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Well I could probably have spared a finger, but you know those things always come back for more. [ He smiled back, gestured to their surroundings. ] Besides, green is a lovely colour. Infinitely better than battleship gray and gunmetal black.

Shall we walk?

The lack of colour on board isn't exactly surprising but we should appreciate even the tiniest hint of it. [She missed being outside and seeing blue skies with fluffy white clouds-a sentiment that Bela will probably keep to herself.]

Yes, of course. [Bela held her arm out to him.]

Consider me curious but where would you take me on a date back home?

[ He took her arm gently, leading off in the direction of the elevators with an idea as to where he's going. He even made sure the room was available. ]

Well it depends on the date. Restaurant on the expensive side of town, charity ball brushing elbows with the rich and famous, political conference, the opera, or a box on broadway. Marriage made my date-book a little tame, don't you think? I used to think basketball games and long walks on the beach were more my style.

And you? what sort of dates do you prefer? Am I going to have to ditch all my plans and start from scratch?

Ah, so things that are on the more finer side. Perhaps your ideas of the perfect date changed from when you younger. Although, some women would probably enjoy a walk along the shore or a good sporting event.

[She's wondering where he's taking her, knowing where the elevators were from going to them so many times.]

You won't have to ditch a thing, Nathan. I can honestly say that I do prefer an expensive dinner or the opera but maybe I can change my mind on that this evening.

[ He raised an eyebrow, glancing back toward her. ] And here I thought you might be the make-out-in-the-supply-closet type. I'm joking.

[ When he leads her into the elevator, he taps in the button for the floor the holodecks are on and then drops back, giving her arm the slightest squeeze. ]

Gotta admit it's hit and miss. One thing works for someone that'd be a disaster with someone else.

Thought or wanted me to be? [She countered as she looked at him, giving him a sly smile before facing straight ahead again.

Bela recognised the floor number, having been to the holodecks before. She smiled at the squeeze, leaning into him slightly.]

Exactly. Everyone is different and has their own tastes. Being here can limit that somewhat.

Or expand it. It really depends.

[ The lift was a little cumbersome, but his mind was on the date he'd prepared, and he shot a look back down at her, offering a charming smile. ]

I guarantee you've never been on a date like this one.

Suppose I'll just have to wait and see.

[Bela just grinned at him and then the lift came to a stop at the floor; she waited until the doors slid open.]

Though truthfully, I am getting excited about it.

[ Quietly Nathan led the way out of the lift and down toward the holodecks, knowing that what he had in mind definitely wouldn't be on the cards for any kind of date she'd ever had. He'd had to make sure the holodecks could handle it, of course. The request was...complicated.

He reached for the console to order it up when he got there, tapping in the commands with the kind of practice that came from spending four months as a comms officer. It was almost easy now, like programming the VCR if you already knew how.

Raising his hands a little higher, he loosened his tie, unknotted it and dropped the length of blue silk into his hands, raising it in front of him. ]

You need to be blindfolded for this next bit.

[She wasn't sure what kind of date he had planned and trying to guess would be fruitless because Bela would probably get it wrong. The last time Bela had been on a date was quite a while ago and she had been brought to a fancy restaurant then an art exhibit. It was a good date.

Bela was tempted to see if she could read what Nathan had typed in but she decided to be good and wait patiently until he was done.

Her gaze fell on him when he removed his tie, watching with interest.]

How risqué. [Bela teased before turning around to stand in front of him so Nathan could blindfold her.]

[ He raised his hands, dropping the tie into place and securing it neatly, careful not to tangle her hair up in it, because he'd only have one hand to help to take it off.

When the tie was in place, he tapped the control for the door to open it, then moved his hands to hers to guide them onto his shoulders, wrapping his own arms loosely around her waist, ready to grab her if he had to. ]

Now I want you to step onto my feet. I'll do the rest.

[Almost immediately, she could tell that it was a high quality tie because of the feel of the silk. Moreover, Bela couldn't see and that was what he wanted so the surprise wouldn't be spoiled.

She heard the door sliding open, wondering what was going to happen next until his actions confirmed it for her.]

Understood.

[Carefully, Bela placed her feet onto his own, one at a time while she held onto his shoulders and when she felt secure enough Bela spoke up again.]

Okay. I'm all set, Nathan. Lead on.

[ Leading on wasn't exactly what he had in mind. There could be no gravity inside the room if he designed it that way, but Nathan had other ideas. Instead he simply took off, very gently hovering, so that it felt as though they didn't move at all.

They were miles above a darkened city, the lights underneath them. Not far below a shard of steel with radio and satellite receivers pierced the sky. The tower it stood on was the tallest in the New York skyline, and out below the city glittered. Above the stars did the same. As Nathan raised his hand to take off the tie, tightening his grip with his other arm, the crisp summer wind bit through them. They were too high for the New York evening to be any kind of warm. ]

Take a look.

[Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around for a few moments before her gaze travelled downwards, catching sight of the familiar tower and city below them. She could feel the wind in her hair and on her face and Bela shivered a little before she finally glanced up at him, her eyes widened in surprise.]

We're above the city. Like miles from the ground. [Bela was glad that he was holding onto her.] You're doing this, aren't you?

[It's asked in a careful tone and she sounded somewhat anxious because this seemed impossible to her, even after months of being on board the ship.]

In my world there are a handful of people with...abilities. Flying, healing, telekinesis, mind reading, each one individual; special. I hid mine at home, and I don't make too much of a show about it here. If I was ever in a situation where I needed a moment's advantage, surprise would be all I had.

