Chapter Text
Agatha had woke to darkness. Just moments ago, she was having the most amazing dream; she had her Nicky back. He was laughing in her arms and Rio was there with the biggest smile she had ever seen on her face. She wished she had never woken up, but life was rarely kind to her- so here she was; lying on the cold, dark, damp floor of her basement.
Alone.
There was no way all of that had been a dream. Was she still in Wanda’s Hex? If that was the case, she was about to burn the whole world down for toying with her emotions.
But if she was in a Hex, why was she still do dirty? Her clothes were back to her purple long coat and pants, but she was filthy; as she was on the road. Dirt stuck to her as if she had slept outside for weeks; it was oddly reminiscent of the days where she actually had slept outside for weeks during her Salem days. Her hair was a wild dark mane that could only be created by life threatening chaos; it would take days and multiple washes to sort out; and her shoes were still missing- a casualty of the road no doubt.
Her emotions were still very high; her hands shook with adrenaline and grief- her body not knowing how to sort out what it had just endured. She could still feel her sons tiny arms wrapped around her neck, and the smell of his hair clung to her like it had three hundred years ago. Her cheeks were still wet from the tears she had cried from seeing him. That couldn’t have been a dream. But now she was back ‘home’ with no one. Not Rio, or Nicky. Not even Jen or Alice were here. And the boy- Billy Maximoff was also missing.
She stood up on shaking legs and brushed the dirt from her clothes. She must have been on the road for longer than she thought, because she felt weak, and worn-out. She glanced around at the familiar (yet unfamiliar) surroundings; nothing looked out of place. However, this wasn’t her space- so if anything was out of place, she really didn’t know. Looking down at her bare feet, she realized she was standing a top of the polygonal door that led to the Witches Road. She was quick to jump back in fear the road would decide to open again and swallow her whole.
There was a flash of light that came through the small window that led outside, she could hear mumbled arguing. The witch felt hollow, she had a numbness that was slowly filling her up at the loss of her son once again. But it seemed that this nightmare wasn’t quite over with, so she stumbled up the stairs of the cellar, and used the wall to help keep her upright; using all her strength to push the doors that led outside, open.
Outside the air was extraordinary, as if she hadn’t breathed fresh air in months. The breeze was cool and it smelled of pine; it made her heart ache for her family and the life she once had. It was still night, not that she minded, she always felt more alert and comfortable in the moon light; but she was starting to wonder if she would ever see the sun again. Looking around, she noticed Jen, Alice, and Teen standing around in what seemed like a very heated conversation.
“I’m still bound!” Jen yelled, “I thought I was supposed to get my power back!”
“Hey Jen, it’s okay, we can figure out another way.” Alice, always the calming presence.
“No! I didn’t agree to go on the Road for nothing!” Her pink dress was tattered from their journey and she was covered in dirt.
The wind was picking up, which was odd for the summer season. Maybe they had been on the road for months and it was now Fall? It didn’t matter she guessed- flicking her hands she had found that she too was powerless. Powerless, wifeless, and childless. Soon to be covenless- she wanted them all gone. The road was a waste of time; all it did was bring up memories of the life she had spent hundreds of years running from.
“Maybe you never needed it back Jen! You’ve saved us all more than a few times all while being bound! What if you’ve had it the whole time!” Teen was trying his best to be positive.
“Teen, you’re a nice kid, but seeing as this whole thing is really your fault, I’m going to need you to shut up.” Jen cut in.
“Hey, I don’t understand my power yet, no one’s taught me.”
“Okay? And? We’ve all been left to figure things out on our own! We don’t go around making fake roads and putting people through deadly trials! Lilia and Sharon are DEAD Teen!” Jen was laying it on thick. “And now that it’s over, Death herself is going to reap your soul! She knows who you are now! You made a promise that you don’t even know how to keep!”
Agatha had stayed silent through this exchange. Her eyes had been searching the fence line this whole time to see if the words Jen had spoken were true.
Nicky was nowhere to be found.
She was hoping beyond all hope that the boy would be able to come through; but deep down she knew it was impossible. Nicky was gone, and there was no way of getting him back. She felt stupid for allowing herself to get her expectations raised. Her heart, which was already so cracked and bleeding, was once again broken into pieces.
