Chapter 38: Charcoal

Pit waited awhile and talked to a few people until Pittoo finally stepped into the hallway. His blue eyes sparkled and the black-haired man just shook his head, but a grin crossed his lips.

"Pittoo!"

"Yeah, let's talk inside," the young man answered to the unspoken words of the angel.

"Okay!", Pit nodded and followed him into the room, it looked the same as the day before, so he lay down on the bed and looked at the other one.

"How are you?", The question caught him a little unexpected and Pit blinked surprised at the black-haired.

"How I feel? Um ... good. I'm fine, "he answered, a bit perplexed and watched as Pittoo grabbed the desk chair and sat down on it. He put his arms on the arm rest and turned to face him.

"We could not really talk ...because of my attempts to get rid of you. I should have known it would not work, not with you ", a dissatisfied grin crossed his lips, it almost looked like he bared his teeth a little.

"No, I'm not going to give up that easily. Even after you said it would be the best. But ... I doubted it, I was unsure. There are more people than just me who want to help you, "Pit smirked slightly and returned the look from those red eyes.

"I got that. But you should not burden yourself with that crap, that's my problem. "Pittoo sighed, while his hand glided through the black strands, before he put it back on his arm rest.

"What do you want to do anyway? There is not really something you can do ", now he looked at the brown-haired, waiting for an answer and Pit bit his lower lip.

"Honestly, I have no idea. I do not really know what's going on and how I get you away from here. But at least I can spend time with you, that's a start. Otherwise, I'll come up with something. You're an adult, you can not do what you want, "Pit answered then and Pittoo shook his head.

"Unfortunately yes. I'm considered insane and I'm still dependent on them until I turn 26. Since then, I can not do what I want, as much as I would like it, "Pittoo tapped his foot slightly.

"Why? I mean ... why exactly are you here at all? I do not feel like you're "insane", "Pit began to catch for Pittoo's chair with his feet and started to play with it a bit.

"I am not really ill, they are innate things. No ... I am here because I am an orphan. My parents died early and that's how I came here. No family wanted me ... let's just say I was not an easy kid. This is something of a sanctuary for unwanted orphans. They are trying to get us back into the world, so that we can life on our own. If we grow too old, they help us to stand on our own two feet. Until recently, that worked well for me.

But no matter, as soon as I am allowed to, I will join in the next project and then start all over again. As you can see there is really nothing you have to do. You're wasting your time here, "Pittoo looked deep into the blue eyes of the angel, but he was not deterred this time.

"Maybe not in this matter. But there are things that you keep a secret from me. I've seen that last time and ... I'm sorry about your parents, "Pit replied, but his doppelganger just wanked off.

"I was still very young, I can not remember them anymore. I just know that they were drug addicts and had a car accident. I and the other car driver were the only survivors, "he explained, but Pit realized he was avoiding the first words. He did not want to force him to speak.

"That sounds awful, but I'm glad you survived, I do not know what I would have done without you", the angel gave him a small smile before continuing, "You said something about adopting. Can you still be adopted? Although you are already an adult? ".

"In theory, yes, every orphan can still be adopted even in adulthood. However, there are some things that need to be considered. You can only get adopted to someone when you develop a non-sexual or non-profit attachment to an older person. As example: If I have somebody I see as my mother and would like her to be my real mother, then it would be possible. It also brings certainty with not being alone and having a family.

But I got used to it, I see myself as the last member of my family, my living relatives do not want to know anything about me, so they do not count for me, "Pittoo got up from the chair and walked over to his clothes, where he got a chocolate croissant from the bedside drawer.

"Do you want one?", He looked at Pit for a moment, and he nodded.

"But it would be possible. Who knows ... maybe you can live with Palutena and Piet if it can be set up, even if they do not adopt you. You would certainly be happy if you found a family to take you in, "he caught a sharp gaze from Pittoo and Pit realized that maybe he had gone a bit too far.

"Why should I want to live with them? Just because you know her? Do not talk nonsense, the two of them have nothing to do with me, aside from the incident and I can refrain from living together with your copy, "Pittoo growled, he bit into the croissant, and still threw one to Pit.

"Piet is not my copy ... but sorry. It just came to my mind if you got along with them. At least you'll get to know her a bit, maybe you'll get on well together. They would have to agree as well as you when the topic comes up. Of course, I will not force you to do anything, do not think so ", Pit opened the bag and bit into the croissant.

