Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Christmas Miracle Cast list stuns the internet: finally another Harkness Maximoff project!

Ever since Wanda Maximoff’s rise to stardom in the Disney+ series, the Scarlet Witch, 5 years ago, fans have been begging her and co-star Agatha Harkness to star in a movie together again. The newest release of the cast list of the upcoming Christmas romcom has answered way beyond their prayers, as Harkness and Maximoff are set to play lovers. 

The movie is going to be about two women, Kara and Liv (starred by Harkness and Maximoff respectively), who were two childhood friends that lost contact as they grew up, and met each other again in a bar. After a long catching up, they realised they both needed a date for their respective Christmas parties, and decided to go together. 

Fans are also very excited to know that American heartthrob Rio Vidal would be starring as Ariana, Kara’s best friend, who consoles and convinces her to confess her feelings to Maximoff’s character. 

Though Vidal and Harkness have never interacted before, fans are very excited about what they could bring to the movie screens. However, the entire cast has spoken or posted about this movie apart from the two, which makes us wonder if there are some underlying tension between the two A-list actresses. 

Link: conspiracy theories on Rio Vidal and Agatha Harkness surrounding leaked picture of them in highschool with a group of friends

Link: Newest fling? Womanizer Agatha Harkness seen leaving the bar with another girl rumoured to be in the pop band Avengers. 

“No wanda look,” Agatha said, hot from the fifth glass of wine she was drinking. “I am just going to be mature, and be professional, and I don’t know do my fucking job?”

“Agatha,” Wanda sighed as she read through the script of their latest project. “I know you well enough to know that is not going to happen.”

“Good heavens do you have no faith in me? We broke up twelve years ago. I’m so over it gosh.” 

“Yes and that is precisely why you’ve never been in an actual meaningful relationship since then.”

“There was Jen?”

“You guys were friends with benefits for what like five months. That doesn’t count. Also she’s our director, please don’t.”

“Wanda, we are the ones playing lovers, not me and that gorgeous face that makes me want to kill myself, so let’s not. Who do you think you are to judge my love life anyways, just because you are married with children does not make you above me.”

“I’m just saying, you can reach out and have a coffee together before the production starts. Might make things easier.”

“Absolutely not.”

Wanda sighed again. But even though she knows it will be a long year of filming under these circumstances, she could not help but be excited of what drama is awaiting to unfold. Maybe she should even cause some chaos in the process, have some fun with it. 

Agatha downed another glass of red wine, and leaned back to read the script as well. Her and Wanda have been good friends for five years now, ever since they starred in that disney + series together, and they just clicked. The internet loved them together, and was just as excited as Wanda and Agatha felt when this rom com was announced. 

Agatha Harkness does not hate Rio Vidal. She was the most beautiful, compassionate, kind and not to mention sexy person Agatha could have ever met. Still is, from what she’s seen on the internet, but she’d never admit that she still stalks her ex from high school. 

Rio used to make her heart swell, and Agatha still remembers her touch, her taste, she remembers the way her fingers fit in between hers and the way their legs used to feel tangled up with each other. She remembers the way Rio breathed when she slept, she remembers the way she laughed, she remembers the way her own name rolled off her tongue. When Agatha fell in love with Rio Vidal she told herself she would never fall in love with anyone else after that. She thought she was lovesick and dramatic, but she was right. 

It was not all Rio’s fault. But Agatha was too proud, way too proud to ever admit it when she is wrong. She didn’t expect Rio to actually leave when she asked her to, but she is too much of a coward to ever apologise. So in the meantime, she will tell everyone how much she hates Rio Vidal, even though no one dear to her ever believed a single word. 

This whole situation sounds too ridiculous and pathetic to Agatha Harkness, but she would be lying if she said it didn't drive her anxieties off the roof thinking about this play,

Rio hates Agatha. She hates herself. She hates the fact that she auditioned for this movie. She hates the fact that she got the role. She hates the fact that the internet is so invested now she can’t back down. She hates that she is on her way to meet the cast now. She hates the way her heart races. She hates Wanda Maximoff. She hates the way she gets to taste Agatha’s lips. She hates the way they get to spend Friday nights together. She hates Agatha for what she did. She hates the way she blames herself. She hates the way Agatha looks. She hates the way Agatha dresses. She hates the way she laughs. She hates the way she still loves Agatha. 

It wasn’t as if their relationship was perfect. God neither of them could ever be in a perfectly healthy relationship. They argued and they hurt each other, Agatha would call Rio a cunt and Rio would call Agatha a coward. And they would yell until they’re sick of yelling and just fuck it out. Because Rio was insane, but so was Agatha. So when Rio stormed off she never expected Agatha to never yell at her to come back. 

‘Move on.” All her friends would say. 

“You think I never tried?” she would respond. She did. So hard. She turned to alcohol, she turned to smoking, she quit smoking then drank some more. She got a new wardrobe and she found new hobbies. She drowned herself in work and she let boys and girls alike flung onto her. I really did try, she wanted to say, I tried just as hard as I did for our relationship. Neither of them worked out, did they?

Rio kept the love letters Agatha wrote her, in a box, deep within her wardrobe. Sometimes, when the cold winter gets into her head and she’s been kissing this girl at the bar for a whole hour but she still feels lonely, she goes home and sits on the floor. She reads her letters now and then, to go down the memory lane. And she gets hit by a pang that says ‘fuck she really did love me, at some point, she really did love me’. But that probably hurts even more doesn’t it. To know that there was so much love, but it wasn’t enough. 

On most days she is fine, she’s got friends and a very successful career. She doesn’t think about Agatha a lot. She spends the weekend partying with the Odinsons. She does charity work a lot. She ignores the hole in her heart and she keeps putting herself out there because she told herself life does not just end, even if her ex girlfriend doesn’t love her anymore. 

She doesn’t think about Agatha a lot, except when she’s on tv, and when it’s midnight and it’s raining and she has work the next day. She would look at the bottles of vodka on the shelf, but she pulls herself up and makes herself a cup of hot chocolate instead. She wouldn’t think about how this is still the exact way Agatha used to make it for her. She wouldn’t wonder if she still does it the same way. 

She stepped into room 6, they’re having their table read today, as the email says. Would be fun, the director added. She’d be open for any suggestions. 

Would it be fun though? Rio thought. This is her biggest dream and biggest nightmare. Seeing Agatha again. After twelve whole years. 

And she was just as beautiful as she last saw her, her dark hair let down, her smile so contagious, her laughter travelling down the room. She looked happy, her hand on Wanda’s shoulder, them cackling about something Wanda’s twins did. She still sparkled, just like she did when they were 18. 

There’s a lump in Rio’s throat as she made her way down the room. She took her assigned seat next to Wanda Maximoff and at that moment she really wished she was dead instead. 

“Rio Vidal,” Agatha said. “It’s been a while.”

“Agatha Harkness,” Rio responded. “I’ve missed you.” There was a hint of tease in her voice, lingering with sarcasm. I didn't mean it, she tried to make it sound like, I haven't thought about you in years but I still hate you. 

“I still hate you,” Agatha seethed through her teeth.

“I could tell, the feeling’s mutual,” Rio is trying so hard to keep her cool. But honestly she doesn’t know whether to crumble and cry to Agatha’s words, and beg for her to take her back, or if she should just drag Agatha into the changing rooms and see where it leads. 

“No she doesn’t,” Wanda mouthed at Rio, but Rio ignored her. 

“Look I don’t know what the tension is in here,” Jen said, as she walked into the room. “But this is a rom com. Romantic comedy. Light hearted. Happy even. So please get that sorted and stop staring daggers into each other's eyes. Honestly, you’re acting like ten year olds. You guys are supposed to be best friends. Act like it.”

The table read went by with a breeze. At least that’s what Wanda thought. Because she leaned her head on Agatha’s shoulder as they read through the lines, staring into her eyes and holding her hand as their characters’ confessed to each other, but not without constantly sneaking glances at Rio. 

She was fuming. Her muscles tensed and her eyes twitching. Wanda could see her hands grip onto her pen, her jaws clenched. But Rio Vidal is a good actor, professional, so when it is her scene she always delivers it perfectly. Wanda had her own suspicions, that Rio Vidal is still in love with her best friend. She never knew her personally, but from what she heard from Agatha when she was drunk and crying, she knows the chances weren't low. 

Wanda is having so much fun, she could not wait to go home and tell Vision about it. Wanda also made it her personal mission to get them back together. 

She walked up to Rio as she was leaving, and she knows Agatha would hate her guts for this, “So, Rio.”

“Maximoff.”

“Dear, you should just call me Wanda, we’ll be working together quite closely in the whole year ahead, and I have a feeling we would be good friends.”

“Right, Wanda. So do you need anything? Because I kind of have plans tonight.” She doesn’t. Her plan was to drink and cry tonight. Read through Agatha’s old letters, and then cry even more. Her plan was to leave this conversation as quick as she can, because if she doesn’t she might actually claw Wanda’s eyes out. 

“Well I heard you and Agatha used to be high school sweethearts,” Wanda started, making sure Agatha could hear her as she also walked out of the building. 

“And?”

“I was just thinking, it was so long ago, maybe you guys could have coffee sometimes. To catch up, reconcile, you know?”

“Absolutely not,” Agatha shouted from behind.

“Sure, why not?” Rio replied. “Sounds fun. Or are you scared, sweetheart? Do you still have feelings for me?” 

Why she said yes she would never know. She thinks she probably spends too much time with Loki, he who drunk texts his crushes and ex partners both, in the name of doing it 'for the plot'.

Agatha lunged at Rio, with Wanda holding her back. Rio just stood there, smiling at Agatha. 

“I am. Not. Scared.”

“Seems like it.”

“Fine. I’ll go.”

“Perfect! You free next wednesday?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll see you then! Don’t be late!”

“You’re the one who’s always late!”

Agatha is going to rip out Wanda’s guts. 

Chapter Text

Agatha is getting her makeup done, arms crossed as her makeup artist applied contour under her jawline. Her phone rang. An unfamiliar number. 

Being a famous actress, she usually doesn’t pick up these types of phone calls. Most of the work or finance related calls would be directed to her manager anyways, and if it is important she would have their phone number saved. But something tells her she should pick this up.

“Hello?” she says, music playing in the background. They always like having music while getting their makeup done, makes it less boring, Wanda would say. 

“Hey sweetheart,” Agatha knows the voice. It’s like music to her ears, if music makes the ear bleed. 

“How did you get my number,” she spat out. 

“Oh yeah Wanda gave it to me.” That bitch. That backstabbing bitch. 

“What do you want, aren’t you supposed to be here by now?”

“I’m five minutes away. Do you miss me already darling?”

“What do you want, Vidal?”

“Are we not one first name basis anymore, Agatha? That’s sad. Anyways I was just going to ask if you want to grab coffee today at break instead of Wednesday. Lillia’s coming back from her trip then and she wants to spend the day with me.” 

Agatha has not heard Lillia’s name in a long time, but she can faintly remember the kind hearted, smart mouthed lady. She took Rio in and became her legal guardian since her parents died when she was fifteen. She was funny, and always welcomed Agatha into her home when her and Rio were together. Lillia knew how it was with Agatha’s mother, and Agatha used to stay at their place for days on end. 

“Sure, why not.” Another reason to get wasted tonight, Wanda should be lucky she likes her, or else she would have smashed her head into a million pieces for setting her up like this. 

Rio did arrive in five minutes, got herself seated in a makeup chair, but not without Agatha’s snarky remarks about her always being late. 

“Have you learnt your lines yet,” Agatha asked.

“Who do you think I am, of course I did,” Rio replied, rolling her eyes.

