#Rio Vidal x you

[gay-dorito-dust]

Hi 🙂 could you write a fic about Agatha and Rio both taking an interest in reader and competing for their attention. Who they end up with up to you. Xxx

I got issues w/ wanda stans which ultimately make me hate the character (I don’t want to but you freaks force my hand) by osmosis and I’ll just block you out cuz it’s honestly pathetic to listen to you speak.

You were cute, they both had to admit it, adorable even if they were kind enough to admit aloud. So congrats on being the object of desire of two very powerful and beautiful women. I’m jealous.

Neither Rio nor Agatha were exactly delighted to know that the other was also thriving for your affection and attention. Not. One.bit. They didn’t want to take civil either when it came to you and would boast rather loudly and confidently about how your heart was already taken as their possession.

‘You don’t have a heart to give, so why would you ever delude yourself to the idea that y/n would ever give you theirs on their own terms?’ Agatha said as Rio smirked and shrugged.

‘I do have a heart, it’s black and it beats for them as theirs does for mine, I just have to make them see that even if it means removing you from the picture.’ Rio replied but it only proved to make Agatha cackle as though she was told something funny rather than threatened. She’s had that be the case for a long, long time on multiple different accounts.

‘That’s cute but they were mine from the moment I stepped into Westview during Wanda’s…attempt to play house and acting as their wife,’ Agatha sighs. ‘Let’s just say I was given tastes of them which were sweeter than nectar.’ She smirks when she seeks the smirk on Rio’s lip was wiped off, replaced by a scowl as a perfect visual of jealously and anger overcame the face green witch.

‘Well we’re not in THAT Westview anymore my dearest Agatha,’ Rio began, ‘those memories you may try to hold over my head are long forgotten by them, besides it’s time they moved on with someone with more…potential.’ It was Agatha’s time to look annoyed and angry at Rio as she waves her hand. ‘Bye bye Aggie, we’ll be sure to send the marriage invite.’ She adds sarcastically before leaving.

Agatha, alone in the house she was trapped in for the past three or more years, took a deep breath to compose herself. If Rio wanted you, she’s going have to go through her first, after all you were hers first even if it was under the hex. You were always going to be hers before you were anyone else’s.

Agatha would try to woo you by doing things you supposedly liked during the hex, but once she realises that wasn’t the case anymore and the you in the hex was a charachuer of who you were. She knew that she had some actual work to do in order to win your heart before the black hearted Rio did.

She’d even console in Senior Scratch from time to time, tucking the rabbit in her arms and under her chin as she schemes about how she’s going to swoon you over to her.

‘Flowers did the charm once but it doesn’t exactly scream ‘ don’t make me the other woman in this relationship’ or ‘you chose me once, do that again because it’s the only correct answer.’ Agatha raised the rabbit to her eyes. ‘what do you think? Yay or nah.’

Senior scratch twitched his nose and flicked his ear.

‘You’re right, after Wanda traumatised this town, I doubt it’ll be easy getting to y/n anymore as it is getting a needle out of a haystack, but I’m not going to give them over to her.’ Agatha spat as he mind went to Rio earlier this morning, whispering rather flirty and somewhat vulgar things when told to someone with a particularly filthy mind, into your ear and smiling when you looked at her with wide eyes and a flustered face.

‘You know where to find me sweetheart, so don’t be shy.’ Rio then said as she locked eyes with Agatha as she kissed your cheek, leaving a perfect dark imprint of her lips there for anyone to see.

Rio on the other hand wasn’t afraid to saunter up to you and openly flirt with you while keeping her composure. It came to her as easily as breathing, and besides your reactions always made her smile in accomplishment, so she keeps doing it while handing you a special black rose that she conjured up just for you.

‘What’s this?’you asked.

‘A rose of course.’ Rio replied.

‘I know that but,’ you look from the flower to Rio, ‘what’s the occasion?’

Rio smiled as she walked up close to you, placing her hand over your own as she made you both squeeze the stem of the thornless rose. ‘No occasion, can I not be allowed to gift you something that will never wilt, never die, never look less perfect than the day I plucked it for you.’ Rio answered as she looked deeply into your eyes.

You smiled. ‘Thanks Rio, I promise to treasure it along with the lavenders that Agatha got me.’

Rio’s jaw twitched at the mention of the other witches name but didn’t let her annoyance be shown to you as she smiled tightly. ‘You take gifts from other women now? I’m hurt.’ You chuckled as you rested your hand on her shoulder, cussing a flicker of warmth to flow through her briefly.

‘I didn’t take Rio Vidal to be the jealous type.’ You joked, ‘besides it’s not like I can reject Agatha’s gifts, she can be very convincing.’ You add as Rio internally seethed.

‘Yes, very convincing.’ She chocked out through gritted teeth. Agatha was more of a pain in her ass than she originally thought.

‘Anyways I’ve got to go, Agatha invited me to her house for tea and snacks this afternoon but I’ll see you tomorrow for that abandoned botanical garden you told me about, see you later Rio.’ You bided the green with goodbye as you clutched the black rose to your chest as it emanated a brief green glow.

‘You think you’re winning this fight Agatha, but the wars only just begun.’ Rio spat as she watched Agatha welcome you with open arms, holding you close as she looks at Rio with a look of accomplishment.

‘Come on in dear, I have your favourites ready on the table. Senior Scratch has been missing you as of late.’ Agatha cooed as she booped you on the nose, her hand now sliding to your waist as she guides you into her home that felt familiar and smelled like lavender to ease you into a sense of comfort and warmth.

Who you end up with is up to you. (I’d want both but I’m a sucker for Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza)

[lanfear-is-my-darkmistress]

I'm gonna need Agatha to work on her recruiting skills if that's the case. Of course Wanda wasn't interested she's was being mentally tormented by Agatha 😂😂😂😂

[vintagegoddess12]

Agatha’s flirting game is so strong because what do you mean you’re hitting on the woman who imprisoned you in your mind and another woman who invaded your mind prison as you’re breaking out of the spell. We’re not even including the fact you kept flirting with wanda in her married sitcom era.

[jessicawhitlys]

the blooming, bloody spider

“That’s not why I came over.” Rio’s words sharpen in Agnes’ gut, and she looks up at the other detective, sprawled out over her straight backed chair. Her ponytail sags, loosened from its tight updo, and the sharp lines of her cheekbones shine in the low light of the living room.

a canon divergent agnes x rio drabble set within AAA episode one, in the true crime AU

[toodleoorblx]

Welcome to my page! I’m Toodles!

This is where you'll find all of my works that are cross-posted, and series. I don't normally make one-shots on my own but I'd like to take requests for them <3 Likes, Comments, Reblogs, and Requests are encouraged!

!!!! I DO NOT WRITE NSFW I WRITE ROMANCE BUT I DO HAVE MY BOUNDARIES !!!! I also don’t write pedo, racism, stepcest, and rape non-con.

Who I write for:

Agatha Harkness, Hela, Monica Rambeau, Wanda Maximoff, Rio Vidal, and xreader (only fem!reader)

Ships I write for:

Monica Rambeau x Wanda Maximoff, Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal, Agatha Harkness x Hela, Wanda Maximoff x Agatha Harkness.

Natural Order ( Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?) | Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal | Cross-posted on Ao3.

Fractured Persona (Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - /?) | Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal | Cross-posted on Ao3.

What's your problem? | Agatha Harkness x Fem!Reader | one-shot

Wild horses | Agatha Harkness x Fem!Reader | one shot

Light Affections | Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal | one shot

I Found You, I'm Bound to You (Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 -/?) | Agatha Harkness x Wanda Maximoff | Cross-posted on Ao3.

[lovelyhxsie]

Agatha All Along

If none of you will give me the witches fanfic I’m desperately craving, I will.

Because what do you mean there isn’t Rio Vidal x Reader, Agatha Harkness x Reader, Wanda Maximoff x Reader love square fanfic?!

Like YOU GUYS WANT INTERACTIONS?! MAKE A FANFIC AND HAVE READERS VOTE ON WHO IS ENDGAME!

[littlenahsstuff]

Requests open!

What I write:

Only x reader

No male reader but all will be gender neutral unless specified otherwise when requested

No smut for now

Fluff

Angst

Darkfics (again no smut though)

Poly

Who I wrote for: (if not on this list you can still ask me)

-Disney Descendants

Red

Chloe Charming

Bridget

Ella

Evie

Mal

-MCU

Natasha Romanov

Wanda Maximoff

Agatha Harkness

Kate Bishop

Yelena Belova

Rio Vidal

-Resident Evil: Village

Alcina Dimitrescu

Donna Beneviento

Bela Dimitrescu

Cassandra Dimitrescu

Daniela Dimitrescu

Mother Miranda

-Slashers

Tiffany Valentine

Amanda Young/The Pig

Laurie Strode(ik she ain’t but she’s in the genre)

-Abbot Elementary

Melissa Schemmenti

Janine Teagues

Ava Coleman

-Mean Girls

Regina George

Janis Caplan

Cady Heron

-Sarah Paulson

Pretty much any character besides Bette and Dot, TB Karen, and Mamie. Not exclusive to AHS

-Avatar the Last Airbender/ Legend of Korra

Azula

Katara

Kuvira

Korra

Asami

Lin Beifong

Kya

-Stardew valley

Abigail

Haley

Leah

Emily

Robin

Caroline

Sandy

-Once Upon a Time

Regina Mills

Zelena Mills

Maleficent

Emma Swan

Belle French

Anna

Elsa

Tinker bell

Ivy/Drizzela Tremaine

-MISC.

