You were trapped in the body of a wolf. An old curse. In the day you were a beast and in the night a witch again . You first met Agatha because you came to kill Evenora. Agatha’s mother cursed you to the body of a wolf as punishment. Where will fate take you from there?
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Warning: WOLF GORE / Blo0dy / Vi0lence / Nicky Grief / Found Family / Kidnapp*ng / Mind Control / Hallucinations / RioxRxAgatha / Wolf Curse / Killing / Eating People / WOLF BITES / AgathaRioxCursed Reader /MDNI Body morphing / Werewolf AU / G0re / short chapter update sorry guys 1k / Reader g!p/ 18+
‘YOU LET HER OUT OF THE BASEMENT? SERIOUSLY, THE WEREWOLF IS IN THE HOUSE NOW? YOU FUCKED YOUR SITUATIONSHIP, AND NOW SHE’S GOING TO EAT US!’ Jen screamed at your wives in Bohners' kitchen. Which had no privacy, and even if they’d left the house, you’d never be able to stop the ringing in your ears from the potions witch.
Agatha’s cursing back wasn’t much better.
You felt like a rat in a cage, inside the house - outside the captive basement.
You missed the woods. A half lie, you didn’t miss a life hallucinating Rio, Nicky, and Agatha. But you certainly didn’t miss 20th-century modern homes.
‘Jen do you need a reminder of who got you all that magic back?’ Agatha threatened from the kitchen, purple magic swirling in the air.
You missed the many hours ago of bliss. Where you’d slept in between the witches so peacefully, why did it seem among witches that hours were so confusing, night you were human. Day a monster once more, how many hours had it been? How many days had you been in that basement?
‘Call her a werewolf again, and I’ll teach you what kind of Hell I can make just for you.’ Rio threatened back.
Alice's eyebrows shot up at that one.
‘Stop it. The fact remains; This isn’t safe for anyone.’ Lilia countered.
How you longed to be back upstairs; they’d been fighting for so long you were sure nothing was being solved. The bed was soft too. Happy at last, tail wagging even. But the witches came knocking, and well - your honeymoon was over.
In the living room you grew increasingly concerned.
Alice and the boy full of magic watched you, scared you’d kill them, scared you’d run.
You hated that he reminded you of your lost son. Hated that he reeked of chaos magic. The mere idea that this child was supposed to change you back was preposterous.
Alice chewed on her bottom lip, and you bit your tongue so hard blood gushed. You couldn’t lose control. Not here.
Your skin felt like a million maggots crawling. You hated being inside, the confinement yes, but the smells of bleach and fabric softener. The lights so plastic, so manmade. The only comfort was the scent of Rio and Agatha. They were close, they were your true home.
Your eyes darted to the windows, the doors; you couldn’t leave - you’d kill the whole town outside. But you were damned in here too; you’d kill the coven just as quick.
The buzz of electricity set your teeth on edge. You despised any cage.
It was a sickness to be this way.
In human form, wearing men's jeans and another Bohner T-shirt of some graphic. It was a tongue and lips; whatever it was, it was scratchy, plastic fibers and - and god you needed out.
‘WE PROMISED TO HELP - NOT GET EATEN!’
‘Jen calm down, we just need our plan-‘ the old ‘fortune teller’ attempted only to be talked over again.
You close your eyes as tight as possible, toes curling on the hardwood; it wasn’t your paws.
You try so hard to ignore the scent of the adolescent. He swallowed, and you could smell him - the blood pumping, sweat dripping down his shoulder.
You could so easily bite down and his body would break, a meal in moments. The blood list made you clench your fists.
You twist away from the boy, gazing at anything to distract you. Thats when you see it - staring blankly at the painting above the fireplace.
“God Bohner has the worst art taste. Are they eating that animal?” Billy naively asked awkwardly - needing to fill the void.
You stopped breathing as you stared deeply into the painting. Mesmerized with more than the two young witches could possibly understand l.
The painting didn’t belong to the man whose clothes you were wearing.
You were a story told for centuries. In books, paintings and songs.
“Cheery little drawing isn’t it?” Alice murmured over your shoulder as you stared at the printing of the oil painting you knew too well.
“Frans Snyders' painting of Wolves Devouring a Horse.” You said and suddenly felt very far away from Rio and Agatha.
“The blood looks uh, really bloody,” Alice whispers, uncomfortable.
“Kinda dramatic, right?” Billy laughs, and there’s something a little pitiful about the noise.
You stare into the wolf's eyes.
“No, actually. That’s exactly how it looks. A hunt, the devouring of an innocent animal by a beast. Hot on blood lust, gone all thought of right and wrong. Only a deep need being realized, the breaking of the pimply skin. Flesh pulled and torn from muscle, as bone crunches like twigs. Snapping over and over as heat rises out of the open cavity. The underbelly swelling and bursting. There is nothing more primal, nothing more disappointing.” You muse not remembering that you are speaking with your outside voice now.
“We gotta get you out more,” Alice says to you, but your eyes focus on the eyes of the dying horse. The red on his white fur contrasting the rest of the pallet.
“Didn’t take you for an art girlie.” Billy tried to joke; you didn’t move a single muscle.
“I can’t stay here. Put me back down in the basement.” You panicked, the painting telling you too much about yourself.
Memories, folklore, stories of a beast so disgusting it would eat an infant out of its mother's stomach.
You're walking backwards, anxious pup that you were towards the basement.
Rio came around the corner and you dodged her, heading for the basement door when you stopped -
Then yelped like a hound with a smacked nose.
“Does she normally do that?” Alice questioned, and you twisted over your shoulder to see….your tail? Being stepped on by Rio.
“No, no, no,-“ you panicked. It’s happening; you are losing control. You can’t change back - You’re a monster who’s always going to be this way!
“Sweet paws, it’s daylight saving time. It’s okay, breathe.” Death tells you, and you can’t believe how you'd forgotten such an obvious thing.
Your skin breaks open around your fingers; you look down to see fur sprouting out.
Daylight saving time, right.
But now you are in a normal house - your shoulder breaks apart, and you bump into one of the walls. The wood breaks and the tail under Death's foot grows two feet in length.
“Get Billy out of here!” You shout and your knees break open; you fall to the ground.
The turning is never kind, but you’d break this home and everyone in it soon enough.
Alice grabs him by the front of his shirt and just about throws him out the door. The other two are taking entirely too long to run are watching in horror.
“Shows over!” Agatha shouts at them, in that salty sense of humor she has.
Jen and Calderu are hand in hand, running for the door.
But as the last of your human skin, muscle, and fat fall to the floor.
You let out a roar deep and carnal enough that it makes the whole house shake.
“Moving moving!” Lilia is chanting as she gets outside.
Your nails break the wooden floor; your mind clouds. It’s not your fault; you resemble that stupid painting. Lust for carnage that could never be satiated.
Agatha and Rio both try to speak. But it was too late, you’d gone too long without a the outdoors, without the chase…without a new meal.
You no longer had control.
The front door was open.
It’s was time to eat.
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Mommy Agatha who punishes you by forcing you to wear nipple clamps. Sometimes it’s only for 5 minutes, if your a really bad girl she make you wear them for 1 hour. You’ll beg every time.
“Mommy please I’m so so sorry mommy” you beg on your knees pulling at her trousers. She looks down and pets your head “hon you should have thought about that before you where such a naughty girl”
Plot: a welcomed reminder who you actually belong to
Warnings: smut, praise kink, 18+, additional warnings to be added
~ Previous part
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Note: Not entirely happy with the smut, but I tried!
You clear your throat weakly. “I’m just gonna... uh... put my apron in the back.”
