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Chapter Text

Lips pressed against the side of her neck. They were soft like velvet, cool to the touch as they moved from the corner of her jaw and down. Agatha smiled as the lips continued their journey, the lips lingering a little longer with each subtle press. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to face the world as she melted back against the cool body behind her, a hand now on her waist and moving to rest upon her stomach. The lips moved up to her check, peppering kisses there, and she couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as the lips then moved, placing a longing one on the corner of her mouth. Unfortunately, to her great displeasure, they moved away following the hand on her stomach and body that wrapped her in eternal protection. 

Then, her hair was tucked behind her ear, another kiss placed on her lips. She smiled into it, turning to grant her better access as she caressed a sharp jaw. Once more, the woman pulled away and the bed shifted with the lack of weight. She peaked open an eye, smirking as she caught sight of her wife’s figure– strong defiant curves, muscles rippling down her shoulders and arms, and the perfect roundness of her ass fading into their walk-in closet. Agatha waited, her eyes still heavy from sleep, but they immediately perked up at the sight of her wife dressed in black jeans and a green blouse before disappearing out their door. 

Before she could follow, she groaned, her stomach lurching. She made it just in time, the rush of acid spilling into the sink. She pulled back, trying to move her hair away as her stomach flipped again and the stinging rush came back. Then, within seconds, hands gathered her hair, pulling back as another rubbed soothing circles. Agatha leaned against the sink as the grounding presence behind her remained. She didn’t get the chance to speak as another round of nausea hit her, spilling out whatever she ate last night. She groaned as a washcloth was there, wiping her mouth and a glass of water already beside her. 

“Are you sure you can go in today, mi amor ?” the words were soft, but carried the weight of concern and love the woman had for her. 

She swallowed down the water, lifting her head to meet soft brown eyes in the mirror, nodding, “My classes are late today. It should be fine.”

Her wife only held her lips in a tight line as she crossed her arms, “It’s just, it’s still early for anyone to know. I don’t want you overworking yourself or stressed, my love.” 

Agatha turned, caressing her cheek, “I promise, my love. I am fine.” 

Rio simply raised an eyebrow, her head turning to the side. Agatha knew that look, one that said she didn’t believe her. She held the gaze, defiance in her eyes until the eyebrow lowered and softness swept her wife’s features. She took in her perfect almond eyes, the button of her nose, and the way her black hair sat in tangles around down her shoulders. She couldn’t help it as her gaze then turned to those perfect lips, the cupid’s bow leading to carefully crafted ridges of the columns up towards her nose. 

Those lips moved, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, “I will make you ginger tea and some breakfast. Get ready, mi amor. ” 

The morning was like any other, except for breakfast. They usually never ate breakfast, rather spending their mornings with slow kisses and one of them urging them both to get out of bed before they were late. But Rio had grown more protective, pampering her as they waited for the safe time to announce that Agatha was indeed pregnant. She found Rio more attentive, making sure she was eating throughout the day and also hiding the caffeine. She forced her to take the previous Thursday and Friday off as Agatha spent the most recent days in bed as dizzy spells and morning sickness hit her left and right. Rio only took Friday off, not even at work an hour when she burst back through the door, finding Agatha on the floor by the toilet. Agatha hadn’t even texted or called, but somehow Rio knew and was there, holding her for the rest of day.

Today was her first day back, truly understanding that they had created life together, their child growing inside her. The only upcoming obstacle was that no one knew they were married, except Doctor Alice Wu-Guiliver, a music professor and Rio’s best friend, and Doctor Lilia Calderu, the other music professor. The four of them were secretly all friends, and the reason for the secrecy was because of Rio’s positions: the faculty Dean and the Head of the Biological Science Department. Rio was one of the most successful of her peers, holding a position of power and balance, and proof of the natural order of Westview University of New Jersey. She was one of the youngest in her peer group, but unwavering, talented in her lectures, and somehow a rule follower when it came to her dean position. But if you were to ask her students, she was crazy during lab. Completely two different personalities coming out, an enigma, and a lone wolf. Dr. Harkness was the witch of the Literature department, reigning over her class with power and control. She was calculated, her lectures long, but promising for the listening ear. Agatha Harkness was the professor students hated and loved at the same time. And as far as the faculty and students were concerned, Rio and Agatha didn’t really know one another, and they both wanted to keep it that way, afraid it would undermine Rio’s authority.

Agatha didn’t mind, in fact the secrecy was fun. It was their love, their life, and all the flirting, touches, and kisses behind closed doors made their love all the more precious. Her favorite was when they would cross paths, both of them slipping into a mask of professionalism, acting if they hadn’t woken up in the same bed, driven in the same car, and weren’t returning together to their home just outside of campus after the day was done. Rio was cold, collective, and quiet, her own reputation casting fear and respect among her colleagues. Agatha was just as cold, but she was mean, coldhearted, and didn’t tolerate bullshit. To outsiders it would seem their personalities would clash, both cold and competitive professors, but no one knew the tenderness and love they held behind closed doors. 

“Agatha, come on, we are going to be late!” Rio yelled across the house, tapping her foot impatiently. 

Agatha rolled her eyes, fixing her hair before coming out into their living room where Rio stood by the door, already in her black coat, her hair held in a claw clip, and her bag slung across her shoulder. Rio smiled at her, her eyes unashamedly moving up and down her wife’s body. She was in her signature purple pants, white blouse, and Rio’s– and Agatha’s – favorite blue coat. Rio reached out, tucking a strand of hair that fell from her carefully crafted messy bun behind her ears. She leaned in, placing a longing kiss on her lips. Agatha melted into it and cupped her cheek as Rio turned them, her hands on her wife’s waist before gently pushing her against a wall. Agatha chuckled, getting her wife to pull away. 

“Now, who’s going to make us late?” she teased as Rio pouted, leaning to place another kiss on her lips. 

Agatha rolled her eyes and brought her hand up on Rio’s chest, “Come on, like you won’t see me at lunch.” 

Rio grumbled, grabbing their keys as Agatha grabbed her own bag, “But I won’t be able to kiss you.” 

Agatha patted her cheek, “We have all of tonight, but don’t tell me I didn’t tire you out after last night.”

With that she stepped through the door, meeting the chill of the crisp autumn air. The wind blew gently, leaves dancing in their colors of yellow, red, and orange. Some of the trees clung to their coat of green, mixing already with colors as the sun sat on the horizon. Behind her, she heard her wife muttering in Spanish, and the jingle of keys. She chuckled as Rio passed her, opening the passenger door for her. 

Always the charmer, she thought fondly as she took her seat. 

The drive was quiet, minus Rio’s need for music in the morning. She watched as they passed the looming houses of their plan before the campus slowly crept up. Mansions turned into dingy little houses, some nicer while others held empty beer bottles, strings of toilet paper, and the occasional student walking towards the quad. Agatha kept her hand in Rio’s as her wife drove with ease, turning into the faculty parking, but when Rio turned again Agatha sat up. 

“My love, where are you going? Our parking spot was back there.” 

Rio only smirked, her gaze not leaving the road as they came closer to the literature and language building: Poets’ Haven. Its red brick loomed over them as Rio parked in the back, away from prying eyes, but not far enough away that their vehicle was suspicious. 

Her wife smirked at her as the engine switched off,  “Don’t want you exerting yourself, mi amor. ” 

Agatha groaned, placing her head in her hands, “Rio, I am pregnant not–”

“Exactly,” Rio cut her off, her hand across the center dial and resting on her stomach. “Now, remember, no caffeine, please try not to yell, and text me the second you throw up and we are going home.”

“Rio, you can’t just run us home, every time I feel a little bit sick–” 

Rio arched an eyebrow, her lips pressed into a firm line as she leaned back in her seat, “Try me. I am your boss, afterall.” 

Agtha let out an exasperated sigh, lifting her head from her hands to meet her wife’s unwavering gaze, “ You’re impossible.” 

“And you’re stubborn,” Rio countered, her tone softening as her fingers gently brushed against her wife’s stomach. “But I’m not taking any chances with you or them. ” 

A warmth spread Agatha’s chest, melting her frustration, but she knew better than to allow that to truly show. If she did, her wife would fully win, “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, you know.” 

Rio smiled faintly, her dark brown eyes glowing gold in the light of the oncoming sun as they met Agatha’s, “I know, but let me take care of you anyway.” 

Agatha couldn’t stop the blush in her cheeks as her eyes fluttered close, feeling the pounding of her heart. Rio and her had been together for over fifteen years and married for ten, but no matter how many times Rio constantly proved her love to her, constantly showered her in gifts and affection, she would never get used to it. She couldn’t wrap her head around how someone could love her so effortlessly, like it was as simple as breathing air, and here was Rio, proving her time and time again that her love could defy the cosmos. 

She shook out the blush, eyeing her wife, “Fine, but I am getting decaf from the professor’s lounge.” 

Rio’s gaze hardened, “No, herbal tea.”

Agatha hardened her own gaze, holding her eyes as the car cracked with tension. It was a silent battle of wits as their faces leaned in closer and closer. Agatha wouldn’t lose, she never did when they did this. Then, those chocolate eyes grew closer, lips planting on hers and forcing her to blink. 

“I win. Herbal tea, Agatha.” 

“You cheated.” 

Rio smirked, her gaze menacing as her lips still lingered close enough to steal another kiss. 

Her breath was hot and sweet against her as her voice dipped lower and teasingly, “All’s fair in love and keeping my wife healthy.” 

Agatha rolled her eyes, though the slight curl in the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement, “You can’t just kiss me to win an argument, Rio.” 

“It seems to work pretty well. Besides, you’re the one who said I am impossible to resist,” Rio shrugged, leaning back in her seat as her self-satisfied smirk grew.  

Agatha scoffed, “I don’t remember saying that.” 

Rio tapped her chin thoughtfully, the golden specks in her eyes glinting with her adoring infuriating mischief, “Must of been implied then.” 

Agatha turned, hiding her smile as she opened the car door and stepped into the chill of the fall day. 

“Infuriating,” she muttered, grabbing her bag. 

Rio quickly followed, locking the car and catching up to her wife as they walked towards the building. The rustling of leaves underfoot matched the rhythm of their steps, a comfortable harmony that seemed to echo the unspoken understanding between them. 

As they approached the side entrance, Agatha stopped suddenly, whipping around towards her wife, “If I am to drink herbal tea, then I am drinking the lemon, none of that ginger shit from this morning.” 

“You drive a hard bargain, Dr. Harkness.” 

“Always, Dr.Vidal,” her face softened as Rio brushed past her. 

Her words dripped into a whisper, “See you at lunch, mi amor. ” 

Her morning was quiet, organizing her notes for the upcoming lectures after lunch and setting her graded papers in the corner. She had made herself tea at her wife’s request, not that she would tell her, she did make it ginger as the nausea found her again. To her luck, she didn’t throw up, but it still made her uneasy. She placed a hand on her stomach, rubbing it slightly in circles wondering what was to come. She had one more week for her anxieties to let go. She was six weeks along, the morning sickness deciding to make its presence known last week and for Agatha to acknowledge she was very, very late. Next week, Rio and her took the day off to go to her first ultrasound appointment. Her body practically vibrated in excitement any time she thought of it– Rio holding her hand, the wand moving across her stomach, and the little life that would be on the screen along with their heart beat. They hadn’t planned for it to work, in fact Rio had tried to convince her it was fine for her to carry their first child, but Agatha wanted this more than she would ever admit out loud. Her wife knew her well, not picking the fight when she insisted that she would carry first. 

A knock on her door snapped her attention to the door. She sat up, moving over towards the computers to click on random documents so no one saw her home screen of her and Rio. Her wife didn’t even know that her back screen was the selfie Rio had taken when they went to the pumpkin patch two weeks ago. She smiled at it for a moment, staring at how pink her cheeks were, and it was more than from the cold. It was simply the fact her wife was placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, smiling into it as the pumpkins surrounded them. She pulled up the doc, before putting her hands on the desk. 

“Come in,” she called, hardening her voice before the door opened. 

She lost her cold demeanor upon her younger colleague entering, her red hair tied back and her eyes brightening upon seeing her. Dr. Wanda Maximoff, one of their recently hired professors and one Rio wasn’t so sure about. She carried two mugs, seeing the hot coffee down on her desk as she sat in a chair in front of her. 

“Good morning, Agatha,” she smiled brightly. “I thought I would bring some coffee. It’s the new pumpkin spice from that café in town.” 

Agatha stiffened for a moment, glancing at the clock that read twelve-twenty. Rio would be here soon, and she would not be pleased to see coffee around her. She forced her smile, sitting up straighter. 

“Thank you, hon,” she drawled. “But I am actually on a diet.” 

Wanda raised her eyebrows, “On a diet? Agatha, you’re skinny as a rail, why would you need a diet?” 

She kept her smile, finding it wasn’t reaching her eyes, “Not that type of diet, just trying something new.” 

Wanda played with her fingers as she nodded, her gaze distant for a moment. Agatha watched, her eyes sharp before the woman gathered her strength, sitting up straighter in the chair, and her eyes shining a bit too eagerly. 

“Also, I was curious, if you may want to grab lunch together. I found this great place off campus, so it can just be the two of us” Agatha winced, but kept her gaze stone “and my treat. I thought it would be nice to get to know each other better.” 

“That’s kind of you to offer,” Agatha said slowly, choosing her words carefully, “but I already have plans.” 

Wanda’s smile faltered, just for a second, before she masked it with a playful laugh, “Plans? You’re always so busy, Agatha. You should let someone else spoil you for a change.” 

Agatha chuckled softly, leaning in her chair as she maintained her professional composure, but her thoughts wandered to the previous night, rough hands holding her thighs open and that flick of her hot ton–

She blinked out of the image, “I appreciate the invite, Wanda, but I am quite well taken care of. Besides, I’d hate to impose on your schedule.” 

“Oh, it wouldn’t be an imposition at all,” Wanda pressed, her tone light but insistent. “I mean, we are colleagues. It’s good to connect outside of work, don’t you think?”

At that Agatha bit back the urge to snap, but before she could respond, a knock came at the door. Relief spread through her chest, but she kept her expression neutral as her gaze narrowed towards the door. 

“Come in,” she called, not missing the scowl on Wanda’s lips. 

The door opened to reveal Rio, her dark eyes immediately sweeping the room. Her gaze landed on Wanda before narrowing to the coffee placed on the desk untouched in front of them. Agatha watched as Rio’s eyes darkened with a touch of agitation and curiosity as she went back to the woman in front of her. 

“Dean Vidal,” Wanda stood upright, greeting Rio brightly, missing the coldness that was omitted from her. “I was just suggesting to Agatha that we should grab lunch together, you're more than welcome to join us.” 

Rio quickly shot Agatha a glare, as her grip on the bag in her hand tightened slightly, but otherwise, the coldness remained, “Dr. Vidal is fine, Dr. Maximoff, and actually Dr. Harkness and I have some business to attend to, unless you forgot, Dr. Harkness?”

Agatha held back the urge to roll her eyes, but kept the same level of professionalism, “No, of course not, Dr. Vidal. I was just going to explain to Dr. Maximoff.” 

Rio only lifted her head slightly, the annoyance now clear as day on her face as they held each other’s gaze longer than necessary. Rio was the first to look away, her mask slipping on as she stepped closer, placing an Olive Garden bag on the desk before facing Wanda, her arms crossed.Wanda lost her smile for a moment, something else shining in her eyes as she took a step back. 

“Have a nice day, Dr. Maximoff. I trust you are getting adjusted, and sticking to your own schedule.” 

Agatha bit her lip, looking away as she stifled her laughter, “Yes, thank you, Dr. Vidal. See you later, Dr. Harkness.”

Agatha watched her wife watch the newer professor scramble out of her office, her posture rigid as her jaw was set. There was no softness in her tone, just pure coldness like her black beating heart. Then, Rio locked the door behind her with a subtle click before turning on her heel, swiping the coffee off her desk and dumping it in the trash.

Her voice dripped with venom, “What? First names, she brings you coffee, and now she wants to grab lunch?”

She sighed, standing up and meeting her wife in the middle of the room. She gazed to her office door, finding Rio forgot to close the blinds, her anger blinding her. Agatha stepped around her, closing them herself before turning back to her wife. Rio stood motionless, her arms crossed as her icy gaze followed Agatha’s movements. Her chest rose and fell in a rhythm that spoke of controlled rage. 

“You don’t think it’s odd, Agatha? Her getting so comfortable?” Rio’s words were clipped, sharp like a blade meant to cut through any confusion. 

Agatha took a step towards her wife, her hands on her shoulders as her voice became soft, reassuring, “My love, she’s new. She is just being friendly.”

Rio’s eyes darkened further as she scoffed, her voice lowering with each word as a possessive ego coated them, “Friendly? She brought you coffee that smelled like it came straight from an expensive café. She asked you to lunch and then acted if you and her were closer as she invited me. That’s more than just friendly, Agatha. She wants more. I can see it.”

Agatha rolled her eyes this time. Rio never changed, even from when they were ahead in their own PhD program together. 

“My love, you are overthinking it.” 

Rio almost growled, “Overthinking it? Tell me the last time someone brought you coffee? Asked you to lunch?”

Agatha sighed, her hands rubbing up and down on Rio’s chest, “That was all you, my love. But Maximoff is harmless. She’s new–”

Rio’s hands came down on her waist, pulling her flush against her, “Harmless?” Her voice was darkening, growing harder with each word as her face grew closer to Agatha’s, her breath brushing against her skin, “She’s not harmless. She is looking for a way in.” A finger traced along Agatha’s jaw as Rio drew closer, her possessiveness wrapping tighter around Agatha. Agatha’s breath caught as a thumb pressed against her lower lip. “And I won’t let her. You’re mine .”

Agatha reached up, cradling her wife’s face with a tenderness to break the intensity of her possessiveness. It was a move that always worked in her favor, feeling her wife melt into it. Her hand moved to wrap around her wrists as they stared at each other. 

“I’m yours, my love. I am not going anywhere, especially not now,” her voice was tender as she lost herself in those beautiful dark eyes. 

She took her wife’s hand, placing it on her stomach, and folding her completely. Rio’s eyes fluttered shut, the tension melting from her shoulders. Agatha leaned forward, pressing a warm kiss to her forehead as her thumb brushed against Rio’s jaw in a few strokes. Rio opened her eyes, meeting her wife’s as they remained in the close intimate space before Rio drew her closer, her arms around her waist she planted kisses down Agatha’s neck. 

“You know I trust you, mi amor. I just don’t like anyone thinking they can get close to you,” she murmured into her skin. 

Agatha chuckled, “Oh, I know , my love. You’ve always been so possessive of me.” 

Rio pulled back, chomping her teeth playfully at her, “You love it.”

She shrugged, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “Yes, I love when you send women practically scrambling to get away from you.” 

Her wife tongued the inside of her cheek, “Don’t play coy with me, Dr. Harkness. It’s your favorite trait of mine.” 

“Debatable,” Agatha deadpanned. 

“Really?” 

There was a dangerous glint in Rio’s eyes as she leaned closer, her breath hot on her neck. Then, her lips were on her, trailing up to just below her ear before sucking lightly, drawing a soft gasp from Agatha’s lips. She melted for a moment, grasping Rio’s shoulders before pushing her away. 

“Rio, we are at work,” she hissed, but her wife kept that stupid smirk on her face. 

“Huh, really? I thought we were on lunch break.” 

“Yes, at work. Whose rules are it to keep what we are a secret?” Agatha reminded. 

Rio groaned, but held her still, pressing lighter kisses to the side of her face, “Alright, alright, but you’re still mine.” 

Agatha nodded, wrapped her arms back around her wife’s neck, “Yes, my love. All yours.” 

Rio melted into her fully, holding her closer as her possessiveness gave way to something more intimate and measured. Her Rio was always protective, always a force of nature, and according to her, never jealous, but it didn’t matter. Because Agatha? Well, she wouldn’t want her wife any other way. 

“Oh, mi amor, ” Rio stood up from her chair after they finished their lunch.

Agatha snapped her head up, watching her throw her coat on as she set her bag on the desk.

“Yes, my love?” Agatha asked as Rio stepped around the desk and bent down to her level. 

They kissed softly and it took everything in Agatha’s power not to pull her down into her lap as Rio’s hand lingered on her stomach. 

Her wife pulled away slightly, her tone soaked with familiar mischief as her breath was hot on her ear, “You might want to wear your hair down in front of your ears. Or if you brought your foundation.” 

With that, Rio placed another kiss on her wife’s cheek and whisked away towards her door, “See you next meeting, Dr. Harkness.” 

Agatha stared after her wife who unlocked the door, and left without another word except her evil cackle echoing down the halls. 

Agatha turned to the mirror on the wall beside her, spotting the dark bruise just below her ear.

