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Agott hated parties.
It wasn't something she liked as a child, but after what happened at her debut seven years ago, she tried to avoid parties with witches from the Great Hall or else the whispering would just get worse.
But she knew there was no avoiding this one. It was tradition that witches their age and about to do their fourth test participate in the mingling, which the Wise of Teachings usually held. It felt rude to reject the invitation not only from one of the Wise but also from the man who taught her professor.
So she and the girls accepted it. And she was starting to regret it.
Part of her family was here, a few of the cousins her age she had barely any memory of, but they all stood out next to an adult of House Arklaum.
Ever since reuniting with her mother at the tower, things had changed with her family. She didn't really forgive her family for casting her out, but her old wish of being accepted slowly felt like it was being fulfilled, despite Agott being now so far removed from the image of what she wanted to be when she grew up when she was twelve.
She wondered if they'd ask her after she graduated if she would work at the tower, and Agott would say no, she had made a promise.
Her eyes drifted from the ground of the dark corner she was hiding in to find Coco, sitting at the table their atelier had claimed for the night. She was talking with Jujy, who had approached the table with her master, laughing at something the girl had said.
The vision was enough to make the butterflies in her stomach dance.
She had promised Coco to help her. To follow her back to her village and help her study for the fifth test in a few years, and then, she would be Coco's Watchful Eye for her atelier. The thought of growing old with Coco, seeing the way she loved magic being taught and passed on to children, was deeply enchanting to her, making her forget about the weight of the family name she carried.
Coco stopped laughing and immediately met her eyes from across the room. She side-eyed Jujy, who was now talking to Tetia before gold and purple met, and Coco quietly and sneakily as she could, blew a kiss in her direction with a wink.
Agott felt her body go rigid at the action, eyes wide as she clutched her heart as it tried to escape her chest from how fast it started beating. Coco seemed amused by the reaction, hiding a laugh behind her hand.
It took a few moments for Agott's heart to calm down, but when she did, she pouted at Coco playfully, eyes squinted. She started walking towards the table without thinking, pout slowly being replaced by a smile that matched Coco's amused one.
She was almost there when she felt the presence of someone behind her.
“Agott?”
She slowly turned around, meeting the face of one of the older Arklaum witches, possibly a distant cousin of her mother. She didn't even remember their name. He had a controlled, polite smile that read a bit like he had something he really wanted to say. She didn't remember him as one of the witches who chastised her, but she raised her guard anyway.
“Yes?” Her hands were sweaty, wiping them on her pants under her cloak and playing with the tassel of her belt under it.
“It's been a while, hasn't it? Your mother has been telling a few stories about you to the family, and I just knew I had to talk to you when I had the chance.”
Stories? What in the name of the stars was Adina telling people? She barely saw her, maybe once a year during Silver Eve for the last four years or so.
“Ah… I hope they're good?” She didn't mean to sound like a question, but it did anyway. The man gave a dry chuckle.
“There's also another reason I came to talk to you.”
She wondered for a moment if it was about her legacy job as a librarian, but wouldn't her mother or one of the elders be the one to say something? Why–
A familiar face that was hiding behind the man finally stepped out, and Agott's confused expression soured as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“Agott, I trust that you know Loroga Roenton.”
She had to conjure all her might not to audibly groan at the sight of the boy. She frankly hadn't seen him in a good couple of years, something to do with his training that his House insisted on. She frankly didn't care to know more.
He didn't look any different, maybe taller, or his hair was longer. Again, she didn't care at the end of the day.
“I do know, yes.” She failed to hide her uninterest in this conversation.
“Well, he asked me to reintroduce you to him.” Agott raised an eyebrow at that, looking at the apprentice who was now looking embarrassed at his feet, “I believe two children of the most influential families of the witch world have a lot to catch up on!”
He put a hand on the boy's shoulder and pushed him to take a step next to Agott, who instinctively took a step back.
Before they could do anything, the man walked away with a beat in his footing.
The apprentice cleared his throat before speaking up, “Agott.”
“Roenton.” Her voice was monotone.
“You look… nice.” Agott raised her eyebrow at the compliment.
“Thank you. You look… not worse than last time.” She tried.
Well, not really.
For a moment after her statement, both were silent. At that, Agott turned around and started walking back to Coco, whose expression was one of confusion at the whole exchange and why Loroga was even there.
“Hey! Wait!” She knew he was following her, the sound of his heels clacking against the linoleum floor. She halted, turning her body just enough in his direction so she could glare at him.
