Chapter Text
There’s an empty field, just a little outside the city limits, where only the most stubborn of plants dare grow, dandelions, crabgrass, ragweed, and the occasional clover or even succulent. It remains untouched, despite the city’s best efforts, empty and uncared for; there is reason for this, of course.
Christine keeps her eyes strictly on the front windshield as she veers from the road and into the area where the weeds are tallest, as it’s the only spot that’ll be unaffected; she remains calmly silent while parking, as she always is ever since the first time they’ve done this. Evan is beyond grateful for her, has been since that chance encounter back in freshman year, where he somehow ended helping her, and made the first step into their friendship.
She likes to remind him of this, whenever he gets too lost in his own head, the fact that he made the first move, which is extremely unlike him, but was absolutely worth it. Evan would’ve spent his entire life suppressing his power, even though you’re not supposed to, had he not become close with her.
And that’s the reason behind only weeds ever growing here, the reason behind it being unusable; Evan offers Christine a nervous smile that she responds with a salute, and walks towards the center of the field. He waits until she’s back inside the car, even though she’s well out of his range, just in case, and then he takes a deep breath and releases.
Christine presses herself against the window, despite the destructive tendencies, Evan’s powers are still a thing of beauty, bluish white tendrils of light going from him to the earth in a circle, dancing in the air as they hit each other, divide, and discharge; he rarely lets it build enough to be visible normally, so Christine is certain no one knows just how powerful he is. It’s not electricity per se, though electrically charged objects tend to react to him, and he can even control electronics to an extent; but it’s actually just raw energy, Evan’s just better with inanimate objects.
Eventually, Evan tires himself, and Christine jumps out of the car, dancing towards him, and as she does, the ash kicks up and dissipates, leaving only earth where there once was grass, and the sparse few weeds that managed to survive; it’s why nothing else grows here.
She reaches him and makes sure he’s all present before reaching out, silver light encasing her arms, flowing like water to where her hands meet Evan’s shoulders, and then covering him for a single moment; and when it’s gone they’re both breathing unevenly. Evan’s the first to get his voice back.
“Are you ok?”
It takes her a beat longer, it always does.
“Like I’m five pounds lighter, are you?”
Evan offers her a much looser smile, body relaxed.
“Better”
And this is why they keep doing this.