It was early in the morning when something finally snapped in Avery's mind. She had been repeatedly telepathically raped for the last twelve hours, one telepath after another, on and on, her mind subconsciously memorising the imprint these people were leaving, almost as if she knew what was about to happen.
Time won't fly, it's like I'm paralysed by it...
She screamed, loud and piercing, telepathically and physically, a long shriek of pain and terror, and using all of her strength, all of the tools she had learned so far, she felt something tear, break, and then it all flooded back, years and years that had been hidden from her, locked away in her mind, suddenly filling up the emptiness that had been there before.
Her eyes glowed, no longer the haunted dark brown they had been, but now a brilliant gold, glowing brighter than the sun. The telepath that was inside her mind realised what was happening and he tried to pull back, but she trapped his essence inside her mind and applied pressure, squeezing tighter and tighter, almost enjoying the pained sounds he was making. She uncoiled her mind and let him fall, knowing that he now lay on the other side of the mirror, barely alive.
She sent her energy out, seeking out a teleporter, and slipped into his mind, breaking through the feeble shield he'd been given. She took control, and made him teleport into the room she was kept, grabbed a hold of his arm, and had him teleport her out. And then crushed his mind, the way she had with the previous man.
Extending her energy out, so much that the whole facility lit up with her energy, she walked through the halls to her freedom, crushing and breaking the minds of all of those who had dared to hurt her. She had remembered. And now they were all paying for it.
She saved him until last, the one who wore Taylor's face, her telepathic voice calm but dangerous as she wrapped herself around his mind.
"Uh-oh," she taunted. "Looks like I remembered how to play. Shall we?"
She laughed, almost manically, as he tried to fight back, his efforts weak, unfocused, nothing compared to her with her full capacity back. She threaded together her own creation, the star blade, and sent it through his mind, cutting his own presence to shreds, doing more damage than she had on any of the previous, and when she was satisfied, she slid swiftly out.
~*~*~*~
The All Seeing pushed open the doors to the outside world, his mind damaged but as he had never engaged in any telepathic conversation or... anything else, with her, she wasn't as familiar with his energy. And so he ran, hoping to get away before she found him.
~*~*~*~
Avery walked through the doors, eyes easily adjusted to the darkness of dawn. She turned a little, seeing herself in the reflection of the glass sign on the door. She was glowing, a faint golden aura etched around her body. And at that moment, despite the bruises, the cuts, she was not pretty. She was not beautiful. But she was as radiant as the sun.
~*~*~*~
Zac stopped in his tracks, looking up in the sky and seeing the faint golden glow in the distance.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's it."
Isaac, Taylor, Natalie & Christian
"You think?" Isaac's eyebrows rose.
Christian didn't wait after Zac had spotted it, he took off down the street at a run.
"Maybe you should wait somewhere nearby," Taylor suggested to Natalie.
"We don't know how bad it is," Natalie shook her head, "I'm coming. Don't worry, I'm... not afraid. Really."
"That's not what I'm worried about."
~*~
Christian found the building soon enough, and paused a moment to take in the scene. The entire building was actually glowing. Finding her might be harder than he thought...
And then he spotted her. Like the sun among stars in comparison to the building's light. He was about to make his way over when a shadow to the right caught his eye. Changing direction, he headed it off.
When the kid was within reach, Christian struck out. He grabbed him by the collar and rammed him back against the wall, leaning into his arm which he placed across the kid's throat.
"And who the Hell are you?" he demanded, fire in his eyes.
Zac, The All Seeing & Avery
"Well, you know, it was a hunch," Zac replied.
~*~*~*~
The All Seeing let out a grunt, hitting the wall with force, his head already dazed from Avery's damage.
"What's it to you?" he managed to get out.
His eyes widened a little, when he realised he couldn't get into his mind.
~*~*~*~
Avery walked barefoot away from the facility, lighting up the trail where she went, her body still glowing.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
"Don't backchat me," Christian's voice lowered as he dug his arm deeper into the kid's neck, "tell me who you are and what you're doing here. Before I get impatient."
