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"Welcome to the Luz Room, King!" Luz said, dramatically presenting her human realm room to her little brother.
"Wow, so much dorky human stuff!" King excitedly said.
"Yep, lemme show you all of it!"
The day the human realm was accessible again thanks to the Collector's new portal was a long one. Vee was introduced to Luz's owl family, and she was ecstatic to meet them. Willow, Gus, Amity and Hunter gathered their belongings, and had a long hug with Camila before they left with their parents, who all gratefully thanked her. Luz would soon arrange a dinner party inviting all of her friends and their families, but tonight, she was excited to eat dinner with her Mami, Vee, Eda, King, and Raine.
Well, she would have been more excited, if her two moms stopped sharing embarrassing stories about her to the other while they were preparing dinner. Vee thought her human sister deserved a little break from their teasing, and suggested that Luz should show King around their room, an idea they loved.
King scuttled to his sister's desk and jumped up on the chair, looking at her open laptop. "What's this thing? It reminds me of your wonder rectangle, but bigger."
"Oh, that's my laptop, and yeah, you could say it's kinda like that."
King then noticed her wallpaper. "Ugh, even when Amity isn't here, I can't escape you two!", he teased.
Luz snorted and rubbed King's skull, which he giggled at. "Oh, quit it you little goober."
"So, what does it do?" King asked.
"It does a lot of the same things as my phone, but I've got a bunch of games on it, we should play some time!"
"Ooh! Wait, they're better than the ones Eda has at home, right?"
Luz remembered the few old video games dug up from Owlbert's trash piles that were at the Owl House, and how lackluster they were. "Oh yeah. Way better. They're gonna blow your mind!"
"Aaaand there you have it, King!"
Luz put the plushie snake on top of the pile of her stuffed animals she had assembled. King sat on the floor, where he was watching her stack it up for a while.
"A bunch of new recruits for the King of Demons' mighty army! And they're all yours now!"
King wanted be happier about his sister's amount of offerings for him, but he didn't feel up for the megalomaniacal fantasies he spent the last eight years partaking in.
Especially now that Francois was gone, not that he didn't trust the Collector to take care of him, but he really missed having that bunny around. Any other minion now seemed pointless.
...Wait, how could he think such a thing? The whole point of giving him to the Collector was that they needed him way more than he did, right? What was his problem? He really needed to stop acting like a baby.
"Uh, yes, Luz! They shall make fine enough subordinates!" King exclaimed, hoping Luz wouldn't notice how half-hearted it was compared to his usual tirades.
"Hehehe, yes, Your Majesty!" She said, bowing.
"Aw man, when am I gonna get as good at drawing as you are?" King said frustratedly, eyeing the incredible drawings Luz made of Azura characters, characters from those anime she liked, and also of him, herself and all of their friends. They all looked way better than the one he was currently making.
Luz giggled. "C'mon, no need to feel down. Practice makes perfect."
King continued his own drawing, which was of him, Luz, Eda, Raine, Camila and Vee.
"It took me a long time to get the hang of it. Heck, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get distracted in school doodling to brush up my skills." she joked.
Oh, that's right, school. King had forgotten all about it, but now he remembered.
The days after Belos' death were probably the happiest he'd ever been. Now that Luz was back, the two had so much fun every day, with non-stop comedy hours and Spanish lessons (Gus was jealous that he got to learn from her and not "that scary owl app", whatever that was) to make up for all the ones she missed.
Raine getting back together with Eda and becoming part of the family was also fantastic, King loved spending time with them. King was also overjoyed that Eda and Camila got along swimmingly, releasing his sister from one of her biggest fears that she had for so long.
One day, however, they sat Luz down for a talk about what she wanted to do in the near future, and she ultimately decided to continue school in the human realm, and visit the demon realm on weekends. This didn't surprise King too much, he'd always figured that things would end up like this, back when Luz hadn't told her mom about the demon realm and was going to stay there for the length of summer camp.
But after being able to be around her so much, after the months they spent separated, part of King felt hurt by this. However, he pushed those feelings down. It was solely his sister's decision and he would respect it no matter what. Why was he acting like a baby again?
"And hey, everyone's gonna love your drawing. I know I already do." Luz said, patting his skull.
King smiled. "Thanks, Luz."
