Chapter Text
“So…green magic?” Billy ventured as they all sat at the breakfast table the following morning, his eyes drifting over to Rio. “What exactly does that involve?”
Rio sat at the head of the table, somewhat removed from the rest of them besides Agatha, who had positioned herself between Rio and Jen and the boys. She looked up from her food at his question, chewing a bite of a bacon slice she held pinched between two fingers.
“Guess,” she replied after a short pause, and Billy glanced over at Agatha, who merely shrugged, indicating she wouldn’t give him any hints. Seemed he would be on his own for this one.
“Ooo, is it about plants and stuff?” Tommy cut in excitedly, his brow furrowing up in deep thought as he continued. “Or, uh, you were kind of like Mother Nature, right?”
“I think what he means is that you had control over life, growth, and decay,” Billy added, recalling the night of Agatha’s death, and very nearly his. “I remember your magic from before, and you calmed my storm when I lost control.”
Rio leaned against her palm, nodding slowly. “I wouldn’t go so far as to say I had control over life, as while I was Death, there is another entity called Life. But she does not spend time in the mortal realm as I do, and remains quite interested in her little pet projects. Last I knew she was ruminating on a new species of jellyfish.”
“So, Life is an introvert,” Jen quipped, seemingly amused before she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “That is a sentence I never thought I would say.”
Rio merely waved her hand in a lazy gesture. “Enough about Life. As for green magic, yes, it does involve tapping into nature, the root and soul of every living creatures and things. And, if wielded properly, it can be used as both a weapon and a balm.”
Her eyes snapped over to Tommy then, her gaze narrowing. “So, you would do well not to dilute such magic to a mere control over plants.”
Tommy swallowed thickly, offering a stiff nod. “Right, my bad.”
Rio turned her attention back to Billy, who seemed to be reflecting on her explanation. He was pushing what was left of his meal around his plate with his fork until he finally stopped and glanced back up.
“And, do you think learning this could help with my control?” It was a simple question, but an important one. Finally, it seemed the boy was focusing on what actually mattered, and was seeking it out instead of endlessly hoping and wishing he would magically get a grasp on his powers.
Like many things, Rio knew such a thing would require work, and quite a bit of discipline. At least Agatha had started teaching him that, so in that respect, all he needed was a bit of grounding.
“Yes, I do,” she replied, and with a spark of magic, a small sapling appeared in her palm. “What you are lacking, little witch, is roots. Your magic is special, able to manipulate reality with greater command than even the Scarlet Witch, and when you lose control, there is nowhere for your magic to go but out. And, well, I’m sure you’ve realized by now why that is dangerous.”
Billy grimaced, and Rio could feel Agatha’s eyes on her, but she continued without pause. “So, I aim to tether you, in a way, to the Earth. This world can be your outlet, but not one of destruction, but growth and healing. If, and more like when, you lose control, you can have a safe way to discharge your magic. For example, this sapling.”
She gestured to the plant resting in her palm, and with a bit more magic, it grew taller until it suddenly shifted from a budding tree into a gnarled vine, thick with thorns. However, just as quickly, it bloomed into a beautiful violet rose. Rio smirked, handing the flower to Agatha, before her eyes returned to Billy as the boy regarded her with rapt attention.
“Your magic can do many things, Billy, and it is your intent that matters.” Her gaze hardened then, the green irises sharp and cold. “I was not lying when I said you could end this world with a thought, and that’s why there are beings who fear you, and what your power could do to them. To protect yourself, and everyone you love, you must learn how to unleash it properly, and I believe learning green magic will help you ground yourself.”
Billy nodded, his throat choked up. After all the pain and grief he’d caused Rio, he still couldn’t believe how willing she was to help him, even if it was for an assigned duty. He knew all too well that she could have left him at the mercy of the entities who had harmed her, but she hadn’t. She had spared him from immense suffering, and he couldn’t be more grateful.
“I promise, I’ll do better,” he said, pushing the words past the tightness in his chest. “I’ll do everything you tell me to, and I won’t let you or anyone else get hurt because of me again.”
Rio kept her gaze fixed steadily on him for another moment before she relaxed back into her chair. A subtle smirk played at the corners of her lips. “You should know I don’t take vows lightly, so I do hope you won’t back out once I get started with you.”
