Chapter 1
It had been a few months since everyone was freed from the archives and the Boiling Isles was finally at peace- well, the standard level of peace one is able to achieve whilst living amongst witches and demons.
Which, in Luz’s case, was the most peace she’d ever known. After finally feeling understood, and being able to forgive herself for making mistakes, her levels of stress- which were constantly high from trying to prove herself to others and be the perfect heroine she’d always dreamt about- were finally beginning to reach the normal level of an average teen witch… even if she couldn’t really do magic anymore.
Luz still had Stringbean, her sweet little power noodle, to help her fly and perform some spells she’d learned from Hunter; he was like a brother to her now, passing on the things he’d learned with Flapjack… it was hard for him to talk about so they didn’t train together much, but she always took diligent notes when he felt open to the subject.
Notetaking was something she’d perfected from study sessions with her sweet potato. Even though Amity was finishing school at Hexside- well, what was left of it- and Luz had agreed (after a thoughtful and respectful conversation with Camila) to join Vee and continue schooling at Gravesfield High, they still made sure to hangout often; beyond study sessions, Luz loved finally being able to show Amity the human realm- without the constant guilt she’d had hanging over her head before. And it wasn’t like she’d be trapped in the human realm forever; with the new neighbor and all (aka: her second-mom Eda), home- both of them- never felt closer.
Speaking of that old witch, last week Luz could’ve sworn she’d heard her telling her mama (over a glass of their new shared love- Appleblood) about some idea for a new university for wild magic! But, the two wouldn’t go into more details with their shared kid- as they both knew Luz tended to hyperfixate and wouldn’t want her to be let down if it didn’t work out. Though it was too late anyway, she’d already decided that’s where she’d be in two years time which is why-
*clunk*
Luz looked up from her desk as her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness around her.
*clunk*
There it is again! …so it isn’t just in my head, she thought to herself as she stretched her back and scanned her childhood bedroom, barely illuminated by the desk lamp.
After staring at her spur-of-the-moment ‘about me’ essay- which she hoped would be a part of the application process for this ‘wild magic university’ if and when it was built- Luz was unsure what day or time it even was. But if the moonlight shining through her window was any indication-
*clunk*
“Psst. Luz? Are you in there?”
A smile tugged at the human’s tired lips, she’d know that voice anywhere.
“Amity?” the dark haired girl rolled her chair to the other side of the room and leaned her head out past the window ledge, and sure enough, down on her lawn: the cotton candy haired goddess stood with a finger to her lips.
“Shhh!” she looked around with a mixture of excitement and panic. “Can I come up?”
“Wait, what are you doing here batata? And why are you whispering?” The unexpected sight of her girlfriend pulled a giggle from Luz. Amity rolled her eyes.
“I read your text and wanted to come celebrate, of course! But I didn’t ask Camila if I could and I used Eda’s door without permission and-”
Luz whipped a happy tear from her eye, laughing from both Amity’s ridiculousness and plain ol’ exhaustion. “Amityyy, you know they wouldn’t care- you don’t have to be so sneaky! Though, a rebellious side does look good on you.” she winked, causing the witch below to look down in an attempt to hide her blush. Something about seeing Amity flustered like that always tickled something in Luz’s stomach, but she wasn’t quite sure what.
“Come up! You can fly silly, you don’t need me to let you in.”
Amity summoned Ghost and rose up with grace that didn’t carry to her voice as she clarified, “I know but… I don’t know! I didn’t want to freak you out or interrupt something!” As Amity swung her legs over and into through the window, she’d no idea that now it was Luz’s turn to blush.
The human was sure her witch girlfriend, who was admittedly very hot but definitely did not seem particularly aware of her sexual power over many of Luz’s late night thoughts, must not have meant to imply anything when presenting her reasoning for respecting the young Noceda’s privacy; but , it certainly wouldn’t be a lie to say Luz did occasionally spend time in this room reading Azura fanfics that were… for lack of a better phrase: not PG.
But that isn’t something she would know!!! Would she?! …Oh my gosh- did I leave something open on my laptop last time she was here?!
Luz quickly rolled her chair back over to her desk and slammed her laptop shut, even though she was literally writing her college application essay a moment ago- nothing near sexual content anywhere in her search history.
But the panic was written all over her red, sweaty face and when Amity looked up, after smoothing out her dress, she only wasted a moment in confusion looking between Luz and her laptop before golden eyes went wide and the witch found her own cheeks tinting pink.