Kara Danvers (Supergirl)

Lena Luther (supergirl)

Evelyn Deavor(Incredibles 2)

Other, I might do the character you want if I’ve heard of them

[tman0478kuwar]

Gaúcho - Tabela de classificação, resultados e jogos - UOL Esporte

Resultado de caxias e internacional - Jogos Caxias ao vivo, tabela, resultados, Caxias x Rio Rio Branco-PR ao vivo

Gostaria de comparar o a jogador a melhor avaliado a em ambas as equipes?

Internacional - Caxias resultados ao vivo, transmissão de video e resultados de confronto direto

No placar ao vivo SofaScore você encontra resultado de caxias e internacional os resultados anteriores das partidas entre Internacional e Caxias ordenados por caxiass confrontos diretos. Assim, você pode:. All of these features can help you decide on Internacional vs. Caxias game prediction. Em campo, o peruano mostrou toda categoria que tem, acertou a trave em uma cobrança de falta e venceu boas disputas com a zaga rival, servindo companheiros como pivô.

Foram 55 minutos em campo, período maior do que na primeira chance de Desde o início do jogo, o Internacional dominou ações. Guerrero acertou a trave, Caio Vidal e Praxdes tiveram boas conclusões.

No segundo tempo, o domínio seguiu e o time melhorou com a entrada de resulrado titulares. Edenilson e Galhardo definiram o resultado de caxias e internacional, e Yuri ainda acertou a trave novamente. Sem espaço para atacar e acuado pela posse de bola do Inter, o Caxias tratou de defender. O Tricolor de Porto Alegre empatou com o Inter, em 1 a 1, na tarde de domingo No placar agregado, a equipe de Tiago Nunes terminou com a vantagem de 3 a 2. Tiago Nunes : 9 jogos, 8 vitórias resultado de caxias e internacional 1 empate.

Time fez 29 gols e 1 título. Na quarta-feira, o derrotado Inter volta a focar em vitória na Libertadores, pois, às 19h, pega os bolivianos do Always Ready, no Beira-Rio. Se empatar, garante a vaga para site oficial oitavas.

Apesar da necessidade da vitória, o Colorado iniciou a resulttado trocando passes defensivos para chamar o Grêmio e ganhar espaço no campo ofensivo. Matheus Henrique roubou a bola no campo defensivo e passou para Diego Souza.

[gay-dorito-dust]

Requests for Agatha all along are open! So please send in your stuff for it.

(I love my witchy wife guys, I missed her a lot since wandavison finished and now she’s back)

[lanfear-is-my-darkmistress]

Thinking about little!reader being so upset because she can't break the spell that Wanda placed on her mommy because she's not powerful enough. She likes Agnes and Agnes takes good care of her but she's not Agatha. But then reader gets a surprise visitor and it turns out to be Daddy (Rio). Daddy who she hasn't seen in a long time since her and Mommy broke up (Agatha won the custody battle). Reader ask Rio to undo the magic but first Rio wants to reconnect with her baby girl.

[toodleoorblx]

Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 1,142

۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗ ִֶָ   ִ  ⠀ ִ  ۫   ִֶָ ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗

Summary: They were doomed from the very beginning. She was a bright star, a glittering jewel, and she was the darkness that would inevitably swallow her whole. The true tragedy was that they both knew this. They knew, and allowed themselves to collide regardless.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: No warnings apply.

A/N: Hii this my first post that can be read on tumblr and I’m super excited!

Enjoy toodles!

Chapter 1

Salem, Massachusetts 1693

Agatha's adoration for nature runs deep, each caress of the elements against her skin a cherished sensation. She marvels at its gentle beauty, the seamless transition it orchestrates through the passing seasons. Yet, beneath her appreciation lies a lingering sense of unworthiness—nature's benevolence feels like a gift too precious for her to deserve.

Contrary to nature's embrace stands her mother, Evanora, a discordant force in Agatha's world. Evanora is like a bane to nature. She hates it yet she follows and upholds it. The nature of magic that is. From Agatha's earliest memories, Evanora's contempt for all manner of things—be they people, places, or even Agatha herself—has been palpable. Evanora's aversion to the forest near their manor was palpable, especially after nightfall when its dense shadows seemed to take on a sinister edge, as if harboring secrets that could consume unwary souls without remorse.

Yet, for Agatha, the forest held an irresistible allure. Its darkness enveloped her like a comforting cloak woven from the very essence of the trees and leaves. In contrast to her mother's apprehension, Agatha found solace in the embrace of the night, guided by the gentle glow of the moon. And in that darkness, nature was always there, watching.

Agatha doesn't know why her mother hates nature but she doesn't try to understand her mother anymore. She knows not to question her.

Seeking refuge from the complexities of her magical training, Agatha retreats to an open field a mile from her home. Bathed in the brilliant light of the sun, the lush green grass sways gently in the breeze, offering a serene backdrop for Agatha's thoughts. This tranquil spot has become her sanctuary, a place where she can escape the rigors of her studies and find clarity amidst the chaos.

While the challenges of mastering magic weigh heavily on her mind, it is the relentless scrutiny of her mother and aunt, Evangeline, that proves most taxing. Their strict tutelage pushes Agatha to her limits, leaving her physically and mentally drained after each grueling session. Today, however, she opts for a respite from spellcasting, choosing instead to lose herself in the pages of alchemy books gifted to her by Evanora.

As Agatha hums a melody from the day before, she peacefully flips through the pages of her book, absorbing knowledge with a voracious appetite. Suddenly, a voice, soft and angelic, interrupts her thoughts.

"Orchids will work better," the voice suggests.

Startled, Agatha flinches and hastily closes the book, her gaze shooting up to meet the source of the interruption. Standing before her is a girl, no older than 18, clad in an emerald green dress adorned with a matching pendant. The stranger's beauty is mesmerizing—her brown eyes ablaze like the midday sun, and her smile radiant as the flicker of flames. Agatha finds herself momentarily breathless, her heart racing at the unexpected encounter.

With a playful shrug, the girl continues, "Hydrangeas will of course work too, but Orchids will work wonders on health potions."

Agatha blinks several times, her mind racing to catch up with her emotions.

"I... please don't tell anyone what you saw, please?" Agatha stammers, her voice trembling as she struggles to regain her composure. With a nervous hand, she runs her fingers through her long raven hair, her heart racing in her chest.

The girl chuckles softly, a sound that sends a cascade of butterflies fluttering in Agatha's stomach. She shakes her head, her eyes twinkling with reassurance as she places a comforting hand on Agatha's shoulder. The touch sends a shiver down Agatha's spine, but it also soothes her frayed nerves.

"No need to be afraid, you can trust me," the girl reassures her, her gaze shifting to a brilliant green then back a warm brown. With a smirk, she lowers her hand and settles onto the soft grass, patting the ground invitingly. Agatha hesitates for only a moment before joining her, drawn in by the girl's magnetic presence. A grin spreads across the girl's lips, melting Agatha's heart in its warmth.

"H-how come I've never seen you before?" Agatha inquires, her curiosity piqued.

The girl gazes out across the expanse of the field before meeting Agatha's eyes once more. "I've always been around, here and there, but here I am," she replies cryptically, her head tilted inquisitively. "And who are you?"

Agatha weighs her options, torn between saying ‘everything you want me to be’ or revealing her name, but she settles. "I'm Agatha," she finally decides, a glimmer of hope in her voice. "And you are?"

The girl smirks knowingly, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Everything you want me to be," she teases, winking playfully at Agatha. A blush creeps across Agatha's cheeks, only serving to widen the girl's smirk. With a graceful movement, the beautiful stranger rises to her feet and disappears into the forest behind them, leaving Agatha with a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions swirling in her mind.

—

"So you're telling me she's also a witch?" Alice asks, her brows furrowed in confusion as she stirs the bubbling stew on the stove.

"Yes!" Agatha replies eagerly, her eyes alight with excitement. "She has to be, but I've never heard of a green witch..." Her voice trails off, a note of uncertainty creeping in.

Turning away from the stove, Alice faces Agatha, who is seated at the small dining table, surrounded by books. Despite the distance from the field to Alice's cottage, Agatha always finds time to visit her friend when she can, especially when she needs advice or perspective. "Maybe she's not from around here? I thought your coven was the only one in Salem."

Agatha nods thoughtfully, her fingers tracing absentmindedly over the pages of her books. "I thought so too," she admits, "but I won't ask Mother about it. She won't take it lightly that I got caught with my alchemy book, especially if it was by a potential witch."

"Did she say what her name is?" Alice inquires, her arms crossed protectively over her chest. Agatha can't help but smile at Alice's unwavering support. Alice has always been there for her, a pillar of strength in times of turmoil. Whenever Agatha needed refuge from her mother's wrath or simply a sympathetic ear, Alice was the one she turned to. Despite being considered a rogue witch by Evanora and the coven, Alice's rebellious spirit had always resonated with Agatha, earning her admiration and respect.

"No, sadly," Agatha confesses, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the memory of the stranger's teasing smirk. She quickly moves her hair to hide her blush from Alice's scrutinizing gaze. "She didn't mention it. She... she ran off before I could say anything."

"Well, I'm sure she'll show up eventually," Alice offers reassurance, her voice laced with optimism."I really hope so," Agatha agrees, a flicker of uncertainty clouding her features.

[toodleoorblx]

Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 3,016

۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗ ִֶָ   ִ  ⠀ ִ  ۫   ִֶָ ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗

Summary: An argument, a dance, and Evanora screwing things up.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: cursing, violence, smut, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse.

A/N: Chapter 3 for Fractured Persona is probably gonna be ready in a few days. This wasn't supposed to be this long of a chapter but oh well.