“I won’t,” Billy replied immediately, his voice firm, and something sparked in Rio’s eyes.
It seemed the boy had a spine to him, or at least some grit. For Agatha’s sake, she really was hoping he stayed true to his word. After all, no one wanted to raise a child who spouted empty words and false promises.
Speaking of her wife, Rio glanced over at Agatha to find her twirling the rose carefully between her fingers. She was staring at Billy fondly, her eyes filled with a subtle pride, and it almost made Rio want to forgo the harsh training plan she had crafted for the boy. Almost.
But time was of the essence…or so she told herself. In reality, she wasn’t exactly itching to resume her Deathly duties; however, the boy didn’t need any further coddling. And, well, perhaps just a bit of pain was in order, just to even the odds.
“Come, if you’re done eating, let’s begin,” she said, standing up in a quick motion as her chair scraped a discordant sound on the hardwood floor. “You too, Tommy. I’ve met a few speedsters in my time, your uncle included, so I have some tips for you.”
Tommy jolted upright, and in a fraction of a second, he was standing directly in front of Rio, staring up at her with wide eyes. “You knew Uncle Pietro!? Why didn’t you say so before?”
Rio didn’t flinch at the sudden proximity, instead offering the youth a deadpan stare. “If you have forgotten, I was preoccupied.”
Tommy blinked, his jittering slowing down a bit as his mouth split into an embarrassed smile. “Haha, right, right.”
His voice trailed off, his eyes glancing between Rio and the hallway leading to his and Billy’s bedroom before he took a step back. “Well, imma go get dressed, so, yeah, I’ll see you out there. Or, uh, I’ll probably beat you, but anyway…”
In a blink, he was gone, and Jen’s chuckle came from the kitchen as she and Agatha cleared the dishes. Rio simply stepped outside, resigning herself to wait as Billy hurried to his room as well to get into more suitable clothes for training.
However, she didn’t have to wait long because not even two seconds later, a blue blur popped in front of her, revealing itself to be Tommy. “I’m back!”
Rio took his sudden appearance in stride, motioning to a soft patch of grass. “Sit.”
Tommy raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to teach me how to run?”
“Now when did I say that?” Rio hummed, and Tommy hopped from foot to foot impatiently.
“I dunno, I just assumed. I run fast, so I should train to run, right?”
“Child, there is much more to your powers than simply running fast,” Rio replied, once again gesturing to the ground as her tone lowered. “Now, sit.”
Tommy plopped onto the ground without another word, recognizing the tone as the one adults used when they meant business, and he really didn’t like getting scolded.
Rio moved to stand behind him, and a moment later, a ring of daisies appeared around him, tall enough to touch his knees as he sat cross-legged, and just wide enough that he fit comfortably within the circle.
“Alright, I can imagine that you’ve had some difficulty regulating the speed of your thoughts and body,” she began, and he nodded.
It truly was exhausting, slowing everything down when his mind moved so fast. But, on the other hand, even when he moved fast, he found his mind and body still weren’t quite in sync. It had certainly led to a fair amount of bruises and scrapes, bumping into things his mind had already thought he was past.
“What I want you to do is focus on speeding up your thoughts to the point the world is absolutely slow. Nearly paused, and only your body will be in motion—”
“But that’s what I do when I run—” he cut in, only to feel her hand touch his head, and he shut his mouth.
“I wasn’t finished,” she replied, removing her hand as she continued. “While you speed up your mind, I don’t want you to move from this spot. Simply meditate here until you feel as if your mind and body are at the same speed, although stationary, and you will continue to do so until this exercise no longer takes conscious thought.”
“I-I don’t think I can,” he murmured, his mind already launching back to the days before Billy had found him. When he’d been trapped in his mind, unable to determine when he was, and how long real time was lasting. It had been terrifying, and he couldn’t go back to that ever again.
“Listen to me, Tommy,” Rio said, her voice firm, yet not threatening. Simply…strong, and steady. “Your powers do not control you; you control them. Much like your brother has to learn, you must rid yourself of this fear you feel, or else you will never truly harness your abilities.”
