Chapter Text
The warmth of mid-morning sun poking through the curtains finally woke Luz Noceda. As they stirred they barely thought to check next to themself; of course Amity was already gone. Luz’s girlfriend was probably the busiest person on the Boiling Isles, managing both research and development at her father’s BlightTech, and working on expansion projects by the new Legislative Council. Luz didn’t mind how busy Amity was when they were still in college, but in the two years since her graduation things had started feeling weird.
Luz Noceda dragged herself out of bed, stumbling down the stairs clad in nothing but a dark red bathrobe and her Hello Kitty boxers, engulfed in the silence of Blight Manor. When he had been elected to the Legislative Council, Alador moved out and left the house to Amity and Luz. Every so often one of the twins would crash for a few days, but none of the Blights wanted to spend much time in Odalia’s old halls. Pouring themself a cup of coffee from the “human food” section of the pantry, Luz flopped onto the couch and began to scroll through Penstagram. I just need to find a job, they thought to themself. If I can find something to do, like Amity, maybe I won’t be so uncertain. Maybe I won’t feel alone anymore.
Since graduating, Luz had spent two years flitting between jobs. Piracy was apparently frowned upon now that your girlfriend’s dad is a part of the government. She had tried working back at the library, but no one position could keep their attention for very long. Camila had suggested trying to find work in the Human Realm, but a self-made panmagical degree didn’t exactly make it easy to find a job outside of Wendy’s. For the last few months, Luz had been searching for anything that they could finally devote their attention to. Today was another familiar ritual. Wake up late, scroll and scroll and scroll, maybe submit a couple applications, and probably never hear back. “Okay Boiling Isles,” she muttered under her breath, “let’s try again.”
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The sun was barely poking over the Head by the time Amity Blight landed her palisman back at Blight Manor. It had been another draining day at BlightTech. Maybe trying to run research and development and get her pet project off the ground was a bit ambitious, but it was nothing Amity couldn’t handle. She had cut her teeth doing more than everyone else, besides the project wasn’t for her anyway. She couldn’t give up on it, it has to get off the ground for-
“Luz!” Amity called for her girlfriend as she and Ghost strode through the front doors. The house was dark, and Amity heard no sign of her girlfriend’s trademark scampering whenever she came home. Sure it had been happening less and less, but it still bothered her. “Luz?” She called again. “Couch,” a dejected voice groaned back. Amity marched into the living room to find Luz drooping over the sofa, their scars peeking out through the bathrobe they were wearing. “Nothing today either?” Amity asked. Luz’s exasperated groan more than answered her question. “I don’t get it,” they began to rant “you save the Isles, invent a magic system, and suddenly no one wants to hire you?” Amity conjured a bean bag chair, and flopped down next to her girlfriend. “It’s only been a couple months, batata,” she reassured. “You’ll find something.”
Luz scoffed, still staring up into the vast ceiling. Amity started to reach her hand towards them, then hesitated. “Anything interesting come up at work today?” Luz flatly asked. “Not really, just spinning a lot of plates still.” Luz didn’t take her eyes off the ceiling. “Right, so you’re still too busy to think about-” she trailed off. Amity’s face started to flash red. “I just, is it really necessary?” Luz’s eyes finally dropped back down to earth. “I mean, Willow and Hunter were together half as long as us before they tied the knot,” she pointed out. Amity looked down at her feet, sinking deeper into her abeanmantion bag chair. “It doesn’t really change anything,” she insisted. “We’re still us regardless, besides no one has the time to get a big ceremony together.” Amity could feel Luz’s stare. She knew they wanted to say something.
“I guess,” Luz tepidly replied, before training her eyes back on the ceiling. Amity kept her eyes on the floor. She knew Luz was upset, why wouldn’t she just say something? Should she say something? There’s not a way to tell your long term partner you don’t want to get married without disappointing them, is there? “I’ll be in the workshop,” Amity said, squeezing Luz’s limp hand. “You’re still not done?” Amity shook her head. “The presentation is in three days, if every detail isn’t exactly perfect then we’re not going to get any government funding. You know I can’t pay for it myself.” Luz sat unmoving for a moment. Their stillness unnerved Amity. “When it gets approved we’ll spend a lot more time together, okay?” Luz still didn’t move, but managed to weakly croak “promise?” Amity squeezed their hand tighter. “I promise.”
