ao3 fic link. ao3 series link. - Thanks to @itistakingover for this idea!
Kara knows she’s in trouble. She can see it as soon as she walks into their apartment and sees her sister sitting at the dining table, book closed in front of her.
“We need to talk.”
There’s no preamble, Alex getting straight to the point, which means Kara’s in even more trouble than she thought.
It also means there’s no getting out of this.
“I can explain,” Kara starts, even though she can’t. Or, well, she can, but Kara knows Alex won’t be taking any of her excuses, not this time.
“Kara, this has to stop,” Alex continues, ignoring her. “We can barely afford rent and food and all the bills that are piling up and you brought another book. You promised you wouldn’t.”
Kara swallows. She thought she’d hid the book better, but Alex must have found it as it’s sitting on the table between them.
Kara’s glad she took a bag to the bookstore today, Alex would be extra upset if she knew that in Kara’s bag is a new book she bought less than half an hour ago.
Kara opens her mouth but Alex cuts her off. “And don’t you dare tell me you had to buy it.”
“But Alex, I did!” It’s really not her fault, she wishes Alex could see that. “I was at the bookstore and Lena was there and I had to buy it or else she’ll wonder why I was in the store again.”
“Oh my God, Kara,” Alex groans, head falling forward, knocking against the table.
Kara, alarmed for a moment, rushes to her sister’s side. “Are you okay?”
Alex sits up, levels Kara with a glare. “You have to stop spending all our money on books. We all know you have a crush on Lena, we all know that’s the only reason you go to her store so often. So please, for the love of God, just ask her out so you’ll stop buying so many books.”
“No, that’s not-“
“Kara, please, just don’t. Yes, I know she’s pretty and I know she’s smart and funny and whatever else you have to say about her. That’s no reason to spend all our money. All you need to do is ask her out and then you’ll get to see her whenever you like and we won’t get kicked out of our apartment because we can’t pay the rent.”
“I...” Kara bites her lip. “What if she says no?”
Alex looks surprised because yes, maybe it is rather obvious that Kara has a crush on Lena, but this is the first time she’s admitted it. Or is close to admitting it anyway.
“Trust me,” Alex says. “She won’t. You’ve both got it as bad as each other.”
Alex has said this before too but Kara has never listened, because there’s no way it’s true. Kara is in way too deep with a girl she only knows because she visits her bookstore so often. To Lena, Kara is probably just another customer who spends a lot of money, which means being nice to her is good for business.
“So,” Alex says, pulling Kara from her thoughts. “You promise you won’t buy any more books? And this time actually mean it?”
“But what if she-“
“No.” Alex cuts her off. “That’s it, come with me.”
Kara is alarmed as Alex abruptly stands and grabs onto her arm. Kara stumbles a little as she follows her sister.
“Where are we going?” Kara asks as Alex drags her out of the apartment.
“We’re going to the bookstore so you can ask Lena out.”
Kara stops on the spot, pulling Alex to a stop too. “No.”
Alex turns and tugs on her sisters arm again. “Yes. It’s either this or we’re going to starve because I know the next time you see her you’ll want to buy another book and we just can’t afford that.”
Considering that that’s exactly what happened this morning, Alex might be right.
“But,” Kara starts, except that only excuse she can think of not to do this is because she’s terrified. Which is a pretty good excuse in Kara’s opinion.
“No buts. Please, we need that money.”
Kara sighs, Alex is right.
“What do I even say?” Kara asks, starting to walk again on her own, surprising Alex again.
“Hi Lena, I’ve been in love with you forever and I want to have your babies.”
This time, Kara glares at Alex.
Alex laughs. “Ok fine. You just say, ‘Hi, I really like you, do you want to go out for coffee sometime?’”
“That sounds too easy.”
“It is that easy,” Alex agrees, though Kara still doesn’t believe her.
Kara stops again once they arrive at the store, standing outside, too scared to go in knowing what Alex wants her to do. And she wants to do it too, has dreamed of this, of actually telling Lena how she feels, or Lena asking her out, any version that it goes well and she gets to be with Lena.