Enjoy toodles <3

Chapter 5

Salem, Massachusetts 1693

Agatha spent hours with Rio, just talking about everything and anything. She feels like she can't talk to Rio about anything and she’ll listen. Even if she doesn’t understand, she will listen anyway. That means a lot to Agatha. She went home happily that night, practically glowing and vibrating with contentment and happiness. The last thing Agatha did before she left was invite Rio to her mother’s council event.

—

“Rio… can I ask you something?” Agatha's voice wavers with nervousness. They sit together in front of a towering tree, Rio leaning against its trunk while Agatha sits, her back facing Rio. Absentmindedly, Agatha pets the small rabbit nestled in her lap.

Rio gently braids Agatha's hair, weaving flora and fern into each plait with skillful fingers. Agatha keeps her eyes closed, relishing the sensation of her hair being tended to. It's a comforting moment, one she hasn't experienced in a long time. Alice doesn’t know how to braid, and Margaret's attempts always end in knots. Her thoughts drift to her mother, and she swallows the pang of longing in her chest.

“You can ask me anything, little Iris,” Rio says softly, her voice carrying a warmth that soothes Agatha's nerves.

Agatha fidgets with the hem of her dress, her nerves palpable in the air. She takes a deep breath before continuing. “My coven is hosting this year's Witch’s Council ball, and its theme is masquerade. I was just wondering…” Her voice trails off into a hesitant whisper.

Rio's fingers pause in their task of adorning Agatha's hair with flowers. She tilts her head, a smile playing on her lips. “Are you asking me to accompany you to the ball?”

Agatha nods, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Rio's smile widens, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I’d love to, Agatha.” Relief floods through Agatha, and she can't help but grin in return, her heart fluttering.

—

She was at peace at that moment. She loved it. She craves for more moments like that. In that moment there was no Darkhold, no drama with her friends, her mother wasn't there, it was perfect. 

Rio is perfect.

But like everything else, the moment came to an end. But she's ecstatic to see Rio again. She's tired of constantly being separated from her. She sees her in 2 days time. She chickened out of giving Rio her gift but she wants to give it to her the night of the ball.

The ballroom exudes an air of enchantment, with its shimmering chandeliers casting a warm glow over the polished oak floors. Elegant tapestries line the walls, while towering pillars adorned with ivy and flowers frame the space.

But of course, that peace didn’t last very long. Agatha finds herself in the ballroom, hanging up the last few decorations for the upcoming event, when Margaret enters carrying a few lanterns. She’s dressed in a dark red gown, her red ribbon.

Agatha grimaces, the memories from 3 days ago still fresh in her mind. Margaret has been avoiding her, and Agatha can’t help but feel hurt by it. She needed someone, and Margaret seemed to have abandoned her. She still needs someone now.

The darkhold's silence is a welcome respite, but Agatha can still feel its lurking presence, especially when her emotions run high.

She finds herself excusing herself from public spaces more frequently, seeking solace in solitude when the urge becomes overwhelming. Every bone in her body seems to ache with the need to absorb the magic of those around her, a sensation that gnaws at her from within.

Under the guise of feeling unwell, Agatha retreats from the scrutiny of others, but she knows that Evanora is suspicious of her behavior. The thought of what might happen if she were to accidentally unleash her magic fills her with dread, driving her further into isolation. She wants to talk to Margaret but she honestly doesn’t know how.

Margaret stands beside the latter and makes eye contact with Agatha for about 2 seconds before looking off and raising a lantern up for Agatha to take.

Agatha feels a pang in her chest, but she forces a weak smile as she takes the lantern and hangs it up on a nail. The only noise in the hall is the occasional footsteps and quiet chatter. The ballroom is a marvel of grandeur, filled with intricate stained glass patterns and standing candelabras. Agatha is filled with awe, her excitement tempered only by the tension between her and Margaret.

“Agatha… how- how have you been feeling?” Margaret's voice carries a hesitant note, tinged with worry. Agatha doesn't meet her gaze immediately, but she can sense the genuine concern behind Margaret's words. Agatha sighs softly before finally glancing down at her. Margaret looks tired, her features etched with lines of concern and agitation.

Agatha feels a surge of anger bubbling up within her, fueled by the memories of Margaret's absence during her darkest moments. The darkness in her gut threatens to consume her, but she fights to suppress it, unwilling to succumb to its temptation. For a moment, she remains silent, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling inside her. Why would Margaret suddenly care about her well-being now, after all this time? The bitterness in Agatha's heart threatens to spill over as she scoffs and shakes her head in disbelief. Margaret's frown deepens at the reaction.

“Better question is why do you care so suddenly?” Agatha says with an edge to her tone, glaring down at Margaret with a mixture of anger and hurt.

Margaret takes a deep breath and rubs her forehead, her expression pained. “I um, had time to think it over. I’m not… mad at you, just disappointed.”

“Well, I don't think you really get to be ‘disappointed’ now do you? I should be the one disappointed. You left me in that alleyway alone and covered in blood! The blood I spilled to keep you and Alice safe. Don't tell me you're disappointed.” Agatha's voice trembles with suppressed emotion, her eyes flashing with frustration.

Margaret swallows, her gaze shifting away momentarily before meeting Agatha's again. “I know, I know. And I’m grateful that you saved us, but it's all that happens after that, Agatha. You're…”

“What?” Agatha's tone is sharp, her patience wearing thin.

“…Dangerous. You're dangerous,” Margaret admits, her voice barely above a whisper. “That magic that saved us so easily can also very easily kill an innocent, or worse, one of us or you. It lashed out on its own, what else will it do on its own?”

Agatha feels her throat tighten, a cold shiver running down her spine. She looks away from Margaret, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. “I can control it,” she insists, though her voice lacks conviction.

“No. No you can't,” Margaret counters firmly, her own fear evident in her trembling voice.

Agatha sneers, her frustration boiling over. “I can. And I will. What do you know? Whatever Evanora tells you?” Her words are laced with bitterness and accusation, but she watches as Margaret takes slow steps back, dropping the lantern in her nervousness.

“What?” Agatha demands, her heart pounding in her chest as she waits for Margaret's response.

“Y-your… hands,” Margaret stammers, her eyes wide with fear, almost tripping over her dress in her haste to distance herself from Agatha.

Agatha’s heart freezes. She glances down at her arms and there's pure dark magic flowing out her veins, illuminating her palms purple. Her blackened fingertips and claws are out on display, Agatha runs her tongue over her teeth only to feel sharp fangs.

Agatha clenches her jaw, her nails digging into her palms as she fights back the tears threatening to overwhelm her. She whispers the glamor spell, masking her true appearance once more, and teleports down to where Margaret stands frozen in fear. With a swift movement, she covers Margaret's mouth before she can utter a sound.

“Shut up. Don't say a word,” Agatha commands, her voice strained with a mixture of desperation and anger.

Margaret wrestles Agatha's hands away from her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief and horror. “You’re really ok with what that thing did to you…?” Margaret's voice trembles with fear and concern.

Agatha's jaw tightens, her heart heavy with the weight of Margaret's words. She feels the sting of judgment and condemnation piercing through her, tearing at the fragile facade she's been trying to maintain. Without a word, she teleports back to her chambers, seeking solace in the confines of her room.

__

As Agatha materializes on her bed, the floodgates of emotion burst open, and she collapses onto the soft mattress, her body wracked with sobs. Tears stream down her face, leaving salty trails in their wake as she releases all the pent-up anguish and despair.

With each punch into the pillow, a wave of frustration washes over her, the physical pain a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within. But just as she's about to strike the pillow once more, a voice interrupts her thoughts.

Why is it you feel so down, little siphon?

The sound of the Darkhold's voice sends a shiver down Agatha's spine, her heart racing with apprehension. It's both unsettling and strangely comforting, like the embrace of a familiar darkness.

Agatha sniffles, wiping away her tears as she listens to the voice echoing in her mind. “She’s afraid of me,” she confesses, her voice barely above a whisper.

Oh sweet girl, there's nothing to be afraid of, it's just you, who you were always destined to be.

“I don't want this life, I just want to be with Rio,” Agatha admits, her voice filled with longing and desperation.

And that dream will become a reality… but things must happen before that. You must survive a nightmare to live a dream.

Agatha falls silent, her mind swirling with a tumult of emotions and uncertainties. She curls up on her bed and falls asleep.

__

The day of the ball is a whirlwind of activity and tension. Agatha finds herself swept up in a sea of guests, each one vying for her attention and eager to engage in small talk. She forces a polite smile onto her lips, nodding along to conversations she has no interest in. Everyone is wearing their masquerade masks, all sorts of beautiful colors and designs on them. Agatha’s is back with intricate patterns and ties with black lace. The magic swirling around her sets her nerves on edge, and she has to excuse herself multiple times to collect her thoughts.

In her purple ball gown, it's off the shoulder with a gray-ish blue fringe. Agatha moves through the crowd with practiced grace. Her hair is styled in an elegant half-up, half-down do, with the iris flower Rio gave her tucked behind her ear, preserved with a spell. A touch of pink tint on her lips completes her ensemble.

As she navigates the throng of guests, Agatha can feel the weight of her mother's expectations pressing down on her. Covens of importance are in attendance, and her mother's warning to behave or face consequences hangs heavy in the air. Despite her fear, Agatha finds herself strangely numb to the threat, she assumes it's the effects of the Dakhold.

Agatha is gripping Rio’s necklace like her life depends on it, so then she doesn't do it. Agatha plans on giving it to her tonight.

It's been a day since her fight with Margaret, she hasn't even seen her since. Not that she wants to. If all was well with their friendship, Agatha would be ranting to Margaret about how anxious she is to see Rio. But right now, she's on her own.

She sees her mother pacing up to her from the corner of her eye, Agatha sighs as she turns to face her.

“Yes mother?”

