Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

The Morning after

Chapter Forty-Seven: The Morning after

The morning was anything but ordinary. The sun, usually casting its golden warmth through the windows, was nowhere to be found. Instead, gray clouds smothered the sky, and rain lashed against the panes in uneven rhythms. The world beyond the house was shrouded in a heavy mist, the trees swaying violently in the wind as thunder rumbled faintly in the distance. Inside, the air was cool and damp, the perfect reflection of the storm raging in Agatha's chest.

Upstairs, in the dimly lit bedroom Agatha sat propped against the headboard, her eyes fixed on the woman lying beside her. She hadn't slept, not even for a moment. How could she? All night, she'd kept vigil, her heart pounding with every labored breath Rio took. She'd carried her here after the chaos of the night before, refusing to leave her on the blood-soaked couch. Rio needed comfort, a clean place to rest, and Agatha had provided it, even if her own body screamed in protest.

Her gaze remained glued to Rio's chest, watching the faint rise and fall, each breath a reassurance that she was still alive. But what haunted Agatha most wasn't the physical damage Rio had endured it was the fragile, silent figure she'd become. Rio, who was normally sharp-tongued and brimming with life, now lay still and silent, as though the weight of existence had stolen all her strength.

When the morning crept in, muted and gray, Agatha's heart clenched as Rio began to stir. Her breathing hitched, and her fingers twitched faintly against the blankets. Agatha leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "Rio?" she called softly, her heart racing.

Rio's eyes fluttered open, her lashes damp with sweat, and her gaze met Agatha's. For a moment, there was no sarcasm, no sly grin—just fragility. "Agatha..." Rio's voice was hoarse, barely audible, each word sounding like an effort.

Agatha exhaled shakily, her relief palpable. "Don't you ever scare me like that again" she said, her tone trembling between anger and raw emotion. "I stayed up all night watching you breathe, afraid that if I so much as blinked, you'd be gone."

Rio tried to manage a weak smirk, but it fell flat, the pain in her body too overwhelming. "I'm still here darling" she murmured, the edge of her usual bravado replaced by a quiet sincerity.

Agatha's chest tightened, and she couldn't hold back any longer. "You have no idea what you mean to me" she said, her voice breaking. "If you'd... If I lost you..." She stopped, shaking her head. "I couldn't do this without you. Do you understand that? I need you."

Rio's brow furrowed, her lips parting to speak, but no words came. Her vulnerability felt foreign, even to her, but she didn't look away from Agatha.

Agatha cleared her throat, brushing at the corners of her eyes. "And I swear to every force in this universe, if you ever pull something like that again, I'll—" Her voice cracked, and she laughed humorlessly, biting back tears. "I'd never forgive you."

Rio gave a faint nod, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something but didn't have the strength.

Agatha finally pushed herself up from the bed, moving to Rio's side. "Come on, let's get you sitting up" she said, her voice gentle now. She slipped an arm around Rio's shoulders, helping her inch toward the edge of the bed. But Rio's legs gave out the moment she tried to stand, her body still too weak.

"Whoa, okay" Agatha murmured, swooping in before Rio could collapse. She scooped Rio up into her arms as if she weighed nothing, her strength bolstered by sheer determination. Agatha sat back on the bed, cradling Rio carefully against her chest.

Rio's head rested against Agatha's shoulder, and for the first time since the storm had passed, the house was filled with a fragile, fleeting sense of peace.