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marril96 · 3 months ago

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Casually Cruel

Chapter 2: Cruel for the Sake of Love

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x reader

Summary: set in WandaVision 1.09. After Agatha’s defeat, you beg Wanda not to brainwash her.

Previous chapter.

It was only when you could no longer see Westview in the distance that you dared lower yourself and Agatha to the ground. You'd started getting tired what felt like an eternity ago, but you kept going, kept flying; the further you were from that town, from Wanda Maximoff, the safer Agatha was.

She was powerless now. Vulnerable. It was up to you to protect her.

She'd noticed you were struggling and had asked you to get down miles ago, but you'd told her it was fine. You were fine. You could do this.

You landed amidst a thick forest you didn't recognize, in a small clearing that seemed relatively safe. There were no people around. No witches. If a wild animal were to pounce, you could take care of it with ease.

As soon as you caught your breath.

You doubled over, taking in deep gulps of breath as if you'd been held underwater. It's okay, you kept telling yourself. It's okay. It's okay. I'm okay. You were far from, but the more you repeated it, the more likely it was that it would become true.

Agatha rubbed your back, softly, gently, light as a feather. "It's okay, angel."

The familiar warmth engulfed you; her touch always did that. You used to think it was her magic bringing you comfort, but now you knew it was her. Just her.

Hearing it from her mouth was enough to believe it.

You were okay.

You could breathe now.

The danger had passed.

Straightening up, you turned to Agatha and said, "Let me look at you."

Your hands were on her cheeks, cupping them, grabbing them. Too harsh, too forceful, but you couldn't help yourself. You needed to make sure that this was real. That she was real. That this wasn't some trick Wanda had played, a spell that had trapped you in your mind, giving you false hope that everything was normal. That you and Agatha were safe.

"Are you okay?" you asked, more for your own peace of mind than hers.

"I'm fine," Agatha said, even though she was clearly not.

Your eyes burned again, welling with tears. Your grip on her tightened. "Did she hurt you?"

She pulled at your hands, trying to pry them off her face; uselessly so for the more she fought you, the stronger you held on.

The black from her fingers was fading. Dark magic abandoning her as her regular magic had.

It sent another pang of pain through you.

She'd lost everything she'd worked for for centuries. All the power she'd amassed, collected, stolen, was gone, just like that.

She'd been beaten. Defeated. Humiliated.

You'd almost lost her.

Why hadn't she listened to you? Why did she have to be so fucking stubborn?

Why did she put you in a position to beg for her life, for her mind?

Why did she break you without laying a single finger on you?

Why did she have so much power over you?

"Stop that," Agatha commanded.

She didn't get to do that. Not after what she'd put you through. "Did she hurt you?" you demanded, fingers digging into her face.

"No," she said in that no nonsense tone that always told you playtime was over. She was serious, and you were going to hear it. "You are hurting me."

The realization shattered you. You instantly released her, brimming with guilt. With pain.

You had hurt her.

It was the last thing you'd wanted to do, yet you still did it. You had caused her pain.

You were just so angry.

At Wanda, for taking her power. For wanting to take her away from you.

At Agatha, for starting this shitshow in the first place.

At yourself, for being unable to help her. For being unable to do anything but watch her get drained, and then beg for her mind.

"I almost lost you!" you snapped, no longer able to hold it in. Not wanting to hold it in anymore. She wouldn't listen to you then, but she would now. She had to. "Do you realize that? I almost fucking lost you!"

Agatha flinched. You never talked to her like that. Even when you were pissed beyond belief, you never lashed out at her. You never fired the gun with the intent to hurt her.

Tough luck. This time, she hurt you first.

Payback was a bitch, as she damn well knew.

"This isn't exactly a walk in the park for me, either," she retorted.

"And whose fault is that, huh?!"

The words stung as soon as they left your mouth. You didn't mean to be that harsh. You didn't mean to twist the knife. It hurt to be hurting her. Salt to the wound; not just hers, but yours, as well.

At the same time, there was no other way to go about this.

This was her fault. She had gone after Wanda first. She had manipulated her. Played with her. Attacked her.

You'd begged her not to, to leave it alone. Something had felt wrong from the very start.

You were overreacting, she'd told you. You should just relax and enjoy the show.

Some show it was.

It shouldn't have been a surprise, really. Since when did Agatha listen to reason?

That didn't make it — didn't make this entire fucked up situation — hurt any less.

Agatha recoiled as if slapped. "You're out of line."