Her grip tightened on her chair.

She was going to kill Rio the moment they got home. 

Chapter Text

Rio’s grip tightened around her mug of coffee as her gaze scanned over the lab. Freshmen. She was stuck teaching freshmen this semester. She knew she shouldn’t be like this, but freshmen were too close to high schoolers, dramatic, energetic, eager, and far too nosy. She didn’t know where some of them got the idea that professors and students could be friends– well where they got the idea they could be friends with her. Agatha may be the witch of the literature department, but Rio? She was the green witch, the natural order of the Biological Sciences Department. She remembered back to their first day of class. A student literally asked her to do ice breakers. She had rolled her eyes, and replied that she didn’t care enough. She continued their lecture, but somehow that didn’t deter them from asking questions about her personal life. 

She listened to the nearby group, talking of their boyfriends and girlfriends. They were laughing, the one girl talking fondly of her boyfriend. She could vomit. Young love, it was disgusting. She was already talking about marrying him. Not even nineteen years old and thinking of tying herself down to a boy of all things. From what she gathered, it was her first boyfriend, and if they did last– well, she admitted then they were the lucky ones.

In truth, Rio couldn’t even judge, having met her wife when they were freshmen and after six months of dating, Rio was ready for the U-Haul and to top a ring off for the cold woman she pulled. She didn’t, of course. They got married sometime after they graduated from their bachelors, when they both were twenty-five and starting their masters and PhDs. They already had their young love in a way, minus the casual ex from both of their high school days. 

Rio tuned the conversations out as she grabbed the large stack of papers, passing out the packets to the groups when she reached their table. 

“Dr. Vidal,” a bright voice made her look up. 

She cocked her head at the girl. She was blonde, careful hazel eyes that shone with curiosity. In truth, she was Rio’s favorite when she wasn’t being fucking nosy. She did her work with precision, asked the right questions during lectures, and had the neatest handwriting out of all the dimwits that surrounded her. Not to mention, she didn’t stink. 

“Yes?” she asked simply, not bothering to remember her name. 

“Do you have a boyfriend?” she asked innocently. 

She raised an eyebrow, surprised at her boldness and stupidness. She stared her down before slamming the packets on the table for them. 

Clearing her throat, she kept her voice firm, “Rude to assume one’s sexuality, Miss…?” 

“McGrath,” the girl swallowed hard, backing up slightly. 

Rio’s sharp gaze never wavered as she stared down the student, her expression unchanging, but the weight of her words hung heavy in the air. She had dealt with this before, the intrusive questions, the casual overstepping of boundaries. But today, she wasn’t having it. 

“Miss McGrath,” she repeated, her voice dripping with icy professionalism. “It’s also rude to ask personal questions in my classroom. If you’re here to learn about biology, I suggest you focus on the material. My personal life is none of your concern.” 

The young woman’s face flushed a shade of red that was almost embarrassing, her eyes darting toward the other students who were now clearly trying to pretend they hadn’t been listening. 

“I-I’m sorry, Dr. Vidal. I didn’t mean to offend you.” 

Rio didn’t respond right away. She simply gave a curt nod and turned, returning to passing out the packets. She hated this feeling– of being baited into conversations she didn’t want to have. She was here to teach, not to be someone’s curiosity experiment. She went back to the front of the room, clearing her throat as the students settled, their eyes on her except for Miss McGrath who found her phone more interesting than class. 

So, you’re not my favorite anymore, Rio thought as her eyebrow raised, her gaze remaining on her, knowing the class would figure it out. 

The kid next to McGrath elbowed her. She looked up, startled before returning her gaze back to her, her face a shade of crimson. 

“May I remind you, that I have a no cell-phone policy unless it is an emergency which you may take outside. Now, I assume you all completed the notes without issue from my absence on Friday. Today, you will apply these notes for this lab. Microscopes are in front of you along with all the necessities for the lab. You have two hours to complete it, starting now. Any questions, comments, or concerns?” 

No one answered.

Rio sat back at the podium, taking a long sip of her coffee as her eyes scanned over the scrambling students. They were all rushing, a mix of zippers opening, the rustles of papers, and chatter all starting up at once. She winced, holding her head as a dull ache started between her eyebrows. At least her juniors and seniors had their shit together while in lab.

She ended up walking among them, fixing some of their microscopes and listening to their conversations, stepping in when they were wrong and nodding when a student had the answer right. Then, her hearing caught onto a different conversation. 

“Woah, William, Harkness cancelled class again,” a voice said. 

She whipped around at that, catching the boy’s computer screen that had her wife’s D2L pulled up. 

The boy in question, William, turned from the microscope, “Again? I swear I saw her today.” 

The other one shrugged, “As long as she doesn’t assign another paper tonight. I spent all weekend working on that.”

I bet you twenty she did, Rio thought fondly before her eyebrows furrowed. 

Her wife would never just cancel class on a whim, unless– as if on queue, she heard her phone ding from its place on the podium. There was only one person in her contacts list that was allowed in her phone settings to text her at this time. She felt eyes on her as she rushed to her phone, finding it was indeed her wife. 

Mi amor💜 : Sorry, I know you are in class. Morning sickness is hitting hard. Take me home after?

Rio’s heart pounded in her chest as she was tempted to leave right then and there, but her students were half-way through a lab. She almost growled out loud, feeling the eyes on her as she stared at the text again, knowing her wife wouldn’t text like this. She took a deep breath, an idea sparking.

She held her phone close to her chest as she turned to the class, “If you will excuse me for a moment. I will be right back.”

She turned without waiting for their response, her long strides immediately taking her to Dr. Jennifer Kale’s office, the chemistry professor. She knocked loudly and repeatedly before the door opened roughly. 

“Wha- Dr. Vidal?” Jen stared at her, her eyes wide as Rio didn’t wait for pleasantries. 

“I need a favor. Can you watch over my class? They have about an hour left for their lab, but something at home came up.”

Jen cocked her head, “Is everything alright?” 

“No, I wouldn’t be leaving class if it was,” she snapped, not able to help it. 

Jen raised her head, her eyes squinting, debating if she wanted to snap back at her. 

“Look, Dr. Kale, I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t urgent.” 

Jen nodded her head slowly before holding her hand out for her to lead the way. Rio turned on her heel, marching back into her classroom as the student’s heads snapped up. 

“Students, this is Dr. Kale, she will be in charge for the rest of class. I have a personal emergency. Dr. Kale, leave their packets in my mailbox,” Rio added as she grabbed her mug and coat from the podium chair. 

Rio paused on her way out for a moment, glancing over her shoulder, “Thank you, Dr. Kale.”

She hurried back to her office, closing her laptop and throwing it into her bag before throwing on her coat. She grabbed her keys, locking her office behind her. Rio hurried across campus, her coat swishing behind her as her keys swayed in her grip. She barely registered the familiar faces she passed in the quad, her mind solely focused on getting to Agatha. She didn’t even register Wanda Maximoff, sitting on a bench, watching her make her way back into Poets’ Haven. 

Morning sickness, my ass– she has been handling this like a champ until now, she paused in her thoughts, the realization hitting her. She would never text me over being a little nauseated, and mid-class? 

It had to be bad. 

By the time she reached Agatha’s office in the literature department, she didn’t even bother to knock. She pushed the door open, her sharp gaze immediately softening when she found her wife curled up on the small couch against the wall. Agatha looked pale, her normally vibrant complexion dulled, and her hand rested on her stomach. Her face pressed into the purple cushions as her other hand gripped the side, seeming to fight off the discomfort she was feeling. 

“ Mi vida ,” Rio said softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. 

She was across the room in seconds, setting her keys aside before kneeling in front of her wife. Agatha looked up at her, offering a weak smile. 

“You didn’t have to rush over, my love,” she said hoarsely. “I could have waited until after class.”

Rio cupped her face, brushing her thumb gingerly across her cheek, “Of course, I did. You’re more important than any class or lab.” 

Her voice was firm, but her touch was infinitely tender. Agatha leaned into her hand, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment before she whispered, “It’s worse today. I tried to push through, but–” 

“You don’t have to explain,” Rio interrupted softly. She stood, offering her hands, “Come on. Let me take you home.” 

Agatha hesitated for a moment before accepting her wife’s help, allowing Rio to pull her to her feet. She swayed slightly, and Rio’s arm was around her waist in an instant, steadying her. 

“Do you have everything?” Rio asked, glancing around the office. 

Agatha nodded, “Just my bag.” 

Rio grabbed it along with stuffing her keys in her pocket without letting go of her wife as they made their way out of the office. Agatha leaned into her as they walked, her head resting on Rio’s shoulder. 

“Did you leave your students unattended?” Agatha teased weakly as they exited the building. 

Rio huffed, “Dr. Kale is watching them. They’ll survive.” 

Agatha chuckled softly, though it quickly faded into a sigh as they stepped into the chilly air. Rio adjusted her coat around her, pulling her closer. 

“I’ll make you some tea when we get home,” Rio murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple the moment they were behind the building. 

Agatha smiled up at her, “Thank you, my love.” 

“Always,” Rio replied, her voice low and sincere as they headed to the car.

***

Wanda

Wanda sat back on the bench, watching students in the quad move from class to class as their respective periods reigned on. She sighed, her gaze back up to the oak in the center of the quad, and in truth, her mind wasn’t even on the students. Wanda adored her work, she loved teaching the kids, but she never expected that a colleague would utterly capture her attention. Wanda closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the first time she met her. It was during the small faculty mixer before the semester started, professors from all departments in the ballroom at the top of the Student Center. She was in a purple dress, her movement powerful and demanding. She watched as most professors stepped back from her, watching her with hushed whispers before she approached a small group of professors in the corner. She watched from her hidden spot as they made small talk before the woman laughed, a note ringing over the clamor of the other professors. Her eyes– beautiful, piercing blue, and her hair long down her back. 

She had tried to approach her by the end of night, finally taking up the courage to at least find out her name, until she came. Like a raven swooping from the shadows she was beside her, her gaze hard and firm. Doctor Rio Vidal, Dean of the faculty– the woman who hired her. She was callous, mean– even in the interview, Wanda had been unnerved at the sight of her. She was shocked when she received the email days later, telling her she was hired. She hoped it was the last she saw of the woman, unable to shake the awful feeling around her. 

The next day, she was stunned to see the woman in her department, literature of all things. They had talked, briefly, but there was a certain warmness underneath the ice she forecasted. She hadn’t meant to fall for her, hadn’t wanted to. It was unprofessional, inappropriate even, and yet Wanda couldn’t help it. Agatha was magnetic. Her lectures were as compelling as they were brilliant, and she exuded a warmth during their fleeting meetings over syllabi and papers that was completely different from the practice, polished professionalism she maintained around other co-workers and students alike. Even the one day, Wanda remembered fondly, they both were recruited to judge a debate and it was the closest and longest she had been with her. The air was cold around her, her eyes sharp, attentive to students, but a different warmth came when she praised them. It was that warmth that undid Wanda, a sudden ache that crashed into her, and taking her breath away.  

Wanda had tried to drop subtle hints over the months– offering to walk with her to the faculty parking lot after meetings, leaving small compliments here and there about her lectures or the books she’d chosen for her syllabi. Hell, she even brought her coffee today and Agatha had simply stated she was on a diet, but nothing hurt worse than the obvious avoidance of lunch. It stung, it stung so much, that here she was, sitting on a bench, people watching to distract her thoughts. 

A sharp laugh from a group of students nearby jolted Wanda from those said thoughts, and she let out a breath, shaking her head. 

Pull yourself together, she scolded herself silently. 

She couldn’t let this… infatuation take over her life. Agatha was a colleague and someone who clearly didn’t want to go to lunch, but if it wasn’t for Rio Vidal… her blood boiled at the thought of her name. Rio had appeared around Agatha more often in the past week. It didn’t make sense. She was their boss and also a science professor, and from what she heard from the students, the Green Witch. Sure, Agatha was the purple witch of the literature department, but at least she had warmth and care for the students. As far as Wanda was concerned, Rio didn’t give a shit about students. She didn’t understand why Vidal had scheduled a meeting during Agatha’s lunch, and brought Olive Garden out of all things. 

Do they know each other on a more personal level? she wondered. No, Rio is our boss. 

She thought back to the icy woman, the way she carried herself– it was intimidating. She was so sure of herself, so confident– she could walk through a crowd of students and they would all part for her. Her gaze swept across the quad, landing on a familiar figure as if her thoughts brought her to life. She squinted though, watching the woman rush through groups of students, not paying them a single glance as she about ran across the quad. Yet, the icy exterior was gone, replaced by something that almost looked like panic. She was rushing, her coat swishing behind her as her strides were long, purposeful. Wanda tilted her head, curiosity piqued. Vidal was hurried– if anything, she usually moved with a deliberate slowness that made everyone around her nervous. But now, the urgency was clear and the path was to Poets’ Haven.

Odd , Wanda thought. What’s got her in such a rush? 

She watched as Vidal disappeared into the building without so much as a glance at anyone around her. Wanda couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Normally, she would have brushed it aside, but the tension in Vidal’s posture, the speed of her movements… it made Wanda’s heart pick up for reasons she couldn’t quite name. Wanda sat there for a moment longer, debating whether to follow. 

She didn’t want to, and this wasn’t her business, but it was still her building. With a casual slowness, she made her way back into the building, using the main entrance in case she ran into the scary bitch. Still, the unease lingered, eating away at the edges of her thoughts as she made her way through the crowded halls, smiling at familiar students and professors alike. She forced herself to slow her pace, wondering if any of it had to do with the meeting Vidal had with Agatha. 

What if she is in trouble? she wondered, her thoughts moving to the absences that took place last week. 

Wanda had shown up Thursday to find Agatha’s classes cancelled, all of her meetings pushed back, and Agatha gone without a word. It was the same Friday, except the Dean had left for a personal emergency before the day even started. As she made her way into the office hall, she found Agatha’s door shut, the lights off, and when she tried the door, it was effectively locked. From her memory, Agatha had class in thirty minutes and was always here pouring over her notes before the lecture. It was with freshmen, and she knew she gave the freshmen the hardest time of their lives. 

“Dr. Maximoff,” a voice echoed behind her before she could turn to her office. 

She spun around, meeting a boy with black curly hair, “Oh, hi William, how are you?” 

He shrugged, “Okay, are you looking for Dr. Harkness? She announced on her D2L that class was cancelled again.”

“Oh,” Wanda tried keeping her professionalism in place as the student leaned against the wall rubbing his eyes. “Are you sure you’re alright, William?”

William wasn’t her student, but the boy had come to her the past few days among Agatha’s absence. He was struggling writing her essays, and Wanda could never say no to a student struggling. William had a brilliant mind, excellent ideas, just needed a little more guidance to connect the ideas on paper. From what she gathered, Agatha’s class was killing him. 

“Yeah,” he sighed. “Dr. Vidal had us looking into microscopes for the last hour, not to mention she dipped half way through. Luckily, my group finished early, but still, we didn’t want to be there another hour with Dr. Kale who had no idea what was going on. We probably failed that lab without Dr. Vidal there. Her labs are hard, but like she is good at guiding us through it, without her, it was more straining.” 

“What do you mean she ‘dipped’?” she couldn’t hide her curiosity as she crossed her arms. 

He shook his shoulders, “I don’t know. Her phone went off and then next thing I know, Dr. Kale is shoved into the room and she’s gone. Something about a personal emergency, but I was wondering if you were free to help me? Dr. Harkness assigned us to make a draft of our next essay, and I don’t even know where to start.” 

***

Rio

Her mind raced as she checked the lasagna for the tenth time that night. Agatha was fine, but somehow, seeing her so pale, so clearly shaken and weak, hit Rio in a different way. She tongued her cheek, turning around and glancing back at the couch. She couldn’t see her, but she was there, having passed out the moment Rio set her down and wrapped a blanket around her. Rio glanced at the timer: twenty more minutes and dinner would be done. She turned back to her wife, wondering if she should wake her now. Slowly approaching, she glanced down from behind the couch, finding her wife had reached for her hoody that was haphazardly thrown on the couch yesterday. Her heart fluttered watching as her wife nuzzled into it, the color back to her cheeks and a sereneness overtaking her. 

Walking around, Rio sat down on the edge of the couch, leaning over her as she brushed her hair away from her face. She was still in her work clothes, her makeup slightly smeared, and had the tiniest bit of drool by her lip that Rio quickly wiped away. Her wife groaned in her sleep, pulling her hoodie closer to her face before relaxing into the couch further. Rio’s heart fluttered as she chuckled, brushing more of hair away from her face before kissing her cheek softly. 

“ Mi amor, es hora de despertar. La cena estará lista en veinte, ” she said, brushing her lips against her cheek again. 

She watched as her wife smiled, before her eyes fluttered open, blues meeting hers. 

“Hey, gorgeous,” Rio smiled down at her, making her wife roll her eyes. “How are you feeling?”

Her wife stretched, pulling the hoodie up to her nose and mumbling, “Better. The hoodie smells like you.” 

Rio chuckled, kissing her head, “How about you go get a shower, then you can wear my hoodie, and after dinner, we can cuddle?” 

Agatha’s lips curved into a soft smile, her voice still thick with sleep as she mumbled, “That’s a deal I can’t refuse.” 

Rio stood, offering her hands to help her wife sit up. Agatha groaned as she stretched again, her movements slow but deliberate, shaking off the remnants of sleep. 

“Take your time,” Rio said, brushing her thumb over Agatha’s knuckles once she was upright. “I’ll keep an eye on dinner.” 

Agatha nodded, still holding onto Rio’s hands for a moment longer. 

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice filled with warmth. 

Rio smiled and leaned down to kiss her lips. “Always, mi amor .” 

Agatha headed to the bathroom, dragging her feet slightly, but with more color in her cheeks than earlier. Rio watched her until she disappeared down the hallway, her heart settling into a steadier rhythm now that her wife was on her feet and looking better. Just as Rio turned back to check the timer on the oven, a sudden knock at the door startled her. They rarely had visitors, especially unannounced visitors. The last time that happened, ended in the cops being called to drag Evanora Harkness away from them. She frowned, her steps hesitating as she smoothed out her sweatpants before grabbing Agatha’s purple flannel by the door and throwing it on over her sports bra. She turned to the mirror on the wall, the silver wire surrounding it contrasting with the dark polish of the walls. She fixed her hair out, adjusting her black rim glasses before cautiously cracking the door open. 

Standing on her porch was Alice, looking concerned but with her usual playful smile. Behind her was Jennifer Kale, whose expression was far more confused than anything else. 

“Alice,” Rio said, cracking the door only slightly more open before leaning against its frame. Her tone was cautious, protective, especially with Dr. Kale behind her. “And Dr. Kale. What do I owe for this unannounced visit?” 

Alice cocked her head, the red streaks in her hair bright as she adjusted her black leather coat, “Really, Rio? You’re asking me that after you ran out of class like a bat out of hell, not to mention you thanked Jen.”

Rio scoffed, rolling her eyes, but her gaze remained on the chemistry professor who looked as if she were about to blow up with questions. 

“Seriously, Rio, what’s going on?” Alice pressed.

She didn’t respond, still unnerved by the chemistry professor, “Why did you drag Dr. Kale here?”

Kale curled her lip, “I wasn’t dragged here, Alice said she was going to stop by a friend’s house to check in on them. I didn’t realize that friend was going to be our boss.” 

Rio glared at Alice who cringed under it. 

She raised her hands in mock-surrender, “Sorry, Rio. I know your whole thing with personal life and professional life, but um– actually I was gonna text the coven for drinks this Friday to meet my girlfriend, Jen.” 

That, Rio hadn’t seen coming. She raised her eyebrows, looking between the two women before relaxing back against the frame, “Still doesn’t explain why you are here.”

Alice huffed, “‘Cause Jen mentioned you running out on a lab for an emergency, and you don’t do that. Can you blame me for wanting to check in?” 

Rio rolled her eyes again, stepping back and allowing them in just as the timer went off. They followed her into the kitchen as she took off the flannel, throwing it to the back of the couch as she went. She opened the oven, pulling out the lasagna as Alice slid onto the bar stool of their black granite top island. Jen stood, awkwardly to the side, looking around the kitchen. Plants filled every corner, the ivy hung on their walls by the window, the stack of papers to the side that were hers to grade, and with Agatha’s reading glasses on the island. 

“So, what’s going on?” Alice asked, sitting up straight as she watched Rio place the kettle on the stove. 

Rio shrugged, “Just a personal emergency.” 

“Rio, that’s not an explanation.” 

She shrugged again, “And that’s all you’re getting from me, other than, I’m fine.” 

Alice groaned, but her face practically screamed mischief, “Okay, then where’s your wife?”