~*~
"Oh dear..." Natalie covered her face as they came across the building finally.
"What?" Taylor asked.
"There's..." Nat shook her head, "I can't... There's too much. You need to find her. Fast."
"I think we just did," Isaac hit Zac on the arm and pointed to where their sister was leaving a golden trail.
"Go ahead," Taylor nodded, taking Natalie by the shoulders and trying to keep her calm.
The All Seeing, Zac & Avery
The All Seeing gagged a little, as Christian's arm hit his throat, and he coughed.
"The All Seeing," he said, a small smirk playing over his lips as he said it.
~*~*~*~
Zac let out a shocked gasp, seeing his sister lit up. He headed over to her, not wanting to spook her but at the same time, wanting to make sure she was ok.
"Avery?"
Avery turned her head, her eyes bright as she recognised the figures coming towards her. She felt her legs go weak and she started to fall to her knees, it all finally hitting her hard, and her body bruised and broken.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
"What are you, a telepath?" Christian frowned in disgust, "are you even old enough to have a nickname?"
Discounting his own titles. This kid obviously thought he was someone important.
~*~
Noticing Avery fall, Natalie called out.
"Ike?! Can you get her over here?"
Taylor rubbed her back reassuringly.
"Sorry Tay, I can't get any closer."
"It's okay," he insisted.
Isaac had already caught her telekinetically before she hit the ground. He rushed forward and took one of her arms, holding her up.
"It's okay Ave, we're here," he said.
The All Seeing, Zac & Avery
"I'm the telepath," The All Seeing rolled his eyes. "Civilians never understand."
~*~*~*~
Zac gently took her other arm, helping Isaac support her weight, not that there was much left of it.
"Ike," she whispered, clutching onto his arm, as he held the one that had the least amount of damage. "Ike, they're... I couldn't help it."
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian's eyebrows rose.
"Really? 'Cause I'm pretty sure on a scale of 1-10 you'd be around a 1. This doesn't exactly present the most intimidating of circumstances, I must say."
He looked him up and down, not willing to let him go just yet without the use of his telekinesis.
"You're the one behind the attacks on Avery," he said decidedly.
~*~
"I know, I know," Isaac didn't, but he could guess.
He started helping her walk back toward Taylor and Natalie.
"Tay? Where's Chris?" Nat asked suddenly, bent over forward with her hands on her knees for support.
There was so much emotional turmoil...
"I don't-" Taylor began as he looked around, before spotting him.
"He's got someone," he gulped a little.
"Maybe you should go help," Nat suggested, "he doesn't have his power, remember?"
"I'm sure he can handle it," Taylor pointed out, "it's not like-"
"Tay?"
"Fine! But I'm waiting to see Avie," he insisted.
The All Seeing, Avery & Zac
"And if I was?" The All Seeing smirked. "Avery Hanson is little more than an insignificant telepath in the pool of telepaths."
~*~*~*~
Avery closed her eyes for a second, her telepathic energy swirling around her before re-entering her body. She stayed bright for a second, then returned to normal.
Zac rubbed her arm gently as they made their way over to Taylor and Natalie.
Avery's eyes lowered to the ground and she turned her head away from the direction she knew Taylor was in. She just couldn't look at him right now. Not without feeling sick.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian really wished he had his telekinesis all of a sudden. He could appreciate how pliant people got when broken bones entered the conversation.
"Apparently you're even less than a '1' if you think that," he reasoned, tilting his head a little as he watched him squirm under the pressure on his throat.
"Even The Eye could appreciate her talents. She's the only Grandmaster we have on Earth."
~*~
Taylor shrank back a little, her pheromones hitting him like a punch in the gut.
"Avie? Are you okay?" Natalie stood up a little and came forward, "aside from the physical, of course."
Isaac squinted at Taylor, before a knowing look crossed his face.