Evanora slaps Agatha’s wrist hard. “Do not call me ‘mother’ while we’re in the presence of such people, I’m known as Evanora, you foolish girl.”

Agatha fights the urge to roll her eyes but she obeys. The dark witch clears her throat and stands tall. “Yes Evanora?” she asks.

“Try not to speak unless you're spoken to, I don't want you accidentally telling our business with that mouth of yours.” And with that, Evanora glares at Agatha like she's a stain then retreats back to the group of coven leaders.

Agatha's heart clenches with resentment as she fights back tears, desperate to escape her mother's suffocating presence. But as she turns to retreat to a quiet corner, she's met with a vision of beauty that steals her breath away.

Rio.

In a dark green gown that hugs her curves in all the right places, adorned with elegant black fringe, Rio exudes an effortless allure. Her hair cascades down in loose waves, with a playful swoop of bangs framing her captivating brown eyes. Agatha can't help but blush at the sight of her.

"Hi," Agatha manages to stammer out, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hi, my love," Rio replies with a dazzling smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth and affection.

Agatha’s heart flutters at the word 'love', a feeling she's never quite experienced in a romantic sense, but if she had to define it, it would utterly, undoubtedly be Rio.

"I, uh, got something for you," Agatha stammers, her cheeks flushed with nervousness.

Rio tilts her head curiously, her expression softening with intrigue. "What is it?"

With a shaky hand, Agatha opens her palm to reveal the necklace she purchased for Rio. A smile spreads across Rio's face, her eyes twinkling with deep affection. She whispers a heartfelt thank you as Agatha motions for her to turn around so she can fasten it.

As Rio lifts her hair, Agatha carefully secures the necklace, feeling a rush of warmth at the intimate gesture. When Rio turns to face her again, her grin is infectious.

"You are perfect, Rio," Agatha says, her voice filled with sincerity.

Rio blushes, her cheeks tinted with a rosy hue. "Not nearly as perfect as you, little Iris."

Now it’s Agatha's turn to blush a deep shade of crimson.

Regaining her composure, Agatha takes a deep breath as the music begins to play. Despite the lump in her throat, she summons her courage.

With a confident smirk, Agatha extends her left hand to Rio. Her heart pounding in her chest.

“Would you like to dance, Rio?” Agatha asks, her voice steady despite her nerves.

Rio's face lights up with a radiant grin as she eagerly accepts Agatha’s hand. They begin to sway to the music, their movements graceful and fluid. Agatha places her hands delicately on Rio's waist, feeling the warmth of her touch seep through her fingers. In response, Rio's arms encircle Agatha's neck, drawing her closer.

As they dance, Agatha feels a sense of unity and connection that she's never experienced before. Their bodies move together in perfect harmony, each step bringing them closer. In that moment, it's as though she's found her place in the world. With Rio by her side, Agatha feels whole.

Agatha feels as though she belongs, 

Like she belongs to Rio.

Rio gently lifts Agatha's mask up to her forehead, and Agatha reciprocates the gesture. As their faces draw closer, the room seems to hold its breath in anticipation.

Their lips barely brush against each other, sending a shiver down Agatha's spine. Then, with a surge of courage, Rio presses her lips fully against Agatha's, sending a wave of electric sensation through both of them. Agatha's heart races as she reciprocates the kiss with equal fervor, their mouths moving in sync.

As the kiss deepens, Agatha feels Rio's tongue gently probing against her lips, seeking entrance. With a soft moan, Agatha grants permission, allowing Rio's tongue to explore the depths of her mouth. Their tongues dance together in a passionate embrace, igniting a fire within Agatha that she never knew existed.

Suddenly, Agatha breaks the kiss, gasping for air. Agatha didn't even know she was so distracted that some of her glamor spell wore off. She looks into Rio's eyes, expecting to see fear or hesitation, but instead finds only desire and longing. Without hesitation, Rio pulls Agatha back in, their lips crashing together once more in a fervent display of passion. Agatha surrenders herself to the kiss, losing herself in the intoxicating embrace of the woman she loves.

Rio leans in close, her breath warm against Agatha's lips as she whispers with intensity, "All the things you can think of… everything you want, Agatha Harkness. I want to do everything to you. I wanna make you mine."

Agatha's heart races at Rio's words, her mind swimming with desire and longing. "I'm already yours," she manages to breathe out, her voice filled with conviction.

Rio's eyes darken with desire, a smirk playing on her lips as she leans in to kiss Agatha again. But before their lips can meet, a sudden blast of blue magic strikes Agatha's side, causing her to collapse in agony onto the cold floor.

The room erupts into chaos, with gasps, screams, and whispers filling the air as people scramble to make sense of what just happened. Amidst the confusion, Evanora stands tall, flanked by Agatha's two aunts. Her voice cuts through the chaos like a lightning bolt.

"Agatha Harkness. Who is this whore?" Evanora's voice booms with fury, her gaze locked on Rio. But Rio pays her no heed, her only concern rushing to Agatha's side, her expression filled with worry and fear.

Agatha's body is wracked with pain, each movement sending waves of agony through her. She gazes up at Rio with nothing but affection in her eyes, grateful for her presence. Rio tenderly cups Agatha’s face, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead before rising to confront Evanora. Agatha watches her go, her vision blurring with exhaustion and pain. She struggles to stay conscious, her body feeling heavy as if weighed down by an invisible force. With a final glance at Rio, Agatha's vision fades to black, succumbing to the overwhelming fatigue that overtakes her.

[toodleoorblx]

Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 2,189

۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗ ִֶָ   ִ  ⠀ ִ  ۫   ִֶָ ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗

Summary: Agatha doesn’t know how to feel about the Witch Doctor.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: cursing, needles

A/N: enjoy <3

Chapter 10

Manhattan, New York 2023

Agatha stands, completely frozen, like a deer in headlights. She notesces the necklace she'd gotten for Rio, so long ago, is nowhere to be seen.  She searches Rio's eyes for any hint of what she's thinking, but can't read her anymore. She feels hands grasp her forearm and pull her to the side. Glancing sideways, she sees Alice. Did Alice know the Witch Healer was Rio? Is that why she had warned her?

“Rio,” Alice begins, tension threading through her voice. “We need your help.”

Rio finally breaks eye contact with the sulking Agatha, she makes her vulnerabilities less noticeable by standing taller, gaining an inch or 2 above Rio and shoving her hands in her pockets. The green witch's expression is terrifyingly calm. Agatha can't bear to look at her again. She lowers her head and takes a tiny step back. Lilia places a comforting hand on her shoulder. Which Agatha shrugs off.

Jennifer steps from behind Agatha and stands beside Rio, her hand resting reassuringly on Rio's lower back.

Agatha knows she doesn't deserve to feel this way, and she also knows that Jennifer is dating Alice, but she can't help the small wave of jealousy rising from her gut. It almost burns, but it soon simmers down when Alice speaks.

“What’s she doing here?” Rio demands slowly.

“I— She… We need help—” Alice stammers, finding her footing.

Rio interrupts with a scoff and turns to walk to her living room. “Please.”

“Wait—” Rio ignores her.

“It’s about Nicholas,” Agatha adds quietly, her voice strong, steady. (despite the inner turmoil.) She knows that when it comes to Nicholas, Rio will take a minute to listen.

And sure enough, almost like clockwork, Rio halts. Her body is haughtily still. She sighs deeply, slowly turning halfway to give the other witches a sideways glance, her expression grave. Agatha feels utterly pathetic when she meets Rio's eyes—eyes once filled with childlike wonder, innocence, and contentment. Now they are filled with sorrow, pain, and a distance that feels like mountains. All masked by a calm exterior.

“What’s happened to Nicholas?” Rio asks, her voice slightly deeper than before.

“He… he’s killing witches. Hundreds of them. He’s draining them dry of their magic,” Alice announces.

Rio’s eyes briefly break from the pink witch and dart to Agatha’s before returning to Alice. Agatha feels an unfamiliar tug at her heart. It's small but painful. She doesn’t dwell on it.

After a moment, Rio rubs her eye, clearly drained from the whole ordeal. Agatha can't blame her.

“Since—since when?”

“Since late last year. He’s killing non-stop, preparing for something. We don’t know what,” Alice says, shaking her head and biting her lip.

Rio’s jaw clenches. She doesn't seem surprised. Agatha wonders what happened all those years ago, in the aftermath of her departure. What had Nicholas become?

“Why… Why are you asking me for help, though? I’m not in contact with him. I haven’t been for years.”

Agatha raises an eyebrow at that. Nicholas and Rio had always clicked more than she and Nicholas did. He gravitated to Rio in his younger years, but did he pick up where Agatha had left off? Did he replace the darkness that filled their home?

Agatha has so many unanswered questions only Rio could answer. But Alice was there. She was close with Rio when Agatha wasn’t. Maybe she has some answers. She’ll have to talk with Alice.

“I was expecting that. That’s not why I need you. We need numbers, we need power. You have unique abilities, we all do. But Agatha has been having… complications with her magic,” Alice says, glancing at Agatha. Agatha snorts at that. Alice rolls her eyes and continues, “We are the only hope we have at stopping him, Ro.”

Agatha feels that same twinge of jealousy at the nickname. She clenches her fists tight.

Rio walks up to Alice, shaking her head with a mirthless chuckle. Lilia and Jennifer exchange worried glances.

“You know, maybe in a different universe I would have agreed. But there's nothing I can do. I’m sorry, I really am. I just don't see how I could be of any help. You all are more than capable,” she says sternly, maybe even harshly. Agatha doesn't know how to feel. Rio has changed so much. She would have dropped everything to help someone, especially her child.