Jennifer froze, her eyes widening as she turned to Rio, “ Wife ?! You’re married?” 

Rio shot daggers at Alice, already feeling the impending headache, but simply set down the lasagna on the counter, taking out a knife. She ignored the question, feeling everything in her body tense. Alice knew the deal. Lilia knew the deal, but Jennifer? The fucking chemistry professor who had asked her out years ago before she realized Rio was her new boss? Agatha hated Jen after that, even though they had never met before that happened, but hated her the moment they did meet… who had the jealous streak now?

The kitchen felt suffocating under the silence, the stares heavy as even Alice remained silent, waiting for her to answer. She wasn’t ready for this– none of it. She was still worried about her wife, and worse, if she came out sick again– how would she explain that? The knife slightly shook in her hand as she finished cutting the squares, before setting it down and wiping her hands off with a towel. 

“Is that really so hard to believe?” she asked slowly. 

Jen nodded curtly, “Yes, you’re you, no offense. Plus, I have never seen a ring on your finger.” 

Rio felt her gaze drift towards her room, where on the dresser both of their wedding rings sat. She hated not wearing it. The amethyst ring brought her comfort when she was away from her wife, but more importantly, in situations like this. She looked down, figuring to respond with something short, but Jen’s gaze was into her dining room. Rio raised an eyebrow as Jen glanced at her, silently asking to go in. 

She followed the two women into the dining room, where plants adorned every corner. Against one bare wall stood a bookshelf overflowing with Agatha’s collection of books. On the opposite wall, large windows framed the cozy reading nook, filled with purple pillows and green blankets. But it was the other wall that captured Jennifer’s attention. A gallery of framed photos hung there, each telling a story of their life together. The largest, and Rio’s favorite, was of their wedding day, over ten years ago. It captured a moment from their intimate afterparty, during Rio and Agatha’s first dance as a married couple. Agatha, her hair styled with silver pins, held Rio’s face in her hands, while Rio’s arms encircled Agatha’s wrists. Rio wore a black suit with emerald green accents, a piece she had always loved. Jennifer’s gaze lingered on the picture of Rio and Agatha kissing, her eyes widening as her jaw dropped in disbelief.

Jen blinked, clearly taken aback. “Wait– that’s Dr. Agatha Harkness– the witch of the literature and language department?” 

“Rude,” a voice echoed from the hallway. 

They all whipped around, facing Agatha entering the room, her damp hair framing her face, and Rio’s hoodie enveloping her smaller frame. She moved with the same grace and precision as she did in the halls, but there was a casualness in her posture as she found her place next to Rio, leaning into her. Automatically, Rio wrapped her arm around her waist, her eyes softening at the sight of her wife relaxing. 

“Well, if it isn’t the potions master,” Agatha snarked, her eyes dark with callousness as the two stared each other off. 

“Agatha,” Jen faked her smile. “How are you? Horrible?” 

“Woah, guys?” Alice stood between them. 

Rio pulled Agatha closer, but chuckled, “These two have beefed as long as I can remember. It’s nothing new.”

Jen seethed, “She started it!”

Alice put her hand on Jen’s shoulder to calm her as Agatha merely mocked her. 

“As much as I would love to continue” Alice trailed off for a moment “whatever this is, Rio and Agatha, we hope you both will join us with Lilia out this Friday.”

Rio nodded, “Of course. See you tomorrow, Dr. Kale.”

“And Rio, don’t think you got out of this conversation,” Alice smirked before disappearing out their door. 

The moment the door clicked shut, her wife was in front of her, “What conversation? And why were they here?” 

“Jen told Alice about me running out of the lab, and you know how protective and worried Alice can get,” she sighed looking down as her wife moved her hands up and down her shoulders. 

Rio glanced up, meeting soft blues, “But why was Dr. Vegetable with her?”

She snorted, not able to help the laughter as she rolled her eyes, “Are you still mad that Jennifer flirted with me one time?”

“Huh huh,” her wife waved her finger in her face. “You don’t get to ask that after today.” 

Her wife moved her hair, revealing the dark bruise just under her ear. Rio felt herself smirk, her hand reaching up and with a single finger, she brushed across it. 

“A fucking hickey, really Rio?” she sighed, but Rio could tell there wasn’t any real malice to it. 

She shrugged, “Just thought you could use the reminder. You’re mine.”

“Mmm,” her wife raised an eyebrow, and then to Rio’s surprise, she merely walked away. 

Rio stood frozen, her eyes following Agatha as she sauntered into the kitchen, her hips swaying with a quiet confidence. Her eyes wandered, down to her bare legs, the careful curves in them, her pale skin glowing in the kitchen light. For a moment, Rio couldn’t help but watch her, caught off guard by the sudden change in energy. Agatha stopped by the stove, casually reaching for the tea kettle, but Rio could see the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. It was the kind of smirk that promised trouble. She could feel the tension in the air, thickening with every second. 

“You really think a hickey is enough to remind me who I belong to?” Agatha’s voice floated back to her, low and teasing. 

She felt her heart flutter, a heat washing over her cheeks as she understood what her wife was doing to her. Agatha glanced over her shoulder, meeting Rio’s gaze with a challenge in her eyes. Rio slowly walked toward her, a slow smirk spreading across her face. 

“I didn’t think it needed to be a big show,” she replied, stepping up behind Agatha. “But if you need a reminder, I’m happy to oblige.” 

Her breath was warm against Agatha’s neck, her lips brushing the skin just behind her ear, just where the hickey lay. Agatha’s breath hitched, but she didn’t turn around, keeping her posture casual, even though Rio could feel the shift in her. 

“I think you might’ve just made things more interesting,” she whispered, a playful but dangerous edge in her tone. “And now, I’m going to make you regret that little display.” 

Rio’s hands rested lightly on Agatha’s waist, her fingers dancing along the fabric of her sweatshirt. She could feel the electricity spark into her fingertips, the way her wife’s body naturally leaned into her touch. She would never tire of this, and part of her had hoped when she left that mark on her, she would cause a little something tonight… despite the rude interruption. 

“Oh, I don’t regret it, mi amor ,” she murmured, her fingers slowly tugging up on the sweatshirt to feel the rough texture of lace. “But you’re right... we’re not done here yet.” 

Agatha finally turned to face her, her eyes dark with a hint of something more. 

She leaned in close, her lips brushing Rio’s ear as she spoke, “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll have plenty of chances to pay for that later.” 

Rio chuckled and she fully grabbed her wife’s waist, pulling her flush against her. Her own lips trail up her wife’s neck, placing a kiss right over the hickey and revelling in how her wife melted into her arms.

“Looking forward to it, cariño ,” she husked, her voice thick and heavy. 

Chapter Text

Agatha

Her plan was perfect, flawless… well, almost. 

The only obstacle to the plan?

The subject herself.

Rio Harkness-Vidal. 

Agatha knew exactly how to draw the right reactions out of her wife. 

Cupping her face in her hands: relaxation and Rio grasping gently at her wrists .

A simple kiss to her lips: a smile .

Hands on her ass: Rio would melt into her.

A kiss to the side of Rio’s neck: a sigh .

A small nibble to her ear: a hitch of breath .

Sucking right at the junction of her neck and shoulder: a stifled moan .

A bite to her collarbone: a moan .

Her tongue inside Rio’s mouth: her back against the nearest surface . 

Although fifteen years of experience helped, it didn’t take long to find subtle ways to unravel her wife, and push her until she snapped. But when Rio snapped, she was in control… but not for long. It was always a fight, one they both enjoyed, the gentle push and pull for power between them most nights. Her wedding night was the one exception; she didn’t fight Rio hard enough for her power back. She had simply waited for the night to run its course until she was on top. Morning sex, make-up sex, and sometimes when the emotions were high, neither fought for control. For Agatha, their sex life was perfect: a well balanced blend of power and letting go. 

Neither were really the top, despite what others thought– looking at you my darling reader.

Tonight would be different. It had to be for the stunt her wife pulled in her office. She had spent the last twenty minutes of her time trying to hide the damn hickey with her make-up before struggling to keep her hair in place. During her lecture, she remained seated, too nervous to walk in front of the room with her original flair in fear that students would see it. The students were a gossipy, nosy bunch this semester, even her returning students. Something was oddly in the air. 

Nonetheless, tonight had to be different. Although it was cruel, and risky, she was going to return the favor, but that also meant distracting Rio from it. If Rio was too focused on her own pleasure, then her wife wouldn’t notice the bruise she planned on marking her with. She would use her wife’s own tactics against her. She had learned quickly in their relationship how much Rio loved putting her tongue on Agatha; whether it was playfully licking her hand, licking the side of her cheek just to cause a reaction, or if it was taking that tongue, and licking down her body and to where Rio would happily sit, kneel, or lay between Agatha’s legs. 

For a moment, she thought fondly of their first time ever together. It was in Rio’s dorm room late at night. Rio had invited her for a movie and cuddling since her roommate was gone for the weekend. Agatha originally had been the one to initiate it: making out like love-sick teenagers instead of watching the movie. She had laid in the center of Rio’s bed, Rio laying beside her, pulling her closer. She didn’t particularly remember how it escalated, but she remembered nodding at her girlfriend, finally telling her she was ready. Rio was more reserved then, gentle, hesitant even, but Agatha still awoke to her neck and chest covered in bruises, more as if she had been in a fight with an octopus than sleeping with her girlfriend. 

Needless to say, Rio loved marking her– with her tongue, her teeth, her lips– but she wouldn’t get the chance tonight. No, Agatha’s plan was already in motion. She waited until dinner was done, their conversation casual, as if the previous threats in the kitchen didn’t even happen. They talked about the upcoming Friday outing, Rio mentioning that Alice and Jen were together and was the reason for this outing. Then, she fought Agatha on the fact that she wasn’t going to drink either; claiming, “we are in this together, mi amor. ” Agatha had only sighed, accepting her defeat with this conversation. Their excuse? They had to wake up early in the morning to drive to Pennsylvania where Rio’s family lived and couldn’t do it if either of them had headaches when they woke up. Then, they talked of the baby– the ultrasound and how after, they would announce the pregnancy by sending a simple photo of the ultrasound picture to their group chat with nothing else said. 

Cryptic: the Harkness-Vidal signature. 

When Rio stood, taking their plates into the kitchen, Agatha bided her time, listening to drawers opening before the sound of the fridge opening and closing. Then, the water started in the sink and Agatha made her move. She moved slowly, forcing her feet to be lighter on the hardwood as she rounded the center counter and behind her wife who was too busy washing their plates. She was quick, her body humming in excitement and heat in her cheeks as she pushed up against her wife, trapping her between the sink and her. Her hands were between them, on Rio’s round ass, squeezing lightly through her sweats. Rio melted, her body moving distinctly back against her as the fork slipped from her grip and back into the water. Before her wife could protest, her hands slipped up her body, moving over a ripple of bare abs, up over her constricted breasts, and around her shoulders. She continued, moving her wife’s hair away from her neck and kissing it tenderly. Rio sighed, the breath leaving her body, her defenses taken down. Agatha smirked, not able to hide it as her plan was working perfectly. 

Phase two she was a little more hesitant about. Rio was more prone to licking and sometimes her wife wondered if she had married a cat instead, but Rio was never on the receiving end… other than when she sat on Agatha’s face. For Agatha, a tongue across the expanse of her neck– she was a puddle in her wife’s arms. But for Rio? There was only one way to find out. Swallowing her nerves, also a bit of her pride, she breathed along her neck, getting her to tilt her head before she let her tongue out. She was slow, tasting the perfect pine and earthy hint of Rio.

Her wife stiffened. 

Her posture rigid as the sponge fell out of hand, landing into the water with a small splash. 

Agatha froze. Her heart raced as her wife didn’t move, didn’t react right away and all of her confidence melted. The original excitement died, something else dropping into the pit of her stomach as she stepped back slightly, ready for her wife to question her. Just as she did, her wife whipped around. Agatha blinked, staring at her wife’s dilated pupils, the blacks swallowing those adoring brown eyes. Before she could react, a mouth clashed with hers, a tongue wrestling with her own. She heard herself moan, her body immediately giving into her wife as Rio’s tongue tangled with her own before exploring her mouth like she never did before. Heat rushed through Agatha’s body, her desire returning stronger, burning through her very body as her wife barely pulled away enough for them to breathe before her tongue was back in her mouth. 

Rio was starving, as if she hadn’t eaten in weeks… well, acting as if they hadn’t fucked the last night, or the night before that– acting as if she hadn’t seen her wife in centuries. Rough, hot hands wandered her body, lifting up the sweatshirt she wore and fisting at her underwear. Then, the hands were on her ass, lifting her up without breaking the kiss. She gasped into her mouth, but didn’t pull away as her legs wrapped around Rio’s waist, allowing her to carry them through the home. They didn’t break the kiss once as Rio made it into their room, setting her down on the bed. Rio made quick work of her sweatshirt, and about growled seeing Agatha wasn’t wearing a bra underneath the oversized-sweatshirt. Her nipples hardened to the chill of the air, and to Mother did they hurt. Her wife was on her, moving her back on the bed and straddling over her lap. Their lips connected harshly, Rio already moving up her hands to cup her breasts tenderly. Her body twitched, her chest pushing into her hands as their tongues met in a careful dance of tangling together, exchanging a decent amount of saliva that Rio simply wiped away with the pad of her thumb against her chin.

Her body arched into her wife, a need burning through her as everything in her screamed for more. Her hips rolled up, searching for any bit of release. Her wife ignored her, her hands hot, everywhere– on her breasts, palming a nipple that had her release a louder whine into her mouth. Agatha’s own hands ran up and down her wife’s back, pulling at sports bra, moving under the hem of her sweatpants before tangling in her hair. Her brain was foggy, a puddle of want and need for the woman above her. She whined more into her mouth, feeling her wife smirk against her but their tongues never left. 

It was wet and desperate. 

Every sound from her, every move, and every flick of her tongue made for her wife– begging her wife for more. She whined again– and Agatha never whined, until now apparently as the taste, the touch, the very smell of Rio made her press her thighs together, hoping to settle the ache between her legs that conquered her. As her thighs squeezed together, she felt it. She was wet– desperately, achingly, deliriously soaked. It already coated the side of her thighs. As if Rio sensed her, a hand moved down her breast, down her stomach, and underneath her the now, uselessly soaked lace. Rio’s fingers moved past the patch of hair and when Rio finally, finally touched her, Rio moaned. 

“Fuck– oh baby, you’re so wet,” she husked before her mouth was back on her lips.

Agatha whined– she fucking whined again. She knew she was going to regret this later– the whining part specifically. Her wife was going to hold this over her for a very long time, but at the time she couldn’t bring herself to care as her hips lifted up, begging for Rio’s long fingers. The want was overpowering, everything in her begging that every move be made for the woman over her. Her fingers moved, two promptly slipping inside her without resistance. 

Rio chuckled darkly, “Is this all for me?” 

Agatha nodded, refusing to leave her wife’s gaze, but Rio wasn’t having it. 

“Let me hear you, cariño .” 

Rio fingers moved at a steady pace in and out of her. She gasped, her blunt nails digging into her shoulders, leaving crescents in their wake. She sucked in her bottom lip as Rio moved a little rougher, her eyes never leaving Agatha’s. 

“ Cariño, ” her wife drawled. “You were so vocal before, tell me, is this all for me?”

Agatha gave in, sucking in her breath, “Yes, yes! All for you!” 

Rio’s eyes glinted with something wicked before her fingers slipped out of her. Agatha groaned at the sudden loss, sitting up, ready to ask why she stopped, but she was met with Rio’s fingers in front of her mouth. She stared at them for a second before her mouth opened without a thought. They entered her mouth and without another word spoken, her tongue moved around them, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked them clean, never leaving the dark eyes that bore down at her. Rio’s eyes darkened, pulling her fingers out of her mouth, leaving a slight salty tang. 

“Good girl,” she purred, already moving down her body with her tongue hot on her. 

Agatha fell back into the pillows, watching as her wife took her teeth, pulling her ruined thong off down her legs and throwing it behind her. Before her wife could tell her, her legs were already spreading, opening herself up to her. The air was cold against her heat, enlisting a shiver to run through her, but the shiver was short lived as something hot was licking her up from opening to her clit. She moaned loud, louder than ever before and her wife had done this hundreds of times. Her hips bucked, but Rio merely pinned her place with her hands on her hips. 

“ Paciencia, mi amor, ” her wife murmured and Agatha whined. 

Fuck her and her fucking Spanish. 

Sharp nips to her thighs made her quiver before one was sharp enough that made her leg jump back. Rio was quick to soothe it with her tongue, switching to her thigh and doing the same. Her tongue ran all along her thighs, seeming to drink in her arousal. Agatha squirmed, her hands fisting quilt underneath her as her wife continued to tease her.

“Please, Rio– please, my love,” the words left her mouth without her permission. 

Agatha needed her. Everything demanded to point it almost hurt. She felt tears run down her cheeks, and she kept her head back, not wanting her wife to see or she would stop out of concern. 

“Please, please, please, my love–” she begged again until she felt it. 

Her moans cut her pleading off, feeling her wife’s tongue swirl through her folds, hitting every nerve. Rio caught onto her desperation, her tongue flicking over her clit before moving down and moving inside her. Her back arched, shoving down on her wife’s face as her hand shot down into Rio’s hair. To her surprise, her wife didn’t correct. Instead, her mouth returned to her clit and three fingers pressed inside her. 

“Fuck, fuck– Rio!” she moaned, her hips cantering down and meeting Rio’s thrusts. 

She gathered Rio’s hair, pulling her harder against her, feeling her flick her tongue faster until sucking hard enough, Agatha saw stars. She screamed something between a moan and Rio’s name, the knot in her stomach exploding, pulsing pleasure through her body. 

Rio didn’t stop. 

Her fingers pumped in and out of her faster, bringing the knot back in her stomach as her lips wrapped around her clit. Agatha didn’t get a chance to come down, chasing her second orgasm of the night. At that moment, Agatha was grateful they no longer lived in an apartment or a dorm. They were in their home, the wet obscene sounds bouncing off the walls over her moans. With a final hard suck, white washed over her. Her body arched up. Her head tipped back. Her eyes squeezed shut, and everything became hazy as she squirted around her wife’s fingers. 

Agatha heard herself whimper, feeling the loss from Rio’s fingers leaving her. Then, that tongue was there, cleaning her thighs and lapping at her before Agatha reached down in her haze. She twitched under her wife’s tongue, overstimulated. She found Rio’s head, placing her hand on top, a silent gesture to stop. Rio did, her kisses moving over her stomach before her hand came up, rubbing over the non-existent bump. Agatha smiled weakly, tears welling in her eyes as Rio’s hand moved in a small circle before her kisses reached her mouth. She tasted herself on Rio’s tongue, sighing into the kiss as her wife pulled her closer into her protective embrace. Thumbs brushed along her cheeks, wiping away the tears that continued to fall. 

Rio pulled away sharply, “ Mi amor ¿qué ocurre? ¿Estás bien? ¿Hice algo mal?”

She opened her eyes, finding brown ones wide with concern. Rio wiped her tears again, her hand brushing strands of her hair away. Agatha shook her head, trying to calm down, but found her words stuck. Her wife held her, peppering kisses along her cheeks and to her lips, whispering soft nothings until Agatha caught her breath. 

“I’m okay,” she whispered, Rio staring deep into her soul, looking for a hint of a lie. “It’s just the pregnancy hormones.” 

Rio gave her that lopsided smile she had when she was pleased with herself before kissing her lips tenderly. Agatha pulled Rio further against her before groaning at the feel of clothes against her. 

“Take off,” she muttered between kisses, knowing her wife understood. 

Rio sat up, lifting off her sports bra before standing to drop her pants and boxers in one motion. She crawled back up Agatha’s body, leaving kisses, nips with her teeth, and soothing of a tongue as she went. Their lips met again, Agatha licking at Rio’s bottom lip and tangling her tongue with hers. Rio moaned into her, their bodies pressed together, well there was a hesitance from Rio. Normally, her wife would press fully into her, pinning her to the mattress, but now she held herself up. Agatha tried pulling her closer, but her wife resisted… Rio had the fucking audacity to resist her pulling her closer. With a growl, Agatha flipped them, pinning her wife into the mattress. Rio only smiled into her, hands moving up and down Agatha’s back, sending shivers as nails lightly scratched her.  

Agatha moved slowly, her hand trailing down to pinch her nipples, forcing a strangled moan from her mouth. She continued pinch, twisting, listening to the delightful notes from her wife. Rio arched into her, a growl echoing from her mouth. Agatha chuckled, her hand trailing slowly over her abs before moving over the patch of hair. She circled through the wiry black, twirling the hair before moving her fingers through soaked folds. They both moaned. Agatha felt her fingers being swallowed before moving her hand up and finding her swollen clit. 

