The warm soapy water flowed over my hands, as the pile of dishes beside the sink grew smaller. I smiled. It was nice to have this chore. It reminded me I wasn't alone. We had invited Nadir and Erik to move in with us, as our home had four bedrooms. The men had settled in nicely, but i had noticed that things between Cindy and Nadir had grown cold.

It had only been a week since we left the train station. I laughed as I remembered the childlike wonder Erik had exhibited as we boarded the underwater train.

"We'll be under the water? Like a fish?!" He grinned.

"Erik I told you you needed to get out more!" Nadir smiled jokingly. He seemed a bit uncomfortable since Cindy had kissed him, but perhaps I was just looking for a reason this couldn't work out. Erik's voice cut through my reverie.

"So how does it work? This obviously isn't a steam engine!"

Nadir struggled past me with a kennel containing a howling cat.

"Erik do you mind?"

Erik smiled and took the kennel, the cat calmed immediately.

"The train is electrical." I replied to his earlier question. 

"Marvelous." he breathed. 

I could tell I had his rapt attention.

"I'm sorry Erik. I only understand the basics!"

"Oh." He frowned.

"Oh! I know!" I pulled my phone up and looked up the schematics for the engine.

As soon as I handed over the phone. I could tell I had lost Erik. His mind was working faster than I'm sure I could keep up with. Annoyed that I'd lost his attention, I flipped on the television in front of me and drummed my fingers on the table. The Little Mermaid was on. Very soon I came to realize Erik was no longer looking at my phone. Only watching the movie with me.

That was a memory I would treasure for a long time. And one that Nadir would still hound Erik about from time to time.

I pulled back my thoughts to the dishes as Erik's cat rubbed herself around my legs.

"Hello Ayesha! How's my beautiful girl?" I smiled, drying my hands on a towel before petting her sleek fur.

She purred and put her paws onto my leg. "Do you want to come up?"

She jumped into my arms in response. I smiled as her bright blue eyes scanned my face.

"Ayesha?! Ayesha?!!" Erik's panicked voice echoed through the living room to the kitchen.

"We're in here." I called.

"Oh Alex." Erik muttered.

"Hello." I waved awkwardly.

We hadn't really talked much since the kiss.

Erik approached me and spoke to his cat.

"Hello little lady~" he purred. 

I've always found it funny, how people behave around animals. You can truly see humanity at it's best, and least dignified.

I smiled at Erik. "You want her?"

"Please." he nodded. 

Our fingers brushed as I handed over the cat.

"I'm so glad Nadir was able to get her. Usually Ayesha hates him. I wonder how he got her into her kennel."

"He did have Cindy with him."

"That is true..."

There was an awkward lull and Erik and I both tried to compensate by talking at once.

"Erik I-"

"Alex..."

"You go ahead..." I encouraged, laughing lightly.

"We should talk..." he frowned.

"About what?" I asked innocently, putting some plates into a cupboard.

"Don't play dumb with me."

I nearly dropped the plate.

"I- I just want to know if I have a chance with you..."

"I need more time Erik..."

He sighed heavily

"I'm prepared to give you whatever time you need. I just need to know."

"...Y-"

*Ding Dong*

Erik's face hardened.

"Stay here this could be the men from France." Erik growled. 

He left before I could stop him.

I rushed after him and into the living room.

Erik had opened the door, and I recognized the man standing there.

I could tell Erik was shocked by my father's disfigured face.

He had been in the army and been harmed by a grenade. He was very lucky to be alive, let alone having his sight. 

"Daddy?!" I exclaimed.

"Alexandra?" he frowned elbowing past a very shell shocked Erik.

"Who is this?" he growled, gesturing to Erik with his cane.

"This is Erik, my friend who I met in France."

"Ah yes Cindy told me about your escapade..." He frowned, looking Erik over.

I looked at him waiting for the explosion.

"Erik please close the door." I asked softly. 

I heard the door close but did not risk breaking eye contact with my dad.

"What, the hell, were you thinking?" Dad growled. 

"I..."

"Sit down young lady." He commanded.

Erik shuffled his feet awkwardly as I sat down on the couch.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

"I can imagine..."

"No you can't possibly..." He growled.

"Papa."

"No Alexandra! I was worried sick! Cindy told me you had angered some mobsters!!!"

"Dad I-"

"I'm not able to ground you, because you no longer live under my roof. But know this. You almost killed me. If anything had happened to you..."

"Yeah but it didn't." I argue. 

"Alexandra you can't keep being this careless with your life! I realize your boyfriend cheated on you and yes he's scum but don't let him ruin your life!" Dad shouted. 

"Dad... I'm fine."

"Luck... pure luck!" he shrieked. 

"No... Actually I'm only here thanks to Erik." I replied softly. 

Dad quirked an eyebrow and looked over at Erik.

"What's with the mask?"

Erik looked at my father's face, and slowly took off his mask.

"Oh."

"I was born this way, but I'd assume you weren't."

"Why is that?"

"You're a soldier, It's in the way you carry yourself."

"I am." He sounded exhausted. 

I stood.

"Do you want a tea dad?" I asked, laying a gentle hand on his arm. 

"Please." He replied sitting down in his usual arm chair. I could tell that the yelling had tired him.

I could hear quiet conversation from the kitchen.

I returned with the tea and smiled, it was so good to see Erik so comfortable with somebody he just met.

*ring ring *

"Sorry it's work i have to get this..." 

I set the tea down on the table and walked into the kitchen.

"Hello?" I answered. 

"We need you to come down to the office." 

"Alright..." I replied, hanging up the phone. 

I frowned and walked back into the living room. 

"Guys I'll be right back. I'm needed at the office."

I kissed dad on the cheek, said goodbye to Erik, and headed downtown. Wondering why they would call me.