Neither of them answers immediately. Rio’s eyes flick once to the crumpled phone number still trapped in your fingers, then back to your face. "Okay, darling."
You practically flee behind the counter, Mia thankfully occupied by a customer in the back of the cafe.
The back room is dim and cramped, smelling faintly of coffee grounds and cleaning supplies. Your hands shake slightly while you untie your apron, your pulse still pounding from the way they looked at you out there.
Possessive. Hungry.
You barely get the apron onto its hook before the back door opens again.
Rio steps inside first and Agatha follows quietly behind her. The tiny room suddenly feels even smaller.
Your breath catches when Rio locks the door behind them without taking her eyes off you.
You instinctively take a small step backward. Rio follows immediately. Another step. Another... until the back of your thighs hit the metal prep table behind you and you're trapped.
Rio plants her hands on either side of you, boxing you in without actually touching you yet. The restraint somehow affects you more than if she had grabbed you outright.
“Baby,” she says quietly. “A phone number?”
“I didn’t ask for it.”
“I know. But you smiled at her,” Rio murmurs.
Your face burns instantly. “I smile at customers.”
Rio laughs softly under her breath like you just said something unbearably cute.
Agatha steps closer then, slow and graceful as ever. “I truly don’t think she understands what she did.”
“No,” Rio agrees, eyes still locked on yours. “I don’t think she does either.”
Your heartbeat pounds louder.
Agatha reaches up and smooths your hair back gently from your face. The tenderness nearly undoes you immediately.
“Poor little thing,” she murmurs softly. “She thought she was just being friendly.”
You swallow hard.
Rio finally touches you then. Her hands slide onto your hips firmly, possessively, and your breath catches so sharply it almost embarrasses you.
Agatha smiles softly at you like she can see every thought unraveling in your head one by one. “She didn’t know better,” she says calmly to Rio, though her eyes never leave yours. “No one explained it properly.”
Rio hums low in her throat. “Mhm.”
Agatha’s thumb brushes lightly across your cheek. “You didn’t know that once you belong to us…” she says gently, “you don’t go collecting phone numbers from strangers anymore.”
Your knees nearly buckle from the gentleness, from the possessiveness, from the way they're talking to you as if you were a dumb little girl.
“Look at her,” Rio murmurs to Agatha, but her eyes run all over you. She watches the way your thighs press together, the way you knuckles turn almost white as you hold onto the edge of the table, the way you breath comes out shakily...
You try to speak, but nothing useful comes out. Not with the arousal clouding your senses.
Rio squeezes your hips and you let out a soft whimper.
Agatha’s expression turns unbearably fond. “Sweet thing,” she coos quietly. “You’re getting all worked up now, aren’t you?”
You shake your head automatically even while your entire body betrays you.
Rio laughs once. “Liar.”
“I wasn’t flirting,” you whisper weakly.
“No,” Agatha agrees soothingly. Her fingers drift slowly through your hair again. “But you liked being wanted,” she continues gently.
Maybe a little. Not more than them. Never more than them.
But the attention had felt warm and surprising and easy in a way your anxious brain rarely allows.
Your silence gives you away completely.
Rio’s left hand moves up, fingers softly grasping your throat, not squeezing, just being there.
You let out a shaky breath at that and automatically lean closer to her.
Rio doesn't meet you, though, she keeps you by your throat at a short distance, not allowing you to kiss her. And as Agatha gathers your hair in her hand and grabs them to force you to look at them, Rio squeezes gently. Both sensations go straight to your lower belly and you moan.
Both of them go very still.
The humiliation of how easily they affect you sends another wave of heat through your body.
“You hear that?” Rio murmurs quietly to Agatha. “She likes this.”
Agatha smiles at you with devastating softness. “I think she likes belonging to us very much.”
You cannot think properly anymore.
Every word they say settles deep beneath your skin like something claimed.
Rio leans in close enough that her breath brushes your jaw. “Tell me something, baby.” She pushes one leg between yours and your hips immediately roll, but she doesn't pay any attention to that.
You blink at her hazily.
“When that girl touched you and gave you her number…” Rio says softly, “what did you think was gonna happen?”
Your stomach twists violently. "I didn't... I didn't think."
And then Agatha is there again, in her softness, leaning closer to kiss your cheek softly, then pressing her own cheek against you, looking at Rio. "See, she didn't think." She leans away again, her hand in your hair sending pulsing sensations through your scalp. "She's still our good girl."
Rio hums, searching in your face for something, for a green light maybe, to see that all of this is alright with you and you're not internally panicking, but it seems like all she can find is how incredibly aroused you are by their demonstrations and words.
“We'll see about that,” Rio says.
You make another helpless sound and Rio's hand leaves your neck and slides down and up your back, her leg still unmoving, just firmly planted between yours, her thigh pressed against your center.
“Hey,” she murmurs. “Easy.”
Agatha presses a gentle kiss against your temple. “You’re alright, little one.”
The tenderness only makes things worse, even though it is their way of letting you know that this is only play, that they're not really seriously mad.
Your thoughts feel thick now, though, drowned beneath affection and the dizzy warmth curling low in your stomach.
Rio tilts your chin up carefully. “What are we gonna do with you?” she asks softly.
You stare at her helplessly and then the answer is right there, shining in your eyes, yet you whisper it immediately, "remind me".
Rio curses under her breath at your wanton voice. "Do you really want that?"
You nod.
Agatha strokes your cheek soothingly. “Use your words, pretty girl.”
Your pulse pounds so hard it hurts.
Rio and Agatha stand impossibly close around you now, surrounding you completely with warmth and attention and possession until there is barely room left for coherent thought.
And somewhere beneath all the embarrassment and arousal and aching affection is one terrible, beautiful truth: You want this. You want them to claim you. To make you feel small, but theirs.
"I want you to remind me that I'm yours," you say, your voice shaking. "Please." Your hips give another roll, as if you couldn't help yourself, and Rio growls softly now, feeling the heat radiating off you.
Agatha’s hand leaves your hair and brushes against cheeks, across your lips which part at the touch. “Of course you are ours, baby."
Ours.
"God, look at that face," Rio murmurs to Agatha and you know exactly what you look like right now. Flushed. Wanton. Completely undone by them. And they haven't even properly touched you yet.
"Please," you whisper again and your hips move involuntary.
Rio looks half feral and Agatha's eyes are so impossibly dark you think they might just claim you right there, right now, but at that moment there is a loud sound from outside the door, and that breaks the spell.
"Not here," Agatha says. "Let's take you home."
Home. Home home home.
~~~
The drive home feels endless.
Rio keeps one hand on the steering wheel and the other flexing occasionally against her thigh like she is restraining herself from reaching back for you. The tension radiating off her fills the entire car.
Agatha sits beside you in the backseat again, one hand smoothing slowly through your hair while the other rests against your knee.
Rio catches your eyes in the mirror. “When we get home,” she says calmly, “you’re going upstairs to wait for us.”
Your pulse jumps immediately.
“Yes, Rio.”
She grips the steering wheel more firmly at your obedience.
~~~
You splash cold water on your face twice before finally giving up on trying to calm down. It doesn’t help. Your reflection still looks flushed and wide-eyed, your pulse still fluttering hard beneath your skin every time you replay what happened in the backroom.
Ours.
The word keeps pressing on you, in a safe and comforting way, and maybe that's what makes you lower yourself onto your knees beside the bed.
The bedroom door opens quietly a few minutes later.
It's Agatha, alone. Her entire expression softens the moment she sees you kneeling there.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she murmurs.
Heat floods your face immediately.
