Work Text:
Luz Noceda is having the worst day. First, she got fired from her job at Mud & Sundry. Luz never got along with her boss, Tibbles. He was a pig. He got upset with Luz whenever she would ask questions. Luz doesn’t think the questions were unreasonable. Who would pay thousands of dollars for the cheap skin-care products they were selling? Luz worked at the counter in the small building where they sold the products. Tibbles was always in the back making phone calls. Somehow, he would make huge sells with clients over the phone while a busy day at the store only saw two customers. Luz isn’t an idiot. She never had to restock the products during her three months working there. Clearly something else was being sold. And maybe Luz kept asking questions to try to learn that secret. That doesn’t mean she deserved to be fired. She still did her job. She will miss the pay as it was double minimum wage. But Luz won’t miss working for Tibbles.
To make the day even worse, as she was leaving her former job, she spotted some unsavory looking people around her car. The store wasn’t located in the best part of town, but Luz never had any problems making it from her work to her car. But today, there were three guys standing around her car. She knows they weren’t trying to steal her car. It was the cheapest car she could buy and barely holds together for the few places she needs to travel to with it. She doesn’t keep any valuables inside. The guys were definitely waiting by her car though. She could see them talking while glancing around the area. One of them has an average build with brushed-back brown hair and a soul patch. Another one has a muscular build, a prominent jaw and is carrying a lead pipe. The last one is smaller than the second guy but still muscular. He has short black hair and is carrying a chain. Luz was hesitant to approach her car. One of the thugs spotted her standing not too far away and started shouting. His friends looked over towards her and they all started walking over.
That led to Luz’s current situation: running for her life. She took off in the opposite direction of her car and the three guys immediately started chasing her. Luz has no idea why they are after her, but they were definitely waiting for her. She only has a slightly better idea of where to go. She only ever drives around this part of the town, so she isn’t sure exactly where she is while running. She’s changed streets a few times and ran down some back alleys. She’s even knocked over a few trash cans to try and slow down her pursuers. If she is correct about her current location, the police station should only be about four blocks away. Although she is running faster, the guys still aren’t very far behind her. Luz continues running as fast as she can but she knows she is starting to get tired. She hopes she can make it to the police station before they catch up. She decides to run down an alleyway between two buildings in hopes of getting over to the next street.
That turns out to be a mistake. There is a fence in the middle of the alley. The fence is almost twice as tall as Luz and it looks like there might be barbed wire on top. She doesn’t spot any nearby doors in the buildings. There is a large garbage dumpster next to the fence. That’s going to be her only hope to get away. Luz can hear the thugs getting closer. Before they can spot her, she jumps on top of the dumpster while removing her bomber jacket. She tosses her jacket over the barbed wire then quickly dives behind the dumpster. She stays as quiet as possible.
She can hear the thugs running over. They are yelling at each other about allowing her to get away. One of them jumps up on the dumpster while his friends yell at him to climb over the fence. Luz can hear the creaking of the fence as the thug tries to climb it. Then she hears a ripping sound. She assumes her jacket couldn’t handle the guy’s weight and tore apart on the barbed wire. There’s a scream as the guy falls then hits the dumpster. The impact causes the dumpster to move a couple of inches. It’s not much, but the silence lets Luz know it was enough for the thugs to spot her.
“There you are, girlie.”
“Why don’t you come out, so we can have a friendly little chat.”
Worst day ever. Luz stands up and faces the three thugs. They have her cornered. Luz’s only hope is to fight back. The thug to her right is swinging his chain around while watching her. The thug in the middle has the pipe resting on his shoulder as he gestures for Luz to come over. The last guy is the one who fell. He’s rubbing his head and not paying as much attention to Luz. Maybe she can run past him to get out of the alley? She would feel more confident if the alley was bigger and if the thug with the pipe didn’t look like he wouldn’t mind hitting his friend so long as he got Luz. Luz does her best to square herself up then she takes a hesitant step forward.
Something flies through the air and hits the thug with the soul patch in the chest. He falls to the ground. Luz looks and sees a hockey puck next to him. She and the other two thugs look down the alley to see where it came from. There’s someone standing there with a hockey mask covering their face. They are holding a hockey stick and Luz can see a golf bag on their back with a baseball bat and golf club in it.