"No, you are out of line!" Angry tears spilled from your eyes. Your cheeks were on fire, your heart a drum abusing your chest. "Why didn't you listen to me? I told you this was a bad idea. I fucking told you!"

She was silent for a moment, at a loss of words. She knew you were right. Knew there was no argument she could possibly provide that would beat your words. "What can I say? Listening to people isn't my strong suit."

"Clearly," you said with more venom than you'd intended.

"Newsflash, sweetheart: I came exactly as advertised. You knew what you were getting into."

That was the saddest part of it all. You knew, from day one, what she was like, and you'd still allowed yourself to fall in love with her. You'd allowed her into your life, into your heart, and now she was here to stay. And the worst of it all was that you wanted her to.

You couldn't imagine your life without her.

Agatha continued, "If I'm such a burden, you should've let Wanda have her way with my mind and been done with it."

It was your turn to flinch. Shots fired right back. She knew exactly which buttons to push, which bleeding wound to poke. "You're not a burden." She could never be.

"Aren't I?" Her eyes lowered to her dress, the last keepsake of her once great power. To her nails, iridescent purplish-blue, attached to fingers that used to be black.

"Never." You grabbed her hands, gently this time. Entwined your fingers with hers. "I don't care how much power you have. I never did. You are all that matters."

You squeezed her hands like you always did when she was under the weather, letting her know that you were here. That you weren't going anywhere. Not ever. No matter what.

"You're the most important thing in my life. That's why I'm so fucking pissed at you. You do things like this, and you don't care that you could get hurt. And I can't protect you if you do. I don't have that kind of power."

Agatha finally looked at you, surprise etched over her face. Still, all these years — decades, centuries — later, she couldn't believe you had her back. No matter how many promises you made, how many risks you took, she could never get it through her head that someone could love her. That someone could put her first.

That she deserved that kind of devotion.

If only she knew how much she meant to you. Mere words and actions couldn't express it.

It needed to be felt.

"I don't know what I would've done if she didn't let you go." You were bawling now, the mere thought of what could have been enough to send you over the edge. "She-she would've had to kill me. I wouldn't be able to let her do that to you. So don't you dare say I should've let her have you. I would never."

You expected Agatha to put on one of her nonchalant masks and act like your words didn't matter. You expected her to call you an idiot. You expected her to sigh and roll her eyes and tell you not to be so dramatic.

Instead, she pulled you to her and enveloped you in a hug. She was warm and tender. Safe. Loving. You melted into her embrace, sobbing into her chest as if your life depended on it. As if this was a farewell instead of the middle of your journey.

"I never think before I talk, do I?" she said, more to herself than to you. "I don't know how you put up with me."

You resisted an urge to chuckle and utter a snarky retort. "You're not that bad."

"Mmm. So you say." She sighed. "I'm… sorry. For putting you in that position. It wasn't fair to you."

You would sooner get blood from a stone than an apology out of her. Agatha Harkness didn't apologize. She usually just kissed you or offered sex as a way of making up.

Wasn't this a unicorn?

"Please, don't do it again," you said softly. "I don't mind going on these… escapades with you. I just don't want you to go against dangerous witches."

Silence befell you for a moment or two. Then, "Okay. Done."

You didn't buy it. "Just like that?"

"Let's say I've learned my lesson."

What a lesson that was.

"And stay away from Wanda Maximoff. I don't want you anywhere near that woman," you told her.

An even longer pause. "Done."

"I'm serious." You pulled away and looked her in the eyes. Made it loud and clear that you meant every word. "I'm as pissed at her as you are, but this is not a battle you can win. There are other witches. You don't need her power."

"Like I said: done."

"Promise me."

Because she never broke a promise to you. Not a single one.

Agatha gave a small nod. "I promise."

And, finally, you believed her.

You let out a sigh of relief. Another concern lifted.

"You're sure you're okay?" you asked, wiping your eyes with the sleeve of your shirt. Why did the tears keep coming? What was wrong with you?

"I'm peachy. All things considered."

"You're here. You're alive. You're safe. That's all that matters, " you said. "You can replenish your power."

"And how long's that gonna take?" she retorted, frustrated at the situation she'd found herself in. Frustrated af you for making sense when all she wanted to do was rant and whine.

"However long it does, you'll get it back."

"And until then, what? I'm supposed to frolic around, cosplaying as a human?"

"It's not like you'll be alone." If she thought you were going anywhere, she was gravely mistaken.

"Without my power, I'm a target."

God knew she had plenty of enemies — as well as a toxic ex — to hide from.

You raised a hand, fingers wiggling as magic crackled between them. "Like I said, you're not alone."

