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Rio dreams.
There were dreams of her life. Not this life, but her lives across universes, across time, across reality. She thought of them as just the production of her own imaginative mind. But when she felt every emotion, every pain that came with her or Agatha’s demise, she figured it was anything but such. She comes to understand that they were memories that came with her soul. They were the promise of her soul to love Agatha.
She dreams of where it all began. She was a cosmic entity, the reaper of souls. Death. For millennia, she just did her job, collecting souls from every corner of the universe. But when she saw this young witch, betrayed by her coven, which she killed, she felt something for the first time. Death didn’t do human emotions, she was beyond that. However, the witch didn’t stop. She put so many in the grave, so many bodies for Rio to collect. And so, Rio decided to take on a human form, just for this woman. Be a human, just for this woman. They met over piles of dead bodies - the witch’s doing. She came to know her name, Agatha Harkness, a witch killer. They became a team. Agatha gets her powers, Rio gets her bodies. Love blossomed between the two of them, and this love blossomed a child, their child. Nicholas, the child of death. Nicholas was not supposed to live, he was a stillborn. Of all things Rio could give him, she gave him death. He needed to be guided to the afterlife. When Rio came to collect her own son, her love pleaded to give them time, and so she did. She didn’t have the courage to be with them, the whole time Nicky was alive. She knew that she’ll have to take him one day. And that she did, at the cost of their love. Agatha spent centuries hating her, hiding from her. And when they get to be with each other once again, walking the witches’ road together, it only ended in Agatha’s demise. She is Rio’s scar for as long the universe exists, and death is needed as a balance. Being a cosmic entity, she did everything in her power to ensure that in her every life, other than this one, she’ll love Agatha.
She dreams of a life where they’re in a world of crime. She’s an FBI agent, Agatha’s a detective in a small town in New Jersey. They’ve known each other through the cases they’ve been assigned together. Though, Agatha spent all that time with such a dislike for her. She never knew why. They were assigned together on another case. It was of a woman who was presumed to be killed and moved across state lines. It was a hard case, almost impossible to solve. So, they spent more time together than usual. She frequently stayed over Agatha’s house for convenience, nothing else happened though, much to her dismay. They ate their meals together, talking about the case. Sometimes they talked about it over beer, and Rio’s lucky to know more about the woman as she rambled about herself when drunk enough. Months of investigating, they finally found the perp. Just like in cliche detective movies, they had a standoff. They were about to win. But, she was shot. The last thing she saw was Agatha holding her in her arms. She thought that was it for this life. But she opened her eyes once again, and this time, Agatha was looking at her with such a loving expression. They kissed for the first time at her hospital bed. She was thankful for this life.
She dreams of being a jolly middle school student. She’s living her life as a child, getting into mischief here and there, ignoring her student responsibilities, giving much of her time for playing. She let herself enjoy this little world first before facing the real world. She wasn’t trying to find Agatha yet, she figured she should just give time for herself in the meantime. That was her original plan. It was disrupted one afternoon when she was playing in the playground of their school. The pre-schoolers were brought to the said playground to wait for the people who’re going to pick them up. It’s not that she didn’t mind playing with kids, it’s just that she saw a boy. A boy who looked a lot like Agatha, who looked a lot like her Nicky. She approached the kid, and was able to confirm her suspicions. The boy’s name was Nicholas Harkness. She felt a bittersweet feeling in her chest. This boy was once her son. She played with him, making up for the time that she wasn’t able to spend time with him in all her other lives. And when it’s time to pick up Nicky, she saw another woman. A red haired woman with green eyes. He called her mom. Maybe, this wasn’t Nicky, maybe fate was just playing with her. It turned out, fate wasn’t. As Nicky's mom picked him up in her arms, Nicky shouted “mama.” And then she saw. She saw Agatha approaching her family. Rio cried. She cried like a child. The two women comforted her, thinking that Rio was just sad that Nicky had to go. Nicky assured her that they’ll still be friends. And that’s what her role became. When they grew older, she just became a family friend. Nicky’s friend. Rio watched as the woman and Agatha stayed loving each other. She became happy for Agatha. At least in this life, Agatha was happy, even if it wasn’t in her arms.