“ ¡Puñeta! Mi amor, más,” Rio moaned, her hips lifting up against Agatha’s hand. 

Agatha smirked, moving her lips down Rio’s jaw and to her breasts. As soon as her lips wrapped around her nipple, she moved two fingers inside her. Rio clawed at her back, nails digging so deep, she was sure there would be marks. She didn’t care, sucking and mouthing over her wife’s breasts as her fingers plunged into her, feeling her squeeze around her. She listened to the sweet notes from her wife, beautiful music chorusing with the delicious wet slapping. Spanish filled the room, an incoherent babble before she moaned louder, Agatha adding another finger.

 “ Por favor, por favor, cariño!”

Agatha moved her mouth to Rio’s other boob, sucking dark marks into her skin before finding her hardened nipple, her teeth grazing over it. Rio arched further into her, babbling and moaning. With a smirk, Agatha pressed her thumb to her clit, sending Rio over the edge. Her pussy clamped down on her, her fingers trapped for a moment before she felt her cum coat her hand. Yet, her fingers kept working, curling to lead her through it. 

“ ¡Puñeta! Agatha!” 

Agatha pulled away, kissing up her wife’s neck to her lips before slowly pulling her fingers free. Rio cupped her jaw, holding her close. Warmth spread through her, her heart solely beating for the woman underneath her. Then, Agatha grunted, her back on the quilts again. Her wife smirked into her and pulled away and out of her grasp before she could protest. Rio moved to their dresser as Agatha licked her finger clean, watching her wife pull her strap out and sliding the harness up her muscular legs. As Rio adjusted the buckles, Agatha caught her breath, falling out the haze as she realized her plan; the whole point that she and Rio ended up entangled tonight, but it was too late. Rio had quite literally swept her off her feet, her mind only comprehending the woman that was between her legs, inside her– the woman she was inside of and the sweet honey that coated her fingers, her tongue was now lapping at. 

The shift in the bed caught her attention again, Rio climbing on and settling between her legs. Agatha reached out, taking one of Rio’s hands as their eyes locked. She smirked, watching her wife who coated the thick green strap with lube, pump her hand around it. Then, her wife moved, looming over her as their lips locked softer this time. She smiled against her, nodding her head slightly, signalling her wife to move. Rio was slow this time, grasping the dildo in hand and pushing it in slowly. 

“Fuck, Rio,” she gasped, her hand locking tighter on hers while her other clutched at her wife’s back. 

Lips moved along her jaw as the strap pushed further into her, making her feel full– completed. Rio waited, her lips brushing along her neck before reaching her lips again. Agatha stretched out her fingers, before moving them up on Rio’s back, another silent plea for her to move. Her wife listened, pulling out slowly before pushing in again. Agatha felt her mouth fall open, her legs falling a little wider as Rio kept slow deep thrusts, filling her completely before almost pulling out. Rio’s eyes were dark, the light from the moon, making her eyes shine dimly, but Agatha saw it all: the possession, the desire, the love… For some reason, that was all it took. The knot in her stomach released and she squeezed around the dildo. Her hips pressed up as her fingers intertwined with Rio’s. 

“Rio,” she gasped through it. 

When she came down, she expected her wife to tease her for cumming so fast, but Rio only looked down at her with adoration. Their lips met gentler, Agatha’s heart skipped a beat as her wife continued with slow, measured thrusts, moaning into her mouth. 

Agatha managed to pull away, finding those deep rich soil eyes, “Faster, please, my love.”  

Rio’s eyes darkened again, their fingers untwining as Agatha wrapped her arms around muscular shoulders. Her ankles locked around Rio as her thrusts became faster. The sound of the headboard rocking against the wall, the raw wet slapping of skin on skin, the way Rio was hitting everything inside her so perfectly– it was too much. Agatha found the side where her wife’s shoulder met her neck, biting down to contain her moans. Rio moaned herself, her pace quickening as her shoulders tensed under Agatha’s fingers. Hips dug into hers with every thrust and for a few moments, she met her thrusts– their bodies moving in sync, their moans loud and wanton as Rio’s body moved against her. It was electrifying, feeling her wife inside her, filling her completely, her cock scraping against her walls, and then Rio’s body on top of her, even the slight iron taste in her mouth as she sucked and bit at her skin as if her life depended on it. It was the only anchor as white hot waves of pleasures crashed into her body over and over again. 

Something else filled Agatha, a warmth hitting her square in the chest before encircling her body. The world faded out, everything forgotten in the moment as her wife thrusted into her. All it mattered was her and her wife… them and their love. 

Agatha bit down harder into her wife when she came, her body stilling, but Rio kept moving until with a final thrust her name was screamed into the room. 

Hot breath panted above her. Her wife’s body trembling between holding herself up and the aftershocks. 

The room was hot, smelling strongly of sex. The only sounds were them panting, catching their breath as the world came back, but the love stayed. Slowly, Agatha removed her mouth from her wife’s skin, kissing and licking it over in apology as her hand found Rio’s waist, helping in holding her up before Rio pulled back. Unsteadily, she sat up, pulling out and collapsing down beside her. Agatha smiled, pulling her wife close as they laid there together, taking in the silence as they searched for their breath. 

A pleasant ache set into Agatha’s body, a tiredness washing over as she soon realized she was fighting to keep her eyes open. Rio and her have fucked for longer and way rougher, but for some reason, Agatha felt depleted but completed. Her body hummed, the warmth– the love settling into her very bones as her hand found her stomach, her thumb brushing small circles over it before Rio’s hand rested over hers, calming her. She smiled as her wife leaned over, kissing cheek. The thump and rattle of metal made her snap her eyes open, realizing her wife had stood, dropping the strap unceremoniously to the floor. She groaned as Rio managed to pull the quilt out from under her, also thrown to the floor before a blanket wrapped around her. Then, her wife picked up the strap, taking it to their bathroom to clean it. 

Her eyes jolted open again as the bed dipped with added weight. Rio had joined her, wrapping strong arms around her and pulling her close. Agatha’s head came to rest on Rio’s shoulder, and she felt the warmth of gentle kisses placed on her forehead, trailing down to her nose. When Rio’s lips hovered near hers, Agatha lifted her head slightly to meet the kiss. 

“I love you,” she whispered softly when they pulled apart, her voice laced with affection and a tired contentment. 

Rio smiled, her lips brushing against Agatha’s again before she chuckled, “I love you too, but I see your little payback plan worked.” 

“Mmm?” Agatha hummed sleepily, her eyes already beginning to close again, her body sinking further into Rio’s embrace. 

“You’re going to have to help me with makeup tomorrow.” 

Agatha’s eyes shot open, the words pulling her to full awareness. She tilted her head, her gaze scanning Rio’s skin in the faint light of the moon. A satisfied grin tugged at her lips as she spotted the dark bruises marring Rio’s chest and sternum. But then her eyes caught the mark on Rio’s neck– a deep, angry blend of blue and purple, with a hint of red. 

That was a problem. 

But it was also… her goal…? 

Reaching up, Agatha brushed her fingertips over the bruise, but before she could properly assess it, Rio flinched. A moment later, Rio’s hand came up, intertwining their fingers and pulling them gently away from the mark. 

“Careful,” Rio murmured, though her tone carried a trace of amusement. “It’s tender.” 

Agatha bit her lip, trying to stifle a giggle, but the gleam in her eyes betrayed her satisfaction. 

“Oops,” she said innocently, though the smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth was anything but. 

Rio shook her head, a quiet laugh rumbling in her chest, “You really went for it, huh?” 

Agatha gave a nonchalant shrug, nestling closer against her wife. 

“Consider it justice for marking my neck right before a lecture,” she quipped, her voice muffled against Rio’s shoulder. 

Rio pressed another kiss to Agatha’s forehead, humming slightly, but she didn’t respond. Instead, her hand came down, resting on Agatha’s stomach, circling the non-existent bump once more. Agatha smiled, holding her wife closer as she slowly drifted into sleep, exhaustion catching up to her, but as her eyes closed, her thoughts wandered. 

The plan was perfect, until it wasn’t… 

well… 

Agatha wanted sole control over Rio, a small punishment for the hickey right before the lecture before Rio received her own mark on her skin. 

Mission failed successfully. 

Agatha placed her mark alright, but she lost control. 

Instead, she learned something about her wife that night… 

Licking her neck: one-way ticket to getting railed .

Chapter Text

Rio

Rio was pissed. 

Unfairly…fairly…so…? 

She groaned, pushing her hair back with her fingers as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her chest was covered in dark bruises, her hair dishevelled, and her body had a pleasant ache. She felt the slight knot in her back, and growled at herself. She wasn’t that old– hell she wasn’t old at all and yet, she felt like she pulled something in her lower back and she had an odd twist in her neck. She rubbed it, but stared at the other side, and felt herself bristle more. She had warranted it– deserved it. She admitted that at least. She shouldn’t have given her wife the hickey before she left for class, risking all the rules that she placed. She couldn’t afford the slip up now, but this was worse. This was unprofessional. She wasn’t a love-struck teen or even in her early twenties anymore. Fuck, it wasn’t even summer, when she would have worn it proudly. Agatha had never marked her like this before. 

A small smile tugged on the corner of her lips, betraying her frustration. Her gaze lingering on the strap that sat next to the sink, left to dry after she cleaned it last night. It was one of the bigger ones in their collection, and her wife hadn’t even seemed to notice last night. Then, her mind flashed to the kitchen, when she felt the jolt through her whole body when her wife’s tongue moved across her neck. She eyed the doorway, peering in where her wife still slept soundly in bed. She had been pleasantly surprised, but the way everything in her gathered, the unbearable heat in her stomach, and everything in her body begging to take Agatha then and there. In truth, she contained herself. She didn’t press as hard against her as her wife liked, nor threw her around with ease, no. Through the haze of want and desire, one thought remained constant in the back of her mind: the baby. 

She couldn’t be as rough in fear of hurting her wife or their baby. She wouldn’t risk it, even though her wife was practically play-dough, left for her to mold, and shape her as she pleased without resistance. 

Rio gazed back in the mirror, her thoughts darkening as she stared at the mark. It was a deep blue, purple dotting her skin and up her neck. A turtleneck would hide most of it, but not all of it and the thought of those teenagers seeing it made her blood boil it. Her older students wouldn’t have cared if they noticed it, but for some reason, she had a feeling the freshmen would gossip. She already lost their secret to Jennifer fucking Kale, and worse, Kale and her worked quite often together. 

But as her thoughts circled back to the mark, a smirk tugged at her lips. A part of her– the possessive, primal part– relished the idea of people seeing it. She imagined Wanda Maximoff catching a glimpse and bristling in quiet frustration. Good. Let her. If Maximoff was going to invade their personal bubble by flirting with her pregnant wife , she might as well know how Rio was Agatha’s as Agatha’s was hers. Her eyes glinted, imagining being her wife’s office, pressing her softly to the desk, purposely leaving the door cracked and that fucking red head walking in. And as Rio would turn, she would bare the mark proudly. Yet, her grip on the counter hardened, her knuckles whiting as she thought of that infuriating bitch. She couldn’t risk their marriage getting out yet, not until Agatha was showing and they would deal with it then, but every thought of the red-headed professor looking at her wife, talking to her, touching– Rio let out a low snarl in the back of her throat before shaking out of it. 

Rio rolled her shoulders, finally turning away from the mirror and stepping back into the bedroom. Agatha stirred slightly, her hand moving to rest on the curve of her belly… Rio’s eyes widened as she stared at her belly. She froze in place, her gaze locked on Agatha’s belly as if it had revealed some great secret. Her mind raced, cataloging every bit of information she knew about pregnancies. Six weeks was far too early to show anything significant, wasn’t it? Maybe Agatha had just eaten something salty in the middle of the night while she slept, or perhaps it was bloating from the hormones. But her rationalizations did little to calm the sudden surge of protectiveness that rose in her chest. She stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the bed with deliberate care, her movements slow as if not to disturb Agatha. Her fingers brushed softly over the curve, her touch feather-light. Agatha stirred again, a faint smile curling her lips even as her eyes remained closed.

 “ Mi amor ,” Rio murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Agatha’s eyes fluttered open, her smile widening as she registered her wife’s presence. 

“Mmm, good morning,” she said sleepily, her voice thick with warmth that made Rio’s heart flutter. 

Her hand lingered on her stomach, her gaze flicking between Agatha’s face and the gentle swell. She was beautiful, her face relaxed from sleep, slightly glowing. Her hair was a mess across the pillows, but thicker and shinier. Then, Rio’s gaze lingered back on her stomach, still unsure if this was normal. 

“Good morning,” she said, her tone carrying a mix of awe and concern. “Are you… feeling okay? Is this normal?” 

Agatha followed Rio’s gaze down to her stomach, her brow furrowing slightly before realization dawned on her. She chuckled softly, placing her hand over Rio’s. 

“It’s normal, cariño . Hormonal changes can cause bloating early on. Nothing to worry about.” 

Rio exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, but her hand remained where it was, her thumb tracing slow circles over Agatha’s skin. 

“You’re sure?” she asked, her voice soft but insistent. 

Agatha nodded, her other hand reaching up to cup Rio’s cheek, “I’m sure. You’re going to be hovering over me for the next eight months, aren’t you?” 

Rio smirked, leaning into Agatha’s touch, “Absolutely. You and our baby are my world.” 

Agatha laughed, her eyes shining with affection, “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” 

Rio leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Agatha’s lips before resting her forehead against hers. 

“You’re glowing,” she murmured. 

Agatha smiled in return, placing another kiss, “You’re biased.” 

“Of course,” she teased back, her hand moving in gentle circles over her stomach. “But, I’ll start prepping smaller meals for you to eat throughout the day. That should help with the bloating and the morning sickness.” 

Agatha groaned dramatically, but her grin betrayed her amusement, “Fine, but only if you promise to stop glaring at yourself in the mirror like it personally attacked you.” 

Rio blinked, momentarily caught off guard, “You saw that?” 

Agatha’s laughter filled the room, warm and melodic, “Of course I did. Now, you said last night you needed help with makeup, my love?” 

She nodded, reaching her hand out for her wife. Agatha took it, swinging her legs over and standing beside Rio before freezing for a moment, her hand on her stomach. 

“Get dressed first, and give me a moment.” 

Before she could protest, her wife ran to the bathroom, leaning over the sink and puking. Rio was behind her in seconds, pulling her hair back and rubbing her back softly. Her voice whispered a gentle coaxing as her heart tightened, seeing her wife like this. If it were possible, Rio would siphon all of her side effects, wishing she could do more to make this easier on her wife. But alas she could not, she instead stood with her, taking a glass of water she had already poured last night for her wife.

When Agatha pulled away, she nodded Rio out, “Come on, get dressed and grab an outfit for me. I’ll do your makeup today.” 

For a moment, an irritation flew across her features and she didn’t bother to hide it. The mark still slightly stung and the thought of makeup on it would only make it worse. Her wife, her ever attentive wife noticed, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

“You know…” her words trailed off as a blush crept in. “I-I didn’t– um, I didn’t mean to do it like that.” 

Rio raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms, “Really?” 

She bit back the rest of her retort, knowing not to anger her pregnant wife.

Agatha looked away, the red bright in her cheeks as she bit her lip, “Well, I wouldn’t have placed it that high or uh- deep. Someone else just got carried away last night.” 

She rolled her eyes, “Yes, it’s my fault, sweetheart.” 

Her wife snapped her head back up at that, her face still red, “It is your fault. If you weren’t so damn good–”

Agatha stopped herself, making Rio bark out her laughter, “Careful, mi amor, don’t want to go admitting something so unremarkably true.”

She set her hands on her wife’s waist, pulling her closer, her eyes glinting. Her memories flashed through their night, the sweet music she could rarely pull out of her wife, echoing loudly in her ears.

“Although, those whines were beautiful for me last night. So, desperate–” 

“For the love of– Rio!” Agatha hissed, her voice a mix of embarrassment and indignation as she tried to push past her wife. 

Rio caught her easily, her arms wrapping around Agatha’s waist to pull her back in. 

“What? I’m just stating facts, mi amor ,” she teased, kissing the side of her head. 

“You’re impossible,” Agatha muttered, though her voice lacked any real anger. Her hands rested against Rio’s chest as if she were contemplating shoving her again but couldn’t muster the resolve.

“And yet, you married me,” Rio countered, pressing another soft kiss to Agatha’s forehead. 

Agatha groaned, her head falling forward to rest against Rio’s chest, her cheeks still blazing red, as Rio only felt warmth, “I don’t know what I was thinking.” 

“Clearly, you were thinking I’m hot, infatuating, and irresistible, might I add,” Rio replied, her cheeks hurting from her smile as her hands sliding up to cradle Agatha’s face.

Her thumbs brushed gently against her wife’s flushed cheeks. Agatha let out a resigned sigh, finally looking up at Rio with a small, reluctant smile. 

“You’re lucky I love you.” 

Rio grinned wider, leaning down to capture her wife’s lips in a tender kiss. 

“I’m the luckiest,” she murmured against Agatha’s lips. 

Agatha’s arms looped around Rio’s neck, pulling her closer for a moment before she pulled back with a stern expression that didn’t quite reach her eyes. 

“Now, go get dressed before I change my mind about doing your makeup.” 

“Yes, ma’am,” Rio replied with a mock salute, earning an amused eye roll from Agatha. 

As Rio turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder with a sly grin, “By the way, you’re welcome for last night.” 

Agatha grabbed the green dildo and threw it at Rio’s retreating form, her laugh chasing her out of the room.

Students 

William slammed his bag down, half wincing as he thought of his MacBook and making a mental note, not to do it again as he rushed to pull it out. It was fine as he gathered the rest of his supplies, more students filling in after him. He wasn’t even supposed to have Biology today, but their professor decided to reschedule the missed class from Friday, same with their literature class, but Harkness only rescheduled one of the days so far. He smiled as Ireland sat next to him in the back, slumping into the seat and putting her head on the cool black surface of the lab table. She groaned, her blonde hair falling down behind her as their two friends, Eva and Ryan, sat in the other seats across from them. 

Eva chuckled, peering at Ireland, “Still sulking after yesterday, Ireland? It’s not like Dr. Vidal is going to remember. She doesn’t care enough.” 

Ireland only groaned, lifting her head up, “No, you don’t get it. I ruined my chances at getting recommendation letters from her. She will take one look at my face and laugh.” 

William shook his head, “Again, Eva is right. She doesn’t care enough to remember. Plus, you could always ask another professor. Like Dr. Harkness.” 

Ireland rolled her eyes, “No, I was going to get Vidal’s. It’s hers that matters. She has a higher position and it would look amazing for my scholarships.” 

Ryan leaned forward, a smirk on his lips, “Are you sure it isn’t because you have a crush on her? Really, Ireland, you ask her if she has a boyfriend? What are we, twelve?”

“How dare you! I am a happily taken woman.”

“Sure,” Eva rolled her eyes, taking out her notes. “Like you wouldn’t drop Chad if Vidal ever looked your way.” 

Ireland swatted at her, both of them laughing before the door opened. Their heads turned, staring at the ice professor who glided in, her steps even and measured. She was in her usual black and green, except looking a little more casual. Jeans hugged her legs, the green turtleneck sweater high, and her hair down for once. Ireland’s and Eva’s eyes rolled over her, taking in her dark eyeshadow, her black rimmed glasses perched on her nose, and how her jet-black hair framed her face. She didn’t cast a single glance at them, unpacking her stuff and setting her phone face up on the podium. William and Ryan shared a glance, unsure why Vidal deliberately took out her phone after yelling at them yesterday. 

“I don’t think I have ever seen her with hair down,” Ireland muttered. 

“She always has it in that clip of hers,” Eva confirmed, her head turned over her shoulder.

“She’s so intimidating,” Ireland whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of Dr. Vidal arranging her lecture notes. 

“And you’re so obvious,” William muttered, not bothering to hide his smirk. 

Dr. Vidal looked up then, her sharp brown eyes sweeping across the room. The murmurs of conversation ceased entirely. She didn’t need to speak to gain silence; her gaze alone was enough. 

“Good afternoon, class,” she said, her voice smooth yet firm, filling the space effortlessly. “I hope you’ve all had time to review last week’s material, as we’ll be diving straight into today’s lab. Partner assignments remain the same. Instructions are on the board. Any questions before we begin?” 

Her eyes flicked across the room, completely skipping Ireland and her friends. Her gaze was hard before she crossed her arms, shifting under her sweater. Without waiting for any questions, she turned back to the board and began outlining the experiment. 

“See? She doesn’t even remember you,” William whispered to Ireland, nudging her gently. 

