Amity's Family: Part 2
Summary: As they fly home, Raine comforts a distraught Amity.
(SC)
Amity held tight to Raine as they flew through the sky, her eyes unfocused.
Raine and she had spent the afternoon getting to know Dalia, but Amity's heart just wasn't in it. She couldn't stop herself from looking at the image of her grandmother and the fact that she was righthanded.
When it was time to leave, Raine noticed the state of their niece-to-be and offered to let her ride with them. Amity took the offer without a second thought, and soon, the two were heading home.
"Amity?" Raine called. "How are you doing?"
The response they got was automatic and near robotic.
"I'm fine."
Raine frowned as they scanned the area below them. They smiled when they saw a small rest stop for wary flyers and went down to it.
"Raine?" Amity asked emotionlessly.
Raine dismounted their staff and offered Amity a hand. Confused, the tri-track student took their parent figure's hand, and Raine helped her off their staff. They next led the girl to a small bench, and the two took a seat.
"Amity," Raine said slowly, looking the girl in the eyes. "I know something's bothering you. I would like to help. But I can't if you don't open up."
Amity stared into her parent figure's eyes for a second, sighed, and looked at her right wrist. A forlorn expression graced her face as she thought about the scar the curse left.
"...Like I said, it's dumb," she muttered sadly.
Raine looked at Amity's wrist, smiled softly, and gently took Amity's hand. The young witch looked up and into the older bard's eyes. She saw nothing but warmth and acceptance in them.
"And like I said," Raine said supportingly, "Your words matter. You matter. So, please, tell me what's wrong?"
Amity could feel a warm feeling bubbling up in her, blushing at the feeling. She sighed after a second, and she looked down at her wrist.
"Do you know the old oracle and healer's tale," she asked, looking at her O'Pa, "About the dominant hand?"
Raine nodded, silently telling Amity to continue.
"I'm left-handed, but Odalia, an oracle, put the curse on my right hand. We thought she did that so no one would suspect anything if the curse acted while using my left hand. But now-"
Amity's frustrations got the best of her, and she couldn't finish her thought. She just growled as she glared at her wrist. But Raine got the idea and scowled as they realized what Amity was implying.
"...But with everything you saw, you're thinking about else, right?" Raine asked calmly
Amity couldn't hold her frustration back anymore and jumped to her feet.
"YES!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Did that woman want to live her dreams through me? Or did she want to play some petty revenge fantasy? I JUST DON'T KNOW!"
Amity might have started pacing if Raine didn't get up and gently hugged the young witch. They sat back down and gently pressed her head against their chest, allowing their body heat and the rhythm of their heart and bile sac to soothe her.
For five minutes, the two sat there, just enjoying each other company. Finally, Amity found her voice.
"I just don't know anymore," she said quietly.
Raine looked at her with their eyes and sighed. "Maybe…it's both," they said slowly.
Amity looked up at her parental figures, and Raine saw the confusion in her eyes.
"Maybe Odalia did want to live her ideal life through you," the bard clarified, "But couldn't help but use you to play out her revenge fantasy by overworking you to the point you break. It must have worked on her last nerve something fierce when you excel at everything she threw at her."
Raine offered Amity an encouraging and mirthful smile. The tri-track student wasn't amused and just sighed a heavy sigh.
"But doesn't that make it worse?" she wondered weakly.
Now it was Raine's turn to sigh, and they gently pushed the confused girl from them. They looked Amity in the eyes, and the girl only saw warmth in them.
"...Maybe," they replied and then smiled warmly. "But in the end, that woman's views and ideas no longer matter."
Raine saw the confusion in their charge's eyes grow, and they clarified.
"Tell me something, Amity. When you think about your mom, whose face did you see? And please, think hard about it."
Amity's confusion reached her face as it twisted slightly. Still, she did what Raine asked and thought about her mom.
Immediately, images of Lilith Clawthorne came to the forefront of her mind. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered her mom helping her with her homework or them sitting on the couch on a rainy day, enjoying some hot cocoa smilk and talking about nothing.
Amity giggled as she remembered slashing Lilith big time during a "knocked-down" weekend. Raine's smile grew slightly at the sound and let Amity continue to reminisce.
The more she remembered, the more she realized something. Her mom had been in her life long before Lilith adopted her. She remembered sharing meals with her when she was just a kid, talking about her day at school, and the ex-coven head listening intently.
She remembered when Lilith gave her her first training wand and even helped her when the stress of her life got to her. Amity realized that Lilith had played a big part in her life, and that caused her to smile.
"Huh, Lilith was right," Raine said in good-nature teasing, "You're cute when you're smiling at any age?"
Blushing slightly, Amity giggled, and that caused Raine to laugh with her. Amity sighed, feeling much better, and Raine saw this.
"Thanks, O'pa Raine?" Amity said gratefully.
"Anytime, dear," Raine replied, standing up. "It's getting late. So let's head home."
Amity nodded and stood up as she turned slightly bashful. "If it's okay with you, can I ride home with you?"
Raine offered their soon-to-be niece a kind smile as they summoned their staff. They held it out, and Amity immediately understood. She got on after Rain was seated and gently pressed her head against the bard's back, taking in their body heat once more.
Raine chuckled to themselves as they took off and went in the direction of the Owl house.
The trip was peaceful, and that gave Amity time to think. Her O'pa was right; trying to figure out someone like Odalia was a waste of energy.
Besides, Odalia was under lock and key, so Amity didn't have to deal with her anytime soon.
(SC)
Odalia Golddagger sadistically grinned as she watched the Owl House from a safe distance. It may have taken longer than she would have liked, but everything was in place.
Soon, that poor excuse of a witch and her family would be out of the picture, and her Mittens would be back where she belonged.
(G Corner)
With this, we move into the background stories for the "Sisters' Family Vacation" arc, where all the questions no one asked will be answered. So look forward to them.