Daughter of a Witch

Chapter 6: She's Our Daughter

The Avengers were no strangers to Hydra's schemes, but tonight's mission carried an almost unbearable weight. The shadows of the Hydra base loomed in the distance, its cold metal structure a stark reminder of the horrors Hydra was capable of. Agatha moved silently alongside Rio and the others, her magic simmering beneath the surface, an aura of protective energy sparking at her fingertips.

This mission was different, and every Avenger knew it. Hydra's secrets weren't limited to weapon caches or experimental tech this time-they had something far more personal: the Winter Soldier and the elusive Violet Widow. Agatha's heart thudded painfully at the thought of who Violet Widow was, a truth only Rio and Natasha shared.

Agatha shared a look with Rio, who gave a reassuring nod. When the signal finally came, the Avengers moved in unison, tearing through Hydra's defenses with well-practiced precision. Explosions and energy streaks lit the night as they clashed with Hydra's forces.

Amid the chaos, Agatha's magic pulsed in sync with her heartbeat, each burst of energy pushing back soldiers as she cleared a path toward the core of the base. She fought with purpose. Her mind fixed on one figure among Hydra's ranks: Y/n. Hydra had kept her daughter hidden for years, molding her into someone Agatha barely recognized. But she hadn't given up hope. Even if it took every ounce of her magic, she would find Y/n and bring her home.

As the battle surged around her, Agatha sensed a presence-dark, powerful, and heartbreakingly familiar. Y/n. She was standing on the opposite side of the fray, her figure shrouded in shadow. The sight stopped Agatha in her tracks, her magic flickering as she fought to contain the emotions clawing at her chest.

Then their eyes met. For a fleeting moment, Agatha saw a glimpse of her daughter within that cold, detached gaze. But Hydra's grip on Y/n was too firm. Without hesitation, Y/n lunged forward, launching a series of swift, brutal attacks that Agatha countered with protective spells. Each spell deflected Y/n's strikes, but Agatha's heart shattered with every move, and her daughter's hostility was a sharp reminder of how much they had lost.

Rio fought close by, watching her wife's struggle with a pang of shared anguish. She intercepted Hydra agents with fierce resolve, standing by Agatha's side, ensuring she didn't have to face this alone.

The clash raged on, Hydra's defenses weakening as the Avengers gained the upper hand. Finally, Agatha managed to subdue Y/n with a spell, her magic binding her daughter's movements with care as though she could still somehow reach the young girl she'd once known. When Y/n fell unconscious, Agatha knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face, overwhelmed by relief mingled with grief.

Y/n and the Winter Soldier were captured, and the Avengers regrouped, carrying their prisoners back to SHIELD headquarters. Agatha didn't let go of Y/n's hand the entire journey back.

Setting: SHIELD Interrogation Room

The sterile silence of the SHIELD interrogation room amplified the ache in Agatha's chest. She sat with her hands folded tightly, her gaze fixed on the one-way mirror that allowed her to see her daughter restrained on the other side. Y/n's face was calm in unconsciousness, but Agatha couldn't shake the memory of the coldness in her eyes during the battle.

Rio was beside her, and Natasha stood nearby, her face grim yet tender. Over the years, she and Agatha had become each other's chosen family. Natasha had been Agatha's maid of honor, a constant source of strength and understanding. They'd both known trauma, and both found a way to rise above it and when Agatha had named her godmother to Y/n, Natasha had sworn she'd protect her. The weight of that promise now hung heavily between them.

Natasha's voice was quiet, filled with sadness and anger. "I can't believe they've done this to her. She was just a kid." She looked at Agatha, her heart breaking for her friend. "But we can't give up on her, Agatha. We won't."

Agatha took a steadying breath, clutching Rio's hand as she responded. "She's still our daughter. I know there's a way to reach her. I have to believe that."

Rio watched her, her face lined with worry. "But what if believing isn't enough?" she whispered, her voice raw. "Agatha, I can't watch you get hurt again. Losing her once nearly destroyed us. If... if she's gone-" She faltered, unable to finish.

Agatha turned to Rio, squeezing her hand as she met her wife's tear-filled gaze. "If we don't try, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives. I can't let Hydra steal her away forever."

The room was silent, only the quiet hum of the lights above filling the space. Natasha crossed her arms, her jaw set. "I'm with you, Agatha. Whatever it takes, we'll find a way to bring her back."

Agatha's heart swelled with gratitude, and her resolve deepened. Knowing that Natasha was there, unwavering, gave her the strength to face the uncertainty ahead.

That night, after the mission, Agatha and Rio returned to their quarters, the heavy silence between them almost unbearable. The weight of what had happened pressed down on Agatha with an intensity she'd never felt before. As soon as the door clicked shut, all the emotions she had held back-hope, fear, sorrow-finally broke free.

Agatha took a trembling breath, her body shuddering as tears began to fall. She sank to her knees, a sob escaping her lips. Her hands covered her face as she cried, years of grief and worry pouring out in waves. The pain of losing Y/n, of not knowing if she was alive, and now the anguish of finding her in such a fractured state-it all came crashing down with relentless force.

Rio knelt beside her without hesitation, wrapping her arms around her wife and pulling her close. She whispered soft words of reassurance, pressing gentle kisses to Agatha's forehead and cheeks. "I've got you," she murmured, her voice steady even as her heart ached for Agatha. "I'm right here. Let it out, love. I'm not going anywhere."

Agatha clung to Rio, her fingers digging into her shirt as though afraid she might slip away too. The years of lost memories, the endless nights of wondering if her daughter was out there, all poured out in her tears. "Rio... I thought... I thought I'd lost her forever," she choked out between sobs. "And now, even after finding her, she's so far away. I don't know if she'll ever be able to come back to us."

Rio's hand stroked Agatha's hair, grounding her and anchoring her to the present. She leaned her cheek against Agatha's head, letting her tears fall silently as she held her. "We'll bring her back," Rio whispered, her voice firm. "No matter how broken she seems, we'll do this together. She's our daughter, Agatha. And no matter what, we're not giving up on her."

Agatha's crying grew softer, her sobs turning to quiet sniffles as Rio's warmth soothed the sharpest edges of her pain. She felt the steady rise and fall of Rio's breathing and her touch's warmth. The room was quiet, but Rio's presence was a balm, a constant source of strength that reminded Agatha she wasn't alone in this fight.

They stayed like that for a long time, with Rio gently rocking her, whispering soothing words. Finally, Agatha lifted her head, looking up at her wife, her red-rimmed eyes reflecting a fragile hope. "Do you think we can bring her back, Rio?" she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.

Rio nodded, brushing a stray tear from Agatha's cheek. "I know we can. She's still our little girl, and we'll reach her. We'll be here no matter how often we must remind her of who she is. We'll give her the love Hydra tried to steal from her."

Agatha's lips trembled into a faint, exhausted smile, her heart finding solace in Rio's unwavering conviction. She leaned her forehead against Rio's, closing her eyes as she breathed in the comforting scent of her wife. "Thank you," she whispered, voice hoarse but filled with gratitude. "For everything. For never letting me go through this alone."

Rio's hand found hers, their fingers interlocking as she held her close. "Always, Agatha," she whispered. "I'm right here. And we'll get through it together no matter how long this journey takes."

In the quiet darkness, Agatha finally drifted off to sleep in Rio's arms, her heart a little lighter, her hope a little stronger. As she surrendered to rest, she clung to the promise that together, they would bring their daughter back into the light, one step at a time.