“Rio… you don't get it. He's… hurting innocent witches, killing them before they can even figure out who and what they are. He's even gone so far as to kill children. Fucking children. Leaving their lifeless bodies wherever they were unfortunate enough to be found,” Alice pleads, her eyes beaming with hope. “So please. Help. Us.”

Agatha watches the exchange with a calculated expression. She observes as Rio’s eyebrow twitches and her eyes dart anywhere but at Alice. She watches Rio shift from one foot to the other. And all Agatha sees is Rio.

Rio groans, her gaze hardened and heated. “Fine. I'll help. I'll help with Nicholas and… her,” she says, regarding Agatha with a look of disgust that sends Agatha's heart into a panic. She really doesn't want to be there.

“I’m not… I’m not doing this for you, Harkness. I’m doing this for innocent lives.” Rio says as she points an accusatory figure at Agatha.

Agatha doesn't trust her voice at the moment, so she settles for a curt nod.

“Thank you. Really,” Alice says.

“Yeah.“ Rio looks utterly unamused. Don't mention it. Seriously. Don’t.”

The tension in the room eases. Sort of.

“Is there anything you can do to help with Agatha’s magic?” Alice asks, her voice edged with hope.

“Well…” Rio starts reluctantly, clearly conflicted. “What’s the actual issue?” Rio narrows her eyes as a green cloud of smoke envelops her clipboard, making it vanish. Agatha watches with awe, having forgotten how mesmerizing Rio’s magic was.

Agatha supposes she can speak for herself on this one. She clears her throat and steps into the space between Rio and Alice.

“It’s… it got stolen. By the Scarlet Witch.” Agatha watches Rio’s reaction. Her already large brown eyes widened in surprise. “Yeah, I know, I thought she was a myth also. She's a bitchy thing too.” Agatha doesn't miss how there's a slight tug at the corner of Rio lips. “Anyway, she took my dark magic and now all that’s left is my dormant coven magic that I haven’t used in 300 and some years.” Agatha sighs deeply.

“So… you want me to reactivate your magic?” Rio crosses her arms. Huffing a laugh filled with disbelief.

“Yes,” Agatha says bluntly. Her heart is pounding. Is that even possible? There is no spell for such a thing.

Rio takes a moment to think but in the end groans as she turns around and walks to a brown door a few feet away. She inclines her head toward it. “I don’t have all day.”

Agatha feels a glimmer of hope. She knows Rio is strong and intelligent in everything she does. Whatever happens, she believes Rio will figure it out.

Without another word, Rio leads the witches into a room that’s oddly spacious for an apartment. She explains it’s an expansion spell.

The walls are bare brick with a green accent wall. Plants adorn every nook and cranny, and warm lights beam brightly in the room. In one corner, there's a sink. A table near the door holds potions, elixirs, and medicines, along with vials and jars filled with various herbs.

A small window shows that the rain has picked up since they arrived. The muffled taps of rain on the pane add to the serene atmosphere.

A long green (surprise, surprise) couch sits in the room. A big cabinet filled with medical-grade supplies stands nearby. Agatha wonders what made Rio take this turn in her life, what she had to do to achieve it, and how she achieved it.

She wonders what she would have meant to Rio now if she hadn’t left. It's a fleeting thought, but it leaves Agatha feeling a deep turn in gut nonetheless.

Agatha clears her throat.

Rio washes her hands at the sink, dries them, and walks past Agatha to reach the medical cabinet behind her, their shoulders brushing. Agatha doubts the touch has as much of an effect on Rio as it does on her. Goosebumps rise at the sensation of Rio’s touch. She coughs, trying to shake off the feeling. Sure, she’s had many one-night stands since Rio, even some minuscule relationships (if you can even call them that). They were just flings, all of them.

Yet here is Rio, just an innocent brush of shoulders sending Agatha spiraling like an adolescent.

Fucking hell.

Agatha sighs and awkwardly sits down on Rio’s couch. Lilia is talking with Rio, and Jennifer is grabbing some alcohol wipes and gloves. Alice stands alone by the door, biting her nails and leaning against the wall.

Is Agatha being experimented on or something? Her heart drops when she sees Rio turn around holding a syringe and a vial. A small smirk plays on Rio's lips.

“Why…”

Rio’s eyes flash with amusement. She approaches Agatha and stands in front of her, eyes darker and more aged.

“It’ll tell me how much your magic has… changed.” Agatha purses her lips in distaste. “Then I can tap into your coven magic,” Rio explains as if it’s the simplest thing in the world. Her tone is calm but filled with unspoken tension.

Agatha gulps when she makes eye contact with the far-too-long needle. She’s never liked needles, and Rio knows this.

“Is this some kind of punishment, dear?” Agatha retorts.

Rio’s eyes darken, her face falling from its teasing smirk into a frown of distant tension. She asks Jennifer for the alcohol wipe and grabs Agatha's wrist, running a slow thumb over her vein. Agatha’s face warms as her breath hitches at her ex-wife’s touch.

Why does Rio still have this effect on her?

A cold wipe strokes over the vein. “Your fingers.”

Agatha is snapped out of her thoughts. “W-what?”

“Your fingers. They’re not black, and your claws are gone. Same with your fangs.” Rio shrugs nonchalantly. Agatha hadn’t realized Rio was paying such close attention to her. She doesn’t know what happened to her corrupt features but hopes they come back when her magic does. She has found peace with her unique features. Agatha hums in response. Without much warning, Rio injects the needle and takes a sample of her blood. Agatha didn't feel a thing.

Agatha furrows her brows. “Why are you taking my blood?”

Rio sighs. “Magic is biologically a part of you. It’s the reason after you drain a witch dry, their body is empty of plasma.”

And as soon as it started, it’s over. Rio puts a small bandage over the injection site and stands up.

Agatha exhales, her heart still racing. She feels the magic within her stir, almost as if it’s responding to Rio’s touch.

Rio walks up to her alchemy table and empties the vial of blood into a beaker. Agatha simply watches Rio work her magic. Rio looks in her element, completely comfortable with what she’s doing. Agatha wants to smile, but every logical bone in her body screams at her not to.

Agatha feels the couch dip beside her and turns to face Lilia, whose gray curly hair is falling out of its bun.

Lilia smiles warmly at Agatha. “Where's your familiar?”

“He’s waiting for me back at my ‘home’,” Agatha uses air quotes. “Once I figure out my magic situation he’ll be with me.”

Lilia nods slowly. After a moment of silence Lilia speaks up. “So, this is the ex-wife?” She gestures to Rio.

Agatha winces. “Yes, but… we’re technically still married.” Agatha rolls her tired eyes.

Lilia raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“When I le- after we separated,” she doesn't want anyone to know the real reason they separated. Agatha knows she's the one at fault. “I never established a divorce. At the time, I just couldn’t face her. And days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and so on.”

Lilia nods slowly. “How does it feel to see her again?” she prods.

Agatha gives Lilia a sideways glance but sighs. “It feels the same, but at the same time surreal. She hates me, obviously.” Agatha scoffs, crossing her arms.

“Hm. And what do you want to do with that information?”

Agatha narrows her eyes questioningly. “What—what do you mean by that?”

“What are you going to do with the fact that Rio hates you?”

Agatha’s mouth forms a thin line, and she feels her throat dry. She… doesn’t know. She hadn’t given much thought to the fact that she’ll have to spend however long it takes to hunt down her son with Rio. She doesn’t know what will happen. She’s afraid of what that could mean. She never wanted to face Rio. Never. Rio is, as far as Agatha knows, a wild card. She has no idea who this woman is anymore. She looks like Rio, but is she Rio?

“I don’t know.”

[toodleoorblx]

Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 2,213

۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗ ִֶָ   ִ  ⠀ ִ  ۫   ִֶָ ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗

Summary: Agatha, Lilia, and Alice meet the Witch Healer.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: cursing, angst.

A/N: So... I'm sorry this took em so long to update, I've been busy lately. But hopefully I'll be back with chpt 10 quickly.

Enjoy toodles! <3

Chapter 9

Outskirts of Pennsylvania 2023

Agatha, Alice, and Lilia sit gathered around Lilia’s fortune-telling table. The tablecloth is a deep shade of purple, and a crystal ball rests in the center, catching the dim light filtering through the curtains. Lilia fixes Alice with a curious gaze.

“And who are you supposed to be? You with the police?” Lilia asks, her tone holding genuine curiosity rather than hostility.

“Alice, Alice Gulliver, and yes I am but I’m also a witch.” Alice replies, her voice steady.

Lilia nods in acknowledgment before turning her attention back to the group. “So, ladies, what's so urgent?” Lilia's eyes narrow, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the table.

Agatha takes a deep breath, her expression agitated. “My… son…” She pauses, choosing her words carefully. “He's been on a little killing spree, targeting young witches and draining their magic.”

“Killing hundreds, might I add.” Alice gives agatha an annoyed look. In which prompts Agatha to mouth ‘fuck you.’

Lilia's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and she leans back in her chair, processing the information. “Well, I must say, that's quite unexpected,” she remarks with a heavy sigh. “I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. I mean, I knew that he has powerful parents, but damn, hundreds?”

Alice adds in, her voice tense with frustration. “I’ve been trying to track him down, but he's elusive. And he doesn't bother to hide his victims.”

Lilia nods, absorbing the information. “And have you actually seen him doing it?”

“Yes. And I gotta say…” Alice glares at Agatha and crosses her arms. “It reminded me of someone.”

Agatha scoffs and rolls her eyes. When will Alice let it go?

“Do either of you have any theories? Theories on what he could be doing?”

“Nope.”

“I… don't know,” Agatha surprises herself. It's not often she admits uncertainty. She doesn't like it.

“Well dearies, I’ll gladly help in any way I can.” Lilia smiles. “Once we catch him, what are we going to do with the stolen magic and… him?”