“Not like that! I meant- studying or sleeping or- or- breathing! Anything but that!!” she stared in horror as Luz opened and closed her mouth- trying to think of something to say and looking like a fish out of water. And as Amity took in Luz’s unnecessarily guilty expression, she realized ….maybe it is just like that.
Reading the signs and acting fast, Amity added, “But- but even if it were- that - it’s okay! I think you doing that is totally normal! Not that I think of you doing that . I mean- I don’t think! Well, obviously I think but like- not of you! Doing that !” Now that’s a lie. Shut up Amity! The witch argued with herself as she threw her hands up, pleading innocent. Between lack of air in her rushed statement, and just pure embarrassment, Amity’s face had never been redder.
Meanwhile, Luz, who had never previously even considered the idea that Amity thought of her like that- though the human frequently thought of Amity that way- had to reevaluate everything she knew about life, death, and the meaning of existence altogether… and, before she could stop it, she heard the question pour out of her mouth:
“You think of me like that?”
She couldn’t take it back- in fact, the fish could hardly even get those words to come out- so she just let the question hang there. No hint of judgment. Everything in her face read genuine curiosity, but that didn’t register to Amity whose jaw dropped, completely taken aback now and unsure how to answer.
If I lie, then that will establish a basis of distrust… but if I tell the truth- I’ll probably die. She bit her lip tight, eyebrows furrowed, fists clenched around the edges of her dress as Luz waited, looking up at her from the desk chair.
*knock, knock*
Luz whipped her chair around to the door to see Camila’s shadow leaking under from the other side.
“Mija? Are you alright in there?”
“YEP! Just uh… drrrrawing…. a tattoo concept! For Hunter!” It technically isn’t a lie. I was doing that… last night.
“A tattoo?! Ay, dios mío…” Camila said, trying and failing to keep it under her breath. She sighed- let’s do this over: “ Hmm. That’s- very interesting honey.” Luz’s mom was many things, but if there was one adjective to top them all? Supportive.
Despite all the tension from before, Luz let herself chuckle at her mama’s forced enthusiasm. Clearly, it wasn’t the time to pitch the idea that their group might all be getting the tattoo- but at least the seed was planted.
“Mmhm! He wants something for Flapjack. I think it’ll be good-” Luz turned over her shoulder to look at Amity, only to find she wasn’t there.
“Psst.” Amity leaned out of the closet and winked at the human, who luckily caught her drift immediately.
“-for him. You can come in, you know. We don’t have to talk through the door!” she called out. Camila cracked the door open and peered at her daughter with a tender smile.
“Sorry, I thought I heard something up here and-” the smile faded slightly, “well… you know. I love your new life but moms are allowed to worry about their daughters.'' She stepped in and wrapped her arms around Luz’s (who was still sitting) top half.
The younger Noceda bit her lip. She did still feel bad sometimes about all the sacrifices people in her life made for her- just knowing how stressed her mom was because of their new lifestyle- it could be really hard. But, for the most part, Luz had grown a lot in this department and was able to remind herself now that that was their choice, choices they made because they loved her. Despite the challenges this mixed magic life could bring, it also brought so many good things about- and so did she.
“No, I’m safe and I’m not going anywhere.” Luz squeezed her mom tight.
“Well, let’s see this tattoo then.” Camila tried to raise back the positivity in the room but Luz knew that despite the sweet gesture, it would be more fun to hang out when her girlfriend wasn’t hiding in her small, messy closet just five feet away.
“Maybe we can tomorrow? I’m pretty beat tonight.” she faked a yawn, stretching her arms up above her head. …it’s just a white lie. It isn’t like I’m going off to live in a demon realm or anything… ugh that wasn’t my finest moment.
“Alright mija, I’ll see you in the morning. Just- please don’t let him get a face tattoo. At least not without thinking about it first, okay?” Camila wanted to support everyone’s creative expression, but she had to draw the line somewhere.
Luz winked playfully, “No promises.” They chuckled and after a beat Camila took her leave, giving Luz a quick kiss on the forehead and shutting the door behind her.
“Buenas noches mi serpientito.”
As her footsteps faded back down to the living room, Amity tumbled out of the closet with a dramatic breath.
“Were you holding your breath?! Amity! She wouldn’t be that mad if you snuck up here!” Luz smiled, happy to be surrounded by such amazing people, and stood to grab her girlfriend’s hand. It was soft and chilly from her ride through the night air.