The All Seeing, Avery & Zac
The All Seeing shrugged a little, not even bothering to struggle.
"Maybe."
~*~*~*~
"I don't know," Avery kept her eyes averted. "I don't know anything."
Zac tried to lift her chin so they could see her face, but she recoiled.
"I can't, I'm sorry," she said, tears filling her eyes. "I can't look at Taylor. I just can't."
Christian, Taylor, Isaac & Natalie
"So you're a non-believer?" Christian's eyebrows rose.
~*~
Taylor began biting his nails as he took a few more steps back.
"I'm sorry, I'll... go help Chris," he said under his breath before he walked away, keeping his head down so no one could see the tears in his eyes.
"Tay-" Isaac stopped himself.
He looked back at Zac.
"Can you hold her? I should go with..."
"It's okay Avie," Natalie said softly, taking the hand that Isaac pulled from himself and also helping her stand.
She slowly set her power to work.
"It'll all be over soon."
The All Seeing, Zac & Avery
"The Ga'Revali class system is a joke," The All Seeing spat out. "After all, you say she outranks me, but look at her. Look what I turned her into."
~*~*~*~
Zac held his younger sister carefully, mindful of her injuries and she half collapsed against him, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"It's going to be ok, Aves," Zac soothed.
"It won't," she shook her head. "I need Tay, but I just... I just can't look at him without being sick."
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
"Right," Christian rolled his eyes, "then I would love to see how you'd fare up against... what did you have? Multiple telepaths, either illusionists or shapeshifters... I'm guessing even empaths. How on Earth did you find that many screwed up aliens to go along with your plans? Is there an 'I hate Avery Hanson' club or something? I swear, these Hansons... But anyway.
"Need some help?" came Taylor's voice, if a little shaky.
"Taylor back off," Chris ordered firmly over his shoulder, "we've got a telepath."
Taylor froze.
~*~
Isaac made sure Zac had her, then took off after Taylor.
Natalie took a moment to get control of her own emotions before she'd start crying herself.
"We'll sort something out, I promise," she said decidedly, also convincing herself in the process.
The All Seeing, Zac & Avery
The All Seeing let out a chuckle. "She made her bed when she killed The Eye."
He smirked a little.
She's been marked as a target for a long time. It wasn't hard to round up supporters."
He tilted his head as Taylor's voice was heard.
"Ohhh," he laughed again. "The favourite brother. Yes. You proved quite handy. And yet... unshielded. Interesting."
~*~*~*~
Avery went slack against Zac and he double checked to see she was still alright. He lifted her easily into his arms, still leaving her within reach of Natalie.
"Zac, they have him, I know they do."
Christian, Isaac & Taylor
Christian grabbed the kid by the hair and rammed his head back into the wall, letting go with his arm for the second it took to grab him by the collar instead.
"If anyone should be upset about her killing The Eye, it should be me. You are no friend of Craig's."
"Chris-"
"Taylor get out of here!"
"What's going on?" Isaac looked between them as he slowed his jog.
The All Seeing & Avery
The All Seeing winced, then let out a pained gasp a moment later, not from the force of the hit, but from what Avery was doing.
Both of them glowered with her energy as she entered his mind, slowly, painfully, ripping it apart.
"STOP!"
Avery laughed, out loud and telepathically, a low menacing chuckle threaded through the surrounding party's heads.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian let him go, then stood back to watch in satisfaction.
"What's happening?" Taylor shook his head, confused.
"I think this would be Avery's way of dealing with her captor," Chris suggested.
Isaac looked over his shoulder, then turned and ran back to Avery.
"Avery! Don't!" he called, but he was too far away...
"Avery? What are you doing?" Nat asked nervously, touching her face gently.
Zac, Avery & The All Seeing
"Avery, stop," Zac said firmly. "Come back to me, listen to my voice. Come back."
Avery turned her face away from Nat's touch, just needing to exact a little more pain on the man who had stolen so much from her.
