Work Text:
Sometimes, Amity’s hearing becomes too sensitive, and her clothes feel itchy against her skin, and if she doesn’t calm herself down, everything becomes more and more overwhelming until she can’t cope anymore.
She never knew why this happens to her, but her wonderful girlfriend told her all about neurodiversity and all the different labels they use in the human realm. Luz described Amity’s experience as ‘sensory overload’, and once explained to Amity that a similar thing happens to her on occasion. Most importantly, she taught Amity some tactics to deal with the sensory overload, and since then, Amity has coped with her sensory issues much better.
Such as today, when she leaves the crowded room at Willow’s birthday party and sneaks out into the yard. She loves her friends, but it was becoming unbearable in that loud, busy room. Amity sits on the porch, smiling when Ghost meows at her, and she begins to soothe herself (Luz called it ‘stimming’) by gently combing her fingertips through her palisman’s fur.
A few minutes after she left, Amity hears footsteps behind her.
“Hey, sweet potato,” Luz says, taking a seat beside Amity. Stringbean moves to sit on Amity’s shoulder, and Luz holds out her arms, without actually touching her. “Are you doing okay?”
“Not really,” Amity says, stroking her hand across Ghost’s back again and again, soothed by the fur under her palm. “Just got a bit… overwhelmed.”
“I get you. Want a hug?”
Amity glances at her girlfriend before nodding her head. Luz shuffles closer and wraps her arms around Amity (being careful not to squash Ghost and Stringbean). Knowing that gentle touches hurt when Amity is overwhelmed, Luz squeezes her tightly, holding her close.
“Thanks…” She relaxes into the embrace, letting her head rest against her girlfriend’s shoulder.
“No prob.”