Power of Death (Agathario)

Chapter Eight

 Agatha finished cutting the tomatoes and tossed them into the boiling water, along with the rest of the vegetables.

"Doing great," Rio said from beside Agatha, who jumped, not realizing how close Rio had gotten.

"Sure," Agatha replied sarcastically, looking into Rio's face and seeing she was being sarcastic as well.

"Well, keep stirring," Rio prompted and Agatha turned back to stir the soup. Rio took the leftover cutting board and tossed it onto the table.

Agatha wasn't quite sure why she was doing this with Rio, and why she was putting up with it. If her mother were to tell her to cook and then try to show her, Agatha wouldn't stand for it.

Also probably because her mother would find some way to twist it and make it look like Agatha was evil in some way or another. Maybe she would tell Agatha she was poisoning it. Or that she was slipping a disease into the food.

She got so lost in her thoughts, she didn't see Rio behind her.

Agatha felt Rio's arms wrap around her waist and her breath went shallow at the touch. For a second she stopped stirring, but then kept going.

"I've always wondered this," Agatha said, speaking to keep her heart from beating too fast, "but does Death get out much?"

"Not much," Rio said from Agatha's shoulder where she propped her chin, "but enough to know I'm glad I'm a witch. It sounds terrible to just be a regular human."

"But you're not a witch," Agatha replied, "you're a goddess. Alongside gods like Life and Time, right?"

Agatha felt Rio's breath on her hair as Rio spoke. "I've never met them. For all I know, they don't exist."

"That's too bad."

"I don't know, I don't get along with many people." Rio chuckled. Agatha smiled, staring into the soup in front of her.

"Time to take it off the fire?" Agatha asked, removing the ladle from the pot and setting it on the metal countertop.

"Whatever you think," Rio answered. She loosened her arms around Agatha and stepped back a little, her hands still resting on Agatha's hips.

Agatha turned to Rio, her heart racing. Rio just stared back at Agatha. For a second, it looked like she was about to say something, but she never did.

Agatha bit her lip, then decided she would say something.

"Rio... what are you thinking right now?" She didn't mean to, but the question came out so quietly it was almost a whisper.

"I don't know," Rio replied in the same volume. She pressed her lips together, her eyes moving over Agatha's face. "... what are you thinking?"

"I don't know."

Actually, Agatha did know what she was thinking. She was thinking about how damn kissable Rio was, but also about how this whole thing was crazy. Other than the huge fact that Rio was Death, Agatha had only met her the day before.

"I feel like I've known you for longer than we've actually known each other," Rio said, like she was reading Agatha's mind.

"I feel like that too," Agatha replied, swallowing to rejuvenate her dry mouth, "and I would chalk it up to a past life, but we both know that's impossible."

Rio gave a dry chuckle. "That's right." She paused, seemingly waiting for something. Agatha's mouth went dry again.

There was a moment more of staring and Agatha could feel the tension rising around them, like a sheet that was about to suffocate her.

"Oh damn it," Agatha finally said, then grabbed Rio's face. Suddenly Agatha's lips were on Rio's and it was...

Amazing.

All the tension that was building seemed to let loose like a swarm of bees as Rio kissed Agatha back, both of them forgetting about the pot of soup that was supposed to be dinner. All Agatha could think of was how soft and perfect Rio's lips were.

Rio's hands ran down Agatha's back as they kissed, making Agatha's skin tingle. She suddenly felt a dark instinct rise in her stomach. A dark want. And it wasn't a good one.

It was like her body wanted to suck every last bit of power from Rio.

But Agatha pushed it down.

Rio would be somebody she wouldn't hurt. She wouldn't let a bit of her magic out, not even a drop.

Suddenly, Rio pushed Agatha away.

"What?" Agatha asked as she let go of Rio, suddenly overcome with worry. Did she overstep a boundary she didn't realize was there?

"Are you feeling fine?" Rio asked, her eyes filled with worry. "You're not feeling weak or anything, are you?"

"No," Agatha replied, furrowing her eyebrows as she quickly glanced over herself. "What? Why?"

"Remember how I said it wouldn't do you any good if you tried to steal my power?"

Agatha nodded.

"I'm literally filled with death... so if you tried to steal it, you'd die," Rio explained.

Agatha's eyes widened, thinking about how she'd instinctively nearly done just that. "Oh. Well... I didn't suck your powers."

"Good. I don't want to give a new meaning to the saying 'kiss of death,' if you know what I mean."

Agatha bit her lip. "So, we're good?"

"Yeah, we're good," Rio whispered as she leaned closer to Agatha. "Just don't steal my power, okay?" Her lips touched Agatha's cheek.

"I'll try my best." Agatha smiled. But a bit of her insides still quivered like it was tired of holding back the darkness.

Reminding her she had to keep it under control. Telling her that she didn't know how to love.

Slipping a pin of fear into Agatha's heart.

—

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Probably not going to like what happens in the next one, but it happens. *shrugs*

On another note, have a great week!

-VictoryGreen8