She exhaled, and The All Seeing fell back against the wall. Breathing shallowly, his pulse slow but steady, but his eyes blank.
"Come back," Zac said again.
She reopened their eyes and they were brown again, she focused on Zac's face and nodded, tired.
"Can we go home? I need to see Randy."
Zac hesitated at that. "Randy?"
"Yeah, Randy."
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian stepped forward to check his pulse.
"Well this is interesting," he mused, tilting his head a little as he looked into the kid's eyes.
"What did she do?" Taylor frowned.
Isaac made it back to them in time to be too late.
"Avery? What did you do?" he took her by the shoulder.
"Ike!" Nat scorned, knowing it would have hurt her.
Avery & Zac
"He's still alive, if that's what you mean," Avery turned her head away from Isaac, wincing from the pain that shot up her neck from her shoulder.
"For what he put me through, I should've done worse."
"Aves," Zac touched her cheek.
"Don't," she closed her eyes. "Just... don't."
Isaac, Taylor, Natalie & Christian
"Nat?" Isaac looked to her.
"I'm trying! I'm trying. This isn't going to be a quick fix," she put a hand to her forehead, trying to calm herself down.
Isaac looked back to where Christian and Taylor were, making eye contact with Taylor. He turned back to Chris.
"What should we do?" Taylor asked nervously.
"I know what I'm going to do, I don't know about you," Chris said to himself.
He took the kid's arm and pulled it over his shoulder, before hefting his whole body onto his back. He began to walk back to the group carrying his charge, and when Taylor saw where he was going he followed carefully behind.
When they made it back, Chris addressed Avery.
"Can I kill him now?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Chris," Taylor scowled.
Avery & Zac
At the sound of Taylor's voice, Avery hitched in a breath and turned her head away from the sound.
"No," she replied quietly. "Even after... I'm still not a judge or a jury. Leave him for the YIRAAS. I didn't kill anyone. I just left them... incapacitated. Nothing that can't be fixed."
Zac looked at his sister in surprise, and gently squeezed her hand.
Isaac, Christian, Taylor & Natalie
Isaac breathed a sigh of relief, letting her arm go.
"The dude's a vegetable," Chris shrugged, or as best as he could under the weight, "there's really no point in leaving him alive."
"She said 'no'," Taylor insisted, before their eyes met.
Christian stared him down, before Taylor's look turned to a glare.
"Don't think I won't bring it up," he warned.
"Fine," Chris muttered, dumping the body at their feet, "what do you propose we do?"
"Call Tanya?" Taylor suggested.
Christian blanched a little at the name.
Avery & Zac
"I can do that," Avery said quietly. "My uh... my range is back."
"She remembers everything," Zac said to his brothers.
Isaac, Taylor, Natalie & Christian
Taylor's face lit up, then fell again just as fast. Christian just watched her with caution.
"Well I guess congratulations are in order," Isaac scratched his head awkwardly, "but we should probably find a healer before we celebrate anything..."
"We should probably just get home," Nat suggested.
"That too."
Avery & Zac
Avery looked over at Christian for a second, and the small part left that was still the old Avie, winked.
"Yeah, can we go home? I... I guess technically I don't have a home anymore, but to Mom and Dad's, I guess."
"You're welcome to stay with us if you're not up for everyone at..." Zac glanced at Taylor, knowing that ordinarily, she would want to stay with him, but under the current circumstances...
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian gave her an odd look.
"Or ours," Isaac offered as Taylor rubbed his face.
"Who has more room at the hotel right now?" Natalie looked between them, "wait, did you even check in?"
She looked to Avery.
Avery & Zac
"Uh," Avery thought for a second. "I didn't check in, but I did have a room. I guess I forfeited that by getting kidnapped."
She laughed a little.
"Sorry, I think I'm in shock. I'm having inappropriate reactions to things. Sorry."
Zac looked a little uneasy.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
"I'm gonna put him inside," Christian offered, lifting the kid's body over his shoulder again.
