Finding Eve...

Eve was somewhere else, somewhere far away. He wasn't in his atelier, a white walled small classroom with big windows, surrounded by heaps and heaps of both finished and unfinished paintings and blank canvases. He was on a cliff by the sea, giving birth to the horizon and breathing clouds against the blue sky. He made waves, birds and the sun itself as he brushed paint layer after layer on the canvas.
This was the scene he had seen just couple of hours ago. Sometimes Eve took a photograph and used it as a model but now he was painting it from memory. He had sharp eyes and mind. And this scene was clear in his imagination. But he didn't just copy. Eve immortalized and added something from himself to the picture. How the light shifted through the clouds irratically, how the waves foamed and churned like in a storm. The picture awoke anxiety, worry, confusion. But at the same time the sky was a vivid blue, and the cliff was covered in emerald grass. Eve still saw the colours.

Eve knew Natasha was coming but as always he was completely immersed when painting. When Eve sketched it was therapy, it calmed him and let him interact normally. His sketchbook was his safety blanket. But painting, painting was sometjing else. It was like breathing, like giving a small part of his soul away to bring forth something deep inside himself. Eve loved painting over everything, it had a special kind of place in his heart.
And yet...someone stomped on that and claimed he was a copycat.
Eve could feel small irritation, almost anger, swell and he stopped his hand before he made a brush stroke with the wrong emotion. Eve wasn't encapturing anger, not now and not never. Eve would never immortalize his anger. He needed to control it.
Eve sighed a but and lowered his arm. It had started to ache slightly. And just when he did Eve heard a knock from the door. He glanced at the painting but didn't have time to cover it up. Eve put aside his palet and went to open the door. He was wearing a paint-stained brown apron and underneath it all black outfit. He had rolled up the sleeves on his shirt.
Eve opened the door and, as expected, behind it was Natasha. Eve smiled a small smile and stepped aside.
"Hello Natasha. It is nice to see you. Please come in."

@Zora

Somehow Natasha's smile made Eve more calm and it smoothed over his anxiety. It was the same with all cheerful people he knew, their positivity and smiles helped him find his own. So Eve was able to answer Natasha's smile with his own, bit wider and more genuine this time.
"You came at a good time, I was just finishing up."
Eve said and closed the door after Natasha when she came in. She praised his paintings, and Eve felt the usual slight embarrassment. Eve would probably never get completely used to exposing his art, since it was very intimate for him. Especially sending the painting he had made from his friend Jake he had a crush on to a competition had nearly killed Eve.

"Thank you very much, Natasha. You flatter me."
Eve said, muttering slightly and rubbing his neck. His hair was on a small bun, tied out of the way so Eve wouldn't get any paint on his white hair. Well, there was a bit of paint in his hair now that he had accidentally smeared some on it from his hands.
But Eve didn't mind Natasha observing the current painting, it was one of his usual works. Eve enjoyed working on scenery, you could hide hidden feelings in it so people couldn't see them if they didn't have sharp eyes. At the corner of the room, behind Natasha's back, there was her portrait Eve had finished up last week. And the painting of Jake, halfway through a transformation into a wolf on a moonlit night in a forest, and right next to Natasha's portrait. Sketches were taped all over the walls, paintings were on the floor or tables by the walls.

Eve seemed a bit surprised by Natasha's sudden question, and became worried about her troubled gaze. Eve nodded and gestured towards a small couch by the wall next to the door leading out the classroom.
"I have multiple moments, if you require them. Is there something wrong?"
Eve asked as he sat down, leaving a comfortable sized space on the couch for Natasha to sit in. He had concern in his eyes, although Eve's face looked serene in an attempt to soothe Natasha.

Natasha seemed distant, like her mind was somewhere else, and that worried Eve. Truth to be told he had never before had a friend that came to him with their worries. But he was going to do his utmost best Natasha left this room feeling at least little better.
"Feel free to share your thoughts, I will listen."
Eve said gently as Natasha sat down, adjusting his own position so he was facing towards Natasha a bit.

