Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Can I buy you a drink?”

Agatha Harkness- a mysterious new resident at Westview, known for her charm and the way women latched onto her at any given chance, like she was their only source of survival.

The only problem no one had seemed to notice was that every time Agatha spent the night with someone, she came out of her house alone, and the news had another missing persons report.

How anyone hadn't made the connection yet was beyond baffling.

“Well, if you insist.”

The unknowing woman replied, she looked to be around her mid-30s, she had long blonde hair and brown eyes. She was a catch; too bad she got caught in Agatha's net.

Agatha smirked as she ordered their drinks.

“What's your name?” Agatha asked as she sat down in the seat next to the blonde, placing a hand on her thigh for good measure.

“Dottie,” said the woman, as she blushed at the sudden contact.

“Well, Dottie, what’s a pretty girl like you doing in a town like Westview?”

This was her routine: find an attractive woman in a small town, charm her, get her to bed, and finally, her favourite part- suck all the blood out of her body until she dies.

Now, personally, she didn't care about anyone's name or all the little details about their life. All she was looking for was blood.

However, she had been taught by her mother that going up to someone and killing them was apparently, as she put it, “ Not socially acceptable” and would, in return, end with death.

So, small talk it was.

“Oh, stop it,” Dottie waved her away. “You know, the usual for most any woman in this town, got married, lost money, needed an affordable lifestyle.” She explained.

“Married?” Agatha asked.

“Yes, unfortunately. I have a husband at home, probably yelling at the screen because someone couldn't kick the ball right.”

Agatha perked up at this.

“So I take it it's been a rough while with your husband then?”

She was not about to give up her first fresh blood in what had felt like centuries for some man who couldn't care less about his wife.

Dottie looked away. “No, yes, I don't know anymore,” she chuckled lightly.

“You need someone to take your pretty little mind off that? ‘Cause I can make it happen.”

Dottie looked taken aback at the bluntness.

“I mean, your husband sure wouldn't mind a couple more hours of ‘yelling at a screen,’ right?”

She continued without giving her time to reply.

“Have you ever been with a woman , Dottie?”

She was almost there; she could tell that Dottie was on the verge of giving in.

“I-no, I've never…y’know, done that.”

Blue eyes glared into brown.

She leaned in close, stopping when her mouth was just beside Dottie's ear.

“I could help with that,” she whispered seductively.

Dottie's pupils were blown wide with desire.

And just like that, Agatha had one, yet again.

When the pair arrived at Agatha's house, they collapsed onto the couch. Lips crashed against each other, their hands on the other's face.

Agatha had started trailing kisses down her neck when Dottie felt a cold, sharp, stinging pain near her collarbone.

“Wait, what was that?” she said, raising her hand to her neck as they pulled apart.

She felt something wet touch her hand, and when she looked down, her skin drained of color.

She looked up at Agatha while tears brimmed in her eyes, only to find her smirking.

“What? Can't handle a little blood?” she spoke, right before pouncing onto her neck.

Dottie let out a blood-curdling scream as Agatha drained every little bit of blood from her body.

When she finished her “snack,” she threw the body into the decomposition bin in her backyard.

After changing, she went to bed, as she had to get some rest for tomorrow's performance, because although Agatha may have been a supernatural being, she still always followed a human sleep schedule-something her mother had always shamed her for, among many other things.

“Dude, I'm saying this because I'm your friend, and I can't keep seeing you like this- you need to get laid.”

Rio Vidal was a brilliant, respectful, hard-working young girl. She had always been that way, at least-until her parents died.

“Their bodies were never found,” they said when the reporter was asked about Rosa and James Vidal, loved by many in their town. After many investigations, even with help from federal agents. The case went cold as not a single trace was made for a body that day.

Ever since that day, the cheerful girl everyone had come to love was gone. Instead, she cut everyone out of her life, staying in her room all day long and only coming out to get food or to go to the bathroom.

When she was forced to go back to school, her formerly perfect grades became atrocious. Art- a class which at one point had been her favourite, just made her annoyed and irritated. 

She began losing friends, her reputation, and the people who considered her family.

And then, she met Alice.

Up to this point, she had thought that there wasn't anyone who could feel the pain she did, but when they got paired together for a class assignment, Rio learned that Alice's mom had passed away, yet she was still moving on with her life. Yes, it made her sad that her mom was not here anymore, but she didn't let the grief take over her life.

Rio started learning from her, anything from a problem she was stuck on for math, to how she could perform everyday tasks without being reminded of her parents, which led to Rio's first A in almost a full year. Later that year, she ended up being the school valedictorian, and during her speech, she made sure to praise Alice for the love and support she gave.