He began to head for the building.
"Well I'm sure Ike or Zac won't mind sharing?" Nat looked between them.
"Not at all," Isaac shook his head, "I could sleep in the bus if you want, you can have our bed even."
Taylor bit his lip, feeling awkwardly out of place all of a sudden.
Zac & Avery
"I'm sure we can get you your own room if we need to," Zac said, looking at Avery.
"Yeah, if it's ok, I think I'd rather be alone," she nodded, looking at the ground again.
Taylor, Natalie & Isaac
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Taylor loosely folded his arms.
"Tay has a point," Natalie said softly, feeling the emotional surge as he spoke, "but maybe we could just teleport you back to Tulsa? My Dad needs to get back to Georgia anyhow..."
Taylor was about to offer to go with her, but took another step back from the group instead. He kept his eye on where Chris had walked into the building.
Avery & Zac
Avery closed her eyes and winced a little when Taylor spoke.
"Um, yeah, maybe that would be a good idea," she said. "I think Mom and Dad must be worried."
"Understatement," Zac commented. "You can stay at my place if you want?"
Isaac, Taylor, Natalie & Christian
"Zac's magic house might be a good idea," Isaac pointed out, "you never know, a day spa might pop up."
Taylor smiled a little as Christian stepped out of the building again empty handed and headed back.
"That's a good point," Natalie offered a smile, "Tony could take you straight there?"
Zac & Avery
Zac chuckled at what Isaac said. "You know, that's not a bad idea, I'm sure Kate would like that. Ask House for that when you get back there."
"Yeah," Avery nodded. "Ummm, I'll need to see Randy too."
"I'll call him," Zac told her. "And get him to meet you at the house."
Natalie, Taylor, Isaac & Christian
"Great. Zac, you call Randy. I'll call my Dad. Tay? Can you call Tony?" Nat looked up.
Taylor nodded, then pulled out his phone. He dialled the number as Chris made it back.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked Avery, "do you want me to come back with you?"
Isaac held back from saying anything.
Avery & Zac
Avery looked at Christian for a long moment and then nodded.
"If you could?"
Zac had to stop himself from melting his phone, and re-focused on talking to Randy. He was just going to have to accept that she still needed Christian. He wasn't happy about it, but he would accept it for now. After all she'd been through.
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian nodded, before looking to Isaac.
"Dust my bike?"
"Why? We could always bring it back for you," Isaac pointed out.
"Right..."
Natalie ended her phone conversation and returned to the group.
"The taxi should be here any second," she looked around nervously, still feeling pulses from inside the building.
"Tony should be here sooner," Taylor said as he hung up.
Not five seconds later, the teleporter appeared.
"Hey," he offered a smile, "is it just Avery going?"
Zac & Avery
"And him," Zac indicated Christian, forcing himself to not scowl. "Aves, Randy will be waiting at my place for you."
He looked at Christian, then at Avery, and then back at Christian.
"You need to support her weight," he told him. "She's not strong enough to do it at the moment."
He released his hold from Avery's waist when he saw Christian had her.
"Thank you," Avery said quietly, and gave a small smile to Isaac and Natalie. She took a deep breath, it catching in her throat. "Tay... I um... never mind."
Christian, Isaac, Taylor & Natalie
Christian nodded his appreciation to Zac.
"It's okay," Taylor clenched his jaw a little, eyes to the ground.
At that moment, the taxi pulled up beside them and Natalie's Dad emerged.
"Hey Dad," Natalie smiled.
"Oh Avery," he gasped when he saw her.
"It's okay Dad, they're 'porting back to Tulsa to get her a healer," Nat assured, "figured you'd go along via Georgia?"
He nodded, then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"We'd better not waste any time. Hello Tony."
"Mr. Bryant," he nodded in return, "if you could step closer please?"
Nat stepped back and took Taylor's hand as Tony organised his three passengers.
