Chapter 37: Never give up
Now he was back again. Palutena drove to the parking lot of the institution. This time, however, nobody came to greet them.
"He's not here, huh? We should go to the information and ask where he is. We can't just walk around on the grounds like that, "Palutena suggested and unfortunately Pit had to give in, she was right. He couldn't just walk around like that, and he did not know if Pittoo was in any session.
"Alright then let us ask. Maybe he's in a conversation, then we would search endlessly, "Pit agreed, and they both went into the main building, which was very different from the apartment building. It did not have the same beautiful, restored flair. It was just modern. In addition, it also seemed to be the main place for the people, he could see that the corridors and levels were labeled. There were many kinds of activities, between group sessions, individual sessions and rehabilitation, there were also many recreational activities. They even seemed to have a swimming pool in the basement.
Palutena stepped up to the information.
"Hello, excuse me, we are here to visit Pittoo. Could you tell us if he is currently in a session? Or is he free? ", She asked the young woman who stood behind the counter and smiled at her.
"Good day. Pittoo? Yes, just a minute, "with that, she typed something into the computer, and after reading a few lines, her expression became apologetic.
"I'm sorry, but he specifically wants all visits to be refused. Unfortunately we can not give you any information and if you are only here because of him I have to ask you to leave. I can not allow you to meet him if he does not want it. I'm really sorry, "she apologized to them.
Pit was a bit shocked that Pittoo had gone so far that they were even turned down at the information.
"Alright, we'll leave the grounds then, I hope he changes his mind. Could you let us know when he receives visitors again? I will leave my number here, it would be very nice of you ", Palutena gave her business card to the woman, and she took it and entered the phone number into the computer.
"I will arrange it, so that you will be informed if he changes his mind. I wish you a nice day ", seems like they couldn't do anymore, and they left the center again.
"I can not believe it ... that he is really so rigorous ... I can not accept that. You can drive home if you want, I do not want to drag you into anything if there will be trouble. But I can not just go now. I'm just here because of him, I hope you understand that, "Pit had made his decision, and he would not be so easily dissuaded. Palutena, however, looked at him anxiously.
"Are you sure? You know that you must not be discovered, it could be risky if someone finds you and realizes. We can also come back again for the next few days, maybe he will change his mind ", Palutena was not sure if Pit's idea was good, but the angel did not let himself be dissuaded.
"He will not change his mind if I do not bring him to it. Pittoo is stubborn and thickheaded. I have to see him and I think he knows that this will not stop me, but he still tries to put all those stones in my way. If you're worried, you can wait for me, but I do not know when I'll be back, "Pit countered, and Palutena gave in with a nod and a deep exhale.
"Alright, I suppose I can not dissuade you anyway. I'll wait for you at the car. Maybe I will get something to eat in the meanwhile. When you're back and I'm not, please wait until I come back. Take care of yourself, please ", she was seriously worried, when people realized that he was an angel, he could get into serious problems.
"Yeah that's fine and do not worry I'll make sure no one notices what I am. I'll come back to the car and wait when I'm done, "he assured her again, then their ways parted and Pit went in to search for Pittoo.
OoOoO
First, he went to his room and knocked on the door. Unfortunately, he did not get an answer and when he tried to open the door, it was locked. Apparently Pittoo was not in his room, that meant he was looking for a needle in a haystack.
He had to ask somebody if he did not find him, but for safety's sake, Pit started searching alone for now. He went to the small petting zoo, searched the various paths and places where people grouped, but he couldn't find the black-haired.
It seemed like he really needed to ask somebody and Pit felt someone stare at him. Turning around, he saw a group of young men standing in the shadow of the house, a few of them where smoking, while the others covered them. Smoking was clearly not allowed, cigarettes were indeed retained.
They looked in his direction and when Pit looked back, one raised his hand in greeting. He saw it as an invitation, and so he went to the group which watched him curiously.
"Uhm Hi ... sorry but maybe you know Pittoo? I'm looking for him, but I do not know if he might be in an activity right now, "Pit began and greeted the group.
"Pittoo? Of course, we know him, he is almost inventory of the house. As far as I know, he has sports exercises right now. The hall is in this direction, but visitors are not allowed to enter it, "replied the one who waved to him. The other men looked at him briefly before returning to their old conversations.