“What do you want? I'm busy, can't you see?” She wasn't really, but she'd find something to do if it meant to keep him away. “If you’re not going to get to the point, I’ll go.”
“I–”
“And what's that big idea of using one of my relatives to come talk to me? Did you forget your courage in your bedroom, or have you never had any except for spreading rumors to ruin someone's life?”
She was walking again, not bothering to look at him. She was getting closer to Coco, who had worry written in her features, and Agott could see the little crease in between her eyebrows that always formed when she was feeling troubled. It made Agott want to kiss it away because it would mean that Coco wasn't upset anymore.
She wanted to just curl up into her arms and let herself forget the responsibilities that came with her last name and just be Agott, Coco's girlfriend and love of her life.
Finally, she was by the table and resisted the urge to sit in Coco's lap and let her embrace and hug warm her. Instead, she looked down at the sitting witch, who mouthed an ‘are you okay?’, which Agott responded with a simple shrug of her shoulders.
“Agott, I just want to talk.” She audibly groaned this time, fully turning to him this time.
“You’re either not good at getting the hint or insistent beyond repair. Both are infuriating, you know that?”
“Why can't you give it a listen?”
“Why?! Because–” She felt a pinky link their fingers together from behind her, instantly calming her nerves. She took a deep breath, letting the hold go. She didn't say anything for a moment, “Fine. Go ahead. Speak.”
The boy seemed taken aback by her unusual passiveness before shaking his head, “Look, I know we've had our fights and problems in the past. It just– my family has been chastising me that, allegedly, I screwed up the relationship between our houses–”
“You kind of did.”
Coco's dry and monotone voice wasn't something Agott heard often, usually only when she was really mad at someone and didn't want to waste time with them. Loroga’s eyes widened at the new voice, his face getting a bit redder in embarrassment. Agott held back a laugh.
“I trust that you remember Coco.” Agott introduced them just for the humor. Of course he remembered her. He cleared his throat as Coco gave a cheery hello, although Agott could tell it was fake.
“I do, yes. Now, Agott, getting back to–”
“You really should change those boots.”
Coco cut through his explanation, looking him up and down with something akin to judgment. The boy stopped whatever he was coming up with and whipped his head to look down at Coco, his face redder than before.
“What?! What does that mean?!” He looked down at his shoes, finding the thigh-high boots that Agott always found ridiculous.
“I mean. I had noticed then the first time we met, but it never seemed like a good enough time to mention they look… awful.”
Agott giggled. It wasn’t often that Coco showed her petty side, considering that they didn't meet a lot of people who deserved it. But when she did, it made Coco somehow more perfect.
“What– What do you know about this anyway?!”
“Coco is the daughter of a seamstress,” Agott responded, looking at Coco with a proud smile.
“And my mom taught me all I know about what is fitting for someone or not. And those shoes definitely are not.”
Loroga seemed lost for a moment, hands waving wildly in front of him before he grasped his cloak and closed it in the front, self-conscious.
“Never mind that.” He cleared his throat, “As I was saying, my family says I need to fix things before we go through the fourth test in a few months.”
“A few months? Aren't you doing it in a few weeks?” Agott asked.
“Uh– No?”
“Well, we are. Our master determined we're ready.” Coco said proudly and met Agott's gaze, making Agott soften on the inside. Meanwhile, Loroga apparently choked on his saliva by the sound he made.
“You’re going to–” He coughed again, “Doesn’t matter! Then I guess it's good I was here. I thought maybe… I should apologize.”
That surprised her, watching him closely through her metaphorical walls. The words seemed to physically pain him.
“I said and spread rumors I shouldn’t have.”
“Yes.”
“I was unfair.”
“Very.” He winced at her words, and Agott crossed her arms, “Finished?”
“No.” Of course not, she thought. He took a deep breath, “I was jealous. You worked harder than anyone at the hall, you always did, and it’s clear you never stopped.” Agott blinked, the amused smile she had fading into something neutral.
Another pause was put into their conversation.
“And… Honestly, you’ve become someone impressive.” From the corner of her eyes, she saw Coco’s smile disappear while Agott was caught between feeling confused and suspicious, “When adults in the hall talk about apprentices that will be remembered when they become witches, your name comes up.”
Agott’s jaw almost dropped at the fact that she saw a pink flush tinting his ears. There is no way, right?
