It was late at night as Christian put the finishing touches on his piece. He let the paintbrush fall into his hand from where it had been working away on the ceiling, and took a step back to admire it.
His pallette was covered in dark blues, greens and pinks, with a hint of yellow. It was a painting he'd actually been working on for weeks, but had kept unseen from Avery via this atom manipulation (she probably would have noticed the lights, let's be frank).
Avery had been on a date the vast majority of the night, something he knew he couldn't completely keep his feelings locked away about, but he was doing his best to be neutral in the situation. He wasn't entirely sure why he cared so much - she was a separate person, she had her own life to live after all. It was all very confusing.
He started packing up and cleaning paint spots from the floor.
Avery and Kate
Avery held her shoes in one hand, the bottoms of her black stockings wet. She pulled the hem of her dress down and opened the door to the apartment, holding her cell phone between her neck and her ear.
"Yeah, I'm home now," she said to Kate. "Why are guys such fucking jerks?"
"I don't know, honey," Kate replied. "Look, call me tomorrow?"
"I will, thanks."
She walked into the main living area of the apartment and collapsed down on the couch, leaning her head back and exhaling a loud sigh.
Christian
Chris walked back in, drying his hands off on a towel.
"That bad, huh?" he wasn't as teasing as he usually would be.
Avery
"You know, if I were dressed like a whore, I'd understand it," Avery said, looking up at him. "But I'm not. But apparently being a model means that I'm allowed to be groped casually."
She sighed and kicked her feet out.
"I had to walk home from the restaurant."
Christian
"Hm. That sucks," Christian nodded, "what a dick."
He walked closer, then took up his usual spot on the floor.
Avery
"I'm just going to become a nun," Avery sighed, closing her eyes.
"It'll solve so many problems."
Christian
Christian hesitated, his eyes scanning the ceiling to make sure nothing was showing.
"That could work," he went along with it.
He chewed his bottom lip.
"You know, I think you'd be more comfortable on the floor."
Avery
"That doesn't seem like something I'd be very comfortable on," Avery told him.
She stood up, deciding he was up to something.
"Can I get changed first, at least?"
Christian
"Nope," Christian shook his head.
"Defeats the purpose of living in the moment."
He patted the space next to him.
Avery
Avery sighed slightly and then sat on the floor, managing to lay down beside him without flashing anything.
"Wow, you're right," she said sarcastically, but her tone was gentle. "This is much more comfortable than the couch."
Christian
Chris glanced across at her with a chuckle, then held his right arm above his head.
He turned the main lights off and the LED lights on, then unmasked his painting in its entirety.
It almost took even his breath away.
"This. This is why I've been laying on the floor for the last month or so," he admitted.
Avery
Avery was silent for a moment, just taking in the whole of Christian's artwork. It must've taken him forever to do it all.
"How...?"
She smiled slightly, recognising some of the constellations. It reminded her of being back on the Space Station.
"It's awesome."
Christian
Christian smiled, her approval meaning more to him than he thought it would.
"I put the lights in first, which by the way - we do have rats in the ceiling," he pulled a face, "and then just painted around them what I could remember. I mean we didn't have windows, in rehab, but I'd been up there a few times to see Tanya."
Avery
"Yeah, it's like being in the Gardens," Avery said wistfully.
She couldn't tear her eyes away from the ceiling, then it registered what he'd said about the rats.
"Yeah, you did call the exterminator, right?"
Christian
"I did," Chris nodded.
"I called them... about three weeks ago. So they should be here next week."
He hesitated.
"What gardens?"
Avery
Avery glanced at him.
"They have a garden level in the Station, it's my favourite place up there. I used to do all my telepathy practice there."
"And they have this amazing view of... well, outside."
Christian
He looked across at her, noticing the stars reflecting in her eyes.
"I didn't know," he said, almost sadly as he turned back to the roof.
He stared for a while in contemplative silence.
"What's it like?" he asked.
Avery
Avery picked up on the sad tone in his voice and shrugged slightly.
"It's ok," she said in a non committal tone. "I spent a majority of my time at school or in my room, and I'd go home basically every weekend, so... I was in and out a lot."
Christian
"No really," Chris insisted, looking at her again.
"Tell me what it's like? Please? I want to live vicariously through you. Through your eyes, at least."
Avery
"I can do you one better."
Avery glanced at him, and her eyes shifted from their natural brown to a bright gold.
With very little effort, her memories of the Space Stations layout would be playing out in his mind, like a movie.
Christian
Christian closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
He instinctively took her hand in his, delving deeper into the connection.
He remembered how Craig used to show him things this way. But there was no mistaking how different each telepath's presence felt in there.
"Wow," he breathed.
Avery
Avery let out a deep breath as she finished playing the memories out for him and she gently took her hand out of his.
"Yup."
Christian
Chris opened his eyes, still breathing deeply.
"That was amazing," he frowned, placing his hands over his stomach.
"I couldn't imagine... feeling that content. That safe. Anywhere."
Avery
Avery was quiet for a moment, not really knowing how to respond to that statement. With a few exceptions, she'd lived a pretty cushy life.
"It's not too late," she said quietly. "I don't know, sorry, I don't really know what it was like for you."
Christian
"So they tell me," Christian looked thoughtful.
His eyes searched the ceiling. He purposely stopped himself thinking about Lucious before she could pick up on it.
Instead, he turned the lights on and sat up.
"Thanks," he said simply.
Avery
Avery sat up and shrugged, tossing her hair out of her face.
"No big deal."
Christian
Chris hesitated.
"It was to me."
He offered her a small smile, then got up and brushed himself off before offering her his hand.
Avery
Avery took his hand and let him help her up, pulling at her dress once she was standing.
"Thanks for showing me your work," she said, brushing herself off.
"Um... I'm gonna go take a shower."
Christian
"Ladies first," Chris stood aside, letting her through.
He looked up one more time, then slowly moved over to the window.
Avery
"Night," Avery called over her shoulder.
She shook her hair out of her eyes and walked into the bathroom.