Zac & Avery
"I'll call later, ok?" Zac said to Avery and she nodded.
A brief, crazy, fleeting thought passed through her brain when she heard Mr Bryant's reaction to her appearance.
I used to be a model.
She almost laughed, but instead, managed a weak smile at Mr Bryant and let Christian support her weight as they got ready to leave.
Isaac, Taylor, Natalie & Christian
Isaac stepped back between his brothers and waved before they disappeared.
"Wait. Was she going to call Tanya?" Taylor looked to Isaac.
"I'll call her later just to make sure," he offered, "right now, I think we should head back and get some sleep."
"At least you don't have another show tonight," Natalie rubbed her husband's chest.
"Yeah," he sighed, dejectedly.
"Better get in the cab before the meter gets too high," Isaac pointed out, giving Taylor a supportive shoulder grab before turning to do so.
~*~
Tony teleported into Zac's living room, waiting until Christian had managed to safely get her to a sofa, before bidding farewell and continuing on to Georgia with Natalie's Dad.
Avery
Avery rested the back of her head against the couch, and she closed her eyes for a second. She could sense Randy outside.
"House? Could you please unlock the front door?"
The front door opened and Randy took that as his invitation into the house.
"In the living room, Randy. Thank you for coming."
Randy headed into the house and poked his head into a few rooms before finding the right one. He tried not to let his shock show on his face as he saw Avery and she smiled as best she could.
"I know, I've looked better," she said. "Hi."
"Oh, I don't know," Randy gave a little smile. "I've known you for a very long time, Miss Avery, and I don't think this is your worst look. Do you remember the chicken pox incident of '96?"
He held his hand over her face, healing the welts and the bruises there first.
"Oh yeah, that was the worst," she said, wrinkling up her nose and smiling when it didn't hurt.
"The broken rib incident was bad too," he pointed out. "How you managed to snap it so it poked out of your skin..."
He moved down from her face, healing her slowly and keeping her calm by talking to her.
"Zac dared me to jump off the roof of the treehouse," she shrugged. "I couldn't back down."
Randy chuckled, and pulled his hand back. "I think that's all done, unless there's something I missed?"
He doubted he had missed, but he thought he would double check. Her injuries had been quite extensive.
"No, I think that's it. Thank you."
Randy turned to Christian.
"Did you have anything you needed healed?"
Christian
"Nope, I'm good," Christian assured, "thanks for your help."
Avery
"Oh, um, could you bill - " Avery started, but Randy held his hand up.
"Zac already took care of it, no need to worry."
"Thanks."
"Take care," Randy said, before taking his leave.
Avery watched until he was gone and then asked the house to shut the door. She waited a few more seconds, and then she couldn't hold it in any longer, and she burst into tears.
Christian
Christian wasn't sure if he should touch her - now that she had her memories back - but his honour won out over his speculation and he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry," he shook his head, not knowing what else to say.
Avery
Avery held onto Christian tightly, burying her head in his chest as she wept, her body shaking as she let go of what little control she had left.
"Chris?" she sniffed, when she had pulled herself together a little.
Christian
"Yeah?" he replied softly, one hand sifting through her hair in a comforting gesture.
Avery
Avery hesitated for a second.
"Please don't... please don't change back to your real face," she half pleaded. "I can't... I can't see it. I just can't."
Christian
Chris cursed in his head, realising he didn't have any of the necessary blood with him.
"I won't," he promised, "but... I need to go out for a bit. So that I won't. Are you okay with that? Do you want me to wait until you fall asleep?"
Avery
"I don't want to sleep," Avery admitted. "And Jess is on her honeymoon, so I can't ask her to... but I just don't want to sleep."
She wiped at her eyes.
"I need to have a shower anyway, so, if you need to go, I'll be ok."
Christian
"Are you sure?" Christian asked, letting her go and sitting back so that he could see her properly.
"I could call someone else to come over while I'm gone."
