Thalia glared at the wall in front of her and angrily shoved a fry into her mouth. This was all Nico's fault. The asshole didn't need to take a day off. It wasn't like he deserved a vacation anyway. What did Nico even do? The worst part was that he took the day off because some stupid video game came out.

Thalia shouldn't have agreed to come in, but damn it, she had been tricked. She was still going back and forth with Nico when Percy and Reyna approached her. Percy was the one who asked, but Reyna did not take her gaze off of Thalia. How was Thalia supposed to say no with Reyna right there and looking at her expectantly?

So, Thalia agreed to come in. And, she hated herself for it.

It was stupid. The store didn't need to have an asset protector every second of the day. Well, she had been complaining that her old store only had one for the longest time before Clarisse became one. But no, she was getting off track. The point was that she wanted to be anywhere but work.

At least Thalia wasn't the only one in a bad mood. Reyna had been fuming ever since Thalia came in that morning. Percy got all of them coffee, and Reyna had muttered a single word of thanks before stalking off to her office. Thalia had been too mad at Percy for making her come in to thank him.

Thalia huffed and ate another fry. She was on her break and in her corner. Nico called it her pouting corner, but it was not her pouting corner. It was the one she used for sulking. There was a big difference.

The outside of the building had a grassy area with a large tree. It wasn't odd to find someone sitting under the tree while waiting for the bus. Thanks to the odd design of the building, there was a nook to hide in. The grassy area looked like it cut into the building, as there was a place one could walk into and be surrounded by walls on three sides.

What most people didn't realize is that if you walked into the grassy area and turned right, you would find a small wall in front of the larger one. In between the two walls was an emergency exit, but there was also enough room for someone to sit down and not be seen.

It wasn't like the building would catch on fire, so Thalia didn't have to worry about being hit from behind. She was able to stare at a wall, and if she leaned forward, she could peek out into the grassy area. No one ever thought to check this particular corner, so she could be alone.

A tired sigh left Thalia as she looked at her phone. They were going to be at Sally's place tomorrow, but it would be nice if she had today off. Why did she say yes?

"Damn it," Thalia grumbled to herself. She ate another fry. Thalia nearly jumped out of her skin as a branch snapped not far from her. Someone had invaded her sanctum. This wasn't the first time it happened.

There had been a few times when it was horny teenagers wanting to make out. And that one time when they wanted to do more than just that. A few times it was someone waiting for the bus. Once or twice it was an overwhelmed parent trying to calm their kids down.

Today, Thalia couldn't tell who it was. She did hear two separate sets of feet. Thalia took a bite of her fry and debated peeking out. She froze as a voice spoke, "What the hell were you thinking?"

The voice sent a chill down Thalia's spine. It was powerful and commanding, like the voice that a drill sergeant might use. There was no response for a few moments. Then, the voice continued, "Do you know how much you embarrassed me?"

"I couldn't help it."

Thalia felt her heart drop as she recognized Reyna's voice, but there was a new tone: fear.

"You couldn't help it?" the first voice demanded. Thalia placed her face to the wall and barely peeked out. Reyna was standing in front of another woman. The other woman was someone that Thalia had not met in person, but she had seen her before on the cameras. And in stupid political commercials.

Reyna was standing with her hands in her pockets. Both of her shoulders were tense and pushed forward slightly as if she was preparing for a body blow. Her gaze stayed focused on the ground, but her eyes were wide.

"They wanted to hear what happened, and you couldn't tell them. You just left," Bellona snarled. Reyna flinched as if the words were hitting her.

"I told you-"

"I have been in the army for twenty years and never suffered from one of your so-called flashbacks. Do you know how many people I killed or have watched die?" Bellona demanded. She took a step forward, and Reyna instantly retreated. "I can tell you about every single one, but you can't even recount one story."

"I c...c...can't-"

"Your generation is so pathetic," Bellona spat. "I thought I raised you better."

Thalia gripped the wall in front of her. She wanted to rush forward and tell Bellona to stop. Instead, she just couldn't move. Her body was shaking from rage as she watched.

"I used to be proud of you," Bellona said. Reyna let out a shaky breath and looked up at her mother.

"Proud until I got discharged?" Reyna demanded. There was a new venom to her voice that almost made Thalia flinch. Even though her hands were in her pockets, Thalia could see that Reyna's hands were shaking. "Or were you proud before you learned I was injured? You couldn't even visit me."