Kara sees Lena through the window and despite the fact that Lena is talking to a customer, she happens to look up and catches Kara’s eye through the window. Lena gives her a small smile and wave and something in Kara’s chest loosens.
This is Lena, who always makes time to chat with her in store, who is always nice and friendly and is kind to everyone she meets. Lena, who is always willing to help Kara with any book request, no matter how silly it is and always makes her feel so warm and welcome.
Lena, who she is in love with and maybe does want to have her babies, but she’ll never admit that out loud.
“Go on,” Alex urges and Kara takes a deep breath before she steps through the door. The bell jingles above her head and even that is comforting in its familiarity.
Alex follows her in and Kara is glad her sister is here, even if she’s probably just going to embarrass herself.
Alex wanders off, making herself look busy looking at books but Kara stands awkwardly in the middle of the store, unsure what to do.
It’s a few minutes before Lena is finished with the customer and then she immediately makes her way towards Kara.
“Kara, what a nice surprise. Was one book not enough for you today?”
Kara shoots a quick look at her sister and finds Alex glaring at her, so obviously she’d heard and hadn’t figured out Kara had already bought a book today.
Lena catches the look, glancing between them. “Is everything okay?”
Kara shakes her head, and then just goes for it. Honestly is good, right? “No, Alex is upset I keep buying books.”
Lena looks confused. “Is that a bad thing?”
Kara bites her lip. “Yes, when I’m spending all our rent money on books.”
Lena still looks confused. “Oh I-“
Kara cuts her off. “Let me explain?”
Lena pauses and nods.
“It’s not the buying books part that is bad, it’s that I’m buying books I don’t need because I come in here just to see you but use the books as an excuse.”
Lena’s eyes widen. “Oh.”
“And I have genuinely enjoyed all the books I’ve brought from you, but the main reason I come in here most days is just to see you.”
Lena smiles. “I know.”
“What?”
“I mean, I did think you wanted the books and I wouldn’t have let you buy them if I’d known you were spending your rent money. But I did know you were coming in here just to see me.”
“Oh.” It’s now Kara’s turn to not know what to say. “Is that okay?” Kara finally asks when the silence stretches too long.
“Is what okay?”
“Is it okay that I come here just to see you?”
Lena nods. “I look forward to your visits. Every time the bell jingles, I hope it’s you.”
Kara bites her lip, her heart skipping in her chest. This isn’t how she saw today going at all. “Does that mean if I ask you out for coffee, you’ll say yes?”
Lena presses her lips together, her cheeks pink as she nods. “I’d really like that.”
“I really like you,” Kara replies, the words tumbling from her mouth without much thought but as soon as she’s said them, she regrets it immediately. What if that’s not what Lena meant, what if she-
Kara’s thought process is derailed when Lena reaches out and takes her hand, warm fingers slipping between her own.
“I really like you too,” Lena says, voice soft and eyes bright.
Kara could spend forever looking into Lena’s eyes, trying to figure out exactly what colour they are.
“Thank God.”
Both Kara and Lena startle at the interruption, Alex suddenly beside them.
“Sorry to break this up but Lena, you have a customer.”
Lena’s cheeks go properly red this time as she turns and sees a customer at the counter.
Lena turns back to Kara. She takes her hand, pulls a pen out of her pocket and scribbles something on Kara’s hand.
“I have to go, but text me?” Lena asks, shy again like they didn’t just both admit they like each other. Of course, Kara isn’t going to say no.
Kara nods as she watches Lena go and help the customer. She looks down at her hand and sees Lena’s number written in blue ink, a little heart beside it.
Alex bumps her side. “Told you.”
Kara grins. “Thank you.”
“It was entirely selfish, I just wanted you to stop spending money,” Alex says but Kara knows that’s not true. It’s definitely partly true but by the way Alex is smiling at her, Kara knows her sister is happy for her too.
