"And holding his hand was the solution?" His voice cracked just slightly at the edges. He hated that it did.
"It all happened so fast… And" she said, eyes shining. "the moment I saw you, I pulled away. I chose you."
He leaned in closer, forehead almost touching hers. "But you still went with him."
"I'm sorry," Athena whispered. "it won't happen again."
Azrael closed his eyes briefly, breathing through it. "You have no idea what it does to me," he said quietly and open his eyes. "Seeing him look at you like he still belongs there."
"I don't belong to him," she said firmly, lifting her hands to his chest. "I belong with you. And not him."
His gaze dropped to where her hands rested over his heart, then lifted again. "Then don't make me feel like I'm fighting for you alone," he said. "Because I will fight, but I need to know you're standing with me."
Athena vision blurred as she nodded.
