"Not really," she replied sweetly. "I'm either at work or here."
"Huh," Sylar nodded thoughtfully. "Okay, good."
They continued to eat.
"Have you noticed anyone strange come into the tattoo parlor?"
"Define strange," Brea laughed. But her smile quickly sagged when she saw Sylar's stern expression.
"Sylar, what do you mean?" she sighed. "If you've got a specific question for me, just ask it."
"I did ask it."
"Fine," Brea groaned. "Strange people come into the tattoo parlor all the time. Unique people. Nice people. I'm very safe here in Colridge, Sylar. I thought you coming here to visit was you being nice, not you checking in on me."
"I'm not," Sylar lowered his head in defeat. "I'm not checking in on you, sis. I am trying to be nice." he gestured around the apartment. "This is new for me, okay? I'm doing my best."
"I know," Brea agreed softly. She knew how hard Sylar must be trying to get along as he was. Not too long ago they were living under the same roof, with her barely going out anywhere. Now she lived in another town, it must be quite the adjustment for him to get used to.
"How's work?" she asked, eager to change the subject.
"It's shit," Sylar scowled.
"Oh, sorry."
"No," Sylar pushed away his now empty bowl. "There's just some stuff going down. Stuff that needs to get sorted."
"Sounds intense."
"It can be," Sylar gazed distantly across the room.
"Gina suggested we all go out to this bar in town tonight," Brea declared brightly. As she'd hoped her brother's expression softened at the mentioned of her neon-haired boss.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, it's this cool bar a few blocks from the tattoo parlor."
"Sounds good."
Brea tried to remain nonchalant but inside she was buzzing. She was going to go out for drinks with her friends and her brother, it was the kind of thing normal people did. It was the kind of thing they'd surely have done if they'd not lost their parents so young. They were actually starting to become friends and Brea couldn't be happier about it.
Chapter 28
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Brea groaned and pulled her pillow tighter against her head, trying to drown out the sound of Sylar having sex with Gina in the main room of her apartment. She could hear the springs in the sofa squeaking beneath her boss' moans. Sylar remained oddly silent during their encounter.
"Yes!" Gina cried breathlessly. "Yes!" the sound traveling far too easily through the thin walls of her apartment.
"Urgh, just come already," Brea muttered to herself as she released the pillow to reach for her cell phone. Drinks in town had been a bust. Sylar had spent the evening staring at all the locals before getting drunk on tequila. As soon as he was suitably sauced he was all over Gina. Brea suddenly became invisible. She wondered if her brother was always like that on a night out – sullen and then raunchy, or if he was just acting that way because he was nervous to be in such an unusual social interaction. Brea had hoped that the evening would be full of shared laughter and fondly recalled memories of better times. Instead, she had to watch her brother suck face with her boss until closing time.
Brea deftly called Miles' number. He answered after three calls, his voice hoarse as though he'd been sleeping.
"Hey, babe," he murmured. It was comforting to hear him so close even though he wasn't actually there.
"Hey," Brea stretched out on the bed, burning with longing to touch him, to hold him, even to smell him. She physically ached for him whenever they were apart. Thankfully Sylar was heading off early the next day so she could be with Miles again.
"You have fun with your brother tonight?"
"Oh, tons," Brea replied sarcastically. She held her phone up so that it could capture Gina's rapturous screams as they bounced around her small apartment.
"Jesus," she could hear Miles laughing. "Who the hell is that?"
"My boss," Brea stated flatly. Miles laughed harder. "She's hooking up with my brother."
"Well, it sounds like she's having fun, maybe you'll get a raise."
"Hmm," Brea yawned and wished that Gina and Sylar would start winding down a bit so that she could get some sleep.
"So your brother comes to see you and ends up bringing a girl back to your place?"
"He was pretty wasted," Brea said defensively.
"It's still a douche move."
Brea was silent, unsure how to defend Sylar. She was sorely disappointed not to have gotten to spend more time with him. But then if he liked Gina she knew she shouldn't monopolize him. It was important that they both start to have separate lives from one another. They were still in a transitional period, maybe that was why she felt so hurt by his lack of attention to her at the bar.
"He likes her," Brea shrugged. "I just want him to be happy."
"As I'm sure he does you. Which is why I think I should meet him."
"Next time."
"I'll hold you to that," Miles teased.
"Please do." Brea yawned again.
"Sweetheart, you should get some sleep."
"I would if I could," Brea sighed. "They've been at it for the best part of half an hour. I'm exhausted just listening to it."
"Impressive," Miles laughed, "on your brother's part."
"What can I say, we are a family of over achievers." She smiled sleepily to herself, wishing she could just press up against Miles' strong chest and close her eyes. She loved to feel asleep feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart so preciously close to her own. With her finger, she'd trace the line of the tattoo she'd emblazoned on his chest, the tattoo which had bought them together.
"Can you come over tomorrow?" she asked as her eyes closed. Talking with Miles, she was finally able to drown out Gina and her cries.
"Sure," Miles confirmed softly. "It might not be until a bit later, though, I have to work in the morning."
"Okay," Brea murmured, nuzzling against her pillow. She could feel herself edging closer to sleep and she was eager for the respite it would bring. As much as she loved having Sylar visit it was exhausting to fret over everything she said to him. He seemed even more sensitive than usual, like something was bothering him. She hoped it had nothing to do with her. If it did, he wouldn't say anything. Sylar was the kind to bottle things up until they suddenly exploded out without warning.
"Try and get some sleep," Miles urged gently.
"I will." Brea sleepily ended the call. In the darkness of her room, she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep. She failed to hear Gina reach her dizzying climax, or the heavy footsteps of Sylar stomping around as he left the apartment to return to the night, to prowl Colridge's dark streets for whatever it was he was looking for.
Chapter 29
When Brea awoke, the sun was burning brightly in her eyes. Stretching out her arms she yawned and for a moment she was blissfully unaware of events from the previous night. But then the memories of Gina's euphoric cries came back to her and Brea sagged against her pillows. She wondered if Gina was still at the apartment, shuffling around wearing nothing but one of Sylar's T-shirts. It was going to be awkward for Brea to see her like that, but she had to leave her bedroom, she needed to get ready for work.
Taking a deep breath Brea ventured beyond her bedroom into her apartment. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows in there too, bathing everything in a beautiful golden glow. If Brea were in a better mood, she'd have appreciated what a gorgeous morning it was. But she was too nervous about her inevitable encounter with Gina. If she didn't see her in the apartment, she was definitely going to see her at work.
A quick inspection revealed that the apartment was empty. Feeling relieved Brea went to make herself a coffee. She felt surprisingly alert given how disturbed her sleep had been. But at least Sylar had enjoyed himself.
Sylar.
Thinking of her brother made Brea stiffen with concern. Where was he? It made sense for Gina to creep out before she woke up but not her own brother. Growing anxious Brea returned to her bedroom, fresh coffee in hand to get her cell phone. She quickly dialed Sylar's number.