I closed my eyes and took a slow breath as my hand tightly grasped my partner's sleeve - even this tiny touch was as if I was clenching her very heart.
"So that's why," I spoke in a reserved tone, my voice weak, yet the words that would follow carried the weight of my entire life's burden as I opened them with genuine longing in my gaze.
"Save me someday, okay?" And as my whisper faded, so did my clasp as our connection was severed before I could receive a response.
"...You're getting way too in character." Myla broke the silence, unamused by my theatrics and not hesitating to voice her displeasure through her dagger-like words.
I closed the novel with a sigh before facing her with an exasperated gaze, "Look, I'm already acting as your personal audiobook, so let me have some fun." My dear partner could only shrug her shoulders in response to our usual snafu as she continued to navigate the glinting asphalt coated in ice.
Hey, long time no see! It's been so long hell's frozen over, huh?
However, you probably wouldn't be able to tell if you were covered in four separate layers of clothes and sat inside a mobile Kotatsu heater.
I've always wanted one of those, but the fear of falling asleep and having my legs oven-baked at three hundred degrees for fifteen minutes on both sides until I reach an internal temperature of two-fifty always made me hesitate.
Indeed such commodities were required as the season of biting cold and holiday warmth began to show its frigid shadow with holly-bough-filled halls and when nights are calm, bright, and all is right.
Or at least that's what the songs constantly looping on the radio keeps telling me.
Aside from that, from the shorter daybreaks and longer eventides to the fresh coats of white that blanketed the wilting limbs of the trees under the clouded skies, the dull landscape made the world's lights seem even more brilliant.
In short, winter has come.
"Come on, it was a big scene for the two!" I protested, "I couldn't have just read it all monotone and lifeless."
"Actually, that's what you should have done." Myla shot back, an almost unnoticeable smile creeping up on her pale face, "I knew you were childish, but you never grew out of your low-budget high school play acting, huh?"
I can't tell if she's saying that out of amusement or second-hand embarrassment at my less-than-stellar acting.
With the cold season arriving, we were given an early gift in the form of a surprisingly lighter workload. Usually, it would be quite the opposite, but it seemed this year the people were making an attempt at the nice list by not giving us as many love quarrels to deal with. This did mean something had to take up the void left by the lower work, and in this case, came a bit of a new activity Myla and I partook in during our long drives around the city.
"Still, this is a pretty good book you got. The characters are well-written, the emotional scenes hit hard, and it's surprisingly funny." I commented, flipping through the pages of the novel.
"It's become a quick favorite of mine, so do try your best not to ruin it, please?" She replied in a way that sounded both insulting and beseeching.
Well, she did already complain about me trying to act like I was crying a few chapters ago, so I guess I'll give up.
"Could you continue reading through it then?" Myla asked as we turned a corner.
"Kinda getting dizzy from the tiny text, so could you give me a few minutes to recover?" She nodded, even slowing down a bit to speed up my rest - kindness in irony.
I looked out the window and saw people covered from head to toe as a chill fog enveloped the urban jungle, perhaps making the name obsolete as it felt more like a tundra now. Winter came early, perhaps as compensation for the prolonged heat of the previous seasons, but it was well appreciated nevertheless.
"Ah, the best kind of climate is the one that just makes you wanna curl up into a ball and do nothing all day," I commented as I let myself sink into the warm cushions of the car and let my eyes rest in my lids.
"Do try to act at least a little bit professional," Myla began, "Though it's definitely preferable over the summer heat," my dear partner commented, her voice sharply contrasting with the air conditioning's cozy gusts, "But I'd trade autumn's skies and scenery over winter's lifelessness." She added, surprisingly discontent with what I thought would be her season.
"Huh, considering, well, you, that's a surprise."
"And what do you mean by that?" Myla asked in a cold but genuinely curious tone - facing me with her frigid glare as her snow-like hair swayed in the icy aura she emanated.
Indeed a mystery we'll never solve.
"It's annoying having to drive in the snow, too, huh?" I changed the subject, letting my heckling go unnoticed.
"That it is," She began, sighing before continuing with a down expression in her amber-hued eyes, "Cold weather means more maintenance, after all." Myla continued, surprisingly out of her element during the season I thought best represented her.
"You still sound like a middle-aged man when you talk about cars."
"Well, excuse me for being careful." She replied, stopping the vehicle as we waited at a red light.
At that moment, it gave me time to appreciate one other change we had received during the colder season - an outfit change.
Well, more accurately, an outfit addition as I snuggled the long and heavy overcoat that sat on my shoulders. My partner noticed me and adjusted her own, flicking her long locks over it as the silver mingled with pink accents.
"These came not a moment too soon." She added, pulling down her visor and looking at her reflection.
We had just gotten them yesterday, right as the cold became unmanageable with just our usual uniforms, and damn, were they worth the half-year wait to get them. The inside was lined with insulating and incredibly supple cotton - while the outer layer was something akin to worsted wool of brilliant white lined with vibrant pinks or blues around its collar and cuffs. They were almost too good to wear.
Almost.
But decadence knows no bounds when it comes to fashion. While we were told to wear them properly, I much preferred the gallant and elegant coat cape as I allowed the chic article to drape effortlessly on my shoulders.
