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Whew. This was more draining than usual. Well, that's a given. Even after just returning to the atelier, Agott was already on her desk, making use of her remaining time to polish her magic.
She took a glance to Coco's side. The dimly lit lamp on her own side making it hard for her to gauge her surrounding. She blew the lamp off before standing up as she stretched her rigid body.
Now that she think about it, Coco has been off since they ate dinner. As someone with meticulous nature, Agott never recalled someone sauntering in their workshop. Did she even went to bed…?
She grabbed her night shawl as she went out their room with her sylph shoes on hand. The moonlight seemed to compliment the darkness in the atelier. Seeing no green-haired girl she went to the entrance, putting her shoes on with last tap on the soles before going for the door.
After opening the door, she felt the cold breeze move past her. She blew out a warm breath as she look at the moon at its peak. A sign. Winter's coming.
"Agott…?"
Once she heard her name, she looked at their roof to see Coco curled up. Agott let out a sigh, bringing both her feet as she flew over the roof. Once she landed, her eyes went from Coco's mildly shocked face then to her shivering hands.
Asking her how she's faring would be too dumb after what they went through. "Aren't you tired?" she asked instead.
Coco's face relaxed as she faced front. "Just got a lot in my mind, I guess."
That's an understatement.
She only faced front as she took in the moon's glamour. After a moment of silence, Coco's voice soon can be heard with a little apprehension, "Do you think I'd be a good witch?"
Agott was about to ask if she's being sarcastic but soon stopped as she saw Coco's face, remembering her decision at the night of the Silver Eve Procession.
"Don't forget when you do something for everyone, that has to include you."
If Coco's liable to forget that then I'll just have to share what I have plenty to give. I'll show her how to think of things in terms of herself.
The fact that Coco's still thinking about it despite all the things she'd done to others. She instead let out a small breath as she closed her eyes, "I think you already taught me how to believe in myself just as much as you do."
She then opens her eyes as she looks at Coco with determination. "And I believe you're are going to be a good witch."
For a moment, she saw something shining from Coco's eyes before a smile finally blossomed on her face. "Thank you, Agott."
She subconsciously tightened her hands on her shawl, trying to numb the ache rubbing off from her chest. Despite everything had happened, why is this girl's smile still so warm?
A smile so bright under the moon's cascading light as if the sun came out bringing its radiance—a soft reminder to the moon itself.
Underneath it all, Agott can see the shivering of those worn out hands. She can already feel the heat coming up to her face as she thought of something. This will probably something she'd have to take in her grave.
"Y-you're cold," she said as she opened one of her arms, bringing the shawl with it.
She mentally cursed how she stuttered. But all that went to trivial when Coco turned into a babbling mess as she tried to politely decline. Agott's face progressively soured by her mumblings.
"Coco, I'm already putting my hand out, at least meet me halfway through."
Coco's brows crunched up before giving up as she scooted closer to Agott. Wait, this actually bad, Agott realized. The thumping of her heart slowly picking up as she handed the edge of the shawl to Coco.
Once their shoulders touched, Agott felt warm all of a sudden—fuzziness already accumulating inside her. Thankfully, Coco's light laugh interrupted her thoughts. "I never imagined I'd be huddled up with you in a blanket."
Nope, she doubled down. Agott forgot how much of blunt Coco is when it comes to intimacy. Coco must've seen Agott's face progressively turning red because she took one of Agott's rigid hands.
"You won't move away again, will you?"
The hammering of her heart now ringing through her ears. Her body fought not to move away as she clenched her jaw. She'd rather take a whole week's worth in practicing sigils than being subjected to…this.
Before Agott could dig herself deeper, she caught Coco's expression. It was akin to loneliness. Realizing how she regressed back to her old habit—a selfish habit where she only thinks about herself instead of the one before her. She let out a deep breath, now taking a courage up as she intertwine their fingers, albeit clumsily as well.
"I already offered. I'm not that petty."
This made Coco brighten up for a bit as she tightened her hold on Agott's hand. Once she knew her debacle derailed Coco on her own thoughts, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"I'm looking forward to what we'll do this winter."
Agott only smiled. She didn't recall any much last year besides lounging around and practicing. She doubts that would dampen Coco's enthusiasm.
Though with Coco in the mix, maybe this winter won't be monotonous as she'd expect. Before she could go deeper onto her thoughts, she felt Coco's head on her shoulder, causing her to stiffen before relaxing once again as she caught the slackening of Coco's hand.
"The days finally caught you?"
Coco yawned as she rubs her eye.
"Yeah, I'm tired."
Agott was about to stand before Coco's hand weighing her own halted her.
"Let's stay like this a little longer..."
Coco's voice sounds drained as if she was vulnerable enough to request something like this to Agott, which her own protest died down immediately as she leaned the side of her head to Coco's. Perhaps Agott's fatigue already caught up since then because she wouldn't be comforting someone like this so easily.
"For once, I agree."
They only stared at the moon as the cool breeze passes through them, a contrast to what they feel at the moment. A brief solace that only the two of them share tonight.