"Alright, I know what you mean. But do not forget that they are strangers to me, "Pittoo shook his head and sat next to Pit.

"Stop thinking too much. 3 years is not that long compared to how long I've been living here. I have to behave until then, and everything will be fine. Then they can not bring me back here if there is something. As soon as I get rid of this stupid status at least, as long as I'm considered mentally incompetent, they can keep me here as long as they want, "he muttered softly.

"I'm sure that works. I mean you are definitely sane. You can stand on your own two feet, I've seen that. Viridi will gladly pick you up when you come out and then you can work with her again, "Pit grinned and finished the croissant, as did Pittoo.

"Maybe you're right. In any case, I would not mind, it's a nice work, "agreed the black-haired.

So there was a good view of the future, now he just had to find out what it was that occupied Pittoo. Why was he feeling sick here, he could not really imagine what it could be, had it something to do with the "teachers"? What he had to do here or something else?

He knew some people here for years. But Pit also did not know how Pittoo had been when he was here before, at least he had never said anything, when it came to his past he always spoke around it and kept everything a secret. He needed to count on him to tell him what had happened to him as a child.

"When do we want to meet again? I do not know if Piet is fit enough to accompany us all day, "Pit leaned back a little and looked at the room, but he did not see anything new except the things he had already seen.

"He Does not have to, you will not be here all day. You can not come until evening, when all my courses are through, you can only stay from about 3-8 pm. After that, there's night's sleep and all visitors have to leave the grounds ", Pittoo looked at him and Pit noticed it.

"Oh okay ... but 5 hours should be okay, that's not too much for Piet. I only wonder what we can do if you are not allowed to leave the grounds. Do not they make an exception when you're traveling with others? "Pit returned his gaze, but he could not quite say what the other thought.

"There are some leisure activities here, there will be something to do and no, even if other people are involved, I may not leave the grounds. Not until the whole thing with Piet is through. There seems to be a lot of paperwork, even after Palutena has not filed a complaint. The psychiatrists must first give their okay before I can go back to town or join any of the integration programs again, "he explained, but Pittoo's gaze did not turn away.

"Oh okay, I hope this will clear up soon, so you can get out and ... um, what is it?", Pit frowned questioningly and Pittoo shrugged in response.

"Do not know ... it's strange that you look so grown up. As if you made a time travel, it feels strange, "the black-haired crossed his arms and looked at him further.

"I believe you, I think it's funny. I look like I'm 250 or so. In angel years. When I see myself in the mirror, I feel like it's not me, "Pit said, then touched his more prominent, older face. He did not look like he was too old, but around 25-30.

"Yes ... that's exactly the feeling. Somehow it's hard to imagine that you are the one who stayed with me for 2 weeks. It seems like you are somebody else, just with the same memories. Maybe we do not need to worry, I do not feel the urge I always had before. Although I thought it would get worse when I see you again ... I guess it will be hard for me to get used to your new appearance, "Pittoo got up from the bed and leaned against the wall, so they did look at each other.

"You mean you do not feel anything for me anymore? Just because I look different? You know how that sounds, "Pit had to smile a bit and Pittoo rolled his eyes.

"I still feel something, especially when I think about you. But I can not really do anything with the fact that you look different now, that's all. Maybe the wish to push you on the bed and be all over you will come back when I got used to it, "a cheeky grin crossed his lips and Pit felt his cheeks burn up again.

"You don't need to say it like that! I hope this wish does not come back when you see Piet ... you wanted him to come, so that you would not attack me. But maybe you will need me, so that you do not attack him ", Pit just wanted to tease him and Pittoo growled as an answer.

"I hope not ... but he has your ... his body again. It will probably be just as strange, the body I know carries a person who is completely foreign to me. I just can not say what will happen, but the situation is too surreal, "grumbled the young man before he looked back to Pit and watched as the blanket moved behind Pit, although there was nothing.

"Your wings ... are they really invisible? I mean ... are they really there? ", He had completely forgotten his wings so far and now remembered it again.

"That was really risky of you ..."

"I know ... and yes, they are really there, just invisible. Do you want to touch them? Then you can be sure, "Pit smiled lightly and flapped with his wings. The blanket rustled and you could hear the beating of air, but you did not see anything.