“You guys are going in the penalty box.” The person threatens.
Luz realizes the person in the hockey mask is a woman. She has the most beautiful voice Luz has ever heard, although that could just be because she is saving Luz. The two standing thugs turn to face the visitor. Then everyone starts to run towards each other. The thug with the pipe is immediately hit in the face with a baseball. Luz hears the woman call out, “Strike one,” as the thug grabs his face. Then the hockey mask wearer is in front of Luz, protecting her from the thugs. The thug with the chain starts fighting the vigilante. Luz doesn’t know how the girl manages to move so quickly.
Luz sees the thug that got hit with the hockey puck stand up. He tries to sneak up on the hockey mask wearer but Luz yells, “Watch out,” and the hockey lover turns around and hits the thug in the head with her hockey stick. The thug hits the ground and Luz doesn’t think he will get up any time soon. Luz manages to move away from the thugs as they are fighting the other woman. There’s now enough space for Luz to run back out the alley, but she doesn't want to leave her savior with the thugs.
“Strike two!” Luz sees the pipe wielding thug has been hit with another baseball (or maybe the same one, Luz isn’t sure.) The hockey mask wearer kicks the third thug in the groin then turns towards Luz. She pulls out her baseball bat and hands it over. “Take this, just in case.” She points to the exit, “Get going.” Then she turns back to the thugs as they get up to continue the fight.
Luz takes a few steps away but stops to watch the fight. The woman doesn’t look like she is having any trouble fighting the thugs. Luz thinks she might just be having fun and drawing out the fight. The pipe wielding thug swings at the woman. She ducks out of the way and the pipe hits the chain wielder in the gut. The woman grabs the pipe wielder by the back of his jacket and tosses him to the side. He drops his pipe when he hits the ground. The woman then swings the hockey stick at the remaining thug. He manages to block it with his chain then wraps the chain around the stick so she can’t swing it again. She pushes the stick forward while grabbing the golf club out of her bag. The thug stops the hockey stick from moving but can’t mount a defense against the golf club before it hits him in the face. He hits the ground hard and Luz thinks he is down for the count.
The girl is getting the chain off her hockey stick when the pipe wielding thug starts to stand back up. Without thinking about it, Luz runs over to him and swings the baseball bat. It connects with his face and Luz can see a couple of teeth fly out of his mouth. He crumbles to ground.
“Strike three, you’re out.”
Luz turns back toward the hockey lover. She’s smiling at Luz. She’s taken off her hockey mask and put the weapons back in her bag. She has gorgeous golden eyes, purple hair and a smile that Luz could stare at all night. She walks over to stand in front of Luz. Luz realizes she wants her baseball bat back. Luz should return it and thank her for saving her life. Instead, Luz blurts out, “You’re pretty.”
She laughs. It's a melodic sound that Luz could listen to forever. Then she winks at Luz. “I usually go by Amity but I won’t stop you from calling me pretty.” Amity looks at Luz more seriously, glancing all over her. “You’re not hurt, are you? I would hate to see your pretty face in any pain.”
Luz’s heart has stopped working. Amity called her pretty. And she’s concerned about Luz’s well-being. Luz would say she was okay if it wasn’t for the fact her heart has stopped working. Amity brushes some hair off Luz’s face while checking for injuries. Luz shoves the bat at the girl while squeaking out, “Thanks. I'm good.”
Amity grins and puts the bat back into her bag. “You’re welcome. Do you need anything else tonight?”
Luz nods. She has a lot of questions. Why did Amity save her? Why was she wearing a hockey mask? Does she usually get into fights in back alleys? Should they talk to the police about the thugs? But only one question comes spilling out of Luz’s mouth, “Can I buy you dinner?”
Amity’s face turns red. She meekly nods. “If you want.” Then she tucks her hair behind her ear as she looks away from Luz. “I’d really like that.”
Luz grins. Her heart is finally working again. “Cool.” She takes Amity’s hand and lightly tugs her so they can start walking out of the alley. “Where’d you like to go?”
“I know a good pizza place not far from here.” Amity laces her fingers with Luz's as they make it to the street.
“Sounds great.” Luz lets Amity lead her down the block. She has a lot to learn about the hockey lover. And she can’t wait to find out what the future holds. Luz is having the best day.