"I was busy," Bellona stated.

"Hylla found time to visit me," Reyna snapped. "The same damn Hylla that told me not to follow in Papi's footsteps because she knew it would destroy me like it destroyed him. I didn't listen to her and blew up on her for what she said."

"What happened to your father was unfortunate," Bellona said.

"Unfortunate!? You weren't even there! You don't know how it was," Reyna retorted as her voice raised. She wasn't yelling yet, but it looked like she was getting close. Bellona's eyes narrowed. "You don't know what he did to us, and Hylla didn't want me to end up like that."

"I was busy with my career. I stepped in when he... died. I took care of you and your sister," Bellona defended as she clenched her fist.

"You kicked Hylla out because she fell in love with a woman," Reyna snapped. Thalia looked back at the emergency exit and really wished it would open from her side without setting off alarms in the entire building.

"Hylla fell in love with a whore who ruined her life," Bellona argued. Reyna glared and swallowed painfully. "I tried to help Hylla, but she wouldn't listen. That is why I have been trying to guide you to be better."

"You're not trying to guide me," Reyna hissed. "You just want me to be with you so the reporters can get a few good shots and buy into your bullshit patriotic mother and daughter narrative that you keep trying to bring forward. You wouldn't dare show Hylla because God forbid the voters see that your daughter is a lesbian."

"No one supports a faggot," Bellona hissed with venom in her voice. "I know that you look up to Hylla, but she is a bad influence on you."

"She saved my life," Reyna rebutted as she tried to raise her voice, but Thalia could see Reyna's confidence crumbling as her mother stepped forward again.

"Hylla has convinced you to waste your money on a therapist that isn't helping you," Bellona stabbed. "I am the one who saved your life. I paid for your surgery after you decided to get drunk and go for a joyride. I paid for your apartment when you were discharged from the army. Without me, where would you be?"

Reyna looked down and closed her eyes. Bellona continued, "Look at me."

"Now," Bellona growled. Reyna slowly looked up. "You still owe me, and we had an agreement. You will not embarrass me in front of my supporters again. Am I understood?"

Reyna nodded once. Bellona continued, "The next time someone asks you what happened, you will tell them. Understood?"

Instead of responding, Reyna stared at the ground. She swallowed painfully and shook her head. Reyna looked at her mother, "I'm not talking about it. I don't care who asks. It's-"

Thalia flinched as a brutal sound shot through their small clearing. Reyna's head snapped to the side, and the force of the hit caused her to stumble slightly. Her hand shot to her cheek, but other than that, she didn't move a muscle. Her eyes stared at the ground.

Bellona looked down at her hands and rubbed her knuckles. There was no emotion on her face, like this was something she did every day. Maybe, it was. Thalia glared at the scene and felt anger filling her veins. That slap, no, that backhand, played in her mind over and over again.

Thalia felt her nails digging into the wall. She should have just huddled into her corner and waited for Bellona to leave. Instead, that rage welled inside, brewing like a hurricane. Thalia shook her head and swore to herself. Then, she stepped out from behind the wall.

The first one to notice her was Bellona. The woman looked at her, and her eyes widened. Reyna slowly looked up at Thalia. Her hand gripped her cheek as if she could hide the bruise that was getting ready to form. Thalia looked in between the two and then turned her rage on Bellona. She put as much venom into her voice as she could, "Why don't you just leave Reyna the hell alone? She doesn't deserve to be lectured or hit by a piece of shit like you."

Bellona stared at Thalia with an unreadable expression of either rage or shock. In contrast, Reyna didn't hide her shock. Bellona cleared her throat and spoke, "I'm sorry. I think you're misreading the situation. Have we met?"

"Thalia, don't," Reyna whispered as her hand lowered from her cheek. The skin was burning red. Reyna tensed as Bellona grabbed her shoulder. Thalia felt her temper flare more as she saw Reyna wince, and her eyes twitched in pain. The knuckles on Bellona's fists were white.

"This must be one of your coworkers," Bellona said. She smiled slightly. Thalia stepped forward as she saw the death grip that Bellona had on Reyna's bad shoulder. That settled it. Thalia was going to kill Bellona here and now. Damn the consequences.

"Thalia," Reyna repeated. Thalia slowly met her eyes. "Go. Inside."