Agatha closes the door gently behind her before crossing the room toward you, slow and graceful and entirely unthreatening despite the way your pulse spikes harder with every step.
“There’s my sweet girl,” she coos softly as she settles on the bed in front of you and gently catches your chin in her fingers.
The praise settles deep in your chest.
You look up at her, almost devoted.
“Look at you,” she murmurs, her fingers tracing patterns along your jaw, around your lips. “Waiting so nicely for us.”
You lean into the touch before you can stop yourself.
Agatha smiles warmly at the reaction and presses a kiss against your forehead.
“Mhm.” Her thumb brushes slowly across your cheek. “Poor thing. You didn't know what to do today when someone else wanted your attention, right?”
“I didn’t want her,” you whisper quickly, a bit of defiance slipping in your tone.
Agatha narrows her eyes. “I know, sweetheart."
Then the bedroom door opens again and Rio walks in.
Her gaze lands on you kneeling on the floor in front of Agatha and she actually stops moving for half a second.
“Jesus Christ,” she mutters under her breath.
Your stomach twists hard.
Agatha glances back at her calmly. “She’s being very sweet.”
Rio closes the door behind her. “Is she?”
You can already hear the dangerous amusement creeping into her voice.
Agatha keeps stroking your hair soothingly. “She didn't think about what she was doing.”
Rio walks closer slowly. “Mhm.”
You flutter your eyes at Rio. "I really didn't." You are slipping into something else, some fuzzy part of you that is only accessible when you're around them, and you don't have it in you to slip out of it, nor do you want to.
Rio's eyes drag slowly over you. “There’s something else too,” she says softly.
Agatha tilts her head. “Oh?”
“She’s being a brat.”
Heat explodes through your body, your mind partially clouded as the words and the implication of the words suddenly overwhelms you. “I’m not,” you mumble weakly.
Rio laughs quietly. “Baby.”
Agatha caresses the top of our head. “Maybe just a little.”
You look up at Rio then. And maybe yes, maybe there is something slightly provoking in the way you look at her. Wide-eyed. Flushed. Wanting. Asking for the fire in you to be put out.
And you know Rio will do that, you know that both of them will, because even though you still cannot believe they have chosen you, you know them enough to know how much effect you have on them.
"I just talked to a nice customer."
"Nice?"
"She was quite nice," you shrug and look up to see Rio's reaction. Her jaw tightens theatrically and you fight the urge to smile which she notices, of course.
"There is that look," Rio says, more to Agatha than to you. "I think she enjoys seeing us jealous."
You blink innocently and Agatha laughs. "I think she likes how possessive we are, isn't that right, little thing?"
Rio sits down next to Agatha and before you can overthink it, you slowly reach out for her hand and guide it upward carefully to place it against your throat.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Agatha says warmly. “You absolutely want to be punished.”
You do not move Rio’s hand away, but you place your hands back on your thighs. Rio’s fingers flex once lightly against your neck, not squeezing, just feeling your pulse race beneath her palm. “Look at her,” Rio murmurs hoarsely. “She’s practically trembling.”
You are. Rio studies your face for a long moment. Then finally asks, voice low enough to make your entire body ache: “And how exactly should we remind you who you belong to?”
"I... I don't..." You didn't think this far ahead and right now you're not able to think.
Rio suddenly stands up, taking you up with her, her hand still around your throat. Agatha moves behind you. They move as if they were communicating in their minds, or as if they already planned this.
"Should we edge you again and again and not let you come for hours so that when the orgasm finally comes, you know who you belong to?"
Rio's words have an immediate affect on you and you don't hide your shock, but it doesn't frighten you, it excites you and your breathing gets even more shaky.
Agatha, who's standing behind you, grabs the hem of your shirt and starts pulling it up, her nails dragging on your naked back. "Well, that would be just cruel."
You look at Rio, who puts her hand down, so that Agatha can take your shirt off along with your sports bra, before she puts the hand back.
"Or maybe me and Agatha should fuck and just leave you here, standing, watching... not being able to join."
You're fully trembling now, when Agatha's hands sneak up around you to cup your breasts. "Would be devastating," she whispers into your ear, pressing her clothed front to your very naked back, her fingers playing with your nipples.
You moan and slightly arch your back.
Rio's other hand slips down to the edge of your pants. "Baby, when this all gets too much, you say 'stop', okay?"
You nod eagerly.
Agatha continues fondling your breasts while Rio gets down on her knees, grabbing your pants and dragging them down. When they pool around your ankles, she helps you step out of them and once you do so, her hands run up your legs until finally, finally reach where you need her the most.
“Who do you belong to?” she asks softly, looking up at you.
The question alone nearly undoes you and you buckle your hips when her fingers runs across your heated center.
Agatha kisses your shoulder. “Answer her, sweetheart”
“You,” you whisper shakily.
"Now now," Rio says, taking your panties slowly down, and then pushing your legs apart. "Say it properly."
"I..." You have to take a deep breath. "I belong to you."
Rio spreads your folds and you whimper. "So wet, just from being claimed."
Agatha tightens her grip around you because you are this close to falling down, your knees weak, and then even weaker when Rio dips her finger inside and slides into you.
“And what happens,” Rio asks slowly, curling her finger inside of you before adding another one easily, “when strangers flirt with you?”
Your thoughts scatter completely. You moan again, Rio's fingers in you and Agatha's fingers softly pinching your nipples are making your mind hazy.
Agatha kisses your neck and then bites down. “Poor sweetheart,” she coos. “She couldn't think today and she cannot think now."
“She will answer,” Rio says calmly.
You swallow hard. “I don’t…” Your voice catches.
Rio moves up and down and you roll your hips, letting your head fall against Agatha's shoulder.
“You don’t what?”
“I don’t want them,” you whimper finally.
"No?"
You shake your head weakly.
“Who do you want then?”
“You.”
And then Rio moves and her mouth is on your clitoris while her fingers keep curling inside of you so deliciously you don't even hide the sounds that leave your mouth. Agatha keeps holding you, biting and licking and kissing every piece of skin she can reach, surely making love bites there.
When you come, shaking, you look down and see Rio licking her fingers and you know you are theirs, in every sense of the word and you don't ever want to be someone else's.
"Good girl," Agatha says with a final kiss on your shoulder.
Rio stands up and kisses you, firmly, possessively. "Get on the bed, sweetie. We're not done."
You scramble immediately and lay down, waiting for whatever comes next.
You watch Agatha take off her clothes, placing them neatly folded on a chair, you watch her climb up beside you, kissing you gently.
“So pretty tonight,” she murmurs.
There is no place for anxiety in your mind at all, your whole mind screams Agatha Rio Agatha Rio.
And then Rio reappears, wearing a dildo between her legs, and you audibly swallow.
"Are you okay with this?" Rio asks.
You nod eagerly. "Yes, but..."
They both look at you, stopping whatever they were doing, and once again a sense of safety floods through you.
"Whatever you want, baby, just tell us," Agatha reassured you, stroking your head.
"I want to feel you both," you confess quietly, looking from Agatha to Rio and see the glance they exchange.
"That can be arranged," Agatha says and then Rio sits between your legs, rubbing the tip of her cock through your folds and before you can react to that, Agatha moves in one swift move over you and settles herself on top of you, her glistening center right above your face.
You don't know what makes you crazy more, the sight above you or the way Rio slowly pushes into you.
You get lost in both of them - in Agatha's scent and taste, in the way she starts moaning when you work your tongue, in the way she grabs the headboard to steady herself, in Rio's thrusts, in her hands digging into your hips, in the way her thighs meet yours every time she moves...