Agatha can sense Alice tense up. “Give the magic, restore the dead. Obviously. Right Agatha?” Alice faces Agatha and flashes a passive-aggressive smile.

Agatha presses her lips into a thin line, her gaze unwavering. She doesn't plan on taking any magic for herself. But… how deserving were they if they were weak enough to get their magic stolen?

“Fine,” she spits, though her conviction wavers.

Alice nods slowly, seemingly okay with the answer. “And about Nicholas… it's undecided.”

Lilia readjusts in her seat. “What's the plan?”

Alice perks up, turning to Lilia with a determined expression. Her body language eases a bit. “So the first thing we did was check any grimoires and texts. Check if any of them mention spells that require that much raw magic. The books I found didn't have any mention of any incantation that requires such magic. So-”

“You never had any of my books, darling,” Agatha interjects, a smirk gracing her lips as she wiggles her eyebrows. Agatha has stolen so many texts she didn't know what to do with some of them. So they just collected dust on her shelf. They were just trophies of her past victories and possessions. She read them, but after that, never used them again. Alice narrows her eyes and licks her lips, her foot tapping impatiently.

“What do your books have that mine don't?”

“Well, let's see, I am a self-sabotaging, knowledge-obsessed hag that steals knowledge and… you're not. If there's a book that mentions such a spell, I'll have it.” Agatha says confidently.

Alice takes a glance at Lilia, who shrugs.

The pink witch sighs. “Then where are your books?”

“In my basement. Back in Westview.”

“Whatever. Fine. After that, we get my partner and head to the magic healer.”

“Magic healer?” Lilia asks. “Whose magic needs healing?”

“....Mine,” Agatha says reluctantly.

Lilia cackles. “This will be fun.”

__

After retrieving some of Agatha’s books, they head to the healer, where apparently Alice's partner is waiting for them.

The drive is quiet, save for Lilia’s stories and tales that Agatha has heard many times before. Alice seems invested though, occasionally nodding and glancing back. Agatha hasn't seen Lilia in the better part of three years, but old friends can go decades without seeing each other. She met Lilia when the magicless witch was in her 20’s. Now Lilia is in her 70’s. They quickly became friends, but Agatha's call for power came and distanced them location wise. They saw each other when they could, but after decades, Agatha distanced herself emotionally.

But that was the influence of the Darkhold. She doesn't know what her life would have become if she had never opened it. She tries not to think about it too  much.

As they arrive at a New York apartment building, Agatha can't shake the feeling of a familiar presence somewhere nearby. It's a tug at her dormant magic, a subtle yet undeniable sensation that sends a shiver down her spine.

Alice quickly opens a pocket dimension and teleports the texts away. "Alright. Before we go in there," Alice turns to face Agatha, who looks at her with a mix of confusion and apprehension. "Promise to not… make  a problem."

Agatha raises an eyebrow, her arms crossed defensively. "I’d need to know what's there to make a problem about beforehand, dear."

Alice hesitates, her expression betraying a hint of guilt. Agatha senses something off, but she can't quite put her finger on it. "Just... This is important," Alice urges, her tone earnest.

Agatha's lips purse skeptically, her eyes narrowing as she studies Alice. She clicks her tongue in annoyance but eventually relents with a sigh. "Fine."

"Thank you." Alice says, her tone filled with genuine concern as she leads the way. Agatha and Lilia exchange a questioning glance before following closely behind Alice, their curiosity piqued.

__

Alice knocks on the healer's door, one hand in her pocket. Lilia stands on her left, impatiently tapping her foot. Agatha cracks a small smile at Lilia's visible boredom.

"Alright, so before you meet—"

The door swings open, revealing a taller woman with brown skin and dark brown eyes. Her gaze immediately falls on Alice, and a broad smile lights up her face.

"Ali! I wasn't expecting you so soon!" she beams, pulling Alice into a crushing hug and pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. Agatha's eyebrow arches in surprise as she slips her hands into her pockets. She licks her lips and clears her throat, effectively ending Alice's and her partner's greeting.

Alice glances back at Lilia and Agatha, a meek expression on her face. "Sorry, um, this is Lilia Calderu," she gestures to the magicless witch. "And—"

"Agatha Harkness. Pleasure's all yours, my dear," Agatha interjects coolly, raising her hand in a lazy wave, a small smirk playing on her lips as Alice rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, and Agatha. Anyway, this is—"

"Her girlfriend Jennifer," the taller woman smiles and nods hello.

"So you're the 'partner,'" Agatha uses air quotes, "Alice was talking about." Alice grumbles something unintelligible.

"I'd hope so." There's a beat of awkward silence. Then another beat. God's Agatha hates introductions. Jennifer breaks the silence, "I'm sorry, come in, please," she huffs an awkward laugh as she steps aside for the trio to enter.

Agatha is the last to enter after Lilia, and the familiar scent of honey and citrus hits her immediately. It burns her nose, bringing with it a flood of memories. Memories of her.

The apartment's walls are exposed brick with industrial piping on the ceiling and some on the walls. The high ceiling and large windows offer a view of the city, while the shelves filled with books—some familiar, some not—add a touch of scholarly charm. The warm lighting creates a cozy atmosphere, and the colorful decor is accentuated by an abundance of plants. Among them, one stands out to Agatha.

The moonflower.

Her favorite.

Agatha tries to ignore the familiarity and distract herself. She clears her throat, running a hand through her raven mane, her fingers getting caught midway through the many tangles. She can't lie—she sometimes forgets to care for her hair. With a sigh, she turns to face the group of witches gathered in the earthy kitchen. Lilia is examining the plants with a curious eye, while Jennifer and Alice chat animatedly about something. Agatha feels overwhelmed, not just by the apartment but by the memories it holds. She remembers it all, despite her efforts to forget. The dark witch clears her throat; it feels dry and scratchy. “So, Jennifer, are you the so-called witch doctor?” she rasps, rolling her eyes for added effect.

Jennifer is about to respond, but someone else speaks first.

“No, but I am. She's my apprentice.”

Agatha’s form tenses. That voice.

The voice she worshiped. The voice of the most powerful love she’s ever known. The voice of her old self. The voice she abandoned. The voice she recklessly left.

Agatha gulps, her heart racing. She slowly turns around and faces her. And there she is, everything she ever was. The chestnut brown hair Agatha used to braid and brush is now tied back in a lazy low bun that somehow still looks magnificent. Her perfect brown eyes are focused on a clipboard she’s holding. Her tan skin glows in the warm lighting. She's wearing a white button-up shirt tucked into black slacks, with a gray cardigan draped over her shoulders.

Her eyes meet Agatha’s, and the dark witch’s breath hitches in her throat. She grips the counter until her knuckles turn white, her lips pressed into a thin line. She clenches her jaw in silenced fear. She’s genuinely afraid of Rio—afraid of what she will see, of what she can do. Memories of those eyes flood her mind, pushing her to the breaking point. Rio has already ruined her once.

Those eyes, so piercing and profound, have the power to strip away her defenses, to lay her bare. Agatha feels the familiar sting of vulnerability, the terror of reliving past pains. She can almost hear Rio's voice from the past, feel her touch, the weight of their shared history pressing down on her. Every emotion, every wound, every moment they shared crashes over her like a relentless wave.

__

Past

“Aggie!”

Agatha wakes up groggily, her head heavy, her body fighting to move a muscle. Her chemise is slightly damp from the cold sweat thinly coating her skin. She has overworked her body yet again. The Darkhold is the only reason her body hasn’t given out completely; it’s her final wall of defense. Slowly, she turns her head toward the voice.

She half-opens her tired blue eyes, meeting her love’s worried gaze. The green witch's eyebrows crease, and her smile is tinged with concern. Her brown hair cascades down her shoulders, and her button-up top and mens pants Rio had tailored herself, fit her figure perfectly

Agatha cracks a small smile at Rio’s creativeness.

Rio’s face softens as she walks up to her lover, gently taming the mess on Agatha's head and stroking it tenderly.

Agatha closes her eyes, reveling in the soothing feeling of Rio’s touch. It exponentially calms her anxiety.

“Little iris, I need you to take care of Nicholas. I need to tend to the garden for a while,” Rio announces quietly.

Nicholas is turning one soon, and it terrifies Agatha. She doesn’t know how to care for people. Even Rio knows this. Yet, she believes Agatha will be a great mother, despite Agatha's concerns.

Rio is naturally caring. She helps those in need and, contrary to Agatha’s own logic, empowers the helpless. When Agatha found out Rio was pregnant, she had a panic attack. All her childhood worries, fears, and pains came flooding back, hitting her like a storm. She doesn't want to fail her son. She so wants to be there for him, but… she knows, in the end, she won't be. One way or another, the shell fails.

‘So leave then.’ Those are the words the Darkhold has been whispering for a while now, weaving itself more and more into her life.

She tries to ignore it. She really does.

“And you’re sure you can't take him with you?” Agatha asks.

Rio smiles sadly. “It's hot out, and he needs to spend time with you.”

“But what if—”

“I know you're scared, my love. But he needs you as much as he needs me.” Agatha wants to roll her eyes at that but refrains.

“Rio, I'm not… I’m not good at this.”

“That’s like you telling me you’re not good at being you.” Rio giggles, taking the dark witch's face in her hands and making Agatha open her eyes to meet Rio’s loving gaze. “He loves you for you.”

Agatha gulps. “I’m not good enough.”

“I promise you. You’re more than enough. You’re the best mother he could ask for. Once he learns how to talk, of course.”

Agatha giggles at that, but despite all of Rio’s praise...

She was wrong.

__

Rio’s face falls into a small frown. They stare at each other for what feels like years, just taking each other in. 