"Oh ... when is the lesson over?", He did not necessarily want to "break in" somewhere, especially when people knew each other and knew that he was not one of them, then he could get into problems easily.
"No idea, we can freely divide our free time. It may be that he has entered only one hour, but it may as well be three. Should I smuggle you in? We can cover you easily in this group, "offered the young man with the dark brown hair and a few of the other men agreed.
"That would not be a problem. I'm just wondering why we should get into trouble, "grumbled one of them in the hind row and put out his cigarette with his foot. He had dark blond hair, almost gray-brown, and looked grumpier.
"Do not pretend we're busy and why not? Could be exciting ", the first held against him and the smallest of the five men group poked the grumpy one, with a grin on his lips. Pit already had problems keeping them apart.
"Uhm thank you. But I do not want to drag you into it, when people spot me, we will all get into problems, "Pit said, thankfully. He could do without walking around in a group of people where he constantly had to make sure that no one touched his wings. Besides, he did not want to drag them with him. It was probably funny enough that he spoke directly to a whole group instead of a single person. But he was not worried about that, he did not need to fear anyone. No one could put up a fight against him, which perhaps made him a bit reckless.
"Well then. If you do not want. Then good luck, "the brown-haired boy shrugged and Pit left the group, thanking him again and wishing them a nice day.
So it was time to go to the gym. He followed the description the leader had given him and soon found himself in an area that did not seem to be as full as the entrance. Fewer people stayed and only smaller groups stood together under the trees or sat on the grass. Otherwise, a few people scurried along the paths towards their destination.
Pit did not want to attract attention, but that would not even be as easy as he realized. He struck out here as a stranger, about the same as a peacock between ravens. He felt the looks on him and certainly some wondered what he wanted here. This part of the complex was obviously not intended for visitors.
But he had found no exact demarcation, except a small fence at the beginning of this path, but it was open. As he followed the path, an obstacle actually came in his way, in the form of a larger fence, and this time it was closed.
Pit frowned, biting his lower lip as he stared at the black-colored, slightly decorated iron. It had no real lock, just a strange-looking circular area just below the latch.
He shook the fence, but it did not open. Pit took a few steps back and looked at the obstacle. He could easily climb over it, even without his wings it would be easy, and with them it was not more effort than going up a staircase. But if anyone saw him, he could get serious problems.
"Hey," a woman's voice suddenly jolted him out of his mind and Pit went tense, before turning to face her. It was a young woman with dark, brown hair that fell over her shoulders, and she had friendly, brown eyes.
"Oh, I actually wanted to ask if you forgot your key, but the way you look, it looks like I caught you in something," her lips formed into a grin before pulling a key out of her pocket, however it seemed to be made of plastic and looked like a toy.
"I ... um," stammered Pit, not sure what to say. Would she throw him out now?
"Do not worry, I'm a patient, not a keeper. I do not betray you. I assume you want to visit someone? A forbidden meeting huh? Sounds exciting. Come on, but do not get caught, "she seemed visibly amused and a little excited as she squeezed the plastic key against the circular surface and the gate suddenly began to buzz. Then she pushed down the latch and it just went up.
"Huh ... how does that work? And thanks ... ", Pit was confused, but followed her inside before she dropped the door behind them and a click told them that it was locked again.
"Magnetic lock, it only opens with these keys. Every patient gets one, many courses are held here in the back. Where do you want to go? I'll guide you, "she offered with a grin and Pit could not refuse, it could not have been better for him.
"Thank you, I have to go to the gym, I want to meet a friend. We quarreled a bit and that's why he does not want to see me, but I can not just accept it, I want to make up with him, "Pit told her.
"Oh, your friend seems to be quite resentful. I hope he is not angry that you just show up like that. I'll take you to the gym, from there you'll find the rooms by itself, you just have to follow the corridor, then you'll hear the people in the halls. But I don't know In which of the halls he is located. You will have to look. Just do not make the overseers aware of you. They do not know every patient here, but you certainly do not want to risk anything, "the young woman told him before actually leading him to the gym.
"Thank you, that's very nice of you. Can I ask you for your name? My name is Pit ", here he did not have to use his secret identity or?