“Uh…” She looked around awkwardly, “Thank… you?”
“I mean, you’re talented, obviously, but that’s not what I mean. Lots of people are talented. You’re–”
He paused, almost frozen in time if not for the heaving of breath.
“I’m what?” When it came to Loroga, Agott could never drop her guard, feeling like she was one word away from being insulted and realizing he was doing this all for entertainment. She wouldn’t give him that, she wouldn’t–
“You’re determined,” She stopped, eyebrow raised as he started rambling without a second thought. That was almost a compliment. “Dedicated, elegant–” Not so bad. “–creative, brave, beautiful–”
“What the fuck?” Agott’s mouth unfortunately voiced her immediate thoughts instead of keeping them in her mind. She wasn’t ashamed of the words, though. Because really, what the fuck?
The three apprentices stayed in silence after that. Loroga looked like his soul had left his body, the embarrassing blush now covering his whole face. Agott was sure that those at the table were staring at her after her outburst.
“I– I d-didn’t mean–”
“You literally did,” Coco spoke before Agott could, her voice back to the flat tone, but there was something at the edges of it that Agott couldn’t quite name. The boy’s head snapped in the direction of the voice.
“What?”
“You just called her beautiful.”
“I– I was talking about her magic.” That didn’t fly with Coco.
“How is one’s magic dedicated? Or brave?”
“I was trying to apologize!”
“That’s not how apologies work, but I guess you need someone to tell you that. They don’t teach you about those in your house, huh?”
Agott looked between both of them, her mouth opening to say something, but nothing came. She had no idea what was even happening anymore. She just knew that Coco looked utterly offended, and Loroga looked mortified.
“Never mind–” He tried to claw desperately to a semblance of confidence as he turned to her, “What I mean is that you’ve become someone admirable.”
“Admirable?” Coco repeated.
“Yes.”
“Beautiful and admirable?”
“What does this have to do with–”
“And determined, how could I forget?”
“Those are normal compliments!” He gripped his cloak tight, knuckles white, and stepped towards Coco.
“Oh, to someone you’ve hurt beyond comparison because you were jealous and just decided to apologize because your family is mad at you?”
A light went off in Agott’s mind, and she realized what was hidden in Coco’s voice, feeling her face heat up. She was so focused on looking at Coco that she failed to hear Loroga call her name until a hand was put on her back, and she almost jumped out of her skin.
“Agott, can you tell her–”
“Hey.”
Coco immediately got up from the chair at the motion, and Agott heard the boy squeak in fear. It took a few moments for her to realize why that was.
Agott might be the shortest between the three of them, but Coco was the tallest, her true height hidden until now, towering over them with the added help of the heeled boots she was wearing for the event.
Her usual loving and warm gaze was replaced by something colder and scarier that reminded Agott of Master Qifrey's whenever he felt like threatening someone.
She had noticed that Master Olruggio seemed quite amazed by his partner whenever he did that, even before they had gotten together, but she never understood why.
She did now.
Coco batted the hand that once touched her back, and Agott felt delicate fingers press between her shoulder blades, “Well, thank you for the apology.”
Loroga frowned at that, “I wasn't even talking to–”
“–We really appreciate it.” Her stern face quickly morphed into an overly sweet smile, although her eyes still held the same coldness.
“We?!” The boy asked in protest.
“Yes, we.” Her smile widened, and before Agott could tell, her hand left the top of her back and looped their arms together, Coco's hand gripping the other like a second barrier to halt any chance of the link breaking. “Now, if you'd excuse us, I was about to steal Agott for a private conversation.”
Agott turned and looked at Coco, whispering, “Where are we going?” Coco didn't answer, only giving her a smile that wasn't fake, her irises regaining their spark when their eyes met.
A protest noise was heard from him, eyes bewildered at the whole situation as Coco dragged Agott through the crowd of witches to the outside.
It was only when they were in the middle of an empty hall that she spoke up, halting their walk.
“Coco.”
The girl didn't answer, not meeting Agott's eyes as she looked outside the window. The barely lit hallway was just enough for Agott to see the flush on her ears. She unlinked their arms and brought a hand up to Coco's cheek, “Hey, look at me.” She followed the request, “Why were you upset?”
Agott knew why, but she also needed Coco to acknowledge it.
“I–” Her voice cut a bit, Agott seeing the shine of unshed tears in her gaze. Coco blinked them away, biting her lip hard in frustration. “Sorry.”
