Work Text:
1:30am
It had been a long day, and Agatha wanted nothing more than a drink. The case she was currently working on, a standard white collar crime, was now taking up most of her time due to new evidence. She hadn’t seen Wanda in what felt like days, their hours spent opposite. Wanda was gone by 5am to get to Westview, NJ for her students, while Agatha had the luxury of sleeping in until 6:30, but the curse of not getting home early when a case was tough. Not wanting to wake her this late at night, she made her way to a bar not too far from Harkness and Kale Associates. The Last Call bar was open until 3am, enough time to decompress the day.
The sign outside glowed green, her heels echoing as she walked toward the door. It wasn’t the first time she had been here; every so often she’d come in for a quick drink during a tough case. The whiskey was good, the prices weren’t bad considering New York, and the service was fine. She opened the door and was greeted with dark forest green walls and low amber lighting. There were only a few people left, nursing their drinks. She took a seat on a worn leather stool at the mahogany topped bar, removing her blazer and rolling up her purple silk blouse.
“What can I get you?” Agatha looked up and paused, eyes widening for half a second. Someone new was working behind the bar.
The bartender, wearing a deep green satin shirt, had her sleeves rolled up to her forearms where a forest tattoo peeked out. Dark amber eyes looked at her while she polished a glass.
Agatha mentally shook her head. “Uh, Woodford, neat.”
With a nod, she turned around and reached for the whiskey.
The glass was set down in front of Agatha. “Long day?”
Agatha sighed, reaching for the liquid. “You could say that.”
“Want to talk about it?” the bartender asked.
She shook her head, taking a long sip, welcoming the burn down her throat. “Not really.”
The bartender looked at her, and for some reason unknown to Agatha, refused to let that sit. “You sure? I’m a very good listener, part of the job description really.” Agatha looked at her unamused, raising her eyebrows.
She continued, “Let me guess,” she smirked, “car trouble.”
Agatha huffed a laugh, taking another drink and shaking her head. “No, not car trouble…” She tapped the bar, giving a quick glance over her, noticing her wedding band. “Husband?”
At that, Agatha barked out a laugh. “Not in this universe or any for that matter.”
“Wife?”
“Happily married.”
The bartender hummed, crossing her arms. “Work.”
“Ding ding ding, you should be a detective,” she said sarcastically.
She shrugged her shoulders, a smirk crossing her lips. “Tips aren’t as good.”
Agatha rolled her eyes and sighed.
“Just a tough case, that’s all.”
“So you’re a lawyer?”
“Yup,” she said, enunciating the ‘p’ as she finished her first glass. “Prosecutor, and unfortunately my caseload doubled this past week as new evidence was found.”
“Rough,” she replied, pouring Agatha another drink.
“You could say that,” she sighed. “Listen, it’s been a long day and I really just want to not think about work for a little bit or my brain will explode.” She took a sip.
The bartender nodded, understanding.
She walked away for a few minutes to close out someone’s tab, then made her way back, hands gripping the bar behind her. Her head turned as she stuck her tongue to the inside of her cheek.
“Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?”
Agatha looked up, her hand stopping the glass before she could drink it.
“What?”
“Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses?”
“No, I heard you,” she cut in, Agatha rubbing her temple. Why can’t she just get a moment of peace.
The bartender smiled, a gap showing between her top teeth. “So what’s your answer?” She crossed her arms, waiting for a response.
Agatha furrowed her brows, slightly annoyed. “That’s a-”
“You said no work talk,” she interrupted smoothly, pushing herself off the bar and leaning in slightly, voice dropping. “And I don’t want your head to explode on my bar counter. So, would you rather?”
Agatha felt heat rush to her face, a flash of anger in her veins. But she settled herself down, throwing back the rest of her whiskey.
“I’d rather have the check.”
With a purse of lips and a head nod, her glass was taken and the check put in front of her. She paid her tab, glancing at the name on the bottom of the receipt, Rio. She hesitated a fraction of a second before pushing the receipt and pen back. Taking her blazer and purse, she turned and left, hailing a cab home.
3:00am
Unlocking the door, Agatha slipped off her heels and made her way through the house. It was quiet. Señor Scratchy wiggled his nose when he noticed her before flopping back onto his side in his cage.
Pictures of Wanda and Agatha were scattered throughout their place, small snapshots of their life that felt steadier than the rest of her world.
Agatha grabbed a glass of water and exhaled before making her way upstairs.
Quietly, she slipped into their room and lingered in the doorway, looking at Wanda. She was fast asleep and peaceful, her breathing slow and even.
Agatha stood there for a moment longer than she meant to.
She grabbed her pjs and went to the bathroom, brushing her teeth under low light.
When she returned, she leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Wanda’s forehead, her fingers brushing through her fiery red hair.
Wanda stirred slightly at the touch.
“Sorry,” Agatha mouthed before pulling her hand back.
Not wanting to wake her, she made her way to the guest room instead. It wasn’t the first time. Wanda was a light sleeper, and tonight she looked too peaceful to disturb.
She set her alarm and slipped under the covers, staring at the ceiling.
And, for some reason, the question wouldn’t leave her mind.
“A horse-sized duck… or a hundred duck-sized horses…” she muttered out loud, letting out a small, tired laugh before turning onto her side to sleep.