Kara links her arm with Alex’s. “Donuts to celebrate?”
Alex laughs. “At least now you can go back to spending all your money on food.”
Kara waves at Lena as she leaves, Lena sending her another small smile that makes Kara warm from the inside. She can’t wait for their first date.
Agatha wants to see Rio. Which is a drastic change from wanting to kill her a few days ago, but here she is.
She’s spent the last few hundred years avoiding Rio, hating her, but she doesn’t quite hate her anymore.
Agatha’s not quite sure how she knows, but she can feel Rio somehow, knows exactly where she is.
One moment she’s thinking about her and then next minute Rio is there. She’s standing on the side of the road, watching a car crash, watching as people panic and even Agatha can tell it doesn’t look good.
Agatha knows Rio is waiting, knows it’s someone’s time.
Agatha floats towards Rio, and then when she realises she hasn’t been noticed she has a fun idea.
“Boo!”
Agatha relishes in the way Rio jumps, the way Rio’s glare in her direction turns to surprise when she realises Agatha shouldn’t be here.
“You’re a ghost.”
“I know,” Agatha laughs. She does a spin in the air. She was upset in the beginning but she’s been having fun.
“I hate ghosts.”
Agatha grins this time. “I know.”
Rio rolls her eyes, turning back to the scene in front of her. “What are you doing here?”
“Billy was sleeping and I was bored. And I wanted to see you,” Agatha adds after a moment.
The myriad of emotions that flicker across Rio’s face are entertaining. Rio has always been easy to read, and Agatha sees it all now. The surprise that she’s with Billy, which turns into a knowing look, like she knew Agatha would end up with him. Then the surprise and confusion that Agatha wanted to see her.
Agatha can see that Rio doesn’t quite trust her words, doesn’t quite believe she really is here to see her. Like Agatha has some hidden agenda, like she’s up to something.
Which with her track record is a fair assumption.
But not this time.
Rio picks one part of Agatha’s words to focus on, the part she already knows about.
The easy part.
“You’re still with Billy?”
“We’re a coven, aren’t we? No witch left behind, or whatever it is.”
Rio laughs, her eyes lighter than Agatha has seen in a long time. Something cracks in her chest, something she’s going to ignore.
“So, what’s going on there?” Agatha asks, nodding to the accident in front of them.
It’s an obvious ploy to change the subject, but Rio lets her.
“There’s an old man, he lost control while driving. He’s not going to make it despite the paramedic’s best efforts.”
Agatha sees it, the moment the man dies, his ghost appearing. She’s never seen this part before.
Rio nods towards the scene. “Well, that’s my cue.”
“Have fun with Grandpa.”
Rio rolls her eyes but salutes.
Agatha hasn’t felt like this in a long time.
read the rest on ao3 or under the cut
—
Agatha knows exactly where Rio is the next time she tries to find her too.
Rio jumps again when Agatha appears next to her, and this time there’s only a glare that Rio sends her way.
“Don’t do that.”
“You’re surprised there’s a ghost in a cemetery?”
Rio shoots her another look. At least that hasn’t changed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Can’t a girl visit Death from time to time without an explanation?”
“You never do anything without thinking it through,” Rio points out, which also hasn’t changed. Rio knows her, always sees through whatever she is doing.
“Well, I’m a ghost, isn’t this where I belong now?”
Rio rolls her eyes, amusement clear in her look.
“You do make a very attractive ghost, by the way. This is a good look on you,” Rio says, waving her hand, indicating Agatha’s whole body.
Agatha flushes from head to toe, or at least she would if she could flush. It still makes her feel warm.
“What can I say,” she says, flourishing her hands. “I can make anything work.”
Rio goes to shove Agatha, realising last minute that she can’t, that Agatha is a ghost. She doesn’t stop her hands fast enough though, and to the surprise of them both, instead of Rio’s hands going straight through her, her hands make contact and Agatha is jostled to the side.
“What the hell?” Rio asks, looking down at her hands.