“You were jealous, right?” Coco took a deep breath through her nose, exhaling a few seconds later.
“Yes.” Agott hummed at that, thumb caressing her cheek tenderly, “It's just– He's so obvious. And– how dare he even say those things about you after he hurt you? People here still think you plagiarized someone's spell, and it's been seven years! It–” Coco groaned, hiding her face in her hands.
Agott brought her hand to brush a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“I know what you felt. Do you think you're the only one who feels jealousy?” Coco stilled, peeking through her fingers at Agott, “Our first year. I was so jealous of you and Tartah on the days leading up to Silver Eve. Even during it, before everything came crashing down, I was jealous of the time you were spending together.”
At the time, Agott didn't understand why it upset her that much, the answer only coming years later when her feelings for Coco became too big to ignore.
Coco didn't say anything, but she lowered her hands a bit, meeting Agott's gaze through the top of her fingers. “Really?” Her voice was a bit muffled.
“Hmm-hm.” Agott smiled up at her, nodding her head. Both were silent for moments, Agott's other hand holding her shoulder.
“Coco,” Agott called her attention, and Coco peeked at her, still hiding most of her face. That wouldn't do. Agott pulled her hands away from her face, which was now red from the flush. “I love you, not anyone else. You.”
Coco squeaked at that, her usual confidence that Agott had been seeing throughout the last week or so dwindling, and her face was completely red now. Agott let out a tiny giggle.
“Stop worrying so much. No one could ever compare to you. You kind of created a Coco-shaped hole in my heart, no one else can fit in.”
Coco shook her head, the redness on her face fading, although her cheeks and ears stayed that way.
“I thought I was being reasonable at the moment, but I probably only made it worse. I should've held it back.” She sighed, “I might've screwed up some pretty important witch family relationships.”
“It's fine, I won't be in the inner circle of the Arklaum house when I graduate anyway. Soon enough, they'll realize they didn't even need that.”
The green-haired witch let out a dry chuckle, “Still, I need to work on calming myself down.”
“I've never seen you that mad before.” Agott said, holding her laughter as she remembered the face Loroga was making at Coco's sudden outburst, “But trust me, I can handle Loroga and others like him.”
Coco cursed under her breath, “Argh– I'm sorry if it felt like I don't trust you to defend yourself. People like him just make me mad. You’d think me calling you ‘my Agott’ at twelve would’ve been enough, but apparently not…” Coco pouted at that, and Agott felt the need to wipe that away.
She decided to give in to that need.
She felt her cheeks burn as she cupped Coco's face between her hands, guiding it to look down at her. The way Coco exhaled sharply through her nose, and how Coco didn't even protest the motion, was doing things to the butterflies in her stomach.
“It's alright, he's not worth your anger. Just– kiss me.” The request came out like a confession, taking Agott's breath away. Coco's pupil dilated at her words, her mouth agape for a few seconds before she closed it. Agott was about to back off her request before a smile surged on her girlfriend’s lips, and they crashed against hers.
Even when she was the one requesting it, it didn't stop the small ‘hmph’ she let out at it, eyes fluttering closed, getting lost in the overwhelming feeling she was still getting used to. She felt Coco tuck a strand of her curly hair behind her ear, the tip of her finger tracing her face. Agott took a deep breath through her nose, determined to make the action last as long as she physically could.
Coco moved her head to breath and their noses bumped hard, both girls pulling back with a wince. It was easy to forget how they were still new at this whole thing of kissing, lips getting bitten without intent, forehead bumps, noses mushing against each other instead of fitting at their side. Novels made it look easy and natural, but Agott realized that it was like learning a choreography without any instructions or help, since it was something new for both of them.
Agott would’ve felt embarrassed, but Coco opened her eyes, a smile covering her features and a breathless laugh escaping her. Soon Agott was laughing too, pulling Coco down into the closest bench in the hallway, hands lacing in between their bodies, Coco’s thumb caressing her knuckles. They locked gazes, laughter dying with the passing of the moments, being replaced by lovestruck smiles at each other, Coco’s eyes shining like stars in the dimly lit hall.
Silent moments went by, and Agott watched as her serene expression morphed into a thoughtful pout, her free hand coming to brush a strand of hair behind her ear like she always did when her head was too full of thoughts.
“What are you thinking?” She asked, tightening the grip on their hands.
“Just– Despite my outburst earlier, I think I held the secret of our relationship from everyone.”
