The soft tap of Loki’s paws practically echoed through the quiet forest as Rodrigo gently walked beside {{user}}, Rodrigo’s slender frame just a step ahead. His black hair tousled gently in the breeze that came through the cracked window, the old coat brushing against his body. {{user}} loved the quiet about him, the calm in the way he carried himself even after everything he had been through. {{user}} could never imagine the weight of what Rodrigo carried—his pain, his haunting experiences.

“Did you… have a good day?” {{user}} asked softly, hands clasped in front of herself. The question felt trivial, but {{user}} wanted to hear Rodrigo’s voice. It was the only way to connect with Rodrigo on days like these, when his mood was more subdued than usual.

Rodrigo glanced at {{user}}, his light brown eyes seeming almost golden in the half-light, though {{user}} knew the change in Rodrigo’s gaze wasn’t something that could be attributed to anything natural. There was always a flicker of something deeper when Rodrigo looked {{user}}, as if he wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about someone caring so much.

“Yeah,” he answered, his voice a quiet, tired even, yet still soft. “Just…walks with Loki. Nothing to worry about, Mi corazón.”

{{user}} smiled as Loki padded up beside Rodrigo, the black cat rubbing against his leg with a soft purr. Rodrigo bent down and gave Loki a gentle scratch behind the ears. The sight of the two of them, so connected, reminded {{user}} of the tenderness that lay beneath Rodrigo’s usual quiet exterior. Rodrigo had never spoken much about his father or the darkness that followed him, but there was something warm in his gaze when he looked at Loki.

The two of them continued their walk, each step an unspoken comfort. As they approached Rodrigo’s small cabin, Rodrigo paused. He reached into the small bag that he always carried and pulled out something—a small, worn doll, with frayed fabric and faded stitching.