“Agatha,”

“Rio.” Agatha’s voice is barely above a whisper, the name feels foreign on her tongue. 

She feels incredibly small.

[toodleoorblx]

Natural Order

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 2,273

۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗ ִֶָ   ִ  ⠀ ִ  ۫   ִֶָ ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ ۫   ּ  ֗  ִ  ִֶָ ׄ . ִ  ۫   ּ  ֗

Summary: Agatha faces the judgement of her mother.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - /?

Warnings: cursing, violence, implied/referenced child abuse, tinyy smut.

A/N: Made this update pretty quick tbh. Enjoy!!

Chapter 6

Salem, Massachusetts 1693

Agatha groggily wakes up, her head throbbing with pain as she tries to piece together what happened. Her wrists burn with searing agony, and when she tries to move, she finds herself unable to escape. Panic begins to rise within her as her vision slowly returns, revealing her surroundings: she's tied to a stake, exposed to the frigid night air.

Fucking hell.

Torches flicker around her, casting eerie shadows that dance in the darkness. The chilling breeze causes Agatha to shiver uncontrollably, her breath forming wisps of vapor in the cold night air. She's back in her everyday attire, the events after her blackout a blur in her memory, the last thing she remembers being Rio.

As Agatha struggles against her bonds, her heart sinks as figures emerge from the shadows of the surrounding trees, draped in black cloaks that look like her covens. Fear clenches at her heart as she realizes the gravity of the situation; she's about to face her own demise. But why? Because she kissed a girl?

Her coven members form a circle around her, their identities obscured by the darkness of the night. They remove their hoods, revealing familiar faces that only serve to deepen Agatha's dread.

Among them, her mother stands tall and imposing, her gray hair billowing in the cold wind. Agatha feels a surge of darkness welling up within her stomach, a mix of fear and anger coursing through her veins.

Evanora's expression is unreadable, her features hardened with resolve as she addresses her daughter.

"Agatha Harkness. You have defied the laws of our coven, delving into forbidden knowledge beyond your station. And worse yet, you have dared to associate with a whore," Evanora's voice carries a tone of authority, her words cutting through the stillness of the night.

Agatha's mind races as she tries to comprehend how Evanora uncovered her secret. Did Margaret betray her trust? But why would she do that? Margaret would've known that Agatha would get a death penalty. Something isn't adding up.

"You have wielded your dark magic with reckless abandon, causing harm to one of our own," Evanora continues, her voice unwavering.

What the fuck is she talking about? ‘Hurt our own’? Who? Agatha's heart pounds in her chest as she struggles against her restraints, desperation gnawing at her.

"I know- I know nothing of these crimes. I... I swear it."

"Enough deception!"

Amidst the chaos of her thoughts, one question burns brighter than the rest.

"Where is Rio?" Agatha's voice rings out, laced with defiance and fear.

Her mother's gaze remains steadfast, refusing to acknowledge her daughter's plea.

Agatha gulps, her heart pounding in her chest as she frantically looks around. They all look unfazed, not even 1 looks partially guilty.

Agatha licks her lips, a sneer forming on her face. “I did not break your rules.”

They simply bent to my power. The Darkhold and Agatha say in perfect unison.

Evanora clenches her jaw, her expression hardening with resolve. With a subtle nod to the coven, they begin chanting in unison. Agatha doesn't recognize the words, realizing that her mother hadn't taught her these chants.

A surge of panic grips Agatha's chest. “No, wait, please! I can control it, I- please! Mother! Help me, please!” Agatha's desperate pleas fall on deaf ears as her mother remains unmoved, joining in the chant with the rest of the coven.

Agatha's cries are drowned out by the cacophony of the chanting. The air crackles with magic as it begins to orbit her coven's hands, casting an eerie blue glow over the clearing.

As the ritual intensifies, Agatha's pleas cease abruptly, replaced by agonized screams. She feels it draining her life force more and more as more of her sisters follow the spell. The wind howls around her, echoing her torment as bolts of magic strike her body. A bolt of magic hits the spot where Evanora attacked her and Agatha is met with seething pain, she feels faint, like her lungs want to give out. Tears fall down her face as the magic fills her veins with unbearable heat.

Agatha's vision blurs as she struggles to remain conscious, the pain and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her. But amidst the chaos, a voice echoes in her mind, soothing yet commanding.

You want to see your lover? The voice resonates within her, stirring a flicker of hope in Agatha's heart.

Agatha can barely muster the strength to nod, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

Then let go. Let go of your fears. I'll take care of it all.

Agatha's grip on consciousness loosens as she surrenders to the voice, allowing herself to release the fear and desperation that had consumed her.

As she relinquishes control, Agatha's senses sharpen, her vision clearing as she witnesses the unfolding scene before her. Her blood curdling cries slowly begin to subside. She struggles to catch the breath that was moments ago eluding her. She surveys the streams of blue magic that are attached to her and slowly begin to turn purple. Agatha furrows her brows, what's going on?

A sense of detachment washes over Agatha as she observes the carnage, her emotions numbed by the weight of her impending demise. She watches her mother, Evanora, levitating with a sinister aura, her magic poised to strike Agatha down.

But Agatha feels something shift within her, a surge of defiance rising from the depths of her being. With a steely resolve, she channels her magic, breaking free from the bonds that once restrained her.

Agatha gasps at the impact of Evanora's magic, it doesn't exactly hurt, but it's not the greatest feeling. She can feel her mothers magic trying to encircle her heart, squeezing it from the inside, but it fails, there's a thick veil of darkness surrounding her heart. A shield. Despite the pressure bearing down on her, Agatha remains resolute, her gaze locked with her mother's, brimming with hatred.

With a newfound sense of empowerment, Agatha stands tall, confronting her mother with unwavering determination. The darkness that once threatened to consume her now becomes her shield, her strength, her salvation.

With a fierce flick of her wrist, Agatha unleashes a devastating wave of dark energy, watching with cold satisfaction as it engulfs her coven sisters, their bodies convulsing before falling lifeless to the ground, mere husks of their former selves.

"Mother. I told you I can control it," Agatha retorts, a smirk playing on her lips as she meets Evanora's gaze.

Evanora, though visibly weakened, maintains a steely composure. "No. No you cannot," she manages to utter, her voice strained with effort.

Undeterred, Agatha braces herself as her mother launches a final, desperate assault. The surge of coven magic crashes against her, threatening to overwhelm her. But Agatha channels her own power, merging it with her mother's magic in a potent display of dominance.

As Evanora's strength wanes, Agatha feels a rush of exhilaration coursing through her veins. With each passing moment, she absorbs more of her mother's magic, leaving Evanora gasping for air, her once formidable presence reduced to mere frailty.

With a triumphant grin, Agatha watches as her mother falls to the ground, drained and defeated. Her chest rises and falls with the weight of her victory, the wind now still around her.

Surveying the lifeless bodies of her coven, Agatha feels a hollow emptiness settle within her. Yet, amidst the silence and death that surrounds her, she feels nothing. No remorse, no guilt. Only the cold embrace of her newfound power.

Approaching her mother's fallen form, Agatha crouches beside her, her voice laced with venom as she speaks. "I can control it, Mother. It's your fault our coven is dead, not mine. May you carry that knowledge to the grave."

With a final glance of disdain, Agatha takes her mother's brooch before rising to her feet

The sound of rustling leaves draws Agatha's attention, her senses ablaze as she whirls around to face the source of the noise. Her eyes shimmer with a bright purple hue as she locks gazes with Rio, who stands before her, seemingly unfazed despite her disheveled appearance. A warm smile graces Rio's lips, a stark contrast to the tension that hangs in the air.

Agatha's eyes revert to their natural blue hue as she engulfs Rio in a bone-crushing hug, her heart pounding with relief at the sight of her beloved.

Agatha closes her eyes tightly, savoring the moment as she peppers Rio's face with kisses, eliciting giggles from the green witch.

“How are you, little iris? Did they hurt you?” Rio's voice carries a note of concern, her expression serious as she meets Agatha's gaze.

Breaking the hug, Agatha holds Rio's hands tightly, her own emotions swirling within her. “They, um… no, they didn't. I, uh,” Agatha clears her dry throat, her words catching in her throat. “I fought back.”

Rio's giggle fills the tense air, though her eyes search Agatha's with earnest curiosity. “Clearly. But… how?”

Agatha feels a lump form in her throat, uncertainty gnawing at her. Releasing Rio's hands, she takes a step back, her gaze drifting to the ground briefly before meeting Rio's puzzled expression.

“I...” Agatha hesitates, her mind racing as she struggles to find the right words. She's afraid, afraid of how Rio will react to the truth. “I found a book. Called the Darkhold. Ever heard of it?”

Rio shakes her head, her gaze unwavering with nothing but love and concern. “No, I haven't.”

Agatha's chuckle is tinged with bitterness. “Well, it's... it's a book of pure darkness. The Book of the Damned. It corrupts everything and everyone it touches.” Agatha's grip tightens around her mother's brooch. “And I was stupid enough to touch it.”

“So... what does that mean for you?” Rio's voice is steady, her eyes searching Agatha's for answers.

Agatha's breath catches in her throat as she fidgets with the brooch, her thoughts racing. “It means that my magic is tainted with darkness. And it... it changed me.”

Rio takes a determined step forward, her gaze unwavering. “How so?”

Agatha gulps, her nerves getting the best of her as she struggles to find the right words. “It made me... different.” Agatha's response is vague, a deliberate attempt to shield Rio from the full extent of the truth.

But Rio doesn't stop prodding. “Can I see?” she asks with bright and hopeful eyes, while Agatha's are dark and full of fear.