“Yes, they may just think you’re in love with me.” Agott teased her, earning a smirk from Coco.
“Oh no!” Coco put the back of her hand to her forehead in faux-drama, “How could they? What if you find out? I would never recover.”
That had Agott laughing loudly, wiping the tears that had formed. Coco followed her, although her laughter was more contained, as her face reddened and she let out a big breath, “People should be glad we're not public. I'd be so annoyingly doting where everyone could see.”
That had Agott letting out an undignified noise amidst her laughter, “R-Really?”
Coco nodded, a finger to her chin in thought, “I probably would’ve kissed you instead of arguing if I’m being honest.” The image of the scenario conjures itself in the forefront of her mind and makes Agott let out a high-pitched sound, covering her cheeks in an attempt to hide the redness. Coco notices it and raises her clasped palms together, “Sorry! I’ll stop.”
“D-Don’t worry– Just– A lot to take in, I guess.” She fans her face, hoping to cool it down from the insane heat she is experiencing due to the blood rushing to her face. Coco helps her, taking her palm quire and quickly drawing a small cooling wind spell without looking.
“There, are you feeling better?” At Coco’s worried expression, Agott nodded her head, the breeze passing through her curls in the direction of the party. She grabbed one of Coco’s hands and kissed the back of it.
“Yes, thank you, love.” The word slipped before Agott could stop it, dropping Coco’s hand in shock. Coco’s eyes widened, and just as Agott was opening her mouth, a ‘forget I said that’ on her tongue, Coco raised her index finger, silencing Agott as it was pushed against her mouth.
“Agott Arklaum, do not take that back, or I will get past the mist outside and drown myself.” Her eyes were wide and observing, contradicting beautifully with the rosiness of her face. At the threat, Agott silenced herself, mouth shutting so hard she felt her teeth clash against each other. “Good.”
Coco lowered her finger, and Agott pulled her eyes away from hers, staring and gripping the front part of her pants until her knuckles went white. Coco didn’t react badly to her error, that’s good. But her embarrassment of letting such a heavy word slip without ceremony made her want to destroy some walls and bury herself with the sand they’d produce.
A finger touched her chin, tilting her head up until sunlight colored irises met hers. Soft lips clashed against hers, planting a delicate and reassuring kiss that made Agott release her grip. The act lasted maybe two or three more seconds, Coco breaking it and leaning their foreheads together.
“You’re beautiful, love.”
The echo back at Agott shouldn’t have impacted her like that. But it did. Feeling a surge of affection rise in her chest, she leapt into Coco’s space, kissing her cheek with a loud ‘muah’ as she kept nuzzling her nose on her face. Coco giggled, one of Agott’s favorite sounds.
“Stooop! You’re gonna droll on my cheek, ew!” Despite her words, Agott felt the grip Coco had around her shoulders tighten. She pulled away, intending to continue her affection streak, but Coco was faster, kissing the corner of her lips with the same silly enthusiasm. This time, Agott was the one laughing.
“Love, you–”
She stopped when a gasp was heard nearby. Coco and Agott stilled in each other’s arms, scanning the area for who that was.
Coco was the one who discovered it first, and Agott just followed her gaze, finding Jujy standing in the archway that connected the halls. She had two hands clasped over her mouth, eyes wide. Agott automatically sighed in relief. If that was Richeh or, she shudders just thinking about it, Tetia–
“Uh. Hello!” Coco tried, a nervous smile on her features, “It’s not– It’s not what it looks like.”
Jujy seemed in shock for a moment before her expression changed completely, “Nuh-uh!” She shook her index finger in the air in their direction, “You’re not pulling a ‘it’s not what it looks like’ with me! I saw you two kissing!”
“...Friendly kissing?” Coco tried, and Agott sighed in defeat.
“Coco, I saw your outburst at the Roenton kid!” Jujy walked towards them, face determined, “When I noticed you two were taking too long, I became worried you two were fighting. But guess not–
“It–”
“It’s alright, Coco. Jujy can know if she promises to keep it a secret from everyone else. Especially from Tetia.”
Jujy nodded her head quickly, her afro puffs bouncing, eyes glinting, and barely contained excitement by the way she was rocking back and forth on her heels, “Yes, of course, not a word! Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye!”
“...What?” Agott and Coco said it at the same time.
“It’s– Never mind that! Tell me everything!”
Coco and Agott shared a look before Coco spoke up, “We– We’re together. Together together.”
