Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Guess you finally got your scar, huh?

Chapter Forty-Nine:
Guess you finally got your scar, huh?

Rio stood staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her gaze unfocused, tracing the dark circles under her eyes that had only deepened with exhaustion. The face looking back at her was foreign soft, worn, almost fragile. Her usual sharpness seemed dulled, her once unyielding confidence muted by the events that had unraveled over the past few days.

She ran her hands under the faucet, the lukewarm water rushing over her fingers, the sound of it filling the room in a steady stream. Slowly, she filled the sink, her palms pressed flat against the porcelain as the water swirled beneath her touch, the coolness grounding her, forcing her to focus on something, anything, other than the overwhelming pain still lodged in her chest.

The scar on her shoulder ached, a constant reminder of the battle she hadn't fully won. She traced the outline of it with her fingers, noticing how it stood out against her otherwise unmarred skin, a jagged line that seemed to change her and make her feel somehow less whole. Yet, despite the weakness in her reflection, there was a flicker of resilience in her eyes. A resolve. She wasn't done. Not yet.

As Rio still stood in front of the mirror, gingerly running a cloth over her shoulder, she winced as the water made contact with the still-healing wound. Agatha, standing nearby, casually leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. Her gaze softened, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She watched as Rio tried to act nonchalant, clearly irritated by the constant reminder of the attack.

"Remember when I said that you didn't have a scar"Agatha teased, stepping forward with a small smirk. "Guess you finally got your scar, huh?"

Rio shot her a look, her lips curling into a half-smile despite the pain. "Could've done without the souvenir" she muttered, trying to ease her tension with sarcasm. The weapon the soul collector had used to strike her had left a jagged, darkened mark just below her shoulder. A reminder of how close she had come to not making it out of that fight.

Agatha's fingers brushed lightly over the scar, almost as if inspecting it. "At least it's a good one, Besides I think you look breathtaking" she said quietly, the playful tone fading just enough for Rio to catch the underlying sentiment. "A reminder that you survived."

Rio let out a short breath, her gaze meeting Agatha's in the mirror. "Yeah, well, I'd prefer no scars at all."

Agatha nudged her lightly with her elbow. "No one's invincible, Rio. But you sure come close."

Rio rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the small, appreciative smile that tugged at her lips.

Rio turned slowly, her eyes still tired but focused on Agatha standing in the doorway, watching her. The weight of the silence between them seemed to pull tighter, until Rio felt as if it were suffocating her. She stepped forward without thinking, the water still dripping from her fingers, and in one smooth motion, she closed the distance between them. She cupped Agatha's face gently, her fingers lingering on the soft skin of her jaw. Agatha didn't move, but there was a flicker of surprise before her expression softened.

Agatha's breath was shaky, raw. "I thought I'd lost you" she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, the vulnerability slipping through her carefully constructed walls. Her thumb brushed against Rio's cheek, before she tilted her head, and before either of them could think better of it, Agatha pressed her lips to Rio's. The kiss was soft but deep an unspoken promise, a release of all the fear and relief that had been building since the moment she'd woken up.

Agatha melted into it, her hands instinctively finding their way to Rio's waist, pulling her closer. The kiss was full of desperation, of longing, and of a love that neither could deny any longer. When they finally pulled away, Rio rested her forehead against Agatha's, both of them breathing heavily as if the very act of touching had unlocked something inside them.

"I'm here for you baby" Agatha said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm not going anywhere"

Rio just nodded, her eyes softening as she gazed at Agatha, still feeling the weight of what could have been. She didn't have words for it, but in that moment, the kiss said everything. after that, Agatha made her way downstairs.

Rio carefully made her way down the stairs a few moments later, her limp less pronounced but still present as she moved with cautious determination. Each step was a reminder of the pain she'd endured, but it didn't matter...she was standing on her own, moving freely again.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she paused for a moment, taking in the familiar sight of the living room. The chaos from the previous attack had vanished. The walls were pristine, the furniture untouched. It was as if the soul collector's rampage had never happened, leaving only a quiet, still calm in its wake. The restoration of the space almost felt like a lie, a false sense of normalcy.

Shaking off the thought, Rio walked into the kitchen, where the warmth of conversation and the scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted her. She found Nessa and Agatha seated at the table, a moment of calm amidst the chaos of their lives. Nessa was laughing at something Agatha said, her face lit with a smile, and Agatha's usual cool composure was softened by the easy comfort of their shared presence. Rio's heart fluttered at the sight. This was her family, despite the trials they'd faced. They looked perfect together, safe, and whole. Rio stood at the doorway for a moment, watching them, a quiet sense of peace washing over her. This was the world she fought for. This was worth everything.

"Morning" she said, her voice still rough but gaining strength with every word. Agatha's eyes met hers, and the warm smile that spread across her face made Rio's chest tighten. It was a feeling of being home of being whole again.

Rio settled into the chair at the kitchen table, a quiet ease settling in her bones as she watched Agatha and Nessa enjoy their breakfast. The familiar sounds of clinking silverware and soft conversation filled the air. She couldn't help but steal a few pieces of bacon from Agatha's plate, shooting her a sly look as she popped one into her mouth.

Agatha glanced at her, a playful smile curling at the corners of her lips, but Rio just shrugged nonchalantly, chewing. Their eyes met across the table, and there was an unspoken understanding between them one that came from years of shared moments, even through the most turbulent of times.

Rio's eyes narrowed slightly as she continued to watch them, the silence between them lingering for a beat too long. Suddenly, she broke it, her tone blunt and unexpected. "You know, I want to move. I want out of this stupid town. Westview's nothing but bad luck. It's all just... a mess."

Agatha paused mid-bite, staring at her in confusion. At first, she thought it was just another one of Rio's random, sarcastic comments. But as she met Rio's gaze, the seriousness in her eyes made her pause. She set her fork down, the weight of the conversation settling over them. "Wait, are you serious?" Agatha asked, her voice soft, though still unsure.

Rio leaned back in her chair, the barest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. She nodded slowly, her voice firm. "Yeah, I'm serious. I want us to leave here. Start fresh. I want us, as a family, to be somewhere quiet...somewhere peaceful. A place we can call our own. Just the three of us. I want to keep you both safe... and I want us to build something new. Together. What do you say?"

to be continued.....