Work Text:
Luz had always known that, whenever she was struck by true love, it would happen in the most dramatic way possible.
The way Amity lept into action. Her determined scowl as she stared down the abominations, with her face lit in eerie pinks and purples. The cold, etherial air of the warehouse, saturated in shadows and dark hallways. The warmth and steadiness of Amity’s back against hers as they worked together to defeat the dangers they faced.
It all felt exactly right.
Luz had spent countless hours scrawling story ideas in the margins of her algebra notes, daydreaming while hanging upside-down on the monkey bars at her school, writing fanfiction on her phone while she hid in the branches of the tall tree she wasn’t supposed to climb.
She’d thought that she was prepared for everything.
It was just that, in her fantasies, she was the brave and charming hero, sweeping her one true love off of their feet.
Luz tried to be a good and caring friend, but she really couldn’t be blamed for standing outside Willow’s house, throwing ice glyphs at the window to get her attention.
It had been almost a minute and Willow hadn’t responded yet, though. Maybe Willow wasn’t home right now. This might require more drastic measures. She eyed the tree next to her, wondering if she could climb it to get into Willow’s room. It wasn’t like she’d be stealing anything, she just needed to borrow one tiny thing, and it was for true love, so it couldn't be that bad
“Luz?” Willow stuck her head out the window. Her hair was a mess, she was still wearing pajamas, and she hadn’t even put on her glasses yet. She narrowed her eyes, scanning the ground below. “I can’t see. What’s wrong? Did something happen.”
“Hey, bestie,” she said. She leaned against the tree, propping one foot up against it so she looked cool and casual. She was absolutely nailing this delivery.
“I need to borrow, woah—“ her foot slipped. She grabbed at the tree to save herself, but only ended up dragging a fistful of bark down with her as she landed on her back. “—I need to borrow you library card.”
Willow was resting her head against the wall. She looked like halfway asleep.
“I need,” Luz repeated, her voice edged with panic, “to borrow your library card, please?”
“…Okay?” Willow grabbed her school bag, propped against the door, and started blindly digging through it. “Um… here? It’s a little covered in crumbs but—“
“Great thanks bye!” Luz said, all in one breathe, snatching the card and bolting.
She ran back a second later “don’t worry, I’ll give it back!” She shouted, running away for real before Willow could ask any questions.
“Heyyyyyyyyyy…. What’s up my good buddy, my friend, my pal?”
Gus stared at her, narrowing his eyes. Which was… he was definitely the one being weird, not her . It was normal to crash your friend’s club meeting while completely out of breath.
“Yes?” He finally asked.
“I’ve been thinking and… you know how I just love education! And knowledge!”
“Yeah?”
Oh, she’d definitely interrupted something. She counted at least seven witches and demons seated around the room, all eyes on her.
“I need… library card?”
“Oh, of course,” Gus said. “You can borrow mine. No problem.”
“What are you implying?” Luz laughed. “If there’s one thing I’m known for, it’s going to the library for perfectly normal and non suspicious reasons.”
“Nine times in two weeks. Without filing for your own card.” Willow looked unimpressed.
“You know me… always being… weird and quirky like that.”
“Uh huh,” Willow said. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that Amity’s volunteering there this morning?”
Luz couldn’t stop herself from nervously laughing, so she settled for letting out the nervous titter, then laughed a second time, as confidently as possible. That would probably cancel it out, or something.
“What?” she said. “Amity works at the library? What an unexpected happenstance. Who could have predicted that? Not me, that’s for sure.”
“Oh.” Willow sighed. “I’m coming with you.”
“Oh—you don’t—that’s not necessary!”
“I don’t think I can morally let you go by yourself right now. Also I’m pretty sure you’ll lose my library card. Again.”
“And… you’re hiding in the corner.” Willow said.
“No,” Luz scrunched up her hoodie around her eyes. She tried to hide her face behind a book. “I’m not. I’m just very comfortable in this little nook. It’s cozy.”
It wasn’t a total lie. She used to spend most of recess sprawled out on the floor of her school’s library.
Hiding only worked for a few minutes before the nervous energy build up too much to be contained. Without even realizing what she was doing, she stood up and started pacing through the aisles.
She rounded a corner a little too quickly, and slammed face first into Amity.
Amity yelped, dropping all of the books in her hands.
“Luz, hi! You’re here.” Her smile looked strained.
“Yep. That’s me. Here. In the library.” She grabbed a random book from behind her.
“Watch out, that one bites,” Amity said.
“It wha—AA”
And then Amity was running off to find a healer, and she didn’t see her again for the rest of the shift.
“Not that I mind lending you this but… this is getting kinda weird,” Gus said. “Are you ever gonna get your own card?”
“Probably not,” Willow said.
Luz shook her head, pulling her hoodie over her face.
“It’s not that hard. I can help you. You can just go up to the front desk and ask an intern and they’ll—“
“Amity’s an intern, though!” Luz shouted, then slapped a hand over her mouth.
“And that’s stopping you because ???”
“I’m in love with her,” Luz admitted in a whisper-shout, blushing.
Gus blinked, confused.
“Why?”
Willow glared at him.
“Why are you acting like that’s a weird question?! Didn’t she try to kill you? On multiple occasions?”
“That was months ago,” Luz said, with a dreamy sigh.
“Oh…kay? But like. Why ?”
“Love doesn’t need a reason,” Luz said. “Just kidding, it’s because she’s brave, she’s smart, she’s kindhearted, she….”
“Luz has been going to the library to stalk her,” Willow finished.
“I have not ! I have been… appreciating her… a normal amount… from a respectful distance.”
Willow smirked. Gus looked concerned.
“Hey, Luz!” Amity’s voice rang out.
Luz shrieked, throwing her lunch box. Willow caught it out of the air with vines, setting it back down gently.
“Hey! Hello! Amity!” Luz said.
“Um! I just— I noticed you’ve been at the library a lot—and—I checked—because um—my manager made me check—yep—that’s normal protocol—and—I have another shift that starts in like ten minutes today, and—“ Amity closed her eyes and spoke in a rush. “I was wondering if you wanted me to help you get a library card?”
Luz stared at her like a deer in the headlights for the count of five.
“No thanks!” She finally squeaked out. “I’m good—great—I have—I can borrow cards. From my friends.”
“Oh…” Amity looked down at her feet. “Okay.”
When she had walked away, Willow almost tackled Luz.
“What was that?”
Luz buried her face in her hands.
“I’m really bad at this, aren’t I?” She mumbled.
“No, you’re—you’re doing fine,” Willow said. “You just need a little more confidence.”
Luz swallowed, then propped her head up on her hands.
“Can I borrow your library card?” she whispered.
“No!” Willow said. “Go catch up with Amity! She just offered.”
“Nooooo. I’ll die if I do that,” Luz buried her face in her hands again.
“You will not die , stop being dramatic. She wouldn’t have offered if she didn’t mean it.”
“Gus.” Luz stared directly into his eyes.
“Say no,” Willow said. “Don’t enable her.”
“Gus, my best friend,” Luz grabbed his hands. “Can I please please please borrow your library card. For true love?”
Gus cracked almost instantly.
“Yeah sure, here,” he said, handing it to her from where he’d already set it on the table.
“Thanks you’re the best I love you!” Luz called, sprinting off towards the library before Willow could protest.