A.N. — The last two paragraphs of the first chapter almost belong here, as this chapter swaps over to Amity for our viewpoint. But Luz is still the focus. Let's be real: Amity, at this point, would have an exceedingly difficult time not clinging close to Luz after everything that went down.
Also, do you know how ridiculously happy you guys/gals/other folks have made me with your instant gravitation to this story? It's crazy watching the hits go up at a rate I'm not used to seeing. Guess my preferred drabble format is trumped by a story with a modicum of plot to it.
This was also getting long enough (1,000 more words than last chapter) that I considered splitting this one in half, but I promised two chapters and that's what I'm delivering. I did struggle with that, along with getting characters to move places, plus also later on trying to cover Titan Luz without it feeling like a rehash of what chapter one covered. The burden of expectations also held me back, I feel, as I'm not used to seeing such positive support for my work. Sorry for the wait; I hope this is up to snuff.
Chapter 2: Pick Me Up
Amity didn't answer Luz immediately. Could they just leave without repercussions? Probably. Was it advisable? Not so much. Amity knew their friends were still up in the archive, both helping out the formerly trapped citizens and reconnecting with their loved ones. She had plenty of faith in Willow and Gus (and even Hunter, more begrudgingly) to hold their own without Luz and her there. But leaving without at least a goodbye and a reassurance of where they'd be was callous, especially given the situation.
They were going nowhere, though, till both of them untangled themselves from each other and got off the ground. Finally prying her attention away from Luz, Amity noticed just how crowded the area was becoming with folks making their way down from the archive. She'd been more concerned with keeping Luz out of the spotlight while she had a very private breakdown in a pretty public space, but now they both were ready to move on... to another locale, at least. Getting past the recent events would be a far longer process.
Still, Amity spared a glance back at where she'd come from. Witnessing the aftermath from above had made the scope of Belos' evil truly sink in. He was ready to raze the world just to make everybody conform to his way of thinking. And Luz, she had a sinking suspicion, had been at the center of it. Having been puppetized herself for a good deal of the proceedings, Amity didn't know the depth of the impact what went down had. But Luz could provide answers that no one else likely could. But she was also loathe to push her for them; Luz had sought her out in the first place, after all.
Amity's gaze roved over the teeming mass of demons and witches (and one lone human) congregating at the foot of the Titan's skull. She knew Willow, Gus and Hunter were somewhere in there... along with their families. While she, herself, was not heartbroken in the least over being apart from her mother at the moment, Luz was probably not feeling the same. Camila, after all, was everything Odalia was not: warm, caring, nurturing, and — especially — forgiving. That Luz had ran headlong into her, rather than her mother, spoke volumes. And Amity wasn't sure that was a good thing.
"Shouldn't you be checking in with your mother?" Amity asked. "I'd've guessed she would've been the first one you sought out, not me." Luz half-heartedly shrugged.
"Mami is still so new to all this," Luz reasoned. "I can't explain to her about what happened when I can't even comprehend it myself. You're from here," Luz threw up her hands. "You probably would get it a lot quicker. And, if you don't," and here, Luz started grinning for the first time since the two had reunited, "at least you'll kiss me until I'm better."
Amity blushed, but it wasn't the full-on tomato. Her underlying worry about Luz tempered even the teasing repartee. Luz was gonna get smooches later, one way or another, but now wasn't really the moment. If they got distracted by... other things, then they'd never get to the heart of the matter: what had driven Luz to her in a distraught state in the first place.
Luz caught on to Amity's hesitance and her rakish smile fell. Before true worry could set in, Amity rushed to placate unfound fears.
"Kisses are great, wonderful even," Amity began, nearly tripping over her words, "but we've got more important things to be doing. Like finding a quiet place and decompressing." Luz was subconsciously nodding along, even as she playfully pouted at Amity actually refusing some physical affection. "I've had... a day, and I can't even imagine whatever you've been through. So let's find somewhere and get on the same page."
Luz stood and balled her first in determination. Amity was heartened by the resolve Luz was displaying, but she had to temporarily reign her in.
"Your mom...?" Amity prompted, inclining her head over to where she could see the woman assisting people of all shapes and sizes while barely batting an eye. "I already let my dad and the twins know what was going on. But Camila would probably love to hear from you personally."
Luz pivoted and caught sight of her mother and her smile became wobbly. She flung her arms above her head in a wave, and Camila didn't take long to notice. Mother and daughter pinned each other with a stare, silently communicating. Camila inclined her head, whether at Amity or as permission to go off with her, Luz didn't know. Luz clutched her hands to her chest and beamed at her mom before turning back to Amity.
