The Great War || Loki

Chapter 21 - Selene

Sorry.

I didn't want Loki to have to defend me again, so I build up the courage to speak for myself. I needed to show him that I can face my father, I'm not weak.

But the word 'Sorry' took me by surprise. I don't think I've ever heard it from any of my family members.

"What?" my voice breaks

"I am sorry" my father repeats.

"You're many centuries late for that" I state and I turn to walk away.

"You said 5 minutes" he reminds me.

I stop. I look at him again and I cross my arms in front of my chest. "When did you realize you owed me an apology? You have 4 minutes left".

"It was when I saw you yesterday. You looked at me frightened and it broke my heart. I never quite processed what happened to you"

"You mean what you did to me" I correct him

"I promise you, Selene, I only learned about it when you were already gone"

"You're lying" I chuckle

"Your mother and your brother set it up, you know that. I was..."

"You were too drunk to care" I complete his sentence.

My father had been checked out for a while before my torture. We used to have a really relationship as he tried to cover my mother's absence because she was obsessed with my brother. We were doing great, but one day it all stopped with no reason. That's when I felt truly alone, weak, and then they took advantage of that.

"I took some bad decisions. But that was for myself. I never imagined your mother and brother would do something like that to you"

"Well, they did. And you were nowhere. They had me locked down in that dungeon for years! I cried, I screamed, I begged, I prayed, and you didn't know anything? Or were you too numb to care?" I wonder as tears form in my eyes.

He doesn't speak.

"That's what I thought... I can buy that you didn't come up with that plan, but I can't accept that you didn't know what was going on. You didn't look for me? Ask for me? You knew but you were just not there. The only thing you cared about was staying drunk".

My father stays silent. But Loki's chuckle breaks the quiet. My father's gaze darkens.

"You called me a spoiled little boy, yet you preferred to numb yourself instead of simply saving your own daughter from years of abuse and torture. You couldn't even disagree with your own wife and son, that is pathetic"

"Loki" I call for him to stop. He looks at me, surprise and disappointment is written all over his face.

I swallow hard and I address my father again. "What did you think you were going to accomplish by coming here?" I wonder

"I wanted to apologize. You didn't deserve any of that, I should have been there. So I want to make it right, as much as it's possible at least. I want my daughter back; I have missed that adorable little girl who read books, learned new things and ran excited to show me. And everytime I would act as surprised but proceed to explain to you the subject in great detail. You would tell me everything that bothered you, everything you needed because you knew I'd take care of it. Father always took care of everything..." he remembers.

But I also remember it all too well. "Until one day little Selene ran to you all excited to show you a trick that Zeus taught her, and you yelled at her for being too loud because you were hangover. You raised your hand, do you remember that? So she went to her room and cried. Mother heard her and told her to keep it down because Helios was having a lesson with his great teacher that she apparently fought to bring to him" I add.

"You are owed more than an apology, Selene. And like I said I am here to do whatever it takes. Starting by accepting whoever makes you happy. I was out of line yesterday and I apologize for that" he eyes Loki as he speaks the last sentence. "You have my word, I will not bother you again about this matter"

"What's the catch?" Loki asks

"A second chance" my father answers while looking at me.

"I..."

"Selene..." Loki shakes his head

"I don't know"

"That's alright. Take your time" my father says.

"Your 5 minutes are up" Loki says

"Alright. I will be leaving now. Please, feel free to reach out if you need anything Selene. I will be waiting"

"You won't have to" Loki reassures him

"Loki!".

Loki ignores me and closes the door after my father.

"Please, tell my you didn't believe anything he said"

"I don't know"

"Come on, Selene..."

"I said I don't know. I am aware that he is a drunk, and that he was checked out back then. He ignored and didn't care, but what if he--"

"Don't. People like him don't change, love" he interrupts me

"You did"

"Don't compare me to him!"

"You hurt and killed people. Still, you're here with me and you are... the best person that has ever walked into my life" I admit.

The defensive expression melts away as he lets out a long breath. He walks closer to me and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"My point is that sometimes people change" I continue

"And sometimes they meet people who make them want to change" he says softly as he looks in my eyes

"And sometimes they sound like a fortune cookie" I smile and I kiss him.

"I don't want you to get hurt, Selene. That's all" he says softly

I nod. "I hate them with everything in me, however I don't think my father was lying. I can tell when they are pretending, my gut is telling me that he is genuinely sorry. I know that is not what you wanted to hear from me. But this is my decision to make"

"I understand. And I would like to know what that decision is. Don't keep me in the dark, please"

"I will not" I kiss him and I hug him. "Thank you"

"Of course, love" he replies.

I small giggle escapes my lips.

"What?" Loki smiles

"Love" I repeat, feeling the warmth raise in my cheeks.

Loki smiles even more. "Get used to it, love" he kisses and picks me up from the floor.

"We left something in the middle, didn't we, love?" he reminds me

"Yes". I kiss him, not being able to contain my excitement.

Loki wraps his arms around me, places one on my back and the other on the back of my head as he buries his tongue in me. He starts pushing me until my back slams against wall.

That's when I notice another detail about him. Every time he is going to do this, he puts his hand in my hair so I won't hit my head as he pins me on the wall. Even though we both like being rough on each other, there is always a sweet act that will warm my heart. Especially the aftercare...