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The apartment had finally gone quiet, which Ava was beginning to realize was never a good sign. Usually, if everyone was asleep, she could enjoy the silence for a while without having to worry about somebody knocking something over or Noi deciding that three in the morning was an appropriate time to start asking questions. Tonight though, sleep wasn't happening. She had already spent too long staring at the ceiling so eventually she gave up and made her way into the living room.
She wasn't expecting Asch to be there.
He was sitting at one end of the couch, one arm resting along the back while he looked down at something in his hand. Ava couldn't tell what it was from the doorwayband she probably wouldn't have cared if he hadn't looked up the moment she stepped into the room.
His expression immediately changed.
"What are you doing up?"
Ava rubbed at her eyes before walking farther into the room. "I could ask you the same thing."
"You could."
She waited for him to elaborate.
He didn't.
Ava sighed and dropped onto the other end of the couch. "You're really helpful."
"I wasn't trying to be."
"I noticed."
Asch looked at her for a moment before returning his attention to the object. "You should go back to sleep."
"I tried."
"And?"
"And it didn't work."
For a little while, neither of them said anything. Ava leaned back against the cushions, staring at the dark television across from them while Asch went back to whatever he'd been doing. She wasn't sure why she stayed. She could have gone back to her room, but there was something oddly comfortable about not having to talk. Asch wasn't particularly good at filling silence, and for once Ava didn't mind.
She let her eyes wander around the room. The apartment looked different at night. Without everyone moving around, it was easier to forget how crowded it usually felt. The blankets were still thrown over the back of the couch from earlier, a couple of books had been left on the coffee table and somebody had forgotten to turn off the lamp near the window.
"Do you ever actually sleep?" she asked.
Asch glanced at her. "Yes."
"When?"
"When I'm asleep."
Ava stared at him for a second."Very funny."
"I wasn't joking."
"That's worse."
He gave a small shrug and looked back down.
Ava tucked her legs underneath herself and rested her head against the cushion. She was starting to feel tired again which was probably a good sign. Maybe sitting here had been a better idea than going back to bed and staring at the ceiling.
After a moment she closed her eyes.
"I'm still not going to sleep," she mumbled.
"I didn't ask."
"I know."
"Then why did you say it?"
"Because you were thinking it."
Ava was quiet for a moment before opening one eye again. Asch was still holding whatever he'd been looking at, turning it over in his hand as if he'd forgotten what he'd picked it up for in the first place.
She glanced at it again. "Wait. Is that the TV remote?"
Asch looked down.
There was a brief pause.
"...Yes."
Ava sat up a little. "You've been holding that this whole time?"
"I know what it is."
"Do you?"
His eyes narrowed. "Of course I do."
She looked at the television, which was still completely black, and then back at him. "Then why isn't it on?"
Asch looked at the remote again.
He pressed one of the buttons.
Nothing happened.
He pressed another.
Still nothing.
Ava tried not to laugh. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to turn it on."
"With the volume button?"
He looked at her.
"Volume..?" He genuinely looked confused
"You know, the button you press to decide if you want uh..quiet or loud noises?"
"...I knew that."
"You absolutely did not."
Ava reached over and took the remote from him. "Here."
She pressed the power button, and the television immediately flickered to life. The sudden light made Asch squint and Ava couldn't help smiling as she handed the remote back.
"It's really not that complicated."
"Human technology is unnecessarily complicated."
"It's one button."
"That doesn't make it less complicated."
Ava shook her head and settled back against the couch. "What do you want to watch?"
Asch looked at the screen for a moment. "I don't know."
She scrolled through the channels while Asch watched the screen with the same serious expression he'd had when he'd been trying to figure out the remote. Every so often he'd tell her to stop on something only to change his mind a few seconds later. Eventually Ava got tired of asking and put on a movie she'd seen before.
Asch didn't complain.
For the first few minutes, they barely spoke. Ava pulled the blanket over her legs again and Asch sat at the opposite end of the couch with his arms folded, watching the movie. The apartment stayed quiet around them and the longer they sat there, the harder it became for Ava to keep her eyes open.
Asch noticed when her head slowly tipped toward the side of the couch. He glanced over at her then at the television, which was still playing quietly. Ava had pulled the blanket up earlier but it had slipped down sometime while she'd been sleeping.
He sighed under his breath and reached for his cape.
Carefully, he draped it over her shoulders ,making sure not to wake her. Ava shifted slightly but didn't open her eyes.
Asch looked at her for another second before standing. He picked up the remote and turned off the television, leaving the room in darkness except for the faint light coming from the lamp.
He adjusted his cape where it had fallen over her shoulders then turned to leave.
He made it a few steps before stopping.
"Goodnight..Ava"