Impractical but stylish! The essence of true fashion.
"In the end, this is just proof that the world yearns for modern capes without their traditional notions," I spoke with genuine conviction, holding on to the velvety smooth fabric of my pseudo-cloak as I did.
"I'd call your taste in fashion bizarre, but..." Myla spoke, closing the visor and eyeing the traffic light as it changed color, "It's become quite the trend, even among surveyors," She continued, straightening her own coat, which she wore appropriately and remained open, revealing her slender frame hiding underneath.
"Seriously, how do you keep it from falling off your shoulders every time you walk?" My dear partner continued, her gloved hand moving from the gear shift to the steering wheel as we began to move.
That's the neat part, you don't! Do you wanna make use of even one-third of your arm's range of motion? Shame cause your coat doesn't!
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
But even so, it's not like the wrapped-up office lady vibe doesn't fit her to a tee, so you'll be hearing no complaints from me.
As I swallowed my admiration and the slightly warm feeling away, I returned to chatting with Myla, who, over the course of our time to winter, has continued to warm up ever so slightly in the same way the sun does every year. Which means not a whole lot. But hey, now our conversations are only like forty percent made up of jabs at each other.
"Reading this story kinda made me reminisce about my teenage years," I said with a sigh of nostalgia, making sure to look out of the window wistfully while staring at nothing in particular.
"Oh, now look who's starting to sound middle-aged." Taking the chance, she remarked smugly, though her stern voice didn't make that apparent.
"Har har, Myla, it's not my fault I enjoyed my younger years."
"And who's saying I didn't?"
"Your lack of friends and general demeanor." I joked, though even I had to admit what I said wasn't entirely true.
"With a partner like you, who needs friends or enemies?" She replied - not one to back down from our usual banter.
But for the time being, I halted our trivial conflict, "That aside, it made me wonder what kind of job were you aiming for before you became a surveyor?"
"What brought this on?" My partner answered with a question, slightly tilting her head and letting her argent locks untuck from her ears.
"Come on, no harm in answering, is there?" I persuaded, opening the book we were reading to find the page where I left off but also to guilt trip her into answering.
Myla fell into thought, and though her gaze remained focused on the winding metropolis, they belied a deep introspection as she hummed a drawn-out Hmm that mixed with the subtle rumble of the vehicle.
"I've been set on becoming a surveyor since I was young, so I can't exactly give you what you want." She finally spoke right as I stopped on the page and reminded me of one thing I still didn't know - her reason for becoming a surveyor.
And as I awaited her answer, the buildings around us passed one after another - yet it felt like we were motionless as she took a breath to speak.
"...Barista."
"Wait, seriously?"
"That or I'd love to run my own cafe." My partner continued, smiling and clearly happy with making me think she was going to give a profound and eye-opening answer.
I'll ignore the fact we passed by a coffee shop right before she answered.
"Well, fair enough, I guess." I finally coughed out, somewhat unimpressed.
"What? You don't think I can do it?"
"If the coffee doesn't wake them up, your unique brand of customer service will, so I think you'll be fine," I added, already imagining my dear partner in a green apron trying her best to serve something warm with her frigid smile.
"If you gave your compliments in any more of a roundabout way, they'd hit you on your head on the way back, seriously." My partner replied, seemingly ready to do that very thing if not for her driving.
"...And, for some odd reason, people do find baristas really attractive."
Ah, a slip of the tongue.
"What?" Myla stammered, the accidental remark surprising both of us and perhaps even the car as I felt it speed up for a split-second, "Your comments never cease to bewilder me." She mouthed, hiding the crack in her composed and unflinching armor.
"...I'll just continue reading, okay?" I said, looking at my partner with a lowered gaze before eventually receiving a wordless nod to continue.
But before I could focus on the words written on the pages, I glimpsed Myla's pale yet full skin flush with the slightest hint of red, or perhaps I needed to rest my eyes a little more.
...Maybe those people aren't wrong.
And so our drive continued, my storytelling resuming, though with a bit less flair. And while the blue skies would have you believe otherwise, it was actually around noon, meaning we weren't on the way to a client - we were headed for lunch. It seemed that even with the ever-changing seasons, one thing remained constant - food.
The drive there was practically ingrained in my mind - the roads we took, while now layered with glinting sleet, were as familiar to me as the lines on my palm. Warm food during cold weather makes for a great combination.
The car slowed as we took one last turn, the shop's large sign now in view, which, while slightly obscured by some patches of frost, still felt warm and welcoming even in the frigid mist.
The sound of closing pages followed the parting words of the book as we parked, stopping by the sidewalk as the engine went silent. I opened the door, the chilly wind immediately making contact with my exposed face causing me to let out a breath that condensed and joined the hazy air.
"Watch your step," I could hear a voice of similar temperature warn me, "The snow melted a bit on the concrete." And right as I turned to her, the winter breeze reached her - the topcoat she wore now delicately hanging from her shoulders down to her knees.