"No problem and nice to meet you Pit. My name is Nina. We are here, unfortunately, my guide ends now, just follow the main corridor and maybe you'll see each other again. I wish you good luck with your buddy ".
"I hope so and I'll tell you how it went when I see you again. Thank you so much for your help and have a nice day ", With these words they said goodbye to each other and Pit looked after her before she went back the way they came, and then turned and disappeared behind the gym.
The angel was now turning to his original destination, and he pushed open one of the two large, glazed doors and entered a dark room with gray-marbled walls and a floor of the same color. It was not real marble, it felt more synthetic.
Pit followed Nina's instructions and walked along the corridor, past a few doors that probably represented the changing rooms for men and women. Then at the end the path turned right, and he passed two WC doors until he heard what Nina meant. The hall ended in front of him but on the left he saw doors, with signs on them showing 1, 2 and so on.
Behind the walls he could hear people doing gymnastics. At least he heard shouting, laughing, loud talking when people tried to drown out the other sounds and various sounds of bodies and equipment.
Seemed like he was at the right spot. She could not tell him a hall, so he would just try one by one and walked into the first one. However, he was not directly in the gym but in another small hallway with two open doors on the right and left where cabinets, tables and various other things stood in the rooms. Directly in front of him, however, was a metal door that stood open and bright light streamed into the hallway, the sounds came from the door. Pit went to it and peered inside, he looked around right and left, and it seemed the three halls were connected. At the top of the ceiling large partitions were attached, but they were raised. So he could look over the whole hall, but he quickly saw that Pittoo was not here. So he had to try his luck on the other side, which he did.
At the next hall, the partition had come down, and the room was cut off from the hall next door. Pit had to be careful that the group doing sports there did not see him, since there were far more people in a smaller space, but Pittoo was not among them again. He finally found him at the third attempt anyway it the last one. The next two halls were connected again and in fact he saw Pittoo in a group of people. He seemed to warm up.
The black-haired man did not see him and Pit was not sure if it was a good idea to call for him. Even as he thought about how to get Pittoo's attention, the group began to run and ran along the edge in one turn.
The overseer did not seem to pay much attention to the warming group and dedicated himself to a few physically handicapped children and helped them stretch their muscles. So Pit was lucky, and he had to do nothing but wait until the group ran past him.
So he stood beside the door and listened as the group turned their rounds until they came past him at the door. The first few people did not notice him standing on the wall and in the shade, Pittoo was one in the rear, but it was probably only because he seemed absent-minded.
"Pittoo," he called softly as the man ran past the door. He just walked past without reacting and Pit thought he did not hear him, but then the black haired man appeared in the door and quickly closed it behind him as he came into the hallway.
"What the hell are you doing here !? Do you know what will happen if you get caught? I thought I was clear enough! ", He sounded angry, but by the fact that he muffled his voice and shouting at him in a whisper, it seemed like he cared.
"I wanted to see you! Even with the risk to be discovered. They did not even tell us where you were at the entrance, so I had to ask around! ", Pit answered him in the same loud whisper and crossed his arms over his chest. The sparkle from the black man's brown-red eyes did not impress him in the least.
"You're really like a plague. There's a reason they did not tell you, I do not want to see you. That's what I told you, go back to your world and leave me alone, "hissed the black-haired, but he did not just go back to the gym to get rid of him. So Pit knew that he could discuss it with him now.
"I told you I'm not leaving until I'm sure everything is alright. I do not care if you hate me for it. If I need to, I'll come every day and risk being discovered until you finally accept it, "Pit grumbled back and Pittoo shook his head annoyed, knowing that he was serious.
"Are you really aware of what happens when people discover and find out who you are? You are not human if it is true what you say and you are here in your angelic body. When people find out that angels really exist, you will turn the entire world upside down. Even if they can not capture you because you can just run away into your world when things get tough. They will investigate, and then they may find the connection between you and everyone you've been in contact with here, "Pittoo hissed the words and now Pit swallowed. He probably was not so wrong, his very existence could cause problems for his friends if someone found out.
He was not used to people being so crazy for him, but there were also times in his own world where humans completely went crazy just to get a look at him or a blessing.
"I ... I do not want that to happen. But I can not just go, you understand it too. I will never forgive myself when I return to my world and may never hear from you again. Constantly worrying and thinking what if ... that's not great, "he had to go through to him. He could not just shrug Pittoo off and then run away and forget everything.
