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It was the middle of the night. Luz and Vee were sleeping soundly.
Suddenly, Luz’s eyes fluttered awake.
And she found she couldn’t move.
She tried to remind herself that it’s okay, you’re not there, you’re safe, he’s not here, he’s not here, you’re not being petrified, he’s-
But then, a dark silhouette appeared at the edge of the hallway, near Stringbean’s corner.
Shit, fuck, he’s here, he’s gonna kill us. Come on, Luz, do something! Move, get up, do anything, at least alert Stringbean!
Stringbean, sensing the panic in her master, woke up.
Luz tries to telepathically message Stringbean: “Get Vee out of here! I’m sorry I’m going away again so soon, just please get her out!”
Stringbean seemed to follow, rushing over to the top bunk.
Vee felt something wet poking on her face.
She very quickly realized it was Stringbean. And that meant something was wrong with Luz. She quickly shifted into her human form and rushed down to see what was going on.
What are you doing? You need to go, I’m a lost cause! Save yourselves!
Vee placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder and shook her.
Luz immediately jerked up and started hyperventilating. After about a second, she rushed off the bed, and yanked her sister’s arm.
“What are you-“ Vee began, but was cut off.
“We gotta go, now! N-no time to explain!” Luz yelled, and went out the window.
“Luz!” Vee yelled out and began to follow her sister.
Vee eventually found Luz sitting outside the shack with the portal door, hyperventilating.
“Luz, what’s going on?” Vee said as she sat down next to her.
“B-belos, he was there, he tried to petrify me, he- he- he”
“He’s not here. I promise he’s not here. He’s gone. Forever.”
“No, he was- It was- We need to-“
“Is touch OK?”
Luz crashed into her, and Vee began to hug her tight.
“You’re OK. He’s not here. He’s gone. You’re safe.” Vee whispered, over and over again.
Eventually, Luz’s breathing slowed.
“Luz? Are you okay now?”
“Y-yeah. I’m okay.”
“Good.”
…”Vee, I’m so sorry for that, that just happens sometimes, and I’m sorry for overreacting like tha-“ Luz began, tears welling in her eyes.
“You didn’t overreact.”
“How didn’t I? I dragged us over here because of a stupid hallucination!”
“If I went through what you just went through, would you say I overreacted?”
“No-of course not, but-“
“Then you didn’t overreact. No buts.”
Luz was very teary-eyed, but trying to hold everything back.
“You can cry. I won’t judge you for it.”
And then Luz let it out. Vee pulled them back into her chest, and let her cry.
“I’m sorry, I really thought he was there, I really thought he was going to kill me, I-I-“
Luz lost her ability to speak as they sobbed harder.
“It’s OK. I know it sucks, but I promise it’s OK.”
“I just want all this to go away.”, Luz said.
“I know. I know, I want it to go away too. Hopefully, someday, it will. But for now, I’m here. I’ll be here whenever you need me.” Vee responded.
…”Do you really mean that?” Luz asked.
“I meant every word of it.”
Soon, Luz’s crying subsided.
…”We should probably head back before Mamá gets worried.”
Vee nodded in reply.
The two walked together back to the house, and they had Stringbean fly them up onto the roof. Risky move, I know, but they had no other choice, and also it was so late at night that they hoped no one would notice. They then climbed back in their bedroom through the window.
Luz headed into her bed. She doubted she would be able to sleep, but she’d try. She just wished she didn’t have to do it alone.
Vee looked back at her, and stated: “Luz, are you good?”
“No, no, it’s just… i’m just thinking silly things.”
“Like what?”
…”Can we snuggle? Like whenever you have a bad night?”
…”Of course.” Vee responded, and then went down to Luz’s side on the bottom bunk. As soon as she sat down, Luz grabbed her tight and pulled her towards their own body.
Vee responded in turn, but interestingly, decided not to wrap her tail around Luz’s legs, like she usually does.
Luz noticed this, and asked: “C-can you please do the thing with the tail?”
“I don’t know, what if your legs go numb and I trigger you?”
“There’s like- at least a 10% chance that’ll happen anyways, and… if it does… I think having your tail there would actually… keep me grounded?”
Vee mentally facepalmed. But she did wrap her tail around Luz’s legs, a little harder than she usually does.
After about an hour, Luz fell asleep. Vee followed not soon after.