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Heavy rain pounded against the aged walls of the Tower of Tomes, and Agott knew she wouldn’t be getting much sleep that night.
She didn’t sleep most nights anyway.
Sighing into her pillow, she pushed herself against the bed and got out. Her hand grasped the crystal torch Olruggio gave long ago. Hm. Maybe she should visit him soon and check in.
The door creaked open, and Agott walked down the halls she’d dreamed about for so long back at the atelier.
Agott paused at the thought and came to a stop.
The atelier…It’s been so long, hasn’t it?
Everyone she knew and held dear had gone their separate ways, though they (mostly) still kept in contact. Tetia had an atelier of her own, Richeh started a business alongside Olruggio, Master Qifrey…has succumbed to the silverwood, and Coco-
No. Stop thinking. She died, remember?
Coco is dead.
End of story.
(Liar. You know she joined the brimmed caps. How long will you keep deluding yourself?)
Agott took in a shaky breath, only noticing the sudden chills on her body; not even the Crystal torch could warm her.
Whatever, It’s all in the past.
All she could do now was take a step forward.
(Sometimes, late at night, her own thoughts overwhelmed her. If she had done something differently back then, would anything change?)
By now, she’d gotten into one of the library rooms, so she did what she’d always do late at night, and began organizing books. She put the crystal torch down and held up the nearest book.
It was practically muscle memory at this point, the way the spine of the books fit in her callused palms. It’s what she wanted to do for so long since she was young, and now, she’d achieved her one(?) dream in life.
As if mindlessly, she sorted through the books. As they say, calm is often formed from repetition. Even on most days, her peace was found here-
Creak.
Agott paused from where she held the book, taking in a sharp breath through her nose.
Someone was here.
On the same floor as Agott.
She slowly put down the book, grabbing at a nearby pen and a palm quire, quietly making her way towards the sound. Avoiding any sudden noises, she silently cast a fire-based attack spell, not one meant to harm, but to bind any intruders.
The source of the noise was getting closer, no matter how quiet the intruder tried to be. One last deep breath, then she kicked the door open, completing the spell’s circle before aiming it at the intruder. “Bind!”
The spell surrounded the intruder with flames as they fell onto the floor, their brimmed hat falling with them. She curled her nose up in disgust.
“Brimmed caps are not welcome here in the sacred Tower of Tomes.” She glared down at the intruder. “State your purpose.”
The intruder quietly looked up at her with those green-hazel eyes, and Agott completely froze.
How come she didn’t immediately recognize her at the sight of the swirled dress?
“Agott..?” That voice, which used to be her favorite, echoed in her ear. “Agott! Oh, thank the stars, I was looking for you!” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her dead eyes.
She took in a shaky, deep breath, hands curled around the black skirt. “...Coco?”
“What a coincidence that you found me first!” She continued smiling, but every time she did so just sent shivers down Agott’s back, her knuckles turning white with the amount of force she clenched her fists with. Coco saw, eyes becoming dark for a mere moment, before returning to ‘normal.’
“Can you help me out here?” She sheepishly grinned, but Agott stayed still. Coco huffed. “Alright then.” She spoke softly.
Agott nearly took a step forward when the fires suddenly extinguished with a flash, and Coco stood up, wiping imaginary dust off her coat. The librarian paused. “What?” She muttered. How did Coco just vanquish the spell with such ease?
No, that was an idiotic question. Of course, Coco would know.
Agott took a deep breath before speaking. “Coco,” She dropped all formalities, but didn’t speak with kindness. “What could you possibly want now?” She glared at Coco, just as she did when they first met.
Coco just kept smiling (it could never match her bright, clumsy grins). “Can I not see my best friend?” She stepped closer, and in response, Agott stepped back. Coco’s eyes narrowed.
“You still consider me your friend?” After you left us to become a Brimmed Cap?
“Should I not?” You’d be safer if I didn’t.
There was an awkward and tense moment of silence. Eventually, Agott just scoffed and turned away, Coco following soon after. She didn’t attempt to stop her.
Curse her weak heart.
By now, they had entered the room Agott was working in. Blatantly giving attention to the other, Agott began sorting and organizing books, just as she did before.
Coco had just looked around in awe, her true grin showing for just a split second, before morphing back into that fake smile.
Agott hated it.
Humming, Coco flexed her fingers, yet before her fingers could even trace the book-
“Don’t touch that.” She paused, and Agott continued. “As the Librarian of the Tower of Tomes,” She turned from where she was working to face Coco. “I have not given you the authority to use our resources freely.”
“And as your closest friend?” Coco responded quickly, but hadn’t heard an answer back. When she looked at Agott, she nearly froze.
Agott looked at her with pure shock, nearly leaning on grief before she quickly schooled her expression with detached coolness, before going back to work.
“If you really considered me your dear friend,” Agott muttered. “You wouldn’t have left.”
Coco looked down, reminiscent of a sorry puppy.