[ He's holding on because if she'd panicked and pushed away from him she would have fallen. There aren't any safety measures here, and the gravity he'd programmed in could be dangerous. It was a holographic New York, and really the floor wasn't that far away, but it would hurt to fall none the less. ]

I haven't even told my brother this, but when I used to need time to think I came to fly here, in the low clouds over the city. I've been running this program for weeks now, but you're the only person I've brought here.

I would never had suspected. Figured you came from a normal world with normal things. You clearly hid it well.

[Bela knew that it wasn't real even if it felt like it. She wasn't going to risk herself which is why she continued to hold onto his shoulders.]

Some people just take a walk to think. You fly. [She sounds bemused for a moment before his next words make Bela pause. Then she speaks again, quieter this time.]

Why me? You could have done something else entirely with our date and yet you chose to bring me to your sanctuary of sorts and display your ability. Let me see a part of you that not many others have on board.

I always did. I had to. [ But he was glad to hear it. That he hid it well despite it once or twice coming up in conversation was an undeniable relief. It meant it was still a surprise to the right people.

His answer was a soft sort of smile, clearly hiding something, and he motioned upward toward the stars above them with a tilt of his chin. So far she'd only looked down. He didn't back of the instruction with an order. ]

The people I care about have always been hurt because I try and hide what I can do from them. My wife, my brother--I've never been a big fan of honesty. Not unexpected for a lawyer and a politician.

[Bela does look up eventually, marvelling at the stars despite them being a product of a programme. They were beautiful. She brought her gaze back to him, feeling a lot less anxious than she did before.]

Maybe you thought that you were protecting them from the truth. I can understand why you would lie about something like this. [She laughs a little.] Yeah, lawyers and politicians tend to lie.

[A pause followed after that as she tilted her head at him, her expression curious.] I'm not your wife or brother though.

[ And the smile hasn't abated. Nathan still looked back down at her for a moment longer, and then he too looked away, raising his eyes toward the stars. ]

There aren't a lot of people to like on this piece of space junk, and fewer still of them are such good company. Besides, I wanted to offer you a date that'd stand out.

Might have had to try something else if your name was Lois Lane, but as far as originality goes it was a sure thing.

[Bela chose to look down at the city below, the view taking her breath away. It wouldn't have been possible for her to see it like this back home. When Nathan spoke, she found herself looking at him again.]

Well, you were right. I haven't been on a date like this before. [She smiled, playing idly with his collar.] You and I both know that Lois Lane has got nothing on me.

But this is great. Not many people would go to such lengths or heights in this case to make a girl feel special.

[ Nathan's smile broke into a laugh, and he pitched them slightly, hovered slowly to the left, down, letting the holographic construct keep up with them until, moments later, they touched down on the maintenance platform at the very tip of the tower. There wasn't much room, but he could lower his hands, letting her have her feet - and gravity - back. ]

A date isn't much of anything without dinner and a show. I left dinner here--

[ He tapped a lunchbox on the ground with his left foot, a bottle stood beside it - staple of dates with Nathan Petrelli - and then raised his hand out toward the horizon. ]

And the show.

[ From their height, the glow on the horizon barely ate up any of the sky, still far away. The sun would hit the top of the tower long before it rose, and they would be able to watch it rise first, while the last stars still sparkled high above them. Sunrise, when all they'd had was a dull, dangerous ship for months. It was enough to make you homesick. ]

[ Bela held on as he guided them down towards the tower, seeing it coming closer and closer-then she felt her feet touch a solid surface much to her relief. Only then did Bela let go of him, dropping her hands down by her sides, a part of her still reeling from the experienced. She laughed a little. ]

We got the best seats in the house.

[ While the sun wasn't exactly real and a construct of a program, it didn't take away the affect it had on her. Bela watched the sunrise with rapt attention, almost in awe; she was silent when it happened and took a moment to look upwards at the sky, watching as the stars began to fade away. She tried not to think about home but it was difficult not to. Still, she didn't want to ruin the date. ]

Just like the real thing. [ Bela broke her silence as her gaze shifted back to him, a smile forming on her lips. ]

[ As they both watched, Nathan took a brief moment out of his enjoyment of the sunrise and the company to pour generous glasses for both of them, sliding one into her hand and shifting so that his shoulder bumped against hers as he tapped his glass against hers. ]

To home.

[ His smile was slightly sad too. He'd known it might be when he brought them here, a date edged with the poignancy of things lost that might never be regained. How long could he live with every special in the world wanting to kill him? Not long, probably. Still, he had something for a little while, here. A chance to redeem himself, even if nobody ever remembered it. Even if he died in the process. ]

To home.

[She took a sip from her wine, savouring it slowly as if it was the last bit of wine she was going to have for a while. Bela had to take the more positive moments here when she could and hold onto them because it could change without warning, they could all face another danger or plague.]

Anything else we should toast while we're at it?

[The sun was almost fully up by now and filled the sky, scattering light across it. Bela continued to watch until it was completed, ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach as she thought of home. How long could she keep up the pretence of being okay? There were only so many lies that a person could tell. She hadn't much time left at home if things didn't go according to plan.]

[ Nathan drunk a little faster, but then that was out of habit. He drank to take the edge off boring aristocrats, lawyers and politicians, and drinking quickly also left him time to interject his own words and make an impression.

And then of course he drank because he liked it. His liver probably hated him by now, especially considering the wagon he'd fallen off when he'd thought his brother dead. ]

How about to great company? To people life would be harder here without.

[ He raised his glass toward her this time. ]

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