"I'm gonna have to have an even longer talk with Mami than I am with you," Luz began. "That can wait, maybe till we get home... wherever that is now." Luz trailed off. "She's busy, and she saw I was, too. She trusts us with each other; that helps so much right now."
"Wish I had that with my mom," Amity grumbled, before perking up. "I guess I sorta do have that now, if Camila is really accepting me into your family."
"Of course she is!" Luz took Amity's hands into her own. "Even if you hadn't had months on Earth to win her over, she'd still support me and whoever I decided to date." Amity had stopped still at Luz's words. "Amity, you're worth it. Me and Mami are going to shower you with so much love and care..."
Amity gently put a finger on Luz's lips in lieu of kissing them. That was twice now she'd been tempted to get side-tracked by Luz's charms. Combined the the light odor of sweat clinging to Luz from her strenuous day making Amity a bit punch-drunk, they were teetering precariously close to ditching any sort of productive activities for more amorous ones. She had to stay on mission.
"I really appreciate you building me up like that," Amity said. "But I feel you need it more right now. I don't know about you, but I'd sure like some creature comforts around when we finally collapse."
As if saying it reminded Luz of how tired she truly was, she sagged back into Amity's body.
"Lead on, then," Luz playfully commanded.
Talking and walking had ceased to be an option as soon as Amity broached the subject of parents. But now, they both set off with renewed determination toward Blight Manor. The Owl House was but an empty, desecrated shell of itself at the moment. And while it would surely ensure privacy if they headed there, the lack said creature comforts, plus the myriad memories it'd dredge up ruled it out. Plus, Blight Manor was much closer — and due to its isolated position, it had escaped whatever destruction the climatic confrontation caused.
With all the crowds moving in the opposite direction, Amity and Luz made it relatively quickly and unopposed to their destination. And, like they thought, the grand estate was both deserted and unmolested. They had a scare when seeing the front door left ajar, but Amity figured one of her family members had rushed out in haste. Whether it was her mother to save her investment, her father to save his inventions, or her siblings to save actual people, Amity knew not. Luz was the one here now, and Amity had checked in with the Blights she cared for.
Amity gently closed the door behind her, not out of any care for the impressive wood structure, but just in case Luz would be startled by the loud noise. Luz had already fallen to pieces once today (that Amity was aware of); she didn't need to add to her girlfriend's trauma even accidentally. And Amity wanted to slam the door, or break things; the role she'd played during Belos' attack was more support and less direct offense, and she needed an outlet for pent-up frustrations.
Luz stumbled over to a long couch and collapsed bonelessly upon the cushions. Amity's target had been her room, but the living room had a fireplace at least. But then she looked up at the "happy" family portrait above the mantle and decided this wasn't the venue she wanted to have a heavy discussion in. Gently seizing Luz by the elbow, she pulled the strangely quiet teen to her feet, then up the stairs. It didn't escape Amity's notice that Luz's hands sought out the railing for support as she ascended. Between the lack of effusive commentary and dependence on outside influences, Amity was getting more worried by the step.
They had already broached the subject of loved ones, so something else had to be forefront on Luz's mind. And here, Amity was groping around in the dark. What could she ask that was both innocuous yet would also get a decent answer out of Luz? Amity opened the door to her room without any grand display or proclamation, like this wasn't the first time she'd invited someone up there. And Luz had seen it already, but they'd been caught up in other things then. Now, it was just a quiet room and the two of them. Amity decided to be direct and break the silence.
"Please, Luz, tell me what happened."
Luz exhaled forcefully.
"I really do need to get this off my chest," Luz reasoned. And so she started sharing, clutching one of Amity's pillows to her chest. The tale spilled out, of King, Eda and her leading the Collector around on a change of heart journey, how it was interrupted by the Titan coming to life. How the child-god had tragically taken Luz's message too literally and tried to hug the evil out of Belos. And how Luz had intervened, and what that instinctive action had ultimately meant.
Luz explained as best she could about the Titan and space they inhabited. Of their time being cut short as Belos's green gunk had spread, and the powers bestowed upon her as a consequence. Her return had looked triumphant in the eyes of those who'd seen it, but to Luz it was a blur. She gave Amity a second-hand account of what she looked like and what she'd done. While imbued with the Titan's magic, Luz's world had been overlaid with an orange-ish/yellow glow. Physical sensations stayed with her longer than the actual memories: the buffeting of air against her furred skin as she launched herself at Belos repeatedly, the burn in her arms and shoulders as she labored to tear Belos away from his power source. And the draining chill of the magic flowing out of her at the end.