There was silence between them once more, maybe too silent. Agott had just assumed Coco had taken a hint and left without causing trouble.
That’s what she thought, until-
Arms wrapped around her waist, as she felt a head rest upon her shoulders, long green hair trailing down both of them.
“Coco? What are you-?!” She gave a (small yet purposefully weak) attempt to push, which only caused her hug to tighten.
“Please- just,” she whispered, “just stay like this.”
Agott sighed, not having the energy to argue anymore.
After a few moments of silence, Coco spoke again. “You know,” Agott could hear a smile in her voice. “I didn’t think you’d still blush like this, after all these years.” The other huffed. “I do not.”
"You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.” She added the last book to the shelf, white sleeve sliding down her arm.
Coco raised her finger and chanted a spell. Agott tensed up, but quickly relaxed after seeing that a plain mirror was conjured, however-
“See for yourself~” Coco sing-songed. And sure enough, in the mirror, Agott’s skin was pink with blush, and the sight deeply irritated(?) her.
Agott took a deep breath and simply walked away, Coco pouting behind her- until she bumped into Agott and realized she was in Agott’s bedroom, with Agott furiously glaring at her.
“Ahem, pardon.” She raised her hands in defeat.
“Are you not going to leave?”
Coco blinked. “Leave?”
Agott could only stare at the other witch, appalled. Internally, she screamed, and externally she sighed. “You’re always like this, aren’t you?” Except back then, Coco…no.
Coco seemed to notice her mood change and stepped closer, rain still drumming against the windows. “What’s the issue?” She placed one of her hands on her shoulder, and Agott didn’t even bother pushing her away.
“Coco?” She muttered quietly, but it was enough for her to hear.
“Hm?”
“Why even bother visiting me anymore?”
“It’s cause you’re my friend-”
“Don’t give me that bullshit.” Coco paused, mouth slightly agape. Agott barely swears, only at moments of extreme anger. Agott continued. “Stop visiting me, Coco.” She froze, genuine fear beginning to show up. “Wha-?”
“You heard me. We should stop seeing each other like this.” Coco’s breath quickened.
“Why?!”
“Because you’re a brimmed cap, Coco!” Agott suddenly yelled, Coco’s hand slipping off her shoulder. “Brimmed caps bring terror, pain, and death! Not one good thing has come from Brimmed Caps!”
“Agott, please-!”
“Stop looking at me like that! Like you’re innocent! You’re not! You’re a brimmed cap!” Agott finished yelling, panting with exhaustion- with work, with loneliness, with Coco.
Coco couldn’t bring herself to say a word, throat burning up and tightening.
“...Why, Coco? Why did you become a brimmed cap?” She muttered. Coco shut away the tears burning in her eyes. It hurt to even speak. Agott looked at her, expecting to say something, anything, but when Coco didn’t, she scoffed and gave a sad smile, looking down.
“Sometimes, I wish it were me instead of Professor Qifrey. Maybe you wouldn’t have gone down this path.” Coco shook. “Maybe…if I were gone now, would you turn back?” Agott hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but when she did, her eyes widened, and she quickly covered her mouth with her hand
Coco stiffened as if she were struck by lightning. No, nononono- why was she saying this?! It wasn’t- She didn’t want to-!
She dropped to her knees, Agott’s quiet melancholy turning to sudden shock. “Coco?!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I-” She gripped onto Agott’s black skirt. “I don’t want- I didn’t-” Coco sobbed, tears fully flowing down this time. “I can’t lose anyone anymore! Mama’s gone, Qifrey’s gone, and if you’re gone, I can't handle that!” Agott just stared at her, eyes wide. “I need to bring them back, this is the only way! I-” She sniffled, closing her eyes. “I need you, Agott. You’re the only one who doesn’t look at me like I’m a monster! Tetia, Richeh, everyone- They think I changed, but-” Coco breath heaved. “I’m still the same! I’m still, I’m still-!”
“Coco!” She had her eyes closed, but they suddenly widened when she felt two callused hands cupping her face. She saw that Agott had sat down in front of her, tears beginning to well up. “It’s alright. Everything is alright, Coco.” Coco hadn’t even realized she melted into her touch.
Agott leaned in and closed her eyes, foreheads touching. “You’re safe with me. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll always be here.” Coco finally felt the lump in her throat leave.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up and making you sad.” Agott proceeded. “Tetia and Richeh don’t think that; they just miss you, everyone does.” Coco sniffled.
“Even if anyone’s said you’ve changed, you’re still my Coco.” Her breath hitched.
She moved her hands away from Coco’s face, which she desperately wanted back, when, abruptly, she felt a hand wrap around her neck and pull her in close for a hug. “As long as you’re with me, nothing will happen. I promise.”
Coco felt her body shake as she brought her own arms around Agott’s waist, head buried in the crook of her neck.
They hadn’t said anything else, and didn’t need to.
It was all Agott had ever wanted.