"I hope you don't have the wrong impression, Thalia," Bellona began, and a dangerous warning flashed in her eyes. Thalia knew that look. She had seen it in the eyes of her drunken mother before. Her heart dropped as she realized she had only made things much worse.

It still took a few moments for Thalia to swallow enough anger to force a nod. She clenched her fist tightly and spoke through gritted teeth, "You're right. I think I did. I'm going back inside, but I can walk with you, Reyna."

"Go on ahead, Thalia. My daughter and I should finish our talk," Bellona insisted. Thalia stood her ground. She had no intention of going anywhere.

"Thalia," Reyna pleaded. Thalia tore her gaze from Bellona and looked at Reyna. "Go inside. I'll be right behind you."

Thalia opened her mouth to argue, but the look that Reyna fixed her with caused her to hesitate. It dawned on Thalia that Bellona was only tightening her grip on Reyna's shoulder with each passing second. The longer she stayed, the worse it would be.

"I'll see you inside," Thalia huffed as she felt sick to her stomach. She turned and walked out of the small alcove. Thalia turned the corner and stopped. She didn't dare peek back. All she did was listen.

"She seems to have gotten the wrong impression of me," Bellona stated. Thalia heard Reyna audibly gasp, but it also sounded like she was trying to suppress it. "You'll set the record straight, won't you?"

"Yes," Reyna choked out. Thalia felt her heart beating in her ears.

"Good. And, the next time someone asks what happened to you on your last tour of duty, you will tell them, right?" Bellona questioned. There was no audible response from Reyna, and Thalia was slowly losing her grip on her temper. "Good."

Thalia turned and stormed away from the alcove. She walked towards the doors of the store and stopped walking. Thalia grabbed her phone and studied the blank screen, debating who to message or call. She needed anything to get her mind off of what happened. Her wild reflection stared back at her.

Out of the corner of her eye, Thalia saw Bellona walking. She turned to watch the woman walk towards her car. There was no tension in Bellona's walk. No anger in her pace. She almost looked relaxed. Like she hadn't just slapped her daughter across the face.

Thalia turned and walked back toward the alcove. She stepped inside and felt the rage in her chest starting to give way to concern. Thalia studied her manager and felt the tug of war of emotions in her chest intensify. Reyna was sitting against the wall and staring ahead. Her hand gripped her shoulder, and pain was plastered across her face.

Thalia wordlessly walked towards Reyna's side. She sat by her manager and stared ahead. Reyna spoke, "I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to apologize for," Thalia said as she looked at Reyna. Her gaze focused on the bruise starting to form. "I should have done more. I should have interfered sooner. I'm so sorry."

Reyna didn't say anything. She grabbed her hood and pulled it over her head. Her knees were drawn to her chest, and she wrapped her arms around them. Reyna buried her face in her knees. Thalia slowly reached out and placed a hand to Reyna's shoulder.

There was so much Thalia wanted to say. Instead, she just swallowed back her words and slowly wrapped her arm around Reyna, being very careful of her shoulder. Thalia could feel that her own body was shaking from anger. The only shaky thing about Reyna was her breathing.

"I'm here for you," Thalia whispered. Reyna didn't answer, still letting out strangled breaths. Whether it was from anger or an attempt to keep from crying, Thalia didn't know. She just kept her arm around Reyna.

After a minute, Reyna lifted her head and pulled her hood down. She pulled away and stood. Thalia spoke, "Reyna?"

"I should get back to work," Reyna said. She turned away.

"Reyna," Thalia said. She jumped to her feet. After a moment, Reyna looked at her. It broke Thalia's heart that there was no emotion on the other woman's face. It was like Reyna had taken what had just happened and already compartmentalized it. The problem with that was to be so effective at it meant she had experience with it. Too much experience.

"If you need to talk about it or just get your mind off of it, I'm here. For anything you need," Thalia promised. Reyna nodded stiffly, but for a brief moment, her mask broke. Tears appeared in her eyes, and pain showed on her face. Then, it disappeared just as quickly.

"Thank you," Reyna muttered. She turned and walked away. Thalia sighed angrily and walked back towards her corner. She grabbed her fast-food bag and stood. This was the last time she moped in this corner, and if she ever saw Bellona lay another hand on Reyna, God help that woman. Because Thalia would actually kill her.