Nicky
They say things come in three, whether those things are good or bad, they still come. For the Harkness-Vidal family, those things hit all at once, but only one was truly bad, as much as Rio would protest with the process of the other, but neither her wife or her would change it for the world.
The months have moved easily, the family finding a routine— one could call it domestique, whatever that would be for Lady Death, her serial witch killer wife, and their son. Agatha and Rio fell into an easy routine with their new task: balancing the Afterlife. They moved together over the realm in sync, all from their places on the thrones. It was simpler than Death’s duty. All they had to do was sit together, their eyes glowing white as their existences stretched over the planes of the realm, calming unruly spirits, sending the ones who were finished to the next life, and stopping those who were not ready. The job was perfect, an escape from home for a moment, but also allowing them to be together.
For Agatha, the new powers had hit her hard and she found her magic a little out of control…a lot out of control, but her beloved wife was always there, calming the storm when it would rise. It didn’t take long for her to get used to them, and she found herself moving in and out of the shadows as her wife did. Thus, the game began. When they were alive, Rio always enjoyed the thrill of scaring her wife when she would emerge from the shadows. Her little yelp always brought a smile to her lips as she kissed her cheek repeatedly in apology. She never meant it.
The first time it happened, Lady Death had come and grabbed Agatha by the throat. Agatha, being Agatha Harkness, only told Rio that she wanted it harder. The second time, Rio had yelped and refused to lie in bed with her for a night. The third time, Rio pressed her dagger to her wife’s neck and withheld sex for three nights, and Agatha– she was furious. The fourth night, Rio was nowhere to be found until she emerged in all of Lady Death’s glory, earning herself a punch of magic to the chest. From then, they kept a tally, their tallies lining one of the walls in the hall.
For Rio, the powers were not much different, she enjoyed this more than ferrying souls, especially if that meant she never really had to leave her wife and son. She watched Agatha with joy, seeing her tap into the similar powers, a different calmness entering her wife. The nights they shared together were like those nights centuries ago in the cottage, but this time there was innocent laughter, magic sparking at all times, and the rare gleam of happiness radiating in the home. Her favorite part, other than her family, was their home on the outside was in the middle of woods and the exterior looked like their old cottage. She didn’t question why the interior was so grand with a mix of modern and medieval life intertwined. Behind the cottage was Rio’s green house, filled with plants from all over the world. When Agatha decided to deal with balance alone and Nicky was being watched by the wolves, she found herself in her sanctuary, tending to the green. Some days, Nicky would join her, his own touch of green witch magic sparking.
For Nicky, the only difference was a new place, his moms were finally together after four months, and he was coming into his magic. His mama was the first to acknowledge it, happily sitting Nicky down and guiding him through the motions. His attention didn’t last as long as she wanted, but it would do for a six year old. To both Rio’s and Agatha’s surprise, Nicky magic was green, connected to nature as Rio was, but the flash of purple sparks made Agatha’s heart leap. His magic would be that of a spirit witch and green witch, and Agatha was all too happy to let him know how special his powers were. Nicky wasn’t too interested in the purple magic, his eyes always followed Rio, his wonder and curiosity growing of his mami, but Nicky loved his parents equally.
Mami was fun. She would play in the dirt, run around the gardens and woods with him, and play in the creeks, except when she was serious or her skeleton form came out. He was never scared, the skeletal version for some reason comforted him and every time she turned, Nicky felt some type of pull towards her. However, mami was strict about the green, which sometimes was a bore for a six year old and he would wander back to Mama. Mama was fun too, a little more protective but just as fun. She let him cook with her, pick plays to watch in the magic box, and guided him through his magic. She had a more dry, sarcastic sense of humor that he loved. He mocked her expressions and smiled secretly as she snuck him sweets behind his mami ’s back. When Rio would play a little too roughly, she was always there to patch him up and send him back out with Rio.
Their life was simple… a little too simple.
The threes came fast, each overlapping the other like a river meeting the ocean. Their world changed, the first wave hitting Rio and Agatha hard.