“I don’t know whether to be relieved or offended,” Ireland muttered back, glancing at the professor as if waiting for some sign of acknowledgment. 

Ryan leaned over, a mischievous glint in his eye, “Maybe if you ask her about her love life again, she’ll remember you for sure.” 

Ireland glared at him, her face turning red, “I will kill you, Ryan.” 

Eva stifled a laugh, shaking her head, “You two are stupid. Just focus on the lab before she decides to actually notice you– for all the wrong reasons.” 

Dr. Vidal’s voice rang out again, interrupting their hushed banter, “I trust everyone is ready to begin? This is a graded exercise, so I suggest you focus.” 

Ireland and William paired up again, Ireland staring into the microscope as she tapped in her pen impatiently. Her eyes were already straining under the light, and the thought of looking at another slide made her want to throw something. William sat beside, scribbling the answers as the class was quiet today, just the sound of hush conversations and heels clicking against the tiles as their professor walked back and forth down the aisle of tables. They both froze as the clicks neared their table and stopped. Both looking up to find their professor’s harsh gaze on their notes, and then looking at the microscope and sighing. 

“You’re looking too closely and making this more difficult than it needs to be,” she said curtly, pulling the machine closer to her. 

They both watched as she adjusted the lens with ease, before peering inside. She was a natural, still caring grace as her left hand lifted, spinning to another lens. William couldn’t help but catch it– her ring finger. There was nothing spectacular about it, while her other hand was adorned with silver rings, this hand was empty, except for the fainted tan line. It wrapped around her left finger as if she was missing a ring… Before William could look more, she pulled away, pushing the microscope back to his partner. 

“This is what you need to be looking at,” she said, before taking William’s paper. “Sloppy, rewrite it if you want me to grade it.” 

They both swallowed hard as Vidal moved to Ryan and Eva, nodding before moving to the next table.

“Did you see that?” William whispered. 

“See what?” Ireland snapped, turning back to the lab. 

William pulled her closer, “The tan line on her ring finger– her left ring finger.” 

“Dude, I thought you were gay,” she teased. “Why are you looking at her fingers?” 

“I am gay,” he snapped. “But you’re the one wondering if she got a partner.” 

Ireland rolled her eyes, “Yeah, yeah, but there’s no way. Let’s be honest here. Who would want to marry her– scratch that. Who would she tolerate enough to want to marry?”

William shook his shoulders, turning back and erasing his answers to rewrite them. Class went on, rather uneventful and luckily for them, they kept out of Dr. Vidal’s gaze as she moved around the class, helping other students. Not that Ireland would admit it, but considered her interest peaked. She tried glancing at her professor’s fingers, unable to see the tan line William proclaimed there to be. 

As class came to an end, Dr. Vidal stood in the center of the room, “Okay, make sure both names are on the top. No name equals a zero. And before I forget, there has been a slight change in our schedule. I had to move your quiz a day ahead. Monday, you will take the quiz on chapters seven and eight, instead of Wednesday. Wednesday, there will be no class and because I am your ever generous professor,” she quirked a smile at that before continuing “there is no homework or notes. See you tomorrow.” 

With that, she came around, collecting the papers from the groups. As Ireland handed hers, she tried looking again at Vidal’s finger but it was safely tucked under the stack of papers in her hand. 

***

The walk to Poets’ Haven was miserable, the rain falling hard on them as the four of them raced to the next class. They made it, quickly filing into a single line from the narrow hallways and packing into the classroom. They found their seats in the back again, lining up in a row with the desks before Dr. Harkness walked in. 

Eva grimaced, her gaze narrowing over the professor, “I don’t know which witch is worse, the purple or green one.” 

Ryan nodded in agreement, before chuckling “Imagine if they met. I put my money on Vidal.” 

The others rolled their eyes, before Ireland whipped towards them, “They have met. Vidal is her boss.”

“So I placed my money right,” Ryan smirked before their heads whipped around, another set of heels clicking into the room. 

They stared at the younger professor, her smile a little too bright as she approached the purple witch without caution or fear, “Agatha, here’s the papers from the other day.”

The students all raised an eyebrow, watching as the purple witch whipped around, her gaze cold, but cracking slightly that might be inclined to something a little more friendlier if you knew her. Dr. Harkness took them, setting them on her podium before looking back up at the professor. Eva stared, her eyes locked on the way Dr. Maximoff’s eyes widened, a blush creeping into her cheeks. 

“Thanks, Dr. Maximoff,” Dr. Harkness replied, her tone even, but not laced with the usual scrutiny. “I will catch you later.”

The red-head professor seemed to linger a little longer, before turning and waving up at William and stalking out, glancing behind her at Dr. Harkness. 

“She got it just as bad for Dr. Harkness than you do for Dr. Vidal,” Eva teased Ireland. 

Ireland elbowed her slightly, “I think they’re just friends.”

“No way,” William shook his head. “She was lingering outside Dr. Harkness’ office yesterday, not even realizing she left. I think Dr. Maximoff got a thing for Harkness.” 

Ireland laughed a little louder, “Harkness would bite off her head. She doesn’t have a chance.” 

Ryan laughed with her, “Just as much as you have a chance with Vidal.” 

“Okay, settle down class,” Dr. Harkness’ smooth voice floated over the room, silencing them in seconds. “A few announcements before we begin. Next Wednesday, there is no class.”

Ryan smirked, muttering to the others, “Oh fuck yeah. No class all day.” 

William only tilted his head. Two of their most strict professors, who played by every rule in the book, cancelling class on the same day? The absences on Thursday and Friday? Not to mention, Vidal had left suddenly right after Harkness announced she cancelled class yesterday. 

Something wasn’t adding up. 

Rio

Rio rubbed the back of her neck as the sweater itched at her. It wasn’t hers. She stole it from her wife’s side of the closet, having run out of her own turtlenecks and was pleased to find it was black. The bruise had barely faded, and it was already Friday. She put her head in hands, hating that they had agreed to go out tonight with the coven. As much as she loved Alice and Lilia, tonight wasn’t the night for her. She couldn’t wear the sweater out, they would make fun of her, and the makeup had barely covered the mark. There was still a dark undertone. 

Worst of all, they were going to ask questions why neither of them were drinking and that alone, made her blood boil. Agatha’s safety was everything, and she wouldn’t let anything such as raw fish, caffeine, or alcohol harm her– and the smoke, Rio would have steer her around the smokers, especially Alice. Then, there was Jen. Rio was more pissed about her knowing of her marriage than she cared to admit. Jen was fine to work with, great sometimes, but the random snide remarks about Agatha after staff meetings, hell, even their bickering always got under her skin. Agatha could be cruel, sure. That was one of the reasons Rio fell in love with her, but the way Jen painted her made her want to smash her face into the ground. 

She had done it before, a couple times to other people back in her early college days, when she could get away with it. The disgusting men who would hit on her girlfriend when Rio was right there– it always made her see red. There were only two bar fights. Before the third, Agatha had dragged her out of the bar and straight home. But before that, the black eye from the first, and the broken wrist from the second were a hundred percent worth it in her eyes. Agatha… wasn’t too happy, but she easily distracted her girlfriend with her head between her legs. Easy fix… except when her wrist was broken. Though, it didn’t deter Rio as she had practically begged Agatha to sit on her face. But that was too early in their relationship, and her girlfriend had been too shy…. Rio still found herself between Agatha’s legs. 

She chuckled at the memory, before frowning. Her wife had snapped at her this morning. She had to miss lunch with her today due to a meeting, and Agatha had simply snapped. 

“I don’t want to hear it,” Agatha walked out of their room, going into their kitchen. 

Rio was quick on her heels, not understanding why her wife was acting like this. Agatha never complained before, in fact she perfectly understood that Rio’s position was a little more demanding. She had received the email this morning, telling her the other deans switched the meeting to today, saying they could meet in one of the student halls and watch the students, seeing how they were outside the classroom. 

“Mi amor?” Rio asked, confused as her wife simply busied herself making ginger tea. 

Agatha threw her hands up, “No. Go. Go eat in the fattening dining hall without your wife.”

Rio shook her head, her eyebrows knitting together painfully, “What? My love, you know my job, and it’s just one lunch love. You know if I could skip, I would.” 

Agatha didn’t respond, letting the whistle of the tea kettle echo in the silence between them. Rio watched her movements, seeing they were forceful, throwing the spoon in the sink, picking up the kettle a little too roughly, before slamming the lid on her cup, and walking around her. She held back a sigh, wrapping her arms around her wife and pulling her flush against her. 

“Get off, Rio,” she snapped, making Rio flinch. 

She didn’t back down, instead her hands found themselves under her wife’s shirt, resting on her stomach, feeling the smallest curve of it before kissing the side of her head. Her wife relaxed slightly, leaning into her which Rio took as a win, even though her wife’s posture was still stiff.

“You’re going to make us late,” she finally snapped again, pulling out of her grip and making her way to their front door. 

The drive was quiet, Agatha turning off Rio’s music, which Rio didn’t fight. To her surprise, her wife let her hold her hand the whole trip still until they parked behind Agatha’s building. 

Agatha didn’t move, sitting in the seat, her eyes closed as her hand rested on her stomach. Rio’s eyes widened as she watched the tears come from her eyes. She reached over immediately, wiping them carefully with the pads of thumbs before cupping her face in her hands, a move Agatha would usually pull on her. 

“Hey, hey, mi amor, what’s going on?” Rio asked tenderly. 

Agatha shook her head, her voice low and shaky as she responded, “I-I don’t know. It-it just” she swallowed hard “everything feels so overwhelming today. I just wanted a normal day, but it feels like nothing is going right.”

Rio’s heart ached at the rawness of her wife’s words. Agatha would never cry about something so small as this, so it confirmed Rio’s suspicions that it was her pregnancy talking. She wiped more of her tears away, shushing her softly. It cut her deeply, seeing her like this. She would burn the whole world if that meant never having to see her wife cry. She kissed her head, trying to calm her wife, as the black of her mascara ran, staining her cheeks. 

“Love, it’s okay,” Rio whispered softly, moving one hand to rest on Agatha’s stomach. “Don’t try to carry this alone. I am here for you always. You just need to talk to me, tell me what’s going on.” 

Agatha took another unsteady breath, her eyes closing as she leaned into Rio’s touch, her hands finding hers and holding them tightly. 

“I’m just so tired. I don’t feel like I have control over my own body, and I just wanted you to hold me during lunch– it’s stupid, really–”

“It’s not,” Rio quickly interrupted. “You know I would, you know I always want to be holding you, my love. Plus, you’re doing a lot right now–”

Agatha shook her head, “No, I am not.” 

“Agatha, you are carrying our child. Do you realize how much your body is working? Not only that, you are a wonderful professor with far too many classes this semester. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

Agatha kept her eyes closed, but accepted Rio’s words. Rio smiled softly, kissing her forehead, down to her nose, until Agatha met her lips. The kiss lingered a little longer than necessary before they pulled away, Rio quickly wiping the stains of black from her cheeks and placing another kiss to her forehead. 

She was worried about her wife all day, especially during lunch which she just got back from. She barely paid attention to the other deans, her mind drifting. 

What if she snaps at her students? What if she cries in front of them or in front of anyone else? 

Rio’s mind was a whirlwind of these questions throughout the day. Even now, she wondered how her wife was faring. She told her previously, the moment her last class was over she would come to her office, and walk together to their car… even if it was risky. Normally, Rio would make it to the car first and wait for her wife. 

The alarm on her phone alerted her and snapped her out of her thoughts. It was time for class, and worse it was the freshmen. Today would be simple though. Her plan was to go over the quiz, make sure they had the basic understanding from the previous two chapters. She was pretty sure she surprised them the first time they did a review. She half wondered if her students thought she would leave them high and dry, but she was a witch, not a monster. 

She grabbed her notes and coffee, making her way through the halls and into the classroom which was already full. They were loud and laughing, the excitement and rush of Friday filling the air. Rio was tempted to roll her eyes, but quickly reminded herself, she was also going off to a bar that night. She was sure these freshmen had a bunch of fake IDs, ready to line up in the cold as they waited to get into the Cauldron, the university pub. The coven was going just outside of town, making their way to The Moon and Suns. This pub was far enough away where there wouldn’t be a student in sight and was a real witch-themed pub. It was the coven’s favorite spot. 

Rio got on the computer, pulled up her slides and flicked off the lights in front of the classroom. Usually, that got their attention, but for some reason, they were a little more energetic today. She raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the board, her eyes scanning over them, until she met one of their gazes. From what she remembered, her last name was McGrath and she was the one who asked about her love life and effectively embarrassed herself.  She stared her down first before her gaze moved to her friend who also looked up at her, silencing. She watched the ripple, students seeming to realize their peers had stopped talking until there was nothing but silence. She waited it out, wanting them to squirm. William was the first, shifting uncomfortably in his seat and it was enough. 

Rio stood up straight, her arms crossed, “Take out your notes. Today, we are reviewing for your quiz. Save all your questions for the end. There, you can ask your questions or you can leave early. Up to you.” 

She spoke clearly, listening to furious typing and scratching of paper as she went. She paced herself, hoping to shorten their questioning time, not in the particular mood. She still had to wait, either way, her wife still had one more class after her. Rio paused at one point, waiting for her students as she took a long sip of coffee, pulling at the sweater again. 

A knock at the door had her head and all of the other students’ heads turned as well. She froze, seeing the new office assistant standing there with a bouquet of black roses. The students’ eyes were on them immediately. She swallowed hard, stepping forward and motioning with her hand to step into the classroom. They had already seen. 

“Delivery for Dr. Vidal,” the assistant said proudly. 

Rio bristled, taking the flowers harshly, “Why didn’t you just leave them outside my office?” 

“Awwww,” she heard the chorus behind her. 

She whipped around, shooting daggers at the group of girls who let out the annoying sound before facing the assistant. 

“Don’t interrupt my teaching again, unless it’s an emergency. You may go,” she flicked her hand dismissively. 

The assistant stuttered back, muttering apologies before Rio looked at the roses. They were from her wife to decorate her office with. If anything they were an apology from this morning, which she would have to talk to her about again. There was no point to apologise. She shouldn’t have to feel like she had to apologize for things she couldn’t control. Not being able to help herself, she found the tag, flicking it open to read: 

“Al corazón negro que late por mí ~ 💜 ”

She fought a smile, but it won in the end, making her turn her back to the students, trying to feign indifference as she set the bouquet carefully on the table. 

“Who’s it from?” a student piped up, the moment she turned. 

Rio raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms again, and stated simply, “None of your business.” 

The class erupted in a mix of snickers and whispers, but Rio’s stern glare silenced them quickly. 

“Settle down. You have a quiz coming up, and I have thoughtfully prepared a review for you. Unless you’d like to stay after class and explain why your curiosity is more important than my time?” 

The students straightened in their seats immediately, the tension in the room shifting back to focus. Rio allowed herself a small smirk, turning back to the notes on the board and continuing her lecture. But as she went, she still felt the warmth from the flowers that her eyes would find as she would speak. Her mind briefly wandered from time to time. Agatha always found the most creative ways to show her love, even if she struggled saying it. And despite her earlier frustrations, Rio felt her resolve soften. Tonight, she’d make sure to hold her wife close and remind her just how much she meant to her. But for now, the students didn’t need to know anything except their upcoming quiz, which she decided to make harder.

Chapter Text

Rio

She sighed, stepping into her office, the flowers clutched tightly in her hand. The moment her door shut, she leaned forward, smelling the flowers, taking in the sweet floral and scent of the earth. It calmed her, her heart easing for a moment, knowing her wife was okay and she would see her soon. She did end class earlier, and left after answering a few questions. She had two hours– two hours to fill her time before she could go see her wife. It wasn’t long, but she already felt like the clock hands were purposely dragging, elongating time and twisting a knife into her wandering thoughts. The freshmen had Agatha in thirty minutes and something about how she had already lost her patience today– well, she wouldn’t blame her wife if she snapped at them too. 

Rio set her bag down before unwrapping the green paper around the bouquet. Setting the card on her desk, she slipped the rubberband off the stems, avoiding the thorns as she turned to the large vase on her desk, already standing with red roses from her wife a couple of weeks ago. She had a long day and somehow, her wife knew and sent her flowers. The red petals were slightly curling, their edges tinged with black, announcing the entrance to their next life. She took them out, setting them aside before taking the vase and changing the water. With care, she placed the black ones in before grabbing tape and hanging the red ones upside down against the other table in her office full of stacks of papers– the papers she still needed to organize. 

A sharp knock on the door drew her from her thoughts. Her eyes narrowed as she held the rose up, placing the tap against its stem, “Come in.” 

One of the teenagers from her class came in slowly, his MacBook firmly in hold as he glanced around her office before meeting her eye. She watched as he flinched, quickly avoiding eye contact as he stood stiffly, the only movement from his free hand; a pointer finger picking at the skin of his thumb. He drew his lips in a line as he swallowed hard before speaking softly. 

“Dr. Vidal, I hope I am not disturbing you. I was wondering if I could ask you a couple more questions on bryophytes and the antheridium,” his voice wavered, sweat forming on his brow. 

She quirked an eyebrow, continuing to hang the roses, “Sit, would you like a glass of water, er–”

“William Kaplan,” he squeaked. “Yes, please.”

“Mr. Kaplan,” she repeated, hanging the last of the roses before retrieving a cup and filling it up. 

She placed it in front of him, sitting down at her desk, and pulling out her own textbook. As she was flipping through the pages, searching for their chapter, William seemed more at ease, slouching back in the chair. Rio would roll her eyes. She knew that she could be mean, but William seemed like he was going to pass out the moment he stepped into her office. Part of her cringed about the thought. She wondered how many of her students were like this, too scared to visit her during office hours, even though she knew her tone was gentle when they were one on one. Hell, sometimes she had fun with the labs, especially when they would get onto their bird week. 

Bird week was before finals, something to lessen the students’ nerves. She would teach about the different types of birds and how to classify some of them through their beaks and the type of food they ate. They played games, using spoons, tweezers, scissors, and a binding clip– each simulating a different type of bird beak– to pick up some fake beans, corks, and strings– to simulate different food eaten by birds– and to calculate who was fastest at picking up what. 

Rio had her fair share of finals weeks, many spent in tears, sometimes working herself up so much, she was puking at three am after a study session. Her and Agatha had to be away from each other during finals, each of their own frustrations causing them to snap at each other. After finals were over, Rio would stay in her girlfriend’s apartment for however long before heading home. Agatha would stay, her mother… Well, Rio didn’t want to think of that particular woman, especially after she had caught them entangled together when she barged into Agatha’s apartment unannounced. 

“Spanish?” William’s voice broke through her thoughts abruptly the moment she found the chapter. 

She snapped her head up, seeing William leaning forward, staring at the card she left carelessly on her desk. The message was faced up, the purple heart small, but it was enough to make her uneasy. She swiped it away, her hand striking it like a viper and setting it in her drawer before he could pry more. 

“Yes, my first language,” she supplied, maybe hoping it would distract him, but her own nagging curiosity got to her. “Do you speak?” 

He shook his head, “No, I study Latin.” 

She quirked a small smile, “I did too when I went to Harvard. Now, what is troubling you with bryophytes and their antheridium?” 

The questions weren’t bad from the teen. She explained it with ease, before eventually, making her way to her whiteboard and drawing out the diagrams. He listened well, his entire focus on what her lecture supplied. For thirty minutes, her mind focused away from her wife, able to relax and push the clock’s hand faster. But in the end, she still had to wait an hour and thirty minutes for her wife. As the minute hand neared, she stopped, turning back to the teenager. 

“Any other questions, Mr. Kaplan? Worst is that I can write an excuse for your next class.” 

He simply shook his head, his eyes wide, “Sorry, Dr. Vidal, but I don’t think Dr. Harkness would take kindly, even from the Dean.” 

She couldn’t help but chuckle, already hearing her wife. She would be chewed out the moment she showed up and worse, this kid would get the brunt of it, “Of course, I understand. I will see you Monday.”

 “Thank you, Dr. Vidal,” he offered her a smile before stepping out and closing it behind him. 

Agatha 

The class wasn’t bad, and neither was her mood. It seemed to calm the moment she had more tea in her system and she stepped into her role as a professor, but as class came to a close, she couldn’t shake the weight settling back into her shoulders. She bit her lip, her mind on her wife, the panicked and hurt expression on her face and the way her eyes shined when she snapped at her this morning– it haunted her throughout the day. Though, she hoped she placed a smile on that beautiful face the moment she stepped back into her office after her class. She dropped the roses off with a new assistant, leaving quickly, not wanting to be caught in the science department by any of her students or Kale for that matter. She was going to have to play nice tonight, for Alice at least and for Lilia. Lilia didn’t always tolerate her dramatic flair, would always– always call her out on her bullshit. It was only fair to make the woman her best friend. When she introduced her to her at-the-time-girlfriend, Rio had grown to like the woman, and joined their group, making their coven. 

