Chapter Text
November 3rd.
Rain poured outside of Lilith Clawthorne’s house as the woman graded papers for her students; they had mostly understood the assignment barring a few but one of them in particular got a perfect score. She thought about the young girl with dyed green hair.
Lightning thundered above her and startled her out of her thoughts. She moved to continue grading when she heard a faint knock on her front door.
The clock on her wall showed the time as 11:36PM. Most people would not knock on someone’s door this late at night and certainly not during a storm. Another set of almost frantic knocks rang out urging the woman to open the door.
With a sigh Lilith approached and opened her front door, expecting some hapless salesperson desperately trying to make ends meet. That is not what she found.
A soaked and shaking fourteen-year old Amity Blight stood before her. Red and puffy amber eyes and disheveled green hair was more than enough to stun the older woman.
“Amity! What are you doing here?” Lilith asked surprised, unaware of how loud her voice would sound.
Amity winced slightly and hugged herself. “I- I didn’t have anywhere else to go.” Her voice barely audible above the rain.
Lilith blinked and narrowed her eyes. She refused to leave anyone out in a storm like this, especially a child.
She ushered the girl inside and grabbed a nearby towel to help towel her off. And found her a seat.
“Amity, can you tell me what happened?” Lilith requested, keeping her tone far from demanding. She did not want to push her but she had to be sure that she was okay.
Amity slowly nodded and held her tears back. “I… I was kicked out. Because mom…” The words failed her as she shook.
Lilith didn’t say anything for fear of making this harder for her.
“She found out that I like girls.” Amity choked out as she slowly devolved into sobs.
Lilith’s heart dropped. Amity was kicked out because she was a lesbian? Odalia was always such a horrible person when they both were children together… but this?
Instinct took over. She was a teacher and not a mother but she knew what to do.
Lilith pulled Amity into a soft hug, she could push back at any time but instead the girl leaned into her. Tears stained the older woman’s clothes but she didn’t care.
“What do you need?” Lilith asked gently. Her face contorted into one of determination.
Amity pulled away from the hug and looked up to her; she sniffled and wiped a few tears away. She couldn’t find the words, instead she could only plead with her eyes.
The unspoken was louder than any wish and stronger than any demand. Lilith couldn’t ignore it, nor did she want to.
“Come with me.” Lilith grabbed Amity’s hand gently and smiled.
Amity blinked in surprise and followed Lilith into the kitchen. A marble stone aesthetic led the march with regards to the countertops that gave it that historical antiquity look. Chestnut wood cabinets stood out against the marble stone and an assortment of historical jokes and puns that would make anyone groan lined the walls.
“Go ahead and have a seat Amity, this won’t take very long.” Lilith called out to the younger girl and watched as she tepidly sat down at the kitchen table.
She grabbed several ingredients from the fridge and hummed a tune she was sure Amity wouldn’t know. Normally she would have dreaded being like this but after a chance meeting with a young girl her sister mentors, well she’s quite happy to be more like herself now.
It didn’t take long for the ingredients to come together to make something wonderful smelling. Amity’s stomach growled even louder when she could smell it, as if chastising her for not eating it immediately.
Lilith walked up with a still-steaming warm bowl of noodles and cheese with hotdog slices, and set it before her. “Eat this, it’ll help warm you up.” She smiled.
Amity stared at the food. “What is it?” She asked innocently.
Lilith blinked. No, that couldn’t be right. She knew Amity had been sheltered but surely she’s had this before…right?
“It’s pasta, specifically macaroni and cheese; often shortened to just ‘mac and cheese’.” Lilith used airquotes at that last part but presented it as if teaching about it in class.
“I’ve never had this or anything like it. I think mom forbid the cooks from making it.” Amity moved the food slightly with her food, careful to keep it within the bowl.
Odalia never made anything for them? Pasta was easy and simple, but that was no doubt the reason why Amity never had it. Better to avoid poor people food even if it was perfectly fine in moderation.
Lilith’s eyes widened at the admission but kept quiet, not wishing to distract her from eating. She watched as Amity took her first bite and her eyes lit up. A deep warmth started building in her heart.
Amity dove into the food with abandon after that first bite and did not stop until the bowl was empty. She was remarkably clean for someone who scarfed down a whole bowl of mac and cheese.
After making sure she wasn’t still hungry Lilith put the bowl in the sink and prepped a room for the young girl. She didn’t have the biggest house but she had plenty of places that could be used as a second bedroom.
Amity attempted to dissuade Lilith, saying she could just go instead of making her go through all this effort. But Lilith refused to hear it.
The storm raged outside and had gotten significantly worse; there was no reality where Lilith would send a hurt child out in that with nowhere to go.
“If you need anything let me know, alright?” Lilith offered, worry clear in her voice but still projected enough confidence to make Amity feel safe.
Amity nodded in response without speaking. In truth she felt terrible, that she was taking advantage of Miss Lilith’s kindness. Nothing she told the woman had been a lie, but she still felt awful for dragging her into this.
Lilith smiled and left the girl alone to get some rest. Going from Blight Manor to her house was not so easily done on foot; there is a reason the Blights get driven everywhere.
She bristled at the Blight family and all their blustering; the problems they’ve caused everyone over the years. She scowled at the mere thought of it all.
If they came for Amity, Lilith would fight tooth and nail against them. No one would hurt this girl again if she had a say in it.