A breathless laugh escaped from Agatha’s throat as the woman above her smirked. Her eyes were beautiful rich soil, ones she could even make out in the low flames of candles that surrounded their bed. A soft hand caressed her cheek as those eyes held her own, telling her over and over how much this being above her loved her. Agatha allowed herself to melt, a rare show of vulnerability coming forth, but with Rio, it came easier and easier to allow herself to show the real her without being judged, even though the embodiment of death never judged, some things Agatha would never escape from. One was her body, but with every kiss from her lover, she learned to flaunt it. Even with scars, to stretch marks, and finally, the wrinkles that were no longer there from her new power, Rio had kissed it all away. Lady Death has always looked at Agatha like she was the whole world. Even when they fought, Agatha knew how much Lady Death loved her. There were moments though, Agatha would find that twang of guilt gnawing at her, a sense of dread drowning her when she looked at Rio, knowing how much hell she put her through. Her mind would replay the past. The moment she told Rio she never wanted to see her face, and instead of her Rio pushing back and fighting for them, she had walked away. She would never forget the way her heart had stopped, the way everything in her screamed to call the woman back, screamed at Rio to say “te veo,” but she found herself frozen…her own heart broken.
Now, Rio was back in her arms and their son was with them in death. It was all she ever wanted, but she couldn’t shake that pain in her chest, and she figured she never would be able to. Her love for Rio was too great to allow herself to forget that. Rio, however, the ever calm and wise ancient being, hated that it lingered for Agatha, but her wife never pushed. She simply allowed her presence to remind Agatha that she loved her unconditionally.
Cold lips pressed up her neck, nipping light before that tongue dragged up her cheek, bringing her back to the present. She chuckled again, reaching for her wife’s lips who happily met hers. A heat washed through Agatha, a sense of calm and clarity as she pressed her body into her lover’s, finding solace in the cold. No matter how many times they hugged, kissed, cuddled, or made love, it always charged something in Agatha. It was more than the power that she stole from witches, more than when she sucked the life force out of them…more than anything in the world.
Their legs tangled together as Death pulled her closer, a cold hand running up and down her bare torso, sending sparks through her body. A tongue pushed its way in, tangling with hers as her senses were clouded by the smell of the earth. Rio’s scent was distinctively hers, a green witch and Death. The scent of pine always wrapped around Agatha when she was near, a hint of moss and earth, and always a tinge scent of decay. Agatha had grown to love the smell, even when bodies were completely rotten, it had always reminded her of her darling Death.
Rio pulled away faster than she could comprehend, her teeth nicking her lip as magic washed over them, cleaning the bed and putting them in t-shirts and underwear. Before Agatha could question it, their door burst open followed by a soft cry.
“Mama! Mami!” Nicky sobbed, running towards their bed.
Agatha reached over immediately, her maternal instincts high as she lifted him into her arms on the bed. Her brow furrowed painfully as Nicky cried louder, but his cry was different than when he would wake from nightmares. No, this one reached Agatha’s soul, pulling at past strings of fear that Rio would come and take him away from her, but Rio was here, a grounding presence. Death was no longer a threat to their family, but intricately woven within, but nothing could prepare for the way his cries hit her chest. Tears soaked his face, snot running from his nose as he wailed in her arms.
“Nicky, my dear, take some deep breaths,” she spoke calmly, as everything in her screamed.
Rio was now sitting up, her own instincts flaring as her magic cleaned his nose and made his stuffed bunny appear. He only cried more, his arms now reaching for Rio taking both of them by surprise. When Nicky was hurt, it was always mama who cheered him up. Lady Death was a little too cold, a little more stern and distant with emotions. She never complained when Nicky went to Agatha for human warmth to be comforted, but this, this was new. She could see the flicker in Rio, a hesitation before she took him, cradling him against her chest as her thumbs wiped his tears. Agatha moved closer, her hand on his head as he sobbed.
“He feels so cold,” she said for only Rio to hear.
She nodded, feeling how lifeless he felt in her arms as he cried into her, clinging to her with all his might.
“He’s sweating,” Agatha noted too, concern leaking from her words as Rio placed her own hand on his cheek, but he flinched, pulling away from both of them as he hiccuped.
“ Mami, everything hurts! Make-make it stop,” he sobbed, his little fists directing the pain into his bunny.
Rio sat up more, her own hand on his head as her magic searched for whatever it was that took hold of their son.
“What hurts, mijo? I am not feeling anything.”
“I-I don’t know. Mami, please!”
Agatha felt herself break in that moment as she ran her fingers through his hair, trying to soothe him. Rio turned her head, meeting her gaze, a gaze telling her that nothing was wrong. She could not feel anything physically wrong with their son. There was no reason for him to be crying as hard as he was, nothing that could supply a logical answer of why he violently shook on top of Rio’s lap.
“ Mijo, ” she spoke softly. “I am not feeling anything wrong. Come, it’s way past your bedtime. You are probably exhausted.”
