The Maximov(a) family

Chapter 7: The walk home

TW: Mentions of mvrd3r, t0x!c relationships and child @bv$3 and neglect.

Krus and Athena were silent as they walked, looking everywhere but at each other. Eventually, Krus spoke up.

"I'm sorry." Krus said.

"For what?" Athena asked, turning to him.

"Taking out all my feelings on you." Krus said.

"It's alright." Athena reassured. "We all have our breaking points and there are times in our lives where we wanna vent, where we wanna talk to someone about how we're feeling, and that's alright."

Krus looked down, and Athena sighed, looking at him sympathetically. "You know...just because you're tall and intimidating to most, doesn't mean that you're a monster, and I'm really sorry about who or whatever happened that made you feel like you are.

I understand that you feel a bit judged whenever you admit to being with Rsch. It happens with many people who grow up in a traditionalist and close-minded environment around traditionalist and close-minded people, but that feeling will subside. Maybe not now, but it will at some point.

As I've said, Sarv isn't the 'evil, deceiving, son of a [bish]' that you think she is; she's changed, and Selever is a good person deep down, you just have to get to know him first before that side of him will reveal itself to you.

What me and Ruv went through and Essie, Affie, Selever and Rasazy being half-demon, isn't your fault. None of what has happened the years were gone is your fault; nobody is to blame for any of that."

Krus looked away, trying, and failing, to stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks.

"You're not pathetic, Krusveto." She continued. "You're not a waste of space and time, you're not a failure, you're not a disgrace, you're not a burden to everyone, and you deserve to be loved; everyone does and you're no exception. You shouldn't try to be the perfect man that your aunt and uncle forced you to be, because that's impossible and takes a mental toll on anyone who tries, such as yourself. You're alright just the way you are."

Krus sobbed. "You don't have to sugar coat anything."

"I'm not sugar coating."

"We just met."

"I know, but it's the truth." After that, both goddess and man went silent after that.

***

A couple minutes later, Athena broke the silence.

"I know that I promised Rsch I wouldn't tell anyone about this, but...a few months after you and her became romantically involved, she wrote to me that...even if you've, at the time, only been dating for a couple months, you're the best lover a woman could ask for and that if she were to marry and let someone take her virginity, it would be you."

Krus' face became beet red. "She said that?"

"Yes."

"SHE SAID THAT?"

"Yes." She chuckled, her face flushing a bit. "It took me 2 hours to compose myself and get over that, but that didn't change and, seeing the way she looks at you, it never will.

Every letter she wrote me since then always had you and Ruv in it. She never stopped talking fondly of you two, and it was so cute and sweet that even the coldest of hearts would melt. She may have not been there, physically, but I could feel her sincerity in every single letter, and she certainly wasn't kidding or overexaggerating when she talked about you two. I can see that she loves you so, so much, and that she will never stop loving you, and vice versa."