The faint beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the quiet hospital room, a soft rhythm that matched the steady rise and fall of Agatha’s chest. Early morning light filtered through the blinds, painting pale streaks across the tile floor. In the chair beside the bed sat Rio, her elbows on her knees, her head bowed slightly as she stared at Agatha’s hand in hers.
Her dark teal sweater hung loosely on her frame, a comfort piece she’d thrown on in a rush after the long hours of waiting. Her hair, usually wild and free, was tied back into a ponytail, though stray curls had escaped to frame her tired face. Her eyes, rimmed red from exhaustion, stayed fixed on Agatha as if willing her to wake.
Fourteen hours. Fourteen hours of pacing, pleading, and silently praying to whoever might be listening. The nurses had tried to coax her out more times than she could count, but Rio had refused. She needed to be here, to see Agatha’s eyes open, to remind herself that everything was okay.
And then, finally, Agatha stirred.
Rio sat up immediately, her breath catching as she saw the faintest flicker of movement. She leaned forward, her hands tightening around Agatha’s, her heart pounding as those familiar eyes began to flutter open.
“Agatha?” Rio said softly, her voice cracking just slightly.
Agatha blinked against the harsh hospital light, her gaze blurry but searching. When her eyes finally focused, they landed on Rio—and even through the fog of anesthesia, she smiled.
“Rio,” Agatha murmured, her voice barely audible. The corners of her lips lifted in a soft, loopy grin. “You’re here.”
Rio let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She smiled, but it was shaky, like she was holding back tears. “Of course, I’m here,” she said, brushing her thumb over the back of Agatha’s hand. “You scared the hell out of me, you know.
Agatha’s brows furrowed slightly, her mind still struggling to catch up. “What… happened?”
“You had emergency surgery,” Rio explained, her voice soft and soothing. “Your appendix. It was about to burst, and they had to take it out.”
Agatha blinked again, her smile faltering for a moment as her foggy mind tried to process. “Appendix… that’s the thing you don’t need, right?”
Rio laughed softly, the sound a mix of relief and disbelief. “Yeah, that’s the one. And yours decided to throw a tantrum.”
Agatha’s loopy smile returned, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Dramatic little thing.”
“Dramatic little you,” Rio teased, though her voice wavered slightly. She reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Agatha’s forehead. “You scared me, baby. You really scared me.”
Agatha’s expression softened, her fingers weakly curling around Rio’s hand. “You waited for me?”
Rio’s throat tightened, and she nodded. “Fourteen hours, give or take. They told me to leave, but… how could I? I wasn’t going anywhere until I knew you were okay.”
Agatha’s smile widened just a fraction, her gaze full of warmth even as her eyelids drooped. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And yet,” Rio whispered, leaning closer, “you love me for it.”
Agatha’s voice was barely above a whisper now, her strength fleeting but her words steady. “I do.”
Rio exhaled shakily, her forehead dropping gently against Agatha’s hand. “God, you don’t know how good it is to hear you say that.”
Agatha blinked lazily at her, her voice slurring slightly. “You’re all dressed up,” she murmured, her gaze drifting over Rio’s sweater and neatly pulled-back hair. “You look beautiful.”
Rio’s laugh was quiet, her cheeks flushing slightly. “I’m not dressed up.”
“It’s perfect,” Agatha murmured, her smile faint but genuine. “You’re perfect.”
Rio leaned back, brushing at her damp lashes with the sleeve of her sweater. She shook her head, still smiling. “You’re so loopy right now. You’re not even going to remember saying any of this.”
“Maybe,” Agatha admitted, her words slow and sleepy. Her gaze softened even further as she looked at Rio, her heart full despite the haze. “But I’d still mean it.”
Rio’s lips pressed together as her throat tightened again, her emotions too raw to speak for a moment. She leaned forward, brushing a kiss against Agatha’s temple, her lips lingering there like a silent promise.
“I love you,” Rio whispered, the words quiet but fierce.
Agatha didn’t respond, her eyes fluttering closed as sleep pulled her under again. But her fingers stayed curled around Rio’s, and Rio stayed right there, holding on to her like she’d never let go.
In that moment, Rio knew she’d be at Agatha’s side through every step of this, through every recovery, every late night, every uncertainty. She wasn’t just staying because she loved her—she was staying because she couldn’t imagine a world where she didn’t.
Fairytale AU (or the KOTPOTA/Tangled/Shrek mashup AU no one asked for)
Once upon a time, in a far away land, the Eagle Clan gets abducted by the evil Proximus Ceasar. To save his clan, the young ape Noa strikes a deal with Proximus and sets out on a journey with his tutor Raka to rescue a "magical" human princess to be Proximus' bride.
The bride-to-be turns out to be a girl named Mae with "magically" long hair and who's been entrapped in a remote high tower for years as one of few humans still able to speak. She agrees to leave with Noa, provided that he would take her to an old observatory for her to see the stars that she always dreamed of seeing. To escape from the beast guarding the tower, they cut of Mae's hair and flee on horses.
On the way back towards Proximus' camp, Noa and Mae grow reluctantly closer with them finding that they have more in common with each other than expected, and when the time comes to hand Mae over to Proximus, Noa can't bring himself to do it.
Together, Noa and Mae fight to save Noa's clan and gain Mae's freedom.
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
kianamaiart
origamiaround
