For a brief moment, Juniper could see her reflection and she saw something that she didn't recognize. Athena had always told her that her emotions were like words in an open book - because she was always expressive. And to see a face so blank, one she didn't recognize; she didn't understand.

She stepped back from the slightly ajar door which had shown too much and in too little time - because her mind could only keep replaying over and over one simple action and five dreaded words. She hated it.

She hated it.

Never before had she experienced this kind of pain churning within her: her head throbbing like someone struck it with a hammer, the pulses traveling to the tips of fingers. At the back of her throat was a lump that she couldn't swallow, and her eyes were burning like she was holding back the foaming waves of a saltwater ocean. She couldn't remember how to breathe and as it caught in her throat, she felt an ache in her chest and she could have sworn she felt something in her sink -

And she didn't struggle. Her knees gave out beneath her and she sank to the ground and welcomed the sinking feeling. She wanted to drown, deeper and deeper and deeper - she didn't want that image in her head anymore -

Stopstopstopstopstopstopstop.

The waves were growing stronger now, crashing against the barrier she had put up somehow, and her head was spun as she tried to hold it back. She clenched her eyes shut and and willed to see nothing but blackness - but instead, she saw everything but.

She saw two pairs of lips connecting with ease and hesitance. She could see bright, soft wisps of orange brushing ever so softly against a background of flushed cheeks and those damned brunette antennae glinting beautifully in the sunlight.

She wished anything in the world for in that moment, to sink.

Athena - you're my best friend.

The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, that she wanted to be her - she craved his warmth, his gentleness, his kindness - and the thought made her gasp as she realized her wretched desires and finally the barrier broke, and tears ran down her cheeks in streams and wouldn't stop.

She couldn't be here anymore.

She stood but her foot struck the wall behind her, and the noise made everything go silent.

From the door - "Who's there?"

Juniper's eyes widened and she wasn't sure what was happening but her legs were running, and they were running fast as she bolted from the office door and ran out into the street, not stopping for a moment because she can't because if she does it will all start over.

She had to get it out of her head.

-x-

She blinks as she stares into his eyes, and for a second - the emotion is gone. She feels numb throughout and she notices how Apollo's eyes were filled with something she can't recognize, but for some reason she'd rather not.

She preferred the darkness.

A/N: So before I say anything - NO, no I have not played AA:DD yet. (I FREAKING KNOW. GOD DAMMIT, SOMEONE SHOOT ME. ALSO NO SPOILERS.) I'm really busy and my parents and I agreed it would be best if I could play it over a long holiday. But yeah, I've been sneaking around on tumblr trying to catch some spoilers (but not TOO spoil-y) and I saw a ton with Juniper.

And from what I caught from the demo, Juniper is crushing SUPER hard on Apollo, which is the most adorable thing ever since Apollo strikes me as the blushy, modest type. It's cute, man.

But love like that is never easy, never like they portray it in a movie - so it inspired me to do this angst-y little snippet. And, uh... yeah. :D (Also I love Athena already.)

And as for Apollo and/or Athena's feelings and the entire context of the situation, really, that's up to you. :-)

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