Lumity Oneshots

Root Connection (Tree AU)

A/N: So, let me explain.

The tree AU is one I came up with late at night, so it's a little weird. Basically, Luz and Amity are both trees. So they can't move, but they can still make facial expressions, smile, laugh, cry, etc. This is what my brain comes up with when it's tired. Enjoy!

And I know I forgot to mention last time, but Happy Pride Month, everyone!

Amity's sprout peeked through the soil triumphantly. She took her first breath of outside air. It was fresh and clean and smelled earthy, confirming that it had rained the previous night. The sun cast its warm rays upon her and she soaked it in, feeling herself become a bit more awake. She expanded her roots as much as she could (which wasn't very much, as she was just a sapling and not very strong) and preened, enjoying the serenity of being completely alone in this wonderful new environment.

    Or so she thought.

    A few meters away from her, another sapling was reaching out of the dirt, also experiencing her first few moments in the world above. She breathed it all in, feeling the peace and joy that came from rising above the dirt.

    The two saplings noticed each other at the same time. Amity's mood darkened as the enemy sapling brightened and waved cheerily at her. She scowled, snapping at her to buzz off.

    But the other tree didn't seem to hear. She just kept waving and looking excited as Amity ignored her. After a while, she finally got the message and kept to herself, to her relief.

    What was she going to do? This other girl was too close to her. She would never get any room to breathe or grow on her own!

    Well, whatever had happened, Amity was stuck with her now. There was nothing she could do about that.

• • •

    After years of slow growth, the other tree hadn't gotten any farther away. And as much as she tried to lean away, her roots were within the intruder tree's reach. This meant that they could communicate with each other through their root systems.

    "Hi!" The other tree exclaimed. "I'm Luz. Who are you? It's so weird that we've been next to each other our whole lives, but we've never actually spoken to each other!"

    "And I'd like to keep it that way," she replied coolly. After a pause, she reluctantly added, "my name is Amity."

    Luz huffed. "Well then, Amity," she said. "If you don't want to talk, then so be it. We'll both just sit here in silence for the rest of our lives."

    "Fine by me," she retorted. "Just try not to get too close to me."

    "Right," Luz scoffed. "Like I have a choice about that. You're the one who keeps hogging the ground space! Groundhog!"

    "I am not a groundhog, I am a tree," Amity pointed out. "One who would prefer to keep to herself, thank you very much. You're the one who is growing closer to me."

    "If you want to be independent so badly, then why are you still talking to me?" Luz asked, somewhat irritably.

    Amity growled, choosing not to give the other tree an answer. She simply turned away and focused on the buildings in the distance, pointedly ignoring Luz. To her credit, she made no additional comments and chose (wisely) to remain silent.

    This didn't mean, however, that she would immediately stop trying. In the following months, Luz tried to talk to her multiple times, her efforts slowing to a stop more quickly each time. After the twelfth occurrence of this, Amity finally snapped.