Chapter Text
Ever since joining the Atelier, Coco had long since been suffering with nightmares. Of course, by now, she had gotten fairly used to this life— it was like a new home to her. That thought brought her enough guilt as is, but there was also the almost familial bond she felt towards her teachers— it felt as if Qifrey and Olruggio were her dads. Did that take away from her love for her mom? Oftentimes Coco felt like she had run away from her mother— fulfilling her mom’s fear that she would leave her to go learn magic. And in a way, she had. Qifrey had given her the sapling that she went and planted— he allowed her to live her dream, to grow her own magic. And, with the gentlest of words, he encouraged her and took her in as if she was his own. She began to love her little family at the Atelier. That did not mean she didn’t miss her mother dearly.
Despite the newfound comfort, she was continuously tormented by the nightmares. Every night she saw her face— heard that voice. Writhed in bed, cold sweat soaking into her nightgown.
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Standing just a few steps in front of Coco, was her mother. She stepped forward, extending her arms towards her.
Coco stumbled forward, grabbing onto her moms skirt. Her lip wobbled and she whimpered, “M…Mom..?”
With warm calloused hands, cupped Coco’s cheeks and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “Coco, my precious girl…” her voice was warm and soothing. For a moment her nerves eased, and Coco gave a teary eyed smile. She felt strangely at peace for a few moments, leaning into her moms hands.
Her mom brushed Coco’s bangs back, but her smile faded, eyebrows furrowing. Coco felt her heart leap into her throat— she couldn’t remember the last time her mother made a face like that. Reaching up, she grasped her mother’s hands on her own, holding them firmly to her face. Voice shaking, she asked, “Mom..? Mom, what’s the matter?”
“Coco,” she started, “Coco, why haven’t you come back for me yet..?” Her usually smooth, slightly deep, timbre was now cracking, each word wavering. Behind her came a terrifying crackling as icicle-like crystals surged out of the house.
Coco leaped back, started. She stumbled and fell onto her behind, scrambling through the dirt. “What— What did I do?!?”
“Coco, where are you going, my girl..?” She reached out, a hand outstretched for the green haired girl, “Co—“ her voice was cut off as shards of crystals tore out from her throat, like helictites breaking out of a cave wall.
Coco wailed, “Mom! Mom!!”
The woman was frozenmid-motion, spikes jutting out of her mouth, hand outstretched. The crystal surged forward, almost impaling itself between her ribs—
Her eyes snapped open and she jerked up in bed, gasping, “Mom—!” she screamed, voice cracking.
It took her a moment to properly come to— to realize where she was.
Heaving for air, she clawed desperately at her chest as if the thin dress was crushing her lungs, trying to pull the fabric off of her sweat soaked skin. She kicked off the sheets, grasping at her skirt, panting. Fumbling in the dark she pushed herself out of bed, almost tripping on the sheets that had been kicked to the floor. Bumping into the wooden door, she felt around in the dark and pulled it open. One hand on the wall for balance, she climbed the stairs, with the large window providing just enough moonlight to see. At the top of the stairs, she looked over at the door to Aggot’s room. For a moment she contemplated knocking on the other girl's door, but as she went down the steps and reached for the handle she paused. No, I shouldn’t bother Aggot! She already barely gets enough sleep as is… always staying up late perfecting spells.
Coco’s lip wobbled, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling a sob in advance before it could force its way out. She wanted to be held. To rest her head on her mothers chest. However, the person she yearned to be with was the same one she herself had turned into stone. Biting onto her hand to muffle herself, she pushed away from the wall and stumbled through the halls. Entering the kitchen, she wiped the snot dripping from her nose and hiccuped.
She tried not to sink to the ground— she was a witch, she was stronger than that. But… but still…
She had confided in her master, and in turn Qifrey too had confided in her. He had apprentices specifically to worry over them. He was a gentle and patient man and not once had she felt unheard. If not her mother… She needed Qifrey.
Where was he..? Was he already asleep? She wandered towards his bedroom and, with trembling hands, she wrapped weakly on the door.
There was a muffled shuffling and her master called out, voice sweet like sap, “Olly?”
She heard the soft creak of the wood under feet and the door soon creaked open, Qifrey peeking his head out. His lips parted and he oh’d. “Coco? Is everything alright?” He asked, frowning, stepping back so he could fully swing the door open. Qifrey stepped out in front of her and dropped down into a squat, tilting his head. “You’re crying, my dear. What’s wrong?” He reaches his hands out, opening his palms up to her. An invitation.
