The Penumbra Podcast
Conditional Love
by Pholo
“What do you want, Juno?”Juno’s whole body tenses. “I want—” His hands flex at his sides, then become fists. “God dammit, I want you to be angry at me, all right?”Peter frowns. “I am angry at you, Juno.”Juno pivots to face him. “Not really! Not like—that’s not—I need you to—” He gestures wildly at the world around them. “To yell at me! To scream! To—to…”Peter remembers the look on Juno’s face when he woke up. He says, barely above the wind, “Juno. You know I’d never…”“I know!” Juno snaps. He squares his shoulders—and then all at once the tension drains from him like a popped balloon. His arms go limp. “…I know,” he says.