Ever since then, Rio and Alice had been inseparable, even when Alice found Jen and started dating; that just meant another person to share the love with.

“Alice!” Rio yelled.

“What? All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to get some action once in a while,” she explained.

“Besides, you haven't dated anyone since...” Alice trailed off as she glanced up at Rio.

She didn't have to finish that sentence, as she knew exactly who she was talking about.

During her junior year of college, Rio had met who she thought could be the most perfect girl to ever exist. Little did she know, she would be making what could have been her greatest mistake in the world by dating her.

This girl, Hela, took Rios' trust and crushed it up along with her now cold and unbeating black heart. Hela took advantage of Rio, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

If Alice hadn't been straight home after her lectures, Rio may have been dead at the hands of Hela.

“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up,” Alice said sheepishly as she observed Rios' expression.

“No, it's fine, I know you didn't mean to, things happen, okay? Let's just stop talking about this,” she gave a sad smile in reassurance.

“Thanks, but dude, you have to promise, just at least try . If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. It couldn't hurt to even just have a one-night stand, right?”

“Yeah, I guess not. I'll try, I promise,” she said.

Though as soon as the words came out of her mouth, it was as if fate had been waiting for her to say it because the bar's entrance door suddenly swung open, and a beautiful woman, seemingly in her 40’s walked in, dressed in a blood red dress, black leather jacket, and tall black heels.

Rio was mesmerized .

“Hey, earth to Rio, are you there?” Alice said, breaking her out of a trance.

“Oh, wait, what?” Rio said, apparently, Alice had asked Rio a question regarding an event she had with Jen, but she had been too busy staring at this woman that she hadn't heard a single word that left her mouth.

“Alice, any chance she could be the person for that promise?”

Chapter Text

Alice laughed, “That is the fastest switch-up I've ever heard.”

Rio gave no reaction as she still sat there, frozen at the sight.

“But, you know what? She could be. Why don't you go talk to her?”

Rios' eyes widened, “Are you crazy?! You want me to go up to her?”

“Yeah, or wait-” Alice's eyes moved from Rio's face to somewhere behind her shoulder.

Curious, Rio turned her head, only to be met with icy blue eyes. Rio could've sworn she had died right then and there.

Agatha looked at her new prey, and she felt off, as she didn't feel her usual sense of hunger and impatience. It was almost as if she actually wanted to make conversation with this woman- no, that would be ridiculous. She only came here for a new blood supply. Get it together, Harkness.

“What's so wrong with talking to me, huh?” Agatha spoke.

Alice snickered as Rio's face turned bright red, noticeable even under the dim lights of the bar.

“Uh, n-nothing at all.” Rio stuttered, only making Alice smirk harder.

“What's your name, gorgeous?”

“Rio, Rio Vidal”

Shit. Agatha thought.

You see, a while back, Agatha's mom, Evanora, and her merry band of vampires often went out killing, not for survival, but for sport. Now, Agatha would be lying if she said that she didn't feel even a little bit of remorse for these people, especially since they were killed by Evanora of all people.

Eventually, Agatha had had enough of her mother and spread an anonymous word that a group of vampires would be passing by the area where she last saw the vampire hunters meet. She unfortunately had learned that two of those said hunters' names were Rosa and James Vidal.

The thing about those two was that they were good at their jobs, great, even. They had managed to get hold of Evanora long enough to kill her, which she greatly appreciated, though the bad thing is that Evanora never went anywhere without her “back up.”

Once they had learned of their leader's death and the hands that caused it, they were beyond furious.

The Vidal's had been brutally slashed and bitten multiple times; they killed them slowly and painfully. It was worse than anything Agatha had seen before. Afterwards, the group had cleaned up their mess, ensuring that there was nothing that could have led the police to trace the Vidal’s disappearance to them.

“Pretty name for a pretty girl,” she said, masking her shock.

Rio blushed again, not that she had recovered from her other flattering comment.

“And yours?”

“Agatha Harkness, mind if I get you a drink?”

Rio shook her head as Agatha set off for their drinks.

Harkness? She thought the name sounded strangely familiar. She brushed it off, though the thought still lingered in the back of her mind.

Alice started to gather her things.

“Where are you going?” Rio asked, her brows furrowing.

“I think I should call it a night. Besides, it looks like you've got someone to keep you occupied,” she said with a wink.

“Dude, are you kidding? Hey, wait, don't leave!” Rio said in desperation.

