Chapter Text
You find yourself in a small café, probably the only café in all of Westview, but a semi-decent one no less. It’s a small hole in the wall place with a rather cozy atmosphere. You place your order before grabbing a booth in the front near the windows where the light streams in. This really is the perfect place to lie low and get a decent cup of tea while you take a break in your search.
You reached into your bag, your various rings clinking together as you pulled out a small map of Westview and laid it in front of you. Just as you’re getting settled you feel a presence next to you. You don’t bother glancing up knowing who it is. “Couldn’t have told me where in Westview, ‘Agent Vidal’” you smirk.
“Oh, but the chase is half the fun, my beloved.” You could practically hear the smirk on Rio’s face. “You of all people should know.” she gently reaches out hand lingering on your cheek as she turns you to face her.
You lean into her caress smirk fading, eyes meeting hers, searching for answers you know aren’t there. “Rio…”
She goes silent, brows furrowing in thought as you fiddle with your rings, specifically the black and purple gemstone ones on your ring finger. Looking back at you she gives a soft smile, brushing stray hair back and leaving a flower in its wake. “Te veo.” As quickly as she appeared she’s gone, a dark chuckle echoing behind. You look down to your lap thoughts overwhelming.
Complicated. Everything is so complicated.
For the past three years you have searched the world for your friend, your confidant, your lover, Agatha Harkness.
The two of you had known each other for centuries, since her coven days really. You would practice dark magic together under the light of the moon and share secrets in the dark expanse of the forest.
Over the years she began to follow a path, one you could not despite her asking you too. You had your own calling, a job for lack of better terms. Something that no one could escape.
Somehow, you always found your way back to each other, whether it was after days, weeks or even years later. Sometimes you reached out to one another, others you met by mere coincidences.
Agatha was there for you and you for her. You told her the humorous and oftentimes tragic stories of your various cases over a glass of wine while she regaled you with the latest con she ran. Most nights together you ended up staying, at least until you were called away.
One of the last times you saw her, you had swapped rings you had enchanted for one another. ‘To never be lost’ she said, ‘no matter where life may take us’. The rings were infused with one another’s magic, yours glowed a faint purple and hers grey.
That was before she left you for the darkhold. You knew she was in pain, and you tried to help, but it wasn’t enough. It was one of your lowest points in life, but you let her go. You were okay. Maybe not okay, but you were content knowing that she was alive and out there. Your ring a constant thrum that quickly became a comfort of yours.
So, three years ago, when that faint magic thrum in your ring completely gave out you panicked. You searched everywhere for her, never believing Agatha to be dead. She wouldn’t have done that to you. Couldn’t have. Not yet.
And that’s why you currently sit in a tiny café pouring over a map of this cursed town.
Releasing a heavy breath you reached into your bag and pulled out a small candle setting it north of map.
Just as you go to flick a match the server appears with your tea. “Umm, ma’am, you can’t do that here.” They say with a shake to their voice.
“Can it toots.” With a simple flick of your wrist they mechanically set down your drink and walk straight to the back of the store, clearly in a daze. You chuckle to yourself, “Feeble minded indeed.”
You swiped the match over jacket it quickly flaring, and lit the candle. Taking a deep breath, you focus and center yourself, thinking only of Agatha. Picturing the threads that follow her. Reaching into your jacket pocket you pulled out a pendulum and hovered it over the map and quietly began chanting in Latin.
The lights in the café flickered startling some of the other patrons, yet none look to your direction. If they did, they only saw a woman enjoying her tea while reading, nothing that would have stood out to them. Your magic was strange like that, almost as if it didn’t want to be seen.
Focusing back on the spell you feel the pendulum move. Gently at first as if it’s just waking up. As you continue chanting encouraging it to find her, you feel its movements change. What once were gentle swirls over the map now became wild and choppy, barely staying in the borders of the town.
Just as fast as it started it stopped. You slowly open your eyes not realizing they closed to begin with and peer at the map.
“Come on darling where are you?” You grit out seeing it pointing at the location being the same café you find yourself in. You huff as you drop the pendulum, it still centered over you.
“This is pointless.” You huff rubbing your face, and groan, “By the divine I’ve resorted to analogue magic.”
You take a breath, holding it in, slowly letting it out and reach for your cup of tea, taking a calming sip. Grimacing you force yourself to swallow the brew. “They really don’t know how to make tea here.” You slowly push the cup far away from yourself.
Burying your head in your hands you try to think. You don’t know why no spell you use is working, before it was the scarlet witch’s spell that interfered with your own, but that’s broken, at least you think if Rio had been able to find her. Then again Rio is far more powerful than yourself. A small ring from the café door had you sitting up, maybe if you cross out where you know “Agnes” is not at you could narrow it down a bit. This is going to take a while.
…
Agatha leaned back in her seat tuning out whatever has teen so excited. Something about meeting the other witches later, making snacks, she wasn’t sure, didn’t care. She just needs her power back and fast.
She thinks back to when Rio broke into her “home" earlier that morning.
“You don’t have a heart.” Agatha snaps.
“Yes I do,” Rio’s face darkens then morphs into something else as she leans in. “it’s black and it beats for you.” Rio brings Agatha's hand to her face and licks her wound, healing it.
Ignoring Agatha's wince, she shoves her out of the way, storming to the door. Just before crossing what once was the doorway, she paused. “Fate will want her hand in this. Te veo.”
She hadn't seen them and years. Why now? What game are they playing?
Agatha is brought out of her thoughts as she felt the magic in her ring stir. Strange. She could barely remember the last time that happened. “Kid pull over.” She demanded teen.
“What here? Oh my god, is there another witch nearby? Were they on the list? The green witch?” He asks excitedly why parking the car rambling on. “if it’s the green witch this place makes sense. I mean look at all these plants.” He gestures to the potted ferns placed around the café’s entrance and windows.
“Where do you get all this energy from?” Agatha asks annoyed. Taking a moment to see where they stopped noticing a person seated at one of the window seats inside the small café.
“I like to get eight hours of sleep as often as I can. Also eating oranges. I find that keeping one…” he pauses at the glare Agatha gives him, “yeah I’ll stop talking now.”
“Good, let so see what awaits us shall we.” She gets out of the car and walks to the store without sparing a glance back.
He jogs to catch up. “Sweet, I could totally go for a latte.”