“I’m just saying, when we were in school you never finished your homework and always asked to copy mine.”

“I am a changed woman now. Very professional. Besides, you were the one who let me.”

“Because you were less of a cunt back then!”

“Bet you liked my-”

Before Rio could even finish her sentence, Wanda came barging into the room with Yelena, another co-star of theirs. 

“Are you guys done yet? We’re starting soon,” Yelena said. 

“Yeah I’m done it’s not my fault she’s late.”

“I was stuck in traffic, bitch.”

“Whatever guys please hurry up,” Wanda said. She turned around to whisper something into Yelena’s ear, the both of them smiled at each other and Agatha knows her life is going to be even more difficult as Wanda puts up her scheming face. 

Agatha has never worked with Yelena before this project, though she has met her multiple times in parties as Wanda and her half sister, Natasha are close friends. And one thing she knows about her is that not only would she be down for Wanda’s schemes, she would also make it ten times worse. 

Rio sits on the dining table across Agatha, as she sips on her red wine. Well technically it’s cranberry juice, but she would much rather it be actual alcohol. The lights are shining on them, she doesn’t like the lights, it’s hot, it’s bright, which is why the ice in Agatha’s drink is made of plastic instead. The camera is rolling. 

“Action,” Jen said, and Rio took another sip of her ‘red wine’.

She puts her glass down, and has her elbows on the table, her hands supporting her face. 

“So Kara, have you got a date for the Christmas ball yet?” 

Agatha sighed, as she swirled around the ice in her drink. “Ari, I told you I don’t think I’m ready to be dating yet.” 

“There’s this guy from my office, Nate, he’s really nice and he’s attractive. Or Hayley, Mia’s sister, she’s single.”

“I already told you, I don’t-” 

“I’m just saying, you should put yourself out there more. You can’t act as if your life ended just because you got dumped, the world moves on, so should you. I’m getting concerned, Kara.”

As Rio said her lines, she couldn’t help but realise she has heard these words before. “Fucking hell Rio,” Hela used to say, “You deserve better than that bitch anyways.” But Rio didn’t want better. She doesn’t want better. She wants Agatha. It’s been twelve years and she still wants her. 

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Agatha replied. 

“Cut!” Jen shouted. “That’s great guys. Agatha, I just need you to look more annoyed rather than worried. Also Rio you look too tense, love. Relax those shoulders. Alright let's start from the top. Three, two, one, action.”

Wanda and Yelena sat back as they watched the scene roll, far enough for the cameras to not catch their voices. 

“No, do you not see it? When the camera are not rolling,” Wanda whispered. 

 “They look like they’re going to strangle each other and shove their tongues down each other’s throat at the same time, it’s disgusting.” 

“You know they used to date? In high school? It ended horribly.”

“No fucking way.”

“Do you want to hear my plan?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

“I’ll flirt with Agatha. You’ll flirt shamelessly with Rio. It doesn’t matter that we’re both taken because they’re too absorbed in each other to remember that anyways. We’ll see who cracks first.”

“Can I have an iced white mocha with sweet foam please?” Rio asked. With her dark eyeliner and resting angry face, you wouldn’t have guessed that’s her coffee order. But Agatha knew that’s her favourite order, she almost hoped that Rio wouldn’t order that. Because even though her facial features have matured and her hair is longer now, Agatha knew the woman standing in front of her in the queue is still the same person she fell in love with 14 years ago. Because even after everything that has happened, after all the years passed by without talking, all the near moving on attempts, Agatha is fully ready to fall in love with her again, not that she ever fell out of love. It’s not like Rio would ever want her back, right? After telling her such horrible things on that fateful day. 

“An iced white mocha with sweet foam coming right up,” the barista said. “And for the lady with you?”

“Let me guess, you want an iced americano?” 

“Yes.”

“I knew it. You’re still all like ‘I’m so cool and I don’t like any fun’. Honestly, have you drunk a frappuccino in the past ten years?”  Rio teased. 

They took a seat at a table by the window. This rural town they’re filming in is exceptionally quiet on a Monday, including this cafe. 

“You should be grateful I made a promise to Wanda to play nice, Rio.”

“Yeah, I am so grateful you are not acting like an immature ten year old, sweetheart. Also, as empty as this town is, people walking past can in fact recognise us, so look less angry, please.”

“I don’t look angry.”

“You do, stop that. Treat this like you’re meeting me for the first time or something.”

Seriously, even Rio did not know where that sentence came from. Like she’s meeting her for the first time? That’s some insane thing to say for the two of them, high school sweethearts who seemed to have never gotten over their problems.      

“Alright,” Agatha replied, leaning back on her chair. “If that’s how we’re doing this. Rio, tell me something about yourself.”

“Uhm, I’m still scared of ghosts,” Rio said. (They float around, not as actual matter but merely exists because of their past and their memories. They haunt you, saying ‘I’m sorry’, ‘it’s your fault’, ‘I loved you’, ‘you should have tried harder’, ‘it was our fault’, ‘it could have worked out’. And they only come out when it’s dark, when no one is around and you’re home alone, ready to sleep.)

“Really?”

“They’re like not really dead and not really alive,” she continued. (What are we? Because you’re sitting there as you hear me talk and your eyes shine like I’m still the only girl in your world. But you turn around and tell me you hate me and how you hate seeing me around. Some days I thought I could be your friend, see how it goes. Can you make up your mind? It’s killing me because all I want to do is to hold you. It’s ingrained into my flesh and bones to love you and yet I have to fight for my life everyday in fear you don’t want it.) 

“Also you can’t control them,” (Grief. Grief is what I cannot control. Because it’s been twelve years yet, sometimes I see elderflower apple juice in the supermarket and remember how you used to be so obsessed with it. Just when I got well enough to stand up, saying this is the time I’m actually over you, another wave crashes down and my heart feels like it sank in acid again.)

“You’re joking.”

“Also they haunt people, one might be haunting me right now.” (You have haunted my thoughts and dreams since the day your hands touched mine when we were sixteen years old. I still have the way your eyebrows arch and the way your lips taste memorised in the back of my mind. I could recognise you blind, I could recognise you deaf, if someone took my arms and legs and eyes and ears, and you walked up to me, I would know you. I don’t know if you could say the same about me anymore.) 

“Tell me another thing.” 

I love you. “I got another pet spider, you wanna see?”

“You bet my ass I want to see your pet spider, what’s its name?”

“Elizabeth.”

“After the queen?”

“No, the actress. Your turn.”

“ I miss you. I adopted a rabbit recently. He’s the most annoying thing in the world because he keeps shitting everywhere but he’s so fluffy it makes up for everything. And I let him sleep in the bed with me sometimes but this one time i woke up to shit in the bed and I was like never again. I mean I did let him in again but you know.”

Rio watches her talk, as her hands and hair flung around as she passionately talks about her bunny and Wanda’s kids, as she talks about the conspiracy theories about Tony Stark and the newest restaurant she tried. Rio told her about the new flowers she’s planted in her back garden, how Lillia still leaves her a whole turkey when she goes off to a trip and the recent party with the Odinsons, where Hela broke the chandelier, Thor almost drowned in the bathtub and Loki threw butter knives at the dart board. 

It is nice, the way words just roll off her tongue when she is with Agatha. She really wishes they could just do this on purpose some time. Just talk, just be in each other’s presence and see how much of her walls fall down again. 

“It’s almost three, we should go back to filming.”

“Yeah,” Rio hummed. “So, you still hate me?”

“Eat my ass, Rio.”

“I mean if you’re offering?”

“Go fuck yourself.”

Chapter Text

“Action!” 

Wanda pushed the hair out of Agatha’s face, smiling fondly at her. “You know, Kara. I missed you. It’s been, how many years?”

“Nine,” Agatha replied. “How’s Janet?”

“Oh Janet’s being Janet you know the way she is. Nothing’s changed apart from the fact that she’s 18 now.”

“Fuck I swear she was a baby.”

“Time does pass by so quickly.” Wanda said as she took another chug of her beer (ginger beer) “I don’t know I feel like I’ve done nothing compared to all the hopes and dreams I had when I was a teenager you know? Still single and working a job I don’t really enjoy.” 

“No, I totally get you. My friend Ari keeps setting me up on dates with random people and I just, I’m so tired and I cannot be asked to go on dates where I’m not interested in the person sitting across from me, you know?”

“That’s the worst. Wait! Oh my gosh I had the best idea possible,” Wanda started, placing her hand on Agatha’s. “I have a christmas party in a few weeks and I am in desperate need of a date so Janet does not shame me in front of the entire crowd. You can come along, pretend girlfriends you know? We can keep both our families off our backs.” 

Agatha stared at Wanda for a bit, and smirked, “Yeah I’m so down for that. Gosh Ari would have a field day when she finds out I’m dating my childhood crush Liv Owens.”

“Cut!” Jen shouted, and the camera stopped rolling. “That’s perfect guys. I’m thirsty and I want an iced peach tea so we’re taking a fucking break. Be back in half an hour.”

“Typical Jen,” Agatha murmured, as she walks out of the bar they’re filming in to get some fresh air. 

“Hey Agatha,” Yelena said as she approached her on the sidewalk.

“Yelena, what’s up.”

“I didn’t know you and Rio used to be together,” Yelena started, lighting her cigarette. 

“What about it, it was years ago,” Agatha is sick of people bringing this up. She’s annoyed at herself for feeling upset everytime someone mentions their relationship. She’s annoyed because she should be over it by now. She’s annoyed because she doesn’t understand how Rio could have survived so many years without her. She’s annoyed that they’re still apart. 

“Damn girl. And you let her go? You fumbled big time.”

“Alright Yelena.”

“I’m just saying I would not leave the house if I were you.”

“Rio’s a fucking cunt.” Agatha replied. 

“And I will take her. Not in a fight.” Yelena said, smirking as she took another puff of her cigarettes. 

Agatha’s blood boiled. It doesn’t matter if they’re together or not. She’s the only one who gets to think about Rio in that way. Rio belongs to her no matter how many years have passed between them. Rio and her, they promised forever to each other, no one else deserves it. No one.

No. Agatha is not angry. She’s not jealous either. She doesn’t care. She doesn’t. Really. 

And as if time and fate is working against her, Rio walked out of the bar at that exact moment. Yelena turned around, “Rio, wait up!”

“Hey Yelena.”

“Want a cig?”

“No I uhm, quit five years ago.”

“Good on you babe.” she said as she flung her arm across Rio’s shoulder. “You wanna grab something from the cafe? Jen wouldn’t shut up about it.”

“Oh uh, sure?” 

Yelena grabbed Rio’s wrists and dragged her away, talking about croissants and chocolate chip cookies. 

Agatha glared at them as their backs grew smaller and smaller. Yelena turned and winked at Agatha. God this woman might end up on Agatha’s hit list as well. 

Agatha took a deep breath, and tried not to think about all the fun conversations that Yelena and Rio could be having. She turned around and walked back into the bar. 

“Can I have a beer?” she asked the bartender. 

“Ms. Harkness, you’re not allowed to drink during work.”

“Fucking hell. Aren’t you a fucking bartender? Why are you even here if you’re not actually serving beer?”

It’s Wednesday afternoon, and Rio is hiding right behind the coach near the door, waiting for the door to open. She would not move a muscle, as she listens to the car outside pulling up. Her heart is pounding as a smirk creeps up her face. Her plan is flawless, and the thought of revenge warms her heart. 

The sound of keys clashing against each other rings her ears, and she hears as the door unlocks. Rio held a gun in her hand, and prayed to god she doesn’t miss. 