Having picked up some of Luz’s mannerisms, Amity used her other hand to rub the back of her neck with a shy chuckle, “I know… I don’t think she would be mad, It’s just- I was so excited about your text- you, going to college in the Demon Realm? That would be amazing and it got me thinking about…” She down and to the side, cheeks pink as she bit her lip- clearly trying to spit out whatever it was that prompted this night trip.
Luz squeezed her hand and led her to sit on the edge of the bed, “What is it, Ams?”
Amity blushed, still not used to being treated so lovingly by another person- something she knew she’d never quite get used to. “It got me thinking about silly things- like what your dorm room might look like or how we could hang out there…” her blush intensified, “...and then I thought about how we haven’t really had a sleepover, just the two of us- which after the mixup earlier might come off as-” she burned holes into the carpet with her intense gaze as she tried to find the right wording, “-unsavory. But I really mean it: the thought of being able to just fall asleep in your arms-” she closed her eyes and smiled at the thought, “warm, listening to your heart beat…”
Suddenly aware that she was, in fact, talking to the real human Luz and not just daydreaming aloud, Amity’s eyes snapped open and she sputtered, “Is that cheesy? Oh my titan, that sounded way more intense then I meant it to-”
But when she actually turned to face Luz, all her fears melted away at the look of adoration in her eyes, the human’s mouth slightly agape.
“You want to sleep here? With me?”
“Is that weird? If you don’t want me to I can go but I told my dad I’d be at Willow’s and-”
Before she could get lost on another train of explanations and logic, Luz cut her off with a slow and gentle kiss, one that warmed her skin and raised the hairs on the back of her neck. It was long, but simple. A clear statement followed by the girl resting her forehead on Amity’s, both closing their eyes and just breathing the other in.
“I would love for you to sleep here with me. Honestly, I’m surprised we never thought to do this before.”
Amity fluttered her eyes open to see warm melting chocolate brown looking back at her, a goofy smile plastered across Luz’s lips, one that quickly spread to her own.
“And I just didn’t want to tell your mom because, I don’t know. I didn’t want to make it weird or to end up in that rollout bed again.” They both chuckled at the memory. When the kids first came here, Camila didn’t know the two were dating so she of course had them in separate beds. But when she did find out, well she trusted Luz and knew the pair wouldn’t do anything with Willow there, but that didn’t stop her from giving her daughter ‘the talk’- and she was sure to read up on queer sex before hand for safety; suffice to say it was very embarrassing and after that, Luz wouldn’t be caught dead even sitting on Amity’s guest bed if Camila was around.
“That makes-” Luz grimaced at the memory, “-total sense.” She pulled back with a smile and tired eyes, then pointed at her dresser, “well if you want to wear some of my pajamas, the ones you borrowed last time are right in there.”
Amity bit her lip, holding back a giddy smile as she kissed Luz’s knuckles and made her way across the bedroom to the dresser. As she sorted through the clothes, looking for her shorts, Luz- already clad in her classic pajamas- sat on the bed watching her with a loving expression.
It truly felt like they were a domestic couple, hanging out in their shared room and just enjoying the other’s presence. But after snatching up the outfit, Amity realized the next step would require a bit more- poise.
“What’s up?” Luz asked, now laying on her side on the bottom bunk of the bed, still ogling her pretty girlfriend.
“It’s just that- I thought I came prepared- I already brushed my teeth, don’t need to use the restroom, and have pajama options here- but now I’m realizing, since your mom and Eda are still up and about….”
Luz’s eyes widened before she sat up and tried to waive her hand nonchalantly; they were both mature, top students. They could figure this out. No problem! … noooo problem. She quickly turned her back to the witch, and for extra measure- closed her eyes. Even fully clothed, Amity was thankful for the privacy so, for once, she could blush in peace.
“Go ahead and change! My eyes are sealed tight!” Luz held up a thumbs up to signal that her eyes were in the ready position.
She’s so cute . Amity thought as she shuffled around, quickly shimmying off her clothes trying not to think about how, if she really wanted to, she could just climb into bed without any pajamas at all.
Meanwhile, in Luz’s mind- just the sound of the shuffling- just the very idea that hardly more than an arm's length away a goddess was nearly naked! In her room! -was causing her to short circuit. And with all the new thoughts and feelings tonight was bringing about, the human didn’t even realize she was still holding her thumb up- which was now visibly shaking.
No matter what was in store, one thing was certain: it was going to be a loooong night.