You make Agatha come first, she's still shaking when she climbs off you and lays down next to you, holding you, kissing you, while Rio pounds into you.
And then when you finally come, it's with a moan accompanied by the word "yours!"
Summary: The fragile thread that holds everything together is starting to tear
Word count: 8.3k
TW: +18 MDNI, power imbalance, age gap, imposter syndrome, angst, light smut, mentions of alcohol and drugs.
A/N: *Taps on mic* Is this thing on? Hola ! First, a round of apologies: Sorry for taking so long to post this, sorry if it feels rushed or nonsensical, and sorry for sticking to the angst lol. This chapter is more of a bridge for what comes next, hope y'all enjoy it ! Adios :)
Song for this chapter: Pool - Samia
Previous chapter
Chapter seventeen : Breakable
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
Day 10
“Dude, come on. You’ve been there for like ten minutes”
“Shut up, I need this to look perfect”
“Why?” you say, very done already “I mean, the guy already loves your tiny ass. Sure as fuck the bag is secured”
Two days ago Billy told you that apparently the things with Eddie were going well, so much that his parents invited him over to their house in the lake. You have seen him like two times, not having really a proper introduction, because Billy insisted on making sure first thing we’re going to work before involving him fully into his life.
And to your surprise, that was the most serious and mature thing Billy has done ever since you know him.
He comes out of the dressing room, wearing a pair of dark blue fitted pants and a grey cashmere sweater “Eddie, yes. But his parents? That’s a whole different story, and I’m not taking chances”
You huff in exhaustion, Billy always gets so anxious about these things. And you, a professional overthinker, love to help others in distress as a way to escape from your own shit. So that’s why you have spent almost five hours of your day off helping him to get the perfect outfit for the dinner.
It’s been almost three weeks since New York. And you have mastered the art of detachment and avoidance, it helped that Agatha had that gutting idea of taking you out of her service and trading you as pokemon cards with Strange for one of his interns. The reason she gave him; she had taught you everything she could (in her words, of fucking curse) but you knew how to take the big L and nod along to her lies as the big girl you are.
So now, you find yourself petting Strange’s ego in order to survive the horrors. At least, you still have Bucky by your side when things get tough and Billy is not around to soothe the pain. Maybe that was what you actually needed. Getting back to your normal life, try to live it without the constant reminder of the woman that owns your completely.
“Did you hear me?” Billy says, now in a different outfit. This time in the same sweater but in white and khaki pants that makes him look like a church boy.
“Sorry, what?” You say, shaking your head.
“I was saying that if this one makes me look like a church boy”
You chuckle “Kinda, maybe the other one was better?
He takes another look in the mirror, then nods in agreement “Yeah, you’re right”
You exhale, finally relieved that Billy made up his mind. Then, after a very greasy burger and fries from the food aisle you make your way back home, the dread of the day washing over you when your body finally makes contact with the soft cushion of the sofa. Clementine jumps into your chest and immediately starts purring with her not so tiny anymore head nuzzled in your throat , making herself comfortable there.
Exhaustion completely takes over and before you know it you're already fast asleep, not even the heavy storm outside can wake you up at this point.
Surprisingly, since the events in New York, you’ve been able to focus on getting a little more sleep, shutting off your brain every now and then, trying to get the peace you've been chasing for so long now. And yet, you still find yourself wondering if it was the best idea.
When Agatha said she was poison, when she crushed your heart with her sharp heels, the ones she always wears to intimidate people, when she lied to your face and made you believe this was the best option, even as you watched both of you bleed.
But now…
You thank her for helping you see things clearly,
Day 9
If working for Agatha was a time bomb, for Strange was like a roller coaster. One day you'd be in the middle of a surgery that felt like the end of the world, and he'd handle it with incredible ease, just by moving his hands with such precision. And the next... you'd spend hours sitting at the interns' lounge doing absolutely fucking nothing. That's the problem with surgeons who also seem to be rock stars, he and Bucky were always traveling from city to city fixing people's brains.
You once went with them to Texas, where the team performed a partial resection of an ependymoma on an 8 year old girl. It was truly amazing and surely will be one of the best memories of your career.
But then, back in Westview you spent the next two days organizing your charts and practicing sutures on the old manikins. It felt strangely comforting, almost like a vacation.
Until the third day of your shift, when you had to eat your words and go through what could have been the most chaotic night of your life.
The emergency room erupted into a sea of people that had a nasty accident in a bus that had veered off the road returning from a music festival. Thankfully, just exactly one brain was in need of specialized help. So the rest of your night passed on suturing people that were very drunk that your usage of anesthesia was practically nonexistent.
By the time the sun was already setting, you were sewing back the split eyebrow of a dude that sadly just lost his piercing during the commotion, when a familiar voice called your name.
“Excuse me doctor, where do I get a turn?” Carol says, peaking through the curtain.
You chuckle, not turning to face her yet continuing threading the skin “Sorry, I’m leaving after this one. You’re gonna have to find another one to torture”
She laughs, that rich and surprisingly warm laugh that has been making you forget how sore your heart is supposed to be.
When you finish the guy's eyebrow, looping the needle and thread to make a perfect tiny knot is when you finally look at her and your blood runs cold.
“Jesus, Carol what the fuck happened to you?” You say as you rush to get closer to look at her very injured head, a tiny crimson line running down her forehead and a couple scratches on her cheek.
“Fought a lion and won” she jokes “Emergency at a construction site, didn’t went as planned”
You carefully examine the thin cuts, then you take her hand leading her out the room looking back at the patient before stepping outside “Sir, a nurse will be here in a minute to give your discharge info”
The very now conscious guy gives you a two thumbs up before laying down again without complaining.
You leave the exam room and lead Carol to another one that’s empty and clean. She sits on the bed while you get the suture kit and other medical supplies to treat her.
“Do you realize you’re supposed to be there to help patients, not be the patient?”
She laughs “Just a little collateral damage, nothing serious”
You look at her in disbelief “Carol, there’s literally a hole in your forehead. If I drop a coin on it, will it give me a piece of gum?”
This time she lets out an even louder laugh, having to cover her mouth “Ouch, don’t make me laugh. It hurts”
“Good. Hopefully that’ll teach you not to try to be the hero”
“Will do, boss”
You shake your head and start to treat the wound. The moment the alcohol-soaked cotton ball touches her skin, she hisses. The bright red is now replaced by a faint trace of pink. You switch to a new one and press it against the wound once more, trying to remove all the remaining blood. Without realizing, you apply enough pressure to make Carol react.
Her hand flies to yours, holding your wrist preventing the cotton from touching the wound again. You lower your gaze slightly, and your eyes meet hers. Are they a deep amber, or perhaps brown topaz? Either way, they make you lose your concentration a little. Her hand still firmly holding your wrist.
“Careful, doctor” she says, and at this moment you don’t know if she’s referring to the wound on her head or to the fact that, for the first time in a few days your mind is playing tricks on you.
You clear your throat and, without giving it much thought and continue cleaning the wound. “You're the one who needs to be careful, or you'll become a regular at the emergency room”
She smiles, big and bright. Squinting every time she does and you can’t stop noticing how this makes your stomach churn.
“What will you do on the day I'm not on call?”
“Hopefully, taking you out for drinks or dinner, pretty one” She says, winking at you shamelessly
You roll your eyes at that and continue getting the needle ready to suture her forehead “That was very cheap, even for you. You could do better”
She chuckles, and pauses for a minute, looking directly at you “Oh, I will”
Day 8
“Incsicion, muscle moving, accessing the spine, removing pressure, checking the nerve, closing” You keep repeating to yourself as the elevator moves. It’s been a month now since you have been on Strange’s service, and it has helped you to polish your basic surgery skills.
