*One Week Later*
Thanatos rubbed his temples trying his best to assuage his never-ending migraine.
“Okay…let’s go over it again. What was the LAST thing she said?” Romulus had been at him for a week, picking through everything, and dissecting every conversation.
He was tired of going over it, it hurt too much yet he thought maybe in it he could shed some light. “She rustled my hair, kissed me, said later, I have to go.”
Romulus put his hand under his chin. “I got nothing…it’s just weird that she would use later in front of I have to go, Evie has never been one for slang.”
“Wha-” Thanatos looked at him annoyed, “She was talking about later as if we would talk later.”
A look of confusion crossed Romulus's face, “I-I don’t understand.” Thanatos avoided his eyes and fiddled with his fork. “I know you haven’t been coming here for over a week and holding out.”
He hated the death stare his brother was giving him. “We were supposed to talk about the night before when she told me that she uh-” He rubbed the back of his neck, “That she loved me.”
Silence filled the courtyard as Romulus willed every living thing to cease. “I OUGHTA SLAP YOU IN YOUR PRETTY FACE! WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE THAT OUT! IT’S HUGE!” He squealed excitedly for his brother. “And you told her you loved her too, right?”
Thanatos remained silent. Through his peripherals, he watched what he wanted to avoid as disappointment seeped into Romulus's face.
“Oh, Thanatos…tell me you didn’t…”
“It’s better this way.”
Steam blew from Romulus's nose. Anger sweeping through him. “Better for her or for you?”
“FOR EVERYBODY! YOU SEE ME ROMULUS! YOU KNOW ME. I’M BETTER OFF ALONE. I LIKE IT THAT WAY.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I-I just want to know that she’s safe.”
Romulus shook his head, “Dad really did a number on you.”
Thanatos felt his eyes blacken with anger. “He didn’t do shit but spend his time telling me I needed to be more like you. Needed to change, to be better.”
“Thanatos what about mom? You don’t think she loves you?”
Thanatos tried his best to control his irritation. “Mom sat by and watched how he treated me. She sat there and watched her son be beaten down from age ten to adulthood. She watched and said nothing even sometimes agreeing with him…is that what you call love Romulus?”
Romulus placed his hand on his back. “And what did Evie try to change in you?”
Thanatos stiffened at the question proposed. There was a silence in the air as his mind relayed all their time together, in the end coming up empty to the question.
“The problem is you’re so used to being loved with conditions, you have no clue what it looks to be loved without it but you gotta look sometimes Thanatos it’s there, with Evie and with me.” There was a sadness in his eyes and for the first time Thanatos saw the damage of his words on Romulus.
“I’ve loved you just for being my big brother.” Romulus let out a small laugh that didn’t reach his eyes, “You're my best friend whether you want to be or not…most kids at six want to be firemen or doctors, but I wanted to be like you.”
Thanatos was at a loss for words, the weight of everything sitting on his chest. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” he said after some time.
“I’m honestly just glad you’re here now,” Romulus sighed. “Right now, it’s not about me, you need to find Evie and fix what you’ve done.”
“What if I mess this love thing up?”
“Then keep trying, eventually you’ll get it right.”
Standing from the table, Thanatos patted Romulus on the back. As he started to take his leave, he stopped and turned to face Romulus.
“What’s up?” Romulus said standing, "Something else on your mind?"
Without thinking, Thanatos hugged him tightly. “I love you, little brother,” he said lowly. “I’ll keep trying to be a better brother, eventually I’ll get it right.” He released him and quickly made his way, Romulus stood stunned as Derrick approached.
“You okay babe?” He asked, placing his hand on his shoulder. Romulus' face broke out into a huge grin lighting up the entire thing.
“Yeah…actually I’m better than ever. My brother just told me loves me.”
----------------------------------------------
“You have to go back.” Derrick chided Evie as he pushed his hand through his hair. Usually, he loved her stubbornness, but today it was wearing him thin. She whipped around and faced him.
“And do what? He already said he didn’t love me, Derrick! There’s nothing else I can do. I’ve tried everything, there’s no breaking him down. I’m done!”
“So that’s it? You rather live with him?” He said pointing to a portrait of Apep.
“He gave me a deadline…I relinquished the remaining time when I returned. I can’t go back even if I wanted to.”
Derrick stared at her wildly, “YOU WHAT? WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT?”
“Because the plan wasn’t working, now let it go.”
He grabbed her arms and locked his eyes with hers. “You NEED to go back. This need to work Evie. You got to get him to fall in love with you.”
Shaking free, she glared at him, “What part of he doesn’t love me don’t you understand? The plan failed, okay? I don’t want any more parts of it. I’m here now, let’s just move on.”
“If it failed then why has he been to Romulus’ place every day trying to figure out what he did wrong?”
“You didn’t tell Romulus’ you knew where I was did you?” Her eyes widened, but Derrick waved her off.
“I’m not an idiot Evie, give me more credit.”
She scoffed, “Good…now you need to leave. Apep will be home soon, and I need to get dinner started.” Walking over to a nearby chair Evie sat down. She was exhausted and her body was sore. She was tired of talking about Thanatos, she wanted Derrick to leave his insistence on the subject slowly pissing her off.
“You cook for him?” He asked in disgust. Her eyes bore into his.
Deciding it best to drop the subject, Derrick flipped through a nearby magazine before he was hit with a brilliant idea.
“The ball.”
“Wha-” She said looking at him confused.
“He invited you to the ball as his date. If you show up, I KNOW he’ll be so elated to see you, he’ll drop those three words. Then BOOM baby we’re back on track.”
“Are you crazy! If I leave Apep will find me.”
Derrick gave her a cheeky smile, “Not if you’re back before he knows you’re missing…come on Cinderella, you’re going to the ball.”