She wanted to feel bad for Billy, he had made a deal that he wasn’t able to honor, and now her wife was going to tear him apart. But she couldn’t help but feel like it was a bit well deserved. Many people have been tortured and killed for way less than what the boy had done. She hoped Rio would make him suffer, how dare he dangle their son as a bargaining chip in front of her wife. He knew the exact thing she wouldn’t be able to say ‘no’ to again.
Slowly, the sky started to turn green. The angry wind picked up more and started tossing fallen leaves and branches around the yard. Cackling could be heard from above their heads.
Billy Maximoff was about to meet the real Lady Death.
As expected, Death was sitting atop the roof of the house laughing manically. Yea, her wife was going to kill him slowly. Rules be damned. There was the sacred balance now more disrupted than ever before, and with no Nicky, Rio was going to make sure it was corrected.
“Billy Maximoff! You have single handedly disturbed the natural order of all thingsss.” Rios voice was terrifying; it sounded deeper than what was humanly possible and carried multiple voices in one. This was not Rio Vidal, this was Lady Death. “You have failed to keep your side of the bargain and therefore will perish with your brother in Oblivion!”
She flicked her wrists and a blast of green magic threw him across the yard.
Alice was quick to run to him and check him over. “Rio wait! Hes just a kid!” she helped him stand up on wobbly legs.
Agatha had stayed to the outskirts of this little display of dominance. She wouldn’t dare get in the way of her wife now. For once, she had started to recognize that Rio had also lost her son that day. She was always so blinded by her own grief- she never considered her wifes.
But seeing her now, in all her beautiful rage- she could understand. She could understand because there was a time where Agatha would have rather set the world ablaze than live in it without her boy. It seemed that this is where her wife was currently at.
“Where’s Tommy!” he grunted and Agatha had to balk at the boy, his persistency was astonishing to say the least. Being face to face with Death, he still had the nerve to demand.
“I allowed his soul to enter the universe once again, but in the body of a new host. You never told me I had to hand deliver him to you.” She slowly floated down with the grace that only Lady Death could have. “Honestly kid, the youth of today is so spoiled; I did the hard part, all you had to do was look for him.” She sauntered over to the coven, she was in full Reaper attire- black flowing robes, always barefooted, and her hauntingly beautiful crown perched perfectly on her head, not to mention the deadly dagger in her hand ready to use.
Lighting cracked and Deaths skeletal face showed for a split second before returning to Rios. “You have made a mockery of my sacred balance, and now you need to fix it.” She conjured vines out of the grass to reach up and grab him by both arms and legs.
Billy was dragged backwards and stuck to a post that was a couple yards away from Agatha. Alice once again ran to him to try and free him. “Agatha! Please talk to her! She can’t just kill him!”
As if seeing her for the first time- which was completely possible due to her wife’s focus on the abomination, Rio stopped in her tracks. Agatha hadn’t moved since she had come out of the cellar, she had been watching the exchange with a neutral expression since it begun.
Their eyes met and Rio allowed the wind to die down just a bit. Teen was still roughly tied down and occasionally grunting with effort to get loose. Rio looked down at her feet, she seemed ashamed and nervous to be near her wife.
“Mi Amor, I’m so sorry. I know how you feel about the boy, but he can’t be.”
Agatha walked over to her wife and gently touched her chin, Rio flinched for a split second and the gesture pained her deeply. “Rio, I’m sorry.”
Looking up into her eyes, Rio looked stunned. “Wha- no Agatha I’m sorry. I should have never entertained the boy. I knew he couldn’t uphold his side of the bargain. Now I have to take him from you just as I did with Nicky.” Her voice was frantic but soft. It quieted on Nicky’s name as if she was scared to utter their sons name out loud.
Agatha silently listened to her wife, taking in all that she had to say. A black tear rolled down Rios cheek, and She was quick to wipe it away. “I wanted to give your son back to you, if there was anyone who could alter the balance; I figured it would be the son of the Scarlett Witch. I’m so sorry for putting you through this again.” Rio grasped at Agatha’s hips with desperation. “Amor, I understand if you never want to see me again after this. I never forgave myself the first time, I won’t expect you to forgive me this time either.”