You've noticed that he has a knack for pop quizzes. Sometimes they cover topics that are too simple, like identifying the pairs of cranial nerves and their functions or the Glasgow Coma Scale.
And there was that one time when, while he was casually eating a tuna sandwich and filling out paperwork, he suddenly asked your group to list the symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment for Chari’s malformation.
The most recent one, a few days ago. When during an aneurysm clipping he bombarded you with questions about a spinal decompressing procedure, you looked at him very confused because it had absolutely nothing to do with the current one. But as you turned to Bucky and saw his eyes reassuring you to answer, it started to make sense.
You were going over the steps with him, but still focused on Strange’s hands working with precision around the very tiny and delicate blood vessels and at the same time he would deliberately ask the nurse for the wrong instruments to see if you were paying attention to what was happening.
By this point, you were already a pro. You had answered most of your quizzes correctly.
Incision, muscle moving, accessing the spine, removing pressure, checking the nerve, closing. That kept echoing in your head.
You were just floors away from the residents' lounge when the elevator stopped at the 8th floor. Instinctively, you stepped away from the door, 8th floor: post-operative recovery. But when the doors opened, the only thing they saw right in front of them were those two blue eyes that continue to haunt you even when you go days without seeing them.
Agatha was standing in front of you, her lab coat as pristine as ever, no scrubs this time. Just a delicate black Tom Ford that you painfully recognized. God, she looked as precious as always.
At that moment, you felt like a caged animal; the four metal walls seemed to be closing in on you. It wasn’t until she stepped into the elevator and the doors closed that you realized you’d been holding your breath. The scent hits you immediately, of course she was going to pair Tom Ford with Tom Ford. Her signature Black Orchid filled the elevator in seconds.
“Morning” she says, her back turned to you.
Incision, muscle moving, accessing the spine, removing pressure, checking the nerve, closing.
You swallow hard, a desperate attempt to keep your composure “Morning” You say back, keeping your eyes down, looking at how your hands tremble. Dammit, you thought you had this controlled by now, but its seems you absolutely fucking not.
Incision…
“I heard things have been going well for you with Strange, you're learning new things. That's great”
Checking the nerve. Wait, no. That’s not-
Finally, you look up and see how stiff her body is. Her long hair falls perfectly down her back, the dark, shiny waves reminding you that your fingers once ran through them. This is ridiculous, you need to get out of here immediately.
The elevator keeps its constant slow movement, the low hum being the only thing that fills the uncomfortable silence.
Accessing the spine.
“Yeah, I think so” You say before you can stop yourself.
“I told you it was the best thing to do, less…” She trails off, then very slowly turns to face you again “...complicated”
Removing pressure. What is causing it? Shit, focus y/n.
You hold her gaze, fighting back an overwhelming urge to cry. There was a time when you wouldn't have cared about this, when you could have thrown yourself at her until you were on your knees begging her not to leave you. Honestly, you wouldn't have minded being a little pathetic for her. But now, the fire inside you isn't because you want her hands on you, her mouth on your neck, or her thigh between your legs.
God, how you miss her, how you hate her.
Incision, muscle moving, accessing the spine, removing pressure, checking the nerve.
“I guess” You say, venom taking over your tongue “you’re always right”
You look at her closely, searching for any sign. But her usual expression, showing no surprise or anger at such an accusation. And it only reminds you of how well she has mastered the art of hiding the fact that she’s dying inside. She knows it’s true, she knows the damage is done.
Without you noticing, the elevator doors open again on the 6th floor, and two people step inside. The little bubble you were in bursts the moment Agatha steps aside and stops looking at you with that intensity that’s so characteristic of her, moving to one side and leaning against the wall, leaving a space between you so that the other people can get settled.
You look at her one last time, and she holds your gaze, steady, defying. Your frown doesn't change her expression at all. Just as the elevator doors are about to close, you stop them and step out. You can take the stairs.
Closing.
Day 7
The pleasant October weather envelops the residents of Westview in the perfect atmosphere for Halloween celebrations. Orange leaves are already covering the streets, kids everywhere and the overwhelming scent of pumpkin spice filling the coffee shops on every corner.
“Okay, now look at this side” Bucky says, holding the camera as Carol, you and Billy stand outside the ambulance bay.
“Barnes, it's just a stupid photo, not a GQ shoot” Carol says, trying to sound annoyed, even though she actually has no problem flexing her powerful muscles for the camera.
Her incredibly well executed Xena costume is making it hard for you to breathe. Who are you trying to fool? You see a pretty girl in a costume of someone who was one of your many gay awakenings. Fucking sue me, you think.
“Speak for yourself" says Billy as he adjusts his fake blonde wig. Which, for some reason, doesn't look cheap at all, making it clear that he really put a lot of effort into his Ken costume this year “Eddie is sadly not coming this weekend to celebrate, so I need to send him good pics”
Bucky laughs and snaps another one “Allright, Ken. Pose for your Allan”
You and Bucky were still wearing your sad light blue scrubs. Bucky was wearing a Batman mask, while you had simple cat ears and whiskers drawn on with eyeliner, copying the style of your beloved Clementine.
For the ER, halloween night meant working nonstop, treating cases of indigestion from eating too much candy or dealing with drunk people in ridiculous costumes. You and Bucky offered to help Alice cover part of the shift since you had a party planned later by Carol's friends.
“You look cute” Carol says as her arm tightens around your waist “love the whiskers”
That little nervous, pathetic, involuntary laugh that escapes you in response just reminds you of how starved for affection you are. It’s a little sad that you’ve been reduced to this. You know Carol likes you, but ever since what happened at the bar, when Agatha was still flooding your thoughts and your body seemed to belong only to her.
For you, the very thought of being with anyone other than Agatha seemed impossible. But you were determined to change that.
“And you look hot” you say, as a wave of confidence washes over you.
She smiles, and you feel her fingertips gently caress your skin through your scrubs. An electric sensation courses through your body, and all you can do is hold your breath. Finally, when Billy runs over to Bucky to look at the photos, Carol turns and looks at you.
“See you at the party, kitten” she says, and plants a quick but intoxicating kiss near the corner of your lips.
She walks toward her car without saying another word, and the only thing you can focus on is the sensation of her lips… until your eyes catch sight of what’s behind her.
Agatha.
A freshly lit cigarette between her fingers. She looked tired, smaller than you’d expect from a goddess like her. Her glasses rested on the tip of her nose, revealing the dark circles that now framed her eyes. What surprised you was a small, pointed black hat with purple glittery spiderwebs resting on her head.
She took a long, slow drag as she fixed her piercing gaze on you. You stood motionless, watching as smoke drifted from her mouth with deadly elegance. The tip of her cigarette was stained by the dark red of her lipstick, it felt as if she were casting a spell on you.
Your hands were trembling at your sides, clutching your scrubs pants tightly. If what had happened a few moments ago with Carol was like an electric shock, this felt like a bolt of lightning striking you right on the spot.
“Doctor Harkness!” Bucky's cheerful voice suddenly snaps you out of your daydream and back to reality “Love the hat, that’s definitely your color”
Agatha forces a polite smile “Thank you, Barnes. Or should I say Wayne”
A joke, a fucking joke, by Agatha Harkness. Is this a sign of recession? Now that was something to be impressed by.
And thank god, before anything else could happen, Bucky speaks again “That was a good one, you really know your stuff. Well, I’ll keep saving Gotham City for a little while longer” he says, giving you a few light taps on the shoulder.