Nicky only wailed harder, his voice piercing through both of his parents. Rio gasped, pulling him close, tucking his head under her chin. They gazes met, both full of worry as Nicky buried his face into Rio, his grip bruising as he writhed her arms.
“Okay, okay, mijo. Mami ’s here. Take some deep breaths like Mama said.”
Nicky’s sobs echoed in the quiet room, each desperate cry piercing through the air like a physical blow as Rio bounced him lightly as she paced before the bed. Agatha’s heart shattered as she held him, her own breath ragged and constrained from the weight of helplessness. There was nothing in the world that could prepare her for this– this frantic, uncontrollable pain that seemed to have no source, no answer. All the magic at their disposal, all the power they wielded, even stronger than when they were alive, and Rio even stronger than Agatha, seemed useless. Rio’s fingers trembled as they stroked Nicky’s back, but there was a distant, defeated look in her eyes. She couldn’t feel what Nicky was feeling. Her magic just bounced back in response.
His cries twisted deeper into their hearts with each passing second as Agatha could see Rio’s rage build in her eyes. Rio was angered at herself more than ever, her own body writhing in pain from being so fucking helpless. She glanced up at Agatha, knowing she was there for him for warmth, for comfort, but this was different. For the first time, Nicky turned to her, but she was unable to provide him the relief he needed.
Rio sat down again, rocking back and forth as her magic poked and prodded for the source, but each came back with just her own magic, “I can’t find it.”
Her voice was strained, almost a whisper, but something darker coursed through her, Agatha could feel it. Rio pressed her lips to her son’s forehead, her eyes closing for a moment as she struggled to steady herself. Agatha moved to the end of the bed, her own hand pressed to Rio’s back as a way of grounding her as the other hand moved to Nicky.
“All I feel is your magic,” she murmured as Nicky gripped the rabbit tighter, his wails growing sharper.
“ Mami!” he screamed this time, shocking both of them. “Make it stop!”
Rio shushed him carefully, her magic still prodding, but it was useless. His fists banged on her chest as his voice became hoarse.
“It’s burning– please, mami!” he cried again, trying to burrow into Rio as if that would be a way to escape the pain. “Take it out! TAKE IT OUT!”
Agatha jumped at his screams, her breath caught as Rio looked to her, anger flashing. Before her wife could stop her, Rio’s features slowly shifted, her skin melting as bones came forward. Nicky seemed to notice this, his gaze flashing to the bones of Rio’s arms and collarbones, and slowly, his cries subsided. He hiccuped, staring into her white orbs, making the cosmic freeze. For a moment, it seemed her form had comforted him, but that couldn't be right…could it?
Rio’s boney fingers cradled his face with surprising tenderness as her cool touch matched the coldness he was feeling. Her boney touch was soft, a contrast of what a child should actually feel against Death. That’s when she saw it, a flicker of herself with him. She took a breath, pressing her forehead against his.
Her voice was deep, carrying the ancient weight with her, “You’re safe, mijo. Mami is right here. I have you.”
Nicky’s hiccups slowed, his trembling body pressing closer to Rio as if her skeletal form wrapped him in a cocoon of protection. His small hands found her collarbone again, fingers running along the smooth, cool surface.
“ Mami ,” he whispered, his voice fragile. “It’s... not burning so much anymore.”
Agatha, who had been holding her breath, exhaled softly, her hand still resting on Rio’s back. Her eyes flickered between Nicky and Rio, her heart beating at the sight of her wife’s true form. The way Rio held their son, with a reverence that defied the stark reality of her skeletal figure, spoke volumes of her love.
Her thumbs brushed his cheeks as his body slumped into hers, his face nuzzling into a neck of bone. Rio hummed softly, soothing the rest of his pain out and ceasing his cries.
“You carry a part of me inside you, mijo, ” she spoke softly, but her voice echoed, resonating with the power and might of death. “Some days, it’s going to feel like a little too much, but that part makes you strong. You are so strong, mijo. Mama and I are so proud of you.”
He nodded, bringing his rabbit to his face as the pain finally washed away. Rio’s empty eye sockets brightened, somehow radiating a quiet love and relief. She turned to her wife who caressed the back of her, placing a kiss on her bony cheek.
“You did it, my love,” she said softly as Death stood, moving back in bed with her wife.
Agatha cradled them both, Death staying her form as Nicky’s fingers found themselves wrapped around the bones, making it impossible for Rio to return.
That was just the beginning.
