The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟾ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

"Darling..." he breathed out and she sniffled pitifully, "I don't exactly blame them," he mumbled, "if I knew, I would have stopped you a while ago," he ran a hand down her hair, "I'm sorry I couldn't. You have to tell her that yourself." He urged, "you have to go and tell her why you behaved the way you did. Otherwise you'll just confuse her more. I'll be here to hold your hand, don't worry. I'd rather die than have you do this alone. It isn't fair on you." He comforted and she cried into his chest. He grumbled and felt guilty, he failed as much as she had if they were feeling how he did at their age. "Let's go now." He picked her up. She inhaled and wiped her eyes. She inhaled deeply and composed herself. The pair left and knocked on Athena's door. There was no response. Elena slowly stuck her head in, the room was empty. He hummed, "she could be out." He claimed and she closed her eyes.

"I want her home." She mumbled, and pulled out her phone. She called her daughter and waited for a moment.

"Hello Elena." A voice returned.

"Kato? Call me mum-" she blurted out on a reflex,

"No." He told her, "she's safe." He promised and hummed. She hummed tiredly beside him from what they could hear,

"Where are the pair of you?" She frowned, "are you with your dad?" She wondered and he stayed quiet.

"She booked herself a hotel, she's asleep." He explained. "She isn't hurt, she isn't drunk," he whispered, "she's just confused."

"Confused?" Adonis mumbled.

"I'll bring her back when she wakes up." He hung up. Elena looked at the screen and then to Adonis.

"She's safe." He hummed sceptically.

"Kato can protect her." She assured, "it eases me." She rested against him.

"Let's wait for the morning." He picked her up and carried her to their bed, where he cuddled her.

The next morning, they woke up to Athena re-entering the house. She was carrying bags. They both left and saw her talking nicely to Kato, who was carrying his own bags. He placed them on the couch with her and she giggled, hugging him happily. He rubbed her back nonchalantly and urged her over to the kitchen - while he himself opened a book on mathematical theorems. What an interesting pair they both had become. Elena looked up at Adonis, who held onto her waist and squeezed her. The pair of them together. They both went off to follow the two children curiously. They were in the kitchen, Athena was talking to the cooks and Kato was cooking.

"What's going on?" Adonis smiled. Athena turned to face them and paused, until Kato pushed her forward with the back of his knife.

"Mum! I- uh... I'm- I'm sorry...?" She looked back at Kato who continued cooking. Elena blinked and was pulled to the other room by Athena. The pair stood there more quietly, only for a moment. "I wish he would be here to hold my hand like he did last night." She whined internally.

"...How was... last night?" Elena tilted her head. There was a stillness that came about the room that no two of them could describe. But it was up to the pair of them to have the mood rocking again.

"So... I'm sorry I yelled at you, firstly, but like he said; I did it. So now it's better to move on." She held her mother's hands, "I went to him... for advice." She nodded back to Kato and inhaled, "and he told me things about you I realised I don't think I'd ever know," she whispered quietly.

"Like what?" She tilted her head calmly and leaned forward,

"I'm sorry you're scared of me running away. I didn't realise that was a fear you had." She whispered. Elena pause and gave her a funny look, "I'd never leave, I promise you, even if someone out there manages to make me their-"