And before he could leave you alone with Agatha, you started moving along with him “Yeah, me too.
“But I thought you were going to smoke” Bucky says as he turns to look at you.
“Nope, actually I have to go to the bathroom. It's you know… urgent. Bye doctor Harkness”
Agatha looks at the two of you curiously as she continues to enjoy her cigarette in silence. And just as you're about to walk through the glass doors of the emergency room, you can hear her voice very faintly.
“You look cute” she says, and a second bolt of lightning strikes you.
You’re not sure you survived the impact until later that night, when you’re in Carol’s car, sitting on her lap, her hands under your skirt making you gasp. And you trying to erase those three words from your mind.
Day 6
The screams echo through the residents' lounge, where a few people have already gathered to watch the commotion. At one end of the room stands Kate, with her arrogant expression, trying to look like a little lost lamb. And at the other end is you, your body visibly trembling with anger. It took Kate exactly three weeks to get on your nerves again.
“Just admit that you did this on purpose” you say, your voice calmer but still resentful.
Kate pulls off what the Razzies might call the worst “best” sad face in the industry. holding her hands to her chest as if she were trying to soothe the stab wound you had just inflicted on her.
Oh for fuck's sake.
“I would never do such thing. It hurts me so much that you'd think something like that. Is it really your thirst for success that drives you to such extremes just to be the best?” she snaps, her voice so confident that even you believe her lie.
The people around you turn to look at you, as if they were waiting for you to finish that comment. God, this was a circus.
“All I want…” you continue, standing firm with your arms crossed, as if trying to keep your hands from magically finding their way into Kate’s hair “Is to know if you deleted all my charts that were on this computer”
You point to the station where you've been working all this damn week. Endless nights of doing all the work you foolishly left until the last minute so you could spend your days with Strange and Bucky in the operating room. All went down the drain in a matter of seconds.
“The very one you were using just a few moments ago” You say again.
As if it were a silly cartoon, the audience turns their gaze back to Kate, who already looks nervous.
"It could have been anyone, you're only accusing me of that because it's me. Seriously, are you that jealous of me?” she says, and you hear murmurs. Oh no, fuck no. She won’t win this time.
You’ve spent the last month trying to get past this whole damn problem, which has cost you so much, but you can finally see the light at the end of that dark and demanding tunnel. Kate wouldn’t take that away from you.
You walk toward her, and the others are taken by surprise, just like she is. When you’re just a few centimeters away, you can see that she’s trying with all her strength to appear to be the stronger one in this confrontation, but deep down you know just how terrified she is.
Yes, she may have some power over you, but you decide this will be the last time you have to tolerate this shit.
“Maybe you're still resentful because, deep down, you know I'm better than you, and that if you're chosen, it's not necessarily because you're good. It’s because you're just an obstacle that's being used strategically”
A collective “oooh” goes up, accompanied by some mocking laughter, and the blush on her face gives away that you've struck a nerve. Yeah, maybe you've put yourself in a vulnerable position. Maybe she'll finish things off by spilling the beans about your thing with Agatha, maybe you were reckless.
But you don't care anymore, not at all.
“And you're a slut” she says, pride all over her face.
The kick off comes right after this, right? Right?
“How do you sleep knowing that?”
Your body suddenly feels hot, as if lava were flowing through it. You weren't afraid of being called a slut. Insecure people always use those terms to belittle others when they know they've lost.
But what you didn't expect was the next. Kate had every weapon at her disposal, and she didn't miss a single opportunity to use them.
“Or is all this because you can't sleep with Harkness anymore?” The room goes silent and your body that was fire hot a second ago, it's now a huge block of ice. You look around and everyone is whispering things you can’t even hear because of the loud buzzing sound that now fills your ears.
“Wait, did she really….” someone says.
The grin on Kate's face grew wider with every passing second, another damn victory for her. My god.
There were so many things you wanted to say, but for some reason they got stuck in your throat because of the growing lump that made you want to cry, to shatter you into pieces. You felt humiliated, violated, and so powerless.
As if by some force of the universe, all the strength you had left concentrated in the palm of your hand. You didn't even realize you'd hit Kate in the face until some of the crowd burst into cheers.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” She said, her hand flying to her face.
You look at her, coldly and as if something had taken control of you “Everything, fucking everything” you say before lunging at her again.
Your hands burrow into her silly, perfect braid. You start moving her head from side to side until both of you fall, as the other interns, very hungry for action, make room for you so you can comfortably bury your careers.
“Y/n, get off me!!” she screams with that annoying voice.
Yanking it harder you are now in her lap, pining her to the ground “In a minute, hon”
Her hands finally leave her face and one flies to your pony tail. You try to dodge it, but don't succeed. The first pull actually hurts as she tries to get free from your grip at the same time.
“Hey, what's going on?” someone in the back of the crowd asks, Bucky.
“ Harkness and Strange girls are fighting” one of the med students says as he pulls out his cell phone to record the scene.
He tries to take a look only to find white lab coats and heads “What the- hey!” he says as he pushes his way through the crowd. When he finally spots the two of you lying on the floor, he immediately runs over to grab you.
He grabs you firmly around the waist, lifting you effortlessly as he tries to pull you as far away from Kate as possible, while the audience continues to cheer you on enthusiastically.
You kick and flail your arms, trying to break free from him “Let me go!” you say breathlessly. “Bucky, I swear to god, if you don’t let me go, I’m going to kill you”
“I want to see you try, superstar” he warns.
Kate stands up and tries to fix her hair when, without a second thought, she lunges at you again, trying to get past Bucky to get to you.
“You've just signed your own death sentence, y/n,” she says, placing her hand on your bare arm. Her nails manage to scratch a part of it before Bucky pulls her hand away.
“You two, stop!!” Bucky raises his voice. But suddenly the room is silent.
Wanda appears in the doorway. Her usual warm, comforting gaze is replaced by a more stern expression. With just one glance around, the group begins to scatter like cockroaches when you turn on the lights. You're kinda relieved that it's her who's here.
If it had been Agatha, you'd probably have died right there.
“Can any of you explain to me what the heck is going on at my hospital?”
Bucky tries to speak, but she just raises her hand to stop him. Her gaze shifts from Kate to you, and then back to Kate and her messy braid. It then settles once more on your arm and the three reddish lines that are emerging.
“Bishop, Y/l/n. My office, now” she says and without another word she leaves.
Bucky looks at you, trying to find any other injuries, but he sees nothing but a pale, frightened face “Hey, everything’s going to be okay” he says, trying to get you to look him in the eye, and when you do, he softens his voice “Look at me. Everything’s going to be okay, I’m gonna call Strange”
"Of course, saint y/l always getting away with her shit, right?" Kate spits again, the venom spreading quickly.
Bucky looks at her and speaks firmly “Bishop, cut it off. I think you have more important things to think about right now”
“Whatever” As she walks away and you try to control your breathing, you can't stop thinking about one thing.
Agatha.
It took Wanda ten minutes to calm you down and only two to suspend you both for the fight. You don't remember the rest of the conversation; your mind was too overwhelmed to even process what had happened. You could have died right then and there, and you wouldn't even have realized it.
Day 5
Three days later, you're sitting on the floor of your living room, your back pressed against the sofa, and the movie you were watching is completely forgotten. Your eyes are focused on just one thing: the phone in your hand. Agatha's name calls to you like a siren's song. From the moment you set foot outside the hospital, you've been torn about whether to call her. And it has taken everything you have not to do so.
Your fear of not knowing what to say and the fact that Wanda strictly forbade you from doing so.
There's a knock at the door, followed by the jingle of keys. Billy and Carol appear on your porch, both carrying your reusable grocery bags, stuffed to the brim.