It became a nightly routine, Rio having Lady Death present constantly to soothe the pain Nicky was in until he fell asleep. She would eventually put him back to bed. During the mornings and work, he seemed better but Lady Death remained, Nicky’s screams of agony playing in the back of her mind like a broken record. As the weeks passed, Nicky’s magic started to settle, his pain subsiding but he clung to Rio more often.
Agatha’s heart eased seeing them together, her eyes always watching when they weren’t looking, seeing such gentleness come from her wife even in Death’s form. In a way it eased her guilt. Her wife got to spend more time with him, almost making up the time they lost together because of her.
As the days continued, everything almost went back to normal…almost. As Nicky’s pain came in smaller waves, something else changed for Rio, but a cosmic entity is as stubborn as any strong mortal if not more. Agatha noticed it first, although it wasn’t too concerning, but it was enough to capture her attention.
Agatha blinked, the light shining in from the window above their bed light as rain pattered against the glass. She smiled, nuzzling into the silk…instead of the coldness of her wife. Agatha’s eyes snapped open, and through the haze of sleep she found they had moved, Rio spooning her and their legs entangled. She blinked, accessing the position not used to being held like this. Rio wasn’t always a cuddler, she preferred Agatha to rest on her chest and play with her hair while she slept and Rio remaining awake through the night. Her wife could not sleep. Her body didn’t need it.
But this was different, strong arms were locked around her holding her place. She rolled her eyes knowing exactly where her wife’s hands were, under her shirt holding a breast and her lower stomach, a little underneath her underwear. She was about to question her, when her breath hitched, feeling the body behind her was stone. The weight was dead. Rio’s face was pressed into the back of her neck but no breaths came.
“My love,” Agatha spoke, her voice cracking with sleep.
Her wife didn’t stir and worse was she couldn’t move. Rio’s leg was between hers and the arms around her held her in an almost bruising grip. Panic surged through Agatha, her mind swirling with possibilities why her love stopped breathing and was stone against her. Agatha nudged her, trying to get any response from the cosmic being but the fierce embrace remained.
“Rio,” she said a little louder. “Rio, my love, we have to get up.”
No response. Agatha couldn’t shake the deep sense of dread within her. Rio for once felt like death, not even the sense of being the personification of Death but actually dead against her. She swallowed hard, the sleep leaving her body as she tried wiggling herself free.
“Rio!” she shouted.
A groan echoed behind her, the first intake of breath resounding in her ear. Her wife didn’t even seem to process what she was doing as she nuzzled into Agatha’s hair, sighing contently.
“Were—” she froze, unsure how to keep the shock and concern out of her voice. “Were you asleep?”
Rio flew up, her heavy arms leaving from Agatha as the bed shifted. Her wife stared down at her with a cold expression, but Agatha knew what she was thinking.
Her voice emotionless, retreating into her shell of Death, “Yeah, I guess I was.”
Agatha sat up, pulling Rio’s hair away and kissing her neck tenderly. Her wife only shrugged her away, standing up, “Come on, you can already feel the balance pulling and Nicky will be waking soon.”
“Rio, the balance can wait. What the hell was that? You don’t sleep.”
Rio kept her back to her, “I don’t know, mi amor. I am fine. It’s probably my body getting used to the new power and maybe Nicky’s is messing with mine. Don’t worry, my love. I am alright.”
With that her wife’s magic dressed them in simple black gowns with laces of their signature color, lacing up their skirts. Rio didn’t wait for her, stepping into the shadows. Agatha let her go, still feeling where her wife had a bruising grip on her in her sleep.
A cosmic entity sleeping? Stranger things have happened, Agatha decided, following her wife into the shadows and into the kitchen.
As much as she repeated the phrase in her head, it didn’t stick. The sensation of Rio’s dead weight against her made her hands tremble. She cracked the eggs, scrambling in the pan as her mind still churned. The smell of food started to make her sick. Everything in her spiking. The sound of door slamming open made her jump, the metal turner screeching on the bottom of the pan as a patter of feet proceeded.
“Mama!” Nicky yelled, excitedly.
“Hey, kiddo, you have a lot of energy this morning,” she smiled as a body crashed into her side.
“I finally slept the whole night, mama,” he said to her, as she caressed his head. “Where’s mami ?”
Agatha bit into her cheek for a moment, slowly picking up on Rio’s habits, “She’s already working, baby.”
Rio was not.
She sat doubled over her throne, her mind racing as something foreign moved through her body. It poked at her- her eyes, her head, her very soul as everything screamed for something she did not understand. Even her stomach churned at the thought of something changing within, and she couldn't shake the feeling that it might have been something with either Nicky or Agatha.