"You wanna see something really cool, buddy?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"Lie down on my bed and look up, I'll show you."
King ran to the bed, did as she told, and Luz turned the lights off, causing the stars and planets plastered beneath Vee's bed to light up.
"Whoaaaa!"
"Cool, right?"
Luz went over to lay down in the bed next to King, and the siblings spent a moment to rest and peacefully look up at the stars.
King thought they were beautiful, but he had an itching feeling in the back of his head that they reminded him of something.
Then it hit him. The Collector's bedroom.
Then he remembered the countless nights he spent awake crying because Luz wasn't there. And on the rare nights he could sleep, he woke up briefly wondering why she didn't give her usual cuddles and kisses.
Then he remembered the many crayon drawings he did of her, so he wouldn't ever forget her, forget her dumb cat hoodie, or forget her smile that always made him feel safe.
Then he remembered the times he would regret sending Luz through the portal door, cursing himself for not thinking of another solution, just so she would be there with him.
Then he remembered the time he lashed out at the Collector, who managed to push aside their jealousy for Luz, for trying to comfort him, even though they just wanted to help.
Then he remembered the time he lashed out at Eda for not agreeing that Luz would eventually find a way back to the demon realm with her immense willpower.
Back then, he always managed to remember that sending Luz away was the right choice, and he apologized to the Collector and Eda, who both apologized to him back. But King never stopped feeling guilty, and he now came to a conclusion. Despite making sure Luz would be safe, despite wanting to reach out to the Collector instead of killing them to end their apocalypse, despite everything he's done for Eda to say he's "growing up too fast for her", in the end, he was still as selfish as he was when he only had one horn. When he was bratty and ignorant to the world around him, and clung to Luz, wanting her to stay with him forever. He hated himself for it.
Luz had already grown up, it was long past time that he did, too.
For now, King wanted to push those thoughts down a little, so he tried chatting with Luz some more, but he knew he wasn't going to ignore them forever.
"Uh... it was really sweet of your mom to buy a bunk bed for you and Vee, huh?"
Luz turned towards her brother. "Actually, I've always had the bunk bed since me and Mom moved here."
King was confused. "Weren't you an only child?"
"Well-"
A slew of painful memories came back to Luz, ones that she hadn't thought of since King called her his big sister for the first time. Back then, she pushed them down so King wouldn't worry. However, after thinking about it, Luz decided they would be okay to bring up to him now.
"Mom and Dad wanted to have another kid after me, but they couldn't after Dad got sick."
"Oh..."
King recalled the day Amity entered the Bonesborough Brawl and Luz acted off the whole time, and when Eda told him it was the anniversary of her dad's death, his heart broke. He wanted so badly to cheer her up, but he didn't know if any of his ideas would help or make things worse. The only other time Luz brought up her dad was the day they discovered he was a Titan and the last of his kind, in an attempt to try and make him feel a little better, but she didn't talk too much about him. Maybe this time, it could be good for her.
"You don't have to if you don't wanna, but... maybe you could tell me about him?"
Luz was taken aback, but she was quickly happy to oblige. "Oh, okay! Let's see... Dad gave my my first Good Witch Azura book... he... bought flowers for me and Mom every year on our birthdays... and he... he..."
Luz sniffled.
"He..."
King sat up, worried. "I'm so sorry, Luz, you can stop now."
Luz also sat up. "No, it's okay, buddy, I'll keep going. He told me, when I was worried that I wouldn't be a good sister that... they'd like me no matter what and..."
Luz paused, some small tears forming, but she wiped her eyes and continued.
"That I'd be the best big sister ever."
King immediately jumped in her arms.
"Your dad sounded great, cuz you are the best big sister ever!"
Luz hugged him back, with a big grin.
"You're the best little brother ever."
King giggled and his tail wagged. "Hey, Luz, I was wondering, can I-" Suddenly, he gasped, and started growling, tearing himself from Luz, much to her shock.
"Huh? What's wrong, King?!"
"Augh! I'm such an idiot! I'm doing it again!"
"Doing what again?"
"Nevermind, it doesn't matter." King grumpily said, turning away. Luz put a hand on his furry shoulder.
"C'mon, tell me what's wrong!"
King paused, but he managed to calm himself down, and he turned towards her.