Agatha allowed a small smile to creep onto her mouth.

You returned it. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

That was your promise to her.

You had every intention of keeping it.

"I know you won't." She hated saying it, hated being the one being protected instead of the protector, but she knew she could count on you. She knew you would do anything for her.

You'd shielded her from the Scarlet Witch. You were terrified, scared to the bone, but you did it because you loved her. Because you wanted to keep her safe.

You were ready to die for her.

She couldn't have been in better hands.

"If you want, I can give you some of my power," you offered.

It was a risk; Agatha couldn't control herself when she siphoned, couldn't stop until she drained her target dry.

Maybe she could learn. Maybe you could stop her.

You were willing to take that chance.

Apparently, she was not. "Absolutely not!" She said, appalled, mortified at the mere suggestion. Her face contorted into what looked like pure, unadulterated distaste. "Are you out of your mind? I would kill you!"

"Maybe I can stop you."

"How? With the power of love? Will there be rainbows and unicorns and sprinkles of fairy dust? Will we hold hands and sing Kumbaya while I'm sucking the life out of you?"

Maybe.

Who was to say that wouldn't work?

"We'll figure something out," you said, shrugging as if this didn't bother you a single bit. As if it would be easy to change part of Agatha's nature that she'd never gotten under control in all her centuries on this earth in a few short days.

"Yeah. I'll find witches to drain. There, I figured it out," she said sternly.

"I don't like the idea of you being powerless." Even if it was her fault. Getting her ass kicked for it, for involving you in the shenanigans against your will, you could deal with. But this was too much.

It hurt to see her like this.

"I'm not awfully partial to that idea, either, but the prospect of killing you doesn't lift my spirits as much as you might think."

"Fine," you relented, defeated. Agatha may not have her power anymore, but her tongue remained as sharp as ever. You doubted even the Scarlet Witch's brainwashing would have dulled it. "When you say it like that."

"Y/N, I mean it. Do not blast me."

"I won't."

"If you do, I won't be able to stop, and I will kill you."

"I know, Agatha. I've seen you do it. I know what happens."

"I would hope you would after two centuries, but obviously I need to paint a clearer picture."

"You don't get to be mad at me," you said petulantly. You were one step away from stomping your foot. "I'm still mad at you. And I want another hug, but I'm not gonna ask for it because you're being a bitch."

She gasped dramatically. "Oh, no. Whatever will I do now?"

You rolled your eyes. Then, with a thought of, Fuck it, you threw your arms around her and held on for dear life. Life was too short to stay angry for long. Especially when you were with Agatha. No time in the world would ever be enough to have her in your life. Why waste it on petty arguments?

Her hands were on your back instantly, an instinct she'd grown into over the centuries of your relationship. When you held her, she leaned in. When you needed her, she reached for you. When you hugged her, she hugged back.

"I love you, you silly girl," you said softly, each word straight from the heart.

"Right back at you, angel," she said. Equally earnest. Equally honest. "So stop this talk of giving me your power."

"I just wanna take care of you." That was all you ever wanted.

Having her be so vulnerable, so exposed was killing you. What if something happened when you were away? What if someone hurt her and you weren't there to protect her?

"You already have," Agatha told you. "I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for you. That's more than I could have ever asked for."

"I couldn't let her have you."

The mere thought of the Scarlet Witch was enough for your fingers to crackle with magic. You willed it back, shoved the anger down. There would be time for a tantrum later. Preferably when you didn't have your arms around a magic siphoner who couldn't control herself.

Offering her your power — your life — was a terrible idea. You didn't want to risk your life. You didn't want to die.

All you wanted was for Agatha to be okay. You wanted her to be that powerful witch whom everyone feared again. She'd worked too hard to earn that reputation for it to go to waste.

What could you possibly do for her? You were an average witch, at best. Nobody feared you. Few people even respected you.

How could you look after Agatha like that?

"I know, sugar." She pulled back from the hug, then pressed her forehead to yours. Her lips curled in a smile you knew all too well, the kind she always flashed when the mood was low and she wanted to bring it up for there was no use dwelling on the bad when there was so much more good ahead — figuratively speaking, of course. "That was you taking care of me. Now, leave the rest to me."

"Okay." You still weren't a hundred percent on board with this plan, but you trusted her. Agatha had never let you down before. If she wanted to take charge, so be it. Within reason. "But I still volunteer as your bodyguard. Until you power up again."

"I was thinking more in terms of you being my pet," she teased.

Two could play this game. "Considering the roles you choose in the bedroom, I'd say you're more my pet than I've ever been yours."