“Love you! Have a good night!” Alice sang as she walked away.

“Well, shit,” Rio mumbled.

She was nervously fidgeting in her seat when Agatha came back.

She hadn't spoken until Agatha asked, “Something wrong, toots?”

Her fierce glare sent shivers down Rio's spine.
“No, just a little tired is all.” Rio smiled.

“Well, what do you say we finish these drinks and, I don't know,” Agatha reached across the table and held one of Rio's hands. “Take this party somewhere else, somewhere where no one can see us.”

The woman grinned as she watched Rio, thinking she would freeze up again.

To her surprise, Rio grinned back. “Sounds great.”

She moves fast, Rio thought- but like Alice said, “couldn't hurt to try”

They collected their things before they walked out of the bar.

They decided to take Rio's car as they were driving to her house. The silence in the car was over taken by their buzzing tension. Agatha had thought that this may have been her easiest catch by date, before looking down at Rios' dashboard and finding something that made her blood run cold-the Hunter's symbol.

The vampire hunters were people who went out in search of vampires, “for the greater good,” as they say. They often get together in a way akin to how police precincts do, and strategize for ways to fight oncoming vampires that they had caused trouble with. Since they didn't want the civilians to know of vampires and other supernatural beings, they chose to have a symbol that only hunters and “monsters” knew the meaning of, to put in areas where someone had seen vampires or was known to be at.

To sum it up, Agatha was in deep shit.

She had two options- fake a sudden sickness and leave, or try to kill a vampire hunter that came from two of the best ones, in her own home, no less.

However, Agatha was feeling pretty confident about her manipulativeness, so she opted for the latter.

Once they arrived at a house that closely resembled a cottage, they went inside, Rio holding the door open for Agatha.

“What a gentleman,” Agatha teased.

She turned around and flashed a smile towards Rio as she slowly walked up to her; however, she seemed to have a different plan.

“Hold on a second, I'm gonna go get us some drinks. Feel free to make yourself at home,” Rio said with a smile as she trodded off further into the house.

Agatha stood there wide-eyed as she tried to understand what the hell had just happened. She had no experience, ever, with a girl walking away from her after flashing her hypnotizing smile.

But Rio was nowhere to be found, so Agatha did as Rio suggested, not because she was obeying her, of course. She just so happened to listen and agree with what she said. Right?

Agatha draped her coat on the couch before setting down her handbag next to it. She sauntered, looking at all the pictures hung up on the walls. She noticed that the other woman from the bar was in the majority of them.

She stopped, though, when she saw a picture of a happy couple, their smiles wide as they hugged the small girl in between them. Rio, she thought, a strange warm feeling- dangerously close to affection- washed through her. She ignored it again as she continued to look through more pictures. When Rio came back, her footsteps echoed throughout the house.

“Here I am,”

Agatha looked at Rio again, like, looked at her.

She noticed wide, honey-like eyes she found herself melting into, skin that she longed to touch, and that stupid gap between her teeth. It's as if this woman couldn't be capable of having a single imperfection.

Except, oh wait, she's a fucking vampire. She can't be thinking about her like this, and though it was easy for her brain to agree, her heart had a harder time.

Agatha quietly chuckled, “Oh, good, I was starting to think you'd guessed tonight.”

Rios' smile softened.

“Second-guess spending the night with a woman like you? If you ever see me do that, do me a favor and put a silver bullet through my head.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Well, the night isn't getting any younger, how about we do something about that, hon?”
‘There we go,’ Agatha thought, ‘back to the script.’

Although, was she really?

Their drinks sat forgotten on the table as Agatha climbed onto Rio's lap.

She kissed Rio with a softness she hadn't used on any other woman before. That quickly changed, though, as they got more comfortable. Their kisses started getting sloppier and more careless as Rio ran her fingers through Agatha's hair.

Agatha saw her chance as Rio slowly became more and more undone. She did as she always did; she pressed kisses to her cheek and made her way down Rio's neck. And then, she-

She didn't bite?

Okay then, no biggie. She's still distracted.

She kissed harder into Rio's neck.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't bring herself to kill Rio. Scratch out what she had said earlier-Agatha was in deep, deep shit.

Agatha eventually gave in to Rio, as they spent the night in each other's warmth, their arms around the other as they peacefully slept.

The next morning, Agatha woke up to find herself in an unfamiliar environment, only to have memories from the previous night come flooding back. She then felt around her in search of another body, only to find he bed empty.

“Huh,” Agatha said.

Maybe she killed Rio after all; she might just not remember it because of the alcohol.