The door opens, and a curly haired old lady swings the door open. Rio fires her bullet, aiming right above her poor victim’s head. 

The balloon stuck right above the door frame pops, and water came splashing down onto a now very drenched and annoyed Lillia. 

“Rio!” Lillia screamed, a laugh escaping her lips. “What the fuck?”

Rio, emerging from behind the couch, is laughing so hard tears are spilling from her eyes. 

“This is revenge for when you sent that fucking doctor here to murder me,” she cackled as she wiped the happy tears from her face. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too you fucking bitch,” Lillia replied, and then she just stared at Rio for a whole minute. 

“You’re being weird again.”

“You’re radiating bad energy dear. Come, pour me a glass of wine, tell me what’s wrong.”

“Shouldn’t you dry off first?”

“Nah.”

Lillia had her hand on Rio’s back as they walked into the kitchen. Rio let tears well up in her eyes and she watched Lillia walk up to the wine cabinet. Words cannot explain how grateful she is for Lillia, who took her in out of her own kindness and cared for her relentlessly everyday; who is like a second mother to her and could always tell when something is wrong; who cooked her meals and did her laundry and did movie nights with her, and loved her as her own. Her crazy laughter and wise words always manages to make Rio feel like maybe life will work out, even for just a small while.

“What stupid thing have you done since I was gone?” Lillia asks as she poured out two glasses of wine.

“You remember that movie I told you about?”

“Oh fuck did you start filming?” Lillia is now opening a packet of salami and just casually snacking on it as she sips her wine. 

“I literally told you that before you left!”

“How am I supposed to remember anything after that detour to Vegas?”

“I don’t even want to know.” Rio replied, scrunching her nose. Lillia never settled down, spending most of her adult years on the broadway stage, she hasn’t had any long term, committed relationship since she was twenty five. It didn’t bother her, as she would say ‘oh Rio would take care of me when I’m musty and crusty anyways’ (Rio argues that she is already musty and crusty and half way into the grave), and that also means she can do whatever she wants when she goes to Vegas. 

“Okay sweetheart tell me what’s up in that weird emo brain of yours.”

Rio curled up on her chair as she gripped onto her glass of wine. “I still love her,” she choked up, staring into the sea of maroon in her glass. 

“Oh Rio my dear. Filming must have been so rough on you.”

“You know we went for coffee together? And we just talked like no time had passed and I wanted to kiss her the entire time. And when we went back to filming she acted like she hates me all over again. And I hate it when Wanda gets to have her hands all over her. I don’t know what to feel. I don't know what to do.”

“I do remember when you two were together, it was so lovely wasn’t it? It will be okay dear I can just show up to her house and beat some sense into her, I’m sure she still loves you. She was so infatuated with you but she’s also a stubborn one.”

Rio laughed as she dabbed away the tears threatening to escape her eyes. 

“I would prefer her in one piece, you old hag.”

“I’m just saying, talk to her. How you two ended, it wasn’t completely either side's fault. Agatha tends to say things impulsively, you know that. She doesn’t mean it when she says she hates you.” 

“It’s just. I miss it when it was simple, when we were happy, before Alice-”

“Child, I don’t want to sound corny as shit, but Alice would not have wanted two of her close friends to end up hating each other just because of the tragedy that happened to her.”

“I’m scared.” Rio whispered, her lips trembling as she gulped her salvia down the lump in her throat. 

“Rio you are tougher than this. I go to cinemas and watch movies and you’re beating the shit out of any man that crosses your path and you’re telling me you’re scared to talk to a girl?”

“Fuck off, Lillia.”

“Alright child if you want any motivation I shall tell you the story of how my dear friend Sharon bumped into her ex when we were in Vegas and got him back after thirty years in just one night,” Lillia said, winking at her. 

“Ew, gross, I don’t want y’all’s old lady seduction techniques.” 

“Well you better dry those tears because we’re glamming up and going to the club tonight.”

“Didn’t you just come from Vegas?”

It’s Wednesday afternoon, also Agatha’s day off from filming, and here she is, lying face down in her bed, replaying and replaying what happened in between her and Rio. 

Rio Vidal. Her ex-girlfriend. Her one that got away? Her soulmate that wasn’t meant to be? Her in another life? 

Fucking fuck. 

Agatha thought about Tuesday, and the jealousy she refused to acknowledge as Rio and Yelena talked about the movies she’s done for hours. She thought about when work ended late, and Rio handing her her jacket that she left at the set, their hands lightly scraping across each other, and she felt fucking fireworks. 

Agatha thought about Monday, thirteen years ago, lying on Rio’s bed with their legs intertwined. She thought about playing with her lover’s hair, as she complained about her mother. Rio was always a good listener, no matter if Agatha was loudly complaining about everything that’s happening at home, or excitedly telling her about the newest true crime podcast she’s been listening to. 

Agatha thought about Friday, fourteen years ago, after the final bows of their school production of Romeo and Juliet, her very own Juliet pulled her aside to tell her how she felt. The buzzing sound of people taking photos and giving their congratulations, the laughter and the hugs exchanged, in the fluorescent light of the changing rooms, Agatha found religion in Rio’s lips. 

Her phone rang, the light from her small screen shining up her dark room. 

Agatha groaned and turned around to pick up the call. 

“What.”

“Let me guess, you’re moping and being a disgusting slug because you didn’t take my advice to actually talk it out with your ex?”

“Fuck off Wanda what do you want?”

“Nat asked if you want to go clubbing tonight.”

Chapter Text

No one can see the dance floor, the air is intoxicated with a sweet blend of sweat and alcohol, it’s wall to wall of bodies pressed up against each other, everyone moving to the music. The noise, the heat, the crowd and every stimulation that used to overwhelm Rio are all drowned out by the alcohol in her system.

The moment Lillia noticed Rio was feeling down, she hit up the Odinsons and they all agreed to go to their nearby club for a fun night out.

The world is spinning, the disco lights shining all over the place, the song blasting through her eardrums. Loki has gone off to make out with some dude, whom Rio could not remember his name to save her life. Thor somehow took over the DJ and is controlling the playlist while letting girls flaunt all over him. Hela and Lillia are sitting at the bar, flirting their way to get free drinks. And Rio is left all alone on the dance floor.

A hand slid around her waist, and Rio spun around in shock. In the darkness of the club she could see the high cheekbones and bright eyes of the woman standing in front of her.

Rio’s eyes were wide and she held her breath as Agatha’s fingers traced down her waist. Her dark green tank top was thin enough to let every single touch send shivers down her spine. She smiled up to her ex lover, too tipsy to overthink the situation, too in love to let the opportunity slip from her fingers.

Some Taylor Swift song is playing in the background, Afterglow, if Rio remembered correctly. She let her body move with the music and she let her heart take over. Her heart pounded as she took another step closer to Agatha, allowing their bodies to be fully pressed against each other. Agatha smiled at her, drunk, dazed and flushed from the alcohol.

She is so beautiful, her cheeks completely red from the alcohol in her system and all the dancing she has probably done, sweat staining her hairline sticking her dark hair to her face, her collarbones shining in the flashing lights.

“Hey sweetheart,” Rio said, reaching her hands up to run her fingers through her hair. They’re soft, just the way she remembered it.

“You’re gorgeous,” Agatha whispered, her hands reaching to Rio’s wrist, and pulling her gently out of the dance floor, to the side, near the staircase.

It’s not that Rio forgot that they were ex lovers, it’s that she doesn’t care. Her body feels light and her heart is racing and the alcohol is forcing giggles out of her mouth and Agatha being in her arms feels just right.

Rio slowly backed up against the walls, her eyes never leaving Agatha’s gaze, her fingertips tracing her cheekbones. “I missed you.”

Agatha’s hands snaked around Rio’s waist again, her warm breath stinging the skin of the curve of her neck. “I didn’t like the way Yelena keeps flirting with you,” she murmured.

Agatha’s lips found Rio’s neck, leaving slow, gentle kisses down her neck. A soft moan escaped her lips.

“She’s not flirting with me,” Rio giggled. Agatha’s cute when she’s all possessive, and it doesn’t even matter if they aren’t together. Rio is hers. Rio knows she will always be hers, whether Agatha would acknowledge it or not.

Agatha looked up at her, pushing the hair away from Rio’s face. Their noses are barely centimetres away from each other, and Rio could smell the alcohol in her breath. Agatha tilted her head ever so slightly, closing the gap in between their lips. The music is so loud, and neither of them noticed the other’s thumping heartbeats.

Before their lips could touch, Rio’s phone rang.

“Fucking fuck,” Rio murmured as she reached for her phone. “What,” she demanded as she received her call, frustrated at how horrible the timing was.

“Can you like to come to the tables at the side, like right now.” Hela’s voice sounded slightly panicked at the other side of the call, and Rio excused herself from Agatha.

Agatha, with her every breath influenced by the alcohol in her system, stumbled over to her group of friends after Rio ran off to apparently help Hela get Lillia’s head unstuck from in between two chairs.

Wanda and Natasha were talking about how Pietro got stuck in the Police station for two whole days while travelling for his world tour. They thought he robbed a shop or something. Nat argued that Pietro probably did it.

Agatha demanded a cocktail made for her as she sat down next to her friends, her mind in a whirl after all that’s happened just now. It was a high that Agatha had sought out in every woman’s bed yet couldn’t find, a habit that she couldn’t break, even after twelve whole years her hands still slide around Rio’s like it is muscle memory.

“You know the Odinsons are here, Ags,” Wanda said.

“Oh yeah, Thor!” Natasha called, and the long haired blonde hollered back. “Can you give us some Chappell Roan?”

“Pink pony club coming right up!” Thor shouted, and continued jamming to the music with the ladies around him as the new song started to play.

“Do you think she’s here, you know?” Wanda continued, leaning forwards to face Agatha.

Agatha has never found the piece of lemon in a Bloody Mary more interesting. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Agatha what have you done now?” Natasha chimed in, suspicious, and the potential gossip distracting her from the loud music in the background.

“I mean I didn’t kiss her?”

“...Right,” Wanda arched an eyebrow.

“But I might have danced with her and told her I miss her and that the way Yelena flirts with her makes me jealous,” Agatha said it all in one breath, and if it wasn’t for the dim lights at the side of the bar, you could’ve seen her already flushed cheeks getting even more red.

Natasha snorted, “babe, my sister is taken.”

“That is besides the point, Agatha what the fuck?”

“I miss her,” Agatha groaned, drinking another sip of her cocktail.

Wanda rolled her eyes, this is the same thing she’s heard a million times. “How much did you have to drink, Ags.”

“Not a lot, like six shots and maybe two glasses of wine,” Agatha slurred.

“For fucks sake.”

“This is pathetic, now she ran off to help her friends with something. Yeah just walking away, like Rio Vidal always does.” she complained, burying her face in her hands.

“I told her to talk it out with Rio,” Wanda whispered to Natasha as Agatha moans and complains. “She never fucking listens to me.”

“I hate this,” Agatha went on, grumbling as she played with the lemon in her cocktail. “How the fuck am I still in love with her after 12 whole years. Sometimes I just want to tell her fuck I’m sorry I was too young to know we had it all and it was maybe my fault but my pride wouldn’t let me.”

“She’s going to then go on about how much she hates her trust me,” Wanda said, earning a snort from Natasha.

“She just keeps taking up my mind and it’s really hard to focus on anything else. Ugh I hate Rio so much. She’s getting on my last fucking nerves and I wish I never signed up to do this movie so I don’t have to see her face every fucking day.”

“Bingo,” Wanda whispered, and Natasha cackled.

“Did you guys even listen to what I just said?”

