King Oneshots (The Owl House)

Without Eda

Summary: King has survivor's guilt after Eda sacrifices herself. Hurt/comfort, angst with a (kind of not really) happy end.  

Requested by WyrmDragonBoi

Grey fog drooped from the sky to land, leaving only silhouettes of bare trees to loom over them in the vast forest. A chilly breeze weakly ruffled through King's hair as the dead leaves on the group shuffled feebly. He was sitting outside with a thin blanket that barely sheltered him from the cold wrapped around him. Hooty was uncharacteristically silent behind him. 

It had been two weeks since they supposedly "won". Luz could come and go from the human world as she pleased, Emperor Belos was defeated, King even had the opportunity to learn under his father about how to lead an army. But there was an overhanging sense of lifelessness in the empty rooms of the owl house, even with Hooty attempting to lighten the mood or Francios being at his right hand. Of course, this was the first night Luz was away with her mother in the human realm so it would have felt a bit more empty than usual. 

King nestled up against his blanket. His sore throat was tight and his eyes stung from crying over another dream about Eda. He saw it again - Eda pleading with them to run and break Belos' staff while they could, her pushing Lilith out of the way. He even heard her final gasp after a sickening slice in her back by the sword of a member of the emperor's coven. He screamed and thrashed against the person carrying him away from the battle, Camila, so he could at least help her up or change something. 

He knew she was only looking out for him and King had to admit that he would have died if he stayed a minute longer. That didn't stop him from screaming at Camila during and after the battle, even lashing out at Luz for taking her mother's side. It made everything worse when he overheard his dad thank the woman for apparently saving him. They were outnumbered but if he used his sonic scream a second earlier, jumped in the way, or even realized it was a trap earlier, maybe Eda would have survived. 

There was a small gathering when they returned to the owl house, where everyone was unpacking everything in the living room. Raine wandered around the house, touching miscellaneous objects gently as they mused how little they knew about Eda. Lilith was by their side, giving context behind certain items and even reminiscing aloud about their childhood. Luz's friends mainly comforted her in Eda's room for the rest of the day. And King, he needed some time alone. 

A tall figure was emerging from the mist, a thin build with witch ears and slender hands grabbing a staff. King stood up eagerly, not believing his eyes. It was-

The figure became clearer. It was Lilith. 

King sank down to the ground again. He felt tears well up in his eyes again as he started to sniffle. He didn't even try holding them back this time. Lilith approached him slowly to which King didn't respond. 

"What are you still doing here?" asked Lilith. "I thought you were staying with your dad."

"That's what I told Luz." he paused. "I still can't leave."

Hooty agreed with a coo. 

Lilith sat down. "Me neither."

King fiddled with his collar, still not looking Lilith in the eye. 

"It's all my fault," he whimpered. "I could have used my sonic scream more. I should-"

"No, no King. It's not," said Lilith. "I should have been the one to get stabbed. She pushed me out of the way."

"No, it's my fault!" Hooty cried.

Lilith and King both looked at him through tear-blurred eyes. 

"How is it your fault Hootcifer?"

"I don't know but I feel so terrible!" he sobbed. 

It sounded ridiculous coming from Hooty. Lilith and King shared a like-minded glance, communicating that they both thought the same thing. Yet again, Hooty was the owl of The Owl House. He would have felt Eda's absence the most.

"We can't dwell on this," said Lilith. "There's so much ahead of us."

"But what about what's behind," asked Hooty. He was silent for a moment. "Am I going to be alone?"

"I'll keep you company," she said. "And King will come and visit, won't you?"

"I don't want to leave," King sighed, almost exasperated with the notion of moving on. 

It wasn't fair for Eda! She died and everyone just wants to forget about her! Every day his dad was getting more persistent with getting King to come with him to learn more about himself and meet his family. He had a mother and sisters but no family could come close to what he had with Eda, Luz, and even Hooty. 

"But your family-"

"Eda was my family!" he snapped. 

"She was my family too!" Lilith snapped back. "She was my sister! I grew up with her!"

"Well, how come you're trying to forget about her too?!" exclaimed King, standing up and pointing a claw at Lilith accusingly. 

Lilith gave a deathly glare before smoothing her hair and sighing. "I'm not trying to forget her. I just know she would want us to be happy, carry on. She would want you to meet your family and finally feel like you belong."

"But what if I like it too much? I have a mom there and what if she replaces Eda without meaning to?" King didn't know why he was spilling this all out to Lilith, someone he didn't know that well compared to Luz.

"Eda raised you. She can never be replaced by everyone. Do you think I'd replace Eda for Hooty if I moved in?"

"I- I guess not."

"Each Clawthorne is unique Lulu," Hooty interjected, getting some of his annoying cheer back.

"And do you think she would want you to feel bad for the rest of your life?"

King was silent. "I don't think so."

"Do you think you'll forget her, King Clawthorne?"

King shook his head. He shuffled closer to Lilith and opened the blanket to share. They both spent the rest of the afternoon sharing childhood memories of Eda.