“You…then promise me you won’t let me get lost again,” he said, glancing up at her. “You said you take promises seriously, and you made up this plan, so you have to swear this.”
Rio stared down at him with her lips drawn into a thin line, clearly pondering his proposition, before she finally nodded. “Very well. I will remain here the whole time, and should you need me, touch this blue daisy, and I will know.”
Before his eyes, one of the flowers sprouting in front of him shifted from its usual white to a pale blue, and he felt relief seep into him, warming the cold fear that had been pulsing through him. His shoulder relaxed, slumping down, and he let out a slow exhale as he closed his eyes.
And, as his form shimmered slightly, vibrating faintly at the edges, Rio knew he was well within his trance. She stepped around him, moving in front of his meditating form just in time for Billy to finally join them.
He glanced down at his brother briefly before his eyes darted up to her. “What’s he doing?”
“A meditation exercise,” she replied simply, not bothering to explain the reasoning. “But let’s focus on you now, shall we, lest Agatha or Jen attempt to steal you away for their own teachings.”
The boy merely nodded, focused, yet eager to begin. Rio was unfathomably powerful as Death, but he knew well enough that despite losing that mantle, she was still a formidable witch.
“Much like your brother is doing, we will begin with meditation,” Rio began, prompting the boy to sit, which he did without complaint. “How well have Agatha and Jen taught you to sense the magic in your surroundings?”
“I mean, I can sense my own magic, and a lot of the things I’ve done have spread my magic across the world, so I guess in that sense I can do it.” It sounded like an absurd thing to say aloud. In fact, even he had a hard time wrapping his head around the things he’d done.
Full-scale mind manipulation, reality warping, and creation. Things that most witches could never dream of doing—and yet, he had done them. Though not without a cost, even if he hadn’t been the one to pay it.
“Surroundings, Billy. I’m talking about natural magic, not your own,” she said, but he just stared up at her blankly.
There was…natural magic? From what he understood, all witches were born with innate magic abilities and magic levels…well, Agatha excluded, he supposed. She was a siphoner, after all. But, from what he’d seen with Jen, or what it had been in his experience, he’d always just dipped into his vast reserves, and that had been that.
Rio let out a sigh. “I suppose Agatha must not have bothered to teach you this, given that you have so much power at your disposal already.”
She paused then, considering. “Or, maybe this is not a common technique in this day and age, but, either way, I want you to in tune yourself with the magic that exists already in the world. Green witches in particular tend to draw on this magic, as it has close ties with nature magic, but it is still considered a neutral mana.”
“And what do I do once I sense this magic?” Billy asked, still somewhat confused about the premise or what he was really meant to do.
“Once you can sense it, I want you to eventually draw upon this magic instead of your own. This way, you can develop far better control as you practice different techniques without the volatility of your innate magic,” she explained. “And, overall, the meditation technique I will teach you should help ground yourself to your surroundings and temper any panic-induced incidents.”
She said the last part with a bit of bite, but he took it on the chin. She was right, of course. His flare-ups were anything but tame, and he’d appreciate anything that could help him curb his magic and loss of control.
“I’m ready,” he said, resting his hands in his lap, and she moved to stand behind him.
“Good, then, close your eyes, and focus…”
***
Two hours later, the sound of the sliding door caught Rio’s attention, and she glanced back to see Agatha stepping through. The woman already had a teasing smirk on her face, no doubt with a snide comment already in her mind, and Rio turned back to the boys right as Agatha came up behind her.
The woman wrapped her arms around Rio’s waist, squeezing tightly, and Rio inhaled deeply, relishing the familiar scent of Agatha’s magic.
And then, “I never thought you would be so attentive to them. It’s been, what, a few hours already and you haven’t budged.”
Rio scoffed, although she leaned further into the hold. “Someone has to watch them, and you and Jen weren’t volunteering.”
Agatha chuckled, a low sound in her throat. “What do you have them doing, anyway?”
“Billy is working on sensing natural magic, while Tommy is meditating to regulate his speed,” Rio hummed, offering a vague explanation because she couldn’t be bothered to explain her reasoning twice. “And what have you and Jen been—”
The blue daisy stirred, its petals wilting as it shriveled and died, just as she’d intended it to do if Tommy ever touched it.