“Let’s see, you miss your ex, you still love her, you’re too proud to communicate and then you hate her,” Wanda replied, rolling her eyes teasingly.

“It’s like you guys are all against me, you cunts.”

“You’re the one who’s always working against yourself idiot,” Natasha replied, and received a smack on the back of her head.

“Someone get me another glass of whatever this is,” Lillia said and she got herself comfortably sat on the chairs again.

“How the fuck did you even get this to happen?” Rio asked.

“She dropped her lipstick beneath the tables, I told her, we can just move the chairs around and reach it. No! She had to climb in to reach for it and got herself stuck.” Hela stated, clearly amused and annoyed at the same time.

“You guys are such fucking cockblocks,” Rio whined, and she turned to walk away.

“You fucking around again?” Hela asked.

“You wish.” Rio replied, with a nervous smile on her face and her heart threatening to jump out of her throat.

“No way,” Lillia gasped. “Agatha’s here?”

Rio didn’t reply.

“Communication darling!” Lillia called as Rio walked away, making her way to the bar.

Maybe this is it. This is the time she actually says her truth. Before Agatha, Rio never wanted to believe in second chances in a relationship. They don’t deserve it, if they could give up so easily on you, if they chose not to fight for you. Yet it’s been twelve years and sometimes Rio still stays up at night curled up in bed wishing she was in Agatha’s arms instead. She’s still there, knowing she would wait forever if it meant Agatha would be there. Because she needs her in such a pathetically raw way when air cannot reach her lungs, instead of breathing, all she does is try to claw her way back to Agatha in her dreams. Hold me, she wanted to say, hold me so my heart can beat again. I still think we are worth fighting for. Because as lovely as ‘maybe in another life’ sounds, this is all we get, and I wanted to spend it all with you. I still do.

Through the crowd and the singing and the loud music, Rio finally got close enough to hear Agatha’s voice.

God she missed her voice. She missed her touch.

“Ugh I hate Rio so much. She’s getting on my last fucking nerves and I wish I never signed up to do this movie so I don’t have to see her face every fucking day.” Rio heard Agatha say, and her heart dropped.

It was her fault really, for getting her hopes up and thinking Agatha out of all people could actually love her again.

She wouldn’t let tears spill from her eyes. She cannot let another drop of tear shed for someone who clearly never cared about her. But Rio Vidal really gave it her all when they were together, yet it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough coming from someone like her. An evil hearted savage, a horrible creature like Rio doesn’t deserve the love after all, does she?

She walked out of the club. It was cold, like concrete drying in her chest, like black mist clouding her eyes. She didn’t wonder why Agatha thrives on her pain. She didn’t wonder why Agatha didn’t care. She definitely didn’t wonder what she could’ve done to make Agatha despise her so much still.

The air was cold. The chatter of people leaving the club seems to be muted by the ringing in her ears. The smell of cigarettes crept into her nose, and she saw Loki, leaning against the wall as he took another puff of smoke.

She took the burning cigarette from his hand and watched as it glowed orange. She inhaled the grey stench, the air was rotten and her lungs were poisoned, Rio took another drag.

“You okay?” Loki asked, concerned for his friend who fought so hard to battle away the nicotine addiction years ago.

But addiction is tricky, when your head is ringing and your arms are numb, the air intoxicated by the stench of cigarettes causes five years of sobriety to go down the drain. And Rio thinks she still loves Agatha, and Rio knows it’s hurting again.

Chapter Text

“Action!” 

“So, this is Kara, my girlfriend,” Wanda said, with her hand around Agatha’s waist. 

“Kara Howards? From high school?” Yelena replied, with wide eyes and a big smile. 

“The one and only,” Agatha grinned, leaning her head onto Wanda’s shoulders. She could feel Rio’s gaze burning into her from behind the camera, she tried to pay it no mind. 

Agatha didn’t understand. The taste of Rio’s skin still burns her lips and sends shivers down her spine yet she couldn’t understand why Rio keeps ignoring her. She tried to talk to her, making some harmless snarky remarks, but all she got was a glare, a simple ‘sure’ or the worst, a blank stare. She didn’t understand what she did wrong, and even though what she did the night before was all under the influence of alcohol, she thought they were going somewhere. 

There’s a lump in her throat as she speaks and her chest tightens when she moves. Maybe it is her fault. It’s always her fault. Agatha is too proud to admit it, but deep down, she knows it is true. There is something so satisfying about self destruction, to throw insults, to break dishes and push people away, just to give herself a pat on her back as in ‘I told you so, they all leave eventually’. Her mother made it abundantly clear since she was a child, a rotten girl like you does not deserve any love. Rio was the one who always came back, who always stayed, until she didn’t. 

The cameras are running, the movie demands perfection, and Agatha is a professional. Who cares if the world is against her? Her skin shines in this light and she knows she looks fabulous in this dress. She wants to die and she will put a smile on her face. 

“I thought I would never see you again,” Yelena responded, offering her a glass of wine. 

“I guess fate has her way with things, and I guess I never moved on from my high school crush,” Agatha laughed, feeling a gentle smack on her ass from Wanda. “I mean look at her, how could I?” 

“Stop it darling,” Wanda chuckled, and gave her a peck on the cheek. 

“Blergh, gross, you guys continue being gay, I’m gonna go help with the food now,” Yelena said, and walked off. 

“I say we were quite convincing,” Agatha whispered to Wanda’s ear, earning a smile from her. 

“She definitely bought it. Ready to meet my family?”

“Lead the way my lady.”

“Cut!” Jen yelled, and the cameras stopped rolling. “Amazing work everyone, that was perfect and I think we can move on to the next scene. Can someone get me a rhubarb apple juice? And get me some moisturiser as well? The weather is getting so fucking dry and the heaters are not helping. Alright let's get going, we're meeting the family and being bullied by the sister!” 

Agatha looked over at the group of people on set, and realised Rio had already walked away. 

“Action!”

Rio is walking down the road, ready to turn the corner to reach the toy shop. Wanda ran up to her, calling, “Ari!” 

Rio turned around, looking shocked to see Wanda and flashed her a smile. 

“Olivia, right?” she held her hand out to shake Wanda’s hand. “Kara has told me so much about you. Wouldn’t shut up even.” 

Wanda chuckles, “she flatters me. Also, call me Liv.” 

“Oh I’m sure you are as amazing as she claims you are,” Rio replied. “I haven’t seen her so bright and happy since her ex dumped her. You’re like God answering my prayers.” 

“Should we go inside somewhere? I’m freezing.”

“I’ve got to buy gifts for my nieces anyways,” Rio said. “Wanna come with?”

“Cut!” Jen called. “Can you guys try swapping around so Wanda is on the side of the road instead? It looks a bit unnatural right now. Can someone fix Rio’s makeup? You look amazing. I swear the lighting just makes your undereyes a bit puffy right now. Who the fuck farted?”

“If I say it was me, would all of you try to murder me?” Yelena asked as she slurped her smoothie. 

“Literally kill yourself,” Agatha grumbled as she walked away. “I’m getting snacks. Who wants some?”

“Oh can you get me some sour candies please?” Wanda asked. 

“Yeah sure.” Agatha replied. “Rio?”

“I’d take your funeral.” she replied, glaring at Agatha. 

“You won’t get that in a long long time babe. Alright I’m out, it stinks here.” 

“At least we're outdoors!” Yelena called, trying to defend herself, but Agatha was already out of sight.

“Can someone give Wanda a hot chocolate to hold and see how it looks?” 

Rio’s makeup artist walked up to her with a palette. She knows it’s not the lighting. She knows because she spent the night awake on call, crying and crying to Loki about how cruel the world is. “I still love her. She hates me and I still love her.” She choked. And her best friend had comforted her with sweet nothings, but he was helpless. Because she was crying and he wanted to say that’s the way love goes and you get hurt and you stand up again, but he also knows no one in the history of time made Rio Vidal half as happy as Agatha Harkness did. 

As her makeup artist brushed powder onto her face, Rio realised her sadness is not beautiful. Despite everything she’s read, the beautiful poems she created and have crumbled up in her kitchen bin, the romanticisation of it. Her sadness will bury her alive, her fingertips are bleeding from the attempts of crawling her way out, she doesn’t know if she will survive. 

She smiled and thanked her makeup artist, straightened her coat and got back to where she started in the scene. 

“Looking fabulous, Rio. Alright, lights, camera, action!”

Rio walked down the windy road again, “Ari!” Wanda called after her.

“God I am so tired,” Jen said as she forks down her pesto pasta in their warm and cozy trailer. She scrolls through her phone looking at their schedule for the rest of the day. 

“So, Rio,” Yelena started. “How’s the guitar lessons going?” 

“Oh it’s okay. I think I prefer the drums though.” Rio replied, taking another bite of her sandwich. 

Agatha remembered Rio on the drums, feeling her own eardrums vibrate as she sat reading on the floor and enjoying Rio’s presence. They were just 17, and everything seemed so simple. 

“You in a band?” Yelena continued, offering Rio a piece of chocolate, which she accepted. 

“I was, when I was a teenager.” 

“That’s so cool,” Yelena replied, and Rio just continued eating her sandwich. 

Agatha can feel her capillaries exploding. She’s always been too proud to admit that she’s jealous, but everyone knows she’s the jealous kind. Who does Yelena think she is? To ask Rio all about her life, to be so interested in her? 

Agatha doesn’t say it, but she’s jealous of all her friends, who get to laugh with her everyday, without a lump in their throat, anxiety of what’s going to go wrong. She’s jealous of her tattoos, because they can touch her skin, and stay there forever. She’s jealous of the moon, for she gets to talk to her in the am, she gets to know all her secrets. She’s jealous of the sun, who still gets to give her morning kisses, when she’s half awake, her hair in a mess. 

“Oh my god! Agatha just got nominated for the golden globes!” Wanda exclaimed. 

A smile spread onto Agatha’s face, “For The Witches’ Road?” 

“Yes! Congratulations!” 

“Congratulations Agatha you deserved it,” Yelena said, flashing her a smile. 

Agatha turned her head to look at Rio and met her eyes. Rio simply stared at her, emotionless and unbothered. “Oh. Congratulations my love,” she spat out, with a cruel sneer on her face. “I’m sorry I don’t have a bouquet ready for you.” and all of a sudden Agatha is sick to her stomach, and all the excitement and pride faded. 

Agatha sighed, frustrated. It’s one thing for Rio to be angry at her, but to not understand why, to experience such a switch up after a relatively smooth few weeks. 

I’m sorry. She wanted to yell. I don’t know what I did and I don’t know why you’re acting this way. Don’t walk away again. I can’t live without you! 

“What is your problem?” she said instead, complaining. 

“What’s my problem? What’s your fucking problem Agatha? Leave me the fuck alone. If you hate me so fucking much let me be.” 

“What the fuck?” Agatha exclaimed, frustrated and confused.

Jen sighed, she would say she isn’t paid enough for this, but she is in fact paid a shit ton. She did not, however, sign up for dealing with arguments in between high schoolers. “Guys, I know you think you hate each other even when the sexual tension is off the charts, but we have ten more minutes before we are filming again, so can we wrap it up and finish eating your lunch please, you pathetic lesbians.” 

“Jen why do you always have to ruin the fun?” Yelena groaned. 

“You think this is fun?” Wanda replied. “They’re stressing me out!”

“Action!” 

Agatha has her hands in her hair as she sits next to Rio on her sofa. “Ari, it’s all fake.” Her lips trembled, breathing heavily enough for the microphones to catch it. 

“What is?”