Both of them have been right by your side. Billy, keeping you company as usual, something you’ve come to rely on at all times. And Carol, without judging you even once, without saying Told you so, just being there for you. Bucky and Kamala visited you the day before. You could see the understanding on Bucky’s face and the confusion on Kamala’s, whose shyness kept her from asking the questions she probably wanted to ask.
Yet, the one person you wanted to see walk through that door, to hug you and tell you that everything would be okay, never came. And the worst part is that you can't blame her for anything, even if your heart wanted to.
When your gaze meets Billy's and he immediately notices how incredibly red your eyes are, he quickly sets the bags down on the table and walks toward you.
“I'm going to feed Clementine and start the laundry, and then we can eat together, okay?” Carol says as she walks down the hallway, with the fluffy orange ball of fur following right behind her.
Billy nods, then takes the phone from your hands.
“I couldn’t, I just-” You say, eyes filled with tears “I fucked it up again, Billy”
He hugs you and tries to calm you down “Everything's going to be okay. You didn't do anything wrong, and I need you to understand that”
And the thing is that you try, you really fucking do. And just when you were about to pull it off, another bomb went off right in your face.
The email from the intern's management department arrived exactly at the worst moment. Billy has been teaching you how to drive since the day your suspension started, and you were actually getting the hang of it, even when your dad's old Bronco gave you a hard time. And that day, after a fight over something so trivial that it almost tarnished your friendship, you never expected your day to get any worse.
The subject only contained two words: Privileges Revoked. Both you and Kate had been removed from Pepper’s surgery due to inappropriate behavior.
You hadn't even finished reading the message when your stomach decided it was enough to make you sick. And while you were throwing up in the toilet, the next email that landed in your inbox contained an apology from Strange, saying that he had done everything he could to prevent this but there was no solution.
That night, you drove alone for the first time for hours and ended up at the bridge where you had said goodbye to your entire family. Only the sound of the night kept you company, and as you crossed the guardrail, your mind went blank. When your phone vibrated in your pocket, you slowly pulled it out and saw Billy’s name and face filling the entire screen.
“Hey, so Tommy got you some new lights for the truck” He said, his voice a little too excited “We think they're original and in very good condition. He'll come by this weekend to install them!”
You looked down once more at the dark and ominous river stretching out before you. Then you looked up at the starry sky “Sounds good, thank you”
Then you drove back home.
Day 4
“OH MY DEAR GOD, SHE’S BACK!” A loud and cheerful voice filled the ER as soon as you walked through the doors and you didn’t have to even look to know it was Alice’s. The intensity and strength of her embrace almost took your breath away.
“Missed you, too” You say.
“I’m really glad you are back, kid” her hand reach over the counter pulling a big stack of charts and her best big smile “Now, help me save this place”
The stares and whispers you’d heard all morning faded away as soon as you had time to have lunch with your friends. The table was filled with laughter and that familiar feeling that they’re telling the truth when they say things might turn out okay. No one asked any awkward questions or made any comments that might lead to them. But most importantly, you haven’t run into Kate all day, who according to Bucky, has been spending her time in the obstetrics ward with Dr. Kale. Later, while you were doing your rounds in the ER, you were paged to Wanda's office, and the knots in your stomach tightened instantly.
“Did I get you in trouble?” you ask, your gaze fixed on your lap while your leg nervously bounces up and down.
Wanda sighs, gently and calmly “There was some damage control to do, a few sacrifices and a lot of paperwork”
Finally, you turn to look at her and see that look of understanding and tenderness. It isn't until that moment that you realize how starved for maternal love you are.
“I’m so sorry, I just-” You start but words seem so heavy right now.
Wanda reaches out her hand across the desk, and you instinctively do the same to take it “I want you to understand something, honey” she says, and you immediately feel the urge to cry “What happened was really unfortunate. I'm so sorry about taking you off the team, but it was the only decision that would give us a slight advantage”
You nod, completely agreeing with what she says. Because what else could you do?
“Even so, I want you to know that although the matter hasn't escalated beyond hallway gossip, Strange, Agatha, and I have all assured you that none of these accusations will affect your position at this hospital”
You flinch at the mention of Agatha. God, how you miss her, how you need her.
“Everything you've earned here has been thanks to your intelligence and skills. I'm absolutely certain that no one has given you any special treatment” she continues “And fortunately, anyone you've worked with can confirm that”
The sense of relief his words gave you was something you needed so much and were very grateful for. After chatting for a few more minutes, Wanda also mentioned that the issue might not be completely resolved yet, since the right thing to do would be to give Kate the right to respond as well. And even though everything might be stacked against you, you agreed with this, too.
When your shift was about to end, you headed to the locker room to gather your belongings. Your feet hurt like fucking hell, and all you wanted to do was get home, take a shower, and sleep until your alarm went off again.
Day 3
Usually, you're not the one in the waiting room; you're always behind the counter, where the magic happens.But now, twice a week, you have to read trashy magazines that have seen better days while you wait for someone better or worse than you to come out of the small room at the end of the hall.
You met Dr. Simmons through Rio. After your suspension, you and Kate were required to attend separately mandatory anger management therapy. When Rio gave you her card she said it was one of the best and thankfully she was part of the program the hospital has with third party practices. Because even when there was patient confidentiality, you were sure the fuck you didnt wanted to go back to the hospital’s psych ward.
As your name gets called and you collect your bag and traumas you can’t stop thinking about if the plant at the corner is fake or the receptionist really really has a good hand.
Later that day you crossed paths with Kate at the hospital for the first time in days. She was standing in front of her locker, getting ready for another day at work. When you walked into the room, she looked at you for about two seconds before slamming the door shut and walking past you without saying a word.
You've heard from Kamala that she's totally pissed off about being pulled out of the surgery. And honestly, you thought there would be an even harder blow after this, since you had taken that opportunity away from her.
“Ignore her” Billy said as he came out of the bathroom. His curls were still wet from the shower he'd just taken “You really need to stop overthinking everything she does, Y/n. Nothing is going to happen”
You sigh, because even when you are trying your best, when you keep your mind busy with work and thousands of things more, it just… it doesn’t work. Because you know that the bomb is still not defused completely.
“I don’t know, B” You say, as you change into a fresh pair of scrubs “The day is just starting”
Day 2
“Perfecto! You did it on your first try, carina. I bet this little one is very thankful for that” Calderu says as she examines the arterial line you just installed to the small little human in front of you.
You smile big and bright as you take the tiny hand to admire your work “Thank you, doctor”
You've started to grow fond of pediatrics. What used to terrify you is now becoming one of your favorite rotations, especially because you have someone like Dr. Calderu as your mentor. The first time you worked with her alongside Rio, it completely changed your perception of the area.
“Now” she starts, closing the incubator and making sure all wires are placed perfectly “let’s give this strong boy a moment for himself. He must be exhausted having this two women on his business all day long”
You chuckle and the comfortable warmth that fills your body is all different from when you want to throw yourself into traffic. Your rotations have gone well, and even your therapy has gone surprisingly well. You've become more open to talking about things you don't even repeat to yourself
Everything else has also improved quite a bit. With Carol, you've been exploring many things that you thought would be Agatha's exclusive, and that fucking terrifies you. Because, what are you supposed to do now that you're not thinking about her 24/7 anymore? It feels weird, as if you were betraying her. And every time you walk past her office, every time you see her coming out of the OR or during rounds, or even in the cafeteria, your first thought is no longer to run over to her.
Or at least that’s what you are forcing yourself to do.