Avery
"I'll be ok," Avery said, looking at him.
"I'm just going to get cleaned up and eat. It's fine."
Christian
Christian took a deep breath, then nodded.
"Okay," he reluctantly agreed.
He paused again, then stood from the sofa.
"If anything happens, if you need anything, call," he tapped his temple, "I'll be back in about an hour."
Avery
"I will, thanks."
Avery rubbed her eyes again, and finally stood up, holding onto the side of the sofa when she got a little dizzy.
Christian
Christian stood there, watching.
"Need a hand getting there?" he offered.
Avery
"Actually, yeah."
Avery closed her eyes for a second, then reopened them, hoping her vision would have cleared in the time.
Christian
"Okay, ah..."
Chris indicated what he was going to do, waited for her approval, then lifted her into his arms.
"You'll have to guide me, I don't know Zac's house," he admitted, shifting her weight easily.
Avery
"To be honest, neither do I," Avery said, leaning her head against Christian's shoulder tiredly.
"It changes every time I come here. And I usually stay with Ta... but I think there's a bathroom upstairs to the left."
Christian
Christian looked up the stairs, before ascending them carefully.
"I hope you're right. No offence, but I am not carrying you up and down ten times."
He smirked.
Avery
"Oh relax, I'm not that heavy," Avery retorted.
"So.. the new face."
Christian
"Yeah..." he trailed off, finding the bathroom.
He kicked open the door and fumbled for the light switch before setting her down on the edge of the bathtub.
Avery
"I like it."
Avery peeled off her shirt, too tired and dirty to care that he was still there. She paused, steadying herself with her hands again as she got dizzy.
Christian
Christian reached into the shower and turned it on for her.
Once again wishing he had his telekinesis.
"You sure you're going to be alright? You can barely stand," he looked her over worriedly.
Avery
Avery shrugged a little.
"Worst case scenario, I pass out, crack my skull open and bleed to death. Right now, with everything I can remember? That's not really a bad option."
She closed her eyes again, trying to clear her vision.
Christian
"Well that settles that then," Chris announced, taking her spot on the edge of the bath.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Avery
"Well, alright, but try not to be too grossed out when I get naked."
Avery managed to finish undressing herself and she stepped into the shower, swaying a little.
Christian
"In what world does that make sense?" Christian just looked confused.
Once she was safely inside, he leant forward on his knees and ran his fingers through his hair. He gulped a little when he felt the length of it.
"Think I'll take my chances. If I let your hurt yourself, your brothers would want to kill me more than they already do. Which is a lot."
Avery
Avery let herself rest against the wall of the shower, washing herself slowly.
"Uh yeah... umm, so... sorry about that."
Christian
"Sorry about what?" the confused look was back on Christian's face, though she couldn't see it.
Avery
"Well, for jumping you the last time I saw you," Avery replied, starting to wash her hair.
She tilted her head back under the shower.
Christian
"Why on Earth would you be apologising for that?" Christian shook his head.
"You don't think I could have stopped you if I wanted to?"
Avery
"I suppose that's true," Avery sighed a little. "Though, it didn't really help your relationship with my brothers."
She rinsed herself off, then turned the shower off, resting her hand against the wall for a second.
Christian
"Maybe I consider yours more valuable," Christian looked to the floor.
He bent over a little to re-tie his bootlaces.
Avery
"Christian Thomas, nine years on and looking out for me," Avery smiled wryly. "Who would've guessed."
She reached for the towel, wrapping it securely around her body.
Christian
Christian's face flushed red a little, but noted that she was starting to at least sound better.
"Yeah... I guess people would find it odd," he said absently, "but then, our whole... thing is."
Avery
Avery let out a hollow laugh.
"Well, now doesn't that seem to sum things up?"
She paused, remembering she didn't have any clothes here, and decided to borrow Kate's.
"If you need to go..." she glanced at him.
"I'll be alright for a bit."
Christian
"Oh no, you are going to walk the line first, Miss," he insisted.