“Rio?” Agatha asked, although her confusion was quickly replaced with concern as Rio surged forward out of her arms and toward the blonde boy.
Ignoring everything but Tommy, Rio extended her mind into his, snatching onto his thoughts as easily as breathing.
Rio! Help, I-I can’t focus back! Are you there? Please, I can’t get trapped here again!
The boy’s mind was filled with fear, utter terror encroaching on every thought, and Rio reached forward with the same warmth she often used when comforting frightened children when they passed.
Focus on my voice, Tommy. I’m here. Open your eyes, and look at me.
Rio waited as the boy’s blue eyes met hers, but his form remained blurry, his body still vibrating with motion.
I-I see you, I see you, but everything is still frozen.
He seemed a fraction calmer now, and Rio extended her thoughts once more.
Slow your thoughts and match my breathing. You are still moving fast, Tommy, and you need to relax everything. I want your breathing at the same tempo as mine.
She could still feel his fear potently, but he replied to her fairly steadily. Breathe, okay, I can breathe. Nice and slow…
Rio maintained steady, deep breaths, and, after a few seconds, each feeling longer than the next, Tommy’s form finally snapped back to normal. Except instead of a cease of motion, he shot forward, slamming full force into Rio.
The two of them tumbled back, Rio taking the brunt of the fall as Tommy landed on top of her, but she hardly had any time to process the sting as the boy let out a sob. He curled into her, gripping her clothes as if he was afraid she would disappear at any moment, while tears slipped down his cheeks in steady drops.
“I was so scared! I-I thought you hadn’t noticed, but-but then you did, and-and—” His voice cut off as he took a gasping breath, his throat choked by the force of his own sobs.
By now, Agatha was beside him, and he scrambled over into her hold right as Jen hurried out and Billy snapped out of his meditation.
“What the hell is happening now?” Jen asked, more concerned than annoyed, and Billy was up on his feet in an instant as he rushed over to Tommy.
“Shh, I'm here, you're alright now,” Agatha soothed, smoothing back the boy’s curls, although her eyes didn’t leave Rio’s.
And, with all eyes suddenly on her, Rio sat up, shrugging off the ache in her shoulders. “I had him meditating to try and get his mind and body at the same speed to prevent the accidents that happen when he’s not in sync. Of course, I had a failsafe in place, and when he touched it, I coaxed him out of his own mind. That’s all.”
Agatha seemed to relax at that, realizing now that it hadn’t been something more serious, and she glanced down at Tommy. “Are you okay now?”
Tommy sniffled, but he’d finally seemed to regulate his breathing and gave a small nod. “Yeah, I-I’m okay. And it was going fine until a little bit toward the end, and then I panicked.”
He turned his head toward Rio, his watery eyes wide with relief and gratitude. “Thanks, Rio, you saved me there.”
And then the whole event seemed to dawn on him, and he winced. “Ah, and I’m sorry for barreling into you.”
A part of him expected her to be angry with him for invading her personal space, but, much to his surprise, she merely nodded.
“I gave you my word,” she replied, as if that was all that needed to be said, before she stood. “Anyway, I think that’s enough for today. You are both free to do whatever you normally do with your time.”
However, as she left for the door to go back inside, a spark of green flared to life on her fingertips, and both boys were enveloped in a warm energy that disappeared as quickly as it had come. However, in its place, all the fatigue that had been building all morning was replaced by a sudden strength, as if they had been healed of all the day’s wearies.
Jen and Agatha noticed as both boys perked up, the teens glancing between each other in slight awe, and Jen let out an incredulous huff.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” she said, glancing toward Agatha. “Does she have a soft spot for Tommy or what?”
Agatha looked just as surprised. “Don’t ask me. I don’t think she’s been like this for anyone but…”
Her voice trailed off, and she winced subtly, only enough that Jen noticed, but the other woman didn’t press. Instead, she briefly placed a comforting hand on Agatha’s shoulder before turning her attention to the twins.
“Alright,” she said, clapping her hands together. “How would you two like to learn how to make ice cream?”
