Connor eagerly took my hand and led me down the hallway from the upstairs. I wasn't too sure what he could be after at first, but the closer we got to the lobby, the more my heart sank. Despite my warning in the storage room this small child was awfully fascinated by Father and I guess he wouldn't settle down until he got his way. Father had been so overworked lately and it was making him tired and irritable, so the last thing I wanted was for this kid to get snapped at over something he didn't realize was causing Father stress.

Regardless, I was dragged out into the lobby and Connor soon parted to investigate the small man behind his large box-like desk.

"H-Hello, Con...Azure," Father said with a wince from over the edge. "Did you need something?"

"Sura said I should stay away from you," Connor said with his head tilted, "but you looked real sad."

"...Oh?" Father replied, tilting his own head.

"S-Sorry, Father," I blurted from my distance, my ears dropped to the side. "I just wanted him to leave you alone while you're working. That's all. But he really, really wanted to come see you."

"Please don't apologize, sweetie, I understand," he responded, lifting himself from his chair. "I've...not been the kindest person, lately, and I'd been meaning to say something on that front anyway, if possible."

Reaching for the heavy desk arm he slowly lifted it, then pushed past the desk's door. Carefully he walked around the corner to face Connor, his face tense and morose. I wondered if something happened before the little kid came to see me as I had only walked by them earlier, not paying much attention otherwise.

"Connor," he very quietly whispered, taking a knee, "I'm very sorry for what I said earlier. I'm very...very tired and sore, but that is no excuse for my behavior, especially regarding children. Could you please forgive me?"

I guess he said something regrettable. With the work he'd been pulling, I don't think I could blame him. I'd probably do the same.

He held out his hands and Connor was all too eager to take them. With a big smile he surely nodded his head, though I wonder if Connor even understood whatever was said. Even so, Father's face softened upon such a gesture, and even from here I could see his eyes growing shiny.

"U-Um, I was wondering something," I said, walking a bit closer. "Did...Did someone tell him that he's here because he was bad?"

"Not...that I know of?" Father replied, puzzled. "I didn't say anything of the sort and Daniel wouldn't ever think to. Why?"

"He was...uh, awfully convinced that it was the reason he was brought here," I continued. "I don't know what went on before he glued himself to my tail, though, so...thought I would ask, is all."

"Hm, well...there is a thing with children, especially younger children, where they will often blame themselves for the things their parents go through," he said, combing his fingers through Connor's hair. "Rarely is it ever the case, but it's something I've seen and heard a lot over the years. From what I understand, she was a corrupted and took him here to...hopefully have a better life than the one she could provide."

"...O-Oh," I shuddered, remembering my previous life. "I'm...sorry to hear that, and sorry for accus--"

"Please...don't apologize, Sura; I really do understand your concern," Father softly said, looking back to Connor's contented face as he gently scratched his scalp. "Looks like you've been washed up and groomed already. I'm sorry for the hand-me-downs, but it's...all I have right now. I'll...try to...work a bit more to get you some of your own clothes, okay?"

Perhaps it was the glossiness of his eyes or the wavering in his voice that prompted Connor to wrap his tiny arms around Father's small ribcage. He gently rested his chin atop the man's shoulder and hung on like that, his hands resting on his back.

"You seem really sad," Connor whispered. "Momma always told me to be nice to people, 'specially when they're sad, 'cus they're going through a lot that you don't know about."

Something about that seemed to hit Father pretty hard. Some seconds later his arms ascended and wrapped around the little boy in response. Connor squeezed on him just a little tighter and I could see his small body start to buckle. As he wrapped his unkempt, fluffy tail around Connor's legs tears had begun to trail down Father's tired, grey face.

It was obvious that he was tired, but there always seemed to be...more to it. Something we couldn't place. For him to break down like this in front of anyone, though, reassured me of this hypothesis-- he hated succumbing to emotions in front of others and would do anything he could to avoid it. I'm sure he felt horribly weak and awkward crying on a three-year-old, but between his muffled sniffles the little boy just rubbed his back to comfort him.

"You're okay, you're okay," Connor repeated. "My momma said it's better to let those things out instead of holding them in so much. You should do that, too."

"Your mother was a smart woman," Father chuckled. "...Thank you, Connor. You're a very kind boy and I'm happy to have you here."

Connor rubbed the end of his snout against Father's cheek, so Father retorted by rubbing his atop Connor's head. Given the boy's giggle he seemed all too happy to accept it before running back over to me as I beckoned. We both waved back to him before heading back upstairs, letting him deal with the remainder of his shift.

---