holmes ➢ sequel to athena

Chapter Two

Struggling with Forgiveness, and Time with Riley

Athena did not like mirrors. There was just something about the way that her face always looked marginally different in each one that made her feel as if they were untrustworthy.

But when she caught herself in front of one, especially at such a time as this, she couldn't help but stare at the framework of her body, face, and hair. After all, humans were known to be inherently selfish creatures. So there she stood, in her bedroom, eyeing herself in the large, dark-framed mirror above her chest of drawers.

She wasn't thin, she was average. Not small and could afford to lose five pounds at most, but average nonetheless. Her skin was entirely too pale, though. It almost seemed ghost white in the sunlight, and she always had to wear the lightest shade of foundation she could find before the options could be mistaken for baby powder.

Her eyes drifted to her face. Soft blond curls fell in front of it most of the time, due to her lack of desire to tame them. Once upon a time, when she was still young and malleable, she tried to shape them into something that fit Sally Perish's standards of beauty. Over time, she came to accept the fact that her hair would always be a mess and would always be in her face, always falling over her icy grey eyes.

Her eyes were doubtlessly her most prominent feature. They were round and wide, taking up a lot more of her face than they should've. Her freckles dotted the area below them on her cheekbones and nose, being the only break in the whiteness of her face.

Her face was also very sharp, very angular: her cheekbones were high and chiseled. Her jawline was straight and strong as well. The color of her eyes added to the sharp features of her face, but the slant and tip of her nose softened them enough so that she appeared somewhat aesthetically pleasing (so long as she avoided those tricky mirrors.)

However, there was one thing about how she was built that stuck out beyond all that was mentioned: she looked exactly like Sherlock Holmes. This was was recently added to the list of reasons as to why she disliked mirrors. Seeing him within herself made her stomach churn, because that meant her mind would drift to him unintentionally every time she saw herself. She wanted to forgive him, but she couldn't quiet do it.

Her gaze lingered at her exposed collar bones, and she brushed her curls aside so that she could toy with the small, silver necklace that draped between them. Her room was dark, her fairy lights being the only source of light she was using. Her dark red dress was borderline maroon in this light, and her skin looked amber in the soft glow. Honestly, she was trying to avoid thinking about her father.

Riley really needed to hurry up. Their reservations were for 8:30, and it was currently 8. Why was he taking so long?

As if God had answered her impatient prayers, John called from downstairs for her to come into the living room. She complied quietly.

When she transcended down the wooden stairs that lead directly into the living room, she met eyes with Riley, who was smiling softly and holding a bouquet of yellow roses.

She felt her cheeks heat up. Roses from Riley were much better than an awkward trip to the London Eye any day. "Hi," she said.

She took the roses out of his hand. "Let me put these in water."

Mary, who was sitting in her at-home office with the door open stood quietly and rushed over to her. "Oh no, don't worry about it, dear. You're already running late. I'll handle this."

Nodding, Athena stepped out of the house with Riley behind her, and they got into his car. She smiled at him as he opened the door for her. He ducked his head and walked smoothly to the driver's side.

His hand brushed hers as he reached for the gearshift and she reached for the auxiliary cord. Both of their faces turned pink. Riley smiled warmly when Athena started singing along with whatever song she decided she was in the mood for. Athena let her hair fall in front of her eye when Riley changed the song and began to him along with the instrumental.

And that's how the night went- quiet, bashful, completely wrapped up within each other- as if they were newly into their relationship. Then, after all their food was sitting warmly in their stomachs, as well as a bit if champagne, they found themselves alone in Riley's house, laying on his bedroom floor.

Quiet voices chimed back in forth in conversation.

"I wish we were stars," said Riley. "We could just exist in the depths of space, not having to worry about Uni or work. Just me and you, shining forever."

Athena drew patterns in the crackle on the ceiling with her mind. "You'd put them all to shame."

She could feel Riley's breath catch in his throat as she said that- they were lying with her head on his bicep. "You'd be the biggest, brightest star out there," he said.

Athena smiled slowly and let the words fall on her ears and stretch into her brain for a moment. They lapsed into a heavy, yet not unpleasant, silence. That's when she decided to speak. "I want to be a writer," she said softly. "So I can write about this."

Riley smiled to himself and inhaled slowly. He knew this moment was a special one. "I'd read it a million times."

She felt her lips quirk back upward. "You'd be sunlight," she explained. "You'd drive out all the darkness in the world and keep me warm enough to keep living."

That's when Riley lifted himself just enough the turn on his side and see her face from an upward angle. "I love you." His lips pressed softly against hers, allowing the magic in the air to carry him through his movements.

They were a slow accumulation of exhales and tossed clothes and soft kisses. And they were in love, fully and wholeheartedly.

And this is not only the story of her adventures with a mad detective. This is the story of how love, in every form, was the only driving force in her life.

However, it may not be in the way that you think.

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Not much change for this chapter either. Enjoy!