”M-Master Qifrey…” she croaked and grasped his hands. He smiled gently, and pulled her into his arms.
“Coco, tell me… Why are you awake? It’s quite late for you to still be up and about,” he said, one arm wrapped around her back, the other reaching up to thumb away the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
Roughly wiping her own eyes, she snuffled, “Nightmares…”
”Mn… I see...” he hums, eyebrows furrowed in thought as he continues to rub the delicate softness of her cheek.
Hiccuping, she pressed her face into Qifrey’s shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck. Shushing her, she felt Qifrey’s thin warm lips pressing against her temple, and a thin hand stroking her hair. One arm slid under her, hoisting her up into his arms. Coco couldn’t help it, her hands curled around into the fabric of her Master’s robe, and she pressed her face into him. She tried not to wipe her snot nor her tears on his pyjamas, but it proved quite difficult.
“Shall I take you back to your room?”
She quickly pulled back, shaking her head and grabbing at the man. “No! No…”
“Then, my dear..?”
“Master Qifrey…”
“Hmm? Out with it. Anything you need.”
“Can I… Stay with you..?”
“Ah. Of course.”
Standing up and turning around to step back into his room, the flowy light fabric of his sleep clothes billowing. He pauses and leans down, murmuring a soft question to her, “Would you like me to leave the door open?” Coco makes a small noise and shakes her head, cheek still pressed into his shoulder. Qifrey simply nods and with the heel of his foot, he lightly kicks the door shut behind them.
He walks over to his bed, shifting Coco to one arm and pulling the covers down, gently placing her down on the plush mattress. Coco snuggles under the blanket, wiping her eyes with the corner of the sheet. “Master…”
”Mn?” He asks, toeing off the slippers he was wearing and sitting on the edge of the bed, running a hand through her hair, gently pulling out the knots. Coco just quietly shook her head. He sighed, “it’s alright. I understand,” he said softly, using his sleeve that looked a bit like Olruggio’s shirt for some reason to wipe at her tear stained cheeks.
“Don’t worry yourself so much right now,” he said, scratching behind Coco’s ears as if she were a cat or something. Coco leaned into the touch anyway. “You need sleep more than anything,” he chided, piling more blankets on top of her than necessary. It was a bit too warm but Coco didn’t protest. It was nice to have someone looking after her like this.
Qifrey swung his legs up and tucked his feet under the covers, pulling the blanket over his legs, arranging his pillows so that he could comfortably lean back.
For a while the two were silent, Qifrey simply combing his nimble perfect-for-drawing fingers through her hair. That lasted for who knows how long— it felt like a while but Coco was also starting to get a little spacey. She was tired after all. But apparently Qifrey had gotten all the knots out because he stopped. This brought her out of her daze and she pouted, turning back to look up at him.
This brought a laugh out of him and he bent down to kiss the crown of her head.
“Do you mind at all if I read?”
“No…” she said, pausing for a moment. “But— Master, can you read to me..?”
Qifrey couldn’t help but smile and patted his lap. Coco scooted closer, ducking under Qifrey’s arm and laying her head on his chest, tucking her knees up. Qifrey pulled the blanket up, and lifted his arm so he could lean over to his nightstand and grab a thick book with a leather cover.
Qifrey began to read out loud. Since the beginning Coco had found that he had a nice voice that sort of tickled her ears in a nice way that made her sleepy— unfortunate when he was trying to teach. His voice was soft and gentle and his light accent was easy to drift off to. She hugged around his waist and rubbed her face into his chest. She would sniffle occasionally and wipe the crust of dried tears away from her eyes and Qifrey would pat her head.
She was half asleep, and barely recognized when Qifrey’s voice trailed off. ”You should get some sleep, hm?”
Coco nodded lazily and blinked her eyes open one last time as she felt Qifrey shift and the light flicker out. He slid down and wrapped an arm around her. Coco sighed slightly, pulling her arm out from under her master so it wouldn’t fall asleep and curled up, knees pressed against Qifrey. A comforting hand traced out patterns on her back. She vaguely recognized them as sigils. “Mmmh…” she groaned, and Qifrey huffed a quiet laugh.
”Goodnight, my dear, Coco.”