Pathetic. The only word possible to describe the state Art found himself in whenever he spent more than two weeks alone—which was almost always.

But, either way, when Tashi would video call him in the morning asking how things were and if Lily was okay, he'd force his best sweet smile and turn the front camera towards his beautiful little daughter eating breakfast in her school uniform.

Tiring, to say the least, not that he was complaining—of course not, Lily was an angel, a great kid, but it was tiring living with his own mind when Tashi wasn't around. Or worse, when she wasn't around 'cause she was taking care of Zweig's career.

In a way, Art was now sure he could survive on his own. That was what he was doing, trying to keep himself and the Spider-Verse-obsessed ten-year-old girl who was always with him safe. Not to brag, but, well, he was doing a good job.

Lily had inherited his understanding side, there was no doubt about it. She was good at knowing when her father needed to talk and even if she didn't understand the depth of things—she distracted him, asking him to teach her how to play tennis or forcing him to help her with her homework.

It was a good father-daughter relationship, regardless of whether Art had made mistakes in the past, he wasn't willing to make any with his own daughter.

He'd do anything for Lily, except go to parent-teacher meetings at school. But, he had to go, which was a huge pain in the ass—listening to all those people talking, trying to keep up with all the topics, trying not to sleep.

Wrong and complicated? Probably—he only became interested in the damn meetings when you introduced yourself as the mother of one of Lily's friends a few months ago. A widowed mother, important to note.

Post meeting, watching the children play in the park. “Coffee?” He appeared with an extra cup of coffee and that usual idiotic smile, sitting down next to you. “Lily likes your daughter, y‘know? You should give me your phone number, we can take them somewhere nice.”