“The relationship, the story, the fact that she loves me. It’s all a lie. I- She needed a date and I wanted to stop having to go on meaningless dates and- Ari I think I love her and I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh Kara,” Rio whispered as she placed a hand on her arm, rubbing it comfortingly. 

“Cut! Rio sweetheart, why do you look more devastated than Agatha? You’re trying to make her feel better, not make her more depressed. Starting from the top, three two one, action!” 

“Ari, it’s all fake,”

Rio took a deep breath. “What is?” 

“The relationship, the story, the fact that she loves me. It’s all a lie. I-” Agatha chokes up as she wraps her arms around her knees. “She needed a date and I wanted to stop having to go on meaningless dates and- Ari I think I love her and I don’t know what to do.”

“Oh Kara.”

“I’m scared, Ari. I don’t want to love again because I’m scared it’ll hurt again.”

“But what if it doesn’t? What if you both do it right this time? You’ll never know if you don’t try, Kara,” Rio said gently, and it hurts oh it hurts. 

“I don’t know if she even actually wants me,” Agatha said, her eyebrows furrowed. 

“Trust me, that girl looks at you like you hung the stars in the sky, even when you got annoyed at the kids, even when you spilled the hot chocolate, even when she thought no one was watching. She loves you. Take my word for it.” 

“What if it ends badly? What if I lose her as well?”

“What if you're too scared, and you miss your chance? What if you look at her and think you should’ve kissed her instead but you were too much of a coward? There’s so much space for what ifs and regrets but you can choose love instead.” Rio’s voice broke at the end of her line, and her eyes welled up in tears. This is too much. This is simply too much. To sit so close to the girl who broke your heart, talking about love. “I need some air,” She announced. “Excuse me.” 

She walked out of the set, out of the small town house they’re filming in, and sat on the side of the road, clenching her heart as tears fell down her cheeks.

There is indeed so much space for what ifs. What if they didn’t go out that night? What if they didn’t get into the car? What if Rio never said the horrible things she did? What if she held Agatha more tightly? What if she didn’t walk away? What if she begged her to stay, twelve whole years ago? 

The town is freezing. And the arms she wishes could hold her has painted her blue. She loved Agatha, she really did. She poured her soul into the one person she wished to spend her life with just to find out she didn’t love her back. That it was all, a lie. But she still doesn’t know how to be angry at Agatha. Being angry is so much easier than being sad, but Rio misses her lover, and all she could do is let tears fall. 

To be a lover is to be a fighter, and Rio has been at war for the past 14 years, and Rio is tired. Rio loved Agatha so tenderly until her mouth started to taste like blood and all her devotion turned into violence. She cared for Agatha so much she wondered if Agatha simply felt it like an axe to her chest. She wouldn’t be enough. She wants to be. But she wouldn’t be enough. 

The front door clicked open, and someone stepped out of the door. “Go away,” she croaks, wishing to be left alone. 

“Rio,” Agatha’s voice echoes in her ears, and all of a sudden she feels light headed. Rio whips around, her bloodshot eyes meeting the bright blue orbs of her former lover. “Are you okay?” she asked. 

Rio stared at her in response. 

“Can uh- can we talk?”

Chapter Text

Rio looked at Agatha, her eyebrows curved ever so slightly, so desperately trying to hide the sadness and grief in her eyes that it could almost fool everyone. But Agatha isn’t everyone. She could tell that she is biting the insides of her lips, that her crossed arms aren't anger but to hide the fingernails digging so deep into her skin they almost bleed, that her soulless eyes are not blinking simply because she wanted to prevent tears from forming. 

“Talk?” Rio repeated, straightening her posture. “What about?”

Agatha walked over to Rio, and took a seat next to her on the front porch. She made a mental note to thank Wanda as she heard her voice from inside the house, saying ‘let them be’. 

Her heart is thumping like the drums in a death march, she feels like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode. “Us,” she replied, ever so gently, ever so softly. 

“Oh,” Rio replied, the sea of sorrow still drowning her voice, but her eyes widened ever so slightly, glimmering in what Agatha prays is hope.  

Salem, 2010

It was bright in the changing rooms, and 16 year old Agatha Harkness was humming the tune of Love Story as she wiped the stage makeup off her face. You’d think playing a male part would get you slightly less makeup, but onstage, no matter if you’re the tree in the background or the female lead, the layers and layers of foundation and contour and powder are apparently very necessary due to the sharp lighting. 

She ignored the loud chatters and laughter outside. It’s not that she’s jealous of people who had family to support them. If anything she’s even more glad that her mother chose not to show up. At least she’s not here to make snarky remarks. 

The heavy changing room door creaked open, and her personal Juliet slipped in. Rio Vidal, ever so beautiful, still in her soft green dress and her hair half tied up, holding a bouquet of orange flowers, Agatha could feel her heartbeat quicken. 

“Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” she said, a mischievous grin on her face. 

“Rio,” Agatha smiled, heat rising up her cheeks as she tried to play it cool, pretending she does not have a crush on the girl taking a seat on the table she’s using. “Shouldn’t you be out there receiving all the flowers and praise right now?”

“I could say the same to you,” she replied. “I just escaped Lillia and her group of friends. Loud noises and crowds stress me out. Flower?”

Rio handed Agatha a piece of flower from her bouquet, which she accepted. 

“They were praising us on our chemistry onstage, you know?” Rio continued, letting her hand touch the back of Agatha’s palm, which was placed on the table. “Lillia is convinced we’re an item.”

Agatha hummed, a smile crept up her face as she looked up to Rio, staring very intently at her, “Is she?”

“I mean,” Rio said softly, “I’m alone with a really pretty girl right now, and I don’t know if she likes me the way I like her.”

Agatha stood up, now looking down onto Rio who’s sitting on the makeup table, twirling her hair at her. “And if she does?” she murmured. 

Agatha tried to ignore the exploding butterflies in her stomach. She touched the edge of Rio’s mouth with the tip of her finger, as if she’s Michelangelo and Rio’s some holy painting. Rio’s lips parted ever so slightly, breathing air out, and a giggle escaped her lips, “Then maybe I’d like to kiss her.”

Agatha is so close now, the familiar scent of Rio’s perfume floats into her senses. “Then what?”

“I’d ask her to be my girlfriend, my Romeo,” their lips ever so slightly scraped across each other, and Agatha closed her eyes. 

Their lips touched and struggled in the gentle warmth, and Agatha sank her hand into Rio’s hair and dove into the kiss like Icarus fell for the sun. 

At that moment, Agatha knew. It’s you. It’s you. It’s always been you. It’ll always be you. 

When they part, Rio looked at Agatha with so much longing in her eyes Agatha could cry. “Agatha,” she whispered, and Agatha wanted to merge her bones with Rio’s and let their hearts beat as one, without the little infinities of space in between them. She wanted Rio for the rest of her time, she found religion in her lips, she found a home in her eyes. 

“Girlfriend, huh?” she chuckled fondly at her. 

“If you’re down,” Rio said, leaning her head into her palm that is still in her hair. 

The Calderu Household 2011

Agatha sat on the floor of Rio’s bedroom, snuggled up in her girlfriend’s arms as she munched on the cookies Lillia had baked the night before. 

Her mother was screaming before that, had a few too many drinks and started yelling at Agatha, blaming everything that went wrong in her life on her 17 year old daughter. Agatha had always been used to it, but when she started throwing wine glasses at her, she packed her stuff and went to Lillia’s.

Ever since her and Rio got together Agatha had not been at her own home a lot. It’s sad, but even breathing the same air as Evanora Harkness is difficult. Agatha never had a father growing up, as he left when she was merely one year old, and her own mother has blamed her for it since then. 

It’s hard, when the house you grew up in is your first grave. It’s hard when your mother told you it’s disrespectful to cry since the age of seven, that your pain is attention seeking. It’s hard that Agatha would have grown up to be a successful 30 year old that moved out years ago but a part of her would still be in her mother’s house. It’s hard when you know your mother is still human and she just unfortunately got a thunderstorm instead of flowers as a daughter. It’s hard when no matter how many layers you put on, you’ll still end up your mother’s daughter, like a pomegranate peeled down into seeds of everything horrible she ever said to you. 

Agatha shifted in Rio’s arms, a small sigh escaping her lips. Her lover held her tight, and pressed a kiss on the side of her head, “You okay?” she asked.

“Just thinking,” Agatha murmured. Her head is in knots, and the scars that faded years ago still burns from the thought of the clothes hangers her mother used. 

“You wanna talk about it?” 

Agatha shook her head, “Just stay,” she whimpered. She sounded so vulnerable, so weak and broken. No one in the world but Rio Vidal has seen her like this before. 

“I’m not going anywhere my love,” Rio replied, rubbing circles on her back. “I got you sweetheart. I got you. You’re safe here.” 

Rio knew everything about what Evanora did to Agatha, and she hated that woman with every inch of her body. Rio knew she would spend every living breath protecting Agatha Harkness. 

“I love you,” Agatha murmured as she buried her face in Rio’s chests, breathing in her sweet scent. 

“I love you Agatha,” Rio said, pressing another kiss on the top of her head. 

“And I love your boobs,” Agatha said, her voice muffled. 

Rio laughed, “I know you do.”

The wind was blowing and rain pattered down onto the window, the trees were green and Agatha was happy. It’s almost embarrassing how much Agatha wanted Rio, not even just sexually. She wanted it to be Rio, she wanted to be her that she goes home to, and fifty years from now she’d sit at the front porch in the middle of nowhere, and she’d be by her side. 

Agatha stayed over that night, and she swore she’s not obsessed but when she closed her eyes she kept having dreams where her wanting bubbles up her throat like a sinking ship with Rio’s hand as the anchor. Rio’s fingers undid the braids in her hair just like how her words undid her. Forever is a beautiful con but Agatha knew she’d never love again if there is an ‘after Rio’. 

Outside the Witches’ bar, 2012

The three girls, finally all 18, laughed as they stumbled out of the bar, the world spinning and the dopamine still rushing through their veins. 

“Did you see that guy?” Agatha cackled, “he was like ‘oh gorgeous can I buy you a drink?’ and then he took one look at me and almost shat his fucking pants.”

“He was so not ready for lesbians,” Alice snickered. “Rio’s way out of his league anyways.” 

“We’re staying at your place right?” Rio asked, looking at Alice. 

“Yeah, yeah my mum’s still on tour.”

“Remember when we were kids and your mum used to get us to be part of her witchy spells?” Agatha said. 

“Fuck yeah that was wild.”

“Should I drive?” slurred Alice, as they stumbled to the parking lot behind the bar. “The world’s still spinning.”

“Please,” Agatha laughed. “We’ll be fine. You had, what, like three drinks.”

“It’s just a five minute drive,” Rio replied. “Or else we’d have to walk for a whole half an hour.” 

“Fuck,” Alice said, reaching for her car keys. “You’re so fucking right. Someone pick the songs.”

They were eighteen, they were fearless, and a few rules did not scare them. They were too young to be scared of making a few mistakes, strong enough to let the fire burn and say fuck it I can do whatever I want, tough enough to just laugh and brush it off if they crash into a tree. 

Alice opened the door of her car, and stepped into the driver’s seat, “Guys, you do realise we have to wake up at eight tomorrow right?” 

“What the fuck?” Rio groaned. 

“Band practice.”

“Fuck’s sake who makes the schedule? On a fucking Saturday morning?” Agatha complained, and she shuffled into the car after Rio. 

That night, they didn’t just crash into the tree. One moment the road was there, wide open and safe, and you were just laughing and singing along to the radio; the next there were loud noises, smoke, and pains that you may never recover from. 