"Keyword being choose, honey. I can just as easily make different choices."

Color you intrigued. "Is that a promise?"

She smirked wickedly, like she knew you liked. "It's a threat."

"Consider me properly terrified," you played along.

She lifted your chin up with a finger, her nail grazing your skin. Gentle, yet firm. Hot and cold. "Good girl."

That alone was enough to send a shockwave through you.

God, you wanted her. Here, on this dirty ground. In muddy puddles and piles of leaves and branches. Just like back in the day, when you'd first gotten together.

Back then, the location didn't matter; what mattered was the moment, and that you'd used it to the fullest. Dirt, filth, taint, all irrelevant, ignored.

What a honeymoon phase that was.

Fuck!

Agatha may have been powerless, but she still had you under her control. She always did, and always would.

And, to be honest, you didn't want for that to change.

That power was what attracted you to her in the first place.

It wasn't her magic that made you want her, desire her, crave her like an addict chasing their high.

It was her.

Just her.

"I suppose being your pet isn't that bad," you conceded. Understatement of the century. "Honestly, anything is better than being your daughter."

Agatha shrugged. "Our options were limited."

"I'll never let you forget you made me do that."

"Made you? I made it perfectly clear that you could stay inside."

"And do what? Play hide and seek with that weirdo you cast as your husband?"

The truth was, you wanted to stay by her side to make sure she was okay at all times. You didn't yet know what Wanda was, but you could tell she was bad news. Her magic just smelled like trouble.

So you kept Agatha safe, more for your piece of mind than hers.

Until she'd told you to stay back and had ended up humiliated and defeated.

Agatha raised an eyebrow. "Is that jealousy I'm hearing?"

What was there to be jealous of? The guy was hot, you had to give him that, but he was nothing to her. It was strictly business. No pleasure for anyone involved. "Annoyance, actually. I couldn't stand that guy."

This prompted her to laugh, heartily. A stereotypical witch cackle you always teased her about, that she loved bringing out for the sheer drama of it.

"Speaking of," she said, cutting the laughter short, "someone needs to go get Señor Scratchy."

Right.

Her rabbit.

You knew you'd forgotten something.

"I'll go get him tomorrow," you said. You held up a finger in warning. "By myself."

Agatha raised her hands defensively. "I promised I'm not going back there. I'm a woman of my word."

You raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

She pouted. "I resent that implication."

You pecked her on the lips, which prompted her to curl them into a smile. One of those cute ones you could never get enough of.

"Come on," you said. "Let's go rent a room."

There was bound to be a hotel nearby. It didn't have to be rated highly, or be in the best neighborhood. All the two of you needed was a safe place to sleep for a few days, until you figured out what to do next.

Until Agatha felt comfortable in her skin again.

She could play nonchalant all she wanted; you knew it was killing her that she didn't have her power anymore. That she was this close to losing her mind along with it. She was one wrong step, one wrong word away from a full-on breakdown, and you needed for that to happen somewhere warm and safe. You needed for there to be a bath you could run for her, and a bed you could hold her in.

You needed for there to be a soft place for her to land on.

"Slight problem: you suck at mind control," Agatha said.

You gave her a look that threatened murder.

"No offense."

All possible offense.

She wasn't wrong, though. You'd ever quite gotten the grasp on it, no matter how many times she'd showed you how to do it. The few times you'd managed to get it working, it hadn't held for longer than mere hours.

It was easier for everyone involved for Agatha to do it.

And now she couldn't.

"I have a credit card, remember?" you said.

"It will eventually run out," she pointed out.

"I just need it for a few days. Until you teach me how to do proper mind control."

"Those lessons never stuck."

"Well, now they'll have to, won't they?" There was no better time to learn a new skill than when you had no other options. Desperate times called for desperate measures. "Until we find you some witches to drain."

Agatha sighed dramatically. "Honey, what would you do without me?"

You would probably be under much less stress.

But you didn't mind it. You loved your life with her in it. Even when she got herself into life or death situations, and put you in positions you never wanted to be in.

You loved her, through thick and thin, and good and bad.

You loved what the two of you had.

You wouldn't trade it for the world.

*****

Tags: @werewolfbarbie @miss-moon-guardian @hermslore @uniquelesbianidiot @natashamaximoff1 @alsoknownasmel @swan-queen-is-magic @tardisesandtitans @ahintofchaos @fruityhahn

#agatha harkness #agatha x reader #agatha harkness x reader #wandavision #marvel #mcu #fanfic #fanfiction #my gifs #edit

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