After the chaos that went down, both Peter and I left the tower. As we left we realized that it was only 8:16 pm, and not wanting to go home just yet, we decided to stop at a small cat cafe that we both enjoy before heading back home. We are silent for most of our walk, seemingly still processing what happened just several minutes ago.

When we get to the cat cafe I am instantly met with the pitch-black cat named Sushi running up to me and twirling around in between my legs. Sushi was always very reserved and very anti-social, although for some reason, unbeknownst to me, she absolutely adores me and will not leave my side whenever I come here, which is quite often. With a wide smile etched across my face, I reach down to pick her up, cradle her in my arms, and cue sweet words to her. This damn cat absolutely dissolves any illusion that I have of an intimidating personality that I hoped to project. She has me melting over her even more than I have her melting in my arms.

Peter laughs slightly over our reaction to seeing each other again after a lot longer than I would have wished. After I and Sushi have our reunion, we then go over to the cafe counter to order our drinks, all the while Sushi is still curled up and a purring puddle in my arms.

We both order our usuals, Peter getting a double chocolate hot chocolate and myself getting a dirty chai latte. After we get our drinks we then head over to our usual table that is hidden away in the corner to sit down. I set Sushi down on my lap still stroking her fur as I settle down in the chair.

When Peter also sits down a different cat that I don't recognize, and therefore must be new, comes up to rub against Peter's leg. He jumps slightly in surprise since for some reason most of the cats here seem to have something against Peter and avoid him at all costs, but it is a welcomed surprise for him. He leans down and cues over the small orange-colored tabby cat and then gently picks him up where he gladly curls up in his lap as we then look towards each other, neither speaking but both knowing the question that is lingering in the air.

After a long moment, Peter finally speaks up addressing it. "So do you think that they are telling the truth?"

"Yes, I do. I know they are."

"How are you sure? I mean isn't he like the god of lies? That's really cool and awesome, but I am also sure that must make him really good at lying."

"They are not lying, I would know if they were lying and they are not. Also, didn't you see the look in his eyes? You can't fake that shit." I say slightly solemnly since I have a bit of experience with that look.

"Yeah, you're right. And everyone deserves a second chance anyway, I just want to be careful."

"But I doubt the others are going to give him that." I continue worriedly while nervously brushing my hands through Sushi's silky fur.

We spend the next half hour talking and joking around until it is time to leave if I want to make it back before my curfew and not bare witness to the wrath of Satan.

As we start to walk back home, we talk through our plans and thoughts for tomorrow's projects and ideas that we want to bring up to Tony. I also remind him that tomorrow is Tom's birthday and for him to swing by Central Park as Spiderman to surprise him. Sadly, we eventually get to the street corner where we need to split off and we part ways with a promise to see each other tomorrow.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

On the way back to the orphanage, I make a detour to the dancewear store to pick up the stuff that I already got set aside for Tom's birthday present. When I get to the front of the store I stand there looking at the extravagant atmosphere, a place that I realistically could not afford, but Tom is worth it.

I push open the door causing the soft sound of the bell to ring throughout the shop. I make a b-line right towards the counter, feeling very out of place amongst the clean and distinguished furniture and products.

"Hello, how may I help you?" The woman behind the counter asks.

"I put something on hold a few days ago. It should be under the name Finnley."

"Yes, just one moment." She then disappears into a back room until a few moments later when she emerges holding a sleek white box decorated with a silver-colored ribbon.

When she sets it on the counter I carefully lift up the cover, my eyes landing on the most beautiful pair of ballet shoes and ballet leggings that I have ever seen.

I smile widely, "It's perfect."

The woman nods and smiles as she starts to ring it up.

I have been saving for almost a year to be able to afford this for Tom. He has always loved ballet and would practice with every moment of spare time that he had. However, for the past few years, he has been prancing around in a pair of my old slippers that I had used many layers of duct tape to reinforce the tips with, which were no doubt destroying his feet. I wanted to support him, and I am finally able to.

When the woman finishes ringing it up and bagging it, I still cringe at the price. But I then wipe the sour look off of my face, replacing it with a smile as I hand over the money, simply looking forward to the look on Tom's face when he opens it and that makes every penny worth it.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

When I get back to the orphanage I release a sigh of relief when I find that Ms. Santina is not there, most likely out at the bar like she usually is around this time.

The kids are just finishing up dinner when I walk into the open room. Once they finish, Scarlet ushers them to the living room to entertain themselves while I get started on the stack of dishes. A few minutes later Scarlet pads back into the room and takes the place next to me and wordlessly starts to dry the dishes that I wash.

"Do you have any plans for Tom's birthday tomorrow?" Scarlet asks over the sound of the sloshing soapy water in the sink.

"Yeah, I thought that we could all go down to Central Park for the day. I also have a surprise that I think he will like." I say with a mischievous smirk.

Scarlet smirks as well, even though she is completely unaware.

She then leans in closer and whispers in my ear, "Did you get the thing?"

I turn towards her with a wide smile on my face, eagerly nodding as I already know that she is talking about the ballet gear. I told her of my plan to save up for it last year and now we both wear giddy looks as we get excited to finally be able to give it to Tom.

Once we finish the dishes we go to the living room where the rest of the kids are to witness the massive 18-person game of Clue that was occurring. I am not even sure how they got it to work with that many people, but it was pure chaos. It was especially chaotic with all the new rules that we made up for the game. For example, after a while, Jeremy and Sebastian finally found out that it was Mr. Plum, with Ms. Scarlet as an accomplice, and Mr. Green by association since he was the judge that they bribed, who committed the murder using the jackhammer and guillotine in the lounge balcony.

After there was much debate about whether the two of them cheated or not, Scarlet and I finally ushered them up to their respective bedrooms since I feared that Satan would be back soon.

After tucking all the kids into bed and reading through some of the stories in my copy of the Prose Edda to a bunch of the younger kids, I carefully leave their rooms and make my way to my own.

I free-fall down onto my thin mattress and attempt to fall asleep. However, 30 minutes later I am still lying there tossing and turning, my mind swirling with thoughts and questions. Most of which mainly have to do with the new resident of the tower as of today. The moment keeps replaying in my head and I try to pick him apart from it, but I am unable to. There is something about Loki that bothers me. It is not a bad kind of bothered, it is more like the 'there is a lot to you that I can not pick apart and it unsettles me that I can not read your entire personality with one glance' type of bothered. I also now notice that when I was around him I got that same strange comforting feeling that I always get when I am with the pretty dream lady as well. It is a very distinct feeling that before today I have only ever felt with the pretty dream lady, and I am not sure how I didn't realize it earlier. It is a deep sinking feeling in my lower chest that finally feels full, like a jagged jigsaw piece was slowly and snugly fit into the hole that it fits into perfectly, like I finally feel found and as if I finally have that piece back that I have always felt I have been missing my entire life. I understand that there is absolutely no reason for me to feel this version of safe around Loki, in fact, there are probably many reasons why I should not feel this, but at this point, I can't imagine and don't want to live a life without that safe comforting feeling and I would do anything to hold onto it.

With that thought, I slowly ease my mind, promising myself that I will try and clear some of my questions tomorrow, but for now, I lower myself into the deep abyss of sleep, desperate to feel that safe and comforting feeling once again with the lady that I know is waiting for me just on the other side of the darkness.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───