Avery dumped her bag on the counter and pulled out the phone card. She stared at it for a long moment, then made a decision and picked up her phone. Following the directions, she managed to understand just enough to make a phone call to Taylor.
While the phone rang, she opened her mini bar fridge and started to unpack the basic groceries she'd bought that afternoon.
Taylor
Taylor jumped as his phone rang, then threw the pen he'd been writing with across the desk and sighed.
H'ed been so far into his writing session and didn't even realise it.
Staring at the phone for a moment, he leant over and grasped it from the bed. He cleared his throat before he answered it.
"Hello?"
Avery
Avery pulled out her bottle of water and sat down on the hotel couch.
"Hey big brother, what's shaking?"
Taylor
Taylor's eyes widened, and he instantly sat up and began to pay attention.
"Avie?" he frowned.
"Are you ok?"
Avery
"Certainly am, big bro."
Avery unscrewed the cap of her water and took a sip.
"Found out that my cooking apparently sucks, but apart from that, I'm ok."
Taylor
"Good, that's good," Taylor said, grabbing the pen again and spinning it in his fingers.
"Any thoughts on what you're doing yet?"
Avery
Avery swallowed her water.
"Working in a cafe at the moment, pretty much everyday, all day. Just chilling out. Getting over... taking time out."
Taylor
"Ok, well..." Taylor swallowed awkwardly, "that's good too."
He hesitated, biting his lip.
"Did you need to talk about something?"
Avery
"What, a girl can't ring her favourite brother?" Avery teased.
She leaned back against the chair and put her legs up over the armrests.
"I just thought I'd drop a line and let you know I'm still breathing and all that."
Taylor
"Wishful thinking I guess," Taylor said softly.
"I'm glad you got a job."
Avery
"I thought it was about time I grew up a bit, stopped mooching off mom and dad."
She paused.
"I'm... I'm not coming home, Tay."
Taylor
"Well I'm gla dyou thought about that, even if I do wish it were closer to home," Taylor cringed a little.
"But I can't make you come back and I'm not going to try. You've already had a lot of responsibility pinne don you for your age and I'm sure you can handle it."
Avery
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"I'm... not going back to the station either. I'm... I'm thinking about not using my powers again. Ever again."
Taylor
Taylor sat in silence for a moment, eyes set suddenly.
"I know how it feels," he couldn't help but shrug, "I certainly don't blame you for thinking that way."
Avery
"I think it's for the best, especially after... it's just for the best."
Avery cleared her throat.
"But I'll come visit sometimes."
Taylor
"Well I'd like you to meet my girlfriend. And I'm sure Ike wants you to meet his. For a start," Taylor said hopefully.
He thought over the first thing she'd said.
"Did something else happen?" he asked carefully.
Avery
Avery thought for a moment before answering.
"Nothing really... it could have been... nothing happened."
She fiddled with the pillows.
Taylor
"Forgive me for saying, but that doesn't sound too convincing," Taylor cracked a smile.
"No one was giving you a hard time up there, were they?"
Avery
"No, there was... there was a fight but it didn't hurt me or anything."
Avery kept her tone light.
Taylor
Taylor hesitated, digesting that.
"Did it hurt someone else?" he asked, hoping he wasn't digging too deep.
Avery
Avery took in a sharp breath.
"... no."
She closed her eyes, shaking the images from her head.
Taylor
Taylor leant back in his seat.
"Did it almost hurt someone else?" he said more than asked.
Avery
"I didn't mean to," Avery said defensively.
"And I didn't!"
Taylor
"It's ok, it's ok," Taylor insisted calmly.
"So nothing happened, but you're upset about the possibility that something could have happened, am I right? And considering your situation, I again don't blame you for that."
Avery
Avery was silent for a minute.
"I wanted to, Tay," she whispered.
Taylor
"We all want to do these things once in a while," Taylor shrugged, "the fact that we're able to stop ourselves sets us apart from those we call criminal. I'm proud you were able to. Especially considering the stress you've been under."
Avery
"I... I want to. All the time, Tay."
Avery's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Since... since the Eye."
Taylor
Taylor hesitated in silence again, then stood and moved to sit on the bed.
"Yeah I know," he sighed.
"And you might never escape it. You won't. You won't escape it. But eventually... eventually you live with it. But I understand it takes time."
Avery
"I don't want to live with it, no one should have to live with it!"
Avery sniffed.
"I don't want to kill people, I don't want to know HOW to kill someone! I don't want to live with it, I don't want anyone to learn how to live with it! Killing isn't a fact of life!"
Taylor
"We've got no other choice," Taylor said, softly again.
He considered a moment, then lay down on the bed facing the ceiling.
"We've all got to realise it's time to move on eventually. How long it takes is personal."
Avery
"It was easy," Avery said suddenley.
"To wrap around his mind and flatten it. To break through shields and smash his brain to bits, short circuiting every nerve in there. It was so easy, I could've done it in my sleep."
She hiccupped out a sob.
"Why was it so easy for me, Tay? Some telepaths never EVER know how to do that!"
Taylor
"Because... and I know you hate to hear it... you're special," Taylor said straight out.
"Just like Ike, and just like me. We have a lot of work to do with containing our powers because of that."
Avery
Avery sniffed again.
"I should go," she said, abruptly changing the subject.
"I don't know how much money is left on this card."
Taylor
"One more thing before you go," Taylor cut in sharply.
"I think you knew I was having trouble with the Adige on the station? I found out the reason."
Avery
"Yeah, why's that?"
Avery brushed her hair from her eyes.
"Oh! And my hair is purple. But anyway, yeah, why?"
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
"Well it turns out that my power has a telepathic component," Taylor brushed over quickly.
"So you won't be the only telepath around. I mean I can only do the basics, but... yeah. Whenever you get back it's going to be something I'll need help with."
He scratched his head awkwardly.
Avery
If I come back...
Avery shook her head slightly.
"Yeah, I'll help you out if you need it..."
Taylor
Taylor's hopeful expression faded as he heard the doubt in her voice.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"Ah... I'll let you go. Take care, ok? Call me?"
Avery
"I will, in the next couple of days."
Avery paused.
"Tell mom and dad hi. I'm not ready to talk to them... oh and Tay? Thanks, I love you."
Taylor
Taylor smiled.
"I will. And love you too. See you."
He hung up and sighed, his mind ticking over.