Because of you
Alexia's pov:
They're yelling at each other again. Lately they do that a lot. Mommy says momma can't always win.
"It's just not fair." She says.
Momma says mommy is wrong. She says she can always win because "You just can't hand me the laurel everytime just because YOU want to.".
"Fine! If you're so smart and don't need my help, let's see how well you do without it!" Mommy yells.
"Fine!" Momma yells back.
She turns around and walks away, slamming the door behind her. It scares me. I've never heard momma this mad before.
I peek around the door into the kitchen. Mommy is leaning against the kitchen counter. She sighs and puts her hands in her hair.
Nike's pov:
I have had it with Athena. She thinks she's so much better just because she's smart and knows all the facts? Well I have news for her, she's no better than any of us. She's stuck in the same places we are, she just doesn't want to admit it!
"Mommy? Why is momma angry?" A fragile voice asks.
My heart cracks when I hear it and breaks when I see who it belongs to. Poor Alexia. She probably heard us fight.
I can see the tears stinging in my daughters eyes. If you're a parent you know that when I say 'it's the worst thing to see your child cry because of you' I mean it.
"Hey baby, come here." I say, crouching down and wrapping her in my arms.
"Momma is just a little mad because she thinks I don't understand her."
"But you always understand each other." Alexia states.
"We do baby. Even now. Even if we don't want to." I try to explain.
"Then why is she mad if she understands?" My daughter asks.
She makes a fine point there. How do I explain this to an eight year old without making it too complicated? I think for a second.
"You know how momma always wants to do things by herself? For example when she injured her leg the other day and kept walking around insisting that it didn't hurt even though it was obvious she was in a lot of pain?"
Alexia nods.
"Momma has always done things on her own. For centuries she has only taken care of herself. But now that she has had me for the past two decennia and you for the past year she needs to get used to people wanting to help her, even if she doesn't necessarily need it. And that isn't easy if you always look out for yourself."
"But why won't she let us help her?"
My heart breaks a little more with every new question. Each question Alexia asks, is a question I've been asking myself for years.
"Because momma thinks she's weak when she asks for help." I respond.
"But she always tells me that people are stonger when they are together. So why would she be weak if she asked for help?"
I'm baffled. I have no idea what to respond to this. Alexia is correct. Athena has always taught her that people should count on one another. And yet, here she is storming out every time I help her.
"Where did momma go?" Alexia asks.
"I-... I don't know. Why?" I ask in return, still a little dazed.
"Because I want to ask her. Momma is smart. She knows the answer to all my questions."
I can't help but smile a bit. That was honestly adorable.
"What do you say we go find her? Together, because that makes us strong." I wink.
Athena's pov:
Honestly, what does Nike think?! That she has to hand me every victory?! That I'm not smart enough to come up with a strategy to win on my own?!
I don't have to win every time either. It's fine if I fail that's how I get better. That doesn't mean I like failing though, but I can't get better if miss victory basically hands me the laurel on a golden platter.
I had no idea where I was going. Somewhere away from her for now so I could cool down and just be on my own for a moment.
Somehow I ended up in the arena. Kind of makes sense because usually when I need to get rid of some feelings (any type) I'll go there and spar. Either an (un)lucky nymph, satyr, god or virtual enemy would be my partner for the session.
Since the arena was deserted the virtual enemies would have to do. I didn't mind. I didn't want to accidentally kill someone you know. Happened before and it left some trauma.
I started up a sequence and started sparring with a virtual Cyclops.
I ducked as it's sword flew over my head and rolled forward between its legs. I turned around as fast as I could and jumped up, landing on its shoulders and planting my spear in its head making it disintegrate into tiny blue cubes.
Behind me I heard the roar of a virtual dracon. I couldn't control the smirk that appeared on my face as I cast a look over my shoulder to see my enemy rushing towards me.
Alexia's pov:
Mommy and I found momma in the arena. She was fighting monsters. It was really cool to watch. It was almost as if her spear was part of her arms.
"Mommy?" I asked.
"Yes honey?" She replied.
"Do you think I can be like that when I grow up?" I said, pointing at momma.
"You can be anything you want when you grow up. If a soldier is what you desire than yes, you can be like that." Mommy said, smiling.
She was looking at momma too. I couldn't decide if she looked at her as if she wanted to tear her apart for leaving or run up to her, hug her and never let go.
I like to think I didn't know because mommy didn't know either.
Nike's pov:
After watching Athena slash through monster after monster, Alexia started going down the steps of the arena. All the way down into the arena it self.
I watched as she walked up to Athena, who seemed rather busy still. This couldn't end well. I got a strange feeling in my gut as if something was going to happen.
Slowly I started going down the steps myself. Following after Alexia. Just in case.
I was still quite far away when it happened actually. I saw how Alexia approached Athena from behind, touching her back to get her attention.
I saw the grey eyes flash with a golden light as she drew her spear and let it slash through the air. Time seemed to slow down when I kicked off and flew forward.
No way in Hades was she going to hurt out daughter.
Athena's pov:
*CLANG*
The sound of metal slamming into metal pierced in my ears as I was thrown back with a force I hadn't counted on. I slammed into the back wall and fell forward onto the sand of the arena.
No simulation could've ever done that. I look up holding my head and feeling a warm liquid drench my hands. When I take a look at my hand it is gold.
'I'm bleeding.' It echoes in my mind.
'But how-'
My thoughts are cut short when I look up. I see Nike breathing heavily, her arms wrapped around a crying Alexia. My girlfriends wings are lowered but I can clearly see the slash mark I made. Those beautiful golden wings...
I try to get up, but I think if I do I might throw up. Everything is becoming blurrier the more time passes. My ears still ring and my head hurts.
The last thing I properly see before passing out is Nike looking at me with a worried and pained look as she holds Alexia.
If you have a family you'll know that 'it's the worst if they cry or are in pain because of you...'