At that, Jujy squealed, giving them a big smile, “I knew it! I called it!”
For a moment, Agott was confused, but the memories of a snowy night when she was twelve hit her like a pegasus carriage.
“You were wrong then!”
“Nuh uh! I was just… how does Predis Olruggio say– Pre-ordering it! Yeah!”
“What are you two talking about?” Coco asked, golden eyes looking between the two teens who were discussing.
“Jujy thought we were dating when we were twelve.”
“Oh.” Coco blushed at that.
“Well, I’m sorry, but the display of affection you two shared on that year’s silver eve procession just screamed something only people who were dating would do!” Jujy pouted, cocking a hip to the side and refusing to meet Agott’s eyes in defiance, “And then– You two were so close during the time I spent living at your Atelier–”
“We were best friends!”
“Do not come with that! You clearly had a crush on Coco when we were all twelve!”
Agott lets out a squeak, but she can't deny it. She hadn't told Coco yet that she had spent around five years pining after her. It felt kind of pathetic, so she hoped that Coco would never ask.
Sensing Agott's tension, Coco tightened the grip on her shoulders, squeezing her lightly, “You’re right, Jujy. I fell for Agott the moment I first met her.”
“What?!” Agott squeaked again, her mouth open as she examined Coco's expression for any telltale that she was lying to make Agott feel better. She found nothing. “...Really?” She spoke softly, as if she was scared of breaking something sacred.
Coco nodded, “I was just… too focused on saving my mother to even have space for it in my head. When I finally did it and had time to breathe…” Coco's cheeks colored as she looked at her lap, “What I felt for you hit me like a lunging Liongoat, I couldn't look you in the eye for a month.”
Agott vaguely recalls a time when they were thirteen that she got scared she had done something that upset Coco, the girl avoiding contact and her presence. At the time, Agott was so worried that she had done something, but before she could gather the courage to do it, Coco returned to her old self. She never found out why it happened.
Until now.
“Ah. Yes, I remember that.”
At Coco's bashfulness, she cups her cheek, meeting her eyes and nuzzling their noses together, which made Coco smile and let out a tiny sound that sounded like the start of a laugh.
“As much as I'm happy for you two,” Jujy started, “You two know I'm still here, right?” Agott and Coco shared a laugh, looking at the other girl in front of them who clearly had some kind of question on her mind, “Is there a reason why you two are keeping it a secret?”
“It…” Agott started, “We just want to have a little time where our thing isn't judged by other people. To have a little time for us before our lives change forever.”
Coco nodded, “Plus, we know how Tetia and Richeh are. If they knew about it, they wouldn't stop talking or teasing us when they should be focusing on studying. We're keeping it a secret until the fourth test in three weeks. Once we're done with it, we plan to tell people.”
“I see…” Jujy closed her eyes with a nod, as if the answer was marinating inside her head.
“So again, just– Keep it on the low. You can brag about finding out the secret before everyone when we tell people.” Agott looked at Jujy pleadingly.
“Yes, yes. As I said, don't worry about that. I will say nothing. Or rather– How do you say nothing?” She started mumbling to herself, tilting her head as she stared out the big window in the hallway, a school of fish passing by.
At the diversion, Coco leaned towards Agott, whispering in her ear, “Want to get back to the party? I think they might send Tetia if we're not back soon.”
Agott shivers, not only at the thought of Tetia finding out before they want, but at how close Coco's voice was. She nodded, feeling her cheeks heat up and grabbing Coco's hand.
They wave goodbye to a distracted Jujy and remake their path back to the party, the heavy double doors slightly ajar, music and chattering spilling out.
Agott took a deep breath, scared that she might need to continue or have a dreadful conversation with Loroga and her relatives.
Apparently sensing her nerves, Coco pushed Agott into the shadows of the hallway and kissed her, cupping her face.
“I'm right beside you, love.” Coco whispers, “Always.”
Agott feels the corners of her eyes prick, blinking them so the unshed tears get back inside.
“I love you.” She whispers, leaning into Coco's touch.
“I love you.” Coco echoes the sentiment, and they kiss again. Although it lasts for just a second, it’s enough to calm the worries inside her. Agott lowers Coco's hands from her face, the touch leaving a tingling on her skin, and is immediately missed.
They walked back into the light, Agott grabbing the handle of the door. With a long inhale and exhale of air, hoping to calm her nerves, she pulls the door open, walking back inside, at Coco's side.
Exactly where she belongs.