Agatha stands there for a moment, her mind racing as she weighs her options. But she ultimately sighs, realizing that if she's going to love Rio, she should know who she truly is.

With trembling hands, Agatha hesitantly whispers the counter spell to revoke the glamor spell, revealing her fingertips and claws.

“Happy?” Agatha's voice is laced with uncertainty, knowing that Rio can see her fangs.

Rio stands frozen, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as she takes a step forward, her gaze never leaving Agatha's. There's a sense of wonder in her eyes, a wonder that makes Agatha shy away from Rio's intense gaze.

The green witch gently takes Agatha's hand in her own, and Agatha's first instinct is to yank her hand away, not wanting to contaminate Rio with her darkness. But Rio rubs her thumb over Agatha's hand gently, then lifts it up and places it on her own face. Agatha blushes furiously at the intimate gesture, feeling a rush of fear coursing through her veins. How can Rio not be repulsed by her?

Rio smiles warmly as she caresses Agatha's hand, and Agatha stands still, unable to comprehend the acceptance she's receiving. “You're not... scared, disgusted?” Agatha's voice is barely a whisper, her heart hammering in her chest.

Rio's face softens with sadness. “Never. Why would I be? You're still as beautiful as when I first saw you.”

Agatha fights back tears, feeling a surge of emotion welling up inside her. She pulls Rio into a tight hug, holding her close as she places a kiss on top of her head. “How did I find you?” Agatha whispers, her voice trembling with emotion.

“How did I find you?” Rio chuckles softly as she releases the hug and places a chaste kiss on Agatha's lips, before taking her hand firmly in hers.

Agatha smiles with a mixture of contentment and awe, realizing in that moment that she loves Rio more than anything in the world.

“Let's go to my cabin. Or we can travel? Whatever you want to do.”

Agatha huffs a laugh. “Lets go to your cabin for the night, we can decide all of that tomorrow.”

“Ok.” Rio smiles.

Agatha and Rio walk side by side, the weight of their intertwined hands grounding them in the present moment. But Agatha's attention is suddenly drawn to something red on the ground before they leave the area.

She stops abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest as she spots Margaret's red ribbon lying abandoned on the forest floor. Agatha's breath catches in her throat, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions.

Rio turns around, concern etched on her features as she notices Agatha's sudden stillness. “Are you okay, my love?”

Agatha's mind feels clouded, her thoughts racing as she tries to process what she's seeing.  “Y-yeah, I'm fine. I just... saw something,” she manages to murmur, her voice barely audible.

Rio nods understandingly before continuing into the forest, trusting Agatha to follow.

Agatha clutches the ribbon tightly, feeling a pang of guilt and longing wash over her. She moves hastily to catch up with Rio.

[toodleoorblx]

Fractured Persona

Agatha Harkness x Rio Vidal

Word count: 1,329

Summary: Rio gets a room, and goes scavenging.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - /?

Warnings: Cursing.

A/N: Enjoy toodles!

Zombie apocalypse AU

Chapter 2

It's been a few hours since she first met Agatha and it's been… interesting.

"[...] And this is your room," Agatha announces as she pushes open the rickety door, revealing a small beige space adorned with chipped brown wall trim. A solitary bed occupied one corner, accompanied by a modest nightstand with drawers.

Rio's gaze falls upon the cracked window, a grim reminder of the dangers lurking outside. A bloodied handprint stains the glass, likely left by a crawler. Grimacing at the sight, Rio resolves to barricade the window as soon as possible. It's not exactly homey.

Agatha must have noticed Rio's disappointment, "It's no five-star hotel, but it's better than the woods," she snorts, her arms crossed as she leans against the door frame, her gaze cautious as she observes Rio

Rio sighs as she enters the room, the worn floorboards protesting under her hiking boots. Making her way to the bed, she’s surprised to find the covers cleaner than expected. For a moment, she half-expected to uncover a rotting corpse beneath the quilted blanket. However, the colorful pattern brings a small smile to her lips, reminiscent of the quilt her father had made for her when she was young. The nostalgia is bittersweet, a painful reminder of the life she’s lost.

"Are you sure you haven't been bitten?" Agatha's abrupt question cuts through Rio's reverie, her tone edged with a hint of tension but mostly subdued. Pushing off the door frame, Agatha takes a few steps into the room, stopping a few feet away from Rio. Her narrowed eyes bore into Rio's, scrutinizing her with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

Rio stands still for a moment, her thoughts momentarily drawn back to her old life before she turns to face Agatha, her brows furrow in confusion. Mimicking Agatha's stance, she crosses her arms and tilts her head, a silent challenge in her gaze. She catches the slight twitch at the corner of Agatha's lip, but it's quickly replaced by a determined resolve.

"I'm sure," Rio affirms with a nod, her jaw clenches in frustration. "Why would I hide a bite if I'm just gonna die anyways?"

Agatha bursts into laughter, a deep, hearty sound that echoes through the room. Rio watches in surprise as Agatha composes herself, a hollow smile lingering on her lips. "Because, pretty girl," Agatha replies, her tone laced with bitterness. Rio feels a blush creeping up her cheeks at the nickname, quickly disguising it by rubbing her eyes. "People are selfish. If they're going out, they want to do it in comfort and shelter, not alone in a dense forest." Agatha scoffs, her tone harsh.

Rio can’t help but feel confused by Agatha's sudden change in demeanor. One moment, she’s giving her a peaceful tour of the house, making snide remarks, and the next, she’s being hostile. Rio can't seem to get a read on this woman, and it's… irritating.

Rio had noticed that over the course of the months the outbreak started, the infected started to change slower, over the course of a few hours. She remembers a nurse who was talking about it with someone, when she was at that prison. Rio hasn't seen it happen first hand, at least the slower transformation.

"Well, I can assure you, I'm not lying. I'm healthy. I don't know the signs of the slower transformation, but I doubt I'm exhibiting any," Rio asserts, her tone sharp with conviction.

Agatha falls silent, her expression unreadable as she processes Rio's words. Rio watches as Agatha's gaze drifts to the cracked window, a deep sigh escaping her lips as she rubs her nose bridge in frustration. "Fine," Agatha relents, her voice tinged with resignation. "But if I see any signs of you changing, I'm killing you without hesitation." With a pointed gesture towards Rio, Agatha turns to leave the room.

Rio breathes a sigh of relief, grateful for the temporary reprieve. She has no idea how far civilization lay, and she knows she wouldn't have survived until dawn on her own.

However, as Agatha pauses at the door frame, Rio tenses, her muscles coiling with anticipation. Agatha's bruised fists clench at her sides as she exhales deeply. "You can start doing your part by helping me find some edible plants from the forest. Be ready in ten minutes," Agatha instructs, her tone outwardly peaceful but laced with annoyance. And with that, she exits the room, leaving Rio to prepare for the task ahead.

Rio stands there, a bit shaken by the sudden turn of events. She’s barely arrived, and already she’s being put to work. Agatha must be severely low on food if she needs Rio's help already, or perhaps she simply wants to test Rio's knowledge of plants. Either way, Rio’s determined to prove herself. She’s spent years researching flora and fauna, and she isn't about to let all that knowledge go to waste.

With a determined resolve, Rio begins packing her gear. She retrieves her damascus kukri blade and slung her satchel over her shoulder, ensuring she’s enough supplies to sustain them for the task ahead.

Ten minutes later, Rio emerges from the front door, her eyes falling on Agatha sitting on the porch, a pistol in her hand as she fidgets with it. A flashlight by her side. The soft breeze tousles Agatha's raven hair, lending her an air of tranquility. Rio cant help but admire the peaceful scene, wondering if anyone can truly find solace in the quiet of the forest. However, she can't imagine enduring it alone. Perhaps Agatha had been planning to live here alone, Rio muses, wondering if she will eventually come to appreciate her company.

Clearing her throat awkwardly, Rio addresses Agatha. "Agatha," she begins, her voice tentative. "It's, um, pretty dark out." The sun had just set, casting a chill in the air and stirring up the wind. Rio hates scavenging at night, but perhaps it would be different with someone by her side.

Agatha flinches, nearly dropping her gun, and Rio hears her curse softly under her breath. With a determined air, Agatha stands tall, brushing imaginary dust off her pants before clearing her throat and nodding towards the woods. Rio nods in response, understanding the silent cue to begin their scavenging mission.

As they navigate through the forest, Agatha takes up the role of lookout while Rio searches for food. Rio notices Agatha's gaze lingering on her from the corner of her eye, causing her to shift uncomfortably. "What?" Rio asks, her voice tinged with unease.

"Why the fuck didn't you bring a gun?!" Agatha bursts out, her voice loud enough to make Rio wince.

"Lower your damn voice," Rio hisses, glancing around nervously. "We're going to attract a herd if you don't shut up." Taking a deep breath, she continues, "I didn't bring a gun because... I don't really know how to use one or aim it. I was never taught. I don't get it. I have my M16 for emergencies, but I haven't fired it in forever. I use knives."

"That won't do," Agatha responds grimly.

"What won't do?" Rio questions, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"You not knowing how to use a gun. Not knowing how to use one can be the difference between life and death. Nobody ever taught you that?"

Rio shakes her head, a sense of frustration gnawing at her. "No. My father said he would one day, but..." Her voice trails off, the memory of her father's promises haunting her.

"Oh," Agatha responds quietly, the tension between them palpable. As Rio continues to gather supplies, Agatha appears agitated, as if there's something she wants to say. Rio is about to inquire when Agatha beats her to it. "I'm uh... I'm sorry for-"

"It's fine," Rio interrupts automatically, not wanting to entertain pity. Not because of pride, but because acknowledging condolences would only serve to solidify her father's death in her mind. “Let's just hurry this along.”