Complications

Chapter Eighteen – The Truth

Loki sits at the center table at Sim State Library, massaging his aching forehead as the evidence of his mother's past lies open on the wooden surface. Loki sighs, running his hand across the bridge of his nose. Although most sims aren't itching to go to the library at crack of dawn on a Monday, he can tell by the scent of her perfume alone that his mother is standing right behind him.

"Why didn't you tell me, Mom?" Loki speaks into the silence, "Why didn't you tell me that I ruined your life?"

Gundrun steps back slightly, taken aback by her son's bold statement, "Because you didn't, sweetheart. Why would you even think that?"

Loki says nothing and slides the 1984 yearbook towards his mother. He points at her photo on the graduates page, unable to look his mother in the eye. Gundrun looks down at it and sighs. "You gave up on science because you were pregnant with me."

"I never gave up on science, honey. You know that. I have a great career and a wonderful family," Gundrun assures him, pulling out a chair and taking a seat next to her distressed son, "There's no sob story here." Loki looks up at his mother, the dubious expression on his face and tilt of his forehead suggesting that he doesn't believe her, "I mean it, Loki. My life turned out to be more than I could ever ask for."

"But did you want all this?" Loki wonders, gesturing down to the open yearbooks, "Did you really want to marry Dad?" Gundrun nods, "Mom, I heard you and Professor Irma talking last weekend. It seems like you wanted to be with him."

Gundrun brings her hand up her face, a small chuckle escaping from her lips. "I can assure you that there is a zero percent chance of that ever being true," she replies, "Ben always had a huge crush on me, and for some reason he convinced himself that I was so unhappy dating your father. It was a state of delusion, really," Gundrun explains, scooting closer to Loki, "And even to this day, he's never gotten over it."

"Well, at least that explains why someone hates me," Loki sighs, propping his head up with his elbow, "But I still don't understand why you don't."

"Loki," Gundrun speaks, wrapping an arm around her son and pulling him into a lovingly half-embrace, "the day you came into the world was the best day of my life. Why don't you believe me?"

"Because you're my mom, you're supposed to say stuff like that."

Gundrun smiles and holds him closer, "There's a reason why parents say things like that to their children, sweetie. It's because it's true."

"If this wasn't such a big deal to you, then why would you keep this from me for twenty years?" Loki wonders. At this, Gundrun sighs and pulls away from him, staring into his eyes.

"Because…I knew that you would take it as a heavy and unnecessary burden for you to bear," Gundrun answers instantly seeing the hurt on Loki's face, "Honey, you have to believe me, I don't regret any decision in my life, and there is absolutely nothing for you to apologize for," she assures him, "Loki, this is your life, your father and I did everything we could so that you could make your own decisions. And now I realize that the best thing I can do for you as a mother is to step aside and let you live it."

Gundrun slowly stands up from her seat, the realization hitting her square in the chest. As much as she doesn't want to leave her son to his own devices, she knows it's the right thing to do.

"Mom?"

Gundrun turns suddenly and locks eyes with her son, his face drenched in tears. Gundrun's heart instantly melts as Loki walks forward and hugs her.

"Mom, I need your help," Loki pleads, small tears forming in his mother's eyes at the gesture, "My whole life went to shit in the last twenty-four hours. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Gundrun wraps her arms around her son, shocked by Loki's uncharacteristic breakdown, "What do you mean?"

"Circe cheated on me," Loki reveals, barely able to lift his head up, "And then there's these four super-geniuses who are going to beat us next week who are total assholes, and I can't get much sleep because Pascal won't stop singing show tunes at four in the morning!" Loki spews, unable to control his volume, "And now I have no one to talk to because the one person I actually like betrayed me-"

"You mean Circe?" Gundrun says, the question causing Loki to ponder.

"No," he answers honestly, the reply shocking them both. "Circe cheated on me, Mom, but in some weird way I'm not upset with her."