“Hey Rio, Its ok. I understand. And he was your son too. I’m sorry I never allowed you to be there, but he was yours. If I never forgive anything- it’ll be myself; for keeping him from you for the little time he was here. Agatha leaned forward and placed her lips on Rios. The kiss was gentle, they hadn’t kissed like that in years, it was full of longing and forgiveness and everything left unsaid. Rio held the back of Agatha’s head, fingers scratching at her scalp. And Agatha held her face, still wiping away black tears.
Teen had felt the vine start to slack, Alice (and surprisingly Jen) were quick to help untie him and pull him up.
Not at all caring for the intimate scene unfolding before them, Teen shouted across the yard, “Tell me how I’m supposed to find him! There is like a billion people on earth!”
“Boy, you really should calm your tone- they’ll both kick your ass.” Jen supplied.
Rio stiffened at the intrusion as if she had forgotten they had an audience. Agatha broke the kiss that had started to get slightly more heated, but didn’t turn around to look at the trio behind them. She stared at her wife’s eyes, hands still on her cheeks. “It’s okay my love.”
“Try over eight billion, and that’s not my problem.” She glared over Agatha’s shoulder at the Teen.
Anger filled the air, Teen was becoming unhinged at the lack of answers pertaining to his missing brother. Like the rest of the coven, he was at his wits end. Blue sparks started coming from his palms and he started to levitate off the ground. Taking a page out of Rios book, the wind started to pick up once again.
Rio could sense the shift in power, this kid didn’t understand his potential, that was for certain. His eyes glared at her, turning blue. A sure sign he was about to do something stupid beyond belief.
“Uhh Billy? Why don’t you come back down, and talk. We’re all adults’ right?” Alice looked uneasy and started to back away, pulling a stunned Jen with her.
Rio’s eyes turned black as she lightly tugged Agatha to the side, stepping in front of her. She had a slight smile on her face like she was daring him to act.
The decorative lamps in the yard started to burst one by one, and the clothes hung out to dry started to flail in the wind. The sky darkened once more but the group couldn’t tell if it was from Rio or the boy.
Something wasn’t right. Agatha could feel power. She spent her whole life syphoning the essence out of countless witches. But Billys power was untapped- deranged. It was dangerous. He had the ability to rewrite reality, and that didn’t settle well with her. He knew too much from what he forced out of each of them while on the road. He knew how to hurt Rio, and he knew Death’s weakness.
“What are you going to do boy?” Rio taunted.
In a matter of seconds, Teen acted first. He summoned a huge blue blast of energy aimed right at Rio, but Agatha, in a desperate display of quick thinking, pushed her wife out of the way- taking the blast right to the chest.
Rio recovered quickly before she hit the ground; she turned towards the chaos with the amount of rage only she could muster. Hands glowing green ready to destroy. She was about to yell at her wife, or blast Billy, or even blow up the house with the wrath she was feeling.
At first, she was concerned for her wife, she too could feel the unnatural power radiating off the boy. He surely could be the very thing that ended Death, and if so, he would undoubtedly be the end of Agatha Harkness.
But her fear was in vain, she should have known better than to underestimate her wife. There-before her and the rest of the coven stood her wife in all her magnificent glory. She was greedily syphoning blue magic from the untrained boy who had the decency to look terrified. Finally, he was facing a foe who could knock him down a few pegs.
Agatha was smiling, taking the deepest breath as if she had been under water for hours. Her bones were starting to ache less, her tiredness was quickly fading, and her power source was being restocked.
The boy on the other hand had seen better days. Bill Maximoff fell to his knees and was breathing as if through a straw. Dark circles started to grow under his eyes as Agatha allowed herself to rise off the ground in euphoria.
“Agatha! Stop! You’ll kill him!” Alice tried to reason with the witch at the state of the young teen.
But Agatha ignored her, this boy was the cause of so many problems. She was willing to let her wife take him, he deserved nothing more- or so she thought. The idea of syphoning his power didn’t really cross her mind until the last trial. But the possibility of it actually happening was low- until he tried to attack her wife.
Rio stood off to the side waiting patiently for her wife to get her fill, to finish what she should had done the moment the boy came into her orbit. She was a little disappointed that she wasn’t the one to bring the boy down, but she would never take this moment from her loving wife.
Any minute now, the boy would be drained, like so many before him. Her wife was a Goddess and there was no stopping her now. Rio readied herself to whisk the boys soul to the afterlife.