She reached over for the nearest piece of clothing to find herself with an oversized Snoopy shirt. She put it on as she got up to get some caffeine in her system.

That's when she heard a tune being hummed from the kitchen. She closed her eyes and prayed that it was just a radio, but as she made her way down the staircase-

“Good morning, sleepy head. I made pancakes, you want any?”

Deep. shit.
“Yeah, I'll have some, thanks,” she said, her voice still raspy from the night before.

Rio’s gap-toothed smile. The same one that made Agatha feel as if she could fly over the moon.

She went into the kitchen, following after Rio as she had nothing better to do at that moment, other than think about why she couldn't kill Rio last night, but she didn’t think being in her head so early in the morning would cause her any good.

She walked to where Rio was cutting up fruits and hopped up on the counter beside her. Rio looked up.

“You can go sit down on the couch if you want, or you could also watch something on the TV?” she suggested.

Normally, Agatha would have no hesitation in sitting down and watching TV whilst someone cooked for her, but something about Rio made her want to stay.

“Eh, think I'll just wait here, besides,” she grabbed Rios's sage green mug and brought it to her mouth. “You've got coffee, why would I want to leave that?” she smiled.

Rio giggled as she went back to cutting up her fruits, the sound blessing her ears like a siren call.

She liked hearing that.

“Hearing what?” Rio asked.

Had she really just said that aloud? Oh my god, someone kill her right this second.

“...your laugh, I like hearing it,” she said hesitantly.

Rios' face held a genuine smile. “Thanks, I never really hear you laugh, though, why not?”

“I guess, I'm just not that type of person,” Agatha responded.

“Yeah, right, ‘not that type of person’ my ass. Everyone laughs; I bet I could make you laugh. It shouldn't be too hard, though, I'm very humorous.” Rio grinned proudly.

“Is that a challenge I'm hearing, Vidal?” Agatha smirked.

“Yes, a one that I'm gonna win.”
“Mhm, sure you are.”

“Watch yourself, Harkness.” Rios' grin widened.

Agatha felt a sense of domesticity, something she hadn't felt in years. But right now, she wasn't that opposed to the idea.

As they finished up their food, Rio and Agatha went back upstairs to change.

“Hey, I know we just met last night and all, so this might be a bit of a stretch, but I'm really feeling something between us. If you feel the same, I was wondering if I could have your number? Y’know, so we can keep in contact?”

Agatha froze.

She couldn't give Rio her number; that would be a one-way ticket to death, but Agatha couldn't help but give in when brown eyes stared at her with such intensity.

“Sure, here,” Agatha pulled Rios' phone towards her. “We could go out again sometime soon if you'd like?”

Rio exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Yeah, definitely,” she smiled again.

There, now Agatha could just get the blood she needs next time. Problem solved. She thought.

When they were fully dressed, Rio walked Agatha to the door, as she made up an excuse to leave.

“Yeah, I know. I totally forgot about it, I'm so sorry.”

“No, no, it's okay, you sure you can walk? Can I drive you?” Rio asked.

“No, it's fine, I'm really close by.”

“Hey, maybe I'll see you next week? We could go watch this new movie that just came out.”

Agatha smiled.

“Sure, it's a date.”
“I knew you couldn't resist my charm,” Rio said, causing Agatha to laugh.

“YES, I DID IT! YOU LOSE HARKNESS!” Rio yelled in triumph.

“Yes, yes, fine, you got me this time,” Agatha said as she rolled her eyes, though the smile she wore told Rio otherwise.

Rio smiled again, “I'll see you next week then, bye.”

“Bye, Rio.”

Chapter Text

Rio walked back upstairs after Agatha left. Although she’d never hated silence- actually, she appreciated it- her house felt eerily quiet, as if there should be something, or rather someone, to fill it.

She decided to call Alice. (She thought of calling Agatha, but since she had just left, she didn't want to seem like a creep.)

The phone rang once, then twice, before Alice picked up. It appeared that she was in Jen’s house because of the pale aesthetic decor.

“Hey, man! What's up? Jen’s here too, say hi.” The camera flipped to Jen, who smiled and waved.

“Hi, Rio!”

Rio smiled back, “Hey, Jen!”

The camera switched back to Alice. “So, what's happening? Is something wrong?” Alice questioned.

“No, quite the opposite, actually,” she said as a grin appeared on her face.

“What do you me- wait, is it that girl from the bar?” Alice's jaw dropped in shock, “Really?!” could be heard in the background.

“Yeah, we hit it off at the bar, and then she spent the night. She gave me her number too. We're going to the movies next week.”