“I don’t know, that’s your department,” Agatha says, righting herself, just as surprised as Rio is. She’s touched things before as a ghost, but it takes a lot of concentration and is only for a short period of time. She wasn’t even thinking about it this time.
Rio pokes her arm, hard.
“Ow,” Agatha says, annoyed as she rubs her arm. “What was that for?”
Rio is frowning. “Just…checking.”
Rio’s hand returns to the spot she’d poked, but this time her hand soothes over the spot.
Agatha can feel it, the touch solid and warm.
“Well,” Rio says, eyebrow quirking. “That’s interesting.”
Agatha shakes off her hand, both the look and touch too much. “Yeah, well, just because you can, it doesn’t mean you can touch me.”
Rio holds up her hands in surrender, and Agatha suddenly wants them back on her. She’s missed Rio’s touch.
“Billy found his brother,” Agatha says, changing the subject.
Again, Rio lets her. “Don’t tell me that, you know they shouldn’t exist.”
“You won’t hurt them,” Agatha says.
Rio softens. “No, I won’t.”
She knows Rio won’t. She knows Rio would never do anything to hurt her. Not again.
She can see how much she’s hurt Rio too, and it’s suddenly too much again.
But Agatha can’t help it, she’s the one that reaches out this time, feels solid skin as her finger caresses Rio’s jaw.
“Until next time,” Agatha says, vanishing before Rio can say anything.
—
Agatha finds Rio people watching.
The street is crowded: people walking, people driving, people stopping in to look at shops or sitting outside crowded cafes and restaurants.
“Is someone going to die?” Agatha asks by way of greeting. She almost hopes the answer is yes. She misses watching Rio work.
Rio doesn’t look Agatha’s way, but she doesn’t miss the way Rio’s shoulders relax slightly with Agatha by her side.
“Not here,” Rio answers.
They stand in silence, just watching. Agatha isn’t sure what Rio is seeing but it’s kind of nice, the bustling crowd. It makes her forget for a moment that she’s not a part of the world any more.
But then Agatha gets bored, and what’s a bored ghost to do if not annoy others?
She sticks her foot out, making it solid, tripping the next person who walks by. It’s a young man and he stumbles, but unfortunately manages to right himself without actually falling over.
Agatha purses her lips. “Damn.”
Rio is trying not to smile when Agatha glances her way.
Ok, so maybe she was just doing it to get a reaction out of her.
“You never stop, do you?”
Agatha laughs. “Life’s boring otherwise.” She pauses. “Or death is anyway.”
“Are you calling me boring?” Rio shoots back, with a suggestive tilt of her eyebrow.
“Never,” Agatha grins.
Agatha sticks out her foot again but Rio grabs her wrist, and the touch distracts her so much that the person she’d been aiming to trip walks right through her foot.
Agatha can see that Rio is just as confused about how she can touch her, but others can’t.
“I never asked, how did this happen?” Rio asks, keeping hold of her wrist.
It makes Agatha feel uneasy in the best possible way.
“This?”
“How did you become a ghost?” Rio clarifies.
“I don’t know,” Agatha says, because it’s true, she’s not quite sure. “One moment I was...” Agatha trails off when she realises what she was about to say.
Kissing you.
But even if Agatha doesn’t say it, Rio hears it. Agatha knows she does because Rio glances down at her mouth and Agatha has to swallow down all the feelings it brings up before she continues.
“And the next moment you and Billy were gone, and I was like this.”
The moment feels suddenly charged, Rio still holding her wrist, so Agatha breaks the moment, even if she can’t bring herself to break the contact.
She’s hated her for so long, but she doesn’t hate her anymore. She sees it now, Rio was just doing her job, it wasn’t her choice to take Nicky.
“Maybe I did it just because I know how much you hate ghosts.”
Rio rolls her eyes. “You would become a ghost out of spite.”
“You know me,” Agatha grins. “I love a bit of spite.”
“I have to go, duty calls,” Rio suddenly says, looking as disappointed by the interruption as Agatha feels.
