm sorry, I-I should've asked you-"
The crying girl's head snapped up quickly, eyes blown wide. "No!"
Luz stopped, and the witch drew her close again, clinging to her purple and white hoodie.
"Please. Don't go."
"Okay."
The two girls sat there, Amity quietly sobbing and clinging to Luz like a lifeline, who was softly but firmly holding her.
And gradually, she managed to slow her breathing, sobbing shrinking down to the occasional hiccup.
She had regretfully let go of the human to splash some water on her face, returning to a slightly pink-cheeked Luz.
The Dominican girl cleared her throat awkwardly. "I uh, just checked- I was curious, so I wanted to see which song you were listening to, and uh… I might've misinterpreted that situation. Heh. Um, sorry, about… all that."
Amity blinked, then chuckled tiredly.
"Nah, it's okay. I think I needed that. But, uh," -now it was Amity's turn to clear her throat- "that was a girl, singing about…girls. I just- do… you like girls?"
The heat from earlier was returning.
Luz started to look slightly panicked, and embarrassed.
"Uhhhh…Mmhm. Well, boys too, I didn't really have a preference, but, yeah.Yeah." The girl developed an interest in her knees, "I hope you are okay with that. You mean a lot to me."
Amity took a second to process this.
"Your parents are okay with that?"
Luz looked back up at her. "Yeah. Some people are okay with it, some people aren't, but my Mamí accepted me. I thought everyone was okay with it here though."
Amity glared bitterly off to the side. "What can I say? I'm a Blight. We're not supposed to be like everyone."
And suddenly, she felt Luz's hand on top of her fist. She hadn't even realised she had clenched up so much. She looked at their hands, then up at those warm hazel eyes.
"Amity…" She started softly, nervously, as if scared she might break the wonderful feeling in the air. "You're not a Blight to me. You're Amity. You're beautiful, and smart, and cool, and classy, and I love how you work so hard, I love how you care."
She was coming closer, closer, as Amity's heart threatened to burst.
"I love how you laugh, I love how you smile, I love how you look at me."
They were only inches apart. Amity could barely breathe.
"I love you, Amity."
She gazed deeply into those eyes, so close to her own. They shined with more magic than there could possibly be in either world.
And finally, she asked.
"Can I kiss you, Luz?"
"Yes. Please."
Amity closed the distance.
Oh My Titan.
Luz's lips were so warm, she was so gentle. But Amity felt like a star, burning up in a fiery ball of emotions. It felt so wonderful, just existing here, in this moment, without worrying about expectations or punishment.
More electrifying shocks worked their way up her spine as Luz's hands held her, one cupping her cheek and the other burrowing itself into the short hair of her undercut.
The kiss deepened, separating and rejoining with renewed fervour each time.
They pulled apart, breathing heavily.
"Ay dios mío. Realmente espero no estar soñando, eso fue lo mejor que me ha pasado."
Amity laughed. "What? Luz, I have no idea what you're talking about.''
Luz winked at her. Like, actually winked. "Don't worry Hermosa. I don't think even my imagination is creative enough for this."
Amity just sighed.
When Eda returned a half an hour later, she just smiled at the two girls fast asleep and cuddling in Luz's room.
The Owl Lady was glad none of the kids were awake as she walked down the hall to her room.
"Fuckin' knew it."