Alice was already in the picture before she met Rio, in fact, she was pretty sure it was Alice who gave Rio the push to ask her out that one night. Rio had shown up with flowers at her apartment, uncharacteristically rambling nervously and in one breath, asking Agatha on a date. Agatha had froze, taking the flowers but at the time she had no words. Rio had only smiled, telling her to think on it, and left after she pressed her lips softly against Agatha’s cheek. Agatha did think about it. She remembered vividly tossing and turning before sitting up at three am, marching to Vidal’s dorm room, and telling the woman she would like to date her, but not to get her hopes up because Agatha didn’t do feelings. The infuriating woman only smiled, taking her into her room where they talked for the rest of the night until Agatha accidentally fell asleep in Rio’s arms. 

It was a perfect, unofficial first date.

“Hey, there, Agatha,” a cheery voice echoed from behind her. 

She snapped her head up, watching the redhead ease her way through the exiting students and towards her. She smiled brightly, and Agatha recoiled slightly as her eyes wandered her body up and down. She wasn’t in the mood to entertain this, and worse, her patience was already thinning with the redhead. She couldn’t seem to take a hint no matter how many times she said no to her requests. It was always lunch this, walking together here and there, and she was always popping by with tea now. She was starting to think maybe her wife was right, but Rio was always possessive, always jealous in her own kind of way. She loved her wife for it, in fact it was one of the many reasons she fell in love with the incorrigible woman. Therefore, in moments like these, Agatha wasn’t sure if Wanda was indeed trying to be her friend, or if she had other intentions. She remembered being new, the nervous energy of trying to fit in with the new scene, and she knew Wanda didn’t have any other friends in the department. It wasn’t like she hated the woman, but the more she pushed, the more she was starting to. 

“Oh, hey Wanda,” she said, quickly collecting the papers. 

“You look radiant today,” Wanda smiled at her, taking a step forward. 

Oh. 

Oh. 

Shit. 

Rio is going to have a field day with this… and worse, she’s then going to be pissed. 

“Um, thanks?” Agatha replied, looking up with a puzzled expression. 

Wanda’s grin grew a little too wide, and Agatha instinctively took a small step back. 

This was new. 

She was never this bold before, and now, Agatha was sure her wife was right. Friends don’t compliment each other, at least not like this. Still, she knew how to handle herself and didn’t want to make a scene.

“So, I was thinking,” Wanda started, her voice laced with the familiar enthusiasm Agatha had come to recognize. “It’s Friday. You’ve made it through another week of lectures. How about we grab a drink? A little happy hour to wind down?” She leaned forward just slightly, her gaze far too intense for comfort. “You know, you could use a break. We could talk work– or, you know, just... talk.” 

Agatha’s stomach twisted at the offer, and she quickly glanced around the classroom, hoping for a distraction, though it was mostly empty now that most students had filed out. She smiled politely, masking the tension in her shoulders.

“That’s kind of you, Wanda, but I actually already have plans with some friends I haven’t seen in a while,” she said, shifting the papers in her hands to hide the slight nervousness in her voice. 

Her stomach turned again, but it wasn’t just her nerves– it was the baby too. She fought, placing a hand on her stomach, but the emotions were surging. She felt backed in a corner. Suddenly, the smell of Wanda’s perfume was in her nose, suffocating her. She swallowed hard, everything in her screaming for her wife. She prayed that Rio would somehow know and barge into the room to stop the woman. She needed Rio’s possessiveness, her overprotectiveness in this moment. She felt something pricking at her eyes, making her blink it away. 

“Oh come on, just one drink,” Wanda took a step closer, her smile still sweet. “Before you meet your friends, I will even pay.” 

Before she could think of a response, a voice echoed behind her, “Hey, Dr. Harkness, do you have a second? I have a couple questions about the most recent essay.” 

She whipped around, her eyebrows creasing in confusion. They already finished the essay and went over it. She hadn’t even given the next text to read for their assignment. William only widened his eyes, almost telling her to go along with it.

“Of course, William,” she said, following him to his seat. 

She watched as he quickly went through his bag, pulling out random papers before she heard the click of the door. She turned, making sure she was gone. It was just her and William, and already, William was packing up his bag.

“How did you–”

He shook his shoulders, “Don’t mention it, Dr. Harkness. Dr. Maximoff is not that subtle and, although for a literature professor, she lacks perception.” 

She felt herself relax at that, the corner of her mouth pulling up into a smirk, not able to hide it. He offered the same quiet smile, throwing his bag over his shoulder.

“Have a nice weekend, Dr. Harkness.”

With that, William walked out, leaving Agatha alone to wrestle with the storm building inside her. Her breath grew heavier, coming in quick, shallow bursts as she rubbed her stomach in an attempt to calm herself. Her mind raced, focusing only on one person– Rio. Her legs moved on their own, leading her straight to her office. 

When she opened the door, she was met with the sight of Rio sitting on her couch, absorbed in one of her books. Rio didn’t look up right away, but when she finally did, she tossed the book aside without hesitation. Agatha didn’t give her a moment to react. She slammed the door behind her, papers scattering to the floor, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was Rio. 

Without a second thought, she crossed the room and straddled her wife’s lap, wrapping her arms tightly around her. Rio was immediate in her response, pulling Agatha into a protective embrace, her hands moving up and down Agatha’s back in soothing strokes. Agatha buried her face into Rio’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent of pine and something uniquely Rio, as the tension melted from her body, her breath finally slowing in her wife’s comforting arms.

“Hey, mi amor. Está bien. Estoy aquí. Te tengo. Solo respira ,” she whispered softly. 

Rio stroked through her hair, her fingers brushing through the long strands and calming her instantly. She nuzzled closer, falling slightly to the side on the couch, but kept herself firmly in her wife’s hold. She felt something soft press against her forehead repeatedly, another hand on her stomach, rubbing in soothing circles. Rio continued her soft mutterings in Spanish, easing Agatha’s racing heart as they sat there. 

They should have been home by now, getting ready for the bar, but neither of them moved, soaking into each other’s embrace and filling the space with a quiet love. 

When Agatha finally pulled away, she noticed the sun was already setting. She didn’t care, because Rio was here. Her wife was here, holding her, protecting her, being everything she needed and more. Her wife didn’t stop the ministrations, keeping the gentle circle on her stomach and the soft brushes through her hair. 

Her voice was quiet, but filled with her concern and protectiveness, “ Mi amor, what happened? Talk to me.” 

She took a breath, her hand clutching on Rio’s shirt like a lifeline, “Wanda, she was so persistent. I-I just wanted you, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer– I just wanted you, Rio.” 

Her voice was small, barely heard above a whisper. Part of her couldn’t believe that she was admitting it aloud. Of course, she always wanted Rio, wanted her love, her arms wrapped around her– but never did Agatha vocalize it. It wasn’t in her nature, it wasn’t something she would ever do. In truth, her wife would just know when she needed her. It was an unspoken thing between them. Her wife never pushed, never minded when she would clamp up– and worse talking about her feelings?

She internally cringed at herself, hearing herself outside her own body. The last time she did something like this was their wedding, during their ceremony– she had taken a blade, carved a hole into her chest, and taken out the beating muscle. It was there, in front of their closest friends, in front of the people they made their family, she offered it to Rio– vowing it was hers and hers alone. 

And to her surprise– realistically, it wasn’t a surprise because it was her Rio– Rio had simply taken the same blade, plunged it into her chest and yanked out her own through the gaping bloody wound, giving it to Agatha without a single thought behind those gorgeous, rich soil eyes. It was Rio’s own way of saying, Here, here is my heart. It’s black and it beats for you.

Agatha wasn’t going to let Rio one-up her in their vows, but she did anyway. At least in her eyes, but Rio, she was sure the woman thought Agatha had won as neither of them could stop themselves from crying, especially Rio. When Agatha had read from the beating muscle, her face at first paled, confusion flickering across before it must have dawned on her that Agatha would forever love Rio unconditionally… because Agatha Harkness?

She didn’t do feelings…

not for anyone…

especially, in front of a crowd of people…

but she did for Rio. 

Only for Rio Vidal .

Rio’s hold on her tightened, pulling her closer as her expression softened with a protective fierceness. She kissed the top of Agatha’s head, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of restrained anger. 

“You don’t have to explain. I’m here. I know you didn’t want any of that.” 

Agatha swallowed hard, trying to calm her breathing, trying to stop herself, but she couldn’t. It was pouring out of her, as if someone had taken a sledgehammer to a damn wall, and the water finally burst through the cracks. 

“I– I didn’t know how to get her to leave me alone. She doesn’t seem to understand that I’m– and when she was getting too close, I– I just... I couldn’t breathe. I wanted you there…” 

“Shh,” Rio murmured, her voice low and soothing, “You’re safe now. I’ve got you. I’ll always have you.” 

She continued to rub gentle circles on Agatha’s stomach, and Agatha’s tense body slowly relaxed. Agatha tilted her head to look into Rio’s eyes, the concern etched deeply on her face. 

“I’m sorry, my love. I didn’t want to make you worried–”  

“You don’t have to apologize for feeling that way,” Rio reassured her, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “You’re mine to protect, Agatha. No one will ever make you feel unsafe again. I’ll make sure of it.” 

The intensity in Rio’s gaze sent a shiver of comfort through Agatha, her heart slowing with every word. She leaned back into Rio’s embrace, feeling a renewed sense of security. 

“I just need you with me. Always.” 

Rio kissed her forehead, her voice full of love and promise, “I’m not going anywhere. You’re everything to me, Agatha. It will always be just us – well, until our little one decides to join.”

She smiled softly, tilting her head up in silent invitation. Her wife understood without a word, leaning in to press their lips together. 

The world melted away, its chaos and noise fading into nothingness. In that tender moment, it was just the two of them– wrapped in the warmth of their love, lost in the safety of their own universe, a place that felt like home in a way– somewhere Agatha wasn’t sure how to name. All she knew is that Rio still held her beating heart. 

Alice

Alice sat back against the booth, looking over the crowd that had gathered. It was a packed night, a crowd larger than she had seen. She and Jen had gotten lucky, snatching a corner booth away from the sweating bodies pressed together that gathered in the center. Laughter rang out, the smell of alcohol invading her senses. Beside her, Jen shifted, moving closer to her, which Alice picked up on immediately. She smiled to herself, bringing her drink up to hide it as Lilia smiled at them from across them. 

They were waiting on the power couple– the couple that Alice had gotten together fifteen years ago. She will happily take that credit. She hounded the botany nerd. She listened to her late night rants. She put up with her attitude and then her self-doubt. She convinced Rio to get her shit together and ask the scary literature major out. It was her idea to get Agatha flowers. And it was her who called Rio a coward, which was the final straw that led her to asking Agatha out. 

Goddess, Rio was so smart that she was fucking stupid. 

She would never forget finally snapping at her, after hearing for the hundredth time: “What if she doesn’t like me like that?” 

She had smacked Rio upside the head, startling them both, but she didn’t care. Because a woman like Agatha Harkness would never look in Rio’s direction without having some sort of attraction or something more. 

She didn’t like Agatha at first. She was rude, callous, and self centered. She didn’t care who she had to step on to get what she wanted, and when Rio and Agatha met, sparks didn’t exactly fly. No, Rio hated Agatha, but Rio being well, Rio, she loved getting under the woman’s skin. It was to the point that their professor put them in a group project for their midterm to get them to stop… whatever they were doing. Then, next thing Alice knew, Rio would disappear for long periods of time. She would cancel their coffee and study sessions, their movie nights, and even their lunches. Alice, at the time, wasn’t going to let that slide, and she quickly found out that Rio and Agatha had grown close. Rio smiled more, was warmer, calmer– Rio Vidal was happy. And then Alice realized that her best friend, whose heart was as black as the sky without the stars, had fallen in love. 

“So, Agatha and Dean Vidal, how the hell did that happen?” her girlfriend asked, glancing at the doors as well. 

Lilia and Alice shared a soft laugh with each other. From what Alice gathered, Lilia had been the one to tell Agatha she was in love. The woman was the only one to call Agatha out, other than Rio who would always get the look. They had worked well together, trying to get the two ice queens to admit they actually had hearts. 

Lilia cleared her throat, “We all go way back. We were freshmen at Harvard, and all of us had to take one of those intro to literature classes, no matter your major. You know, one of those stupid freshmen classes. Agatha and Rio were seated next to each other, and well, the rest is history. College sweethearts, but don’t let their cold, mean demeanor fool you. Their tarot? The Lovers.”

Jen stared at Lilia for a moment, and Alice was grateful at herself for explaining to Jen before about Lilia’s strange talent for divinity. They all had joked they had something witchy about them, hence; The Coven. 

Alice nodded in agreement, “They’re disgustingly in love with each other.”

Jen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued, “Disgustingly in love? That’s not exactly the vibe I get from either of them.”

Alice grinned, swirling her drink lazily. 

“Oh, trust me, they’ve perfected the whole intimidating power couple aesthetic. But behind closed doors?” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “Agatha’s a total sap for Rio. I’ve seen her buy plants she had no idea what they were, hell, write poetry for the woman, and learn Spanish for her, Jen. Spanish. And don’t even get me started on Rio. That woman will annihilate anyone who even looks at Agatha the wrong way.”

Lilia smirked, raising her glass in agreement, “They balance each other out in the weirdest way. Rio softens Agatha’s edges, and Agatha keeps Rio grounded. It’s honestly kind of annoying how well they work, especially since they both can be the most toxic person for anyone else.”

Jen glanced between them, still skeptical but entertained, “Alright, but why do I get the feeling you two are secretly proud of them?”

“Because we are, ” Alice said, grinning widely. “We built this empire. Lilia and I were the architects of the Great Harkness-Vidal Love Story. Without us, those two would’ve just glared at each other across lecture halls and called it a day.”

Lilia laughed, “It’s true. Agatha was way too proud to admit she liked anyone, and Rio was too busy overthinking everything but also too proud in her own way. They needed us to shove them together.”

Jen rolled her eyes but smiled, “So, when do I get to see this ‘disgusting love’ for myself?”

“Oh, you will, don’t get too excited. They are disgusting,” Lilia said, wincing before chuckling. 

Alice smirked, “Especially, Rio Vidal.” 

“That’s Rio Harkness -Vidal,” a cold voice sounded.

They all turned, finding Rio and Agatha walking towards them, commanding the room’s attention without even trying. Rio was in her usual leather jacket and boots, outside of her office attire, and her arm slung casually around Agatha’s waist. Agatha, ever poised, was dressed in a dark maroon sweater dress and heeled boots, her sharp eyes narrowing in on them. Alice looked back to Rio, already finding that little spark in her eyes– the one that only ever lit up when she looked at Agatha. 

“Hey, witches, sorry we are late,” Rio greeted as they approached, her voice warm despite the teasing edge.

Alice and Lilia stood, hugging them both before Lilia allowed them to slide to the back of the booth, them both in between the group of friends.  

“You two talking about us again?” Rio asked, narrowing her eyes playfully at Alice and Lilia.

“Always,” Alice shot back. “Can’t help it. Your love life is our greatest achievement.”

Rio snorted, but Agatha just raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, “You’re both insufferable, you know that?”

Alice grinned, raising her glass, “And yet, you keep us around.”

Agatha’s lips twitched, a rare flicker of amusement breaking through, “Fair point.”

“So,” Lilia leaned towards them as Rio shrugged off her jacket, “why the hell are you late? It wouldn’t have anything to do with that poorly covered mark there, Rio?” 

Rio’s lips twitched, her eyes narrowing, but Alice could still see the tinge of pink creeping into her cheeks, “No, thank you very much. We got held up, some work problems treading too close to home.”

“Rio,” Agatha warned. 

Rio shook her head, rolling her shoulders as she wrapped her left arm around Agatha’s shoulders, her amethyst wedding band shining in the bar’s dim lights.

Alice nudged Jen, “Oh, might I add Rio has a jealous streak–”

Her friend glared at her, “ I do not !”

She opened her mouth again but Alice beat her to it, “How many bar fights have you started? The evidence is working against you.” 

Agatha smirked, “She has a point, sweetheart.”

“Bar fights? Now, I have to hear this,” Jen leaned forward, her chin placed on her propped up hands.

Rio’s wife laughed this time, “Oh, let’s just say two people got a little too close to me, and Rio stepped in.”

Alice rolled her eyes, trying to hide her amusement and avoid the woman’s dagger-full stare, “Rio basically taunted them until they threw the first punch. One of them was a man about six feet tall, drunk as fuck, but somehow, this little minx–”

“Minx?” Rio gasped, in mock offence. 

“–escaped with only a broken wrist. The first fight was with a woman, who I am pretty sure Rio punched first, but the cameras told a different story. Rio only had a bloody nose from her.” 

Rio sat back, a smug expression on her face, “Yeah, and I would do it again.” 

Agatha rolled her eyes, but to Alice’s surprise, she leaned into Rio. Her own hand came up to Rio’s, where it rested on her shoulder. She entwined their fingers together, her own emerald wedding band sparkling. 

Jen laughed, loudly, leaning against Alice this time, “And pray tell, how the fuck are you our boss?”

“She is as slippery as a snake. Never got charged, somehow.”

They laughed before falling into a comfortable silence, Agatha still impossibly close to her wife. It was strange to Alice. She knew the pair well, but Agatha rarely displayed any affection in public. She was pretty sure it was one of their rules, but here she was, their hands intertwined, Agatha’s body practically molding itself to Rio’s. She had only seen them like this when she barged into their home unannounced, and even then, they would separate. Her eyes lingered on them a little more as her girlfriend laughed at something Lilia had said, Rio joining lightly. Agatha was unusually quiet, her gaze lingering on Rio. Normally, the woman would offer her own smart comment, make a dig at Jen, but that was when it hit Alice something had happened– something was wrong. 

Her eyebrows creased, noting how neither of the pair were drinking. Rio would never pass up her gin tonic and Agatha, her neat whiskey. She eyed them again, seeing the stiffness in Agatha’s body language. Her eyes slightly red, as if she had cried earlier in the day. Alice sat up, realizing she was not going to let this pass. She already heard the absences from both Rio and Agatha last week and during the week, plus, Rio still wouldn’t budge about the whole running to get Jennifer during a lab. Alice admitted she didn’t always get along with Agatha, but if her mother had shown up again, Rio and Agatha shouldn’t be here. They should be at home, both of them taking the time they needed together. 

Alice cut in kindly, “Hey, is everything alright?”

All of their heads turned, Agatha looking Alice up and down as Rio cocked her head, “Yeah, why?” 

“You two are attached at the hip, and more than usual. What happened today? And don’t bullshit us. It’s practically written on your face.” 

She watched as the pair shared a look before Agatha took a breath, “You guys know the new professor in the literature department?”

At that, Alice watched as Rio’s jaw clenched, her eyes growing darker. Agatha must have felt the shift in her wife, giving her hand on her shoulder a gentle squeeze, their rings clicking together. 

“Oh yeah, Wanda Maximoff,” Jen nodded. “She seems sweet.” 

Rio rolled her eyes, but said nothing. 

“She has been a bit relentless on me. She tried asking me out to the bar tonight, and the woman could not take no for an answer.” 

Jen shook her shoulders, “Well, did you tell her you are taken?” 

Everyone stiffened at that. 

Alice fiddled with her hands, “Um, Jen, because of Rio’s position we all agreed to keep their relationship under wraps. They are really big on privacy, dear, but Agatha, she does have a point. It’s not like you two are announcing your whole status to the university, wearing your rings won’t kill you.”

Agatha and Rio shared a look, speaking a language they alone understood, but Agatha sighed, “Yeah, maybe we should start wearing our rings, but have you heard these freshmen this year?”

They all laughed at that, Lilia throwing her head back, “Touché. They spread rumors like wild fires. I can already hear it all the way in the music department. I heard today that Rio has a secret admirer. Something about black roses being delivered to her during class.” 

Rio grumbled at that, “The assistant should have dropped them off at my office.”

“But Jen has a point, you two. You, ” she pointed a finger at Rio, “can’t get all possessive and jealous when someone talks to your wife if neither of you are wearing your rings.” 

“Seriously, guys. You put that there for a reason,” Alice nodded.

The couple looked at each again, speaking their language again with their eyes. Agatha smiled, tilting her head, making Rio roll her eyes before she smiled as well. Then, she leaned down, placing a soft kiss on the woman’s lips. 

“Disgusting.”

“Ew.” 

“Gross.”

They all chorused together.

Rio sent them the finger as the night slowly turned into laughter and carefree conversation.  