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It was still strange for Amity to walk into Belos’ former Citadel without an overwhelming sense of dread. The palace had been completely rebuilt after the war ended, and it now housed many of the departments of the Council’s new bureaucracy. Inside the lobby she found Gus, Vee, and Masha waiting to be scanned in by security. “Oh Titan, I’m not late am I?” Amity stammered. “Luz was a little bit clingy this morning.” Vee smirked. Gus rolled his eyes. “Oh I’m sure you were so upset about it” he quipped. Masha and Vee barely stifled their chortles. Amity rolled her eyes. “Very funny Augustus, let’s get going. Big day!”
The room that had once been Belos’ Throne Room had been converted into a Council hearing chamber. The foreboding tapestries littering the walls had long been torn down, letting the afternoon light stream through the stained glass windows. Replacing Belos’ throne was a series of benches, where the members of the Council sat. Across from them were rows and rows of empty seats and a solitary podium directly opposite the Council Chair. As Amity walked into the chamber, she noticed Raine behind the benches. She gave them a little wave. Even with how omnipresent Luz and her family was in her life, she had never spoken much to Eda’s spouse. Still, they smiled back, giving them a thumbs up of encouragement.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” a melodramatic voice commanded. Amity rolled her eyes. Even as head of the Council, Darius still liked to pretend he was too good to talk to most people. “Miss Blight, Mr Porter, you other two. What exactly is this proposal you’ve been hounding my office with for the last six months?” Amity steeled herself and stepped up to the podium. This was everything she’d been working for. She wouldn’t mess it up. “Augustus, if you will.” Gus smirked and conjured an illusion showing blueprints of a large building. “We’ve spent so many years rebuilding the Boiling Isles,” Amity began, pacing back and forth in front of the podium.
“Rebuilding from the damage Belos caused. We’ve had so much success building back the physical world of the Isles, but there’s still much to be done to build a different kind of Isles. People are happy that Belos is gone, but they’re still suspicious of humans. There’s rumblings of cutting ourselves off, or of even invading the Human Realm in certain spots.”
“We are aware of the challenges this Council faces, Miss Blight,” Darius countered. “Get to it, where are you going with this?” Amity gestured to Gus. He threw the illusion wider, and suddenly Amity, Gus, Vee, Masha, and the Council were standing in front of the building. A three story facade surrounding the Collector’s door to the Human Realm. Witch children run around the front, playing with human children, as an illusory version of Luz leads a group of humans out the front door of the building and toward Bonesborough. “An Embassy,” Amity continued, idealistic passion creeping into her eyes.
“Connecting our world and the Human World. A way to work with the humans, introduce our people to theirs. Exchange programs through schools, tourism, everything you can possibly do to make sure there is never another Belos, whether they be human or witch.”
The Council began to stir, murmuring amongst themselves. Amity could see the interest on their faces. She looked back at her team. Gus gave her a thumbs up. Vee smiled. Masha mouthed “you’re doing marvelous” at her.
“This sounds, extravagant,” Darius muses. “Who do you suggest lead this project? We on the Council don’t have the time to devote to such matters.” Amity smirked, gesturing back to her friends behind her. “Gus is more knowledgeable and appreciative of Human Affairs and Culture than any witch I know, he could be the face of our initiative. Vee and Masha have been living together amongst humans on Earth for years, and could be fantastic liaisons for us in the Human Realm. Luz and I would serve as the leads on the project, bringing the physical structure together, working out the exchange programs, everything.” Her confident smirk stalled, as the members of the Council began to murmur again, this time with more concern.
“Amity,” Darius began, speaking with more tact than she was used to hearing from the blunt witch. “Your proposal is truly remarkable, and I think exactly what the Isles needs. I’m prepared to throw my support behind the Embassy project.” Amity braced herself, she could feel the “but” coming. “But I just don’t think it would work if Luz is on the team.” Her concern melted immediately to anger. “What?” She demanded. “How could you? After everything she’s done for us? For the Isles?” She looks back at the rest of the Councilors, but finds that their murmuring has stopped. She could feel the consensus forming around Darius. “Raine, please,” she begs to the bard.