A car crash comes as a shock, you looked at both sides of the road yet you didn’t see the other car speeding at you, the blindness is fatal. Just like life, you think you’re young, and you have all the time in the world to make the mistakes you want to make, but a moment of emotional blindness, it all crashes down. 

That night, only two of them came out alive. 

The carpark of Salem funeral services, 2012 

“Agatha?” Rio asked, walking up to her lover, with her heart heavy. Grief is like the ocean, big and beautiful, but if you let go of your grip you will just go down with everything beautiful that ever was. And guilt, guilt is sickening, it rots into your bones and you can scratch your skin out until you bleed but the voice that calls you a murderer remains. 

“Not now, Rio,” Agatha croaked, turning away from the taller, teary-eyed girl. 

“Agatha,” Rio pleaded, her voice breaking like glasses shattering from the top shelf, everything’s coming down, and her lover is not willing to catch her. “Just, can you stay by my side?”

“Rio I need to be alone,” Agatha replied harshly.

“Can’t we just talk?” and it hurts because this is the moment where Rio needed to be around Agatha the most, and she desperately didn’t understand why Agatha seemed sick even breathing the same air as her. 

“What’s there to talk about,” Agatha snapped. “Can’t you see? We’re both fucking murderers, Rio. She’s dead because we fucking killed her.”

It was fall, and the wrist bones of the maple trees started to weaken, the piano in the funeral service was still playing, and the tears from her eyes sank into the mud, ready to be frozen in the winter to come. 

“Don’t say that, we didn’t mean-” 

“You know it’s true, and it’s your fault just as much as it is mine. I hate myself for it, Vidal. And I hate you for it.”

“You don’t-” 

“I said I hate you. Seeing your face makes me sick because I know our friend is dead and you are at fault here. I don’t want to see your face. Ever. Again.” 

Rio felt as if her veins were pierced by venom, her heart slowly, slowly, turned into obsidian. It felt as if someone dug their hands into her chest, and ripped out the crimson mess someone used to call home, leaving her with nothing. 

“Agatha-” 

“LEAVE.” Agatha yelled, tears threatening to spill from her eyes, red from fury, or grief, but filled with enough resentment for Rio to know, this is the end. 

Everything ends, like all the green leaves that faded into brown and started to fall, like the touch of her lover’s hand she might never feel again. It was nice while it lasted, right? 

“Okay,” Rio said gently, as she turned to walk away. “Goodbye, my love.” 

Everything Rio ever held dear slipped away from her fingers like quicksand. She didn’t want them to be a lesson learnt the hard way, she didn’t know what to do. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, but the crash of a car, the snipping of her heartstrings; what doesn’t kill you leaves you with inhumane scars that nobody can see, it leaves you with self hatred that fuels through your veins like gasoline fills up motors, it leaves you with an empty body with a violently self destructive mind. 

No, Rio did not see the shift in Agatha’s expression as she walked away, she did not see the parting of her lips, the tiny reach of her hands, and her battle with her pride, she did not see the way Agatha sank into her knees, crying and crying, “Come back,” until Evanora Harkness found her in the parking lot, and dragged her home. 

Rio Vidal slept a total of five hours in the next four days, waking up embalmed in the white sheets of her bitter residues, seaming, shivering and not able to shake away the overflowing thoughts of people she loved and she lost. 

Chapter Text

The awkward silence deafens Agatha’s ears, her hands are trembling, sitting next to Rio, this is everything she’s waited for for the past twelve years. She could finally have the conversation that was stuck in the back of her throat since she was 18. Yet here she is, her throat as dry as the sahara desert, and she doesn't know what to say. 

“So…” Rio said, looking down and nervously picking the skin out of her fingertips. 

“What,” Agatha replied, frustrated at the lack of words and thoughts forming in her head.

“You said you wanted to talk about us,” Rio grumbled, annoyed. “Then, talk?”

“I- Uh-” Agatha stuttered, helpless in the situation she put herself in. There's so much to say yet the lump in her throat is getting bigger, like the cork in the bottle of shaken champagne. “I don’t actually know how to do this.” 

“...Right.” Rio replied. The silence was so loud you could almost drown in it, and Agatha looked at her and saw black, from the embers that remained when Agatha burnt down their paper house. She wants to build it up again, properly this time. 

“Why are you avoiding me?” Agatha said, finally. 

Her head tilted, in Rio’s eyes were storms of madness, and she laughed. A laugh so hollow and lacking of joy, that it sent shivers down Agatha’s spine, “Avoiding you? Sweetheart you’re the one who said you hate me, I’m just giving you what you deserve. What you desire.” 

“Rio I didn’t mean it!” she exclaimed, frustrated at Rio’s behaviour, heartbroken that she could ever even believe in that. 

But perhaps, Agatha did make her feel that way. Her worst sin is that she had destroyed and betrayed everything she ever held dear for nothing. She carried her mother’s drunken rage with her throughout her entire life, and she spread her pain around like the plague.

“You didn’t mean it?” Rio spat, all the rage she had swallowed down like a pill for the past few months boiled up, splattering around like molten lava. All this anger used to be grief, all this anger used to be grief. “Did you not mean it, when you’re drunk out of your mind saying you hate me and you wished you never signed up for this god damn movie? Did you not mean it, when you told me my own fucking face made you sick because it is my fault Alice fucking died?”

All these years, wasted on what? Pride? Agatha loved Rio. Agatha loves Rio. And guilt bubbles up her throat, all it took was probably an apology, and yet twelve whole years passed and Agatha knew she could have spent them with Rio in her arms instead. 

“No! No I didn’t! I was frustrated and I was scared and I was confused but-” Agatha cried out, desperate for Rio to listen to her. 

“Yeah, Agatha, give me all your fucking excuses. Lie your way through, because that’s what you do best anyways, isn’t it? Like when you told me you loved me? When you said you saw fucking forever in me? And I fell for it. You’re a cruel, cruel person Agatha Harkness, and it hurts. It hurts every fucking day and I hate it and I want it to stop hurting so please let me be and stop breaking my heart every fucking day.” 

“My love-” 

“Don’t.” Rio snapped. “Don’t you dare call me that. I tried everything. Lavender, alcohol, nicotine. I pulled my hair out like ribbons imagining they’re memories of us because maybe forgetting would hurt less. I tried making more friends. I kissed every fucking person who wanted me. I tried screaming in the shower. I tried digging my own grave. I imagined digging yours. I tried getting a haircut, and learning a new language, and getting fucking therapy. Nothing fucking works because you still plague my thoughts every living moment and it’s pathetic honestly, that if you say you miss me I will come running back. Because I still, unfortunately, love you. Even after all you’ve put me through. And you’re sitting there at the bar, without a fucking care in the world, telling your friends how much you hate Rio Vidal.” 

“I- Rio.” Agatha whispered, fearfully reaching out to the shaking woman in front of her, gently touching her face. “Rio I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The cloud of rage in Rio’s eyes faded for just one moment, taken aback by Agatha’s sudden apology. Even in their two years of relationship, ‘sorry’ wasn’t a word that was used often. Agatha would buy her gifts, and cook her a nice dinner, but an apology comes hard for someone as proud as Agatha, and Rio used to have made peace with it. 

“You’re sorry.” she repeated, stunned. “That’s all you got to say.”

“I love you and I am sorry I was too proud to say that. It was my fault, the way we ended, it was completely my fault but every living breath I took I thought about you since the day you walked away.” 

“You told me to leave,” Rio said, her loud and angry voice now reduced into weak, gentle whimpers. “You told me you never wanted to see me again.” 

“I’m sorry, Rio. I’m sorry. I was frustrated. I thought you’d come back.”

“Agatha I-” 

“I’m sorry I was a dick.” Agatha continued, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked into Rio’s eyes. “I love you and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life learning how to live without you. I don’t want to learn to forget how you looked at me and I don’t want to stop dreaming about you every night. I don’t want you to forget the way I talk and the way I laugh. I don’t want you to unlove me.”

“I could never stop loving you Agatha, every inch of my body, every corner of my thoughts, is overflowing with you. You’re so fucking stupid.” Rio chuckled, with tears streaming down her face. 

“I regret everything I did. I’m sorry I didn’t say this earlier. I’m sorry I was too proud to write you a long, beautiful letter when I was in Spain after my graduation. I’m sorry I was too proud to call you and hear your voice on your twenty-first birthday. I’m sorry I was too proud to tell you how hard I realised living without you is last new year's eve. Rio, sometimes I forget to pay my bills but I never forgot to check your horoscope or your city in my weather app.”

The warmth of Agatha’s palm melted into Rio’s cheeks as she watched her eyes flutter, Rio didn’t say anything.

“Do you think we can do it again? We could relearn each other’s names and favourite colours. You could bring me to your favourite restaurant and you can tell me about your childhood all over again.” Agatha continued. “We’d fight. You’d get annoyed at me. I’d say things I don’t mean. And we might not work out, and get reduced into strangers again. I’d understand why you’d say no, and I’d understand if you hate me now. And there are so much I don’t know about how life is going to take us. But Rio Vidal, the stars would go out before I am even able to stop loving you any less. That’s something I know for sure.” 

Thoughts, like a whole library of poetry, flooded out of Agatha’s lips. Everything she ever wanted to say, every ‘I love you’s hung at the back of her throat in the past twelve years, Rio deserves to hear all of them. 

“Everyone is dying, Rio. The alcohol is burning away our decaying livers, the earth is being eaten up by the sun and the smoke. The world was so tough on the both of us and we survived so much. Couldn’t we survive more? Love a little longer? Because I love you. I love you, I love you. And no matter how much it ever hurt me I have never regretted a single moment of it.” 

Rio stared at Agatha, starry eyed. It’s not that the years of heartbreak would instantly fall away, and suddenly the birds are chirping and the sun is shining again. But in the midst of the dark embers scattered around their burnt down paper house, a singular daffodil grew. And maybe there could be a garden, spring will come and the vibrant flower will bloom, and Rio might let her guard down and watch it begin again. 

“You love me?” she asked, with her small, unsure voice. 

“I love you, Rio Vidal. I always have. And if fate disagrees then fuck her, I will stitch the red strings until they are sewed into your name. I will find a way. I will crawl to you and I will fight the gods. I will carve your name into my arms so the universe knows I belong to you. I love you with every bit of conscience I have.” 

Rio closed her eyes, and tears stained the concrete floor with dark grey as her lips trembled with the overwhelming feelings. Every wish she made upon a star since she was eighteen years old is coming true right in front of her. 

Rio leaned her body into Agatha’s embrace, burying her face into the crook of her neck, and the whole world fell into place because Agatha found her way home.

“I missed you,” Rio choked out, she missed the way Agatha breathes, the way her fingertips feel down her spine, the way she felt being in her arms. 

“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Agatha whispered gently. She was seventeen all over again. She wanted to watch movies with Rio, fall asleep next to her, hold her hand, make cookies with her, show her off for the whole world to see. She’s thirty, her heart has been broken a few more different ways and the wrinkles in the corner of her eyes are deeper now, but her heart runs and her face lit up in a way it never did since 2012. 

“I love you I love you I love you,” Rio murmured, like it’s everything she’s got to say, like it’s the only thing that matters. And Agatha knew, if the world collapses on itself right this second, she’d die happy. 

Rio looked up at Agatha, her eyes glistening in the setting sun, and gave her a playful pout. “So I expect you to take me on a nice date, ask me out, and woo me all over again,” she giggled. 

“Anything for you, my love.” And the gap in between their faces seem to be decreasing so quickly. Soft skin, sweet perfume, strawberry sweet breath, “Can I kiss you?” Agatha murmured. 

“Yes.”