Rio squeezes her wrist and then is gone, Agatha left wondering what’s going on between them.
She fell in love with death a long time ago. She realises now she never fell out of it.
—
Agatha may be a ghost, but that doesn’t mean she has changed that much. Which means she’s very happy to kill the odd witch here and there, just for the power.
And maybe a little bit because she knows a dead body means Rio will show up.
So that’s how Rio finds her, standing over the body of a witch she’s just killed.
“What’s going on?” Rio asks, a smirk on her face.
Agatha shrugs, it’s pretty obvious exactly what she’s done.
It almost feels just like old times.
Except old times didn’t include the ghost of the witch she’s just killed appearing in front of her.
“Oops,” Agatha laughs, taking a step backwards as the ghost turns angrily towards her. “Well, in my defence, you deserved it,” Agatha says, addressing the ghost. That’s not true, but they all know that.
Rio steps between them and Agatha feels that warmth again, that annoying feeling of gratitude as Rio protects her. Not that she needs the protection, but it’s nice all the same.
Rio shoots her a look over her shoulder and Agatha gets the message loud and clear.
Leave. Now.
There’s no heat in the gaze, Rio still just looks amused.
Agatha blows her a kiss, excitement still thrumming through her from the kill (and Rio’s look) before she vanishes.
It really is just like old times.
—
Agatha is surprised when she goes looking for Rio and finds her not far away.
Rio doesn’t startle anymore when Agatha appears, she just shoots her a smile as Agatha takes a seat on the stoop outside her old house in Westview.
“What are you doing here?” Agatha asks, though there’s not a lot of reasons Rio could be here.
“Just thinking.”
Rio’s eyes flash to hers and Agatha sees the unspoken end of the sentence.
“Just thinking about you.”
It makes Agatha’s chest crack and spill, like it hasn’t in a long time. She’d forgotten what this felt like, to actually feel, and to have someone love her in return.
Agatha reaches out, takes Rio’s hand, threads their fingers together and brings Rio’s hand to rest in her lap.
Rio looks up with such a hopeful look that it reminds Agatha of the way they used to be, the fun they used to have.
“I’ve missed you,” Rio says and Agatha sees it again, how much she hurt Rio, how much damage they’ve both done to each other.
Rio wasn’t lying when she’d called Agatha her scar, because Rio is hers too, a permanent mark that she’d tried to erase with time and hate, but never quite could.
“You can’t kill a ghost, right?” Agatha asks, leaning into Rio, into her space, where she never wants to leave again.
“Not this way,” Rio says, leaning in too and then their lips meet and it’s nothing like last time.
This kiss is soft at first, Agatha can feel how tentative Rio is, like she’s worried Agatha is going to vanish again.
Even though as a ghost, she’s very good at that, she’s not going to do that again. She doesn’t want to. All she wants is Rio.
So screw tentative, she’s missed this for years, and needs Rio back.
The kiss turns heated, Agatha gripping Rio like she’s the one that might disappear.
“I’ve missed you too, my love,” Agatha mumbles into the kiss, knows what the name words does to Rio. She holds Rio close as she says her next words too. “I’m sorry.”
Rio pulls away, looking amused. “I never thought I’d hear those words coming from you.”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Can I get used to this?” Rio asks, trailing her hand down Agatha’s side. “You’re not going to vanish on me again?”
Agatha can hear the real fear in her words.
No one thinks Death feels fear, but Agatha knows better.
Agatha rests her forehead against Rio’s, shuts her eyes, and even though she doesn’t have a heart, it feels like she does, like it’s beating just for Rio.
#i think it's important to note that Rio doesn't just love Agatha#she /likes/ her#she finds her funny#like sure she likes to watch Agatha kill witches#but she genuinely has a fondness for her stupid antics#her fuck-you attitude#her sense of drama#and Rio is being entirely genuine about this#there's no one to lie to#there's real affection here and it's incredibly heartbreaking
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