You don't remember how you got to the residents' lounge or when you made that coffee so strong it could bring the dead back to life, when suddenly, a voice snaps you out of your thoughts.
“Ground control to major Tom” Rio says.
You blink, a bit confused but now fully awake “Oh, Dr. Vidal” Yo say, “Hi, sorry. Do you want some coffee?"
She shakes her head “No, thank you. Already did three lines”
You roll your eyes at her joke and pull out one of the chairs from the dinner “For legal purposes can you state that was a joke, please?” You take a sip from your coffee, whincing after burning your tongue at the contact
“You are not fun, let me build a reputation”
“Yeah, that not very recommended”
“Why not? It worked for Taylor Swift, that album is fucking amazing.
You laugh, genuinely. Rio has becoming for some fucking reason one of your best supports, you have talked about the Agatha situation just one time now. What you thought would be a disaster turned into a strange friendship. A little weird? Probably, but you rarely talked about it anymore.
Day 1: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21 2025 00:18 AM
The emergency room was too quiet. But it was the kind of quiet that makes you brace yourself for the worst. Some of the on-duty residents were sleeping in the available beds, trying to get a little rest.
Alice and you were playing UNO at the counter. A pair of med students charting and complaining about the vending machine that stole their money after Alice explicitly told them it was having issues.
“Girl, I’m not hungry. Stop making me eat!” Alice barks as she takes four cards again.
You chuckle, enjoying how bad she's losing her shit that will probably backfire you since she will be your boss for the next week.
“Hey, not my problem you really suck on this”
She groans and fixes her cards looking for one for the next round. You're so focused on your game that you didn't notice Bucky behind you. Still in his scrubs, looking like a total mess after he practically had to split himself in two today, handling along with Agatha all of Strange's work while he was away due to a family emergency.
“She has a lot of blue cards, Al” He says, peeking at your cards and Alice lets out a wicked laugh.
You gasp and give him a nudge, making him laugh like a fool “Fuck off, man!”
He leaves a stack of papers on the counter, separating the cases Agatha is handling from the ones you’ll help review during your rounds.
“Harkness already left about half an hour ago” he says, and your mind immediately starts wondering how her day went, whether she ate, if she was able to sleep, or whether you might have crossed her mind today.
“Okay, I’ll take a look at this. When is Strange coming back?”
“Probably wednesday. Apparently doctor Palmer is getting transferred back to New York from DC, so he will help her to get settled”
You nod and respond to Alice's move “Kay, you should get going. Go to sleep”
“You don't have to tell me twice, superstar. Have a nice shift guys” he says waving as he walks toward the exit.
Two hours later, you find yourself lying on one of the most secluded beds in the ER, your lab coat shielding your face from the intense white light. Just as you were finally starting to drift off into a deep sleep, everything around you exploded.
Alice walks into the room and wakes you up abruptly “Wake up, sleeping beauty. Emergency at the heliport, let’s go!”
In about five seconds, you find yourself running down the long hallway toward the elevator.
“What's going on?” you ask as you adjust your lab coat again.
Alice hesitates, a look on her face that you can't quite read, but you know it's something important.
“Pepper Potts” she says, and your body goes numb “She had to be rushed here from New York, she's been having seizures for half an hour. We don't have all the information yet. Agatha is already on her way”
The elevator feels like it's moving impossibly slowly, with every floor it passes, you brace yourself for the impact. Once you reach the top of the building, the paramedics rush to move Pepper onto the gurney.
As soon as you and Tony look at each other, you can tell what's going on. You think of Morgan, who probably has no idea what's happening right now.
“I just-” He starts, tears already threatening "Everything was okay, she was- she was doing fine”
You try to calm him down, but deep down you know that’s exactly how you’d react, too. You see reflected in him the pain, fear, and uncertainty that these moments bring you.
As soon as the elevator reaches the operating room floor and the doors open, Agatha is already there. Her hair is tousled from the rush, and she’s wearing a pair of black pants and her Harvard sweatshirt.
She looks at Tony, then at you, and then at Pepper on the gurney. Time freezes for a few seconds, then everyone starts moving.
“OR five is ready, anesthesiologist is on his way” Agatha informs.
Wait.
Oh, wait.
You keep running alongside the whole team, holding one end of the gurney as you make their way to the pre-op area.
When you reach the door, one of the nurses stops Tony, telling him he can’t go through. Agatha immediately approaches him and says something you can’t quite hear, you just see him clutching his head, trying to make sense of it all.
The nurse steps back out when she sees Agatha signal to her, accompanying Tony to the exit and likely to the waiting room. Agatha comes back and heads toward you. Your stomach is in knots and your heart is racing a mile a minute.
“I need you to get ready” she says as she begins to take off her extra clothes to change into the pair of scrubs and her scrub cap that another nurse had already laid out for her.
You can't see the look on your face, but judging by her reaction, you can sense what's coming next.
You swallow hard before speaking “What are you talking about?”
“You'll scrub in with me. We used to be a team of six, and now there are just the two of us. Barnes is on his way, so he can take over for you when necessary”
You don't know what to say, your mind is racing a mile a minute. Suddenly, all those years of medical training that were practically etched into your subconscious just vanished. Agatha kept getting changed right in front of you, she didn't even care that you were watching her. It was a routine that had been repeated many times in a different context, but it still felt intimate and very familiar.
You were probably silent for a long time, because when she didn't hear a response from you, Agatha stopped completely. Her wine-colored lace bra makes a contrast against her pale skin. The pattern of freckles scattered across her chest were accompanied by a soft pink, probably as a reaction to all the running she'd had to do to get here.
“Y/n, did you hear me?”
“I- “ You are unable to respond “I- I can’t, I’m not part of the team anymore”
She looks at you in disbelief and probably a little annoyed:“I don’t give a shit about that, you’re going to help me save this woman’s life”
Seeing that you can’t seem to recover from what she said to you, and that your mind is completely overwhelmed by the stress of the situation, she drives you even further out of your mind.
She places both hands on your cheeks. You notice instantly they're a little cold, probably because she rushed out of the house without her gloves. But as they touch your skin and fuse with the warmth of your body it feels like coming back home.
Trying to keep you still, she looks into your eyes. And in that moment, it’s as if it were just the two of you in the world. A small smile appears in her lips, and you don’t know if you’re already dead and this is the version of heaven that they were talking about.
“Look at me” she says, and you do everything you can to obey her "That's it, there you are.
“I can't, Agatha. I'm not even up to date on the case I-”
“Yes, you can” she interrupts “You can because you still know the case, because you are brilliant enough to handle this, and because I really need you”
You know she's saying this because of the surgery, because she needs your help, but a very small part of you wants her to keep needing you.
in her life.
A moment of clarity brings you back to your senses. And all the sounds around you that seemed to have disappeared just a few minutes ago, brings you to your feet again.
Agatha’s hands are still on your face, and the dangerously incredible nature of this situation is what finally helps you come to your senses.
“All right” you say “let’s do this”
She nods, finally removing her hands from your face and the sudden loss makes you feel nauseous. But before you can think of anything else, she takes one of your hands and gives it a light squeeze before continuing to get dressed.
Once she’s ready, the two of you begin making your way to the scrub area.
You prepare side by side and the crew gets Pepper ready inside the room, you can’t help but think about everything that has brought you this far, all the pain and sacrifice you’ve endured just to be here at this moment.
Agatha turns to look at you once more, scrubbing hard under her fingernails.
“We can do this, okay? I believe in you” she says and smiles at you one last time before stepping into the OR
You take a deep breath and it comes out a little shaky but definitely confident, then smile back, hoping everything makes sense just for a couple of hours