"I was... I was gonna ask if... if I get lonely during your school days, I could sometimes come over to the human realm and... have sleepovers with you..." He said while pushing his index claws together.
Luz's eyes lit up, but before she could excitedly answer with a big "yes", King interrupted her.
"I know, it's an annoying and selfish thing to ask, and I shouldn't cling to you, and I gotta grow up..." He dejectedly said before turning away from her again. However, Luz turned him back around and put her hands on his little paws.
"Why the heck are you talking about yourself like that, King?! None of that's true!"
"It's just that... it's just that..."
King struggled to form the words he wanted to say. Luz patiently waited for him to continue.
"For s-so long, I wanted y-you to stay with me and Eda in the demon realm..."
Luz felt her heart drop. "Yeah?"
"And... and... when I sent you through the portal... I was so sad... but I-I thought it also might be g-good for me... cuz then... I-I'd finally accept that it wouldn't be like that forever, a-and I could p-put your needs over mine..."
King started sniffling, tears coming down his yellow eyes.
"B-but those months y-you were gone, i-it just got worse... I missed you so much every day... S-some d-days I wished I never s-sent you through it... S-some days I didn't think I c-could... live without you..."
"Oh, King..."
"A-and it got even w-worse... when I s-saw Belos k... k..."
King couldn't finish the sentence as the image burnt in his mind forever returned. The horrible image of that monster making his sister rot and cry in pain, forcing a smile for him and Eda as she disappeared.
He couldn't take it anymore, and he started wailing.
Luz also couldn't hold back her tears as she wrapped her arms tightly around her brother, pulling him close as he cried into her chest.
"I'm right here, King, I'm okay, I promise... I'm right here..."
King kept sobbing uncontrollably. Luz silently cried with him, petting his back in the way he always liked. They stayed like that for minutes, until his cries became whimpers.
"King, can you look at me?" Luz softly asked.
King sniffled and looked up at his sister. The look in his eyes made her heart break, but she would stop at nothing to make him feel better.
"You've grown up so much. I'm so proud of you. Eda's so proud of you. Everyone is. You aren't selfish at all. You're one of the most selfless and strong people I know."
Luz put a hand on his skull.
"But you're still a kid, King! You don't gotta grow up so fast, okay? It's okay to miss me and wanna be around me, you never have to feel bad about that, do you understand?"
King slowly nodded.
"These past few months... I've felt the same! I missed you and Eda so much, I've had to have made, like, a hundred dr-"
"D-drawings?" King weakly said.
"Yeah, of... you and her."
King paused. "A-and, when you woke up every morning, y-you wondered where I was?"
"Yeah..."
Luz could have asked King how he knew, but she understood quickly. They told each other "I missed you so much" many times after Belos' defeat, but tonight was the first time it truly sank in how much the other did, as they looked into each other's watery eyes.
"Luz, c-can you please promise me... that you'll remember not to grow up so fast, too?" King asked, hoarsely.
"Okay." Luz nodded, now smiling. King also managed to put on a smile, and he wiped his eyes.
"No matter what happens, no matter how much it hurts, let's be there for each other..."
Luz curled her hand into a fist and held it up to King.
"...because we're boo-boo buddies!"
"Yeah! Boo-boo buddies!" King perked up as they fistbumped.
The two fell silent again, warmly staring at each other, then King stood up and rested his head against his sister's shoulder. Luz continued petting his back. They were very satisfied with this, neither speaking a word until King broke the silence.
"I love you, Luz." He quietly said.
Luz kissed his skull, and his tail wagged again.
"I love you too, hermanito."
"Also, I'm sorry I got snot on your shirt..."
Luz giggled. "Hey, I'm pretty sure I got snot in your fur, so we're even."
King giggled back, and soon the two were both laughing hard, like they always did when they were on a misadventure or sharing bread puns. They both knew life would be far from perfect, but when they could have moments like this, all seemed right in the world again. They would cherish these moments forever. They would always be the light of each other's life.
"Luz! King! Dinner's ready, kiddos!" Eda called from the kitchen. The siblings got up from the bed.
"Hey, speaking of drawings..."
Luz picked up the drawing King completed of her two loving families.
"Let's go show everyone yours, okay?"
She held out her hand, which King happily grasped.
"Okay!"