Chapter Text

“Cut! Guys. As much as I appreciate the fact that you guys made up like mature adults, this is not a rom com in between the two of you. Rio, you are convincing Agatha to kiss Wanda, you are NOT trying to kiss Agatha. Please stop eye-fucking Agatha when the cameras are rolling. Get a grip. Keep it in your pants. Please.” 

Everyone backstage bursted out laughing. Two weeks have passed since the day Agatha found her way home again. Rio’s gentle touch is like sitting in the sun without anything to do, you feel the warmth of the infrared rays and realise the sunlight has travelled so far to get to you. 

It’s not that everything is immediately okay, but that after all the nights curled up in each other’s arms attempting to fill in the gaps of the past twelve years, there is faith that one day they’ll be okay. 

Rio smiled, “I am keeping it in my pants. If I’m not I’d be-” 

“Don’t you even dare finish that sentence you whore.” 

“Hey!” Agatha called. “That’s my girlfriend you’re talking to!” 

Jen rolled her eyes and sighed. No amount of fucking herbal teas can save her from this madness. “Agatha, can you not lean against the wall like you’re ready to take Rio into your bedroom please?”

“But what if I am?” Agatha retorted. 

“Can we please be productive?”

Jen is losing her mind. 

“Wanda have you taken some fucking mints yet?” Agatha called as she let the hair stylist touch up her curls. 

“No, I actually ate a whole clove of garlic because I hate you.” Agatha and Wanda have been joking about this scene since the day they got the script, and everyone knows it ensures chaos. 

Agatha groaned, knowing fully well Wanda is not joking “Jen, I'm not doing this scene today.” 

“Good! Can you guys never do this scene?” Rio snorted.

She also cornered Wanda with a butter knife yesterday, stating really clearly that even if she gets to kiss her onscreen Agatha is still hers. Rio has always been possessive, and now that she got Agatha back in between her fingers again, who could blame her for a bit of, violent warning? 

“Agatha, don’t be a pussy and kiss your best friend, if you do it well we’re done in one shot.” Jen grumbles. 

Jen loves these actors really, they’re fun and they genuinely care about her when she’s stressed and down, but gosh if she’s not already bald she would have a handful of hair falling off each time she steps into the set. 

“If Agatha won’t kiss Wanda I can kiss Rio instead,” Yelena said, munching on her roasted peanuts. 

“Literally kill yourself,” Agatha yelled, throwing her prop handbag at her, landing right on her head. 

“Action!” 

The camera follows Agatha as she walks into the room, the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree shimmering at the corner of her eyes. She’s holding a glass of ‘vintage wine’ as her eyes meet Wanda’s and her face lit up into a smile. She placed the wine glass on top of the blazing fireplace, and took her hand. 

Wanda giggled as she was led to the middle of the living room, Christmas songs playing from the side of the room from a vinyl player. They slow-danced round the living room in the warmth, taking each step slowly. Agatha leaned her forehead to lightly touch Wanda’s, her arm around her waist. 

“Merry Christmas Liv,” she said, just loud enough for the cameras to hear. 

“Merry Christmas Kara,” Wanda replied, her eyes closed, swaying to the music.

Agatha let herself close her eyes as they went round and round in circles, letting the cameraman get all the angles and shots they needed. 

And Agatha found herself actually looking forward to Christmas this year, despite the cold wind that pierces through her skin, in Rio’s warm, gentle embrace, maybe her burning warm soul could melt down Agatha’s cold cold heart again. 

Right foot back, left foot back, a step to the left, with your left hand dipping down slightly. Agatha realised a relationship is in fact, like a slow dance. You take a step forward in consideration of your partner dedicating yourself to know them intimately because one wrong step might end in disaster. 

When a dancer falls, the other catches her gracefully, taking her hand and twirling her around. In the fluid motion of underlying compromise and loyalty, the twin flames dancing around could be like slow dancers on the ballroom floor. But Agatha and Rio were young, taking rough steps while only thinking of themselves, trampling over each other and bringing the stage curtains down with them in flames. But stepping on your partner’s toes once or twice isn’t fatal, because you can always laugh it off and continue with the music. 

“Cut!” Jen called, a rare proud smile on her face. The entirety of backstage erupted into cheers and tears welled up in Wanda’s eyes as she laughed. “That was perfect, you two, beautiful work. That’s a wrap everyone! I’ll expect you all at the after party tonight!” 

An hour later, after all the chatting and tearful hugs with everyone, Agatha found Rio packing up in the changing rooms, her makeup half removed. She walked up to her, patting her gently on her shoulder. 

“Rio, love, wanna go home?” Agatha asked. 

“Yeah, I’m exhausted.” 

Rio was right. She knows she was. There is no ‘in another universe’, there is only this one. And in this universe, nothing kept them apart, not timing nor unhealed trauma, circumstances nor geography. Rio is exactly where she should be and it is in Agatha’s arms, because like the sea to the shore, they will always find their way back to each other. And life is good. 

Having been starring in so many romance movies in the past, Rio had seen her fair share of the deep, slow-burning, self consuming love so overly romanticised. In movies, in books, in poetry, yet ever since Agatha left, she found it so hard to believe it actually exists anymore. But snuggled up in Agatha’s embrace, the warmth of the fireplace melting into face as ‘Killing Eve’ plays on the television, Rio is home. (Okay maybe Killing Eve makes the whole atmosphere a little less comforting, but Agatha loves the show, and Rio loves Agatha) 

She turned to face her lover, with a soft smile on her face, “So, sweetheart, do you still regret signing up for the movie?” she teased. 

“Oh shut up,” Agatha laughed, planting a kiss on the tip of her nose. 

“You love me,” Rio murmured, as she scrunched her nose up in satisfaction. 

“I do, my love, I love you.”

Rio giggled as she snuggled closer to Agatha’s chest, breathing in the scent of her lavender and vanilla body lotion, with Agatha casually running her hands through her hair, playing with them. 

“Agatha?” she mumbled. 

“Mhm?” Agatha hummed, her eyes glued on the television. 

“It’s seven thirty, I’m hungry.” 

Agatha took the remote and paused the show, pressing a kiss on Rio’s temple. “Wanna cook?” 

“Am tired, can we just make ramen?” 

“Alright baby,” Agatha replied, getting up from the soft sofa and swiftly turning off the television. Rio pretends she didn’t notice, but she did, the way Agatha didn’t even spare a thought before turning off the television, despite being in the middle of an episode; the way she gets up and sets two glasses out with ice, pouring out her favourite brand of apple juice she specifically bought for her; the way the lights are shining in a warm dim setting, just because Rio gets overstimulated with bright lights. 

Rio Vidal is loved. She really is. 

She watched as Agatha placed the pot over the hob, and chopped up some spring onions on the side. Agatha ripped open the red ramen packet and placed the noodles in as Rio’s hands found themselves around her waist, her breath on the skin of her shoulder feels like it’s going to bloom a whole garden with love. 

“Dance with me,” Rio whispered into her ear. 

“Baby I’m not a dancer,” Agatha replied, even though her body seems to betray her words, turning around to face Rio. 

“You danced with Wanda,” Rio said, her eyebrows scrunched up into a frown. 

“You jealous?”

“Maybe.”

Agatha smiles as she held one hand out to her girlfriend, slightly bowing down, “My lady, would you give me the honour to be your partner in this dance?”

Rio took her hand, “I thought you’d never ask, Romeo.” 

Fourteen years ago, Rio saw eternity in Agatha’s eyes. After all the torturous tricks and trials the world has thrown at them, she still does. She closes her eyes, and all she sees is Agatha. There isn’t an inch in her brain that wouldn’t have a piece of her lingering in her brain. The rest of the world falls apart, as Agatha dips her down into a kiss. 

Rio might not even be able to name all the people she’s kissed before, yet none of them burnt her alive like Agatha’s lips. The way her soft skin brushed against hers, the space in between them exploded into nebulae. 

“Baby I gotta crack the eggs in,” Agatha said, a few moments after they broke away from the kiss. 

And they’ve got to sort out the grocery list, and feed Agatha’s pet bunny. They have to respond to the emails about their dresses for the movie premiere, and read over their scripts for the interview tomorrow. They have to do their laundry, and take out the trash. Rio takes out two pairs of chopsticks and two spoons, she is happy. 

She looked at Agatha, and it finally sunk in that she doesn’t have to think of her, in the shower when the day was long and everything was crashing down into sobs of loneliness; in the car ride to work with scenes looping in her head wondering, wondering what went wrong; in the morning after a blissful dream just to realise it was not reality, because it is reality now. And Rio doesn’t have to think about Agatha anymore, because she is here, glowing in the dim kitchen lights, and she’s hers, all hers. 

Rio spent her years loving Agatha like violent weather, thrashing and screaming; her faith in her own love just like gold, unreacting, never changing. She folded herself like she folded her clothes, in the deepest parts of her wardrobe, waiting to be picked up again. She had loved her for a moment, and it exploded into infinity, a lifetime, and all the lifetimes. She knew it fourteen years ago, she knew it twelve years ago, she knew a year ago and she knows it now. As she is setting up the table while Agatha sprinkles spring onion over their spicy ramen, in the tip of her fingers, in the centre of her bones, in every signal of her nervous system, it has always been her. 

Chapter Text

Christmas Miracle premiere trending 13.1k tweets 

AGATHA trending 4,630 tweets 

Mother is mothering trending 1,045 tweets 

@PopBase Agatha Harkness and Rio Vidal arrive at the premiere of ‘Christmas Miracle’ in LA together. 

99 replies 733 retweets 14k likes 

@witchyhahnn 

omgomgomg 

@Galaxygirl052

MY PARENTS

@ilsasfausts

Her little smile kahsghajdgshhs 

@RioVidal 

At the premiere look at my girlfriend [image_link]

150 replies 3k retweets 30k likes 

@ant_thedelulu 

ITS OFFICAL GUYS DROP EVERYTHING AGATHARIO CONFIRMED ???

@itsafairytale95 

Suicide postponed mothers are mothering 

@brokenkneeslutt

Guys it’s three am here and it is so worth it 

24 retweets 1.2k likes 

@walshs21barca 

Same wth the things I do for these lesbians 

@hvnterfx

I SECURED THE TICKETS LAST NIGHT IM SEEING MOTHER WANDA 

52 replies 24 retweets 2.8k likes 

@swiftsgrath 

Camping outside the premiere I think I saw Rio’s back 

20 replies 326 likes 

@lotscatorccio 

Wait same wya lmao

@motherh4hn 

Sorry for telling everyone so late about this but my application to interview the actors went through!! Please reply if you have anything you want me to ask the actors! 

300 replies 1k retweets 10k likes 

@melli_maks 

The Scarlet Witch season two when???? 

@for_evermeera 

AGATHARIO CRUMBS PLS 

@harknesslut 

Me live reacting to the premiere: a thread 

1 reply 10 retweets 132 likes 

“Love, we’re at the premiere, stop staring at your phone,” Agatha said as they stood at the side waiting for their co-stars to arrive. 

“Twitter’s going insane after I posted a picture of you captioning with ‘girlfriend’,” Rio giggled as she liked another person’s reply. 

“So quick to show me off, aren't you my love?” Agatha replied, laying her chin on her lover’s shoulder. 

Rio smiled as she looked over at Agatha, her hair was done in a low messy bun with loose curls falling down her face. She slid her hand around her waist, the dark blue silk of her dress feeling smooth in her palm. “How could I not?” she laughed. “Look, our friends are arriving.” 

The two women showed themselves from the comfortable corner they were hiding in, and were met with Wanda’s family, and a flock of paparazzi and fans calling their names and screaming questions. 

