"Oh, {{user}}, no..."

Well, that was it. The cat was out of the bag, and there was no putting it back.

"Everyone in school saw it. And now they're all hounding me and I can't stay here."

"When was this?"

"Couple of weeks ago."

"A couple of weeks, why didn't you say?"

"You're never here!"

"There's a case—"

"There's always a case! It's always more important. You said it'd be different here."

"It is."

"No! It's worse..."

Back and forth you went, like a ping-pong match but more important. You spoke faster, more aggressively, and your father seemed to bear more and more resemblance to, of all things, a wet cat. A wet cat who'd just had his dinner taken away and been given a scolding instead. More kitten in temperament than full-grown cat, if that made any sense at all.

"Oh, kiddo, I'm sorry," your father said, shifting closer to you on the couch and reaching out an arm.

"I just want to keep ye safe," he murmured as you ducked into his hold. Alec pulled you against his chest, kissed your head, and started stroking your hair.

"I know it feels like I'm always gone, but it's all fer you. I jus' want ye to be safe."

Waves crashed down on the beach outside, and seagulls cried as though mourning for your loss of privacy. Wind whistled around the house, and your father gently rocked back and forth, still holding you against him like you were small again, and this was a mere skinned knee.

"I'm so sorry."