She faced me as her hair and coat rode the wintry current as silver strings and white silk danced fleetingly in the near-colorless backdrop - her amber-hued eyes flickered like shimmering ice in the sun. As her knight-like yet still feminine silhouette faced me, she raised her eyebrow at my silence, her face tinted with a hint of red in response to the cold weather.
It wasn't that I hadn't noticed until now - but Myla really does hold her own beauty different from Livia's resplendence or Amanda's familiar charms. Maybe it was because of her strangely adamant pursuit of aiAI's ideals that contrasted with her willingness to share such trivial and, at least to me, humorous banter. Or perhaps it was because we were partners, and I could know so much yet feel as though I was only glimpsing so little that made me think this way.
Snap out of it, Bridger! The cold's making you value and respect your partner!
At this point, she was starting to look at me just as intently, "Did it look better before or..?" Myla questioned, raising one of her arms to acclimate to the unergonomic vogue.
I felt myself leave my reverie, "...Well," I managed to eke out as I walked up to her, paying caution to my steps, "You definitely wear it better than I do." I said with a laugh, trying to hide my inner monologue.
"Of course I do," Myla replied, her mouth curling into a tiny smirk to match my measly compliment.
As she looked up at me and I down at her, the slight difference we had in height became apparent, or perhaps it was just an excuse for me to take another look at her.
"You don't look half-bad eith-" But before my partner could speak, another voice to contrast hers rang from the shop.
"You can admire each other in your new costumes later! For now, get something to eat, will 'ya?" And as Myla turned around, from behind her came spunk and energy incarnate - if auras were real, I wouldn't be surprised if the snow was melting just from her presence.
Only for Myla's to immediately replenish said snow, of course. I wonder what mine would be? Maybe one that makes you sleepy at eight o'clock and then back pains by 6 o'clock.
The continued mocking of my admittedly still very young body aside, it seemed we weren't the only ones to receive an update as I walked up to the two and looked at the young shopkeep's winter wares.
The young gal donned a long, ribbed turtleneck that was white as the snow and, just from a glance, of similar softness too. Covering the mellow garment was an opposingly vibrant apron dyed crimson as her mahogany-colored hair gently dangled as a ponytail - which now has grown down to her elbows.
Fable gave us a smile with closed eyes before running off to the seating, "Sit down, come 'ere!" She added while quickly pulling back two chairs for us and giving us yet another expression of joy.
"Aren't you up and at 'em today, Fable?" I commented, noticing her extra energy as if compensating for the listless wintertide.
"Oh? Can't a gal just be excited to see her friends?" She answered, a chuckle escaping her grin as she returned to us.
"You definitely seem more enthused toda-" Myla tried to add but was interrupted by the young woman giving her a deep and affectionate hug - cuddles and all.
"And don't you just look so stylish with that cape of yours?" She continued, nuzzling her nose into the said cloak, "Trying to look cute for someone, perhaps?" But all she got in response was an angered Myla doing her best to get the shopkeep off her.
Wait, she has to try?
Still, it felt...off.
"Are you sure you're alright?" My partner was first to put this doubt into words as she adjusted her overcoat, committing to the caped style, "You can tell us if there's something wrong, okay?" And befitting of that cape, she offered a gesture of concern and kindness to Fable.
She fell silent, but it was a momentary lapse as another sugarcoated reply left her sweet smile, "I'm fine! I'm fine!" But the young woman continued to ensure us - her response sounding more like an evasion than confirmation.
Something's definitely off.
Sure, she changed looks somewhat, but her physical appearance was just a different shade of herself - something about her air felt different as if something had changed in her mien with the seasons.
Or perhaps the cold really was getting to me.
The way she carried herself felt like it was masquerading as being lighter than air, even when the weight in her smiles was unignorably tangible, and with each one, a looming suspicion of something more continued to creep closer and closer.
"I'll heat up your usuals then, even throw in some hot soup on the house!" And with that, she ran off into the store, still carrying what felt like an ingenuine aura of smiles and pretty excuses with her.
Once she had left, we took our seats, and before my thoughts could even register, a voice reached my ears, "You know, she was waiting outside for us, right?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, facing my partner.
"Exactly what I meant. I glimpsed her, waiting for us before going back inside," Myla explained, tucking some hair behind her hair, "Perhaps...It couldn't be..?" My partner mulled, but whatever it was fell on only her ears as she remained silent in thought.
"Care to elaborate?" I cleared the cold and wordless air, but once again, before the opportunity for a response came, light footfalls echoed through the quaint shop as she left a tiny trail on the snow - the soft sounds masking the depth of her steps.
"Here you go." She placed our meals from the trays, this time without the joyful flourishes but with all of the enigmatic airs, as she sat down with one last thing in her arms - a folder.
"Before you guys eat, mind giving this a quick read?" Fable asked, placing down the folder that she held close to her chest - the way she laid it on the table as if struggling to part with the concealed documents.
Those can't be what I'm imagining they are...right?
I turned to my partner, who gave me a similar look of worry before I wrapped my fingers around the coarse exterior of the folder. And as I flipped it open, I was greeted by the white sheets lined with emotionless text that detailed something far from numbing. At that very moment, as my eyes scanned the details of our newest request, I could feel the once-cool winter air turn into a bitterly frigid gale.