Wanda greeted the both of them with a huge smile, leaving Vision a few steps behind to deal with the troublesome children. “You both look amazing!” she exclaimed, giving them a warm hug one after another. 

“So do you dear,” Agatha replied. “You always look so delicious in red.”

Rio smacked Agatha on the back of her head gently, with a genuine smile and muted rage in her eyes. Wanda laughed. 

“In front of both our partners? You’re naughty Agatha.”

“I need to have her on a leash,” Rio muttered. 

“Kinky~”

“Alright keep those thoughts in, you perverted whores. I heard you’re breaking the internet, Rio,” Wanda said, desperately trying to change the topic. 

“I didn’t know you’re as clinically online as I am.”

“Oh it’s not me. Tommy figured out how to use twitter these days.”

“Isn’t he like ten?” 

“Don’t even.” 

They laughed as they walked onto the red carpet, obliged to let the people take photos of them. As overwhelming as the roaring crowd and flashing lights was to Rio, the smile kept on her face the entire day was genuine. Living felt easy, work felt easy, breathing felt easy once Agatha was by her side. Agatha’s love melted away the carnations in her lungs and she could finally breathe. 

“Rio, look over here.” “Agatha, smile for the camera” (“Don’t tell her what to do.”) “Can we have a photo of Wanda and Agatha?” “Yelena, show off that dress!” “Rio, turn around!” 

After signing a few posters for the fans, and answering a few questions, Agatha and Rio found themselves sitting at the front rows of the enormous, pop-up cinema. They sat next to Yelena, who brought Kate as a date. 

With the excited chattering around her, Rio let out a content sigh. They have a few interviews scheduled in the following weeks, but this insane year of filming has finally come to an end. She’ll go onto the next movie, maybe a tv show, do a photoshoot, or whatever she has to do in the long list of things written down in her calendar. For once she is looking forward to it. Living is not a chore anymore, existing no longer felt like carrying a dozen swords in her chest. For the past few months Agatha held her close until the wounds closed up and the scar faded, she wept for the time lost, but all was forgiven, because why drag around the grief you chained to your feet? Why let regret drag you down? When the love is here, telling you it’s going to be here tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that. 

“Guess this filming journey worked out even better than we could ever have imagined,” Wanda said, sitting with her family in the row behind. 

“Thanks for not letting me quit this movie, Wanda,” Agatha said, with tears of genuine happiness in her eyes. Everything worked out, her girlfriend’s hand in hers, the universe has tipped back into balance. 

Little Billy Maximoff poked Rio’s arm, and she turned around to see him flashing her his happiest grin. “Auntie Agatha seems so much happier since you two got together,” he admitted. “Thank you!” 

Rio gave him a gentle pat on the head, “I’m glad.” 

The movie started to play, and Rio’s heart pounded as she watches a year’s work present itself on the screen. Years from now Rio would be invited to a talk show, and the host would ask her which movie was her favourite to film. “Christmas Miracle,” she would say with a smile and eyes that seemed to wander far away back to the old days. That’s the movie that changed her life, not because of the high ratings or huge box office, not because of the multiple awards it got nominated for. It is because she found her way home. 

“You know what? I might actually prefer this over going to fancy restaurants,” Rio said, as she looked at the starry night sky, eating a piece of pepperoni pizza. She sat on the rooftop, letting wind blow at her face as her long hair dances, the soft music playing in the background, crickets chirping at the coming of summer. 

“I mean the pizza is fucking amazing,” Agatha replied, as she looked at the stars reflected from Rio’s eyes. The night is quiet, there is no loud, screeching halt from the cars, or from her heart. There’s no fluorescent light blinding her vision, and everything is peaceful, everything feels safe. 

“Yeah,” Rio murmured, laying her head on Agatha’s shoulder. 

“I love you,” Agatha blurted out, blush rising up her cheeks as if she hasn’t been saying this for all her life. 

“I know, darling,” Rio smiled. “I love you too.”

“No, Rio,” Agatha continued. “I love you. I love you and I tried to lie to myself in the years we were apart but I don’t think I ever stopped loving you. God you’re just so beautiful sitting there under the stars and- I love you. I always have. I always will. And I feel like I don’t tell you this enough, but I genuinely see forever in your eyes.” 

Rio took Agatha’s hand in hers, breathing in the warm summer breeze, “I know, Agatha, I know.” 

Because she does, even if Agatha never say it again, Rio knows she loves her. Agatha comes home from work as soon as she can just to spend time with her, she makes her breakfast in bed on the weekends, with pancakes and cream and blueberry jam, she squeezes toothpaste onto her toothbrush for her when they get ready for bed together. It’s the mundane things in life, and Rio sees them all. 

“You do?” 

“You’re not as subtle as you think.”

“What do you think about getting a child?”

“Mama,” a voice whispered, nudging Agatha in her sleep. 

Agatha stirred, someone is poking her, which is strange because in her dream she was alone. 

“Mama,” the voice said again, slightly louder this time. Agatha opened her eyes. 

“Nicky,” she breathed out. She looked at the dim blue light coming from her alarm clock, it’s 3am. “Why are you up?”

“I had a nightmare,” he whimpered, loud enough to wake Agatha’s wife sleeping next to him. 

Agatha pressed her fingertips into the soft mattress as she sat herself up, looking at her five year old son who was trembling in front of her. “Oh Nicky,” she said, softly enough to not startle him anymore, and pulled him into a hug. 

Their son crawled into their bed and made himself comfortable in between Agatha and Rio. “There was a ghost, and he was chasing me, and-” he choked up into sobs. 

“Sweet boy,” Rio whispered as she ran her fingers through his long hair. “You’re safe. Your mommies are here. We’ll keep you safe.” 

“You promise?” 

“You know your mami has super powers, Nicky,” Agatha said. “She can fight all the bad guys away for you.” 

Rio placed a kiss on the back of his head and he snuggled up to his mama’s chest. 

Their baby boy, Agatha would do anything to keep Nicky safe, and she knows he’s going to grow up, and make so many more fun memories. Time seems to fly by, and she knows in a blink of an eye he would go from getting his first ride on a roller coaster, to driving his car for the first time. She knows he would go home from a first date with a smile on his face, and he might come home crying after he got his heart broken, as much as she doesn’t want it to happen. She hopes he grows up falling in love with life, knowing the joys of genuine laughter and deep love, experiencing everything from skating over a frozen pond to getting piss drunk in a bar. She hopes he gets to experience the love her and Rio has, and she hopes it lasts him a lifetime. She wishes he could never grow up and everything could stay this simple, but she knows its not possible, so the next best thing is to love him and support him all along the way. 

Agatha will give her little boy every ounce of love her mother never gave her. 

“Okay,” Nicky muttered, as he closed his eyes again. 

“And the Oscar goes to, Rio Vidal!” 

The crowd erupted into cheers as Rio’s jaw dropped to the floor. Never in a million years would she expect to be even nominated for an Oscar, much less win one. Her wife turned to her with tears of pride in her eyes, and as she stood up, still dazed from the shock of the announcement, she gave a kiss to her lover and walked her shaking legs onto the big stage. 

She gave a hug to Gamora, the presenter of the awards, and accepted the little golden man. 

She faced the audience and cleared her throat, the sea of well known celebrities looking at her, even her 26 years of acting from the school auditorium to big screens could not prepare her for this moment.

“Uhm,” she started. “I never thought I’ll actually get this award so I actually don’t know what to say” 

The audience laughed. Rio scanned through the audience and found Agatha. She took a deep breath, it’s okay, it’s okay. 

“Thank you, thank you. This is so overwhelming. I- Gamora, you are incredible, I’m a big fan ever since ‘Lost Soul’. And the women in this category, gosh. Honestly, Hela, Kate, Jean and Gwen I share this with you, you’re all amazing. I’m a mess, oh god.”

She brushed her hair behind her ear and looked at Agatha, and she only looked at her as the rest of the world fell apart. She got this.

“I want to thank everyone in the team, ‘Illicit Affairs’ was such a fever dream to work in, thank you to the cast and crew for always keeping me laughing. Every single person who poured their heart and soul into making this brilliant film, thank you for this wonderful experience. I owe it all to you. Teamwork was so important in every step of the way I could almost say we’re like witches in a coven, we’re so tightly knitted that this movie would not have happened without any of you. Gosh I’m rambling. Blame my wife, she’s driving me insane with the third Scarlet Witch season in production.”

Agatha laughed, and her smile, god Rio could look at that smile forever. 

“I also have to thank my wife, my love, Agatha, I could not have made it without you holding my hand. You are my home, you welcome me with open arms even if I’m dressed in rags and covered in mud and fake blood, because after a day of work all I want is to run home to you. You make work easy, you make living easy, you make breathing easy. Thank you for supporting everything that I do, indulging in my very practical ways of trying to understand characters that I play, and thank you for the heavenly carbonara you make me. You are the best lover I could ask for, and you are an exceptional mother. I have loved you since we were sixteen and man will I love you for the rest of my life.” 

Rio took a deep breath, and continued. 

“Last but not least, I want to thank, well, myself. Fourteen year old me, who hesitantly stepped onto the school stage after being casted as Glinda in Wicked. Thank you, for despite how nerve wrecking it was, you kept going, auditioning for every school play and every movie life threw at you. For never giving up when it was hard, when everything that went wrong felt like your fault. For listening to Lillia’s advice even when she sounded like a cranky old lady. Because you kept going, you found the love of your life, you found your best friends, you found your passion and you found somewhere to belong. I wanna say to fourteen year old Rio Vidal, you made it.” 

It is a habit, on Saturdays Agatha wakes up before Rio, and she makes her way to the kitchen. She weighs out the flour and all the dry ingredients, cracks in two eggs and adds in the milk. She browns the butter on the cast iron pan and makes a conscious choice of adding in too much chocolate chips. 

Rio would wake to the scent of pancakes downstairs, and stumble down as Agatha makes their coffee. 73 years old, and Agatha still drinks her coffee black while Rio loves it with all the syrup and whipped cream she can get. 

Agatha would hear her, and in the stillness of a silent morning, she turns around and she could see the years on her lover’s face like lines on maps marking every journey they have been through, and it would all make her even more beautiful. She would know what Rio does next, running her hand through her now white hair, and pressing a kiss on her lips, the first thing she does when she wakes up. Loving Agatha is a muscle memory for her. 

They bathed in their youth completely and crazily in love, fighting and kissing in the rain, so full of life and energy. And even though their skin started to fade from the colour of their early years, their lives and their eyes are never void of the spark they bring each other. 

Sometimes Rio remembers, the 12 long years spent without Agatha by her side, but her hair is almost all white, and 12 years was so short compared to the lifetime she spent with Agatha. 

The walls would be covered in photographs, their wedding, their trip to Tokyo, Nicky’s graduation… They never felt lonely ever again. 

They would sit down as they forked into their pancakes, sipping on their morning coffees and talking about lunch and Nicky’s new job. The window is opened, and the autumn leaves are starting to fall.

The both of them still make movies sometimes, but mostly they just like tending to flowers in their backyard and sending their son a jar of homemade jam when the season comes. 

Many years passed and the pair of lovers watched a couple thousand sunsets together, and their skin is wrinkled and their bones are getting weak. Rio has her head on Agatha’s shoulder as she flipped through the newspaper with her progressive lenses, and she asks Agatha if she loves her. Teasingly, of course, Rio knows the answer. 

Agatha would smile, and that is answer enough, before her lips could even part. 

“I love you, with every atom making up each inch of my body. Rio, my heart has been yours since the day we met, and it still is, it always will be.”