Billy smiled at the thought, while Tommy perked up and hurriedly wiped his tears away with the back of his hand.
“Me, I do!” The blonde said as he jumped up, with Agatha following suit as she ruffled the boy’s hair.
“You rascal, crying one second, and thinking about food the next. What are we to do with you, hm?” She said, but Tommy just laughed, his previous fear fading away completely.
“I dunno, but distractions seem to be the key,” he said, grabbing Billy’s hand and tugging him toward the door. “Now, ice cream!”
Jen rolled her eyes, but followed them alongside Agatha without comment, and shortly after that, the trio began the process of ice cream making. However, instead of joining them, Agatha slipped away to her and Rio’s room.
As she entered, she found Rio relaxing on their bed with a book in her hands, although the green witch glanced over as the door opened.
“Not interested in ice cream?” Rio mused, hiding a smirk behind her book, but instead of their normal back-and-forth quips, Agatha silently crawled into bed beside Rio.
Concerned, Rio glanced down at her wife, putting the book down beside her. “Mi amor, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Agatha replied, leaning her head against Rio’s chest. “I just wanted to say thank you for helping Tommy. You didn’t even have to teach him in the first place, but you have.”
“No need to thank me,” Rio muttered, waving it off as if it were something insignificant. “I have no qualms against that one, unlike his brother. But, well, duty calls.”
However, something in Rio’s voice betrayed her, a slight tightness to it, and for all the time Agatha had known Rio, there had only been a few times she’d taken that tone.
“What’s on your mind?” Agatha murmured, prodding lightly, and felt as Rio sucked in a deep inhale, her chest rising and falling slowly.
“I have never…” Rio began slowly, only to swallow thickly, pausing for a breath before she continued. “I have never felt anyone else’s warmth but yours. And of all the children I have ever met, they have all been dead and cold. Even Nicky, I never dared to touch him before the end, and Tommy and him—”
She cut off, her bottom lip quivering, and Agatha filled the space. “They have the same light, don’t they?”
Rio let out a weighted exhale, nodding. “They do. And I already had to snuff one out. Today just…it reminded me of all the lives I’ve taken too soon. Of all the small hands clutching my robes as they cried. But, Agatha, no one but you and Nicky has ever wanted me with them…”
She paused again, almost as if she hardly believed it herself. “Until him. Tommy has never been afraid of me, even though I gave him every opportunity to, considering everything that’s happened. I just…I wonder why.”
“No need to wonder, my love,” Agatha replied warmly as she placed a kiss on Rio’s chin. “He trusts you.”
Rio scoffed. “Yes, but why?”
Agatha merely hummed a non-committal sound. “Because that’s who he is. Lovable and kind despite everything he’s been through. Just like our Nicky was.”
Rio placed a kiss atop Agatha’s head, murmuring into her hair. “And Billy? What do you see in him?”
“Billy is empathetic to the point where it damages him, and he’s just as caring as his brother,” Agatha replied, glancing up at Rio. “I hope that you’ll come to see that, too, despite what’s happened.”
“Maybe I will,” Rio murmured quietly. “Given some time.”
A brief silence lapsed after that, only broken by the soft sound as the two shared a kiss, before Agatha sat up and looked toward the door. “Join me out in the kitchen?”
Rio huffed, wanting nothing more than to stay together with Agatha in bed, but she relented for her wife’s sake. “Fine, but I’m not helping.”
“Not even for tasting?” Agatha teased, and Rio rolled her eyes as she dragged herself off the bed.
“I didn’t say that,” she replied, and Agatha smirked, and together, the two of them headed to the kitchen and joined the rest.
And once the afternoon turned into evening and the ice cream had been made, Tommy approached Rio with a spoon still in his mouth as he finished his third bowl.
“So, what’d you think?” He asked, his eyes darting between Rio’s face and the bowl in her hands, and Rio felt her lips quirk up into the slightest of smiles.
“Not the best I’ve had,” she replied, enjoying the way his mouth dropped open in exaggerated shock, and his spoon clattered onto the floor.
“Just you wait!” He declared, pointing at her. “We’ll make the best ice cream you’ve ever tasted!”
Rio’s smirk only grew. “Well then, I’ll await your next attempt.”