***

Alice had finally managed the nerves to intwine her hands with Jen’s underneath the table. Her blood was in her face, she already knew her cheeks were pink, but she quickly blamed it on the alcohol. To be fair, she was a couple drinks deep, the room a tad uneven, and a happy little buzz ran through her. She felt her head rest on Jen’s shoulder as their laughter rushed through her. She turned her gaze to Rio who was calmly talking to her girlfriend, and Jen, at first uncomfortable with being so open with their boss, now relaxed, talking freely with Rio. But Rio, being the workaholic she is, couldn’t help but drift into that territory. She knew it was safer for Rio before opening up to someone. Jen was still new to their coven, but for once, it felt complete. Alice felt complete, her heart mending slowly as Jen’s hand tightened in hers. 

Her mind drifted again, trying to figure out if she was lucky enough to be like Rio. Maybe Jen and her would be the tame version of Agatha and Rio. Alice admired their love, in fact she was sure she was seeing true love. She had never seen a love as bright as theirs. The way they complimented each other, balanced each other, and somehow still loved each other through their faults… especially Rio’s. She knew her best friend was a walking red flag with her jealousy streak. In fact, she was sure that’s how Rio lost previous girlfriends, but Agatha was just as much as a walking red flag, and in some twisted way, seemed to flourish underneath Rio’s possessiveness. 

“Alice,” Lilia hissed, nodding her gaze to Rio. 

Alice turned her head to Rio, finding the woman stopped talking, her gaze hard, piercing across the bar. Her jaw was clenched, her own fingers digging into the table. Alice knew this reaction anywhere and suddenly, the buzz was gone. She turned, searching for Agatha who had gotten up to get them drinks this round. She quickly spotted her, leaning back, away from some tall redhead. Alice watched, seeing Agatha back away slowly as the woman only grew closer, her steps uneven, but her hand was placed on Agatha’s shoulder. 

Alice narrowed her gaze to the woman. She was plastered, barely keeping her body from falling over. Agatha shoved the woman’s hand off of her but the woman didn’t let up, smiling at her like a deranged Cheshire cat. Then, a twinge of recognition shot through her. This was Wanda Maximoff, the new literature professor that had asked Agatha out, and somehow ended up at the same bar off campus. 

“Fuck,” she cursed as she turned back to Rio, who she knew was already seeing nothing but red.

“ Move, ” Rio’s voice was unrecognizable.

It was cold, detached, and it lacked any hint of warmth. It wasn’t something Alice had ever heard, even between the bar fights. This voice was disembodied, something that seemed to drip with an icy lifelessness– something that screamed death. Alice couldn’t stop the way her body shivered and flinched away from her friend. Even Lilia’s face seemed to pale as she stared at Rio. 

“ Four of pentacles ,” Lilia muttered.

Alice was going to ignore it, but froze as the next invisible tarot card was read off Rio. 

“ Death .” 

She turned to Rio, not allowing Jen to try to move as Lilia already knew to hold her seat, trapping Rio in. 

“Rio, hey! Look at me!” 

Rio did, her eyes flashing with fire, a look that could kill if it were possible, “You can’t do anything. We are too old for this shit–”

“ I don’t care ,” Rio snarled. “You don’t understand what’s at stake. You have to move!”

They all stared at her, What the hell does that even mean? What’s at stake?

Alice continued to stare at her, not understanding this version of Rio. This wasn’t the normal possessiveness coming off the woman. She looked panicked under her anger, like the longer her wife was dealing with this, the more she seemed to be in danger. No, this wasn’t Jealous Rio, this was something more serious, more loyal– more desperate. 

“Rio, you can’t go over there. They are both your subordinates.” 

Alice stepped in before they received another tongue lashing from her friend. She knew if they kept Rio here longer, she would do something worse than start a bar fight, and Alice wasn’t ready to figure out what that worse was.

“I will get her, Rio,” Alice said before she could think. 

Rio snapped to her, and Alice swore her grip could break the table in two, “Take her to my car, now. We are done here.” 

Alice took Rio’s keys, shoving them in her pocket before reaching for Agatha’s coat. She felt Rio’s gaze pierce into her, the way Rio’s eyes followed her. It made her shake, as if Alice let something happen to Agatha, then Rio would not hesitate to kill her. She couldn’t wonder why this was different, why it seemed so serious– she had to focus before her best friend came for her head. 

Alice was quick, taking a breath as she slid her arm around Agatha’s waist. She felt the woman stiffen, catching a glance at her. She silently prayed Rio wouldn’t kill her for this. 

“Hey, Aggie–”

Please don’t kill me either for calling you that, she thought to the woman. 

“The group is heading out. Movie night at my place,” she said quickly.

Agatha relaxed into her arms, losing the tension in her as Alice turned them, putting space between her and the woman. 

“And who are you?” Wanda slurred, her head turning. 

“A friend,” she faked her smile. “You should go home too, before you do something you might regret.”

Wanda shook her head too fast, “Nonssesnce, I waz just telling Ag-a-tha how pretty she is. Ssss-shame, no one else hass caught her.” 

Alice shook her head, her arms moving behind to drag Agatha around the woman. She felt the coat slip from her arms along with the keys from her hand. Alice stepped with her best friend’s wife, keeping the distance for her as Agatha slipped around her, bolting towards the door. 

“Heyyyy, what’s your problem?” Wanda towered over her, making Alice shrink. 

She swore in her head, hoping she wasn’t about to do what Rio had done too many times for a professor. Then, a hand was on her back, a familiar steady presence. She couldn’t hold her smile as Jen stepped next to her, meeting the literature professor head on. 

“Wanda,” Jen said calmly, gaining the drunk woman’s attention. “Didn’t expect to find you here.”

Wanda shared a small smile, but her gaze was searching for Agatha, “Yeah, well my friends dragged me out tonight. I can say t-the same. ” 

The professor struggled on her footing, Jen was faster, steadying the woman just as Rio slipped past, basically running out the door. Alice blinked, stepping back as then other women were there, looping their arms around Wanda and dragging her back to their booth. 

“Sorry, about her,” one muttered, giving a scared smile. 

The moment they were gone, Jen looked down towards her, “What the fuck was that? You never told me Rio was that toxic.” 

Alice shook her head, staring at the doors, “No, no, this was different. Trust me, I know my best friend can be a walking red flag, but this…” she trailed off “this was different. Rio would never act like that when it would come to an employee. Something is going on that they’re not telling us.” 

Before The Bar

Wanda 

Wanda practically slammed her head onto her kitchen table as her friends laughed at her. She hated this, and worse, she could tell she scared Agatha. She didn’t mean to, but something in her told her maybe putting a little more pressure, more emphasis that was interested would tell the woman that she was serious. Agatha didn’t seem like the type to bullshit with her relationships, she would want something serious. So, Wanda foolishly tried that. 

And oh, did it backfire. 

She felt sick to her stomach, feeling like some creepy old man at a bar who couldn’t understand the word no, but Agatha hadn’t entirely said no. She never directly said no. It was always “sorry, not now” “sorry, I am busy” “sorry, maybe another time.” She was losing hope, and part of her knew she needed to stop, especially now that she realized she made the woman uncomfortable, and worse she crossed a professional line– in front of a student.

She grimaced, hiding her face as she realized how easy it would be for either William or Agatha to go to the dean– Rio…. Rio fucking Vidal. She was always there, always hovering around Agatha, and part of her couldn’t help but twitch– wondering if Rio was subtly trying to get with Agatha, and casting out any competition. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t professional on her part either. Rio was their boss. She shouldn’t have a personal relationship with her staff, but a surge of something heavy casted through her again as she thought of the woman– the power she held over her, how easy it would be for the woman to bring more of their superiors in for making another employee uncomfortable. 

For a lack of better words, Wanda Maximoff was fucked. 

“Oh, come on, Wanda,” her friend, Elizabeth, sat next to her. “It can’t be that bad. A little rejection never gets you like this.” 

“Honestly, Wands, you are acting like you are losing everything. This Agatha Harkness can’t be that interesting, especially if she pays you barely any attention,” Kathryn put a hand on her shoulder. 

She looked up, finding Elizabeth nodding her head, “Come on, let’s go out to the bar. Forget work. Forget her, and forget whoever the fuck Rio Vidal is.” 

So, that’s how Wanda found herself that night, throwing shot after shot back. The vodka burned her throat, but it felt right, better than whatever her thoughts were previously on. She threw back another, drowning out the conversation of her two friends. She was staring out the window, her mind lost on something. She wasn’t sure what as she simply turned, grabbing Kathryn’s shot, and throwing it back. 

“Jesus, Maximoff, lay off will ya!” 

She rolled her eyes. 

Elizabeth sat up straighter, “Wanda, she’s just a woman. Grew a pair. Tell her straight up or just take the rejection. There’s other women and men.” 

“It’s not fair,” she said simply. “I just wanted her. She’s beautiful, composed, intelligent, and she just has something about her that… that makes her glow.”

Kathryn snorted, “Yeah, and you think she will want you, you drunk Russian?”

Wanda slammed her hand down, “For the last time, I am not from that country. I am Sokovian.” 

Kathryn only huffed at her, rolling her eyes as Elizabeth sighed, “Please, Wanda, for our sanity and for your dignity, find someone else. Hell, you could have anyone.” 

Wanda wasn’t paying attention to her. A bounce of chocolate curls and a flash of maroon caught her attention. She snapped her head up, watching a woman walk up and sit at the bar, flagging the bartender down. Her friends followed her gaze, and before either could say anything, Wanda was already half-way across the bar. Her steps were staggered, bumping into strangers and tables alike. She would definitely feel this in the morning, but she didn’t care. She would do it now. 

Fuck Elizabeth. 

Fuck Kathryn. 

Fuck Rio Vidal. 

*

( I mean who wouldn’t want to ?... oop– who said that !?) 

*

Wanda was going in for the kill…

***

The headache was splintering, hammering into her skull like lobotomy needles. She groaned, her body half hanging off the couch. Everything hurt, her ribs, her hips, her legs, her arm– as if she had thrown herself through a hurricane. She blinked a few times, trying to catch her bearings. It wasn’t her house which meant she was crashing at Elizabeth’s place. She didn’t bother sitting up, closing her eyes as her hand massaged her temples, trying to remember last night. 

It hit her like she jumped off Mont Blanc… without a parachute… rocks in her backpack… and dynamite strapped to her chest. 

Wanda sat up at that, her eyes wide as she remembered Agatha’s panicked expression, the way she kept stepping back, and then some woman was there, dragging Agatha behind her. Then, Agatha had disappeared and Wanda was dragged back to her seat, being fed water from her friends. But that was nothing– it was just the jump without the parachute… no, the rocks in her backpack and the dynamite strapped to her chest was the sight when she looked back out the window. 

And there, in the parking lot was Dean Rio Vidal. She was talking to the woman who dragged Agatha off, but she looked up, like she could sense Wanda’s gaze. And when their eyes met, Wanda Maximoff hit the ground. The dynamite went off and she was crushed underneath the rubble of rocks and trees… left lifeless… her body mangled..  the tips of her fingers blackened with guilt and regret… and the last thing she saw was the ultimate rancor and venom in the eyes of Death herself.

Chapter Text

Rio stared out into the backyard. Her eyes watching the branches lay bare and naked, their leaves dusting the ground as the pines stood firm and strong. The green was beautiful, showcasing their raw power and understanding of the cold. She loved the fall. She loved watching the squirrels find the last of their nuts, the hummingbirds picking at the last of the flowers, and most of all the owls. She wasn’t sure why, but the owls always seemed to love her yard. They were always surrounding her house, something almost like that one scene in the first Harry Potter movie. 

She cradled her hot cup of tea in her hands, warming her as she adjusted the blanket. It was mid afternoon, the sun was high, the days were cold, almost too cold for fall. Her wife was fast asleep in their bed, where Rio had led her the moment they got home from the bar. They didn’t speak of what happened, no, Rio didn’t want to break the moment. The moment they had both showered, Agatha crawled straight into her arms, burying her face into her neck, and refusing to let go. It was eleven in the morning when she woke up herself, but it was a struggle to get out of her wife’s grip. She would have stayed if her bladder gave her the choice. Yet, for a moment she couldn’t will herself to go back to bed. She had work to do, but worse was the impending conversation. She wasn’t mad, not at Agatha, but something gnawed at her that couldn’t be entirely mad at Wanda. Her friends were right. Neither had worn their rings while at work, who was she to get mad if someone flirted with either of them. 

Rio looked down at the giant amethyst on her finger. It was a symbol of Agatha, to be always carrying Agatha’s love with her. She remembered it vividly as if it was yesterday. They both were working for their PhD when Rio was leaning against the door, watching her girlfriend work and for some reason, in that scene, with the lamp light making Agatha’s hair shine, she had muttered, what she thought was underneath her breath, “Goddess, I want to marry you.” Agatha had heard her, and it was there, on that spot, even without rings, Agatha had said “yes.” Seriously, her girlfriend had simply turned around, looked her dead in the eye and said “yes.” Weeks later, they went to a jeweler and customized their rings, agreeing to always carry a piece of each other. It wasn’t what Rio planned. She had some ideas how she wanted to propose to her, but in her moment of awe of the woman before her, she had let her thoughts slip. 

But it was perfect, it was everything, it was so utterly and undeniably them. 

Rio smiled softly, the memory lingering like a quiet whisper. Agatha’s unexpected “yes” had still caught her by surprise, but in the best way. There had been no elaborate plan, no fireworks or grand gestures. Just the two of them, surrounded by the soft glow of a lamp, and the unspoken connection that had always existed between them. It was a simple, pure moment– the kind that made everything feel right. 

Rio sipped her tea, savoring the warmth as it slid down her throat, a small comfort as the coldness of fall settled around her. Her mind wandered back to the night before– the bar, the tension in the air, and the way Agatha had clung to her as if she were the only thing holding her together. It made Rio’s heart ache in the best way, knowing how deeply their connection ran. Yet, there had been something unsettling in the air too, something lingering like a shadow that had followed them home. 

She glanced at the door back into her home, wondering if she was still asleep, tucked under the covers and cradling her stomach. Rio couldn’t help but wonder if Agatha had been processing the same thing. Would they talk about it later? She wasn’t sure if she was ready. Not yet. But she wasn’t angry, not really. She knew Wanda’s flirtation was harmless, even if it stung… okay, yes it made her pissed. The real issue was the silent, unspoken tension between them– the stuff that hadn’t been said but was felt by both. 

Rio leaned back against the cushion of the outdoor swing, her fingers tracing the hot surface of her mug. She rubbed the amethyst ring on her finger again, a small, quiet smile tugging at her lips. Agatha had simply said “yes,” with no hesitation. No doubt. And that was all Rio had ever wanted– her, always. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud yell, “Rio Harkness-Vidal!” 

Rio jumped, nearly spilling the tea as she scrambled to get the blanket she had wrapped tightly around her off. She cursed, standing up, allowing it to fall to the wood of their back porch and setting the mug on the table before running inside. She slid the glass door open, closing it behind her, searching for her wife. Her heart was pounding wildly, looking around the room before making her way into the living room to find it empty. Confused, worry filling her, she turned, thinking her wife must still be in bed, until a body slammed into hers. She sucked in a breath of surprise, before relaxing. Rio smiled softly as Agatha settled against her, still half-asleep and wrapped in the warmth of their embrace. Her fingers instinctively brushed over Agatha’s stomach, the faintest bump just beginning to show, and the touch felt like both a promise and a new chapter in their lives. She pressed a gentle kiss to Agatha’s forehead, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. But the softness of it melted away as she felt something wet against the crook of her neck. She gasped, pulling her wife closer, not understanding the tears. 

“Agatha? What’s wrong?” 

Agatha sniffled, though her voice was already gaining its usual sharpness. 

“I thought you disappeared,” she muttered, her tone shifting to one of irritation. “Woke up and you weren’t there. Where the hell did you go?” 

Rio froze for a moment, then let out a soft breath, “I was just outside on the swing, my love. I didn’t want to disturb you while you were sleeping.” 

Agatha looked up at her, eyes red but already hardened by a mixture of confusion and frustration, “You could’ve said something. I don’t like being left alone like that.” 

Rio felt a wave of tenderness mixed with a little amusement knowing exactly what was going on. She knew the mood swings would be rough, especially with Agatha Harkness, but she didn’t expect the whiplash of anger, crying, and then irritation the moment her wife woke up.

“You were asleep. I didn’t think you’d even notice.”

“I noticed,” Agatha muttered, rubbing her eyes and brushing away the last of the tears. “I didn’t like it.” 

Rio smirked softly, “I’m right here now. You’re not alone.” She tightened her arms around Agatha. “Not going anywhere.”

Agatha grumbled under her breath, but a small, quiet acceptance seemed to settle within her. 

“Whatever. Just don’t disappear again,” she huffed. 

Rio leaned down and kissed the top of Agatha’s head, feeling the weight of her wife’s emotions without needing the words. 

“I won’t,” she whispered, “Promise.” 

Agatha huffed again but didn’t pull away. Instead, her wife burrowed into the crook of her neck, refusing to let go. Rio couldn’t stop the smile on her face. 

This is going to be a long pregnancy. 

But Rio wouldn’t have it any other way. 

***

They didn’t talk right away about the night before, it was too soon, and with Agatha’s mood swings, Rio wasn’t ready to risk it until her wife said something. She had eventually convinced her to sit on the couch with her, holding her close as her wife promptly fell back asleep against her chest. Rio didn’t try to move this time, knowing her wife needed this. The whole past week was weighing on her and the mornings she spent with her head over the sink and Rio holding her hair back, only contributed to her exhaustion. Neither of them wanted to think about what would come Monday, but Rio couldn’t stop. 

Later her wife was beside her, working on grading essays as Rio reviewed HR… human resources. As Dean and witness of the situation last night, she had to report it. It wasn’t just because Agatha was her wife, it was because it was a clear violation of the university’s policies. Sure, it was in public, but at the end of the day they were all coworkers and Wanda clearly passed professional and personal boundaries. Her wife was shaken after the incident and worse, she heard later that a student stepped between Maximoff and her wife at one point. She felt her jaw clench, staring at the list of names she could contact. This wasn’t personal. If any of her workers had something like this happen, she would contact HR, but something made her pause. What if she was overreacting? What if she was being an overprotective wife? What if she made this personal? 

And it was for this reason, Rio and Agatha had agreed to make their relationship secret. Not this reason exactly, no. Neither of them ever thought someone would dare flirt with them to a certain level of extent. Rio and Agatha both acknowledged they weren’t the easiest people to work with, and it would obviously lead to some people in their departments disliking them. They then agreed that if that were the case, then neither would be affected by the other. Moreover, no one would think Dr. Agatha Harkness-Vidal was getting special treatment by Dean Rio Harkness-Vidal. So, it was just Dr. Harkness and Dean Vidal, two people who rarely crossed paths at work. Their superiors knew, and they ne ver had an issue, but it would be clear the moment they asked for maternity leave, that they wouldn’t hide their marriage anymore. In truth, Rio never felt like she was hiding. No one asked, that wasn’t a student, so she never said anything. 

She glanced at her wife, watching her push the glasses up on her face before scribbling something on a student’s paper and flipping to the next. She knew Agatha knew that they needed to talk about it. It wasn’t just a home ordeal… no, their professional lives now had fully mixed in with their personal– and it was something they had feared for a long time coming. Before Rio could open her mouth to ask to talk about it, both of their phones went off. 

They snapped their heads to the coffee table, Rio taking her phone and Agatha leaning against her as they opened the message:

The Coven

Alice: What the hell was last night? 

Lilia: Seriously, Rio. Enough with the radio silence. You don’t get THAT possessive of your wife. So spill. 

Rio groaned, handing the phone to Agatha with a resigned sigh. Agatha took it without a word, but Rio couldn’t help but bury her hands in her face, feeling the weight of everything crash down on her. She had completely forgotten about how she’d reacted last night. All she could remember now was the overwhelming urge to go over and confront Wanda. The anger was still there, bubbling beneath the surface. 

In that moment, all Rio had wanted was to pull Agatha away from the situation, to protect her from the stress and the chaos that Wanda had caused. Her thoughts had spiraled, consumed by the worst-case scenarios. What if the stress was too much for Agatha? What if it hurt the baby? What if they lost the baby– and worse, what if she lost Agatha too? Rio knew her wife better than anyone. She could read every subtle shift in her posture, every little sign of discomfort. Even with Agatha’s back turned to her, Rio could feel the weight of her exhaustion and anxiety. Agatha was overwhelmed, and Rio could see it in the way she carried herself. It tore her apart knowing not being the one to pull her away, to immediately hold her in her arms. 