"Yeah ... when do you get a chance to touch real angel wings?", And ... honestly, Pittoo would use any excuse to touch Pit, even though he was irritated by his looks, he knew it was Pit who was in front of him. The man, no, the angel he loved.

Pittoo broke away from the wall and sat down next to Pit, before reaching out and stroking the invisible wings that he knew would look white as snow, without the spell.

They were extremely soft under his fingers, and he could feel the feathers. His gaze slid from the invisible wings under his hand to Pit's face. He watched him, his eyelids lowered and his full lips parted. It seemed as if the touch felt really good.

"Can you feel that? When I stroke them? ", Pittoo had no idea that angels could feel a touch on their wings. When Pit nodded, still with that look, Pittoo's heart beat harder against his chest.

Pit was wrong, he would not feel this desire for Piet. Pittoo now realized that it was growing again, he could feel it, if not as extreme as before. After all the chaos of the past week, he had to catch himself again.

"Yes, I can feel it. We angels are very sensitive to our wings. We feel the slightest touch and a massage on the base of the wings is incredibly good ", a gentle smile crossed over the angel's lips and Pittoo would love to massage the wings. But he held back, especially since he did not know how he had to do it so that it felt good for Pit. He could imagine that he could also hurt him if he was not careful.

So he preferred to take his hand away, before he did something that will just end in arguing again.

"It ... it will be good that Piet is coming with you. I could not hold myself back when we're alone ... today, yes, I can suppress it, but I know that I still feel the same for you, it has not changed, "his voice was calm and quiet, he did not like to talk about that, and yet ... he could do it with Pit. He could always make him say what he felt, even though he had always had a hard time exposing his feelings to others no matter their nature.

"Love is not superficial. As soon as you realize that I am me, everything will probably come back. I'm sorry if I make things worse for you again, "Pit sighed, but Pittoo just wunk off.

"Do not feel that way now. After you resisted all my tries I would just think you where messing with me, "a grin crossed his lips and Pit smirked.

"Okay, if you say so ~", he could not do anything about it now, he would not go. He simply hoped that he could make the time for Pittoo so beautiful that he remembered it with a smile and did not want to forget everything. Even if the farewell afterwards would be all the more difficult.

"Hmph ... are you hungry? It's time for dinner, if I can not fetch anything, I will not get anymore food for the rest of the day. "Pittoo looked at the clock hanging on the wall and in fact they were already past seven.

"Oh, of course! I do not want you to fast because of me! If it's okay I'll eat something too ", Pit got up and Pittoo did the same.

"Of course you can eat, the evening meal is mostly free, as is the breakfast. Only lunch is properly cooked. In the evening there is a little more choice, "said the black-haired as they left the room and went to the dining room.

Pit already saw what he meant when they entered. A line of people wandered between the offered items and filled their tray. At noon, they needed to stand in order, but in the morning and evening you could serve yourself. People talked and laughed as they fetched their food and then sat together at one of the tables to eat.

"Then come on", Pittoo grabbed a tray and began to fill it with bread, salad, sauce with meatballs, juice, fruits and a chocolate pudding. Pit did the same and filled his tray as well.

"You can take my pizza slice, I can do without it and there is only one per person, but nothing for visitors," Pittoo told him then. Apparently, now and then there were special meals in the evening, such as pizza, fries, hot dogs or burgers. At lunchtime only healthy, selected food was served but to keep people happy it did not seem to be a bad idea to offer special delicacies sometimes. But they were counted so Pit took the offered piece.

"We can eat them together," he offered Pittoo as they sat down, but the black haired shook his head.

"Leave it, otherwise rumors will spread," Pittoo winked off and began to eat. Homosexual couples were not found at every corner and even with normal couples there were always rumors, he could do without people whispering at his sigh and that everybody gossiped about that Pittoo was together with another guy.

"Hm ... alright, I do not want to get you in trouble," Pit ate his own pizza and the rest of his meal while they talked to each other. He looked at the other people in the room. They talked, joked and ate, no one behaved conspicuously and nobody seemed to pay much attention to them, but he respected Pittoo's request anyway.

Only when they had finished eating, Pittoo talked again: "There is still some time until 8 pm, we can go for a walk outside. It is less busy outside now ". Pit already knew what Pittoo meant, after all, the black-haired man did not like to be around people, so it was more comfortable for him if they went for a walk now.