As Natasha explained about her life and abilities with a quiet voice Eve listened silently and intently, wondering where Natasha was going with this. But her voice got frailer and frailer as she carried on until finally it was but a whisper. Eve saw bloody tears in her eyes and not knowing it was normal started to panic a bit. But Natasha seemed fine, physically that was, when she looked at him. Eve gently touched Natasha's hand and looked at her sympathetically.
"It really does sound like something is wrong."
Eve said, his voice kind and careful. He pulled some tissues from the pocket of his apron, he used them to wipe away paint stains. Eve handed some to Natasha and sat back a bit, thinking she might need space.
"I understand if you do not wish to share it, but...who did you see, Natasha?"

Eve's worry flared when Natasha seemed surprised to see she was crying blood tears. He observed her and her face, trying to find signs of pain or other alarming markers. But Natasha seemed to be okay. Nevertheless Eve kept his hand lightly on Natasha's, if the woman needed her space she could shake Eve off.
"Are blood tears not common? Are you alright? Can I help somehow?"
Eve talked a bit fast and worry could be discerned from his tone, although his face was still a stoic yet soft mask. Inside Eve was already preparing himself to call the emergency number.

But as Natasha spoke Eve calmed himself a bit and answered Natasha's apologetic look with an understanding and slightly amused smile.
"I admit I have never encountered a crazy vampire baby but I believe you are nowhere near one, Natasha. If you feel like crying you should do so. If I understood anything it is completely understandable, based on your experiences. I merely wish you wouldn't repress those feelings in my company. I am here to help and support you."
Eve squeezed Natasha's hand slightly.

Natasha's sadness resonated in Eve, as he knew how it felt to lose friends. And how it felt to feel being the one responsible, although Eve truly had been.
Eve quickly shook his own memories, as right now in front of him it was Natasha that needed him. Eve listened to her words carefully, and wished he could somehow erase Natasha's pain. But for now he could only offer his presence, shoulder and words. Eve knew those eased the pain, but never fixed it. That took time and effort, effort that only Natasha herself could muster.
"I don't think I can stop you from blaming yourself, but I can say I believe your friend would not have carried a grudge. You had your reasons, I am sure."
Another slight hand squeeze and small sad smile.
"Were you with her when she passed away?"

Eve understood very well how hard it could be to rely on other people. It had taken him many years before he had managed to even voluntarily visit the therapist. But lately Eve had started to feel he wanted to change. And maybe helping Natasha could amount to that, aside from Eve just genuinely wanting to help her.
"I nearly never share my problems with others either. But...perhaps we can make an agreement. If I promise to rely on you you could promise to rely on me as well. Equivalent exhange, as they call it."
Eve managed a tiny smile as he tried to reassure Natasha. Maybe this would make it easier for her to confide in him.

Eve listened to Natasha explain, and honestly wished he could share some of the sorrow she was bearing. Eve had carried his for so long little extra wouldn't amount to much. But it hurt Eve to see people close to him, his friends, suffer.
"I'm so sorry to hear about that. And about her brother. You are right, he does not sound like a pleasant person at all."
As Natasha grabbed his hand Eve smiled another sad little smile at her and sighed a bit.
"You are not burdening me Natasha,. Rather, I'm happy to be here for you, and I want to share your sorrow."
Eve squeezed her hand a bit, and turned to briefly look at the painting he had been painting. It was still quite not ready yet, it lacked a lot of colour and details. Eve had an idea.
"If you would like to, could you help me finish my painting?"
Eve looked at Natasha askingly and gestured to the painting.
"It is a personal project, and I have laid the base. It is packed with my emotions. And I would be honoured if you shared yours as well, onto the canvas. I may not be good at showing my emotions, but through paint I can do it as normally as anyone else. It makes me feel better. Maybe it would make you feel better as well."