"I will even draw one up. Prove you can walk in a straight line without falling over, then yes. I will take my leave. Momentarily."
Avery
Avery let out a laugh.
"You are kidding, right?"
Christian
"I am dead serious, and you can check my head if you want," Christian insisted, standing up.
"I will go draw it down the hallway right now even."
Avery
"Sure, Zac would love that," Avery smirked.
"Actually, I'm pretty sure the house could get rid of it..."
Christian
"I was actually going to go ahead and cheat and ask the house to do it for me," Christian admitted with a chuckle.
"Go ahead and ruin the magic."
Avery
"It's what I do," Avery took a bow, and almost fell over.
"Ok, fine. You may have a point."
Christian
Christian huffed a sigh.
"How old are you? You should have learnt to walk a long time ago," he teased with a straight face.
Avery
"Nah," Avery said with a perfectly straight face.
"I learned long ago that the key is to stand still and look pretty."
Christian
"And it even looks like you've forgotten how to stand," Christian indicated her feet.
"I mean come on, work with me here."
Avery
Avery straightened up and put one hand on her hip in a mock modelling pose.
"Ya happy?"
Christian
"I'm pretty sure you're supposed to lean a bit more forward," Chris demonstrated, cupping where his boobs would be if he were female.
Avery
"I did this for a living, Neal," Avery countered, smirking.
"I'm pretty sure I would only be posing like that if I were in porn."
Christian
"Oh, so you don't do porn?" Chris asked innocently.
"Are you sure? 'Cause I saw some of those magazines, and I have to admit..."
Avery
Avery made a mock offended face.
"What I do is tasteful," she nodded. "And why were you looking at lingerie ads... wait, don't answer that."
Christian
"Because they make me hard," he answered anyway with a satisfied grin.
Avery
"You didn't wank over me, did you?"
Avery winced in anticipation.
Christian
"Of course not," Christian hadn't, but he was playing it up.
"There were much better looking girls there. Can't think of any right now, but…"
Avery
"Much better girls?"
Avery paused and then shook her head.
"Actually, that's probably true."
Christian
"Fine. Ruin my comedy with emo," Chris sighed dramatically.
He pointed to the doorway.
"Get out there and walk that line!"
Avery
"Would you like me to do it in underwear?" Avery asked sarcastically.
Christian
"I wouldn't complain if you did," Chris reasoned with a shrug.
"Wouldn't complain if you didn't, either…"
He smirked.
Avery
Avery smirked a little and dropped the towel, walking out to the line completely naked.
"Now it doesn't matter if I stumble or not, you won't notice..."
Christian
"I can multitask," Christian tilted his head to the side as he watched her.
When he caught her eye he just grinned.
Avery
Avery walked slowly towards him, and when she reached him, she lifted her hand and dragged a finger down his chest.
"Now do you think you can leave me alone?"
Christian
Christian stood straight, watching her.
"Yes," he struggled, "but only out of necessity. The emotional blackmail that you're trying to seduce me with will only work if we could actually spend the next few hours together without it becoming really weird, really quick."
Avery
"Good," Avery nodded.
"I'm just going to make something to eat anyway, I'll be fine for awhile."
Christian
"You'll be fine a lot longer than that," Christian muttered under his breath.
He scratched his head and winced a little at his hair having grown another couple of inches.
"I'll be back. Remember," he tapped his head, indicating for her to call if she needed anything as he started down the stairs.
Avery
"Will do," Avery nodded.
She bent down to retrieve the towel.
Christian
Christian glanced once more over his shoulder, before jumping from the end of the staircase and heading for the door.
Once outside he hesitated a moment, realising he didn't have his bike with him (or even a phone). He had a vague idea of what part of Tulsa he was in, however, and began to head in the direction of Taylor's house.
Avery
Avery went into Zac and Kate's room and quickly dressed in a pair of Kate's pyjamas, before heading down to the kitchen to make herself something to eat.