"I can not get rid of you anyway ... so I will give in. You can come to visit me, but I decide for myself what I will tell and what I won't. To be true... I just tried to force you back into your world were you belong to "Pittoo actually admitted, and Pit's blue eyes started to twinkle.
"Alright! I will not try to get anything out of you, but I am happy when you allow me to spend time with you, I want to see how you live here and how you are doing. Maybe we can also go out into the city and have a nice day? Until you trust me more or I'm sure that I'm not needed anymore, "Pit then suggested excited and Pittoo clicked his tongue.
"Do you also think of me for a change? No matter how I feel, there is another reason why I do not want to spend so much time with you anymore. Or do you like torturing me? Keeping me at bay endlessly as you whirl around me all the time without me being able to touch you, besides, I can not get out ", Pit lowered his head a little at these words.
"I'm sorry ... of course, I think about you and I know that it must be hard for you. But you're also a good friend for me and ... does it all have to end because of that? May we never see each other again because I can not reciprocate your feelings? "He raised his head again and looked into Pittoo's eyes, this time he averted his eyes.
"It's not like that ... I do not really want to break contact altogether, it's just ... very complicated. Maybe you can take this Piet with you. If someone else is with us all the time, I certainly will not have the urge to attack you and he seems to want to meet me, so why not? ", he could come with him? Even if it was only to act like a cockblocker...
Maybe they could become friends, just because Pittoo was not interested in Piet did not mean that it was impossible for them to get along.
"Really ?", Pit was enthusiastic about the idea, and that she came directly from Pittoo was all the better. Sure, it was a little unfair to Piet, but he had also already suggested that he could come along. Was it bad for him to be here so that Pittoo didn't do anything stupid?
"Yes and now calm down before I change my mind. I can not get out anyway, so you have to keep coming here. I can give you my plan so you know when I have free time. Now I have to go back, before I stay away too long and going to the toilet becomes a more unpleasant excuse. Wait for me in my room, we'll talk more there ", with these words Pittoo left the angel and went back into the hall.
But Pit beamed with joy, he had imagined the worst, but that was an incredibly great result. For him, for Piet and maybe for Pittoo if they got along. That they could get to be friends was already an incredibly great step and Pit was happy about it. Time and sympathy would make the rest.
But now he followed Pittoo's advice, and left the gym. Again the fence stood in his way, but this time there was no one who opened it. So Pit waited until he was sure no one saw it and then climbed over the fence, with the help of his wings.
It worked, and he came back without anyone discovering him, a little adventure was not bad either, he had not felt any real tension for a long time. Not that kind, at least, but Pit did not go directly to Pittoo's room, but first to Palutena who was waiting at the car.
There, her told her everything he had discussed with Pittoo, she was as happy as he was, that the black-haired had agreed.
"This will please Piet, I think he does not care that he serves to let Pittoo keep his hands off you. As long as he doesn't get mad at him. Piet would like to make some more friends here. Since we moved here after my breakup with Hermes, he does not have many friends anymore. That's why he goes so far away to the university, she's at our old place. Hermes also lives there, and he often meets with him when he's there. Piet only comes down here on weekends, and then he is often lonely. When he's done with his studies, he has to start a new life here, "Palutena told him a bit, and in fact Piet had told him a bit about it too. He had not been able to cope well with the breakup since there had been a lot of quarrels, sometimes he had run away from home and stayed with Magnus.
This had gone well for a while, however, Magnus' girlfriend Gaol lived with him and as much as they liked Piet, it bothered a bit if he slept by them every other day.
In the end, Palutena and Hermes came to a divorce and Piet wanted to come with his mother, even though that meant he moved to a completely new place where he did not know anyone. That was probably the reason why Piet wanted to meet Pittoo and why he was so attached to Pit.
"I would also be very happy if they make friends and I'm sure Pittoo does not mind, it was his suggestion that we take him with us", Pit told Palutena the rest, and they also needed a solution because of the problem Pittoo couldn't leave the institution grounds. But came time came advice and now he would first have to go back to Pittoo.
He spoke to Palutena, who would pick him up at 8:00 pm, then ran back to Pittoo's room, where he waited for the black-haired man.