“No way! I'm happy for you, man, man. You deserve this. So, tell me all the details.”

Alice was always one for gossip.

“I don't know what else there is to say, I mean- okay, this morning I was making pancakes, right? So when she came down, I asked her if she wanted any, and she said yes, so I went to make them. Butttt, she followed me into the kitchen, sat up on the counter, and I told her that she could go on the couch if she wanted, watch some TV, or something, y’know? And then she said no, and that she’d rather stay with me!” Rio blurted out.

“She's so into you!” Jen came into frame, “and then? What happened after that?” Alice Eagerly nodded.
“Well, I kept on cooking, and she said something that made me laugh, and said that she liked hearing me laugh! I don't even think she meant to say it aloud. But anyways, we ate our pancakes- which were delicious, by the way- and Agatha said she had a thing she had to go to, so we got changed and then I asked for her number, and she left.”

“Wow,” Alice said. “I'm glad you like her, and by the sounds of it, this might be a long-lasting kind of relationship, no?” she grinned.

“Yeah, Rio, this girl could be the one. I'm really happy for you,” Jen added with a soft smile.

Rio’s face flushed, “Thanks, guys. It means a lot.”

“So, when are we going to meet her?” Jen asked.

“Jen! Rio whined, “I just met her. I'm not really wanting to scare her off right now.”

Alice put a hand on her chest in mock offense, “us?! Scare her off? We would never!”

“Pfft, yeah right. So it would just be a normal little meeting? I don't think so.”

“Ugh, fine. But we're gonna have to meet her eventually, so be prepared. And also think about how you're going to have to introduce her to Wanda and Nat as well,” Jen said.

Rio’s brows lifted, “Oh, I don't even want to think about that.”

The three laughed.

“Okay, well, thanks for talking, but I gotta prepare for tomorrow's lecture. Bye, guys!”

“Bye, Rio!”

“Buh-bye!”

She turned off her phone and dropped her head onto her pillow. It still smelled like Agatha.

All she wanted to do right now was take a nap, but for Rio, Sundays meant planning lessons for her classes she had recently started teaching at Westview High School.

Sure, she loved her job and the kids, but she also loved beautiful women, whom she was pretty sure stole Rio’s Snoopy shirt. Not that she could be mad.
“Well, I'd better get at least something done,” she said to herself as she parted with her bed. Her soft, warm bed.

“Ughhhh!” Rio groaned.

As she was setting up her material online, her mind had wandered off.

Agatha.

She thought about her last name again. God, why did it sound so familiar? While she was on that train of thought, she thought of all the strange things she had noticed about Agatha; how her kisses tasted of metal, her sudden need to leave, how she had no hint of shyness when they were flirting, but had a confused look on her face at every act of kindness or just plain old manners that Rio had shown her, how her canines were a little, sharp.

Could she be…?

No, there was no way. She's thinking this because she's not used to being with people other than friends or students. Besides, why would a vampire see someone with a hunter's symbol and still willingly sleep with them?

Of course, Agatha wasn't a vampire; she's just a normal human being, right?

Agatha unlocked her door and went inside. She moved in silence, though she wasn't really sure why.

She put down her things and grabbed a bottle of wine before slumping straight down to the ground.

Rio.

She had spent the night with Rio- with a hunter. Why? She was asking herself the same question.

This is just for a day, and the next time they were alone, she would just do what she couldn’t do last time, and kill her. She could do that.

But could she?

She couldn't do it then, so why would she be able to do it now? She's not good enough; she needs to be better.

Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she was just a waste of space, or maybe-

She was in love with someone she could never be with.

There was no use in denying it now. She was a failure, a disappointment, a disgrace to her bloodline.

Rio wouldn't think that, would she? No, she's too kind. She isn't that type of person.

But Rio was a vampire hunter. It's what she's meant to do. The second she learns of Agatha being a vampire, she's dead. No remorse, no guilt.

But they had a connection, an understanding. They felt something for each other.

She found herself in a battle between the voices in her mind, trying to drown them out with alcohol.

More.

She needed more.

She needed Rio.

Her impulses took control of her body as she picked up the phone, an unread message from a new number appearing.

“hey:) This is Rio, btw, I had a really good time last night. Can't wait for next week:))”

This was Rio she was talking about; she would understand.

She typed out a reply, and immediate pings from frantic replies were the last thing she heard before passing out from the amount of wine she had consumed- her body falling flat against the cold, hard wood floor.

“Hey, it's Agatha. I know it's only been a minute, but I really need you. I'm sorry.”