Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Bound in Protection

Chapter twenty-six: Bound in Protection

The morning sunlight crept into the kitchen, painting everything in hues of warm gold. Agatha sat quietly at the wooden table, her hands cradling a cup of steaming coffee. She traced her finger along the edge of the porcelain mug absentmindedly, letting herself soak in the peaceful quiet that blanketed the house. It felt foreign but welcome, as though she'd stepped into a memory that hadn't been hers for a long time.

The sound of soft, measured footsteps broke her reverie. Agatha didn't turn, but she knew who it was.

Rio entered the kitchen, her presence as understated as ever. She moved with deliberate ease, her focus on the counter as she retrieved a mug. Without a word, she crossed behind Agatha's chair, pausing just briefly to graze her fingers lightly against the back of her head. The touch was fleeting, but it left a warmth that lingered.

Agatha blinked, her breath hitching for a moment before she felt something soft and delicate placed on the table beside her. A flower...a single yellow daisy.

Her lips parted slightly as her gaze fell to the bloom, its simplicity striking in the best possible way. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, unbidden and impossible to hide. She traced her fingers over the petals, her chest tightening with a surge of emotions she wasn't ready to name.

Rio, as always, had already moved on heading toward the counter to pour herself a cup of coffee. She didn't wait for acknowledgment, didn't stay to see the effect her small gesture had.

"Rio," Agatha called softly.

The other woman paused mid-step, her mug halfway to her lips as she turned, an eyebrow raised in that familiar blend of curiosity and mock impatience.

"What now?"

Agatha stood, still holding the flower in her hand. She crossed the room with measured steps, her heart inexplicably racing. When she reached Rio, she didn't say a word. Instead, she slipped her free hand to the side of Rio's face and leaned in, pressing her lips against hers.

The kiss was soft, natural, and unhurried. It wasn't something meant to ignite or overwhelm, but rather to ground them both in this moment, as though they had done this every day for years.

When Agatha finally pulled back, she smiled, the daisy still clasped in her hand. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice low and warm.

Rio's eyes softened, though she quickly masked it with a smirk. "get use to it my lady" She brushed past Agatha with her coffee in hand, though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

Agatha returned to her seat, her heart lighter than it had been in days. She twirled the flower between her fingers, savoring its meaning, before setting it gently on the table beside her mug.

Moments later, Rio joined her at the table settling into the chair across from her. The two of them shared a companionable silence, broken only by the occasional clink of a spoon or the soft hum of the kettle on the stove.

As the peaceful moment stretched on, footsteps echoed from the staircase, signaling the arrival of Nessa. She appeared in the doorway, her hair still tousled from sleep, and yawned as she shuffled into the kitchen.

"Good morning," she mumbled, sliding into the seat next to Agatha.

Agatha reached out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from Nessa's face, smiling softly. "Good morning, sweetheart. Hungry?"

Nessa nodded sleepily, her head resting briefly on her mother's shoulder before sitting up straighter.

The three of them shared breakfast, their conversation light and unhurried. Rio teased Nessa about her bedhead, earning a sleepy glare in return, while Agatha laughed softly at their banter. It was the kind of moment Agatha had longed for uncomplicated, warm, and filled with quiet joy.