Gundrun nods, doing her best to keep her Circe-bias out of this. "Then why are you so sad, sweetie?"

"Because…she cheated on me with Vidcund," Loki reveals, stepping away from his mother. Loki turns towards the wall, trying to conceal the fresh tears that are forming in his eyes as he stares out the library window. Behind him, Gundrun is staring sympathetically at her son. "I really like him."

Gundrun steps forward, giving Loki a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I know, sweetheart," she states, pulling Loki into a side hug.

"I think this whole monstrosity just made me realize that him and I are never going to happen…not in a million years," Loki adds, his eyes trail to the carpet. "I'm such an idiot. Why did I even bother to entertain the thought?"

"Because you like him, honey. And you never were one to settle for things," Gundrun says as Loki continues to stare at the dusty, brown carpet, "And you shouldn't."

Loki sighs, "You're just saying that because you don't like Circe, Mom."

"It doesn't matter what I think, Loki. This isn't my life, this is yours," Gundrun reminds him, "I can't tell you what to do. You need to do what you think is right for your own life," she reveals, before staring down at her son and giving a heartfelt smile, "I know that you will."

Loki nods, his mother's words racing through his mind as he ponders over his next course of action. "Thanks, Mom," he genuinely states, "Now I know exactly what I need to do."

…

Vidcund is sitting at the kitchen counter anxiously tapping the surface with his fingertips as the clock on the oven turns to seven o'clock. Vidcund jumps slightly when he hears someone step into the kitchen behind him. He jolts to the side, instantly easing as he locks eyes with Pascal.

"Man, you really want to get this over with, don't you?" Pascal asks, approaching the kitchen counter. Vidcund nods.

"I know Circe told him last night, I'm just hoping that he doesn't kick me out," Vidcund sighs.

Pascal steps back as the front door creaks open nearby. "Well, good luck with that," Pascal states, bolting up the staircase before Vidcund begs him to stay.

Vidcund turns to the side, his heart pounding as Loki quietly walks into the kitchen. Vidcund narrows his eyes at Loki, the young man's expression unreadable as Loki stops in front of the counter with his hands in his pockets.

"So…"

"So," Loki begins, looking up at Vidcund, who is nervously fiddling with his hands.

"I'm really sorry," Vidcund apologizes, knowing the best thing to do in this situation is to lay all his cards out on the table.

Loki nods, his mouth in a line, "Okay."

Vidcund gulps, "You probably want to kick me out, huh?" he states, the silence of the room eating him up inside.

Loki shakes his head, "No, you can stay."

Vidcund watches as Loki slowly walks over to the counter, pulls out a seat and sits down next to Vidcund. After a few moments, Loki stares down at the glossy surface and sighs, "How could you do this to me, Vidcund?" he vents, staring at the wall, "You know, I expected this from Circe but not from you. I thought we were almost friends."

"Really?" Vidcund squeaks, unable to believe what he is hearing.

Loki turns to Vidcund and nods, barely able to look him in the face. "Yeah," Loki answers honestly, "But now we're nothing…and as of right now, I'm officially done with you both," he reveals, Vidcund's stomach sinking at this news, "The competition on Saturday will mark the end of our friendship for good. I'll see you then, but not a moment before." Loki stands up from his seat and exits the room, leaving Vidcund in misery.

Vidcund sighs, wondering how a few words from someone who used to be his sworn enemy can make him feel so hopeless.

…

Across campus, Circe is standing in front of her apartment mailbox shuffling through two weeks worth of mail. She sighs as she tosses yet another piece of junk mail into the nearby stone trashcan, leaving a lone letter addressed to her in her hands. Circe flips the tan standard-sized envelope over, the return address reading 'X. Salamis' in cursive on the flap. Circe looks up suddenly, the taste of copper filling her mouth as she scans the area, for once hoping for the presence of another sim. Realizing she is unfortunately stuck in solitude, Circe grips the sides of the letter, wondering what she should do and wishing she had the answer.