Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

A Moment of Peace

Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Moment of Peace

The house felt like it had been waiting for them. The stillness inside wasn't eerie, but rather comforting, like an embrace that welcomed weary souls. Agatha waved her hand, and the fireplace roared to life, its flames crackling warmly and casting a golden glow over the cozy living room. It was the first real moment of safety they'd felt in what seemed like an eternity.

Nessa let out a sigh, practically melting into the plush couch. "Finally" she mumbled, kicking her boots off and tucking her feet under her. She looked at the others with a soft grin. "What do normal people do on nights like this?"

Agatha chuckled, her fingers already working to conjure blankets from thin air. "They watch movies, I think. Or just sit and talk." She draped a blanket over Nessa, who was already eyeing the selection of films in the old cabinet across the room.

"Oh, movies it is!" Nessa exclaimed, leaping up and rummaging through the pile.

Rio settled into the armchair across from them, her long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle. Her presence filled the space effortlessly, and though she said nothing, her eyes followed Agatha's every movement. There was an intensity in her gaze not quite understanding, yet undeniably drawn.

Eventually, Nessa popped in an old classic, something lighthearted and easy to follow. She tossed the remote onto the coffee table before sprawling out on the couch and resting her head in Agatha's lap.

"This okay?" Nessa asked, looking up at her mother's figure with a soft smile.

"More than okay" Agatha replied, her voice gentle. She absentmindedly began running her fingers through Nessa's hair, smoothing it down as though she were a child again.

As the movie began to play, Agatha glanced across the room at Rio. She froze for a moment when she realized Rio was already looking at her. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stop. Agatha's expression softened, love radiating from her as she watched the woman who had once been her everything. She wanted to say something, but words felt too small for the emotions swelling in her chest.

Rio, on the other hand, couldn't look away. Her lips parted slightly as if to speak, but no sound came out. She didn't understand why she couldn't tear her gaze from Agatha why her heart felt like it was beating too fast, and her chest felt too full. The kiss from earlier still lingered in her mind, confusing her yet pulling her closer to whatever this connection was.

She shook her head lightly, as though trying to dismiss the thoughts, but her gaze returned to Agatha as if pulled by an invisible string. There was something undeniable there a mix of longing, lust, and an unnameable warmth that made her feel both comforted and unsteady.

Agatha caught the faintest flicker of a smile tugging at Rio's lips and couldn't help but smile back, her fingers never stopping their gentle movements through Nessa's hair.

"She's staring at me again" Agatha thought, her stomach twisting into knots. But she didn't mind. If anything, she relished it.

"Why does this feel so... right?" Rio wondered. The firelight danced across Agatha's face, illuminating her features in a way that seemed almost ethereal. She didn't understand the intensity of her emotions, but for once, she didn't pull back from them.

When the movie ended, Nessa sat up and stretched, groaning dramatically. "Okay, that was fun but now I'm officially beat." She hugged Agatha tightly, whispering a quick "Thanks for being you" before turning to Rio and surprising her with a hug as well.

"Goodnight, moms!" Nessa called as she retreated to her bedroom upstairs, leaving Agatha and Rio alone in the glow of the fireplace.

For a while, neither of them said anything. Agatha shifted slightly on the couch, her heart racing as she looked over at Rio. She didn't want to ruin the moment, but the silence was almost too much to bear.

Rio leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees as she stared into the fire. "I don't get it" she finally said, her voice low and filled with a vulnerability that caught Agatha off guard.

"Get what?" Agatha asked gently, her hands fidgeting in her lap.

Rio turned to look at her, her expression unreadable. "Why I feel like this. Why I feel... drawn to you. I don't remember you. I don't know you. But when I'm near you..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "It's like I'm not empty anymore."

Agatha's breath hitched, tears prickling her eyes. She wanted to say something, to tell Rio that this was what love felt like, but she bit her tongue. Instead, she stood up and walked over to her, kneeling in front of the armchair.

"You don't have to understand it" Agatha said softly. "Just let yourself feel it. That's enough for now."

Rio looked down at her, and for the first time, she didn't look away. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand on Agatha's.

"Thanks" Rio murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Agatha squeezed her hand gently. "Always."

Agatha stood, her knees aching slightly from kneeling on the floor, but her heart thrumming like a drumbeat. She hadn't moved far when Rio's hand shot out, gently catching her wrist. Agatha froze her breath hitching as she turned to look at Rio, who was staring at her with an expression she couldn't quite read part vulnerability, part intensity.

"Don't go yet" Rio murmured, her voice low and almost hesitant. Her hand lingered on Agatha's wrist, her fingers brushing against the soft skin there. "Stay... just for a little while."

Agatha nodded, barely trusting her voice. She eased herself onto the armrest of Rio's chair, laying her legs gently over Rio's. Her body leaning closer than she realized. Rio's dark eyes lifted to meet hers, searching, questioning, yet full of something that neither of them dared to name.

The firelight cast flickering shadows across their faces, and the room seemed to shrink until it was only the two of them. Agatha reached up, her hand trembling as she cupped Rio's cheek. She felt Rio lean into the touch, her warmth almost burning against Agatha's palm.

"I trust you" Rio whispered, her voice cracking just slightly. "when I'm near you, it's like everything else... fades."

"I trust you too" Agatha whispered back. "Just let yourself feel."

Rio's gaze flicked down to Agatha's lips, lingering there for a moment too long. Agatha's heart pounded as she leaned in, her breath mingling with Rio's. She stopped just shy of closing the distance, giving Rio the chance to pull away. But Rio didn't.

Instead, Rio surged forward, closing the gap between them. The kiss was hesitant at first, almost fragile like they were both afraid it would shatter under the weight of what it meant. But then Rio's hand found its way to the back of Agatha's neck, pulling her closer, and the hesitation melted away.

Agatha's fingers tangled in Rio's hair, holding her like she was afraid to let go. The kiss deepened, slow but filled with so much unspoken emotion that it left them both breathless.

For Rio, it was as if something inside her clicked into place something she hadn't even known was missing. For Agatha, it was like coming home, her heart swelling with a love so profound it almost hurt.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads pressed together. Rio's hand lingered on Agatha's neck, her thumb brushing gently against her skin.

"That felt... right," Rio admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It did?" Agatha said softly, her eyes searching Rio's. "Because it is."

Rio didn't respond with words. Instead, she pulled Agatha into another kiss, slower this time but no less meaningful. The fire crackled in the background, the only sound in the otherwise silent room. Agatha becoming completely lost in the moment instinctively straddling over Rio's body as she can't help but let out an involuntary moan. A smirk appears on Agatha's face as she whispers into Rio's ear "Follow me..."