She dreams of Agatha being on the other side of the world. Rio was a teenager, eager to experience the joy of love. Seeing an opportunity to get a lover on the internet, she signed up in an app. After countless tries with other women, she felt like giving up. She swore to herself to never take up online dating again, she’ll just give it one last chance. And luckily, that last chance turned out to be Agatha. Just like in any other lives of hers, they clicked instantly. They spent the majority of their day talking to each other, doing things on the internet together. But they were only teenagers at that time. They were bound to grow apart. As Rio grew, she eventually forgets the two years she had with Agatha. No, she didn’t forget, she just forgot how it felt like to love her. Though it was magical, it was still just puppy love, she thought. So there she was, still having no lover as she flew across the world, determined to change her life. She was being toured in the building of her new job, and there she saw Agatha. The world slowed down around them, them at the center of it, staring at each other. Rio felt it again, all the love she had for Agatha in this life and in all the others. That’s when she remembered, she was supposed to do this all along, love Agatha. In this life, they never let go of each other ever again.
She dreams of a world where she can see the red string of fate. She doesn’t have one. But, Agatha does, one that is torn. She pesters Agatha at her bookstore, determined to investigate her string. They fall in love, despite going against fate. They married, had a child, Nicky. But not even ten years into their blissful life, Agatha’s string mended itself. And Agatha met the woman on the other end of her string. Going against fate never ends well, it was cruel to Rio. Agatha came to love the other woman more than she had loved Rio. It was only right - she was Agatha’s soulmate. Rio continued loving Agatha from afar, dying alone when the time came.
She dreams of herself saving lives. She’s a doctor, sworn to the oath of do no harm. Opposed to her life as the reaper of souls, she’s now the guide of people back to life. It brought such joy to her, the thought of giving people another chance. This joy was broken when she had a particular patient. Agatha Harkness. She was already bedridden by the time her case was transferred to Rio. Agatha’s previous doctor referred her to Rio, hopeful that Rio will be able to make a difference in Agatha’s health, given that she’s one of the best around. She tried everything in her power to make an effective treatment plan for Agatha. It was working, Agatha was able to become stronger than before. Rio lessened the cases she was handling the whole time that Agatha was under her care so that she can spend more time with the woman. They created a bond in the four walls of Agatha’s hospital room. Agatha was the happiest when Rio was around. She didn’t have many visitors, but she’s content with just Rio around. They spent the little time Agatha had falling in love with each other. She succumbed to her illness, since the treatment no longer worked.
She dreams of a life where she’s nearing sixty years old, and she still hasn't met Agatha. She’s a successful businesswoman, properly balancing her career and her personal life. Even with Agatha’s absence, she came to love the life she has this time. She surrounds herself with her friends, she helps support noble causes. She’s content, since she knows that Agatha was somewhere in this world, and Rio still loves her with all her heart. She just wishes that she’s having a happy life too. When Rio attended a community reunion with her family back in her hometown, she finally meets Agatha. She’s a happy woman - single too. Without any restraints, Rio approached her. And they had this instant connection. They spent the night basking in each other’s presence. But as the goodbyes were bid, their family finally introduced them as distant relatives. Rio’s world shattered. She spent the rest of this life loving Agatha like family.
