Acceptance

Paint anything.

Ryan's gaze studied the painting on the canvas. It was a painting of a young African woman that was cuddling a tender loving child in her arms. The surface of her ebony skin was lustrous and enthralling.  Her big brown eyes were soft and captivating,  her thick coarse hair was in corn braids on her head. The tender little creature looked fragile and relaxed as it stared delightfully into the eyes of his mother, trusting her with his life,  hopes and dreams.
He shifted his gaze to Quinn who was busy mounting a blank canvas on an easel.
" You never told me you could paint", he accused.
" You never asked".
Ryan didn't argue. The younger man was right. Quinn knew almost everything about him and in return he could count on one hand what he knew about the man. It still didn't explain why he was brought here.
He shifted his gaze from the painting and studied the small room which seemed to be a gallery due to the paintings and sketches everywhere. In a corner were cans of paints, paintbrushes, napkins soiled with paint and buckets filled to the brim with water.
" What are you doing?,  he demanded,  his cheeks flushing hot when he saw the younger man removing his shirt.
Quinn paused with his shirt around his neck, revealing his broad, musculared upper body.
" I don't paint with my shirt on.  Despite the paint  being acrylic and easy to wash off,  I'd like to conserve my energy".
Ryan shook his head in sheer amusement. He had seen the blonde man half and fully naked several times but each time left him feeling like it was the first time. He pushed the thought aside and forced a calm expression.
" what are you painting? ".
Quinn folded the shirt and kept it aside. " I'm not painting. We are"
"What?,  he sputtered.
" Come on,  roll up your sleeves", he urged.
Ryan glared at him and folded his arms. "no".
Quinn wore a puzzled smile. " This isn't rocket science,  Ryan and you don't have to paint it perfect. Come on,  let's paint anything "
Ryan looked thoughtful. "anything? "
" yeah,  anything". He gave him a reassuring smile.
Ryan sighed,  giving in.  Then,  he rolled the sleeves of his shirt and walked towards him.
Quinn flashed him a grin  and handed him a paintbrush.
" what do you want to paint first? "
Ryan shrugged. " I don't know. You are the artist, come up with an idea"
Quinn chuckled. " I'm still an amateur compared to the big guys out there.  Let's start with something small,  like an apple ".
Ryan scoffed. "That's easy ".
Quinn opened two cans of paint,  a red and green.
He stood beside Ryan and urged him to go ahead.
Half an hour later,  he was done.
Quinn observed the painting. He was trying not to laugh.
" what's wrong?,  Ryan demanded,  his gaze going back and forth from the painting to Quinn.
" This looks like a bowl with a big butt"
Ryan stared hard at the painting.
" you made me do this".
" How was I supposed to know you can't paint an apple,  even a kindergarten can paint an apple", Quinn defended himself.
The furious blush was evident on Ryan's face. " Draw an apple, yes,  but paint an apple,  it's easier said than done"
" Come on,  don't be moody. It's just for fun".
" lest you forgot,  I'm thirty seven". I don't have fun".
" Quinn smiled faintly. " age has nothing to do with fun, Ryan ".
The older man was quiet, lost in thought.
" Okay,  I want you to paint anything,  no options".
Ryan inhaled deeply and dropped the brush. He removed the canvas from the easel and placed it on the floor.
Quinn watched as he dipped his index finger in the red paint and smeared it on the canvas. He didn't question his intentions and before he knew it,  there were shades of several colours smearing the canvas,  creating a beautiful sight. It has no shape nor name to classify it and it wasn't perfect but it was Ryan's painting and it meant a lot to him.  It made his heart did flips. Knowing the older man was letting himself go in his presence and the smile radiating on his face,  was a sight he never want to stop seeing.