The other Councilors look back to Raine, a guilty expression on their face. “Luz is…a great person,” they sheepishly stated. “A hero, someone we are all grateful for every day. I’m just not sure they’re cut out for the minutiae of policymaking.” A few Councilors nodded in agreement. Amity whipped back around to the rest of their team. “Guys?” she pleaded. Vee stared down at the floor. Masha tried to say something, but words failed them. “Anything? Please?” She looked up at Gus, and the excitement had drained from the illusionist’s expression. “If it’s between Luz not working on the project and no project at all,” he remarked, “I don’t see how we can stall doing so much good just because it’s without them.” Amity groaned. She knew Gus was right, but there had to be some way to make everything work. She whipped back around to face Darius. “If Luz isn’t on the project, neither am I.” she roared, hoping desperately that the threat of her absence would spook the Council. “Amity,” Darius’ tone was even more measured than before. “I’m sorry, but that’s all we can do.”
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The resounding silence of the Council Chambers rattled through Amity’s brain the whole flight home. She had left the Capital seconds after the project had been approved, letting Masha take the lead in beginning to map out first logistics. She couldn’t be there right now. Amity couldn’t believe herself. How could she have let them walk all over her? How could she have let them steamroll Luz out of the project? Luz wouldn’t have done that. Luz would’ve done something different. Luz wouldn’t have left with no as an answer. Anything for her. Why couldn’t Amity do the same for them?
The resounding silence of the Council Chambers rattled through Amity’s brain as she walked through the doors. Its deafening was so overpowering that she didn’t notice her girlfriend approaching until she was practically tackled to the ground. “Ames!” Luz exclaimed, squeezing her tightly and picking her off the ground. “I’m so happy to see you! Come on, come on, I made you something.” They dragged her into the kitchen, where Amity could smell the harsh scent of burnt flour. A thin layer of smoke blurred her vision. “Okay,” they prefaced, “It took me a while to get it right, but look! I made you cookies!” He pulled Amity towards the island and showed her a tray of Amity shaped sugar cookies. Cookie Amity was wearing the same sage green pantsuit alive Amity was wearing, except made of crusty sprinkles instead of spider silk. Luz threw themselves on top of the island, grabbing a fistful of cookies in one hand and Amity’s hand in her other. “I know it’s not much, but I wanted to make some boss babe cookies for my boss babe girlfriend.” Amity chuckled weakly, but dread began to slink into her eyes. How was she going to tell her? How could she possibly tell Luz she had failed them?
“So,” Luz chirped, her voice muffled by the three Amity cookies stuffed into her mouth. “How did it go?” Amity stared back at the cookies, unsure of how to answer. “The project got approved,” she stated flatly. Luz’s face lit up and shook her by the shoulder. “That’s great! By the way you walked in here I thought someone died or something.” Amity smiled flatly, the smile not reaching her eyes. “It’s just a lot more work than I expected. I don’t know, I guess it still hasn’t sunk in yet.” Luz bit into another Amity cookie. “Soooooo, are you finally going to tell me what you’ve been working on?” Amity froze. She had to. She had to break the news to Luz. Luz, who seemed excited about something for the first time in weeks, maybe months. She had to break the news to them.
“Uh, it’s classified,” she dodged. “Sorry, you know how Darius can be sometimes.” She saw disappointment creep across Luz’s face as she put down the half eaten Amity cookie. “Oh, okay,” they got down from the table, but never let go of Amity’s hand. “Is everything alright Ames?” She had to tell them. Stop this. Stop this right now.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Amity replied, grabbing one of the cookies from the table. “Sorry, I’m just a bit exhausted. I think I’m gonna lie down.” She took the cookie and left the kitchen, heading back upstairs. Luz watched her leave. She knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t tell if it was anything new or just how she had been feeling for the last few months. She stared back at the half eaten cookie on the table, its remaining uneaten eyeball staring right back at her. “Why won’t you talk to me?”