She dreams of a life where Agatha is in Hollywood. She was very successful, fame enveloping her in every aspect of her life. Rio was just a simple personal assistant, Agatha’s assistant. In the first few months of Rio’s employment, Agatha made it her life’s purpose to make her life a living hell. She was a diva, and sometimes, she gets on Rio’s nerves. She wonders if her unconditional love will reach Agatha this time. She wasn’t even sure if her soul’s promise of loving the woman would persevere. That changed one night she spent with Agatha. Rio didn’t know how it happened, but they became vulnerable with each other, finally getting to know each other. Agatha explained the reason for her behavior to Rio, that she pushes away others unconsciously. Their love finally surfaced after that eventful night. But, being with Agatha endangered Rio. Fame followed her everywhere, meaning that all kinds of people followed as well. She hid Rio from the outside world, and Rio had no choice but to love Agatha from the shadows. Rio almost gave up on them, the relationship and hiding was consuming her. And as an act of her endless love for Rio, Agatha left the spotlight. They sacrificed many things for their love. And each was worth it.
She dreams of a life where they are now both in the spotlight. Agatha had a band, consisting of her coven which she once walked the road with. They needed a drummer, and Rio was exactly what they needed. She had a hard time, however, to adjust to the band’s dynamics, and Agatha made sure to let her know that she’s walking on a thin line. Saying that Agatha was annoyed with her, is an understatement. She was angry. But, Rio never backs down without a fight. Instead of directly retorting back to Agatha with anger, she teased the hell out of her. She was her love after all. They butted heads every chance they got. And in no time, they got to be awarded as the best band of all time. Agatha realized that hate and love were only separated by a thin line. The hate that she had for Rio was love all along. At the end of their current tour, Rio grabs the mic from Agatha’s hand, and expresses her love for Agatha. Agatha replied by kissing her on the lips in front of thousands of people.
She dreams of them as royal princesses of allied kingdoms. They fell in love in their first banquet together, a banquet celebrating the unity of their kingdoms. They masked their love as friendship in the eyes of the nobles, the people, scared that they’ll be forced apart when their love was known. But they wished for more, and so, they announced to their royal families their true sexuality and the nature of their relationship. They were not ousted, but weren’t acknowledged either. They were simply ignored. However, when the need to strengthen the allyship between their kingdoms rises, they saw an opportunity. They proposed a marriage between the countries - with them as the pawns. The kingdoms did not decline the proposition, as it was the perfect measure. The day that they received the blessings from both the kings, they were delighted, and they finally became one with each other. A few months passed, and the day they were to be wed came. Rio stood at the altar, in her green wedding dress, adorned with black lace - her favorite colors. She imagined Agatha in hers, in all shades of purple she so loved. Upon minutes of waiting, Rio was left standing alone in the cathedral. Agatha’s carriage didn’t make it to the altar. She was assassinated by an enemy country.
She dreams of countless versions of her life. Each life she meets Agatha, sees her in the very least. Sometimes they get to love and spend time with each other, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes Agatha loves her back, sometimes she doesn’t. What was important to Rio was the fact that she’ll love Agatha in every single one of her life. That’s what Death vowed to do after all.
Rio wakes up.
She’s having this heavy feeling once more, after reliving a memory of her other life with Agatha. She let herself stare at their ceiling for a moment, reeling herself back to reality. Minutes after getting lost in her thoughts, she gets up from bed. When she went out the door of the bedroom, her nose was met with such a savory smell. She trudged down the stairs, and when the kitchen came into view, she saw Agatha. She was doing a little dance, pacing around the kitchen, cooking something. Feeling like she had to hold Agatha in her arms, scared that she might lose her in this life as well, she approached the woman and embraced her on the back. She places her hands on her growing belly. In just a month, Nicky will be in their arms again.
Despite flinching on the sudden contact. Agatha let out a soft laugh. “Had another dream, my love?” she asks.
Rio hummed at the question, placing her chin on Agatha’s shoulder. She kissed her neck, wanting to feel Agatha on her lips.
“I’ll finish soon, can you set the table?” she continued.
Instead of answering, Rio grabs the spatula from Agatha’s hand and places it down. She turns Agatha around, and places a loving kiss on the woman’s lips.
They’ve been together since they graduated high school. They were childhood friends, and Rio was ecstatic on the fact that they would have a long time with each other. They were living a normal, peaceful life this time, pouring all their love to each other. Rio savors every minute she has in this life.