Work Text:
It was quiet and pleasantly warm in the graveyard. The sky was turning dark while specs of stars tried to peek through the darkening sky.
Matt and Gus were both sitting on the ground looking up at the sky, while Gus's palisman quietly nested herself into Gus's lap asleep. Both witchlings had formed a habit of staying later than planned at the graveyard. The only reason was to bask in the silent secluded area, just being comfortable with the presence they gave off to one another. An understanding and non-judgmental moment to complete their long week and just unwind, talking about anything that came to mind.
"What do you think the human world is like?" Gus hummed as his eyes caught onto a star who was trying to twinkle its way into view.
Matt's face compressed a bit confused at the question, "You're the one with the human friend. What's the point in asking me?"
Gus slightly smiled before looking away at the struggling star, "Yeah duh I know that." He looked at Matt, "But I don't want to hear what it really is. I want to know what you think it'll be like." The sincerity dripped from his voice as his smile grew warmer. Before he quickly added on, in a condescending tone, "After all you're the real human expert."
Matt rolled his eyes at that, a smile replacing his once confused features before retorting, " Well- I want to hear your's, first giraffe boy." He teased as he lightly pushed Gus, careful not to disturb the sleeping palisman.
Gus's smile widened before he took an exaggerated breath, " Well I'm sure giraffes are running wild on everyone's yards grazing eating grass just being free" his voice was dripping with sarcasm as he continued on, " And people play their pay-por-clorps mimicking the sound of the ocean as they try to befriend the giraffes. "
"Psssh-" Matt teases as his nose scrunches up playfully, " always you and your 'pay-por-clorps' you know they're not pronounced that way."
Gus playfully pouts and gives Matt a side-eye, "Oh yeahhh. Well, what do you know about the human world." Gus finished as he shoved Matt a bit.
Matt then had a spark in his eyes, one that Gus was fond of. It only appeared briefly when he saw him at hexside but it always seemed present when they sat in the graveyard.
Matt's gleaming eyes were pointed up to the sky, "Well for one thing, in the human world the sky is a nice even blue throughout."
"Our sky is blue," Gus interjected his voice a bit confused. Matt raised his eyebrow and gave Gus a judging look.
Matt scoffed as he stuck his nose up, " Are you color blind?" Gus couldn't help but smile, "I'm a stickler for colors, Agustus you should know this by now. Our sky is more purple if anything. The human skies are a real blue; cerulean even." Matt peered at the chameleon curled up on Gus. "Sort of like an Emmeline blue. I've seen drawings of it in some books that washed to shore. '' Matt smiled at Gus. " Ya know working for Tibbles has some advantages."
Matt rambled on about Tibbles for a good minute before Gus let out a gasp, "I got an idea, Matty!" Gus shut his eyes as he drew his circle, Matt watched in awe as the sky around became a light blue.
”Woahhh Gustus that's so cool." Matt couldn't help but squeak out, overwhelmed by the accurate color. "I guess you aren’t color blind."
Gus opened his eyes and took in the blue, " Well I do know what color my Emmeline Bailey Marcostimo des las Flores the third is."
They both sat taking in the gorgeous blue above for a few minutes before it was Matt's turn to gasp, "Wait, I can make it better." He closed his eyes and slowly drew his casting circle. Soon after he started making it rain. Gus looked at Matt quizzically.
Matt's eyes were still closed as he spoke, "My brother told me that he can sometimes hear Belos mutter things about the human world." Matt's smile widened, "He heard that the rain doesn't boil in the human world. Instead, it's warm, inviting almost. "
Gus places his hand out as the rain droplets phase through his hand, "Too bad we can't feel it" he soon sighs.
"Well when we do- '' Gus looks at Matt, his eyebrows raised a bit, "I mean if you want to go with me. We could feel it… together." Matt managed to get out as his face warmed. Gus couldn't help but feel his heart fluff up at that. He could feel a flutter start to stir in his tummy as a warm smile grew on his face. He couldn’t help but lean towards Matt
"Yeah, I'd like that," Gus commented quietly as he looked at the blue sky with rain softly coming down.
"Aaaaah I just can't wait to go," Matt confessed as he leaned closer to Gus. The two witchlings were once more silent as they indulged in the sight.
…
But Matt was wrong. When wasn't he?
The rain hadn't felt warm to the touch, instead, it felt so cold. Gus could feel the goosebumps begin to take over his skin as he shivered. He couldn't help but shutter. Even with Hunter's protective arms around him trying to fight back the harsh wind, the cold seemed to seep through to his bones. It was so cold. He was so cold.
The human realms sky was such a mucky dark grey and was no were close to the warming blue Emmeline was. As the rain pelted down the more sunken Gus became. He felt so small, so off-put by his surroundings. He was supposed to be a human expert, yet he was so unsure of it all
Gus numbly stumbled along, leaning on Hunter, as Luz led the group to her front doorstep. Though the distance was short, through the bone-freezing weather, all he could think of was how much he wished he could just go back to the graveyard, to the human realm that was just his and Mattys.