Amity had gone from merely sitting next to Luz on her bed, to desperately clutching her arm, to nearly being a broken mess in Luz's lap. Luz was the one who went through these things, but it almost sounded clinical, the way she was delivering her testimony. Amity was emoting enough for the two of them at the moment, which Luz was cognizant of. She'd paused her tale to let Amity compose herself. Her voice was hoarse from the constant stream of words and a lack of water. Amity eventually found her own voice, once again uncomfortable with the lack of noise.
"Luz, one of the first things I saw after using a light glyph to release myself from being a puppet were a wave of little glowing balls," Amity bit her lip with hesitance. "I think I knew it then, that they had something to do with you. You told me your name meant light, so... I didn't want to admit that you were even in danger, much less that you could die..."
"But I did." Luz stated it flatly, as if it weren't the single most transformative thing she'd experienced. "And because of it, things turned out alright in the end."
"Then why aren't you sounding all right?" Amity pinned Luz with a concerned look.
"I met King's dad... mom... parental unit, and helped him find closure. And they gifted me with all I ever wanted when I first vowed to become a witch. And while I was part Titan, it all felt natural. But the cost..." Luz trailed off. "I couldn't... no one could be prepared for the toll. For a couple hair-raising, hectic minutes, I was one of you guys in body and in mind. And then it got ripped away. And even though we won, I feel so empty that I worry I'm gonna disappear... again." The last word was almost inaudible, as if Luz didn't want to admit it.
"I won't let you!" Amity rose in a rush off the bed, scooping Luz up in a needy hug. "Human, witch, demon, Titan... it doesn't matter to me. You will always be Luz, my batata." Despite the fervent nature of her plea, Amity found herself smiling down at Luz. "You told me they were a bit rough on the outside, but sweet on the inside. If that's not you, Luz, I don't know what is."
Luz looked up at Amity, incredulous, before bursting out laughing. It hadn't been Amity's original goal, but the tones of Luz's mirth were music to her elfin ears. But it continued on, and gradually the tenor turned from humorous to cathartic. Eventually Luz petered out, and Amity ran a hand soothingly down her back as she calmed.
"Ow, that hurt my sides," Luz finally managed. "And I laughed so hard I nearly peed myself."
"Bathroom's right over there!" Amity exclaimed, hurrying to get herself off of Luz to avert a potential accident. Luz just chuckled at Amity's actions.
"Thanks, but I'm fine. I think," Luz said. "I will go get myself a glass of water, though."
As she watched Luz step into the bathroom and close the door, Amity exhaled. This was loads better than the way Luz had been just a little bit ago, but she was kidding herself if she thought they were anywhere near "fine." Amity looked down at her lap, lost in thought, and saw the tear tracks and little boogers Luz had left on her outfit earlier. She wryly grinned, mumbling to herself, "Guess we're both messes right now, huh?"
Amity heard the water running, finally, but Luz had taken a long time in the bathroom for just a drink. Before she could call out a concerned query, Luz opened the door and came back into the room. She wasn't holding a glass of water, though. Instead, a bladed implement was clutched tightly in her right fist. Amity's eyes darted quickly from them, up to Luz's face. That, at least, looked like the Luz of old. Her visage was full of determination.
Luz didn't join Amity back at the bed. Rather, she took a seat at Amity's desk, pinning her girlfriend with a look using the mirror.
"I need to break out of this funk," Luz explained. "And, at least on Earth, a change of style signifies a change in one's life." Luz brandished the scissors in her hand off to the side. "And you yourself have gone through a couple drastic hair transformations. So you'll understand if I want to follow suit, right?"
Amity got up off the bed and walked slowly over to Luz, subconsciously running her fingers through lavender locks that used to brown, then green. She reached Luz and laid one hand on her left shoulder, meeting Luz's eyes through the mirror, asking permission with her other hand hovering over Luz's head. Luz nodded. Amity gently carded her fingers through Luz's rather greasy, tangled mop of hair. And to think, this was apparently nothing compared to veritable mane Luz's Titan form had sported.
"If I want to say I'm getting better, that I'm getting over this, and mean it," Luz intoned quietly, "then I have to take this step, make a break with how I view myself in mind versus body. So..."
Luz held out the scissors to Amity, complete trust in her gaze.
"Make it short. Whatever you thinks looks best."
And Amity, with steady hands, grasped the blades and got to trimming.
A.N. 2 — I feel this is more of a beautiful disaster than the first chapter, which is saying something as I went back into that eight times after first posting to edit it. Making the decision partway through to basically ax the core of this chapter (Luz and Amity talking Titan powers) because it sounded too similar to what I'd done already led to more talk between the two beforehand. I still feel I did Camila dirty here, and basically everyone that wasn't Luz and Amity. But I hope I managed to keep the sentiment intact despite all the changes this went through. Thanks, again, for reading.