"Alright! I'll come with you, "Pit nodded eagerly, and then they brought the used trays to the car and pushed them into the holder provided for it. On the way out, Pit spooned his chocolate pudding with the plastic spoon before it landed in the trash, together with the plastic mug.

"Do you get along with the people here?" Pit turned to the young man as they followed one of the trails and moved away from the building.

"I do not care much for the people. The people who come here for the psychiatry usually go back home after a few months, that's why I do not know most of them and it does not really help to make friends with them, usually you won't see them again. And the other orphans and problem child's... you should stay away from most of them, they are not a good company, "he answered vaguely. But Pit already understood that Pittoo apparently had no friends here, although he spent his whole life here. Did not that have to be incredibly lonely? No wonder he had a hard time getting through to him in the beginning.

"It's a shame ... that you do not have anyone to spend the time with, but the better now, that we are here to do that. You are no longer alone Pittoo and even if I return to my world you will have new friends to make the farewell easier, "he smiled at the black-haired, but got a skeptical look. He almost wondered if he said something wrong, when Pittoo suddenly smiled briefly.

"I do not know if anything makes it easier for me to let you go, again. But you are so convinced ... that I almost believe it myself. Let's see if I'm really not alone anymore. It's not easy for me to confide in new people, so do not promise you too much, "Pittoo still blocked the topic, but this time his words were not so cold and hard.

"That's okay. I know that you find it hard and I expect nothing from you. Even if it sounds like that. I'm just happy when you're alright and I just hope I can help you and that I'm not the only one who manages to get through to you.

It would be nice if there are more people you can confide in, that you can see as friends. I do not want to leave you alone, "his blue eyes met his reds and Pittoo shook his head, but a slight smile graced his lips.

"We will see. So far, I have always been alright. For someone like me it's not so bad to be alone, I do not need anyone around me to feel happy. Although ... the time with you will probably be irreplaceable. It was a whole new experience for me and ... it felt good, albeit painful, "such moments were rare that he talked so openly with him and Pit felt a sharp pain in his chest. He really hoped that Pittoo could feel that way again for somebody, because he was not the right person for him. It did not matter who would fill the place in his heart, as long as he could be happy again.

"Maybe it will help, if you allow someone to come closer to you again. You know now that it is not always something bad. Especially not with people who are serious ", the conversation was not easy, but they both understood the meaning behind it. Pittoo knew that Pit would like to hook him up with Piet, but he also knew that the angel did not care who he was spending his time with as long as he was happy with him.

"I give my best? But now let's change the subject, otherwise I will start to puke ", a grin went over Pittoo's lips and Pit chuckled.

"Okay, okay! Before we start to compete with flamingos, "Pit gave in with a laugh. Oh yes ... he too could not talk about this forever. He preferred to fight with the sword in battle rather than standing with a rose in front of an altar.

"Fine, then let's talk about something else, about charcoal," Pittoo replied with a smirk.

"Charcoal?", Pit raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a questioning look on his face.

"Sure, you can do a lot with it," Pittoo replied with a shrug of his shoulders before moving on.

The angel blinked a little confused and frowned.

Charcoal ...

Pit did not really understand what that meant, but he ran after Pittoo, and then they talked more about trivial things, but they had fun with it and in the end Pittoo delivered the young angel at Palutena's car.

They said goodbye to each other, then Pit got into the car and wunk Pittoo goodbye.

"And did you have a nice day? Everything fixed again? ", Palutena looked briefly at him, before she looked back on the way, but a smile appeared on her lips.

"Oh yeah! Everything has gone great and Pittoo wants to Piet to join. Although he should watch us a little so that nothing happens. I hope that does not bother him ", Pit replied with a grin and leaned back on the back.

"You can ask him, but I do not think so. He will be happy to come out of the house again, but at the beginning don't do too much"

"I wont! We will take care of him and I hope he will be happy. That would be great, "Pit sighed satisfied.

"I think so, I would be happy if the two make friends. I think they both need a good friend, "Palutena agreed.

"Yeah I think so too, I'm sure they will get along well," Pit was confident about that.

"I hope so and have you talked about anything else?"

Pit looked at Palutena and tilted his head slightly before a twinkle appeared in his eyes, and he laughed.

"Yes! About charcoal! ".