Her wife handed her back the phone, going back to grading like nothing happened. She raised an eyebrow at her before looking over the texts: 

The Coven

Wednesday afternoon ~ Agatha :Me

Alice: Tf does that mean Harkness ?

Lilia: Great explanation thx

Lilia: And why do you have Rio’s phone ?

Alice: Not one. Explain now

It means we will give you one Wednesday afternoon, no bullshit :Me

And because I do. Now stop bothering me on my day off :Me

Alice: We all have the day off too, ya know ?

Rio let out a long breath, leaning back against the couch as her hands fell to her lap. Wednesday. Of course, it had to be Wednesday. The day of Agatha’s first ultrasound. She glanced at her wife, who was now fully immersed in grading, her glasses slipping down her nose again. Agatha looked calm, as though none of the chaos from the messages– or the night before– was even a blip on her radar. But Rio knew better. Agatha had a way of compartmentalizing, of focusing on the task at hand while burying her emotions until they boiled over.

She went to open her mouth, knowing it was now or too late, but before she could ask, her wife beat her to it, “You want to talk about last night, don’t you?” 

Rio nodded, watching as her wife slowly put down the pen, sitting her papers on the glass table in front of them. She sat back, her hand on her stomach as she pulled her legs underneath her. 

“Before we do, can I ask you one thing?” 

She nodded her head slowly, finding her wife’s posture stoic. 

“Can you make me ginger tea?” she asked softly. “I like the way you do it with the honey.”

Rio couldn’t stop the smile, leaning over and placing a soft kiss on her wife’s cheek. Agatha only smiled, but kept her eyes closed as Rio stood, preparing her tea. She quickly returned outside, grabbing her own which was now cold. Remaking hers and the tea that her wife requested, Rio carefully carried them back, setting them on the coasters and settling down next to her wife. 

Rio sat up, her elbow propped up against the back of the couch as her wife turned to meet her gaze. She read it carefully, taking in the way her blue eyes shined at her. There was nothing but a quiet hesitancy, and acceptance for this conversation. 

Please, let her mood swings be on my side, Rio prayed to whatever deity would listen. 

“Before we talk work, my love, are you alright? I know we didn’t talk much after what happened, but I saw the way you reacted.”

Agatha put her head down, refusing to meet her eyes, her hand moving over her stomach as silence filled the room. Rio waited, patiently. She knew never to try to rush the answers out of her wife, especially emotions. The silence wasn’t unbearable, but the more it dragged on, the more Rio began to worry. 

“I am okay, my love, just worried about work. I didn’t realize how much this would mix with both our professional and personal lives,” her wife said slowly, still refusing to meet her gaze, but when she did, there was nothing but worry. “I was more worried about you, though. I was ready for the third bar fight.”

They both chuckled at that, Rio shaking her head, “Oh, trust me if the others didn’t hold me back there would have been one.” 

Agatha’s soft laugh warmed the room, but her eyes carried the weight of her concern. She reached out, her fingers brushing against Rio’s hand. 

“I know, sweetheart. That’s why I kept my back to you. I could feel how tense you were– like a spring ready to snap.” 

Rio sighed, leaning into her wife’s touch, “I couldn’t help it. Seeing her corner you like that… It brought out something primal in me. You don’t need that stress, Agatha. Not with the baby, not with everything else.” 

Agatha’s hand stilled over Rio’s. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she said nothing. 

Then, quietly, she admitted, “I can handle it, Rio. I’ve handled worse. But I won’t pretend it didn’t shake me a little. It wasn’t just her words– it was the way she acted, like she didn’t care about boundaries or consequences.” 

Rio’s jaw tightened, her fingers curling into a fist on her lap, “And that’s exactly why I need to report it.” 

Agatha blinked, clearly caught off guard, “You’re going to HR?” 

“I have to,” Rio said firmly, sitting up straighter. “This isn’t just personal, Agatha. It crossed a professional line. If I don’t report it, it looks like I’m ignoring misconduct because it involves you. I won’t let anyone think we’re bending the rules for our relationship.” 

Agatha studied her wife, her expression unreadable, “You’ve already decided, haven’t you?” 

“I have,” Rio admitted. “But I wanted to talk to you about it first. I know it’ll complicate things for you, and I hate that. But this is the right thing to do.” 

Agatha’s gaze softened, and she nodded slowly, “You’re right. It’s just… I don’t want this to overshadow everything else. We’ve worked so hard to keep our professional and personal lives separate.” 

Rio reached out, cupping Agatha’s cheek, “We have. And we’ll keep doing that. This doesn’t change who we are, cariño . It just sets a boundary. Maximoff needs to understand that her actions have consequences.” 

Agatha leaned into Rio’s hand, closing her eyes briefly. 

“Alright,” she said quietly. “I trust you, my love. But promise me you’ll be careful how you approach this. I don’t want it to blow up more than it already has.” 

Rio smiled gently, pressing a kiss to Agatha’s forehead, “I promise. You’re my priority, cariño . Now, drink your tea before it gets cold.” 

Her wife smiled faintly, taking her cup as Rio grabbed her laptop, opening it to her emails. With ease from years of experience, she wrote to the head of HR: 

Subject : Reporting Professional Misconduct 

Dear Dr. Stark, 

I am writing to formally report a matter involving Dr. Wanda Maximoff that has escalated beyond personal boundaries and is impacting the professional environment. While this issue began inside of work with small occurrences, it had fully escalated on Friday, prompting me to bring it to your attention. There are two key incidents I believe you should be aware of: 

1. Student Intervention on Campus: After a lecture, Dr. Maximoff approached Dr. Agatha Harkness, my wife, in a way that made her visibly uncomfortable. Although it was after a lecture, there were still students present. One of which, who saw the interaction, felt compelled to intervene on Dr. Harkness’ behalf. This incident disrupted the professional atmosphere and crossed lines for both professors and student involved. 

2. Incident at a Bar: Outside of work hours, Dr. Maximoff confronted Dr. Harkness in a public setting, setting hands on her and making unwanted advances while under the influence. Her behavior, despite the intoxication, was not only inappropriate but also deeply distressing for Dr. Harkness. I also want to report that I was a key witness to this event, but decided to not intervene due to my position.

As Dean of Faculty, I take the responsibility of maintaining a safe and respectful work environment. As a wife, I take the responsibility of putting my wife’s safety and comfortability first, therefore; I recognize that I must take a step back and it would be inappropriate for me to address the situation myself. Thus, I am requesting that HR take the lead as well as give me council on the next steps. 

Please let me know how you would like to proceed as well if you need further details or a formal discussion. Thank you for your time and attention. 

Sincerely, 

Rio Harkness-Vidal, PhD (she/her)

Dean of Faculty 

Chairperson, Department of Biological Sciences 

Westview University

Rio quickly added her full last name to her signature, needing it to be clear she was serious about this, and also, to make it more imperative. Agatha took Rio’s computer, reading it over before handing it back to her, leaning into her embrace.

“‘Decided not to intervene’ my ass,” she muttered. 

Rio chuckled softly at her wife’s comment, gently kissing the top of Agatha’s head as she held the laptop back in her lap. 

“Not the time for sarcasm, my love,” Rio teased, though her chest felt heavy with the unknown creeping in. 

Agatha glanced up at her, her gaze glinting with faint amusement, “I know. But you know I’ll always have your back, even when you’re too professional to admit you wanted to strangle her.”

Rio’s eye widened as she turned her head slightly, “Oh, I wanted–”

Lips against hers silenced her, and she couldn’t help but lean into it, cupping her wife’s face after placing the computer to the side. Agatha moved, straddling her hips before a soft weight was placed into her lap. Rio smiled into it, her hands moving up and down her wife’s soft curves. She felt the smirk into her lips before her wife leaned closer, her lips lightly brushing Rio’s ear. 

“ I know , my love. You would have loved nothing more than to drag her out of that bar and handle it yourself.”

Rio shivered at the soft teasing tone in Agatha’s voice, her grip tightening around her waist as she pulled her even closer, their bodies pressing together. She tried shaking her head, not wanting to admit it as her wife’s fingers played with the baby hairs at the back of her neck. Agatha traced her collarbones with her free hand, smirking again before leaning forward. Her lips trailed up Rio’s neck making her sigh, her eyes closing as her lips moved further, avoiding her lips and kissing along her jaw to her ear.  

“Don’t pretend on me, Rio,” she whispered. “I know you. You fantasized it, dragging her out by her hair, before making her regret it.” 

Rio’s breath caught as Agatha’s lips grazed her ear again, the teasing heat in her voice sending a shiver down her spine. Her wife’s fingers moved with a deliberate slowness, trailing down her neck and along the line of her t-shirt, just enough to hint at something more. 

“You really should admit it,” Agatha murmured, her lips brushing Rio’s ear. “How much you wanted to put her in her place. How much you wanted her to know I’m yours.” 

Rio’s grip on Agatha’s waist tightened, her head falling back against the couch as a low groan escaped her. 

“Agatha…” she warned, though her voice was more pleading than commanding. 

Agatha smirked, leaning closer, her breath hot against Rio’s skin as she placed a lingering kiss just below her jaw. 

“What’s wrong, my love?” she whispered, her hand slipping beneath Rio’s shirt to rest on her bare stomach. “You don’t like me telling the truth?” 

Rio’s hands slid up her wife’s thighs, her thumbs brushing over the soft fabric of her joggers. She knew exactly what her wife was doing, and she wasn’t about to let her have the upperhand. Rio knew her wife just as well as she knew her. She felt her eyebrow raise, her hands reaching behind her wife, squeezing her ass roughly. Goddess, Rio loved her ass. She felt her own smirk creep up as she let out a low laugh, her hands now roaming under Agatha’s waistband, feeling the soft skin before pulling out, her hands back on her hips. 

“Oh, I love you telling the truth, but I didn’t just fantasize about it, mi amor ,” her voice dropped an octave, the heat between them building. “But I have to admit, it was a damn close call.” 

Her wife paused, her lips hovering above Rio’s, her eyes dark with something more than just affection. Rio watched as her blues were almost swallowed by black as her hands explored her body, one hand running up Agatha’s torso, before moving back down and slipping underneath her own t-shirt. In truth it was Rio’s Fleetwood Mac concert tee, which her wife stole on multiple occasions, and was the first shirt Rio lost to her when they were dating. Part of her couldn’t believe it survived this long. 

Their eyes never left as heat coiled in Rio’s lower stomach, her mouth practically watering at the sight above her. She would never tire of it. The woman, in all of her usual carefully crafted walls, completely crumbled into need for her, only for her. The moment the final stone fell, Rio knew she had her. 

Oh, this is going to be so much fun second trimester, her eyes glimmered at the thought. 

Rio’s heart pounded in her chest as she imagined it. Her wife– visibly pregnant, wanting her, molding for her. As much as Rio adored the play for power, she loved when her wife was nothing but for her. She didn’t know how it would be possible for her wife to become any more radiant than this, but something told her that as her stomach grew, so would her radiance. 

Before she could act, the stones came back up, her wife sliding off of her, the pinks in her cheeks gone as she sat down beside her like they weren’t just about to fuck on the couch. Rio felt her frustration bubble over as she growled, trying to pull her wife back on her lap. Agatha only cocked her head, a sinister smiling playing at her lips as she leaned forward. 

“Send the email, Dean Vidal. Can’t have you acting all unprofessional, sleeping with a coworker and all that.” 

Rio curled her lip at that, rolling her eyes as she grabbed her laptop, sending the email without another thought and setting it on the table in front of them. Then, Agatha’s gasp was music to Rio’s ears as she moved swiftly, her legs bracketing Agatha’s hips and sitting her full weight into her lap. She pinned her firmly against the cushions, her hands resting on her shoulders. The glint in Rio’s eyes was dangerous, a heady mix of frustration and desire that sent a shiver down Agatha’s spine.

“Oh, is that how you want to play it?” her voice was low and dripping with playful menace. 

She leaned closer, watching the sparkle in her wife’s eyes as hands landed on her hips, fingers playing with her own hem of her sweatpants. She saw the defiance and desire circle in those blues as she lifted her chin, but a smirk still played on her lips. 

“I just thought it would be best for the Dean of Faculty to maintain her decorum,” she teased, her tone laced with mock innocence.

Rio chuckled darkly, her free hand trailing down Agatha’s side, her touch light and teasing. 

“Decorum?” she repeated, her lips brushing against her wife’s jaw. “You think that’s what I’m concerned about right now?” 

Agatha shivered under the touch, her breathing quickening, but Rio watched her regain it, her smirk growing into that smirk she knew all too well. It was the one that told Rio she lost. She froze for a second, realizing what she had done. Her smile faltered as Agatha’s only grew. She played right into her wife’s trap. This was her plan all along.

She felt her body twitch, betraying her as it leaned into her wife’s touch. Hands were firm on her hips before one moved, pulling at the hem of pants before moving underneath.

“I think,” Agatha said, her voice dropping into a deep breath. “We both know what you’re concerned about right now– what you want, right now, don’t we?”

Rio couldn’t move, unable to breathe by the fire that engulfed her and she was hypnotized by the one who held the torch. Her wife’s smirk was devastating, a smirk perfected to kill, and Rio was her prey. A jolt of electricity ran through her as the hand moved below her navel, tracing the abs there and down. She steadied herself, her hands gripping tighter on her shoulders as her wife hummed, sucking in her bottom lip. 

This woman was going to be the death of her. 

Agatha leaned closer, teasing her ear with her teeth, causing her breath to hitch, “I want to make you forget all about work, all about that woman… forget everything except me.” 

She was so dead. 

With that, fingers moved underneath her boxers, slipping through her folds. She moaned, but quieted herself as her lips crashed against Agatha’s in a kiss that was anything but gentle. She tangled her fingers through her wife’s long locks, threading through the thick chestnut curls. Their glasses clicked together, causing a small laugh from both of them as Rio took them both off, throwing to the side of the couch, latching her lips back to her wife’s. She hummed into the kiss before groaning, something hot and wet prodding at her lips. She didn’t hesitate, opening her mouth for her wife’s tongue as her hips lifted into Agatha’s touch. Agatha refused to acknowledge it, her fingers swirling, touching her in every place but where she wanted the most. 

Her wife moved as Rio bit at her lip, trying to hold on to whatever dignity she had left. They hadn’t done something like this out of their bedroom– that was a total fucking lie, but normally Agatha was the one on top, riding her. Lips were hot on her neck, trailing around her as the arm slipped off her waist, pulling up on her shirt. Rio reached down, pulling herself free from it and throwing it behind her. She gasped when a hot mouth connected to the side of her breast, licking after dark marks were sucked into her skin. She didn’t care, a hand moving from her grip on her shoulder and tangling in the smaller hairs at the base of Agatha’s neck. She moved her hips again, trying to get her fingers inside her or on her clit; she didn’t care, but her wife ignored her still, reaching up to lick the fading bruise of yellow and green on her neck. 

“Agatha,” she gritted her teeth. “No marks.” 

Her wife simply hummed, moving her kisses back down to her breasts. She shuddered, her whole body arching into her touch as a hot tongue probed at her nipple through the green lace. Agatha pulled her bra down, her mouth wrapping around her. She gasped louder, holding her head there as her hips desperately sought more friction. She was growing impatient, every nerve on fire, waiting for the pleasure of water to douse them, but it never came. She could practically hear how wet she was, but her wife only teased her further, her teeth scraping at a pebbled nipple. 

“You should put your piercings back in, you’re so much more fun to tease when you have them in.” 

Rio glared at her, “You know why I took them out.”

Months ago, Agatha’s hair had tangled in her piercing for the last time. She remembered being jolted awake from the pain when her wife moved in her sleep. It wasn’t the first time, but it was certainly the last as she swore her hair almost ripped off her nipple. 

Her wife shrugged, “I’ll braid my hair back.”

Agatha leaned down again, capturing her nipple back in her mouth, releasing another gasp from her. 

“No, you–” fingers plunged into her with no warning “fuck! Agatha!”

Rio felt her hips move in their own accordance, thrusting on her wife as they filled her. She squeezed around them, her head foggy as her neck was bared. She moaned, her wife moving with her thrusts, scraping against her walls before they curled, hitting that one spot that made her moans echo off the walls of the house. Her wife hummed her content, pulling away from her breast and harsh fingers found her chin. She was tugged down, forced to look into those bewitching blues as she panted. 

“You feel so good, baby. You’re all nice and wet, squeezing around my fingers,” Agatha cooed at her. 

Rio felt her eyes widen, her movements picking up.

“Are you going to come so soon, sweetheart? Just from the sound of my voice?” 

She clamped her mouth shut, gritting out, “Fuck off.” 

Agatha laughed at her, shifting slightly and angling her wrist where her palm rubbed against her clit. Rio moaned louder, a current coiling in her lower belly. Her wife smirked, so Rio did the only thing she could do. She leaned forward, latching her lips in a fierce kiss, all tongue and teeth clashing as they both moaned. It was too much for Rio, the feeling of her wife inside her, the taste of her in her mouth, their tongues dancing a waltz, her nipple still free from her bra, dripping in saliva. 

Rio felt the current spread through her body, warmth taking hold as euphoria clouded her vision. She cursed as she came quickly, her wife riding her through it. Her forehead fell to rest against her shoulder as she came down, but Agatha wasn’t stopping. She gasped again, another finger stretching her, her wife guiding her faster. She buried her face into her neck, moaning and gasping before sitting up straight. She wouldn’t let her wife fully take control. She moved her hips, riding her wife’s fingers as the blue once more held her in place. 

“Such a good girl.” 

That’s my line, Rio thought bitterly, but then her mind was back to mush as fingers curled again, her wife forcing her to ride faster. 

Her body was shaking, each deep thrust met with the perfect curl inside her. The liquid sound of fucking harmonized with her moans and pants as a single line of sweat dripped down the side of her face. The pleasure was building, the current now more raw, visceral. It took up every part of her body. She moaned louder, closing her eyes but her wife slowed down, beckoning her to open them. 

Rio forgot about the world. Nothing else mattered, but the woman under her. Nothing was better than this, her wife’s fingers knuckle deep, her palm against her swollen clit– her wife fucking her senseless on their couch, in their home, and with her love. 

Rio came again, filling herself squeeze tighter, but her thrusting never stopped. Sweat was covering her, her moans louder as her wife guided her. It was too much, incredibly too much but her third orgasm was already building. She was desperate, rapid Spanish falling from her lips that didn’t even make sense. 

“Awe, you’re doing so well. Can you take one more?” 

She nodded her head frantically, staring deep into her wife’s eyes. 

“Let me hear you.” 

Rio creased her eyebrows. This was payback from Monday, and especially teasing her about the whining all weak. 

“ ¡Puñeta! Sí!”

Agatha smirked at her, their lips meeting angrily. Rio swallowed her whines, not caring whose spit was going with it. Everything was perfect. She couldn’t stop even if she wanted to as her stomach clenched, and she tightened on her wife’s fingers that curled and pumped into her. The thrusts were fast, furious, hitting everything and more inside Rio. The knot in her stomach curled tighter, threatening to explode at any moment. She shook over her wife, barely able to keep up with her thrusts that didn’t waver. Her head fell to her shoulder again, her nails digging into her arms as she swore. She knew what was coming as her hand found the back of the couch, trying to direct some of the unrelenting pleasure there. 

“¡Puñeta! ¡Puñeta! Mi amor, if you don’t slow down–”

Agatha chuckled at her, “Don’t slow, you’ll what?” 

Rio went to pull away, knowing neither really wanted to clean up the mess but her wife simply wrapped her arm around her waist, urging her faster. She tried holding on, she really did, but white flashed through her vision, her body crumbling and falling into her wife. She cried out into her shoulder, muffling the sound as her body spasmed and stilled. She panted heavily, feeling as her wife slowly removed her hand. She shivered, feeling the soaked hand hold against her waist, keeping her up as the other moved with soothing circles on her back, lips pressing against the side of her head. 

Rio didn’t move. Her body was nothing but weight as her mind blanked. She barely registered the sweet nothings from her wife she held her. She took in the scent of lavender and something only that could be described as Agatha, allowing the familiarity of it to steady her breathing. Her hands released their death hold on the couch, allowing her to lazily hold onto her wife as her knees quivered. 

When the strength finally came back to her, Rio sat up, smirking down at her wife who raised her eyebrows as if to say, Really? Three orgasms and you squirting in your pants didn’t take it all out of you?

Rio leaned down, placing a kiss on her lips, “Shower with me?”

Agatha nodded, removing her hands and standing with her. Rio ignored the way her pants stuck to her, placing another kiss on her wife’s lips before playfully licking her cheek, “I’ll grab the strap, just promise not to throw it at me, okay?” 

Agatha would definitely throw it at her for that, but Rio didn’t care, because some deity listened to her and her wife’s mood swings were definitely on her side.