“Mama stop!”
Immediately the Purple Witch cut the power grab. Billy dropped to the ground gasping for breath, face wrinkled and pale. Alice and Jen once again, ran to his side.
Rio and Agatha both turned simultaneously towards the small voice.
Nicky.
He was standing at the top of the dark porch, Senior Scratchy in his arms; alive.
He was not wispy or floating, he was real and whole- standing there with a beautiful healthy glow about him. Immediately both mothers rushed towards him to wrap him in their arms.
“Nicky my love, I’ve missed you so!” Agatha was crying and holding him gently, but firmly.
Rio was petting his head with one hand and holding the back of Agatha’s with her other. She kept glancing back and forth between the two loves of her life, smiling with happy tears trailing down her face.
“Mama, why were you hurting that boy? I thought you only kill bad witches.” He was still the innocent boy from all those years ago. The only good Agatha had ever done, was squished inside his little body.
“Don’t worry about him Nicky, I was mad at him, he did very bad things- but all I care about right now is you.” She kissed his head and he gave a small giggle.
She hesitantly looked over to Rio, “My love, is he-“ she couldn’t finish her sentence. She didn’t want to break this little bubble of happiness with anything that could darken it.
“He’s not sick Agatha, I already checked his soul, and it’s completely healthy.” Rio reassured her wife and leaned in to kiss them both.
After a few moments, the energy in the air shifted once again. Billy looked slightly better than he previously did, Alice and Jen still had him by each of his arms to help hold him up, but he was standing. He looked drained (pun intended).
“Did I do it? Did I bring him back?” He was panting with each word.
Rio stood from her crouched position and stalked closer to the boy. “You’re in luck pet. It seems you have, whether or not you intended to.” She looked between all three remaining coven members.
Shifting to her skeletal face for maximum effect, she used her deep distorted voice, “You may go.”
The group jumped back a little at the display and quickly scurried away.
“Jen!” Agatha had called from her seated position, still holding tightly to her young son.
Jen stopped to turn towards her.
“Come by the house tomorrow, after we have all rested a little.” She paused to give the other two members of her chaotic coven a glance. “Alice, you can come too. I have something that might help with your little binding problem.”
Jen looked ready to question her further, but thought better of it. Emotions were way too strung out right now to start an argument.
Agatha steadied Billy with a hard glare. “Billy, I need at least a week away from you, maybe two, so I don’t kill you. But come by the house after that, and I’ll help you with a few ways to control that chaos magic of yours.”
He perked up at the idea, “Wait really? After everything? You’d still help me?”
“Don’t get your hopes up, and if you so much as look in Nicky’s direction, I’ll skin you alive; do you understand?”
Teen was quick to divert his eyes to the ground, “Yes, I understand. Thank you Agatha.”
The coven walked away as the sky began to turn back into its inky black night. With all the lights blown out, the stars and moon were shining bright.
Rio didn’t agree with Agatha allowing to boy to hang around, but she would never go against what she felt was right, and she supposed that the abomination was able to give them back the one thing either of them wanted- no needed. Her wife was smart, and in a round-about way, the coven was good for her. They could all do without the abomination, but this would give her all the opportunities to make his life Hell, so it might workout.
She was already planning on all the ways she could jump scare him, or cause him to screw up his lessons Agatha had in mind. Maybe she could have him accidently blow himself up, or maybe permanently turn himself invisible-
“Mami! I’m hungry! Could we find a river nearby with lots of fish for dinner?” Her son called to her and she immediately turned to answer him, changing her face back to her fleshy self- already having conjured an apple for him to munch on.
Agatha laughed as she stood up, “Nicky, you’ll have to get used to this new era you’re in Love.” She took his hand and led him towards the door; Rio was quick to jog back up the porch steps to open it for her family- bowing low as they crossed the threshold.
“Maybe we could order pizza.” She suggested to her wife.
As the door was shut behind them, lights turned on inside the house, filling it with a warm glow.
“What’s pizza?”
*******
Rio quickly ran back to the door, swinging it open to grab a slightly forgotten Senor Scratchy who was munching on some grass.
“Oops sorry mister!”
Cradling him tight to her chest, she gave him a little kiss on the head as she walked back inside.
“Extra carrots for you!”